Blue Eagles Complete Grand Slam

Ryan Clarence Buenafe drilled the most important three-point basket in the UAAP Season 73 with less than 30 seconds left in the final quarter to seal the Blue Eagle’s date with history. The Ateneo Blue Eagles successfully pulled off a three-peat at the expense of the FEU Tamaraws and secured their rightful place in the elite class of universities having won a grand slam in the UAAP. The win gave the Blue Eagles their sixth (6th) Championship Trophy, half of which were delivered during the tenure of Coach Norman Augustus Black.


It was a different FEU team that came out of the locker room in Game 2 of the Finals. Armed with renewed fighting stance and shear determination, the Tamaraws shattered the Blue Eagle’s defense in the first quarter to post a 9-point margin 22-13 in the end. For a while there was silence in the gallery where the river of blue is flowing as shades of yellow and green floated in high heavens with their thundering cheer. But it soon came to an end. Ateneo regained composure in the second quarter to limit FEUs total quarter output to 9 points against the 17 of the Blue Eagles. The two teams were separated by a precarious one point lead at half-time for FEU.


The third quarter belonged to Ateneo but FEU made a gallant stand behind power forward Reil Cervantes and shooting forward Paul Joseph Sanga. Conspicuously missing from the offensive threat of FEU are MVP RR Garcia and Rookie Terence Romeo, had these two fire powers connected with their shots, FEU must have treated the 17,215 fans in attendance to a fireworks display inside the Big Dome. The lackluster offensive performance of these guards was even more aggravated by the absence of Coach Glen Capacio in the second half. Coach Glen was brought to the Medical City for precautionary check up after his blood pressure shot up. At the end of the gritty thirty (30) basketball minutes, the Blue Eagles posted a shaky 2 point margin from the Tamaraws.


The defining moment slowly unfolds in the fourth and final quarter. The game intensity was in full throttle entering the last ten minutes of Game 2. Players have to bleed to score a basket with each ball position tightly contested. This too is the period where men are separated from the boys, where will power is mightier than the pressure, where every second is precious than gold and where everyone were given a glimpse of future superstars in basketball. It is during this priceless moment that Emmanuel Monfort, Jeffrey Kirk Long and Ryan Clarence Buenafe revealed their true bloodline, one that traces its lineage back to the great grand Blue Eagle where Ateneo’s basketball program was sculpted.


The sights of Emmanuel Monfort, probably the smallest player in the UAAP at 5’7, towering over FEUs John Aldrech Ramos and Mark Anthony Bringas to grab a rebound, Kirk Long driving and going up and under for a reminiscent of the famous Michael Jordan signature move and Ryan Clarence Buanafe patiently working his rhythm inside the paint will forever be immortalized in the annals of the UAAP Finals. In the closing seconds when the game needs to find its fitting ending, the player shooting a forgettable five percent (5%) from the three-point country will drill the final dagger and end the blistering hope of an FEU comeback. Call it luck, but this guy knows not just how to play basketball but he too sported the biggest heart of them all.

The Brouhaha that is RH Bill : A Draft

The Reproductive Health bill is taking the spotlight again in the Philippines today. Unlike before, the pandemonium that is said to be brought about by the impending passage of the bill is about to cross a critical section as the Catholic Church, lead by its Bishops, threatened for a civil disobedience once this bill becomes a law. Today, the major protagonist (and antagonist) of this stage play have revealed their roles and showed their faces, much more their true colors which ultimately exposes their ultimate motives. There are two powerful parties actively involve in this explosive social issue each grabbing the protagonist role from the other, the church and the well-funded development NGO sectors with the backing of government technocrats.

So what is this Reproductive Health (RH) Bill all about? This is part of the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 filed in the House of Representatives by Representative Edcel Lagman. In his statement published by the Philippine Daily Inquire, Lagman stressed that the reproductive health (RH) bill intends to promote information on and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, which are medically safe and legally permissible. It assures an enabling environment where women and couples have the freedom of informed choice on the mode of family planning they want to adopt based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs.

In a separate document published by the Philippine Senate’s Economic Planning Office, it stated that the Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill (House Bill No. 5043/ Senate Bill No. 3122) popularly known as the RH bill, stemmed from the legislature’s attempt to come up with a defined national population policy framework. The national population policy framework will then be designed to cope up and attain the Millennium Development Goals set to be achieved by 2015. In the introduction part of the Senate Report, it emphasized the need for an effective RH Program to address the issues of pregnancy and childbirth wherein 1,500 women die every year due to various complications and the 10,000 babies more who die daily within the first months of life. It’s worthy to note that these deaths occur in developing countries like the Philippines and most of these deaths are avoidable.

Reckless and irresponsible. This was the short, sweet and simple collective response of the sector opposing the passage of the bill. The Pro-Life and Pro-Family stance of the Legislators were contradicted by highlighted Article II, Section 12 of the constitutions which states that “xxx the State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception xxx.” The very Institution tasked to protect and uphold the laws of the land are making a mockery of the Institution. On top of that, they also presented medical records of high degree of infections to a women’s uterus and pelvic using IUD. They took excerpts of the Mayo Foundation report that says oral contraceptives are associated with an increase risk of breast cancer.

Former senator Francisco Tatad, a staunch detractor of the bill says that the Reproductive Health Bill is being presented as a health bill and an antipoverty bill at the same time. It is neither. It is not what its authors say it is; it is everything they say it is not. It is an ideological attack on human life, the family, and our social and cultural values. He further added that the bill rests on a flawed premise; it is unnecessary, unconstitutional, oppressive of religious belief and destructive of public morals and family values. Its enactment into law will only deepen the already frightening ignorance about the real issues. It should be rejected.

With all the legal, cultural and moral issues surrounding the passage of this bill, the entire country is left in quandary as to who among these two opposing sectors is right. While the debate to or not to pass the bill into a law continues, the daily struggle of ordinary Filipinos to make both ends meet remains. The call to act and voice our personal preference and concerns amidst the biases of religion and political affiliations remains weak. Tried to ask someone I caught up in the street days ago how they feel about the fracas going around for the passage of the bill, they simply told me they don’t know much less they don’t care.

I got four things in mind that may end this impasse and sensibly leading to a better judgment whether we really need the RH bill or not at all.

FIRST. The scenarios above being the glaring reality, arguments of whether the bill should be passed into a law or remain forever in the hallows of the legislative building is immaterial. Approved as a law or not, this can never serve its intended purpose without the basic understanding and appreciation of the people it intends to serve. Our population growth rate will forever remain in full speed if Juan dela Cruz do not understand the very premise from which this bill was created for. Therefore, the first key to winning the battle of good and evil is to distinguish the right from the wrong. This can only be done through proper EDUCATION.

SECOND. Walk the talk. Why do common people find RH bill, its components, coverage and the arguments of those who oppose it a very complicated issue? It’s because their main proponents and those that are actively campaigning against it cannot distinguish themselves from what they stand for and reconcile their affiliations with their sincerity. Case in point, why do I doubt Representative Lagman, a brilliant lawyer from Bicol, even if his intentions now may be rational, suitable, timely and true? It’s because he was never consistent with his other legislative standpoints that requires rationality, suitability, timeliness and truth. Recall how he defended Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the House of Representatives and you’ll see.

Walking the talk also entails knowing what you are saying. Sex as an issue is not certainly an expertise for the Bishops and the priests. Why dwell on matters you have, should I say, limited knowledge of? Have you tried raising a family too? There are things and proceeding better left in the powers of the state to decide on.

THIRD. The answer is clearly written in our Constitution. Check the Bill of Rights. “A “right” is a moral principle defining and sanctioning a man’s freedom of action in a social context. There is only one fundamental right (all the others are its consequences or corollaries): a man’s right to his own life. Life is a process of self-sustaining and self-generated action; the right to life means the right to engage in self-sustaining and self-generated action—which means: the freedom to take all the actions required by the nature of a rational being for the support, the furtherance, the fulfillment and the enjoyment of his own life. (Such is the meaning of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.)

“The concept of a “right” pertains only to action—specifically, to freedom of action. It means freedom from physical compulsion, coercion or interference by other men.

“Thus, for every individual, a right is the moral sanction of a positive—of his freedom to act on his own judgment, for his own goals, by his own voluntary, uncoerced choice. As to his neighbors, his rights impose no obligations on them except of a negative kind: to abstain from violating his rights.”

A right is absolute in the sense that you are entitled to such right as a human being and as an individual in a free society. No one has the right to deprive you of your rights, not even the government. But what kind of right is absolute? These are the rights enumerated under Article I (bill of rights) of our 1987 constitution. Article III, Section 1 is the paramount of all rights, to wit: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

FOURTH. Given the framework of the Philippine Constitution and the rights each citizens are entitled too, is there really a need for an RH Bill to dictate and set the standards for Reproductive Health and Population Development? My choice is my right and I am entitled to exercise that right no matter how inverted the Catholic Church would define them in their religious context. A genuine Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill should emanate from the conviction of each Filipino that while our rights are safeguarded in the Constitution, each of us has an equal responsibility in the way we exercise these rights. Our rights are absolute so are our accountability.

The end that is being guaranteed in the Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill will define our individual existence. With our without the bill, we need to view things in a whole new perspective. There is no room for closed-conventional teachings in a world driven by change technology and information. While Catholic teachings may contradict portions of the RH bill, it’s time that the church looks at the new bigger picture and supports the RH bill in good conscience. If Jesus Christ were alive today, He would have amended portions of the Old Catholic teachings himself and introduce rational, logical and sensible philosophies. The way to the Kingdom of Heaven can be reached either by using the old dusty interstate road or take the super highway. It’s our choice and it’s our right.

For Evil To Triumph Is For Good Men To Do Nothing.

This is one of those actions scenes you will only see in movies. The bad guys are creeping up fast and the leading lady is trapped with no place to hide hoping that the leading man will suddenly appear to save the day. Never expected this kind of movie scene to come to life tonight, besides my story is more of a melodrama than an action adventure flick designed for Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Tonight, the Robin Padilla in me took and stole the limelight. The world that we knew is indeed not safe enough as we though it is. Threats normally come in the most unexpected time and the persons being put in grave dangers are your most cherished ones.

I was out of the house as early as seven after getting back from work. Thing I don’t normally do once inside the house. As the typical sometime-irresponsible man of the house, I chose to seat in quite room alone thousand and one steps away from home to enjoy glassful of ice cold beer. Better be in here than be exposed to the rapid-firing automatic blabber of my Chinese wife. In here, I felt safe without my bulletproof vest and helmet. Ahh, just when I thought of my selfish safety, the family I left behind was under attack, without a warning and without a sign, an insane Bin Laden was poised to strike a 747 in our house while the kids were sleeping.

A text message caught my attention going to my sixth and final round of SML. My Chinese wife sent an SOS message informing me of the imminent threat they were in. Bin Laden was lurking by the window waiting for the right opportunity to be in. They never knew his plans but I’m sure it won’t be as nice as Santa Clause would do his way on Christmas Eve. Apparently, when she went out to buy Motet her medicine, Bin Laden saw her going home. With his trademark headgear on and a three (3) meter bat in his hands, he followed her home and stayed at the window. His intention of coming in was done in a diplomatic manner of begging to be in but terrorist as they are, they’ve gone instantly ballistic upon a taste of refusal.

I immediately called up my friend, a policeman from nearby town an informed him that I need his assistance. Sensing the danger I was in and without asking a single question, he got almost instantaneously at our house just as I get there too. Bin Laden was no longer there but I can feel the fear he left behind as Motet hugged me tight trembling. I said to myself I can’t let this pass, never and not tonight. Without wasting a minute, my friend and I did a real-life scene of the crime operation to look for possible clues and unearth the suspect. Too bad for him, he was seating right at the very first corner of the dark street probably waiting for his next victim.

What happened next are covered by an executive privilege I got from Romulo Neri during the course of the ZTE investigation. One thing is for sure, Bin Laden will never forget tonight and I’m pretty sure he had learned some lessons which he can choose to live by for his own good or soon forget at a very lethal consequence. As I got home after, someone told me that the guy was insane. Well, that is never an excuse to justify what he has done and the things he intends to do in the future. Sometimes citizens need to enforce the law by themselves and carryout a certain degree of tolerable justice. The fight against criminality is not left for the authorities alone to do. Vigilance, courage and fighting stance can help deter crimes.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. I'm not the good man in this Edmund Burke quote, it's my friend, thanks Dre. You really deserve a promotion!

Blue Eagles Draw First Blood

League leader FEU Tamaraws looked like bunch of school boys being taught their first basketball lesson by professional basketball stars. This statement encapsulates the story in Game One of the Best-of-Three Finals Series of UAAP’s Season 73 held at the championship capital of the Philippines. In front of a sellout crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, Ateneo Blue Eagles methodically dismantle the very same powerhouse squad they have never beaten in the eliminations. FEU has been very vocal of their goal to play in the Finals and dethrone Ateneo since day one of the UAAP hoop. They achieved their goal by defeating De La Salle University in the Final Four but the boys of Coach Glen Capacio were not mentally tough and physically ready for a Finals-type basketball game.


The win solidified Ateneo’s contention for their Three-Feat Quest, something that has never been done in the history of ADMU’s Men’s Basketball team. To date, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), University of the East (UE), De La Salle University (DLSU) and the Far Eastern University (FEU) are the only schools that hold the distinction of having won three consecutive men’s basketball championships since the UAAP was founded in 1938. FEU, National University (NU), University of the Philippines (UP) and UST are the schools which started it all. Adamson University (ADU) and UE joined UAAP when the league expanded in 1952. Ateneo was added to the core schools twenty six (26) years after the first expansion. Eight (8) years after Ateneo’s entry came De La Salle University, thus the biggest and most exciting rivalry between Ateneo and DLSU begun.


The Ateneo Blue Eagles was more determined to win Game One. Playing effective, untiring and disciplined defense all game long, Ateneo scored one of the most lopsided championship (Game 1) victory with a 23-point margin. The Blue Eagles displayed superior basketball capped by their 47% field goal shooting average against the woeful 27% of FEU. This is very uncanny since FEU is the best offensive team of Season 73 entering the finals. FEUs offensive arsenals were even more potent than their average when they played Ateneo in the elimination round. But not tonight. Banking on their back-to-back final appearances, Ateneo Blue Eagles capitalized on their championship experience and severely crushed FEU. There are eleven (11) players in the current Ateneo line up who have won at least one UAAP Championship and none for FEU.


FEU dug a hole for themselves right at the start of the ballgame. Uncoordinated defensive patterns and reluctant shot selections spelled their doom. When league MVP RR Garcia of the FEU Tamaraws missed consecutive point blank jumpers, Blue Eagle Justin Chua lighted the scoreboards with successive unguarded baskets in the paint. On this note, Ateneo ended the first quarter with a 26-8 cushion. The party continued for Coach Norman and his squad in the second quarter. Rookie JP Erram and relievers Luis Lorenzo Gonzaga and Raymond Leonard Austria joined the attacks behind the unselfish fast break plays of Kirk Long, Ryan Buenafe and Team Captain Eric Salamat. The Blue Eagles didn’t look back since then and continued to erect a 42-21 half time lead.


The succeeding twenty (20) minutes of intense second half basketball did little damage to Ateneo even if they have outscored FEU by just a single point in the third and fourth quarter. The half time cushion is enough to secure the pivotal-most important game of the series. Since 1994, 75% (or 12 of 16 instances) of the teams who won Game One have gone to win the title. With the momentum on their side, Ateneo will try to take the crown on Thursday and grab their rightful place in the history of the UAAP as one of the few schools who have successfully completed a back-to-back-to-back championship runs. Game statistics and history are tools to measure team efficiency and leverage each team’s chances of winning. Come Game Two, all these are immaterial, if Ateneo plays and come out with higher intensity than what they showed in Game One, continue to play basic, unselfish, disciplined and intelligent basketball, then Ateneans all over the world will have all the reasons to celebrate another amazing year of Ateneo basketball!

Match Box

Our fascination for cool places, mouthwatering foods, cold beer and good music has brought me, my friends and my colleagues to check out the different getaways in and out of the city. Bars, grills and music bars along the hottest chilling points in Magsaysay Avenue have almost always been our destination in our one of those out of the blue TGIF gatherings. Depending on the mood for the night, hangouts are just a stone throw away from each other which makes hopping easy and fun. However, there are those nights where one can feel the same old place fatigue and one decides to scout the city’s innermost alley to find the best alternative place to be.

Hidden beneath the forgotten streets of downtown area is the classy Match Box Family KTV. Designed to provide guest the best Karaoke TV experience, Match Box offers KTV enthusiast a cozy ambiance topped with their wide range of song selections, state-of-the-art digital sound system and huge flat screen TV monitors for added singing pleasure. Groups can choose from among the different sizes of their exclusive KTV rooms or stay at the lounge with other guests for a more challenging Karaoke night. Located at the ground floor of Regent Hotel and Convention Center, Match Box is definitely the place that offers the best KTV experience.

Beers cost a little higher in this place. Well, obviously because it’s technically housed in a hotel with a different captured market, but the cost is properly justified by the standards of the KTV facilities and the service. One downside of the KTV room is its poor to limited cellphone signal, but who cares? It’s difficult to sing and send text messages at the same time anyway! Besides, the singing and the stories in between the songs sounded the greatest without the hassle of a ringtone and the jejemons. With no one from the outside world bothering you and none from your group disputing your singing style, for one night, you would want to believe that you are indeed a professional singer. Am I right Glen?

Invisible War

Invisible war, seems we're waging an invisible war
Strained maneouvres, keeping silent score
In this invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
Both wishing it was like before
In this invisible war

Talk about a fine line between love and hate
We've lost more than our direction of fate
Talk about a fine line between lovers and friends
We've never been lovers and now we're not even friends

In this invisible war, seems we're waging an invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
In this invisible war

Wounded deeply the scar is here to stay
Opening up at all the little things I do and say
You always want things to be as before
So I make you angry and you bleed a little more

In this invisible war, seems we're waging an invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
In this invisible war

Want to go away
I still love you
Got to go away
I always love you
Got to be away
Time heals all wounds
Invisible war

By Julia Fordham

FEU and Ateneo at the UAAP Finals: It’s Offense versus Defense

Coach Norman Augustus Black and the rest of the Ateneo Blue Eagles Seniors Basketball team will gun for their first ever three-peat victory in the UAAP Basketball Finals against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws mentored by Glen Capacio. Ateneo Blue Eagles has been a proud owner of five (5) UAAP Basketball Championship Trophies. Their last two (2) crowns were earned at the expense of arch-nemesis La Salle in Season 71 and the University of the East Red Warriors in Season 72. Their campaign for a Grand Slam at the start of Season 73 is halfway done as they face league leader FEU Tamaraws in a Best of Three Championship Series starting tomorrow at the Big Dome.


The talented Far Eastern University Tamaraws Basketball Team is no stranger to Championship Battles. As a matter of fact, FEU had nine (9) Final Appearances already and has brought home six (6) Championship Trophies out of its finals exposure. That’s a whopping 67% championship accuracy for the Tamaraws against the 50% championship record (10-5) of the Blue Eagles! The back-to-back 3rd place finish of the Tamaraws since Season 71 has made the team more mature and highly competitive this season. At the start of the tournament, FEU Tamaraw Coach Glen Capacio has openly challenged the reign of Ateneo by declaring they are out to win the championship. Just like their opponent, their goal is halfway done as they prepare to meet each other head-on for the decisive Game 1.


The last time these two squads met in the UAAP Finals was during Season 66 where FEU took the title away from Ateneo. Ironically, on that very season, FEU started and successfully completed their three-feat goal through a Final Sweep of La Salle in Season 68. What Ateneo intends to do today has been done by FEU five (5) seasons ago and just as destiny would have it, the Tamaraws are standing in the way of the Blue Eagles to deprive them of this illustrious achievement. Boasting sterling records in almost all categories in basketball including efficiency, the FEU Tamaraws had made successful use of the Triangle Offense starring guards Terence Romeo, Jens Knuttel and MVP candidate Ryan Garcia.


In their two (2) earlier meetings this season at the elimination rounds, FEU dominated Ateneo in games that were decided right at the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. Both were nail biters of a game with FEU winning by an average margin of 2.5 points only. No matter what the scores are, a win is still a win, and this means, Ateneo has yet to win versus FEU this season. While FEU leads the tournament in almost all categories, Ateneo leads the league in Assist with 16.7 per game and the Blue Eagles are number one in defense allowing their opponents to just an average of 62 points. The contrasting styles of these teams make this years’ UAAP Championship Series even more exciting. FEU, the leading offensive team in the league going up against Ateneo, the number one defense oriented squad. It’s going to be offense versus defense, Green versus Blue, Sampaloc versus Katipuana and Glen versus Norman


Of course I’m rooting for Ateneo to win the Finals and complete a rare back-to-back-to-Black title this season. There’s an old adage in sports that says “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” More than that, the team who plays and executes better defensive patterns and adjustments in a championship series are most likely to have the better offensive opportunity to score a basket. Yes, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are less dominant this season without former King Eagle Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Jai Reyes compared to the formidable frontlines of the Tamaraws, but hey, truth is, all the teams in the UAAP have improved (in terms of strength) this year and their silent and collective goal is to shoot the Eagles down. With key players gone and all teams in contention for the Championship, the Blue Eagle is spreading its mighty wings again, determined to add the illustrious three-feat feather into its wings.

Busted?

Tatay, BUSTED!
Said in a childish-sarcastic tone, that was the greeting I got from my favorite Bunso (Motet) as I met her at the door after the Fluvial Procession. I was soaked in dirty, smelly & muddy waters of the Naga River going home. I didn’t know what she really meant by it so I chose to ignore her welcome address. Never did it occur to me that what she said, that precarious word, will be as explosive as the Atom bomb dropped at the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 65 years ago!

Just when you finally decided to fix yourself then things get even more complicated. I wish we can undo things we didn’t want to happen and forget everything that needs to be forgotten. We can’t write on correction fluids all the time and hope that the first sentences written won’t reveal their stories. Busted? True. But the stories were pre-classified as HISTORY already. It is, because it has NO future. That I learned from my old friend SMS. People change NOT because of the notion that CHANGE is constant, we change because we CHOOSE to change.

I won’t be asking for another piece of paper. Those have been willfully given several times already in the past hoping that I would learn to spell the difference between right or wrong. But I am a slow learner, one that usually occupies the last row in the classroom. More than the paper and pen, this time, I would value TIME. Time to read the graffiti’s in my wall. Time to understand the disparity between the stories of the stupid past and the sentences to be written in the future. Time for my (former) Chinese wife to figure out the real story behind the Telenovela. No Motet, you were wrong po, I was not really busted, I slowly SURRENDERED.

An Inconvenient Truth on Bicol Politics

Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia were greeted by yellow banners hanging in the middle of the city’s major roads bearing messages against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero Friday morning. Chiz, as what he branded himself in his political campaign when he ran and won for a senatorial seat back in 2007, is a vocal critic of Naga City’s former Mayor and now Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. “Crab Mentality ni Escudero, ugaling pang Trapo” says one of the many messages.

These messages were obvious indication of the strong support Nagueños and Bicolanos alike are giving the DILG Secretary. Nothing wrong with that, I myself am a supporter of Secretary Robredo, but I strongly disagree with the manner and timing these manifestations of support were executed. The execution leaves a bad taste in the mouth and brings uncalled political propaganda in the middle of a big religious celebration. I’m sure Secretary Robredo wasn’t fully aware of his supporters plan to hang these banners, had he been informed, the good secretary’s wisdom would say otherwise.

Yes there are truths to these messages, but it was very unfortunate to note that these political tirades are done by Bicolanos against a fellow Bicolano on a time and place devoted to a Religious Celebration Bicolanos are known for all over the world. Just 8 days ago, President Noynoy Aquino issued Proclamation Number 33 Declaring the City of Naga and the Province of Camarines Sur as Pilgrimage Capitals of the Bicol Region and Recognized Top Tourist Destinations of the Philippines. In simple words, the mud we Bicolanos are throwing at each other has the magnitude of the botched hostage taking crises month ago in terms of word-wide exposure.

Pilgrims from all over the world who came to join us in our celebration now have a different perception of our culture. Once upon a time, the Bicolano race is a force to reckon with in any battle, but now that there’s infighting inside mainly because of our greed and thirst for power, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this mighty race crumble in a not so distant future. Just when we mark our 300 years of devotion to our Ina, just when we believed we are politically matured, just when we begin to be proud of the achievements of our few brilliant Bicolano politicians, is when we realized that we are all idiots, cowards and egocentric individuals not far different from the “trapos” that we despise.

Secretary Jesse and Senator Chiz, mag-ulay kamo lalaki sa lalaki and don’t allow your supporters to talk in your behalf. Since when did our unique dialect become a hindrance to mutual understanding and strategic alliances? Furthermore, what is the value of being called “oragon” if we can’t fix this all in the name of the roughly 5 Million Bicolanos who put their individual trust in you. Chiz can never achieve his presidential ambition without the Bicol block by his side, Secretary Jesse won’t be successful either in the implementation of his department’s objectives in local governance without Bicol leading by example. We can’t be Presidents of the Philippines all at the same time but we can always be Bicolanos all the time.

Toy Story 3

Fifteen years after the first animated installment and eleven years after the sequel, the producers, animators, creative writers and director of the Toy Story series has finally thought of the best ending to the highly successful Disney-Pixar animated franchise. Watching the trailer of the film, one would think that this is just one of your ordinary animated movies out to give kids a good time with the adventures of its main characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. And if you’re one of the many who thought along the same line, by the time you watch the movie, you’ll be treated to a big surprise!


Not often will one find an animated movie that brings out the kid in all of us adults. Seldom will it also hit the softest part of our adult heart and leave us teary-eyed once the ending gradually unfolds before our inconspicuous eyes. Animated movies are almost always stereotyped for children, and perhaps the only time we would be watching these types of movies is upon the prodding of our kids, and I would guess, that no adult would make animated movies as their first choice among the line-up of contemporary blockbuster movies also showing at the next cinemas. (Unless of course one is an animation enthusiast)


In the animated movie, Andy is now 17 years old on his way to college. Obviously, he has outgrown his old toys and is now being preoccupied with things an ordinary boy of his age would find amusing. Technology took the place of his favorite toys, Woody and Buzz. Having been “completely” forgotten by their owner, Andy, the toys were slowly losing hope that one day, Andy would play with them again the way he used to be back when he was little. Series of unfortunate and unintentional events also happened prompting majority of the toys (except Woody) to take their chances at Sunnyside Day Care Center. Their dream of being played-with again seemed to find an answer at this side of town.


Things are not always what they seem. It was too late when Buzz, the temporal leader of the group, found out the true color of Sunnyside rainbow. Knowing the dark side of Lotso, the acknowledged leader of Sunnyside toys, cost Buzz his “life”. The dangerous task of helping his toy-friends breakout from Sunnyside and return home was left for Woody to handle. With substantial information from the “telephone” and the timely help of the Little Green Men, Woody, Buzz and their toy-friends escaped from Sunnyside and survived the incinerator that could have converted them all into ashes.


In the beginning, the toys devised a plan to get the attention of Andy. With the help of the little soldiers, they deliberately took Andy’s phone and put it in the box where they were kept. The plot is for Woody to dial Andy’s phone (now in the box where they all are being kept) and hopefully when Andy finds his phone in the middle of all his old toys, he would notice the toys and play with them again. The plot failed and the tiny dust of hope left for the toys to be with Andy again vanished in thin air. Of course except for the ever loyal toy Woody.


Did Andy play with his toys again? For those who still haven’t watched the movie, I’ll choose to leave the answer to your imagination. For those who did, I’ll share my uncanny experience towards the ending of the animated movie. I attended a meeting at SM a week ago for the preparation of the Tercentenary Celebration. After that I got a chance to talk to a friend working at the cinema and naively asked about the play date of Toy Story 3. See I didn’t notice that this movie has been shown at SM City Cinema about two months ago.


With the help of the ever dependable Lime Wire P2P Sharing File, I managed to download a copy of the animated movie. With nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, the kids and I watched Toy Story 3 at home thru the computer at the bed room. The 21” LCD monitor combined with the Altec Lansing VS4221-3 speaker makes watching movies at home just like the real thing. Anyways, towards the end of the film when Andy was about to go to College, he decided to donate his toys. The animated scene from that time on was so powerful that I decided to excuse myself from the room. Pretending I have to make a call I went to the living room and took some breather. I was teary-eyed seeing just few seconds of that special scene.


Sensing that the scene was over, I returned back to the bedroom and opened the lights in jest. There I caught the entire family teary-eyed! Angel, Xavier and Motet in their tender age understood the message and they responded. I didn’t show them what I really felt and I even teased all of them why they were crying! Well, that may be a natural reaction since the movie was made for them, kids, but I’m quite sure it wasn’t made for me! But why in the hell did I react faster than the kids without them knowing it? Safely I would say, the animated movie series has just found its PERFECT ending. The would-be tears are for the thought of not seeing a fourth installment of the amazing franchise in the future.

Going Gaga Over Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, more popularly known as Lady Gaga took the music scene by storm in 2008 with her hit singles “Poker Face” and “Just Dance” from the album “The Fame” which peaked at number 2 in Billboard’s Hot 200. Her unique hair fashion, extreme choice for outfits and outrageous music videos was an instant hit among Generation Y and the Gaga Fever cuts across other generations that precede the so called Net Generation. I belong to the Generation X and I must admit I loved Lady Gaga’s songs way before my kids could appreciate them.


Sunday Night at the MTV Video Music Awards held in Los Angeles, Lady Gaga added another milestone in her crowded list of monumental achievements. Her song “Bad Romance” earned her the highest achievement of the night for Video of the Year and took home the “astronaut statue”. In just a little span of time, Lady Gaga earned the right to join the elite class of Madonna, Peter Gabriel, REM, Eminem, Green Day, Aerosmith and Beyonce. These artists | groups are at the top spot of the few performers who have won at least (10) MTV Video Music Award. Lady Gaga has a total of eleven (11) awards already at the MTV VMA, eight (8) of which came just in one night during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.


“I want your love and I want your revenge, you and me could write a bad romance..” It’s funny to note that Gaga’s “Bad Romance” has been her ticket to greater fame. The song won seven (7) of eight award categories including the Best Pop Video, Best Female Video, Best Dance Video, Best Choreography, Best Direction Best Editing and Video of the Year Award. The other song, “Telephone” collaboration with Beyonce’ got the Best Collaboration. Millions of people around the world who loved Bad Romance and the people at the MTV VMA selection, screening and judging committee must have related to the song that much. This probably is the first time for an ironic composition (song) about love to get the highest honors in one of the prestigious music awards of the world.


Others may disagree and insist that lyrics has nothing to do with the awards and the criteria, but just as the notes give life to the words, lyrics is the soul of any music masterpiece. Most often than not, lyrics dictates the destiny of a song. It doesn’t have to be complicated and it can be too simple, the vital component in writing lyrics is that somebody has got to “relate” and “see himself” inside the lyrics (story) of the song. It has to be a communal experience, it has to be real and it has to be written from the heart. From this perspective and from the message of the song itself, I can safely assume that there are too many broken hearts in the world right now, and an equal number of those are willing to take the risk of a bad romance.


Sometime in May of this year, Beethoven del Valle Bunagan, also known as “Bitoy”, “Toybits” and more famous as Michael V., created a spoof of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance video with his very own “Bathroom Dance”. The video was an instant YouTube hit among Bubble Gang fanatics but this was extremely way below the original song in terms of internet hits. Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance had thus far been viewed by over 200 Million people at YouTube while Bitoy’s rendition had only about 200 thousand. The reason? Aside from the fact that originals are always almost better, Bitoy’s message was a trash. Nothing compared to Gaga’s notes.


Lady Gaga continues to make beautiful noise at the airwaves. Her latest song “Alejandro” enjoys massive airplays at local music stations and has been a consistent feature in the weekend chart countdown. Upcoming songs like “Monster”, “Speechless” and “Dance in the Dark” have great potentials to be house hold favorites too. My daughters Angel and Maria Theressa (and their mother) adored Lady Gaga pretty much. I just wish I won’t see the day when they greet me at the doorstep late in the evening (from work) and see the two young ladies in Lady Gaga-like outfits.

Team USA: World Champions Once Again!

After 16 long years (or four FIBA Tournaments), Team USA showed the world they can regain the long lost crown in basketball and take possession of the James L. Naismith Trophy once again, their fourth, (and the most number of Championship trophies of a participating country) since FIBA World Championship Games begun in the 1950’s. To say that Team USA was really destined for the gold since day one was hypocrisy at its highest level. Yes, most if not all, have doubted the firepower, readiness, youth and height of the team. And yes, it was a given that Team USA will reach the semis but most, if not all, were expecting the team to crumble against either Argentina, Spain or Serbia (whichever team they meet in the finals).


What was the reason for all the doubts? It was simple, the USA Basketball Team fielded in this year’s FIBA Championship held in Turkey doesn’t have the likes of Kobe Bryant, Le Bron James, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard in its starting lineup, nor does it have the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett on its bench. The team was bannered by Kevin Durant (shooting forward on his 3rd NBA season) and the rest of young NBA semi-superstars together with a few veterans like Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom. Because of this composition, they were tagged as “Team B” with obvious referral of the first groups of players as the premiere team. Yet today, they proved everyone wrong.


The first 2 games of Team USA against Croatia and Slovenia, from which they won by an average margin of 25 points were not enough to silence the critics and the doubters, including me. Their third game against Brazil which they won only by 2 points almost revealed the team’s true character and nearly suggested that critics were right. But the succeeding 5 games (championship not included) which Team USA won by an average margin of 30.4 gradually changed the perspective of us doubters. In a little span of time, Team USA has matured to become a solid basketball team that relies not on individual talents but on the team concept of basketball. Kevin Durant has been the focal point of the offense and everyone played their part on defense. Coach K had successfully brought out the best in the team.


A transcript from the NBA’s official site says; “We belong," Kevin Love said simply. "We belonged from the start. And we knew it."They belong with the stars that won gold in Beijing two years ago. They belong with U.S teams that dominated in the first few international competitions with NBA players. And they belong in the discussion when a new Olympic team is chosen in 2012.” I have to agree, in fact I would have to add that their team was far better than the USA Basketball team composed of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, Brad Miller, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, Kirk Hinrich, Chris Paul and Joe Johnson who lost to Greece in the 2006 FIBA World Championship held in Japan.


Will it have a different ending if they have met Serbia in the finals? That is something that deserves a greater analysis considering the fact that Team Serbia has always been a powerhouse team. Serbia is the official successor of the former Yugoslavia Basketball Team that is 1 Gold behind Team USA in the FIBA medals tally, after Team USA grabbed this years’ title. In fact, had it not been on last minute lapses on the referees judgments, the semis game between Serbia and Turkey (82-83) could have gone the other way and Serbia could have given Team USA a better fight. Just how powerful are the Serbians this year? Well, they have dismantled Argentina and Spain, 2 of the top ranks team in the tournament. Whatever it could have been, today, Team USA deserves a standing ovation.


Team USA is composed of: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunders), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Russel Westbrook(Oklahoma City Thunders), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia Sixers), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers) and Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks).

On Being First

I got a text message Thursday night that says Angel is the First Honor in the first (of the four) Recognition Ceremonies at St. Paul. I was elated but had to convey my congratulations to my eldest daughter via Facebook. I wasn’t home that time for an Official Business that would last until the afternoon of the following day, a holiday. I may have not seen the expressions on her face but I was pretty sure she was smiling ear-to-ear upon hearing the news.

Being first was Angel’s goal since the beginning of her primary schooling years. The spot doesn’t come handy as she had to compete with equally deserving pupils of her age who are much strategically positioned to get the top spot. By strategically position, I mean the access to an after school tutoring service which I can’t personally afford. Part from the cost, I would rather have her and her brother play with the rest of the kids than confide her in a room with all her books. Absence of a Tutoring Service brings out the independence and discipline in her as she finished first all her home works before he goes out to play. There were instances though wherein she waits for my “advice” on assignments that deals with numbers; it’s a relief on her part but an agony on mine.

Angel has always been a good competitor by nature, a trait she probably got from her mother. I remember the time where she would seek for my approval for her to join the School’s Majorette Group back in Grade 2. Of course I said fine but she didn’t make the cut in the final screening. Last month she was at it again, and finally she was part of the group and her first exposure was during the Lingo ng Wika parade. She kept her eyes on the target and works hard to get there. I just hope this latest achievement doesn’t diminish the fighter in her and strive even harder to stay at the top.

Being first is not an achievement in itself. It is in fact a challenge one has to face. The real triumph comes from the consistency of keeping oneself at the top and successfully defending the crown against other competitors who are out to take the glory away from you. Angel has just won the battle but not the war. Nevertheless, she deserves BIG Congratulations and from what I understand, a BIGGS treat was given to her last Saturday courtesy of her Lolo and Lola.

Traslacion 2010

Rain poured sporadically as if following a divine script to give occasional shades of coolness to a hot Friday afternoon. Devotees from all corners of Bicolandia, young and old, men and women, lay and religious, paid homage to our Ina through the Traslacion Procession scheduled in the afternoon. Traslacion signals the start of the weeklong Grand Penafrancia Festivities. During this time, the image of our Ina and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) are brought by barefooted Voyadores from her Shrine in Penafrancia Church to the Basilica through the main streets of the City.


My friends Emer and Elmer (Kambal) have agreed to rekindle our old Voyadores spirit by joining the Traslacion Procession. We knew it’s going to be a tough task for us considering we haven’t done it for quite some time now, and we only got the three of us to cover and muscle our way in against the much organized color-coded Voyadores Teams from the different parts of the city and the nearby towns. We knew the risk but the Voyadores inside of us prevailed, we are up for the challenge.


We were at the streets (Penafrancia Avenue) by 2 in the afternoon. During this time, the Traslacion Procession has already started comprising the different schools and civic organizations in the Region at the front. The image of the Divino Rostro is scheduled to be out by 3 in the afternoon and 30 minutes after that, the image of our Ina will follow. We waited for the images to be out by making ourselves busy with chats from fellow Voyadores whom we just met and by eating street foods offered by vendors as they pass. At 3:15pm, we saw the image of the Divino Rostro coming out of the church simultaneously with the continuous ringing of the church bells.


Waves of people, mostly Voyadores came rushing towards our direction as we stand at the middle of the street. The Voyadores came rushing from all directions to touch the image and the carriage from where the Divino Rostro was hoisted. I don’t really know each of their intentions but the manner from which they are rushing to grab a portion of the carriage is something that lacks (or extremely exceeds) religious fervor as they were unintentionally (and intentionally) hurting other Voyadores (and themselves) in the process. Same goes as the image of Ina passes by. Well, this has been a cultural practice hundred years ago but I personally believe that there has to be a major modification on this. Each Voyadores (and other devotees) at that can and should touch the image (or the carriage) of our Ina without the need of getting hurt. Besides, the image of Ina is displayed all year long at the Penafrancia Church for us to touch, why wait for the Traslacion if touching the image is the only reason? But then, there must be some restitution that comes within the “hurting process” as this can and may be a way of personal penance for all the mistakes each of us has done.


We joined the image of Ina during the entire procession. Barefooted, soaked and half-starved, we stayed in-line with thousands of other devotees until we reach the Basilica Shrine. Somewhere along the way, we caught glimpse of tired, exhausted and tipsy Voyadores who have just emerged from the carriage exchanging stories of how they get there and manage their way out. My friends and I would just look at each other listen to their escapades. At the back of our minds, we knew we have been there and we came to understand the deeper meaning of being a Voyadores. We need not barge our way in just to touch the image and the carriage. Amidst all the contemporary Voytadores practices that we have, it is FAITH in our Ina, HOPE in the Risen Lord, LOVE through SHARING what we have (what we are) are the values that matters the most.

The Making: 300 Seconds Countdown

It was a once-in-a-three hundred years experience one won’t dare to miss and being part of the few persons who have a direct hand in the Archdiocese-wide celebration is an experience of a lifetime. The Archdiocese of Caceres will be celebrating the 300 years of devotion to our Ina starting with the Grand Tercentenary Midnight Countdown set to happen tonight at SM City Parking Area. Our Institution was assigned to provide the “300 seconds Countdown Program” to signal the start of the month-long celebration and synchronize the launch of the illustrious fireworks display all in the name and honor of our Patroness of Bicol, our Ina.


It was decided at coordination meeting with the organizers to use the LED Display of SM City to flash the 300 seconds countdown because of its strategic location and ideal dimension. Simple at the outside (for watchers), the 300 seconds countdown is one complicated project for no one from the team I created to handle the project has ever done a program to sync-in with the LED Display of SM City. The project was even made a little complicated for we don’t know the kind of flat form SM City is using and gaining access to their system is one complicated task. Good thing, the Mall Manager, Wesley Villanueva was very accommodating and allowed us to work with their technical group and work on the program.


The countdown is scheduled to start at 11:55pm sharp. All our watches were synchronized to have a common ground. At quarter past eight in the evening, I received a call from one of the organizers informing me of their plan to change the 300 seconds countdown display from the LED Display of SM City to the Stage through an LCD Projector. The reason is that the LED Display is not directly facing the audience from where the stage has been set-up. Funny, but this thing has just been noticed 3 hours prior to the countdown but the stage has been there already over 12 hours ago. Sensing an imminent danger due to the proposed change of plan, I immediately inform our lead programmer, Jojo “Piolo Pascual” Imperial, and asked him to do another 300 second countdown program with the LCD Projector as its primary output.


My greatest fear of totally abandoning the LED Display of SM City (Plan A) came true with a call from one of Fr. Wilmer Trias close-in aids at around 10:15pm. She told me to meet Fr. Wilmer near the stage for a change of plan. Waiting there was Fr. Wilmer and Sir Noel (my college professor back in Ateneo), I got the point of Fr. Wilmer that the LED Countdown would be futile since only few people would see it and the best place to do the countdown is at the stage itself. Their question was, “Can you come up with a 300 seconds countdown and do the set up in 45 minutes?” My answer was yes and a smile. Prior to my meeting with Fr, Tria and Sir Noel I already got a confirmation from my lead programmer that the program has been finished and tested.


30 minutes prior to the countdown, our team has already settled-down and we are waiting for the cue. Since we have the best seat in the house, we devoted few time enjoying the program as we had close-up views on few celebrity guests for the night which includes singer-songwriter Mark Velasco, PBB Grand Winner Bea Saw and Box Office Prince John Llyod Cruz. We were there for a totally different purpose but we must admit, we enjoyed taking shots-after-shots as if we were diehard fans! Hahaha!


Looking back on day one, I came to realize tonight that nothing is impossible under the mantle of our Ina. The project assigned to us may be complicated, and the manner plans changed so drastically few hours before the countdown was really a nightmare, but everything happens for a reason. My fear of program breakdown due to the very limited preparation time disappeared in thin air as we, together with the crowd shouted in unison 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 and watched zero appear on the screen simultaneously with the launching of the first wave of fireworks. Our Ina has always been there for us during our most trying times in the project and She had no plans of letting us down. A gift received and a gift to share. Viva La Virgen!

Cooler Than Me

If I could write you a song to make you fall in love,
I would already have you up under my arm.
I used up all my tricks; I hope that you like this.
But you probably won't, you think you're cooler than me.

You got designer shades just to hide your face and
You wear ‘em around like you're cooler than me.
And you never say “hey” or remember my name.
And it’s probably cause you think you're cooler than me.

You got your high brow shoes on your feet,
And you wear ‘em around like it ain’t shit.
But you don’t know the way that you look,
When your steps make that much noise.

Shh, see I got you all figured out,
You need everyone's eyes just to feel seen.
Girl, your so vein, you probably think that this song is about you.
Dont you? Dont you?

If I could write you a song to make you fall in love,
I would already have you up under my arm.
I used up all my tricks; I hope that you like this.
But you probably won't, you think you're cooler than me.

You got designer shades just to hide your face and
You wear ‘em around like you're cooler than me.
And you never say “hey” or remember my name.
And it’s probably cause you think you're cooler than me.

You got your high brow switch in your walk
And you don’t even look when you pass by.
But you don’t know the way that you look.
When your steps make that much noise.

See I got you all figured out,
You need everyone's eyes just to feel seen.
Your so vein, you probably think this song is about you.
Dont you? Dont you?

If I could write you a song to make you fall in love,
I would already have you up under my arm.
I used up all my tricks; I hope that you like this.
But you probably won't, you think you're cooler than me.

You got designer shades just to hide your face and
You wear ‘em around like you're cooler than me.
And you never say “hey” or remember my name.
And it’s probably cause you think you're cooler than me.

Now don’t you dare act like you don’t know,
Know what’s up? ‘Cause your nose is up.
I’m approaching up, like I can’t give you winter in the summer
or summer in the winter, Miami in December

Trying to look bored in them Diors, she probably is,
Was acting shallow until she find out how deep that my pockets is.
Mrs. pre-madonna, this is your reminder,
That I think you're fine.

By Mike Posner

A Young Tradition Lives On

There is no available written document (maybe there is but nobody has told me yet of its existence) that shows the actual year from where the Peñafrancia Celebration in the Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer begun. Although the Peñafrancia Celebration is a hundred years old tradition started by Miguel de Cabarrubias some 300 years ago at the old Nueva Caceres, now more prominently known as Naga City, nobody can’t really tell (from those that I have asked) when and how our local celebration has started. From where I stand, I can tell that this tradition of ours is still on its young age and I’m glad (just like the thousands of devotees) to be part of this majestic celebration.


As far as my memory can recall, I remember sometime about 14 years ago, while serving my term as a youth leader, our group had organized an activity in lined with the Peñafrancia Celebration. We had the Regatta Festival, a boat racing event that uses paddles and nothing more, from Aguirangan Island to the coastline, an All-Star Basketball game featuring the court veterans and upcoming stars, and of course youth representation in the Fluvial Procession the following morning. Today, more activities have been added to add vibrant colors to the festivities. There’s the Military Parade, Civic Parade, Street Dancing and Beer Plaza for the beer lovers.


Our local Peñafrancia Celebration has slowly become a regular event in the calendars of all parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer. Several days prior to the main celebration, the image of our Ina, our Lady of Peñafrancia, is doing a “Pagsungko” (visit) in all the barangays (villages) covered by the Parish. The image is being transported in places such as Lidong (the farthest village at the heart of the Caramoan Peninsula Mountain), Kinahulugan and Lagha. Each village has a designated point man (called Kairos) that handles the preparation and information dissemination relative to the visit of our Ina.


On my part, this celebration has been part of personal devotion to our Ina, our Lady of Peñafrancia. Since the grand festivity is held on a Sunday, there’s a more compelling reason not to miss this special appointment especially now that I’m just an hour away from the parish unlike before where I have to travel all the way from Manila just to be present. More so, I consider myself as one of the early persons who is, in one way or the other, part of the small core group who has been active since this celebration had started. Today, the small group has risen to become bigger with the entry of younger devotees from home and the nearby environs.


It’s a prestige to be part of this celebration. Either by just taking pictures, securing the lines, providing the lead and shouting Viva La Virgen, shouting a response, carrying the heavy “andas” and walking barefooted. For 2 years now, I have been tagging Xavier along with me during the celebration. He wears the same uniform and head band with the Voyadores and rides the same boat. At his young and tender age, this is one of the legacies I wanted him to continue. By the time he learns to write a full paragraph, then this piece can form part of his own documentation of the tradition that goes beyond the bond between father and son, time and tide, faith and hope.


The Voyadores (now called Guardias de Maria) Core Group is composed of William “Kuya” Relleta Sr., Matt Villanueva, Boy Relleta, John Villareal, Owen Royo, Elmer & Emer Verdejo, Dean Relleta, Felix Pantila, Jun Vargas, Ruben Padayao, Efren Alamo, Roman Villaralvo,Juanki Villanueva, Angel Royo, Nep Cometa, Fred Relleta, Noli Hilo, Dennis Macasieb, Dan-Dan Correo, Kevin Villaralvo, Nicko Onio, Jay Cuadro, Teeth Durana, Emer Villanueva and myself.

Ang Tambal

Tambal is a local herbal antidote for snake and dog bites commonly found in rural places particularly those that are miles away from nearby hospitals. Folks would have it that the local “tambal” is far more effective than costly medicines prescribed by physicians. Their claims have been substantiated by testimonies of local indigents who have in themselves experienced the healing power of “tambal”. Local herbal practitioners and “albolaryos” would just scrape bark of this mysterious tree, have it boiled for about 10 minutes, separate a glass of its extract for drinking and the rest for cleaning the infected wound, and the remaining bark will be plastered in the infected area for several hours. The process is this simple yet so effective.


Manong Roman Rapido is a known “tambal” specialist in our place. His stories of how he practically used the powers of his “tambal” to save people from near-death encounters with venomous snakes and other rabies-infested animals are something for medical records. It’s not just his stories that put premium to the authenticity of the “tambal” powers, close friends and distant relatives have basically put their trust in the healing powers of “tambal”. To add, it’s not just rabies and venoms that are covered by this miraculous herb, even headaches and dengue cases can be suppressed by this natural wonder.


I saw Manong Roman watching a billiard game downtown. I asked him if he still practice his medical expertise particularly the one that deals with dog bites. He asked me who the patient was, I replied I am, then he looked at my lacerated leg. He readily obliged and told me to meet him at his house while he prepares for the “medical procedure” including the post medical formula in a form of liquid substance named Ginebra San Miguel for the doctor himself.


There were several friends asking me to join them for a drink prior to my encounter with Mang Roman. My medical appointment with the good doctor has been my convenient excuse not to taste any liquor today. Their persistence paid off as I ended up providing bottles of gin, good thing it’s gin that they want and not beer, otherwise I will be forced to swipe my CC again at Manay Nora’s Convenience Store. The medical procedure then begun with bottle of gin at the operating table and my friends watching the sanctity of the process.


First thing Dr. Roman did was to clean the wound with the half-boiled “tambal” solution. An extract of the solution was also separated to cool down for me to drink after the operation is done. Just to make things clear on the sterility of the procedure, the extract “tambal” solution for drinking is not the one used in cleaning the wounds, had it been that way, I would have sued the doctor for not having served it icy cold! The process ended with the grated “tambal” bark plastered in my wound. Stories after stories were told as my friends watched the procedure. The more they drink their “medicinal gin”, the spicier the gathering has become.


The most important part of this medical procedure is the part where the patient gives the doctor a token of appreciation. They say that healing, or should I say the urgency of the healing process depends on the “amount” of appreciation the patient has given. In some parts of the countryside a white chicken or a gay cow is a must to ensure full and immediate recovery. On my part, I had given less to guarantee a good life but the token can be enough to ensure lasting friendship. At the end of the day, it is the bond between doctors and patients that keeps illness off our bodies. A bond made stronger by harmony and trust.