The Carlos Celdran "Walk This Way" Tour

He announced his arrival with a boom and a lilt in his voice.

But as we came up to him from different directions to that spot near the main gate of Intramuros with crazy vines crawling up the trellis, he turned mute. Then he let his hands---two vital tools of his trade---move like fish tails to tell us where he wanted us to converge.

It was a searing April Saturday afternoon and there in front of us was Philippine’s world-famous walk-tour guide, Carlos Celdran. He was wearing a mic, a black bowler hat, a maroon bow tie, a modern commercial barong Tagalog over sakada pants, and rubber slippers. By his feet, resting on the pavement, were a portable boom box and a bayong made of plastic straw that contained folios of old photos---nay, reproductions---that he himself would later carry and use to recreate via brilliant storytelling the Manila of old.

[Spoiler alert from here on.]

This tour requires a sense of humor, he said. And with that, he fished from his pocket a small Philippine flag, waved it, and made us sing "Lupang Hinirang."

For starters, Celdran shared the origin of why Filipinos refer to things by their brand names. And to the chagrin of foreigners, the moment turned into a class recitation with Celdran saying “photo” and us shouting “Kodak”; “tissue”-“Kleenex”; “toothpaste”-“Colgate”; “photocopier”-“Xerox”; “soda”-“Coke”.

And then he showed and explained the presence of the chimera---the mythic creature composed of the parts of three animals: a lion, a snake and a goat---in the seal of early Moro settlers, in the seal of Malacanang Palace, and in the seal of San Miguel Brewery. And in a gripping theatrical voice, Celdran said: And Philippines, like the chimera, is an----illusion!

He uttered the word “illusion” with a flourish and a shower of santan flowers that nobody noticed he was clasping in his hands. The timing was perfect and unexpected it caught us by surprise.

So: early on we had our first taste of Celdran’s legerdemain that would pepper his walk-tour, making it more gratifying than it already was.

Technically the walk-tour hadn’t begun yet, but by this time, the crowd with more aliens than locals already had a sense that this was going to be a thrilling and different ride.

Foreign tourists are often told to skip Manila, a place with no soul, no center. Carlos Celdran’s “Walk This Way” tour is his attempt at changing this mistaken notion through a method that is entertaining, funny, and passionate. Very much like watching history on rewind via a stand-up comedy act.

Carlos walked us through the colonization of our country by the Spaniards and the Americans with a tour de force theatrical performance. I had my camera, my notebook, and my pen with me, but I ended up not using any of them as I hung on his every word. To repeat, it was simply impossible for me to peel my eyes off him.

Carlos changed outfits depending on the era he was sharing. At one time he was Uncle Sam with the iconic tall star spangled hat; other time he was Gen. Douglas McArthur.

The part of the tour about the war between the Japanese and the Americans was highly emotional. The stories of the bombing of the Pearl Harbor and Manila that left over 100,000 people dead were told and performed inside a cavernous theater that was once a bunker. Here Carlos relived to us the horrors and the secrets of the decimation of Manila as Pearl of the Orient in a performance that gave everybody goose bumps. To this day, Manila has never really risen from the ashes of destruction wrought by its colonizers, he said.

From the military hat to the aviator shades to the pipe to the swagger to the quivering mouth to the twang and to the guttural voice uttering “I shall return”, Carlos had McArthur down pat. And here he shared the real story behind the famous Leyte landing the "choreographed" photo of which had made it to the cover of Life magazine. To my regret, Gen. Douglas McArthur was demystified and the pedestal on which I had put him was completely shattered.

And with his back to us, he also reenacted the bloodshed the Japanese soldiers wrought by raiding hospitals, killing men and women and throwing babies up in the air and catching them with bayonets and swords. And when finally Carlos faced us, his eyes were red and flaming. We knew then that like us, he still felt outraged.

But just as everything was about to turn too heavy for comfort, he provided a comic relief via his witty one-liners.

Carlos Celdran is sui generis.

It was almost dusk when horse-drawn carriage took us to San Agustin Church, Philippine’s oldest stone church and the only one among the six churches and one cathedral that survived the Manila bombing.

To wrap up the tour, Carlos treated us to some halo-halo across the street, in a boutique [yes, boutique] called, “The Crazy Nun”. And there he explained why Filipinos, like halo-halo, are a mish-mash of cultural influences. And so, like a chimera he said, being a Filipino is an---illusion!

And with a sleight of hand, another shower of santan.

Carlos Celdran is a class act. He does voice acting like no other and elevates it to a form of art; he bangs the hard plastic cover of his folios with his palm and makes the sound of popping wine [his favourite I think] to precede or stress a point; he yells, whispers, whistles, sings, and raps some of his lines; he prances and does slapstick and vaudeville. And his English is flawless; his enunciation, impeccable.

Go for brilliant storytelling and retelling of the history of Manila and the Philippines from a master showman-cum-tour guide.

The “Walk This Way” tour runs for about three hours and costs P1,100 which one pays on the day of the tour. Check the tour dates on the blog of Carlos Celdran.

Sign up. Now!

the waterfalls of Tago

Waterfalls provide a lovely panorama. And it’s easy to get hooked on these natural marvels as they drop from towering heights with stunning power.

Tago, a 2nd class municipality in the central part of Surigao del Sur, has many waterfalls. And three of these---Sola Gratia, Cagpangi, and Green Falls--- are now attracting tourists who seek out the sublime beauty of water in motion.

Set apart in a span of 15 kilometers and located just meters away from the paved highway, these cascades are configured differently they’re worth the special trip.

Sola Gratia Falls

Sola Gratia is a waterfall stowed in a pocket forest that exudes all notions of things primitive: vine-curtained trees, massive boulders and flat rock formations, and vibrant wild flowers strewn everywhere. Its area may be limited but its contour provides added challenge to daring thrill seekers.

The Sola Gratia falls discharges itself into a creek that snakes all the way to Tago River. A resort has been established along this watery path, featuring a kiddie and adult swimming pools that utilize the ever flowing, fresh, and clean emerald water of the falls. Sola Gratia in Pamugsukan, Gamut is about 7 kilometers from Tago.



Cagpangi Falls

Cagpangi Falls is small by any standards. And it doesn’t roar. But as it flows in whispers, it mesmerizes with its quiet charm and watery grace. Comparing it with another of Surigao del Sur's iconic falls using a musical analogy, Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City is hard rock while Cagpangi Falls is rhythm and blues.

Like all other falls, Cagpangi is seasonal: at times it gushes; other times it trickles. And because it’s not lofty, it is not obscured by mists rising in vast clouds even when flowing at full volume. The better for tourists to have clearer selfies.

Canopied by a thick foliage that blows a cold mountain air, Cagpangi Falls, no matter how subdued, is a natural cocoon for restive souls. About 12 kilometers from Sola Gratia, it’s part of an inland resort that still evokes an old world charm even after it has fused natural and man-made attractions.



Green Falls

Secreted away in the lush interior of a primeval forest, Green Falls overflows with frothy waters as though a fairy brewing beer from an unseen giant vat forgot about it as she was busy twitting her “eyeball” with the firefly-man the night before last.

The water that leaps invitingly into the deep plunge pool will leave anyone with no choice but to get a free hydro massage. And the pressure is extremely soothing to the back it puts to shame the ministrations of masseurs in the best of urban spas.

Green Falls is composed of seven falls with the main being a ledge. The other six are mostly horsetails that come in multiple variations: slide, ribbon, chute, and fan.Green Falls offers limitless adventures. If lucky, a tourist may touch a dazzling rainbow forming in the spray at the bottom of the falls. Or he may send his adrenaline to orbit by clambering then crawling to the edge of the precipitous overhang and looking down at the roaring curtain. At the tiers where the other falls gush, shallow streams that mirror the skies flow over rock shelves. Small pools that could accommodate a number of tourists at a time dot the area framed by towering trees and crazy vines. It is here where tourists can take all the photos they want for Facebook and Instagram. Green Falls is located in Cabangahan and is about 3 kilometers from Cagpangi Falls.



Land of Waterfalls

Tago offers no claim for its waterfalls to be the highest, the heaviest or the most spectacular. A true tourist after all doesn’t chase waterfalls for labels and statistics, or for the tremendous roar of the rushing water, or for the luck of snapping a selfie beside a rainbow that hovers above the ground of the waterfall’s gorge. A real tourist visits waterfalls simply because they are sparkling visions of nature at its best.

The Local Government Unit of Tago is positioning itself as the “Land of Waterfalls”. And it is embarking on a reconnaissance project to discover more falls to develop and promote. But because the three banner falls can already hold their own, Tago is poised to launch “The Cascades Tour” this year.

Now, pray tell: Is there an adventure more exciting than visiting three separate waterfalls in just one go?

[Note: The Philippine Daily Inquirer published this article on 26 January 2014 under the title, "Tago, a land of falls". Here's the link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/569403/tago-a-land-of-falls ]

how articulate and expressive we have become with Facebook

Wikipedia says that social media refers to interaction among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Based on that definition, yes, we create information; yes, we share information; yes, we exchange information; yes, we share ideas. But are these information and ideas discussed and expanded? No, I’m not talking about discourse here, just a simple discussion carried like a casual conversation.

Not too long ago, a friend lamented on the slow death of face-to-face conversation. Thanks to Facebook, she said.

But how articulate and expressive have we become with Facebook?

We “like”.

We “share”.

We “tag”.

That’s how articulate and expressive we have become with Facebook!

An FB buddy posts a photo or a quoted line. And what do we do? “Like,” of course!

Now, imagine if you were that FB buddy who posted a photo or a quoted line and all you see on your wall are 75 “likes” with zero comment, how would you feel? Happy, of course, right? Seventy-five "likes" is after all 75 "likes". But imagine if you have 74 “likes” and one comment that said “nice!”, how would you feel?

I don’t know about you, but surely I would be happier. One word and an exclamation mark could spell a world of difference in conversation, written or otherwise.

It’s the irony of all ironies that Facebook, as technology-propelled platform for self-expression, sets us back in the way we converse. And it has brought to the fore our dark side. The same friend told me that she doesn’t like looking at the walls of most of her FB buddies because they contain nothing but rants and hatred. Sickening, she said.

There’s no stopping technology from killing traditional conversation as we know and love it. But we don’t have to concede easily, right?

I don’t need FB friends who do nothing but “like”. They get unfriended eventually. I like my friends to talk, to converse, to speak up on FB as though we’re having face-to face conversation. Yes, I know, talk-converse-speak up are synonyms. That is just my way of stressing my point.

I know some are afraid to carry a conversation with me here on Facebook or elsewhere. But here’s a declaration: I don’t look consciously for intelligent conversation; what I like are small talks big on laughs.

Then and now, life is nothing but a warm small talk. Let's make our life beautiful. Even if only on Facebook.

Tago, Surigao del Sur: A Destination of Choice for 2014

surigao del sur's green falls

Nothing prepared me for the awesomeness of Green Falls.

I once visited this cascade in the early 90s, when we had our pictorial for Mutya ng Tago. That time it was unspoiled, undiscovered, untouched. If not for my feet that ached from miles of trekking the rugged terrain of a virgin forest, I would have explored the falls [to be taken here as singular] and appreciate its small but striking details. But then I was sweating and sore; and all I could recall was that I sat on a flat rock formation, watching Mambobot instruct the swimsuit-clad candidates to mount one after the other the raft made still by the pole of a brawny boatman in thongs.

Fast forward to December 2013. The Green Falls was overflowing with frothy waters as though a fairy brewing beer from an unseen giant vat forgot about it because she was busy either posting selfies on Instagram or twitting about the eyeball she had with the firefly man the night before last.

It was that awesome!



The water was jumping invitingly into the pool, leaving me with no choice but to get a free hydro massage. The pressure was so hard and soothing to my back it put to shame Joyna’s ministrations each time I get her services to ward off the flu.

We climbed the second tier of Green Falls and the view took my breath away. It evoked a feeling of being on top of the world: exhilarating, liberating, empowering. Moses must have felt the same way as he came down from Mt. Sinai carrying those tablets of stone.

Flowing waters that mirrored the skies coated a bed of stone slabs. Small pools dotted the area framed by tall trees and hanging vines. Tarzan and Jane would love it here, I thought to myself.



I went further up. It was then that I saw several falcatta logs awaiting transport by nightfall.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

I went down and from a vantage point watched the full breadth of Green Falls with fresher eyes. It was only then that the full impact of the structures the owner built around Green Falls jarred my senses. I felt a creeping sadness inside me, the same creeping sadness Moses felt when he realized the Israelites had gone to worshiping idols.

Green Falls is awesome, yes. But I hanker for its old self: unspoiled, undiscovered, untouched.



[Green Falls is in Sitio Cagpangi, Barangay Cabangahan in Tago, Surigao del Sur. Unlike before, it now has an access road that requires above average driving skills to negotiate and maneuver.]

editing an FS

I don’t know where the two groups of students from Surigao del Sur State University [SDSSU] got the gumption to ask me to edit their feasibility study [FS] a week after they had defended it before a panel. All I know is that I agreed, which should put to rest the widely-shared perception that I’m expensive.

[Actually I am. But I’m open to negotiation. Hahahaha]

When asked who their instructor and defense panel were, the students mentioned names of former MBA students of mine in the same school. I could get lynched for this, but I’ve been teaching at the graduate school of SDSSU long enough to declare boldly that requiring masteral students to prepare even a barely passable FS is the height of academic sadism. In fact it’s like squeezing blood from stone!

Now: How could one require this from undergrad students?

First thing I did with the manuscripts was to write on the cover pages this line: “Edited as to form only.” It was intended for students so they would know the scope of my engagement. But in essence, it was a memo to myself not to commit an act of editorial ultra vires.

As far as the form and the substance [taken here separately] of the FS were concerned, I had zero expectation. But even if I was hired to improve readability only, I felt excited to know how the panel had torn the FS to pieces and what input they had given the students for revision.

Everything turned out to be wishful thinking on my part.

When I was done two days later---- I work fast, you know---all pages dripped with red ink one would think a contingent of girl scouts used the sheets after running out of sanitary napkins on the third day in the boondocks. Yes, it was that bad that if not for civility, I’d call it pure garbage. And so let me just use a cliché and say it was not worth the paper it was printed on.

Knowing myself, I expected the editing process to be an exercise in self-restraint. And true enough, I was itching the whole time to redo everything because the students had the contents all wrong, using grammar they had beaten black and blue.

A confession: I did edit the substance in one of the voluminous pages but caught myself in time to save the manuscript from total carnage. As penance, I prayed the Act of Contrition seven times and finished the job that day just before Noli de Castro boomed---Magandang Gabi, Bayan!

I shudder at the thought of how much these students had to spend for “ghost writing,” editing, printing, and honorarium, including meals and snacks of panel members just to produce a shamefully worthless document.

Why am I writing about this? Okay, listen. I may have the reputation of being stringent but I can be pragmatic, too. If I were the instructor, I wouldn’t require my students to submit a full-blown FS that they would defend before a panel at the end of the semester. Doing so would be to exhibit my insensitivity and cluelessness. Simply put: Why frustrate yourself by asking for the impossible?

Here’s what I will do instead: I will discuss thoroughly all sections of an FS and after every discussion I will make them write that section of their chosen FS in the vernacular; then I will critique their output and discuss with them areas for improvement. This is called hand-holding students and walking them through the whole learning experience.

The sorry outputs of students revealed this is not being done. Or, if at all, not effectively.

The dean can riddle my flabby carcass with bullets but I couldn’t care less if FS is one of the course requirements. I’ll be a happy and contented instructor if at the end of the semester my students possess an appreciation of FS and a working knowledge of its writing process.

I'm toying with the idea of sending the instructor, a former MBA student, a text message to volunteer as guest lecturer next semester to discuss with her students FS preparation in the most practical and effective way. Or maybe, just maybe, recommend to her to require students not FS but a simple business plan. After all, in the real business world, nobody prepares and uses an FS [or even a business plan for that matter] unless he's Henry Sy. Entrepreneurs nowadays rely so much on intestinal fortitude that children of a lesser god call guts.

Ask me for the difference between an FS and a business plan and I'll shoot you.

Lesser known good side of Britania Islands

In our recent trip to Britania Group of Islets, La Entrada was the original jump-off point because Madam Mercy Alameda, the owner of the resort, wanted to meet Gly’s American friend Rick. But something cropped up, leaving Madam Mercy with no choice but to head for Butuan City posthaste. Good thing she informed us of this, otherwise we wouldn't have discovered something that I just felt need to be shared here.

When we stopped at the toll gate in Barangay Salvacion, a man in tattered yellow clothing peered into the Fortuner’s window.

“You wanna get a boat, SirMa’am?” he said, showing gaps between his nicotine-stained teeth.

“How much?” I said.

“1500,” he smiled, “but you can still haggle.”

“I know the rate; it’s 1200.”

“Okay, Sir. 1200 it is.”

“Then why did you say 1500? You know what? It's bad tourism.” Irritation was thick and palpable in my voice I could write an FB status on it.

He knew better than to answer.

The power window of Nick’s Fortuner began to roll up. “It’s for 1200, Sir,” he now sounded desperate.

I thought: Finding another boatman and negotiating for the same fixed price could be time-consuming. So I signaled to the man my approval. And like a gunman in his getaway motorcycle, he sped away ahead of us.

We followed him as he led us to the site where LGU-San Agustin had first built a boardwalk. About five boats were docking next to thinning mangroves.

We only had snack food because we thought of ordering lunch at La Entrada to be brought to Buslon Island. While the boat was being readied, I asked Reil to drive me back to La Entrada. But then I thought of asking the man with nicotine stained-teeth if there were restaurants in the area.

The man said something that sounded like payday.

There’s a house there that sells abundant freshly caught fish of the premium species and other seafood [think crabs, prawns, lobsters, and shells] at a price that won’t make you feel like you’re being held-up. Lapu-lapu the size of my thigh goes for P200 a kilo; my favourite katambak sells at 150 a kilo. And the good thing is: the husband and wife team will prepare the fish for you in any way you want it done----kinilaw, sinugba, or tinuwa. You just pay P60 per kilo for the effort. And hear this: the P60 per kilo thing goes with utensils that they will bring to Buslon Island along with fish and other gastronomic delights, including a vinegar and soy sauce mix mixed [no, it's not a typo] with spices and sili.

The man with nicotine-stained teeth offered to drive to San Agustin to buy us pork liempo that the same husband and wife tandem grilled for us in a manner that had us all raving. So yummy!

And so while our lunch was being cooked in the mainland by the husband and wife team, we sailed off to Buslon Island and swam to our heart’s content. Just when we started to grow gills, the boat carrying our utensils and food arrived.

Now, isn’t that wonderful?

Next time you visit Britania Islands, go by this route and look for Precy Josol. I have her cellphone number but I don’t have her permission to share it here. So: my apologies. But if you want, just send me a message and I will be glad to negotiate on your behalf.

Don't just take my word for it. Come visit Villa Azarcon and see for yourself.

cagpangi falls in villa azarcon

I first gushed about a cascade’s visual impact when I was a kid vacationing in Sagbayan, San Miguel about 15,375 days ago. That summer our cousins invited us to a picnic in Panghasaan, a falls located in the navel of a primeval forest that’s part of the vast agricultural land owned by Lolo Endong.

Panghasaan Falls, as I remember it, is a multi-tiered cascading wonder with pools that come in different shapes and sizes. Young as I was then, it made me feel connected to a certain force of nature that was both primal and electrifying. Since then I had gone to many waterfalls, so many in fact that I had lost count. But I’m no junkie, which means I don’t embark on waterfall-chasing trips. However I do my own check-outs, especially the accessible ones.

And Cagpangi Falls in Villa Azarcon is very much accessible.

Just about 16 kilometers [or 20 minutes on average speed] from Tago, Cagpangi Falls is small and quiet. As it flows, it mesmerizes with its delicate beauty and watery grace. Comparing it to another of Surigao del Sur's iconic falls using a musical metaphor, one may say that Tinuy-an Falls is hard rock while Cagpangi Falls is rhythm and blues.

Like all other falls, Cagpangi is seasonal: at times it gushes like a broken dam, other times it trickles like sweat. And its height is not impressive; but this becomes an advantage as Cagpangi Falls is not obscured by mists even when flowing at full volume. The better for the inner camwhores in tourists.

Canopied by a thick foliage that blows a cold mountain air, Cagpangi Falls is a natural cocoon for homo sapiens with weary heart and soul. But above all, it’s a place to celebrate nature and life because of its awe-inspiring power no matter how subdued.

Cagpangi Falls is part of Villa Azarcon, an inland resort in Barangay Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur. Because of its proximity, it’s now fast becoming the favourite weekend getaway of tourists who have no problem going there in private vehicles or PUJs because the road is already concreted.




Villa Azarcon fuses natural and man-made attractions. It has two kiddie and one adult pools built in ways that stoke the water babies in men and women.

With its rustic ambience, Villa Azarcon evokes an old world charm. And with its well-manicured grounds, it’s ideal for early morning yoga or Zumba and late afternoon picnics.

Owned, developed, and managed by Atty. Tonyboy Azarcon, Villa Azarcon offers air-conditioned cottages [P1,500 a night] and dorm-type accommodations [P250 per head]. It also charges each visitor with a 25-peso entrance fee .

Visit Villa Azarcon soon and prepare to get wet.

the unrivalled britania islands

The panoramic view of 24 islets dotting the horizon like half-submerged domes gives one the impression that Britania is where Poseidon once held court. And the god of the sea must’ve made sure to position these floating charmers such that they kiss, hug, and part as one sails past them.

Britania is famous for its group of islands. But fact is, it’s an assemblage of islets, sandbars, and promontories in varying degrees of land mass and protrusion. All these are uninhabited with minimal or no vegetation, surrounded by water of the clearest glass, and carpeted with sand the color and texture of Goldilocks polvoron.

Long before Britania became a magnet for tourists that it is now, it was called Alepanto. And to this day, old folks differ on who gave this rich fishing village its original name. Some say it was a band of nomads looking for a place to stay and earn a living during the Spanish period; others say it was Gregorio Lamela (aka Kapitan Golong), then a highly respected local. Alepanto was later renamed Bretania by Eufemio Darunday, ex-mayor of San Agustin, who likened its distinct island-beaches to that of Great Britain’s. It was only recently that the spelling was changed to “Britania”.

A visit to Britania must include hopping to its premier quartet of islets: Buslon, Naked, Hagonoy, and Hiyor-hiyoran. Organized boat operators offer tours with standard rates for unlimited time: P1,500 for 15 passengers or less; and P2,000 for 20, with extra passenger going for P100 each.

If one can visit only one islet, then Buslon it should be. It’s the nearest but still, like the rest, it’s a natural studio for taking pictures that would make a good cover photo for Facebook and guaranteed to make his friends weep from envy. It also has two subsidiary islets that one can access on foot if brave enough to wade in waist-deep waters. These twin rock promontories both named Panlangagan hold a secret cave and a pocket forest.

Hiyor-hiyoran is the islet with the most vegetation. And if one is lucky to meet fishermen there with a catch to spare, he gets to sample shellfish cooked in saltwater or try his hand at gutting fish and collecting roe from sea urchins. The rocky portion of Hagonoy provides a textural contrast to its incandescent sand. And with huge slabs of stone strewn everywhere, it’s easy to visualize the Little Mermaid doing a “selfie” in her iconic pose.

Naked Island is actually a sandbar that stretches and recedes with the tide but never vanishes. Because it resembles a fallen cloud that God never bothered to pick-up, this ridge of sand is the closest one gets to walking in the clouds. That said, it should be made the highpoint of one’s Britania experience.

One doesn’t capture Britania; one savors it. And it’s a pity that most tourists go there just to earn bragging rights in Facebook instead of living the moment of the hard-to-beat experience. These people don’t realize that no matter how many times they click their cameras, they couldn’t upload the sea-scented breeze that caresses like a cold spirit of a forgotten loved one; or the splitting of the glassy water by the boat’s hull; or the sensation of fine sand stroking the feet in ways much gentler than the softest rug could ever do; or the heady feeling one gets from braving the current as he goes islet-hopping on foot.

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Britania is a barangay of San Agustin in Surigao del Sur. To get there, one takes a bus to Tandag but alights at Salvacion junction where there’s a tourist assistance center. Because Britania is still 2.8 kilometers away, one has to ride a motorcycle and pay a minimal environmental fee. Just a few caveats: Food and beverage are not sold in all four islets, and so one should bring his own provision. Nobody is allowed to stay overnight in any of the islets. However there are hotels and restaurants in the mainland, the most famous of which is La Entrada because of its above-average facilities and amenities.

If one intends to go island-hopping, he can hire a boat until 2:00 PM. The usual route is Naked-Hagonoy-Hiyorhiyoran-Buslon. But if he wants to visit Buslon only, which is good enough, he should do it before 4:00 PM. While on tour, some boatmen may turn devious, saying they can’t park at Buslon because it’s too crowded or it’s difficult and risky to go to Hagonoy because the wind has shifted and the tide has changed. One must insist and not allow to be tricked this way.

The best time to hit Britania is early morning, when available boats are still plenty and one can choose which to hire. This way, too, he has a longer time to enjoy the islets and take all the “selfies” he wants.



(Note: This article was published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 18 August 2013 under the title, "The Incandescent Britania Islands". Here's the link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/467819/the-incandescent-britania-islands Photo credits: Olan Emboscado, Jonnie Sacote. )

Hiyas nan Carrascal with Shamcey Supsup

Because I had yet to fit my barong, I went home at high noon on 16 July. And as usual, Lydia exceeded my expectations; my barong was a killer.

I napped. Then came the text message from Ms. Totit, the Search for Hiyas ng Carrascal chair, asking what time I wanted fetched. I said about 5:30 because the anti-social me didn’t want to mingle with other judges and instead want to go directly to the pageant’s venue, which was the boulevard. She said I had to go directly to Oasis Resort where dinner would be served. And I have reserved a room for you just in case you decide to sleep there, she added.

I didn’t have plans of bringing the dslr camera because I didn’t want to take pictures at the same time I was judging the contestants because it’s rude. But at the last minute, I changed my mind. And so I texted an officemate to request the clerk to prepare the camera and to recharge the battery. I would just pick it up on my way to Carrascal, I said. But knowing the office would be close by then, I told her to leave the camera with the SSS guard downstairs.

My sundo came late. I went inside SSS office and grabbed the camera on top of the table along with the charger. Then we headed for Carrascal.

We arrived at Oasis Resort at about 7:30 PM. Only the candidates who were being made up were there. No judges; no organizers. Some gay handlers were bitching they hadn’t eaten yet. At the counter, a resort staff gave me the key to “Aircon N”. When I asked her where the food for the judges was, she said she didn’t know.

I was famished and it was getting late. I texted Ms. Luanne, a committee member and a former graduate student, asking if the pageant would start anytime soon because I needed to have a bite of food first. She said they’d wait for me.

The staff at the counter told me it would take 30 minutes to order food. I pleaded to her to serve me anything edible. She phoned someone in the kitchen and said, in front of me, to see if there was some left over from the buffet they set up earlier. I fell off the high chair.

Then I proceeded to my room to freshen up and change while the kitchen crew was scouring his territory with leftover food he could feed me. It was 8:45 PM when Luanne had me fetched by the Everest of Vice Mayor Arreza. When I arrived at the venue, the spectators were singing the Lupang Hinirang. As we hit the back door I was cursing myself. Good thing I saw Sir Polong, a school principal and a former graduate student, and he guided me to my chair. The light was blinding and I could sense people were looking at me either because I was late or my barong was shining from the glare of spotlights circling the venue like mad.

The judges' table carried a keyboard and an LCD monitor containing a programmed judging sheet. All we had to do was input the scores.

Then the pageant began.

The male host introduced Shamcey Supsup as co-host and the crowd went wild. As the show progressed, I took notes in between my rating the 19 candidates who were all not from Carrascal. All the while, the dslr camera was on my table beside my cell phone.

I received a text message from Ms. Tessie Molejon-Miranda commenting on my nice barong. She was watching the show in Cantilan on cable tv.

Then it was time to serenade the candidates. Shamcey said Paolo Avelino was not available but not to worry because an equally popular substitute was with her. And out came Aaron Villaflor. When Aaron started singing to the candidates, I took the camera, turned it on, aimed, and shoot. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing.

I checked the SD card; it was there. Then I checked the battery; it wasn’t there. The image of a charger flashed in my mind. It was inside my backpack that was sitting on the bed at Oasis Resort.

Fuming, I texted the clerk, demanding an explanation why she didn’t put back the battery after recharging. She said she didn’t know how and that was the reason she sent the charger that contained the battery.

I was shot! I thought of Lovely, Maria Isabel, Nonon, and Tita.

The pageant ended. And I had no picture to show how great my barong was. Hahaha

Shamcey was squirreled away by the organizers and I was sitting there waiting for Ms. Totit to tell me the vehicle was ready to whisk me home to Tago. Ms. Niknik Montenegro (Kote’s wife) came up to me to say she wouldn’t be hitching a ride with me.

About 20 minutes later, Ms. Totit said I’d be riding a van to Tandag with Shamcey Supsup and her party; they were staying at Villa Maria Luisa Hotel. Ms. Totit made me follow her backstage, to a secret room where Mayor BB Pimentel was entertaining Shamcey. On a small table were various seafood. When he saw me, Mayor BB stood, pulled me and introduced me to Shamcey. She extended her hand and we shook. Then Mayor made me sit beside Shamcey and left. Niknik entered the room and pulled me to have a photo op with Shamcey.

Then we rode the maroon van back to Oasis Resort to get our things. Inside everybody was laughing as Shamcey and her manager mimicked the candidates in the Q&A.

It was already 1:30 in the morning.

the 2013 Carrascal Bunting Contest

This year’s Bunting Contest was participated in by Barangays Baybay, Doyos, Embarcadero, and Saca. Chaired by Romel M. Oribe of the Department of Trade and Industry, the board of judges had, as members, Maryvil P. Cruz of the Provincial Governor’s Office and Arman V. Decena of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The judges rated the entries on 11 July 2013 using the following criteria: 25% Creativity which refers to the manipulation of material as an important element of design in a manner that’s artistic and fresh; 20% Originality and Design Rationale which refers to the story behind the overall design and the uniqueness of materials employed and the use of innovative touches that don’t veer away too much from the traditional concept of bunting as fiesta decor; 30% Visual Impact which refers to the raw power of the overall design to create a strong positive impression involving the visual sense; 15% Color Combination which refers to the harmonious interplay of colors that reflects and captures the occasion’s festive mood; 10% Online Vote which refers to the votes cast by Carrascalanons from all over the world using the Internet. This was computed by dividing the total votes garnered by a contestant with the total votes cast, then multiplied by 10%.

In determining the winners, the judges used guidelines that stipulated the rank system. The same guidelines provided that a tie shall be resolved using the point system.

The literature submitted by the participating barangays to the Bunting Committee guided the judges in understanding the rationale behind the designs, thus making it easy for them to appreciate every nuance of the creation that otherwise would have remained meaningless. To illustrate, one entry mentioned in its literature the use of “gihay” that was simply invisible in the design. Yet closer reading of the literature revealed that “gihay” was wrapped in colored cellophane and used to prop the outline of the tail and fin of the giant fish which served as the centerpiece of the whole bunting design. The literature went on to say that “gihay” which makes a broom signified the barangay’s concern to clean the environment. Ingenuity like this is what makes Carrascal Bunting Contest worth perpetuating!

Much better than last year’s, this year’s buntings articulated eloquently the mood of Carrascal, which was jovial and celebratory. Using patterns that were easy on the eyes, all entries were very good in terms of design, color combination, quantity, etc. Truth be told, the judges practically had nothing negative to say about the entries.

More than making the streets of Carrascal beautiful in a dream-like way, the buntings sent the message that Carrascal is on its way to economic progress but at the same time continues to preserve and nurture the much-valued and long-held tradition that defines the Filipinos as a people and as a race.

While the judges picked this year’s grand prize winner in a unanimous decision, there was a triple tie for 2nd place. Consistent with the contest guidelines, the judges determined the runners-up via the point system.



[Note: As I post this, I still have a standing gag order against naming the winners as they will be announced on 15 July yet.]

grammar glitch in Lincoln's grave marker

My sister Gly visited recently the famous Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. One of the photos she posted on FB was a marker whose inscription really bothered me.



Then on 3 July, I finally wrote an email to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to raise the matter. Below is the email.

*****

Sir/Madam:

I'm from the Philippines and I have a friend who is still in the US touring historical sites. She had gone to many wonderful places including the Lincoln Tomb. As proof, she had posted photos on Facebook. And this marker (please see attached photo) with the following inscription really bothers me, thus:

THE GRAVE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

This structure marks the graves of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four children. Members of the Lincoln family chose the site in May 1865. Planned and built the years following the president’s shocking death, the tomb remains an imposing symbol of the peoples’s (underscoring mine) sorrow.

Doesn't the "s" after the apostrophe make the sentence ungrammatical? If not, please enlighten me. Thank you very much.

*******

Then on 9 July, I received a reply from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, saying it acknowledges the error and promising to correct it as soon as possible.

.

The full text of the email runs, thus:

Romel,

Thank you for pointing out this error. We do appreciate it. One can never have enough eyes for proof reading. We will take steps to correct it as soon as possible.

Best,


Karen E. Everingham
Historic Sites Division
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
217/785-1584
F: 217/785-8117
www.illinoishistory.gov/hs/sites.htm
www.illinoiscivilwar150.org

C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars

Right at the middle of Hinatuan Bay is a resort that stands on stilts. Just a 10-minute outrigger boat ride from Enchanted River, the C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars offers a place to stay for the night, especially to those who can’t have enough of Enchanted River and want to go back in the morrow.

Because you see nothing but expanse of water around you, staying at C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars is like being on a cruise sans the seasickness. As a floating resort, C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars delights in ways simple but splendid. And it makes one appreciate again things basic and primal, like a snail inching its way up a slippery pole; or the sea-scented breeze caressing you like a cold spirit of a forgotten loved one; or the slivers of light filtering through your room’s sawali wall; or the sun bursting from a distance into a thousand splinters of beauty, mystery, and magic; or stars creating cryptic patterns in the skies and falling so wishes could be made.

By its name, the C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars is, well, a fish cage. Its main attractions used to include sea turtles (Chelonioidea). However when Facebook-crazy tourists began taking their pictures astride these marine creatures, DENR stepped in and had these testudines released back into the wild. What is left are premium fish species like lapu-lapu, talakitok, maya-maya, sibad, etc. You can do game fishing using the available hook and line. And if you’re lucky to catch a fish or two, you can have it cooked for P350 a kilo as you're prohibited to take it home. How’s that for a bragging right?

But what really makes C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars a different experience is the way it suspends time, the way it makes things unhurried. It’s not like being marooned in an island; it’s more like living in the navel of the sea. Think Waterworld sans the explosion and the carnage!

It’s in a setting like this that things get clearer: how the wind changes direction; how clouds couple and uncouple; how the sea crinkles; how tide rises and recedes; how schools of fish move in cadence with each other; how sunrise and sunset render the sea in sfumato and chiaroscuro.

At C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars, you just don’t walk around its maze-like corridors; or sip coffee while watching fish swim this way and that; or sing your lungs out at the videoke bar; or have breakfast of premium fish species, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, shellfish, octopus and squid that all beg to be devoured without mercy; or do yoga at sun-up or sun-down. You can also go boating either on your own or with a boatman (P50/hour excluding tip) or go island hopping with a motorized outrigger boat (160/hour excluding tip) or go swimming at no cost.



It’s a huge and borderless swimming area out there, the safest being the point around the boardwalk because it remains relatively shallow even at high tide. And just a few meters from this bathing area is a sandbar that makes itself scarce most days of the month. Pretty much like David Copperfield’s magic sandbar in Musha Cay in the Bahamas, this 1-kilometer stretch of white sand is what gives the area its famous name, The Vanishing Island.

The sandbar emerges during new moon, at low tide, lasting for about a week. Interestingly, it shifts on a daily basis, appearing then disappearing after three hours, only to resurface in the evening. But this is enough for tourists to jog around, get an expensive tan on a deck chair, do some selfies, or feed their vanities at day and burn them in a bonfire at night. Rave party on a vanishing sandbar? Hmmm.



Established in April 2011 and managed by good-looking Toledo siblings Roland and Lysil, C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars doesn’t have top-of-the-line amenities. But they’re decent enough. It has six fan single rooms at P300; four fan double rooms at P600; five fan family rooms for 10 persons with T&B at P2,000, and one aircon family room for 10 persons with T&B at P2,500. Extra bed goes for P100. To delight its customers, C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars does an extra [nautical] mile, that is, it can reserve you a table at Enchanted River and serve your meals there before you leave for home.

Geographically, C-Fish Cage N Sand Bars is part of Talisay, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It does business at Hinatuan Bay (8°22.1’ N; 126°20.0’ E) located at the eastern seacoast of Mindanao. And to go to this floating resort and back to the mainland, one has to commission for P100 per trip an outrigger boat that carries no more than five passengers.

How to get there? Ask around. Life’s more exciting that way.

a travel advisory to Britannia Islands

Before you pack those bags and head for Britannia Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, read on for a couple of suggestions and caveats.

1. If you can visit only one island, make it Buslon. [See photo.] It’s the most accessible and perfect site to take those pictures that would make your FB friends weep from envy;

2. The island-hopping adventure consists of a visit to the following: Buslon, Naked, Hagonoy, and Hiyor Hiyoran. The rates are: for a group of 15 or less, P1,500; for 20 persons, P2,000. Technically, it’s P100 per head in excess of 15.

Because the boatmen have been organized, they offer standard rates. However La Entrada offers P1,000 for a group of 10 or less.

3. The island-hopping tour has no time limit and should include the aforementioned four islands. The usual route is Naked-Hagonoy-Hiyor Hiyoran-Buslon. Don’t pay in advance for reasons you will read below.

Here are the usual tricks some unscrupulous boatmen foist on unsuspecting tourists and excursionists: a) That they can’t park at Buslon Island because it’s too crowded. Don’t agree. Insist!; b) When you reach Naked Island, they will say it’s difficult and risky to go to Hagonoy because the wind and the tide have shifted and changed. Don’t agree. Insist!

Don’t allow yourself to be shortchanged, visit the four islands at all cost or miss the fun. But should the boatmen get their way, divide the boat rental by four and that’s the cost per island, then pay only based on the number of islands you have visited.

Boats for hire are still available in the afternoon, but not later than 2:00 PM, that is, if you intend to go on an island-hopping tour. But if you visit only Buslon Island, you can still go there not later than 4:00 PM and go back to the mainland before dusk sets in.

By the way, the boat rental includes boatmen safeguarding your things.

4. The best way to visit Britannia Islands is early morning when the available boats are still plenty and you can choose which one to commission. This way, too, you have a longer time to enjoy the islands.

5. Nobody sells food and beverages in the islands, and so bring your own provision. But there are hotels and restaurants in the mainland that offer food and a place to stay at reasonable prices.

6. A toll fee of P30 per vehicle and an environmental fee of P25 for every two persons are collected before you reach Barangay Britannia.

7. As with anything in life, haggle.

Because I value my vote so much, I’ll cast it solely for Dr. Boren Y. Villamor. Whether he wins or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that with him, my vote will never go to waste.

Boren embraces public service like it’s a lifeline. And he remains focused on this noble vision to the point that many times he has foregone great opportunities that would have made his life with his family more comfortable.

Boren has impeccable track record. He had served the masses in remote areas in the hinterlands of Mindanao even before he finished medical school. A pediatrician with a bleeding heart, Boren continues to champion the cause of the less fortunate especially in the area of cheaper and affordable, if not free, access to medical assistance. He knows it’s a lonely and an uphill battle, but Boren perseveres.

A class valedictorian with matinee idol looks and a killer smile, Boren is soft spoken and self-effacing. But what impresses me most about Boren is his being down to earth, his being humble and grounded, and his wanting a life so simple yet meaningful. All these even if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Boren has brains. Boren has passion. But most importantly, Boren has that singular character needed for genuine public service. This is the combination that Tago surely and sorely needs.

I’m Romel M. Oribe. And I’m voting for Dr. Boren Y. Villamor.

Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Boulevard

When the bust of Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. was put on a pedestal in the central part of the boulevard of Tandag City, tongues began wagging. A certain Aeonoel was commissioned to sculpt the image that took two years to finish. Made of concrete cement and moulded from plaster of Paris, the bust acquired a bronze patina from a Pylox vinyl spray.

People whine: How could the Pimentels do this to us? Don’t they have delicadeza? Understandably, the last one comes from people expecting the Pimentels to exercise restraint instead of perpetrating an act everybody perceives to be too self-serving as they are the sitting powers-that-be.

People are raising a howl because they couldn’t see the reason behind venerating the Pimentel patriarch with a boulevard that carries his name. Camp Vicente Pimentel in Telaje, yes, they say, because the Pimentels donated the land on which the military camp stands. But the boulevard?

Pray tell: What’s the rule on this?

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has issued the Revised Guidelines on the Naming and Renaming of Streets, Public Schools, Plazas, Building, Bridges and other Public Structures. Section IV [Naming/Renaming after Persons] provides, thus: Street, plaza or any public place may be named or renamed to honor a person or family who contributed to the welfare of the Filipino people.

Oh well, the phrase "who contributed to the welfare of the Filipino people" provides a wide latitude to play around.

It is a public knowledge that Vicente Luna Pimentel Sr. was a lawyer who became an assemblyman and a Constitutional Convention delegate during the time of President Ferndinand Marcos. Pimentel has always been described as the patriarch and pillar of Surigao del Sur politics he being the first governor of the once undivided Surigao.

(Photo credit: Jonathan V. Lagang)

Of the many campaign materials assaulting my visual sense since this mad scramble to E-day began, I have yet to see one that contains a political platform or a simple slogan that would tell me what the candidate intends to work on once he gets elected. Is this intentional, meaning, is this the candidate’s way of dodging accountability, of playing safe? Or is this reflective of the candidate’s cluelessness of things political?

Posters and handbills are the candidate’s first level of communication in any election campaign. Such being the case, campaign materials need to catch the eye of voters if a candidate wants to be on the right track.

But how?

By remembering that design is the single most important thing, be it for a poster, a tarp, or a handbill. A good design always creates a positive association in the voter's mind where the candidate is concerned. Of course design includes layout, the message that a candidate wants to put across, the photo of the candidate himself, and a catchy slogan.

When designing the campaign materials, it’s important for the candidate to strike a chord with his target voters and convey his message effectively. Does he want to be straightforward, questioning, or intriguing? The choice is his and his alone.

And so he has a slogan? Okay, he should let that slogan be the headline and render the other details in smaller but readable fonts. He should always remember not to cram his campaign posters and handbills with a lot of texts. Instead he should keep it brief, letting the image do the talking as much as possible.

These are the things I’ve been looking for in the wasteland we call Philippine politics. And so far, no such luck. Because what I see are campaign posters that contain nothing but the candidates’ numbers and their photos. And even these are overly Photoshopped they look like audition rejects from the fourth instalment of the Twilight saga.

Mauno kuno nganiya: Tatak FJP?

Uno aton tataka, tabi?

Nan gamay pa ako, aydol ko si FPJ. Di maihap haw pila ka sine ni FPJ an yatan-aw ko sa Timber City Cinema sanan sinehan sa Moonglow. Labi na haw pistan Tandag, FPJ gayud yaon an salida. Tapos may mga travelling movies pa gayud sa Tago. Bisan nan college na ako sa Cebu, mutan-aw gayud gihapon ako nan sine ni FPJ, labi na an iya Panday series.

Maarang na “tatak” ni FPJ. May iya gayud taraw estilo nan pinusilan na di mahaud nan iban, anay pa haw si Lito Lapid. An mutuyok taraw siya—bang! An mutakilid---ping! An mukalit pag dayang haw dungan kablit nan gatilyo---bang, bang, bang! Ay, ay luoyi si Paquito Diaz kay mahal-id sa gayud siya nan way oras, unsay kapun-an nan saging na yaduog nan bagyo. Pero mas luoyi si Max Alvarado kay an iya hawagi na ilong na singkitar hollow block himuon sa gayud ni FPJ na pertahan nan bala nan iya cuarentay cinco.

Pero sa tanan tatak ni FPJ, an di ko gayud ibaylo yaon pagatawag na makinilya. Ay, ay makinilyahon na gani ni FPJ si Paquito Diaz, matay mo palakpak sa gayud ako. Magsugod kay naa taraw yaon na mag sinumbagay si FPJ sanan si Paquito Diaz. Kulatahon sa gayud naa ni Paquito Diaz si FPJ nan amo dakay kutob. Luoyi si FPJ, magdamiyang an dugo sa bahbah, manhubag an mata. Pero taud taud, kalit mutindog haw mudasmag kan Paquito Diaz. Anhi na dayon an makinilya mo salida. Magsugod si FPJ pagsumbag nan kuob-kuob na kan Paquito Diaz sa suok, padayon an paspasi na sumbag na way undang---anay kibale ga makinilya---mupanik an kinumo ni FPJ sa tiyan ni Paquito Diaz, sa dubdob, sa liog, ug hangtud moabot sa ginawngan na adto ni FPJ ipugpog an pinakakusog na sumbag hangtud mabayud an ginawngan ni Paquito Diaz nan kinulatahay, hangtud matumba siya ug magdupa na unsay inanud nan baha.

Amo lugar ini na tatak ni FPJ an dad-on ni Grace Poe sa Senado? Aya naa siya tuyok adesir labniha si Jamby Madrigal sa rostrum haw makinilyaha? Aduy mag-isan ka kipi an ginawngan ni Jamby. Kailo da.

Haw akoy manga iban ni Grace Poe sa Team Pinoy, kuman pa daan magpasangon na akon artificial abs sa Catalan Tinsmith kay aduy bagan makudo kay an kinabuhi na atubangon ko sa Senado with Grace Poe.

Pero basin sab an mga linya ni FPJ amoy paga pasabot ni Grace Poe na Tatak FPJ na iya dad-on sa Senado. Matay di ko ma imagine haw mag session na sila nan mga Team Pinoy sa senado. Kay di ba 12-0 san target? Demodo sila-sila dan mag atubang sa Senado.

Haw mag privilege speech lugar si Antonio Trillanes, mutindog sa gayud dayon si Grace Poe, haw mulaong: Bilis-bilisan mo, magsimula na ang panibagong paglilitis mo, at ngayon, ako ang huhusga. (FPJ; Ako ang Huhusga)

Obin mag diskursyo taraw si Koko tapos pararon siya ni Grace nan ini na linya: Huwag mo na linlangin ang sarilli mo, Koko anak. Hindi ang katotohanan sa likod nang panlilinlang ni Migs ang hinahanap mo sa kabuuan ng iyong paglalakbay. Ang tunay na hinahanap mo ay kahulugan nang pag iwan sayo ng asawa mo. (FPJ; Aguila)

Tapos haw mo regatyar si Bam Aquino, utdon sa gayud siya ni Grace nan ini na linya: Ang problema sa yo, Bam, huli kang ipinanganak. (FPJ; Kahit Konting Pagtingin)

Tapos mo arangkada dayon taraw si Chiz haw magpakyut, yadi an tubag ni Grace: Sabihin mo na ang gusto mong sabihin, Chiz, pero gusto kong malaman mo na huwag mo nang paikutin ang ulo nang mga magulang ni Heart. Hindi pa tapos ang laban. (FPJ; Hindi Pa Tapos ang Laban)

Mutindug si Alan Cayetano, mo alsa an boses. Mutindug sab si Grace: Alan, kung noon nagtalumpati kang naka salamin, ngayon sisiguraduhin kong magprivilege speech kang may bulak sa ilong. (FPJ: Sa Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite)

Mutindog si Cynthia Villar kay mulaban taraw kan Alan Cayetano. Mulingi kaniya si Grace na an ginawngan gayubit haw mulaong: Kung kayo lang ang magiging kaibigan ko, Cynthia, bibili na lang ako ng aso. (FPJ; Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko)

O di ba, bibuhin Senado?

Mauno kuno adto nganiya, Grace: Tatak FJP?

Weeh!

feelings medals evoke

Every time I attend a graduation and see students wearing medals and ribbons, I always wonder what feelings those accolades evoke in them. For most, pride and joy, of course. But there are students who think they're shortchanged and deserve better honors than what those medals and ribbons on their breast represent. And when one gets this feeling, nothing could be more hurting than a graduation ceremony.

I should know. Been there, done that.

I spent only two weeks in Grade I because Mrs. Anita L. Orozco, my teacher, accelerated me to Grade 2. Underaged with a non-existent study habit, I was still able to worm my way into the honor roll of a batch that had more intellectual Titans than Mt. Olympus.

I was a consistent honor student but when I graduated from Purisima School in 1981, I got only one medal. And that was for being a member of a glee club! Me who couldn’t sing to save my life and who got in only because Tita Nene Pareja, our trainer, wanted an---ahem---eye candy on the line up, got a gold medal for lip-syncing!

Funny. Yet cruel.

Shoot me now, but it is my boldest contention that among my batchmates, only Dr. Laiden J. Elizalde-Oliguiber, our class valedictorian, is within my league. All others did well by possessing an 80-GB mental hard drive.

During our time, I brought more honors to our batch and Purisima School than Laiden and all other honor students combined: I was a debater; I was an extemporaneous speaker; I was a pitcher; I played volleyball and basketball; I was an orator, a declaimer, an actor, a director, a quiz bowler; I was an award-winning artist-illustrator; I was the informal initiator and leader of our batch.

That March afternoon when I received my diploma from Monsignor Ireneo Amantillo and Sr. Carmen Francis Cua, SPC, I felt sorry for my mother. But what could I do? The nuns didn’t give me awards like they did to lesser achievers for all those skills I put to better use and had given Purisima School honor and prestige. Even the Gerry Roxas Leadership Award was given to a classmate who had this eternal smile on his face but had done practically nothing to catapult our batch to prominence and supremacy.

When the result of NCEE came out, I had my sweetest vindication. Except Laiden, all honor students of my batch bit my dust. The good thing was, we all belonged to the same room when we took it at STC and Pilot Elementary School and so nobody could accuse somebody of getting a leakage.

To this day whenever I get the chance, I always tell graduates similarly situated that while ribbons and medals are important (for their parents most especially), they don’t have to feel bad like I once did. Success, after all, is not dependent on ribbons and medals.

Hardwork is still the key.