SEAGAMES LOCAL SUPPORT LACKING

WHILE SEAGAMES is happening in Malaysia, we in the 


Philippines need not ignore, dismiss or be dedma to its happenings on a daily basis. 

Everyday, I tune into the radio and read the newspapers. Yet, I am frustrated because there doesn't seem to be a concerted effort to focus our attention to it. 

I wait for the news anchors to read the medals that we've won, or even the standing of our country. Nada. Last night, I even heard a racy anchor say that the Philippines had won 13 gold medals and had the poorest performance ever. Is that true?

But I can't get a contrary view. The news reports focus on one game or one athlete but not on the over-all picture of our participation. 

Then I noticed that our athletes lack support in the bleachers in Malaysia while other competitors have their countryfolks waving flags and cheering them. 

How come we invest a lot of money for international competitions but the morale boosting is nowhere to be found? Why?

Physical strength could be boosted by emotional support that could come from our country and the people that we send to bring the athletes to the site. 

Those who go with the athletes should bring with them a cheering squad that can be heard all over the gyms. They must also sport colorful costumes, flags, and other paraphernalia  that could readily distinguish them from other cheerers and make them visible all over the place. 

I hope that we would have a truly committed support for our athletes from now on. It is such a shame that our kababayan in Malaysia are there, maybe  some working as second class citizens yet cannot even enjoy being praised for the good standing of our athletes there. 

May I suggest: here in the Philippines, we must make all the newspapers, tri-media, including social media - carry the news -- individual and collective standings of our athletes at sports competitions, all throughout the occurrence.

Folks, I really pity our athletes. When other foreign athletes are shot by camera, they exhibit confidence and even braggadocio. But our athletes, they look timid, too humble and as if they are ashamed of being there. They lack the proud mien that they represent our country. 

Maybe it's high time that the Philippine sports organizations bring in a psychologiest in their midst to boost our sagging morale during competitions and beyond. 

Never mind the medals now. Let our countryfolks realize the value of sports in our consciousness and in reality, first.



"Fly high, do or die, dare to dream, cheer extreme." Author Kara, WC, Ohio, USA

WHEN MOTHER NATURE HURTS

Environmental plays are rare to be seen in our society. The last one I saw was that presented by Earthsavers led by Ms. Cecile Guidote, a group composed of People With Disabilities. Some actors performed from their wheelchairs. Because of the uniqueness of the situation, I felt like crying seeing them perform so well, with great effort.

One Saturday, I watched another environmental play, Mulat produced by College of St. Benilde, composed of students of dance. The story revolved around Mariang Sinukuan who was guarding the forest and the entry of big capitalists who wanted to grab the land.

Mariang Sinukuan protects the forest and fauna and in turn is protected by the people from incursions. The forest provides sustenance for the people and so they must side with Maria.

However the corporation through the bribery of certain townfolks manages to destroy the habitat of Maria and to take over the land. But in the end, the people defeat them.

The story is uncomplicated, the characters black and white, good and evil. The folks defending Maria and her diwata are dressed in colors other than black, which color is reserved for the bad guys and gals.

The main value of the play is in the dancing – the fluid movements of Maria and the diwata occupy the stage almost all throughout (the production is a culminating activity of graduating dance students).

At the same time, the dance is accompanied by music composed by Paulo Estero who manages to mix a kind of piece that blends with the raw, natural qualities of the setting. He used digital equipment to compose the music and drew heavily with percussion and guitar.

The music is not intrusive of the story;  rather  it gives the supportive emphasis on certain scenes like the entry of the evil guys who are going to steal the heart of  M a r i a n g   S i n u k u a n  kept inside a transparent cube with silver frame, as well as her eventual death. 

The production was nicely directed, leaving no time for gaps as the music continuously played; the dancing went on and on, shifting from one scene to another, from the bad guys to the townfolks to Maria and her diwata, and then back and forth.

One thing I noticed, the cube as the container of Maria's heart is too modern, too abstract. Maria is a forest being and so even the container of her heart must depict a kinship with Mother Nature. Nonetheless when the bad guys destroy the cube, and grab her heart, she dies. The music becomes morose and the diwata dancers bow  in sorrow and dance around her. Evoking a truly melancholy feeling, the music allowed the diwata dancers  to execute slow movements around the dead body of their goddess showing their great feelings of loss.

However, good plays do not end on a sad note. The people revive Maria through spiritual rites and  so they get to defend the forest from the greedy landgrabbers.

Well, this is a student production and it is difficult to say that the scriptwriter should not have created characters whom you could readily identify as the evil and the good ones; that he should have at least humanized them by showing where their greed is coming from. There was an attempt to show that they would use the money to buy drugs; did I get it right, guys? Also the play pinpoints the military as an accomplice in destroying the forest, which is a very brave stance, I must say.

But still the main come-on of the play is not so much the story as the dance itself. And if I were its mentor I would grade it very, very good.

The director and choreographer of the play was Justin Ray Salvatierra Dialoza and set design by Jay Lorenz Conanan. Mariang Sinukuan was performed by Zyrah Verastique with alternate performer Khylle Paulino, while the leader of the community, Liway was played by Cheska Vasallo.

Other members of the cast were: Neil Casagan, the bad guy ColeMines Head; General, Christian G. Cusi; Investor, Doori Chin; Army Spy, Kyle Confesor; Nymphs, Yella Carlos and alyana Tolentino; Townfolks, Gianina David, Inah Abarasaldo, Ruthame Hurtado and Angela Sison while the Taong Bayan was Christ Zureta.

In the program, it states that the program "entails a deeper and wider view on the power relations of nature, the army, the community, and the youth." To add to that, I would say that it infuses the environmental issue with spiritual meaning, suggesting that there are forces beyond human hands that are guarding our Mother Nature. 

The play is noteworthy also for imparting the message that when Mother Nature is hurt, human beings need to act very swiftly and in concert.

This is the type of production that should be distributed in all the schools for our young people to get encouraged to support cultural efforts that can give them direction and meaning in dealing with our environment.

It is imperative that the Department of Tourism reserve a budget for school productions and alternative shows to be toured around the country. In this way, our people all over the land would raise their standards for live productions beyond the noontime and afternoon shows that showcase (in a very objectifying style) women's thighs to keep the audience.  

WHEN TRANSPORTATION CAUSES SO MUCH PAIN

                                           



AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR CAPITANA:

Dear Capitana Connie, 

I have been mulling over the problem of transportation in our barangay. Actually I brought it up several times with your staff but it has not been solved. Here are my observations of it:

1. The tricycle drivers are the dominant players in the transportation system. They can refuse carriage and are not afraid of being reported at all;

2. They have an erratic fare system. If they know that you pay only P17 as the minimum, then they would mark you as the number one who should not be given carriage. From our house to Aurora Boulevard or to Araneta Avenue near the gasoline station, should be P20, no more no less;

3. Some drivers are so"brusko" that they swerve here and there. Many times my head had bumped the sides and if I so much as complain, they just keep quiet. Some say sorry but that's all'

4. Some tricycles have hard seats, meaning they have no foam. Others have no foamed backs. The worst are those whose backs have flattened nails sticking out; when the vehicle swerves, then your head could hit them. How many of these have different designs that are not passenger-friendly? and 

5. The existing situation is very partial towards those who have private vehicles that they can use any time. 

Here is my suggested solution:

Kindly have the barangay jeep serve as a shuttle that would go the rounds of the barangay every 15 minutes. It would take in passengers and charge P7 per trip. The route could be from Araneta Avenue, going inside Kapiligan, going around, and then coming out of Guirayan, turning right to it, and then back to Kapiligan to go around again. 

In this way, every one will have an option to take the tricycle or the shuttle jeep. 

I noticed that there are many empty jeep bodies by the fence of the barangay. Maybe they could be refurbished, or the barangay can request the more affluent residents to finance its overhauling for the use of the barangay folks. 

I think that privatization of the transportation system in our barangay is unhealthy. It breeds too much greed -- making the drivers always think of earning much instead of service. 

This is like having the PNR trains versus the privatized MRTS. 

Kindly mull over this proposal; the pains from the transportation system in our barangay is too much already;  and I hope this could be implemented right away as the weather is so erratic that we really need available transportation all the time. 

Have a nice day. 

SPOILED BRATS

The police were spoiled by the repetitive statements of PD to defend them till their case reach the courts. In Parental Discipline courses, spoiling the child makes them brats.
                            

LABANAN ANG MATERYALISMO: ANG PAG-AATIKHA SA KARANGYAAN!

Sa aking mga Kababayang mahilig manood ng entertainers at magbasa tungkol sa buhay nila:

pag may nabasa kayong bumibili ng daan-daang libong pisong bag o sapatos ang isang entertainer, isipin nyo na galing sa bulsa ninyo ang pinambili niya noon.

Nabili niya kayo sa mga antics niya kaya sa dami ng nanood sa kanya, binayaran siya ng malaki dahil marami ring adbertisment ang naipon niya na siyang nagbayad sa kanya ng milyones.

Suriin natin: para sa isang artista na pinapanood araw-araw dapat ba siyang magkalat ng mga uri ng pag-iisip na "Hoy, magpakayaman din kayo para mabili niyo rin ang mga mamahaling mga gamit ko. Masarap maging mayaman."

Yan ang pahiwatig niya sa halip na: "Mga kababayan ko, salamat sa tulong ninyo. Ibabahagi ko ito sa mga naghihirap nating mga kababayan."

"Ang tao ay di nabubuhay sa tinapay lamang."  Matthe 4:4

Para sa komentaryo pakipadala sa miravera2010@gmail.com or sa 09158238491

ON THE KILLINGS

Everyday we hear and read about killings in the streets, the home and everywhere else. When the police do the 

killings let us examine: how many police people are involved? How many came to catch the victim? If twelve 

police people came and  only one or two victims are involved then that is quite askew, is it not? Let us inform the 

public as to the details of the rules of engagement and let the police  give a report on how theY killed the victim, 

second by second, minute by minute. 

I just want to ask, how come the police do not use bullets that can paralyze the victim first instead of

hitting them on the head or the most vulnerable parts of the body? Is it possible some police people are trigger-

happy? 

We are becoming cold-blooded, "manhid" in the face of too many killings. Five or ten years from now we would 

look like zombies, too, uncaring about whom we hit at. 

Life is only once Many people want a second chance to change. We are not Gods but we can perform humane

or Christian acts as well. 

STOP UNCREATIVE BUREAUCRATS

Leading an agency of the government could turn officials into petty bureaucrats. The small territory makes them feel so arrogant and powerful so much so that at every turn they would wish to exercise power, no matter how gross.  

Yet plain political power in political governance does not mean divesting 200,000 people of their chance to lead a comfortable life, nor does it mean making the government lose the chance to make money. 

This is what the LTFRB has done when it suspended the business of a car rental company. It stopped its operations just because it has continued accepting registration of cars. 

Moreover, it states that some of the company's drivers have encountered accidents in the streets. 

The reasons for denial are flimsy; the need to curb LTFRB powers is highly important. 

In the first place, LTFRB, due to lack of a creative managerial imagination is imposing a ruling that is making 200000 car riders suffer from having a good transport to their destination at this time when mass transport is a far-flung ideal. It disregards the convenience, the comfort and the safety of passengers some of whom could also be riding due to some emergency reasons. (My granddaughter always takes an Uber. )

Also, the participation of the Senate to solve the problem is being done away with by the LTFRB making it an agency posing itself as higher than that Constitutional body. 

Though road accidents of any kind could occur in the streets, singling out the car rental company is a bit shortsighted. In the first place, the driver of the car could always carry the burden of taking care of the costs that could be incurred due to reckless driving. Secondly, the importance of good transport system is already being discussed on a daily basis yet LTFRB has not come up with any reasonable proposal and in fact has put up itself as a blockade to any sane system of transportation. 

The Senate has proposed imposing a fine of P5M to the company; now what is wrong with that? The LTFRB does not care! What P5M down the drain? Sick, sick, sick indeed. While high school students are having a hard time making their projects at school, due to low budgets, here is a government agency that can afford to turn away from an opportunity for our government to make money. 

Registering cars under the car rental company could just be that -- the LTFRB could have told the company to not allow the cars to go out into the streets while rules are being remade or made up. But what is this, the LTFRB needs a month to decide what rules to put up? That means the 200000 car riders have to feel pain for a month just so the petty bureaucrats would move their a___ to write down rules? My dear Folks, this is too much power for a small agency. 

LTFRB has a lot to look out for instead of crippling the car rental company. It should run after jeepney drivers who drive hellishly through Aurora Boulevard and other streets. It should standardize foot entries to the jeepney so that it would not be like going through cavalry having to ride it. As it is, many jeepneys have more than a foot high, even as high as one foot and a half in its entry point making it highly burdensome for pregnant women, disabled and senior citizens. Most of all, it should teach the drivers that jeepney, taxis, bus and transports are partnership businesses: the riders give the drivers good income and therefore, we deserve good and safe driving that will make use reach our destinations comfortably, all in one piece. 

It should also open Ayala Avenue to load and unload passengers at all the stops after 9 am and until 4 pm. As it is the loading and unloading points there are more than 100 meters apart. That means, when we get off at one stop, the next for getting on would be in the next block which is too far to negotiate. The streets of Ayala are too far apart. If the weather is bad, walking from one block to another would mean getting all wet and walking unsafely through slippery cemented pavements. 

Hay naku, ano ba yan?! Help, is this a dictatorial agency in our midst? To be a dictator is to show that one's options for change are very limited. 

It's time for President Duterte to tame his underlings. 

ON IMPROVING TRAIN EXPERIENCE

Taking the PNR train is a breeze if you want to reach Makati right away from Manila. The ride is quick, only twenty minutes except that if there is no space then you have to be standing all the way and gazing outside the window to remove the humdrum.


Well, I noticeD a bit of disturbing things while riding:

1. The coach for women, pwds, and seniors are located beside the engine room. Can you imagine the noise of a huge engine that could be vintage American period yet? It's terrible. I cupped my ears all the way because I am afraid of losing my sense of hearing, although that could be a wonderful experience. By the way, a Cafe has PWDs, deaf and mute serving us and it is always a great unique experience dealing with them.

2.   The coach is sometimes invaded by men who don't look unabled, or disabled. They are seated while pregnant women are left standing up. The guard is not always there to coax the men to give up their seats. 

3. The driver erratically announces the arrival at stations. So if you don't look out then you could miss getting off your stoop. 

4. The signs at the stations is so "tipid": only one sign for the name of the station. Can you imagine when the train whizzes past it that you don't get the name at all and you have to ask your seatmate where you are already? That happened to me while I was texting my observations on the train. 

5. On the way to a train station at Sta. Mesa, I came from Teresa street and then I got lost where the entrance. I had to ask several times where the entrance was and it turned out to be through a small pathway passing by barung-barong, and what have you. I told the guard, please tell your boss to put up signs as to where the entrance is. He said, "Hindi ko trabaho yan. Yung mga tao sa loob ang bahala diyan." Talk about commitment to public service and this guard should be booted out to Marawi City. 

6. The views outside are very depressing. The grounds surrounding the stations are dirty, lacking flowering plants, and trees. Then the waiting seats are very sparse. Have you sat on a piece of railroad wood? It's quite a unique experience as you would feel as if you are sitting on a centuries old block of wood. 

7. Well gentlemanliness is not really buzz word here. I saw a lot of men sitting on the silvery chairs and only one or two would offer their seat to an elderly. The station should put up signs that the chairs or benches are for seniors, PWDs, pregnant women, and women with children. 

That's all Folks as my train is coming. See you! I am off to meditate on why the world takes ages to improving the human condition. Or is it only in this train station?

ON BEING ASIAN

I watched the afternoon program of the ASEAN celebration of 50th year. The scenes were full of dancing. The history of the ASEAN was moving. 

Yes, being an Asian sounds strange in our midst. It is easier for women to say "I am a modern Filipina, more westernized than ever." To be westernized looks mod, the in thing, hindi huli sa panahon.

The songs in the beginning were in English, showing how detached we are from the truly Asian culture. 

Then while watching the dances, my eyes started to look for truly Filipino steps. It was difficult to do so. Most of the steps were ballet, with flying the partner here and there. Then the men were copying Michael Jackson's gyrations. 

Even the costumes were not indigenous to Filipino culture. To have truly Filipino design, there should have been more geometric shapes. Then the colors are more varied rather than brown and gray and white.

It was the singer who sang a Filipino song dressed in a tribal costume who caught my eye.

I felt ashamed -- our neighbors have more respect for their own culture -- the Thais, the Indonesians and Malaysians.



You see Folks, I feel Asian because when we look at people, we go beyond the physical. Our gaze penetrates the inner mind and feelings. We could even decipher what a person would do at some instance. Those people who meditate a lot could do so. And meditation is an Asian practice which we must cultivate so we can determine who will do good, not evil to us at onset.

How funny. I watched an engaging indie film, so-called but the theme song was Air Supply composition: Two Less Lonely People. Sayang. I could have applauded more.


Our Asian-ness is something ingrained in us. The reason why two million overseas Filipino men and women could feel at home beyond our borders is because we look at the earth as a boundary-less place. We belong to the universe not one place. Being Asian, we see and feel the past, present and future. That is why maybe some of us could feel a strong inkling that we have met a person sometime in the past although we have only met him or her for the first time. That is because, "kutob" or intuition is strong in us.

Maybe next time we have an international gathering, let us get the cultural groups from the Cordilleras and Mindanao to showcase what is truly our own. Let us feel proud of our roots. That is the first lesson in being an Asian. Next is being proud to showcase our culture to the world. 

FAELDON ALLOWED THE ENTRY OF A BIG ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE COUNTRY. DOES THAT MAKE PRESIDENT DUTERTE THE BIGGEST DRUG LORD? Nagtatanong lang po.

Laugh! Let's laugh for a change. 

I heard a radio ad about three "chicks" endorsing chicken -- no preservatives, etc. 

Then I wondered -- you mean when we eat fried chicken from that company, we but actually most the guys would be able to imagine eating their thighs, kissing their necks, biting their breasts, too, among other things?

What an ad, really. I wonder if the three Misses Universes had known the implications of their endorsement. 

Painting by Steven Scott

GRAND JURY AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Dear Folks, 

So if the Grand Jury finds out in the affirmative that there was palpable evidence of Russian interference, would that mean that Trump has to vacate his post because the basis for his election is not in keeping with the traditional values of American democracy as well as the constitutional provisions? His partner, whom he selected to be VP, would he also go?

So who would be president then? who would take over? 

Another election? 

I think those questions have to be raised now. Let the moves of the Grand Jury result in something concrete to raising the banner of true American democracy. Otherwise, it would be wasting time following up and analysing these events all the time. I need to preserve and protect my eyes, too, you know, just like Mr. McCain. However, the longer that guy stays in power, the more my eyes hurt, really.

Salute! Wilhelmina

Cartoon from http://theweek.com/articles/571771/13-hilarious-cartoons-that-skewer-donald-trump

KAMULATAN TUNGKOL SA SPORTS (Sports Consciousness)

 

ELMA MUROS, HEPTATHLON QUEEN, SEAGAMES, December 1996, Thailand

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon narinig ko rin ang ating bansa sa listahan ng mga nirereport ng British Broadcasting Company o BBC sa London. Yung una ay nang nangyari ang Yolanda.

Ano yung report? Ang Pilipinas daw ang may pinakamataas na bilang ng kaso ng HIV-Aids sa buong Asya. Nakakahiya, nakakahiya, nakakahiya.

Ang ating kabataan ay nahihila sa mga gawaing Unsafe Sex o sekso na walang pananggalang sa mga sakit tulad ng VD, AIDs, at iba pa, dahilan sa kawalan nila ng kaalaman kung paanong pangangalagaan ang kanilang mga katawan.

Anu-ano ang mga kahihinatnan nito? Sa loob ng lima hanggang sampung taon, ang ating gubyerno ay gagastos ng malaki para sa kalusugan, at kagalingang pangmadla o social welfare. Ang ating sektor ng paggawa at industriya ay hindi na magkakaroon ng mga trabahador na dekalidad at dahil sa kawalan ng maayos na suplay ng mga empeleyadong exelente ay maaaring mag-import na lamang tayo mula sa ibang bansa.

Ang Pilipinas ay malulubog na sa mga produktong imported o subcontracted mula sa ibang bansa – hindi na natin kakayaning gumawa pa ng ating mga orihinal na produkto. Paanong gagawin ito kung ang supply ng manggagawa ay mga bangag?

Isang matatag na kamulatan sa sports ang isang solusyon dito para sa lahat ng kabataan at nakatatanda. Kailangang itanim sa isipin ng kabataan at ng ating mga mamamayan na ang pagkakaroon ng isang malusog na pamumuhay, ang pagkalinga sa ating katawan, isipan, emosyon, at kaluluwa ay mahalaga. Hindi pwedeng magkakahiwalay ang mga ito.

Ngayon na ang panahon para lahat ng mga sports officials ay bumangon at makaramdam ng kanilang tungkulin sa lipunan at umakto ng masigasig upang siguruhin na ang ating mga kababayan ay nakatuon sa pangangalaga ng ating mga katawan.

Ano ang kamulatan sa sports? Ibig sabihin nito, alam natin ang bawat bahagi ng ating katawan – ang masel, ang mga ugat, ang mga buto at iba't ibang

bahagi ng ating katawan, kung paano silang gumagalaw, kumikilos, at nagbabago; kung bakit malakas ang ating katawan at kung minsan naman ay nanghihina. 

Samakatuwid, kailangang may pakiramdam tayo tungkol sa ating katawan. Kailangang alam natin kung anong mga pagkain ang ating kakainin na magpapalusog sa atin at kailan tayo magpapahinga para huwag manghina ng tuluyan ang ating katawan. Oo, kailangan ng ating katawan ang pahinga, kahit na ang isipan at damdamin. Ito ay masusing pinag-aaralan at malaking papel ang ginagawa diyan ng barangay at eskuwelahan 

"Walang karapatan ang sinuman na maging bano sa pagpapalakas ng katawan. Nakakahiyang makita ang isang taong tumanda na hindi nakikita ang ganda at lakas na kayang-kayang matamo ng kanyang katawan."

No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.- Socrates

(Larawang kuha ni Alinne Pasa rone)