Recently, an opportunity to do this came. I joined my Mother and sister to a trip to celebrate Holy Week and our Mother’s 94th birthday in Nueva Ecija, where my family hails from.

I decided that after these events, my sister and I would visit Palawan. As we have limited time, we did the tour package of 4 days – 3 nights put together by a reliable and friendly travel agent in Manila, who I found through a search of the internet.

El Nido Beach

In order to maximise the use of the limited time, we took the 6.30am flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa. Then at 10am, we joined the van to go to El Nido Beach. The trip took approximately 4.5 hours, with an additional half hour stop for lunch mid-way. The journey was smooth, with short durations of ‘free body massage’ where the road was still under construction. Once we got to El Nido and saw the amazing scenery of several islands, clear water and skies, we were glad that we did it.

For our first night, we were lucky that a cottage right by the beach was available. There is definitely something therapeutic with the sound of the waves crashing on the sand of the beach. The following day was spent to do two island exploration/hopping adventures. We were very impressed by the clear waters and the pristine beaches everywhere we went.

Adventure A: Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Payong- Payong Beach, Simizu Island, Entalula Island, Seven Commandos Beach.

Adventure B: Snake Island, Codugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island, South Pangalusian (famous snorkeling area).

The barbequed lunch [fresh fish, marinated chicken and pork pieces] cooked by our guide in one of the stops was delicious and very enjoyable. We also had plenty of mangoes, bananas and pineapple.

On our second night, we had to move to the first floor of the main building as the cottages were all booked out months ago. Breakfasts were served by friendly staff, where we pleased – at the verandah or and at the grounds.

Puerto Princesa

At 10am of day 3, we were picked up from the hotel to make our way back to Puerto Princesa. Bouyed by the enjoyable tour, the trip back to Puerto Princesa was easier to bear.

We got dropped at our accommodation, not too far from the city centre, and had views of the bay walk. The pension was beautifully decorated with Philippine crafts and material. Like our accommodation in El Nido, we had lovely breakfast and access to free wifi.

The highlight of this day was our visit to the Puerto Princesa Underground River which was provisionally selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2011 and officially confirmed on 28 January 2012. This initiative conducted by UNESCO involved the participation of the members of the public to vote online for the natural wonders on the provisional list. The others chosen included: the Amazon in South America; Halong Bay in Vietnam; Iguazu Argentina and Brazil; Jeju Island in Korea; Komodo in Indonesia and Table Mountain in South Africa.

As part of the protection of PPUR, only a maximum of 900 people per day are allowed to visit. Pre-arranged permits are also necessary – no permit; no visit. Aside from its natural beauty, PPUR has important terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems and rock formations. From the wharf where our land transport took us, we took a 15-minute motorised boat ride to the beach at the entrance to PPUR. We then got transferred to a smaller paddleboat. Everyone had to wear hat for protection of hitting the head on rocks, as well as from water dripping from roof of the cave and the bats! It was pitch-dark once we were inside the ‘cave’ through which the river runs through. One of the visitors got assigned to focus torch light as the guide [also the boatman] provided information on the bats and birds living in the cave, the various rock formation and other items of interest.

After our boatride in the PPUR, the motorised boats took us back at the wharf where we had delicious buffet lunch. Then the two-hour drive or so back to our hotel where our bags were held in storage for us after checking out in the morning. We appreciated also the facility to freshen up before we had dinner and later being taken to the airport for our late evening flight to Manila.

All these memorable experiences, enjoyable food, accommodation, transfers and flights packaged in a four day/three night arrangement was an incredible value. It only cost us about P15,000 [A$360] per person.

It is definitely ‘more fun in the Philippines!’

Jeson’s career high ATP single ranking was 869th, [at 13 August 2012], and doubles at 1241 [at 22 October 2012]. However, after being sidelined for more than a year due to an ankle injury, his rankings slid down to currently 1255th and 1585th in singles and doubles respectively.

Jeson Patrombon Single Finals Winner of Gloucester Tennis Tournament

Jeson is back in his previous form and determined to claw his way back to higher rung of the ATP ranking ladder. He arrived early February 2013 in Australia and had put a win under his belt. Jeson won in straight sets in the semi-finals 6-1, 6-0 against T. Huens and the finals 6-1, 6-0 against Jack Maddocks, [both Australian players] at the AMT Men’s Singles of the Gloucester District Tennis Association.

Standing at 173 metres [5’8”] tall with a slight built, Jeson plays right hand and double-hand backhand. He is versatile on court as he plays in all types of tennis surfaces – in 2013 quarter finals in the Australian Open, he played in Plexicushion; in 2011 he played on grass at the 2nd round in Wimbledon and clay in the French Open.

Jeson’s Younger Years

Jeson comes from a humble beginning in Iligan City, in the southern part of the Philippines. He is the second youngest of seven children, with the eldest brother now being 28 years of age and youngest sister aged 7 years of age. His father worked as a janitor to support the family, with his mother tending to the brood.

Jeson’s foray in tennis started as a “pulot boy” [ball boy]. Jeson started playing tennis at the age of 7 years, with his natural talent as a tennis player came to notice at the age of 12 years. With winning of prizes in competitions, he was able to supplement his father’s meagre income and effectively became the second breadwinner of the family. He put aside his studies to compete in as many tennis tournaments he could, resulting with his formal education only being first year at high school level.

At age 15, Jeson was ranked World number 9 Junior Player. His success brought enough money to fund his eldest brother completing a Marketing degree and recently getting employed as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Jeson’s father had stopped working due to health reasons. It’s now Jeson and his brother who are supporting the whole family.

As a Junior player, Jeson competed in Group 1 in Asia and became champion in China, Singapore and finalist in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Japan. During his 2012 campaign he was able to reach 2nd round in Wimbledon & French Open and a quarter-finalist in Australian Open.

Jeson’s Comeback Journey

Jeson has come to Australia to compete in Australian Pro Tour and Australian Money Tournaments (AMT) with the aims of improving his ATP ranking and earning prize moneys to help his family. He is getting great support from top Sydney coach Luke Bourgeois, who trains him regularly at no cost.

With no other support from the Philippines, be in private or public sector Jeson is grateful for all the support of the Filipino community making his tour possible. He is now based in Hornsby with his adoptive family. Jeson’s biggest problem is accommodation whenever he goes out of town to participate in big tournaments. This month, he will be joining tournaments in Queensland – Ipswich (18-22 March) and in Bundaberg (24-29 March).

Jeson being interviewed by writer.

The possibility of representing the Philippines in the Davis Cup is something Jeson is hopeful for and excited to be able to do. This event will be held 9-12 April 2013 in Thailand which fits in with the tournaments he wish to join in the Australian Pro Tour.

In addition to competing in the upcoming tournaments in Ipswich and Bundaberg, Jeson is eyeing AMT men’s tournaments to be held in Gosford from 12-16 of April. Anyone who is able to make arrangements for accommodation or pledge support in any form, to assist Jeson in his tennis comeback campaign may contact: Bob Alipalo on 0411 76 4446 or email: bob [dot] alipalo [at] gmail [dot] com, or Cynthia Alipalo on 0416 1888 35 or email to Cynthia [dot] alipalo [at] gmail [dot] com

We wish Jeson success in his journey to making a mark on world tennis as he is driven by his passion for his sport, his family and his country.

Ed’s Notes: Please replace the [at] and [dot] with the normal email addressing standards. Read more.

Washi Sendong destruction

The project evolved from the decision of the ALFA GROUP members to extend assistance to those who lost their loved ones, as well as to those whose homes, properties and public buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc were destroyed. 

Two months after (February 2012), the group members looked at options to achieve their objective, deciding to record and sell CDs. Fifteen original songs were composed for a selected group of artists including those from other cultural communities to sing varying music genre. These were recorded on a CD titled ~ONE~ which means ‘Our New Era’ with a special message of Hope, Love and Faith.

The Good News and the Not-So-Good News

The good news is that the original plan of raising $5,000 was overly exceeded – thanks to huge community support. From CD sales, sponsorships and ticket sales in two CD launch events, the project raised $13,600, more than double the target.

By way of an agreement, the $13,600 fund was turned over to a Sydney based community group, ILISA, Incorporated which had since then disbursed $600 towards water purification tablets, personal hygiene packs and other sundries for the intended beneficiaries.

The not-so-good news is that the project implementation has faltered.

On December 16, 2012, five months after the money was turned over to ILISA, the remainder of the funds was returned by ILISA to ALFA, citing lack of manpower as the reason for not having executed the agreed projects in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. A cheque to the amount of $13,001.16 was handed back to ALFA.

ALFA then searched for suitable non-government international organisations which would have sufficient manpower to organise ALFA’s target projects: to refurbish school rooms, and to provide water pumps. At the time of ALFA’s first meeting, after the collection and accounting have been finalised, there were sufficient donations worldwide for food supplies so ALFA decided to focus on long-term projects. The group members agreed that funds were to be used towards areas of education and clean water to maintain health and hygiene which were considered with longer lasting legacy than merely buying food for the flood survivors.

Search for Alternative Path

ALFA member Mitchell Badelles incorporated in his recent vacation in Iligan, the “mission” to identify the organisation which could partner with ALFA in implementing the desired projects. He saw the good work that the Rotary Club of Iligan City was carrying out to help rebuild the lives of the Washi/Sendong typhoon survivors.  In his numerous discussions with the Rotary Club’s President Arnold “Aji” Garbanzos, Aji indicated that Rotary Iligan had the manpower and capacity to deal with the projects. Aji also suggested that a Sydney based Rotary Club could be partnered with Rotary Iligan, to be able to tap into Rotary’s matching grant system, potentially increasing the current $13,001.16.

The Rotary Club of The Hills – Kellyville, when approached by ALFA Coordinator Bless Salonga was also eager to help.  A fund management committee was formed by The Rotary Club of The Hills – Kellyville which will be a collaborator to increase the fund, and as trustee of the $13,001.16 dollars.

The current committee members are ALFA members Spokesman Mitchell Badelles, Music Director/Producer Oliver Gadista and Coordinator Bless Salonga along with The Rotary Club of the Hills-Kellyville members President Bobby Redman, Treasurer Keith Stapley, Secretary Wilf Van Emmerick, Vocational Director Ian Pearce and Club Service Director Alan Jones.

Meeting with The Hills Rotary Club officials

The ALFA-Rotary Fund Management Committee had met on last February 11 to discuss processes involved to potentially increase the current fund.

Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville Service Director Alan Jones has since made contact with Rotary Club-Iligan City President Aji Garbanzos. Aji Garbanzos also indicated that he has made contact with Rotary-Iligan District Chairman for Grants Mr Boy Du and also with local district Governor George Hamoy.

Back to Good News

ALFA members are now glad that they can share the good news that a partnership had been established with Rotary Club, an organisation known for its trustworthiness, sound service delivery record and management capacity, to execute the projects which had been agreed upon by ALFA members.

Also, there is a likelihood that the balance of $13,000 of ALFA funds would be increased under the Rotary grant matching scheme. An official confirmation of the level of the matching of funds would soon be made by the end of March 2013.

While awaiting further good news, we continue to enjoy the beautiful music of the  ~One~ CD created to express the sentiments of hope, love and faith among those who are rebuilding their lives out of the devastation caused by Typhoon Washi/Sendong.

Mon Coloma

Ramon Coloma, a Filipino-Australian artist based in Sydney, is holding an art exhibition which pays tribute to successful and inspirational people. The one-man exhibition titled “Portraits of Success” which opened on 11th February will finish on 13th April 2013. The exhibition is being held at The Verge, Arthouse Hotel at 275 Pitt Street, Sydney. The Arthouse gallery is open Monday-Friday at 12noon till late; Saturday from 6pm till late; and closed on Sundays. The exhibition is open for viewing at no cost to the public.

The exhibition includes portraits of twenty five people, majority of whom are household names. These are Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, Peter Cosgrove, Princess Mary, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Russell Crowe, Cathy Freeman and Dr Victor Chang, to name a few. It also includes portraits of Filipinos such as Tony Meloto [founder of Gawad Kalinga], Alfredo Roces [writer-artist and member of Filipino Press Sydney group], Manny Pacquio [champion boxer] and Ramon’s wife Annie with their younger son Lawrence.

Ramon Coloma's portrait of N Mandela and P Cosgrove

Ramon Coloma's portrait of Annie

With one of the subjects, Ding Roces

Ramon’s Own Success Story

This is not the first time that Ramon is holding a public art exhibition. His very first one-man show was held at the Heritage Art Center, Philippines in 1979. This was followed by another one-man show held at the Ali Mall Centre, Philippines in the following year, with the third one held at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral Hall, Singapore in 1983.

Ramon had also been invited to join group shows in the Philippines held at the National Museum, Manila; and at Greenbelt, Makati; Bulwagang Rizal at the Philippine Consulate, Sydney, and other venues.

In 1980, Ramon established Charisma Fine Art, an art gallery at Greenbelt Square, Makati. In the same year, the gallery held a major group exhibition by the top artists in the Philippines. The occasion was attended by the diplomatic corps based in Manila.

Ramon founded in 1981the International Christian Artists League, an informal group of artists devoted to creating life-giving art in all styles of painting and sculpture. The group exhorted the member artists to be free in their expression of their art but not to the extent of disregarding respect for human values and beliefs. This group had helped organisations in raising funds for their worthy cause. He is also a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and the Fellowship of Christians in Portraiture, U.S.A.

Ramon’s works have been included in private collections in the Philippines, Australia, U.S.A., Japan, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland. He received the 2011 Visual Arts Award presented by Filipino-Australian Artistic and Cultural Endeavor Society.

Ramon’s Path to Success

Ramon’s father hails from Ilocos while his mother is from Bulacan. The second eldest of four children, Ramon was born and grew up in Manila. He graduated from the selective high school Philippine College of Commerce High School in 1966. Thereafter he studied Business Administration major in Economics at the University of the East.

Ramon’s first job was in the monopoly electric company. In 1972, he resigned from his job to venture in his own business. After 2 years, he decided to gain experience back in the corporate world. He worked as Senior Accounts Executive, preparing advertising campaigns, marketing and promotions for corporate clients. Then he was offered by Philip de Belen (father of Janice de Belen) to join him in another ad agency, dealing with the tri-media. When Philip transferred to another corporation, Ramon was offered by management to be the General Manager of the agency.

In 1976, Ramon became the President and Chairman of the board of a marketing and specialist organisation. He did promotional media projects, to include the World Pop Song Festival with Gary Yupangco and Eddie Ilarde. The project (song composition/ competition) was aired daily in Channel 7, Student Canteen. They engaged Celeste Legaspi (who was unknown at that time) to represent the Philippines to sing the winning song.

In 1980, Ramon decided to pursue the arts and started exhibiting in the Philippines and overseas. He established an art gallery and helped promote fellow artists. In 1984, he held a major exhibition at Charisma Fine Art, his art gallery at Greenbelt Square. It was attended by the different foreign diplomatic corps in the Philippines. Then, he and the other artists held a similar exhibition at Bulwagang Rizal, Philippine Consulate, Sydney, wherein they invited the diplomatic corps, based in Sydney. At the time, he collaborated with the Philippine Consulate, headed then by Consul General Nick Valderrama, and also with Lito Panopio [businessman], Frank Rovero [fellow artist] and Filipino-Australian media members Sennie Masian and Evelyn Zaragoza. The successful exhibition’s opening night was attended by diplomats from different countries, art gallery owners, artists, and collectors.

Ramon’s Future Plans

Ramon intends to continue exhibiting in Australia and overseas, particularly in Japan, Singapore, Canada and the USA. At the moment, he has entered into an agreement with some art dealers to promote and market his works in Australia and abroad.

He is currently in the process of finalising arrangements for the publication and launch of two coffee-table art books [titled "You Get What You Choose" and “Heroes”] he had completed recently.

His advice to artists who are yet to establish themselves, is “to believe only in positive comments and disregard negative criticisms. Otherwise, their own personal style will be hampered. They need to feel free to express their personal style of art and not to suppress creativity, while still respecting the beliefs and rights of others.”

There is no doubt that this quiet achiever will have many years of success of expressing his love for art and life, and sharing it with so many. I wish him all the best in his endeavours.

Vidor in Sydney 2004

The Oscar fever is on! Clever marketing, subtle and not-so subtle lobbying by various stakeholders and the general public’s speculating on winners all happening to a crescendo until the awards’ night!

Vidor does such a good job so I thought more people ought to enjoy it and that is why I am sharing it with you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This year’s nominations or lack thereof make choosing the winners extra difficult. As expected, the films are diverse in topic, as in scope. From semi documentaries plagued by charges of leaked classified information, to a classic musical with a new song added, to rewritten and speculative historical ones, to one where it’s unclear if it was fact or fiction or just an excuse to make us sit in the dark for over two hours.

The nominations are wide in range: from A (mour) to Z(ero) Dark Thirty, from 2D to 3D, and unto the mathematical infinity of Pi– 3.1516 or its name equivalent: Quvenshane. The actors for consideration span the ages: from the youngest (9) to the oldest (85) ever, among the females; and the most facial hair (Abe Lincoln, Jean Valjean, or Pat Solitano) for the males .

To liven things up (or to boost ratings by drawing in the 18—49 demographic), this year’s live telecast will have Seth McFarlane as host (who is also nominated for Original Song ). The show’s producers promise an entertaining event that will feature, among others, Adele singing Skyfall live, a tribute to the Bond films, and numbers from musicals of the last decade. No word yet, if Angelina Jolie’s left leg will make a special appearance.

With so many variables and intrigue, I was tempted to do a Benedict XVI and resign from issuing the forecast. But my Latin is spotty at best, and translating it to seven others would entail more work. And no conclave could ever replace me. So, I have decided to focus on the task at hand and emphasize a word that has long been the hallmark of this forecast: FEARLESS.

So with malice towards none (just snarkiness), with charity for all (I wish, but there’s only one statue, so losers should just get over it), with firmness in the right as God gives me to see the right (Amen!), here is

THE 2013 FEARLESS OSCAR FORECAST

BEST PICTURE: The Nominees:

Amour – Love is patient, love is kind. We are lucky if we find true love in our life. Nuanced and superb acting. But the heartache of having to watch a loved one wither, and a sense of intruding on private grief will restrain an all out vote. Will win as Best Foreign Language Film. And a possible best actress win for Emmanuelle Riva.

Argo – A tale of actual events, spiked with suspense that makes us sit on the edge of our seats, forgetting that we already know how it ended. A movie shoot is used as a counter terrorism plot. How can Hollywood not love this? And all that 70s hair and fashion! It may be considered a documentary, but it is an entertaining one.
Beasts of the Southern Wild—Sunday TV fare.

Django Unchained — If you like a huge serving of expletives added to your Spaghetti western, this is for you. Great story, but way too much blood, carbs, and hype even if the D is silent.

Les Misérables– Grand in scale. Epic in proportions. Soaring in noble sentiments. Oscar material all throughout. But it is a musical and many believe this genre has gone the way of Mitt Romney—looks good, sounds good, but is out of touch with reality.

Life of Pi — The book is artfully captured in film, 3D no less. Visually stunning and scored. Will win in those fields. But best picture prospects are dimmed by ambiguity between fact and fiction. And do parents really name their kids after a swimming pool?

Lincoln — A history lesson for the ages of a man that saved the union and freed the slaves. A towering achievement in screenplay adaptation and directing . Not to mention giving the 16th US president a living embodiment in Daniel Day Lewis.

Silver Linings Playbook — Everyone can relate to this. For we are all a bit crazy. Throw in two people trying to redeem themselves, a kooky family, football betting, some DWTS moments (minus the spandex and glitter) and you have an American feel good movie.

Zero Dark Thirty — Just that. Zero depth on the acting, dark, and 30 minutes too long. With so many dead after Sept 11, who cares if torture was employed to find Bin Laden? People flocked to see this to find out how UBL was killed. Instead they get a moralizing movie that’s usually best presented as a documentary. Of course the critics disagree with me. But did they pay $12.50 as I did?

And the OSCAR goes to: Argo as payback for Ben Affleck’s “snub”, read on…

BEST DIRECTOR
Logically this goes to the Best Picture winner’s director. But since Ben Affleck is not nominated this will go to Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. A movie that should win Best Picture had it not been for the Argo whiplash brought about by the Academy upon itself.

Personally, I want Michael Haneke to win for “Amour” — but it’s such an intimate film in a foreign tongue that cannot carry its Director to win in this category. Ang Lee was more cinematographer than director for “Life of Pi”; and David O. Russell, more of a writer for “Silver Linings Playbook.”

BEST ACTRESS
Emmanuelle Riva turns 86 on Oscar night and may just have the audience singing Happy Birthday after she wins for Amour. But Jennifer Lawrence will win this for all the quirky people in the world who can regurgitate football stats. Voters also reward her for being Katniss in the Hunger Games. Jessica Chastain, hmm, sorry— writing number of days elapsed on a glass wall with a magic marker do not a dramatic moment make. And that thing you do with your sunglasses, Tom Cruise did better in Top Gun. Naomi Watts—I loved her performance in The Impossible, a tear inducing tale of family love and survival. But why did actual survivor Maria Belon turn blonde and become Bennet? And why does she look and sound so much like Nicole Kidman? Just asking! And finally: Quvenzhane Wallis—Hushpuppy from the Puppy Bowl wanders over into the Super Bowl and is trampled upon. Really, what was the Academy thinking?

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day Lewis has this in the bag; no primary or election needed. He was not acting. He was Lincoln, and will be the first three time best actor Oscar winner. Hugh Jackman—millions love you and you can sing, dance, and act; but this is an Oscar not a Tony award. Denzel Washington was better here than in Training Day; Joaquin Phoenix deserving of the nom just like John Hawkes, but Daniel Day Lincoln Lewis just eclipses everyone.

SUPPORTING ACTOR
This category would have been better with nominations for Tom Holland (eldest son from The Impossible), Eddie Redmayer (Marius) from Les Mis, even Alan Serkis/Gollum/Smeagol from The Hobbit. But wishful thinking aside, this is a tight category. All are previous winners, but Tommy Lee Jones as cantankerous Congressman Thaddeus Stevens in favor of the 13th Amendment will win. He has a lot going on: club footed, bewigged, and having a black mistress– not to mention opposing Mrs. Lincoln’s plans to have the White House renovated . Robert De Niro is a close contender. But voters are in a historical/political mindset mood, so De Niro’s modern day football betting –obsessed- superstitious dad role won’t get this. Christof Waltz is always great to watch, and may yet be an upset winner.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
A single mother who had to sell her hair, locket, and tooth, and become a lady of the night just to support her child deserves to win this. Oh, and she also did a great rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from her coffin bed. So Academy darling Anne Hathaway wins this. Sally Field as Mrs. Lincoln was no different than Nora Walker in Brothers and Sisters aside from the frumpy costumes and added weight.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Amour” wins this not just for Austria but for its actress, director, and Best Picture chances it could not win in those categories. “Kon-Tiki,” from Norway about Thor Hyderdahl is a second favorite.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained. Tarantino didn’t get in for the 82nd Oscars but will win now. Mark Boal won that year, but his Zero Dark Thirty script is plagued by accusations of classified leaks. Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola did a brilliant story line for Moonrise Kingdom, but it’s considered juvenile in more ways than one.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Tony Kushner, for “Lincoln”—a history lesson on the passage of the 13th Amendment. And a personal glimpse on the man who’s on every penny.

FILM EDITING
Argo. Despite a mix up showing of Istanbul sites. Ben Affleck is seen outside the Blue Mosque, he enters and is shown inside Hagia Sophia. What? But seamless nonetheless.

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Life of Pi was dazzling and in 3D, just magnificent.

PRODUCTION DESIGN
The barricades, a civil war era White House, middle earth, or the staged representation of Imperial Russia? I’d go for an Anna Karenina win.

ORIGINAL SCORE
The Life of Pi: a blend of new age, Indian instruments, and nature sounds that unfold with the magnificent visuals.

ORIGINAL SONG
Adele is singing it live and the theme from Skyfall will win. Ted’s chances are just a bit below Les Miz’ Suddenly. Both good, but 007 has the license to win.

SOUND EDITING
Zero Dark Thirty. During the raid on the house on Abbotabad, it was night-goggles dark, and the sound took on an equally riveting aspect as each scene unfolded.

SOUND MIXING
Despite Russel Crowe’s failed vocals, this should go to Les Miserables.

COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina’s imperial Russian coture is IN. French revolutionary pret a porter is OUT. The two Snow White movies cancel each other out, although Charlize Theron’s raven gown is to die for. And Lincoln fashion was just so dated.

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Jean Valjean aging and face/chest hair showing; Fantine made ugly, all great feats for Les Miz. But that’s a piece of cake compared to working on Fili, Kili, Bofur, Thorin, Dwalin, Ori, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Oin, Bifur, Bombur, Balin, not to mention Bilbo, Gandalf, Gollum, the Orcs, Dwarves, Goblins, and all creatures great and small that would garner a win for The Hobbit—An Unexpected Journey.

VISUAL EFFECTS
The Life of Pi. Try cramming a Bengal tiger, a hyena, a zebra and a young Indian boy on a lifeboat . Not to mention those mysterious meerkats. And the stars in the sky. And the fishes in the sea. Way too much to ignore.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Searching for Sugar Man has won in the other guild awards and will probably win this. How to Survive The Plague is a dark horse.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Topics include rheumatic heart disease, homelessness, cancer, and aging. All serious subjects. Open Heart is my best guess. Followed by Inocente.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Wreck it Ralph is frenetic fun and a newer release fresh on voters’ minds and would win this. Brave may pull an upset win. Frankenweenie from Tim Burton…a dark horse.

ANIMATED SHORT
Paperman—it’s from Disney. Or Adam and Dog, from an ex Disney filmmaker.

LIVE ACTION SHORT
Always hard to predict; made more difficult now that the entire Academy membership can vote for them. “Curfew” is the one with all the buzz.

–That’s it. See you at the red carpet!

Al Fresco ceiling at St. Mary's Cathedral

With the recent resignation of Catholic Pope Benedict, and when the German-born leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics said he would resign on February 28 after just eight years as pope, the Catholic Church is once again in the limelight and under scrutiny more than ever.

Social media is buzzing with all sorts of opinions, pros and cons, and sadly, even comedian-actor the likes of Ricky Gervais twitted: “Being ‘Pope’ means you are married to God. So, is this like a divorce?”

Seriously though, there ought to be great concerns. More and more people have been leaving the Catholic Church, if not about to leave the Church within the last decade.

It is time, I think, for Vatican to be concerned and take out serious survey tools to help better understand what is happening.

What I am picking up is exasperation.

People are tired of lousy homilies that ramble in inanities that begin and never end, and never end because they should never have begun.

In short, people are tired; tired of being preached at, of being treated as if they were younger than adolescents, of being lectured, of being scolded, of being dictated upon.

People are tired of obstinate claims to absolute truth, when the thinking world continues to seek truth.

People are tired of being told how to think, when they can think for themselves, and how to choose, when they can choose for themselves, and how to have sex when they can have sex for themselves.

People are tired of the reproductive health (RH) discussion, debate, disaster, debacle. They may be willing to receive a clear statement of the teaching of the Church on this matter, and understand that the hierarchy is serious about conveying its message, and that there are lay persons very passionate about making sure that that message gets conveyed, specially as “captive audience” but it’s not working!

Bible passage from the Gospel of John 15:11 states:

“All this I have told you that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete”.

Where now is the joyful Church for a joy-loving people? It has become rather somber, and people are leaving it with no regret. You think we can afford the losses? Italy was once all Catholic. Spain was once all Catholic. My gosh, the Holy Roman Empire was once all Catholic.

If people don’t leave the Church, what is the core experience that pastors in the Church want to make sure their people have?

When the younger generation Y were asked in various media surveys: “If you do not leave the Church today, what is it that you look for?”

The common answer is simple. “A sense of God. An experience of the Holy.”

After all, isn’t that why and churches are for?

To experience the Holiness that you receive upon entry into a Church or a Shrine that is sacred, to feel the sublimity of prayers and rituals that mediate the presence of God.

But I still believe God is present in our Church in mysterious ways, as He is present mysteriously in other faiths.

God is with our people crawling down long Church aisles for an experience of the Holy, and battling the mob barefoot somehow to be able to touch divinity.

He is present in every common workers struggling to make his monthly Philippine minimum wage of 8,000 pesos. Indeed I believe that He is even present in the oddball who waves a placard at the preacher to say, “Hey, listen to me!” It is the Church that God gave us, the Church “for all” – for that is what “catholic” means.

Bottom line is, Love has been diluted and diminishing fast!

There is hope I think – Love must be rekindled from outside to the altar!

I know if God can love us, so must we love one another. Only then can the people feel “at home” at the Sacrament of God’s presence in the Catholic Church. For each person to say, “I am loved and at home in this church!” Otherwise, we can not be blamed for thinking that the “Dark Ages” may have truly befallen upon us who call ourselves- Catholics. God Help us!

(Paliwanag)

Isang eksperimento ang inyong matutunghayan;
mistulang isang larong tinaguriang ‘tudyuan’
namagitan at patuloy na namamagitan
sa aming dalawang magkaibigan –
Sina Mars (M) na sa Sydney ang basehan
at si Benny (B) Perth naman ang tirahan.

Matalik na magkaibigang malalim, matagal ang pinagsamahan
ngunit pinaghiwalay ng pagkakataon at iwing pangangailangan
bagay na di naging dahilan upang maudlot ang aming ugnayan.

Araw-gabi, nagliliyab ang linya
Kwentuhan, balitaan, panay hagighikan
habang pinupuna namin ang mga kagampanan
batuhan ng kuro sa anumang namamagitan
namamasid sa komyunidad, napapansin sa kapaligiran
ambag sa aming kamalayan, bahagi ng lahat ng kaligirang pangkasaysayn .

Halos iisa kundiman magkarugtong
pagpapahalaga sa sining na aming tinatahak;
madalas magkawangis mga pagtatanong
mistulang magkapatid parang magkamag-anak
kapwa patutsada sa mundo namumutaktak.

Kung baga sa bugtungan animoy sagutan
pinaalagwa anumang napupusuan
magkawangis pati pinagbubugahan
galit man o dili kaya’y sinisising sinuman
sinasapul ang ibinitin ng isa
upang masundan ng ikalawa
ang mga panaka-naka
at pabugsu-bugsong
pagpapakamakata- (M)

1-M) Kalungkut-lungkot naman…
pag tumatanda ka pala
saka mo hahanap- hahanapin
ang dati’t tunay na kaibigan.
yung lubos na nakauunawa
tanggap ka bilang ikaw -
minahal nang walang tanung-tanong.
pagsisiwalat ng kapwa buhay
walang pangambang binabanghay.

2-B) Minsan sa hangin ako’y bumulong:
“Pumalaot ka, humayo nang walang lingon-lingon!
bigyan ng katuwiran payak na pag-iral.”
Anu’t tumulad sa hitik na trigo,
hahalik na muli sa pinag-mulang Lupa!

3-M) Lumamlam ang tinig,
nag-asul ang titig,
huminga nang napakalalim,
hinagod ang balun-balong pagtangis
saka pinalaya sanlibong hinagpis!

4-B) Pigsang nagnanana,
sa balon ng duguang puso,
kay tagal kinalinga, inalu-alo,
kakambal ay lungkot,
pait ang bumabalot.
Panahon na…
oras na,
pasabugin ang kirot!
hayaang mag-hilom
buhay muling iikot.

5-M) Kailan ka pipirmi sa relasyon,
mananahimik sa iisang tirahan,
di yung palipat-lipat, kung saan-saan?
Ba’t di ka makuntento sa nakakayanan,
tanggapin nang matiwasay ang katotohanan.
Hangga’t yakap ang pag-asa
maningning pa rin bawat umaga.
Tunay ka, ang gumugulong na bato
di binabahayan ng damo,
wala ngang permanente sa buhay ng tao.
Subali’t pakatandaan mo:
pagdating sa dulo,
pagkatapos ng maraming siglo
maalala mo ako
pag-ibig pa rin ang dadantayan mo.
Tanging hangad ko lamang para sa iyo
lumigaya ka at mapanatag
maapuhap ang sarili
mabuhay nang matatag.

6-B) Sa kalagitnaan ng mga palad,
nag-sayaw ang bukas…
taas-noog salubungin ang hinaharap,
hagpusing matindi ang oras na lumipas.
Anumang daluyong sa ati’y humampas-hampas…
tanging alinlangan sakuping nararapat!

7-M  Nakababagabag katahimikan mo
bigla kang mangingiliti saka manunudyo
matapos mambusog dagling maglalaho
Ay, binabaliw mong diwata ng dilim
ang musa ng sining sinasalamisim
saka magpaparamdam walang alinlangan
sadyang kalaro, kapatid, kaibigan
Marami pa tayong pagtatambalan…

Anywhere and everywhere in the world, whenever mankind celebrates an auspicious historical occasion or people gather for some political gathering or event– the centrepiece of the celebration always begins and ends in the arts.

Dulce in Sydney / Photo: Kate Andres

Nowhere is the arts more heartfully felt than in these happenings so much so in fact that it is safe to conclude that every patriotic gathering or event is metre en lumiere that is highlighted and marked by or fond of conspicuous or vainglorious and sometimes pretentious display of the arts as in the case of the Marcos regime in the Philippines where the Patroness of the Arts always exceedingly lavished every occasion with her favoured groups. Example: The world-renowned Bayanihan Dancers or the Philippine Madrigal Singers, or top models and Philippine beauty queens wearing Valera, Moreno, Farrales and who’s who fashion icons.

Most recently Obama Presidential Inauguration became another unique demonstration of the essential indispensability of the arts in a historical milestone such as the second term inauguration of the most powerful man on earth today in what remains the dominant country in the universe. Imagine this scene as described by Robert Lynch, author of the Arts Blog/Private Sector to which I regularly subscribe:

There is a band playing as you walk in. As the musicians wrap up their piece and take their seats, a large choir pops up, featuring top-notch a cappella performers. This performance segues into rousing solo performances from vocalists backed up by beautiful orchestrations. Great writers are celebrated. Poetry is recited. And the whole celebration is capped off with—what else?—dancing.

Fil-Am community fiesta 2012, San Francisco CA. //Photo: Jose Garcia

Lynch himself comments: “If you were in Washington D.C. last week, or anywhere near a television, you might recognize this event, not as an arts festival, a cabaret, or a musical, but as our Presidential Inauguration. It’s probably not the first thing most people noticed as they watched the pomp and circumstance of a centuries-old tradition play out, but it is certainly what struck me most: at our most essentially American moments, when we want to celebrate most fully and most impressively, we inevitably employ the arts.” (Highlighting mine)

From a purely artistic and cultural vantage point, the one thing sorely lacking in the Filipino community is the absence of noblesse oblige on the part of the movers and shakers of the community to completely entrust the conduct, management, and supervision of such the presentational if purely artistic/cultural aspects of an important event in the hands of an artistic director.

I’ve seen it happen several times from the traditional Independence Day balls to the humongous arrangements when we have top officials and dignitaries visiting or any big-to-do community affair for that matter. Almost always it is the officials and the leaders who take a primary lead and rightly so. That’s what they are there for – too pool their expertise and experiences together from conceptualisation to implementation. Often there is a marked absence of an artistic mind amongst the planners always overlooking the fact that the blueprint of development is greatly dependent on the arts and cultural component.

There is therefore an imbalance of conception where the cultural ingredient is sadly lacking. Often they will bring in an artist/leader/director (often a popular, most-sought-after choreographer, musical choir director or a stage director-cum-compere-cum event organizer) only to implement, let alone execute what they have decided upon. Herein lies the crux of the problem: the reliance or over-indulgence of these self-same leaders onto themselves and their supposed know-it-all attitudes to dictate their tastes and often their limited, self-serving, kanya-kanya, tayu-tayo (that’s theirs, this is ours) likes and dislikes, including their choice of or preference for working with artistic groups or individual artists friendly to or subservient to them. Often the result is chaotic, disorganized, amateurish, and the outcome stale, vapid, one and the same as in the case of the age-old rigodon. That is so because organizations have failed to allow for in-house training by hand-on-actual experience to new and young artistic directors. Often the quality of the show is predictably owing to the sole expertise of the one running it so that if it’s a choreographer, then it’s largely sayawan, or if it’s a musically inclined person it essentially kantahan.

A memorable photo of TROJAN WOMEN staged at "The Met" directed by Tony Mabesa assisted by M. Cavestany. Photo shows then FM and FL who came to watch daughter Imee who played Andromache.

Let’s go by the US example again and Pinoy leaders take note. Let me turn you over to Mr. Lynch’s article once more as it is from him that I simply borrow all-important and more authoritative words which I highlight in bold for emphasis and thus reinforce or merge it with our very own concerns. Witness also the totality whilst paying attention to finer details and appreciate the range, the cross-sectioning, and representation of the seven arts, not to mention the variety of talents and expertise which when put together in one whole brew will never border on the unpredictable, hit-and-miss, and below par.

• The presentation of our National Colors through military music and choreography.
• The spectacular Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
• Myrlie Evers-Williams reciting the words to a great, moving spiritual at the centre of her comments.
• The story of the Dome of the Capital—of architecture, art and fine craft—completed in the middle of the Civil War as an artistic symbol of our Union. And the story of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome—a piece of art cast, assembled and put in place by slaves in 1863.
• Musicians James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson, and the Marine Band each singing our national treasures: the great patriotic songs of our country.
• Poet Richard Blanco reading “One Today”; references again and again to a movie, “Lincoln;” handcrafted crystal vases gifted to the president and vice president at lunch; the gifts given to all members of Congress, a portfolio of essays related to the Statue of Freedom—in the words of Nancy Pelosi: “Freedom stands on the Dome of the Capitol.”
• And so many more examples, from the arts and music performances in the parade and balls, to Speaker John Boehner’s story of a team of mother and daughter seamstresses who made the huge flag that hung over Ft. McHenry and inspired our national anthem.

[The arts and culture, often without us actually even understanding or acknowledging it, are how we celebrate the great moments of our lives and how we inspire our nation’s greatest deeds. I am proud that the arts were so much a part of last week’s activities.

This is the exact sentiment that I shared with a room of diverse arts leaders, supporters, and promoters the day after the inauguration, at the post-inaugural arts brunch we hosted through the Americans for the Arts Action Fund. The brunch served as an exclamation point — a thank you, a celebration—of our efforts to get the arts at the table in the election: and beyond.

Our brunch was a true celebration of the diversity of the arts: not only race, age, and gender, but also viewpoint, cause, and perspective. From service organizations to government officials and artists of all kinds, the spectrum of how the arts inspire was clearer to me than ever.

There is energy here, and a drive to move forward—all voices together, to paraphrase our president’s own words the day before. The assembled group, so different in so many ways, showcased perfectly how the arts inspire—and maybe even mandate—inclusiveness and cooperation.

So what I came away with—from both the inauguration and our celebration—was that the arts have an undeniable place in the ethos and the spirit of America. And if the inauguration was any indication, we have done a good job of making that so. But we aren’t there yet.

Yes, the arts are everywhere; the arts are ingrained. So perhaps instead of arguing for their inclusion, we should be celebrating ourselves. Shouting from the rooftops that the arts are, in fact, part of our everyday lives—at the largest celebrations and smallest child’s birthday parties, in our hospitals, at our military bases and in our communities. It turns out, the arts are as patriotic as the flag—which, of course, is our most famous piece of fabric art, too. ]

There you go folks. My very own suggestion is to address the lack of honest to goodness Artistic Directors in the community by creating the need, establishing the position, and grooming in-house membership. Thus, each and every organization should tap a Cultural Officer/Artistic Director and make it these posts integral elective or appointive positions in the Boards of officers. There should always be two: a more senior person and a younger one who will organizationally, serve as his/her Stage Manager in every show/production/project or activity.

Likewise organizations should always make it a must to have a Youth arm, component or representative so that early enough they lay down the foundations short of motivating and grooming next generation leaders. It is so vital that their grasp of leadership concept and responsibilities encompasses it is clear. After all, the characteristics which the candidates for future leaders attribute to it are virtually infinite. Can the emergence of a new and youthful leader be far behind? Whatever it takes, we must empower and equip these potential leaders early on with the skills they need to take over someday.

Often our present bumper crop of leaders do not have this foresight. They tend to be so full of themselves and just take advantage of what’s there in the one or two years they are in office – so short as to even make a lasting impression more so to make a dent.

["Estragon’s declaration 'We were all born mad' in Waiting for Godot may well be understood in both psychological and existential terms. This may be a modern version of original sin, for madness, many believe, is inherent in human nature..." Lois G Gordon ]

Here lies a madman
devoid of moral qualms
choosing evil
the cornerstone of his being.

Prone to kill or destroy
anything but everything
reasonably pulsing with joy,
he stages metaphors of dreams
within and without
betwixt and between
from unreal to surreal.

His utterances are grand
Freudian slips of the tongue
“We were all born mad”
he repeats after Estragon
for in Beckett’s terms,
one feels one can’t go on,
yet one must go on
despairing as it were
life’s purposelessness
ditto meaninglessness.

His mind perpetually searches
for truth as relative
as it has gone sterile
but whence he finds it
just melts away
like fragments of thought
dissipating in little known
depths of despair
that never holds sway.

He is the most despised
amongst the despicable swagmen –
an appetite to match
Dracula’s insatiable lust
wont stop till he busts a nut.

A voracious predator
hunting on broad daylight
feasting on the most gullible
catching unawares
fishes performing natural dances.

Whilst many accept whatever they are told
He questions every crease and fold
plumbing the deepest
darkest secrets untold
one full stop wouldn’t end his hold.

Combing for safe places to breed
he hides and hatches in vast distances
striking back in many guises
(a few are stranger than most)
Living on, and on, and on.

Far from the ocean floor
a sumptuous menu awaits this carnivore
lurking in the shadows
around every bend
merciless when it rends
a giant preying on parasites
in mass grave rites.

Captured he may be
but like a bizarre twist to a plot
he simply turns his lot
meekly seeking refuge
on the safety of his shadow
before sinking down the shallows.

Trading and treading
on feeding grounds
his deistic/dereistic thoughts drift
from the surface of the ocean
to the bottom of the seas.

Resurfacing anew
he stops and stoops
to attack and conquer
proclaiming himself
one and only true blue.

Heaven knows what ubiquity/ubiety gives
forging weapons of destruction
eroding delicate facades of reason
But when all is said and done
there lies the madman
standing mighty proud
Far beyond the madding crowd.

*** Graphics by Benny Chan, Jr.

Definitely not me as I wasn’t cut out
To be a poet of no mean feat
One who struggles to beat
The effeme and the effete
Not by any stretch of the imagination
Nor by elective circumcision
Shall with this blessed league be in union
Truth hurts but shan’t leave me forlorn
That to poetry I wasn’t truly born.

But there again, look, I can weave words
Draw meanings without crossing swords
(Knowing darn well not everything that rhymes climbs)
Just can’t imagine holding back anymore
Real joy is celebrating human spirit to the fore
Who cares what the critics will say
Just as long as it’s neither ribald nor risqué,
I will craft my own like games people play
Good on me soaring all the way.

Poetry is free for all who thinks tall
Separates the wheat from the chaff
The sublime from cheap stuff
Purifying thoughts is such a daunting task
That to the unlettered becomes a big ask
What more to those who pose and mask
What their lips hide their eyes reveal
The lack of insight, the visionary zeal
Poetry is, no doubt, so real.

*** Graphics by Benny Chan, Jr.