tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39189016988308209412024-03-08T02:17:35.658+08:00KnowRead/KnoWriteGilbert Yap Tan's private thoughts on books, reading, writing, campus journalism and sundry matters for public consumptionGilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-60709227043531203942012-07-14T22:24:00.002+08:002012-07-14T22:24:56.855+08:00Manny makes a joyful noise for the Lord<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwh-X_mUcUFR0UFVeL5aAWCVecH3-U91lZQRnLEo9tboGak8PDX7eZUmq0OXINKNaCDYjL05aolEcrrNRhz8VNAL7E4QMx1v6GZKS5gYFw9KZjPPT5deob9h5cP8w9TPyjbrXu-iJZbE2/s1600/DSC_1359.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwh-X_mUcUFR0UFVeL5aAWCVecH3-U91lZQRnLEo9tboGak8PDX7eZUmq0OXINKNaCDYjL05aolEcrrNRhz8VNAL7E4QMx1v6GZKS5gYFw9KZjPPT5deob9h5cP8w9TPyjbrXu-iJZbE2/s320/DSC_1359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">My first meeting in February 2012 with Manny Pacquiao </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">in an interview at the Pacquiao Mansion for this article.</span></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The article as originally written: </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Oh Lord my God, when I, in
awesome wonder,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">consider all the worlds Thy
hands have made<br />
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder<br />
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the man
who declared that he would retire from boxing when he turned 29 five years ago.
But it took God who appeared to him in a dream this January for him to decide
on retiring. God told him, "You have done enough. You have made yourself
famous but this is harmful."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Indeed, Manny
Pacquiao has become a preacher of the Good Word these days, much to the
surprise and dismay of many of his fans worldwide. And here he is, in a v-neck
orange and white striped t-shirt, at the living room of the Pacman Mansion
in Barangay Lagao, General
Santos City,
leading the group in rehearsing the praise songs for the prayer meeting that
night. The group is composed of Mommy Dionisia, wife Jinkee, their kids and
their playmates, pastors, some politicians and their wives, family and personal
friends, neighbors, a group of businessmen, employees, a sprinkling of media
people and a few curious onlookers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Pinupuri, sinasamba kita
Dakilang Diyos at Panginoon </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Tunay ngang ika’y walang katulad</span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Tunay ngang ika’y di nagbabago</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Mabuting Diyos na sa aki’y nagmamahal</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The pastor starts
the prayer meeting and with gusto discusses what it means to belong to the body
of believers or the Body of Christ. Manny listens intently to him and nods in
agreement to what he says. His hunger for the word of God is palpable in his
face. From time to time, Manny opens the Bible in his hand to read the verse
mentioned by the pastor. He also shares his thoughts and feelings to the
discussion of issues raised by the pastor. His fervor is evident in his eyes
and in the way his right hand punches the air before him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love you with the love of
the Lord,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love you with the love of
the Lord.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I can see in you the glory of
my King,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">And I love you with the love
of the Lord.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Later, he stands
to lead in the distribution of several bags containing Bibles to those present
when it was needed during the prayer meeting. His voice soars with every hymn
being sung. Towards the end of the prayer meeting, he serves, along with
others, the juice in caps and crackers for the communion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">When the prayer
meeting wraps up, several people go to him, convinced and pleased by the
changed man before them. Mommy Dionisia and Jinkee look at him with obvious
pride and pleasure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 16:26: What good will
it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can
a man give in exchange for his soul?</span></i></div>
<pre></pre>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the
changed man who now repentantly admits his worldliness in the past and
declares, “No more womanizing, no more gambling, no more over-drinking of
liquor!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the man who gained wealth and fame as a leading sports figure
and a showbiz celebrity and got elected to the House of Representatives to
serve his people, saying he believes he had been chosen by God to use his fame
to spread His Word. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the man who for all his street smarts and slick
moves in the ring could not say “no” when God appeared to him in a dream and
said, “Come follow me.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the man whose eye is now on the Kingdom of Heaven and whose intent is investing in
eternal life. Here is the man who now wears his heart on his sleeve so that
everyone knows where his faith stands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bjJ5f3r6iGtVcXHuOvmZ08YXyqjAjWTaLgBgChE8qqWIt4k1W6H8O-c6mC6xYB1ejuWA1VFrso-Y4fcDCEXsiMNlWHpqzXrNUg-uMpW-_9kud2bvYkNDdDLRDKD9tuxwjkkdduscLd9h/s1600/manny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bjJ5f3r6iGtVcXHuOvmZ08YXyqjAjWTaLgBgChE8qqWIt4k1W6H8O-c6mC6xYB1ejuWA1VFrso-Y4fcDCEXsiMNlWHpqzXrNUg-uMpW-_9kud2bvYkNDdDLRDKD9tuxwjkkdduscLd9h/s320/manny.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"> The article published as the cover story of the July 2012 issue of It's a Good Life @ KCC Mall of Gensan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The article as edited and published:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Oh Lord my God, when I, in
awesome wonder,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">consider all the worlds Thy
hands have made<br />
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder<br />
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">He declared that he would retire from boxing when he turned 29 five years ago but it seems God had other plans for him. He recounts a dream last January that made his decision for him. God told him, "You have done enough. You have made yourself
famous but this is harmful."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The man's name is Manny
Pacquiao and he has become a preacher of the Good Word these days. Some in his worldwide fan base are pleasantly surprised, while others are dismayed. In a striped orange and white striped v-neck t-shirt, at the living room of the Pacman Mansion
in Barangay Lagao, General
Santos City,
he leads a group in rehearsing the praise songs for the night's prayer meeting. The group is composed of Mommy Dionisia, his wife Jinkee, the Pacquiao couple's kids and
the kids' playmates, pastors, some politicians and their wives, other members of the Manny's and Jinkee's extended family, personal
friends and neighbors of the Pacquiao family, a group of businessmen, employees, a sprinkling of media
people and a few curious onlookers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Pinupuri, sinasamba kita
Dakilang Diyos at Panginoon</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"> Tunay ngang ika’y walang katulad katulad
</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Tunay ngang ika’y di nagbabago</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Mabuting Diyos na sa aki’y nagmamahal</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The pastor starts
the prayer meeting with gusto and discusses what it means to belong to the body
of believers or the Body of Christ. Manny listens intently to him and nods in
agreement. His hunger for the word of God is palpable and clearly reflected in his
face. At appropriate times, Manny opens the Bible in his hand to read the verse
mentioned by the pastor. He also shares his thoughts and feelings to the
discussion of issues raised by the pastor. His fervor is evident in his eyes
and in how his right hand punches the air before him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love you with the love of
the Lord,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love you with the love of
the Lord.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">I can see in you the glory of
my King,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">And I love you with the love
of the Lord.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Later, he stands
to lead in the distribution of several bags containing Bibles to those present. His voice soars with every hymn
being sung. Towards the end of the prayer meeting, he serves, along with
others, in the communion rites. <span class="illustration"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">When the prayer
meeting wraps up, several people go to him, convinced and pleased by the
changed man before them. Mommy Dionisia and Jinkee look at him with obvious
pride and pleasure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 16:26: What good will
it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can
a man give in exchange for his soul?</span></i></div>
<pre><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></pre>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is the
changed man who now repentantly admits his worldliness in the past and
declares, “No more womanizing, no more gambling, no more over-drinking of
liquor!” Here is the man who gained wealth and fame as a leading sports figure
and a household name and who serves his constituents as a member of the Philippine Congress, saying he believes he had been chosen by God to use his fame
to spread The Word. Here is the man who, for all his street smarts and slick
moves, in the ring could not say “no” when God appeared to him in a dream and
said, “Come follow me.” Here is the man whose eye is now on the Kingdom of Heaven and whose intent is investing in
eternal life. Here is the man who now wears his heart on his sleeve so that
everyone knows where his faith stands.</span></div>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></pre>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">Matthew 7:24: Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the
rock.</span></i></h1>
<pre><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></pre>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-51139451181746916622011-09-23T02:09:00.000+08:002011-09-23T02:09:24.824+08:00Bring him home, Lord…<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-325" height="365" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Tolits-picture-237x300.jpg" title="Tolits (December 31, 1961-April 25, 2011)" width="289" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tolits (December 31, 1961-April 25, 2011)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Tolits, you know it's been hard for me to mourn for you. But it's time for me to let you go home to the Lord. Rest in Him and enjoy the company of our parents, Lolo and Lola and all His angels. Do pray for us, the living. I love you, bro! </div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NucVZjZKvGQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>God on high , hear my prayer<br />
In my need You have always been there<br />
He is young ; He’s afraid<br />
Let him rest<br />
Heaven blessed.<br />
Bring him home<br />
Bring him home<br />
Bring him home.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He’s like the son I might have known if God had granted me a son.<br />
The summers die one by one<br />
How soon they fly on and on<br />
And I am old and will be gone.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bring him peace, bring him joy<br />
He is young, he is only a boy<br />
You can take, You can give<br />
Let him be, let him live.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If I die let me die<br />
Let him live<br />
Bring him home<br />
Bring him home<br />
Bring him home.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(From the musical Les Miserables) </i></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-9820134449831057432011-09-21T21:20:00.000+08:002011-09-21T21:20:55.639+08:00Fulfilling my Bucket List (2011)2011 seems to be a year of firsts for me. I have compiled my very own Bucket List and I am posting here the ones I have already fulfilled.<br />
1. My pose with Superman (June 3) – Thank goodness TGIF in Abreeza, Davao City has this life-size statue of my comicbook fave! The same statue has a starting bid of P30,000 in Ebay.ph. <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" /> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-313" height="300" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/248433_1392663673325_1734171283_662964_6595219_n1-200x300.jpg" title="248433_1392663673325_1734171283_662964_6595219_n" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I and my alter-ego, Superman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_313" style="width: 210px;"><div class="wp-caption-text"><br />
</div></div>2. My first zipline adventure! (June 2) – Ever since ziplining was introduced in Mindanao 2 or 3 years, I’ve been wanting to try it to conquer my fear of heights. Well, at the Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark in the Island Garden City of Samal, I had my first zipline adventure. The zipline, at 400 meters length, was a good starting point to conquer my phobia. Looking forward to longer ziplines! <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" /> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/250116_1392629632474_1734171283_662918_5340012_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="First zipline adventure" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-314" height="300" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/250116_1392629632474_1734171283_662918_5340012_n-200x300.jpg" title="250116_1392629632474_1734171283_662918_5340012_n" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rush of the wind against my face (photo by Ric Dumalay)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-81736254411387273162011-09-21T21:14:00.000+08:002011-09-21T21:14:36.099+08:00Our prodigal brother has come home<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lito.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-293" height="214" src="http://knowread-knowrite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lito.jpg" title="lito" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our newly-departed brother, Napolito, on his clinic bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_293" style="width: 140px;"><div class="wp-caption-text"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Napolito was the fourth among us six siblings. He was the anniversary baby, born as he was on December 31, the wedding anniversary of our parents, that’s why he was named “Napolito” (<em>Napo</em> from our father’s name Napoleon and <em>Lito</em> from our mother’s name Emelita). I remember the three of us siblings and our parents gathered around the matrimonial bed where Mama delivered him, giggling as we watched the tiny bundle being startled by the New Year’s Eve firecrackers that ushered 1962 in.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">He was the the family’s problem child who grew up to be the prodigal son and brother. As a toddler, when he discovered a matchbox, he promptly set fire to our pillows. As a teen, he was the first and only one who joined a gang with whom he associated until he got incarcerated (another first in our family). This same gang would later help him escape while on his way to a court hearing. The gang members, as you may have guessed, are the black sheep of their respective families.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unlike the prodigal son in the parable of Jesus Christ, he did not want the property we inherited from our parents divided among us, he wanted it all to himself. When the buyer found out that she paid him good money under fraudulent means (he forged our signatures in a fake deed of sale), she hailed him to court for estafa.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">But before going to court, he lived a nouveau riche life. He separated from his wife with whom he had seven children and acquired not one, but two common-law wives! He was careful to set up each of them in separate subdivisions, provided them with all the appliances and furniture money could buy (brass beds, large screen TVs, etc.). He bought two caliber .45 pistols and commandeered a taxi and its driver for his commuting needs. He bought his kids new clothes and shoes. He paid for the funeral and burial expenses of an acquaintance whose parent died. He hosted several boys’ night out for his gang.</div>When he got jailed for the third time (the first for impersonating a police officer & possession of an illegal firearm and the second for violating the Anti-fencing Law) in 1996, his two common-law wives, both pregnant five months apart, came to visit him for the first and last time. After that, they packed up their bags, furniture and appliances and left Gensan.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In the provincial jail, he volunteered to serve as altar boy during the Sunday mass which impressed the jail warden and guards. What they didn’t know was that he was already planning an escape with his gang. And escape he did. A manhunt was organized.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The police team assigned to look for him thought I was hiding him in my residence. Early one morning, while I was going out of the gate, I saw a man in undershirt and pants holding an ArmaLite and running towards me. He thought I was my brother because we could be mistaken for one another except that he was darker while I was the bespectacled one. With an amused look on my face, I watched another man ran after him and stopped him from pointing the gun at me. When I realized what was happening, the blood drained from my face.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So imagine how angry I felt when later during a trade fair, I met one of his gang mates who boasted in a rather loud voice that they helped my brother escape. I told him off in no uncertain terms that that stunt of theirs almost cost my life. I wonder if they ever felt guilty then or now about how my brother’s life or their lives turned out.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So back to jail he went, no bail recommended this time, and stayed put there for the next 14 years. During that time, we helped send his kids to school and visited him in jail. We told his kids, no matter what he did he was still their father and as such, deserved their respect.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">But there was no “I’m sorry” or even a “Thank you” forthcoming from our prodigal brother every time we visited him in jail. He was glad to take whatever clothes, food, medicines we brought him, but not one bit of gratitude. He made us feel like we owe it to him to visit him and bring him the things he needed.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">When he was finally convicted and transferred to the Davao Penal Colony last year, his health began failing. Early this year, he started having difficulty breathing. He would ask a fellow convict to send us text messages, most of them false alarms and just ruses to make us visit him. When he started vomiting blood, we had to make sure it was true before another brother, sisters and his kids visited him. I asked a former student to help facilitate his hospitalization and treatment and the visits of my siblings and his kids. He spent most of the last two months in the jail infirmary with a nasal oxygen tube to ease his breathing.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Two weeks ago, we received text messages at 3 in the morning telling us to visit him because it might be the last time we would see him alive. By then, we were in contact with the jail officials and we were assured he was ok. It was again another ruse for us to visit him.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Then at 5 pm today (April 25), I just ordered my merienda cena at a restaurant in a mall when I got a call from someone informing me that our brother Napolito just died at 4:30. I promptly informed another brother who was skeptical about the news because of previous ruses and false alarms. He called his jail contacts and was told it was true that our brother has just died from complications arising from his lung ailment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/usZtSl8mX08?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I would like to believe that unlike the prodigal son, our prodigal brother died remorseless and unrepentant, until I remembered the story a priest shared during a spiritual retreat:</div><blockquote>There was once a town drunkard, gambler and womanizer who would physically and verbally abuse his wife and children. One night, while going home after a drinking spree, he crossed a rickety bridge. He threw up violently from the bridge into the murky polluted water below. The wooden rail broke and he fell head first.</blockquote>The priest asked us: <em>Where do you think this man went after his death – heaven or hell?</em> In unison we shouted: TO HELL!<br />
<br />
The priest then posed this notion to us: <em>Don’t forget – in the distance from the top of the bridge to the surface of the muddy water, he would have enough time to be remorseful and ask God for forgiveness.</em> That made all of us rethink our initial answer.<br />
<br />
This story brought hope back in my heart. I hope that in our prodigal brother’s final moments in the infirmary before he breathed his last, he had enough time for remorse and humility to ask for forgiveness from God and redeem himself in our eyes and God’s.<br />
<br />
May our merciful God welcome you in His embrace as you join Papa and Mama, Lolo and Lola in His kingdom.<br />
<br />
Goodbye brother . . .<br />
For all the <em>thanks you</em>s unspoken, you’re welcome!<br />
For all the <em>I’m sorry</em>s unexpressed, all is forgiven!Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-8528536051805173272011-03-15T17:07:00.003+08:002011-03-15T17:34:03.240+08:00My Life according to Barry Manilow<div style="text-align: justify;">Using only song names from <b><i>ONE ARTIST</i></b> or <b><i>GROUP</i></b>, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to people you like and include me (presuming I’m someone you like). You can’t use the band or artist I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It’s a lot harder than you think! Re-post as <i>“My life according to (band or artist name)”</i>…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLahTXAW7BYpO_vL6Qe_ZyBn-3pZVkGOggJhOlHf_Exa4VRzXrwVt0B12OGKl0YHYkxhb9izPPk9wl7tMVfiAB8d7TLkPBYFWP5C2yaslpZ6-rZaV2uSvim_V4WQCpahHAZS4AtJY2hHc/s1600/barry6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLahTXAW7BYpO_vL6Qe_ZyBn-3pZVkGOggJhOlHf_Exa4VRzXrwVt0B12OGKl0YHYkxhb9izPPk9wl7tMVfiAB8d7TLkPBYFWP5C2yaslpZ6-rZaV2uSvim_V4WQCpahHAZS4AtJY2hHc/s400/barry6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004H9LY5U&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span style="color: red;"><b><i>Pick your Artist:</i></b></span><br />
<b>Barry Manilow</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b> </b></i></span><b><i>(Click on the song title to watch video or read the lyrics)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>Are you a male or female:</b></i></span> <br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1163090"><b>Shadow Man</b></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="color: red;"><i><b>Describe yourself:</b></i></span><br />
<b><a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1163509">One Voice</a> </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><i>How do you feel:</i></b></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1162993"><b>Ready to Take a Chance Again</b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1165456"><b></b></a><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002XNEIKK&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1165456"><b></b></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Describe where you currently live:</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1163044"><b>Somewhere Down the Road</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>If you could go anywhere, where would you go?</b></i></span> <b> </b><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1163333"><b>New York City Rhythm</b></a><br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: red;">Your favorite form of transportation?</span></i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1166172"><b>A Little Travelling Music Please</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Your best friend?</b></i></span><br />
<b><a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1164755"><b>Can't Smile Without You</b></a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Favorite time of the day:</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1162172"><b>Weekend in New England</b></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeNzvWFnedE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b></b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>You and your best friend are…</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b></b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1164084"><b>Old Friends</b><span style="color: red;"><i><b> </b></i></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>What’s the weather like?</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1162205"><b>When October Goes</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>If your life were a TV show what would it be called?</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_2051975"><b>The Best of Me </b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1164755"><b></b></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-BOqBQkdDY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>What is life to you?</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1165937"><b>If I Should Love Again</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Your Relationship:</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1164758"><b>Could It Be Magic?</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Your fear:</b></i></span><br />
<b><a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1165456"><b>Some Good Things Never Last</b></a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>What is the best advice you have to give?</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1161284"><b>I Made It Through the Rain</b></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><b>Thought for the Day:</b></i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1162775"><b>Look to the Rainbow</b></a><br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: red;">My motto:</span></i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_45486/barry-manilow/tpx_1164399"><b>If We Only Have Love</b></a><br />
<br />
<b>Thanks to <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2011/03/ganda-ever/my-life-according-to-michael-jackson">Orman Manansala</a> for the tag! </b>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-70232002615351561172011-03-13T23:33:00.001+08:002011-03-13T23:54:12.666+08:00From the Theme of Love Affair to Love Affair, the Theme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IcTvj9if5W8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<i>(Note: This blogpost is a belated Valentine post as it has been languishing in my drafts for months now. Thanks to interest in Love Affair by Facebook friends, I decided to polish it and publish it a month after Valentines Day.)</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Love Affair</i> (1994) is the remake of <i>Love Affair</i> (1939) with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne and <i>An Affair to Remember</i> (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. This version starred Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. <br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005RRJZ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
This film joins my very limited list of favorite romantic movies: <i>Casablanca</i>, <i>Gone with the Wind</i>, <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>, <i>Ghost</i>, <i>Sleepless in Seattle</i> and <i>Somewhere in Time</i>.<br />
<br />
Love Affair's plot was greatly enhanced by the musical score of Ennio Morricone, one of my favorite contemporary composers. Throughout the film, a musical motif would softly play in the background during the scenes of the leading stars like in the final one shown above. I was so entranced by the music that after watching it in the cinema, I bought a copy of the original soundtrack where I was gratified to hear the entire score by Morricone. The musical motif was plainly titled <i>Piano Solo</i> in the CD. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FkcbnLqB0b8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Fast forward two years later, while watching <i>Twister</i>, a disaster/thriller film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton based on a screenplay by novelist Michael Crichton, I heard a familiar melody. It turned out to be <i>Love Affair </i>sang by KD Lang. It was the same theme of <i>Love Affair</i> with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. <br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0046X68E4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<br />
The words so complimented the melody that I felt it belonged to <i>Love Affair</i>, the movie, instead of being inserted in a soundtrack for <i>Twister </i>that was filled with rock music by Van Halen.<br />
<br />
<pre style="font: 12px arial;">Skies without stars, all the nights without you
I watch the world from a room without a view
For you left me with so few memories
I could close my eyes and cling to
Just a fading photograph I'd sometimes sing to
All those smiles unexplored, all the words left unsaid
We strung our dreams on and all to slender thread
For you left me with so few memories
I could close my eyes and cling to
Just a half-remembered tune I'd sometimes sing to
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00004RFFI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Now I found what we lost
Time was all, all it cost
Love's always there
Knowing someday I would share in a life-long love affair with you
Love was always there
Knowing someday I would share
In a life-long love affair with you, in a life-long love affair with you</pre><br />
This version of KD Lang became known as the theme song of <i>Twister</i>. <br />
<br />
In a twisted sense that could happen only in Hollywood, <i>Love Affair</i> bombed at the box-office while <i>Twister</i> became a $55-M blockbuster. <i>Love Affair</i>, because it was compared to its earlier two versions and <i>Twister</i>, because of the popularity of Helen Hunt's TV series, <i>Mad About You</i>.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000002N7W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>However, <i>Love Affair</i> later went on to become a cult classic movie enjoying high DVD sales and a favorite Valentine and wedding anniversary date movie. It also was the last movie starred in by the great Katharine Hepburn.<br />
<br />
And that's how a simple, memorable melody known as the Theme of <i>Love Affair</i> morphed into <i>Love Affair</i>, known as the love theme of <i>Twister</i>.Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-7560748415056842972011-02-26T00:29:00.001+08:002014-02-07T18:59:48.888+08:00People Power in Gensan<b>(Blogger's Note: I believe that the term <i>EDSA Revolution</i> is misleading and reeks of Manila-centrism. <i>People Power</i> is more apt because while it started at EDSA, it reverberated and was felt throughout the entire nation. This blogpost is just one account of how <i>People Power</i> was felt in General Santos City.)</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody"></span><br />
The years after Ninoy Aquino's assassination leading up to 1986 were turbulent years for me. Being a teenaged high school senior when Martial Law was declared and ten years of being bombarded with New Society slogans and jingles (<i>Sa ikauunlad ng bayan disiplina ang kailangan</i>, PLEDGES, <i>Bagong Lipunan</i> march, etc.) and relying on the government-controlled media for information, I didn't know how to react to changes wrought by Ninoy's death.<br />
<br />
One favorite magazine, <i>Mr. & Ms.</i> spawned special edition issues which I followed avidly because they were reporting the news that didn't make it to the radios, newspapers and TV stations. Songs took on a different flavor as patriotic songs like <i>Bayan Ko</i> and <i>Tie a yellow ribbon</i> were played on the air by DXCP, a Catholic diocesan radio station here. The local religious community was slow and timid in criticizing the government. The local government officials were mostly Kilusan Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party members. Groups like JAJA (Justice for Aquino, Justice for All) shouted anti-government slogans as they marched on the city streets.<br />
<br />
In the eye of this storm was a curly-haired widow - Cory Aquino. She was the opposite of then President Ferdinand Marcos. Soft-spoken where Marcos was stentorian. Tentative to his decisiveness. But she was an alternative, antidote to the strongman. She was not what one would expect of a traditional politician (<i>trapo</i>). What she had was the dignity, integrity and courage to stand up to the dictator.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kx-KOuvbfgwUXhSWr3Wb3ql30od0djUiGrTr5Ve1NBzviXy62mpSQOCSuuc5Dm78bwd5XxlyNbsuCTS2Oz01Kgm1lgaBpkEYBDBkK2P8BJLfV6gTbw0CoApj8pOEPqn4-x8wD4I9spo-/s1600-h/cory1.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kx-KOuvbfgwUXhSWr3Wb3ql30od0djUiGrTr5Ve1NBzviXy62mpSQOCSuuc5Dm78bwd5XxlyNbsuCTS2Oz01Kgm1lgaBpkEYBDBkK2P8BJLfV6gTbw0CoApj8pOEPqn4-x8wD4I9spo-/s320/cory1.bmp" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364824689004480322" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 186px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 188px;" /></a>I first saw Cory in person when she and Doy Laurel campaigned in General Santos City. Onstage, while she was delivering her speech, the whole city was plunged into darkness. To us, whenever blackouts occurred, something was bound to happen. It was common to have electrical supply interruptions during election day and when the Laban group had events. The international media covering Cory's campaign immediately focused their lights on her, their TV and SLR cameras ready to shoot if anything happened. For a few minutes, there she was - the lady in yellow enveloped by the lights. And then she was whisked away from the stage and brought to a nearby car.<br />
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In the Catholic college where I taught at that time, the pro-Cory teachers were a majority. The few remaining Marcos loyalists were ribbed about their staunch support. Unlike their Manila counterparts, the priests, nuns and brothers here were cautious in showing support to Cory and the opposition. Even the Catholic schools had no clear guidelines on how fora and protest rallies were to be held. But the ordinary people started wearing yellow dresses and shirts. The L-finger sign (for Laban "fight") was being flashed everywhere. And the yellow creepers blanketed vacant lands everywhere. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l76-AOrm4q5C0Gl-0ilfDZCevLZ4iKbrLe1ebScwLNEzxm4AmwRf8HXvbJJBMIh8SXu4OWboKpmDL-0Qh7Q1hYNkE9rBbfaY-xtSUOdaWq7d3lTDOkWy27zDeknqK3yWYcPsH_gQcCS_/s1600-h/yellow+creeper.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l76-AOrm4q5C0Gl-0ilfDZCevLZ4iKbrLe1ebScwLNEzxm4AmwRf8HXvbJJBMIh8SXu4OWboKpmDL-0Qh7Q1hYNkE9rBbfaY-xtSUOdaWq7d3lTDOkWy27zDeknqK3yWYcPsH_gQcCS_/s320/yellow+creeper.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364824697219671538" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>The yellow fever turned a pitch higher as the election day neared. Many Marcos loyalists, like rats abandoning a sinking ship, were seen joining protest marches. On the other hand, at the diocesan radio station, instead of the usual sign-off after the Rosary, I was surprised to hear two radio announcers recording KBL campaign ads! Someone conveniently forgot to turn off the transmitter.<br />
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The usual blackouts occurred on election day despite the vigilance of several groups to guard the ballots. The Jaycees, of which I was a member, were among the volunteer groups that helped the Namfrel (National Citizens Movement for Free Elections). I witnessed the incumbent mayor's people distributing campaign leaflets right outside the voting precincts. This was promptly reported to Namfrel. I reported the same on the diocesan radio station DXCP where I was also a volunteer announcer on Sundays. Later, the lady broadcaster on board and I were alerted about the presence of armed men riding a Ford Fiera. The staff helped us exit the station using the back gate. Hitching a ride, I saw the Ford Fiera and the nozzles of firearms protruding through the side windows as we passed by it. Reporting to school following the elections, I was warned by a well-meaning friend that a death threat had been issued for me. The Marist brothers allowed me to go on leave as I told them I didn't want to involve the school or my students in case the threat was carried out. Some friends acting as intermediaries asked relatives of the mayor to verify if he indeed issued a death threat for me. This he dismissed by saying that he didn't even know me at all!<br />
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The protest movement here gained momentum as cheating by the KBL was reported here and abroad. More turncoats joined the protests. When the People Power revolution started at EDSA, classes here were not cancelled as it was being played out in Metro Manila. But the fervor of People Power was also strongly felt here. The religious community was finally emboldened and openly said prayers and masses for the revolt. The technicians of DXCP were able to record the broadcasts of June Keithley over Radyo Bandido and these were replayed regularly. The two pro-Marcos announcers took a sudden leave of absence from DXCP and I volunteered to be onboard after my evening classes because the radio station started its 24-hour broadcast and it was understaffed.<br />
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After dismissing my class at 8:30, I walked to the radio station and started my duty until 5:00 the following day. We did not want for anything because listeners would drop off food items, coffee, bread and sandwiches for the 24-hour broadcasts. When we learned about the order of the military to shut down the station, a local volunteer group surrounded the transmitter and provided us protection because we also received a bomb threat.<br />
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On the fourth day, while we were broadcasting live a Holy Mass, we received confirmation that the Marcoses had left Malacanang (this after an earlier false alarm) and the priest announced this. Jubilant shouts punctuated the air from those hearing the mass and those living in the vicinity of the station. Many were jumping and almost all, including myself, were in tears. Again, food and beverages flooded the station. It was a euphoria-filled day.<br />
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Our college conducted a victory march around the city. When we approached a local station known for being critical of Cory and Laban, we heard <i>Tie a yellow ribbon</i> being played for us. This was met by loud boos from the students, teachers and the religious community.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCdmeaSHcvH0uCvzG8cKhcjqs12cNmZp2djQwBqsg7mLB5posUE6YadBViC4cL3O9EbbH4-hdOf-eM2hPfZAdeLnS95n7oN1A5BrI3I9m5M_oEJgd163G0_klvEWYznEFiOLDYZCIbjx_/s1600-h/cory2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCdmeaSHcvH0uCvzG8cKhcjqs12cNmZp2djQwBqsg7mLB5posUE6YadBViC4cL3O9EbbH4-hdOf-eM2hPfZAdeLnS95n7oN1A5BrI3I9m5M_oEJgd163G0_klvEWYznEFiOLDYZCIbjx_/s320/cory2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364824695574341250" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 243px;" /></a>When President Cory came to Gensan after being named Time Magazine's Woman of the Year, I begged the local news stand owner for a copy of the large poster of the Time cover, mounted it on an illustration board, and held it high and proud for her to see during the large gathering at the plaza.<br />
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The remaining local pro-Marcos trapos, who were ousted from their positions and replaced with transition officials appointed by Cory, switched allegiance and even had the audacity to show themselves onstage to welcome Cory to our city. They were booed as expected. The few Pro-Marcos teachers in school had joined the majority. One teacher, Cory's namesake, who used to tell us she hated to be called Ma'am Cory now wanted us to call her just that and started wearing yellow lacy dresses.<br />
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After she finished her term as President, Cory remained in my mind and heart as the lady in yellow enveloped by lights. After witnessing three presidents take the helm after her, I was in turn dismayed and appalled by what they had done to our country. I may be terribly disappointed by the way the promise and potentials that Cory stood for had turned out, but Cory remains to be a shining beacon of hope to me. Following her exemplar of integrity, dignity and courage, I'm not giving up on our country - not then, not now that Cory is gone, not ever. I fervently pray that People Power and all it stands for will always prevail.Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-40267625973666971402010-12-02T15:08:00.004+08:002010-12-07T00:40:42.185+08:00Blogfest Soccsksargen 2010<a href="http://soxbloggers.com/events/blogfest-2010-registration-is-now-open/" title="the BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN will happen on 11 December 2010! Register now!"><img alt="BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN Countdown" height="647" src="http://soxbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/BF2010poster.jpg" title="BlogFest SOCCSKSARGEN Countdown" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">The Soccsksargen Bloggers will hold the Blogfest Soccsaksargen 2010 on December 11 at the Royal Grand Ballroom of the East Asia Royale Hotel, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">General</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Santos</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">More popularly known as the Sox Bloggers, the group is composed of 200 writers who have bonded together for the common advocacy of projecting South Central Mindanao in a more positive light through their blogs. For the past three years, their blogs have increasingly influenced other people’s perceptions about the region and have won in the Philippine Blog Awards and Digital Filipino’s Emerging Influential Blogs Search.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;">Blogfest Soccsaksargen 2010, aimed at enhancing the blogging capabilities of its members and increasing their passion for its advocacy, will feature several web luminaries who will give talks on different topics.</span></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Invited speakers are: UP </span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Prof. Danilo Arao (Journalism Ethics for Bloggers), Google Inc. Philippine consultant </span></b>Aileen Apolo (Making the most of the internet and Google), Zamboanga blogger and IT consultant Ryan Elumba (Spicing up blogs with animation and video), <b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Head for New Media</span></b><b> </b>for the Office of the President<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Jay Jaboneta (</span></b>New Media in nation-building), Avatar Media and Davao blogger Maria Jose (<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">State of the Philippine blogosphere), Web Developer and E Noa Corp. Online Marketing strategist</span> </b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dale Palileo (SEO and traffic generation</span></b><b> </b>and<b> </b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Monetizing your blog), Tactical Technology Collective member Bobby Soriano (Internet security for bloggers), REACH Networks Country Account Manager and Travel agency operator Michelle Solon (Exposing local gems on new media), and E-commerce consultant/trainor and author Janette Toral (</span></b>New Media and its role in businesses).<br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHFxsmS_KkAmBgJpEoCYKB7lqD8DhUmIaTdJFt8ozO_GiVVr3RuqSbyIU4ppOtbIEkr3SbqVgjTl07Z_TfL6RSPCgcykozkNa1qItX6IMW0B9joBFaE2HJ-GSHJTKZTXLU_Z_WIOFx9o2/s320/dale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNWgwLsjUFL_FWCCO-PgRuUy2LZULLKIumYmGL8xcZzUYaqrvWnncFiYiyqW99-uIS7LIaG85DhFbutkLxmM-_8nPqLuHvP-krHju4byGt5PyHqU92ltd8AwYrQLtP9B8ZrxYdZ7-_zQt/s1600/jaboneta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNWgwLsjUFL_FWCCO-PgRuUy2LZULLKIumYmGL8xcZzUYaqrvWnncFiYiyqW99-uIS7LIaG85DhFbutkLxmM-_8nPqLuHvP-krHju4byGt5PyHqU92ltd8AwYrQLtP9B8ZrxYdZ7-_zQt/s320/jaboneta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXMk5mEZVGxQkE_ApopM-eheasJy69PmLj_UxNhhWMf4Re12ntjnrM0-cRekLCfRA2BQzDr_69PhNPoEwsw5dWb5erHolmcJdK3ltj9eDJirCRgUrQqYOvq42TqBJh9SriftwYsgeIkUY/s1600/janette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Event sponsors are:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9symzYsW0OO-szr7lOeGsf094gGMJL_0ZPOlBybnhZZO_4n1hYhy4ipAMJhn_2RfANxtXbUi1Co_h7QsWAe3RvwI5TIRGTeNWK8Vimx45eBc2X9fV71c4wvLtUj97PcCo0GGkpA-kq_2/s1600/smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9symzYsW0OO-szr7lOeGsf094gGMJL_0ZPOlBybnhZZO_4n1hYhy4ipAMJhn_2RfANxtXbUi1Co_h7QsWAe3RvwI5TIRGTeNWK8Vimx45eBc2X9fV71c4wvLtUj97PcCo0GGkpA-kq_2/s320/smart.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqletNEpVVRBG76LknZ0T3ORSnlNFxYqwhBv2au-KR357OUygDaBAiSEd50D9PgLemFa69zCQITKUOoOHgeLf3QdtZ6Zxm8-MPaNmmmyQEjlQSyFUztyOv5od7A1pysmlcBdEIKlAhKa_/s1600/eastasia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqletNEpVVRBG76LknZ0T3ORSnlNFxYqwhBv2au-KR357OUygDaBAiSEd50D9PgLemFa69zCQITKUOoOHgeLf3QdtZ6Zxm8-MPaNmmmyQEjlQSyFUztyOv5od7A1pysmlcBdEIKlAhKa_/s320/eastasia.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI8NLtr9u1fuWg_5yJttGwtoptUmWUshsasC4XYRqqzyd5aR_G-ywGyKCz_BVv_q4OnrJxdVFrd3B1bx47_0doY2o3d4qTPhPyiU7OAzI9m3F8YiibnuOrijvoWU7oCVbGgwwH8XaTK2_/s1600/opera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI8NLtr9u1fuWg_5yJttGwtoptUmWUshsasC4XYRqqzyd5aR_G-ywGyKCz_BVv_q4OnrJxdVFrd3B1bx47_0doY2o3d4qTPhPyiU7OAzI9m3F8YiibnuOrijvoWU7oCVbGgwwH8XaTK2_/s320/opera.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2t86GPPVdl5tm5DUWV09qDslkyfBnAEcSb3luAHlh2nlOdfH9UbSDTHK-HAPaHgBK35piyW3DzWzrU3VobU5z43DtC6APCr6QIM_Rf-XebDDPq05Q9hf7tqvQgQH1AikN0qhvZ-yOtDqW/s1600/smi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2t86GPPVdl5tm5DUWV09qDslkyfBnAEcSb3luAHlh2nlOdfH9UbSDTHK-HAPaHgBK35piyW3DzWzrU3VobU5z43DtC6APCr6QIM_Rf-XebDDPq05Q9hf7tqvQgQH1AikN0qhvZ-yOtDqW/s320/smi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyxLC3p3KArmuctP3VR523mh42A4W8OryeZRPMJYqWPrktNuvC6jTiStMxY8NtEJZAH2EC7Cn8BkTX-0i7v027_oYYUsBAnebNTRnJ1ZbSc-z3WAWyNuQj1nGicUZyKKhpuds5WayOxTw/s1600/sti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyxLC3p3KArmuctP3VR523mh42A4W8OryeZRPMJYqWPrktNuvC6jTiStMxY8NtEJZAH2EC7Cn8BkTX-0i7v027_oYYUsBAnebNTRnJ1ZbSc-z3WAWyNuQj1nGicUZyKKhpuds5WayOxTw/s320/sti.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Sox bloggers’ lead convenor, Avel Manansala, is expecting bloggers from Mindanao to attend the Blogfest, although some bloggers from the Visayas and <st1:place w:st="on">Luzon</st1:place> have also registered for said event. </span> <br />
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Limited slots left! Register now! Click <a href="http://soxbloggers.com/blogfest-2010-registration-page/">here</a> to register!Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-71257563920233658282010-11-11T00:50:00.000+08:002010-11-11T00:50:57.301+08:00In-my-face reality check for this year<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>Thus far, these are the events in my life this year that I will cherish and learn from -<br />
<br />
1. made several <strong>new blogger-friends</strong> and numerous bonding activities with <strong>Soccsksargen bloggers</strong>,<br />
2. 2 friends <strong>unfriended</strong>,<br />
3. reconnected with <strong>former colleagues and students</strong> and <strong>a cherished college friend</strong>,<br />
4. <strong>estrangement</strong> with my sisters on its 3rd year,<br />
5. enjoying <strong>fun moments</strong> with my apos (4 and counting),<br />
6. completed my Neil Gaiman's <strong>Absolute Sandman</strong> collection (thanks to National Book Store's price-cut sale),<br />
7. <strong>traveled by air</strong> to Zamboanga City (thanks to my brother Napoleon Jr.),<br />
8. running out of space for <strong>books</strong> trawled from Booksale, National Book Store and Bibliarch, <br />
9. loving my <strong>LG Cookie cellphone</strong> with wifi,<br />
10. trying to get my groove back with my <strong>MBA thesis proposal</strong>,<br />
11. continuing harassment from UBoFroH (<strong>Ugly</strong> Boss From Hell),<br />
12. hair fall leading to <strong>further receding hairline</strong> (sorry Pacman, your hidden soldiers shampoo didn't work for me),<br />
13. looking forward to NDD Batch '73's <strong>37th reunion</strong> in December,<br />
14. finding out that my <strong>dentures </strong>make my diet more effective,<br />
15. had my <strong>TV repaired</strong> and replaced the irreparable electric fan (unscheduled blackouts, grrrrr!),<br />
16. replaced my Compaq laptop with <strong>Acer Aspire</strong>,<br />
17. discovered <strong>Robinsons Place-Gensan</strong> as my tambayan during the summer 12-hour blackouts,<br />
18. winning <strong>blog contests</strong> (thanks to Orman Manansala and Aunt Ludi Bakeshop!),<br />
19. pressing palms with then-candidates <strong>Noynoy Aquino, Adel Tamano, Darlene Antonio-Custodio</strong>,<br />
20. getting <strong>Aiza Seguerra</strong>'s autograph on her CD,<br />
21. helping out in developing <strong>Little Dubai</strong>'s ambiance,<br />
22. enjoying <strong>Razon's Halo-halo</strong> despite my lactose intolerance (it's a miracle!),<br />
23. <strong>scrimping on my budget</strong> to give friends books as gifts,<br />
24. trekking to the <strong>coffee plantation in Purok 8 Kinilis</strong>, but not quite reaching it (but resolving to do it again in December),<br />
25. getting <strong>books on my wishlist from high school batchmates</strong>,<br />
26. enjoying numerous <strong>unforgettable meals/snacks</strong> with friends (satti, kebabs, sashimi, etc.),<br />
27. infuriating experience with an <strong>internet troll</strong>;<br />
28. told off two acquaintances who use the fact that we know each other to <strong>scam some money</strong> from me and others,<br />
29. learning that my brother is <strong>very sick in prison</strong> and getting help from friends to facilitate his treatment,<br />
30. getting <strong>kisses from my apos</strong>,<br />
31. enjoying the <strong>Tunafest</strong> up close,<br />
32. getting news about <strong>newborn babies</strong> of friends,<br />
33. <strong>praying</strong> for friends and their families,<br />
34. watching the <strong>live performances</strong> of Richard Poon, Sitti, Juris, Aiza, Duncan, Nina, Wendel Ramos, Rocksteddy, and Christian Bautista,<br />
35. meeting Archt. Jaime Daez of <strong>Fully Booked/Bibliarch</strong>,<br />
36. watching<strong> Shrek Forever After in 3D</strong>,<br />
37. experiencing the <strong>Sagittarius Mining Inc.'s discovery tour</strong>,<br />
38. cooking <strong>tofu/tokwa</strong> for my midnight snacks,<br />
39. watched the entire season of <strong>Haven</strong>, TV series based on Stephen King's Colorado Kid,<br />
40. read Rafe Bartholomew's <strong>Pacific Rims</strong>,<br />
41. went to Davao City to buy Stephen King's <strong>Under the Dome</strong>,<br />
42. relishing strawberry and kiwi iced tea at <strong>Coffee Club 101</strong>,<br />
43. enjoyed the TV movie version of Ken Follett's <strong>Pillars of the Earth</strong>,<br />
44. getting my first taste of Krispy Kreme (thanks Priscy!),<br />
45. rediscovering <strong>NY Fries and Dips</strong> at Robinsons Place-Gensan,<br />
46. nourished by <strong>fruit slush drinks</strong>,<br />
47. finding long-sought books by sheer <strong>serendipity</strong>,<br />
48. earning $2 from <strong>Adsense </strong>for my two blogs,<br />
49. glad to have put on hold my plan to buy a motorcycle because a lot of <strong>scooters</strong> are being introduced now,<br />
50. getting a pair of progressive <strong>bifocals</strong> that allows me to read and watch TV at the same time and that becomes sunglasses in sunlight,<br />
51. still saving for <strong>first trip outside the Philippines</strong>,<br />
52. reading the new translation of Jose Rizal's novel, <strong>Noli Me Tangere</strong> Penguin Book edition,<br />
53. having <strong>friends who are blessings to my life</strong>, and<br />
54. <strong>zero lovelife</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="photo_img" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="400" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs491.ash2/76452_463220153907_801358907_5580773_5350682_a.jpg" width="387" /></div><br />
<div class="photo photo_center"></div></div></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-53162444642191875792010-10-19T15:17:00.002+08:002010-10-19T16:55:28.657+08:00Being on the Same Page with Bibliarch/Fully Booked's Jaime Daez (Exclusive)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFfKjBZ2LZb7PqVoOgGeDpnyKxgagiDx8PrL0Z7atLN5XMP_JJ_-zHrlqX5dckHh0xnnLFURWtji1o2MSbHtJF73VItpI_FOHaYN1kTvW8XA5h-fEIb2cweMIbaLfEznJrzJm93SaLfeN/s400/DSC01258.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully Booked Training Manager Lisa Lopez with Bibliarch staff</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFfKjBZ2LZb7PqVoOgGeDpnyKxgagiDx8PrL0Z7atLN5XMP_JJ_-zHrlqX5dckHh0xnnLFURWtji1o2MSbHtJF73VItpI_FOHaYN1kTvW8XA5h-fEIb2cweMIbaLfEznJrzJm93SaLfeN/s1600/DSC01258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>During Bibliarch's soft opening at the KCC Gensan Mall on October 16, I was informed by Lisa Lopez, Fully Booked Training Manager, that their Managing Director, Jaime Daez would be doing the honors of cutting the ribbon signaling the formal opening of the store on October 19.<br />
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When I arrived at Bibliarch-KCC Mall Gensan Branch, I saw Lisa in a huddle with Gensan Kagawad Beth Bagonoc and Jaime Daez. Lisa introduced me to Jaime as the first one to blog about Bibliarch's soft opening. I told him I belong to the SoCCSKSarGen Bloggers who drummed up interest in the opening in Gensan of the first Bibliarch branch outside of Metro Manila. He thanked the bloggers for the help.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaime Daez, Kagawad Beth Bagonoc and KCC Mall Gensan owner enter Bibliarch-KCC Mall Gensan after the ribbon-cutting ceremony</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I told Jaime about my spending time at Bibliarch-Rockwell Center. He seemed pleasantly surprised to meet someone from Mindanao who actually visited his very first Bibliarch bookshop. I asked him if he designed the store layout of Bibliarch and Fully Booked. And beaming with pride, he said indeed he did. Jaime is an architect by profession, hence, Bibliarch is pronounced Bibli-ark, and not Bibli-arch. <br />
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He asked me what books I have bought so far. I told him I bought 3 graphic novels. "Ooh," he said, "I personally choose the titles because I am a graphic novel reader myself." Jaime is friends with the great Neil Gaiman.<br />
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I congratulated him for the special elevated kiddie reading section in Bibliarch as this will surely encourage many children in Gensan to be readers. This section caught the eyes of school principals and teachers during the soft opening.<br />
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I also ribbed him (much to his delight that his face broke into a big smile!) about Margaux Salcedo's calling him "Food for Thought and Eye Candy" in her <a href="http://margauxlicious.blogspot.com/2007/08/menu-myrons-unedited.html">blog</a> and food column in Sunday Inquirer Magazine. For sure, some ladies go for tall, mestizo, intelligent, bespectacled men like Jaime who love to read. <br />
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He asked me if I have been to Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City. I told him I'm still saving up for the trip. With four storeys and a basement filled to the brim with books, it will be a dream trip for any bookworm like myself!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street. Photo courtesy of Southbound.ph</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With an architect's eye for design, Jaime Daez's concept of a book shop. Photo courtesy of Southbound.ph</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTCJ1E33VzU9OaxuRxeC6nk2h8AaxrLNc9_zjHiKQwwmIdvkQWNxYjusojUQ2QynfACTbueDzrM8G4Oqf7tS9JKM1bZ8E0bS_G1Lf0oT5wJjyzmUC3Iu7CXmO0_4OmieJFtqZXYfHnQio/s1600/fullybooked-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 storeys and a basement filled with books. Photo courtesy of Southbound.ph</td></tr>
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I thanked Jaime for the time and for opening Bibliarch in Gensan. And off he went to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. After that, he was busy meeting with well-wishers and taking pictures. The next time we meet, I hope it will at Fully Booked in Bonifacio Global City. :)Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-62850416884546672562010-10-17T02:30:00.000+08:002010-10-17T02:30:20.478+08:00Bibliarch - Gensan Branch's Soft Opening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDseuHkxXJ-smUiaVn5sk39mFFV9hkCBH6_C94_MGLhWYoY5MUKjBCMqRgl9JOntCtSK8gWodRSDCJYiT-shvVKWjIw_lZBiO1BaC85il9G-wcdj7gmLlNtSmQRfCXY5Qje2Sjbh9aPriW/s1600/bibliarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDseuHkxXJ-smUiaVn5sk39mFFV9hkCBH6_C94_MGLhWYoY5MUKjBCMqRgl9JOntCtSK8gWodRSDCJYiT-shvVKWjIw_lZBiO1BaC85il9G-wcdj7gmLlNtSmQRfCXY5Qje2Sjbh9aPriW/s400/bibliarch.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />
Almost eleven years apart, I visited two branches of Bibliarch. One is at the Rockwell Center in November 1999 and the other today at the KCC Mall in General Santos City (Gensan).<br />
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The first one at Rockwell Center was located just beside Starbucks. It was a then small specialty bookshop with lots of art, photography and architecture books. Since I was not a coffee drinker, I would spend time browsing through the books at Bibliarch before proceeding to my 3-week training sessions at the Ateneo Graduate of Business.<br />
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<div class="photo
photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451222383907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs782.snc4/66293_451222383907_801358907_5375653_3737049_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Bibliarch - Gensan branch located at KCC Mall, just across McDonald's</div></div><br />
Today, I eagerly went to the soft opening of the Gensan branch of Bibliarch. It is the third branch, but the first branch outside of Metro Manila (the first two being in Glorietta 3 and Walter Mart). I was told by a reliable source that KCC Mall made Bibliarch an offer it could not refuse. This Bibliarch is a far cry from the first one I visited almost eleven years ago. For one, it now has a w-i-d-e selection of books.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451225398907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs451.ash2/72446_451225398907_801358907_5375701_6969366_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited bookworms on October 16</div></div><br />
Aside from the usual art and photography books, it now offers cookbooks, fashion books, biographies, inspirational books, Filipiniana, bestselling novels and non-fiction books.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451226898907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="400" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs008.ash2/33746_451226898907_801358907_5375722_3816464_a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">The shelf filled with biographies.</div></div><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451228023907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="400" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs311.snc4/40905_451228023907_801358907_5375735_6295835_a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Bibliarch and Fully Booked are known for its graphic novel selections.</div></div><br />
Bibliarch also has shelves of magazines, journals, cards, bookmarks, gift bags and vanity pens.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451230503907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs381.ash2/65895_451230503907_801358907_5375746_6726941_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Magazines galore!</div></div><div class="photo
photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451231258907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs792.snc4/67225_451231258907_801358907_5375756_7687866_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Abubots, journals, gift bags</div></div><br />
A section for kids who love to read is also an exciting addition. In this section, kids can browse through lots and lots of kiddie books or identify their favorite fairy tale characters on the wall papers.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451232498907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs136.snc4/37117_451232498907_801358907_5375772_6768139_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">The kiddies' section filled with wonderful books and wallpaper of their favorite fairy tale characters.</div></div><br />
All over Bibliarch are wall papers with reading themes.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451233603907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="400" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs829.snc4/68954_451233603907_801358907_5375798_8160188_a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading-themed wallpapers are featured all around the Bibliarch.</div></div><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451234923907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="300" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs807.snc4/68759_451234923907_801358907_5375821_4264840_a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div><div class="caption" style="text-align: center;">Book shelves and wallpaper as seen from the Catolico Avenue.</div></div><br />
And my book choices: A Warrior's Life - Biography of Paulo Coelho, American Vampire, a graphic novel by Stephen King, Batman Reborn, another graphic novel, Shadow of Doubt by Marites Vitug, How to Live - A search for wisdom from old people by Henry Alford.<br />
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I will definitely be back for more graphic novels and other books of interest to me and make full use of my Fully Booked discount card.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451235293907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="320" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs908.snc4/72126_451235293907_801358907_5375825_2842498_a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div></div><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451235333907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="320" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs396.ash2/67472_451235333907_801358907_5375826_498331_a.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div></div><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451235388907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="320" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs410.ash2/68889_451235388907_801358907_5375827_7199316_a.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div></div><div class="photo photo_center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451235498907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="320" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs831.snc4/69166_451235498907_801358907_5375829_1159506_a.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div></div><div class="photo photo_none"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=451235553907&set=o.456408519704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" height="320" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs388.ash2/66670_451235553907_801358907_5375831_2404072_n.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="photo_img"></div></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-3926536293956013432010-10-13T18:30:00.001+08:002010-10-13T18:34:18.875+08:00Dissertation upon a Messy Burger and Barbecue Ranch Pork Belly (Inspired by Charles Lamb's Dissertation upon a Roast Pig)<b></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who can resist the delectable aroma of freshly-baked breads and pastries?</td></tr>
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It was a laid-back Wednesday lunchtime that brought me to Aunt Ludi Bakeshoppe right next to Robinsons Grocery. The aroma of freshly-baked breads and pastries reached my nostrils before they were clogged by sinusitis usually brought on by the powerful air-conditioning of the mall. A quick glance at the tarpaulin menu board at the entrance made me decide to try the Messy Burger and Barbecue Ranch Pork Belly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPniNMi3S_XVkzT3uLbg2sR4cWfQWhVxgJaH8Tmd86pA35hRW8v6FMgWGn8yP2OoHJA6PW0ywfHdygnPuLuHzf1q2HdRP0SrPHAdbSf_0Z4QRYlezttMVrhALH5cgydmt8znqL4wHUEcCa/s400/P131010_12.27.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 on a binder clip stand</td></tr>
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After placing my order with the cashier, I was given a laminated number using a binder clip as a stand. Simple practicality. Aside from myself, there were two other female diners. The dining area's pleasantly lit - not too bright, not too dim. The sofa seats were comfortable and the smiling cashier and cook eager to please. The food being cooked in the kitchen smelled good, made me feel hungrier and reminded of an aunt's home-cooking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly fly to keep me company while waiting for my order</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsUWfBTGEDdSbCph1SOKrBiMJJugfJJNa9lx7zWq8VKc2oauTbg_5tu9UmfU7qDRVOEFPEfJ8JQ60z4Yw-LPmwgmOdZiummGwbnHOhayXXfxYiVvclO7w1uxtUKOJww9LxbrTNFkAzwui/s1600/P131010_12.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Aunt Ludi lends itself well to people who want cozy and intimate space conducive to friendly banter and sweet-nothings, or alone-time for reading and contemplation. Because of Aunt Ludi's open layout, a friendly fly dropped by to keep me company while waiting for my order. I immediately bombarded the amiable fly with questions like: <i>Why are you here? What is the purpose of your life? What are you living for? </i>But before the fly can answer me, my order was brought to my table. It flew outside while shaking its head as if trying in vain to find the answers to my questions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoFoAicFXONDVMu6YBSt7hp8N3c8wyh0Fd3tDi-oIpf0d-sWGi_IcJRjGwuj4a7OXrYmk7YYAfYTAy3SFF-xzfD2uTQMvYywUST0YcAi90mYxMFlH4BaGJtcb8GpQv-0YATkRAl2KrDts/s400/P131010_12.33_%5B02%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messy burger with homemade coleslaw and potato chips</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoFoAicFXONDVMu6YBSt7hp8N3c8wyh0Fd3tDi-oIpf0d-sWGi_IcJRjGwuj4a7OXrYmk7YYAfYTAy3SFF-xzfD2uTQMvYywUST0YcAi90mYxMFlH4BaGJtcb8GpQv-0YATkRAl2KrDts/s1600/P131010_12.33_%5B02%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>The first course was Messy Burger which was a sloppy joe with homemade coleslaw and potato chips. The homemade crispy potato chips and coleslaw were the perfect foil for the sloppy joe made of <span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">ground beef cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. The soft buns were generously sprinkled with sesame seeds and were as tender to the bite as the spicy-sour ground beef. By the time I finished, the diamond-shaped plate was indeed messy with the orangey drippings from the burger!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpptjCZNRiIhqIXAZuSY7IsIXP_D-nh0MKTC6Vwf7Wil2EBeOO6J8jixE4fYOFS5YVIcxdBLx6p5buvjyRGpKcW-BEPX66-n-4HScWn5RHy_b6rmk4M8jV70nuwUEp7bnoEEUpMyBN24y/s400/P131010_12.35_%5B01%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbecue Ranch Pork Belly with cucumber salad</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpptjCZNRiIhqIXAZuSY7IsIXP_D-nh0MKTC6Vwf7Wil2EBeOO6J8jixE4fYOFS5YVIcxdBLx6p5buvjyRGpKcW-BEPX66-n-4HScWn5RHy_b6rmk4M8jV70nuwUEp7bnoEEUpMyBN24y/s1600/P131010_12.35_%5B01%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">With the spicy aftertaste on my palate, I dived into the second course of Barbecue Ranch Pork Belly (pork liempo slices in barbecue sauce) and side dish of cucumber salad. The belly strips tasted wonderful with the smokey barbecue sauce. The diced cucumbers gave it a zing so pleasing to the taste buds. </span></span><br />
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<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">I was so engrossed with my lunch that I hardly noticed the customers streaming in between the shelves of fresh baked goodies and the cooler for scrumptious cakes. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Ludi's cake creations (photo courtesy of Orman Manansala)</td></tr>
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<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">When I asked for a glass of water with lots of ice from the cashier, I gave in to my curiosity and asked her: <i>Who is Aunt Ludi?</i></span></span><br />
<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><i> </i></span></span><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">Her answer was for me to know and for you to find out for yourself. </span></span><br />
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<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">I will definitely be going back to Aunt Ludi and her mouth-watering meals that remind me of home-cooked ones I used to enjoy. The breads also deserve a second look from me. Right now, I have visions of sandwiches I can assemble for late night or early morning snacks. </span></span><br />
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<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">For Aunt Ludi Bakeshoppe, I give a well-deserved two burps. Burp! Burp! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo courtesy of Orman Manansala)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSjpWO15QlT-TzuHwvotMzxE2zY_tA0a6uEcviIXrCYnB0TRXz4teoMjYx1F0GtoI2L-Tyxq-LcjSVxoONDgtIadOc2Dk_tBJUchb_o2lJtLGyIHw9OFCN-WPk5oAV1ULRe0zbO1UEkjO/s1600/aunt+ludi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><br />
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</span></span>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-53632047870543612712010-10-02T23:31:00.000+08:002010-10-02T23:31:14.783+08:00Shawn, Lolo Nap, Lola Josie & Lolo Bibot at Tobinton<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>Our one-and-a-half year old grandson Shawn was in for a treat today from his grandparents Lolo Nap, Lola Josie and Lolo Bibot.<br />
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Before leaving the house, we asked him: Do you like to go to KCC? His answer: vigorous shaking of his little head.<br />
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How about Gaisano? Slow nodding of his little head.<br />
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Where do want to go? TOBINTON! he shouted as a big smile spread all over his mouth.<br />
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So off to Tobinton, errr, I mean, Robinsons Place-Gensan we went.<br />
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(From Tito Bibot, I am now Lolo Bibot. "Bibot" is the nickname used by my nieces for me because as babies/kids, they could hardly pronounce "Gilbert" and the nearest pronunciation of it they could muster was "Bibot" and so, Tito/Lolo Bibot I became and remain so.)<br />
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As soon as he set foot at Robinsons Department Store, Shawn scooted to and fro, running as fast as his little feet could carry him. Of course, with the Lolos and Lola in hot pursuit. Lolo Nap brought him to the activity center where five walking animals were for rent for little kids to ride on. Shawn selected as giraffe-leopard hybrid to ride. I gave him five 5-peso coins to drop in the slot and cued him to count each coin and surely he did! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! And with a quick jerk the gira-pard started walking as navigated by Lolo Nap.<br />
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<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5267960&fbid=445324383907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs427.snc4/47026_445324383907_801358907_5267960_3386888_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Shawn with his Lolo Nap as navigator of the walking animal they rode.</div></div><br />
Lola Josie and I would pretend to get run over by gira-pard which would elicit a gale of laughter from Shawn.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268065&fbid=445328058907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs698.snc4/63834_445328058907_801358907_5268065_837568_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Punta tayo doon, Lolo Nap!</div></div><br />
Then we proceeded to the Food Court where at the left side there are lots of kiddie rides. Lola Josie gave lots of token for the rides he took.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268077&fbid=445329113907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs024.snc4/33555_445329113907_801358907_5268077_3992244_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Shawn rides a car</div></div><div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268124&fbid=445331248907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs291.snc4/40912_445331248907_801358907_5268124_3117647_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">pink elephant ride</div></div><div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268132&fbid=445331678907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs348.ash2/62867_445331678907_801358907_5268132_8055481_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">another car ride</div></div><br />
Since some of the rides he wanted were occupied by other kids, Shawn ran to the Ferris wheel and I accompanied him for the ride.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268139&fbid=445332253907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs006.ash2/33685_445332253907_801358907_5268139_957296_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Si Lolo Nap at Lola Josie ba yun? Ang liiiiiit nila!</div></div><br />
He would oooh and aaaah as the cab rose towards the mall ceiling and down again. He would turn around as the cab went down to wave at Lolo Nap and Lola Josie.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268157&fbid=445332943907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs350.ash2/63051_445332943907_801358907_5268157_3716565_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Ooooh! Aaaaah!</div></div><div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268164&fbid=445333398907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs718.snc4/63860_445333398907_801358907_5268164_5522862_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Shawn and Lolo Bibot enjoying the sights from the Ferris wheel cab</div></div><br />
After the Ferris wheel ride, we had a quick dinner at the Food Court where Shawn quickly found a girl-friend to play with. Soon they were jumping up and down all over the Food Court.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268239&fbid=445335078907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs007.snc4/33700_445335078907_801358907_5268239_6769617_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Shawn and his girl-friend on a jumping spree</div></div><br />
After dinner, Lolo Nap bought batteries for the space gun ( a steal at P100 only!) he bought at Toys R Us for Shawn. He had the batteries by the store clerk. When Shawn got his little hands on the space gun, he was awed by the spinning lights and chirping sounds.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268268&fbid=445336193907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs027.ash2/34716_445336193907_801358907_5268268_6904243_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Whoa! many lights!</div></div><br />
He would draw the space gun close to his ears to listen to the sounds it emitted.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268277&fbid=445336818907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs067.snc4/34712_445336818907_801358907_5268277_8009745_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Grabe the sounds naman nito!</div></div><br />
Soon enough he aimed the space gun at him and I pretended to writhe in pain from the sound, much to his delight. We played baril-barilan at the activity center. He loved playing tag with me running after him. We ended falling on the tiled floor as I caught him.<br />
<br />
<div class="photo photo_none"><div class="photo_img"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5268279&fbid=445337218907&op=1&view=all&subj=450791699704&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=450791699704&id=801358907"><img class="img" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img);
});" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs420.snc4/46285_445337218907_801358907_5268279_8337473_n.jpg" style="width: 420px;" /></a></div><div class="caption">Zaaap! May tama ka Lolo Bibot.</div></div><br />
After 3 hours of delightful fun among us Lolos, Lola and apo, it was time to go home.<br />
<br />
Shawn: Babay Tobinton! :)</div></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-58648116030491843132010-09-17T11:57:00.001+08:002010-09-17T12:01:53.161+08:00Gensan Tuna Experience 2010<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The Gensan Tunafest is a must-see, must-go series of events for generals and<u><b> </b></u>privates alike. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">The newly-elected officials of the local government asked for more time to prepare for it, that's why the schedule was moved from the first week of September to the third week instead. And it was the right decision because the events were spread all throughout the month making this year's Tunafest the longest-running series of events. Next year, it will be back to the original schedule.</span><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Below is the press release from the General Santos City Government through <a href="http://www.gensantos.com/">Avel Manansala</a>:</span><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">GenSan TunaFestival eXperience 2010 is on! Festival Month of September jampacked with events! <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">The </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gensantos.com/2010/08/16/tuna-fest-2010-unravels-on-sept-18-26/"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">2010 Tuna Festival Month of September</span></b></a></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">handled by the <b>General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (GSCCCII)</b> as Festival Organizer with City Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio as Chairperson started on a high note last week.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Guided by the theme "<b>Go Global GenSan: We Are Ready for the World</b>", the jam packed month-long <b>GTx (GenSan Tunafest experience)</b> kicked off on<b> September 2-4, 2010</b> with the conduct of the </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gensantos.com/2010/09/01/p-noy-keynotes-12th-national-tuna-congress/"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">12th National Tuna Congress</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">which broke records in terms of the number of attendees and exhibitors at its <b>Tuna Congress Exhibit </b>held at <b>Family Country Convention Center</b>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">On September 3, 2010, former <b>Senator Mar Roxas</b> came in behalf of Keynote Speaker </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gensantos.com/2010/09/01/p-noy-keynotes-12th-national-tuna-congress/"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">President Noynoy Aquino</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> to inspire the participants consisting of local and international tuna and fishing industry leaders and stakeholders.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">The annual <b>Karagatan Awards </b>that honored the year’s outstanding handline fishmermen were given to the awardees at the <b>Appreciation Dinner</b> that same night at the <b>Isla Parilla Resort</b> in Alabel, Sarangani.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Then on Sunday, the whole city commemorated the <b>42nd Charter Day Anniversary </b>with a mass at the <b>Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Church</b> and an Ecumenical Prayer Service and short program at the <b>Gen. Paulino Santos Shrine</b> inside the <b>Plaza Heneral Santos</b>. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">This was attended by the city’s business and socio-civic leaders, government workers and officials led by <b>Congressman Jun Acharon</b>, <b>Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio</b>, <b>Sarangani Vice-Governor Steve Chiongbian-Solon</b>, the city councilors, among other personages. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Vice-Governor Solon's attendance made the affair more meaningful as it was his grandfather, the former Congressman James Chiongbian who authored the Bill that created General Santos City.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">An "<b>Almusal Alay sa Kapwa</b>" spearheaded by the CSWDO followed afterwards which offered free breakfast to the city's less fortunate families. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">For the 2nd weekend of the month, on <b>September 10, 2010</b>, the much-awaited concert of the </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gensantos.com/2010/09/01/asap-sessionistas-live-in-gensan-blog-facebook-contest/"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">ASAP Sessionistas</span></b></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> will happen at Mindanao's largest indoor air-conditioned gymnasium, the <b>GenSan Gym</b> in Barangay Lagao. This is one of the city's biggest gathering of famous performers from Manila and tickets are selling briskly especially now that the concert date is getting near. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">The major highlights of the GTx will occur during the week of <b>September 18-26, 2010</b>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Expect these crowd-drawing beauty and talent search events to dazzle the generals and visitors alike:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Search for <b>Ginang Bariles</b> on Sept 22</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Search for <b>Ms. GenSan 2010 </b>on Sept 25</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Search for <b>Mr. GenSan 2010</b> (new event!) on Sept 25</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Gaisano Mall's <b>Search for Munting Mutya ng GenSan 2010 </b>on Sept 26</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Then there are these youth-powered dance and singing competitions:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Pasiklaban Cheer Dance</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition on Sept 18</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Campus Radio's Sayaw Sa Baybay-Kids Edition</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> on Sept 21</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Search for <b>GenSan Pop Idol Year 6 </b>on Sept 22</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">GenSan <b>Pop Star Kids</b> Competiion on Sept 23</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Fishdance Hip-Hop Dance Competition</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> on Sept 24</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Search for <b>GenSan Band Idol</b> on Sept 24</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">The GTx Month is also filled with exciting sports competitions:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Tuna Motorbike</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Beach Volleyball </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Robinsons' 1st TunaBodis Body-Building</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">National Skim Boarding</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">HRM Mini-Skills </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Robinsons' Inter-Tribe Tuna Cookfest</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Bombo Radyo's Bancarera</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">On its own, the <b>FishFest sa Fishport</b> will also have its own set of events for the fishermen on <b>September 22nd</b>:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Langoy-Bugsay Marathon</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Challenge</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">1st Lawihan Street Dancing</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">To enliven the GTx more, there are the parties and concerts!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Kapamilya Caravan</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> featuring ABS-CBN stars @ KCC on Sept 18 (new!)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Kapuso Nigh</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">t featuring GMA stars @ KCC on Sept 24 (new!)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Robinsons' Praize Xtreme Concert</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> on Sept 19</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Foam Parties</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> @ <b>East Asia Royale Hotel with Eli Buendia & PUPIL </b>on Sept 24-25</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Robinsons' Al Fresco Sashimi Night</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> featuring the <b>Best of GenSan Bands </b>on Sept 25</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">SMART Communications Concert </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">@ Oval Plaza Stage on Sept 25</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">GLOBE Telecoms Concert </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">@ Oval Plaza Stage on Sept 26</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">San Miguel Beer Concert @ the Junction on Sept 26</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">And not to forget the must-see Major Highlights on Culmination Day (<b>Sept 26, 2010</b>):</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Tuna Float Parade</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> Competition @ 9am</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">GTX</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> <b>Mardi-Gras Competition (Street Dancing) </b>@ 9m</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Splash in the Sky</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> <b>Fireworks Display </b>@ 7pm</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">And for <b>three weeks</b>, these attractions will be featured at the <b>City Oval Plaza</b>, the main activity center:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Tinda-Tinda</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;"> <b>sa GTx</b> (Flea Market)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Tuna Food Plaza</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Tuna Fiesta Carnival</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Plantuna Garden Show</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Coca-Cola's Everyday Kainan Happiness Zone</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">San Miguel Beer Barkada Zone</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">For this year's Tuna Festival Month celebration, a new <b>Tuna Festival Theme song </b>will be launched. Entitled "<b>WHOA GENSAN!</b>", this catchy and lively festival theme song commissioned by TunaFest Director and GSCCCII VP Orman O. Manansala, is composed by GenSan's very own "<b>Centerpoint Band</b>" who will first perform it LIVE to the public during the "<b>ASAP Sessionistas Live in Concert</b>" on <b>September 10, 2001</b> where they will serve as the front act.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">With all these events, activities and new attractions in store for GTX festival revelers, expect the<b> Tuna Festival Celebration</b> to upgrade its reputation as the <b>2nd Best Festival in the Philippines</b>, an award given to the Tuna Capital by the the <b>Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) in 2009</b>. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt;">Because for sure, this will be the best <b>GenSan's Tuna Festival Experience</b> for the generals and their visitors ever making the city truly MAGANDANG GENSAN!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-88316796688432670262010-09-08T20:51:00.000+08:002010-09-08T20:51:38.484+08:00Six Reasons to Watch ASAP Sessionistas Live in GenSanThe <b>ASAP SESSIONISTAS LIVE IN GENSAN</b> is one never-to-be-missed concert because six performers will be be featured in this 3-hour live event! It will be a memorable night of performances from <b>Nina, Aiza Seguerra, Duncan Ramos, Sitti, Richard Poon and Juris.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYCK0QzAV8T5ZZL0CoQ1nu4DyHz-2fcN7VxX_EatOImZaNVPSz-3OjQtjP32Bx3HArNYzQsoulB65RQQwklQdU_4dzSXZ3Gj6Schq2i1Ua1Vx-F-rtLbIi5GS3Bk0lyIk4O14PpaiMHlT/s1600/sessionistas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYCK0QzAV8T5ZZL0CoQ1nu4DyHz-2fcN7VxX_EatOImZaNVPSz-3OjQtjP32Bx3HArNYzQsoulB65RQQwklQdU_4dzSXZ3Gj6Schq2i1Ua1Vx-F-rtLbIi5GS3Bk0lyIk4O14PpaiMHlT/s400/sessionistas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>My six reasons to watch ASAP Sessionistas Live in Gensan are:</b><br />
<br />
<b>1. <i>Barry Manilow medley</i> to be performed by Nina. I'm an avid Barry Manilow fan and I love Nina's album of Manilow's hits.</b><br />
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<b>2. <i>Sukob Na</i> to be performed by Aiza Seguerra. This song of Aiza is perfect for the rainy season.</b><br />
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<b><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WgjAtRbZqSA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WgjAtRbZqSA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> </b><br />
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<b>3. Duncan Ramos's debut single <i>Fly with Me</i>. I want to witness his pride in singing this song.</b><br />
<br />
<b><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/97HCdfTpl88?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/97HCdfTpl88?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></b><br />
<br />
<b>4. Sitti's version of <i>Bridges</i>. Bridges is one of my fave tunes ever and Sitti's made this song her own.</b><br />
<br />
<b><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ea7kGnrKwBk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ea7kGnrKwBk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></b><br />
<br />
<b>5. <i>You and I</i> to be performed by Richard Poon. A favorite song since high school to be sung by a new favorite singer - Perfect Combination!</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxHgUUoXKRo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kxHgUUoXKRo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>6. <i>I Don't Want to Fall for You</i> to be performed by Juris. Appropriate song for a loveless me. </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VoHhlee47y4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VoHhlee47y4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Gensan's own Centerpoint Band will be the front act.</b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>I'm proud to say that Geraldine Oville of Denville Music & Production (Sessionistas Live concert producer) was a student of mine and that I'm very happy about her accomplishments. Congrats Din!</b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span> </b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span>This blogpost is an entry to <a href="http://www.gensantos.com/2010/09/01/asap-sessionistas-live-in-gensan-blog-facebook-contest/">ASAP Sessionistas Live in Gensan Blog & Facebook contest.</a></b>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-6712920903119487412010-09-02T23:05:00.002+08:002010-09-02T23:14:50.694+08:00Vignette 4: Social Telegrams, Flowers and MollyMolly sat with us during our group business case analysis sessions. She had long wavy hair and a shy smile. She had a vulnerable aura that made you want to protect her.<br />
<br />
The first time I saw her shivered, I thought it was because she was reed thin. The next time, I noticed it was when Frederick passed by our group. And after the third time, I concluded it was him who was causing her shivers.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1591020913&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>It was on the third month of the semester when she started getting deliveries of social telegrams, at first, then flowers. Her face would be flushed with a deep blush as she read each telegram and card that went with the flowers. She absolutely refused though to let us read them, dismissing our requests by saying, "It's personal."<br />
<br />
Then one day, she gave in to one group mate who was always pestering her about the telegrams and flowers. She whispered to her that they were from Frederick, her boyfriend. The group mate shrieked long and loud when she heard the name. Frederick, after all, was a big man on campus - athlete, born to an elite family, and a prize catch. Soon, the name of Molly's secret admirer was passed from mouth to ear until it reached Frederick.<br />
<br />
We were discussing the last business case assigned to us when Frederick interrupted our session and asked Molly to talk with him in private. They went to an isolated corner of the college building and soon after, we heard their loud argument.<br />
<br />
"How dare you, Molly spread the rumor about us when you know fully well I'm in love with Agnes!"<br />
<br />
"Frederick, please listen -"<br />
<br />
"Stop the lies, Molly, stop sending those telegrams and flowers to yourself claiming they came from me and stop loitering outside my dorm! You're freaking me out!"<br />
<br />
"But Frederick, I love you!"<br />
<br />
"Well, I don't and I won't! So leave me alone!"<br />
<br />
Frederick left in a huff and when Molly saw that all eyes were on them, she blushed and turned to her heels. <br />
<br />
Molly never attended our succeeding sessions after that. She was absent during the finals. Her dorm mates told us she never left her room for meals or anything. At night, they would hear her sobs.<br />
<br />
After a week, the campus police picked her up outside Frederick's dorm. She was dressed in her soiled pajamas, face tear-stained, wavy hair askew, eyes bulging from their sockets. Her parents got her from the campus police station and brought her home.<br />
<br />
We never heard from her again.Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-15760608119895670092010-08-22T23:20:00.004+08:002010-08-30T11:40:56.147+08:00My Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010For my choices for 2010's <a href="http://www.influentialblogger.net/2010/05/join-top-10-emerging-influential-blogs.html">Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs</a>, I am nominating blogs from the SoCCSKSarGen area: <br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Gandaeversomuch.com</a><br />
Because Orman is Your Royal Gandaness, that's all, thank you!<br />
2. <a href="http://alexiscee.blogspot.com/">http://alexiscee.blogspot.com/</a><br />
A young college grad whose blog is worth emulating. <br />
3. <a href="http://kikaymuch.me/">http://kikaymuch.me/</a><br />
Donna Mae Congson's beauty tips are practical and doable for women as well as for men. <br />
4. <a href="http://remomd.com/lightroom/"></a><a href="http://marcopolo.i.ph/">http://marcopolo.i.ph/</a><br />
This travel blog lives up to its name, Boy Palaboy! <br />
5. <a href="http://gensangems.blogspot.com/">http://gensangems.blogspot.com</a><br />
The scientist in the kitchen chronicles her life in Gensan <br />
6. <a href="http://www.gosarangani.com/"></a><a href="http://nanardxz.blogspot.com/">http://nanardxz.blogspot.com/</a><br />
An interesting blog by a young South Cotabateno<br />
7. <a href="http://one-south-cotabato.blogspot.com/">http://one-south-cotabato.blogspot.com/</a><br />
A blog that promotes South Cotabato as a tourist spot and as a business destination<br />
8. <a href="http://nicethoughtsnthrills.blogspot.com/">http://nicethoughtsnthrills.blogspot.com</a><br />
An OFW's blog on her life with her family in exotic Thailand<br />
9. <a href="http://pinoymomtalks.blogspot.com/">http://pinoymomtalks.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Cathy Madueno-Bolodo <span>shares her joys, frustrations and advice on honing this skill called motherhood.</span><br />
<span>10. <a href="http://akosirabsky.blogspot.com/">http://akosirabsky.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<span>A young man's blog of his life as a teener and as a college student in Gensan.</span><br />
<span> </span><br />
This contest has the following sponsors: <a href="http://buddygancenia.com/blog/?page_id=67" style="font-style: italic;">Events and Corporate Video</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a href="http://www.jupitersuites.com.ph/" style="font-style: italic;">Budget hotel in Makati</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a href="http://www.pinoypartyfood.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Pinoy Party Food</a><span style="font-style: italic;">,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://www.inwrite.com/">Copyediting Services</a>, <a href="http://www.dominguez.com.ph/">PR Agency Philippines</a>, <a href="http://www.budgettravels.ph/">Budget Travel Philippines</a>, <a href="http://www.regaloservice.com/">Send Gifts to the Philippines</a>, <a href="http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/">Black Friday Deals</a>, </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.roomrent.ph/">Roomrent - units for rent</a>, <a href="http://www.searchprofileindex.com/">Search Profile Index</a>, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">and <a href="http://www.eventsatwork.com/">Corporate Events Organizer</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-58642533350469342522010-08-22T00:30:00.001+08:002010-08-23T00:11:42.559+08:00I Remember<div style="text-align: justify;">I remember it was <b>NOT</b> the main headline on the evening news of RPN9, a TV station sequestered by the government during Martial Law broadcasting then in General Santos City via domestic satellite (DOMSAT). We just finished an early dinner and had gathered in front of the TV set. I was standing when it came on. The news anchor, grim-faced as he read the news, plainly said, <i>Ninoy Aquino has been shot dead</i>. Then, a blur of images made me sit down on our worn sofa. The minor disturbance outside the Manila International Airport, the sad faces, the military men in their johnny-come-lately stance, the media frenzy, Doy Laurel being interviewed. . . Suddenly, the gathering twilight seemed darker. I felt claustrophobic as I twiddled with the collar of my t-shirt. What I saw on TV chilled me to the bones and ignited a spark of anger within me. I was 27 then and on my second year of teaching at a local Catholic college. The date was August 21, 1983.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwaXFXNuunGt7kDJWmvh1CH0mP9bzO1_wna2_WaltyNGLKxw4QxiIiDEFfY1-74taCF0XXhJrjJV42R954b5iXZ4ZGrrgy6c1Vm4qNrma2oSla1SRH7KpHg02QnSt6heuqqkvIWOaQNk0/s1600/ninoyassassination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwaXFXNuunGt7kDJWmvh1CH0mP9bzO1_wna2_WaltyNGLKxw4QxiIiDEFfY1-74taCF0XXhJrjJV42R954b5iXZ4ZGrrgy6c1Vm4qNrma2oSla1SRH7KpHg02QnSt6heuqqkvIWOaQNk0/s400/ninoyassassination.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninoy, the man in white, dead on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The days and weeks that followed were minimally reported on TV so I had to rely on the <i>mosquito press</i>, a term for the alternative press which reported widely on the Aquino Assassination in spite of the dangers posed by Martial Law. Leading the pack were Mr & Ms, a lifestyle magazine that came out with its tabloid special issues and Malaya newspaper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjsLVD3bnBnNf_rI2Tch3is-TW28KNy7F1ER90RVcJVKFcJ1ihKF-MD0BCBmYmcTI0CYTCKLW7Y0V86i43RRFwuSD61VU1O5OP5Q7zO0yd48lkw6gxVr20pDNwssY6mub0bKWzWb-GmAv/s1600/ninoycasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjsLVD3bnBnNf_rI2Tch3is-TW28KNy7F1ER90RVcJVKFcJ1ihKF-MD0BCBmYmcTI0CYTCKLW7Y0V86i43RRFwuSD61VU1O5OP5Q7zO0yd48lkw6gxVr20pDNwssY6mub0bKWzWb-GmAv/s400/ninoycasket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninoy as thousands saw him during the wake at Santo Domingo church</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The wake at Santo Domingo church in Quezon City was filled with people who lined up to pay their respects to Ninoy Aquino. Cory was a picture of a grief-stricken widow. The burial was awe-inspiring as the cortege wound through the streets of Metro Manila while people showered yellow petals and confetti on the truck flatbed carrying Ninoy's casket. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3xNUQ5zyhZu1xScu4vfEZZG39_D991xvWHLpAKCUiQIJb0Wr8w7phTOkUh2z87BLgobmgdc-AphJZOezWIVQ0C31nD4_sJdL8KbfUe1JgUcjxC8xH9dzd44LJwqW-VZMB43kZm9WoEC5/s1600/ninoyburial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3xNUQ5zyhZu1xScu4vfEZZG39_D991xvWHLpAKCUiQIJb0Wr8w7phTOkUh2z87BLgobmgdc-AphJZOezWIVQ0C31nD4_sJdL8KbfUe1JgUcjxC8xH9dzd44LJwqW-VZMB43kZm9WoEC5/s400/ninoyburial.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massive turnout for the burial of Ninoy Aquino</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In General Santos, the general atmosphere was nonchalance, at least on the surface. But there was a sense of purpose and urgency as people awaited the arrival of the <i>mosquito press</i> publications which sold like proverbial hot cakes. Articles and photos from these were photocopied, reproduced by way of mimeograph machines and distributed to friends and others in churches and meetings of civic organizations. After more than a decade of government propaganda, media control and censorship under Martial Law, the people's need here for the truth was <b>that</b> palpable. These publications stoked a fervor that would eventually find expression in the People Power Revolution in 1986.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRQN4kLAPEs5II4gvRoStRnNJWCeZxskY5cVeCQRuTnmEJPsHa66n28GQk1HB8grQiSVbz-nDh1nrdm5T2i07nd7_U3PUJN7Q1XCZdZZKkXsyXpaC89a-6qIniQD56p0ovLBBfP9RMMr/s1600/P200810_14.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyRQN4kLAPEs5II4gvRoStRnNJWCeZxskY5cVeCQRuTnmEJPsHa66n28GQk1HB8grQiSVbz-nDh1nrdm5T2i07nd7_U3PUJN7Q1XCZdZZKkXsyXpaC89a-6qIniQD56p0ovLBBfP9RMMr/s400/P200810_14.35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wrote a Letter to the Editor that was published in Mr & Ms Special Issue dated December 9, 1983:<br />
<blockquote>I've been following closely your "specials" since you came out with the follow-up No. 1 issue to the Funeral Coverage. In General Santos City, there's always a mad scramble for copies of your "specials." Encouraged by the special attention you give to letter writers to this series, I decided to write you about a very strange coincidence which happened to me. Just a few minutes ago, I was going through my file of posters/chord guides from Jingle Chordbook Magazines when I was struck by a particular one. (Please see the attached copy of said poster.) One page illustrates the quotation of David Russell: "Martyrs Set Bad Examples" with a comic strip-like drawing of someone named Andres (Bonifacio as in Marcial Bonifacio, the alias used by Ninoy Aquino for securing a passport?) who was apparently shot from the back as the bullet was shown piercing his chin (looks familiar?). I don't remember which issue of Jingle Chordbook Magazine it came with, but I am DEFINITE it was before August 21, 1983, probably two months earlier! The coincidence is nothing short of uncanny. This must be what it feels like to have a deja-vu. And it gives me the chills now as when I saw the DOMSAT coverage of the assassination three months ago.</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote>The following year, a reader, R. Canlas, confirmed what I wrote and said that the issue where it came from was the one with Adam Ant on the cover. <br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What I read in these publications continued to stoke the spark of anger in me. It was a time of re-educating myself. A time to undo what Martial Law did to my young life. I remember and still continue to remember. </div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-42343112413009263352010-08-12T04:46:00.003+08:002010-08-12T04:57:18.864+08:00Book Find: Paul Simon Lyrics 1964-2008<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzvQIPbjAJhx2pmx5QaIKzuk65hau1dxU4vX9tmRJ8F0QoMS7LRRFVaYH5jA0jJ1wkG_ZT3hjn5jHQsxjY7F9n33wQpLPWopReRAD6Ll_FDqFzl8jcAjKHmWBoTfw-F1uxnjTImE1XdRk/s1600/P230710_18.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzvQIPbjAJhx2pmx5QaIKzuk65hau1dxU4vX9tmRJ8F0QoMS7LRRFVaYH5jA0jJ1wkG_ZT3hjn5jHQsxjY7F9n33wQpLPWopReRAD6Ll_FDqFzl8jcAjKHmWBoTfw-F1uxnjTImE1XdRk/s320/P230710_18.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Simon: Lyrics 1964-2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Whenever I go trawling for books at National Book Store and Book Sale, I'm amazed at the serendipitous moments when I come across books I've been looking for (most of which are not of the bestseller variety) or books I never expected to exist. So it is a pleasant surprise to find Paul Simon's book, <i>Lyrics 1964-2008</i>.<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002DMJUI6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
I immediately browsed for my favorite Simon and Garfunkel songs and saw this page: <i>April Come She Will</i>. Sheer poetry!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqXfTJjEhpu2PzEEq_saAIWp1EiAiDBCGw_A5N5njJw-kkrP01Z2eyHZ_Xp32yv8U2UNMb3lg85VMgy4VjinORuinYzHG4MFI8oJmXtWFtF-uXMoewV_cxXfOHRwNDD-By-VxnovbNgZF/s1600/P230710_18.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqXfTJjEhpu2PzEEq_saAIWp1EiAiDBCGw_A5N5njJw-kkrP01Z2eyHZ_Xp32yv8U2UNMb3lg85VMgy4VjinORuinYzHG4MFI8oJmXtWFtF-uXMoewV_cxXfOHRwNDD-By-VxnovbNgZF/s320/P230710_18.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Come She Will, the lyrics are sheer poetry!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And <i>Mrs. Robinson</i>, composed for the film, <i>The Graduate</i>, starring Dustin Hoffman. I always sang along this song when it was played on the radio. I saw the film in my 30s because I was still too young to see when it was first shown in a local cinema. The book is replete with photos too!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJpX5KR4BNqzvPdT9Dx3Nln9MGRl1_nHDlNIq3pQ_5x-Vq-LmufkBdVNKY2dNgx6m5gQJRCH93d7AFwsBgVTVc0QmNag9RyGlqawE45C3hZ1IKGaos01x1DK3JIf7Kb2y5V9-ZnNiimL5/s1600/P230710_18.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJpX5KR4BNqzvPdT9Dx3Nln9MGRl1_nHDlNIq3pQ_5x-Vq-LmufkBdVNKY2dNgx6m5gQJRCH93d7AFwsBgVTVc0QmNag9RyGlqawE45C3hZ1IKGaos01x1DK3JIf7Kb2y5V9-ZnNiimL5/s400/P230710_18.47.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitBm6zEQZ1jP5IYpLTNvrdFxzBI5EL65nXsErYeSX0dK7y_VuTzRzsuGjmKun5OT-P4eHKCmDBC2Gc5i7ZZIl72GAX47nQcmTw3glq4mx3lN70qsJMFC75JiCEmYe0bl_ipmZu1npXEBb/s1600/P230710_18.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitBm6zEQZ1jP5IYpLTNvrdFxzBI5EL65nXsErYeSX0dK7y_VuTzRzsuGjmKun5OT-P4eHKCmDBC2Gc5i7ZZIl72GAX47nQcmTw3glq4mx3lN70qsJMFC75JiCEmYe0bl_ipmZu1npXEBb/s400/P230710_18.49.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sound of Silence, a lifesaver of a song</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>The Sound of Silence</i> is a deep song. I remember getting distracted by these lyrics during my teenage rebellion years in college: <br />
<br />
"And in the naked light I saw<br />
Ten thousand people, maybe more<br />
People talking without speaking<br />
People hearing without listening<br />
People writing songs that voices never share<br />
And no one dared<br />
Disturb the sound of silence"<br />
<br />
Reading these again after all these years made me realize how timeless the lyrics are.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr18xBGaVil9ytGvhtowyA7inrgQPd7jsOGN9mJF7NYEXdd8tkUUJmycfk9v0Av-t3olicUcMcGLHs22GobXP9-Q_-wMaelAsRT8ZH4-Ch6G9QOB0qEbybsi_7uYcC40WXZVUfo31PmrMh/s1600/P230710_18.49_%5B01%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr18xBGaVil9ytGvhtowyA7inrgQPd7jsOGN9mJF7NYEXdd8tkUUJmycfk9v0Av-t3olicUcMcGLHs22GobXP9-Q_-wMaelAsRT8ZH4-Ch6G9QOB0qEbybsi_7uYcC40WXZVUfo31PmrMh/s400/P230710_18.49_%5B01%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's interesting to know the genesis and metamorphosis of some songs composed by Simon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>Still Crazy After All These Years</i>. Now this is one song, I'm going to be singing in my twilight (not THAT Twilight, silly!) years. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f6kAEJGc2O6rd1AMpZMngNn8pMbtwUM6ovDLUjT9HmkmcDB700oLuMZKuHRWcSInJAhfNTQyi3Y2J_bm4d8Y7_NJgxbR70bo-S-gprLVInHKudAIvUfTtRbMGVVCHd49DdfQ1JdkIbvF/s1600/P230710_18.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f6kAEJGc2O6rd1AMpZMngNn8pMbtwUM6ovDLUjT9HmkmcDB700oLuMZKuHRWcSInJAhfNTQyi3Y2J_bm4d8Y7_NJgxbR70bo-S-gprLVInHKudAIvUfTtRbMGVVCHd49DdfQ1JdkIbvF/s400/P230710_18.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graceland in draft and final forms</td></tr>
</tbody></table><i>Graceland</i> is one song I'm belatedly appreciating. I admit I lost interested in the Simon & Garfunkel duo when they split up. In recent years, I've rediscovered Art Garfunkel's vocal artistry and the genius of Paul Simon's lyrical songs. <br />
<br />
At P99 for this hardbound book at National Book Store, it is indeed worth all the memories made and yet to be made in the span of my life.Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-12383256996423073502010-08-11T05:39:00.001+08:002010-08-11T10:52:16.732+08:00Robinsons Place Gensan - Newfound Oasis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczT1J-vE8qL4W11n9D8Ic5P56bowUs05NaPw6Q4zZDnCMKp76lwPpj_Dgv3AXoP7NGB6UMkn0YLMum3WGFc4J1AsSEj8dz4qRcDVuyS0460uyYBLzi0NGNn1gOaUqGlghDU8hYUQIygHe/s1600/RP-Gensan-Logo_vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczT1J-vE8qL4W11n9D8Ic5P56bowUs05NaPw6Q4zZDnCMKp76lwPpj_Dgv3AXoP7NGB6UMkn0YLMum3WGFc4J1AsSEj8dz4qRcDVuyS0460uyYBLzi0NGNn1gOaUqGlghDU8hYUQIygHe/s400/RP-Gensan-Logo_vertical.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On September 30, Robinsons Place Gensan will celebrate its first year in General Santos City. Its full-service mall sits on a floor area of 32,700 square meters that boasts more than a hundred national and local shops on top of its anchor stores: Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances, Robinsons Movieworld and Handyman-Do-It-Best Home Center. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">For almost a year now, Robinsons Place Gensan has given the people of SoCCSKSarGen its signature Robinsons Mall Experience by emphasizing the tagline: <i>MAS MAGANDA DITO </i>in congruence with the city's brand <i>Magandang Gensan</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for me, the Robinsons Mall Experience was put to the test from the months of February to May this year when power interruptions in these parts lasted up to 12 hours a day. Being a self-confessed computer geek, my online productivity was severely curtailed by the power outages, at first. Then I found out that Robinsons Place Gensan offers absolutely FREE Wifi access mallwide. Yes, you read it right, ABSOLUTELY FREE WIFI ACCESS MALLWIDE! And it's the FIRST to offer such here in Gensan!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXS-n13US5J_caSZh5kzD6KLEUqaoTEe3X6NS-thGGISMD93psV7U1HLr_63wXgmoz7L9-5Nz_dLcOHfaTfM_oyk1ZfMB7xvwS5IM21mfL3C5Q3a9fXD3rtCkxykk5fVaapq-YzzDdrO2/s1600/wifi-logo1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXS-n13US5J_caSZh5kzD6KLEUqaoTEe3X6NS-thGGISMD93psV7U1HLr_63wXgmoz7L9-5Nz_dLcOHfaTfM_oyk1ZfMB7xvwS5IM21mfL3C5Q3a9fXD3rtCkxykk5fVaapq-YzzDdrO2/s320/wifi-logo1.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the height of the power curtailments, we were experiencing an alternating 3-hour outages schedule. And so, during those hours when we had no electricity at home, I would be bringing my laptop to Robinsons Place Gensan to do my online work. Or when there's no pending online work, I'd spend the time watching movies at the plush Cinemaworld, browsing the books at the National Book Store, exploring the various items at the Handy Man or walking around the wide lobby with my grandkids and nieces while having a taste of the various snacks offered by the food stalls scattered strategically inside the mall. The kids just love the rides and games at Quantum. We have discovered an oasis in Robinsons Place Gensan where we take refuge from the heat and inconvenience of the power outages.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1439102112&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now it is common sight to see young people doing their mobile surfing/Plurking/Facebooking and yuppies with laptops and netbooks in the mall food court, restaurants and al fresco dining strip at Robinsons Place Gensan. It is also an added bonus that the supermarket hours have been extended to 9:00 p.m. (where they also accept debit card payments) as well as the presence of three ATMs that dispense cash all the time. The atrium features activities and shows for free. It is not uncommon to get a glimpse of your favorite TV and movie stars on weekends or special occasions. <br />
<br />
<br />
Robinsons Gensan indeed delivers "easy, breezy and better shopping" for its clientele. I always tell my friends and colleagues that I feel at home at Robinsons Place Gensan. It is where I feel welcome and can hang around with people I like and love. It is an oasis where I find comfort and solace from the hustle and bustle of city life. <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-89777402942417840382010-08-01T13:47:00.006+08:002010-08-05T07:57:01.410+08:00Your Royal Gandaness and Me (Close Encounters of the Gandaeversomuch! Kind)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHcY5XKBNhz0r6g28_GkcAcjrc6ewz6cflqhTusCQoI_pQ4fiOZh0Gkrp8FAMWm1tQAE9kIaKbXF2k3jjXV2ooN20XqmQwLg1lsXsNK-rFi9_Y9NDOncFklHbeixXqK-5h6WG-sOkGKLU/s1600/35795_442913301137_616746137_6345682_7149068_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHcY5XKBNhz0r6g28_GkcAcjrc6ewz6cflqhTusCQoI_pQ4fiOZh0Gkrp8FAMWm1tQAE9kIaKbXF2k3jjXV2ooN20XqmQwLg1lsXsNK-rFi9_Y9NDOncFklHbeixXqK-5h6WG-sOkGKLU/s400/35795_442913301137_616746137_6345682_7149068_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Royal Gandaness and me. Pansinin ang kanyang "naughty finger." Heheh </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's simply not <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2010/07/contest-ever/week-7-contest-finale-blog-writing-photo-contest/">just ONE best/unique experience with Orman Manansala </a></i><br />
<i>who is a multi-hyphenated person: </i><br />
<i>blogger-banker-dog lover-foodie-brother-uncle-bossing-</i><br />
bahala na si Batman <i>risk taker-cinemaphile-</i><br />
<i>friendship-life of the party-</i>kabalen<i>-event organizer-</i><br />
<i>alumnus par excellence-plurker-benefactor-</i>ninong sa kasal at binyag<i>-</i><br />
<i> </i>martir sa ngalan ng<i> love-abo </i>eklabo<i>.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I hope</i> ang sumusunod na <i>close encounters </i>ko<i> with Ormz will do justice </i><br />
<i>to the blogger, the man and the friend. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Ormz and I are still in the getting-to-know-you stage in our friendship. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It has its share of humps, potholes, and smooth lanes </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>as we both cruise around it.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nagtatrabaho na ako nang gumradweyt si Orman sa hayskul.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Sa edad, mas malapit si Kuya Avel niya sa akin.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ang unang <i>close encounter</i> ko <i>with Ormz was</i><br />
noong kailangan kong i-defend </div><div style="text-align: center;">ang aming <i>group business proposal</i><br />
sa harap niya sa <i>NDDU Graduate School</i>.<br />
Tumatak agad sa akin ang kanyang Taray <i>Factor </i><br />
at galing sa pagkilatis ng mga<i> proposal</i>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Magkakilala na kami pero hindi pa close noon.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ngayon, <i>happy</i> na ako na close na kami dahil sa<br />
<i>constant plurk</i> at <i>blog events</i> na aming pinagsamahan<br />
at hindi ko pinapangarap na maging <b><i>closer</i></b> pa sa kanya</div><div style="text-align: center;">kasi ayon kay Ormz reserved <i>yun</i> sa mga kaaway niya</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i>Keep your friends close, but your enemies</i> <b><i>closer</i></b>).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heheh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIkb7V30n4RYM0bI0oCq29-0dcyXUL9QGlnbCO5yRk-p6LCQfQa69Hk_rZrU0WzMigz0dJdKK3-JcrslrkhNpGIZhqkedCH_YqDHUR_W0_dncZI_lvcC2w6l5Xf_TRFEsbM-YOl2Egpmg/s1600/11264_197233371137_616746137_4463758_5489716_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIkb7V30n4RYM0bI0oCq29-0dcyXUL9QGlnbCO5yRk-p6LCQfQa69Hk_rZrU0WzMigz0dJdKK3-JcrslrkhNpGIZhqkedCH_YqDHUR_W0_dncZI_lvcC2w6l5Xf_TRFEsbM-YOl2Egpmg/s400/11264_197233371137_616746137_4463758_5489716_n.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Royal Gandaness and mascot</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hi Gandaness</i>! ang <i>greeting</i> ko sa kanya pag tiniteks ko siya,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>otherwise</i>, hindi niya ako tiniteksbak.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmmp! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After</i> siya nagbertdey<i> last year</i>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">may nakita akong tinitindang napakalaki at napakabigat </div><div style="text-align: center;">na <i>brown frog cement sculpture</i> na inorder ng iba pero</div><div style="text-align: center;">di na binalikan kaya binarat-barat ko </div><div style="text-align: center;">para may <i>advance</i> krismas <i>gift</i> ako sa kanya.<br />
Agad niya itong bininyagang <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/album.php?aid=169756&id=616746137"><i>Official Mascot of Gandaeversomuch!</i></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Nilagay niya ang <i>brown frog</i> sa kanyang munting balkonahe</div><div style="text-align: center;">para may kasama sila ni Chad habang pinapraktis niya<br />
ang <i>monologue</i> ni Juliet:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hindi ko lang alam kung hinahalikan ni Ormz ito</div><div style="text-align: center;">para ma-<i>transform</i> at maging <i>Prince Charming</i> niya.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heheh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sa pagkakakilala ko kay Ormz (<i>so far</i>),</div><div style="text-align: center;">bagayeversomuch </div><div style="text-align: center;">na maging <i>personal anthem</i> niya ang kantang ito:</div><br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TxUC_UcKFJk&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TxUC_UcKFJk&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I am what I am</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I am my own special creation</b>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So, come take a look, give me the hook or the ovation.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's my world that I want to take a little pride in.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My world and it's not a place I have to hide in.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Life's not worth a damn till you can say, hey world, I am what I am.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I am what I am</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I don't want praise, I don't want pity.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I bang my own drum, something gets noise, I think It's pretty</b>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And so what if I love each feather and each bangle.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Why not try to see things from a different angle</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Life's not worth a damn till you can shout out loud, I am what I am.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I am what I am</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>And what I am needs no excuses</b>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I deal my own deck, sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's one life and there's no return and no deposit. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>One life, so it's time to open up your closet.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Life's not worth a damn till you can say, hey world, I am what I am.</i></b></div> <span class="txt_1"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pag dating kay Ormz,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>it's not Take It or Leave It </i>kundi</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Take It and Love It!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heheh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnocI1OMQXbN49xM-hq8DYnQK2qpbXfW3hfM3ryqhyphenhyphenHRDBhhIWiQsZ4nqXyFt7dwm5tWqj-1cA9Ah0rNSqywmWrIAsrMNNbcy-hg78BzuKeBZkGYjZ8GnYXw4UJPA7nhlvUP7uxRENxJU/s1600/26713_441821401137_616746137_6314370_3292747_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnocI1OMQXbN49xM-hq8DYnQK2qpbXfW3hfM3ryqhyphenhyphenHRDBhhIWiQsZ4nqXyFt7dwm5tWqj-1cA9Ah0rNSqywmWrIAsrMNNbcy-hg78BzuKeBZkGYjZ8GnYXw4UJPA7nhlvUP7uxRENxJU/s400/26713_441821401137_616746137_6314370_3292747_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Royal Emoness</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ormz can be Funny, Out, Loud, Brash and </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i>Uh oh!</i> eto yung <i>B-word </i>na ayaw banggitin ni Mandi sa sinulat niyang<a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2010/07/sikat-ever/im-profiled-at-gensan-gazer-magazine/"> <i>profile</i></a> ni Ormz)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bitchy!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">(May isa pang <i>B-word</i> na bahala na si Avel ang magkuwento sa inyo<br />
na may kinalaman sa mga sirena at dagat.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sa mga hindi pa <i>close</i> sa kanya,</div><div style="text-align: center;">ang pagiging <i>funny</i>, <i>out, loud, brash</i> o <i>bitchy</i> niya lang ang naaaninag nila.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pero sa kanyang <i>quiet moments</i>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">lalong-lalo na sa <i>emo ones</i>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">nasusulyapan ko ang isang Ormz</div><div style="text-align: center;">na gusto kong yakapin </div><div style="text-align: center;">at tawaging <i>little brother (little </i>daw o!<i>)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">kaya lang leeg niya lang ang masasalikupan ng aking <i>arms</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heheh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lagi niya tayong napapatawa pero </div><div style="text-align: center;">may mga pagkakataon ding napapatawa ko siya,</div><div style="text-align: center;">at bumubukal ang kanyang tawa mula sa sa kaibuturan</div><div style="text-align: center;">ng kanyang umaalog-alog na <i>tummy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"> at sasabihin niya sa akin:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Funny</i> ka talaga, Bert!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hindi ko makakalimutan ang kanyang halakhak (buhakhak),</div><div style="text-align: center;">nang minsan pinaalala ko sa kanya:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ormz, <i>remember</i> ang luha pag natuyo, nagiging muta.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heheh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquzKXtBS9Rk40OKh7oXYr_9AGHvoPsk7x0SQQLZxWvDoUQo0idwbvM1paliVPqsSn5xqHGnSRPTWOZAN3AS782pFasSfw8TZT_Q-SEJqcAZocoAly0UciJCX2ZPUWeKLhx4rH2l9BxwFj/s1600/4619_114258701137_616746137_3213473_7621614_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquzKXtBS9Rk40OKh7oXYr_9AGHvoPsk7x0SQQLZxWvDoUQo0idwbvM1paliVPqsSn5xqHGnSRPTWOZAN3AS782pFasSfw8TZT_Q-SEJqcAZocoAly0UciJCX2ZPUWeKLhx4rH2l9BxwFj/s320/4619_114258701137_616746137_3213473_7621614_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Royal Gandaness's peborit komport fud</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Syempre, pag si Ormz ang kasama ko,<br />
mawawala ba ang <i>culinary</i> (kain/habhab) <i>moments</i>?<br />
Pero kahit na ano ang gawin ko, <br />
hindi talaga ako makasabay sa kanya.<br />
Nakakadalawang subo pa lang ako, simot na ang nasa plato niya!<br />
Sabi ko nga sa kanya: Ay, In-inhale mo ang fud!?!#<br />
Pero kahit ano pang <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=78986&id=616746137"><i>disheses</i> ang ihain kay Ormz</a>,<br />
peborit <i>comfort food</i> niya <i>for all-time</i> ang Otin (Odong with Tinapa)<br />
na nakapiktyur sa itaas.<br />
Heheh.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And so, <i>Your Gandaness</i>, Ormz</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's my toast to one year of <b>Gandaeversomuch!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I look forward to more years in our blossoming friendship.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And here's my wish for you!</div><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="txt_1"> <i>I wish you bluebirds in the spring</i></span><i><br />
<span class="txt_1"> To give your heart a song to sing</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> And then a kiss, but more than this</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> I wish you love</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> And in July some lemonade</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> To cool you in some leafy glade</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> <b>I wish you health</b></span><b><br />
<span class="txt_1"> But more than wealth</span><br />
<span class="txt_1"> I wish you love . . .</span></b><br />
<span class="txt_1"><br />
</span><span class="txt_1"></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGvbjun9TRDqT7-Dw5trcK0hqa_uHFTyOrVqwcI7fIrMm4ZOxSKgcb_kzTUuCLeC-Kwe_wm5EyMPZkLE3FoUw0Rg0hYqMdpgA35c4zIDbsG1x7V176SxKdL74qLzPUQXxrKBRAGUDxrch/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGvbjun9TRDqT7-Dw5trcK0hqa_uHFTyOrVqwcI7fIrMm4ZOxSKgcb_kzTUuCLeC-Kwe_wm5EyMPZkLE3FoUw0Rg0hYqMdpgA35c4zIDbsG1x7V176SxKdL74qLzPUQXxrKBRAGUDxrch/s400/images.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br />
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Photos courtesy of Avel & Orman Manansala.Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-54038654503966167782010-07-26T10:46:00.001+08:002010-07-26T10:49:05.453+08:00Photo Tweaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAMcj8bvwev1Jym5iMEVNuwZxxx-VlRa3XDV3RPk6okvZI2XssDMUpKscUFdBv68qqufND3cVBBjpMO4awt5o2tS136hLhp7t9hX3vgAg7k1I3uBL6WKLc_2NSSaNO2K2vMOkLbhuEDSO/s1600/PhotoFunia-2b3129_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAMcj8bvwev1Jym5iMEVNuwZxxx-VlRa3XDV3RPk6okvZI2XssDMUpKscUFdBv68qqufND3cVBBjpMO4awt5o2tS136hLhp7t9hX3vgAg7k1I3uBL6WKLc_2NSSaNO2K2vMOkLbhuEDSO/s400/PhotoFunia-2b3129_o.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SZ6vJO2jXH2X4uAs95yA7ACNQdoJgZmpcrUJayXlVNZSOQ70-2ZLhkxHTCejC_m7mDir3ihsbnY5Z2WCsyP9_twH4-kPGW0cw0hFn7eVDeV_huV2TKugtT751qSC1IpkcNYzU5W7KyYP/s1600/PhotoFunia-2b6360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SZ6vJO2jXH2X4uAs95yA7ACNQdoJgZmpcrUJayXlVNZSOQ70-2ZLhkxHTCejC_m7mDir3ihsbnY5Z2WCsyP9_twH4-kPGW0cw0hFn7eVDeV_huV2TKugtT751qSC1IpkcNYzU5W7KyYP/s400/PhotoFunia-2b6360.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVb4GLKAbvr_Cq9Bt3AFzTW0c0QCvtYoX1aZdAZ044Tv4DnJ8Npthei2BDvo80b1qX0lxnqjW1wUpldDTWtiMwCW6B3q5aF6ISjPnwIw8OmkqQVlmSKzsExz0ACB-Fy_TKn4HCBX9xFv/s1600/PhotoFunia-2b78d6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVb4GLKAbvr_Cq9Bt3AFzTW0c0QCvtYoX1aZdAZ044Tv4DnJ8Npthei2BDvo80b1qX0lxnqjW1wUpldDTWtiMwCW6B3q5aF6ISjPnwIw8OmkqQVlmSKzsExz0ACB-Fy_TKn4HCBX9xFv/s400/PhotoFunia-2b78d6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-87288387001885640082010-07-23T17:24:00.003+08:002010-07-23T17:30:58.565+08:00My entry to National Book Store's You & Your Favorite Book contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpMNX_kXeI0CGlZ42m__VE1ufSBvmEBzCCD2_fQdHzb7SZZica_cy0aW3MdsKwCl_f4BRNh3pDtkwthvhAlepZYAJf8stR20cDKQK30a37ilvkA1bjMxjaiAgiAkCpFIVRLA0ITR0izq-/s1600/Picture0007excellent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpMNX_kXeI0CGlZ42m__VE1ufSBvmEBzCCD2_fQdHzb7SZZica_cy0aW3MdsKwCl_f4BRNh3pDtkwthvhAlepZYAJf8stR20cDKQK30a37ilvkA1bjMxjaiAgiAkCpFIVRLA0ITR0izq-/s400/Picture0007excellent.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />
Hey there! I've joined National Book Store's <b><i>You & Your Favorite Book</i></b> contest by submitting the above photo as my entry. Winning entry will be based on the most number of "LIKES." The contest runs until July 28, 2010.<br />
<br />
Please help me win by doing the following:<br />
<br />
1) If you have a Facebook account and have "liked" the National Book Store FB page, click the following link: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/photo.php?pid=4690267&id=72546266913">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=4690267&id=72546266913</a> and "LIKE" my entry.<br />
<br />
2) If you have a Facebook account, but have not "liked" the National Book Store FB page, then "LIKE" it first in this link: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/pages/National-Book-Store/72546266913?ref=ts">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/National-Book-Store/72546266913?ref=ts</a> and "LIKE" my entry by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/photo.php?pid=4690267&id=72546266913">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=4690267&id=72546266913</a>.<br />
<br />
Do share the link(s) in your FB and encourage your friends to "LIKE" my entry.<br />
<br />
Tenkyuberimats! :)Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-8735990711054694622010-07-14T01:57:00.003+08:002010-07-16T00:50:11.093+08:00My Fave GESM Blog Post - The Four-Year Itch<pre><center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center><center><a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Ganda Ever So Much!" border="0" scrolling="no" src="http://i47.tinypic.com/k1x9uf.jpg" width="468" /></a></center></pre><pre> </pre><div style="text-align: justify;"><pre></pre></div><pre></pre><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Note: This blog post is my entry to <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Gandaeversomuch</a>!'s <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2010/07/contest-ever/week-5-whats-your-favorite-gesm-blog-post/">Week #5 Blogversary</a> contest.)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having read Orman Manansala's 438 blog posts in <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Gandaeversomuch!</a> over a period of one year, choosing only ONE fave blog post made me feel like Charlie Bucket agonizing over his ONE mind-boggling candy choice in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! So, I had to narrow down my choices to his Love Love Ever category with 23 posts. Only to find out that nine of them are password-protected (and therefore excluded from said contest) to protect the <i>not-so-innocent</i> (AKA as <b>toot-toot-toot</b>)??? Heheh. And so after rereading the remaining 12 "unprotected" posts, I've chosen <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2009/08/love-love-ever/the-four-year-itch/"><i>The Four-Year Itch</i> </a>as my fave post, so far . . .</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This blog post </span></span>is quintessentially Orman: <b>F</b>unny, <b>I</b>n-Your-Face, <b>N</b>aughty, <b>G</b>ay, <b>E</b>rudite, <b>R</b>acy.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>I respect him for choosing a wife na kasing-taba ko.</b></blockquote><br />
The comic in Orman shows in this blog<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0470616342&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=knokno06-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0321591933&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> post. He can make any topic his own by injecting his brand of humor that make reading his posts fun. If you've read his blog posts first before meeting him in person, then you're in for a pleasant surprise that makes you wonder: How can such a heavyweight come up with light reading posts that make you light-hearted every time, all the time? <br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Ako naman itong naive (naiiba ang ugali?).</b> <b>Ako naman itong si feeling maganda, lumandi.</b></blockquote> His post is so <i>In-Your-Face</i> and <i>WYSIWYG</i> (What You See Is What You Get). He points out to his readers what he and they have in common, warts and all. <i>Kaya nga, ang daming</i> readers <i>niya ang nakaka</i>-relate <i>sa mga</i> post <i>niya</i>. Because of his self-deprecating style of writing, he tells you his shortcomings first so that you can accept yours when you see yourself in his posts. <i>Enaderwords, inookray ka na niya pero natatawa ka (imbes na mainez) kasi alam mong nauna na siyang umokray sa sarili niya. </i><br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Gusto nya akong kuning Ninong ng anak nya – ano ako, bakle? Sakalin ko na lang kaya ang asawa nya.</b> </blockquote>His post is playful, naughty. If there's one thing Orman learned from his pet toy dog, Chad, it's how Chad pretends to bite him by nipping on his fingers, feet, clothes without really sinking his fangs into them. Orman's posts are naughty, but <b>never</b> nasty. Like Chad, Orman's bark is worse than his bite. He is the bitch that everyone loves to love.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>With (toot-toot-toot), sa sobrang haba ng hair ko nasa Japan ang pinakadulo. Siempre wala namang perfect relationship. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, fatalist na ako. Kung anong darating tatanggapin ko but for the time being, i’ll enjoy the moment first. Isa pa, malayo pa ang 4th anniversary namin no! Smile na lang ever!</b></blockquote>You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that Orman is <i>gee-ey-why</i>. His <i>gee-ey-why</i>-ness reeks in every Gandaness post he writes. He is our online Vice Ganda even before the latter became popular in <i>Showtime!</i>. His readers share his roller coaster of a lovelife in this post. Where before, <i>gee-ey-why</i> love was considered a love that dares not speak its name, <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Gandaeversomuch!</a> makes its readers realize that straight or not, hetero or homo, love is universal and everyone (Orman included) is on a quest for true love. And so when Orman announced to his readers that he got back with <b>toot-toot-toot</b>, they (including me), strapped themselves in their seats, gripped the handlebars and got ready for this roller coaster ride. <br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Teka bakit nga ba apat na taon lang ang itinatagal ng love affairs ko??? Sa Chinese ang four o apat ay “si” na sounds like death daw. Haler, parang may koneksyon ano? </b></blockquote>Reading this post or any other post in <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Gandaeversomuch!</a>, his readers come away learning something new, thankyoueversomuch to Orman's erudition and learning from his own experiences. You know that his blog posts are not only emotion-driven, but also splashed liberally (<i>parang</i> cologne!) with intelligent tips and advices. His idol, Kris Aquino can learn a lot from reading his blog. If she subscribes to Orman's blog, then maybe I won't call her <i>Crazy Krissy</i> anymore. <i>Crazy</i> na lang! Heheh.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Nasa States ako nang maisipan nyang subukan kung gagana pa ang titi nya sa girl. Eh pinili nya ang puke anong magagawa ko?</b></blockquote>Orman writes the way he talks. He tells-it-like-it-is. He calls a spade a spade. This post is peppered with racy, pungent, ribald, <span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">risqué (<i>ayan, na</i>-copy and paste <i>ko na dito ang</i> synonyms from <i>Roget's Thesaurus</i>!) words. Not all his posts are like this, so Orman is not trying hard to be the youngest of the foul-mouthed Tulfo pack. Funny <i>lang, kasi</i> I've still to hear/read him use the <i>P***** I** M*</i> expletive. It's either <i>Potek! </i>or<i> Amfotah! </i>or<i> Potah!</i>, but never </span></span><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><i>P***** I** M* (yet!). </i></span></span><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">And if I know Orman, he will eventually write a post with </span></span><span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><i>P***** I** M* </i>as a title<i>. <wink> <wink><br />
</wink></wink></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<i>Kung hindi ninyo ito na</i>-gets the first time, do go back to the second paragraph, put together the first letters (<b>in bold print</b>) of the adjectives I used in choosing <i><a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2009/08/love-love-ever/the-four-year-itch/">The Four-Year Itch</a></i> as my fave GESM blog post and all together now, let's give <b>it</b> to Orman! LOL</div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918901698830820941.post-4050992579946921922010-06-28T12:54:00.009+08:002010-06-29T04:55:20.462+08:00Ganda Ever So Much! - Orman Manansala's Lethal Weapon<pre><center><a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Ganda Ever So Much!" border="0" scrolling="no" src="http://i47.tinypic.com/k1x9uf.jpg" width="468" /></a></center></pre><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Being the lurker that I am, I make it a point to read up on what's happening to people I made friends with online via their social media accounts so that when we (finally) meet, we can talk about what we Facebooked, Friendstered, Twitted, Plurked, Blogged, etc. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">And so several years back, I've read <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/orman.pogi?ref=ts">Orman Manansala</a>'s previous blogposts in a social media site about his relationship with a young man I will call <i>Two Boyfriends Ago (TBFA). </i>Chronicled there in blogposts, pictures (look! we got matching rings!), and music (theme songs galore!) was Orman's emotional roller-coaster ride. That blog later gathered dust and was obscured by virtual cobwebs as Orman moved on to another relationship with another young man, <i>Immediate Past Boyfriend</i> <i>(IPBF)</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
His brother, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/avelmanansala?ref=ts">Avel</a>, had been nagging him to resume blogging as we organized events for the SoCCSKSargen Bloggers. And when he finally got the gumption to blog, he surprised us with not one but TWO blogposts in his new <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/">Ganda Ever So Much! Blog</a> on August 1 last year. Click <a href="http://gandaeversomuch.com/2009/08/what-ever/agosto-uno/">here</a> to read his first blogpost.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Since then, Orman tried his best to write a blogpost a day. He skipped a day or two, but made up for it by writing two posts the next. From his very claustrophic blogposts about him and <i>TBFA</i> to Ganda Ever So Much!, his roller-coaster ride became OUR roller-coaster ride as he opened his heart and mind to his readers.<br />
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His tumultuous relationship with <i>IPBF</i> was blogged for all to read and when it was finally over, you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief online, but almost immediately we hold our collective breath as we accompany the lovestruck Orman on his quest for True Love. When he licks his lips over his favorite food items, our collective stomach starts to growl and rumble at the sight of those eyepopping pictures of delectable dishes in his blogposts. When he goes emo, a collective commiseration floods the comments section of his emo blog - "Shh, shh, don't cry now. Soon your Prince Charming will come along. Just keep wearing the other crystal shoe, <i>Cindylauperella</i> or Keep on dreaming <i>Sleefing Veauty</i> until true love's kiss awakens you or Tandaan mo Ormz, ang luha pag natuyo, nagiging muta (Remember Ormz, tears, when they dry up, become eye boogers)." BUT when he gives tips, <i>oh my Momay!</i>, nobody does it better because he gives it with mega-doses of wit and humor that readers end up ROFLing (Rolling On The Floor Laughing) while WTFTEing (Wiping Tears From Their Eyes).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, indeed, Orman's Ganda Ever So Much! has become embedded in our collective consciousness as readers who have and haven't met him share the UPS and downs of his life (I tell you, he's the online version of his idol, Kris Aquino). And you must have been hiding under a rock or an alien from another planet not to have partaken from this buffet/smorgasbord of a blog. His blogpost categories has everything for everyone - What Ever, Bugbog Ever, Emo Ever, Contest Ever, Food Ever, Ngarag Ever, Love Love Ever, Movies Ever, Health Ever, Serious Ever, you-name-it's-got it! And his pictures - eye candies galore for heteros and homos, young and old, foodies and anorexics, actual and armchair travelers! He's got the lowdown on what's pop, what's cool, what's worth giving his two-centavos worth of bitchy opinion. I'm predicting that this blog is going to be a book soon and I'll be lining up to buy copies to be given to my bookworm-friends (of course, with matching autographs from the author: Koyah, pautograp puhleazzzzeee)!<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">It's no wonder then why his faithful blog readers keep coming back for more! He is our online one-man Vice Ganda Showtime! host! He's got us eating out of the palm of his hand! Armed with his Apple laptop and Lumix LX3 digital camera, Orman has made his Ganda Ever So Much! blog a lethal weapon to slay us all online. Everytime, all the time.<br />
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Kudos, Ormz, for coming back to blogging! :)</div></div></div></div>Gilbert Yap Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024507703259468350noreply@blogger.com11