Pinoy sa Texas

Food that's familiar (Goin' Places)

2009-02-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Daghang salamat Stella. hehehehe.

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Saturday, November 29, 2008

By Stella A. Estremera
Goin' places

IT WAS a request by once-upon-a-time resident Joey Sison to check out the numerous buffets in Davao City and write about it for a change.

My constant battle to watch my weight has kept me away from buffet restaurants, although that was all I ever succeeded in doing, watching my weight... as it kept on growing.

And so I decided to junk that losing battle and go out as Joey suggested trying the buffets.

What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers

That would mean trying the newest, Tita D's Buffet Place along Anda Street (beside Taipan Palace and in front of Lord Anthony).

It was a lonely Tuesday though with just my reporter Rhoda as company. All others had other commitments, the rest were out of town.

We arrived to a jam-packed place. So it wasn't just me who noticed the new place, I thought. Several others did, and brought in their whole family.
There wasn't any table available until a waiter hailed us over to a newly vacated table right beside the array of food. Very good!

There was a considerable number of food there; familiar food, the likes you see as daily fare and fiesta food. Meat, fish, veggies, and chicken in very familiar concoctions, plus the remains of alimasag (just the legs and the sipits left). The stainless steel containers were constantly replenished, but the alimasag wasn't, and so I just picked two sipits, just to taste how they did their alimsag, then went on to get small portions of crispy shrimps, sautéed vegetables, fried chicken, chicken adobo, pansit, and chicken curry.
Rhoda got the fish, pansit, bistik, lumpiang shanghai.

The pansit was salty, and so was the bistik that Rhoda got. Otherwise, the others were regular fare. Nothing to rave about, but good enough to feed a big, hungry tummy. It's food and it's cheap and can be the food your regular neighbor makes during fiesta. (Yes, I really meant neighbor... if you get my drift).

All around us were people from all walks of life. Teens in one big group, a couple, a family, an extended family, more couples, officemates, barkadas, a group of families (we assumed so since there seemed to be more than one mother and father and the children didn't look like each other including two boys of around the same age but didn't look like twins, a small girl, who also didn't look like the boys, a smaller small boy, and a baby brought in by five adults.

At P99 per person, it's a deal. It was quite difficult to catch a waiter though as they all seemed to have their backs turned to us, except one who was the one who found a table for us, wiped our table, and then kept a keen eye on other customers who needed his attention.

After a while, more than halfway through our meal, a waitress approached and asked what we wanted to drink (regular Coke) and then asked, "Merong may birthday sa inyo?"

When we said no, she left and got our Coke, no more said.

We just assumed that a birthday celebrator gets a small heart-shaped balloon with some ribbons as one girl in the long table of youths was holding one. Whatever. Since the group arrived ahead of us, we didn't witness how the balloon was presented. And during our stay there, no one else claimed to be celebrating a birthday.

The attendant by the buffet table said the place opened just last October 27.
As I have eaten up the food on my plate, an attendant brought in pork chicharon (pinakupusan) and so I stood up to get some (seven small pieces, to be exact). I liked it, but when I returned to get more... it was all gone. Apparently the whole place also liked it; it took just a few minutes before it all disappeared.

We were so full by then anyway and were no longer able to try their desserts made of some fresh fruits and some kakanin, and yes, we missed out on the salads made up of guso, lato, and that one that look like green pansit.

The full restaurant didn't quite fit into the already quiet Anda Street; the food-loving Dabawenyos have apparently found another place to stuff themselves with.

Happy Birthday to you!

2009-02-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEEJAY!

Gary Granada vs GMA Kapuso

2009-02-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

i found this transcript from this blog http://rllqph.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/gary-granada-with-podcast-transcript-vs-gma-kapuso/. And I would like to share this to you all.
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Ang isyu? Ninakaw diumano ng GMA ang orihinal na komposisyon na pagmamay-ari ni Gary Granada. Ang tanong, may habol ba si Gary laban sa GMA? Paki-post lamang po ang inyong mga komento.

Eto’t pakibasa ang original transcript na ginawa ko ayon sa podcast na ginawa ni Gary. Please lang po, bigyan nyo naman ng credit ang munti kong site kung nais ninyong i-commercialized ang transcript na ito. Sige kayo, baka ako naman ang gumawa ng next podcast pag nagreklamo ako. ^_^ (Gary, I support you kaya ko ginawa ito. I hope you like it. ^^)

You may stream his podcast or by downloading the mp3.

Magandang araw po, ang pangalan ko po ay Gary Granada. Ako po ay isang song writer o composer at ang hanap-buhay ko ay gumawa ng mga jingles.

Kung kaya ako ay kinomisyon ng GMA Kapuso Foundation na gumawa ng jingle para sa kampanyang Threepid Handog Edukasyon ng Proctor and Gamble. Gaya ng nakasanayan sa advertising industry binigyan nila ako ng lyrics, which I’m supposed to set to music, na dapat ang haba ay sixty seconds. Eto po yung binigay nila:

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang aking mga pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang aking kinabukasan
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo edukasyon ko tuloy-tuloy na magagampan
Ang aking pagpupursigi hindi masasayang dahil nandiyan ka
katulong ko sa bawat hakbang

Tapos may voice over, tapos kanta ulit.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan aking makakamtan.

Obviously kailangang ayusin o i-edit ito para tumugma duon sa music. Ang proseso ay ganito. Anumang revisions na gawin ko ay dapat may approval ng client. And after several revisions, ito na yung huli kong sinubmit na study.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampanan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Threepid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat threepid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan
Aking makakamtan

Hanapin ang threepid sa mga brands na ito.

Mangyari ito ay hindi pumasa at pinagawa na lang sa ibang composer. At ito naman yung lumabas na brinoadcast sa GMA network.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan
aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Threepid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat threepid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon magandang kinabukasan
Aking makakamtan…

Hanapin ang threepid sa mga brands na ito.

Obviously, ginamit nila yung edited lyrics batay sa pagkasukat ko. Pero hindi lang po yun ang isyu. Bukod sa lyrics, ginamit din nilang tuntungan ang musical structure na ginawa ko. At ipapaliwanag ko sa inyo kung paano.

Ang musicial composition ay may tatlong basic elements.

Una, ay yung tono. Halimbawa, sa A-B-C-D-E-F-G, ang tono ay, DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL. Ngayon, kung gagawa ka ng kantang, ABCDEFG na ganito, A-B-C-D-E-F-G, o, SO-LA-TI-DO-TI-LA-SOL. Hindi mo ngayon yun completely original na creation dahil sinakyan mo lang ang pinagpaguran ng iba. At nagiging madaling gawin, precisely because, sinukat na yung piyesa nung gumawa nung original.

Ang ikalawang element ay tinatawag na balor ng mga nota. Halimbawa, ang mga nota ng DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL, ay anim na magkasunod na quarter notes at isang half note. Iba po yun kaysa halimbawa apat na magkasunod na eight notes, isang dotted quarter note, isang eight note ulit at isang half note na ganito naman, DO-DO-SOL-SOL-LA-LA-SOL.

And finally ang ikatlong element ng musical composition ay ang harmonic logic. Sa lay persons term ay yun yun kung saan dumadaan ang chords at kung kailan lumilipat. Halimbawa, ang A-B-C-D-E-F-G, ay C papuntang F tapos balik sa C. Hindi magwo-work yung ilalagay mo yung F sa huli. A-B-C-D-E-F-G. Hindi rin magwowork kung, sa A dumaan papuntang D minor, halimbawa, A-B-D-C-E-F-G, pero pwede yung daanan na yun kung ang kantang yun ay, “He– answers prayers”.

At para patunayan ko sa inyo na ginawa nilang tuntungan yung aking komposisyon, kakantahin ko yung jingle sa tono na pinagawa nila sa iba, kasabay nung minus one na study na ginawa ko.

Kung may lapis kaya kong isulat ang pangarap
Kung may krayola kaya kong iguhit ang bukas
Sa handog edukasyon mga gamit pampaaralan
aking makakamtan
Sa tulong mo pag-aaral ko magagampanan
Ang pagpupunyagi di masasayang

Sa Threepid Handog Edukasyon at GMA Kapuso Foundation, kaya mo ring tumulong. Sa bawat threepid na bibilhin mo, makakatulong kang magbigay ng school supplies sa isang bata.

Sa handog edukasyon
mga gamit pampaaralan
aking makakamtan…

Hanapin ang threepid sa mga brands na ito.

Think about it, yung mga parteng may kanta ay mga mga kantang twenty eight na bara yun. Yung probability na magkaruon na magkahawig mula umpisa hanggang dulo ay ganito. Sa bawat bara you have theoritically dozens of possible combinations. Sabihin na lang nating dalawang possibilities na lang per bar. That would be two times two times twenty seven times mong i-(http://foobarph.multiply.com)multiply.

The chances of that coincidence would be one in one hundred thirty four million two hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred twenty eight. At those odds, I think our dog has a better chance of becoming president of god-forsaken country, since they are throwing it to the dogs anyway.

Nagsumbong ako sa FILSCAP, yun po yung Filipino Society of Composers, Authors(http://rllqph.wordpress.com) and Publishers. Nagpadala ito ng sulat sa GMA, tinanong namin kung bakit di nila ginawa yung friendly reminder namin, na kung ipagawa nila sa iba, ang ibigay nila sa gagawa ay yung original nilang lyrics at h’wag gamitin ang ginawa kong study.

At kung napansin ninyong hindi gaanong maganda ang quality ng audio nung jingle na brinodcast nila, ay kasi ni record ko lang yun galing sa TV mismo. Paano kasi, mahigit isang buwan na akong nag re request kahit mp3 man lang nun for reference ay di man lang ako binigyan. Nabanggit din yun sa sulat ng FILSCAP, di man lang sinagot. Napaka-arogante.

Sa halip, ang sagot ng GMA, ay wala akong claim dahil yun daw ginawa ko ay collective effort namin. Siguro parang ganito, halika upo tayo at mag compose tayo collectively. Kung ganun, eh di ibig sabihin pala, kung paano sinukat yung lyrics at music para magkasya sa isang minuto ay collective naming ginawa yun. Yung paano pagtugmahin yung mga letra sa mga nota ay collective naming ginawa yun. Yun kung saan dalhin ang daloy ng harmony ay collective naming ginawa yun. At kung ganun na nga, marami naman palang mga tao sa GMA that can collectively compose. Bakit pa nila ako kinuha? Sa tinagal-tagal ko sa trabahong ito, nuon ko lang maranasan na mag compose collectively.

Maalala ko yung short meeting namin na yun eh, mahaba kasi yung lyrics kaya kailangan pang paiksiin. Halimbawa yung, aking kinabukasan, sabi ko, ok ba sa inyo kung gawin ko na lang bukas, aking kinabukasan, pito, pitong syllables, bukas, dalawa lang. Tatango-tango naman yung iba. Ganun pala mag compose collectively.

Ang hindi nila naiintidihan, kaya ko sinuggest yung bukas kasi concious ako na pasok yun duon sa melody na naiisip ko. At kaya nga naging madali na lang gawan ng ibang tono ng iba, kasi finormat ko na yung original lyrics mo, na magiging singable at musical. Hindi na lang yun prose, poetry o freeverse. Ginawa ko nang musical yung metro, bigkas at sukat ng copy mo. Kaya nga ang tawag sa inyo ay copywriter, at ang tawag sa akin ay composer. Kasi, babalen-balentungin mo man yang utak mo ng isang milyung beses, hindi mo ma-compose yung lyrics na yun ng ganun.

And you have the audacity to tell me that my composition is our collective effort. In fairness to you, you have a very imaginative mind. Baka sabihin ngayon ng mga fans ko, sir, I have a collection of your collective compositions.

Seriously, yun pong mag compose ng kanta hindi naman siguro yun basta-basta gawin na lang ng kahit sino. Mas lalo na yung mag compose ka ng exactly sixty seconds na kanta. Pero ang natutuhan ko sa loob ng thirty years, minaliit ng GMA network duon din sa sagot na sulat na pirmado ni Atty. Dick Perez na kanilang abugado. Nakalagay po duon.

These changes we’re not made by Mr. Granada alone. One word from Mr. Granada or even three, assuming without admitting, that all changes were made by Mr. Granada does not make the piece his own.

Para akong sinabihan na, aangkinin mo ito eh wala ka namang ginawa liban na palitan ang isang salita.

It did not thirty days to finish that composition. It took me thirty years to hone the skill required to create that composition. Ngayon ipamumukha mo sa akin na ginawa ko lang ay palitan ko ang isang salita. At may nalalaman pa itong mga abugadong ito, na assuming without admitting.

Unang-una po, liwanagin ko lang. Hinding-hindi ko inaangkin yung nilabas nila sa TV. Frankly, ayoko yung mga tono na ganun. Bakit ko naman aangkinin yun? In fact, dahil ayaw ko yung kinalabasan, naiinis pa lalo tuloy na isiping may kinalaman pala ako duon.

Ganun pa man, ang sinasabi ko, hindi sila makakagawa nun, kung hindi nila sinamantala ang aking ginawa. Again, ang kini-claim ko, hindi sila makakagawa nun, hindi man ako nagagandahan duon, o gandang-ganda man sila duon. Hindi nila magagawa yun kung hindi nila sinamantala ang study na gawa ko.

And if we will just let GMA Kapuso Foundation and Proctor and Gamble get away with it, that is like applauding their arrogance and condoning stealing. And to think that GMA as publisher, sits in the board of FILSCAP which protects the writes of composers and lyricist. At may mga anti-piracy anti-piracy ka pa minsang kampanyang napapalabas sa GMA.

Kung hahayaan natin ito, what is now stopping anyone from commissioning artists in general to make studies only to reject them, make easily done modifications out of their hard work and pass them of as entirely new creation all together?

Ninakawan mo na yung mangagawa sa pinagpaguran niya, dinuro-duro mo pa na wala siyang claim dahil wala naman siyang ginawang significant.

Ha… *sigh*

Which makes me wonder? Saan napunta ngayon yung puso sa GMA Kapuso Foundation?

Kung sa tingin po ninyo ay tama lang na ipaglaban ito, malaking tulong kung makakagawa kayo ng statements of support. Mahalaga rin na makakalap ng mga opinyon ng mga dalubhasa kung kayo ay nasa literature department o creative writing center ng iyong university o college of music, your expert opinion will help a lot.

Kung kayo ay composer, lyricist, writer o artists in general. Please send us your comments. Kung kayo ay abugado na dalubhasa sa mga ganitong bagay at sa tingin ninyo ay lehitimong grievance ito, please send us your views.

Paki email lamang po sa garygranada@yahoo.com.Thank you very much for your time.

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address: Humility, Gratitude, Sacrifice

2009-01-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh

Akong gugma nimo

2009-01-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Yeheey! I was so happy Dagmay editor posted my bisaya poem sa so I share this poem to all of you. LOL! This poem is for my wife Wendy.

Akong Gugma Nimo

Poetry by Joey Sison | Sunday, January 4th, 2009

sa hapin sa handumanan
akong gugma idayan-dayan
putling pangandoy
kanimo makapanaghoy.

sa akong panumduman
maoy talamdanan
sa gugmang nakaplagan
nganha sa kawanangan

ang gugmang gitipigan
sa dugay nang kapanahonan
taliwala sa pagmahay
sa akong kasing-kasing mipahulay

busa ayaw kalimti
ning akong sugilanon
ugma puhon hundurawon
sa pitik ning kasing-kasing
akong gugma nagpamasin

—-
Si Joey Sison usa ka taga-Dabaw nga ana-a na gapuyo sa Houston, Texas.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

2008-12-24T01:51:00.000-08:00

MISS KITA KUNG CHRISTMAS
Music: Hermie Uy
Lyrics: Fe M. Ayala

Ang Disyembre ko ay malungkot
Pagkat miss kita
Ano man ang pilit kong magsaya
Miss kita kung Christmas
Kahit nasaan ako
Papaling-paling ng tingin
Walang tulad mo
Ang nakapagtataka'y maraming
Nakahihigit sa 'yo

Hinahanap-hanap pa rin kita
Ewan ko kung bakit ba
Ako'y iniwan mong nag-iisa
Miss kita, O giliw
Pasko'y sasapit 'di ko mapigil
Ang mangulila
Hirap niyan mayro'n ka ng iba.

Do you still believed in Santa?

2008-12-21T04:22:00.000-08:00

My daughter Eos told us that one of her classmates stopped believing in Santa. He told Eos there is no such thing as Santa. He said that "all the gifts he received comes from his Mom and Dad." Santa didnt give him anything.

So we asked her, "what did you tell your classmate?" She simply said that I told him that "every Christmas my Mom and Dad always tell us they dont have money to buy gifts thats why we just write a letter to Santa for our christmas wishes and on Christmas morning we have all these presents, who else are they from but from Santa? Mom and Dad could not afford those gifts."

SALIMA series

2008-12-19T16:23:00.000-08:00

SA ARAW NA ITO
music by Popong Landero

Pawang kabutihan lamang ang mga kahilingan ko
Para sa iyo sinta ng buhay ko.

Sa araw na ito
Nawa'y lumaki kang mapagbigay
At maintindihan
Ang lakas at kahinaan ng kapwa mo

Nawa'y mapapasaiyo ang sapat na kaalaman
Upang maintindihan ang ating mundo

REFRAIN

Sa araw na ito
Sa araw na ito
Manaig sana ang pag-ibig sa puso mo
Upang liparin ang lawak ng mundo
At yakapin ang mga katanungang
Nakalatag sa hangin

CODA

Tumulay ka sa hangin, mangahas ka sa pagtuklas
Pitasin mo ang mga kasagutan
Sa bahagharing kamalayan

Huwag kang mangamba, anak, huwag mabahala
Narito lamang ako sa iyong tabi.

Rage Against the Machine BIO

2008-12-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

As well known for its activism as for its music, Rage Against the Machine nonetheless helped lay the groundwork for the aggression-fueled rock-and-rap genre, which, in the hands of acts like Korn and Limp Bizkit, would come to rival both teen pop and hip-hop on the mainstream charts by the late '90s. Frontman Zack de la Rocha brought the rap with his verbal flow and politically charged lyrics; the rest of the guys brought the rock with an emphasis on Tom Morello’s mix of punk-metal riffs and experimental guitar sounds.

Both de la Rocha and Morello were born into activist families. De la Rocha, who grew up in suburban Irvine, California, and East L.A., is the son of a painter, Beto, who devoted his work to Chicano causes; Harlem-born Morello’s parents were an African rebel-turned-diplomat and a white civil-rights activist. Morello graduated from Harvard with a social studies degree and moved to California, where he found a kindred political spirit in de la Rocha. With drummer Brad Wilk and bassist Tim Commerford (a friend of de la Rocha’s since grade school), they formed Rage Against the Machine in 1991 and released a self-produced 12-song cassette the following year, which quickly won them a deal with Epic. The band did not sign until it was assured full creative control.

Rage Against the Machine (#45, 1993) landed the group a spot on the Lollapalooza Tour and spawned the MTV video “Freedom,” with which the band hoped to raise support for imprisoned American-Indian activist Leonard Peltier. Other causes championed by the band over the course of their career have included death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal’s fight for a new trial, the plight of sweatshop workers, and the Zapatista freedom fighters in Chiapas, Mexico. Critics would often question whether or not the band’s message was getting through to the majority of their fans, but the success of RATM’s second album, Evil Empire (#1, 1996), proved that the music, at least, was connecting with a sizable audience. The audience was still in force three years later, with The Battle of Los Angeles debuting at #1 and the single “Guerilla Radio” reaching #69 in 1999.

The year 2000 proved to be an eventful and tumultuous one for the band. A Rhyme and Reason coheadlining tour with the Beastie Boys (in the tradition of RATM’s 1997 jaunt with the Wu-Tang Clan) was scrapped due to an injury in the Beastie Boys camp, but a free concert outside the Democratic National Convention in L.A. protesting the two-party political system went off without a hitch - until a handful of protesters began a small riot with police, following the band’s set. Less than a month later, Commerford was arrested and charged with assault and resisting arrest after he scaled a stage prop during the MTV Video Music Awards (both charges were dropped when he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct). In October, shortly after the recording of the Rick Rubin–produced covers album Renegades (#14, 2000), de la Rocha announced his sudden departure from the group, citing a communication breakdown. He diverted his attention to the recording of his debut solo album, while the remaining members of the group vowed to continue with a new singer.

In April 2007, Rage Against The Machine reunited to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)

Candy Land

2008-12-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

Candy Land
(By Eos Sison, 8 years old, 2nd grade at Carleston Elementary School in Pearland. She likes to read books.She just finished reading Harry Potter and she is now reading the Lord of the Rings.)

On my way to school I saw candycane house and if I knock on the door and I'd make it fall down then I would eat it. I looked down and saw gumdrop on the green licorice grass then I looked up and it was raining gumdrops! Then I saw a bird made out of hershey bar. Can you believe it? Then I grab the lollipop from the ground. "Huh a lollipop from the ground? I thought lollipops were growing from the ground.

There was a chocolate river, a caramel sun. There was a swingset and a slide made out of kit-kat. Yummy! There were blueberry muffin clouds. I saw a cat but it wasn't any cat, it was a marshmallow cat and marshmallow whiskers and tail.

A licorice mouth and gumdrops eyes and there was a hershey bar dog. It was made out of Hershey bar except for the eyes and tail. It's eyes were hershey kisses and it tail was part of the kitkat bar.

I saw the marshmallow cat chasing a gummy worm. I laughed when the marshmallow cat landed face first on hte ground. "This is the best day of my life!" I said.

I realized that I was late for school so I went to school and after school. I went back to the candy house and I invited my family to come with me.

"Please dont tell anyone about the candycane, promise?" I told my family. "Promise" they said.

The End

CCP features 62 writers in spirituality and healing book

2008-12-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) announced today that 62 writers are included in the annual literary anthology Ani. Ani, which means harvest in the Filipino language, is a project of CCP’s Literary Arts Division. For its 34th issue, Ani focused on the theme “Spirituality and Healing,” the book launching will be held on Dec. 17, 7 p.m. at the CCP ramp.

The 62 writers who submitted prose and poetry featured in Ani 34 are Kris M. Alingod, Mark Angeles, Lilia F. Antonio, G. Mae B. Aquino, Carlos A. Arejola, Edgar Bacong, Isabela Banzon, Janet Tauro Batuigas, Gil S. Beltran, Herminio S. Beltran, Jr., Kristoffer Berse, Jaime Jesus Borlagdan, Nazzer C. Briguera, Catherine Candano, Desiree Caluza, Nonon Villaluz Carandang, Dexter B. Cayanes, Jose Jason L. Chancoco, Joey Stephanie Chua, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, Mario L. Cuezon, Maureen G. dela Cruz, Rodrigo V. Dela Peña, Jr., U Eliserio, Dennis Espada, Filipino L. Estacio, Rogerick F. Fernandez, Raul Funilas, Nena Gajudo-Fernandez, Jeneen R. Garcia, Luis P. Gatmaitan, Fernando R. Gonzalez, Erwin C. Lareza, Jeffrey A. Lubang, Nestor C. Lucena, Melba Padilla Maggay, Perry C. Mangilaya, Noahlyn Maranan, Francisco A. Monteseña, Ursula B. Nelson, Wilhelmina S. Orozco, Chuckberry J. Pascual, Noel P. Pinggoy, Dinah Roma-Sianturi, Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Joseph T. Salazar, Romel G. Samson, Aida F. Santos, Rakki Sison-Buban, Beverly W. Siy, Jason Genio Tabinas, Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr., Vincent Lester G. Tan, Dolores R. Taylan, Enrico C. Torralba, Gerardo Z. Torres, Joel H. Vega, Gina Verdolaga, Santiago B. Villafania, Ana Maria Yugalca, and Manuel Zacarias.

Herminio S. Beltran, Jr., CCP literary arts division head and Ani 34 editor, wrote in the Introduction, “Reading the compilation of poems and prose in this year’s issue, there is indeed a close connection between creative or imaginative writing and spirituality, and with it, healing.” “It is as if the act of writing, and with it, reflection and meditation, is itself spirituality, which brings about healing, first in the writer, and consequently, the reader,” Beltran continued.

For inquiries on the next issue of Ani, which will delve on the experiences of the Filipinos in general and the Filipino writer in particular as members of the Asian community, e-mail aniyearbook@yahoo.com.

For inquiries or to schedule interviews, call or SMS Betty Uy-Regala at the following numbers: 0906-2604175, or 832-1125 local 1706 (CCP Literary Arts Division), or e-mail aniyearbook@yahoo.com

Ada's letter for Santa

2008-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

The economy is horrible! Does it affect you in the North Pole? Please help the world economy. World peace would be great! The soldiers would come home and the goverment would have one less thing to worry about.

Please think about stopping hunting. Think about your chestnut brown riendeer. What would you do if a hunter killed them? I'm sure they are hard to find.

For my parents a little bit more money would do for at least a little help in this terrible economy.

Please let the Galvestonians rebuild. They are always the hardest hit during hurricanes.

For myself I want a few fiction chapter books. Maybe the whole Ember series or bluebonnet books. I love reading! At home I have shelfs full of books. Books!

Love,

Ada

International Writer from Philippines has many talents, many facets

2008-11-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

UI News Release
(More on http://news- releases. uiowa.edu/ 2008/november/ 110608writerphil ippines.html)

Nov. 6, 2008

International writer from the Philippines has many talents, many facets

A variety of descriptors are required to introduce Gutierrez "Teng

Gutierrez "Teng" Mangansakan II, the first University of Iowa International Writing Program representative from the southern Philippine island of Mindanao: essayist, screenwriter, fiction writer, poet, photographer, filmmaker, journalist, heritage conservationist, relief worker, editor, blogger (http://www.morofilm .blogspot. com/), Muslim, gay.

Newspaper anyone?

2008-11-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Arghh !!!!!! I just cut off my daily newspaper subscription and I could not find any copy around our place. I knew there was a shortage going on when the local TV news stations announced that there will be a reprint of todays newspapers and will be delivered in all designated areas.

I called my friend Cookie in New York (she's not answering her phone, hopefully she got a copy), I chatted with Tisay still from the same city and asked her if she had a copy of today's newpaper and she said she doesn't have one but will look look around later tonight. I called Lita in Las Vegas and she asked me back "why do you want a copy?" I just simply answered "Lita, history was written on it" and she said she will secure one if she finds one *** cross my finger*** . I chatted with Teng at Yahoo Messenger and asked him the same thing if he got a copy he said no. He went to cafes and bookstores he couldn't find one. I even urged him to go around convenience store maybe he could find one there. And called my friend Timz in San Jose, CA and she told me "Its too late to go around and I dont subscribe to newspapers."

When my wife arrived home I asked her if she got a copy and she said she went around the hospitals in the medical center where she works, all the newspaper stands were empty. She added that suprisingly you could not even find newspapers in the patients waiting area and even in the Doctors Lounge. I asked her if she would like to come with me to go around and find a newspaper.

We drove around the city with our three daughters for 30 miles away from our place. We could not find a single store with todays newspaper. We all agreed that it's not our lucky day. On our way home, we decided to stop by a convenience store not for the newspaper but to buy a lottery ticket (todays draw is Texas Lotto and the estimated cash value is $2,400,000.)

"Tatay, Nanay" my eldest daughter Ada excitedly shouted to us. "They have newspapers here."

Now, we have a piece of history in our hands.

President OBAMA!

2008-11-04T15:34:00.000-08:00

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!

(sa sunod pinoy na...)

Gauss and the Gang.

2008-10-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

from left to right:

Takang, Gauss, Jojo, kinsa gani ni silang duha (Gauss) taga Piglas Sapat man ni silang duha then Eric Gancio

October 4 ( Taug Gamma Phi Anniversary)

2008-10-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Triskelion Grand Fraternity was organized on October 4, 1968 by four Arts and Science students from the University of the Philippines, in the Diliman campus, Quezon City, Philippines. The fraternity was originally named Order of the U.P. Triskelions.

The group swelled in ranks and gained its recognition when the Greek lettered TAU GAMMA PHI was adopted. Few years later, chapters from other college and university campuses in the Philippines were established.

The TAU GAMMA PHI aims for promoting to achieve the ideals of fraternal brotherhood. The fraternity believes that it must forge its members to embody qualities of leadership, commitment, persistence, trust, integrity, respect, and vision. This fraternity aims for academic success, personal, career and spiritual growth, active participation in the community through service and social activities. The TAU GAMMA PHI is connected to developing a best-in-class brotherhood organization; a student organization that embodies its own ideals and mission in accordance to fraternity's Tenets and Codes of Conduct.

A member of TAU GAMMA PHI is called Triskelion. Triskelion is a"Three Legged Symbol"as shown on the fraternity seal, and its origin is a mystery. A Triskelion has always lived up to the motto, "it will stand no matter where you throw it", which accompanies its seal --Strength, Free Will and Brotherhood.

we are born as a triskelion
we live as a triskelion
we die as a triskelion

Oscar-winning THOTH

2008-10-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGVGwpxg7yA

In the Oscar®-winning THOTH, director Sarah Kernochan turns to another wonderfully unique personality, a fantastic character who performs one-man operas in a strange language on the streets of New York to amused, befuddled, and awed audiences.

For Martin Luther King

2008-10-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ada wrote this letter during Martin Luther's King celebration at her school Carleston Elementary School, Pearland, Texas She's 3rd grade.

Dear Martin,

I think your work was the greatest thing that ever happened in history. My little sister likes to read about you. Your work is very, very, very peaceful. I think right when you started the bus boyvott the Americans should have stopped treating African Americans badly. Dont you think? If you did not do your work, segregation would still exist. We would have separate schools, bathrooms, waterfountians, restrooms, restaurant stores and other places. I wouldnt have my friends or classmates or my teachers. Your assasination made me feel bad and other people do to. I wish I knew who killed you. You work was great and you are a Hero.

NDF-Southern Mindanao pays tribute to former Bayan Sec-Gen and NPA Val Mante Jr.

2008-09-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

NDF-Southern Mindanao pays tribute to former Bayan Sec-Gen and NPA Val Mante Jr

Rubi Del Mundo
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front-Southern Mindanao
September 23, 2008

Our beloved comrade, Valerio Mante Jr., passed away Monday, September 22 at 6:15 pm at a Davao City hospital. He died of complications arising from kidney failure. He was 58.

Coming from lower middle class origins, Ka Val was a consummate activist, instructor, organizer, untiring mass leader, poet, literary writer, a friend, comrade and a dedicated member of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Having spent more than half of his life aboveground as an activist--from being a progressive seminarian and youth activist in the turbulent 1970s to being a human rights worker in the 1980s and as secretary general of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Davao City, Ka Val decided to move on from the boundaries of legal democratic struggle.

Ka Val joined the New People's Army in the late 1990s and spent a decade full of hard struggle, in loving and earnest service with the masses of Southern Mindanao. Ka Val, ever the practical and hardworking cadre, did not mind the intermittent fever he was suffering since last week and instead told comrades-- who were worried and who were pressing him to seek medical treatment--not to fuss over him because he was fine. Ka Val finally relented, endured almost 14 hours of travel atop a hammock carried by comrades, and finally sought medical treatment at a hospital in Davao City Sunday (Sept. 21). He never fully recovered. The next day, after three attempts of resuscitation, doctors declared him dead.

The revolutionary movement and the masses would surely miss Ka Val, whose life was a stark example of loving sacrifice and whose death is as heavy as the mountains in the countryside.

Si Val

2008-09-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Si Val
By Carlos H. Conde

The last time I saw him, in Davao City about four years ago I think, he looked gaunt. Too gaunt, in fact. He had just come down from the mountains and, as he would often do, was touching base with friends, many of them journalists like me who had covered him and the progressive movement when he was the secretary-general of the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Mindanao.

His skin also grew darker, and I joked that Biolink, a skin-whitening lotion, hadn’t done much for him. How could it? he said. In the mountains, where Val Mante Jr. had repaired to after years and years of being the public face of the Left in Davao, the last thing you cared about is your skin.

Val, you see, was a New People’s Army guerrilla. After legally fighting the government on the streets, he probably figured that a more meaningful struggle — albeit underground and fraught with danger — could be fought to protect the welfare of poor Filipinos who eke out a miserable living in the countryside, where the defenseless and voiceless needed intellectuals from the middle class like himself to counter a state that was becoming more and more oppressive.

It seemed as though becoming an NPA guerrilla was inevitable for Val, an expression of a higher level of commitment to a cause, if ever there was one. It was a decision that did not shock his friends. To us, it was simply a matter of time before Val decided to bear arms.

To be sure, many would scoff at Val’s decision to become an NPA and the things he stood for, dismissing this as stupidity, a mindless commitment to an ideology long discredited. Perhaps. But Val, during the times that we interacted while he was already with the NPA, would often impress on me that this “dead ideology” is far from deceased in the poor rural areas where peasants are locked in a never-ending struggle with their landlords. In these areas, for instance, a real agrarian-revolution was taking place, supplanting the bogus one being implemented by the government.

As I have personally seen in the many years that I covered the communist movement in the Philippines — and having actually camped with Val one time to do this story — this “dead ideology” is the one thing that gives many of these abused masses the hope that they couldn’t find elsewhere — hope for justice, for a decent life, and for an existence free from the abuses of the state.

Val didn’t harbor any illusion that he and his fellow communists would take over the country anytime soon. “It will probably not happen in my lifetime,” he told me once years ago. It didn’t matter to him whether the revolution would succeed or fail; as far as he was concerned, it was the right thing to do.

Whether one agrees with Val’s ideology or not, nothing can dispute the fact that, in the past three decades, the absence of good governance and the overwhelming dominance of abuse, corruption and hunger in our national life have pushed many poor Filipinos in the countryside and elsewhere to seek refuge in the bosom of the revolution, into the arms of comrades like Val Mante Jr. And for 10 long years, Val was with them, right to the very end. (Carlos H. Conde/pinoypress.net)

Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao issued a statement about Val on Wednesday. It read in part:

Coming from lower middle class origins, Ka Val was a consummate activist, instructor, organizer, untiring mass leader, poet, literary writer, a friend, comrade and a dedicated member of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Having spent more than half of his life aboveground as an activist — from being a progressive seminarian and youth activist in the turbulent 1970s to being a human rights worker in the 1980s and as secretary general of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Davao City, Ka Val decided to move on from the boundaries of legal democratic struggle.

Ka Val joined the New People’s Army in the late 1990s and spent a decade full of hard struggle, in loving and earnest service with the masses of Southern Mindanao. Ka Val, ever the practical and hardworking cadre, did not mind the intermittent fever he was suffering since last week and instead told comrades — who were worried and who were pressing him to seek medical treatment — not to fuss over him because he was fine. Ka Val finally relented, endured almost 14 hours of travel atop a hammock carried by comrades, and finally sought medical treatment at a hospital in Davao City Sunday (Sept. 21). He never fully recovered. The next day, after three attempts of resuscitation, doctors declared him dead.

The revolutionary movement and the masses would surely miss Ka Val, whose life was a stark example of loving sacrifice and whose death is as heavy as the mountains in the countryside.

Paalam Val Mante!

2008-09-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Sa tanang nakaila kay Val Mante akong ginapahibalo nga sya namatay. Naa sa Cosmopolitan Camus ang iyang haya.

You can send poems, solidarity message or even donations will post more details.

My Daughter's letter for President Bush

2008-09-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

My Daughter's letter for President Bush

Dear. Mr. Bush,

Hi. My name is Ada J. Sison. I live in Texas. I think that you should get your troops out of IRAQ because it will make the war bigger. Maybe other countries will join the War and it will become world war III. And dont make other places join the war. Im only 7.

Sincerely,

Ada

Snow

2008-09-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Snow
by Ada J. Sison

Snow is white.
Now it is winter.
Oh how I love snow.
Who does not like snow?
Who does like snow?
How is snow made?
It is very cold in the snow.
The snow has snowflakes.
Everyone loves snow!

Kumbati

2008-09-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Kumbati
(alay kay John Gaspe, 1996 Davao del Sur)

nabati ko ang kakusog
sa pitik sa imong dughan
daw mura kag gitugnaw
sa lantugi sa imong mga ngipon
apan tataw sa akoa
nga hugot nimong gikuptan
ang pul-anan sa armalayt

sa hoyohoy sa hangin
sa dagayday sa tubig sa sapa
didto nako unang nadungog
ang pagbuto sa imong armalyt
dayon ang pag-ulbo sa tibuok kalasangan

mikuyanap ang grabeng kahilum
ang katam-is og kapait
sa baho sa pulbura
ang t'yabaw sa mga naangol
nga kaaway

didto nako unang nabati
ang kamahinungdanon sa kakusog
sa pitik sa imong dughan
ang lantugi sa imong mga ngipon
ang kahukot sa paggunit sa imong armalayt.

Joey Sison

Pinoy sa Texas

Food that's familiar (Goin' Places)

Daghang salamat Stella. hehehehe. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Saturday, November 29, 2008

Happy Birthday to you!

Gary Granada vs GMA Kapuso

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address: Humility, Gratitude, Sacrifice

Akong gugma nimo

Yeheey! I was so happy Dagmay editor posted my bisaya poem sa so I share this poem to all of you. LOL! This poem is for my wife Wendy.

Akong Gugma Nimo

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Do you still believed in Santa?

SALIMA series

Rage Against the Machine BIO

Candy Land

CCP features 62 writers in spirituality and healing book

Ada's letter for Santa

International Writer from Philippines has many talents, many facets

Newspaper anyone?

President OBAMA!

Gauss and the Gang.

October 4 ( Taug Gamma Phi Anniversary)

Oscar-winning THOTH

For Martin Luther King

NDF-Southern Mindanao pays tribute to former Bayan Sec-Gen and NPA Val Mante Jr.

NDF-Southern Mindanao pays tribute to former Bayan Sec-Gen and NPA Val Mante Jr

Si Val

Paalam Val Mante!

My Daughter's letter for President Bush

My Daughter's letter for President Bush

Snow

Kumbati

Daghang salamat Stella. hehehehe.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saturday, November 29, 2008