Requiem, Manong Nelson

Yesterday, "Manong" Nelson Abilong, one of the high school security guards, collapsed while directing traffic because of a heart attack. Efforts to resuscitate him failed, and he passed away on the way to the hospital.

I remember when I was first appointed one of the prefects last school year, and Manong, as I knew him then, greeted me with a grin as I entered my new office. That begun our morning routine: whenever I'd arrive, he'd be at his post right outside the prefects' office, and we'd greet each other a good morning as I passed on my way to my office. Last year, he was a great help in dealing with situations in the third year wing, always assisting my colleague (I was assigned to the second year last year.) in various cases involving students.

This year, his security agency's contract was up last September, and, the school decided to go with a different agency for the next rotation. I remember the faculty holding a going-away ceremony on their last day at work, and Manong was one of the guards who were able to be there for that. I remember him telling me that it was their last day, and I remember thanking him for all the help he'd given the school.

As luck would have it, he and another guard were allowed to be absorbed into the new security force, and, he resumed his post by the prefects' door after a few days of going through the paperwork, I guess. And our morning routine also resumed.

Yesterday morning, I remember greeting him for what was to be the last time. He didn't seem as if he was having any trouble; either that, or he was hiding it well. I first had an inkling of what happened when one of my friends in the high school posted on Facebook that she was sad, and I wondered why. During this time, I was doing some writing in the library, and I didn't hear anything untoward happening. It was only when I climbed up to the faculty workroom that I received the sad news.

Rest in peace, Manong Nelson. My prayers are for your peaceful repose and for your family, that they may be consoled during this trying time. Rest in peace, Manong. Your long guard is at an end. Go to your reward.

Journalistic Hypocrisy

It's interesting to note how Inquirer columnist and former Arroyo press secretary  Rigoberto Tiglao castigates the Aquino administration for having "spit upon the graves of the Maguindanao massacre victims" for having gone after Arroyo hammer and tongs, when, in fact, the massacre happened during Arroyo's watch. If it weren't for Arroyo's patronage and her turning a blind eye to the excesses of the Ampatuans, the tragedy could have been avoided.

Tiglao also criticizes his fellow journalists for utilizing what he calls "a student-paper gimmickry" in having their pictures in the Inquirer printed with their eyes closed. According to columnist Rina Jimenez-David, the pictures with the eyes closed is supposed to symbolize "a message not just of remembering what happened two years ago on this day, but also of reminding authorities not to close their eyes to the “culture of impunity” which gave rise to the massacre." Apparently, Tiglao isn't comfortable with that, considering that he himself aided and abetted that culture of impunity.

In a way then, Tiglao's column today is the one which spits on the graves of the massacre victims, since, though it, he shows his own blindness to the excesses of the administration which he served. He criticizes the Aquino administration for its ineptitude, but he remains quiet about the crimes of the Arroyo administration. He may have his eyes open in his column picture today, but he is even more blind than his colleagues. Because of this, he lacks the moral high ground with which to castigate and criticize the Aquino administration.

At the same time, though, I'm hoping that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has more evidence than just one witness allegedly overhearing then President Arroyo order then Comelec head Abalos to cheat in the 2007 elections. Otherwise, the case against Arroyo will simply collapse, and the accusations of political persecutions will sound louder.

Maguindanao Massacre: 2nd Anniversary Updates

Today marks the second anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao massacre, wherein private army forces led by the Ampatuan clan killed 58 people, including 34 journalists. The massacre, a result of two political clans fighting against each other for control of the province, is the worst instance of political violence and the "single deadliest event for journalists" (Committee to Protect Journalists).

The tragedy was an eye-opener for media practitioners, since it was assumed that the presence of so many media people would have protected the Mangudadatus, who were filing their relative's certificate of candidacy despite dire threats from the Ampatuans. Sadly, this was not the case, and the journalists who accompanied the Mangudadatus simply helped to up the death total. The tragedy has been used to illustrate the culture of impunity that typified the previous administration. 

According to the Wikipedia website of the event, "At least 198 suspects, including Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Andal Ampatuan Sr. and several other members of the Ampatuan clan, have been charged with murder." The case is currently being tried, although the snail's pace by which the trial is proceeding means that it could be years before any resolution can be reached.


The fallout from the massacre has finally reached beleaguered former President and current Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as the victims' relatives filed a civil case against her for her connections to the Ampatuans, to whom Arroyo had given arms. Under the concept of command responsibility, the relatives' lawyer, Harry Roque argued, Arroyo is partly responsible for the massacre, since she was the commander-in-chief of the army, which had armed the Ampatuans. Also, the Ampatuans were responsible for delivering the Maguindanao vote to Arroyo, which put her in debt to the political clan.

The worst thing that we can do is to simply forget that this tragedy ever happened, or let it be buried by the continuing barrage of issues that crop up on a daily basis. It is indifference that allowed people such as Arroyo and the Ampatuans to act with impunity. Let us continue to be vigilant, in order to ensure that the impunity is ended.

Requiem, Dragonrider of Pern

Aside from J.R.R. Tolkien, one of the major influences on my love of fantasy is Anne McCaffrey, author of the Dragonriders of Pern series. Ironically, I only noticed that the series was actually listed as a science-fiction series after reading about six of the books (the original trilogy and the Harper Hall trilogy). It was only after reading Dragonsdawn that the science-fiction side of the story became a lot clearer. Still, the Pern series helped fuel my imagination and entertained me for many a year.

In Pern I was introduced to a plethora of interesting characters, both human and dragon. My absolute favorite was Masterharper Robinton, who was the moving force behind a number of storylines. McCaffrey also enjoyed creating and writing about strong female characters, such as the Weyrwoman Lessa, whose unequaled bravery helped save Pern.

I remember finding McCaffrey's email on the Web, and I gathered up the courage to write her about a error I discovered in Dolphins of Pern. To my surprise and delight, she wrote back, apologizing about it. She also seemed pleasantly surprised that her work was being read in the Philippines.

It was with great sadness that I learned of McCaffrey's passing at the ripe old age of 85 a while ago; she apparently died of a stroke. As Aivas quoted from the Bible, "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven." Like Master Robinton, her time simply had come, and her long journey is at an end.

Rest in peace, Anne McCaffrey. Thank for the all the stories of dragons, and of teaching me to dream.

Update on Arroyo Travel Ban TRO

UPDATE: The Supreme Court (SC) has denied the government's motion of reconsideration on the TRO allowing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country, and has ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to answer why she should not be held in contempt.

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. The Supreme Court is still primarily composed of Arroyo appointees, and it's understandable that they would uphold the TRO, after having voted 8-5 on it. What will be interesting to see will be Secretary de Lima's response to the SC.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally decided to file charges of electoral sabotage against the Arroyos, for allegedly having been involved in attempts to cheat in the 2007 elections. Due to this, the Comelec has asked the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to issue a hold departure order (HDO) on the Arroyos. Predictably, the Arroyo camp, led by Arroyo spokesperson Elenita Bautista-Horn and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio have accused the Comelec of railroading the case against the Arroyos. Atty. Topacio, in particular, said that he would be surprised if the RTC issues the HDO quickly. Of course, it's not surprising that the Arroyos were speedily able to: a) make multiple bookings in airlines; b) come up with P2 million in cold cash; and c) convince the SC to issue a TRO.


The manner by which the Arroyos have manipulated the system to benefit themselves is a continuation of the culture of impunity that pervaded the Arroyo administration. Here's hoping that the Aquino administration can figure a legal way out of this mess.

UPDATE: An arrest warrant has been issued against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on charges of electoral sabotage. The warrant effectively bars Arroyo from leaving the country. While the Arroyo camp has decried the alleged 'railroading' of the case, the SC, through spokesperson Atty. Midas Marquez, has stated that while the TRO stands, the warrant prevents Arroyo from leaving. There will probably be more to come in the next week.  

The Ongoing DOJ-SC-Arroyo telenovela: Brinksmanship

The current telenovela involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Supreme Court (SC), and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has reached brinksmanship levels, as we await the SC's decision regarding the perceived intransigence of DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima in defying the temporary restraining order (TRO) that allows Arroyo to leave the country.

It's easy to throw brickbats at the SC, since the eight justices who voted for the TRO are all appointees of Arroyo, raising the specter of the so-called Arroyo court making favorable decisions for their patron. It's easy to comment on the speed by which the SC decided on the TRO, and the alacrity of the Arroyos in meeting the TRO's conditions, particularly the P2-million bond, which was apparently delivered in cold cash consisting of P1,000-peso bills to the SC .

However, it should be noted that the DOJ, via Sec. de Lima made it easy for the SC to issue the TRO. The reason for this is that the DOJ has yet to file any case against the Arroyos, and based its hold order on a departmental circular that was issued during Arroyo's time in office. I would have preferred that the DOJ file the plunder cases against Arroyo, which would have given it a stronger basis for holding Arroyos. Unfortunately, the cases are still going preliminary investigation, and I'm sure that the DOJ prosecutors would want that the cases be rock-solid before they file them in court. Hence, the use of the DOJ circular, which may or may not be constitutional.

By defying the TRO, the DOJ is courting a constitutional crisis, as the SC may find the government in contempt of court. If that occurs, the question arises as to who would serve the contempt charges, as the law enforcement officials are under the control of the said government. The impasse may cause the failure of the rule of law, which will lead to anarchy.

One also has to wonder how much of this is driven by the President and his advisers, since, technically, the DOJ Secretary is an extension of the President. So far, the President has appeared to allow Sec. de Lima to take the lead in going after the Arroyos. However, because of this, the government has already been tarred with the accusation of persecuting the Arroyos, and, given the current situation, it is difficult to argue with that charge.

At the same time, it's also clear that the Arroyos are milking the situation for all its sympathetic worth. Playing on the soft hearts and absentmindedness of Filipinos, the Arroyo camp circulated images of Arroyo wearing a vest and a brace, and have released stories of the President's alleged deteriorating health. However, how many times have we seen them utilize this ploy to either garner sympathy, or to escape culpability. If one takes a look at the Arroyos' itinerary, it lists a number of countries to be traveled within a span of a month or two. It's a grueling grind for a healthy person; what more for one with Arroyo's illness?

For me, the bottom line is that the government has to hew the straight and narrow, and follow the due course of law, and not subvert it just to meet its goals. If this means letting the Arroyos leave, so be it. The President was elected on a platform of anti-corruption and the rule of law; he has even given it a catchphrase: "ang tuwid na daan". He cannot throw all of that away just to punish the Arroyos.

Pregnancy Food Trip - Revisiting

One of the posts I managed to put up before the hiatus was about the various restaurants my wife and I have visited over the course of her pregnancy. While that post was about the new discoveries we’ve made along the way, this post is about some of the old favorites that we’ve gone back to.

1.       Café Breton (Trinoma, QC)

While I’m a fan of Breton’s dessert crepes, the savory crepes aren’t very filling for me. During this visit, I ordered a crepe with sausages and onions, with a cream sauce. I liked it, although I wasn’t really that satisfied.

2.       Mann Hann (Trinoma, QC)

I’ve been a fan of Mann Hann for the longest time now. I love the oyster cake, which is richly laden with oysters and fried up with egg and veggies. My wife and I also enjoy the spicy squid, with its crunchy exterior and tender interior. What I’m a bit turned off by in Mann Hann is that it’s no longer that affordable, as it seems that prices have doubled over the years. Still, when my wife and I are looking for a Chinese food fix, Mann Hann consistently delivers.

3.       Alfredo’s (Tomas Morato Ave., QC)

I can’t remember the last time we ate at Alfredo’s, since my mom does a really good steak. Still, for old times sake, Hazel and I tried it out. She ordered the tenderloin, and I the pepper steak. While the servings were delicious and the steak tender and juicy, I think I still prefer my mom’s steak.

4.       Alba’s (Tomas Morato Ave., QC)

I love Alba’s paella; if it weren’t for the carbohydrates, I could eat it all day. Alba’s restaurant in Tomas Morato is cozy and comfortable, with a trio of musicians playing Spanish-style music while you dine. The buffet is worth the price, with a wide array of Spanish cuisine, from callos to lengua to conchinillo (Spanish lechon), and, of course, the paella. More often than not, there are two types to choose from. When Hazel and I dined there, the buffet had the regular paella, and paella negra, whose distinct flavor and color comes from squid ink.

5.       Yoshinoya (SM North EDSA, QC)

Hazel loves the gyudon of Yoshinoya, and I the yakiniku. The beef is always tender, and the dishes are always flavorful.

6.       Luk Yuen (SM Megamall)

I’m pretty certain that I’ve written about Luk Yuen before. The congee, though, is the main reason why we come to Luk Yuen; among the various Chinese restaurants we tried, Hazel considers Luk Yuen’s congee to be the best. For myself, I ordered the chicken with black mushroom, which, while flavorful, still pales in comparison to what was served at the long-defunct Chopstix Express.

7.       Fleur de Lys (Tomas Morato Ave., QC)

I should remember to write a bit more about this place, which is one of our favorite haunts. Hazel almost always orders the pesto pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, while I normally order the chorizo hamonado, although I’ve managed to try out and enjoy a number of the patisserie’s entrees. Dessert is almost always Fleur de Lys’ Nuts About You, a caramel-laden macadamia nut pie, for Hazel, and A River Rhums Through it, a rich rum butter cake with walnuts, for me.

8.       Subway’s (National Bookstore, Quezon Ave. branch, QC)

I normally meet Hazel at the Quezon Ave. branch of National Bookstore after work, and, as luck would have it, we’re both fans of Subway sandwiches. Hazel normally orders the roast beef, and I order the Italian BMT.

9.       Kamameshi House (Quezon Memorial Circle, QC)

Another favorite haunt, Kamameshi is where we go to when we want Japanese food, although Red Kimono at the Hub is slowly replacing it. Still, when one wants good kamameshi, kettle-cooked rice, one goes to Kamameshi.

10.   Cyma (Trinoma, QC)

My youngest daughter doesn’t like going to Cyma because of the waiters’ trademark “OPA!” to signal the flambéing of the saganaki, the signature cheese dish of Cyma. My eldest daughter loves Cyma’s baby back ribs, which are tender and savory-sweet. Of the dishes we’ve sampled over the various visits to Cyma, I particularly enjoy the chopped salad, with its bits of blue cheese and nuts, the grilled pork chops, and, yes, the baby back ribs. Despite the price, the servings are always plentiful, and worth every centavo.

11.   Luk Foo (Pure Gold Commonwealth branch, QC)

This is probably the one miss in the various restaurants we’ve visited over Hazel’s pregnancy, which is strange, considering that dining with my parents was almost always an enjoyable experience. This visit, we ordered the spicy squid, similar to Mann Hann. However, the breading of the squid was chewy, and the squid over-fried to the consistency of chewing gum. It’ll probably be a while before we visit Luk Foo again.

Back Again

It took the Pacquiao-Marquez fight to do it, but I finally managed to write up a post for my blog after three weeks of writing inactivity. This is not to say that I’ve been inactive; quite the opposite, really. Family and work duties, not to mention being distracted by games and comics, all combined to create an enforced hiatus from the blog.

It’s a pity, since, as a result, I was unable to write about some interesting topics, such as the World Series Cinderella win by the St. Louis Cardinals, the near-collapse of the Greek economy, and, locally, the murder of Ramgen Bautista, a member of the Revilla clan. However, there are still topics worth writing about, such as the current brouhaha over the travel ban on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the travails of the Aquino administration, among other things. Since it hasn’t really resolved, I can still write something about the Bautista murder case, as details continue to develop.

So, this is just a quick post to say that I’m back, although I give no assurances as to how often I will continue to write. Rest assured, though, that writing in this blog is once more among my various priorities.

Pacquiao-Marquez 3: Some Thoughts

And so ends Pacquiao-Marquez 3, not with the big knockout as predicted by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, but with yet another split decision.

I wasn't able to watch the fight, but from the various comments I'd seen, it was a close fight that could have gone either way. In fact, Marquez was apparently so incensed by the decision that he and his followers immediately left the ring after the decision had been announced.

The problem with the decision is that it wasn't decisive; Pacquiao was unable to even knock down Marquez in this, their third fight, after having knocked down Marquez around four times in the previous two fights. The fight leaves the door open for yet another fight between Marquez and Pacquiao, one that could go either way based on the results of this one. Despite all of Roach's and pundits' pronouncements that Marquez was going down, the Mexican counter-puncher managed to remain standing at the end of the match. Based on his reaction to the decision, Marquez will continue to show disrespect to Pacquiao, and will continue to taunt the Philippine congressman about Pacquiao's ability to put Marquez away.

And what of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.? Pacquiao's acknowledged rival, who has continued to sidestep and dodge what many believe to be the fight of the century, will now have additional ammunition with which to taunt Pacquiao. Inevitably, comparisons will be made between this fight and Mayweather's fight with Marquez, and, given the dominance with which Mayweather took out Marquez, Mayweather will continue to stake his claim to being the best fighter. Never mind the fact that Marquez was unable to handle the increase in weight division; between Pacquiao-Marquez 3 and Mayweather-Marquez, the latter had the more convincing result.

Still, Pacquiao still managed to convince the judges that he was the more dominant fighter today, so congratulations to him for having successfully defended his welterweight crown.