D I S S E C T I O N S

BatJay: Trailblazing with True Filipino Humor

2008-04-12T04:39:00.000+08:00

BatJay is only a monicker. But what a famous monicker it is! His real name is Nicanor David, Jr. Blogging since September 2001, his antics, adventures, and misadventures began when he was still in Singapore. Today, he is a multi-awarded blogger widely-read by most Filipinos, both here and abroad. He is one of the select few bloggers who has managed to snag a book publishing deal, or made a "blook," to use the modern term.

After five years of blogging, he published Kwentong Tambay, an anthology of his earlier blog posts mainly with Singapore as setting. It was a bestseller. Today, two years later, he is launching blook #2, Mga Kwento ng Batang Kaning Lamig, which includes his present adventures in sunny California. One day before he left the US to go to Singapore and then Manila to attend his second book launching in Bonifacio Global City's Fully Booked on April 14, 2008, I was able to catch up with him and squeeze in some quick questions. He gladly obliged, and here are excerpts:

DR. EMER: How did the term "BatJay" come about? Are you a fan of the Dark Knight (the Batman)?

BATJAY: I am a big fan of the Dark Knight. I love the avenging hero who isn't for truth, justice and the American way. Batman does have a lot of issues and he's probably boderderline mad. He doesn't see the world in black and white and I like that. I've been a Batman fan ever since I was a kid. I remember my Dad used to take me to Santa Cruz to buy Batman comics. So yes, I guess BatJay came from my love for Batman. A friend of mine asked me once why a Doberman is called a Doberman and not a Doberdog. I don't know why I suddenly thought of that. But now that I've mentioned it, if I were a dog, I'd probably call myself DoberJay.

But how come in most photos found in your blog you are always seen with that Spiderman action figure?

The Spiderman action figure is for my "Where in the World is Spiderman" website. I wanted to take pictures of all the places I travel to on business and the Spiderman doll, I thought, is a good point of reference that link the pictures of the different places I visit. Why Spiderman? When I thought of doing the website, they were showing the Spiderman movie in Singapore and so it was the cheapest action figure in the toy store that I could find.

How about "Unkyel BatJay"? Who is he? How and why was he invented?

Good question. I believe this is the first time that anyone has ever asked me about the origin of "Unkyel BatJay". It's a tip of the hat to my dad, Uncle Nick. He was popular during the 60s and 70s and had a popular radio show called "Maala-ala mo kaya" where people would write him and ask about advice, often about love. He would read the listener's letter on radio, give his advice, and play a song the sender requested. Whenever I do a "Dear Unkyel BatJay" post, it's a tribute to my Dad whose radio show always started with the Maala-ala Mo Kaya instrumental theme song then he'd say in his low sexy voice, "Dear Uncle Nick, bago po ang lahat, hayaan ninyo munang batiin kayo, sampu ng inyong mahal sa buhay..."

"Four years in Singapore, two years in California." This is your opening line in your second blook. You've said there were "highs" and there were "lows." Would you have left our God-forsaken country if it offered better opportunities?

Four years in Singapore, two years in California --- that's been our life as OFWs (overseas foreign workers), so far. It's like I am looking at my life right now and I am trying to measure if it was well-spent, all things considered. I probably wouldn't have left if I had what I wanted. I did have a great career and I loved my work and the company I worked for in the Philippines. It was just not enough. The main consideration then was finding a way that would enable us to make our house payments. While I was mulling about that, I got a call from a friend who was willing to hire me in Singapore all-expenses paid. It was a no-brainer. I packed my bags and left. Jet [his loving wife] followed me a couple of months later.

Would you encourage others to follow the same adventure you have taken?

Would I encourage others? I'd probably say work locally a few years to pay your dues and gain experience. If you think that it works for you, then stay; if it doesn't, then try to find a company who is willing to give what you think you are worth. It means, more often than not, going abroad, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way every time.

Are you happy you left?

Yes. My only regret is that I don't see my Mom on a regular basis and I miss the humor and the food. But now, we live in a place that's safe, I have a job I love, the weather is great, and I have lost a lot of weight. You win some, you lose some.

Like in your blog, your stories in the second blook are adorned with rich and flowery titles. Before I thought you were only a Beatles fan. Now I see you also like Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Nash, and famous figures like St. Augustine and Benjamin Franklin. Can you explain the reason(s) behind the unusual titles?

People rarely comment about the title of the posts in the blog and the book. That's too bad because that's a point of discussion in itself. I do make a conscious effort to put quotes of obscure songs and bits of poetry here and there. They are related to the post either implicitly or explicitly. I think it's just a nice way to start an entry. I probably took that idea from Carl Sagan. All the chapters of his books start with a quote from someone relevant or irrelevant to the topic but they make sense once you read the entire chapter.

Jun Cruz Reyes calls your work a "biographical creative non-fiction." He hesitates to call it an essay, poetry or short story. I think you have stumbled on a new, modern style of writing. You have refused to be assimilated, and clearly, you have proven that resistance is not futile.

One of my favorite graphic novel authors, Lynda Barry (who is part Pinoy), calls her work "autobifictionalography". I think it is the same as Jun Cruz Reyes' "Biographical Creative Non-Fiction" description. It's a new and modern style of writing, I agree, and I discovered that style when I started writing about my life. Incidentally, Jun Cruz Reyes uses my book as required reading in his graduate class at UP [University of the Philippines]. Not bad for a non-writer like myself.

That's how great ideas are discovered. You begin by being different. How do you feel about being a non-conformist?

Being a non-conformist, i.e., not writing in a style that most people use? Yes, that's probably true. First is deciding to use a voice that you normally hear in street corners (tambayan) in the Philippines in a language that's vulgar and unapologetic Pilipino. I find writing in Pilipino better --- it hits harder, it touches the soul in a manner that can't be done in another language, and the humor just can't be translated in English. How do say, "Ang Mga Kwento ng Batang Kaning Lamig" in English? JMom's "Stories of the Cold Rice Kid" came close but it's not the same.

Bloggers like you are now more hopeful to see themselves published. Would you encourage them? How does one get published?

Like all things the good things that have happened in my life, the book deal just fell on my lap. I wouldn't know what to say if somebody asked me for tips on how to get published except to say, just write.

What can you say about the Filipino's sense of humor? Does it help our nation's economy?

The Pinoy's sense of humor doesn't help our nation's economy. It does ease the pain of the negative effects of our nation's economy. We do treat our woes with a lot of humor. It's like giving a big dirty finger to all the people who were responsible for the problems of our country. It's like saying, "You motherf**kers, we'll be here long after you're dead!"

Sol Gabetta: Extraordinary Cellist

2007-04-26T00:34:00.000+08:00

The usual expectation is that a young, talented and musically-inclined lady would play either the violin or the piano. Not the lovely and brilliant Sol Gabetta. At 26, she is hailed as one of the greatest talents in classical music today as she passionately plays her violoncello all over the world. Her parents are Russian-French, and she was born in Cordoba, Argentina in 1981. She first played the cello when she was four, and has never looked back since.

Among her numerous awards are those given by the Radio Suisse Romande in Geneva, and the Natalia Gutmann Award for best musical interpretation in the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. In 2003, she was awarded a a fellowship from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, and in 2004, she won the Credit Suisse Group Young Artist Award, which gave her the right to play in a concert with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Valery Gergiev at the 2004 Lucerne Festival. Last year, she made her debut disc for Sony with the Munich Radio Orchestra, under the baton of Ari Rasilainen of the works of Tchaikovsky and Ginastera.

The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), a major daily newspaper based in Zürich, Switzerland, and considered one of the oldest newspapers in the world has described Sol's performance as "powerfully intoxicating; with her instrument she seems to be deeply bonded." Today, thanks to Hans K. Rahn, a generous donor, Sol is blessed to play a 1759 cello made by the great Giovambattista Guadagnini, the great cello maker, and to this date, less than a hundred of his cellos survive. In this interview, she reveals how she loves "hugging" her cello.

Sol's schedule is full until the end of the year as she performs in numerous concerts in major cities all over the world. My only wish is that she will come to Manila one day to play. Meanwhile, she was gracious enough to take a break from her busy schedule and engaged me in the following interview:

DR. EMER: When did you realize that music will be your career?

SOL GABETTA: Music, for me, is like breathing! Music was always in my life, in my family...I started to play music when I was 3 years old. I played piano, violin, clarinet, and cello until I was 8. After this, I made a choice and the cello was the winner!

Of all the musical instruments, why did you choose the cello?

The cello is the instrument with the most beautiful "timbre." The cello sound can be compared to the human voice! It is also for me a very easy instrument to play...you take the cello in your arms, in your legs, with the all your body...like when you love someone really so much!!!

Who is your favorite classical artist, and why?

There's a lot of musical personalities who I admire, and it is almost impossible to choose one of them. For me, it is like asking a mother which of her children does she love more? Each of them has something special, something unique, which is true for all the persons in the world.

But I like Yo-Yo Ma very much. Like a cellist, he is open to everyone, everything and all different cultures, that for me, is a wonderful principle.

I also learned a lot from conductors, pianists, and singers in my musical life! But I think a real musician is someone who can express his music in many different ways.

How do you spend your time when you are not playing or performing in a concert?

I have less free time, but I have a house in Switzerland surrounded by pure nature. It is a dream place for me! I love to walk in the mountains, and do some sports.

Not everyone can understand and appreciate classical music. What do you think should a classical artist like you to win more people to listen and love classical music?

I receive a lot of mails from young people who were in my concerts...some of them are pop musicians, some of them are small children, and some of them are just like me --- a normal young person who is 26 years old, who has a chance to communicate this wonderful language to all my friends....the public are all my friends! They are all impressed by the immense power of classical music!

I think we have a wrong idea of classical music. Classical music can be fun if you know how to present the music in a way evryone understands it. Classical music is also made for young people, and that's why I love this music --- this energy, this power, this lyrical force!!

Any pop song favorites? Who are the pop artists you most often listen to?

I don't listen so much pop music, but I like them, too!

How much passion do you give in your concerts?

As much as I have and as I can!

In your experience, what classical musical piece did you find to be the most challenging or the most difficult to play?

In chamber music, one of the more complex pieces that I played until now was maybe Schönberg Kammer Symphonie for piano, cello, flute and clarinet (there are also other versions of this piece) but also another much longer and musical difficult piece is Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps. In the cello repertoire, one of the most technical difficulties is Sergei Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante, or the Symphony-Concerto in E minor.

I have seen your schedule and I know you are busy until the end of the year, and probably in the years to come. Do you think you still have time attending to your personal concerns --- spending time with family, going out with friends, getting married?

Of course! I love my family and my friends. It is always possible to find time for all the people you love! I must learn to organize my schedule just to find time for me too....just to be in the terrace of my wonderful house, and read a book for example, or just look at the birds singing....those experiences all bring me to another world of emotions.

Is there any chance you would have a concert and play in Manila, or nearby southeast Asian cities in the future?

I will love to visit your country. I hope to really come soon! I will have concerts this Summer in Japan, in Tokyo and other cities, from 24 till 30 July 2007. Come to visit my concerts! You are always very welcome!

On the Net: Sol Gabetta's Official Website

Dr. Martin D. Bautista: Making A Difference

2007-03-12T04:00:00.000+08:00

Dr. Martin D. Bautista, 44, used to be a practicing Filipino gastroenterologist in Oklahoma, USA for 17 years, but recently decided to return home to the Philippines to run for Senator in the coming May elections this year.

A foolish decision? Highly-esteemed pundits like Conrado de Quiros and Katrina Legarda do not think so. In fact, they think he is doing this country a great service by making a difference when it really matters.

Dr. Bautista always had the Philippines in his mind while abroad. A few years ago, in a TV program hosted by Ann Curry about Asian Americans in the US, Dr. Bautista was quoted saying that not returning to the Philippines would be like "a tragedy beyond description."

In an email exchange last week, I found out more about this good doctor, and it is my honor to present to you details of my interview with him:

DR. EMER: In your blogpost last March 3, you have mentioned that "the traditional political formula has only served to make the poor poorer," and mentioned "a different way" of solving our current problems. What is this "different way?" Traditional politicians have tried and failed with their missions. If you won, what will make your program of government any different?

DR. MARTIN BAUTISTA: The traditional path has always made our politicians beholden to special interests that strengthen their own political power at the expense of becoming less credible and capable to make difficult decisions that will advance the common good. We need political servant-leaders who recognize that the longer you stay in the arena, the less creative you become and you likewise become more attached to the perks of position, hence we need leaders who will stay for no more than one term and therefore will not be afraid to make enlightened choices that will benefit the most number of people. More importantly is a leader with a clear vision of what direction the country needs to take honed by years of study and preparation and not out of some obligation to continue a political dynasty or protect narrow economic interests.

Do you really believe that one man can make a difference? You know how enormous our problems here. From simple garbage disposal to traffic and sickening corruption, no politician before has been able to put an end to those. Don't you think you are embarking on a quixotic journey?

But do we have a choice? There comes a point in our lives when living a good and secure and prosperous existence becomes immoral when you cast a blind eye to the terrible suffering all around us. If you truly believe in your heart that you can offer whatever blessings and talents that have been given to you but decide to back-off because of the tremendous sacrifice in loss of privacy, income, security and family time then you would not only have failed yourself but your country as well.

Pundits have pondered what the Filipino problem is --- some say it is a damaged culture, some say we are all plain lazy, and still others say its our perennial colonial mentality. In your analysis, what is really our problem? Why can't we seem to get out of this quicksand? Some neighboring Asian neighbors were our inferiors years ago, but now they have overtaken us in terms of progress. What keeps us down and lagging behind?

For more than 20 years, Filipinos have participated in a controlled trial that isolates them in groups in various foreign lands and observed how they behave and interact in other environments. The conclusions are definitive: Filipinos work harder, follow rules, become more socially responsible and think about the future more often. So it is not in the Filipino. It is because our leaders have failed us. Political expediency has priority over moral principles. Case in point is the continuing obsession to become a "model debtor" nation and pay off every last cent of interest including those originating from odious loans. We are able to do this at the expense of the poor having even less social services, poorer education and crumbling infrastructure. This is the type of leadership that prioritizes looking good before the international bankers over widespread malnutrition in the countryside. We really must try something else because this leadership formula clearly is not working. If I may be allowed to dream for even a fraction of our overseas sisters and brothers to return and help redeem our prodigious national promise.

Did you always want to become a doctor or a politician? Why?

I graduated from High School in 1980 and this was the height of the Marcos dictatorship. Those were very dark days. I was certainly not prepared nor equipped to become poltically active. I looked for a profession that would provide me with financial stability and at the same time be in a position to help others. I was already in my third year of medical school when Marcos was thrown out.

What is your opinion of Filipino doctors becoming nurses and working abroad? How do you propose to stop this hemorrhage of medical personnel in our country?

We all have to do what we have to do for our families. The better path would be for doctors to become nurses so they can enter the US, study for the exams and then seek further medical training. This is the only country that pays Attending physicians full-time salaries to read, research and teach interns and residents and fellows. Trainees get the undivided attention of wonderful physician-teachers. The facilities in the US are beyond comparison. There is no question about the superiority of graduate medical education in the US. Finally, living alone in the US teaches you valuable lessons on how to live. Remember how the OFW experience makes us into better citizens? It is up to us here in the Philippines to make our country irresistible to Filipino physicians. I learned that in my 17 years abroad. The Philippines is our country and we should unite to take it back from those who simply want us to remit dollars in order to pursue selfish political ends.

Other than parallel importation of vital drugs, how do you propose to bring down the prices of expensive medicines in the Philippines?

We need to focus on identifying those "garden-variety diseases" that if left untreated result in major economic costs like hypertension. We should not insist on Amlodipine besylate because we cannot afford this drug yet. Why can't we manufacture our own hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol or even enalapril? The technology is simple. Our leaders have simply become too awed by all these high-powered pharmaceutical executives. Take the case of diabetes, metformin and glipizide are not difficult to compound. We must also engage in more research regarding herbal medications. There is a lot of potential here.

Who are your heroes in life? In what way do they influence your outlook in life?

Rizal, Gandhi, MacArthur, Bill Clinton --- highly imperfect people who persisted in leaving the world a better place than how they found it.

What do you do in your spare time? Do you still find time to read? What are some of your favorite books?

I was beginning to get good at golf and I hope to resume playing daily once this part of my journey ends. I have always tried to read for at least 2 hours each day. Mostly history, biographies, culture, poetry, fiction, a little philosophy. The Seven Storey Mountain by Merton, Sophie's Choice by Styron, The Remains of the Day by Ishiguro, Life of Pi by Martel come to mind. There are so many good books.

What is your opinion on the Philippines becoming a destination for medical tourism? Will you promote this if you get elected?

We need to act fast on this one. Thailand and India and Singapore are already so far ahead. We need to focus on low-tech-service-intensive medical tourism like long-term rehabilitation facilities and assisted-living facilities and nursing homes. The demand for these services will only get greater. These are the "tourists" who will have no problem paying for high-quality care.

Heaven-forbid that you don't get elected, what will you do? Will you return to the US? Will you run again in the next elections? Or will you simply return to medical practice?

What? Me lose to Loren or to Ping Lacson or Tito Sotto? I can't even begin to imagine the devastating consequences.....

On the Net: Dr. Bautista's blog --- On My Way Home

Dissections is all about...

2007-03-02T14:22:00.000+08:00

Welcome, Dear Reader!

DISSECTIONS is all about interviews with interesting people.

To dissect is to probe and to separate the important details from the less important ones. If you're a doctor, you will also know that the term 'dissections' was the art and skill that made you survive and love the subject of Anatomy. Analogous to an interview, this journal will try to get the substance out of the person so we can know him or her better.

I have not fixed the posting schedule yet, but as of now, I think I can interview one person every two weeks. In one year, that would be around 26 interesting persons "dissected."

Feel free to comment and offer suggestions.