Water Pump Motor

     Yesterday,  we had a problem with our pump motor pumping out tap water from the nearby spring water source. Rainwater has entered into the pump causing electrical trouble with the engine. We had to take out the motor and bring it to town for repair whatever is needed. Near the town center, we stopped by a mechanic asking if he could repair pump motor. He can but he has a pile of cars and buses to attend to. 

     We moved towards town undecided because we don't really know who could get the job done for us. As we were cruising towards the town, we passed the mechanical shop of a friend, Mhelcor, handling cars. I quickly told my nephew let's ask him if he could do this. We were so lucky that he knew how to repair a motor pump. He came with us back to our village to install back the unit amid the drizzling in the late afternoon. It worked, it was the rain water causing our trouble earlier. We have to make sure we cover it from rain water ingress 

     It solved our problem as we had no water for almost a day. It's restored back to normal. Thank God. Thanks Mhelcor!

Mhelcor came to help install

My New Earbuds

     I've been using wired earbuds if I watch Netflix in my Ipad. Recently my sister is so kindhearted to give me wireless earbuds which are convenient to use when I'm using my Ipad or my phone. It has a superb sound and several days can be used before it requires charging. This is a timely gift from my sister that I can conveniently use with my Ipad when watching Netflix.

My new toy

My College Gang

     A couple of days ago, I met my college friends, my pals in the student publications, although I have met the other two a few times the past three years,  one of them I have not met in more than 30 years, practically since college.

Three previous chief editors and a layout artist

     In the photo, from left to right is me, Atty. Jerry Uy, Journalist Rolex Elmido and Atty. Roy Perez.

     Jerry was my layout artist for two or three years, and being the owner of a printing press, became close to me since we printed our paper with them for the reason that it was convenient for us to edit or change anything along the process of printing. He is a lawyer now and an incumbent city councilor, the first and a staunch opposition to the Romualdez-led city council. 

     Rolex is the one who went on to be a journalist as a profession, now based in Cebu City. He used to be working with Freeman, Cebu's oldest daily but now has stopped working and ventured into both digital and print media. He was in the city to receive an award for outstanding journalism I believe.

     Roy, another lawyer, is a private practitioner, doing a lawyering job mostly regional clients. It was only last night I learned he became chief editor years after I left the school.

     It was awesome to meet all of them again after several years, all professionals in their fields. 

Diversion from the Reality

     The Price Mansion, owned by the Romualdezes which was sequestered after the Marcoses were overthrown, is now back to them after returning into power in 2022. Yesterday, they officially opened the Christmas village in the mansion's yard, a beautiful presentation of Christmas, definitely something that will make you forget of the bad things in real life.

What a scene especially at night

     I personally am not against such grandiose display of celebration but what I am against, not when your society and people are suffering and poor, unemployed and uncertain of their future. Only those who want to manipulate them would resort to these ostentatious display of opulence and gaiety. For a moment I can be there, in awe of the beauty and grand display but after, I am back to being poor, manipulated by the politicians in the countryside who are in cohurt with the national politicians as the Romualdezes. 

The path to the unknown?

     Before engaging in such grandiose display, these politicians should look at the rampant poverty and unemployment. They should focus energies on improving their lot, making sure they have sustainable jobs and elevate them from their quagmire of poverty that plagues the society especially the countryside. They should study the inequitable distribution of wealth and looks at ways to minimize them so the society will improve and ready for such lavish Christmas display.

Light Is Life

     I remember we did not have electricity growing up. I was already in high school when electrification came to our barrio. The setting before electricity was so rural and dark, and  typically after dinner, we slept early except when it was bright full moon when we used to hang out under the moonlight.

     Now there is electricity, and the convenience of using electrical appliances is at our fingertips. The only setback is that there are black outs every now and then, something I never experienced when I was working in Singapore and Malaysia. Sometimes it makes me wonder how do they do it that our electric companies cannot do.

     

     The good news is that our youngest brother gave us two solar lamps that come handy at night, especially during black outs. Since he has given us, there has been two black outs in a week's time. I can't imagine how we were so pitch dark during black outs then. Now we have solar lights in front and at the back of the house, literally a light in the darkness.

Bright front 

Bright backyard

     

I Miss Malaysia

     When I say I miss Malaysia, it is an understatement. I miss my old life working in Malaysia from 1993 until 2010, my longest work life in a foreign country.

     It was my first time to work abroad because I had to since my family was poor, I had to work abroad to earn more so I can support my family. I went to Malaysia without even knowing a single thing about Malaysia, that it was a Muslim country. That time, my knowledge on Muslims is based on my perception of the terrorist Muslims in Mindanao.

     When I started working there, almost all my neighbors were Muslims, there were a few Buddhist Chinese and Indian Hindis. From then on I studied the Malaysian life, culture and all including religions as Islam, Buddhists and Hindustan. I learned that Muslim religion is not the Muslim I used to know in the Philippines. I became friends with many Muslims and had a deeper understanding of the religion.

     It was in Malaysia I learned how to drive a car, and I bought my first car, JFC2341, Jerry's First Car, I would joke with my friends. It was also in Malaysia I found life long pals, especially those I've worked with in Jotun Paints for almost ten years, my longest career job. They are my friends until the end of my life, genuine friends who I can rely on when I'm in dire situation. I won't forget them for the rest of my life.

My Malaysian gang who are my forever friends

Everything Is Worst?

     Sad to say that everything is worst in the Philippines, I say that as a returning OFW who worked in Malaysia and Singapore for about 30 years. Manila is developed maybe but it is overcrowded, overpopulated and dirty that I can't blame this Hollywood actor who once said rats are running around the streets. Once you go to the provinces, there is no development, unemployment is rampant, and the population is dirt poor. Thus when government officials come to bring cash, it's a relief but what they don't know is that they are selling their souls and the future of this country.

Jobs and employment should be better for the people

     The Filipinos are a talented lot, very intelligent and skilled, remaining untapped to grow the country to be among the best in Southeast Asia. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are much better politically and economically. If this country is led by a President who is visionary and for the people and supported by leaders of the same ilk, it can reach greater heights. What today is the leaders supporting the President and the President himself are all after their own interests, it's never the interest of the poor people.

     I saw these top lists of countries, and they are true. I don't need thorough studies to prove them. Unfortunately, they are the wrong lists to be included among the top.

Manila is I'll managed

Wrong priorities and values 

Is this something to be proud of?

     Metro Manila, where the Philippine capital city is, has the worst traffic in the world, and it does not surprise me. Last time, as an OFW, every time I go back for holiday, I would spend 3-5 hours in the jam before I can reach home, that sometimes I would say it took faster for my flight from Singapore to Manila than travel by car to my house from the airport.

     This list I agree to the fullest.

Very, very true

All Souls Day 2024

     This is my second time to see the cemetery in town gets crowded by people paying respect to their dead. The crowd is huge which slows down the traffic.

Paying respect to the dead 

     I didn't go down from the car as my physical ability is hampered by the chaotic tombstone layout, only my family did. Sad to remember departed loved ones, I pray for their eternal rest.

The crowded cemetery entrance

The crowded way to the new extension of the public cemetery 

Hawker Foods

     Hawker foods centers are famous in Singapore and Malaysia which provide affordable delicious meals to the masses. Cooking is a rarity among the middle class who are working as they just go the nearest hawker food centers for affordable daily foods.

Almost all the typical dishes are available 

     When I was working in Singapore, eating at hawker centers was economically viable than cooking myself at home since I was alone. Accessible and affordable and delicious, that's how I would describe hawker foods.

     For years, I've been thinking why such concept is not common in the Philippines, and I think these are some of the reasons.

     Majority of the middle class in Singapore and Malaysia work that they don't have the time to cook, hence hawker foods become a constant part of their lives. In the Philippines, many are unemployed.

     Filipinos are finicky in general being influenced by Spanish customs. Thus hawker centers would be considered dirty so they would shy away from eating in such places as Filipinos are used to eating in malls food courts in cities which are air-conditioned and cleaned in mall standard, influenced by US standards.

     In the countryside, majority are jobless and they rely on daily piecemeal jobs. Thus economically, they'd rather cook and eat at home. The economy of the country play a major role in this. I feel that the Philippines as a country, led by the elites who control the government in all levels, is following the US in many areas as benchmark, disregarding the majority poor masses. Before copying first world standard, the Philippines should increase the middle class then it has all the potential to succeed.

Rotterdam

     I had a global marketing meeting once before in Rotterdam, and to make our experience unforgettable, it was held by in a ship anchored in Rotterdam and ran like a hotel. Our global marketing boss opted for this for the experience. It was an experience unmatched in normal hotels.

The ship docked at Rotterdam port permanently 

     A friend who is in the US told me he used to be seafaring in this cruise ship when it was still cruising between Netherlands and America which was then called Holland America Line. It's now called SS Rotterdam, a hotel ship moored in Rotterdam port.

     We spent three days in this hotel ship, we had our meeting inside as well as the meals, ran like a normal hotel inland.

My cosy room inside the ship hotel

Paris

    Eleven years ago today, I was in Paris for a quick trip prior to my global marketing meeting and training in Belgium. It was my one and only solo trip abroad. It was a learning experience for me too. I took a train from Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands which took almost four hours if I remember it right. Arriving at the train station early in the morning, I took some time to walk around as my hotel would open only at twelve noon. What happened outside the train station was an eye opener for me. A black girl snatched the iPhone of a Korean tourist who just came out of the station like me. He frantically shouted trying to chase the girl luggage in tow. The police was able to nab the girl, a teenager, and returned the phone to the Korean tourist. An efficient police, I thought.

     For two days I roamed around Paris, traversing famous street such as Rue La Fayette, one mentioned in many novels I've read. I visited famous landmarks such as the the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame among others. I searched for Hard Rocke Cafe Paris to buy caps for my American friend who is into collecting HRC caps.

     I did a trip, it was longer out of the city center, to the Louvre Museum, something I only see in movies or read in books. I won't forget this trip.

At the Louvre

     After my Paris sojourn, I had to go to Antwerp, Belgium for our global marketing meeting cum training. Finally, I had to go to Louvain-la-Neuve to our global laboratory for technical training.

Productivity is The Key

     The Filipinos are very poor in world's standard, they don't have enough food to eat, many are unemployed, the countryside is dirt poor. Yet the government is doing nothing to alleviate their misery. Election come and go, and they pass inutile laws that have no significant effect in improving the lives of the common people.

     It's election time next year, and today is last day of filing of candidacy. Looking at the number and the potential candidates, it is utterly discouraging. What the current government has been spearheading is giving out monetary assistance. Palliative it is but it does not uproot the real cause of their poverty and does not aim to alleviate them from the misery. Instead, it teaches them to be dependent on the government and no initiative to work to be able to sustain their life.

Manny Piñol is right

     There is no drive to increase productivity that the masses won't wait for the government anymore. This country is managed by political idiots who kept the masses poor so that they can spoonfeed them with some cash every now and then to be manipulated during election time without them knowing it.

Increase productivity

     The archipelago is huge with a lot of unproductive areas. If the masses are harnessed properly, they can become independent financially leading them to be independent in their thinking. The country needs a messiah to uproot the evils of the wealthy oligarch which control the power everywhere. If all the idle lands are cultivated, developed and planted, the productivity will boost the country's economy. There's plenty to develop in agriculture and tourism alone.

Check Point in the Philippines

     I spent half of my life in Singapore and Malaysia where discipline reigns. Checkpoints are common to make sure drivers are following the basic rules. In the Philippines, it is very discouraging to see that awareness of the people on basic rules for drivers is very low.

     Many of motorbike drivers are without license, and motorbikes are unregistered, without plate numbers, a very common sight in the countryside. So when there is a check point, many of them would just stop by the roadside, in some cases the police check point is visibly nearby and the police can't arrest them.

This is funny but it's the reality

     In Malaysia, vehicles do not go out of the trading shop without the plate number, meaning they are legally registered. I'm not sure how other countries can do this but not here where vehicles are released without proper plate numbers. This is something the authorities should learn how to do it the right way.

Salute, EJ Obiena!

     I salute EJ Obiena, not only as an athlete, but as a person. He knows the essence of respect to parents as a Filipino, I saw him being interviewed in Boy Abunda's My Mother, My Story. He has achieve acclaim worldwide in pole vault although he was unlucky not get any medal in this year's Olympics but he has won in many other pole vaulting competitions before the Olympics putting him as high as world ranked no. 2.

Obiena on My Mother, My Story interview

     Yet, he remains grounded and respects his parents, especially his mom. Parents may not be perfect, they may have shortcomings but it is in the Filipino culture that respect and love for parents is second to none. EJ Obiena is reared to be a respectful son ever.

     I am dismayed with Carlos Yulo,  the Filipino gymnast who won two gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has his spat with his mother publicicize after the Olympics, and publicly shown his preference of his new girlfriend, a Filipino-Australian, who is the root cause of this family drama, I believe. I think she is the bad influence in Carlos, although claiming she is the reason for Yulo's Olympic success for being an inspiration. I don't think the same though, Carlos Yulo would have won with or without Chloe in his side.

Praying for Filipino People to Be Conscientious

     The filing of candidacy is from Oct 1-6, 2024, and politicians are scrambling to get noticed. Some of them resorted to TV advertisements just to get noticed. It's sickening to see them trapos(traditional politicians) indirectly manipulating the poor public. The first to publicly announce it's line up for Senators is the administration of BBM. 

The admin's 12

     This line-up exemplifies there is no loyalty in Philippine politics. I spent half of my life in Malaysia and Singapore and party loyalty is prominent. The politicians don't hop political parties, and the voters don't vote for the individual names, rather on the political party. In the Philippines, it's all personality based. The administration's line-up is a mix from different parties, some even ran from President against BBM in the last election. Automatically, the wealthy elite, who have the means and opportunities to wage a campaign, rules the political contest.

     I am not inking a single one in this line up and I strongly pray that the poor masses don't fall into the trap of BBM and co-horts, popularizing Marcos-style of dole-outs. If there will be reliable candidates from other parties, I will vote for them. If none, then my ballot will be blank.

Too Much Politics

     It's ten days or so before filing of candidacy for May 2025 election but politicians have started the ball rolling. Several potential candidates for senators have aired their ads on TV since last month The Commission on Elections cannot do anything about it, it seems. The trapos (traditional politicians) are like having a feast.

     It's saddening how much they try to portray how much they've done for the country but it's all words and the lives of the ordinary man remains the same. There is so much poverty in the countryside yet politicians are busy with their scoring points to get the masses' support come election time.

     What is even more saddening is the return of the Marcoses and Romualdezes into power and their perpetration of old ways of politics not different from the politics of the Marcos-Imelda era. 

     The Romualdezes are using government agencies like the DSWD to dole out cash incentives to the masses. I am so perplexed because initially I thought they are giving out the monetary based on their plan, later I found out all of them are existing programs of MSWD and they are abusing them to their advantage. The poor masses think they are able to receive because of them, without any idea that they are actually existing programs of DSWD. If only following to the letter, anybody can go and apply at DSWD. What they did is organize MSWD to dole out in the countryside with their names and party list prominently displayed.

     I was listed as recipient of a certain monetary incentive, which later I found out is a DSWD program for former OFWs. I went to receive not knowing it is for ex-OFW which actually aptly suits me, and the speech before giving out the cash, was as if it is an initiative of TINGOG, a Romualdez-led party list. Something is very wrong.

     In May 2025 is the mid-term elections where it is an election for half of the senators, congressmen and all local officials. This is going to be a make or break exercise for the Filipinos. If they elect still the people of the Marcoses and Romualdezes, it is going to continue the downward spiral of this country. If the electorate chooses alternative politicians to eliminate vestiges of the Marcoses and Romualdezes, it will be an action in the right positive direction, hope for the country's future.

Happy Teachers' Month

     It's the month for the teachers, those responsible for nurturing the education of the young before they plunged into bigger roles in the society. My elementary and high school teachers were my foundation. They started my education and molded me to face the struggles up to college.

     I learned my 3R's from my elementary school teachers. They were instrumental in shaping me. Then my high school teachers drew out the best in me. Aw

My teachers growing up

     In my elementary days, if there was a teacher who was instrumental in my educational growth, he was my science teacher in Grades Five and Six. Studying in rural elementary school, he would lend me science encyclopedia. I didn't know why but I would read them cover to cover. Those stock knowledge helped me a lot when I went to high school. It helped me fight the competition from students who were from the city as I was purely educated in the rural school.

The King of Fruits

     I wonder why the Philippines has never been really into eating the king of fruits, durian, like its neighboring ASEAN countries. Thus, when someone who works in the nearby town was given two pieces of durian, they can't eat when they opened one so they decided to give away the other to whoever wanted. I quickly told them I can eat and so they gave me the unopened fruit.

The King of Fruits

     I didn't learn to eat durian from young, as we didn't like the pungent smell for being too offensive to our noses then. During those times, I've not seen any fresh durian fruit. The closest encounter I had was with some local candies that were durian flavored.

     When I moved to Malaysia to work, for three years I never indulged durian eating as a habit, as it was, among the locals, a tradition to feast on durian when in season. Thus I vividly remember my gang had dinner together, and when it's season, they would feast on durian after dinner. I would leave them to go back home and rejoin with them after their durian feast, until one time, they managed to psyché me into eating durian. 

     When I tried it first, I fell in love with the taste. Forget about the aroma but the milky taste, sweet, a tad bitter in some species, is to die for. Since that day I have become a part of their durian session. They taught me how to eat like a pro with bare hands, as well as how to get rid of the smell that sticks to your fingers.

Daring

     If there is a trait I developed to the maximum when I was working with Jotun Paints, it would be daring. I was already daring in the early part of my life but when I became part of Jotun, it enhanced my ability to be daring and face all challenges that came my way even after I left Jotun to venture into marketing.

The team building in the regional lab tested my courage to go beyond what my normal self would do

     Every year we had team building in Jotun's regional team and my last was this team building that really pushed us to do things that tested our mettle.

My team in the regional team building

     The physical tasks seemed mainly fun activities but actually they have effect on our mental health. It helped us grow mentally and became stern in dealing with challenges.

     Without knowing it, I believe my trainings helped me make decisions that probably I would not have opted to do before. Shortly after this team building, I decided to move into marketing, a totally different field than what I did for 20 years of my career, chemistry. I moved to marketing chemicals in the region challenging myself in many aspects. I believe I excelled in my regional marketing job and I'm sure my abilities were developed  during team building exercises.

     

4Ps Is Not The Solution

      The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program(4Ps) is not the way to solve the massive porverty in the country. This is another dole-out program of the government which has no lasting effect on the ills of society. The government can give out 4Ps for ages but it won't improve the people's lives as long as the root causes of poverty and inequity remains unanswered.

Catriona's take on 4Ps is spot on

     Handouts of cash won't solve their problems, instead train them for a long time job and look at the roots causes of their problems, only a lasting solution can happen. Dole-out encourages laziness and forever they will remain at the mercy of the ruling administration.

     I know this program has been going on since past administration, but current administration is strengthening it and using other dole-out programs of the Social Welfare Department with administration's related party list prominently brandishing its name, Tingog, even though the programs are existent programs of DSWD. The way they're bringing it down to the poor masses is as if it's their programs. And the innocent poor folks think it's because Tingog is doing these for them. All these are Imeldific ways to approach the widespread poverty and unemployment in the country.

Wikipedia says about 4Ps

Trapos To The Max

     I am dismayed seeing this news, opposing politicians seemingly unite for Eastern Samar, a poor province, solemnized by the presence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I understand the unity is great news to hear. The reality is that both of them belong to top tier elite classes who are both fighting to rule Eastern Samar. Who suffer the most are the poor masses of the province who don't get anything to uplift the standards of their lives. Whoever rules, it won't bear any difference in their lives, as these politicians are not aiming to address the roots of the widespread poverty in the province, which is the reality in many other provinces. As long as the traditional politicians (TRAPOS) rule the countryside politics, there is no hope among the masses to get uplifted in their standard of living.

Trapos come together 

Rest In Peace Grace!

     I was shocked in disbelief upon learning that a friend, a friend's wife, passed away in the USA apparently from illness although I don't know exactly what caused it. Some say it was kidney complications, others say from UTI. I couldn't believe that she would be gone of this world ahead of me. When I came back to Leyte for good, they called me to find out of finding me. That time, I didn't let them come and see me as I was staying with my brother in his house in Marianville, Alangalang. I should have met them had I known this would happen.

Rest in eternal peace

     Her husband, Leandro, is a great friend of mine in college as we were together in the school paper in college for two years. They got married when I was working abroad. I got to know her when they came to Singapore when she attended her company's conference. Her husband, my college friend met me while she was in the conference, probably meeting him twenty years after I left college. I met the wife in the evening for some sightseeing. After her seminar, I toured them around Gardens by the Bay.

     After I got connected with Leandro, we were in touch via social media. One Christmas, maybe 2017, he had a holiday in Singapore with the whole family. I let them stay at my flat as I was back to the Philippines for my Christmas vacation. I remember putting a note in the house for key things to do in the house as I was not able to meet them in person.

     Rest in eternal peace, Grace. We will definitely miss you!

Happy National Day Singapore!

     For a long time, I worked in Malaysia as I kind of didn't like the idea of working in Singapore as I learned that time it is expensive. Then came when I decided not to work in Malaysia because I didn't like my boss, the offer came to work in Singapore which I took otherwise I would have to go back home in the Philippines. Thus I landed a marketing job with an American company dealing with chemicals in a regional capacity, the whole of Asia. That's how I ended up working in Singapore.

     Today is the National Day of Singapore thus I remember writing this.

Happy National Day Singapore

     I lasted working in this country for almost ten years until a stroke rendered me unable to work, otherwise I could beat my record of working longest time in Malaysia. For ten years, I got to love Singapore for the cleanliness, orderliness and everything. When I stayed there, I realized that Singapore is an ideal society in my standard. If you earn in Singapore, the cost of living is actually reasonable. 

     In my opinion, Singapore is such an almost perfect society where the government make sure there is no poor, unlike in the Philippines where the wealth is concentrated among the elite few. Politics is well managed, politicians spend only ten days or so to campaign in five years and once they're elected, it's all work for the people and society. The government is ran like a corporation thus it is well managed.

     I miss Singapore so much with all its orderliness and cleanliness. It's the exact opposite here in the Philippines, far beyond comparison. The Philippines is everything what Singapore is not, from economy, politics and socio-cultural point of view.

Largest Airports in the World

     I was travelling a lot when I was still working as it was part of my job to do so as regional marketing manager for Asia. Then I saw this list of the world's largest airports, of which at least nine I had been to. It definitely brought back a lot of memories and experiences at these airports.

     Changi Singapore airport is one I have been the most since I was based in Singapore. It was in this airport I flew to many parts in Asia and the world to meet customers and for internal meetings and trainings. It is the cleanest and most orderly airport in the world I think.

Changi Singapore 

     Another unforgettable airport for me is San Francisco USA even though I have been there once. I was there for reasons beyond my control. My original company training was supposed to be in Houston, Texas when a hurricane prevented us from converging in Houston. Frantic efforts in Manchester, UK, where I was stranded because it was our connecting city,  brought us to Atlanta, Georgia. Then I had to instruct my travel agent to find me ways to return by whatever means since I was in Atlanta instead of Houston. In the end, I had to fly a long trip passing by San Francisco USA. In this trip I made one big round around the world.

     I had a stopover so a high school classmate who is near San Francisco came to bring me around San Francisco  since I had a day layover and brought me back to the airport before my midnight flight back to Asia. I returned to the airport sleepy that I didn't realize I fell asleep while sitting waiting for boarding call. I was so lucky I woke up when they were calling for boarding.

San Francisco USA

     I visited South Korean customers and landed in Incheon, South Korea. It was a huge airport that I don't even remember anything what happened in that trip. All I can recall is walking through long indoor alleys before I could reach the bus that brought me to the hotel.

Incheon Korea

Olympian Carlos Yulo

     Carlos Yulo is the biggest news now in the country while the Paris 2024 Olympics is going on, he won two gold medals in artistic gymnastics beating competitions in floor exercise and vault. 

The diminutive gymnast Carlos Yulo

     He certainly brought great pride to the country winning two gold medals in one Olympics, probably a feat that may never be duplicated. The gold medal has been elusive to a third world country like the Philippines. Last Olympics in Tokyo, the country won the first gold medal ever in weightlifting courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz. And this year, one man won two, that is just a huge and hard act to follow. He deserves the accolades he is getting now.

     However, his mother, probably estranged, did an interview with the Philippine press berating him for not supporting her financially. It was a juicy item suitable for the tabloids. Apparently, Carlos Yulo's camp is saying she squandered Yulo's monetary previous winnings thus he won't trust anymore his winnings today. Whatever it is, may he rise up like a true champion!

     On the other hand, we were hoping for another medal in pole vault. Unfortunately, E.J. Obiena ended fourth. It was a great effort, and may he never lose hope and still aim for the next Olympics, be like Yulo who got nothing in Tokyo four years ago.

Canyoyo, Marabut

     During the weekend, I went to Brgy. Canyoyo, Marabut, Samar with friends upon invitation of a friend who owns a private resort along the seaside. Definitely it was a trip I will remember always. We went island hopping in our friend's own-made tri-catamaran. When I was still physically fit, before I had the stroke, I went to many islands in Malaysia and Thailand.

My DALAIT friends for life

Some of the islets we visited 

     I am glad that I organized them into a socio-political group during college days, and to me, it seems they have grown to become good individuals in their profession. Imagine, they are now lawyers, court staff, doctors, engineers, and public service employees, yet they have become leaders in their own fields based on the tenets of Authentic Christian Humanism and Active Non-Violence.

The private tri-catamaran of our friend used for island hopping 

     We viewed a cave in one of the islets and swam on the beach to our hearts' delight as it was deserted and there were no other tourists except for the municipal crew collecting the mandatory fee for island use. I was thinking that to be able to visit this island, you must have your own sea transport, unlike in Thailand that they are well organized from the government's tourism board to the private people responsible for the transport and food, making them a must-go for tourists. I am thinking the Philippines has many things to show to the world but the security is a huge stumbling block. You won't know which area has insurgents. 

Entering the cave

In one of  the islets

     It's a pity that the government is not tapping this huge potential. Unfortunately, political leaders are focused on piece meal solutions, no one is looking at long term sustainable help to the people that they will survive even if political leaders are changed.

Class Reunion 2023

     I know our high school class 1985 batch reunion happened last year, July 2023. It was supposed to be 2020 but due to the havoc of COVID, the organizers delayed it. I have almost forgotten it until I saw these pictures in my Messenger messages from our Class President, pictures from the reunion night. I've totally forgotten about these pictures. I am publishing them here for posterity's sake.