What makes March special?

March is just one month among the 11 other months of the year. For some, March is special; for others it is just but an ordinary month. Read about March and what it means- as seen through my eyes. Here is my Philippine Online Chronicles article: 

A March to remember

Saturday, 05 March 2011 05:00 PM Simon Francis Blaise R. Vistro

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What’s so special about March? What makes the month of March different from the other months? Here’s a trivia: March which was named after the Roman god of war was once the first month of the year during the ancient times. This is because in the Northern hemisphere, spring season (which associated with rebirth, renewal and regrowth) begins in the month of March.

Philippine history is replete with events that happened in March. Magellan discovered (or rediscovered depending on one’s standpoint) the Philippines on March 16, 1521. Pinoy novelty singer Yoyoy Villame’s song however had it wrong as it is in the uninhabited Homonhon Island, Samar where the Portugese explorer actually first set foot in the Philippines:

On March 16, 1521

When Philippines was discovered by Magellan

They were sailing day and night across the big ocean

Until they saw a small Limasawa island

Magellan landed in Limasawa at noon

The people met him very welcome on the shore

They did not understand the speaking they have done

Because Kastila gid at Waray-Waray man.

It is the first mass in the Philippines that was held at Limasawa, Leyte on March 31, 1521. Several years later, on March 15, 1565, the Sandugo or a blood compact was made between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Bohol as a sign of peace agreement.

The Tejeros Convention was held at Tejeros (now General Trias) in Cavite on 22 March 1897. This is considered as the first Presidential and Vice Presidential election in the history of the Philippines. In March 23, 1901, General Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela. The American colonial government considered this the end of the Revolution. On March 24, 1903, Meralco was granted franchise by the government to supply Manila and its environs with electricity and the electric street-railway system. The Tydings-McDuffie Act, otherwise known as the Philippine Independence Act, was signed into law on March 24, 1934.

Former President FVR with the author

Speaking of beginnings, March is the birthday month of our three former Presidents: Miong, JPL, and mykaluyagan (provincemate and idol) Tabako. Sadly, it is also the month when “My Guy”, arguably the best President we ever had, died. March also marked the publication of two important revolutionary works, Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere in 1887 and KKK’s secret newspaper, Kalayaan in 1896.

Read the full article here.

Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here. 

A love letter from me to Love on Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day and I decided to write a letter to Love. Love who drives us crrrazy and who makes us do a lot of things. It is the same Love who U2 sang In the name of, Michael Buble won a 2011 Grammy for and Madonna went Crazy for. It is the same love that launched a thousand wars and made a million peace, moved in mysterious ways, kept us alive, broke our hearts, healed and mended it, fall for once and all over again.   

Read on and Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Dear Love,

Una sa lahat pasensya na kung naistorbo kita. Alam ko busy ka ngayon kasi Valentine’s Day. Big day mo na naman tulad nung Christmas. Naalala ko yung laging mong sinasabi; “every day is a day of love.” Mahirap kaya kung araw araw na kinikilig at baka atakihin yung tao sa puso. Magkakahawig kasi kayong mga L siblings (Lust, Like, at Limerence) kaya madalas kayong napagpapalit ng mga pipol. Akala nila lahat kayo ay love. Pero hindi yan yung dahilan kung bakit ako sumulat. Hindi sentisabado ngayon o di kaya’y nagpapaka-Emo lang ako. Valentine’s kaya medyo nostalgic ako at naaalala ko yung mga “things I did for love.”

Naaalala mo yung nanood ako ng sine sa Elisa Cinema? High school ako nun at dalawa yung katabi kong maganda. Sabi ko sa iyo panahin mo yung chinitang kamukha ni Carmina Villaroel ngunit mali yata narinig mo at yung morenang kahawig ni Ara Mina ang tinamaan. Nadoble gastos ko nun sa pagbili ng chichirya. Tapos ako naman sinunod mong pinana na ang bisa ay umabot ng apat na taon. Dahil sa iyo nasubukan kong magtago sa ilalim ng bench ng canteen kasi chineck ni Sir Beloy yung mga lovers na baka naglalampungan habang naghihintay ng sundo. Buti na lang kayang sapawan ng Drakkar ang amoy ng pawis ko. Napaglakbay mo din ako ng kay layo kasi taga ibang bayan siya. Kung sabagay walang panama yun kasi pinaglakbay mo din ako ng Manila-Dagupan-Baguio-Dagupan sa iisang araw lang. Siya rin yung katelebabad ko sa analog cellphone mula boarding house sa Sampaloc hanggang makarating ako sa SM Sta. Mesa. Siya rin yung kausap ko telepono sa bahay ng mahigit isang araw (kain, ihi, ligo lang ng five minutes ang yata ang pahinga). Long distance call yun kaya huwag ka masyadong maingay baka maalala ni Ermats yun kasi umabot ng five digits yun bill. Malamang ganon din sa kanya kasi salitan kami kung tumawag. Oo siya yung mala-Chin-Chin Gutierrez ang beauty.

Dahil sa iyo ang dami kong natutunang tricks sa telephone. Sa payphone, phase-out na yung dalawang bente singkong sabay. Old school na yun. Yung piso napapaabot ko ng ilang oras na parang arcade game lang. Nadiskubre ko rin na pwedeng tawagan yung payphone. Hindi siya magriring pero kung sakto ka sa timing makakausap mo yung tumawag pagpindot mo ng “talk.” Free call at free text nung bago na ang cellphone? Updated ako dyan. 

Trinansform mo din ako na parang Adam Sandler pagdating sa pagjoke at pick-up lines. Madalas corny pero mabenta for how many years. Sari-saring jokes ang aking baon mula knock knock, use in a sentence, isda, superhero at kung anu-ano pa. PinakaClassic yung “Can I Test your IQ?” at “Do you want to see magic?” spiel ko sa lahat ng aking icebreaker repertoire. Alam kong effective ito kung may pakurot kurot at palo sa akin, hagikhik na may patakip-takip ng buong mukha at ngiti ng mga matang nagniningning. 

Hindi ako magaling kumanta pero napaharana mo ako sa cadaver lab sa Medicine Building ng UST at sa bahay nung babae sa QC. Kakuntsaba ko nun ang mga toles ko sa PSG. “Ako’y Sa Iyo at Ika’y Akin” ng I Axe ang aking kinanta at hanggang ngayon, ito lang ang kantang memorized ko. Ito rin ang lagi kong kinakanta sa videoke at mga acoustic bars. Praktisado na kumbaga at kahit papikit-pikit pa. Nakahiligan ko na rin ang makinig sa mga love songs. New Wave at Punk kasi talaga ang trip kong music e. Naging theme song ko ang “Closer You and I”, “Lost in Space” at “It Might Be You.” Di ba nung kasal ko ako din yun pumili ng mga mga kanta mula sa simbahan hanggang sa reception? Yung “Somebody” by Depeche Mode at “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin” ni Ariel Rivera pinarrange ko pa into acapella/chorale version. 

Natutunan ko ding magbigay ng mga bulaklak. Carnation kapag nagpapacute pa lang, red rose kapag in-love na, white rose kapag girlfriend na. Isang piraso kung ordinaryong araw lang tapos isusulat ko sa card ang “because it’s a Wednesday.” O kaya “Everybody is telling you: “Have a nice day.” Me? I am making it one. Tatlong bulaklak kung may okasyon. Isang dosena pagmay budget o di kaya Holland tulips pag medyo malaki ang kupit kay mader. Pati pag-arrange kinareer ko din noon. Bibili ako saDangwa tapos hihingiin ko yung mga kahon ng bulaklak (sa aking mga babaeng dormmates) na galing Esperanza’s, Anabel’s at Holland Tulips para magmukhang mamahalin ang regalo. May binigyan pa ako ng roses with matching card araw-araw kahit wala ako. Ilang araw ding direcho yun hanggang dumating ako sa “monthsary” namin. Salamat kay ate Imelda na naglalako sa may Dapitan gate ng UST. 

Naging style ko din yung bawasan ang regalong brownies o chocolates bago ibigay lalo na kung nanliligaw pa lang para hindi masyadong obvious na dead na dead ako sa kanya at para hindi isipin na may gayuma. Para kasing suhol ang gift kung nanliligaw ka lang. Mas “cute” kasi kung parang shinishare lang. Pinagluto mo rin ako at through the years na-enhance ko ito. Pogi points ang signature pasta recipe ko. Pinatapang mo din ako sa pagharap sa mga kapatid, magulang, lolo at lola ng iniibig ko. Ewan ko ba may magic ata ako sa mga nanay at mga lola at nakakasundo ko sila kaagad. 

Napasulat mo din ako ng mala-nobelang love letter na more than ten pages- back to back yun ha! Tatlong notebooks din ang aking naisulat na tula ng dahil sa saya at pighati. Sample? Eto yung sinulat ko dati pa isinali ko sa isang online contest:

As one walks along life’s journey, there will always be one who is said to be the one written in the stars… 

That one person who I have met along this journey is not just the one written in the stars, not just "The One", not just a part of the journey (relatively the best part), but the woman who to me is undeniably my Love and my Life… You!

Dahil din sa iyo kaya naging matakaw ako sa chocolates, pancit canton at kayang lumalaklak ng isang litrong Coke. Pati insomnia ko ikaw din ang dahilan. 

Huy, baka isipin mo na sinisisi kita o kaya nagcocomplain ha. Masaya lang kasing maalala ang mga bloopers at mga mushy stuff na ginawa ko noon. Spontaneous kasi. Masaya nga ako dahil sa aking mga karanasan at escapades na ipinamalas mo. Hinubog mo akong mabuti at ang dami kong natutunan sa iyo. Dahil sa iyo lalo akong naging mapagmahal. Masasabi ko nga that I have found true love at kung hindi dahil sa iyo hindi ko matatapuan si “The One.” 

O siya, sige na alam ko busy ka. Salamat sa pagbasa. Ayun o may dalawang nagpapaka-Ethan Hawke at Julie Delpy ng pelikulang Before Sunrise sa Twitter. Go, go, go, panahin mo na. Happy Valentine’s!

Nagmamahal,

SiRVis

Read the full article here.

Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here.

Pinoy's Love Affair with Basketball

Have you ever wondered why basketball is still the favorite sport of Pinoys? What makes basketball so endearing to us? I asked other people about their insights through facebook and twitter and collated their responses in Storify. I wrote about this at the Buhay Pinoy section of the Philippine Online Chronicles and entitled the article:

The Pinoy and basketball: " it must be love"

Thursday, 27 January 2011 12:00 PM Simon Francis Blaise R. Vistro

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Basketball is acknowledged by Wikipilipinas.org as the most beloved and popular entertainment in the Philippines and widely accepted to be the national sport of the Philippines. Its popularity has not waned despite the elusiveness of an Olympic basketball gold and increased spotlight on other sports. Boxing which has our national pride Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and football with the newest sensation and crowd darling Azkals team still pale in comparison to basketball as the Pinoy everyman's favored sport.  Basketball enjoys the bulk of support much to the consternation of other sports bodies. Our national basketball team "Team Pilipinas" or "Smart Gilas Pilipinas" for example is sponsored by Manny Pangilinan’s Smart Communications and organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Read the full article here.


Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here.

Who is Conrado Domingo?

Repost from: Philippine Online Chronicles Buhay Pinoy Channel

There is an old joke on the difference between a parachute and a condom that goes like this: When a parachute gets punctured, the man dies. When a condom gets punctured, the man (or baby) lives. While this may be funny to some people, those who are for natural family planning methods would frown on the attempt to make light  of a serious, nay, a life-and-death issue.

Seriously, because of the RH Bill, the condom has taken centerstage once again. The RH Bill or Reproductive Bill is about a national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development. Although the bill is not only about condoms and contraceptives, the section about it and its free distribution is one of the causes of controversy. It has become like a boxing bout of Pro-life versus Pro-choice part V or an unending bad B movie sequel. There are several RH bills filed by their respective proponents:

• House Bill 96 – filed by Rep. Edcel Lagman
• House Bill 101 – by Rep. Janette Garin
• House Bill 513 – by Reps. Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello
• House Bill 1160 – by Rep. Rodolfo Biazon
• House Bill 1520 – by Rep. Augusto Syjuco
• House Bill 3387 – by Reps. Emerenciana De Jesus and Luzviminda Ilagan, and
• Senate Bill 2378 - by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

There is no issue as divisive and as hotly debated at the moment in the Philippines as the RH Bill. It so hogs our attention that we have forgotten the other things that have beset the country, like the bungling of the Quirino grandstand hostage crisis, the Vietnam tactless gaffe, the fine tuned proclamations, the 5M DOT launch for ‘Pilipinas Kay Gaya gaya,’ education budget cut protests and even jueteng! We don’t even fret about a looming Korean war and a probable oil crisis.

The RH Bill issue is the story of Conrado Domingo and his family. Known as Condom to many, he strikes one as sleek, smooth and slippery. He is single and remains childless unless he sheds his skin (or gets punctured) sooner or later. He reeks with fruity fragrances such as strawberry, orange and banana. He loves mint and chocolate and comes in many colors. He is listed as small, medium, large and extra large depending on one’s endowments or givens. He is a stickler for safety and protection. He deactivated his twitter account when someone tweeted him “you suck!” His motto in life is “No Glove, No Love.” His high profile friends include L.A. Laker’s center, Pau Gasol and Risa Honteveros. He is active in the Manila party scene. His friends organizedExcommunication Party at Adarna Food and Culture, Quezon City for him.

He is unpopular to priests unlike his boring distant cousin Abner “Abs” Tain. Recently, he found a new best friend named Pope Benedict because of his work against HIV and AIDS. Bishops Oscar protested that the Church’s highest leader was only misquoted and his words were opportunistically misused. With this development,ProPinoy.net said in a prayer: “Thy condom come, thy pill be done.” Pro and Anti have swapped insults and called each other names: Satan and Damaso (a name Carlos Celdran was jailed for). To the Pro-RH Bill people, he is the savior of the 3P’s; pregnancy, population and poverty. To the Anti-RH Bill people, he and his family are evil, unconstitutional and unnecessary. Conrado Domingo enjoys the company of Filipino Freethinkers, Philippine Commission on Women and the Population Commission. Condom’s Uncle Seks Ed, a teacher by profession is the most controversial family member. This is because he wants to teach grade school children about the birds and the bees and the flowers and a lot more. They are the most talked about family, lately dislodging the Aquinos. People are divided on whom to side on.

Conrado Domingo enjoys popularity similar to the President’s according to latest Pulse Asia survey (False Asia to others). In anyone's stat index, a 69% favorable response is high and a morale booster.  The kinky number prompted @comm_larrazabal to tweet: “Isn't it coincidence that the percentage of people who favor the RH Bill is 69%?” There is no truth to the rumor that the high percentage is a result of Gloria Arroyo’s Anti-RH stand. Former President and now Congressman GMA is a co-author of House Bill 13 or an Act providing for the safety and protection of the unborn child. The principal author is Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez. Incidentally, the number 13 is considered unlucky.

Of course there are others objections. Filipino sports icon and newbie legislator Manny Pacquiao has verbalized  he is not a fan: “Hindi ako pabor sa RH… kasi marami kaming magkakapatid. Sa Bible wala naman sinabing limitahan ang bilang ng anak.” Paul Farol also opined that good education and a job with some upward mobility is a better contraceptive than whatever you can get over the counter or from health clinics.

Conrado Domingo has a lot of allies including House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the main proponents of the RH Bill. His Excellency President Aquino is also known and should be supported for “standing firm against the Catholic hierarchy in his advocacy for responsible parenthood and contraceptive use based on freedom of informed choice,” according to Lagman.

Conrado Domingo is not getting any younger, although some may protest he's ageless.  He pleads for wider acceptance and more influence. It is 2010 already. He’s tried and tested and no longer has to prove anything.  He’s been around even before Ferdinand Marcos’ 1967 PopCom. He feels he is important and believes that a law is needed to make him stronger. He welcomes the Department of Health’ plan dubbed “May Plano Ako” which is designed by the US in line with the country’s goal to achieve the country's Millennium Development Goals or MDGs. The positive thing that the RH Bill has achieved is the increased awareness.

This is the story of Conrado Domingo, RH Bill advocate. Are you with him?  Know before you say “No." Don’t just guess when you say “Yes.”

Photos are screen shots of the tweets of @Anthony_Andres, @comm_larrazabal and @blogwatchdotph.