tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104613652024-03-13T13:22:30.028-05:00taken from the waterevery stop in my islandhop is a slice of life worth sharing....Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-28735496158281214602015-01-02T22:07:00.001-05:002015-01-02T22:07:55.050-05:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: 0.259999990463257px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;">HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! Nobel-Winner Malala Yousafzai says "Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality." </span><span data-reactid=".9.1:3:1:$comment854400041265253_854400721265185:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px;"> </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".9.1:3:1:$comment854400041265253_854400721265185:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px;"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".9.1:3:1:$comment854400041265253_854400721265185:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".9.1:3:1:$comment854400041265253_854400721265185:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">I say, "dreams are ageless if limited to what are doable within the given time and on grounded capabilities...."</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: 0.259999990463257px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span>Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-918489471636879742012-12-13T23:28:00.000-05:002012-12-13T23:28:17.321-05:00Coming home to welcome the Age of Aquarius<i>“When the moon is in the Seventh House/
And Jupiter aligns with Mars/
Then peace will guide the planets/
And love will steer the stars/This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius,
the Age of Aquarius,
Aquarius! Aquarius!/Harmony and understanding/
Sympathy and trust abounding/
No more falsehoods or derisions/
Golden living dreams of visions….” <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The spirit of the lyrics of this 1969 song which won the Grammy in 1970 is very much in the heart of our family’s shaman, my brother Gabriel. He believed in every promise of the song, and is excited about the coming of the Age of Acquarius on Dec. 21, 2012.
In fact, Gabriel has booked our flights to make sure all family members will be coming home for a special dinner in the evening of the forecasted great sky of harmony. I am listening to my brother’s drumbeats, and I am coming home for the dinner as it will be the entrée to my Christmas vacation.
Looking forward to the 21st of December event has kept me stargazing at night. I have my sightings of the possibilities, but I need Dumaguete’s sky expert Norman Marigza to verify.
I love looking at Norman’s Facebook page and this week, he made this shout: “The November full moon gives the world its smallest full moon of the year.”
I looked up to see the moon and it reminded me of my brother’s call.
My brother has been telling everyone that coming together on Dec. 21 will ensure blessings of harmony, peace, and progress for the family.
Gabriel has been on the trail of the Age of Aquarius since his student days here at Silliman from 1967 to 1971. Like most men of his generation, he believes that we are now at the threshold of the Aquarian frontier.
He observed that the ancient calendars have reached a point agreement. The evidences of the deconstruction of the old beliefs and values are now seen and felt. The giving of an African-American leader a second term in America is among the forecasted signs. The end of the Mayan calendar in 2012 is among the indicators pointing to the arrival of the Age of Acquarius.
In all of the cultures of the world, the ancestors had written one common thing: the shouts to announce the shifting of the ages of this time.
On that evening, the planets visible to the naked eye will be in a rare alignment. It is said to be just a visual effect as Science measure will not call it an exact alignment.
This alignment was predicted by the Mayan calendar. The alignment is not something that’s actually new to 2012, as it happens every 36 years. Remember the convergence of the sun and the dark dust clouds in 1998?
But this 2012 alignment is special because it coincides with the alignment of the 12 Zodiac constellations.
One constellation that is visible in our current equinox will be in a changing phase. This 2012 drama in the sky will have Pisces move away, and paving the way for the dominance of Aquarius.
The turbulence of our planet, characterized by economic instability and war with nature challenged by earthquakes and storms that marked the end of the Piscean era, will now be replaced by “harmony and understanding” in the Age of Acquarius.
This promise from the song, and the movements of the signs mean a lot to the watchful mind of my brother. He wants us to be home and be blessed by the powers of the natural forces that only God can command.
The evening -- at home -- on the 21st of December will be filled with thanksgiving prayers, gifts of forgiveness, songs of love, and floods of food and drinks to welcome the Acquarian force of prosperity.
Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-3312723425643097442012-12-13T22:29:00.000-05:002012-12-13T22:32:41.590-05:00Petronila’s parentingSIATON, NEGROS ORIENTAL -- On the first day of November at sitio Agbagacay in the seaside barangay of Bonbonon in Siaton, Negros Oriental, all children and all those who have experienced being her “children” came home from all over the world to be with their beloved mother and grandmother, Petronila Gadiana Jaugar-Palalon, born Nov. 1, 1916.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnt8ACkITycKTn2Vikho9tbWbSdy8dpQ3pviu3yPhY4b6YkF0X0ihZc6bd-W2XM5sFaKAj9lnoJstxby-fulUwATFw0ziRrrmPOJGInKAsgbrZOPyCUBUSq_K_pFoLbBXFSq8/s1600/Itdol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnt8ACkITycKTn2Vikho9tbWbSdy8dpQ3pviu3yPhY4b6YkF0X0ihZc6bd-W2XM5sFaKAj9lnoJstxby-fulUwATFw0ziRrrmPOJGInKAsgbrZOPyCUBUSq_K_pFoLbBXFSq8/s400/Itdol.jpg" /></a></div>It was afterall Petronila’s birthday. The special day overshadowed the Halloween, All Souls’ and All Saints’ holidays for it had become an annual homecoming for this huge clan.
Petronila’s household is home to children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren from her own immediate family, to that of her brothers and sisters.
With a very sharp memory, Petronila enumerated them from the oldest: Basilisa, Valeriana, Ponciano, Premitiva, Eleuterio, Cornelio, Roberta, Atelana, and the twins Eugenio and Bernardina.
Petronila is the youngest, and admits to be pretty but she said, “…not as popular as Valeriana as she was taller, slender, and really more beautiful with natural curls in the crowning glory. Am really the not-so-pretty-one when compared to my sisters.”
People around her always disagree.
Petronila survived them all, and has remained oh-so- beautiful at 96. On her birthday morning, as she was serenaded by her children and “children”; as she was looking regal in emerald green.
I love the sharp European features softened by the Asian lineage, so evident on Petronila’s lovely presence. She told me that the Jaugars are of Polish origin. She said, “Wanti’s grandfather was from Poland.”
Proof to this good-looking lineage is the fact that two of the Island’s beauty queens come from the fifth Jaugar generation: Miss Negros Oriental Centennial Theoliza Jaugar Quilnet, and 2007 Ms Silliman Sarah Jane Martin.
Wanti, the great great great grandfather of the Jaugars, is Siaton’s legendary man. Known not just as the town mayor but as the one with the extra ordinary powers that drove all pirates away.
The creek near the old seat of government was named Wanti in honor of his heroism. Wanti’s legend comes strong in Petronila’s total being. He was her hero, and she understood much her father Jose’s authoritarian discipline as all stemming from the original “superhero” of the family.
Why this much love for Petronila? Our birthday celebrator is fondly called “Mama Itdol” or “Lola Itdol” by everyone here in Siaton.
Lola Itdol is well-loved as she was their very loving mother. Her niece Rosario Jaugar-Quilnet, former supervisor of the Department of Education here in Siaton with much sense of pride to her close connection, recalled that she was the baby who brought Mama Itdol home.
The Jaugar sisters were forbidden to be with any of the Palalon boys. The sisters’ father Jose told them that he did not find a goodlooking one in the Palalon pedigree. But the Palalon boys were so obsessed with the Jaugar sisters that everyday, they would wait for any of the girls to be on the road.
In the olden days in this town, the men would get their women by force, and it was for this reason that women would have a lanot (woven chastity belt) under their long skirts.
Two of the Palalon boys successfully won over two of the Jaugar sisters, and Jose was already at war with the Palalon family.
It came as a shock when the youngest Itdol, 24 years old then, eloped with a young tailor named Hilario who turned out to be another Palalon.
Itdol was disowned by his father and so Hilario took his young bride to Bacolod.
But Jose’s favorite daughter-in-law Isak, the Spanish mestiza wife of Cornelio, died while giving birth to Rosario. Jose had no choice but to ask Itdol to come home and breastfed baby Rosario. Itdol had her two-month old baby Librada, her first, when she came home for baby Rosario.
It was through the need for parenting that Petronila was reunited with her beloved family. And it did not just end with Rosario. With enduring life lessons, she became the mother of all the children in the Jaugar clan. Generation to the next generation, she became the “mother” with much wisdom for life’s survival.
Petronila was as hardworking as her husband Hilario. She was her husband’s assistant at the tailoring, and proved to be a good tailor herself. She would join him in their cornfields, and in the evening, they would go fishing as they had their own bungsod, a traditional fishing gear.
Petronila and Hilario then went into copra-trading, and she became more entrepreneurial in spirit with a lot more sources of income including cattle and goat raising, piggery, poultry, rice fields with carabaos-for-rent, a sari-sari store, sound system rental for benefit dances and other public events.
Petronila taught her children to work as hard. The children only had the helpers of the copra business looking after them while their parents were busy working. The Palalon kids learned to do household chores at a very young age, and became helpers themselves to their parents’ various undertakings when they reached their teenage years.
With their mother’s emphasis on the importance of education, some of left Siaton to find work in Cebu to sustain their respective dreams of schooling.
Petronila now takes much pride in her children’s success stories: Librada is an elementary school teacher in General Santos City, Edilberto is a professional driver in Toronto, the late Julian was a Philippine Navy coastguard, the late Jaime was a nautical engineer, Lydia is an agriculturist who opened the door for her siblings to find opportunities in Canada, Tommy is an electrical engineer in Toronto who is studying in a flying school to become a professional pilot, Teresita graduated with a secretarial degree, Rodrigo finished Commerce and is also working in Toronto, and the youngest Maria Elena graduated with an accounting degree from Silliman University and now also works in Canada.
All of them are thankful to their mother Petronila for teaching them the value of hard work.
Petronila’s way to good parenting was not to manicure the road-to-success for the kids to have a smooth life, but to teach them the value of work and good manners when with other people -– the best keys to face the realities of what she remembers as pait nga kinabuhi.
“Life can be bitter, and so children must learn to work for their future sweet life,” Petronila says.
What was awesome in the birthday gathering were the testimonies of sweet life that all came from being with Lola Itdol, their “world’s greatest mother”, according to world-traveler grandson Jeferson who grew up under Lola Itdol’s loving care because his father had died when he was yet a little boy and his mother went away with another man.
Thank God for a great blessing named Lola Itdol.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-5062111660444075072012-10-09T07:46:00.002-05:002012-10-10T10:44:49.214-05:00Papa’s Power of the Peridot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlTzhKDM9PUqo-V_hkD7cBPOUWhP4gtZUsN4824HkY_oJUK8Eorrc0aZjv_SwbynMJl2OmyGCpwYJVB1ON5CgnLHMnYoRWzHWDiA1wWzluozx2iJiWBpxFnP8JXw5wX0hIhgf/s1600/Peridot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlTzhKDM9PUqo-V_hkD7cBPOUWhP4gtZUsN4824HkY_oJUK8Eorrc0aZjv_SwbynMJl2OmyGCpwYJVB1ON5CgnLHMnYoRWzHWDiA1wWzluozx2iJiWBpxFnP8JXw5wX0hIhgf/s200/Peridot.jpg" /></a></div>Judge Virgilio Noja Atega is the name of my father. He was born on October 9, 1916. His birthstone is the peridot. This humble gem of the pharaohs echoed much of my father’s life choices. A peridot is known to give the wearer power to dispel the terrors of the night. This loveliest of all green gems is not as light-dependent as rubies and diamonds. It tends to look regal under all light conditions. Many more on the peridot’s subtle power somehow shaped the glory which perfectly captured a cut very much like the life of my late father.
My father Virgilio was the youngest son of the unexpected union of then Don Andres Azura Atega, the military general son of a powerful Spanish priest Rev. Father Pedro Garcia de la Virgen de los Martires born on September 1, 1840 in Zaragoza and Juana Beray Noja born on June 24,1897, among the pioneering teachers in American public school system in the town of Cabadbaran. Unexpected because Don Andres, known as the most powerful man in this side of the island of Mindanao, was married to Roberta Curato and had a son Mariano born in June 1900.
Don Andres got to be concerned with Juana, daughter of Roberta’s first cousin Teofilo Curato Noja, when the young teacher became the girlfriend of the American principal of the public school. Don Andres, who was already a widower as Roberta died so young, just did not want a lovely Filipina like that would be taken away by a foreigner. One day, his protective nature had grown into an attraction and out of obsession; he took advantage of her innocence. Afterwards, Don Andres offered to marry her. However, refusing to tie the knot with the man who destroyed her life, Juana ran away. Don Andres looked for her all over and found her hiding in the house of her father’s cousin in Talacogon, a riverside town in Agusan del Sur. Juana was pregnant with his child when he got her back. He brought her home but she refused to join the other women in the dakong balay – this was how townfolks would call my grandfather’s house up until today. The women of my grandfather included Roberta’s sister, Veronica. Veronica had three daughters and a son with Don Andres: the first one was also named Roberta who was born on September 22, 1905; the second daughter born on November 30, 1909 was Canuta who was named after Don Andres’ mother. Veronica’s third daughter was Prosperidad born on November 16, 1913. Veronica gave Don Andres only one son named Pedro born on May 1, 1908.
With Juana’s refusal to join in the growing dakong balay family, Don Andres decided to build a house for Juana in front of the town plaza and right beside the Aglipay church. Juana gained the respect of the townfolks as she became known as the most loved sweetheart of Don Andres and she had one point of understanding their business partnership with Don Andres.
I was told by late Uncle Mimi Barrientos, the chief police officer of our town, that he grew up admiring the lovely Juana as she had the most beautiful pair of deep-set brown eyes. He also told me that among the women of Don Andres, Seῆora Juana, as she was known, was the only one who would bring bundles of money to the dakong balay. The regular remittance from the shared business marked Juana’s sense of independence, one reason why Don Andres’ admiration for this woman had grown deep and he never stopped offering her marriage. On the other hand, the constantly jealous Veronica was kept busy taking care of her own children, her sister’s son Mariano and the daughters of the Ibay sisters, Luisa, Romana and Estanislawa who were already in the house since 1892. Don Andres’ union with Roberta was only in 1900 and she gave birth to Mariano on the same year. Her sister gave birth to her first child Roberta in 1905. The Ibay sisters had one daughter each. Luisa’s was named Maria born in 1892. A week after Maria was born, Romana gave birth to Ana. Consolacion, daughter of Estanislawa, was born much later on December 19, 1900. Their mothers were the first three women of Don Andres within the dakong balay. Don Andres’ was known to be a womanizer and his eldest son was Antonio born on June 12, 1894, his mother was Hilaria Magarte-Fernandez who was the wife of Don Andres’ business partner. Juana gave Don Andres two sons and a daughter: Archimedes born on April 14, 1914 was the eldest who really looked like his father, Esther who was as lovely as Juana was born on May 19, 1908 and the youngest Virgilio. Veronica also gave birth to her youngest daughter Basilisa a month after Virgilio was born. A neighbor Perpetua Maestrado gave birth to another son of Don Andres named Plenio on October 21, 1920. My father really came from a family which indeed was like a mother stone of the peridot, so green and with many unpredictable branching – some were from stories intentionally silenced by the complexities of the pedigree.
Virgilio was very much like his mother in entrepreneurial spirit. As a little boy, he was already earning money from being a newsboy, shoeshine boy and his farm eggs harvest. Virgilio was also born a leader, he led friends to memorable adventures on horseback rides to mountain slopes, went bamboo rafting on rivers, and in fishing, they went as far as Camiguin Island.
After finishing a business degree, socio-civic responsibilities pre-occupied the young professional. When the Japanese occupation came, the challenge of the power of the peridot was muted by a huge responsibility that came to my father’s young career. He was appointed town mayor during the war. It was during this time that he met my mother who was teaching children in a coffee farm. There were three sisters: the beautiful Cecilia, the shy Crisanta and the youngest Maximina, who according to my father, had loveliest pair of legs. My father expressed his love for mother through sending three horses as gifts to her family’s coffee farm. My father’s competition in winning the heart of the lovely Maximina, the pretty and smart teacher, was the Japanese military commander who had been seriously wooing her for quite some time even having built a Sunday school for my mother. Nonetheless, the Virgilio and Maximina were inseparable as they were one in their secret mission: to help the Filipino World War II guerillas. They used their influenced to provide food and medical supplies. However, because nothing is kept secret forever, my father’s secret support was uncovered by the Japanese intelligence and his loyalty was questioned. To avoid further investigation and to save the town from total Japanese control, my father pledged his loyalty to the Japanese. To erase all doubts and to show deep sincerity, he shot the center point of the palm of his right hand in front of the Japanese officers. Truly a peridot in heroism – subdued and in silence. The bloody promise somehow convinced the Japanese authority and gave my father all the support he needed as mayor. When the Americans came and the country was set free, my father also got the appointment from the American regime to serve both as mayor and as military officer. After serving the full term, he decided to go back to school. He was enrolled at the College of Law in Silliman University. Moreover, he was the captain of the debating team and became the president of the student government, the first after World War II. He graduated in 1949 and was reunited with Maximina in Manila while reviewing for the bar exams. The two were married on June 11 of the same year. Unlike my grandfather, Virgilio’s peridot brilliance was mounted with loyalty that endured all challenges around his chosen pearl.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fBFHzwTY-27rKggVOOWaKOSkB1C7OpypzC9IbU7YgBCRbQuYtaaRbx8nZH48r9tg-rkUe8Wyrpe31ffs_OCbtjWYn3mZbvn3JT8ESJ52rCWmxQW_nEZvGBF1qlopeEzkV4O5/s1600/FATHER+GARCIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fBFHzwTY-27rKggVOOWaKOSkB1C7OpypzC9IbU7YgBCRbQuYtaaRbx8nZH48r9tg-rkUe8Wyrpe31ffs_OCbtjWYn3mZbvn3JT8ESJ52rCWmxQW_nEZvGBF1qlopeEzkV4O5/s200/FATHER+GARCIA.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaiBKDgwggKeB3MwIJVZ0hVn_yF1wiSyW5WW1l-Up53p-wcveUHFpo7MbnLl_AGyH5ZrLJICBf39ofoi81-3pDWLJxxCRQKIu-i-WdoxwO44RJKDgeJneVQvlY9_DTycXfQ0y/s1600/GREAT+GRANDPA+MISSION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaiBKDgwggKeB3MwIJVZ0hVn_yF1wiSyW5WW1l-Up53p-wcveUHFpo7MbnLl_AGyH5ZrLJICBf39ofoi81-3pDWLJxxCRQKIu-i-WdoxwO44RJKDgeJneVQvlY9_DTycXfQ0y/s200/GREAT+GRANDPA+MISSION.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBg_tweedf7aW_tONAPxwv5eedo53e0xS5EaXGV7cN0hlq-Nexim_Fg_bCBOwB3mpaVl0JWi4uhjkb9m8Kf3XoR9jSgjYT7hyphenhyphenRpWDgMCO2Zt6ZNK8n2b68_HHbxTHAyoxuTpn/s1600/Pa+%2526+Ma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBg_tweedf7aW_tONAPxwv5eedo53e0xS5EaXGV7cN0hlq-Nexim_Fg_bCBOwB3mpaVl0JWi4uhjkb9m8Kf3XoR9jSgjYT7hyphenhyphenRpWDgMCO2Zt6ZNK8n2b68_HHbxTHAyoxuTpn/s200/Pa+%2526+Ma.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTZ9YxGRGJ2MRWUNVmCZ0NQNLL2ORMUK-NNQPkn72GKFYWrVv_v0OXTBtVtuZZi2rATIqu5ZXYmFciD2svEoGBiBRb8HU9LVhmzInDmEy266rbJfBfrUBfce7bcuziY8CX5VV/s1600/Virgilio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTZ9YxGRGJ2MRWUNVmCZ0NQNLL2ORMUK-NNQPkn72GKFYWrVv_v0OXTBtVtuZZi2rATIqu5ZXYmFciD2svEoGBiBRb8HU9LVhmzInDmEy266rbJfBfrUBfce7bcuziY8CX5VV/s200/Virgilio.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuTDvSPO9QtzyBXb2zddjD70DXsUvT7Yx3wi8aVz2NEoacGb79jxmQ6-U-mQGWLTxo6oc4Delmx4yVPzo5CyAwKg-1QvovVX-6h9ZuHix-Q4rIIGGKrVUt09gJBPCKQsd6WE0/s1600/Papa%2527s+sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuTDvSPO9QtzyBXb2zddjD70DXsUvT7Yx3wi8aVz2NEoacGb79jxmQ6-U-mQGWLTxo6oc4Delmx4yVPzo5CyAwKg-1QvovVX-6h9ZuHix-Q4rIIGGKrVUt09gJBPCKQsd6WE0/s200/Papa%2527s+sisters.jpg" /></a></div>
Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-45692361471640113522011-09-25T09:21:00.004-05:002011-09-25T11:43:22.624-05:00An Oriental Negros’ Gem: The Bleeding-Heart Dove<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAEvTOZlAbEuX_3R3e3Vm6EWr4RX6Dgmm2Ot8QOR4ex8xdr6KbLR5LCnrLg9KQlODYrOxE5ywgcE0KWXfoMVFwAvdvkh9CvBVX2VkTYovRsrC1yUM6S9PGJmokcAk9zsxeMYt/s1600/Negros+Bleeding+Heart+Dove.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAEvTOZlAbEuX_3R3e3Vm6EWr4RX6Dgmm2Ot8QOR4ex8xdr6KbLR5LCnrLg9KQlODYrOxE5ywgcE0KWXfoMVFwAvdvkh9CvBVX2VkTYovRsrC1yUM6S9PGJmokcAk9zsxeMYt/s200/Negros+Bleeding+Heart+Dove.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656304146603802066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFy96w1k7knC0XpUz7CjXmGxEO2W2iCC1Lj5Amn8jJF50-iaCBTGe1_ytoHLdyiJoBFbJKTIAhmt-8fKQ5MBai8EApXBknhSB7gbCnGCq9VbivkN9T58m1CANdYhlzKOnEyoy/s1600/Year+of+the+Forests.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 171px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFy96w1k7knC0XpUz7CjXmGxEO2W2iCC1Lj5Amn8jJF50-iaCBTGe1_ytoHLdyiJoBFbJKTIAhmt-8fKQ5MBai8EApXBknhSB7gbCnGCq9VbivkN9T58m1CANdYhlzKOnEyoy/s200/Year+of+the+Forests.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656303879477017282" /></a>I was touring a broken-hearted young lady from Manila and I congratulated her for choosing this side of the island of Negros to be the healing sanctuary of her heart-in-pain. I told her that this part of the country is indeed the best place to forget her “user-friendly” boyfriend. <br />User-friendly is our label for anyone who takes advantage of a relationship for selfish gain. This Manila girl is a victim of a user-friendly doof. And she made the right choice of taking a trip away from the toxic human elements of Manila. The welcoming hearts of our island are evidently shown everywhere in the gateway called Dumaguete, Romantic Rizal’s City of Gentle People. The lady visitor’s smile kept flashing as she found it almost unbelievable that there still remains a Philippine city that made her feel so safe even beyond midnight. She laughed when I gave her an assurance, “ walang mangyayari sa ‘yo dito. Kung meron man, masarap!” The <span style="font-style:italic;">sarap</span> part could mean the Dumaguete Express of Lab-as, the sizzling <span style="font-style:italic;">bulalo</span> and chocodome cake at Royal Suite, the chicken <span style="font-style:italic;">adobo</span> at Gabby’s, the lengua in Mamia, the vegetable kebab of Jutz’ Cafe, and more.... She agreed and gave the sarap points excellent marks. <br />Our morning tour had me leading her to one proof of the island’s healing powers as echoed by this distinctive mark of the plumage on the chest of our iconic bird, the Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove (Gallicolumba keayi/featured as logo of the 7th Philippine Bird Festival). We went to the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies (CENTROP) of Silliman University, home of the Philippines’ Bleeding-Heart doves. First, I introduced the dove from Luzon and she was amazed at the beauty of the bird with the “shotgun hit”-like burst of red feathers on its chest. Then, I asked her to compare the Luzon Bleeding-heart Dove with the one endemic to Negros Island. She was even more amazed at the “healing impression” of the line of red feathers on the chest of the more colorful Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove. I told her in a tula manner, “ ipinahiwatig sa mga kalapating ito na kapag ikaw ay nasugatan sa Luzon, maghihilom ang iyong sugat sa pagdating mo sa Negros....” She guffawed at the unexpected love message from nature. But there was more in store for my friend: upon learning that these birds are capable of only one lifetime partner, she began to fall in-love with the Bleeding-Heart doves. What a man could have done for loyalty, the bird could do it better. <br />What is sad these days, according to the island’s forest angel Apolinario Cariño, “the population of the adorable species are extremely small, severely fragmented and still facing a continuing decline due to the reduced forest cover....” Environmentalists like Pol are alarmed as these birds are still on CRITICALLY ENDANGERED status, and they are working hard to give the Philippine pigeons the world’s attention. <br />2011, the United Nations’ Year of the Forests, is ending yet surprisingly, the impact of this celebration was never echoed by the Department of Education to young students. Just last week, I visited a number of public schools around the Visayas and Mindanao, and when I asked students about the Year of the Forests celebration, they have zero-level awareness of the focus on the trees this year. The story of the Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove would have been a powerful classroom inspiration for young Filipinos to be totally concerned with.<br />I hope more teachers had ushered school kids to view exhibits in the 7th Philippine Bird Festival in Dumaguete on September 24 with the theme, “Langgam Paluparon, Lasang Palambuon.” All bird angels of our islands and from other countries were all there and kids had a great time with them. Our very own Bird Angel Atty. Val, son of the Philippine Bird Man Dr. Dioscoro Rabor, gave a lecture on his father’s lifetime achievement. There were many inspiring points of the festival that LGUs would have supported. I was happy that the Mag-Degamo work spirit of the Oriental Negros Governor’s men was felt from beginning to end. Silliman icon of environmentalism Dr. Angel C. Alcala and University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III were there with their valuable presence. <br />The Negros Bleeding-Heart, a ground-dwelling pigeon, is with unique features. Aside from the blood-red patch on its breast, its elegant regal-green crown down to the Mahogany brown hue spreads gradually to its wingtips interrupted by waves of white bands. In its breathtaking completeness, the colors naturally make the Negros Bleeding-Heart’s presence a fruitful reward when on a trek around the Twin Lakes.<br />The dove is truly our pride and joy as it is endemic to the Philippines. And we really need to work hard that these terrestrial species will have their favorite home, a dense forest, be preserved and recreated at some areas around the island and beyond. We have to ensure that their nestings on epiphytic ferns be totally protected. I wish too that the Provincial Government will make its glory a symbol of the country’s remaining tropical <span style="font-style:italic;">paraiso</span>. <br />Let us not be <span style="font-style:italic;">user-friendly</span> beings of this planet. Be inspired by the endearing presence of this lovely dove we can call our very own.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-62249357028067445532011-09-23T04:10:00.006-05:002011-09-25T09:20:07.800-05:00Asian invasion in the 2011 beauty universe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7AN0o_Tf6P-kPqwzOALZoFaw9jW4ZFIAsv2G43-lyzo48YW3RTvCfVYVviaW7yXYu_KQ59ACX-YQ6NTkRLXibvL3dgLW7XpEdY6fTbIyY0oC1HhyTSQEjFQWbzANWaUq5fJl/s1600/Shamcey.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7AN0o_Tf6P-kPqwzOALZoFaw9jW4ZFIAsv2G43-lyzo48YW3RTvCfVYVviaW7yXYu_KQ59ACX-YQ6NTkRLXibvL3dgLW7XpEdY6fTbIyY0oC1HhyTSQEjFQWbzANWaUq5fJl/s200/Shamcey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655480438205158642" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I’m interested in the fact that the less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice.</span> -Clint Eastwood<br /><br />Extreme prejudice was evident in those times when Donald J. Trump, the billionaire co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant, fixed the selection of the top 15. Trump’s way of ensuring slots for the prettiest representatives would usually result to a “seductive” blonde-dominated line of beauties or all-Latina finalists. This was evident in 2009 when no Asian beauty and only one African made it to the Top 15.<br /><br />When I reviewed the arrival videos of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, I already predicted an unstoppable Asian invasion in this 60th edition of the world’s most popular beauty pageant. Beauties from Asia and Africa clearly made outstanding presence in all events of the month-long pageant.<br /><br />Without the prevailing biases, three Asian beauties actually had the power to be part of the Top 5: most outstanding was Miss China Luo Zilin (5 ft 11 1⁄2 inches)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSprdDxFPGimccu140lG2M_9EUJ13kZiXpXYkCOzBcW7ZEBCA9ZwxAR-AHUbiAfzPZhH5iKqgxL8kEnbuiDyCy2WLMjuiQiefXBKdM7k2edpDYcVamye-lhKsmngpYHWzQ0gx/s1600/Miss+China.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSprdDxFPGimccu140lG2M_9EUJ13kZiXpXYkCOzBcW7ZEBCA9ZwxAR-AHUbiAfzPZhH5iKqgxL8kEnbuiDyCy2WLMjuiQiefXBKdM7k2edpDYcVamye-lhKsmngpYHWzQ0gx/s200/Miss+China.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655480644186843202" /></a> who was the tallest among the 89 contestants, the best in promotional interview, Miss Malaysia Deborah Priya Henry (5 ft 10 1⁄2 inches), and Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup (5 ft 8 inches)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFnN4VJMsMzrIn8qBN71TA6Kb4gj0aI5smTGVvnwsk9fRqjhoreOMsGbXsIjViFQFT9rSMAsBQzemJkQe8JqYKhGZmQnoZFnYCZyiQ8At0XmhXw-05hxMz7lhYF6xL_0O27FK/s1600/Miss+Malaysia.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFnN4VJMsMzrIn8qBN71TA6Kb4gj0aI5smTGVvnwsk9fRqjhoreOMsGbXsIjViFQFT9rSMAsBQzemJkQe8JqYKhGZmQnoZFnYCZyiQ8At0XmhXw-05hxMz7lhYF6xL_0O27FK/s200/Miss+Malaysia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655481560212344450" /></a>, the one with the most elegant everyday-presence. The other two top slots belonged to beauties who could easily be in Trump’s List: the all-natural blonde beauty Miss Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs (5 ft 9 inches), and the one who looked like the young Brook Shields, Miss Ukraine Olesya Stefanko (5 ft 9 1⁄2 inches) who ended as this year’s 1st runner-up. Miss Angola, Leila Lopes (5 ft 10 inches), was a popular candidate as she was the most stunning black beauty but her too-reserved projection and a-bit-weak ramp skills did not show the all-around-energy expected of a possible winner.<br /><br />It was some kind of a miracle transition when the pageant ended with a “non-white” winner, Miss Angola. This should be the spirit of international beauty pageants – more accepting of all types of beauty.<br /><br />The greatest Asian invasion was in 1988 when Porntip Nakhirunkanok of Thailand was crowned Miss Universe, Chang Yoonjung of Korea was 1st runner-up, Mizuho Sakaguchi of Japan was 3rd runner-up and Pauline Yeung of Hong Kong was 4th runner-up. Mexico’s Amanda Olivares, 2nd runner up, was the only South American in the Top 5. The Oriental-dominated glory echoed the spirit of the year of the earth dragon.<br /><br />There was still the favored-hometown-girl culture in this 2011 pageant. Miss Brazil Priscila Machado (5 ft 11 inches), the only South American beauty in the top 5, was certainly a product of a manipulated entrance. Her placement in the Top 15 should have been for Miss Malaysia but Miss Universe organizers would usually dropped contestants who have joined Miss World – seemed to be part of the war against the other global beauty contest.<br /><br />Why was Miss Brazil allowed in the first place? Everyone was wondering why was she was still considered even after her naked pictures were circulated all over the net, the day she won the Miss Brazil title. Miss Brazil’s second runner-up title should have belonged to Miss Philippines, the one who gave the best answer during the final Q & A.<br /><br />Maybe it was Miss Philippines’ very “churchy” answer that brought her away from the crown. Shamcey was asked by the judge, actress Vivica A. Fox, if she would change her religious beliefs to marry the one she loves. The Filipina beauty, a born-again Christian, replied, “If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God who created me and I have my faith and my principles and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God, too.” She should have added a line to express respect for other religions. As a global goodwill ambassador like the Miss Universe, should always project a more welcoming spirit.<br /><br />English-speaking Miss Philippines, just like Venus Raj of last year’s pageant which had the famous “major major” answer, got the toughest question in the question and answer portion of the competition. Shamcey was also the only one in the top five who did not use an interpreter. I wonder why Miss Angola, who is a student in United Kingdom, opted to use an interpreter?<br /><br />Another unique twist in this pageant: the representatives from the countries with the greatest number of Miss Universe titleholders, USA (7) and Venezuela (6), failed to make it to the Top 10. Miss USA was too thin to shine in the swimwear portion and Miss Venezuala was a perfect body but with face framed with the crowning glory like an old autumn tree. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8HU1bqynD4ORy_5ozyGjcXc0aNOcwTdeV654dGNAFWzJPWfRKLNBDezFWwnvaN7p3vu_NUistvc2ql9yQN4s4m31Jg4o9YJMN0088g046Ak2VLyOuarXDWQ6iino7V8gXUrM/s1600/Angola.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8HU1bqynD4ORy_5ozyGjcXc0aNOcwTdeV654dGNAFWzJPWfRKLNBDezFWwnvaN7p3vu_NUistvc2ql9yQN4s4m31Jg4o9YJMN0088g046Ak2VLyOuarXDWQ6iino7V8gXUrM/s200/Angola.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655481082586721602" /></a>Miss Angola’s smile - the sweetest of them all and her effortless regal bearing, were clearly the factors that made her the choice of the judges. But in totally, the two Asian beauties Miss China and Miss Philippines were the queens of the universe that evening.<br /><br />Beauties from the Philippines, Angola and China in the Top 3 positions could have been the ideal and could have been one of the most respectable results in the history of this pageant. Even with the clear injustice, we are still hoping for more unstoppable Asian invasions in the Trump universe.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-49344927036890864572011-08-06T20:06:00.002-06:002011-08-06T20:10:17.300-06:00The last Siquijor warrior<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtpUhEyXNcVEHMFzpUdFhUgQy9HnfEGrZo8J6Y6Ls-jjCCVMz8HVjGOwXYYZdY4nfVU8TkmhD4D4moQyIDvssFTMiCqycoR-84NKBb1o9-cdv7LUI4pn8gxcdqenpUPZD6fpZ/s1600/Juan+Ponce.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 99px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtpUhEyXNcVEHMFzpUdFhUgQy9HnfEGrZo8J6Y6Ls-jjCCVMz8HVjGOwXYYZdY4nfVU8TkmhD4D4moQyIDvssFTMiCqycoR-84NKBb1o9-cdv7LUI4pn8gxcdqenpUPZD6fpZ/s200/Juan+Ponce.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637929683345700018" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">It is a curious thing…, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who… have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well</span>. ~J.K. Rowling, “King’s Cross,” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 2007, spoken by the character Albus Dumbledore<br /><br />The Harry Potter phenomenon came so easily into the hearts of the Filipino film lovers, once cited by The Guinness World of Records as the ‘largest movie-going public in the world.’ <br /><br />Much of the witch culture points and artifacts presented in the book and film series were very familiar to us. Here in Oriental Negros, such culture “powers” would be always identified as all coming from the island of Siquijor. <br /><br />Actually, the island dwellers are not so happy of the “black magic” identity and this could be the reason why there is a huge billboard at the port welcome area informing tourists that what the island has are herbalists and not magicians or sorcerers. <br /><br />But such tourism packaging “clean-up” will not change the minds of the people as the folk stories have cascaded from generations to generations beyond Siquijor’s shores. I find it an effort-in-futility to erase what had been a one dimension that attracted tourists from all over the world.<br /><br />The magic of Siquijor island has been experienced by many who have been there to have this “spiritual” emersion. Many of my artist friends are drawn to the island for they found it to be a real destination of the spirits beyond and of local folks who have the “third eye” for seeing what is beyond and for bringing in the powers from nature and the magic world.<br /><br />The latest visitor on July 26, a national culture icon, confirms it and he is no ordinary visitor as he is a practitioner himself and he is not afraid to be labeled a witch. <br /><br />His profile on the web states: “Tony Perez is a creative writer, playwright, poet, lyricist, painter, portraitist, fiber artist, trainer and psychic journalist.” He is known as literary artist but in the international circles for psychic healing and understanding, this true-blue Atenean and a magna cum laude graduate in Religious Studies is an in-demand resource person for knowledge in “Developing Psychic Abilities,” “Living the Tarot”, “Introduction to Shamanism” and other related topics. It was indeed an honor to be his usher to the magic island.<br /><br />His main purpose for visiting was related to his day job at the Public Affairs section of the United States Embassy. But he was set with a “pure” intention to be diverted to his other world as it was his first time in Siquijor. There were reasons not to go, heavy rains and wild wild waves brought in by the Signal No. 1 warning of the stormy Bicol and the refusal of our earlier contacts from the island to bring us to the black magic man. But Tony insisted. He told me “they want me to be there.” I just assumed that “they” were those who sent the winds that gave us rain. My reading of the heavy rain was positive and so, I agreed and arranged for our trip. <br /><br />When we got to Siquijor Island, we were lucky as my suki easy-ride driver Fredito “Noynoy” Tamala was available. He is husband to Grace, my schoolmate at Silliman who is now a public school principal. Noynoy is not just a driver as he is also a bankable tourguide. When I whispered to him our intention, he told me the sad news that the oldest medicine man of Siquijor, Juan "Daku" Ponce, died five days ago and that we arrived at the wrong time as it was the day of the funeral. <br /><br />I asked him about Frank, the expert of the dancing paper dolls, and he said that this guro had given up the black magic career as it went contradictory to his being a healer. <br /><br />I was worried that I would end up a failure as the point man for the curious white witch. I was wishing Ambrocia was still around, the renowned faith healer who died in 2002. I had a believe-it-or-not moment when local folks told me she was the last of the Siquijor wwhite witches. Her legend, as told, had its peak when then First Lady Imelda Marcos came to the island as she wanted the growth of scaly skin on her leg to be healed. It was Ambrocia who uncovered the root of the curse, an underwater being who was angered by the intrusion of the San Juanico Bridge, a Marcos project, into nature. It was said that Ambrocia’s oil healed the scaly skin as it vanished instantly with just one blow of the smoke coming from a heated concoction. <br /><br />Tony noticed my frustration and he said we could just go directly to the main purpose of our visit. Then I told him about the death of Juan, the 99-year-old herbalist. His face suddenly was glowing and he instructed Nonoy to bring us to Juan’s home and he pushed us to hurry when he was told that the funeral was at 1 pm. <br /><br />At Barangay San Antonio, Noynoy led us to a dirt road leading to the wooden house of Juan Ponce, Siquijor’s last warrior against any dark powers. Tony stopped as he noticed a white stone by the roadside, he got it and placed it inside his bag and said, “Someone told me to bring it home.” Juan’s last day gathered a good number of neighbors even with the heavy rain. I was told that after him, it would be hard to find one with such credibility and experience. He was the one who drew European tourists for healing as his oil, a special concoction from 300 herbs and cuts from various barks of exotic trees, was known to heal almost all kinds of ailments. <br /><br />Out of the six sons of Juan, only Alejandro and his wife Anecita are seriously considering to continue his legacy of herbal healing. <br /><br />Juan Ponce was born on June 24, 1912. He started as an herbalist at the age of 18. His career as an herbalist was marked with countless successes in the war against mambabarang (necromancy) who had sent severe misfortune to many innocent victims.<br /><br />Tony asked Anecita to show him Juan’s anitos. These were made from wood that came from the tree believed to drive away bad spirits. These little white cuts were sculptured in shapes of the crucifix, the rose, the star and the long-haired man resembling The Savior. Tony managed to acquire them at P500 each. The amulets made of coconut shells which are said to be rare finds as these shells were totally smooth and don’t have “eyes.” Each was sold at P1,000. <br /><br />Tony wanted one more thing from Juan’s career world, he asked for anything that the old man used everyday. Anecita brought in a shirt but Tony felt it was too much. I asked if the old man had a cane and Anecita smiled as she nodded but explained that it might be hard to find it. Tony’s excitement led Anecita to ask his sons to go and search for the wooden cane. The older son came back with the black wooden cane with a handle that was a natural curve of this branch of molave – truly a precious piece that reminded me of Harry Potter’s wand. I did not ask how much was paid for it. I knew that it was priceless for it came from Siquijor’s last warrior. <br /><br />“This is an incredible journey!” was Tony’s word as we moved out from the house. I reminded him to pay respect to the old man. He went to see the coffin and offered prayers. He knelt down and brought out his own amulet, an amethyst, the violet queen of the quartzes framed by four gold lightnings. He placed this gemstone, believed to stop the coming of the storm, on top of Juan’s wooden coffin as he continued to pray. The women who were there for the prayer for the dead, seemed not disturbed by Tony’s theatrical homage as they continued with the repeated lines of “…Hail Mary, full of Grace….” <br /><br />With Tony’s harvest from the household of the warrior, will there be hope for Juan’s legacy of power to continue? Maybe. I witnessed this: before we walked back to Nonoy’s leading, Anecita had asked for Tony to empower her and Tony said, “I already did.” <br /><br />Out of the magical journey, we went to make the walk through at Coco Grove – his assignment from the US Embassy. The owner Mike Butler was so kind to have the lunch we ordered as part of his welcome for us. I told Mike about the death of Juan Ponce and he confirmed his fame as a good number of Coco Grove’s guests had come to seek Juan’s healing and this included a cancer patient from Germany. <br /><br />Tony was indeed so lucky to have inherited the precious artifacts. We had to cut short our stay at paraiso Coco Grove, the best resort in Siquijor and the island’s No. 1 food destination, to catch the 3 pm trip back to Dumaguete. <br /><br />We went inside the old church as we waited for the fastcraft. Tony was again kneeling in prayer in this old sanctuary. I went out to pick an ancient-looking coral stone and I gave it to him as souvenir. He told me, “I will take it as this stone is asking to be brought home.” <br /><br />As we moved out from the Church, he raised Juan Ponce’s cane to direction of the gloomy sky. The heaven seemed to welcome Juan with the pouring of the rain.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-46963455961936583922011-07-27T09:51:00.005-06:002011-07-27T10:21:35.924-06:00Double treat from Paul and Paul<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf70gM7vbBOum5qcSJ0EUDuEyeZmMPDJQnpgj9_BBpqMBkNZCUkvDOARfgwQD5bSjAtxhMtks03yOAHmg_-Ho9ylelQg7JEMujNdD0Dhbk5fMqsUbbIUx76S9LuEnZYPx4nX4a/s1600/Paul+Pfeiffer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf70gM7vbBOum5qcSJ0EUDuEyeZmMPDJQnpgj9_BBpqMBkNZCUkvDOARfgwQD5bSjAtxhMtks03yOAHmg_-Ho9ylelQg7JEMujNdD0Dhbk5fMqsUbbIUx76S9LuEnZYPx4nX4a/s200/Paul+Pfeiffer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634067103478880626" /></a><br />Our very own Paul Pfeiffer was on another fruitful homecoming in June. In this visit to Dumaguete, I tried to usher him to the fun side but there was just no time for a full enjoyment of the City’s night life. The passion for his art led him to just completely embrace the main reason for this homecoming: work, work, work.<br /><br />This Dumaguete son is known to the world by an honor he got from Newsweek‘s spread on “America’s Artist of Tomorrow.” This was after he won Whitney Museum’s 2000 Bucksbaum Award, the highest award for Visual Arts.<br /><br />Paul Pfeiffer had chosen to depart from traditional art media, and had been showing to the world possibilities of the video screen by capturing images from popular culture. He had them all: NBA stars, Tom Cruise, enduring scenes from films by Steven Spielberg, deep forest camping, ancient cathedrals floor plans made out of sex scandal echoes….<br /><br />Five years ago, Michael Jackson was the subject of a speech choir at our very own cultural center, the Luce Auditorium. The production, a collaboration with the Speech & Theater Department of Silliman, was directed by Hawaii-based educator Eva Rose Repollo-Washburn, and captured a juxtaposition of the King of Pop’s painful global media exposure to address the child-molestation issue, and of our very own speech choir students presenting an unusual piece: Michael’s defense.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o3DWZptFrNiikGKe4MIshX7Myly63hQ86FPA8ymisTjPMOrogXncS4zo-glQwg9fU0tpQH1POhNvLdWhBbsCaG7eFQ11Hb-oL1-pCaaQ_ns0_TtM2DhGPxJ0Jho8qzu8mqW_/s1600/Live+from+Neverland.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o3DWZptFrNiikGKe4MIshX7Myly63hQ86FPA8ymisTjPMOrogXncS4zo-glQwg9fU0tpQH1POhNvLdWhBbsCaG7eFQ11Hb-oL1-pCaaQ_ns0_TtM2DhGPxJ0Jho8qzu8mqW_/s200/Live+from+Neverland.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634067266741206210" /></a><br />Paul Pfeiffer’s fully- realized vision called “Live from Neverland,” got world attention. One art critic described the 2003 work on Michael Jackson as the essence of “the interdependent relationship between leader and crowd.” Actually, I saw much of the Filipino human nature in it as the speech choir sounded like one entire barangay in a <span style="font-style:italic;">chika-hilira-sa-ating-hagdanang-kaway</span><span style="font-style:italic;">an</span>. I was smiling reading one web review which took the Luce production as an ancient Greek chorus when it was really totally Pinoy local color.<br /><br />In this 2011 homecoming, Paul Pfeiffer was in a mission again: saving the art of speech choir which is no longer in existence in many parts of the world.<br />People were recently again at the Luce to watch the speech choir performances expecting the usual, as it remains an annual event at Silliman.<br />But this one turned out to be another double-treat from Paul Pfeiffer. Unfolded on stage was the building of another solid juxtaposition: the many choral versions of the victory press statement of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, and the star quality in Manny.<br /><br />The show was again directed by Paul’s Hawaii connection Eva Rose, and was staged in collaboration with the SU College of Performing & Visual Arts.<br />We still have to see the end product but there is great promise in it: the whole world will see the cool presence of the people of the happiest nation in Asia, with Pacman as the entry point.<br /><br />The audience at the Luce had fun with the Pinoy sense of humor captured. Paul Pfeiffer’s magic will have the scenes cascaded globally with his distinctive video art of glory.<br /><br />*****<br />July 22, the Cultural Affairs Committee of Silliman University formally opened the 2011 culture season with the performance of Ballet Philippines.<br />The country’s leading dance company is on tour to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the birth of our national hero Jose Rizal with the ballet <span style="font-style:italic;">Crisostomo Ibarra</span>. The dance concert is inspired by the protagonist in Rizal’s novel <span style="font-style:italic;">Noli Me Tangere</span>. I love this ballet by Paul Alexander Morales. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChvTdRQ3QgaMar-9SUHnyOexoaxRcKohTFjUUOHBQ8PspJ9TjfNR86F-dGQKsky6tic8lxMjG39_9D6_eAj6eKVGaLqEiYOeSoxjEb1iUnjMdeUmjVbs2J1jUYZdaF3Dpkjrc/s1600/Paul+Morales.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChvTdRQ3QgaMar-9SUHnyOexoaxRcKohTFjUUOHBQ8PspJ9TjfNR86F-dGQKsky6tic8lxMjG39_9D6_eAj6eKVGaLqEiYOeSoxjEb1iUnjMdeUmjVbs2J1jUYZdaF3Dpkjrc/s200/Paul+Morales.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634067586845332178" /></a> The choreography went beyond just narrating the story as its characters, particularly the touching emotional twist in Sisa, never lets go of the audience from the opening movements, and much of this can be attributed to the dance artists’ successful embodiment of the icons in the pages history using the intense body poetry of contemporary ballet.<br />Sisa was brought to the stage with the complex play of Filipina grace and the pain from the fire of cruelty by principal dancer Carissa Adea.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ_7tJgmczx5suaW6p9gNrlrBXWXN_Sjiq6lKbcUsk4XsubGMWY5nRvJH_sBe-shysDrkElco8SD5vhpxOkhsXzSE1l80Fd6CXIKb_23i0CnfxDXXVEPn2OV4NhkSgy-mhuNW/s1600/Sisa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZ_7tJgmczx5suaW6p9gNrlrBXWXN_Sjiq6lKbcUsk4XsubGMWY5nRvJH_sBe-shysDrkElco8SD5vhpxOkhsXzSE1l80Fd6CXIKb_23i0CnfxDXXVEPn2OV4NhkSgy-mhuNW/s200/Sisa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634067879558613426" /></a><br />Paul Morales called my attention on Sisa in two of our promotional events and indeed, he was successful in the harvest of love-for-the-motherland in Sisa.<br />Paul of Ballet Philippines’ visit to Dumaguete was actually a double-treat, too. I have known Paul only as a dance artist as he was still a teenager in his first performance at the Luce in Agnes Locsin’s <span style="font-style:italic;">Engkantada</span>.<br />He came back twice with his own artistic direction for Ballet Philippines. The growth from dancer to director has been an amazing transition to witness.<br />In this visit, Paul Morales generously gave us a new glory in his being a total artist: as a film director.<br />I did not realize that the acclaimed director Paul Alexander Morales of Cinemalaya’s Concerto, an indie film featured in festivals all over the world, is actually Ballet Philippines’ power Paul Morales.<br />And he just made history in Silliman as his Concerto was the first film feature in the new CAC series to honor a Silliman icon in film, National Artist Eddie Romero.<br />In Concerto,we are told a story about a family surviving the ravages of World War II with the gift of music. It took Meryll Soriano, who played Nina, the strong-willed daughter, all of a minute of total silence to have me sympathizing with her longing to play the piano again – to enjoy freedom.<br />Actually, all actors made a perfect ensemble as they were all emotionally connected as a family even in moments of muted presence. Each of them had vividly brought me back to my mother’s rocking chair of war stories.<br />In these months June and July, Dumaguete had two valuable gifts of inspiration from Paul Pfeiffer and Paul Alexander Morales – both we dearly want to refer to as our very own.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-58109285347275908132011-07-11T23:18:00.004-06:002011-07-11T23:27:27.064-06:00Gifts of Gratitude, Goodwill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPfdW0Qa4drGhM5kE6wsLN0lIQo_IwbjDQaGL7Spn3omwlvbs_YEJeVV9Mg6l4KA2JLR1Ybt4zzHxYm1o8Cwkc4WX3nUyJCwi-wDqHkUZGe-WvYsyqwWJFTe913xD_HH7NI78/s1600/SUGGA.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPfdW0Qa4drGhM5kE6wsLN0lIQo_IwbjDQaGL7Spn3omwlvbs_YEJeVV9Mg6l4KA2JLR1Ybt4zzHxYm1o8Cwkc4WX3nUyJCwi-wDqHkUZGe-WvYsyqwWJFTe913xD_HH7NI78/s200/SUGGA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628331512502435378" /></a><br />The theme of the 110th Founders Day of Silliman University, <span style="font-weight:bold;">A Mighty Fortress is our God</span> was perfectly echoed in the recent faith journey of the SU Gratitude & Goodwill Ambassadors (SUGGA), a group of performing artists directed by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez who travelled to Alaska for Tipon 2011.<br /><br />The idea of this unique gift came from the dynamic president of Silliman University Dr. Ben S. Malayang III.<br /><br />Everyone who attended the Tipon realized it was not just “another expense” to send 26 performing artists all the way to Alaska because their value measures beyond the money actually spent. When it was finally unfolded, it was revealed that Silliman’s “gift” to the alumni in North America was priceless as it became a “gift of faith”.<br /><br />Even the process of totally approving such gift was stressful for some people behind the leadership as it was clouded with doubts. For one, the short span of time to process their visas became a daunting test, and the inevitable Doubting Thomases began to grow in everyone’s hearts.<br /><br />It was this skepticism that made the process very painful to Susan who had nothing within her heart but the enlightenment for the value of obedience in the journey of faith.<br /><br />With her obedience, she was misunderstood. To many, the planned journey was more of pride, and a selfish will, but what many failed to see was the constant communication with God which led them to more difficult challenges.<br /><br />SUGGA was an intricate group to handle, with old voices that had been with Susan’s tutelage for many years, and with new voices, many of them needing not just voice training but most importantly, a refinement of character and discipline as goodwill ambassadors.<br /><br />Too much emotions had prevailed as the director had to deal with what seemed like an orchestra of differing emotions within the group – which would painstakingly include some overbearing parents.<br /><br />And there was more. The Philippine passports of majority of the members had not been processed within the required period which painfully resulted in two members failing to acquire their own passports on time.<br /><br />Visa processing also seemed ill-timed when the US Embassy had changed its computer system which did not allow for group processing.<br /><br />It was a miracle though that the care factor in Sanda Fuentes of Orientwinds Travel & Tours led the rest of the group to different schedules for their visa interviews on June 7, 8, and 9. Four of the choir members did not make it during the interview; two had pending petitions from their US-based relatives, and two were found to have inconsistencies in their passports.<br /><br />But faith persisted, and the group came out of the ordeal (which included being soaked in the heavy rain while queueing for their visas – the same rain which saved the June 8th batch as the Embassy officials decided to give them just one priority number for all, so as to be sheltered from the storm) though not in total jubilation as their hearts where in sympathy for those who failed to get their visas approved.<br /><br />Finally, they were ready to fly out of the country on June 17.<br /><br />SUGGA has become a family of survivors who went through a long dark tunnel, together discovering a light of hope beaming through. The final 27 included Susan and Institutional Advancement Officer Jose Mari Jonathan “Jojo” Antonio, head of the delegation.<br /><br />It was also unimaginable how Macrina Fuentes was able to book them all on the same flight from Manila–Narita–Seattle–Fairbanks even during this peak travel season.<br /><br />God was indeed the artist of this journey. The pains that went with every step had humbled all of them and cleansed their hearts.<br /><br />Susan’s mother, former dean of the College of Performing Arts Prof. Isabel Dimaya Vista, reminded them that only with pure hearts could they go on to become genuine goodwill ambassadors.<br /><br />And Susan realized this, after all the beaming miracles they experienced while they were still in that dark tunnel, “that I have to forget that I’m Susan and everyone in SUGGA had to be humbled to become pure” and with all humility, they have allowed the gift of obedience from the “Mighty Fortress” to prevail.<br /><br />With total obedience, they went on with the journey and there were still moments of testing again: Jose Mari Jonathan Antonio had to be rechecked at the Narita immigration as his name sounded like that of a Mexican druglord; funny guy Ian Caballes also had to face a bit of questioning. The two took quite a long time to be allowed entry into US soil.<br /><br />And when they were celebrating being one family again, US-based alumnus Mister Silliman Spirit himself Gideon “Kuya Box” Alegado joined them as he was on the same flight. They serenaded him and he, as well as some people at the airport who gathered to listen to the singers, said they were touched by the sound of the angels. Kuya Box was in tears of joy and gave them a hundred dollar bill as gift.<br /><br />The flight was delayed for four hours. The welcoming alumni group in Seattle led by Martin Ancheta were becoming anxious as they could not find the SUGGA whom they were hosting for the 14-hour stopover. Some members of the welcome party decided to just go back home but the Ancheta family and the rest of the alumni volunteers never stopped looking until they found the singers in a coffee shop.<br /><br />Fellowshipping led to another Silliman Spirit day in Seattle, which included Hong Kong-based Silliman icon Dr. Betty Cernol- McCann who also was on her way to Fairbanks to represent the United Board for Christian Higher Education.<br /><br />The Anchetas and friends were another reason to be thankful to the “Mighty Fortress.” They saved the SUGGA from being “sleepless in Seattle”.<br /><br />Finally, out of the tunnel! In Fairbanks, daylight never left them as the sun would be up beyond everyone’s body clock.<br /><br />SUGGA, with a name which means “where light meets light” in the Visayan language, started to find more wisdom in this journey.<br /><br />The Tipon, a gathering of Sillimanians and friends from all over the world, were all with welcoming hearts for the SUGGA. Perpetual angel to Silliman performing artists Virginia Cacho-Almiron, wife of Tipon prime mover, Dr. Sylvester Almiron Jr. who was chair of the SU Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA). She expressed the clincher that on the celebration of this 10th year of SUACONA, “It would give a sense of completeness to have the music of SUGGA, a choir directed by Susan, as it was also Susan’s choir that gave the first Tipon in Chicago a unifying spirit.”<br /><br />June 19 was the day of the SUGGA concert. It would have been a technical disaster as there was no time for sound check, no real stage to perform in the hall for the choreography to be viewed at one angle, and no complete sound facility to amplify the choral performance. But still in the spirit of the gift of obedience, they gave their best.<br /><br />J. Rutter’s <span style="font-style:italic;">Magnificat</span> shone to become a touching worship in the gospel opening, and the voices were loud and beautifully unified, touching everyone’s heart. Everyone was awed at the quality of every voice that was in the choir. Thunderous applause came after every song. The duet <span style="font-style:italic;">Sa Kabukiran </span>in the Philippine Air of the repertoire was a display of the vocal magnificence of two sopranos, Ma. Elcon Cabasag and Katrina Saga. The piece successfully brought everyone into one sense of national pride that the applause was with fiesta glee.<br /><br />The peaks of the concert were like running through a mountain range, bringing the Silliman family into heights of joys of homecoming, especially felt with the <span style="font-style:italic;">Mahal Kong Bayan </span>which earned a standing ovation for these angels from home.<br /><br />SUGGA came with music that touches, to give the generations of Sillimanians a moment of pure joy from the sense of pride of belonging to a culture of excellence, revisit into the inner soul stemming from the seed of faith in the Via Veritas Vita, the healing of the kindred spirit that had much of life challenges, and the realization that Silliman is a family worthy of a homecoming, with a legacy of faith within it expressed in gifts of gratitude and goodwill.<br /><br />Truly, a Sillimananian in this journey of faith believes, “a Mighty Fortress is Our God”.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-38533626553436444902011-07-03T16:34:00.003-06:002011-07-03T17:14:05.604-06:00In Memory of a Poet PEARL GAMBOA DOROMAL 1923–2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdu2EVgFj97WX-irHwnFpp8VNH15z_ZpOb8MQH9Sf15iuXAwlMxvu2dltpeutYTltLi1FgfZS8LMQe_9uUA2JlPGl0j_VYb8RbZwV0U1g84iaTvy2RG7fj7sDcTbBcHh8_8axR/s1600/Pearl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdu2EVgFj97WX-irHwnFpp8VNH15z_ZpOb8MQH9Sf15iuXAwlMxvu2dltpeutYTltLi1FgfZS8LMQe_9uUA2JlPGl0j_VYb8RbZwV0U1g84iaTvy2RG7fj7sDcTbBcHh8_8axR/s200/Pearl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625258781841753714" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“Each person is an enigma ultimately unknowable, not only so by nature, but also because he is self-masked….”</span> – Edith Lopez Tiempo<br />Masked or unmasked, the poet Pearl Gamboa Doromal, was beautiful inside-out.<br />When her husband Dr. Quintin Salas Doromal was president of Silliman University, he always made it a point to introduce “the woman behind the man” in all occasions that called for his presence. All Sillimanians, with much pride, would welcome the lovely presence, applauding – echoing the same pride. There is also much anticipation for the moment when their beloved First Lady would stand with all humility and still emanate that outstanding verve. PEARL GAMBOA DOROMAL was The Silliman Woman who epitomized the ideal of elegance. <br /><br />With her as First Lady, The President’s Home – a campus landmark now called The University House – was a busy center of hospitality. The greatest number of Ambassadors from different embassies that visited Silliman was during the time of the Doromals. Convocation time was always at the Luce every Tuesday with a particular country in feature and an Ambassador of the country as resource speaker. Hosting visitors with high protocol requirements was never a problem as there was always the First Lady in Pearl, herself a daughter of the Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Dr. Melquiades J. Gamboa. She had her childhood in Oxford, England. <br /><br />The University House was all welcoming spaces from the doorstep to Meg’s garden swing. Each corner felt like a home of royalty from the silver teapot on the wooden dining table to the blue china of orange African daisies under lampshades made of capiz shells. There was only one theme in this home: elegance. <br />One enduring sweet memory with Ma’am Pearl was the visit of the late Zeneida Amador, the director of Repertory Philippines, and the actors of “Gingerbread Lady,” to be staged at the Luce, which included Joy Virata, wife of the Prime Minister. I was called to join them at the President’s Home as they wanted to see the works of visual artists under the Order of the Golden Palette (OGPA). I was handling the PR of this group of local artists. Ma’am Pearl with the Maestro Albert Faurot was helping me in the presentation of the paintings. She was very generous with the endorsement which elevated the works of the amateur artists’ market value. Two paintings were sold to Amador instantly. Maestro Albert was all smiles, proud that the works of his OGPA sons went to the hands of a prime mover of mainstream culture, thanks to Ma’am Pearl who organized the artists’ rendezvous. <br />She was always with this constant concern for Filipino artists. Her support to Repertory Philippines included strengthening the Dumaguete outreach program.<br />During the launching of “The Artist: Hand and Breath,” her book of poetry in 1995, she signed a copy for me. Her book contains very educational commentaries by the National Artist Edith Lopez Tiempo, her mentor in Creative Writing. The subtle impact of the book led me to write my own haikus as it truly was inspiring. Reading the pages of this book gave me two mentors—Mom Edith and Ma’am Pearl, her literary daughter and co-actress in campus plays.<br />I love Ma’am Pearl’s poems – describes Mom Edith, as having a “delicate touch, almost fragile, with which Pearl depicts the bright green world of creation – even while simultaneously, by using the devices of poetic art, she transforms this gossamer touch into a vehicle of expressing life’s weighty and inescapable truths.” <br />Even with degrees in Arts from George Washington University and from Wilson College in Chambersburg, she pursued a graduate degree in Creative Writing from Silliman University. With the stature of First Lady, she humbly immersed into student life by becoming editor-in-chief of the Sands and Coral and the Portal, the yearbook. I have been reading her works published in the Sands and Coral. <br />By the end of my immersion into Ma’am Pearls’ poetry, I figured out some points of human nature. I love the human quality she gave to a Waling-waling, “…don’t’ you know tomorrow will bring/Poor vestiges of your reign?” The beauty of it gives me the urge to help honor those who have responded to the need for Silliman to rally back from the brink of death in the country’s Culture excellence. Ma’am Pearl’s love for Literature, Theater and the Visual Arts expressed in concrete steps is a legacy that will be a driving force to turn around in many good ways the years of mediocre tendencies. <br />There is just too many points to recall of that golden time at Silliman with that lovely presence of the First Lady. My memory of her is here to stay, like her acacias on campus:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Towering acacias <br />Waving leafy branches: <br /> <br />The everlasting arms. </span>Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-91136695489448865822011-07-03T02:05:00.001-06:002011-07-03T02:07:49.218-06:00Teogenes V. Magdamo: Builder of the peace spirit of home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTToGmEwfE5ANfbNxBjH20JngWhbLv7gTw_Kc85Jrg3QrHaNXl-D_XhehqskZ6oSiWVaY55OPLzecUCqXiiGlgclA61CF2BiXeSy-aXq7Q1gA4_ud5kryp_jMdeJuPPjBsjxti/s1600/Tatay+pix+1.+jpg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTToGmEwfE5ANfbNxBjH20JngWhbLv7gTw_Kc85Jrg3QrHaNXl-D_XhehqskZ6oSiWVaY55OPLzecUCqXiiGlgclA61CF2BiXeSy-aXq7Q1gA4_ud5kryp_jMdeJuPPjBsjxti/s200/Tatay+pix+1.+jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625034653920482370" /></a><br />By Moses Joshua Atega • Sun, Jun 26, 2011<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.</span> -John F. Kennedy <br /><br />This wisdom of a leader who believes in the value of peace as a working force in building foundations of enduring legacies became the world’s greatest inspiration. <br /><br />It is the same inspiration that was totally echoed in the life of Silliman University’s hardworking leader Teogenes “Tatay Tony” Villanueva Magdamo. <br /><br />The testimonies of Sillimanians from all over the world when Tatay Tony passed away on Father’s Day in 2010 recalled the many endearing ways he helped build peoples ‘lives. All tributes gave a portrait of a working peace- builder. <br /><br />This SU College of Engineering dean had been hailed as the “builder of the peace spirit of home”.<br /><br />His ways were of sure calculated steps but always with humility. When he assumed as dean after his graduate studies in Syracuse University, Tony Magdamo established a reform agenda. <br /><br />He believed in a doable goal “to engage in the intellectual and spiritual formation of rational, sentient human beings who can use the great reservoir and genius of scientific analysis and technology in bringing about a world where man can truly be at home….” <br /><br />He encouraged everyone to work for excellence and achieve a golden era in the history of the College of Engineering (now College of Engineering & Design). He gave his best in the teaching of Hydraulics and Strength of Materials. <br /><br />Under his leadership, Silliman enjoyed excellent years of Engineering education. All three programs -- Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical -- consistently obtained a 100 percent passing rate in board examinations with a good number of topnotchers. <br /><br />Dean Magdamo was noted to be a strict disciplinarian but sensitive to the welfare of the faculty, staff and students. <br /><br />At one point, he recommended for promotion as faculty member one talented shop assistant/staff, the decision of which gave the worker greater opportunities for progress. <br /><br />There was one school year when some foreign students tried to force Dean Magdamo to delete the requirement for study of the Bible in the Engineering curriculum. But the Dean stood strong in protecting the ideals of a Christian University. <br /><br />Even a dear relative attempted to use “family relations/connections with Tatay Tony” to fix a son’s poor academic performance at the College. But the Dean in Tatay Tony persevered; he stood strong in abiding by University rules. <br /><br />Dean Magdamo was determined in laying down the necessary foundations that have actually enabled Silliman to produce graduates who were above the usual cut of Engineers.<br /><br />He built linkages with institutions in Australia and Japan, that gave the University wider horizons for technology advancement. <br /><br />Graduates of the SU College of Engineering who passed through the strict training of Dean Magdamo were known for their ability to resolve conflicts, make instant solutions, and to express themselves clearly with excellent communication skills; and for their leadership potential, distinctively characterized by their creativity in setting directions amidst challenging times.<br /><br />The University alumni tracer study shows that Engineering graduates of the 1980s are currently occupying leadership positions in their respective fields. <br /><br />Indeed, they have become living profiles of Dean Magdamo’s definition of the Engineering profession: “to create processes and structures within our physical and spatial world that would advance man’s control of his environment, and thereby, realize his greatest potentials as a human being.” <br /><br />One successful alumnus, Benjo Camins, affirmed Dean Magdamo’s leadership style: “He led…so magnificently… the Silliman College of Engineering is what it is today not by accident but by design, and its designer practiced what he preached.” <br /><br />Dr. Levi Oracion also concluded that Dean Magdamo “…lifted his college to high levels of excellence.” <br /><br />Beyond his Engineering College, there were students in campus like me who were only too lucky to have Dean Magdamo as our Tatay. <br /><br />He was always a loving and caring mentor to us who families were in far-away Luzon or Mindanao. We were friends of his daughters, and co-builders of campus events. <br /><br />Every now and then, we would run to the Magdamo home when we needed comfort and comforting, as we were confident and secure that Tatay Tony and Nanay Nilda would, as always, treat us like their own children. <br /><br />I personally became close with Tatay Tony and his family as I was Meda’s classmate, a co-officer at Silliman Church, and in our Psychology Society. I was also working with Tatay Tony as I was one of the student representatives in leadership crisis meetings. Then I was able to work with Tatay Tony again at Silliman Church where he was an Elder and chair of the Pastoral Call committee.<br /><br />More of his builder wisdom was evident in the discussions they would make as Elders of Silliman Church. I witnessed how the views of Tatay Tony were always well-respected, and how his influence affected many important decisions. His was the generous sharing of a builder’s wisdom so valuable in a period of crisis, and in mentoring youth leaders. <br /><br />Inspite of the very demanding role as dean, and at one point, part of the three-man force as University officers-in-charge during a leadership crisis at Silliman, Dean Magdamo remained the bankable family man. <br /><br />He was always inward-looking when faced with matters affecting the home.Coming from a traditional Protestant family orientation, with parents as pillars in the United Chuch of Christ in the Philippines in Digos, Davao del Sur, both his parents were naturally Sillimanians also -- allowing Tatay Tony to bring this spirit of home to build peace within and beyond his household. <br /><br />The Silliman job was never financially-rewarding, but Tatay Tony found ways to always be a good provider, and brought the family’s financial stature a bit beyond what was just sufficient. <br /><br />This he did by his natural acumen in real estate investments. With some properties acquired, Tatay Tony made sure that land disputes would never be a source of discontent in the Magdamo household. He made concrete steps so that every member of the family had a share to bank on. <br /><br />Opportunities to develop a property were well-explored, and new discoveries were generously shared with everyone who needed it. <br /><br />Every wisdom that worked at home was borrowed by friends, and some projects included borrowing Tatay Tony’s direct supervision. <br /><br />The sharing was always with willingness that stemmed from the heart, as it was Tatay Tony’s passion to see properties acquired, and homes built -- becoming shelters of peace and progress. <br /><br />The Moving Variations, one of the most successful dance groups in Dumaguete in the 1980s had Tatay Tony to be thankful for. That’s aside from the fact that it was his daughter Mae who was the gelling factor that kept the group solid in all challenges. <br /><br />The Magdamo home at the Silliman campus became the emotional shelter for the dance artists. With or without engagements, the Magdamos were always there to ensure that all things needed were made available. Beyond the long dance career, the Magdamo home was always the enduring rendezvous even when the family moved on to a subdivision out of the campus. <br /><br />The new home in Bantayan became Tatay Tony’s pride and joy, and he shared the spirit of a peaceful home with everyone. The Bantayan Barangay Council in fact, recognized this with a Model Family award for the Magdamos. <br /><br />Tatay Tony was always willing to be there for us from the airport to any point of the home he built. I have called it my own peace shelter. <br /><br />In fact, when I had to make a major decision to work at Silliman after getting my degree, it was the simplicity of the Magdamo home that became my inspiration. <br /><br />Thinking of this spirit of home at Silliman gave me a sense of security, and made me see the things that really mattered. <br /><br />Meda tells me she is forever thankful to her father who became the anchor of her marriage to withstand all challenges. <br /><br />Tatay Tony was the faithful and loving grandfather to Joshua and Isaiah, standing in as the kids’ loving parent when Meda and husband Gino had work far away from home. <br /><br />I remember one day when Tatay Tony asked me to join him in taking my godson Isaiah to school, and I was amazed how every little expression of intelligence from the child made him very happy. <br /><br />It is also very easy for Joshua to become emotional when asked to talk about his grandfather -- who was always there for him. Joshua promised never to forget his Lolo’s legacy of love and faithfulness. <br /><br />This overflowing love, however, always came with a sense of discipline, as Tatay Tony had a unique way of telling straight-to-the-point without hurting. Even with his own daughters, a reprimand was always muted in the privacy of their bedrooms. <br /><br />Nanay Nilda was always the one precious gem in Tatay Tony’s life. He was so fond of asking artists to paint portraits of his lovely wife. <br /><br />When asked why of all the men, she chose this humble man who loved basketball, Nanay Nilda just smiled and proudly expressed, “Tony was the perfect gentleman.” <br /><br />Looking back, one would realize that the “home” was not just the wooden swing, or Mae’s room, or the kitchen table always laden with food that it became everyone’s favorite part of the house. <br /><br />Home was Silliman distinctly defined by the welcoming heart of Tatay Tony anytime of the day, and any season of the year. There were a lot of memories in that Silliman home that he built – sweet memories of peace that we can easily embrace even beyond Tatay Tony’s lifetime.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-49779955016912377792011-06-06T04:03:00.003-06:002011-06-06T04:18:11.907-06:0031st of May in Siargao<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbX7swLytdm1B68bHU4HouA4XD-Qy3dE3mxVH3QPmoAfytMGMrRaBtOnmgtkvfhXUInlBxapA-oO_jpS7HP1MpzCKGFYWbRxUtEfRXUJAwP7EeyQi16ml5GT23f4Z1eRx0TEx/s1600/Mojo+in+Siargao+46+2011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbX7swLytdm1B68bHU4HouA4XD-Qy3dE3mxVH3QPmoAfytMGMrRaBtOnmgtkvfhXUInlBxapA-oO_jpS7HP1MpzCKGFYWbRxUtEfRXUJAwP7EeyQi16ml5GT23f4Z1eRx0TEx/s200/Mojo+in+Siargao+46+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615046003267417714" /></a><br />I had to call my dear friend Lee Carlos of Malasag House in Cagayan de Oro whom I have introduced in this column as the “king of adventure in Northern Mindanao.” He had suggested that I should celebrate my birthday in Daku, one of the big islands in Siargao. Friends like Lee knew about the promise I made to myself, “never to celebrate my birthday on the same island in this country with more than 7,000….” It has always been this way, island-hopping on the 31st of May with an average of three islands in one day. It’s very doable: you may start with something I did on a Saturday in 2008. My 31st of May morning that year begun with the best breakfast in Dumaguete’s Café Filomena, I went via Sibulan for my next stop: the best lunch at-that-time was at Bodos Bamboo in Argao, Cebu and I took the Taloot roro to Loon, Bohol and proceeded to Panglao and had the best dinner at Bee Farm in Bohol – only the best for a special day. A day filled with sweet memories is the best birthday gift for the self.<br /><br />This year, I agreed to the rescue of Lee for I had a commitment in Surigao City: I emceed the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Bing and Neneng Yuipco, among the city’s most successful entrepreneurs. The Yuipcos’ RSY was my home in this gateway city to Siargao islands. After the big event in the city, Lee’s leading in my birthday journey started. On Sunday morning, we took the Dapa Express at 10am from the city to Siargao’s business center, the town of Dapa. Then, we took a pedicab to be in Lee Carlos’ paradise corner in Siargao Island in the fishing village called Guiwanon in Barangay Union. This beautiful muted-yellow home is sandwiched by the seashore and a hillslope. Being inside this home felt like I was in a casa rico in Cancun. Everything in this seaside home, from furniture to windows, has a minimalist dream setting for the villa glory to simply be the frame of the nature angles all around it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGjCz-zH0MhH4pGTSWrenGzl7gy757p2kcvZ3lbsuOtxIExf4LtyrY7Zb_FDwn1HhoBWf4O36Sp8XVAB0szstWPF1VVhV9kHlRd-OBL0rioRAsnh6N75Z-nRD9K4MmDPKiP0k/s1600/Mojo+in+Siargao+%2528+photo+by+Gringo+9%2529_files.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGjCz-zH0MhH4pGTSWrenGzl7gy757p2kcvZ3lbsuOtxIExf4LtyrY7Zb_FDwn1HhoBWf4O36Sp8XVAB0szstWPF1VVhV9kHlRd-OBL0rioRAsnh6N75Z-nRD9K4MmDPKiP0k/s200/Mojo+in+Siargao+%2528+photo+by+Gringo+9%2529_files.htm" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615047293764698050" /></a><br /><br />Just before sunset, I enjoyed dipping into the crystal-clear coolness beyond the spread of white sand and mangroves that framed the house. I was rewarded with two graceful flights above the blue waters to fish, the site of a the Red-backed Sea-eagle in a live action as it outdid a kingfisher in an ocean-fresh harvest was pure joy. Then, came the drama of the sunset behind the islands. Golden hues spread all over and every wave glistened with them. The enduring visual gifts of nature unfolded were truly priceless!<br /><br />Lee has to drive 18-kilometer away from his Guiwanon corner to General Luna to welcome me to the night beat of the surfers’ paradise. At Cloud 9 Boardwalk, we had an instant party with surfers from Canada. Lee called my attention to the Japanese-looking guy who was smiling and who called me “Kuya Moe.” It wasn’t surprising at all as I always get this: The Silliman Spirit rendezvous is all over this planet. All my life I knew that Sillimanians can be everywhere. Bacolod’s green island prince Dadsie Ledesma Coscolluela, with the title he deserves as it’s his mission to preserve Dajugan Island trough the marine camps, was with his fellow camp counselor, the handsome young chef-on-the-go Gringo Benedicto. They were on their first Siargao island-hopping and they were with a definite surfing goal which Lee interrupted by extending to his fellow Sillimanian the invitation to join us in our 3-island tour the following day.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshwqmiu62O6FCttSXvQlKO629Hjo0e5ODY_aWJOWLP8l5O3_ulzdn1sE-UmnIzqY_kwPAD32aeeQ3vI-KQR_TYHQI5ZKklyTPxCp8Bl9lMBZNXlASYDmUFGFSr0QkOSAIAfr4/s1600/Mojo+in+Siargao+20+2011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshwqmiu62O6FCttSXvQlKO629Hjo0e5ODY_aWJOWLP8l5O3_ulzdn1sE-UmnIzqY_kwPAD32aeeQ3vI-KQR_TYHQI5ZKklyTPxCp8Bl9lMBZNXlASYDmUFGFSr0QkOSAIAfr4/s200/Mojo+in+Siargao+20+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615046396030796466" /></a> <br /><br />Everyone had fun hopping from one bar to another in General Luna. The haba-habal was the only means of transport from one party place to another. Lee and I ended up at GenLuna boulevard for he wanted me to try Arlene’s burger - a pleasant offering in this humble videoke place. I brought home one more perfectly brown burger as it was indeed delicious!<br /><br />Conversations went crazy as the Canadians were discovering the power of Red Horse. Cris from Ontario was already enumerating his long Irish lineage, Simon was proud of his tattooed arms and he was serious in discussing with me the red arrow that leads to a tree which will be the manner he wants to be buried when he’ll die, a tree to be planted on his grave and the tree will become him. Kat, the only brunette in a dozen of blondes, was busy seducing her Pinoy surfing mentor. A lot more of interesting characters in this surfing paraiso and they all added colors to my birthday journey.<br /><br />The morning after the crazy night with blondes and tanned multiculturalism: Lee led me to unpleasant discoveries in this paraiso. He showed me the pawikan (sea turtle) rescued from the hands of the butcher. He had to give 500 pesos to this fisherman/turtle slaughterer just for this marvelous creature to be free. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0hf7O18tCszhSnfNDUzXO74JLtU3JkqXW7Bs0AJO2N4iqdp9k1FOcCRKuYNA3xKJAznGxJsrWUpPfPw2KUOtP6C9k0BxVh-wmKZTNMjjzN-koVTTOngix4lv6MjlcbFIWnNy/s1600/Mojo+in+Siargao+32+2011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0hf7O18tCszhSnfNDUzXO74JLtU3JkqXW7Bs0AJO2N4iqdp9k1FOcCRKuYNA3xKJAznGxJsrWUpPfPw2KUOtP6C9k0BxVh-wmKZTNMjjzN-koVTTOngix4lv6MjlcbFIWnNy/s200/Mojo+in+Siargao+32+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615046979397038210" /></a>Sensing that they would find the young “living fossil” again, Lee decided to create a pond and ask the kids around to take care of the poor victim. I’ve talked to the turtle slaughterer as he tried to convince me to try the turtle meat which the local people consider the best they have. He recalled that as kids, they would see hundreds of baby turtles crawling towards the ocean. They would harvest them as pets and the big ones butchered for food. I asked if his own kids are enjoying the same fun-frolic-with-turtles nowadays. He told me that he could no longer find a sandbar where turtles are freely making it part of their kingdom for hatchery. Lee told him that time will come when his own grandchildren could only see a carapace but with no smart living creature in it.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-58780095679445071682011-06-02T20:51:00.004-06:002011-06-02T21:09:49.787-06:00Career Lessons from American Idol 10<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdwiv9CsSF2cCup-PZ8uyN6DcmHrG7qEl8Y7QhxfkkXZ48a8mW8eS_jwRfDFAmmduedkp_iLIGU0qS0oSWpfK6tp1mHJz-dL6qSvIQcZL6DvEUgWDo91s_4XBk1OVTOyxQ_VQ/s1600/Scotty+McCreery.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdwiv9CsSF2cCup-PZ8uyN6DcmHrG7qEl8Y7QhxfkkXZ48a8mW8eS_jwRfDFAmmduedkp_iLIGU0qS0oSWpfK6tp1mHJz-dL6qSvIQcZL6DvEUgWDo91s_4XBk1OVTOyxQ_VQ/s200/Scotty+McCreery.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613823277214594786" /></a><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">Slap that baby on the ass and call me Christmas</span>!” Steven Tyler got the audience applause on this line he made after Scotty McCreery’s deep-passion interpretation of Josh Turner’s Your Man. <br /><br />My excitement and anticipation involved in watching American Idol week after week came from the punches that could only come from new judge Steven Tyler. <br /><br />Tyler proves to be a total entertainer with his wit and line flips. I also love his sensitivity and care for every artist who went on stage. He led me to an analysis of what was right and what went wrong with every performance. <br /><br />When I went hopping from one island to another in our beloved Philippines to give career orientation to high students and their parents, my weekly AI delight became the mold for my talk. I would tell my audience that choosing a career is like singing for American Idol. You have to have the right song. A song that pleases the judges -- the possible employers. <br /><br />At the same time, it must be the song that you love -- passion is essential for a good performance. It should be the song that blends with the outward packaging; look and perform like the one they need, just like how Lauren Alaina shines with her prom-queen blue gown. We may have hated it, but America loves it like that. <br /><br />It should be the song and style blend that will outshine all “generic” tendencies of a performer: trying to look like a diva even with the ‘upbeat music’ requirement, which resulted in the elimination of Pia Toscano and Jacob Lusk -- too sweet even when the role calls for a more mature presence. That was the reason why Filipina Thia Megia’s American dream had to end; and too wild beyond the moments that required a more dignified and respectable manicure: Naima Adedapo did not have the voice range to sustain the image, and James Durbin failed to dwell in silence when he had a back-to-back song variation opportunity; instead, he chose to scream on both performnaces. My favorite Casey Abrams, my lady bet Haley Reinhart,my fashion icon Paul McDonald, and my sistahs' crush Stefano Langone were all victims of wrong song choices. <br /><br />The 10th season of American Idol revived the world’s love for country music. The two artists in the 2011 final week battle, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, were both born to be country music stars. Their home circles -- McCreery hails from North Carolina, and Alaina from Georgia -- defined their natural style and voice technique; there was raw talent in them, and days with American Idol elevated what- they’ve-got to an enduring star power. <br /><br />Honesty towards the innate capacity was essential in defining the direction to make. The other hopefuls crumbled as they failed to have a consistent direction. And the others failed to harvest the votes as they were too selfish to give back to the audience – the ultimate judge. The ultimate idol Scotty McCreery got all the love for he grew week after week with the humble heart of a learner and a drive of a dreamer. <br /><br />Tyler’s feels-like-Christmas moment can easily be given when we are sensitive to what the world needs.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-60101745343078239522011-05-23T06:20:00.004-06:002011-05-23T19:27:39.976-06:00Philline, my summer earth angel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla2p0YgAiWg1JZTLmD32PHH17U1v2S2zIQaBKzxyQURAEz9Zb0YwvWnFyUKVO6-ipjksysv8_kqxdCHhkZMhyphenhyphene4h-k8FFJ5t54g3ETtQlTiVgiSgrRqN2Wu7jsWKLPGhXsGUV/s1600/Philline.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla2p0YgAiWg1JZTLmD32PHH17U1v2S2zIQaBKzxyQURAEz9Zb0YwvWnFyUKVO6-ipjksysv8_kqxdCHhkZMhyphenhyphene4h-k8FFJ5t54g3ETtQlTiVgiSgrRqN2Wu7jsWKLPGhXsGUV/s200/Philline.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609886340244676818" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it’s a challenge to the moral imagination.</span> - Al Gore<br /><br />VALENCIA, ORIENTAL NEGROS -- I did not have to be in an international conference to listen to the wisdom of Al Gore. All I had to do was go to the Writers Village in Camp Look-Out here, and discover an Al Gore-trained environmentalist Philline Marie Paye Dongga, one of the fellows in the 50th Silliman University National Writers Workshop.<br /><br />This writer from Cagayan de Oro came to the workshop expressing her fear of not being worthy to be with the country’s best in the literary world. It is this sense of humility that made her presence heartwarming. But it turned out, her works in creative non-fiction successfully brought us to the soul of her passion. She is writing from the heart - the makings of a true artist. She made a promise to lead us more to good reading and towards a sense of mission: Go Green!<br /><br />Philline, a TV journalist and event organizer, lives a life totally inspired by her training under the former US Vice President Al Gore at The Climate Project – Asia Pacific Summit (A-P Summit) in Jakarta with participants from 21 different countries from the Asia-Pacific region.<br /><br />In a press release on her successful participation, she expressed: “I have always educated myself about the ideas of carbon emissions, carbon footprint and its relation to climate change but what I learned from the Summit, specifically the climate science update from scientists like Dr. Henry Pollack of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made clear how urgent the situation is…. It is frightening when you consider the 2010 average annual concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has gone way beyond the upper safety limit which is 350 parts per million…. This means more extreme weather events like super typhoons and heavy flooding, which we have been seeing much of in the Philippines.”<br /><br />During the lecture of Dr. Rowena Tiempo-Torrevillas to celebrate the golden anniversary of the writers workshop on May 10, Dumaguete’s tree angel Leo Mamicpic made a wish that young writers will make use of their gifts in poetry and fiction to make one important call: save the environment!<br /><br />Dr. Torrevillas responded by introducing Philline to the audience. Philline expressed her willingness to extend her stay in Dumaguete to speak to groups who will need a concrete background on environmentalism. Leo's co-earth angels Cecilia Hoffman and Esther Windler right away got Philline’s contact for possibilities.<br /><br />It’s awesome to know that someone from an urban center in Mindanao is living a life of an earth angel. I remember the weekend when we went to Siquijor, everyone rushed to buy bottled water, and Philline was quick to share with me that she has her own permanent water bottle so as not to add more plastic waste into the environment.<br /><br />And I can’t help but follow her example as it is definitely one everyday habit that can be twisted to be a tool to send a green call of the people around me. Her bottle became a conversation piece and opened many more points of discussion. Each point came with much passion from my summer earth angel.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-89922364571366938332011-04-15T07:50:00.003-05:002011-04-15T07:56:42.789-05:00Welcome to DUMAGUETE, the Summer Workshop Capital of the Philippines!It’s summer! Time to bring the family to Dumaguete, the Summer Workshop Capital of the Philippines! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmm1CKxYJZG_g2qJb5_dEwrAAXwggEg68T8B-Aic7ARXfYHwLoVHXtBY6nWbzHLkNHf-6ieleWbRUbTElJDNsr3L3rep56htBaCm_wEDkgh_GNSYhqbFfaUb-U8vInXh43tQE/s1600/National+Artist+EDITH+TIEMPO.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmm1CKxYJZG_g2qJb5_dEwrAAXwggEg68T8B-Aic7ARXfYHwLoVHXtBY6nWbzHLkNHf-6ieleWbRUbTElJDNsr3L3rep56htBaCm_wEDkgh_GNSYhqbFfaUb-U8vInXh43tQE/s200/National+Artist+EDITH+TIEMPO.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595792293303221218" /></a>While Mom and Dad will be in a romantic hop from one waterfalls to another, their talented young son is sitting down as a fellow at the oldest creative writing workshop in Asia – this legacy of National Artist Edith Lopez Tiempo and her late husband Doc Ed which is turning 50 years old this May. Or their daughter can be in Guy Hall taking piano lessons, or maybe at Aquacenter for swimming. And while the youngest daughter is learning the basics in ballet, Grandma can keep herself busy with her own painting lessons under an internationally recognized visual artist Kitty Taniguchi. <br /><br />Come witness Philippine ethnomusicology pioneer and Asia’s first Certified McClosky Voice Technician Priscilla Magdamo Abraham together with prolific Music Education author Dr. Elizabeth Susan Dimaya Vista Suarez as they mount again pioneering programs in Voice and Choral Music Education. <br /><br />Flash those DSLRs at the best Photography workshop under the busiest king of images Greg Morales as he leads you to iconic subjects to be captured and the beautiful landscapes all over will be the harvest in your every frame. Or go beyond multimedia workshop under the multi-talented Hersley-Ven Casero of Foundation University. <br /><br />Write the green spirit in your child’s heart with lessons in biodiversity and garbage recycling within a butterfly garden in St. Paul University. Bring the entire local government force and get the green wisdom directly from Dr. Angel C. Alcala, the world’s father in Coastal Resources Management. <br /><br />Before your trip abroad, hit the gentle Dumaguete road with driving lessons and other skills training doable in short term arrangements at Negros Oriental State University. <br /><br />Meet Ate Ely, Kuya Jar with Ate Shawee, Ate Edna and the rest of the big brothers and big sisters at Oriental Hall who are the best facilitators in town for team building and other corporate human resource development programs. For an inner journey and peace of mind, there is always the listening power of Dr. Margret Helen Udarbe Alvarez, Dr. Betsy Joy B. Tan and Dr. Noel Yasi. <br /><br />Then, back to Guy Hall for more of the amazing Visual Arts explorations with two of Dumaguete’s most prolific art educators Yvette Malahay Kim and Jutze Pamate. Art-talk with Jutze and be overwhelmed by his almost never-ending stories and go home a walking almanac of the journey to the golden age of Renaissance and beyond.<br /><br />Take a break from your computer game and check out the College of Mass Communication and the College of Computer Studies of Silliman University now opening new windows for young talents to learn the basics in journalism, broadcasting and computer graphic design. <br /><br />Theater world in Dumaguete is another rewarding workshop as the stage queen Dessa Quezada Palm makes it a tool to make young talents become fully aware of their potential as community builders. Anticipate the actor in you come out of the workshop with a sensitivity to the call of the times. <br /><br />The list is endless with all the workshop weeks to conquer and the nature trips to keep the family and guardians busy in waiting games. <br />But then something seems not in sync with the knowledge revolution, and it pains me that Summer in Dumaguete will be capped with this mediocre production called Kabulakan. What with all of those celluloid blooms and paper roses in May compared to Baguio’s Panagbenga and Davao’s Kadayawan? No wonder we hear tourists getting frustrated of the promise of a “Mayflower” experience vaguely realized under the heat of a summer sun. I can’t blame them — Dumaguete’s Kabulakan’s historical dimension and cultural value are without strong foundations. <br />Don’t get me wrong, I have much respect for the organizers and am one with them in giving tribute to the late Manolit Teves, Dumaguete’s Renaissance man, whose ideas and presence were the moving force in this festival. But I believe that the best way to honor the man is to move on and make his idea a kind of point of departure. A workshop on festival management is a must to develop what really belongs to Dumaguete and this University Town is so rich with resource persons on history and creative production. I really think that Kabulakan will have a better version if mounted in Valencia, Oriental Negros, the capital of blooms. Dumaguete’s “dagit” origin can be explored and I am confident that the brainstorm will have a fruitful harvest that we all can celebrate.<br /><br />As of now, let’s just join hands in letting the whole world know that this University Town is the Summer Workshop Capital of the country. Family tours will then be flooding and our business community will be in their own productive workshops of food, fun jams, fares and flares!Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-33797193929267201702011-04-07T19:12:00.002-05:002011-04-07T19:47:38.947-05:00Summer starts in Northern Mindanao….<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3a-oGhxY4Ad1YNDYoATjZUytnhoDGboVaA3WCReECdwmNak5Und_Fgft71_eosURo36Ttka9eIkoYXh6giqws-9LsMvPI1hZ5-JsFNHUALIF_Mfv_yImFmnVm775hRgYfBj/s1600/Mojo+in+Malasag+2011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac3a-oGhxY4Ad1YNDYoATjZUytnhoDGboVaA3WCReECdwmNak5Und_Fgft71_eosURo36Ttka9eIkoYXh6giqws-9LsMvPI1hZ5-JsFNHUALIF_Mfv_yImFmnVm775hRgYfBj/s200/Mojo+in+Malasag+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592999415582783762" /></a><br />So there’s my dear friend Lee Carlos of Malasag House in Cagayan de Oro whom I fondly call as the “king of adventure in Northern Mindanao” – he’s led a few European stars to discover Mindanao, has worked with the local government to help develop tourism potentials he uncovered, he’s the man of the Malasag house and the breath-taking beachfront in Siargao, just to name a few – and he’s invited those friends closest to his heart to join him in his birthday. It’s always like that: on his birthday, he’s up for a new adventure — hunting for some undiscovered, pristine destinations you wouldn’t see in the pages of a travel guide. Of course this is the one call every year that was hard to resist for someone as free-spirited like me, but I had to say no this time because of an important job. And then he decides to postpone the party to wait for me, and that was that.<br /><br />The evening dinner had a German flavor blending into home favorites — spaghetti, humba, a different twist of Bicol Express and a lot more with the centerpiece of Filipino dining, lechong baboy, putting smiles on everyone’s faces including Max and La Rissa, our German friends. Max had on the table this wet arrangement of sausages and balls called Sauerkraut while La Rissa capped the evening with her version of Black Forest — hers had these midget fruit sliced toppings, so you can just imagine what a colorful Black Forest it is. Then as a prelude to the King’s adventure, we belted Filipino and English songs while our German friends did theirs. <br />Saturday morning in Malasag House, a bed and breakfast haven, Ied me to Lee’s herb garden. At the deck overlooking the entire expanse of Cagayan de Oro’s bayview, I snatched a few minutes to read a few pages of Morgan Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled and Beyond: Spiritual Growth in an Age of Anxiety and performed the five steps of the Tibetan exercises I learned from this lady guru who lives in Camiguin Island. This spot in Malasag House became my corner of tranquility. The experience of a cool dawn in an herb garden is simply spiritual. <br />The call for breakfast came and the adventure king was already busy giving instructions of what to bring for our weekend discovery. Rhea, a Malasag princess, with a room in the house named after her was with me in thinking more of what to wear than what to bring. The fashionista in Rhea was in total expression as Max, the boy with the golden hair, was very much like the sunrise splendor that awakened all of us in this mountain slope rendezvous. I was in high spirits as well as Lee announced that the room I shared with Max will be named Mojo, my nickname since 2001. I would know friends’ time zone with me by the nickname they will use to call me: Mong for friends from the 1980s, Moe or Josh for friends from the 1990s and now it’s Mojo. <br /><br />On the road to our weekend discovery, Rhea, and La Rissa joined me at the back of this pick-up adventure. Max had set a date with a lady he discovered on Facebook and he decided to just stay home as he did not want to miss what had been keeping him excited in this Philippine trip. Lee was driving and his lifetime partner Guus joined him by taking the leg-room in the frontseat. I started singing John Denver’s <span style="font-style:italic;">Country Road </span>while beside me La Rissa was busy taking pictures of people and signs of Philippine countryside. I took the camera from her as she was lovely with the wind-blown hair and I became the camera man for this beautiful subject.<br />The road to Kahulugan Falls in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental was filled with scenic curves along rockwalls and river banks. I noticed the huge population of domestic goats and it was such a delight to see one brown-spotted family on a huge rock. I had my harvest of Marigold blooms and I helped Lee in his harvest of giant lilies. As we continued our upward journey, Lee shouted to announce that we were nearing the waterfalls and we started hearing the rushing sound of this glory in the sky. We stopped to park in this corner which was like in the middle of the rainforest and I ran to be on top of a rock and had my Tarzan moment with giant vines hanging from trees. It was time to make our final ascend and we had to cross the old hanging bridge. It was scary since it’s totally rusty, the wooden steps looked like each block is already decaying and too weak to hold us but the gleeful leading of Lee made us forget the fear of a possible fall. We danced with him as the swinging of the bridge was in perfect rhythm with the sounds of running water everywhere. Just a few more huge rocks to conquer and there it was: Kahulugan <span style="font-style:italic;"></span>Falls – the ultimate reward. So high was the wide-rocky curved glory that framed Kahulugan and the entire expanse also framed the blue sky with the drama of cloud formation. It was indeed surreal that a dreamlike corner of the earth can just be found at the edge of a plateau in the highlands of Jasaan. <br /><br />Back in Malasag House, I made this shout on my Facebook wall: “Northern Mindanao's KING of Adventure LEE CARLOS of Malasag House led us to discover Kahulugan Falls in Jasaan last weekend. Definitely in my Top 10 list of the country's most beautiful waterfalls. I hope the LGU can do something with the awful architecture of the totally neglected concrete development. Every Filipino MUST google and understand ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE, let's stop mediocrity please....” <br /><br />And that’s how this summer has started for me.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-12469214184091355122009-11-26T23:12:00.003-05:002009-11-27T08:37:44.164-05:00BOXING-inspired BREAKFAST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxQidGutn_k5Dc0a6GoGHlQ7bnJb7noamjsGykBidgOpW3R2GJp7a_PkuPFJvNqt2fzowF5ZKRA4bQm4i6-1Zc1cNvhPVRdNTk7Lu-gZ0Zea7wSMwiieZe2H13NhlRVDwfXJ7/s1600/beach.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxQidGutn_k5Dc0a6GoGHlQ7bnJb7noamjsGykBidgOpW3R2GJp7a_PkuPFJvNqt2fzowF5ZKRA4bQm4i6-1Zc1cNvhPVRdNTk7Lu-gZ0Zea7wSMwiieZe2H13NhlRVDwfXJ7/s200/beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408632175619265826" /></a> The Duchess of Dauin will soon become a rewarding discovery in the beach facing Apo Island. The Saturday fun with three amazing women Connie Padriga Belmar, Dina Buna and Hedi Block, the lady behind the Duchess, was unplanned but turned-out well and really fun. These ladies share one common experience, living abroad for so many years and like snowbirds, they come home to enjoy the Philippine sun. Our conversation first centered on Hedi’s line of business: incenses and scents. Passionately, she shared how her products are made and the events that featured them: aromatic oils for spa and interior cleansing, sticks with rose and lavender scents for concerts and more. We discussed the possibilities of our very own scents from Ilang-ilang, Champaca, Camia, Rosal and Sampaguita. Dina shared her amazement over a lemon grass oil sold in expensive bottles in Southern France. I shared how Malaysia made money from their discovery of Philippines’ Ilang-ilang and the lack of entrepreneurial vision of our Filipino producers. The conversation was pleasantly interrupted with Tita Connie calling our attention to the red moon. <br /><br />The red moon rising ever the horizon signaled the time to make a decision, to stay overnight or go home for dinner. The red shades totally gone and the pearl-like moon made us stay. I started my evening serenade of songs from movie themes which ended with the 80’s hit, Michael Jackson’s “Someone In the Dark” – the theme song of the film “ET.” Tita Connie asked for more, I sang “Loveliest Night of the Year,” a Mario Lanza hit in the 50s. My bathroom singer voice had an instant audience, and I led them gradually to deep slumber under a starry sky. <br />Breakfast call came and it was a surprise when Tita Connie told us that our lady host is a boxing coach in tournaments abroad. At breakfast, Hedi gave us an instant boxing orientation. Hedi’s passion for sports is being put to work in Dauin with concrete steps toward building a boxing academy in Maayong Tubig, Dauin. The breakfast discussion on this well-love sports ushered in two unexpected rewards: a business idea and an analysis of the ultimate arena of the Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto boxing fight. <br />Hedi’s husband, Fred, was the president of the Yuma County Youth Boxing Association, Inc in the United States. In fact, Fred was in Las Vegas during the big fight. In Fred’s absence, we had one more consultant,Joe Clough, the former head trainer at the Tacoma Boys Club, an amateur boxing program in Tacoma, WA, USA. Amongst the outstanding fighters developed by Clough at the Tacoma Boys Club as amateurs were: Leo Randolph (World Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist) , Rocky Lockridge (World Champion) , Johnny Bumphus (World Champion and National Amateur Champion) , Sugar Ray Seales (Olympic Gold Medalist) , Dale Grant (National Amateur Champion) and Davey Lee Armstrong (National Amateur Champion, Member of U.S. Olympic Team). Hedi and Joe LIVE! It was almost unbelievable that on this Maayong Tubig seaside, we had this close encounter with international boxing experts. Our corner that Sunday morning was certainly the best boxing viewing stand in all of the island. <br />What was Joe’s forecast of the Pinoy sports icon and did he guess it right? Pacquiao's long been defining his high-powered-punch: the uppercut. And this, according to Joe, would be The Pacman’s tool to outdo Cotto. And the indeed on the fourth round, Pacquiao capped what could had been his finisher for Cotto with a strong left uppercut and another set of seconds with another but Cotto was saved by the bell. Pacquiao survived his opponent’s jabs, and in a speed that destroyed whatever was the Cotto gameplan, the Pinoy hero after a successful right, and another left uppercut on round seven which had Cotto on ropes. Being in a neutral corner, Pacquiao flooded Cotto with blows, then one full wave of another ruinous left uppercut. It had a bloody outcome, Cotto was spitting blood from a lip cut and more bleeding from the nose. Pacquiao’s coach, Roach, suggested that this was the best time to stop the fight but Cotto asked for more. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDZqMzkVLwjqA6YN43-tMaXgdREc375Vv7yQWLjujriB07e6xFxYr8cNE-zC1R4UNDyfpwojud4lORy2IYuHsyj0v2z-fvVaPt7UisaT0MGRxn8NR_cVLBe-9-N4_xe5Vnz0w/s1600/Pacman-Cotto.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDZqMzkVLwjqA6YN43-tMaXgdREc375Vv7yQWLjujriB07e6xFxYr8cNE-zC1R4UNDyfpwojud4lORy2IYuHsyj0v2z-fvVaPt7UisaT0MGRxn8NR_cVLBe-9-N4_xe5Vnz0w/s200/Pacman-Cotto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408632351936442194" /></a><br /><br />The live sessions with Joe gave Dina an inspiration to give Dumaguete a boxing gym on top of Portal West. Then Joe, shared with us his own gameplan for Negros Island which will be realized with the help of Fred and Hedi: right on the seaside of Maayong Tubig, the Philippines’ boxing academy will rise – a dream born within the Duchess of Dauin. What a beautiful sunny morning!Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-23892272245731522692009-10-09T00:29:00.002-06:002009-10-09T00:32:34.452-06:00SUGA: Making a Difference!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC23_QdhFuEBmwLvqVWMUXX_PLa5K_CsAmRzO2Qz-hcoF1QAmNtPo3VjXlqbIbj06q_0kDUwloAmEbA6oIomeRFQe7IuupGhzNXPtTst3ro_Q44hkhCDFrxDrdDatgk7-_tdaQ/s1600-h/SUGA.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC23_QdhFuEBmwLvqVWMUXX_PLa5K_CsAmRzO2Qz-hcoF1QAmNtPo3VjXlqbIbj06q_0kDUwloAmEbA6oIomeRFQe7IuupGhzNXPtTst3ro_Q44hkhCDFrxDrdDatgk7-_tdaQ/s200/SUGA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390484015840351858" /></a><br />"I would be nothing without knowing what God really wants for me. . .," IRESSE PATRICIA O. BULOS tearfully declared, in the Silliman University Goodwill Ambassador (SUGA) Search final challenge on September 25 in Café Antonio: a sermonette on the theme “Thy Will Be Done” -- one of the winning moments of this humble young talent who, along with the other Aspiring Ambassadors (AA) and their production team, (pressured with little preparation time, faith stories uncovered, ability to present a quality stage production) discovered with touches of elegance over a week-long run. All these made the event that capped the Youth Week celebration of Silliman Church a decision that is (or will prove to be) equally formative and, it being an avenue of working faith testimonies, far more determined, unyielding.<br /><br />SUGA: Silliman University Goodwill Ambassador, a talent search inspired by popular reality TV programs, was an achievement of brave young workers led by Parish News Editor Gus Ganir, the Christian Youth Fellowship president Daniel Kho and Campus Ambassadors chairman Marky Cielo with the full-of-talent-energy hosting by Anna Espino and Carlo Regalado . Its entire expanse had been mostly an achievement of willingness to make a difference -- not for the self but in celebration of God-given talents. Although set within the spirit of a friendly competition, every solo presentation of an AA espoused the most passionate faith testimony of the youth; an ideal seriousness which, in a rare moment, was found in a generation usually lost in trivial peer-pressured frolic. Iresse, the winner, expressed that so far in all her life as a young achiever, her being SUGA was the most meaningful - simply splendid with subtle building-up of joy within a Christian youth fellowship composed of: Boyd Milan, the classical guitarist; Matthew Torres, the hip-hop dancer using praise songs; Fredilyn Fabillar, the Christian pop singer; Anton Sanchez, the Christian rock band lead singer; Raiza Majam, the inspirational motivator; Retz Pol Pacalioga, the composer and Olive Rubillos, the praise and worship leader. The SUGA experience im all its simplicity became the most authentic and complete of all of Iresse’s involvements, beside her other wins in other school contests which were not as fulfilling, she said. <br /><br />Among the reasons for its mounting, the SUGA was committed to defining real youth challenges amidst inherent tendencies to just go-with-the-flow and that result in any work concerning the youth a mediocre undertaking without discernment of the beauty of God-given gift of creativity. It proves that Church youth work today requires a strong plan involving excellence in visual communication, a service that answers to the short-attention span of young people. Creative path is the nerve of today’s youth work, so that the young mind dwells within a meaningful journey which, to the majority of the chosen circle of friends, could still be regarded as “too churchy” and finds it absolutely boring compared to the challenge in a computer game or to the appeal of television primetime. While our Church youth are obliged to package themselves according to the concrete pleasant pressure of their contemporaries, youth ministry as a whole has to have an encompassing avenue to cover even the most unknown addressee. It should send vivid signals beyond boundaries and take courage that stems from the omnipotence of GOD, the Great-Giver-of-All-Talents.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-34477283948820847372009-07-02T05:59:00.005-06:002009-07-02T06:11:16.449-06:00Hari ng Negros 2009: “Arise the Phoenix”The Hari ng Negros pageant is considered to be the most popular male pageant in the country. The annual parade of princes is part of the celebration of the charter anniversary of the island of Negros’ city-in-the-sky: CANLAON.<br /><br />It was on May 16 when I was invited to be in Canlaon City to conduct personality enhancement, speech improvement and handling Q & A workshops for the candidates of the 2009 Hari ng Negros pageant. The session gave me the opportunity to experience the daytime presence of the princes from the different towns and cities of the island of Negros. They were in their casual and comfortable weekend fashion and no one was wearing make-up. The workshop taught them how to achieve a strong manly presence while on a ramp walk, a review on the non-verbal and verbal considerations when in a panel interview and finally, a long session on common beauty pageant questions. <br /><br />The session was an opportunity to make my own secret judging of the possible winners. My top 10 after the exposure were: the prince with the classic look and sizzling shirtless flaunting Prince of Talisay FERDINAND SAN FELIX, the prince with the over-all star presence Prince of Pamplona RAMI GALLEGO, the prince with the-perfect-gentleman bearing Prince of San Carlos RHAMRIC SIMPRON, the prince with the top model allure Prince of Bacolod CHARLES ANITO, the prince with the exotic appeal and perfectly-chiseled body Prince of Tayasan PHILIP MANUBAG, the prince with the sweetest smile Prince of Canlaon ALJUNREY TAUBAN, the prince with the rugged, muscular and raw magnetism Prince of La Libertad MARK GARGOLES, the prince confident of his boy-next-door appeal Prince of Dumaguete JAY-AR GANDOLA, the prince with the Oriental pretty boy charisma Prince of Bais CONAN AYUDA and the prince with endearing innocent aura Prince of Bindoy MELRICK CALIJAN. Others whom I forecasted to make a surprise cut were: the prince with the subtle handsome charm Prince of Calatrava VINCENT CALAPTI, the prince with the fighting spirit and face value to bank on Prince of Amlan LORD CHESTER TAN, the prince with the serious-business-in-a-contest zeal and the one with the most expressive eyes Prince of Vallehermoso JESSE CENIZA. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ODufSWkgLM68-WcIVlixKE2oCgQXoXOewNj3STwIo_JA9BGMD3tM-kKH3o8Cz25r_h7uIKepKb4IVvbYDkavmVmRtSnz01FOAF3UTjIfeVCnZHzjXCMBGoLL4ze371AXztpt/s1600-h/at+Lalimar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ODufSWkgLM68-WcIVlixKE2oCgQXoXOewNj3STwIo_JA9BGMD3tM-kKH3o8Cz25r_h7uIKepKb4IVvbYDkavmVmRtSnz01FOAF3UTjIfeVCnZHzjXCMBGoLL4ze371AXztpt/s200/at+Lalimar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353832529441545826" /></a>The final pageant night on May 27 in Canlaon City had my favorite Prince of Tayasan walking like a hip-hop kid in the Barong Tagalog portion and for this, he failed to make it to the Top 10 cut. Prince of Bacolod was in trouble with the new braces he had after a dental cosmetology, he was without the expected winsome smile. He also did not make it. The remaining semi-finalists were the princes from Talisay, La Libertad, San Carlos, Canlaon, Calatrava, Dumaguete, Pamplona, Bais, Bindoy and Vallehermoso. With almost all of my bets making it to this level in the competition, I did so well in my facebook forecast. <br /><br />Body-painting champ Prince of Vallehermoso gave the best answer in the semi-final round but his facial make-up made him look arrogant and a bit less masculine. Mister Photogenic awardee Prince of Pamplona missed the second point in his answer to a question on the two roles of a Hari ng Negros. Prince of Calatrava also failed to share a complete thought. The screams of the young ladies in the audience did not save their favorite Prince of Bais when he failed to expound on his answer. And hometown favorite and the one with the best smile Prince of Canlaon also failed to give a confident answer. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQ1u11lcJmofOFVZNbIlt0m4o2a1Eb79NOAI0piiTERg9I8yqLu7Cjwlzb-_APB2hKvmpdWU9gh52FLFHphqlbXVzCVzEibO7_iBIPO98HurdKN6TxXPp_sOKMn8lBo8psPw/s1600-h/Hari+2009+winners.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQ1u11lcJmofOFVZNbIlt0m4o2a1Eb79NOAI0piiTERg9I8yqLu7Cjwlzb-_APB2hKvmpdWU9gh52FLFHphqlbXVzCVzEibO7_iBIPO98HurdKN6TxXPp_sOKMn8lBo8psPw/s200/Hari+2009+winners.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353832992803040322" /></a>The Final 5 round had The Prince of La Libertad in the lead with outstanding over-all performance especially in the swimwear portion, Prince of Talisay who harvested a good number of special awards with his high energy street-dance glory as the clincher, Prince of San Carlos who gave an impressive answer on the question about Philippine tourism, Prince of Dumaguete whose aura of confidence was beaming all-night long, and the one with the humble presence Prince of Bindoy who started to impress the judges when the Guest of Honor Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula G. Henry asked him, "What is the common weakness among men?” The Prince of Bindoy, a sophomore Accountancy student from Silliman University, answered "it's pride that leads men to a common weakness: not being able to handle rejection specially when they try their very best to get a girl's approval and only to be rejected....”<br /><br />In the Top 5 round, Prince of Talisay struggled to answer the question from Prince of Bindoy, “If you will be become a rock, how hard would you want yourself to be?” After a long dead air, Prince of Talisay managed to express, “I want a diamond.” With this delay in answer, the crowd’s favorite to win the crown failed to be among the Top 3 princes. Prince of Dumaguete also failed when asked by Prince of San Carlos to describe Canlaon to a blind person, he sounded like a politician talking about Canlaon being a paradise, a land of progress and a place of friendly people. <br /><br />In the Top 3 were Best in Swimwear and Best Ramp Model awardee Prince of La Libertad MARK GARGOLES, the youngest and the tallest bet Prince of Bindoy MELRICK CALIJAN and the Best Personality for Commercial modeling awardee Prince of San Carlos RHAMRIC SIMPRON. Both Mark and Rhamric considered knowing God as the point of rebirth in their own life stories when asked to reflect on the pageant’s theme “Arise the Phoenix.” Melrick pointed-out a simple Phoenix-like experience in his life and that was being on stage as a Hari ng Negros aspirant. He explained, “This is a totally new experience for me and being here feels like being reborn to a new challenge.” With all three tackling well the final question, the pageant ended with a triple-tie in the final tally of points. The Chairman of the Board of Judges, acclaimed film director Mario J. de los Reyes, had to break the tie and the youngest phoenix was chosen. With his humble presence and gift of innocence, Melrick Calijan arose to be king so unexpectedly. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOA_wNXk5S3_fTC-DjhOAlHD42A0FzWD6FPeTAw7sZrcEGFUyeFbrn-KEy3fd9OihIer96CijT1pX7w-D8ShThLr_L47rpz78G6ke4WLKlidyo4lL5-F5TUj_T56QpwNA0Y13/s1600-h/2+Hari+2009+winners.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOA_wNXk5S3_fTC-DjhOAlHD42A0FzWD6FPeTAw7sZrcEGFUyeFbrn-KEy3fd9OihIer96CijT1pX7w-D8ShThLr_L47rpz78G6ke4WLKlidyo4lL5-F5TUj_T56QpwNA0Y13/s200/2+Hari+2009+winners.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353831998372556962" /></a>Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-53452400648416675762009-05-19T18:53:00.002-06:002009-05-19T18:58:23.191-06:00pride and joy: Lalimar Resort of La Libertad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbRcLnvwTst5G21OGDHUO2-DYccuUg7ZJ9ICwqWdx4PesutPZFeDNnIFDtJTEDMU7B1w5NbfojKuP_jNXMA51s1TwOWrGUQN8IxL6cPA2kpkJ83pDaIi66QiNqa1tpNWUztzd/s1600-h/Lalimar+Resort+of+La+Libertad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbRcLnvwTst5G21OGDHUO2-DYccuUg7ZJ9ICwqWdx4PesutPZFeDNnIFDtJTEDMU7B1w5NbfojKuP_jNXMA51s1TwOWrGUQN8IxL6cPA2kpkJ83pDaIi66QiNqa1tpNWUztzd/s200/Lalimar+Resort+of+La+Libertad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337704127556595794" /></a><br />Many are talking about a mango orchard that has been transformed into a tourist destination. <br /><br />Truly worthy of the threee-hour drive from Dumaguete is Lalimar Resort in the town of La Libertad! <br /><br />Going there today, however, will temporarily give you an unpleasant interruption of the current election showcase: road construction all over the country. But the long drive will certainly be rewarded by this seaside gem. <br /><br />The new resort is a work of art facing Tañon Strait. Cebu island serves as its sculptural line at the other end of the expanse of the familiar blue calm. All elements of the landscape architecture are made to blend with the existing dominant texture: the graceful waves of the ocean. <br /><br />There is elegance in the strength of every shelter. The evident energy of the restless creative mind gives new ideas in the use of indigenous materials. A survey of the details is a refreshing experience. <br /><br />The infinity edge pool as centerpiece defines tranquility. Its endless blue reflection is the coolness we badly need in this very humid season. <br /><br />On special events, the music of the children rondalla will be part of the welcome. <br /><br />Another source of joy are the products of the Lali women: native bags, baskets, hats, mats and a lot more. A digicam will certainly be busy capturing the endless display of colors. <br /><br />The mango trees with yellow blooms are beginning to dance in the seabreeze with clusters of little fruits. A bit of Guimaras grandeur in Negros! <br /><br />This new inspiration is part of the spirit of progress made possible by the generous heart of Congresswoman Josy Limkaichong. <br /><br />Lalimar can only be our pride and joy. Not just because of its world-class impact. We take pride in Lalimar for it is the kind of progress that should be cascaded everywhere – a touch of high quality in its totality. <br /><br />This local government project is an inspiration, for it speaks of the many possibilities when a public servant decides to be sincere and honest.Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-64581282012425969042009-05-12T04:41:00.004-06:002009-05-12T05:50:01.685-06:00The Best Season in American Idol<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNqGGxobLfGEniVfdb1b-8azyUW-k8UE_E5zeKKbP99zEvs9pBa-8FRun99BpvrZJ2sMpCdNGrRUAiuRG7qOndhxv-bQUSlhaPwZ_MTF3q5uTCBOW0lasiFeXllLEHW1yZnt5/s1600-h/AI.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNqGGxobLfGEniVfdb1b-8azyUW-k8UE_E5zeKKbP99zEvs9pBa-8FRun99BpvrZJ2sMpCdNGrRUAiuRG7qOndhxv-bQUSlhaPwZ_MTF3q5uTCBOW0lasiFeXllLEHW1yZnt5/s200/AI.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334899230625461970" /></a><br />American Idol, the no. 1 TV show, is now on its 8th season. I have been an avid follower of this very influential reality TV. I have to agree with Simon Cowell when he said that the current batch is the best in the show’s history. Another judge Randy Jackson of the Jackson 5, also expressed that this batch is the best, with all in the Top 5 “who can really sing.” New judge Kara DioGuardi, a prolific songwriter, has pointed-out that she is looking for the artist in a singer and she was awed by the discovery that all five have the artistic ability in building his/her own character. <br />A Filipino-American singer, Jasmine Trias, got the third place on the third season, overshadowing Jennifer Hudson with the popularity voting scheme that had Hawaii and other Filipino communities united behind the sweet Pinay. But Hudson, who was ranked 7th, turned out to be the biggest star with a talent that gave her an Oscar win and a Grammy for an R&B album. On this 8th season, Indian singer Anoop Desai have his own community support but a wiser America agreed with DioGuardi, and voted for the ones with strong artistic potentials.`<br />I had a Top 5 forecast with consideration to “popularity base”. I included the inspiring blind singer Scott MacIntyre as I was banking on the sympathy vote but he did not make it with his lack of originality. My heart’s final 5 did make it: Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Matthew Giraud. <br />Matt Giraud may have a University degree in Music and gave the true spirit of a musician with every creative interpretation but he missed to give America a charming presence. He had this constantly-disturbed expression – making him look sad at some points. He failed to give the welcoming identity of an entertainer. I guessed it right when he had to be the first to go home in Top 5 elimination. The judges loved his own version of Stevie Wonder’s “Part Time Lover” and the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” but his being a dedicated musician did not save him. Passion was not in the common ground between him and the audience. <br />With the final four in a rock ‘n roll theme, there was a sure winner for he is naturally born with a rock star musicality: Adam Lambert. His version of English rock band Led Zeppelin’s "Whole Lotta Love " got the longest standing ovation and the nods of the judges with Paula Abdul screaming, “perfect! perfect!” But will America love the metrosexual fashion icon in Adam? Or will fans of mainstream rock will consider his tendency to be theatrical on stage? Can all of America take an Elvis-like handsome presence - always manicured? He was in the bottom 3 twice and these results were after he received excellent comments from the judges. Adam, an experienced stage performer, is my choice but am not sure if America will agree when the current star trend is the raw and all-natural Miley Cyrus and Jason Mraz.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfimw6Ogsxs3jRbhyphenhyphenGvbDq_Jju00_VTWlb98nX_8oq5xhZPzggYPHikLavouTHX3ymB25leUvte-lhml7qz-Eaxxcj2U0tEnVMy9onX4p7qMxO7DI0XQbu34Uwgn4hs2AoSILU/s1600-h/KRIS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfimw6Ogsxs3jRbhyphenhyphenGvbDq_Jju00_VTWlb98nX_8oq5xhZPzggYPHikLavouTHX3ymB25leUvte-lhml7qz-Eaxxcj2U0tEnVMy9onX4p7qMxO7DI0XQbu34Uwgn4hs2AoSILU/s200/KRIS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334886613363781826" /></a><br />Ladies’ choice is definitely Kris Allen with a flood of “Kiss me Kris” placards in the audience. His humble presence is in sharp contrast to Adam’s star packaging. He is charming and very handsome even with just a T-shirt on. His voice is that of a cool pop star and every performance looks effortless with his sunshine smile. Girls were screaming when he performed “The Way You Look Tonight” and they danced with him in “She Works Hard for the Money.” But the judges specially Simon made it known that he doesn’t have what it takes to be in the Top 3 after a too mild version of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” They were wrong for America’s heart was for pretty boy Kris who is now considered a dark horse in Top 3. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmQtJMqZ3PVBHlalUvR0bhS6KKBXIDAT00je3NjaE8CPxDuCgqyptfJOBlc6GM0Y7jFkJ5Cgkr3Xjq1gXIKzCFY6vqlVCNVpmNIYwGSEvyL2dIaGTmfcb3L3ItP2zosi1gdqQ/s1600-h/Danny+Gokey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 121px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmQtJMqZ3PVBHlalUvR0bhS6KKBXIDAT00je3NjaE8CPxDuCgqyptfJOBlc6GM0Y7jFkJ5Cgkr3Xjq1gXIKzCFY6vqlVCNVpmNIYwGSEvyL2dIaGTmfcb3L3ItP2zosi1gdqQ/s200/Danny+Gokey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334903030075167218" /></a>The general public will go for the wholesome Danny Gokey even if the judges considered his singing of Aerosmith’s "Dream On” as “out of his element.” Indeed it was a desperation-soaked rock ‘n roll. But America will remember his heartwarming versions of Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love” and Ben E. King “Stand By Me”, Mariah Carey’s "Hero,” and Carrie Underwood’s "Jesus, Take the Wheel.” His presence is that of a gentleman with the mature Harry Potter coolness and having the hairstyle of last year’s winner David Cook gave him that idol stature on stage. This Church music teacher is predicted to get one of the final two slots. <br /><br />If only voters were all from the High School Musical generation, 17-year-old Allison Iraheta - the youngest remaining contestant and the only female left in the race - would have been given a Top 3 slot. They have loved her spunky personality, and she stood-out with Adam in the rock ‘n roll theme. But she was voted-off in the final 4 performance. The Salvadoran beauty will still become a recording star for she is an awesome rock princess. Her version of “Total Eclipse Of The Hear” was enduring. <br /><br />Chris Daughtry who also came in fourth place on the 2006 season turned out to be a huge rock star who was named one of Nielsen’s top ten selling artists of 2007.<br /><br />Allison can definitely be Daughtry but with her versatility, there is a promise of a more bankable career for this new teen idol. <br /><br />More than 47 million votes led Adam, Danny, Allison and Kris to Top 4. And 64 million votes led to the Top 3 battle next week and a greater audience share is expected. Be part of the best season! Take an American Idol moment and be serenaded by the remaining three princes: KRIS, ADAM & DANNY. Take the Simon power and declare your own new king of songs!Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-19262971411197711432009-05-07T09:10:00.002-06:002009-05-10T11:45:01.444-06:005 Moments with Mom Edith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhNcQ8KA-v0dL8jqG25YqQuBbXak7B6CxB0bkSNjzNTfWbWQtFE_83HmecdgVT4wB0THvSm_2JUmhJWaylp7jsjefr-KMUvAqeODAzb1jhSG5cKYQZpOxOCc1r9hbRwbKfs35/s1600-h/Mom+Edith.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhNcQ8KA-v0dL8jqG25YqQuBbXak7B6CxB0bkSNjzNTfWbWQtFE_83HmecdgVT4wB0THvSm_2JUmhJWaylp7jsjefr-KMUvAqeODAzb1jhSG5cKYQZpOxOCc1r9hbRwbKfs35/s200/Mom+Edith.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100868252963042" /></a><br />I was there…<br /><br />…one summer afternoon when I went up to the Montemar home of NATIONAL ARTIST EDITH LOPEZ TIEMPO to accompany an editor of Good Housekeeping magazine and a noted photographer who were scheduled to do an interview and photo session. It was their first time to meet the National Artist and they were starstruck. The editor, who was ready with a notebook of questions failed to make a good start. I had to do the initial interview. The photographer was like a trigger-happy soldier, taking shots non-stop. It was my first time to witness a presence up-close that really overwhelmed her audience. The two visitors loved every moment of it, and they never stopped talking about how welcoming Mom Edith was, or how happy they were to capture her effortless regal bearing and how they were entertained by her way of sharing stories from a life loaded with romantic angles, the sepia of local scenes, and the wisdom of the pen. <br /><br />…somewhere in the 1980’s when a student talked about the walk-out of one his panelists during a defense of his dissertation on Creative Writing. He criticized the need for cultural honesty with the writer’s use of local color. He cited a work of Dr. Edilberto K. Tiempo whom the student acknowledged as a major influence in his writing. The walk-out queen was the Dean of the Graduate School then, our beloved Dr. Edith Lopez Tiempo. She defended the work of the mentor as it was within the freedom of artistic expression. I loved the display of anger – I understood that it was not for the connection but of her pure passion. It was from a nurturing heart of an artist protecting the work of a fellow artist. Mom Edith is always a “mother hen” to any artist disturbed by confusion, and in this case, a criticism in full public view that had forgotten the element of respect. <br /><br />… one morning in Montemar, she ushered me to sit down and ask, “Moses, would you care to listen to this… a poem, I wrote last night.” Being the first listener to <span style="font-style:italic;">The Writer’s Parentheses</span> was a privilege I would forever cherish. When we mounted the event fir the renaming of the university library to Robert and Metta Silliman Library, in honor of the mentors that paved the way for her and her husband King to be Iowa scholars - I asked her to have the first public reading of “The Writer’s Parentheses” but the engagement was too early for her. So son Danny did it for Mom. and he successfully enlightened everyone of the Sillimans’ generosity to his parents, and the poem that was read became a testimony of the enduring legacy. <br /><br />… a Christmas Eve at Silliman Church which had Dr. Edith Tiempo’s reading of a poem as the main expression of praise. The uniqueness of the moment made the worship elegant. The National Artist in a red dress was portrait of “the beauty of Jesus” seen through her glee while at the pulpit. She captured the true spirit of the season with <span style="font-style:italic;">Christmas Light, Christmas Dark</span>.<br /><br />…<span style="font-style:italic;">this birth is a time, yes, for festivity,<br />But even more, a time for humility, <br />A time for laying by<br />The feverish praise and loud celebration, <br />A time for quiet introspection.<br />A time to grasp in the darkness of our being<br />The wonder of this birth and the balm of its meaning. <br /></span><br />This fact is even true in the fiesta month of May where “loud celebration” can bring people away from the “…time for quiet introspection.” <br /><br />… when the Quizo Family Quintet serenaded the National Artist Edith Lopez Tiempo on her 90th birthday. The afternoon <span style="font-style:italic;">harana</span> as suggested by the Silliman University president Dr. Ben S. Malayang was a surprise for her but I was more surprised at the energy she had that day listening and dancing with the music of James, Meriam, Jon, Onna and Yeshua. She stood-up to join them dancing and singing, “Rock-a My Soul... in the bosom of Abraham..." When she heard them with the prayer song “Lead Me Lord.” She expressed, “…there is only one word to describe their singing: terrific!” The fun went on, and I was amazed at the warmth exchanges of Mom Edith and the beloved children, the who’s who in the Philippine literary world: SUSAN LARA, MARGE EVASCO, DM REYES, MYRNA PEÑA-REYES, JIM ABAD, KRIP YUSON, ANTHONY TAN, SAWI AQUINO, ERNIE YEE, IAN CASOCOT.... Her majesty at 90 was a big story to share – truly an enduring moment with love overflowing!Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-10612864580184180142009-04-15T01:22:00.004-06:002009-04-15T01:31:15.128-06:00TAKE 5<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CALUMNI%7E1.SU%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1627421319 -2147483648 8 0 66047 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:98304902; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1781004572 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 {mso-list-id:724064583; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1725125070 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l2 {mso-list-id:1282420647; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1112493668 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l2:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l3 {mso-list-id:2125155023; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:1696886480 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l3:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >My favori</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >te number 5 led me to my favorite colo</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >r. It was a billiard game that had 5 a</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7sdbNSe_9dWxCBnxNRSJDhuvQwmXHQv1sUo5at5ZqakPhr4Da9er8EizHy9DMFYN78NqA90PastGPC0R9JDeg8gzHJ7KGQnE2irZa4bFol96q3F0GpqPM-idqiE5Z86gushM/s1600-h/No.+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7sdbNSe_9dWxCBnxNRSJDhuvQwmXHQv1sUo5at5ZqakPhr4Da9er8EizHy9DMFYN78NqA90PastGPC0R9JDeg8gzHJ7KGQnE2irZa4bFol96q3F0GpqPM-idqiE5Z86gushM/s200/No.+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324815461884296066" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >s the luckiest ball and i</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >ts orange color was like a r</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >olling sunshine.<span style=""> </span>From then on, …T-sh</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >irt, slippers, toothbrush, a keyholder… everything orange invaded my room.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >And S</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >UMMER is the time t</span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >o have them out with me as I go on island hop. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Here is more of my Take 5…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >5 on-my-backpack Holy Week journey: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Get to where Magellan had the first mass in Magallanes, Agusan del </span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Norte to the Easter Sunday celebration in </span><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Cebu</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Visit the oldest churches in </span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >the Visayas and the nearby beaches: Boljoon in </span><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Cebu</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, </span><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Baclayon in </span><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Bohol</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, Bacong in </span><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Negros</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, Lazi in Siquijor and Miag-ao in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Iloilo</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Away from the un-Holy Boracay is the country’s Holy Week Island: Guimaras<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Discover the tranquility islands near </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Sugar</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Beach</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > in Sipalay<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >and back to the magic of Siquijor! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >5 best listeners for PEACE-OF-MIND sessions : <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Keiko Shimada of</span></em><em><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > L’Arche Punla</span></em><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, situated some 3000 km further South in the city of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Cainta</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Philippines</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > (</span><st1:street><st1:address><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >118 Camia Street</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >, </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Bayanihan</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Village</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >) was founded in 1988. This Japanese heroine, a nurse, will lead to a sense of purpose: becoming a volunteer to take care of the special children abandoned in Philippine hospitals<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Marvin Flores, Class of 2009 Valedictorian of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Silliman</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >University</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >.<span style=""> </span>The <i style="">summa cum laude</i> in Physics will inspire you with his success out of poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Gentle and kind Sanda Fuentes of Orientwind will inspire you to go an adventure underwater or over mountains or on a lake.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style=""><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Fashionista</span></i><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > spirit with budget care!<span style=""> </span>This is what you will discover when you go on “ukay-ukay” shopping with Rona Valente of Veronica’s Closet.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Beyond the academia, Dr. Marge Udarbe Alvarez of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Silliman</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >University</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > is available for sessions with those having troubled minds. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >5 places to have the best Lenten season diet:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Green Haven in Cagayan de Oro<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Eden</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Davao</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Mountain View</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > in Bukidnon <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >And if you can only afford a pedicab ride from home, try the vegetable kebab of Boston Café in Dumaguete – an echo of </span><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Palawan</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >5 secrets to uncover:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >The stories of the last of the Pastor sisters in Dumaguete’s <i style="">Casa Blanca<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >The angel-witch power orientation by Kitty Taniguchi of Mariyah Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >The history behind every part of the house of Karl Aguila in Andulay overlooking </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Tambobo</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Bay</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >The old house without stairways somewhere up-there in Siquijor<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >And a bit of the “Taj Mahal” parallelism in the story of Sariland in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Valencia</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >5 moments of nostalgia within Oriental Negros:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Experience the sunset in Basay<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Go inside </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Silliman</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Church</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > and you will have the drama of colors in gemlike glory when the sun is right behind the Resurrection stained-glass window.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >It’s simply spiritual when on a blue boat around the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Twin</span></st1:placename><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" > </span><st1:placetype><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Lakes</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >With a friend at Café Binfico at Silliman Hall<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:14;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >And a wish of truth at the mountain slope of Canlaon after chasing all the five waterfalls…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" >Or simply take 5 minutes every morning of your life and define it with the way of your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:14;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:18;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-85266838896193948532009-04-03T04:18:00.007-06:002009-04-03T18:27:39.078-06:00Their Eyes have it....<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" ><span style=""> </span><span lang="EN-ZA">“After 30 years of training, I am </span></span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" ><span lang="EN-ZA">increasingly convinced </span></span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" ><span lang="EN-ZA">that h</span></span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" ><span lang="EN-ZA">iring<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" lang="EN-ZA" >i</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" lang="EN-ZA" >s </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" lang="EN-ZA" >more important than </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:14;" lang="EN-ZA" >training”<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >Stephen R. Covey, Author of The Seven Habits </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >of </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >Highly Effective People</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><br /><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >Tale</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >nt managers are like fairy god</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >mothers, they will do magic for their wards to</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > shine in every limelight dance. I love wa</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >tching them as they qui</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >etly work behind the s</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >tars.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-166 0 -166 21349 21600 21349 21600 0 -166 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\alumni\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.png" title=""> <w:wrap type="through"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><o:p> </o:p></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >In October,<span style=""> </span>three giant sensations of Philippine entertainment were in </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6a-65H7cRhVHq9Od0f9DFib0kt5Zw-1rQbWO9VUzDq71xJWYD7l9oyROsKpFGcmNESNVIMpk_Tcb0Q80cSq_iaOYnaTvpovytrK4Uf3Kn4eg7KKG_Gy18KVtWqB6rt7t-aQPH/s1600-h/Chinchin+with+A+%26+J.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6a-65H7cRhVHq9Od0f9DFib0kt5Zw-1rQbWO9VUzDq71xJWYD7l9oyROsKpFGcmNESNVIMpk_Tcb0Q80cSq_iaOYnaTvpovytrK4Uf3Kn4eg7KKG_Gy18KVtWqB6rt7t-aQPH/s200/Chinchin+with+A+%26+J.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320626188546892690" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >Dumaguete f</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >or a</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > film shoot. <span style=""> </span>Fil</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >m Director Seymour Sanchez has chosen Dumaguete, the hometown of his father, as location for </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >“Handumanan” – a story of an accidental rendezvous of its thre</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >e characters.<span style=""> </span>Playing the role of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Sole</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">dad</st1:place></st1:city>, a writer from</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > Dumaguete who takes a journey home is the multi-awarded actress and Time</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > Asian heroine Chin-chin Gutierrez. The </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >2008 Urian Best Actor Jason Abalos is Efren, a government aud</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >itor assigned in Dumaguete and the 2008 Cosmopolitan Ma</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >gazine’s “man of the year:” Akihiro Sato </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >is <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region>, th</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >e top model who had a location shoot in Pura Vida and An</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >tulang. <span style=""> </span>All three were busy building the</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ir characters and getting inspired by the natural wonders of O</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >rie</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ntal Negros. I had the opportunity as production manager, to have many moments of up-clo</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >se interactions with the actors, b</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ut having them as subjects for this article will not give new dim</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ensions to what is already publicly known</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > about them. I decided to put the sp</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >otlight on the “magicians” beh</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ind them, their talent managers:<span style=""> </span>JONAS ANTONIO GAFFUD for</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" > Akihiro Sato,</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" lang="EN-ZA" > ANJIE</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" lang="EN-ZA" > BL</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" lang="EN-ZA" >ARDONY-URETA for Chin-chin Gu</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" lang="EN-ZA" >tierrez and </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:10;" lang="EN-ZA" >DANILYN NUNGA for Jason Abalos.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >The Braz</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >ilian-Italian-Japanes</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wVALgECUKgSCkoo4QdDHdgDhB6bQIkLVTbz1s2a4pIS9SJCAEAU3OpDZJi9OPP7QxkBjRALKebWfso8uyhCRTPHyLcG9Sw5YXusmyD2QHtgqLofBbZaw3zu-UMddBvK65bHB/s1600-h/Jonas.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wVALgECUKgSCkoo4QdDHdgDhB6bQIkLVTbz1s2a4pIS9SJCAEAU3OpDZJi9OPP7QxkBjRALKebWfso8uyhCRTPHyLcG9Sw5YXusmyD2QHtgqLofBbZaw3zu-UMddBvK65bHB/s200/Jonas.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320408314134487954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >e male ic</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >on Akihiro Sato is under the ma</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:11;" lang="EN-ZA" >nagement of </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-ZA">Mercator’s Jonas Gaffud. The name of Jonas’ model management agency came from a word he had seen from an old map while taking up Geography at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Mercator is the word for merchant, he explained. <span style=""> </span>He said it’s a perfect name as selling an image today requires consideration of the global projections. What’s a social scientist doing in the world of model management? Jonas sensed his eye for discovering beauty during his college days. At UP, he met this campus beauty named Zorayda Andam. He told her s</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-ZA">he was <o:p></o:p>beautiful and encouraged her to join Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>He successfully convinced the brilliant Business Economics student to be in the pageant. Jonas gathered all the resources to help his bet win and this included meetings with the UP circle of Binibining Pilipinas beauty scouts led by the country’s walking beauty pageant almanac Wendell Capili and film director Jeffrey Jeturian. Zorayda was crowned Bb. Pilipinas – Universe in 2001 and became Miss Tourism Asia. Jonas got so inspired by the thrill of discovering his first beauty queen. He became unstoppable – he has given our country our bets to the Miss Univer</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-ZA">se pageant from 2005 to 2008. His new found love meant “goodbye” to geography which had courses like anthropology, volcanology and other studies covering the contours and features of the earth. Now, he is still looking at contours – actually the possibilities of the required features within the physical make-up of a would-be talent. He worked full time in a talent agency and after two years, decided to establish Mercator. Mercator is the agency behind today’s top male models <span style=""> </span>like <em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Calibri;" >Rocky</span></em><i style=""> </i>Salumbides, Victor Basa, Bruce Quebral and Akihiro Sato, to name a few. A good number of the Binibining Pilipinas beauties are also under Jonas’ Mercator. (.http://www.mercatormodels.com/home.html).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >"</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >Television plays a very im</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >portant role in shaping our consciousness. For instance, even if we w</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75YJxtdYHlbusyVGyktanQNdMukVrKNKDPji81vYot0Wuui6YAV_yZjfHIo5M6zdLDUhqQc3ycwCWwxj3j77ioaIZA_6mfNQyhztqOTNUZpGW5JD3Hsbe5S4IQs7tM3KwF4OA/s1600-h/Anjie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75YJxtdYHlbusyVGyktanQNdMukVrKNKDPji81vYot0Wuui6YAV_yZjfHIo5M6zdLDUhqQc3ycwCWwxj3j77ioaIZA_6mfNQyhztqOTNUZpGW5JD3Hsbe5S4IQs7tM3KwF4OA/s200/Anjie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320617669104455218" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ere fa</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >r away from where the 9-11 tragedy took place, we we</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >re still affected by it because we saw what happened on television. The feeling would be different if we </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >just read about it in the newspapers. The same with the EDS</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >A Revolution, we felt the drama because we saw how it unfolded on screen," expla</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ined the former Executive Producer Anjie Blardony-Ureta of ABS</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >-CBN News and Public Affairs. <span style=""> </span>It is for this previous job as a net</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >work producer of a news program that Anjie is easily recognized by those in the m</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ainstream of the entertainment industry. When she became the talent man</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ager of Chin-chin, their tandem would easily get the respect from those in the bu</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >siness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-119 0 -119 21521 21600 21521 21600 0 -119 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\alumni\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.jpg" title="Anjie"> <w:wrap type="through"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >The track records of both the manager and her talent are very strong, they me</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >an serious business and they command professionalism in all aspects of the pro</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >duction. Anjie’s mere presence would add credibility to a program. Sh</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >e won’t hesitate to express a comment on something that should be corr</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ected. Her professional life started as an educator in a basic education institution and this back</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >ground gave her the strength in all aspects of man</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >agement. It’s a moment of good education when one is with Anjie. She i</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >s inviting everyone to become part of their environmental advocacy through the One Plan</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >et, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">One</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Cradle</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Production</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Garden</st1:placetype></st1:place> (<a href="mailto:ilog_uyayi@yahoo.com"><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);">ilog_uyayi@yahoo.com</span></a>). The </span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >program is greatly inspired by Chinchin’s selection as one of the 2003 Asian Heroes for he</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >r dedication to the environmental preservation programs in our country. Chin-chin’s Uyayi (Lullaby) con</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >cert is aimed at promoting awareness to the need to save mother earth. Anjie is part of al</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >l these not just as a talent manager but because “It is not a choice to make, I have to be an environmentalist and every</span><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >one should because it a commitment to make as citizens of this planet.” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-35 0 -35 21548 21600 21548 21600 0 -35 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\alumni\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.jpg" title="Danilyn"> <w:wrap type="through"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;" >Danilyn Nunga wanted to become the next Korina Sanchez. This inspiration was the primary reason why she took up Mass Communication in college. But as she was facing the real world after obtaining the degree, she realized that t</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVz6JDQq4Pid8FO-r0VnPHKdgYN2fbm9eaFrLLAZVepC_zczWFv9ZZswFm9ypKuWBOc6NaZBEVfdtOtKylzKAZauRyf3lGo_-arg8cqKayn9xuv2kNQFvxdKeEKiA2xRiAyY7/s1600-h/Danilyn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVz6JDQq4Pid8FO-r0VnPHKdgYN2fbm9eaFrLLAZVepC_zczWFv9ZZswFm9ypKuWBOc6NaZBEVfdtOtKylzKAZauRyf3lGo_-arg8cqKayn9xuv2kNQFvxdKeEKiA2xRiAyY7/s200/Danilyn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320618515337926946" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;" >he arena for broadcast journalists is too loaded with wannabes. In fact, when she applied as a reporter at ABS-CBN, she was told that they would need her at the network’s talent center. Left with no choice, she accepted the job. Her career <span style=""> </span>literally blossomed in ABS-CBN as talent handler of <em><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Star Magic</span></em>, then called <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><em><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Talent</span></em></st1:placename><em><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype></span></em></st1:place><em><span style="font-family:Calibri;">. </span></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Calibri;" >She tried other jobs like being a store a manager but she wasn’t as happy as playing the “big sister” for the talents assigned to her. Her job with Jason is made easy for the actor is “very mabait talaga” and she added, “very professional and is really committed to his job.” Days of rejoicing are days of achievements of her “alaga.” “I was the happiest when we received the call that Jason was nominated for Urian.” She was literally jumping when Jason was proclaimed as the Urian Best Actor for “Endo,” the opening film during Dumaguete’s </span></em><em><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Cinemalaya</span></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Calibri;" >. A hard day would be with an assignment that’s all face value with no talent to bank on. Danilyn’s dedication to her job was evident during the entire location shoot for </span></em><em><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Handumanan</span></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Calibri;" >. We invited her several times to a tour around Metro Dumaguete while her talent was busy working but she, too, was busy making sure that her talent would get to the set on time and that every need would be provided immediately. She really loves where she is right now, and she is willing to stay for as long as she is needed. <o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p> <p><em><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145); font-style: normal;font-family:Calibri;" >All three know what it takes to be a star in Philippine showbiz. With just one look, they can right away spot a talent who is worthy of their touch and packaging. </span></em><span style="color: rgb(54, 95, 145);font-family:Calibri;font-size:10;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461365.post-77487555560492157302008-11-23T08:14:00.002-05:002008-11-23T08:19:09.758-05:00ROBERT HASS capturing human nature....<span style="font-family: verdana;">...from his 2008 Pulitzer prize winning collection, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Time and Materials</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">....<br /><br />Though mostly when I think of myself<br />at that age,<br />I am standing at my older brother's closet,<br />studying the shirts,<br />convinced that I could be absolutely transformed<br />by something I could borrow.<br />And the days churned by,<br />navigable sorrow.<br /></span>Moses Joshua Aaron B. Atega Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03761059647248216472noreply@blogger.com0