Marinduque's Governors and House of Congress Representatives-An Update

Juan M. Nieva, Lt. Governor, 1907-1916. Macrine Nieva Jambalos Katague (my spouse) grandfather on her maternal side of the Family.


The following is the list of Governors and Representatives to the House of Congress of Marinduque from 1898 to the present. This was published by Eli Obligacion in his blog marinduquegov.blogspot.com about two years ago. I am updating it for this year 2013.

I found it very informative and interesting because it showed that Marinduque is not exempted from the Philippines' Political Dynasty Syndrome. Most of the old names sound very, very familiar to me even though I was not raised in Marinduque. But the three names that I have familial association with are Calixto Nieva ( Macrine's great grandfather, Juan Nieva ( Macrine's, my wife, grand father) and the Celso Preclaro ( Macrine's uncle) who was the governor in 1963-1967.

Engineer Preclaro (from Santa Cruz) was the late husband of Macrine's aunt Tita Ponti( (Faustina) Jambalos from Laylay. Tita Ponti is the older sister of Macrine's Dad, Bernardo Jambalos, Jr of Boac. I used to visit their residence in Sampaloc, Manila, when I was courting Macrine in mid 1950's. Here's the list that is still not complete according to Obligacion.

GOVERNORS OF MARINDUQUE

1898-1901 MARTIN LARDIZABAL Politico-Military Governor
(Appointed Military Governor of Marinduque with Eduardo Nepomuceno as Delegado de Justicia, Tomas Roque as Delegado de Hacienda and Calixto Nieva as Delegado de Policia. Lardizabal was Commandant of the Marinduque Revolutionary Force during the Philippine-American War in Marinduque).

1901-1902 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Provincial Governor of
Tayabas and Marinduque
1902-1904 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Lieutenant Governor
1904-1907 RICARDO G. PARAS, SR.* Provincial Governor
(Paras was delegate to the Malolos Congress in 1898; appointed provincial governor by Pres. William H. Taft from 1901-1902, then as lieutenant governor from 1901-1904 and provincial governor from 1904-1907)

1907-1916 JUAN M. NIEVA* Lieutenant Governor
(Nieva was appointed lieutenant governor; became the municipal president of Sta. Cruz; campaigned hard for the extensive planting of coconuts throughout the province; all the towns of Marinduque were first connected during his term through the installation of telegraphic lines)

(Act No. 1649 May 17, 1907, declared that all of the territory comprised in the Island of Marinduque to be the sub-province of Marinduque, forming a part of the Province of Tayabas. Section 1 of said Act provided for a lieutenant governor for the said sub-province to be appointed by the Governor General with the advise and consent of the Philippine Commission.)

1916-1919 PEDRO MADRIGAL (elected) Lieutenant Governor
(Madrigal’s name was associated with the Philippine-American War in Marinduque; also former municipal president, he established the first drug store, “Botica de Boac”.

(Act No. 2354 Feb. 28, 1914 was passed making the office of Lieutenant-Governor elective in the sub-province of Marinduque, Tayabas)

1919-1920 VICENTE TRIVINO (elected) Lieutenant Governor

(Trivino was aide-de-camp of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and participated actively in revolutionary activities during the Philippine-American War; was first appointed provincial governor under the Marinduque Charter (1920). Act No. 2880 Feb. 21, 1920, separated the sub-province of Marinduque from the province of Tayabas)

1920-1922 VICENTE TRIVINO (hold-over) Provincial Governor
1922-1925
1925-1929 DAMIAN REYES Provincial Governor
1929-1933
1933-1936 PEDRO DEL MUNDO Provincial Governor
1936-1939
1939-1942 JOSE L. BASA
1942-1945 JOSE L. BASA (hold-over)
1945-1946 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO, SR.*
1946-1947 CESAR NEPOMUCENO*
1947-1951 CESAR NEPOMUCENO
1951-1955
1955-1963 MIGUEL M. MANGUERA
1963-1967 CELSO PRECLARO
1967-1988 ARISTEO M. LECAROZ
1988-1992 LUISITO M. REYES
1992-1995 LUISITO M. REYES
1995-1998 JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION
1998-2007 CARMENCITA O. REYES

Carrion served as Governor of Marinduque from 1995-1998 and 2007-2010.
2007-2010 JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION

Reyes served as Assemblywoman from 1978 to 1986 (Martial Law period), Representative of Marinduque from 1987 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, as well as Governor from 1998 to 2007 and 2010 to present.
2010-2013 CARMENCITA O. REYES
2013---Carmencita O. Reyes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The current Pork Barrel Scandal has named our Congress Representatives as Representa thieves or TONGressman or TONGresswoman

Members of the Philippine House of Congress ( Philippine Legislature)

Marinduque had no representation from 1907-1922. GREGORIO NIEVA of Boac was appointed, however, as Secretary of the House in 1910. Gregorio and Juan were brothers.

1922-1925 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1925-1928 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1928-1931 RICARDO NEPOMUCENO
1931-1934 JOSE A. UY
1934-1935 JOSE A. UY

Commonwealth Government
1935-1938 CECILIO A. MANEJA (Maneja was defeated by Jose A. Uy in election contest decided in 1937)
1938-1941 JOSE A. UY
1941-1946 CECILIO A. MANEJA

Republic of the Philippines
1946-1949 TIMOTEO RICOHERMOSO
1949-1953 PANFILO M. MANGUERA
1953-1957 PANFILO M. MANGUERA
1957-1961 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1961-1965 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1965-1969 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ
1969-1972 FRANCISCO M. LECAROZ

Martial Law Priod
1978-1986 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1987-1992 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1992-1995 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1995-1998 CARMENCITA O. REYES
1998-2001 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2001-2004 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2004-2007 EDMUNDO O. REYES, JR.
2007-2010 CARMENCITA O. REYES
2010-2013 Allan Jay Velasco
2013-2016 Regina O Reyes still being question by Allan Jay Velasco?
Any news on the status of the Regina Reyes and Allan Velasco fight for Marinduque's lone district?

Why I watch the TV Drama-My Husband's Lover

This drama is a good diversion and relaxation for me and a respite from the depressing pork barrel scandal news that has angered millions of Filipinos all over the world.


THE FOLLOWING ARE 50 REASONS WHY PINOYS WATCH THE MOST TALK TV DRAMA THIS SUMMER according to the MHL website and FB page. IT IS ARRANGED FROM 50 TO 1. MY REASONS ARE NUMBERS #1, #3, #15, #35 and #50.

I also suggest that GMA network should have the courage to portray a KISS between Eric and Vincent at the last episode. GMA should have the balls to defy CBCP to have a realistic drama, and show to the whole world that the Philippines is no longer a conservative country. If this drama's venue is in US or Europe, a kissing scene should have probably been shown a number of times for the delight of the fans. I suggest a sequel with Diego and Hannah as the top two leads after 20 years of happiness between Eric and Vincent.

Ten weeks after, 50 episodes and 50 days of trending on twitter, here are the 50 top reasons why Filipinos Love to Watch My Husband’s Lover.

50. Filipinos watch #MHL because #MHL is a love story. Complex as it may seem it is still a love story between Vincent & Eric and between Vincent & Lally.

49. Filipinos watch #MHL because they had enough of stereotyped portrayal of gay men on T.V.

48. Filipinos watch #MHL because they secretly love the idea of infidelity.

47. Filipinos watch #MHL hoping to see two beautiful men kiss on T.V.

46. Filipinos watch #MHL hoping they will learn some tell tail signs if their husband is gay or not.

45. Filipinos watch #MHL as they love a mom like Sol Del Mundo who gives her son Eric unconditional love. Hands down, Sol Del Mundo is the Mother of the Year.

44. Filipinos watch #MHL because most of us have an all-out gay friend like Danny, who even uttered the immortal line, “Anna Dizon is Anna Dizon”.

43. Filipinos watch #MHL because they just love to hear Kuh Ledesma’s One More Try at least 10 times each night.

42. Filipinos watch #MHL because they just love to hear Jonalyn Viray’s Help Me Get Over at least 10 times each night.

41. Filipinos watch #MHL because they love watching real men play gay men on T.V.

40. Filipinos watch #MHL because they had enough of gay men play real men on T.V.

39. Filipinos watch #MHL to prove to themselves they are not homophobic.

38. Filipinos watch #MHL because they want to find out if gay men do fall in love.

37. Filipinos watch #MHL because by doing so they believe they are supporting gay rights.

36. Filipinos watch #MHL because they love to hate a homophobic father like General Soriano.

35. Filipinos watch #MHL thinking they can laugh at two crying gay men but end up crying with them.

34. Filipinos watch #MHL because they find Eric Del Mundo as the perfect mistress.

33. Filipinos watch #MHL because they love the idea of true love never dies. But are confused which one is Vincent’s true love.

32. Filipinos watch #MHL because they want to remember their high school love, Eric and Vincent met during their high school years.

31. Filipinos watch #MHL thinking they too can find a gay man to fall in love with.

30. Filipinos watch #MHL because they feel they have a better #gaydar than Lally.

29. Filipinos watch #MHL realizing that more often than not, gorgeous single men are likely to be gay.

28. Filipinos watch #MHL because at one time in their lives have been #friend zoned. David played by Victor Basa is Vincent’s friend who at one time became his lover but in the end was #friendzoned by Vincent.

27. Filipinos watch #MHL to feel good about their own complicated love life.

26. Filipinos watch #MHL to see if it will change their stand on gay marriage. As one character in the movie, Juana C. The Movie said, ‘mauuna pa ang gay divorce sa gay marriage sa Pilipinas’. (Gay Divorce will become a law long before Gay Marriage is allowed.)

25. Filipinos watch #MHL as they identify with the characters; they can be Lally the clueless wife, Vincent the confused or Eric the mistress.

24. Filipinos watch #MHL because they love to root for the underdog, but in this case none of the characters can be considered an antagonist, each one is an underdog as each one has their own share of pain.

23. Filipinos watch #MHL love to hate a domineering mother in law and they found that in Elaine Soriano played by songstress Kuh Ledesma.

22. Filipinos watch #MHL as it brings to life their own fantasy of having an illicit affair.

21. Filipinos watch #MHL thinking they know what being gay all is about only to find out they hardly know anything.

20. Filipinos watch #MHL hoping to find clues on how to move on. The song Help Me Get Over You has become the national theme song of those who wish to move on after a failed romance.

19. Filipinos watch #MHL because they believe it is their love story.

18. Filipinos watch #MHL thinking just like their own marriage, Vincent and Lally’s marriage is far from perfect.

17. Filipinos watch #MHL to understand their gay brother, gay friend or gay son.

16. Filipinos watch #MHL knowing now that gay love is no different from heterosexual love.

15. Filipinos watch #MHL to see who ends up with whom, will it be Vincent and Eric or Vincent and Lally.

14. Filipinos watch #MHL to learn that it doesn’t work to be friends with the wife if you are a mistress. As they say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” and Eric knows it very well.

13. Filipinos watch #MHL to learn that there is a reason why you are the only girlfriend your husband ever had. Vincent never had a girlfriend until he met Lally, which can mean either your husband could be gay or is so just into you.

12. Filipinos watch #MHL to remember the first time they fell in love only to realize that love is not meant to be forever.

11. Filipinos watch #MHL to see how hard it is for some gay men to come out publicly.

10. Filipinos watch #MHL to realize that gay men can compete with the wife. Talk about “ang haba ng hair’ (long hair) moment for Eric Del Mundo.

9. Filipinos watch #MHL to see what a Bromance is all about.

8. Filipinos watch #MHL realizing that being broken hearted is the same regardless if you are gay or not.

7. Filipinos watch #MHL to see why people on Twitter keep on making it as a trending topic every day for the last 50 days since My Husband’s Lover premiered on TV.

6. Filipinos watch #MHL because they believe like Vincent that it is possible to love more than just one.

5. Filipinos watch #MHL because they believe love conquers all. But how will My Husband’s Lover end, will Love be sufficient to stay or should someone say Goodbye?

4. Filipinos watch #MHL knowing now that Anne Curtis is no longer the quintessential “other woman” but it is Eric Del Mundo as played by Dennis Trillo.

3. Filipinos watch #MHL as they love anything the CBCP condemns. The gay-themed GMA teleserye “My Husband’s Lover” has pushed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) to urge TV networks to examine their shows closely for sensitive topics that could affect morality. Source: Yahoo Philippines

2. Filipinos watch #MHL because they much rather follow the Pope than the CBCP, when the Pope was asked about gays, Pope Francis answered: 'Who am I to judge?'

1. Filipinos watch #My Husband’s Lover because it is good TV.

My Husband’s Lover speaks the reality that most Filipinos tried to deny as truth ~ Ian Laput, psychologist. Most viewers and fans in FaceBook wants Eric and Vincent to be together at the end. Others want Lally and Vincent to stay together with their kids.

But, no matter how MHL ends, it has broken the taboo in Philippine Television of broadcasting the reality of homosexuality, adultery and homophobia. Hopefully this drama has opened the hearts of million of Filipino viewers accepting and understanding the lifestyle of the LGBT community.

My Joke of the Week

Now that Napoles has surrendered to President Aquino( na police si napoles), it is time to laugh and enjoy your day. Instead of reading all the depressing news on the latest status of the pork barrel scandal, here's a post from the web guaranteed to make you smile. The title of this article is the "The Handsome Stranger".

The woman entered the room, and with a knowing smile teasing her full lips, she sank into the comfort of the plush chair in the corner.

The handsome stranger turned, having sensed her approach. Locking his steely gray eyes on hers, he moved slowly toward her, his experienced gaze measuring her, hypnotizing her with his soft murmurs of assurance. He sank to his knees before her and without a word, smoothly released her from her constraining attire.

With a sigh of surrender, she allowed his foreign hands to unleash her bare flesh. He expertly guided her through this tender, new territory, boldly taking her to heights she had never dared to dream of, his movements deliberate, confident in his ability to satisfy her every need.

Her senses swam. She was overcome with an aching desire that had gone unfulfilled for so long.

And, just as it seemed that ecstasy was within her grasp, he paused, and for one heart-stopping moment, she thought, “It’s too big! – it will never fit!”

Then, with a sudden rush, it slid into place as if it had been made only for her. As pleasure and contentment washed over her, she met his steady gaze, tears of gratitude shining in her eyes.

And he knew it wouldn’t be long before she returned. Oh, yes, this woman would want more. She would want to do it again and again and again… Don't ya just love shopping for shoes?

Things I will Always Remember at Chateau Du Mer

Next month will be the seven years anniversary of the opening of the beach house, Chateau Du Mer(CDM) for public use. Since then we have hosted several guests from US, Europe, Canada, Korea and Manila. The following are things that I will always remember at CDM.


1. The chirping songs and cacophony of sounds of the birds(Mayas)as they fly from tree to tree looking for worms



2. Native fishes and tilapias thriving well on my creek that meanders to the ocean



3. Sunset and coral reefs at low tide seen from the balcony of the beach house



4. A Reflection of an almost full moon as seen from the balcony of the beach house



5. Thousands of fireflies illuminating the firefly tree on a moonless night, just like a Chistmas tree with flickering miniature lights



6. Monitor Lizard ( bayawak) looking for chicken or duck eggs. He looks scary, but actually harmless,unlike the Komodo dragons of Indonesia



7. A native hawk (lawin) diving from the sky for young chicks. This lawin is on a cage to do no harm to your chickens for the moment



8. Coconut rats feasting on young coconuts ( one coconut almost hit me on the head). Watch out for your head, specially on a windy day



9. Blue starfish and corals seen only a few meters from my back yard



10. Bougainvillas and orchids blooming in my front yard ( see picture of orchids on previous posting)



11. A sunset that takes your breathe away ( notice the two swimmers also enjoying the sunset)




12. A papaya tree with ripe fruits ( not yet seen by the fruit bats)



13. Mangoes loaded with fruits almost touching the ground because of its weight



14. Bananas and avocado trees loaded with fruits( no picture of avocados-see in previous posting)



15. The scream of an alley cat on “Heat” at midnight ( photo taken from the web), and last, but not least


16. The crowing of the rooster at 4:00AM everyday morning before dawn, a reliable alarm clock if you want to wake up that early

Please visit my website, www.chateaudumer.com or my blog site, http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com for more pictures!

If you are from Marinduque, do you have things that you will always remember about Marinduque. If you have stayed at Chateau DU Mer, I will appreciate, if you drop me a note of things you will always remember about your stay in Marinduque.

I told You so! Pinoy Pork is Rotten and it Stinks!

I have written 7 articles in this blog about the Pork barrel system as evil and the main source corruption in the Philippines. I also indicated my ardent wish for the elimination of the Pork Barrel system in the Philippines since 2010. Filipinos were quite on this topic since then. It was only a couple of weeks ago when the Napoles Scam captured the ire and anger of millions of Filipinos in the Philippines as well as in other parts of the world. I could rightly say, I told you so! Pinoy Pork is rotten and it stinks all over the universe. Abolish IT!

My first article written on April 29, 2010 discussed the link between the Political Dynasties and the Uncounted Allocation of Pork barrel funds to the House of Senate (SENA TONG) and House of Representatives( Representa THIEVES). My second article dated May 13, 2010 was titled "Elimination of the Pork Barrel System should be Aquino's top Priority. http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/2010/05/elimination-of-pork-barrel-should-be.html

My 3th post was titled "Pork will not be Eliminated but Allocated. The 4th was an update ( latest news) on the subject dated July 7, 2010. My blog has not mentioned pork barrel topics in 2011, However this year I wrote three more articles dated June 3, Aug 4 and 24. The June 3 article described Pork Barrel system in general. The August 4 and 24 discussed my reaction when the NAPOLES SCAM was headlined news not only in the Philippines but the whole world.

I wish for a peaceful and productive march to all supporters who will participate in the public rally in Luneta, Manila and other parts of the world tomorrow. If I were 40 years younger, I will for sure be one of the many volunteers that will show my support for the total elimination of the Pork Barrel System in the Philippines. Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas. Abolish the PORK!

Is the Abolishment of the Pork Barrel System for Real?

President Aquino indicated yesterday that he is in favor of abolishing the pork barrel system in the Philippines. If he really meant this, I admire his balls to do this almost an impossible task, being himself the biggest recipient of this funds and the main source of corruption in the House of Senate and Congress. It is just like shooting his own foot or similar to killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Some journalist suggested, the PDAF will still be in practice but just be given a different name. Some of the suggested names are: Please see my own suggestions-#22 and 23 at bottom of page.

1. Budgetary Allocation for Collaborative Outreach Nationwide (Bacon);

2. Lawmakers Initiative for Emergency, Miscellaneous and Personal Outlay (Liempo);

3. Livelihood Empowerment for Countrywide Humanitarian Outlaw Network (Lechon);

4. Pinagandang Iligal na Gastusin (Pig); (Beautiful but illegal money for spending)

5. Countrywide Universal Priority Initiatives Treasury (Cupit) Fund;

6. Totally New Government PDAF Audited to Satisfaction (Tongpats);

7. Selective Enforcement of Budgetary Outlays (Sebo);

8. Government Outlay Line-itemized and Appropriated Yearly (Golay);

9. Fund Integration for Social Housing (Fish);

10. Bridges, Excavations & Elevated Roads Fund (Beef);

11. Countrywide Allocations With Accountability and Transparency (Cawat);

12. National Allotment for Countryside Amelioration and Welfare (Nacaw);

13. P-Noy’s Initiative for Good Governance Countrywide (Piggy);

14. Countrywide Assistance for Special and Important Matters (Casim);

15. Budget for Allies for Continuation of Party Dominance (Bacon-PD);

16. Hearty Allocation of Money (Ham);

17. Countrywide Outreach and Rehabilitation Assistance Fund (Coraf);

18. BSA’s Awesome Budget for Outstanding Allies of the Year (Baboy);

19. Horrifyingly Unlimited Money for Belmonte, Aquino and Allies (Humba);

20. President Aquino’s Nationwide Outlay for Transparency (Panot); and

21. President Aquino’s Political Action and Initiative for Total Allocation of National Budget (Papaitan). Last but not least is my own suggestion

22. Monetary Assistance to Allies, Kins and Well-wishers. (MATAKAW)

23.Money Allocated To All Kins And Well-wishers.(MATAKAW)

For the benefit of my non-tagalog readers matakaw can be mean selfish or a thief.

Which one do you like. I like Numbers 5, 11, 12 and 18.

Compiled by Inquirer.net and Inquirer Research
http://anc.yahoo.com/video/locsin-pdaf-stop-changing-name-101413308.html
Read more: http://technology.inquirer.net/28547/netizens-pig-out-on-new-names-for-pork-holdaf-nacaw-badaf-cupit-etc#ixzz2cp0rjz2a

One Million, Two Hundred Nine Thousand and two Hundred Page Views

As of today, my 5 blogs showed 1,209,200 page views from over 174 countries. Thank you all for your feedback and comments. I hope you continue reading my blogs and comments. My stats from my 5 popular blogs are as follows:

1. Marinduque Awaits You- 298,717 as of 8/22/13)
2. Life in the United States 290,667 " "
3. Marinduque,Island Paradise 293,524 " "
4. The Intellectual Migrant- 189,876 " "
5. Chateau Du Mer Beach - 136,706 " "

TOTAL=1,209,200

Here are the stats for Blog #1 above: Page views by Countries, by Browsers, and Operating systems.

Page Views by Countries:

Germany-99,248. United States-82,792, Philippines-80,848, United Kingdom-9,089, Canada-6,121, India- 4,570, Russia-4,247, France-3,289, Australia-3,070, Saudi Arabia-3,029 (only the top ten countries).

Page views by Browsers

Internet Explorer-85,156 (30%), Chrome-79,685 (25%). Firefox-76,624 (22%), Safari-25,259 (4%)
Opera-6,424 (2%), AppleSyndication-5,059 (1%), Mobile Safari-1,622 (<1%), BingPreview-1,329 (<1%), Mobile-744 (<1%), CriOS- 237 (<1%) Page views by Operating Systems

Windows- 216827 (80%), Macintosh-25843 (9%), Linux-18041 (6%), iPhone-2232 (1%). iPad- 2802 (1%), Android-2126 (<1%), BlackBerry-660 (<1%), iPod-591 (<1%), Other Unix- 513 (<1%)and PlayStation Portable-272 (<1%)

A Movie After the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.

As a memory on the 30 years after the assassination of B Aquino, here's a movie for your viewing pleasure!!!


A Dangerous Life is a 1988 English-language Australian film about the final years of the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos' rule, from the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. in 1983 to the People Power EDSA Revolution in 1986 that ousted Marcos. The film focuses on American TV journalist (Gary Busey), who finds himself in the middle of key events that lead to the downfall of the Marcos regime. Originally airing on television as a mini-series that ran for a total of six hours, the film was edited to 162 minutes for the home video release.

The film was shot on location in Sri Lanka, mostly due to hostilities the producers experienced in Manila while filming The Year of Living Dangerously in 1982.

Homosexual Conversion Therapy Timely Topic in Pinoy TV Drama

Yesterday episode of My Husband's Lover touched the subject of Homosexual Conversion therapy. Elaine, mother of Vincent, the bisexual lead character in this drama went to see a psychiatrist with the hope of curing Vincent's homosexuality via counseling. The psychiatrist informed her that homosexuality is not a disease, thus it can not be cured. Homosexuals are normal persons.

Along the same subject Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey announced yesterday that he signed the law banning licensed therapists from trying to turn gay teenagers straight.

Christie quoted:

"Government should tread carefully into this area," he said in the signing note, "and I do so here reluctantly."

Conversion therapy gained attention two years ago when former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann was questioned over whether her husband's Christian counseling business provided services that attempted to change gays and lesbians. Bachmann's husband, Marcus, denied involvement in the therapy and the congresswoman dropped out of the presidential campaign in January 2012 after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

Christie reiterated in his belief that people are born gay and homosexuality is not a sin, a position he first stated in a 2011 interview with CNN's Piers Morgan. That view is inconsistent with his Catholic faith, which teaches that homosexual acts are sins.

Christie said on "issues of medical treatment for children we must look to experts in the field to determine the relative risks and rewards," citing a litany of potential ill effects of trying to change sexual orientation, including depression, drug abuse and suicide.

California is the first state that has also banned homosexual conversion therapy.

Congratulations to GMA network on their attempt to portray this topic via the TV drama, My Husband's Lover. Will the Bishop Catholic Conference of the Philippines react to this?

Most Amazing and Beautiful Places on Earth

In my Facebook status page last week, I indicated that I was tired and getting frustrated reading several articles about the pork barrel scandal in the Philippines as well as other depressing news in other parts of the world. I decided I turned my mind in the beauty of nature and our planet earth. Here's a mesmerizing and breathtaking video photography of some places in planet earth. Enjoy!

Bisexuality-Theme of Episode 50 of My Husband's Lover

In yesterday's episode, Vincent one of the leads in this TV drama, a bisexual, informed us that he equally love both his wife( Lally) and 2 kids in the same level as his gay lover, Eric. Can this be true in real life? Do you know of a bisexual man in real life who loves equally his wife and his gay paramour? What percent of homosexual men are also bisexual? On the opposite end, I know there are bisexual women. Do you know of a Lesbian woman who also has a man lover? I have a woman friend who is a bisexual, but not the other gender as portrayed by Vincent in this well written and acted TV drama.

This episode explore in detail the theme of bisexuality as illustrated in the following conversation of the two actors. The actual conversation in the TV drama was in Tagalog. However a fan translated it in English as follows:

THIS IS A VERBATIM TRANSLATIONS OF VINCENT AND ERIC'S CELLPHONE CALL as portrayed in TV/

ERIC: It's funny 'coz I still memorized your number that's why I know it's you.

VINCENT: Mom Ellaine knew already all 'bout me just awhile ago. I thought that it would be hard to do. But as soon I told her the truth, I felt so much lightness. I know you're wondering why of all people I'm telling all of these. Most especially now that you're trying to move on...now that you're seeing someone else. But Eric this is very difficult for me. But I wont stop you from seeing him...or make relations to whomever you like. Oh Eric, how I wished you could be mine forever. How I wish. And I know I cant have you.

ERIC: Wait why did you really call? Is it really just to prove to me that you cant back me up? Well I really don't care! You can't hurt me anymore Vince!

VINCE: Wait Eric wait no! Please don't get me wrong. (Don't shades my intention or meaning of this call in bad light) I'm calling you now to prove to you that I'm doing something for myself. Because before I'm such a fool for not coming out in the first place. I can't help...but be glad... to be honest...I am uncertain what would happen next. I'm aware that I have a huge commitments with Lally...and to my kids. And I could not easily just abandon (leave) them. Especially now that Lally is still weak. She cannot tackle all of these things by herself...and to be frank...nor am I. Just the same I cannot face the world by myself....I'm still learning (coping). Lally and I still need each other....

ERIC: ...Because the truth is...you love her. Maybe you are not really gay. Maybe you are just like those other men who just like having.....with men like me.

VINCE: ...Eric no! That's the truth...I know who I am...because...I love you. I really love you Eric! I really really love you! But I also love my wife...in different ways of course but I love BOTH of you...And I want to iron these things out. How I wish my conscience let me walk away from my family...but no... they still need me. So please... do whatever is best for you...and ME too. I'd try what's best for me...to my family. I'm just hoping one day when I'm ready to fight for you...is that there's still love left...for me...in your heart.

ERIC: ...No...don't me promises. I don't want it. I'm already tired waiting for you. Yes...you're here...inside my heart. You are a big part of this and nobody can ever replace you. And you're right...that I still have some space left to give to someone else.. And you know (damn well) that whenever I give that space...YOU MIGHT NEVER BE ABLE TO WIN ME BACK. i hope you'd be better. You and Lally... and your family....I'LL PRAY FOR YOU...

Just in case you have not heard of My Husband's LOver (MHL)...

My Husband's Lover(MHL) is a Filipino drama series by GMA Network starring Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana, and Tom Rodriguez. It premiered on June 10, 2013 replacing Love & Lies on the network's primetime block.

My Husband's Lover tells the story of Vincent(Tom Rodriguez) who got his girlfriend Lally (Carla Abellana), pregnant while they were still in college. The two decided to get married even if Vincent's mother, Elaine, was very much against it. With that, Lally's life of marriage was never smooth-sailing because of Vincent's mother in law. But for the sake of her love for her husband, Lally endures the hardships in dealing with her mother-in-law.

Meantime, Vincent who is bisexual had an affair with his former openly gay boyfriend Eric ( played by Dennis Trillo). Later Lally discovered and caught Eric and Vincent almost about to kiss. Lally was devastated and try to force Vincent to tell the truth to his parents, Armando ( Roi Vinzon) and Elaine( Kuh Ledesma), with the hope that their marriage can be saved. But Armando is extremely homophobic. Lally decided not to force Vincent to tell the truth about his bisexuality to his parents afraid of the extreme reaction of Armando. Vincent promised to Lally that he will not see Eric again to save his marriage.

Eric and Vincent try to forget about each other, but sometimes they still remember the happy times when they were together. Eric even sold his condo hoping to erase the memories of their love nest. Unknowingly to Eric, Vincent purchased the condo via proxy of the manager of his car dealership.

There are other side stories and characters besides the love triangle. An example of a character admired by the LGBT viewers is the mother of Eric ( played by Chandra Romero) who is very supportive of her son's sexual orientation, the exact opposite of Vincent's father.

What do you think will be the ending of this very popular TV drama?.

Here is my brain-storming ideas for the ending of the story: Perhaps after 20 years from now.

1. Lally finished school, become a successful business woman and had divorced Vincent and will be married to Paul after the divorced is finalized.

2. Eric and Vincent had reunited and live happily with custody of Vincent two kids now adults. Diego the oldest son turn out to be also gay.

3. Armando committed suicide after learning the truth of his son's sexual orientation. Elaine died of natural death still not believing her son is bisexual.

Again, no matter how MHL ends, it has broken the taboo in Philippine Television of broadcasting the reality of homosexuality, adultery and homophobia. Hopefully this drama has opened the hearts of million of Filipino viewers accepting and understanding the lifestyle of the LGBT community.

Metro Manila-British Movie Coming Soon

Another award winning movie about life in the Philippines coming soon.

METRO MANILA centers around Oscar Ramirez, a poor rice farmer from the Northern Philippine mountains, who moves his family to the capital mega-city of Metro Manila in search of a better life. The sweltering capital’s bustling intensity soon overwhelms the Ramirezes, and they fall prey to the manipulations of hardened locals. Left penniless, Oscar gets a lucky break when he is offered steady work at an armored truck company and is taken under the wing of its friendly senior officer, Ong. Grateful for the job, Oscar doesn’t realize how dangerous it is; after all, Manila is a city where machine gun-wielding security guards are seen in every shop, from banks and jewelry stores to Starbucks, and where armed robbery has become a daily occurrence. Driving a cash-laden armored truck makes Oscar a moving target, but robbery isn’t the only danger he faces: when it becomes apparent that Ong was lying in wait for someone just like Oscar for some time, and that his motives for hiring him were far from altruistic, Oscar finds himself ensnared in a web of intrigue far more perilous than anything he faces on the mean streets of Manila.

Julie Andrew's Favorite Things at 78

I received the following article in my E-mail, the other day. The sender requested that I share it with all my senior citizens friends.

To commemorate her birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall. One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used: (Sing It!) - If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!! Julie Andrews Turning 78 - this is hysterical!

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and humor with others who would appreciate it.. I am 78.5 years old also and I can identify with the things mentioned above.

On the Job-A Pinoy Thriller Coming Soon

I heard of this award winning movie to be release soon from a friend in the Philippines who is an avid fan of Piolo Pascual.

Watched for the release of this Philippine movie-a Puchon Festival Award Winner for Best Actor
This is the exclusive trailer for Erik Matti's On The Job, that premiered at the Puchon International Film Festival in South Korea. It starred Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson and Joel Torre. Joel Torre won the best actor award in this Festival. This Pinoy thriller was inspired by a real-life corruption scandal that involved inmates being released for a day to work as hired killers for crooked politicians in the Philippines.

Review of Justin Chang: Plunging the viewer headlong into the sweat and blood, cynicism and corruption of Metro Manila’s mean streets, “On the Job” is a gritty, convoluted but steadily engrossing crime thriller from Filipino genre maven Erik Matti. Although this fast-paced actioner takes a while to sort out its parallel plotlines, extending from an unusually porous prison system to the highest political offices, it ultimately fires on all cylinders as a tense, well-acted B-movie whose strong local flavor is unlikely to survive the inevitable offshore remake. Well Go USA Entertainment snapped up North American rights at Cannes, where the pic’s Directors’ Fortnight berth afforded Matti his broadest international exposure yet.

The brutal mob hit that opens the film takes place in broad daylight, in a crowded square in Quezon City, where middle-aged assassin Tatang (Joel Torre) initiates young thug Daniel (Filipino-American actor Gerald Anderson) into the ruthlessness of their particular trade. Surprisingly, it turns out Tatang and Daniel are both jailbirds, secretly allowed out of prison from time to time to carry out their lethal assignments — an ingenious arrangement that makes for one hell of a high-concept hook, as well as a chillingly matter-of-fact commentary on how endless cycles of violence, though carried out by gangsters on the ground, are actually perpetuated by those in power.

Exactly who’s responsible for these killings is a matter for investigation by upright Sgt. Acosta (Joey Marquez) and his rising-star protege, Francis (Piolo Pascual). Yet Francis finds himself in a potentially compromising position as he realizes just how rotten the system is, ensnaring even his high-ranking politico father-in-law (Michael de Mesa). The manner in which the screenplay (by Michiko Yamamoto and Matti) layers and juggles these dual threads seems almost willfully perplexing at first, but the temporary confusion is no impediment to audience interest, thanks to the film’s compellingly grimy ambience and fully lived-in performances. Perhaps the most fascinating backdrop here is the prison from which Tatang and Daniel plot their next moves, less a traditional cell block than a dense, teeming, self-contained jungle.

By the time the stories converge, in a hospital shootout that impressively recalls “The Godfather,” “On the Job” has the viewer confidently in its grip. The jittery action-movie syntax — from Francis Ricardo Buhay III’s handheld, neon-smeared lensing and Jay Halili’s whiplash editing to Erwin Romulo’s kicky musical selections — feels like a natural extension of this chaotic environment. The atmosphere proves as engrossing as the narrative; the violence erupts with grotesque, alarming frequency as the film wends its way toward an ending even more fatalistic than anticipated.

First among equals in the cast is the veteran Torre, taking a sledgehammer to his good-guy persona with a superbly menacing but very human performance as a killer whose world-weariness hasn’t kept him from being frighteningly good at his job. The chilling bond between Tatang and Daniel provides the film’s most substantial emotional dynamic. Anderson fully conveys the murderous rush Daniel feels as he becomes a pro hit man, a descent that stands in compelling contrast to Francis’ crisis of conscience as he gradually wills himself to do the right thing.

Korean-Americans Singing a Pinoy Patriotic Song

I have goose pimples watching this video. My congratulations to the singers and the Choir Director. One of the best rendition of Bayan Ko(My Country)-the Philippines). It made my day listening to this video. Anyone know where and when was this event held?
A Beautiful and Perfect Rendition of Bayan Ko.

"Bayan Ko" (Spanish: Nuestra Patria, English: My Country) is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs of the Philippines. Written originally in Spanish by Filipino general José Alejandrino, this Kundiman is often considered the unofficial second national anthem, and is sometimes assumed to be a folk song because of its popularity. It is also a protest song, often sung during demonstrations, and sometimes by Overseas Filipino groups after "Lupang Hinirang" or by itself.

Filipino lyrics:-Bayan Ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas,
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklák.
Pag-ibig ang sa kaniyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilág.
At sa kaniyang yumi at ganda,
Dayuhan ay nahalina.
Bayan ko, binihag ka,
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad,
Kulungin mo at umiiyak!
Bayan pa kayáng sakdál dilág,
Ang 'dì magnasang makaalpás?
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luhà ko't dalita
Aking adhika
Makita kang sakdál laya!
-------------------------------
English Translation-My Country

My country, the Philippines,
land of gold and flowers.
Love is in her palms
that offered beauty and splendour.
And, for her refinement and beauty,
foreigners were enticed.
My country, thou wast enslaved,
mired in suffering.

Even birds that are free to fly–
cage them and they shall cry!
How much more for country so beautiful;
would she not yearn to be free?
My Philippines that I treasure,
cradle of my tears and suffering
My dream is to see thee truly free!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Spanish Version-Nuestra Patria

Nuestra Patria Filipina,
cuya tierra es de oro y púrpura.
Tantos tesoros guarda en su lar
que tientan al hurtador.
Y es por eso que el anglosajón
con vil traición la subyuga,
Patria mía en prisión
sacúdete del traidor.

Aún el ave libre en su volar,
llora cuando en la jaula está,
cuanto más nuestra Patria de amor
al verse sin paz ni dignidad.
Filipinas de mi corazón
tus hijos jamás permitirán
que así te robe
tu bienestar y libertad.

Pinoy Controversial TV Drama-My Husband's Lover

-One of the theme songs of My Husband's Lover-a Pinoy TV Drama

My Husband's Lover(MHL) is a Filipino drama series by GMA Network starring Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana, and Tom Rodriguez. It premiered on June 10, 2013 replacing Love & Lies on the network's primetime block. The show has multiple continuing story lines that tackle sensitive yet relevant social issues like homosexual and bisexual relationships, homophobia and the society's discrimination against homosexuals, infidelity, pre-marital sex and the consequences of early or unplanned marriages. It also tackles the importance of family, friendship, integrity and love.

My Husband's Lover tells the story of Vincent(Tom Rodriguez) who got his girlfriend Lally (Carla Abellana), pregnant while they were still in college. The two decided to get married even if Vincent's mother, Elaine, was very much against it. With that, Lally's life of marriage was never smooth-sailing because of Vincent's mother in law. But for the sake of her love for her husband, Lally endures the hardships in dealing with her mother-in-law.

Meantime, Vincent who is bisexual had an affair with his former openly gay boyfriend Eric ( played by Dennis Trillo). Later Lally discovered and caught Eric and Vincent almost about to kiss. Lally was devastated and try to force Vincent to tell the truth to his parents, Armando ( Roi Vinzon) and Elaine( Kuh Ledesma), with the hope that their marriage can be saved. But Armando is extremely homophobic. Lally decided not to force Vincent to tell the truth about his bisexuality to his parents afraid of the extreme reaction of Armando. Vincent promised to Lally that he will not see Eric again to save his marriage.

Eric and Vincent try to forget about each other, but sometimes they still remember the happy times when they were together. Eric even sold his condo hoping to erase the memories of their love nest. Unknowingly to Eric, Vincent purchased the condo via proxy of the manager of his car dealership.

There are other side stories and characters besides the love triangle. An example of a character admired by the LBGT viewers is the mother of Eric ( played by Chandra Romero) who is very supportive of her son's sexual orientation, the exact opposite of Vincent's father.

What do you think will be the ending of this very popular TV drama?. Will Eric and Vincent see each other again? If so, will Lally asked for a divorce? Will Lally's friendship with Paul turn into another adulterous event in the drama? Will Armando and Elaine found out that their son is indeed bisexual? WHAT will be their reaction?

Here is my brain-storming ideas for the ending of the story: Perhaps after 20 years from now.

1. Lally finished school, become a successful business woman and had divorced Vincent and will be married to Paul after the divorced is finalized.

2. Eric and Vincent had reunited and live happily with custody of Vincent two kids, now adults. Possibly in 20 years, same sex marriages will be legal in the Philippines. Diego the son will turn out to be also gay.

3. Armando committed suicide after learning the truth of his son's sexual orientation. Elaine died of natural death still not believing her son is bisexual.

Again, no matter how MHL ends, it has broken the taboo in Philippine Television of broadcasting the reality of homosexuality, adultery and homophobia. Hopefully this drama has opened the hearts of million of Filipino viewers accepting and understanding the lifestyle of the LGTB community.

Most Amazing Dance Video

The most acrobatic, artistic, entertaining and erotic contemporary ballet, I have ever viewed. Agree or Disagree? Comments any one?

Beware of Scam and Phishing Letters

The following two e-mails I receive today is indeed very creative and can be convincing to some. I am posting this to let you be aware that there are people in this world ready to cheat you. Beware of Phishing letters.

1. Greetings to you my dear, a day of love sound health, joy and favor. I am very sure you can make a lot of difference by replying to my mail. You can make a lot of changes in the life of others with this great offer from the Lord through me to you, most especially the poor at heart and the less privileged. Firstly , I think I would start all with a proper introduction of myself.

I am Mrs. Kate Richmond, a widow to late Lloyd Richmond. I am 57 years old, suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all indications, my condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that I may not live more than two months according to my doctor, because the stage at which my cancer is (Level 3), it is so critical and also to a very severe stage.

My personal physician told me that I may not live for more than 2 months and I am so scared about it. My late husband and i both grew up in a motherless home in Australia we got married and we travel to the United States for our wedding and we decided to stay back there simply because it is a lovely place to stay and we were given a permanent stay after so many years. we have no child of our own due to one as fate will have it .After the death of my husband, I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against even though I wish I had . As you can see that age is no longer on my side but I still believe the Lord will send me someone that will make me smile which is you.

I must let you know that I did a contract for a company which generated some huge amount of money but due to some ill health and difficulties, I haven’t been able to lay claim to it. I have a dream to help affect lives and I will want you to help me to achieve this by using part of the fund for the said purpose.

After much thought, I now decide to give all of my wealth, by contributing to the development of the motherless baby homes, less privileges, needy, poor, charity homes, widows and Cancer patient too in your country and i just want you to forget about the distance between me and you as I don’t see that as a barrier. The said sum is a total of Five Million United State Dollars ($5,000,000.00) and I want you to stand as the beneficiary of the said fund with the help of my attorney and get the fund across to you. I want you to note that you will have 10% of the total money for your effort and please use the rest to reach out to the less privilege, widows and the needy in your own capacity.

Hope I can trust you on this as I really need you to use the funds to help the poor which is very essential and also the widow and cancer patient like me.
I know this is hard but trust me if you are interested please provide your full name and also your date of birth and phone number so that I will instruct my lawyer to prepare some documents in your name which will give you full right to the fund and also as the beneficiary of the fund.

Lastly I want you to know that the money is safe with a bank in London United Kingdom and the manager is aware and is willing to help facilitate the release of the funds. You will be contacting them directly with the help of my attorney as soon as we finalize and get to know each other.

If interested please send your details to my personal private email address katerichmond37@yahoo.com
I wait to hear from you. Regards, Mrs Kate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Here's the second letter:
Dear friend,

With all due respect, please kindly welcome this letter as it might meet you in utmost surprise, please forgive my intrusion into your privacy. My name is Mr. Aristid Sayogou, it was due to the urgency implied and the need for a foreign partner that made me contact you today for a business transaction.

When auditing abandoned and outstanding accounts in our bank, I discover the secret file of one of our late customers, who died in a plane crash with his entire family on 31 July 2008. He lodged some money into this bank ($8.000,000.00) Eight Million United State Dollars. Since then we have made several inquiries to locate any of his extended relatives, but our several attempts was unsuccessful as he neither left a Will nor any next of kin to this fund.

After these several frantic searches proved unsuccessful, I personally decided to contact you and to seek your consent to assist me for the fund to be transferred. I have the opportunity to transfer the fund as I work here in the bank as the director of Audit section, all I require is your honest co-operation to see this transaction through.

If you will give me a full assurance that you can handle this business, then forward to me this information: your full name, age, sex, occupation, cell phone number, address and country.

If you agree to my business proposal please reply me as soon as possible. On the receipt of your positive response, further details and modalities for the transfer will be forwarded to you.

With best regards,
Mr. Aristid Sayogou.

Film Director Reunion with his Pinay Yaya

Singaporean director, Anthony Chen reunites with his Pinay yaya, who inspired Cannes-winning film just recently.( www.interaksyon.com). A Pinay yaya is the family maid that takes care of the children. She can be a surrogate mother and can bond with the kids forever. I could identify with this story because I have also a Yaya when I was a child. I bonded with her and I have never forgotten her until she died. It is sad however that after she left the services of our family when the Japanese-American war started in the Philippines in 1941, I was never able to reunite with her. As I grew up, I learned to forget about her. However, once in a while I will remember incidences in my childhood years reminding me of how I bonded with her. I would remember that at that time I love my Yaya more than my mother. Now on with this true story that shed a tear or two in my eyes.

"During the 66th Cannes International Film Festival held last May, Anthony Chen’s feature film debut “Ilo Ilo” became the first film from Singapore to win in the world’s most prestigious festival. After earning a 15-minute standing ovation during its gala premiere, it was awarded the Camera d’Or, given to the best first feature film presented in the Official Selection, International Critics’ Week or the Directors’ Fortnight section where it was an entry.

The film focuses on the relationship between the Lims, a typical Chinese-Singaporean family, and their newly arrived maid, Teresa or Terry, an OFW from Iloilo (hence, the title), in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. The maid was played by Filipina independent film actress Angeli Bayani.

As it turns out, the story was based on the director’s childhood and inspired by the Pinay domestic helper whom Chen and his two younger brothers referred to as, yes, Auntie Terry.

As reported by the Chinese-language newspaper of Singapore, Lianhe Zaobao, Chen embarked on a search for the real Auntie Terry shortly after winning the Camera d’Or for his film. With the help of Iloilo natives or Ilonggas as we know them, it did not take long before Auntie Terry (real name: Teresita D. Sajonia) was found still living in, of course, Iloilo.

“Sometimes, even after years of separation, there are those who are destined to meet again. On Sunday 23rd July, in a small hut in the village of San Miguel in Iloilo Province, Anthony and Christopher were reunited with the real Auntie Terry after a 16-year separation. Words were unnecessary as they embraced. It was an emotional moment for all who were present,” according to Lianhe Zaobao as translated by the movie’s Facebook site from the original Chinese report.

Now 56, Auntie Terry was also described in the report as looking a lot older with ragged clothes, greying hair and wrinkled face, a far cry from how Anthony Chen remembered her: “a cultured, young, and beautiful lady who loved to dress up and listen to cassette tapes of ‘Evita’ and ‘Miss Saigon’”.

Her current living conditions are also hardly what anyone would consider as that befitting a former OFW. The report further revealed that Auntie Terry now lives in a foul-smelling run-down house that’s akin to “a chicken shack” in their village. Characterized by wooden planks, bamboo materials, muddy floors, well water, no toilet and lit only by a small light bulb, Auntie Terry’s place only has an old radio for its only appliance.

According to the report, Auntie Terry is one of the classic cases of OFWs who worked hard to support their family but in the process, forget to look after their own welfare. When she was working in Singapore, she sent most of her salary to her family, setting aside P80,000 for herself.

The Chen siblings, Anthony, Justin and Christopher, had very fond memories of their Auntie Terry during the eight years that she worked for their family.

“After she returned to her village, Teresita missed the three boys very much. She didn’t marry and had no children. Up till today, she still carries photos of the three boys with her, as if they were her own children. She wrote to the Chen family once, but unfortunately the family moved to a different address and they lost contact,” the report continued.

When she returned to the country due to health reasons 16 years ago at the age of 40, Auntie Terry went back to Iloilo and never returned to Singapore. Now living with a partner who, like her, suffers from poor vision, she lives a hand-to-mouth existence bartering her chickens for fish and usually eats just bread twice a day.

Fortunately, the Chens did not forget her. “There are many domestic helpers working in Singapore. We thought when they return home, they’ll be able to afford a big house, or run a small business. But the truth is not always the case,” Anthony said in the same report.

When the Chen brothers found Auntie Terry, they gave her money, vitamin supplements and bought her a pair of glasses, some clothes, T-shirts, jeans and shoes.

Thanks to the efforts of businessman Charles L. Lim — a Singaporean himself who has been living in the Philippines for many years and learned about Auntie Terry through “Ilo Ilo” — Auntie Terry and her partner only known as Mr. Jhunie will be flown to Singapore free of charge to attend the film’s premiere in the city-state.

This will mark the first time in 16 years that Auntie Terry will set foot again in the Lion City, as well as her first time to watch a movie in a cinema — a movie whose story she inspired".

Note: A heart warming story indeed! I am looking forward to see the movie, once it is release here in the United States. The current living conditions of Teresita is sad and her relatives that benefited from the money she sent to Iloilo while she was still working should help her.

Iloilo-A Singapore Film Won Cannes Festival Award

Last May, Anthony Chen, a Singaporean filmmaker debuts his film Iloilo at Cannes Film Festival. The film was set in Singapore during the 1997 financial crisis. Iloilo (happens to be the province of my birth in the Philippines) is about the Lim family and their new house help Teresa; The film depicted how their already problematic family ties evolve; and how different cultures crash. The movie won the Camera D'Or first place award just recently.

Chen was asked how he came about for the film’s title. Here is his answers:

“When I was much younger, my mother hired a Filipino maid to look after the children. Teresa was with us for a long 8 years until I was 12 years old. We called her Auntie Terry. When she left to return home, it was hard to bear, but we got used to her absence and somehow lost contact. I believe the universal experience of children growing up with maids is one of having a “”surrogate”” mother, a friend and a confidant. The one thing that has stayed with me after all these years is the name of the place she was from, Iloilo, a province in the Philippines. That is how the title of the film came about.”

As it chronicles the filmmaker’s family life with their Auntie Terry, the film also depicts the life of a Filipino domestic helper overseas– their sacrifices, their hardships and the simple joys they get from the children they treat as their own. Though not a Filipino film and entirely shot in Singapore, Iloilo somewhat gives delight to the Filipinos especially those working overseas. More than the money they earn, nothing else makes them feel all the sacrifices are worth it but to feel appreciated and loved in a land strange to them. And this film makes them feel special and appreciated in so many ways.

Please take time to watch the trailer. It feels overwhelming to have a foreigner appreciate a Filipino worker even after a decade or so has passed. People like Teresa dignifies a job that is often deemed cheap and low. As this film takes over the International scene, we hope our OFWs and Domestic Workers could also receive the same respect as the foreigners would give to Auntie Terry. We wouldn’t know for sure, but this film might change how the world sees the Filipino domestic workers .Not only because this a film about a Filipino maid, but because the foreigners would be seeing it from a perspective of a non-Filipino.

Knowing she have touched hearts and transformed lives, and that a film was made about her, Auntie Terry could not be happier today wherever she is.

The film synopsis is as follows:

Set in the mid 1990s in Singapore, IloIlo chronicles the relationship between three young brothers (Weijie, 10; Weiming, 8; and Weicong, 6) and their maid from Iloilo, a province in the Philippines.

The three children of working parents Teck and Hwee still seem unable to take care of themselves or one another while the couple is at work and so the mother hires a maid.

The arrival of Teresa, the new Filipino maid, presents a new situation for the family as the brothers try to adapt to the presence of a stranger at home, a challenge particularly for the youngest Weicong who shares a room with her.

Having gotten used to Auntie Terry (as they call her), the often demanding and spoiled kids overwhelm their maid with errands and chores, relying on her to do the simplest of tasks. The dynamics of this relationship changes when Teresa asserts parental control to discipline the mischievous children. She has gone from stranger to servant and now surrogate mother and friend – one who dotes and cares, yet disciplines and educates. This leads to subtle jealousy from Hwee and an increased tension between the two maternal figures.

The unique bond between the foreign maid and the children continue to develop and soon she has become an unspoken part of the family, until financial circumstances resulting from the recession in 1997 mean the family can no longer afford her.

The children struggle to come to terms with the decision but eventually are forced to deal with Auntie Terry’s departure.

Personal Note: I could identify with the bonding experience of Anthony Chen and his two brothers with their Yaya (Auntie Terry). I had a personal Yaya from birth and until I was 7 years old. The childhood memories of my Yaya I will never forget and will always remember it as long as I live.

Pork Barrel Scandal in the Philippines

The anonymous author of this article describing in detail the modus operandi of the pork barrel scandal in the Philippines requested that it be shared to the whole world. I urged all Filipinos that it is now the time to abolish this source of corruption in the Philippines.

"Janet Lim Napoles has strong ties before with the late Emilia Boncodin, DBM Secretary. Emilia is the one that keep Janet in the loop whenever a budget or SARO is approved and to which senator or congressman.

Gringo Honasan is a dear friend of Janet’s husband, Jimmy Napoles. I was surprised when I read somewhere online when Honasan was interviewed and he said that he doesnt know the Napoles family.

During the coup in Cory’s time, Jimmy Napoles was driving a tank on the way to Camp Crame when he’s tank was hit by a mortar.Jimmy is operating the .50 caliber machine gun and the soldier driving the tank died during the blast. Jimmy survived and was jailed along with Honasan. If you can get clear photos of Jimmy Napoles online, you will see that part of his face and his arms show burn marks.

Their wealth started to build up during the late 90′s when they engaged themselves with mayors based in Zamboanga to use them as a front for a Foundation that will implement projects or deliver farm materials. With connections at COA, they were able to arrange “completed projects” without delivering anything. They established JLN group of companies sometime in 2000 and they moved to their new office the Discovery Suites on the 25th floor.

Soon enough, they were able to develop deep connections with more legislators in congress and numerous senators. What JLN Group Of Companies do and their sub-companies, Jo-Chris Trading (named after their eldest child, Jo-Christine “Neneng” Napoles) – they use their foundations as the implementing agency for the funds of congressmen or senators. You see, congressmen and senators have budget, PDAF or the “pork barrel”, but these politicians do not have direct access to their funds and they can never touch it. So what they do is the politicians will create a project (common one is “fertilizer distribution” to farmers) and will ask DBM to set the budget. Then, there will be a public bidding to be held by DAR. The outcome of the bidding is already fixed and it’s Napoles foundation wins. The fund or SARO will be released through Janet’s foundation and the congressmen/senators will ask 70% of the whole amount. So if the project is 10M, Janet will give 70% of that. Usually Janet’s nephew, John Francisco Lim is the courier of the money, they will meet at Podium or at a parking lot. The money are stored in plastic bags or paper bags.

So, whatever is left from the budget, 30% goes to Janet. They usually cash-in the cheque they get from DBM at Landbank in Greenhills and the manager there is part of Janet’s payroll. Janet also need to pay the inspectors from COA and whoever is involved in DAR.

This is their workflow. This is what they do for more than a decade. This is how the senators and congressmen make money. This is why theses politicians have so much and working class Filipinos almost have nothing. This is not only Janet’s fault. The greediness of the senators and congressmen are the driving point that keeps this system operating. It is also amazing that if Janet’s family and her company goes into trial, the people who will try them – judges, senators, congressmen, are also part of this. I fear for the life of Benhur and Merlina as whistle blowers. Soon enough they will die. The people of the Philippines should protect them. NBI or the witness protection program cannot do anything about it. Because they are keeping the whistle blowers alive for their own use only. Once Janet give payments to the NBI and once Revilla, Honasan, Arroyo, Pichay, Ducut, Pineda, Lim, Estrada, Soto, Lapid, and almost all the congressmen who were in post for the past decade, step in – there’s nothing Benhur or Merlina can do. They are as good as dead by now.

Please post this on your social media and share it to the world. It is time to stop this madness and remove the pork barrel and protect Benhur and Merlina".


Reader 1 Comment: Oh WOW! You’re very detailed! I really hope that you’re talking to the media because they can use this kind of information as well when they do their own investigations. You’re right we need to stop the madness. The country needs for this kind of thing to stop. THANK YOU SO MUCH for responding to my blog. I’ll try to find a way to get your message to as many people I know as possible.

Reader 2 Comment: And that is why s/he is anonymous. S/he’s not stupid enough to be a whistle blower. Or else she’ll be good as dead too. In reality, no one can protect them/us. All the people who is in power to do so is in on it. We can talk about this all we want. But as we speak these politicians are laughing taking poor people’s money.

Filipinos are Food Crazy and Name Freaks

The Tarsier-world smallest primate(Monkey) in the World. Can be found only in the Philippines in the island of Bohol.

The following article, I have read a couple of years ago. But today, a friend e-mailed it to me. I can help but smile and I decided it to share it with you my blog readers. If you have read this before, my apology. It was written by a British journalist, Matthew Sutherland, stationed in the Philippines. His observations are so hilarious but true!!!

Sutherland wrote about Pinoys craze of food and creativity of filipino names! This reminded me of the latest tourism video advertising that instead of saying "Hello", Filipinos would say "Have You Eaten Already"?

MATTER OF TASTE

"I have now been in this country for over six years, and consider myself in most respects well assimilated. However, there is one key step on the road to full assimilation, which I have yet to take, and that's to eat BALUT.

The day any of you sees me eating balut, please call immigration and ask them to issue me a Filipino passport. Because at that point there will be no turning back. BALUT, for those still blissfully ignorant non-Pinoys out there, is a fertilized duck egg. It is commonly sold with salt in a piece of newspaper, much like English fish and chips, by street vendors usually after dark, presumably so you can't see how gross it is.

Food dominates the life of the Filipino. People here just love to eat. They eat at least eight times a day. These eight official meals are called, in order: breakfast, snacks, lunch, merienda, merienda ceyna, dinner, bedtime snacks and no-one-saw-me- take-that- cookie-from- the-fridge- so-it-doesn' t-count.

The short gaps in between these mealtimes are spent eating Sky Flakes from the open packet that sits on every desktop. You're never far from food in the Philippines . If you doubt this, next time you're driving home from work, try this game. See how long you can drive without seeing food and I don't mean a distant restaurant, or a picture of food. I mean a man on the sidewalk frying fish balls, or a man walking through the traffic selling nuts or candy. I bet it's less than one minute.

Here are some other things I've noticed about food in the Philippines :

Firstly, a meal is not a meal without rice - even breakfast. In the UK , I could go a whole year without eating rice. Second, it's impossible to drink without eating. A bottle of San Miguel just isn't the same without gambas or beef tapa. Third, no one ventures more than two paces from their house without baon (food in small container) and a container of something cold to drink. You might as well ask a Filipino to leave home without his pants on. And lastly, where I come from, you eat with a knife and fork. Here, you eat with a spoon and fork. You try eating rice swimming in fish sauce with a knife.

One really nice thing about Filipino food culture is that people always ask you to SHARE their food. In my office, if you catch anyone attacking their baon, they will always go, "Sir! KAIN TAYO!" ("Let's eat!").

This confused me, until I realized that they didn't actually expect me to sit down and start munching on their boneless bangus. In fact, the polite response is something like, "No thanks, I just ate." But the principle is sound - if you have food on your plate, you are expected to share it, however hungry you are, with those who may be even hungrier. I think that's great!

In fact, this is frequently even taken one step further. Many Filipinos use "Have you eaten yet?" ("KUMAIN KA NA?") as a general greeting, irrespective of time of day or location.

Some foreigners think Filipino food is fairly dull compared to other Asian cuisines. Actually lots of it is very good: Spicy dishes like Bicol Express (strange, a dish named after a train); anything cooked with coconut milk; anything KINILAW; and anything ADOBO. And it's hard to beat the sheer wanton, cholesterolic frenzy of a good old-fashioned LECHON de leche (roast pig) feast.. Dig a pit, light a fire, add 50 pounds of animal fat on a stick, and cook until crisp. Mmm, mmm... you can actually feel your arteries constricting with each successive mouthful.

I also share one key Pinoy trait --- a sweet tooth. I am thus the only foreigner I know who does not complain about sweet bread, sweet burgers, sweet spaghetti, sweet banana ketchup, and so on. I am a man who likes to put jam on his pizza. Try it!

It's the weird food you want to avoid. In addition to duck fetus in the half-shell, items to avoid in the Philippines include pig's blood soup (DINUGUAN); bull's testicle soup, the strangely-named "SOUP NUMBER FIVE" (I dread to think what numbers one through four are); and the ubiquitous, stinky shrimp paste, BAGOONG, and it's equally stinky sister, PATIS. Filipinos are so addicted to these latter items that they will even risk arrest or deportation trying to smuggle them into countries like Australia and the USA , which wisely ban the importation of items you can smell from more than 100 paces.

Then there's the small matter of the purple ice cream. I have never been able to get my brain around eating purple food; the ubiquitous UBE leaves me cold.

And lastly on the subject of weird food, beware: that KALDERETANG KAMBING (goat) could well be KALDERETANG ASO (dog)...

The Filipino, of course, has a well-developed sense of food. Here's a typical Pinoy food joke: "I'm on a seafood diet.

"What's a seafood diet?" "When I see food, I eat it!"

Filipinos also eat strange bits of animals --- the feet, the head, the guts, etc., usually barbecued on a stick. These have been given witty names, like "ADIDAS" (chicken's feet); "KURBATA" (either just chicken's neck, or "neck and thigh" as in "neck-tie"); "WALKMAN" (pigs ears); "PAL" (chicken wings); "HELMET" (chicken head); "IUD" (chicken intestines), and BETAMAX" (video-cassette- like blocks of animal blood). Yum,yum. Bon appetit..

WHEN I arrived in the Philippines from the UK six years ago, one of the first cultural differences to strike me was names. The subject has provided a continuing source of amazement and amusement ever since. The first unusual thing, from an English perspective, is that everyone here has a nickname. In the staid and boring United Kingdom , we have nicknames in kindergarten, but when we move into adulthood we tend, I am glad to say, to lose them.

The second thing that struck me is that Philippine names for both girls and boys tend to be what we in the UK would regard as overbearingly cutesy for anyone over about five. Fifty-five-year- olds colleague put it. Where I come from, a boy with a nickname like Boy Blue or Honey Boy would be beaten to death at school by pre-adolescent bullies, and never make it to adulthood. So, probably, would girls with names like Babes, Lovely, Precious, Peachy or Apples. Yuk, ech ech.. Here, however, no one bats an eyelid.

Then I noticed how many people have what I have come to call "door-bell names". These are nicknames that sound like -well, doorbells. There are millions of them. Bing, Bong, Ding, and Dong are some of the more common. They can be, and frequently are, used in even more door-bell-like combinations such as Bing-Bong, Ding-Dong, Ting-Ting, and so on. Even our newly appointed chief of police has a doorbell name Ping . None of these doorbell names exist where I come from, and hence sound unusually amusing to my untutored foreign ear. Someone once told me that one of the Bings, when asked why he was called Bing, replied, "because my brother is called Bong". Faultless logic.

Dong, of course, is a particularly funny one for me, as where I come from "dong" is a slang word for well; perhaps "talong" is the best Tagalog equivalent!! !
Repeating names was another novelty to me, having never before encountered people with names like Len-Len, Let-Let, Mai-Mai, or Ning-Ning. The secretary I inherited on my arrival had an unusual one: Leck-Leck. Such names are then frequently further refined by using the "squared" symbol, as in Len2 or Mai2. This had me very confused for a while. Then there is the trend for parents to stick to a theme when naming their children. This can be as simple as making them all begin with the same letter, as in Jun, Jimmy, Janice, and Joy.

More imaginative parents shoot for more sophisticated forms of assonance or rhyme, as in Biboy, Boboy, Buboy, Baboy (notice the names get worse the more kids there are-best to be born early or you could end up being a Baboy).

Even better, parents can create whole families of, say, desserts (Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Honey Pie) or flowers (Rose, Daffodil, Tulip). The main advantage of such combinations is that they look great painted across your trunk if you're a cab driver. That's another thing I'd never seen before coming to Manila --taxis with the driver's kids' names on the trunk.

Another whole eye-opening field for the foreign visitor is the phenomenon of the "composite" name. This includes names like Jejomar (for Jesus, Joseph and Mary), and the remarkable Luzviminda (for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao , believe it or not). That's a bit like me being called something like "Engscowani" (for England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland ). Between you and me, I'm glad I'm not.

And how could I forget to mention the fabulous concept of the randomly inserted letter 'h'. Quite what this device is supposed to achieve, I have not yet figured out, but I think it is designed to give a touch of class to an otherwise only averagely weird name. It results in creations like Jhun, Lhenn, Ghemma, and Jhimmy. Or how about Jhun-Jhun (Jhun2)?

How boring to come from a country like the UK full of people with names like John Smith. How wonderful to come from a country where imagination and exoticism rule the world of names. Even the towns here have weird names; my favorite is the unbelievably named town of Sexmoan (ironically close to Olongapo and Angeles). Where else in the world could that really be true?

Where else in the world could the head of the Church really be called Cardinal Sin? May I add his palace used to be called the House of Sin! ( not current news)

Where else but the Philippines "! Note: Philippines has a senator named Joker, and it is his legal name.

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