Dreams in Bethlehem

Dreams in Bethlehem*
by Roque Ferriols, SJ

What are your dreams my little king,
asleep on the manger straw?
Are you dreaming of play
'mid stars in a swing
That cherubs rock to and fro?

But from his cheek rolls a little tear
and angels whisper in my ear,
"He is dreaming of saving you."

(*From Fr. Eric Castro AB Pre Div 1992)

Gitara, Lapis, atbp.

Davao City. The Philippine Business for Social Progress held its annual membership meeting at Marco Polo Hotel today. My office was invited to showcase the Muslim Bridging Program dubbed as "Ateneo Human Resource Training for Muslim and Lumad." The program actually is an assistance/grant for poor Muslim and Lumad in Ateneo de Davao University.

Different corporations also featured their interventions to the dismal situation of education in Mindanao, especially ARMM where 69% of the population lived below poverty threshold with the lowest literacy rate for decades. Foremost of the companies which presentd their programs as corporate citizens were Philam Life represented by Max Ventura, SMART COmmunications represented by Mon Isberto, Microsoft Philippines, and PNOC.

I made a 10 minute documentary of the Ateneo program which ran in looping mode for the entire day. It featured our annual seven million pesos scholarship grant for poor kids in Mindanao, with preferential option for the poorest Muslim and Lumad. Our Muslim scholars who manned the booths complained that they had memorized already the script of the documentary! Just imagine watching it 54 times in a day?

On the last part of the business meeting, there was this Grade 5 kid from Lamitan who made a speech in Tagalog. It was a very moving speech of gratitude. I was mesmerized that aside from initiatives exerted by the private sector and NGOs, still the devastation and havoc done by war and violence had made this child's future a dream. Her innocence had been stolen from her. And this was just a single child with a dream for a better world, a peaceful Basilan. What more if we are talking of communities in Mindanao, displaced and homeless because of war?

And this child fights to make her dreams come true. She told her mother, "Nay, mag-aaral ako kahit wala akong lapis at papel." Her mother had to laundry the child's only uniform every day so she could go to school. Her mother had to borrow money so she could have a baon of dried fish for school. Other times, "Di ako makapasok dahil basa pa ang uniporme ko. Minsan, may tuyo para sa kanin, minsan walang tuyo ni kanin." She had to share her book in school with three other kids.

And this kid was shy. But now she speaks to CEOs and company presidents, cabinet members of the government, leaders of local government units, presidents of schools and universities. She further said, "Noon mahiyain ako. Yan ang ako NOON. Sino naman ako NGAYON. Di na mahiyain dahil meron na akong dalawang uniporme. May mga tao na nagdala ng mga gamit isang araw sa amin. Sabi ng titser ko, iskolar daw ako. May dala silang lapis, papel, may bag pa."

She spoke for 15 minutes without faltering. She memorized out from her heart her speech. Her voice was penetratingly groping for a glimmer of hope from the heart of each one in audience. In closing, she shouted "Mabuhay ang Pilipino!"

She was burning with hope.

I still believe in dreams. But what I was hearing was not a dream. It was a dream come true.

xxx

There will be concert in Davao by Noel Cabangon and Joey Ayala, come December for the benefit of these children in Mindanao. CDs will be released three weeks from now, titled "GITARA, LAPIS, ATBP" featuring original compositions of two artists for the education of poor children in Mindanao. If you buy a CD, it will cover a month of school supplies of one child. Visit www.pbsp.org.ph for more details.

If you want to support other poor scholars who are now in the tertiary level, you can buy christmas cards from Ateneo de Davao University (c/o Elvi Tamayo). A card (Php 20.00 or US$0.45) covers a meal for a hungry scholar in Ateneo.

PAGPAPASYA AT PAGPAPAUBAYA

PAGPAPASYA AT PAGPAPAUBAYA

Suntok sa Buwan. Ika-19 ng Oktubre, 2004. Mahalaga ang araw na ito sa Ateneo de Davao. Bukod sa ikalimang araw mula sa pagsisimula ng Ramadan, isa rin itong pagbabalik-tanaw sa labindalawang taong pamamalagi ko sa Davao City. Dumating ako dito noong Mayo 1993, kasama ang dalawa kong kaklase: sina Geo Carbonell at Eric Abriam.

Tanda ko pa noong buwang iyon, abala ako sa paghahanda sa bagong yugto ng aking buhay: buhay pagtuturo habang nagmumunimuni ukol sa mahalagang pagpapasya na gagawin sa buhay. Oo nga. Sa Davao ang lugar ng pagpapasya, minsan pagpapasyang tigib sa pasanin ngunit nagpapalaya.

Ngayon, katatapos lang semestre. Nagpapahilom ng sugat ang Ateneo. Ngunit ang sugatan ay kailangan ring bumangon at magpatuloy. Kailangang harapin ang susunod na yugto ng buhay. Ang halaga ay nasa abot tanaw. Hindi ang pananatili sa putik ng pagsisi at sisihan.

Ewan ko kung anong mangyayari sa bukas. Ang bukas ay pinapaubaya sa kamay ng Maykapal, na may hawak ng kapalaran, ang Maykapal(aran). Hindi ba ang gaan ng pasya ay nasa dulo nito .... magpasya at magpaubaya.

Ganyan ng pag-aasawa. Magpasya at magpaubaya.

A Tribute to Serafin Dinsay

Serafin Dinsay was a friend way back in 1985-86 in St. Augustine Academy, Bayawan, Negros, Oriental. These news came as a shock to me two months ago after I searched his name in the net. The search was out of curiosity, from a desire to get connected with former classmates and friends. Here are the unfortunate news I have copied from the Visayan Daily Star:

THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR [May 10, 2002]
Four killed in payroll holdup
BY JUDY FLORES & ALEX PAL

The paymaster and two others government employees as well as a resident of Sta. Catalina town were killed by about three still unidentified gunmen, in what was tagged as a payroll robbery in barangay Maninihon, Bayawan Negros Oriental, at about 3 p.m. yesterday.


Initial reports from Sta. Catalina identified three of the fatalities as paymaster Librado Dagat, bookkeeper Winnie Capunong, 42, and Serafin Dinsay, 30, driver of the town's L-300 van.

All three were employed at the Municipal Treasurer's Office of the town. The fourth victim, Virginia Edrial, 52, was a midwife who had hitched a ride from Bayawan.

The victims were returning to Sta. Catalina after withdrawing P372,000 from the Land Bank in Bayawan City when they were stopped by two men armed with .45 caliber pistols.

Provincial Attorney Erwin Vergara said that after the victims were divested of the payroll money, they were brought by the suspects to barangay Omod, in Bayawan City, about five kilometers away, where they were shot to death. The suspects fled on two motorcycles, described as a black Honda TMX 155 motorcycle and a blue Kawasaki motorcycle, towards Mabinay town.

A witness called the police to report the incident. The bloodied bodies of the victims were found inside the van which was abandoned in the middle of a sugarcane field. The victims had been shot in various parts of their bodies.

The glass on the right door of the van was shattered and its door riddled with bullets.

Sta. Catalina Police Chief Sr. Insp. Crescenciano Pagnanawon said it was possible that the motorcycles and one of the robbers had been waiting in the sugarcane field, in preparation for their getaway.

PNP Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Drusillo Bolodo immediately ordered hot pursuit operations and the setting up of checkpoints in the towns of Mabinay, Bayawan, Basay, Pamplona and other towns in southern Negros Oriental.

Bolodo, who immediately went to the crime scene, also ordered the PNP Crime Laboratory to proceed to the area to gather fingerprints, that could be used to identify the suspects.

Raymundo Ybanez, OIC of the Provincial Treasurer's Office of Negros Oriental, said it was also possible that the suspects were known to the victims, so they were all killed to prevent identification.* (with reports from Romy Amarado)

THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR [May 10, 2002]
Cops eye local boys in Bayawan rob-slay

BAYAWAN CITY, Negros Oriental -- The Police are pursuing leads indicating the possible involvement of local boys in the Wednesday daytime robbery-slay in Sitio Kamandagan, Barangay Maninihon in Bayawan City that left four government workers of Sta. Catalina town dead.

Provincial Police Director Supt. Drusillo Bolodo said that initial police investigation had identified at least one of the suspects as a resident of Bayawan City.

Bolodo, however, did not reveal any names as hot pursuit operations continue in the hinterlands of southern and central Negros Oriental, where the suspects are believed to have exited from the crime scene.

Spearheading the police investigation are Bayawan Police Chief C/Insp. Alexander Gaudiano and Sta. Catalina Police Chief Sr. Insp Cresenciano Pagnanawon.

On Wednesday, the police said witnesses saw at least two armed men on board the government-owned white L-300 van that carried the four Sta. Catalina municipal workers, speeding along a dirt road up into the interior barangay of Maninihon.

What had attracted the attention of many witnesses was that while the vehicle was moving, the door to the driver's seat was open with an armed man seated close to the driver.

A witness phoned the police while the robbery was still in progress.

The van, with the four dead people inside, was found abandoned near a sugarcane field about six kilometers from the national highway in Sitio Kamandagan minutes later after the witnesses initially saw it speeding past then.

Police and forensic experts from the Negros Oriental PNP Crime Laboratory found empty shells, slugs, and live, expended but warped bullets of .45 caliber from the crime scene.

Ballistic tests are now being conducted even as PCCL Chief Sr. Insp. Alet Virtucio says he believes at least two .45 caliber pistols were used by the suspects.

Except for the driver who sustained two bullet wounds to the face and the upper left portion of his back, the other victims succumbed to a single gunshot wound either to the head or neck.

Killed in Wednesday's rob-slay were Sta. Catalina municipal treasurer's office workers, Serafin Dinsay, Librado Dagat and Winnie Capunong and the local government midwife Virginia Edrial.

Meanwhile, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Dumaguete City are now taking DNA samples from personal belongings that were recovered by the police at the juncture of the national highway and the dirt road that led to the crime scene.

Police believe these items belonged to the suspects who may have changed into military attire before they pulled the heist.

A cartographer from the NBI in Bacolod City was also scheduled to arrive in Bayawan City yesterday afternoon to talk to witnesses.

Cartographic sketches of the suspects will be released to the public soon even as Bayawan and Sta. Catalina local officials are set to discuss the possibility of putting up reward money for information leading to the arrest of the killers.*JSF

THE VISAYAN DAILSY STAR [August 2, 2002]
Rebel official under probe for Bayawan holdup-slays
BY VICTOR CAMION

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now investigating the alleged connivance of a top official of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army Alex-Boncayao Brigade with two of the three persons accused in the Bayawan hold-up slay.

The probe had been based on reports that the two suspects are now the RPA-ABB top officials, who have refused to turn them over to the police. One of the three suspects surrendered to the police a few days after the incident.

P/Insp. Crisaleo Tolentino said they are also looking into the motive of the report, as this could either help come up with the real picture of justice or destroy the peace agreement between the government and the group.

The CIDG said they still believe in the credibility of the group but added that nobody is above the law.

If the report is true, the respondents will be charged for obstruction of justice and for harboring criminals. Provincial Intelligence PNCO SPO3 Herbert Arinaza, in a separate interview, said they also received reports that the amount taken by the hold-uppers in Bayawan was divided into three. "The first 50 percent was supposed to have gone to the regional command of the group, 25 percent supposedly went to the district command, and the remaining 25 percent was allotted for operations.

RPA-ABB Regional Commanding Officer Reynaldo Mallari had earlier offered help to Provincial Director P/Sr. Supt. Drusillo Bolodo in nabbing the suspects.

Mallari also admitted that the three suspects, Raul Villar alias Ka Drilon, the Amaro brothers, Julio and Jaime, were all former members of the RPA-ABB but are under disciplinary action.

The three are now facing charges of robbery with multiple homicide. During the Bayawan hold-up slay they took more than P300,000 in payroll money.

Killed during the incident were Sta. Catalina municipal employee paymaster Librado Dagat, bookkeeper Winnie Capunong, driver Serafin Dinsay and hitchrider Virginia Edrial, a midwife. *VC

Joys and Sorrows: High School Friends/Classmates

This is one of the unusual days. I happened to contact one of my high school classmates way back in 1985-86 at Bayawan, Negros Oriental, Misailah Renacia-Evardo. My last contact of her was when she phoned in 1999, she was getting married at that time in Dumaguete City. Yesterday, I got Ian Espartero's message from Friendster that he was from Bayawan and knew a lot of people from there. After a few exchanges of messages, I got Joy Guevarra's email address, Sr. Marcelle de la Cruz, AR email address [she was our school directress in St. Augustine Academy at that time] and Misai's cell phone number.

I also remembered Marlo Mariño and Serafin Dinsay who were my close barkadas at that time. Unfortunately Serafin was murdered last 2002, I just knew it this year after I search the net: Four Killed in Payroll Holdup. May he rest in peace.

It will be very nice to see old classmates in Bayawan, visit some places there. Bayawan was a memorable place for me. I was there when Evelio Javier was murdered, I was there when EDSA revolution happened. The locus of my young formation was St. Augustine Academy. It was a Giancaldo in the Cinema Paradiso. It opened possibilities for my young mind and heart.

I was assigned to St. Agnes first year class. I was in the second row, last seat to the left of Mrs. Cynthia Villarin class. Since I came from Western Visayas, I did not speak Cebuano. After three weeks, I was speaking Cebuano, thanks to the eloquent speakers like Serafin Dinsay, Misailah, Joy Guevara, Chanet Moncal, and the quiet Marlo Mariño, Maria Aileen Ege, and Dom Pantalita. I had also some classmates who spoke Ilonggo, I think his name was Alvin. And most of all, Sr. Noemi Manzano, who spoke broken Cebuano mixed with Tagalog (sounds like Davao saksak sinagol).

I could remember faces, but names I could not. Some vivid faces: a tall dark girl from Sta. Catalina who really spoke good bisaya, Kristine Armstrong (we got some exchanges of emails before, and I learned she married a Mexican surmaned Carlos), the Carcasonas, the lanky male twins, Edson Teologio whose mother was teaching in SAA, Marilou Oro (my neighbor in NONAS, I lived inside NONAS.).

Misai, pls supply some names... please.....

Meron na meron

Padre Roque J. Ferriols, SJ: Guro, gabay, liwanag at higit sa lahat, kaibigan

Magtatanong tayo, si Padre Roque, nagteteks? Oo naman. Kung babasahin mo ang unang yugto ng kanyang Pilosopiya ng Relihiyon, bukod sa umaapaw ito ng pagtatalakay sa hiwaga ng presensiya at pakikipagtagpo, hindi maiiwasan ng tao na makipagtagpo sa kapwa tao katawan sa katawan, diwa sa diwa. Ang telepono ay sangkap na materyal, ngunit sa pamamag-itan nito, naipapamalas ng tao ang kanyang presensiya sa kapwang nasa malayo, diwa-sa-diwa, habang sa lalim ng kalooban andoon ang pagnanasa na sana man lamang makatagpo ang kapwang nasa malayo sa isang harap-harapang pakikipagkapuwa; diwa sabay katawan.

Nanaisin kong sipiin ang sumusunod mula sa Pilosopiya ng Relihiyon, pahina 14:

Si Alyosha ay nagdadalamhati sa kamatayan ng kanyang minamahal na guro. Itinuturing siyang santo ng mga tao, kaya 't inaasahan niya na hindi mabubulok ang kanyang bangkay. Nagbulong-bulungan ang mga tao. Nalungkot si Alyosha, hindi dahil sa pagkabulok, kundi dahil sa mga bulong-bulungan. Doon siya nakadanas ng hieropaniya: na ang buong buhay makalupa, hanggang sa nakalilitong dalamhati nito, ay pagsasaatin ng banal. Nakatulog siya sa lamay at napanaginipan niya ang namatay. Noong nagising siya, tumayo siya at lumabas sa mabituin na gabi.


"Ang katahimikan ng lupa ay parang naghahalo sa katahimikan ng langit. Ang hiwaga ng lupa at ang hiwaga ng mga bituin ay nagkaisa.

Tumayo si Alyosha, tumanaw at bigla siyang napataub sa lupa. Hindi niya malaman kung bakit niya niyakap ang lupa. Hindi niya masabi kung bakit niya hindi mapigilan ang kanyang pagnanais na halikin ang lupa, halikin ang buong lupa. Hinalik niya ang lupa, umiiyal, humihikbi, dinidiligan ang kanyang luha. At taos puso niyang isinumpa na iibigin niya ang lupa, iibigan niya magpakailanman."

Salin ni Padre Roque sa "The Brothers Karamazov" ni Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Fyodor: Ang Hiwaga ng Buhay

Sa bawat yugto ng buhay minsan, kailangan ng inspirasyon. Ito ang bumubuhay tuwing tuyo na ang bukal at balon. Oo nga, hindi naman ako nadadala ng tukso na mawalan ng pag-asa, ni ng paggagayuma ng kawalan ng pag-asa. Ngunit ang mahalaga sa lahat, buhay ang binhing nagpapatuloy na mag-paalab sa puso, kahit na nasa krisis (ang Pilipinas?). sa isang saglit, nagbabago ang anyo ng buhay kung susubukan kong tingnan uli ang mga ito:

Morning Moods

I have to shoot ASAP some pictures for Fr. Daniel Ross SJ, the executive secretary of ASEACCU and JCEA. Here they are:


Finster and Canisius Halls


University Chapel



Finstel Hall along Roxas Avenue

All Rights Reserved 2004

Yugto ng Pakikipagkaibigan

As I browsed through the internet sites, I accidentally saw this long missing article Tag-araw ng Pakikipagkaibigan: Yugto ng Pamamahinga published in Tambuli ng Maralita in its original form. Thanks to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies-Northern Illinois University for putting the article online.

All Rights Reserved 2004

The Rubbish of Men

Now rain spattered in at the window from the trees and bushes, and it was as dark as a cellar, so that it was barely possible to distinguish objects as faintly darker patches in the blackness. Svidrigaylov , stooping down and leaning with his elbows on the sill, stared into the obscurity for a full five minutes. Through the gloom of the night sounded a cannon shot, then another.

Ah, the signal! The water is rising, he thought. Towards morning, in the lower parts of the town, it will swirl through the streets and flood the basements and cellars, the sewer rats will come up to the surface, and amid the rain and the wind people will begin, dripping wet and cursing, to drag their rubbish to the upper floors...

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment, Part VI, Chapter 6

All Rights Reserved 2004

For Fyodor from Chisdes

Do you do or think you do?
And if you only think you did,
Did you do what you wanted to?

Body in action does mind's bid,
But not if mind doesn't stop.
Is thought in action hid?

Do you worry if it will flop?
Hesitate for twenty years;
Don't be a soldier or cop.

Such, with purpose, never veers;
With deed, fully alive.
But what use with no fears

If unaware of own strive?
Why bother to even be?
Why bother to thrive?

But if only hear and see,
Contemplate what it's all about,
Questions alone can't make free

To do, to go, to shout.
Do you do or think you do?
"I think, therefore I doubt."

All Rights Reserved 2004

Paglundag sa Bangin

Paano ba lumundag sa bangin?

Kailangang bumitaw
Sa kapatagang natatanaw

Manahimik sa loob
Nang maghintay sa darating

Manatili sa kinalalagyan
Itabi ang maiingay sa isip

Hayaan ang wala
Manahan sa puso at kalooban

Magaan
Walang wala

Hungkag

Ang madilim

Tahimik

Nanatili

Sa Kawalan

Pagpapaubaya

Nasa isang panayam ako kahapon ukol kay Meister Eckhart. Naala-ala kong isa siya sa mga natipuhan kong pilosopong medioebal dahil siguro sa kanyang nakaka-antig na pagtalakay sa kawalan (nothingness) na may bahid ng pagka-Heidegger. Bukod sa isang biglang pagtalikod sa metapisika ni Tomas de Aquino at sa tradisyon ni Agustin, may paglundag at paglusot (Durbursch) si Eckhart lampas sa layunin ng medioebal.

Totoong meron tayong konsepto ukol sa Diyos. Marami tayong simbolo, imahen, analohiya ukol sa Diyos. Tatay, kaibigan, kapatid. Takbuhan, silungan, moog. Pastol, guro, gabay. Samut sari rin ng hierophania na mararanasan sa karanasang Katoliko, maging sa karanasang Protestante at Muslim. Sa panahong medioebal, buhay na buhay ang pagmumunimuni upang tukuyin, bigyang anyo, isa-konsepto ang Diyos. Meron ubod-tigib-apaw, merong existentia et essentia, merong aliquid nihil cogitari possit, merong via negativa at positiva, merong ubod ng kabutihan, merong ubod ng katarungan, merong pinakamaganda sa lahat. Maari nating ihanay ito lahat at bigyan ng pamagat - "mga pagsisikap ng tao."

Nag-aapuhap upang gawing makahulugan ang dilim. Nangangapa ang isip at baka may masumpungan. Meron nga. Ang dami! Pero nanatili ang Diyos lampas sa lahat ng pag-aapuhap at pangangapa ng tao. Lahat ng paglalarawan sa Diyos ay pagsisikap ng tao na dalhin ang Diyos sa kanyang nibel. Imposible.

At nasumpungan ... mga anino sa karimlan.

Kay Eckhart, bitawan ang lahat na pag-aapuhap at pangangapa. Ipaubaya sa Diyos ang lahat na konsepto sa isip. Ibasura ang lahat na natagpuang pangalan at tawag, lahat na analohiya at pagsisikap unawain. Sapagkat lampas sa pag-uunawa sa mga anino ang Diyos.

At pagkatapos na ipinatapon lahat ng ating konsepto ukol sa Diyos, dalisayin ang sarili. Linisan. At kailangang lumundag sa bangin (eternal abyss). Magpatihulog. Walang makakapa, walang masumpungan. Wala.

Walang maapuhap.

Walang makakaunawa.

Wala pa rin.

Walang hangganang paghulog.

Walang hangganang pagpapaubaya...

ng sarili sa Diyos.

yan ang tunay na pagsuko ng sarili

BANGIN NA WALANG HANGGAN ANG DIYOS.

Movies galore

For the past week, I watched some films from the Mass Comm film collection/ archives of the Ateneo de Davao University. I was looking for new European films that I could show to my class who had been editing their experimental abstract short film. I stumbled at some good films, a few of which I saw months ago:

SEX AND LUCIA: Directed by Julio Medem (Paz Vega burns the screen!). I have seen the film five times, and it still has its twist. Most of my students were touched about the crossroads issues of life ... although this film in unrated, it must be for adults only.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11: Directed by Michael Moore (After I saw the film, I called the chairperson of the Mass Comm Dept to stage a film forum. We have the university viewing room seats all taken in advance reservation as of last week, we may have to schedule another screening on Sept 10, 2004.) I think some people in Mindanao will be very much interested to see this film.

CHILDREN OF THE CENTURY: Directed by Diane Kurys (Juliette Binoche was amazing! Just as amazing to her performance in the Three Colors trilogy directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski. It's all about the perils of love, moments of betrayal and "kabaliwan ng pagmamahal.")

SWIMMING POOL: Directed by Francois Ozon (Starred by Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier. For about two thirds of the film, writer/director Francois Ozon presents us with the classic – one might almost say stereotypical - conflict between a moralistic, sexually repressed, almost `frigid' British woman and a beautiful, uninhibited and sensual Continental nymphet. But, as the story progresses, a certain personality transference begins to take place, with Sarah taking on some of the traits of the girl she professes to despise and Julie finding a way to `help' Sarah complete her novel. I can't say that I completely understand the last half hour or so of the film, although I do suspect that the answer lies somewhere along the line of last year's `Adaptation,' which also dealt with the art of writing and the strange blending of the real and the surreal, of truth and fantasy that often accompanies the act. Suffice it to say that you will either go with the film all the way to the end or tune out at about the 70-minute point. Yun lang, for adults only, too. A lot of nudity.)

IRREVERSIBLE: Directed by Francois Ozon (this one can be a good material for a specific topic in film principles - "sex and violence in film". It has an uncut footage of rape, from beginning to end -- like 10-15 minutes. Nakakasuka din, kaya huwag kumain ng marami bago manood.)

The most disturbing film I saw was THE DREAMERS, a film by Bernardo Bertolucci, an Italian director who is no stranger to controversy. [He directed The Last Tango in Paris, starring Marlon Brando. I also enjoyed his 1998 film: Besieged.] Artistic film, set in Paris, 1968. The theme: Fantasy vs Reality. I think we all create our own, little fantasy worlds. Sometimes that's healthy & sometimes it's not. And that's all I'll say about the film. I think it's a film that's best seen when you know nothing about the storyline (as are most films), so you have no preconceived notions or expectations to color your perception.


All Rights Reserved 2004

Balik-Tanaw 8: With the Willis Family and Friends

With Uncle Claude and Aunt Beth Willis


The Willis - Uncle Claude, Aunt Beth and cousin Erick Matthew


At San Simeon Bay area (45 min drive from Hearst Castle)


With my classmates and friends in Tracy, California (ADMU 1993)



The Power of Two

Balik-Tanaw 7: Niagara Falls

June 11, 2004: NIAGARA. Check out na kami sa Hotel. Inanyayahan ako ni Rolly Bertumen na matulog sa kanilang bahay dahil kinabukasan pa ang flight ko papuntang Philadelphia. Sinundo niya ako sa hotel, at nagbiyahe kami papuntang Niagara Falls.

Dumaan muna kami sa Niagara by the Lake, bago kami pumunta sa Falls.... to be continued... for more pictures, visit my photo collection at http://photos.heremy.com/eliab.

Balik-Tanaw 6: Alay-Lakad sa Ontario

June 10, 2004: (Sabado) TORONTO. Maaga pa akong nagising upang sumama sa mga isang grupo ng mga alumni na pupunta sa Niagara. 7AM pa lamang, nasa lobby na kami ni Fr. Ting Samson, SJ, mabilisang pagkain ng almusal. Tapos handa na kaming lahat, dala ko ang cameras at iba pa.

Mag-aalas nuwebe na ng umaga, hindi pa dumating ang sasakyan naming bus. Yun pala, ang kinontrata ng AAAC na tao, Linggo ba naman nakareserba ang bus. Ibig sabihin isang araw at isang gabing maghihintay ng bus sa lobby. hehehe. Nagkaroon ng munting rebolusyon ang mga Pilipinong Atenista sa Toronto - hindi lang pala sa Pilipinas ang "PAL is always late." Heto, di lang late... talagang super late. Mamaya maririnig mo na ang mga Atenistang sumisigaw "Give me my refund, I paid $60 for this trip." Kawawa naman ang mga Canadians, napagalitan ng isang 5'4" na mga pinoy. Kaso yung mama na sinisingil, wala nang pera! Binayaran na niya ang bus na kinabukasan pa darating, pati ang mga fees sa Niagara.

Hindi na lang kami sumama sa mga nagrebolusyong Atenista. Umeskapo na kami, at tinawagan ang isang dating estudiyante ng Xavier University na nasa Toronto. Alas diyes y medya ng umaga, naglakad na kami... eto ang sabi kong ALAY-LAKAD dahil pitong oras kaming maglalakad sa downtown Toronto.

Mula sa itaas heto ang makikitang area na nilakad namin:


Heto naman ang mapa na dala dala ko, sakaling mawala ako at di na namin alam kung paano umuwi sa Marriot. Mahirap na.



Nagsimula kami sa harapan ng Marriot Eaton Hotel, merong art exhibit kaya nakiusyoso kami. May ukay-ukay, may mga ceramics, iba ibang glass making design, etc. Binaybay namin ang Bay Street. Habang nakikita namin ang malaking City Hall of Toronto:



Dumaan kami sa Old City Hall, sa Toronto Stock Exchange, Hockey Hall of Fame. Ito yung mga hindi mo gaanong makita kung sasakay sa tren o sa bus. Sarap maglakad dahil sariwa ang hangin. Sa dulo ng Bay Street ang Union Train Station, ang mga tren papuntang iba't ibang lugar sa Canada, pati sa US ay nasa loob. Dumaan din kami sa Air Canada Centre papuntang Harbour St na kaharap ng Lake Ontario. Tumambay kami sa Queen's Quay Terminal. Medyo nakakapagod kaya umupo muna kami habang pinapanood ang lawa.



Nakatiyempo ako ng isang bangkang de layag na dumaan, ikot ng ikot upang makakuha ng ako ng tamang anggulo at sabay banat ng "rule of thirds" sa photocomposition:



Doon na kami kumain sa harbour, bumili lang kaming tatlo ng makain sa Subway. Tapos lakad uli paakyat naman sa Spadina St. Dumaan kami sa Navy Wharf, Blue Jays Centre, na malapit sa Skydome. Nadaanan din namin ang CN Tower:



Habang binabaybay namin ang Spadina, dadaanan din ang Chinatown. Pati ang street names at pedestrian signs, bilingual - English/Chinese. Ukay ukay naman ang Chinatown. Tapos lumiko kami pakanan, sa College St. Ito ang daan sa harapan ng University Toronto.

Pumasok kami sa main street ng University of Toronto. Marami ring naglalakad kahit na summer vacation. May kasalan pa nga sa loob ng university. Dito rin pala natagpuan ang Insulin, mga propesor sa Dept of Chemistry sa Medical School ng Univ of Toronto. Ang galing!


Pagkatapos, pumunta kami sa Legislative Buildings sa harapan ng Queen's Park. Ang ganda ng mga bulaklak, at 18th century pa itong mga gusaling ito.


Lumabas kami sa Bloor St West at pumasok sa Royal Ontario Museum. Kamanghamangha ang collections ng Museum. Inabot kami ng humigit sa isang oras sa loob, ngunit kulang pa rin yun. Di ko naubos ang iba ibang galleries. Mabilisan lang ang pagbisita, di makapagmuni sa mga collections.


Tapos habang paalis na kami, may isang turistang nagbigay sa amin ng tickets para naman sa Art Gallery of Ontario. Ang bait naman nun. Sakay kami ng subway train papuntang Dundas St. Mabilisan din, di masyadong makapagmuni sa mga paintings.

Bumalik kami bago mag-ala sais sa Marriot Eaton Hotel. May misa 6PM tapos may gala night. Formal lahat, kaya nakabarong kaming nasa delegation. Noong gabi na, lumabas uli kami kasama ang kapatid na babae ni Bobby Guevarra (titser ko sa Liberation Theology), pumunta kami sa isang sikat na jazz bar "The Senator." Naalaala ko ang 7th Heaven sa Davao, ang galing ng tugtog.

Balik-Tanaw 5: Toronto, Ontario

July 8, 2004: Nagsimula ang convention ng All Ateneo Alumni in North America sa Marriot Eaton Hotel. Maraming dumalo, ito ang iilang mga tao na maalala kong mga kasing edad ko, sina Alex Lao - kasama ko sa Musmos (ADMU 96) at Indhira Banares - Vice-Consul (ADMU 94). Nakilala ko na rin ang mga ka-email ko, sina Jun Dabu at Flor Lopez.



Sa unang araw ng convention, reception night. Sayawan, kantahan at inuman. Masarap ng salmon ng Toronto, da best! Napasama pa ako sa pagkanta ng 1960's pa na Ateneo de Manila school song ... di ko alam ang kanta, nakisabay lang ako sa mga magkakapatid na Buktaw. Ang alam ko na kasi “Win or lose, it’s the school we choose. This is the place where we belong!” song....

Dumating na rin si Father Ting Samson, SJ, presidente ng Xavier University sa Cagayan de Oro. Nawala pa ang mga bag niya sa eroplano, kaya hindi siya makabihis. Dumating rin si Fr. Bill Kreutz, SJ, presidente ng Ateneo de Zamboanga University, at si Fr. Tito Caluag, SJ, bise presidente ng Ateneo de Manila University. Tinulungan ko rin si Fr Ting sa paghahanda ng kanyang "presentation" para sa susunod na araw, kasama ang ilang alumni mula sa Ateneo de Cagayan. Alas dos na ng umaga ako nakatulog.

July 9, 2004: Heto na kami, formal attire. Nagsimula ang convention sa pagkanta ng tatlong national anthems: Pilipinas, Canada, US. Nagsalita si Fr. John Rye, SJ tungkol sa cura personalis at Jesuit Education. Tapos ang isang Canadian Rep na si McTeague nagsalita rin ukol sa "men and women for others." Tapos ang ulat ng bawat presidente ng Ateneo. Siyempre una ang Davao, kasi alphabetical. Bongga pa kasi DVD video ang presentation namin, ang ibang Ateneo powerpoint lang.

Sa hapon, break-out concurrent sessions: merong tungkol sa pagnenegosyo sa Canada, merong family and marriage, merong immigrating to Canada, at iba pa. Andoon ako sa family and marriage. Si. Fr Ed ang nagsalita at isang parish priest sa downtown Toronto.

Sa gabi, reception ng mga alumni sa bawat Ateneo Delegation. Dahil ang Davao delegration ay dadalhin ng mga Bertumen sa kanilang Bayanihan Center, sumabay na rin ang ibang Ateneo doon, para isa na lang. Bongga, ang ADDU alumni ang HOST ng lahat ng Ateneo delegation mula sa limang schools. Mahilig si Rolly Bertumen kumanta, videoke at kainan sa gabi. Kumanta rin si Fr. Ed ng tatlong kanta!

Hinatid kami ni Bernie Sychangco sa Marriot, 1AM. Nakakapagod rin.

Balik-Tanaw 4: Toronto, Ontario

Mula Vancouver, humigit kumulang sa anim na oras din ang biyahe patungong Toronto sakay sa Air Canada. Mas malambing pa rin ang flight attendant ng Cebu Pacific at Philippine Airlines. Sa Air Canada, self service ... ikaw maghanap ng kumot, ng headphones, pati pagkain di ka makapili.

Meron akong katabing mukhang instik na babae. Yun pala Vietnamese, papunta daw sa Toronto para sa isang munting family reunion. Ang liit niya, balingkinitan, akala ko 19 years old, yun pala 32 na. Dala niya ang kanyang anak.

At napanood ko uli ang "The Prince and Me." Kalagitnaan natulog na ako, nakinig kay Chopin at Mozart.

Dumating kami sa Pearson International Airport, Missisauga 6:30 ng umaga. Sinundo kaagad kami ng isang grupo ng mga alumni ng Ateneo de Davao University na sina Flor Lopez (2nd from left), Rolly at Alice Bertumen (1st and 2nd fron right).

Tapos, nag-almusal na kami kasama si Bernie Sychangco (nakapula), ang presidente ng All Ateneo Alumni Canada (AAAC). Masaya ang almusal dahil ang wayter sa resto ay isang Indian, tapos marunong mag Pilipino ng kaunti: "magandang umaga," "salamat," "kape pa." Tinanong namin bakit siya marunong magPilipino, yun pala, gelpren niya pinay... pero noon pa daw. Limang taon din daw sila.



Nagkwentuhan na ng mga ala-ala sa Ateneo, mga gurong batikan (sa bisaya, "banggiitan"), mga kaklase, at higit sa lahat ang kabutihan naidulot ng paghubog at pag-aaral sa Ateneo, sa piling ng mga Heswita. Sabi Rolly, galing siya sa Glan. BSA ang kurso niya, may Heswita rin na tumulong sa kanya hanggang nagtapos siya sa Ateneo. Wala pang daily bread noon, kaya walang libreng almusal o pananghalian sa Ateneo. Kakain lang siya ng kendi at iinom ng tubig para itawid ng gutom habang nasa Ateneo. Naging akolito pa nga siya ng Heswitang yaon. Si Alice kaklase niya sa kolehiyo, naging asawa niya.

Dumating na rin ang ibang AAAC coordinators na kinatawan ng Xavier University, Ateneo de Manila University and Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Sinundo naman si Engr. Henry Omolida ng kanyang pinsan. Tapos pumunta na kami sa Bayanihan Center ng mga Bertumen sa Scarborough. Nagkape uli at preview ng MTV na ginawa ko para sa convention, at ng Ateneo Blue Knight Song MTV.

Hapon na kami pumasok sa Toronto Marriot Eaton Hotel. Pagkatapos kong magpahinga, naglakad na kami sa downtown. Tapos sumakay uli kami sa Double Decker Bus, ang ticket puwedeng gamitin sa loob ng dalawang araw na sakay-baba sa dalawangpu't isang panturistang destinasyon. Pumunta kami ng University of Toronto, sa Dome, sa CN Tower, sa Casa Loma, at iba pa. Di kasi ako nakinig sa drayber na tourist guide din. Masyado akong nasubsob sa camera at sa pagpili ng anggulo.

Noong gabi na, kumain kami sa isang Chinese resto malapit lang sa Eaton (nasa Yonge Street). Dami ring Pilipinong kumakain dun. Tapos, bumalik sa hotel at nanood ng konting TV. Sa sobrang pagod at jetlag ... naidlip na ako sa hotel.

Balik-Tanaw 3: Trip to Vancouver

June 6, 2004: Paalis na ako ng Davao, maaga pa akong gumising dahil ang aga naman ng flight na pinili. Kailangan kasing PAL, para yung mga gamit ko sa Vancouver ko na kukunin para wala na akong bitbitin sa Maynila. Kasama ko si Ate Venus mula Davao. Sa NAIA na kami nag-almusal.

Umalis na rin kami ng Maynila, 4:40PM. At nagsimula na ang labintatlong oras na biyahe. Tatlong beses ko rin napanuood ang "The Prince and Me." Pero isang beses lang ako umiyak, hehehe. Sentimental tear ducts.

1PM kami lumapag sa Vancouver. Ang flight pa namin sa papuntang Toronto, 11:30PM. Kaya ang haba pa ng oras na maghihintay. Pagkatapos asikasuhin ang customs and immigration papers, sumakay na kami ng Airporter papuntang downtown Vancouver. May kanita akong dalawang magkaibigan, nagkakantahan... malamang maganda ang hapon nila.



Tapos sumakay kami ng Double Decker bus upang umikot ikot. Bumababa kami minsan sa Prospect Point sa Stanley Park. Kasama ko dito si Fr. Ed Martinez, SJ, presidente ng Ateneo de Davao University.



Tapos pumunta kami sa harbour. Ang ganda ng langit, kaya heto:


Kumain kami ng napakasarap na French crepes sa isang restobar. Di ko naubos, ang laki kasi.Tapos lakad lakad sa ibat ibang kalye. Tapos giniginaw na ako, brrrrrr. Pero ang isang napakahalagang natutunan ko sa aking munting panahong pamamalagi dito ay ang ganda ng mga bulaklak ... ang ritmo ng takbo ng buhay ay tulad na tulad sa Davao. Hindi kasing bilis ng Manila, at hindi kasing bagal ng Basilan. Hinayhinay pero kanunay.



Bumalik na kami sa Vancouver International Airport, 10:00PM. Buti na lang merong WiFi hotspot sa airport. Kaya nakapag-internet ako, nakausap ko via Mac IM Chat si Igy Castrillo. Dito ko rin nalaman na imposibleng makatanggap ako ng SMS sa aking Globephone. So, balik ako sa payphone kung tatawag ako sa Davao.