The Lady Who Loves Shakespeare

"to sleep
perchance to dream
"Aye there's the rub
for in that sleep of death
what dreams may come
for we have shuffled off this mortal coil
must give us pause..."

i can still remember vividly those Shakesperean paragraphs repeatedly recited by my public speaking teacher in high school...
heard she had breast cancer..
i wonder what happened to her

my classmates were rounding up on her every class for being too sexy...
those were the days..
seems like it was just a stone throw memories..
when you look back it appeared as if you can touch its reality to assume innocence wearing that khaki pants and white polo shirt
your seatmate giggling by your side and uttering something funny you can barely breath

Ako'y nagpapasalamat sa Panginoong Diyos na ginawa nya akong Pilipino- Tita Cory (1933-2009)

isang simbulo ng ating panahon na naman ang napitas na dahon sa tangkay ng mga bulaklak..
Nauna na si Mother Teresa, sumunod si Princess Di..
Si Pope John Paul, at nung isang buwan lang si MJ...
Mga tauhang humubog sa mga pagkatao ng mga mamamayan..
kanina lang ay ang sumakabilang buhay ang dating mabuting maybahay na si tita Cory..

Humagulgol..dahil nanghinayang na di na masisilayan..
Mapait na ngiti... dahil tapos na ang kanyang paghihirap..
tapos na ba ang yugto ng kanyang pakikibaka para sa mga Pilipino?

Naalala ko palagi ang pinakahuling interview sa kanya ni Jessica Soho...
at nung una kong nasilayan ang dilaw nyang terno nung nangangampanya pa lang sya nung nasa 3rd year high school pa lang sa Tagum...
Malakas ang ulan.. suot suot ko pa ang ukay-ukay na maroon sweat shirt-pawang kausuhan nung panahon na yun... kasama ko ang aking ina at napakadami pa ring tao sa "crossing"..kahalubilo ang iba pang gustong mapanuod ang babaeng matapang na humarap kay Makoy..
kasama si Doy at Nene Pimentel..
Tuwang tuwa ang nanay habang dala dala ko ang payong namin sa kalakasan ng ulan..
Napakapalad ko pala...
" ako'y nagpapasalamat sa panginoong Diyos at ginawa niya akong Pilipino..."

Come Undone (2009)

May natutunan ako ngayon.
Marahil pamilyar..
Dahil naging bahagi ng mga kanta ni Madonna...Robbie Williams at iba pa ata..
Simula't sapul akala ko'y iba ang nilalaman..simpleng mga kataga at madaling intindihin..
yun pala'y may konting drama...

Nung una'y magulong pagkaka kwento..ngunit unti unting nabuo ang isang makabuluhan at di malilimutang karakter...
May kaunting bulgar na pagsasalarawan, ngunit tapat ang bawat kilos at salita ng mga tauhan.
Ito ay kwento ni Matthew isang binatilyong Pranses na nagbakasyon sa Hilagang probinsya ng Britanny kasama ang kanyang nagpapagaling na ina na nagkaron ng depression simula ng mamatay ang bunsong kapatid sa kanser.
Ang unang tauhan ay nagmahal habang nakilala ang buong sarili sa isang tag-araw, mapait na nabigo, at unti unting bumangon. Simpleng plot para sa isang nakakaantig na pagsasalarawan ng magaling na direktor na si Sebastien Lifshitz

Paano ba ang maging bata..?

uso pa pala ang chain letter sa ganitong modernong panahon..
iba na nga lang ang porma. Chain emails..
mga naliligaw paminsan minsan na parang basura,o "spam".
Minsan may mahalaga. parang ginto. katulad ngayon.

Paano nga ba ang manatiling bata.
Tanong ng marami, dahil takot tumanda.
maraming tanong na hindi pa masasagot.
Malungkot. walang pera. marahil may mga sakit.mahina. maaaring nag iisa?
May kikitain pa ba? may mag aalaga ba?

May lunas na kaya sa arthritis, Alzheimer's, at kanser sa mga panahon na iyon?
Uso pa kaya ang pakikipagtalik? Kanino at paano? Hindi kaya delikado?
May facebook at friendster pa kaya? ano na kaya ang uso...kung meron man, marunong kaya ako...?
Maaalala pa kaya kita.. ang magmahal... ang maramdaman ang una nating pagkikita...unang pag niig bago ang halik..

Ayokong tumandang walang nagawa.
Tumanda man ang katawan, wag lang ang isipan.
May matulungan man ay tumatak sana sa buhay ng iyong napagpaguran.
Nakakatakot pala...

La Vista Del Mar Zamboanga

Bangkero sa Siargao

Fishing in Taluksangay

One of the most dangerous jobs in the world...in one of the most dangerous places on earth. Fishing is the main source of living in the Zamboanga peninsula. The seas remain rich and fertile as the land.

But for how long....

ROAD ENCOUNTERS

People & Places

Kublai creations in a sky park in Bukidnon, Kiokong eco-tourism park bridge,over view park, natives along the roads, children waiting for alms, children fetching some waters, a child walking through sticks

Ang pag-asa ng bayan

Nakakatuwa, nakakatawa, katawa-tawa.
Nakakatuwa ang mga grupo ng musmos na nadaanan habang binabaybay and daan patungong.. kalimugtong..? este malaybalay.. Ang unang grupo ay ang mga batang nag aalok ng mga amoy malansang bagay na nakatuhog sa mga maliliit na patpat. Itinataas sa mga bus na dumadaan. My mga konting interesadong nagtatanung pero sa kabuuan, pawang umuusyoso lang sa mga iniaalay ng mga ito..Ito ang nakaagaw sa aking pansin kung kaya't binabaan ko ang mga ito. 80 pesos daw bawat tuhog. Bumalik ako sa sasakyan at inabutan ko ng pastel at tig bente pesos..laking pasasalamat ng mga ito.

Overview park sa dulo ng bukidnon, pawang mga rebultong likha ni Kublai, nagkumpol kumpulan ng mga grupo ng kabataang nanghihingi ng pamasko..May mga nagtitinda ng chichiria at itlog na nilaga...

Ang kamangha mangha sa lahat ay ang mga batang lansangan sa "buda" na pawang hindi naman pulubi ay masayang iniaalay ang mga kamay upang makahingi ng pera...Halos lahat ng madaanan mong musmos ay handang handang iabot ang kamay at animoy nan-lilimos...? pamasko..?

Si Regine at Ako.

Si Regine na naman ang kasama ko ngayon.

Third Christmas in a row.

Well, ang unang pagkakataon ay nung Covers II na sinundan naman ng The Promise Soundrack 1 christmas later...

Mabuti naman at inilabas and Low Key this year.

Tamang tama lang.

Hindi sya pasigaw.

Mas na emphasize ang emotion at hindi ang vocal "prowess" na madalas tema ng kanyang album..

Mas sensitive, which is better.

Walong oras ka ba naman magbiyahe mag isa kungdi si Regine lang ang kasama..

Zamboanga to Pagadian, then to Iligan then CDO.

Bukas ay Bukidnon naman ang takbo hanggang marating ang Davao.

Limang oras pa kaming magsasama.

Memorize ko na ata ang kwento in Janis Ian ng 17 pa lang siya.

Bagay na theme song kay Betty La Fea.. Natabunan si JR at David Archuleta.

Malay natin bukas sila naman...

Mahabang biyahe din yun..

Gabi ng Lagim sa Puweblo

Kelan ka ba nangilabot sa katahimikan ng paligid...?
9:30 ng gabi. Maaga pa kung tutuusin..
Asan na ang mga Chabakano? mga Moslem? mga Bisaya..? sa ciudad ng mga hilaw na Espanyol..
Tahimik ang harap ng dati'y tambayang Cofee Myxx..Nakataas na ang mga upuan sa mesa sa loob ng madilim na KFC..Malinis ang mga lansangan na dapat ay pinagpipiyestahan ng mga batang namamalimos..
Nakakapanibago..
Curfew..? Hindi yan totoo dito.
Tatlong taon at mahigit, pero ngayon lang ako nangilabot..
Epekto ng dumagundong na sumabog kanina sa pweblo?
Kaya pala daming usi nagkaron ng trapik. sabay dating ng ambulansiya..
Ang mga Em Ay. Kagabi pa namin hinihintay ngayon lang naghasik...
Hanggang kelan kaya..

Kawa Kawa at Night

Transfiguration Parish at Sinunuc

Ang Liham ni Dora

Josue,

Kay tagal ko nang di nakapagsulat ng liham kahit kanino
At ngayon, isinusulat ko ito sa iyo..
Tama ka, babalik ang iyong ama.
Siya ang kabuuan ng lahat na naisip mo..
Naaalala ko nung magkasama kami ng aking ama sa kanyang minamanehong tren.
Pinayagan niya ako, isang munting bata pa lang, na patunugin ang busina sa buong biyahe.
Pag lumaki ka na at nagmamaneho na ng iyong malaking sasakyan
Sana'y maalala mo na ako ang unang taong nagpahawak sa iyo sa manubela ng bus.
Mas makakabuti ang maiwan ka sa iyong kuya
Mas maganda ang iyong kinabukasan sa kanya kesa sa akin
Kung gusto mong maalala ako, titigan mo lang ang ating munting larawan magkasama
Natatakot kasi akong baka makalimutan mo ako...
Nangungulila ako sa aking ama..Nangungulila ako sa lahat...

Dora

A Day at the National Museum

To me, a more honest and appropriate version of the Philippine history by Vicente Manansala
In contrast, Botong Francisco's depiction of Philippine history

Sibugay's Saudi Ahmad's masterpiece
Juan Luna's Bulakenya
I can feel her sorrow
A National treasure, a "gift" by the Spanish government at the time of Elpidio Quirino's presidency. The masterpiece which started it all

The lobby adorned by Impy's chandelier
A Philippine "icon"
Manunungul Jar
Phillip Morris 2008 finalist
A contemporary painting. another Philip Morris 2008 finalist

unforgettable journey before you die #2: Learn Oil Painting

Matagal ko ng pinangarap matutong magpinta.
Palibhasa, buo ang isip sa pag-aaral sa ibang larangan, kaya walang pagkakataon..
Nandiyan na lang ang makuntento sa paglalarawan sa pamamagitan ng lapis o ballpen pag naiinip sa mga lectures ng mga professor nung college days o pag wala lang talagang magawa (pag walang nababasang libro o napapanuod na pelikula sa TV o betamax) o minsan ay makuntento na lang sa panunood ng mga exhibit sa lobby ng Main building, galleries sa 4th floor ng Mega mall, Metropolitan museum, etc.
Mabuti na lang isang araw nagtext ang ngayo'y kaibigan ko nang si Rameer, isang sikat na pintor dito sa zamboanga. Meron daw siyang Art class.. Nag iimbita kung interesado akong matuto ng basic.
Siyempre! pinili ko ang basic drawing at oil painting..

Christine's Anguish

Ang traffic. maliit lang ang puweblo ng ciudad na ito ng mga chavacano..
kaunting mali lang ng mga nagkakagulong pagmamaneho ng mga motorsiklo sira na agad ang panahon mo..maliit at masisikip ang daan. palibhasa hindi planado.
Ay mali, planado nga pala para sa mga kalesa nung unang panahon...
Mabuti na lang tricycle at motosiklong single ang hari ng daan. walang pong taxi dito.
Tumunog na naman ang paborito kong "Beer". dalawang taon na yata hanggang ngayon di ko pa napapalitan. Witheld ang nakalagay sa LCD screen, malamang overseas.
May hikbi sa kabilang linya..pero familiar ang boses ni Christine.
"Im so sad, i'm sorry for crying but i just can't help it..." aniya. "He was so good to me. di ko man lang siya nakita uli."
'lam ko matagal na nga. Nine years na yata nung naging abay siya ng kasal ni Christine.Kasama din ako pero hindi abay.
Alam ko close sila. he was her only best friend back during UST days.
dalawa hanggang tatlong oras na telebabad. Minsan magdamagan.
Gosh i miss those days.
Di na uso ang telebabad yata ngayon. mahal na ang tawag sa celphone.
Nahawa din ako sa humahagulgol na kaibigan sa kabilang linya.
Andito sya last month at naitanung nya sa akin kung kamusta na si Art.
Wala pa akong balita sabi ko.
pero sa isip isip ko hindi na yata maganda pag ganung di ako nakakatanggap na balita sa egroups namin.
maya-maya nahimasmasan. knuwento ng magagandang ala ala ng yumao.
mabait nga si Art wala akong masabi.
For a while back then, we became close.
nag-agawan kami sa isang polo sa Kirei para isuot sa graduation..Eventually we ended up buying almost similar color of different design.
Hay! Ani ng mga kaklase namin, para kayong kambal ha...

Dr. Art Bonifacio, 38/M, my classmate fom Tacloban, may he rest in peace

Let me share to you Jimmy's testimonial about a dear friend. We were classmates back in 1987 as a first year medical technology student in a university along Espana, Manila. Section I. We had a brief classmate-relationship back then-only 1 year because our section was eventualy dissolved. Then we became classmates again in Medicine Proper.

Jimmy was also a classmate in Medicine proper.

Dear Classmates,
Art has been my friend since first year med school. I met him because we attended the orientation of Zeta Beta Mu, that was 1991. Maybe because we were "scared" then of what was to happen, we immediately bonded and that bond remained until he succumbed to this fatal illness.
The first time he noticed something strange about his bowel movement was August or therabouts last year, the usual constipation and dull pain were first dismissed until he had hematochezia. Even with his quick decision to have an operation, his liver was not spared of the ravage of cancer. He often would lament, " wala akong kalaban-laban, wala pa ako sa age of screening, walang symptoms ...". All those times, he would turn sober momentarily and return to his jolly mood. We would laugh at the same jokes over and over again, remembering the years of training and difficulty in UST.
When he was here in Manila last April 2008 for the PPS, we had dinner together and attended Frida's son's christening, we were laughing out loud with Edna, Tessa, Larry and the rest of the gang, oblivious of things to come. He got admitted at Makati Medical Center because of unbearable pain days later and diagnosed with post op adhesions. We were all hoping it would resolve by itself, but after a week or so he underwent the knife again in Mla Doctor's.
Two days after his surgery, I came to see him and he was suddenly seemingly lifeless. As if the surgery robbed him of all his remaining will power to live. The usual talks we had turned to silence. He just sat there looking at his children, both cute girls 4 and 6 year-olds, he was thinking, "I won't see them grow up". He often bargained with God, to at least let him see their 18th birthday. After a while, Girly who was supportive from the start, helped him back to bed, he seemed tired. I said goodbye ... that was the last I saw of Art.
I kept telling myself that I would visit or call him again, but my mind struggled, thinking he might rather rest and be with himself. When I got a call May 30 in the morning, the celphone read, "Art", it was a long time since I got a call from him, so I excitedly answered the phone. To my dismay, it was Girly announcing Art's demise. Girly asked me to say thank you for all your prayers and support.
Indeed, it was a sad day for all of us. Yesterday, while I was eating, I suddenly remembered a joke Alan and I shared about ordering food in restaurants, one of our many jokes together. But alas, he is no longer here, I can no longer share that joke with him anymore. But there will always be fond memories. Who knows why he was taken away so early, all we can do is pray that he is in a better place ... I am sure he is.

A Breath of Fresh Air

The Museum of the Filipino People

Dear friends,
If you haven't been on a tour of the National Museum, well, here's your chance. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the museums are (the former Finance Building and the former Legislative Building) with its extensive renovation inside yet keeping with its neo-Federal Style architecture outside.

There's fifteen galleries in the Museum of the Filipino people (formerly Finance) to explore our archaeological past and our anthropological present. The highlight is of course four galleries devoted to the 1994 recovery of the Spanish galleon San Diego. It's treasures give insights to the incredible 300 year trade that linked us to the Americas. We’ll also see the current temporary exhibits in the museum.

The former Legislative Building, now the National Gallery of Art, will be another formidable encounter as we journey through 200 years of Filipino arts and sculpture in seven galleries. The most spectacular sight is the gigantic and original rendering The Spoliarium by Juan Luna. We pause here to appreciate and learn how this masterpiece inspired our brave band of Filipino students in Madrid, including Jose Rizal, to alter their lives and helped in the formation of our nation.

John L. Silva has been Senior Consultant of the National Museum for close to ten years and has the most incredible stories and insights about the collection. He teaches arts education in an interesting and humorous manner and delights and inspires his audience to be proud of their culture and history.

Proceeds from the fees (700 pesos for adults, and 500 pesos for children up to 18 years) will go to John's I LOVE MUSEUM PROGRAM, which brings public school teachers to the National Museum and to their local museums, taught the importance of arts appreciation and transmit that information to their students. Studies show that an arts educated child raises their academic achievements, promotes love of reading, and makes them better citizens.

The tours are three hours in duration, and begins at 10:00 am sharp (ending at 1:00 pm) at the rear entrance of the Museum of the Filipino People, (former Finance Building) Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park. Attendees are requested to wear walking shoes (please no heels) and reservations are strongly encouraged by texting or calling John Silva at 0926 729 9029. The tours will be May 17, 18, and 24, and June 7, 11, 21 and 25.

Mr. John Silva

Note: I visited the museum last Sunday at 10 am-1 pm, and it was indeed an experience i'll never forget. Its like travelling thru time and going back to the past. This is one activity which i have missed as a growing child. Thank you so much Mr. John Silva.