He believed…and so did we.

The greatest boxer of all time did it again. Salamat, Manny Pacquiao.

I am proud

Scared of Revolving Doors, pinoytumblr: (via gelalalove).

Typhoon Ondoy Hotlines and Help Desks

Most of Luzon is in a state of calamity, and everyone’s ready to help.

Consolidated Hot lines for Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana):

1) National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061.

2) Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120.

3) Philippine National Red Cross 143, 9178997898, 09384442697, 9342118, 4338528

4) Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136

5) Philippine Coast Guard: 527-6136

6) Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (045) 9634376

7) Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT

8 ) Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency #s: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061

9) Dump trucks are being sent to rescue stranded people. Please call their hotline numbers: 0917-4226800, 0917-2414864, 0927-6751981

10) NCRPO 8383203 / 8383354 for rubber boat requests

11) Ateneo de Manila — Temporary lodging places are available at Faculty Housing (4266001 loc. 4036 c/o Ms. Sofie Castro) and New Dorms (4266001 loc. 5930 c/o Mr. Mon Bunag). Shelter also provided at the MVP Student Center. You can send relief goods to Cervini Hall, where they will be received by guards and volunteers.

12) Boy Siojo 09189463483 for rescue vehicles

13) Nor Domingo 09209072902 or 6462436 for rescue boats in Marikina

14) Marikina Evac Center Numbers, in case you need to check if people you know are there 6462360 6462370

Please do contact them.

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Music lost another one…

 

Honoring the Honor Guards

People may think that being honor guards for an important person’s funeral is an easy task, as it only requires being able to stay by the coffin until the body is laid to rest.

Not if you were one of the 4 individuals assigned to Cory Aquino’s internment.

 

Photo by Omelettes

 

Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindam, Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez and PO1 Danilo Maalab, each representing the 3 branches of the Philippine Armed Forces (Philippine Navy, Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force) and the Philippine National Police, stood at attention for more than nine hours, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m last Wednesday, as the cortege made its way to Mrs. Aquino’s final destination.

They didn’t move an inch – not to rest their numbing legs, to answer the call of nature nor to nourish themselves with food.

These 4 individuals, along with those who were assigned during the 4-day wake and the transfer from La Salle to Manila Cathedral, will be given fitting honors themselves for their unwavering display of commitment to their duties –

Cortege from La Salle to the Manila Cathedral

Photo by Primalingeri

 

Wake at La Salle

Photo by Bullit Marquez for AP

 

– but for them, just being able to fulfill this task was the most important reward they have received.

Today’s Headlines

Recent report on hunger in the Philippines, according to the Social Weather Stations:

Second Quarter 2009 Social Weather Survey:
Self-Rated Poverty is 50%; Self-Rated Food Poverty is 39%

 

Recent report regarding the Philippine President’s dinner during her last night in the US:

 

At first, I didn’t really give this article a second read as it came from Page Six, a NY gossip column. But a few minutes ago, I saw in the news that the government confirmed it, but claimed that it was a Filipino congressman who picked up the bill, thus reassuring everyone that none of the country’s funds were used.

As if it made things better.

 

That wasn’t the point.

The point was, as Filipinos become more hungry, its leader is still able to enjoy the expensive dishes at Le Cirque in NYC.

 

Shameful.

Defining the National Artist

One of the big stories here in the Philippines is the selection of National Artists for the year.

A committee has been formed to do the task of nominating, evaluating, short-listing and eventually awarding the National Artist who will receive gets cash awards, a P1M annual funding for their projects. plus special treatments given to living heroes and leaders, such as a place of honor during national events and a state funeral and burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

Given that the people’s taxes pay for these expenses, plus the fact that the chosen artists represent the entire country, it is only natural that reactions arise from suspicious appointments and anomalies on the process.

Apparently, the original list for this year was altered by Malacanang, removing 1 name and adding 4 more (the president not only proclaims the awardees, but he or she has the power to veto or add names to the list).

While there are protesters who question the process done to come up with the final line-up, I think this issue boils down to the 4 additional individuals. I won’t give out names, nor question their artistic abilities, but I will give a description of a person who fits the bill, “National Artist of the Philippines”.

The Wikipedia entry explains it best:

a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts, namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, Fashion Design and Architecture, and Allied Arts.

Criteria:

1. Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the last ten years prior to nomination as well as those who have died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death;
2. Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through the content and form of their works;
3. Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering in a mode of creative expression or style, making an impact on succeeding generations of artists;
4. Artists who have created a significant body of works and/or have consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form, enriching artistic expression or style; and
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international recognition, awards in prestigious national and/or international events, critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works, and/or respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline.

Two of the 4 names caused an uproar among fellow artists, including living National Artists:

THEATER: Although this person has created a renowned theater group called PETA, or the Philippine Educational Theater Association, she also happens to be the executive director of the committee handling the award.

VISUAL ARTS AND FILM: He was a past nominee who was rejected twice, and has made a name as creator of comic characters and as director of massacre films (true stories of gory crimes that have happened in the past).

So, do they deserve being called National Artists, eventually having equal status with the likes of Lino Brocka (the first Filipino film maker who exhibited his work at Cannes, whose movies garnered international recognition and was the director of what is said to be the greatest Filipino film ever made) and Rolando Tinio (who introduced experimental theater to students and modernized the Filipino traditional style of writing)?

Well, one may deserve the title, but conflict of interest overshadows her contribution to the theater world.

And the other, I guess he has to wait until it is proven that massacre movies are innovative, excellent, highly respected, critically acclaimed, nationalistic works and character/storyline creations (not to be confused with illustrations) for comics really do fall under visual arts.

It Was Hard Saying Goodbye

Today, our beloved Cory Aquino was laid to rest… and Filipinos all over the world are one with her family in trying to cope with the loss.

Here are a few of the touching words from the people she has embraced:

Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, her spiritual advisor:

Photo by Cheryl Ravelo for Reuters

She was the only true queen our people ever had, and she was (a) queen because we knew she truly held our hearts and in the gentleness and greatness of her own.

She made me proud again to be a Filipino

Kris Aquino-Yap, her daughter:

Photo by John Javellana for AP

You (the Filipino) have given our family honor beyond anything we could ever have hoped to receive, that no matter how great the sacrifices of my parents, I can honestly say to all of you that for my family, the Filipinos are worth it.

Dad (the late Senator, Ninoy Aquino), it’s your turn now. You are her one and only love. Now that you are together again, no matter how painful it is for us to let her go, we were comforted knowing that mom is happy to be reunited with you

It would take a lifetime for us to be okay because we will forever miss you.

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Jr., her son:

Photo by Cheryl Ravelo for Reuters

Mom, I really truly believe, without an iota of doubt, that you have truly fought the good fight, that you have finished the course, and that, undoubtedly, you have kept the faith.

Insp. Mel Mamaril, her security escort for 23 years:

Photo by Aaron Favila for AP

One could always feel her compassionate heart for all those in need and in want. She also radiated a deep sense of prayer and devotion that, I believe, was the foundation of her being a person of integrity and uprightness.

(At the end of his speech, Mamaril went near the casket of the former President and saluted her.)

Vivette, my friend, who posted this on my Facebook wall:

Photo from: Definitely Filipino

We will always be thankful to them for making us proud to be filipinos.

Paul Cabral, her favorite designer and a close friend:

Photo by Dennis Sabangan for Reuters

I miss you.

A sign held by an old lady as she waited for the cortege to pass in front of her:

Photo from: Definitely Filipino

Goodbye, our beloved President.

Fidel V. Ramos, her successor and her People Power ally:

Cory Aquino represented the past and the future of our people and led in the direction of a better future for our people.

Jim Paredes, singer/songwriter, People Power Revolution personality:

Photo by Cheryl Ravelo for AFP

Pinoytumblr:

Photo by Aaron Favila for AP

May she rest in peace and may she be resurrected in every Filipino.

Gina de Venecia, wife of former Speaker Joe de Venecia, and her good friend:

Photo by Aaron Favila for AP

She was a beacon of hope, a leader who proved that true greatness is found not in power and prestige. Rather, it was rooted in something far deeper. She led and loved with a pure heart from which sprung great humility, goodness, and true moral character.

Rep. Teddy Locsin, former Aquino cabinet member:

Photo by Nat Garcia for AP

I knew then she was the answer to my prayers.

A Tumblr post:

Photo by Yellow Ribbon for President Cory Aquino

Let us not forget to carry on today’s meaningful message. Let us remember.

But perhaps, the most touching part, was something unsaid.

It was when everyone gave a rousing applause as her casket was being wheeled towards the cathedral exit.

Photo by Cheryl Ravelo for Reuters

Tears have been flowing from my eyes the entire day…

because I know that I owe her for giving me the chance to live the way a free person must live.

PAALAM CORY.

***************

Photo by Cheryl Ravelo for Reuters

“I am burning the candle of my life in the dark, with no one to benefit from the light. The candle slowly melts away. Soon its wick will burn out, and the light is gone. If only someone will gather the melted wax, reshape it, give it a new wick. For another fleeting moment, my candle can once again light the dark, be of service one more time, and then, goodbye.” – Cory Aquino (1933-2009)

Today, we celebrated a life lived for Filipinos.

We are currently mourning over death of the Mother of Philippine Democracy…

by J-Ann Reyes’s album, “View From the Top – Tita Cory’s Procession”

…but are also rejoining for the gift given to us: Freedom…

by: Joey Rico’s album, “Paalam Cory”

by Aids Tecson’s album, “Cory Passing Thru Ayala”

…the strength to fight for what is right…

by: Joey Rico’s album, “Paalam Cory”

by Aids Tecson’s album, “Cory Passing Thru Ayala”

…and most of all, the prayers that we are still able to say.

by Joe Galvez (searched from Google Images)

Salamat Pangulong Corazon Aquino.

from Joval Pantangco’s Facebook Profile

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Goodbye, Inspiration

 

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.

- Mrs. Cory Aquino’s Prayer