Friday, December 31, 2010

Marinduque Skies Will Be Bright Tonight

Tomorrow's New Year weekend is expected to be wet according to Pagasa as the northeast monsoon and wind convergence bring cloudy skies and rains especially in Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao and Luzon will experience light rains, it said.

The skies over Marinduque will be illuminated tonight as the clock ticks closer to usher in the New Year, 2011, that most Filipinos believe is still full of hope. Friends of Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco are of the same belief, and have organized a 3-minute lights show to emanate simultaneously from all the major parishes in Marinduque's six towns of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos.

The lights show will look like this












...and this.

MASAGANANG BAGONG TAON PO!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Trees

Tiwanak tree branches washed ashore during stormy weather.

But I have always made tiwanak bamboo Christmas trees in my youth even when all I could do was wrap all their branches with white crepe-paper and hang cut-outs and candy wrappers with round beach pebbles inside to provide the glitter in place of Christmas balls and bells that easily break anyway.

Then I learn years later that cutting boughs of evergreen trees in December was really practiced by pagan cultures thousands of years before the birth of the famous baby in the manger, but only to mark the winter solstice, the time of year that had the shortest day and longest night; that the early Egyptian not having evergreen decorated their homes instead with palm fronds during the winter solstice; that the ancient Romans decorated their trees with bits of metal and replicas of their god, Bacchus, and placed 12 candles on the tree in honor of their sun god.

That Germans in the 16th century brought trees into homes to celebrate their Feast of Adam and Eve on December 24 and brought the practice to America until it became popular in the 1850’s. That it was only in 1923 when the White House started its National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. So I learn that the idea of Christmas trees were eventually brought to these Philippine islands by the Americans in those years.


The Christmas Tree at The Emirates Palace. Photo: AP

Then I hear that early this week, the most magnificent and most expensive Christmas tree in the world costing $11-million was unveiled at The Emirates Palace in Muslim Abu Dhabi. The tree was bedecked with diamonds, pearls, emeralds and rubies along with gold and silver balls and bows. So I surmise that that must be more stunning than Swarovski’s talked –about Christmas tree at the Zurich central station with its 7,000 Swarovski crystals.

The Swarovski Christmas Tree in Zurich.

And I suppose that I should be content for now teaching the young kids to make do with tiwanak Christmas trees with crepe-paper and candy wrappers, cut-outs of stars and candles. There are gifts to find hidden under our unique tiwanak Christmas tree anyway.

MALIGAYANG PASKO PO!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Party, Games and Presents

With schools closed for the holidays, some Bahaghari neighborhood kids frolic on the beach, their laughter infectious.

In two days, of course, the whole world knows it'll be Christmas. Island people seem extra generous these days, seemingly not conscious of the resulting increase in their electric bill for December. Christmas lights are left a-blinking along the streets all through the night illuminating for the most part only the stray dogs.


'Pidong', 6, John Peter to his classmates, takes a look at some of the gifts yet to be wrapped.

Kids in my neighborhood are excited to learn that they’d be treated to a Christmas party and gift-giving organized by friends, Nestor and Rudy, that they started last year just for fun. Weeks ago, the two wound their way through toys sold at Divisoria, stalls picking out an assortment of dolls, racers cars, helicopters, balls and flying discs, rackets, toy guns, hula hoops, swords, boxing gloves, etc.

It was no joke for them they tell me to wade with huge plastic bags full of toys through streams of humanity there enmeshed in their own fancies or worries. No taxis dared to ply the area as the traffic was hopeless, but the good part was the sight of kuliglig that just came perfectly and quietly when their plastic bags were about to be torn apart.

Really, the sweat and aching feet didn’t seem to matter, as the generous spirit of giving was simply overwhelming for the two, I suspect, thinking only of the smiles on the children’s faces that their gifts would bring. So about 50 kids (there were only 13 last year), 12 years and below are to receive those Christmas presents during a special party and games for them on December 28, Ninos Inocentes Day in my Bahaghari place courtesy of Rudy and Nestor.

Not everyone probably will receive a present like these school children from a village in Sta. Cruz.
...including this little girl.
But maybe one day in the not too distant future all the other Marinduque children will receive their Christmas presents, too, from many more would-be Santa Clauses.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Grassroots Power and Political Dynasties

Marinduque is only one of many provinces in the Philippines that has been dominated by political families. The Center for People Empowerment in Governance, a non-profit group advocates more grassroots participation in politics and opines that these families belong to the country’s economic elite, some acting as rule makers or patrons of politicians, who conspire together to amass greater economic power.

Many members of the dynasties may have developed a sense of entitlement or ownership of certain public positions as is the case in Marinduque, and many people particularly those in the lower strata accept the arrangement, believing that there’s nothing the poor and downtrodden can do about it anyway. Yet, there are also those among them who realize that the continuing poverty is really the end result of political dynasties clinging on to power through election cheating and manipulation that further breed corruption.

It was President Ferdinand Marcos who, indeed, put the blame on the old political dynasties as one of the causes why our society was sick and why there was need for reform. He proceeded to dismantle the old oligarchs who held economic and political power - only to replace them with new ones and cronies, some of them persisting until today.

Julio Teehankee, a political science professor at De La Salle University in Manila, once remarked that "continuing clan dominance is a product of the seemingly immutable and unequal socio-economic structure, as well as the failure to develop a truly democratic electoral and party system." The system is a vicious cycle, he said, one that prevents the expansion of the base of aspirants and candidates for representation. This all amounts to a political system dominated by patronage, corruption, violence, and fraud, he said.

(Newly elected SK youth leaders taking their oath. Rejecting moneyed envelopes.)

But today’s young people have begun their move to unite and challenge the corrosive system that those before them, in helplessness, merely accepted as inevitable. It might have been inspired by the sustained electronic media calls for change and a new beginning, calls that fortunately seem sustained.

Or it could just be an awakening from that long deep sleep.

“Pera lang ang katapat ng mga taga-Marinduque”, was a popular quote attributed to a local politician who referred to the masa’s supposed penchant for money as the only basis for voting.

Yet, the recent barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (2010) here appears to have disproved this. The recent elections appear to be a deliberate and resounding rejection of this notorious character attributed by the politician to the Marinduque electorate.

(Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco swears into office the recently elected barangay captains, barangay offficers and Sangguniang Kabataan members in the municipality of Gasan. The same exercise was repeated in the other municipalities.)

I therefore take my hat off to the newly elected barangay captains and chairmen of the sangguniang kabataan in the barangay, municipal and provincial levels. They overpowered the political patronage and sponsored money-for-votes system that were very much present, and curtailed them for a fresh start towards ‘change and honor’ and a chance for real grassroots democracy to work.

(Barangay captains of Gasan proved their point and the same gesture was echoed in the four corners of the island-province)

(At the mass oath-taking. From left,Councilor Maggie Asuncion, Mayor Vicky Lao-Lim and Congressman Allan Velasco)

(Second termer, Mayor Lao-Lim expressing her full appreciation to the youth's support and promise of cooperation)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Best Wedding Video You'll Ever See...Set at Bellarocca


Jun and Vanesa from Bong Sare on Vimeo.
This awesome video might be the best wedding video you'll ever see. The setting? Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, wherelse, but here in Marinduque.

The wedding couple was Jun Sunga and model, Vanessa Matsunaga, sister of the Brazilian-Japanese model-actor now romantically linked with popular Filipino actress Heart Evangelista.

In an interview on national television Daniel declared: “It’s so beautiful I told the manager of the place that Heart and I would be the next to wed there as I want what my sister had.”

Here's an excerpt of similar quotes made by Daniel along this line from an article that appeared in PEP.ph, bannered "Daniel Matsunaga almost proposed to Heart Evangelista at his sister’s wedding":

(Heart Evangelista and Daniel Matsunaga on the stairs of Bellarocca. Shot courtesy of MangoRed)

"I never cry at weddings and it was the first time that I felt like crying! It’s true because the whole place was perfect and it was just a simple wedding but very elegant. It’s like something from a movie.

"When it was my turn to read something during the wedding, I couldn’t help but cry. But I was wearing my sunglasses, so nobody was aware that I had tears in my eyes. What made me so emotional is that you could feel the emotions of everybody. Even Heart was crying when I looked at her. It was so beautiful that I wanted a wedding like that too.

NOT YET THE TIME

"It was like the perfect moment to ask your girl to marry you, right? But it wasn’t the right time for it yet. I don’t have the ring yet. I will have to save up for it first before I show it to Heart.

"Things like that should be planned carefully. You just don’t jump in because you feel like it. You get caught up in the moment but you get back to reality.

"When I told Heart about it, she laughed and said that there are other perfect moments for that..."

Ah, romance and weddings that happen in an idyllic setting such as Bellarocca Island south of Marinduque.

More photos during the wedding courtesy of MangoRed:

(The wedding couple, Jun and Vanessa)

(Bellarocca Island in the background. Wedding setting at Bellarocca facility in Lipata)

(Guests take the speedboat from the island to the wedding venue at the foot of Malindig volcano.)

(Bellarocca Island Resort by Dusk)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Pamaskong Parol sa mga Kapuspalad kong Utol

Inmates at the provincial jail have been quite occupied during the last couple of months making big and small Christmas lanterns that are sold to the organizers of “Pamaskong Parol sa mga Kapuspalad kong Utol”. In the spirit of sharing and camaraderie, parishioners from selected barangays are set to buy these lanterns in return. They parishioners are given the opportunity to hang the lanterns in giant Christmas trees installed inside local chapels or at designated spots in participating schools.

This newly introduced ritual of lantern hanging are undertaken nightly before the start of Misa de Gallo with parishioners lining up to await their turn as Christmas melodies fill the air. Barangay parishes that have signed up for this fund drive organized by the Parish Financial Council include Tanza, Bantad, Tampus, Santol, Bangbangalon, Sawi, Maybo, Malbog, Agot, Bamban, Maygayo and Isok 2. Over-all coordinator is Ma.Concepcion Mariposque.

Participating schools are St. Mary’s College and Education Systems Technological Institute (ESTI). At the Boac Cathedral, several Christmas trees are expected to be installed at the churchyard to accommodate the huge number of parishioners attending the traditional Misa de Gallo.

A Thanksgiving Mass to be attended by the organizers and barangay supporters will be celebrated at the conclusion of the fund drive with an audio-visual presentation on the various stages of “Pamaskong Parol” activities.

Bowling in Marinduque for the Holidays, Anyone?

Bowler’s Potluck Christmas Party goes on tomorrow, December 20th from 5:00 pm at the only bowling center in Marinduque, the Luna Sosa Recreation Center in Brgy. Santol, Boac. For the last three years the center has attracted regulars and students who, under a program, are taught the fundamentals of the sport of bowling by proprietor-manager Noel Sosa.

The bowling center offers a bowling training course valid for 8 sessions at 2 hours per meeting. The lectures and skills instruction drills are conducted on the lane with the aid of visuals and coaching tools employing the Dick Ritger bowling program. Training fee is only Php 300 per student with a minimum of 30 students per group. Bowling shoes are provided during the training free of charge. After the training course the trainees are entitled to a reduced bowling rate of Php 25 per game.

Sosa says the program helps instill discipline and positive mental attitude to the students through bowling’s fast-paced and dynamic environment and is quite effective in promoting a cheerful disposition among the players. He also adds that the said sport is also a healthy alternative to computer games and a break from the depressing news on television these days.


Saturday, December 18, 2010

Jasper Lim Elected as LnB Provincial President

Jasper Lim, who was elected in October this year as barangay captain of Brgy. Dos, Gasan then was elected Gasan's ABC president was also elected president of Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) at the provincial level.

The Liga ng mga Barangay provincial level elections was held yesterday at the DILG office under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with its officer as chair and with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) representative, NGO/PO representative, as members.

Lim was former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Majority Leader and ran but lost as vice-governor in the May 2010 elections. As LnB president he will assume an ex-officio position in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque.

(Jasper Lim)

San Isidro Attracts PUP Tourism Students

Since last year after the discovery of the San Isidro Cave system, several groups have been enticed to experience this interesting cave that hides an underground river and rare species of bats and fresh water life.

In September, the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) Assessment Team visited San Isidro in the company of Congressman Lord Allan J. Velasco and only had praises for the cave’s subterranean river system that they themselves explored.

A couple of days ago a group of 13 tourism students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), also trekked to San Isidro as part of their local travel immersion. The municipal government of Sta. Cruz with Mayor Percival Morales surprised the group when they paid a courtesy call at the town hall.

“Putong” welcome ritual was performed on cue by municipal employees that left most of the students teary-eyed with the ‘unforgettable’ surprise. The Mayor conveyed his thanks to the students for choosing to visit his town and expressed the hope that they’d also help spread the word on what pleasant surprises awaits those who visit Sta. Cruz.

(Mayor Percival Morales of Sta. Cruz).

(The PUP tourism students with Congressman Velasco)

Morales also expressed the hope that future visitors would also include in their itinerary the town’s other tourist attractions like its quiet beaches, mangrove forests, the beautiful islands of Maniwaya, Polo and Mompong, or simply mingling with people in the villages who are known for their hospitality.



After the cave experience, the PUP tourism students also paid a courtesy visit to Congressman Velasco in the latter’s resort house at Poctoy beach in Torrijos and graciously showed them around while giving a brief on local efforts to promote tourism in Marinduque.

(Congressman Velasco's place in Poctoy Beach, Torrijos)

A video on the San Isidro Cave and subterranean river’s discovery by the cave exploration team led by then provincial administrator, Lord Allan Velasco, was first posted on YouTube by this blogger in July 2009. As of today, the said YouTube video has attracted 8,569 views. (Reposted below)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Bila-Bila and Romeo Lumawig of Boac

"Bila-bila Festival"! At last in the historic capital town of Boac through the efforts of a returning new leader, Mayor Roberto J. Madla, the populace, with every good reason, appears determined now not to be outdone by the neighboring towns in the field of street-dancing festivals.

After a lull that lasted for some six years, the Boakenos made its mark loud and clear this time, filling the town center with deafening sound and bright colors in December.

And why not?

It was really somebody from Boac who, in the early 60s fancied the island's numerous species of butterflies as a hobby. He, with proddings from his father, who hailed from Bagtingon, developed a new body of knowledge focusing on those winged fluttering creatures found all over the island-province.

Now, we know of an enormous diversity of endemic butterfly species and their host plants (one for every species), that may have surpassed studies made by naturalists and entemologists in the past.

The work of Romeo Lumawig of Cawit has today given birth to a unique industry where live butterflies are cultured under controlled conditions to produce pupae.

If I remember correctly, he was mentioned in a page in the Guinness Book of World Records about two decades ago as the first one to have developed this culture of breeding countless butterflies in captivity.

Such great contribution that did not merely rely on catching butterflies in the wild that could have meant depletion of these fanciful creatures of joy from Mother Nature.

It's about butterfly farming!

(Photo of Romeo Lumawig taken in the early 70s)


Now, it appears that anything that has to do with butterflies outside of Marinduque in this country could be traced to Lumawig's daughter, Beth, who married a French entomologist and carried on her father's legacy.

Foremost of this was, the very first butterfly house in the Philippines established at the Lung Center Compund in Q.C., later on transferred to Manila Seedling Bank, you must have seen it in the movies, then within the premises of the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Later, other facilities with the touch of Beth rose at the La Mesa Ecopark, Paradiso in Mendez, Cavite, up to Burnham Park for the Panagbenga Festival and at the Baguio Convention Center. She'd go to Aklan to introduce butterfly breeding that ended in a butterfly house rising at the Malay Tree House there and find her hands full conducting seminars here, there and everywhere.

She cuurently maintains the butterfly garden at the Forest Adventure Park at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, a 4 hectare-facility that includes an Arthropod Museum.

But back to her late father, Romeo Lumawig. MSC professor Panchito Labay has thoroughly documented Lumawig's experiences, bodies of knowledge, practices and values in relation to interactions with nature, culture and economics as a fellow in International Development Studies, Wegenigen University, The Netherlands.

Watching the happy faces in the street-festival I couldn't stop thinking of all of them so great "papillon" fans.

(Photos of "Bila-Bila Festival 2010" above.)