Family Matters.

RIGHT, a bamboo balsa, a common sight during the 2009 Typhoon Ondoy.


When rain raged in Metro Manila, and people got stranded on the roads last Thursday evening, we decided to get ready for flood.

The creek behind us was not yet swollen to dangerous level but we needed to be alert.

We went to Rustan's early Friday morning to buy ammunition: canned goods, bread, fruits, snacks, mosquito coil and Baygon mosquito oil repellent, veggies, chicken.

We charged two emergency light kits with electric fan and radio. We checked battery supply for portable radio.

Then I got the backyard cleaned; all floatables were tied or kept in higher ground. Wednesday and Thursday, I collected the smaller pots and plants that were candidates to be swept away by water, placed them in big basins and on top of a glass table in the front yard, near the resident dog, Shadee. All basins and pails at the Laundry Shed, the garden hose, the "bayongs" used for marketing days, the smaller water containers, the bamboo poles not yet erected for my landscaping project were either stored, tied or loaded into safe nooks.

Shadee whose sleeping quarter is a garden bench underneath a colorful umbrella was not spared from the onslaught of heavy, intermittent rain of Falcon. She would squirm at times when rain caught her off guard, so, I placed a heavy rug doormat on the bench to keep her warm. Her water and food containers were beside her as she would not dare touch the wet floor.

Now, I surveyed the interior of the house. The living room which is the lowest point of the house was the most vulnerable area. There were furniture all around: two large cushioned couches, a huge wooden "narra" divan laced with "rattan" and "embuti," two chairs, a lanai-type narra two seater gallenera. Earlier, I moved the TV to the dining area, and swore never to return it to the living room.

With the remaining furniture nowhere to go, I mounted each piece on plastic chairs and sturdy rattan chairs, and brought the lounge sofa into the storage room. Then, I lifted all cables resting on the floor and fastened them onto walls. Thursday and Friday were also the two days when the ISP guys came to fix the Internet connection.

The lanai, even though it had a ceiling, got a bit soaked from the splash of the rain, so it had to be constantly wiped. The hallway leading to the backyard and the garage was a mini version of a Manila street - victim of flash flood.

On Friday evening, I constanty monitored the street outside for any sign of flood; yes there was already flood brought on by the continuous rain, but it was about five metres away from our gate, and thank God the creek remained below the risk level. Again, anytime the rain raged on, I would swear to buy a rubber boat or the newly popularized light weight banca.

Cleaning the chairs, the lanai, the front and backyard, and safeguarding the furniture took its toll Saturday evening, when my body started to get sore. But come Sunday morn, I felt better.

Having left behind an unfinished project in Bulacan, we looked forward to receiving a call from the construction crew; this materialized last Monday morning, so we drove back in haste to Bulacan.

The weather stabilized on June 27th, so the workers proceeded fencing the property, a task put on hold by the torrential rain of the previous week. Yesterday, during the town Fiesta, dubbed "Manok ni San Pedro," the fencing was completed, and already, there are two prospective buyers.

But the stress of ejecting an illegal settler, of moving back and forth from site to local hotel, of ingesting dust and odour from open sewer took another toll and finally, I succumbed to a bout of hay fever - runny nose, chest congestion, and earth shaking ten-a-time sneezing.

Now, we're back in Manila and savouring R and R.

Mi Ultimo Adios.

RIGHT. Photo of Dr. Jose P. Rizal and his family.

I know this tyke who used to recite Mi Ultimo Adios as if he were a high school-er, when in fact he was still in prep. His equally-hyper Dad could recite the poem as if he were in Bagumbayan.

As an avid admirer of our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, I could not hold a candle to these two fellows mentioned herein. I cannot recite Mi Ultimo Adios by heart.

The reason could be that I studied in a Catholic school where the works of Dr. Jose Rizal were not included in the curriculum. So, I got my introduction to Rizal in elementary, but only his general works were discussed, and not in length, but in passing. It was more his biographical sketch: where he was born, who his parents and siblings were, where he died, his works.

At the University, I got a real glimpse of what Dr. Jose P. Rizal stood for - but this was through works of unquestionable authors. Looking back, I never really understood what "Noli Me Tangere" nor "El Filibusterismo," really meant.

Like most Pinoys of my generation and earlier on, the stirring moments of Noli and Fili were etched in the brain because of Tagalog movies that starred the likes of Anita Linda as Sisa, Leopoldo Salcedo as Elias, and Mario del Mar as Dr. Rizal. I saw such films as a small child via the early morning or afternoon television "Tagalog movies."

I thought of Rizal's Maria Clara last week when I accidentally saw the ending credits of Eddie Romero's "Ganito Kami Nuon, Paano Kayo Ngayon," over at Cinema One. It was because Ganito Kami Nuon, is a period film, set in the Philippine-Spanish colonial period.

When we went to Spain a couple of years ago, our group visited Madrid but not Barcelona. Dr. Rizal studied in Barcelona for his medical degree and wrote most of his work there. Spain must have felt home for Rizal then because of the language and the scenery. There are old churches everywhere, and priests/friars could have been everywhere, too, during his time.

I am envious of people who can speak a third language. We, Filipinos could have used the 300 years of Spanish rule to our advantage and should have learned how to write and speak Spanish fluently. Today, Spanish is offered as an elective both in high school and university. It should have been taught from elementary, a required subject.

Why, you ask? Because a third language opens up more economic opportunities for someone. In the U.S., Spanish is almost an official language, so there are jobs especially in the government agencies for someone who can speak Spanish. In the United Nations, having French or another language aside from English, in your resume, almost guarantees one a job.

Locally, if one speaks or understands Spanish, one can appreciate more the works of our great heroes. One can understand better the Noli and the Fili, and Mi Ultimo Adios.

Nowadays, our OFWs in Spain, I assume, can speak the Spanish language.

I hope they can find time to get a copy of any of Rizal's work. This time, they can really empathize with what Dr. Rizal was saying.

Below is the text of the poem, "Mi Ultimo Adiós" (My Final Farewell), written by the national hero of the Philippines, Dr José Rizal, in Fort Santiago on the eve of his execution by the Spanish on December 30, 1896:


Mi Ultimo Adiós

Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel ó lirio,
Cadalso ó campo abierto, combate ó cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día trás lóbrego capuz;
Si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
Salud te grita el alma que pronto va á partir!
Salud! ah que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un dia
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja á la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave;
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave
Deja que el ave entone su cantico de paz.

Deja que el sol ardiendo las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras con mi clamor en pos,
Deja que un sér amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mi alguien ore
Ora tambien, Oh Patria, por mi descanso á Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por tí que veas tu redencion final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio
Tal vez acordes oigas de citara ó salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto á ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas antes que vuelvan á la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan á formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido,
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré,
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oido,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fé.

Mi Patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adios.
Ahi te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fé no mata, donde el que reyna es Dios.

Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adios, dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria,
Adios, queridos séres morir es descansar

My Final Farewell

Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.

On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of fight,
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;
The place matters not-cypress or laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight,
T is ever the same, to serve our home and country's need.

I die just when I see the dawn break,
Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake
To dye with its crimson the waking ray.

My dreams, when life first opened to me,
My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high,
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea
From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free;
No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye.

Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now to take flight;
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire;
And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night.

If over my grave some day thou seest grow,
In the grassy sod, a humble flower,
Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so,
While I may feel on my brow in the cold tomb below
The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm power.

Let the moon beam over me soft and serene,
Let the dawn shed over me its radiant flashes,
Let the wind with sad lament over me keen ;
And if on my cross a bird should be seen,
Let it trill there its hymn of peace to my ashes.
Let the sun draw the vapors up to the sky,
And heavenward in purity bear my tardy protest
Let some kind soul o 'er my untimely fate sigh,
And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on high
From thee, 0 my country, that in God I may rest.

Pray for all those that hapless have died,
For all who have suffered the unmeasur'd pain;
For our mothers that bitterly their woes have cried,
For widows and orphans, for captives by torture tried
And then for thyself that redemption thou mayst gain.

And when the dark night wraps the graveyard around
With only the dead in their vigil to see
Break not my repose or the mystery profound
And perchance thou mayst hear a sad hymn resound
'T is I, O my country, raising a song unto thee.

And even my grave is remembered no more
Unmark'd by never a cross nor a stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it o'er
That my ashes may carpet earthly floor,
Before into nothingness at last they are blown.

Then will oblivion bring to me no care
As over thy vales and plains I sweep;
Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air
With color and light, with song and lament I fare,
Ever repeating the faith that I keep.

My Fatherland ador'd, that sadness to my sorrow lends
Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last good-by!
I give thee all: parents and kindred and friends
For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends,
Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!

Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed !
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day !
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!


(This is the 1911 translation by Charles Derbyshire of the Spanish original of José Rizal's poem, Mi Ultimo Adiós)

Equal Air Time.

Super Bowl is the greatest show on earth that can command a hefty million dollar for a mere 30-second television commercial. Why? Because millions of Americans, and millions of other nationals elsewhere watch its live telecast.

Paying money to have a product or service get noticed by consumers is as old as the Bible. Remember when Jesus Christ drove off the money changers from the Temple? The peddlers were hawking their wares in the vicinity of the Temple, in all probability, screaming, thus adapting a way of marketing or advertising their product.

Ordinary people who want to get noticed employ the same tactic. Whether it is a man or woman trying to seduce a lover, or a child wanting a parent's attention, or a student clamoring for teacher's time, or a politician vying for people's votes, even a malicious person trying to inflict pain on an adversary or an innocent bystander.

In this age of digital information and the Internet, a suitor would use the social networking sites to get into a girl or boy's circle and tweet, post, or chat - and declare his/her interest and intention. Or maybe use a blog to tell his/her story to flaunt his desire.

Being so accessible and being totally free, the Internet is today's POTENT medium of advertising or marketing products, services, ideas and ideals, love and hatred.

People who use the social networking sites to declare love and hatred should be ready for its consequences. If you post a message with the intention of piquing the ire of someone, then beware. The party at the other end is reading and ready to respond!

There are many self-righteous people out there in the digital world who would use their facebook and twitter accounts, and quoting and twisting verses from their religious orientation, to suit their agenda, and attacking those whom they regard as enemies.

Voila, the aggrieved party notices it, and counter attackss - armed with knowledge and pure understanding of issues. Then, the originating party would either clam up, up the ante, de-friend the aggrieved person, or resort to other media to continue the affront, such as spam text via cellphone.

Today's battle, whether between nations or private individuals are fought in a different field. It is waged in the arena of youtube, facebook, twitter, and blogs. Different ideologies are living and breathing in thousands of blogs, corporate giants and ants, governments and all types of local and international agencies and organizations host websites that promote their products, services ideals and agenda.

The private citizen takes care of its own private issues in the same manner: broadcasting through the web and the other public domains and social networks.

It's the reality of today. Face-to-face battle in the public eye.

Just today, the United Nations declared access to Internet as one of the basic human rights.

Everyone in our household is armed for such a battle.