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.