Double Entendre: Ang Bomba, si Pikoy at si Boy Sullivan

Sa panahon na tinatawag na Bomba Films noong time ni Marcos, karaniwan na ang mga double entendre sa mga titulo ng sine. Ilan lang sa halimbawa ay ang mga pelikula noong 1970 hanggang 1971 na pinagbidahan ni Rosanna Ortiz gaya ng "Patigasan", "Saging ni Pacing" (na later ang pinalitan ng "Ang Magsasaging ni Pacing"), "Batuta ni Drakula"  (na isang horror-sexy film with Eddie Garcia), "Bukid ay Basa" (1971) na ang tawag dati ng movie scribe na si Nestor U. Torre ay “sexcessively suggestive” movie titles. Mga pelikulang sa Gem Theater malimit ipalabas.

Si Lito Anzures ay si Pikoy sa "Ang Alamat" ni Fernando Poe, Jr. Kanang-kamay siya ng mersenaryong si Adonis (Romy Diaz) na ni-recruit ni Don Joaquin (Nello Nayo) para maghasik ng lagim sa Rio Piedra upang mapagharian niya ang buong bayan na nabubuhay sa pagsasaka. Well, kagaya ng ibang sine ni FPJ, sa paghupa ng umaatikabong barilan natapos ang pelikula, gamit ang kanyang gintong kalibre 45 baril. Mala-Rambo ang istorya ng pelikula, kagaya ng ibang sine ni Da King.

Galit na galit si Don Joaquin sa eksena dahil hindi nila napatay si Igmidio (Pempe Padilla) na lider ng mga nag-aaklas na mamamayan at ito ay nakapagtago. Habang may kaniig na babae sa kanyang kandungan ay binigkas ni Pikoy:

“Ang tapang ng tao’y kadalasang walang silbi

Kapag ginagamit ng wala sa kukote

Ang maghimagsik sa aming ginawa

Iyong tungkulin sa balat ng lupa,

Ang lungga ng ahas ay dapat na hanapin

Pero bawat lungga ay dapat na salaksakin.”

Nang akmang papasukin ni Don Joaquin si Adonis sa silid habang ito ay may katalik ding babae ay bumulalas muli si Pikoy ng patula:

"Lahat ng gawai’y pwedeng abalahin

Ngunit importante inyong sasabihin

Pero kapag ang tandang ay gustong lumimlim

Ay huwag itong abalahin, pati ang inahin."

Nangako si Don Joaquin na kapag napatay nila si Diego (Fernando Poe, Jr) ay babayaran sila ng mas malaki. Si Pikoy na mas ganid sa laman kaysa sa salapi ay bumigkas ng:

“Totoong sa bawat kagat ng tinapay

Yaring aking dila’y talagang naglalaway

Pero kung pandesal ang sa aki’y ibibigay

Huwag naman Don Joaquin, ang gusto ko’y monay.”

Imagine, 10 years old pa lang ako nung una kong mapanood ang "Ang Alamat" sa Levi Rama pero nang panoorin ko lang ito uli kagabi sa YouTube, saka ko pa lang nalaman ang sexual undertones o double entendre ng mga tula dito ni Pikoy. Si Fred Navarro ang screenplay writer nito.

Mula pelikula, punta tayo sa musika. Bago pa man ang "Nilunok Kong Lahat" ni Selina Sevilla at "Jumbo Hotdog" ng Maskulados, isang Pinoy music legend ang sumulat at umawit ng mga kantang may double entendre tulad ng "Ang Mahiwagang Hiwa," "Itlog Ko at Mani Mo" at "O-Tin-Dera". Siya si Boy Sullivan na tambok, este tampok, sa kanyang "Haring Solomon (May Alagang Pagong)" album na lumabas noong 1972.

Si Boy Sullivan, Pedro G. Santos sa tunay na buhay, ay namatay sa edad na 83 noon lamang Hunyo 29, 2020. Siya ay taga-Hagonoy at bago niya isinulat ang mga kanta sa Haring Solomon, siya ay isa sa mga original members of The Big 3 Sullivans kasama si Mar Lopez at Apeng Daldal hanggang siya ay mag-solo. Siya ang kinilalang king of parody and naughty songs noong araw.

Hanggang ang double entendre ay isang literary device, walang makakapigil sa mga manunulat na isingit ito sa anumang likhang-sining na di naman sagarang erotiko.

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(Photo: Amazon.com)

Si Flash Elorde at ang mga Suntok ni FPJ

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman talaga boxing movie ang 1964 film Mano-Mano pero bida dito ang Filipino all-time boxing great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde at si Fernando Poe, Jr., ang King of Philippine Movies directed by Efren Reyes (Hindi si Bata Reyes ha. Ibang tao ‘yun.) Kasama dito sina Paquito Diaz, Lito Anzures, Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla, Victor Bravo, Vic Varrion, Larry Silva, Johnny Montiero with Rebecca at Mila Montanez.

Ang Mano-Mano ay isang action-comedy film at ang ikaapat na pelikula ni Flash Elorde. Sa kanyang entire movie career, si Elorde ay lumabas sa anim na pelikula bago siya bawian ng buhay dahil sa kanser sa baga noong January 2, 1985.

Ito ay umiikot sa kuwento ng apat na mag-kaibigan, sina Nanding (Poe) at Dencio (Padilla) na mga jobless na nakatira sa Tondo hanggang sa makatagpo nila ang mga bagong salta na sina Bay (Elorde) at Pablo (Virtuoso) na mula naman sa Bogo, Cebu. Sa tunay na buhay, si Elorde ay totoong ipinanganak sa nasabing lugar noong Marso 25, 1935. Siya ay mula sa isang mahirap na pamilya at bunso sa 15 magkakapatid.

Isa lang ang napanpansin ko sa mga sine dati kapag pinapanood ko ang mga ito sa YouTube: natural na natural and akting ng mga gumaganap. Hindi kagaya ngayon na pulos OA na ang pag-arte ng mga artista. Kahit atrasado sa mga aspetong teknikal, ang paag-arte noon ay totoong sining at hindi para lamang kumita, sa tingin ko. Dangan kasi naman, ang hahaba ng mga linya o dialogue noon pero despite of this, yakang-yaka itong i-deliver ng mga artista.

Maraming eksena ng buntalan ang pelikula. Tipikal na sangkap ng mga sine noong kamusmusan ko ang rambulan, suntukang grupo-grupo, walang kawawaang boksingan na matatapos lamang at magpupulasan ang mga nag-aaway kung may paparating na sumisilbatong pulis na may dalang batuta. Walang patalim, walang baril, walang gaanong dugo, basta sumbagan lang at upakan gamit lang ang kamao. Black and white pa noon ang sine.

Nakakatawa rin ang batuhan ng linya nina Virtuoso at Padilla bilang mga sidekick nina Elorde at Poe. Si Pablo sa kanyang Cebuanong diksyon at Batangenyo naman ang kay Dencio. Ipinakita din dito ang galing sa gitara ni Virtuoso at ang kaalaman ni Padilla sa nakatatawang pag-awit. Ito ay sa isang eksena ng harana, isang tradisyong Pinoy na katulad ng itinatampok nating pelikula ngayon ay limot na rin ng panahon.

Sa mga bakbakang kalye sa Mano-Mano ay makikita mo ang ilang galaw na boxing fundamentals, wika nga. Kung napanood mo lang ang mga lumang laban noon ni Flash Elorde at ikaw ay totoong boxing enthusiast, madali mong makita na master na master niya ang distansiya. Magaling siya sa step back habang nagka-counter punch. Signature din niya ang angular in and out movement upang malagay siya sa dominant position para umatake. Mga galaw at kilos na in-improve lang ni Manny Pacquiao nang lumaon, sabi.

Pero si Flash Elorde, hindi kagaya ni Pacquiao, kailanman ay hindi nasilaw sa pulitika. Si FPJ naman, nanalo sana kung hindi lang dinaya.

Pero nauna sa pelikulang Mano-Mano, noong 1962, pinagbidahan ni FPJ ang pelikulang Apollo Robles (Oo, naunang gumamit si FPJ ng karakter na pinangalanang “Apollo” sa isang boxing movie kaysa kay Apollo Creed sa Rocky movie franchise.) na istorya ng isang aspiring boxer na iniwan ang kanyang pagiging medical student at umibig sa isang dalagang itinatakwil ang boksing. Ang Apollo Robles ay tumabo noon sa takilya at isa sa mga kauna-unahang boxing movie sa bansa kabilang ang The Flash Elorde Story (1961) na bio-flick ng Pinoy world boxing champ.  

Ayon sa ulat, kinunsulta umano ng mga production staff at ni Gerardo “Gerry” de Leon na direktor nito si Flash Elorde para sa mga boxing and fight scenes ng Apollo Robles. Sinulat ni Simon Santos sa kanyang blog entry noong June 2008 na, “Those pointers became very crucial later in many fight scenes the actor made in his movies. He integrated part of Elorde’s styles and techniques to his own styles and came up with a unique “FPJ rapid and lightning punches” we all know.” So, iyon pala ang umpisa ng cinematic punching style ni Da King na nadala niya hanggang sa Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979) in the coming years.

1950s nang makilala sa mundo ng boksing si Flash Elorde. Sabi nga ng sikat na boxing journalist na si Nigel Collins, “[Flash Elorde] galvanized the nation and carried boxing to greater heights than ever before.”

Noong 1993, si Elorde ang kauna-unahang Asyano na na-induct sa New York-based International Boxing Hall of Fame. Kahit matagal na siyang yumao, mababasa pa rin ang kanyang istorya sa mga text book sa mga paaralan sa buong bansa.

Halos lahat ng pelikula ni FPJ ay kakakitaan ng kanyang rapidong suntok (Gaya sa Roman Rapido), suntok sa mukha pababa sa bodega ng goon na may grand finale na pompyang o kaya ay matitinding wind mill uppercuts. Sa lahat ng sine ni Da King ay may mapapanood kang signature rolling punch.

Bagay na hindi kinayang gawin kailanman ni Flash Elorde sa buong buhay niya.

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(Photo; Advocacine’s Blog)

http://fpj-daking.blogspot.com/2008/06/da-king-meets-da-flash.html

https://www.kcet.org/history-society/from-villa-to-pacquiao-filipino-boxing-in-la-and-the-power-of-a-transnational-punch

Subi

Sa Sungka na isang tradisyunal na larong Pilipino ay may tinatawag na “subi”.

Ang kauna-unahang diskripsyon ng Sungka ay sa isang diksiyunaryong Cebuano na isinulat noong 1692 ng isang Heswitang prayle na si Father José Sanchez. Doon ay sinabi niya na may nilalaro ang mga katutubo na kung tawagin ay Kunggit. Ito raw ay paglalaro ng dalawang tao (kadalasan ay mga babae) ng mga maliliit na sigay sa isang tabla na hugis bangkang kahoy na may mga butas.

Ewan ko kung sa panahon ngayon ng kuwarentina ay may naglalaro pa nito. Sa panahon ng mga makabagong gadyet, wala ng puwang ang mga larong ganito sa ating lipunan ngayon, may pandemya man o wala.

Pero parang isang Sungka sa ilalim ng itim na kumot na walang nakakakita kung papaano “nilalaro” ng mga kinauukulan ang mga nalikom na pondo mula sa mga donasyon ng pribadong organisasyon para kalabanin ang veerus na ito at sasabihing wala tayong pera. Ito ay sa kabila na wala namang tahasang ulat sa kalalagayang pananalapi ng mga programang kontra COVID-19.

Mismong ang World Health Organization (WHO) ang nagsabing ang Pilipinas ay nakatanggap na ng at least $130.4 million na halaga ng financial aid — o lampas P6.5 billion — laan para sa mga programang kontra COVID-19 ng gobyerno.

Sabi pa ng WHO sa kanyang 39^th situation report sa paglaban ng Pilipinas sa pandemya, ang mga donasyon ay galing sa private sector, nongovernment organizations, and other international groups. Maliban dito, sinabi din sa ulat na ang Pamahalaang Duterte ay naka-kuha ng $1.1 billion loan mula sa World Bank at $1.5 billion mula sa Asian Development Bank (ADB) — na may suma-tutal na $2.6 billion, o P129.9 bilyon.

Pero ang Sungka ay nagbusod din ng mga superstitious belief sa atin kagaya ng iba pang katutubong laruan. May mga manghuhula at mga albularyo sa maraming dako ng bansa sa kanayunan ang gumagamit pa rin ng sungkaan sa kanilang panghuhula at paggagamot. May paniniwala din na dapat itong laruin sa labas ng bahay dahil kung sa loob, masusunog daw ang inyong bahay. Sa laro, may ginagamit din kasing terminong “sunog” na kung saan ay makakain ang lahat ng iyong naipong pitsa. Sa ilang lugar, ang matatalo sa laro ay tinatawag na “bangkay” o “patay”.

Sabi ng nanay ko noon, malas daw laruin ang Sungka dahil kapag natalo sa laro, kahit sa totoong buhay ay mauubusan ka ng mga ari-arian. Maghihirap ka, malamang sa hindi. Pero hindi yan ang dahil kung bakit hindi ako naglalaro ng Sungka. Ang totoong dahilan ay ang sakit ko. May dyscalculia ako noon hanggang ngayon!

Huwag na kayong magtatanong kung nasaan na ang mga pondo kontra pandemya. Huwag na kayong maghintay ng pinansiyal na pag-uulat. Pagod na pagod na sila, hindi na nila kayang gawin iyon sa malmang pagod. Kawawa naman sila.

Henga pala, ipinapalagay na ang Sungka ay totoong dito sa Pilipinas nagsimula kahit malaki ang pagkaka-pareho nito sa larong Congkak ng Indonesia.

O, baka naman nasungka na ang pondo kontra COVID-19. Sa Sungka kasi, matatapos lang ang laban kung said o urot na ang lahat ng sigay sa butas. 

Ang mas maraming maisusubi sa kanyang “balay”, kagaya rin sa halalan, ay siyang siguradong magwawagi.

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Reference : https://mancala.fandom.com/wiki/Sungka

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1288898/ph-has-received-p6-5-billion-worth-of-donations-for-fight-against-covid-19-who

Photo: https://steemit.com/travel/@dansellcai/sungka-game

This is Patient No. 8

She was a survivor of the so-called World War C and bravely came into the open, disclosing to the whole wide world her identity.

Occidental Mindoro’s Patient No. 8 is Minerva Angel Tadeo, 42, a frontliner assigned at San Sebastian District Hospital (SSDH) in Sablayan as Admitting Clerk and under the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) stationed in said town. She was formerly assigned at the Parola (Presing) Park as zipline crew before she was transferred to the aforementioned public health facility.

Despite her age, she is a working student presently taking up BS Cooperative at PUP-Sablayan Campus and now on her second year. That is how she gives value to education. She is a member of the Board of Directors of SAGUTT Multi-Purpose Cooperative at present.

After tested positive of the disease May 20, 2020 by the Philippine National Red Cross, she underwent the necessary health protocols. Minerva’s swab specimen was taken May 14 during the two-day Expanded Targeted COVID-19 Testing of healthcare workers in Sablayan. She was asymptomatic. No colds, cough or whatever symptoms.

After days of anxiety and extreme trial, finally yesterday, May 27, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) declared her in the pink of health after she was tested negative in her second and third repeat swabs. The laboratory results were released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

While Patient No. 8 was in her isolation room at the SSDH, she experienced pain, more of the emotional kind, solitude and fear. She also cried discrimination and public shame from the judging eyes of some people. Almost every day she said, she sensed death stalking her hospital room. Fear of dying alone constantly accompany her even in the deepest moment of the night.

In her Facebook post yesterday, she described the ordeal like a bomb exploding right in their very faces of her immediate family members.

She stressed in her same post, “Alam ko sa sarili ko kaya ko labanan lalo na at [ako ay may] may pananalig sa Diyos.” Minerva extended her heartfelt gratitude to her family, friends and supporters, the medical personnel at SSDH who took care of her and her fellow frontliners who prayed for her. Meantime, she can now be with her family at home for the required another 14-day isolation period.

While under the affliction, an FB friend named Febbie Tadeo posted this very inspiring verse from the bible: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

—Psalm 46:1-3, NIV. She kept the faith in her hospital bed.

Like Minerva, the mythical Roman goddess of defensive warfare and wisdom, she figuratively came out of Jupiter’s head in full battle armor, and in due time, ready again to continue to fight at the frontlines.

She overcame the torment as likely because she has God’s angel on her shoulder, to paraphrase a hit song of The Cascades before.

Well, welcome to the outside world yet still in quarantine.

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(Photo from FB page of Minerva Angel Tadeo)

OksiMin Frontliner Offers Life

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) apprentice born in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro was killed in a road mishap happened along the highway in Ibaan, Batangas City yesterday, May 26, 2020 at around 2:30 PM. Apprentice Seaman Cenen Lopez-Epetito, 24, was the seventh child of Punong Barangay Sileny Epetito of Barangay Burgos in said municipality.  

Reports say that the PCG men are on their way from PCG District – Southern Tagalog to extend assistance to OFWs from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to respond to the government’s program for overseas workers and seafarers who are repatriated due to the COVID-19 pandemic called “Bayanihan Repatriation Program”. Suddenly one tire of the van exploded and the vehicle loses control and dived in a ravine at the side of the road. The six other PCG personnel are now under close medical observation at Batangas Health Specialist Center according to a CNN dispatch yesterday.

In his Facebook account, Cenen’s friend Tunskee Cullen posted, “You will always be remembered Cenen for your good deeds as one of the bravest frontliners in this pandemic. I really admire your heroism from being an ordinary student to a well-dignified seaman apprentice (coastguard). Thanks that I was able to witness how you grew as a person who worked hard for the realization of your dreams.”

Epetito is a graduate of Burgos National High School and an alumnus of Occidental Mindoro State College (OMNC) where he finished his Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education (BTTE) in 2018. 

According to his sister Julia Jane Epetito, Cenen is expecting a promotion this coming June and very eager to help his family.

He is a bachelor when he died.

Annafe Bergonia, a neighbor and a family friend said of Cenen, “Mabait siya at matulungin. Responsable. Marami siyang pangarap sa buhay at huwaran  siya ng mga kabataan dito sa Aplaya.”

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(Photo from Cenen Epetito’s Facebook Account)

The Jeepney Operators of Old San Jose

The jeepney is progressively nearing the dead end here in my home province.

These remodeled jeeps from World War-II era was the main public transportation in San Jose as far as I can remember. Without doubt, this inexpensive mass transportation was part of the Philippine culture. Philippines is the only country that has jeepneys for such a purpose.

Sarao Motors, owned by Leonardo Sarao, was one of the first companies to take old US army vehicles left behind after World War II and customize them for mass transport. This is the same brand of jeepneys plying from the Pandurucan town proper to its nearby barrios, like Bubog, Central, Camburay and Murtha and vice-versa. Since the 50s, the jeepneys have been integral to the lives of the town’s residents together with its operators and drivers.

The most prominent jeepney operator in this southern part of Occidental Mindoro is Guillermo P. Mangahas. He is a native of Norzagaray, Bulacan but transferred to San Jose in 1954. He started to venture with one passenger jeepney with a route from San Jose town proper to Barrio Central and vice-versa. Mangahas’ transport trade grew and he managed to acquire additional 5 jeepney units serving the people of far-away Aguas, Pitogo and Manoot (then still part of San Jose). Guillermo was aided by his three sons namely, Naring (Apolinario), Pepe (Jose), and Val/Tino (Valentino) in his transport business. His daughter Teofila was later known as Neneng Vergel who owns a meat stall in old San Jose Public Market and mother to former local radio personality Lerma Vergel Mansilungan.

Amado Tan is the fourth child of Tan Bun Chuan, one of the place’s earliest Chinese settler. They family owned a famous restaurant (now the site of the Development Bank of the Philippines along Rizal St. near the plaza) then. In 1951, Amado Tan moved to Central and stayed there for good and finally met his wife, Elsie Blancia of Culasi, Antique. Amado’s sister Purification loaned him money to buy a jeepney and since then, it became his main source of living. As a driver, he managed to know many people, gained popularity and been so helpful in their concerns. In 1989, Amado Tan, the son of a Chinese restaurateur and later jeepney operator of Central, was elected barangay captain of this historic place. Amado is the father of Armando “Bong” Tan who also works as a driver at Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) in San Jose.

Magno Corpus is a forerunner in jeepney operation business in Barrio Bubog where I grew up. He had 2 jeepneys named Perla 1 and 2, (name of his only child). Later when his brother Gavino came to the place in the early 70s from Nueva Ecija, took his own jeepney and served the residents especially the students (that includes me) in going to school and back. The Corpus brothers, too, became barangay officials. Magno served as barangay captain and Gavino became kagawad for many years.

In our place, not only the US army jeeps were converted into public utility vehicles. The Dodge Weapons Carrier from WW-II were also transformed for mass transportation especially in far-flung areas with the toughest terrain. In Barrio Pitogo, Mrs. Perla Lansangan, a known businesswoman in their place then operates a weapons carrier serving her barrio mates.

Maybe it is true that traditional jeepneys are already obsolete in today's transport system and we need to have something better in terms of mass transportation in our province. In this time of the UV vans and the air-conditioned local buses.

But more than the machines, let us remember today, with full pressure on the gas pedal, the drivers who operate them.

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(Photos: C! Magazine/Pintrest)

Reference: Rodolfo M. Acebes, Story of 100 Families, 2010)

San Jose's Acrostic Man

Manunulat siya pero sa pader nga lang o kahit saang makinis na surface sa mga pampublikong lugar.

Sa San Jose town proper, dito sa amin sa Occidental Mindoro ay makikita mo ang kanyang mga obra, pentel pen at pintura ang gamit niya. Tadtad lalo nito ang kanilang bahay na matatagpuan bago ka sumapit sa tulay ng Marsan galing ng Bonifacio Street. Laman siya ng kalye, kadalasang naka-tsaleko, maraming borloloy sa katawan at pusturang hippie dati pero kalbo na lang ngayon at ubanin na. Malimit siya sa Plaza, sa Municipal Compound. Basta, kahit saan sa tabi-tabi, sa downtown at palengke, name it.

Ang tawag sa kanyang literatura (kung literature man iyong matuturing at hindi plain vandalism) ay mga acrostic piece to be exact. Sabi, ang acrostics daw ay anumang komposisyon na kung saan ang mga certain letters form a word or words.

May protesta sa kanyang mga akda. Nagbabanggit siya ng mga tauhan sa pulitika, mga lokal na personalidad at mga pangyayari noon sa lipunan na may mga acronym ng kung anu-anong magkakalahok-lahok na tanggapan ng pamahalaan. Walang sumiseryoso sa kanyang mga isinulat, pero marami naman ang nagmamalasakit sa kanya bilang tao.

Okay na siguro yun.

Somebody told me who is a former bosom buddy of Mr. Acrostics that he was once a good basketball player. He played for years in various ball clubs in the old San Jose Summer Basketball League in the mid-60s as a teenager. He was a member of WAROF Guys, a fraternity or gang of sort composed of 5 friends. It's actually an Acronoym for William (him), Antonio (Gomez), Rolando (Padilla), Oscar (Novio) and Fernando, Jr (Mabalot). He was the star player for the team called Wanderers then.

I was also informed by my source that the man was an avid fan of the Beatles and a member of the Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK). It is another national-democratic organization whose memberships comes from young students, farmers, workers, intellectuals and professionals.

Going back, kagaya ng statesmanship na ngayon ay endangered na ‘ata among politicians, ang acrostics noong unang panahon, sa iba’t-ibang antas at panahon sa kasaysayan ay itinuring na isang panulat na may mataas na literary value. Which is kadalasan ay sa anyo ng tula.

Si Edgar Allan Poe nga may tula pang pinamagatan niyang “An Acrostic,” na alay niya sa isang tagahanga na ang pangalan ay Elizabeth. Sino ang makakalimot sa “Prometheus Unbound" ni Pete Lacaba na tungkol sa Martial Law?

Ngayon sabi nga, ngayon daw ay wala ng literary prestige ang acrostics hindi kagaya noong unang panahon. Instead, acrostics are now often considered to be childish, if not totally nutty.

Para sa ating acrostic man: Every reachable smooth and flat surface is your democracy wall, your press freedom and expression in the taciturnity to your feelings.

Try lang ito:

Behold, your pen cannot win wars, mind or hearts

Over your prose are screams from your past

Yet, even the meanest of men are afraid to know their meaning

Silent are your verses, cannot be articulated neither spoken

In your thoughts, the best literature is an acrostic unpoetic graffiti

Eternally for you, you are Zeus in your own Olympus so kingly.

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(Photo: Kenneth Pangilinan)

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.