Metro Infanta Foundation, Inc.

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Romy Coronacion sent us a plea to help seminarians of Alagad ni Maria. He said, "I was told there are five seminarians at "Alagad ni Maria Seminary" (the Alagad ni Maria serve in the Prelature of Infanta) who need sponsors to continue their studies. I sponsored one (Ramon Escarices or Ercarises). I was told he is the son of Gloria Amargo. There are four more who need help. Please pass the word to our generous kababayans. The cost is PHP10,000 per semester ($180)."

Romy does not know the seminarian he sponsoring, nor his mother, yet he is willing to sponsor him. Please help the church increase the number of priests. Please sponsor one or two. Please note the the above cost is for tuition. There are other expenses associated with the studies.

Along this line, another seminarian, Richard Lagos, has asked for sponsors also to help his expenses at the prelature's St. Joseph House of Formation. His total expenses for per year is about $2,000 which includes tuition, board and lodging, books and others. Richard is from Panukulan.

"I am Richard Peñamante Lagos, a native of Panukulan, Quezon. I am about to start my theological studies at MST under the custody of the Prelature of Infanta. The study is quite costly and I would like to seek for support by any means from your foundation if ever you have a slot. But above everything else, I ask for your prayers that I might be strong enough in battling the battles Christ have fought and continue fighting, that I might be loyal enough and dedicated enough in building what Christ has built, the Church. I hope and I pray that I may contribute to the continuous building of His Church by means of my loyal service to the Good Shepherd. May I be God's instrument of goodness, truthfulness and beauty of God's creation."

By Rudy A. Arizala

Recently, our second eldest son who is now residing in Los Angeles, California, paid us a visit in Santiago, Chile. He came to Chile even at winter time simply to spend several days with us, his parents, whom he has not seen in three years.

To parents, their children never grow old. So, even if they are already adults, we treat them as if they are still children. My wife prior to our second son´s arrival stocked up our refrigerator with all the foods and drinks she know our son liked or very fond of during his childhood. And she prepared his bedroom the same way when he was still a boy. A small colored TV set was installed in the bedroom so that he would not miss his favorite TV program.

Our son, while in Chile, stayed most of the time at home except when he goes out in the evening with his friend and classmate during elementary grades and high school in Chile who is now a young businessman. My wife´s relatives in Santiago vied each other in inviting our son either to have lunch or dinner with them.

Father and son during that short vacation walked together in the old familiar streets of Santiago and they usually ended up having a cup of coffee at a sidewalk coffee shop where piping hot Colombian or Brazilian coffee is served. They talked about life, work, family and mundane things in life.

Eleven days of his winter visit or vacation in Santiago went by so fast and we woke up one day it was time for him to go back to the United States. And as parents we realized the truth of what Kahlil Gibran, an Arabian poet, writer and philosopher, said in his classic book: The Prophet about children. He said:

And when we took him to the airport on his date of departure, I was also reminded of what Kahlil Gibran wrote about love for children and parting. He wrote that "love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. . . . and our love would not bind him nor our needs hold him."

Gibran admonished that "When you part. . . . you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain."

Now, I realized how my own parents felt about their love, sorrow, hope and their prayers when I left them in our hometown of Infanta, Quezon in the Philippines many years ago. In my absence their love for me grew clearer as my love for them and as my love for our son now who departed after a short visit with us in Santiago. He has his own dreams to pursue and life to live as I have had my own when I left my hometown. Kahlil Gibran wisely reminds us parents, "life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday." My beloved parents had not read the book by Kahlil Gibran, but they perfectly understood that "life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday."

Twilight nostalgia

By Rudy A. Arizala

The Webster´s dictionary defines "nostalgia" as "homesickness"; a longing for something far away or long ago." And "twilight" as "the subdued light just after sunset; the period from sunset to dark." In Tagalog or Pilipino it is called "takip-silim"; "dapit-hapon", o "nag-aagaw ang dilim at tanglaw." I use it here as a period of one´s old age or retirement.

I realized that as you grow older, there are moments when you are assailed by that feeling of nostalgia &endash; your longing for or remembrance of home, your birthplace, the country of origin. You remember and long for the old familiar places, the people whom you grew up with; your parents, your teacher, and the girl you met and secretly fell in love with. You saw her for a brief moment and her pretty, angelic face and graceful movement of her slender body as she walks remain in your dreams. In other words, the people whom you met or crossed your path and made an impact on your whole-being, who somehow inspired and helped shape your destiny &endash; what you have attained and where you are now. You remember of requited and unrequited love; dreams unfulfilled and realized; hopes, desires and ambitions when you were young.

In the twilight of your existence that nostalgia keep coming back like an old song and grow stronger. There is that compelling urge to go home; to return to the place where you came from. In the words of Kahlil Gibran, the noted Arabian poet-writer-philosopher, in his book The Prophet: "to return home at eventide with gratitude." For "deep is your longing for the land of your memories and the dwelling places of your greater desires."

Yesterday your youth has given you dreams to dream. The noontide of your beloved parents was your dawn. You remember long were the days of your innocent boyhood have been spent in your hometown. And long were the nights of your aloneness; of your unspoken secret love and desires. You have scattered too many fragments of your spirit in the dusty streets and green meadows of your hometown; in the homes of your parents, relatives, friends and townmates.

But there came a time when you had to leave town to seek a new world to discover if not to conquer; to chase the proverbial rainbow to "find that pot of gold" and seek for yourself a place under the sun after your graduation from college or university. And you departed with regret from your hometown. You left behind your beloved parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends and the girl you saw briefly and fallen in love with secretly as if in a dream.

It was not only remembrance which you left behind but a heart. And deep in your heart there was that promise to return some day. But leave you must for to quote again Kahlil Gibran: "We are wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise finds us where sunset left us."

After you have wandered over the face of the earth and traversed the wide oceans, a woman carried you to the winds and you worked hard and made a home away from home. Now, in the silent twilight of your life, you suddenly remember the promise "I shall return with the tide" which you uttered when you departed from your hometown many years ago. In your Winter you may deny your Spring. Yet you feel Spring is stirring within you despite your old age and you suddenly remember to return and dream once more as if in your youth. For Kahlil Gibran said:

My longing have gathered dust for another love borne me into the winds of foreign shores. Farewell to you then and the youth I have spent with you. It was only yesterday we met in a dream. But now our sleep has fled and our dream is over, and is no longer dawn. Darkening shadows of twilight have already set in.

Thanks to Rex Crisostomo the Batch of 1984 has reached a total of $500 towards the $20,000 goal to help rebuild 10 classrooms for Mt. Carmel School of Infanta. In addition to Rex, Manuel Diestro, jr., Vener Crisostomo, Remegio Alteza, Jr., Arvin Juntereal and Venchi and Juliet (Miras) Gucon complete the list of the Batch of '84. Thank you!

Imagine if more from the same batch gave a donation to this cause, we will reach our goal in no time. Yet, there are nearly 40 batches! Where are the rest of them? Batch '70 has started their collection. Romeo Tena of Batch '73 has pledged 10,000 pesos for 10 electric fans and another 4,300 pesos for tuition fee only. We welcome all these pledges. Let's hear from all the others!

We have asked the above to send their donations to Metro Infanta Foundation so we can have a greater impact when we present the $20,000 to MCHS. And Venchi Gucon agreed. He said, "Following doon sa panawagan ng Batch '84, at ang para kay Misis (your batchmate, Juliet Miras), I will pledge U$50.00 and thru MIF Foundation ko na laang idadaan sa pagsahod ko nang month of July, so, by first week of August ko na lang maipapadala ang tseke sa MIF. Mas mainam iyong suggestion ni Ma'am Mila para ma-meet iyong target para sa Mt. Carmel at para bugway."

More than 100 relatives at Azcarraga-Ruidera Reunion

The 7th bi-annual reunion was held last Saturday, July 9, 2005 at Sunset Station in Henderson, a southeast suburban area in Las Vegas, Nevada.  More than a hundred members of the clan came, exceeding confirmed reservations and thereby requiring another table.  Next reunion in 2007 will be in Orlalndo, Florida as hosted by Nonong Telan's family.  

A little fund raising activity for the Couples for Christ choir was done during the reunion. As requested by Paulino Pelovello,  the donation was alloted for the purchase of musical instruments of the group. In this regard, we would like to thank all our cousins and relatives who pitched in their generous donation for this purpose. May God bless you all. We will see you during this next gathering.

Memories

Editor's Note: A few days ago we posted a tribute from the children and grandchildren of the late Dr. Alicia Cailipan Bunag. We would like to continue this column of tributes. Everyone is welcome to send their own tributes of family and friends and will try to accommodate all of them when space allows us.

The following is a tribute to Dr. Amando Gurango from Amb. Rudy Arizala, who said,

"Rummaging over my yellowing file of papers which Neneto jokingly but lovingly calls them "Rodolfo´s bahay ng Ipis," I chanced upon a piece of paper entitled "Message" which I wrote on 08 April 1992, when I was still Philippine Consul General in New York City."

Metro Infanta Foundation has endorsed the nomination of Dr. Gurango to receive the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan this August 2005.

"Tata Mando" is gone.

by Rudy Arizala

But to his families, relatives, friends, and townmates, he is with us always.

His ready smile, touch of human kindness and concern for the poor and the sick shall forever linger in our memories.

He was not only a family doctor, but a town doctor as well, for all seasons.

While treating his patients or making diagnosis, he would regale them with interesting stories, anecdotes, news of the day, be it politics, cultural, social or economics.

He had always in his heart the welfare and progress of his hometown - Infanta, Quezon. He believed and had faith in the youth of the land. He was active in scouting movement, civic organizations and the education of our youth. He loved Infanta so much that his dying wish was to be buried in a simple plot in his hometown. A small rustic town by the Pacific Ocean, with abundant sunshine, monsoon rains, verdant meadows and the blue Sierra Madre mountains in the foreground.

To us, his nephews, we lovingly call him "Tata Mando" and to our parents or elders, he was "Kang Mando," or simply "Amando." We never call him "Dr. Gurango." And I think he did not mind it, but loved it more if we call him that way.

Tata Mando was a doting father, thoughtful husband and a dedicated physician to all. He scrupulously observed the "Hippocratic Oath."

To me, he is plain "Tata Mando" which includes all his attributes as a Christian, doctor, civic leader, soldier and parent.

Rest, dear Tata Mando and sleep peacefully in the bosom of Our Lord!

(Sgd) RUDY A. ARIZALA

New York City

08 April 1992

Posted July 17, 2005

Romeo Tena, now residing in Australia, signed our Guestbook, in response to our posting below. He said,

"Bilang tugon sa panawagan ng tulong para sa Mt. Carmel, magbibigay po ako ng P10,000 (paiyakan ng 2 hanggang 3 buwan) para sa halaga ng 10 electric fan. Paki-sama na lang ho ito sa bigay ng Batch 73.

Magbibigay din po ako ng ISANG 'tuition fee only' scholar sa Mount Carmel. Pasensiya na po, pero ang recipient nito must be from Bantilan and will be determined solely by the Barangay Captain. Effective ho ito immediately. Kindly email me when and how much I need to send in for the tuition fee."

Elisa Lacerona of New Jersey, while not an MCHS alumna, has sent the first $25 to be credited to the MCHS Class of 1970. Let's hope more will follow this gesture.

With the exception of Cora R. of Batch 1970, the MCHS alumni did not seem to heed our call for action to help rebuild classrooms for Mt. Carmel School. Yet you can count on the number of alumni who sign our Guestbook saying "hi" to everyone under the sun. Is that all that you can do? There are some alumni though who have responded earlier with their own personal contributions, and I applaud all of them. They don't need to be prodded to respond. You know who you are. Your names are on the list of our Disaster Relief Donors below. But you and I know we can do more. Fiona Ramirez has heard the call for her batch of 1970. But that's only one out of nearly 40 batches from the early 1960s through 2004.

As Cora said, "It is only fitting that we help rebuild the school and support its expanded community services so others may receive the opportunities and guidance that we were lucky to get during our formative years. In this time of need, any form and size of assistance is valuable. Let's keep in touch to plan ways to meet this challenge."

The challenge is still on. How will you respond?

A loving Mama and lola, Alicia Cailipan Buñag

a tribute by children and grandchildren

Editor's Note: Dr. Alicia Cailipan Buñag would have celebrated her 87th birthday on July 10 and would be celebrating her one year death anniversary on August 26. In loving memory, we are publishing this tribute, as we also extend our congratulations to her son Jojo on his promotion as BIR commissioner.

Born in Infanta, Quezon to Leonila Ortiz, a native of Infanta, and Catalino Cailipan of Tikay, Bulacan, Alice, which means "noble," grew up with her older sister, Ester, and younger brother, Catalino (Nenong) jr. Alice spent high school in Calapan, Mindoro, because her father assigned there as a prosecuting attorney.

Alice studied premed at the Philippine women's University in Manila, then finished her degree in medicine at the University of the Philippines, Class of 42. She married her classmate, Primo Carag Buñag of Tuguegarao, Cagayan on May 9, 1943.

After their first born son, Jojo, was born in 1944, Alice and Ester's families were able to escape the Japanese massacre in Infanta, but their parents and Ester's eldest daughter, Sonya, were capture and killed.

Alice worked for the American Red Cross in Manila after liberation and the birth of second child Marilyn. Then came Shirley, and soon after, Primo and Alice decided to start their private practice in Infanta, next to Ester's drug store. Alice was the first (and for a long time, the only) lady physician in Infanta. She was called on almost all deliveries of babies and always asked to suggest a names. She would get up at different hours of the night to go to far barrios by foot or calesa if there was an emergency. She and Primo dedicated their services to all whether they got paid (money or in-kind) or not. They would even take serious cases to Manila when trips then took eight to 10 hours drive one way.

All along, Primo and Alice were both active in civic and church activities, starting a group for married couples. Alice was in Catholic Women's League, the Sagrado Corazon Rosary Group. she was a devotee of St. Joseph, wearing green on Sundays, while her daughters would wear while and blue sash in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. She gave a huge statue of St. Joseph to St. Mark's Cathedral.

Primo and Alice wanted the best education for their children. After graduating from Infanta Central all went to the the best schools in Manila. Jojo went to Ateneo (HS/law)m Marilyn to Maryknoll (HS/AB in business Administration), Shirley to Maryknoll (HS) and UP and UERM (medicine) and hector to Ateneo (HS/Economics). They would be in Manila just to attend all school activities and would never rail to take them to movies or shows in Araneta.

The Buñags also tended their investment in education to children of their domestic help who were willing to study. Bayani, now a principal; Girlie, a teacher and Yorlinda, a commerce graduate; are all doing well in their fields.

Alice and Primo may not have assets or properties to brag about, but they improved upon the ones they inherited or bought in order to help out. However, t hey made sure the children can brag about their happy childhood: memories and photographs (most were burned in the 1980 fire), piano and violin lessons, school dances, contests, parages, church programs, summer trips to Baguio, visits to relatives in Bulacan, parties, swimming, picnics on the beaches and along rivers nearby with all relatives to came to visit. Imagine the shrimp (padjao), crabs, suman, fruits, young coconuts.

Fiesta and Christmas time mean all were welcome at home to eat anytime. Trips to Manila meant lots of food pasalubong from Infanta to folks in Manila, then fruits from Manila as pasalubong to neighbors in Infanta.

Having completely finished their children's college education, Primo entered politics as council member, then vice mayor, and eventually mayor for a long time during the Marcos regime. Alice became the sole breadwinner. Primo's patients would be mostly freebies, and his salary as a public official was not enough to cover the cost of being a wedding sponsor and numerous fundraising events. They kept busy improving the town even started a basketball tournament.

Alice immigrated to the United States in 1977, and sponsored Hector soon after. She lost her immigrant status in order to take care of Primo's lengthy illness. Primo died on January 18, 1987. In 1991 Alice decided to give up her practice and moved permanently to the United States where her three children reside.

Alice kept busy with the children and grandchildren, waking up early to do her daily prayers and going to Mass. She also learned to cook and bake and enjoyed gardening. She also made rosaries, which she sent to the Philippines or the missions. She would also contribute generously to church and to her favorite charities, including Metro Infanta Foundation. Her favorite TV shows included the Lakers, tennis, Olympics, Price is Right. Of course she loved paying mahjong even though she would always lose. She just loved to be around friends and relatives.

It's no wonder she would never miss special family events -- birthdays, baptisms, weddings and graduations, even if she had to travel far. She was there for her apos and great apos.

One thing she enjoyed was traveling -- the United States, Europe and Asia. She went on pilgrimages to Fatima, Lourdes, Rome, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, and the Holy Land.

Alice had a full life indeed. But most of all she was loving wife to Primo and mother and lola to her children and grandchildren.

I am inviting you to respond to the $500 total class year contribution challenge by the Metro Infanta Foundation to all graduates of Mt. Carmel.  It is only fitting that we help rebuild the school and support its expanded community services so others may receive the opportunities and guidance that we were lucky to get during our formative years.

In this time of need, any form and size of assistance is valuable. Let's keep in touch to plan ways to meet this challenge.

Best regards.

Cora R <heartmchs@yahoo.com>

Officials at Mt. Carmel High School have chosen two new MIF scholars -- Benmanuel Gurango and Sharmaine Eranista -- sponsored by Romy Coronacion. The two new scholars, both victims of the floods of Infanta, started first year high school this year and will continue to receive scholarship funds through fourth year. Congratulations to Benmanuel and Sharmaine and our thanks to Romy for sponsoring these two scholars.

The two new scholars join a long list of scholars that Metro Infanta Foundation supports through generous donors. In October our first Arizala Diplomacy Scholar -- Frederick Rili -- will graduate from Lyceum University. His scholarship was sponsored by Cavan Corporation, which will continue to sponsor the next scholar starting Sept. 12. Amb. Dolores Benavides Sale, who coordinates the above scholarship, was very proud to inform us that Lyceum University has offered Frederick a teaching position at the university. Frederick just recently sent us a report on his Impact Project (a requirement for MIF scholars), a cooperative bank, which is going well and has proved beneficial to the neighborhood in Barangay Rizal.

FYI MIF has provided in the last nine years tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds. This year alone we will be providing at least $10,000 (that's more than half a million pesos) in scholarship funds. If there's anything members and donors of Metro Infanta Foundation can proud of, it's this legacy of education for our future leaders and generation. Thank you for your support.

Posted July 8, 2005

Of Fiestas and Family Reunions

by Mila Glodava

In an article on fiestas in "Labong ng Kawayan,' Amb. Rudy Arizala said,

"Personally, I think town fiestas, if not celebrated excessively or beyond one's financial means, are good. Fiestas are a manifestation of the religious faith of the people in honor of a patron saint. Fiestas are associated with human beings with sentiments, emotions and spiritual outlook. Fiestas are occasions for prayer, thanksgiving and bonding. Fiestas can also be either religious, such as Christmas, or patriotic, such as the commemoration of Independence Day. "

It's been a while since I've experienced a Philippine fiesta. Last June Mark and I and our daughter Kirsten, joined my brothers -- Rudy and Nony and sisters -- Melecia and Felicidad -- now residing in the United States went home to Batangas to serve as hermana mayor along with our two other sisters Isabel Tena and Margarita Espiritu for our barrio fiesta in Batangas, the birthplace of my parents Francisco and Rosalia Garcia, and in fact all of their nine children.

We accepted the invitation in honor and memory of our parents. We thought it was also a great occasion for the entire Garcia clan -- more than 200 of us -- to have our third reunion since the death of our father in 1997.

In addition, it was an occasion for my daughter Kirsten (Kevin and his wife Trish could not make make it because of Trish's brother's wedding) to experience our Philippine culture. She agreed to be the "Reina de las Flores" for the procession. I was grateful that even in scorching heat she managed to be gracious in her more than eight pounds beaded native gown and having to walk two miles in high heels.

It was an occasion for my daughter to meet her many cousins, including the three above -- Elaine Tena, Vanessa Garcia and Jenjen Espiritu -- who were the fiesta queens.

And to meet Jollibee, which has become a favorite stop for both Kirsten and cousin Vanessa, who is from Maryland.

Some of our friends from the Prelature of Infanta joined us, headed by none other than the bishop himself, Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD. He concelebrated the Mass, the first time ever for a bishop to celebrate Mass in our barrio chapel, with Fathers Nonong Pili, Edwin Agapay, Alan Rieger, OCD, Arnold Boehme, OCD, Joel Borreo, OCD and Bauan, Batangas, parish priest, Father Carmelo.

One thing I discovered at the fiesta was that my brother, Rudy, who is an architect, built our very small barrio chapel. And the legacy goes on, because the Garcia family has agreed to expand the chapel as soon as all land titles and documents are in order. We felt that we could not in good conscience be a party to such extravagance -- paying for the two bands, the parade, the procession, the jamboree, expenses to feed guests, and more (and to me the extravagance we experienced was downright offensive and sinful and expressed my dismay to the committee) and not leave something of value behind that would last for generations to come.

And most of all, my family had an opportunity to be together and get to know one another and show off their talents (Mark and I discovered even that Kirsten can sing) as the Espiritu children attempting to do below.

Below is the Tena Family headed by my sister Isabel and holding the microphone is Betsy Tena Gutierez introducing everyone in her family.

Indeed fiestas and reunions are occasions to remember, to give thanks and to renew the spirit.

As Amb. Arizala observed,

"Undoubtedly, there lies the resiliency, the strength and hope of a nation despite the material or economic want of its people.

We cannot outlaw a culture, custom or faith. For that matter, we cannot enclose in a cage the spirit of man or woman to adore and pay homage to a Supreme Being. Even in this age of computer, cyberspace, e-mail and Internet, that spirit of the human being prevails.

Celebration of fiestas symbolizes that spirituality -- a human instinct as ancient as the hills but still powerful. People have roots, traditions, myths and cultures. They know there must be an all-knowing, powerful and merciful Unseen Being and they have to establish relationship with the Great Provider. As Voltaire said: "If God does not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."

Posted July 5, 2005

by Mila Glodava

Classes have started but a school building still buried in the "banlik" is causing a strain in the already overloaded classrooms of the main building, which also houses the offices. As a result of the nearly 10 feet high waters, the offices have been transferred to the second floor and the old offices are now being used as temporary classrooms. The school needs to build eight simple classrooms and is in dire need of assistance to fund the building project.

As Ms. Belen Foronda has stated in an earlier message: "Due to flash floods, we lost millions worth of structure and equipment. All classrooms (17) and offices (3) in the first floor buildings have been severely damaged. Books, tables, chairs, blackboards, walls, computers, musical and laboratory instruments, other machines where either buried in 3-5 ft. deep mud or washed away.

We have done our best to repair eight classrooms. We still need to rebuild nine classrooms or sheds. Our canteen has been destroyed too, together with our playground and basketball court.

We believe you can help us go back to normalcy so that the children will be able to study and play. Thank you very much for whatever aid you can give us. Surely, this will be very much appreciated by our school community. May God reward you a hundred fold for your generosity."

Metro Infanta Foundation would like to assist in this regard and would like to raise the $20,000 goal this year towards this project. We're calling all batches of the MCHS Alumni Association for an all out effort to reach this goal. With more than 30 batches just in the three decades alone we should be able to reach this goal. To date we have $6,964.33. If all of the batches raises at least $500 we should reach our goal in no time. Please indicate your Batch Year when making a contribution towards this goal so we can credit your batch. I ask MCHS Alumni Association president Francisco Romantico to take the lead in generating interest once again in making this call to action happen. This is a time when we should all get together for the common good and that is to give our future generation the same opportunity we had at Mt. Carmel Schools (I too am a Carmelian although in Polillo).

In the meantime, please take note of the matching grant below.

(Musings on the 4th of July)

By Rudy A. Arizala

In 1898 thru U.S. Pres Mckinley´s "Manifest Destiny," we were supposed to be "civilized" and educated in the "art of of self-government."  So, by the fourth of July 1946, we have faithfully copied the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and democratic form of government as mandated  in the Tydings-McDuffie Act or Philippine Independence Law passed by U.S. Congress on 24 March 1934.

 Yet, more than half a century later, after our last colonial master had left our shores, we find ourselves still facing the same problems of colonialism. While we have political freedom, we are still economically underdeveloped. Most of our people suffer from poverty, our country buried in debts and struggling for survival amidst swirling tides of corruption and problems of security and  mismanagement.

In contrast, our fellow Asians, for example Malaysia and India who were also under colonial rule for centuries like us, inherited no "Manifest Destiny" from the British but received a legacy of strong civil service and business acumen. They have attained economic progress and political stability.  As a matter of fact, our educated but unemployed countrymen flock to their shores to earn a living and feed their hungry families in the Philippines.  How do we explain such historical phenomenon?

Methinks, it could be attributed to the fact that while our fellow Asians have sense of nationhood and imbibed the virtues of their former colonial masters, we Filipinos lack a sense of strong nationhood and failed to assimilate the virtues of our colonial masters.  For example the "sense of honor" of the Spaniards; "the enterprise and democratic ethos" of the Americans; and the "discipline and sense of nation" of the Japanese. We instead imbibed their vices.

Furthermore, in the words of Filipino writer and historian F. Sionil Jose,  we became "hostage to barnacled habits of mind to ethnicity."  Geographically, we are of so many islands and composed of many tribes, fragmented and at times engaged in animosity if not at war on each other. We generally think in terms of being an Ilokano, Bicolano, Visaya, Pampango, Tagalog, etc. instead of one nation, united and indivisible.  Yes, the Americans in an effort to unite and educate us,  introduced the public school system in our 7, 100 islands. But our people became a group of educated unemployed, without a country or sense of nationhood. This is reflected in our expatriates or OFW´s. Wherever there are large concentration of Filipinos abroad, they usually organize themselves according to various ethnic groups from which they come from in the Philippines.  

 Our people are full of dreams but when face with a problem to attain those dreams have a tendency to fall into the "Bahala na" attitude. Therefore, on this 4th of July originally called "Independence Day" now known as "Fil-American Friendship Day", let us recall and give true meaning to what  U.S. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed in 1946:  "The United States of America hereby withdraws and surrenders all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and people of the Philippines; and . . . do hereby recognize the independence of the Philippines

Let us roll up our sleeves and work hard to merit true independence and democracy. It is time for action and  face reality.

While illegal gambling such as "jueteng", graft and corruption, clean and honest elections are valid issues which should be resolved, sacrifices to make democratic institutions function for the general welfare of the people are essential.  Let us address first the basic issues of poverty, unemployment, education, health, shelter, security and moral regeneration of our people.   To effectively achieve these goals,  credible leadership and unstinted support of the people are necessary. It may take time.  There is no short-cut to attain these goals.  Not even by revolution or "manifest destiny".  That´s the reality learned from history.

Editor's Note: Shelley Ortiz sent this obituary piece on June 20 while I was in the Philippines.

My cousin - Kuya Reny died last week. He was 63. He is survived by his wife - Dr. Josie Borreo, one child, and also by his mother (Amparo Sollesa Ortiz Borreo) and 6 other younger siblings - Amparo Ortiz Borreo. All of Kuya Reny's siblings are in the U.S (New Jersey and Texas).

Tia Paring is older sister to my father - Atty. Reynaldo Sollesa Ortiz (deceased). Kuya Reny is the oldest child and oldest of the 1st cousins on the Ortiz side

First cousins from Tio Raul's (Raul Sollesa Ortiz, 2nd to Tia Paring) family are mostly in California.

First cousins from Rening (my father) are in Texas (me) and 2 in Manila.

First cousins from youngest Tia Aning (Anita Sollesa Ortiz Coralde) are mostly in New Zealand (4), one is in New Jersey and another one in Infanta).

Please pray for the living, that we all might be ready when called - to face our Maker and account for all our deeds, our thoughts, our words. By ourselves (and yes even with all our good works otherwise referred to as filthy rags in the bible) we canNOT stand and face our 3x Holy God, only in Christ are we able to beg for forgiveness, compassion and mercy. There is only One Way to God - The Man Christ Jesus, He alone saves and has prepared and will welcome us to our heavenly home.

Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (Matthew 24:42-44)

24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. [He is] longsuffering and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 P 3:9-10)

5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Our time on this side of heaven is very short, insignificant compared to eternity. We must be about the Lord's business, not our own. The Lord our God is sovereign, He does all things right. Blessed be His Name forever!

Thank you. I have included my daytime phone number for anyone who wants to call me. I will share whatever information I have.

Shelley Ortiz

281-514-1420

By Rudy A. Arizala

Santiago, Chile

Editor's Note: Cardinal Sin died on June 21 and will be buried June 28

(Please click here or above heading for past daily posting on Metro Infanta)