Bayan muna

Minsan ang sarap sabihing "Lintik ka Amerika." 


Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung bakit maraming Pilipino ang naakit sa "greener pastures" mo. Nagpupunta sila dyan, nagtatrabaho para sa iyo. Nagbabayad ng tax mo. Sumusunod sa mga batas mo. Nag-iingles at nagkakaroon ng "American accent." Tapos uuwi dito sa Pinas, maganda na ang buhay nila. Nagmamataas. Nagmamayabang. Pilipino ka ba talaga? (Hindi ko nilalahat, pero aminin na natin, may katotohanan ang naturing kong iyan.)


Subukan nga nating ikumpara ang Amerika sa Pilipinas . . . Baka sakaling malinawan ang isip ko. 


Dito sa Pilipinas, kaka-onti ang trabaho. Maswerte kung mag-invest ang Amerika at magbukas ng factory ng Forever 21, katulad ng mga iba pang factory ng mga signature clothes mula sa bansa nila. Maraming blue-collared jobs ang magbubukas. Pero bakit dito? Mas mura ang labor sa Tsina, at mas maraming tao sa Tsina. 


At kung sakaling may trabaho ang isang regular na mamayan, ang sweldo naman nya hindi sapat sa pamilya nya. Nagpapakapagod, nagpapakahirap, pero kulang pa rin ang lahat. 


Tapos dito rin sa bansa, ang mga manggagawang nagbabayad ng tax, nakikinabang ba sa tax nila? Maraming kwestyon tulad ng bakit hanggang ngayon nakatiwangwang pa ang kalsadang proyekto ng alkalde mo? 


At higit sa lahat, sino nga naman bang gugustuhin dito sa Pilipinas kung isa ito sa mga bansang may pinaka-corrupt na gobyerno sa mundo. Impeachment trial ay circus! Tangna, kanya-kanyang pagmamalinis. Sino ba sa inyo ang hindi nagnakaw at nakinabang sa kaban ng bayan. Alam kong mayroon pang malilinis, pero hanggang kailan kaya sila hindi mababahiran ng dungis...


Pero, huwag din natin kalimutan na dito sa Pinas, ang teleserye paulit-ulit ang istorya (patay na, buhay pala). Ang mga aktres at aktor, nagsasapakan. Ang mapupulot sa PBB Teens ay ewan. 


Kaya naman pala! Bakit hindi tayong lahat magpunta sa Amerika? Kayo na lang siguro. Pero hindi ako. 


Hindi ako pupunta sa Amerika, o sa ibang bansa, na ang iniisip ko lang ay ang kapakanan ko. Tangna, kaya nga ako pinanganak na Pilipino e. Ibig sabihin, ang pananagutan ko ay sa bansa ko. 


Dito lang ako kung saan dapat magsikap, dapat magbayad ng tax, dapat magmatyag sa gobyerno, at hindi dapat manood ng PBB.


Dito ako sa Pilipinas. Magsusulat ng ganito. Maaring pagtawanan ninyo ako. 


Pero malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa mga bayani nating nakipaglaban para sa kalayaan natin? Sa lahat ng Pilipinong sumalungat sa Katolikong simbahan. Sa lahat ng Pilipinong tinalikuran ang Amerika. Sa lahat ng Pilipinong nagbuwis ng dugo sa kamay ng mga Hapon. Sa mga matatapang na Pilipinong ipinaglaban ang bansang ito. 


Paano ko ba to sasabihin, korni oo, pero pinagmamalaki ko ang bansang ito. Ipinagpapasalamat ko ang 114 taon ng kalayaang tinatamasa natin. Isinasapuso ko ang pagka-Pilipino ko. Atsaka, it's more fun in the Philippines diba?!


Simpleng paalala lang ito para sa lahat ng kapwa ko, kahit nandito ka o sa dayuhang lupain man, wag mong kalimutang Pilipino ka. Wag kang sakim. Magbayad sa bayang nagluwal sayo, maliit o malaki. Siguro kung lahat ng Pilipino, may kahit kakapiranggot na commitment kay Perlas ng Silangan . . . 


Naniniwala akong ang "commitment" na iyan ang pag-asa ng bawat isa sa atin--hindi si Willie o si Pacman. 


Pero teka! Hindi ako yong moralistang preacher na tinutukoy ng kaibigan ko. Puro salita (o sa akin puro sulat) lang, walang gawa. May pangarap po ako para sa bayan ko. :) Sana po, magawa ko, pagsisikapan ko.


***
"Una ang Panginoon. Pangalawa ang bayan. Pangatlo ang pamilya. At huli ang sarili."


Ang pinakamahalagang aral na natutunan ko Mababang Paaralan ng Taguig. Sa guro ko na nagbigkas nyan, salamat po. 


Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan Bayan ko!


p.s. Buti pa si Google, hindi nakalimot. 

Proud to be fun, fun to be proud

Originality is only a matter of how one makes something his own.

I was taught years ago that if I want to write, I should first read good works/writings of authors that I like and then try to copy their styles, as long as in the process, I could develop my own style.

And weird enough, it worked for me. I realized what I wanted and what I didn't. I found out how I would send my message across (research/facts as legs, positivism as body, criticism/idealism as arms, and humor as the pretty face that catches attention, haha!).

So to all those writing styles that influenced me and I copied, I could say that by now, I had made it my own. 

Basically, that explains my definition of "original" that best describes my stand on the issue about the 2012 Department of Tourism (DOT) campaign slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines." 

This was what happened: 

The 2012 DOT campaign "It's more fun in the Philippines" was launched early last Friday (Jan.6) under the leadership of new Secretary Ramon Jimenez. 

This was made known to me when I opened Twitter and saw that #itsmorefuninthephilippines was already trending BIG. 

Filipinos, and even foreigners, had something to share why it's more fun in the Philippines—most pointing out "food, hospitality, travel destinations" and many more (uplifting and even absurd). 

From this alone, I already felt the optimism revolving around the campaign. It gave Filipinos the chance to promote the country in their own little ways, with the help of the Internet and technology. It’s a simple but very catchy idea that gives everyone the freedom and creativity to think what makes it more fun in the Philippines in their own ways. 

An article written by Maria Ressa for Rappler.com that I read has all the sensible details you need to know. Especially Secretary Jimenez's "conviction" and how "crowdsourcing" and "social networks" will be the campaign's tools. 

However, just hours after the official launch, a picture from 1951 saying "It's more fun in Switzerland" also went viral in the Internet. Considering how the 2011 DOT campaign "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" was criticized for being a copycat of a Poland logo, many became cynical. Even our paper The Manila Times went with a banner story "Department of Tourism bungles branding anew". 

Well, if you judge a book by its cover, most definitely you'll see that the "coincidence" (as Sec. Jimenez defended it) as lack of originality.

Sec. Jimenez immediately tweeted "No one can own the expression "it's more fun" but it's very true for the#Philippines so it becomes ours. #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines" and "The line isn't a manufactured slogan. It's simply the truth about our country. Don't be swayed by people who are trying to punch holes in it".

I agree. What makes Switzerland fun is totally different as to what makes the Philippines fun. 

Isn’t drinking Red Horse (RH) beer from dusk till dawn with barkada the most fun here? Isn’t partying at whitesand Boracay the most fun here? Isn’t Ilocano food with names Puki-Puki and Kabatiti the most fun here? Isn’t a Filipino’s smile the most fun (and beautiful)? 

So many fun and original things only here at the Philippines! So many fun and original things only we Pinoys could offer! 

So quoting Sec. Jimenez again, "The national line is a goal, a constant reminder to ourselves why we can tell travelers it’s more fun here than anywhere else. It needs everyone’s support for it to stay true—we need to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and most of all, fun.” 

Our country is unique and special in many ways that we seem to forget. The 6-word phrase is a challenge to prove and defend this. Or even better, it wants us to be proud of ourselves again.

A Hero Inspires

"As long as the Filipino people have not enough spirit to proclaim, brow held high and breast bared, their right to a free society, and to maintain it with their sacrifices, with their very blood; as long as we see our countrymen privately ashamed, hearing the cries of their revolted and protesting conscience, but silent in public, or joining the oppressor in mocking the oppressed; as long as we see them wrapping themselves up in their selfishness and praising the most iniquitous acts with forced smiles, begging with their eyes for a share of the booty, why give them freedom?" 

--El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal

I remember reading an English "El Filibusterismo" (translated by Leon Ma. Guerrero) back in college when I was at the height of being radical and ideal. When I so wanted to give a fuck about anything, to do something, and to make a change. 

Jose Rizal and El Filibusterismo entered my life. I read of a man's desire to free his nation. El Filibusterismo was a living proof that pen is mightier than sword. 

And more than ever I dreamed to be a writer, a little like Rizal minus the greatness and international fame. I dreamed to make simple, little changes through words. I wanted pen and paper to become my tool for expression, and also, to always write with a message. 

Maybe that's what true heroes do. They teach you one of your life greatest lessons. They inspire you. 

***

Excerpt from "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero:

Once inside the square something of the searing realization of what death would mean went through him.

"Oh, Father, how terrible it is to die! he exclaimed. "How one suffers . . . "

Then: "Father, I forgive everyone from the bottom of my heart."

How strange he must have looked, in his black European suit and black derby, facing the eight Filipinos of the firing-squad in their tropical campaign uniforms and straw hats. It was almost as if this somberly garbed man between the two lamp-posts had been indeed a foreign agent from some cold hostile kingdom, and his executioners the true defenders of their native land. 

"My orders are to shoot you in the back.

"But I am not a traitor, either to my own country or to the Spanish nations!"

"My duty is to follow orders."

Rizal shrugged his shoulders, refused a blindfold, and would not kneel. He asked that his head be spared, and this time the request was granted. 

He clasped the hand of his defense counsel, and then said goodbye to the Jesuits who gave him a crucifix to kiss. The army doctor on duty asked to feel his pulse. It was admirably steady. 

He took his stand facing the bay, his back to the rising sun. The drums rolled, the shout of command was given, the Remingtons of the 70th fired. With one last convulsive effort of the will Rizal twisted his body rightward as he fell, his last sight being perhaps the hard empty eyes of the professional soldiers, companion in arms of those who had impassively lowered Tarsilo down the well and hunted down Elias as he swam in his own blood.

He was facing the dawn now, but this he was not to see. 

"Viva España!" screamed Doña Victorina in her elegant carriege. 

"Viva España!" shouted Father Damaso and added, shaking his fist, "Y murean los traidores!"

"Long live Spain and death to traitors!" But as the last Spaniards gave their ragged cheer, and the band of battalion of volunteers struck up, with unconscious irony, that hymn to human rights and constitutional liberties, the Marcha de Cadiz, the quiet crowd of Filipinos broke through the square, to make sure, said the Spanish correspondent, that the mythical, the godlike Rizal was really dead, or according to others, to snatch away a relic and keepsake and dip their handkerchiefs in a hero's blood. 

If he had seen them, the first Filipino would have known that he was not the last. 

You're 'Not Like Us'

Ang laki ng tuwa ko noong inabot ng kasamahang kong dyarista yong VIP pass ng Cinema One film festival. 

Ang ibig sabihin noon ay mapapanood ko ng libre ang Di Ingon Nato (Not Like Us) entry na pinaglalahukan ng idolo kong si Franco Reyes. Bokalista sya ng malupit na Franco band. Sya iyong asteeg mag-adlib habang sinasabi ang "One Love, Jah Love." 

Sa makatuwid, ang dahilan lamang kung bakit nais kong panoorin ang pelikula ay siya, si Franco. Obsessed fan girl ako. 

Excited ako nung tinext ko si Julie Pearl at sinabing masasamahan ko syang manood ng Di Ingon Nato! Ang kaibigan kong obsessed fan girl din, kahit hindi nya aminin. Yabang ko pa nung tinext ko, "May pass ako!"

Fast forward, nakarating ako ng maaga-aga sa Shang Cineplex kung saan lahat ng kalahok na pelikula sa Cinema One ay pinapalabas. 

Pila ako sa bilihan ng tiket. Julie asan ka na ba, dumating ka na, alas-sais magsisimula ang pelikula, 5:55 na! Lingon sa likod, baka andyan ka na... 

May nahaging yong mata ko, "bearded" man. BEARDED MAN! T*ngna, si FRANCO! Akalain mong napamura ako sa pila? Tawag kay Julie, "Dalian mo, Franco is here." 

(What happened to Julie upon hearing that? She braved the storm and forgot her headache.)

At ito na, kukunin ko na yong tiket ko at bibilhan naman si Julie, "Uhm, Miss (to the girl at the counter), I have this VIP pass..." Nasa kalagitnaan pa ako ng maarte kong speech ng ako'y tanungin: "Anong pelikula po?"


"Di Ingon Nato.."


Biglang, "Ma'am sold out na po. Kahit may VIP pass po kayo, hindi na rin namin kayo mabibigyan ng ticket." 

F*CK! Texted Julie, sagot nya: "F*CK SERYOSO?"

Olats, may VIP pass, walang tiket! Pero ano ngayon, habang hinihintay si Huli este Julie, ayon si Franco, kasama si GABBY ALIPE NG FRANCO AT NG URBANDUB, palakad-lakad sa harap ko. Sarap diba. 'Yong kahit ipikit ko ang mga mata ko, dama ko 'yong HOT na presensya ng idolo ko!

'Yong minumura kong ng "Gago" si Julie sa telepono, pagtingala ko naglakad si Franco sa harap ko. Dyahe di ba?! Naalala nya kayang ako 'yong fan girl na nagpakilala na sa kanya kamakailan? 


Haaay! Pumasok na sila ng sine at nanood ng Di Ingon Nato. 

Si Julie dumating. Hindi pa tapos ang fan girl moment namin! Lapit sa empleyado ng sinehan, "Uhm Sir, I have this VIP pass but the tickets were sold out already. I'm from the media and I really need to watch the film and its the last screening. But will you let us in so we can watch from the alley, standing." 

Sayang, eepekto na sana yong arte, drama at ganda ko kay kuya nang biglang nasilayan nya yong manager ng sine. "Ma'am, 'No standing rule' po kasi at baka mahuli kami."

Matapos kong magmakaawa wala pa rin kaming napala. 

Sayang surreal na sana, tipong out of this body experience, na mapanood ang pelikula kasama sa iisang sinehan ang bida na patay na patay ka! 

Kaso ang katotohanan, ang buhay ay sadyang malupit. Sabi nga nila, "So near and yet so far."

Leila Lopes crowned as first Miss Universe for Angola

Philippine’s Shamcey Supsup finished 3rd runner up

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe 2011 as the world’s most beautiful night concluded on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Tuesday morning in Manila). Miss Angola, the only dark-skinned contender that made the final16, 10 and 5 cuts, was the Sao Paolo crowd favorite topping even Brazil’s own representative. 

Lopes, the first woman to bring home the Miss Universe diamond crown to Angola, replaces 2010’s winner Ximena Navarrete of Mexico. 


Miss Philippines’ Shamcey Supsup from General Santos City, finished the pageant as third runner up. Completing the top 5 were Ukraine’s Olesia Stefanko as first, Brazil’s Priscila Machado, and China’s Luo Zilin, fourth runners up.


Twenty-five-year-old Lopes, with her dark skin, was a standout throughout the pageant—from the contrasting bright yellow bikini she wore in the swimsuit portion and the strapless cream gown in the long gown competition.


She then picked Filipina judge Lea Salonga’s question for the most-feared Q&A portion. Salonga’s question to the Miss Universe 2011 winner was: “If you could change one of your personal characteristics, which one would it be and why?”


“Thank God, I’m very well satisfied with the way God created me and I would not change a thing,” was Miss Angola’s expected response.


She added, “I consider myself a woman with inner beauty. I have my principles. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I plan to follow this through the rest of my life.”


Supsup, for her part, was the only one who answered without the help of a translator. She delivered the most honest answer in the pageant.


Asked by Vivica Fox, “Would you change your religious belief to marry the person that you love?” Supsup responded, “I would not marry the person I love because the first person I love is my God and [if] the person loves me, he should also love my God.”


Millions witnessed the world’s biggest pageant worldwide as it was aired live by the NBC network and distributed into different live streams. It was hosted by he pageant, NBC Today anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network’s Andy Cohen.


Viewers participated in an online fan voting and ranking held simultaneously throughout the pageant.


Filipinos made their presence and support for Supsup known as she topped the online fan voting among the top 5 and second in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.


Miss Universe 2011 also celebrated pageant’s 60th anniversary. Sao Paolo set as the perfect venue as the stage was brought to life with lively music, colorful performances and the beauty of 89 women who represented their countries.


Live commentaries were brought by Shandi Finnessy, Miss USA 2004, and Jeannie Mai, Vietnamese fashion expert, make up artist and TV personality. The two lauded Angola for putting the crowd to a frenzy and Supsup for her humility.

Conversation about Poleteismo

It all started when finally the Church noticed Mideo Cruz’s “Poleteismo” artwork included in the Kulo exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and labeled it “SACRILEGIOUS” and “BLASPHEMOUS.”

Why the Church decried so? Cruz just put a wooden penis in Christ's forehead and put Mickey Mouse's ears in his head. 

But one should be aware that Poleteismo had been in different exhibits since 2002. The reason the Church just gave a damn only now is because CCP is a government institution, and well, government and Church, they're barely in good terms with one another. 

Launched on June, Kulo is exhibited in time with Jose Rizal's 150th birthday and the University of Santo Tomas' (UST) 400th anniversary. (You can read here for more backgrounder about the exhibit.) 

And since then, opposing views flew here and there. One sided the artist's freedom of expression and the other the Church's faith. 

For me, my initial reaction was in the middle or safe or gray or whatever you call someone who does not take sides.

Well, I write for the newspaper and totally agree with an artist's freedom of expression whatever his medium might be. But, on the other hand, I also feel for the sentiments of the devout for what has been done to the image of the Son of God (even if it's unlikely of me since most people know I’m agnostic.)

Those are my views but never a view about Poleteismo itself simply because I’m not a visual artist in any way. Also my appreciation and understanding for that art does not level my appreciation and understanding for literature. To conclude I’m in no place to judge.

And then came F. Sionil Jose’s opinion in his column "The Filipino Hindsight" for the Philippine Star. This man, a National Artist for Literature, is my second inspiration in writing next to Jose Rizal, our National Hero.

His point of view, in which I immediately agreed to (because of the fact that he was one of the writers I idolize dearly), was that Cruz’s artwork was “is not—I repeat—is not an art!”

Not dropping in mind that I barely know anything in visual arts, I immediately seek the opinion of a good friend who is an artist. He is, Tupe Peralta (I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned your name!). I relayed to him F. Sionil's column (I suggest you read the column first to follow the conversation).

He was not able to read it immediately but after some hours, I received a text. It went:

T: May load na ako at nabasa yong link na sinabi mo…Nasa Senate hearing yong writer kahapon at sinabi nya din yong sinulat nya. Hehe.

Siguro tsong…talagang kanya kanyang opinyon, ang art naman lahat personal interpretation e.

Reading this, I smiled and immediately understood that he did not totally agree with F. Sionil. Unfortunately, I was the one who was not able to reply. The day passed and he sent a message following up on the topic. He texted:

T: Tsong (funny haha!) dagdag ko lang…Yong topic sa abstract painting—naniniwala ako don, na kailangan o kahit papano marunong ka magpinta o drawing...kasi akala ng tao basta magulo o kahit anong pinaghalo-halong kulay e abstract na. May art pa rin dun, color harmony, composition-na malalaman sa experience.

Kaya dun sa pinag-papa-drawing nya muna yong baguhang abstract artist e para sa akin ayos lang. 

Pero sa kabuuan, medyo minaliit nya si Mideo, na mukhang walang research at tawag lang ng damdamin yong sinulat nya. Kasi magaling magpinta yon, tapos may kahulugan yong ginawa pero nakita nya lang ay yong surface.(I should ask him what the meaning was and why it was included in the first place in the exhibit)

I was obliged to carry on the conversation because of course, one, he wanted to share what was on his mind and I wanted to hear it of course; two, he disagreed with my idol F.Sionil; and three, I was the one who started it after all. Haha! 

So here is how the conversation of a budding writer and a promising artist about art went about: 

E: Hehe, nangangati ka talagang masabi yan ano. Ayon, nag-load na ko. Thanks din sa opinyon mo. I’ll balance my view.

And you should know (that Mideo is a good painter because) you’re from UST (too) e. Hehe 

T: Strikto don (describing his school, he studied Fine Arts). Bawal nude tapos yong isang prof namin tinanggal kasi sa art nya. Parang Mideo pero mas di shocking (buen calubayan—try mo search).

E: Oooh, you say na wholesome and art ng Uste?

T: Oo, wholesome :D Alam mo, parang yong ibang young artist na sumisikat di masyadong sinasabing taga-Uste sila.(Mideo is an undergraduate of UST)

(Then back to the Politeismo) Kasi ang art naman kanya-kanyang mata. Pero napansin ko lang…Ang normal na art dito sa atin o acceptable ay magaganda. :D landscape portrait bulaklak—siguro parang huli tayo sa ganyang aspeto.

E: Yep. Maniniwala ako dahil sabi mo. Pero let’s go back to the old man and give him credit for what he said simply because he’s old and therefore has better taste than most of us have. (Oo, pinagtanggol ko si F. Sionil Jose, idol e)

T: Hahaha oo naman, lahat ay may say sa lahat ng bagay sa mundo. :D Akala ko nga dati pintor yon, manunulat pala—nakita ko sya dati hehe.

E: Maybe because of the cap he wears. Alam mo, when you have read his novels and short stories, you’ll agree that he’s the authority in creativity and believe that visual art should be at the same level.

T: Sige pag may pera bili ako ng books nya :D

Siguro madami na siyang experience…Yong same level—medyo wala pa naman sa National Artist si Mideo, try mong tumingin ng works din ng national artist ng visual arts. :D

At na judge lang yong artist sa isang work.

E: OK, I understand. I think it would be better if Sionil said “bad art” not “bad artist”. But of course, sabi mo nga, kanya-kanyang mata.(At napaniwala akong may mali din talaga si F.Sionil)

T: Tama!! Kanya kanyang mata. Hahaha may interview yong artist bukas sa motorcycle diaries ni jay taruc. Dagdag pagkilala.

E: San yong motorcycle diaries?

T: Sa GMA News tv., Yong dating QTV.

E: Ahh, malamang di ko mapanood. Haha. Nga pala, ba-blog ko usapan natin (ito na). Hehe.

T: Haha ikaw bahala :D

Anong book ang okay o paborito mong gawa ni Sionil (tama ba tanda ko sa name?)

E: Yes tama. Paborito ko sa ngayon yong Olvidon compilation of shorts nya.

T: Meron ba nun sa National (Bookstore), yong book? Tingnan ko mamaya hehehe

E: Yep meron. I recommend it best kasi doon diversified yong themes, issues that he could dwell upon. Magaling pramis. Hehe.

***

I was saying all throughout that F. Sionil is my idol but did I mention that this friend is also an idol??? Because idols, teach you valuable lessons, and tells things worth sharing such as this. :)

The 'Little Red Roof' changes lives

“What do we teach our children?” This is a common question when it comes to primary education.

It is also an important question because many believe that the earliest form of education is that which will shape and guide children as they grow—the foundation of learning. The most important lessons like love for God and country, core values, and basic science and math generally comprise a student’s early years.

With a curriculum in a place, in the Philippines, it is a sad fact, however, that the next question often asked is, “Where do we teach our children?” Corruption in government sadly results in the lack of funds to give every Filipino child the right to education.

Thankfully, golden hearts in the private sector are there to provide the answers to the question. One such organization is Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc., which has long helped out to provide students with a school roof over their heads.

Solutions sought

The shortage of classrooms in the Philippines is shockingly in the hundreds of thousands. With such a backlog, countless children who are determined to study often resort to walking unimaginable lengths, just to reach the “nearest” public school.

Once there, yet another problem arises. Not only are the schools remote, but the classrooms are old and dilapidated, or too small for the huge number of students, making them unfit for learning.

To address the endless problems, Coca-Cola Foundation established a corporate social responsibility arm in1998 called the Little Red School House program, under its Live Positively campaign. Since then, they have been helping elementary schools in far flung areas all around the country to build school houses and rehabilitate classrooms in the worst conditions.

Little Red School Houses: The red roof shines brightly

Red roofed classrooms

Coca-Cola Foundation constructs Little Red School Houses from the ground up. The red roof is the trademark of this benevolent endeavor. Every school house has three classrooms, complete with blackboards both in front and at the back to serve a multi-grade setting. In other words, each classroom can accommodate two consecutive levels at the same time—Grades I and II, Grades III and IV, and Grades V and VI. 

Over the years, more than 80 schoolhouses have been built by Coca Cola Foundation in the Philippines and over P100 million has been allocated for the campaign.

Claveria’s Little Red School House

One remote and fortunate barangay, which the Coca-Cola Foundation has helped is Sitio Bulahan in Claveria, Misamis Oriental. When the foundation first visited the area, they found a wooden public elementary school, which was built in 1970s. Too worn down to serve as a place of learning for the students, Coca Cola went straight to work and built the community a brand new school in 2008.

Organizing a media trip in April, the foundation showed just how the quality of education had changed in Bulahan after the Little Red School House was erected.

Bulahan Elementary School's principal

Principal Prescila Balaba, who also teaches Grades V and VI, recalled that the original two-classroom school house of Bulahan had been used by the community for a total of 35 years. Because they were made of wood, the old structure decayed rapidly and was unsafe for the children who continued to study there. 

When she heard about Coca-Cola’s search for beneficiaries of the Little Red School Houses, she went as far as telling a few white lies to convince the foundation that Bulahan is an ideal choice.

“I told the district supervisor facilitating the search that Bulahan Elementary School is not too far from the town proper even though it is!” she laughed. “I had to do it because they really needed to see the dilapidated condition of the classrooms we were using.”

True enough, after seeing the classrooms, Bulahan Elementary School was singled out in Claveria, and construction began in November 25, 2008.

Caring for the classrooms

The advocacy also stirred a change in the whole community of Bulahan. First, the number of enrollments in Bulahan Elementary School has seen a significant rise in the last three years since the Red School House was built.

Claveria's district supervisor for education

Panfilo Picot, public schools district supervisor for Claveria, added, “We also worked on improving the quality of education [with the Little Red School House]. The building itself is really conducive to learning [that is why] even the student’s learning abilities got better too.”

Moreover, the community also saw the value of caring for the classrooms, enticing parents themselves to see that the school house is always clean and well-maintained.

Balaba said that while the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has no money for the upkeep of the school, they willingly give their services instead. They even built a garden in the school’s backyard and planted crops like camote and onions. The earnings they make from selling their harvest are automatically turned over for building maintenance.  They have also been able to build a cemented pathway for the children, and are almost done with the construction of a small stage for school presentations.

Encouraging new partnerships

The Bulahan Elementary School still needs more of your support

Seeing the vast improvement of Buluhan Elementary School, other nongovernment organizations were encouraged to follow suit. The Rotary Club of Claveria donated books to organize a small library small library. Other donations also came in from new partners.

Principal Balaba’s next goal is to have computers in the school, in order to arm their students with the requirements of the outside world. She knows someday it will happen, just as the Coca Cola Foundation made the dream of new classrooms come true.

*First published for The Manila Times. Photos by Jonathan Neri and Bon Roa.

Pepe destined for greatness?

Alam kong tapos na ang kaarawan ni Rizal, tapos na rin ang mga kung ano-anung palabas patungkol sa buhay nya at pagsasabuhay ng kanyang kabayanihan. Nasariwa na siguro uli natin ang buong pangalan niyang Jose Protacio blah blah blah Rizal, ang paglalagalag nya sa iba't ibang bansa pati na rin siguro yung mga babaeng nagdaan sa buhay nya. 

May nagsabing si Rizal daw ang unang OFW, ang isa sabi syang ang unang Filipino at ang ilan, tinuturing syang kayumangging kristo(mga ilang Rizalista sa Laguna ay naniniwalang si Rizal  ay ang Diyos Anak). Napakakulay kasi ng buhay ng mokong o magiting nating bayaning si Pepe, at napakaraming nyang iniwan sa atin, hindi lang mga nobela, prinsipyo, kaalaman at dunong pati na rin mga intriga.

Minsan sinabi ng kapatid ko, masyadong pa-cool si Rizal, ang daming alam, ang daming kabalbalan.Cool nga ba sya? Tila ba raw na planado ang pagiging bayani nya mula pa pagkabata. At tila ba hindi na sya totoong tao pag pinag-usapan ang tungkol sa kadakilaan nya. Tila ba halaw rin sa fiction na nobela ang buhay nya paginisa-isa mo ang mga pangyayari nito. Pero henyo nga kaya talaga si Pepe? San nga ba nya nakuha ang mga prinsipyo't dunong nya?

Masasabi kong maraming syang naiwang misteryo at intriga kasi hanggang ngayon, may mga bagay tungkol sa kanyang buhay na hindi natin malaman ang katiyakan at nangangailangan pa rin ng sagot.

At ayun na nga ang mga bagay na gumulo o naglalaro sa isip ko. Ang dami rin kasing naiwan na tanong sa mga tao, kung nag-retract o nagbalik loob ba sya sa simbahan bago sya namatay, kinasal kaya talaga sila ni Josephine Bracken, anu kaya ang nilalaman ng sulat na nilagay niya sa kanyang sapatos bago sya mamatay?

Ayon sa mga librong nabasa ko, at mga artikulong nababasa ko sa dyaryo (Looking Back by Public Historian Ambeth Ocampo, Inquirer) wala naman pinagkaiba si Pepe sa ibang bata ng kapanahunan nya kung hindi ang humongous o malaking ulo nito. Lampayatot pa nga raw si Pepe kaya tinuruan sya ng kanyang tiyo na mag wrestling. Nag-aral si Pepe sa Maynila sa murang edad, nag-aral sa Ateneo. Ayon sa mga libro, magaling raw si Pepe sa acads(academics) nya pero naisip ba natin kung ilan sila sa klase? Outstanding nga kaya sya sa acads nya? Eh ilan naman kaya sila sa klase nila? Sampu? Baka mamaya lagpas sampu lang sila at slighty average lang ang IQ nya. Marami na nga kayang mag-aaral nung mga panahong iyon ni Pepe? Di kaya siksikan rin sila tulad ng nangyayari ngayon sa mga pampublikong paraalan? At teka, may nakapulot kaya ng tsinelas nya ng mahulog ang isang parehas nito sa lawa ng Laguna? At napulot rin kaya ng nakapulot yung isang kaparehas na ibinato nya sa lawa?

Nasa edad bente pataas si Pepe ng lumisan para mag aral sa Europa at dito makikita mong lagalag talaga si Pepe, napakarami nyang napuntahang lugar. Nilibot nya nga ata ang boung Europa. At napadpad rin sya sa Alemanya.At nagkaisyu pa nga siyang tatay daw ni Adolf Hitler dahil minsan itong napadpad sa Alemanya, pero napatunayan naman na ito'y imposible sa hindi pagtutugma ng mga petsa ng mga pangyayari sa kapanganakan ni Hitler at pagpunta ni Pepe sa Alemanya. Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, oo sasabihin kong gala si Pepe at tunay na lakwatsero (kahit sabihing nag-aaral sa dun sa ibang bansa, sympre may mga perks yun :P).

Hep-hep-hep! Kung akala mo sa Europa lang sya napadpad, hindi ah napunta sya Hongkong Malaysia at Japan! Grabe tong taong 'to. At marahil dun rin umusbong ang labis niyang pagmamahal sa bayan ng iniwanan nya ito. At alam nating 'di sya nakatiis. Dahil alam niyang ang tunay na laban ay nasa Pilipinas at wala sa ibang bansa. At kung may nagawa siyang kadakilaan, sigurado akong hindi nya yun nagawang mag-isa.

Maraming na-link kay Pepe, ang ilang bilang ay siyam pero ay nagstand-out. Si Josephine. Nagpakasal nga kaya sya kay Josephine? Kung oo, nasan ang marraige certificate? Nasan ang NSO sa panahong iyon at kailangan natin sila? Kung meron mang pinatunayan si Pepe rito, isa lang yun. Mala Balagtas pala sya, isang masuyong mangingibig. Nagretract nga kaya talaga si Pepe para payagan makasal kay Josephine? At totoo kayang may syphilis ito?

Maliban sa Mi Ultimo Adios mayroon pang sulat na ginawa si Pepe bago sya mamatay na isinilid nya sa kanyang sapatos. Kaso hindi na nakuha ito kasi hindi na binigay sa mga Rizal ang bangkay ni Pepe. At marahil kasama na itong na decomposed nang mamatay sya. Anu kaya ang nilalaman nun? May hawak kaya talaga si Pepeng rosaryo sa kamay nya nung nabaril sya? Kung meron man, sapat na katibayan na ba ito para sabihing totoong nagbalik loob sya sa simbahang Katoliko? Hmm...

Bago bitayin si Pepe, may nagpropose na iligtas sya sa Fort Santiago, pero unang 'di sumang ayon ang kapatid nyang si Paciano. Bakit kaya? Ginusto kaya niyang isakripisyo ang kapatid nya para lalong maghimagsik ang taong bayan? Ginawa nya kayang trigger ung kapatid nya? At bakit ni minsan hindi nagkwento si Paciano patungkol sa rebolusyon sa mga anak nya matapos ito? Camera shy nga rin kaya sya? Kasi dalawang larawan lang meron si Paciano sa buong buhay nya. Bakit kaya?

Ang hindi ko kasi maintindihan ay kung planado ang nangyari sa Bagumbayan nung barilin sya? Kung bakit normal ang heartbeat nya ng suriin sya ng isang doktor bago sya barilin? Hindi ba sya kinakabahan? Hello papatayin ka na! Bakit napili pa nyang sabihin ang consumatum est ng barilin syan na ibig sabihin ay all is done? Na sya ring sinabi ni Kristo bago sya mamatay? Di kaya sya nga talaga ... uhmm, teka malabo yan!

Parang sumasang ayon na nga ako sa kapatid ko ngayon, pa-cool si Pepe. At pa-cool sya hangang sya'y bitayin at mukang hanggang ngayon cool sya. Tsk. Kung tatanungin rin anung tingin ko sa kanya, masasabi kong tulad rin natin sya, isang  kabataan, na naghangad lang ng mas mabuting kalagayan sa ating bansa. Walang syang pinagkaiba sayo o sa akin. Dahil tulad nya, marami tayong kayang gawin kung gugustuhin at pagsisikapan lang natin. Nag-aral sya, naglakbay, naglakwatsa, umibig, nabigo pero umibig muli, naghanap ng kasagutan sa mga tanong at naghanap ng dunong. At ginamit ito bilang sandata.

Eh anu bang kinalaman ni Pepe sa atin? Malaki mga mokong, gawin natin syang ehemplo si Pepe 'di lang para sa ating mga sarili kung hindi para na rin sa bansa natin, mag aral tayo, maghanap ng dunong, kumilos at tulungang bumangon ang ating bayan. Dahil tayo rin ang hahalili sa ating bayan pagdating ng panahon at kailangan nating itong pangalagaan para naman sa mga susunod na henerasyon. 

*Blogger's Note: No, I am not the author of this post Jose Rizal story tackling on the National Hero's greatness and its underlying, unending questions and mysteries. This is written by a very good (and smart!) friend of mine. Si Ayban. 

I was actually kinda envious on how knowledgeable he is regarding Rizal. While me, I'm all talk. I say his my idol while there's so little I know about the hero. But even if I'm less competent, let me do say that Rizal is my greatest inspiration in writing. He made me believe that with words, one can give greatness to his country. 

And Rizal, he made me dream, that with writing, I can, even just a little bit, make change. :)

P.S. Only the second time that I've borrowed someone else's writing. :)

A bigger and better Ballet Manila

Philippines' Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

In the next three or four years, prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde will just watch her beloved company, Ballet Manila (BM) from the sidelines.

“My major, major assignment as artistic director of Ballet Manila is to prepare the company and its 53 dancers to be on their own,” Macuja proudly announced at a press conference at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. “I will just be leading, teaching and coaching them the way I’m doing [right] now, but without being the principal dancer on stage.”

The 47-year-old ballet prodigy believes that it is important for “Ballet Manila to live on and prosper as Ballet Manila,” and not as “Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s ballet company.”

To do so, she is taking BM on a tour of London, Ireland, Singapore, Indonesia and Korea for the 2011 to 2012 performing season, in order to expose the dancers to an international audience. The company’s official calendar includes the “East Meets West” tour in London from June 30 to July 2, and in Ireland from July 4 to 6; “Ballet Under the Stars” in Singapore from July 15 to 17; the “5th World Gyeongju Culture Expo 2011” from September 4 to 11, and the “Andong International Mask Festival” from September 30 to October 9 in Korea; and lastly “Ballet Manila and Ballet Indonesia” in Indonesia from January 27 to 29, 2012.

Classical ballet foundation

Lisa with Ballet Manila's best dancers,
Rudy de Dios and Jennifer Olayvar

It is not known to many that at this stage, Ballet Manila’s dancers can already divide themselves into separate groups and perform in different venues without Macuja as principal ballerina.

Over the years, Macuja is proud to have trained highly skilled ballerinas, owing to the foundation of classical ballet. Together with co-artistic director and former dance partner Osias Barossa, she starts everyone off on the Russian Vaganova technique.

“I think with the Russian Vaganova technique, we properly train the dancers to tackle any form of ballet, whether it is contemporary dance, modern ballet or Filipino ethnic ballet,” Macuja explained. She further believes that it is this particular foundation that distinguishes BM from other ballet companies.

Last hurrahs

Now that Macuja has fully recovered from chronic tendonitis in both her ankles (she underwent surgery in December 2010), she is all set to perform the last full dances her favorite classics for the season.

In October, she will take on her final performance of Swan Lake as the twins Odette/Odile, to be followed in 2012 with her final bow as Kitri for Don Quixote.

The prima ballerina also plans to do the The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Giselle before permanently going back stage.

Macuja confessed though that she will definitely find it painful to say goodbye to these full length classics, and will miss the feeling of being able to grow as a character from one act to the next.

Lisa shares Ballet Manila's busy season

Acceptance

Dancing for almost three decades now, Macuja admitted that she envies her current crop of dancers whose bodies are younger, jump higher and spin faster.

She knows she can never go back to her 20-year-old physique, even if she gives “200 percent” in training. “Tomorrow, ganun pa rin, mas mataas pa rin ang talon nila kaysa sa akin [it will be the same tomorrow, the younger dancers will still jump higher than I do],” she laughed. “I cannot jump as high as them anymore, ever. And that kind of acceptance is so important to me.”

But the prima ballerina still has something the younger generations of dancers don’t have. She has wisdom, experience and an illustrious reputation gained through sheer hard work throughout the years. Despite her age, it is certain that any performance by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde will draw in the crowds.

“It’s just what a live performance brings,” she humbly remarked. “A painter leaves behind a piece of work that can be hung on a wall—100 years from now, we will still be marveling at Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa.’ But a performing artist leaves behind a memory of the performance where audiences see the sweat, the blood, the human machine that was pushed to the limit to do something very athletic and at the same time very artistic. Iba yon, hindi na yon mauulit [It’s irreplaceable].”

*First published for The Manila Times. Read here. Photos are mine. 

Sa Boracay

Iba noong nakita na ng sarili kong mga mata ang Boracay. 'Yong pakiramdam na hindi na lang 'to likha ng imahinasyon mula sa lahat ng mga narinig ko sa kung kani-kaninong tao nakarating na at naranasan na ang mabakasyon sa lugar. 

'Yong maitapak ng sarili mong mga paa sa puting buhangin. Pero kailangan kong aminin sa ngayon na hindi pa ako nakakalubog sa tubig dagat. Mamayang maaga. 

Toes on the sands

Ngunit bakit nga ba ako nandito? Oo, sa maniwala ka at sa hindi, ako mismo parang ayaw kong maniwala, nandito ako para magtrabaho. Haha! Trabahong pasarap sa buhay. 

Kasama ako sa media fam tour para sa Boracay Garden Resort. Nandito kami kasama ng iba pang manunulat sa dyaryo para maranasan at maisulat ang lahat ng naranasan sa aming mga pahayagan. Pero saka ko na yon mararamdaman kapag malapit na ang deadline. :) Uhm, ang lapit na ng deadline..

At ganon na nga. Nakakainggit ba na malaman na nakarating ako sa pinaka-sikat na tourist destination sa Pinas ng walang gustos? Lumipad at tumuloy sa magandang hotel, pinakain ng pinakin ng masarap na pagkain ng walang ano mang sentimong nilabas sa pitaka? Oo nakakainggit talaga kung iisipin. Pero sa totoo lang, ang katotohan, sinabi ng kaibigang kong reporter na si Anton delos Reyes, "The irony is, Lifestyle Reporters get to experience things they can't afford." 

Haha. Couldn't help but nod. And that truth just makes me more thankful than I am already now. :)

Opportunities in life like this, you can't miss. These are the memories you'll always remember, "the firsts," ika nga! 

Klasik. Paglubog ng araw

P.S. Tatatak din sa isip ko na boring din dito sa Boracay. Haha. Para lang akong nagpunta sa mga sikat na bar strip sa Maynila (na hindi ko ginagawa at hindi ko naman masyadong ikinatuwa nung ginawa ko nga dito), pinagkaiba, nasa buhangin ito. Ang masaklap, 'yong komersyalismo, maari ring sabihing ekonomiya ng lokal na gobyerno, e sinisira na ang natural na ganda ng dagat. 

Sana naman, ang mga tao dito at wag kalimutang pangalagaan ang kalikasan. Masayang maranasan pa ng ibang henerasyon ang ganda ng Boracay. :)

P.P.S. Next blogs would probably just be photo blogs. Abangan! :)

Mamaya, lalangoy na ako sa tubig dagat. Exciting! Tubig!!! :)