indenialnomore

On Becoming a 'Foodie' at 63

2015-02-04T23:48:00.001-08:00

What would please a precocious 2 year-old grandniece by sharing an afternoon merienda with her newly-turned 63 year-old lolo? Knowing her healthy appetite plus her fondness for cake, ice cream and for chichiria, something of a kiddie-kind of menu agree with her taste, as well as the rest of the small birthday party attendees which include her mama, her twelve-year old ate, some senior friends and relatives and neighbors of her lolo, the birthday celebrant who's currently on medication, no red meat/low salt,low fat /low cholesterol diet. ( what a bummer of a diet, huh!) Well ,considering the high cost of prescribed medicine despite the 20% senior discount, her lolo has to mind and be very observant of his food choice restrictions. So a little thoughtfully planned menu has to be considered especially for her. ( Cuz there's something priceless about watching a young child smile with relish in seeing the food set on the table. )

Her mom, lolo's niece agreed to cook the pancit bihon/canton guisado as the main dish,

while Lolo will make the rounds of bakeries in Orani/ Balanga area, namely: Goldilocks, Cindy's plus Geno's ice cream store to purchase the following: Rocky Road Cake, assorted pastries such as langka/macapuno tart,cinnamon twist,Pinoy tasty loaf, pastillas. plus a gallon of Gabi/pinipig ice cream
plus big bottles of Sprite and Coke.

You guess---it turned to be a wonderfully small birthday party. Her impish smile says it was okay! Walang kokontra.

Maddeningly May-ful of Mangoes

2014-05-27T00:52:00.000-07:00

Last February, there was a lovely sight to behold right in the front yard, in the backyard of practically every home planted with mango trees.
There's flowers covering the entire crown and as you go farther in the rice fields, starting from the lowland and up you go to the upland, rain-fed fields sprinkled with a lone tree planted right in the middle amid tall dry patches of wild grasses and weeds. In the orchard mostly planted with mango trees, along with other tropical trees which are endemic to the fields. every tree was filled with golden blossoms .

The farm/orchard owners had to make quick decisions right away: to engage the services of 'professional' mango flower/fruit specialist to sustain the flowering phase into complete fruition by spraying the flowers with the right chemical and then the right insecticide plus a little prayer that in the months of March and April, there would be generally sunny weather with little or hardly any showers and strong winds.
Being an owner yourself of seven old-growth mango trees which are practically older than yourself, having been planted by your farmer/father way back in the 50s. you made the choice of having the ' mango pro' take care of the five trees planted in the nearby orchard,{meaning they,ll spray, smoke,apply pesticides and guard the trees on a daily basis} to ensure that no trespasser, mostly young kids with sling shots , on a summer break from schools into picking ,climbing or making practice aim at the fruits, as soon as they start to grow and transform from being green pods till they turn yellowish to a full ripened hue. Mangoes are generally picked or harvested before they ripen usually a week or a bit earlier to ensure that they are ripened simultaneous with just the right mix of sweetness with a touch of sour taste. especially the 'kalabaw' or the piko variety. These are the so-called fruit coming out of the old-growth trees.

Feeling a bit stingy yourself, you let the other 3 trees planted in the adjacent rain -fed,upland fields remain untouched and virtually left to their own devices, {meaning no spraying no pesticides or even no guard for the those pesky neighborhood kids with slingshots.

However,the last two weeks of April brought a weather mix of intense heat, showers, thunderstorms with a sprinkling of mild to short burst of strong winds. Just as the those little buds had grown to about 4 inches of green mangoes---.these brought about Nature's trick common to those fragile fruits they fall to the ground thereby practically reducing the prospective harvest down a third. Somehow the group of five in the orchards showed the wear and tear brought about by the weather mix. The fruits become less plentiful, smaller in size.

But lo and behold--- the fruits on the desolate, rain-fed, upland field show consisted a consistent growth ,degree of greening to ripening stages and, more importantly,just as plentiful. it seemed like these trees weathered the strange summer weather mix. Untouched, free from pesticides, they just seemed to thrive and grow.

Come first of May, something wonderful is a sight to see--- a comparative growth in size and density of the two groups of mango trees. Somehow Mother Nature played a nice trick. the three trees showed signs of an abundant harvest unlike the trees in the orchard showing a leaner harvest.

Harvest time came in mid-May. The orchard trees were harvested by the 'mango pros' with a rather dismal amount returns in cash value and fruit picks. the rain-fed trees proved to be maddeningly plentiful, with lost of bamboo baskets filled to the brim with medium-sized mangoes with varying degrees of ripeness. So abundant, that the economic law of supply and demand as to pricing applied to all the other mango trees in almost all the fields, orchards, front and backyards of all houses and yards allover town. meaning , if you bring to the market or sell in front of your house. you have to settle for a discount price. there's just too many mangoes, ripening about the same time.

Who benefited from this oversupply anomaly. Guess who? You decided to be just as generous and give your aunts/uncles. cousins. nieces/nephews, friends and neighbors, basketful of free mangoes to eat to their hearts'content. What you lost in sales, you regained in the unending gratitude of the willing recipients of your charity.

So the maddeningly May-ful of mangoes turned out to be a midyear 'christmas bonus of sorts' to most everyone dear to your hearts. Spread the blessings---make them smile and grin to your mangoes, both green or ripe, in juice, shake or salad form. Enjoy them and have a bite of your generosity..

Wake-hopping --- a community to-do

2014-03-10T00:07:00.002-07:00

It happened last month in your small town, a community composed of less than 10 barangays, out of which at least 9 wakes were observed, simultaneously or in succession for people, who were either relatives of high school classmates, parents of childhood friends,relatives of your neighbors. The bottom line, the deaths happened all over town paving the way for wake-hopping for you, guys. You could not imagine having a full week of you, while visiting 3 wakes at the same night, meeting old friends, former teachers and classmates, along the way, making for instant reunion of sorts, while having had to condole with the berieved as you make small talk and be a little nostalgic of younger days spent with them, at happier, more innocent times.

Charged it to community traditions, that you have to be there at least one night during the usual week-long wakes to offer your condolences. and it becoming more and more the norm ,especially after you've turned sixty-something.

Funeral wake is a tradition very much observed in the Philippines. It may last from 3 days to one week in order to afford close family members( parents, sons/daughters, et al,.. to go home especially if they are living in other provinces, working or living abroad, (It seems that every other family in town has family members who are Overseas Foreign Workers ,or Dual citizens or Permanent resident whom the neighbors expect to go home and pay their last respects to their dead family members.

Wake is held till hours past midnight. Prayer vigils are held at night Some people keep awake by singing with videoke machines or playing card games---a good opportunity for instant family or class reunions, some networking activities and being able to avail yourself of late dinner or midnight snacks served freely to guests.

Wake is a tradition that allows the neighborhood a communal way of expressing and grieving/consoling with the bereft family members,usually held in the ancestral home or lately , they are taking place in memorial chapel or mortuary to be able to observe the wake more systematic or orderly especially, if the dead home cannot accommodate large clan instant reunion ,or if the deceased happened to be some local celeb. or VIP.
So, what happened last month in your town's simultaneous and/or consecutive wakes have shown various ways people in the community observed the last days of honoring the dead before their final trip to the cemeteries or memorial parks One observation though---, people tend to go and spend time during one or two nights with the surviving members so that they have more convenient and longer time to spend with them; that way ,even if they not able to attend the funeral which, nowadays are attend by by closed relatives ,neighbors and friends)it is socially acceptable to skip the march.

That wake-hopping is done to optimize the opportunity for friends and relatives to condole and extend sympathy more adequately.

Death is said to come unannounced 'like a thief in the night'. Hopefully, there will be 'adequate spacing' the next time around, although the lucky funeral parlor which was able to provide 6 of the 9 funeral services, wouldn't mind the slight inconvenience during that week..

...

But just 3 weeks ago, the reverse happened to you. First, the text message, then a phone call and the day later an FB message, informing you that your eldest nephew living in Sandy. Utah and working in Las Vegas, Nevada died. Suddenly the thought of flying to the USA to condole with your sister's family seemed urgently inviting so as to keep the community tradition alive, that attending the wake or viewing and funeral services in person. But financial consideration as to the cost of a round trip ticket, the fact that your palay crop is just still two months away from harvest time , and the fact, right now, it's the height of winter over there sober you up to stay put and be sensible. You decided to offer Holy Mass in time with the day of the Funeral. Pray for the eternal repose of his soul and console with the family through Facebook.

Maybe someday, you'll be able to visit his grave...so as to keep the community to-do, tradition about the dead, alive.

Newsy Info on Tarpau

2014-01-13T23:46:00.004-08:00

Milestones are meant to mark special occasions or events in one's life. What better way to announce to the world, your friends, neighbors and townmates than to have it printed on a regular poster-sized tarpaulin and have it displayed in your front gate
the town plaza,on your alma mater school grounds and even in front of your barangay hall.

It appears that tarpaulin has been choice of late, to announce some exciting news, info or print advertisement , from varying sizes of ads billboards , to election campaign materials of such vital information such as news of death, passing the board exams, for the tarpaulin's all-weather durability and dependability and maybe even its cheaper cost.

It seems that the tarpaulin has become the modern-day town crier of sorts especially in rural areas for outdoor newsy info carriers for both motorists, as well as pedestrians and early morning joggers/walkers to let them know of any recent death in the neighborhood.

And how does an average person react to such info announcement on a typical tarpaulin poster? Very well and positive reviews are being said about them for keeping people abreast of events, milestones and special occasions that just happened, about to take place and soon to be conducted .

And the good thing about them , a typical tarpaulin poster carries a clear photo of one who just died, one who passed the board exam and other persons involved in milestone- marking event.

Pervasive, the good thing about it is that somehow people involved in the tarpaulin printing observe standards of common decency, honesty and integrity in making sure that texts are not exaggerated, tasteful and straightforward. Somehow self-censorship is observed voluntarily as to text content, lay-out and design. Simplicity is the preferred choice of most people availing its use.

Gone are the posters,made from newsprint or "katsa cloth" variety, which are cheaper versions. Although the last barangay election saw the re-appearance of newsprint posters maybe due to budget considerations of some candidates to save or maximize their mini campaign strategies.

Again, the tarpaulin seems to be in thing to use these days , for any newsy announcement to tell the whole town of whatever important event, milestones or personal accomplishment of some of your neighbors, townmates or countrymen.

So come rain or shine, strong winds or heavy rains , the tarpaulin ad is here to stay.

Fun Photo-ops with "Celebs"

2013-10-03T23:36:00.000-07:00

It comes with the territory; it's part of the job description--- to hob-nob with the 'celebrities' in showbiz and politics, to promote in the best possible angle a story, or cause you're very much involved with. Still, you consider it a great opportunity to show off , an unavoidable nuisance or some sort of cheap thrill that could be casually mentioned in passing with your 'small circle of college contemporaries'. And it's a trip to do just that. How so?

Back in the early 70s, during your senior year in college , majoring in Communication Arts, you knew that as soon as you start practicing your craft as a mass media man , you have to meet, interview , interact mingle and work with a group of people , famous and well-known, who are accustomed to t

the glares of camera to project that larger-than-life public persona. Yeah, right... the celebrities who are infused with varying degrees of publicity endowed on them by the mass media. So in keeping tabs of every one within this small circle of friends who had stayed and stuck with the same job and those who had ventured out in other field but later came back, you somehow kept scores of these photo-ops encounter of your esteemed colleagues. And with the advent of Facebook and other similar social networking site , more than ever , you're more able to document these 'photo sessions' more accurately.

It is said that you have to pose with the former mayor of San Francisco, California to promote your newly self-published novel. Or you have to smile while being photographed with Manny Pacquiao , who just finished a sparring session , to show your all-out support to big-time sporting event. What about other time when you're in a, cocktail party along with with popular TV hosts and aspiring models and even beauty contest finalists; Or with the latest box-office star

sensations of your TV station or movie company.

Yes, it comes with the territory. It's one of the perks or hazard(?) of the job you have to endure along the way.

So, what it is about being seen with a 'celeb' have to do with you, who's simply doing his job to his/her optimum level.
or the larger question, what 's with the media fascination with the 'celebs'. Aside from prestige, increased circulation and wider readership and exposure and brand recall for a TV viewer or a fanatic moviegoer.

But for a media practitioner belonging to that small circle , it may mean that you still or very much 'within the loop', in touch, and

connected with the latest who's who in local sports , showbiz and politics that somehow give you a certain 'clout' that could give an advantage or opportunity if there's a need to use it in the immediate future.

And it feels good and a bit empowering to be in such an enviable position, even after all these years.

In search of melody

2013-08-10T00:40:00.000-07:00

Been thinking lately. What if you post your lyrical composition of R& B or urban contemporary song composition that's been rotting in the closet, figuratively ,that is,would anyone care to compose an appropriate melody and music to it. Enough of what if, rather think of the possibility of a kindred spirit of a blog-reader from all over to do just that.

Without further ado, here's the song entitled No More Mistakin'

No More Mistakin'

I

Mistaken, I might have been
When I told you I'm right
You need not be uptight
Things will fall into place
and put a big smile in your face.

II
Too proud, might've acted like one
And I've sounded so unwilling
Very firm in believing
If you'll let things go
They'll do , you'll cherish them so.

Refrain
Say you'll do
and I will
from this moment on
make our love so overflowing
there'll be no more mistakin'.

Bridge
Hold my hand
Look me in the eye and sigh

Repeat refrain (2X)

Coda
Mistaken, I might have been
Too proud and so unwilling,
No more, no more mistakin'. (3X)

You gotta to fess' up that you can only compose the lyrics, which are sure to undergo revision, in order to fit the melody, the right note count. Collaboration is the key to a musical composition success.

Anyone out there in cyberspace interested in putting a melody to this lyrical love song composition. If so, just send it to rintonc@yahoo.com. Comments,regarding this a moment of delusion of grandeur, most welcome.

Crossword Unpuzzling

2013-07-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

Ever got the urge of pulling your tongue out because you know that you know the exact word, phrase or expression yet you just could not say it out loud? Especially when it comes to a 3-letter clue, be it horizontal or vertical.. Momentary mental block or senior moment, again?
Yes, solving a crossword puzzle can do that to you, especially if you are a fanatic ( or say a writer who does it on a regular basis as some kind of mental calisthenics to keep your mind sharp, alert or confident about spelling , or the plural form or the past tense of an irregular verb . Especially since you always use a ball pen and not a pencil since you're that confident.

On a related note, what about texting by teen-agers and young adults. It's generational!
Not that they have a thing with correct spelling, it's just that for the sake of space and speed, vowels get in the way. That's why , they can be disposed with , without changing the meaning of what they want say. As for font size, the smaller,the better so that some msgs are better kept from 'those prying eyes of you know who'.
For old folks, it's best to simply adjust and adapt . Hopefully. those young folks will remember the correct spelling and the basic grammar rules in time when they write a simple business letter, or a job resume to a prospective , much older employer.

Now back to crossword unpuzzling, it's something to solve it at the shortest time possible with no erasure; it's another thing to think of a common word, synonym or expression to fill those precious vowels or consonants, that first vertical clue that can make you yell "Eureka'and feel good and make yourself proud of your masterful vocabulary.

Proverbially, brevity is the soul of wit The shortest the clue , the harder it is to solve.

That's why it's so satisfying to finish a puzzle whenever it presents itself while you're in a bus or train commute or during your first coffee break.

Its' a a good feeling if you're able to do that but if you fail , you'll have the gnawing or aching void that 's so frustatingly irritating ;yet there's nothing you can do but to wait for tomorrow's or next Sunday issue for the correct answers.

Yes a puzzle can do just that to you because it's as puzzle, plain and simple; because in everyday life, things can get complicated and seemingly unsolveable because you'e given so many options to choose from,. Rule of thumb or best advice: be very discerning, deliberate and decisive when making that best option and deal with the consequences afterwards.

Soulmate Search

2013-05-31T23:36:00.003-07:00

Well-meaning older relatives, close friends and even, nodding acquaintances often give you their unsolicited advice to start, resume and keep on a possible soulmate search or a probable partner now that you're in your early 60s.

So that you won't grow old alone, that somebody will be your companion/caregiver in case you become physically unable , mentally incapable of getting by and at the very least, have a beneficiary of your imminent retirement pension.

Indeed, it's a little late to consider fatherhood, ( more of stepfatherhood) because of the other person is more likely to be widowed, divorced or legally separated with children of her own. A younger mate is desirable but maybe much physically taxing or challenging considering your present health conditions.

You have to admit that given your seemingly foolish adherence to commitment phobia, you still prefer solitude than company. You may say that you're too set in your lifestyle and ways that it would be very hard to compromise or adjust to another person's point of view, late in life. You're one stubborn individual to do just the opposite. It's not in your nature.

Still hesitant with the search despite the availability of possible candidates, what gives? Finances, physical impairment, psychological consideration or what-have-you , discourage you to get started or get going.

Who's that soulmate you intend or hope to find anyway? Someone who's kind and understanding, self-assured and confident in her values, beliefs and ways, just about your age, or younger with common vibes to go around or someone in need of someone like you at this stage of the game of life.

It feels good to be needed; it feels a lot better if the need is mutually agreed upon or shared.

What about this "unrequited love ideal' of yours that's as foolish, childish and impractical goal seemingly unattainable. Granted that with the advent of Facebook, you're able to re-connect with that old classmate of yours answering to that 'unrequited love ideal', allowing you to get a glimpse of wedded bliss after all these years based on the photos she regularly uploads of her husband, children and grandkids. You're too old now to even contemplate on what-might-have-been if you were given the chance to be that other guy? and you don't have to blame yourself for having been too shy or physically insecure to make that move to court her back in college days.

Well-meaning older relatives, close friends and even nodding acquaintances say that it's high time to be practical and realistic in your decision to get on, or continue the search for your own sake.

Just go do it for all the right reasons, other than love. Just go do it with the full knowledge of your your current physical inadequacies and limitations. Just go do it while you still have the mental and physical capability to decide, choose and live with the consequences , later on.

Or simply put, just go do it so that somebody else would share in whatever royalties your publisher ,blogsite would pay your
beneficiary after you pass on.

Is old age this crazy after all or wisdom in your golden years is simply so overrated?

On Kibitzing in Local Election

2013-04-13T01:34:00.003-07:00

Exactly a month from now, the Philippines will hold a mid-term "computerized" election to put into office 12 senators and party list representatives nationwide and every province like Bataan, its own set of governor, vice-governor and 5 provincial board members, for its first district.Samal, a town in the first district,gets new set of mayor, vice mayor and 8 councilors.

Exactly a month from now, every registered voter in Samal, will sort out from a mixture of reelectionists, comebacking politicians and newcomers a new set of provincial and town officials who are expected to serve the people of Bataan and Samal for three more years before a new President takes over.

Starting last Black Saturday, March 30, the local election campaign period got started and alerted disinterested kibitzers like you to check out the various billboards tarpaulins and posters of a comparatively less number of competing politicians and surprisingly, only one independent candidate for councilor plus the complete slate from congressman, governor down to the town councilors.

From the motorcade held the following day, to the roving jeep and car equipped with speakers playing at full blast several local political jingles,ranging in tune from Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman, to Abba's Dancing Queen to the latest local hits: Pusong Bato and Lintik na Pag-ibig, townsfolk, including young kids, have started to react to the competing tunes bombarding them all day long repeatedly with such generically formulaic Tagalog/Taglish lyrics and spiels to single out pertinent candidate plea for the attention,consideration and the ever-important vote. Some are amused, some are irritated . Others are perplexed for whatever con flicting messages the lyrics convey.

Then came the sortie, meeting and caucus, taking place in barangays (local precinct voting area ) meeting to afford the candidates chance to introduce themselves and shake hands to get to be known by the local voting public.

Indeed,. what comes next? Will the local 'patronage politics'about to rear its traditional ugly head.. . considering anything that's local deserves a closer look and a more thorough inspection by the discriminating(?) fickle-minded and balimbing-like (unloyal}voters who because of past debts of gratitude (utang na loob) and potential favors to be gained. be they municipal job or position or influence have allowed favors in exchange for the ever-important vote.

What comes next,---black propraganda, smear campaign, dirty tricks, rumor mongering, character assassinating speeches in the next campaign sortie . Being local, it makes a candidate so familiarly know to his/her neighbors, friends, relatives and ex-lovers, that every past misdeed, indiscretion and shady dealings become magnified when talked or discussed or gossipped about in the neighborhood sari-sari store, barbershop ,in the public market and in the local grapevine. So familiar in fact that every word in the lyrics of the jingle, or slogan in th poster could be disproven, refuted with anecdotal clarity and factual retelling, which could generate a silly grin or mocking smirks with matching facial expressions.

So far, it's been a civil,relatively peaceful, campaign period .

But just wait for two more weeks, and when the professional kingmaking-campaign coordinators, trouble-shooters and hack writers do their demolition job with every trick in the traditional arsenal of "trapong politics ". Let them in and expect that with "guns, goons and gold " every barangay wiil be crawling with vote-getter/coordinators to get desired number of votes and make the most cynical, indifferent kibitzers like you a believer that this and that particular candidate could beat the odds stacked up against him/her and win for another term, or unseat the incumbent and win as an independent.

Come Election Day, here's hoping that the following scenarios will take place; a generally peaceful, orderly election and an honestly accurate vote counting and summation and a gracious concession from the losing candidates.

For that to materialize, these things have to happen.

Being local election, the so-called Catholic, Aglipayan, or Iglesia ni Cristo (IC ) solid or block voting will take sway among the voters.

The so-called Youth Vote will show up and be counted for all their technological savvy and issue-oriented attention.

Every head of household will vote for, together with his wife, sons, daughters , in-laws and other closed relatives as one for a candidate who's a relative, a former high school classmate, a godfather/godchild in baptism or wedding or a close friend, neighbor or acquaintance who possesses the quality of an eligible, qualified and skilled individual.

Since vote-buying is stiil very much practiced, the highest bidder doesn't necessarily get voted on but in the precinct booths, every voter who choose to accept the monetary offers have a change of heart, or a prick of conscience to vote for the better qualified, more agreeable as the lesser evil type.

Here's hoping that a cynical, indifferent kibitzer like you would be pleasantly surprised of the early election returns come May 14. Local election gets election results faster, more upclose and personal thanks to automation.

Here's hoping that this year mid-term election will finally transform and empower kibitzers like you to believe that with hi-tech improvement of the local election, Samal. Bataan and even the Philippines will have a credible electoral results free from the dagdag-bawas syndrome of old.

You wish! Lots of luck, to you,pal.

Of Red Carpet-like Photo Souvenirs

2013-01-26T23:13:00.002-08:00

Last night's event, the ValikVarsi at 85 held at the Harbor Garden, Tent, at Sofitel, Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila had the Photo

Booth, where interested attendees could have their photos taken for free {a total of 4 poses---both wacky and glamour shots. This feature is noticeably and seemingly an indispensable sidelight of this event, and other similar occasions, you've attended in the recent past such as 18th birthday bash of a niece and the lavish hotel wedding reception of a nephew.

In this age of instant gratification ,largely brought about by digital photography, this photo booth offering gives guests ( a free souvenir shots( solo/group} of family, and friends to help them start the evening festivities , be it the youthful exuberance of a debutante's ball, the joyous wedding reception or a solemn annivesary gathering of a university paper alumni , with a smile and a happy disposition, to last the whole night through.

These instant photos serve as a convenient "ice-breakers" for small chit-chats during cocktails or a nostalgia-inducing topic just before the sumptuous dinner buffet is served.

These photos somehow try to simulate or re-create the Red Carpet atmosphere at pre-Oscar or Grammy Awards night-like events where guests dressed in formal wear or even business casual can feel glamorously whimsical allowing them to project that 'happy -to-here' look for Facebook posting later on.

These photos can be best appreciated the day after while listening to Bread's If or to Jim Croce's Photographs and Memories which could make you feel nostalgic for thin waist and thick hair you had years ago. What about Carly Simon's You're so vain?

So even if, you don't have a cellphone or digital camera with you, these Kodak moments with your family, friends and fellow alumni are provided gratis.

These photos could inspire you to spur-of-the-moment- planning of future joined art exhibit,a sort of a "senor citizen prom event as suggested by fellow 70's V staffers: Philip P., Richard E. and Ces. E., in between watching the program 's chronicling the 85 years of existence from the early struggles to the assimilation into the current digital age of campus journalism, ably hosted by Bong O, ABS-
CBN corp comm chief officer, while the four of you were wondering aloud why the "usual suspects of fellow 70s staffers, who were in attendance during ValikVarsi at 80, five years ago, and most notably, Nestor C. was a no-show considering it was he who posted the FB invite for this event. He must be busy with deadlines at Manila Bulletin Entertainment Page or something.

At next event , better be ready , considering the impending turning- 60 events of those 3, visible wrinkles and graying and thinning hairline , with an aura of aging with dignity but still with a hint of that 'bagets porma' of those days in the 70s spent in the old Varsitarian office of UST.

Somehow, you may safely conclude that the Red Carpet Photo booth fixture serves a useful purpose for today's Facebook-addicted family members, close friends and fellow university alumni.

Cheers! A toast to aging with dignity!

Humbling Enough

2012-12-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

Should you happen to read this blog beyond Dec 21, then you must congratulate yourself for surviving the so-called 'Mayan Doomsday Calendar Hype/Hoopla/or what-have-you prediction'.

That means you're ready to being honest and humble enough to live by your faith and belief in the inherent goodness of your fellowmen and their capacity to forgive , forget and hope for you to reform your ways.

That means you're ready to celebrate the Xmas holidays with family and friends, welcome the New Year with your neighbors and maybe, turn over a new leaf with more vigor. conviction and determination: Be steadfast and strong enough not to commit the same mistakes, and unwise, rash decisions made during the last five years.

That means you've made peace with the world, with yourself. All is forgiven, Now be ready to move on with your life, mend your ways.

What brought about this introspection, this discernment, this mindset, inquiring minds may ask.

Early retirement at 60 is that mantra that triggered this mindset, this perspective. or leading the life of a gentleman farmer/poet/blogger/ indie film line producer wannabe in your senior years.

That's why you're overstaying. Been here in Bataan over six months already. By April, a decision has to be made. Return to the States, get a job, a place to stay and insurance coverage despite having been underemployed working part-time in Virginia, New York and California since 2008, then wait it out and get ready for early retirement at 62 or try find work till you reach age 66 and complete your residency requirement for nationalization.

Or simply stay behind, continue what you started: training your nephew to invest, till and manage the family farm till he gain enough experience and confidence to be able to take over in two year's time.

And start living the low-profile, under-the-radar country lifestyle you're now enjoying in Bataan.

The last five years had you lessons learned of living with unwise ,rash decisions that now's humbling you enough to suffer the consequences, financially and emotionally.

Are you less happy, less content or honest enough to admit to having to commit the same mistakes, or just swallow that pride, that stubborn streak that have served you well during your 30s, 40s and 50s but now kicking you-in-the-butt in your 60s.

Should you agree to this humbling enough predicament you're now in, let the next four months be a TIME FOR A MORE REALISTIC discernment of the options presented before you and then decide forcefully, convincingly.

This time, be, act and think like a senior citizen that you now are. No more tentative senior moments episodes allowed.

The year 2012 may not have been the financially fulfilling Dragon year you hoped for but as far as, the lessons of honesty and humility they brought about. be grateful and thank your lucky star to have survive it all, still in one piece and in relative good health.

Count your blessings no matter how measly and less generous they have been.

Of a Deadline Beat

2012-11-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

It was such an adrenaline rush! It felt so good when you're able to finish your love song entry almost past midnight and have it submitted online. Never felt happier, more hopeful that now you'd have a chance to compete for that million peso grand prize.

Deadline can make a guy who's a known procrastinator , who waits for the last minute or even the 11th hour to find that creative streak in him that would unlock any mental block , that dreadful feeling of mediocrity enveloping his whole being to come out with the right note , connecting the exact dots to finish the best song demo ever to satisfy the criteria set by the contest organizers.

Deadline' of course' or beating it can sometimes make you a foolish genius or a mediocre pretender with delusion of grandeur written all over your face.

Deadline is like a mountain to climb, a barrier to jump over . a sword of Damocles kind of threat to any aspiring cub reporter , more so to an amateur composer to finish an entry demo with the prescribed length , the desired hook plus the the obligatory documents to go with the online submission. if done right, it makes for a happy camper of any guy using dreams of greatness, fame and fortune with his gift.

Of course, the next step is a long wait for the results. ..the announcement of the geand finalists two months down the road. All you can do then is wait. just like the thousand other guys , who submitted their respective entries.

If deadline demands speed, the contest results nevertheless, require patience...
What then if the result which was touted to be in two months time ,which turn into a four-month wait...the latest news from the grapevine, it may very well be early next year. Wow! Woe! Wow! Omg!{ bakit ang tagal naman . Sangkatutak ba ang pumasok na entries.} That's why even if there's 3 sets of judges who have to go through every one of those entries with a fine-tooth comb to ferret out the the pretenders, the unoriginal and even the partly plagiarized still leaves a sour taste for the contest organizers fail to live up to the original scheduled day for the grandfinalist annnouncement . What a bummer~! Not even an update on their website on why such a delay is happening . Feels like a torture to wait for it to happen. And to think that Walang Hanggang, the toprating teleserye has ended its phenominal run.

If Philpop, the same contest was able to keep up with its scheduled deadline, what's taking the Himig handog folks to live up to theirs.

Sure it nice to think, that they've been deluged with a lot wonderful entries that they can't seem to weed out the wannabes from the song with potentials .

Sure it's nice to think that in this year's edition, they're been very thorough, discerning with regards to the most likely OPM Hits of 2013 and beyond.

Sure, it's nice to even give them the benefit of doubt.

But a deadline is a deadline. it borders on professionalism to keep it up and not extend it for another week, or two more months. to early next year.{ Sabi nga, lumalamig ang sabaw.}

So, the bottom line, this unnecessary wait is a boon for conspiracy theorists, don't you think?

Jessica Wows Manila Fans

2012-10-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

Jessica Bugay Sanchez, American Idol Season 11 runner-up has come to Metro Manila together with the other 9 top ten finalists to stage their only concert( reportedly sold-out } to reignite the jessicamania fever, and ... last week has gone back to the States to resume and nurture her promising musical career.

The last two weeks of September has seen them doing the various guestings on top- rated TV programs, promoting their concert at the selected shopping malls. The top ten divided into two groups gamely held a meet-and-greet sessions with the Metro Manila fans, interacting with them, partaking and tasting some native food delicacies, all the while as they soaked themselves in the ambient pop music fandom base in the Metro Manila.

Their sold-out concert on Sept 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum got rave reviews for all their group and solo numbers. Jessica was also lauded for her fashionista look and presence. Other than her vocal prowess. complimentary reviews were the talk in social networking sites, radio and TV showbiz programs, showbiz columns in both leading broadsheets and tabloids.

After the concert , they all went back to the States except for Jessica, who stayed for another week to fulfill endorsement obligations for Jollibee, the country's leading fast-food chain and for Bench, a leading cloth manufacturing company, that made her remaining schedule as hectic as the previous week that gave her no time to visit her mom's hometown, Samal, Bataan which is less than 3 hour drive from Manila.

For all relatives ,( members of the Bugay-Medina clan) they understood that a supposed visit would entail money and security concerns that have to jibe with her hectic photo shoot schedule so they were made to realize that it was impossible to make it happen this time, which was hinted at during the early morning live feed broadcast in front of the Samal Municipal Hall, featuring an elementary school band, a mixed- age dance group , some groups of students and teachers fromn Samal National High School carrying with them, homemade placards, to give a shout-out , a Samal welcone to Jessica and company, a day after their arrival while they were studio guests of Unang Hirit, a morning variery show of GMA 7 for live interviews. When she was asked by her grandpa's first cousin if she would visit Samal , she answered maybe or maybe not depending on her hectic schedule.

....which visit would require for her to go visit her mom's home in Samal, meet and greet with her distant relativea and their neighbors and friends and her impressionable young fans,plus a possible personal appearance at the Samal covered court plus photo-ops with the local politicans ... which would cost money to stage and squeeze out of her remaining hectic schedule.

Maybe a promised visit may come the next time she come back for a vacation and not for an AI concert date. Jessica, herself intimated on some published interviews quoting her wanting to discover more deeply her Pinay side by immersing herself on the local cultural landscape.

Her two-week Metro Manila stay was nevertheless, amply chronicled and covered by the local entertainment media, made a favorable impressions among her local fan base , dazzling them with her singing prowess , her fashionista sense and attitude. making them wish her for more success with the imminent release of her album.

Most of the opinions expressed joy in a having her as a Pinoy Pride , making it in highly-commpetitive American music scene in the coming years ahead. Go get em, girl, Jessica, Manila support you!

In the meantime, Samal, her mom's hometown, which is less than 3 hour drive from Manila waits for the opportunity the next time when Jessica would visit and mingle and perhaps even sing , freely for them.

Rediscovering Radio

2012-08-25T01:06:00.001-07:00

if you could turn back the hands of time, you want to travel back to the late 50s and early 60s and relive your pre-teen years in the province, you couldn't help but be reminded of listening to AM radio programs, during the morning ,afternoon and nighttime. A mixture of wonder, discovery and daydreaming filled you up with a variety of programs catering to the demographics targeted by radio advertisers. News program in the morning, musical programs manned yb a disc jockey (DJ)spinning 45s and LPs and reading dedications sent in by listeners and
s serial radio soap operas and commentaries at night.

Radio then ,wa the go-to medium for infomation, relaxation and recreation for barrio folks, both young and old. Whether it was starting debate and arguments about the hot political or religious issues of the day, the latest top 40 Hit Parade tunes being played by your favorite DJS,.you were tuned in to be in the know. Transistor radios
bserved as the musical jukebox for impromptu teenage dance parties.

Radio had that effect of firing up the imagination and aspiration of young , impressionable kids while they tune in to their favorite soap operas with specially ingenuous sound effects which sounded so convincingly real to their young ears. Old folks tend to tune in to their favorite true-to-life dramatizations of experiences sand situationers sent in by listeners to such popular programs like Kahapon Lamang and Tia Dely for moral lessons learned and advice dealt out to solve problematic situations. Political and religious commentaries had the regular listeners holding their breath to get the latest opinions made by Mr Damian Sotos's Mangatuwiran Ka.

Radio ruled the airwaves; it was the go-to medium for barrio folks , young and old alike.

Flashforward to mid August, 2012. Rediscovery of AM STATION PROGRAMMING of people like you done by people like you, who by choice don't watch TV . Radio is still the go-to medium for information ,relaxation and recreation.

News, flashreports, updates, and bulletins are delivered every hour, on the hour. Weather and traffic reports to guide your daily commute ;then there's talk radio wherein commentators voice out their opinions on the burning issues for the day.

And last but not the least, there's a musical program that seemingly speak volumes of nostalgia , age-appropriate, for love songs of the 50,s 60s and 70s both foreign and original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits . Suddenly it feels like a time warp,as if you're stocked in the music of your youth and teen-age years.

And as you sit back . and relaxed , records are played ,songs popularized back then, you start to instinctively hum, and sing along . And wonder of wonders, you seem to know the next word, line or phrase and even the chorus of each song .As if suddenly, a musical bank within your brain opens up. Songs you barely understand then, lyrics you barely understand when you were young but there you are singing, humming them like it feels it was just yesterday's hit tunes.

How you'e able to do just that , being somehow transform back in the mid 50s or early 60s , being able to sing ala Elvis Presley , Johnny Mathis ,Bobby Goldsboro,or Ric Manrique, Jr, Victor Wood or Eddie Peregrina you just don't care to know and it feels just fine and dandy.

And you feel some kind of wonderful , joy upon hearing songs of yesteryears, sentimental, silly old love songs.

Is it because you're reminded of your days of being carefree, and daring, Ah those time of innocence, naivety and provincial guilessness .

Those days that you have to outgrow; yet you now listen to those programs which enable you to be transported back to early times while listening and relaxing.

Radio has that that magical power to bring you back in time; those radio programmers have their target demographics feeling like eating at the palms of their hands.

Radio listening is rediscovery that's well taken and enjoyed to the hilt by people like you. And there's no protesting that observation. Amen.

Feedback fill feeler

2012-07-23T01:36:00.002-07:00

Since coming back in May to your hometown for an indefinite stay, you made a decision to help your publisher by doing actual promotion of your 5 pod-published books of Tagalog poetry.

You decided to go and visit the college and state university located in Balanga, the capital city of your province. You talked to the head librarian with the pitch of your books as good supplementary reading materials, being a local author yourself.

As June ushered in the rains of the start of the wet season planting of crops , 3 things happened that bode of good things to your books.

Firstly, a friend now based in Sarasota, Florida ,a college contemporary of yours (both of your were staff members of the official university organ), ordered the complete set.You processed the order mailing them and she said that she would critique it. In college she was the Pilipino section editor of the paper while you were a staff reporter.

Secondly, in your university visit you were directed to talk to the Dean of Education and he endorsed you to the head teacher. She told you that for the next month her class will have the subject Tula and your books will be discussed . She commented though that your books cost a bit expensive for her students who come from middle class and poor families. She hinted of you coming out with a cheaper paperback edition.

Thirdly, a well-meaning friend informed you of the deadline for submission of entry to this year love song songwriting competition by a leading TV station in Manila . So what to do pronto. You provided copies of the love poems taken from book 4 to two keyboard-playing, aspiring composer-acquaintance of yours to come up with some melodies prepared before the deadline. One was able to come up with two selections: one that is rock band music and the other,a wedding song ballad. Since he was in Manila, you told him your gonna get there to help shephered him in submitting it online with all the pertinent documents. The night before the deadline, the two of you went to a neighboorhood internet cafe to submit the finished mp3 file online. Whew!what a relief. But the 2nd one , he said that he would finish it in time for a friend's wedding this month. Oh well, one entry is more than enough.

It's July now, the rains keeps pouring intermittently while you calm yourself awaiting for feedback to come your way this month, in the next 2 months .

Feedback from the agressive self-promotion of your own products. Imagining that you seem to be on verge of something wonderful to break out pretty soon. Feedbacks that wiil make or break your faith in your books which for the last five years you invested your time and energy and own money to an avocation which you hope to supplement your retirement income down the road.

Feedbacks that would soothe your ego, your self-confidence and hopefully boost your pocket as well.

Feedbacks that you give way too much importance since they come from old college contemporaries, from young students from your province and from young listeners to the songs you just composed .

Feedback to validate your convictions that you have written and published some things worth reading and listening to even by today's readers and audience who no longer speak and hear of the classic Tagalog , the language you use in your poems.

Feedback to validate the fact your poems are universal in the message they convey and timeless and can transcend generational differences.

Who's gonna stop the rains, Don't let them stop , keep them pouring and bring in the rainbow of new beginnings for your poems, And then you can say that it's really nice to be singing in the rains. Bring them on.

Written in the Vernacular

2012-06-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

Writing in a language you were born to and grew up with is no laughing matter. It involves a deep sense of understanding,a comprehensive knowledge of local history and geography , a great appreciation of prevailing customs and traditions, as well.

Writing in it is challenging. It's no small task to be credible and sound realistic and relevant to your readers, be it a poem, an essay, a short story or a screenplay. A stanza or a dialogue should be compellingly good and true-to-life.

It rings true. You can identify with whatever idea is being discussed or whomever characters are being portrayed. You can't go wrong if you write in your own native dialect. There's a sense of familiarity in every idiomatic expression, every quirky phrase , every ironic aside used.

Simply because you know them or you should know better. Yes, writing in your native tongue invokes a sense of pride and patriotic fervor. It can also be aspirational, critical or even downright sarcastic, if you want to emphasize your admiration/frustration to an emotionally-charged topic or issue.

You won't go wrong in writing in the vernacular because you're supposed to do right by it, di ba?

Otherwise, you'd better do your homework first... get acquainted with the basic rules of grammar, the nuanced interpretation, the tacit connotation of a particular word, phrase or expression vividly captured in your native tongue.

Writing in the vernacular is that simple for every Juan,Pedro or Josefa to do. Agree or disagree?

Samal Salutes Jessica

2012-05-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

As Ryan Seacrest would say, "Dim the lights. After four hours of voting resulting to 130 million votes cast, American Idol Season 11 runner-up is Jessica Sanchez. From this day forward, Samal, one of the 11 towns plus Balanga city of Bataan, a peninsula in Western Luzon, Philippines, will be known as Jessica's mother's hometown. She has brought a tremendous amount of honor and sense of pride to a town best known for tinapay araro, bibingkang duman and capiz handicraft. From now on, the entire Bugay clan from barangays Lalawigan, Tabing-ilog, San Roque, Daang Mestizo, Daang Bago, Iba, Stal Lucia, Calaguiman, San Juan plus the Aetas in Palili, together with the families of Medina, Malibiran, Saldana, Siasat and Inton, mga taal na taga-Samal, jointly called KKK: kamag-anaka, kaeskwela, kapitbahay, whose children and grandchildren graduated from Samal Elementary School ( North and South ), St. Catherine of Siena Academy and Samal National High School can hold their head up high and proclaim Jessica Bugay Sanchez accomplishing a historic feat, winning runner-up to Phillip Phillips, as the the first finalist of Asian---Filipino-Mexican--- descent, in the consistently top-rating reality singing competition in American TV.

Call it bragging rights, claim to fame or simply a badge of honor, to your own hometown, which is emerging from not so favorable public image it gained during and after the Martial Law years. Be proud, Samaleno! But also share this blessing with the rest of the Bataenos, the Philippines and all the Filipinos in the United States who witnessed the American Idol 2-day Finales. What happened? Ponder this thought; Swing votes. Those fans who previously voted for Hollie Cavanaugh, Skylar Laine and Joshua Ledet hade to tranfer their votes to whom? Guys, you do the math. Yesterday in Samal. the mood was festive and celebratory. The day started with the Holy Mass, then street dancing followed by a motorcade, games for the kids, mini-musical show featuring a local band plus some leading stars of kapatid network. and immediately after the cable Tv telecast, fireworks display.

With the able leadership of Mayor Gene M. de la Fuente, Samal has shown that it's a town that knows how to celebrate to toast a kababayan's daughter. Masaya at matao sa plaza ng Samal. Just imagine, Jessica, all of 16 years, poised and possessing a powerful voice tinged enough soul and rhythmn and blues. After watching her sing a duet with Jennifer Holiday, who originated the role of Effie in Broadway's Dreamgirls, going toe to toe, birit to the max, you could simply say, Wow. What a show-stopper! That's why if ever, the powers that be decide to turn a long-running play in West End and in Broadway into a movie, Jessica, with her youth, vocal prowess and looks will be a formidable contender for MISS SAIGON, another Lea Salonga in-the-making. Getting carried away, why not, Jessica has the potentials and the good to give justice to that iconic rule, typecastingwise or not.

Okay. How did this Jessicamania get started. Way back in Aug. 20-21, 20ll, San Diego hosted the St. Catherine of Siena Academy Alumni Grand Reunion, outside of Samal.During the first night of dinner-dance, a young local singer named Jessica entertained the attendees. She sang again, the following day at the potluck-picnic. she even joined the hula-hoop parlor game. What was said about her was that whenever there a big concert act in San Diego, she was a featured local talent. Ho-hum... Then during the early part of American Idols qualfying rounds, a news item in Facebook about this year's contestant of Filipino descent went viral. Not only that she half-Filipino but she has Bataan roots and she was that featured guest during that SCSA reunion. She was a Bugay. After further inquiries, it turned that your late maternal grandma, Juliana Bugay Inton is a cousin to Enrique (Iking)Bugay married Florentina de la Cruz who begat Antonio Bugay married to Rosa Medina, who begat Eduardo (Eddie) Bugay married to Virginia (Virgie) Morandante who begat Editha. She married Gilbert Sanchez and had Jessica. The late Antonio, Ka Tunying, Jessica's great-grandpa was a saxophone player in band called Seven-up in Samal. ( No genealogical gap, for once). So musical genes run in Jessica's maternal relatives.

This fact you related to your sister in Sandy, Utah, who after , processing the info, made it her duty to vote for Jessica, starting with the Top 1o episodes. She even told her son in Kansas and cousins in California to do the same. You stayed in Utah till the Final four. then something happened that forced you to go home to Bataan. Serendipity! In Samal, you noticed that congratulatory banner erected at the town plaza. And the rest... To put it into proper perspective, the last two months, events happened that brought you back to your hometown, the same hometown of Jessica Bugay Sanchez' mother and in the final 3 weeks of American Idol Season 11 competition and Samal lovefest with Jessica. Serendipity!

Could it be because something big, being the year of the Dragon, is about to happen in your life? Whatever it might be, bring it on! Jessica's good fortune may rub off on you, too this year. Remember, hope springs eternal. Amen to that.

Genealogical Gap

2012-05-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing you missed out on life is this---the bonding between a grandfather and a grandchild. You never felt it; never had the opportunity to experience being pampered or scolded by either one. Both were dead even before you were born. You grew up knowing only both grandmothers. Being a child born in the 50s, you were not the inquisitive type; never wondered why you didn't have a grandpa [ingkong ] or what he was like when was atill living. Because back in the 50s, children were seen but never heard. So it seemed that whatever childhood memories you shared , they were with your grandmothers {impo} on both sides. Period. Why all of a sudden, these musings of their absence since they were never there, in the first place. Why? Blame the Family & Church History Libraries of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a way.

Because back in 2001, for about 4 months (every Saturday) you diligently look over those microfiches to research your maternal genealogy up to your great-great-grandparents. Because your maternal clan has in their possession a religious icon, the Apung Dolores, a venerated image dating back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. With Job-like patience, you went through every relevant microfiche ( the Library has the complete copy of the Philippine National Archive collection, thank heavens for that). Only that, from 1950 downwards, the records of births, marriages and deaths of every Filipino who were born, got married and died in Bataan, were in no particular order, handwritten in a mixture of Spanish and English. Also remember during those times, you have to consider that births, for one thing, were reported and recorded two or three months later by the attending midwives and as far as accuracy was concerned, the name Islao may be recorded as Wenceslao or Estanislao, two first names referring to the same father or child. How to confirm that was to crosscheck the wife's name for both. Also in some instances, a marriage record may have the parents' names.

Suffice it to say, you were able to come up with a family tree by cross-referencing your laborious research with the oral interviews you previously had with older relatives (still living at that time). Something about first names often came out in those interviews again. Something like Antonio or Antonino; at least , your best guide , as far as first name was concerned, those people's first names were primarily taken from the names of saints, or religious feast days. What was exceptionally satisfying during the research , you stumbled into a document showing your paternal grandfather, Ingkong Ciano, selling his carabao. You printed a copy of that transaction showing his signature and kept it for 'posterity'. Because both of them died in their 40s , no photographs of either one was kept in your family's old photo albums. No handrawn profiles in a picture frame' either.

So why all the fuss, all of a sudden? Again, somebody or something has to be 'blamed' It's 2012. Blame the American Idol. Because , one of the top 10 finalists, Jessica Bugay Sanchez, has a maternal great grandfather, Antonio Bugay, whom you knew personally ( he died last year) was from your hometown back in the Philippines and is closely related to your maternal grandmother, Juliana Bugay Inton. Either they were second cousins or aunt/nephew. And since you moved back with your sister living in Sandy , Utah, it seemed like 2001 (deja vu) all over. So what did you do , one Saturday afternoon in March? You dropped by the Mormon Family & Church History Library. This time , initially you found out that you may search online. Wow! how convenient. Not so fast. Because the records you looked up before in 2001 , have not been fully uploaded and even if they were, the quality , legibility and clarity, no matter how magnify them, remain the same. So again, you need to be diligent, deliberate and patient. It seemed there's no shortcuts allowed as far as researching for those bygone records. Memories of old, A genealogical gap, to put it bluntly. It appears that again, you have to conduct oral interviews again. It's a given that, a long the way, you'll come across tidbits of records aboutt your father's father, Ponciano and your mother's father, Pio. And combine with your imagination and creativity , you'll be able to ' write a biographical sketch, profile of their young lives. and somehow, be able to fill up that genealogical gap. and take some simple pleasures and comfort in doing so. Be prepared to be surprised, delighted, enlightened or whatever the case maybe, soon in your renewed research.

Because since you seemed to be a man on a mission, you eventually would know things about those two grandfathers, Ingkong Pio and Ingkong Ciano things things you never knew before.

Samal, Bataan update: It is heartening to note and find out that for the past 3 weeks, the Samal local town officials, led by Mayor Gene Malibiran de la Fuente, younger sister of your childhood friends: Larry, Tessie and Angie, has done two things. They erected a congratulatory banner of Jessica as Samalenos' pride in front of the municipio and sponsored a widescreen local cable TV broadcast of the latest American Idol episodes in Philippine real time for the delight and satisfaction of Jessica's Samal relatives and 'fans' and to establish the fact that her maternal roots starts with the late Antonio 'Ka Tunying" Bugay, a longtime resident of Barangay San Juan and a 'musikero' himself. Just in: Jessica Bugay Sanchez and Phillip Phillips, not Joshua Ledet, will compete for the American Idol title in next week finale. Abangan. What ever happens, for Samalenos, all over the world, can rightfully proclaim" Jessica ROCKS ERGO SHE WILL RULE!

USP Update

2012-04-05T10:30:00.004-07:00

Would you rather stand out or remain an inconspicuous face in the crowd?

In advertising parlance, USP means unique selling peroposition. Every product, service or company has an inherent distinguishing point of interest that can be turned into a proposition in order to sell or advance a platform for acceptance, recognition and continued patronage.
There's always something that can it maker better, superior than the rest of the competition. You just have to identify and later isolate it and make it appear and feel different convincingly.

Whatever it is, it may come fleetingly like a flash of genius, or after an innumerable brainstorming sessions or diligently conducted consumer research and focus groups. Eventually, that seemingly elusive USP has to be unearthed and found. After which , it has to be explained, expounded in the simplest term possible. No high-fallutin' phrase or expression, please.

In today's era of instant gratification and information overload , does anyone still care about USP? Actually, a generic product will suffice, pricewise.

It boils down to creativity. Yes, there's really nothing new under the sun, It's just been rehashed, recycled, reformatted or re-released in 3D to satisfy the continual technological progress that the traditional mass media have to contend with and adapt to.

What's more, these days, there are the Google, Wikipedia and other internet search engines to go to , to look for prior research, reference and even original source of things, concepts that are supposed to be the new Unique Selling Proposition of a product.

There's really nothing new under the sun. But there are still some Aha moments , the what-did-not-think-of-that-before, left.

Every aspiring or professional copywriter is always in search of the next USP to be one step ahead. It's as if , he/she is in a perpetual quest for that "fountain of youth", that magic potion to keep a service foremost in the minds of its primary audience or target.

But what it is, what it should be about or what it could be is always debatable, controversial, at times.

Simply put, the consumer/auddience looks for something new, better, more efficient for things old; tries to find something familiar , traditional and timeless , even for a new concept or idea. It's that simple, commonsensical and to the point.

Yeah, right. Remember, that in the forever changing marketplace of ideas, concept or undertaking to promote and make your stuff stand out, you need hard work. It takes a combination of luck, perception, old-fashioned intuitive reasearch to find that USP.

One thing for sure though, with today's YouTube viral exposure and Twitter's' immediate feedback , you have to be alert, on your toes for the next big idea.

Or maybe not. Maybe, you have to rely more on tried-and-tested formula of combined freewheeling brainstorm and diligent research. There's no substitute for hard work and honest labor, right?

It's admittledy true that the young are edgier, hipper, more savvy to up the ante, push the envelop and challenge the boundaries of the Establishment. But there's always the experience and wisdom of an old veteran mind to discern what's a mere passing fad or a fleeting superficial concept that cannot stand the test of time, that can burst, collapse and disappear in a jiffy after 15 minutes of public scrutiny.

In the continual search for a new and improved USP, it's still a combination of the ideas of the old combined with the dsring and innovation of the young.

An idea that's universal or timeless transcending the so-called generation gap. So, it should never be an either-or-proposition or a tug of war situation between the newbie and the veteran.

The bottom line: no one has the monopoly of big ideas in the marketplace of global trade and commerce.

You are free to stake your point, proceed to make it into an intriguing proposition and advocate for an enduring platform with persuasive conviction.

Or you prefer that the goodness of your name, product or company speaks for itself, be heard through the grapevine and be known by word-of-mouth?

Back to Basics

2012-03-09T11:35:00.002-08:00

What's important is what matters most.
It's in you now to come up with a game plan that will guide and help you live comfortably within your means.
Make do with less, Be resilient, resourceful and self-reliant. Get creative. Easier said than done, very true indeed. yet, somehow, it may hurt in the short run to add more fresh fruits and veggies and less red meat and fats in your diet, less salt and sugar. It doesn't have to be bland ; it just, has to be spiced sparingly.

You no longer need to dress to impress. Start a mix/match formula of new and used clothes chosen for their seasonal comfort, design and yet remain a 'fashionista' in your mind.

Upward mobility/ social climbing used to eat up a large percentage of your disposable income. Conspicuous consumption for branded items should be discouraged but instead settle for generic products whenever possible.

All the intellectual pretensions for seemingly unattainable things, hobbies and undertakings got you nowhere near the top and almost penniless.

Mediocrity is not necessarily bad but know the limits of your talents and skills.
Rather than being obsessed to excel at all costs, play to your strengths, be good at it and if you become semi-famous , be grateful. It's not that important to be an instant celebrity , a flavor of the month. Concentrate on the best way you may harness your talent or skill (musical or practical) and if need be, that you have to work with others and make it a group effort on a project, contribute and share, in whatever accolades and recognition you may reap.

It's in you to live within your means, make do with a little skill and a lot of enthusiasm, and a bigger thirst for learning.

Consider competition as a welcome challenge to make you aware of your limitation and cognizant of your potentials.

Being a late bloomer in nothing to be ashamed of. After all, the young may have the advantage of time to commit mistakes, regroup and re-focus, you on the other hand, has the luxury of experience and wisdom to solve problems. Being there and having done that, then being open to innovations and accommodation with the deficiencies of youth, may work in your favor.

Don't be afraid to innovate and adapt to to modern technology. Just be selective. Stick to the ones that you utilize most and give you the proverbial help for whatever field you're most passionate to spend your time and effort.

You're going back to basics, making do with less will lead you to a more doable game plan for survival more attuned to today's time.

Baring/Bearing at 60

2012-02-23T11:03:00.068-08:00

You've come this far reaching a new milestone right in the year of the Water Dragon. You've just turned 60 years old.
Indeed, it's time to reflect and reminisce on the last 5 decades that came and went seemingly faster, sooner but unexpectedly more colorful.
Before you embark on this 6th decade, give yourself a break.,. a pause to sort through the highlights and low points in a manner of baring your soul, warts and all, and be able to roll with the punches and still grin and bear with it.

For the first 18 years , you grew up and lived in a small town with all the conservative values and traditional beliefs and practices.

You spent your formative years with neighborhood friends, came of age with them. Having graduated valedictorian of your high school class your parents and well-meaning older relatives expected you to study law, medicine or similar high-profile college course. (it wasn't meant to be) You dreamed of going abroad and working as a bartender.
From a promdi student's viewpoint the first two years of college life in the early 70s brought about a whirlwind of new experiences, exposures to different "isms" and the exhilarating independence of university life. There was the widespread student activism. The 'Woodstock mantra' of Make Love, Not War... drugs sex and rock and roll. What were you to do? Growing your hair longer, attending demos and boycotting classes and watching live Pinoy rock concerts. and staying away from church despite the fact that you were enrolled in the University of Sto. Tomas, the oldest catholic university in the Philippines ( UST which observed its 400th anniversary on 2011). You even got admitted for a staff reporter position in the University organ despite your having no high school journalistic experience whatsoever.. But then came Martial Law declaration in Sept. 1972. With it, curfew and restriction of freedom of the press, anti-government radio/TV stations and newspapers. which caused you to rethink your job options. Wanting to work for a TV dramatic anthology behind the camera. You decided to work instead in advertising as a copywriter. At 3 different agencies,you drew on your creative streak to assist in creating corporate and consumer ad campaigns for the clients. At least, censorship wasn't that restrictive in that creative field.

Mid-80s got your job description redirected. Without knowing the position applied for , you took the short qualifying math exam under time pressure. After passing it and the medical exams, you found yourself with a group of mostly engineering graduates being taught by Macau trainers to become blacjack dealer at the Floating Casino (government-owned, managed by Macau operators during Martial law}
For the next 3 and a half years, you dealt the game to tourists and locals belonging to high income bracket. Good income was paid weekly, alternating with with tips and wages. A regular visit to discos and pizza joints with your cousins and friends; ;beerhouses, and massage parlors with fellow dealers was the norm of recreations. Also your parents, brothers, nieces and nephews got liberal financial help when asked. Felt like being on top of the world, with an 8-hour job as a hospitality person on a junior executive salary in your late 20s. what a potent mix for a decadent lifestyle.
But after working for 363 days nonstop(the casino was closed Holy Thursday and Good Friday in deference to the catholic majority Lenten observance} even your day-off, working different shifts every 3 months, catching the ferry boat to the casino ship anchored in Manila Bay, at times, half-asleep, half-drunk due to an all-night drinking session or playing pusoy, and for missing family functions, you got burned out. enough of this high-paying job with erratic schedule.

You then worked for your aunt's constraction company in Subic, Zambales, first as a operations clerk and later as sales agent for asphalt road projects in Bataan, consulting with town mayors, district engineers and private contractors. You hit paydirt, eventually by landing your first asphalting contract at the Export Processing zone (EPZA) in Mariveles, Bataan. For that, you got a bonus--- a business trip to the United States with your cousin.

In March, 1982, having just turned 30, tou landed at Honolulu International airport for your port of entry inspections and later at the San Francisco International Airport for your final destination (without you knowing it, the so-called US recession was starting to unravel) Welcome to San Francisco, Oakland and the Bay Area linked by BART (Bay Area Rapid transit systems). Right away, , your post-college dream of landing a copywriting job at Madison Avenue NY City or a dealing job at Las Vegas casino seemed doable but the ongoing recession stopped that dream job from happening.

Instead SF and the Bay Area welcomed you with its culturally diverse population, its permissive lifestyle and its Tagaytay-like afternoon weather, with open arms.
After getting acclimated with the do's and dont's , the pitfalls and advantages of living and working in the San Francisco Financial District and getting in touch with old friends, from high school, college and Floating casino and advertising days,and your immediate relatives. You got started working at Wendy's Fast Food restaurant in Market Street, cooking french fries. (Wendy's would always have a soft spot whenever there's a branch you can go for snack or lunch). A little later, you walked up to your first and only temporary agency to sign up for office clerical positions.... and stayed up for almost 12 years. You were able to work in the mailroom and copy room, assisted paralegals, when Sen. Dianne Feinnstein was still the SF mayor and Cong. Nancy Pelosi was still a political fundraiser. In between, marriage and a subsequent divorce happened while you overstayed your business visa resulting in a protracted,immigration case appeal.
In the meantime San Francisco embraced you like all other Asians for its different tourist spots such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square Cable Car turnaround and the Castro and Mission districts. with its free-wheeling lifestyle even at the height of the AIDS epidemic, its dominant football team---Joe Montana and the 49ers and its '89 EARTHQUAKE.
There you learned how to behave as a a roommate, and among other things, discovered the thrill of desktop publishing and. even got to visit nude beach. You also resided in Oakland, San Leandro and later, Pinole, with your aunt and two unmarried female cousins when they bought a house, and for the next seven years, your aunt founded a Rosary Crusade that took you on different Filipino houses in the Bay Area, every week and relearned how to pray the novena prayers, with a predominantly older Filipino members.

1994 was when your mother's petition approval resolved your immigration case and got your 'green card'.

Next stop, Reno, Nevada. Five years, five different casinos, worked in the slots department as a change person and cage cashier, (Never got the chance to take advantage of in-house dealer training sessions in the casinos you worked for), and the snowy winter weather. Got hooked in playing the weekly football parlay betting for the entire season and the after-shift video poker machines. (Your prolonged costly,immigration case appeal later drove you to file for personal bankcruptcy and said goodbye to you credit cards with its cash advances at highly atrocious charges and fees). Your high-cholesterol diet reared its ugly head with your gallstone condition episode.

1999, your older and younger maternal aunts and your own mother died in January, May and July, respectively and made you quit working in Reno.
You went home to attend the funerals and stayed longer than necessary making a break in your residency period for naturalization purposes.

The decade 2000 had you living , working in Salt Lake City, Utah, then in Oakton, Virginia , New York City/New Jersey, and last year in Mountain View, California, interspersed with prolonged Balikbayan visits due to the subsequent deaths of two older brothers and your father. In the process, you discovered the joy of on-demand publishing in the Philippines. You got 5 books of original Tagalog poetry collections published. In the same vein, you got interested in cybernet communications, social networking and blogging. Healthwise, you finally embraced the low-salt/fat/cholesterol diet after having experienced a minor stroke and got diagnosed for hyperstension and partial heart valve blockage.

In 2008, you felt the gravity of the next US recession . No more temp office jobs available for guys your age. Financial difficulties set in and still very much felt. Even your fatalistic, pragmatic attitude had been stretched to its limits...

Okay. enough of these mea culpa, what-might-have-been,the all wrong career moves, misdirection, excesses and shortcomings you've done the last 3 decades covering your post-collge midlife phase.
"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you;re with", says Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. You were defined by the job you had, the perks that went with it and the working environment you had to navigate through. You always strove to be professional and tried to rise above mediocrity. If you were still found wanting or incompetent... there was no use moping around. Move on. Carpe diem!

Two years into your 6th decade, your life's journey, be content with what little you have accomplished that may become the lasting legacy of sorts, you hope of leaving behind.

Whatever's left of your self-respect, your peculiar sense of humor, knowing that despite it all, you 're still one 'crazy _____ after all these years. enough to put an approving smiles on the faces of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

Celebrating Childhood Friendship

2012-01-11T00:39:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, 50 members of Batch '65-'66 of Samal Elementary School attended the Munting Salu-salo sa Bahay ni Esme, located near the old elementary school main building, to obseve their 45th anniversary.(Some got notified of the event via e-mail and text message.}

From 3 to 9pm, alumni, mostly in their late 50s and a few, just turned 60, representing 5 class sections, came from places, near and far, mingled with childhood friends, traded stories and anecdotes and even danced the night away capturing the reunion theme: " habang may init/asim pa ang sabaw" according to Ka Igme.

Only this time, no alcholic drinks allowed. Also this time, the food prepared (merienda and hapunan) were noticeably spiced with less salt and sugar , lower on cholesterol but nonetheless, tasty, in keeping with the alumni's present-day dietary restrictions and health concerns.
But being sober didn't stop them from having merriment and fun. Oh yes, they did and how!

The class reunion got started with the registration, distribution of respective ID tag and raffle ticket number and of course, the commemorative white T-shirt with a back design of 3 Angry Bird- inspired figures doing the Twist, the Jerk and the Grind dance steps. Some alumni were asking for size S; a few settled for XL, grudgingly.

After they changed into their T-shirts and wore their ID tags, greeted and acknowledged the strangers (?) seated in front, beside and back of them, who were looking somewhat older, wider and frail, they eagerly partook of merienda consisting of pancit and puto with Refresh juice drinks. Prayers before meal and a minute of silent prayer for the departed classmates and teachers were said. By the way, two teachers, namely: Ms. Amparo Magtanong and Ms. Rosa Poblete graced the occasion.

The 'fun' part got undwerway with the group picture-taking in front of the gate... A smaller grouping followed to represent the original 6 major barangays of Samal. This time, there were two sets of shots: the serious and the wacky.

Soon, almost everybody went to the adjacent vacant lot to line-dance to the tunes of Achy Breaky Heart, Macarena and Shalala
[primarily to get a 4-minute worth of video coverage for Facebook and YouTube uploads intended for the benefit of those alumni presently residing, outside of Bataan, and in the United States, Middle East countries and Australia and to certain extent, to whet their appetites for hapunan. A few enjoyed the group dance-athon so much that they requested a fourth tune, Electric Slide from the young dance instructor (D.I.) who gamely obliged.

Hapunan was then, served. The meal consisted of higadillo, mechado, gising-gising, steamed talbos ng kamote, manggang hilaw and ginisang bagoong and inihaw na tilapia. For dessert: gelatin and maja blanca topped with latik. This time, large plastic bottled soft drinks were served. (Remember , no alcohol.)

Came next was the parlor games interspersed with give-away raffle.
Surely, nothing could beat cash prizes and gifts to liven up a gathering of childhood playmates and friends, separated and re-united after 45 years of growing-up, some going to college, getting married and raising families, some going and working overseas, and some, finally settling down to early retirement and senior citizenship phase of their lives.

In between, chit-chats about health problems and herbal remedies, the joy of raising grandchildren, local politics and what-have-you dominated the lively topics of conversations. All throughout the evening, there was music intermittently playing the mid-60s chart-topping hits of the Beatles, Tom Jones, Chubby Checker, the Ventures punctuated with the local 60s teen music idols namely: Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Eddie Peregrina and Victor Wood, diligently researched to re-create an ambient feeling of the 60s musical era. (When radio was the primary medium to listen, sing and dance to top 40 Hit parade, especially for 11-12 year- old pupils living in a small town like Samal.}

Came next was the parlor games. First game was Trip to Jerusalem for all widowed, still single and vacationing Balikbayans. Then, followed up by Hep-Hep Hooray, the Limbo Rock Challenge and the Hula-hoop Showdown.

The pleasant surprise game of the evening was the Limbo Rock challenge.
Initially, the contestants were worried they couldn't go under the bamboo pole without falling on their behinds or touching the pole with their heads or chins. Gradually after much reassurance and encouragement, these 'brave' souls started to fall in line, doing the limbo rock steps as they go under, and lower ... till there were only two surviving contestants left to duke it out for the 'lowest' level, namely: Nenita, a recently-retired vacationing midwife based in Germany for over 30 years now and Virgilio, a former Middle East OFW, presently raising his two young kids with his second wife , working as a farmer and barangay tanod. Vergel won.

Soon, after 15 minutes of non-stop disco dancing for some, and for the rest, dividing up the what's was left of the food with 'to-go' bags, the class reunion party ended.

Overall, almost all attendees left with big smiles hoping for the next one, maybe in two year's time; they left with a T-shirt, lots of childhood memories shared, old friendship renewed. Those who got health conditions were given special cash envelopes.

But wait, the celebration was far from over for a smaller group of them, later, went to the neighboring town, Orani, to 86 Klazziks Bar and Restaurant, to cap the evening with beer, pulutan and live band music. They made a toast to the the next reunion , (if ever), over plates of Crispy Pata and bottles of good-old San Miguel Pale Pilsen while the next table of rowdy bunch of teen-agers were wildly dancing to the loud and lively band music.

Cheers, to you, all. Mabuhay!

Truly, these older reunion attendees still got that "init/asim pa ng sabaw" in them.

Food trip

2011-12-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

If and when matters go tedious, tiresome and definitely, blah...there's a surefire solution to perk things up, stimulate your taste buds and give you a sense of adventure----food trip.

Call it comfort food, good-old piece of home-cooking, ethnic cuisine or any other exciting phrase to remind you and ease your inexplicable craving for food---meals, snacks, desserts and/or appetizers that could suddenly transport you to the old country, when life was simpler and predictably organized.

What are you, to do?
At this time of the year, plan to attend one of those neighborhood weekend food fairs. Or head out for 'that restaurant' that caters exclusively for 'that kind of food'. Or better yet, go to 'that grocery store' that stocks and sells 'those rare imported ingredients' needed to capture that 'elusive, exquisite and unique' taste for 'that recipe or concoction' and then cook it yourself.

Of course, as can be expected, it's gonna cost maybe a bit more than arm and a leg.
Of course, as can be assumed, the right combination of sweet, sour, spicy or bitter taste you're hoping for, will be found wanting and not derserving of that extra bucks being asked. Why?

Because not all ingredients or the next best substitute veggies or seasoning will be available.

And prepare yourself for a "blander" or "americanized version'.

Be ready to settle for the next best approximation of the original recipe with that ancient 'family secret'.

But look at it this way.
The very moment you go to that Food Fair, Restaurant or cook it with that Recipe yourself, it's gonna bring back warm and fuzzy feelings of your youth---hometown, childhood friends and a simple way of life---a more innocent period, less complicated daily routine.Oh, what a feeling!
You may have to pay with a few dollars more , though, to re-create that ambient and homey vibes. Food tripping, indeed!

And what about complimenting it with those refreshing summer drinks and native sweets or delicacies. Mmmm, it's yummy, tasty, filling!

So, for desserts, care to try a slice of Bibingkang Duman, or some pieces of tinapay Araro. the pride of Samal, Bataan? They're irresistably tasty.

.

Gift-giving's Good

2011-12-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

It's that unique look of wonder and surprise from a young December birthday celebrant or a precocious godchild that's what makes it worth your while to make gift-giving's gratifyingly good. By deftly combining cost(reasonable) and satisfaction (immeasurable) balanced out, something wonderful will be that gift

Of course, it helps that toy and clothing merchandisers spend a great deal of time and effort to make this year's catalog, inventory or model as the holiday's "must-have" that would set your gift-receiving kid, apart from the rest, no matter that it costs a bit more, has limited stocks to sell and at times, must be reserved ahead of time.

Kids , these days know a lot more and therefore choosy ; they've been bombarded early on by their favorite TV cartoon programs and video games with all those cute and quirky characters. They know what's the latest craze, or hottest item that most kids crave to have as the best holiday gift ever.

Parents/godparents know that gift-giving is the annual holiday ritual they have to go through to survive guilt-free the rest of the year.

So what's there to give, aside from cash, the simplest and most welcome kind? Age-appropriate, non-toxic, educational and uplifting are guidelines set by the concerned consumer groups.

Would it bring about that unique look of wonder and surprise when that box is finally unwrapped? Especially to the technologically-aware kid today? From a Sleeping Beauty, hopefully the kid wakes up a Tickled Elmo and not an Angry Bird.

Holiday gift- giving really has so evolved that the bar for gratitude has been raised higher than say , a generation ago.

Yes, blame it on the slick ad/marketing campaign that has downplayed the joy of receiving and instead highlighted the cost of gift-giving to kids.

If parents/godparents approach this yearly gift-giving task with open eyes, a clear head, a caring heart and a deep pocket, for sure that kid/godchild , upon receiving that gift, would be graciously thankful ever.

Karaoke's a KO here!

2011-11-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

In this corner, it's unanimous. It's official.
And you have the scoreboard to show to any doubting Thomas, or sore loser who insists to claim, otherwise.

Around here, the karaoke machine is king; there's no ifs, and, or buts about it. No split decision.

Whether it's called minus 1 back then, or videoke, now, as soon as the songbook is flipped, the selection button pushed, you better stop, look and listen to whomever got the microphone.

It's showtime, folks. Here comes a nobody singing a hit-topping tune of a ...Matt Monro, Cliff Richards, Rod Stewart or Eric Clapton ...to reminisce on those good-old days. Those days when radio listening is the best way to keep up, learn the melody and sing the lyrics of the latest hits of your favorite crooner, band or singing duet like the Everly Brothers, Peter and Gordon or Chad and Jeremy.

Indeed, those were the days when , almost everybody danced to and shout in unison to YMCA, Mony Mony, Yummy Yummy or Louie, Louie, in utter joy and wild abandon. Those happy, bygone days.

But for today's generation accustomed to YouTube/iTunes sound listening and appreciation, still , karaoke has remained a vital part to liven up a family birthday gathering, a mini-class reunion or a barkada bar-hopping night out , to let everybody's hair and inhibition down and get in touch with your inner Sinatra to flesh out "each and every highway" of My way to end the party on a high note.

There's simply no denying it. A karaoke machine can do just that.

And nobody can complain after, what started as a lunchtime birthday party/payperview boxing telecast rolled-into-one, the latter , not living up to that predicted 6th round KO finish to satisfy the most die-hard boxing fans this side of Asia, was later saved by, that karaoke machine that has a wide selection to cater both to the Oldies as well as the Bagets among the party attendees.

No party-pooper this karaoke singing is. It simply provided the much hyped and needed KNOCK-OUT punch to allow the rest of those who stayed till the end, to GO HOME on a high note.