A letter from Samar

(This is an article from the Philippines Free Press)

My first glimpse of Samar is a few hours before sunrise after a two-hour ferryboat ride from Matnog, Sorsogon.


The sea is calm, the outlines of the Samar terrain beckon on my grandson like a haunting opening scene from the film version of Michener’s Hawaii.


From Matnog to Allen town, my grandson surveyed the Sorsogon-Samar seas and wondered how several buses, a few cars and trucks can fit into a ferryboat.


In between the Samar destination, the ship showed a scary film on how deadly fishes feasted on beach revellers—inch by inch, hands, limbs, eyes and all. I told my grandson there was a better view of the sea and would he please stop staring on the TV screen? This was no way to introduce a child on his first sea ride and fortunately, my grandson found the sea more enchanting than the cinematographer’s fetish for chunks of human flesh.


When we reached Allen just before sunrise, I realized how beautiful the Samar landscape is. I feasted on the dark brooding green hills and the beautiful meadows jutting out in between rows and rows of coconut trees. As the bus resumed land travel from Allen town to Calbayog City, I knew there was no way I can’t remain indifferent to the natural charm of this third biggest island in the country.


From the well-cemented seaside road, I got to see rows of other islands (and islets) dotting the horizon. I also saw outlines of Masbate province and down south, the mountains of Biliran and Leyte. (READ MORE)

in memoriam Isabel Gomez - Hernandez

Mommy Sabel returned to her creator today. She was 104 years old. Her body lies in state at her residence in Barangay Obrero. Her funeral will be on Saturday, July 2, 2011.

(n.b. the image I used in this blog post is my phone camera shot of the picture taken by Nelson Petilla which appeared in the Calbayog coffee table book)

Carlo and Ervi

Carlo Galang and Ervi Silvano will get married today. Their Wedding Mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cahtedral with Rev. Fr. Iluminado Paulino as mass presider and Rev. Fr. Erwin Rodriguez as Homilist.

Reception will be held at the Calbayog Cultural and Convention Center.

Patrun sa Consolatrix

"Do not judge others, so that you may not be judged", or so went the theme of the homily of Bishop Isabelo Abarquez when he presided over the Mass during the Feast Day of Our Lady of Consolation at the Monastery of the Sister of Mary Consolatrix of the Eucharist (MCE) in Barangay San Policarpo.

As with the previous years, a good number of priests and mass-goers were on hand for the celebration. This year's feast was given more significance with the renewal of vows of four MCE who celebrated their silver jubilees, among them the Superior of the MCE sisters in Calbayog, Sis. Mary Francis of the Paraclete, MCE.

Fathers' Day

It's Fathers' Day. Earlier, during the 8:00 am mass at the Cathedral, Fr. Mar said a special prayer (courtesy of the Poor Clare Nuns) to the fathers present.

Images from the Installation Program

We attended the Ceremony in which Fr. Mar Tubac, OFM was formally installed as the 3rd President of Christ the King College. The Installation Ceremony was held during the Mass of the Holy Spirit which was presided over by Bishop Isabelo Abarquez. After the Mass, a fraternal agape was held at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium. Seen during the affair were Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, Vice Mayor Rey James Uy, former CKC Elsa Coranes, Mrs. Emmy Abasolo, among others.

Here are some pictures I managed to take during the affair.

Fr. Mar with Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and some Franciscan friars.

Banderetas add a festive mood at the CKC campus during yesterday's event.

Fr. Mar with Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and Rev. Fr. Roberto Bayaras, OFM, Custos of the Custody of St. Anthony of Padua.

On our way out of the CKC campus, we saw this installed near the San Damiano Chapel

Yellow is the Trend, Patriotism is the Style and Change is our Statement: Samar

by Redi Briones on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 1:49pm

(It was only tonight when I "seriously" checked my FB account, meaning checking its every content and what have you, and there it was - an article written by Redi Briones)

Two days of being home is witnessing a lifetime. Too much have been said for such a great person, father, leader and friend. Too much grief was been outpoured by a family, a city and a province that gives him a very important space in their hearts. Enough is enough and saying too much is beyond the incomprehensible human sadness and an unparalleled human gratitude. This shall be a mortal sin to the writer in me if I will allow these iconic events to pass by like a wind. For all has to be written to be a living witness and be an immortal echo to the history of people who clamor for change, the people of Samar.

Yes, he was shot. Yes, he was so dear to us. Yes, he is an inspiration. And yes, he left us very untimely in our humane timeline but in our dearest Lord perfect timing and perfect plan. We accept the will of the Almighty for the Christian teachings says that “Thy will be done!” but beyond this we have become submissive to the plan of the heavens for today amidst these unbearable sorrow it is the easiest, the most comforting, the most logical and reasonable and the most bearable for beyond these we could have hastily crossed the limits of sanity and had just fallen to vicious trap of the evil. Contrary to the comfort of being submissive to the plan of the Father we are now people of courage, people of change, people who have gone out our comfort zones, people who are leaders, people that sees mission, people that has a vision, people who are driven, people who are united, and people who seeks justice.

BANG! There was a smoke then, he fell to the ground. Impressive this could have been our rivals; the merciless, the corrupt and the dynasty’s shining moment but the good Lord will never let it happen, never! For on that moment he is conscious, he is fighting and he was seeking for grace. He called up to our God, mentioned the saints, and expressed his love for his family and his care for change of Samar. Suddenly, we are contributing a martyr in the making, a hero being bred and a shinning man that gives us true hope and true change. I can just picture in my mind what is happening on that vehicle while he is being rushed to the hospital. Blood rushing out, a father who prays, loves and fights, I could not wait for a very good ending. Meanwhile by that very moment in my home, I am praying for his life, tachycardic and anxious. In that most uncertain time I even texted him to offer his pain to the Lord and pray for Bl. John Paul II whose beatification will be taking on the 1st of May and like him was also shot. Whether he was able to read that message or not, that would not matter anymore today for I am longing for a very good ending, but to no avail we lost him. Yes, we lost him but we did find our way for his generosity

always emanates in his character that even in writing the course of the story, he left us the paper and pen and stood up from the history table, stood at the background and while overseeing his people, he wanted us to write the course of our history, he wanted us to be involved, he wanted us to know the fight, he wanted us to be courageous, he wanted us to make steps, he wanted us to decide, he wanted an overrated orchestrated history we shall all be proud of even if it would cause him his light called life.

BANG! Enough of that coward sound, tricky it may seem but so pointless to hear. So desperate sound, which made it so obvious to their upcoming downfall. But why shot him? You will fall eventually you just made it too soon. We love him so much, why take him away from us? The position is not your property and you will leave that soon anyway. We have so many stories and laughter to share, but why you made it hard for him to catch his final breath? I can see those stains of blood in your sanitized hands; the powder is still on its folds. Why hold desperately unto something that is not really yours? Why shot him, when we know that he is really ours. You crossed the line! Truly unfair but what shall we expect from rivals like you. That’s how you play your lives, unfair and unjust. We are far more off, and way intellectuals, we say to you, we do not want your lives, that is not our means and besides that so easy trail for you to take. Keep your lives, that is rotten anyway, we do not have a space for storage. Run them away cause we are not after for that and besides we have a meaningful task to take.

Why take him when you cannot fairly give anyway. You do not have the rights. We treasure him so much as he cared for us. He is for us, and everyday he made us that feel. We are not selfish people that we even shared him. He wanted it badly to share himself but we the people of Calbayog could have strongly disagreed with him for he fit in our embrace just as we are to him. Life is truly unimaginable without him. No one can replace and substitute, no steroid can thin scar, no painkiller could ease the pain, no clotting factor could stop the bleeding, and no tranquilizer could counter anxiety. We could not ask for more for we are truly blessed with him and in Christ. We are at peace and happy until you distorted it, until the sun set and never rise again and until the rain poured and never stop again. But he won’t allow these things and it will break his soul seeing us this way that is the very reason why today we are the sun that rise, we are the wind that blow away the clouds, we are the drug that heals our own and we are the vaccine that immunizes us all from your ferocious intentions and from the cancer of society.

We had been complacent for many years; we are at good hands knowing him. He claims Calbayog as his comfortzone but actually he is our comfort person. He is spiritually dedicated, a good provider and father, and a driven leader. His charisma is unquestionable and impartiality is his language. He was then persecuted politically with attempts of jailing him but he endured it all for us. He sees hope even in the darkest moments, he is the proud Calbayognon in the most depressing moments of his life. He is the son who dreamed, he is the doctor who served, he is the sick who helps, the leader that listens and hears.

PAANO NGA BA MAGPAALAM? Paano nga ba magpatuloy? Paano nga ba lumaban? Paano nga ba maghanap ng hustisya? Paano nga ba makiabaka para sa pagbabago? At paano nga ba magpasalamat? Mga tanong na nakakapagpalakas ng loob. Mga tanong na napaka sarap sagutin pero napakahirap gawin. Mga tanong na habambuhay mong sasagutin. Mga tanong na laging magpapaalaala sating lahat panu tayo sinira at nawalan at kung pano natin babaguhin ang hiniharap sa inspirasyon ng isang taong nangarap at isang sambayanan na puno na, pagod na at patuloy na nangangarap ng pagbabago. Mga tanong na kapag hindi nasagot ay habang buhay mong dadalhin at mga tanong na mula ngayon magiging batayan na kung pano ba magsilbi sa bayan, sa kapawa at sa Poong Maykapal.

The hardest is the farewell for I have made a room for you in my heart. Totoo pala ang kurot sa puso kahit di natin ito mahawakan pero ito ay napakalalim kung maramdaman. You loved us because we loved you but who love first is not the question and pointless for even if and only if you did not love us we will always love you for you have loved others more than yourself. Your service to others is enough reason to love you back. Yes, we will meet you again but that is just a consolation. Why we will be settling for less if you are our first prize. Totoo nga pala talaga. Napakadaling sabihin napaka hirap gawin. But what is it for us when today you commune with the saints and enjoys His everlasting peace, something hard to achieve in our motherland but not impossible. Who are we to tell you to stay when somewhere out there is everlasting joy and peace? Ngunit ang sarap lang sana kung magakakasamasama tayo na ninamnam ang bunga ng mga pagpupunyagi! From there where you are today oversee us and take your journey to peace.

How to be victors in our quest for change? Your answer and example is the hardest to follow but the most attainable. We could not stop thinking that maybe you were confident enough to leave because you have assessed that we could do this and you believe in us so much but actually tito Ining we are not. We are unripe to finish all these. It was so untimely and we are not prepared to walk the talk and to take the trail you started for us. We are young and we are enjoying the materialistic world but we have to grow fast starting today; we have to hasten ripening our minds and our outlook in life faster yet surely for in these sudden turn of events you have bequeathed not just to your family, to political wills, to your friends but to each and everyone including the youth, the church and the marginalized sector. To take our capacity in rebuilding, uniting and changing our fate. To allow no more blood to be sacrificed, yours was too much and we shall never again allow history to be repeated for what happened to you was so painful that it will always be remembered.

Paano ka nga ba pasasalamatan, when thank you will never be enough. I asked my mom the same question upon hearing your death it was painful and we are breaking. In her most composed statement she said, “We have to be the best in our job for those are the things he entrusted to us.” I can just recall how we personally meet in your residential office as I asked for your recommendation. I told you that I want to be in public service as a nurse, particularly as a clinician in one of those highly specialized medical center. You looked at me sincerely, throw few questions and said that it won’t be hard to do that. You even appreciated my desire to be in a government hospital despite of the situation of the Philippine public health. Today, after a year and a half in government medical service (PCMC) I can proudly say that I’m one of those who have the satisfying job on earth. And for that I thank you for the trust, the opportunity and forever you’ll be an inspiration to me. Service has just started to be our common ground, young yet invigorated and I assure you it will continue to grow.

I don’t really know what tied you to our family. The simplest I know is that we are neighbors in that special town of Oquendo but the romance between you and our family is obviously more than neighbors. To those so many instances and opportunities to help us that you have taken part, thank you! We will be forever indebted to you and to your family. Kay sa ungod la tito Ining in kaso nagkariti-riti, an amon la kon hain ka adto man liwat kami. But see how selfless you are that you allowed us to meet and build friendship with your friends and see how gracious God is, for he forbade those things of brokenness to happen.

Truly God works in mysterious way, at times we are confronted by his works that are unusual, unwarranted, incomprehensible and illogical but we learn to surrender to Him everything for His reasons are Divine. Imagine today, the sun will rise and shine in the west; in the western Samar. It will glow and brighten just as yellow as your people’s support. Manna will come down from heaven like yellow confetti. In your loss, we did not lost but we rise stronger, united and driven. They had the wrong plan, they should have consulted us if they want winning badly for that is where Calbayog best at. They had just casted their most desperate stone. Humiliated, we took it a blow but from now on, never again! We will stand as you take your best rest, Kami naman! We will champion your cause humanely and rightfully for that is the clear boundary between them and us. We are right and too bad they were so wrong!

J. Redi Briones, RN. 22
The writer never regret rushing home from Manila to attend the burial of the Modern hero of Western Samar. The late Reynaldo S. Uy, MD. The writer was able to draw inspiration from his death and to the overwhelming support of the People of Samar to the cause of reform and change.

Fr. Mar to be installed as 3rd CKC President

Fr. Mar Tubac with (r-l) then Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, Congressman Mel Sarmiento and the late Mayor Reynaldo Uy. Photo taken on October 16, 2010 during the Inauguration of the Calbayog Cultural and Convention Center.

Rev. Fr. Marcelo Oliveros Tubac, OFM will be formally installed as the third President of Christ the King College. This will be held tomorrow, Friday, June 17, 2011.

The day's events will commence at 8:00 a.m. with the Investiture and Installation Rite and the SY 2011-2012 Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral with Bishop Isabelo Abarquez as Presider and Homilist.

A fraternal agape will follow at 9:30 a.m. at the Frs. David and Leopold Auditorium. Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and Congressman Mel Sarmiento have been invited to deliver their message during the agape. Fr.Roberto Bayaras, OFM and Bishop Isabelo Abarquez will also deliver their messages.

The last engagement for the day is the Solidarity Night at 6:00 p.m. which will be held at the Julio Cardinal Rosales Technical Ground.

Raul Isidro's Impressions and Memories

By PAM BROOKE A. CASIN

June 13, 2011, 9:59am

from The Manila Bulletin

(Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)

MANILA, Philippines -- Swathes and washes of red, black, blue, and yellow mark the new suite of abstract paintings of veteran artist Raul Isidro. His works, also characterized by ephemeral impressions and wide breathing spaces rendered in his signature brushwork and wet-on-wet technique, promise to transport audiences into this dreamlike and Zen-like realm where the physical and the metaphysical meet in the wild and subdued palettes and forms the painter has used.

Titled ‘Andorra,’ Isidro’s latest foray into abstraction is a result of his recent sojourn in Andorra, Europe, where he, fellow Filipino painter Al Perez, and other artists from the world over were invited to attenda a two-week art camp sponsored by UNESCO.

A small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, Andorra is bordered by Spain and France. Known for its picturesque landscape and rugged, mountainous topography, Andorra’s natural marvels are the sole inspiration of Isidro’s exhibit of 17 pieces. In this show, Isidro masterfully reworks the physicality of Andorra and transforms it into a sort of “meditative boundlessness”—a world of his own.

According to Isidro, his canvases are his impressions and memories of the place. They are the end-product of the artist’s exposure to the varied sights and sounds he had encountered during his trip. A challenge to his strength and endurance, he says, his trip was, as traversing the steep topography of the land proved to be laborious.

Fortunately, for us, the journey is not of the corporeal one. Isidro’s viewers now are only left with beautiful and relaxing imagery and wistful versions of the rocky landscape and energized views the 68-year-old painter has conquered.

But while Isidro’s works are abstract, audiences won’t have a mind-boggling time deciphering the painter’s works. For example, the small pieces in the exhibit are apparent takes of the painter on water running through slabs of rock. One large piece in red is Isidro’s impression of a gypsy dressed in red, gyrating and performing in a sea of people; while the abstraction in black is the painter’s reminiscence of a mountain he has enjoyed looking at.

In Andorra, the artist has successfully re-framed the wonders of his travels in a visual feast meant to scintillate onlookers. Also, in the artist’s pictorial configuration, the visual experience is an act of transference. It is an exhibit that “takes us into the depthless versions of the beauty of the real environments that compelled the creation of the [artist’s] aesthetic encounters.”

But more than this transference of sorts is also the sheer ability of Isidro to allow his viewers to conjure impressions of their own and to fashion travels based on their experiences and memories. It is in this light that the painter and his audiences commune and meet, thus forging an exchange of truths and recollections espoused by the paintings themselves.

A graduate of Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, Isidro claims Francisco Goya and Wilhelm de Kooning as his influences. He started teaching at the Philippine Women’s University in 1968 and became head of the Fine Arts department in 1977, and was awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for Fine Arts in 1979. He recently had his 40-year retrospective at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

‘Andorra’ will be on view until June 21 in Galerie Anna, The Artwalk, 4/F SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City. For more details, call 470-2511; visit www.galerieanna.com; e-mail galerieanna@yahoo.com.

Happy Independence Day!

(pix courtesy of discreet magazine)

it's been 40 days

It has been forty days since Mayor Ining Uy was murdered. A Mass and a Prayer Rally has been scheduled today at the Uy mausoleum and in Catbalogan City, respectively.

As we observe the traditional "pa-kwarenta" for our beloved late Mayor, I would like to share a video tribute made by Jonas Lim.

an traysikul

The area fronting the City Hall was abuzz with activity yesterday. It turned out, some CIPAG members got busy gathering as many pd cabs to the area so as to distribute a "new feature" for the "trayikul" of Calbayog. Signages which read "USWAG Calbayog" (for the front) and biblical passages (for the back).

Talking about these "traysikul". Much has been said about them. There was a point when some quarters wanted them out because these supposedly show how backward Calbayog is. And that with the growing population, motorcabs should replace these pd cabs (or so the argument went that way). Some sort of a "meeting halfway" has been done. The city officials are not phasing put these pd cabs, but registration is being limited to the 2,000 or so units currently operating in the city.

In this age of caring for the environment, I think it makes sense to keep these "traysikul". Well, if only something can be done about their being to picky about picking passengers (hmm, parang may redundancy sa sentence ano).

Back to school

It's back to school for everyone. I have always wanted to take pictures of the the various images that characterize this "season of the year", you know like separation anxiety for kids going to school for the first time, the anxious parents, the vendors and yes the traffic caused by the pd cabs, cars and what have you.

Call it bias, but my heart will always belong to Christ the King College. And this is the "back-to-school" image I'd like to give you today - the tarps which Fr. Mar installed at the CKC college building.

hair in my burger

This happened in April. A friend treated me to a burger store in the city. It's one of those joints which sell cheap burger. I've tried other burger stores and found their burger good. It's not bad, I mean the price and the taste (minus the AC and the mascot, of course).

Last April 29, we tried Yolly's burger. It did taste good, that is until I felt a different texture and that lo and behold - hair. I called the attention of the guy at the cash register who I suppose was also the manager and owner. There were no apologies, only "uy, balyu-i daw adi!".

Ah the price you have to pay for going cheap. I did get apologies, from my friend who treated mo to that burger store.

images from my old hometown

Nope, dolphins did not invade the city. I took this pictures many weeks ago. These toys were not decorations on the pathway along the Nijaga Park. Maybe the vendor was simply aware of his space and that he was "artistic" enough to arrange his stuff this way. Well, it did catch the attention of a good number of pedestrians. And needless to say, these stuff were sold out.

in memoriam Julio Cardinal Rosales

a priest for 54.0 years

a bishop for 36.7 years

a cardinal for 14.1 years

It has been 28 years since Julio Cardinal Rosales received the gift of eternal life