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BAYANIZ © Editor Mel B Libre librelaw@yahoo.com Writers Noel Bautista Honey Mariel Ka Uro Peter Gayaman Oscar & Miriam Batucan Misael Jr Diputado Alvin Soniega Published by New Notes Publishing Designer Mel Elijan Libre meelelijan@gmail.com Illustrators Tyke Villalonga Gilfrancis Maningo Mel B Libre Photographers Ching Mandawe J. C. Caballero BAYANIZ Issue2, 2014

C O N T E N T S

EDITORIALS 4

EXTRA SPECIAL STO NINO FEAST 6

LINGAWDUWA 9

5 CHEERS TO KIS12

CRINGE-WORTHY ITEMS OF PINOY

REALITY 14

TALES OF A WOULD-BE MOUNTAINEER 16

FINDING COMFORT IN GARDENING 18

CIRCLE OF LIFE OR LIFE IN CIRCLES 20 SOCIALLY ADVANCED 22 ISSUES 23 WORLD VIEW 27 MONITOR 28 20 YEARS DEVOTION 29 MANNY, TIMOTHY AND DIONISIA 30 COMICS 33 GRIN-AND-GO 39 GIL MANINGO’S 40

Cover: KIS photographed by J C Caballero

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EDITORIALS

EMBASSY FUNCTIONS

USUAL: SOSYAL IDEAL: SOCIAL

Suffering in New Zealand

The New Zealand Herald reported in August 2013 about five workers who complained with the

Employment Relations Authority of being asked to pay up to $15,000 to secure employment,

were not paid wages and forced to lend money. They also claimed to being forced to live in the

company’s office in Albert Plaza in the Central Business District Auckland, after they could no

longer afford rent. The respondent of the case was Norajane Colos, sole director of E-Advance,

E-Jobs and E-Reuse companies. She was ordered by ERA to pay $39,075 to the six

complainants. The complainants, namely Sharry Ocampo, Gretchen Betita, Pankaj Kumar,

Joilaly Basilio and Rajwant Kaur should be commended for their action in seeking grievance for

the injustice that they were subjected to. By doing so, they sent a warning to others who exploit

workers who come to New Zealand for a better life. They also have shown that the authorities

will do their share in helping victims.

From information gathered, unionists assisted the complainants in their legal action, while the

Philippine Embassy seems mum on issues such as this. While the Embassy has improved in their

administrative services to Filipinos in New Zealand in the renewal of passports, notarization of

documents and others, we rarely hear about assistance given to those who fall victim to scheming

employment or immigration agents. Filipinos who are neither citizens nor permanent residents

are not able to avail of social welfare services of the New Zealand Government, and therefore are

left to fend for themselves. Filipino community groups, with their limited resources, are more

inclined toward cultural and sports activities than in providing aid to Filipinos in need.

There are Filipinos who are suffering in New Zealand, and they need assistance. It remains an

obligation of the Philippine Government (and in this instance, the Philippine Embassy) to protect

its citizens, more so in a foreign land where their family and relatives are absent.

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Resignations

THE prime minister of South Korea, Chung Hong-won, resigned from his position on April 27,

taking all responsibility for the ferry disaster that claimed more than 300 dead and missing. President

Park Geun-hye accepted the resignation, with instruction that Chung complete the recovery

effort.

In New Zealand, Member of Parliament Maurice Williamson resigned as minister outside

Cabinet in the National-led Government for interfering in police investigations. Donghua Liu, a

National Party donor, faced charges on domestic violence, and the MP sent emails to a senior

police officer about Liu as one who invested substantially in New Zealand and urged the police

to be on "solid ground,” with an introductory statement that "in no way was he looking to

interfere.” Prime Minister John Key told the MP that he had violated the Cabinet Manual that

provides: "Following a long-established principle, ministers do not involve themselves in

deciding whether a person should be prosecuted or on what charge."

But what do we have in the Philippines? One of the biggest scandals ever has some of our

highest government officials hanging on to their “honorable” positions despite the filing of

charges against them.

The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to file three separate plunder indictments

against Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, alleged scam

mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, plus six others. They are charged with pocketing P597 million in

kickbacks and commissions from the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of

senators and congressmen from 2007 to 2009, with Revilla obtaining P242 million, Enrile, P183

million, and Estrada with P172 million. Yet these three members of the Senate continue to report

to their offices, undisturbed by the worst nightmare in their political careers. Why don’t they

follow the examples of politicians such as those in South Korea and New Zealand?

It has something to do with recent history. Ferdinand Marcos and wife Imelda were driven off

Malacañang not only for abuse of power, but for graft and corruption. Yet the latter has never

stepped near the prison, even when the amount they have stolen have been identified and

returned to the government. Joseph Estrada was convicted of plunder but he now serves as mayor

of Manila. And we had people like Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson who went into hiding

when warrants of arrest were issued against them, and only returned when everything seemed

safe.

In the Philippines, the big fishes may get caught, yet find their way back to the corridors of

power. Sadly, people put them there, either through election or appointment.

If this act of recycling besmirched politicians continues, what lessons are we giving the youths of

today? Sen. Miriam Santiago called on the graduates of UP-Cebu to fight corruption, but then

again, what can they really do when the corrupt stick like leeches to positions and government

coffers?

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EXTRA SPECIAL STO NINO FEAST

It had to be extra special. The Feast of Santo Nino

de Cebu in Auckland had reached a milestone –

the 20th

year observance. Oscar and Miriam

Batucan, prime movers of the religious-cultural

event, supported by the Board of Trustees of the

NZ-Filipino Devotees of Senor Santo Nino, left no

stone unturned to mark the event.

Alice Smith assisted by Mila Rigby and Allen

Villamor in the 80s brought to Auckland the devotion to Senor Sto Nino in people’s homes until

1994 when the first public celebration was held at the Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall attended by

about 400 people. The fiesta celebrations have grown through the years; while the number of

devotees has increased shown by the number of images that visit homes for the year-round

novena. Many have attested to the blessings they have received through the intercession of the

Holy Child.

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For the blessings not just for the successful

programs in the years past, but for the grace given

to the faithful, this was the opportune time to say

“Thank You”, to all the movers and supporters, the

Catholic hierarchy, and God. And what an event it

turned out to be.

St Patrick’s Cathedral, the primary place of worship for

Catholics in the Auckland Diocese, hosted the daily

Novena Mass from January 10 until 18 with the image

of the Sto Nino displayed prominently in the altar. The

new venue proved to be perfect as the church overflowed with people every night with choirs singing and

different sectors of the Filipino community participating.

On the day of the feast (January 19) as early as 9:00 am, the North Shore Events Centre was busy with

vendors installing their stalls, with volunteers

directing the traffic and with people wanting to join

the procession at 10:00 am.

By 11:00 am, the Mass started with Bishop Patrick

Dunn officiating, assisted by Filipino priests based in

Auckland. In his message, Bishop Dunn said, “May

our celebration of this Fiesta fill our hearts with joy so

that we can be powerful witnesses to the good news

of God’s love which was so profound that he gave us

His only Son whom we honor today as Senor Santo

Nino.”

A liturgical dance added color and meaning to the

Eucharistic celebration. This was choreographed by

Eloise Gantuang.

By the time the mass concluded, many gathered in the

various food stalls that offered array of Filipino food.

A number of groups stayed outside the venue and ate

picnic –style.

The Cultural Program started at 1:30 pm with the powerful rendition of the Philippine and New Zealand

anthems by Mark Singson. With intent of presenting the history of the Sinulog, the organizers obtained

the services of topnotch choreographer Alyx Ty who worked for months with dancers from different

groups including Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand, Devotees of Senor Santo Nino from Mt

Wellington, South Auckland, Albany and other parts of Auckland. The dances focused on the arrival of

Magellan, the First Mass and Christening, the Battle of Mactan, the Return of the Spaniards and the

Celebration of Christianity. A number of spectators said that they were amazed by the presentations and

came to understand the importance of the Santo Nino to Filipinos, especially the Cebuanos.

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A special art-dance presentation was made by the

Leyte-Samar Waraynon NZ Group as a tribute to

the victims and the volunteers in Typhoon

Yolanda. Another highlight in the event was the

selection of the Sinulog NZ 2014 Festival Queen

with Queenie Jose chosen by the Board of Judges.

The other candidates were Jamie Gear, Ena Fiel,

Joanne Patricia Mijares-Supelana, Llian Rose-

Martirez and Tara May Gomez. Emceed by Ferdie

Esclamado, a variety show thrilled the crowd with

performances by New Zealand’s Power Pop Girls

KIS, flute-beat boxer Rynz Yanez and hip hop

dancers, Nick and Stephen Hidalgo, Xyrene Cope

and Marggie Pascual and The Advocates.

It was truly a fitting 20th anniversary celebration;

maybe not as grand as the Sinulog in Cebu that

drew 3.5 million people; but certainly it was

equally meaningful. Pit Senor!

Strawberry JAM's creations Putting More Colour to Your Celebrations

Auckland, New Zealand

For orders call: 021 277 7089

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LINGAWDUWA:

The Filipino Sporting Event of the Year

During Sinulog, Filipinos gather to pray and to

dance. During the weekend leading to the

Philippine Independence Day, Filipinos celebrate

with a variety show. During Labour Weekend,

Filipinos compete in sports and cultural events.

A new addition to the Filipino calendar in New Zealand is

LINGAWDUWA, the Filipino Sporting Event of the Year. The

inaugural competition was held on June 1, 2013 and families

from different parts of Auckland formed themselves into

“tribus” and contested in the different events such as Dakup-

Dakup, Siatong and Patintero. Tribu Irong Kagirun (of East

Auckland) was declared as overall champion.

In 2014, LINGAWDUWA will happen on May 31 in Wakaaranga School, 8

Butley Drive, Auckland, hosted by Filipino Chapter-Farm Cove.

According to Mikki Guantero, of the organizing committee, this year’s

competition will be bigger and more fun. “We’ve divided the event in three

categories: Group, Individual and Kids, and added more games. And we are

extending the invitation to all Filipino associations as well as informal

groupings not just in Auckland, but from outside as well.”

The group events are: Dakup-dakup (a,k.a. Tigsu or Agawan Base); Tubig-tubig (a.k.a.

Patintero); Siatung (a.k.a. Bati Cobra); and Tumba Lata (a.k.a. Tumbang Preso).

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The individual events consist of: Dama; Sungka;

Takyan; Paligid (a.k.a. Kariring); and Jolen Pinis

(a.k.a. Holen).

The kids are expected to compete in Tumba-lata

(a.k.a. Tumbang Preso); Luksong Tinik; Luksong

Lubid; and Piko.

The organizers are targeting more than 10 teams.

The following have committed to participate:

Tribu Sigbing Gayahang, Tribu Pobreng

Alindahaw, Tribu Machong Baboy, Tribu Irong

Kagiron, Tribu Iring Gilaygit, Tribu Sipat nga

Putyukan, Tribu Batang Tanggulilong, Tribu

Banggi-itang HaringBuang, Tribu Ibong Adarna

AKLnzPINOYS, Tribu Ibalon Hadiong Uragon

NZ, Tribu Igot Igot and Tribu Tiking Kuwanggol.

In addition to the games, there will be a selection

of the LingawDuwa Muse 2014. Attendees are

asked to bring food-and-drinks for a picnic style

lunch.

Entertainers led by New Zealand’s Power Pop

Girls KIS will showcase their talents during the

lunch break.

Colin Craig, founding leader of the Conservative Party of New Zealand, has

confirmed his attendance as guest speaker of the event. Craig is a

millionaire who owns companies that manage high-rise buildings. His

current company manages about $1.3 billion of assets. He is best known for

his views opposing gay marriage and the keeping of traditional family

values. Craig is a Christian brought up in the Baptist denomination.

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Contact: Debbie C. Libre AyalaLand Sales Partner for New Zealand Telephone Number (09) 813 1616 Auckland

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5 Cheers

for KIS!

Yes, 5 cheers for the 5-year journey of KIS in the world of music and entertainment. Dubbed as

New Zealand's Powerpop Girls - Kayth Ycong, Ina Esclamado and Shaine Belleza, a.k.a. KIS,

have somehow made a buzz for already half a decade.

It wasn't planned. It simply evolved from a friendship of three Filipino migrant families who

have one child each - a daughter. To fend off being homesick, the families would take turn

hosting a gathering in their respective homes on Saturday nights. While the parents were

enjoying their own stuff, unknown to them, the girls would rehearse a couple of choreographed

songs and at the end of night, they would perform in front of their proud parents. Three years on,

in April 2009, they made a bigger surprise not only to their parents but to their friends, as well,

when they recorded a video of their song, posted it in YouTube and launched themselves as KIS.

And that paved the way to more exciting opportunities.

At the start, they got invited to perform at their friends' parties. During that time, the girls were

already taking piano lessons and during the annual music school recital, they were asked to sing

despite not having taken a formal voice lesson. As the girls all came from Cebu, Philippines,

their families have been active members of the Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand and

eventually became regular performers of KBNZ's various events. From there, they got to be

invited regularly by other organisations.

They are one of the regular entertainers in the annual Sinulog Festival where they have

performed for the past four years and the Waitakere Christmas Festival, a West Auckland

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community event. KIS did a fundraising concert supported by their friend performers and they've

also been one of the acts for a number of fundraising events. Most recently, they were one of the

front acts at the stand-up comedy concert - Laughing Out Loud.

These girls never rested on

their laurels. They sought the

expertise of the top notch

vocal coach - Ann Jimenez

de Guzman. And to ensure

their niche in the market, not

only have they been honing

their voices, they also

reinforce their performances

with eye-catching

choreography and costumes.

While not everyone can watch their live performances, a video is always made available in their

YouTube channel - KISthegirlz, for repeated viewing.

They still have a long way to go. Kayth is 14 while Ina and Shaine are 18. They will continue to

entertain us and only time will tell what comes their way. What matters to them now is that

they're enjoying what they're doing. They've put a premium on their education but a big break for

KIS will be a tremendous blessing! (BAYANiZ

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Cringe-Worthy Items of Pinoy Reality

NOEL BAUTISTA

Of course, I’m proud of my country. And of

course like any of you adobo-eating, TFC-

watching and Arnel-Pineda/Charisse-

listening faithful, you’d never deny the fact

of your homeland, nationality and skin

color, proud as you are of your lahing

kayumanggi. It’s just who you are.

Just the same, there are some things we’d

rather keep among ourselves, fellow Pinoys

(and spouses, you’re stuck for life I’m

afraid). Every country has its deep dark

secrets that have been with us for

generations and I’m wondering if you’ve

been keeping this from friends from other

countries. If so, let me give you some sage

advice. They already know, or are already

discovering our not-so-nice qualities.

But before that , some kind words. Among

all the big migrant groups in New Zealand, I

daresay that our ethnic group is in the top

three most popular, if not the most popular

ethnic group or nationality. I’ve wrung your

ears out in posts past about the motley

reasons, and I probably don’t need to

enumerate them here but I’ll still give you a

few: our famous trait of pakikisama

(“getting along”), sturdy work ethic, more-

or-less acceptable English, ability to laugh

ourselves, etcetera etcetera. You know the

rest.

But this post isn’t for flattering you or me.

It’s one of those few times that we’re not

positive and point out the negative in

ourselves. Here we go:

Depressing Regionalism: In a special

“prayer for the faithful” portion during one

Pinoy Mass I attended, each individual

prayer was read in a different dialect, which

Mahal discerned almost immediately

because the first prayer was in her beloved

Pangalatok. I also heard my mom’s

Bicolano and my fraternity brothers’ Ilokano

and Bisaya, and the lasting impression I got

was that our various sub-languages sound so

different from each other. This is the most

visible indicator of our famous regionalism,

which our history textbooks teach us was the

main reason various colonizers were able to

subjugate us with ease.

I never found out how true or factual this

was and considering how long ago since our

colonial times, we probably never will. But

to this day, each Pinoy knows how

fragmented and disjointed we are, especially

overseas. I mean, wherever in the world,

you will find Chinese Associations, Hindu

groups, even various organizations

representing different nationalities. But we

Pinoys just can’t be Pinoys. We have

Batangueno associations, Ilonggo

associations, Pampango groups, as many

groups as there are fruits in the Pinoy

orchard. I don’t know about you, but with

so many provincial groups it certainly looks

to the average non-Pinoy that our sense of

national identity isn’t that well-developed.

In short, with kanya-kanya, tayo-tayo and

sila-sila, how do we get anything done as a

people?

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Superstitious: I have worked in Makati, the

most modern city in the Philippines for

around a decade, and often visited in it for

years more. Yet I have never, I mean never

seen a building with a 13th floor. I have

attended many wakes and funerals in my

time, also back home, and I have never seen

a pregnant woman in attendance. And there

are so many superstitions associated with

every facet of life, be it weddings, baptisms,

funerals or even birthdays.

In many homes, You won’t see many

mirrors facing each other, or beds facing

doorways because according to the practice

of feng shui, these invite bad luck or worse,

death to the homeowner and his/her family.

Wow, that’s really tough for the designer.

Every culture has its own set of superstitions

but because of the centuries old practices of

Catholicism, rural beliefs and Chinese as

well as other cultural influences, it’s a multi-

dimensional tapestry of superstitions in the

Philippines, and I can’t even begin to tell

you how many there are. Hard to believe.

We’re nearly past the first quarter of the 21st

century, but many of us are controlled

consciously, subconsciously or otherwise by

our superstitious beliefs.

We are held in Big Tobacco’s thrall: First, a large part of the Northern Luzon

region relies on tobacco, so it will always be

part of our economy, fueling jobs and

business from farm gate, to manufacturing

all the way to the retail sari-sari store (and

don’t forget downstream industries that

benefit); you can’t imagine our country

without it. So much so that every branch of

government is in the pocket of Big Tobacco,

whether the latter needs billions in subsidy,

billions in tax breaks, friendly regulation, or

simply looking the other way when Tobacco

does its own bit of subtle advertising. In

practical terms, cigarette companies can do

anything they want in our country, and there

is nothing we can do about it. That is the

biggest, ugliest and worst-kept secret in the

Philippines. Ultimately it’s not that

surprising, since it surely is happening in

other so-called “developing” countries, but

the least we can do is be honest about it to

our Kiwi (and other) friends.

There, I’ve said it. There are many more

cringe-worthy items about us that we’d

rather not tell, but ultimately we should let

others know for them to better understand us

Pinoys as a people.

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Tales of a Would-Be Mountaineer HONEY MARIEL

Lights flickering in the distance. The wind

whispers in your ears. The world lying

beneath your feet. A land of green, brown

and blue spread as far as the eye can see. A

surreal moment. Filled with awe, inspiration,

and beauty visible only to those who strive

to reach the top.

Friends would gather on that day, pumped

up to climb a mountain, conquer the land,

and glimpse the wonder that is our world.

With water bottles, energy food, and hiking

boots in tow, we gather our courage and take

that first step into the wild, leaving behind

the gadgets that have become a definition of

everyday life, not knowing what lies beyond

each step, not knowing what vision the

world prepared for us.

For the first hour, each step is light, filled

with curiosity and excitement. With

wandering eyes, we move forward, not

doubting any and all of our reasons to be

there. The ground is filled with beautiful

earth. So different from the concrete plains

that our feet have become accustomed to.

The air filled with cheerful laughter and

somewhat loud conversations. The path

beyond covered by trees of various kinds

and plants we may not have heard of before.

Smiles, big smiles, plastered in our faces.

'Tis a wonderful change.

And then the second hour. Our feet start to

become heavy. Sweat starts to drip down our

backs. The sunlight, which was once our

ally, has started to become the enemy.

Breathing starts to get heavier. But no

matter. We press on. Determined.

In the third hour, the earth underneath our

feet, once a welcome change, has now

become a hindrance. Twigs and leaves and

roots and rocks...they all seem to gather

together to make our climb a dangerous

excursion. Covered in sweat, our feet

aching, our stomachs grumbling, we all start

to wonder why we came in the first place.

For what purpose is all this? We want to go

back, but we can't. We've come too far. It

can't be any farther. Or can it?

Fourth and fifth hour, our determination has

slimmed down to near nothing. Stops are

getting more and more frequent. Our food

and water supply dwindling. Mud covering

our shoes, rendering them heavier. A few

may have had a couple of slips and trips and

falls. Our feet, we find, are now extremely

difficult to move. Step after step, we plant

our heavy footprints in the ground. And

when we look back, we realize, we haven't

gone much too far. The back starts to hurt.

Bending, stepping, everything has become

such work. Our bags, once an oasis of

delicious food, is now a burden. Trees and

plants, once seen as beautiful, is now just

another green thing among other green

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things in our path. We long for the comfy

bed, the warm bath, the painless life back in

the city.

And on the last hour. The sixth. We start to

see it. The end. The end is near. Our pace

becomes quicker. With renewed vigor we

move. We walk as quickly as our feet would

take us. Excitement brims in the air again.

We are filled with hope. What is waiting for

us at the end? What sight awaits us?

Curiosity gets the better of us. With heavy

breaths, we press on. Again, determined.

In that last minute. The last minute it takes

for us to reach the edge. The end. Where the

world lays beneath our feet. It is that last

minute that we say, "Ah, this is why we're

here". In that second it takes for us to view

the world beyond from atop that mountain,

our strength comes back. And all the effort,

all the aches and pains, once very great, are

now all but forgotten.

Everything we see is our world.

Magnificent. And we are lucky enough to

see it. A painting of God. A beautiful

masterpiece. No sight is more awe-inspiring.

No view more grand.

It is here, among the wild, with a view of the

plains and seas beyond, that we realize how

small we are and how infinitely huge the

world we live in is. There, in the endless

horizon, lies the potential of man. And so,

atop the peak, with the cold mountain air

brushing our faces, we sit and stare at the

grandeur, and we feel at peace.

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Finding Comfort in Gardening

MISAEL JR DIPUTADO

Coming to New Zealand six years ago, I was

ready to shift career and take on a job which

may be radically different from what I am

familiar with, and away from my comfort

zone. Back home, I was teaching in a

university focused on agriculture and

horticulture. Outside work, gardening or

propagating and growing plants became

second nature to me. I share such interest

with many friends in the university who

were or were not in the horticulture field.

One of the fondest memories I have was

how our group of gardening enthusiasts

banded together to learn from each other,

share new ideas, exchange new plant

breeds, and take part in the annual flower

and garden show of the university, which

through the years became one of the biggest

garden shows in the whole Visayas region.

In New Zealand, the plan on shifting career

did not materialize as I landed a job as a

horticulture teacher and found myself slowly

familiarizing with the plants and the way

gardeners propagate and grow them given

the local climatic challenges. While one can

easily grow crops throughout the year in the

Philippines, one has to deal with frosts, and

the cold blasts and short days of winter here

in New Zealand, not to mention the year-

round winds of Wellington where I am

based. Perhaps, it is the challenges that man

faces that make him rise above those who

are pampered with the best resources. Israel

for example, which has among the worst

soils for horticulture, is one of the world’s

acknowledged leaders in hydroponics.

As expected, my attempts to grow crops on

the first year were a disappointment, but the

plastic tunnel house and propagation system

that I put up later on made gardening easier

and more fulfilling. I was able to share

harvests to friends, take part in the annual

Spring Into Tawa market day, and generate

extra revenue to purchase garden needs.

More importantly, I was able to share the

facility with some students for their hands-

on activities.

While not necessarily lacking practical

skills, my students who are mostly adult

learners appreciate understanding the

science behind the garden operations that

they do. And it gives them the opportunity

not only to build on the skills they already

have based on their new knowledge, but to

also give them a whole new meaning to

nature, the soil, and the plant and its

environment.

In one of the workshops I conducted, I faced

the dilemma on how to translate the very

technical topic on plant physiology,

particularly the process of photosynthesis

into something that is understandable by

students without missing out on the very

nature of the whole process. I started out by

saying that plant leaves have a mechanism to

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produce sugar out of the very common

substances – water and carbon dioxide, in

the presence of light. I told them that man,

despite the advances in technology, has not

developed a machine that would duplicate

the process and which could potentially

erase famine in the world.

I then showed them the complicated

structural design in leaf tissues that allows

the process to go on. Then one student in a

pensive mood just blurted out, “That is such

a grand design! How can there be no

creator”? I had no idea what the student’s

religious beliefs were but at that instant I

was happy to be able to create awareness

among my students of the presence of a

supreme creator whom we Christians believe

in.

Perhaps it is the link between man, nature

and our creator that draws people to

gardening. There is such a thrill in tinkering

with the soil, planting a seed and watching

the plant grow. And perhaps it is God’s will

that in this adopted country I continue to be

in the field I am so familiar with and to

remain within my comfort zone.

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Circle of Life or Life in Circles

ALVIN SONIEGA

The following lyrics of Elton John’s song

the Circle of Life that was played in the

movie Lion King still rings in my ear.

“Some of us fall by the wayside

And some of us soar to the stars

And some of us sail through our troubles

And some have to live with the scars”

A few months ago, our High School batch

had a grand bash to commemorate the

milestone of 35 years since our graduation.

I hate to be specific as it will give away our

age, but daunting it may seem, we can’t

really get away without counting our years

here in this world. Majority of my batch

already hold the key to the golden boys club,

but the freewheeling and carefree teenage

spirit prevailed during the 3 day-long

celebration.

The spirit of the good old days rekindled by

the memories of the 1970s, the moment we

stepped again on the grounds of our dear

alma mater. As I touched the walls of our

old classrooms, I could still feel the vibes

and the rowdiness of the boys that the walls

tried to contain. I can’t explain the feeling

watching the boys of yesteryears march back

into the warm hugs and tight handshakes of

good old mates. Some came in flash cars,

and stride out with the air of confidence and

allure, some are a little bit awkward and a

bit sheepish, but overall everyone was

overwhelmed by the welcoming atmosphere.

During the catch-up sessions, dejavu, the

lyrics of Elton John’s song played at the

back of my mind, indeed there were those

who fall by the curb of failure, some of

those whom we known as average boys in

our old days, are now up in the upper part of

the circle, while some of those whom we

known as privileged in the past are now in

the lowest ebb of despair. Life is indeed a

circle.

On our way home, we dropped by Singapore

and checked out the Universal Studios. The

Madagascar-themed ride, again, reminded

me of the movie “Lion King” and the above

lyrics.

As I sipped my coffee, I pondered on the

different fate of my high school chums.

The strength of my cappuccino helped me

opine, that it is through our own doing if our

lives today are going around in circles,

meaning life without focus and direction.

I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude to

the constant nagging of my parents, to

persevere in our studies as this is the key to

the future. My parents are teachers, and I

honor them for their passion and sacrifices

despite the meager pay. For without their

skills, the young minds of our generation

would probably be going around in circles.

As parents it is our duty to keep the circle

intact by future-proofing our children. I

have read that the wealthy Warren Buffet is

not so generous with his money as far as his

children are concerned. He has earmarked a

21 | B A Y A N I Z

big chunk of his money on business ventures

and charitable institutions. His philosophy

is to instill in the young minds of his

children the drive to survive and stand on

their own and value the importance of

earning a living and not relying on the

billion inheritance.

The month of April and May was filled with

celebration and triumph. First up, was my

daughter finishing her Master’s degree in

Architecture. I can still remember the

excitement when we first saw her make her

first steps 25 years ago, and now she was

marching with the flair of a successful

professional. Just like her childbirth, which

was laborious as she was trapped by her

umbilical cord, she treaded through the trials

and sacrifices of the Architecture degree

with perseverance and determination.

On the same day, our family friend also

finished the Engineering degree that he had

already earned in the Philippines. Against

all odds and through perseverance, although

redundant per se, he has proven that he

could tackle the same degree in the First

World university setting. Early next month,

my nephew will be graduating with a double

degree. The little tot who used to run

around during family gatherings is now

ready for the world.

This is the circle of life, different milestones

are just waypoints along the orbit of our

existence. Our high school reunion brought

back memoirs of the past and also gave us

the reality check of the many years and

opportunities that past. As I watched my

daughter’s batch march through Queen

Street in full academic regalia, I joined all

the well-wishers that lined along the street in

a rousing applause for the first milestone of

their mature life.

22 | B A Y A N I Z

Socially Advanced MEL B LIBRE

On April 4, 2014, The New Zealand Herald had a one-half page headline that read, “Celebrate

New Zealand,” as the nation was rated as the most socially advanced country in the world,

according to the Social Progress Imperative, a Washington-based think-tank. The next four are:

Switzerland, Iceland, Netherland and Norway. The Philippines is 56th in the list.

SPI ranked New Zealand (88.24) first out of 130 countries using 54 indicators of social progress.

The nation of 4-million plus is ahead on indicators of personal rights and freedoms, the top four

for water and sanitation, access to schooling and tertiary education, and tolerance and inclusion

of minority groups. In obtained low rate in three indicators: 28, nutrition and basic medical care;

35, health and well-being; and 32, ecosystem sustainability.

Having lived in New Zealand for nearly ten years, I can generally agree with the ranking. The

country is a genuine working democracy with people voting freely for their preferred candidates

or parties.

The electoral process is based on honesty, as electorates simply fill up their ballots and mail

these back to the election office. Losing candidates concede promptly and protests are a rarity.

Public officials do not expect royal treatment as most people do not know or really care much

about them. Everyone is given access to education with free education in public elementary and

high schools. The Government provides interest-free loans to students wanting to pursue a

degree in the university. Once graduates work, automatic deduction is made on their salaries

whether in government or private employment.

The New Zealand society is seen as highly liberal with prostitution legalized and same-sex

marriage recognized. It is a fact that everyone has come to accept, including those with

conservative views. Food is affordable, but nutrition is ranked low, as people tend to gravitate to

fast foods and takeaways (food-to-order) resulting in obesity becoming a problem.

But what surprised me is why basic medical care, health, well-being and ecosystem sustainability

got low grades, when citizens are provided subsidies for medicine and hospitalization, and care

for the environment is evidenced by efficient sanitation and segregated garbage collection; and

strict environmental policies and enforcements.

There is much to be learned from New Zealand, as it has put to work what is legislated (it does

not have a Constitution). The Philippines has such a well-intentioned Charter, and hundreds of

laws that aim to attain the aspirations of the Filipino people. There is no reason that it should

rank 56th, if we observed the spirit of the law, and lived accordingly to our vision.

23 | B A Y A N I Z

ISSUES:

PHILIPPINES

OBAMA VISIT

On April 28-29, 2014, United States President

Barack Obama made his first official state visit

to the Philippines as the final stop of his four-

nation trip to Asia. Though fleeting, the visit

allowed the US leader to reiterate the

commitment of the US to defend the Philippines

as a treaty ally, with care not to antagonize

China, an important trading partner of the US.

In a carefully worded statement, during the joint

press conference with President Benigno Aquino

II, Obama declared: "So our goal is not to

counter China. Our goal is not to contain China.

Our goal is to make sure that international rules

and norms are respected, and that includes in the

area of maritime disputes. But it was clear that

Obama wanted to tell China to back off the West

Philippine Sea, with the signing of a10-year

security agreement giving the U.S. military

greater access to bases on the Southeast Asian

nation.

Other than dealing on the security issue, the US

president also acknowledged the Filipino

people’s resilience and determination to rise

from the damages wrought by Typhoon

Yolanda, and that his government would

continue in its support in the recovery and

rebuilding efforts. He consistently noted of

mutual interests between Americans and

Filipinos from freedom and democracy to

basketball and Manny Pacquiao. He further

endeared himself to Filipinos by mentioning the

contributions of millions of Filipino-Americans

to the United States and to Chris Comerford,

executive chef at the White House, who serves

his family lumpia and adobo.

There were anti-American protesters and critics

such as former Sen Joker Arroyo who said there

was zero-benefit in Obama’s visit, but they were

drowned out by the enthusiasm of the Filipino

public as reflected in the SWS survey that

revealed 85% of Filipinos trust the US.

PORK BARREL SCAM

On April 1, 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman

on Tuesday recommended the filing of 11 counts

of plunder and graft charges against Senators

Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr

and Jinggoy Estrada and businesswoman Janet

Napoles in connection with the Priority

Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Enrile is charged to taking kickbacks amounting

to more than P172 million, P242 million for

Revilla and P183 million for Estrada. "This is

the first step, a major one, towards making those

involved accountable for their plunder and

misuse of the people's money," said Justice

Secretary Leila de Lima, lauding the resolution

favoring the complaints filed in September by

the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). For

its part, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee

continues to investigate the PDAF scam, with a

bit of caution on alleged new revelations of

Napoles dragging additional lawmakers to the

fraud. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV thinks that

24 | B A Y A N I Z

innocent people may be included in the list, and

it is important for the committee to confront

Napoles face-to-face. With the dwindling public

confidence in both chambers of Congress,

Senate President Franklin Drilon said that “the

institution can recover because we continue to

look and help in the search for the truth in this

issue."

VHONG NAVARRO

Businessman Cedric Lee, Simeon Raz and

several others were charged by the Department

of Jusice on April 10 for serious illegal detention

and grave coercion cases for the alleged mauling

of showbiz personality Vhong Navarro in a posh

condominium in Taguig City in January 2014.

The first two accused were later arrested on

April 26 in Samar where they were hiding. On

April 30, the pair was arraigned before the

Taguig Regional Trial Court, refusing to enter

their plea. Co-accused model Deniece Cornejo

surrendered on May 5. Cornejo had earlier filed

a case of rape against Navarro, which the DOJ

dismissed. The prosecutor’s office said that “the

rape case could not have been committed under

the circumstances stated by Cornejo in her

affidavit because it appears that no one heard her

shouting, the door of her condo unit was open,

and she had no bruises in her body and she did

not ask to be brought to the hospital.” Aside

from Cedric Raz and Cornejo, the following

were also charged: Bernice Lee, Simeon Raz,

Jose Paolo Calma, Ferdinand Guerrero and Jed

Fernandez.

PHILIPPINE ECONOMY If Moody’s Analytics is asked about the

Philippine economy, based on its latest report,

the answer would likely be that it to grow the

fastest in Asia in 2014. Moody’s reported that

Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) has the

potential to grow between 5.3-6.5 percent this

year, lower than last year’s 7.2 percent and the

government’s target of 6.5-7.5 percent for 2014.

The projection jibes with the International

Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded its economic

growth forecast for the Philippines in 2014 to

6.5 percent from the projection of 6.3 percent at

the start of the year. The IMF Mission Chief to

the Philippines Rachel van Elkan

explained,"(Philippine) economy is well-

positioned to absorb a gradual tightening of U.S.

financial conditions and to implement timely,

measured action on the domestic policy front."

She added, “Spending for typhoon

reconstruction efforts in central Philippines

would also boost growth this year.” While the

economic prospect is rosy for the Philippines, a

survey report by Pulse Asia Research

Incorporated of the March 2014 Nationwide

Survey on the Performance Ratings of the

National Administration on Selected Issues

conducted from March 19 to 26, 2014 showed

the Aquino administration obtained the lowest

public approval score in controlling inflation and

poverty alleviation. However this seems contrary

to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

report that showed 24.9% of Filipinos, based on

their average income, were considered poor in

the first semester of 2013, down from 27.9% in

the same period in 2012. NEDA Director

General Arsenio Balisacan said on April 28 that

the lower poverty incidence in the country is

proof that the government's inclusive growth

strategy is working. He said, “Sustaining rapid

economic growth while maintaining a sound

macroeconomic environment has proven to be

effective in reducing poverty.”

25 | B A Y A N I Z

ISSUES:

NEW ZEALAND

ROYAL VISIT

Prince William, Princess Katherine and Prince

George conquered New Zealand in their first

visit as a family, with people welcoming them

during their public appearances both in the

North and South Islands. From the moment

their Royal Highnesses stepped out of the plane

in Wellington Airport on April 7 until they drove

around the bays to the Wellington Airport on

April 15, all eyes followed them as they

captivated the hearts of Kiwis.

Their hectic schedule brought them to key places

in New Zealand which always made sure that the

public had a chance to take a glimpse of them,

and for the lucky ones, interact with them. They

played cricket, sailed with members of Emirates

Team New Zealand, met children at a Plunket

activity, prayed for those who perished in the

Christchurch earthquake, remembered those who

fought in the wars and hobnobbed with the

politicians, sports personalities and other VIPs

during a State Reception.

The media coverage was overwhelming both for

the local and international audience; and for a

moment republicans kept their silence as a sign

of respect for two future kings and the adorable

successor to Princess Diana, the Duchess of

Cambridge, Princess Katherine.

NZ RANKED NO 1

New Zealand is the most socially advanced

nation in the world this was announced by the

US-based Social Progress Imperative in April

2014. New Zealand topped the rankings across a

wide range of measures–according to the Social

Progress Index 2014 from among 132 countries

based on their social and environmental

performance. The Social Progress Index serves

as a complement to GDP and other economic

indicators to provide a more holistic

understanding of countries’ overall performance.

Among the factors rated are ‘Personal Rights’,

‘Water and Sanitation’ and ‘Personal Freedom

and Choice’.

According to Michael Green Executive Director

of the Social Progress Imperative, “New

Zealand’s ranking as the most socially

progressive nation on earth is an exceptional

result.” He noted that New Zealand

outperformed countries like the United States,

UK and Australia.

26 | B A Y A N I Z

THREE WOMEN

Lorde, Eleanor Catton and Lydia Ko have taken

the world by storm in their respective fields of

excellence.

Lorde (real name: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-

O'Connor) at 17 hit the world charts (No 1 in the

US) with a thought-provoking tune, “Royals”

that earned her accolades including at the start of

2014 two Grammys (Song of the Year and Best

Pop Solo Performance), sold out concerts and

appearances in major gigs including a spot in the

tribute to Nirvana (with original members Dave

Grohl and Krist Novoselic) during the 29th

Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

Ceremony in New York.

Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker Prize

for her 832 pages novel The Luminaries, making

her the youngest to win at 28 years old. She was

presented with the prize by the Duchess of

Cornwall on 15 October 2013 at Guildhall.

Other recognitions followed: the Canadian

Governor General's Literary Award for fiction

for The Luminaries; Member of the New

Zealand Order of Merit; and an honorary degree

of Doctor of Literature in May 2014 at Victoria

University of Wellington.

Lydia Ko, also 17, outstanding amateur golf

player, turned professional late in 2013, and

proved her nerve of steel by beating the best in

the world in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic

in April 2014 that made her the No 2 woman

professional golfer in the world. On the same

month, Ko was named as one of Time

Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, and she

wondered why.

POLITICS AS USUAL

There isn’t much happening in the New Zealand

Parliament these days except for perhaps for

allegations of misconduct of its members. Under

heavy attack from the Labour Party, the National

Party had two of its MPs in hot waters namely

Maurice Williamson and Judith Collins.

Williamson resigned as minister outside Cabinet

in the National-led Government for interfering in

police investigations; while Justice Minister

Collins has been under attack for accepting a

dinner invitation from bosses of Oravida, a

company where her husband serves as director.

Her critics say that there was a conflict of

interest, more so that the company subsequently

donated to the campaign coffers of the National

Party. In the past surveys the National Party

remains to be the preferred party, while John

Key is the preferred Prime Minister.

27 | B A Y A N I Z

WORLD VIEW

China: A Hesitant World Leader

Did you read the report that China will

become the world’s biggest economy as

early as this year? According to a recent

World Bank report, the Chinese

economy will overtake the United

States in 2014, as measured by the

Purchasing Power Parities or PPPs.

But instead of welcoming the news,

China’s Bureau of Statistics, and for

that matter, its government, disputes the

report saying that “the calculation has

constraints and does not reflect the true

picture of the Chinese economy.”

Isn’t it odd that China does not want to

be called the world’s biggest economy?

Thinking of the maxim “With great power comes great responsibility” must have prompted the leaders of

China to develop cold feet. They must have learned from the lessons of the United States, which has

remained as superpower of the world for more than a century already.

It’s true that Uncle Sam, because of its economic clout, has the strongest military force and is most

influential in world politics. But most view it not just as a Big Brother that helps nations and peoples in

dire need of assistance but also as global police that keeps peace and order in areas of conflicts. As such,

the US is among the biggest borrowers in the world. While it ranks 10th on the list, with debt that is 87

percent of its GDP, it has the highest debt in absolute terms, an estimated $14.6 trillion in general

government net debt which is said to be double that of second-place Japan.

China cannot take over the role of Big Brother or global police. Not yet. The Asian Dragon is still trying

to figure out how to deal with its new found wealth that has yet to trickle to its population. It is no secret

that graft and corruption is a systemic problem in that country despite the severe punishments it impose

on offenders. While modern buildings and palatial malls have sprouted throughout the country, quite a

number have become white elephants or are without occupants.

New generation Chinese have little interest in becoming members of the ruling Communist Party. Rather,

they are open-minded to Western culture, freedom, democracy, free enterprise, Hollywood and social

media. Censorship can only withhold information for a limited period. Eventually, “truth will out.”

Chinese students are all over the world, learning from other cultures. What can be expected of them when

they return to their country? Become true Maoists? Most likely the opposite is happening. And China’s

growing middle-class will certainly want to make a difference.

If China is to become a global power in the same level as the United States, it has to know first what it is

as a nation and as a people

28 | B A Y A N I Z

BAYANiZ Monitor

Arielle Garciano, of Lyttelton, is Miss World New

Zealand. She won the crown by beating 16 other contestants

during the beauty contest in Rendezvous Grand Hotel in

Auckland on April 26, 2014. At 22 years old, Arielle works as a

branch sales co-ordinator for Plumbing World. Her father is

Filipino who hails from Camotes, Cebu. Her mother is English.

The victory was welcomed by the Filipino community in New

Zealand and publicized in the Philippines. The current Miss

World is Megan Young of the Philippines ….Ruel and

Johanna Ciubal of South Auckland had their dream come true through the

efforts of the Cadbury Dream Factory, a TV 3 show. On February 19, the couple

who have lived in Auckland were

reunited with their two daughters,

Khryzelle and Jasmin after eight years

of separation. Due to financial

limitations, the couple could not afford

to bring their two children to New

Zealand, but through the TV program,

the children landed in Auckland to meet

their parents and 2-year old brother,

who didn’t know about their arrival.

Program host Guy Montgomery went to Baguio to fetch the children who bid their grandparents,

relatives and classmates goodbye. Ruel said, “We are so, so grateful. We thought being together

might never happen. All of our money went to the lawyer to get the girls here, and there was

nothing left. But magic happens. I believe that.” The program was

aired in April 2014. … In a meeting of Filipino migrants on

February 16 organized by the Canterbury Pilipino

Assistance Group (CPAG), Philippine Ambassador to

New Zealand Benavidez was quoted as saying: "If you

have problems with your job, don't approach the unions

and media especially those posting stories in the New

Zealand Herald." The statement received strong reaction from

First Union, one of the largest trade union centers in NZ. The union’s

General Secretary Robert Reid declared that the statement "nothing

less than gross interference in the domestic affairs of New Zealand", Migrante Aotearoa, the

largest Filipino migrant organization in NZ, has also denounced her statement and her

subsequent denial, demanding that she “make a formal public apology. All in all, Ambassador

Benavidez has been an embarrassment to local and Filipino communities in NZ.” In response to

the charges, Benavidez, said that the union has got it wrong and she is urging her people to go to

the proper authorities if they want to report problems.

29 | B A Y A N I Z

20 Years of Devotion

OSCAR AND MIRIAM BATUCAN

For the past 20 years, thousands of Auckland’s Filipino-Catholic community, as well as those

from outside Auckland have gathered during the fiesta celebrations in honor of the Holy Child

Jesus (Senor Santo Nino) on the third Sunday of January.

It is a moving, faith-filled event marking Senor Santo Nino’s blessing in a number of healings,

cures and answered prayers. The devotion to the Christ-child seemed to have originated in Spain

at the beginning of the 16th

century and usually it emphasized the ideas of kingship. From Spain,

the devotion spread to the rest of Europe. And from Europe – it spread to the other parts of the

world.

The tradition was brought to Auckland by an ardent devotee, Alice Smith assisted by Mila Rigby

and Allen Villamor. Devotions were held in designated people’s homes for many years and had

grown in number until 1993 when we came together to initiate public devotions to the Holy

Child Jesus in Auckland, New Zealand.

The first public celebration of the Feast of Senor Santo Nino was on the 3rd

Sunday of January

1994 with a special mass at the Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall attended by about 400 people.

The mass was followed by a traditional fiesta lunch and a presentation of songs and dances

highlighted by a Sinulog dance number performed by the organizers themselves.

After its modest beginning, the feast of Senor Santo Nino has grown into a major event in the

Filipino-Catholic calendar in Auckland. The Mass marking the feast day is grand, with several

priests and the Bishop concelebrating in the altar. The celebration is preceded by nine days of

prayer and masses and at the end of the Mass, people of all ages offer a Sinulog dance as an

offering of thanksgiving for blessings received or as an offering of petitions. There have been

many attestations about the miracles received from Senor Santo Nino. It is with Faith and

Thanksgiving that the number of devotees who participate in the stewardship of the Church has

increased.

We thank all Devotees of Senor Santo Nino for their steadfastness even in the midst of

challenges and difficulties which migrant families often meet.

Thank you Senor Santo Nino for your bountiful blessings!

30 | B A Y A N I Z

Manny, Timothy and Dionisia PETER GAYAMAN

The Pacquiao-Bradley II fight was another great experience for Filipinos around the world, and that

includes me. For the two nights prior to the fight, I reviewed past Pacquiao fights, if only to remember

the fistic brilliance of the Pambansang Kamao. Of course, I prayed that he’d regain his old self, following

his convincing victory against the hapless Brandon Rios in their fight in China.

***

The preliminary bouts

weren’t as exciting as in the

past. There wasn’t any

marquee pugilist to warm us

up prior to the main event.

Bob Arum didn’t even bother

to put any upcoming Filipino

boxer in the undercard. It

seems like the boxing

promoter worked on a tight

budget, as the pay-per-view

hasn’t been as lucrative as

they were a few years ago.

***

But the crowd turnout in Las Vegas still proved the drawing power of Manny Pacquiao whose name came

first before that of the defending champion Timothy Bradley. Manny is a darling of media, with an

established back story and a multi-faceted persona, including that of being an active member of the

Philippine House of Representatives. And fans continue to believe in his boxing greatness, and his desire

to entertain them with an exciting fight each time he enters the ring. The cheering “Manny, Manny!” was

proof enough of Pacquiao’s popularity.

***

The 2nd meeting between Pacquiao and Bradley was a war between two boxers wanting redemption.

Pacquiao, and many others, believed he was robbed of victory at the first instance. Bradley, after the win,

proved himself a true champion by retaining the belt against Ruslan Provodnikov in a 12-round

unanimous decision and against Juan Manuel Marquez in a 12-round split decision. And we got the war

that we wanted.

31 | B A Y A N I Z

***

In the first half of the bout, it was anybody’s game, as both fighters tried to control the tempo. The

defending champion was aiming to annihilate Pacquiao, but the latter proved to be the better boxer.

Manny kept his composure even with the wild punches of Bradley which one commentator called

“amateurish”. But I guess that was part of Bradley’s game plan to confuse the challenger.

***

But it was clear in the second half that Bradley had felt the hard blows of Manny, with his feet wobbling

at times. He tried to psych up Pacquiao with facial taunt, but Manny had none of those. The congressman

continued to put pressure until the final bell rang. Unlike Manny of the past who at times was careless,

the People’s Champ never at any moment let his defences down, though Bradley had some effective shots

at him.

***

Manny deserved to win the fight, having worked hard throughout and making more effective shots than

his opponent. But he was not the same Pacquiao at his prime. He was not as fast, not as hard, not as

flashy. But he did the job, and that was the objective anyway.

***

If there was someone who stole the show from Manny, it was no other than

Mommy Dionisia whose praying must have irritated those around her. But

then what can you expect from a mother looking out for her son. In last two

fights of Pacquiao, she has been around to witness the victories. Manny has

come to believe she is a lucky charm, and she deserves the limelight as well.

***

The WAFSA/Fil-Kiwi Mixed

Volleyball League 2014 was one of

the well-organized competitions I’ve

joined in years. Auckland Babes was

the Champion with Top 10 as 1st

Runner-up and I-Remit as 2nd

Runner-up. The individual awardees

were: Patricia Balbas as season and

Finals MVP for Women, James

Donald for Finals MVP for Men and

Benz Catbagan as our season MVP for

Men. The Mythical team members

are: Joey Pandagani, Peter Gayaman,

Benz Catbagan, Geness Lampong,

Glychelle Maia Soller, and Patricia Balbas. Other awardees are Rs Servitillo as Best Spiker, Joey

Pandagani as Best Setter, James Donald as Best receiver and Julius Pakias as Best Server. Special award

goes to Jae Samson ad The Most Improved Player, Amos Rada and Lynette Ydio as Most Promising

Player, Dennis Kirkby and Chrisca Tipace for Quality Minutes Awardees. By the way, I got the Best

Captain award, according to the organizers, “for his leadership”. Thanks.

32 | B A Y A N I Z

One Artist’s Dream TYKE VILLALONGA

Born into a family whose principle in life is of practicality and thriftiness, I was the odd one out. I found

myself constantly daydreaming of distant and places and worlds not of this earth. May it be fantasy or

science fiction; my mind never stopped thinking about things that brought awe and wonder.

Exposed to the rigors and pressures of a family business at a young age, I eased my mind by going into

my room at the end of the day lying in bed dreaming of fantastic worlds and great adventures. It was the

only way I could think of in escaping the realities of my life. As I grew older, this pastime played a major

role in shaping me to what I am today.

Learning to draw never came easy. I was constantly drawing stick figures on Mom’s accounting ledgers if

there were no other paper to draw on. That got me into constant trouble. Until one day my uncle Felix

came to visit and showed me that there was something beyond the art of stick figure drawing. He drew me

a quick sketch of the Six Million Dollar Man which really blew me away! I decided there and then that I

would be an artist. It was a thought that was not well encouraged. I had to learn it the best way I could.

I wasn’t the smartest of all the siblings in the family so getting the right direction in developing the craft

was challenging.

It was only when I started going to college and taking up Fine Arts that my skills in drawing started to

improve. In the late part of my University days I was fortunate enough to get a job from a local ad agency

in Cebu. The paychecks I received gave me the opportunity to finally buy self help books that would

further enhance my craft and also help pay my tuition. It was also at this time that my interest in

sequential art was at its all time high. I was influenced by western comics and Japanese comics and

cartoons that had become an international phenomenon. I said to myself, “this is the perfect medium to

express my thoughts and dreams!” and that it did.

Fast forward to few jobs and a fortunate meeting with the publisher of Cebu Daily News, Miss Eileen

Mangubat, where I was given a break to feature my stories and sequential art which ran from 2001- 2012.

It was a good run while it lasted.

But that does not in any way mean the end of my dream of being a comic artist and storyteller. I have

many more stories to tell and my imagination and daydreaming is as active as it ever was since I was a

kid.

I’m now based in New Zealand with my wife and three children. I hope to continue the dream and find

opportunities in the field of sequential art and writing to people who’d be interested in reading my stories.

I hope you will enjoy my very first work – Ang Espada ni Maria Cacao (The Sword of the Enchantress) -

which initially came out in Cebu daily News in 2001, and reprinted in BAYANiZ.

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GRIN-AND-GO

Janet Napoles had escaped from detention and boarded a plane to New Zealand.

Upon landing, she goes through the usual process with an immigration officer for the

entry interview.

Interviewer (I): Kia ora, welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand. Your first time here?

Janet Napoles (JN): Yes, I just got out of the Philippines.

I: I’ve been in the Philippines – beautiful country, beautiful people, but what bloody

corruption!

JN: Oh, I’m planning to invest and maybe live in New Zealand.

I: I: That’s sweet as, but you may be too late. The Chinese have been

buying a lot here – houses, farms and companies. What did you do in the

Philippines?

JN: I am a charity worker. I helped people to improving their lives,

without discrimination.

I: Wow, we need people like you here. Wage & Income New Zealand

WINZ can’t carry all the burden, y’know.

JANET NAPOLES JN: Don’t your politicians help out people like we do in the Philippines?

I LOVE NZ I: Our MPs debate on issues, attack each other and are forward-looking

for the next election.

JN: Just like in the Philippines. I should like to work with them.

I: In what way?

JN: I may be able to convince them to establish a pork barrel fund, and make everyone happy.

I: That’s an idea. What was your name again?

JN: Janet Napoles.

I: Ms Napoles, I don’t think we will allow you to enter this country?

JN: Why not?

I: Because I’m Ben Luy*, and I’ve been recruited by the New Zealand Government to prevent Filipinos

like you to ever step foot here.

*Ben Luy is the whistle blower who exposed the biggest scam in the Philippines that involves Janet Napoles and many Philippine

politicians.

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Gil Maningo’s

St John Paul II