Out in Calbayog City, Again

An Patrun sa Calbayog

2011-09-05T05:30:00.025+08:00

Hi there! We are 3 days way to the City Fiesta. On Thursday Calbayognons will once again thank the Almighty through Nuestra Señora De La Natividad for the graces He has always bestowed upon Calbayog. The day’s main activity is Pontifical Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the said celebration. Leading the Calbayog faithful are this year’s hermanas mayores namely, Thelma Diomangay – Manaog, Delia Corrales – Diomangay, Tomasa Corsiga - Antivo and Sheila So Seng - Montagot.

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Fiesta Events performers to go onstage at the Nijaga Park:

September 5: Joey Ayala at Ang Bagong Lumad.
September 6: it’s going to be a night for dance enthusiasts with the group called Dance Aficionados.
On September 7: the Pinoy rock band Asin

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I first did this in 2008 and I’m doing it again in today’s column. I would like to feature an old account, a very old account - 1912 to be exact – of the fiesta celebration in Calbayog. I got this from the September 1912 issue of the Eco de Samar y Leyte. It was written by someone who called himself “namatron”.

The account also mentioned the name of one Señora Trinidad Camilon. If one is to check the list of the hermanas pasadas in the Calbayog Fiesta souvenir programs, that name is the first entry in the said list. The copy I got was not a clear one and that explains the blanks in this feature.

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Here’s that article entitled “An Patrun sa Calbayog”

“Masadya, maribhung, malinao an cadagatan, mahayag an langit, mapaua an adlao sama san daguay sin usa nga Angel, amo _______ san ca-adlauan sadto san mahal nga Patrona dinhe sa Calbayog nga guinsalinorog sadton 8 sini nga bulan. Ngatanan mga binohat dao nabuñog san cahayag ni Maria Santissima dida san adlao san iya pagcatauo. Tubtob san ante vispera, nag ticang an pag-abut san magcalainlain nga domoro-ong, labi na an Cat_____on. San mga balay, mga cadalanan nacarahibut an tauo guican sa magkalain-lain nga dapit. San visperas san aga, nag suot na an tauo dinhi sa ciudad nga tungod san cadamo, macuri magpaca-agui an mga caleza. San pag a las doce catapos pagpahibaro san linganay sa Catedral san mahal nga Patron. Pagcabuas an mga musico san Parroquia ug sa Ipao nag libot san bungto. Ug san pagcaculop, nag canta san visperas an _____ nga cura san Catedral R. P. Jose Diaznes. Pag ca aga _______, san may mga a las 4 nag Diana an mga musico nga _______ san pagtauagtauag sa Catedral, sin usa cadali napuno san maniringba san siapa nga misa san Señora nga may mga lima nga mga babayi lalaqui bata tigurang nga dinara-on sa pag _____ san mahal nga lauas ni Jesucrisdto. Ug hasta san a las 7 nga eguin repique sa misa Mayor, waray pahuway an tauo nga maniringba san damo nga capadian nga nagmisa. San mga a las 8 amo an eguin ticang san misa cantada nga dinoyogan san ma ranog nga Organo, sa Catedral paroc san Señor Obispo. An misa nga guin canta an guin ngangaranan Pedro de las Heras, an masabut ug bantugan nga organista si Sr. Malaquias Nonato, Professor san musica sa Seminario eguin paquita an iya quina-adman dida san pag doyog niya san organo, cay pacasiring namon dao nahimomotang cami sin Paraiso san pagbati namon sadto nga mga awit. An nagcanta amo an mga capadian sa Seminario nga alagad san ira cabatiran ug maluay nga tingog inabutan an mga maniringba sin cahinoclob. An nag misa an Cura san Catedral linoyoloyohan san mga ministros nga si D. Ignacio Arganda, Diacono ug si D. Ramon Codilla Subd. Catapos san Evangelio nag wali si P. Conrado Maga, Coadjutor sa Catedral.”

“An Señora opod an mga magtoto-on sa Seminario ug mga Seminarista, nag tambong didto san iya trono. Sugadman an mga Colegialas opod an mga Madres naray caculang. Catapos san misa, nagsugod na liwat an aringasa ngan ribhong, cay an mga estudiantes sa Colegio sa San Vicente nga guican sa Singbahan vinistihan sin mga cadete, nag ejercicio ug nag parada sira sa cadalanan nga nacalingao san mga tauo. Pagcacolop may mga a las 3 pinangolohan san Presidente Sr. Malaquias Nonato, nag tiroc an mga sacop san Sociedad Milagrosa ug nag buhat sin rumba, carrera de bicecleta, juego de anillos y Cintas canan bag-ong tubo mga hatag hasta magcalainlain nga premio. San pagca a las 5 guin himua an macaserendac nga Procesion nga inopdan ni P. Bonifacio Villora Cura sa Oquendo, linoloyohan san mga Seminaristas inopod man an Señora nga guin lilibutan san mga capadian. An carro matahum caupay, mapaua, tacos ug angay nga nahimomotangan sen mahal nga Patrona, halad san ma-abiabihon nga Hermana Mayor si Sra. Trinidad Camilon. An ira balay pono pono sin tauo ticang pa san tinicangan san novena nga guin solemne sa ira. Diri hicalimtan an camapuanguron san mga anac, labi na si Sra. Lolay ug si Loling nga uaray hingan san cahago, paglipay san ira mga dapit.”

“Sa tuig tuig ngatanan quinita nga an pagto-o sini nga bungto ug an ira pag alagad sa Dios nag titidogang la lugod, bisan con guin tatalingoha san iba an pag parong condao calayo, cay an ira an pag contra sa Dios ug pag supil san mga mahi___lo nga pamatasan, cay basi matumanan san ira mga maraut nga guinaui-an ug hunahuna, condi sa Dios uaray magtatamay, may adlao san pag panodia, cay polong pa nga an tinonto mo, intoy, sa lauas mo o-oli.” (namatron)

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Death of a Bishop

2011-09-02T05:32:00.141+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are less than a week away to the City Fiesta. I have decided that my usual acerbic comments about the world around me will have to wait until after the fiesta. In the meantime it will be about some fiesta events.

The novena masses have started, the City Hall has been given a facelift and some of you might have seen the mayor in the streets of Calbayog as he made rounds to check and ensure that the city (especially at the commercial area) is clean.

Tomorrow night Calbayog will be in for the annual Search for Miss Anyag. This will be held at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Confirmed as judges in the said pageant are Congresswoman Lucy Torres and Richard Gomez.

On Sunday, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the confirmation ceremony of a good number of young Calbayognons the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral.

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And what’s with today’s title? You might want to ask. Nope, no bishop died today. Last August 10, 2011 we commemorated the 91st anniversary of the death Bishop Pablo Singzon, the first Bishop of Calbayog.

The following item was supposed to have come out in the August 12 edition of this paper. But I did not make it to the deadline. This is my annual tribute to the first bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog. Blame it on the history buff in me and my interest in materials that are old, in this case a very old material dating back to August 14, 1920. It’s among the copies of the Eco de Samar y Leyte which I got sometime in 2008, as our team prepared for the Calbayog coffee table book.

That particular issue on August 14, 1920 had in its English section this headline: “Mgr. Pablo Singzon, first Bishop of Calbayog died last Tuesday morning”. Let me give you that old account which was written by someone who went by the name of “PLOPE”.

“It was a melancholic and sorrowful Monday at about six o’clock when our Illustrious Prelate Mgr. Pablo Singzon in the modest parlor of the Episcopal palace was attended by his familiars among whom was Dr. Tomas Gomez. His weary respiration and the paleness of his face moved the hearts of those who were present and caused them a painful feeling of separation. The pain of his sickness was becoming more and more painful which called him to stay in bed.

At 10:00 o’clock p.m. when Mgr. Singzon found out that he did not feel a better repose nor even a rest from the pain of his sickness in his bed, wanted to sit on a chair – the chair where he received the spiritual consolations last November when he was attacked severely by the same sickness. In this chair he decided to die. Tears that roll from my eyes prevent not my pen to communicate my pain!

When the clock knocked its eleven strikes Mgr. Singzon was becoming weaker and weaker. From the neck of our illustrious patient hanged a bead of rosary, the Escapulary of the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Miraculous Medal. Around him were his favorite Auxiliary Bishop Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang, RR. FF. Jose Diasnes, Teodoro Robredo, Luis Egeda, Dr. Tomas Gomez, RR. FF. Pedro Pampliega, Santos Saldaña, the Seminarians Bernardo Bacsal, Lesmes Ricalde, and behind the chair were RR. FF. Felix Sabenicio and Crispin Singzon. It was indeed a sorrowful occasion! All those who were present observed firmly to the patient and watched his movements whose weary and painful respiration cooled their hearts. Mgr. Singzon was not as active as he used to be: his activity, attention and application were changed: Mgr. Singzon was transformed struggling between the existence of life and death.

Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang his Auxiliary Bishop and who had never left him read the profession of the faith, the recommendation of the soul; whose voice in the midst of that tranquility and in the midst of that struggling pain called his attention to listen. Rev. F. Jose Diasnes neared to the patient by order of the Auxiliary Bishop to give him a confession. How great and how sublime is to die in the name of the Catholic Religion, though in the midst of pain.

The illustrious patient was losing gradually his movements the coolness of his body began to cover him with its veil, his paleness was becoming more and more pale. Then all those who were present knelt down with lighted candles before a crucifix near the patient and said the following words: “PROFESU ERE ANIMA CRISTIANA”

Mgr. Singzon gave up his last breath in the morning of the sorrowful Tuesday when the clock knocked its 3:20 strikes” (PLOPE)

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In memoriam. Tomorrow we remember Bishop Sincero Lucero on his death anniversary.

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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

The Music Man of Samar (3)

2011-08-29T05:09:00.008+08:00

Hi there! It’s a new week and yes we’re still into our long weekend. How I wish we get to have some more of these Monday holidays. Ah Ricky and Mitos. What a show, oops, I’m at a loss as to what to call that tussle between Secretary Carandang and Congresswoman Magsaysay. Anyway, I guess that showdown was not unexpected. And yes (as a news report had it), considering the history of the House (of congress) and its members, budget hearing oftentimes become a venue for lawmakers to faceoff with cabinet secretaries regarding (more of) their parochial concerns and oftentimes not so much about the budget and the like. Well, as la vida. Or should I say everything boil down to three words: perks and occupational hazard. That’s depending on which side of the debate you happen to find yourself into.

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Patrun sa Calbayog. The 9-day Novena Masses in preparation for the Calbayog City Fiesta will commence tomorrow. This year’s Hermanas Mayores are all members of the Diomangay Clan, they are Thelma Diomangay – Manaog, Delia Corrales – Diomangay, Tomasa Corsiga – Antivo and Sheila So Seng – Montagot.

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Events at my alma mater. The Philippine Science Centrum will open its Science Fun Caravan Travelling Exhibit at Christ the King College on Thursday (September 1). Invited to speak during the opening program are Calbayog Schools Division Superintendent Edita Paculan, Congressman Mel Sarmiento, Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and CKC President Fr. Marcelo Tubac, OFM.

The Philippine Science Centrum (PSC) is a comprehensive educational program composed of various interactive science exhibit modules and write-ups, teacher activities, lessons and projects. To reach the various individuals, communities and academic institutions and organizations in the countryside, the Science Fun Caravan Travelling Exhibit was established. This mobile exhibition was designed to reach out and bring the exciting educational offering of PSC in Metro Manila to the regions.

The Calbayog run of the exhibit will last until the end of September.

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Here’s the conclusion of the article about Jose Gomez, the Music Man of Samar.

Like in the Wink of an Eye: The Heroism of the Gomez Sisters. To protect the authorship of his music after the war, he obtained letters from the Adjustment General. But the most tragic blow in his life came with the death of his kin and five members of the guerilla band who were captured by the Japanese soldiers in Barangay Acedira in Bobon, Northern Samar. They were interrogated and tortured to reveal the whereabouts of Jose. Refusing to give in to the Japanese, his sisters Josefa, Francisca and Trinidad were made to walk the nine-kilometCatarman. Josefa died along the way on March 7, 1944. Francisca and Trinidad reached Catarman only to be bayoneted to death at dawn of March 9, 1944. They were buried in a common grave together with the five members of the Cecilian Band who were also killed by the Japanese namely, Corporals Basilio Comilan and Maximo Del Monte, Private 1^st Class Pablo Aniban and Irencio Jalayajay and Private 2^nd Class Ramon Aniban.

Jose expressed his grief over the loss of his sisters in a heart-rending composition, “In The Wink Of An Eye”.

He was also moved to write a song “An Kamote” in praise of the lowly plant which saved many families from starvation during the war years. He also composed “Bandit Of The Hills” after the Japanese called his guerilla group “bandits”.

The leadership qualities and the courage which Jose Gomez demonstrated during the war made him a logical person to organize the Calbayog Police and acted as its leader.

After Calbayog became a city on October 16, 1948, he took the additional responsibility of being the Chief of the Secret Service Division of the Police Department. This arrangement continued until 1953.

Musical Performances for CKC.Upon the arrival of the American Franciscan Fathers of the Assumption Province of Pulaski, Wisconsin, Jose and other civic-spirited Calbayognons helped the Friars acquire six hectares of land situated in the eastern part of the city. The area was known as “Hamorawon Hills” and was owned by seven families.

The Friars arrived in Calbayog to take over the administration of the Colegio De San Vicente De Paul (CSVP). Musical performances were staged and sponsored by the faculty of the CSVP to launch the school now known as Christ the King College (CKC). At CKC, Jose trained “some 70 boys and girls comprising the college band”.

Shower of Musical Thoughts. Jose never ceased from writing music, church hymns, guerilla marches and graduation marches for schools in Calbayog. Famous among these are CKC’s “Christi Regians”, “Bongto Ko” and “Mutya -San Kagab-ihon" which won the 1^st prize, besting the different schools in Region 8 during the CIDAL Meet Singing Competition in Catbalogan, Samar. He also wrote Christmas songs entitled “Panarit No. 2, 3 and 4”, the "La Milagrosa March”, Calbayog Pilot Central School March and the Tiburcio Taninco Memorial Vocational School March.

Jose Gomez has written 5,000 songs, 500 of which he applied for copyright. He filed this in his bound collection called “Shower of Musical Thoughts”.

On September 1974, he won in the “Paligsahan sa Musika” Songwriting Competition. His song “Hiboy-Hiboy” won during the municipal, provincial and regional levels. But he lost to Dodong Pinedero during the Grand National Finals at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“Pa, did you receive a plaque?” On November 1974, he suffered a stroke paralyzing his left arm. It was probably caused by his fight against a recording company for its alleged violation on the patent right on his composition “Ahay”. He was brought to Manila for medical treatment.

During his stay at the hospital, his eldest son Tony happily showed him a plaque.

“I received this for my outstanding contribution to the company I worked for”. He continued, “Pa, did you receive any plaque of recognition for your musical efforts in Calbayog?”

That question struck Jose speechless and motionless, he turned his gaze away from his son and stared pensively at the window. Tear slid down slowly upon his aging cheeks. It was only at that moment that the eldest son realized that he asked a sensitive question.

Against the advice of his doctor, Jose insisted on going home believing that he will recover in Calbayog. He came home on January 1975. In the early morning of February 2, 1975, like “in the wink of an eye”, grim reaper intervened and snuffed the life out of Jose Gomez.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

The Music Man of Samar

2011-08-26T05:10:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. Yes, today’s title was inspired by the late Maestro Jose Gomez. And before anything else, it’s nice to note that we will all be into a long weekend. Now a question, are all Filipinos aware why we will be into a long weekend? (Suddenly I miss PGMA and those Monday holidays). Anyway, thanks to our heroes and Eidl Fitr most of my friends will be Out of Calbayog City until Tuesday (hmm, that line sound familiar)

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Let me give you something to smile about this week: Robinson’s is coming to Calbayog. It’s official, by that I mean the LGU has received a communication from Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC) and that it is “contemplating the development of a first-class shopping center in Calbayog.” Consistent with the RLC mission to provide the public with an excellent shopping experience, the proposed project will feature a full-service mall that will include the various Robinson’s retail store, popular shops and restaurants, and several entertainment facilities.

More details in my forthcoming columns.

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Here is the continuation of the article on Jose Gomez, the Music Man of Samar. As I have earlier mentione, the late Jose Gomez was honored during the 1st Bahandi Samarnon Awards. I got this material from Carl Bordeos of CKC. Here’s the second part:

“The Cecilian Band. The coming of Patria Ortega (later on Mrs. Angelo Consunji) from Sta. Isabel Conservatory of Music in Manila, became the rallying point for local music enthusiasts like Pablo Rueda, Crispulo Madolaria and Jose Gomez, to name a few. They decided to organize a band called ‘Cecilian’ after Saint Cecilia, the Patron of Music.”

“On April 11, 1927, at the age of 16, Jose composed ‘Mirza’. He sent it to Malaquias Nonato, then the famous bandleader of the Hongkong-based Philippine International Band. However, the composition was returned to him with suggestions for improvement. Dejected and depressed, this caused the young Jose to refuse taking his meals for weeks. After he gathered his senses, he took the incident as a lifelong challenge.”

“When Patria (Ortega) got married, the Cecilians disbanded. Jose went to Cebu to try his luck. His primary motive for the move was to learn orchestration. Within a week, he landed the job as pianist in the place of Metring Ilaya at the Cebu Blues.”

“When the owner of the orchestra noticed his musical talents, he was given the full freedom to compose, arrange and conduct his compositions. This time he wrote ‘Phantom of the Blues’, ‘An Kabu’ (better known as ‘Awit San Cecilians’), ‘Dreamy Moon’ and ‘Love At Last’. With his savings, he was able to purchase an alto saxophone.”

“After three years in Cebu, his mother, concerned about his future, requested him to return home. Upon his return to Calbayog, he was told to pack for Manila for further studies. The proposal did not appeal to Jose. Instead, he revived the Cecilian. He found the membership of the band almost intact with the exception of Adriano Castillo, the drummist who had moved to Iloilo with his sister. Jose became the Cecilian’s bandleader.”

“The woman who held him helplessly. Jose went places in Samar and Leyte with his well-known Cecilian Band. During performances, he held the audience, especially the women spellbound with his ubiquitous clarinet. But only one woman held him helplessly. It was Francisca Soriano Lazaro, a young teacher at the San Policarpo Elementary School. Francisca was from Sta. Cruz, Manila. She was brought to Calbayog in 1932 by a relative.”

“They were married on March 28, 1936. This union was blessed with seven children – four boys and three girls. They are Cecilia, Antonio, Mariano, Virginia, Manuel and Remegio.”

“World War II. Because he demonstrated leadership in the community, Jose was appointed as Assistant Supervisor for Civilian Defense of District One of Calbayog City. He later became the Chief Deputy Municipal Air Raid Warden.”

“At the beginning of 1942, he was inducted by Capt. Mariano Lim as secret operative of the guerilla movement. On March, he closely monitored and investigated the stream of evacuees coming into Samar from Manila via Legaspi. On June, he was formally inducted into the USAFFE and was given the assignment of organizing the Secret Service Operations in the Calbayog area. He organized two communication points from Calbayog to the guerilla camp in Malaga and another relay point from Migara to Catarman. Before Christmas he was given another assignment to destroy the Labuyao bridGe mn order to cut the supply line of the Japanese between Calbayog and Oquendo. During this operation, his sole support was Corporal Pedro Cano and one Enfield rifle.”

“The Musician-Guerillas. At this point, Jose was to make a special contribution to the guerilla activity by joining with it his gift for making music. Using his persuasive logic, he moved the entire Cecilian Band to join the guerillas.”

“In early February 1945, he went to the left river of Oquendo with the band members to entertain and to build up the morale as well as to disseminate allied information to the civilian population. On March of the same year, under the very noses of the Japanese, he was once again stationed in Calbayog to gather information on enemy movements. A Lt. Soliman called him to a meeting and on May, he was ordered to report to the headquarters of the 98th Regiment of the 93rd Division of the AUSA in Brgy. Kalagundi-an. On July 16th, he was called into active duty with the rank of probationary 3rd Lieutenant and was assigned to conduct the said division.” (to be continued)

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Wedding Bells. Justin Justina and Ethel Bendanillo will get married tomorrow. Fr. Iluminado Paulino will preside over the wedding mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Fr. James Roa, the Medical Director of St. Camillus Hospital will deliver the homily. Reception will be held at the Ballroom of Ciriaco Hotel.

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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Art

2011-08-19T05:32:00.006+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. Yes, today’s title was inspired by the recent controversy about some supposedly work of art. And this is also a continuation of the Bahandi Samarnon award in my Alma Mater Christ the King College

But first this which blew me away: an online campaign for Ernie and Bert to get married? Just what got into their minds?

And that art show at the CCP. What freedom of expression? It’s not a matter of freedom of expression. It’s regulating one’s freedom of expression. Okey, it’s a government agency, but 70% of those who financed it are Catholics. Ok, while we are into it, maybe the artist would like to consider coming up with similar work which will distort the images of Mohammad, Buddha, the Dalai Lama and other great religious leaders. I am no art connoisseur, but I do not disagree with F. Sionil Jose when he said “It isn’t art” when he referred to that CCP display which caused this much brouhaha.

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Book Launching. The CKC Community will be hosting the launching of two new books by Fr. Antonio Maria Rosales, OFM. The books entitled “The Jesus’ Letters” and “My Son, Francis” will be launched at 3:00 pm tomorrow at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium at Christ the King College.

The CKC President Fr. Mar Tubac and the author Fr. Tony will deliver their respective messages. The CKC VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Florita Calesa will present her review on “The Jesus’ Letters” while Mr. Venancio Bajet, the Dean of the College of Teacher Education will deliver present a review on “My Son, Francis”.

The event will capped by cocktails and a performance of the CKC Youth Chamber Orchestra.

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As I have earlier mentioned in this column, the late Jose Gomez was honored during the 1^st Bahandi Samarnon Awards. I thought I’d like to share some materials about the man which I got from Carl Bordeos. Here’s the first part:

“An American SVD Father referred to him as ‘The Music Man of Samar’ in a published article in the Leyte-Samar Studies journal of the Divine Word University (of Tacloban
City. An admirer was quoted to have referred to him as an ‘Immortal Communicator of the sweetest sounds’ to Calbayognons and Samarenos. A cultural worker called him a ‘genius’”

“Whatever accolade we may give to the most prolific composer of Samar songs, lest we forget, Jose Cinco Gomez was a Maestro, a fitting title to a great and humble man who consecrated his life to give every Calbayognon and Samareno music and pride.”

“Born on February 27, 1911 in Barrio Tabuk (now Obrero) of Calbayog City, Jose was the eldest among the seven children of Licarion Gomez and Benigna Cinco. His siblings were Conrado, Ricardo, Angeles, Josefa, Francisca and Trinidad.”

“He took his elementary and one year in high school at the Colegio De San Vicente De Paul (CSVP now Christ the King College. Formal education stopped for Jose in high school, but the process of informal education continued.”

“In his autobiography, he claimed that he was ‘interested in music since he was a child’ and was very much influenced by his father, brothers and sisters who often met together to have a family concert.”

“Both of his parents had musical training. His father while studying Surveying at Ateneo Municipal once conducted the Ateneo Band. His mother studied at the La Concordia College. It was his father’s hobby to play the piano after each working day, and the young Jose would tinker on the ivory keys. Seeing interest in music, Licarion provided him with a tutor, Sofio Camilon and further exposure came when he played at the CSVP as a banjo-playing character.”

“He once worked industriously at mastering an instrument that he borrowed from his cousin Antonio Gomez. Since the instrument lacked the pads for stopping the air, he experimented with many different kinds of materials as substitute for commercial pads. One of his solutions was to use animal skin. In order to keep the skin soft it had to be repeatedly immersed in water. So the young musician played with a pail of water at his side in which he would periodically dip the entire instrument. With his brother, he learned to prepare home-made bamboo reeds for the saxophone.”

“His interest expanded to musical arrangement and he pursued it with the aid of an old family victor phonograph. To identify the arrangement of each instrument on a particular recorded selection, he had his brother Conrado hold the adjustment lever of the phonograph to maintain the ‘slow’ speed while he took notes of his observations on paper.” (to be continued)

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This is it for now. Let m leave you with something to ponder about this weekend. From Harvey Fierstein: “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”

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Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Wazup CKC?

2011-08-15T06:01:00.007+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. Forget about our new Senator who promised to be into things Mindanao. How I wish one day we could come up with someone who would say that in his list of priorities would be the concerns of the voters, err people from Eastern Visayas. I have saved my usual acerbic comments on the world around me for my forthcoming columns. Today, it’s going to be about CKC.

Two columns ago, I mentioned about my alma mater Christ the King College and what’s currently being done by the new College President.

Today I have decided to feature the 10-point Road Map towards formulating the CKC Educational Life Project for SY 2011 – 2013. This was synthesized from the "Go and Teach” Franciscan Education General Guidelines 2009, by the Secretariat of Education in Rome. This was also a part of Fr. Mar Tubac’s speech during his installation as CKC President.

Here’s an enumeration of the 10 points which is expected to serve as guide for the CKC community in the years to come.

That the first challenge for Franciscan Education today is how to offer the youth with clarity, creativity and audacity a new framework of relations with God, nature, humanity and ourselves.
That Franciscan Education is called to integrate in creation the following perspectives of the physical world: scientific, symbolic and religious. It offers a vision that makes it possible to understand the world not only as a natural place of human existence, but also as an expression of love, wisdom, power, greatness and beauty of God, a world in which it is possible to encounter God as the foundation, and our brothers and sisters, helping them feel welcome and loved.
That Franciscan Education leads to a genuine “ecological conversion” and the true “environmental justice” based on the values of expropriation, respect and solidarity of the distribution of natural assets.
That in Franciscan Education, Francis of Assisi is presented as a model of man who had reconciled with nature, with God, others and himself so much so that his greeting of “Pace et Bene”, “Peace and Good” has become a universal motto. Thus, the “spirit of Assisi” initiated by Pope John Paul II at the end of the 20^th century, has dynamics of peace and dialogue among world religions, is an educated platform to educate to the horizontal level the value of peace which is the basis of a real and actual Christian humanism. Peace then, although is a gift of the Kingdom, is a task and a social responsibility of believers and all persons of goodwill.
That Franciscan pedagogy or art of teaching develops the relationship with the God revealed by Jesus and lived by St. Francis. Therefore, it promotes a genuine and deep personal relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in an alliance of communion that takes the whole person, body, mind, heart and soul.
That Franciscan Education offers adequate mediation to a pupil or a student in school so that he could be able to know his inner self accept it with serenity. This deep knowledge of self favors a genuine love for oneself and true self esteem that helps to avoid a situation that can lead to a narcissist or pessimistic and hostile situation towards self.
That in students’ educational journey with teachers’ accompaniment, meeting and talking are the main mediations. This is a dialogue that involves the respected acceptance of the mystery of other person, trusted listening and emphatic understanding of each situation. It is a trust that will certainly grow with time and allows a clear discernment and a good evaluation of the different moments of the educational process.
That Franciscan Charism is embodied “in the concrete reality of each culture and time in which we live”. Under this condition, Franciscan Education develops a harmonious and progressive process of various aspects that involve the concept of person as relation, oneness and integral unity. A process where a person has the leadership, the ultimate responsibility and decisive action of his own education.
That Lay Teachers are primarily educators / formators and their educational work goes beyond simple transmission of knowledge. This awareness undertakes to guide the students toward truth and goodness by means of knowledge and the practice of human, Christian and Franciscan values, being faithful witnesses for them.
That Franciscan Education, in order to articulate faith with culture, makes us of various educational means, among them of utmost importance are that Institution’s Educational life Project, on-going spiritual formation of educators, and the appropriate facilities of the entity that own this educational institution.

* * *

This is it for now. Have nice week everyone! Ciao!

Doing something good

2011-08-08T05:07:00.001+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. And we are a month away to the Calbayog City fiesta. Nope, I was not thinking of “The Sound of Music” when I came up with today’s title. That’s what came to mind when I decided to devote today’s column to the Bahandi Samarnon Awards held recently at Christ the King College.

And my take on the recent (news) developments? So Koko is set for his oath as the new member of the Senate, or so said some news reports. Welcome to the club who are enthusiasts of everything investigatory. Oops, me and mouth!

* * *

The Bahandi Samarnon Awards. A good number of the members of the Gomez family were at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium at Christ the King College last Friday. They were on hand for the 1^st Bahandi Samarnon Award.

The award committee headed by Dr. Francie Santos identified the late maestro Jose Gomez as the first recipient of the award. Jobart Gomez, a grandson of Jose Gomez was delivered the acceptance speech. I’ll feature that speech in this column next week.

In her welcome message, Dr. Santos informed the guests that the award aims to acknowledge the sons and daughters of Samar who have excelled in the field of the arts; and later, there will also be recognition for other fields.

Seen at the event were Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm, Mrs. Edita Paculan, Agueda and Intoy Chan, Pio Santos, Jerry Perol (of Metrobank Calbayog), Chat Gonzaga, among others. Also present was Fr. Marlowe Rosales, ofm who conducted the CKC Youth Symphony Orchestra who performed some Jose Gomez pieces.

* * *

Mayor Aquino was invited to deliver a message during the Awarding Ceremony. However an equally important engagement prevented him from making it to Calbayog in time for the program. He requested me to read his message parts of which I would like to share with you today:

“…the Franciscan community should be commended for this worthy but challenging undertaking. Achievement Awards are so many that it runs the risk of being a commonplace. But in this case, in the case of the Bahandi Samarnon Awards, it is nice to note to have a group of Samarnon acknowledge the achievements of their fellow Samarnon. It should not take outsiders to acknowledge what good there is that is being done in Samar. It should not take outsiders to acknowledge what great achievers, what great people there are in Samar. Before we look far and wide, let us look upon ourselves for examples worthy of emulation. There should be so many of them just lurking around.”

“Now a question: Where can this Award find its significance? In this world characterized by political bickering, economic difficulties and what have you, don’t you think we should be looking at how we can help alleviate or reduce the incidence of poverty, maintain peace and order and provide decent jobs to our fellowmen? And let us not even start discussing about caring for the environment. That almost sorry scenario is exactly where this Bahandi Samarnon Award will find its significance. This is exactly where this activity finds its proper place. This ceremony calls for us to be able to do something good; or at least to manifest our ability to do something good out of the dire conditions. This is manifested by the life of the first awardee which the award committee has selected for tonight. He serves as both an inspiration and a call to action.”

“Jose Cinco Gomez. No need to recall details about his life. No need to memorize the titles of his works. The name speaks for itself. But then, knowing his name and his person is not enough to honor to the man who has contributed much to the development of music in Samar.”

“It is proper that we honor Jose Gomez. It is proper that we respect the works of Jose Gomez. But after taking a close look at the life story of this man, he deserves more than just us memorizing the lyrics of “Calbayog”; more than just us tapping to the vibrant beat of “Kamote”; and more than just us being familiar with lively tunes of his Samareno folk songs. The life and times and the works of Jose Gomez tell us two things: to be proud of our heritage; and to cultivate the hero in each of us. The times might have changed, but the call for us to be of service to our fellowmen and to be good sons and daughters of Samar remains. Like Jose Gomez, let us look beyond our mundane concerns in life. We have our own capabilities and abilities that can make a difference. Nobody among us is too small so as not to be able to do something for our beloved Samar.”

* * *

Greetings: Happy Birthday Congressman Mel Sarmiento. He will turn a year older on Thursday.

* * *

This is it for now. Let me give you something to think about this weekend. It’s from Plato: “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”

* * *

Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

On Jose Gomez and Christ the King College

2011-08-05T05:33:00.007+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And what do we have? Forget about Bedol and Garci. Surely Senator Migz is still the news. As expected, he got cheers and jeers for his decision. Well, what’s our world without them? Anyway, let’s wait what’s next for the upper chamber with Koko Pimentel, more investigations and what have you coming up.

* * *

There will be a special event at Christ the King College today. It’s the Bahandi Samarnon Award. Conceptualized by the Franciscan community, the award is an undertaking guided by this vision:

“Guided by the Gospel values, the Bahandi Samarnon Award engenders a Christian community that celebrates humanity towards a better Samar.” The award has as its mission the commitment to honor Samarnons with noble contributions, inspiring and empowering the people of Samar especially the youth to selfless endeavors and developing sense of patriotism, thus recognizing component and ethical individuals who integrate faith, life and culture for the advancement of Samar. The first awardee to be honored (posthumously) is Jose Cinco Gomez. Here’s some info on the awardee as contained in the program flyers:

“On his centenary, Jose Cinco Gomez deserves a grateful celebration from his fellow Samarnons. The eldest among seven children, he was born on February 27, 1911. His parents were Mr. Licarion Gomez and Ms. Benigna Cinco.”

During World War II, he was one of those who fought for our freedom. As a result, his three sister were tortured and killed in Catarman, Northern Samar on March 7 – 9, 1944. He expressed his loss in a heart- breaking composition ‘In The Wink Of an Eye’. He also wrote 'An Kamote’ as that rootcrop saved many families from starvation during the war years.”

“Considered as one of the greatest composers of Samar folk music, he has written approximately 5,000 songs which he compiled in his ‘Shower of Musical Thoughts’.”

“Famous among his compositions is ‘Calbayog’, a song dedicated to his birthplace. It was written on August 5, 1955. Today, every Calbayognon proudly sing this composition after it was adopted as the local anthem of Calbayog City.”

Today’s awarding ceremony which will be held at 4:00 pm today at the Frs. David and Leopold Memorial Auditorium is a three-part affair. It begins with opening of the Exhibit on the Jose c. Gomez Memorabilia. The awarding proper will include performances by the Christ the King College Youth Symphony Orchestra. Speeches will be delivered by Dr. Francisca Santos (the Chair of the Bahandi Samarnon Award Committee), Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and CKC President Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm. A representative of the Gomez family will deliver an acceptance message. The event will be capped by a cocktail reception.

* * *

Still with Christ the King College. Good news to my fellow Christi Regians. The venerable institution experienced higher enrolment rate this semester. I’ll give you details in my next column.

I recently received a copy of the Institutional Memorandum which Fr. Mar Tubac issued for the Christ the King College community. It’s the 10-point Road map towards formulating CKC Educational Life Project for School Year 2011-2013. There are many points worth noting in that road map. And I will be featuring these in my forthcoming columns. For a “teaser” let me give you points number one and number two:

“That the first challenge for the Franciscan education today is how to offer the youth with clarity, creativity and audacity a new framework of relations with God, humanity and ourselves.”
That Franciscan education is called to integrate in creation the following perspectives of the physical world: scientific, symbolic and religious. It offers a vision which makes it possible to understand the world not only as the natural place of human existence, but also as an expression of love, wisdom, power, greatness and beauty of God, a world in which it is possible to encounter god as the foundation, and our brothers and sisters, helping them feel welcomed and loved.”

* * *

This is it for now. Let me leave you with something to think about this weekend. From Henry Ford: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

* * *

Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

The way a mother cares for her only sick child

2011-07-29T05:03:00.002+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And today’s title? That’s to underscore the 15th anniversary celebration of the St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog City. It was the theme of the said celebration.

So, PNoy has delivered his second SONA. And my take on it? I’d rather that I let the experts, the feeling expert, the politicians, the grandstanders, the kibitzers and the like do the criticism. It’s their job, or should I say that’s what they are being paid to do, oops, me and my mouth. I’d rather focus on the red carpet moments. And surely they did not disappoint. Etta Rosales was correct in saying that it was a formal, big event. And that proper attire was the call of the day. But then, what do you say about those who looked like walking flower pots or vases with their colorful attire, accessories and what have you. And let’s not even start discussing about the jewelries and perfumes worn that day.

PNoy said a lot for a 53-minute speech. And certainly, PNoy was not campaigning when he said something like panahon na ngayon ng pagkakaisa, and the call to thank those who extend service in the government. What do you think? Or as one college professor (with a doctorate degree) in Calbayog had it, what is your think?

* * *

The Linis-Estero Program of Calbayog City will be launched today. It will be held at the Nijaga Park with the City Officials and various government and private offices and NGOs in attendance. This activity is an initial step aimed at cleaning and rehabilitating the Calbayog River.

* * *

Milestones. Congratulations to the Camillian community in Calbayog City. They celebrated the 15th anniversary of the St. Camillus Hospital last July 14, 2011. The day was highlighted by the Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez.

A good number of Calbayognons are familiar with that story about how a bottle of wine resulted in having the hospital erected in Calbayog City.

In his speech (which I read for him), Mayor Ronaldo Aquino recalled that story and some of his recollection regarding the opening of the hospital. Here are some parts of his speech:

“... if my memory serves me right, I was the officer-in-charge when the hospital was inaugurated. Mrs. Imelda Marcos was among the VIPs present. Weeks after the inauguration, I welcomed the Ambassador and Fr. Galvani at the Mayor’s Office. Most of you must be very familiar with that wine story. Word has it that then Bishop Maximiano Cruz was trying to get some info on what wine to serve to the Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni who was slated to visit the Diocese of Calbayog. Enter Fr. Luigi Galvani, add in the late Msgr. Basilio Rosales and his sister Manuela, and we had the Camillians to Calbayog and then, this hospital. Certainly, that search for the correct wine has come a long way in serving the people of Calbayog and the people of Samar.”

“Tonight’s anniversary celebration is but proper. It’s time to pause and thank the Almighty. In our case, we thank Him for this ‘gift of the Camillian community in Calbayog’. It’s time for you to look at how much good you have offered to the people in the community you are in. And as you do that, do ponder upon the long road ahead, that road characterized by more service to the people. And yes, for you, the St. Camillus Hospital to have existed this long, you must be certainly doing something good.”

“But more than the stories and the socials and trivia attached with the history of the hospital, there is one important aspect that one has to look into – that through the years St. Camillus Hospital has cared for the poor-sick of Calbayog ‘the way a mother cares for her only sick child’. The Local Government Unit of Calbayog can attest to that. The hospital has become one of our partners in our effort to answer the health needs of the less-fortunate Calbayognons.”

“As we salute you on your anniversary, we look forward to more years of fruitful partnerships with St. Camillus Hospital and the Camillian community…”

* * *

Mang Inasal formally opened its branch in Calbayog. Congressman Mel Sarmiento and Mayor Ronald Aquino led the list of guests invited to event.

* * *

Wedding Bells. Oliver Abrigo of and Janice Obong of Sta. Margarita will get married tomorrow. Msgr. Francisco Cinco III will preside over their wedding mass at the St. James the Greater Parish Church in Sta. Margarita.

* * *

This is it for now. Let me give you something to think about this weekend. It’s from Erich Fromm: “Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air , is not worth all the sufferings and effort which life implies.”

* * *

Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Coming out

2011-07-22T06:00:00.003+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. Nope, today’s column has nothing to do with coming out, like closet gays and what have you going out in the open. How I wish I could write something about it soon. Let me rephrase that, I will write about it soon. Anyway, today’s title is more like literally coming out like Lintang and Zaldy.

So Lintang Bedol is out. While I don’t like his getup (the bullet proof vest, plaid shirt and shades) I do like his opening statement when he greeted everyone, “Hi! Kumusta kayo?” And I was like, showbiz?

And Zaldy Ampatuan too. He’s out of his cell and enjoying the comfort of a hospital bed. My take? Ahh, some guys have all the luck. Put it there.

* * *

The City Government of Calbayog will be spearheading the inauguration of the Calbayog Sanitary Landfill Project. The event has been set at 9:00 a.m. today. Invited to the affair are DENR Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje, Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento and National Solid Waste Management Commission Executive Director Emelita Aguinaldo, among others.

The Calbayog Sanitary Landfill Project is located in Barangay Dinagan, Oquendo District. The project was made possible through a grant from the Japanese Government. It has an area of 4.7 ha. for the lot and 1.7 ha. for the Design Landfill area. This is equipped with aerobic Sanitary Landfill facilities with a volume of 130,000 cubic meters and 180,000 cubic meters for the Landfill and earth cover.

* * *

The Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF) and the Japanese Embassy hosted the inauguration of the WESADEF Women Resource Center (WRC) in Barangay Rawis, Calbayog City yesterday.

Present during the affair were Japanese Embassy officials namely Economic Affairs Minister Akio Isomata and Third Secretary Shigehiro Matsuda.

In his message, Mayor Ronald Aquino thanked the Japanese government for the help it has extended to both WESADEF and the City Government of Calbayog. He cited the various grants / assistance which the Japanese Government extended to Calbayog which included among others, the technical assistance for the Sanitary Landfill Project, the Materials Recovery Facility in Barangay Payahan, and various office facilities for the Solid Waste Management Office.

Mayor Aquino also acknowledged the WESADEF as one of the LGU’s active partners in governance. He cited the new WRC as a facility which will go a long way in helping WESADEF’s clients who are beneficiaries of their various programs like the ones aimed at curbing the abuse of women not only in Calbayog but also from San Jorge and Sta. Margarita, as well as clients from the island towns near Calbayog.

The City Mayor also said that while the city aims for projects and programs meant to attract investors and to put in place an urbanized city where there is vibrant business and job opportunities, the city also needs partners like the WESADEF in its effort to combat the perennial problems on child and women abuse, human trafficking, among others; as well as advocacies on the care for the environment, youth development and literacy program.

* * *

Milestones. Congratulations to Mr. Marvin De La Cruz, Calbayog’s new CPA. The JPIA-Calbayog and Christ the King College tendered a Testimonial Dinner for him on Thursday last week.

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Mary Basco – Fulgencio. She will turn a year older today.

* * *

Let me leave you with something to think about this weekend. From Tom Bodett: “The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

A Bishop’s advice

2011-07-18T06:16:00.002+08:00

Hi there! It’s a new week. So, it’s Migz and Koko again, thanks to Mr. Ampatuan (laglagan na!). Let me see, it’s 2011, and we have two more years before the next election, that’s two years remaining for the term that they are fighting over, they could have settled for a term-sharing early on (Smile! It’s a new week).

Still on Zaldy Amaptuan. The Former governor revealed that ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was involved in the election fraud in Maguindanao in 2007. Likewise, he revealed that Jose Rizal was killed by the Spanish; the Earth revolves around the sun, and John Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman. Apparently, Zaldy Ampatuan wants to turn state witness. Against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Zaldy Ampatuan has initiated court proceedings to change his last name. He is seeking a little compassion and empathy from the public. Hopefully, the judge would grant his petition to use the surname Mangudadatu. (oops, this paragraph came from The Professional Heckler. Check his site).

* * *

As I have reported in this column, Fr. Marcelo Tubac was recently installed as the Third President of Christ the King College. Among the highlights of the fraternal agape was the speech of Bishop Isabelo Abarquez. I asked permission from the good bishop to feature parts of his speech in today’s column:

“ . . . I congratulate the men and women who make up the Christ the King College – keepers of the standard of excellence that this great institution has always symbolized.
At this juncture, may I invite you to reflect on Knowledge and Virtue, Faith and Reason. Education cannot be the mere accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge must the directed towards formation in virtues, just as virtue must dispose the seekers to the acquisition of more knowledge.

In this modern day and age, there has been an ever – widening dichotomy between knowledge and virtue. The age of information has led to progress in communications technology. Yet, while distance and time have become foreshortened to turn the world into global village, the village has fallen short of becoming a true Christian community. Instead of greater understanding between and among peoples, there is now an increased sense of insecurity and animosity.

Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived. Knowledge without virtue is mere technique and information. We do not need to attend college to learn technique and get information. We can learn technique from manuals. Television can give us the information we need. Unless an institution of learning, like Christ the King College, can show its ability to form its students in virtue, it is nothing but a diploma mill. If all a college does is cram its students full of knowledge- no matter how to up-to-date – without forming them in virtue, it is only producing mindless and artless citizens- persons capable of counting but not valuing, of comprehending but not understanding, of communicating but not engaging in dialogue.

This, then, is my challenge for you today as leading institution of learning in the Diocese of Calbayog. “Duc in Altum” meaning “Put out into the deep”. Turn this college into not just an institution of learning but also into venue of information.

I challenge you then, who are working in this venerable institution: be witness of the Christ the King. Let His kingship reign in your hearts and families, let His kingship reign in your classrooms and offices, les His kingship reign in this community and campus and let His kingship reign in our City, Province and Diocese.

As you begin again another school year, may I invite you to examine your Catholic faith. Do not rely more on reason, faith and reason are not contrary faculties. Faith and reason are the two wings that enable the mind to soar towards the truth. It is characteristic of young people to search for meaning. It is the duty of a Catholic College to provide such meaning without making it less of a discovery for the young. Religious is being taught in this catholic College as one of the courses a student is required to take. Faith however, cannot be given or taken as a course answering to a number of credits or units. It can only be transmitted. Take care therefore that religion is taught only by men and women of genuine faith. If you cannot find enough people to qualify, do it yourselves. And, if perchance you do not find enough faith in yourselves, let your students teach you, for I know that in the rough-and-trouble of the classrooms, there are young men and women whose faith needs only the proper and encouragement. Pay attention therefore - pay much attention - to your campus ministry, for what cannot be taught in the classroom may be experienced outside of it.

I therefore ask Fr. Mar and the other OFM Fathers to make the education given here a real synthesis between faith and reason, between knowledge and virtue, and between industry and service.

During our Ad Limina visit to Rome, I visited several decasteries and Pontifical Commissions. One of the decasteries that we, Bishops, had visited was the Congregation for Catholic Education. During our meeting with the Cardinal Prefect of this particular decastery, the Cardinal told us, “provide and maintain the Catholic identity of our Catholic Schools, Colleges and Universities”. Then nagpapadayon siya pagsering, “if in the name of academic freedom, some professors may teach teachings that are not in conformity with our Catholic faith then do something for it is also our right to maintain the catholic identity of our schools”.

Fr. Mar, bring out the Catholic character of this college, because I firmly believe that the Church has so much to offer society. While the Church has often been painted by its critics as the enemy of knowledge, a sober assessment of its legacy will bear out the inestimable contribution of the Church to the progress of civilization and culture.

Fr. Mar this is your task and this, too, is your challenge. And once you accept it with faith, you will be able to lift and even carry it. The yoke of Christ the King will not crush you. It will carry you. The light of Christ the King will not blind you. It will make your vision definitely clear.”

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

4th of July

2011-07-07T05:18:00.004+08:00

Hi there! This was supposed to be for last Monday, but I didn’t make it in time for the 4th of July edition when the people of the U.S. of A celebrated their Independence Day. Anyway, here I go this weekend. Yes, I’m still wondering where my invitation to the American Embassy reception is. (Smile! Just wanna make you smile today) It’s the history buff in me again. I understand we used to celebrate Independence Day on July 4, thanks to our – as old folks would have it - American brothers, you know that supposedly special relationship and the like between the U.S. and PH (I wonder, how the descendants of Uncle Sam would refer to us. Their brown little brother perhaps?). Anyway, that day used to be Philippine Independence Day until then President Macapagal (nope not PGMA, just in case you’d ask) decided that it had to be June 12, and the rest is well, independence day history. Anyway there was a time when the 4th of July was referred to as Philippine-American Friendship Day. I checked the calendars in the past few years, there was no more mention of the day as such. Thanks goodness. What friendship? If that friendship day is a holiday, well that would be a different story.

Does that friendship explain why the U.S. pledged to help PH in case of any attack? Thanks to China and the Spratlys. Oops, I think help is not the word, lease is more like it. And needless to say, war is business. Yup, it’s the one which means earning money.

So, PNoy recently marked his first year in office. As expected critics and defenders were abound. Well, what’s Philippine politics without it? And my take on PNoy and governance? You should watch Evita, either that Ron Howard film or the Broadway version. There is that (famous) line in the scene wherein Eva Peron waltzes with the character of Che and that line goes something like “... problems from war to pollution, no hope of solution even if I live for one hundred years.” I agree with that, whoever will make as the country’s top honcho that person will never be able to solve the ills of the country. The critics and the defenders and the surveys and kibitzers notwithstanding. Seriously, the bottomline is, whoever will be on top, it will still take the people to make things happen. And by that I mean, if you are not doing your part, like paying correct taxes, obeying even simple traffice rules, you have no reason to fret.

And yes, it’s still about PNoy. It’s been a year. Suddenly I missed some personalities.Where could the 2010 presidentiables be now? Let me call the roll: John Carlos de los Reyes, Joseph Estrada, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas, Gilbert Teodoro, Eddie Villanueva and Manuel Villar. I understand two or three of these personalities still had to issue statements that they have conceded to Noynoy Aquino.

If you are an avid viewer of ANC, you should be familiar with their AD which says about how their news team stood to do just that, give the news. I heard a very interesting twist on that: “Issues change, personalities vary, but some headlines remain: Manila flooded during typhoon. Students rally against tuition fee increase. Government official accused of graft and corruption. Oil prices go up.” ((Smile! It’s a new week!)

* * *

In my column last Friday, I mentioned about the implementation of the Non-Smoking in Calbayog. A task force has been formed to put into effect info campaign and similar activities in a good number of barangays. As I have earlier mentioned, there will be no arrests or penalties for violators at least in the next few months. There will be lectures and reminders to those who opt to violate the ordinance.

Ordinance No. 2011-10-018 prohibits smoking in public places, public conveyances, hospitals, schools, government offices and assembly areas. It was signed by the late Mayor Reynaldo Uy last April 13, 2011. It was sponsored by Councilors Raymund Uy with all the SP members as co-sponsors.

* * *

Obit. Mrs. Isabel Gomez-Hernandez was laid to rest last Saturday. She retuned to her creator on June 26, 2011. She was 104 years old.

Another centenarian recently passed away. Leona Molato-Alevario she returned to her creator at the age of 100.

* * *

Quote of the week. A friend of a friend of mine applied for a job in one of the banks in Calbayog. Ang siste daw is that the officer received the papers, looked at the applicant and then he supposedly uttered, “Di ka bagay dito, may pimple ka”. I never knew pimple can have grave effect affect on the performance of a bank worker. Yun lang!

* * *

This is it for now. Have nice week everyone! Ciao!

Random thoughts (na naman)

2011-07-01T05:26:00.008+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend, and what’s with today’s title? Well, it’s like whatever comes to mind I write it, in other words, naghnubya na liwat ini nga writer. (Smile! It’s a Friday!)

This is the day! Yup, this is the day when the No-Smoking Ordinance of Calbayog will take effect. But smokers (read: would-be violators) don’t worry, violators will not be arrested or fined. They will be in for some lecturing and info drive about the ordinance, its penalties and yes, something about the ill of smoking.

Suddenly it occurred to me, (if my memory of my lessons serves me right) what if Christopher Columbus did not bother taking tobacco to Spain and present it in front of the King, will there be smokers? Oh well, I think globalization was already in the offing since the time of the great explorers. (Oops, don’t take that seriously, just wanna make you smile today)

* * *

Ahh Senator Miriam Santiago did it again! Nope, it’s not about her usual speeches in the senate or wherever, it’s her Ruby Wedding Anniversary. You must have noticed the interesting mix of controversial figures (how could you miss it with nosy reporters reporting it all over the place?). All colors - be it in politics or business - were there. And let’s not even start discussing the social and political butterflies hovering, err flying during the event. Hmm, for being able to put peace between warring factions for a few hours, maybe the good senator can be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (oops, that’s the idea I got from the Professional Heckler).

So PNoy did not bring goods for the Cotabato evacuees, or so said the politicians out there. Let me see. I understand the flooding was caused by the water hyacinth which grew at that Mindanao River ok, PNoy was three weeks late and (again) he did not bring goods. But I understand the water hyacinth did not just grow there, did they? I mean, what were they doing about those that it grew out of proportion and blocked the river? And then blame PNoy for bringing no relief goods. By the way, a good number of Filipinos are into some livelihood using water hyacinth. Maybe that news about it has not reached that area of the country.

And still about PNoy. News had it that some cabinet members are harbingers of bad news. It’s either they are really into things or news that are bad, or they are just being too honest with things when talking with the President. Peace!

* * *

Let me give you something to smile about this weekend. It’s something I got from The Professional Heckler. It’s his piece entitled “Makabagong Kasabihan” which he described as modern sayings & proverbs inspired by some famous people in politics and government:

Land Transportation Chief Virginia Torres: Magpakahaba-haba man ang suspension, sa LTO pa rin ang tuloy.

Cong. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: Ang taong nagigipit, nominado ang iniipit,

Former Batangas Governor Tony Leviste: Habang bayad ang mga pusa, naglalaro ang daga.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines: Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa obispo ang ngawa, mahihirap ang kawawa.

Incoming DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas: Naghangad ng kagitna, palasyo ang nawala.

Resigned DOTC Sec. Jose ‘Ping’ De Jesus: If you can’t stand the heat, quit the Cabinet.

Atty. Edwin Lacierda: Ang pumatol sa sira-ulo . . . (Basta)

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda: If you can’t beat them, boycott them!

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda: Matalino man ang matsing (basta matalino siya . . . )

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

No Smoking

2011-06-24T06:01:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And what’s with today’s title? That’s to underscore the Calbayog City Ordinance which is to take effect a week from now: Ordinance No. 2011-10-018 aka An ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places, public conveyances, hospitals, schools, government offices and assembly areas. More details in my next column.

* * *

Rev. Fr. Marcelo Oliveros Tubac, OFM was installed as the Third President of Christ the King College last June 16, 2011.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez presided over the Mass which preceded the Installation Ceremony at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The Installation Ceremony was presided over by Rev. Fr. Roberto Bayaras, ofm, Custos of the Custody of St. Anthony of Padua. He was assisted by Dr. Francisca Santos, the College Registrar and Dr. Florita Calesa, the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The CKC Youth Symphony Orchestra provided the music service during the liturgical ceremony.

At the Fraternal Agape which was held at the Fr. David and Leopold Auditorium, messages were delivered by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Congressman Mel Sarmiento, Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and Rev. Fr. Roberto Bayaras, OFM.

* * *

In his message, Mayor Aquino commended Fr. Mar for his effort to make Christ the King College “shine again”. He also called on all Christi Regians to be one with the Fr. President in his programs and actions for CKC. Here are some parts of the Mayor’s speech:

“... I also hope that this occasion will serve to remind all of us to take pride in the fact that our alma mater is the oldest catholic school in Region 8. That fact is both good news and a challenge for our new President. I believe that he must have been fully-aware of this. Fr. Mar went to work many months ago. Proof to tell:

Aside from attending to the affairs of the school, Fr. Mar actively participated in the planning and holding of some alumni activities during the last quarter of year 2010. I was informed that he is in constant dialogue with the CKC personnel, making them fully-aware of the comings and goings of the school. And most importantly, he did what I believe his predecessors did not: he exerted efforts to get in touch – ONCE AGAIN – with the graduates of CKC. He urged and pleaded them to look back at their alma mater and to help in every way possible.

From our end at the LGU, Fr. Mar also exerted effort to be one of our active stakeholders. Foremost of this was his novel concept of LGU-CKC partnership which brought the CKC Youth Symphony Orchestra to some interior barangays of Calbayog. He also extended support with his suggestions for the 3-D Development Program of the City.

With a leader like that, we can’t ask for more. But I believe that he will be asking something from us: and that would be our cooperation; or at least being united with him in his efforts for this venerable learning institution; and one way or the other, for the City of Calbayog.
As a true-blue Christi Regian, I commit to helping the Fr. President in his endeavors to make (in his words) “Christ the King College shine again”.

And as the local chief executive of the City, we are committed to actively support all our partners whose programs are aimed at the betterment of our constituents and our city.

I call on everyone present to act as one for us to have once again the Christ the King College that many generations of Calbayognons are familiar with: a fountain of learning worthy to be proud of. A fountain of learning that Calbayog City will always be proud of.”

* * *

I recently met the former DOT Regional Director Norma Morante. She is now the Consultant on Tourism of the City of Tacloban. She represented Mayor Alfred Romualdez during the concert of the Christ the King College Youth Symphony Orchestra at Plaza Rizal.

* * *

Wedding Bells. Carlo Galang and Ervi Silvano will get married tomorrow. Their wedding mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Fr. Iluminado Paulino as mass presider and Fr. Erwin Rodriguez as concelebrant. Their wedding reception will be held at the Calbayog Convention and Cultural Center.

* * *

Belated birthday greetings to Mr. Ciriaco “Tony” Tan. He turned 75 years old last Sunday. I hosted the program during birthday party which his family tendered for him at, where else – Ciriaco Hotel.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Rizal. Na naman?

2011-06-20T05:17:00.009+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. Nope, please don’t get offended by today’s title, just wanna catch your attention today.

First things first. The CKC - Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra will be in Tacloban City tomorrow. They will have a concert at the Rizal Plaza at 7:00 pm.

* * *

Yes! It’s another holiday. Monday holidays seem to be a prized commodity during the administration of PNoy (smile! It’s a new week), that’s on top of the (sad?) fact (or reality, whichever comes first) that most legal holidays this year fall on Sundays. Anyway, Rizal’s birthday would have been just that – another birthday if not for the holiday declaration. But then, are all Filipinos really aware why they are free to extend their sleep today and not engage in the normal Monday morning rush of things to do? I suppose the “no” will get a higher percentage; and let’s not even start discussing “Why Rizal?”

But then, at the end of the day, thanks to Rizal, or should I say thanks to his 150th birthday, it seems like we were reminded of the contribution only of Rizal, but all the men and women, our heroes who helped shape our nation and plot its destiny. As to where this destiny is currently leading us, that’s another issue.

Now, don’t say that recalling the past is not your thing (that is something unhealthy). The reason for today’s holiday and the days reserved Bonifacio, for National Heroes’ Day and yes, the holiday two Sundays ago, all these remind us that heroism will never be a thing of the past. It is going to be a constant struggle for the good over bad (what’s the other word for that?). And as one TV network had it, there is a hero in each of us who can make things happen.

Back to Rizal, if only we can do away with romanticizing Rizal so much that he seemed too ideal. I think I got that line from Soc Sci professor at U.P. many years ago. You know like making a big story out of Rizal throwing away his slipper after its pair accidentally fell off the boat. And that the boy Rizal supposedly did it thinking that another (poor) boy might be able to pick up the pair and use it, or so the story went. It could have been simply a case of throwing away something which is already useless. Okey, it’s one very trivial matter and I’m just quoting my professor (oops, it suddenly occurred to me, she must have been into Bonifacio, you that Rizal-Bonifacio debate of old).

Of course, there are many other aspects of Rizal which we need to take a look at; and I suppose there are as many aspects of Rizal which we will never understand. And there are better means to introduce Rizal the hero and the human being. And that explains why I have some of Ambet Ocampo’s books.

Now, as to the haircut, and the string of girlfriends . . .

* * *

A week ago today, Mayor Ronald Aquino delivered his Independence Day message in front of the LGU employees. It was a call for unity and cooperation between the community and the LGU officials. Here are some parts of his speech:

“Nanu an karuyag sidngun sini nga selebrasyon? And batun san akun paki-ana mao an pagsering nga ini nga selebrasyon naghahatag sa atuin sin higayun agud makapamalandung san mga leksyon ug inspirasyon san atun mga bayani, nga apesar san kakulang san ira kusog, sira umato agud hikaplaghan an atun katalwasan.”

“I guess the lessons that can be had are best summed up in two words: unity and perseverance.”

“And what does the Independence Day make of us Filipinos? I guess questions can serve as answers to that question. Are we free from economic difficulties? Are we free from foreign domination? Can we move freely in a world characterized by free trade? And for us here in Calbayog and Samar, are we free from the image that Samareños are pictured to be, that of people who are hard-up in an underdeveloped land?”

“Kami nga iyo mga opisyales sa ciudad san Calbayog natoo nga an maupay nga ehemplo san ungod nga “independence” mao an katalwasan tikang san mga kakuri-an. Natu-o kami nga an amon pinakamaupay nga maipapadangat ngada san amon igkasi-Calbayognon san yana nga panahon sugad man san masunod pa nga henerasyon mao an usa nga ciudad nga progresibo, moderno, may-ada mga sementado nga sigad ngadto sa mga tay-aw nga barangay, ug labi na gud an pagkamay-ada kahimyangan."

“Ini nga mga larang matutuman la kun may-ada pagka-urosa. Pinaa-agi sini nga okasyon, akun guin hahangyu an atun pagka-urosa para san atun mahal nga ciudad san Calbayog.”

Mayor Aquino also quoted some lines from the 1998 Centennial Prayer:

“May we realize that the Independence Day celebration finds significance not only in the floats, the presentations and the costume, the parades and the ceremonies, but in the realization that freedom is best celebrated when we see all Filipinos free from the chains of economic difficulties, non-ownership and control of the tools of production especially land; and extreme political divisiveness.”

“May our yearly independence day celebration serve to tell us that the Filipino has only his fellowmen to share the glory and honor that he will reap out of the unity aimed for the betterment in all aspects of the life of the common man.”

* * *

The Sister of Mary Consoltarix of the Eucharist will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Consolation today.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the Eucharistic Celebration at the Consoltatrix Monastery in Barangay San Policarpo at 9:00 a.m. today.

The Mass will also be offered in thanksgiving for the 25 years of religious life of Sister Mary Francis of the Paraclete, MCE.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone. Ciao!

In Dependence

2011-06-17T05:35:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s nice to be back! Sorry to miss you the past six weeks.

So it’s back to school. Together with the usual and not unexpected problems on the lack of classrooms, chairs and teachers were the images of kids displaying their separation anxiety with their parents during their first day in school. On the local front, meaning in our beloved city, I still have to hear about lack of school buildings and/or rooms. On the other hand, the expected traffic brought about by the pd-cabs, motorbikes and cars in the various school gates are familiar sights again. And looking a little bit further, in some schools, it’s time (again) for some students to meet various kinds of teachers. Count among them those who opined that the EDSA revolution was nothing but a “costume party” wherein men and women were made to wear costumes so as to appear as nuns and priests and to make the revolution appear just like that, a revolution supported by the church. Well, that story blew me away the first time I heard it. And let me also count in someone who gave a brand of sparkling juice as an example of wine in their wine app (?) class. Now, do I have to recall that classic line like “what is your think?” and such exotic pronunciations like “sinet” for senate, “kungris” for congress and “kuurdinet” for coordinate? Oops, don’t take that seriously, just wanna make you smile this week.

* * *

As with the rest of the nation, Calbayog celebrated the 113th Philippine Independence Day last Sunday. Events for the day included a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Flag-raising Ceremony at the Calbayog City Hall and a Wreath-laying Ceremony at the Rizal monument at Nijaga Park.

After last Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Mayor Ronald Aquino delivered his Independence Day message in front of the LGU employees. I’ll give you some highlights from the message in my next column.

* * *

A tale of two celebrations. Pentecost and Independence Day fell on the same day this year. I think there is a common denominator between the two. It’s the word “birth”. The former being the birth of the Church and the latter, which we usually connote as the birth of a nation, the Filipino nation.

With all due respect to my faith, I understand we’ve been asking the Lord to send forth his spirit to renew the face of the earth. Well, if it’s the literal renewal that we have in mind, there is so (or was) much renewal – nakakalbong kagubatan, soil erosion, flooding, and what have you. Otherwise, don’t ask me if men have heeded the call for renewal called for by the Almighty. It’s been years since the Church was born. Is it time to give up? Definitely not. But I do love that fictional character called Cardinal Lamberto in the movie Godfather III. And If I may rephrase one his lines, “Men (in Europe) have been surrounded by the Church for the past so many centuries. But Christ has not penetrated their hearts.” I guess the same thing can be said about of a good number of the faithful in many parts of the globe, us in the land of Juan De La Cruz included.

RP or PH or PHL is 113 years old. Where are we now? I could still remember some old folks whining, albeit with a smile, that our former leaders should not have called for independence (from the Americans) but opted for American statehood. Now that would be a very interesting story. Suddenly I remember that guy who ran against Marcos during the 1981 election. That guy ran on a platform which called for the statehood of the Philippines. If it was a serious election, do you think that guy could have won?

Back to my topic. For the past few years, I’ve had “In Dependence” as the title for my column each time Independence day comes. Today it’s no longer freedom from the foreign invaders, China’s bullying notwithstanding, but it’s freedom from economic difficulties.

* * *

It has been 48 days since Mayor Reynaldo Uy was assassinated. So far, no update as of yet as to the perpetrators of the crime.

* * *

Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm. He will be formally installed today as the third President of Christ the King College.

Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the Mass which will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 8:00 am. After the installation ceremonies, a Fraternal Agape will follow at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium. The day’s event will be capped by a Solidarity Night at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Technical Grounds at the CKC campus.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Random Thoughts

2011-04-29T07:01:00.002+08:00

Hi there! It’s nice to be back. So what do we have? Let’s not talk about the renewal brought about by the Lenten Season, it’s the same case with the seasonal kindness and generosity that many of us (me included) are into during Christmas. Let’s look at the oil companies are blaming Libya for the rollercoaster ride that pump prices are into the past so many days. Like it’s only Libya that supplies us with oil? And as with the previous Labor Day observances, the labor sector is once again clamoring for wage hike. And then, there’s William and Kate.

So Prince William is getting married today to “a commoner but certainly from a family with means”. Or as one reporter had it, to someone from a non-aristocratic family but certainly a family of means. In other words to a rich girl. No question about it. Suddenly it occurred to me, a few years ago some articles had it that the chattering ladies (read: aristocratic or royals) of Europe are complaining about royals marrying commoners, that the royal blue blood of Europe is being diluted. Ah, what an existence. What if on top of their issues on blue blood being diluted they also have problems that many of us are into: rising fuel prices, low wages and unemployment? I guess that explains why the interest on the wedding, like some sort of a diversion from the harsh realities of life? Or plain and simple entertainment perhaps? Oh! What am I saying? Who wouldn’t like fairy tales?

Now as to whether the marriage will last, let’s start counting after Kate has given William two sons – the heir and the spare.

* * *

And what do you think these oil companies are doing? I dunnow the answer. Anything that has to do with numbers and economics simply make me throw up. Thanks to them, suddenly there are these “populist” programs about giving smart cards or assistance to the drivers and the like. No problem about it. But what does that make of the majority of us, the fixed income earners who pay taxes and are also affected by high fuel prices? I hope you see my point. I think I do not disagree with Dr. Benjamin Diokno when he said that those in charge of the economy should look further.

* * *

Going beyond Earth Hour. It’s never too late to report any good news. During the last Earth Hour event in Calbayog, Mayor Reynaldo Uy signed Executive Order (EO) No. 13. That E.O. enjoined all Calbayognons especially the business sector to observe the “No Cellophane No Plastics Weekend in Calbayog”. So far so good. That said EO received good feedbacks. The local stores did observe it. Some local bakeries went further, they have opted to pack their bread products in paper bags even on weekdays.

For its part the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution which enjoined all Calbayognons to make Earth Hour a nightly undertaking. More details on that resolution next issue.

* * *

Local events. Patrun buwas sa Barangay San Policarpo, the biggest barangay in Calbayog City.

Last Monday, Barangay Obrero celebrated its Charter Day. Events included a Thanksgiving Mass, Mass Wedding, Medical Mission and a sports fest.

The Calbayog East Central School (CECS) will have its 2nd Grand Alumni Homecoming on May 7. The event will be held at the CECS grounds. This year’s homecoming will be hosted by Batches 1970, 1971 and 1972.

* * *

The Social Scene. Belated Greetings to Arvee Najaro and Mae Ann Salazar. They got married last April 4. Their wedding was held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Reception was at the Ballroom of Ciriaco Hotel.

Aya Lontao Nagata turned 18 last April 16. Her mom Berlita Lontao – Nagata tendered a coming-out party for her at the ballroom of Ciriaco Hotel.

Anna Katrina Resente turned 18 last March 8, 2011. Her parents Rene and Annie tendered a coming-out party for her last April 20 at the Ciriaco Hotel.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Beyond Earth Hour

2011-03-25T06:10:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. First things first. The CKC-Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra is a finalist in the Globe Campus Super Showdown. Please vote for the orchestra by texitng: CCSS CKC and send to 2948. Their final showdown with other Visayas finalists will be held on March 31, 2011 at the University of San Jose Recoletos campus.

* * *

So tomorrow, the world or at least a good portion of it will be observing Earth Hour. And Calbayog will participate in the said event. Surely it is a noteworthy activity. An Earth Hour (EH) event in always news. By Sunday, it will all over the place. And many will take note about how many countries or cities participated in the event and how much energy was saved for one hour. And then, that’s it. We wait for the next EH event. I think it’s time that we go beyond just observing one hour of darkness. But, having that dark hour (on purpose) is a good start though.

And while we are into this event, I might as well repeat what I have always wrote in this column each time this event comes around. Power outages, or blackouts, or brownout are one of the (sad) realities in these islands which comprise Region 8. Now if one is to sum up the number of hours when we have dark nights or hot days because of just that – power failure, I think we have more than enough of our share of Earth Hours to last . . . a lifetime perhaps?. Oops, don’t take that seriously, just wanna make you smile this weekend.

* * *

Golden Sacerdotal Anniversary Celebration. Rev. Fr. Antonio Guy Petilla celebrated his 50th Sacerdotal Anniversary last Friday. Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Catarman Bishop Emeritus Angel Hobayan and Infanta (Quezon) Bishop Rolando Tirona along with a good number of the Calbayog clergy concelebrated with Fr. Petilla during the Thanksgiving Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Liturgical Music was provided by the CKC-Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra and the SVP Seminary Choir under the baton of Fr. Marlowe Rosales, ofm.

After the mass, a dinner reception was held at the Calbayog Convention and Cultural Center. Congressman Mel Sarmiento and Mayor Reynaldo Uy led the guest list which included some of Fr. Tony’s parishioners from the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Daly City, California. The dinner was capped by a presentation of Calbayog songs and dances courtesy of the CACO ISKOLARS, the Petilla Clan and the Calbayog clergy.

* * *

Birthday Greetings. Belated greetings to Archbishop Jose Palma who turned a year older last Saturday.

Advanced greetings to Rolando Saplad Jr. will turn a year older tomorrow.

* * *

Wedding Bells. Glenn Lagman and Angel Dira will get married tomorrow. Msgr. Bienvenido Chiquillo will preside over their wedding mass at the San Damiano Chapel at Christ the King College. Concelebrating with him are Msgr. Jun Cinco and Fr. Bloy Guiuan. Reception will be held at the Calbayog Convention and Cultural Center.

* * *

A Parish Centennial Celebration. The folks at the Saint Vincent Ferrer of Tinambacan District are currently on their toes preparing for their forthcoming big event. The parish will turn 100 years old on May 11, 2011.

* * *

Lastly, let me repeat my request (for globe subscribers). Please vote for the CKC-Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra. Text: CCSS CKC and send to 2948.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Balay and Samar

2011-02-25T06:05:00.003+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. I know that everyone is into things EDSA today. I have reserved my thoughts on that significant event for my next column, which I hope will make it to the deadline for the Monday edition of this paper.

So, what’s with today’s title? These two words, err, names should be very familiar by now. These are the words that came to mind right after Senator Mar Roxas went on TV and disclosed how PNoy reacted to his report on his Taiwan trip; and how VP Binay announced his successful China trip which some quarters referred to as the lengthening of the agony of the Pinoys on death row in China. And it occurred to me, that’s zero (0) point for Balay and one (1) point for Samar. Well, that’s if we consider rescheduling death sentence (I hope I’m using the right term) a success.

And so PNoy and Senator Bongbong recently figured in a tussle (well almost). Yes, Cory Aquino was not a perfect President. And I believe Ninoy’s comment which said something like whoever will follow Marcos as President will have a hard time doing his or her job. Yun lang po.

* * *

Outreach Concert. The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra will have its second barangay outreach concert today. This will be held in Barangay Migara. The first outreach concert was held in Barangay Pilar.

* * *

Pasidungog 2011. DepEd Calbayog City Schools Division will hold its 5th Pasidungog for Stakeholders.

Mayor Reynaldo Uy and DepEd Usec Yolanda Quijano will lead the City and DepEd Officials who were invited to the event which will be held tomorrow at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

This year’s pasidungog is anchored on the theme: “Kalidad nga Edukasyon san Kabataan, Responsibilidad san Ngatanan”.

* * *

Good gracious, I’m old! How do you know that you are old? I was with a friend discussing about some details of their forthcoming class reunion. That reunion is supposed to be special simply because it will be held 30 years after their graduation. And then it happened. On the planning board are the following activities (for the members of the class and some folks in selected barangays): medical checkup, bone density test, blood test, cholesterol test, dental operation, and the like.

When the details of your class reunion include things other than just food, booze and music, then you are into things or category that’s for the not-so-young. (Smile! It’s a weekend!)

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

In aid of . . .

2011-02-18T06:16:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. We are a week away to the 25th anniversary of the EDSA revolution. I can still remember some commentators saying that the event defied definitions. It was a revolution (sans the blood) with a fiesta atmosphere. Needless to say, the spirit behind People Power inspired the other movements which resulted among others, in the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. I supposed it was the same spirit which led to Mubarak stepping down and handling power over to well, the military. And the protests are going on across various capitals in the Middle East and Africa.

* * *

And the Supreme Court changed its mind again. As news had it, it seems that the highest court of the land can’t seem to make up its mind on the cityhood issue. I suppose some quarters are praying for the same thing with regards to the SC nod on the impeachment against the ombudsman.

Suddenly, I am reminded about last Sunday’s gospel. There was a line which called for everyone to mean what they say, like yes if it is yes and no if it is no (in matters that we do in life). Like make it either black or white. And it occurred to me, that for most of us, we can hardly be specific and that things oftentimes come not in black or white but in various shades of gray.

* * *

So, the latest feat of the imbestigadors had Angie Reyes shooting himself. Okey, so it’s in aid of legislation. Sige na nga, let’s see what law they will pass this time so as to curb graft and corruption both in high and low places. On the other hand, do you remember a few years back how a member of the lower house crossed sword with the Arroyos just in time for the election and that member of the lower house made his way to the upper house (easily, if I may add). In other words, people who refer to this exercise (both by the acerbic and the pa-cute lawmakers. Count in the silent committee members too) as in aid of reelection cannot be wrong after all.

* * *

And the survey says. Di bale nang pangit basta mayaman. Or so said many Filipinos in that recent SWS survey. There must be a lesson that can be had somewhere. Smile, it’s a weekend.

* * *

The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra will have its second barangay outreach concert. This will be held on February 25, 2011 in Barangay Migara. The first outreach concert was held in Barangay Pilar.

* * *

Calbayog achievers. Congratulations to:

Riene Dimakiling (Grade 4-A) of Calbayog City SPED Center. He bested 36 contestants in the Scrap Art and Collage Competition during the National Science Quiz 2011 held at the Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
The Calbayog Robot Dance group of Calbayog City SPED Center. They placed second among 18 groups which competed in the robot dance contest during the National Science Quiz 2011 held at the Pedro Guevarra Memorial High School in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

* * *

Birthday greetings to City Treasurer Federico “Rene” Resente. He will turn a year older tomorrow.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

That day of the year

2011-02-14T06:07:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! Happy Valentines’ Day everyone! Oops, I can’t believe it, I just wished you to be happy on this day of days, I mean that day of the year which I was never comfy with. Anyway, it’s another week and I understand PNoy recently did an EO which had to do about implementing a total log ban in the country. Like total log ban? It can be done, or so said some quarters. Just wondering, what’s the government’s definition of log ban? I’ve have been hearing that term since the moment I can spell the words “log” and “ban”. So, total log ban in the Philippines? Yeah right! My apologies PNoy, but you’re still my President though.

* * *

So, what’s with today’s title? I am once giving my annual lamentation about Valentine’s Day which happens today. Yup, it’s that day of the year again. Last year, aside from the day falling on Chinese New Year’s day, it was made memorable by the now (in)famous distribution of condoms by the DOH (I think I’d prefer the condoms to Valentines’ day itself but, as one iced tea AD had it, that’s another issue).

Needless to say, the flower vendors, cake shops and yes, count in the telcos too (you know the countless happy-valentines-day-i-love-you text messages), all of them will make a killing today. It’s all over the news. And let’s not even start discussing the fancy dinners, the hotel room promos, etc. There will be so much demand for everything about love, so the “love” providers had to jack up the prices. Well, it’s not highway robbery, is it?

So what the big fuzz about V-Day? Surely we have the U.S. capitalists to thank for. You know, the way they promoted the other significant (kunu) celebrations like fathers’ day and mothers’ day. And I’m wondering why Pinoys have not caught with their American bros’ celebrations of grandparents’ day, secretaries day. And let’s count in veterans’ day too. Last year some supermarkets raked it in selling turkeys by needless to say, riding on Thanksgiving Day (of the US of A).

Back to V-Day. I’ve said this line for the past so many years and I’m saying it again: What is it about that day of the year that if you are not into it, they call you frigid; and if you are into it, you are a hopeless romantic. Ah, es la vida.

* * *

A tale of two Congressmen (I got this somewhere in the net. My apologies I forgot to take note of the site’s name).

In the U.S.. The congressman of the 26th District of New York, Christopher Lee, resigned from his seat at the House of Representative on Wednesday after his shirtless photo was posted on the internet.

Reports emerged saying that the Republican representative who’s married and has a child was flirting via email to a woman he met in Craiglist and he even sent a photo of him who’s wearing no-shirt.

The story of the congressman and the Craiglist woman was posted on the Gawker (site). It was noted that a woman put an ad in the “Women for Men” section of the Craiglist on January 14. Then by afternoon, Christopher Lee replied to the ad using his gmail.com email. On the exchange of email, Mr. Lee simply lied by telling the woman that he was divorced and was on his way to cheat his wife. The congressman’s picture was all over the news.

In the Philippines. A congressman from the Philippines caught possessing illegal drug and pleaded guilty on his crime, and even confessed to the court that he’s an addict of the illegal substance, yet he has not resigned from his seat at the House of Representative of the Philippines.

What do you think?

* * *

This is it for now. Have a great week ahead! Ciao!

Lost in Transit (or my 2GO experience)

2011-02-07T06:05:00.005+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. And if I may borrow a line from Mayor Reynaldo Uy’s speech last Friday, thank God it’s over, I mean the EVRAA meet in Calbayog. Delegates were treated to a party last Friday with the Aegis concert, dancing, free dinner and the grand fireworks display.

So far so good, no acerbic comments from the visitors or delegates. But there should be some snide remarks somewhere. Yup, as expected it came from, (drum rolls) some noisy Calbayogonons who happen to be not in the know as to how things were prepared. Well, as I always say it, es la vida. But one thing though, what Calbayog lacked in medals, the City compensated with the best (EVRAA) hosting and of course the good performance of the local schools during national exams.

* * *

I’ll take a break from EVRAA. I’ll be featuring texts of speeches and other details of the events in my upcoming columns. In the meantime, I would like to share my not-so-good experience with a cargo forwarding company (I hope I’m using the right term).

During the third week of January I bought books from a Cebu-based ebay seller. It was around the same time that I bought book from two Manila-based ebay sellers. To make it short, I did the payments and arranged for shipment. All sellers informed me that they were sending it via 2GO ‘coz it’s cheaper, and that there is only a two-day leadtime (or something to that effect). Well, the low rate was good news to a stingy person like me. The books sent from Manila arrived the day after I made payments. Indeed that was great. Well, not with the ones sent from Cebu.

Like the other credible cargo forwarder, 2GO has got a website with a feature which enables a customer to track his package. And as of February 1, 2011, this is the info I got about my package:

1/24/2011 11:33:25 PM, ACCEPTED SHIPMENT FROM CUSTOMER
1/25/2011 3:59:40 AM, LOADED SCAT
1/31/2011 10:00:00 AM, ARRIVAL TACLOBAN
1/31/2011 11:00:00 AM, IN-TRANSIT

A two-day lead time? Let me see, maybe two days travel from Cebu to Ormoc via super cat. Two days stay in Ormoc. Two days travel from Ormoc to Tacloban and I suppose another two days travel from Tacloban to Calbayog.

I checked on January 25, 26 and 30, and the advice I got was “Sir kay waray flight, tingali buwas.” And on Wednesday last week, I was advised “nga narubat an truck nga nag-deliver”. I finally got my books on February 2, 2011 at 4:35 pm. (that’s a few hours after I was told “narubat an truck nga nag-deliver”).

I’m not saying that 2GO is bad, it charges much lower that the other cargo forwarding companies. At 70 pesos, who would have second thoughts about sending stuff through another forwarder? Or maybe it was for the simple reason that they were not going to earn anything from a cargo which paid a paltry 70 pesos. Well, I learned my lesson again and it’s that paying cheap can have its setbacks. But for the headaches it caused me, I think I’d settle for LBC. Nope, let me rephrase that line. 2GO is one of the better companies in the country, no question about it. But their Visayas hub (in my case it reads: Cebu to Calbayog route or sector) is something else. And yes, I have no complains with 2GO Calbayog. They did try to answer my questions. I just don’t know if they made follow-ups.

So you think that the boat trip from Cebu to Calbayog is too long at 10 hours? Well, what would you call the delivery of two pieces of hardbound books from Cebu to Calbayog that took more than a week (that’s January 24, 2011 to February 2, 2011)

Ok, it happens. But even if one is on a vacation, it doesn’t take nine days to travel from Cebu to Calbayog, does it? Well, on foot maybe.

* * *

This is it for now. Let me leave you with a few lines from Mayor Uy’s speech as he thanked the Calbayognons for a successful EVRAA 2011 meet: “I believe that the challenge of hosting EVRAA 2011 brought about the spirit of unity, cooperation and resourcefulness among all Calbayognons. And we hope to see the same spirit as we all move forward to put in place more programs for a more progressive Calbayog.”

Have nice week everyone! Ciao!

Kyong Hee Wat Tsai

2011-02-04T05:39:00.005+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And yes, EVRAA 2011 ends today. The Closing ceremony is set a one o’clock this afternoon. It will be followed by the Paalam Night dinner at the NwSSU Oval. Before the grand party, all EVRAA delegates will be treated to a concert by the popular group AEGIS.

* * *

Just in case you’d like to know, today’s title is “Happy New Year” in Fookien. Anyway, as expected a good number of our kababayan got busy yesterday and the day before to prepare stuff in celebration of no need to say, the Chinese New Year. I’m tempted to refer to that day “that other day of the year” (you know, like the way I refer to Valentine’s day). We have our own set of beliefs as Catholic (Christian) Filipinos. What I do not understand is why many of us should go gaga abut this and that trinket and this and that ceremony for Chinese New Year. Es la vida.

* * *

Just a piece of trivia. Like any other sports events, there was the lighting of the friendship flame during this year’s EVRAA meet. It is always nice to observe that ceremony. I’m dreaming one day to see in the region the torch ceremony being done in the manner by which the Olympic cities did their Olympic flames. Anyway, it’s the history buff in me again. If my memory serves me right, that ceremony on the lighting of the Olympic flame first happened in Nazi Germany. Yup, it was supposedly Hitler who conceived the idea and the drama and flare of the ceremony. Well, at least there is something (kinda) nice that we can remember about that troubled man.

* * *

And my comments about the world around me? Thanks to the regional sports meet, I got tired thinking about what to say about what’s happening around me. But I did watch the news though. Anyway, my column would not be complete without some (opinionated) snippets about what’s going on.

Let me take some lines from The Professional Heckler:

Modernong Kahulugan ng Ilang Salita o Parirala

Pasalubong: Bonus sa trabahong hindi pa nagagawa
Halimbawang pangungusap: “Uy, General, mainit na pagbati sa inyong appointment! Bago po kayo magsimula sa inyong trabaho, heto po ang sampung milyong pisong pasalubong. Enjoy!”

Pabaon: Bonus sa trabahong walang katiyakan kung nagawa
Halimbawang pangungusap: “Uy, General, maraming salamat po sa inyong paglilingkod sa bayan. Heto po ang limampung milyong pisong pabaon. Pa-burger ka naman! Burger! Burger!”

Set up: Kapag ‘di mo matanggap na adik ang iyong anak
Halimbawang pangungusap: “’Tang-i*a kasi ‘yong kasama niya eh. ‘Nilaglag ang anak ko. ‘Ayun, na-set up kaya inaresto. Ukininam!”

Plea bargain agreement: Ibang katawagan sa “Why not coconut?! Malay mo makalusot!”
Halimbawang pangungusap: “Ombudsman, baka naman magawan natin ng paraan ‘tong kaso ko. Ibabalik ko ang one-third ng ninakaw ko pero dapat malinaw ang plea bargain agreement natin. Kailangang abswelto ang aking asawa’t mga anak na kasing-kakapal ko ang mukha.”

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Pakikisawsaw

2011-01-28T05:30:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and the streamers are all over the place announcing that in the next few days Calbayog will be EVRAA City.

It’s all systems go for EVRAA 2011. It’s the second time that the City of Calbayog will be hosting the said sports meet. Last Saturday, Mayor Reynaldo Uy met with the chairpersons of the various EVRAA 2011 committees for some final updates on the said event. And last Monday, he called on all employees and all Calbayognons to extend their support to the sports event.

All 10 Schools Divisions of Eastern Visayas have confirmed their attendance to the sports meet. The delegations will be billeted at various public and privates schools in the city. Biliran Division (at the Trinidad Elementary School), Calbayog City Division (Calbayog East Central School), Eastern Samar Division (Trinidad National High School) Leyte Division (Calbayog Pilot Central School), Maasin Division (San Policarpo Central School), Northern Samar Division (Calbayog City National High School), Ormoc City Division (Carayman Elementary School), Samar Division (San Policarpo National High School), Sourthern Leyte Division (Calbayog City SPED Center) and Tacloban City Division (Christ the King College).

EVRAA 2011 will officially commence on Sunday with the grand parade at 1:00 pm. It will be followed by the Opening Ceremonies at the Northwest Samar State University Oval. The day’s events will be capped by simultaneous welcome dinners at the various billeting quarters; and a fellowship dinner and cultural program for the officials and superintendents. The fellowship dinner dubbed as “Pagtigman” will be held at the Nijaga Park.

There will be 18 official events during EVRAA 2011. These are Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Softball, Sipa, Sepak Takraw, Swimming, Taekwando, Tennis, Table Tennis and Volleyball.

These events will be held in different venues namely the Calbayog City Sports Center, the Calbayog Cultural and Convention Center, Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium (at Christ the King College), La Milagrosa Academy Auditorium, NwSSU Campus, the new Calbayog Land Transport Terminal, Marju Krisel Resort Swimming Pool, Brgy. Carmen Covered Court, Calbayog City Joggers’ Basketball Court, Brgy. San Policarpo Covered Court and Calbayog East Central School.

To our athletes, the various committees and to Calbayog, let’s all put our best foot forward and ensure a successful EVRAA 2011.

* * *

And what is my column without my usual comments (opinionated as these maybe) about the world around me? Well, it’s sad that it took a bomb for PNoy to be so Presidential. I mean when he appeared on TV to make an official statement after the incident. Oops, that’s not my comment yet. Right after the event happened, while the police were trying to do their job, suddenly those who are not exactly friendly the President were up on their toes lambasting who else, but PNoy. Well, on the part of PNoy, or any President for that matter, such pakikisawsaw a.k.a. harsh words and criticism and what have are part of the job, or maybe more like occupational hazards. C’mon guys lets give it to the man, I mean the President and for the authorities to finish their jobs, and then go, I mean do the comments. I guess after the Luneta hostage fiasco, the police had learned to do its job. But on the other hand, when lives are involved, you can’t help but turn to God and afterwards, the government (I hope I can hear you say yes to that). I do not disagree with a TV anchor when he said something like Mr. President sana naman ang daang matuwid ay di puno nga karahasan.

* * *

This is it for now. We wish all athletes and officiating officials of EVRAA 2011 the best in forthcoming competitions. And to PNoy, we also wish you the best. Nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

huff and puff

2011-01-24T05:05:00.006+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week and we are days away to EVRAA 2011 which Calbayog will be hosting from January 30 to February 4. An invitation has been sent to Congressman Manny Pacquiao to be the guest of honor during the opening ceremony, so far there still is no advice regarding his attendance.

And what’s with today’s title? It occurred to me a few days ago while I was trying to get rid of smokers around me. So, you want more funds for the government? Let’s not talk about oil, we will always be at the mercy of the Arabs. Instead of raising mrt fare and what have you, why not raise taxes of tobacco, like really raise taxes. You’ll make a good number of people happy, you raise revenues, you’ll make Kim smile, you’ll make Cabral, Ona and the DOH guys smile. Of course that is on top of putting graphic pictures of damaged lungs and other body organs on the cigarette packages. It’s not a question of raising taxes of tobacco, it’s a question of having the balls to raise taxes and make a pack of cigarette cost something like 200 pesos. Well, that would be the day. Wait, did I mention the lobbyists? Well, that’s not exactly a different story. And I rest my case, for now.

* * *

Last Friday, I featured the account on Fr. Cantius Kobak’s Archeological Expedition in Samar. It was read during the reopening of the CKC Museum. Here’s the second part of that account:

"They (the group of Fr. Cantius) even went to Homonhon, the island where Ferdinand Magellan landed centuries ago. Unfortunately it was fiesta and there was no opportunity for diggings, albeit the priest and the people received them with wonderful hospitality."

"Back to Guiuan, they explored the high mountains believed to have protected the place from the treacherous waves of the Pacific Ocean. They found hundreds of pieces of shell bracelets that are both broken and in perfect shape."

"On November 18, 1968, they visited Laoang, Batag and Kahayagan in Northern Samar. In Barangay Burabod in Batag Island, the people presented them with large burial jars with stone lids. In a little hill in another barangay of Batag Island, inquiries from old folks led them to finding “a small Chinese stoneware bowl”. Since it looked broken, Fr. Cantius took off a large portion and it revealed as small skull in deteriorated state. Digging gently further, longer arms or wrist bones with five shell bracelets appeared, all indicative of a child burial. Other archeological items were also found: rusted daggers, ancient agong (bell), beads and a golden earring."

"On December 28, 1968, they found some fine treasures in Capul, Mungulbungol (now San Vicente), Dalupiri (now San Antonio) and Samputan Islet, west of Capul. A kind individual in Mungubungol gave them a blue and white Chinese burial urn with lid, small jars, beads, bracelets and carnelian gemstones. It was a child-burial jar of a Datu (class). In Dalupiri, the group was given a fine precious celadon dish."

"On February 1969, Fr. Cantius requested the Filipino friar who was with him in Batag Island to go back and see. The said priest went to Batag and came back with two sacks of broken stoneware, earthenware, porcelain dragon jars and other archeological recoveries. When as family cleared a hill for two hectares, broken recoveries were given to the friar while the good ones were sold. Fr. Cantius was happy even with the broken recoveries. He restored three dragon jars and a lot of porcelain and earthen wares."

* * *

The CKC Museum was established. While recoveries were being made, a large hall (at the CKC campus) was allocated for the planned museum. At that time some Professional American Archeologists heard about the finds and came to Calbayog to see it. They dated, labeled and described all the materials recovered from burial sites.

In 1969, the Christ the King College Archeological Museum was formally opened for public viewing. It was temporarily closed in 2005 when the Padua Building was renovated.

The Museum’s Second Spring. In November 2009, two months after the 5th death anniversary of Fr. Cantius, the City Council of Calbayog passed a Resolution declaring him as “An Honorary Samarnon and Adopted Son of the City”.

Before the end of 2010, it was deemed fitting that in its reopening the CKC Museum be named in his honor, he who was known as the Historian of Samar and the Bisayan region.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

The CKC Museum

2011-01-21T05:55:00.002+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend which hopefully is a sunny one. Yup, it’s the history buff in me again. Today’s column is still about the CKC museum. As I have mentioned in my previous columns, the said museum has been reopened as the Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm – Samar Archeological and Cultural Museum. I obtained a copy of the narrative detailing how the said museum came to be. It was during the reopening program by Mr. Venancio Bajet, the Dean of the CKC College of Education.

I thought I’d like to share with you the info I got about the only museum in Samar Island.

* * *

The Archeological Expedition of Fr. Cantius in Samar. Shortly upon his arrival, Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, ofm began to take great interest in the local history and culture of the place. He collected and compiled histories of Samar and Leyte towns and of the Colegio (de San Vicente de Paul), Bisayan songs, poetry, dramas, riddles, dictionaries, etc.

In 1965, the Bishop (of Calbayog) and the Rector of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral began the renovation of the said Cathedral. Interested in church furnishings that were being cast aside, Fr. Cantius was given permission to salvage several items. Among the items offered were an old altar with a Franciscan coat of arms, a wheel with some twelve small bells attached to it on a stand with a crankshaft (it was used to ring bells during the sanctus, elevations, communion, processions, etc), few candelabras, an old painting of a saint and several items in poor condition.

From Capul Island, a pastor brought him a discarded old chalice, a ciborium and a monstrance. These items created an interest in other materials such as wooden statues of saints (some with ivory faces and hands), crucifixes, stone cereal grinders called gilingan, antique charcoal flat irons, jewelry boxes, old Spanish coins, jewelry, rings, earrings, bangles and Chinese porcelain plates and jars.

He also collected Bisayan publications like old Spanish-Bisayan dictionaries and the Pasyon which was chanted by elderly women during the Holy Week.

In 1967, some public school teachers brought him ancient stoneware and jars which were found near Gandara. This triggered and sparked his interest in visiting the ancient burial grounds in Samar Island. It was the Jesuit priest Ignacio Alcina who, in his “Historia” gave some accounts on how and where the ancient Samareños buried their deceased. It was with this knowledge that Fr. Cantius made plans to visit these burial grounds during the semestral breaks.

On April 1968, Fr. Cantius gathered a group of college students and began the first archeological expedition in Oras, Eastern Samar. The caves that were searched yielded pottery shards and bones. (15th century blue-white) Chinese porcelain were found in a small opening in the shore cliffs. Upon the suggestions of old folks, the group proceeded to Tubawbaw, an islet facing Oras. Broken stoneware, porcelain shards, human bones and teeth were recovered from the site.

Upon returning to mainland Samar, Fr. Cantius saw a boy carrying fermented wine (tuba) in an ancient dragon jar. He asked the professors who were with him to buy the tuba and the jar. The boy hesitated because he needed the jar to sell more tuba. They offered to triple the price of the tuba and the boy sold it with the jar.

From Oras, they went to the town named McArthur. They were introduced to the Parish Priest and the Town Mayor who told them to the Minalungon Island where there was a cave used for ancient burials. Lungon is the bisayan term for coffin or casket.

The cave was littered with broken earthenware shards, bones and pieces of wood. They learned that for some time, foreigners arrived and dug at the island since as early as 1923. Fr. Cantius’ team attempted some diggings, but the artifacts seem to have been exhausted by the previous digging expeditions; and the fisherfolks who were in the area did not like the idea (of more diggings) because they believed it might cause strong typhoons.

On May 24, 1968, the group went to Calicoan, Lilibucan and Cando Islets in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, where an American Naval / Air Base was constructed during the second World War. They found nothing except an artillery piece which Fr. Cantius took as a souvenir unaware that it might explode. He would later call this “a foolish venture carrying it in our jeep on such bumpy dirt roads.” He stored it in a cabinet at the museum, it rusted, leaked a yellow sulfur-like substance and burned the cabinet a bit. (to be continued…)

* * *

The SOS Calbayog Community will have their celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño tomorrow. Mass will be at 9:00 am at the SOS Children’s Village in Barangay Dagum.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Damn if you do, damn if you don’t

2011-01-17T06:02:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. Take your pick, PNoy’s new car, the nominees for the post as new COMELEC chair (thanks Balay and Samar groups), the PAO head’s CESO exam result and yes, Sharon falling flat onstage during a concert.

So PNoy bought a new car, so? Why rant about it? Why, did he re-align some government funds to get it? Let’s not even start discussing what they will say if the President bought it after his term. On top of being a thankless job, I mean job in government, it’s a damn-if-you-do-damn-if-you-don’t existence. So, my take on the issue? Let it go. Or should I say, so what?

Let’s pan our sights somewhere where we can take things lightly. So things are going up, thanks heavens there was something err, someone that went down - poor Sharon. Let me give me give you what The Professional Heckler has to say on this news: “Sharon Cuneta tripped and fell down flat on her buttocks while taping a birthday concert at the Big Dome stage last Tuesday. Cuneta’s husband, Sen. Francis Pangilinan says the megastar is now okay. He didn’t give any update though on the condition of the stage.” Oops, no offense meant to her fans, like the professional heckler, just wanna make you smile today.

* * *

Last Friday I featured the first part of the speech delivered by Dr. Rolando Borrinaga during the reopening of the Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm – Samar Archeological and Cultural Museum. The event was held at the CKC campus last December 29, 2010.

Dr. Borrinaga is a professor at the U.P. Manila School of health Sciences. He was the co-translator of the late Fr. Cantius in the book Reseñan de la Provincia de Leyte (the colonial Odyssey of Leyte, 1521-1913) by Manuel Artigas u Cuerva. This book won the National Book Awards for Translation in 2006 by the Manila Critics Circle. Dr. Borrinaga also authored The Balangiga Conflict Revisited and Leyte-Samar Shados.He is an active members of the Board of trustess of the Philippine National Historical society.

Here’s the second part of Dr. Borrinaga’s message:

“Our co-authored book came out in 2006 under the title The Colonial Odyssey of Leyte(1521-1914), and this won the 2006 National Book Award for Translation given by the Manila Critics Circle. I am donating a copy of this book to the museum along with two other books I have written and published – The Balangiga Conflict Revisited, which came out in 2003, and Leyte-Samar Shadows: Essays on the History of Eastern Visayas, which came out in 2008.”

“I am also donating a copy of Vol. 54 of The Journal of History, published in 2009, which includes my paper titled “The 1984 Scott-Kobak Correspondence: A Sharing that Reconstructed the Sixteenth-Century Bisayan Society and Culture.” The title is self-explanatory. Also in this volume is the paper titled “The Pulahan Movement in Samar (1904-1911): Origins and Causes,” which was written by George Emmanuel Borrinaga, my son who now teaches history at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, and who accompanied me here.”

“Finally, I would like to turn over a mounted picture of Father Kobak. At the back of the frame are written his signature and the dateline – “Calbayog, January 1970.” Let me tell you how this came into my possession:”

“Around March 2004, Father Kobak learned after a routine medical check-up that he was suffering from cancer of the lymph glands. It did not take him long to accept the fate that he was going to the Great Beyond. He offered to bequeath to me the last items in his personal archives – including books, documents, and manuscripts that he had held on for years. I humbly accepted the offer, and promised to take care of them. He sent the items in about 10 mail parcels which contents eventually measured about two meters in thickness. Some of the parcels arrived after he had passed away.”

“I am now working on a few manuscripts left behind by Father Kobak, which hopefully will see publication over the next few years. One of these is the English translation of Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya, the oldest Bisayan dictionary compiled by Fr. Mateo Sanchez, SJ, in Dagami, Leyte around 1616 and published in Manila in 1711.”

“Father Kobak may be gone, but aspects of his work are still coming out in the historical literature. And with the reopening of your museum, all these are assured of a house to go home to – in Calbayog, a place that always meant a lot to him.”

“Thank you and good afternoon.”

* * *

The late City Councilor, Educator and Calbayog Historian Patrio “Nonong” Barandino will be laid to rest today. Viewing at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall will commence at 8:00 am. A mass will be said at 9:00 am, it will be followed by a necrological service. He will be buried at the Oquendo cemetery after the 1:00 pm mass at the Holy Infant Jesus Parish Church.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a great week ahead! Ciao!

Meeting Rolando Borrinaga

2011-01-14T06:31:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a weekend ngan patrun buwas sa Oquendo. It’s the history buff in me which made me decide on the topic for today’s column. It’s actually the speech delivered by Dr. Rolando Borrinaga during the reopening of the CKC Museum.

Dr. Borrinaga is a professor at the University of the Philippines - Manila School of Health Sciences. He was invited by the CKC President, Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm to deliver a message during the reopening of the Samar Archeological Museum which many of us simply refer to as the CKC Museum. The museum has been transferred to its new home and has been renamed The Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm – Samar Archeological and Cultural Museum. The simple program was held last December 29, 2010 during the TARAGPO 2010. Among those present were some Franciscan friars, Mr. Pio Santos, Dr. Francie Santos, Councilor Rey James Uy, artist Raul Isidro, the new officer of the CSVP-CKC Alumni Association.

I thought it was going to be just one of those speeches. Needless to say, it introduced me to the man who had the most extensive contact with the late historian of Samar – Fr. Cantius Kobak. I have decided to feature Dr. Borrinaga’s speech in this column.

Here’s the first part of that speech:

“It is my great pleasure to have been invited to attend the reopening of the Fr. Cantius Kobak, OFM – Samar Archeological and Cultural Museum at the Christ the King College (CKC) in Calbayog City. With this development, a very symbolic one, you have reclaimed Calbayog City’s prominence as the center of historical and cultural research and preservation in the entire island of Samar. I would like to congratulate your president, Fr. Marcelo Tubac, OFM, the Franciscan community of CKC, and civic-oriented citizens of Calbayog for making this possible.”

“The reopened museum is appropriately named after the late Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, OFM, who will forever remain a giant insofar as research on the history and culture of Samar is concerned. His generosity in sharing his source materials also helped other scholars such as William Henry Scott and Bruce Cruikshank to write and publish scholarly studies that have expanded and deepened the understanding of Bisayan history and culture during the past 30 years.”

“Father Kobak’s greatest scholarly achievement, however, was the tracking, transcribing, translating to English, and publishing or preparing for publication all extant copies of the manuscripts of Fr. Francisco Ignacio Alcina, SJ, which is known in the academic community as Historia de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas … 1668. This is the only comprehensive ethnographic and historical account of the Bisayas region in the seventeenth century. Parts of the Alcina manuscripts now appear as books in English translation under the title History of the Bisayan People in the Philippine Islands (Vols. 1, 2 and 3). These were co-edited by Fr. Lucio Gutierrez, OP, and published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. Only Volume 4 remains to be published, but the manuscript is already there.”

“By sheer chance or fate, I happened to be the Filipino with the most extensive contact with Father Kobak during the last two years of his life. He posted a note in the guestbook of my Internet website sometime in late 2002, and that led to our exchange of e-mails and snail-mails which provided each of us with needed new data and information about the local history and culture of Leyte and Samar.”

“Then somehow we agreed to collaborate on the English translation for possible publication of a book on the history of Leyte. The book was titled Reseña de la Provincia de Leyte by Manuel Artigas y Cuerva, which was originally published in Spanish in 1914. Father Kobak had done partial translation of the book, and I supplied the other half after its bound photocopy, which had been mailed to CKC, was retrieved and delivered to my house in Tacloban by your former president, Fr. Rodrigo San Jose, OFM. I completed the manuscript on August 14, 2004. The next day, Father Kobak passed away in the U.S. at the age of 74.” (to be continued on Monday)

* * *

Obit. Former City Councilor Patrio “Nonong” Barandino returned to his creator last January 10, 2011.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone. Ciao!

My New Year postscript

2011-01-10T06:01:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! Belated Happy New Year everyone! It’s been nine days since we welcomed the new year, but I believe it’s never too late to share my usual (annual) whining about the world around me. First things first. It happens every time (or should I say every year?), I mean these new year’s resolutions. And I was tempted to call today’s column just that – My New Year’s Resolutions. I think I said this last year, and I’m saying it again this year. If my memory serves me right, during my elementary school years, among the things we were made to do after the Christmas break were just about that – New Year’s resolutions. Needless to say, I always had a hard time coming up with a composition enumerating things I promise to resolve in the next twelve months. Well, it was hard for me until I realized that a new year’s resolution is nothing but a list of (empty) promises that one does not intend to keep.

So, what’s my New Year’s resolution? After failing to make good the good number of resolutions I made many ‘New Years’ ago, I have decided that my new year’s resolution is not to make new year’s resolutions anymore (redundant ano?). Seriously, does it always have to take a new year for us to mend our ways? The not-so-good ways, if I may add.

* * *

Flashback to December 31. Pagpaligad ponkan tikang sa purthan tipasulod san balay, lukso pag abot san alas dose, pagsabrag sensilyo sa mga parte san balay, abrehe an ngatanan nga suga sa panimalay, pagpatingug san sensilyo sa bursa. And let’s not even start discussing why people love paputok so much. So, did I miss something else? I mean the various pamahiin on how to attract luck or good vibes during the new year. Oh yes, while we are into it, we might as well include taking a bath before the event. It’s more than a month away yet, but feng shui experts (both the real and fly-by-night types) are all over the place doing the forecasts for the Chinese New Year. Suddenly I’m lost on which animal they are celebrating next year. So what about it? I just can’t understand why many among us should get gaga over it. I’m still having a hard time looking at the connection between Filipino belief and traditions (or should I say Catholic faith?) and that of the Chinese. Well, the (Chinese) food of course is a different story. And yes, I remember many among us collected twelve (or was it thirteen) round fruits on Christmas eve. I’m sure a good number of households ended up with rotten fruits days ago. Thanks (again) to that belief of collecting fruits in time for the New Year. Oh, it’s such a colorful mix-up, I mean our Catholic faith and the Chinese practices for good luck. I wonder where the RH bill can come in.

* * *

Just an afterthought . . . aside from the fruit vendors, the paputok vendors and the soothsayers raking it in in time for the new year, the usual New Year scenario was about the paputok. If they did it in Davao, why not do it all over the country? Why not ban these firecrackers? I don’t think the DOH ran short of reminders as to the dangers of the paputok. And it just occurred to me, they the (DOH) always took time to warn the people of the dangers of that stuff, but come New Year’s eve, they (the DOH) or the doctors are same people on the frontline to treat people who got injured by – no need to emphasize - paputok. No question about those who got hit by accident, but for those who put the injury upon themselves, meaning nabuthan ngan nadigasya kay nagaputok, why not just leave them alone to learn their lesson well, and if possible let them bleed to well, wherever, you provide the answer. Or, why not have the DOH charge all those expenses on ADs and treatment to those paputok vendors in Bocaue and all over? Just a suggestion. (Smile, it’s a new week)

* * *

Local updates. The City of Calbayog and DepEd Calbayog are set to host EVRAA 2010. A coordinative meeting was held last Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the DepEd Calbayog Conference Hall. I’ll give you details next issue.

Christ the King College has reopened the (CKC) Samar Archeological Museum. It has been renamed The Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm – Samar Archeological Museum. A simple opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting was held at the refurbished CKC Music Room (the museum’s new home) at the Technical Building grounds of Christ the King College. Among the guests was U.P. Professor Rolando Borrinaga. More details in the coming issues.

* * *

This is it for now. Let me leave you with some lines from Dr. Rolando Borrinaga’s speech when he paid tribute to the late historian of Samar, Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm: “The reopened museum is appropriately named after the late Fr. Cantius Kobak, ofm, who will forever remain a giant insofar as research on the history and culture of Samar is concerned. His generosity in sharing his source materials also helped other scholars such as William Henry Scott and Bruce Cruikshank to write and publish scholarly studies that have expanded and depended the understanding of Bisayan history and culture during the past 30 years.”
Ciao!

My Christmas postscript

2011-01-07T05:15:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s nice to be back. So we have started the New Year with the usual bunch of soothsayers (just wondering, what I.Q. score or degree does it take to be one?) giving this and that prediction that’s either happy or grim. Well, I’d rather settle for the happy ones, and the predictions on fashion and techie trends and yes, trends in carrying out one’s love life (oops, what am I saying?). Along that fantasy line (pardon the term), come the realities of life, at least as reported on TV - new toll fees, new taxi flag down rate, the higher mrt fare, gas and taxes (forget the last two, it’s there since the time I can remember). And yes, the same salary. So what else is new? Oh well, let’s not include the floods and death or injuries that go or went along with it, it’s one of the sad realities of life. But, so are taxes and bad governance too (lest I forget).

Back to the predictions of these astrologers or whatever you call them, I still have to hear one of them predict if there will be more or lesser crime in the year to come. Surely there will be less of these in May when Manny P. goes to the ring again.

Problems, problems, problems. What is life without these? I guess Evita (or the creator of the character of the musical) was correct when she sang this line during her waltz with Che, “… (problems) from war to pollution, no hope of solution even if I live for 100 years” Very well-said madame.

* * *

My Christmas postscript. Christmas in my hometown. Let me give you what I got from the web. It’s the article entitled “What is the origin of the Nativity Scene (creche)?” by Fr. William Saunders.

The story of the origin of the Christmas creche rests with the very holy man, St. Francis of Assisi. In the year 1223, St. Francis, a deacon, was visiting the town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. Grecio was a small town built on a mountainside overlooking a beautiful valley. The people had cultivated the fertile area with vineyards. St. Francis realized that the chapel of the Franciscan hermitage would be too small to hold the congregation for Midnight Mass. So he found a niche in the rock near the town square and set up the altar. However, this Midnight Mass would be very special, unlike any other Midnight Mass.

St. Bonaventure (d. 1274) in his Life of St. Francis of Assisi tells the story the best:
It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvelously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.

* * *

So why devote precious editorial space who one piece of religious history which most of us would frown upon? Well, I gave it much thought after being at Christ the King College for the recent Taragapo. There were Nativity scenes all over the place. And then I realized that in Calbayog, Christmas is when the workers start erecting the giant Christmas tree at the plaza. The same tree that seemed to have grown thinner in the past few years. Sign of the times perhaps? (Oops, me and my mouth!). Yup, the Christmas tree meant that people will once again drink and eat in the Plaza, and yes it’s Chrsitmas.

Of course it’s nor only in Calbayog that we see the tree during the Christmas season. Try installing one during the other months of the year and it’s not only the funny glances and stares that you will get. Yup, it’s (or it was) all over the place – the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, bonuses, 13th month pay (oops not all private employees got this, if I may tell you), the bazaars, the Christmas sales, and yes, even Oplan Isnabero (thanks you DOTC).

Certainly Christmas has come a long way. Yup even the Nativity scene has been glamorized. Nope I’m not here to give you a lecture on the significance of the season which ended last Sunday. We have more than enough of our share of sermons, err homilies, talks on TV and write-ups in our dailies (do I have to mentions blogs too?). There is one thing that remain about Christmas in my hometown and I suppose in everybody else’s hometown – that people still take time to reflect on the greatest gift that the Almighty has given to all of us. And this is found in the generosity that a good number of people showed by giving food and gifts to the prisoners, the elderly and even the street urchin around the corner. Again, it’s nice to note that we have reserved a few days before the end of the year to do acts of goodwill to our fellowmen, seasonal as it may be. (Smile, it’s a weekend)

* * *

Back to the story of the Nativity Scene. Let me end today’s column with the words of Fr. Saunders: Although the story is long old, the message is clear for us. Our own Nativity scenes which rest under our Christmas trees are a visible reminder of that night when our Savior was born. May we never forget to see in our hearts the little Babe of Bethlehem, who came to save us from sin. We must never forget that the wood of the manger that held Him so securely would one day give way to the wood of the cross. May we too embrace Him with all of our love as did St. Francis. To my readers, I wish that you had a very holy Christmas. Ciao!

An Patrun sa Calbayog

2010-09-06T07:00:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! We are 2 days way to the City Fiesta. Before anything else, Sarah Geronimo will be coming to Calbayog City. Her concert-for-a-cause dubbed Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

On Wednesday Calbayognons will once again to say thanks to the almighty through Nuestra Señora De La Natividad for the graces He has always bestowed upon Calbayog.

The day’s main event is Pontifical Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will presided over the said celebration. This year’s hermanas mayores are Pheona Camille Ladrero – Robinson, Rizza Bernardo Suan and Hannah Pia Uyloan De Guzman.

* * *

I first did it in 2008 and I’m doing it again today. I would like to feature an old account, a very old account - 1912 to be exact – of the fiesta celebration in Calbayog. I got this from the September 1912 issue of the Eco de Samar y Leyte. It was written by someone who called himself “namatrun”. The copy I got was not a clear one and that’s the reason why there are blanks in today’s feature.

The account also mentioned the name of one Señora Trinidad Camilon. If one is to check the list of the hermanas pasadas in the Calbayog Fiesta souvenir programs, that name is the first entry in the said list.

* * *

Here’s that article entitled “An Patrun sa Calbayog”

“Masadya, maribhung, malinao an cadagatan, mahayag an langit, mapaua an adlao sama san daguay sin usa nga Angel, amo _______ san ca-adlauan sadto san mahal nga Patrona dinhe sa Calbayog nga guinsalinorog sadton 8 sini nga bulan. Ngatanan mga binohat dao nabuñog san cahayag ni Maria Santissima dida san adlao san iya pagcatauo. Tubtob san ante vispera, nag ticang an pag-abut san magcalainlain nga domoro-ong, labi na an Cat_____on. San mga balay, mga cadalanan nacarahibut an tauo guican sa magkalain-lain nga dapit. San visperas san aga, nag suot na an tauo dinhi sa ciudad nga tungod san cadamo, macuri magpaca-agui an mga caleza. San pag a las doce catapos pagpahibaro san linganay sa Catedral san mahal nga Patron. Pagcabuas an mga musico san Parroquia ug sa Ipao nag libot san bungto. Ug san pagcaculop, nag canta san visperas an _____ nga cura san Catedral R. P. Jose Diaznes. Pag ca aga _______, san may mga a las 4 nag Diana an mga musico nga _______ san pagtauagtauag sa Catedral, sin usa cadali napuno san maniringba san siapa nga misa san Señora nga may mga lima nga mga babayi lalaqui bata tigurang nga dinara-on sa pag _____ san mahal nga lauas ni Jesucrisdto. Ug hasta san a las 7 nga eguin repique sa misa Mayor, waray pahuway an tauo nga maniringba san damo nga capadian nga nagmisa. San mga a las 8 amo an eguin ticang san misa cantada nga dinoyogan san maranog nga Organo, sa Catedral paroc san Señor Obispo. An misa nga guin canta an guin ngangaranan Pedro de las Heras, an masabut ug bantugan nga organista si Sr. Malaquias Nonato, Professor san musica sa Seminario eguin paquita an iya quina-adman dida san pag doyog niya san organo, cay pacasiring namon dao nahimomotang cami sin Paraiso san pagbati namon sadto nga mga awit. An nagcanta amo an mga capadian sa Seminario nga alagad san ira cabatiran ug maluay nga tingog inabutan an mga maniringba sin cahinoclob. An nag misa an Cura san Catedral linoyoloyohan san mga ministros nga si D. Ignacio Arganda, Diacono ug si D. Ramon Codilla Subd. Catapos san Evangelio nag wali si P. Conrado Maga, Coadjutor sa Catedral.”

“An Señora opod an mga magtoto-on sa Seminario ug mga Seminarista, nag tambong didto san iya trono. Sugadman an mga Colegialas opod an mga Madres naray caculang. Catapos san misa, nagsugod na liwat an aringasa ngan ribhong, cay an mga estudiantes sa Colegio sa San Vicente nga guican sa Singbahan vinistihan sin mga cadete, nag ejercicio ug nag parada sira sa cadalanan nga nacalingao san mga tauo. Pagcacolop may mga a las 3 pinangolohan san Presidente Sr. Malaquias Nonato, nag tiroc an mga sacop san Sociedad Milagrosa ug nag buhat sin rumba, carrera de bicecleta, juego se anillos y Cintas canan bag-ong tubo mga hatag hasta magcalainlain nga premio. San pagca a las 5 guin himua an macaserendac nga Procesion nga inopdan ni P. Bonifacio Villora Cura sa Oquendo, linoloyohan san mga Seminaristas inopod man an Señora nga guin lilibutan san mga capadian. An carro matahum caupay, mapaua, tacos ug angay nga nahimomotangan sen mahal nga Patrona, halad san ma-abiabihon nga Hermana Mayor si Sra. Trinidad Camilon. An ira balay pono pono sin tauo ticang pa san tinicangan san novena nga guin solemne sa ira. Diri hicalimtan an camapuanguron san mga anac, labi na si Sra. Lolay ug si Loling nga uaray hingan san cahago, paglipay san ira mga dapit.”

“Sa tuig tuig ngatanan quinita nga an pagto-o sini nga bungto ug an ira pag alagad sa Dios nag titidogang la lugod, bisan con guin tatalingoha san iba an pag parong condao calayo, cay an ira an pag contra sa Dios ug pag supil san mga mahi___lo nga pamatasan, cay basi matumanan san ira mga maraut nga guinaui-an ug hunahuna, condi sa Dios uaray magtatamay, may adlao san pag panodia, cay polong pa nga an tinonto mo, intoy, sa lauas mo o-oli.” (namatron)

* * *

Patrun sa Calbayog. Tomorrow Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will lead the faithful of the Parish in the re-dedication and re-consecration of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. This will be followed by the 9th day Novena Mass and the procession. The fiesta Pontifical Mass will be held on September 8, 2010 at 9:00 am.

* * *

Fiesta performances: Onstage tonight at the Nijaga Park are Aiza Seguerra and Nyoy Volante. Tomorrow night it’s Sarah Geronimo at the Calbayog City Sports Center

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Calbayog’s CRESCENT

2010-09-03T05:31:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are 5 days away to the Calbayog fiesta. Before anything else, Sarah Geronimo will be coming to Calbayog City. Her concert-for-a-cause dubbed Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

LGU news. Last August 23, 2010, after his visit in Barangay Aguit-itan and the Slaughter House, Mayor Reynaldo Uy attended the program of the International Justice Mission (IJM) at Marju Krisel Resort. A highlight of the activity was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the LGU and IJM.

Subject of the MOA was the CSWDO-operated institution known as Calbayog Response Center for Women and Children (CRESCENT-WC) which is located in Barangay Payahan. It can be recalled that the center was opened sometime in October of 1999 with then Vice President Gloria Arroyo as guest of honor. The center was aimed at enabling Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) and Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances (WEDC) resolve their problems and thus restore their normal social functioning through the provision of protective rehabilitative services.

The CRESCENT building is in need of repair. Thus, as stipulated in the MOA, the IJM shall provide support social services, which will include the following:

The improvement of the facility for the total well-being of the admitted residents. The improvements of the building will cost Php 686,438.78.
Provision of free legal services to victims of trafficking in person.

For its counterpart, the LGU shall execute the following:

Allocate funds for labor, equipment rental and contingencies amounting to Php 136,823.24
Assign the City Engineering Office as the Project Implementation and Management Team; and
Continuously allocate funds for the maintenance of the CRESCENT-WC Building.

The LGU will also provide manpower and facility for the implementation and sustainability of the programs and services such as temporary shelter to address needs and problems of CNSP and WEDC to include victims of trafficking in persons; make provisions for the continuous awareness raising activities and advocacy campaign on anti-trafficking in person; allow the CSWDO to participate in the programs of the IJM; and accommodate proposals from the CSWDO on the delivery of basic services provided that such proposals are covered within the area of IJM’s program.

IJM is an international human rights organization which provides free investigative, legal and social work assistance to the urban poor especially cases involving child abuse and child sex trafficking in the National Capital Region, the neighboring provinces and Calbayog City.

* * *

Patrun sa Calbayog. The 9-day Novena masses in preparation for the feast of Our Lady’s Nativity has commenced last Monday.

On September 7, 2010, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will lead the faithful of the Parish in the re-dedication and re-consecration of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. This will be followed by the 9th day Novena Mass and the procession. The fiesta Pontifical Mass will be held on September 8, 2010 at 9:00 am.

Other parish activities on hand are the following:

September 4, 2010: Confirmation at the Cathedral
September 5, 2010: Clergy in Concert. This is a fund-raising activity for the Cathedral.
September 6, 2010: Parish / WESTY Night

* * *

Hadang Festival 2010. The annual Calbayog Festival of Art and Culture opened last Wednesday. Mayor Reynaldo Uy led the officials during the affair. Also present were the representatives of the Hermanas Mayores namely Freda Ladrero (for Pheona Ladrero-Robinson) and Mel and Josie Bracamonte (for Riza Bernardo Suan)

The Calbayog Concert Chorus serenaded the guests while the Sarakiki-Hadang Performers did the ritual opening number and the singing of the festival theme song. Councilor Julius Mancol, who is the Chair of the SP Committee on Arts and Culture welcomed the guests. Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Mayor Reynaldo Uy also delivered their messages.

The Opening Program was capped by the flying of the traditional lobo, the fireworks display and the opening of the Samar Island Cultural Tourism Exhibit.

* * *

Fiesta performances: Onstage tonight at the Nijaga Park is the CKC-Jose Gomez Symphony Orchestra.

Other performances / concerts on hand are the following:
September 4: IMAGO
September 5: Tropical Depression
September 6: Aiza and Nyoy
September 7: Sarah Geronimo

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Heroes

2010-08-30T06:23:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a holiday! Before anything else, Sarah Geronimo will be coming to Calbayog City. Her concert-for-a-cause dubbed Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

So today is the last day of yet another long weekend. Thanks to National Heroes Day. What’s that again? Ah, heroes. Surely, a good number of our fellow Filipinos - the young especially – would have nothing to say except that this is another reason for them to oversleep, do nothing or maybe do gimik with the tropa, and most importantly another reason not to go to school. Much has been said about how each one of us can be heroes in his own little way, and I guess I have to rest my case. My list of acerbic comments about the not-so-good deeds of people, myself included is quite long. In the meantime I guess I have to settle with Mariah Carey and her hit song, entitled (what else?) “Heroes”.

* * *

And indeed they did again. No need to elaborate on the question and answer portion at the Senate inquiry (I find Venus Raj’s Q & A more exciting). I forgot to take note of the name of the professor in Tony Velasquez’ TV talk show, but I do not disagree with him when he said among other things, that the President did not have to be present at the negotiating table during the hostage crisis. Yun lang!

At the height of the blame game, err finger-pointing game after the crisis (which is something normal in our part of the world), someone went online to say that the church could be among those to blame for the crisis. He said something about morals and values failing, etc. Now that is something else, a crisis in the making perhaps? I may not agree with what the guy said, but certainly it was a different take on the crisis. Whew! I’m wondering what he has to say about the senate investigation.

* * *

Anti-Dengue Days in Calbayog. A spin-off of the anti-dengue program of Calbayog was the holding of the People’s Day in Barangay Aguit-itan. As per reports submitted to the City Mayor’s Office, the said barangay qualified to be ranked as among the not-so-clean barangays of Calbayog. The People’s Day became some sort of a dialogue between the LGU and the people from the area. An agreement was reached. There will be no more vendors on the road leading to the pier, pigsty and pigs will no longer be allowed, those who are into fish drying (bularan) have agreed to relocate themselves, and the anti-littering ordinance will be strictly implemented by the barangay officials with Barannay Aguit-itan getting a hefty portion of the fines collected.

A week ago today, Mayor Reynaldo Uy, together with the Department managers and some city officials visited the said barangay. There were some improvements in the so-called dry-land portion. But the wet area is another story. It prompted mayor to form a multi-office task force to take charge of clearing the area of garbage (of all shapes and sizes, if I may add).

* * *

Patrun sa Calbayog. Today is the first day of the 9-day novena-masses in preparation for the fiesta of Calbayog in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad.

This year’s hermanas mayores are Pheona Camille Ladrero-Robinson, Rizza Bernardo Suan and Hannah Pia Uyloan De Guzman.

The parish events on hand are the following:

September 4: Confirmation at 9:00 am
September 5: Clergy in Concert at 7:00 pm
September 6: Parish Night at 6:00 pm
September 7: Re-dedication of the Cathedral and Procession at 3:00 pm
September 8: Pontifical Mass at 9:00 am

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Calbayog’s Tri-District Program

2010-08-27T05:10:00.004+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. First things first: Sarah Geronimo will be coming to Calbayog City. Her concert-for-a-cause dubbed “Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!” will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

So, what do we have? The best of both worlds characterized by two words – major, major and flimflam. In case you have been complaining about how Venus blew it, c’mon think again, there were 82 other ladies, 82. Now, on that sad event brought about by both a policeman and by many policemen going flimflam, I rest my case. But surely, as I wrote this, some Senators are having a grand time grandstanding (no relations to Quirino grandstand, I suppose. Oops, that’s supposed to be a joke). Anyway, our lawmakers will be busy grilling the concerned officers, in aid of legislation, of course.

* * *

The Tri-District (3-D) Program of Calbayog City. As reported, the City Government officially launched the Tri-District (3-D) Development Program about a month ago.

About three weeks ago, I featured the said program in this column and referred to it as Calbayog’s MDG. I would like to give you an updated presentation of some program details.

The 3-D slogan is DETERMINASYON: DALAN sa DAYUN nga kauswagan. The 3-D battle-cry is LET’S HELP-Calbayog City. It is an acronym which reads: L for legislative; E for executive, T & S for total support; H for health and humanitarian concerns; E for education, culture and the arts, environment, eco-tourism, energy and communication empowerment in governance; L for livelihood, land and housing; P for projects, production, peace and order, population development and partnerships

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS) for Oquendo District, Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) for Tinambacan District and Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS) for Calbayog District.

Its implementation will include Database Establishment and Data Gathering, Identification of Problems and Solutions to include Feasibility Studies, Strong Support, Determined Executive Action, AND People’s Participation.
The 3-D program components and its respective / identified programs are as follows:

Health (Hospital, Medicines, Nutrition, Mother and Child Health Care)
Education (School Bus, Scholarship, High School, Teachers, Classrooms, non-formal adult education and responsible parenting classes)
Infrastructure (Power / Communication, Roads, Water, Irrigation, Warehouse, Solar Dryer, School Buildings, Mini Hospitals with Health Centers, Training / Demo Centers, Sports Facilities, Drainage, Intermodal Transport system)
Agriculture (Grains, Coconut, Abaca, Rootcrops, Cash Crops, Vegetable, Aquaculture, Horticulture)
Livestock (Pig Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Cow Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Carabao Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Goats Production / Fattening / Dispersal)
Industries / SMEs (Food processing, Handicraft, Furniture, Ceramics)
Power (Hydro-electric project)
Environment (Anti-illegal logging, Anti-illegal quarrying, Reforestation)
Peace and Order (Programs/ Drives against: Illegal gambling, Prostitution / Recruitment, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Fishing, Illegal Logging, Illegal Quarrying, Juvenile Delinquency)
Disaster Preparedness
Eco-Toursim
Housing
Arts and Culture
Youth
Intangibles (Moral Recovery, Capability Building, Administrative Reforms)
Integral Components namely Gender and Development and Population and Development.

As of this writing, the planning workshops have been held for the punong barangays of Calbayog. Among the things done in these sessions were the identification of problems besetting the various districts of Calbayog; and the identification of proper projects or programs and the same were considered for funding and implementation. The results / data from the workshops have been presented to all the city officials and Department Managers of the LGU.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Death of a Bishop

2010-08-13T06:05:00.004+08:00

Hi there! It’s another week and it’s Friday the 13th. Nope, no bishop died today. So, what’s with today’s title? You might want to ask. It’s the history buff in me again. Last Tuesday (August 10, 2010) we commemorated the 90th anniversary of the death Bishop Pablo Singzon, the first Bishop of Calbayog. Now that I have your attention, let me share what I got from some archival records. I already featured it in this column about two years ago. I thought I’d like to take a few moments of your time today as we recall some sad moments in the life of one of the leaders who have served the Diocese of Calbayog, in his case, the Catholic faithful in the islands of Samar, Leyte and the Marianas.

* * *

Sometime in 2008, while preparing for the Calbayog coffee table book, I received photocopies of the issues of the Eco de Samar y Leyte. I thought it was a bundle of issues only from 1911-1913. Later on would I find an issue dated August 14, 1920 and the English section contained an account on the death of the first Bishop of Calbayog. It’s the year (of the Bishop’s death) that made me wonder.

If one is to check the portraits of Bishops at the Bishop’s House in Calbayog (which many locales fondly refer to as the palacio), a plate beneath Bishop Singzon’s portrait states that he was Bishop of Calbayog from 1910 – 1922. And checking on his tombstone at the Cathedral, it stated that he returned to his creator in 1923. This obviously needs more checking. In the meantime, let me share with you (in its entirety) what I got from the Eco de Samar y Leyte.

That particular issue on August 14, 1920 had this as its headline in the English section: “MGR. PABLO SINGZON, FIRST BISHOP OF CALBAYOG DIED LAST TUESDAY MORNING”

Taking a cue from that headline, it meant that Bishop Singzon returned to his creator on August 10, 1920. Let me give you the details of that report which was written by someone who went by the name of PLOPE:

“It was a melancholic and sorrowful Monday at about six o’clock when our Illustrious Prelate Mgr. Pablo Singzon in the modest parlor of the Episcopal palace was attended by his familiars among whom was Dr. Tomas Gomez. His weary respiration and the paleness of his face moved the hearts of those who were present and caused them a painful feeling of separation. The pain of his sickness was becoming more and more painful which called him to stay in bed.

At 10:00 o’clock p.m. when Mgr. Singzon found out that he did not feel a better repose nor even a rest from the pain of his sickness in his bed, wanted to sit on a chair – the chair where he received the spiritual consolations last November when he was attacked severely by the same sickness. In this chair he decided to die. Tears that roll from my eyes prevent not my pen to communicate my pain!

When the clock knocked its eleven strikes Mgr. Singzon was becoming weaker and weaker. From the neck of our illustrious patient hanged a bead of rosary, the escapulary of the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Miraculous Medal. Around him were his favorite Auxiliary Bishop Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang, RR. FF. Jose Diasnes, Teodoro Robredo, Luis Egeda, Dr. Tomas Gomez, RR. FF. Pedro Pampliega, Santos Saldaña, the Seminarians Bernardo Bacsal, Lesmes Ricalde, and behind the chair were RR. FF. Felix Sabenicio and Crispin Singzon. It was indeed a sorrowful occasion! All those who were present observed firmly to the patient and watched his movements whose weary and painful respiration cooled their hearts. Mgr. Singzon was not as active as he used to be: his activity, attention and application were changed: Mgr. Singzon was transformed struggling between the existence of life and death.

Mgr. Sofronio Hacbang his Auxiliary Bishop and who had never left him read the profession of the faith, the recommendation of the soul; whose voice in the midst of that tranquility and in the midst of that struggling pain called his attention to listen. Rev. F. Jose Diasnes neared to the patient by order of the Auxiliary Bishop to give him a confession. How great and how sublime is to die in the name of the Catholic Religion, though in the midst of pain.

The illustrious patient was losing gradually his movements the coolness of his body began to cover him with its veil, his paleness was becoming more and more pale. Then all those who were present knelt down with lighted candles before a crucifix near the patient and said the following words: “PROFESU ERE ANIMA CRISTIANA”

Mgr. Singzon gave up his last breath in the morning of the sorrowful Tuesday when the clock knocked its 3:20 strikes” (PLOPE)

* * *

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Update on the Calbayog City Hospital

2010-08-09T05:55:00.003+08:00

Hi there! It’s another week. So what do we have? Well, there they go again. The Senate, or Bong and (was it) Ralph were mulling about Senate investigation on the PAL row and the MRT fare hike. I’m tempted to say what else is new. Anyway, I still need to check what legislation they are into with these investigation (if ever matuloy). And while we are at it, why don’t they investigate the bombing in Zamboanga, Alvin Padilla and his gang, and do we include CATS too? I mean, why are the tickets of that musicale priced as such? (Oops, don’t take this line seriously, just wanna make you smile this week).

* * *

I have decided to devote today’s column on one of the undertakings of the City Government of Calbayog, the establishment of the Calbayog City Hospital. I was able to get hold of the report given to Mayor Reynaldo Uy when he met with the representative of the Department of Health (DOH) RO-8 last July 20.

Present during the said meeting was the DOH team headed by DOH RO-8 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon. The team members were Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, Dr. Perla Ernacio, Mrs. Nellosa Guarda and Engr. Jasper De Veyra. Also present were Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, Engr. Gil Lentejas, Mrs. Geronides Mancol, Mr. Jessie Montealto and Atty. Oscar Hugo, all members of the Ad Hoc Committee which was formed for the Calbayog City Hospital.
Dr. Molon updated Mayor Uy and the Ad Hoc Committee members on the evaluation on the application for Certificate of Need (CON) of the Calbayog City Hospital.

The criteria taken into consideration were the following: Bed to Population ratio. Travel Time. Accessibility. Strategic Location. Integration in the local hospital development plan.

Here are some initial findings as per report submitted to the City Mayor and the Ad Hoc Committee:

Criteria 1. Bed to Population ratio.
For its primary catchment area, the hospital being a level 3 application will have the (Samar) province as coverage area hence it will have a catchment population of approximately 1,438,000. As of the moment 340 hospital beds are available in the primary catchment area. The number of hospital beds are distributed as follows: Samar Provincial Hospital (100 beds), Calbayog District Hospital (75 beds), Gandara (10 beds), Bassey (25 beds), Tarangnan (10 beds), St. Camillus Hospital (25 beds), Calbayog Sanitarium Hospital (15 beds) and OLPHI (80 beds)

On the other hand, 350 beds are available in the secondary catchment area (and this would be the Northern Samar area). The hospitals in the area are Allen Hospital (50 beds), Biri (25 beds), Capul (25 beds), GB Tan (50 beds), NSPH (100 beds), Gamay (25 beds), San Antonio (25 beds), San Vicente (10 beds), Catubig (25 beds), Leoncio Uy Private Hospital (15 beds).

Total inventory of hospital beds is at 735, to include the approved PTC for 50-bed Samar Doctors.
The ideal bed-to-population ratio is = 0.511, which means that the province still needs 703 beds more. Calbayog's application for 25 beds passed the first criteria; and that applying for 50 beds would still be okey.

Criteria 2. Travel Time. At least one hour away from the nearest hospital. This was not met, with OLPHI, a level-3 hospital and St. Camillus Hospital.

Criteria 3. Accessibility. This was okeyed by the group.

Criteria 4. Strategic Location. The group visited the proposed site after the meeting at Marju-Krisel and a recommendation is forthcoming.

Criteria 5. Integration in the local hospital development plan. As of the July 20 meeting, only the City annual Investment Plan was received by DOH RO-8.

The following recommendations were presented by the DOH group and duly noted by the Ad Hoc Committee:

The CON is approved, however there is a need to look into the clustering of the private hospitals in the proposed site.
The possibility of the proposed hospital becoming a dumping ground of "indigent cases" which might be rejected by the private hospitals.
The need for the hospital plan to be integrated in the City Development Plan for sustainability.
Present budget is only for the construction of the hospital physical structure. Still needed to be looked into are manpower, equipment and service capability needs which cost bigger budget.

The group's report also included the "Case Mix of patients” admitted in the hospital in Cabayog City:

Pneumonia
Congestive Heart Failure
Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
PTB
AGE
UTI
Diabetes Mellitus
Peptic Ulcer Diseases
PUFT
Bronchial Ashma

* * *

Obit. Tomorrow we commemorate The Most Reverend Pablo Singzon, the first Bishop of Calbayog. It has been 90 years since he received the gift of eternal life.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

I missed you

2010-07-30T07:09:00.002+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. I was out of circulation again for the past two weeks. So Krizzie is coming home (for a new game show? Thanks god Willie is out), Noynoy has delivered his first SONA and yup, I’m doing my best to catch the CATS musical in Manila.

And what’s with today’s title? Nope, it has nothing to do with relationships (broken or otherwise). That’s my take on the SONA. It was the line that came to mind while watching P-Noy deliver his SONA. I missed the koala or the marsupial in the house (remember the masked whistleblower on the supposedly rigged PCOS result? Yup that star during those days dubbed as the biggest gathering of losers in the house). I missed Ms. Susano, and I missed the triumvirate of Sen. Madrigal, JC De Los Reyes and Nick Perlas. And yes, Mr. Cesar Flores too.

* * *

The Tri-District (3-D) Program (which was my topic in this column exactly two weeks ago) will be officially launched today. The launching will be held at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Mayor Reynaldo Uy will lead the officials invited to the event. Also expected to attend are the Punong Barangay from all 157 barangays of Calbayog, the Department Managers and their assistants as well as various representatives from the private sector.

If I may once again feature what I gave you two weeks ago, the re-implementation of the 3-D Program is one of the thrusts of the Uy administration. I fondly refer to it as Calbayog’s MDG, as it contains various components aimed at alleviating the economic condition of every Cabayognon; and it came to be years before that U.N. MDG program was officially launched.

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS), Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP), Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS).

The components of the 3D program are Health, Agriculture, Livestock, Education, Environment, Infrastructure, Eco-Tourism, Housing, Peace and Order and Industries

* * *

Anti-Dengue Days in Calbayog. This program which was launched a week ago will continue today with the LGU employees led by their respective Department Managers and the city officials visiting their assigned barangays at 3:00 pm. They are expected to check on what they have started during their initial visits last Friday. As per initial info from the CHO, water samples collected from all the carline barangays tested positive for dengue larvae. The Anti-Dengue Days program was implemented through Executive Order No. 2 which was signed by Mayor Reynaldo Uy on July 22, 2010. It is aimed at reducing the incidence of dengue cases the number of which made Calbayog the 5th in the region.

* * *

Last Thursday, the officials of the Senior Citizens’ Federation of Calbayog gave a plaque of appreciation to Mayor Reynaldo Uy. The group thanked the Mayor for his efforts (while still congressman of Samar) for the passage of the Extended Senior Citizens Act.

It should be noted that then Congressman Reynaldo Uy was Chair of the House Committee on Senior Citizens which, together with Senator Pia Cayeatano’s committee was responsible for the passage of the Extended Senior Citizens’ Act of 2010.

* * *

Calbayog City has a new Chief of Police. Police Superintendent Nestor Valenzuela was installed in simple ceremonies last July 19, 2010 at the Calbayog PNP headquarters.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Calbayog’s MDG

2010-07-16T05:50:00.002+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. And so much for failed relationships, jerks and closures (for now anyway). Yup, that’s if you still remember what I had in this column last Monday. And while we are into the topic, I’m so glad to hear a good number of friends react to that column. I still have a lot of it under my sleeves. For this weekend, I have decided to focus on one of the main programs that the new administration Mayor Reynaldo Uy will be implementing for the City of Calbayog.

Among the things that Mayor Uy cited in his inaugural speech was that his administration will be implementing the 3-D Program. Actually, re-implementation would be a more accurate term. The program was launched during his (Mayor Uy) last term and took off just a bit. Fondly referred to as Calbayog’s MDG, the program contains various components aimed at alleviating the economic condition of every Cabayognon (read: all districts of Calbayog). It came to be years before that U.N. MDG program was officially launched.

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS), Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP), Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS)

More fine-tuning and updating are set for the program. Its implementation will include Data Gathering, Identification of Problems and Solution to include: Strong Support, Determined Executive Action, AND People’s Participation.

The components of the 3D program are as follows:

- Health (Hospital, Medicines, Nutrition, Mother and Child Health Care)

- Agriculture (Grains, Coconut, Abaca, Rootcrops, Cash Crops, Vegetable, Aquaculture, Horticulture)

- Livestock (Pig Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Cow Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Carabao Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Goats Production / Fattening / Dispersal)

- Education (School Bus, Scholarship, High School, Teachers, Classrooms)

- Environment (Anti-illegal logging, Anti-illegal quarrying, Reforestation)

- Infrastructure (Power / Communication, Roads, Water, Irrigation, Warehouse, Solar Dryer, School Buildings, Mini Hospitals / Health Centers, Training / Demo Centers, Sports Facilities, Drainage, Intermodal Transport system)

- Eco-Toursim

- Housing

- Peace and Order (Programs/ Drives against: Illegal gambling, Prostitution / Recruitment, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Fishing, Illegal Logging, Illegal Quarrying, Juvenile Delinquency)

- Industries / SMEs (Food processing, Handicraft, Furniture, Ceramics)

- Intangibles (Moral Recovery, Capability Building, Administrative Reforms)

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

The City Government of Calbayog through the City Health Office, in coordination with the Leyte Family Development Organization (LEFADO) and the Philippine NGO Council (PNGOC) will conduct the Samar cluster meeting dubbed Up Scaling the National Response to HIV and AIDS through the Delivery of Services and Information to Population AT Risk and People Living with HIV and AIDS. The meeting will be held at 9:00 am today at Eduardo’s Restaurant. Mayor Reynaldo Uy has been invited to deliver the Welcome Message.

* * *

The Samar Medical Society will have their oath-taking tonight. This will be held at the function hall of St. Camillus Hospital. Mayor Reynaldo Uy, himself a doctor has been invited as the guest of honor.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

(Failed) Relationships (or That Jerk!)

2010-07-12T05:05:00.006+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week and we are days away to sweldo time. First things first, my apologies for not writing the past - I counted the days – month. Blame it on my day job (Smile!). And after that “long” break, I have decided to do away (for the nth time) with my acerbic comments about the world around me. I have copied some articles I got from some fellow bloggers, which explains today’s title. And yes, my column should read: The Crazy Me as there is nothing about Calbayog, at least for today. (Smile, it’s a new week)

Bitter? Hmmm. Don’t ask why such a title. It’s for the purpose of being able to do away (like closure? :-) ) with bad endings that came after happy beginnings that some people (of not-so-happy memory) have brought upon – hmmm (you don’t have to guess); and in a way explains why this column took some hibernation. (Smile! It adds to your face value!)

Let me give you something which I got from www. heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com:

“One of the most difficult situations to fathom is that of a relationship. Whether you're just beginning or already tied down, whether you're teenagers or already a senior citizen - there are many occasions in your relationship that posed, pose or will pose a challenge.”

“Every relation is a work in progress. I believe that happy beginnings are the rule. It's why we get into a relation in the first place. But happy endings, ah, that's the hard part. Only we can make a happy ending. Which means that in between the stories of our lives are the hardships that entail us to make each and every relationship work.”

“Sometimes, when there is trouble in paradise, we need to remember why we even ended up with our significant other the first time around. Was it for fun, for convenience, or for love?”

“It will always take two to tango. There should be honor and respect for one another and most of all, we need to keep each others dignity intact. Each of us provides the pillar of strength for the other. It's really about - for better or worse.”

“We just need to remember that in a relationship, there is no more I. It is all about US.”

And here’s another one which explains the other title of today’s column. It’s from a fellow blogger (my apologies, I got carried away by the contents I forgot to tale note of the source). I dunnow who that friend of his is, but it’s the setting which is so familiar, so familiar especially with all those failed relationships. (The newspaper version of this column contains the sanitized version of the following paragraph)

"A friend recently got entangled in a pseudo-relationship: he didn't know that he was dating a guy who is already attached. Thanks to my loud mouth quite accidentally, he discovered early on. He was, how do you say that again? Devastated. Because the guy is hot, charming, handsome, smart and, uh, hot. And he was beginning to love the jerk, beyond the late-night sex and the amorous text messages. Later, my friend, during comfort episodes, would reveal that the Mr. Jerk was inconsistent and mercurial at times. Tell-tale signs of something amiss in the calculus of Mr. Jerk's so-called affections for my poor friend. Which got me thinking - what is it about jerks anyways that make them so appealing sometimes? Do we get attracted at some point in our lonely lives to the self-destructive skunks? But how?"

“In the article The Mystery of Jerks by Katz and Holmes, the conclusion reads: Admittedly, there are a few people who probably enjoy the histrionics and the moods and the make-up sex that come with dating drama kings and queens. But I'd bet that most are just willing to tolerate the drama, because, thus far, that drama comes attached to the "best" person they could find. Essentially, they're saying, "Yeah, he's inconsistent, selfish, and distant, but he's all mine." Just realize that every second you're spending with the wrong guy is a second that you're not out looking for the right one, the guy who gives, the guy who listens, the guy who learns. Darn, this is all so true. Are you reading this, Honey? (err, Mr. Jerk?)”

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!

2010-07-10T15:27:00.002+08:00

Sarah Geronimo Live in Calbayog!

September 7, 2010
7:00 p.m
Calbayog City Sports Center

Ticket Prices:
Php 2,000.00, Php 1,500.00, Php 1,000.00, Php 800.00 & Php 500.00

For inquiries, call or text:

0929-234-0373

0928-908-0095

0915-976-4807

In Dependence

2010-06-14T05:28:00.005+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. And we are days away to a new administration running the national government.

The nation recently commemorated the 112th Philippine Independence Day. It’s that day in our history which gave us another reason to sleep a little longer today. So, what about it? Each time that day comes around, I am reminded of what my Soc Sci professor asked our class many years ago: for the Philippines, is it really independence (thus the independence day celebrations and stuff)? Or In Dependence on what other countries has to offer; on what foreign investors has to offer; on what the international financial institutions has to offer. I can clearly remember how our class debated on whether Filipinos should be doing things for themselves by themselves or do we need to have these foreign investors, foreign government, multi-national corporations making sawsaw in our economic affairs. I think the solution (no, its was the winning side’s answer) was that that the problems of the land of Juan De La Cruz has grown so big (can we use the term leaps and bounds? Don’t take that seriously, just wanna make you smile this wee) that it’s impossible for Juan De La Cruz alone to do it. So is that line of argument still valid today? I dunnow, the last time I had a serious discussion (with some friends, otherwise it would have been an argument) on the issue, I did not miss the line about the Philippines not being able to do it alone, it was simply rephrased to “in this era of globalization, the Philippines cannot afford to do it alone.” I rest my case. And let us not even start discussing how our national leaders are doing their job . . .

* * *

So, Noynoy is now President-elect. I like him, but please don’t say quitting smoking will lead to bad decisions. I’m hoping that Mr. Obama send his “Stop Smoking Kit” to the President-elect soon.

* * *

Local events. I’m writing this column on Saturday morning. The Independence Day events in the city will include a short program at the Nijaga Park stage. The Sangguniang Panlungsod will honor Mr. Reynaldo Prudenciado, Jr. the CKC accounting graduate who placed 6th in the recnt CPA board exam. Expected to be present are the SP members led by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Mayor Mel Sarmiento who will deliver his Independence Day message. The day’s events will be highlighted by the maiden performance of “Serapio: the Musicale.”

New President for Christ the King College. Fr. Marcelo Tubac, ofm was formally installed as the new CKC President. The Turn-Over Ceremony was held last Friday during the Eucharistic Celebration at the CKC San Damiano Chapel. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez was present during the ceremony.

* * *

No Approved Therapeutic Claims. Nope, that line should read: Sec. Espie Cabral and her balls. The good secretary is into it again. I’m saying that line in appreciation to what she is doing. If only she can have a more aggressive campaign against smoking (I think I’ll have that in my next column). Anyway, what about this No Approved Therapeutic Claims chuva? (oops, sorry for that term, it’s so well, gay) it’s how some lawyers went to the extent of filing as graft case against the secretary for the simple reason that she ordered that that line printed on food supplement products - No Approved Therapeutic Claims – be translated to Filipino. I thought I wanted to share what a fellow blogger (www. heavenpurgatoryandhell. blogspot. com) had to say:

“…But let me commend Espie for sticking to what is right.

… The most recent stand of Espie regarding the voluminous herbal products that have plagued the local market is laudable. If you ask Filipinos if they know what "no approved therapeutic claim" means, I am willing to bet my balls that 8 out of 10 have NO IDEA at all. Espie's idea is simple and not even rocket science. Translate all the warning signs to Tagalog. Which means, that all herbal supplements or food supplements that carry the tag " No Approved Therapeutic Claims " under Administrative Order 2010-0008 must be translated to "Mahalagang paalala: (name of product) ay hindi gamot at hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit".

The day right after this AO was released, an herbal company went ahead to sue Espie. They said that it did not go through public consultation and Dr. Cabral had violated the law on graft.
Graft??!?!!? The lawyer of that herbal company probably is a nincompoop that probably has dementia and has been taking too many herbal agents that his/her brains have simply disintegrated. Dr. Cabral is right - you don't need to go through public consultation for a translation! You mean to tell me that if you have a sign that says NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, you will need to go through public consultation just to say BAWAL TUMAWID? Come on. Gimme a break. (I had to delete the next lines. It’s kinda not proper for a publication of general circulation). My fellow blogger ended his take on the issue by saying: “I have always said, and will state for the record - that there is no greater fool than the fool that is fooled by a fool.”

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! This concert for a cause will be held on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Reynaldo & Jean Reni

2010-05-21T05:56:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week. It’s nice to be back. For the Nth time this year, my column will not have my usual acerbic comments about the world around me. I thought it proper to devote it to two new Calbayog achievers. And thus explains today’s title. So, my congratulations to . . .
. . . REYNALDO M. PRUDENCIADO, Jr. of Barangay Guin-on, Calbayog City. He landed in the 6th place in the 2010 CPA Board Exam. He belongs to the Christ the King College BSA Class 2008-2009.

. . . and to the other young Calbayognon who did his city proud. Jean Reni Briones De Guzman of San Policarpo, Calbayog City is back. His team won major awards in the world’s largest pre-college science competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in San Jose, California, USA last May 9 to 14. I thought I’d like to share with you part of the report by Kim Patria (for Yahoo! Southeast Asia):

Dealing with local environmental and health problems using materials found locally, four incoming college students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) bagged multiple awards at an international science fair in California, May 14.

Marc Mapalo, 16; Jean Reni De Guzman, 17; Maria Clara Isabel Sia, 15; and Marc Arthur Jordan Limpiado, 16, who recently graduated from the PSHS Eastern Visayas Campus in Leyte, arrived on Monday bearing prizes from the Intel International Science Fair (ISEF) where more than 1,600 pre-college students from 59 participating countries competed

The team of Mapalo, De Guzman, and Sia bagged fourth place in the team competition with their study on red tide while Limpiado’s research on the antibacterial properties of seaweed extracts also took home fourth place.

“We wanted to provide solutions to the problems in the country using locally available materials,” Mapalo said, explaining how they used natural materials like clay, shrimp peelings, and malunggay seeds to clot algae in water.

Algae are microscopic waterborne plants, an excess of which covers water surfaces, depriving fish and other marine life of oxygen.

“Red tide is a problem in the Philippines,” Sia said, citing the case of Sorsogon Bay in the Bicol region which is frequently declared a red tide area.

Meanwhile, Limpiado, who probed how seaweed extracts can potentially kill bacteria, said his findings suggest that the antibacterial properties of Philippine seaweeds are comparable with that of the generic antibiotic amoxicillin mixed with acid.

Limpiado stressed that he used crude extraction by simply soaking seaweeds in liquid solutions, saying that more advanced processes of extraction like liquid chromatography could produce better results.

“My study could also be further improved to include antiviral applications,” Limpiado added.
All four students are enrolling this June. Sia will take up computer science at the Ateneo de Manila University; Limpiado and Mapalo enrolling in UP Diliman under the chemical engineering and molecular biology and biotechnology programs respectively; and De Guzman taking up biology in UP Los Baños.

* * *

Local event. The City Government of Calbayog recently observed Farmers' and Fisherfolks Week. It opened during the flag-raising Ceremony last Monday. The event was undertaken by the LGU through the City Agriculture Office, in coordination with the City Agriculture and Fisheries Council (CAFC), the City Agricultural Resources Management Council (CFARMC) and the Regional Fishermen's Training Center (RFTC).

The staff of the City Agriculture Office led by Mrs. Adela Ocenar was on hand together with the members of the CAFC and the CFARMC. Messages were delivered by CFARMC Chairperson Nick Balili and CAFC Vice Chairperson Mike Pedrozo. They both called on all concerned to do their share to combat climate change which is one great factor that will affect the human food chain.

The activities included the Opening Program, the regular tabo at the Cardinal Rosales Plaza, the motorcade, the cooking demo (courtesy of RFTC-Catbalogan), "Tagisan ng Lakas at Diskarte" at Pantai Pingkit (Manguino-o). The culminating activity last Friday featured a showing of a video on Climate Change and the demo on the composting facility at the SOS Children's Village.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! Great Times Events and Tours owner and manager Salve Uyloan recently signed a contract with Mr. Vic Del Rosario of VIVA Records. This is for the concert of Sarah Geronimo slated on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

concession and endorsement

2010-05-14T06:08:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. So the election came and went. Needless to say, each of us has his own story to tell about the experience of voting in the automated elections. I think I was kinda lucky, I stood in line at exactly 12:55 pm, I was out of the voting precinct at 3:30 pm. Some friends of mine were able to cast their votes around midnight. One thing though, reading the words congratulations being flashed by the pcos machine brought some relief it made me forget the hours I spent waiting for my turn to vote. And the fast results? I thought I was watching elections from another country, you know like the U.S. elections. Yes, there were complaints, but I guess we have to consider these as birth pains. After all, it was a first in our history. Now, as to vote-buying, troubles in some precincts, and election protests, well, this is the Philippines, the automated polls notwithstanding.

* * *

Talking about first time. I agree with some TV anchors when they said that this is the first time that we hear concessions or the word concede. And concede some of the candidates did. First there was Manny V., and soon JC, Gibo and Gordon followed suit. Oh yes, how can we miss Loren (dramatics and all) and Jun Yasay too. Forget about Edu, I don’t like him. So, is it safe to say that along with the new method of voting is the new breed of politicians? I mean some of the presidentiables and some local politicos who are into conceding being the name of the game.

But oops, a line which said something like I will not concede was supposedly uttered by Erap. And count in Nicanor Perlas too. Oh well, I’d like to say something, but let me simply say Duh!

* * *

And yes, that thing about endorsements. I am no social scientist but a good number of them (the social scientists) agree that the INC endorsement helped Noynoy. I think I have to put it there. Just curious, why can’t the Catholic Church do something akin to that. Oops, I thought I said I’ll put it there in my earlier line.

Now, let’s pan our sights to the other endorsers. I think the guy in colorful suits played safe by not endorsing any particular presidentiable. But then again his group did come out with a poll showing Erap topping ‘em all. Well, at least for his (the colorful endorser’s) handkerchief waiving flocks.

Anyway, I’m particularly interested about Pastor Quiboloy. I’m wondering how his “god” is doing. And let’s not even start discussing about his god’s tarnished image after giving the good pastor that dream. What happened to that dream? You know that one about Obama and Gibo. Maybe the pastor got to excited he woke up immediately. I think there was supposed to be some more visions in it. Like maybe tita Cory, or Ninoy being part of the cast, err dream. Oh well, there will be other elections and more dreams in a few years’ time.

* * *

Before the elections, billboards were everywhere. These were the ones which contained the 10 Commandment for Responsible Voting from the PPCRV.

Thou shalt vote according to the dictate of your conscience.
Thou shalt respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.
Thou shalt seek to know the moral dignity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the candidate you will vote for.
Thou shalt strive to understand the issues, platform and programs of candidates and parties seeking your vote.
Thou shalt not sell your vote.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons, and gold.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption, and human rights violation.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates just because of utang na loob, personal appearance, popularity or pakikisama.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates living an immoral life.
Thou shalt not put the welfare of the country above all else in choosing the candidate you will vote for.

And my take on the commandments? I’m just curious which of the above-mentioned commandments did many of us (myself included) violate during the last poll? Needless to mention the penetensya for the violation. Smile! It’s a weekend!

* * *

Obituary. (Tita) Celda Ladrero returned to her creator last Wednesday, May 12, 2010. She was 64. Interment will be on Tuesday, May 18, 2010

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! Great Times Events and Tours owner and manager Salve Uyloan recently signed a contract with Mr. Vic Del Rosario of VIVA Records. This is for the concert of Sarah Geronimo slated on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

pirated

2010-05-07T05:38:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another long weekend, but no thanks to PGMA’s holiday economics this time. It’s that day which marks the start of the kind of life that we will have in the next six years. And I think the coming Monday is one of those holidays when I don’t intend to oversleep. I’ve got to be at the polling area to vote, what with clustered precints and all. And not mention what surprises the machines for the automated polls will churn out next.

And today’s title? No offense meant to our Chinese friends. It’s that Pinoy thing about referring to things made in China as pirated and therefore lemons. You know like the familiar I-don’t-like-my-cellphone-china-made-coz-it’s-lemon kind of thing. Anyway, what about it? Call it an effort to make something light out of a serious situation, you know like worrying about the forthcoming election going haywire after watching some poll officials and Smartmatic officials on TV (surely they look good on TV though, that’s the only thing good about them) explaining the glitches on the PCOS machines and the compact flash cards. A friend was quick to say “kay pirated man ada an mga machines kay made in China. They should have had the stuff made somewhere else”. Of course the officials thoroughly explained what the whole thing (or problem) was all about, that things will be okey in time for the elections, blah, blah, blah. Seriously, this is no time to blame anyone (yup, not at the moment). I guess we need to help make the first automated elections a reality and let heads roll later on (do we say literally?). Yup, someone has to pay for the mess. As one broadsheet had it, “. . . and it should not be Juan De La Cruz.”

And Angelo Reyes na nanggagalaiti sa COMELEC ‘coz of the PCOS flimflam; and Congressman Locsin making bara? (I love it!) Oh well, if I may borrow Ces Drilon’s line, I wanna both laugh and cry.

Suddenly those calls to vote wisely (or according to one’s conscience) have taken a new twist. It used to be: Don’t sell your votes. And then it became: tanggapin mo ang bigay sa iyo, pero vote according to your conscience. Of course for so many years, the enterprising Pinoy had so many means of ensuring that those whose votes have been bought get to present proof of voting for candidate who did just that, buy the voters’ votes (parang magulo ano?). Well, with the PCOS going flimflam, somebody was quick to say this: “tanggapin mo ang pera at iboto ang nasa kunsyensay mo. Di nga mabasa ng PCOS ang boto mo, ang bumili pa kaya ng boto mo”. Oo nga naman ano?

* * *

Talking about voting and conscience. Let me give leave you with the 10 Commandment for Responsible Voting from the PPCRV:

Thou shalt vote according to the dictate of your conscience.
Thou shalt respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.
Thou shalt seek to know the moral dignity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the candidate you will vote for.
Thou shalt strive to understand the issues, platform and programs of candidates and parties seeking your vote.
Thou shalt not sell your vote.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons, and gold.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption, and human rights violation.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates just because of utang na loob, personal appearance, popularity or pakikisama.
Thou shalt not vote for candidates living an immoral life.
Thou shalt not put the welfare of the country above all else in choosing the candidate you will vote for.

* * *

Great Times Tours and Events Calbayog Branch will turn one year old tomorrow. The travel agency is located at Justice Lane, in Barangay Capoocan (near the Hall of Justice) in Calbayog City.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! Great Times Events and Tours owner and manager Salve Uyloan recently signed a contract with Mr. Vic Del Rosario of VIVA Records. This is for the concert of Sarah Geronimo slated on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice long weekend everyone! Ciao!

The First of May

2010-04-30T06:00:00.002+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another long weekend, thanks to PGMA’s holiday economics; and yes, we are 10 days away to the election. Nope, today’s title is not about the famous Bee Gees song which I happen to love very much. It’s just my way of highlighting the holiday that is Labor Day which is the reason why many of us (read: the working classes like me and some of you) can afford to oversleep this coming Monday.

Let me give you something which I always feature in this column each time Labor Day comes. Why do we have to refrain from work (or labor if I may say) on the day that is designated for labor (redundant ba?)? Anyway, if my memory serves me right, my soc sci lesson taught me that a good number of countries are into Labor Day tomorrow (May 1), save for some countries, the U.S. of A included (which celebrates Labor Day in September). Today’s commemoration stemmed from a picket or workers’ strike which was violently dispersed. And this happened in the country which supposedly stands for democracy a.k.a. the land of Uncle Sam.

On the other hand, we’re in for the merry month of May; ngan patrun yana sa Brgy. San Policarpo, the biggest barangay in Calbayog. Well, aside from May 1 being a time for us to salute the laborers, it’s also ushers in that time (or season) for house-hopping for feasting, drinking and what have you. Needless to say, the first day of May also ushers in the fiesta season in the country. The merry month of May is always made colorful by the decor; made heavy by the loads of cholesterol and alcohol; and made especially more exciting every three years thanks to the election, which incidentally happens this year. Well, purists (and the like) will remind us that fiestas also mean novena masses and sponsors and what have you. But certainly, adding more spice is the election season (or is it seasoning? Smile! It’s a weekend). Hmm, happy days are indeed here again.

* * *

Local news. PDEA is set to open its satellite office in Calbayog City. This after PDEA RO-8 Director Julius Navales formally accepted the office space offered by Mayor Mel Sarmiento. PD Navales was in the City last Monday for the simple turn-over ceremony which was attended by Mayor Mel Sarmiento. The program also included a ribbon-cutting at the future PDEA satellite office located at the Calbayog City Sports Center premises. Also in attendance were Calbayog PNP Chief PSupt Ramil Ramirez and Deputy Police Chief PSupt Nestor Valenzuela.

The City Health Office (CHO) on Monday conducted the Ceremonial Launching of the Pandemic H1N1 Vaccination in Calbayog City. The simple ceremony which was attended by Mayor Mel Sarmiento was held at the City Hall Stage immediately after the flag-raising ceremony. Dr. Eufemia Alcantara, DOH Representative gave the program rationale. The two personalities who received the voluntary first shots of the Pandemic H1N1 vaccine were CHO Officer-in-Charge Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, and Dr. Mario Casera, the former City Health Officer now with the CHO as a Contractual Service employee assigned at the Oquendo Main Health Center.

The official ballots for the May 10, 2010 election in Calbayog has arrived. Assistant City Treasurer Evelyn Junio on Wednesday (April 28, 2010) received 210 boxes containing the official ballots for the 210 clustered precincts in the two districts of Calbayog. The boxes are now stored at the City Treasurer's Office lobby. PNP officers have been assigned to provide security in the area.

* * *

New CKC President. The Christ the King College community on Tuesday bid farewell to their College President Fr. Prisco Cajes, ofm. Fr. Cajes will be assigned to Davao. Taking his place as the new CKC President is the former Director, Fr. Mar Tubac, ofm. Fr. Tubac is expected to be in Calbayog next week.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! Great Times Events and Tours owner and manager Salve Uyloan recently signed a contract with Mr. Vic Del Rosario of VIVA Records. This is for the concert of Sarah Geronimo slated on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice long weekend everyone! Ciao!

Jean Reni De Guzman

2010-04-23T05:02:00.005+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are 17 days away to the election. So what do we have today? Forget about Goldman Sachs, that venerable institution is sure to weather the recent crisis (or investigation) to hit it. And that Iceland volcano disrupting travel plans. Just another proof how vulnerable we are when mother nature is in the mood to flex her muscles. As to some political issues this election season, oh well . . .

* * *

So, what’s with today’s title? You might want to ask. Having a name for a column title was the only thing that came to mind when I thought about ways to introduce Calbayog’s new source of pride.

A young Calbayognon will have the honor to represent the Philippines in the 2010 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) which will be held in San Jose, California, U.S.A.

Jean Reni B. De Guzman, a resident of Barangay San Policarpo and a graduate of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) - Eastern Visayas Campus will join seven other young people from Palo (Leyte), Tagum City and Cabadbaran City in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair on May 9-14, 2010.

The project which Jean Reni will be presenting together with his teammates Maria Clara Isable Sia and Marc Mapalo is entitled "Use of Natural Flocculants in Mitigation of Harmful Algai Blooms". To put it simply, their project has something to do with an intervention preventing the occurrence of Red tide as the algae aggregates and sinks at the bottom of the body of water (or something to that effect. My apologies, I'm poor with scientific terms and the like).

Jean Reni is 16 years old. He won the First Place in the 13th Intel National Science and Engineering Fair recently held in Quezon City.

* * *

Earth Day in Calbayog. The City Government of Calbayog through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) observed Earth Day 2010.
As per information provided by CENRO OIC Lorenzo Ras, Jr., the following activities were or will be spearheaded by the CENRO:

Campaign for signatures in support of the "10 million signatures to improve Mother Earth Project".
Information dissemination aimed at promoting awareness on the significance of Earth Day celebration and the call to protect Mother Earth will be conducted throughout all the barangays of Calbayog.
synchronized tree-planting activity was done in the following areas yesterday:
o Mangrove tree-planting in the coastal barangays of Tinambacan District.
o Mangrove tree-planting at Barangay Rawis, Barangay Bagacay and Barangay Carayman.
o Mangrove tree-planting in Barangay West Awang.
o Coastal clean-up in Barangay West Awang.
o Roadside tree-planting at the Diversion Road (Barangay Dagum) with the CENRO and the City Social Welfare and Development Office personnel.
o Roadside tree-planting in Barangay Sinidman and Barangay Cagbilwang in Oquendo.

This year's Earth Day celebration is anchored on the theme: "HAMON NG PANAHON: CLIMATE CHANGE, 10 MILYONG SOLUSYON (Kilos na! Ngayon na!)"

* * *

Wedding Bells. Congratulation and Best Wishes to Gerardo “Badz” Mendoza and Merry Jane “Jing” Bergonio. They will get married tomorrow. Fr. Dndon Paulino will preside over their wedding mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be at the Centennial Pastoral Center.

* * *

Sarah Geronimo in Live in Calbayog! Great Times Events and Tours owner and manager Salve Uyloan recently signed a contract with Mr. Vic Del Rosario of VIVA Records. This is for the concert of Sarah Geronimo slated on September 7, 2010 at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

A post script of sorts

2010-04-19T05:27:00.008+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week and we are on the 9th day of our count-up to the next hundred years of the Diocese of Calbayog. Surely it’s nice to be back. Yup, I got so loaded I forgot about my columns days before and after the Centennial celebration. One way or the other, that event was a success. In the words of Bishop Abarquez, it was result of the collaboration of talents, resources and time of all concerned in the Diocese of Calbayog.

My first p.s. The dust has settled. The Nuncio, the Bishops and the guests have left. It’s the faithful of Calbayog by themselves again to face the realities of life. The realities which have characterized and will characterize the lives of the Samareños. Where we go next and how we get there is everybody’s guess. Many words were said during the homilies and speeches in the liturgical events and programs during the centennial week. One thing worth noting was the reminder of Bishop Soc Villegas about the event and the elections. The good bishop noted how the event fell exactly a month before the May 10 polls. He also reminded the faithful that the election is the (only) chance (or means) for us to instill the much-needed change in society.
More than elections, poverty, politics and what have you, let us always remember what the Diocese of Calbayog has been through. While we all relish to recall happy moments in our lives, let us always remember that only a couple of years ago crises struck the diocese which almost led the Vatican to demoted Calbayog to a mere titular diocese. I hope the celebration did strike a chord in the faithful of Calbayog. That it may serve to inspire all the faithful to move for a more vibrant church. Certainly, it’s a small price on our part to give to this institution of faith that inspired, cared, guided and sustained us in the past 100 years.

* * *

Let me give you another p.s. It’s my holy week p.s. It’s something for my column after Easter, but thanks to the centennial celebration I completely forgot about it. Anyway, it’s my other way of looking at some holy week traditions in my hometown. I guess I call it my lighter way if looking at these tradition or stories of old.

Old folks fondly recall that many years ago the siete palabras at the cathedral ended with some sort of reenactment of the death of Jesus. Someone would say a line (supposedly the last line uttered by the Lord) and on cue, a parish worker in charge would pull a cord and the head of the crucified Christ (yup, the one with a movable head which one finds in the left wing of top of what used to be tombs of Calbayog’s first two bishops) moves or bows down portraying the death of the Lord and it always gave goosebumps to many parishioners. Alas, things can never go perfect. I’d like to recall this kwentong barbero about one particular Good Friday service in the city many years ago. The person in charge missed the cue, and forgot about pulling the cord and the head of the crucified Christ did not move. The (cue) line cannot be uttered again, so how did they do it? Someone supposedly called (‘twas more of a loud whisper) the name of the person in charge and said, “tiwasi na!” Ahh, Filipinos indeed can always make something light out of anything they go through.

And yes, I experienced something akin to that myself a few years ago. There was this guy who I presumed was inspired by the crucifixions of folks in Luzon or maybe in his effort to do penitensya, had himself crucified. And there he hanged on his cross somewhere in Rawis. It was some kinda sight to behold until he called on some of his companions, nope not to reenact the seven last words, but to ask for ice water.

Seriously, we have our own memories or images of Holy Week in our hometown. Whatever these are, it boils down to one thing. I believe that holy week have always been declared as a holiday, a long one at that, for us to spend some holy days before the big celebration which is Easter.

* * *

Election season. Seen in town on Thursday last week was Kris Aquino who campaigned for Noynoy. Also in town minutes before Kris’ arrival was Bayani Fernando who was aboard a transformer truck with his wife, Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando. Last Tuesday, Vice Presidential candidate Perfecto Yasay was in Calbayog with senatoriable Alex Tinsay.

* * *

Congratulation and Best Wishes to Estanislao “Islaw” Tarrayo and Adoracion “Doring” Tarrayo. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Their renewal of vows will be held at the Holy Infant Parish Church in Oquendo. Reception will be held in Brgy. Jose Roño.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

100th Birthday

2010-04-09T05:26:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and this line is all over the place: “100 years of Journey, Celebration and Hope”. That’s the theme of the Centennial celebration of the Diocese of Calbayog which will happen tomorrow April 10, 2010.

Let me begin today’s column with some historical tidbit from the Calbayog coffeetable book. It’s on Calbayog as sede of a new diocese.

“. . . The new civil order ushered in a new ecclesiastical order. On April 10, 1910, Pope St. Pius X (by virtue of the consistorial Decree Novas Erigere Dioceses) separated the islands of Samar and Leyte from the Diocese of Cebu and created a new diocese. Calbayog was designated as sede (or seat) of this new diocese.”

* * *

I suppose the people of Calbayog (and of Samar for that matter) will take a break from the election season in observance of the Centennial celebration. Let me devote today’s column to the various activities in line with the celebration.

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Joseph Edward Adams will lead the Centennial Thanksgiving Mass at 10:00 am tomorrow at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. He is expected to arrive at 8:oo am at the Calbayog airport where he will be accorded planeside honors. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and Mayor Mel Sarmiento will lead church and government officials in meeting the Nuncio. After the airport ceremonies, a motorcade will convey the nuncio to the Centennial Pastoral Center to prepare for the Centennial Thanksgiving Mass. The Eucharistic celebration will be followed by a luncheon at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

For today (April 9, 2010), events include the following:

8:00 am - 3:30 pm: The Congress of the Clergy which will be held at the NwSSU Socio-Cultural Center. This will be presided over by Archbishop Soc Villegas
4:00 pm: 9th Novena Mass & Episcopal Coronation of the Blessed Mother at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Archbishop Soc Villegas will be joined in by other bishops in this celebration.
5:00 pm: Grand Centennial Procession
7:00 pm: Diocesan Centennial Awards and Cultural Night (Calbayog City Sports Center)

Other activities which included novena masses, reflections and catechisms were held in various parishes all over the diocese since April 1, 2010. The Calbayog Clergy did two concerts. One at the St. Bartholomew Church in Catbalogan last Monday and the other one last Wednesday at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

Yesterday’s events included the Centennial inter-Diocesan Friendship Games was held at the Calbayog City Sports Center, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary and Joggers Basketball Court; the Opening of the Diocesan Museum at Centennial Pastoral Center; the Awarding of Centennial Inter-Diocesan Friendship Games winners; and the concert of the CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

* * *

The Diocesan Museum formally opened yesterday. Leading the ribbon-cutting were Archbishop Jose Palma, Ms. Agueda Chan and Monsignor Tony Petilla. Also present at the event were Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Fr. Butcho Abujuela, Dr. Susie Bohol, Mr. Intoy Chan, Charo Cabardo, Boin Nicolasora and Nelson Petilla, among others.

* * *

This is it for now. We wish the faithful of the Diocese of Calbayog a very meaningful and successful Centennial Celebration! Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Holy Week in my hometown

2010-04-05T05:52:00.000+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! Happy Easter everyone! We are 5 days away to the Centennial celebration of the Diocese of Calbayog.
I think I’ll refer to this column as a Holy Week postscript. As I always do each time Holy Week comes, I make it a point to feature the semana santa tradition of Calbayog City. And if you are a regular reader of this column, you would have had read the same material at least four times. It’s not that I’m in no mood to write something about Calbayog, it’s my way of recalling the holy week that many of us grew up with.

Holy Week is different things to different people. Whatever one is into, it’s nice to note that even just for a few days, we are (or were) given the opportunity to contemplate upon the greatest gift that is the life of the Son of God. As to those who had to hit the beaches and other tour sites last week, well . . .

* * *

Semana Santa. Last week, the images of the saints at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral were covered with violet cloth and it stayed that way until the Easter vigil. As with the rest of the Catholic world, Domingo de Ramos ushered in Holy Week in Calbayog.

On Holy Thursday, the image of the Dolorosa (on the left wing of the cathedral) gave way to the monumento which was the object of veneration of the faithful from 6:00 pm until noon of Good Friday. The 12 persons (usually members of the K of C) who were selected as this year’s apostoles had their feet washed by the Bishop. Old folks fondly refer to the ceremony as pamusa san mga apostoles. That ceremony used to have one old lady – apparently on a panata – go up the altar and hand out small bags with coins to the apostoles. We missed that old lady for three years now.

After the Mass, the apostoles had their dinner – ala last supper - with the bishop at the parish rectory. I was once a part of this “ritual”. The bishop seated at the center with the twelve apostoles on both sides. So was it a good dinner? I dunnow. Try to imagine having dinner while lectors take turns in reading a good number of gospel passages and a choir sings psalms in between. Then at exactly 8 pm, it was time for the jubileo, that ritual of saying of the rosary while in procession around the Cathedral and going in and out of it, yes, through all its doors.

Viernes Santo. As with the past years, the Good Friday service at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral begun at 1 pm (but not necessarily on the dot) with the siete palabras where priests from the parish and the nearby parishes took turns to reflect on the seven last words. No need to mention that the cathedral pews already get occupied at noon.

And what is Good Friday without the procession? There were at least 14 carrozas that went around the city that day and it included the ones that have always fascinated me as these are the ones I grew up with, so to speak:

“An carro san Señor” is how members of the Gomez family refer to the more than a century old life-size image of Christ tied and scourged on the pillar. Originally part of a set of 5 images (from Mexico) which included a centurion, the image of the Señor tied to a pillar was all that’s left after the Gomez family evacuated during the last world war.

There is one owned by the Rosales Family. It is the one depicting the third fall of Jesus. Life-size images of Christ on the ground with a big cross on his back and at least four hudeyos with their glaring eyes are my earliest images of the suffering of Christ.

The Santo Intierro of the Ignacio and Bernardo families, for whatever reason is always the most popular among the mass goers. On top of many people taking time to touch its feet, its decors and flowers always get plucked even just halfway through the procession.

The image of the Dolorosa or the Sorrowful Mother gives some kinda eerie twist to Good Friday when it went on procession in the middle of the night. It went through the silent streets of Calbayog with the recitation of the rosary blaring and the moon peeping over the horizon.

The celebration was capped by the Easter vigil which always begun with the Cathedral covered in darkness and the whole thing ended with the sugat.

These are some of the memories or the stuff that holy weeks are made of in my hometown, and I guess in everybody’s hometown. Now, let’s not even start discussing on how the people in Boracay or other resorts fared last weekend (but honestly, I’m drooling). Be that as it may, at the end of the day, it takes more than the color, rituals and pageantry that our religious traditions are made of. I guess it takes ourselves as individuals not only taking part in the activities for the sake of following tradition, but to take time to pause and ponder upon the greatest gift that the Almighty has provided us. And in doing so, to take time to ponder on the sad fact (or is it reality) that love and peace, despite being the most overused words there is, are also the most elusive in this world.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

15 days and counting

2010-03-26T05:59:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. Yes, we are 15 days away to the 100th Birthday of the Diocese of Calbayog. Among the events slated for the celebration are the Priests’ Congress, the Calbayog Clergy Concert and the Diocesan Centennial Awards.

Holy Week is almost there so I have reserved my acerbic comments on the world around me after Easter. In the meantime let me give you some updates on Calbayog.

* * *

Local news. Last Monday, the City Government of Calbayog cited the secondary and elementary students who won medals in the recently concluded EVRAA 2010. Mayor Mel Sarmiento was joined by DepEd Calbayopg PESS Supervisor Bobby Diomangay in distributing the cash incentives to the young achievers at the City Hall Stage.

Winners in the individual category received 2,500 pesos (for gold), 1,500 pesos (for silver) and 800 pesos (for bronze) 800. Winners in the doubles category received 3,000 (for gold) 2,000 (for silver) and 1,000 for bronze). Group events winners received Php 3,500, Php 2,500 and Php 1,000 for gold, silver and bronze respectively. More than 20 athletes were present to receive their rewards. After congratulating the young achievers, Mayor Sarmiento also thanked the various local sports associations of Calbayog for the support they have given to the young athletes.

During the same occasion, the City Mayor called on the City Solid Waste Management Office and COMELEC Calbayog to form a team that will tear down campaign material that are posted or placed in areas other than the common-poster areas.

After the awarding program, the Mayor proceeded to the Handumanan conference Hall where he delivered a message during the opening of the Seminar Workshop on Disaster Management for the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) and the Disaster risk Management Office (DRM). The event was done under the auspices of the German GTZ program.

* * *

Last week the Calbayog City Water District sent an El Niño Advisory to various institutions in Calbayog. It called on all concerned to use water wisely.

"Calbayog City Water District is expecting significant reduction in its raw water supply in the coming months as a result of El Niño. We wish to assure our concessionaires that we are making necessary preparation and linkage with the concerned government agencies to manage the situation and minimize concessionaires' inconvenience."

"We must remain vigilant in preparing for the possible continuation of drought cycle. Thus, the CCWD Management appeals to the general public to CONSERVE AND USE WATER WISELY."

"We will provide the public with regular updates regarding the effect of El Niño on our operation and service delivery so we can better manage our water supply."

* * *

Calbayog City will observe Earth Hour 2010. The LGU through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the City solid Waste Management Office has prepared a 3-hour program tomorrow at the City Hall Stage. Various NGOs were invited to the event. Fr. Iluminado Paulino will lead the Opening Prayer. The officials invited to speak during the event are Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilor Susano Salurio. CENRO OIC and Earth Hour 2010 focal person Lorenzo Ras will give a brief talk on how to conserve energy. The SOS Youth will perform a Hands Play entitled “The Mission”.

* * *

Greetings. Congratulations and Best wishes to Bryan David and Gina Chambers. They will get married tomorrow. Fr. Bart Dumalag will preside over their wedding mass at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Trinidad, Calbayog City. Reception will be held at Marju Krisel Resort Hotel.
Happy Birthday to Mr. Pio Santos. He will turn a year older tomorrow.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Bayang Magiliw

2010-03-22T06:00:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week of work for ordinary mortals like me. And yup, we’re 19 days away to the Centennial celebration. The Pontifical Mass which we fondly refer to as the Centennial Mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on April 10, 2010 at 10:00 am. Other events slated are the Calbayog Clergy Concert, the Clergy Sports Fest, the CKC Orchestra Concert and the Centennial Awards. More details in my forthcoming columns.

* * *

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And what’s with today’s title, you might want to ask. I know that the title of the national anthem is "Lupang Hinirang". It (I mean today’s title) is my way of getting your attention. So what about the national anthem? Needless to mention about the brouhaha over the way Arnel Pineda belted it out in the latest Pacquiao fight. So Arnel has apologized. And then comes Christian Bautista saying something like every artist has the freedom to feely express himself, blah, blah, blah. Well, considering our (read: us, Filipinos) super, very short memory span, let it be put on record that Christian omitted something like two lines from the national anthem when he sang it in one event called a boxing match. In other words I guess he should be the last person to give any suggestion or comment on the issue on the national anthem, the NHI and whoever the artist-flavor-of-the-season is.

Is it really about artistic freedom? I think I found the answer from a fellow blogger (www.heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com) And here’s what I got from him and I do not disagree with him:

“What gets me is that while our artists claim "vocal liberties" at song renditions, the national anthem IS NOT some hot number that needs a vocal rendition or a make-over. It is a song that talks about the nation's pride. It is to be sung in a manner befit that of respect and dignity. Which is also why I can't get over the fact that these tone deaf fans are there to defend the artists rather than the song! It is not how melodramatic the song is sung, or how much heart is put into it, or how well we showcase the Filipino talent, but how the song should be sung because it is, after all, the Philippine National Anthem.”

“Once in a blue moon, we showcase to the world the Philippine National Anthem.”

“And sing with pride we must, even if it is a rowdy boxing match of a national boxing icon in the likes of Manny Pacquiao. Every time we raise that flag, we must rise to the occasion of respecting it, even if our government officials do not.”

“As a nation, we owe it to ourselves to make the statement that we are Filipinos.”

“And that we intend to make the world realize that there is one version, and one voice, and one tune to singing the Philippine National Anthem.”

“And this is our pride. It's all we have left.”

* * *

In town last Thursday were former Senate President Frank Drilon and Congressman Neric Acosta. They met with the Calbayog media after arriving from Catarman.

* * *

PGMA was in Calbayog last Friday. Well, at the Calbayog airport to be exact; and for a few minutes at least. She took the chopper at the airport en route to San Jose de Buan. As per OPS report, the President braved the stormy rains, to inaugurate several Kalayaan Barangay Program (KBP) projects consisting of two units of two-classroom schoolbuildings, two healthcare centers, and the barangay street lighting system. The KBP projects with the total cost of P4.7 million were funded by the President’s Social Fund. She also ordered the provincial government to immediately implement the road pavement project on the Lokiloan-San Jose De Buan provincial road.

* * *

Belated birthday greetings to Archbishop Jose Palma. He turned a year older last Friday.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

What Now?

2010-03-19T05:32:00.002+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are 22 days away to the big day which is the 100th birthday of the Diocese of Calbayog. The Papal Nuncio has confirmed his attendance in the celebration on April 10, 2010. More details on the event in my forthcoming columns.

And what’s with today’s title? It’s my take on “where to?”, that usual question this time of the year when schools churn out a good number of graduates. Yes I’m referring to both the real schools and the diploma mills. Suddenly I hear Frank Sinatra crooning “What now my love?” Yes what now that a good number of our young people have left school and joined the ranks of those with diplomas to boast, but sadly with still uncertain future in the jobs market. It’s all over the place, even graduates from reputable schools can have a hard time looking for a job, no need to mention how those from schools ruled by the lesser gods will fare. Well, es la vida.

* * *

New Deacons for the Diocese of Calbayog. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez on Wednesday presided over an ordination ceremony at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Ordained as deacons were Rev. Joseph Rabuya De Guzman (of San Policarpo, Calbayog City ), Rev. Roger Mañoza Oñate (of Oquendo, Calbayog City ), Rev. Cris Uy Tan (of Pagsangjan, Samar), Rev. Mario Benjamin Cobilla Mangubat (of Villareal, Samar), Rev. Ronjie Cabrales Raquil (of Pinabacdao, Samar) and Rev. Jake Jester Portugaliza Yboa (of Catbalogan, Samar ).

* * *

The Presidential campaign. Senator Manny Villar would have been the first presidential candidate to visit Calbayog after the official campaign period started. He was expected to fly in a week ago today. For still unknown reasons, only Senator Loren Legarda made it.

Senator Noynoy Aquino flew in last Wednesday. He gave a presscon with the local media before talking to his supporters at the Nijaga Park .

* * *

As reported a good number of countries paid homage to women two Mondays ago. I thought I was just gonna look at it as just that, another celebration, until I came across a yahoo news article which gave focus on how the day can hardly be had in some parts of the world. I though I’d like to share a part of that article:

“What made last Monday’s observance is that it marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The day doesn't get a great deal of attention within the United States , but many other countries honor it with a national holiday. Nations that officially honor it are far flung, ranging from China and Russia to Macedonia and Vietnam . Some countries will encourage men to lavish gifts on the women in their lives, in the tradition of greeting-card holidays like Father's Day and Mother's Day. Other countries promote women-only commemorations of the day, with all-female parties and dinners.”

“We were happy to report about activities for women. But then, International Women's Day is still an occasion of danger, rather then levity, in some parts of the world. In 2007, numerous men and women were beaten and arrested by government officials in Iran for merely planning to celebrate the holiday.”

* * *

Let me leave you with something to smile about this week. The last part of a piece which I suppose was written by a woman. It’s battle of the sexes again: Men & Women: The difference... Men are just happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures?

NICKNAMES: If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-Eyes.

EATING OUT: When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each through in £20, even though it's only for £32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

BATHROOMS: A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap and a towel from M&S. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS: A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE: A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS: A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE: A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the bins, answer the phone, read a book, and get the post. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL: Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

HOPIA

2010-03-08T05:25:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. And yes, we’re almost there, I mean the official campaign period for the local bets. Forget about the city being dirtied by those posters and streamers, if you can’t beat them join. Or that we have more than enough of our share of these posters all-year round, what with all those agents advertising and selling this and that product. If there is one billboard that is most welcome, especially as we kick-off the campaign season, that would be the billboard with the Peace Manifesto / Covenant which the local bets signed during the 10:00 a.m. mass yesterday. Yup, it’s that other election tradition wherein candidates gather in the church and pledge to contribute to the holding of peaceful elections. I understand this is being done all over the country. As to how effective the manifesto is, well.

(As it turned out, yesterday's Covenant signing did not push through. rrlr 03-08-10)

Talking about the election. Move over HOPE, it’s time for the HOPIA. Hmm, I think I’d rather have the latter, as the former reminds of those tobacco-addicted friends of mine who always make my shirt and hair smell bad when I am near them. Back to the hopia. It seems like the poll body tried to go further this time. It used to be HOPE as in H-onest, O-rderly and P-eaceful E-lections. Hmm, they have put on a new challenge upon themselves: HOPIA as in like H-onest, O-rderly, P-eaceful, I-______ and A-ccurate Elections. Sorry, I forgot what the “I” is for. Anyway, let’s hope and pray that this becomes a reality.

* * *

Women’s Month celebration. In observance of Women's Month 2010, the City of Calbayog will join the Bantay-Abuso Network (BAN), WESADEF and other agencies and non-government organizations in a 7-part program today.

Today's event will commence at 7:00 am with the registration at the Jogger's Court in Barangay East Awang. The Opening Program will follow at the City Hall stage at 8:00 a.m. Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Councilor Regina Rabuya and CSWDO Betty Jane Arnejo have been invited to deliver their messages during the opening program which will be followed by a motorcade.

The official opening of the Women's Multi-Services Fair will be held at the Jogger's Court after the motorcade. The said fair will offer various services like Health and Nutrition, Personal Care, Social Services, Advocacy, among others.

The Closing Program will be held at 4:00 p.m. BAN member and Broadcast Journalist Eleen Lim and CSWDO Betty Jane Arnejo are expected to deliver their messages. Invited to lead the distribution of certificates are Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Councilor Regina Rabuya and DILG Calbayog City Director Valente Bajet.

The program will be capped by the Hataw Bayan to be led by SPO3 Gloria Arioja and Prose Bingayen.

This year's celebration is anchored on the theme: "Babae, Tagumpay ka ng Bayan!"

* * *

Calbayog City will participate in the 2nd One Visayas Festival of the Arts. This will be held in Roxas City, Capiz from March 11 – 16, 2010. The LGU through the City Arts and Culture Office will present a collection of Calbayog songs and dancesdubbed as Lokal nga Arte Kultura ug Bahandi of LAKUB; and the “well-traveled” comedy-play on environment protection entitled “Inodoro”.

The One Visayas Festival is an undertaking of the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) of Regions 7, 8 and 9.

* * *

Let me leave you with something to smile about this week. I suppose this was written by a woman. It’s battle of the sexes again: Men & Women: The difference... Men are just happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures?

You can open all your jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is £3 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wall and one pair of shoes, one colour for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on 24th December in 25 minutes flat. (to be continued)

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Human and Divine

2010-03-05T06:08:00.000+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and in two days time we’ll be in for the third Sunday of Lent. But first things first. Let me give you this update on the Centennial Celebration of the Diocese of Calbayog, it’s on the Jubilee of the Youth.

Young people from all over the Diocese will gather in Calbayog City today for the Jubilee of the Youth. The two-day event is one of the highlights of the Celebration of the Centenary of the Diocese of Calbayog which will fall on April 10, 2010.

Today’s activities will be held at the LMA Auditorium. It will include the registration and orientation. At 9:00 a. m., the Conference with the Youth will be led by Fr. Melo Viola of DILAAB, a youth-related movement connected with the Church. Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the mass at 5:00 p.m. This will be followed by the Youth Barrio Fiesta at 7:00 p.m.

On March 6, 2010, the delegates will join the youth and officials of selected barangays in the Calbayog City proper for a street-sweeping / cleaning activity. This will be followed by Inputs on the Environment and Solid Waste Management.

Invited to the event are young people from the parishes in Calbayog, San Policarpo, Trinidad, Oquendo, Tinambacan, Sto. Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-an, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, San Jorge, Pagsangjan, Tarangnan, Catbalogan, Ubanon, Silanga, Jiabong, Motiong, Bassey, Sta. Rita, Osmeña, San Jose de Buan, Calbiga, Paranas, Bagacay, Hinabangan, Pinabacdao, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Daram, Rizal and Talalora.

Also expected to participate are representatives from the various Catholic Renewal Movements, Campus Ministries, Public and Private Schools, the Episcopal Commission on the Youth, and the Central-Eastern Visayas Regional Youth Coordinating Council.

The event being spearheaded by the Diocese of Calbayog through the Diocesan Commission on the Youth led by Fr. Ted Perez. On hand to lend support are LGU Calbayog through the City Solid Waste Management Office, PNP Calbayog, DILG Calbayog and the SK officials and the Officials of five barangays in the Calbayog city proper namely, Balud, East and West Awang, Central and Aguit-itan.

* * *

Back to my intro. Talking about Lent. I came across a very interesting reflection on Lent, on the sacrifices we have to go through and the glory that the Resurrection brings; that life is both joy and sorrow, sacrifices and success; that we need to go through all of these in our lives, otherwise the life that we have should not spell l-i-f-e. And I heard something like that (well almost) again last Sunday.

The celebrant did a lengthy reflection on the transfiguration, the message of lent, and the meanings of the two mountains mentioned in the gospel: Mount Tibor which represented the divinity; and the Mount of Olives which represented the humanity (of Christ). But more than a presentation of biblical facts and figures, the homily zeroed in on love not being love if it is without sacrifice; victory is not what it is without the struggle. God so loved the world He gave His only son (what a cliché you might want to say); Christ had to endure passion and death before being glorified in His resurrection. And it occurred to me, we humans can never be divine, but at least we can be good. And if we can’t be good all the days of our lives, we can be at least in this season of Lent. Now, that’s what being given all the chances to be good is all about.

I was still contemplating on the lines about sacrifice before glory, passion before resurrection when I remembered that it’s also election season. And (again) it occurred to me, on the naughty me (if I may add), that in the Philippines (especially during election seasons), it’s not passion before resurrection or sacrifices before glory, but it’s the other way around! (Oops, just wanna make you smile this weekend)

* * *

Let me leave you with something to smile about this weekend. I suppose this was written by a woman. It’s battle of the sexes again: Men & Women: The difference... Men are just happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO T-shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another petrol station toilet because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day holiday requires only one suitcase. (to be continued)

* * *

Birthday greetings. Belated greetings to Board Member Nancy Rosales (March 3); and to Fr. Romy Manzanero (February 28). Advanced greetings to Msgr. Jun Cinco and Liza Cui-Cajusay (March 7).

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

. . . naughty or nice

2010-02-26T05:57:00.003+08:00

Hi there! It’s another weekend. Nope, today’s title is not about Christmas or about Santa Claus coming to town and knowing who’s been naughty or nice. Let me start with what I usually end my column with – my line for the day. And today I am pleased to quote the controversial DOH Secretary Espie Cabral. You know the issues on condom, lollipops and the AIDS problem and how some quarters reacted to it. Back to the quote, “If you can’t be nice, at least be careful” That’s what I heard the secretary say on TV when asked about the latest controversy that she is into. I do not disagree with what she said. If data are indeed accurate, the numbers of Filipinos positive with HIV is increasing; and that what’s bothersome is pa-bata nang pabata ang karamihan sa kanila. Okay, some quarters call for abstinence. Suddenly I remember what I featured in this column many weeks ago. Those figures which a friend of mine told me were about young Filipinos and their faith. That according to a study conducted by a leading Catholic University (in Manila), only 49% of today’s young people believe in God. Let’s take it from there. If can’t make most of them believe in God, how can we make them abstain? (How is that different from behaving?) And let’s not even start discussing about the grown-ups, I mean their faith and their behavior or outlook towards that thing I’ll simply refer to as S.

* * *

Let me give you some local news I managed to collect yesterday.

Calbayog achievers. Congratulations to all the twelve participants from Calbayog City who won in the various competitions in the 7th National Science Quest and Fair held on February 3 - 5, 2010 at Tabaco National High School, Tabaco City.

Milaner Oyo-a, a science teacher from the Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries was the National Champion in the Science Investigatory Project (SIP) Teacher Category. His entry entitled "Cafe de Mango" won him the 1st place. He bested the 26 contestants from the other regions all over the country.

Hadz Sumagang, a Grade 4 pupil from the Calbayog City SPED Center got the 2nd place in the Water Patrol grade 4 pupil category. He was coached by Mrs. Chona Arpon, MT II from Calbayog City SPED Center.

Gerald Malabarbas, a science teacher from the San Joaquin National High School ranked 5th in the Science Intervention Material (SIM) Competition.

Other winners in the same nationwide events are the following:

Peach Gem Pacquiao and Albert Alfonso - their investigatory project entitled "Camistea" was the 8th finalist for the team category. They were coached by Michael Pernia of the Binaliw Elementary School.
Mary Josephine Co. Her project Water Recycler ranked 9th finalist in the Physical Science category. She was coached by Mrs. Haidee Salurio of the Calbayog City SPED Canter.
Julian Alvarez from the Calbayog City National High School ranked 9th in secondary level Science quiz. His coach was Joy Saldaña.
Joan Padilla from the Calbayog City National High School ranked 8th in the secondary level chemistry quiz. She was coached by Calick Arieta.

The Calbayog City delegation was headed by Mrs. Edna Subito, DepEd Calbayog ES-1 for Science and Health.

* * *

Celebrity Chef in town. Chef Tristan Encarnacion was in Calbayog yesterday. He was part of the group of resource persons who came to town for the Regional Seminar on Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship. The event was held at the Socio-Cultural Center of the NwSSU.

* * *

The San Joaquin National High School (SJNHS) in Barangay San Joaquin is 42 years old today. Among the events slated for this celebration are the Literary-Musical Contests, Recognition of honor students, Super Quiz Bee and the Search for Mr. & Ms. SJNHS 2010 which will be held tonight at the Lazaro Tancinco Gymnasium in San Joaquin.

* * *

The Samar Island Pharmacists Federation, Inc. (SIPFI) is calling all pharmacists in Samar to attend the National Convention of Pharmacist which will be held on April 7-9, 2010 at the Leyte Park Hotel. The said convention will be hosted by the Region 8 Pharmacists Association, Inc. For details call or text: 0908-737-8835.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

EDSA

2010-02-22T05:59:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week and (sigh! or is it huhuhu?) today is a working holiday (did I use the right term?). Why should there be no classes today? Let me see, for the students to understand and appreciate more the values (or lessons) of EDSA? I think I’m inclined to say yes to that. It seems most studes are at their best (read: alive and kicking) outside the classroom, or the campus for that matter. And what does that make of the rest of the ordinary working class mortals like you and me? That the EDSA anniversary (or the Monday designated for its commemoration, thanks to holiday economics) is just that – another ordinary day. Okey, I can already hear many of you saying I’m just whining about going to work today. (Smile, it’s a new week).

Don’t worry about today’s title, it’s not going to be an enumeration of historical facts. Well, the Cory fan in me says that it was one of THE moments in our history. Let me put it there. I can’t afford to debate on this. There are many things that EDSA 1 gave us. Forget about EDSA 2 and the multi-party system (I think I’d rather like the latter, it gives noise, color and much fun to the presidential polls). But then there is that Party- List thing that many are into and has made marginalized people out of a good number of elite or VIPs; or has made these VIPs and / or elite declare themselves as marginalized. Well, if being marginalized means being just that – well-connected, moneyed, not to mention well-heeled and good-smelling, then I won’t mind making myself marginalized. Oh well, one of the Palace spokespersons (with balde, palanggana and all) said that we just had to wait how the poll body will decide on that. Yun lang!

* * *

The week with the City Mayor. Mayor Mel Sarmiento presided over the RDC-8 meeting which was held last Thursday at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Other activities which I managed to take note are: the People’s Day in Barangay Lonoy; the turn-over of the NEGO-KART Livelihood Fund to the Calbayog Riverview Vendors Association. The said ceremony had DOLE-8 RD, Atty. Forter Puguon in attendance. The City Mayor also received Judge Tagra, the newly-appointed judge of RTC Branch 32.

* * *

Power Situation Update (as of February 17, 2010). Here’s an update I got from Belinda Sales Canlas of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines:

The Luzon grid is still under normal status with sufficient power reserves. This is despite the shutdown of one unit of Batangas Coal-Fired Plant (Calaca Unit 1) due to technical problems with plant equipment.

Meanwhile, to facilitate the connection of a newly installed transformer (TO5) at the San Jose Substation in Bulacan, the 500-kV San Jose-Tayabas Line 2 has been de-energized
while tapping of the high-voltage connector, testing and commissioning are ongoing. No customers are affected by the said line de-energization because the other line (Line 1) linking San Jose and Tayabas is still synchronized to the grid.

The Luzon grid also has enough power to export 120-150 MW to the Visayas. Said
exported power will help augment supply in the Visayas islands.

In Mindanao, most hydro-electric power plant units are still running with very limited capabilities due to the low water levels at reservoirs. Available capabilities of plants are as follows: Agus 1 (25 MW), Agus 2 (60 MW), Agus 4 (75 MW), Agus 5 (25 MW), Agus 6 (100 MW), Agus 7 (24 MW), and Pulangi (80 MW). Because of the generation deficiency, the total available hydro capability in Mindanao is only 389 MW out of the total rated capability of 982 MW.

And lastly this info, To our partners in the power industry:

May we kindly reiterate that NGCP as system operator, is responsible for transmitting high-voltage power from generators to distributors and operating the power system or grid in accordance with the Philippine Grid Code. NGCP does not own nor operate/maintain any power generation and distribution facilities.

* * *

Let me give you something to smile about this week. It’s something I got from the internet (as usual) and written by somebody who obviously doesn’t like Villar, and well, the rest (or some) of the presidentiables:

MANO-A-MANO, Aquino vs. Villar... or knowing Manny, make that One on Three!!! Mr. C-5 has apparently accepted Noynoy's challenge to a One-on-One debate, but apparently, a lot of Money V.'s pals have a comment or two about his decision:
Alan Peter Cayetano: "Puwede ako mag-SALING PUSA?"
Nene Pimentel: "Hindi, Alan, bawal ang INSERTIONS!"
Gilbert Remulla: "I'm not PRIVY to that, Sen. Pimentel."
Bro. Eddie: "Aba, akala niyo kayo lang? May 1-on-1 din kami ni Nick Perlas. Hmmph!"
Gibo and Edu: "Huh? Di kami kasali? Bitter na kami. Parang kape."
Jamby: "Vegetarian ako. Basketball ba yan One on One na yan? Hmmm.... Corruption yan, Corruption!!!"

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

That day of the year

2010-02-19T05:59:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and yes, it’s sweldo time. But I’m in no mood to talk about salary. That’s ‘coz I know what most of us has to say about that – hay kakuri san panahon; kakuri san kwarta; kulang an sweldo, etc, etc. I’m waiting for the presidentiables say that, I mean THE candidates themselves saying how hard-up they are (goodness, what am I saying?) Oh well, you won’t expect them to say how hard-up they are, it won’t connect with the way they spend on ADs and what have you in the campaign. Surely, it’s going to be rhetoric about issues from corruption to galunggong, and if I may borrow (again) and re-word that line from Evita, it’s going to be speeches on solving problems from war to pollution, no hope of solution even if we all live for a hundred years.

* * *

So, what’s with today’s title? It was supposed to be for my column last Monday, but I did not make it to the deadline. So, I am giving my annual lamentation about Valentine’s Day today. Yup, it’s that day of the year again. And this year, that day got more focus (or is it competition) with the Chinese New Year falling on the same date. Needless to say, the flower vendors made a killing that day. It was all over the news. And let’s not even start discussing the fancy dinners, the hotel promos, etc. Because there was so much demand for everything about love, so the providers had to jack up the prices. It’s not highway robbery, is it? So what the big fuzz about V-Day? Surely we have the capitalists to thank for. What is it about that day of the year that if you are not into it, they call you frigid; and if you are into it, you are a hopeless romantic. Ah, es la vida.

* * *

It’s the season of Lent. Fasting and abstinence were the two words I heard last Wednesday when I joined the faithful in observing the “pamuring” tradition. If the surveys are accurate, nope not the ones on the presidentiables, but the ones on the number of poor Filipinos and the like, then I would like to say that a good number of Filipinos has had more that their share of fasting.

* * *

Birthday greetings to City Treasurer Federico “Rene” Resente. He will turn a year older today.

Ordination. Rev. Romualdo “Bryan” Fajardo, Jr. and Rev. Basilio Salino will be ordained to the Order of Presbyterate tomorrow. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will preside over the ordination ceremonies at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Fr. Salino will have his Thanksgiving Mass in Oquendo on February 21, 2010; Fr. Fajardo will have his Thanksgiving Mass on February 23, 2010 in Sto. Niño.

* * *

Let me give you something to smile about this weekend. I came across a blog article entitled: Pramis, Cross my Heart, Peksman at Mamatay Man. So what abut it? That article was some sort of a voters’ lament on the various candidates making this and that promises; and giving out lofty statements making it appear that they alone had the power or at least the good ideas to solve all of the nation’s woes. I would like to share with you a paragraph from the said article. It’s funny but I believe there is something to it worth taking notice:

“… sino man ang manalo sa darating na halalan, kung ano man ang inyong naging Pramis at nag Cross your heart and Peksman pa kayo... kung hindi ninyo matupad itong mga pangako na ito pagkatapos ng inyong pamunuan, eh sana matupad ang huli... hope you d-_-e! (sorry I had to delete a letter, otherwise my editor will be in trouble)

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Sermon or Homily?

2010-02-12T05:39:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and uh, we’re days away to THAT day of the year. If you have been reading my previous columns, you ought to know what that day is – Valentine’s Day, what else. And this year, it gets extra focus with the Chinese New Year falling on February 14. I’m not yet into my usual lament about that day of the year. I have reserved that for Monday. But one thing though. Feng shui experts say that the year of the tiger (a metal tiger at that) is not going to be as prosperous like the other animal signs. So, what about it? Don’t splurge on Valentines Day. That would be a good start. (Smile, it’s a weekend!)

* * *

So, the campaign period has commenced. Indeed happy days are here again. And I’m not referring to the economic activity that elections bring. Candidates are doing their best talking, dancing and yup, some mud-slinging. And, as expected, the streets, or at least the poste, pader, and what have you kinda dirty again with the posters of the candidates. Oops, wait until we get to have campaign period for local bets. Anyway, I’ll just wait for any presidential candidate who comes to town and do what I do best – have a picture taken with them. In other words, please don’t expect me to listen to what they have to say. They have the same thing to say – problems or issues on corruption, poverty, the economy, jobs and what have you. These candidates present it with their own solutions so lofty it seemed like they are superman (or men) and that they seem so good they made PGMA the meanest of them all. Ah, politics.

* * *

And what’s with today’s title? Well, those are among the words that came out when a friend and I talked about some guardians of our souls. That friend shared with me his recent experience when he attended a seminar for (Catholic) educators. There was one striking data that the resource person shared with the teachers in attendance. Based on the study of a leading (catholic) university in the country, only 49% of today’s youth believe in God. Now a question - what happened to the 51%? What are the catholic schools doing? What are the priests doing? What are we doing? And let’s not even start discussing the data on the percentage of the youth who engage in pre-marital sex. It’s not because I don’t like the topic, but it’s simply because I misplaced the note upon which I wrote the figures, again based on the study of the leading (catholic) university I mentioned earlier.

Back to the issue on the youth not believing in God anymore. Suddenly I’m reminded of a joke on how some moms complained how they could hardly let their kids do some chores simply because of computer games. A mom complained by saying something like how can you expect you kid to do some simple chores of doing the dishes or even his bed after the kid was able to conquer galaxies, kill aliens and shot down spaceships. Well, nowadays (thanks to my age, I no longer know the names of the games), it’s still the same thing - killing enemies and rebels and what have you on the computer or over the internet. Suddenly it occurred to me, why not make computer games with the end view of making kids believe in God. Now that would be a challenge.

And that leads me to what I got recently from a fellow blogger:

“Pope Benedict says to priests: Go forth and blog. Pope Benedict XVI has a new commandment for priests struggling to get their message across: Go forth and blog. The pope, who has his own web presence which he slowly built in recent years, has urged priests to use all multimedia tools at their disposal to preach the Gospel and engage in dialogue with people of other religions and cultures.”

“Using e-mail or surfing the Web is now not enough, Priests should use cutting-edge technologies to express themselves and lead their communities, Pope Benedict said in a message released by the Vatican. The spread of multimedia communications and its rich 'menu of options' might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web," but priests are "challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources. A presence on the Web, precisely because it brings us into contact with the followers of other religions, nonbelievers and people of every culture, requires sensitivity to those who do not believe, the disheartened and those who have a deep, unarticulated desire for enduring truth and the absolute.”

“The message, prepared for the World Day of Communications, suggests such possibilities as images, videos, animated features, blogs, and Web sites. Young priests should become familiar with new media while still in seminary, though the pope stressed that the use of new technologies must reflect theological and spiritual principles. The 82-year-old pope has often been wary of new media, warning about what he has called the tendency of entertainment media, to be used negatively, he has also praised new ways of communicating as a "gift to humanity" when used to foster friendship and understanding. The Vatican has tried hard to keep up to speed with the rapidly changing field. Last year it opened a YouTube channel as well as a portal dedicated to the pope. No doubt, young priests will have no trouble following the pope's message, but what about the older ones? Would you engage in such a medium if it were here in our own country if there is a preacher or a priest who takes advantage of this medium?”

No question about it. Now some concern. How about priests who take their time castigating the faithful due to some issues in the parish or whatever issues instead of reflecting on the values of the gospel. I am no priest, but I understand homilies are meant to be that – reflection on the gospel and making it relevant to our lives. Well, if I were a kid or was still in my youth, shooting down spaceships and killing rebels on the internet would certainly be more interesting than sitting for an hour (at least) and for almost half that time, endure being reprimanded for something which I do not have any knowledge of. Oh well …

* * *

Chinese New Year in Calbayog. The family of Tiburcio and Estrella Chan will be hosting their friend to a Chinese New Year celebration this Sunday at the Sam Tai Chi Temple.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone. Ciao!

in transit

2010-02-08T05:25:00.006+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s an new week. And like what I always said each time I miss writing my column – so sorry to miss the deadline (for the nth time) last week. Anyway, what’s with today’s title? It’s the first thing that came to mind after hearing about Senator Lacson being out of the country just in time for the issuance of a warrant of arrest. The same thing when I watched Jojo Binay over Cheche Lazaro’s TV program; and yes, upon reading an article quoted by a fellow blogger.

First things first. The surveys war. You may like it or you may hate it, but that’s the way things are and will be. Many quarters are up (not necessarily in arms) voicing their concerns about how surveys can take its toll on what we call a healthy democracy (whatever that means). You know, we tend to forget that surveys also read as people, the grandstanding, the bandwagon effect, etc. and let’s not even start discussing about the mechanisms by which these surveys and its results came to be. BUT, that’s just the way it is, it was and it will be. In her book on Imelda Marcos, I understand Carmen Pedrosa mentioned about the surveys during the first term of Mr. Marcos. That survey showed that more than half the Filipinos did not like him. The people did not take the survey figures seriously. But not Marcos (in all his wisdom), and the rest as we say is (or is it was?) history. Oh well, politics - trapo or no-trapo, old and new politics (again whatever that means), isama mo na ang boto mo patrol mo, ako mismo and other election (change) advocacies of various groups – will be about numbers, specifically addition and subtraction. (I suppose there’s no need to elaborate on what terms addition and subtraction mean).

Back to the transit area. Depending on which side of the political fence you are into, it’s either you hate or love SWS, the same thing with Pulse Asia. Oh yes, news had it that Manny Villar has already spent roughly 500 million pesos on ADs (and that’s before the official campaign period yet). Let me see, should he make it as President, can he can recoup the amount during his term? I think he can if you don’t deduct the necessary deduction made on a government servant’s salary. The same question goes for the rest of the candidates. Talking about candidates and their ADs. Some people certainly have all the luck. Notice what each TV AD says at the end: this is paid for by the friends of (name of candidate). Lucky they are indeed. Why can’t we all have generous friends like they do? Anyway, the survey figures are just among the entertainment we get to enjoy, along with the drama of mobile phone jammers and the comic relief from court jesters who made it as candidates, in transit to the real event which is the election. Forget about the political exercise in the urban areas, the media (read: the big networks) are always there. It’s the harsh reality of elections in the country’s interior barangays, complete with the bad roads, security concerns, power supply, and as reported on TV, the absence of phone signal. Now, that’s the real adventure, the real highlight before the anti-climactic ending scene (or in case of the traveler – the destination) which is the inauguration of the newly-elected officials.

In transit. So Senator Lacson is out of the country. His last reported destination is Hongkong. Well, wherever he is, he is certainly in transit, before his final destination – something which will be determined by maneuvering and / or out-maneuvering of lawyers now that a warrant is out.

In transit. I was able to watch Jojo Binay on Profiles, Cheche Lazaro’s TV program. I am a fan of Mr. Binay, though I don’t like his Ganito Kami sa Makati campaign. Of course they can afford to do whatever it is that they are doing as shown by their various TV ADs. You are talking billions of pesos in revenue. Try giving the same amount to all the cities and municipalities and we can all kiss Imperial Manila (read: the national government) goodbye. Anyway, this paragraph is not about going against Jojo. I love his life story, all the more because he was an ardent supporter of Cory Aquino. There was something he said which initially made me laugh, and then it stuck after reality sat-in. It’s how Mayor Binay explained his love (or at least care) for the senior citizens of his city. That they are at the pre-departure area kumbaga. And that they deserve the best or at least something good. Nice point over there. Yup, making the most while in transit to well, should I call it the next life? We are in transit, pre-departure area or wherever. Aren’t we all are? So, what are we working for in this life, for the next?

And this brings me to the paragraph I’d like to leave you with today. It’s something I got from a fellow blogger who goes by the name “Kid at heart”.

Frances Jakelyn Abad is 15 and is a 4th year student at General Santos High School under the Special Program in the Arts major in Creative Writing. In Youngblood, the PDI column for contributors twentysomething and below, writes about Utopia and seeing things from two perspectives - having it all (luxury car, mansion with pool, several maids and guards, great business, being King of the World) and having contentment.

"I guess seeing things in a positive way is the best way to be happy. Nowadays a lot of us think only of how to make money. Yes, money can make us happy - for a while. But does money buy us salvation when we die? Does money change the way God will judge us?...My teacher in Trigonometry and Statistics once said as she was writing the equation for the Growth Law (N=Noekt) - (that) you may have hundreds of money that multiply like a bacteria, but can you make it indestructible so that you can bring it when you die?..."

. . . Our life on earth is actually a terminal to our final destination, wherever it will lead us. At whatever age or stage in life, from birth to our growing years to our relationships and to our death bed, our stopovers are actually temporary homes.

I remember my youth, my hardships, my dad, my friends, those who have come my way...and have gone to a better place...

Our temporary home... sooner or later we will all be finally home.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

Mga manash baklesh itis, feel n’yo?

2010-01-29T07:17:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. I understand it happened about 2 weeks ago when the poll body finally gave the go-signal for the Ang Ladlad and other partylist groups to be part of the forthcoming polls. Suddenly I saw pink all over the place. And thus today’s title.

It’s the same title of my column which appeared in the August 22, 2008 edition of this paper. It’s not that I was feeling kinda nostalgic about my days in U.P. wherein among the memorable moments I’ve got (read: opposite to the memories of the dreaded anatomy and microbiology classes) was one article in the Philippine Collegian entitled just that (I mean today’s title). Do I hear someone telling gays to rejoice? Let’s face it, for most people pink lingo is more often than not referred to as just that – gay – and therefore should remain in the pink world which most people would refer to as nothing different to a world characterized by being unconventional which many simply refer to as abnormal. But on the other hand, pink is all over the place. And let us not even start discussing about the pink peso. Don’t worry, I am not in the mood to promote the pink world today.

As I stated earlier, I just remembered this article upon reading about the poll body approving Danton Remoto’s group. I met Danton Remoto a few years ago when we were guests at Jullie Yap Daza’s late night talk-show in ABS-CBN. Surely, the guy can talk and not to mention having the brains. Back to the issue on the Ang Ladlad, I would like to believe that the poll body got the flak from a good number of quarters. The issue is all over the place and you ought to know, otherwise, you must have over-extended your fishing expedition.

But then you can’t help it if people are homophobic. Do we blame it on their upbringing? Or maybe some unpleasant experience in the past. Or simply because they prefer to see gays as nothing but a bunch of noisy cross-dressing loonies. Suddenly I remember the Sabio and De Borja issue about two years ago.

Do you remember the CA investigating CA Justice Jose Sabio and businessman Francis De Borja? I forgot what the issue was about. Anyway, both had to be in one place. And then and there the word “dedma” was uttered by the justice, referring to the snobbery on the part of Mr. De Borja. I suppose the good justice said the word in jest so as to lighten up what was some kinda tense situation. Alas, came the news that his attention was called and that he was reprimanded for uttering the word.

Well, I did not take my time to listen to the reason as to why the justice was reprimanded. I suppose ‘twas for the plain and simple reason that it (the term “dedma”) is so gay, and thus it has no place in such an honorable place and for honorable people. Be that as it may, I believe that pink peso spenders are rejoicing! From gay lingo (or at least a word from its colorful collection of vocabulary) hitting the headlines; to having a chance to show strength in the coming polls. Now, another wish, if only shrieking gays can do way with the shrieking. (Smile! It’s a weekend!)

* * *

While we are into the pink world, I might as well leave you with something that’s not exactly pink. It’s the fight of the sexes again. Let me give you something I got from a fellow blogger. Let’s refer to it as something to make us smile as we end yet another week. Oops, let me warn you, it might be offending.

Male of Female: You might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:

FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off, it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong buttons.
TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over-inflated.
HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their bottom.
SPONGES: These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water!
WEB PAGES: Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.
TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.
HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.
THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: it easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying.

* * *

Belated Birthday greetings. Fr. Toto Vivas and Mr. Vir Tomnob (January 25) and Fr. Intoy Piczon and Fr. Erwin Rodriguez (January 26).

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Lamentations (2)

2010-01-22T06:31:00.002+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. So sorry to miss you (again) last Monday. I still do not have my TV back, and am I missing anything? Yup, it’s the news, Discovery and National Geographic channels. To look at it from a different angle, my TV conking out made me appreciate something that I have been missing for quite sometime, the feel and smell of newspaper.

Talking about the news. So he wanted to be king again. At least that’s what Erap supposedly said after wining his first round at the COMELEC. The acerbic in me tells me to keep my mouth shut and signal no comment.

I never met him, certainly he was not aware of my existence, but Serge Remonde is someone
that one can’t easily forget. I suppose his name also spells c-o-o-l. Grace under pressure, I think that’s one virtue that the late secretary would have wanted us in government service to imbue in our persons.

Ahh, Jason Ivler; and yes, Marlene. What a mother’s love can do. Suddenly I remember one line which more or less went this way: Mothers do not have to build monuments of glory, their sons have built it for them. I suppose the person who said (or wrote) that was referring to mothers of great, or at least good sons. Otherwise, let’s go back to the Ivler case.

* * *

Let me now give you the continuation of that article I left you with last week. I referred to it as lamentations of an OFW. If you have been following the news; and if you have relatives working in Dubai, you must have taken notice of the news about the near economic flimflam of the said emirate. It’s that news which led me a blog post (I forgot the name of the blog site) of an OFW expressing sadness over his plight in that area of the U.A.E. I first didn’t know if I had to take it seriously, smile at it or take it with a grain of salt. I decided that I would like to share it with you. I call the article ‘lamentations of an OFW”. I guess the same thing can be said about our OFWs who are working in other parts of the world, especially those who were not able to make it land in lucrative jobs like others we know. Here’s the second part of that article:

“Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Burj Al Arab, Desert Safari, mall of emirates, Atlantis, Al Mamzar Beach, at iba pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase minsan minsan ka lang makakapicture para mapadala mo sa mga mahal mo sa buhay.
Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dirham na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, medyo malaki pag pinalit mo ng peso, pero dirham din ang gastos mo sa Dubai. Ibig sabihin ang dirham mong kinita sa presyong dirham mo din gagastusin. Ang P15.00 na sardinas sa Pilipinas AED3.00 sa Dubai , ang isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa pilipinas P40.00, sa Dubai AED 6.50, alangan namang puro cafeteria food ang kakainin mo aba mamatay ka sa highblood o heap nyan kasi nga umaapaw na sa mantika madumi pa! Mga kadiri, kaya lang pag naubusan ka ng pera no choice you have to take the risk.

Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo, nag pa-lypo kay Calayan at nagparetoke kay Vicky Belo, Ang totoo nag loan ka lang sa Mashreq, HSBC o CITIbank na huhulugan mo ng limang taon. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo at ng luho mo at ng bansang ito!! Kasi nga mag-loan ba naman dahil sa luho bwahahaha!

Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa Dubai. Lalo na mga nurses at mga medsec at eto pa pati cleaners, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganun din sa ibang bansa katulad lalo na kaya sa Dubai madaming outlet ng stress mo! kasi walang bawal!!! Hindi ibig sabihin dirham na ang sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa.

Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag alis mo sa bansang pinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Hindi pinupulot ang pera dito o pinipitas o iniigib. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan.

Mahirap mangibang bayan…sino ba ang may kasalanan na iwan sariling bayan? Manilbihan sa dayuhan at malayo sa pamilya ay may kahirapan. Hangga’t may pinay DH na nangingibang-bayan na simbolo ng ating kahirapan, kawawang bayan ni Juan patuloy na mapag-iiwanan. Kaya Juan iwan ka ng pera para sayo, para sa kinabukasan mo!”

* * *

Belated Birthday greetings to Fr. Bernard Comilan (January 18) and Berna Cañada (January 14).

Wedding Bells: Anthony Din (of Rosario, Northern Samar) will get married to Flor Jaropojop (of Trinidad, Calbayog city). Msgr. Leonardo Guadalquiver will preside over their wedding mass at the San Damiano Chapel at Christ the King College. Reception will be held at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

Manuel “Noling” Lebario and Segundina “Gunding” (Merencillo) Lebario clebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Sunday (January 17). Fr. Dennis Espiritu presided over their wedding mass at the San Roque Chapel in Dagum, Calbayog City. Reception was held at The Venue in Payahan, Calbayog City

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

lamentations

2010-01-15T06:31:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend, ngan patrun yana sa Oquendo. Today is the big day of the Santo Niño de Hibatang Festival which opened 11 days ago. The festival was held to highlight the 125th year of the commemoration of the Holy Infant Jesus as the patron saint of Oquendo; and along that line, to underscore the importance that Hibatang river played in the ancient settlement which we now call Calbayog City. Sa mga igkasi ko Oquendohanon, maupay nga patrun sa iyo ngatanan!

* * *

A cabinet secretary was in an early morning TV show and there he said that 3 out of every 10 government employee are sick, specifically may sakit sa pag-iisip. Hmmm, what’s the best reaction to that? (Should I call it lamentation #1?)

Lamentation # 2. Two people died as 2 million joined the Nazareno procession. It’s not that I’m against such show of faith. But it seems like it already borders on fanaticism. Do you really have to physically torture yourself to deserve the blessings of the Lord? On the other hand, can’t blame them, we all have our own way of reaching out to the almighty.

Talking about the Nazareno. Heard from a sermon during a local celebration of the feast. My source told me that the priest was trying to center on concern for the poor. And how did he do it? Among his examples were Noynoy and Villar. That Villar will be a better president than Noynoy because he (Villar) is (or used to be) poor. Then he narrowed the scope and touched on provincial politics. Si gobernor bisan nanu kuno pakaraut ada la guihapon kay makitawo damo an proyekto pareho san panhatag bugas, an iba ada la san pangawat. My source was waiting for the priest to touch the homebase (read: local politics), sadly he did not. So what about this sermon? Wala lang, I just didn’t see the connection between the Nazareno and Noynoy becoming a bad President because he is rich and the other Samar officials becoming mga kawatan because they did not give rice. Yun lang. Seriously, it’s a weekend, let’s take time to smile. Magulo ba? (That’s another lamentation)

* * *

Lamentations of an OFW. If you have been following the news; and if you have relatives working in Dubai, you must have taken notice of the news about the near economic flimflam of the said emirate. It’s that news which led me a blog post (I forgot the name of the blog site) of an OFW expressing sadness over his plight in that area of the U.A.E. I first didn’t know if I had to take it seriously, smile at it or take it with a grain of salt. I decided that I would like to share it with you. I call the article ‘lamentations of an OFW”. I guess the same thing can be said about our OFWs who are working in other parts of the world, especially those who were not able to make it land in lucrative jobs like others we know. Here’s the first part of that article:

“Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa DUBAI ka akala nila madami ka ng pera ng langis. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card Kasi naubus na ang cash pinadala sa pinas, kase pag hindi ka nagpadala, iisipin nila nakalimutan mo na sila. Akala nila mayaman ka at marami kang pera kasi buwan-buwan libo-libo padala mo walang palya at kapag pumalya iisipin nila baka nagbisyo ka na o may sinusustentuhang iba. Hindi nila alam food allowance na lang ang natitira sayo at pag kinulang pa umuutang pa at lista muna sa malapit na bakala. Pag may okasyon sa pinas birthday, fiesta, anniversary, pasko, new year, at iba pa, padala ka agad panghanda sarap ng kainan nila, di nila alam ikaw tiyaga sa budget meal, kapsa, noodles o de lata at itlog na nakakabutlig na ng balat, hay naku! Akala ni Tatay, Nanay, Ate, Kuya, anak, mga pamangkin at iba pa namumulot ka ng pera sa Dubai kada may problema text kaagad, kumusta sa una sa bandang huli kelangan ng ng pera! Hay naku…nakaka-alergic na ang text sa roaming puro gastos…minsan padala ka pa ng load! Load mo nga utang pa Pala! Hay naku bakit ba nauso pa yan dagdag gastos lang talaga at pag di ka pa reply aawayin ka pa! Akala nila masarap maging OFW at tinatawag na bagong bayani…. naku mas masarap pa yong nasa pinas na sa katas ni bagong bayani ay syang umaani! Utang sa DUBAI lalong dumarami. Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI di nila alam di ka na nga makauwi kasi roundtrip tiket kina-cash pa mapadala lang at ibayad sa utang. Akala nila sosyal ka na kulay ng buhok mo uso pa at naka-highlight pa, di nila alam buhok mo namumuti na sa stress at problema at pag minalas pa nalalagas pa! Akala nila masarap sa DUBAI kasi pag-uwi mo mestiso ka, maputi at mamula-mula ang balat mo, di nila alam babad ka sa opisina at kulong sa bahay mo dahil no choice ka, mga kapit-bahay mo di mo kaano-ano, walang paki-alaman at kung lalabas ka sunog ang balat mo, init ng araw sobra! Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Di nila alam hulugan pa ito! Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa dubai maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa winter na kasama ang asawa mo dito sa dubai.. O kaya naman tiyaga kang mag -abang ng RTA Bus or Coaster na ubod ng babaho ng mga pasahero at pagbaba mo amoy putok ka na rin, grabe! Walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa dubai .. madami mga indiano, Bangladesh na driver na ubod ng baho. Pag minalas ka paskitani na taxi driver na rapist pa!” (to be continued…)

* * *

Wedding Bells. Joper Conarco (who is connected with the Social Action Center of the Calbayog diocese) and Terry Salino (who is with WESADEF) will get married tomorrow. Their wedding mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be at the Centennial Pastoral Center.

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

My New Year’s Resolution (2)

2010-01-11T05:36:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. Bad habits die hard – it happened last week when I failed to do my column (again). What a way to start the year. So what’s with today’s title? Nothing really except that I forgot to mention in my column more than a week ago that I also intend to loose weight and trim a few inches from my waistline – two things which I have always wanted to do the past so many years.

My TV conked out and how am I coping? I ended playing CDs and for news, the old-fashioned newspaper. Surely nothing beats the feel (and smell) of newspaper paper (parang may redundancy sa last line ko.) Talking about the news, or the remnants of it. Two things stuck in my mind: Manny and Maguindanao; and the acerbic in me is getting restless. So the Manny and Mayweather fight is off? All those accusations because there will be no olympic-style (blood) testing for the Pacman? Some quarters were quick to say that that was due to some superstitious belief, and that needles make Manny uneasy. I’d like to comment on that but I’d rather not. Well, with the big bucks involved, surely those around the two fighters will do something about the fight of the century, bloody fight if I may add.

And the Maguindanao massacre. I thought I was not gonna give a comment about the issue, simply put it’s too gruesome for me. That is until the CHR slammed journalists for attacking Andal Ampatuan, Jr. It’s not that I do not like the CHR Chairperson, I am one of her fans (clearly she has the brains, I admire her for that, and her accent too). But I would like to share with you what I got from a fellow blogger (www.heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com): “CHR slams journalists for attack - Innocent until proven guilty. That's what Leila de Lima, chair, Commission on Human Rights said regarding the unruly behavior of the journalists towards Andal Ampatuan, Jr last week. According to her, even suspected mass murderers have rights, too. De Lima wants the journalists investigated. Come on...they're just venting out their anger. Even ordinary people have feelings too. You need to make them grieve and express their anger. It's human nature to do so. We go through stages of anger, depression, bargaining, before acceptance. No matter how trivial or tragic the event, it is a human process we go through. I guess next time, _______. (I had to delete the last line, I understand my editor’s will not allow it for my column, you may check this link)

* * *

Let me give you the second part of that money management stuff I left you with two Fridays ago. It’s an article written by Ann-Marie Murphy for Quizzle.com. Why should I take time to have it in my column? It has something to do with money, managing it, that is – something I definitely need for 2010 and beyond.

Making a decision to change is just the first step, however. If you want to see results, you have to know what moves to make to ensure those changes actually happen. After all, saying, “I’d like to lose 10 pounds,” doesn’t mean much if you don’t learn how to eat healthier and establish a new workout routine.

As part of your planning for 2010, consider taking action to improve your personal finances. With the economy beginning to regain its footing, there's no time like the present to add some dollars to your bottom line. To get started, here are 10 goals for 2010, plus tips on how to achieve them:

5. Improve your credit score. If you’re managing your credit properly (see #4), you’ll know whether you could stand to improve your credit score. It’s important to make strides to improve your credit score before you need to, because boosting your score takes time.

6) Pay yourself first. Save, save, save! Paying yourself first simply means that you need to save before you spend. The best way to do this is by setting up direct deposit from your paycheck into a savings account — whether it be plain vanilla savings or a CD. By making it automatic, you remove the temptation to spend.

7) Save more. Let’s say you’re putting $200 per paycheck toward your savings. Great work! Now, find a way to increase your savings contribution to $300 per paycheck. Cut unnecessary expenses. Look for bargains on big-ticket items that you need. Sell the clothes you’ve been storing in your attic on eBay. You can find (legitimate) ways to save more if you look for them.

8) Save for retirement. Here’s another case where direct deposit makes it easy and painless to save for your future. And if you’re lucky enough to work for a company that matches your retirement contributions, take advantage to the max! If you don’t, you’re basically saying no to free money.

9) Get the right insurance. For instance, if you have kids, life insurance is important. However, if you don’t have anyone who relies on you to support them financially, there’s no need to spend your hard-earned money on a life insurance policy just yet.

10) Protect your identity. Don’t leave yourself open to identity theft. Monitor your credit on a regular basis and check your other financial accounts to make sure they look the way they’re supposed to look. Need help? Look into identity protection services on the web and get the pros to watch your back.

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Wedding Bells. Basilio Villanueva and Leda Testor got married last Saturday. Their wedding mass was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Fr. Armando Cagomoc as mass presider. Concelebrating with him are Fr. Pedro Peñaranda, Fr. Lito Capeding, Fr. Tito Voz and Fr. Bartolome Dumalag. The reception was at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

Larry Jumaday and Glady Galamiton got married last Wednesday. Their wedding mass and reception were held at the Centennial Pastoral Center.

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Onstage tonight at the Oquendo Park: The Search for Ms. Hibatang 2010. The pageant is part of the Santo Niño de Hibatang Festival which is being held in line with the 125th Fiesta celebration of Oquendo.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

My New Year’s Resolution

2010-01-01T08:10:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! Happy New Year everyone! It happens every time (or should I say every year?), I mean these new year’s resolutions. Among my memories of my elementary school years are about just that – New Year’s resolution. It was always the first business when classes resumed after the Christmas break. Needless to say, I always had a hard time coming up with a composition enumerating things I promise to resolve in the next twelve months. Well, it was hard for me until I realized that a new year’s resolution is nothing but a list of (empty) promises that one does not intend to keep.

So, what’s my New Year’s resolution? After failing to make good the good number of resolutions I made many ‘New Years’ ago, I have decided that my new year’s resolution is not to make new year’s resolutions anymore (redundant ano?). Seriously, does it always have to take a new year for us to mend our ways? The not-so-good ways, if I may add.

Talking about not-so-good behavior. Do we need to discuss (again) the recent sea tragedies? Well, what else is new? My apologies for that comment.

It’s more than a month away yet, but feng shui experts (both the real and fly-by-night types) are all over the place doing the forecasts for the Chinese New Year. Suddenly I’m lost on which animal they are celebrating next year. So what about it? I just can’t understand why many among us should get gaga over it. I’m still having a hard time looking at the connection between Filipino belief and tradition (or should I say Catholic faith?) and that of the Chinese. Well, the food of course is a different story. And yes, while we are into the topic, I’m sure many among us will end up with rotten fruits days from now. Thanks (again) to that belief of collecting fruits in time for the New Year. I’m wondering how the vendors came up with fruits that were out of season.

* * *

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calbayog will hold their first session for 2010 in Oquendo. That will be on Monday next week. Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento is expected to deliver his annual State of the City Address during that session.

* * *

Wedding bells. Congratulations and Best Wishes to Sean Marie Rojas and Leslie Dimakiling. They got married last Sunday. Fr. Dondon Paulino presided over their wedding mass at the Chapel of the Centennial Pastoral Center. The reception was held at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Hall of the CPC

* * *

Let me leave you with something I got from yahoo. It’s an article written by Ann-Marie Murphy for Quizzle.com. Why should I take time to have it in my column? It has something to do with money, managing it that is – something I definitely need for 2010 and beyond; and something worth adding to our New Year’s resolutions:

As we count down to the end of 2009, it’s a good time to reflect back on the year and think about all the things you’d like to do better or differently in 2010.

Making a decision to change is just the first step, however. If you want to see results, you have to know what moves to make to ensure those changes actually happen. After all, saying, “I’d like to lose 10 pounds,” doesn’t mean much if you don’t learn how to eat healthier and establish a new workout routine.

As part of your planning for 2010, consider taking action to improve your personal finances. With the economy beginning to regain its footing, there's no time like the present to add some dollars to your bottom line. To get started, here are 10 goals for 2010, plus tips on how to achieve them:

Stop overspending. Credit cards are super convenient, but their ease of use can also lead you to overspend. Need a trick to help you stop the credit card madness? Freeze your credit card. That’s right. Try dropping your card in a plastic bag, add water and stick the baggy in the freezer. You’ll still have access to it if you need it, but having to wait until your card thaws will give you some time to get over the impulse of buying things you don’t need.
Stick to a budget. You should know exactly where your money’s going and where you might make improvements. With all the free budgeting tools available online, it’s simple to get started. What’s not so simple for some? Sticking with it. But if you want to break out of the cycle of living paycheck-to-paycheck and learn how to spend within your means, keeping a budget is a smart first step. Schedule “bill time” in your calendar at least monthly to evaluate your budget, pay your bills and figure out if there are places you can cut costs.
Pay off debt. There are many strategies out there to help you make a dent in your debt. You can start by paying down the debt that has the highest interest rate first and then work your way down the ladder. Just make sure you’re still making at least the minimum payments on your other credit cards and loans. Or if you feel like you need to experience small wins along the way to keep you motivated, the Debt Snowball might be the way to go. What’s important isn’t what method you use, rather that you get started… now.
Manage your credit. Your credit is more important than ever - it’s absolutely key to unlocking the best interest rates and terms for credit cards, home loans and auto loans. Heck, forget the rates - If you have bad credit, you may not be able to qualify for credit at all in this economy. The first step to managing your credit is to check your credit report at least every six months to make sure what’s there is accurate. Staying on top of your credit doesn’t have to cost you a thing either. Sites like Quizzle.com will give you a free credit report, no strings attached. Quizzle will even kick in a free credit score so you can make sense of what’s on your report. (…to be continued)

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This is it for now. Have a Happy New Year everyone! Ciao!

What’s ahead?

2009-12-28T06:07:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week. And yes, it’s the feast of the Holy Innocents. I can still recall some old folks say that it’s not nice to lend money on this day (whatever that means). Well, if it’s bad debt that you are talking about, we do not need to have this day to have just that – bad debts. Is it the economic crunch? Or force of habit? Anyway, I’m not going to rant about bad or good debts today. For the past so many years, I have been ranting about how the capitalists raked it in at Christmas. Well, can I call it a respite? I mean it seems like they have ran out of ideas as to how make more money out of this day of the niños inocentes.

We’re a few days away to the New Year. As always, a question is asked: what’s in store for us in the coming year? Whew, this early our enterprising friends are into this and that trinkets and what have you for the Chinese New Year! (Whew!) Don’t you see conflict of interest, err beliefs in this? Oh well . . .

Back to the question on what’s in store for 2010. Certainly, nothing could be more exciting (pardon my term) with 2010 being an election year. This early I can hear a good number of people singing “Happy Days Are Here Again” (hmm, I love Barbra Striesand’s version) Nope, I’m not talking about classic songs or divas here. Of course it’s about the national pastime which happens every three years, aka the elections. And I don’t have to elaborate my on use of happy days, do I?

Again, what’s in store for us in 2010? The answers will be varied. I believe it will depend upon your main concerns in life. Let’s talk about economics. Bernanke just made it as TIME Person of the Year, and if that (citation) should be any consolation, we can sit back (a little) assured that the U.S. recession is about to go. Okey, economics is boring. Let’s have politics then. Again, what could be in store for us in 2010? Now this is where the answers will be as colorful and varied thanks to the various political parties trying to slug it in come May 2010. The election may be only five months away, but as it has been said time and again, action for the next election starts after each election. Meaning the campaigning or politicking never stops, and let’s not even start discussing on the political addition and subtraction and mixed marriages called coalitions or alliances of political parties, thanks to the omnipresent political butterflies.

And the survey says! Aside from the election (tally) results, I think the figures given by the surveys are the next most important set of number for politicos of all shapes and sizes.

* * *

Now for the sad part. News had it that the Supreme Court reconsidered an earlier decision on the cityhood of 16 municipalities. As I wrote this column, I still had to receive a reply from Mayor Mel Sarmiento regarding his reaction on the said decision. Mayor Sarmiento is the Secretary-General of the League of Cities of the Philippines. And as he has said many times before, the LCP’s opposition to the creation of new cities is not just kapritso on the part of the City Mayors but a case of having all concerned entities follow the law.

* * *

Wedding Bells. Congratulations and Best Wishes to Sean Marie Roxas and Leslie Dimakiling (both of Oquendo, Calbayog City). They got married yesterday. The wedding mass was held at the Chapel of the Centennial Pastoral Center. Reception was held at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the CPC.

* * *

Let me now leave you with some more Christmas stories which I got from the History Channel.
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia . Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

A Mary Christmas

2009-12-25T06:22:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Merry Christmas! This is it, the big day when we commemorate the Savior being born among us. By the time you read this (that’s granting that you will find time), kids of all ages, shapes and sizes will be all over the place doing what they do best (and are supposed to do, I guess) – greeting their ninangs and ninongs and everyone in between; and expect to receive their gifts. Ah, the memories of my childhood. As I grew old, I came to believe that Christmas is for kids. Needless to say, I was mistaken.

It has always been like this – Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem thanks to a government directive, and Mary decided to give birth (or was it the Savior decided to come to the world) of all the times - on such a busy season. And the rest as they say is history. How could I miss it, on top of my catechism classes, the first books that I remember my parents gave me was about just that – the first Christmas.

We have heard so many reflections about the Savior’s birth, and many too are the complaints (to some extent, it’s on the verge of lamentations about how the birth of the Savior became reason for money to flow freely (you know buying this and that coz it’s Christmas). Oops, did I say money? We’re not yet talking about election season, if I may remind you. Not yet anyway.

Back to the reflections. There was one homily which I heard a few years back and I got stuck on it – it’s about that other story of Christmas which is the Visitation. It’s what I have always featured in this column each time the Misa de Gallo or Christmas itself comes. Last Sunday it was the topic of the gospel. And in a way, thus explains today’s title.

The subject for that day’s mass was the visit of Mary to Elizabeth (yup, this is the second joyful mystery. It always reminds me of a friend’s and my delusion about royalty that one time a friend leading the rosary said: “the second joyful mystery is the visitation of Mary to her cousin Queen Elizabeth”). Going back to the topic, so what’s the big deal about that visit?

Mary was heavy with a child. According to biblical scholars, the distance she traveled was 90 kilometers and in those days that distance took seven days. We never know if Mary walked or rode a donkey (something akin to private car or trucks of today’s rich people). She ran the risk of her chastity being violated, and not to mention the wild animals and muggers along the way. To make it short, it was not a travel for pleasure.

But there she was, making real the first encounter between the Messiah (Jesus) and the prophet (John). Mary brings Jesus to John, she brings Jesus to all of us Christians. This is why Mary plays a vital role in salvation. In today’s world, the visit tells us that we all have a social concern for others, that we have a social obligation to others. Our human weaknesses trap us to the temptations of being apathetic and callous to the needs of others. We don’t mind others because we are so comfortable with our own selves, with the security of our jobs and the comfort and safety of our homes. Not until we become victims ourselves do we join groups aimed at eliminating that which caused us to be hurt or afflicted.

Mary braved the dangers of travel just to visit and assist Elizabeth . We are called to do same to others. Mary was sensitive to the needs of others. Let us not be apathetic and callous to the needs of others. Let us take Mary as our model. And let us remember that this is not really a very heavy obligation because God does not demand beyond our capacity.

* * *

Let me give you some more stories of Christmas (which I got from the History Channel).
An ancient holiday. The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia , the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe . At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany , people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia: In Rome , where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia - a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture - was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome . In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year. (More in my next column)

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This is it for now. Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Ciao!

Seasonal Charity

2009-12-21T06:36:00.001+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of he Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week. It’s nice to note that President Obama was able to strike some sort of Climate agreement in Copenhagen, the protest of some quarters notwithstanding. My glee ends there. Considering what most Filipinos are into right now, we can kiss Copehagen goodbye (at least for now). How can I say that? Well, we or most of our fellow Filipinos need food for the noche buena and the media noche and the days (and nights) in between. There’s no need to elaborate on that, or is there?

It has been told to us since we were able to write our names (either in pre-school, kindergarten or grade one) that Christmas is the season of peace, love and joy. And, if I may say, count in reconciliation and friendship (take your pick: either it’s creating one, rekindling one, or repairing one) - all in the name of commemorating the birth of the Savior. Did I mention this season also being the season of charity? Or maybe it’s the season of seasonal charity (parang redundant ano?)

I have always wondered why is it that most of us are charitable each time Christmas comes. Let me guess, ‘coz it’s only during Christmas that many of us can afford to be charitable, like say salamat sa bonus and the like. Why is it that many of us remember the old people, the prisoners, the sick at some hospitals only during Christmas? (Do I have to count in the street children?) Don’t ask me for answers. To look at it on a positive note, it’s nice that we have at least one day, or week every year when we are able to take time to observe just that – our seasonal charity.

* * *

Still with Christmas. I have always wondered why most Nativity scenes or belens that I have observed (at least the ones that come in some kinda big images) have only the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph AND the three wise men garbed in their finery. Is it the cost of adding more characters or cast (pardon the term)? Ahh, that would be bias against the poor shepherds. Seriously, my question was partly answered by the column of Alejandro Roces, if I may quote:

“… we have many old Christmas symbols. Probably the oldest is the Nativity scene, known by its Spanish name belen, or Bethlehem. This is a tradition that is believed to have originated way back in 1223 when St. Francis celebrated Christmas by depicting the Nativity scene complete with live donkey, sheep and ox. By the 17th century, the custom reached Spain, and a century later it was introduced in Mexico from where it was brought to the Philippines. Originally, the only human figures in the belen were the Holy Couple and the Holy Infant. The Three Kings were added during the Epiphany…”

That’s one question answered. Needless to say, the Savior’s birth in a manger symbolized simplicity (let’s forget the term humility). That’s based on my simplistic mind and very limited theology. And what am I up to this time? Wala lang, certainly simplicity is not the word or the virtue that guides SOME of our friends (or otherwise) in the church. Peace brother! It’s Christmas.

* * *

We are four days away to Christmas. Let me give you some Christmas facts which I got form the history channel (again sorry, it’s the history buff in me):

Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.
Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous - a lot like today's Mardi Gras parties.
From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
Christmas wasn't a holiday in early America - in fact Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the country's first Christmas under the new constitution.
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607 Jamestown settlement.
Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
Rudolph, "the most famous reindeer of all," was the product of Robert L. May's imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.

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Parokya ni Edgar will be onstage at 7:00 pm tonight at the Calbayog City Sports Center. For tickets you may call (055) 209-1646.

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Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!

My (usual) Christmas rant

2009-12-18T06:11:00.003+08:00

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend. We are seven days away to Christmas, and it’s time for me do yet another rant, well, something that I do each time this season of the year comes around. In the past so many days, aside from the reports on the attendance in the misa de gallo (and the traditional foodstuff that go with it), we were also flooded with reports about this and that shopping sprees, this and that bargain centers, this and that stuff to be bought in time for the Noche Buena. And yes, did I mention the endless Christmas parties (something the gym or fitness center operators are thankful for) and the exchange gifts be it at the office or at home? Don’t say it, everything has to do with something that everyone (or most of us) has so little of – money. Yup, why is it that many of us had to spend every penny there is for the holidays? That I do not understand. And let us not even start discussing about how other would berate people (myself included) for giving only so much amount (or money) for the inaanak and their friends and cousins and hangers on ) who go with them when they go house to house (ala trick or treat) asking for what else, pamasko. Well, on this aspect, I mean the kids, I am not complaining. Call it kahi-araan, crisis or no crisis, Christmas is bound to happen, err to be celebrated. But seriously, is it the mind set? Certainly it’s not coping up the Joneses when one wishes for good things and good food for the holidays. Let’s say we all deserve a break (Yup, with all the call for solemn commemoration of the birth of the Savior and its deeper meaning notwithstanding). Now, do I hear myself saying I rest my case?

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The Calbayog LGU employees will be 8,000-peso richer this Christmas. The Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed Ordinance number 2009-SS08-759 granting the amount of Eight Thousand Pesos as extra bonus to all regular employees of LGU Calbayog.

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Halad sa Pasko 2009, the annual Christmas Festival of the City Government of Calbayog formally opened last Wednesday. Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Councilors Julius Mancol and Ina Rabuya were on hand for the program. Performances were made by the ISKOLARs and the Calbayog Rondalla. The event was highlighted by the lighting of the Christmas Tree and a fireworks display.

And in case you’d like to know, there will be no giant Christmas Tree this year. Word has it that the organizers did not set up the tree at the Cardinal Rosales Plaza (where the giant tree was setup at least for the past 15 years) because the place is being prepped for the Centennial celebration next year. Hmm, considering the time, must be some huge preparations over there.

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Onstage tonight at the Calbayog City Sports Center: “Riot sa Calbayog” with Pooh, K Brosas, Princess Ryan and Joseph Bitangcol. For tickets contact Ritchie at 0906-520-8161

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Parokya ni Edgar will be performing at the Calbayog City Sports Center this coming Monday, December 21, 2009. For tickets you may call (055) 209-1646.

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Let me leave you with something I got from the History channel (sorry, it’s the history buff in me again): a little history about Christmas in Europe and in the last place that Karl Marx would have wanted to stay – America.

“In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.”

“The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.”

“After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.”

Well, after what it has been through, I’m beginning to understand why many take time to celebrate Christmas with gusto.

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Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

Halad sa Pasko 2009

2009-12-15T17:39:00.001+08:00

The 12 days of Christmas

2009-12-14T06:25:00.004+08:00

(This column appears in today's editio of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s a new week, and yes, we are more or less 12 days away to Christmas. Needless to say, by this time we’ve heard more than enough of our share of Christmas songs, or carols (I’m wondering how is one different from the other.) Anyway, last Friday, I mentioned something about “The 12 days of Christmas”, one of the most loved (or otherwise, depending upon your mood I guess) songs of Christmas; and how much would the gifts given on those 12 days would cost us in today’s dollars. After the dollar signs, it’s time for us to dissect as to exactly what the song is all about. Let me give you part of the article written by Diana Mackinen, something which I got from www.littlechicagoreview.com.

“…some of us love it and some of us don’t. However there is a hidden meaning in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” and it is very interesting. In England from 1558 to 1829, Catholics were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. In fact it was illegal to be Catholic until 1829 when the English Parliament finally emancipated the religion. Those practicing the Catholic faith and caught would be imprisoned or executed. The song was written in England as one of the ‘catechism songs’ to help young children learn the basics of their faith. It was a coded-message, a memory aid. The song, itself, sounded like rhyming nonsense and the young children of the Catholic faith could sing the song. The powers that be did not know the real meaning of the song.

“The 12 Days of Christmas” is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help children learn their faith and better understand the Bible. The song goes, “On the first day of Christmas my true love game to me…. “True love” is referring to God Himself and the “me” who receives the present refers to every baptized person, i.e. the Church.

Day 1 The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the cross.
Day 2 The “two turtle doves” refers to the Old and New Testaments.
Day 3 The “three French hens” stands for faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abided (1 Corinthians 13).
Day 4 The “four calling birds” refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Day 5 The “five golden rings” represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish torah; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Day 6 The “six geese a-laying” is the six days of creation.
Day 7 The “seven swans a-swimming” refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
Day 8 The “eight maids a milking” reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
Day 9 The "nine ladies dancing” were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
Day 10 The “ten lords a-leaping” represents the Ten Commandments.
Day 11 The “eleven pipers piping” refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
Day 12 The “twelve drummers drumming’’ were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and rose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.

The song is only sung at Christmas time now, but its hidden meaning saved the lives and religious faith of many during the 271 years the Catholic faith was outlawed in England. The next time you hear this song, consider how this otherwise non-religious and to some annoying, song had its origins in keeping alive the teaching of the Catholic faith. By-the-way, if you were to purchase all of the gifts in the song, it would cost you over $87,000.

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“Riot sa Calbayog” with Pooh, K Brosas, Princess Ryan and Joseph Bitangcol. This one-night engagement will be held at the Calbayog City Sports Center this coming Friday, December 18, 2009. For details contact Ritchie at 0906-520-8161

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Parokya ni Edgar will be performing at the Calbayog City Sports Center on December 21, 2009. For tickets you may call (055) 209-1646.

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Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!