Josephites of the World, Unite (against COVID)!

The working class before Jesus was born is composed farmers, fishermen, shepherds, domestic workers, among others. There are more than two dozen other trades mentioned in Scripture, but there is not enough space here to describe them all in detail.

Let us turn our lenses to St. Joseph the Worker, the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph was craftsman or a builder generally speaking. Actually, Isaiah earlier describes this work: The carpenter stretches a line, he marks it out with a pencil; he fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass; he shapes it … He cuts down cedars; or he chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it (Isaiah 44:13-15). Joseph and Jesus, indeed, belong to the working class of his time.

Lest we forget that May 1 marks the international celebration of Labor Day and at the same time the whole Catholic world honors the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, the Patron of all Workers and Patron Saint of our hometown San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted May 1 to be the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. This feast, which perhaps intentionally coincided with “May Day” and “International Workers Day,” seeks to remind us of the spiritual dimension of man’s daily work. In holding Saint Joseph as the patron saint of workers, and in establishing this feast day, the Church reminds the world of the sacredness of man’s labors, and of his dignity in the workplace. But May 1 entails much more than just celebrating worker’s rights. In choosing St. Joseph as the patron saint of workers, the Church reminds the world of the sanctity of work.

There are also service workers during the time of Joseph and they probably lived under the “no work, no pay” scheme just like today. These are the people who earned their living doing services to others. They are the water carriers, barbers, hairdressers. There were also those known as fullers, who cleaned large quantities of clothing; they were somewhat similar to the dry cleaners of today. In larger towns, there were those who helped clean the streets, maintain the public baths, and repair infrastructure. Larger towns had butchers, salters of fish and meat, and bakers. Have you ever wondered what will be the scenario if a certain virus hit Galilee those times and there was a lockdown?

Fast forward to 2020. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mentioning data from the agency’s regional offices, said around 2,073,362 workers have lost their jobs as of April 24. Of this number, around 1.4 million were displaced due to temporary closures of establishments, while over 600,000 personnel reported reduced incomes due to modified working arrangements (fewer workdays, rotation, forced leave, and telecommuting.) This is the one of the gloomy situations of labor this Labor Day in the time of COVID-19 in the country.

Work or labor, according to Catholic teachings is a wellspring of dignity. We are thought that there is no dignity in living a life full of pleasure. In working, creating or building, men and women participate in God’s own work. 

Work is a pathway to holiness, as what we Catholics believe, the doctrine of "no-work-no-pay" is a pathway to hunger and hunger breeds evil. Though hunger cannot be an excuse for lawlessness or terroristic acts, by his nature and instinct, a hungry man knows no law. The employers must grant quarantine subsidy to their workers and the government must order companies to provide such assistance. There is justice in it and justice is a condition to peace.

In April 27, 2020, Dr. Anna Monina R. Bracamonte, OIC-Chief of San Jose District Hospital (SJDH) announced that an asymptomatic health worker of the hospital was listed as the fourth confirmed case of COVID-19 in Occidental Mindoro. A very sad news indeed. But we have to learn a lot from this debacle. One must admit that this fight for survival requires safety and a healthy labor force. Therefore, we have to start to bankroll, which was neglected for decades, public investment in our health system ensuring its ability to test and do what is required to protect our workers and the citizens in general.

As a Josephite people, once we have heard God’s voice in the cries and screams of the “salts of the earth” the impoverished workers in our midst, we must rise from our deep slumber, get up an act, as what Joseph have taught us.

With prayers and hope, let us not forget that pandemics, from the 1918 Spanish flu to the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, do end. Sometimes with seemingly unbearable numbers of victims and casualties, but eventually they do end. Hope this will end sooner along with the capitalists’ “endo”.

But there will be a motorcade parading floats of images of Christ, Mary and Joseph adorned with fresh flowers instead of the usual procession. This will be like a lights and sounds show as announced by Mayor Muloy Festin and Cong. Nene Sato via "Para sa Bayan" program aired over DZYM last April 28 hosted by Daisy Leano and Helen De Guzman.

For the first time is history we will be celebrating fiesta this way. There shall still a prayerful, solemn and festive celebration of fiesta in the time of pandemic. And please light a candle for the guidance of our patron saint and total human development and liberation for our workers.

Happy fiesta to all San Jose-born people here and all over the world and let us pray for his intercession...

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Photo and references:

https://www.akseas.net/feast-of-st-joseph-the-worker-may-1st/

http://blog.adw.org/2017/03/workers-trades-jesus-time/

https://www.hprweb.com/2017/05/on-the-significance-of-the-feast-of-saint-joseph-the-worker/

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/26/2-million-workers-displaced-quarantine-COVID-19-pandemic.html

The San Jose Summer Basketball League, c. 70s and 80s.

(Foreword: Again, if you can relate to this, please comment anything you remember about this topic or comment, pass or tag this to your friends that can well relate in this story. Photo commenting, photos from the past on this subject is welcome. As I have said, make them miss home while in quarantine in reminiscence especially this time when our town fiesta is near. You may share this but please do not copy paste.- NAN)

The heydays of local basketball in this lowly town was in the mid part of 70s to early part of the 80s. We all watch “flesh-and-bone” or live games in San Jose Summer Basketball League or SJSBL at the old roofless San Jose Municipal Gymnasium. Our fiesta then is not complete without summer basketball. If we turn back the hand of time exactly at this very moment, it is basketball time in San Jose!

This basketball tradition started in 1964 when Tirso Abeleda was the town mayor. Before the construction of the old gym, the tournaments were held at the present site of San Jose Town Plaza. Well, this narrative only covers circa 70s and 80s as I have emphasized in its title.

Before we enter the gymnasium, eateries, snack parlors are all over. They serve beer, too. This was San Jose by night. Three of the most prominent diners and bars then are owned by Deling Cruz, Helen Briones and Remy Zubiri.

At the gates of the gymnasium, the keepers were two old women. They are Flaviana Rayton and Pacencia Zubiri and we call them Lola Bianang and Lola Pacing, respectively.

The sportscasters, gymnasium barkers (we call them “announcers” before.) consist of the veteran (war veteran and public speaking veteran) Apolinar “Popoy” Valverde, famous for his favorite expression, “Tingnan natin”. Nathan Cruz, in case you already forgot was a gymnasium barker/sportscaster first before he became radio announcer and politician. Sam Pimentel and Benjie Villaceran also joined the fray later.

The use of English language in sportscasting, ala-Joe Cantada and Penggoy Pengson, was pioneered by Lito Malubag (when he is not serving as umpire or referee), a P.E. teacher at Divine Word College of San Jose (DWCSJ), his students, Rey Morales, Robert Asignacion, Rommel San Diego, and Lot Bagatsolon, came later. This batch brought to us the blow-by-blow account of the games using the foreign tongue.

Loyzaga Lumber Mill is a team owned by Norma Loyzaga, wife of Agustin Loyzaga, brother of basketball great Caloy Loyzaga. The Loyzaga Lumberjacks top local cagers are Emy Mariano, Arthur De Jesus, Boyet Loyzaga, Arthur Cariño, Francing Callanga, Nante Dela Cruz, Uly Javier, Boy Masangkay, Tony Quirante and Inso Malibiran. The Loyzaga Lumber Mill is the winningest team in town in the senior’s division. Loyzaga also has a junior team where future PBA player Joey Loyzaga also did play.

But later, the National Grains Authority (NGA) became the Lumberjacks’ closest rival. The Grainers, later renamed NFA, paraded great players from all over the province. Nanding Cordova, Elvis Leyto, Boy Liboro, Toto Agustin, Boy Balleza and Rudy Alindato, Ding Balleza, among others, coached by Boy Jimenez, who himself played for the Borromeo Bulldogs and Eastern Venture before he finally ended as a coach.

There are brothers who played for the same team. The Celestre’s from Bagong Sikat. The Mosquera brothers, Emer, Romy, and Harmony, along with Edgar Tabasa, played in 7-D, a team owned by Juanito Dimaano.

The MBM Mendenilla Fish Dealer is managed by Aling Orang Mendenilla who sought the help of certain players surnamed Torres and Mogul backed-up by Lito “Manok” Mendenilla and other locals. 

The Capitol Tamaraws, a led by Nelson Asaytono, whose name still unfamiliar in the basketball world, was also in contention that time.

The most unforgotten “imports” are Fred Demetrio of the Loyzaga Lumberjacks who played for ER Squibb in the PBA before that teamed up with original Crispa Redmanizer Billy Abarrientos. Agpacon’s (or the Aguilos Pablo Construction) Chito Plaza former forward of the Cosmos Bottlers in MICAA played in the Junior A Division. The MBM Mendenilla fielded in Ben Obrique of the CDCP-Galleon Shippers also in the PBA. The future Ginebra star Pido Jarencio played for the PC-INP that time. The legendary Lawrence Mumar was in the line-up of Nicolas Dimaano Warehouse Basketball Team. Ace guard Jerome Cueto was hired by the Department of Agriculture. Cueto also played Masagana-99 in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) but never been played in the professional league. Also Benjie Paras for a time played here for the local Shell team courtesy of his friend Dennis Sy. 

The Street Brothers was a household name. Coached by Doms Bagatsolon, it was composed of June Palmares, Allan Fordan, Ardee Dula, Jojie Sarmiento, Gary Calitang, Egay Salvacion, Noel Sano, Jess Echevarri, Elmo Legayada, to name just few. (My friend, Edward Bagatsolon, is currently writing a separate and comprehensive story about the Street Brothers.)

The Divine Word College of San Jose been the hub of finest local basketeers of the era. It produces the likes of Pio Mabalot, Boy Zausa, Romy Ruiz, Bing and Romy Mataba, and the Baltazar brothers, Aldrich, Piper and Fort and that was in the early 70s.

The rivalry between Adgripina Dula Store (ADS) and Panaderia De Oro in the Junior B Division was also memorable. It was a clash of DWC high school students in the loop house that time. The ADS was commanded by Olly Ralleta, Noli Lim and several others. The Tan brothers, Allen, Tony and Bobby teamed up with Bubog boys,- Nonie Novio, Santos Abad and Dong Asenjo, all Diviners.

The “imports” who wed a local lady: Leny Ducut of Magtoto Fish Dealer, Boying Lizardo of the Department of Agriculture, Saling Melocoton also of the DA, Jojo Mangahas of Sam-Pris Studio and Enteng Mansilungan.

As for now, these are the only things that can be accommodated by this space.

Undeniably, summer basketball league was a tradition in Pandurucan before. Lest we forget, Caloy Loyzage, the greatest Filipino basketball player ever lived was born here in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

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(Photo: of Caloy and Chito Loyzaga from Pinterest)

The Buck-Toothed, Janitor-like Talking Chel Diokno

Amid coronavirus outbreak, President Rodrigo R. Duterte lashed out at Chel Diokno in a late-night address yesterday saying, “Diokno is talking like a janitor. You know why you didn’t win in the last elections? Because you have big teeth. The way you talk, half of your jaw is showing.” The president just used a faulty logic to make a point and this is nothing but a blatant personal attack. This fallacy occurs when someone refutes another's ideas or action by attacking the person, in this case his physical attributes, rather than his thinking or deeds. I do not remember Diokno resorting to such remarks on the president ever.

Many of us are wondering why the president did say that Diokno is “talking like a janitor?” How does a janitor talks, by the way? This is just a guess: Duterte assumed that in general, janitors are trash talkers (with all pun intended)!

For some office people or those in the so-called white collar jobs, the term “janitor” is derogatory because it indicates a low-skilled, low-paying position in the workplace. Do not get offended, you DDS janitors, “janitor” is not a dirty word, but the president has a divan-full of it.

He called Diokno “buck-toothed”. It cannot be denied that Atty. Chel’s front teeth are so prominent that the protruding teeth are the first thing you notice about him. Buck teeth can be a problem with tooth angulation, tooth position, or jaw relationship according to dentistry materials that I’ve read. Among other things, being buck-tooted may cause speech impediments because the relationship between the upper front teeth and the lips are impacted by buck teeth, it affects the speech. 

There may be a minimal problem with Diokno’s way of speaking but he always talk sense in public just like his father. He may have lost in the recent senatorial elections but still, he is one of the most prominent and distinguished human rights lawyer in the Philippines.

Atty. Chel just tweeted this a while ago: “Mr. President, may mga kliyente akong tinutulungan na tinitiis na ang sakit at gutom, ngunit wala akong sinabihang manggulo o lumabag ng batas. Okay lang na pag-initan n’yo ako, pero tutukan n’yo rin ang pangangailangan ng mga tao.”

It is imperative that the government take measures that do not lead to violation of our basic rights and proportionate to the goals and objectives of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, officially designated as Republic Act No. 11469 along with other laws of the land, specifically Article III of the 1987 Constitution, no matter how old it is.

Even in this chaotic situation, human rights are central for enabling the public’s confidence and participation in the governance of the current circumstances. How can we expect cooperation from someone whose rights been neglected or trampled upon? 

COVID-19 poses a serious menace. But with unity, justice, corruption-free approaches in battling this virus, decency, determination to protect human rights, Philippines will overcome it.

I salute those who defend the right of others even in the time of pandemic disease specially those medical frontliners who fulfill their patients’ right to health…

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(Photo taken at Freedom of Expression Conference 2 in November 2018 where Dean Chel Diokno was guest speaker. The event was organized by the Human Rights Online Philippines)

Memories of a Businessman in the Time of Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting our local entrepreneurs in different ways. While some fear the catastrophic economic impact that may result from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, many local entrepreneurs in Occidental Mindoro are doing all they can to stay afloat in the midst of the crisis in their respective municipalities.

Ms. Minda V. Vicedo, Economist-III and Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer (LEIPO) of LGU-Sablayan is calling the attention of the local business people to pay their employees, if possible, even if they are not required to work. That is one of the many sacrifices that they could do to help the “no work, no pay” workers in the locality. Ms. Vicedo, who studied Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics at University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman said that down in the checkpoints in this time of community quarantine, there must be a continued flow of services. “Hindi talaga tatakbo ekonomiya kung walang production. Sama-sama iyan. Dahil sa supply and demand forces, due to limited flow of goods and services, hindi maiiwasan na may ilang negosyante na magsasamantala to have a windfall in profit," she said. The municipal government’s economist added that the local business groups could offer their transportation and facilities for the health frontliners free of charge or with big discount which is being done in the locality. This can be in the form of lending their vehicles and hotel and accommodation rooms for those in the front line. Their corporate social responsibility is very much imperative in this pandemic health crisis, according to this Barangay Maliig, Lubang-born widow and a mother of four already grown-up children. She, like the rest of us, is in quarantine. "Dito na papasok ang paggising natin sa kamalayan ng ating mga negosyante na magkaroon ng corporate social responsibility," she said further.

Talking about local entrepreneurship, Ms. Vicedo suddenly remember a certain businessman in old Sablayan who had a big fortune by way of hard work and good business sense. The man also came from her island of birth. She remembers the man who owns a store when she was teenager. “Simple lang ang buhay nila. He succeeded in business because he lived a frugal and simple life.” She is talking about Mr. Fraterno Torreliza Mendoza, Sr.

Mr. Mendoza breathed his last at the age of 86 on December 17, 2014 leaving behind his legacy of being a role model in local entrepreneurship in Municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. He is the epitome of a businessman who has a heart in working with the town officials during his days.

Born in September 29, 1928 in a poor family in Agcawayan, Looc in Lubang Island, he was raised by his parents Generoso Mendoza of Lipa, Batangas and Dionista Torreliza, a native of Agcawayan.

It was in 1959 when he first set foot on the shores of Sablayan, specifically in the Barrio of Paetan where he work as farmer, fisherman and a transporter of goods using his small banca. Mr. Fraterno Mendoza, Sr. have exemplary showed the effective ways of increasing the flow of resources into the local economy from the other parts of the country and vice-versa. He sold clothes from one house to another in the neighbourhood.

Aiming and attracted to new local enterprise and business ventures, he moved to the town proper together with his wife Evelyn Vicente Torreliza and three children. The Mendoza’s established a small store and it is where things started to get better in his all business ventures. Well admired by the progressing town’s early inhabitants and settlers, he was able to gain prominence as the leading pioneer of local business in the then progressing municipality. He lived a simple life and drawing lessons from his experiences before as a lowly sales boy, messenger and vendor, rolled into one, he was able to master the trade. Though only a college undergraduate, he was able to surpass hardships and hurdles of all his businesses. Reserved, thrifty and living a simple life, he was able to get properties and his businesses grew. Mr. Mendoza, needless to say, was an expert in financial management.

As a private man, he was able to win the hearts of his coterie of friends and business partners. The Municipality of Sablayan, whoever becomes the mayor, greatly considered Mr. Mendoza, in a way, as an innovative advocate and model of local entrepreneurship towards its development mission and goals. "The Local Government support small local businesses because they embody freedom and independence. They are the roots of a free, progressive and stable society," adds Ms. Vicedo.

Mr. Mendoza, other than being an entrepreneur, has installed in the minds of his children the spirit of social responsibility and philanthropy. Following the footsteps of their father, Fraterno Jr., Maria Cristy (now Dimayacyac) and Nerea (now Tuazon), donated parcels of their properties to many projects of the Local Government Unit. With all these legacies, the patriarch placed himself significantly in the cultural and historical context of Municipality of Sablayan and perceived as someone who have contributed to the positive development of local pride through the good example exhibited by his name.

Fraterno Mendoza Sr. rightfully deserved to be thanked so the uphill avenue in Sitio Tuburan, Brgy. Poblacion separating the Sablayan Grand Terminal and the Occidental Mindoro State College-Sablayan Campus was named after him.  

For many small business owners, the unprecedented situation with no clear end in sight has bred uncertainty and concern for their future. But taking cue from the courage and wisdom of Dongon's (Sablayan's name of yore) early settlers and their faith in the Almighty, Ms. Vicedo believes that it’s business as usual after this. "Hopefully soon," are her concluding words....

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Photo: KZ Vicedo, Project Development Officer, Department of Information and Communication Technology, PGO-Occidental Mindoro

Source: As narrated through a letter from Jun Mendoza II to the author in 2018

Engr. Leto Nicanor, COVID-19, Chess and Parenting

This bespectacled senior usually rides on his old-fashioned mountain bike donning a black short-brimmed cap and his colored polo meticulously tucked into his checkered walking shorts complete with black leather belt. There are also days when you see him playing chess under the talisay tree near the San Jose Water District Office adjacent to the town plaza.

But that was before COVID-19 contaminated the whole of humanity.

The coronavirus epidemic is not going to have its swansong any time soon. Just like everybody else, this grandpa stayed home either watching television, keeping himself busy with his smartphone, reading pocket books or solving crossword puzzles. He lives with his daughter Marites, granddaughter Thea, 8, and Mikmik, his adopted daughter, in a prominent subdivision in town.

“Mikmik” is Mae Ancheta Corpuz who is not in any way related to their blood line but he financed her schooling since her 2^nd year in high school and eventually took up her Caregiver Course at CINI, San Jose. The ole good fellow says, “I take pride in having extended her the assistance she needed with the end view of helping her family and siblings without expecting anything in return.” He stressed further that, “Mikmik’s being compassionate earned my respect and will hopefully continue to be of help to her to attain her aspirations in life.”

Our guy loves mental exercises since he was a boy. He believes that if you exercise your brain, you enhance connective tissue between the neurons in your brain to help them function better and faster.

“I started playing chess since my college days. I was the Third Board of MIT chess team joining inter-collegiate tournaments then,” says the old man in reminiscence. Nostalgically he told me too that in their varsity team, the top gun was Rolando Magno, a long- time friend who eventually went to the US upon graduation from Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) as a reward for topping the chess tournament sponsored by the Manila Times that time.

His childhood buddy, Medardo Tan Cardoso is the younger brother of Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. The elder Cardoso is the first Filipino and Asian to earn an International Master title in chess. Rodolfo is to be remembered as the only Filipino to have beaten American wizard Bobby Fischer, Leto’s all-time favorite, via 1957 chess face-off sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. Fischer was 14 then and Cardoso, 19. Cardoso won one game and drew two games against Fischer. Chess for our man of the hour is the ultimate mental exercise.

Retired engineer Leto E. Nicanor, now 81 years old, came to San Jose in February 25, 1965 barely a year after he finished his course at MIT and landed on the top three in the board examination for electrical engineers that year (1964). He worked for 14 years at the Salt Industry of the Philippines and moved as power plant superintendent for the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO), as facilities engineer at Filipinas Aquaculture Corporation and later joined the then newly-established Island Power Corporation (IPC) as plant manager. In 1996, he was hired by the AA Aqua Agri Corporation in Ormoc City as consultant.

Engineer Nicanor was born in Manila on December 13, 1939 and had his schooling thereat since his 4th grade in Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo and he has the pedigree of military officers. His father Pedro was an army major during World War-II while his uncle Antonino Nicanor was ranked lieutenant colonel also in the army.

Leto’s mother, the former Trinidad Evangelista- Español is niece of Lt. Col. Jose N. Evangelista, erstwhile superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and proprietor of the now-defunct Zig-Zag Hotel also in Baguio City.

Leto’s son, Col. Eric E. Nicanor, is with Philippine Marine Corps and member of PMA Class ‘91 now hopefully waiting to earn his star rank before his retirement at age 56. Engineer Nicanor’s youngest, Ms. Marites Nicanor-Francisco, is a teacher like her mother assigned in San Jose Pilot Elementary School (SJPES), the same school where her mother was formerly posted.

Leto wed a public school teacher named Milagros Espinas, daughter of Bindoy and Maric Espinas, on November 5, 1965. Milagros was then a classroom teacher at San Jose Pilot School. Mila (or Lagring) was born June 6, 1941. My Tito Caloy (Novio) and my Uncle Tito (Ernesto Zausa) were among his groomsmen when he exchanged vows with his young and beautiful bride, Lagring. She, who already a retired teacher then, succumbed to heart attack in July 25, 2010. “Nang pumanaw ang aking asawa ay nag-lie low ako sa paglalaro (ng chess) dahil sa pag-aalaga ko sa aking apo,” he told this blogger.

Thea, unlike many young girls of her age, must be so grateful and thankful having her brainy lolo near her in this anxious epoch of a fracas in a pandemonium…

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References:

Stories of 100 Families; Rodolfo M. Acebes; pp. 448-452; 2010

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=82158

Photo: From the Facebook account of Leto Nicanor showing him, Mikmik and Thea.