INSHALLAH (March 02, 2009)

While the Department of Education is preoccupied with spending P3.1 billion to construct 1,908 new classrooms, build 6,322 new toilets, repair 2,513 existing classrooms and 194 toilets -- Batch Lopez-Jaena-Guerrero 05-09 – is happily up the neck with their graduation from the Philippine High School for the Arts.

Our advisee, Inshallah P. Montero, a Creative Writing Major, has been tied up since last year with her thesis – a collection of her own poems about her own life with other children from where she grew up: “I was born in the island of Puerto Galera, a beautiful place where the sunset blurs all that is real. I grew up in a home for street children called the Stairway Foundation, an organization that used art as therapy, where my mother worked there as a coordinator and my father as a music director for a play that was being produced during that time. Street children who came all the way from Cubao or Tondo were my companions when I grew up. They were either left by their families or victims of street syndicates. The older ones took care of me; they were my first yayas and yayos. I was greatly influenced by them that one time when I was angry at my parents, I packed all my toys in a bag and I told them, “Uuwi na ako sa Cubao!” This was the usual line that the street children say when they wanted to run away. Even though I was only five I remember it very well because my parents had a great laugh out of it. The little ones who had ages close to mine were my playmates. And since our house was on top of a hill which was next to a mountain, we knew a Mangyan tribe that our family became close friends with and me, especially with their children. I shared my Barbies with them, cooked guava leaves from my mini clay pot set, swam together like excited dolphins and climbed duhat trees where we ate its fruits right away. Bonfires that blazed in the night sand were events that we enjoyed as well, dancing like monkeys around a fire that crackled and laughed together with the people under its spell. We also learned how to write and read together. Classes were either by the beach or on top of a mountain under a Kalumpang tree that became close to us. Its branches served as a swing that offered a full view of the White Beach shore line down below, a view that we often ran away to. Life was very simple then. I remember it so well that I still dream of it.”

More or less, her concept of home can be traced in Chapter Two, or in particular, her sestina Distant:

“Mother, I have listened to your words,
But the world is not filled with my scars
Nor yours, for I have went through
Pleading and helpless streets
That has once led me to you.
And those roads will try to find me tonight.

However, after worrying about such literary concerns as figures of speech or social relevance that would transport her or us to another world, rather she has been grounded by the mundaneness of budgetary constraints!

Her mom, Maricel Montero, during Christmas break wrote us, with teacher, Yanna Acosta, about their concern: “According to my daughter it would cost around P50,000- P70,000 to print 200 books (this number was the required number of books to be printed).”

What makes them so anxious was that history might repeat itself – when another Creative Writing major, Kat Elona, graduated last year but was not able to launch her book.

Fernando “Tata Nanding” Josef, the “returning” PHSA director stepped into the picture and the next thing we knew from Facebook was that Mrs. Montero was inviting us to the launch of her daughter's book Under The Concrete Sun on March 14, 6 p.m., at the Penguin Cafe and Gallery!
Today, coincidentally, the 2009 Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars team, headed by Rey Wong, is conducting live auditions in Cagayan de Oro Central School for graduating Grade VI and VII pupils from both private and public schools who are talented in Dance (Ballet and Folk), Music (Voice and Instrument), Theater Arts, Creative Writing, and Visual Arts.

Then, they will proceed to Bukidnon National High School (March 4), Tagum City National High School (March 6), Surigao del Norte National High School (March 9), Dadiangas West Elementary School (March 12), PHSA (March 18), and Cultural Center of the Philippines (March 23).

Qualified applicants will undergo the second round of tests and auditions which will be held at the PHSA in Mt Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna on 18-22 May (Batch 1) and 25-29 May (Batch 2) This is the much-awaited Tayo na sa Makiling where around 300 young PHSA scholarship aspirants stay for a week-long teaching-learning activities in the Arts and Basic Education curriculum programs handled by the faculty members and their guest experts in different fields like psychoeducational assessment and testing, time management, study and library skills, dormitory living, educational tour, and recreation activities.

The cream of the crop is expected be the School Year 2009-2010 success stories from among the 100 hopefuls. Audition Masters, among others, whose decision is final and unappealable, determine the fate of these future serious artists who shall enjoy free tuition, free dormitory accommodation, free meals, free classes with Master Teachers, free Master Classes with local and foreign artists, a monthly stipend, and educational exchanges with local and foreign partner institutions - valued at approximately P300,000.00!

So if you want your son or daughter to follow Shallah's footsteps, please visit PHSA's website at www.phsa.edu.ph or email us at phsa@laguna.net.

In God's will!

Talking about kids, you still have until March 6 to submit your abstract for the Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Panitikang Pambata slated on July 16-18. The theme will be“Ang Panitikang Pambata sa Edukasyon” with the following subtopics: (1) kultura ng pagkabata at kabataang Filipino; (2) ang batang Filipino sa panitikan, panitikang pambata, at panitikang likha ng bata; (3) ang batang Filipino at ang mga panlipunang usapin; (4) ang batang Filipino sa industriya ng kultura; (5) ang sitwasyon ng panitikang pambata sa Pilipinas. For details, please email Dr. Rosario Torres-Yu, Dr.. Eugene Evasco, and Prof. Will Ortiz at pagongatmatsing@yahoo.com.

TEXT SUPPORT:
TWO KIDS TALKING:
RICH KID: Sometimes, if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But most times, what you want and what you get are two different things. Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul. Sometimes He breaks our heart to make us whole. Although we cannot have everything we want, we can want everything we have.
POOR KID: Ang damot mo. Pahiram lang naman ng PSP. Dami mo pang sinasabi.

CONSIDER THIS:
The leaves of trees just keep falling.
You cannot keep someone to yourself forever.
Sometimes you have to let go.
Yet you have to remain standing like trees do.

OPLAN: OPLE (February 23, 2009)

Together with National Artist Virgilio Almario, Manila Times editor-in-chief Fred dela Rosa, and Prof. Danton Remoto of the Ladlad Partylist – we judged entries to the 1st Blas F. Ople Essaywriting Contest.

Sponsored by the The Rotary Club of Ramon Magsaysay, the said competition was for students from the National Capital Region-based colleges and universities.

It was indeed a fitting tribute to the late Foreign Affairs Secretary and Senator Blas F. Ople -- the acknowledged “Father of Overseas Employment” -- who would have been 82 last February 3.

Present were Rotary International District 3810's outgoing District Gov. Josefina Ang and incoming Gov. Ma. Concepcion Beltran, Commission on Higher Education NCR Regional Director Amelia Biglete, and Teo Antonio who performed his poem for the celebrator.

University of Makati's Racel Brodeth, Mapua Institute of Technology's Allan Timothy Figueroa, University of the Philippines-Diliman's Jihad Karlo Mariano, and Technological Institute of the Philippines' Cherry Ann Rubio were proclaimed finalists who received a cash prize worth P5,000 and a certificate of recognition each.

No one made it to the Top Three.

One of the reasons was that they do not know Ka Blas that well.

Perhaps, they should dig deeper than the Google or Yahoo or Yehey level.

Or should have listened to the sharing earlier of his former associates like Ambassador Reynaldo Parungao and Director Fely Romero of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration whose building was renamed after Ka Blas.

Or should have interviewed first his youngest daughter Susan "Toots" Ople and her daughter, Estelle, our inaanak, who is carving a name for herself as a champion debater!

"It was our way of encouraging more students to study the life of Ka Blas, a self-made man who overcame poverty to become a statesman and a renowned intellectual," said president Rosie Oliveros of The Rotary Club of Ramon Magsaysay who promised to do it yearly with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute (BFOPCTI).

BFOPCTI has been our partner personally and professionally.

Toots, with her alter ego, Fort, used to sponsor, by way of their Citizens’ Drug Watch, our Poetry Therapy sessions with drug patients who became poets, eventually, at the National Bureau of Investigation's Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Tagaytay City from March to July in 2000.

When we were the director of Likhaan: the University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing, we were able to acquire electronic equipment through what we refer to as “Ople Money” which Ka Blas donated in 2003.

Our dream of coming up with an annual search for the Salita ng Taon, via Filipinas Institute of Translation, was made possible by Premio Ople since 2004.

Also, in 2004, BFOPCTI began the Tulay Program to broaden career opportunities for Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents, to facilitate communication within families, and to help reintegrate OFWs into the economy upon their return.

They, too, have a campaign against human trafficking that was able to aid the repatriation of 17 trafficking victims from Syria, assist victims of illegal recruitment from Malaysia, among others.
After a year, they offered the Blas F. Ople Journalism and Information Technology Scholarship Program in cooperation with public relations practitioners and veteran writers from Samahang Balagtas that Ka Blas founded.

There was a time when they gave such unique courses as foreign affairs, Philippine history, computer literacy, and literature.

Then the Ople Shoes, that started in 2006 with just 20 shoe donations for public school children in his hometown in Hagonoy, Bulacan – but now they are able to give more shoes not just to students but to young cancer survivors at the Philippine Children's Medical Center charity ward.
They are today exploring the possibility of reviving Balagtasan, through workshops, contests, and tours, here and abroad.

On the side, they are waiting for the U.P. Open University for proposals in distance education which they can grant to OFWs, especially those affected by the crises.

Speaking of turning garbage into gold, let us share with you Ka Blas' keys to success:

Set a goal for one’s self. Most of mankind get born and die without ever knowing what they really want.

Develop a positive outlook in life. Problems are often opportunities in disguise. As someone has said, pessimism is just a state of mind but optimism is a strategy for living.

Develop an active, rather than a passive, view of one’s environment. Successful men do not merely wait for things to happen to them. They try to make things happen. They create their own challenges and opportunities.

Stand by one’s principles when life’s crises must be faced. The test of character, in the phrase of William James, is not in choosing the path of least resistance but the path of the greatest traction. The temptation to make the easy choice must be resisted. This merely means that most times, the harder choice is the correct one.

Be absolutely dependable and trustworthy, so that your own colleagues know that they can trust your integrity even in the most difficult moments. The trust of colleagues and subordinates is what can propel you to success.

Continue personal and professional growth. Most people stop growing after leaving school. Education is for life.

Live a frugal and disciplined life, shunning all forms of waste, whether of time, talent, money or other resources. Life itself is a finite and most precious gift, and wasting it through frivolity and self-indulgence must be offensive to the giver of life.

Tomorrow, at 6 p.m. right beside the old Ople's mansion along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City -- at the Conspiracy Garden Cafe -- there will be the University of the Philippines Child Development Center's Sharing The Night Together . Featured artists are Teachers Lovie Moneva, Nikki Unidad, Eya Oropilla, Charla Santiago, Nurai Atar, and, their chair, Dr. Yangky Agustin, with the CDC Parents. There will be Mommy/ Daddy Diaries – before Parents Teachers Association's Parangal.

Back-to-back with Teatro Pasiking's Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko. For ticket reservations, kindly call Boom Enriquez # 0915-3915941.

TEXT SUPPORT:
BUSINESS FORECAST FOR THE YEAR OF THE OX:
“The financial situation will be so bad that men will have more sex with their own wives.”
WALL STREET JOURNAL

CONSIDER THIS:
Do not place your mistakes on your head, it can weigh you down and crush you.
Instead, place them under your feet and use them as a platform to view your horizon.

VALENTINE'S DAY EXPLOSIONS (February 16, 2009)

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose bombarded our minds that “writing is teaching” during the Taboan: The First Philippine Writers Festival 2009 at the Pulungang Recto of University of the Philippines' College of Arts and Letters last Wednesday morning.

In the afternoon Dr. Jose Dalisay, the Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing Director, invited us to participate not just as panelist but as a moderator of the discussion entitled Workshopping The Workshop. With us, as ex-Likhaan Director, was Dr. Christine Godinez-Ortega and Dr. Anthony Tan of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology; Vince Groyon of De La Salle University's Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center; and Dr. Benilda Santos of Ateneo de Manila University's Institute of Literary Arts and Practices.

What made it special was presence of Dr. Marjorie Evasco of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete, Dr. Elsa Coscolluela of the Iyas Creative Writing Workshop in Bacolod, Dr. Victor Sugbo of Viswrite in Tacloban, and Phil Harold Mercurio of the Lamiraw Creative Writing Workshop in Calbayog who shared the success stories of their workshops.

In a way, that is why we failed to conduct a creative writing workshop for the first Pangasinan and Ilocano Writers’ Conference on February 11, exactly at the same time, at the University of Pangasinan.

But, Mrs. Jose, Madame Tessie, granddaughter of Dagupan's former mayor, gave us a second chance when she invited us to ride with them – from U.P. to U. Pang.

Our organizer, Madame Norma Liongoren, did some adjustments with U. Pang. president Dr. Catalino Rivera and his team: Dr. Ofelia Rayos and Dr. Joseph Mejia, and Prof. Juliet de Vera; and arrangements with her brother Teodulo Crisologo and her sister Mira Luz “Bing” (sans Bong) Crisologo -- so everything was back on track.

Originally, it was slated last year, December 4, during the birthday of Dr. Jose, yes, he previously had four honorary doctorate degrees!

But, he was abroad so, finally, U. Pang. was able to confer honoris causa (or “for the sake of honor” in Latin) to Pangasinan's pride, Francisco Sionil Jose, last February 12.

As if a blessing in disguise, it fell on the celebration of its 83rd Foundation Anniversary with a bang!

So they offered both the personal and professional help for their teachers and students of creative writing, journalists and other writing enthusiasts from Pangasinan.

Why the theme Creative Writing: Towards the Enrichment of Pangasinan and Ilocano Literature?

It was answered by smash-hit seminar of Dr. Ma. Crisanta Nelmida Flores, a Pangasinan culture expert and head of U.P. Office of Extension Coordination; Dr. Melba Maggay, playwright and president of Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture; and Santiago Villafania, poet and a U. Pang. alumnus, who delved into Writing History and Fiction in Pangasinan, Creative Writing in the Local Setting, and Poetry Writing in Pangasinan, respectively.

The University of Pangasinan Language Institute director, Nigel Cabison, reiterated its relevance: “Creative writing is an art that seems to be gradually fading as far as Pangasinan writing is concerned. Some local writers believe and feel that they are trendy when they use Tagalog and English as media in writing literary pieces, but at the expense of their native language. Pangasinan as a language is apparently losing ground insofar as “use” is concerned. More and more Pangasinenses now use Tagalog, Ilocano, and other languages rather than Pangasinan as media of communication at home and elsewhere. Although there are some organizations now which are making a lot of effort to encourage wider use of the language, a more aggressive campaign is needed in order to broaden its use.”

Last Friday, on the Tagalog side of Luzon, in Lucena City, during the MSEUF Inc.'s Foundation Week celebration, we caught the launch of the Commemorative Stamp of Dr. Manuel S. Enverga (1909-2009) at their Library Complex with no less than Chief Executive Officer Hector R.R. Villanueva, Postmaster General of the Philippine Postal Corporation, as their guest of honor.

Welcoming him was, Wilfrido Enverga, former congressman and governor; Madame Jazmin Enverga, Vice President for Administrative Affairs; Madame Naila Enverga Leveriza, President of MSEUF, who graciously toured us around the Enverga Museum and Archives, with Jose Mendoza and Dr. Benilda Villenas.

Then we served as judge to Ms. Enverga 2009 bombshells!

Elizabeth Karl Suazon of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences won with Mariel Maano of the College of Arts and Sciences and Jesza Mariel Decena of the Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Management as her runnerups.

Director Celso Jaballa created a show highlighting Banyuhay Dance Troupe to MSEUF Concert Singers to MSEUF Chamber Band violinists and saxophonists to Enverga Heartthrobs escorting all 11 candidates on the University Gymnasium stage.

Earlier that week, Ambeth Ocampo, the National Historical Institute director, enveiled the historical marker in honor of Dr. Manuel S. Enverga.

This coming Friday, by the way, playwright and production designer, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, University Professor Emeritus of U.P., will have a second explosion when she collaborates again with her daughter, director Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete and theTeatrong Mulat puppeteers as well as poets/musicians Cynthia Alexander and Joey Ayala for the Sita and Rama: Papet Ramayana. Aside from February 20,10 a.m. and 3 p.m., it will also be restaged on February 21, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Tanghalang Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. For tickets, please call 921-9773, 0918-9032040 or e-mail mulatpuppets77@yahoo.com.

Condolences to poets Rebecca, Roberto, and Ruby Anonuevo who dropped the bomb when they texted us that their mother Loreto died last February 11. She was cremated during Valentine's Day at Arlington East in Pasig City.

Dr. Jose's keynote speech just imploded in me: “All of us know that our country does not realize how important literature is or the arts for that matter. We know that we will never earn enough with our writing and we will be lucky if our families understand this for our greatest support comes from our loved ones.”

TEXT SUPPORT:
3-8 years old: Who's got the most beautiful toy?
9-18 years old: Who's got the highest grade?
19-25 years old: Who's got the sexiest GF or BF?
26-35 years old: Who's got the loveliest wife or husband?
36-45 years old: Who's got the bigges income?
46-55 years old: Who's got the hottest lover?
56-70 years old: Who's got the deadliest disease?
70 and above: Who's got the most elegant memorial service?

CONSIDER THIS:
Forgiveness is the fragrance that flowers give when they are crushed.

BALAGTASAN (PART 2) (February 09, 2009)

This afternoon at 1, watch us, with Mike Coroza and Teo Antonio, host the Jose Corazon de Jesus way -- the Pambansang Balagtasan 2008.

Yes, today -- as if in honor of birthday bards Donato Mejia Alvarez, Roberto Anonuevo, and Romulo Baquiran, Jr. -- we will perform at the University of the Philippines Theater (renamed Teatro Sarsuwela), for the first Balagtasan National Finals of high school students.

Initially scheduled last December to cap the U.P. Centennial celebration, it will coincide with the on-going Sarsuwela Festival from February 4 to 28.

The entire project -- conceptualized by the U.P. Sentro ng Wikang Filipino director, Dr. Galileo Zafra, author of the Gintong Aklat awardee Balagtasan: Kasaysayan at Antolohiya (1999), was sponsored by Sen. Edgardo Angara and supported by the Department of Education, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, U.P. President Emerlinda Roman, U.P. Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao, and the College of Arts and Letters Dean, National Artist Virgilio Almario.

The show, directed by Dr. Apolonio Chua, will highlight each team composed of two mambabalagtas, one lakandiwa, and a coach.

From Region 3 , the Northern Luzon champion San Pedro High School, Hagonoy, Bulacan will be represented by Alyssa Gonzales, Jemimah Alvarez, and Nick Andrew Corpuz with Carolina Gabriel as trainer.

Their Southern Luzon counterpart comes from Nabuslot National High School, Pinamalayan Oriental, Mindoro for Region 4B with Janine M. Valencia, Jeorge Lumague, and Irish D. as their poets trained by Edna. Cardeño.

Visayans should cheer for UP High School-Iloilo's and Region 6's pride in Van Jayson Tam, Tristan Bill Abad, Ruby Rose Baldevarona, who were directed by Prof. Sol Penuela and Prof. Joel Labos who had proven their literary worth during the Pagpupugay sa mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining when they interpreted Rio Alma's poetry.

For Mindanao, Molave Vocational Technical School, Zamboanga Del Sur already made Region 9 proud with Sharon Grace C. Astillero, Gerald R. Cabardo, and Nova Carl V. Torralba reaching the finals under the tutelage of Regina Meniora and Eulalia Rabago.

Though at this point, we believe they are all winners, still, for 20-30 minutes, we shall discover the who's who in Balagtasan Teenage Edition based on these topics:
Nakatutulong ba ang mga call center at iba pang outsourcing sa bansa?
Dapat dagdagan ng isa pang taon ang hayskul.
Lumalala ang sitwasyong pangkapayapaan sa bansa.
Dapat bang may uniporme sa eskuwelahan o wala?

Judges, aside from Sen. Angara and Dean Almario, will be National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, Dr. Isagani Cruz, and Dr. Benilda Santos, who will base their decision on the following criteria: Piece (60%) and Delivery (40%).

Tropeong Angara awaits the National Champion who will receive P20,000, too.

Eventually, their Balagtasan pieces will be published for teachers, trainers, students, scholars and the like.

We thought that would be it for Team MTV.

But last week Teo gave us a letter of invitation to do a Balagtasan showcase in Tipanan in Clamshell 1, Wow Philippines in Intramuros on February 21 at 3 p.m. And we cannot say no -- not because it is from Synergeia Foundation Inc. alone -- because it is likewise from the University of Asia and the Pacific where his brod, Dr. Emilio Antonio Jr., is its School of Economics' former dean and its Center for Research and Communication Foundation, Inc.'s incumbent president.

A day after, as though the Balagtasan mania is on the go, the University of Santo Tomas, Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and DAKILA Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism invited us to ARTURA: Renaissance of the Filipino Pride (Art and Culture for a Cause) on February 27, 2009, 2 p.m, at One Esplanade SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. Expected are 450 delegates -- tourism students, school administrators, parents, and guests -- active in the tourism industry. Actually, what gave us the go-signal was the fact that this is fund-raising event for the benefit of the Aetas in Sitio Buok, Bamban, Tarlac.

Like Artura, Organik Muzik, for its Luzon leg, will also feature us jamming with spoken word and rap artists.

Jim Libiran's Tribu rappers and Lourd de Veyra's Radioactive Sago Project will be with us on the 70s Bistro stage – where you can be who you are!

Catch this Joey Ayala's NCCA Music Committee's contribution to the Philippine International Arts Festival at 46 Anonas Street in Proj. 2 in Quezon City on Feb. 27 at 9p.m.

After we received Ken Jamandre and Gem Cabrera's rehearsal call, Hermie Beltran texted us. Instantaneously, the scene during the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Pasinaya 2009 flashbacked with angel Eva Mari Salvador , with halo and all, came down from heaven sharing a gospel! What the said CCP's Associate Artistic Director for Cultural Resource and Communication Services was saying was that when we guested last August 23 on their radioshow Anatomiya ng Korupsiyon, they got the greatest reviews and the highest ratings ever! Wow, what else, did we imagine but CCP President Nestor Jardin approving our proposal to have a regular weekly Balagtasan on radio.

Teo's dad, Emilio Mar. Antonio Sr., the last official King of Balagtasan, must be laughing out loud among the clouds!

Meanwhile, news from the City of Majestic Waterfalls: you only have until February 15 to join the 16th Iligan National Writers Workshop brought to you by the NCCA, with the Mindanao Creative Writers Group, Inc., and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension. It will be held on May 25-29, 2009 in Iligan City. Available are 16 slots -- five from Luzon and Visayas and six from Mindanao (one is for the Manuel T. Buenafe Writing Fellow for Muslim or Lumad writers). Your application form may be downloaded at www.msuiit.edu.ph (go to Department of Research-MMIDU). Send your application to the 16th INWW Director, Christine F. Godinez-Ortega c/o OVCRE, MSU-IIT, Iligan City. For more information, kindly contact Pat Cruz or Alice Bartolome or Cherly Adlawan # (063) 3516131; or e-mail patcruz@yahoo.com, cherlyadlawan@yahoo.com, or aliciabartolome@yahoo.com.

Keep our communication lines open, feel free to email us at mb.malay@gmail.com.

TEXT SUPPORT:
Q: Which part of a man's body that has no bone full of veins pumps liquid and responsible for making love?
A: Heart.

CONSIDER THIS:
Our hearts have three poisons: (a) greed, (b) anger, and (c ) fear. In giving, we heal greed; with compassion, we appease anger; with faith, we overcome fear.

BALAGTASAN (PART 1) (February 02, 2009)

Yesterday was the beginning of the rest of our life as a Lakandiwa.

As early as 9 a.m. we had to be at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining.

By we, meaning our team, formerly known as OFW (or Overseas Filipino Writers) now informally called MTV (for Mike, Teo, and Vim).

CCP Visual Arts Department OIC, Hermie Beltran asked us to perform, as Literary Arts representatives, during the biggest one-day performing arts festival -- Pasinaya 2009: CCP Open House Festival!

With us were more than 2,000 artists who made CCP – Harbour Square and Star Theater included -- the most creative place on earth during the opening salvo of its 40th Anniversary celebration with at least 70 short previews of upcoming shows in its 2009 performance season were seen by the public who was invited to pay what they can and see all they can in one day.

Imagine if you give your bottom peso, in exchange you will get a world-class taste or two of the CCP Resident Companies namely Ballet Philippines, Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company, National Music Competitions for Young Artists, Philippine Ballet Theater, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Tanghalang Pilipino and the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra.

Different activities were held in different nooks and crannies like the Music Zone, Dance Zone, Theater Zone, Film Zone, Visual Arts Zone, Culinary Zone, Children’s Zone, and, for the very first time, Literary Zone.

Thanks to the Associate Artistic Director for the Performing Arts, Chris Millado, for opening its door to us in the Pasinaya 2009 that offered workshops, information booths, exhibits, Cinemalaya film screenings, puppet shows, storytelling, a culinary fair and cooking demos, an arts and collectibles market, and, at last, performance poetry!

It is never too late to buy tickets at the CCP Performing Arts Department through 832-1125 loc. 1602-1607.

Three of us had to catch the call time of Sining Gising: Ugnayan ng DepEd at NCAA sa Tinig ng Bayan aired every Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. over NBN Channel 4. Its host, National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCAA) Executive Director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez invited us to do a 10-minute Balagtasan for the 18-year old National Arts Month that started with Presidential Proclamation No. 683 in 1991. Now, the NCCA, led by Mrs. Guidote-Alvarez, and its Chair, Department of Education Undersecretary Dr. Vilma Labrador through the NAM Artistic Committee headed by Prof. Ricardo de Ungria, Commissioner of the NCCA-Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), is taking this artfest to the next level by calling National Arts Month the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF). Selected artists from different countries are expected to join in the different PIAF events through the PIAF Artistic Committee in coordination with the Philippine International Theatre Institute (ITI) through its Sec. General Malou Jacob, also concurrent NCCA Deputy Executive Director.

While waiting for our turn, we learned about the 17 DepEd Regional Schools for the Arts that gathered together for the 2nd Sining Pambansa in Baguio City, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Artists’ Housing Village in Angono, the launching of the newly-restored Metropolitan Theater, and the unveiling of the Urdaneta Park in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, in commemoration of Fray Andres de Urdaneta’s 500th year, among others. Well, it was Joey Ayala, the National Committee on Music head, who got us involved with his brainchild -- Organik Muzik -- a series of four concerts showing the metamorphosis of elements of Philippine music from village roots to urban manifestations, from Cordillera traditions to Kadangyan’s world music, from Leyteño siday to Junior Kilat’s reggae Binisaya, from Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) Awardee Samaon Sulaiman’s virtuoso kutyapi-playing to the hard-driving neo-ethnic rock of Popong Landero, from oral poetry to the social realist rap of Tribu's actors and acid-jazz rants of Lourd de Veyra and Radioactive Sago Project. The real deal will happen on February 7 at SM Baguio; February 15 at SM Cebu; February 22 at SM Davao; and February 28 at Bistro 70s along Anonas Road in Quezon City. Right after our wink-of-an-eye television appearance, we rushed to Luneta with no chance at all in watching for ourselves during the delayed broadcast really meant for the Filipino community in Africa, the Gulf Region, Europe and the United States of America. On time, we were able to make it to Concert at the Park, once again, via a Balagtasan sampler during the formal launch of the Ani ng Sining which was simultaneously held in major sites in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with the following ways of celebrating Filipino artistry:

PA(ng)LABAS on February 10 (4pm) with an opening and symposium at the Forefront Gallery and Aldaba Hall University Theater, University of the Philippines - Diliman; and from February 17 to 21 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP);

Walai-Vernacular Architecture of Mindanao from February 6-13 at General Santos City and Feb. 20-28 at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City;

Sinerehiyon from February 18 to 22 at the CCP;

Sayaw Pinoy from February 6 to 9 for the Visayas and NCR regions; from February 13 to 16 for Mindanao; and February 20 to 23 for Luzon;

Tanghal! The 3rd National University Theater Festival from February 10 to 14 at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba;

Philippine Visual Arts Fest '09 from February 18 to 22 at Robinson’s Place Ermita and Robinson’s Place Pioneer.

By the way, we are also part of the first Taboan: Philippine Writers Festival scheduled from February 11 to 13 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ateneo de Manila, and Cubao Expo to celebrate the word -- written, painted, sung, or performed – with writers from the regions and across generations. On February 11, 1:30 to 3:00, at Pulungang Recto, UP Diliman, we will speak with Christine Godinez-Ortega, Anthony Tan, Benilda Santos, Vince Groyon, and Lito Zulueta on how to organize writers about WORKSHOPPING THE WORKSHOP.

For details, please contact 0928-5081057 or call (02) 527-5529 / 527-2192 loc. 508, 612 to 615 or email at ncca.paio@gmail.com or public_affairs@ncca.gov.ph or log on to www.philippineartsfest.com or www.ncca.gov.ph.

TEXT SUPPORT:
ENGLISH TEACHER: How important is the period?
PEDRO: Very important po because when my sister said she missed her
period, my Dad cried, my Mom fainted, and our driver disappeared.
CONSIDER THIS:
Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.

THE BIG C (January 26, 2009)

Kapisanan ng May K sa Pilipinas (KMKP), the umbrella organization of cancer support groups in the country, was founded on December 23, 1994, after our Poetry Therapy sessions at the St. Luke's Medical Center's Bea Ingram Hall that led into the Expressive Arts Workshop at the National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling.

Victims became victors when they acted, sang, and danced in a play we wrote entitled Sens Op Tyumor, which Fernando “Tata Nanding” Josef directed, at the Insular Life Theater on January 15, 1996. The satire – produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) National Cancer Control Program, and the Hope In Cancer Foundation – was both hysterical and historical – like the events KMKP organized -- annually.

Last year, on January 13, under the theme Kanser ay Iwasan, Healthy Lifestyle ang Panlaban KMKP had what we billed Itakbo Mo, a fun run headed by The Running Priest, Fr. Robert Reyes, around the Sunken Garden inside the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City. Dr. Romulo de Villa lectured on nutrition. Poster-making contest for families and friends of KMKP followed suit with such judges as Ching Abad Santos, Mean Bulanadi, Magel Cadapan, Joyce Reyes, and Eleanor Yu. Free checkups by Dr. Marvie Abesamis and Dr. Ramon Severino at the EAMC lasted until January 19, our birthday, when KMKP observed its yearly National Cancer Survivors Day at the EAMC Lobby.

KMKP honors people who are involved in the fight against the Big C by giving out the Salve Award (after the first KMKP president Salvacion Quijoy) and Niña Award (after our and Tita Lita's girl wonder Niña Avena) for adult and young role models respectively. Artworks by Inday Cadapan serve as trophies for the honorees.

Through its battlecry Mag-HL Tayo Laban sa Kanser in celebrating this year's National Cancer Consciousness Week on the third week of January and World Cancer Day on February 4, DOH focuses on the avoidance of exposure to the risk factors of chronic diseases:

1. physical inactivity;
2. improper diet,
3. smoking;
4. use of alcohol

Last Sunday, Joscephine Gomez' show Creative Solutions at the GNN Channel 3 Destiny Cable tackled together with director Carlos Perion the topic close to the heart of the host who is considered as the longest living cancer survivor in the country. With us, who talked about our book Poetreat (2000), were soprano Pam Pascua and businesswoman Veronica Andaya, among others.

KMKP will do its share, as usual, at the EAMC lobby on January 31, from 9 a.m. onwards with a thanksgiving mass by Fr. Junrey Ente and the Bandana Ceremony to be led by Dr. Estrella Agustin and her son Yaren.

Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines, Petals of Hope, Rizal Medical Center's Cansurvive, U.P. Student Volunteers, U.P. SPECA will perform with Dr. Luis Gatmaitan and Dr. Isabel Melgar as emcees. Invited artists include Cynthia Alexander, Timmy Cruz, Joaquin Valdez, Francisco Montesena, and Carlos Pizarro.

By the way, Big C, for Carlos, Pizarro that is, recently launched his Compact Disc called All That I Love which is a flute and piano instrumental album which was conceived and finished in 2008. It is a compilation of original works with themes primarily from poems, psalms, and prayers. The first track is based on the poem “Bonsai” by National Artist for literature, Dr. Edith Tiempo, whose first lines start with “all that I love...” Born in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, he is actually a practicing dentist by profession. His love for music made him attend short classes and seminars during summer at the UP College of Music under the likes of Ryan Cayabyab. Eventually, he finished his Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from UP in 2002 under Dr. Jonas Baes, Chino Toledo, and Dr. Ramon Santos. Carlos has worked with UP Cherubim and Seraphim, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, and Metropolitan Children's Choir. CDs can be ordered by emailing him at carlosmpizarro@yahoo.com.

Tonight, you can catch Dr. Pizarro at O.M.G. Open Mic Gig at the Mag:Net Gallery (Katipunan) with poets Rio Alma, Teo Antonio Mike Coroza, Njel de Mesa, Marge Francia, Marne Kilates, Pete Lacaba, Rogelio Mangahas, Ed Maranan, Ginny Mata, Fidel Rillo as well as the usual suspects as Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines, U.P. SPECA, and Thomasian Writers Guild. Susan Fernandez, The Haneps, and Free Beer will provide some 70s music in commemorating the First Quarter Storm's 39th anniversary.

Tomorrow night at 7, Dr. Pizarro will be the featured artist of Conspiwriters' Tuesday at the Conspiracy Garden Cafe.

An hour after, at 6, Big C, for Culture, will be highlighted by Department of Tourism Sec. Joseph Durano and Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr. during the grand launch of Kultura Filipino at the Patio de Casa in Intramuros, Manila featuring internationally-acclaimed performers like Sitti, Mandaluyong Children's Choir, Bayanihan with Edu Manzano as host. Its mission is to create a venue to showcase the country’s arts gathered from all regions throughout the Philippines.There will be regular dinner shows every Tuesday and Thursday beginning March at Barbara’s at the Walled City branch, too. For details, please contact Tahl Gopez or Iona Santos at 524-1694, or 523-8411 local 196.

Big C, for Congratulations, to our former student, Laiden Pedrina, who succeeded Hazel Saez, as president of the JCI Perlas Pasay Ladies, together with her Board Members namely Hazel Reyes, Rosel Ramizares, Catherine Biliran, Jill Legaspi, Cathy Castro, Katrina Dominguez, Pam Reyes, Iris Samson, Rosario Silverio, Cecilia Penaverde and Atty. Majella Gallevo. As their keynote speaker, we witnessed the oath-taking ceremony -- that took place last January 23 at the Villamor Golf and Country Club's Social Hall in Pasay City -- with no less than JCI Immediate National President Rip Lesaca, JCI Sen.Tel Diaz-Manacsa, JCI Sen. Agnes Angeles, JCI National Executive Vice President Louie Basilio, JCI Mem. Jeanine de Jesus, and Mayor Peewee Trinidad, who, after showing us his collected love poems in his cellphones, promised to look into the possibility of fulfilling our dream: Pasay City School for the Arts!

TEXT SUPPORT:

A soldier ran up to a Nun. Out of breath he asked, "Please, may I hide under your skirt. I'll explain later." The Nun agreed. A moment later two Military Police ran up and asked,"Sister, have you seen a soldier?" The Nun replied, "He went that way." After the MPs ran off, the soldier crawled out from under her skirt and said, "I can't thank you enough, Sister. You see, I don't want to go to Iraq ." The Nun said, "I understand completely." The soldier added, "I hope I'm not rude, but you have a great pair of legs!" The Nun replied, "If you had looked a little higher, you would have seen a great pair of balls. I don't want to go to Iraq either."

CONSIDER THIS:

LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Never tell a person who's experiencing deep sorrow, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL because you don't.

2. Never risk what you cannot afford to lose.

3. Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before.

4. Remember that the formula for great love is COMMUNICATION + RESPECT.

5. When declaring your rights, don't forget your responsibilities.

6. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of good luck.

DEATH IN BIRTH

DEATH IN BIRTH
Did you know that 11 mothers die daily from childbirth in the Philippines?
Was it because we Filipinos focused on providing basic health care to children to a fault?
The United States-based independent global humanitarian organization Save the Children ranked us first among 55 developing countries in terms of giving, say, prenatal care, skilled care at childbirth, immunizations, and treatment for diarrhea and pneumonia. They added that “the Philippines is making good progress in improving health care for children and has achieved a 48% reduction in its under-5 death rate since 1990.”
Their Mother's Index, highlighting its State of the World's Mothers 2008 report, put us on top of its basic health care report card.
Why?
Because “in terms of newborn mortality rates, the Philippines has one of the lowest in the developing world with an average of 15 out of 1,000 live births.”
Next to us is Peru, followed by South Africa, and then, there is a tie between Indonesia and Turkmenistan.
We are one of the 55 countries accounted for “nearly 60 % of the world’s under-5 population and 83 % of all child deaths worldwide.”However, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark had a league of their own. They made it to the Top 5 when Save the Children also ranked 146 countries for how good they are for mothers and children.
Though it was shocking to find out that the United States, was a notch lower than its ranking last year, at 27th place, it is not our problem.
Ours is that we got into a negligible spot.
As usual?
What about our Nanays?
According to UNICEF’s latest The State of the World’s Children report, released four days ago: “Women in the world’s least developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries.”
Moreover, a Filipino baby is almost 14 times more likely to die during the first month of life than his or her counterpart elsewhere in Dildo, for instance, in Newfoundland, Canada.
“Every year, more than half a million women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth complications, including about 70,000 girls and young women aged 15 to 19,” said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, at the Johannesburg launch. “Since 1990, complications related to pregnancy and childbirth have killed an estimated 10 million women.”
Are we truly incapable of providing life-saving interventions like post-natal visits, proper hygiene, and counseling about the danger signs of maternal and newborn health?
Ironic for us, indeed, coming from a country of caregivers?
Was it due to the plain and simple fact that we still belong, then as now, to the so-called Third World?
Where having a child remains among the most serious health risks for women?
Where fertility rates are high?
Where there is a shortage of trained personnel and weak health systems spell tragedy for many young women?
Which is why the Philippines is among 68 countries which contribute to 97% of maternal, neonatal, and child health deaths worldwide and about half of the deaths of Filipino children under five happen in the first 28 days of life?
In Making It Safe For Our Mothers Without Delay, Nilo Yacat interviewed Dr. Ruben Flores, whose team works like a 24-hour factory of infants. The said Fabella Memorial Hospital chief sighed: “Too many women are giving birth but what is alarming is that both early and late pregnancies are increasing.”
If even in the City of Man – Manila -- a medical team struggles to attend to an average of 200 deliveries a day, what can we expect from such far-flung areas as Agusan del Sur, where roughly 220 women for every 100,000 live births die every year? Out there in a landlocked province in the Caraga region in Mindanao (whose capital is Prosperidad) -- three out of five women give birth at home and mostly assisted by a traditional birth attendant who may fail to recognize complications of pregnancy and labor.
Everywhere, it is mostly in urban areas where you can find health facilities with quality basic and comprehensive emergency care services for pregnant women.
Researches showed that the lifetime risk of maternal death is 1 in 140.
Meaning, around 11 Filipino mothers die everyday or an estimated 4,500 every year due: obstructed labour (8%); eclampsia or related hypertensive disorders (12 %); unsafe abortion (13 %); infections (15%); and hemorrhage (25%).
Speaking of blood loss, we almost lost our Light, when our panganay was in the delivery room. Our baby was supposed to be named “Parikala” (or “Irony”) but everything changed when her mom, Ina, had a bad bleeding for more than two hours. During that time, she had managed to go back to her childhood (at the wake of her own Nanang when she was 10 years old) as well as to her hometown in Candon (where she saw her Tiang Thelma who just died waiting for her behind a dining table).
While she was floating all over the place without seeing her own body, she constantly recited PSALM 100 in her mind.
When she was about to return to what she recognized as a High Way where she came from, she regained her consciousness.
Right then and there, we decided to baptize our firstborn “Psalma Sigla.”
Inspired by the biblical poetry of gratitude, we eventually called our kids: Wika (or Proverb), Awit (or Song), and then, our first and only prose, Sulat (or Epistle).
Indebted we are to her savior, Dr. Mila Zaragoza-Ibay, who offered her lifesaving emergency obstetric services!
UNICEF, after 11 years, would address those three types of delays that lead to maternal deaths: (a) a delay in the decision to seek medical attention; (b) a delay in reaching a health care facility; (c ) a delay in receiving care once present at the facility.
Thanks, by the way, to our Mama's doctor who helped her in giving birth to her unico hijo!
Exactly 45 years ago today.
TEXT SUPPORT:
A famous German evangelist was invited to speak at a worship assembly.
GERMAN: When you introduce me, please don't mention my positions or titles. Just tell
them that I am a shepherd or something like that.
EMCEE: Brothers and sisters, may I introduce to you our speaker for tonight.
A German shepherd.
CONSIDER THIS:
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live . They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family . On their return from their trip, the father asked his son “ How was the trip ?” “It was great , Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live ? ' the father asked. “Oh yeah ,” said the son. “So , tell me , what did you learn from the trip ?”asked the father. The son answered : “I saw that we have one dog and they had four . We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end . We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon . We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight . We have servants who serve us, but they serve others . We buy our food , but they grow theirs . We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added,”Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!”