My Grade School Years

Social networking has definitely made the world smaller! Imagine, after 28 years I have once again rekindled ties with my former grade school classmates (Batch of ’81) at St. Mary’s College, Quezon City. With an alumni homecoming scheduled for July 2010, we are now asked to do a write up about our grade school years. The problem is: I have very little recollection of those years! Call it old age but it seems as if my life started out at high school---I couldn’t even picture myself clearly when I was in grade school! I guess it’s the fact that I’m really a forgettable character back then. I didn’t even stand up as a tall guy since the girls were actually the “giants” then. Well, except maybe for a guy named Michael Moreno. The thing is he was already 18 years old when he graduated from grade school.

I did keep my class pictures. Placed them together with my philosophy notes during my college days. Unfortunately, my father was in cleaning mode one day and included my stuff in the trash! Bummer! Now I’m at a lost in composing this write up! Man, this sucks!

Think! Think! Think!

Oh yeah! There were lots of beautiful girls!

St. Mary’s was supposed to be an all girls school. When I started Kindergarten, boys where only allowed there until Grade 4. But I guess for reasons of logic the nuns eventually decided to just let the guys finish elementary. High school was all girls. So statistically, the girls outnumbered the boys! Thinking about it now I’d say the place was heaven on earth!

Since there were no boys in high school, the elder girls picked on the younger boys. Nope, I wasn’t one of the “lucky ones” but I have an inkling that this was the reason why Michael Moreno stayed on for so long.

Crushes? Man, I had a lot! I won’t mention any names but I did enjoy the company of Alicar Estrada. I was Grade 3 or Grade 4 that time. She was a Spanish mestiza. Tall with long brown hair. She was really pretty but she was tomboy-ish. Every afternoon we would play “agawan base” at the playground and we would always chase each other. I don’t remember who got whom more often but man-oh-man---that girl can run! She’s got long strides like a gazelle! I know I can run fast (got lots of practice being chased by dogs in our neighborhood) but I guess she was faster! She left St. Mary’s after Grade 4, I think. I do believe she was the Alec Estrada who became a singer back in the late 80’s.

Now the memories are slowly getting back. I remember the library. I loved going there. Being an introvert, I’d often shelter myself in books.

Oh! Another thing I really enjoyed was the banana-que and sagot’t gulaman after school. The tinderas were twins whom I fondly called “Ate”. I’d bring my own tall container and for Php 1.50 I’d get a full tank’s worth! They also know how I want my banana-que: soft with lots of sugar! Yummy! I saw them last when I attended my brother’s grade school graduation back in 1983.

I entered the seminary after grade school but I still got to see my grade school alma mater every once in a while whenever I got to play altar boy during the early morning mass there (presided by priests from our seminary). Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to see old classmates since we pack up early after mass and don’t get to see them during formation. I eventually gave up serving at St. Mary’s when I was second year high school. Mabenta kasi ang racket na yun kasi masarap magpa-breakfast ang RVM sisters. Tinamad na din akong makipag unahang gumising sa iba.

It’s really nice to reconnect with them after all these years! I just wish I could remember more…

To all you Marian Boys Grade School Batch ’81, Joy Zarate made this Marian Multiply site you wanna check out http://mariansbatch85.multiply.com/. Below is the class picture of Grade 6-Sipag courtesy of Joy.

Typhoon Ondoy Devastates Manila!

Manila and its nearby provinces was left in shambles after Typhoon Ondoy exited the country. The amount of rainfall surpassed Typhoon Katrina which hit New Orleans in 2005. In the last 24 hours, Ondoy dumped 455 millimeters of rain in Quezon City along compared to 250 millimeters brought by Typhoon Katrina!

I'm thankful to God for having spared our area from the floods and is praying for those who lost their homes and loved ones.

Sharing with you this prayer for those still in the midst of this calamity:

God of mercy,you know the secrets of all human hearts,for you
know who is just and you forgive the repentant sinner.Hear my prayer in the
midst of destruction;give me patience and hope,so that under your protection and
with you as my guide,I may one day be reunited with my family and friendsin
peace, tranquility, and love.Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Hard Way is Always the Best Way!

I tuned in my radio to “Boys Night Out” over 89.9 last Thursday (September 10) when I chanced upon Toni Toni and Slick Rick interviewing Senator Dick Gordon. Sam YG was out on a “personal business” (a date with Karylle maybe).

Apparently, the senator was not a first time guest of the show and has developed a good camaraderie with the boys. It was a fun discussion. Free flowing. The topics focused on Mr. Gordon’s bid for the presidency in 2010. However, as the senator mentioned, he was just a hopeful candidate since he has just expressed his intention to run but do not have yet the backing of his party.

The man is definitely outspoken and was able to answer all the questions thrown at him during his segment of the show---even the grilling of a woman accusing him of a 800 million civil liability allegedly pending in the office of the ombudsman.

Here’s a man who has an agenda to make our country better. However, duplicating what he did with Subic and Clark in a national level will entail a lot of political will. Being a man of action and result, Mr. Gordon has earned the ire of the corrupt, the do-no-gooders, and the political leachers. These people will definitely make life miserable for Mr. Gordon if ever he becomes president. However, it is amidst adversity that Mr. Gordon has made himself known. He said, “THE HARD WAY IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY.” Very true indeed! It is during time of conflict and hardship that a man’s character is manifested---his moment of truth!

We are witnesses to Mr. Gordon’s transformation of Subic and Clark. We have seen him revitalize Philippine Tourism with his WOW Philippines campaign. We have seen him at work as a Red Cross volunteer---saving lives and alleviating other people’s suffering. And we have seen him work in the senate pushing for bills that seek to uplift our people and our country and standing up for issues with a firm but fair conviction.

We don’t need a lackey of a president! One who would not easily give in to the coercion of the power players and America! We have had enough ass bending for so long! Make the informed choice and do not let the commercials sway the way you’re going to vote!

I do believe Mr. Gordon is our man in 2010. I call on everyone to step into the light and grab a hold of our destiny!

The Sorry State of Philippine Politics

I don't know Mar Roxas personally but based on what media has presented him to me, he seems to be a good person. I had the chance to meet him 3 years ago during Jollibee's annual convention when no other than our company president stood by him from table to table. Even then he was down to earth. Accomodating questions and shaking hands. If he had pursued his presidential bid, would I have voted for him? I don't think so (my apologies Errol).

Being president of a country not only entail good intentions but most importantly---doing what needs to be done. Mr. Roxas may have good intentions but I don't think he is capable of steering the country towards economic reform and stability. Again, my view is colored by my perception. I say, blame it to his lame ad campaign (Errol, if you're any part of that---my apologies!). For me it was too much drama bordering on the absurd! Question is: Why does it have to be this way? Whatever happened to simply telling the voting population what he did or accomplished as a public servant? And so I did my research and found out that Mr. Roxas actually has a stellar carreer as a public servant---authoring bills that benefit education and consumer protection.

The other day, Mar relinquished his bid for the presidency in lieu of Noynoy Aquino. What prompted him to step down? Is Noynoy a better candidate? In terms of track record, I don't think so(try researching on Noynoy's political accomplishments and tell me if you'll vote for him). I tend to agree with Dick Gordon when he said that "leadership is earned and not inherited". Unfortunately, Philippine politics is a game of perception. He who has the most POGI points wins! Plain and simple popularity contest!

Now why does this kind of political climate prevail in our country? It's not that we're easily cajoled but given the majority of the voting population belongs to the C-D-E class media plays a big role in molding a candidate's "attractiveness".

My former perception of Mar Roxas was biased by his commercial. If I had not validated by doing research, that perception would have stuck! Many of the Filipinos from the lower rung of society don't have access to the internet and rely heavily on media for information. Hence, come election time, media mileage is critical. Half of the battle is won there. How else do you think Erap won the 1998 elections? Definitely NOT with his brains! Poging-pogi kasi sya sa media e!

In my opinion, we can negate this situation by holding mandatory debates among candidates---broadcasted in both tv and radio. Do away with on-site campaigning---para wala ng bayaran! Let the candidates joust on existing socio-economic issues and how they plan to address them. This way, the people will know who's talking bullshit!

For me, a president should be righteous, has a genuine love for servitude, knows how is it to be poor, has a clear vision on how to steer the country towards economic recovery and has the cajones to stand up for the betterment of the nation.

How I wish Ramon Magsaysay was still alive!