That September Rain

It was a Friday and my garage has just been transformed into a carpentry shop. My daughters were doing an exhibit for Instituto Cervantes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on a very tight deadline. We had to parke my cars at the street to accomodate the materials and so many carpenters in the garage. At first, I was worried that the neighbors may complain as the work went through the night...

Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana) hit land early next morning. It was September 27, 2009, a Saturday when Ondoy packed winds of 85 kilometers per hour as it moved across Northern Luzon towards China Sea. It brought so much rain that by late in the afternoon, the water started to flood the garage where the men were working. The hardware delivered some materials but failed to make a second trip. We managed to raise the lumber and plywood and keep it dry. Soon, water entered my house we had to raise the piano and other furniture. Towards midnight, it was knee deep in the house.




It was high tide and the water from the Pasig River started to come in. The cars were submerged up to the headlights. Part of the street suffered a power failure and we were lucky to have had electricity except for a few hours. Elsewhere, people were undergoing an ordeal, going to higher ground. In many cases, higher ground was the roof of their house. I heard Lito Atienza comment on the radio that the effects of global warming is starting to tell. The equivalent of one month worth of rain fell in less than one day, according to government weathermen. They also released water from Angat Dam as it reached critical levels.

The workers were not able to report for work that day. Public transport was in jeopardy and some of the streets were still flooded. We were worried about the deadline.

Benigno Aquino III

The election fever has turned to a new high as Senator Noynoy Aquino declares his running for the presidency. The underlying assumption for a Noynoy for President campaign is integrity and honesty in public office. Tita Cory has left such an impression on the public andwhile it does not follow that her son would exhibit the same virtues, it is only fair to presume that Noynoy would be forced to keep up with his mother's legacy.



What remains to be seen is whether or not the young Aquino will be able to steer away from the influence of those who help in the campaign period. People in high places are always hounded by Rasputins whose intentions are not always pure. The kind of PR programs that works for show business personality and younger sister Kris Aquino may not be desirable for an astute politician. In the final analysis, it is in Noynoy's choice of friends that will later on spell the success or failure in leading the nation.

Photo: Senator Aquino with Public Relations Practitioner Malou Caluma

Sr. Gervasia Cabel

Professor of Theology and Spanish Mauri Cabrido and I visited Sr. Gervasia Cabel at La Verna 16th Street in New Manila. She belonged to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God. I had the acquaintance of Sister when she was still the Vice President at Adamson University. Fr. Rolando Dela Goza was president at that time.

It wasn’t a planned visit. We both went to Ortigas Center that Saturday morning: me to see Dr. Victor Caparas at Medical City and Mauri to get his Life Member's identification card at Philhealth. Since it was the feast of the Assumption, we thought we could pay sister a visit. We found her at this Franciscan house at the back of St. Joseph’s College.

We talked about the students and faculty at Adamson University. Lino Estadilla who has entered the priesthood after his stint at the US Navy, Cory who was her faithful secretary, Alfred Paterno who is an administrator for the Diocese of Quezon City, Venus Quevedo who is now Adamson's Director for Research, Evaluation, and Continuing Education, and Dr. Rosario Alberto who was then Dean of Graduate School.

An American Buddhist in Korea

I met Mike last Sunday evening before his flight back to Korea. Mike grew up a Catholic in Detroit but later on turned to Buddhism and made his sojourn to Asia eventually settling in Korea. He takes pleasure in saying "I am a better Buddhist than I was as a Catholic" and I cannot recall what he says he does in Korea but it is Buddhism related.

It can be intellectual arrogance that some people dwell in discussing religions but my wife who suffered a stroke has received several suggestions on how the brain works, including Jill Bolte Taylor's talk on TED which I beiieve has some Buddhism if not Hinduism content. And so I allowed myself to get some education from Mike. He said the Buddha (I am not sure if the word "the" should be capitalized) lived at about 500 BC and insinuated and that Jesus Christ may have used some Buddhist techniques.

We started talking about meditation. I mentioned that some Catholic saints were said to levitate in prayer but Mike was talking about a different kind of meditation. To the Chritian, meditation is focused on a person which is God; Buddhist meditation is focused more on one's interaction with the environment. Of course, my impressions are just that: impressions.

When Mike started talking about the gospels, I thought he was quoting Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. It turns out that he was quoting the Vedas. I also learned that there are three practices of Buddhism but I was not paying attention to recall what they were.

In any case, my impression is that many of the Buddhist practices tend to creat a laid back attitude. Mike is an interesting fellow and he would have made a good Catholic if he kept the faith. Who knows.

Pit Stop

First published at SCENE CITY on February 1, 2008

This side of Paco Park opposite the Swiss Inn and Garden Plaza Hotel is a favorite pit stop of taxi drivers. I cannot recall if the stall was there during the time Doroy Valencia, vice chairman of National Park’s Development Committee. During his watch, Paco Park was very well maintained, and so was the Rizal Park. “Concert at the Park” and “Paco Park Presents” are some of the cultural events the Marcos regime has initiated that are worth keeping.

Today, the other side of this circular cemetery is often used as a parking lot by container vans and busses while vagrants sleep on the sidewalk outside the wall. Not to mention the deteriorating condition of the wall and the neglect of the greenery.

Heart of the Holy Child

I learned this hymn in grade school. Joanne promised to cut this in a CD but I am not so sure as to the melody. If anyone has a copy of the musical score, I would appreciate getting a copy.

Heart of the Holy Child, Hide me in Thee;

Purest and undefiled, Purify me;

Joy of my infant life, Far from evil passions rife,

Troubling this world of strife, Keep me with Thee!

Sweet Child of Bethlehem, Open Thine heart;

Lessons from Nazareth Deign to impart.

Mary and Joseph dear, Let us be to Jesus near,

With you, we shall not fear, From Him to part.

Swine Queue

It was a letdown for my grand daughter to see the long queue when her school reopened today. She had to fall in line from one end of the block to the gate as the school was screening students who may have caught the much dreaded virus.

A few days after this school year started, classes were suspended as the World Health Organization declared the swine flu virus as pandemic. Some students were tested positive for the the H1N1 virus in Metro Manila while the Manila Archdiocese, earlier on, released the oratio imperata. To furhter control the virus, it has been advised that communion be received only by the hand and to refrain from the informal practice of holding hands while reciting the Lord's Prayer.



Last night, her yaya was not feeling well and my wife worried all night that the virus may have crept into our home. Thank goodness, the yaya was up and about this morning. Ahh, reminds me of, in spite of all the advances in technology, how vulnerable we humans can be to the forces of nature.

Photo: from, DAYLIFE, A school nurse takes the body temperature of a student at St. Scholastica's College in Manila, Philippines, at the opening of classes Monday, June 15, 2009.