March 28 - April 3, 2012

Half-baked sacrifices. Photo shows a number of people unflappably changing the normal route of the procession for a shortcut towards the last station.
Photo Credits : HMDA

“No Shortcuts!”

Avalanche of faith joins Lenten activities

By Hernor De Asis and Charmaine Sanchez

                San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral Parish together with Sancarlosenios successfully went through the timetable of events for Semana Santa 2013. Even with the great number of people flooding the streets and the cathedral for the solemn occasion, there were no reported incidents.

The early birds during the station of the cross. 

A massive crowd of Sancarlosenios march together to the different Stations of the Cross as a start for their Good Friday. 

Photo Credits : HMDA

                The scheduled events started last March 16, 2013, Saturday with the Pilgrimage for Life (Panaw sa Kinabuhi) at Sta. Ana. Last Sunday, March 24, was the traditional Blessing of Palm which was followed by a solemn procession from the Rizal Park routed to the Cathedral for a holy mass.

                Confessions at the Cathedral started last Holy Monday, March 25, while there was a renewal of Priestly Vows /Mass of the Holy Chrism last Holy Tuesday, March 26. A mass recollection at PPC took place last Holy Wednesday, March 27 at around 7PM-9PM. There was an evening mass of the Lord’s Supper and a vigil that went up to midnight at the Cathedral last Holy Thursday, March 28.

                The crowd tripled on Good Friday, March 29. The day was started with the station of the cross around the city at 4AM. On the way to the 14th station, the large crowd was pleaded not to take shortcuts since it would somehow ruin the element of sacrifice for the said activity.

                 However, it has become a usual thing for Filipinos and even Sancarlosenios to do the opposite of what is instructed as many nonchalantly took their shortcuts towards the last station at the Colegio De Sta Rita main building. At 12 noon to 4pm, the ‘Siete Palabras’ and ‘Pagsimba sa Krus’ took place at the cathedral. By 4PM, another thick crowd participated for the procession of Santo Entierro around the city besides the scorching heat of the summer sun.

Maghimaya, maghudyaka kay si Hesus nabanhaw na!

People rejoiced as Jesus meets Mary during the traditional ritual we all know as SUGAT. The ressurection serves as a wonderful essence of the Holy Week wherein Christ has died and has risen again for mankind. 

Photo Credits : HMDA 

                After this, a long line of Sancarlosenios formed for the ‘panghalok’ which stretched from the cathedral almost up to the City Hospital which lasted until night, symbolizing the mass’ great faith. By 8PM, the traditional Procession Dolorosa (Seven Sorrows of Mary) was again participated by a healthy crowd of people and was followed by a vigil.

                An Easter Vigil Mass (Misa sa Pagkabanhaw) was celebrated on Holy Saturday, March 30 at around 9PM. 

                ‘’Grabeha gyung kadaghan sa tawu. Mura man ug pista.’’ Most people exclaimed as a noticeable increase of participants compared to the previous years were able to crowd the entire set of activities.

A touch of rescue

                During the ‘Sugat’ last Easter Sunday; another massive crowd filled the City Auditorium as early as 4AM. The crowd got fishy when a number of people started to rumble over the flowers used as decorations which, by faith, they considered miraculous.

                In the middle of the holy mass, a certain Lola Linda collapsed due to a breath of claustrophobia since the crowd of people eventually increased by then.

                The Rescue Team which was in full watch immediately responded and was able to provide Lola Linda with a quick treatment of first aid.

No baby talk

By Georgene Rhena P. Quilaton-Tambiga

An article after a 

long draught!

Corruption is a culture as much as buying votes is a habit.

            Just when we think the election is a way to end this vicious cycle, that has long hampered development not only in the Philippines but also in other third world countries, it is just one part of the negative equation.

            Some months back, the ordinary Filipino used to think that the elections are still a long way ahead and we all couldn’t help smirk at early birds on TV and on tarpaulins. Now, we all know that tomorrow we wake up and it’s already Election Day. Now that I get a black and white paycheck, I couldn’t help but feel heaviness on my shoulder as my eyes immediately fall to ‘withholding tax’ portion. I still can’t help shaking my head in disbelief the amount I contribute every 15 days to government coffers. I even can’t believe anymore how much tax I pay when I buy my son’s cans of milk. And, Election Day is judgment day that will decide where all my taxes, our taxes will go.

Photo Credits : leytesamardaily.net

            Everything starts not with elections though but with the campaign period. During this time voters get their once-in-three-years shopping spree—asking for medical donations, basketball uniform sponsorship, the roofing or flooring of a church or chapel, the rental of graduation venues, and what not! It is headache time for the ‘generous’ candidate but he knows for sure this has to be the necessary investment. For, indeed, in the eye of the ordinary voter, he who gives as much deserves the vote for when he is in position his generosity shall lift people from the sludge called poverty.

            This is not unknown to us. We all know that this is how we think and we know how we think is wrong. We know, too, that this does not become true for he who has invested much during campaign will reap a hundred times more than what we planted. And, the candidates know that we know. We know what the candidates know, but we still pretend we don’t.

            Thus, the moment we set our votes on the shop is also the moment we choose to get much less value for the exorbitant taxes we pay, to get government officials we know are not fit for leadership, but surely the official we deserve—poor, as poor as the choice we make.

            Vote buying is not a politician’s habit. It is the voter’s culture. We expect to sell our votes because we know they are willing to buy what’s offered on the shelf. But when we refuse to sell, will the costumer have a choice? It is simply like going to a store. You want to buy a box of milk but they don’t sell in boxes only in cans. Since what you want is not available, you don’t get to buy it. You can only buy what is available.

            So, why make your vote available for a hungry politician to buy?

            All right, the answer is the law of supply and demand. There is the demand for votes, so logically we provide the supply. At the end of the day, this is the very reason why taxpayers who should have the right to demand from government officials, turn out to be the ones who can’t demand for the kind of service they want from the people governing them.

            It is a cycle—plain and simple. The day we get out of this even Madam Auring cannot predict but it sure will be a happy day.

Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

Caught out

This week my Filipino friends could laugh at me! For some months I had been looking forward to a short trip to Vietnam. I duly set out for Manila, and presented myself at the International Departure desk there, only to be denied boarding. I was told I needed VISA for Vietnam, the only ASEAN country where this applies. If I had a Filipino passport there would have been no problem, but UK passport holders have no such privilege. It is usually the other way round. A British passport gives VISA free entry to many countries, whereas Filipinos have to go through tedious and expensive hoops to travel widely. My foolishness (some might even call it arrogance) is not checking this time, had given me my come upperance. It also made me experience how Filipinos must often feel when facing barriers not suffered by others.

Another byproduct of this venture was my enforced stay in Manila while I made plans for my return here. I used the time to visit the National Museum and Art Gallery in Luneta. Not a wealth of pictures on show, but I was impressed with the quality of some of the leading 19th Century artists from here, especially Juan Luna (1857-1899)

The Philippines does not pay much attention to its own cultural heritage, witnessed here by the very few visitors on the only free day each week (Sunday). My advice to anybody with a few hours to spare in Manila, is to celebrate their artistic heritage at least once.

                I went to visit the other main public gallery on Monday, the Ayala Museum in Makati, but cannot comment on its current exhibition, as like Vietnam, it was closed! (Every Monday). I have been there before and it is another gallery well worth a visit!

From Makati, I caught the MRT to Baclaran to get to the airport. What a contrast. Makati is very “first world”. Clean streets, no sidewalk obstructions, smooth roads (well policied), and walkways in the sky to separate pedestrians and traffic, and many international restaurants. For business travelers and the well to do, who might only visit Makati on a flying visit, the impression they will get of the Philippines will be very favourable.

Baclaran is the opposite in all respects. Extremely dirty, with streets full of litter. I saw two people urinating in the street. Vehicles and pedestrians compete for space, as there seems to be virtually no organization and stalls set up anywhere. Damaged roads included one with a hole big enough to partially hide a motorcycle!

I often puzzle about the Philippines. Very efficient and well managed services coexist with extreme beaurocracy and inefficiency. Friends often comment “well this is the Philippines”, as if it must always be like this. This cannot be so. If some parts of government can be run efficiently with use of modern IT, “one stop shops”, and courteous staff, so can the rest. If parts of Manila can resemble the most modern cities elsewhere, so can the other parts. I am not sure what it is that prevents improvements spreading fast and widely.

Of course Makati has a huge income and Baclaran does not, but redistributing that wealth is in the hands of government. Ensuring poor public services emulate the best is also in the hands of those running the services.

Perhaps it is the uncomplaining, undemanding, passive acceptance of the public which is to blame.

Oddly though when I reflected on my visit to the two extremes of Manila, it was Baclaran which was full of life! I might prefer to live in Makati, but for an interesting day out and some bargain shopping, it is Baclaran which wins.  

Just a thought, nothing more!

By Hernor M. de Asis    

Time to repent,

a time for real bliss

When Christ suffered for our sins, we’re so busy making some additional. Still, people are insensitive and ungrateful; the world can’t afford another Messiah to carry the cross and wear a crown full of thorns just to save us from damnation. Nowadays, no man with a healthy mind can offer such sufferings since we’re becoming self-centered inch by inch as the days go by.

Lenten season is the best time to meditate over our wrong deeds and misbehaviors, a time to repent and acknowledge Christ’s selfless sacrifices and love for mankind. But instead of recognizing Christ’s Holy effort, we can see people loitering in the streets, blubbering tittle-tattles and nonsense buzzes that consume most of their time, activities that are so idle, worthless, and can even become sources of conflict. A piece of advice, try to visit the church, listen to a priest’s sermon and the Holy Gospel, it’s quite a realization of your purpose as a person. A mature person is someone who is already enlightened about his worth and purpose. However, most people are still childish and they act like toddlers craving for some milk in a bottle.

Photo Credits : http://www.wansai-international.org

We tend to enjoy our remaining days with extravagant socializations; we fill different bars with oozing liquors and foggy smoke of cigarettes, though your reason seems like a malfunctioned tape-recorder that keeps on playing, “I just want to be happy and there’s nothing wrong about being happy!” I must admit it isn’t bad to be glad, but let us try to define what true happiness is. Will you call that happiness that will last only for a few hours? I guess not.

This season is not for a half-baked joy, it does not call for a party and mostly it’s not for lovers though I’ve seen lots of love birds in parks dating. Oh come on! You must hold your tension! I’m not playing as good Christian here, and I’m not minding other business, it is just that we should observe what we should observe for the sake of our dying religion. Yes, we tampered faith by false happiness. We tend to choose joy than to sacrifice. Real happiness means having a healthy soul.

We should start cleaning our souls by draining all our dark intentions and pouring it to the basins of the Neverland and Paradise of Long Forgone.

 Everything is set for a right place and for a right time, so is real bliss.  

Soldier’s Pen

By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

Noli Me Tangere

Photo Credits :
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noli_me_tangere

                Today, on Easter Sunday, we pause for a while and recall a scene in Jesus’ resurrection in what we know of today as the first Easter Sunday.  In the morning of that day, Mary Magdalene visited the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was buried two days earlier.  As she tried to touch the newly risen Jesus, he said unto her: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father”.  “Touch me not”, was an English translation of a phrase taken from the Holy Bible specifically Verse 17, Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John of the King James Version. The original phrase in Latin was “Noli Me Tangere”. 

                Deriving inspiration from the Holy Scriptures, our National Hero, Dr Jose Rizal in 1891, used “Noli Me Tangere” as the title of his literary masterpiece, a novel which depicted the deplorable social conditions of our country in the last century of Spanish rule.  In this novel, Rizal dared to talk about the real and painful conditions of our country, the social cancer perpetrated by the friars and the Spanish administrators on the poor Filipino Indios.   Rizal spoke of truths that no Indio dare to talk about in public.  He wrote of ideas that can cause anyone to cringe even with just the mere thought of them.  In his explosive novel, Rizal dramatized the abuses of the friars and the Spanish rulers of our country.  He unraveled the veil that hid the evils, the ugliness and the injustices pervading throughout the islands.

Photo Credits : http://cimages.swap.com

                The “Noli Me Tangere” eventually opened the eyes of the Filipino people and planted the seeds of Liberalism and Filipino nationalism.  A new beginning dawned on this fragmented group of more than 7,000 islands which many just refer to as Islas Filipinas.  The Indios became united and began to dream of becoming a free people.  On June 12, 1898, less than two (2) years after Rizal was executed in December 1896, the Philippines became the first independent country in South East Asia.   

                In dedicating the “Noli” to his Fatherland, Rizal wrote, “I will do with thee what the ancients did with their sick, exposing them at the steps of the temple so that everyone who came to invoke the Divinity might offer them a remedy”.

                The title, Noli Me Tangere, as chosen by Rizal for his first novel was symbolic.  Like Jesus, Rizal did the unthinkable.  Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross so that the whole of humanity can be redeemed from their sins.  Rizal, on his part, knew that he was going to die if he exposes the evils of the friars and the Spanish tyrants.  Jesus warned Mary Magdalene not to touch him until he has ascended to the Father in heaven or when the Lord has finally accepted his supreme sacrifice and therefore his mission on Earth is done. 

When Rizal dared to finally to publish his book, it was already the culmination of his own self sacrifice where there was no turning back.  He was warned many times in the past, even by his own dear mother, that the Spaniards will “cut off his head” if he continues to dream of a better Philippines.  Rizal’s family, friends and associates were unjustly persecuted as a result of his writings and activities which became more evident with his active role in the Propaganda Movement in Spain starting in 1882.  This became more intense as he wrote more essays, articles and other literary works that touched on the conditions of our country at that time.

By aptly titling his epic work as such, he was subtlety admonishing his friends, relatives and the other Filipinos of the Reform Movement that they may not be ready to immediately and openly embrace the dangerous ideas that he was espousing; and be willing to accept the consequences thereof.   Presumably, Rizal must have thought that in order for his sublime sacrifice to be fulfilled, there was the necessity for the whole Filipino nation to understand and accept the reality of their deplorable condition (misery or sins!) in order to work together towards the realization of the dreams that this awareness may evoke.  Otherwise, Rizal’s sacrifice would have been in vain, his ideas ignored and never to be touched or talked about forever.  “Noli Me Tangere” it would have remained.

Food for tooth

By Otto George I. Weber

Size doesn’t Matter

Photo credits : http://www.the9513.com/size-doesnt-matter/

Cruising along Ylagan St., an out-of-towner is bound to miss this small restaurant just across the city plaza. With a nondescript frontage, Cravings (which is more of a resto-bar) maybe undersized – but can serve up big surprises.

Having any of their ‘silog’ breakfast meals is a nice way to start the day. For dinner, the kids love the unique Bolognara spaghetti while the wife’s favorite is the house specialty – Callos. The garlicky beef salpicao and buffalo wings are more to my liking (esp. with, ahem…cold pilsen). Do try the ‘lengua’ when available…so good.

Service given by waiters is fast and friendly. On the other hand, the restrooms really need a major overhaul and paint job. Not to mention some soap, toilet paper, etc. Doors are also closed for business on Sundays. A snazzy signboard up front might just attract those transients (and locals) who are looking for something other than the usual fare.

Despite the downside, Cravings is like a gem in the rough. Some polishing and more lighting will surely bring out the brilliance of its core – which is great-tasting food at affordable rates. For a place that’s small (sits less than 30), it delivers in a big way. 

Pikpik sa abaga

By Henry Sandoval

Tennis

Nakuratan ko sa akong apo nga akoang giapas diha sa bag-ong tenisan karon dinha sa Center Mall. Naabtan nako nga gakupot ug raket sa tennis. Nakabatyag ko kalipay nga dia sad diay ning mga bata nga gagmay pa ang edad 6 pataas ang nag training sa duwa nga tennis. Akong nasiplatan si Konsehal Carmona nga busy kaayo ug hands on sa maong training. Sa akong nahinabi si Konsehal Carmona matud pa niya nga kaning training sa mga bata sa duwa nga tennis dugay ra nga gisuportahan sa Administrasyon sa didto pa sila ga praktis sa Central nga tenisan. Ug matud pa niya ubay-ubay  na ang nahimong mga scholar sa dagkong Unibersidad  nga gikan sa ilahang programa. Karon matud pa niya ang bag-ong mga gagmay bata nga gi train sponsored kini ni Kongresman Ledesma ug sa City Sports Office ug sa Lokal nga mga Opisyales sa siyudad sa San Calos. Abi gud nakog sa Shooting Competition lang maayo si Konsehal Carmona hasta man sad diay sa Tennis.

************

Sa akong isyu niadtong milabay nga semana bahin sa mga raid ug sa paglapnag sa shabu dinhi sa siyudad sa San Carlos nasukmatan ko sa usa ka amigo ug daghan ba gyud diay kuno. Ako siyang giingnan nga sulaye ni ug suroy ning lugara para makakita ka sa baligya-anay nga naa ra sa dalan. Ug ani lang bag-o akong kauban kanhi sa PCFC sa 334th PC company nadisgrasya diha sa dalan nga nadisgrasyahan usab ang usa ka empleyado sa Dep-Ed. Ug ang rescue maoy una naabot sunod ang mga pulis. Nakuha sa maong nadisgrasya ang kwarta ug shabu. Matud pa sa polis nga akong nahinabi nauli ang kwarta tungod sa hangyo sa igsoon nga ilang gamiton kay dad-on nila sa Bacolod ang nadisgrasya. Ang droga ra ang wala mauli ngadto sa igsoon. Ang nadisgrasya nadala sa Bacolod apan wa sad abti ug pila ka adlaw mipanaw kini sa laing kalibutan. Lisod man gyud tinuod dakpon kining bisyoha apan atong makita nga kadaghan aning mga NGO nga anaa nakigtimbayayong sa atong mga otoridad ug walay rason nga dili kini sila maaplayan ug Search Warrant.

************

Dinha sa among lugar sa Barangay I adunay daghan kaayong mga membro sa Senior Citizen. Halos kada buntag sa akong pagsuroy-suroy sa among Barangay dili malikayan kining mga 77 anyos nga mupa utwas sa ilahang gibatyag mahitungod sa benepisyo unta nga ilaha untang madawat apan dili puede tungod sa rason nga aduna silay gidawat nga SSS nga pension u gang uban nga rason nga aduna silay mga anak nga atua namuyo sa guwa sa Pilipinas. Mao sad nang nahitabo sa akong inahan kay 78 anyos naman apan wala makadawat anang tag 500 ang bulan sa mga membro sa Senior Citizen nga nakaabot sa edad nga 77 anyos. Kay sa akong pagsabot ang SSS ginahulugan kana kada bulan sa usa ka nag trabaho ug pila ka gatos ka pesos matag bulan. U gang maong paghulog ug makaabot ka sa insaktong edad sa SSS usa paka makadawat sa imohang pension pero imo kanang gihulugan kada bulan. Mura na bag return of investment nimo nga ipasa-pasa ngadto sa asawa ug anak nga kwalipikado pa makadawat ug pension sa SSS. Ang kani usab mga ginikanan nga adunay anak nga atua sa laing nasud di sad na kasaligan kay duna mi silingan nga ang iyahang anak atua sa guwa apan wala na gapadala kaniya ug kwarta pila na ka tuig ang milabay.Dili man masaligan ang mga may anak nga atua sa guwa nga magsige ug padala. Maayo unta ug gipamunit lang na nila didto kay sig era nag padala. Ingon anang dollar ang ilahang income unya dollar man sad ang ilahang gigasto. Nakahinabi ko ni Simeon Caballero kadiyot ra gyud kaayo matud pa niya nga iyaha gayud nga paninguha-on nga ug unsay nadawat sa Rehiyon 7 mao sad unya ang madawat dinhi sa Rehiyon 6. Na hala kamong mga membro sa Senior Citizen ang inyong kinatibuk-an nga Presidente sa Senior Citizen si Simeon Caballero naninguha sa kabulahanan ninyo tanan. Tabangi lang ninyo siya sa mga kalihokan sa inyong grupo.

Bantay Banat

Ni Rics Cañisarez

Naligsan nga dewende

Sa natad sa politika kon mag away gani ang mga dagkong politiko ang maligsan kini intawon ang mga dewende. Mao kini ang nahitabo karon sa usa ka lugar dinhi sa San Carlos nga ang nag sakrifisyo mao na man hinuon ang mga botante gumikan kay dili na makaagi ang tawo sa dalan nga naandan nga agi-anan. Ang uban adto na mo-agi sa bukid kay lagi kaatbang man karon sa politika. Hinuon kon ilang mahibaloan nga ilang tawo makaagi man lisod-lisod gayud kay sa motor nga may side car lang ang masakyan kay kon truck dili gayud makaagi tungod kay duna may stop bar nga dunay mga tawo nga nagbantay. Halos tanang mga agi-anan duna nay mga stop bar. Kini gihimo nga pamaagi sa tag-iyang politiko aron ilang maseguro nga ang mga tawo nga moagi sa ila gayud mobotar.Ang mga tawo nga dihang dapita nanimuyo nga akong nahinabi, mo-ingon nga unsaon man kay wala man silay mahimo kay ila mang kagustuhan, ug mapugos na lang kami nga mobotar sa ilang mga kandidato. Mao na kining gi-ingon nga bisag pungot basta wala lay ibot.

*************

Kini bayang uban nga politiko, dili baya makahuna-huna sa sa partisipasyon sa tao sa panahon sa eleksyon. Angayan baya unta nilang sapnayon ug ugay-ugayon aron makuha nila simpatiya labi na gayud kay panahon na pinili-ay karon. Mga Sir/Madam  gamay lang gud nga hapuhap sa abaga.

*************

Nia say uban nga politiko nga dili kamaong mo-angkon ug kapildihan (ingon ba di-ay ning uban nga politiko?) kay kon ilang paminawon nga medyo takilid ang resulta makahuna-huna dayon ug armas nga ihulga sa mga botante. Ayaw na ninyo ug buhata mga Sir uy! mga peace loving people baya ang taga San Carlos.

*************

Kining akong amigo miasoy kanako nga ang cellphone sa iyang anak ug apo nawala. Naglagot siya tungod kay matud niya nga ang ilang balay wala na kunoy privacy kay bisag kinsa lang kuno ang mosaka. Iyang gipangutana ang iyang anak ug apo kon kinsa ang misaka sa balay pero, may usa usab siya ka kaila nga misugid kon kinsa ang misaka. Sanglit kay nailhan niya ang gisugid sa iyang ka-ila ang tawo nga misaka, ilang gipa-blloter sa police headquarter. Wala maglangan ang kapolisan, giadtoan ang balay sa suspetsado nga nagsakiyo sa mga cellphones. Gi-imbestigar ang suspect nga naila sa ngalan nga si Taed Edgardo Bayot. Sanglit kay gi-ako man ni Taed Edgardo Bayot nga siya ang nagkuha, nauli gayud ang mga cellphones nga gisakiyo sa maong suspect. Maayo lang kay wala kasuhi. Bantayi gayud ninyo ang inyong mga balay na?

*************

Kon ikaw usa ka ofisyal sa lungsod andam ka gayud nga motubag sa kinahanglan sa katawhan. Niay usa ka pastor nga taga Passing Truck,Minapasok, Calatrava nga miduol ni mayor Cely Somosa nga nangayo ug tabang tungod sa iyang anak nga nabiktima sa rape didto sa Qatar. Kon imong huna-hunaon, sa kalayong dapit pero, gipaning kamotan ni mayor Somosa nga matabangan gayud kay kining anak sa pastor sige na lang kuno ug hilak ug nasulod sa iyang ulo nga magpakamatay na lang. Tungod kay talabangon gayud gihimo gayud sa mayor ang tanan, ang DSWD  mitabang usab ug si congressman Jules Ledesma mitabang sa kagastuhanan paingon sa Manila ug giubanan ni SB Member Eldie “Balao” Monterde didto sa Department of Foreign Affairs ug sigon sa akon nahibaloan nga ang DFA nagpasalamat kun okay ang reklamante gi-ubanan pa kuno ug konsehal sa Calatrava. Sigon sa kasayuran gikan sa Calatrava nga humanon na lang kuno ang ikaduhang Hearing didto sa Qatar mopauli dayon kadtong anak sa pastor nga dili masukod ang kalipay tungod sa tabang ni mayor Cely Somosa, congressman Jules Ledesma, SB Eldie “Balao”Monterde ug sa tabang usab ni Cynthia Villar.