Positive Vibes from the Philippines

     I've been busy over the weekend and luckily, I've been able to acquire some information of different aspects, personalities, news developments on contemporary Philippine society. I have plenty of great news to share on the arts, travel and tourism and personalities that leave that indelible stamp of Pinoy Pride:

1.  The Philippines is hailed as the HONEYMOON DESTINATION OF THE YEAR at the China Travel and Meetings Industry Awards. The country garnered 4.2 million votes from members of the industry in a voting process that lasted 2 months (July and August 2010). The panel of judges divided the destinations per category and industry insiders were asked to vote. We edged out perennial winners Bali and Thailand. The event was organized by Travel Weekly Publications. Boracay topped the Best Short Haul Tourism Destination last year.

2.   Camotes Island in Cebu was recently recognized as the United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Awardee for Disaster Risk Reduction last May. The Town of San Francisco was visted by four government officials from Sri Lanka to observe and learn from the towns good practices. San Francisco town's Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. shared that four mayors from Sri Lanka visited the town's solid waste management system, mangrove rehabilitation area marine sanctuary and community driven program dubbed as the "Purok system". Arquillano was invited by Sri Lanka early part of July as a guest speaker for the launching of the UN's "Making Cities Resillient" Campaign.

3.   Dr. Lemuel Benedict Non, M.D. who has served faithfully for two years in Saranggani province received a full scholarship offered by the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Non bested 59,999 applicants worldwide who applied for the scholarship. Dr. Non passed the US Medical Licensure examinations last summer with a grade of 99% and was quickly whisked off to the US, all expenses paid. He was ranked 8th in the local medical board exam s when he graduated from the UP College of Medicine in 2008. His scholarship entitles him to five years of training in internal medicine and fellowship training in infectious diseases or gastroenterology. His advantage in obtaining the scholarship was his stint as a barrio doctor.

4.   Lea Salonga, child prodigy, actress, singer and total performer joins a list of Hollywood luminaries in Disney's Hall of Fame. Walt Disney Studios has decided to recognize and honor Ms. Salonga's contribution to lend her singing voice to such memorable characters as Princess Jasmine and Mulan. Her signature songs " A Whole New World" and "Reflection"  from full length animated movies Aladdin and Mulan respectively, have earned her the respect and admiration of Disney bigwigs. Her inclusion in the list puts her at par with Hollywood stars like Robin Williams and Julie Andrews. Lea elicited laughter in her acceptance speech by acknowledging actress Linda Larkin and thanking her for "not being able to sing otherwise she wouldn't have been there accepting the award."

Saint Monica... Virtuous Mother

     The Philippines is a matriarchal society. Period!

     Despite all that MACHO posturing the Filipino male turns into putty once his mother comes into the picture. Secretly, his idea of the perfect wife has some reference to his mother's personality. The ideal woman can either cook like his mother, keep the house clean like his mother, organize his life like his mother and even have a mouthful like his mother...

     So it's no surprise that we honor one whose exemplary life as a devout Christian has influenced our religious life like no other save the Blessed Virgin. SAINT MONICA, though little is known of her,  is better understood through the Confessions of her son Saint Augustine. 

     She was born in 331 in Tagaste, North Africa to parents who were both devout Christians. However, they arranged her marriage to Patricius who was much older than her. Her marriage was not blissful in the sense that Patricius was a pagan official in North Africa and whose mother was a grumpy old woman. Aside from these Saint Monica has had to contend with the constant struggle of following her Christian faith which her husband never understood. Notwithstanding her difficulty in proving the merits of her devotion to God, she constantly prayed for the conversion of her husband and mother in law into Christianity.

     Her prayers were granted in 370 and shortly after his conversion, he passed away. However, she continued to care for three children Augustine, Navigius and Perpetua. Of the three, it was Augustine who gave her the most problems. He was a cad who was immersed in the Manichean heresy and the temptation of the flesh. It seems the Saint Monica's life was deeply mired in tragedy and pain but she remained in God's grace to the extent that she followed her son to Rome even seeking the help of some priests to pray for the sinful Augustine. It was in Milan where Augustine met the future St. Ambrose who was also instrumental in his conversion.

     Augustine received Baptism in 387 later on to become Bishop of Hippo. Eventually Augustine became a saint like his mother and would be declared Doctor of the Church, a distinction he would share with 33 other saints. St Augustine recounts one of his last days with his mother. Saint Augustine recounts: "in the course of our conversation that day, the world and its pleasures lost all their attraction for us. My mother said: 'Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in this world. I did have one reason for wanting to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic Christian before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?'"

     The Lord must have heard her as shortly after. While she was in Ostia on her way back to Africa, Saint Monica fell ill and died nine days later. She was declared Patroness of Mothers. 

     Indirectly, we benefit from Saint Monica's supreme sacrifice. When the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines in 1571, the first Catholics who undertook our conversion was from the order which Saint Augustine founded. We honor Saint Monica's staunch belief in God's grace and thank her for never straying from the path of his light...

The COCONUT PALACE- The VP's New Digs

     The former First Lady had it built in 1976. Architect Bobby Manosa designed it. Hollywood glitterati stayed in it. Royalty reveled in its luxury. The Pope declined to lodge in it. 

     After all these years, the COCONUT PALACE remains an iconic symbol of Philippine creativity and architectural artistry. Almost entirely constructed out of coconut lumber (aptly named Madeira Imelda) and some Philippine hardwood, the Architect made sure that it showcased the strength and versatility of the coconut. And rightly so, as the coconut tree is known as the "tree of life". Every part of the tree from its fronds to its roots have been known to serve some purpose whether aesthetically or medicinally.

    

 Over the years, specially since the Marcos family was deposed after the EDSA I Revolution , the facility went into disrepair. The administration of the building was undertaken by the Cultural Center of the Philippines alongside other cultural spots like the National Arts Center in Makiling and other edifices in the CCP Complex. However, the CCP was never given enough budget to cover the maintenance and upkeep. So the Coconut Palace was eventually left on the back-burner  so to speak.

  

     Eventually, the management and maintenance of the Coconut Palace landed on the responsibility of the Government Service Insurance System. When P-Noy assumed the Presidency his Vice-President elect is former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Having the second most important elected position in the land requires an official home and a set of offices from which to dispense the duties and services of his position.

     The Coconut Palace is now the official home of the Philippine Vice-President. Well, it's about time! In other countries the vice -president does have an official address and an official home. Late in June, Vice President Binay moved into the Coconut Palace and has expressed his thanks to P-Noy  for allowing the building to be converted into a working public edifice much like a governor's mansion. VP Binay is elated to have his own space from which he can more effectively serve the masses who helped put him into power. VP Binay is the first and only Filipino vice president to have an official address. His wife and former Makati Mayor Dr. Elenita Binay has offered to do the decor. Let's just hope most of the original decor is retained...

The 22nd TravelMart - Showcasing the Philippines

     If you're a travel enthusiast or maybe just any old bloke waiting to get away from Manila for the long weekend you might as well check out the 22nd TravelMart organized by PHILTOA (Philippine Tour Operators Association) with Mr Cesar Cruz at its helm. The event is set from the 2nd-4th of September at the humongous SMX Convention Center by the bay.

     The yearly TravelMart is organized in order to promote the best destinations and the best services and products in the Philippines. Hotels, resorts, tour operators, local manufacturers, airlines and transport suppliers band together once a year to attract both foreign and domestic travelers to see the country and its rich and diverse natural wonders and heady culture.

     This year, the event promises to be different as the organizers have added special attractions that were not included in past travel expositions. There will be dance competitions, the Eco-Chorale, performances aimed at reviving the Kundiman, Travel Quiz-Bee for students and live seminars for those interested in learning everything they want to know about the tourism industry .

     Needless to say, all the participating companies and organizations will be offering affordable tour packages that are exclusively available for the TravelMart. The public is enjoined to go visit the TravelMart if they are interested in availing of very affordable tour packages to any of our famous destinations.

     PHILTOA prides itself as being an advocate of responsible tourism. Organized as a non-stock, non-profit organization on 12-June-1996 the organization continues to promote the Philippines as a must-visit destination. And rightly so, as we are the center of endemicity globally. With our 7,107 islands, a coastline that stretches forever, a hospitable and friendly people, and a well-balanced climate and hardly any communication barriers - we may not be paradise... but we're so darn close!

Philippine Tourism's Darkest Hour

     Yesterday was a rather important day albeit a sad one. It was the first year anniversary of the Manila siege at the Quirino Grandstand wherein which a busload of tourists from Hong Kong were taken hostage by an irate ex-cop. When all the brouhaha had subsided only eight of the entire busload of tourists had remained alive.

     Well, it has been a year and it seems the dark cloud of the hostage-taking drama has not dissipated. Those family members that have been left behind have banded together to ask for remuneration from the government and to demand an apology from President P-Noy himself to assuage their anger and sorrow for their loved ones who perished in the siege.

     Separately, a rag-tag group of protesters had gathered in the Philippine embassy in Hong Kong to rally for their cause. They claim to be doing the protests all in the name of Justice. From our end, representatives of the president have been indignant in releasing an apology stating matter-of-factly that the incident was an isolated case and that the Philippine government had exhausted all means to stop the bungled siege and at the same time had imposed strict guidelines and measures to make sure the incident does not ever happen again.

     In the heels of Secretary Lim's resignation and the vacuum left at the Department of  Tourism, we're still wondering what will happen next as our tourism efforts are negatively affected by these events. Now that we are starting to attract a bigger chunk of the European and even regional market, we just can not sit idly by and do nothing. 

     I feel for the  survivors and family members that have been left behind to recount the horrible ordeal their loved ones experienced. However, their trip to Manila to recount the massacre of happy tourists remain unresolved. No apology was issued. No money was released. No criminals nor public officials were convicted. I don't think the bad experience is just going to go away if we remain unaffected at all.

     We have to man up and give some semblance of responsibility for these hapless victims or the incident will haunt Philippine tourism for years to come. At least give the tourists some assurance that someone in government is watching their backs.  Only then can our guests feel safe in our city's streets... 

     

Sta. Rosa de Lima - Patroness of the Philippines

     If you've been hearing Mass lately , chances are you would hear the name of Sta. Rosa de Lima while the priest leads the prayer of the Oracio Imperata. And if you've been going around Intramuros a lot you're likely to see her image on the left topmost pillar atop a pediment beside the stained glass rose window of the Manila Cathedral. Filipinos know very little of her but she was once Patroness of the Philippines during the early Spanish colonial period. 

        Born at Lima, Peru 20 April, 1586 to a poor family, her original name was Isabel but since she was a beautiful baby they changed her name to Rose. Her father was a Spaniard by the name of Gaspar de Flores and her mother, Maria d'Olivia  was of Indian descent.   She also helped in the family clinic whenever she was needed. She was inspired by the life of St. Catherine of Sienna and took her as a role model so she took the vow of chastity and did daily penitence. At a young age, St. Rosa showed signs of Holiness as she would spend hours on end in front of the family altar adoring Jesus and Mary. Just like Mary, she resolved to remain a virgin and took extra-ordinary means to preserve it.

     She was obviously a very beautiful girl growing into womanhood. And she was aware of her beauty but deemed it an unnecessary trait as it attracted too much attention from male admirers. She countered this by working hard so that her hands would be rough and she wore coarse clothes. She was also known to rub her face with a mixture of lye and pepper to make her skin blotchy and unappealing. She loved her parents but displeased them by refusing to be married off .

     At the tender age of twenty, she joined the Third Order of the Dominicans without the consent of her parents. It was during this time that she did her missionary work. She cared for the sick, the poor and the slavesShe did penance as a way of atoning for the conversion of sinners and for the souls in Purgatory. She is pictured wearing a crown of roses which hid a steel pin underneath  that stuck to her head and she wore a belt of chains as well.

     The Lord is said to have appeared to her a few days  before her death. She is said to have asked the Lord to increase her sufferings in direct proportion for her increased love for HIM.  Sta. Rosa died in Lima, Peru on the 24th of August, 1617.  Upon her death, hundreds attended her funeral at the cemetery of the Dominican convent. She was beatified by Pope Clement IX and canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. Her feast day is on the 23rd of August. Sta. Rosa is the very first saint of the Americas and eventually our Patroness as well...

     

Nstra. Sra. dela Candelaria

     Silang is a quiet hilly area in the province of Cavite that remains a little off the beaten track.  You won't find  ritzy hotels here... oh no! Just a quiet town that still holds on to a glorious revolutionary past and a few remaining vestiges of Spanish colonial homes.

     Centrally located in the poblacion or town square is the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Candles or Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria. The miraculous image is said to have been found in the mountains and that the image would always get lost. When it was transferred to its current site, it was then called La Anuncieta.

     The church was first built by the Franciscans in 1585 through polo or forced labor. Under Spanish rule, adult males were conscripted to serve the government/church for two years without pay. The church was then rebuilt in wood by the Jesuits in 1603. It was damaged by an earthquake and rebuilt in stone under Father Juan Salazar from 1637 to 1639.

     The church has a triangular pediment with an arched window at the center. The facade has two levels with an image of the Nstra. Sra. dela Candelaria on the center niche of the upper level  and flanked by two rectangular windows. The entry way is located at the center with an arched walkway. The bell tower on the right is a four-storey structure adorned by arched windows and balustrades. One can even see the antique bells on the stone arches.

     Silang is located 44 kms. south of Manila. One can take the Sta Elena exit along th South Luzon Expressway and take the winding roads that lead to Silang  from the Sta. Elena Golf Club.

Binondo Church

     For centuries before Spanish colonization, early Filipinos have been trading freely with the Chinese and other nationalities. Historical records show that our ancestors on board their balanghais have reached as far as Madagascar. So it's  no small surprise that some of the Chinese traders who stayed in Manila for longer and longer periods of time would end up marrying the charming Filipina lass.

     Despite skirmishes with Chinese pirates and irate Chinese traders who've been taxed no end by the ruling Spanish colonizers, the community known as the Parian grew to become Binondo as  the displeasure and disenchantment with the "lowly" Chinese by the Spanish peninsulares would cause their settlements to be transferred across the Pasig River.

     This hilly area across the Pasig River was known as "Minondoc" which eventually became known as Binondo. It was a small hamlet with inlets from the river. It was here that a new class of Chinese mestizos arose and they were to be the noveau riche of an emerging social strata whose wealth was based on trade and commerce.

        The entire Chinatown is 66.11 hectares and composed of 10 baranggays. The Dominicans first undertook the conversion of the Chinese settlers. Naturally most of the traders who were single or who travelled sans their wives would eventually seek female companionship. Most of them ended up marrying the indias. This gave rise to the emergence of the mestizos de sangley. It was necessary to have churches built since the sangleys were allowed to marry the Filipinas but only if they were converted to Catholicism.

     The church of Nstra. Sra. del Rosario was constructed in 1587 and renovated over the years. At one point, the church was ordered destroyed by the Spaniards as punishment after the Chinese sided with the British in 1762 and eventually rebuilt to house one of the oldest icons of the Philippines; the Nstra. Sra. del Pronto Soccoro (Ina ng Biglang Awa).

     Most of the Church's architecture follow its original High Renaissance Italian architecture was destroyed yet again after the bombing of Manila in WWII but was restored immediately after. Only the church's octagonal bell tower was spared. the church's facade is decorated with pilasters and a circular window at the pediment.

     These days, the church is a Basilica Minore in honor of the first Filipino-Chinese saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz. He served as an altar boy in the church and was martyred on a trip to Japan along with eight other people. Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was a Chinese mestiza who spent her life in service of the poor around the area of Binondo. It is said that she died immediately after receiving the Eucharist in Binondo Church. While Andres Bonifacio sold fans and walking canes in the Plaza Calderon dela Barca  (now Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz). Eventually, he married Gregoria de Jesus in the very same Church. Ramon Ongpin's art supply store El 85 was right across the Plaza where Jose Rizal and Juan Luna would hang out and buy their art implements/materials...

Teodora Alonzo - Extraodinary Mother

     There is a well-known adage: "The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree."

     This Filipino saying can never be truer than in the case of our National Hero Jose Protacio Mercado Alonzo Rizal y Realonda's mother TEODORA ALONZO. Today 16, August, 2011we celebrate this extra-ordinary woman's hundredth death anniversary. Her exemplary life is mirrored in Rizal's strength of will and polished character. This is the result of her mentoring Rizal from an early age.

     Born 9 November, 1827 in Meisik, Tondo, Manila; Dna. Teodora studied Mathematics and Literature at the Colegio de Sta. Rosa in Intramuros, Manila. She was married to Francisco Mercado of Binan, Laguna. The couple decided to reside in Calamba, Laguna and raise a family of 11 children of two boys and nine girls: Saturnina, Paciano, Narcissa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Jose, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and Soledad. 

     To support the family, they engaged in agri-business on Dominican land they rented and managed. She also set-up her own textile business, sugar and flour mill and a small store on the ground floor. Years later, the  family would fall from the good graces of the Spanish authorities. In 1871, she was accused falsely and was incarcerated for two and a half years. In 1891, she was arrested for not using the surname Realonda de Rizal and was made to walk for four days from Manila to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Eventually they were evicted from their land due to a dispute. By then, Jose had been exiled in Dapitan where she spent the next four years until he was moved back to Manila. Intermittently, while moving around in exile, it was in Hong Kong where Jose operated on her cataracts as she was getting advanced in age. The height of all her suffering came when her son was found guilty of treason and was sentenced to die by firing squad. All her pleas for her son's life to be spared fell on deaf ears.

       After Jose Rizal was declared a National Hero, the Philippine Assembly approached her and offered her a lifetime pension for her loss. She politely and graciously turned down the offer saying that "her son died in service of his beloved country which was every Filipino's duty." 

     It doesn't surprise me the Rizal gave up the ghost for his country, Teodora Alonzo taught him early on the values of  love of God, patriotism, loyalty, love of work, respect for elders, love for fellowmen and family. His character was an extension of her own...

TOURISM SECRETARY RESIGNS

     Don't look now but Department of Tourism secretary Alberto Lim has resigned from his post barely a year after his appointment. The resignation comes as a surprise as the secretary has been active in attending tourism expos as of late.

     Apparently, the secretary wants to spend more quality time with his family whom he has relegated to the back-burner since accepting his post.  He was not aware the position would bring him travelling all over on official functions. Which begs the question: Did he not know that his designation would require at least some amount of travelling? Hmmmm... something's just not right here...

     The resignation coincides at a time when family members left behind by the Hong Kong victims of the Quirino Grandstand hostage taking that happened same time last year have filed a class action lawsuit against the Philippines. Media has even gone so far as to infer that Sec. Lim was one of the headaches of President Aquino. This, the secretary shrugs off with a retort for media to ask  P-Noy himself. 

     Reactions to his resignation are varied. Secretary Lim's all too brief stay at the department is rocked by controversy particularly with the hostage-taking and with the launch of the Pilipinas Kay Ganda fiasco which didn't sit well with the travelling public. Others claim that domestic tourism has increased alongside foreign arrivals. He is also being credited for laying the groundwork for the open skies policy which is now under work.

      

      Travel insiders are all waiting with baited breath over the next few developments... oh well, it's back to the drawing board... sigh!

Tempest in CCP

       The Cultural Center of the Philippines is touted as "a tribute to the Filipino Spirit". It was Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, erstwhile builder and founder of the CCP, who spearheaded the realization of a center where Filipino art and creativity could flourish. Never mind that it was the beginning of her "edifice complex". Even after the Marcos family was deposed and shanghaied to Hawaii the CCP remained as the greatest Filipino beacon of both visual and performing arts. Designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, the center was inaugurated on September 8, 1969 with no less than Gov. Ronald Reagan (California) and wife Nancy as special guests of Mrs. Marcos to cut the ceremonial ribbon.

     Just yesterday, Mrs. Marcos was again seen on TV pitching for the removal of an art exhibit by a group of UST Fine Arts alumni from one of the CCP's galleries. The exhibit entitled KULO featured  an art work entitled POLITEISMO that featured various images of Christ irreverently enhanced by mickey mouse ears and wooden penises on the corpus. Naturally, the work stirred a hornet's nest. The outrage from concerned Catholic groups and purists caused a raucus reaching the august halls of the senate.

     Artists and Art groups quickly ran to the defense of the artist claiming the controversial piece was part and parcel of art as freedom of expression. Art, they claim, is a personal vision that makes the public viewing it think. Art should be thought provoking. It should challenge accepted norms... it should be daring...

     That's where all the controversy sets in. The perception of art is a personal thing. Nobody can dictate what each and every individual likes or dislikes. The CCP's board and management came under fire for allowing the piece to be exhibited. Why, of all pieces, was this artwork allowed? Why, of all places, was it exhibited at the CCP? Credit goes to CCP management for bowing to pressure if a bit too late. 

     The damage has been done, though. For Art to be effective it must have a balance of all the eight basic elements: line, shape, volume, movement, light, color, shadow, perspective. Politeismo didn't (at least for me) have a cohesive balance of the elements at all. I remember the three main qualities that espouse the CCP's raison d'etre: Katotohanan, Kabaitan, Kagandahan. I can almost hear Mrs. Marcos saying her favorite line: the TRUE, the GOOD and the BEAUTIFUL; the said artwork so worked against it.

     I'd like to say I'm an artist myself so I should know what I'm talking about... I really have reservations about this one... We could all go technical by discussing the finer points of art... Or even condemn the work as sacrilegious... But i tend to simplify my view. 

     If it isn't good enough to hang on my wall... it's not ART!

     

HINILAWOD- Our Intangible Heritage

     The Philippines boasts of four World Heritage Sites, many natural wonders and terrific scenic spots which are gaining proponents of preservation for our progeny. What we have yet to work on is preserving those that are intangible.

     HINILAWOD is an epic narrative that is chanted on special occasions. The story unfolds over a period of three days straight given sleep and meal breaks. Three weeks tops when chanted only in the evenings after dinner. Hinilawod is one of the longest epics known having 28,155 lines in verses making it even longer than the ILIAD which only has 15,700 lines. What's so special about it is that it is chanted from memory. None of it is written down so it is passed on orally from one babaylan to his ward.

     The story revolves around HUMADAPNON who searches for a beautiful lass, NAGMALITONG YAWA who lives  near the Halawod River. He sees her in his dream through the help of his spirit friends Taghuy and Duwindi. As he searches for this beautiful woman, he is lured by enchantresses led by Lubay Halawod who imprisons him in their lair, the cave of Tarangban for seven years... doesn't it sound familiar?

     The discovery of  HINILAWOD was  borne out of a sense of frustration and a challenge to then budding writer and archeologist F. LANDA JOCANO whose literature professor told him to search for FILIPINO literature in the mountains and hinterlands. He did! He went to Panay where he came across a babaylan chanting HINILAWOD to his grandson while Jocano  was out shopping for provisions for his trip to the mountains. He lived with the SULOD imbibing their culture and norms. It was during his immersion with the Sulod that HUGAN-AN, the go-between spirit and material worlds gave him permission to record the HINILAWOD for future generations. With a borrowed magnetic tape from the University of the Philippines Jocano recorded the epic tale chanted in native Kinaray-a language.

     Thank goodness Jocano recorded the HINILAWOD out of a sense of  FILIPINO nationalism and pride for our culture and heritage. Otherwise, our heritage would have again been pillaged by other nations who have the resources and technology. Some of the recordings of our chanted epics can be found in the best libraries of France and Spain. Very few complete ones may be found in our archives. Some theater groups have managed to present it in theater form but then when that's done there is something lost in translation... the authenticity is somewhat lost...

     What can we do about that? I wonder... I guess we need more people like Jocano.

Philippine Dragon Warriors Win More Gold

     They may not have the squeaky-clean, matinee idol looks like the AZKALS or the VOLCANOES do. They're not handsome Filipino mixed-race, half-breeds. Their training isn't watched by squealing teen-age girl fans. But the Dragon Warriors (yes, that's what they're called now) know that bringing home the medal is really what it's all about.

     They still have no sponsorship from government. According to some of their family members there's no support because dragon boat rowing is not part of the military plantilla for approved sport programs. No wonder they've been doing their thing on their own. They're dogged determination has ultimately paid off as they have in total garnered 5 GOLD MEDALS and 2 SILVER:

1000m Premier Open Men's Event

500m Premier Open Men's Event

500m Premier Open Mixed Event

200m Premier Open Men's Event

200m Premier Open Mixed Event

2 Silver Medals in the AC All Comers Event

     These hunky paddlers have stuck to their training day in day out. Some have been eking out a living by collecting the floating plastic bottles in Manila Bay after their daily practice just to make ends meet. But the prestige they have brought to the country through winning their medals are unparalleled.

     Okay, earlier on in my other blog someone asked me if, upon their return, the Dragon Warriors will get the Bench exposure the way the football and rugby teams got. My answer to that would be: Sorry, racy billboards have already been banned. 'Nuff said!

     

Pinoy Paddlers Win Gold

     Just when the Philippine military has been getting negative feedback for getting involved in anomalies in government, a ray of brilliant sunshine comes through when the country's dragon boat contingent won the gold medal in the short boat category in Tampa, Florida on 4 August, 2011.

    

   The traditional dragon boat is composed of 22 rowers plus a steersman and pacer. The shortboat is composed of only 10 paddlers plus the usual steersman and captain. What's unusual is that the team that snagged the gold medal is made up mostly of military men: seven from the Philippine Army, one from the Air Force, one from the Navy, three from the Coast Guard. The steersman is Chief Ruperto Sabijon a retired PCG personnel and boat captain is Sgt. Usman Anterola of the Army. Team manager is Army Maj. Harold Cabunoc.

     During the first round, the Philippine Dragon Boat team rowed almost unchallenged, setting a time of 4:59.79 with team Australia sailing behind. They needed a second win to seal getting the top spot. On their second heat, they were determined to get the gold medal and setting a new record in the process by clocking at 4:57.13. The Australian team put up a good fight to no avail as the our team was dead set on winning top spot.

     The win is much deserved as the Dragon  boat team has been getting no support from government. But love for the sport and passion saw them through as they trained day in and day out in Manila Bay through all types of weather. Their winning the gold medal should come as no surprise. In this country of 7,107 islands, we're completely surrounded by water, we have a strong maritime history, and we belong to a race that has been connected by seas. Government should, at the very least, provide some form of viable support for a sport the nation can be naturally brilliant in.

*As of this writing, the team won its second gold medal in Tampa, Florida. 

Delicadeza Is Alive - Still?

     Juan Miguel Zubiri has just resigned as Senator of the Philippines. This is in line with accusations hurled against him by criminals (Ampatuan and Bedol) who've been arrested for mass murder and for election fraud.  I wonder why it has gotten mixed reactions? 

     Sixto Brillantes feels it is tantamount to an admission of guilt. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile feels that the resignation should be subjected to a caucus by the senate. Senator Jinggoy Estrada feels that he has resigned his post to the people who elected him into office. Sec. Leila de Lima says his resignation does not give him the license to take the post vacated by the Sen. Zubiri unless the Commission on Elections declares close rival Coco Pimentel as rightful senator elect.

     At his live interview over the news, Sen. Zubiri declares his conscience is clear over alleged election fraud and that he does not wish to carry on his position knowing that he was the direct beneficiary of cheating during the 2007 elections. Socialite Vicky Zubiri was seen wiping away tears as her son delivered his resignation speech. So were Sen. Zubiri's staff. The poor employees were in tears more so because they now face an uncertain tenure since they now have no one to work for.

     In other countries such as Japan and the United States, elected officials resign at the first whiff of a scandal. So why is it such a big deal then that we're all agog at Sen. Zubiri's resignation... well, they say the first time is always something one never forgets... finally, someone had the chutzpah to start an honorable trend...

     Let's just hope this thing doesn't fizzle out...

   

Pinoys Dance to Fame

     I have been a dancer for many years. I can't say I was the strongest dancer there was but I was pretty good. I've been on the CCP stage for many seasons with Ballet Philippines and dancing with the best of both national and international ballet stars.

      Today, so many opportunities are open to dancers. It is particularly interesting since reality/dance shows have become quite popular globally. The Jabbawockeez on the US side made abreaak on the show America's best Dance Crew. The group is composed of Filipino-Americans based in California.

     

     Locally, the Philippine All Stars is a rag-tag group of hip-hop dancers who have had no formal training in dance but have managed to win top spots in international competitions in both the US and in Europe. 

     Lately two Filipinos have distinguished themselves in the field of dance by edging out the competition in the  show So You Think You Can Dance. Hosted by Kat Deeley, the reality dance show also features panelists Nigel Lithgoe and Mary Murphy and a guest judge who comes in every few shows. Tadd Gadduang and Marko Germar have distinguished themselves by landing in the top six of the show's finalists.

     Originally from Guam, Marko Germar couldn't afford dance classes. So he worked in the dance studio by cleaning desks in exchange for dance training. he worked it to such a degree learning jazz, ballet, hip-hop, ballroom and gymnastics. His move to the US proved auspicious as he eventually landed a job dancing in Disneyland in the Aladdin The Musical Spectacular. He's been a victim of robbery and was shot but survived . A bullet is still lodged in his arm as a result. He then auditioned for the show and was taken in and is currently in the final six.

     Tadd Gadduang, on the other hand, is a Psychology student who took up dancing at 15 years of age and he hasn't stopped since. He's now 25 and loving his "urban dancing' style. Unlike Germar, Gadduang was born and raised in California and still embraces his Filipino roots. Both men have inadvertently become rivals as they are the only to men who are still left out of the six. Let's hope that both of them land in the final four and either of them get hailed as America's Best Dancer.