Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Frisbee Revolution!

I played Frisbee again with my students and Boys’ home kids at Boystown two Saturdays ago and it has been a while since I last threw the magic saucer that gives me that natural high pumping my endorphin level a few notch higher. I have always been a fan of those who can throw the disc in different ways and still visualizes that one of these days, I’d be running in the field trying to catch the high flying Frisbees! But at the moment, it is all in the realm of mind visualization.

I read the book One Billion: A China Chronicle written by Jay and Linda Matthews in 1983 and read an excerpt that interested me about frisbee and the People's Republic of China.

"To squeeze some new amusement from dry urban life, people in Peking and other large cities have latched on to the Frisbee. Foreign tourists frequently brought Frisbees into the country and gave them away, but the plastic discs never made much headway until the Peking No 4 Toy factory started mass producing “flying saucers,” as they are known in China. The first 60,000 locally made projectiles sold out quickly in 1980, and now orders from all over the country are backed up. “Frisbee fever has struck,” The Peking Evening News reported. It recommended a game of Frisbee as a “wholesome pastime” for children and good exercise for their elders. The police, however, are not similarly enchanted by young Frisbee fanatics who commander whole neighborhoods and send their flying saucers whizzing in and out of traffic. On a single day in August 1980, police detained 350 wayward disc throwers. Of those, 344 were “criticized” and 6 repeat offenders had to surrender their Frisbees."

Jerrico, LIVE at The Airliner on November 21, 2008


Jerrico hip-hops progressive music signifying unity amidst diversity and positive global vibration.

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Jerks!

Do not go gentle into that good night

rage, rage against the dying of the light.

- Dylan Thomas

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Loves of Che Guevara

I read a book around two months ago about Che Guevara and learned that he actually got married twice and that he had children! I thought he was single all throughout his career as a revolutionary. The first girl, Hilda Gadea i guess was instrumental in introducing Che with radical thoughts during their stay in Guatemala. She was an organizer and a Peruvian exile due to her progressive activities that put her into trouble when the pro-people president was removed from office by a fascist leader.

But their relationship, according to the book (i forgot the title), was more on the realm of politics with Hilda Gadea's polemics on Marx, Lenin, and Latin American Revolution mesmerizing Che Guevara to fall for her.

Guevara however decided to separate from Gadea through a letter (because Hilda was in Peru) because of, i don't know, maybe due to the distance and the separation that took place when Che decided to join Fidel Castro in that historic Granma expedition. They had one child who died in 1995. the book surmised that Che was only attracted to Hilda Gadea because of her determined attitude to pursue whatever goals she set her mind on, and for this matter, it was Che Guevara and her radical ideas. He even asked Hilda and Hildita, their daughter, to stay with him in Cuba after the victory but i do not know the reason of their falling out (because i do not remember all the details of the book and it has been two months since i read it).

Anyway, maybe because he fell in love with another girl during the course of the revolution to topple the Batista Dictatorship. The lady named Aleida March who worked as his secretary and also his compañera became his second wife. They had 4 children and one of them continues to pursue the ideals of Che Guevara as a doctor in Cuba and all the oppressed people in the world!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Black is the Colour



Black is the Colour
(traditional)

Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
She's the sweetest smile, Andthe gentlest hands
And I love the ground, Whereon she stands.

I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground, whereon she goes
I wish the day, it soon would come
When she & I could be as one.

I go to the Clyde and I mourn and weep
For satisfied, I never can be
I write her a letter, just a few short lines
And suffer death, a thousand times.

For Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
She has the sweetest smile, Andthe gentlest hands
And I love the ground, Whereon she stands.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Biking on Empty

This bike has been stationary for more or less one and a half year in my parent's house. My sister and I were supposed to buy it for P10,000 but we still got no money to splurge. Anyway, we have discussed the matter again and hopefully, we can pay the owner in installment basis. So, i brought it out, again, had the wheels fixed, and was able to ride it ONCE, since last month.

Of Irish Music in Quiapo

As I enjoy my walk along the Quiapo area one day while practicing one of my street rites, which is to check on the bootleg audio CDs hawked along the busy side streets, I stumbled upon an audio CD of a band called The Script. I asked the seller to play it and their music sounded perfect! After hearing the first cut called “We Cry,” I immediately parted with my hard earned twenty pesos (approximately $.40) and protectively stashed the CD inside my bag smiling contently. I also got a CD of an eclectic mix of Irish music in Quiapo once titled "Celtic Thunder." I gave it to my boss though so there was no chance of appreciating it.

Anyway, I saw the Script album prominently displayed at a Music One store and found out that the band is actually making quite a stir in the music world, spinned as the next best thing coming from Ireland after U2 with their hit “The Man who can’t be Moved.” I sure am lost with what’s in and out for not listening to the radio. But that is the least of my concern.

I also recently watched a video film “Once,” a short budgeted Irish film about a struggling musician. The film was so sweet and sincere acted out by real-life musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova. Shot in Dublin, Ireland, it reminded me again of my pledged affinity to Eire as my second country after the Philippines (but that is another story). The song “Falling Slowly”, with its simple lyrics and duet can stir emotions of memories, of hope, and lost loves and loves lost.

“Big Sur” by The Thrills is another song that I got a few years ago. All the while, I thought they are from San Francisco but then again, they hail from Ireland! What’s with the Irish lineage to be able to produce such musicality! With a population of less than 6 million, they really make a global impact in music.

Of course there are the Irish pop acts past and present like U2, The Cranberries, the Pogues, The Dubliners, Belle x-1, Corrs, and other bands that I do not know. But one Irish act that stands out for me is Christy Moore. Christy Moore with his soothing, relaxed yet tension-filled rendition of folk ballads never fails to make me sit and close my eyes and wonder what is happening to the Ireland of my imagination. “Black is the Color” sung by Mr. Moore is a song that I always keep close to my heart. Thank you to the person who introduced me to the music of this great artist.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Gatekeeper

Quiapo Church
(October 2008)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Si Ka Juanito Itaas


I first met Juanito Itaas during one of the immersion weekends required for our third year students at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City. His daughter is a scholar of our school’s partner institution and his family would normally adopt one of our students to experience community life.

Juanito Itaas is convicted for the death of Colonel James Rowe, a high ranking American military officer gunned down by alleged New Peoples Army (NPA), the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1989.

Juanito Itaas is very unassuming and soft spoken. While his name might generate reverential awe among activists from generation 90s as a fierce and determined people’s warrior, his mild and gentle ways reflects the humility that I think each and everyone must possess in serving the people. His story has been retold time and again in the discussion groups among activists, in the debates among human rights lawyers, and I guess, even up to the top echelons of the Philippine military.

He has been in jail for almost twenty years and I heard that if not for the United States’ pressure on the Philippine Government he would have been freed already like his co-accused in the case.

Here is a link of an interview with Juanito published February 2007.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/feb/08/yehey/top_stories/20070208top6.html

Juanito Itaas, just like the majority of the Filipino people, is a victim of social injustice and I hope that he gets the freedom he truly deserve and continue his quest for a more humane and just society.

Free Juanito Itaas and all Political Prisoners!
Uphold Human Rights!