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.

Kung Fu Films Bond Us Amid COVID-19 Lock-Up

It was reported in the Independent on March 17, 2020 that a White House official referred to COVID-19 pandemonium as “kung flu”. As a movie fan, I strongly believe that Kung Fu flicks occupy its well-deserved canto in the global entertainment scene. Such xenophobic slur is an admission that Chinese kung fu indeed has great cultural influence in the American society.

The present enhanced quarantine period imposed by the Philippine government made us glued to classic martial art motion pictures courtesy of Celestial Movies Pinoy, a 24/7 Tagalized movie channel which offers, among other presentations, classic and blockbuster kung fu movies.

Watching kung fu shows with my 15 year-old daughter Sophia in this lock-up seems an endless happy bonding moment between us, father and daughter.

While every father-daughter bond is inimitable, there are things that solidifies us especially in turbulent and anxious times like this in the middle of coronavirus. In me and my youngest child’s case, it is also something that originates from China (actually Hong Kong): Kung Fu movies. Allow me to share you one of our favorite films from this genre.

The King Boxer was released in 1972 and directed by Chang-Hwa Jeong. The movie has a historical significance since this is the first kung fu movie to receive wide distribution or showing in America. According to some movie historians, this movie perfected the formula of the Shaw Brothers that captured like virus the imagination of the moviegoers. The movie is a revenge drama, it’s a story about two competing martial arts schools, it’s a tournament film, and it’s also a patriotic film about heroic Chinese kung fu fighters resisting dishonorable and murderous Japanese karate experts. This Lo Lieh-starred film’s other title is Five Fingers of Death. It inspired the creator of Marvel’s comic book series Iron Fist and later became a Netflix series.

This and a couple of dozens more kung fu movies bonded us together during this lock-up but we are still looking forward for a movie she already seen without me by her side.

It is titled Come Drink with Me which is according to what I’ve read is not actually, in strict sense of the word, a kung fu movie but an epic wuxia (sword play) masterpiece directed by King Hu released 6 years before the King Boxer. Come Drink with Me is greatly considered by many as one of the greatest Hong Kong films ever made. Set during the Ming Dynasty, the movie stars Cheng Pei-pei and Yueh Hua as warriors. Celestial Movies Pinoy will surely play the movie again, hopefully towards the end of this period of quarantine or in one weekend in the future. She loved it because the lead actor there is a woman.

When all of these subside, when this pandemic is over, after a year or so, may this daughter and father tandem be able to visit Avenue of Stars along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Hong Kong. The world's showcase of kung fu artifacts and memorabilias.

Our fathers are our ultimate heroes. The ones who always guide us. Kung fu movies were part of my childhood and by introducing them to her, I gave her a portion of my existence as a human being. There is something special in a father-daughter relationship, whether we believe it or not.

For they will seek a part of us in every special man they will meet along the way in the future…  

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Photo: Kung Fu Kingdom. com

References: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3052830/hong-kong-martial-arts-cinema-why-king-boxer-1972-aka-five

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-us-white-house-racism-reporter-latest-a9407141.html

Chess and Coping-Up with Corona

The local government units should stop sending health professionals to the checkpoints, the pharmacists, doctors, nurses and midwives.  The checkpoints should be manned by security people and the BHWs, the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team or BHERT or the so-called non-medical manpower. Those personnel in the checkpoints could easily facilitate or direct the people who have medical conditions or suspected to be having certain health issues. The health professionals will be outright exposed at the checkpoints and that is bad.

Like in the game of chess, the medical manpower are your key and powerful pieces. They have the power and moves that could well protect their co-equals (read: fellow health professionals in hospitals) and the King (read: patient; health measures) in the middle game or end game. When things come to worst, the immediate attendants of patients become patients themselves. That is a zugzwang, as what the chess players would call such situation.

True change in health care systems through the implementation of rights-based approaches to health must start with a reflection upon this present predicament the world is facing and must harness the existence and visibility of the health profession.

As every chess player knows, we cannot afford the virus to checkmate us or allow its pawns or thorns reached the last file and get promoted.

Sending the health professionals away from health facilities may exhaust them, and be tired enough to face and keep on the latter part of the war. Sending them to checkpoints discriminate them in a way.

At least as far as I am concerned as a fan of chess.

While in quarantine, my little chess player, Sophia, is polishing her games through the net. As what my good friend and her mentor Mr. Emmanuel Asi puts it, we must now adopt the chess master’s patience. Mr. Asi hopes that that those in the frontlines value patience in every stations they are deployed.

The great chess master Bent Larsen said: “Lack of patience is probably the most common reason for losing a game, or drawing games that should have been won.” This is the call of the time for our present-day heroes in the battlefields.

"COVID-19 cannot defeat chess,” said NCFP executive director Cliburn Orbe. “Our chess will continue despite the COVID crisis. We will show the world that chess is above all other sports because it can also be an e-sport played online," according to Philippine Star article last March 20, 2020.

Chess tactics, indeed, could also help us combat this pandemic.

But the chess players should also heed to precautionary measures from health experts: "Do not touch your face!" This habit of chess players is a no-no in this turbulent time of the pandemic.

"Of course we touch our faces. That much is clear,” Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the No. 6-ranked classical chess player, said in French in an article published at the Wall Street Journal in April 22, 2020. “We have habits while playing that are impossible to break. Thinking with a hand on your chin or on your forehead is a reflex.”  Keep safe my chess playing friends!

COVID-19 for sure taught humanity, those into chess or otherwise, that we have bad habits to break for our own survival...

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(Photo: CTTO)

The COVID-19 Nightmare and the Mangyans

I once worked for and with the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro and even from the confines of my comfortable home today, I can’t help thinking about them with regards to the recent global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Berto, the Tao-Buid tribesman and the unidentified Fufuama (tribal elder) sitting next to him as shown in the picture above. 

While the mainstream local governments are busy with all their efforts to “flatten the curve” of the drastic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the already marginalized, geographically isolated and disadvantaged population of IPs are again apparently being neglected and abandoned, here and maybe elsewhere.

With the full implementation and the legal fruits of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act or the RA 8371 is still to be fully enjoyed, the indigenous political structure they have been aspiring for still cannot gain equal opportunities as they have in the dominant civil authority or government. This ecologically-fragile island is home to more or less two thousand individual IPs and I believe that it is imperative that any government response to the pandemic should address the needs of all Filipinos, including our IPs, the Mangyans.

The most needed act of immediate and impactful relief to indigenous peoples/indigenous cultural communities (IP/ICCs) is by way of emergency relief in the form of food supply, specifically rice. Next is sustained health interventions in line with defeating this dreaded COVID-19.

This tragedy and health debacle that the world face today further isolated our brethren IPs from total human progress the rest of the modern world could offer. Because of the enhanced quarantine strictly implemented from the smallest sitio in rural areas of the country, to exclusive villages of the elites in the urban centers, the Mangyans cannot go to town and sell their produce, handicrafts, animals and crops to earn a living. They also cannot work as daily wage earner in the nearby barrio. The situation of hunger is more distressing than the virus itself.

May I earnestly appeal to civic organization and welfare institutions to please find ways to help the Mangyans by way of establishing a wide network of mission partners towards this end. This must start from religious organizations who have Mangyan ministries, the LGUs’ Mangyan affairs offices, the M or PSWDOs, the tribal Filipino organizations in coordination with the NCIP and your respective IPMRs. I just do not know.

But at the height of this emotional and invisible devastation, the Mangyans just stayed foot, waiting what will happen next. This virus caught them flatfooted and their totally livable customary practices are being affected.

The Mangyans are now at risk and isolated more than ever. They are extremely susceptible to disease not only because of lack of health interventions from the government solely aimed at them and their situation. The Mangyans, especially those in the wild are unaware of what is happening in the world because they have no means to see or understand to look beyond the global window. God forbids, if the Mangyans get infected, their whole tribe could easily be infected and decimated by COVID-19.

Nothing is heard of from National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples or NCIP on this note. Seldom in the news we can read about COVID-19 and the IPs and how it affects them. Such absence of anything from the commission would not flatten the curve of the pandemic, ever.

A human rights-based approach in regulating this pandemic is imperative aside from welfare-oriented ones. This cannot be against the rule of law and human rights protection. This is not Martial Law, the previlege of Writ of Habeas Corpus is still in effect. A certain top official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should know this.

I cannot imagine how these IP/ICCs will go against COVID-19. Our public health system is truly frightening, especially when the weakest among our brethren have nothing to buy essential commodities in this time of COVID-19.

With or without the risk of COVID-19, the IP/ICCs are experiencing lack of water access, poor health conditions, and malnourished children making them particularly susceptible to a COVID-19 outbreak. The immediate thing we could do is to give them food and nourishment to capacitate their immune system. If cases would start in the IP areas, with such vulnerability, a real catastrophe will fall upon them. It will create havoc in their communities. With that, the Mangyans will be erased from the face of the island.

I am saying this taking the risks of being branded as alarmist and/or conspiracy theorist.

Pray with me that this may not happen…

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(Photo: Occidental Mindoro Getaways)

Mga Lahing Mandirigma

Dating sikat na boksingero pala yung patpating lalaking pagala-gala noon sa lumang palengke ng San Jose. Hayskul pa lang ako noon, mga dulong taon ng Dekada 70. Sa biglang-tingin, mapagkakamalan mo siyang bangag kung iyong makakasalubong. Paika-ika siyang lumakad at kakaiba ang mabilis na kilos ang kanyang ulo at mga kamay.

Nasa pinakamataong lugar siya noon sa bayan pero wala man lang pumapansin sa kanya. Nang maging apisyunado lang ako sa boksing saka ko nalaman na maraming mga mandirigma sa ring, noon at hanggang ngayon ang bitbit ang kanyang apelyido. Dugo niya ang nananalaytay kina Renato (Ric Jr.), Melvin, Ronnie, Arvin at Giemel na pawang mga professional former at still active boxers ngayon. Wala na rin halos matagpuan na istorya sa internet na tungkol sa mamang aking tinutukoy.

Nang malaman ko na lamang na maraming boksingero ang nagka- Parkinson’s disease ay saka ko pa lamang naipalagay na iyon ang kanyang kondisyong medikal. Noong nakikita ko pala siya sa palengke, siya ay nagtatrabaho sa slaughter house noon sa tabi ng Public Market ng San Jose. Kinuha siya noon ni Mayor Juan G. Santos na magtrabaho doon sa kabila ng kanyang Parkinson’s bilang municipal casual employee.

Bakas mo sa kanyang mukha, sa kilay, sa pisngi, sa mga mata ang mga ala-ala ng hutok ng suntok. Saliwa na siya kung tumingin at utal na kung magsalita. Wala na ang kanyang dating gilas, wala na ang dating giting, wala na ang kanyang kabataan. Hindi na siya ang dating matapang na Pilipinong nakipagbasagan ng mukha sa maraming lugar sa mundo at sa iba’t-bang lahing ipinapalagay na mas pinagpala kaysa sa mga Pilipino.

Siya si Endirikito “Ric” Magramo, ipinanganak sa Romblon, lumaki sa Roxas, Oriental Mindoro at napadpad nga dito sa San Jose, Occidental Mindoro at dito na rin binawian ng buhay noon. Si Ric Magramo ay dating Philippine flyweight champion na nag-umpisang magboksing noong late 50s. Dati, kapag national champion ka, pwede ka ng lumaban sa mga reigning world champion. Panahon noon na wala pang gaanong pera sa pagbuboksing, wala pa ring pay-per-view. 

Hindi man ninyo naitatanong, si Ric Magramo ay tiyuhin ni Sablayan Mayor Walter “Bong” Marquez. Ang tatay ni Ric at ang nanay ng tatay ni Mayor Bong na si Serafin ay magkapatid. Noong sa San Jose nakatira ang yumaong boksingero, malimit itong dumalaw sa bahay ng kanyang Tiyo Estoy (Magramo) sa Receiving, Sta. Lucia, Sablayan. “Dito siya nagpapahinga at nagpapagaling sa kanyang mga sakit-sakit noon,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Mayor Bong. Si Mayor Bong noong bata pa ay minsan ding nahilig sa pagbu-boksing.

Dalawang ulit na naging national champion si Ric Magramo, una ay nang talunin niya si Baby Lorona at ang huli ay nang manalo siya kay Erbito Salavarria. Dalawang ulit niyang tinalo sa kanilang tatlong laban si Bernabe Villacampo at straight two losses naman ang inabot ng kilabot na si Al Diaz sa kanya.  Sina Salavarria at Villacampo nang lumaon ay kapwa naging mga world champion.

Ang panahon ni Ric Magramo ay panahon kung kailan ang local boxing ay namamayagpag pa. Sa katunayan, ang labanang Magramo Vs. Lorona para sa Philippine flyweight title noong 1963 sa Araneta Coliseum bilang tinatawag na companion main event sa laban ng mga world rated featherweights noon na sina Johnny Jamito laban kay Hiroshi Kobayashi na naging pandaigdigang kampiyon din.

Bigo si Ric Magramo na makuha ang Oriental title, dalawang talo at isang tabla ang inabot niya sa noon ay long reigning Japanese champion Tsuyoshi Nakamura at ang lahat ng laban na iyon ay ginanap sa Japan. Noon na tuluyang nagsara ang lahat ng pinto sa matandang Magramo. Kung tutuusin, kung hindi dahil kay Magramo, hindi aangat at magiging world champion sa kalaunan sina Salavarria at Villacampa.

Bitbit ang bandilang Pinoy, lumaban si Magramo sa mga bansang Thailand, Japan at UK at nakatagisan ang mga world champions gaya nina Hiroyuki Ebihara, Walter McGowan and Bengkrerk Chartvanchai.

“Apat na ulit nagkapanagupa si Ric Magramo at si Erbito Salavarria, na dati kong trainer,” sabi sa akin minsan ni Diomedes “Joe” Francisco. Natatandaan pa ni Francisco na noong aktibo pa siya sa boksing, kapag may papalapit na laban, pupuntahan siya ni Magramo para aluking mag-sparring. Anak ni Joe Francisco si Drian "Gintong Kamao" Francisco na dating WBA Interim Superflyweight champion na ngayon ay instructor sa Evolve MMA at naka-base sa Singapore.

May isa pang anak na boxer si Joe, si Loyd. First professional fight nito ay noong Setyembre 29, 2007, na tinalo niya si Jose Ocampo sa Ynares Plaza sa Binangonan, Rizal. Bago mag-retire sa boxing at naging pulis, tinalo ni Lloyd si Roger Galicia sa Lipa City via TKO. Si Lloyd ay may rekord na 12 professional fights, 10 wins (6 KO) at 2 losses.

Nagretiro sa boksing si Magramo noong Mayo 1970 na may record na 35 panalo, 15 (KO), 17 talo (2 by KO) at 2  draws.

Aspiring boxer pa lang si Joe ay retired na si Ric. Noong 1977 si Joe Francisco na isinilang sa Brgy. Batasan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro ang tinawag noong, “Philippine’s new boxing sensation” ng ilang sports analysts. Nag-retire sa boxing si Joe noong 1981 na may 26 fights; 23 wins; 1 draw; 2 losses.

Kagaya ni Magramo, hindi rin nakatikim ng world o orient pacific championship title si Francisco pero siya ay naging #1 Philippine Junior Featherweight contender at #3 in the OPBF or the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation noon. 

Sa kabila ng kanyang gawain sa slaughter house, naging abala si Ric Magramo sa pagtuturo ng boksing sa mga kabataan kabilang nga si Joe Francisco. Siya ang pangunahing boxing trainer noon sa Loring Gamboa Boxing Stable and Promotion sa Brgy. San Roque sa San Jose na nang lumaon ay nagsara na rin, kasabay ng huling pagtunog ng kampana sa kuwento ni Ric Magramo, ang isa sa mga magigiting ngunit limot na madirigma sa ibabaw ng kwadradong lona.

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Reference:

http://m.philboxing.com/news/story-149345.html?fbclid=IwAR1tzm88yfHK9I0xzIdxhbHJbT0YZ1VHDWSGT6pcNcJR64weHgA7iLlRLnw

Photo: Diomedes “Joe” Francisco (L) and Erbito Salavarria (R) during their younger years (CTTO)

Eulogy for Pidyong

Pidyong is the neighborhood’s most sought-after errand boy then and before his death. Everybody from all walks of life in old San Jose distinguishes the man. Well, every famous individual deserves a eulogy.

A regular feature in every nook of Barangay 6, he was a mysterious man.  So visible and yet only few knows his personal details. We do not know who and where are his biological parents  or, did he just popped out of a wine bottle like a genie and live among us?

Pidyong cleans the mess in the neighborhood for a dime or two or a plate of food or a packet of snacks. He is everybody’s general factotum. He wakes up early in the morning to ask for a cup of strong coffee before he face another grind of the day. He cleans for a living but he seldom clean himself. He sleeps everywhere each time he is dead drunk, with his murky clothes, dirt-filled slippers and alcohol and tobacco smelling breath. He, to those who travelled with him in this life, even those who died ahead of him and those who are still living, are endeared by him. He may have forgotten his parents but not her elementary grade classmates. All of them. I tell you, Pidyong is not your typical village bum. His smile and grin  are equally mysterious but real. He always talk nonsense from his mind but his laughter is sincere. Unlike many of us.

Pidyong is not only the favorite task boy of San Jose. He is the San Jose of yore. He witnessed how this humble little town of our birth became what it is today. Perhaps he also wept with the victims of the Roda Gasoline Station's burning in May 24, 1985. Who knows, maybe in his teens, he also lamented with the families of prominent residents, 26 of them, who died on that fatal Philippine Airlines’ DC3 Flight No. 785 crash happened in June 29, 1966. In our every success as a community, Pidyong celebrates with us, possibly, over swigs of gin and clouds of cigarette smoke. He is with us, as a community, in our ups and downs, as a bodyguard, helper, chaperone, rolled into one.

His elementary classmate Asuncion “Ciony” Pabellano (nee Rodil) remember him as lonely pupil going to San Jose Pilot Elementary School donning an immaculate white and neatly-ironed polo. His mother is good at washing and keeping clothes clean, says Ate Ciony. He is often bullied by some of their classmates because of his not so normal mental state.

He was one of the few men who calls the congresswoman by his first name though he always misprounounces it. The lady solon, Pidyong’s classmate in elementary grade, reportedly shouldered financial burdens when her childhood friend was hospitalized and even beyond that. He was a chain smoker and a heavy drinker so what one would expect?

Elpidio “Pidyong” Tenoco passed away 19^th of December, 2019 and his remains lies at St. Peter Chapel in Barangay 6, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and scheduled to be interred on Monday, December 23, 2019.

We do not know exactly his age, or any concrete facts about him at all. None of us could say about his family origins but it does not matter, our collective origins were partly his. He likes to tell stories about his classmates. Telling stories about its people is one of the best ways to show that we are proud of our hometown. Actually, no one greatly miss his or her hometown more than its people especially when somebody is gone.

Only one thing is important: he lived among us till his final breath. He once touched our lives. We have lasting memories about him.

Be free from handyman’s job and be at peace with your True Master in your final, eternal home, Pidyong.

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(Photo from Ciony Pabellano’s Facebook Account)

Hosting of 2020 Palaro in OCM in peril?

With profound anticipation of her province’s hosting of the 2020 Palarong Pambansa, Occidental Mindoro lone district Rep. Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato said last May 4, 2019 in Davao City, “Let us work hand in hand to ensure our successful hosting of the 2020 Palarong Pambansa.  Sama-sama po natin ipamalas ang mainit na pagtanggap sa ating mga manlalaro at ipakita po natin ang nakabibighaning kagandahan ng ating lalawigan.” The holding of the national game here is indeed historic since never in young history of our province we did host an event of this magnitude.

Since then, all of us waited for this event, government offices from the Department of Education (DepEd) to LGUs, including our homegrown entrepreneurs and business people, those in the tourism sector, practically all of us are excited to be at the limelight of this huge national event. Of course not to be counted out are our athletes, their coaches and trainers and the rest of our sporting contingents and the sports enthusiasts like this lowly scribe.

All is set and ready until Tropical Storm Tisoy (Kammuri) spoiled everything for it leaves a track of damage in the province. Occidental Mindoro or the whole MIMAROPA region for that matter is an agricultural area. As per estimate of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), 1,528 farmers and a total of 2,639.90 hectares of farm land have been affected, with a total estimated value of PhP 156,524,438.50. Not comprised here is the damage brought to government facilities, roads and bridges, properties, private buildings and edifices, among others. With this situation of wreckage and anxiety, it is but proper to suspend such event.

This quandary held our Palarong Pambansa at the so-called trellis of uncertainty or in the vernacular, “balag ng alanganin.” Just this week, Rep. Sato, Gov. Eduardo B. Gadiano and Vice-Governor Peter J. Alfaro went to Education Sec. Leonor M. Briones and had a meeting on the matter. As of post time, no official announcement yet coming from the DepEd and the PGO on the province’s hosting of the event that has legal basis in Sec. 19 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution Article XIV. Further, Republic Act No. 10588 or the Act Institutionalizing the Conduct of the Palarong Pambansa was approved towards this end. 

In retrospect, this annual multi-sport event involving student-athletes from 17 regions of the Philippines started in 1948. The Palaro, as we all know, is organized and governed by the DepEd. The education department has the first and last say in this respect, specifically its National Palaro Board.

The first national competition was held in Manila in 1948 and formerly called Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games or BPISAA. But in 1957, it was cancelled due to the tragic death of President Ramon Magsaysay who died in a plane crash in the 17^th of March that year. The game was again cancelled in 1972 when President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared the oppressive Martial Law. Between 1984 and 1987 the event again was cancelled due to the People Power Revolution.

In 2003, due to growing security problem, the May 4-11 staging of the Palarong Pambansa in Tubod, Lanao del Norte was postponed because, according to then Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, “[I]t will be too difficult for us to let our players go there in a situation like this," he said referring to the attack made by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels that time where 16 persons were killed and 20 others injured. Instead of May 4 to 11, the Palaro was moved to Oct. 25 to 29 of that same year. It was the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Sablayan’s hosting of MIMAROPA-RAA, the regional game, in 2020 will not also happen because of the havoc and aftermath of Tisoy, the LGU reasoned out. Earlier, Mayor Andres D. Dangeros sent a letter addressed to the education department's regional office signifying its withdrawal from hosting the sporting meet right after TS Tisoy left the PAR. I have heard from the grapevine that the province of Romblon agreed to take the cudgels as pinch-hitter for Occidental Mindoro to host the event. Romblon, infact, was also damaged by said typhoon. If Sablayan did not abruptly withdraw, the DepEd and/or the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) might come to the rescue at the end of the day. Well, who am I to question the wisdom of our leaders or duty-bearers? I respect their decision no matter what.

Without any official pronouncement as of yet from the National Palaro Board, the anticipating populace is facing the wall, waiting if the 2020 Palarong Pambansa will be transfered, postponed, cancelled or would push through as planned, as scheduled. 

Hope it will not be scrapped in totality or held in another province in the next few months, say, towards the end of 2020. If TS Tisoy is the sole culprit, I hope that it must only be postponed and not cancelled. Like in 2003 in Tubod, I pray this will push through ultimately sometime late next year.

Rep. Sato in Davao City last May also said that, “Hosting such national event is an honor for Occidental Mindoro. This way, we can showcase our province’s potentials, commerce and industry, our beautiful places and tourist spots, our products and our people.” True enough, let us hold it here, re-schedule it and prove that we, the people of Occidental Mindoro, can overcome and easily recover and make progress from devastation brought about by TS Tisoy, that we can surpass any challenges that hinders along our path as a struggling community. As community of heroes.

That is the fighting spirit we must show the world...

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References:

https://www.deped.gov.ph/1999/01/25/do-4-s-1999-postponement-of-1999-palarong-pambansa-to-year-2000/

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2002/05/07/159942/palaro-postponed-third-time

https://journal.com.ph/news/provincial/occidental-mindoro-host-2020-palaro

http://www.newsflash.org/2003/05/sp/sp002867.htm

Photo Credit: Philippine Information Agency (PIA)

They are the Champions

The Sablayan team has been enjoying their crown as queens of the Palarong Panlalawigan secondary girls’ basketball for half a decade now. The town hosts the sports festival held November 18 to 22, 2019.

The 2019 batch is led by their main skipper Marigel Ann J. Arbatin, 16, a resident of Barangay Ligaya and wearing jersey number 1. Arbatin, a senior high school student of Sablayan National Comprehensive High School or SABNAHIS taking up Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) Strand is into basketball since 2015 when she and her family moved from Quezon City to their present abode. Originally an elementary sprinter from Olive Grove School, Arbatin looks forward to join the big league in the future like Samantha Harada of National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs who also hails from Ligaya. Marigel, along with Agnes Genata, Kristin Joy Baquirin and Nica Sibugan are regular features in HS women’s basketball scene in Occidental Mindoro.

The team won all of their games, reason why they are declared as the 2019 Provincial Meet champions courtesy of, among other players, Vanessa Tumaca’s lethal running jump shots. Manning, I mean taking, the center position is Novie Jane Reyes, the tallest gal in the line-up who first tried volleyball but seeing her potentials in heft and height, her coach then preferred her to fill the gap in the basketball roster.

Reyes roots for Candace Parker who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Parker was the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. This is Reyes’ first time to join the provincial sports meet. Reyes has great potential in the game if led to the right path of the sport.

A total of 8 lady cagers from Sablayan will be in Team Occidental Mindoro in next year’s MIMAROPA-RAA Meet right here in the province. Arbatin, Reyes, Genata, Baquirin and Sibugan will be joined by Patrice Robles, Evelyn De Dios and Elaine Magalong. Other members of the champion lady team are Princess Sulite and J-Zel Heart Sampaga. They are under the tutelage of Coach Ric Casuncad. But in the last 4 years, they were shaped into dribbing and shooting machines by Mr. Monique Benedicto, this year’s head of delegation for the secondary level in the municipality.

I am a Larry Bird fan and allow me to “tweet” this: “A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals,” says Larry. Sablayan again emerged as the meet's over-all champion, back-to-back.

Champions are measured by championships and that is always the name of the game.

Congratulations, young ladies…

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(Photo: Anjhun Manzano)