Fiction: The Yuletide of '92 and Other Poetic Memories

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 22 No. 34, December 15, 1998

On the front cover: Fathers and sons Michael de Mesa and Ryan Eigenmann,

and Mark Gil and Gabby Eigenmann.

On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ad.

A short story written in prose and poetry for a special lady from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” – Psalms 34:18, The Everyday Bible, New Century Version.

Coping With Life's Changes



Mr. & Ms. Vol. 23 No. 21, September 14, 1999
On the front cover: Paul Asi Taulava and Ana May Corveau, with Richard Gere (inset)
On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ad

Another re-written article about the “Dengue Scare.” This time for Mr. & Ms. September 14, 1999 issue.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 28 No. 21, September 14, 2004
On the cover: Railey Valeroso and Chynna Ortaleza

In this article I wrote a collection of thoughts I set as guidelines in most things I do. It’s a way of “Coping With Life’s Changes.”

 “Only a wise man knows what things mean. Wisdom makes him smile and makes his frowns disappear.” – Ecclesiastes 8:1, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version

Let's Save Our Planet: Computer Management and the Paperless Office

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 23 No. 13, July 20, 1999

On the front cover: China Cojuangco

On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ad.

I wrote the article, “Computer Management and the Paperless Office” 18 years ago, but its relevance extends up to the present. Read and find out why.

“A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive.” – Proverbs 18:9, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces: Saving a Wonder of the World

Celebrity World Vol. 4 No. 195, May 8, 1995
On the cover: Sharon Cuneta

Upon reading from the newspaper that the Ifugao Rice Terraces are endangered of massive degradation, I immediately did some research and wrote the article “The Ifugao Rice Terraces: Saving a Wonder of the World” (pp. 8-9), which was published as Celebrity World May 8, 1995 issue’s “Topic of the Week.” I re-wrote this article and it was published in two parts in Mr. & Ms. March 18 & 25, 1997 issues.

“LORD, make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds. Let those who wept as they planted their crops, gather the harvest with joy!” – Psalms 126:4-5, The Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.

Let's Save Our Planet: Stop Stuffing the (Sea) Turtles!

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 18 No. 46, March 21, 1995
On the cover: Emilio Garcia and Jenette Fernando

One of my earliest article contributions for Mr. & Ms. magazine is “Stop Stuffing the (Sea) Turtles” (p. 19) that was featured in the magazine’s “Let’s Save Our Planet” section.

Mr. & Ms. magazine Vol. 23 No. 45, March 21, 2000
On the front cover: Regine Velasquez
On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ads.

 

In my early freelance career as a magazine contributor, I used to make all sorts of trivia “quizzes” and “puzzlers” like “Quiz for the Wiz” for Chinatown East magazine, “Showbiz Quiz” for MOD Filipina magazine, and “Braintwister” for Mr. & Ms. magazine. I try to make them unique and interesting. Here’s an example, “Word Countries” in Mr. & Ms. “Braintwister” March 21, 2000 issue, where I even added an illustration.

“To the LORD belong the earth and everything in it, the world and all its inhabitants. For it was He who founded it on the seas and planted it firm on the waters beneath.” – Psalms 24:1-2, The Revised English Bible with Apocrypha.

 

 

 

 

May 30

 

MAY 30 


Mr. & Ms. Vol. 34 No. 4, May 30, 2000
On the front cover: Arnold Clavio and Mickey Ferriols
On the back cover: Sharon Cuneta for the Alaska Milk print ad.

 

Events that happened on May 30:

1902 – The first group of American teachers arrived at Cebu.

1964 – Filipino writer and labor leader Amado V. Hernandez was acquitted by the Supreme Court in a landmark case (complex crime of rebellion with murder, arson and robbery)  in Philippine jurisprudence that lasted more than 13 years.

Personalities and celebrities born on May 30:

1892 – Fernando Cueto Amorsolo, portraitist, landscape painter and first National Artist (1972) of the Philippines – in Calle Herran, Paco, Manila (d. April 24, 1972).

The only self-portrait done by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Given to First Lady Imelda R. Marcos as a token of appreciation

for her role in the creation of the National Artist Award

by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, but went missing after the

1986 EDSA Revolt when Malacañang was ransacked.

Amorsolo was the first recipient of the National Artist Award.

 

1932 – Jose Armando R. Melo, jurist and public official – in Manila.

1970 – Manuel Luis “Manolo” Casas Quezon III, writer, blogger and televivion host.

1973 – John Rodney Santos, basketball player – in Meycauayan City, Bulacan.

1989 – Demitrius Irving Tolentino Omphroy, Amrican-born Filipino footballer – in Alameda, California.



Mr. T (Lawrence Tureaud) on the cover
of People weekly May 30, 1983 issue.

Picture Trivia

Do you know what Mr. T’s real name. During his early career, writers would put his name as Lawrence Tero, but his real name is Lawrence Tureaud. We remembered him as the muscle of the A-Team, B. A. Baracus, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and as Hulk Hogan’s friend and tag-team partner in Wrestlemania I.

One interesting trivia: Mr. T’s unusual hairstyle came about after he saw a Mandinka warrior belonging to an ethnic tribe in West Africa while reading an issue of National Geographic. He decided to adopt their unusual hairstyle as a powerful statement of his African origin. He would occasionally sleep with the heavy gold chains on his neck to see how his ancestor as a slave felt. But after helping out in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina in 2005, he stopped wearing virtually all his gold. He said, “As a Christian, when I saw other people lose their lives and lose their land and property...I felt that it would be a sin before God for me to continue wearing my gold. I felt it would be insensitive and disrespectful to the people who lost everything, so I stopped wearing my gold.”

January 6



January 6

Liwayway, Enero 6, 1969
Tampok sa harapang pabalat si Amalia Fuentes,
at sa likurang pabalat si Gina Pareño (para sa Esso Gaas Kerosene print ad)

 

Enero 6 sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas

          Ang El Eco de Vigan, ang unang pahayagang inilimbag sa labas ng Manila, ay lumabas sa sirkulasyon noong Enero 6, 1884.

                                                          o     O     o

          Ang Nilad Lodge, na tinatawag ding “Logia Central y Delegada,” ang kauna-unahang Masonic lodge sa Pilipinas ay itinatag noong Enero 6, 1892, sa ilalim ng pamumuno nina Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Moises Salvador at Jose Ramos.

                                                          o     O     o

          Noong Enero 6, 1989, naganap ang tinaguriang “Zamboanga Massacre.” Binihag ng Muslim dissident na si Rizal Alih si General Eduardo Batalla at iba pang mga hostages. Ito ay naging dahilan ng isang madugong paglalaban. Sinasabing gumamit ang militar at mga pulis ng malabis na puwersa o overkill na naging dahilan ng pagkasawi ng maraming tao kabilang na si General Batalla at ang kaniyang aide na si Colonel Romeo Abendan. Nakatakas si Alih sa nasabing encounter.

                                                          o     O     o

          Si Romi Garduche ay naging kauna-unahang Filipino na nakaakyat sa ituktok ng pitong pinakamataas na bundok sa pitong sangkalupaan (Seven summits of the seven continents) noong Enero 6, 2012, nang marating niya ang tuktok ng Vinson Massif, ang pinakamataas na bundok sa Antarctica.

          Ang iba pang mga bundok na naakyat ni Garduche, ayon sa pagkakasunud-sunod:

          Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (pinakamataas sa Africa), September 2000.

          Mount Aconcagua, Argentina (pinakmataas sa South America), January, 2005.

          Mount Everest, Nepal-Tibet (pinakamataas sa Asia at sa buong daigdig), May 19, 2006.

          Mount Elbrus, Russia (pinakamataas sa Europe), August 25, 2007.

          Mount Denali, Alaska (pinakamataas sa North America), June 6, 2008.

          Mount Kosciuszko (pinakamataas sa Australia), January 2009.

                                                          o     O     o

 

Ang Totoo Tungkol sa Tatlong Hari

          Alam niyo ba na wala namang nabanggit sa Bibliya tungkol sa sinasabing “Tatlong Hari” o “Three Kings?” Sa Ebangelyo Ayon Kay Mateo (Gospel According to Matthew), sinasabing nang ipanganak ang Panginoong Jesus, “ang mga pantas na lalaki (wise men) ay nagsidating sa Jerusalem mula sa silanganan.....” (Matthew 2:1). Hindi sinabing sila ay mga hari; hindi rin binanggit kung ilan sila. Ang nabanggit ay “inihandog nila sa Kaniya (sa Panginoong Jesus) ang mga alay na ginto at kamangyan at mira.” (Matthew 2:11). Sa tatlong alay na ito nagmula ang pagsapantaha na tatlo sila. Iniuugnay rin ito sa mga hula (prophecies) sa Lumang Tipan (Old Testaments) tungkol sa Panginoong Jesus katulad ng mababasa sa mga Aklat ng Mga Awit (Book of Psalms): “Ang mga hari sa Tharsis, at sa mga pulo... ang mga hari sa Sheba at Seba ay mangaghahandog ng mga kaloob. Oo, lahat ng mga hari ay magsisiyukod sa harap Niya.....” (Psalms 72:10-11), subalit ang tinutukoy rito ay hindi “tatlong hari” kundi sa pangkalahatan.

                                                          o     O     o

Isang ilustrasyon ng sinasabing “Tatlong Hari”
na iginuhit ni Francisco V. Coching
tampok sa taklob-pahina ng
Tagalog Klasiks (Enero 12, 1963)

          Hindi rin tamang tawagin silang “Tatlong Mago” (Three Magi). Sapagkat ang magi (singular – magus) ayon sa Bibliya ay mga manggagaway (sorcerers). Ilan sa mga halimbawang ibinigay ng Bibliya ay sina Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-24) at Elymas (na tinawag ding Bar-Jesus, Acts 13:6-11). Sa kasaysayan, ang tradisyon ng mga magi ay mula sa paganong relihiyong Zoroastrianism.

                                o     O     o

          Ang mga pangalang Melchor, Gaspar at Balthasar, na iniuugnay rin sa “Tatlong Hari,” ay mga kathang-isip lamang ng mga manunulat at hindi rin matatagpuan sa Bibliya.

                                o     O     o

 

Pinoy personalities and celebrities born on January 6:

1812 – Melchora Aquino, considered as the “Mother of the Philippine Revolution” and known as “Tandang Sora” – in Caloocan. (d. March 2, 1919)

1936 – Nida Blanca (real name Dorothy Acueza Jones), multi-award-winning actress – in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. (d. November 7, 2001).

Nida Blanca

on the cover of Kislap Graphic (August 1, 1956).

 

1948 – Marissa Delgado (real name Epifania Adoracion Boyle), actress and model – in Manila.

1951 – Val Iglesia (full name Baltazar Iglesia), actor – in Manila.

1966 – Sharon Gamboa Cuneta, singer and actress – in Pasay City.



Sharon Cuneta
on the cover of Celebrity World (May 8, 1995)

 

Marissa Delgado,
one of “The Girls of the Orient”
(Inside Playboy, December 1968).

Picture Trivia
          Award-winning actress Marissa Delgado (real name Epifania Adoracion Boyle) was the first Filipina featured nude inside the pages of Playboy. This was in the December 1968 Playboy USA issue that featured “The Girls of the Orient.”

Playboy USA (December 1968)
with Cynthia Myers on the cover.

                             o     O     o