IT'S NO LONGER FUNNY! LET US SUFFER NO MORE!

                                                               






Melinda "Mei" Magsino

Philippine Daily Inquirer

April 13, 2015, in Batangas City, Philippines

Magsino, 40, a former correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was shot dead before noon near her apartment in the village of Balagtas. Police citing security footage said the gunman escaped on a black and white Honda motorcycle driven by another man, according to news reports.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), an agency in the Philippines government tasked with investigating high-profile cases, said it was searching for the two suspects, who had waited and followed Magsino as she exited her apartment. The agency said it was also looking for a group of men who were in a maroon van, who served as backups for the killers, Vicente de Guzman, NBI's acting deputy for investigation, said, according to news reports.

Magsino's friends and family attributed her murder to her years-long investigation of local officials. Magsino had reported on local corruption, including a governor's alleged links to illegal gambling, and wrote exposés for news outlets such as the Inquirer and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Actually the list of media killings is long. The latest is that of a radio broadcaster in Ozamiz City. Not only are killings happening here. Even abroad, the Islamic terrorists are into the same business of obliterating people on earth with nary a sense of guilt. These people also rape girl children and use Quran passages to defend their acts. 

Why is life so cheap nowadays? Perhaps we should have researches on how to talk with the dead and for us to be able to go to the other world and come back on earth. In this manner, killings could be minimized for it would be useless to conduct them as people can always come back one earth if they want to. That is really funny. \

But I think it is only the government which can define whether human lives should be respected or not. The way officials react to killings should define how the ordinary folks themselves should deal with other humans. If officials are insensitive the the killings would look as ordinary events. If they react with great uproar, then that means lives are important and they should be protected. 

If they ignore murders and killings then that means, we need to check whether we have the proper government or not for our country. 

I think every government agency should have protocols on how to react to killings. The Public Information Agency, the Secretary for Communications, PTV 4, Radio BR, and all other government communication outlets should magnify those issues pertaining to media killings, especially. They should not look nonchalant and appear innocent, have an "e dI wow" attitude, or end their reactions to giving money to the families of victims. Genuine caring should be cultivated. 

For another example, when an OFW died in the prison cell, did we hear any reaction from the DOLE,  the OWWA, the POEA or the DFA? Nada, my friends. I just heard over DZXL the pleadings of the mother for the return of the body of her son whom he talked to a few days ago. 

Eventually, when God will call all of us to account for our actions, how shall we respond? "A, er, God, e, ...I don't remember. Is that important  to do?"

Funny indeed. life is so cheap that to see blood spilt on the road no longer brings us horror. Parang nakakita lang tayo ng baboy na kinatay at nakalatag sa kalye. This was how I saw people crowding around a young teenager sprawled along Commonwealth Avenue and with blood spread around him. They did not look horrified. 

And maybe, the Education Department could start extra sessions after academic classes to ingrain among the children and all students from elementary to college the value of human life. Humanities classes, subjects should be given emphasis. 

We were able to undergo many Humanities subjects at UP -- about western art, literature, and films when we were in college. They immersed us  on how the western world values artworks which are individual expressions of artists and writers. 

Coupled with humanities subjects should be lessons on the environment to make the students and especially children value living things which could extend to making human lives themselves important. 

I think our culture has undergone too much destruction -- especially with the high rise in drug-related incidents.  A need exists to deeply examine what has gone wrong with our culture so that murders, killings and all kinds of destruction of living people and things will be stopped forever. With regard to the Islamic countries' dilemma of dealing with the terrorists, I also think that they should have a united front against "suicidal bombings" and beheadings. I think that their religion could stand a bit of reinterpretation should it not be too explicit on how to deal with such issues. 

How long shall we suffer now? According to Brahma Kumaris sisters and brothers, Pain is real, but Suffering can be ended. Meaning -- we could experience pain but it does not mean we should allow it to fester in our system. 

ROUGH SAILING FOR GRACE POE

The way Grace Poe is testing the presidential election waters, it seems she is being tossed by the waves of criticisms coming from the camps of those who have similar motives.

That is "normal" in Philippine politics. Women will always have a difficult time offering themselves as public servants. Miriam Defensor Santiago receive the most difficult treatment -- being cheated of her votes. That is actually what we should guard against should Grace Poe run. The taunts against her running for the top post are nothing insulting than being deprived of that legitimate right to assume the post. 

Now, Susan Roces dipped into the political waters recently to defend Grace. That is also "normal" as she is the mother. However, a statement from her could have sufficed. Ms. Roces is an actress and so to hear or see her defend her daughter should be done when Grace is already a candidate. She could talk about the personal experiences of her raising a conscious child, a child who will be serving the country later on, the traits that Grace has for being a socially-aware child. Then, how did she influence her decision to study in the United States? How did she feel when Grace decided to take up American citizenship and then renounce it? How did Grace look at her and her husband's profession? How will Grace help the movie and video industries once she gets to be president? How will she help women and children? How will she deal with the raping of girl children or the crimes against women. 

Meanwhile, media folks I think should not pit women candidates against each other. Pinagsasabong. That is so disastrous to the women's movement to gain equality in society. We are not here to compete but rather help each other be strong to become good public servants for the people, to be strong advocates for raising our country to the heights of being a humane place for everyone regardless of age, sex, color of the skin, religion and political creed -- except that of the creed of terrorists. 

So to our great Kababayan, let us help each other get the right people to the government -- public officials whose hearts will be on the right place and who have the strength of character to become leaders. 

Picture of Grace from BoholChronicle.com

Greatness IV

Why do I need to breakdown my article into three parts? While starting my article on seeing the five-hundred peso bill, my computer shut down without my punching the button. 

So I presumed, I need to start my article with my premises. Folks, our politics is highly critical; we have ultra-sensitive authorities who would pay people to stop any contrary idea to that of the government people from surfacing. 

GREATNESS III

Maybe to introduce ourselves to the habit of being and doing great, we need to think and act like the eagle. It has sharp eyes, wide span of wings, and can soar into high mountains. Some can even focus on any prey which are located two miles away. 

Greatness requires the emotions of eagles -- angry when their territory is invaded, especially when their nests are attacked. We must have their eyes, able to see and fight corruption from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. 

GREATNESS II

Yesterday, I was examining the pictures of Cory and Ninoy on the five-hundred peso bill and suddenly I wondeR if PNoy is nearing the line of becoming as great as his parents, Ninoy sacrificing his life to help restore democracy in his country, in effect disloding Marcos from his post as martial ruler; while Cory leading the restoration through People Power.

If PNoy should earn a place in our roster of great people, what moves will he do in order to refurbish his tarnished image due to mistakes in governance and advice of his own people and the lack of intense energy and purest of intentions of his cabinet members to truly serve the people.   

I think it is time for him to truly look for a good adviser who will teach him how to be great, if ever he wants his presidency to be rendered meaningful when he steps down. And that means doing something for the people's welfare and not messing up as to who we will vote for come 2016.

Buena Suerte!

GREATNESS 1

What is greatness? Where does it lie? What moves can make an individual great? Is greatness a virtue or an ideal that needs to be pursued or does it fall on one's lap accidentally while existing on this earth?

Some persons appear great because every move of theirs goes to achieving something unique, something unusual which nobody else has done. For example are athletes who top the scores of others and emerge as champions in the field that they have chosen. Another set of great people are the inventors whose inventions give thousands, millions or help others ease their lives -- whether physically or otherwise. Still others are those in the generally helping business, whether they belong to a government or any advocacy group.

I remember our teacher in economics, Mr. Socrates who asked us -- twenty years from now, how do you perceive the society to be -- how many will be in the bottom, in the middle, and at the top. I submitted a drawing model whereby there were many people at the bottom and only a few at the top, meaning that there will be many people enjoying the natural resources of the country and only a few rulers or rich peole above them. 

It was a disastrous drawing model because the teacher interpreted it as many people at the bottom being dictated upon by a few. Anyway, that was a different idea from what I had had while drawing it. 

Today, I think nowhere are we nearing any model where many people will be enjoying the manna from heaven -- our bountiful harvests from land and sea. 

And

REVIEW: AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL

REVIEW: AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL

by Wilhelmina S. Orozco

Watching a musical play like Ampalaya the Musical is a total entertainment – it has dialogues, singing,dancing, and orchestral background music provided by the Orkestra Sin Arco (Orchestra without bow) led by the composer and conductor Maestro Michael Dadap. The setting is simply done – on the left side is a slide which is drawn like an open ampalaya with the seeds on it and where Ampalaya would retreat now and then. On the right is a terrace-like structure with a few stairs where the other veggies came up and down to the stage. Then at the center is a leaf screen where inside, animated figures – leaves, butterflies, fireflies – flitted here and there, a kind of amplification of the forest setting.

The story, set in the town of Sariwa, revolves around the conflict started by Ampalaya against the other vegetables who have been living peacefully with each other. She steals of bit from everyone as she envies their appearance and flees. When the other veggies finds out about the theft, they seek the help of a wise Nuno sa Punso and then bring Ampalaya to the court of justice. After being sentenced, Ampalaya is remorseful and the play ends with everyone singing and uniting happily.

Dessa Quesada, the director with Vera Libertad

The movements in Ampalaya are very smoothly done, showing that a theatre person has been behind it. Dessa Quesada the director gives every character a prominent position when speaking so that even from where I was, I would know who is speaking what lines. The transitions from the blocked movements to the choreographed dancing are also done very smoothly so that the show simply passes from one scene to the other.

The music of Maestro Michael Dadap, who wrote the libretto and the lyrics as well, does not show any tinge of Broadwayish strains as he revealed after the show, he was very conscious of all the Philippine music that have to be incorporated in it. The dialogue uses three languages-- Pilipino, English and Visayan – and so, using another kind of musical genre would have made it highly incongruous to the over-all identity of the play. The pieces are twenty all in all, including an Overture, an Intermezzo and a Reprise of Halina

M. Dadap with Ms. Mathilda Limbaga from Silliman University, who trained students in the COPVA Rondalla which has evolved to be the Orkestra Sin Arko today.

I just have one comment to make, and this is about the costumes. Some of the veggie actors look like elves with half of their lower bodies cut like the vegetable they are supposed to be portraying. The upper half is just plain blouse or shirt of fa different color. So Kamatis has a red skirt, Onion, magenta, etc. Over-all I feel that the costumes have too many colors in them, so that while watching, I have to review again and again who is speaking – that is, what vegetable.

For a theatrical show, lines on costumes have to be simple as the viewing is done from a larger perspective. Colors per character have to be minimal except if it were a clown, I suppose. Theatre is different from film watching which can provide a close-up of the characters and even their costumes.

Moreover, the Ampalaya hats used are nice to look at singly, but when they come as a collective presentation, the actors lose their distinctive characterization. They almost look too similar to each other. Then the make-up also is very colorful and nice to look at, if they are examined one by one. However, when the story unfolds, it is very difficult to distinguish one character from the other.

In addition, the costumes of the jury appear straight from some European fairytale – so much like the costume of Angelina Jolie in Maleficent. Suddenly, these characters were set off as different from the rest, by their tasks, okay but should not be by their physical appearance. If we search our books on anthropology or even visit indigenous tribes,we could be inspired by much more colorful costumes that could depict the moral qualities of the jury.

I have not read the story of Ampalaya yet but the author, Augie Rivera, Jr. is highly satisfied with the musical interpretation. However, may I add that Maestro Dadap has brought the story many notches higher and immortal in the annals of our people's theatrical history as he has given us music that has Philippine color all throughout, and presented it to us with an orchestra that is indigenously Filipino also and playing awit, kumintang (a warlike song he says) and kundiman.

Credit is due the singers who all sang in tune even the high notes. They exhibited great skill in delivering their songs even while moving about. Actually, that requires extra knowledge – opening your mouth, making a melody come out, singing in tune with the orchestra and then exhibiting the emotions that your character is supposed to be expressing.

Jerry Angelo who entertained questions from the audience and who wrote the dramaturg.

One positive thing is that Mo, a staff member elicited comments from the audience after the presentation. This is a very important part of any presentation as the un-understandable parts of a presentation can be clarified. So the children viewers came up with questions apropos to the story like, “why do you have a slide in the set?” and “why is Ampalaya bad?”

The producer of the play which has a cast of 18 and 23 orchestral instrumentalists, is the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee. It is amazing to note that in the far Visayas, the Committee has that appreciation and commitment to present this truly Philippine play that we can be proud of. In fact, it has been brought to different parts of the United States during its beginnings in 2003 in a shorter version, according to Dessa.

It is interesting to note that Silliman has a full blown college of performing and visual arts offering bachelor and master courses in speech and theatre arts, fine arts, choral conducting , composition and arranging, music educatiob, piano, voice, and ethnomusicology. It also has associate degrees on instrumental playing – not only western but also indigenous instruments. As well is has special lessons on piano, voice, guitar, violin, drums, dance and art class.

Set by the seaside, Silliman must be a heavenly academe to study the arts.

One thing noticeable in this production is that the major performers are Christian – at the beginning of the play, a prayer is included; then in the Director's Notes, Dessa says “ ...we thank God for the joy of creative work that continues to inspire and impassion our lives.”

AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL Original Music and Lyrics by Michael Dadap, Libretto by Dadap and Patty Yusah; Direction by Dessa Quesda-Palm; Setting by Lex Marcos, choreography by Angelo Sayson, Animation by Ramon del Prado; Technical Direction by B T Tiongco and J Kitay; Musical Direction by Elizabeth Vista; Director of Orchestra sin Arco – Mathilda Limbaga. The Orchestra sin Arco was conducted by M. Dadap.