tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41005245381462211072024-03-19T01:48:49.590-07:00VIEWS FROM THE PAMPANGPampanga, a province of Central Luzon in the Philippines, was established along the banks ("pampang") of a great river that was to shape its history-the Rio Grande de la Pampanga. Travelers who passed the river's way brought home stories of a land with a majestic mountain jutting from its navel, a place of scenic wonders, boundless resources and magnificent townscapes, peopled by a proud brown race. What other magical views could our forefathers have seen from this river's fabled "pampang"?Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.comBlogger449125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-17138121648540075612023-09-15T21:30:00.007-07:002023-09-23T21:38:50.377-07:00 *449. Unsolved: THE JOVENS OF BACOLOR DOUBLE MURDER CASE, 23 April 1946<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDggw3VGQ3kA3hNdnzMCsr_ADgml35eG7C66BcXuAD7wjCDKd8vYEAEIDRp0CCOzv-y5GZK1d98_24b5-BECRPT4CUCTUhpZMQ7V9SEvHjufzrS-aa2J_e2sgWE9ORFd41pslMzLrIyOalZ2vAIgD6qVwKY1s7HCFnw0a3heTPDAt5N-9IfaSq0XIIx2Jh/s1512/6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1512" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDggw3VGQ3kA3hNdnzMCsr_ADgml35eG7C66BcXuAD7wjCDKd8vYEAEIDRp0CCOzv-y5GZK1d98_24b5-BECRPT4CUCTUhpZMQ7V9SEvHjufzrS-aa2J_e2sgWE9ORFd41pslMzLrIyOalZ2vAIgD6qVwKY1s7HCFnw0a3heTPDAt5N-9IfaSq0XIIx2Jh/w428-h277/6.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FATHER AND SON Edilberto and Ricardo, died in an 1946 ambush in Bacolor, allegedly committed<br />by the governor's body guards. The double murder remains unsolved, Photos: June TiglaoTuazon.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Seventy seven years ago, one of the most horrifying
killings in Pampanga’s crime history happened in <b>Bacolor</b>, resulting in the deaths of members of one the town’s most prominent families: 62 year old <b>EDILBERTO JOVEN</b> and his
son <b>RICARDO</b>, age 24. <b>Edilberto</b>’s brother, <b>FRANCISCO</b>, 55, lived to
tell the tale of this brutal murder, that has remained unsolved to this day,
and that a cover-up was made to protect the masterminds.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The elder <b>Joven</b>, an Ateneo graduate, was a pharmaceutical
chemist by profession. His father was <b>Francisco Casas Joven</b>, brother of <b>Ceferino
C. Joven,</b> the first <b>Civil Governor</b> of Pampanga in 1901. In 1906, he married
<b>Margarita Palma,</b> who died in 1919 and left him with 5 children. That
same year, he was elected mayor of <b>Bacolor,</b> and was elected for a 2<sup>nd</sup>
term in 1922. By then, he had taken a second wife, <b>Elena Samia</b>, with
whom her had 4 children<b>; Ricardo</b> or <b>Carding</b>, a law student, was the eldest and only son from that union.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>After his mayoral stint, he worked for the <b>Bureau of
Internal Revenue</b> as a drug inspector from 1924 to 1928. On the side, he joined
groups like <i>Recreativa Filantrofica,</i> <i>Ding Aficionados Bacolod</i> and
<i>Ing Parnasung Capampangan</i> for social and literary pursuits.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>In 1931, <b>Joven </b>re-joined politics by becoming the <b>Provincial
Board</b> secretary, and 2 years later, during the term of <b>Governor Pablo
Angeles-David</b>, <b>Joven</b> was named <b>Assistant Director of the Pampanga
Carnival of 1933 </b>by the governor himself. His return to the political arena and
party loyalty shift could have caused his untimely death and that of his son <b>Carding.</b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><b>Joven </b>has had a brush with violence before. In
1915, a seemingly-sick cousin, <b>Angel
Joven</b>, armed with a pocket knife, assaulted him while crossing the street,
inflicting serious bodily injuries.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>But that fateful event in 1946 was different, as it was
deadlier, and many believed, to be politically motivated for it coincided with
the national elections.<b> Joven</b>, by 1945, was the President of the newly-formed <b>Pampanga
Democratic Alliance,</b> a leftist party that
counts the <b>National Peasants Union of the Hukbalahap</b>, the <b>Committee of Labor
Organizations of the local Communist Party</b> and the <b>Filipino Blue Eagle
Guerrillas</b> as members, threw their support behind incumbent <b>Sergio Osmeña</b>’s
presidential bid.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>On the distaff side was <b>Pablo Angeles David</b> who
cast his lot on <b>Senate Pres. Manuel Roxas</b> of the <b>Liberal Party.</b> David
had the unfortunate experience of being kidnapped twice by the <b>Hukbalahaps</b> in
1944 and 1945, by <b>HMB Commander Silvestre Liwanag</b> or <i>“Kumander Bie”,</i>
that caused him so much suffering. Though he came back alive, the <b>Japanese
Kempeitai</b>, seized him, believing he was now working for the <b>HMB</b>. His arrest would
profoundly affect his wife <b>Concepcion</b>’s health, who died on Christmas
Eve, 1944. It is no wonder then that as acting post-war Pampanga governor, he took a hard stance against the
<b>Hukbalahap/HMB</b>, driving them to the mountains and the hinterlands though
intense pacification operations.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>As the Police Report recounted that on 23 April 1946,
about 9:15 p.m., shots were heard coming from the direction of barrio <b>Tinajero.</b>
When officers responded to the scene, they saw a parked jeep behind the <b>Bacolor
Elementary Schoo</b>l. Searching further, they found the bodies of <b>Edilberto</b>,
his son <b>Ricardo</b>, and <b>Francisco,</b> sprawled on afield some 100
meters away from the jeep. Miraculously, <b>Francisco </b>was alive, but barely, and
he was rushed to the hospital where he was able to give a statement to the
authorities, led by a certain <b>Sgt. Pineda</b> and the <b>Chief of Police</b>.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>In his account, <b>Francisco </b> said that “on their way home just a few paces
from the gate of<b> Bacolor Elementary School,</b> 3 masked men and armed with
Thompson asked them to turn back their jeep where they came from. They made
them walk about 100 yards into the rice fields where they were shot.” There
appeared to be no motive for the killing, as the police stated at that time—2
days after the shooting--and the assailants remained unidentified.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>In October, 6 months after the killing, a certain <b>Sgt.
Ricardo Ocampo</b>, an investigator of the <b>11<sup>th</sup> Military Police Co.</b>,
stationed in<b> Lubao</b> surfaced, with a signed affidavit attesting to his knowledge
of the crime and the perpetrators behind it. He identified the killers as
bodyguards of the present governor<b>, Pablo Angeles David</b>. In his
explosive revelation, he said that a day after the murder, he met with <b>Eliong</b>
and asked him about the murder case.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><b>Eliong</b> alleged to have boasted that together with <b>Nanding</b>,
and their companion bodyguards, carried out the plan, and that he shot the
father-and-son Jovens with the submachine gun that caused their instant deaths.
He shot the wounded Francisco again after noticing he was feigning his death.
He said he wanted to shoot all of them on their heads, but <b>Nanding</b> was
rushing to leave the scene, so <b>Eliong</b> was not able to do so.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>A few days after, <b>Ocampo </b>said he met with <b>Nanding</b>
in San Fernando, who was en route to Manila<b>. Ocampo</b> confronted him about
the Joven killings, pretending to praise him for his actions. At this, <b>Nanding</b>
told him he already knew who Ocampo’s source was—the looselipped <b>Eliong.
Nanding</b> admitted the killing, then afterwards, exacted from <b>Ocampo</b>
the promise to keep secret their conversations.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At the military headquarters, <b>Ocampo </b>saw <b>Nanding</b>
again who approached him and advised him to tell the <b>Gov. Angeles</b> the source of
his version of the story so that the governor himself would know what to do
with Eliong.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>After talking to the other bodyguards, <b>Ocampo</b> came
to discover and conclude that <b>Eliong</b> and <b>Nanding</b> wanted to take
credit for the <b>Joven </b>killings, that was allegedly ordered by the
governor himself. Thus, by eliminating the opposition, victory would be assured
for <b>Roxas</b> and <b>Liberal Party</b> candidates in Bacolor.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Sgt. Ocampo</b>
also managed to trick <b>Lt. Ildefonso Paredes</b>, <b>Detachment Commander of the
111<sup>th</sup> Military Police Co</b>., into admitting his role in the plot, by
bragging about being far better than the commander, having solved the case by
himself.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>To this, <b>Lt. Paredes </b>allegedly<b> </b>retorted: “You
don’t think that I know what happened? Do you believe my boys? I told you you
could rely on them.” As a proof of his connivance, <b>Lt. Paredes </b>said that he did
not go directly to the scene of the crime when summoned, but drove around
different barrios to give the bodyguards more time to escape.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><b>Ocampo</b> ended his narrative with a recommendation
to confiscate the Thompson guns of the <b>Gov. Angeles</b>, fire them, have the
shells examined by ballistic experts, and then compare them with the bullet
shells found at the murder scene. He is certain that the tests will prove that one
of the governor’s Thompsons was used in the commission of the crime.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Despite these damning revelations pointing to the direct
involvement of the governor, his bodyguards, and the collusion of the police, <b>Sgt.
Ocampo’s</b> affidavit seemed to have been conveniently ignored. The
investigation did not prosper, no arrests were ever made, and the double murder
of the <b>Jovens</b> of <b>Bacolor</b> remains a cold case to this day, leaving a <b>Joven</b>
descendant to observe: “When people in power are involved, expect a cover up.
Politics then, as now, has not changed.”</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><b><i>(MANY THANKS to June Joven Tiglao and Nona Joven
Lim, for the photos, materials and additional information).</i></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>Ninu't Ninu Qng Kapampangan, 1936</i></b></p><p></p>Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-35293794932106156142022-02-08T17:03:00.004-08:002022-02-08T17:09:32.060-08:00448. Capt. RUFO C. ROMERO: How A Kapampangan West Pointer Became America’s Betrayer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtDukALWU3f6s_dw98qA2jcjHN0ErbjBovUXsWieey1y_H3H9o6pGyEcqJ7qUxG9yHi1QClb3PcgsSvA-JCAfGpflcB0UrsM_ay_nXZAPeJlqNltRAwqSH4wOIuNHGs7KieJlv0UuF0_b6wCEFdA4lfkBwD61k52MlW_yevxoMUoUyYvKheEkxSkZa_w=s509" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtDukALWU3f6s_dw98qA2jcjHN0ErbjBovUXsWieey1y_H3H9o6pGyEcqJ7qUxG9yHi1QClb3PcgsSvA-JCAfGpflcB0UrsM_ay_nXZAPeJlqNltRAwqSH4wOIuNHGs7KieJlv0UuF0_b6wCEFdA4lfkBwD61k52MlW_yevxoMUoUyYvKheEkxSkZa_w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Capt. RUFO ROMERO, convicted military spy, Kapampangan</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">In late November of 1940, a <b>West Point </b>graduate was
convicted of espionage-- at that time, the first and only alumnus of the
prestigious <b>United States Military Academy</b> to be court-martialed and charged
for attempting to sell classified maps to Japan, via an intermediary. The
military officer,<b> Rufo C. Romero, </b>also happens to be a <b>Kapampangan</b>, the
illegitimate son of a poor woman with an unknown partner, who, some tongue wags
say, was a priest.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nevertheless, <b>Romero</b> grew up an intelligent child, finishing
his secondary education at the <b>Pampanga High School,</b> class of 1926, where he
was also a top Cadet Officer. However, it was at the<b> University of the
Philippines</b> that his brilliance showed,
leading to an appointment at <b>West Point.</b> He graduated in 1931 with flying
colors, ranking 17th in his class—an
incredible feat for a Filipino who, lumped with African-Americans, were
considered as minorities.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Armed also with a civil engineering degree from the
<b>University of California, Romero</b> seemed bound for an illustrious military
career. He found love in the U.S., marrying 17 year old <b>Lorraine Becker</b> of
<b>Bronx, New York</b>, before being sent back to the Philippines to serve as captain
to the <b>Philippine Scouts.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The commander of the<b> Philippine Scouts 14th Engineer Regiment</b>
recalls that <b>Capt. Romero</b> was among the
U.S. Army's most knowledgeable experts on the topography, road and trail
network and defensive positions on Bataan.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Romero</b> would also have known the value of such information
to the Japanese and other foreign powers even long before the 1941 Philippine
invasion ; there have been several cases in the past where confidential
fortification blueprints of <b>Corregidor</b> and <b>Bataan</b> where stolen, lost, or copied, clearly for use in military
espionage. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest that <b>Romero</b> could very
well be a spy, thus, a sting operation was hatched by the U.S. Army to entrap
him.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The Army drew up a plan where a supposed Japanese-colluding
Mindanao sultan was out on the market looking for such maps and classified
documents. Romero, along with alleged civilian accomplices<b> Ignacio Agbay</b> and
<b>Mariano Cabrera</b>, had photographed copies of <b>Corregidor</b> and <b>Bataan </b>defense maps,
which the captain then attempted to sell for $25,000.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">It was in this dramatic way that <b>Romero</b> was arrested, and
court-martialed at <b>Fort McKinley</b> in November, 1940. By the 24th, he was found
guilty of giving secret maps related to national defense to unauthorized
persons, a violation of the <b>Articles of War 96.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Professing his innocence, he volunteered to undergo any kind
of brain operation that would erase his memories and recollections regarding
military matters, a last-ditch effort to
save his tarnished reputation. <b>Romero </b>
was dishonorably discharged, lost all his pay allowances, and sentenced
to 15 years of hard labor at <b>McNeil Island Penitentiary</b> in <b>Washington</b> State.
His wife, <b>Lorraine</b>, who had connived with him, was not charged.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After <b>Romero</b> served his time in prison, he left the United
States to build a new career in the academe back in the Philippines. He taught
engineering subjects at the <b>National University</b>
in <b>Sampaloc</b>, Manila, where students remember him as an amiable professor
who likes engaging people in friendly conversations. Further distancing himself
from his past, he went to <b>Africa</b> and <b>Spain</b>, where his tainted reputation was
relatively unknown, and found some engineering jobs.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">All this time, his notorious deed led his many fellow
Filipinos to ask: what makes a man of
intelligence become a spy? What drives him to become a betrayer of his country,
his family, and conscience? The world will never know as <b>Rufo C. Romero</b> passed away in <b>Spain</b> on 3 January 1985,
leaving behind his wife and 3 children in the U.S., remaining quiet about this
one act of treachery that changed the course of their lives.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Scott Harrison;s Espionage Page:
https://corregidor.org/crypto/chs_crypto1/sting1.htm<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>West Point grad convicted for attempting to sell maps of
fortifications to a foreign power: https://militarycorruption.com/romero/<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Time Magazine: The Philippines: Spy Trial, 2 December 1940<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Board of Review Holdings, Opinions and Reviews,
https://books.google.com.ph/</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div>Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-19661479992137835222019-08-07T05:39:00.002-07:002019-08-07T05:40:35.808-07:00447. Kapampangan-American Equestrienne ELLESSE JORDAN TZINBERG, The 1st Filipino and Southeast Asian 2018 World Cup Dressage Qualifier<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vx21vUQzOc/XUrFI2hZewI/AAAAAAAATJU/pGtJ_RFoxtQV4qWjueKBr_UaeRT4PK-kACLcBGAs/s1600/54729551_10216985906507208_568456363487789056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="960" height="353" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vx21vUQzOc/XUrFI2hZewI/AAAAAAAATJU/pGtJ_RFoxtQV4qWjueKBr_UaeRT4PK-kACLcBGAs/s400/54729551_10216985906507208_568456363487789056_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A RIDE TO HISTORY. ELLESSE JORDAN TZINBERG-GUNDERSEN and her horse Triviant 2, at the 2018 World Cup Dressage Finals,Paris France, Photo: Ellesse Tzinberg FB Page.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the least popular sports in the Philippines is
equestrianism, the art of horseback riding. It is a competitive discipline
associated only with the rich, the royals and prominent old families. Ask an ordinary
sports fan, and chances are, he would be hard-pressed to name even 2 or 3
Filipino equestrians. Asian Gold medallist <b>Mikee Cojuangco</b> would probably be
top-of-mind, as she was also an actress, visible on TV and the silver screen<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fewer still are the riding grounds and equestrian
facilities, mostly located in elite clubs such as the members-only <b>Manila Polo
Club</b>. That—and the expensive 'high fashion' riding gear: the white breeches, jackets,
helmets, top hats, vests , gloves and knee-high boots--- only served to
highlight the exclusivity and inaccessibility of the sport. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But one Kapampangan-American broke the mold by rising
from a family of modest background to become a world-class equestrienne—<b>Ellesse
Jordan Tzinberg</b>. Last year, she accomplished the unthinkable:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she became the first Southeast Asian
equestrienne and the first Filipino to qualify in the <b>FEI (Fédération Equestre
Internationale) World Cup Dressage 2018 </b>held in Paris, France. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In an event dominated by top athletes from first-world
countries like Europe and the Americas, Tzinberg, riding on her horse <b>Triviant
</b>and representing third-world Philippines, made history just by being there—one
of the qualifiers from 20 countries to make it to the World Cup Dressage
finals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The daughter of Kapampangan <b>Agnes Samaniego Tolentino</b> ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and American-Australian <b>Sennett Tzinberg,
Tzinberg </b>was born in <b>Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</b>, on 17 December 1991. She has roots
in <b>Lubao,</b> where her mother was born, and in <b>Bacolor </b>and <b>Mabalacat, </b>hometowns of
her maternal great-grandparents. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it was in Malaysia that <b>Tzinberg</b> spent her growing-up
years, where, at age 6,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she started
riding lessons. Her mom would often tell her stories of her own grandmother,
<b>Generosa Morales Samaniego,</b> who played tennis and rode horses—hobbies deemed
too taxing for women in those days. Could she <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have inherited her ‘riding genes’ from her
maternal ancestor? Certainly, it’s a possibility not to be discounted!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In Malaysia, equestrian sports has more following than in
the Philippines, introduced as early as the 1800s by British colonizers. By 8,
<b>Tzinberg</b> began competing, and later focused on the dressage events—where rider
and horse go through a series of “tests”, prescribed series of movements ridden
within an arena, and evaluated and scored by judges.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At 12 years old, <b>Tzinberg</b> became the highest ranked dressage
rider in the<b> FEI World Dressage Challenge “</b>under 14” age group in her region in
Asia. Four years later, the 16 year old earned an NCAA equestrian scholarship
at <b>Kansas State University,</b> and moved to the U.S. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Her promising career was sidetracked by a serious car
accident sustained in 2009, which required her to undergo months of
rehabilitation and therapy. After making a full recovery and finishing her
collegiate studies, she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>went to Paris
where she was serendipitously discovered as a commercial, print and runway
model. For two years, she set aside her beloved sport, but in 2012, <b>Tzinberg</b>
resumed riding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tzinberg</b> took a serious step in her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>career by moving to <b>Skane, Sweden</b> in 2014 to
train under husband-and-wife team <b>Charlotte </b>and <b>Rasmus Haid-Bondergaard.</b> The
next year, she made her international debut <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in <b>U25 Grand Prix </b>level with her horse
<b>Pavarotti.</b> Soon she was competing and winning in several international events.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She became the first Asian to ride at the <b>2015 Adequan
Global Dressage Festival</b> in <b>Wellington, Florida.</b> There, she also became the
first rider to place and ribbon at the festival in the <b>CDI Grand Prix</b> events.
Back in Europe in 2016, <b>Tzinberg </b>competed in more<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>CDI events </b>including <b>Hagen, Odense, </b>and
<b>Falsterbo</b> where she placed consistently placed among the top 5. Her biggest
thrill was winning her first <b>Grand Prix</b> at the <b>Everlovs Midsommer Dressage Fest</b>
in <b>Sweden. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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While campaigning all over the world, <b>Tzinberg</b> never lost
sight of her roots. In fact, she she made it her goal to ride for the
Philippines at the <b>Rio 2016 Olympic Games</b>. When that did not materialize, she
eyed a spot in the <b>FEI World Cup Final.</b> She applied for a “domiciled athlete”
place, and based on her excellent performance record, <b>Tzinberg </b>was picked to
compete in the prestigious <b>World Cup Dressage event. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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When she landed in Paris in April 2018 for the
competition, the Filipina trailblazer created quite a stir with the media<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for her singular achievement as the first
ever Southeast Asian--and Filipino--to make it through the World Cup finals. The
experience led her to gush: <i>“ It’s really incredible just to be around these
riders that I looked up to my whole life and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>never could have dreamt that being on the same startlist as them and
going head-to-head with them—so that is really something I haven’t quite wrapped
around”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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It was thus a proud moment for <b>Ellesse Jordan Tzinberg</b>
when she took her place in the arena with the Philippine flag displayed on her
horse’s saddle pad for all the world to see. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would place 18th overall, which was not
enough for her to advance to the freestyle competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as the<b> Fédération Equestre
Internationale</b> noted—“she would go home knowing she has made history in Paris”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many thanks to Agnes Sennett Tzinberg and Rey
Tolentino, mother and uncle respectively of Ellesse Tzinberg, for some of her personal
and professional background.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tzinberg
Receives Second Extra Starting Place for 2018 World Cup Finals, </i><a href="http://eurodressage.com/2018/03/14/tzinberg-receives-second-extra-starting-place-2018-world-cup-finals"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">http://eurodressage.com/2018/03/14/tzinberg-receives-second-extra-starting-place-2018-world-cup-finals</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellesse Jordan Tzinberg Will Make History At the FEI
World Cup Finals,by Justine Griffin, April 3, 2018, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://heelsdownmag.com/ellesse-jordan-tzinberg-will-make-history-at-the-fei-world-cup%20finals/?fbclid=IwAR2jHCZZDLKIhQa4_H2Low4EgBRLcd_4exL_y4PXO8FaoHD9pk_f3yn-MRk"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">https://heelsdownmag.com/ellesse-jordan-tzinberg-will-make-history-at-the-fei-world-cup
finals/?fbclid=IwAR2jHCZZDLKIhQa4_H2Low4EgBRLcd_4exL_y4PXO8FaoHD9pk_f3yn-MRk</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exclusive Dressage highlights from the FEI World Cup™
Dressage final in Paris | Equestrian World, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu7bvsBhf3o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu7bvsBhf3o</a></i></span></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-82037349283306425352019-03-02T14:49:00.001-08:002019-03-02T16:03:22.530-08:00446. Angeles’s Kick-Ass Olympic Taekwondo Jin: DONALD B. GEISLER III<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TbnG4-l8k0/XHp1cT1dRxI/AAAAAAAASrg/ezmhsrhErOUt4YPI8fT1hHH_ohEgdFTqwCLcBGAs/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TbnG4-l8k0/XHp1cT1dRxI/AAAAAAAASrg/ezmhsrhErOUt4YPI8fT1hHH_ohEgdFTqwCLcBGAs/s400/12.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>KICK & SHOUT: Donnie Geisler, Taekwondo Jin from Angeles</i></b><br />
<b><i>Image: www.pinoybigbrother.com</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Taekwondo was just an exhibition sports at the <b>1992
Barcelona Olympic</b>s, and the token delegation of<i> jins </i>sent to compete did
surprisingly well—with<b> Bea Lucero</b> and <b>Stephen Fernandez</b> winning a pair of
Bronzes. When the Korean martial arts discipline became an official Olympic
sport in 2000, a Kapampangan<i> jin</i> from Angeles not only made it as a member of
the 4-man taekwondo team, but also marched proudly at the head of the Philippine
delegation at the <b>Stadium Australia</b> as the country’s flag bearer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Donald “Donnie” David Geisler III</b> (b. 6 Oct.1978) , at 21
years old, and 6 ft. tall had come to the Olympics arena armed with sterling
national and international sporting credentials. The son of German-American
<b>Donald David Geisler</b>, and Filipina <b>Gracia Bayonito </b>of Bicol, he grew up in
Angeles, where his father, a former army colonel who served in Clark, opted to
settle down to raise his family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At age 7, <b>Donnie</b><b> </b>
took up a course in taekwondo offered by his elementary school. Mentored by a Korean trainer who taught Americans in Clark, the young
<b>Geisler </b>was a naturally-gifted athlete, and soon became skilled in the sport. Later, he would practice regularly in a taekwondo school put up by his uncle in Pulungbulu. He
seriously took up further training, and joined taekwondo tournaments along the
way, even while coursing through Chevalier high school and later, in college, where he made it to the school's pioneer taekwondo varsity team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By the mid-1980s through the early 1990s,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>athletes like <b>Monsour del Rosario,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arnold Baradi</b> and <b>Roberto Cruz </b>helped<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>promote the popularity of the sport, through
their podium victories at the <b>Asian Games, World Taekwondo Championships</b> and
the <b>SEA Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1996, at age 18, <b>Donnie </b>was sent to Barcelona,
Spain to compete in the very first <b>World Junior Taekwondo Championships.</b> The
lanky<i> jin </i>pulled in a surprise by winning a historic Bronze medal. Two years later, he won a pair of Silvers---first in Asia’s premiere
sporting event—the <b>Asian Games</b> in Bangkok, and at the 1998 <b>World Cup Taekwondo
Championships </b>in Germany.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He would win the first of three <b>Southeast Asian Games</b>
Gold, in Brunei Darussalam in 1999. At the star of a new millennium<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he won a Silver in his weight class at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <b>Asian Taekwondo Championships</b> in Hong
Kong. In between, he managed to finish his Arts and Letter degree in Legal
Management<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the <b>University of Santo
Tomas</b> in 1999.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With such solid accomplishments, <b>Donnie</b> was expected to
spearhead the debut campaign of the small Philippine team and do well in Sydney. He was
entered in the Individual events (Men’s Welterweight 80 kg. class). In a
tightly-contested first round match against Sweden’s <b>Roman Livaja</b>, both <i>jins</i>
scored 4-4, but based on superiority,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Swede prevailed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But <b>Donnie</b>’s Olympic dream did not end in Sydney. He
would qualify again as one of 3 Filipino <i>jins </i>in the next <b>2004 Summer Olympics</b>
in Athens, Greece—where the hallowed Games began. This time, he faced the formidable
Turk,<b> Bahri Tanrıkulu</b>, whose sister was an Olympian medallist. <b>Geisler </b>made a
good account of himself, and fought like a pro. But like what happened in
Sydney, the match ended in a tie—9-9, and once again, based on superiority, the
Turk was declared winner (he would advance to the finals to win Silver).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As the best-scoring non-winner, <b>Donnie</b> was called for a
<i>repechage</i>—for a final chance to advance to the next round. His opponent was <b>Hichem
Al-Hamdouni </b>from Tunisia. Bad luck hounded <b>Donnie</b> when, in the course of the
fight, he dislocated <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his ankle and suffered
a double tendon injury, thus putting him out of contention and ending his
quest for Olympic glory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His post-Olympics career continued in the next few years
with better results. In 2001, he was at the 21st <b>Southeast Asian Games</b>, where he
won a Silver medal. In the succeeding editions in Vietnam (2003), and the
Philippines (2005), he proved his superiority in the region by winning 2 Golds
in a row. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the 2002 <b>15<sup>th</sup>
Asian Taekwondo Championships </b>in Jordan, he added a Bronze medal to his
collection. His last competition was at the 2007 <b>FAJR Cup </b>in Iran, where he had another
Bronze finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Believing that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“all work, and no play” makes for a dull life, <b>Donnie</b> jumped into the
showbiz bandwagon and joined the Celebrity Edition of the hugely-followed <b>Pinoy
Big Brother</b> TV reality show in 2007, along with his actor-brother, <b>Baron Geisler</b>. For the
next<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50 days, <b>Donnie </b>gamely joined in
the fray, accomplishing strange tasks, making strategic alliances with fellow
<b>PBB</b> members and surviving eliminations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unfortunately, on the 56<sup>th</sup> day, <b>Donnie</b> got
evicted from the PBB house, concluding his brief showbiz fling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he stayed long enough to meet <b>Jen da
Silva </b>who would become his wife and mother of his daughter, <b>Frankie</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young father also has a son,<b> Robbie</b>, from
a previous relationship.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Donnie </b>continued his love for the sport by founding the <b>Donnie
Geisler Taekwondo Training Center </b>in 2009 which coaches and teaches children of
all ages—including those with special needs. The center has a branch in
Sindalan, San Fernando.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The national athlete, who is also a licensed taekwondo instructor
and international referee, is also a respected coach. He was a former coach of the<b>
Philippine National Team</b>, and currently is the Head Coach of <b>Colegio de San Agustin</b>
in Makati, and the <b>British School</b> in Manila. His checkered career in taekwondo
may have ended but his love for the sport that have earned honors for himself
and the country continues with unabated passion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><i>Image: www.pinoybigbrother.com</i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Donnie Geisler Oly FB
Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/donnie.geisler">https://www.facebook.com/donnie.geisler</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Donnie Geisler Taekwondo
Training Center: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/donniegeislertaekwondo/about/?ref=page_internal">https://www.facebook.com/pg/donniegeislertaekwondo/about/?ref=page_internal</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Donnie Geisler Bio, Stats
and Results/Olympics at Sports-Reference:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ge/donald-geisler-1.html">https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ge/donald-geisler-1.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pinoy Big Brother:
Celebrity Edition 2: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinoy_Big_Brother:_Celebrity_Edition_2">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinoy_Big_Brother:_Celebrity_Edition_2</a></span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Donnie Geisler taekwondo interview video:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGCsb2B1_wY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGCsb2B1_wY</a></span></i>Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-26797560615248435132019-02-11T17:48:00.000-08:002019-02-12T01:57:49.873-08:00445. The Tears and Triumphs of ELIZABETH PUNSALAN, Olympic Ice Dancer, Lubao<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4Enzhk4giA/XGIj7QrYUAI/AAAAAAAASkQ/HahjQLf0c94PSv4bjnZ9qze2PLih6aAVgCLcBGAs/s1600/Untitled1ep%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="743" height="341" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4Enzhk4giA/XGIj7QrYUAI/AAAAAAAASkQ/HahjQLf0c94PSv4bjnZ9qze2PLih6aAVgCLcBGAs/s400/Untitled1ep%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ICE QUEEN, Elizabeth Punsalan, 5-time U.S. ice dancing champion, 2-time Olympian, has a full-blooded Kapampangan father, Dr. Ernesto Punsalan of Lubao. </span></i></div>
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When skater Elizabeth Punsalan stepped on the ice with
her partner-husband Jerrod Swallow at the Hamar Olympic Ampitheater in
Lillehammer, Norway, she was a picture of poise and grace. She had done this many
times before--with the eyes of the world watching, she had danced, skated--and
won, despite the intense pressure of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this time, the feeling
was different. Behind Elizabeth’s seemingly calm exterior, was pain and quiet
grief for her father, who, less than two weeks before, had been stabbed and
killed by her own brother.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elizabeth Punsalan (b. 9 Jan. 1971, in Syracuse, New York)
was the daughter of Dr. Ernesto and Teresa Punsalan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father, a surgeon, had come to America from Lubao, as
a medical student. The family eventually settled in Ohio, where Dr. Punsalan
began a thriving practice. Young Liz, on the other hand, was drawn to the sport
of ice skating at the tender age of 7. Soon, she was competing in skating
competitions, and winning ice dance contests. Early in her career, she found a
partner in Christopher Rettstatt, and debuted at the 1989 U.S. Championships.
They stunned the field by copping 8<sup>th</sup> place in the country’s
premiere sce-skating event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That same year, Punsalan was paired with a new 22-year
old talent, Jerrod Swallow. Their chemistry was apparent from the start. Under
the watchful eye of their coach, Sandy Hess, the pair began training in
Colorado Springs. At the 1989 Skate America, they placed 7<sup>th</sup>, but
did even better at the 1990 U.S. Championships, where they finished 5<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They capped their ice dancing campaign when
they returned the next year, finally winning their first U.S. national title.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Coming in as the pair to beat at the 1992 U.S. Championships
that also served as the Olympic team qualifier,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Punsalan and Swallow finished in third place, owing to a fall that
Swallow made in the free dance. Disappointed at his performance, Swallow
pondered about leaving the sport, but Punsalan encouraged him to continue. They
would eventually marry in 1993 and become partners for life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The tandem changed coach in 1992, and, under the help of
Igor Shpilband, they again rose to skating prominence, rivaled only by the pair
of Renee Roca and Gorsha Shur, who trained alongside them. But Russian-born Gorsha
still had to meet another requirement to skate for the U.S.---an American
citizenship. Punsalan and Swallow <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>waged
a letter-writing campaign to Congress to delay the granting of his citizenship,
as there was only one slot reserved for the U.S. at the 1994 Winter Games. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This unsportsmanlike behavior was unwarranted as Punsalan
and Swallow were uncontested all the way to the finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Roca and Sur suffered spills, the beleagured
pair eventually withdrew. Punsalan and Swallow thus, earned their second
national title—and an Olympic spot --and began preparing for the Lillehammer
event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But just two weeks before they were set to go to Norway,
a family tragedy befell the Punsalans. On the night of February 4,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1994, Elizabeth’s father, Ernesto, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was stabbed to death while asleep at his Sheffield
Lake home in Ohio. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worst, the assailant
turned out to be Elizabeth’s third brother, Ricardo, who had been plagued with
mental problems. The doctor was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Joseph
Hospital and Health Center in nearby Lorain. He was just 57.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite her sorrow, Elizabeth Punsalan decided to
continue with her Olympic journey, at the urging of her family. "My father
was proud of my skating achievements and would have wanted me to go on to
Lillehammer," the Kapampangan-American skater said. "I will try to
skate my very best there in his memory." After her father’s funeral,
Punsalan and husband Swallow, immediately flew to Lillehammer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to begin their quest for an Olympic ice
dancing gold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the rounds leading to the finals, the pair skated
through their personal pain, and secured 14<sup>th</sup> place. But they would
eventually dropped to 15<sup>th</sup> position when Swallow fell during a lift,
sending him and Elizabeth crashing down on the ice—along with their Olympic
dream. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Beaten but unbowed, the couple bounced back at the 1995
U.S. Championships, finishing as runners-up to their arch rivals, Roca and Sur.
They were on a roll in 1996, 1997 and 1998 championships, when they reigned
supreme by winning 3 national titles—and another chance to redeem themselves at
the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. This time, the pair finished strong in 7<sup>th</sup>
place in the Mixed Ice Dancing event. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The ice has not yet melted in Nagano, when, at the 1998
World Figure Skating Championships held in March in Minneapolis, Punsalan and
Swallow capped their sterling ice dancing career with a 6<sup>th </sup>place
finish. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After retiring from competitive ice skating, Punsalan and
Swallow continued to skate in ice shows for a number of years. Punsalan became
an ice dance coach at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Once
off the ice, Elizabeth also found a new interest and became an interior
designer, while raising two sons, Gavin (13) and Alden (6). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When the 2019 U.S. Figuring Skating Championships
unfolded in Detroit in late January, Punsalan and Swallow—five-time American
champions themselves-- were there to welcome America’s best skaters to their
city, which had become a prominent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>international training ground for some of the greatest Olympic skaters
on ice. The couple’s presence and their skating legacy would have certainly
provided inspiration to the many young skaters who, just like young Elizabeth 2
decades before, have come to begin the realization of their Olympic dreams. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(POSTSCRIPT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Younger brother, Ricky, was charged in the
death of their father, but was found mentally unfit to stand trial. As of 2016,
he remains in a mental health institution for at least the next two years. Punsalan’s
mental health state will be reviewed again in December 2018.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><u>SOURCES: </u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Elizabeth Punsalan: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Punsalan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Punsalan</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Elizabeth Punsalan photo: <a href="http://susanfieldofgold.blogspot.com/2014/12/day-7-liz-punsalan-and-jared-swallows.html">http://susanfieldofgold.blogspot.com/2014/12/day-7-liz-punsalan-and-jared-swallows.html</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Skating squabble plays to soap opera background, by
Milton Kent, THE BALTIMORE SUN, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-02-16-1995047108-story.html"><i>https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-02-16-1995047108-story.html</i></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>ICE DANCER DEDICATES GAMES TO SLAIN FATHER, <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-16-9402160123-story.html">https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-16-9402160123-story.html</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Punsalan says he is Jesus,<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/05/Punsalan-says-he-is-Jesus/9170762843600/">https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/05/Punsalan-says-he-is-Jesus/9170762843600/</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Why do so many international Olympic figure skaters train
in Michigan?<span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.michiganradio.org/post/why-do-so-many-international-olympic-figure-skaters-train-michigan"><i>http://www.michiganradio.org/post/why-do-so-many-international-olympic-figure-skaters-train-michigan</i></a><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-30197150086130855332019-01-03T15:38:00.000-08:002019-01-03T15:38:06.416-08:00*444. Fil-Am Olympian ERIKA K. VON HEILAND, Ace Shuttler from Angeles City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmpK0CBTqYI/XC6ZD8KJYNI/AAAAAAAASdY/EL1EGRHNC6M6Cf2mU1XdiCEmS5x9UtzSQCLcBGAs/s1600/Erika%252CFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="584" height="295" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmpK0CBTqYI/XC6ZD8KJYNI/AAAAAAAASdY/EL1EGRHNC6M6Cf2mU1XdiCEmS5x9UtzSQCLcBGAs/s400/Erika%252CFinal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It used to be that badminton was a lightly-regarded sport,
more fit for leisure than for competition. Only a few athletes—mostly from
Asian countries—ruled the sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
first featured as a demonstration sport in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1972 Munich Olympics</b>, but it took 20 years for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it to be included as an official medal-worthy
sport—at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1992 Barcelona Olympics.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In a sport dominated by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Indonesians, Malaysians, Koreans</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chinese</b>, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Filipino-American</b>
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kapampangan</b> lineage, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>led the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">U.S.
Olympic Badminton</b> team, in their quest for a podium finish for America. All
eyes were on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika Ann Kennedy Von</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heiland,</b> the 27 year-old shuttler who
beat all odds to qualify for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barcelona
Olympics. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For a gruelling 18 months, she made the rounds of
qualifying competitions around the world to secure a berth in the U.S. team,
paying part of the tour expenses, taking out loans to finance her trip and even
putting her college scholarship on the line. But, after a year and a half of
competing, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland </b>was stunned to
learn that she had made it as the highest-ranked American badminton player for
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympics.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika </b>was born
in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Angeles City</b> on Christmas Eve, 24
December 1965 to parents <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Theodore
Leopoldo (Ted) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Von Heiland</b> (b. 11 Jan.
1941/d.15 Sep. 2011) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Georgia
Kennedy.</b> She came from a pedigreed family, one of the richest in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pampanga.</b> Her great-grandfather was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Florentino Torres Pamintuan</b> (b. 14 Mar.
1868/d. 12 Apr. 1925) who built the famous <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pamintuan
Mansion</b> across the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Holy Rosary
Parish</b>, for his first wife, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mancia
Vergara Sandico.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The <b>Pamintuan-Sandico</b> union produced 5 children; the eldest daughter, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maria de la Paz Eugenia</b> (or simply, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paz</b>) went on to marry <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leopoldo Faustino</b> who died young.<b> Paz </b>married
a second time to an Honolulu journalist, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Frank
A. Von Heiland</b>, and they would have a daughter, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bunny,</b> and a son <b>Ted</b>—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika</b>’s father.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ted</b> graduated
from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ateneo,</b> and spent part of his married
years in <b>Angeles City</b>, and in <b>Manila,</b> where his <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">kids</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Frank </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Chip)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, Debra </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Babsie)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> , Erika</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trinity</b>, grew up in an extended Kapampangan household and went
to school at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Colegio de San Agustin</b>
in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Makati</b>. But in 1985, he would
eventually move his family to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anaheim,
California <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>where his children completed
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their education and later, pursued their
own careers: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chip</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Babsie</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>joined the military, while <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika </b>stayed in college to take up
<b>Criminal Justice</b> at <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arizona State University</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on a
badminton sport scholarship.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXagDRHh8Vs/XC6ZYuiggjI/AAAAAAAASdg/QyeffqsCuPojbF2HxS_11klJ3jKSaPp6gCLcBGAs/s1600/11.%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXagDRHh8Vs/XC6ZYuiggjI/AAAAAAAASdg/QyeffqsCuPojbF2HxS_11klJ3jKSaPp6gCLcBGAs/s320/11.%2Bcopy.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Erika</b> had been fascinated with racquet sports in her
younger years, taking up tennis at age 17. But when she learned that she could propel
a shuttlecock up to 200 miles per hour, she felt the rush and shifted to badminton,
considered as the fastest sport in the world. It is amusing to know that she
once got hit in the right eye with a shuttlecock and couldn't see for a week. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Eventually,
she became so highly- skilled at the sport that in 1989, she was chosen to
represent the U.S. at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6th
International Badminton</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Federation
World Championships</b> held in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jakarta,
Indonesia</b> (she would make the team as well, in 1991 and 1993). The next
year, in 1990, <b>Von Heiland</b> made it as a member of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">US Uber Cup Team</b>, qualifying again in 1992, and 1996.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it had always been the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympics </b>that she aspired for, a dream that was fulfilled in 1992.
At the inaugural badminton games, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von
Heiland</b> competed in the Women’s Singles but her heroic efforts were
thwarted by Canadian champion <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Denyse
Julien</b> in the first round. She ranked 33<sup>rd</sup> overall in a field
that was ruled by Asians and topped by Indonesian <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Susi Susanti.</b> Still, it was a good experience for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland</b> , and vowed to come back
stronger for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1996 Atlanta Olympics.</b>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In between <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympics</b>,
she trained relentlessly, and in 1995, she represented the United States at the
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pan American Games</b> in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mar de Plata, Argentina</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland</b> was fielded in the women’s
badminton doubles (with partner <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Linda
French</b>) and this time, she came home with a hard-earned Bronze Medal. She and
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Linda </b>even fared better at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1995 Bermuda International Open.,</b>
winning runner-up honors in women’s doubles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The rewards of joining these high-level international badminton
tournaments were finally realized when, on 8 April 1996, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">United States Badminton Association </b>announced <b>Erika
Von Heiland’s</b> nomination to the <b>U.S.
Olympic Committee</b> for inclusion on the <b>1996
U.S. Olympic Badminton Team</b>., along with <b>Kevin Han</b> and doubles partner, <b>Linda
French.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At this news, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von
Heiland</b> gushed, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Competing in my
first Olympics in 1992 was awesome, but going to my second Olympics on
home-soil is beyond words.”</i> The 30 year old veteran then added, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"This will be a great way to end my
career."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland</b> marched
proudly as part of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Team America</b>, during
the opening of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1996 Atlanta Olympics</b>
at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Centennial Olympic Park</b>. When
the badminton games got going, she valiantly gave her best to ward off <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Taipei
</b>opponent <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeng Shwu-Zen</b>, in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Women’s Singles</b>, but got eliminated in
the first round with a score of 2–11, 6–11. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland</b> ranked last in a field of 33 female shuttlers. In the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Women’s Doubles</b> where she and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Linda French</b> were ranked 38<sup>th</sup>
best in the world, they did slightly better, finishing in 17th place in a field
of 19.<br />
<br />
When the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Atlanta
Summer Games</b> drew to a close, so did the sensational badminton career of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Von Heiland.</b> Hounded by multiple knee
surgeries, she knew it was time to hang up the racquet. At 30, she was ready to
enjoy her married life while hoping to begin a professional career.<br />
<br />
She didn’t
have to look far—right in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Atlanta</b>, she
was offered a sales job by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coca Cola
Enterprises</b> and rose to become the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amusement
and Recreation Business Development Manager</b> for 4 years. She tried other
companies but returned to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coca Cola
Company</b> as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Senior National Account
Executive</b>. After 7 years, she was named as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Director of Community Marketing</b> beginning in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2011 to the present. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s been a long journey for this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angeleña</i>—who, despite her prominent background chose to do things
the old-fashioned way: working her way to the top through sheer hard work.
perseverance and dedication,. At her prime, she was named as one of the best 100
women badminton players of the world. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika
Von Heiland</b> was also blessed with the unique experience of living her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympic</b> dream not once, and now, as a
successful corporate executive, she is truly on top of her game.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Erika Von Heiland:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/vo/erika-von-heiland-1.html">https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/vo/erika-von-heiland-1.html</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Badminton at the 1992 Summer Olympics: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>From Badminton to Coca Cola: 5 Questions With Two-Time
Olympian Erika Von Heiland Strader: <a href="https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/true-passion-to-win-5-questions-with-two-time-olympian-erika-von-heiland-strader">https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/true-passion-to-win-5-questions-with-two-time-olympian-erika-von-heiland-strader</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>For One Woman, the USO's Coca-Cola Connection Seems Fated,
<a href="https://www.uso.org/stories/156-for-one-woman-the-uso-s-coca-cola-connection-seems-fated">https://www.uso.org/stories/156-for-one-woman-the-uso-s-coca-cola-connection-seems-fated</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>HAN, FRENCH, AND VON HEILAND NOMINATED TO REPRESENT U.S.
BADMINTON AT THE 1996 ATLANTA OLYMPIC GAMES. <a href="http://www.worldbadminton.com/usba.local/releases/960408.txt">http://www.worldbadminton.com/usba.local/releases/960408.txt</a></i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">PAZ: A 20th Century Chronicle by Ma.Paz Eugenia Pamintuan y Sandico vda. de Faustino y vda. de Von Heiland,1998</span></i>Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-15367417973334644972018-12-04T13:29:00.002-08:002018-12-04T13:29:51.693-08:00*443. From Boys Town to Mexico Olympics: Gymnast NORMAN V. HENSON of Arayat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AQs_ULyFw0/XAbvr1rS0iI/AAAAAAAASX4/Z9bIAXB3MA03c67HKPa9G1WhWsmUz_WGACLcBGAs/s1600/NVHenson%252CFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="415" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AQs_ULyFw0/XAbvr1rS0iI/AAAAAAAASX4/Z9bIAXB3MA03c67HKPa9G1WhWsmUz_WGACLcBGAs/s1600/NVHenson%252CFinal.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">NORMAN VENZON HENSON, overcame a difficult childhood to become a world-class Olympian, thanks to gymnastics. Henson was born in Barrio Mesulu, Arayat, Pampanga.</span></i></span></b></div>
<div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></div>
Norman Venzon
Henson</b>’s Olympic story is an inspiring one, that began with a troubled
childhood in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arayat,</b> a stay at <b>Manila
Boys Town</b> where he discovered gymnastics, and his eventual salvation by the
sport that would propel him to the top and earn him a place in the world’s premiere
sporting competition.<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Born on 3 Mar. 1950 to parents <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Domingo Henson</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leonora
Venzon</b>, the young <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b> grew up
in the sleepy barrio of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mesulu</b>, in
the foothills of <b>Arayat </b>town. He grew up in comfortable surroundings; his
father was a member of the landed <b>Henson</b> brothers who owned vast farmlands and
many businesses including operating a major bus line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One would expect a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b>
son to walk the straight and narrow path, but for some reason, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Norman Henson</b> would stray from that
road, and at a very you age, fell into the company of wayward boys his age that
would cause a rift between him and his parents. So the young <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b> did the unthinkable—he ran away from
home. The delinquent child who was not even in his teens, was found by his
distraught parents after some time, but he kept running away, beyond their
control. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the end, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b>
was taken by his parents to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manila Boys
Town</b>, a place for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>voluntarily
surrendered children, orphans, vagrants and teens. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b> was to build a reputation as a reformatory school for
errant boys because of its sports and education programs. Ran by priests headed
by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fr. Ricardo Mirasol</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b> proved to be safe haven where
boys could discover and develop their <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sense of self-worth and belonging. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One sport discipline that the institution was known for
was gymnastics. By 1960, under <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fr. Mirasol</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b> had produced competitive
gymnasts that were good enough to compete at the national level, and before
long, they were winning championships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As a ward of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys
Town</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson </b>enrolled in the
sport, and before long, he was hooked in gymnastics, having found an enjoyable
outlet for his energy, at last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At just
5 feet 3 and a half inches tall, and weighing 128 pounds, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b>’s physique was perfect for the sport. Slowly, he learned to
build his strength by chinning bars, and learned to leap, tumble, flip and
somersault. By so doing, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b> also
learned to build his character, self-discipline, and his spirit of
sportsmanship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1962, to promote the sport, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (</b>GAP) was organized,
headed by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Julian Malonzo</b> as its
first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">President</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sotero A. Tejada</b>—who would be
acknowledged as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Father of Philippine
Gymnastics</b>---was elected <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Secretary-Treasurer</b>,
while <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b> coach, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fr. Mirasol</b> became <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chairman of the Men’s Technical Committee.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National
Competition</b> was launched in 1963 by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GAP</b>, open to secondary public schools. Gymnastics then was already
a staple sport at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">UAAP</b>. Norman
Henson was named to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b>
Team, along with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ernesto Beren</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Julian Indon</b>. The trio of teens created
a sensation when they swept all their events in their age division. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Philippine gymnastics got a major boost when, in the same
year, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GAP </b>applied for international
affiliation with the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fêdêration Internationale de Gymnastique</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(FIG),</b> the world governing body for
that sport. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sec. Sotero Tejada</b> not
only got a membership, but also convinced the world federation to allow Filipino
gymnasts to compete in the next year’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympics</b>
to be held in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Asia </b>for the first
time. And so, in 1964, 3 Filipino gymnasts made history by competing at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1964 Tokyo Olympics</b>—a first for the
Philippines: the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FEU </b>champion <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Evelyn Magluyan, Fortunato Payao</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Demetrio Pastrana. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Norman could have easily qualified with his superb
gymnastic skills, but at 14, he was too young to compete in the Olympics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>enrolled at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gregorio Perfecto</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">High School</b> in Tondo, he continued
to step up his training. In 1967, Norman and his teammates—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ernesto Beren, Raul de Belen</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolando Mirasol</b>—were invited to compete in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Copenhagen, Denmark</b> which was hosting the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">International School Games</b>—the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hapniad</i></b>, as it was called-- held in
connection with the city’s 800th anniversary. It was an exciting time for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson </b>as it was his first time to
journey to <b>Europe.</b> When it was his turn to take his place on the gymnasium mat,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson </b>mesmerized the crowd with a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Floor Exercise</b> routine that garnered
him the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gold Medal</b>, besting gymnasts
from ten countries.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, the Olympic year arrived in 1968 and, at age 18,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Norman V. Henson</b>, with his <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boys Town</b> team mate <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ernesto Beren</b>, were named to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippine National Team</b> to compete <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in Mexico City, Mexico</b>. It was a year
of many firsts-- the 19<sup>th</sup> edition of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympics</b> was the first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olympic
Games</b> to be staged in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Latin America</b>,
held from October 12-27, the first to be held in a Spanish-speaking nation. For
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippines</b>, it marked the first
time that a Filipino sat in the gymnastics judging panel, in the person of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sec. Sotero A. Tejada</b>, and only the
second time that the country sent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its male
gymnasts to the quadrennial event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of his star athlete, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sec.
Tejada </b>opined,<i>” Norman Henson is expected to make a good showing in the floor
exercises and rings”. </i>At the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National
Auditorium</b>, with the world’s best gymnasts participating, 14 different
artistic gymnastics events were contested, eight for men and six for women. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson </b>saw action in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Men’s Rings, Parallel Bars, Horse Vault,
Floor Exercises and Individual All-Around.</b> The valiant duo gave their best,
but at the end of their routines, their scores put them in the last 2 places of
their qualifying events.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Post-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mexico</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b> continued to be active in
competition. He practically trained and lived at the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rizal Memorial Stadium</b>, which would be the venue of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1971</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">National Open Gymnastics Championship</b> held from April 29-May 1, 1971.
This time, he was narrowly beaten in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All-Around</b>
by rising star <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rolando Albuera</b>. He would
devote his time in the sport that he loved, and became a trainor and coach of
many budding gymnasts in the 1980s, including members of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippine National Gymnastic Team.</b> He,
himself, was married to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teresita Jose</b>,
a former gymnast from the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">University of
the East,</b> whom he met back in high school. They would have 4 children: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Norman Jr., Ethelson, Jacqueline</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pauline.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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His coaching career was hampered by a series of strokes,
and he would pass away in April 2014. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henson</b>
may not have won an Olympic medal, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
he certainly gained something of greater value from gymnastics, making a complete
turnaround of an early life that was threatening to go awry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The redemptive power of sports put him back on
track, enabling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Norman V.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henson</b> to win decisively, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the game of Life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">SOURCES:</u><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Special Thanks to: ETHELSON J. HENSON, son of Norman Henson, for additional information about his father.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>About GAP: <a href="http://philippinegymnastics.org/about-gap/">http://philippinegymnastics.org/about-gap/</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Manila Boys Town Complex: <a href="https://www.coursehero.com/file/p613gnt/Manila-Boystown-Complex-is-a-government-owned-institution-and-facility-is/">https://www.coursehero.com/file/p613gnt/Manila-Boystown-Complex-is-a-government-owned-institution-and-facility-is/</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Boys Town Regrets Over Lost Glory: <a href="https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2006/06/14/341837/boys-town-regrets-over-lost-glory">https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2006/06/14/341837/boys-town-regrets-over-lost-glory</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sunday Times Magazine, “Well Balanced: Ph Gymansts in the
Olympics”, Oct. 13, 1968. P. 34</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-27905348470768010652018-11-27T13:52:00.000-08:002018-11-27T13:52:19.501-08:00*442. RAYMOND L. OCAMPO of Lubao: A Winter Olympian's Long, Lonesome Road to Calgary<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YU4kUme50Mw/W_22Ov0VRqI/AAAAAAAASV0/PFusTX7rJT4KlwFzOvzasKrOoIk99Vz_ACLcBGAs/s1600/RaymondOcampo%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="662" height="273" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YU4kUme50Mw/W_22Ov0VRqI/AAAAAAAASV0/PFusTX7rJT4KlwFzOvzasKrOoIk99Vz_ACLcBGAs/s400/RaymondOcampo%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">SKI IS NO LIMIT. Lawyer-luger Raymond Ocampo Jr. did not just want to compete in the Olympics, he wanted to race for the Philippines, his country of birth. But his dream was put in peril due to passport issues. Photo: NY Times,</span></i></div>
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When a topnotch Kapampangan-American athlete and lawyer
was asked in one job interview which he would prioritize—to handle a major
corporate client or to compete in the Olympic, he chose the latter—and got
hired anyway. Such is the commitment of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raymond
L. Ocampo Jr.</b> to his chosen discipline—luge—a winter sport that is hardly
known in the U.S., much less in the Philippines. But Ocampo did not just want
to join the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Winter Olympics</b>; he
wanted to compete for the Philippines.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It had been 16 years since the Philippines was
represented in a winter Olympics;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
first time was in the 1972 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sapporo </b>games
when cousins <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ben Nanasca</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Juan Cipriano</b> competed in alpine skiing.
The two were adopted and lived in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Andorra</b>,
and took to skiing in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pyrenees.</b>
They became so proficient that the Swiss government recruited them for an
alpine skiing group, which paved the way for their Olympic stint under the
Philippine flag.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b>’s
journey was unlike our pioneer Olympians. Born in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lubao </b>on 10 Feb. 1953, his parents migrated to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canada</b> when he was 11. The young Ocampo channeled his energies into
sports of all kinds—as a high-schooler, he became a member of his school’s
basketball team that won the state championship. Even as a political science
student at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">UCLA</b> and later, as a law
student,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he was running marathons in
between poring over legal tomes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After passing the bar, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b> went into private practice and continued with his love of
sports. In 1986, the year he got employed by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Oracle Corp</b>., he became fascinated with luge—a fast race on
artificial ice tracks using racing sleds that could be maneuvered to reach over
140 kilometer per hour. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What was amazing was that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b> learned the sports from scratch. He would watch old video
tapes of past winter Olympics editions, but when he reviewed the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saravejo Olympics</b> of 1984, he was
surprised to learn that tropical <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Puerto
Rico</b> was represented by a skier named <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">George
Tucker</b>. He seriously began entertaining the thought of representing the
country of his birth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b>
began investing in the sport, spending as much as $20,000 alone for trips and
equipment. He started intensive dry-land training on a sled with wheels and joining
races. His first big one was at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Empire State Games </b>at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lake Placid</b> in 1986, finishing a
creditable 7<sup>th</sup> in his over-30 age group. One of those he defeated
was Puerto Rican <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">George Tucker</b>! The
experience buoyed his confidence and thus began his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>personal mission to ski for the Philippines.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But first, he needed the permission of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippine Olympic Committee</b> in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manila</b> via the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippine Consulate</b> in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">San
Francisco</b>. It took awhile to convince sports officials that his application
was valid: the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">International Olympic
Committee</b> allows an athlete to represent the country of his birth so long
as he has not competed in the same sport<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>for another country. Besides, as a dual Filipino-American citizen, he
was eligible to don the Philippine tri-color.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The national committee however, required him to hold a
Philippine passport first—and thus began a series of frustrating passport
issues that imperiled his Olympic dream. ''Luging is hard enough,'' he
realized, but ''the paper trail was the hardest part.'' A personnel from the
consulate volunteered to take his case, and his cache of supporting documents
to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manila</b> to discuss his request
with the Olympic committee.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the official’s timing was bad; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Corazon Aquino</b> had just ousted Marcos, and a new government was
being put in place. It did not help that the official had strong ties with the
Marcos administration, so upon landing in Manila, he was withheld, and his
papers were confiscated, including <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b>’s
pertinent documents. The disappointed Olympic hopeful had to start all over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b>
personally sent a letter to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vice
President Salvador H. Laurel</b>. He sent another letter to Sec. Gen. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Francisco Almeda</b>—who had denied his
first request. The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">United States Luge
Federation </b>even sent a letter of recommendation to convince the Olympic
committee. When still a deluge of letters and telex messages from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b> were left unanswered, the weary
athlete phoned <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Almeda </b>directly,
finally convincing him how serious he was. With that final go-signal, Ocampo
gave a big sigh of relief as he mused: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>''It was an exhausting process…more exhausting
than lugeing.'' <o:p></o:p></div>
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When the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">15<sup>th</sup>
Winter Olympics</b> unfolded in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calgary,
Alberta, Canada</b> on 13 February 1988, the triumphant <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo</b> marched into the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">McMahon
Stadium</b>, proudly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>holding the
Philippine flag up high. He was the lone Filipino among the thousands of international
athletes who congregated in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calgary</b>
that year to vie for medals in the premiere winter sport games of the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Never has there been an athlete who have worked and
prepared as hard as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raymond L.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocampo Jr.</b>—even before the Games had
started. ''A medal is not something I'm shooting for,'' the Kapampangan-American
said. ''But whether I win one or not, it would be nice to bring a focus to the
Philippines for something other than the troubles they have been having. That's
just the way I feel.''<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(POSTSCRIPT: Ocampo was fielded in the men's
singles luge event and finished 35 out of 38 overall. In 2010, he served as an honorary
captain of the U.S. Olympic Luge Team that competed in Vancouver,Canada. He is
the current President and CEO of Samurai Surfer LLC, a private consulting and
investment company)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Ocampo">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Ocampo</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Raymond L. Ocampo Jr. , <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=667210&privcapId=338154">https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=667210&privcapId=338154</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>OLYMPIC PROFILE: RAYMOND OCAMPO; One-Man Luge Team With
Tale of 2 Flags, By MICHAEL JANOFSKY, Nov. 29, 1987, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/sports/olympic-profile-raymond-ocampo-one-man-luge-team-with-tale-of-2-flags.html">https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/sports/olympic-profile-raymond-ocampo-one-man-luge-team-with-tale-of-2-flags.html</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Pictures: <a href="https://www.h5.com/ray-ocampo-jr/">https://www.h5.com/ray-ocampo-jr/</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">New York Times, Nov. 29, 1987</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-12789835410599806832018-11-20T13:30:00.001-08:002018-11-20T13:30:29.951-08:00*441. Kapampangan-Canadian KAYLA SANCHEZ: World Class Swimmer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRDOE_I5GAc/W-9DvbvVaaI/AAAAAAAASUQ/I15Nxmr8oWESt_VnmsuSnEB_0G3fjuWRwCLcBGAs/s1600/46443420_1757054447737703_4852537291781963776_n%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRDOE_I5GAc/W-9DvbvVaaI/AAAAAAAASUQ/I15Nxmr8oWESt_VnmsuSnEB_0G3fjuWRwCLcBGAs/s400/46443420_1757054447737703_4852537291781963776_n%2Bcopy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAKING A SPLASH. Kayla Noelle Sanchez, 5'7" seventeener, sank 2 junior world swimming records in 2 years. She is a member of Team Canada for the2018 Commonwealth Games. Her father, Noel Sanchez, comes from Mabalacat but worked in Singapore where Kayla was born.</span></i></div>
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<br />
Promising Olympic hopeful, <b>Kayla Noelle Sanchez</b> is a
young, versatile star swimmer currently making waves in the world of
competitive swimming. Just seventeen, she has re-written<b> 3 World Junior Swimming
Records</b> (2 in 50m. and 1 in 25m. pool) in
just two years, named to Canada’s <b>2018 Commonwealth Games</b> where she collected a medal, and garnered 2 more at the <b>Pan
Pacific Games </b>in Tokyo, Japan.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just as exciting to know is that Sanchez, is part-Kapampangan,
one of two daughters of <b>Noel Sison Sanchez </b>of <b>Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga</b> and <b>Ma.
Susana Pramoso,</b> a nurse from <b>Baguio.</b> The couple used to be overseas workers
based in <b>Singapore</b>, and it was there that <b>Kayla </b>was born on 7 April 2001.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2002, when <b>Kayla</b> was just a year old, the Sanchezes
migrated to <b>Canada</b>. Few years later, she joined the community learn- to-swim
programs and became so proficient that she reached a level where she could no
longer advance at her age. Her coach advised her to join competitive swim club.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prior to that, as a Grade 3 student, she tried out and
made the school swim team and competed for the first time at the <b>Annual
Catholic District Board Swimming Championship</b>. Shortly after, she joined a
competitive swim club, and immediately, she made waves at the pool. At the
short course <b>Ontario Provincial Championships</b> in 2014, she reset four Canadian
age-group records. The most impressive was her victory in 50m freestyle which broke the Canadian
age-group record of 26.34 that has been standing since 1985. <b>Kayla</b> went below
that at 26.29 secs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sanchez continued to swim for the <b>High Performance
Centre–Ontario</b> under the tutelage of <b>Ben Titley</b>, Canada’s Olympic swim coach. She
was swimming superbly, in disciplines that included freestyle, backstroke,
individual medley and the relays. In July 2017, she was part of the Canadian
swim that went to <b>World Aquatics Championship</b> in Budapest, where they placed 4<sup>th</sup>.
She had just turned 16. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A month later, the <b>6th FINA World Junior Swimming
Championships</b> unfolded in Indianapolis, and once again, Canada was ably
represented in the 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay by its women’s team led by Rio
Olympic gold medalist <b>Penny Oleksiak, Rebecca Smith, Taylor Ruck </b>and <b>Kayla</b>
<b>Sanchez</b>. The team not only scooped up the Gold Medal, but established a new
<b>World Junior Record </b>of 7:51.47, almost six
seconds ahead of Russia and faster than any team of teenagers in history.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just as 2018 was about to end, at the <b>North York Aquatic
Cup </b>held in <b>Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre </b>, the teenage sensation broke the
short course 50 meter freestyle <b>World Junior Record</b> with a blistering time of
23. 94 seconds. The previous record of 24.00 secs. was achieved by <b>Menghui Zhu</b>
of China (Japanese swimmer <b>Rikako Ikee</b> finished 23.95 seconds in 2017, but this
has not been ratified, and even if it were, <b>Kayla</b>'s time is still one one hundredth of a second
faster). <o:p></o:p></div>
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With her clocking, <b>Kayla</b> swam the 5<sup>th</sup>
fastest 50 freestyle in the world this 2018, behind the fastest women sprinters in the
pool, topped by Sweden’s <b>Sarah Sjostrom’</b>s 23.21 seconds. This, she accomplished while still a junior age swimmer. As if this was not incredible enough, <b>Kayla </b>returned later and swam the preliminary 100m backstroke in 58.2 secs.,
the only one to swim the distance under 1 minute. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As she is poised to enter her college years, where she is
ranked<b> #1</b> in college recruiting class 2019, <b>Kayla</b> has been receiving overtures
from the best colleges and universities in the USA, dangling scholarship offers
for her to be on on their <b>NCAA</b> team. Her parents have taught her the permanent
value of education and so, even while she was swimming, she continues to do
well in school. She graduated elementary
as a class valedictorian.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her parents are hoping in the future that <b>Kayla </b>will be
able to swim for the Philippines. But at the moment, an official in the Philippines National Team
put it this way, <i>“whatever flag she represent, for me she’s always be a
Filipino by heart.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>KAYLA SANCHEZ BREAKS FOUR AGE-GROUP RECORDS AT ONTARIO
PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, </i><a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ACjm1zrtjGUJ:https://swimswam.com/kayla-sanchez-breaks-four-age-group-records-ontario-provincial-championships/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ph"><i>https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ACjm1zrtjGUJ:https://swimswam.com/kayla-sanchez-breaks-four-age-group-records-ontario-provincial-championships/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ph</i></a><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kayla Sanchez’Athlete’s Profile: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://results.gc2018.com/en/swimming/athlete-profile-n6022733-kayla-sanchez.htm"><i>https://results.gc2018.com/en/swimming/athlete-profile-n6022733-kayla-sanchez.htm</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">CANADA’S KAYLA SANCHEZ BREAKS WORLD JUNIOR RECORD IN
50 FREE.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://swimswam.com/canadas-kayla-sanchez-breaks-world-junior-record-in-50-free/"><i>https://swimswam.com/canadas-kayla-sanchez-breaks-world-junior-record-in-50-free/</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.swimming.ca/en/swimmer/kayla-sanchez/">https://www.swimming.ca/en/swimmer/kayla-sanchez/</a></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.collegeswimming.com/swimmer/488811/">https://www.collegeswimming.com/swimmer/488811/</a></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayla_Sanchez">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayla_Sanchez</a></span></span></i></div>
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MANY THANKS TO Messrs. CLARO SANCHEZ JR.
& NOEL SANCHEZ</span></i></b></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-17041204407003096462018-11-13T21:35:00.003-08:002018-11-13T21:35:35.773-08:00*440. Race The Wind: JAMIE C. PAMINTUAN, Top Woman Motocross Rider <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlDEkmjfvIY/W-qZkCZ211I/AAAAAAAASRE/letTDJAytJkj5YfcB52JpIqrcfMddx1ogCLcBGAs/s1600/Jamie3%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="960" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlDEkmjfvIY/W-qZkCZ211I/AAAAAAAASRE/letTDJAytJkj5YfcB52JpIqrcfMddx1ogCLcBGAs/s400/Jamie3%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HER MOTO IN LIFE. Jamie C. Pamintuan, one of the world's top women motocross riders in the 90s decade. Her father, Remy Pamintuan of Angeles City was also an ace motocross biker in his time. Photos courtesy of Terri Cui Pamintuan.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before <b>Hidilyn Diaz </b>and <b>Margielyn Didal</b> made waves in
Weightlifting and Skateboarding respectively—sports that were generally
considered as men’s domains, there was an audacious, daredevil
Kapampangan sportswoman who conquered the sports of motocross racing—rising to
the ranks of the world’s best female
riders in the 90s decade.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jamie Cui Pamintuan,</b> born on 3 January 1979,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has the adventurous streak in her genes, Her
father, <b>Remigio<i> “Remy”</i> Pamintuan</b> of <b>Angeles City,</b> was a former ace motocross
rider himself, winning the <b>Philippine National Motocross</b> championships from
1969-1976. He was a contemporary of the motorsports legends <b>Butch Chase</b>
(Russian-American born in the Philippines) and <b>Ken Falco</b>, who went on to head
the <b>National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association</b>. Her mother, <b>Theresa
<i>“Terri” </i>Cui</b> was a USAF daughter who grew up in Clark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At age 2, <b>Jamie,</b> along with her family migrated to the
U.S. Growing up she was involved in various activities, (dancing, martial
arts, skating, etc.). She even played softball in high school (<b>Polytechnic
Senior High School</b>) on the Jr. Varsity Team. But none of those pursuits really
held her interest for very long—except riding her BMX bike. Her father sought
out a bike for her, but was appalled at the prices. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”Mas mura pa and
motor kaysa sa bisikleta”,</i> he would say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So he went out and bought a used RMZ 80cc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b> </b></span><b>Jamie </b>taught herself how to ride and shift
gears—right in their own backyard, as there was no proper venue to practice in
the city where they lived. Her father kept watch as her skills improved, so, he
too, got a bike so he could guide her in riding, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jamie</b> was inspired even more<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when she went to watch races at <b>De Anza MX</b>
track in <b>Moreno Valley, California</b>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, she
saw <b>Mercedes Gonzalez</b>, a pioneering female biker and <b>Jamie</b>'s idol--race against
men. With confidence high, she tried to register to race in the 80cc class,
only to be told that she was too young for that class. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Undeterred, she practiced even more, riding at different
tracks and clubs: <b>Perris Raceway, Glen</b> <b>Helen, Barona Oaks, CRC-Palmdale</b>. <b>Jamie
</b>would ride against the boys and at times would beat them. It was in these
practice rides that she caught the attention of <b>Tami Rice,</b> promoter and
president of the <b>Women’s MX Team</b>, and who would become <b>Jamie</b>’s mentor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With her parent’s permission, <b>Rice </b>signed her up with the
Women’s Class, at the age of 11, but she was tall for her age. Once she moved
up from riding 80 cc. to 125 cc. bikes
at age 12, <b> Jamie</b> quickly rose through the ranks, often
competing against young men.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1992 was a turning point in her budding career. Just 13,
she was asked by the <b>Women’s Team</b> head to fill in a slot for an international
competition in Italy. But she had just suffered an injury 2 weeks before ( she
broke her clavicle), and was still recovering. It was an opportunity of a
lifetime not to be missed, and so with her parents’ blessing, <b>Jamie </b>went to
race and place 12th overall, an incredible finish for the youngest racer of the
competition.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The following years, women races were still few and far
between, so <b>Jamie </b>would race against men in local races to push herself, and
continued to race nationally with women at various <b>AMA Outdoor Nationals.</b> She
started building her winning credentials starting in 1994, with a 1st place
finish at the <b>Adelanto Grand Prix</b><b> </b>
(Women’s Open Class) and 7th place overall at the<b> Ladies’ Invitational
World Cup </b>in Oklahoma. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other local series races where she triumphed in 1995
include: <b>Anaheim Supercross</b> (Women’s Stadium cross- main event, 3rd place); <b>San
Diego Supercross</b> (Women’s Stadium Cross main event,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4th place); <b>GNC @ Lake Whitney Texas</b> (Women’s
Pro Class, 3rd Place); <b>Women’s West Coast</b> <b>National</b> (1st ); <b>Mammoth Mountain
Motocross Women Pro</b> ( 3rd) and <b>Barona Oaks Ladies World</b> <b>Cup</b> (7th in Pro 125cc ,
3rd in 250cc ). In 1996, <b>Jamie</b> qualified for the highly competitive <b>Loretta
Lynns Motocross</b> in Tennessee, one of the most sought after for amateur races
where all factory scouting occurs. Unfortunately, her old shoulder injury
prevented her from finishing her race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That summer while recuperating from her injury, the
<b>Philippine Shell Yamaha</b> invited Jamie to come out to the Philippines and ride
with the team. She came out and rode as a guest rider in Tacloban, Leyte. She
was also invited to come to Batangas where she captivated the crowd in a sponsored exhibition race. Pitted against<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ace pro-riders<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Glen Aguilar </b>and
<b>Jing Leongson, </b>she matched the men’s double and triple jumps on board a Suzuki
RMC 250 motorcycle. The adoring fans could hardly
believe that the helmet-wearing person in front of them was a woman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jamie </b>took time-off from racing in 1997 to have surgeries
on her problem shoulder. But while convalescing, she was approached by a stunt
rider to perform a daring stunt for the <b>Guinness World Record</b>: a
building-to-building jump, 14 stories high. She successfully performed the
heart-stopping jump stunt in downtown L.A.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Due to her injury, <b>Jamie </b>also tried “dragonfire racing”
on street bikes, where jumps<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were not
required. She continued to race until 2004/2005 when a crash in motocross left
her temporarily paralyzed for 2 months. She recovered from that serious
accident, but her doctors advised her against racing again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To this day though she still misses the adrenaline rush
that racing brings. She would come out and ride when there are reunions or
anniversary events for <b>Women’s Motocross</b>. The last race was in 2014 for the
40th year celebration of <b>Women’s Motocross</b> at Glen Helen, California. Whenever
the history of women’s motorsports is recalled, the name <b>Jamie C. Pamintuan </b>is
always mentioned with awe and respect, for helping blaze the trail for women to
in a male-dominated sport, giving them another platform to excel, break
barriers and stereotypes. It comes as no surprise that this Kapampangan
trailblazer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is regarded today as one of
the most influential Women of Motocross. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>MY GRATEFUL THANKS TO:</u><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MR.S TERRI CUI PAMINTUAN, Jamie’s mother,
for co-writing this article.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MIKE PAMINTUAN, for leading me to Jamie
Pamintuan and her amazing motocross achievements.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-73225862811790402372018-11-07T20:02:00.002-08:002019-08-27T16:51:02.724-07:00*439. MISAGH M. BAHADORAN: This Azkal from Mabalacat is Mr. Football 2017<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRe_ure_lMs/W-OpHvbC-iI/AAAAAAAASQM/NMIhYb_kfxIwRCKmsi5H_Ypx1qNFdrvxwCLcBGAs/s1600/MISAGH%252Cfinal%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1369" height="280" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRe_ure_lMs/W-OpHvbC-iI/AAAAAAAASQM/NMIhYb_kfxIwRCKmsi5H_Ypx1qNFdrvxwCLcBGAs/s400/MISAGH%252Cfinal%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">MR. FOOTBALL 2017,AZKAL MISAGH BAHADORAN has the distinction of scoring the first international goal for the Philippines during the 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds against Bahrain in 2015. He spent his early education in Mabalacat. Pitcure source: heartthrobcandy.blogspot.</span></i></div>
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One of the brightest names in Philippine sports is the
footballer <b>Misagh Medina Bahadoran</b>, member of the national football team, popularly
known by their monicker, the Philippine Azkals. Misagh was born on 10 January
1987 in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the third of seven children of Mostafa Bahadoran
of Iran, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Mary Anne Medina of
Poblacion, Mabalacat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He spent his early years in his father’s country, and at
7, he began playing football and dreamt of becoming a professional footballer.
Moving to the Philippines, <b>Bahadoran</b> studied at Children of Fatima School in
Mabalacat and finished his elementary and high school education there in 2004. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In college, he pursued the sports with passion, playing
as a Winger and Forward. He became so good at it that he was named to the Futsal
National Team in 2007,where he would be a member for 5 years. That same year,
<b>Bahadoran </b>was invited to try-out for the national football team, only to be
advised by his father to finish his studies first. At that time, he was still
enrolled as a student of Dentistry at the Centro Escolar University in Manila.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meanwhile, <b>Bahadoran</b> continud to honed his football
skills by playing with many international football clubs. In 2009,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he participated at the United Football League
as a player for Pasargad. He later moved to Kaya in 2010. He was soon
attracting the attention of other clubs; in December of 2011, he was asked to
try out for the Tokyo Verdy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Upon graduation in 2011, his father gave him his
blessings to pursue his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>football passion
full-time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally became a certified
“AZKAL” when he made it to the Philippine National Football Team, in the august company of Neil Etheridge, Stephen Schrock, Chieffy Caligdong, Phil and James Younghusband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Bahadoran</b> was named in the final squad for the first
round 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>against Sri Lanka, but was unable to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the team made it to the second round, he
substituted for teammate Angel Guirado in the match against Kuwait,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thus finally making his playing debut, a game
which the Azkals lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not to be fazed, the team bounced back in the second
qualifying round against Bahrain in 2015. <b>Bahadoran </b>proved his worth when he
scored his first international goal—a historic feat for the Philippines—which
enabled the Azkals to prevail, with a score of 2-1. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The news of that victory reverberated back home. But
there was more to come from the exceptional Kapampangan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the next match against Yemen held 5 days
later, <b>Bahadoran</b> scored the epic first goal for the Philippines, and the team
never looked back, with a convincing 2-0 victory. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The celebrated achievements of <b>Bahadoran</b> in the
qualifying games leading to the 2018 FIFA World Cup were rewarded with the
ultimate recognition from the sport. In 2017, he was named “Mr. Football” by the Philippine Sportstwriters' Association, a prized title bestowed on him in February.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is rather ironic that <b>Bahadoran</b>, who has won national
acclaim for his football playing as a striker, has yet to receive the
recognition that he so rightfully deserves as a true son of the Pampanga, saved for an exemplary alumni award from his <i>alma mater</i>. <o:p></o:p>His nomination for the the Outstanding Kapampangan Awards was
surprisingly bypassed in 2017, the year that <b>Bahadoran </b>earned Philippine
football’s top award.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On the bright side, the 31 year-old continues to be active
in promoting and playing the sports that he has come to love. In 2016, he made a crucial
decision to defer his dental practice in Makati so he could spend a few more
years in football with Global FC/Cebu. <b>Bahadoran </b>was squired by clubs within the
region, eventually signing with the Malaysia Super League club Perak TBG in
January 2018, a stint that ended in October.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He has never lost touch with his Kapampangan roots; every
now and then, he goes home to Mabalacat for quick family get-togethers and
reunions. The football star with matinee idol looks <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had a 3 year relationship with actress-model
Sam Pinto, but have recently split.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for football, never has the sport elicited this much
tremendous amount of attention among young Pinoy fans and players, than now—thanks
to the Philippine AZKALS, and to one world-class Kapampangan footballer, <b>Misagh
Bahadoran</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><u>SOURCES:</u></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>PHOTO: <a href="https://heartthrobcandy.blogspot.com/2012/04/misagh-bahadoran.html">https://heartthrobcandy.blogspot.com/2012/04/misagh-bahadoran.html</a></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-39044832757157048552018-11-03T19:56:00.000-07:002018-11-04T00:23:06.880-07:00*438. STAN C. CARBUNGCO: The “Rock from Porac” Who Muscled His Way to Mr. Universe<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26PW-LApMsk/W96d0HJpYcI/AAAAAAAASOo/pM4DX4qAR8wMk4zVwDqlp55o1nuTGdL5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Carbungco%252CStan%2Bcopyxx%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1008" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-26PW-LApMsk/W96d0HJpYcI/AAAAAAAASOo/pM4DX4qAR8wMk4zVwDqlp55o1nuTGdL5QCLcBGAs/s400/Carbungco%252CStan%2Bcopyxx%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">STAN'S THE MAN. </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">First Filipino and first Asian bodybuilder to place in Mr. Universe.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The icon of Philippine bodybuilding, <b>Estanislao “Stan”
Carbungco</b> was born on 13 Nov. 1931, the youngest of 7 children to Don <b>Ambrosio Ocampo
Carbungco</b> with roots in Porac, and Doña <b>Angelina Cuenco</b>. His father, a former
chef of Casino Español for 8 years, was a successful restaurateur, founder of
the popular Carbungco Restaurant, a renown catering and dining place in pre-war
Manila, with a branch in Antipolo.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Though the young Stan was raised in a comfortable household,
he learned from his father the value of hard work, who had no qualms washing
dishes and doing menial jobs in his own restaurant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He spent his school years at the <b>Far Eastern University</b>,
where he finished high school. He would later finish his Commerce degree at the
same university.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sickly growing up, Stan began doing weight training in a
gym. He became so good at it that he was soon immersing himself deeply in
physical culture. His parents did not exactly approve of his interest in
bodybuilding, which was not a common sport at that time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There were only a few visible musclemen in the 50s , and one of them was <b>Jesus Ramos</b>,
Mr. Philippines of 1951, who became a certified star after appearing in a
series of jungle movies, and dubbed as the Philippine Tarzan. Then there was
Olympian <b>Rodrigo del Rosario</b>, who, <i>en route</i> to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>placing fourth in the <b>1952 Helsinki Olympics</b>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>set a world and Olympic record in the military
press portion of his event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hoping to join competitions, <b>Carbungco</b> continued to train
in secret. In 1954, he qualified for the <b>Mr. Philippines</b> bodybuilding contest,
and to his surprise, won the his first of two national titles. He
would duplicate that achievement by winning the<b> Mr. Philippines </b>title yet again
in 1959, which would proved to be his most successful year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was an exciting time for a 28 year old to fly to
Montreal, Canada as the first ever country representative to the <b>1959 Mr. Universe</b>
bodybuilding contest. an event organized by the<b> International Federation of
Body Building and Fitness</b>. He traveled alone, without a retinue to assist him,
but that did not seem to faze him. He not only made bodybuilding friends from
around the world—but also history for Asian sports.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Carbungco</b> placed 1<sup>st</sup> as the <b>Most Muscular</b> in
the Medium class division, and earned runner-up honors to <b>Mr. Universe</b> Medium
class. In the overall class, the unheralded athlete was named second Most
Muscular after <b>Eddie Silvestre </b>of the U.S., who went on to become <b>Mr. Universe</b>. To him goes the distinction of being the first Filipino and only Asian to break into the winning circle, a feat unprecedented
at that time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Upon his return, <b>Carbungco </b>made a major shift by
concentrating on weightlifting rather than bodybuilding. It was an opportune
time as the 1960 Rome Olympics were coming up, and he was hoping to follow the
footsteps of the prodigious <b>Rodrigo del Rosario</b> who, 8 years before, had pressed 231
¼ lbs. , a new Olympic Mark in his featherweight division. He began
powerlifting, and at one point, he was lifting weights that would have been
good for Olympic bronze or silver.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Indeed, <b>Carbungco</b> was being touted as a sure Olympic bet
and medalist in weightlifting, but his Olympic dreams were dashed when, after
appearing in a print ad for boat motors, lost his amateur status for being paid
as an endorser. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Carbungco</b> was sadly frustrated over this disqualification,
but he never looked back. Instead, he stepped up his efforts to promote the sports
of bodybuilding like never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
his competitive days were over, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he put
up a weight and fitness center, <b>‘Stan Carbungco’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gym”</b>, in Quezon City where he personally
trained and mentored many young physical culturists. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To meet the growing needs for gym equipment,
<b>Carbungco</b> pioneered the local manufacture of weight-training equipment and gear
in the Philippines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The well-patronized
gym had a loyal following, and the hallowed institution for bodybuilding has
been in operation for over 50 years now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All his life, <b>Carbungco</b> devoted his time and energy to
the fitness sport he loved. For many years he headed the <b>Philippine Federation
of Body Builders,</b> an official affiliate of IFBB which fields Filipino
bodybuilders to various competitions abroad. He also co-founded the
<b>Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP)</b> in 1982. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The legendary bodybuilder, <b><i>"Mang Stan"</i></b>, as he was called in his later years,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passed away at age 81 on 10 March 2012. He
left behind his wife, <b>Edna Oquendo-Carbungco</b> and their children, and a legacy
of health and fitness advocacies that he passionately pursued, and which continues to inspire
Philippine sports to this day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>SOURCES:<o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sibug, Edgardo. “PORAC: A Rancheria at Batiauwan
1594-2004”, © 2003. p. 280<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>FB Interview with Mr. Tiny Carbungco, son of Stan
Carbungco<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Tiny Carbungco FB Page<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Jeffrey dePadua Panela<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lolo Stan Carbungco Tribute: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9a9q9g3f4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9a9q9g3f4</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Uploaded by Grace Carbungco, published April 3, 2012.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Stan Carbungco tribute: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7hqbaut5UI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7hqbaut5UI</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Uploaded by Beng Gonzales, published 22 March 20102,
accessed 2 Nov, 2018.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodybuilding_in_the_Philippines">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodybuilding_in_the_Philippines</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.philippinewatchclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13717">http://www.philippinewatchclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13717</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Iron Pinoy : <a href="https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29">https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29">https://issuu.com/ironpinoy/docs/ipmag2011may-june/29</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.ironpinoy.com/a-short-history-of-philippine-powerlifting/"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>https://www.ironpinoy.com/a-short-history-of-philippine-powerlifting/</i></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Special thanks to Mr. Ed Escolito Escobar</span></i><br />
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-45806967821739873422018-10-10T04:27:00.000-07:002019-01-03T20:14:45.717-08:00*437. PAULINE C. LIEB: Wartime Philippines’ “Joan of Arc”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwhXcSNSGxA/W73P9-EnoUI/AAAAAAAARxw/nT1ACDRD6fgPZPbvmPVxWBxSVNE21NF7ACLcBGAs/s1600/Pauline%2BCanovas%2BLieb%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwhXcSNSGxA/W73P9-EnoUI/AAAAAAAARxw/nT1ACDRD6fgPZPbvmPVxWBxSVNE21NF7ACLcBGAs/s400/Pauline%2BCanovas%2BLieb%2Bcopy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">LIEB AND LET DIE. Filipino-American freedom fighter, she joined the resistance movement and fought side-by-side with male soldiers. She was captured in the foothills of Montalban in 1944. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In 1960, a Filipino-American couple moved into a quiet
Angeles neighborhood, then still a town. They were seemingly an ordinary
couple—Mr. Eugene Lieb, an engineer, had just accepted a job at Clark Air Base
while his wife, a Manileña, appeared to be a typical mother hen to their two
daughters. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But little did their neighbors know, that the life of Pauline C.
Lieb was anything but typical. For in their midst was a war heroine, whose
largely forgotten role as an underground guerrilla fighter needs to be retold,
for hers is a story of love, struggle and survival.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pauline was the daughter of Paz Canovas, of
Spanish-Filipino descent, and Edward Costigan, an American. Costigan had
arrived in the Philippines in 1898 where he quickly found work as a manager of
a cold storage facility in Manila. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pauline was born on 6 June 1917, and grew up speaking
Spanish and English in a multi-cultural household. As a young girl growing up
in Manila, the pretty Pauline was squired by handsome swains, that counted the
tall and handsome Lubeño, Regidor dela Rosa—who would go on to become the
matinee idol, Rogelio dela Rosa. Another admirer was said to be the scion of
the La Tondeña Distillery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The onset of World War II would put on hold the lives of
millions of Filipinos—and that of the Costigans would be affected most
profoundly. At the height of the war years, Pauline did what she thought was
right for her country and joined the underground resistance movement, prodded
by Tom Myers, an American shipping magnate who organized the guerrilla
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took up arms, and under<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Capt. Myers, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>became part of the combat forces which
attacked and ambushed Japanese enemy soldiers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Japanese military began putting the heat on the
American and Filipino guerrilla fighters (Huks)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and waged campaigns to purge them out from the mountains. It was in this
way that Pauline and Capt. Myers were captured in the hills of Montalban, Rizal
sometime in 1944. The American was beheaded, while Pauline was whisked off and
imprisoned at the Bilibid Prison in Manila. A fellow prisoner was Claire
Phillips, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aka </i>Clara Fuentes, a
Filipino-American spy who would write about her war experience in the book,
“Manila Espionage”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>( Her life story
later was turned into a Hollywood movie entitled, “I Was an American Spy” in
1951.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fortunately, Pauline escaped imminent doom and was freed
from incarceration with the bloody liberation of the Philippines. She was sent
to the United States to recuperate, and after the dust had settled and the
rebuilding of the nation went underway, the Costigans started life anew.
Eventually,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pauline found employment as
a cashier at the reconstructed Manila Hotel, the country’s premiere hotel. It
was here that she would meet a dashing American military personnel from Ohio,
Eugene L. Lieb, who was first assigned to the Port of Manila after the
war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After a short courtship, they got married in Catholic
ceremonies in Malate and settled in the new suburb of Makati. Mr. Lieb, a civil
engineer, was later tapped to head the Roads and Grounds services division at
Clark Air Base in Angeles, Pampanga. This necessitated the Liebs’ move to
Angeles in 1960. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here, in a Balibago neighborhood, the Liebs would raise
their two daughters: Pacita (now Vizcarra) and Mary Ann (now del Rosario), now
based in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pauline would live a
long life, passing away on 24 February 2009, at age 91 in her adopted city of
Angeles. A U.S. newspaper got wind of Pauline’s wartime exploits after her
death and an account of her life and times saw print on a Los Angeles daily
which dubbed her as “Joan of Arc” of World War II, a fitting appellation for a
freedom fighter who heeded to the calling of her inner voice-- to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>put country first, before herself.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<i><b><u>CREDITS:</u></b> Photo and information provided by Mr. Benjamin Canovas, a relative of Pauline Canovas Costigan Lieb</i>. </div>
<br />Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-79115090897073931492018-08-22T21:25:00.001-07:002018-08-26T00:41:39.906-07:00*436. COL. MIGUEL T. NICDAO: The Forgotten Story of a Kapampangan Scholar-Soldier<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzY6uheL5ws/W3uQ08Ho1NI/AAAAAAAARPM/z7y6VEfzRUwhs0h7u4wtz8H0RUUZFjGdwCLcBGAs/s1600/nicdao%252Cfoto%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="609" height="203" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzY6uheL5ws/W3uQ08Ho1NI/AAAAAAAARPM/z7y6VEfzRUwhs0h7u4wtz8H0RUUZFjGdwCLcBGAs/s400/nicdao%252Cfoto%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FROM MENTOR TO A MILITARY MAN. Guagua-born Col.Miguel Nicdao, whose family settled in San Fernando, belonged to the first wav of government scholars known as "pensionados". He made a career shift, never looked back, and became a bemedalled officer during the Commonwealth period. Source: Mr. Arnold Nicdao.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once in a long while, we uncover stories of extraordinary
Kapampangans, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who, despite their
remarkable lives and achievements, remain unremembered, their memories known
only to their family circles. Such is the case of Guagua-born Col. Miguel Nicdao
(b. 8 May 1888/d. 1938), whose story came to light courtesy of his
grandchildren, who, through their tireless research efforts, managed to piece
together the life of Col. Nicdao, their lolo whom they have never seen nor met.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Miguel Nicdao’s father, Jose Bonifacio Nicdao, was originally
from Cavite; his mother, Bonifacia Jose Tablante, was a homemaker who tended a
<i>sari-sari </i>store on the side. The young Nicdao was home-schooled, but with the
coming of the Americans and their introduction of the public school system,
education in the country took a turn for the better. This led the Nicdaos, who
have resettled in Bacolor, to move again to San Fernando, where the “Thomasites”
set up new schools with exacting standards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1903, the Pensionado Act was passed, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which gave opportunities to Filipino students
to study and earn college degrees in America. 15-year old Nicdao took the
competitive exams and topped the field with an average of 94.8; <i>kabalen</i> Jose
Abad Santos placed third. The teen suddenly found himself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sailing to America on Oct. 9,1903, aboard the
Japanese ship Rohilla Maru, as a member of pioneering group of 103 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pensionados</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Arriving in November, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pensionados</i> were distributed to different high schools in Southern
California to brush up on U.S. history, math and English. A year after, they
hied off to their respective colleges. Six Filipinos, Nicdao among them, began
their studies at Illinois State Normal University (now Illinois State
University). <o:p></o:p></div>
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The young Filipinos quickly made their presence felt in
the school, as all six were featured in the school’s weekly paper, “The Vidette,”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in 1904. Nicdao, however, made noise
when his article “Religions of the Philippines” saw print in the school organ.
Nicdao, a Methodist, assailed the Catholic friars’ intolerance of other
religions, warranting a reprimand from the U.S. War Department, after an Illinois
priest demanded that the article be censored.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But it was in the classroom that the young Kapampangan
showed his brilliance, specifically in the field of Oratory and Debate. His
public speaking skills earned him membership with the Wrightonian Society,
Oratorical Association, Cicero and the YMCA. He put his voice to a test, when, on
Feb. 23, 1907, at the Edwards Oratorical and Declamatory Contest, he won the
Gold Medal with his piece “The First Need of the Filipinos”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In March, he unanimously won the Inter-Normal Contest,
with the same piece, trumping Arthur Thompson of Macomb.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His Edwards gold medal earned him the right to represent
ISNU at the Inter-State Contest held on May 3, 1907 in Emporia, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kansas. Those who witnessed the excited
5-school match were effusive with praise for Nicdao’s performance: “His
gracefulness, directness and earnestness were pleasing and convincing. There
was, of course some peculiarity in his speech but his long, patient labor accomplished
remarkable results. Many said they missed no words at all”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, he placed third, behind the
Missouri and Kansas bets, despite having “a concrete and definite subject”. A
school observer could only surmise that his “ridiculous ranking” was due to his
Philippine-accented English.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By 1907, Nicdao was ready to return to the Philippines
after graduating with an Education degree from ISNU—the youngest of the batch
at 1907. Once home, he quickly rolled up his sleeves <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to start work as Principal of the San Luis
Intermediate School in San Luis, Pampanga (Oct. 1,1907-March 31, 1908). He was
promoted as Superintendent/ Teacher, and was assigned briefly to Mabalacat
Intermediate School from June-Jul. 1908, and then to Apalit Intermediate School
from Aug.-Sep. 1908. He stayed for 3 years in his next post, Pampanga High School
(Aug. 1908-Aug.1911) in his adapted hometown, San Fernando.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Much as he loved teaching, the young teacher found it
frustrating to advance in his career what with Americans well-placed in the educational
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1911, the civil government opened
the Camp Henry T. Allen Constabulary School in Baguio (now Philippine Military
Academy), envisioned to be a training ground for an all-Filipino constabulary force.
Jumping at this chance, Nicdao joined and underwent an intensive 3-month boot
camp training. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After completing the
program and graduating as 3<sup>rd</sup> Lieutenant, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the 23 year-old embarked on a new military
career.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the succeeding years, Lt. Nicdao undertook assignments
in different parts of the country, and got involved in campaigns in Lanao and
Cotabato, during the Moro War years (1909-1923).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He learned Arabic, which enabled him to deal
more effectively with the Muslim leaders of Mindano, where he would eventually
become its District Commander.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By 1917, he had attained the rank of a First Lieutenant of
the PC, with missions in Cagayan and Misamis. He was kept busy as ever through
the 1930s, leading campaigns against lawless elements, including fighting off
the Sakdalistas in Cabuyao, Laguna in May 1935, where 300 rebels took over a
church. Under his helm, the revolt was crushed. For his meritorious military
accomplishments, Nicdao, now a Colonel, was awarded three medals by
Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In between his military exploits, the colonel found time
to marry Natividad Neri Rivera, whom he met down South, during his Mindanao stint.
She had descended from Muslim royalty; her forebear Rajah sa Lansang, was a
Christian convert and who assumed the name “Neri”. The two were married on May 22,
1914, and together, they had 7 children: Charito, Napoleon, Abelardo, Antonia,
Cleopas, Hortencia, and Benjamin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1938, during a military training exercise in Leyte,
Col. Nicdao came down with peritonitis. Unfortunately, no medical supplies were
available; they could not even be flown in from Manila due to a typhoon in the island.
He passed away at age 50, and was given full military honors during his burial.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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For those who say that Pampanga seems to be short of idols
and icons, one need only to look at the life and legacy of Col. Nicdao, both a
scholar in the classroom and a soldier in the battlefield. He proved that as long
as you have the heart to serve and the will to succeed—you could be a jack of several
trades, and be a master of all. For that alone, he should never be forgotten. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All photos and information, courtesy of Mr. Arnold Nicdao, grandson of Col., Miguel Nicdao.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Article, “MIGUEL
NICDAO – A FILIPINO GRANDFATHER’S LEGACY . by A, Joy Nicdao-Cuyugan.</span></i></span>Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-47336242939947889102017-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:002017-06-30T05:20:17.348-07:00*435. Maestro IRINEO L. MIRANDA, Dean of Philippine Cartoonists <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-naTF8gprhaM/WVXIMc0xwOI/AAAAAAAAPec/QrOfqpbFwt8QJFXnssSgZXUbX1gppjn_wCLcBGAs/s1600/IrineoMiranda6%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1028" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-naTF8gprhaM/WVXIMc0xwOI/AAAAAAAAPec/QrOfqpbFwt8QJFXnssSgZXUbX1gppjn_wCLcBGAs/s400/IrineoMiranda6%2Bcopy.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCE. Acclaimed artist, painter, water colorist, caricaturist, art director and illustrator, Maestro Irineo Lintag Miranda of San Fernando.</span></i></div>
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The most accomplished artist who made a lasting mark in the
field of cartooning and illustration was born in San Fernando to couple
Catalino Miranda and Eustaquia Lintag on 15 Dec. 1896. Irineo L. Miranda was so
talented in drawing that at age 19--while still a student at the U.P. School of
Fine Arts-- he was hired as an assistant illustrator with the Bureau of
Printing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A year after graduation, Miranda started worked at the
Pacific Commercial Company where he designed product labels and created
illustrations for advertisements—thus becoming one of country’s first agency
art directors. His involvement in mass media art was looked at as just an
extension of an artist’s activity, thus, outputs such as cartoon art were not
regarded in the same breadth as painting. Even so, his <i>alma mater </i>believed in his
talents; in 1918, Miranda was appointed to the Fine Arts faculty of the
state university. The newly named professor taught decorative painting, cartooning
and commercial design, an academic career that would last until 1961. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He flourished at the U.P., surrounded by his young, creative
students whom he would address as <i>“Ineng” </i>and “<i>Itoy”</i>, as they presented their
works for evaluation. He would critique each piece in English, delivered with
humor and with a marked Pampango accent. He would count, among his students, future
National Artists Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Cesar Legaspi and his favorite
student who helped out in his illustrations, Carlos Valino Jr.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meanwhile, he would move to Brown and Roosedel
Advertising Co. in 1920, and chartered a different course from his peers like Dominador
Castañeda and Fernando Amorsolo by illustrating the covers for Graphic, <i>El Debate
</i>and Liwayway Magazines, dabbling in caricatures and working with watercolors.
He was known for his theatrical style in painting, emphasizing lighting effects
for example, and characterization of faces. His clients in the 1920s-30s
included the Pampanga governor, Sotero Baluyot, Jorge Vargas Sr., Alfonso
Ongpin and Lope K. Santos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the war years, the artist continued mentoring
students, but resumed illustrating and painting with renewed vigor after the turbulent
40s. A 1953 jeep accident unfortunately sidelined him from painting for years—he
fractured his armbone that led to a series of operations, incapacitating him temporarily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Maestro</i> Irineo Miranda first settled his family in front
of the the Bellas Artes at R.Hidalgo St. He would sometimes use his daughter,
Irinea, as his model for his paintings and sketches. Other models included Nena
Saguil, Abdulmari Imao and the future senator Santanina Rasul who sat for him
for the 1951 painting, “Tausug Princess”, which now hangs at the National
Gallery of Art. Other well-known works include “Sampaguita Vendor” (1931, U.P.
Filipiniana Collection) and “Portrait of Fabian dela Rosa” (1937 watercolor).</div>
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The <i>maestro’s</i> wife died young and the artist would never marry again. To
while away his leisure hours, he would go and watch movies, which were one of
his consuming passions. But he would always be devoted to his art. The
acclaimed “Dean of Philippine Cartoonists” died of a heart attack on 21 Mar.
1964.<br />
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<i>SOURCE: IRINEO MIRANDA 1896-1964, (c) 1972 Zone-D-Art Publications</i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-2966359835804470462017-06-22T05:04:00.000-07:002017-06-25T16:06:14.175-07:00*434. WITH THESE GIFTS, I THEE WED<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txTAkoL7JSA/WUpoc6il26I/AAAAAAAAPeA/UVdU9UFW8r4UUROuFGtkD4Hr6GBNBIImQCLcBGAs/s1600/wegifts2%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txTAkoL7JSA/WUpoc6il26I/AAAAAAAAPeA/UVdU9UFW8r4UUROuFGtkD4Hr6GBNBIImQCLcBGAs/s400/wegifts2%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">WEDDINGS ARE MADE OF THESE. A home reception...a spread of dishes... wedding cake...and lots of gifts, complete the wedding celebration. ca. early 1950s.</span></i><br />
<br />
The tradition of giving gifts to couples united in
weddings goes back to pre-colonial times. In many ethnic groups, the practice
goes even before the actual wedding rites, as in the case of Pinatubo Negritos
who pay dowry to the bride’s family in the form of <i>“bandi”</i>—treasured property
in the form of <i>bolos,</i> bows and arrows.</div>
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In pre-Hispanic society, after the ceremony presided by a
babaylan or a tribal priest/priestess is done, a series of gift-exchanging rituals
is undertaken by the man and his family to counter the possible negative
responses of the bride. Such instances include her refusal to attend the
wedding banquet, or even to go into her new bedroom that she would be sharing
with her spouse. The bride then is plodded with gifts of gold, jewelry, rich
fabrics and animals to ensure that she will fully cooperate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Kasalans</i> during the Spanish times were comparatively
austere affairs; the giving of gifts was encouraged to help start the couple in
their new journey together. The superstitious belief that sharp objects—like
knives and needles—were not appropriate as wedding gifts came from the
Spaniards. In the more prosperous 1920-30s, weddings became more Westernized
and larger in scale. Gift-giving became even more lavish and varied, as shops
and stores sprouted along Escolta and Avenida, providing more showcases of gift
ideas to sponsors, relatives, and invited guests.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the post-wedding highlights for the newlyweds is
when they open boxes and boxes of gifts to find the surprises of their
lives. For example, when Juana Arnedo, got hitched with Felipe Buencamino around 1870, her father, Apalit
<i>gobernadorcillo</i> Joaquin Arnedo gifted her and his new husband a grand
<i>bale a bato.</i> The mansion was built on over a hectare of lot in Capalangan,
near Sulipan, Apalit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1936, after Dr. Jesus Eusebio, noted ophthalmologist from San Fernando, married Josefina Buyson of
Bacolor in fabulous rites at San Guillermo Church, Jesus’ father, Don Andres
Eusebio, sent them off to honeymoon in the U.S. via luxury liner Pres. Hoover,
and then to Europe, all-expenses paid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By far, however, the wedding gifts received by Doña
Consolacion Singian and Don Jose M.Torres , are incomparable in terms of
variety and range, enough to furnish a house. The guest list itself consists of
<i>politicos</i> and senators, jurists and patriots, affluent <i>hacenderos</i> and business
mavens, and the upper tier of Kapampangan high society. After their nuptials on
28 April 1912 in San Fernando, the bride made an inventory of their gifts that
she wrote in her personal journal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From one of their godfathers, Hon. D. Florentino Torres,
Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, they received a complete set
of black Vienna chairs with a marble table, a sofa and four chairs. Dna. Ramona
Valenzuela de Goyena contributed more pieces of furniture with her gift of six European chairs for dining.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Japanese-made gifts seemed to be very popular in the
early decades of the 20th century as at least 9 guests gave them: D. Joaquín
Longos (a very fine Japanese tea service), D. Manuel Gómez (a beautiful
Japanese coffee service), Da. Juana vda. de Chuidian ( a pair of elegant and
beautiful Japanese earthen jars), Srta. Belen Gómez (a dozen elegant and fine
Japanese cups for coffee) , D. Joaquín Zamora, (a pair of capricious lacquered
Japanese paintings). D. Vicente Gana ( a complete set of very fine Japanese tea
service), D. Joaquín Herrera (elegant Japanese pillows), D. Pío Trinidad ( a
pair of beautiful Japanese flowerpots),
and lastly, Fiscal of Pampanga D. Oscar Soriano (very fine and complete
Japanese tea service).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The couple also received an astounding six sets of
flowerpots with pedestals—led by Pampanga governor, Hon. Dr. Francisco
Liongson, and Pampanga judge Hon. Julio Llorente who
seemed to have bought the same “pair of elegant flower pots on pedestals” from
one store. Curiously, D. José Monroy, Tomas Arguelles and Melecio Aguirre all
gave “apple green pedestals with flowerpots”.
Well, at least they were color-coordinated. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Valuable silver--from tableware, coffee service, butter dishes, candy and fruit trays and decanters--were also gifted to the newlyweds. The most impressive was a silver toothpick holder given by D. Godofredo Rodriguez. Whatever
became of these silver gifts that are now antiques? <o:p></o:p></div>
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The practical D. Perfecto Gabriel must be commended for
his very native gift—the only one from the bewildering assortment of European,
Japanese, American, Chinese thingamajigs. Aside from a pocket watch, he gifted
the Torreses an Ilocos blanket.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, some things never change when it comes to giving wedding
presents. There are gifts that are
functional and practical, there are many
more that are recycled and inutile. The ubiquitous glass punch bowls and sets of
glasses are still favorite giveaways, along with rice cookers, flat irons,
towels and whistling kettles. That is why couples-to-be now have the derring-do
to suggest their desired gift, explicitly written on their wedding invitations:
<i>“With all that we have, we’ve been truly blessed/ Your presence and prayers are
all that we request./ But if you desire to give nonetheless/Monetary gift is
one we suggest.”</i> With the money received...you may now treat the bride!</div>
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Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-57309619019018149882017-06-12T14:34:00.000-07:002017-06-12T14:34:32.368-07:00*433. TABLEWARE TALK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYq0tbxIBZ0/WS-EGVRovYI/AAAAAAAAPYI/v8UY_dRziLU-hx752PHjrQey2Q-SQ2lSACLcB/s1600/tabletalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="916" height="251" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mYq0tbxIBZ0/WS-EGVRovYI/AAAAAAAAPYI/v8UY_dRziLU-hx752PHjrQey2Q-SQ2lSACLcB/s400/tabletalk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">DINNER IS SERVED, Students of Domestic Arts practice the art of setting a table using china plates, glassware, cutlery and table napkins. Our pre-colonial ancestors had their own ideas of fine dining on their low, wooden table called 'dulang', filling it up with jars, plates, jugs and pots, of all sorts. ca. 1920s.</span></i><br />
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When the Spanish missionaries came to our islands in the 16th century, they found a low wooden table in practically every native home called <i>“dulang”.</i> It served primarily as a dining table, around which people sat to partake of the food, eaten with bare hands. Tableware was limited to a few wooden spoons, ladles, food and liquid containers. But contact and trading with Asian traders afforded natives to have quite a wide assortment of jugs and jars, plates and pans, bowls and storage containers for both <i>“dulang” </i>and dwelling.<br />
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Old Pampanga homes may still have, in their kitchens, earthenware containers used for cooking or storage. <b><i>Balanga</i></b> was a traditional clay pot used for cooking everyday viands, while a <i><b>curan</b></i>—that featured a narrower mouth-- was used for cooking rice.<br />
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Storage jars of varying sizes include the gusi, a china jar that can contain anywhere from 6 to 8 gantas (1 <i>ganta </i>is a local unit of measure equivalent to ¼ of a cavan); next to it is the <b><i>guguling,</i></b> a medium size jar. Another medium size jar for holding water is the <b><i>marapatayan</i>, </b>which is smaller than a <b><i>tapayan,</i> </b>that can hold some 11 gallons of liquid. A large China-made jar was called <i><b>tui-tui,</b></i> while a <b><i>lupay</i></b> was the name for a small, multi-purpose earthenware jar.<br />
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To deter ants from infesting food, the leftover<i> <b>ulam </b></i>are kept in bowls, then placed on a shallow, water-filled vessels called <b><i>lampacan.</i> </b>This serves as a sort of a moat, so the ants would not be able to reach the food. When storage cabinets came into use, its four legs were made to stand on <b><i>lampacans,</i></b> to provide the same protection.<br />
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Kapampangans ate with gusto using their hands, as <i>‘cubiertos’ </i>were still many years away from being introduced. Rice was placed on banana leaves spread on the <i>dulang</i>, but plates were also known from trading with the Chinese, Annamese and the Siamese who brought all kinds of <i><b>pinggan </b></i>(plates). A large plate was called <b><i>tapac</i></b>, and a porcelain plate for mustard was called <b><i>suic</i>.</b><br />
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Bowls were perhaps the most common tableware found on the native table. The smallest bowl is called <i><b>sulyao </b></i>(<i><b>sulyo</b></i>, or <i><b>silyo</b></i>), which is perfect for a single-serving of soup. <i><b>Mangcoc</b></i> is bigger than a <b><i>sulyao,</i></b> same with another larger bowl called <i><b>lampay</b> </i>(or <i><b>lampe</b></i>).
A <b><i>banga</i> </b>is a large, narrow-mouthed pitcher, while a <i><b>siolan</b></i> is a small flask. A <i><b>tampayac</b></i> is a cruet, that was used for both condiments and for ointments. People drank water from coconut half-shells, or used a communal long-handled dipper to scoop out water from a water-filled jar.<br />
<br />
The Spaniards, and later, the Americans are credited for upgrading our table (and table manners, by Western standards) by introducing fork and spoons, complete silver cutlery, demitasse cups, silver table adornments like toothpick holders, lace napkins, and a bewildering array of plates, saucers, cups and glassware. The legendary reception given by the Apalit Arnedos to the Grand Duke of Russia in 1891—marked with the ostentatious display of fine china, silver and table accoutrements—was a testament as to how refined, how sophisticated we had become.<br />
<br />
But truth be told, it takes very little to please a Kapampangan on the dinner table—remove the silver forks and spoons, take away the fancy bone china, give him a plate of sizzling <i>sisig </i>and unli rice---and he will roll up his sleeves and feast away with his hands, like there’s no tomorrow. As one Kapampangan with a hearty appetite declared—<i>“Asbuk mu at gamat ing kailangan! Mangan tana!” </i>(You need only your mouth and hands. Let's eat!)Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-35794264278558042902017-05-31T20:31:00.001-07:002017-06-01T18:04:26.377-07:00*432. THE MORALESES OF MABALACAT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpr0SpxGr9U/WS6zqH2aJfI/AAAAAAAAPX0/le4aceGfYmoeSRlrJhwbqh7PwBef7YDIgCEw/s1600/Quentin%2BMorales%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpr0SpxGr9U/WS6zqH2aJfI/AAAAAAAAPX0/le4aceGfYmoeSRlrJhwbqh7PwBef7YDIgCEw/s400/Quentin%2BMorales%2Bcopy.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">DON QUINTIN MORALES, was the first of the Moraleses to hold an important office in Mabalacat. he was elected teniente del barrio of Poblacion. His younger brother, Feliciano, is the great-grandfather of </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales".</span> </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Morales is a top-of-mind name associated with the
political history of Mabalacat. And of the Moraleses that have served Mabalacat
in different capacities through the years, one name stands out, not so much for the quality of leadership but for his
longevity of tenure—Mayor Marino <i>"Boking"</i> Morales whose 22 years in office makes him the
longest-serving mayor of the Philippines.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But before Mayor Boking, there have been a few Morales
forebears who have rendered their services to the municipality of Mabalacat, in different
capacities. The Morales clan could trace its beginnings to the patriarch,
Mariano Morales who married Agustina Tuazon, possibly in the 1830s. The Morales
couple, known members of the town <i>principalia,</i>
begat four children, all boys—Quintin (b.1856/d. 31 Oct. 1928),
Feliciano, Valentin and Simeon (b. 4 Jul, 1880/d.24 Oct. 1942).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Quintin, the eldest son, married Paula Guzman y Cosme
(b.1851/d. 7 Mar 1943, and during the
Spanish times, became a <i>teniente del barrio</i> (or <i>cabeza de barangay</i>) of
Poblacion, where he and his wife settled. Quintin is buried somewhere in the sacristy of
the Divine Grace Church. Of the couple’s 5 children, the youngest, Atty. Rafael
Morales (b. 24 Oct. 1893/d.1967), would also venture into politics—he was
elected as <i>consejal</i> (councilor) for two terms, during the Commonwealth years,
under the mayoralties of Dr. Jose T. Garcia (1932-35) and Jose Mendoza
(1940-41). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Younger brother Valentin Morales was elected <i>teniente
mayor </i>of Sapang Bato, also during the Spanish colonial period; the youngest,
Simeon, and his descendants, did not seem to show any political ambitions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Feliciano’s son with Juana Pantig, Miguel Morales, would
bring the Morales political family tradition to a higher, more prominent
profile. The U.S.T. medical graduate would rise from being a <i>medico de sanidad</i> (department health
head) of Apalit to becoming the first elected mayor of Mabalacat after the Liberation
(1948-1951). As chief executive, he was responsible for building the wooden
Morales Bridge, which provided the vital link between Sta. Ines and Poblacion.
Mayor Morales also organized the first hydroelectric power plant, later
operated by the Tiglaos. He was at the forefront of a campaign against the
rising Huk movement when he was assassinated in 1951.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it was his grandson, Marino (son of Ignacio), who
would set his name on record books for a much different and unusual accomplishment. First elected mayor in June 1995, Morales began his term
while Mabalacat was still reeling from the Pinatubo aftermath. He managed to
extend his term through legal technicalities, strange twists of luck and with much
help from election law wiz, Atty Romulo Macalintal . Amazingly, Morales would be
re-elected in 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010 elections.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When Mabalacat became a component city, Morales filed yet again another certificate of candidacy. He was qualified to run, he said, because the status of Mabalacat had changed
from that of a town into a city. Once again, amidst protests, he won the May 2016 elections. But on
August 2016, the disqualification
protest filed by losing candidate Pyra Lucas resulted in Comelec First
Division’s granting of her petition.
This was finally affirmed on 30 May 2017 by Comelec <i>en banc </i>whch ruled
that the First Division’s cancellation of Morales’ certificate of candidacy was
valid. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It looks like the incredible political career of Boking Morales---which
had withstood charges of corruption, vote-buying and ballot-burning, familial discords, several changes in marital partners, and most recently, inclusion in Duterte’s list of narco-politicians—is
finally coming to an end, at least for now. But the pool of Moraleses waiting
in the wings to take on his mantle is wide and deep. Possible successors include
son Dwight ( a councilor); daughter Marjorie Morales-Sambo (she once declared
her bid to unseat her father); and of course, his current wife Nina, whom he initially
fielded in the 2016 mayoralty race.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Morales may be down, but not out—not yet. As this article is being written, he can still resort to a few legal remedies--a temporary restraining order is one. Besides, there
is still the world-record of Hilmar Moore to beat—the mega-mayor of Richmond,
Texas who served his town from 1949 until his death in 2012---an epic run of 63
years! If he does that, Mabalacat may as well be renamed as Morales City, Pampanga. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-50988570738804339642017-05-04T16:27:00.005-07:002017-05-31T05:38:26.090-07:00*431. MAY DAYS IN PAMPANGA<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlOoO-6tBEA/WQheDNaSqDI/AAAAAAAAPRA/we-4PO__oh80mmXxbLvbw6r5RRzxBhSPwCLcB/s1600/Hilario4%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MlOoO-6tBEA/WQheDNaSqDI/AAAAAAAAPRA/we-4PO__oh80mmXxbLvbw6r5RRzxBhSPwCLcB/s400/Hilario4%2Bcopy.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">‘TWAS IN THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY. Kapampangan kids—including the children
of Evangelina Hilario-Lacson and Serafin Lacson—dress up as Santacruzan characters, for the annual
Maytime procession.</span></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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The merry month of May was named after Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility, a mother figure
in mythology. Thus, since the 18<sup>th</sup> century, it has come to be the
month associated with the Virgin Mary, with many special devotions and
religious rites taking place in May. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kapampangans not only hold the traditional <i>Flores de Mayo</i>
processions which celebrates the titles of the Virgin listed in the 13<sup>th</sup>
century Loreto litany, but also conduct a different version of <i>Santacruzan</i>.
<i>Sabat Santacruzan</i>--which dramatizes the finding of the True Cross by St.
Helena-- is different in that the procession is halted several times by
costumed actors who challenge the <i>Reyna Elena </i>in a poetic joust and engage her
troop in a swordfight derived from yesteryear’s <i>moro-moros. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Along with the <i>Sabat Santacruzan </i>are celebrated the various town fiestas
and festivals of this province. Floridablanca, Mexico, Masantol, Sta. Rita, and San Fernando observe the feast days of their
patrons in various days of May. The Sampaguita Festival of Lubao, the <i>Batalla</i>
of Masantol and the <i>Pinukpukan </i>Festival of Floridablanca all happen on this
sunny month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first day of May also marks Labor Day, in celebration
of laborers and the working class. It brings
to mind the memory of the “grand old man
of Philippine labor”—Kapampangan Felixberto Olalia Sr. (1903-1983), the first
chairman of the <i>Kilusang Mayo Uno</i> (KMU) founded in 1980. Much earlier, he had
founded the National Federation of Labor Unions, and became a champion of labor
causes, like Crisanto Evangelista during the Commonwealth
years. Olalia and his
family suffered for his work—he was imprisoned several times even in his
advanced age; his own son, KMU lawyer
Rolando Olalia met a violent death in 1986, part of supposed plot to rid the Aquino Cabinet of
left-leaning members.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With May upon us, we look back at some of the past events
of significance in Pampanga, which transpired on this fifth month of the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>1 May, 1942.</b> <b>The execution of jurist-martyr-hero, Jose
Abad Santos.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are several conflicting dates of the hero’s death.
What is known is, Abad Santos, his son Pepito, and Col. Benito Valeriano were
captured by the Japanese on 11 April 1942 in Barili, Cebu. He was ordered
executed by Gen. Homma and taken to Malabang, Lanao on 30 April. Keiji Fukui, the interpreter during Abad
Santos's confinement, supported by his diary notes, put 2 May 1942, 2 p.m., as the
date of his death by musketry. But the
hero’s biographer, Ramón C. Aquino, claimed that May 7 was the date given by
Pepito himself during his testimony at the war trials. Recently, the National
Historic Commission of the Philippines, re-set the date to May 1.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>1-18 May, 1910.</b>
<b>Appearance of Halley’s Comet</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Halley’s Comet made its appearance to the world, after
approximately 76 years (it last appeared in 1835). People of Pampanga were
struck with awe as the spectacular comet lit the skies before sunrise for 18 days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>4 May 1899.
Philippine <i>revolucionarios</i> led by Gen. Antonio Luna burns San Fernando Church.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not only was the church razed to the ground by revolutionary
troops, but also the <i>Casa Municipal</i> and several houses to render them useless
to the approaching American forces. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>6 May, 1933. The Pampanga
Carnival ends.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To celebrate the strides made by the province in the
last two decades, the Pampanga Carnival Fair and Exposition--“the greatest
concourse of people on the island of Luzon”—was held for 2 weeks, beginning on
22 April, 1933. The venue was the 12-hectare Capitol grounds in San Fernando.
Appointed as Director General was the Hon. Jose Gutierrez David, Pampanga’s
delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Assembly. More than a display of prosperity,
the Carnival was also meant to be a concrete expression of local autonomy in
keeping with the principles of a truly democratic government.Almost all of the
21 towns of Pampanga came to participate in the fair that was patterned after the
national Manila Carnivals. The fair ended with the selection of Miss Pampanga.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>7 May, 1866. Birth
of Dña. Teodora Salgado, financier of the Revolution<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
During the Philippine Revolution, Kapampangan women came
in full force to aid the <i>revolucionarios.</i> Not only did they activate <i>La Cruz
Roja</i> (Red Cross) for the sick and wounded <i>revolucionarios,</i> but also funded
the activities of local revolutionary groups. On such generous financier was Teodora <i>“Dorang”</i>
Salgado, daughter of Joaquin Salgado and
Filomena Basilio of San Fernando. The life of the “grand dame of San Fernando” reads
like a <i>telenovela:</i> she was twice-widowed,
thrice married, childless--yet she surmounted all these trials to emerge as
Pampanga's most successful--and richest—businesswoman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>7 May, 1899. Gen.
Aguinaldo moves the seat of the government to Angeles.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The revolutionary leader, coming from San Isidro, Nueva
Ecija, transferred the seat of his government to Angeles. Mass was held in the
town, attended by his soldiers. Aguinaldo stayed in Angeles until July, when
he moved his government to Tarlac.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>12 May, 1812. The
proposal to make Culiat a self-governing town is vetoed by Spanish friars. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sixteen years after Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda, and wife,
Doña Rosalía de Jesús, settled on a new land that grew and prospered to be
Culiat, the residents proposed that their new town be given autonomy to
organize its own governing body. The proposal was disapproved by friars led by Fray José
Pometa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>12 May, 1962. Pres.
Diosdado P. Macapagal moves the date of Independence Day from July 4 to June
12.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The United State, through the Treaty of Manila, granted independence to the Philippines on 4 July 1946
to coincide with its own Independence Day. In 1962, Pres. Macapagal issued
Presidential Proclamation No. 28, which declared June 12 a special public
holiday throughout the Philippines, "... in commemoration of our people's
declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence".
Republic Act No. 4166 formalized the
date by proclaiming June 12 as
"Philippine Independence Day".<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>20 May, 1897. <i>Insurrectos</i>
raid Talimunduc in Angeles.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On this day, a band of insurrectos led by a capitan from
Barrio Tibo, Mabalacat raided Talimunduc (now Lourdes Sur) and recruited new
members. Local officials managed to pursue and disband them, and 7 men were
caught, including Crispulo Punsalana and Cornelio Manalang. They were supposed
to be taken to jail in Bacolor, then the capital of the province, but they
disappeared; rumors had it that they never got to their final destination and
were all killed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b> 21 May 1919, Major Harold Clark dies.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Major Harold Clark, the military pilot stationed in the
Philippines and who gave his name to Clark Air Base, died in a seaplane crash
in the Panama Canal Zone on this day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>28 May, 1870.
Birth of Brig.Gen. Maximino Hizon, Pampanga’s revolutionary hero.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This Mexico native became the caudillo of the Revolution
in Pampanga who rallied Kapampangans to fight the Spaniards under Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo’s revolutionary banner. He ordered the execution of the parish
priests of Mexico and San Fernando, Pampanga, and later led attacks against
Americans in a foiled attempt to recapture Manila. Hizon was captured by the Americans
and exiled to Guam where he died of a heart attack in 1901.</div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-38161801467402583382017-04-28T17:13:00.000-07:002017-04-28T17:13:45.312-07:00*430. FOLK SONGS OF THE KAPAMPANGAN REGION<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6YukUjSS34/WQJ7ZOfGJdI/AAAAAAAAPPA/FXgcR_e5Pfo5fhg4XZLFmYwElIxrjWl5QCLcB/s1600/serenata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6YukUjSS34/WQJ7ZOfGJdI/AAAAAAAAPPA/FXgcR_e5Pfo5fhg4XZLFmYwElIxrjWl5QCLcB/s400/serenata.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="goog_5065897"></span>I WANT TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING. Kapampangans out on excursion trips usually brought their stringed instruments to make beautiful music while on the road, or while enjoying their picnic. People would sing along to add to the merriment of the moment. </span></i><br />
<br />
Pampanga’s musical
traditions begin with folk songs and melodies. These are the first songs that you
heard growing up, on your <i>Ingkung</i>’s knee; the lilting lullabye that Ima hummed
in lulling you to sleep. These are also the songs that you sang in school, full
of nonsense and made-up rhymes, songs about <i>Atsing Rosing, Mariang Malagu </i>and
<i>Kapitan Besyu.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They are the songs sang by peasant workers to fight off
boredom and drudgery, to express pride in their labors, however humble. They
are the stirring <i>kantang Ukbu </i>that galvanized a national movement, patriotic
paeans to a country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They are the dirgeful tunes you heard being chanted on Holy
Week, the hymns and carols that you dutifully sang in church services and the
frenetic beat that devotees danced to in annual <i>kuraldals. </i>From the plaintive <i>serenatas</i> of many a
lovestruck swain, the sweet chords of a <i>kundiman</i> to the bawdy tunes that
livened up many a drinking spree, these songs are a part of our race since time
immemorial, wrought by anonymous wordsmiths, and handed down from generation to
generation through oral tradition.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Folk songs we call them, music of the common people that
says so much about how we live, love and laugh. There are various touchstones
that define this kind of music. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, the anonymity of authorship. Unlike formal poetry,
where names like Crissot, Gallardo and Yuzon are associated, there are no such
names to speak of in folk poetry. Because of the continuous transmission
process, there are no fixed attributions and sources. Which means, the longer
the transmission period, the more impossible it is to determine the originator.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, the language. Folk song lyrics are generated by
common people who are largely untutored, with nary a care for the rigid
disciplines of literature as taught in schools. They give free rein to ideas
and emotions without a thought for forms, meters and aesthetics, telling
stories with natural flair, earthy words and all. The lyrics are uninhibited,
the language(s) raw, spontaneous and even mixed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Legwan king kaladua,
legwan king katawan<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Nung iti mikalu,
sunlag ya ing legwan<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ugaling uliran, mayap
a kaniwan<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Selan at sampat lub,
dit a pamagaral<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Nung miakma iti king santing
ning laman<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Tunggen keng malagu,
babai ninuman<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it is:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Y Mkaka kung Maria, mamuli yang tapis<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i>Purung purung sutla, habing Camarines</i><br />
<i>Ninu ing tatalan, ninung talabitbit</i><br />
<i>I kaka kung Peping, anak ng Don Pedro</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is also: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Kabang teterak ku,
lulundag, luluksu<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Miyagnan ing sagakgak,
pakpak ding gamat ku.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Emuku tiknangan,
anggang mepagal ku<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Susunga ku rugu,
tutulung sipun ku..<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And likewise:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>One day, misan a aldo<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I saw menakit ko,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A bird ayup <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">kano</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Flying susulapo<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Third, folk songs are a work in progress. The Kapampangan
folk song evolves by continuous alteration, as opposed to its formal literary
counterpart where every word is fixed, the form precise and permanent. Folk
songs are subject to versioning and customizing, in the course of their
transference, a cultural process perfectly permissible to fit the needs of the
times. Folk songs survive because of
effective adaptation and it is correct to sing:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Papatak, papatak<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Magkanta la ring tugak<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Lilintik-lilintik <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Magkanta la ring itik<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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But it is also okay to sing:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Papatak, papatak<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Magkanta la ring antak<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Lilintik, lilintik<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Magkanta la ring
Instik!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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With the ongoing cultural renaissance in Pampanga,
Kapampangan folk songs are being rediscovered and enjoyed. Folk songs are no longer just the interest of
historians, musicologists and seekers of quaint entertainment, but of late,
they have found favor as part of the repertoire of youth bands, mainstream
singers local music icons led by Pampanga’s best known minstrel, <i>Totoy Bato</i>.
After all, folk music has played a very important part in almost everyone’s
life. Without a doubt, the folk songs we learned from our childhood, from our parents
and friends have been instrumental in shaping our taste for music in all its
melodious permutations. There is no better reason to start singing them again.
So pick up a guitar, raise your voices, and sing your heart out!</div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-90330183952955714082017-04-17T15:02:00.001-07:002017-04-18T00:21:51.287-07:00429. KAPAMPANGANS IN HOLLYWOOD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zwBleFpAL8/WPLXd-6IMqI/AAAAAAAAPM4/ULwcvKo9W14detB547vAtYnvhDizoDShQCLcB/s1600/Rosa%252Crestored%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zwBleFpAL8/WPLXd-6IMqI/AAAAAAAAPM4/ULwcvKo9W14detB547vAtYnvhDizoDShQCLcB/s400/Rosa%252Crestored%2Bcopy.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE KING AND HIS WIVES Rosa del Rosario portrays one of the wives of the Siamese monarch in the 1946 film, Anna and the King of Siam, portrayed by Rex Harrison. Looking on is another "wife", Evelyne de Luzuriaga.</span></i></div>
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In the 1920s, Hollywood beckoned with promises of
stardom, fame and fortune to aspiring performers and actors, budding <i>ingénues,</i>
ambitious directors and starving artists. Indeed, of the thousands who swarmed
to Tinseltown to audition and answer casting calls, many were rewarded with
film roles, and turning an elite few into international celebrities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first wave of Filipinos to arrive in Los Angeles
coincided with the rise of Hollywood. They, too, were lured with the prospects
of employment that the blossoming film industry offered. In 1929, Metro-Goldwin
Mayer sounded out a casting call for extras for the movie “The Pagan”. Hordes
of Filipinos went to audition, and many passed the 5 foot height limit set for
these extras. For decades—in movies like “She” (1935, starring Randolph Scott, RKO
Radio Pictures) and “The Real Glory” (1939, a Spanish-American War film
starring Gary Cooper ), Filipinos were often cast in savage native-type and
service-type roles, uncredited and underpaid. They would find more job security
in the periphery of Hollywood as waiters, busboys, bartenders, cooks,
chauffeurs and househelps.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Filipino star-wannabes would wait for the postwar 1940s
before they could see one of their own claim a legitimate acting role in a
Hollywood film. Kapampangan Rosa del Rosario (aka Rosa Stagner), an
American-Filipina mestiza from Bacolor, was already an established star in pre-war Philippine
movies when she, on a visit to the U.S.,
caught the eye of an American director who was casting Asians for his movie. She won the role as one of the king’s 14 wives in the film classic, “Anna and the King of Siam” in 1946 (to be redone as
the musical “The King and I” in 1954). She was unbilled, however, in this Rex
Harrison starrer. That same year, she appeared as Celia in the “The Border Bandits”,
opposite Johnny Mack Brown and in “An American Guerrilla in the Philippines”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More than a decade later, another artist with roots in
Lubao would carve her own niche in Hollywood: Ruby Neilam Salvador Arrastia aka
Neile Adams, actress-singer-dancer and wife of 60s hottest Hollywood male star,
Steve McQueen. She moved to the U.S. after the war where she took dancing lessons.
The pert and pretty Neile found herself being cast in shows and musicals, and
one of her early appearances was in “Pajama Game”, staged at the Carnegie Hall.
She moved on to TV and films, with credits
in the 1952 movie, “Grubstake” and as Patsy St. Claire in “This Could Be The
Night” (1957). Husband and wife appeared in a memorable episode in “Alfred
Hitchcock Presents”. Separately, Neile had a recurring role in the TV series
“Five Fingers” as Rita Juan in 1960, and went on to guest star in top TV shows thrugh the 60s,70s and 80s, like “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, “Love American Style”, “Bob Hope Show”. “The Bionic Woman”, “ The
Rockford Files”, “Fantasy Island”, “Vega$” and “Hotel”. In 1986, she wrote “My
Husband, My Friend”, a biography of her husband Steve, who had died of cancer
in 1980. Coincidentally, Neile’s son (Chad McQueen) and grandson, Steven R.
McQueen (Jeremy Gilbert in “The Vampire Diaries”), are both actors. A nephew,
Enrique Iglesias, is a singer and an occasional actor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before being known as an international jetsetter, Angeles-born
Minda Feliciano flirted with modeling and acting. In the U.S., she started
auditioning for acting roles and, in 1959, won a regular slot (she played the
hula-dancing receptionist, Evelyn) in the popular TV series,”Hawaiian Eye”,
produced by Warner Brothers. Today, she is also well-known as Michael Caine’s-ex.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The toast of West End and Broadway, Lea Salonga, has also
penetrated the U.S. showbiz industry, both as actress and singer. While still
with the hit musical ‘Miss Saigon’ . she was tapped to sing key songs for such
movies as “Aladdin” (1992) and “Mulan” I
and II ( 1998, 2004). She had a once-in-a lifetime experience of singing “A
Whole New World” at the 1993 Oscar Awards, which went on to win Best Song. Leas
was also seen on a 1995 TV film produced by Hallmark Hall of Fame, “Redwood
Curtain”. The film chronicles the search of an Amerasian piano prodigy for her
biological father, aVietnam veteran. Other credits include guest appearances
in hit TV series “ER” , “As The World Turns” and most recently, in “Crazy
Ex-Girlfriend”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Young Ethan Dizon, whose father, Eric Dizon, traces his ancestry to the Dizons of
Mabalacat, made his acting debut as a 3 year-old child actor in the CBS hit
series, “How I Met Your Mother”, He then had guest roles in “Grey's Anatomy”, and “'Til Death”. His film
credits include: “Get A Job”, “Bad Words” ( with Jason Bateman), and the “The
Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete”, where he is best-known for playing
Pete. In 2017, he will be seen in
“Spiderman: Homecoming”. A gifted artist, he was nominated for Best Actor at
the NBCU Short Film Festival 2014 in "Paulie", where he played the
title role.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rico Hizon made a name for himself as an international
journalist, but his credentials now include acting in a Hollywood film. In the
2016 film“I.T.” topbilled by Pierce Brosnan, the BBC correspondent portrayed himself
in this nail-biting thriller directed by John Moore. Rico Hizon’s mother,
Leonor Morales, is from Mabalacat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Behind the camera, Kapampangans have also left their mark
in the American entertainment industry. Leading the way is the venerable Gorge
Sunga, who first joined CBS as a production supervisor of “The Judy Garland
Show” in 1963, and later, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”. He went on to
produce the hit TV shows "Good
Times," (1974) "The
Jeffersons," (1975) , “All in the Family”
(1974) “Three’s Company” (1976) and many
other successful serials. In 1989, Sunga was elected officer of the Academy of Television Arts and
Sciences. For his commitment to
diversity in television, an award in his honor was created and given yearly at
the Media Access Awards. The Sungas are from Guagua, Pampanga. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two world-class film artists and technicians of
Kapampangan descent are currently making waves in Hollywood. Winston Quitasol, whose mother is from
Pampanga, has worked on many known animated feature films like Disney’s “Big
Hero 6”, where he was the senior lighting artist. He has also served as visual
effects technical director and lead digital compositor in some blockbuster movies
like “Ghost” (1990), his first movie project. Recent works include “SpiderMan 2”,
“ Iron Man 3”, “300: Rise of an Empire” and “Frozen”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the other hand, animator Jess Española, from Lubao,
made history when he was won the prestigious Emmy Award for his work on “The
Simpsons” in 2008 ( ‘Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind’ episode). The U.P. Fine
Arts graduate overcame poverty (he was raised by a single mother), and working
his way up, first, as an animator for Burbank Animation in Makati. He then
joined Optifex which did the Hanna-Barbera cartoons (Flintstones, Scooby Doo,
Jonny Quest) . Española did so well that he was sent to the U.S. mother studio
in the U.S. which led to opportunities after the Manila offices downsized.
Eventually, he moved to America, where Española worked at Film Roman for “King
of the Hill,”, one of the primetime shows of Fox that also includes Matt Groening’s
“The Simpsons”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More recently, in the CBS TV sitcom “The Great Outdoors”,
Kapampangans were treated to an episode in which the characters of actors Joel
McHale and Stephen Fry, spoke in Kapampangan—albeit, with a thick American
accent—so they could disguise their secret plan to leave young campers in the
wild without their smartphones. The idea was conceived by story editor/ writer,
Kristine Songco, who sought the help of her father in crafting the dialogues.
The Songcos are a prominent family from Guagua.</div>
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While we have yet to see a Filipino actor conquer
Hollywood with the same degree of success as China’s Anna May Wong and Jet Li; Hong Kong’s Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan; Japan’s George Takei and Pat Morita; Taiwan’s
Ang Lee and Malaysia’s Michelle Yeoh, we are happy to note that a few Kapampangan artists are
leading the way towards the attainment of their great Hollywood dream--always ready
for anything--especially their close-ups!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-27779790243465936592017-04-09T17:17:00.003-07:002019-08-05T21:31:24.519-07:00*428. Sky’s No Limit: CAPT. BEN HUR D. GOMEZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHcgRccAq3k/WOltYymkzJI/AAAAAAAAPJ4/_S-cfTwB5vkiMYAZwrQGij4HNktnqI6-QCLcB/s1600/BH2%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHcgRccAq3k/WOltYymkzJI/AAAAAAAAPJ4/_S-cfTwB5vkiMYAZwrQGij4HNktnqI6-QCLcB/s320/BH2%2Bcopy.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FINDING HIS CORNER OF THE SKY. The future aviation pilot, Ben Hur Gomez y de Leon of Mabalacat, as a young high schooler at Letran. "Benny" was named after the main character of a Hollywood movie of the same title, "Ben Hur", starring Ramon Navarro. Courtesy of Capt. Gomez.</span></i></div>
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One of the leading names in modern Philippine aviation is
a Kapampangan <i>provinciano </i>who rose to
become an international pilot and founder of the premiere flying school in
Pampanga. Capt. Ben Hur Angel D. Gomez (b. 15 Dec. 1931) was one of 6 children of Carlos
Ramiro Gomez Sr. whose <i>mestizo </i>looks were courtesy of his ancestor, <i>Fray </i>Guillermo
Masnou aka Nicanor Gomez. His mother, Paz Dionisia Dizon , was the daughter
of Don Jose Dizon, who owned vast tracts of lands in Mabalacat, parts of
which she inherited. With their consolidated wealth, the Gomezes built a large farmstead
in Tubigan at the boundary of
Stotsenburg, where their children grew up.</div>
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To the manor born, Ben Hur and his siblings led
comfortable lives, in a magnificent farmhouse with large rooms and bay windows,
equipped with electricity powered by a windmill, and guarded by a tall,
turbanned Indian Sikh. Ponies and other animals roamed the expansive yard which
also had a playground. The young Ben Hur or Benny was doted on by his adoring
aunts despite his <i>“kuneho” </i>(rabbit)
ears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His <i>Papang</i> though, introduced him early to the value of
hard work and responsibility. As young as 8, Benny helped out in the family businesses which
included not only the farm, but also a gas station, a bowling alley and a
bazaar. He counted money, issued receipts, prepared vouchers and distributed
wages to farm hands. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Benny finished his elementary years at the Holy Family
Academy in Angeles, run by German nuns. He spent a year of high school at
next-door Holy Angel Academy, but his schooling was interrupted by the war. The family moved
to Manila, in their Pasay home, where they waited out the end of the war years.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1946, as the family was sending off their <i>Papang</i> to
the U.S., the teenager Ben saw his first DC-4 at the Manila International
Airport, complete with its smartly-dressed crew. That sight inspired him to
become an international pilot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In his last year of high school at Letran, Ben applied to 3
flight schools in the U.S. He chose Embry Riddle Aeronautical School, not only
because it was the biggest flight school in America, but also because the
school had sent him a brochure with a pretty girl in bathing suit on the
cover!! There, Ben immersed himself in his commercial pilot course, and in
subjects like instrument reading, and
multi-engine rating, studying 16 hours each day. By so doing, Ben completed his
flight course in 18 short months, instead of 33!<o:p></o:p></div>
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When he returned to Manila, he managed to land a his first
paying job at the Philippine Aviation Development as a mechanic, earning a
whopping P350 daily. He also became a part-time pilot with
an hourly fee of P50 per hour. While the
pay was good, his ultimate goal was to see the world and become an
international pilot. So, when Philippine
Air Lines beckoned in 1953, he said yes to a new flying job, first, as a
domestic pilot, then moving up to become an international pilot with the rank of a captain, flying the Viscount,
BAC 111, DC-4, DC-8, DC-10 and the Boeing 727-200 in all parts of the globe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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His association with PAL would last 38 long years, accumulating
over 33,000 flying hours without a
single accident. During his stint with the nation’s flag carrier, Capt. Ben
also served as president of the Airline Pilots Association of the Philippines
(ALPAP) for 3 full terms. He initiated many landmark reforms like improving the
salary structure for international pilots and their crew. He was also named
vice president for Safety and Security and Asst. Vice President for Flight
Operations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Retirement for the captain meant returning to Mabalacat
to resume his life as a gentleman-farmer. In the past, even as he flew planes,
he was engaged in some profitable ventures here and there—from export-selling
<i>komiks</i> and <i>balut</i> to Filipino communities in Hawaii, providing school bus
services, to running a gravel-and-sand business . With his entrepreneurial
acumen, he learned how to grow broilers and chickens--and soon, his OMNI Farms became a
steady supplier of chickens to San Miguel Foods.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, in 1994, together with former colleagues, he took over the old Clark Aero Club and
transformed it into the country’s largest aviation training institute—OMNI
Aviation Corporation. Capt. Ben would grow its fleet to 25 planes that includes Cessna
172s, and the flagship twin –engine plane, Piper Seneca.At its peak, OMNI
Aviation attracted pilot-students from 28 countries and had over 300 enrollees,
many of whom are ace pilots today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It has been a great journey for the former pilot who
continues to look for new fields to explore and conquer—even at age 81 . His
latest project is his expansive museum home in Angeles that houses his varied
collections that he accumulated from his trips abroad. On display are 135
crosses and crucifixes, various tableware from Asia ( <i>netsukes</i>, sake cups,
chopstick rests, napkin rings), European crystal ware, Delft ware, brass sculptures,
Buddhas, travel souvenirs and many more. He also enjoys occasional visits from
any of his 5 kids, and grandchildren; there’s always a room reserved to
accommodate them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The still-sharp and healthy Capt. Ben has also been
quietly giving back through his philanthropic works—from helping build the
village chapel to extending financial help to indigents and handicapped people
in need. Currently, he is even taking care of an old priest, who has helped him
rediscover his Catholic faith.</div>
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It’s incredible, indeed,
how Capt. Ben could cram all these achievements in a single lifetime,
fulfilling all his dreams that he relentlessy pursued. Not bad for a <i>provinciano </i>and a high school dropout who describes himself as a graduate of the university of hard knocks! But then, he’s never known to set limits to what he can do---not
even the skies which he once flew.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-56399558428994481262017-03-29T16:43:00.000-07:002017-03-29T16:43:59.615-07:00*427. ZOILO S. HILARIO: Pampanga’s Polyglot Poet<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wA9Y4wcJBnU/WNxFOxTIlnI/AAAAAAAAPGY/cF8VTFkrNoowH1pTWLkAhjix4M-B8nUAwCLcB/s1600/Hilario%252CZ%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wA9Y4wcJBnU/WNxFOxTIlnI/AAAAAAAAPGY/cF8VTFkrNoowH1pTWLkAhjix4M-B8nUAwCLcB/s400/Hilario%252CZ%2Bcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ZOILO'S ZEAL. The Kapampangan who wore many hats--as poet, zarzuelista, diputado, Court of the First Instance judge, newspaperman--performed every role he assumed so excellently, that today, he is acclaimed as among the best in both Kapampangan and Spanish writing.Photo: CKS Collection.</span></i><br />
<br />
The life of Zoilo J. Hilario (b. 27 June 1892/d. 13 Jan.
1963) is so multi-faceted that no no one title could be appended to his name.
After all, Hilario was not just acclaimed as one of Pampanga’s most loved
poets, but he was also a playwright, a parliamentarian, a newspaper man, a jurist,
a researcher, a civic leader and an orator.</div>
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The talented poet was also adept in three languages, and
was able to write “in poetic fluidity and grace” in both Spanish and
Kapampangan languages. Moreover, the multi-lingual Hilario was also capable of
writing in English; as <i>juez de primera instancia,</i> he penned his decisions in
that language. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Born in San Fernando to parents Tiburcio and Adriana
Sanggalang, Hilario learned his cartilla from the school of Modesto Joaquin in Bacolor. As a youngster, Hilario always had a way with
words. Listening to adults’ conversations, he would versify their ordinary
chats in fun. At 12, he wrote his first love poem to a neighbor’s daughter.
Unfortunately, the girl’s mother discovered the letter and showed it to
Hilario’s mother. Rather than be angry, Dña. Adriana was
impressed with her son’s poetic skills, and became his number one fan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From Liceo de Manila, he enrolled for his law course at <i>Escuela
de Derecho,</i> graduated in 1911 and passed the bar thereafter. His studies over,
he devoted more time to writing poetry. In 1917, he entered a contest sponsored
by the <i>Casino Español</i> of Iloilo and won,
with his poem <i>"Alma Espanola".</i> Hilario also became an esteemed member of
<i>Jardin de Epicuro,</i> an elite literary society founded by Fernando Ma. Guerrero. <o:p></o:p></div>
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His Spanish writings were all published in book forms --<i>Adelfas,
Patria y Redencion, Ilustres Varones</i> and <i>Himnos y Arengas. </i>But even as he wrote
in Spanish, Hilario also became well-known for his outstanding vernacular
poetry in Pampango. In 1918, he topped a poetry competition in Bacolor for his
work, <i>“Ing Babai”</i>. Among the members of the jury was the great poet and
playwright, Juan Crisostomo Soto. He became a poet laureate in 1920. Hilario was also involved as an editor of the bi-lingual
newspaper, <i>“E Mangabiran/ El Imparcial”</i>, and later headed “El Paladin”, another
local paper.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1931, Hilario forayed into politics and was elected as
a congressman. Pres. Manuel L. Quezon named him as one of the first members of
the National Language Institute to represent Kapampangan speakers in 1938. As a
judge, Hilario was first assigned in Ilocos Sur in 1947, and rose to become a judge
of the Court of the First Instance in 1954, based in Tarlac. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After his retirement, he devoted his time to his
writings, and his collection of works were compiled in several books: <i>"Bayung
Aldo”</i> (New Day) and <i>“Bayung Sunis”</i> (New
Rhythm). The prodigious Hilario also wrote the following plays—<i>“Mumunang Sinta”
</i>(First Love), “Sampagang E Malalanat “(Unfading Flower), <i>"Bandila ning Pilipinas"</i> (Flag of the Philippines), <i>“Juan de la Cruz, Anak ning Katipunan”, “Ing Mapamatubu”
</i>(The Loan Shark) and <i>“Reyna Ning Malaya” </i>(Queen of Malaya).<o:p></o:p></div>
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He continued his involvement with the government: as a legal
adviser to former president Emilio
Aguinaldo and as member of the Philippine Historical Commission, until his
death in 1963. He left behind his widow, Trinidad Vasquez of Negros Occidental,
and two daughters, Rafaelita and Evangelina. His bust and a historical marker
were unveiled on 27 June 1892—his 90<sup>th</sup> birthday-- in his hometown San
Fernando, as a tribute to his sterling contributions to the province that he
dearly loved, and who loved him back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hilario, Zoilo. Himnos y Arengas: Colecciones de Poesias. Nueva Era Press Inc., Manila. 1968</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hilario, Evangelina Lacson. Kapampangan Writing: A Selected Compendium and Critique, 1984.</i></span></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-14927806266191402692017-03-21T00:01:00.000-07:002017-03-21T00:01:00.960-07:00*426. MISIONEROS RECOLETOS IN MABALACAT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxiSPS64JRM/WMyIrmYKR3I/AAAAAAAAPCs/n1tx3BppJiYo1u-iU-HawuDahy9p8roYwCLcB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxiSPS64JRM/WMyIrmYKR3I/AAAAAAAAPCs/n1tx3BppJiYo1u-iU-HawuDahy9p8roYwCLcB/s320/5.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>FR. ANDRES DE SAN FULGENCIO was one of 3 Recoletos that began ministering in Mabalacat, Capas and Bamban sometime in 1712, along with Frs. Juan de Sto. Tomas de Aquino and Manuel de San Nicolas. His namesake saint is shown on this estampita.</i></span> <br />
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With the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565, also came the Augustinians, who had
a headstart in the evangelization of the Philippines and the Far East. Back
then, missionary groups were assigned territories to govern, and in 1575, the
Augustinians named their <i>“provincia”</i> after the Most Holy Name of Jesus
<i>(Santisimo Nombre de Jesus) </i>. As early as 1572 though, Augustinians were
already active in the Pampanga region. The succeeding missionary groups that
followed were the Franciscans (1578), the Jesuits (1581) and the Dominicans
(1587).2<o:p></o:p></div>
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The <i>Recoletos </i>(OAR, Order of the Augustinian Recollects),
an offshoot of the Augustinian reforms in 1598,
were the 5th religious order to arrive, landing in Manila on 31 May
1606, with Fr. Juan de San Jeronimo leading the missionaries. By then, though, most of the areas have
already been assigned to the earlier groups, with the Augustinians dominating
in most Pampanga towns.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These “Discalced or Barefoot Augustinians” had to make do
with the remaining uncharted and remote Zambales/Upper Pampanga regions, naming
their <i>“provincia”</i> after San Nicolas de Tolentino. The noble <i>Recoletos </i>braved
the province’s wild and untamed northern frontiers—and are credited with the
early development of Mabalacat through their ministry, the only town that was
not subject to the influence of the Augustinians.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1712 is widely recognized as the founding year of the
Mabalacat township, on the basis of a Negrito settlement under the leadership
of Garagan. Like Magalang and Porac , Mabalacat started as a forest outpost. Historian
Fr. Valentin Marin confirms this date, with the deployment of 3 pioneer
<i>Recoletos</i> to Bamban, Capas and Mabalacat, namely, Fr. Andres de San Fulgencio,
Fr. Juan de Sto. Tomas de Aquino and Fr. Manuel de San Nicolas . <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another Augustinian historian, Fr. Agustin Cadava, also
validated the aforementioned year, although there are other dates mentioned.
Fr. Licinio Ruiz, a Recollect chronicler, puts Mabalacat’s founding year at
1714, while Fr. Andres de San Fulgencio cited 1717 in his report. Whatever, this would make Mabalacat older than San Fernando
(1756), Sta. Rita (1726), Sta. Ana (1759), San Luis (1762) and San Simon
(1771).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fr. Andres de San Fulgencio would play a major role in
the establishment of the Mabalacat
mission, which would gain the status of a <i>“mission viva”</i> or an active mission
center in a few years, from which the needs of nearby <i>“visitas” </i>, including
those of Tarlac, were ministered. Fr.
Andres’ early labors included not only dispensing spiritual services like
baptisms and conversions of Negritos but also community-building duties like
tilling of agricultural lands and constructions of houses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though successful
in his early labors, the enthusiasm of Fr. Andres was met with lukewarm
support from his elders, as it was only in 1725—a full 8 years after the mission’s
founding—that a full-time, regular missionary was assigned to Mabalacat. That
distinction belonged to Fr. Alonso de San Gabriel of Toledo Spain, who served
Mabalacat from mid-1725 to 1728. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The <i>Recoletos</i> played a significant role in warding off
the British during the British invasion of the Philippines. . Simon de Anda
secured the help of Recoletos in the re-capture of Manila. Mabalacat served as
an important point of transport for loyalist soldiers from Zambales and
Pangasinan, which had a number of Recollect-ministered <i>pueblos.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Appointed as a companion priest to Fr. Joaquin, but
elevated to full misonero rank in 1765, serving in that capacity until his death in Bamban in Feb. 11, 1765. During
his term, the British–Spanish War flared up. Lt. Governor and Visiting General Simon de Anda secured the help of <i>Recoletos</i> in
the re-capture of Manila. Mabalacat served as an important point of transport
for loyalist soldiers from Zambales and Pangasinan, which had a number of
Recollect-ministered pueblos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beginning in 1800, there was a 30-year disruption of missionary activities in both Mabalacat and
Bamban, due to acute shortage of priests (many died of tropical diseases like
malaria), political unrest and new development in Spain. It was only in 1831
that <i>Recoletos</i> resumed their mission work in Mabalacat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Notable <i>Recoletos </i>who came to work in Mabalacat include: Fr. Alonso de la Concepcion (30 Mar.
1792-1794) an accomplished Recoleto who held important offices in Spain and the
Recoleto province of the Philippines; Fr. Diego Cera (9 June 1794-1797) who stayed
only for a year, until his transfer to Las Piñas, where he built the
world-famous Bamboo Organ; Fr. Jose Fernando Varela de la Consolacion
(1834-1843, re-assigned to Mabalacat 13 May 1858-1860), an ilustrado priest whose
biggest achievement was the elevation of
the mission to a regular “<i>parroquia” </i>ca. 1836; Fr. Cipriano Angos del Rosario (served
intermittently from 1840-1867), an important personage of the Order who was
appointed as the Vice Rector of the Recollect Convent in Monteagudo, Spain; the
saintly Fr. Juan Perez de Santa Lucia (23 Feb. 1844-Sept. 1845) known for serving
and protecting Aetas, and Fr. Gregorio Bueno de la Virgen del Romero (30 Nov.
1875-10 Jul. 1898), the last Recollect priest known for putting a curse on
Mabalacat before he was executed—that the town will never prosper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Through difficult years, the Recollect Order helped in
shaping the future of Mabalacat. They hold the record for building and
administering the most number of churches and parishes in the country, until
these were turned over to other orders or to secular clergy.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4100524538146221107.post-8955283035537642372017-03-11T18:14:00.002-08:002017-03-11T18:22:52.791-08:00*425. IMMORTALIZING KAPAMPANGANS IN 19TH CENTURY PORTRAITURE<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSGi6riGXvo/WMSuBvjSXLI/AAAAAAAAPCA/mCRgT8A9fSUvO7H1VMPXdj9NT-tKuJCPACLcB/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSGi6riGXvo/WMSuBvjSXLI/AAAAAAAAPCA/mCRgT8A9fSUvO7H1VMPXdj9NT-tKuJCPACLcB/s400/Picture1.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE QUIASON FAMILY OF SAN FERNANDO. As painted in 1875 by Simon de la Rosa Flores. Central Bank Collection. Photo from the Press Reader.</span></i></div>
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It was Dr. Jaime Laya, former National Commission for Culture
and Arts who observed” “Portraits are challenges to mortality. The originals
may have long become dust, but their likeness remains—on canvas and
boards—seeking to remind us living in the present, that they once were here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Portraiture is the most popular form of painting in the
Philippines, and it took only 2 to 3 centuries for Filipino artists to imbibe
Western portraiture art. Filipino portraiture came of age in the 19th century
when the Filipino artist gained more confidence after achieving a measure of social
and economic prosperity. Portraits are
able to depict not only individuals but an entire social class of family
members. Thus, we see not only individuals, but <i>
ilustrados</i>, politicos,<i> hacienderos, </i>professionals, and even rich kids,
who made Pampanga what it is now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Early portraitists include the Spanish mestizo Damian
Domingo, director of the first Philippine Art Academy in 1826, Severino Flavier
Pablo (<i>Capitan Viring</i>) of Paco, whose 1836 portrait of Don Paterno Molo is
thought to be the earliest to have survived ,Tondo-born master of miniaturismo Antonio
Malantic (1820), and the Asuncion family
of artists from Sta. Cruz, Manila led by brothers Mariano Asuncion (1802),
Leoncio, a sculptor (1813), Justiniano or <i>Capitan Ting </i>(1816), Antonio, Mariano
Jr., Ambrosio, and Manuel Tarcilo (sculptor). Leoncio’s son –Hilarion—and
grandson Jose Maria, also became noted painters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Pampanga, there was no lack of portrait sitters as the
numerous members of the landed gentry sought the services of itinerant artists.
The most prominent name is Manila –born Simon Flores de la Rosa (1839), who
settled in Bacolor and made the rounds of Kapampangan towns, and a handful of
his portraits form part of his legacy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Perhaps, his most-well known is that of the Quiason
Family of San Fernando, headed by Cirilo Cunanan Quiason and wife Severina
David Henson and their Two Children” painted in 1875. Cirilo’s 2 brothers, Lucio and Pablo, were successful
landowners and traders, and each one commissioned Flores to create family
portraits. The painting cost 50 pesos per head, in gold coins, for a total of 200 pesos. The seated baby is
named Jose, and was originally painted with his male member exposed. When the
baby Jose grew up, it was said he was embarrassed to see himself naked, so he—or
someone--scratched away that part of the painting, causing a bit of damage. It
has since been professionally restored, his nakedness covered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the town of Sta. Ana, Flores painted the pretty Andrea
Dayrit. Her portrait hung in the 1840s Dizon house, famous in its time for its
late Neoclassical and English Regency architectural details. Mexico has a couple of Flores portraits, and the most
well-known is that of long-haired Miguela Henson in front of her dresser. It is now in
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas collection.</div>
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Flores, who settled in San Vicente in Bacolor, also
painted portraits of his wife, Simplicia Tambungui, originally from Guagua, but
no work survived.However, in 1890, he painted a portrait of his brother
Monsignor Ignacio Pineda Tambungui , a
canon of the Manila Cathedral and a chaplain at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
In return, Msgr. Tambungui gave his brother-in-law church
decorating-commissions in Pampanga towns. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bacolor’s most influential couple in the 1850s also sat
for Flores. Don Jose Leon y Santos was
one of the sons of <i>gobernadorcillo </i>Francisco Paula de los Santos and Doña Luisa Gonzaga de Leon. Jose himself became a town
head of Bacolor in 1857. The oil portrait of him was done in August 1887 when
he was 59 years old. He was married twice, first to Arcadia Joven y Suarez ,
and upon her death, Leon Santos wed her sister, Ramona Joven. Her portrait was
completed in August 1882. The paintings
now hang at the Museo de La Salle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the earliest known works of Flores, dates from 1862,--when he was just 23
years old. It is that of Don Olegario Rodriguez (1806/1874), patriarch of the
still-flourishing Rodriguez clan of Bacolor, when the subject was <i>“56 anos.”</i> Until
Pinatubo of 1991, it used to hang in the sala of his ancestral house but has
since been secured by Rodriguez descendants in Manila.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meanwhile, in Candaba, Flores painted two doyennes of the
<i>“principalia”</i> landowning class: the
severe-looking Severina Ocampo de Arroyo and the plump Quintina Castor de
Sadie, a work dubbed as the “Fat Woman from Candaba.”
Since the 1980s, they have been with
Central Bank.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Sioco progenitor of Apalit, Josef Sioco (1786/1864 )
has a surviving portrait, painted by <i>Capitan Ting.</i> A Chinese mestizo landowner
known for his frugality (he was called
<i>“Joseng Daga” </i>because he stashed everything away, like a rat), he
courted Marta Rodriguez of Bacolor. Turned down, he married the older, less
attractive sister, Matea, in 1856. He was 70, she was 21. When Sioco died,
Matea married Juan Arnedo Cruz. Matea, Juan and elder daughter Sabina had
portraits done by Flores as well, but
these have disappeared, presumed stolen and sold in the 70s while being
transferred to the Escaler house in Bacolor.
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Many prominent Pampanga families were immortalized by
Flores on oil and canvass, but some of these have been lost forever or their whereabouts
unknown : Julian Buyson of Bacolor, the Gils of Porac whose portrait was lost
after the war, Saturnino Hizon of Mexico, Jose Berenguer and wife, Simona
Linares of Arayat,<i> haciendero</i> Lino Reyes and wife Raymunda Soriano(lost in a
1928 fire).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lately, two century old portraits surfaced and are now on
loan to the Center for Kapampangan Center at Holy Angel University by the heirs.
They are those of Don Maximinao Songco, <i>gobernadorcillo</i> of Floridablanca and
Guagua, and his wife, Juana Limlingan y Chintuico. They were painted in the
last decade of the 1800s (10 June 1893 to be exact), which saw the start of the
merging of the sensibilities of the past with the new techniques of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now comes the interesting and mysterious part. Both
paintings are signed --Sg. Lorenzo R. There was one
accomplished portraitist by the name of Lorenzo Rocha (b.1837/d.1898), a product
<i>Academia de Dibujo y Pintura</i> and former painter
to the Royal Chamber of his Majesty in Madrid. However, his signature does not match those of the Songco
portraits and more research is needed to validate the creator of these 124
year-old paintings.</div>
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The desire to be remembered after one is gone is only
human. But, in the stories we conjure as we view these portraits--these people live on. Through their faces, expressions, finery and pose---we see people as the
artists saw them. In a way, we can understand a bit more of the lives, times, attitudes
and character of these people who have made Pampanga what it is today. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Alex D.R. Castrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245747060792920345noreply@blogger.com0