ON VALUING RIZAL

MALABONG PANANAW KAY RIZAL

December 26, 2019.

My assistant, Angela and I went to Knights of Rizal office along Roxas Boulevard.

Emma: Ma'am, I am a writer and dramatist. May I recite Huling Paalam at your observance of the Death anniversary of Jose Rizal?

Answer: A, our program is only for the members (all men). We just join the celebration of the National Historical Commission every year. They have a wreath laying at the Rizal monument in Luneta and then the program. You can contact them and present your idea. Here is their number - 09296982127 (name never mind.)

So I called up the NHCP

Emma: Good afternoon ho. I am (my name) am a writer and a dramatist. I would like to join your program on Monday, the 30th. I would like to recite Huling Paalam ni Rizal.

Reply: Saan nyo ho nakuha ang number na ito?

Emma: Sa Knights of Rizal ho.

Reply: Tapos na ho ang pagpaplano ng programa.

Emma: E. 'Day, may magre-recite by ng tula ni Rizal?

Reply: Wala ho.

Emma: E di tamang-tama. Ako ang tutula.

Reply: E yari na ho ang programa. May wreath laying ang Presidente sa monumento ni Rizal at pagkatapos ay magsisimula na ang programa.

Emma: Saan gaganapin ang programa?

Reply: Dito ho sa 4th floor ng National Historical Commission building.

Emma: Sinu-sino ang dadalo?

Reply: By invitation ho.

Emma: Hindi ba mahalaga sa inyo ang Huling Paalam? Hindi ba yun ang huling sinulat ni Rizal bago siya pinatay sa Luneta?

Reply: (Walang sagot) Sige ho, tatanungin ko lang dito. Tatawagan ko na lang kayo.

And so I waited that afternoon, the whole days of the 26th, 27th, and the 28th, but no one had called. Then on the 29th called that celfone again but no one answered.

Tanong: Si Rizal ba ay pang sanlibutan, pang masa o pang elitista?

Parang kailangang mag rebyu tayo:

1. Ano ang layunin ng pag-aaral ng kasaysayan?

2. Ano ang tunay na layunin sa pag-aaral ng buhay ni Rizal? 

3. Sinu-sino ang dapag magpahalaga sa buhay ni Rizal?

4. Ano ang papel ni Rizal sa pagpapalaya ng bansa?

5. Bakit siya pinatay?

6. Sinu-sino ang mga nakinabang sa pagkamatay ni Rizal?

7. Bakit hindi tayo nagkakaisa sa pagkilala sa pagkabayani ni Rizal? Siya ba ay bayani ng iilan lamang o ng buong bansa at ng sanlibutan?

8. Magkano ang budget ng NHC para sa pagpapakalat ng kahalagahan ni Rizal?

9. Anu-ano ang programa ng NHC para makilala ng taumbayan si Rizal?

10. Saan kinukuha ng NHC ang mandato nito para gawing eksclusibo ang programa sa pag-observe ng Death Anniversary of Jose Rizal?

11. Anu-ano ang nangyayari kung malabo ang paningin natin kung sino ang dapat kilalaning bayani ng ating lahi?

Bigyan ng pag-aaral muli ang mga empleyado at opisyales ng NHC. Paki.

WHEN "ANGELS" SING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Folks, Merry Christmas!
Did you know that there is a group of men who control the sounds here at Bahay Caridad compound, Bayani Street, Barangay Donya Imelda, Quezon City? Every time someone they know celebrates a birthday, there they go singing some in tune but most of the time one or two dominates the mike and sings offkey. Not only that, they sing anti-women songs, like that Tagalog song that talks about the sufferings of a househusband, and other songs that would really make women feel bad.

I have tried calling the attention of authorities here but they are able to go on and on with their freaky behavior. Worse, they penetrate my residence once I voice out my disgruntlement over their burdensome ways. In these past two months, I have lost a celfone and a ring, the first I complained to the authorities, the Galas Police Station. But nothing happened. All the police did, Officer Budomo,  was smile and laugh at my complaint. Now he is even scarce. I went to Camp Karingal and complained about the loss but even Officer Zaldariaga is missing now. These people are always out when I complain. Camp Karingal is under Gen. Esquivel, the last time I heard. So if you know these people, Folks, please tell them to return my celfone.

Can you imagine spending your Christmas with such sounds? It is past three in the morning and they just keep on and on. I reported the rowdy boys to 911, and it looks like someone had come to tell them off.

The Christmas spirit has been lost in our country. Instead of celebrating quietly and appreciating the sacrifices of Christ to propagate his highly humane teachings we are led to believe that we must tolerate every behavior, regardless if they exhibit anti-women stance. 

So,  Philippine Commission on Women, what are your accomplishments this year? Why is the above still happening? What areas of Philippine life have you penetrated to make men respect women? 

Let us be bold in our steps in raising the value of Filipino womanhood in this country. Machismo, catering to the macho image of men is bringing down our efforts in propagating equality in our country. 

WHEN PRIESTS AND NUNS ARE QUIET ON LASCIVIOUS DRESSINGS

POPE FRANCIS from ravsla posted in an email:

   Ogle? I attended Mass in Ayala's Greenbelt earlier tonight. SRO Simbang Gabi. A comely teener kindly insisted on giving to me her stool, which in the end I took, with appreciation, and tried to concentrate on the ritual. Trouble was right in front of me was an even comelier young woman in short shorts, tough to choose between Jesus's bare legs on the cross, and hers.

   Merry Christmas.

THIRD EYE

I see crowds of people shouting IMPEACH! IMPEACH!

BLEEDING HEART OF A SOLDIER

 A marine soldier's heart is bleeding. 

After fighting and helping win the war against the ISIS terrorists in Marawi, he left for the home province of his children by his second wife ( he's divorced.) For five years, he did not see them grow up. The only consolation he has is that, through constant communication he has been able to instill in them the value of education, so much so that they are bemedalled in their schools. 

-He signed a contract to stay at the province of his children but now he's being reassigned to Mindanao again to fight the Abu Sayyaf . 

He cannot imagine coming back alive to see his children again once he gets assigned there in Mindanao. "Mamamatay na ako roon. Parati na lang laban ng laban. Walang katapusan. Paano yung kontrata namin? Balewala na lang?"

How often should a soldier fight in a year? How much rest does he or she need in order to regain humanity, after seeing deaths a number of times?  
Guernica by Picasso

SOLDIER'S HEART BLEEDS

A marine soldier's heart is bleeding. 

After fighting and helping win the war against the ISIS terrorists in Marawi, he left for the home province of his children by his second wife ( he's divorced.) For five years, he did not see them grow up. The only consoldation he has is that, through constant communication he has been able to instill in them the value of education, so muh so that they are bemedalled in their schools. 

He signed a contract to stay at the province of his children but now he's being reassigned to Mindanao again to fight the Abu Sayyaf . 

He cannot imagine coming back alive to see his children again once he gets assigned there in Mindanao. "Mamamatay na ako roon. Parati na lang laban ng laban. Walang katapusan. Paano yung kontrata namin? Balewala na lang?"

JOHN LENNON Poster Print with Lyrics, Original Pop Art Portrait on Enhanced Matte Paper, Designed by Satya Artworks

HI HO SILVER AWAY!

IMPEACHING A FOREIGN- BACKED OFFICIAL

THe IO of WH of the Big Apple country was impeached by the House of Representatives today, December 18, 2019.

He is very angry but in the wrong way. His collagues, pro and contra impeachment are very respectful of his position, calling him President. In a third world country he would have been  cursed and called by so many other negative titles.

Also, I admire those who are for him bccause they are showing respect to an overgeown kid who does not understand history and ethics unless these serve him.

And most of all. his wife, his wife is standing by him despite the morass he has embedded himself in. Wow I did not know that there could be a Maria Clara in the White House.

But the imprints of Lenin country's leader who is propping him up are all over him. Any ordinary person would have crumbled psychologically amidst such a deluge of charges and negative comments about him. And yet, he stands his ground. He even put out a reply to the charges ONE DAY BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT. Timing, his defenders know timing when they can get the most media mileage.

Folks, all this time, his foreign backers have been able to search through, analyze and interfere in all the official governmental functions of the adopted country of our Kababayan-OFW. These backers know the entrails and all goings-on so much so that the integrity of US of A has become questionable if not downright ridiculous.  Who knows, they could even be dictating who should be and not be Am ambassadors in other countries.On top of these all, the US of A  appears as a satellite country except that English is still the medium of communication. Spassiva, Dostoevsky and Tschaikovsky.

We in the thirdworld shall derive lessons from the American experience. It is just so sad that many of our compatriots are pro-IO, not pro- the values that the Republican Party stands for. Those defending the IO are citing economic prosperity under his administration as a big reqson for having him around as the highest official of the land. Question: Do people live by bread alone? Should morals and principles of self-determination be skipped in favor of billions of dollars?

But the most crucial thing in this impeachment is that the guy who is anti-immigration, anti-women, and racist will now have  to confront the question if he should stay on as president despite how he view the people whose only desire is to continue living in this world with respect and dignity. Does  he really think he deserves to be president in a country known as a melting pot for people who want to realize their dreams in this world? Amen.

Opocko. Wilhelmina

FAIRYTALES EXPANDING IMAGINATION

Folks, to read fairytales is to experience being a child again and letting our imagination run wild and free. However, some children though experience it differently 

Yesterday, I watched Forzen II and a child with her mother a few seats away from me started crying when Elsa entered the forest and Anna was left behind. She could not be pacified so I told her, "Drawing lang yan." Then she quieted down. 

When the scenes were getting conflicted again, she began crying more heavily. I told her, "Comics lang yan." She stopped a bit. 

Then when the scenes got more and more full of big stony giants waking up and walking towards Anna, she cried the more heavily. And I told her, "Anna is strong. Matapang si Anna. Dapat matapang ka rin." No, her tears flowed down again. 

When the film ended, she was still sobbing and crying. "O, tapos na. Lahat ay masaya, ikaw lang ang hindi. Bakit ka ganyan?"

Folks, I think some children can be babied too much by their parents. Then the immersion in gadget has made them too tame to face even a simple movie as Frozen II which has a rather dark treatment I might say for a child and an adult like me. I really did not like so much the fearsome places that the sisters and their companions -- Kristoff, Olaf and Sven had gone into. Frozen II lacks the childlike qualities of Frozen I wherein even the songs were singabl and memorable. Remember "Let it Go?"

Anyway, I would like to show some of the pictures of our puppetshow, Mga Aninong Gumagalaw ni Ophelia, adapted from the book, Ophelia's Shadow Theatre by Michael Ende which we had shown to five barangays here in Quezon City: Payatas, Tatalon, Sacred Heart, Commonwealth and Project 6. 

Here they are courtesy of Debbie Viereck of Goethe Institut: (November 2018)

This is our audienc at Barangay Commonwealth

Our puppetshow had shadow puppets, cartons that were cut-outs, tacked                                                                                     flat on white screen with light projected at the back 

These are the puppeteers behind the screen. They are seated on the floor while one is reading the script to announce to them the next shadow puppets that will be put up on the screen. 

Debbie, of Goethe Institut is explaining the map of Germany, while the teachers and yours truly are watching. She is saying that it is located higher than where we are in the Philippines,  and so the climate is very cold up there. 

These are the shadow puppets which wanted to be kept in the theatre bag of Ophelia. 

The children and adults who watched from Barangay commonwealth were very happy to have been shown the puppetshow. The adults had not experienced it in their childhood while the younger set saw them only on some TV  shows. They asked when we will hold another one and we could not answer a definite date. As a non-government organization, Kamalapina, our theatre group is planning another show this coming year courtesy of another foreign organization. 

LOVE SPORTS ... HOW TO''S

After the SEAGAMES time to derive lessons:

This is the back cover of REGALO  MAGAZINE for children and adults who did not enjoy much of sports in their childhood.

ROSES BELONG TO THE PEOPLE

ROSES FOR BREATHING LIFE

It is so strange to me why our musicians and artists are obscured from society except when some have their own public relations writers.

Reading about and listening to Tchaikovsky's and other European composers, I could deduce that they revolved in their societies rather very freely and were regarded well by the aristocratic and government officials.

On the other hand, our society is so hewed to commercial media Composers, serious musicians are only known during the performance of their works. After that they then retreat to the shadows or to teaching where the academe could give them the respect and recognition that they deserve. This is also why graduates of the arts and music prefer teaching rather than facing the rigours of making a name for themselves in society head on - teaching makes them connect with the Muses daily while sharing their knowledge with the youths. In the larger society however, they have to struggle, with social recognition barely attained unless they set up a non-government cultural organization that could give them that bigger push to pursue their calling while assiduously asking for grants and funds from private and public institutions.

Which are the grantmaking institutions in our country? National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and local government cultural councils which have very political standards - closeness or loyalty to the officials - rather than pure talent and/or genius. Private foundations also exist that build ties with the public for advocacies. I approached an NGO foundation for the environment to inform and promote the need for public attention to the plight of the dugong, an endangered species. It was rejected without reason. So I asked them, what kind of information are you talking about in your mission? No reply.

Some venues exist to provide artists and musicians free spaces to perform however they can also be demolished especially if they are attached to a political agency like the local government. The Coconut House at the Quezon Memorial Circle which had all the necessary permits was suddenly padlocked for no reason at all. But recent reports said that a commercial restaurant will come in to fill up the lot.

What makes the CH worthwhile saving is that it provided space for painters, musicians, composers, poets and other artists to exercise their skills and perform. Adults - seniors and young people converged in the area to exchange ideas, and perform to the public. CH also offered a menu that was healthy- with coconut as the basic ingredient - coconut juice, instead of spaghetti. coconut meat.  The food was patronized and even by government employees working at nearby departments around Quezon , Memorial Circle. They held meetings and engaged in camaraderie there. Thus, the CH had provided an outlet to various sectors and promoted the products of coconut workers, coconut landowners, and factories with  picked raw coconut from the trees reaching the tables of CH customers.

Ironically the CH is just across the Philippine Coconut Authority charged with protecting the coconut industries.  It is highly pathetic that such a venue will be lost to commercial monopoly interests that are skewed mainly to catering to the food fares that can be easily had in all parts of the country and around the globe. What kind of exposure should they still get from such a very small space as the CH lot? Is the city in dire need of financial resources? It is 2nd to Makati in terms of generation of income!

I think the national government officials should step in and protect as well as preserve small groups whose only raison d'etre is to put into praxis their revered principles of helping the masses, the powerless in society, the marginalized and destitute workers and ordinary folks; to make them enjoy promenading in the clean air of th QMR park and enjoy Filipino culture at all times.

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a park not a commercial venue for the many restaurants for the affluent that could easily put up businesses in any  part of MetroManila and/or the world. It is a park and built to invigorate the people physically as well as feed their minds with healthy and peaceful thoughts, not constantly being fed with "buy, buy, buy," and other come-ons like clothing which are not even produced locally but are imported. Manuel Luis Quezon's descendants should come in and provide a better perspective as to how the park should develop, be maintained, and for whom.

In London, the Regent Park in the heart of the city is full of plants and trees. The roses bloom in all their glorious ruby red. Then weekly, the crowd there is treated to Shakespearean scenes performed by real acting and costumed troopers regardless of how many members of the audience there are. The show must go on. And you, the audience will be treated to original Shakespearean English. In summer of 1981, I saw a brief scene of  the Tempest when I visited the park together with Amina Patel, one of the collective owners of a Victorian house where I also lived.

Amina and I bought a few roses in the city after the visit to the park. Upon arrival, our housemate John, a collective owner also, asked us: " Where did you get the roses?" And Amina replied, "From the Regent Park, John, where else?"  John sighed and rued: "Oh, no. That park is the people's park. Those roses are the people's." "Oh. f____ the people, John," Amina said. And Amina and I winked at each other. She had known how John always has that intense belief for socialist principles. That summer, John who would spend hours reading the Guardian newspaper from page to page every morning, left for Cuba for his vacation.

Do you see, Folks, how the city is peopled by those who value even roses as being owned by the people? Radical or not, to value roses is to smell Mother Nature and breathe the fragrance of being a living member of the whole universe.

Some local officials win in the elections without a comprehensive view of culture which they should cultivate and nurture in their constituencies instead of making powerfully wealthy business interests the only beneficiaries of their administration. A strong cultural program for the city is a barrier to the people's developing nefarious activities like drug-pushing and illegal drug-taking. It will give them a sense of strong self-importance and identity that in this part of the globe, their inner minds and souls are protected, fed with delightful and educational fares, and make them see the value of existence.

The Civil Service Commission has a lot of work to do, while the Comelec must include in its requirements for putting up candidates that sincerity to pursue existential goals, not money-making businesses. 

SOUL-LESS COUNTRIES PRODUCE CRIMES