Edmonton Edition
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
MARCH 2012
MARCH 2012
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
Edmonton Edition
PLANET
PHILIPPINES
MARCH 2012
PLANET
MARCH 2012
PHILIPPINES
Edmonton Edition
HOW MANNY PACQUiAO CAN REALLY HAVE AN iMPACT AFTER BOXiNG Here’s one wild idea — one that I think speaks to Pacquiao’s apparent business ambitions and his desire to make a difference. Why not start a chain of high-end gyms and physical fitness centers catering to the middle class and even upper class customers in the Philippines?
The boxing champion is an odd fit in the House of Representatives. By bEnjAMin pimentel
pacquiao may be limiting his post-boxing potential by aligning himself with two powerful, but flawed, institutions – the philippine Congress and the Catholic hierarchy. It’s already clear that he’s an odd fit in the House of Representatives. In explaining his positions on say, the Reproductive Health debate, he has come across as awkward, even inarticulate. Certainly, he is also surrounded by other politicians who are probably even less articulate and coherent. But clearly, as a congressman, Manny pacquiao, one of the greatest boxers in history, has been mediocre. He doesn’t stand out the way he did as a sports hero. It’s not because he’s not smart. Certainly, it takes more than brawn to rise from a flyweight to a super
HE post-boxing Manny pacquiao story, we all hope, will turn out to be an uplifting tale, one that would build on his incredible success as an international icon. And his recent attempt to reinvent himself is a good sign. “I am no longer in the vice business. I’ve sold my shares in a big nightclub along with my shares in a Manila casino outlet,” he told reporters. “I do realize I was a weak person before. If I had died the other year, I believe my soul would have ended in hell.” so many great athletes eventually found themselves trapped in a quagmire of booze, drugs and a self-destructive lifestyle. pacquiao has now acknowledged that risk. He won’t be in boxing forever.
He’s young, rich and famous. He can do so much more. I think his decision to enter politics was a bad choice. And I also feel the same way about his decision to become an “ambassador” of the Catholic Church.
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Manny enjoying victory with raised fists.
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welterweight champion, beating such boxing greats as Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley. Pacquiao is considered one of the smartest fighters in history. He should also play it smart in mapping out his post-boxing career. And to do this, I’d argue, he needs to play to his strengths. And a big part of that strength is his own physical strength – and how he attained in against enormous odds. So here’s one wild idea — one that I think speaks to Pacquiao’s ap-
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parent business ambitions and his desire to make a difference. Why not start a chain of highend gyms and physical fitness centers catering to the middle class and even upper class customers in the Philippines? He may even expand to the rest of Asia and the United States where he is well-known, even beloved. He could then use proceeds from that enterprise to open a network of community gyms and fitness centers in working class and poor neighborhoods throughout the Philippines.
HE’S DONE AFTER 3 MORE FIGHTS
Manny remains deeply religious despite his dangerous sport. MANNY Pacquiao says wants to fight three more times, including one against Floyd Mayweather Jr., before he finally hangs up his gloves in favor of his “Bible-centered life.” Speaking to reporters in Manila on Feb. 25 upon arrival from New York with his wife Jinkee, the 33-year-old poundfor-pound king said, “I have maybe two, three more fights. Hopefully he will fight before I retire. I’m hoping for a November fight.” A week earlier in Los Angeles while promoting his June 9 bout with American brawler Timothy Bradley, Pacquaio also talked about his retirement plans. “I’m not going to stay long in boxing because God who made me [good] in boxing, Siya na nagbigay sa akin ng biyaya in boxing, [‘pag] sabi Niya tama na ‘yan and share mo ‘yung commandments ko, ‘yung word of God,” he said. He first brought up the topic in early
February during a talk with newsmen in Sarangani province. “Hindi maganda na nagse-share ako ng salita ng Panginoon tapos nananakit ako ng kapwa,” he said. The neophyte congressman said he wants to concentrate more on sharing his faith while at the same time helping his poor constituents. “I’ve gained more than enough blessings these past years so I think it’s time for me to return the favor,” he said in Filipino. Pacquiao said he is now a “changed man” as a result of his new-found passion for studying the Bible. After his “awakening,” he gave away his prized fighting cocks, sold his shares in a casino in Manila, and shut down an entertainment joint in General Santos City. Last February, Pacquiao accepted an offer from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to become the Church’s “Bible ambassador.”
Pacquiao could eventually become a promoter and train a new generation of great Filipino boxers.
Imagine Manny Pacquiao as an advocate for physical fitness and clean living. What a powerful message he could send to young Filipinos, particularly those from struggling families and communities throughout the archipelago, on the virtues of keeping healthy, and the dangers of smoking, excessive drinking and drugs. “Iwas kayo sa yosi, toma at droga. Oo, mahirap ang buhay. Pero kung kinaya ko, kaya ninyo rin. . . Life is tough now, but it doesn’t mean you have to destroy yourselves with these vices.”
MARCH 2012
A photo that circulated on Facebook recently actually gave me this idea: it shows a younger skinny Pacquiao training, doing sit ups. Can you imagine the kind of discipline and determination the young struggling, impoverished Pacquiao needed to develop his own body and boxing abilities to the point of being able to take on the world’s best fighters? Pacquiao could eventually become a promoter and train a new generation of great Filipino boxers. But more importantly, he could show young Filipinos that, even if you don’t become a rich boxing icon, being fit and healthy is an ideal goal. That’s the important lesson he could teach young Filipinos, especially those who cannot afford to become members of fancy gyms and fitness centers. And he could accomplish this as an independent entrepreneur, an internationally-known Filipino celebrity who sees no need to be tied to any specific institution or arena where he would just be another insignificant, even mediocre, player. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n
PLANET
MARCH 2012
PHILIPPINES
Among all PNoy’s dates since becoming president, Grace is the most high-profile.
RESIDENT NoyNoy Aquino and Korean TV and radio personality Grace Lee are now “officially dating.” Well, yes, they’ve been going out since January but the past two months were only the “getting-to-know-each-other” stage. By end of February, the two had become closer and seemed determined to see if their blossoming affair would go the full distance. “We are dating now but we can’t take it too fast kasi nga busy siya sa trabaho niya and hindi naman kami nakakapag-date araw-araw. It’s not the normal setting of things,” the 29-year-old TV host and radio DJ said on Feb. 27 after the launch of her newest product endorsement. Grace admitted she has special feelings for the 52-year-old bachelor president and that’s why she continues to date him. “I would not date a man if I have no interest or emotional inclination of liking him as a man,” she said. “What do I like most about PNoy? Well, the President is very considerate. Like I’ve said before, siya ay napakabait na tao at very knowledgeable about a lot of things kaya natutuwa ako dahil sa madami akong natututunan.” Grace is a news presenter on GMA-7’s Balitanghali and 24 Oras Weekend. She is also a co-host of the radio program Good Times with Mo, Mojo and Grace Lee together with Mo Twister and Mojo. Born and raised in Seoul, Grace’s real name is Kyung Hee-lee. She had since been “Filipinized” after moving to the Philippines at age 10 because of her father’s business. She went to high school at St. Paul College in Pasig City and earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies at Ateneo de Manila University. She is fluent in Korean, English and Filipino. Grace first caught the president’s eye during the inauguration of a Korean power plant in Naga, Cebu in June 2011. They met again months later when she served as official interpreter of the Korean president when he called on the president in Malacañang. Last December Grace interviewed PNoy at the Palace for her radio show. The latest tale in PNoy’s romantic saga came a few days following the wedding of his former girlfriend, Shalani Soledad, to Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo last Jan. 21. After he and Shalani split in September 2010, PNoy had been linked to a number of women, including Liz Uy, his former fashion stylist; Len Lopez, a stockbroker; and Bunny Calica, a
AMAZING GRACE CAPTIVATES PNOY Asked about the chances of PNoy, Grace said, “I think he’s in the forefront. He’s first in the line. . . He’s one of the many aspects in my life right now that’s making me happy.”
Will their blossoming romance end up at the altar?
Edmonton Edition
teacher. The romantic escapades were short lived. The president had complained that one reason why he could not get hitched is because of the media’s intrusion into his private life. Will PNoy’s current amorous exploit break the jinx? Will it finally lead to a fairy tale wedding at the Palace? If one goes by the spontaneous remarks of Grace in various media interviews, the prospects look bright.
Asked about the chances of PNoy, Grace said, “I think he’s in the forefront. He’s first in the line. . . He’s one of the many aspects in my life right now that’s making me happy.” Grace was highly appreciative of the president’s public admission last January that they were seeing each other. “He’s such a gentleman. When he acknowledged it, I think it was out of respect to me because he doesn’t need this but he did and that tells you a lot about what kind of man he is. He’s such an inspiring character.” She described the presidential style of courtship as normal. “yes, very normal like any other guy. I received a couple of chocolates and flowers. He’s very sweet.” Grace admitted that their 23year age difference sometimes bothers her. But she stressed that they were seriously dating. “We are not playing here,” she said. To be sure, PNoy isn’t playing either. He said he was still hoping to find a wife because that would make him a better leader. “I have been planning this for a long time, since college even. But I just have been unlucky,” the president said when he spoke last Feb. 19 at the 33rd anniversary of Aurora province which also marked the 124th birth anniversary of Aurora Aragon-Quezon, wife of President Manuel Quezon. He cited the role that Aurora Quezon played during the term of her husband. “As the first lady she became a partner of her spouse in public service and led efforts in programs that catered to the needy,” he remarked. “That’s why at times I cannot help but think there is a big difference if you have an inspiration,” the president said, drawing cheers from the audience. He added in Filipino: “Given the burdens of my office, if there was someone you could confide in, someone you could talk to, someone who would tell you, ‘you are still doing okay,’ then of course, that would be a key to your inspiration.” Asked if he was thinking of settling down, PNoy admitted he had planned to get married since he was in college. “It’s just that I have been unlucky.” The whole nation is excitedly hoping he’d hit the jackpot this time. n
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PHILIPPINES
MARCH 2012
A closer look at our world records show that a good number were set for marketing purposes.
By MEAnn ortiz
H E N MaNNy Pacquiao defeated antonio Margarito in 2010, not only did he win the WBC Super Welterweight Championship, he also set a new Guinness World Record for the Most Boxing World Titles in Different Weight Divisions. It’s a remarkable achievement, and something that makes us insanely proud to be a Filipino like Manny. The Philippines holds other world records. Some of them are remarkable natural wonders: the World’s Shortest Living Man is Junrey Balawing (he’s just 23.6 inches tall), and the Largest Colony of Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats is in Samal Island (home to an estimated 1.8 million bats). The youngest Tenpin Bowling Champion remains to be Paeng Nepomuceno, who’s held the record since 1976.
Trivial pursuits
Some records, however, are a little on the wacky side. Remember when a toothpaste brand broke the world record a few years ago for the Most Number of Couples Kissing Simultaneously in one venue? That even merited an ad on the largest billboard along EDSa, and I can still remember the outrage that followed when we lost the record shortly thereafter. The Philippines is also known for the Largest Legal Tender Banknote (you’ll have to fold this 100,000-peso note several times over to fit in your wallet), the Largest Ten Commandments Tablet, the Most Number of Dishes on Display, the Longest Line of Loose Change, and the Largest Secret Santa Game. Guinness rejected the idea of the “Marikina Mega-Tule”, which would’ve put us on the record books for the most number of circumcisions performed within a set period of time. yes, you read that right. We have to wonder, though: If we can afford to put our time and resources toward setting such trivial records, then why are we not aiming to set more truly laudable ones?
A case of damaged culture? The unfortunate reality is there are still a lot of Filipinos who think
WHAT’S IN A
WORLD RECORD?
In 2007, 6,124 couples reclaimed for the Philippines Guinness Book of World Record for Most Number of Couples Kissing Simultaneously.
Instead of doing trivial pursuits, why don’t we aim for meaningful accolades like The Best International Airport, the Least Corrupt Country, or the Most Improved Economy in Southeast Asia?
The record for Most Participants in a Racing Event was attended by 116,086 runners during the Run for the Pasig River in 2010, which aimed to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River
The Philippines also lays claim to the Guinness record of the Longest Line of Loose Change involving three million 25-centavo coins stretching 73 kilometers. hanggang dito lang tayo. Our history of being colonized by different countries beat most of our selfworth as a nation out of us, and most seem to have forgotten that we actually managed to win not only the battles, but eventually, our independence as well.
Or maybe, as a friend of mine pointed out, this is still an extension of the tingi mentality. We’re so used to what is easy, affordable, and accessible—shampoo by the sachet, cigarettes by the stick, medicine by the tablet—that we forget that we are capable of something greater.
More telling, perhaps, is that many Filipinos lose their sense of nationalism in the face of hardship. How often do we hear the urban poor say, Ano ang pakialam namin sa pulitika at ekonomiya ng bansa kung wala naman kami’ng tirahan at makakain? Individuals, companies, organizations—let’s be honest—many will think of their own welfare first before the country’s. a closer look at our world re-
cords show that a good number, especially the rather off-the-wall ones, were set for marketing purposes— to boost awareness of their own brands or organizations—more than to bring real glory to the country. This is not entirely a bad thing, as it does make the rest of the world aware that the Philippines exists, and that we are capable of being the best at something. We are still proud of these records. But while we’re keeping up appearances and building our image, why don’t we go one step further?
Laudable achievements The Philippines holds the record for Most Women Breastfeeding Simultaneously (3,541 women), and however ridiculous that may sound, it is actually one of the less trivial ones that we hold on Guinness. It was set during an event sponsored by UNICEF and the Department of Health to raise awareness on the value of breastfeeding children. There’s also the Most Number of Solar Bulbs Installed, which aimed to light 10,000 homes that do not have electricity. The Most Participants in a Racing Event was 116,086 during the Run for the Pasig River in 2010, which aimed to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. The Largest March against Illegal Drugs was organized by PaGCOR in 2009, and had 332,963 participants. These records were set for real, worthwhile causes, and these are the kind of records that deserve huge billboards and media exposure. These are the kind of records that we should be aiming for. We have a long way to go before we are known for The Best International airport, being the Least Corrupt Country, or having the Most Improved Economy in Southeast asia. But we can use our penchant for record-breaking and record-setting support meaningful causes that will benefit not only ourselves, but other Filipinos as well. That’s already one small step toward achieving those bigger goals, and one giant leap toward reclaiming our nationalism. n
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MARCH 2012
PHILIPPINES
By ARiEs rufo
AN FerNANdo City, Pampanga - The Catholic Church of Pampanga may take a valuable lesson from the reproductive Health bill. Men of the cloth here have been siring kids, with some keeping affairs. The Church of Pampanga has been grappling with problems concerning its randy priests, and Church officials have been trying to contain a potentially damaging case, which if it drags on, could grow into a scandal. For the first time, a priest has been hailed to court for having an affair with a married woman, although such extracurricular affairs are not uncommon in Pampanga.
PAMPANGA’S PRIESTS DEFY CELIBACY
Church officials have suspended the priest, Jeffrey Louie Maghirang, but the complainant, a security manager for a chain of malls, fears that he might just be reassigned to another parish after the scandal has subsided. (He has asked not to be identified to protect the privacy of his three-year-old child.) This priest’s illicit affair could lead to a family breakup. When the complainant first brought the matter to Fr. Maghirang’s superiors last May, he was told that they would conduct their own investigation. He initially talked with Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo david. The husband confirmed that his wife and Fr. Maghirang were having an affair last April after he spied on his wife’s “chat discussion” with the priest. He put an electronic gadget on the family’s computer to trace the conversation. In July, Bishop david assured the complainant that “we will take action.” But the complainant was not satisfied with the Church’s response. Frustrated with the Church’s slow action, the complaining husband filed in october an adultery and unjust vexation case against Fr. Maghirang. He has asked Church officials to defrock the offending priest in exchange for withdrawing the case. The situation in Pampanga is like a ticking time bomb. With dozens of abandoned children sired by priests, it could provide a major financial headache for the Church, if ever a class suit seeking compensation is filed. Among the 86 dioceses in the country, the bishopric of Pampanga boasts a singular honor: it has the highest incidence of priests engaged in extra-curricular affairs. Consider this: five priests have sought for dispensation—those grant-
Clergymen have their limitations, including weakness of the flesh.
A retired archbishop says more than a dozen clergymen in Pampanga are known to maintain lovers. According to a former lawmaker from Pampanga, who has extensive contacts with the Church, of the more than 100 priests there, more than half are having affairs.
San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto prays over former President Gloria Arroyo. ed dispensation are freed from their priestly duties and assume the life of an ordinary layman—while two have been suspended, which underscores the gravity of the situation. A retired archbishop said in an interview that more than a dozen clergymen in Pampanga are known to maintain lovers. A former lawmaker from Pampanga, who has extensive contacts with the Church, however said that of the more than
100 priests there, more than half are having affairs. In 2004, Newsbreak wrote about the twin “demons” facing the Church in Pampanga—fornication and gambling. We wrote that Pampanga priests indulge in sex and maintain families and children—a violation of their priestly vow. With lovers and children to support, they fall prey to the temptation of jueteng. At that time, we reported that 35
priests were having affairs, with 21 siring children. And they seemed not to practice any form of family planning as some had two or more kids. The situation in Pampanga is best illustrated by resigned Bishop Crisostomo Yalung who kept a long relationship with his lover and sired two kids while stationed in Makati. Another perfect example is Fr. ed Panlilio who went on to become a one-term Pampanga governor. Panlilio, who ran on a platform of moral reform, and considered running for the presidency, won despite the apparent contradiction with his priestly vow and secular life. Panlilio was reported to have at least been involved with five women. San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said Panlilio was stripped of his sacerdotal duties for violating the provisions of the Canon Law which prohibit men of the cloth from seeking elective posts. His suspension, however, did not mean he could violate his priestly vows. Whenever confronted by the media and his critics with having violated his vow of celibacy, Panlilio evaded giving a definite reply. His alleged affair with a provincial capitol employee hounded his of-
Edmonton Edition
fice. Pampanga local media would insinuate there was a conjugal partnership in the capitol. In Pampanga, being a priest is a privilege and a social status. This can be traced to the intense religiosity and strong Catholic faith of the Pampanga laity. Families send their children to the seminary to become priests and if no one in the family wants, they support poor boys by shouldering their tuition. Kapampangans revere their priests to the point of spoiling them. “They are treated like gods,” a former Pampanga House representative pointed out. While they hold their priests in high esteem, the Pampanga laity also realizes that their beloved clergymen have their limitations, including weakness of the flesh. In our interview five years ago, Aniceto said he did not know about the extra-curricular affairs of Fr. Cris Cadiang, a respected priest until, in a TV interview, he admitted siring two kids. Unlike Panlilio, Cadiang sought dispensation from his priestly vow but Aniceto refused to let him go. He wrote a second letter submitting his irrevocable resignation from the priesthood. But it appears his dispensation has not been formally approved. Cadiang, like Panlilio, sought political office in the May 2010 polls. He lost the vice mayoralty race in Angeles City. Interviews with his superiors show that he has remained a priest, although he has opted to get married. A priest who had secured dispensation remains a priest in the eyes of the Church, although he could no longer exercise his priestly duties. Fr. Maghirang case could end up like Cadiang’s, which has remained hanging. Aniceto told us that five priests have asked dispensation from the priesthood for violating their vow of celibacy and maintaining families. But this number pales in comparison with those who have opted to maintain two lives. These priests want to get out of priesthood and concentrate on their families. Aniceto said that as a rule, the Church does not provide support to the children of priests. doing otherwise would be tantamount to encouraging other priests to do the same, he said. In the case of Bishop Yalung, for instance, his two kids cannot reunite with their father. Yalung’s lover, Christine, has sought financial support which was declined by the Church. (rappler.com) n
Edmonton Edition
The Church has activities of its own all in commemoration of the patron saint’s feast. By CHERiE del rio
OR as long as I can remember, there is always going to be one day in January when my hometown, Lipa City, would hold a feast that’s grander than any other holiday celebration. Neither the Christmas noche buena nor the New Year’s media noche can rival the extravagant commemoration of the town fiesta. It seemed mandatory -- preparing four to five entrees for a daylong gaiety consisting of small talk over meals, traditional Filipino recipes, small tokens from the guests for the host, beer and pulutan, and videoke singalongs blasting through practically every household. Over the years, not much has changed with the fiesta merriments in the province of Batangas. The same sociological forces are at play: people feel the overwhelming pressure to prepare as many dishes as they can and invite friends from neighboring towns. all houses should be open to guests -- even those who actually live just next door and have a celebration of their own as well. January 20th is a legal holiday in Lipa City. This meant open houses, customary servings of afritada and adobo, terrible main road traffic, reunions of relatives and friends, and what could be an annual relinking with one’s hometown and roots.
Nostalgia for the nineties Back in the 1990’s, I remember citywide celebrations that only ran for a day or two. Highlighting the day’s activities would be the morning parade. The city’s major companies were represented by floats and mascots and they were showcased all around town The annual Mutya ng Lipa is a societal event highlighting family prominence, wealth, and beauty.
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THE FIESTA: FOSTERING FILIPINO TRADITIONS Over the years, the same sociological forces are at play: people feel the overwhelming pressure to prepare as many dishes as they can and invite friends from neighboring towns. All houses should be open to guests — even those who actually live just next door and have a celebration of their own as well.
MARCH 2012
accompanied by marching bands. a pageant was usually held before the fiesta and a coronation night served as the main event of the bisperas. The night’s stellar elegance was prelude to the next day’s pompous procession of the city’s biggest corporate names. During the mayoral leadership of now Governor Vilma santos, the activities leading to the fiesta were star-studded. The who’s-who in the Philippine showbiz industry were invited and the town plaza was always crowded. It didn’t matter what class you belonged to, the plaza was simply the hub of revelry and high spirits. Two mayors and many years later, the Lipeño fiesta was marked with lesser celebrities but certainly more arts and culture affairs. What used to be a day or two of variety shows was now stretched into weeklong or even a month’s worth of celebratory episodes. Because key retailers have now established themselves in the city, events were now held in shopping malls. Memorializing the fiesta meant more than just a day of preparing food and welcoming guests. Today, fiesta for Lipeños equaled mall activations and contests, parades and pageants -- a fusion of the traditional feast and the modern commemorative practices.
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Both the progressive city proper and the rural areas take part in the fiesta. In the city, families have explored non-traditional recipes in their fiesta menu. The upper classes would skip the cherished affair of cooking together as a family and employ catering services instead. In the rural sections of the town, old practices and traditions are more evident. Cooking and preparing for the fiesta are joint family efforts. Their dishes are far more conventional too. The afritada and the morcon will always be on the buffet table, along with a llanera of the leche flan and the gelatin.
Fascination with the fiesta The act of preparing a feast for the celebration is almost a necessity, a requirement from society. Failure to join in on the celebration is usually considered shameful, something that a family cannot possibly live down - something they would have to make up for the following year or perhaps in another upcoming celebration. A lot of Filipinos have taken to this practice: combining holidays and events into one grandiose occasion. This is also the reason why there are a lot of weddings and baptisms that are scheduled around the fiesta if not on the day itself. At the center of all the pressure to join the jollity, however, is the question of whether or not the townsfolk really know what they’re celebrating. While chopping carrots for the morcon, my aunt told the house help that she wasn’t really planning on hosting a feast this year. Unfortunately, she woke up that
SUDOKU
A packed dining area is always a characteristic of a town fiesta and it likewise reflects the relationships that are strengthened by the celebration. day with a sore throat and felt that it was Saint Sebastian’s way of letting her know that he was offended she wasn’t paying homage this year. The San Sebastian Cathedral, named after the city’s patron saint, has its own set of religious activities for the feast. But the said events don’t create as much buzz in the town as Holy Week church activities. As a result, residents pay more attention to government-initiated activations and consequently overlook the church’s efforts. This, I believe, leads to the failure of younger
Filipinos have a high regard for culture and tradition. They uphold family values through the observance of holidays like the fiesta.
citizens to recognize the real reason behind the celebrations. It is rather clichéd, in the same way that a lot of people forget the meaning of holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, but the fact remains that the recognition of the saint’s role in the festivities takes a back seat, if not altogether forgotten, to all the glamorous parades and luxurious buffets.
Sustaining traditions A typical Filipino family will partake in the fiesta regardless of their economic situation or whatever socio-cultural circumstances surround them. It does not matter if one belongs to a broken home, if one is unemployed, if one is facing a scandal or going through something equally tough and trying. It
is simply how Filipinos are -- they have a high regard for culture and tradition. They uphold family values through the observance of holidays like the fiesta. It is as though the townspeople feel that personal problems and economic tribulations are simply at a pause during this time of the year. When the day of the feast arrives, households will open their doors to guests and welcome them in, usher them towards the dining table, and -- even if just for a day – be a traditional Filipino family that exemplifies the highest form of hospitality. This is one of the major forces that not only bonds the Filipino family ties stronger but also redefines the culture and traditions, fostering the latter in the face of modernity. n
RULES: Place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell. Each row, column and 3x3 block bounded by bold line (9 blocks) contains all the numbers from 1-9
SoLution on pAge 25
Colorful floats representing Lipa’s various industries serve as the highlight of the fiesta’s morning parade.
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Jeepney art is a merry mix of religious icons, US symbols such as the American eagle and flag, and Hollywood superheroes.
By CAndiCE lopez-quimpo 3
N a dusty workshop in the town of angono, Rizal, just outside Manila, an artist glances up at a poster from the Disney animation “Tangled.” He compares it with the image of the film’s strong-jawed hero, which he is airbrushing onto the side of an old jeepney. The artwork has been commissioned by the owner of the jeepney, and will be a brash, ostentatious statement that he no doubt hopes will mark his vehicle out from every other. “This will be finished later today,” says Damaso Reyes, owner of Dasoy Motors, the small auto workshop charged with completing the design. Reyes will make a small profit for his work. For some, however, the scene here is a sign of the decay that is affecting Filipino jeepney art. Disney characters and US flags are now the commonplace stars of these colorful buses, when once they used to be mountains, rivers and other natural Filipino characteristics.
A humble passenger jeepney traversing the mean streets of Manila’s Quiapo district.
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JEEPNEYS
NEARING END OF A COLORFUL ROAD The iconic jeepney is losing its luster as owners ditch art to save cash. So now Manila’s streets are filled with naked metal carriages, packed with passengers but lacking the audacious designs of their predecessors.
additionally, from being one of the most enduring and endearing legacies from the time the US army spent in the Philippines during World War II, jeepneys are now in danger of losing their artistry altogether, as owners prioritize finance over flourish.
Proletariat artistry Virgilio Parcellano, a jeepney owner, says profit now comes before art. “The truth is, it’s not about how beautiful your jeep is,” he says. “These days it’s more of a race to get as many passengers as you can.” Parcellano points out that despite his love for his jeepney -- it has six antennae and two horns on its hood, the names of his children emblazoned on the windshield and fierce characters painted on the sides -- the design does little to raise the day’s earnings. Prettifying a jeepney costs up to 100,000 pesos (US$2,370), no small change for an owner who is earning around 7.5 pesos per passenger. as a result, many jeepney owners are saving that expense. Take alfredo Reyes (not his real name). His jeepney is jarringly plain, just daubed with a splash of paint and his route indicated on the sides.
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“People are being thrifty,” he says. “I’d rather save the money. This is why you see jeepneys that are ordinary, simply galvanized.” He explains that his jeepney has been constructed and is owned (he’s just the driver) by a new breed of micro-entrepreneurs. “This kind is made by the Igorots,” he explains. “They used to be drivers who saved their earnings and now assemble jeepneys.” He is referring to natives of the mountainous northern province of Ifugao, who have learned the trade but not the art. So now Manila’s streets are filled with naked metal carriages, packed with passengers but lacking the audacious designs of their predecessors.
“The truth is, it’s not about how beautiful your jeep is. These days it’s more of a race to get as many passengers as you can,” says Parcellano
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is nothing new to Filipinos. The United States didn’t just bequeath its army jeeps to the Philippines, it also introduced Hollywood and a love of show business. It’s the way that these modern, Western icons are forced to sit alongside traditional symbols that some Filipinos do not appreciate. “The image of Jesus is usually present, especially if the owner is Catholic,” explains Reyes. “For them, it is assurance of divine guidance. The strangest request we had
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was a black jeep decorated with images of demons. And bizarrely, on the door, we also had to paint an image of Jesus Christ.” “Jeepney art is a dying art,” complains Zarah Dominguez, a regular jeepney passenger. “A decorated jeepney gives me the impression that the owner takes care of his jeep and values it more than just as a source of income. He’s making a declaration that ‘This jeep is mine.’” This romantic ideal of the
jeepney is one many Filipinos cherish. Take a closer look at the bare, galvanized carriers, for instance, and amidst the blur of gray metal you can still occasionally spot a splash of color or a small sticker. Subtlety, however, is hardly what jeepneys are about, or why people love them.
More than buses For decades, countless nameless artists have used the jeepney as a canvas.
with was more original.” “When people started getting access to the Internet, they began printing different designs,” adds Damaso Reyes. This fondness for foreign culture
Western design infiltrates Even where jeepney design still exists, it’s now heavy with Western influences, like Disney’s “Tangled,” American flags, F1 logos and Western superheroes. “You could see the individual brush strokes on past pieces -- it felt local,” says Paul Catiang, a regular Manila jeepney passenger. “These days, I see reproductions of movie posters from abroad and cringe. I feel that the jeepney art I grew up
A driver patiently awaits the loading of passengers.
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Plain, bare and simply galvanized jeepneys are becoming a common sight, an indication of hard times. Left behind by the US Army after World War II, they were adopted by enterprising Filipinos who turned them into public utility vehicles. While they remain one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get around Manila and the Philippines -- they can access many innercity roads that are off-limits to buses -- they will also remain part of local life. But what if the loss of color from these characterful transports of delight that are a hallmark of the capital reflects something deeper altogether, such as a loss of Filipino character?
Riding in a jeepney can be a thrilling experience. Passengers often hang half out of the bus on rails at the back or sometimes sit on the roof. They zigzag on roads like they own them: a blur of color and metal. They cause traffic jams as they stop arbitrarily to let passengers on or off. Their artwork dresses a chunky piece of metal with unmistakable personality. If that disappears, so might the thrill of riding in these vehicles, that have historically been so much more than people carriers. (CNNGo.com) n
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