# 50 FOR NICK JOAQUIN AND F. SIONIL JOSE

Disclaimer: This post was shelved almost a year ago. I couldn’t bring myself to finish it since I felt that it was not enough to show the greatness of these two giants. But the following circumstances just made me do it:

1. Just last week, I read in the Philippine Star that F. Sionil Jose made a visit to Rosales, the place of origin of his masterpiece– The Rosales Saga. A tribute was given to this National Artist (Sa wakas!).

2. I just bumped into an opinion column in the Phil. Daily Inquirer that gave homage to Nick Joaquin. It’s his third death anniversary today and I felt that it is just apt to post this.

Revisions were made today but the topic tries to cover Philippine History and how these two Filipino writers saw it. Their works made me proud to be a Filipino.

F. Sionil Jose and Quijano de Manila. No disrespect to the flag. And to FSJ.
I’ve been trying to find good words to put in this blog about these two great Filipino writers. Both are National Artists and both have deep love for this country. I collected their works that mostly discuss the Filipino social caste and their take on a lot of different things. A warning though, this is how I understand them and this is how their works differ from each other but one thing is sure: It makes feel proud to be a Filipino. Even during these times.

1. NATIONAL PRIDE: “Myth” vs. Fact
   FSJ believes that we should continue creating stories of how heroic we are as a people. He sees this as way to instill national pride. In his recent writings he said that he wanted to give his people memory and I’d agree that is where we could draw inspiration to make this country better. Our pre-colonial history is a good starting point.

   Nick Joaquin, on the other hand, tells us that we should be mature enough to accept that Philippine history began in 1521. In his controversial book (controversial to those ultra-nationalistic folks of ours) Culture & History, he argues that it is time for us to not to ignore our history under Spain. His biggest point: We were ignored by Asia for a long time with its culture, literature, religion, and technology, and it took a European superpower to transform us. Just like a Cinderella Story.

2. PROTAGONIST: The Samsons of Rosales vs. The Aquinos of Tarlac
   Nick Joaquin is the Man of Manila. Most of his works are about this Distinguished and Ever Loyal City and its history is retold in a very good book that I had the guts to buy Manila, My Manila. He pointed out that the Tagalog and Pampango tribes were the chief stewards of our history. Furthermore, his work, The Aquinos of Tarlac shows this through three generations that got involved in our country’s most pivotal moments. Gen. Servillano Aquino fought alongside President Aguinaldo. Senator Benigno Aquino Sr. fought for independence wherever it is whoever we would have to press our case. Sen. Ninoy Aquino fought Martial Law and died by its bullet. These were all real.

   A counterweight is F. Sionil Jose’s Rosales Saga (Po-on, Pretenders, Mass) that tells the struggle of a Filipino family coming from the other end of the social spectrum. For me, each novel posed different questions to the reader.

   Po-on (Spanish/ American Period): How far are you willing to go for this group of islands called Filipinas? Istak in barefoot with trembling hands holding his riffle and asking himself. The last lines of the book struck me: Duty. Duty. Duty.

   Pretenders: Are you willing to be part of the establishment and betray your roots? The resolution of Antonio Samson’s story was suicide.

   Mass: How do we solve this perennial problem of a native elite taking advantage of the masses? Pepe Samson calls for revolution.

3. del Pilar: Hero of Tirad Pass vs. del Pilar: Aguinaldo’s Hatchetman
   In Po-on, one of his novels in the Rosales Saga, FSJ retells the Battle of Tirad Pass and the heroism of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar through the eyes of Istak, a peasant shaman who is the main protagonist.

   Joaquin sees the Bulacan general differently in his book, A Question of Heroes. Based on historical accounts from a revolutionary, Jose Alejandrino, it was claimed that del Pilar was an ineffective tactician. Joaquin cites the Battle of Thermopylae as the ultimate example of how to stop the enemy. The advantage goes to side that has the terrain. Unfortunately, del Pilar met his tragic end even before the battle began. He was shot by a sniper based on other accounts.

4. 1896 Revolution: The Ilustrado’s Battle and the Masa’s Battle
   Quijano de Manila stressed that there were two revolutions at play in 1896. One was a failure because it was disorganized and was easily crushed and pushed out by the Spaniards to the hills of Balara. The other was spawned by educated men in Cavite who were prepared for it. Revolutionaries from Manila who were then labeled as alsa-balutan joined their compatriots in Cavite.

   Trenches were built and the Katipuneros of Cavite were more knowledgable about warfare. The revolution made early gains in Cavite. Other provinces began to raise arms when they heard that their fellow Filipinos were successful in Cavite. It was logical to elect a new leader from Cavite.

   Nick Joaquin pointed out Bonifacio’s role as a catalyst and another role as a rabbler-rouser. Bonifacio was there to divide the movement. It’s hard to admit it but it was a necessity to get rid of him. That’s why there are guilt feelings whenever we remember Bonifacio. We know that his own countrymen got rid of him.

   FSJ sees the Revolution in a different way. He believes that ours is unfinished since it was a just cause betrayed by unjust men– the Ilustrados. The burgis collaborated with the Spaniards and then the Americans and then the Japs. Jose’s books, the Rosales Saga, gives a glimpse of the Philippine social caste system. The characters (Eusataquio Salvador, Victor, Jose Samson, Pepe Samson) were from the masses and they take center stage. It’s well-written and inspiring. And mostly true. Balzac said that behind every great wealth there is a great crime. In the case of the rich Filipino families, there is some measure of truth in it. MOST OF THE TIME.

On a lighter note, Nick Joaquin would be turning 90 years old on May 4. I just hope that some of his works would resurface (or some kindred soul would do me a big favor of lending me): Nora Aunor & Other Profiles; Ronnie Poe & Other Silhouettes; Reportage on Lovers; Reportage on Crime; Amalia Fuentes & Other Etchings; Gloria Diaz & Other Delineations; Doveglion & Other Cameos; Language of the Streets and Other Essays; and Manila: Sin City and Other Chronicles.

For FSJ, I just hope that his works would be noticed and bring more honor to this country by bagging a Nobel Prize for Literature. Though, I know that this is a small feat compared to what he really wants to happen to this beloved land of ours.

Plus Ultra!

# 49 WAITING FOR THE SHUTTLE

Go! Look at my daily pain. This is my rant.

CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE. Ah, commutting pleasures.
See the distance that separates the beautiful city of Las Piñas (the city with five overpass bridges equipped with escalators) and cosmopolitan Makati. The daily grind:

1. Ride a tricycle to get out of our village to go to another village and…
2. Take another one to get out of that village to reach the shuttle terminal then
3. Ride a shuttle straight to Makati

Sounds simple, eh? Add some human/ stupid (both are the same in this instance) factors:

1. Availability of tricycles. During schooldays, it’s a hassle. During summertime, tolerable.

2. Availability of shuttle vehicles. Especially on a Monday and Wednesday.

3. Toll gates. I can never understand why there is still a LONG line for the EXACT FARE TOLL GATE.

4. Baclaran Day/ Wednesday. Another waste of time.

5. EDSA. The melting pot of all sorts of drivers in the Philippines. You want to see the most perfect example of the Philippine problem? Just look at EDSA.

6. Two f@ckin’ bus stops along Ayala Avenue(OH, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM IS LESS THAN 100 METERS) add to that those BUSES.

7. Stupid lazy passengers who do not have the legs to walk short distances.

8. Stupid loudmouth passengers (more pertaining to those coming from the female breed, no offense). I want to sleeeeeep and I don’t want to know what you’re talking about. Parang ngayon lang kayo nagkita! ANAK NG TUPAH!

9. Most important of all: Waking up before 6AM AND leaving before 645AM.

Imagine doing this more than A THOUSAND TIMES. It numbs your mind and butt. Pray that the shuttle you’re riding has a good and capable driver. Include to your prayers that the shuttle you’re riding is in good condition (aircon and reasonable seating configuration) and good sounds (no Air Supply, please.).

There are only two things that drag me when we go home:

1. Waiting for the shuttle. Mainit. Minsan umuulan. At ang sinasakyan mo bulok na basura.

2. Waiting for those Cavite-bound drivers (READ: good Cavite friends not included) to grow a brain and avoid occupying the lane that goes to my beloved Las Piñas. The only good legacy from GMA is that she is making an exclusive route to Cavite. Thank you, Lord!

# 48 BROWN CAN NEVER BE BLACK…

it’s true but brown might just be better. I had a blast listening to a new favorite for this taste of mine– GLOC9. His skill in delivering those lines in his rap songs are truly amazing. He blurts out in rapid fashion (hence, the name) the sentiments of the common tao especially when it comes to love and it just hits you.

RHYME IN RAPID FIRE. Got this from this.
I now respect him as a rap artist. I don’t like some of his fans though– the ones who vandalize clean walls with things that you can’t even understand. During my time (now, I’m reeaaally old) when fraternities like APO, Tau Gamma, AKRHO, and SRB owned the streets, you could still admire their insignias and logos and what it stood for. I even tried drawing them at the back of my notebook. You really know that times are changing and it’s getting worse when you see a crazy lettering or logo that just tries to capture the ghetto life of America (Ha! Proof of extreme Americanism!).

Our slums are depressing and despicable just like the American ghetto (but it snows there so it’s better!). WHAT BUGS ME is the concept of putting westside AND eastside to the Philippine scenario (east of what!? west of what!? We’re an archipelago for chrissakes!). The Pinoy Gangstas now own the joint. Pwe.

Going back to Gloc9…

His voice is quite whiny and thin but the wit, beat, and rapid rhyme are just good enough to place him close enough to FRANCISM and Andrew E. Oh, Masta Plann is also good. I agree with a cousin of mine that Tagalog rap is more accessible to the mass market but it’s starting to gain more recognition.

Can water turn into wine? Jesus did it.

Is Filipino Hiphop music any good? Gloc9 did it for me.

PS. Try listening to this one. Hehe.

SAMPLER FOR THE RAPPER. It’s with Cookie Chua (another favorite).

# 47 THIS MAY SOUND AS SACRILEGE

BUT I REALLY HATE PEOPLE WHO DO THE PABASA WITH A MICROPHONE.

A long awaited vacation in the comfort of your home is destroyed by the bleating of an old woman who may not even know what she is singing(?).

My hate also includes the people who flagellate or crucify themselves as penance– please, you are not doing anything good to your situation and to the community too. Go plant a tree. Or stop drinking and look for a job. There are a million ways to show repentance and definitely maiming yourself is not one of them.

Some might say with verve:
BUT we’re a Catholic country. We should practice our customs and traditions. It’s what defines our brand of Catholicism.

It has become a burden more than a help to be a Filipino Catholic. I am not a fan of Jaime Cardinal Sin (God bless his soul). His palusot for his meddling with the country’s political affairs might mean well. I know, he’s part of the past two EDSA’s and it has become a worldwide inspiration BUT…

I mean this with no disrespect, the situation in our country is still the same. We are still feudal and the Church has a share of responsibility to it.

I like Cardinal Rosales better because he saw the bigger picture of doing something concrete (Pondong Pinoy) than gathering of a million people to pray. We always pray. Too much and too little action to match that prayer. The trouble with the praying Filipino is that he leaves everything to God and leaves half of the work undone.

There are a lot of issues that are too outdated in this lifetime. I still acknowledge Jesus as my savior but I share a little of Gandhi’s view on Christians– for me, those “Christians” who follow Mike Velarde or bloc-vote.

Since we’re “celebrating” the Holy Week, I have come up with my list of beliefs that I have long been thinking/ rethinking/ practicing/ declaring:

1. I believe in God in the form of Jesus and He resurrected. No contest. You know why Christ is the Richest Being in the whole universe? Because HE Saves. Ahuhuhuhuhu!!!

2. I believe that we have a God who is not selfish in saving a gajillion people of different faiths. From what I read: WHATEVER YOU ARE, BE A GOOD ONE. This goes out to those close-minded people belonging to ridiculous sects who believe that they have the monopoly of salvation. Reminds me of a good joke (retelling it my way):
   
   A good man dies and enters the gates of heaven and goes inside this big hall. Escorted by Saint Peter, they started talking about this and that until suddenly the good saint asked the new visitor to tone down. His reason?

   At the other side of the hall, there’s a group of (INSERT YOUR WEIRD SECT/ IGLESIA OR SAKSI NI BATMAN) who think that they’re the only ones there.

3. I believe that it is a waste of time to BLEAT, FLAGELLATE AND CRUCIFY ONESELF to show remorse. Truckload of bull and one of the biggest in the Philippines.

4. I believe that we have a mission in this planet to make it a better place. You could make a family or choose not to make a family but still do good (charity/ uplifting the lives of your people/ spawning a generation of good citizens) in this world and for the next batch of Filipinos.

5. I believe that IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF THE BOTH RICH AND THE POOR to make this country great again. The poor, to have more discipline and hard work. The rich, to practice their business fairly by giving the right wages and benefits to live on.

6. I believe that PRIESTS SHOULD MARRY. On the case of married life, one has to experience something before saying something about it.
   
7. I believe that the PRIESTHOOD SHOULD BE OPEN TO WOMEN.

8. I believe in hard work and the power of prayer.

9. I believe that people of different social status should pay the right tax.

10. I believe that more roads, bridges, trains, and cheap airfare would literally UNITE THIS COUNTRY. Decongest Metro Manila and get our regionalistic brothers to make their territories a progressive one and challenge Imperial Manila just like what Cebu is doing.

Hehehe. This is good enough to be a platform when I run for public office.

# 46 IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW

A photo to start this entry…

A CAST OF CLOWNS. Lifted out from Papa Jonz.
There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light. There were nights of endless pleasure… blech. Nothing beats a Weekend @ Jonz’s. Some say he resembles Mankind but I think that he’s handsomer. HE IS THE RAMON CHRISTOPHER OF MY LIFE! Hehehehe. Since I took a photo from his blog, I have gladly volunteered to answer his questionnaire.

FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD:
1. Waiter/ Buzzboy at Kenny Rogers.
2. Special Agent ni Genta Ogami of G-Cosmos Philippines.
3. Deputy Marketing Topdog for a camera company… muntik na.
4. Jap Car Pusher (sana)

FOUR MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED OVER AND OVER:

1. Debbie Does Dallas (movie ‘di ba?)
2. Braveheart
3. The Godfather
4. Pulp Fiction

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Kalokohan, este, Caloocan City!
2. Las Piñas City (the cleanest city in Metro Manila!)
3. Parañaque City (where you could trace Andrew E.’s origin)
4. Casa Zuluaga (a funhouse, I say!)

FOUR TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH:
1. Entourage
2. Friends
3. Flying House
4. Dragon Ball Z

FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION:

1. Palawan
2. Cebu
3. Puerta, este, Puerto Galera
4. Casa Zuluaga (What more can I say?)

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:

1. Sansrival! yung nakabalot ng ganito!ANG SARAAAP MO! Food made by my ancestors. No joke!
2. Seafood (Hipon, Bangus, Alimango, Tahong na buhay, etc.)
3. Pasta
4. Puchero na maraming chorizo!

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:

1. In the bedroom with my wife and…
2. In her arms and…
3. In her HEART…AAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
4. Honeymoon namin sa Palawan.

PEOPLE WHO WILL ANSWER THIS MEME:

1. Bebe
2. Deybi
3. Brutha Deno
4. Sarah (Huwag kang tumulad kay Nefut.)

# 45 EMOTION IN TYPOGRAPHY

I got this from Youtube while I was looking for Samuel Jackson’s monologue (one of my favorite parts in the movie). The guy who created this is a bleepin’ GENIUS!

SAY HWAAT AGAIN? Ang lupet!

Happy April Fools’, foo!