Award-winning poet and scholar Gemino Abad and nine other academics earned outstanding achievement awards from the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) last week for their exemplary research and scientific endeavors in their respective fields.

During its 85th General Membership Assembly and Annual Scientific Conference at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on March 14, NRCP recognized Abad for his “immense contribution to the field of studies, particularly in poetry and literary criticism.”

Poet-scholar Gemino Abad speaks during the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature awarding ceremony on September 1, 2015 PHOTO BY ALVIN I. DACANAY

According to the council, Abad elevated the status of Philippine literature and creative writing through the quality and depth of his works.

Calling the 79-year-old writer an “influential poet, fictionist, essayist, literary critic, and literary historian,” NRCP said in a statement that “his numerous works showcase his exceptional genius.”

These works “have also earned him the esteem of universities as literature professor par excellence, and among foreign universities as a Filipino ‘poet of note,’” it added.

NRCP also acknowledged Abad, a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines (UP), as member emeritus for its humanities division.

Honored with the poet-scholar are Maria Andrea Santiago, for her contributions to education; Erna Allorado, for pharmaceutical sciences; Ephrime Metillo, for biological sciences; Michael Angelo Promentilla, for engineering and industrial research; Florencia Palis, for agriculture; Evangeline Amor, for chemical sciences; Gemma Narisma, for earth and space sciences; Mildred Padilla, for veterinary medicine; and Priscelina Legasto, for humanities.

NRCP is the research arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

Poet of note

The council’s award is the latest Abad has received in his career. He won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature for his poetry collections “The Space Between” in 1976, “Counterclockwise” in 1980, and “The Outer Clearing” in 1983.

He also won the Manila Critics Circle’s National Book Award for his poetry collection “Poems and Parables” in 1988; the poetry anthologies “Man of Earth” in 1989, “A Native Clearing” in 1993, and “A Habit of Shores” in 1999; and his personal anthologies “A Makeshift Sun” in 2002 and “In Ordinary Time” in 2004.

His other books include “Fugitive Emphasis;” “In Another Light;” “Orion’s Belt and Other Writings;” “Father and Daughter,” on which he collaborated with his daughter and prize-winning children’s book author Cyan Abad-Jugo; and “Who’s Afraid of Ching Dadufalza?”

In 1996, the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (Umpil, or the Writers Union of the Philippines) bestowed on Abad the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas—the group’s lifetime achievement award—for his contributions to poetry and literary criticism.

In 2009, Abad won the Feronia Prize in Rome under the foreign-author category, the first Filipino to be honored.

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Continuing to fulfill its mission of generating support for Filipino visual artists, Art Fair Philippines recently staged its biggest edition showcasing exhibitions from 36 local and 15 foreign galleries in all the available floors of The Link Carpark in Makati City.

For its sixth edition, the fair put the focus on photography, with the introduction of a new section ArtFairPH/Photos, presented by the Swiss private bank, Julius Baer.

Veteran photographer Neal Oshima featured his own work for Kin, an exhibit conceptualized for the fair, and also co-curated “Provocations: Philippine Documentary Photography” with Angel Velasco Shaw. Also showcased were photos by Eduardo Masferre, work by Jake Verzosa, a selection from Silverlens, and pieces from the Julius Baer Art Collection.

The Weegee photo exhibit

A groundbreaking first for the Philippines, ArtFairPH/Photos also included 28 exhibition prints of iconic images by 20th century press photographer Weegee, loaned from the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York.

Paintings by modern masters, Fernando Zobel and National Artist Arturo Luz, appeared alongside emerging names like Raffy Napay, who works with thread, and metal sculptor Daniel dela Cruz.

The works of Indonesian artist Yunizar, Bali-based Ashley Bickerton, and Japanese superstar Yayoi Kusama resonated as well with Filipino art aficionados.

“At the very core of the fair is the Philippine art scene. Since 2013, our goal has remained the same—to make the best of the Philippine contemporary and modern art more accessible to the public, to the enthusiasts, and to those who want to discover the exciting Philippine art landscape,” co-founder Trickie Lopa said.

WW3—the Protracted Kultur War,’
Kidlat Tahimik

As Art Fair Philippines grows bigger in size and number of galleries, its audience has also multiplied exponentially. In its sixth edition, which attracted six times more visitors than its inaugural year in 2013, the organizers introduced timed entries, online ticketing, and new ways to enter the fair.

“We are aware that our audience has gotten bigger, and we would like to cultivate this by offering them several opportunities to learn while they are at the fair,” fair co-founder DindinAraneta said.

This year, the organizers launched a digital campaign called Art Fair Etiquette, which outlined the do’s and don’t’s in art fairs.

ICP collections manager James Kopp also delivered a talk on photojournalists’ attempts to present the hard truths of society through their images. He also showed the stark parallelism of Weegee’s standard-setting coverage of street crime and the works of Philippine photojournalists covering the police beat.

Filipino photojournalists Ezra Acayan and Raffy Lerma joined him for a riveting panel discussion that delved into the critical importance of the camera in bearing witness and of the photograph as a visual record of events.

Films by Kidlat Tahimik, the grandfather of the Philippine New Wave, were also shown at the fair which included “Mababangong Bangungot,” “Bahag Ko,” “Mahal Ko” and “Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III.”

“Among our main considerations in developing the fair is for our visitors to feel engaged with the art scene. We want to help in connecting them with more local artists and galleries, and to offer them knowledge and experience that they can keep with them long after the fair is over,” co-founder Lisa Periquet commented.
The next Art Fair Philippines will be on February 21 to 24, 2019.

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Art flourishes in Cagayan de Oro City, and they come in many forms as diverse as the people.

In celebration of the National Arts Month, a selection of passionate individuals whose artistic excellence continually support the city’s culture were honored and recognized during the Lambago Art Awards, one of this year’s many highlights in the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts’ (XCCA) annual Panaghugpong.

Cagayan de Oro is bursting with artistic talent in dance, literature, music, visual arts, film and theater

Although Panaghugpong reaches its decade milestone this year, this is the Lambago Art Awards’ second occasion to recognize local artists, promote their works, and showcase their endeavors since its launch in 2016.

Held at the Centrio Mall Activity Center on February 21, the list was categorized in six art forms – dance, literature, music, visual arts, film, and theater. It also honored CDO-based culture and arts institutions. The recipients consisted of individuals and groups that perpetuate CDO’s vibrant art scene.

Art for the community

“As our contribution to the city, we accept this recognition with humility. To receive this award does not mean that we are winners, but are acknowledged for our sustained excellence,” said CDO-based poet Lina Sagaral Reyes, who was one of the awardees in the literature category. She had won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards years ago.

The excellence she was referring to relates to local artists who take the initiative to involve the community for inclusive engagement. Such was the background for Nagkahiusang Manunulat sa Cagayan de Oro (Nagmac) in the same category.

A group of local writers, Nagmac holds poetry readings and conducts writing clinics for aspirants of literature. Founder and chairperson Vel Marie Santillan accepted the award.

But initiatives also come with a cause. Apart from honing skills and enlivening culture, the Dire Husi Initiative founded by Rhyan Casiño offers art as an alternative to rehabilitate individuals with tragic history.

Promoting local heritage and culture

“The artists gave CDO and Northern Mindanao a place where arts and culture are revered and respected,” declared CDO City Mayor Oscar Moreno in his speech during the program.

Ballerinas of I-Stand CDO

According to the mayor, art is inspired by the city’s history and customs, stressing that it reflects culture as well. Just as some of the awardees have achieved global and national recognition for their works, he encourages the artists to integrate local heritage into their endeavors.

“It is important for us to remember that we came from the same history, we breathe the same air, and we are destined for the same tomorrow,” he added.

Moreno also praised the set of performances by some of the awardees which included a symphony of Filipino folk and contemporary music by the Lourdes College Strings and Xavier Philharmonia; and dance numbers by the Gintong Amihan Dance Troupe, Kagay-an Performing Arts Inc., the Integrated School for Theater, Arts N’ Dance (I-STAND), and Misamis Oriental Dance Sports.

“This [Lambago Art Awards] has recognized the artists who made CDO part of the map [by their works],” he said.

Through the initiatives conducted by the XCCA under the directorship of Hobart Savior, CDO has already been regarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a city where art takes part in development.

“Naniniwala po ako na kayo ang katangi-tanging yaman ng bayan (I believe you represent the nation’s greatest asset),” NCCA Arts section head Ferdinand Isleta told the recipients.

He stated this in light of NCCA’s continual support to establish and continue the art scene in Northern Mindanao through XCCA.

“Sana patuloy kayong maging inspirasyon. Kailangan tayong magkaisa. (I hope you continue to be an inspiration to others. We need to be united.),” he added.

Avenue for convergence

The Lambago Art Awards has also set an avenue for these artists to converge for future collaboration. The ceremony has given them the opportunity to know each other’s works and get acquainted with one another.

This is one of the continuing objectives of Panaghugpong, the main celebration for the month of February by the XCCA.

Termed from its direct Cebuano translation, “Panaghugpong” is a convergence of celebration that centers on art and reflects culture – an initiative encouraged by the NCCA.

“Our work is to nurture our artists within,” Savior pointed out. “Art is meant to be communal, as we are to develop a community of artists and the [Lambago] awards call for unity.”

Lambago is a local term for a variety of hibiscus that once forested the banks of the Cagayan de Oro River in pre-colonial Philippines.

Savior hopes that arts in CDO – rooted in culture and heritage – branch out like a tree so that the excellence of artists would yield promising opportunities for the development of the city and the rest of Northern Mindanao.
Below is the list of Lambago Arts Awards 2018 winners:

Award-winning filmmaker Julienne Anne Ilagan (second from right) with ‘Panaghugpong’ patrons

Dance: Capitol University Dance Troupe. Gintong Amihan Dance Troupe. Liceo Folkloric Dance Troupe. Next Moves. I-STAND. Urban Myx. Xavier University Cultural Dance Troupe. XUnified.

Music: Deborah Cristi Cabague. Emilor James Cabanos. Karumata Republic. Lourdes College Strings. Jurillyn Zarate Padios. Rae Anne Saltiga. Jeremiah Torayno. USTP Sanghimig Chorale. Orie Jun Vamenta. Xavier Philharmonia. Xavier Glee Club.

Literature: Anthony Daposala. Abigail James. Nagmac. Lina Sagaral Reyes. Eric John Villena.

Visual Arts: Esme Abalde. Nicolas Aca Jr. Arcadia. Artsada. John Bibal. CDO Arts Guild. Christian Gesta. Memento. Emmanuel Mulawan 2nd. Albert Vamenta.

Film: Daniel Clark Cabantan. Julienne Anne Ilagan. Orpheus Nery. Benjamin Padero. Jeffrie Po. Jameelon Rivera. Joey Sendaydiego. Irene Villamor.

Theater: Circulo de Entablado. Dulaang Atenista. Kagay-an Performing Arts Inc. Ma. Lourdes Asuncion Pilapil. Oro Teatro Bulawanon. The Xavier Stage.

Cultural and Arts Institutions: Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Council. Department of Tourism 10. Dire Husi. Dream Board Artists. Historical Commission of Cagayan de Oro City. Misamis Oriental Dance Sports.

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Jeongmee ‘Janet’ Kim is happy and a proud entrepreneur in the Philippines

With the fastest economic growth in Asia, the Philippines is exceedingly becoming a popular target for foreign investors, whether big or small. As in the past, English proficiency tops the list of advantages for a foreigner to set up a business or partner with a local counterpart in the country, not to mention a skilled work force, a large domestic market, considerable natural wealth, and the Philippines’ good standing as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

One country that has long seen the potential to invest in the Philippines is South Korea, so much so that up to now, Korean entrepreneurs have not let up in opening ventures from neighborhood grocery stores that sell their trademark ingredients, to major industries like electronics.

Dubbed the “Korean wave,” an astute businesswoman from South Korea named Jeongmee “Janet” Kim joined the promising phenomenon and explored business opportunities in the Philippines in 2014.

Chief executive officer of MJ Décor 888 Incorporated, Kim established a manufacturing company that produces an extensive range of window blinds and related products using Korean imported textiles and accessories.

MJ Decor Korean CEO initially had difficulty working with her Filipinos staff but has always admired their kind hearts and optimism

Among their merchandise are roller blinds, sunscreens, vertical blinds, combi-blinds, roman blinds, triple-shade blinds and motorized blinds. And with Koreans being aesthetically discerning and famously innovative, clients and patrons have come to be sure of MJ Décor’s elegant designs.

“I have a business partner in the window textile manufacturing business and we saw a great opportunity to penetrate the Philippine market,” Kim told The Sunday Times Magazine with help of a translator in a sit down interview.

Asked how she got into the manufacturing of decorative blinds for both the home and office, Kim recalled, “I’m an active Rotarian in my country since 2000. One day, I was invited to the house of one of our members and I felt the place was too dark. It was then I thought of putting up a business that will help improve people’s houses and establishments with window blinds.”

Eager to set up where the potential for growth is most viable, Kim zeroed in on the Philippines, where a huge wave of Koreans have invested and migrated over the past decade.

“Manufacturing is heavily dependent on a country’s GDP growth, and there wasn’t any better market than the Philippine market when I was making my plans. Up to now, the Philippines, as we know it, is the fastest growing country in Asia. I thought, why would I pass up an opportunity to take part in this market growth?” Kim continued.

She then talked about South Korea’s leading fabric industry, whose presence dominates most of the Asian market.

“Korea’s fabric market is huge, and known for high quality and competitive prices. These are what we use in our products, among other high-grade materials all shipped from Korea and finally assembled in our factory here in Manila,” said the CEO.

However, setting up a foreign-owned business in the Philippines is no walk in the park according to Kim. There are many steps to take, such as obtaining the necessary permits and licenses, registering with the proper government agencies, and producing the required capital investments before finally beginning operations.

“It was quite challenging for me compared to doing it in Korea since the system and culture are very different between the two. The processing time for every step was longer, and I also felt there are too many unnecessary procedures and requirements needed. To obtain a business permit in Korea means filling up one simple piece of paper and that’s it. You have a business permit.”

The workers assemble high-grade imported Korean material for a wide range of blinds in the Quezon City factory

Despite the experience, she still fell in love with the country and the Filipinos especially because of their “heart and determination.”

“First of all, my language barrier gave me a hard time communicating thoroughly with my employees. However warm hearts and the optimism of Filipinos make them very pleasant to work with. We have 25 Filipino employees in total here in the factory alone.” she smiled.

Kim also admitted it can be very tiring to run a business in another country.

“But I am always happy and grateful to God that I am able to go back and forth here in the Philippines from South Korea because I enjoy every trip I make here and consider this country as my second home already,” she quickly added.

While MJ Décor’s range of window blinds and textiles are generally intended for homes, offices, schools and hospitals, Kim thought they could widen their client base by joining PhilConstruct at the SMX Convention Center in January. Held annually, PhilConstruct is dubbed as the country’s most extensive construction equipment, building materials, interior and exterior products exhibition and technology forum.

Assessing their participation as a success, Kim said they were able to learn more about the Philippine market through the forum, which she believes will help MJ Décor achieve its goal of catering across the high, middle and lower-income brackets.

South Korea is big on textiles, another key material for MJ Decor’s products

Finally, aware that Korean products are in demand more than ever in the Philippine market today, Kim hopes that the market will also patronize MJ Décor’s products as they do other popular Korean imports for their quality and well executed design.

“Korean products in general are in demand because of quality first and foremost followed by prices at reasonable range. We know this by heart because if the quality of your product is not to the standard of the industry, your company will face a total shut down in Korea. The market there is not so forgiving like here in the Philippines.

Competition is so fierce that in order to survive you need to produce products in great quality with good price points as well. And we bring this culture to the Philippines, which is why we are proud that MJ Décor products provide all the quality and price affordability for families and offices here in the Philippines,” Kim ended.

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CARLA BIANCA RAVANES-HIGHAM

One of my favorite memories with my mother involves a time when she came home from an event with her friend and she brought me home a lot of Tweety Bird hair clips.

As a child, I was obsessed with Tweety Bird and dreamt of decorating my room with everything Tweety. My mom, barely 40 years old at that time, came home from a bazaar with as many Tweety Bird items as she could afford. My little heart was overwhelmed with joy.

This was during a season of my life when my dad momentarily stopped playing basketball due to an injury and my mom took it upon herself to work alongside my dad on little projects so we could continue going to school.

My young self had no knowledge of what sacrifice it must have been for her to buy me clips instead of other important things but as an adult, those little moments mean so much more because I now have an understanding of what it is like to be a real, breathing human being trying to win in the world.

My parents have always strived to do what they could. Our home, though imperfect, was always filled with love and laughter. And though some seasons may be more difficult than the other, my parents always made sure that we had food on the table and we never missed school.

My mom has been made tough by the situations life has brought her way. Though her stories are not mine to tell, I have learned the essence of being strong from a woman who had no choice but to become one.

At 25, she was left with a choice that would ultimately make her life better and most importantly, safe. During that time, women were not yet applauded for choosing to leave an unsafe home and yet, with all the strength and courage in her (instilled by her Lola Kulot), she took it upon herself to pack her bags and retreat to where was safe.

Today, women are given support for leaving abusive homes and partners but at that time, my mom chose a path that gave her life – literally and figuratively. For a time, she fought to survive the best way she knew how and though it wasn’t perfect, the most important thing is she survived and she won. Albeit with battle wounds and yet she has managed to conquer.

Today, more than ever, it makes me proud of who she is and the life God has blessed her with. It is through my mom’s courage that my brother and I have this life and though she may not know it but I applaud her bravery and her heart to love and to keep trying.

Going through life’s storms has also made my mother empathetic, kind, and compassionate. Most people do not know this about her because all they see is her tough exterior but my mother would gladly give all she had to those in need.

Most of the time it is for entitled people who do not appreciate it, which makes me and my brother mad, but she always reminds us that what we do unto others is what we do unto the Lord and that is the most important thing. People may not appreciate us, she says, but God always sees.

The author’s parents on her mom’s 59th birthday

Today, my mom celebrates her 59th birthday with the love of her life, my dad. Together, they built a safe home for my brother and I and together, they told us that we can do anything that we set our minds to.

We did not have a lot growing up but they gave us all we had. Most importantly, they gave us love enough to get through anything the world throws our way. And though we may have had our differences, that love remains.
And so on her birthday, I celebrate her and all she has done. Happy birthday, Mama!

Truly nothing is as wonderful as a mother’s love.

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Given the continued growth of car sales – a record 420,000 units sold in 2017 – with 65 percent of the vehicles hitting the roads of Metro Manila, a solution to the horrendous traffic gridlock around the megalopolis doesn’t seem obtainable.

Angkas was and would have been a saving grace. The motorcycle transport system gave passengers a safer, more professional alternative to the habal-habal that have long plied the roads. It required safety training, skills assessment, background checks and a professional license before onboarding bikers to its platform. It likewise offered safety gear, transparent prices and personal accident insurance to both passengers and bikers.

But due to restrictions in regulatory laws in the Philippines, Angkas was deemed illegal, and voluntarily suspended its services in order to engage with regulators. The move has caused strong sentiment among the public, who rallied to support the motorcycle app by sharing how Angkas helped them get their time back from traffic.

Bianca Dalisay, posted on Facebook how through Angkas, she no longer needed to wake up at 4 a.m. to avoid spending three to four hours in traffic during her commute to Makati.

In Cebu, Angkas has also become the preferred mode of transport compare to habal-habal.

“It’s [Angkas] particularly famous in Cebu—a city that is accustomed to habal-habal due to its steep terrain. It’s
pretty affordable, too, compared to negotiated rate of habal-habal,” another Facebook user commented.

Some riders said that Angkas saved them from missing critical appointments such as flights.

Juliane Paulene Laguilles mentioned how she was stuck in traffic on the way to the airport. She saw an Angkas poster and tried the app.

“You spared me from traffic and saved me from missing my flight! Thank you!” Laguilles expressed.
Even those in the medical profession have stories to tell too.

“I have asked to be brought to the Philippine General Hospital several times because someone needed help in the emergency room,” a doctor related. “Help was delivered and patients saved because of my swift arrival at the hospital through Angkas.”

Angkas has not only aided thousands of commuters but also provided stable jobs for its bikers, giving them professional training and the opportunity to earn more for themselves and their family.

RJ Pinlac shared how being an Angkas biker has helped him as a working student.

“Angkas app did help me a lot especially when I take semesters that have laboratory subjects. I even got a chance to save money which I used when I got sick due to medications that reached thousands [of pesos],” he said.

With more cars on the road increasing traffic congestion, Angkas hopes to work with the LTFRB to be a part of the solution. It has reached out to the agency with a plea for two-wheeled vehicles to be included under the TNVS or Transportation Network Vehicle Service category.

Many citizens have also joined this call, sharing their stories online and urging regulators to engage with Angkas.

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On the road with ‘Bisikleta Iglesia’ Year Five

There are various expressions of faith especially during Lent, the season for contemplation and acts of devotion.

In Batangas, a spiritual journey can mean a two-wheel pilgrimage as “Bisikleta Iglesia” rolls out on it’s fifth year on March 24. Participating cyclists will head out by 5:30 am with running priest Robert Reyes leading the 52–kilometer religious and heritage tour.

Sto. Niño Parish Church

Mounted by Lima Park Hotel, stopovers at seven churches go though Sto. Niño Parish Church, Marian Orchard, Divino Amor Chapel-Redemptorist, Parish of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Monastery, Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian and Parish Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

Last year, the event was attended by over 150 cyclists from Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite and Manila. It was also a gathering of cyclists from different age brackets. In 2017, the youngest participant was 11-year-old EJ Yabut while the oldest was Efren Evangelista, 67 years old.

The event’s registration fee is inclusive of breakfast, packed snack, and buffet lunch. The first 100 registrants will receive commemorative Bisikleta Iglesia jerseys.

For more information, visit www.limaparkhotel.com or email inquiries to reservations@limaparkhotel.com and limaparkhotel_reservations@yahoo.com.

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Senator Nancy Binay currently chairs the Senate committees on Tourism, Cultural Communities, and Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development of the 17th Congress.

She is also the co-chairperson of the Joint Oversight Committee on Tourism as well as one of the vice chairpersons of the Energy Committee and a member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Staying true to her promise to be the “Nanay de Pamilya” in the Senate, during the 16th Congress, Binay filed 119 bills and 151 resolutions advocating the interests of women and children, the youth, the elderly, and housing for the poor.

In the same Congress, three of her bills were enacted into law: An Act Repealing the Crime of Premature Marriage under Article 251 of the Revised Penal Code (R.A. 10655), Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015 (R.A. 10659), and An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (R.A. 10754).

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, she sponsored the passage of the Centenarians Act of 2016 (R.A. 10868).

In this 17th Congress, Binay co-sponsored the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017 (SB No. 1305) which grants 120-day maternity leave to female workers regardless of civil status; as well as The Filipino Sign Language Act (SB No. 1455), which declares the Filipino Sign Language as the National Sign Language of the Filipino Deaf and the Official Sign Language of the Government in All Transactions with the Deaf.

Other measures that Sen. Binay championed are the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2017 (SB No. 1444); the First 1000 Days of Life Bill (SB 1145); and the amendment to the Local Government Act providing for permanent positions to tourism officers (SB 1565).

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Since setting foot in the political arena, Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Sombillo Binay has been subjected to online ridicule for all sorts of reasons. More prevalent in the first few years of her public life, she was “bashed”—to use the social media jargon—for issues more legitimate than others, meaning to say there were those that were either inane or downright cruel.

At the onset, Binay was blasted for running as a political greenhorn, aiming no less for a senate seat on her first and only candidacy so far in 2013. A fact she cannot deny, the daughter of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, the AB Tourism graduate of the University of the Philippines countered detractors with information that she had served as personal assistant to her father and mother Dr. Elenita Binay during their successive terms as Makati City mayors, and therefore attune to the workings of government.

Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Sombillo Binay

Despite doubts on her competence, Binay, who scoured the entire nation to campaign, finished fifth overall in the senate race, amassing an impressive total of 16,812,148 votes for a rookie.

The title Honorable Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, however, failed to spare her from more bashing, and in fact made her more vulnerable to criticism—the kind that unfortunately speaks volumes on the absence of common decency in the social media phenomenon.

Senator Nancy Binay (center) admits she is not used to being at the forefront of public service but maintains that her early exposure to politics and experience in working behind the scenes unknowingly prepared her for a change of heart in running for government

Almost nitpicked for her every move, the duly elected senator was made a laughing stock over her infamous “hot air balloon” gown to the 2014 State of the Nation Address, and even for silver clutch bag in 2016, which netizens childishly likened to leche flan molders.

Most uncalled for were memes [online images and videos that poke fun at a personality or circumstance]pertaining to her skin color, which, no matter one’s political affiliation, has nothing to do with anyone’s personality or capability.

Through all these acts of public humiliation, however, Sen. Nancy Binay, has earned the respect and admiration even of her harshest critics for she has been able to laugh at them, poke fun at herself, and most of all, proceed to perform and deliver a senator of the land. Rather than strike back at her bashers or allow the ridicule to affect her disposition, she emerged the bigger person with much to show for her last five years as a public servant.

In fact, a quick online search on Binay these days will yield results that have nothing to do with memes or online attacks of the past but articles on her definitive stand on such national issues like the tragic Dengvaxia vaccine; the confusing P5-coin that puts public utility drivers and small sari-sari stores at risk with their income; practical suggestions in pursuing the Boracay problem; and her very recent confrontation with popular blogger and Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, whom she directly challenged to choose between her appointed position and controversial blog. These—not to mention her stylish transformation specifically at this year’s SONA—have all earned the approval of the general public, which to be sure, includes her bashers in the past.

Sport as ever, it was even the senator herself who poked fun at her skin tone just this month when she feigned relief that her fellow senators have decided to order black robes in place of maroon for a pending impeachment trial.

Since winning a senate seat in 2013, Binay has filed bills and resolutions advocating the interests of women and children, the youth, elderly, and housing for the poor, among many others

“Sobrang ok sa akin yung kulay. Kasi kung yung dating kulay baka may pumunas sa akin [I’m very happy with black because if the robes were still maroon, someone might wipe me with a handkerchief],” Binay joked, calling to mind past memes likening her to the maroon-clothed Black Nazarene of Quiapo Church.

But even with “peace time” on social media from bashers today, The Sunday Times Magazine, in a one-on-one conversation with Senator Nancy Binay, managed to ask the strong-willed woman to look back at her “colorful” foray into politics, and share how she got through the very tough times, and ultimately go from walloped to winner with grace and dignity. After all, she is approaching the final stretch of her first term as senator, which ends in 2019, making it an opportune time to assess if her proverbial journey has all been worth it thus far.

The Sunday Times Magazine (STM): You are about to end your first term as the “accidental senator” [Binay replaced businessman Joey de Venecia in UNA’s senate slate in 2013]. If asked to look back at this life-changing chapter in your 44-year history, can you say that you made the right decision to go into politics?

Senator Nancy Binay (SNB): Right nga ba? (Laughs). Seriously, yes, I think I made the right choice because at the end of the day helping people is one of the biggest factors I considered when I decided to run and I think I did that in this capacity.

I also have to say, I am going on my sixth year as a senator but it has honestly not yet sank into me that I am now a senator and that I am in the national limelight because I came into this directly from being a private citizen.

STM: Perhaps among your batch of senate neophytes, you have been one of the most scrutinized. From the very beginning, there were those who questioned your capabilities and made an issue of your inexperience as a first-time politician thrust into the senate. What can you say to those who said this now?

SNB: While I may have not held any other elected position in the past, I wouldn’t call myself as a neophyte in politics. Funny as it may sound but before I was even born, nasa tiyan pa lang ako ng mommy ko, my orientation has already been politics. That’s because, while she was still pregnant with me, she’d visit my dad, who was then in prison for lawyering for human rights victims.

And then I was born a year after Martial Law. As such, during my growing up years, family bonding for us would consist of attending protests at Liwasang Bonifacio, or supporting our dad when he files cases in court on behalf of farmers or visiting labor groups who are on strike.

I also grew up being surrounded by the likes of Attorney Rene Saguisag and Joker Arroyo. All in all, these experiences helped me become politically aware ever since I was young.

Add to those my father’s appointment as mayor of Makati after the Edsa Revolution in 1986, which continuously exposed me to the world of politics.

Maybe people questioned my capabilities because I never occupied any elected position but I’ve long been exposed to it and I’ve also worked work with family members who are in the position, albeit behind the scenes. And I think I’ve proven my worth now.

STM: With most of your family already in the field of politics—your siblings included—why did it take you in a sense a longer time to decide to run for public office?

SNB: I never really aspired, even as a child, to become a politician. I guess that’s because I would always opt to work behind the scenes. I don’t know how to explain it but I just felt I was more effective that way. So I worked for my mom when she served as mayor of Makati, for my brother when he was still a councilor and my dad, when he became the Vice President.

In 2012, Joey de Venecia backed out last minute from joining the United Nationalist Alliance [UNA, the party of her father]’s senatorial slate. In fact, UNA filed October 1 of that year without Joey because he already advised that he was no longer running.

The party could have continued with one missing candidate, but the “council of elders,” as we call them [comprised of her father, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and current Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada]wanted to have a complete senatorial line. They approached other possible candidates but they declined then they saw that my name was coming out in the surveys already so they asked my dad if I could run.

Of course, he didn’t want me to run in the beginning, perhaps because he knew how it would be a shock for me—a private citizen suddenly running for a national position. But he was outvoted by the rest of the party.

After that, I consulted my family because besides helping out behind the scenes of my political family, I am a mother of four children and I’m a wife—that’s me first and foremost before being Senator Nancy Binay.

I had to ask my kids because I know what it takes to be a child of a politician and it’s not easy—they are thrust into the world of politics indirectly. But they said yes, so I took that as one factor.

During this time also, I told myself, I can be selfish and just stay behind the scenes. I mean, my kids will still be OK whether I’m in politics or not, but you know at the end of the day, they are still part of a bigger picture. They are part of the upcoming future. It would be useless if they’re OK but the rest of their surrounding is not and I don’t want to see them move to another country to escape the situation here. So that was also one of my considerations.

‘Being able to help my countrymen as senator is definitely worth it,’ says the 44-year-old legislator

Then my husband gave his blessing as well as my mom and dad after making sure that I didn’t feel forced into running.

So yes, by the time I filed my candidacy, I was 100-percent sure that being a senator was what I wanted to do, and I had the backing of my whole family.

STM: Bashed even as a senator, even for your clothes, amid all the negativity—some of which have bordered on the cruel—who or what has been your strength?

SNB: I actually find the memes amusing. In my mind, who am I that these people would devote time and effort to find a photo, lay them out and post them online?

There was a time amid all of this when my daughter would approach me and show which among the memes were closest to my dress—I mean, our scene at home during those times was like that. Nothing really personal, and I never took any of them personally too.

If anything I was more concerned with my designer during that first SONA. When I wore that gown in 2014, I called my designer immediately to apologize because his creation would not be a laughingstock had I worn it properly, I guess.

STM: What else have you had to sacrifice in being senator besides enduring the criticisms?

SNB: Number one of course would be time because I was a full-time mother before becoming a senator. I used to always bring my kids to school every day, but now I can’t do that. To make it up to them, I catch them at dinner every night at home, free my weekends to be with them, or if I really have an out-of-town trip to make, I make it a point to bring them.

Actually, just yesterday, I was looking at their photos [lined up on top of her office desk]and I was thinking how small they were when that was taken during my oath- taking in 2013. My twins back then were just three and now they are already nine.

In the beginning they would complain, “You’re leaving again! Where are you going?”

But now, they don’t complain so much; they just ask when I would return whenever I leave. I think it also helps that there’s technology now, I can get in touch with them as often as possible because I really wouldn’t want to miss out their growing up years.

As for health, people have noticed that I have shed off pounds but that’s because I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last year. I’ve been taking medicines and so far the results are normal. But the doctor assured me that my hyperthyroidism was a result of my genetics rather than what other would presume as stress.

I think the stress level only shot up during the presidential campaign of my dad but we are in a better place now.

STM: How is the former Vice President these days? With more time in his hands, has the family been able to catch up on the many years you lost him to public service?

Is it really more time? Parang hindi kasi busy pa rin siya. (Laughs)

I guess we could say he has more time because he doesn’t have to get to work so early but his schedule is just as full. He’s back to teaching, he’s taking seminars and classes on arbitration—it feels like he went back to his practice, so to speak.

Siguro, ang mas bago is that now that he is no longer the vice president, he has more time to relax and spend with us. Unlike before, when we would go out of town, I remember he would just fit into his schedule the vacation part because most of the time, he would leave us wherever it is that we went to and mingle with the locals. He would go to the market, eat meals with them then go back to us.

So I don’t recall seeing him actually enjoy, let’s say the beach, back in those days. Ngayon, he would really swim whenever we take vacations—simple changes like that.

But we’ve always been solid as a family—it was his rule that every Sunday, even when he was still mayor, we would all have lunch or dinner as a family.

STM: What are the most valuable lessons you have learned about yourself and in general from the last six years?

SNB: I have to admit the first three years of my term was really difficult—those who were attacking my family are the same people I see almost every day in the Senate. And as much as I try to avoid them, I still come across them.

During those times, I sought the advice of Senator Greg [Honasan] and Tito Sen [Senator Vicente Sotto], who are also in the minority like me. And they would say, here in the Senate, even if the senators have personal issues on the floor, they have to act as if they are not affected.

True enough, through the years I see senators who one day would look like they are ready to tackle each other, but the following day are just as nice to each other like nothing happened. I realized that’s because the senate is a collegial body, and we cannot work separately.

Another lesson I learned here in the senate is the tough part of politics—there are things that you don’t want to do but you have to for several purposes. For example, you have to get signatures from colleagues for a committee report or to fulfill your legislative agenda you have to get along with them.

I’ve seen how local executives work and now how legislative does and I can say, the dynamics are totally different.

STM: Have all the sacrifices and challenges you’ve been through as candidate and senator worth it?

SNB: Yes. I guess nasa dugo ko na yung public service even when I was just helping out behind the scenes. The only difference now is I am in front of it all. But being able to help my countrymen is definitely worth all of the sacrifices.

STM: Finally, the national elections are just around the corner. What are your plans for 2019?

SNB: I can seek reelection but I am still thinking about it. I know people are now anticipating, guessing who will be running but I would rather focus on the work we still have here because there’s so much more that needs to be done for our countrymen.

The post A worthy change of heart for the ‘accidental senator’ appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

CARLA BIANCA RAVANES-HIGHAM

We are a country of dreamers and resiliency as out of all the countries in the world, the citizens of the Philippines have always risen above any crises—believing for greater days ahead. However, we have to acknowledge that in order for these dreams to come true, we need a little help sometimes.

One such platform who offers this kind of assitance is New Union, which was founded by my former Management Information Systems teacher, Edison Tsai.

When asked what a Union is, “Mr. Tsai” (as we fondly called him) explained, “New Union is South East Asia’s largest Business Financing Platform where local businesses seeking short-term financing connect with individuals and businesses seeking short-term investments.”

Established with a “vision to connection local businesses and global investors,” New Union has already given close to P100-billion worth of funds since it launched in 2014.

Looking back, this vision, according to Mr. Tsai, began with a team of entrepreneurs who initially started out as freelancers

“It is through the journey of managing a bootstrap company that we were able to understand and experience first-hand the bittersweet journey of being an entrepreneur,” Mr. Tsai noted, reflecting how he was able to build the company from scratch.

Edison Tsai

He, along with his co-founders, represents a unity between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), financiers, and technology. Today, New Union has offices in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Cambodia and Philippines.

In his efforts to introduce his company even further, Mr. Tsai continued, “New Union is inspired by the desire to support fellow business owners through crowd lending. New Union serves both businesses and investors.”

In other words, businesses through New Union help achieve their potential through alternative financing solutions. Investors, on the other hand, are given a wide array of new businesses that they can invest in and potentially help grow.

When asked for his company’s vision, he responds, “As Asia’s leading crowd lending platform, our goal is to support local SMEs with alternative financing for business growth by enabling investors (like you and me) to lend them directly as a form of investment.”

He then continues, “The support for SMEs growth is crucial in an emerging market like the Philippines where it accounts for 99.57 percent of businesses registered in the country. We envision a country that has long been divided by its geographic limitations and political differences to be united through technology for a common good, and that is to uplift the entire nation through SMEs and Investors growth.

“It is the everyday businesses and people that will truly transform the landscape of the country for generations to come, and we can achieve this through New Union’s platform. New Union brings a new era of alternative financing and investment for everyone, and we sincerely invite you to join us in this new age financing journey,” Mr. Tsai ended.

For more information, visit www.newunion.ph.

* * *

wwww.carlabiancaravanes.com

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Jessica Soho, first Filipino named NYF Best News Anchor finalist
GMA News pillar Jessica Soho marks another milestone in Philippine broadcast history as she becomes the very first Filipino news anchor to become a finalist at the prestigious New York Festivals Television & Film Awards.

Soho is shortlisted in the Best News Anchor category for GMA News TV’s flagship newscast “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho (SONA).”

Soho holds the distinction of being the country’s most awarded broadcast journalist with nearly 300 local awards and more than 30 international awards to date.

She is also the first Filipina recipient of the highly acclaimed George Foster Peabody Award for her documentaries on the illegal trade of kidneys and the harrowing plight of Filipino boxers. Moreover, she is a seven-time recipient of the “Most Trusted News Presenter” award of “Reader’s Digest Asia.”

Jessica Soho

Known for giving depth and context to news headlines, State of the Nation with Jessica Soho remains one of the most trusted news programs on Philippine television today.

Over the years, SONA’s credibility in handling interviews has already caught the attention of foreign and local newsmakers. In 2013, Soho was the only media professional invited by the United Nations (UN) for a one-on-one interview with then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during his visit to the Philippines in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

SONA also won a Silver Screen Award at the 2013 US International Film and Video Festival (USIFVF) for its special coverage of the 2012 monsoon rains. A year before that, the evening newscast took home the Certificate for Creative Excellence from the same award-giving body for its episode on the outcome of Typhoon Sendong.

In 2013, GMA Network’s coverage of Super Typhoon Yolanda—including that of SONA—won the prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards. The said award is considered as the Oscars of broadcast and electronic journalism.

Soho also hosts the top-rating magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and is the chief correspondent/ host of the investigative news magazine program Brigada.

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho remains as the most-watched show on its time block, and at the same time is always one of the trending topics in the Philippines every Sunday night. Recent data gathered by the industry’s most-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement showed that KMJS was the most watched GMA program nationwide for the whole month of February.

In documentary program Brigada, on the other hand, Soho leads the next generation of “Brigada” reporters as they discuss relevant stories and issues.

A member of the GMA family throughout her career, Soho started as a news reporter covering the military and defense beats. In 1991, her report on the hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley in northern Philippines earned a Bronze Award in the New York Film and Television Festival. She served as First Vice President for News Programs of GMA Network until 2014.

* * *

New CNN hosts
A new lineup of seasoned journalists and industry experts are now joining free TV 9 CNN Philippines roster of hosts.

Veteran journalist Cherie Mercado joins the network as anchor of the prime-time news program, “Newsroom” at 9 pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Cherie Mercado

Having worked with some of the major networks in the country, Mercado comes to CNN Philippines with more than 20-years of journalism experience under her belt. Most recently, she served briefly as Assistant Secretary for the Department of Transportation, focusing on research, development, and implementation of national projects.

Mercado says “I’m looking forward to being a part of the CNN Philippines family and working with some of the best in the industry. I hope that I could contribute to the organization from my years of working on the field, reporting, producing, and also from seeing things from the perspective of government.”

Charles Tiu

Meanwhile, basketball coach and PBA analyst Charles Tiu now hosts the award-winning program, “Sports Desk” airing weekdays at 10 pm. Tiu had served as a sports analyst for the program for a few years.

Entrepreneur Michael Alimurung is set to host CNN Philippines’ upcoming weekly business program, “Business Roundup.” A business consultant, director and member of the academe, Alimurung is currently the Dean of the Millerret School of Business and Management for Women in Assumption College, and is the founder of Impact.ph, an initiative that aims to transform the Philippine non-profit sector.

Tune in to CNN Philippines on Facebook (facebook.com/cnnphilippines), via live streaming at cnnphilippines.com, and on free TV Channel 9 for the channels newest offerings.

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They may have been more than 8,000 kilometers away from their homeland but husband and wife Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, together with their daughters Ella and Solana, felt surely at home as they conquered yet another challenge: the 8th Jerusalem Marathon.

Team Pangilinan—as this athletic family who has joined and triumphed in several marathon and triathlon events not only in the Philippines but around the globe as well—is among the 30,000 runners who participated in the annual Jerusalem Marathon held on March 9.

Finisher’s all: Team Pangilinan—Ella, Anthony, Maricel and Solana—at finish line of the 8th Jerusalem Marathon

Eleven other participants from the Philippine also joined the marathon whose 8th edition saw a record-breaking number of approximately 4,000 runners from abroad.

Year after year, Jerusalem Marathon offers different categories. First time participant as he may be, experienced marathoner Anthony went for and finished a full marathon, at 42.2 kilometers. Meanwhile, her wife Maricel and daughter Ella ran the 10-kilometer course. Solana, the youngest among Team Pangilinan, also joined via the 800-meter run.

Ella Pangilinan conquering the 10-kilometer challenge on her own

Joining the celebrity family is guest of honor, Ethiopian Olympic medalist and long-distance running world champion Haile Gebrselassie who ran the 10-kilometer course.

Gebrselassie holds two Olympic gold medals in 10,000-meter running and four world titles for that same distance. More remarkably, he was the first in the world to break the 2:04 record for the marathon run. His participation in the marathon serves as an impressive recognition of the Jerusalem Winner Marathon’s prestige and importance in the eyes of the entire world.

The marathon’s starting line is situated by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, and runners in the Full Marathon will then loop around the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University, pass alongside the Valley of the Cross, and through various neighborhoods on their way up to Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus.

The route then descends to the historic Old City, taking runners through Jaffa Gate and the Armenian Quarter and out Zion Gate, on their way to the Jerusalem Forest. The race’s finishing point is in Sacher Park.

As such, Jerusalem Marathon course not only allows runners to take in the tremendous sights of the modern and old neighborhoods of the city it also tests their stamina with its steep inclines and hills.

As Anthony attested on his Instagram post, “Done! The Jerusalem Marathon, arguably one of the most difficult 42.2 km races due the many hills, including Mount Zion! I made it because the Lord ran for me! He carried my ‘cross’ despite major cramping at the 30th.”

“In my morning devotion before the race this idea really inspired me: ‘A burden is ‘what He hath given thee’…and in the magic of trust the burden is changed into a pair of wings, and the weighted one ‘mounts up with wings as eagles’. What a privilege! Part of Team Pangilinan here to see more of what Israel has to offer like sports events and high tech start ups apart from Holy land tours (which we have been doing too)!”

What makes the Jerusalem Marathon unique are the tremendous sights of the modern and old neighborhoods of the city

For its part, the Israel Ministry of Tourism, through its director for the Philippines and India, Hassan Madah thanks Team Pangilinan for their participation and acknowledges the role of Filipinos to their tourism.

“We are very happy that Team Pangilinan joins this year’s Jerusalem Marathon as we wanted to share to the Filipinos our events and other activities in Israel. We also have a good start for 2018 welcoming 120-percent increase of Filipinos going to Israel for the month of January versus last year” Madah noted.

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for Tatay

In those days,
I always looked at you
with awe and fear:
your towering height,
your pillar of presence
at the dinner table,
your voice, loud and clear,
like a god’s.

Did I ever tell you
that my knees would shake
at the mere sound of my name
from your mouth,
from wherever you were
in the house,
and relief would come—
like sunlight splayed beneath the door—
when you tell me
my latest drawing was good;
or you just wanted coffee,
the morning paper,
your pack of Marlboros,
or your back scratcher,
and not—thank heavens—
my report card,
my week’s homework
or my checklist of chores?

Did I ever tell you
that in those days,
I always thought
that love was you
marching down the stairs
in your black leather shoes,
love pausing
by the landing,
looking up
at the sacred image of Christ,
making the sign of the cross,
murmuring reverential words
before you set out for the day?
I thought that was love:
formidable, prayerful,
earth-shaking, shattering,
and yet—
a god that bows
before his own lord.

In those days
I did not know I was learning
what there was in love,
that there was everything:
fear,
awe,
release,
relief,
and yes,
faith.

The post Apotheosis appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

NEW YORK: One of the foremost private collections of works by the influential Irish writer James Joyce has been donated to New York’s Morgan Library and Museum.

The 350-piece collection includes numerous signed and inscribed first editions, photographs, posters, and manuscripts, including a fragment of his magnum opus “Ulysses” and rare pressings of 78 RPM recordings of the author.

The collection was assembled by New York gallery owner Sean Kelly and his wife Mary.

James Joyce. PHOTO BY ALEX EHRENZWEIG VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“It is difficult to summarize in a few words the importance of this extraordinary gift to the Morgan Library & Museum,” museum director Colin Bailey said.

“It adds enormously to our small, but distinguished Joyce collection, and instantly establishes the Morgan as a major center for scholarly research related to the author’s life and work,” he added.

The museum is planning a public exhibition in 2022, the centennial of the publication of “Ulysses.”

Joyce’s life and works are also commemorated at the James Joyce Center in Dublin and in a collection at the University of Buffalo.

The Morgan Library is the former private library of John Pierpont “JP” Morgan, a central figure in the world of finance at the turn of the 20th century.

It was opened to the public by his son following his death and has since become a museum focused on literature.

AFP

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The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is now accepting applications for the Virgin Labfest 14 Writing Fellowship Program, to be handled by Palanca award-winning playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas and held from July 3 to 15.

The two-week mentorship program will deal with the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage. Ten fellows will be chosen, and are expected take part in lectures, discussions, and workshops on playwriting and script critiquing.

They will get tickets to this year’s festival and selected rehearsals, as well as the opportunity to join in the post-performance talkback and interaction with known playwrights, directors and selected actors.

The program will culminate in a staged reading of the fellows’ works on July 15 at the CCP Bulwagang Amado Hernandez at 6 p.m.

Playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas (far right) presides over a session during the 2017 Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) last July. CCP PHOTO

To qualify, an applicant must be a college student or young professional; 29 years old or younger; not have had any play produced by a professional theater company or published in a literary journal; not have won in any national/ international playwriting/screenwriting competition; and be present for the entire duration of the program, rehearsals, and performance for the culminating showcase.

Applicants must e-mail to ccp.artist.training@gmail.com a fully accomplished application form, which can be downloaded from the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph); and one or two sample plays (in full or an excerpt) written either in Filipino or English, encoded in .doc format (12 points, double-spaced, 8” x 11” paper), have a maximum of 10 pages per sample, and do not have their real name written on any part of the work/s.

Only complete application documents will be considered.

These must be received by 11:59 p.m. of May 18. The names of the accepted applicants will be announced on June 8.

Fellows are required to pay a minimal registration fee of P1,200.

The Virgin Labfest is a distinguished annual festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried and untested works of playwrights, directors and actors. It earned a reputation for producing provocative and outstanding “virgin” plays, many of which were honored by the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

The program is a project of the CCP Artist Training Division of the Arts Education Department.

For inquiries visit the CCP website, e-mail ccp.artist.training@gmail.com, or call (632) 832-1125, local 1605.

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The Philippines’ arts, language, and publishing agencies will begin celebrating April as National Literature Month this year with the traditional “Pasyon” and competitions aimed at promoting and preserving the country’s literary and musical heritage.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF, or Commission on the Filipino Language), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and other government agencies announced this during a press conference at NCCA’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on March 14.

In a statement, NCCA said its “Pabasa: Himig ng Kultura sa Semana Santa (Reading the ‘Pasyon’: Melody of Culture on Holy Week)” would be held in Malolos City, Bulacan province on March 28.

The event would gather local readers or chanters of the epic narrative about Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection for a contest “that seeks to preserve and promote tradition,” it added.

(From left) Priscilla Claudio of the Civil Service Commission; Michael Coroza, head of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas; Liza Diño-Seguerra, chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines; singer Cariza “Ice” Seguerra, chairman of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and National Literature Month ambassador; National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino; singer Noel Cabangon, representative of the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mangaawit and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc.; NYC Commissioner James Ventura; National Book Development Board’s Martin Guasch; and actress-host Kakki Teodoro pose for a photo at the “Pingkian: National Literature Month” press conference at the NCCA Building in Intramuros, Manila, on March 14.

Another event that would officially open the month-long celebration, the “Pambansang Kampong Balagtas” (National Balagtas Camp), will be held in Bataan province’s Orion town from April 2 to 4 to honor Filipino poet laureate Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, best known for penning “Florante at Laura.”

The literary camp shall gather at the Orion Bataan Elementary School 104 student-delegates chosen from all over the country to hone their creative-writing skills. It will coincide with the poet’s 230th birth anniversary.

To promote awareness and knowledge of local culture and literature next month, NCCA has launched four contests, the first being the Rene Villanueva Young Adult Prize, the guidelines and rubrics of which will be announced on April 2.

The competition—named after the late, celebrated playwright behind “May Isang Sundalo” (There is a Soldier) “Botong,” and “Kalantiaw,” and author of the children’s books “Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit” (The First Pig in Heaven) and “Nemo, Ang Batang Papel” (Nemo, the Paper Child)—invites young people to write young-adult novels and who have a year to finish and submit them.

The second, Timpalak Florentino Hornedo, involves junior and senior high-school students in Batanes province singing the “laji,” the literary Ivatan song that the late scholar, author, and cultural historian had researched and written on, highlighting the need to cultivate and preserve it for future generations.

Preliminary contests for it have been held this month, with the contestants hailing from Batanes’ six municipalities. The finals’ night will be held in the provincial capital Basco on April 9.

The third, the Bayani/han 2018: Bayani sa Panitikan (Hero in Literature) short film contest, aims to encourage Filipinos between 13 and 18 years old to appreciate the literatures of each region by adapting them for the screen. Deadline of online entries is on March 30, and the winners will be announced and honored at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on April 20.

The first-prize winner will receive P35,000; the second, P20,000; and third, P10,000.

The fourth, Timpalak Kundiman 2018, seeks to persuade contemporary musical artists to write and sing a “kundiman,” the traditional Filipino love song noted for its 3/4 time signature and, in the process, help revive the art form and its practice.

This contest is established in partnership with the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM, or Organization of Filipino Musicians) and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. (Filscap).

The first-placing musical production and arrangement will earn P250,000; second place, P150,000; and third place, P100,000.

This year’s celebration of National Literature Month has adopted “Pingkian”—defined as “dialectical friction or conflict igniting fire”—to highlight “the revolutionary function of literature as a springboard [for]discussion toward progress,” NCCA said.

The word is better known as the alias of writer and revolutionary hero Emilio Jacinto, regarded as the brains of the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Highest and Most Venerated Association of the Sons and Daughters of the Land), or Katipunan.

To emphasize his importance in the celebration, there will be a literary pilgrimage at Jacinto’s hometown of Magdalena, Laguna province, on April 16.

National Literature Month was established in 2015 through Proclamation 968, which says “Philippine literature, written in different Philippine languages, is associated with the history and cultural legacy” of the country and must be, therefore, “promoted among Filipinos.”

“National literature…plays an important role in preserving and inspiring the literature of today and in introducing to future generations the Filipino values that we have inherited from our ancestors,” it adds.

For more details on National Literature Month activities, call the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office at (632) 527-2192 or 0928-5281057; e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com; or visit www.ncca.gov.ph.

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Today’s generation may have only heard or encountered his name in passing from their parents or the media. But Filipinos who well remember the exciting times of the Ramos administration will also know him as the financial whiz the country critically needed in the post of Finance Secretary from 1994 to 1998.

To friends, he is an exceptional golfer, taekwondo blackbelter and splendid classical guitar player. Peers admire him as an eloquent extemporaneous speaker, with personnel and students of the Asian Institute of Management regarding him as the amiable president of the prestigious institution.

ROBERTO DE OCAMPO

And amassing countless accolades from his economic expertise, no less than the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) named their headquarters after him.

To his family and community, however, Roberto de Ocampo is in every way the quintessential renaissance Filipino. He is smart, disciplined, upright, patient and humble; a loving husband, father and grandfather; and the epitome of a devout follower of Christian beliefs and principles.

Currently the chairman of the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), de Ocampo was recently invested the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, as officiated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila. Recognized since 1113 as the Roman Catholic Order of Knighthood, de Ocampo is now one of 30,000 knights and dames in 60 Lieutenancies around the world, which includes monarchs, heads of states and their consorts, whose primary mission is “to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.”

Moreover, for his contribution to the development of relations between the United Kingdom and the Philippines for over four decades, de Ocampo also received from Queen Elizabeth 2nd the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He is therefore recognized as an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He is also a Chevalier (knight) of the Legion d’Honneur of France, making him the only Filipino civilian (except for former Presidents) conferred three knighthoods.

The Sunday Times Magazine had the privilege to visit the distinguished Roberto de Ocampo at his residence in Greenhills, San Juan and join him around the 18-hole Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City, to experience first-hand this exemplary man’s good-naturedness amid the pinnacle of success.

‘Tiger Bobby’
De Ocampo was the chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) when President Fidel Ramos summoned him to be Finance Secretary in 1994, replacing Ramon del Rosario. At that time, with the slogan “Philippines 2000,” Ramos needed the skills of this economic genius to lead the country in becoming the “Tiger Cub Economy in Asia.” He returned to the Philippines from his World Bank post soon after the Edsa People Power Revolution at the request of newly installed President Cory Aquino.

Former President Ramos called him ‘Tiger Bobby’ for being the best golfer in his Cabinet, besides being a financial whiz

Just as he was taking on the newest challenge of his illustrious career, de Ocampo also had his eye on a young golfer by the name of Tiger Woods who was then the most sensational player of the sporting world’s top fairways.

As someone who became fascinated with golf early at the age of 15, de Ocampo prided himself to be the best golf player in the Ramos administration, winning a great many competitions to this day. In fact, he was the President’s favorite golf buddy, earning him the moniker “Tiger Bobby” just like that young whiz of a pro from America.

Recalling the good old days, de Ocampo said of Ramos, who is a civil engineer and military officer by profession, “He listened to suggestions and recommendations when it came to fiscal issues. At that time, the country was reeling from huge fiscal deficit, power crisis and discontentment in the military. The task to rebuild was huge ahead, but as history may now show, we were able to get through it because of [President Ramos’] political will and strong leadership.”

The Philippines’ impressive leap as Asia’s new tiger economy, however, was largely credited to de Ocampo for his highly effective fiscal reform measures that led to the country’s fiscal surplus and tax efficiency ratios that have remained unequalled to date.

As such, just a year after assuming the country’s finance portfolio, the Ateneo de Manila University Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics [with a Master in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Fellow of the London School of Economics]was named “Global Finance Minister of the Year” by Euromoney Magazine. He was the first Filipino and first Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) finance secretary as well to be accorded the title “Asian Finance Minister of the Year” from Asiamoney Magazine for two consecutive years in 1996 and 1997.

In his own words, Ramos said he coined the nickname “Tiger Bobby” because de Ocampo “was by far the best golfer in my Cabinet, and during that time the best golfer in the world was Tiger Woods. Because of his golf prowess, I often invited him to be my partner for rounds of golf with visiting dignitaries to better ensure our winning friendly bets against our visiting friends from abroad.”

Be it in the boardroom or the fairways, discipline and focus have made de Ocampo a champion

Ramos said of a very memorable match with then US Vice President Dan Quayle who played in the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, Inc. (RPDEV) golf tournament, “Not only did Tiger Bobby beat the much vaunted Dan Quayle but he has also won the tournament championship trophy.” Former President George W. Bush’s vice president by the way was an NCAA golfing star in his younger days.

A man with many talent, de Ocampo is also a taekwondo blackbleter and a classical guitar player

Ramos also related the following anecdote on the occasion of de Ocampo’s 70th birthday, as well as the book “Vision Matters,” a collection of the former finance secretary’s speeches, articles and insights published in 2015: “Tiger Bobby was a key figure in my Cabinet for helping restore our economy and realizing my Administration’s efforts to make the Philippines a Tiger economy. He had both technocratic and communication skills that allowed him to convince even the most difficult legislators to go along with him. And he was an effective and eloquent spokesman for our economy particularly to the international community… I am glad to see that even at the young age of 70 Tiger Bobby continues to be involved in the issues of our country and still contributes to advancing our people’s aspirations and well-being.”

Family man
Coming from one of the pioneering families of the posh Greenhills subdivisions, de Ocampo graduated from elementary and high school at La Salle before pursing his college degree at Ateneo de Manila University. As such, de Ocampo is deemed by most as someone who hardly encountered hardships growing up.

But he related that as an infant, he already gave his parents the biggest scare as he was mistaken for dead. His mother and father thanked the heavens that soon enough, the newborn baby regained consciousness and breathed again.

As the youngest of two brothers, de Ocampo nevertheless became the padre de familia early on when his father died, since his older sibling was sickly and needed special attention.

“I did not have to be the breadwinner but I became the padre de familia when my father passed away at 59 years old. So the responsibility to take care of my mother and brother came early,” he said, fate setting the stage perhaps for bigger responsibilities in his future.

He clarified that his family started poor, living on Trabajo Street in Sta. Mesa, and as his father worked his way up to success it enabled them to move to the newly established Greenhills when he was starting college.

With the love of his life—Maria Carolina la O’-de Ocampo

Eventually marrying the love of his life, Maria Carolina la O’, the de Ocampos are blessed with four children with the eldest, Ramon Martin, working in Hollywood as an actor.

“He has appeared in such TV shows like ‘CSI’ and he’s doing well in his career, so I’m very proud of him,” the doting dad remarked.

Asked who among his brood inherited his financial genius, de Ocampo cited his second child Anna Monica (married to Marc Leon Casperino) who is a sales director of Robinson’s Land. But nowadays, de Ocampo believes his daughter’s greatest achievements are giving him three happy and healthy grandchildren—Rocco (Roberto Aloysius), Raffi (Raphael Leon) and Giada (Giada Annemarie). The loving grandfather plays basketball and badminton with the two boys, with occasional rounds of jabs at the boxing punching bag in the garden.

His other two children—Jaime Ignacio (Migo) and Regina Cristina (Rica)—each have careers not related to the financial sector but de Ocampo is just as proud of them and their achievements.

As for his wife, the devoted husband is quick to brag to houseguests that she personally co-designed their home—a modern take on a traditional Filipino ancestral house with windows made of capiz shells. He also credits his wife with playing the major role in bringing up their children due to his being often busy with the demands of his career and multi-jobs.

These days, de Ocampo’s favorite job is to be a doting grandfather to (from left) Raffi, Rocco and Giada, children of daughter Monica (extreme right) and her husband Marc Leon Casperino (second from right)

He will also say that after going into government service at the age of 24 as one of the pioneers of the rural electrification program, then deputy administrator of the National Electrification Administration – which he was awarded a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) at age 29 –he will never return to a cabinet position because, “My wife will kill me!”

As his laughter subsided, de Ocampo shared that even as he refuses to accept a full-time position in government, he still contributes his fiscal know-how as much as he can through the foundations he heads, such as the Foundation for Economic Freedom of which he is chairman, while continuing to mentor younger technocrats, even outside AIM.

PVB chair
Meanwhile, de Ocampo animatedly spoke of his appointment as chairman of Philippine Veterans Bank in 2013 as some sort of providence. For at that time, he was already sitting in the board of 35 corporations and foundations.

Nevertheless, with the coaxing of his peers, he acknowledged a connection to the veterans’ financial institution and finally accepted the position. To start with, his father Jose de Ocampo was a guerrilla and the very person who instigated the establishment of the bank in the 1960s as a tribute to the heroism of Filipinos during the war. His uncle, World War 2 veteran Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo was also a former PVB chairman.

Family bonding is a top priority for this quintessential Filipino (above and below)

Born soon after the war, de Ocampo further knows the pain of those who offer their lives in defending the country, only to go home to a family strapped for cash, as all they bring home with them are words extolling their heroism. The same was true then as it is now, which is why the financial whiz made sure to turn the bank around from his first day in office.

Finding PVB in bad shape, de Ocampo’s immediate move was to shake up the organization that employs no less than 1,000 people. He then appointed professionals with proven expertise in their fields with impeccable integrity to the board, which until then was mostly comprised of World War 2 veterans.

Among those he reeled into his new mission were former Labor Secretary Nieves Confesor to be in charge of good governance and Willie Parayno of the Bureau of Customs.

From low ratings at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the PVB improved on de Ocampo’s third year, yielding profitability, a larger portfolio and a better image overall.

His initial goals achieved, de Ocampo is now bent on correcting the impression that the Philippine Veterans Bank is a small bank that caters only to World War 2 veterans, already in their twilight.

“Even as the PVB is a bank for World War 2 veterans, it is also the only commercial bank that by law is allowed to serve both public and private entities, on the local or national levels,” he clarified.

“We are neither just a bank for the purpose of making lots and lots of money, but we are concerned that we give the right financial assistance to customers, whether an individual or an entrepreneur, whether its a veteran’s pension, or to expand opportunities for local government projects,” he added.

Under de Ocampo’s chairmanship, the Philippine Veterans Bank now carries the tagline, “Bank with a heart for every Filipino,” differentiating it from all other banks, especially those that hire celebrity endorsers.

“We want to strike an image that is unique, so in our ads rather than having those beautiful faces, the message is that we are helpful, we take into account what your dreams are and that our role is to assist [you in]your dreams, [and]not get your money,” he averred.

Thus, in catering to all veterans, the PVB has expanded assistance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), acknowledging the valor of those who put their lives on the line or shed blood in defense of freedom.

“PVB is the only private commercial bank that can do business with local and national government entities. It provides financing for local government development projects and other worthy programs, and it has increased its lending to the private sector particularly in the areas of small and medium enterprise as well as agri- agra projects that larger banks are usually reluctant to support,” he further informed.

As de Ocampo continues to improve and innovate services at PVB, he said he cannot help but see the similarities of his chairmanship with his former post as Secretary of Finance. In both responsibilities, his mindset has been to make a difference rather than profit.

“I might say that it is a challenge to bring about economic development, helping the majority of our people toward better opportunities, and seeing our country progressed. With that you build a legacy that you can pass on to the next generation, which is a good name and a meaningful life here on earth,” he said.

As to his guiding principles in life, pursuit of excellence is paramount among others.

“Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” he asserted, as like all of us humans, “I will pass this way but once,” he ended.

* * *

With grandson Rocco at the investiture of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (photo below) officiated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

Roberto de Ocampo, awards and distinctions

• Youngest administrator of the National Electrification Administration at age 24

• Youngest 1975 TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee; the first and still the only awardee in the field of National Economic Development

• First Filipino Senior Country Officer of the World Bank

• Youngest Chairman and CEO of the Development Bank of the Philippines at the time of appointment

• Youngest Secretary of the Department of Finance at the time of appointment

• First Filipino awarded as Global Finance Minister of the Year by Euromoney Magazine

• Only Filipino awarded as Asian Finance Minister of the Year in consecutive years by Asiamoney Magazine

• First recipient of the Man of the Year award from the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Asia Pacific (ADFIAP)

• Only Filipino awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honneur of France

• First Filipino elected as member of the Trilateral Commission

• First and thus far the only Filipino elected to the Board of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

• Only Filipino to chair all three official government depository banks – Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank and Philippine Veterans Bank

• Newest Filipino to be invested the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Catholic Knighthood)

• Holder of four Doctorates Honoris Causa

• Taekwondo blackbelter

• Classical guitar player

• Champion golfer with more than 80 trophies and five holes-in-one

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The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino will mark the 230th birth anniversary of Filipino poet laureate Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar on Monday by leading the interment of his “remains” in Bataan province.

According to KWF senior language researcher Roy Rene Cagalingan, the symbolic interment at Bataan’s Orion town would celebrate the life of the “Florante at Laura” author and highlight his works’ relevance today.

“We believe Baltazar truly deserves [to be]recognized as a national hero of our country,” Cagalingan said, adding that heroes need not always express their nationalism through armed struggles.

Orion was chosen for the interment because Baltazar died there, according to the researcher, who said soil from the cemetery behind the town’s San Miguel Church would serve as the writer’s remains.

KWF will bury the “remains” at the pedestal of Baltazar’s statue, which it had put up with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Accounts saying that several of Baltazar’s relatives were buried in that cemetery had reinforced the assumption that the poet was also buried there, Cagalingan said.

Both the church’s records and the cemetery were destroyed during World War 2, he added.

The ceremony is part of the government’s commemoration of April 2 as Balagtas Day, as expressed in Proclamation 964, series of 1997.

Son of Bulacan

Born on April 2, 1788 in Bigaa town (now Balagtas), Bulacan province, Baltazar was the youngest of Juan Balagtas and Juana de la Cruz’s four children.

He learned to write poetry under the guidance of Tondo’s famous poet, Jose de la Cruz, whose pen name was “Huseng Sisiw.”

Unlike most Filipino writers of his time, who wrote in Spanish, Balagtas wrote his poems in Tagalog.

Many regard “Florante at Laura,” an epic romance about the titular Albanian duke and the princess he loves, as his definitive work. His other notable works include “Orosman at Zafira” and “La India Elegante y El Negrito Amante.”

Balagtas later moved to Bataan, married Juana Tiambeng in July 1842, and continued writing until his death on February 20, 1862.

More than 150 after his death, “Florante at Laura” continues to be discussed in schools and performed onstage, and the term “Balagtasan” still refers to debates in verse.

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The IYAS National Writers’ Workshop has selected 15 writers as fellows of its 2018 edition, to be held at the University of Saint La Salle’s (USLS) Balay Kalinungan Complex in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental province, from April 22 to 28.

The fellows for poetry are Anthony Capirayan, George Deoso, Hezron Pios, and Corina Marie Arenas (in English); Paterno Baloloy Jr., Rogene Gonzales, and John Revo Ocampo (in Filipino); Julian Tuyo (in Hiligaynon); and Mildred Eran Garcia and Georgene Rhena Quilaton-Tambiga (in Binisaya).

The fellows for fiction are Angela Raine Delmoro (in English) and Rya Celine Ducusin (in Filipino).

The fellows for drama are Alexander Genesis Dungca (in Filipino); Kym Lancer Gador Gelvero (in Hiligaynon); and Angelito Nambatac Jr. (in Binisaya).

Marjorie Evasco is this year’s IYAS workshop director. Workshop founder Elsa Martinez Coscolluela and IYAS Project Director Raymundo Pandan Jr. will join Grace Monte de Ramos-Arcellana, Susan Lara, Ronald Baytan, Em Mendez, and John Iremil Teodoro on the panel.

The workshop is co-sponsored by USLS, the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of De La Salle University (DLSU), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

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Christian Jil R. Benitez. PHOTO FROM YOUNG CRITICS CIRCLE FILM DESK WEBPAGE

The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF, or Commission on the Filipino Language) recently proclaimed an instructor from Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) as its 2018 Makata ng Taon (Poet of the Year).

In an online statement, the government-run language agency said the teacher, Christian Jil R. Benitez, won for his poem “Sapagkat Pag-ibig ang Tuod sa Pinakamahabang Bugtong sa Kasaysayan” (Because Love is the Hindrance in the Longest Riddle in History).

“Nagsusulat ako ng mga tula na may malayang taludturan, ngunit naging hámon sa akin ang magsulat ng tula na may tugma at sukat” (I write free-verse poems, but to write a poem with rhyme and meter challenged me), Benitez said.

“Nakatulong sa akin ang lektura ng dati kong propesor sa Ateneo na si Dr. Edgar Samar hinggil sa pagsulat ng tula na may antas tudlikan ang tugmaan” (The lecture of my former professor at Ateneo, Dr. Edgar Samar, helped me in writing poems with a specific rhyming pattern and pronunciation), he added.

As Poet of the Year, Benitez will receive a trophy and P30,000 from the KWF. Second-prize winner Aldrin P. Pentero—who won the top honor last year—will get P20,000, while third-placer Paul Alcoseba Castillo will receive P15,000.

The awarding ceremony will be held at Orion Elementary School in Orion town, Bataan province, on April 2, the 230th birth anniversary of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, author of the classic epic poem “Florante at Laura” who is considered the country’s most important poet.

Benitez finished AB-MA Filipino Literature at AdMU, where he teaches Filipino, Philippine literature and literary criticism. He is a member of the Young Critics Circle, a group of academe-based film critics.

He won third place in the Tula (Poetry) category in the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature for his collection “Sapagkat Umiibig: Mga Tula” and second place in the Filipino category at the 7th Maningning Miclat Trilingual Poetry Awards, both in 2015.

He also won in AdMU’s Loyola School Awards for the Arts and the University of the Philippines (UP) Press Critical Essay Writing Contest.

This year’s judges were Michael M. Coroza, Louie Jon A. Sanchez, and Enrique S. Villasis, all Palanca award-winning poets.

Coroza, one of the country’s foremost proponents of “Balagtasan,” or verbal jousting today, is president of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (Umpil, or Writers Union of the Philippines). Sanchez has garnered the Makata ng Taon prize thrice (2006, 2009, 2011), and Villasis is a television scriptwriter.

Many renowned writers have been proclaimed Makata ng Taon since the award’s establishment in 1963. They inclue National Artists for Literature Virgilio S. Almario (1984) and Cirilo F. Bautista (1993), as well as Palanca Hall of Fame inductees Ruth Elynia Mabanglo (1992), Reynaldo A. Duque (1998), Eugene Y. Evasco (2000), and Reuel Molina Aguila (2008).|

Other notable winners are Bienvenido A. Ramos (1963), Rogelio Mangahas (1969), Teo T. Antonio (1976), Lamberto E. Antonio (1980), Victor Emmanuel Carmelo “Vim” Nadera Jr. (1985), Mike Birgonia (1986), Tomas F. Agulto (1988, 1997, 1999), and Lilia Quindoza Santiago (1989).

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