Random and Boring Thoughts

Ngayong walang pasok at umuulan

1.       Levi Celerio, a National Artist for music argued the use of the word “Musikero” to name a person making music, he says, the more proper use is “Musiko”. Knowing this, comes this fast thought of mine: shall I call a basurero as basura, or in worst – a manggagantso as gansto. I think I need to read more about this idea.

2.       Last month I went to a music store in Victory Shop just to see guitars, I just wear an old Milo Running t-shirt I had when me my papa used to join a Milo Marathon when I was a kid, I will be honest myself, I’m not looking good that time, - not so surprise, no one in the shop ask me if I’m interested to buy any instruments. Few days later, I came back in the shop after church, with my older siblings, of course wearing a more elegant polo-shirt, skinny maong pants, and a new boat shoes; just a few seconds, the vendor quickly encountered me with a nice smile, ano po sa inyo sir?

3.       Environmentalists says it is more sustainable and eco-friendly to use paper bags than plastic bags in our markets, for no question, the United States found in using it too. But a thought come to me later, papers are made by trees, and as a principle in economic, the greater the demand, the fall of the supply, by using paper bags – one might say killing trees. Albeit, here comes the exemption; papers are recyclable.

4.       I’m dreaming of café bar here in Antipolo just like a sort of Conspiracy Bar and Café in the Quezon City where musicians can play indie music, acoustics, bossa nova, blues, ethnic or world music, no rock or metal pahinga naman po please, while people drink coffees or teas. My reasons are: first this is a Haven for artist, musicians or even café lover, second and honest reason – I want to see Joey Ayala and Gary Granada performing here, third and more honest reason – I want to perform there too.

       5.       When I was in fourth year high school, someone asked me, what course will you take in college? I said I am planning to take law, but if my parents can’t – in some financial matter, I will pursue music instead. Then he had this follow up question San mo gustong mag-aral? I quickly answered. Sa Harvard. He was surprised in disbelief. Nye?    I follow a phrase; bakit, gusto ko lang naman e, hindi ko naman sinabing doon na talaga.

       6.       We had once a debate in our class about the technology; boon or bane. Everyone in the class have their opinion. When it’s my turn, while speaking about my thoughts, the instructor said, I should only argue about the later statement by my classmate, so I said “Hindi totoo yung sinabi niya” instead, everybody laughs except the instructor who used to stare at me like an eagle ready to pick up the prey.

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photos owned by Rommel F. Bonus

for more creative works from him, visit his personal blog at https://sites.google.com/site/rommelfabrosbonus/

Book Review sa Nobelang Antyng-antyng o Kwadrisentenyal ni Uro Q. Dela Cruz

Antyng-antyng o Kwadrisentenyal: Kung Papaano Nakipagpatintero sa Kasaysayan ang Aming Bayan 
by Uro Q. Dela Cruz

Totoo ang sinabi ni Bienvenido Lumbera tungkol sa librong ito, na kahangahangang ang isang nobela ay maglalaman ng maraming tauhan at paksa.

Pangahas ang pagsalungat ni Uro sa karaniwang balangkas ng mga nauna nang nobela. Sa nobelang ito, tuluyang niyang tinanggal ang mga kahon. Nadarang ako sa librong ito. Para ka lang nakasakay sa Roller Coaster, walang kasiguruhan ang mga pahayag at tagpo, tumatamis, umaalat, umaanghang nang hindi mo man lamang napre-predict.

Habang binabasa ko ang librong ito, nalaman ko kung gaano ka-flexible na manunulat si Uro. Elastic ang pagtingin niya sa mga anggulo ng banghay. Napipiga niya ang tunay na boses ng iba't ibang klase ng tauhan ito man ay pari, magnanakaw, mayor o artista.

Gusto kong ihanay ang mga kapangyarihang naramdaman ko sa nobela habang binabasa (na marahil ay naramdaman din ng mga ibang bumasa)

    1. Ang galaw at progresyon ng kwento ay laging bago
    2. Lagi kang may matutuklasang hindi mo inaasahan sa bawat pahina
    3. Napakaraming paraan ng naratibo ang nagamit sa bawat talata
    4. Ang damdamin ay bigla na lang nagbabago
    5. Magaling gumamit ng tauhan si Uro, batbat sa baryasyon ng boses at gamit ng wika

Napakarami pang dahilan kung bakit ko nasabing maganda ang nobelang ito. Hindi kataka-takang nanalo ito sa Gawad Palanca. Taglay kasi nito ang sa tingin ko'y laging hinahanap ng mga mambabasa sa Post-modernism, unang-una ay bagong-bago ang tema. Wala pa sigurong naisulat na librong may ganitong tema. Tunay na ang nobelang Antyng Antyng ay isang taga sa kasaysayan.

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*unang na-ipublish ang review na ito sa goodreads.com noong Setyembre, 2014
*ang larawan ng pabalat ay pag-aari ng goodreads.com

Some of Michel Foucault’s Contemporary Ideas to be Used Against Our Berdugo System

Michel Foucault, the French philosopher’s ideas on the comparison of the Medieval and Renaissance public execution; Dr. Joseph Guillotine’s invention of Holy Guillotine that was used by the Catholic priest and inquistador, the quicker and less painful way of mass murder called “the red mass”, to our Modern Man, the modern practice of retributive justice; warrant of arrest, caught in action, posas. In this, to extent, comes the Philippine’s sensibility to the matter; from the Hispanic Inquisition, remembering the Tres Martires namely GomBurZa, the Trese Martires of Cavite, Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan, to our modern system, parak-parak, authority that is diplomatic in public, albeit ever torturing to inside, and worst, the Berdugo system that will later be discussed.

The comparison by Foucault, is that the Medieval and Renaissance public execution somehow, more humanitarian and dignified than that of the modern practice of retributive justice. He argues that this is mainly because the public executions tend to create a shame not to those who is being executed in public, albeit the one who is facilitating the executions. Modern justice however tends to be more diplomatic on public, but more cruel and torturing on the inside of cells, when no one is able to see.

What worst when it comes to our Berdugo system? A Berdugo, someone who leads the nation, or perhaps in some are their ever loyal right-hand, is a self-righteous theocrat, who used to put the law on his self-evident infallible hands (George Orwell’s Animal Farm produces us an example; it is when the pig Napoleon declared as “always right”). He is the god on his pragmatic utopia. The question is, when an accused person by the Berdugo is not really a criminal but an innocent man. What is now the use of the law, the use of “Due Process”, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: everyone is innocent until proven guilty. There’s no use at all, because for the Berdugo’s pragmatic mind, if the person is accused then the person is guilty, it is his pleasure to kill him.

The Martial Law gives us an obvious instance. Resty Fabunan, the singer-lead guitarist of the martialawtic band Maria Cafra, according to him, he was arrested when walking home from a gig in Manila, in the precinct he was surprised the authority holding a pack of shabu, saying that it was confiscated from him. The hamleting of Santa Filomena for instance, is a more display of Berdugo. Joey Ayala described the incident in the song “Wala Nang Tao Sa Santa Filomena” (there are no more people in the Santa Filomena), because due to communitarian indoctrination to Kanayunan and Baryo, the Berdugo concluded that all of the people living there were already their enemies, what they do is mass murdering the whole town.

How I wish Filipinos will not elect another Berdugo anymore. I heard a statement from a Humanist lawyer; a crime will not be solved by another crime, it’s just like saying that the greatest attempt to destroy a religion is ending up forming another one. Noam Chomsky’s point to call the US as the world’s leading terrorist country in his book “9-11”, is because counter terrorism, when harming people, is terrorism itself.

Rizal’s vision of a heaven (I will theorize it as Rizal’s utopianist vision) was described on his last poem.

Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

(I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen
Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign.)

He described heaven, before getting executed, as a place where there are no more verdugos and opresores.

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References:

Michel Foucault, Surveiller et punir, 1975 (Gallimard, French)

Lloyd Billingsley, Religion’s Rebel Son, 1986 US

translation of Rizal's poem not mine, but by Encarnacion Alzona & Isidro Escare Abeto

What to Like? How to earn?

A sexy post, a sensational travel, a love quote, a statement that makes you laugh, basta any post from crush or a cute person, a picture with a famous personality, a post from mama, tita, kuya, or whosever from the house, if in business – walang kamakamag-anak, it’s different here in FB, it’s a mutual understanding, for sometimes the more you like, the more you earn, it’s give and take. How about when I post about social reality, shall I receive enough likes? How about the art, the humanity, the social responsibility? Have more time to think before hitting the button, for this is the concept; you will be defined by your likes.

 I will not accept that the more likes it gets, the valuable to post is. Likes don’t define values.

 Don’t forget to add Arab, Indian nationals; if you’re desperate enough to earn likes (just like a politician craving for votes) they are sometimes auto-liking machines. Sometimes, I am thinking, to what is really a like means to people. I don’t want to say it means “Hey, I like what happened to you”, how about when people liked a post of a dead love ones? I am thinking as well, to what do it means to people getting lots of likes, an appreciation, fame, ego, personal value?

But I am not forgetting, I cannot eat likes, I cannot feed hungry men by it. 

But it’s like an award, give likes to the deserving!


for more creative works from Rommel F. Bonus, visit his personal blog:
https://sites.google.com/site/rommelfabrosbonus/

College of Education, My Second Blog

College of Education, University of Rizal Sytem Antipolo

Katuwaan lang.

COE Park, Etcetera

You don’t have to be so much adventurous, a traveler, a geographer, or to open your smart phone for a GPS Satellite or have a map and compass ala Villalobos or Columbus to find the COE Park, . This is the direction: when you’re in the front of the COE building, turn right, no I’m kidding, that’s the butterfly garden without real butterflies in it, but turn to your left, yes, you are now looking at the COE Park; a Rainforest-like when it’s raining, it’s indeed a rainforest (I’m just kidding), with a red plant surrounding it, and two small Balete-like tree, blue benches, blue benches. The rainforest park stretches up to an elevation in front of a CBA, and we call it the forbidden “Palma Park”. I suppose if you’re not familiar, you will say that because the name is Palma Park, it is full of palm trees and plants. You’re a half way there because, yes, it has some sort of palm plant, but no, Palma Park is named for . . .loading file name. . .  

You will hear a guitar playing, groups laughing, Kuya Yambao telling a story on how handsome Kuya Alindogan is, or you will hear some kind of “hi babe” from Jennyrose Cornel, and don’t ever attempt to neglect her, and you will receive “ganyan ka na ngayon!” (peace po tayo Cornel!).

Sometimes, due to severe insanity, I imagine the park as a cafeteria; people are busy using their tablets, phones, and laptops, connecting to WiFi, chatting, taking a zip on a hot - brewed coffee or milk tea. What an ambiance it is. I can almost hear the background music; an autumn jazz, a bossa nova, samba pa ti, a blues, or a classical Mozart (to stimulate our creativity or whatever).

Lagok ng kape!

 It has been my hobby when the class ends, or when there’s vacant hours, to go outside the corridor, stand there like a boss, and in silence and grace of solitude – watch every people and every happening in the COE Park (one time, Kuya Paul Gianan saw me that way, and ask me, Hoy Bonus, anong problema? I used to answer not a word but a little smile, siguro na-wirdohan na sa’kin). Doing such, I reflect myself, sort of realization, on how this park creates a community that promotes sense of belongingness to eliminate alienation, prejudice and discrimination, built stronger relationships, socialization, affection, and individuals who preferred, I believe, to choose to be here, to be an educator of the future (no you’re wrong, this is not a reaction paper in Philippine Ideology to be passed to Sir Garado).

Anyway, the rainforest/cafeteria COE Park is approximately only a more than hundred square meters.

Lagok ng kape!

Weird Smells

Katuwaan lang.

Every COE students will be relate-much to this. When currently taking a class to whatever subjects it is, don’t be so-much bother with the nice aroma coming from the back of the building. I remember an instructor throwing a joke about the disturbing peculiar odor of I don’t know what it is or what's the cause, he said; ‘wag na kayong magreklamo, kasama ‘yan sa binabayaran ninyo, then everybody laughs in the classroom (pero if you don’t mind, hindi ko na papangalanan si Instructor, for safety issues hahaha, gusto ko pa pong mabuhay).

. . . to be continued [sori marami pa akong gustong sabihin]. . .

[photos owned by Eiger Villarba]

for more creative works from me, visit my personal blog https://sites.google.com/site/rommelfabrosbonus/

College of Education, My First Blog

College of Education, URSAC

Katuwaan lang.

To describe COE is a difficult task. People are in diverse talent, they are future educators, but 'wag papakasiguro, they are musicians as well, look at Kuya Ramel Canela, a badass lead guitarist, Kuya Gab and Kuya Suarez, Kuya Lito Pagaspas a bassist, Kuya Raffy the finger-style guitarist, and many more musician in different genres. This is also a land of dancers, ask J-Michael Cañeta.  There are poets too. Cristel Joy Delos Reyes  is a Shakespearean and Elizabethan poet, with archaic words such as "thee", "thou" and "shall" you can encounter. The dean herself is a poet. And don't you ever dare to hide your skills and talents to whatever it is in from leadership to sing a song if your an educ student, for you will receive a well-known phrase: Filipino, kamatayan?

Of course, Educ is like any other thing, you can find value, you can find trash. It's a meat, you have to eat what is edible, but you have to throw away the bones.

COE is one of a College to a growing University of Rizal System Antipolo City.

Aamin ako, at first, I see COE as high school-like institution with students who used to follow everything the head instructed them to do. But as the time goes by, I became attached to environment, and as I became attached to them, I realized how good people they are, goal driven, with much of ideals and aspiration.

Ito na siguro ang isa sa pinaka-papular na linya sa Educ; baho ng C.R! 
But look at now, cleanliness took place, kaya naman pala; to the point that Joseph Pardilla described it, with sense of humor, as "pwede na po tayong matulog sa CR".

Students in this College were acclaimed in competitiveness.

I asked one of the senior in Education, Regina Reyes, about this matter. This is what she said:

"College of education.. when it comes to students,  they are very competitive. But it doesn't mean they are self centered.. they just want to prove their abilities ."

I asked again Ms. Regina, regards the orgs.

"Hhm.. syempre UNITED!  Kasi kht n may iba't ibang organizations na nakapaloob dto iisa lang ang rin ang goal nito in the end ..yung ipakilala ang institution na ito  haha.. Point of view ko lng yn"

I interview J-Michael Cañeta about my plan on creating this article on the blog, and I ask him to say something about our College, he answered with some kind of specific angst.

"Sa akin nmn nakikita ko ung kooperasyon ung pagiging solid hal. Ung sa paglilinis ng cr anlaking pagbabago nun tpos pra sakin ayos ung kalidad ng edukasyon lalo na sa aming mga filipino major na tlgang hinahasa kami nin ma'am tejada at ma'am rose

Sa mga estudyante nmn ang pinka pansin ko ay ung mga 1st yr. Kc karamihan madaling iapproach tsaka sociable din smile emoticon syempre mahalagang aspeto un bilang isang magiging guro sa hinaharap

Sa 2nd yr. nmn ayos lng kc kahit may kanya kanya ng mga major marami na kong medyo nkaka close grin emoticon na dati di nmn

Sa mga 3rd yr. wala ko gaanong masabi sa ngaun eh pero nung panahong 1st yr. Pa lng tayo isa cla sa mga naging ate at kuya natin na gumabay satin syempre

Ung 4th yr nmn nakakatuwa kc kahit kramihan sa kanila nalagay sa field na di nila gamay ay todo effort pa rin cla pinapakita nila ung pagiging flexible ng isang guro, hanga ko sa kanila kiki emoticon

Negatib nmn sa 1st yr medyo nangaabuso ung ilan kpag mabait ka. . ."

.. . Too be Continued . . .

                                                                               [1st photo owned by Eiger Villarva, 2nd photo owned by Patrick Nunez]

Bakit hindi national artist sila Gilda Codero-Fernando o si Joey Ayala?

Gilda, a literary acclaimed, award winning artist of paint and letters surrendered her entire life renovating the old fashioned ukay-ukay from the baul of Filipino heritage, dedicating her energy and creativity to give colors to the black and white Pinoy mythological creatures; aswang , its red romance chronicles Luna an aswang protagonist in her fashion play. Our cuisine, all are pandama, all are tikim-timpla tikim-timpla. The Filipina, the OFW’s colonizing the West with its fighting spirit and English carabao. Oo nga naman, never ask a mamang magtataho a question in English; for he will answer you fluently, Filipino is a citizen to the world for her. She offered the Filipinos to the world; why not give her the National Artist she deserved for her love of the culture?

Si Joey Ayala, I once asked my Papa and my professor in Philippine Ideology, bakit hindi pa national artist? Their answers are so identical: Aktibista kasi! Kudos for the Political manipulation in the mystical award. It reminded me of the former President Fidel V. Ramos, adding Historical Literature as a separate category. Anyway, hindi ba aktibista rin si National Artist Virgilio Almario? A friend once talked to Joey Ayala, bata ka pa naman kasi Joey. So he is obviously waiting, we are also waiting!

Gary Granada, in his song that was sang by Dong Abay said:

“Purihin ang dapat purihin, panagutin ang dapat panagutin”

Give good people what they deserve!





                                                                               [photos are not mine, credits to the owner]