My family and more

LEE IACOCCA FOR US PRESIDENT?

2007-09-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Is the country ready to elect as president Lee Iacocca a former chief executive - a successful one - of two American car companies? With the deteriorating image of our current U.S. president and his peculiar style of leadership, perhaps it is time that Lee reconsider the offer once made to him back in 1984.

Lee has a colorful track record to be proud of. When he was President of Ford Motor Company he introduced a revolutionary sporty car which was called THE MUSTANG, named after a wild horse originally named by the Spanish mesteno- but actually Iacocca was thinking of the Mustang (P-51 Fighter Plane of World War II).

Despite this outstanding success that was respected not only throughout the American car industry but across the globe, Lee had a problem of relationship witn only one person, and since it came to a head he had no choice but to leave the company. For some reason that even he did not know a personality conflict arose between him and Henry Ford II who dismissed him from the company. Lee admits the event was one of his painful downside in his life, but with his dynamic personality and sales experience, he maznaged to rebound and later joined Chrysler Corporation.

However, before Lee joined the firm, Chrysler in 1979 seemed destined for bankruptcy. Some say that because of Lee’s timely take over as CEO Chrysler was able to forestall bankruptcy. With Lee Iacocca’s determination and track record, he was able to convince the U.S. government to release as financial loan or ”bail out” 1.2 billion in loan guarantees provided by the federal government.

And it didn't cost the taxpayer a penny. Unable to get private banks to finance a turnaround, he went to President Carter and Congress in search of $1.2 billion in federal loan guarantees to keep the company alive. Congress agreed, and passed the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act.
After he published his first book, an autobiography, Lee now has come out with a timely and arresting book - that many leaders could use to reflect on the basic elements of REAL leadership - whether that of chief executive of a country or a corporation. The book WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE written in the candid narrative style that Lee is known for, is so current that Lee even analyzes the present set of candidates who will vie of the position of next President of the United States.

After graduating from Lehigh University which he uses as a model for all the training and skill he learned that came into play when he was chief executive, Lee won the Wallace Memorial Fellowship and used it to study at Princeton University as an engineer. Iacocca joined in the early 1950's and after a brief stint on engineering, he quickly asked to be moved to sales and marketing where his career flourished.

In his latest work WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE, he came up with a set of qualities of leadership which he calls the Nine “Cs of Leadership.” They are COURAGE, CHARACTER, CONVICTION,COMMUNICATION, COMPETENCE, CRISIS,CURIOUS, CHARISMA, COMMON SENSE.

Iacocca feels that these are the qualities that every true leader should possess.
A leader should have courage or balls - even female leaders. The leader should also have CONVICTION which he says is “fire in the belly”. He considers President Bush’ 400 vacation days unproductive and should be been devoted to the business of governing. Morever, Capital Hill is also under scrutiny when Iacocca noted that Congress was in session only ninety-seven days in 2006.

CHARISMA is the quality that makes people want to follow you, he said. A leader has to be COMPETENT or he has to know what he is doing and well. And then a most misunderstood phrase is COMMON SENSE which is a basic requirement of a good leader or even a good individual. A leader must have CHARACTER or what is called integrity. A leader who can COMMUNICATE means one who faces reality and truth and to say it how it is which the present U.S. administration seem to lack. Talking straight seems absent in the current set of leaders in our government today.

In his opening chapter Iacocca exclaims, “Am I the only guy in this country who’s fed up with what’s happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We’ve got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff…and instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, ‘Stay the course’. You’ve got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I’ll give you a sound bite: “THROW THE BUMS OUT!”

It is very significant to note that whatever blunders - and many incidents under this administration ARE not mistakes but blunders - a peace corps volunteer teaching in Africa heard an elder statesman that there is still no other nation in the world who can exhibit constant and dynamic leadership is the United States of America.

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2007-09-12T20:46:00.001-07:00

TOMORROW…PERHAPS

All day today, I have looked for you

In the secret places

Where I keep you hidden, like a jewel,

Two precious to share with others.

I like to think that you are mine alone,

Although I know others have as much even more claims to you than

I might have.

I choose to delude myself

For in the mazes of my thoughts,

My passion is yours too.

And so I look for you,

Knowing you will be there

For me…

If not today

Perhaps…tomorrow.

PILITA CORRALES SINGS WITH TONY JOAQUIN

2007-09-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

When Mama Sarah got her award from the Filipino Community in 1999, Pilita Corrales was the main show and during that time I was seated in Mama's box inside the Convention Hall of Washington D.C.

Pilita, without any warning, suddenly announced my name and asked me to come join her onstage to sing with her.

Here is the clip of that singing incident. I enjoyed it. I hope you do too.

Reflecting on a post war friend and poet

2007-09-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Tony Manuud- Born February 4th, 1930; Died March 7th, 1996;
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We were among the shell shocked Filipino teens that suffered through the Pacific War from 1941 - 1945. When we got back to school we felt old at 14 years but Ateneo High School was a haven for us. Still some bore the scars of war - some lost their parents who were murdered by retreating Japanese, shelled homes by the American artillery forces when they liberated Manila freeing the interns at the University of Santo Tomas and other internment camps.

I almost did not get admitted at the Ateneo for the grade school records were all burned when the building inside the Walled City, the exact place where Jose Rizal studied as a young boy was bombed during the early days of the war. Thanks to the Nakpil boys and their father Juan Nakpil who vouched for me during registration time at the Padre Faura Campus where we held our classes in makeshift burnt concrete rooms still with the acrid smell of raw human flesh clinging to crevices. The rest of the classes held session in U.S. installed Quonset Huts which were like ovens during the summer months and a cold storage in January.

Tony lived in Sampaloc with his parents. He had two sisters whom we met during our periodic high school dances held in those times at private homes of students. These dances were "visited" by Jesuit priests and some nuns just to see how the kids were enjoying themselves. Slow drag was the favorite dance in which couples held each other tightly and just sort of swayed with the slow soft music as if in a trance or meditating. We were warned about this type of dance that could provoke the occasion of "sin".

My sisters and I enjoyed Tony's sharp mind and keen wit. Ateneo boys liked to pun at the time and playing with words phrases and quotations always got many laughing with complete abandon. In other mixed groups La Salle students frowned on Ateneo students being too intellectual. They just wanted to dance, period.

After our high school graduation at Padre Faura, Tony got a scholarship for a Masters in Journalism at Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was THE school for good Journalists. Gaby Manalac was another Journalism scholarship awardee at this Jesuit university. After his Marquette stint Tony returned to Manila and taught at the Ateneo for a couple of years. Since we became close friends on and off campus we asked Tony to stand as god father to our fourth child Ma. Regina. If the old folks are to be believed, Gina is our brainiest child now into information technology.

In 1964 he was awarded a fellowship at Oxford University (Exeter and St. Antony's Colleges) and another at the University of Durham (Grey College). Tony enjoyed the three year scholarship to observe English Literature courses in both universities. He was commended for his distingushed tutorial paper at the end of the course. We did not see Tony for a while and when he came back he managed to publish the first anthology of Filipino fiction the landmark anthology Brown Heritage: Essays on Philippine Cultural Tradition and Literature ( AdMU, 1967), which has been reviewed as the book that “sparked the revolution in Philippine cultural studies.”

.As chairman of the English Department, Ateneo de Manila University, he organized the Ateneo Institute of Philippine Literature in 1965.

A poem by Tony

TO MIREN

Did I forget? Do I regret

Days unremembered, thoughts unkept?

A harp (once plucked to eloquence by joy)

Long untouched now lies untuned ... off-key ...

Not sure if chords ring true. Listen! In coy

Distress -- how mute. Yet singing silently.

Days are remembered, thoughts are kept

In long, long silence ... with regret.

-- Antonio P. Gella Manuud, Bowling Green, 1973

Pete Roa - a dear colleague, fast friend - 67

2007-08-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines — My good friend, Pete Roa, passed away Thursday in Quezon City. His wife, actress Boots Anson said Pete has been suffering from cancer of the stomach, but the death was triggered by pneumonia and cardiac arrest.

I first met Pete while ABS-CBN was laying the groundwork for a new TV show.

I first learned of the planned new TV show when I was called by Eugenio Lopez Jr. to join a short meeting at his office. He sounded excited, but I had no clue as to what kind of program it would be. For one thing, I held the switcher-director button the last time at Channel 13 in 1963. And the meeting with Geny was in 1970. I was not sure I could do it. Do I still know how to direct a TV show? I was awed by the rapid strides of the electronicmedia technology and somehow there was a lot to catch up on.

When I got to the ABS-CBN office of Geny, I sawsome familiar faces. One was E lvira Ledesma Manahan whom I last saw during the early days of the Japanese Occupation in 1942 when she appeared as the Virgin Mary in Narciso Pimentel Jr.’s Holy Week stage presentation “Martir sa Golgota” (Passion Play of Our Lord Jesus Christ). Elvira was a radiant young Visayan teenager who belonged to a group named VSAC composed of pretty girls, very much sought after for their striking beauty.

I also saw Pete Roa whose path crossed mine back in 1962 when I was producing shows at Channel 13. The lady who used to appear in fashion shows in my channel was showcased in a new program by another channel (Channel 5) known as “Dance-o-Rama.” The girl, Baby O’Brien, only daughter of actress Paraluman, and Pete emceed the new noontime show. It was when Baby left the show that Boots Anson joined and met Pete. As the cliché goes, the rest is history.

Back to our meeting at Geny’s office, he soon announced the show’s name “Two for the Road.” Geny said it was Pete who specifically called for me to direct this late night show, definitely a Philippine TV network’s first.

It seemed that Elvira Manahan (married to the nationally known obstetrician Dr. Constantino Manahan who managed the Makati Medical Center) had insomnia and could not sleep until early morning. So Geny got the idea of featuring Elvira to appear as the co-host in the late-night show five nights a week. Co-hosting the show was a dynamic quick-witted and fine mannered announcer named Joey Lardizabal. The format of the show was to get interesting guests from all fields, both international and national, to beinterviewed by Elvira and Joey. The show ran for a couple of years with great success.

Tragedy struck when in the course of the program Joey was diagnosed with throat cancer and it was terminal. Everyone was shocked. Except Joey himself. A devout Catholic and a courageous one, he said that he would undergo the usual treatment but while he still could – continue with the show as co-host. The cancer was kept secret from anyone save a handful of individuals, me included. In time, even Joey’s eye was already being affected by the disease that he had to wear an eye patch. But, wonder of wonders and with much credit to Joey’s bravery, he even joked about it and carried on with the show. Then, after almost a year since discovery of the disease, Joey went into a coma and died.

What to do. At the time our friend, Eddie Mercado, was going great guns as emcee of beauty contests both localand international and we approached him to take over. No hesitation, The next week’s show when Joey was bedridden already, Eddie took over and did terrifically.

However, as is the case with viewership behavior, the interests began to waver after a while. And “Two for the Road” was no exception. So, it was pulled out for a respite. Then after a year, it came back in a new format – a weekly show featuring Nestor Torre as co-host of Elvira. It no longer had the personality of a late night talk show.

Pete and I went a long way in terms of relationships went far even before the show.

First was that Pete took up a radio course towards a bachelor’s degree at the Far Eastern University. The department was headed by my mother, Sarah K. Joaquin, who had the distinction of heading the first radio department in the country that offered B.A. degree in Radio Broadcasting. In fact, the department was instrumental in pursuing a weekly program, FEU on the Air, produced by students and aired through DZBB which was then owned and managed by an ex-American GI, Bob Stewart.

Among Pete’s fellow radio grads included Eddie Ilarde, Frankie Evangelista, and Ray Pedroche who all did very well in the world of radio and television.

Pete Roa was not only a man who did what he believed in – sometimes a bit controversial for his own good, but after he suffered the stroke he strengthened his own philosophy which could be summed up thus: I might as well make the mo st of what I can enjoy under this condition and pray for the blessings of the Almighty.

A Wedding Anniversary...48 years

2007-08-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

We first met in a classroom back in the late fifties. The school was called Far Eastern University. A remarkable feature of Manila in the late Fifties was the complete positive aura that prevaded the entire City, nay, country.

Stage presentations - both professionals and amateur, schools downtown stage shows, and even visiting classical performers - yes, including Shakepeare groups based in America and Europe treated Manila aficionados with excellent shows. Even Hollywood movies were mostly musicals and little violence, nor gangster flicks.

She was a young 16 year old, slender, and somewhat resltess. I was teaching Speech I (subtitled Remedial English for Filipino college students). I had several sections to handle each day - and at the time with seven other fellow instuctors, we had our hands full for we had to serve all the institutes.

Thanks to our department Head, she won her battle with the school authorities to require all FEU students to pass at least one semester of Speech I prior to graduation.

Then, it happened.

While I was carefully handling the oral drills of the class, I spotted her at the very last row of a class of 25 students, busy doing something. I tried to continue but was unavoidably distracted that I had to stop my lecture completly.

"Mendoza" I gently called the student's attention. She was startled, stopped abruptly and looked up followed by an ambarrassed smile. That was the first element that attracted me...her beautiful youthful teenage smile."May I see you after class?" I suggested and then continued with my lecture.

Shortly after the bell ending our period, with the room emptied except for this young lady and me, I approached slowly and saw a half tied gym shoe on one foot and the other still unshod.

"Sir, I am sorry, but...you see...I have to get ready or be late for my gym class after this one."

"Oh, you have to change shoes in my class to make your gym schedule in the next period?" I asked amused.

She then continued on with putting both shoes on while explaining that time was of the essence since the gym was across the wide campus and if she did not change shoes then, she would be late for that class following mine.

I soon realized her predicament and gave her a broad smile, and she did smile back. And she was out in a flash. I discovered later that her name was Concepcion Mendoza, 16 years old and a niece of the school's founder.

Two years passed when one day as I was about to cash my monthly check I spotted a familiar face, well made up but in a demure manner. She was smiling at me. Yes, indeed, it was Ms. Mendoza, now employed in the Treasury Department of the university. That smile was there, more radiant.

After our hellos and once my check was cashed...I invited her for coffee...and as the saying goes ...the rest is history.

Forty Eight years have passed. Five children. Three grandsons. Now residing in Northern California, we find ourselves into our 48th year of marriage as solemnized in the Roman Catholic Faith and officiated by a dear friend, fellow artist, and director par excellence Rev. Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J.

Over the decades Fr. Reuter was to officiate in three more weddings in our family - that of our eldest son Bobby's and Marijean's, our second child Cristina's and Jowin's, and the most recent one in Jay's and Jenny's.

Admirable, might not come close to describing the man but Fr. Reuter with his "walker" and special sandals to cushion his sore feet was at San Agustin Church - Intramuros - one hour earlier than 7 am ready to bless our son's marriage to Jenny Blas.

During the ceremony with obvious difficulty, the dear father solemnized the wedding as if he had not been suffering from the aches and pains of an 88 year old arthritic Jesuit priest.

Today, as we receive wonderful greetings from our children and others who cherish our friendship with them, from across the globe, I gaze at my former student Concepcion Mendoza, now better known as Chita and ask her, "What can you say to this 48 year union?"

She smiles and looks away and says in a steady voice, "I would do it again if I had to..."

Basic Etiquette

2007-07-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

One of the basic elements in etiquette is acknowledging a person’s correct name and that of his country.

Therefore, it is imperative that a person unfamiliar with the way of pronouncing a name of place in another tongue should make it a point to find out the CORRECT pronunciation and then pronounce it the correct way.

But for some strange reasons no one in the broadcast media – from the top man to lineman seem to care.

A glaring observation by many radio and television audiences in California – a state once populated and belonging to Mexico – is the seeming lack of interest or desire by radio and television announcers and anchor-persons to pronounce Spanish words correctly.

Among the guilty culprits are the news announcers and reporters.

For some reasons, announcers who appear to look like second generation Asians are the even better ones who take great pains in pronouncing the Spanish words precisely more than the local borns do.

A recent incident that I can cite here is the earthquake in Paso Robles.

Now Paso Robles IS a Spanish name. It means “pass of the oaks.”

But almost ALL the Caucasians pronounced the word “Robles” sounding like ROW BALLS. The correct pronunciation sounds like “NO BLESS.”

But this is just one of hundreds of words and places in California mispronounced by radio and TV announcers and newscasters.

The other glaring words we hear daily are: SAN RA FA EL (they say SAN RAY-FEL) Vicente (they say VIE CENT TEE), and even JOAQUIN many pronounce JOKE KWIN until they realize a valley is named San Joaquin and then correct themselves accordingly.

It seems strange that in Manila, the rule that binds announcers in the radio and TV stations were established by ex-GIs after WWII who were discharged and married Filipino women.

To name one, Bob Stewart who married and became manager of DZBB and later on Channel 7, inculcated among his announcers to double check the right pronunciation of words with a pronouncing dictionary (yes, there is one such book).

And foreign words are even more tricky especially if they are European languages like German and French and even Russian.

As a rule, Filipino announcers take pains in articulating words regardless of its origin and thus come out speaking more clearly than most Americanized announcers.

During the early fifties and sixties American network announcers seemed more careful in pronouncing words.

This was the time when articulate and exemplary announcers like Walter Cronkite, Charles Kurault, Charles Osgood, became the models of young budding announcers in Philippine media.

In fact, to date Walter Cronkite enjoys the respect of listeners and officials of the broadcast media here and abroad.

He still speaks in his low-voiced, well-paced articulate manner.

Another strange thing that commercials seem to have adopted these days is delivering a voiced commercial at rapid fire speed as if one were competing in “the fastest speaker” contest.

Among the better announcers in Manila stations were Ray Oliver, Dick Taylor, Cris de Vera, Vero Perfecto who spoke also Spanish, five dialects and in impeccable English and with a clear baritone voice.

Cris de Vera even ventured in speaking with a British accent in imitation of James Mason the actor – and very well indeed.

What is the big deal, someone might ask? The big deal is that in polite society one has to make sure he pronounces a person’s name correctly.

Therefore, saying SAN RAY-FEL and VIE CENT TEE and JOKE KWIN violates common politeness and therefore it is a breach of etiquette, which commercial announcers should know and be aware of!

I do hope someone from the mainstream broadcast media reads this and takes time to hold a Spoken Communication clinic especially for their announcers since these individuals are paid a lot of money – much more than executives of other professions and therefore are obligated to do their job professionally well – which includes pronouncing foreign words like Spanish places in California.

We owe it to the Latinos and Spanish-speaking citizens in California and other states whose tongue we are murdering!

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Two Arresting Figures -

2007-07-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

In the age of excellent images boosted by modern media technology, it is interesting to note that the world – yes the global population thanks to internet and cable TV – is continually attuned to changes that they See and Hear. Indeed, the movies have shaped our world so much that the viewing the negative side it is terrifying – as in bad movies with destructive themes, or with violent messages.

Spike Lee

I have singled out two of the influential movie directors who have stirred the mind and emotions of millions living today .

The first one is Spike Lee who made, among other excellent films DO THE RIGHT THING. Starting with his first film SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, a comedy, Lee burst into the cinema limelight of America as one of the very few black directors at the time with substance.

Lee’s message is in the interaction of the blacks with non blacks which in film a good director can put it loud for all to hear!

In DO THE RIGHT THING Spike focused on the recurring racial conflicts in Manhattan. Again in 1990, with Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes), he featured an interracial romance titled JUNGLE FEVER followed by Malcolm X (1992, starring Washington and based in part on the book by Malcolm X and Alex Haley).
As a sort of Hitchcockish trait, Lee has often appeared in his own films, like his appearance in She's Gotta Have It.

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The second personality is Michael Moore and his latest documentary production “Sicko” already creating a sensation in the country, especially in the field of American health care area perhaps because of its seductive timeliness as in his earlier movie Fahrenheitt 11 which clearly analyzed events that led to the September 11, 2001 attack by Arab terrorists.

Moore was born in Flint, Michigan to Veronica, a secretary, and Frank Moore, an automotive assembly-line worker.[1] He grew up in the city of Davison. At the time, the neighboring city of Flint was home to many General Motors factories, where his parents and grandfather worked.

When Moore produced the anti-gun carrying movie Bowling for Columbine, Americans who desperately clung to their “Constitutional right to bear arms” were incensed. Still many took notice and sat up to review once again whether GUNS in American life was so important.

It is significant to note that Moore was brought up Roman Catholic and attended St. John's Elementary School for primary school, as well as a Diocesan seminary at age 14. Perhaps, this attests for the fact that he truly loves human life and losing the victims of guns especially the youth really affects him a lot. A director comes to mind too - Oliver Stone who always works hard at his documentary and like Moore puts his own capital to be able to endorse a message or thesis before the citizens of the world.

Moore, an Eagle Scout, considers it an achievement of which he is still very proud. For his Eagle Project, he filmed a documentary pointing out various safety hazards in his community.

1986, when Moore became the editor of Mother Jones, a liberal political magazine.
Moore stayed with the magazine for only a short while, before working for Ralph Nader. In 2003, the Star-Ledger printed an opinion piece by Paul Mulshine that claimed to know the terms of Moore's exit from Mother Jones Mulshine quoted Paul Berman, who stated that Moore had been fired following a series of clashes with people on the magazine's staff, including a dispute over Moore's refusal to publish an article by Berman that was critical of the Sandinistas' human rights record. Before Moore's arrival, the magazine had commissioned the article. Moore later sued Mother Jones for wrongful dismissal, seeking $2 million. He finally accepted a settlement of $58,000 — the amount of anticipated trial costs — from the magazine's insurance company. Some of this money provided partial funding for his first film project, Roger and Me.

Moore has been married to producer Kathleen Glynn (born April 10, 1958 in Flint) since 1990. They now live in New York City and spend quite a bit of time in Traverse City, where Moore founded the Traverse City Film Festival. Natalie (born 1981) is Michael's stepdaughter. He has no other children. Moore is a practicing Catholic.

Michael Moore

FATHER'S DAY ... June 17, 2007

2007-06-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Our dearest Dad,
You are an amazing father and the best kind of teacher. Happy Father's Day with love...
We're always there for you, because we love you. JJJ.

Dear Dad,
We may not always see things eye to eye..but we always seem to feel things heart to heart...
and when it comes right to it, knowing you're there and that you care is what really matters.
We've always been able to see you eye to eye in most stuff and I'm glad that you're there to guide me on those things that we don't. Thanks. Dad, Love B

Dear lolo,
Thank you for all the love you're shown me and for always encouraging me to pursue my goals and passions. I believe I am where I am today in part because of you. Thank you. M.
P.S. Sorry for the sloppy writing I wrote this in the car. [They came over from Sacramento where they reside.]

From both of us with warmest wishes..HAPPY FATHER'S DAY...what else can we ask for. You're funny, supportive, intelligent, articulate, man of the world, full of stories, sensitive, and so many other wonderful things. Kulang na lang King of the World! Love you Dad, B and G

Hi Dad,
Sorry this is late, but I thought you would not mind..Anyway, I never just honor you on Father's Day, I'm always thankful for you and everything you've done for us. You should be celebrating because you raised five great children especially your youngest :) Happy Father's Day. L and P

Bert del Rosario is Karaoke inventor!

2007-06-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

When the del Rosario family members got word that the Supreme Court of the Philippine Republic had finally declared their father Roberto del Rosario the sole owner of the original patent rights for a sing along system now popularly known in the Japanese language as Karaoke, there was joy all around for her dynamic, and inventive father Roberto del Rosario, though no longer here with her, had finally won his case against a Japanese company who allegedly claimed the device as its invention.

Working for over two decades del Rosario's children on their own, pursued the fight for justice by their father Roberto del Rosario particularly when he noticed his health slowly deteriorating.

He intimated that they pursue the case and “not to give up” despite the tremendous amount of stress not to mention the terrific investment in money in (and out) of the Philippine courts fighting for their father’s case which had taken several decades.

The Supreme Court’s resolution dated March 19 2007 stated:

“ Plaintiff Roberto Del Rosario owns the patent rights for a sing-along system, popularly known as the KARAOKE. On January 18, 1993 plaintiff filed a case with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati City, for patent infringement against defendant Janito Corporation who, without his consent, was manufacturing and selling a sing along system marketed as “Miyata” which was substantially similar and identical to his (Del Rosario’s) patented invention.

After trial, the RTC in its Decision dated November 9, 1999 ruled in favor of plaintiff
relying upon his uncontroveted evidence that defendant, without his consent manufactured and sold the Miyata system which was substantially identical to his patented invention.”

This triumph by a Filipino inventor who holds patents in other inventions as well, is not only a personal victory for the del Rosario family, stated his other daughter Isa Valenton but a feat worth acclaiming for the Filipino people.

Bert was born in Pasay City, the son of Teofilo del Rosario and Consolacion Legaspi. He married Eloisa Vistan, a former beauty queen with whom he has five children- three girls and two boys. Bert has been a widower since 1979 when his wife died at age 45 of heart failure. Bert did not remarry.

He admits that he never took up formal music lessons and cannot read music. Bert has also won awards in the Philippines and abroad, but the one he cherishes the most was the 1985 Gold Medal Award by the WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO) of the United Nations. An award that recognizes him as a Filipino inventor.

Like most inventors, Bert admires other inventors like Thomas Alva Edison, who believes that invention is “one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration” and the Wright Brothers for their having invented the airplane.

Bert del Rosario an accomplished musician who could play seven other musical instruments very well besides the piano. He was also proud to state that he enjoyed playing with the popular orchestra known as The Executive’s Band organized by Former Senator Raul Manglapuz which was composed of musicians who were businessmen and members of the diplomatic corps who get together to play Jazz and other popular music just for “fun”.

In 1962, on his own, Bert set up the first of many piano factories that populated the Philippines. Hecalled his pianos “TREBEL" – a combination of Bert’s name spelled backwards [TRE] and Eloisa his wife- EL.

Back to his minus one system, in the later models, another cassette tape player/recorder was added. It could record on one magnetic tape both the musical accompaniment and voice of the person singing. This unit was created in 1977. To enhance the quality of sound the device had a knob to produce "reverb" [or echo-like sound] adding technical artistry to the resulting sound.

Bert saw the first sign of corporate leakage – and the specter of “industrial piracy” during the time that he had to contract a Japanese manufacturing firm to produce most of his replacement parts. Not long after this arrangement he and his friends began to see very similar units of his invention but with a Japanese logo being sold openly in major Asian citieis and even in Manila stores..

This, Bert said philosophically, was the price one has to pay for a successful product. People would like to steal the idea or just make copies and sell them under another name.

After some sleuthing, Bert traced the bulk of the “piracy” to a Japanese firm. Since Japan could easily produce units in greater quantities Bert was aware that he really had limited resources and less money to battle this underhanded practice by a big time Japanese firm.

He was no match money-wise against the moneyed Japanese. But it did not discourage Bert from filing copywriter infringement, pursuing it to several decades for he felt in his heart he would be given justice.

In one of the media interviews Bert shared his philosophy in life: “Be observant, be creative. Most of all work hard at what you believe in.” At last, Bert really worked hard in what he believed in and he won the fight for justice.

Pie Thrown on a human face - not an Asian practice

2007-05-24T14:00:00.002-07:00

A famous comedy duo that appeared in films just before World War II somewhere in the mid thirties, were Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Laurel was the think one and Hardy the fat one. They were of British descent as revealed by their English accents. Most of their comedy routines stemmed from funny situations. Laurel is the straight man who always plays the part of the better informed half of the team while Hardy is the foil or the fall guy who gets it between the eyes and his whole corpulent body shakes with anger when it happens.

One characteristic of the two is that in all their movies, they never used the “slap stick” technique at all. To the aficionado humorists, the highest form of wit is intellectual or double meanings similar to the type of humor that Bob Hope uses.

The lowest is slapstick. With the Laurel and Hardy team, sometimes one would hit the other gently to emphasize a point but that was all the physical or visual effect. Often, they depend on the situation itself using the power of pantomime, enough to produce the desired laughter.

On the other hand we have the very popular American spawned The Three Stooges known and liked by many over many decades and in fact is having a comeback these days. These three were totally dependent on situations and with the ample use of slap stick – and I mean hard hitting slap, bops on the heads, and falls of various types - to get a laugh. One plays the straight man in a superior position and the other two stooges is supposed to obey or imitate what number one stooge wants. Usually the two follow wrongly and therefore get bopped by some hard object depending on what is within reach or available. Mock anger by the number one partner produces the comedic effect and the other two nursing a painful head or nose or back provokes the laughter.

In many American films, it is almost certain that a slap stick comedy sequence would be topped by a pie in the face sequence. And this act usually gets terrific reaction from the audience – a non Asian audience. Why do we say this is so?

In Asia the human person’s face is considered delicate and priceless. The fact is in effect the person's logo and should not be mistreated. It is his whole being, his public image. Over the developing period of Asian societies the basic elements of human relations rested and depended largely on how one honors one’s face especially in business transactions. Bartering – which preceded the exchange of currencies – which is to trade with one another using items or services and not money - depended principally on the quality of a person through his face. When one made a professional commitment orally facing the other party one has to stake his face and must meet the commitment before or on agreed time. His face is his asset, and of course his visual word of honor!

In early agricultural society Asia, a man’s face stands for his individual integrity, family honor, prestige and standing in the community. That is why the term “losing face” and “face the music” “face value” originated from and often really refer to that commodity, precious and fragile which is one’s face. It is his ticket in polite and honorable society. It is supposed to represent his willingness to abide by the common code of conduct and business relationships.

Thus, whenever one who is Asian or of Asian descent views the American film comedies featuring the pie thrown on one’s face, it creates a slight psychological trauma within his own Asian bred body and soul. The person not ready to laugh at this physical humor. But one asks, does it follow that because the Americans who make use of this type of humor has no honor and that he does not value his face at all? And the answer of course is that American society values the totality of the person and not just the face and attributes one’s personality and integrity as his credentials as a member of society. Having a pie in the face, to the American mind, does not diminish the person’ honor, nor integrity for it is done in jest, it is a "child like" moment and for humorous effect without giving the act of throwing pie on the face any other meaning.

Lizza Joaquin Osborn - A Gonzaga University MBA graduate

2007-05-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Lizza's venture into activities she liked - running a marathon [exclusively to raise funds for the Leukemia Society] accepting a human resource management job high up at Park City, Utah, and deciding to pursue a master's degree
was characteristic of this young lady.

When she opted to try another career, she did not hesitate to leave a marketing position at Couer D'Lane Resort in Idaho and began to work for a pharmaceutical firm.

She liked it and soon was hired by Glaxo where she is happily working today. In fact, it was Glaxo who sponsored her MBA studies.

Since she already had experienced the quality education that Jesuits were known for, [she graduated with a Bachelors degree at University of San Francisco with a major in Hotel and Restaurant Mgmt.], she chose Gonzaga University, which is named after a Jesuit Saint Aloysius Gonzaga.

Lizza, very determined to pursue her MBA, took up a part-time study load and so after four years she finally got her degree.

When she announced the commencement date for her graduation rites at Gonzaga, Chita and I, did not hesitate to confirm our presence on this special occasion - Lizza the only MBA holder [I hhold a non degree post grad at Ryerson Institute of Technology for Radio TV] in our family, the youngest of five children yet.

Chita and I do bask in our reflected glory. Alleluia!

Bert del Rosario wins Karaoke case

2007-05-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

When Marvy del Rosario Schumann got word that the Supreme Court of the Philippine Republic had declared her father Roberto del Rosario as the sole owner of the original patent rights for a sing along system now popularly known in the Japanese language as Karaoke, tears of joy welled in her eyes, and looking skyward she smiled and said a silent prayer of thanks that her father though no longer here with her, had finally won his case against the Japanese company who claimed that the device was their invention.

Marvy and her other siblings were entrusted by their talented inventor father Roberto del Rosario when he noticed his health becoming worse, to pursue the case and “not to give up” despite the tremendous amount of stress not to mention tons of money spent in (and out) the Philippine courts to fight for their father’s case which had taken several decades.

The Supreme Court’s resolution dated March 19 2007 stated:

After trial, the RTC in its Decision dated November 9, 1999 ruled in favor of plaintiff relying upon his uncontroveted evidence that defendant, without his consent manufactured and sold the Miyata system which was substantially identical to his patented invention.”

Bert del Rosario an accomplished musician who could play seven other musical instruments very well besides the piano, during his leisure hours, enjoyed playing with the popular orchestra known as The Executive’s Band organized by Former Senator Raul Manglapuz and made up of businessmen and members of the diplomatic corps who get together to play just for “fun”.

During the sixties and seventies, the band was often invited to perform for charity and in big social events. All the “sidemen” were executives with a sprinkling of some American or British diplomat who enjoyed playing Jazz music as a hobby. Among the musicians were Senator Raul Manglapus who was the recognized bandleader and founder, who alternated on the piano with Bert del Rosario, J. Morato, (Trumpet), Freddie Kaufman (drums), Lito Molina (Clarinet and alto saxophone) Bobby Manosa, (singer) and architect; Lennie Hontiveros, (saxophone) a senior advertising executive and for a time former Philippine Republic’s First Lady Mrs. Ming Ramos joined in as a pianist in the group’s “jam sessions”.

The band flourished in the sixties and seventies. They even played abroad upon

the invitation of foreign dignitaries like the King of Thailand, President Bill
Clinton, and Pope Paul II.
In 1962, on his own, Bert set up the first of many piano factories that populated the Philippines. He

called his pianos “TREBEL" – a combination of Bert’s name spelled backwards [TRE] and Eloisa his wife- EL.

Back to his minus one system, it took several decades for Bert to finally win the case. In the later models, another cassette tape player/recorder was added. It could record on one magnetic tape both the musical accompaniment and voice of the person singing. This unit was created in 1977. To enhance the quality of sound the device had a knob to produce "reverb" [or echo-like sound] adding technical artistry to the resulting sound.
Bert saw the first sign of corporate leakage – and the specter of “industrial piracy” during the time that he had to contract a Japanese manufacturing firm to produce most of his replacement parts. Not long after this arrangement he and his friends began to see very similar units of his invention but with a Japanese logo being sold openly in major Asian citieis and even in Manila stores..

This, Bert said philosophically, was the price one has to pay for a successful product. People would like to steal the idea or just make copies and sell them under another name.

In one of the media interviews Bert shared his philosophy in life: “Be
observant, be creative. Most of all work hard at what you believe in.” At last, Bert really worked hard in what he believed in and he won the fight for justice.

++++++

I need your inputs for Uncle Nick Joaquin's biography

2007-05-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Eduardo T. Joaquin, nephew and sole heir of the National Artist Nick Joaquin, announced recently that he has appointed Antonio BK Joaquin to write the biography of Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin).

+++++++

“I am pleased to announce that Tony Joaquin will write the official biography of Nick Joaquin,” Eddie Joaquin announced from his residence in Honolulu, Hawaii. “He is authorized to do research on the book and to get in touch with people who can help enrich the writing of the book,” he added.

Tony Joaquin was a publisher of several trade magazines in Manila during the martial-law years up to the murder of Sen. Benigno Aquino, when he decided to move his family to Daly City, California. He has written an autobiography, “Simple Glories,” which he launched on October 11, 2000.

He was charter founder and past president of the Philippine Society for Training and Development and considered one of the country’s top experts on human resource development from the seventies and eighties.

He was a contributor to the Saturday Mirror Magazine and other weekend supplement magazines in Manila, specializing in tongue-in-cheek essays.

Tony, an active contributor to Filipino American publications in the San Francisco Bay area, said he will start work by calling or writing friends and fans of Nick Joaquin for their favorite anecdotes about the National Artist for Literature.

“I can be contacted at my residence at 25 Ward Court Apt. #6 Daly City California 94015” Joaquin said. “Contributors can also call tel. no. 650 991-4724. My e-mail address is Anthonykj@Comcast.net.” Joaquin requested contributors to send photos of Nick Joaquin or of themselves if these are available.

Nick Joaquin died on April 29, 2004, at 82. Shortly after his death, two of his biographies were published in Metro Manila, one on the journalist Emilio (Abe) Aguilar Cruz and the other on Sen. Edgardo Angara. The biography is scheduled for publication in late 2008 or early 2009.

Tony, whose father was the great jazz pianist Porfirio (Ping) Joaquin, older brother of Nick, himself had many memories of his well-known uncle. “Nick was present when I was born in Paco. He was my teacher and inspiration.”

War - a desecration of a precious resource - Man

2007-05-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I am reprinting Ludy Ongkeko's piece which appeared in THE PHILIPPINE NEWS. Tony.

============================

‘Will you give this to my Daddy?’

Ludy Ongkeko, Apr 25, 2007

Some two weeks ago, one of the well-known national weekly publications called the world’s attention to what it dubbed, “Voices from the Front.” The notes came from America’s warriors addressed to their families which the same publication entitled: “In Their Own Words.”

I cannot begin to describe how I felt as I read portions of missives coming from “those voices of the fallen.” I had to stop. Tears welled. When I continued shortly after, I found myself on the receiving end of “Will you give this to my Daddy?” a first-person piece forwarded to me by a friend of old.

I do not have the vaguest idea who the author is. Considering its impact on those who likewise received it, because it is so apropos, it is my belief that it should be shared with PN readers. Here it is: (The account does not bear the writer’s identity; however unknown that is, I would like to add my congratulations for something so aptly written at this time.)

“Last week, I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was at the airport, waiting to return home I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen. Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in their “camos,” as they began heading to their gate. Everybody (well almost everybody) was abruptly on their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers (probably 30-40 of them) being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I’m not alone! I’m not the only red-blooded American, who still loves this country, and who supports our troops and their families. Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes, who are putting their lives on the line every day for us, so we can go to school, work, church and home without fear of reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women, a young girl, no more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He knelt down and said, “Hi.”

The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her Daddy for her. The young soldier (he couldn’t be any older than maybe 22 himself) said he would try and what did she want to give him to give to her daddy? Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter’s name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the Mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier’s eyes began to tear up.

When this temporarily single Mom was done explaining the situation, all of a sudden the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. One of the servicemen then pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, “I spoke with your Daddy, and he told me to give this to you.”

He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek, he finished by saying, “Your Daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home soon.” The Mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably, and when the young soldier got on his feet, he saluted Courtney and her Mom. I was standing no more than six feet away from where this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause.

As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were no dry eyes, including my own. The young soldier in a last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.”

The message from the author of the remarkable incident concluded, “We need to remember all of our soldiers and their families every day; and thank God for them, and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it is good being an American.

The first thing a soldier says when asked, “What can we do to make things better for you?” No hesitation from him/her. “We need your support and your prayers” is the reply.

Therefore the American people should continue to pray for the military wherever its units are. We can be proud in stating what we’ve been told over and over again, “We live in the land of the free, only because of the brave:”

Fables for the president - The Emperor's clothes.....A Boy cried wolf!

2007-04-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

UNDYING VALUES ON THE QUALITY OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP TODAY – (it is no laughing matter when thousands of American and Iraqui lives have perished so far.)

The Emperor’ New Clothes, and a Boy who cried wolf!

Many years ago, there lived an emperor who was full of himself and was always thinking of his own interests and little of his people. Thus, his people were trazined to be governed by this egotistic emperor in this manner. They had no choice but to obey, let they be punished severely. The emperor who cared much about his appearance was particular on the clothes he wore.

One day he heard from two swindlers known in his kingdom approached the emprror and told the gullible emperor that they could make the finest suit of clothes from the most beautiful cloth. This cloth, they said, also had the special capability that it was invisible to anyone who was either stupid or not seeing the truth. They made the emperor believe their yarn that he “ordered” that majic clothes

Being a bit nervous about whether he himself would be able to see the cloth, the emperor first sent two of his trusted men to see it. Of course, his subordinates aware of their emperor’s big ego, neither would admit that they could not see the clothes and even praised it as truly beautiful. And the emperor was proud of it. All the townspeople had also heard of the situation and were therefore interested to learn how it was to view their emperor wearing these “clothes.”

The emperor propelled by his ego then allowed himself to be “dressed in the clothes” for a public procession through town.

The egotistic emperor was obviously stupid to realize that what he was wearing was nothing but he was not afraid that his subject would agree to that he was supposed to be wearing – a beautiful attire.

When he paraded downtown, of course, all the townspeople properly briefed, wildly praised the “magnificent clothes” of the emperor, afraid to admit that they could not see them. This went along until a small child as candid as any child could be cried out loud enough to be heard by everyone hearby.

"But he has nothing on!"

The brief silence of shock from the remark was soon followed by everyone in the crowd liberated by an innocent child who saw the truth and began shouting that the emperor had nothing on. The entire crowd took up the remark and continued to shouot “He has no clothes on!” And followed it with laughter.

The humiliated emperor heard it but did not show his feelings but instead held his head high and did not finish the procession taking refuge inside his spirit broken by the sad truth from the eyes of a child.

This story of the little boy puncturing the pretensions of the emperor's court has parallels from other cultures, categorized as Aarne-Thompson folktale type 1620, although the tale itself has no identified oral sources.^[1]

The expressions The Emperor's new clothes and The Emperor has no clothes are often used with allusion to Andersen's tale.

Most frequently, this story is a metaphor concerning a situation where the overwhelming cowed popular willingly share in a popular trend despite individually recognizing the absurdity.

“The Emperor Has No Clothes" is often used in political and social contexts for any obvious truth denied by the majority despite the evidence of their eyes, especially when proclaimed by the government.

--------------------

The Boy Who Cried Wolf is the fable of a bored boy who entertained himself by calling out "wolf". At first, nearby villagers came to his rescue because wolves were destroying the sheep which was the source of livelihood of the community. But the boy enjoyed fooling the villagers who rushed to his cry when they found that the alarms were false and that they'd wasted their time. After several of the false alarms, the disgruntled villagers disliked the boy and spread the word that the boy was not doing good by this act. Later, when the boy was actually confronted by a real live wolf, he once again cried frantically but no one came since the villagers did not believe his cries anymore for help . The boy continued to shout until he was already hoarse and still no one came until the wolf ate his entire flock of sheep. The lesson learned in this fable is:

"when political leaders are proven to be regular liars it becomes difficult for people to believe they are telling the truth, and therefore even then they are no longer believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth." The battle created by America in Iraq is a good example of this fable. Soon many begins to doubt how real or truthful the reason behind the war is.

BARBARA LEE - A GUTSY CONGRESSWOMAN

2007-04-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE.

It is so heartwarming to see and read about a woman who appears to be much bolder and braver than her male counterparts in Congress. As the legend goes, the man "is supposed to have the balls".

I am glad to take my hat off to a lady who earns every single penny we the taxpayer pays her for her courage and bold moves as a legislator vis a vis the insane situation our country stumbled into which is termed THE IRAQ WAR.

Bravo Barbara! Sock it to 'em

Good Friday with Pope Benedict XVI

2007-04-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Our Northwest Airlines flight from San Francisco landed in Leonardo da Vinci airport of Rome shortly after noon Friday of Holy Week. We were glad to be in the Eternal City at this time for it was GOOD FRIDAY. After a quick check in at our Holiday Inn hotel, we drove towards the Vatican and joined what looked like several hundred thousands of devotees/tourists in Piazza St. Pietro as well as inside the Cathedral itself.

With my extra long Sony video zoom lens and standing on my toes for long seconds at a time I got to shoot Our Holy Father at the main altar together with his entourage of Cardinals - but Pope Benedict was in bare feet!

They were holding readings in all languages consecutively as appropriate Catholic services during the high point in Our Lord's suffering and death on Good Friday. For the benefit of the people outside there were chairs placed all over as well as flat and large screen HD monitors in strategic places showing what was going on inside the Cathedral.

To Chita and me, Paris and Rome are undying destinations that we will never tire of visiting for as long as we can afford to - for various reasons. This time our trip to Rome was related to a planned cruise around Mediterranean ports in Greece, Turkey, and Italy aboard the CARNIVAL FREEDOM, a brand new cruise ship of CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES only on its second voyage. From April 6 - 20 we enjoyed the on board fun, for "fun" is what Carnival Cruise Lines is known for as we have experienced during the past two others [i.e. Caribbean cruise and the Mexican Riviera cruise].

Among the significant highlights of this cruise was our visit to the place where Our Blessed Virgin Mary lived her final days until she was bodily raised into Heaven [dogma of the Assumption]. The place was Ephesus, in Turkey, which we visited by tour bus together with other tourists from other countries.

Another interesting site we took was by a walking tour of the old mosques and churches in historic Istanbul, Turkey especially in relation to Catholic history, which included the Hagia Sofia.

One major advantage of a sea cruise over a bus and other types of touristic journeys is the fact that one has a "floating hotel" with well planned recreation plus entertainment filled features that one can enjoyo on a cruise ship. One need not have to bother with seeking hotels, packing and unpacking while visiting selected sites as one continues with the tour.

In fact, this third cruise brought out something we failed to notice - and that was the honeymoon element.

During our wedding in 1959 we had no chance to go on a regular honeymoon at all. We both had to go to work the following day.

In the first two cruises we were with our grandsons and then with the other children and their respective families.

If you look closely at our picture you just might notice a sparkle of excitement and love.

Can Killing a terminally ill person be done legally?

2007-03-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

[NOTE: The names are changed to protect the privacy of the featured individual in this case.]

From early teens, Rosemary had been dependent upon a wheelchair. A strong willed woman, she hopes her deteriorating muscular dystrophy condition won't claim her life before she has a chance to see her 17-year-old daughter go to college. "My witnessing her graduation would be like a dream come true for me," Rosemary says.

Despite constant pain and immobility, Rosemary avers that she would never kill herself. She adds that the state is making an awful mistake by allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to people facing terminal illness.

Then she said that she strongly holds this value that is why she joined a lawsuit seeking to strike down the assisted suicide law, which has held up in court.

Just a month ago, she survived a bout of pneumonia that brought the assisted-suicide issue home to her.

"I was in tons of pain, and I said, 'I don't want to do this anymore,'" Rosemary said. ``And my husband said, 'This is why we don't want assisted suicide. It makes it too easy.'"

Rosemary was stricken with muscular dystrophy at age 8. Few victims of the disease live past their mid-20s, and Rosemary, at 48, is an unusual survivor. Her doctor is a personal friend who has declined to estimate how much longer she might live. "He's never put a date on it," she says.

Recently, a suicide bill was introduced into the California Assembly [AB 374] referred to as

The Compassionate Choices Act

An excerpt:
The bill would enact the California Compassionate Choices Act, which would authorize an adult who meets certain qualifications and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, to provide comfort with an assurance of peaceful dying if suffering becomes unbearable..This bill would further provide that no provision in a contract, will, or other policy regarding this act.agreement, or in a health care service plan contract, policy of disability insurance, or health benefit plan contract, shall be valid to the extent it would affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for the above-described medication. The bill would prohibit the sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy, or the rate charged for any policy, from being conditioned upon or affected by the request. The bill would require that nothing in its provisions be construed to authorize ending a patient's life by lethal injection,mercy killing, or active euthanasia, and would provide that action taken in accordance with the act shall not constitute suicide or homicide.

Catholic Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco stated in his letter to Catholics “In a state where over 7.5 million are uninsured, it is the poor who will be at risk when killing becomes cheaper than curing. When California is experiencing a crisis in access to affordable health insurance, it is wrong for the Assembly’s time, energy and resources to be channeled into an effort to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is not among the serious health care challenges facing Californians. What is important is providing health insurance to children and basic health care to millions of low-income families.

The core of Rosemary’s belief is that life is a gift, no matter what the person's situation. Assisted suicide sends the opposite message, she believes. "If someone becomes an inconvenience or a bother, we throw her away. It's a Pandora's box. We don't have a clue about what this is going to do in the future."

To some, it might seem Rosemary has little to live for. Besides her crippled legs, her arms have become shriveled and bent.

"When I got married, I could do everything but walk. I could do dishes, cook, reach for things, fold laundry. Basically, all I can do now is sit here," she says. A woman comes to the family's modest home in east Portland each morning to help Rosemary into her wheelchair and to wash dishes and do other household chores. She spends afternoons alone and in bed. During that time, she often thinks about her daughter, a senior at Portland Lutheran High School.

This column joins the voices of diverse coalition of organizations that oppose assisted suicide including the California Catholic Conference, the American Medical Association, to mention a few Catholic groups and we enjoin our readers to join these organizations in working for a just society and in opposing AB 374.

A significant step towards CLEAN elections.

2007-03-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Many observers often say that the Philippines can never achieve any measure of positive change towards good governance simply because our leaders do not sincerely feel in their hearts the need to change things. For instance, we have a lot of legal charges against high government officials that when first reported created a solid media splash. But then...as days go by....it is pushed in the background. Soon, months pass and even years come and go and the cases supposed to be major violations like "plunder" by officials still remain unresolved. So one can conclude that there seems to be no political will to really do the right thing and see it to its conclusion.

A good example and current hot topic in the country is the newly-developed voting system that will use computer technology for the first time and not only speed up the process of voting and counting but minimizing the "human elements" that have for many years been well trained to manipulate the system itself. We Filipinos know the "dag dag bawas" indoor sport everytime the Philippines holds its elections. This phenomenon, an open secret, is evident onli in da pilipins!

BOTONG PINOY, the new mechanized voting system was developed by Rafael Garcia III who incidentally was the first member in my first Rotary Club that I got to know very well back in the mid seventies, and who was already "making waves" in the field of computer technology in the Philippines when computers were huge machines that occupied several rooms. Raffy, as he is known in the industry, has developed this voting system because he does love the country, romantic as the statement may sound.

However, inspite of the fact that Raffy has offered the use of the new technology for the coming elections FOR FREE there seems to be no apparent interest among the Comelec officials.

Needless to say, a number of thinking Filipinos had expected something like this reaction from the Comelec.

In fact, one technically oriented official who had gone through the dry run of the voting system remarked,

“They are systems that are so efficient, there is no room for graft. Equally, Botong Pinoy is meant to be an election system so efficient there is no time to cheat.”

A Hero - an ordinary person doing extaordinary things

2007-03-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

DR. MARTIN BAUTISTA

When the young doctor completed his medical course at the University of the Philippines, together with his wife, also a doctor, like most new young graduates, first opted to see how things were in America. After all with the new technologies being developed there in the field of Medical Science being in the cutting edge of new inventions would be a great advantage especially for a couple of excellently professional Filipino doctors. So they moved to the U.S. and pursued their practice - and naturally succeeded as most highly qualified doctors did.

Then after having served with his wife for several years they did something not many could easily fathom - both opted to pull up stakes and move back to the Philippines to continue their practice.

But aside from going back to his homeland, Dr. Bautista decided to run for public office!

Let us here from the doctor himself.

I am Martin D Bautista, MD one of the four candidates for the Senate. I attended the Ateneo de Manila for my elementary and high school education. I completed my BS Zoology in UP Diliman and stayed at the UP-PGH for my medical degree. My wife (who was a classmate in medical school) and I pursued both residency and fellowship training at the State University of New York in Brooklyn. I am an Internist-Gastroenterologist. For 10 years we lived in Guymon, Oklahoma a rural town of about 12,000 people. We built our own medical clinic and we would see up to 120 patients each day. After we were able to recruit 2 physicians, we moved our entire family back to the Philippines. We have 4 daughters.

Everyone who cares for me tried hard to dissuade me from this quixotic mission. You can read more from my blog that I began last year: http://onmywayhome.blogstream.com

Let us all join together and pray hard for a miracle. The odds are super-long but for a miracle to occur you need to (1) ask for it and (2) be there to receive it.

I sincerely believe in our Cause. It is a noble one and I believe that we are doing God's work.
Martin D Bautista,MD

*I wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Bautista and his cause. Try and pass this blogsite message to other Filipinos wherever they are. Tony

War's Inhumanity to MAN -

2007-03-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

How to Die

Dark clouds are smouldering into red
While down the craters morning burns.
The dying soldier shifts his head
To watch the glory that returns;
He lifts his fingers toward the skies
Where holy brightness breaks in flame;
Radiance reflected in his eyes,
And on his lips a whispered name.

You'd think, to hear some people talk,
That lads go West with sobs and curses,
And sullen faces white as chalk,
Hankering for wreaths and tombs and hearses.
But they've been taught the way to do it
Like Christian soldiers; not with haste
And shuddering groans; but passing through it
With due regard for decent taste.

*no video to watch

Siegfried Sassoon

"I am sax starved" LITO MOLINA - JAZZ BAND LEADER

2007-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

supposed to have been said by Lito Molina months after he had recovered from that massive stroke which left his left arm and left side of the body paralyzed. But, after the laughter triggered by that funny remark, it was disclosed by Li to himself that he never said that. It was one of his newspaper friends who came up with it.
What was not funny of course was the fact that this versatile musician, named Ezequiel Molina who was Li to to all his friends, was well known not only in the Jazz aficionados in the Philippines but in classical concerts too for Li to played excellent Clarinet - having learned the rudiments of music from his father Professor Antonio Molina who was also a fine composer from pre world war two days. But he excelled in alto saxophone to the point when he sounded almost like Paul Desmond of Dave Brubeck's combo.
When asked what caused his sudden stroke, Lito looks away and with a faraway look in his eyes, half smiles and says, "It was really nothing to be excited about but it had to do with the judging of winners in a coming annual contest for the best Filipino singers, musicians, and Jazz performers." Then he hesitates and after a slight pause looks back at the group and with a wave of the right hand [the one unaffected by the stroke] "Ah let us forget it...for I have put it behind me now...and I am doing well considering..."
During the mid fifties Li to and some Jazz sidemen would hold Friday afternoon jam sessions at the Del Rosario Brothers mini stage on Aurora Boulevard and I would help in emceeing it. Completely informal, other professional and amateur Jazz musicians would be invited by Li to to join the session which usually ended with a terrific ad lib by all back by his 5 piece combo.
In 1981, with the leadership of Roman Jun Cruz, Jr. who was then Chairman of Philippine Air Lines and an avid Jazz fan and record collector, Li to was asked to form something like an All Star Filipino Jazz Orchestra to take part in the annual Monterrey Jazz Festival in Monterrey California. I was asked to join as manager of the troupe and Joe Magsaysay representing Phillip Morris who were cosponsors of the contingent as well as Lulu Ilustre, another Jazz aficionado as part of the public relations team that promoted the whole show prior to the trip. Lito made sure he picked the best reliable musicians which included Angel Pena, well known composer arranger and outstanding bass player, Fred Robles, a veteran pianist who had wide exposure even abroad playing with American and Japanese Jazz sidemen, as well as Roger Herrera, bass player and one time band leader. Invited also were the Posadas trio - Romy, piano, Ricky on drums, and wife Rita Posadas who took her place as the official female vocalist of the band. Listening to Rita that evening reminded me of June Christy's style of singing.
The Jazz festival, was my first ever so I was awed by the way it was arranged. The whole program started on a Friday afternoon and continued on till the evening hours and ending close to 11 p.m. and then the Saturday it starts in mid morning again until late in the evening. Sunday is the final day when most of the star performers like the Count Basie band, and torch singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Tony Bennett appeared all the way to the grand festival finale in late Sunday afternoon.
The show was held on a large and deep stage with seating arrangements for I estimate to be 10,000 or even more. And the excellent sound system certain did justice to the fine Jazz instrumentals and vocals during the three day festival. As they announced the Philippine contingent - a first in the history of Monterrey or for that matter in any Jazz festival in the world I felt proud and with moist eyes I applauded like mad together with Lulu and Joe from where we were seated. One reason for my emotional reaction perhaps was the fact that I had been having "cocktails" in a flask bottle I brought along.
Before the contingent to go and perform at the Monterrey Jazz Festival, founded by Jimmy Lyons three decades ago, was organized Lito was looking for Emil Mijares who was a progressive Jazz pianist and composer but he was supposed to have gone to the U.S. for some business. So, the old standby Piding Alava who was part of the original JAZZ FRIENDS founded by Lito himself came along.
It is interesting to note that in the mid eighties I had the good fortune of managing Jazz Friends when I booked them a the Boulevardier outlet at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati for a two year contract. After that we moved to the Manila Garden Hotel. The contract in both hotels were simply Sunday afternoon and early evening gigs which went well since the senior instrumentalists played old favorites of the 20s till the eighties.
'That is how versatile they were. However, the singing quartet led by Bong Molina, eldest son of Lito and the other singers which included Kitchie Molina, Bong's wife and two other young vocalists entertained the Sunday afternoon crowd at the cocktail lounge singing vocal arrangements by American Jazz artists like Quincy Jones, Glenn Miller and Stan Kenton.
In 1998 LIto Molina passed away due to complications of kidney failure and others. Even when he was already medically retired due to the stroke, Lito would be extremely reclusive and not even saying a word to anyone, including his wife Pit who also comes from a family of Jazz musicians.

ANGELS IN AMERICA - stark realities of AIDS

2007-03-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Once in a wonderful while one suddenly discovers a film that lives up to its exciting role in modern society. Seeing a excellently directed movie [on DVD]that is well written, and acted and with excellent veteran actors is so rewarding and definitely leaves an indelible imprint on one’s psyche.

The film version of ANGELS IN AMERICA originally a proscenium stage presentation that was a hit on Broadway is directed by a dynamic artist-director Mike Nichols, and features Al Pacino, Merryl Streep Emma Thompson, as well as Jeffrey Wright and Mary Louise Parker.

Made into a miniseries the play won the 1985 GOLDEN GLOBE awards for Best miniseries, Best Actor for Al Pacino, Best Actress Merryl Streep, Best Supporting Actor of Jeffrey Wright, and for Mary Louise Parker Best Supporting Actress.

So absorbing and candidly stark was the dialogue with a gripping plot development, one does not notice that the entire story on DVD has taken up a little over 6 hours!

Playwright Tony Kushner finely crafts his story with overtones of politics on the overly sensitive subject of AIDS and the then emerging crisis during the mid eighties affecting the lives of interconnected individuals.

The fantasy story unfolds and it shows that God has abandoned Heaven. And the Reagans are in the White House while Death swings the scythe of AIDS. In Manhattan, Prior Walter tells Lou, his lover of four years, he's ill; As expected Lou bolts, terrified. As disease and gnawing loneliness ravages Prior, a corresponding sense of guilt begins to take over Lou.

A Mormon lawyer named Joe Pitt a Republican, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn[of the Communist-searching Senator Joe McCarthy] toward a job at the Justice Department.

Pitt and Cohn are still in the closet at that period of their homosexual existence; Pitt, out of shame and religious turmoil, and Cohn to preserve his power and access. Pitt's wife Harper is strung out on Valium, aching to escape a sexless marriage.

Then an angel invites Prior to play the part of a prophet in death. Pitt's mother and Belize, a close friend, help Prior choose.

I strongly recommend this movie to those who want to find true meaning in the lives of these individuals in the face of the AIDS crisis still affecting thousands of people in many countries.

An Interesting wife and mother - Kathleen

2007-03-07T22:37:00.000-08:00

I have often wanted to showcase one of our Joaquin relatives who is in the writing field.
With the passing of Uncle Nick I realize that not too many Joaquins in our age range are into writing at all.
For instance, Mikee, Bobby and GI's eldest son used to enjoy writing short stories even at the age of 8 using a computer program. He would also illustrate some of the characters using the same program for kids. But now that Mikee is in college and already working part time, I find that he enjoys to choreograph Hip Hop dances - and he does them very well indeed.
So, now I am happy to introduce a niece of mine, one of the daughters of PATRICIA JOAQUIN BURKHALTER. Her name is Kathleen. Reading h er blog postings will show you h ow much and well she is as a young writer. Aside from this skill, Kathleen is proud to state that she home schooled her own four daughters, while being a relevant wife to Bud her husband who works as an independent training consultant. Bud does travel out of the country quite often.

A Relevant Filipino columnist - Tony Abaya

2007-03-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

Tony Abaya attended Ateneo de Manila and earned an A.B. Journalism degree. Before continuing his studies Tony decided to see several European countries aboard a Vespa Scooter. Then, Tony took up another course in America's Northwestern University and got a degree in Chemistry.

Over the years, Tony has written a column that appeared in several newspapers consecutively. These days he writes a column ON THE OTHER HAND for The Manila Standard. In his incisive clearly written columns Tony sees through the terrible “chemistry” of corruption and immorality affecting our government officials and their interaction with the citizenry, the Philippines.

From the way he attacks issues concerning our government officials and others supposed to work for the people, the chemist continues to conduct his social laboratory experimenting and offering candid suggestions with all elements hoping to make a difference with his writings that could be adopted towards good governance.

A fellow schoolmate from Ateneo de Manila, Tony thinks and argues like a Jesuit, whatever that means. I for one enjoy any moral columnist to openly take a stand, and makes it a point to do a thorough research on his data before doing anything or recommending any action.

Considering the role of major newspapers operating in Manila, The Manila Standard should be proud, I assume, to have Tony Abaya as their premier columnist – or so I think.

Sure, there are quite a few brave veteran Filipino columnists in Manila dailies with a colorful track record and write with distinctive style and vigor not to mention courage. Tony has indubitably a lot of that – consistent fearlessness.

Once, I even recommended to Tony (who regards phoned or emailed commentaries and threats about something he had written in his column a pleasure and vital to his column writing) to tap a private agency who could compile and duplicate some of his hard hitting columns and distribute copies to all high schools and colleges in Greater Manila and those in key cities in the archipelago for our youth to discuss for these facts would impact their future.

I feel that our youth NEEDS to be aware of these corruption, as Tony carefully comments on what is going on in their government. Our youth, as up coming Filipino adult citizens, should be able to react properly and learn what action to take vis a vis the points mentioned by Tony.

I do hope and pray that Tony continues to write his fearless analysis and proposal for public officials to return to accepted moral values and be cognizant of their delicate role as leaders of the country.

One major contribution of Tony Abaya to equally courageous citizenry is his creation of TAPATT [Transparency and Public Accountability Today and Tomorrow,]

A foundation, Its Mission Statement is phrased thus:

We look at our country and we are saddened. We see a country being ravaged by the greed and avarice of many of those who are supposed to lead it.

We look at our country and we are troubled. We see an otherwise talented, hardworking and infinitely patient people being wasted and demoralized by the insatiable cupidity of many of their leaders and their leaders' relatives and cronies.

We look at our country and we are infuriated. We see many politicians and public officials, and their relatives and cronies, who view public office, not as a vehicle for public service, but as a passport to private wealth, enormous private wealth, in the shortest possible time, and to hell with morality and public opinion.

We look at our country and we weep. We see the perpetrators of the vilest form of graft and corruption and the beneficiaries of untold stolen wealth parading in opulence and lionized by society, while millions of hapless citizens rot in grim conditions of devastating poverty.

Here is one of his latest columns on Idiot Candidates.

"Whoever invented that phrase – I first read it about two weeks ago on the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer - deserves to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Eminently Correct Political Incorrectness.

"Idiot Candidate – a candidate who aspires for an elective political office purely on the basis of his/her popularity with the squealing masa, with absolutely no experience in public service or in managing anything other than his fighting cock, if that at all, and with absolutely no idea on what he or she intends to do if and when that office is won.

"The most recent example of an Idiot Candidate is the boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. At first, he was going to run for vice-mayor of the City of Manila, in tandem with the dynastic son of the incumbent Lito Atienza.

"But why should we be surprised? In the run-up to the 2004 presidential elections, Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ – may he rest in peace – campaigned for the presidency without ever revealing - probably because he also had no idea himself - what it was he was going to do if and when he became president…..and he almost won.

"FPJ studiously avoided being interviewed and asked hard questions on the issues of the day, almost certainly because he did not know what to say. No talk, no mistakes. Less talk, less mistakes. When he consented to speak before a gathering of foreign diplomats, the media was pointedly excluded.

"So the public never knew what his ideas were, if any, on the topics which the diplomats no doubt raised or wanted to raise: investments, official development aid, foreign debt, the Spratly Islands and China, the war in Iraq, the peace talks with the MILF and the MNLF, the Abu Sayyaf, the communist insurgency, free trade and globalization, etc.

"His speech was no doubt ghost-written, but what about the question-and-answer forum? Was there one at all - or did he have to rush out conveniently to “another appointment” - and how did he respond if there was one? Well, diplomats would not be diplomats if they did not know how to keep their mouths shut and shield a possible president from embarrassment

"Just as there are no masters where there are no slaves, so also are there no idiot candidates where there are no idiot voters."

THE LEGACY OF NICK JOAQUIN - An Interview

2007-03-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, Ben Pimental interviewed me over the phone from his office at SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE to make the interview appear as a feature in their pod.
Kwento Kwento is the title of Ben Pimentel's blogsite. I ask interested individuals wanting to listen to the interview to scroll down until you see LEGACY OF NICK JOAQUIN and then click the pod [make sure your speaker or headset is ready].
Ben just launched here in San Francisco his latest book about Filipino activist ED JOPSON.

EVERYDAY GREATNESS - Stephen Covey

2007-03-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

"I do not agree with the big way of doing things. Love needs to start with an individual. " Mother Teresa.

---------------------

Among the little known but popular magazine dating back to the early twenties is READER'S DIGEST. The first ever in the prevous gentury to launch a new approach to publication which is to compress without losing the gist of a idea the READERS DIGEST collected significant articles, essays, and even speeches digested to fit one issue. This idea caught on and the magazine remains to be the leading digest magazine in the world today.

Over the decades since after World War I through this current period, RD has compiled a wealth of ideas through the materials they have - ideas that have been collected into a book by Stephen Covey.

The title of the book is EVERYDAY GREATNESS. (Inspiration to a Meaningful Life)

Published by Rutledge Hill Press under the copyrights of Franklin Covey Co., and The Reader's Digest, EVERYDAY GREATNESS can very well be transformed into a college syllabus for college students all over the world.

In his introduction, Stephen R. Covey avers:

"In a world where turmoil dominates the evening news and words of discouragement often prevail, I feel blessed to meet daily with individuals around the globe whose live convince me that there is an abundance of good among us."

Mr. Covey shares his joy by having been given the opportunity to have worked with law enforcers, military experts, civic administrators and medical professionals who sacrifice much and whose intentions are honorable.

The book rich with concepts and advice supported by case studies, is divided into a set of three ideas under a heading.

For instance one is SEARCHING FOR MEANING and below it are Contribution, Charity, and Attention. Then in the Chapter on TEAMING WITH OTHERS we see the subheads Respect, Empathy, and Unity.

Stephen R. Covey is an internationally respected leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant and author who has dedicated his life to principle-centered living and leadership to built both families and organizations.

A timely book for all generations starting with this one alive today.

OF LAUGHTER AND TEARS by Sarah Joaquin

2007-03-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

"Do not worship money, earn it honestly and spend it wisely. Love conquers all difficulties. And above all put a good supply of forgiveness in your heart. You will feel much
better inside.

Jesus Christ has set the example.
Thank you, all of you, who have made my life on earth a very fruitful one."
----------
This is the middle part of my mother Sarah's “Farewell Letter” which with great effort she wrote in her own elegant penmanship just days before her death on January 30, 2002.

Before she became very ill, our mother Sarah began to write an autobiography which she tried to complete had it not been for her kidneys that had deteriorated too fast leading to her death at age 93. She was a couple of chapters short.

My brother in law Fred de la Rosa [married to my youngest sister
Josefina] and I were able to complete the final chapters just to make her
autobiography end appropriately.

We, her children, are now happy to announce that the book is finally out and
available for anyone desiring to purchase a copy.

We hope to have copies available in a select San Francisco, California bookstores
named ARKIPELAGO BOOKS as well as in Manila's major bookstores like
POWERBOOKS, NATIONAL, AND BOOK MARK.

A copy has been priced at $15.00 each plus shipping and handling of $3.00
[only in North America.]

The cost in Philippine Pesos is still to be established once the bookstores
in Manila have agreed on our arrangements.

I will keep you posted on this matter via email. Tony Joaquin

OOPS!

2007-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

JUST UPDATING YOU ON THE RECENT "DOWNTURN" OF MY BLOGSITE.
I LOST MY BLOGS, POSTINGS, ETC.
PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
I WILL INFORM YOU ON DEVELOPMENTS.
PRAYERS MAY HELP TOO.

TONY