the showroom

#203 PARTIALLY PACKED. PARTIALLY COCKED, LOCKED & REDDEH TO ROCK

2012-01-13T23:05:00.001+08:00

This is it. Tomorrow, I will have a briefing with my group. I hope that they'll enjoy the next two weeks with me. I do my best to make a good job :-)

I will teach them how to point.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: McDonald's Longganisa Breakfast meal with rice.
Lunch: Dell's Adobong manok with rice.
Dinner: Yoshinoya's Pork Katsudon

Weight before I go to bed: 153.4 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +8.4 pounds

#202 ARMING MYSELF WITH INFO

2012-01-12T23:50:00.002+08:00

I spent the day reading as much as I can about the places specified in the itinerary. I'm putting in the hours because I want to, I need to. Just writing this first before I go to sleep.

The palay harvested from the payyo in Banaue.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Jollibee Breakfast Corned Beef with rice.
Lunch: None.
Dinner: Earle's Beef Pastrami Sandwich

Weight before I go to bed: 153 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +8 pounds

#201 MORE DISTRACTIONS

2012-01-11T22:31:00.000+08:00

I now have a Pinterest account. I've only pinned two items. It's a site full of nice photos of almost anything you like. Too many accounts! Graaahh.

The Greatest Videoke Showdown on Earth that happened last month.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Pan de Manila's Chicken Empanada
Lunch: Forgot but it tasted like Chicken Galantina. With rice.
Dinner: One piece Chickenjoy with rice.

Weight before I go to bed: 154.8 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9.8 pounds

Patience. Patience. And exercise too.

#200 ENDING THIS FAB DAY WITH WENG WENG

2012-01-10T23:25:00.001+08:00

I hope that I only consumed 30 seconds from my 15 minutes with this article that came out in Yahoo! SHE.

Today was especially good because I met the tour leader who I will be working with for the next couple of weeks. He's a cool guy. I really hope that things will be well. I am excited and a bit nervous but I'll do my best.

So to end this day, here's a video of my favorite local action star who can beat kick Chuck Norris's ass.

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Adobo 'To Spicy Pork Adobo with Rice
Lunch: None.
Dinner: Hainanese Chicken with lots and lotsa rice.

Weight before I go to bed: 154.6 pounds

Catch weight: 145 pounds

Difference: +9.6 pounds

#199 STUFFED STFU

2012-01-09T23:35:00.001+08:00

Wow, I guess I did a good job in losing weight! This morning's breakfast was brought to you by McDonald's longganisa meal with orange juice; then a piece hot and crispy KFC with rice for lunch; and it's the babyback ribs of Rack's for dinner. Niiiice. I won't be sleeping tonight then. Demmit. Hopefully, I get to shed pounds in the next two weeks.

* * *

I already have the initial itinerary of the group that will be under my care. I'm making sure that I have a good grasp of it because it's really a huge responsibility. 11 people are entrusting their lives to me. In my country.

The itinerary really looks fun if you're the tourist. Oh yeah, I won't be a hypocrite. I love trekking, snorkeling, and caving that comes with an assignment like this but these are all secondary because the most important thing is the safety of the group; followed by their enjoyment and appreciation of the Philippines; and hopefully, they have good memories about it.

And tell their loved ones that it's more fun here.

* * *

Weight before I go to bed: 154.6 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9.6 pounds

#198 RANDOM

2012-01-08T23:13:00.001+08:00

This I have to do before I sleep. Good night!

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Four pieces of Hopia Parmesan
Lunch: Max's Fried Chicken, Asparagus with Sauce, Sinigang na Hipon with Rice
Dinner: Four Pieces of Hopia Parmesan, French Fries

Weight before I go to bed: 154.8 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9.8 pounds

#197 JOINING THE FUN

2012-01-07T21:39:00.002+08:00

We are the best singers in the world according to my best source and that's me ;-) Videoke is one of the things I associate with good times, alcohol and this country.

Here's my first contribution to the #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines meme:

Belting out. It's more fun in the Philippines.

Tapos kung kalokohan ang usapan, may pambato tayo kaya ito ang ikalawa kong contribution:

Hindi hamak na mas magandang lalake si Aga.

Hope to see more contributions from my kababayans in the coming days! :-)

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Jollibee Corned Beef Breakfast with Pineapple Juice
Lunch: Four slices of Greenwich Pizza
Dinner: None. Except for a slice of leftover pizza.

Weight before I go to bed: 154 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9 pounds

#196 IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

2012-01-06T23:53:00.003+08:00

The New Tourism Campaign.

It's more fun in the Philippines.

It makes more sense to me now. I kept on wondering about the reason behind my German friends' return last year. They were truly happy to be back.

Yes, they are correct. It's more fun in the Philippines. My friends love the place so much that they wanted to stay for good. They fell in love with the islands after their first visit.

Aside from the country's natural beauty, it's the people that enhances the experience. It's also one of our strengths—taking care of people. We do a good job at it in their home countries as their nurses, doctors, domestic helpers, and other professions. I could also say that our sense of humor, our food, our smile, the list goes on. We can build around this idea.

The campaign is simple, easy to understand, and our participation in making this idea known to the world has the most direct impact. It really depends on you if you want to sell or put down this country.

We can do something like this:

Made by Camy Francisco. More please! :-)

Let's play with this message online until the world realizes that we deserve a visit.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Starbucks Coffee and Chicken Pandesal
Lunch: Pork with Mandarin Sauce and Rice
Dinner: Beef Yakiniku

Weight before I go to bed: 154 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9 pounds

#195 SATISFACTION

2012-01-05T23:29:00.001+08:00

I'm a tourist guide and I've been at it for more than two years. I have sacrificed a lot because I believe that it is worth it. It's not a dream job because if it is a dream job, it wouldn't be "real" right? :-)

It's all real to me. The possibilities of doing a good job and the risk of failure are there. I had my share of good and bad days. I'm lucky that my recent assignment turned out very well. The guests were happy. I am happy that I was able to do my job. I also know that I shouldn't be too cocky about it. One of my best teachers said it well: "You are only good as your last performance."

But only for this day, I'm basking on this personal achievement so I had a bar of Butterfinger. That's some kind of a reward.

* * *

It gives me enough joy and satisfaction to know that my guests had a great time; that they learned a lot from the tour; and hopefully, tell their loved ones and friends that there's so much to see in Manila or in any part of the Philippines.

The ultimate reward is to see them again with their loved ones and friends here.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Chowking Pork Chaofan with Pork Siomai
Lunch: None.
Dinner: Leftover Buttered Shrimp, Liempo with Rice, Kangkong with Oyster Sauce, a bar of Butter Finger

Weight before I go to bed: 153.4 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +8.4 pounds

Niiiiice.

PS. One of my guests told me to look this up from web. I listened a couple of times and yes, it's catchy and it runs the risk of becoming the next "Nobody". You be the judge.

#194 MAKE MINE FRIDAY

2012-01-04T22:18:00.001+08:00

From Rappler:

Jimenez acknowledges that using social media as the primary medium for the campaign gives the DOT less control – and gives more to the people.

But that is exactly what he wants.

The campaign appeals to Filipinos to promote the Philippines themselves, to interpret the campaign's logo and official line however they see fit, then share it through the internet and their social networks.

The tourism campaign that will be launched on Friday sounds promising based on feedback. Hints have been given. I can't wait. I am hopeful that we can come up with something to help spread the message about these islands. We deserve a visit from the world.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Jollibee Corned Beef Breakfast with Pineapple Juice
Lunch: Sen Lec's Chicken Pad Thai
Dinner: Jollibee Pancit Palabok with Pineapple Juice

Weight before I go to bed: 154.8 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +9.8 pounds

I must find a way to not exceed 155 pounds. Deyyym.

#193 PHILIPPINE HISTORY AS NEWS ON TWITTER

2012-01-03T22:47:00.001+08:00

I enjoy Facebook but I also have a Twitter account because of my wife and some of my close friends back in college. I have yet to enjoy posting on it because it has the 140-character limit, which I sometimes dislike. I write long stuff :-)

What I do like about it is that I can have updates about my interests such as news, history, a celebrity, or online heckling/arguments. The latest account that I've followed is Diario de Filipinas. It's history as news and I really commend the person behind this. It makes Philippine history fresh and engaging.

May it reach more Filipinos on Twitter.

Keep it coming and hopefully, we see a clearer and more interesting picture of our history that we can share to the next wave of Filipinos!

I have been wishing that the Philippine Revolution was given more importance than the rivalries and petty arguments. It was our finest hour as a people and it deserves our attention.

* * *

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Pan de Manila's Beef Empanada
Lunch: Pork Binagoongan with Rice
Dinner: Adobong Pusit, Slices of Liempo with Rice

Weight before I go to bed: 156.2 pounds
Catch weight: 145 pounds
Difference: +11.2 pounds

Fuck! In Fairview, we ate a bit late and I can still feel the pusit in my belly. I'm in the process of digesting it. Yeah.

#192 I TRIED I REALLY TRIED

2012-01-02T23:37:00.000+08:00

I have more than 700 contacts in Facebook and last year, I have decided to hide some of them from my news feed for a lot of reasons. Since it's the new year, I just wanted to review my past online decisions.

Yesterday, I've decided to subscribe to all of them and "re-evaluate" who should be hidden and who would be kept under my watchful eyes. I was planning to give it a month. Try to bear their pain, agony, or loss but I really can't. I can empathize but at some point, I really can't.

One of my favorite profile pictures in Facebook.

The first person that I've hidden annoys me because she's simply a drama queen. I do not know her that much and we aren't really friends but we were from the same school. There's too much information from her. Too much noise. The unpleasant kind. I appreciate some drama but this one's too much for me. There's always a post from her.

Every. Fucking. Hour!

It's a conscious decision to unsubscribe from people who are too negative. Hey, there really are bad days but this a common case found in some people who have too much time online. I don't want to take part in the drama or feed from it.

If there's another resolution that should be added to my list, it's this: Drama queens and negatrons are not allowed in my feeds. It's OK to express oneself but I won't watch you. No, thanks.

* * *

To the three or by luck, six people reading my blog,

I will be posting my daily meals just to monitor my food intake. I'm posting this for my own satisfaction. You may stop reading at this point because it's interesting only to me ;-)

Meals of the Day

Breakfast: Pan de Manila's Pan de Coco
Lunch: Dell's Meatballs in Sweet n' Sour Sauce
Dinner: Cheesy Hungarian Sandwich

Weight before I go to bed: 155.6 pounds

Catch weight: 145 pounds

Difference: +10.6 pounds

#191 Day 1 of 2012

2012-01-01T21:17:00.004+08:00

And so it begins. In the past, I have said that writing a blog entry every week for the rest of the year was my resolution and I haven't kept that pledge. Let's see if I can make one by posting the highlight of my day and the most mundane thing if there is nothing worth writing.

Day 1 of 2012 was pretty much OK. I ate the delicious spaghetti my loving wife has prepared last night. It was brunch and dinner. The highlight of my day would be the blue cheese that I'm about to finish and a bottle of Fat Bastard that was gifted to us by an old friend.

The Fat Bastard, the joy of the 1st day of 2012.

In a few weeks, I will embark on a series of important assignments that would define my life. It's an opportunity that I cannot pass up. I know that in every assignment, I come back as a better guide.

* * *

I've also re-written a short description of myself on Twitter and finally updated my Facebook page about myself with the same words. It has no particular order of importance. These are the things that I hold true about me.

This is me on Twitter.

What are the things that I want to do this year?

I want to get back in shape. Stay healthy and fit. 2011 was a good one to me. I was able to eat, I mean, really eat a lot. Buffets, food tours, fiestas, good restaurants but this year marks a conscious effort for me to watch what I eat. I'm not getting any younger and I need some form of exercise especially with the assignments in the coming months. And yeah, the clothes no longer flatter my sexy frame ;-P My goal is to lose 10 pounds. It must begin tomorrow for my good looks and sexxxy bodies.

#190 SIGNED, SEALED & MUST BE DELIVERED

2011-12-28T23:01:00.000+08:00

In the next months, I will embark on an important assignment that would test my resolve to be the best version of me. The paper has been signed this afternoon, the gear has been purchased, a few more meetings in January, and we're all set. I have prayed for this opportunity and now, it's here.

I want this, I want to succeed. May good fortune smile at me.

#189 Pre-2012 in Review

2011-12-25T22:51:00.001+08:00

It's a bit scary, a bit bold, a bit optimistic to say that 2011 was great and 2012 will be epic. In a few days, 2011 will end and so far (barring the chances of a coconut hitting my head or some fucking accident) it's been good to my wife and I.

I will be 32 years old in a few months and I don't feel the slightest bit of old age. It may be because of my loved ones and the company of good friends that I have found over the past years. Maybe it's a little late to say thank you but better late than never. I thank God (not the one found in churches or statues) for the blessings this year.

I have learned a lot about myself and I'm using a list of things I discovered:

1. I can drive. Yes, I can. I'm not saying that I'm the best or the most skilled driver in EDSA but I am truly happy with the progress that I made. I've driven to Pampanga and Batangas this year. It's a milestone for someone who's been too afraid to take the wheel.

2. I can be a better tour guide than the previous version of me. Each tour assignment improves me. Whether it was a good or bad experience, I take more comfort knowing that as long as I am there in the frontline, as long as I take on any assignment with enthusiasm and skill, I get better.

3. I know who are my real friends and they're worth keeping. I have learned this the hard way and it almost made me give up my passion. I have given up friendships with people who wanted to see me fail. It's a liberating experience. Try it and see the magic.

4. I will die and it's up to me to create meaning in my life before I go to the unknown. After the passing of an uncle, the Steve Jobs, and a good friend, it reminded me more that we will all die. Life is nothing and meaningless. Every waking hour, I know that I just got lucky to see the morning and be with the love of my life. I have time to pursue my passion.

5. I need to get back in shape. I want to be below 145 pounds. This year has got to be my heaviest. I now have a belly and my clothes are no longer flattering me. Signs of old age? Nope. Signs of laziness, maybe yes. I used to take the public transport to work or walk. With Blackie, I have gained weight. It became all too convenient for me to take the car than walk.

6. I must be serious about savings. Save for vacation/trips and more importantly, save for the future. My wife and I have made a goal to save enough so that we can have our own place. I want to have our own before reaching the age of 40.

7. I only have my name and honor. I will work hard and do my best to earn the trust and confidence of my clients, friends, and colleagues. I may not have a huge bank account or land titles or pedigree—these do not make a person. Instead, it's integrity, a clear sense of purpose, and strength of character. I want my name to be built on these three important things.

I am writing this partly under the influence of good ole' tequila this Christmas night. They say alcohol uncovers the truth and I'd have to agree on this one. Plus ultra!

#188 A Rock in My Throat

2011-12-07T12:49:00.001+08:00

My other job is to write content for telcos. While doing my research on Christmas carols, I stumbled upon this song composed by National Artist Felipe Mendoza de Leon and written by Brigido Batungbakal and Eduardo de Leon:

The lyrics and their translation that I got from the clip in parenthesis:

Payapang Daigdig

Ang gabi'y payapa

(The night is peaceful)

Lahat ay tahimik

(All is quiet)

Pati mga tala

(Even the stars)

Sa bughaw na langit

(Found in the heavens)

Kay hinhin ng hangin

(Gentle is the wind)

Waring umiibig

(Seemingly in love)

Sa kapayapaan

(With the tranquility)

Ng buong daigdig

(Of the whole world)

Payapang panahon

(A peaceful time)

Ay diwa ng buhay

(Gives meaning to life)

Biyaya ng Diyos

(a blessing of God)

Sa sangkatauhan

(To humanity)

Ang gabi'y payapa

(The night is peaceful)

Lahat ay tahimik

(All is quiet)

Pati mga tala

(Even the stars)

Sa bughaw na langit

(Found in the heavens)

Beautiful lyrics to match a beautiful song that resulted to huge rocks stuck in my throat. I admit that I had to step out of the room and let it all out.

I miss my brothers and my mom especially at this time of the year. Pakshet. I'm staying away from this song!

#187 Amat victoria curam

2011-11-29T21:22:00.001+08:00

I accomplished a lot this Bonifacio Day by driving around Pampanga to review a route for this weekend. I'm pretty much confident that I can find my way in the H-less province. Napagod nga ang mga paa ko. A-a-a-a-a-a-a.

On a related note, I got to give credit to those drivers who I have worked with in the past. It's no easy job. I know there are tour operators who really take care of their guides and drivers. However, I also experienced a different kind of treatment from companies who think that paying for services rendered after more than two weeks is a good business practice.

What these companies fail to see is this: these drivers and guides represent you and it is just right to accord them with respect that they deserve. Before doing something like that, ask yourself: Ano kaya kung gawin iyan sa iyo?

The driver is the guide on the road. While the tour guide keeps the guests interested with what they see. It's really Anthony or Ameng who does the job in making sure that the guests are comfortable and safe. It's Joseph who finds a way for the group to complete the itinerary while plying the busy streets of Metro Manila.

The guide should be able to recognize this and I would even go further. I really think that tips should be shared with the driver. It's all about goodwill or good karma or what-have-you. The driver-guide tandem is a must to ensure a good tour for everyone. This is what I have learned so far and if one is quick to acknowledge the role of the driver, the work's 30 percent done.

The guide is your direct contact to your guests. The kind of service they deliver reflects on the agency and of course, the country. From a guide's point of view, I really think the responsibility is enormous. The welfare of the guest is top priority and it's second nature to them to engage, inform and entertain.

If the airport is the last place tourists see in the country they visited, then the last locals they had a real conversation before flying out are the guides and the drivers.

#186 Relentless

2011-11-19T20:24:00.001+08:00

While most people in the country are focused on news surrounding an ex-leader, I'm writing this in good spirits because of two bottles of Antonov and upcoming tours next week and next month. I am excited and what's so good about this is that they're unexpected. I will be guiding a group in the Manila American Cemetery next week. The way I'm told by my client, my guests are knowledgeable and these are the type of guests that can sometimes make a tour really interesting and engaging.

The work is not yet even done but I'm just so pumped up to start. I'll be in the Manila American Cemetery tomorrow to do an inspection and research. I want to meet and hopefully, exceed expectations. I'm doing the best I can to prepare for it.

I am also looking forward to next month's activity and this time, it's a food tour in Pampanga. I've been planning this for long and I thank my god that it's taking off. A few days ago, I was supposed to post something negative but I began to think that it's not worth the space and I'm better off without the bad vibes.

There's just one thing in my mind right now and it's about not giving up even when there are people who are determined to see you fail. I was in that situation a couple of months ago but I stood ground. There was a time that I was about to leave it behind but I asked myself if this what I really want and yes, I really want this. Even though you have made it difficult for me, you cannot stop me from doing what I love. God sees what is in one's heart.

The other night, my wife and I watched Invictus, a movie about Nelson Mandela and the national rugby team of South Africa. The poem, Invictus (hence, the title of the movie), was also touched on and I felt like reciting this and adding this to my post before I go to sleep. I am thankful, completely thankful that I did not give up.

Invictus

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance	5
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,	10
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:	15
I am the captain of my soul.

*Image from IMDB.

#185 Watching Birds with British Birders

2011-10-08T09:30:00.000+08:00

Exactly two years ago, I was with a group of British birdwatchers (also called birders for naughty readers like you). It's my first time to be part of a birdwatching tour. I accompanied the group as their guide for their three-day trip in Subic and Bataan.

Our lead guide for the bird tour was Mr. Nicky Icarangal, one of the experts in the country.

I tried to read up as much as I can about birds in the Philippines in preparation for this assignment. I only know about the maya, kalapati, parrot and the talking mynah birds because these are the ones that I saw when I was little. My readings led me to an interesting subject for the green minded. It's about our very own, Philippine Bulbul (image below from Birdwatch.ph).

Our Philippine Bulbul. The name might sound funny but the bird's beautiful.

* * *

I never realized how passionate this group was when it comes to birds. We had to rise at 3:00 in the morning to start the tour. One might ask, what happens in a bird tour?

From my observation, the lead guide follows a set trail in the site. He then follows the sounds of the birds by placing his hands on his hears. This would serve as his radar.

When he has spotted one, he would ask the group to use their binoculars to check out the bird. In case that the bird is in a dark spot, he would use his flash light to guide the tourists.

Here's a footage of what actually goes on:

Our guide needed to use his iPod to play bird sounds and lure the others to join in. Ah, the wonders of technology! The modern-day bird call.

* * *

The guests were treated like rock stars when they were received warmly by schoolchildren in the 5th Philippine Bird Festival in Balanga, Bataan last year. This was organized by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism.

The Big British Birders with Binoculars. Second from the right is the lead guide, Mr. Nicky Icarangal.

After this tour, I'm convinced that birding is for specialized groups. I tried hard to be interested in knowing the birds we spotted but I wasn't really satisfied. I want to have a closer look on them but unfortunately, that only happens in zoos and I'm not a big fan of zoos. I want something that has to do with art, history or cultural heritage.

On a happy note, I'm pretty much confident that the Philippines rich in its biodiversity, has a lot to offer to visitors who wanted to see its beauty and more so, its birds. There is a market and we must explore whatever we have to sell the country as a whole.

#184 iPad2, a Useful Tool for Tour Guiding

2011-09-16T00:14:00.002+08:00

I rarely blog about gadgets but this time, I must. I'm a proud owner of an iPad2 and I'm happy with it. Thanks to the wife who got me this early Christmas gift for 2011 and 2012 :-) I have used it in my last two tours to complement the sites that my group and I visit. It also gives me the opportunity to introduce other historical figures and events worth mentioning. Rizal is just one of our many heroes and through this tool, I wish to tell guests about Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, the Filipino-American War and other topics that the sites in Intramuros cannot reveal.

I've used it inside a vehicle but I have yet to maximize it. I might have to download some apps to make it more concise and create impact. I want it to be a remarkable presentation where I can make commentaries that would help my group understand us better but first, I'd have to lay down a basic structure so that I can have a solid visual narrative that wouldn't overpower or distract the guests from the actual sites.

I'm just excited with this gizmo. :-)

#183 A Trip to Tagaytay with a Seasoned Traveller

2011-09-04T22:49:00.000+08:00

I just had a tour yesterday with a unique guest. His job? He gets to travel for top level clients, the type that would spend for a different kind of experience. I'd like to think that he enjoyed the tour. He was interested in indigenous communities and trekking Taal volcano. Too bad that it wasn't included in the itinerary. I am thankful that the weather was fine! We had a good view of the volcano from the Taal Vista Hotel then we went to the old town of Taal and climbed a steep stairwell, which led to the reconstructed bell tower of the Parish of St. Martin of Tours. Before having lunch at Antonio's, we stopped by the Apacible house.

My guest is really well travelled. He's been to countries such as North Korea, Bhutan, and Laos. His next trip? Nepal! I told him that I love his job and he quickly replied that he loves it too. On our way to Antonio's, I learned that he watches travel shows in Discovery channel. We both like Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, Samantha Brown's Passport to Europe and Diego Bunuel's Don't Tell My Mother. He has also ran into a chef/host who doesn't think highly of Filipino cuisine. It's all right as long as it's not Bourdain.

My guest has been to the Philippines. The last time he was here was seven years ago for the wake of his mother-in-law. I had a great conversation with this guest because I learned a lot from him. He was generous in offering his help should my wife and I visit Vietnam and Cambodia (another balut-eating country that few people know). I do wish him a safe journey and I also hope that he enjoyed the tour as much as I did.

#182 Alien & Alienated

2011-08-26T09:55:00.000+08:00

Our educational system has really failed if majority of 'learned' Filipinos think this way. What I really can't understand with the writer is his way of making a choice between English and Filipino (or one of our languages here). I say, choose both. Sa article na nga niya mismo, binanggit niya na may mga bagay na hindi maisasalin sa Ingles at vice-versa. Walang perfect or ideal language. Lahat ay may kanya-kanyang strengths.

Nabasa ko lang ito kanina at hinayaan ko na lang. Siguro gusto niyang kumalat ito at mag-provoke. May mga valid na observations naman siya pero ang 'di ko lang nagustuhan ay ang paglagay niya ng labis na premium sa Ingles (marahil ito kasi ang pinili niyang intindihin) at pagmaliit sa kakayahan ng wikang Filipino.

Lumalabas sa article niya ang kanyang kamangmangan tungkol sa ating kultura na nagbigay sa atin ng identity. Lumalabas dito ang kakulangan natin sa mga mahuhusay na guro. Lumalabas rin dito ang stagnant idea ng ilang may dunong tungkol sa wika.

Walang problema sa akin kung anumang wika ang gusto mong gamitin pero bago magbigay ng assessment, alamin mo munang maigi at magbasa ng mga likha natin. Marami tayo, hindi lang laganap.

Ang problema, kakaunti o kalimitan hindi masyadong nabibigyang pansin ang mga bagong katha ng ating mga manunulat. Dahil kaya sa mainstream media? Pagpapalaki ng magulang? Resulta ng American re-education? Sana man lang, iangat natin at ipakilala sa mundo ang yaman ng ating mga wika. Malaki ang magagawa ng may dunong sa pagtaguyod nito.

* * *

Natatandaan ko ngayon ang lecture ni Rio Alma. Ipinakita niya ang isang larawan ng Banaue Rice Terraces at tinanong niya kami kung anong tawag namin dito. Siempre, confident kaming sumagot: "BANAUE RICE TERRACES."

May kasunod siyang tanong: Sa ating wika, ano ang tawag natin dito?

Wala kaming maisagot at dito nagmula ang kanyang lecture tungkol sa "Banaue Rice Terraces Syndrome". Sa natatandaan ko, ito raw ang problema ng karamihang sa mga Filipino ngayon—na kailangan tayong mag-isip sa point-of-view or standards ng wikang Ingles. We can't come up with our own word for something that is truly ours. Wala naman rin kasing nagsabi sa akin nung nasa elementary pa ako kung ano talaga ang tawag sa mga iyon.

Ipinakilala sa amin ang salitang "payyó" ay ang hagdan-hagdang palayan sa Cordillera ng mga Ifugao. Páyew para sa mga taga-Benguet. Dito nagmula ang pangalan ng mga Filipino na naninirahan sa highlands tulad ng mga Apayao. Ang tawag nila sa mga terraces ay "payáw".

Sa salita pa lamang, doon nagiging buhay sa isipan natin ang kapwa nating Pinoy. Language is a repository of memory. Kailangan lang magsipag at mag-demand tayo ng mga panitikan mula sa ating mga kababayan. Marami tayong material ngunit hindi lang ito readily available or marketed well.

#181 Distraction Subtraction

2011-08-12T10:00:00.016+08:00

Facebook, a new blog, Twitter, Blackberry, Tumblr, a day job, food tour and some tours, and now, there's Google+. For more than a year, I have ignored my original home; this blog where I wrote without thinking much about what the whole wired world might think.

I read some past posts, which I thought was brilliant (just testing if this is MY space). Blogging was simple back then. The "noise" was not too far-reaching but now, I'm starting to feel that social networking has reached its saturation point. Everybody's shouting. I probably need to take some time off from the internet and explore the other real world.

The idea of going away from Metro Manila to climb a mountain is beginning to look attractive. That's what I haven't done. I don't know if hiking in Batanes, owing to its beautiful landscape, would count as mountain-climbing.

That's the deep pusod & I. Taken in Batanes '09.

One thing I found out before writing this is that I missed expressing myself and doing my thing in my own space and at my own pace. Yes, I have been posting some links of other people's work in Facebook lately, which is all right but it gets to be a bit tiring to read their work. Now I think is the time to do something for myself. Just write and it's just right to take joy in reading my own work. Pun pun puuuun!

* * *

Books have piled up in the rack. I haven't finished half of them. For my birthday, I asked my brother in the US to send 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' by Edward Gibbon. I'm having a hard time reading it. The font's too small and the book is too thick to be read while lying down. I'm also looking for a good place to read it—with proper lighting, a comfortable chair and good ventilation.

It's a pile. I know I can finish you all.

There's this room in our place that I've christened as our library only because of the books. It's has become a multi-purpose bodega too. There is enough space. I imagine having a table where I can place my laptop. Yes, folks! I finally have my very own Mac!

It doesn't mean that I've conquered the world or hit the jackpot but it sure feels like it. I've been longing, salivating over a Mac ever since I've laid eyes on an iMac seven(?) years ago. I got swindled by this guy who ran off with P35,000 from my gullible self. To make the story short, I thought that I'll be having my laptop for half the price from some guy who worked in Customs. I paid for my stupidity. Hopefully, never again. No! Make that, definitely never again.

* * *

My previous entry was more than a year ago. I was expressing my disappointment over the election of the country's 15^th president. It was a bitter post. It expressed my darkest doubts about the future but after a year, I began to take things differently.

Perhaps it's the spirit of optimism starting to grow in me or probably the acceptance of some things that I cannot change. At the end of each day, it ends with how I deal with the world that occurs to me. Oh yeah, but there sure are some days that are just plain bad. I still go on and move forward.

* * *

Just to let my dear customers know (my lucky estimate is probably 4 or 6 of you), I am still a tourist guide but I've now taken a day job to pay the bills but my work gives me a platform where I can share what I know to a lot of people through their mobile phones. I do hope that by imparting something useful to them, it would help to develop a deeper appreciation of our country.

As long as they know or remember what I have shared from the good books I have, I'm already happy. It's the tour guide in me that still speaks, I guess.

#180 Election Post Mortem

2010-05-11T09:30:00.002+08:00

By the end of June and if all things are well and peaceful, my country will have its 14th President. I didn’t vote for him because I’m the type of voter who looks at the person’s qualifications, character, and track record before putting him in my ballot. I’ve considered my candidate's qualities, nobody’s perfect.

A president in the Philippines is always expected to solve 'all' of the nation's problems from garbage collection to starting up the economy. Looking at the president-elect’s qualifications and track record, they are less stellar. He was elected into office because of his family name and through the support of the old elite.

There are two things that I’ve learned from this recent exercise:
1) Most Filipinos haven’t learned.

2) We repeat history and are doomed to fail because we haven’t learned.

The partial results would show that Aquino’s closest rival is former president Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada, the man who was ousted from the presidency in 2001. We haven’t learned during his term and we have forgotten what he did but by the numbers, his appeal is still strong to most of our star-struck masses.

There’s a saying that history repeats itself but the more accurate picture would be that we repeat history. With the way things are going, we are doomed to fail AGAIN. Poll results would show that the Marcoses are back; the senate will be filled up with the same familiar names and topped by two actors most likely to run for a higher field in 2016; and we have a newly elected president who was put into office because of sentiment and popularity much like Joseph Estrada.

Borrowing the words of National Artist Nick Joaquin, allow me to say this, "Is this our tragedy then: that at the climactic moment of our national life our destiny is in the hands of small men with little imagination?”

Is this our tragedy then: that at the climactic moment of our national life our destiny is in the hands of small men with little imagination?

I gave too much credit on the capacity of my countrymen to think things through before casting their votes. I also gave too much credit that the electorate has matured and that real change is coming in my beloved land.

They say that it is better that the sentimental vote won than a stupid vote. I say that in both cases, the nation loses. It remains to be seen if Noynoy Aquino is as good as advertised and if he can be able to make good on his promise never to steal and lead millions of us to the straight road to progress.

For now, I can only standby the proclaimed winner of this elections whether I like it or not, whether I see him capable or not. He will be my president and leader of 90 million Filipinos. I wish him luck because he will need it. His success is our success. His failure will also be ours.

Time to move on, time to start anew. Whether I like it or not. Not to expect too much from the new president, not to expect too much from my people. We still have a very long way to go before we can take on the world. All I can do now is live and make life better.

#179 A Bold Look at Travel Writing

2010-04-01T19:14:00.000+08:00

Sharing a quote from 'Not a Tourist' an article written by Tom Swick.

It incorporates the characters and plot line of a novel, the descriptive power of poetry, the substance of a history lesson, the discursiveness of an essay, and the—often inadvertent—self-revelation of a memoir. It revels in the particular while occasionally illuminating the universal. It colors and shapes and fills in gaps. Because it results from displacement, it is frequently funny. It takes readers for a spin (and shows them, usually, how lucky they are). It humanizes the alien. More often than not it celebrates the unsung. It uncovers truths that are stranger than fiction. It gives eyewitness proof of life’s infinite possibilities.

This writer puts it so well. It's flawless!

#178 Happy Birthday to You

2010-03-21T19:14:00.003+08:00

Thanks for all the love and support. I love you.

#177 NG DAHIL SA 'YO

2010-03-16T08:24:00.003+08:00

Bihira lang akong magsulat sa Tagalog, katulad ng dati kong idolo na si Conrad De Quiros. Pakiusap lang sa mga susunod na kakanta ng Pambansang Awit: Kung sa tingin mo ay artistic expression ang ginagawa mo, gawin mo na lang sa banyo ang pagbirit ng linyang "ang mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo." Hindi na nakakatuwa o nakakahanga. Sobra na. Kung ayaw mo nito, kausapin ang representante para tanggalin ang batas na 'to.

Mayroon tayong batas. Simple lang ang nilalaman nito: ang pagbigay galang sa ginawa ni Julian Felipe. May tamang pagkanta nito at hindi lang basta bastang puedeng ayusin ito para lang umayon sa gusto mo. Kung ang batas na ito ay mahirap sundin e maasahan pa ba na sundin ang iba pang mas mahalagang batas? Ang daming dahilan para takasan ang pagsunod at diyan nagmumula ang halos lahat ng problema ng bansa natin.

Ang daming dahilan para takasan ang pagsunod at diyan nagmumula ang halos lahat ng problema ng bansa natin.

Hindi na ba nakikita ng tao ang kahalagahan ng pagsunod sa batas?

Malinaw na hindi ko dinudada ang pagiging makabayan ni Arnel Pineda. Ang nais ko lang ay maging halimbawa siya sa mga nakararami. Sundin ang batas, ganun ka-simple. May wastong pag-awit at hindi ito katulad ng national anthem ng USA.

Hindi tayo sila. Hindi tayo magiging sila. Hindi natin kaya maging sila. Iba tayo.

Bukod kay Pineda, dapat ring mabigyan ng kaukulan na multa o parusa ang mga nakaraang singer na minasaker ang Pambansang Awit. Kung hindi ito mapursige, sumasagi sa isip ko ang isa pang tanong: Ganito na lang ba kababaw ang pagtingin ng iba sa national symbols natin?

#176 HITTING MY 30s

2010-03-11T23:18:00.002+08:00

In a few hours, I'll be in my 30s. I was looking back at the past years, the joys, mistakes, victories, and lessons learned. I have not yet reached the textbook definition of success. Maybe in a few years hopefully but what really matters to me is how I live my life. Everyday is a choice. There are good days and bad days.

Before I begin my journey in my 30s, here's what I really want to happen:

Learn a new language for my profession. I'm torn between Spanish and German. I love Spanish because it's part of my heritage as a Filipino. It would also help me to reach out to Spanish guests and let them know that I'm one of those who bear no rancor or bitterness with the past. It already happened and it's part of me. I want to reconnect in my own way to increase interest between both parties and someday, it would pave the way to a much deeper understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

However, I'd also love to learn German because I'm fascinated with its people. Jose Rizal was proficient in German. It's probably his next language after Spanish. On the practical side, the Goethe Institute is just near my place and I already have a negotiated rate that is very much helpful in determining my budget. There are also many German tourists here that I'd like to tour. It's mutually beneficial. It's like comparing notes on culture by making Rizal a very good link.
Have our own place and have enough to support. My wife and I almost took a big jump in having our own place but reconsidered given my present situation. Right now, it's like a life of a starving artist. I hope that the day would come soon when I'd sing the lines from a favorite song by Queen.

I'm just grateful and blessed that I have the support and love of my wife. She and my God knows that I will do my best and get back in a big way. I just can't wait.
Have a pet dog. I've appreciated the value of having a dog after seeing the look at my wife's face whenever she plays with Max, her brother's dog. I realized how affectionate and loyal dogs can be. It would be great to have a pet that gives you that kind of lovin'.
Drive. This obviously means that I want to have a car. A Jaguar or Mini would be really perfect but I'd just be happy to have even a VW Beetle. I'd love to drive to Baguio, Batangas, and all the places mentioned in that Eraserheads' song. I'd want to go to Sagada and Pagudpod. Just travel and write.
Write articles and contribute to prestigious print/online publications. I've started by contributing an article to Pocket Cultures. I just want to write and I think that I have something to say in this world. I've also began doing some freelance work as a Manuscript Editor to sharpen my grammar and learn how to communicate clearly.
Save enough. For now, I don't have much to do this but this is always on my mind. I just want to have enough to support us when Aimee and I get old. I see in our future a place near the beach where I'd read a book or write a column/article while Aimee prepares a good meal while watching her favorite TV program or entertaining a guest like some guy named Gabo or Gaiman (this would be infinitely great). A glass of wine for her and a bottle of beer for me. That's what I see. That's what I want to happen.
A trip to Europe. Learning German or Spanish would help us go around Europe. It's not just because of the TV shows that made me interested about Europe but I really want to experience what I've read from guidebooks and the web. My wife is in love with the Mediterranean and I want to experience a cruise trip with her. With my God's help, it will happen.

So far, these are the things on top of my head. They are all possibilities and I am committing myself to do them. Happy birthdays to me in the coming years.

#175 OH, WHAT A RELIEF.

2010-02-28T10:45:00.001+08:00

I love Winnie Monsod. She's a smart woman who has no qualms in asking the real questions. I love how she grilled Mikey Arroyo and how she explained the C-5 mess. I really wished that I got to sit in her classes (I'm from DLSU and I envy those students in the UP who attended her classes).

With a glass of wine on her left hand, she spoke in a dealer convention a few years ago explaining the economy. She then asked a question (I'm trying to remember the exact words):

"When was the last time you attended a barangay meeting/town meeting? Raise your hand."

The room was left silent and only a few hands were seen including hers. She stressed her point that all of us should participate and get involved in our community. How can we effect change in our own way if we're not even part of the solution?

The other day, I read an article attributed to her. It's an outright endorsement to a certain candidate but somehow it made me feel that something isn't right and thank god, that it was a hoax indeed.

The article contained attacks on other candidates which was characteristically not Winnie Monsod. I respect anybody's choice for the presidency but what gets my goat is when people have become desperate in using a person like her to promote that other candidate.

* * *

I received an e-mail a few days ago about Manny Villar owning a majestic house. It came from two friends (one who works in the media and the other is from the academe). Within 24 hours, it's just another phoney accusation.

What does this tell me? It's easy to accuse people without substantial proof and one's credibility becomes easy prey.

#174 Mabuhay Guides Lecture Series: Philippine Literature (Part I)

2010-02-20T18:07:00.004+08:00

Note: The following article was written to recount last year's series of lectures from respected figures in the field of art, music, history, literature, and heritage.

The author based his information from the materials presented and his notes.

Literatures of the Philippines by Virgilio Almario

11 February 2009

It was my first time to meet Rio Alma. I've heard a lot about him and I have seen some of his works in bookstores. I never bothered reading him because of my preference to Quijano de Manila and F. Sionil Jose. After his lectures with us, I easily became a fan of Virgilio Almario.

He was wearing a fedora hat while delivering his lecture about the literatures of the Philippines. We started the session discussing the meaning of cultural heritage as defined by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):

Tangible cultural heritage:
- Movable cultural heritage (paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts, etc.)
- Immovable cultural heritage (monuments, archaeological sites, and so on)
- Underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities and so on)
Intangible cultural heritage (oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, and so on)

It is hard to study intangible cultural heritage because it is based on oral literature and it is only retained by memory. A way to know more about intangible heritage is to study language.

The main subject on that day was about our Native/Folk Literary Tradition. He showed us a list of words and asked us what each means:

Hudhúd
Agyú
Lám-ang
Ambáhan
Tanága
Buláwan
Nága
Payyó

Some of us were able to give the answers. Hudhúd, Agyú, and Lám-ang were all epics. Rio Alma added that the Agyú is the most prominent in Mindanao.

The Ambáhan has four lines, 12 stanzas. Each line is composed of seven syllables.

The Tanága is a Tagalog poetic form. It has four lines that rhyme with seven syllables per line. It is in open form therefore, that it can have multiple lines.

Buláwan is gold. But ginto is gold, right? Almario told us that ginto originated from the Chinese.

Nága is a "dragon" or a "dragonhead found on ships". This is the original word for our national tree, Narra.

Payyó is Payiw in Benguet and Payao in Apayao. These words refer to the Banaue Rice Terraces. Rio Alma noted that present-day Filipinos are suffering from the "Banaue Rice Terraces Syndrome" because we can't even have a native name for something that is truly ours.

Almario said that it's easier to show our "tangible" heritage but our native tradition is "intangible". The best course is to study language because it is the depository of a race's knowledge.

There are 150 languages in the Philippines (It's 200 if we include other dialects). Each language has a rich set of literature. The sad fact is that they are now marginalized thanks to the homogenization of culture by the media.

We are rich in intangible heritage. The Greeks have two known epics, "The Iliad and Oddysey" and Virgil's "Aenid". Pre-colonial Filipinos had a lot of epics. E. Arsenio Manuel recorded 20 epics. These are performed during the harvest season or on special occasions. In Central Panay, a "Binukot" was selected to train and memorize oral tradition. The word "binukot" means "tinago" or "ibinukod".

Each performance was an original and each epic has a cycle. Manuel has four characteristics of a Folk Epic:

Length. The folk epic is a narrative of sustained length sufficient to encompass a story.
Folkloricity. The folk epic mirrors the history, culture, beliefs, and values of the people.
Supernaturalism. The supernatural elements are always present in folk-epics.
Folk-epics are in verse and chanted.

Famous folk-epics such as Hinilawod (Sulod), Darangan (Maranao), Hudhúd (Ifugao), Ullahingan (Manobo), and Ullalim (Kalinga) are songs.

Literary epics are from the West. A song/chant has no refinement. Biag ni Lam-ang/Buhay ni Lam-ang was recorded in 1890 and in 1963 by Manuel.

How have we fared so far in preserving our native tradition? Unfortunately, we're not doing well. Nicole Revel, a French ethnologist, was able to receive a research grant in 1991. He stayed in Palawan and returned to France with five recorded epics.

Before the introduction of the Roman alphabet, we had "baybayin".

Father Pedro Chirino, a Jesuit historian, noted that there are differences in our early alphabet but there are close similarities. Baybayin was written on tree bark and leaves. These were highly perishable. The Tagalogs were 100% literate when it comes to baybayin. The letters "V", "F", and "Z" do not exist to the lowlanders.

Baybayin was nominated to be included to the UNESCO World Memory Register.

Rio Alma talked about folk stories particularly legends and Manik Buangsi. He also mentioned the Swan Maiden Motiff in our stories and also the importance of memory.

The part that struck me before he ended his first session with us was when he said that the most evil act that anyone can do is the removal of memory of a people. Memory is a source of pride and if one loses it, one becomes inferior. The most inferior man easily becomes a slave.

Speaker’s background: VIRGILIO ALMARIO, also known by his nom de plume, Rio Alma, is a National Artist for Literature on the strength of his work – in poetry, criticism, translation and children’s books – and the impact of this work on contemporary Filipino literature and the Philippine literary scene, through the various roles he has been fulfilling with vigor. (Read more here)

-End of Part One-

#173 LAND REFORM & WHY IT SHOULD MATTER

2010-02-19T12:15:00.001+08:00

I am a fan of National Artist F. Sionil Jose because he's a great storyteller and he is true to his advocacy of land reform. His experience is reflected in his novels, the Rosales Saga.

Land reform has been a perennial problem in our country for generations. How can we instill the idea to our people that they own the Philippines if they cannot even till their OWN land? One of the reasons that inequality in our society exists is because of the ownership of land to a limited few. A family has no right before our eyes and before God's eyes to own what they cannot till.

After reading the special report from GMANEWS.TV, my choice is clear and fully reinforced. The other Aquino will never get my vote. Mind you, it's NOT the Aquino name that completely turned me off but it's his middle name that starts with the letter "C". For those with enough time to read and have an open mind, you might consider your choice for the May elections with the five-part report by Stephanie Dychiu and Howie Severino:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five might be out next week.

The Hacienda Luisita issue reeks of filth. One family slyly took advantage of the farmers, accused them of being associated with the Reds, and "eliminated" those who tried to dissent (priests, union leaders, workers). The point is simple: Those farmers have every right to claim what is theirs.

I'm sick and tired of these "expert" columnists conditioning our people that the elections is a a battle between good and evil. REALLY? The bigger picture should be who walks the talk?

Before getting into the limelight, the other Aquino took some positions that ran counter to his recent promise that "he will not steal". Aside from his lackluster performance as a legislator (that's a good nine years), a deeper look at his stand on past issues paints a certain pulitiko who's now portrayed as THE enemy in his campaign.

Consider these parts from the report (bold text mine):

…picketers George Loveland and Ernesto Ramos were shot at the west gate of Las Haciendas subdivision inside Hacienda Luisita, where they were manning a checkpoint. Both survived, but suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and stomach.

Loveland said he recognized his assailants as plainclothes security men who were with then-Congressman Noynoy Aquino's convoy when Aquino entered Las Haciendas subdivision three days before… Before entering Las Haciendas, Loveland said, Aquino alighted from his vehicle and addressed the picketers about a "superhighway".

LOVELAND: Sinasabi niya po yung hinihingi daw po niyang pabor yung sa superhighway na hinihingi niya . . . (He was talking about a favor for the superhighway that he was asking for . . .)

SENATOR OSMEÑA: Ano tungkol sa superhighway (What about the superhighway)?

LOVELAND: Project niya daw po, sir . . . (He said it was his project . . . )

OSMEÑA: Ano ang hiningi ni Congressman Aquino (What did Congressman Aquino ask for)?

LOVELAND: Yung ipatupad, sir, yung kuwan expressway, sir (To let it happen, sir, the expressway, sir).

OSMEÑA: Yung galing sa Subic at Clark (The one from Subic and Clark)?
At the fifth Congressional hearing on the Garci issue on June 30, 2005, three days after Arroyo's televised "I am sorry" speech, Rep. Noynoy Aquino voted against playing the "Hello Garci" tapes. But on July 8, 2005, the Aquinos dropped their support for Arroyo.

Luisita farm workers that GMANews.TV spoke to believe the Aquinos' abrupt withdrawal of support for Arroyo had something to do with the hacienda. The Aquinos broke ties with Arroyo in July 2005, the same month the DAR's Task Force Luisita submitted the findings and recommendations of its investigation. This formed the basis for the government's decision a few months later to revoke Luisita's Stock Distribution Option (SDO) and order the distribution of the hacienda's land to the farmers.

Let's focus on the real issues. Why can't we implement genuine land reform if persons of authority are the landlords themselves? Cory Aquino, with Marcos' dictatorial powers when she took over as president, had the chance to make that huge step but she did not. We had the Mendiola Massacre and this millennium, the Hacienda Luisita Massacre. Now we hear the same promise being made by the other Aquino. Lumang tugtugin na 'yan.

So who's the real enemy of Senator Aquino?

Before we prosecute the so-called devil & evil incarnate incumbent, how about we include the Kamag-anaks of the late president, the Marcoses, and all other past leaders after the Americans supposedly left in 1946? They weren't punished and some have streets named after them.

Looks like our memory betrayed us and I also fault big media for not pursuing these issues until they are resolved. Are we too polite and non-confrontational too see this through?

#172 Mabuhay Guides Lecture Series: Philippine Cultural Identity (Part I)

2010-02-18T07:57:00.010+08:00

Note: The following article was written to recount last year's series of lectures from respected figures in the field of art, music, history, literature, and heritage.

The author based his information from the materials presented and his notes.

Speaker’s background: FELIPE M. DE LEON, JR. is a Professor of Art Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Q.C. where he teaches humanities, aesthetics, music theory and Philippine art and culture and Professorial Lecturer on courses in social transformation, such as Language and Social Transformation, Semiotics, Mythology and Institutional Dynamics, and Accompanying People's Movements, at the Asian Social Institute in Paco, Manila. (Read more here)

Filipino Cultural Identity by Professor Felipe de Leon Jr.

9 February 2009

Professor Felipe de Leon Jr. by Macel Feliciano

Professor Felipe de Leon Jr. started the lecture with his take on professionals today and how narrow-minded they have become. Their main concern is more on the advancement of their respective careers rather than looking at the development of society where they live in. De Leon remarked that these “specialists” cannot cure our problems and that society is interconnected. Our educational system has a problem in instilling this mindset to our youth.

He said this before going over his overall picture on our culture that Filipino consciousness is communal.

Before discussing this further, he gave us a review on the milestones in Philippine history.

Professor de Leon debunks the myth that Filipinos are Malays through the following points:

Filipinos did not descend from the Malays based on studies by Manuel, Jocano, Hornedo from the academe.
Our culture and languages are not derived from Malay.
“There is no such thing as a Malay race in anthropological science” - Dr. Arsenio Manuel
Rizal is not the “Pride of the Malay Race” (Ozaeta, 1949) but of the Filipino people
The belief that the Philippines was inhabited by successive waves of migration of Negritos, Indonesians and Malays has no basis in historical fact.

A world-class linguist named David Zorc who specializes in Austronesian languages had this to say:

While Filipinos want to claim Indonesians and Malaysians as their progenitors (hence the Maragtas, Code of Kalantiaw, etc.), in truth it was from the Philippines that the Indonesians and Malays came, and at a much greater time depth than anyone estimated."

Consider these findings:

750,000 to 500,000 BC - Earliest-dated flake stone tools found in Solana, Cagayan
49, 000 BC - Fossil remains of modern man (homo sapiens sapiens) found in the Tabon caves of Quezon, Palawan
895 to 775 BC – Manunggul burial jar
900 AD - Laguna copperplate document

The translation (text in bold are mine for emphasis):

Mabuhay! Taóng Siyaka 822, buwán ng Waisaka, ayon sa aghámtalà. Ang ikaapat na araw ng pagliít ng buwán, Lunes. Sa pagkakátaóng itó, si Dayang Angkatán sampû ng kaniyáng kapatíd na nagngangalang Buka, na mga anák ng Kagalang-galang na si Namwarán, ay ginawaran ng isáng kasulatan ng lubós na kapatawarán mulâ sa Punong Pangkalahatan sa Tundún sa pagkatawán ng Punong Kagawad ng Pailáh na si Jayadewa.

Sa atas na itó, sa pamamagitan ng Tagasulat, ang Kagalang-galang na si Namwarán ay pinatawad na sa lahát at inalpasán sa kaniyáng utang at kaniyáng mga náhulíng kabayarán na 1 katî at 8 suwarna sa harapán ng Kagalang-galang na Punong Kagawad ng Puliran na si Ka Sumurán, sa kapangyarihan ng Kagalang-galang na Punong Kagawad ng Pailáh.

Dahil sa matapát na paglilingkód ni Namwarán bilang isáng sakop ng Punò, kinilala ng Kagalang-galang at batikáng Punong Kagawad ng Binwangan ang lahát ng nabubuhay pang kamag-anak ni Namwarán na inangkín ng Punò ng Dewatà, na kinatawán ng Punò ng Medáng.

Samakatwíd, ang mga nabubuhay na inapó ng Kagalang-galang na si Namwarán ay pinatawad sa anumán at lahát ng utang ng Kagalang-galang na si Namwarán sa Punò ng Dewatà. Itó, kung sakalì, ay magpapahayag kaninumán na mulâ ngayón kung may taong magsasabing hindî pa alpás sa utang ang Kagalang-galang...

Professor de Leon then showed us a picture to map out the places mentioned:

Man, we were shocked. The Laguna Copperplate dates back to more than a thousand years ago! The places mentioned make sense. It mentioned Tondo, Pulilan, and there’s a place in Obando, Bulacan called Binwangan.

To continue his presentation:

10th to 12th c. AD - Gold ornaments, accessories and utensils reach high degree of excellence, especially in Butuan, Mindanao
1100 AD - Formal trading is undertaken with China, India, Arabia, and with Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia
3th c. AD - A Muslim settlement rises in Sulu
1417 AD - Treaty of Friendship and Trade between the Sultan of Sulu Paduka Batara and Emperor Yong Le of the Ming Dynasty in China
1565 - Spanish colonization begins
1887 - National Hero Jose Rizal publishes Noli Me Tangere
1896 - Revolution against Spanish rule begins
1898, June 12 - Declaration of Independence (The first in Asia)

Professor de Leon mentioned about the “king” of Sulu visiting the Chinese emperor in the 15th Century. Sultan Batara wasn’t able to make it back to Sulu. His remains are in a tomb that is still in China! I was a bit skeptical at first but when I did a quick search on the web, it was in the news and I quote:

In 1417 Batara, with a retinue of 300, traveled to the Chinese Imperial Court in Beijing to pay tribute to the Ming emperor Yong Le. On his way back to Sulu, he fell ill and died in Shandong in eastern China. Saddened by his death, the Ming emperor ordered an imperial burial for the Sultan.

Amazing.

Moving on the next slide is the Symbolism of the Filipino Flag. The texts made in bold are by Professor de Leon.

“Sus ocho rayos simbolizando las ocho provincias de Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna y Batangas, que fueron declaradas en estado de guerra, casi tan pronto como el primer movimiento insurreccional se inicio”
“Las tres estrellas representan las tres principales islas de este Archipielago: Luzon, Mindanao y Panay, en las cuales este movimiento insurreccional estallo”

The translation from my Spanish-speaking friend:

"Its eight rays symbolizes the eight provinces of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna and Batangas, which were declared in a state of war, as quickly as the first insurrection (or revolutionary) movement started."
“The three stars represent the three principal islands of this archipelago: Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, in which the revolutionary movement exploded in these areas."

This is a quote from our Declaration of Independence in 1898. The reason that Luzon, Mindanao and Panay were emphasized is that it’s the original meaning of the three stars. It was the time when the Americans came here and ruled that they changed “Panay” to “Visayas” for imperialistic reasons.

1899, January 23 – Inauguration of Constitutional Republic (first in Asia)
1899, February 4 – 1913, December - bloody Filipino-American War (4, 234 Americans and 600,000 to 1 million Filipinos killed)
1907 - effective beginning of American rule
1935 to 1945 - Commonwealth Period
1941, December 8 - Manila is attacked by Japanese forces
1945, February 27 – End of Japanese Occupation
1946, July 4 - the United States recognizes Philippine Independence; beginning of Third Philippine Republic

After showing these facts, Professor de Leon shared his definition of culture. According to him, it’s simply a way of life. It’s a shared pattern of behavior and meaning. Art is the clearest expression of culture.

He then gave us a series of very good questions:

“What brings out the good, the best in the Filipino?”

“How do you inspire or what inspires Filipinos towards positive, productive or constructive behavior/social action?”

“How do you get Filipinos to cooperate and work together harmoniously, happily, efficiently and effectively?”

“What are we most productive/creative at/in? What is the nature of the Filipino cultural genius (both local and nationally shared)?”

“How do you bring out honesty, sincerity, and loyalty?”

“How do you resolve conflicts?”

“How do you criticize one’s work or raise standards of excellence without arousing ill will and resentment?”

“How do you inculcate or promote discipline and dedication to one’s task?*”

*The feeling of being taken advantage of; being exploited, abused; being treated unfairly, unjustly, or being demeaned, insulted (pinagsasamantalahan, minamaltrato, ginugulangan, nilalamangan, iniinsulto o binabastos) is abhorrent to the Filipino, it being a serious affront to one’s dignity as an ultimately sacred being.

We place a lot of importance on equality.

Professor de Leon then showed the next slide (bold text mine):

We need to build on our strengths. The root cause of our underdevelopment is the Filipino’s tendency toward self-bashing especially among the Westernized elite. It prevents us from tapping our greatest asset for sustainable development - our cultural strengths and resources.

Let’s make our cultural identity as the basis for economic competitiveness. Cultural identity is rooted in originality, indigenousness, authenticity, uniqueness, historicity, magnitude and excellence. It’s common knowledge that anywhere in the world, people prefer the distinctive, one with character, not anything bland or featureless.

Filipinos love to connect especially to people. Professor de Leon goes further in saying that:

“Among the most highly relational in the world, Filipinos are hardly alone. They are happy being together - when they eat, sleep, work, travel, pray, create or celebrate. They feel connected to the world, God and nature, but most of all to people.”

It’s then supported by his observations:

Filipinos hardly eat alone.
Invite a person to your party, guess how many will come?
In any house in the Philppines, there’s a big chance that there’s always a bantay (watcher) and an extra bed
Picture-taking mania
There are prizes for everybody
“Do not praise small items” – Senator Juan Flavier

On the last bullet, Professor de Leon explained that if you praise a small item probably a décor in a house, the Filipino host might even give it to you. That’s how hospitable we are especially if one would be in the provinces. Professor de Leon adds more to his observations:

The expected Pabalot, balato, bonus (forms of sharing)
The Pasalubong (quasi-sacred ritual: gift from a journey)
We cannot keep secrets
Relational terms for calling each other (Kuya, Ate, etc.)
We're the texting capital of the world

The bottom line is that togetherness is equated to happiness. The fiesta is the ultimate manifestation of togetherness. The Filipino Mall combines the plaza and the sari-sari store and you’ll see a lot of families in it especially on weekends. The Filipino Family is the embodiment of togetherness and happiness.

-End of Part One-

# 171 KISS & SMELL

2010-02-14T18:37:00.005+08:00

I have a reprint of Quijano de Manila's collection of love stories based on real events, Reportage on Lovers, and I'm all smiles after reading it. The first chapter was about Valentine's Day, courtship, and kissing. I love the way Nick Joaquin paces information and how he used research in making his points convincing and entertaining.

I'm particularly amused by how our ancestors kissed. Sinibaldo de Mas, a Spanish historian, said that even after they have taught the natives to kiss using the lips (gee, so how did they do that?), Filipinos during those times still rub noses and I guess up to now, that way of kissing is still alive. I proudly carry that tradition :)

I guess our sense of smell is very keen as our sense of taste. We love putting things to our mouths and noses.

When I was a kid, I was a beneficiary of the sniff-kiss or more popularly known as the kiss-nghot. It is combination of a kiss and some sort of sniffing (singhot). In past family reunions, my lola (grandmother) or my titas (aunts) would do this after the customary mano. A mano is a way to show respect to elders by leading their right/left hand and letting it slightly touch your forehead. For me, a way to know if it's done correctly is if you feel the middle knuckle to your head.

Kissing and smelling go hand in hand.

If we talk about smell, we have a lot of words associated with it (bantot, bango, halimuyak, antot, maasim, mapakla, etc.) and we have degrees in defining the intensity of odor especially if we think about food. The common knowledge is that anything that smells good is deemed good for eating like fruits or a favorite home cooked meal.

The ironic thing is that no matter how revolting is the smell of bagoong, it is unthinkable not to have it with green mangoes. It's only in recent years that I discovered how good this "appetizer" is through my wife. There's also the queso de bola that my mom loves to eat every Christmas that has a very strong odor.

Must stop. Drool. Now. Image from Market Manila.

What can I say? Maybe, it's one of the most unexplainable things in the universe. If it smells strong/bad, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's not good.

# 170 TWO TOURS & THE MABUHAY GUIDES BLOG

2010-02-12T22:30:00.009+08:00

I've been quite busy for the past week. It's good news! I had two tours. The first one was with the top brass of Blue Horizons Travel & Tours, one of the best tour operators in the country. On the following day, we guided foreign delegates who came here for a conference on migratory sharks.

I'd say that these assignments turned out great. We received good feedback from the boss of the travel agency which hopefully would lead to more work with them. As for the second group, Candie and I had a blast reading our evaluation forms filled-out by guests (most of them are first-time visitors).

It feels great to guide again after a long dry spell. I enjoy the kind of people that we tour and I get a kick out of being able to shed more light to guests who are really interested in what I'm saying.

It was a busy Wednesday. After having lunch at the Heritage Hotel with the second group that we toured, we (that's Yael, Dennis, and I) went to Robinson's Place for coffee while waiting for our next appointment—an interview and a photo shoot for a magazine.

Town & Country Magazine will feature the Mabuhay Guides in April. I was one of the lucky guides who got picked for this assignment. The interview was with Pierre Calasanz. The Mabuhay Guides were Jeff, Helen, Dennis, Yael and I.

One of the questions that struck me was about something that we picked up from project director. We were all in agreement with the answer: "You are not as good as you think you are nor as bad."

I'll never forget those words because it's a reminder to keep our feet on the ground. We have yet to make a bigger impact to the industry and we cannot be complacent or arrogant. Each tour is a clean slate and it's a perfect way to sharpen our skills. Our way of thinking should be that in each tour, we are driven to be better. I'm happy that I belong to this group of dedicated men and women who share this view.

Where's Jeff? Photo taken by Dennis Maristany.

This was taken after the shoot. We are asked to pose inside the tranvia and a walking "candid" shot as a group in front of Fort Santiago's gate.

* * *

Ladies and gents, I'm pleased to inform all of you that the Mabuhay Guides blog is up and running. Click here to see it. Our resident culturati, Dennis Maristany and I have contributed some entries to this web site and soon, we might see more Mabuhay Guides sharing their views or images.

Aside from an online journal, the blog showcases the destinations where we can guide our guests. READ: It's not only Manila. The exposure tours that we had last year were part of our training so that we can guide visitors coming from the capital. I can't wait to tour guests in places like Cebu City or Bohol!

The blog is a product of a meeting with our project director, Ms. Susan Calo-Medina and my fellow guides. We come from diverse backgrounds and I agree that we have a lot to say and learn from each other. It's also important that we share these online.

It's not only the blogosphere that we're invading, we're now on Twitter too!

# 169 CUADRILLERO

2010-02-07T00:51:00.001+08:00

Recuerdos de Filipinas. Image from Instituto Cervantes.

A general said:

"Give me a corps of Filipino natives and I will reach Peking victorious."

This is a quote from Recuerdos de Filipinas, a photo book published a year before the 1896 Revolution by Felix Laureano, a criollo (a Spaniard born in the Philippines). It's available in leading bookstores. A project by Felice Noelle Rodriguez and the Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation toward a Common Future, this work was translated to English. It describes daily life in the late 19th Century and includes customs and traditions of the "Indios" at the eve of the revolution.

The quote above describes the Cuadrilleros, a corps created by the government to ensure peace and order and to go after outlaws in the archipelago.

When the French were trying to take Vietnam, Laureano notes that:

"The discipline and valor of the Filipinos have been fully tested in the Franco-Cochinchina war.

France would not have taken Saigon without the temerity of the Philippine Army."

The author beautifully writes about the Filipino soldier:

"Before the native enters into battle, he appears timid, terrified, but in the din of battle, he blazes, transforming into a lion oblivious of danger, a prisoner of sudden madness, valiant, recklessly advancing to the most dangerous places and the most difficult engagements in search of heroic feats."

If Japan had the samurai, I bet that the Cuadrilleros can go to toe-to-toe with them.

Laureano is a friend of Juan Luna to whom this lithograph was dedicated to. In the preface, it wasn't clear what was Laureano's stand on the issues important on those days. My guess is that he's probably on the side of the Propagandists because of his association with Luna.

* * *

If I were to cast a movie about this important part of our history, this book will be one of my references because of its attention to detail that tells a good narrative about its old images.

Or maybe I can write a book about this time. Wait. It may sound ambitious but that part of our past is rich in very good stories that can be loosely based on facts. I have yet to read a book that paints a different picture of Filipinos during that time.

I'm sick and tired of seeing fantaseryes and dramas on television that look artificial and have no real connection to us. I want something like a period movie where it takes a different view of us. I want to include Tagalog poetry (I love hearing the language but writing in that Tagalog is not quite my cup of tea), arnis, masonry, the atmosphere of nationalism at that time, how the different tribes related to each other (how did the Ilocanos of that time looked at the Tagalogs), and the effect of Rizal's and the propagandists' work on those who served the Spanish.

Ah, too much thinking. Better get some sleep.

# 168 MY NAME

2010-02-05T17:36:00.009+08:00

I love Paulo Coelho's book, The Fifth Mountain. There's a particular part in it that struck me (bold text are mine for emphasis):

From heaven, God smiles contentedly, for it was this that He desired, that each person take into his hands the responsibility for his own life. For, in the final analysis, He had given His children the greatest of all gifts: the capacity to choose and determine their acts...

The essential point was this: to have a name. When Jacob had answered, God had baptized him Israel. Each one has a name from birth but must learn to baptize his life with the word he has chosen to give meaning to that life.

* * *

I like this book because you can read this to know the hidden years of Elijah when he was in the village of Zarephath without disjointing the story in the Bible. Coelho (my wife said that it's pronounced as "kwelyo") writes it so well without any frills that leaves me scrambling for a dictionary. Simple words with powerful ideas.

On a lighter note,I found this from Urban Dictionary when I typed my name (text in bold for emphasis):

Bryan
A general term, originating in the midwest, for a reformed gangsta who often has relapses to his former being. Despite the fact that he is only truly viewed as a hardcore thug by suburbians and white dudes, he is usually still respected by the niggas and has a reputation for holding his own, getting the job done, and/or having a fat wallet. Bryans are also know for their ability to be able to talk to niggas AND speak 'white'

White Kid 1: Oh no I sense that Bryan is making his way here
(The Bryan walks up)
White Kid 2: Please don't bust a cap in my cracker arse!
(The Bryan stands there, wondering WTF!?)

Black Guy to another Black Guy: "Damn nigga! How you get honky to sell you that cutty so cheap? Always a hustla fo real, Bryan be runnin things in crackasville, huh"

* * *

A high school patch. I have two other brothers with the same first name.

# 167 IF I HAD THE INFINITY GAUNTLET

2010-02-01T14:36:00.013+08:00

When I was a little boy, I used to have this discussion with friends in my old neighborhood about comics. The talk would usually lead to the question: Who's the most powerful being? Who can beat Batman? Who can crush the Iron Man? Who's the ultimate bad ass?

It would end up with a unanimous answer: The one who wields the Infinity Gauntlet. To those who aren't in the know, the Infinity Gauntlet is a glove that has six gems. Each gem respectively has control over an aspect of the universe: Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality, and Power. It's like having Aladdin's magic lamp but way cooler than summoning a purple genie.

Instead of a wish list, the Infinity Gauntlet gives you more of an active role. The Infinity Gauntlet wills it. You have infinity wishes.

Below are items to complete the sentence. Take note that the list deals with the current timeline. I will not undo the past even if I had the power to do so.

Without any further delay, behold!

If I had the Infinity Gauntlet, I will:

Ban forever local showbiz talk shows. I think they're a waste of time and lack relevance.
Remove local TV shows that have the usual plot (The Api vs. Mayaman; Guess who's the parent?; Love story gone complicated because of feuding families; The transformation of the Api to go toe to toe against the antagonist; ANYTHING SEEN IN PRIME TIME TELEVISION NOWADAYS). Do we have anything new aside from madrama genre?
Commission filmmakers to do documentaries about Intramuros to be shown in Discovery Channel.
Remove the tableaux of Rizal's execution in Luneta. It's just too much. There are a lot of people who would like to remember this man's death rather than his life's works.
Clean up the Pasig River.
Connect the islands by bridges, fast trains, and good roads.
Close down factories that cause pollution, arrest smoke-belchers, and impose stiff fines to violators.
Kill all criminals ('yung napatunayan beyond reasonable doubt) by bringing back the Death Penalty.
Increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco. They're cheap here and we had too much of them.
Concentrate efforts on increasing the middle class. Puro na lang masa ang focus, pa'no ang middle class?
Complete the restoration of Intramuros and remove establishments and people who aren't helping in making it look good.
Have people who were caught littering to serve as Metro Aides for a day or a week depending on the amount of trash thrown. Gusto mong maging tourist destination ang lugar mo? DAPAT malinis muna.
Return the sidewalks to the pedestrians.
Establish a commission to review our educational system with real goals to improve our present standards.
Have Hooters recruit those women who dance illegally for a living and pay them obscene amounts of money.

Wait. This reads like things that a president can do. As the owner of the Infinity Gauntlet, I can become...

THE ULTIMATE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC. Yes, I can feel it.
Experience? I got tons of 'em. I know my constituents/subjects.

I have travelled to the northernmost part of the country and got the endorsement of the governor of Batanes.

MULA BATANES. Governor Castillejos making the right choice.
I also got a pledge from Mindanao with Councilor Jerly Areja acting as its representative from Bukidnon.

HANGGANG MINDANAO. Councilor Jerly Areja and MLQ stood as witnesses.
Oh boy, I really can't wait. I just can't wait to be king.

# 166 I LOVE THIS JEW

2010-01-30T07:31:00.003+08:00

Matisyahu, you're awesome.

One Day

Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray don't take me soon
Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waiting for
I been prayin for
For the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day

It's not about win or lose cause we all lose when they feed on the souls of the innocent blood drenched pavement keep on moving though the waters stay raging and in this life you may lose your way, it might drive you crazy but don't let it phase you no way

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence down with the hate one day we'll all be free and proud to be under the same sun singing songs of freedom like…

# 165 A RELEVANT QUESTION

2010-01-29T09:00:00.008+08:00

Below is an entry written by an online friend, Arnaldo Arnaiz.

Is it true that our history is not true?

Posted on January 27, 2010 by De AnDA

I met with some friends a couple of days ago and had an interesting discussion about Philippine History and the need to bring it closer to the mainstream Filipino. A hearty Filipino breakfast was served as usual in the generous home of a man who I admire and respect not only because of his accomplishments in Filipinismo but for the kind of person that he is. He welcomes me as if I’m someone who belongs to his house, and he always listens to what I have to say about history — to think that I’m young and hold no authority in history like him. Of course, these meetings are not complete without his amazing recollections of how it was back then, how everything was before, and how it started to change afterwards. I’m a sucker for stories about life in Old Filipinas. Admittedly, I’m such a zealous antiquarian (people who know me well know what I mean); my fascination with our unique history, our past, has brought me around the country. I’ve always wanted to study and appreciate it more. This desire of discovery only increases as the day goes by.
At first I thought that this love, this interest in Filipino history, is innate in every Filipino. But of course, as you grow older, you understand that there’s lack of real appreciation and awareness among us. History is regarded as mere dates and events, no thanks to our schools’ superficial approach in history education. We’re fed with stories of blood-spattered revolts and fierce struggles but never did they teach us the appreciation of our language, culture, and traditions — all integral ingredients of what we know today as Filipino. Sometimes, the past is not easy to deal with especially if our minds were trained to think in certain ways — thus, we can’t blame the Filipinos of today if they prefer the American lifestyle and culture. As for this generation, we started with the ABCs and the MTVs — the American dream is what we want just like what the disillusioned Federalistas who urged us years ago that America would make Filipinos Americans. The generation after the 1896-1898 revolution were all Americanized, not by choice of course but through brute force. This new master successfully reoriented this country in less than a century, something that they failed to do in the other Spanish colonies they invaded. And this has a lot to do with the Spanish language. So effective was their imposition of their ways on us that we began to feel ashamed of our Hispanic first names and started trading it with theirs (we are already talking about our NAMES, ladies and gents). We naturally would want to rid ourselves with what we perceive is wrong — what we were taught to be wrong.
Instead of having a history which teaches us to connect with our past, we inherited a divisive one, history lessons that are out to cleanse out and destroy the memory of our founding fathers. Revisions stop us from appreciating our rich culture and heritage. We try to find more faults, more errors, when we already know they exist. We forget many important things because we were taught to read history in a way that we’ll make us continue to be sightless of what had transpired. We were already educated and cultured when the Americans came — we seem to forget this fact. We were not backward and godless like what the Americans wanted us to believe — we had a Republic for crying out loud, the first in Asia, an institution which they destroyed. Teaching history was perverted to suit the view of a few. Their view and those who allied with them: the Americanist, who believes the Yankees gave us civilization. And then there’s the nationalist historian, who believes in the edenic principles of an untouched, pristine Philippines but still end up calling it Philippines, as if it existed before the Iberian colonizer came. Many would belittle what I say as mere Hispanist chatter, but some of these heralded historians can’t even define what a Filipino means. Even Agoncillo wrote that it’s hard to plainly describe what is a Filipino — this coming from our premier historian. So what do we expect from students? What can we do about it? This is the question we all must ask ourselves.
We already know what the problems are. We know the revolution spoke Spanish and that the greatest generation of Filipinos that ever lived were not only speakers of Spanish but were artists of the highest order. So what’s with the cold shoulder towards the Spanish language? Are some people afraid of the potential that Filipinos might achieve? That they we might finally uncover the well filled with lies and deceit in our history? Why is it being largely ignored? Some argue that there is no more use for it. Some probably out of contempt and hate; they simply don’t want it around. We have to be reasonable, as I’ve been saying in my previous posts. we now live in a world where English is the language in the world of business. This is an advantage, definitely, and it would be a mistake not to use it. But continuing to suppress the Spanish language and avoiding its inclusion from our schools is unjust. By this, we continue to separate our children from our written history of almost 400 years!
Sometime in the early 1900s, the Americans started reorienting the Filipino mind. The forced imposition of English and the restructuring of the government commenced. Prominent Filipinos even started to push for statehood but the Americans never even intended to marry into our society. Their intention was clear right from the moment they took Intramuros: neocolonialism. American dream? It remained a dream forever. The American never had the intention of giving political equality to a nation which they deprived of its independence. They destroyed the first republic, a government whose existence they failed to recognize. To them, we were considered as lowly “negroes” and savages in the worst epoch of the modern world. They justified their occupation with benevolence and democracy. The genocidal war against those who resisted is probably the greatest cover up in our modern history. Why is this not taught in school? Because it would be too harsh for the America that we know of from history books. They were, after all, according to our books, benevolent.
English was introduced only in the early 1900s at a time when Filipinos were already using Spanish as the language (as Srª Soledad Lacson-Locsín calls it). Something that many historians try to dismiss but with overwhelming documentation (in Cebú, the Acta de Gobierno and almost all government papers were written in Spanish until the mid 1900s; this was prevalent in most of our old towns) available in written Spanish. It’s impossible to deny that its status was indeed national. It’s historical revisionism to claim that it never was. How many people spoke Spanish is subject to debate, as some contemporary historians claim that it was not even spoken by one percent of the total population, a gross exaggeration in my opinion. The Ford Report indicates otherwise as it details the widespread use of Spanish. Carlos Palanca made similar observations in a separate document. Pío Andrade, Jr. has written that much of Chinatown spoke Spanish! As if our literary giants who wrote in Spanish were not enough to convince us that there is a need to bring it back. We have yet to see a Rizal or even a Recto equivalent from our English writers. Our contemporary writers’ work would turn pale in comparison to our Hispano writers. I know it’s an unfair comparison but this happens to be the truth. Some might never had the chance to learn it but this was because of the conditions brought by the new political rules imposed on us. History shows us that the Spaniards public school intended to teach it at the end of 1800s. It failed because the Spaniards were preoccupied with issues of empire survival (Spain was then undergoing political crises). There was no one to teach the language. What I believe is that there were varying degrees of how the language was used, but its status as the official language was never in question back then. Its decline started when it was removed and replaced with English. The role Spanish played in our national history is an enormous one. Add to this is the more than twenty thousand adopted Spanish words that we have in Tagalog. This alone should be enough to bring it back in the classrooms. But why are we encountering so much resistance in its reintroduction? Let me go back to my earlier statement, “we were taught wrong”, for if we understand its value, historically we would never give it up. It was the late senator Blas Ople who said that its removal was a “strategic error” on our part. It was a blunder of epic proportions. How I wish all our children can read Rizal, Recto, Mabini and all our great men of letters in their original.

# 164 THE PAINTER AS FILIPINO

2010-01-28T18:00:00.005+08:00

Last year, I had the privilege to attend a lecture by Eric Torres, one of the leading art critics in the country. He talked about art and what makes it Philippine. We went through his slides showing the movements in European art that eventually led to a discussion about foremost Filipino painters particularly Juan Luna.

On our next session, we visited the National Art Gallery. It was my second time to see the Spoliarium and it got me to ask Mr. Torres about the prestige of Luna winning the top prize in Spain. A friend told me that if one would like to make it big in the world of art then one should have his work shown in Paris. I drew a sharp remark from Mr. Torres: "You be the judge! Look at this painting!"

In my later research on Juan Luna, I found an article written by Mr. Torres for a lecture in 1967 for an exhibition commemorating the 110th birth anniversary of Juan Luna at the Lopez Memorial Museum. It described the situation of the Ilustrados at that time and dissected Luna's artistic leanings. I'm quoting some parts of this lecture. Bold text are mine for emphasis.

"In the 19th century, anybody in Europe who wanted to be somebody in the art world had to submit his works to the Salon. The Salon, which could make or break him, was annual exhibition run by an association of established artist largely connected with schools of fine arts. If he was lucky, his works passed the severe screening test and were shown to the public. These Salons were grand affairs attended by everybody—the bourgeoisie and the ruling classes, the culturati and the glamorosi—who could give the aspiring artist overnight success, instant respectability, social status, and money. If he won a prize, so much the better. He became, in time, part of the Establishment itself that dictated artistic taste. He had it made."

Imagine living in that period when little was known about us then here comes Juan Luna, making his mark in the art circles of Europe. He gained recognition as a great painter, who's also a Filipino. The article goes further in describing Luna as an artist:

"In the case of Luna, as with most Salon painters, art could not remain something that simply presented visual order and compositional balance, and end in itself, social, and even political ends. To serve such ends it must employ technical means, dynamic and rhetorical enough to excite the emotions of the spectator and inspire him into action. A style, in short, that leads itself to propaganda. The style of the Spoliarium, and other historical paintings with similar message to deliver, draw more from romanticism than from classicism, because of Luna's passionate, impetuous temperament."

His work, The Spoliarium, serves a higher purpose.

"It is the kind of painting that lends itself to the patriotic needs and on which Rizal and others projected a nationalistic symbolism; it has the kind of visual rhetoric that helped rouse the Filipino desire to do something about political oppression."

He did go to Paris and based on his works, it was said that he was hesitant to dabble with Impressionism.

Impressionism is an aesthetic that captures the essential qualities of an image, such as the shifting effects of light and atmosphere. The most common subjects of Impressionists were landscapes, scenes of bourgeois recreation, and urban slices of life. (Source: The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge, 2007)

It was a growing movement in Europe at that time and it has a profound effect to modern art. Think of Monet, Cézanne, Manet, Renoir.

To state it more plainly, the conventional was more like this:

The Inspiration of a Poet. Nicholas Poussin, 1630 .
The reaction was this:

Woman with a Parasol, (Camille and Jean Monet). Claude Monet, 1875.

* * *If we go by the definition of Impressionism, I think that Luna's "Tampuhan" is his best work as an Impressionist.

Tampuhan. Juan Luna, 1895 .
What makes this painting so special is that it captures a familiar trait in our culture. It's tampuhan and it has no direct English translation. The word closest to this is "sulk" which isn't accurate. I think we have varying degrees of feeling and we communicate non-verbally. We raise our eyebrows to add emphasis to what we're saying; our lips in pointing directions; our pakikiramdam in determining if somebody has tampo and Luna was able to capture the essence of this word by this beautiful painting. You know that it's ours. You feel in it your bones upon looking at it. This is us.

# 163 AFTER ROYETTE PADILLA

2010-01-26T19:06:00.005+08:00

So much has been said about Jason Aguilar Ivler and his mother, Marlene Aguilar BUT what I really can't take (aside from the way this woman speaks) was the way that she has to bring up her book. Who gives a shit?

This stupid act reminds me of the news of Royette Padilla, brother of the greatest Pinoy action star Robin Padilla (Hindi ko naabutan ang kasagsagan nila FPJ, Erap, and Lito Lapid). His claim? He's the Heavenly Brigadier General in the Heavenly International Police Commission of the H-World United Nations Military Philippine Government? It's a mouthful so it's called H-World. It has 10.5 million members all over the country and it's registered with the SEC at the time that the article was written.

I'm more inclined to believe this than Aguilar's claim.

In an interview, she said:

“I wrote a book exposing the twin towers [attack] is an inside job. I exposed that Nazi-Germany was funded by American businessmen. If American businessmen funded Nazi-Germany, who bombed Pearl Harbor?”

Wow. Damn those Americans! Everything is a conspiracy! Holy siniopao na pusa Batman! Those Yanks are up to no good! Better get me a copy to know more about this secret.

How much for a copy? P1,450!? Now, THAT is a conspiracy to con people. Pricey too.

I'm curious if this publicity has worked to increase sales.

Oh, there's a warning too:

"If your mind is locked away within the rules of society, religion and other institutions, please do not buy this book. You will not get it. But if you have wondered what it's like to have freedom of mind and spirit, then this book might set you free."

Reading this makes me happy to know that my mind is locked in this reality.

# 162 KASI NAMAN

2010-01-24T13:09:00.002+08:00

Narinig ko 'to kahapon habang sakay sa taxi papuntang Manila. Magaling ang pagkakasulat at bagay na kasama ukelele.

Mula sa website na ito.

Mahal Kita Kasi
by Nicole Hyala

Bangin ka ba? Kasi
Nahuhulog na ako sa’yo, naman kasi
Unggoy ka ba? Kasi
Sumasabit ka sa puso ko, naman kasi
Pustiso ka ba? Kasi
You know I can’t smile without you

Pagod na pagod na ako
Maghapon ka na kasing tumatakbo sa isipan ko
Kasi naman kasi
Mahal kita

Bagay tayong dalawa
Papicture nga
Para mapadevelop kita
Hindi tayo tao, hindi rin tayo hayop
Bagay tayo, bagay talaga

Papupulis kita, kasi
Ninakaw mo ang puso ko, naman kasi
Kuto ka ba? Kasi
Palagi ka sa ulo ko
Naman kasi

Apoy ka ba? Kasi
Alab-alab I love you
Magsalbabida ka nga
Kasi baka malunod ka sa pag-ibig ko
Kasi naman kasi
Mahal kita

Bagay tayong dalawa
Papicture nga
Para mapadevelop kita
Hindi tayo tao, hindi rin tayo hayop
Bagay tayo, bagay talaga

Kamukha mo si Papa P, Papa P (bingo)
P Papa P, Papa P
P Papa P, Papa P (bingo)

Exam ka ba, kasi
Sasagutin kita agad-agad, naman kasi
Drugs ka ba? Kakaadik ka naman kasi
Kulangot ka ba? You’re really hard to get

Posporo ka ba? E di posporo rin ako
Parang match
Kasi naman kasi
Mahal kita

Bagay tayong dalawa
Papicture nga
Pare madevelop kita
Hindi tayo tao, hindi rin tayo hayop
Bagay tayo, bagay talaga
Pustiso ka nga, kasi
I really really can’t smile without you.

# 161 WAR & DISSENT

2010-01-23T20:15:00.006+08:00

I went to the National Museum of the Filipino People (that's the Finance Building near the giant Lapu-Lapu statue) for Ambeth Ocampo's lecture and the exhibit of War & Dissent. It was my first time to meet Professor Ocampo. I asked him to sign two books which I think are his best works:

Rizal Without the Overcoat. This made me read more about the patriot.
Talking History- Conversations with Teodoro Andal Agoncillo. Agoncillo comes alive and fighting in this book.
Perhaps, it's fitting to note that a part of Ocampo's lecture can be read in his book, Talking History- Conversations with Teodoro Andal Agoncillo. Agoncillo's take on Philippine History was that there was "no Philippine history until 1872". This pertains to the execution of the three secular priests Gomburza (Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora) in 1872 because there was no direct interest (from the Filipinos) in the way history was written in those times.

To be more clear, here's a quote from Ocampo's book, Talking History- Conversations with Teodoro Andal Agoncillo, page 156:

"I mean, there is a history but the trouble is nobody wrote that history except the Spaniards and, naturally, the Spaniards would favor the Spaniards. The role of the Filipino was submerged. That is what I meant. So, only beginning with 1872 was the role of the Filipino really given importance."

There will be some who will challenge this claim particularly Nick Joaquin who sees it differently. I think he's the anti-thesis to Agoncillo.

Ocampo also mentioned differences in how a word can change the whole sense of an event. For example:

The foreign viewpoint: In 1521, Magellan discovered the Philippines.
The "nationalist" viewpoint (most notable is Zaide): In 1521, Magellan re-discovered the Philippines.

The two statements sound funny. The former means that the islands weren't there while the latter means that the islands were submerged and were re-discovered later on.

Ocampo came up with a better statement: In 1521, Magellan arrived in the Philippines. In the first place, the Portuguese explorer didn't even know where he was! (this drew laughter in the Tambunting Hall).

One word changes the whole sense of the event thus, the renaming by the US Library of Congress of its records from the "Philippine Insurrection" to the "Philippine-American War" goes a long way in setting our point clearly.

That change made by the US Library of Congress means that...
...it recognizes the first Philippine Republic under Aguinaldo.
...it recognizes the Philippine Wars for Independence.

It is not an "insurrection" because the word implies rebellion against a legitimate authority. Who gave the Americans the right to take possession of these islands?

I don't know if that's enough to convince most of our people to consider how we see America and their role in our history. They are not our saviors as some of them claim to be especially after the Second World War. What is good for the United States doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for us. Like it or not, the effects of this new colonization will remain. It still has to be transformed into something that is truly ours but only better. It will happen and I hope to see it in my lifetime.

Steps have been taken especially in 1988 (the ratification of the US bases in Clark and Subic) to make this event, a war that we fought as a national community, known to our countrymen. Ocampo mentioned that they made a documentary about the Philippine-American War. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) censored this and for two generations, this was kept from the public. It would be interesting to show it now to help us not to forget.

* * *
Some humorous moments in the lecture:

The films made by Thomas Edison for propaganda. It was shot in New Jersey and the actors who were hired to play as Filipinos were African-American judging by their complexion and hair. There were some clips showing Filipino soldiers after getting shot were "rising from the dead". And the heroic display of the stars and stripes.
Henry Lawton (we owe the name Plaza Lawton to him), the highest ranking casualty of the war, led the campaign to capture the Apache Geronimo. Curiously enough, he was taken down by a Filipino sniper under the leadership of Licerio Geronimo.
A video of mules crossing the Agno River in Cagayan. Just to show that mules weren't abundant in Filipinas. The Americans have to bring them over because they don't know how to deal with carabaos.
A painting of an American soldier attacked by a carabao. This happened in the course of the war. The reliable carabao became a weapon of Filipino forces. Ocampo gathered explanations from both sides. According to the Gringo, the animals would charge against people wearing dark colors (in this case, the American soldiers were in blue while the Filipinos in white). From the Filipino perspective, it was said that the carabaos know the scent of their masters.

Ocampo added that the carabaos would attack those who were uncircumcised based on scent.
The transfer of the NHI marker commemorating the first shot of the Filipino-American War from San Juan to Sta. Mesa. For a brief time, Ocampo was declared persona-non-grata when he did this (he asked his people to move the marker on an early morning). Somehow, he was able to appease the mayor of San Juan by placing a new marker to commemorate one of over a thousand battles that took place in this war.

The original marker is now in Corner of Sociego and Silencio Streets, Santa Mesa District, Manila.

The lecture ended with an invitation to visit the exhibit on the fifth floor and to have some refreshments.
* * *
I saw Lola Jessie of the Lichauco house chatting with an American student from the Far Eastern University. I tried to greet her but soon, she was swarmed by a group of young people. I decided to go on with my research because the display was about to close. Someday, I'll have my chance to have a talk with her.

I also met a bibliophile who's generous enough to share his Filipiniana collection. He asked me if I'm a student of history. I just smiled and told him that I'm working with the Department of Tourism as a tourist guide. He gave me his card. I plan to pay him a visit soon.

I also read accounts from Ninay Lopez and her family's sad but heroic experience during the war. Tumindig ang balahibo ko nung binasa ko ang mga sulat ni Ninay at ng kapatid n'ya na ayaw sumuko sa mga Amerikano.

There's also a voice over of Mark Twain speaking out against US imperialism. Thank you, Mr. Twain and the Anti-Imperialist League of America. You are the ones who truly adhere to the American way.

I also wrote down this quote from Major Cornelius Gardner, a US Military Governor in 1902:

"Almost without exception, soldiers, and also many officers, refer to the natives in their presence as 'niggers', and the natives are beginning to understand what 'nigger' means."

I also picked up some words and what it truly means based on the book, The Influence of Seapower Upon History, 1890 by Capt. Alfred T. Mahn:

outward impluses = colonize
liberate = occupy
pacify = conquer
civilize = subjugate

This visit made me more aware of the facts behind this little known event in our history. Do I walk on eggshells if this is discussed with guests? Hopefully not. It happened and it should be acknowledged. It happened and it's real.

I'd like to take the example of some German students that I toured when we talked about the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany. They were cool with it because they know where they stand before history. That's a healthy and level-headed way of handling it because it happened and it should never happen again.

# 160 LOOKING BACK

2010-01-17T20:33:00.001+08:00

I'm reposting a part of this piece that I wrote last year.

As I type this, my eyes are feeling it. They're tired. Tired of answering questions and I'm just looking forward to Monday. I want to feel alive because I know that this is worth fighting for. I want to be true to myself.

I've just started making my dream possible. I want it so bad.

One day at a time. Taking that step made me feel alive. Even if I were to die today, I know that I've done it. It brings peace to my mind. I'm being confident that I gave my best.

Tomorrow will be a big day for me. It will reveal choices that I will make. I go with a strong heart and trust in the Almighty. I'm calling out to the universe to hear what I have to say:

"For almost a year, I have sacrificed. It has brought me tears of sadness and joy but I remained steadfast because I want to be true to myself.

I've grown as a person and I also saw people who truly matter in my life. Tomorrow marks a new beginning, a path of happiness and prosperity. My word still stands and it is powerful."

# 159 THIS IS WHERE THE 700 CLUB GETS A BAD RAP

2010-01-15T20:30:00.003+08:00

It just makes me want to hurl. Who in the name of all that is sacred gave him the right to judge the people of Haiti? I can't believe that THERE ARE people who are buying his bullshit. Considering his stature as one of the most recognizable televangelists in the world, he has done a great disservice to his God.

I don't watch the 700 Club save for the episode where Ninoy Aquino was Pat Robertson's guest. I also remember a Pugad Baboy strip where they were torturing this guy by making him watch the 700 Club. This is not to demean the organization. Make no mistake, I'm only singling out its head. Pat Robertson, shame on you! I pray that your God gives you cancer of the testicles or anything that is slow and painful. Very painful.

I'm so angry by his irresponsible statement. Millions of people are suffering and here you are condemning these people for "forging a pact with the Devil". How did you know Mr. Robertson? Have you been sleeping with him? What were you smoking when you said that?

And yet, there's the spin from one of his followers:

“Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath,” the statement read. “If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them. His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster.”

He said what he said and it's needless to be explained. Pat Robertson, you're a douche bag!

# 158 EASY ASSERTIONS

2010-01-12T07:49:00.013+08:00

Below is a comment made in a friend's Facebook note about the other candidate:
I love reading commentaries on our favorite pastime, Philippine Politics. As much as I try to avoid posting topics related to this in my blog, I just can't bring myself to do it especially after reading this remark about the Aquinos.

Let me be clear that for the presidency, Noynoy is not my candidate BUT that doesn't mean that I would glean over or deny the Aquino family's patriotism. If we're pressing our case and if we wanted people to consider our choice/candidate, let's highlight our candidate's qualities and platforms, NOT disparage the other candidates or even attack them with unverified facts.

Going back, the trouble with citing sources in the internet is that the chances of getting credible ones are small. Instead of books or visits to libraries, we can just type away Google or Wikipedia then search. I chose not to comment because the note is addressed to my friend's contacts and not to me so I will go on in my own page. I will cite Nick Joaquin's well-researched work, The Aquinos of Tarlac as my main source (if you need to check the sources behind it, send me an email and I'll be glad to provide them).

Let's go over his assertions:

Assertion #1: "The Aquinos never, even just once in Philippine history, fought for the Filipinos."

It's either the commenter didn't have time to read or was lazy enough to drag his ass to be informed. General Servillano Aquino (yes, Noynoy's great grandfather) led the revolutionary forces in Tarlac against the Spaniards and was one of the delegates of the Malolos Republic. He was part of the revolution of 1896.

It was in Mount Arayat where he made one of the republic's last stand before surrendering to the Americans. He was imprisoned and then pardoned afterwards by the colonial government. General Aquino was proud of what he did that he had his picture in Bilibid proudly displayed in his home.

Assertion #2: "Ninoy's father was accused of collaborating with the Japanese during World War II. He was taken back to Japan and imprisoned at Sugamo by the Americans. That alone was enough to show how UN-NATIONALISTIC he was."

If we're going with this line of thinking that those who cooperated with the Japanese were automatically "traitors" then we have a limited view of what happened in those turbulent times.

Quezon left with MacArthur to Australia and we were left with leaders who had to find a way to cooperate with the enemy. Imagine if our grandparents were directly under the Japanese Imperial Army.

As Claro M. Recto said:

We are confronted not by theories but accomplished facts. In normal times we would be disloyal, but we are obliged to cooperate with them — and we cannot permit that others be allowed to rule in the interests of Japan or any person.

It's unfair to quickly dismiss the Second Republic as a "Puppet Republic" (I cringe whenever someone makes this reference). If it weren't for people like Benigno Aquino Sr., Jose P. Laurel, and Claro M. Recto, we could have suffered more. These men were there to soften the impact of the ruling army.

Who deserves to be called a patriot? Is it someone who fights to the death for his beliefs or someone who knows that he has the ability to work his way around the enemy while keep his people safe from harm? The answer is YES to both. It's a tough balancing act but Aquino chose the latter and for that, he was persecuted when he returned after his imprisonment in Sugamo.

He died of a heart attack while watching a boxing match with his son, Ninoy. Among the first visitors to arrive was President Manuel Roxas. Tony Aquino, one of the sons of Benigno Sr., recounted:

"The President told the General that the dead man would be given all the honors due him: necrological services and a funeral under the auspices of the State. The General looked at the President as though they were face to face on a battlefield. 'Mr. President,' said my grandfather, 'nobody thought of giving Benigno any honors when he was alive. In fact, some people suspected him of being a traitor. I don't see how, now that he is dead, he is less of a traitor. I will take my son back to Tarlac and bury him my own way. Thank you very much for your offer.'

"President Roxas approached me and said: 'Tony, talk to your your grandfather. I know how he feels.' So I talked to Lolo. You know, you'd think Daddy would be bitter about all those accusations against him; but he was not. He just said: 'History will vindicate me.' But my grandfather was different; he was very hurt. So he said again: 'Thank you, Mr. Roxas. I will bury my son with the honors I think he deserves. Why should he be a patriot because he is dead?' And he said to me: 'Tony, we are taking your father back to Concepcion. Hire a special train.' But we were able to prevail upon him to accept the President's arrangements."

Benigno Aquino Sr. was exonerated by the People's Court four days after his death. As for Ninoy's heroism, so much has been written about the man.

# 157 WHY I WILL VOTE FOR THE MAN

2010-01-10T15:30:00.003+08:00

I believe that the effort to disregard the rich cultural diversity of our country led to a lot of damage. The single language, single ideology line of nation-building has not been a positive development for our country. It has bred bigotry and division.

I believe that we must accept that we are diverse. We are an archipelago, for heaven’s sake. We must encourage that diversity and teach each other what we are, so that a culture of tolerance and respect evolves. Even the contributions of our colonizers such as languages, both Spanish and English, must be appreciated and their use enhanced. The world itself because of increasing interconnections is getting increasingly culturally aware. We should be the same in our own country.

(Text in bold are mine)

This is one of the many answers that Gibo Teodoro gave to F. Sionil Jose (who belongs to my list of favorite authors) in his column this week. Like the others who made a comment on the article, I'd say that indeed, this is one of the most extensive pieces on the man. He IS the one running for the presidency and he IS his own person. I'm looking for a president who runs on platforms and not on vengeance or fanfare. I'm voting a candidate who is qualified for the job and inspires people. I'm at peace with my choice for the presidency. I want someone who looks beyond his term.

Gibo Teodoro is the real deal for me.

# 156 WHOA.

2010-01-06T17:12:00.004+08:00

I can still draw! Now, this is what I call a breakthrough. It's been a long time since I've finished a drawing with a definite idea in mind. This is me serenading my wife with the song "Always" by my favorite in denial band, Bon Jovi.

Need some work on my line work. It's quite shaky but nevertheless, I'd say it's a fine start. Well, actually, the image below is the first work I did this year because I was difficult last night. This is my peace offering to my wife.

Need to draw more :D

# 155 PAMPAGANA NG UMAGA

2010-01-05T08:57:00.004+08:00

ENVELOPED IDEAS
Singing out my enveloped ideas
Doesn't seem all too bad
Hoping it would be easier
To sing out my enveloped ideas

Trying pointlessly to understand
Having nothing to say
Just shadows and what remains boxed inside
This is called is what my enveloped ideas

Singing out my enveloped ideas
Doesn't seem all too bad
Hoping it would be easier
To sing out my enveloped ideas

Why should I carry this platter? (platter)
Didn't it just pass me by? (by...)
And does one cleave right on the edge? (the edge)
I have an empty dream, this here my ideas.

Taken from the official website.

# 154 WELCOME, 2010

2010-01-01T10:00:00.006+08:00

This is my first blog post for the new year and the new decade. In a few months, I'll be 30. People grow old but it doesn't mean that they tend to be wiser.

I want to be wiser. More mature and more confident in trying out new things. This is not a resolution but more of a conscious choice that I'm trying to grasp for months. I want to be a travel writer aside from being tour guide. To make it possible, I will write about the places where I've been and master the basics of good writing.

* * *Aimee and I met up with her friends from the UP. They're a cool group of people with high IQ (because they're from the UP, that's why). Our usual meeting place was at McDonald's in Greenbelt. After having the only McChicken Burger that I had for the year, we went to Cyma for some drinks.

I tell you folks, if you don't like huge crowds, try going to the mall on New Year's Eve. You won't be stressed. There's no traffic. No annoying people who walk too slow. It's an unbelievable sight. Low population density. Everybody's nice. Everybody's in high spirits. I was Mr. Congeniality that day. I was greeting attendants of restaurants that we passed by.

We talked about an alternate universe where all of them would still be in college; where Lady Gaga is their Madonna; where one of them is a man whore; where one of them has a sex video with Hayden Kho; where one of them is a lesbian; where one of them has a huge dong; where one of them is barker of UP Toki; where one of them participates in the annual Oblation Run; where one of them is a tree-hugger; where one of them is drug pusher.

The friends from UP told me that "ten years after" would set the divide between two generations. This made me feel quite old which makes the song Return to Innocence applicable. We will be hitting our 30s this year, and I'll never forget this post that I saw in Tumblr: 1989 was 20 years ago. Holy shit.

On the other hand, while today's kids may have the Internet, reality shows, iPods and other gadgets, they will never experience the joy of catching dragonflies, the excitement of playing tumbang preso and taguan, the thrill of stashing porn under their beds, the simplicity of this thing we call "life" while watching Thunder Cats, Looney Tunes, Transformers, G.I. Joe and Silver Hawks (just to include you suckers who loved this cartoon).

# 153 MY 2009 IN PICTURES

2009-12-27T00:02:00.008+08:00

# 152 THE TRAGEDY OF IT ALL

2009-12-26T20:15:00.004+08:00

Aside from the traumatic mistake of rooting for Miriam Santiago, the early 90s reminded me of those times when life was simple and controlled. The programs aired in Channel 2 made a lot of sense back then with Ang TV at the helm. When it was Boy Abunda - Kris Aquino free, ABS-CBN made intelligent moves in hooking its audience without making them cry too much or toying with people's desperate situations in game shows.

It was a time of wonder. It was a time of Tagalog-dubbed anime shows. Most notable of all is A Dog of Flanders.

Why I picked A Dog of Flanders over Cedie (ang munting Princesa (!?)) and Princess Sarah?

The Story and Characterization. One of the rare times that I didn't mind hearing Caucasians speak in Tagalog. Ginoong Boman, Lolo Jehan, Nello, and Patrasche. Plot? Poor innocent boy with hidden talent in drawing gets persecuted and the climax is that he dies with his dog in the end after viewing his idol's masterpiece. San ka pa? It's a different kind of happy ending for a guy weaned at fairy tales and Disney movies.
Quality of animation. Early anime's are a lot better compared to what we see now. For a tv series, this one's praise-worthy. The attention to detail and character design were a perfect fit.
That lasting tear-jerking experience that rivals The Death of Optimus Prime. I get misty remembering that episode where Nello and Patrasche die. Before death took them, Nello and his dog "luckily" got a view of Peter Paul Ruben's work. It was this piece that wasn't shown in the TV series:

The Elevation of the Cross by Peter Paul Rubens. The poor boy and his dog saw this on Christmas Eve (Image from Wikipedia).

Justice for Nello and Patrasche!

# 151 HATS OFF TO YOU

2009-12-25T19:38:00.012+08:00

I'm a sucker for hats. I have two Fedora hats from Fort Santiago, a fisherman's hat from my days in Toyota, a jungle/ safari hat bought from a shop in Puerto Princesa, and now I received a new one from Aimee :D
The Christys Crown "Andrews" 100% Wool Felt Fedora Crease Top Hat Snap Brim Derby. It's quite a mouthful but the shop personnel told Aimee that it's a fedora. I love this hat.
I'm not that familiar with hat brands and since the hat came with a tag, I made a quick research about Christys. The site's under construction but there are some sections that are up. The business was started by a British named Miller Christy. He studied for seven years to master the art of making quality hats. This skill has been passed on for more than 200 years.

Aimee has been egging me to wear this hat because it goes well with long sleeve shirts. For that, I doff my hat to you.
Maligayang Pasko! The Siopaos extend their warmest greetings to you.

# 150 IPOD REDO

2009-12-23T14:41:00.005+08:00

Before 2010 begins, I'm preparing my playlist with all my CDs lined up. I plan to customize it and make it worthy to be called the soundtrack of my life.

Oh by the way, I'm flashing the "L" sign but that doesn't mean that I'm voting for leading presidential bet in the surveys. I may have caught the Yellow Fever but after a few weeks, it dissipated. I stand by my opinion about "old names" that I made in my past post.

# 149 MARINDUQUE AS BELLAROCA (Days 2 & 3)

2009-12-19T21:24:00.005+08:00

Day Two
9 December 2009. The day started with a heavy breakfast. We over-ordered because we thought that continental breakfast means that they would only serve bread. Had a long time convincing Aimee to swim again. The water's still cold but we enjoyed it.

Dinner was served under the stars. The ambulance that night was awesome. Thanks again to the staff of Bellarocca for the setup :D

Day Three
10 December 2009. We had to wake up early to make it to our flight back home. Not much pictures but the main highlight could be the rainbow :D I haven't seen one in a long time. A great way to celebrate. Thanks gad!

# 148 MARINDUQUE AS BELLAROCA (Day 1)

2009-12-08T17:24:00.015+08:00

It's been planned since October for our third wedding anniversary. The wife (the reliable one) made the arrangements and availed a very good promo from Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa in Marinduque. The place is reminiscent of Santorini (READ: I haven't been there but by the pictures that we've taken so far and comparing them with the real thing, I'd say it pretty comes close).

As I always say to my fellow Mabuhay Guides whenever I am pleased, "the ambulance is terrific." The staff very polite and accommodating. It was worth the plane ride going here. We drove for 45 minutes from the airport in Gasan and passed through Buenavista, one of the six towns in Marinduque. On the side of the road was the Sibuyan Sea which gives a great view of the Tres Reyes or the Three Kings.

According to Dan, one of the team members of the resort, Bellarocca used to be known as Elephant Island. It's now managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts Corporation, the same company that handles Astoria Plaza and A. Venue Hotel Suites.

We were with a Korean couple and surprisingly Dan was able to converse with them while we were on our way to the dock. I had time talking to Dan and I found out that he worked in Korea for more than nine years. I told him that it's an advantage nowadays to know Korean especially in the tourism industry.
A speed boat was used to get to the island in five minutes. Bellaroca was launched this year and it's owned by a Japanese businessman. His wife is a Filipina.

We were warmly welcomed with a song from the resort's staff and had the customary garland and welcome drinks while waiting for the golf cart that will bring us to the main building.

After freshening up and taking some pictures, the wife and I had lunch in their dining area. A soft warning however (yes, the Pinoy in me says this in all honesty), be prepared to spend money for very very good food. Bellarocca's menu is quite pricey but since this is a very special occasion, we spoiled ourselves a bit.

The shot of espresso gave a fitting end to a very fine meal. I had Chicken Cordon Bleu. It's spicy and it's just right. We then had a tour of the island using the golf cart. The pictures are quite gloomy because the sun did not appear. It even drizzled in the afternoon but the wife and I managed to take a dip on the resort's infinity pool near our room.

The pool was cold but we got used to it and I somehow made a few half laps. We went back to our room to change clothes and prepare for dinner. Tonight, we ate at the pavilion by using a golf cart to go there. The steep climb uphill and downhill is one of the highlights of the day. I feel bad for the staff because they would have to go to the main building to get our food. The strong winds outside the pavilion made us change tables. We went inside for dinner and again, I have to write this, dinner was worth the money.

It would be silly to go to this island without a loved one. The place is just romantic. The ambulance is indeed terrific. It's sweet just like the desert that we had.

But there is one itsy bitsy beef about Bellaroca: The omnipresent complimentary toothbrush is nowhere to be seen. A special request had to be made.

Day Two tomorrow :D

# 147 CAN'T WAIT FOR 2010

2009-12-07T20:35:00.005+08:00

It's going to be 23 days to go before the year ends and I just can't wait. There are a lot of things to look forward to and I'm lining them up in my head. Perhaps this is the right time to plot out possibilities but before doing that, I'm taking a look at my life this year. There are ups and downs like the years that went before.

I like putting meaning to them just to make it interesting. Just to make it fun and eventful.

The second biggest jump that I did so far is to pursue my passion and because of this, I have tasted the sweet and the bitter times. I saw the difference between having a steady source of income and having a source that is seasonal. I also have had shortcomings which I chose not to dwell on. I will settle my dues soon with family and friends. This year, I learned a lot about myself.

All in all, I have no regrets and neither do I have second thoughts about what I have done and what I'm about to do.

This to shall pass. Given the choice between the life that I had before and the life that I have now, I choose the latter anytime within the day, in a heartbeat, et cetera. This is my road in discovering myself as a person and I won't let the stories that I've made up for years dictate my being.

My eye is still on the ball and I refuse to give up. Life is an empty canvass and it's up to me to paint or draw whatever it is that I want.

Bring it on, 2010. I can't wait to own you.

* * *
On December 9, 2009, my wife and I will celebrate our third year of marriage.

I have said this to you countless times but I'll say it here as well. Thank you. Thank you for the love and support. You are truly my greatest friend. I love you so much.

# 146 LONG READ BUT VERY WORTHWHILE

2009-10-22T18:38:00.005+08:00

Note: Macapili best explains his points in this great article citing references to back up his views to which I agree except for his assertion on Rizal as an American-backed hero.

Make no mistake. This is not a racist entry. Ang problema kasi sa iba kung minsan, pag tinitira ang US, may label na kaagad. We need to have a balanced view because not everything that the Americans "gave" to this country is good. Sames goes to the Spaniards.

The post deals a lot about our re-education under the Americans and also shares information about the short-lived republic of Aguinaldo which is a vital part of our history that needs to be dealt more in classrooms.

Why Filipinos are not a patriotic people

"Ang isang lahi na walang marangal na gunita hinggil sa sarili ay isang lahing madalîng alipinin at patuloy na may isip-alipin kahit bigyan ng kalayaan." - Virgilio Almario.

( Photo source: University of Michigan Digital Library)

It is truly disheartening that Filipinos are not a patriotic people. Yet, a decade and a hundred years ago this country teemed with patriots - Sancho Valenzuela, Flaviano Yenko, Aniano Diokno, Maximo Abad, Luciano San Miguel, Eugenio Daza, Julian Santos, Faustino Guillermo, Macario Sakay, Simeon Ola, Arcadio Maxilon, Martin Delgado, Urbano Lacuna, Juan Cailles, Licerio Geronimo, Sixto Lopez, just to name a few of the unheralded. But today ineptitude, helplessness, indifference and disregard for law and order prevail. Seekers of favor, privilege and position outnumber those who are willing to make sacrifices for the country. And not one among contemporary public officials show any real interest in leading the people out of poverty, ignorance and apathy. The puzzle becomes even more pronounced whenever the question is asked why the likes of Aguinaldo, Rizal, Bonifacio, Jacinto, Del Pilar, Luna, Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce are nowhere to be found. Did something unusual happen then that we are not told today?

Revisiting the Aguinaldo era

A diligent student of Philippine history could use the internet to get to the facts that would lead to the solution of the puzzle much faster. With some luck, he might find himself in a gold mine of information, The student would find books, pamphlets and documents containing unfamiliar accounts and events, facts that an average Filipino student could not have encountered in his school days or professional career. Indeed, so much had been deliberately missed out in Philippine school textbooks concerning the events that took place after the United States succeeded Spain as the colonial master of these islands at the turn of the twentieth century.

It will take a little while to gather the data and digest the facts, but eventually a clear scenario will form in one’s mind like several frames as in a graphical presentation. First to show would be the frame of Bonifacio, then Aguinaldo, then the battle of Manila bay, then the Filipino army and navy, then the siege of Spanish garrisons throughout Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao, then the victorious Filipino flag flying in towns and cities, then the first Filipino republic, then the armed intervention by the Americans, then the Filipino war of resistance, then the defoliation, reconcentrado and water cure, then the surrender of Filipino guerrilla fighters, then the American colonial government, then the public school system and the final frame, the new Filipino.

The student would realize no sooner that the reason why today's generation of Filipinos are not patriotic is because they are descendants of the new Filipino, or those that William Howard Taft condescendingly called the little brown brothers. (Taft, 125). These were the generation of Filipinos who had undergone a process of reeducation, which the nationalist historian Renato D. Constantino called the remaking of the Filipino. The parents were the patriotic Filipinos who fought side by side with Aguinaldo, but the offspring would be taught to become subservient Filipinos of the American colonial era.

But what would likely escape notice by the unwary student is that the reeducation process was not accidental, or a result of teaching English or other American-oriented subjects. As will be proved later, the reeducation process was deliberate. It was carefully designed to erase from the memory of the Filipinos a very sad chapter in their country's history. The public school system was utilized to implement a systematic process of indoctrination in order that Filipinos will have no recollection of the horrors they went through in their heroic resistance to American occupation. That the process was successful can be gleaned from its product, the new Filipino whose descendants today are wrestling with lost national identity, unfamiliar with the blood and tears that their forefathers shed in a bitter struggle to establish a government of their own, free and independent.

McKinley's clever ploy

The story of the transformation of the Filipino from the patriotic to the subservient came about with the rise of America as a world power in late 19th century. U.S. President William McKinley wanted to take the Philippine Islands as an American colony following the British model. However, territorial expansion that ignored the rights of the inhabitants to American citizenship violated the constitution of the United States and the libertarian tradition of the American people. Nevertheless, President McKinley was obsessed and completely consumed by his imperialistic design.

He ignored the favorable opinion of Admiral Dewey and the other American generals about the capability of Filipinos for self-government and their superiority over the Cubans who the United States freed after the Spaniards were driven out of Cuba. He also refused to acknowledge the accomplishment of the Filipinos in defeating the Spaniards and establishing a de facto government that held ninety-three percent of the country and administered to ninety-four percent of the population. The so-called Philippine republic, according to Washington officials, was not recognized as a belligerent by the powers, e.g., England, United States, Germany, Japan or Russia, and therefore, for practical purposes, did not exist. But whenever the American generals needed anything from Aguinaldo - oxen, horses, wagons, timber, encampments, supplies or information, he was addressed as Commanding General of the Philippine Forces.

Rather than sympathize with a struggling people, the McKinley administration concocted a very clever ploy. The American public was made to believe that the Filipinos were savages, uncivilized, and unfit for self-government. The Filipinos were likened to the American Indians who lived among several tribes scattered all across the Philippine archipelago. McKinley presented himself as the knight in shining armor that Divine Providence had anointed to lead the Filipinos out into the bright sunlight of western civilization. (Storey, 177). But what the American public was not made privy to was the prospects of enormous profits from hemp, sugar, timber, India rubber, gold, silver and other precious metals, coaling stations, and control of commerce in the east that made the Wall Street schemers very excited about. Neither was the American public told that the Filipinos fought the Spaniards to gain their independence and will fight the Americans to defend that independence. And so McKinley's obsession to colonize the Philippines proceeded with the ayes of the members of the United States Congress and applause of the American people.

War of extermination and devastation

What Aguinaldo thought was an alliance with the Americans against Spain was eventually exposed to him as a masquerade to the real motives of the Americans. Soon after Aguinaldo had defeated the Spaniards and a large of contingent of American troops had arrived in Manila, war was commenced by the U.S. military in February 4, 1899, which influenced a wavering U.S. congress to ratify the Treaty of Paris, the treaty between Spain and the United States which ceded the Philippines to the latter, by a majority of only two votes. McKinley gave the Filipinos only one choice - submit to American authority or die. The Filipinos chose to fight a vastly superior army rather than submit to a new master. For almost a year, the Filipino army faced the superior American forces in open-field or conventional warfare only to be clobbered in each engagement. Filipino initiatives for truce were rebuffed by the Americans with a demand for an unconditional surrender of the entire Filipino army before any talks are opened. But the Filipinos refused the terms of an unconditional surrender without a clear commitment that a government under an American protectorate will be respected. And so the fighting continued.

Eventually, the succession of defeats in various battlefields forced Aguinaldo to change strategy. He issued an order to disband the 30,000 strong Filipino army in November, 1899 and constitute the officers and soldiers into guerrilla units in their home provinces. The change in strategy surprised the Americans who began to suffer heavier casualties from sneak attacks and ambuscades by Filipino guerrillas. So the bloody conflict, which should earn the title, the first modern guerrilla warfare in Asia, dragged on for three more years. The tenacity of the Filipinos was reflected in a statement of Teodoro Sandico, a member of the Aguinaldo cabinet, who issued a proclamation on May 16, 1899 which said in part:

“... I think it is our duty to exhaust all our resources for war, organize all our forces, and not consider ourselves conquered until the last cartridge has been fired.” (Luzon, 21)

McKinley did not want a prolonged war because he was facing a reelection. Neither was he willing to let the American public know exactly what was happening in the Philippine islands. McKinley refused to accept General Arthur MacArthur's report that the whole Filipino nation was loyal to Aguinaldo and that practically every town served as a base of Filipino guerrilla operation with full moral and material support from the townspeople. McKinley was following a very clear objective – put the Philippines on the map of the United States. Therefore, he had to misrepresent to the American people that the war was being waged only by what he called the Tagalog tribe, and that the several other tribes were willing to accept American authority. He had to keep the American public hold on to the misconception that the Filipinos were savages and unfit to govern themselves, and justify his intrusion into their purely domestic affairs.

Accordingly, the American generals were put under severe pressure to end the war soonest because the American public might soon ask why a small savage tribe is able to resist the most powerful army in the world with 70,000 soldiers manning 500 stations by June, 1900. (Storey, 160) And it was at this point that all rules of civilized warfare was thrown aside and strict press censorship was enforced.

McKinley’s predicament and the unusually stiff resistance of the Filipino guerrillas drove the American command to adopt a counter strategy. The new strategy targeted the civilian population who were deliberately made to suffer untold hardships so that they will have no other recourse but to long for peace. In his circular order no.22, General Bell, in implementing his pacification campaign in Batangas province, said:

"To combat such a population, it is necessary to make the state of war as insupportable as possible, and there is no more efficacious way of accomplishing this than by keeping the minds of the people in such a state of anxiety and apprehension that living under conditions will soon become unbearable. Little should be said. The less said the better. Let acts, not words, convey the intention." (Storey 120).

Accordingly, the war turned into a war of extermination and devastation characterized by a very negligible ratio of combat prisoners versus deaths (historical data is about 4 prisoners to 1 death), torture, concentration camps, indefinite incarcerations, indiscriminate killings, defoliation and devastation of towns and farms, and fueled mainly by racist contempt - a colored race had no right to stand up before a supposedly superior white race - accentuated by retaliation from the Filipino side. According to a prominent American anti-imperialist, George Seawall Boutwell, one pretext for the war, has been the assertion that the Filipinos were uncivilized, and, therefore, that they were not entitled to consideration. (Willis, 250). The Filipinos were called niggers, gugus, khakias and ladrones. As the war dragged on American loathing of Filipinos amplified to higher levels. One author who described the conflict as a war of extermination says the war was characterized by the slaughter of innocent women and children “... the Americans burning and devastating all before them ... and shooting every Filipino.” (Valentine, 18).

Torture was resorted to all throughout the islands. John Morgan Gates said that by the middle of 1900, Americans and Macabebes resorted to the water cure and other forms of terror. They seized people and forcibly filled their stomachs with water until they revealed the hiding place of guerrillas, supplies, or arms. (Gates, 175). According to Blount, the water cure was practically the only way the Americans could get a Filipino betray his own countrymen. (Blount, 204).

Another harsh method used extensively was the reconcentrado, or something equivalent to a huge concentration camp, a method inherited from the Spaniards. Civilians were herded into designated security zone and any person, animal, food, or anything useful to the guerrillas, that were found outside the security zone were killed or destroyed.

U.S. General J.W. Bell, in his report of December 6, 1901 to Washington discloses the methods he will employ to rid Batangas of rebels, viz:

"I am now assemblying in the neighborhood of 2,500 men who will be used in columns of fifty men each. I take so large a command for the purpose of thoroughly searching each ravine, valley and mountain peak for insurgents and for food, expecting to destroy everything I find outside the towns. All able-bodied men will be killed or captured... These people need a thrashing to teach them some good common sense, and they should have it for the good of all concerned." (Storey, 120)

Moorefield Storey quotes a Republican Congressman who visited the islands in 1902 expressed these observations:

"You never hear of any disturbance in Northern Luzon; and the secret of its pacification is, in my opinion, the secret of the pacification of the archipelago. They never rebel in Northern Luzon because there isn't anybody there to rebel. The country was marched over and cleaned in a most resolute manner. The good Lord in heaven only knows the number of Filipinos that were put under ground. Our soldiers took no prisoners, they kept no records; they simply swept the country, and wherever or whenever they could get hold of a Filipino they killed him. The women and children were spared, and may now be noticed in disproportionate numbers in that part of the islands." (Storey, 121-122)

The indiscriminate target of American military campaign was best described by John Rich McDill when he said:

"During our military operations in the field we saw a most beautiful country, but week after week we passed through abandoned and silent towns, villages, and fields, ... The women and children, the old and feeble, and the sick, were hiding unsheltered in the woods and mountains. We, a perfectly armed and equipped army of the most powerful republic in the world, were pursuing and killing sad-eyed little brown men and boys, who were scantily clothed, poorly nourished, and almost unarmed..." (McDill, 2).

The new American strategy worked. By sowing fear, inflicting pain, causing death, or destroying property, the Americans succeeded in forcibly isolating the guerrillas from the civilian population, the main support base, and this was the principal factor that caused the weakening of the resistance and bringing it to an end. General Miguel Malvar, the last of the great Filipino generals to surrender, in explaining why he and three thousand of his men gave up in April, 1902, wrote that he could no longer bear the sufferings of the people.

The estimate of the death toll in Luzon attributed to the war was one-sixth of the population. (Storey, 121). The total population of the Philippine Islands in 1900 was somewhere between eight to nine million. An American war protester made this comment:

"There is no doubt that we have caused the destruction of more lives in the last three years than the Spanish did in any century of their misrule. " (Winchester, 13). [author: It brings to mind the holocaust four decades later. The only difference is, the Jews did not forget whilst the Filipinos did.]

Despite the strict censorship employed by the U.S. military on reports by U.S. national newspaper correspondents, numerous documented accounts of the use of harsh methods found their way into local newspapers from letters of American soldiers to their families in the United States. Some of these letters led to investigations by the U.S. Congress. A transcript of one such investigation contained the testimony of two American soldiers, William Lewis Smith and Charles Riley, describing in detail the administration of water cure to the presidente [town mayor - author] of Igbarras, Iloilo and three of the town’s policemen, including the subsequent burning of the whole town.

Blot on an immaculate linen

Definitely, against the backdrop of the great American heritage, this McKinley misadventure in the Philippines was destined to become an ugly episode in the glorious pages of American history. It would be a contradiction to the long held constitutional and democratic principles of liberty that the American people hold dear - that men are created equal and have inherent rights to freedom and democracy. Certainly, American authorities would not allow the true story of Philippine conquest blemish American honor. Therefore, it would be logical to assume that steps were taken to muddle this section of Filipino history, erase it from the memory of the Filipinos, make them forget the horrors they went through, and hide it from the prying eyes of future generation.

True enough, steps were taken to make Filipinos forget!

Francis Burton Harrison, once the Governor General of the Philippine Islands, described the steps taken:

"The exhibition of the Filipino flag, under which they had fought their war against us, was made by statute a criminal offense. Patriotism was never encouraged in the schools, nor ideas which tended to arouse their own national consciousness. Everything which might help to make the pupils understand their own race or think about the future of the country was carefully censored and eliminated. Nevertheless, the good sound stock of American ideas which they received instructed them inevitably in our own democratic ideals, and in our pride in own liberties." (Harrison, 45).

The irreconcilable former General of the Filipino army, Artemio Vibora Ricarte, who took to his grave his refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, preferring solitary confinement, then a self-exile in Yokohama, Japan, saw beyond the facade of American altruism an insidious design when he said:

"The truth is America taught our young people the things that commemorate the lives of Lincoln and Washington in order that we will forget in our hearts the exemplary deeds of our nation's great heroes. The Americans believe that once we are able to speak good English is proof enough that we have learned, yet in our minds is being instilled a wrong thinking, the superiority of the white race." (author's translation of Tagalog text found in Kabataan, 12).

Many political and military leaders of the defunct Aguinaldo government accepted generous offer of high position in the American colonial government. Those who did not and refused to take the oath of allegiance to the United States were exiled to the Marianas. [Aguinaldo, for his part, rejected all offered positions in the American colonial government, although he took the oath of allegiance to the United States. When the Japanes Imperial Army occupied Manila during WWII, Aguinaldo and Ricarte actively supported the Japanese sponsored government. - author]

War relics and voluminous captured Filipino government records and documents officially labeled as Philippine Insurgents Records (PIR) were shipped to the United States. American teachers came to inaugurate an American-sponsored public school system. English supplanted Spanish, [a language change that was not done by the Americans in Puerto Rico or Cuba - author], and with it went the loss of Hispanic literary and intellectual heritage, making the succeeding generation of Filipinos fertile grounds for the propagation of the good sound stock of American ideas.

Filipino schoolchildren were taught to revere America, and belittle the land of their birth. The first line of a beautiful Tagalog love song, for instance, was translated to English with emphasis on the state of being borne poor, instead of placing the focus on the demigod character of the hero, who was born on top of a mountain with the clouds as his cradle; he played with thunder and was caressed by lightning. In another case, the popular Tagalog folk song, the bahay-kubo, was translated to English as “My nipa hut is very small”, again, the emphasis on smallness. And yet this popular folk song is supposed to depict a prosperous small rural farm where all kinds of vegetables abound.

Another important step that American authorities took was the designation of Dr. Jose Rizal as the national hero. Carl Crow, says:

"Among other things the Filipino people lacked to make them a nation was a hero - a safe hero, the only safe ones, of course, being dead. Aguinaldo held the highest place in the eyes of his countrymen, as the leader of the recent insurrection, but he was ... one who might be of considerable danger to the American administration. It was expedient to establish a hero whose fame would overshadow that of Aguinaldo, and thereby lessen that leader’s ability to make future trouble. ... Governor Taft, ... at once fixed on Jose Rizal…" (Crow, 53).

The designation of Jose Rizal as the national hero was calculated not only to lessen Aguinaldo's ability to make future trouble. It had the effect also, and this is the more important, of making future generation of Filipinos identify the Spaniards as villains and the Americans as saviors. On the other hand, if Aguinaldo were the national hero, future celebration of the hero's day would not only highlight the victory over the Spaniards by the Filipinos and the government they established, but also the unjust war of conquest waged by President McKinley on the Filipinos to deprive them of their freedom. The choice of Rizal over Aguinaldo saved the Americans from being remembered as the butcher of the Filipinos, the pillager of their land, and the destroyer of their republic.

Aguinaldo could not have been the choice for the national hero judging from the American effort to discredit him, as follows:

“Let it not be forgotten that Aguinaldo sold out his patriotism at Biac na Bato for a miserable pittance, which he failed to divide with his generals; that his ambition for preeminence did not stop short at the assassination of Andres Bonifacio and of General Luna.” (Briggs, 78).

The truth is Aguinaldo and his comrade-in-exile in Hong Kong lived frugally from the interest on the $400,000 Biak-na-bato funds which they deposited in two Hong Kong banks. When the second phase of the revolution started, Aguinaldo used the funds to purchase armaments from Hong Kong. On the other hand, the death of Bonifacio and Luna being blamed on Aguinaldo were the unfortunate result of collision of strong personalities that threatened the very survival of the Filipino cause. Bonifacio was mounting a counter revolution, while Luna was dividing the army. To quote Teodoro Kalaw: “the times demanded firmness and the Filipino cause could not afford to be divided”.

The new Filipino

From the day the American colonial administration was inaugurated in 1901 the new Filipino emerged, known today as the little brown Americans. These are Filipinos by appearance, but Americans in thought, word and deed. True to Harrison's specifications, the new Filipino spoke English very fluently, knew much about American ideals, history, arts, literature and music by heart, but have a very vague notion of their ancestors' struggle for freedom, or their sacred dreams and aspirations that drove them to arms. They would usually turn into very competent professionals, but would lack one very important trait – patriotism, thanks to the methodical classroom strategy that Harrison described.

The process of making Filipinos forget did not stop after the Americans let go of the Philippines in 1946. A Grade IV pupil in the year 1951 was still being taught to sing Star spangled banner, God bless America etc. By the time the same child stepped into High School, he would be made to study American history on the First Year and in later years memorize the address of Lincoln at Gettysburg and the poem, The Song of Hiawatha. In other words, for more than five decades the Filipino was subjected to something similar to what was considered diabolical - brainwashing.

In sum, the American conquest of the Philippines was not just a case of subjugating an unwilling people. It was also a case of making the same people forget that they were subjugated.

Where to, Filipino?

How else would the Filipino behave after being deliberately trained to think as an American? When Filipino leaders of the newly independent Philippine government signed treaties with the Americans that were today considered disadvantageous to the country, were those leaders dumb or lacking in intelligence? Definitely not. These leaders were very highly educated. The likelihood was by training the leaders had taken to the habit of putting the interests of America first, their own country's next. Strangely, the Filipino psychology mistook the interest of the American as his own, something that could only happen in a case of mistaken identity. The sad part was more and more foreigners, have now moved up to the same status as the American in the eyes of the Filipino. But the real tragedy seemed to be the low regard that the Filipino had learnt to give to anything native, while showing a religious-like devotion to things American or foreign, an attitude that had wrought havoc to the development of indigenous industries.

What lies ahead for the Filipino? For as long as schoolchildren are taught to sing Jack and Jill, not Leron Leron Sinta, and would likely never learn or hear the tune of Pamulenawen or Sarumbanggi, the Filipino would be doomed to national perdition. In other words, the Filipino malaise would remain unrecognized and no serious steps would be taken to unmake the colonial Filipino. Unless the Filipino national character changed, one could only hope that the nation would succeed given the heavy burden of corrupted sense of identity. The salvation of the Filipino would not come from foreign aid or investment, preferential treatment, free trade or remittances of OFWs. Rather, it would depend primarily on the rejuvenation of the Filipino mind, i.e., the rekindling the spirit of 1898 - the love of country and the aspiration to be free and independent. The only recourse of the Filipino would be to reclaim the patriotic character of the heroes held hostage by the muddled past, and to acknowledge that the Filipino race could accomplish great things just as Aguinaldo did. It will give the Filipino today the confidence, strength and courage to remedy the present and approach the future.

A nation can only succeed if the people make sacrifices. But without patriotism there can be no sacrifice.

# 145 BAGUHIN NA RIN NATIN ANG PANGALAN NG PILIPINAS

2009-09-24T20:40:00.006+08:00

Dahil gusto ng mga lider natin na baguhin ang ating kasaysayan, marapat na palitan na ang disenyo ng bandila natin.

Tama nga naman. Sa dami ng nagawa ng ating mga lider natin tulad ng pagpapalit ng pangalan ng kalye, pag-deklara ng public holidays, pag-isip ng mga magagandang slogan para ma-isingit ang kanilang mga initials at pagtadtad ng mga walang kwentang tarpauline sa lansangan, bakit nga naman hindi puedeng pakialaman ang bandila natin?

Dahil puro pagbabago ang gusto nilang gawin marahil puede na rin natin baguhin ang pangalan ng bansa natin. Gawin na natin itong: PhilippinesM o PilipinasM.

Yaman din lang na puro malls ang makikita na natin dito, tama nga naman na lagyan ng extra letter ang Philippines-- ang letter M. Tanda ng kontribusyon ng mga malls na simbolo ng ating pagsasama. Ito ngayon ang nakapag-iisa sa atin kahit sa weekend man lang.

Nakikita ko na:

Ang ganda ano?

* * *Hindi ko akalain na pati ang bandila natin ay pakikialaman pa ng mga lider natin. Matatanggap ko pa kung ito talaga ang ibigsabihin ng bandila natin, pero ang sabi ng kasaysayan ay HINDE.

Isa pang punto na mariing dapat pag-isipan mula sa Culture and History ni Nick Joaquin:

But even if we can prove that the Moro raiders were really more intent on liberation than on slaves and booty, we must still ask the vital question: Was their idea of liberation “national” — or merely the liberation of themselves as a tribe or a sect? For the revolutionaries of the 1890s, their struggle meant not merely a liberation from something (imperialist tyranny) but the liberation of something (the Filipino “people”), which they envisioned as an entire country composed of diverse elements (pagan, Muslim, Christian, etc.) and yet was a nation, one and indivisible, now and forever…

That is why these revolutionaries have been given a special mark in our flag. And if a special mark is to be given to the Muslim freedom fighters too, it can only be because they, too, fought for similarly large vision or intention: a community transcending tribal or religious differences; a nation composed not only of their own tribes but also those poor enslaved Visayans, Tagalogs, etc.

# 144 A DAY IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

2009-09-20T21:30:00.006+08:00

They don't make art like they used to.

Hindi maganda ang mga monumento na nakikita natin ngayon. Wala sa kalibre ni Guillermo Tolentino. Hindi ka mapupukaw o ma-inspire man lang. Walang drama. Walang kwento. Katulad ng MMDA art.

Kung itatabi mo ang rebulto ni Ninoy Aquino ('yung nasa Ayala Triangle) sa monumento ni Andres Bonifacio, makukuha mo na ang ibig kong sabihin.

Ito ay art.
Ang Spoliarium. Ang painting na nagbigay inspirasyon kay Rizal na magbigay ng makasaysayang talumpati sa Madrid.

Ito ay HINDE.

Ang Mallarium. The bane of Photoshop and tarpauline.
Talagang hindi ko makita ang ganda o mensahe nito. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pamantayan para mailagay ito sa kwarto na adjacent sa kwarto ni Juan Arellano, isang dakilang arkitekto. Ang tanong sa sarili: Ito na ba ang pinakamagandang homage para sa gawa ni Juan Luna?

Maraming magagaling na Filipino graphic designers at sa tingin ko, mas mabibigyang ng katarungan ang salitang "homage" kung sila ang gagawa o kung iba ang ilalagay na gawa.

Habang iniisip ko 'to bigla kong narinig ang tanong ng katabi ko:

"Whose fault is this?"

***
My fellow guides and I went to the National Museum (NM) for a more detailed lecture about... the National Museum. The first time that I visited NM was back in Grade three or four. What I only remember was the two-headed stuffed cow, the Spoliarium, the statues of Quezon and Osmeña, and the facade of the Legislative Building.

The National Museum Building/ Legislative Building, now known officially as the National Art Gallery of the Philippines, houses works of Juan Luna, Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo, Victorio Edades, HR Ocampo, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Jose Joya, Vicente Manansala and other National Artists.

Here are some pictures:

It would be much better if one sets a day to visit the National Museum. My pictures aren't enough to do justice to these works.

# 143 TEN YEARS AGO...

2009-09-13T19:56:00.006+08:00

...I was praying hard that the DLSU Green Archers win back-to-back championships. My life back in college was The LaSallian, the school paper. I was there when Dino Aldeguer made it possible.

Ten years later, my beloved team fails to make it in the Final Four and only a video from youtube brings some comfort.

***

Ten years ago, my best friend was Jose Cuervo.
I can drink like there's no tomorrow.
Starting to wish that those days didn't go.

Ten years later, I miss alcohol. I can't drink because of this damn medication that I've been taking for more than three months! I'm not angry, okay!?

***Going back.

Ten years ago, I thought that leaving this country was the best thing that could ever happen to me.

Ten years later, I'm beginning to see that staying and being a positive voice in my country is the best thing. Cheesy but it's true.

***Ten years ago, the idea of working in a multinational company meant security, fulfillment, and happiness.

Ten years later, I really don't know. Security, fulfillment and happiness are found inside.

***Ten years ago, talk is cheap.

Ten years later, people cheapen talk.

***Ten years ago, I was enjoying my life in college. I was actually wasting my time hanging around, sleeping on the bench, being the harasser, being the harassed, watching PDA (Public Display of Affection), eating KFC, ogling, getting friendly with the new staff, and cramming.

Ten years later, I'm trying to come up with something clever to place this contest from Avalon.ph in my blog so that I can win a SIGNED copy of Neil Gaiman’s hard-to-find book, Adventures in the Dream Trade (trade paperback edition).

I'm doing it for her, the girl who has been with me through good and not-so good times.

Besides, she's a bigger Gaiman fan than I.

Again, cheesy but it's true. This one's for you.

# 142 TALAGA NAMAN OO.

2009-09-10T18:52:00.003+08:00

I-click ang image para mabasa ng maigi.

# 141 FROM QUEZON WITH LUV

2009-09-05T10:03:00.014+08:00

Change from a tindero. Click image to see the scribble.

A few weeks ago, my fellow guides and I went to Malacañang Museum. This is part of our training. If one would like to know the history of the Philippines, a visit to this place is worthwhile. It connects everything. After all, it IS the center of power.

Some highlights courtesy of Chito Tayag's camera.

Kalayaan Hall. This is the Old Executive Building.

Mabuhay Guys and Gals. Beside the pillars of Kalayaan Hall.

Salon del Trono. This was the venue for important events and functioned as a ballroom.

Osmeña Room. This used to be the meeting room of the Cabinet.

Mabini's bust and his writings. These are displayed at the Old Executive Secretary's Office.

The regal Quezon Room. The main chair was used in Marcos's declaration of Martial Law.

Function room turned library. Imelda used to host special functions in this room.

Cory Magic. Tools that destroyed the dictatorship.

Our group is offering this tour to anybody who wants to have a deeper understanding of the political history of the Philippines. A visit to this old building tells it all.

# 140 APILA

2009-09-02T20:00:00.005+08:00

Unang apila, itigil na ang ugaling ganito:

Hindi nakakatuwa bagkus nakakalungkot. Okay lang naman na ipadama mo ang dedication at pagmamahal sa girlfriend pero utang na loob, konting respeto lang sa sarili. Alam naman natin na kaya ng babae na buhatin ang bag n'ya. Kaya n'ya. Ganun lang ka-simple.

Sa mga pagkakataon na gustong tumulong, puedeng buhatin ang bag kapag may mabigat na dala, nagsho-shopping, nagkamot, nagsuklay, o kung pakiramdam mo na bagay sa 'yo 'yung bag. Ahahahay.

Hindi lang kasi tama at hindi na kasi tama.
* * *Pangalawa, para 'to sa mga mahal kong Lasalista.

Pakiusap lang naman. Hindi lang sukatan ng talino o dunong ang tamang pagbigkas at spelling PERO malaking bagay na gawin ito sa tamang paraan. Wala namang masama. Tama kung tama, hindi ba? Tignan mo 'tong nabasa kong comment sa isang blog:

Maaring puedeng palampasin ang pagkakamali sa grammar at spelling. Pero sa season na 'to madalas nating maririnig at magagamit ang masakit na salitang: LOSS. Pagkatalo. Hindi LOST. Hindi LOOSE. Sana naman alamin ang tamang gamit ng mga salitang ito. Hindi nawawala ang laro at hindi rin ito lumuluwag.

Kaya napapa-iling ako kapag nakakabasa ng ganito. Inaamin ko na may mga pagkakataon na nagkakamali ako. Tao lang rin naman ako pero kung nagdududa ka sa sinulat, mag-isip muna at magtanong. Walang masama at nakikita ng taong pinagtanungan na nais mong matuto.

# 139 A SEASON OF FIRSTS

2009-08-30T11:51:00.005+08:00

I'm a die-hard Green Archer fan and I'm writing this to find some solace. It looks like the season's over for my team.

* * *Masasabi kong maswerte ako at na-experience kong maging champion and La Salle nung 1998 to 2000. Ito ang panahon na buhay na buhay ang pagiging fan ko ng basketball team. Lalong hindi ko malilimutan ang 1999 season.

Game Three 'yun. Nasa Cuneta Astrodome kami, ang lugar na kung saan hindi pa nanalo ang La Salle. Ito ang lugar kung saan hindi pumasok ang lay-up ni Elmer Lago laban sa UST nung 1994 (kaya ito nakatatak sa isip ko dahil ito rin ang taon kung kelan naitanim sa akin ang pagiging fan ng La Salle). Game Three din 'yun. Hindi ukol sa La Salle.

Mabalik tayo. Gumawa ako ng effigy ng Tigre na may pana sa ulo. Ito 'yun:

Dinala ko 'to nung Game Three. Nasa loob ako ng bus kasama ang mga kaibigan ko sa The LaSallian, ang peryodiko ng pamantasan. Nung mga panahong 'yun na wala pa ang mga sponsors tulad ng Globe at Smart, kanya kanya ang paggawa ng paraphernalia. Ngayong panahon ng tarpauline at photoshop, mukhang lumiliit na ang pagkakataong maging malikhain.

Mabalik uli tayo. Madikit ang laban. Two minutes na lang ang natitira sa laro at lamang ang USTe ng 10. Akala namin talo na pero tuloy pa rin ang pag-cheer sa team. Ang kabilang gallery naghahagis na ng confetti.

Humabol ang La Salle at dahil sa three-point shot ni Aldeguer nauwi ito sa overtime at naipanalo ng Green Archers ang kampeonato.

* * *It's been 10 years and the memory of that game still lingers. I created a blog to celebrate those years. I don't know if it's a good time to share it with my fellow Lasallites/ Lasallians especially now that we're on the brink of elimination.

It's a season of firsts. A five-game losing streak (hopefully it ends at five) and a looming possibility of not being in the Final Four. As a fan, it really is a hard thing to accept but come to think of it, I guess it's our turn to be in this situation. It gets our feet on the ground and makes us strive harder.

Maybe we've gotten used to winning and maybe it's time to eat our humble pie.

My team's story will be a lot more interesting next year. I still believe in Coach Franz Pumaren. I still believe in my team. We will bounce back.

# 138 GUSTO KONG BUMALIK

2009-08-27T22:44:00.004+08:00

Picture mula kay Abi.

Batanes, isa kang malambot at mabangong unan. Parang tama ang mundo pag nasa Batanes ka nakatira. Simpleng buhay. Malinis na hangin. May bait na mga tao. Maririnig mo ang huni ng mga ibon pagising mo.

Nakanaman. Gusto kong bumalik. Gusto kitang balikan.

Gusto kong magtayo ng arkilahan ng mga bisikleta. Magandang negosyo 'yan doon. Kaysa dumihan ang hangin dun e mas mainam na pedal ang gamitin kaysa gasolina.

Hanggang litrato na muna.

# 137 HO-LAND HOPIA LIKE IT

2009-08-26T20:17:00.006+08:00

Hindi ko akalain na makakapag-blog ako dahil sa ilang piraso ng napakasarap na hopia. Nabili ko lang 'to sa Binondo kaninang hapon dala ng trabaho.

Naririnig ko na 'tong hopiang 'to mula sa mga kaibigan at nabasa ko rin ang review nito mula sa Balikbayan Magazine. Wala na akong makain dito habang hinihintay si misis kaya't heto, nauwi ang pansin sa napakasarap na hopia. Flaky siya.

Sa sobrang sabik ay kinagat ko kagaad ang napakasarap na hopia. Walanghiya. May papel pala ito sa ilalim. Medyo napahinto ang momentum kaya nag-take two. Nabigla ako sa sarap at dali dali kong kinuha ang mga hopia. Isa sa mga ito'y nahulog. Sayang. Pero okay lang, may apat pang natira.

Hindi ko akalain na ganito ang lasa ng napakasarap na hopia. Partida pa 'yan hindi pa 'yan nilalagay sa loob ng oven toaster. Sumaryosep.

Inaalay ko ang entry na ito sa napakasarap na hopia. Kinumpleto mo ang araw ko. Pagkatapos mag-email, magbasa ng pasasalamat mula sa mga naging guests ko nung nakaraang linggo, manood ng mga na-download na videos mula sa internet at habang naghihintay sa mahal ko, ikaw, Ho-land Hopia ang nagpasarap sa masarap na araw na ito.

Maraming salamat. It's more than Hopia like it.

# 136 WANTED: CENTER FOR GOOD TASTE

2009-08-10T21:31:00.004+08:00

You may classify this post as a rant but please read it first. I have something against people who don't even give a shit about aesthetics. Hey people of Metro Manila! Just walk on the sidewalk IF there is a sidewalk and marvel at how much we've progressed as a people with good taste.

One of the reasons that I think that the pictures of Old Philippines are a big hit is because they show us that during those "good old days", we had something to really SHOW. Hanggang picture na lang tayo ngayon.

What happened to good taste? Here we are, bombarded with tarps left and right. Faces of those fucking (apologies to fucking) politicians reminding you that it was through THEIR effort that this bridge or this small alley was made. Buwis at pawis ko 'yan e.

Photoshop has been abused. There are times that I just wished that those people who made this shit didn't get their hands on this software. It's not only that. Their patrons even had a very SLY way of making you REMEMBER that they're the ones who did the job.

Let's start first with the mother of the lame ass campaign, my favorite ex-mayor Lito Atienza. It was his clever idea to put this in any tarp or banner in Manila: Buhayin natin ang MayniLA. Then we see Metro Manila mayors doing their thing: a giant B for Binay. FT for Forward Taguig or Freddie Tinga (take your pick).

This simply indicates our state of the arts. Nakakaburat na kasi e. Mula sa kalye hanggang sa mga kantang ni-recycle, nakukuha mo ang mga shit na ganito. It's this the best that we can do? Tingin ko mas mahirap ang challenge ngayon sa mga artists natin to influence our people. Make them see.

Kasi kung shit ang napapanood nila at naririnig nila, e shit din ang mapo-produce nila. May pananagutan tayo sa kanila.

Linisin Ipagmalaki natin ang Maynila. Aaminin ko sa inyo, starstruck ako.

* * *
Ako lang ba? O ang mga pangalan ngayon ng mga bata, papanget ng papanget ng papanget? Masarap maglagay ng H sa pangalan.

Subakan natin yung sa akin: BHRYAN. DI BA AMPANGET? Parang nakakaubos ng hininga.

Paano pa kaya ang goldenbhoy?

# 135 WHEN NINOY MET CORY

2009-08-01T15:15:00.008+08:00

Note: Image lifted from Lean Gabot.

Before the country was placed under martial law, an ambitious Ninoy was eyeing the presidency. The Aquinos of Tarlac was published to prop up his chances. It tells the story of three generations of Aquinos in critical periods of our history.

This excellent book was written by National Artist Nick Joaquin. Cory appears in the pages. I'm lifting some excerpts:

How did Ninoy and Cory met?

It was certainly, says Cory, not love at first sight. "Heavens, no. I was nine years old. What does a nine-year-old girl feel about a nine-year-old boy? I remember Ninoy kept bragging he was a year ahead of me in school; so I didn't even bother to talk to him." (page 250)

How they got married?

Ninoy and Cory went out for a date tagging along her elder sister, Josephine, as chaperon. Then:

Going home, we went by Highway 54 -- my family lived in Pasay then -- and suddenly a jeep hit us from behind, hit the back of Ninoy's white Buick convertible. Such was the impact that the door flew open and first Josephine was thrown out of the car and then I followed. I thought it was the end. (page 251)

What followed was Cory being rushed to the hospital and had to stay the night there. Her parents were expecting her to be with them in Baguio. Ninoy followed her and faced Cory's parents. She told the author:

"For once in his life he was really quiet. My parents had said: 'Don't you ever ride in his car again!' Ninoy said to me: 'You fell from that car on purpose, to force me to marry you.' My goodness! But he now insisted on setting the date. So finally I told my parents and they said: 'Let's not have a long engagement.' Their own wedding anniversary was October 11 and we decided on that date, though it was only ten days away. So, everything was one big rush. But it all went well." (page 252)

***Cory Aquino is not a saint BUT she comes close to that. There were some positions that she took which I was really against (apologizing to Erap, Mendiola Massacre, the rallies, etc.) BUT undeniably, she makes me sing: kay sarap pala maging Pilipino.

Tita Cory, thank you. Thank you for having the guts to take a stand. Thank you for being our country's pillar of strength and for being an example of honesty in government.

You may not have the technical qualifications to be president but you showed us that character counts a lot.

Things were looking up after EDSA I. We were expecting a lot from you and it was unfair to expect too much from you. Over the years, this is what I've learned: The story of EDSA's success does not end by getting a president to solve almost all of our problems. It is for us, a united people, to finish it and we know that you'll be praying for us right beside another patriot, Ninoy.

# 134 ADVISORY

2009-07-19T20:58:00.007+08:00

I haven't been posting that much given the time and a series of events that pushed me to make a choice. And I'm living up to it now. I have chosen to follow my road (just like that inspiring song suggests).

You only die once. I am looking for ways (probably a part time job while learning a new language) until such time that the Mabuhay Guides program is established.I remain hopeful and steadfast in taking this way. I have my wife to thank for and I am committed to what I'm set out to do to support ourselves.

Back to our show.

* * *
What's up with Dick Gordon? Kudos to him for setting the wheels of DOT's program in motion but there are some issues that I disagree with him. One of them is putting the Lapu-Lapu statue near the Rizal monument. It is common knowledge that Lapu-Lapu killed Magellan (to put it more correctly, one of his men killed the Portuguese explorer) BUT what I don't understand is putting him within the vicinity of Rizal's park.

If this is an act to get more votes next year, it's just superficial. The way I see it, it's more political. It's a move to appease our Cebuano brothers and sisters (I don't know if it's appealing to them). Why not create a Lapu-Lapu Park in Cebu?

Doubtless that Lapu-Lapu was a brave man for defying the pale faces but if we were to declare the greatness of this Filipino, it should be done on its true merit. Placing it in Manila doesn't do justice. There is no solid reason or history to support his monument there.

* * *
Mind you, I have nothing against unity. Unity is good but it should be done within reason and politics (in its desecrated meaning today) should not be one of them. The good senator even wanted to add another ray to the mythical sun to acknowledge our Muslim kababayans.

That would be acceptable if only history supports his claim. Those eight rays represent the first eight provinces that revolted against Spanish rule. Isn't it enough that Mindanao is represented by a star in the flag? Why do we have to make that distinction between Muslim and Christian? We are all Filipinos. One of the most pressing problems in our country is that we haven't done enough in taking care of cultural communities particularly our brothers and sisters down south.

And I guess that since past regimes haven't focused much on their plight, it is understandable that they would rather separate from this entity called Filipinas than continue suffering.

The real issue here is that basic services (water, food, security, schools, bridges, etc.) are not delivered. Our differences in religion, region, ethnicity are used as excuses to escape to what we really have to do. But that's another story.

* * *
Back to my beef on Senator Gordon's moves. His intentions are good but if he really wants to achieve unity that has more substance, he should get some advice from the faculty of the Ateneo (naisip ko lang na mas mainam na makinig siya sa kapwa niya Atenista). I'm particularly endorsing one of our lecturers in the Mabuhay Guides program, Professor Florentino Hornedo. He has an excellent insight about the situation of the Muslim Filipino.

* * *
In closing to this quite long post, I'm now a fan of Old Philippines in Facebook. It's just awesome to look at these pictures to serve as an inspiration to strengthen our identity. But because of bad books about Philippine history, there's this comment:

It's fine to have these pictures , but aren't you being too much of a colonial? What is so annoying is that those days were never glorious at all for Filipinos... we were colonials .... and the focus on white mestizo faces only reveal how much you hate indigenous culture... it's ok to be nostalgic and not to completely taken by those times... I am shocked at just how many pople in the Philippines have failed to educate their sensibilities on this...

First of all, it was good that nobody dignified his comment (and I won't either dahil hahaba lang ang usapan, Facebook should be fun). Second, he was quick to say that the owner of the site hates indigenous culture. Where in the world did he get that? Duh.

Colonial? Did the site owner openly declare it? He is a hobbyist and he's fond of old pictures and he's generous enough in sharing it to his fellow Filipinos. We have to acknowledge that part of our past because it's OUR past.

It's no longer about the Filipino being corrupted by colonialism or technology but recognizing the mold that shaped us and never to forget but instead learn from the past.

* * *
Let's grow up, people.

Let go of "celebrating" Rizal's execution. We always have it on stamps, in Rizal Park, in storybooks, etc. It's etched in our memory. It's starting to be like the crucified Christ.

It's time to read up about his life and know what he really stood for. I recommend reading The First Filipino by Leon Maria Guerrero.

# 131 THE RELEVANCE OF JACINTO'S CARTILLA

2009-05-17T12:27:00.005+08:00

Emilio Jacinto's work reflects our aspirations as a people. His Cartilla really hits the spot and if I had my way, I would rather have schoolchildren know this by heart than "study" religion. The Cartilla is not a set of rules. It's not like the 10 Commandments. The original version is not even numbered. My best guess is that all are equally given importance.

Nilagay ko dito na hindi nakasalin sa Ingles. Kung babasahin ng maigi, mas damang dama ang nais ihatid ng may-akda.

Mga Aral ng Katipunan sa Kartilyani Emilio Jacinto

Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy (puno) na walang lilim, kundi (man) damong makamandag.
Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa paghahambog o papipita sa sarili (paghahangad na makasarili), at hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.
Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigitan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda; ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang (dangal o) puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili kay sa puri.
Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumpa.
Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan nay di na muli pang magdadaan.
Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi; kabakahin (labanan) ang umaapi.
Ang taong matalino’y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin; matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
Sa daang matinik ng buhay, ang mga magulang ang patnugot ng mag-anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, and patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.
Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuwang at karamay (ng lalaki) sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; isaalang-alang mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang (pisikal na ) kahinaan, alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
Ang kamahalan ng tao'y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Diyos, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri, yaong di nagpaaapi't di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdam-dam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi't magkakapatid, ng liwanag na walang katapusan -- ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang matutumbasan.

* * *

Felipe de Leon Jr., one of our lecturers in the training program has this to say about ideology (italics mine):

A national ideology is a relatively stable system of ideas and principles often formulated by a government to serve as guiding force for the nation. Its aim is to define how the nation must live, ideas it should follow to achieve full self-realization. It is intended to harmonize the nation through a system of values that corresponds to the national character of the people concerned. Only in this case will the full self-realization of a nation be possible.

Jacinto's Cartilla accomplishes this because it recognizes our values that we hold deeply. I'm particularly struck by the last tenet:

Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi't magkakapatid, ng liwanag na walang katapusan -- ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang matutumbasan.

Matutupad din ito.

# 130 THE CROCODILE AND THE CLEAN PASIG

2009-05-16T10:36:00.008+08:00

My first unofficial tour was immediately followed by another assignment to give a free tour to two ladies. One's Filipina and the other's from Ecuador. Arnold and I took turns in each stop at Fort Santiago until we reached Falsabraga de Media Naranja, a false wall shaped like half an orange. It's facing the Pasig river and right across this structure is Binondo. I delivered my commentary about the Pasig River and told them an interesting anecdote about probably the second biggest crocodile in the world that was captured there.

This I got from Ambeth Ocampo's book Bonifacio's Bolo. There's some criticism about Ocampo's methods but for the most part, I find his works engaging and provoking. It led me to do a little research to support this story.

I'm just glad that there's a even a picture.

MUGGER THE CROC. It's unbelievably huge and it was caught here in the Philippines.
The crocodile's head is on display at the Peabody Museum in Harvard University. It's called "Mugger" and it measures between 27 to 30 feet. The head is measured at 5-feet-6-inches from the nose to the first vertebra.

The story goes that in the 19th Century, a Frenchman named Paul P. de la Gironiere set out to hunt down the crocodile that has victimized people, a horse and a sheep. With the help of the locals, they were able to kill the crocodile which lasted over six hours. He donated the head to his American friend. This piece would then end up in the Peabody Museum of Harvard University.

* * *
Last week, the Mabuhay Guides had a tour of the Pasig River and Santa Ana de Sapa. We rode a ferry with Architect Manolo Noche as our guide. I really enjoyed his tour and he was able to impart very useful information. Among these are the following:

There used to grand houses for rich families on the riverbanks of the Pasig. We saw one of the old houses in Santa Ana de Sapa and it faced the river.
Binondo got its name from the local term "Minundoc" which means a small mountain. It became a Chinese settlement after the Chinese were expelled from the Parian following the 1593 murder of Governor-general Gomez Perez de Dasmariñas by Chinese galley rowers.
Santa Ana de Sapa is one of the more important pre-Spanish settlements along the Pasig River. Originally known as Namayan (where people lived) it was ruled over by Lacantagcan and his wife Bouan. The area was subsequently colonized and evangelized by the Franciscans who established their first mission outside Intramuros in 1577. Here beside a brook, “sapa” they built their first church dedicated to St. Anne mother of the Virgin Mary.

# 129 MY FIRST UNOFFICIAL TOUR

2009-05-15T17:12:00.008+08:00

My first free tour happened after we finished taping an episode for Susan Calo-Medina's TV show Traveltime. Arnold (the fresh graduate armed with curious questions) Candie (the most gung-ho among all the Mabuhay Guides) and I agreed that since we're all dressed to kill, we might as well try out what we have learned from the training and see if we were really listening :)

For me, the biggest obstacle to a rookie guide who's offering free tours would be initiating contact to total strangers. I have the best intentions but there's this little cynical voice that gets in the way of doing the right thing. It's makes one doubt his or her capabilities. It doesn't help.

I'm digressing.

Moving along, we finally got our break from a group of foreigners who were willing to be guided. They're here for a conference at AIM (Asian Institute of Management). One's Canadian, the other one's from Mexico, the other is from the US, and I can't recall the other one. We toured them around Fort Santiago.

As rookies, there were times that excitement comes first before doing the actual job. Admittedly, there were lapses in laying out the must-tells to foreigners who were in a hurry and have a broad idea about the Philippines. The challenge would always be to keep them engaged and ultimately, make them ask questions.

The first one question was about the statue made out of cut and welded steel. It's in front of the old US barracks.
YOUTH'S CRY OF DEFIANCE. It's not Malakas at Maganda.
We quickly jumped the gun and told them that this was Malakas at Maganda. Philippine folklore's Adam and Eve. Then they asked who made it? That simple question left us dumbfounded for a moment but we were quick to recover our bearings and said that we'll research and email the information.

Thanks to the internet, we got our facts straight. The title of this work is: Youth's Cry of Defiance. This was a creation of one of our best sculptors. He's name is Eduardo Castrillo. Among his famous works are the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal in Rizal Park, Raha Sulayman in front of the Malate Church, and the People Power Monument along EDSA. Check out this link to see more of his works.

The challenge would always be to keep them engaged and ultimately, make them ask questions.

# 128 MY FIRST OFFICIAL TOUR

2009-05-10T09:23:00.005+08:00

After more than a month of waiting and giving free tours to visitors of Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and Casa Manila, I had my first official tour as a Mabuhay Guide.

Mel, my colleague, and I were assigned to a group of Social Studies teachers from the Philippine Center for Civic Education. Most of them are from Sorsogon, Bicol. Their ages range from 30s to 40s. Majority are female.

Here are some of my observations that I lifted from my official report:

This group of Filipino tourists was fun but difficult to gather in one place. Most of them are first-time visitors and they were excited in taking pictures and enjoying the company of each other.
It is takes a great deal of effort to explain the must-tells because of prior knowledge. This is one of the things to watch out in taking this type of local tourist. They sure know what the guide is talking about especially on the following:
- The dungeons in Fort Santiago where prisoners were drowned. Ciudad Murada by Victor Torres helped me on this one.
- Rizal’s “deformities”. One of the participants asked this question. I mentioned Ante Radaic’s analysis about our national hero where he explained Rizal’s determination to make up for his physical deficiencies. When Rizal was little, one of his sisters said that he had an unusually huge head for a small body. His sisters were making fun of him while he was growing up. It was said that it was one of his motivations to succeed by making it “big” in different fields.
  
  However, I was quick to say that it does not diminish the greatness of our national hero. During the tour, I showed them the picture of Rizal when he was a little boy inside the Chamber of Text in the Rizal Shrine.
- The validity of calling Rizal “Dr. Jose Rizal”. I was a bit careful in answering this because I read this issue somewhere that Rizal did not officially get this title from an institution but I stressed that he studied under the leading figures in ophthalmology while in Europe and made it big in Hong Kong.
- Rizal’s height. Some say he’s 5 feet 2 inches while other accounts state that he’s 5 feet 3 inches. It is an inch of a difference but a good commentary should be based on hard facts.
- The place where the Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios was written and how it slipped the Spanish authorities.
- The note inside Rizal’s shoe when he was executed. Some of the participants picked this up from Ambeth Ocampo’s book Rizal Without the Overcoat. I explained that Rizal was buried right away in an unmarked grave and because it took a long time for his remains to be exhumed, the note was not retrieved. His shoes were rotting.
- The veracity of the Filipino firing squad and the second row in Rizal’s execution. They asked the accuracy of this detail which I was not able to cite because I was not sure about my source. I read this “somewhere” and this was also used in the training but I learned that citing the source is very useful.
  
  It was a good thing that we are in the digital age. I finally found the article that came out in the Inquirer that discussed this topic. Here’s the excerpt (mine in bold):
  
  At 7:03 a.m., Rizal was facing Manila Bay when the guns were fired. He veered his body toward his right as he fell dead.
  
  The firing squad was composed of six native Filipino soldiers under the command of the Volunteer Soldiers of Maria Cristina (some references counted eight men).
  
  Descendants of one of the executioners, Adolfo Pastor Quetcuti, narrated how the captain of the guards put only one live bullet in one of the rifles, while placing blanks in the others. This was intended to ease the guilt feelings of those in the firing squad who believed Rizal was innocent.
  
  As an additional measure, another line of peninsular soldiers stood behind them.
  
  - Rizal martyrdom: The making of a national hero
  by Emmanuel Encarnacion
  First posted 04:29am (Mla time) Dec 30, 2005, Inquirer
Polo y Servicios/ Forced labor during the Spanish period. I asked them to also consider that not all churches were built on forced labor but also because of the Filipino’s religious fervor.

The tour went well because of the weather and the group. It was great to share information with the participants. They have the power to influence young minds. I urged them to tell their students to visit these places to know what we have, to know ourselves better and to eventually drive change.

# 127 A TRIP TO ARAYAT

2009-04-11T09:46:00.011+08:00

I woke up at 5:00 in the morning. It was Good Friday and my fellow Mabuhay Guides and I took a trip up north to Pampanga, the land of A-A-A-A-A.

Pampangos are known for their excellent cooking, Lito Lapid, Sexmoan and Macabebe (the old folks would say: Sex-moan before you Make-a-Beybi), and the disappearance of the letter "H" before a vowel is pronounced. Take for example the Tagalog word "ahas". This is pronounced as "a-as".

Thus, Kapampangan laughter in the written word is read as: A-A-A-A-A.

Oh, before you get your Pampangan friends to label me as a racist, let me tell you that I'm a proud Kapampangan. A half-breed though :) My father is Kampampangan. His family hails from Santa Rita, Pampanga. My lola is a native of Betis, a town that has a reputation of producing a lot priests.

Ganda ng lola ko. An old picture of lola in her teenage years.
* * *
The Tagalog and Pampango share the distinction as "The Wicked Accomplices" in keeping the Philippines together from then until now- a claim that may border on arrogance but also a trait that shows how "politicized" these two tribes are.

Our national flag proclaims it. The eight rays in the Philippine sun are the first provinces (Manila, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Batangas,and Cavite) that started the revolution. All of them are in the Tagalog-Pampango realm. The Spaniards sensing a great deal of trouble placed them all under martial law after the battle of San Juan del Monte in Manila.

Why? There is no worse enemy than an alienated friend (The Aquinos of Tarlac by Nick Joaquin, page 19). For centuries, the two tribes were sent in various expeditions to keep the colony together. Both have trained and learned military art under the Spaniards. They know how to beat them and eventually, they did.

* * *
We saw a great view of Mount Arayat as we went to visit the Medina House. It was in this ex-volcano where the revolutionary forces sought its protection as their hideout and headquarters. Arayat was also originally called, Sinukuan from the word "Suko" which means "old and venerable".

We made a short stop at the Santa Ana Church where we saw a bunch of penitents doing their thing- taunting death to repent.

I bloody heart you. Penitent seems to be loving the pain.
After taking shots and wiping blood off my left arm (I was so damn near the action), we made our way to the Medina House. We met up with other friends from the Mabuhay Guides and had a sweet welcome from Susan Calo-Medina and her husband, Johnny. They treated us to pastillas and yema Pampango-style.

They encouraged us to go out and explore. We strolled around town and visited a church that was sponsored by a Medina with a P20,000 donation (that was a considerable amount back then) to repair the church.

* * *
After acting as tourists, we went back to the house. I had one of the best meals in my life in that house.

Aside from the company that I had going into this trip, I had a great time having a laugh with the descendants of the 1896 Revolution. Their main man was no other than General Jose Alejandrino, Rizal's roommate in Belgium and the first person who cleverly read the El Filibusterismo.

A blow-up picture proudly displayed in the house shows Filipino ilustrados in Madrid.
Ilustrados in Madrid. I got this picture from this.

I was told by one of the relatives that the original copy was lent to a government agency for the centennial celebration but unfortunately, it was not returned. If you look closely, Jose Alejandrino is the gentleman behind Jose Rizal wearing a top hat.

Stylishly heroic. Our heroes in Rizal's time were isputing.
* * *
We also met a lady named Leonor. She's a direct descendant of Leonor Rivera, Rizal's greatest love. She is the family's historian because she has an amazing memory. She knows the sons and daughters of each relative together with the stories and juicy stuff that makes our heroes human. Leonor is sought by historians because of what she knows and most probably with the way she tells those stories.

# 126 READ ALL ABOUT IT

2009-04-08T18:32:00.001+08:00

This blog entry marks a new stage in my life. It's more about living my passion and sharing it with others. Welcome, ladies and gents.

My geekery shall now be housed here. As a background, I took the Mabuhay Guides training program for more than six weeks. A good part of this session was devoted to exploring our identity, our literature, our history, our food, our music and OUR EVERYTHING.

This blog will also chronicle lessons learned from each subject and I wanted to share these together with my personal views to as many people as I can. Thanks to the lecturers that we had, I am confident that I shall be able to present these topics in the best way that I can.

This would also serve as my blog for the tours that I will take soon with guests from the Department of Tourism.

There are three things that I learned from this program:

We can only excel in our own culture.
This quote from National Artist Virgilio Almario says it best:
"Ang isang lahi na walang marangal na gunita hinggil sa sarili ay isang lahing madalîng alipinin at patuloy na may isip-alipin kahit bigyan ng kalayaan."
We need pride but we need to know and understand what we should be proud of.

I hope that my entries would help my fellow Filipinos to open their seeing eye. It is easy to put down our country in a tough time like this. Real love for the motherland goes further than eating adobo, wearing Barong Tagalog or speaking in Filipino. The three points that I mentioned comes close to what I think is real love.

"Ang isang lahi na walang marangal na gunita hinggil sa sarili ay isang lahing madalîng alipinin at patuloy na may isip-alipin kahit bigyan ng kalayaan."

I would like to thank Carlos Celdran and the late and great Francis Magalona for inspiring me and instilling this sense of duty and sense of country in proclaiming the greatness of this race.

I also want to thank our lecturers particularly, Felipe de Leon Jr., Flor Hornedo, Ning Encarnacion-Tan, Ramon Santos, Virgilio Almario, Eric Torres, and Toti Villalon.

A big thanks goes to my beautiful wife for supporting me in this endeavor. Be, this one's for you.

I would also like to thank my classmates in the Mabuhay Guides program for heeding the call of the motherland. Our work begins now.

There is no future. There is only now.

Plus ultra!

# 125 MABUHAY!

2009-03-26T18:49:00.004+08:00

I'm just happy that I passed the exams and I'm thankful to have the support of my wife and also my boss. This is my way of making a contribution to Filipinas.

It's just a beginning of something beautiful.

I can't wait to share what I've got from the program. It made me know more about my heritage and the importance of having this knowledge to take on the world in a confident manner that speaks Filipino.

Mabuhay!

# 124 2:20 PM, MARCH 26

2009-03-25T19:54:00.003+08:00

After weeks of reading, listening, talking, walking, running, chasing trains and drooling on my office pillow, I will know the results tomorrow.

23 took the exams and I'm hoping that 23 shall pass.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

# 123 READING IT BACKWARDS IT'S 3/21

2009-03-21T22:24:00.003+08:00

Happy birthday, my beautiful bebe :) I'm so thankful to live this life with you.

I love you.

# 122 THE DAY RAP MUSIC DIED

2009-03-07T22:48:00.007+08:00

One of my earliest posts in this blog was about Francis Magalona. Getting the news yesterday has truly sunk my heart.

I admire Francis M. the way that I admire Bob Marley. Both men made a distinct voice about the ideals of their own people.

What sets him apart from "artists" of today was that he remained true to what he stood for. He wears The Filipino as a badge of pride.

Three stars and the sun! (Who could have thought of that and put it to their repertoire without sounding ultra-nationalistic or baduy). Magalona even provides a road map to a better country with the rap song Mga Kababayan.

He plays it cool.

The Man from Manila was deeply rooted in the consciousness of the children of the '80s. I remember him rapping before Alma Moreno unwraps her clothing in Love-liness (a very very nice TV show). Yesyesyo! He even starred in Ninja Kids!

Another thing that adds depth to his greatness as an artist was his other memorable hits like Girl be Mine, Meron Akong Ano, Mahiwagang Kamote, and Kaleidoscope World. These songs have remained to be a staple in my iPod.

It's going to be one long cold summer night without you in this part of the world, Idol. You've provided enough inspiration by putting us on top and proclaiming the greatness of this race. I am eternally grateful to you.

Mabuhay ka, Kiko!

# 121 TEST MIC

2009-02-20T21:48:00.002+08:00

It IS hard or that's my story for the past two weeks. I've been living up to my word but I also have to acknowledge that I am human. I am thankful that I've continued to go this far. What matters is now. What exists is now.

I'm taking it one day at a time but I'm just happy-tired about doing it. I look forward to each session. There were things that I needed to unlearn to understand us. I can't wait to share what I know to people that I don't know, foreign or local.

This week, we went to the National Museum and had a guided tour from Felipe de Leon Jr. I have to thank him for the breakthrough of getting a wider perspective about the Filipino. His lectures as a humanist helped me to have a clearer understanding of our heritage. It fuels pride to proclaim the greatness of this race.

I have never been this proud as a Filipino and as I've said on Day One, I want to be a positive voice in this country.

I feel so fortunate for this opportunity of unlearning to understand.

Plus ultra!

# 120 ...

2009-02-06T06:30:00.001+08:00

Lumuha ka kung hindi mo mapigilan ang tuwa
Matagal kang naghintay kaibigan
Umawit ka
Paabutin mo sa langit ang tamis ng sandaling ibinigay

-Alab ng Puso, Rivermaya

# 119 A BIG DAY ON FRIDAY

2009-02-03T19:54:00.002+08:00

I've cleared Stage 1 and Stage 2. Now, I'm crossing my fingers.

This is it.

# 118 EYES BURNING

2009-01-28T20:15:00.003+08:00

As I type this, my eyes are feeling it. They're tired. Tired of answering questions and I'm just looking forward to Monday. I want to feel alive because I know that this is worth fighting for. I want to be true to myself.

I've just started making my dream possible. I want it so bad.

One day at a time. Taking that step made me feel alive. Even if I were to die today, I know that I've done it. It brings peace to my mind. I'm being confident that I gave my best.

I can't wait for my Monday. I can't wait to talk about bank notes.

# 117 BEATLES FOREVER

2009-01-24T10:21:00.008+08:00

This is the first Beatles' album that I've ever listened to. It's 20 tracks of ballads and all of them are great. My favorites would be Something, Norwegian Wood, Do You Want To Know A Secret, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, Across The Universe, and She's Leaving Home.

This album made a huge impact to my life because it introduced me to The Beatles. Years later, I bought two albums that expanded my Beatlemania and it's just last year that an officemate helped me complete my index. I just love listening lately to their other songs like Tomorrow Never Knows, Happiness Is a Warm Gun and Because.

It's hard to pick which would be my favorite Beatle because each one has something distinct. At first, I liked John Lennon then Paul McCartney then I was beginning to see myself as George Harrison then as Ringo Starr.

Here's a sample of how they were in a press conference (from The Rough Guide to THE BEATLES by Chris Ingham):

Press: "How does it feel to be putting on the whole world?
Ringo: "We enjoy it."
Paul: "We aren't really putting you on."
George: "Well, just a bit."
John: "How does it feel to be put on?"

# 116 DON'T BE RELIGULOUS

2009-01-22T20:31:00.003+08:00

I had a blast watching Bill Maher's documentary film Religulous a few weeks ago and I must say, a lot of people have been so fucked up by religion. The film asks questions to the believer and shows how things have gone to far in the name of God.

It would sure raise a lot of "hell" in the Philippines if it's shown here because the movie equally offends all religions.

My take on this is simple: I don't buy everything the Church says (READ: I still honor Jesus because he's a holy man) and I don't like religions who scare people about Hell or influence decisions because of eternal rewards in heaven.

Why can't we just be good for goodness' sake? Why are we so fixated about our salvation/ in the other world (hard to prove if there is one) when we have our own version of hell here in our midst?

Questions abound. Instead of saying my God is better than your God, how about finding a way to live harmoniously? How about looking for a cure for AIDS? How about looking for a solution to world hunger? Why persecute or even kill people who don't see your point of view? Why can't we just give up being right and do something that benefits the world?

If there is a kingdom of heaven, why can't we just get along and make it possible here instead of waiting for Judgment Day (if there is one)?

# 115 AT LAST

2009-01-21T23:04:00.003+08:00

A lot has been said about Obama officially taking over the office of the most powerful country in the world. Aside from this earth-shaking development, I had the biggest breakthrough last weekend because now, I finally get it.

I'll continue living with this new point of view and I want people in my life to get involved. Words are so powerful and I'm in awe at how much we can do by living our word and sticking to it. I've never seen integrity in a different light. I've never seen nothing in a different light.

I am inspired by the possibilities. As long as I am alive, this is what I always wanted to be: my word.

# 114 A PALINDROME TO FORTUNE

2008-12-15T14:54:00.003+08:00

13 24 27 08 42 31

Notice that the two numbers on the left and the right can be read the same way in different directions. I ishmell conspiracy.

This is the combination to win P 180,299,930.40

It's just too bad that I'm not one of those lucky seven. I've been betting for the past weeks because I know how I'd spend the money.

Here's a list of what I'm planning to do should I win P180M:

Pay Jessica Zafra to write an Eraserheads Biography (I hope she agrees to P2.0 M).
Get the rights to create an OAV of The Mythology Class by Arnold Arre.
Open a small bookshop (somewhere in Rockwell) that serves excellent coffee. That area is oh-so-nice.
Buy a Cafe Breton or Yellow Cab Franchise.
Donate to improve the National Archives.
Sponsor Filipino students who can translate old Spanish documents that can be useful to future scholarly work.
Sponsor upcoming Filipino comicbook artist to publish his or her work.
Buy a condominium in Makati.
Produce a movie set during the Filipino-American War (probably about Artemio Ricarte; F. Sionil Jose's Vibora is a good title)
Buy a resthouse in Palawan.
Get a Mini Cooper.
Go to Germany for Oktoberfest.

That's my list so far. It's random. Oh yeah, there's always the obligatory painom.

# 113 MY TOP 15

2008-12-12T13:33:00.010+08:00

Now that I have enough time to post this list that I got from Z. It's not ranked.

The instruction was to:
Post your top fifteen bands/artists, the first song you heard of theirs (and when), the song that made you fall in love (and when), and your current favorite.

The Beatles
- First song: Do You Want to Know a Secret (3rd year, HS)
- Fell in love: If I Fell (2nd Year, College)
- Current favorite: Tomorrow Never Knows
The Eraserheads
- First song: Ligaya (2nd year, HS)
- Fell in love: Minsan (3rd or 4th year, HS)
- Current favorite: Trip to Jerusalem
Color It Red
- First song: Paglisan (2nd or 3rd year, HS)
- Fell in love: I Need You Here (2nd or 3rd year, College)
- Current favorite: Sa Ilog ng Ating Pagsinta
England Dan and John Ford Coley
- First song: Believe it or Not (Grade 6)
- Fell in love: I'd Really Love to See You Tonight (2nd Year, HS)
- Current favorite: What's Forever For
Rivermaya
- First song: Ulan (2nd or 3rd Year, HS)
- Fell in love: Himala (3rd Year, HS)
- Current favorite: Mabuhay
Wolfgang
- First song: Halik ni Hudas (2nd or 3rd Year, HS)
- Fell in love: Arise (2nd or 3rd Year, HS)
- Current favorite: Atomica
Barenaked Ladies
- First song: It's All Been Done (1st Year, College)
- Fell in love: Call and Answer (2nd or 3rd Year, College)
- Current favorite: One Week
Apo Hiking Society
- First song: Pumapatak Na Naman Ang Ulan (Grade 3)
- Fell in love: When I Met You (3rd Year or 4th Year, HS)
- Current favorite: Love is for Singing
Sergio Mendes and Brasil
- First Song: One Note Samba (1st Year or 2nd Year, HS)
- Fell in love: Waters of March (2nd Year, HS)
- Current favorite: Like A Lover
Guns N' Roses
- First song: Sweet Child O' Mine (Grade 5)
- Fell in love: Don't Cry (Grade 5)
- Current favorite: Patience
Swing Out Sister
- First song: You On My Mind (Grade 5 or 6)
- Fell in love: Forever Blue (2nd Year, College)
- Current favorite: La La (Means I Love You)
Bob Marley and The Wailers
- First song: Is This Love (4th Year, College)
- Fell in love: Waiting In Vain (4th Year, College)
- Current favorite: Redemption Song
Jon Bon Jovi
- First song: Blaze of Glory (Grade 4)
- Fell in love: Bed of Roses (Grade 5)
- Current song: Livin' on a Prayer
The Doors
- First song: Light My Fire (3rd Year, HS)
- Fell in love: Hello, I Love You (2nd Year, College)
- Current song: Riders on the Storm
Queen
- First song: Bohemian Rhapsody (Grade 6)
- Fell in love: Don't Stop Me Now (Grade 6)
- Current song: You're My Bestfriend

# 112 YEAR NUMBER TWO

2008-12-10T09:48:00.002+08:00

We had dinner last night. It's the best meal next to the wife's cooking :) She posted some pics here.

Happy Anniversary, bebe :) Looking forward to the next 60 years or more.

# 111 MABUHAY KA MANNY!

2008-12-08T13:53:00.001+08:00

Show your support.
Post a shoutout for Manny.

# 110 TITO IN B&W

2008-12-05T13:25:00.004+08:00

NGAAAAAAAARS! Snarling with my mug in this mugshot. PHOTO BY PAULO NASOL.

# 109 JUVENILE POSITIONS

2008-12-04T15:53:00.014+08:00

Before reading this post, I give you a glimpse of the past that is a bit related to my post.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS. From L-R: Dennis Flores, Erwin Luistro, Tito, Gian Carlo Calantuan, and Roberto Bacay.

It's funny how we elect class officers back in school.

Here are my observations:

President- The guy or girl who has high grades.
Vice President- The next guy or girl who has high grades.
Secretary- Somebody who has good penmanship on paper and on the blackboard; It's a requirement.
Treasurer- Somebody who's good in Math at dapat mayaman para may pang-abono.
Public Relations Officer (PRO)- Somebody who's charismatic and a peacemaker; Somebody who will regulary update the bulletin board.
Sergeant-at-Arms- Somebody who's tough looking be it a boy or a girl; Somebody who'll make sure that everybody falls in line for the morning assembly.
Muse- The prettiest girl/ crush ng halos lahat.
Escort- Kung sino man ang gusto pag-tripan ng mga kaklase.

The elections are held on the first day of school. The adviser opens the nomination of candidates and you got your idiot classmate pitching you as this or that. Suddenly, another idiot classmate says the magic words "I second the motion" (our first taste of legalis aside from "Objection your honor") and you have no choice but to go with the flow and endure embarrassment in winning or losing.

The nomination is then closed and the entire class gives their vote.

Then you're assigned to be in groups of 10 as cleaners on a specified day (I hate being in the Friday group).

Back in school, I became a treasurer, a PRO, and an escort (yes, yes, I've been one in the Hobby Club).

While during my days as a boy scout, I held the most enviable position: a Morale Booster. Yes, yes. A position like that existed. The job is to do cheers for the squad.

I'm no PL*, ASPL** or SPL*** material so they made me Morale Booster. WTF!

*PL- Patrol Leader
*ASPL- Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
*SPL- Senior Patrol Leader

# 108 FANBHOY MODE

2008-11-30T20:16:00.006+08:00

Disclaimer: I'm like a giggling schoolgirl as I type this.

Last Friday, I finally had the cojones to go up to Cooky Chua and ask her to autograph my CDs.

I did it all by myself.

When I was seated beside her, I was struggling to find the word "starstruck" and even utter that word. It's a perfect description of how I was feeling.

She was kind enough to offer me a shot of Emperador. My trembling hands can't believe my luck.

I was drinking with Cooky Chua!

There were a lot of thoughts running inside my head. It was a good thing that I managed to tell her that...

...I'm a super fan.

...I was supposed to have their latest album signed but the CD hasn't been returned to me by my some idiot friend who shall remain nameless (David Asuncion, I hope you're reading this!).

...her sister was my teacher in college. She asked, "Taga-La Salle ka?" to which I replied yes with a high-five (Wow, that was really hip, Bryan.).

...Hand Painted Sky wasn't about a motel and Panalo wasn't about marijuana.

...I've been listening to her since Grade Six to which the owner of the bar just had a good laugh.

...their first album was under Alpha Numeric and that the sleeve was then printed in paper (Wow, you still remember? You really are a freak, Bryan.).

...in their early days, she used to turn her back from the audience while performing.

While I was spewing these factoids, I was beginning to get worried that she might think that I'm some kind of stalker. I was quick to apologize for being too excited to which she said that I'm far from being one.

She told me that I'm a friend.

WOOOOOOOW! Thank you, Lord. I never thought that I'd be able to meet her.

UPDATE: I'm now her Facebook Friend. Fanbhoy is so happy :D

# 107 CHIKITING PATROL

2008-11-28T13:02:00.011+08:00

You're welcome to eavesdrop. Just click the image below:

I got no problems about contributing to the HS barkada blog but I do have reservations about using that name . It's not about being a snob and it's definitely not about having no sentiments about the group.

It's about how the name sounds and why we can't think of a better one. Especially the "keps" part. I have many word associations to that like kepyas, pekpek, kepkep, etc. (yes, yes, I have a dirty mind). Those words sound so sweet to my ears but putting it as part of the name of a group is just... oh, well.

I got to hand it to da boy for coming up with this idea. Let's see how it goes.

When the day comes that the name gets changed, that's the time that I'd stop my RSS connection to the group blog.

Time for a self-loving entry for the blog's author bio:

Mark Bryan Ocampo or Bryan, the group's self-proclaimed Goldenbhoy/ Mr. Crush Ang Bayan '97, has an opinion about almost everything and attempts to channel it through his blog.

The thing that occupies most of his time is dishing out his take on government tv commercials, local politics and fiesta revolutions, UAAP basketball, tsiks, alcohol, massage parlors, Lito Lapid, chicharon, Yakult, trivia and other stuff.

He thinks that he is believable and insightful that's why he owns a blog.