Pinoy Jazz Legends—Still Timeless!

I never fail to watch ShopTalk, the show of my friend and colleague, Pia Hontiveros-Pagkalinawan. We once covered the defense beat together. Shoptalk airs over at ANC, every Monday to Friday, 3-4pm.

Anyway, what impressed me was the chance to listen to timeless standards sang by the country’s top jazz legends. Pia invited Richard Merk, Jacqui Magno and Pat Castillo, all Filipino Jazz legends. And you know what? They’re terrific! They sang some jazz standards, and boy, they’re really amazing.

Merk is truly a very gifted singer, very creative and timeless. Jacqui Magno sang those songs with amazing range and sensibility while Pat Castillo is still the epitome of grace and very beautiful voice. You should have watched them perform. They electrified my television screen. I was not able to tape it but if ShopTalk would give me a copy, I’ll pay for it.

I don’t know why they don’t have a show together over at ANC. It’s time for them to really show us their gifts once more. They really their viewers a very nice feeling. We need a show hosted by them. They’re still amazing. Merk is still wickedly witty, and pure talent. Jacqui is still her bubbly self while Pat remained prim and proper. It’s a pity no producer want to gamble a TV show for them. If I have money, I want to produce their TV show, something like of a talk show musical.

One of these days, I’ll go and watch their show over at Merk Bar and Bistro. I don’t know where it is but, I’ll look for it. Thanks to ShopTalk for giving us an hour of fun and a great show.

Lady Gaga’s Poker Face before Mrs. Arroyo

Lady Gaga on a live concert

Speaking of Lady Gaga (who’ll be visiting Manila on August), great to have her come and visit Malacanang. That would be a blast!

Think of it, Lady Gaga singing her hit song, ” Poker Face” infront of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Just imagine what would be the expression of Arroyo’s face?

What's on Arroyo's evil mind?

Will Arroyo frown? Or will Arroyo launch her most patented devilish laugh?

Lady Gaga had a boob job before. Will she ask Gloria how was hers?

Will Lady Gaga serve as ambassadress of the Philippines and do the job of US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney by ferreting what really is on the insidious and machivellian mind of the diminutive Philippine Leader? Will Lady Gaga be the one to finally convince Mrs. Arroyo to tell the Filipino public that she intends to stay a decade longer as president by declaring martial rule?

Lady Gaga in Manila on August

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, one of my favorite pop singers, is visiting Manila on August. She’ll be having a blast of a concert here on, I think, August 11 at the Araneta Coliseum. I want to cover it. Paging organizers! Maybe you have some details of her intended concert?

Lady Gaga is one hell of a performer. She’s unique. She’s iconic. And she’s the improved version of Barbara Streisand, hehehe!

Kidding aside, Lady Gaga’s voice sounds like Madonna. But, she’s better than the Material Girl.

Lady Gaga writes her own songs. Actually, she’s a certified song writer. Before she even went on a rampage, projecting a weird kind of sexiness, Lady Gaga is widely known as an accomplished song weaver. She weaves what I call sexy techno. It offends my senses, but, hey, that’s the purpose of songs, right?

Would you buy a Lady Gaga concert ticket? Would you like to enter Lady Gaga’s world? I would.

Ingenious Counters

“Nakakabilib naman ang AFP,” says my friend, Mang Tonyo. ” Imagine, in today’s Inquirer headline, they predicted that the next target for the bombings would be Metro Manila. How ingenious. It’s either they’re manghuhulas or they’re friends of the terrorists.”

NCRCommand Chief Fojas and NCRPO Chief Rosales are one in placing the entire Metro Manila under full alert, as a “precautionary measure” against possible spillover bomb attacks. They even pinpointed the Congress and military camps as the next targets. Quite admirable, since, they already knew that terrorists walk the metropolis but they, as yet, found it quite difficult to arrest them. What’s the purpose of the anti-terror or Human Security Act?

Ah, I know. The act will be used against anti charter change rallyists. PNP Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said that one or two days prior to the SONA, they will be conducting their own “sonas” or special clearing operations in areas near Congress and places where you’ll traditionally find rallyists coming from.

So, these bombings are really being used afterall as a ruse to justify a crackdown on anti charter change rallyists, not on those so-called terrorists roaming the Metro. For the Arroyo regime, the real terrorists are anti-charter change Filipinos who want nothing more than to prevent Congress from convening itself into a Constituent Assembly.

Ah, so then, this regime is using every trick in the martial law rulebook (as described by Makati mayor Jejomar Binay) just so that they can ram charter change down our throats. Ingenious. They’re preparing really for a showdown.

Are they also prepared to fight thousands of INCs who’ll populate the entire Congressional avenue against cha-cha? Are they willing to fight God’s people?

Is Gloria really ready to face thousands upon thousands of people who’ll march against her despotic regime should she continue her evil plan?

This administration is determined to use every trick possible, legal or unconstitutional, just so that charter change pushes thru. They’ll be using the military, once described by Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro as a professional institution, into a personal fighting machine of this regime. They’ll use their power to force the people to accept something which they already expressed their opposition.

Patay kung patay, as what Jose de Venecia Jr. described the demeanor and thinking of palace hawks in 2007. Arroyo’s minions are determined to fight it out once the people move against the regime. They’re just afraid, says JDV, because their time of reckoning is fast approaching and they fear for the worst. So, predicted JDV and Binay, they’ll use state power to further repress and oppress the people.

Now that we know that these instabilities and peace and order problems are just part of the overall scheme to justify the use of state power, the question is–what are we going to do about it? Will we just sit on idly by and watch as these things unfold?

YES.

Let them do their thing. Let them plunge this country into total chaos. Let them plunder still our coffers. Let them intensify the oppression, the hunger, the repressive things and just push the envelope a little bit further.

I urge the Patriots–let them do their thing. In fact, come the SONA, let no one come near Congress or Malacanang to protest the convening of Congress into a Constituent Assembly.

Why?

God is a god of Justice. He sees all. Let them humiliate themselves before the eyes of the world. Let them alone bear the consequences of their illegal action. By the time that they’re finished, God will unleash His Army upon them and like what happened to the Philistines of old, fire will definitely consume them all. Some will be burned at the stake while others chained and imprisoned in the deepest pits and dungeons.

15 Things to Do To Make RP No. 1

For those who think that some people here write pieces against Mrs. Arroyo simply due to personal reasons or that some write to instigate hate, they’re wrong. It’s simply too painful to criticize your own government. Whenever I type words that say “corruption,”, “evil”, ” stealing people’s money” or “fakery in government”, I cringe inside. When I was working as an OFW, I always tell my Western colleagues how beautiful my country is. Now, these entries I write show how democratic institutions are crumbling before my very eyes. It’s painful. It’s sad.

I remember the very first time I visited our country after spending years working abroad. The memories are still distinctly clear to me, how I cried when I heard the song of Sharon Cuneta being played inside the plane and how I longed to kiss the ground the minute we land. I’m not a fan of Sharon; yet her voice sounded very beautiful to my ears then. After years of just listening to Western and Asian songs, it was the first for me to hear a Tagalog song. When I heard her song, tears just rolled down my cheeks. It made me realize how foolish I was leaving the country of my birth.

We’re supposed to be the 14th country with the most number of happy people; yet we are in this morass, and we’re trying to get ourselves out of the hell pit. When I came back, I wanted to help government. But, the longer I stay here, the more I realize that we really need change, and fast. Is this the country which I want my kids and my grandchildren to live in? Is this the government which I want them to have? And are these the values I want them to learn?

I want my country to be the happiest place in the world. We have a beautiful place we call home. Our race is beautiful. We are honest. We are trustworthy. We are respectful. Yet, the system sometimes make brutes out of us.

Let me urge my friends not to succumb to this very monster called state superstructure. And let me suggest fifteen things we need to do from now on to make us the happiest country in the world.

1. Follow road signs.

2. Speak out against graft and corruption.

3. Give your license when traffic enforcers ask for it.

4. Whenever you see something wrong, do something.

5. Consider your work, your personal prayer to God.

6. If you have extra food, give to the hungry.

7. If you have extra money, give to charity.

8. Always punctuate your sentences with po and opo.

9. Demand good service from government employees. If you’re a government employee, give us your best.

10. Smile if you feel like it. Frown, if you need to. Cry if you feel sad.

11. Do not pluck a flower in public places. Do not trap pigeons in Luneta.

12. Do not spit in public nor urinate at the dumps.

13. When you see trash along the road, pick it up and throw it in a nearby garbage can. If there’s no can in sight, find one.

14. Help people in need. Don’t just watch whenever you see a road accident. Help.

15. If you have some suggestions to improve government service, write them in a piece of paper and send it to your Congressman. You just gave him a reason to do a project and get commissions from it.

Palace spokesperson admitted Mrs. Arroyo’s breast problem

Doctors saw a cyst in two of the breasts of Mrs. Arroyo and some in her groin. Palace spokesperson Cerge Remonde admitted in a press conference today in Malacanang. In a statement, the Asian Hospital meanwhile released a statement saying that the cysts were benign, meaning, it’s really not life threatening.

Remonde said that the cysts were discovered during an MRI procedure done to the president at the Asian Hospital in Alabang where Mrs. Arroyo was confined for a few days. The cysts probably developed due to a leaking breast silicone implant of Mrs. Arroyo. Mrs. Arroyo reportedly had a breast augmentation operation in the late 80’s.

Mrs. Arroyo’s breast implantation operation

Breast reduction surgery at an Asian hospital

Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is reportedly sick. She allegedly went under the knife for corrective breast augmentation or mammoplasty.

Reports say, Mrs. Arroyo had a leaking silicone breast implant, which doctors at the Asian Hospital reportedly removed. The implant was put there in the 1980s. A cyst was also found in her groin area. The correct term for this operation is breast reduction surgery.

Speculations are rife that Mrs. Arroyo also suffers from a liver ailment. The palace has denied it.

You know what? The palace should release the latest medical checkup results of Mrs. Arroyo.  Why? Because it is the right of the people to know the medical condition of the highest government official of the land. She wields so much power. And we need to know if she’s still up to the job.

I remember that former strongman Ferdinand Marcos had the lupus ailment before he was ousted from power. Is Arroyo’s condition the same as Macoy?

Marcus can blog

Hey, check this out guys. I had the chance to read a very nice blog and its called http://marcuscanblog.com. Very nice. I like the wit of this guy. And it was my first time to laugh at someone else posts. Nice. Very nice blog. I like the one where he wrote his 5-day trip to Bolinao Pangasinan. He has a very good sense of humor. And I like the way he sees things.

And I can identify with him, coz he’s a father and like me, I travel a lot with my family in tow.  Read him. He’s a great read.

Cory Aquino—let’s all pray for her

Cory Aquino, the icon of our democracy, lies in serious condition at the Makati Medical Center. A few weeks ago, she survived a very delicate operation to rid her of colon cancer cells. However, she was rushed yet again to the hospital after having some difficulty eating.

I urge my friends and those who read this blog, to pray this Prayer with me. If all of us would pray, I strongly believe that God, the Father, will grant our communal prayer. Pray this before you go to bed and or before you even take your meal. If it’s God Will, Cory will recover.

A Prayer for Cory

Heavenly Father, the God of all gods and the Lord of all lords,

I glorify your most precious Your Holy name.

O Father, forgive us, your people, of all of our sins.

Cleanse us Our Father from all filth and

protect us from evil.

O my Father, we humbly come before you

to ask a simple favor.

Bless and strengthen our sister, Cory Aquino.

Heal her so she can be with us again.

Strengthen her so she can walk with us again.

Fortify her Spirit so she can inspire us again.

O Father God, make her afflictions go away.

Comfort her. Be with her. Let your Holy Spirit comfort her

in her times of distress.

If it is Your Will, O Holy Father

give her more years,

make her strong.

strengthen her will to live

make her eat normally again.

O Father, cure our friend, Cory Aquino.

Strengthen her spirit, heal her soul.

Give her rest whenever she’s tired

and make her well again.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Tanay adventures

me and my lovely daughter in sierra madre

Have you been to Tanay? I have. Whenever I have some money for gas, I go as far as Little Baguio in Infanta Quezon.

You just take the Marcos highway, way pass Cogeo and way, way pass Foremost farms. It’s my dream to buy a 10 hectare lot there in Barangay Sampaloc in Tanay. Just 50 kilometers from Manila. The air there in Tanay, especially in Barangay Sampaloc is sooo cold. If you visit Sierra Madre Resort, you’ll find the place lonely and very comforting.

Jesus lives in Infanta Quezon

Marcos highway runs through Antipolo, then, Boso-Boso and Tanay. The end of the highway is Little Baguio in Infanta Quezon. There, the weather is wonderful. It’s airy. Its also somewhat scary because there’s a small number of people who live there.

The town is full of christian churches. I think churches there outrank and outnumber residents. Sierra Madre is full of millenarian groups and cults and its no wonder that some of them call Infanta and Real towns in Quezon their home.

Little Baguio, Quezon Province

See this road going to Little Baguio? People here always gawk whenever some vehicle passes thru because its not so often that private vehicles or buses passes thru this town.

Former president Ferdinand Marcos was the one who planned the construction of this road. He wanted a shorter route to Quezon from Manila. See this mountain? That’s the last concrete road. The government has not been able to finish the project. Last year, I was able to go up to that mountain to see the last path linking Little Infanta to Real. It’s still not finished. Hope that the local government of Quezon sees this and prioritizes it. Great to experience driving from Antipolo to Quezon. Heard Real is a wonderful sleepy town.

Cave along Marcos HIghway in Quezon Province

There are so many interesting things and places to visit in Sierra Madre. A few kilometers away from Little Baguio is a cave formation. You can actually see it while driving. It’s beautiful. Unknown to many, there’s someone who lives there because I saw that the back of the cave is gated. Good grief. Men still live in caves?

Interesting ya? Get that car right now and drive up there. It’s really a breeze going there. Many things to see, many things to think about.

The one thing that really pissed me off during my travels up there is seeing whole mountains destroyed because of mining activities. There were two mountains there with mining operations. That ruined my day.

Kalinawan Cave in Tanay

My joy came back when we visited the Kalinawan Cave in Tanay. The route going there is easy. From the Tanay town center, you count about 4 to 5 kilometers. If you see the sign pointing to the way going to Daranak Falls, that’s it.

Before you reach Daranak, you’ll see a sign pointing to Kalinawan Cave. You traverse a very small rough road.

Go here first before you even go to Daranak. The cave is somewhat “mystical” because, some folks say, this is the cave where Bernardo Carpio stayed. I don’t know about that but this cave system is huge! I don’t have a flashlight and I was not able to enter the cave. I’m with my young daughter and I fear na baka me sawa there.

Cave Entrance in Kalinawan cave in Tanay

Great cave but scary. The cave is supposed to run through San Mateo. Legend says the Japanese made it as their sanctuary and camp during World War II. Was’nt able to verify this since I was just at the mouth of the cave. Next time, I’ll bring along my flashlight.

Seeing the cave, I thought how insignificant am I in God’s scheme of things. The cave is about 50-70 feet high. I felt like an ant.

my daughter who wants to enter the cave

 

Kalinawan cave is actually a system of small caves leading to what some say is a great chamber inside. This cave system, some folks say, was used by the Katipuneros in their fight against the Spaniards. There’s also an underground network there, which I was not able to check since I don’t have a flashlight.

I have more cave photos here but I don’t think I can upload them all there. Suffice to say that I felt fear when I went there. I don’t know why. I don’t have phobias. Or, do I?

Chandelier at the mouth of Kalinawan Cave in Tanay?

I want to see if there are religious shrines made by Filipinos or remontados (the name of the group of people who migrated here from the lowlands to avoid the Spaniards).

Some folks in Tanay say that these cave systems are as old as 40,000 years old. Don’t know about that. How do they know?

Some even say that the first Filipinos were born here, though that’s quite possible. Hey, paging the UP Archaeological Society! Any plans of exploring these caves? Maybe there’s still artifacts left there? Earthen jars or bones?

Kalinawan Chapel--church made out of a cave

Prior to that, remontados roaming the Sierra Madre mountains made it as a religious shrine.

In fact, people living there constructed a small church. The church was made part of the limestone formations of the Kalinawan cave channel.

People here are very religious. And you know what? A couple of them live very, very, very near the Kalinawan cave systems. They’re very poor folks. They just make money out of sampalok.

More on my trips to Tanay and Quezon later….By the way, my next stop is the Pamintinan Cave in Rodriguez (Montalban) Rizal and the Wawa dam.