Of Abaca and Piña, and the Mode of Transportation in the Philippines

MOD Vol. 42 No. 1888, November 2011

On the cover: Anne Curtis

Another article I had fun writing, “Abaca and Piña: Proudly Filipino” (pp.18-21). Read and you’ll find out why.

Also in this MOD November 2011 is my article “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” (pp. 66-70), which is about the different mode of transportation in the Philippines.

“Your instruction is my everlasting heritage; it is the joy of my heart. I am resolved to fulfill Your statutes; they are a reward that never fails.” – Psalms 119:111-112, The Revised English Bible.

Are There Such Things as Ghosts?

MOD Vol. 38 No. 1822, October 30, 2006
On the cover: Bea Alonzo and Anne Curtis

The Starliners section of MOD October 30, 2006, featured my write-up on “Britney Spears” (pp. 53-55). Also in this issue are brief reviews for the films Open Season, The Prestige and Marie Antoinette (pp. 60-61).

MOD Holloween Spookfest (Free Pullout)
On the cover: Evita Bunye

Pre-Holloween article, “Are There Such Things as Ghosts?” tackled spiritism and world of spirits in the Biblical perspective.

“Do not resort to ghosts and spirits or make yourselves unclean by seeking them out. I am the LORD your GOD.” – Leviticus 19:31, The Revised English Bible.

There's More to Kalabasa Than Meets the Eye

MOD Vol. 44 No. 1909, October 2013 (The Last Issue)

On the front cover: Anne Curtis

On the back cover: Sunshine Cruz for the Ever Bilena print ad

This article, “There’s more to Kalabasa Than Meets the Eye,” is filled with trivia and information about, what else, the kalabasa!

“The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is GOD who matters, because he makes the plant grow.” – Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 3:7, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Crossword Puzzles

Sports Weekly Magazine Vol. 7 No. 377, August 21-28, 1981
On the cover: Eddie Chavez of Northern Cement (Philippine Training Team)
forces a “jump-ball” against a Russian Youth Team player.
Northern Cement won, 85-74.

One of my earliest crossword puzzle published (the seventh, in fact) by Sports Weekly.

Mr. & Ms. August 2005
On the cover: Lucky Manzano and Anne Curtis
 

In contrast, this crossword puzzle is probably the last one published by Mr. & Ms. The once very popular weekly magazine became a so-so monthly after the change of editorship. Soon enough, it closed down. I included it here for nostalgia’s sake.

 

In contrast, this crossword puzzle is probably the last one published by Mr. & Ms. The once very popular weekly magazine became a so-so monthly after the change of editorship. Soon enough, it closed down. I included it here for nostalgia’s sake.

Crossword Puzzles for the Ladies

MOD Vol. 37 Nos. 1750 & 1752, May 6 & 20, 2005
On the covers: Angel Jacob, Rosanne Prieto & Jodi Santamaria (left)
& Anne Curtis (right)

Two specimens of crossword puzzles that I did for MOD in 2005.

“How beautiful you are, my love; how your eyes shine with love....! Like a lily among thorns is my darling among women.” – Song of Songs 1:15 & 2:2, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Of ABS & Skin Photosensitivity

MOD, April 2013
On the cover: Anne Curtis

One of the featured cover stories about “abs” was assigned to me to write. My original title for it, “Before You try to be ABS-olutely Amazing, Know the Facts About Abdominal Muscles,” was quite lengthy. Understandably, the editor shortened it to “ABS-olute Reality” (pp. 14-15). The sidebar, “Simple Routines that Work” (p. 17) was originally part of the article. Nonetheless, the write-up turned out quite A-Okay!

Also in this issue is another assigned article on “photosensitivity.” Again, my original title “This Bothersome Thing Called Skin Photosensitivity” was re-titled “(Sk)insensitive” (pp. 38-40). I also did the sidebar “Nothing More Than Peeling” (p. 40).

 

 

 

“People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.” – Proverbs 27:17, The Good News Bible in Today’s Engliah Version.

October 30



OCTOBER 30

MOD Vol. 38 No. 1822, October 30, 2006
On the Cover: Bea Alonzo and Anne Curtis

UNANG LABAS

Unang inilabas sa sirkulasyon ng Liwayway Publishing ang Bisaya, isang babasahing magasin para sa Visayas at Mindanao, noong Oktubre 30, 1930. Ang unang patnugot nito ay si Francisco Candia.

Oktubre 30 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Oktubre 30, 1919, muling naitanghal ang watawat ng Filipinas. Idineklara ang araw na ito bilang Flag Day sa pamamagitan ng Act 2871.

                                                          o     O     o

SULYAP SA NAKARAAN

Ang kuwentong “Lasong Walang Kamandag” ni Pablo S. Gomez

na iginuhit ni Clem Rivera, tampok sa taklob-pahina ng Aliwan Komiks Blg. 1363

na may petsang Oktubre 30, 1988.

Personalities and celebrities born on October 30:

1947 – Prospero C. Nograles, politician and Speaker of the House of Representatives (February 5, 2008 – June 30, 2010) – in Davao City.

1970 – Christine Bersola-Babao, broadcast journalist and television host – in Bulacan.



Christine Bersola

on the cover of Good Housekeeping Philippines (April 2011).

 

1980 – Rich Alvarez (full name Richard Datu Alvarez), basketball player and assistant coach – in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Rich Alvarez (with Kyla)
on the cover of Mr. & Ms. (February 2006)

 

1989 – Ryan Paolo Aguinaldo Arabejo, swimmer.

 



Kylie Minogue (for the film Steet Fighter)
on the cover of Sky Magazine (October 1994).

Picture Trivia

          Did you know that Australian pop singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue was one of the heroes in the film Street Fighter (1994)? Minogue played the role of Captain Cammy White opposite Jean Claude Van Damme.

                             o     O     o

August 29



AUGUST 29

Modern Komiks Taon 2 Blg. 31, Agosto 29, 1967
Tampok sa taklob-pahina si “Captain Modern” na kathang-isip ni Jul Calixto at iginuhit ni Al Sanchez.

Agosto 29 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Agosto 29, 1898, Hinalinhan ni Heneral Elwell Otis si Heneral Wesley Merritt bilang American military governor ng Pilipinas. Si Otis ay nakilala sa kasaysayan sa paggawa ng mga kalupitan at kabuktutan laban sa mga mamamayang Filipino nang panahon ng Philippine-American War.

                                                          o     O     o

          Ika-29 ng Agosto, 1981, nang maging World Junior Lightweight boxing champion si Rolando Navarrete matapos niyang mapatulog ang Ugandan-born na si Coenelius Boza-Edwards.

                                                          o     O     o

          Napasama si Eugene Torre sa grandmaster candidate match sa Mexico noong Agosto 29, 1982. Si Torre ang kauna-unahang Filipino at Asyano na naging grandmaster sa chess.

                                                          o     O     o 

Personalities and celebrities born on August 29:

1862 – Candido Tirona, revolutionary general, Secretary of War of the Magdalo Council and hero of the Battle of Binakayan – in Kawit, Cavite (d. November 10, 1896).

1930 – Caloy Loyzaga (full name Carlos Matute Loyzaga), basketball player known as the “Big Difference” – in Manila (d. January 27, 2016).

1935 – Luis Robredo Villafuerte Sr, politician – in Camarines Sur.

1954 – Neptali Medina Gonzales II, politician – in Mandaluyong City.

1958 – Chito Loyzaga (full name Joaquin Cuerva Loyzaga), basketball player – in Manila.

1988 – Iwa Moto (real name Aileen Quinodo Iwamoto), actress and model –  in Tagum City Davao del Norte.

Iwa Moto
on the covers of MOD (July 24, 2006), UNO (January 2008),
FHM Philippines (September 2008) and Playboy Philippines (August 2012).



Ang “Bondying”

Ang katha ni Mars Ravelo na “Bondying”
tampok sa taklob-pahina ng
Pilipino Komiks Blg. 163 (Agosto 29, 1953)

          Kakaiba sa lahat ng mga karakter sa komiks ang “Bondying” na likhang-isip ni Mars Ravelo. Ito ay kuwento tungkol sa isang taong lumaki na ang pag-iisip at pananalita ay nanatiling sa isang batang paslit, na bagama’t inosente ang pagkukuro ay may natatanging talino at katusuan. Ito ay dahil sa pagpapalaki ng kaniyang lola. Karaniwang tampulan ng katatawanan ang mga pangyayaring pumapalibot sa kapaligiran niya, lalo na ang hawak niyang napakalaking mamador. Datapuwa’t may drama ring aantig sa puso ng mga mambabasa.

          Ayon mismo kay Ginoong Ravelo, isa ang Bondying sa limang pinaka-paborito niyang obra. Maganda ang pagkakasulat ng kuwento na may naiibang kiliti na sinubaybayan ng mga mambabasa. Una itong lumabas sa mga pahina ng Pilipino Komiks Blg. 161 noong Agosto 1, 1954. Ito ay iginuhit ni Elpidio Torres.

          Mula sa panulat ni Ravelo, ilang pelikula rin ang ginawa na kinatampukan ng karakter na si Bondying. Ang una ay ang Bondying (1954) na tinaguriang “Ang Batang Laki sa Nuno.” Ito ay isinapelikula ng Sampaguita Pictures sa ilalim ng direksiyon ni Armando Garces at pinagbidahan ni Fred Montilla. Nasundan ito ng Tatay na si Bondying (1955) na si Fred Montilla pa rin ang gumanap sa pangunahing papel. Taong 1973 nang lumabas ang Ato Ti Bondying na pinatnugutan ni Celso Ad. Castillo, kung saan si Jay Ilagan naman ang gumanap na Bondying. Ang huli ay pinagbidahan ni Jimmy Santos – ang Bondying: The Little Boy (1989) – kung saan ang screenplay ay isinulat ni Jose Javier Reyes at ginawa sa ilalim ng direksiyon ni Mike Relon Makiling.

                                                          o     O     o

“Rogel Maglaya”


Ang nobelang-komiks na “Rogel Maglaya”
na kathang-isip ni Damy Velasquez
at iginuhit ni Celso Trinidad, tampok sa
Pinoy Komiks Blg. 8 (Agosto 29, 1963).

          Isang masalimuot na kuwento ng iba’t-ibang pakikibaka ang kathang-isip ni Damy Velasquez sa katauhan ng karakter na si “Rogel Maglaya”. Ito ay iginuhit ni Celso Trinidad at unang lumabas kasabay ng unang isyu ng Pinoy Komiks noong Mayo 23, 1963.

                             o     O     o



 


Si Anne Curtis, tampok sa taklob-pahina ng
Gadgets 10th Anniversary issue (August 2010).

Larawang Tribiya

          Si Anne Curtis ay 12-anyos lamang nang siya ay madiskubre na maging artista. Ito ay habang nagbabakasyon siya sa Pilipinas galing ng Australia kung saan sila naninirahan ng kaniyang mga magulang. Si Anne Curtis ay anak ng isang abogadong Australian na nagngangalang James Curtis-Smith at ni Carmen Ojales, isang Filipinang may dugong Kastila.

          Noong 2010, dalawang pelikula ang nilabasan ni Anne Curtis kung saan mga ex-boyfriends niya ang naging katambal niya, si Sam Milby sa pelikulang Babe, I Love You at si Richard Gutierrez sa pelikulang In Your Eyes, kung saan napili siyang Best Supporting Actress sa 29th Luna Awards.

                             o     O     o

August 22



AUGUST 22

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 24 No. 16, August 22, 2000
On the cover: Chubi del Rosario and Anne Curtis

GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST

Sophia Loren (real name Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone),
at 20 years old, is Europe’s number 1 cover girl,
on the cover of Life (August 22, 1955).

 

Agosto 22 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Noong Agosto 22, 1977, inanunsyo ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na kaniya ng aalisin ang curfew sa gabi at ang pagbabawal sa paglalakabay bilang unang hakbang upang magkaroon ng kaluwagan sa mga paghihigpit na bunga ng Martial Law.

                                                          o     O     o

          Ang MV Don Juan, isang barkong pampasahero na patungong Bacolod ay bumangga sa tanker na Tacloban City ng Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) malapit sa baybayin ng Tablas Island.

                                                          o     O     o

Personalities and celebrities born on August 22:

1861 – Timoteo Paez, revolutionary hero and one of the founders of the La Liga Filipina – in Tondo, Manila (d. September 18, 1939).

1863 – Marcial Calleja, lawyer, delegate to the Malolos Congress and representative to the Philippine Assembly – in Malinao, Albay (d. May 5, 1914).

1921 – Romeo Villalva Tabuena, painter and printmaker – in Iloilo City.  

1937 – Pilita Corrales (real name Pilar Garrido Corrales), singer and actress, known as “Asia’s Queen of Song” – in Lahug, Cebu.



Pilita Corrales
on the cover of Celebrity World (March 20, 1995).



1953 – Phillip Salvador (full name Phillip Mikael Reyes Salvador), award-winning actor.

Phillip Salvador (with Susan Roces)
on the cover of Mr. & Ms (September 12, 1978).






1969 – Jean Garcia (real name Michaela Rosario Maitim), actress – in Angeles City, Pampanga.









Jean Garcia
on the cover of FHM Philippines (October 2008).

 

1979 – Angelu de Leon (full name Maria Luisa Angela Martinez de Leon), actress – in Manila.



Angelu de Leon

on the cover of Savvy (July 14, 1997).

1989 – Chariz Solomon (Full name Charyze Pagotan Solomon), actress, comedian and television host – in Manila.




Ang Pangulong Manuel Luis Quezon,
ang “Ama ng Wikang Pambansa,”
sa taklob-pahina ng magasing Liwayway
na may petsang Agosto 22, 2005,
bilang sagisag ng “Buwan ng Wika.”

Larawang Tribiya

          Si Manuel Luis Quezon (1878-1944) ang kauna-unahang nahalal na Pangulo ng Pilipinas (1935-1944, nang panahon ng Commonwealth). Bago ito, siya rin ang kauna-unahang naging Senate President ng Pilipinas (October 16, 1916 – October 17, 1935). Si Quezon din ang tinaguriang “Ama ng Wikang Pampbansa.”

                                      o     O     o

June 28



JUNE 28

Espesyal Komiks Taon 2 Blg. 45, Hunyo 28, 1954
Tampok sa taklob-pahina ang nobelang komiks na “Milagrosa”
na pinagtambalan nina Nestor Redondo at Tony Zuñiga

GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

A portrait of Jean Simmons (1929-2010) on the cover of Time June 28, 1948 issue.

Events that happened on June 28:

1848 – Wedding day of Dr. Jose Rizal’s parents, Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonzo Realonda.

2008 – Manny Pacquiao knocked out David Diaz on the ninth round in the fight dubbed as “Lethal Combination,” to become the WBC Lightweight champion and the first Asian five-division world boxing champion.

Personalities and celebrities born on June 28:

1861 – Jose Luna, doctor and medical officer in the Philippine-American War – in Trozo, Manila (d. January 21, 1917).

1959 –Gina Alajar (Regina Alitiit), actress and director – in Manila.

Young teen Gina Alajar on the covers of Movie King Showbiz Magazine (with Mike Bilbao), July 17, 1973, and Teens Weekly, February 22, 1974.

1983 – Maui Taylor (real name Maureen Anne Rodriguez Tupaz), model, singer and actress – in Brighton, East Sussex, England.

Maui Tayloron the covers of FHM Philippines April 2002 (left) and November 2005 (right),
and on p. 27 of 18 magazine Vol. 1 No. 1, September 2003 (center),
voted as No. 3 among the “10 Most Fantasized Female Star.”

ILLUSTRATED STORIES (NG ATLAS PUBLICATIONS)

Tagalog Illustrated Stories (dating

Tagalog klasiks) Taon 54 Blg. 2752,

Hunyo 28, 2004



Ilan sa mga huling “komiks” na inilimbag ng Atlas Publications
na hindi na nilagyan ng petsa: Pilipino IS Taon 59 Blg. 3240,
Tagalog IS Taon 54 Blg. 2774, at Espesyal IS Taon 53 Blg. 2613.

Ang Tagalog Illustrated Stories ay ang dating Tagalog Klasiks. Nagbagong mukha ito sa mga unang taon ng ika-21 siglo. Sa unti-unting pagkawala ng babasahing pangmasa na “komiks,” tanging iilan sa mga inilalathala ng Atlas Publications ang nalabi sa sirkulasyon. Sa di mawaring dahilan, ang katawagang “komiks” o “klasiks” ay pinalitan ng “illustrated stories.” Ang Espesyal Komiks ay naging Espesyal Illustrated Stories, ang Hiwaga Komiks ay naging Hiwaga Illustrated Stories, atbp. Tumagal lamang ang mga ito hanggang taong 2006. Sa huling dalawang taon, hindi na nilalagyan ng petsa ang mga inililimbag na “komiks” na taliwas sa nakaugalian. Dito lalong nawalan ng halaga ang mga komiks. Ito ay dahil sa panuntunang (ng mga collectors) na ang nakatatak na petsa, maliban sa nilalaman, ang nagbibigay halaga sa mga babasahing ito sa paglipas ng panahon. Ang Pilipino Komiks naman na naging Pilipino Illustrated Stories, nang lumaon, ay nagkaroon na lamang ng mga “specialized issues” na naglalaman ng mga “illustrated” information tungkol sa mga napapanahong mga bagay o pangyayari.

                                                          o     O     o




Sina Anne Curtis at Jasmine Curtis-Smith,
tampok sa taklob-pahina ng Meg
(June 2011)

Larawang Tribiya

          Ang magkapatid na Anne Curtis at Jasmine Curtis-Smith ay half-Australian at half-Filipina. Ang kanilang mga magulang ay sina James Ernest Curtis-Smith at Carmencita Ojales. Si Anne ay ipinanganak sa Yarrawonga, na 268 kilometers ang layo sa Melbourne (parehong nasa Victoria, Australia) kung saan naman ipinanganak ang kaniyang nakababatang kapatid na si Jasmine.
          Alam niyo ba kung ano ang agwat ng kanilang edad? Siyam na taon at pitong linggo.

 

                             o     O     o