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. 

Pozorrubio's Best: Beauty, Brawn and Blades

Pozorrubio has a lot to be proud of nowadays. Pozorrubio's best are world class! They have brought pride and accolades not just for the town and Pangasinan but the entire Philippines. The 3 P's (Pozorrubio, Pangasinan and Philippines) have 3 B's: Beauty, Brawn and Blades.

Beauty: Barbara "Barbie" Salvador, just won as Miss Cosmopolitan International 2010/11 (3rd runner up) in the Miss Tourism International 2010. 55 candidates represented their respective countries and competed in the pageant. 

Brawn:  Ana "Hurricane" Julaton, the World Boxing Organization Super Bantamweight Champion who is based in San Francisco, California has Filipino roots in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.

Blades: Blade Culture International (BCI) in Brgy. Palacpalac, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan made the swords and blades used in blockbuster films like Lord of the Rings, Braveheart and Batman Begins.

These are welcome development as to veer away from the negative stereotype of the town  associated with tangay-tangay.




Photos of Barbara Salvador and Ana Julaton by Willie Lomibao 

PLDT TelPad - World's 1st Tablet Landline!

I came all the way from Dagupan City to attend PLDT’s product launch on December 13, 2010. I arrived early as traffic was light to moderate along EDSA going to the SMX Convention Center. When I arrived I felt that there was something mysterious and exciting about PLDT’s newest product. Nobody knew what the hoopla was all about until the launch. I was able to talk to Dodie Lucas, PLDT Assistant Vice President for Retail marketing and Media who warmly welcomed me and other guests before the event started. He told me that the details of the product launch were top secret to avoid leakage and to keep it from the competitors. He gave a hint that their product was an innovation. From that moment I knew this was something big.  

Before the PLDT TelPad Launch

And BIG it was! 

PLDT launched what is touted as the World’s First Landline and Tablet in one!

PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan

PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said: “Before the past 82 years, PLDT has been providing connections to millions of Filipinos. And since it’s about time that PLDT takes the initiative to ignite, to inspire and to innovate. Behind that is the conviction that there is a future to our landline business but as well we need to introduce a new product. It is a digital solution to communicate the supposed plain old voice system or the plain old telephone system of past that is radical and revolutionary in the same time and be able to change the way you communicate, be able to change lives - that is a game changer and market shaker as well. It is really a smarter device that Filipinos can now use. In that light, we at PLDT are very proud to bring to the Philippines the world’s first by introducing the PLDT TelPad.”

@SiRVis: The PLDT Telpad is a game changer and market shaker - MVP

The other top honchos of PLDT enthusiastically shared their take on the product:

Napoleon L. Nazareno, President and CEO

“We are reshaping the future of the landline and we are starting to bring it to the market now” - PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno.

“We have reinvented the landline to take on the emerging digital lifestyle and the growing consumer appetite for rich multi-media content” - Dan C. Ibarra, Retail Business Group Head


“We’ve packed the PLDT TelPad with features that will dramatically change how we use landlines” - Eric R. Alberto, Senior Vice President and Head of CSMG

From L-R: Dan C. Ibarra, Retail Business Group Head; Napoleon L. Nazareno, President and CEO; Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman and Eric R. Alberto, Senior Vice President and Head of CSMG

The PLDT TelPad is “Landline Reborn.” It has all the services (that PLDT offers) you need in one device.

@SiRVis: PLDT just launched the World's 1st Landline and Tablet in one - the #PLDT #TelPad!

During the event, I tweeted PLDT just launched the World's 1st Landline and Tablet in one - the #PLDT #TelPad!  

Patrick Tang, PLDT Vice President for Retail Voice

Patrick Tang, PLDT Vice President for Retail Voice presented to the launch participants the features of the PLDT TelPad. It has built-in widgets and apps digital games like the highly popular Angry Birds. It can also access PLDT's portals such as PLDT@Home, askPLDT and others powered by PLDT's MyDSL. The PLDT Telpad is portable, a multimedia player, a web browser, equipped with innovative applications and downloadable apps from the Google android app store.

Paolo Lopez, PLDT Assistant Vice President for Retail Data Usage

Paolo Lopez, PLDT Assistant Vice President for Retail Data Usage explained the PLDT TelPad's integration with askPLDT which allows the user to check out latest deals from establishments in what he calls a Virtual village- schools, malls, spas hospital and government institution. This innovation is the personalization of the telephone once again.

I'm sure everyone was so elated with PLDT's new product so I elicited responses from the launch participants. 

Roland Vasquez, from RPV Electrotechnology Philippines

Roland Vasquez, from RPV Electrotechnology Philippines was impressed with the tablet's landline integration. When I was talking to him, he was trying out the landline feature.

Kelly Misa

Kelly Misa, a Filipina model and TV host loves the gaming features (Plants and Zombies is her favorite) of the PLDT TelPad to while her away from her busy schedule.

You can also plug it in a LCD/LED monitor and play online games as demostrated by a PLDT employee. Wow!

I asked Joy, one of the demo assistants on what feature of the PLDT TelPad impressed her. She said it is the portability of the device, utilization of her favorite social networking sites and chatting applications.

@SiRVis: This tweet was sent using a PLDT Telpad

Of course I tried the PLDT TelPad and I was drooling the whole night! I even tweeted using it.

To cap the show, Eurasia and Side A entertained the crowd who stayed until past 12.

Without further ado...

The Star of the Launch, The PLDT TelPad! The PLDT TelPad has a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, Android 2.2, 2GB internal capacity, SD/USB slots, HDMI, and a 2MP front camera. The service starts at Plan 1849 (1Mbps), Plan 2099 (1.5Mbps), Plan 3095 (2.5Mbps), and Plan 4100 (3.5Mbps). If you already have an existing PLDT myDSL plan, just add P500 on top of your monthly bill to upgrade to get the TelPad. Click here for Application for Reserving a Telpad Unit.

@SiRVis: PLDT TelPad - landline reinvented. The world's first tablet landline!

I can't wait to have one!

Like the PLDT Telpad at the PLDT TelPad Facebook Fan Page. Visit the Official PLDT Telpad Microsite. Click here for Application for Reserving a Telpad Unit.

Video and photos by SiRVis  

Major major celebration of National Heroes Day

Repost from: Philippine Online Chronicles

“Sino-sino ang mga kilala mong bayani?”

Ito ang aking tanong sa iba’t-ibang taong nakakasalamuha ko. Ito rin ang nilagay kong status sa Facebook ko. Gusto ko kasing malaman kung kilala ng karamihan ng mga kababayan natin ang ating mga bayaning nagbuwis ng sariling buhay para sa minamahal nating bansang Pilipinas. Ito na rin ang aking paraang ipagdiwang ang Pambansang Araw ng Bayani -- ang gunitain at kilalanin ang kadakilaan nila.

Ang “generic” na kasagutan sa aking tanong ay si Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Salutatorian naman siAndres Bonifacio. Sabi ko ang daya naman puro silang dalawa na lang lagi ang sikat. May sarili na nga silang ‘araw’; Nobyembre 30 kay ‘May-pagasa’ at Disyembre 30 kay ‘Laong Laan.' Idol si Pepe kasi makulay ang “lovelife” nito at gradweyt nga naman ito ng Ateneo. Napakahusay pa nya at maihahantulad sa mga banyaganggeniuses tulad nila Einstein, Da Vinci at MacGyver. “Winner” naman si Supremo kasi simple lang siya, galing sa mahirap na pamilya at palaban pa! Pangmasa ang appeal nya. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit idineklara ang huling Linggo ng Agosto bilang Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani (National Heroes Day) sa bisa ng Batas 3827 ng taong 1931. Naisip siguro ng may-akda ng batas na karapatdapat na magbigay pugay at maalala ang ibang bayani at may sariling araw na si Jose Rizal at Andres Bonifacio. Ito rin ay para mabigyan liwanag ang mga Pinoy na mayaman at mahalaga ang ating kasaysayan. Na ang mga bayani ay malaking haligi ng ating pagkaFilipino at karapatdapat tularan upang maging mabuting mamayanan. Ngayon, dahil sa bisa ng “Holiday Economics Law” ang Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani ay ginaganap tuwing huling Lunes ng Agosto.

Sa pagsagot sa aking katanungan, ako’y nakatanggap ng sari-saring sagot. Dahil ang Pinoy ay mahilig sa katatawanan, marami rin ang sumagot ng kalokohan sa aking tanong. Naalala ko tuloy yung mga lumang “jokes” noong nasa high school pa ako. Sino ang seksing bayani? Si Techie Agbayani. Sino ang mag-amang bayani? Bayani Casimiro Sr. at Bayani Casimiro Jr. Sino ang bayani na may kapatid na ‘Bagets’? Hero Bautista. Sino ang pinakabayani sa lahat? Bayani Agbayani!

Hindi bayani ang unang Filipinang na-feature sa Playboy. Hindi bayani ang nagpauso ng mala-national anthem na song and dance hit noong 2003 na ‘Otso Otso.' Hindi rin kasama dito ang dating MMDA Chairman na tumakbo bilang bise president. Transformer siya, hindi bayani. Lalong hindi bayani ang utol ni Mayor Bistek o kaya yung first “Grand Questor” at dating kalove team ni Sandara Park. Hindi rin kasali ang tinaguriang “Fred Astaire of the Philippines” at ang kanyang anak na si “Prinsipe ng Kahilingan." Bayani lang sila sa pangalan. Ang sukatan ng pagiging bayani ay sa kanilang kakaibang ginawa para sa bayan. Hindi lang dugo’t pawis ang ibinigay ng mga ito kungdi prinsipyo at buhay.

Bakit tila hindi natin kilala ang ibang mga bayani? Alam lang natin na may walang pasok kapag National Heroes Day. Malling na naman ang gimik natin, outing sa probinsya o kaya sa Hongkong kasi long weekend ito. Bakit nga ba parang ‘Da Who’ sila sa ating kaisipan? Marahil ay tulog tayo nung itinuro ng iyong guro sa APan ang mga bayaning ito. Siguro binalewala lang natin ito at mas mainam bilangin ang wrong grammar at mannerism ni Ma’am. O kaya abala tayong parang “Matrix” na umiiwas sa ‘talsik laway’ ni Sir. Mas “memorized” natin ang mga kaganapan sa showbiz. Naglipana ba naman ang mga showbiz talk show at teleseryeng inaabangan. Mas sikat ka nga naman kapag alam mo ang latest sa “The Buzz” at sa Ruby o Rosalinda. Wala nga namang panama kila Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Judy Ann Santos at Marian Rivera sa kasikatan ang mga “forgotten heroes”. Binaon na ba natin sila sa limot o sadyang hindi natin alam kung sino sila? Hindi na ba natin sila binibigyan ng kahalagahan kasi bahagi na sila ng nakaraan? Kilalanin natin ang ating mga pambansang bayani. Pagaralan at ipagbunyi ang kanilang katapangan at kagilagilalas na kuwento ng buhay nila.

Huwag mong sabihin hindi mo kilala si Magdalo (Hindi yung grupo ng mga sundalong mahilig sa mga hotels). Baka hindi mo alam, si Miniong (tawag sa kanya nung bata pa siya) ay isa sa mga haligi ng Katipunan at unang presidente ng ating bansa (pinakabatang presidente-29 taong gulang at ang may pinakamahabang buhay- 94 taong gulang nung namatay). Siya ang nagdeklara ng ating kalayaan noong Hunyo 12, 1898. Siya yung nasalimang pisong papel na drinowingan mo noong 90’s ng shades at nunal at para magmukhang Randy Santiago. Tama ka. Si Emilio Aguinaldo ang tinutukoy ko.

Sino ang nagsulat ng constitution para sa Unang Republika ng Pilipinas noong 1899-1901 na siya ring sinasabing “utak ng Katipunan”? Mahirap matandaan ano? Pero kung sabihin kong siya yung lumpong bayani o kaya’y tinawag na “Sublime Paralytic”, mas makikilala natin si Apolinario Mabini. Nakakalungkot na mas naalala natin siya dahil sa kanyang kapansanan kaysa sa kanyang kagalingan at kadakilaan.

Ang susunod na bayani ay ang birthday boy ngayong Agosto 30 (National Heroes Day ngayong taong 2010). Siya ay idolo ng mga journalists sapagkat siya ang founder ng Diariong Tagalog at naging editor ng La Solaridad. Kilala bilang Plaridel na siyang pen name nya, si Marcelo H. Del Pilar ay isa sa mga lider ngPropaganda Movement isang grupo ng mga bayaning manunulat na ang kanilang mga isinulat ay siyang naging inspirasyon ng Philippine Revolution.

Pambansang bayani din ang Mindanaoan na si Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat. Siya ay kinatakutan ng mga Kastila. Hindi nya pinasakop ang kanyang lugar. Alam mo yung Spoliarium? Hindi yung kanta ng Eraserheads ha kungdi yung malaking painting sa may National Museum. Si Juan Luna ang lumikha nito. Isa siyang Ilocano at ‘ka-berks’ ni Jose Rizal. Mayroon din mga babaeng bayani: si Gabriela Silang ang unang babaeng nag-aklas laban sa mga Kastila at si Melchora Aquino o Tandang Sora, ang ina ng KKK at bayani na nasa ‘singkong duling’. Isama na rin natin si Gregoria de Jesus ang ginang ng Supremong Andres Bonifacio na nagtatatag ng tsapter ng kababaihan ng Katipunan.

Kamakailan, lumabas ang pangalan ni Tarik Soliman.  Siya daw ang batang-batang Pilipino na taga-Macabebe, Pampanga, na namatay sa pakikipaglaban sa mga Kastila sa Battle of Bangkusay noong 1571.  May mga talang nagsasabi na siya ng kaunaunahang martir ng paghihimagsik laban sa dayuhan.

Marami pang ibang bayani. Kasama dito ang mga namatay ng hindi man lang nabigyan ng pagpugay o kaya ay nakilala. Magbasa tayo ng libro ng kasaysayan, magsearch sa WikiPilipinas o Filipiniana.net at palawigin ang ating kaalaman at pagmamahal sa Inang Bayan. Bigyan mo kasi ng pansin ang mga pangalan ng mga kalye at bayan. Kadalasan sa isang bayani ipinapangalan ang mga yan. Tingnan mo ang pera mo bago gastusin.

Nandyan ang mga mukha ng mga bayani. Nawa’y ang Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani ay magsilbingpaalaala sa mga ginawa ng mga bayani ng Pilipinas pati na rin upang hikayatin ang mga nakababatang henerasyon upang tularan ang karakter ng mga taong ipinaglaban ang bayan. Ang selebrasyon na ito ay bahagi rin ng pagdiriwang ng Cry of Pugadlawin. Enjoyin natin ang holiday! Ipagdiwang natin ang Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani ng “major major” (bonggang bongga) sapagkat ito ay narararapat para sa ating mga bayani.

Yosi, I Quit Quitting You See

Reposted from: The Philippine Online Chronicles Buhay Pinoy Section.

My first ‘puff’ of yosi came when Papa (during his ‘one case of beer slash five packs of cigarette per day’ phase) asked me to buy cigarettes from the gareta of Kuya Carlos and to have one stick lighted by the owner of the store. On the way back from the store which is about 50-60 meters from the house, I observed that the cigarette’s light was about to go off -- so I curiously puffed the cigarette and the rest is history.

Today, I still smoke but only because it goes soooo well with that bottle of ice-cold beer. I can no longer count how many times I attempted to quit. So I quit trying to quit as I live my life ala Harvie Krumpet who said ‘Life is like a cigarette. Smoke it to the butt.’

If you ask the smokers and ex-smokers, they could vividly remember their first yosi. It could be a story of curiosity, peer pressure, wanting to look more mature or macho, or that ‘rebel without a cause,’ full of angst puberty. All it takes is that first stick and the nicotine does its magical and evil work. Each has his/her reason for continuing to smoke -- social status, the feeling of being ‘in’, masculinity and to the famous ‘anti-stress’ chuva. Or is it the irresistible nicotine fix?

Smoking is part of the Filipino psyche. The tobacco industry has penetrated the socio-economic and political systems in the country. It is part of our history. Spaniards brought tobacco to the Philippines through the galleon trade. The tobacco monopoly was established in 1782, which generated for the Spaniards a huge amount of money that strengthened their military might. It is even said that during that time there were more people converted to smoking than to Christianity. The Katipuneros who went against the Spaniards and Americans had cigarettes with the KKK emblazoned in the pack. Smoking emboldens them to fight while at the same time thecigarillo wrapper served as recruitment propaganda. We have tobacco plantations in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan valley and it has been a big industry up to now. Our economy has been a beneficiary of the taxes even before it was labeled as ‘sin.’ I can even remember Bai Osao, my paternal grandmother smoking tobacco (with the lit part of the stick inside her mouth) while telling stories or doing house chores.

Smoking marginalizes the smoker in one way or the other. It is unpopular. It has been associated with defiance, rebelliousness and nonconformity. With all the diseases associated with smoking, it is considered plain suicide. In the olden times, a chain smoker who smokes in a balete tree is called a kapre. During the Spanish occupation, it symbolized slavery and exploitation. The French say ‘fumer c’est etre l’esclave du tabac’ which, translated, means ‘smoking is like being tobacco’s slave.’ It is addictive and smokers become slaves literally and metaphorically. Men who smoke are labeled as ‘astig,’ ‘barumbado,’ and ‘amoy ashtray.’. Women who light up are branded as ‘liberated,’ ‘pa-sosyal,’ and ‘pasaway.’

Yes, there are 18 million Filipinos who smoke. 18 million marginalized citizens. Smokers are blamed for variety of reasons: global warming, air pollution and the stereotyped smoker’s disease - lung cancer. Mind you, not all lung cancers are smoking-related. Smokers are called names- ash tray breath, pugoneros, sunog baga, ‘smokers are jokers,’, and plain stupid. Smokers are discriminated and stigmatized. Some companies prefer to employ non-smokers.

The Philippines is a tough place for smokers. I could still remember the early ‘90s when one could buy cigarettes in the school canteen. Smoking inside the conservative Dominican run U.S.T. Main Building was once tolerated. Now, you could not even buy cigarettes within a 100-meter radius of any Manila school. Gone are the TV commercials which featured cowboys, sportsmen, and the man who, with the snap of his fingers, always magically saves the day. Today, all we have are commercials that promote vanity and obesity and endorsements by politicians and their kin. Smoking used to be a symbol of high status and taste; now it is an indicator of poverty and lack of self-control. I read in Michael Tan’s Pinoy Kasi column that jeepney and taxi drivers say they smoke ‘because life is hard.’

The war against smoking has escalated. RA9211 is in full force. Almost all cities and towns have their own anti-smoking ordinances. The imperial forces of anti-smoking unleashed their best soldiers, Yosi Kadiri and Mr. QuitsS. Excise tax is on a rampage. Smokers are scorned and relegated to smoke outside buildings, cramped spaces and in parking lots. One casualty is Tanauan City, which got the flak for naming a street after a cigarette brand.

The anti-smoking war though is not totally one-sided. In fact the tobacco industry recently won a round. Truth is, the government warning in the pack of cigarette: ‘Smoking is dangerous to your health’ does not really work. Who believes the government anyway? Raising sin taxes is not enough. The e-cigarette is just a fad. Outcasting the smoker could work for and against smoking.

Smokers are people. Smokers have rights too. It’s their choice to poison their lungs and succumb to whateverdisease smoking thrusts on them. Raising hell over Ardi Rizal, the two year old Sumatran kid who smokes is a desperate attempt. This is not the fault of the millions who puff their lives away in reckless abandon but the parents who allowed this to happen in the first place. Maybe they wanted to be discovered on youtube. Talk about what 15 minutes of fame could push people to do.

Do not push smokers. If banded together as a marginalized sector and with the imperfect if not hilarious party list system that we have, those who enjoy their yosi could form Sunog Baga Party. If Mikey can represent security guards and become a congressman, why can’t I for example represent the marginalized smoking society?

Quitting is hard. Quitting smoking is in itself stressful. The most convenient (although not the best) way to curb stress is to put that yosi between the index and middle finger, light it up, and puff away. Just ask PNoy. I pity him as people incessantly bug him to quit. He doesn’t hold the fate of the nation in a stick of cigarette, no? Or does he?

To bring back smokers to the fold is to help them quit. It is not an easy task and nagging them to death will not help. Marginalizing them won’t work either. We are a rebellious nation, aren’t we? Provide a health care system that renders quality and compassionate care. Make the situation conducive to quitting by providing support services. Quitting should be gradual. Undoing habits takes a long time and needs patience. The smokers are actually pawns in this war between the big tobacco industry and the anti-smoking movement. They need understanding. This is not just a health issue but also socio-economic and political. Hate the smoke. Love the smoker. As they say: ‘if you can’t stop smoking, cancer will.’

(̅_̅_̅_̅(̅_̅_̅_̅_̅_̅_̅_̅_̅̅_̅()ڪ

Photo: from http:/media.photo.bucket.com