"Enweys, gusto ko lang sana kayong yayain na magvolunteer sa isang writing workshop para sa mga batang nakatira sa ilalim ng tulay.  Sila ay part ng community ng ATD Fourth World check out their site http://www.atd-fourthworld.org/. Di pa namin naseset ang exact date pero malamang Sabado gaganapin to. 

 

Karamihan sa mga batang 'to yung mga namamalimos sa kalye, di makapag-aral kasi walang pera ang mga magulang.  Karamihan sa kanila ang daming galis sa katawan kasi hindi naarawan at nakakaligo kasi yung perang pampaligo nila nilalaan na lang nila sa pagkain nila.  Karamihan sa kanila yung mga batang madudungis na iniiwasan natin sa kalye. 

 

Ang ATD ang isang movement na tinataguyod na magkaroon sila ng dignidad kahit na mahihirap sila.  Madami silang volunteers na nagbibigay ng mga arts and crafts workshops sa mga bata.  Iba't ibang forums naman para sa mga magulang nila. 

 

Hindi pa daw sila nagkakaroon ng writing workshops.  Nakakapanghinayang kasi nung minsang naobserbahan ko ang mga batang kasama sa community nila sobrang creative magdrowing.  Malaki ang chances na hindi pa lang natatap ang imagination nila.

 

Sa ngayon, tatlo pa lang kaming nagcoconfirm dito sa workshop na to.  Pagmimeetingan pa namin ko pano ang modules at kung pano ito ipiprisinta sa mga batang gutom sa kaalaman.  Pero nakapagdesisyon na kami na sa buwan ng Mayo namin gagawin ang event.

 

Kaya hinihikayat ko talaga kayo na tumulong.  Di kailangan na writing workshop din kayo.  Puwedeng arts and crafts.  Puwedeng photography.  Puwedeng basahan niyo sila ng libro.  Puwedeng kahit ano.  Di naman tayo magtatagal.  Isang oras lang naman yun.  Sa may Pandacan o sa kalye dun sa may Quirino Avenue (lugar ng mga holdaper, hehe).

 

Puwede rin namang perang pangmeryenda ng mga bata at gamit para sa workshop (ayan kinakapalan ko na mukha ko). 

 

Sa mga interesado, puwedeng puwede niyo akong i-email: rnavarra@gmail.com.  Puwede rin sa e-mail na ito.  Sa ngayon puro mga kaopisina ko pa lang ang nayaya ko.  Pero iwewelcome rin kayo ng mga batang to. 

 

Salamat!!!"

 

 --Ruth

 

 

--------------------------------------------

 

 

redmark says: Makibahagi tayo, volunteer na!

 

Nemesio Prudente, the former president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and human rights advocate, died Friday morning in a Cavite hospital due to complications after a prostate operation, the Inquirer reported. He was 81.

A good friend and a fellow academician in PUP, Rogelio Ordoñez called "Doc" Prudente as the best President the University ever had. Ordoñez, Editorial Board Chairman of Pinoy Weekly wrote: "Higit sa lahat, naipunla niya sa PUP ang isang edukasyong may makabayang oryentasyon at mulat sa pambansang kalagayan. Ang diwa ng makabayan at makataong aktibismo at paglaban sa inhustisya ang naipunla niya’t napayabong sa PUP. Sa aba naming palagay, sa mga humalili sa kanya, waring wala pa siyang kapantay sa hindi mapag-imbot na dedikasyon at pagmamahal sa PUP at, lalo na nga, sa pagiging makabayang edukador at progresibong intelektuwal."

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison in his website remembers Prudente as "an outstanding educator. He rose to the position of president of the Philippine College of Commerce and then the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. But most admirable of him was that he promoted and practised that type of education and life of action that is clearly, resolutely and militantly in the service of the Filipino people in their struggle for national liberation, democracy, social justice, development and peace.

"He articulated a progressive nationalist policy and was ever supportive of the students whenever they joined protest mass actions. He also appointed to the faculty patriotic and progressive teachers. Thus, the PCC became one of the most active centers of the anti-imperialist and democratic student movement in the 1960s, in the First Quarter Storm of 1970 and up to the imposition of martial law on the people.

"Before I went underground in late 1968, I had become close to "Doc" Prudente because I had frequent conversations with him and Prof. Teodosio Lansang over subjects encompassing philosophy, political economy and social science in connection with current events. "Doc" Prudente had a revolutionary outlook and was seriously interested in the revolutionary transformation of Philippine society from a semicolonial and semifeudal status to an independent and democratic one.

"He also actively supported the Movement for a Democratic Philippines, the Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties and the formation of a workers' institute. He cooperated with the Preparatory Commission of the NDFP and subsequently with the NDFP. He was never cowed by threats of arrest and actual detention. In and out of the fascist prison, he was a model of firm resistance and a modest hardworking man among comrades.

"The enemy could not tolerate his ideas and deeds in fighting for the rights of workers, in promoting the united front and in making the PUP an outstanding university of learning and technical training for patriotic and progressive students and teachers.

"But "Doc" Prudente was a steadfast revolutionary patriot. He upheld his principles and courageously put his life, limb and liberty on the line in fighting for the just cause of the Filipino people. In his years of retirement from academic life, he continued to have excellent relations with the revolutionary mass movement, especially with the youth and workers. He was held in the highest esteem by the broad masses of the people. His memory and example will always inspire the people."

 

For more info about Prudente: www.centennial.pup.edu.ph/history/19861990.asp

Eksena sa loob ng isang pampaseherong jeep pabiyaheng Siniloan, habang binabagtas ang binabagtas ang daan palabas ng Pakil, Linggo, Pebrero 17, 2008...

(Tahimik sa loob ng jeep. Hindi naka-on ang stereo at nakababa ang trapal para iwasang umanggi ang manaka-nakang ulan. Malamig ang hangin mula sa kabundukang malapit sa lawa ng Laguna.)

Ale: Mama para...

(Marahang huminto ang jeep at saka tumayong nakatungo ang ale para makababa.)

(Dumungaw ang mamang drayber sa kanyang de yerong pintuan. May isang pampasaherong jeep naman ang huminto sa kabilang dako ng kalsada at may mga sinambit ang dalawang drayber sa isa't-isa.)

(Ilang saglit kumambyo ang drayber para muling umusad na syang ikinagitla ng ale na nuo'y isang hakbang na lang sa estribo.)

Ale: Mama para! (Pumara din ang mga pasahero...) 

(Biglang napakapit ang ale sa estribo sa kanyang paglingon sa drayber at sumandal sa gilid habang papatigil ang jeep...)

Drayber: Magsabi ka kasi na bababa ka! (Sinilip ang ale sa rear mirror nya ng naka-kunot ang nuo.)

Ale: Nagsabi ako ng para! (Muhing bumaba...)

(Sesegunda ang isa pang babaeng pasahero, tititig sa rear mirror...)

Pasahero: Pumara yung ale, ikaw naman yung kani-kanino nakatingin!

Drayber: Ay ganun ba? Eh sorry...

(Lilisanin ang pook ng pangyayari. Kailangan pang pumasada.) 

Lunes alas tres ng madaling araw, walang magawa ang malambot na higaan sa talim ng kuko na bumabaon sa balat ng aking kamalayan.

Mariin ang aking pagkakapikit. Pilit inaaya ang panaginip. Marahil sa kanyang kanlong pansamantala akong matatahimik.

Dama ko na maiiba ang simoy ng Paskong hangin. Subalit ayaw kong bumitaw sa sarili kong panig at dagling kumapit sa patalim.      

 

Suot ko ang jacket sa office. Ito rin ang jacket na pinasuot ko sa iyo nuong una tayong nagkita.

Hindi ko namalayan sa aking bulsa, hawak ko na pala ang isang puting panyo. Dinampi ko ito sa aking pisngi at dagli kong naalala ang pabangong nakayakap sa iyo nang gabing hawak mo ng mahigpit ang aking kamay sa tabing-dagat, habang ang alon ay panay ang hikab sa ilalim ng mapusyaw na kalangitan. 

Sa isang kisapmata, muli tayong magkasama.

PUP students from the College of Communication took pride and honor as they swept seven out of eight prizes on GMA7's SOP Music Video Awards at the UP Theater Sunday.

Librada's team won Best Music Video, Best Story and Concept, Best Videography, Best Director and Best Performance by an Artist while Quito on the other hand clinched the Best Video Editing and Texter's Choice awards.

Judges were Bb. Joyce Bernal, Direk Rico Gutierrez, and Direk Louie Ignacio.

Librada and Quito, both second year Broadcast Communication students, directed the music videos of All Out of LOve featuring Dennis Trillo and featuring Dennis Trillo Candlelight Romance with Yasmien Kurdi respectively.

Out of Love video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXvCWNApUZ0&feature=related

Candlelight Romance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heZKeRzKf9M

Part 1:

Kris: Magandang gabi mga kapamilya, sa gameshow na ito importante ang sagot sa nag-iisang katanungang Deal or no Deal. Ang ating player ngayong gabi ay walang iba kundi ang fastest-rising household services manager na si Inday!

[umentra si Inday at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Ok Inday, choose a briefcase.

Inday: Kris, I would opt for case #4 please.

Kris: Briefcase # 4… si Sharmel. Inday, matanong ko lang, how did you come up with the number 4?

Inday: Oh, do you really want to know Kris?

Kris: Oo naman. I’m sure kaya ko naman maintindihan yung sasabihin mo eh.

Inday: The number 4 was acquired based on a probability distribution function that involves integrating up to an area greater than or equal to that random number which should be generated between 0 and 1 for proper distributions.

Kris: Syet. tanong tanong pa kasi eh.

Part 2:

Kris: Ok Inday, choose 6 briefcases to open.

Inday: I would opt for 7, 24, 12, 2, 15 and 20.

Kris: Wait lang Inday, usually isa isa lang ang pagbubukas natin ng case…

Inday: Why is that? As if I can change the outcome if we’re to open a case each time I blurt out a number as opposed to opening each case immediately one after the other right?

Kris: Hayyy…babaguhin pa talaga mechanics (bulong sa sarili).

Kris: Anwyay, di bale na lang nga… tuloy tayo. Number 7. Natalie buksan na!!

[Yung audience sumisigaw ng LOWER!! LOWER!!!]

Kris: Teka lang, bago natin buksan… Inday, usually ang mga contestants naten ay sumisigaw ng “LOWER” every time magbubukas ng case.

Inday: Kris, I guess that’s not the way I was taught in grade school. You see, I was taught that we should only use the comparative form of the word or add “ER” to the adjective if we are comparing two things. And since it is only the first briefcase that we are going to open, we have nothing to compare it to. Am I right?

[natahimik ang audience at napaisip]

Kris: Oo nga no!

 

Part 3:

Kris: Sige Natalie, Buksan mo na.

[Ang laman ng briefcase 7 ay Piso… Palakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Good start! Ano yung next case mo ulit?

Inday: Case number 24 please.

Kris: Chloe… buksan na…

[Audience sumisigaw ulit ng LOWER!! LOWER!!]

Kris: Wait lang guys, Inday may nabuksan ng case baket di ka pa rin sumisigaw ng “Lower”?

Inday: Oh my goodness Kris, how long have you been doing this? Have you ever encountered a value that is lower than a peso in this game? Tell me, is there any value left lower than the one we just opened? Sheesh.

[Napaisip ulit ang audience at natahimik]

Kris: Aarrgghh!!!! Chloe buksan na lang nga, pati na rin yung 12, 2, 15 and 20 buksan na rin para matapos na. [naiirita na]

[At sunod sunod na ngang nabukas ang mga case ni Inday]

[nag-ring ang phone]

Inday: Ahh Kris, to save more time can you tell Banker that I’m not interested in his first offer. In the history of this game of chance, I have yet to see someone accept a first offer from the banker. It’s quite pathetic and pretentious for contestants to pause and look around the audience as if asking for advice before ultimately rejecting the first offer. I mean come on, isn’t that a waste of airtime?

Banker: Potahhh!!! [narinig sa set kahit sarado ang kwarto ni banker]

- Ito ang unang pagkakataon na marinig ng mga audience ang boses ni banker sa Deal or no Deal.

 

Part 4:

… dumating na sa kalagitnaan ng show at mukhang minamalas na si Inday…

Kris: Ok Inday, mukhang kelangan na natin ng tulong sa mga friends mo… sino ba yung bigotilyong lalaki na naka-polo? Ano name nya?

Inday: Ahh, that’s my master Mr. Montemayor.

Kris: Ahhh sya pala yun, how cute naman pala eh. Sige sir, give us a number.

Mr. Montemayor: Hi Kris, good evening. I’m a fan. I choose number 12 please.

Kris: Ano Inday ok ba yung number 12?

Inday: Whatever, we shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds us anyway. Go ahead.

Kris: [taray naman] Sofie, buksan na!

[ang laman ng briefcase 12 ay 5,000]

Kris: Good job! Sino naman yung gwapong lalake na naka jumper na katabi ni Mr. Montemayor? What’s his name?

Inday: Ahh, that’s my on again off again boyfriend, Dodong the gardener.

Kris: Ooohh, sya pala yun. Ok Dodong, give us a number!

Dodong: Hi babes, I choose briefcase 9 if it’s ok with you. If not, it’s ok with me as long as it’s ok with you.

Kris: Ano raw? Inday, number 9 daw ok say0?

Inday: Yes Kris, it’s fine with me.

Kris: Wow ang bait pag kay Dodong. Ederlyn… buksan na!!

…nanlaki ang mga mata ni Inday at hindi sya makapaniwala. Natahimik at mukhang kakapusin sya ng hininga…

Inday: YOU!!! How dare you invade my moment!

[nagulat si Kris at ang mga audience sa reaksyon ni Inday. Nagpatawag si Kris ng commercial break at nagpakuha ng tubig para kay Inday.]

 

Part 5:

Nagkatitigan sina Inday at Ederlyn. Nakangisi si Ederlyn habang hawak ang briefcase ni Inday.

Ederlyn: Pinapangako ko, Inday… pagbukas luluhod ang mga tala! hahahahaha!

Inday: What? Can you speak up? What are you mumbling up there. Can somebody give her a microphone please?

Kris: Ano ba!! Tama na nga ang drama ninyo, Ederlyn buksan mo na ang case at umexit ka na kung ayaw mong mapalitan! (naiirita na si Kris)

Dali-daling binuksan ni Ederlyn ang briefcase at ang laman ay… P3,000,000.

Nanghinayang ang mga audience… Ang mga natirang values ay 250, 1K, 20K, 50K, and 500K.

Inday: NooOoo…. (sabay tingin kay Dodong at napapaluha), how could you…

Dodong: I’m so sorry Inday, please forgive me.

Kris: Hayyy, drama again. Ang offer ni banker sa pagbabalik ng Kapamilya, Deal.. or No Deal!

[pagtapos ng commercial break… mukhang composed na ulit si Inday]

Kris: Inday, are you okay? Ang offer ni banker ay 99 thousand pesos. ‘Sing rami siguro ng pilipinong pinadugo mo na ilong. Is it a Deal or No Deal?

Tahimik lang si Inday tilang may kinocompute sa ulo habang ang mga audience ay nagsisigawan ng “No Deal”, ang iba naman ay “Deal”.

Kris: Wait lang, kung mapapansin ninyo we have only have 5 cases left, and among those 5, apat doon ay mas maliit na value…

Inday: Kris, do you mind? Can I do my own thinking?

Natameme si Kris, pati ang audience ay natahimik.

Kris: Taray to the max! (pabulong sa sarili)

Inday: Ok, I’m ready. Upon looking at the reality of the situation, 80% of the cases left have at least 49K less than the banker’s offer. The only way I can do better than what is offered is that if my case contains the 500k or I’d get to open one of the four lower values. But I have to keep in mind that there’s only 20% probability that this would happen. I have to take note, however, that the banker’s offer is roughly around 15% lower than the offer I expected based on the arithmetic mean of the values left.

Kris: Lorddd… panaginip ba ‘to? Ayokonaaa….

Inday: Accepting a deal for less than the mean should generally be regarded as a weak decision so I would say, NO DEAL!

 

Part 6:

Limang briefcase na lang ang natitira at kasama na doon ang case ni Inday…

Kris: My God, nakaka-stress itong episode na ito ha. Baka dumugo na rin ang ilong ko sa’yo Inday. Sige Inday, go ahead and choose 1 briefcase!

Inday: Ok Kris, I choose briefcase #5 please?

Kris: Briefcase #5! Mimi bago mo buksan yan I would first like to thank Figliarina by Schubizz for my sandals, Bambi Fuentes for my hair and make-up and Pepsi Herrera for my gown tonight.

Kris: Ok Mimi, buk…

Inday: Ahh Kris, can I also take time to thank a few people? I mean, I did save us a few minutes of airtime right?

Kris: (“kapal naman talaga ng mukha”…bulong sa sarili)  Sige, ok lang go ahead. (naka-smile pa rin)

Inday: Thanks! Yes, I would like to thank Frank Provost for my hair and make-up, Jimmy Choo for my  sandals and my dear friend Oscar dela Renta for my gown tonight.

BLAG!! Tinumba ni Kris ang podium at nagwalk-out. Hindi na natapos ang show kaya’t binigyan na lang ni Banker si Inday ng kalahating milyon para sa kanyang oras.

Inday: Oh, and thanks to the people of Cartier for sending me these nice earrings for tonight!

 

Two Polytechnic University of the Phillipines students shone bright in the biggest ArtPetron contest to date.

Beating over a thousand other entries by students from all over the country, Ronald Jeresano and James Brian Ona emerged as among the 12 Grand Prize winners in Painting and Photography categories of ArtPetron7 National Student Art Competition.

The two received their prizes at the Petron MegaPlaza in Makati City, Aug 28. They interpreted this year's theme "Alay sa Palatandaang Bayan" with two of Manila's most important landmarks.

Jeresano did a realistic watercolor rendition of the Fort Santiago gateway titled "Revealed History, Behind Mystery". Ona on the other hand captured in morning sunshine the soaring steel arches of Quezon Bridge in Quiapo. His black and white photo is Ona's second straight grand prize win.  

Ona was a former member of the PUP College of Communication's photgraphic organization, Sinag Club.

For more info, visit www.artpetron.com

 

Aking isinulat at pinag-isipan noong August 8 kung paano ko pupunan ang bakanteng gabing yaon. Na bagaman umuulan, inisip ko na kailangan may "importanteng mangyari" sa naturang petsa.

Makakahanap lang pala ako ng kasagutan sa aking pag-uwi. Wala ang aking ina, maging ang aking kuya at ang kanyang nobya. Isang kapirasong papel ang bumati sa akin na nagsabing nasa ospital silang tatlo dahil ipapanganak na ang aking unang pamangkin.

Nung gabi ding iyon, isinilang ang isang malusog na babaeng sanggol na tatawag sa akin ng Tito Tet. Bumubuhos ang ulan, gayundin ang aming kaligayahan. Kasabay ng mga patak ng ulan samu't-saring pagninilay para sa aming hinaharap.

Nang dahil sa kasabawan sa pagtipa sa keyboard, binigyan ako ng 13 gabi na "pamamasyal" sa trabaho. Sa linggong ito, isang "pasyal" ang nakalaan para unti-unti kong bunuuin ang ipinataw na hatol ng mga nakakataas.

May mga nainggit dahil "night off" ako sa panggabing trabaho ko. Makakapagpahinga daw ako lalo na't bumabagyo. At makakapag-relax. Kunsabagay may punto rin sila. Subalit sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, hindi lang bawal ang magkasakit. Bawal din ang makaltasan ng sahod.

Iniisip ko na lang na kailangan may mahalaga akong magawa sa petsang ito. Ayon sa Multiply calendar ko, ngayon ang opening ng pinagpipitaganang Cinemanila sa Gateway mall. Mukhang ok pumunta. Kahit papaano, masasabawan ng sustansya ang aking kamalayan (no pun intended) sa pamamagitan ng lokal at foreign na sining pampelikula. Yun nga lang, hindi na siya free admission tulad nung 2001. Hehe, iba pa kasi siguro ang panahon nuon, Mr. Aguiluz. Bahala na nga.

Maari ring literalin ang "pamamasyal". Pwede kong damayan ang nauuhaw na Kamaynilaan at dokumentuhan ang epektong dulot ng bagyo gamit ang point-and-shoot digicam ko na napanalunan ko lang sa kumpanyang aking pinaglilingkuran. Tutal may dalawang photo contest ang nalalapit. Kung ang suspensyon ko ay magiging pagpapala, dun ako huhugot ng ipansasali.  

Isang gabi na ang aking pinagbayaran nuong nakaraang linggo. May 11 gabi pa ang nakapila. Tulad ng alin mang pagkukulang, kailangan, may pampunan.

 

For the record, I've been awake for the past 27 hours...

After my night shift, I went straight to my Photoshop workshop in Intramuros and did my seatwork. I'll post my works after he workshop next week.

But I'm insatiable. I live like the Energy bunny. After my class at 5pm, I headed to Malate with good friend Nykko for the annual Fete de la Musique. Finally, naka-attend na rin ako woooooo!!!

Over a hundred bands in four stages in the coolest place in Manila. What can I ask for. Hehehe...

Good thing there's a PLDT booth here in Nakpil. Free internet access for me so I can share to you the fun. Hehehe. They're offering super fast broadband internet for just P999 a month *not a paid ad ;-) * 

Ciao!  

M.G.C. has been an enigma for almost 25 years of my existence. His bloodline runs on my veins. People concerned at a recent family affair told me I look very much like him. And so I also bear his name. But none of these seem to satisfy my understanding about M.G.C.. Except that he's my father, as printed on paper,  I can't grasp the sense of the whole thing.

As I embark on my life's first quarter, I'm putting down all my cards. I will pack my bags to Pangasinan in my mission to put a meaningful face behind the name M.G.C..

It's time to put some redmarks on some of my life's gray areas.

 

-May 28, 2007