LET LOVE WIN (November 02, 2009)

Despite Storm Signal No.2, nothing like the Bulacan sun could be better as Virgilio Senadren Almario's guiding light to his birthplace in San Miguel last Friday during the third leg of Pagpupugay sa mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining 2009.

As early as 8 a.m. we had to be risen and shining at the San Miguel South District (SMSD) Hall for the Kumperensiyang Rio Alma with the faculty members and students of Bulacan Polytechnic College, John J. Russell Memorial High School, Partida High School, School of Mount St. Mary, San Miguel National High School (SMNHS), to name a few, who all wrote and read a stanza or two in showing their love and respect for their cultural hero!

One-third of the Modernist Poetry in Filipino's so-called Tungkung-kalan o Triumvirate -- Rogelio Mangahas of the C&E Publishing Company -- was the opening salvo with his biographical criticism Ang Alam Ko Kay Rio Alma.

Koyang Roger was followed by the ex-president of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) -- Prof. Mike Coroza of the Ateneo de Manila University – via his quasi-psychoanalytical approach entitled Ang Dalawang Mukha Mukha ni Virgilio S. Almario: Isang Pag-uusisa.

Like our Pistang Panitik 2 during the 28th Manila International Book Fair wherein we had an Araw ni Virgilio Almario on 1 September 2007, the last speaker was Palanca Hall of Famer Roberto Añonuevo through his Pagpapahalaga sa mga Tulat at Poetika ni Rio Alma.

Supposedly, there was an afternoon with the Bulacan Media Association and national print and broadcast media entities like NBN Channel 4, organized by one of the LIRA founders, Ariel Dim. Borlongan, and his partner, Mary Jane Olvina of DZRJ, through the Provincial Public Affairs Office.

Since it did not prosper, right after lunch we transferred to the SMSD Gymnasium for its Part 2 with special performances from St. Paul University at San Miguel, San Miguel Police, SMNHS Chorale and Rondalla, among others, before members of the family and friends of the Almarios.
Dr. Edna Zerrudo, the Division of Bulacan Superintendent and the Executive Director of Project JoSIE or Joint Systems Implementation in Education in the elementary level welcomed all of us before Hon. Roderick Tiongson, themunicipal mayor could shed light on the Sangguniang Bayan resolution.

After PESO Manager, Ian Tecson, serenaded his world-famous kababayan, Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, staged its play Bagong Bayani ng Piedras Platas
(Dulang Buhay ni Virgilio S. Almario) directed by Armand Sta. Ana and written by Sonny Cristobal of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

We, with the result-oriented dreamers, Eva Garcia Cadiz and the rest of Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing team, can finally claim that we have fulfilled our mission and vision.

Within three years, with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as our inspirer, we have introduced or re-introduced all the five living National Artists for Literature to their townmates first.

In 2007, we brought Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera to Lipa, Batangas and Dr. Francisco Sionil Jose to Rosales, Pangasinan.

After a year, it was Dr. Alejandro Roces' turn in Makati City.

Dr. Edith Tiempo returned to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya last August 10, after more than half a century.

And, now, Rio Alma is literally back to his hometown.

Balay Bulawan, his retirement home after serving the academe as the U.P. College of Arts and Letters dean, is where his heart is!

Talking about love of country and everything.

After almost five hours of travel and traffic jam, we reached Quezon City past midnight with a text from singer/songwriter Cynthia Alexander: “He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. He is pals with the Dalai Lama. He has gone to Iraq, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, and Kashmir for conflict resolution. When he speaks, the United Nations listens. He has changed the hearts and minds of terrorists and prisoners. He has empowered women. He has been compared to Gandhi. And now he is coming to Manila. You have the opportunity to hear a living legend speak.”

We thought she was still referring to Rio Alma until she finished her message: “Don't miss Sri Ravi Shankar on November 3.”

So, to put our post-traumatic stress in order, we are extending her invitation to all of you.

Tomorrow, at 7 p.m. join in presenting Let Love Win at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Yes, the 53-year old world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader will speak of inspiration and joy.

Saintly Shankar is the recipient of many awards, including the Dara Shikoh National Award for Harmony (India, 2005), the Global Humanitarian Award (USA, 2005), The Sant Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize (India, 2007) and most recently the Culture in Balance Award (Dresden, 2009).

What a way to celebrate our All Saints Day and All Souls Day late!

For inquiries, please visit The Art of Living Philippines' website
www.artofliving.org.ph or email at info@artofliving.org.ph or call +6322166139 / +639178484898.

TEXT SUPPORT:
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

CONSIDER THIS:
Bettter than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.

AGE AND HERITAGE (October 26, 2009)

Our Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) vice chair, Abdon Balde Jr. blasted us to a Happy Beer Day shortly before the Rolex store robbery in Greenbelt 5 as if to celebrate the Ayala Center bombing's second anniversary last October 19!

Well, he just added three feathers in his cap:
receiving the 2009 South East Asian Writers’ Award from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his Royal Consort HRH Princess Srirasm of Thailand;
bagging the 2009 Bikolinismo Regional Artist Award;
launching his Anvil-published book, 60ZENS: Tips on Senior Citizenship, at the National Book Store Glorietta 5 in Makati City last October 16.

In the same old vein, Brillante Mendoza, the 62nd Cannes Film Festival's Best Director Awardee last May for his Kinatay, reminded us about his latest big bang entitled Lola.

Opening the 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival last Thursday, it is all about two grandmothers – played by Anita Linda, 84, and Rustica Carpio, 79, both suffering from the consequences of a murder involving their respective grandsons -- one the victim, the other the suspected killer.

It was one of the 11 films considered to represent our country in the 2010 Oscar but another movie about the elderly, Soxy Topacio's dramedy Ded Na Si Lolo, was chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines Oscar Committee.

Noted playwright Lito Casaje invited us to watch his new film, Dolores, and it was shown last Saturday, the day “poetician” Danton Remoto's dad, Francisco Sr., had an interment mass at the St. Ignatius Chapel in Camp Aguinaldo.

One of the Cinemalaya finalists, Casaje's story -- told from a soul's viewpoint --
was shown at the Market! Market! The Fort in Taguig City where another indie, Biyaheng Lupa, will have its world premiere tonight at 7:30.

It will be the directorial debut of award-winning screenwriter Armando Lao, our Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas recipient in 2008.

Now Direk Bing has revealed his experiment: “The voice-over device allows me to take a glimpse of the inner lives of the passenger characters as their minds wander off into streams of consciousness. It offers me an opportunity to use an impressionistic approach to film that acknowledges spoken language as the logical medium for telling a story and in a form that only voice-overs could effectively fulfill. In Biyaheng Lupa, I believe that only the use of language, together with occasional sound effects and music, can unify exposition and capture the immediacy of the characters’ random and intrusive thoughts.”

We were fortunate enough to be chosen as one of Biyaheng Lupa's voice talents.

While some are speaking of creating, others are talking about re-creating through preservation.
Starting tomorrow at 9 a.m. under the theme Fading Heritage: We Can Save It, for instance, the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (SOFIA) will commemorate the UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

SOFIA officers Makk Junio, Emma Rey, and Mary del Pliar will conduct workshop on on the basic handling and preservation of audiovisual materials covering storage, handling, restoration methods, equipment recommendations and disaster preparedness.

Aside from launching its website, SOFIA will also screen Richard Abelardo's 1950s classic Mutya ng Pasig in honor the memory of film preservation stalwart Alexis Tioseco
(who was murdered with his Slovenian girlfriend, film critic Nika Bohinc, last September 1 in their home in Quezon City. The said Fil-Canadian film journalist and university professor was credited as one of the Southeast Asian film advocates who had been championing the Philippine cinema via his webzine, criticine.com, among others).

Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., SOFIA president, reiterates: “A minimal fee of 500.00 pesos will be charged per participant and is inclusive of a workshop kit, snacks, certificate of participation and membership to SOFIA. So, for inquiries, kindly contact Vicky Belarmino at 832-1125 loc. 1704 to 1705 or Monchito Nocon at 0920 2836393 or email sofiaphils@gmail.com.”

Also, tomorrow, at 3 p.m., the University of the Philippines Press will launch, at last, Regarding Franz at the U.P. Diliman's Faculty Center's Pulungang Recto. The venue is right beside the library named after the said “short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form” pioneer who died on 1 August 2002, just 37 days before his 86th birthday.

When Dr. Zacarias Eugene Francisco Quino Arcellana was declared National Artist for Literature, the citation underlined his view, “the pride of fiction is ‘that it is able to render truth, that it is able to represent reality.’ And his reality is the universe of man, no matter how mundane or sublime. He believes that truth couched in fiction allays man’s fears and makes reality bearable."

Wow, was he able to foresee in 1990 the recent National Artist controversy?

TEXT SUPPORT:
Specific emotions that weaken certain organs in the body: anger weakens the liver; grief weakens the lungs; worry weakens the stomach; stress weakens the heart and brain; fear weakens the kidney.

CONSIDER THIS:
Why is it good to make friends with teachers? Because they have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never rises, a touch that never hurts and a love that never fails.

ART 2 D RESCUE (October 19, 2009)

Yesterday marked the 20th year of the Filipino Chaplaincy in France.

UNICEF artist Manuel Baldemor was commissioned to do a study of a mural for the Basilica of St. Therese de Lisieux in Normandy.

His Philippine People Power of 1986, enlarged to a 3x5-meter mosaic, was installed last Sunday, too, coinciding with other celebrations:(1) Mission Sunday; (2) the first anniversary of the beatification of Louie and Zelie Martin, parents of the beloved Saint Thérèse; (3) the 12th year of her proclamation as Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. There was a holy mass for the Filipino community followed by a presentation in the courtyard of the basilica, which is the second most famous religious shrine and pilgrimage site in France next to Lourdes. Philippine Ambassador to France, H.E. Jose Zaide, presented last May 7 the Baldemor paintings and archetype to the ecclesiastical authorities in Lisieux headed by Monsignor Bernard Lagoutte.

About 300 miles away from his father, another Baldemor, Marvin the eldest, is back after his successful solo exhibit Migration Of My Vision last April 17 in Donegal.

Now, with The NorthWest Artists Group, he is part of Shifting Fields slated to welcome you on the autumnal Irish evening of October 24 to its venue in Collooney, Sligo -- Marktree Castle -- set in 300 acres of stunning landscape and exquisite gardens built since the 16th century.

In his invite, Marvin, our pamangkin sa pinsan, wrote: “While staying as a guest Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848 wrote her most famous hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful, having been deeply moved by her beautiful surroundings. William Butler Yeats also stayed as a guest here when the castle was still a private residence. In the recent past, Markree was popular as an artistic retreat, so against this background of artistry, it is only fitting that the castle should stage the first of what is hoped to be an annual series of art exhibitions featuring the most preeminent artists in and around Yeats country.”

To be opened by Niall O Donnell, the moving spirit behind the Cristeph Gallery, one of the oldest galleries there, the show encompasses over 50 original works by professional artists like Stephen Bennett, Brigid Birney, Lisa Bond, Morgan Ferriter, Marina Hamilton, Geoff Kilpatrick, Maria Noonan-McDermott, Carmel O Callaghan, Cormac O Leary, Thomas Sheridan and Heidi Wickham are featured.

On October 22, Marvin -- whose wife is also a nurse in Ireland for almost seven years -- will be sponsoring a tea party together with the rest of the Filipino community in Letterkenny County Donegal via a cultural gig, on-the-spot painting and e-auction, among others, for the benefit of Sagip Kalinga!

In Manila, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, on October 25, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., there will be a fund-raiser called SAGIP SINING: ART 2 D RESCUE !

Together with Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, we will host the opening ceremonies at 9:30a.m. via Bahay, Bata, Bagyo then our long Sunday will be divided into 12 see-all-you-can-give-what-you-can shows of 30 minutes each in every nook and cranny of the 40 year-old CCP!

Ticket price for this cause-oriented “Pasinaya” will start from P20 for such world-class acts as Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Ensembles' SerenAID, Ballet Philippines' Tambol at Padyak, Philstage's Musical Theater Excerpts, or folksingers' Dangal ng Pilipino where “bluetoothan” and burning of compact discs are allowed until around 5 p.m. with visual artists' Anak ng Typhoon auction and filmmakers' Indie Ondoy which they are planning to re-screen in malls.

By 6 p.m., classical musicians' Salva Vida at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino and comedians' Comic Relief at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo will solicit donations starting from P500 for a two-hour show.

Rockers' Rock Med Philippines will also accept medicines and medical aids during their concert at the CCP Front Ramp until 12 midnight.

CCP Department Manager Chris Millado reminded us: “All day there will be opencam policy with free Wifi at the Little Theater lobby to encourage up-to-date postings to spread our charity virus!”

We, from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) and Linangan sa Imahen Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) will read poems and do Balagtasan through what Hermie Beltran would dub as Dilang-anghel alternately with Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. Invited to perform are poets and fictionists G.P. Abrajano, Teo Antonio, Mike Coroza, Dako Cutab, Lourd de Veyra, Raul Funilas, Vivian Limpin, Marne Kilates, Siege Malvar, Edgar Samar, Alvin Yapan, to name a few – who mostly suffered from Storm Signal #1 in Metro Manila that ironically brought worst flood ever recorded in history!

Talking about therapy.

After the Ondoy onslaught, while the two Baldemors were out of the country, we asked their youngest, now Mailah Balde, how was everything in their Pasig residence.

The said University of Santo Tomas' Painting Department chairperson, texted back: "Okey naman kami kaso wala na lahat! Ang tubig lampas sa bubong ng kotse. Pinasok din ang bahay nina Mommy. Lahat ng gamit namin sira. Karamihan ng paintings ni Daddy nasira."

By that, she meant the man behind all SM Supermalls GreenBags' new designs, who was quoted, during its last January 16 launch, as saying: “Personally, I’ve seen how our environment has deteriorated over the years. I really think it’s about time that people start taking better care of their surroundings.”

TEXT SUPPORT:
There are two credit cards for every person in the United States.

CONSIDER THIS: Love is the worst tenant: (1) it occupies our heart; (2) it pays no rent; (3) it does not vacate easily and when it leaves, the place broken.

EDUCATION IN GENERAL (October 12, 2009)

If you enrol in Malikhaing Pagsulat 10, a General Education subject, at the end of semester, you are expected to come up with a pasyon about student life, a love story about your mom and dad, and a monologue about an unknown hero.

Two of our MP 10, or Ang Hiwaga at Hikayat ng Panulat, classes did great.

Yet they are mostly math and science majors!

Our morning batch launched their literary folio -- Espesyal Halo-halo – edited by Camille Chua, Paulina Miranda, and Ibarra Poliquit and designed by John Perry Buhat -- at the Mag:Net Gallery in Katipunan during our Open Mic Gig last September 28.

Since Ondoy made it impossible for our afternoon batch to join them, they made up last Saturday during our semestral visit to Lila Pilipina!

Although Pepeng was threatening to ruin what they did during their rehearsal at the University of the Philippines Grandstand last Friday, they pushed through with it to the delight of the lolas who did not get the message that our arrival was canceled due to that supposedly Supertyphoon.
That Saturday they were able to get off the press their collection called Maharlika edited by Ian David, Crysthel Pamintuan, Lyle Prospero, and Ava Tan and designed by Jay Fidelino. Last Monday, they were able to create a site about their efforts at http://howexciting.multiply.com/photos/album/102/MPs10_Book_Launching_at_Lila_Pilipina!
As if on cue, Commission on Higher Education's Richie de la Rosa reminded us about the consultative conference with professional organizations and professional regulations last Wednesday at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

As the Technical Panel for General Education chair, Dr. Isagani R. Cruz spoke on behalf of other experts – Dr. Queena Lee Chua, Dr. Ma. Serena Diokno, and Dr. Cristina Padolina – about the so-called “Philippine Main Education Highway” wherein existing courses requiring licensure exams by the Professional Regulation Commission are proposed to last five years starting last June, supposedly, and starting 2010, even non-board courses will also be extended by one year!
Eight months ago, chairman Emmanuel Angeles promised to do this kind of consultation before CHEd could reform the college baccalaureate curriculum since “compared with other countries all over the world [except Botswana] our educational system lacks two years, we do not have Grades 11 and 12 … our four years bachelors program has two years only of professional courses because the first two years are devoted to general education courses.”

Dr. Alfredo Co, a TPGE member, had these harsh realities to share: (1) a tacit acceptance of the deficient primary and secondary education program; (2) CHEd is picking up the cudgel of the Department of Education; (3) the language competence, basic math and science must be the responsibility of the primary and secondary education; (4) taking these burdens that should prepare the students to a tertiary education can seriously affect the concerns of the tertiary education that should be preparing students to an area of expertise; (5) a consultation and comprehensive meeting between DepEd and CHEd addressing the concerns of preparedness/ unpreparedness of high school graduates for entry to tertiary education can lessen the burden now being absorbed by the CHEd; (6) the raison d’être of CHEd is precisely “Higher Education” but the heavy burden that it is now addressing is still “basic” and “fundamental” education, thereby stifling and consuming; (7) Technical Committees and Panels have been shelving all its completed works (regarding Center of Excellence and other Program and Standards, for example) that are supposed to be scheduled for consultation and implementation because of the unending changes that coming their way; (8) even if a new GE program is to emerge, out of simple eagerness, many things have to be seriously addressed; program review of the existing GE (reviewing the merits and demerits), methodic consultations, program development, institutional preparation, faculty development, textbook development, and financial appropriation (both from private institutions and government schools), etc. have to be seriously taken into consideration if we want our initiative (that could take years) to be put into serious implementation.

We were there, not just as a TC on Literature member but as Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas chair, a faculty member, and a father whose belt will be tightened if we agreed to follow the “10+2+3 formula,” i.e. 10 years of basic education, a two-year pre-university program, and then a final three years of specialization!

Our primary concern was simple: will Filipino and Philippine literature be a part of that “revitalized” tertiary education system that could make us at par with that of other countries?

And the relevance and significance of the said language and literature subjects came from our students' hearts and minds after taking MP 10 and Panitikan ng Pilipinas 12, among others, who admitted that those GE subjects made them more human!

During the program at the Lila Pilipina office where they learned about peace education last October 10 – the day after American President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize “because the judges found his promise of disarmament and diplomacy too good to ignore” -- what served as the ice-breaker was when they sang their own stormed version of Bahay-kubo:

Bahay-kubo
Dami putik
ang pumasok doon
ay sari-sari.
Nilimas na karton,
sirang medyas at damit,
silya, basurang mapanghe.
Ondoy, parusa,
binura ang Marikina
at saka meron pa
lubog din ang Edsa,
Montalban at Pasig,
Taytay at Cainta
sa paligid-ligid
ay puno ng baha!

While we all laughed till we dropped, Maria Abulencia's surprise text reminded us of what great historian Fr. Horacio de la Costa of Mauban,Quezon once wrote about three gifts of Filipinos: LAUGHTER, MUSIC, FAITH.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Women blink nearly twice as much as men!

CONSIDER THIS: Lord, when I lose hope because my plans have come to nothing, help me to remember that your love is always greater than my dissappointments and your plans for my life are always better than my dreams.

ONDOYANT (October 05, 2009)

Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera was there during the press conference arranged by fictionist Jun Cruz Reyes last Tuesday, the day aneurysm took Odette Alcantara.

JCR reported that while he and his student assistant were in Tindahan ni Abot along C.P. Garcia Road, within the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, last September 13, around 8 p.m., a muscle man with fair complexion, 5'4” in height, wearing blue pants full of pockets, took his photo through a cellphone, then took a jeep after saying “This is Mike Enriquez reporting.”

This happened four days before the said National Artist found out that he was part of the military intelligence training exercises.

But, like most of us who had our share of Ondoy scare, we had to move on.

Ondoyant, we continued last September 30 our mission for Dr. Lumbera – after bringing Dr. Edith Tiempo to her birthplace in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya last August 10 -- for the third leg of the Pagpupugay sa mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining to Davao.

The city -- that was crazy for its son Yam Laranas who directed his first Hollywood film The Echo -- is a second home to our honoree, Dr. Lumbera, who is married to his former student, Cynthia Nograles, who partly owned The Royale House, that hosted us!

U.P. Mindanao sponsored a forum the morning after -- opened by Dean Araceli Dans Lee and closed by Prof. Miguel Soledad -- before we proceeded to Davao Christian High School with their director Arthur Yap, Rubi Rosa del Prado, Fern Maraňon, Hazel Veloso, and their students led by their emcee Mara Ostique.

October 2 was a red-letter day for Dr. Lumbera but it turned blue when we visited the Ateneo de Davao campus care of their Humanities Division chair Godofredo Rojo. Like last May 17, 2008, when Dr. Lumbera talked about poetry and politics there, his poem Nabosesan, from his latest book with compact disc Poetika/ Politika, was a big hit. Over lunch, we learned about Dr. Lumbera's cultural activities at the Ipil Rehabilitation Center in Fort Bonifacio in 1974 with Romy Dizon, Ricky Lee, Rogelio Mangahas, and other detainees who found time to stage such collectively written plays as Iba Na Ang Nasa Laya, Hindi Ba, Ato? It rekindled Dr. Macario Tiu and Don Pagusara's Martial Law memories, too, so they passionately recalled how they put up plays, usually written by Ed Maranan and directed by Behn Cervantes. But what seemed to be as fresh as the tuna we were eating was their production of Aurelio Tolentino's Kahapon, Ngayon, Bukas as well as their recording of Kalayaan and other songs about the national democratic movement with Jess Santiago and the late Susan Fernandez.

That night of cheap durian, we from the Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing fulfilled our promise to the National Commission for Culture and Arts in coming up with our third (Lipa City in 2007 and Laoag in 2008) tribute for Dr. Lumbera in collaboration with the LCB Performing Arts Center Foundation Dance Company – after two years with Dulaang U.P. doing the excerpt from Hibik at Himagsik nina Victoria Laktaw.

With Lu Chin Bon, the president LCB-PACF, we were able to do the excerpts from Dr. Lumbera and Ryan Cayabyab’s adaptation of Jose Rizal’s work via Noli Me Tangere, the Musical which was first presented in 1994 by Cultural Center of the Philippines's Tanghalang Pilipino.

This time, for the Davaoeňos, Josie Tejada directed it with choreographer Jasper Jan Lu, who admitted that it was their first time to produce a play on a national level in their company's 11-year history. “We are very honored and challenged to do a dance production of one of our National Artists', it has always been our passion to bring their works closer to the people, students and most specially to the younger generations,” Mr. Lu admitted, the selfless producer, who gave free tickets to schools for a show at the 600-seater CAP Auditorium.

Like a surface marked by waves or slighty depressed furrows, our flight back to supertyphoon Pepeng-worried Manila last Saturday was as risky as Dr. Lumbera's life as humanist who now serves as ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) Teachers' Partylist.

Today, by the way, is Teachers' Day!

TEXT SUPPORT:
The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.

CONSIDER THIS: Fill every thought with determination; every step with courage; and every word with love and you will enjoy life even more.

DEATH BECOMES ODETTE (September 28, 2009)

Odette Benito Alcantara, or Lola O., had been the chairperson, president, and the artistic director of the Cultural Center of Cubao – better known as the Heritage Art Center -- a sanctuary to all artists as well as athletes, especially chess players.

“It was there where I had my first solo exhibit on March 27, 1981,” recalled painter/inventor Ching Abad Santos. “Then she asked to do the Lupa Araw Hangin Ako Tubig for an Earth Day celebration in 2000. Now her family and friends would like me to show it again on her birthday.”
By that, she meant on October 1 when a series of celebrations that will culminate.

By then, Odette would turn 69.

She herself being “green” would have other ideas other than numerological!
“Masaya siyang nilikha. Hindi tumatanda tulad ng ating planeta sa kabila ng pagsalanta ng tao,” described National Artist Virgilio Almario who used to conduct weekend poetry workshop at the Heritage Art Center, where the likes of Marne Kilates and other Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) members had their baptism of fire!

Her brother-in-law, S.V. Epistola, would ignite it, more often not!

In one poetry reading, when we need a hand to play our background music, it was Lola O. herself who volunteered to press cassette button.

Afterwards, she would comment on our piece as if was convincing us to reuse, reduce, and recycle our poems!

Greatly, she influenced us when we finished Dalawang Dalaw when we joined the 15th University of the Philippines National Writers Workshop in April of 1987.

Eventually, Rio Alma included it in his Sansiglong Mahigit ng Makabagong Tula sa Filipinas.
Back in the 80s, when the City of Man made it to the World's Most Polluted Cities list, Lola O. would begin her crusade against “dirty” fuel by creating the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution.

After a decade, she would again help form a group, Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP), the chief organizer of annual Earth Day celebrations in the country since 1999 every April 22.
One of her favorite inspirers was environmental singer/songwriter Joey Ayala who remembered her fondly: “Lola O, always hugging me, calling me Haring Agila while subtly saying I should do more, do more, do more...”

And she listened to her own advice.

An anti-incinerator advocate, she was indeed non-stop!

She won the war in fighting for the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in the late 1990s.

Tireless, she participated with Magkaisa Junk Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) Coalition.

As the Mother Earth convenor, Lola O. she revealed during the Day 3 of the Pre-Summit Activities what could be her legacy -- social mobilization diagram – as a moving spirit!.
Aside from her poem Ang Basura Bow! set into music by no less than National Artist Lucresia Kasilag!

Well, we only have until September 30 to view what was left of her at her home – now a training center for zero-waste management -- in Blue Ridge.

Her ashes will be scattered and trees will be planted in her honor at her Tanay farm in Rizal province on October 3.

However, heroes like her will never die.

Poet/editor Rogelio Mangahas agreed: “Si Odette? Siya'y puno ng buhay, puno ng pagmamahal sa bayan at kapuwa, dakilang alagad ng sining at kultura, tagapagtaguyod ng mga progresibo, rebolusyonaryong kabataan, tagapagtanggol ng demokrasya, katarungan, karapatang pantao, likas na kapaligiran.”

Ever since, she had a ready reply, which she repeated last year in Malacaňang where she urged us to organize a literary reading for Mother Earth: “Kahit patay na tayo, nandito pa rin itong nagawa natin.”

TEXT SUPPORT:
Coca-Cola was originally green.

CONSIDER THIS:
If Plan A does not work out, do not worry. You still have 25 letters left. Never give up. Optimism gives you millions of reasons to smile.

MABUHAY! BANAUE AT ABELARDO (September 21, 2009)

Today, after ABS-CBN suspended him for objecting on air to the video insertion of former Pres. Corazon Aquino's cortege on his noontime show, Willie Revillame will once more host Wowowee on the 37th anniversary of Martial Law!

Speaking of hosting, we, with Ruby Alcantara, did it for love during activist Mario Miclat's 60th birthday celebration at Trellis where his wife, Alma, organized a surprise dinner with Fr. Robert Reyes, Ria Teves, Ninit Roldan, Marvin Pagkanlungan, Lou Miclat, Mila Dumlao, Vangie Miclat, Agnes Cacayan, Karina Bolasco, Edna Garayblas-Monzon, Joey Baquiran, Mike Coroza, Marne Kilates, Fidel Rillo, and National Artist Virgilio Almario with other conspirators such as Boy Martin, who, as if to show where his sons Mayo and Raya get their genes, made an audiovisual presention informally called Mario Po!.

Their bunso, Banaue, sang twice before her audience members that included former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera who accepted Philippine Navy's apology after its enlisted personnel, Corporal Hannival Guerrero, was caught spying on his home last Thursday morning. Dr. Lumbera, who delivered the closing remarks that capped the apolitical evening, is the chairperson of ACT Teachers' Partylist and a convenor of Concerned Artists of the Philippines that has been critical of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Then Banaue reminded us about her involvement with Baguio Stories produced by the U.P. Baguio Committee on Culture and the Arts chaired by Dr. Elizabeth Calinawagan for the Baguio City Centennial celebration. The eight monologues -- written by Nonnette Bennett, Frank Cimatu, Luchie Maranan, Igan Marasigan, and Martin Masadao -- feature Baguio celebrities with her as special guest. It will run until September 26 and 27 at the U.P.B. Bulwagang Juan Luna.

Banaue will go back to the Cordilleras!

Well, after her concert entitled Mabuhay! Banaue at Abelardo with the Mabuhay Singers, on September 24, 7 p.m., at the Abelardo Hall of the U.P. College of Music whose alumna, pianist Luz San Mateo, will accompany her. She has acted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. A member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, she had vocal training under Judylee Vivier, Robert A. Carpenter and Evelyn Mandac. She attended masters classes under F. Murray Abraham, Ruth Maleczech, Agnieszka Holland, Andrew Wade, Dee Cannon, and Vernon Morris . She did several off-Broadway shows including Coming Home: Sparrow, Anchors, Vagina Monologues, and Romeo & Juliet. She has starred in films like Lav Diaz’s Ebolusyon ng Pamilyang Pilipino, Khavn dela Cruz’s Pugot, Koiji Imazumi’s Abong, Clarissa delos Reyes’ Giving Care, and Noel Shaw’s Tainted.

During the concert night, the 2009 Maningning Miclat Poetry Award winners in the Filipino, English and Chinese Divisions will be proclaimed and given their awards of P28,000.00, a Julie Lluch sculpture trophy, and collector’s edition of books by the Miclats.

This year's finalists are: Mikael de Lara Co, Benedict Parfan, and Joseph de Luna Saguid (English division); Charles Tuvilla, Kristian Cordero, and Carlos Piocos III (Filipino division). The judges already chose the Chinese winner, Chen Liang, so he can come from Xiamen courtesy of one of the judges, Alice Chang Chi. Sarge Lacuesta and Roeder Camañag will perform the winning poems in English and Filipino respectively while Alice Chang Chi will read the winning Chinese poem translated into English by Shirley Lua.

The Maningning Award is handed out yearly since 2003 in honor of the ate, Maningning, who was a trilingual poet, writer, teacher and translator born in Beijing. She passed away in September 2000.

By the way, the Miclats migrated to China in August of 1971 after Pres. Ferdinand Marcos suspended the writ of habeas corpus.

TEXT SUPPORT:
What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield >wipers and laser printers all have in common? (All invented by women.)

CONSIDER THIS:

There is always a possibility that a person can be attracted to another even if he or she is committed. It is human nature. But that is why you are in a commitment, you discipline yourself. One may get attracted to numerous prospects as long as you do not nurse the feeling and will not do something about it. Borderline between cheating and faithfulness: recognize the reality that you have the person that can give you more than what you get from the cheap thrills of attraction.