Cross Postings

Boulder

2010-04-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

News from Feedzilla

2009-09-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

RSS widgets and RSS news feeds - Feedzilla.com

Daddy's Car

2009-06-30T00:39:00.001-07:00

Daddy’s Car
By Raymond Nestor Alfonso Virata

Above is something I drew
which I fondly remember.
It was a car which you drew
Back when I was a toddler.

I was amazed how
your picture made me happy,
especially when you
made it for me, daddy.

Since then I have learned
to draw on my own.
Cars, heroes or anything
my mind has sown.

There are times that
I could scribble on for days,
even making stories
while in my PJs.

I always sketched and etched
as I grew older.
You’d find my drawings on
my notebook corners.

If you have been wondering
on how my day went,
I was probably
drawing up a present.

Though I became a researcher,
computer guy and writer,
I always drew and wound up
as a graphic designer.

Though I never shared
your passion for golf as a sport,
you were always with me
and have given me support.

I share your quietness,
love for boxing and basketball,
but inspiring me to draw is
the greatest gift of all.

The Tech Outlook in 2009

2008-12-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, December 2008)

With the economy taking a big hit in 2008, what lies ahead for tech companies and the consumer? I asked three experts, Tim Bajarin, Silicon Valley tech-guru and head of Creative Strategies, Inc., and Abe Olandres (Yugatech and Pinoy Tech Blog) and Jayvee Fernandez (cellphone9.com) from the Philippines, on their insights for 2009.

The Domino Effect
According to Bajarin, “A downturn in the economy will have a domino effect on all products including tech related ones. As of now, we see U.S. sales of computers will go down as much as 13 percent in 2009, although world wide computer sales will be flat.”

“We don’t see consumers or business users jumping back into buying PCs in large numbers again until they are convinced the economy is stable, credit is available and their own jobs are secure. As you can imagine, those who lost their jobs in most cases are not considering purchasing houses, cars or even a PC anytime soon.”

“As for tech companies, the big companies like HP, Dell, IBM, Lenovo, Intel, Acer/Gateway, etc. are OK since they are multinationals and can weather even this severe downturn. However, they too will be hit when it comes to profits so they could have some difficult quarters ahead.

“But in the long term, it is important to remember that technology is what keeps enterprises going and helps them reduce costs. For consumers, PCs, cell phones and the like, are now totally integrated into their digital lifestyles and once the economy bounces back, tech products will be some of the first things they buy.”

Olandres adds, “During an economic crisis, consumers tend to go for extremes—either they hold up on any new purchases and go for the cheapest/most basic ones or they’d save up and go for the high-end stuff in one go. The in-betweens tend to get left behind. This will hold true for mobile phones and laptops among others.”

New Tech
Asus’ launch of the eee PC in 2007 and the One Laptop per Child program created a new PC category, the netbook, affordably priced and net ready laptops.

“The hottest product to watch is Netbooks. This one has the potential of really impacting the world of mobile, especially if these small, lightweight laptops get a GSM wireless radio in them so they can get connected to the Internet anytime and anywhere they happen to be,” says Bajarin.

“Netbooks will overtake sales of regular laptops, primarily because of their low cost, the massive competition and the introduction of better and faster processors,” says Olandres.

Cities such as San Francisco and Philadelphia pursued citywide free wi-fi networks in recent years. In San Francisco, when Google and Earthlink failed to come up with a deal acceptable to the city, startup Meraki stepped up to plate. In Philadelphia, a deal between the city and Earthlink to transfer the large scale urban network to city ownership fell through which led a new company, Wireless Philadelphia, to manage the system already in place.

In the Philippines, Metro Manila will attempt a cities-wide network with Wi-Max (a longer range system compared to wi-fi). “Been hearing rumors about plans for metro wide Wi-Max. It could be the next big thing in the Philippines in 2009. It will not kill 3G but it could push the bandwidth speeds higher and the cost lower,” says Olandres. 3G networks allow users a wider range of services on their phones, such as video and broadband wireless data.

In recent years, cellphones have evolved beyond the telephony, incorporating the Internet, and other technologies; stand-alone versions will therefore be rendered obsolete. According to wired.com article, “Five Gadgets That Were Killed by the Cellphone,” by Charlie Sorrel, the products that were affected were: 1) the PDA (personal digital assistant, because of the cellphone’s ability to quickly dial a number from its address book); 2) the digital camera (the entry level snapshot cameras, because of the cellphone’s ability to quickly send pictures over the internet, the digital SLR for professional and aspiring photographers are safe for now); 3) the Ultra Mobile PC (or a compact PC, because the Blackberry and iPhones are actually computers with phone capability); 4) the landline phone (besides limiting the owner to a single location, the landline phone couldn’t compete with cell phones in terms of technology growth); and 5) the MP3 player (phones now carry tunes and videos).

“Smart phones will be an important growth market. We believe that by 2012, 65 percent of all cell phones sold in the U.S. will be in the smart phone category and all of these will have real Web browsers on them so that people can connect to the Internet on these smarter phones,” says Bajarin.

“For 2009 we’re going to be experiencing a significant upsurge in mobile phone content. With mobile phones having a higher click through rate and data plans getting more affordable and relatively more efficient, the inevitable new space will be significant content delivery through your phone,” says Fernandez.

Olandres sees higher 3G speeds, around 3.6 to 7.2 Mbps before next year ends. “[Philippine-based companies] Sun Cellular and Smart Bro are already offering unlimited 3G plans (Php 1,500) today while very few countries in the world offer the same. We could be seeing Internet connectivity increase rapidly in 12 months.”

The Eyeball Connection
Despite the slowdown of the economy, marketers will adapt to promote their products, so online advertising will be important. Fernandez says “In terms of the advertising industry, 2008 was the year of “proof of concept” for online advertising. 2009 will be more exciting as it will involve more online campaigns not just in the form of ads but more on word-of-mouth marketing through blogs. Advertising budgets have been cut and since we can’t compare ‘print dollars to Internet cents,’ it makes a lot of sense to go online.”—Raymond Virata

2008-09 Filpinas League Draft Lottery

2008-10-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Raymond, Apple and Jinx to commence drawing.

Here are the results of the 2008-09 Filipinas Fantasy League Draft Lottery (Oct. 14, 2008). Commissioner Raymond Virata, Jinx Macabenta and Apple Atienza present as witnesses.

The draft order for the Oct. 23, 2008 (Thursday) live online draft (8 PM) will be:

1) Daly City Barrelmen
2) Bronze Estate Towelboy
3) Sex Panthers
4) Genie Birds
5) Runnerups
6) Hayabusa
7) Dublin Broncos
8) Sam Bowie All-Stars
9) Pandacan Giants
10) D' Chosen Dozen
11) Master Shake
12) Budja Ballers

The number one pick, drawn by both Jinx and Apple.

Apple with the final results

Good luck to everyone on draft day!

Dark Knight still going strong

2008-08-10T20:04:00.001-07:00

"The Dark Knight" ($26M) edged out "Pineapple Express" ($22M) to take the number one spot at the box office again. TDK has earned $441M so far to become the third best grossing film of all time, right behind Star Wars and Titanic.

Oh, Heath Ledger! Why did you die so young? Will Ferrell and Seth Rogen must plotting revenge now that Batman ruined their plans to reach number one on their opening weekends.

The X-Men move to San Francisco

2008-07-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

In Uncanny X-Men 500, the merry band of mutants have moved from the Xavier School of Gifted Mutants in Westchester, New York to their new environmentally friendly X-Center in the Marin Headlands, just north up the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. It makes sense for outcast team to move to place of tolerance, liberalism and diversity. San Francisco doesn't have the skyscrapers of New York but none of mutants need to swing across buildings like Spider-man, Daredevil or Batman.

This is the second superteam to headquarter in the Bay Area, the first being DC's Teen Titans. Star Trek's Star Fleet Headquarters is also located in San Francisco.

The comic powers-that-be are moving away from New York as a base of operations. Besides the X-Men, the Marvel Universe was centered in the Big Apple. The Avengers Mansion and the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building were located in New York. DC's New Teen Titans had their original Titans Tower in New York. Outside the city that never sleeps, the Avengers formerly had a West Coast division which stayed in a villa outside Los Angeles, and the current Justice League has its Hall of Justice in Washington, D.C.

New lead singers in old bands

2008-06-21T23:42:00.000-07:00

Hmm. After Arnel Pineda was discovered by Journey on Youtube to become their new lead singer, Boston finds new frontman Tommy De Carlo on Myspace.

Web auditions are becoming common. Gives old bands instant access without the hoopla of holding live auditions or launching a reality show. Check out Rockstar:INXS.

Rockstar:INXS selected a new singer on a reality show. The selection of JD Fortune over Marty Casey showed that old bands won't invest in someone who will alter their "sound." Fortune proved that he can sing anything on their old albums despite being the lightning rod on the show.

Are there still bands out there that need a new lead singer? Youtube wannabes are now lining up after Pineda's success.

Van Halen and David Roth just reunited, so there's no need there. The remaining members of girl group TLC, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, had a reality show "R U The Girl" but claimed that the winner will not replace Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who died in a car accident. The Pussycat Dolls also had their reality show for a new "Doll" but the contest's winner went on a solo career instead. Queen collaborated with Paul Rodgers as lead singer but said he's not replacing Freddy Mercury, their act is called "Queen + Paul Rodgers." Reggae band UB40 replaced Ali Campbell with... his brother Duncan.

Viral Video Stars

2008-06-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, June 2008)

YouTube can make a celebrity out of anyone these days. The new Journey front man, Arnel Pineda (Filipinas, April 2008), was discovered by band founder Neal Schon on YouTube, where videos of Arnel and his band, Zoo, doing spot-on renditions of the Journey’s famous hits are posted.

Aspiring actress Christine Gambino was able to parlay her talents and creativity into the worldwide web wonder Happy Slip.com, where she spoofs her parents’ Filipino mannerisms or shares a home-written tune. Filipinos love to perform and YouTube has brought them to a larger audience.

Other Filipino talents have found their way to YouTube. Among them:

Charice Pempengco

The little girl with the big voice made it big time on “Ellen” and “Oprah.” Charice Pempengco, a runner-up in ABS-CBN’s “Little Big Star” contest, was already making the rounds on YouTube, being compared to “America’s Got Talent” winner Bianca Ryan. This exposure got the attention of a recording company in Sweden and a talent show called “Star King” in Seoul, South Korea. It was her performance on “Star King” which was featured on Ellen De Generes’ show. After a successful performance on “Ellen” in Los Angeles, the 15-year old belter was brought by renowned composer David Foster to watch Celine Dion in Las Vegas. Foster also introduced Pempengco to Oprah Winfrey, who featured her last May 12 as part of her “World’s Smartest Kids” segment.

Madonna Decena

Working single mom Madonna Decena grabbed the spotlight in “Britain’s Got Talent” with her soulful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” What touched the British judges was her heart-wrenching story: she needs more work so she can support her two daughters who live in the Philippines.

Decena has been singing professionally since she was 16. She has joined competitions and had been part of several bands and musical theater groups such as Audie Gemora’s Trumpets and Celeste Legaspi’s Musical Theater Philippines. Financial difficulties forced her to seek work in the U.K. After landing a job to secure a work visa, Madonna joined the popular British talent show to widen her range of opportunities.

By the time this issue comes out, “Britain’s Got Talent” would have named a champion already. Win or lose, Madonna has already won the hearts of many.

Charlie Green

Competing with Decena for the May 24 cutoff on “Britain’s Got Talent” is 10-year old, Droitwich, Worcestershire-based Charlie Green who charmed the audience with his upbeat rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind.” British celebrity judge Amanda Holden has declared that Green may be the odds-on favorite to win the contest.

The young singer was raised by his dad, Roger Green, a professional singer with the Black and White Minstrels, and his Filipina mom, Cecilia Sumargo, who hails from Cebu. Because his father is a performer, Charlie picked up the skill quite easily. He has performed classics and standards at different venues around the U.K.

Rex Hermogino

Winner of the first Yahoo! Talent Show, San Diego transplant Rex Hermogino has had a love for music even as a young boy. The Zambales-born graphic designer comes from a family of musicians which provided him exposure to many different styles. After his family migrated to Guam when he was seven, he has been part of the music scene there, whether as a member of the drum and bugle corps in elementary school, being in a jazz band in high school or being a student DJ in college at the University of Guam. In high school, his volunteer work at the Guam Youth Center of Music recording studio exposed him to sound engineering and use of computers with music. Aside from performing, he writes his own music.

In the Yahoo! Talent Show, an online video contest that aims to discover the newest hot talent, Hermogino won over judges Tom Green, Maria Sansone, the Ninja from Ask a Ninja.com, and thousands of online voters. Recently, he also won a user-generated video contest sponsored by scooter manufacturer Vespa.

Lica De Guzman

In the tiny alpine country of Switzer-land, music prodigy Lica De Guzman has gained quite a following not only from the Filipino community but from government officials as well. Her May 2007 performance of “Prendre un enfant par la main (Take a child by the hand)” on national TV was seen by former Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey. Her immigrant-worker parents, Nicanor and Joy, upon discovering that Lica has a talent for singing, enrolled her in music school at the age of four. At age seven, Lica began singing at school and community events where an executive of Television Suisse Romande (TSR) saw her and invited her to sing on television. Her latest performance was at the United Nations’ Women’s Guild Bazaar. Lica is awaiting the release of her first album.—Raymond Virata

Celebrating our Asian Links

2008-06-21T15:51:00.001-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, May 2008)

This month, Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. The commemoration began when Congress passed a joint resolution in 1978 to recognize Asian American Heritage Week on the first week of May each year. The date coincides with the anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by many Chinese workers on May 10, 1869. It was later expanded from one week to the entire month of May.

Recognizing our heritage and racial background, and coming together as a group opens many opportunities for us. Together we can initiate political action on issues affecting us, such as racism, hate crimes and affirmative action. We can also establish ourselves as a powerful buying bloc to marketers for their products and promotional campaigns, since there are 13 million Asian Pacific Islanders in the U.S. today, according to the last census.

But before we rally for our “Asian Pacific Islander-ness,” we have to create awareness about us within the [APA] community. If you go to an Asian Pacific Islander event, you’ll find a lot of Chinese, Japanese or Koreans, but hardly any Filipinos. My boss and co-worker came from the Asian American Advertising Federation conference and they were disappointed that there wasn’t much talk or information on the Filipino market. I was talking to a friend who deals with Asian American clients about the demise of AZN, a cable channel targeting Asians in general. He said “Asians still stick to their own groups, Filipinos will look for Filipino shows, same goes with the Chinese and Koreans. We all look the same but we’re really culturally different.”

Ironically, in the Philippines, [Filipinos] sing karaoke, watch Korean and Chinese telenovelas and raged about the boy band sensation F4 (my Asian classmates, Taiwanese, Indonesian and Japanese, all know about them and their soap opera “Meteor Garden”). But in the U.S, we Filipinos look for our own songs, food, entertainment and news from back home.

To get a better understanding of our expanded community with our fellow Asians and Pacific Islanders, check out the following sites:

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
http://www.aaldef.org
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a New York-based organization that protects the civil liberties of Asian Americans. Besides taking on legal cases affecting the Asian American community, AALDEF provides legal resources and organizes community efforts.

Their website is simple to navigate and well designed, using bold and warm colors of red and yellow, which are commonly associated with the Asian community. It has links to issues affecting the community such as the 9/11 disaster response, immigration rights and the anti-Asian bias.

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
http://www.apalaweb.org
Founded in 1980, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) was created to address the specific needs of Asian and Pacific Islander American librarians and their communities.

Their link to “APA Resources” is a great tool to hook up with different Asian Pacific organizations, such as the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance for equal opportunity concerns or the Center of Asian American Media for independent film funding.

Hyphen Magazine
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com
Hyphen Magazine is an Asian American news and cultural quarterly based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The hip nonprofit magazine is run completely by volunteers.
Its website is an elegantly designed online magazine index and blog presenting its young and on-the-go audience a forum for issues facing the Asian American community.

8 Asians
http://www.8asians.com
8 Asians is a group blog by Asian American and Asian Canadian writers. Though the group admits their members don’t have much in common, they can explore from different points of view issues affecting Asians living in America. The blog’s audience is similar to Hyphen Magazine’s.

The blog is an interesting forum laid out in an easy-to-use interface with a comment bar, links, and activity widget on the right hand side. This site is more engaging because it allows you direct feedback with the author’s posts.

Gay Asian Pacific Alliance
http://www.gapa.org
The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) is a San Francisco-based support and awareness group for the gay and bi-sexual Asian community.

The website is a news and events ar-chive for the groups activities, such as the Mr. and Miss GAPA pageant and GAPA 35 Plus Dinner Meetings for the not-so-young. It also hosts the organization’s newsletter, creatively titled “Lavender Godzilla.”

Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV and AIDS
http://www.apicha.org
The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV and AIDS (APICHA) is a non-profit organization offering services such as education and research dealing with HIV/AIDS within the API community in New York City.

Their site is intimately designed using warm floral graphics and hand written text to get you to explore the other links on the site. It also has a Quicktime public service announcement presenting day-in-the-life situations highlighting concerns of being gay and Asian.

If you would like to recommend a website which Filipinos would find interesting, contact Raymond Virata at r.virata@filipinasmag.com

Earth Matters

2008-04-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, April 2008)

It’s Earth Day, April 22, and it’s a good time to get more involved in saving our planet.

Here are some sites to check out if you want to focus on Philippine environmental issues:

Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity (www.facessolidarity.org)
Founded in February 2000, the Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity (FACES) started as a movement of religious, environmental, activist groups and concerned citizens seeking justice for communities affected by the toxic wastes left by the U.S. military when they closed their bases in the Philippines. FACES has since expanded its concerns to address environmental justice issues which affect Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines.

Their website contains information about the organization and their programs, such as their bases clean-up campaign and Face2Face exposure trips to promote awareness and understanding. It also has a link to download the organization’s quarterly newsletter “Facing Justice.” Overall, the site has an easy-to-use interface and clean design (most sites have too much graphics going on, it’s hard to focus on what to read first).

Greenpeace Southeast Asia (www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en)
The website of the global activist group Greenpeace is a very appealing and interactive one. The images and graphics instantly bring across its message of getting involved in ecological protection.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia concentrates its efforts on protecting the region’s natural resources in the face of rapid industrialization. With the rising economic growth of the countries such as the Philippines,Taiwan, India and Indonesia, Greenpeace has to quickly expand its awareness campaigns and activities such as opposing hazardous waste and radioactive shipments and lobbying governments for sustainable energy.

Aside from news and information, the site features video and animated slide shows on Greenpeace’s activities such as the focus on electronic waste management and the protest against the Masinloc coal power plant in the Philippines.

The Haribon Foundation (www.haribon.org.ph)
The Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources’ mission is to preserve the Philippines’ biodiversity. Its colorful website provides information on the foundation’s programs and events, such as Haribon’s 35th Year Million Hectare Walk fundraiser for the preservation of rainforests and Haribon Coinbank Campaign. The site also has interesting articles on the unique flora and fauna of the Philippines, such as the giant flower Raffesia Mira, the tamaraw and the Mindoro flying fox.

Coral Cay Conservation Expeditions (www.coralcay.org)
Founded in 1986, The London-based Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) is a nonprofit conservation group that embarks on expeditions to collect scientific data for habitat maps and management recommendations. CCC runs coral reef expeditions in Tobago and the Philippines and also conducts forest expeditions to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Like most environmental websites, Coral Cay presents the beauty of the world it tries to protect through comprehensive articles and vivid multimedia shows.

Bantay Kalikasan (www.bantaykalikasan.com)
Started in 1998, Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) is a media-based initiative of the ABS-CBN Foundation. It was launched to create awareness of the Philippines’ deteriorating environment brought about by pollution, deforestation and inadequate waste management. The program has undertaken six projects, Save the La Mesa Watershed Project, the BK Environmental Hotline, Bantay Baterya (Battery Watch), Bantay Langis (Oil Watch) and H2Hope. The Flash-based site is an interactive brochure on community conservation efforts.

Earth-friendly trivia: Filipinas Magazine is made on paper with a minimum of 10% recycled post-consumer content and is printed with newly developed agri-inks.

The "In" Crowd

2008-04-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, March 2008)

Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Hi5 and all their clones—you just can’t escape social networking sites. A quick search shows that Friendster has 60 million users, Facebook has 62 million, Hi5 has 98 million and MySpace has 224 million.

The need to find and connect with old friends and family has become an epidemic. It started as an “in” thing for the youth to “hang out” in cyberspace with their peers. Facebook initially targeted school friends but evolved into a social network.

The older generation, initially averse to the idea because of privacy concerns, have now embraced the technology and are seeking friends from former jobs or schoolmates. With any new trend, Filipinos are quick to jump on the bandwagon. Like fashion, gossip, cellphones and digital cameras, social networks are now “in.”

According to Jennifer Woodard Maderazo’s article “Orkut, Friendster Gets a Second Chance Overseas,” the first Filipino Friendster user was Carmen Leilani De Jesus, a San Francisco marketing consultant and hypnotist. She was found by Friendster’s Director of Engineering Chris Hunt, who wondered why Friendster’s usage was high at night. Turned out the traffic was coming from the other side of the world—the Philippines. Lunt was able to trace it to De Jesus.

Friendster arrived in 2003 but was overtaken in the U.S. by MySpace. MySpace attracted more customers because it was more user-friendly, the site can accommodate more pictures and can be customized to the user’s tastes due to third party applications which provide graphics and codes.

Though MySpace has trumped Friendster, the latter is still popular with Filipinos in the Philippines (10 million users). Why such lasting popularity?

Maderazo asked prominent blogger Abe Olandres, who attributes it to “being first.” Since Friendster was their first social networking site and they’ve connected with a lot of their friends, they choose to stay.

Maybe accessibility is also a factor. Internet access is not as widespread or affordable in the Philippines as here in the U.S., therefore, Filipinos don’t stay as connected as their overseas counterparts. Setting up an online social network takes time.

According to Maderazo’s article, De Jesus believes it’s in “our culture of ‘friends helping friends’ and who-you-know is a more valuable currency than money.”

Social networking sites are slowly replacing e-mail as a form of communication, Richard Piamonte, a computer programmer from Vancouver, British Columbia hates receiving e-mails. Christine Paranpan, a caregiver from Daly City, is on Friendster most of the time; she corresponds with friends on the site itself rather than through traditional e-mail sites.

Like Friendster users Piamonte and Paranpan, Abby Cruz of Las Piñas, Philippines, is content with the site that offers them the capability to connect with more Filipino friends. They feel the other sites are too “Caucasian.” They maintain two other sites but would probably not join another because it takes a lot of effort to build their networks.

Despite the popularity of these social networking sites, their novelty seems to be wearing off. According to the BusinessWeek Online article “Generation MySpace Is Getting Fed Up” by Spencer E. Ante and Catherine Holahan, users are getting turned off by the ads and find the profile pages boring. The average time users spend on these sites dropped 14 percent over the last four months. Only four out of 10,000 users who see online ads on these sites click on them.

According to Piamonte “They probably read the ad but they don’t click on it because they are looking at another area of the site. I think [another] funny phenomenon happening now is people are creating fake sites.”

Paranpan complains that the proliferation of fake profiles is discouraging. “It destroys your image, people pretend they are you, grab your picture, then your friends get mad when they find out it’s not you.”

Despite the slowdown, users will still turn to their networks for recommendations, according to Marketing Vox’s online article “Social Network Users Becoming Immune to Ads.” Pointing to a study from Compete, Inc., besides meeting people (78 percent), users visit social networking sites for entertainment (47 percent), information (38 percent) and to influence others (23 percent).—Raymond Virata

Olympic Torch Run in San Francisco

2008-04-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Olympic Torch run made its way to San Francisco, the only city on its North American stop, due to the large Chinese community here. The torch run was a magnet for human rights protests in London and Paris, where aggressive activists tried to steal the torch or extinguish the flame. San Francisco is no stranger to protests, being a melting pot for activists' causes.

The Chinese were proud to have the Olympics in their country, even expatriates who left the country to seek better opportunities here.

There were lot of protesters, a lot of signs, banners, Tibetan flags, every slogan you can think of to show anger and disgust toward the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Supporters and protesters clashed head-on in a war of words.

"Do you know where Tibet is? Show me on the map where Tibet is" asked a supporter.

Tibetans shouted "China is a liar! China kill people!"

Though barricades where put up, I noticed there weren't a lot of cops and people started walking into the streets. Red flag for crowd control.

After a large group of protesters walked by, we thought the city called it off. We found out from a friend that the city pulled off a surprise route and brought the torch across the city toward the Golden Gate bridge. It was there they made the relay with dozens of volunteers.

Wondercon 2008

2008-02-24T13:05:00.001-08:00

"Ako po si Travis Kraft, at nandito tayo sa kusina ko..."

Creator J. Scott Campbell and me.

The Temples of the Techno-gurus

2008-02-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, February, 2008)

Industry analyst Tim Bajarin at his office at Creative Strategies, Inc.

Filipinos are such tech heads that they are always carrying the latest cellphone and digital camera models.The digital lifestyle spawned a tsunami of websites dedicated to the tech world.

Yuga Tech
(www.yugatech.com)
Though this site was mentioned before (Filipinas, March 2007), you cannot have an article about Filipino technology blogs without Abe Olandres’ yugatech.com.

Olandres is a tireless blogger, well-known organizer and technology advocate. A netrepreneur who also owns plogHost, he also co-founded the Philippine Blog Awards.

Because of Olandres’ popularity, yugatech.com has grown into a portal which simplifies topics and links before you jump into Olandres’ world. The blog is a plethora of Filipino technology news and nitpicks. A Google search done on any Pinoy-related topic leads one to Yugatech. By using Wordpress, Yuga (Olandres’s nickname) manages to keep his blog easy to access. Other multi-post blogs suffer from overdesign, meaning there are too many links, icons and Internet tool goodies (such as counters, search bars and ad links for the blogger to make money from posting something s/he loves).

Cell Phone 9
(www.cellphone9.com)
Cell Phone 9 by Jayvee Fernandez chronicles our fascination with wireless technology. Besides reviewing the latest cell phones from famous brands like Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericcson and Blackberry (including imitations, such as the Nokla), the blog also talks about peripheral technology, such as digital cameras, laptops, software for mobile devices, and accessories for your cell phones (cute leather bags for your cell phone?). The blog also covers hobbies that tech heads may be into, such as video games.

The site itself is well organized and cleanly designed (very minimalist). Each post is tagged for easy referencing. Post categories and links can be easily accessed on the right hand side. However, as the category list gets longer, the author should sub-categorize or someone should invent an easy “go-to scroll” function.

Leon Kilat: Cybercafe Experiments
(max.limpag.com)
Winner of the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards’ best technology blog, Leon Kilat has a personal style in its posts. The author, Max Limpag, gives a first hand experience on how to use a Sony Ericcson K850i phone or using DocSyncer with Microsoft Office and Google documents. Limpag, a copy editor for Sun Star Cebu, blogs with a tactile feel.

The links are simple, not over-categorized. If you need to find something, just use the search bar.

Pinoy.Tech.Blog
(www.pinoytechblog.com)
Pinoy.Tech.Blog is a group-managed technology blog led by Abe Olandres. Group-managed blogs ensure a continuous on-topic flow of information without having to rely on an individual for content. Team members just jump in and post. The site also features prominent bloggers, such as Germany’s AnP of pinoyexpats.org and Anton Diaz of “Our Awesome Planet” (anton.blogs.com).

The blog has a more manageable categories link than those on personal blogs, which tend to go overboard with dozens of links. It also has a forum for visitors to post reactions or connect with each other. This blog feels more like website than a blog.

Technology Outlook for the Year
Before you, young bloggers, claim to have invented the Internet, give thanks to Silicon Valley guru Tim Bajarin (Filipinas, May 2005), a Fil-Am industry analyst whose advice is sought by every major computer company, including AMD, Apple, Dell, Intel and HP. Bajarin’s efforts spawned the laptop technology that enables you to create your blogs. I visited his office in Campbell, California once and his receiving area is like a museum. He writes regularly for Technology Pundits (www.technologypundits.com) and PC Magazine. Here is his list of predictions for 2008 (for more details, visit http://www.technologypundits.com/index.php?article_id=462 or http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2241562,00.asp):

1. Smart phones get smarter and gain market share (the iPhone and new competitors get “more processing power, better functionality and connections to more wireless networks”).

2. Flash-based laptops arrive (the column was posted at the end of last year and the ASUS eee and Macbook Air have been launched recently).

3. The introduction of the “basic PC” (to create affordable computers such as the XO-1 laptop and ASUS eee).

4. Social networks are targeted by botnets (your Myspace and Facebook accounts will be at further risk to identity thieves).

5. Smart phones become targets of viruses and identity thieves (the existence of malware for the iPhone was made public last month).

6. Social networks catch on with corporate users (LinkedIn is the Facebook of career networkers, both sites will “attract more corporate users”).

7. Little screens get video (more video content for your cell phone “media snacking”).

8. Corporate IT and users demand green PCs (saves companies money, helps the environment).

9. Apple will gain significant new market share (Apple has grown beyond the Mac and have launched the iPod and iPhone. It dropped “Computer” from its corporate name last year. Vendors will probably include more Apple products on their shelves).

10. Tech spending in the U.S. could slow down because of “economic concerns tied to the mortgage crisis and a potential crisis related to credit card lending”.

If you have a website that would interest Filipinos, please send the links to r.virata@filipinasmag.com.

I would like to thank Photoshop for my makeup

2008-01-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

(Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, January 2008)
Filipinos love contests and awards. In the Philippines, there are many award shows dedicated to film and television, such as the FAMAS, Star Awards, Film Academy Awards and the Urian Awards. In most towns in the Philippines or among Pinoy expat community organizations, a beauty contest is common.

Despite its relatively recent introduction to the World Wide Web, the Philippines already has three award-giving bodies for web designers and bloggers: the Philippine Web Awards, the Philippine Blog Awards and the Digital Filipino Web Awards.

Each award roster is well segregated, giving due recognition to web sites and blogs that affect every facet of our lifestyle (or just to make everybody happy or else someone will complain). The more obvious categories are best art, lifestyle, or business, then you get to the hair-splitting categories such as best LGU (local government unit) or best SME (small or medium enterprise). These awards celebrate the amazing diversity and creativity of our online Filipinos.

The Philippine Web Awards
www.philippinewebawards.com
For the past 10 years, Media G8way Corp., publisher of PC World Philippines and Computerworld Philippines, paved the way for Filipino websites through its Philippine Web Awards, a homegrown version of the American Webby Awards.

The 10th Philippine Web Awards, held November 23, 2007 in Greenhills, had 69 finalists in 15 categories. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Arts and Portfolio: Kestrel DDM (www.kestrelddm.com)
• Blogs: Touched by An Angel (www.aboutmyrecovery.com)
• Celebrities and Personalities: Daniel Razon Official Site (www.danielrazon.com)
• Community and Portal: e-yellowpages (www.eyp.ph)
• Corporate: Ayala Land International Sales, Inc. (www.atayala.com)
• E-Commerce: PinoyDVD (www.pinoydvd.biz)
• E-LGUs - City: Marikina City Government (www.marikina.gov.ph)
• Lifestyle and Leisure: levelupgames (www.levelupgames.ph)
• News and Media: UNTV official website (www.untvweb.com)

The Philippine Blog Awards
www.philippineblogawards.com.ph
While the Philippine Web Awards honors the establishment, the Philippine Blog Awards honors the personal. The Filipino voice has grown quite loud in the blogosphere where everyone can publish their own content and opinion without having to sell anything.

The Blog Awards was created in 2006 and was spearheaded by online practitioners Abe Olandres of Yugatech.com, Gail de la Cruz-Villanueva of kutitots.com and Jayvee Fernandez of abuggedlife.com.

The first Blog Awards were held last March 31, 2007 at the RCBC Plaza Auditorium in Makati City, Philippines. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Best Personal Blog: Misteryosa (www.misteryosa.com)
• Best Home & Living Blog: Wifely Steps (www.toni.marikit.net)
• Best Socio-Political Blog: Philippine Commentary (philippinecommentary. blogspot.com)
• Best News & Media Blog: Inside PCIJ (www.pcij.org/blog)
• Best Fashion & Lifestyle Blog: Bryanboy: Le Superstar Fabuleux (www.bryanboy.com)
• Podcast of the Year: HappySlip (www.happyslip.com)
• Best Entertainment Blog: Retzwerx (www.retzwerx.com)
• Best Sports & Recreation Blog: Who rides a Vespa? (myvespa.wordpress.com)
• Best Travel Blog: Ivan About Town (ivanhenares.blogspot.com)
• PhotoBlog of the Year: Señor Enrique: Wish You Were Here (senorenrique.blogspot.com)

DigitalFilipino.com Web Awards
www.digitalfilipino.com
The DigitalFilipino.com Web Awards, headed by web industry expert Janette Toral and done in collaboration with the APEC Digital Opportunity (ADOC) Award program, highlights and promotes the development of e-commerce in the Philippines.
Its first awards were given last April 27, 2007 in Makati City. Here is a partial list of the winners:

• Apparel / Fashion Category: Kamiseta (www.kamiseta.com)
• Art Category: Canvas (www.canvas.ph)
• Auction / Shopping Portal Category: MyAyala (www.myayala.com)
• Automotive Category: Ford Philippines (www.ford.com.ph)
• Beauty Category: FemaleNetwork (www.femalenetwork.com)
• Blog - Professional Category: Manuel Viloria (www.manuelviloria.com)
• Books Category: Booktopia (www.booktopia.com.ph)
• Education Category: De La Salle University - Manila (www.dlsu.edu.ph)
• Food Category: Bulacan Sweets and Delicacies Center (www.bulacansweets.com)
• Games Category: Philippine R.O.S.E. Online (www.roseonline.ph)
• Gifts Category: RegaloService (www.regaloservice.com)
• Government Category: Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines (www.gov.ph)
• Home Furnishings Category: Cebu Rattan Company (www.ceburattan.com)
• Insurance Category: Sun Life Financial (www.sunlife.com.ph)
• Music / Movie/ Film Category: PhilMusic (www.philmusic.com)
• Politics Category: Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (www.nenepimentel.org)
• Services Category: Chikka (www.chikka.com)
• Social Networking Category: Itzamatch (www.itzamatch.com)
• Travel Category: Lakbay Pilipinas (www.lakbaypilipinas.com)

If you have a website that would interest Filipinos, please send the links to r.virata@filipinasmag.com.

Bowling fer Souls!

2007-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, ace Maya technical director Tim Coleman finally put this thing up. I was one of the students who worked on this. I don't know what I did here. The hands in my demo reel were made by Tim. This short won a big Kahuna Award at the 3D CG festival in San Jose back in 1999. Great working with ya, Tim!

James Kyson Lee and Yul Kwon

2007-12-07T09:54:00.001-08:00

My friend Jinx invited me to a Warriors vs. Bucks game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. It was Asian Pacific American night so his organization APA5 was there. Among its board is James Kyson Lee (Ando) of Heroes and Yul Kwon the Winner of Survivor: Fiji Islands. I also got to meet Jinx's friend, former Cincinnati Reds player Sam Taylor.

Juan Tulisan

2007-12-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

More stuff from years ago waiting to be shown! Youtube is like DVD extras. Stuff that wouldn't make it in the mainstream theaters would find it's way out. Thanks Youtube for championing the ordinary joe who doesn't have a multimillion budget!

A Macromedia Flash student project at the Academy of Art College (now University). Originally conceived as a narrative told in 12 chapters of a band of misfits fighting during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. It is an alternate universe story, characters are all fictional but placed alongside actual history. I only finished 4 chapters but I will probably rewrite this for video. The video you see here is converted from Flash so don't mind the "back" buttons. Story, characters, and flash animation by Raymond Virata. Music by Calpomatt. 2001

Sankai Juku

2007-12-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

More animation, motion graphics and old student projects!

A Macromedia Director student project at the Academy of Art College (now University). One of our assignments was to take apart a graphic, print ad or book cover and recreate in another medium. I found this print ad campaign for Sankai Juku in one of the advertising One Show books. I didn't understand japanese but the graphic was stunning with single titles and images of monks set across a black background. Even if I don't know the language, I just arranged the graphics to give this zen-like feel. Just recently, I found out that Sankai Juku is an internationally known Butoh dance troupe. Unetsu, Shijima and all the other captions you find here are names of their performances. Art direction and editing by Raymond Virata. The song "Vide Cor Meum" was composed by Patrick Cassidy, performed by Libera / Lyndhurst Orchestrathe, conducted by Gavin Greenaway and sung by Danielle de Niese and Bruno Lazzaretti. 2003.

Homepage Hits

2007-12-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, Dec. 2007)

In case you’re wondering how we choose our recommended sites every month, here are the things I consider.

Subject
Your site has to be unique and interesting to Filipinos. Most of our sites have something to do with Filipino culture. Travel, history, food and Filipino businesses are common sites I review.

Design
The prettier, the better. Eye catching, well designed sites will get you noticed. It’s not necessary to have Flash animation; it depends on your theme. Though Flash gives a wow factor to your site, it may be too heavy for computers that are older or
have a slow connection. The I-Phone cannot read Flash yet. Bring out all the bells and whistles to enhance appeal but use in moderation; surfers are interested in getting info. Don’t “overdesign” your site by placing too many graphics and animation (just visit the MySpace pages of some young people as examples of bad design).

Information
I always look at how much info that you have, how “complete” your site is and how useful it is. A lot of sites have beautiful home pages, but their content pages are always “under construction.” These sites just establish your presence, but people won’t come back if you have nothing there. A treasure chest of information (not just retyping whole books, or getting long winded) will make surfers come back for more or make them refer your site to others. Edit your info to make it brief and concise, web people have short attention spans.

Organization
Make sure it’s easy to navigate around your site. The links have to be intuitive (idiot-proof) and easy to find on your page. You have to be “anal” about providing links—the more, the better—but check your links once in a while for “cob-web” sites (links that don’t work anymore).

Sites for December

Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center (www.mdafilm.com)
The Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Insti-tute and Arts Center is founded by acclaimed Filipino director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. With the advent of digital production and internet video, the institute aims to provide the proper skills and training to the budding filmmaker. Among its esteemed faculty are celebrated directors Mark Meily and Raymond Red, and actors Johnny Del-gado and Nonong Buencamino.

The site’s overall visual design is beautiful, combining the strobe effect of rolling film and a warm, eastern aesthetic as the visual handle for the opening animation and menu bar. The info and extensive photo gallery provided gives you an insider’s look on what’s it like to be at the institute. Sample videos show you the caliber of the students attending.

The Law Offices of Carl Shusterman (http://www.shusterman.com)
To me, the website of the Law Offices of Carl Shusterman is the best source of info for those wanting to immigrate to the United States. The site is pretty average on the design, but it’s the wealth of information and up-to-date news postings that makes it a must in your browser’s bookmarks (my lawyer and friends recommend this site). It covers everything from seeking labor sponsored immigration, to citizenship, from current news items about immigration legislation to success stories. It has links to related sites such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and posts press releases from either government offices or congress regarding immigration matters.

Though the site is a portal to the immigration legalese universe, please maintain the services of a lawyer. The website is a tool, but it won’t file your petition for you or console you when your application is rejected or pending.

Bikoy.net
An excellently designed photoblog is Victor Villanueva’s Bikoy.net. Villanueva started his blog while studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman as a B.A. Film and Audio Visual Communication student.

The organization of information is done well and is so intuitive, you don’t get lost. He has a scrapbook style going on with his graphics which make it very personal. Though he considers himself “shy” and “introverted,” his online commentaries are open for the world to see.—Raymond Virata

If you have a website that would interest Filipinos, please send the links to r.virata@filipinasmag.com.

Raymond Virata's Animation Reel

2007-11-29T23:03:00.001-08:00

My old demo reel resurrected on Youtube! I studied to be an animator years ago. I've trying to find a way to convert my stuff from S-VHS tapes to Youtube. It took a while. I had an old Pentium 3 running Windows 2000 Pro. All of the current VCR to PC converters are XP based. I was able to convert the video into DVD, then I came across Popcorn 3 which converted it to Quick time.

These are old animation exercises. Some done by hand. Some computer animated in Maya. I'm planning to upload more for your entertainment. Please pass on to animation buffs.

The song "Good Thing" is by Fine Young Cannibals. This video is for demo purposes only.

The Horseman

2007-11-29T23:02:00.001-08:00

My thesis project at the Academy of Art College (now University). This project was done in 2000. I had to convert this from S-VHS. I wanted to mix Filipino folklore and sci-fi. Thank you to everyone who helped and inspired me on this project. Hope you enjoy!

The song "Sinnerman" was performed by Nina Simone. The modeling, animation, rigging, story and editing by Raymond Virata. This video is for demo purposes only.

The Horseman: Tempest Rising

2007-11-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

This is an animation test for the character I built for my thesis project the Horseman. I built and animated the piece in Maya. This was done back in 1999 and I was able to convert my old stuff on S-VHS to web video.

Modeling, animation and rigging by Raymond Virata

"Hurricane" unleashed

2007-11-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

Celebrated amateur boxer Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton threw her hat in the pro ranks by opening a can of whoop ass on opponent Rita Valentini during the undercard fight of the Saul Roman-Kassim Ouma bout at the Morongo Casino and Resort in Cabazon, California last Nov. 2nd. Julaton pummeled Valentini to the ground twice to win the bout by unanimous decision, 40-34.

On Dec. 1, Filipino IBF World Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire defends his title against Luis Maldonado in a triple championship header in Mashantucket, Connecticut (Showtime, 9 PM ET and PT).

Being Blog Kalog

2007-11-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, November, 2007)

“Do you have a blog?” This is a common question among web-social people nowadays. A decade ago, that question would have been “do you have a website?”

As more people use the Internet or as they grow more comfortable with it, they want to establish their presence or claim a piece of personal real estate on the World Wide Web. This means having either a website, a blog (weblog or personal online journal), or an account on a social networking site like MySpace, Friendster or Facebook. Years ago, people hesitated to announce themselves on the web because of the perception that it was difficult to create a web site, or that strangers, law enforcement agencies or people they don’t want to see might find them on the Internet. As newer, user-friendly web tools come out, users can now operate on a new level of communication, reaching people beyond your geophysical boundaries to hobnob, sell, rant or just simply feed your ego.

Website or blog?
A website is a greater endeavor, because of the various levels of creation you have to deal with.

What is it for? To promote or inform? Who are you (the “about us” link)? What have you done or what can you do for us (the “gallery” or “products/services available” link)? How do we reach you (the “contact” link)?

Back in the ’90s, you had to know programming to develop your website. You had to learn HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or Java. Chances are you would have left it up to someone who knew how to make one.

Today, there are dozens of tools to create one: programs like Dreamweaver, Front Page, and online web page makers on Internet giants Yahoo! and AOL, tools for the web-rookie and the seasoned web professional.

A blog is more personal and flexible. It is more of a social mechanism while a website is a promotional tool.

When weblogs started as online diaries in 1994, many were intrigued by the technology and/or bewildered as to why anyone would write about themselves and their everyday existence. Like an acquired taste, people eventually jumped on the bandwagon after realizing that one doesn’t necessarily have to write about oneself on one’s blog but can instead use it to cater to their hobbies or interests, and connect with others of similar inclinations.

Tools like Blogger.com and Wordpress have made it easy for people to create and network with other bloggers.

Besides connecting like-minded people, blogging can spur people to action, as seen in recent incidents such as the Malu Fernandez (a Manila-based columnist) and the “Desperate Housewives” controversies where insensitive remarks where made toward Filipinos about their social class and education. Bloggers spread the word faster than the media could print or broadcast it. They were able to voice their opinions strongly and demand quick resolutions.

Photologues
This month’s recommended websites are photo blogs, online journals that meld luscious pictures with everyday musings or tales about off-the-beaten path adventures. Web surfers’ attention spans are small, so these deliciously designed blogs keep people coming back for more.

Ironwulf.net
Ironwulf.net is a travelogue built by photographer, travel writer, graphic artist, web designer, illustrator Ferdinand Decena. Started in 2000, the site was meant to be a portfolio to showcase his best works and as a training ground for his web design. As time went on, he has dedicated more space to his travelogues.

The site itself is visually appealing, designed like an old map leading to hidden treasures around the world. Decena has been around the Philippines, to places such as Zamboanga, Lake Sebu, Bohol and Batanes. He has also been to exotic locations in neighboring Asian countries such as Cambodia and Malaysia.

The layout is interesting, yet I still get lost trying to get around to his other articles. I have to scroll up and down to find the nearest link out of there. Beyond this navigation problem, one always finds a gem to look at in every link.

Decena also has a link to his flickr site for more of his pictures.

How has the feedback [to his blog] been? Decena says, “It’s been very good actually. I’m really glad when people just put in comments and email me personally that I was able to help them somehow on their travel plans or even school projects or papers. Well, of course I’m happy that people actually read my blog. LOL. But to be able to share these places and experiences with readers and for them to find them interesting and inspiring is already a reward for me.”

Rebelpixel.com
Another great photoblog is Rebelpixel.com by engineering-trained web designer Markku Seguerra. His site follows the basic blog design, making it functional and easy to use. His topics are about day-to-day, personal encounters, and social activities. Each entry has an album photo link on the right, which has thumbnails for easy previewing. He has great pictures covering Serye Cafe Filipino, a newly opened coffee shop inside Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, Philippines. He shares experiences with fellow bloggers such as a radio drama-like podcast called “Ang Buhay ni Boy.” He also includes pictures of his fellow bloggers such as his friends’ coverage of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Basketball Tournament opening.
My only beef is the tiny text in the main page; it may be efficient use of space but it doesn’t work for me.

“Rebelpixel.com was started as my personal site/blog, serving as my outlet for my creative endeavors and just about whatever interests I currently have,” says Seguerra.

“The design was developed from scratch, but the backend runs under WordPress, though heavily customized. It used to be powered by a blogging CMS I wrote a long time ago but I switched to WP so I can focus more on my content.”—Raymond Virata

Cardboard Tube Fighting League

2007-10-29T00:53:00.000-07:00

The Cardboard Tube Fighting League has come to San Francisco. It was held this Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero. A lot of people came in costume ready to live out their samurai or medieval knight fantasy by bashing a friend or stranger. The object of the tube duel is break your opponent's tube (or bending it more than 45 degrees). Stabbing or lunging is not allowed. You are supposed to hold your tube at the base only. Holding the tube in the middle is not allowed.

"Hurricane" Alert

2007-10-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ana Julaton visits the Filipinas Magazine office.

Popular Fil-Am boxer Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton turns pro and is training for her debut this coming November in Southern California. Julaton would have first unleashed her fists during the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera bout last Oct. 6 but her match was canceled when there was a weight disparity between her and her opponent Hondi Hernandez. Ana's contract was for her to fight at 122 lbs. She came in at 121 lbs. but her opponent hit the scales at 128 lbs.

During her amateur career, Julaton was the 2006 S.F. Golden Gloves champion, California State champion, Diamond Belt champion, 2007 S.F. Championships gold medalist and U.S. Championships silver medalist.

Fantasy Basketball League

2007-10-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Here are the results of the draft lottery held this Friday:
Paolo drawing who would draft number one

Buck and Paolo before drawing

Paolo and Jinx

Fantasy results

Draft order
1) Ian
2) Roy
3) Paolo
4) Buck
5) Jinx
6) Gil
7) Manuel
8) Lucho
9) Rich
10) Mat
11) Louie
12) Raymond

Filipino Flash

2007-10-09T13:53:00.001-07:00

IBF/IBO World Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire (right) visits the Filipinas Magazine office.

Donaire's stunning KO victory vs. Vic Darchinyan to take the flyweight belt. July 2007.

Riding the Wiki Wave

2007-10-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

History does not repeat itself. The historians repeat one another.
—Max Beerbohm

Without written records, our culture will be lost. We have to constantly remind the younger generation where we came from, why we dance the tinikling, why we love adobo, why we honor our older relatives, and why we always have to fight for our rights. Through written records, they will know our history and appreciate being a Filipino.

Last January, we featured the online Filipino information resources, Filipiniana.net and the Tagalog wikipedia (http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unang_Pahina), maintained by the Philippine Wikipedia Support Group. The site provides wikipedia entries in other Filipino
languages such as Cebuano, Kapampangan, Ilocano, Pangasinense, Waray-waray and Zamboangeño. It is easily accessible to students, researchers and casual fact finders who wish to look up Filipino culture and trends.

Hoping to build upon what the Philippine Wikipedia Support Group had began and “jumpstart a Philippine Knowledge Revolution,” Filipiniana.net founder Gus Vibal, webmaster Richard Grimaldo and managing editor Alfred Ursua built their own online encyclopedia augmented with a yahoo-type directory listing. Originally called “Wikipaniana,” the project became “WikiPilipinas.org.”

Like wikipedia, people can freely submit or edit entries on the online knowledge base. Its articles are considered “copyleft,” which can be freely distributed or reproduced, as opposed to copyrighted articles.

Contents on WikiPilipinas were adapted from Wikipedia but are updated. WikiPilipinas has editors, experts and contributors who provide content but anyone can change or add to entries. Right now, no one monitors submissions; people can put in anything either out of whim or for fun. For example if you go to the Philippine presidents’ page of WikiPilipinas you will see that former president Carlos P. Garcia’s picture has been replaced with that of a child (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Presidents_of_the_Philippines).

Baratillo.net blogger Ernesto Sonido, Jr. attended the launch of WikiPilipinas and noted that the site “can be addictive since, like most wikis, it is highly interactive.”

“Due to the loose way of adding and editing information on WikiPilipinas there is the danger of each entry losing its authority—in other words it loses its reliability. Any Tom, Dick or Pedro can come in and change the entry or enter a really different sort of entry. This is one of the critical differences between WikiPilipinas and its older sibling Filipiniana.net. All entries in Filipiniana.net passed through a screening process whereas a great majority of entries in WikiPilipinas didn’t.

The site goes beyond the regular encyclopedia entries and includes pop culture references such as listings of favorite Filipino movie villainesses and memorable movie lines.

“Given the amount of the data in the wiki and the category used, it would be better if the wiki’s information set be organized and individual content-specific information feed (RSS or Atom) be provided for the users,” Sonido adds.

The original wiki entries done by the Philippine Wikipedians are not to be forgotten, because these are available to the world at large. Non-Filipinos may be more familiar with the original wiki set-up and will use this to discover our culture. These wikis have also been translated into different Filipino languages as mentioned earlier.

People who wish to contribute to the original wikis can find out more from the Yahoo support group at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/philwiki/.

Online sources are an efficient way to provide information. No need to purchase an expensive encyclopedia set which contains information that will be obsolete in a few years. No need to cut down additional trees for providing book paper.

Despite the technology available to us, I hope the young and future researchers realize that unless every printed word from every book published is transcribed on the Internet, online resources are only supplementary. A few years ago, I heard my nephew doing his homework by looking up things online. I felt he wasn’t doing real work. I was initially trained as a researcher and online sources were limited then. The real research came from going to a library, making notes on paper, and leaving no stone unturned. There are still volumes of knowledge out there and already published, and not all of them are on the Internet.—Raymond Virata

One Semester of Spanish Love Song

2007-09-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Transform and Roll Out

2007-09-20T03:42:00.000-07:00

I AM
66%
OPTIMUS PRIME Take the Transformers Quiz

A new twist on personality tests. If I'm Optimus Prime... I take a dirt nap in Transformers: The Movie (the animated one)...

Filipino Folk Dance Groups Flourish in North America

2007-09-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, Sept. 2007

Kariktan, San Francisco Bay Area, Photo by Paul Chiongson

No major Filipino event is complete without Filipino folk dances. Whether it is the tinikling or la jota manileña, our folk dances are colorful windows to our culture and traditions. Among Filipino communities scattered across the U.S. and Canada, there are Filipino dance groups ready to entertain. Many of them have web sites that advertise their capabilities.

These websites tout each group’s uniqueness and their commonality. Together, they display the richness of Filipino dances. Each site offers a plethora of colorful costumes and unique dance forms. Among these pages are detailed histories and discussions of each group's repertoire and past performances.

Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada
Established in 1966, the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada (http://www.fiestafilipina.org) has promoted Philippine culture not only in the land of Northern lights but across the world. They have performed in major events such as the Olympic Games in Mexico City and Montreal, the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, the Montreal Expo as well as the opening events of both Ontario Place and Skydome, now the Rogers Centre.

Folklorico Filipino Canada
Formed in 1974, the Ontario, Canada-based Folklorico Filipino Canada (http://www.folkloricofilipino.com) aims to promote Filipino identity in the cultural melting pot of Canada. Founded by former dancers and made up of volunteers, the company performs folk dances in a modern and innovative style that delights audiences worldwide.

Hiyas Folk Dance Company
San Jose, California-based Hiyas Folk Dance Company (http://www.hiyas.org) was formed in 2003 by “dance enthusiasts who enjoy the beauty of Filipino folk dance.” Their repertoire consists of a variety of Filipino classics such as “Los Bailes de Ayer” and the Northern Igorot dances.

Kariktan
Established by Polly Manalo-Herrera, former choreographer and dancer of the world-renowned Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, Kariktan (http://www.kariktan.com) showcases a variety of Filipino ethnic dances, from the "robust northern mountain dances" to the “elegant Spanish influenced dances.” To Herrera, authenticity in movement, music and costume are of great importance. It is always a spectacle to watch this San Francisco Bay Area favorite.

Kinding Sindaw
Kinding Sindaw (http://www.kindingsindaw.org) is a New York-based folk dance ensemble founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Potri Ranka Manis, the daughter of the Sultan of the Maranao tribe. The group's dances and music dramas are based on the Maranao royal court dances, which combine the graceful movements inspired by birds, fish, butterflies and rivers. Kinding Sindaw also performs dances from other indigenous tribes such as the Maguindanao, Tausug, Higaonon, T'boli, Yakan, Manobo, Mandaya, Bagobo, Tiruray, Kalagan, Iranun, Mangyan, and Igorot. These vibrant dances are interspersed with the martial art of Silat.

Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble
Founded in 1992, and under the artistic direction of former Bayanihan dance soloist Rudi C. Soriano, Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble (http://www.likha.org) aims to educate and present the beauty of Philippine cultural dance to both the Filipino and mainstream communities. Not limiting it-self to its base in the San Francisco Bay Area, Likha has performed and collaborated with other dance groups in other cities in California, Oregon, British Columbia and have performed in Malta before its president.

Philippine-American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe
The Philippine-American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe (PASACAT, http://www.pasacat.org) is a touring performing arts group started by the Filipino-American Community Association of San Diego County in 1969 during the city’s 200th anniversary. The company consists of the Senior Company, Junior Dancers and Rondalla/Percussion Instrumentalists. Its repertoire and well-paced choreography earned PASACAT a feature on CNN International’s Inside Asia In February, 1996.

Other Folk Dance Groups
Here is a partial list of other groups across the U.S. Their web pages aren’t as detailed and graphic as the previously mentioned sites, but if you just wish to enjoy the beauty of Filipino folk dance, here are links that will help you reconnect with your culture:

• Dance Philippines Performing Arts Company, Massachusetts - http://www.dancephilippines.org
• Philippine Dance Company of Boston, Massachusetts - http://www.pdcoboston.org/
• Philippine Dance Company of North Carolina - http://paanc.org/munting_ eskwela.html
• Philippine Dance Consortium of Maui, Hawaii - http://www.maui.net/~mauidzyn/dance/index.html
• Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center, San Diego, California - http://www.samahanphilippinedance.com
—Raymond Virata

Digital Pinoys

2007-08-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, August 2007

Digital Filipino
Digital Filipino (www.digitalfilipino.com) is a celebration of the Filipino on the worldwide web. Built by Philippine technopreneur Janette Toral as a promotional vehicle in 1999 for her book DigitalFilipino: An E-Commerce Guide for the eFilipino, it has grown into an e-commerce resource and chronicle, with links and resources for shopping, podcasts, outsourcing, job search, blogs, a researcher forum and mobile communications.

The site itself covers a lot of ground for the Internet beginner and the web-savvy. It offers tips on choosing a web hosting service, advice on gaining web search visibility, discussions on the Philippine e-commerce law, corporate social responsibility for IT companies and a profile of the young Filipino Internet user.

Toral is a writer, Search Engine Optimization consultant, trainer, blogger and policy lobbyist. Her organizing skills put together “The Digital Filipino,” which also holds online and off-line seminars and get-togethers. She is also part of the group that put together iBlog, the Philippine Blogging Summit held at the University of the Philippines.

Regalo Service
Regalo Service (www.regaloservice.com) is a Philippine one-stop gift service offering a wide array of products from select suppliers. It also provides gift wrapping for the online shoppers’ loved ones. The site is well organized and items, such as bags, art work, fashion, publications or personal items, are sorted by category, occasion, demographic of recipient and brand.

The website offers a gift registry for weddings, bridal showers or special occasions. Gift certificates are also available for those who don’t have a specific gift in mind. The gift reminder is a great addition for the last-minute shopper.

Viloria.com
Although Filipinas’ catalog gets a lot of orders for dictionaries and books teaching Tagalog, here’s one site that’s geared for the on-the-go learners. Manuel Viloria’s website at viloria.com offers podcasts that provide the correct pronunciation of Tagalog words and phrases. Learning any language requires oral and audible interaction, something which you can’t get by reading a book alone. The advantages of Viloria’s site are that it’s free to use and uses common conversational phrases, songs and stories. Viloria also offers simple visual presentations via www.youtube.com.

Lakbay Pilipinas
Winner of the 2007 DigitalFilipino.com Web Award for Travel and 2002 Philippine Web Award for best travel site, Lakbay Pilipinas (www.lakbaypilipinas.com) is an online travel portal that presents the beauty of the Philippines to travelers everywhere. Its goal is to provide the best information on Philippine travel destinations, festivals, hotels and restaurants and preferred travel agencies. The site also has helpful tools such as a currency converter and weather forecasts. Its blog (www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog) gives tourists a personal look through travel journal and photos.

Melo Villareal, site publisher, was originally an accountant but left the corporate world to pursue photography, travel writing and web publishing.—Raymond Virata

Getaways that Click!

2007-07-10T06:48:00.001-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, July 2007)

The Artist Chef
For couples looking for a unique kind of intimacy, advertising art director Joan Manalang provides the perfect flame. She caters dinners for two out of her condominium unit in the heart of Makati, Philippines. She started cooking for her friends and colleagues in the advertising industry and word spread of her romantic dinners.

Jinx and Kathy Macabenta are recent customers who couldn’t book a reservation on Valentine’s day when restaurants are pretty busy. Manalang’s service offered the perfect solution.

“She had a small condo and separated the front for the dining area. The place was lit with candles and the floor was lined with rose petals. The menu is either Italian or Mediterranean, but you can mix and match.You can even choose your music for the perfect ambience; we chose Frank Sinatra.”

Manalang chronicles her influences and dinners on her blog http://artist-chef.blogspot.com which includes pictures and the menus that couples ordered.

Kinabuhayan Café
Looking for a place to get away from it all? Kinabuhayan Café Bed and Breakfast (http://www.klar.us/kinabuhayan%5Fcafe/) offers you a sacred space in the mystical Mount Banahaw in Quezon Province, Philippines. The place was envisioned by production designer Jay Herrera and offers two story open-air huts within the forest bosom of the fabled mountain. Banahaw, one of the sought-after climbing destinations in the Philippines, is home to numerous spiritual cults.

The website’s design reflects the establishment’s image of being one with nature. It’s simple enough to navigate, answering questions already in the mind of travelers: How do I get there? What do they serve? Will it fit my budget?

The place offers “Pinoy Gourmet” cuisine, a fusion of fancy European cooking with a taste of home. Experience risotto with black mushroom topped with goat kaldereta sauce, Chesa somosas stuffed with ground pork with chili and oyster sauce, and buko pandan ice cream with buli palm fruit topped with passion fruit liqueur for dessert.

The Underground Economy and the World Wide Web
Before e-Bay, you had your neighborhood classified ad paper where you can look for or sell second-hand goods like appliances, rare collectibles and cars. In the Philippines, there is “Buy and Sell,” the classified ad paper where you can post for free. The second-hand market could not have thrived without it.

With the advent of e-Bay, the underground economy has grown in leaps and bounds because there is a consistent and convenient market place where people can display their wares.. The online payment facility, Paypal, made it even easier for buyers and sellers to make transactions. In the Philippines, e-Bay.ph was launched, but Paypal has yet to make its presence; so, transactions are still done through bank transfers.

The free classified paper is not to be left behind as online versions have emerged like www.sulit.com.ph and buyandsellph.com, the online version of “Buy and Sell.” Like its namesake, sulit.com.ph is worth it because of an organized layout and offerings such as message boards and user-friendly posting. Buyandsellph.com has the name recognition, but due to its popularity it has become too cluttered with ad buttons.—Raymond Virata

Warriors Draft Party

2007-06-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Jillian's Sports Bar, Metreon, San Francisco, June 28, 2007

Warrior Girls Mignon, Desi and Jessica

Golden State Warriors mascot "Thunder"

Bay Area TV Sports Analysts Matt Steinmetz (left, FSN) and Jim Barnett

Voice of the Warriors Franco Finn

Warriors pick at number 18, Italy's Marco Belinelli

It was packed house at Jillian's Sports Bar in downtown San Francisco for the 2007 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors faithful await their chance to add a lucky grunt to the team which electrified the 2006 Playoff season by beating number one seed Dallas in the first round.

All hopes were pinned on the Warriors to trade up and get Chinese forward Yi Jianlian. Drafting went as expected, Greg Oden going to the Portland Trailblazers and Kevin Durant going to the Seattle Supersonics. It was until the number 6 pick that Milwaukee chose Yi and the house erupted in a hail of boos. Yi's handlers didn't want their player to head to the Bucks and purposely withheld Yi from practicing in Milwaukee. The Bucks called their bluff and picked him anyway.

More boos came down from picks 10-14. It's either the fans wanted the picks there or it just broke their bracket. The next avalanche of boos came when New Jersey Nets stole unpredictable forward Sean Williams from the Warriors. A lot of fans were hoping Golden State to draft Williams to fill the need at low post in the event they couldn't trade up for Yi.

Barnett noted that the Warriors will always trade for the best player available instead of by position, so there can be 4 guys playing the same position. The W's went with Italy's Marco Belinelli, who was initially greeted with boos and hisses but fans were reassured when they saw on video that the number 18 pick is great open court player.

Though the spectacular trade of Kevin Garnett to anybody (Boston, Lakers, Phoenix tried) and Boston's attempts to trade its number 5 pick to anyone (Garnett, O'Neal, Marion) ended up like deodorant commercial, the draft opened up with some easter eggs which surprised everyone and made Spike Lee happy. New York traded Steve Francis and Channing Frye for Portland's Zach Randolph, Fred James and Dan Dickau. Seattledom was sent in frenzy when favorite son Ray Allen was sent to Boston for draftee number 5 Jeff Green. The Warriors lived up to the fan's wishes by trading up and went after Charlotte's no. 8 pick Brandan Wright and offering crowd pleaser Jason Richardson.

J-Rich has been the subject of trade rumors before the draft. He finally broke through in the playoffs last year after six years with the Warriors and it'll be sad to see him go.

Thank you for watching this space

2007-06-23T22:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, after "yahooing" (ego-surfing, searching your self online, like "googling") myself, I found the stuff that I wrote for the November 2006 issue of Filipinas Magazine is posted elsewhere:

My article on Philippine Little League Girls' team can also be found on the GMA Pinoy TV website. The ILLAM team will be back this year in Portland, Oregon for the World Series.

Also on the GMA Pinoy TV website is my story on technopreneur Jovel Cipriano.

Yourbadminton.com reprinted my story about their website.

Thank you for sharing your stories!

Nuts and Volts

2007-06-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

RoboGames 2007, June 16, 2007, Fort Mason, San Francisco

Welcome to the world's largest open robot competition (Guinness Book of World Records) and one of the top 10 North American geekfests (Wired Magazine). RoboGames is a menagerie of our love for automated machinery. As you can see in the picture above, it's mostly occupied by workbenches, everything that's on display is not final, but it's the process of making things work is what fascinates us. Nothing is pretty or smoothed out, just a lot of parts, motors, wires, nuts and bolts put together.

Robo-Ones are bipedal humanoid robots imported from Japan. They are capable of different things you can program to do, walk, pickup things, sommersaults and kung-fu.

Anything with a motor, wheels, radio control, and computer chip can be made to fun things, like this Robot Soccer tournament.

Besides walking robots, other stuff are designed just to automate and amaze, just like this automated drummer called "Animal" named after the wild percussionist on the Muppet Show.

The Drawbot

Some robots were built for aesthetic appreciation like this "Venus Fly Trap" Robo Sculpture.

The "Cycloptitron"

This one was built to assist humans in heavy lifting.

The biggest draw of the event is the combat tournament. While Robogames celebrates "creation," it also highlights "destruction." Two wheeled opponents go at each other demolition derby style in a plexiglass arena. The last one standing is the winner. Above are minibots, which are little RCs with basic wheels, aluminum casing to protect the main control board and motor inside, and a front wedge bumper to tip over the oncoming opponents. Some combat robots are equipped with gimmicks to damage opponents if the two get locked together. The one on the right has some rolling grinder that chews away metal. It's semicircular round wedge design is also perfect for tipping away opponents. This unit had the upperhand because it was eating away at it's opponent and had its nuts flying, unfortunately it lost when it tipped over and got lodged in a plexiglass cavity and could not move.

One of the regular battle bots with Snoopy's Sopwith Camel casing.

Whoa! Fire! Despite the number of gimmicks you put on your battle bot (one here had a flame thrower, another had a forklift), the guys who can control their bots easiest are the ones that win. The one with the forklift lost to one without a gimmick because the other one was just whizzing around ramming it while the one with the forklift had to position his unit so he can use his contraption.

The latest addition to demolition bots are the Robo Boxers. This wasn't as exciting at the regular battle bots because of the additional controls for the hands and probably the owners didn't want to damage the bots because they were new.

"You can't teach height"

2007-06-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Back in high school in the Philippines, I was one of the tallest kids in class, I had to play forward/center for the class basketball team. Years go by, everybody grows up and you're not the tallest anymore. During advertising years, I played guard, not point guard because I can't make plays, not shooting guard, because I can't shoot, just "guard". I was still tall enough to grab a rebound or block a shot.

In the Philippines, everyone is basketball crazy. Guys gather around to watch it on TV in their living rooms and outside the neighborhood store. It's a fast sport that brings instant thrills for spectators. Kids want to be like their favorite star. You will always find a ring nailed to a post or to a wall in some small neighborhood. Aside from roads and wells, politicians will always build a basketball court in every neighborhood, call basketball diplomacy, you can't get votes until you build a basketball court.

Despite our love for basketball, we can't do much in the international arena, Everyone else is taller than us. Everyone else shoots better than us.

Genetically, we've never been tall. Our diet wasn't geared to make us tall (make us fat, yes). Not everyone can afford supplements to make us big. Not everyone drinks milk. If you're lucky to be tall, people think right away, you have to play basketball. People will find it weird if you don't.

Thanks to interracial marriages which produce bigger offspring and affordable formulas and supplements, we finally got Filipinos big enough to play. Years ago basketball scouts to Filipinos born in the US and other nations to look for basketball players who can augment Philippine professional teams. These players brought a new level of excitement because they were big and can play US style ball. Previously, Philippine teams got help by bringing in 1 or 2 US players per team to make the game faster and expose local players to NBA (former NBA, or college caliber players) style players. Mixed Filipino players are more endearing because "they're one of us" and they can play for the National team.

The other day, I had a chance to play pick-up ball with co-workers and friends. My co-worker was telling his friend who hasn't played in a while that he'll do fine because he's tall "You can't teach height." He was huge, I had a hard time guarding him and boxing him out for the ball. The other guys on his team were big too. Having big men on your team instills some sort of fear in your enemy. We are able to beat them because we had 2 athletic guys on our team who can slash through and shoot the ball from anywhere on the court.

For the Worldly Traveler

2007-06-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, June 2007)

Camperspoint
Camperspoint.com is a great, comprehensive travel guide because it is written from the perspective of the tourist. Meren Floranda Chaouche and her French software specialist husband Mounir provide insights for the worldly traveler by giving details on Philippine destinations, their local history, how to get there and how much to spend.

“My husband and I created Campers-point sometime in December 2004 to share our travel experiences around the Philip-pines and to guide future travelers coming to the country. We moved to France in December 2006 and have been maintaining the website through the help of our travel writers and contributors.”

Since 2004, Camperspoint has attracted 3,000 hits daily and climbing. “We did not create it to compete with other sites or try to benefit from it financially. We are happy enough knowing how many people around the globe have become more and more curious about the Philippines,” Meren says.

Click the City
A consistent top rater on PinoyTopSites.net and TopPhilippineWebsites.com, ClicktheCity.com provides a comprehensive Philippine entertainment guide and online yellow pages for the Filipino on the go. Owned and operated by internet service provider Surf Shop, Inc., the website is accessible on anything the gadget-prone can use—a computer, personal digital assistant or cellphone. Aside from movie guides, travel destinations and dining recommendations, the well-designed site offers other information in tune with the Philippine lifestyle, like church locations, entertainment news and jokes.

ClicktheCity also offers clipcasts, which are short videos you can watch on your mobile phone.

Verdana Homes
The winner of best corporate website at the 2006 Philippine Web Awards is the opposite of what a corporate site should be. The Verdana Homes’ (http://www.verdanamamplasan.com.ph) scrapbook theme comes across as personal and homey, selling real estate on an intimate level. The developer Community Innovations, a company of Ayala Land, presents to the consumer a suburban community that addresses their concerns, a place that’s a relief from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. It’s also close to great shopping, education and recreation facilities. The flash site entices the consumer to explore through push-pin links instead of bombarding them with too much information.

National Education Association
In celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month last May, the National Education Association provided a number of online resources on its website http://www.nea.org/mco. Resources include a report examining the “model minority myth,” a list of books appropriate for Asian American and Pacific Islander K-12 students and recent demographic information on the Asian/ Pacific Islander community.

“The contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to this country span centuries,” said Reg Weaver, president of the 3.2 million-member NEA. “They have overcome obstacles and frequent discrimination to become an integral part of the cultural fabric of our nation. I encourage educators to incorporate the successes and struggles of this community into lesson plans to promote understanding and diversity in classrooms across America.”—Raymond Virata

Horry's Seventh Ring?

2007-05-31T06:52:00.000-07:00

With the Spurs beating the Utah Jazz 4-1 in the 2007 NBA Western Conference finals, will Robert Horry grab his seventh ring? Will that make him greater than Jordan or Pippen? Nah, though he has great 3 point clutch shot, he was always on a team with a great players who carry the teams he's on. Houston's Olajuwon, LA's Shaq and Kobe and now Spurs' Duncan. I've always liked Rob, first being the hard working rookie during the Houston heart-of-champion years and the big shot guy during his LA years, but this year's ugly clash with the Phoenix Suns showed how he's resorting to bully tactics just to win. He crashed Steve Nash into the scorers table which prompted other players to come into a near fight. The move suspended star player Amare Stoudamire and reliever Boris Diaw which may have tipped the outcome of the tight series to Houston's favor. Rob was suspended two days but the Spurs don't lean on him heavily like Phoenix does on Amare. He's still has that "big shot" alright, his shot against Nash may have assured him his seventh ring.

The Parrots of San Francisco

2007-05-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day 2007 was spent hiking from where I live near Union Square to Coit Tower in San Francisco. I've heard of the wild Parrots living near Coit Tower, but I've yet to see one since I've only seen parrots in pet shops and homes. I've checked the internet where to find them. I've hiked to Coit Tower before and this sunny afternoon is good time to look for the amazing avians. After a lung busting 30 minutes, I made it up to the top of the tower and descended to the Bay side of Telegraph Hill to look for the birds among the gardens. I saw a hummingbird and finches in the first garden I came upon. When I heard a light cawing in garden below it I knew I was near. I could see the green birds fly into the trees so I followed them. If it wasn't for their red faces, I would have lost them in the trees. After taking some pictures I descended down following a flock but lost them. I reached Levi's Plaza below and heard cawing. It was much louder and sounded like a mocking cackle. I recognize that sound, it wasn't a parrot, it was a crow. A couple of years ago, a couple of crows were cackling outside my office window when my co-workers left for take-out. It sounded sinister and funny at the same time.

Warriors beat Mavs and the Experts

2007-05-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

The eighth seeded Golden State Warriors upset the number one seed Dallas Mavericks, 4-2 games. The experts and Charles Barkley cooked up a different outlook and they got buried in humble pie.

67 wins DON'T assure you of a title. 3-0 in the regular season DOES matter in the playoffs.

Experts kept believing the Mavs would come back, but they didn't. This is what they all said:

ESPN

Sports Illustrated

NBC Sports

and Yahoo's Steve Kerr

Two eighth seeds have beaten number ones before (Denver beating Seattle in 1994 and New York beating Miami in 1999), but that was before the first round went into the best of 7 format. The Warriors become the first eighth seed team to beat a number one in the new format. If the Warriors get lucky, there's another stat which they can go after. In 1995, the sixth seeded Houston Rockets (led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler) became the lowest ranking seeded team to win the NBA championship.

For the Homesick

2007-05-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, May 2007)

PinoyCentric
There’s always room for another Filipino culture website. As an immigrant or overseas worker, you look for anything that ties you back to the land of your birth. As a Filipino born in America, you explore your roots and search for the building blocks of your identity. There are various websites the Filipino diaspora can get its hands on to satisfy homeland cravings. PinoyCentric.com (www.pinoycentric.com) is the icing on the cake.

The Chicago-based site comprises friends with diverse backgrounds who are “brought together by our roots in the old country, a spirit of creativity and adventure, and a desire to share our stories.”

PinoyCentric invites Pinoys to submit articles from around the world. Its world map interface shows readers where the articles are originating from. You can read about a theater group starting up in Silang, Cavite or learn about a Pinoy chef’s wasabi panna cotta recipe from the Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai. It’s a site that is created by the community.

Anino Shadow Play Collective
The traditional art of shadowplay is kept alive on the Internet through the Anino Shadow Play Collective’s website (anino.sining.net). The site is well designed with all the valuable information and links on shadow puppetry, nestled within a framework fusion of old and new graphic arts.

The Anino Shadowplay Collective is a group of artists dedicated to promoting shadowplay in the Philippines. The theater company is composed of college students and art practitioners who perform at various venues such as museums, schools, theaters, plazas, shopping malls, cafés and on board an inter-island ship.

Their productions feature a mix of folklore, literature and socio-environmental awareness. Among Filipino classics, the group has adapted the Ibalon (an epic from Bicol) and Florante and Laura (the work of famous Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas).

Nostalgia Manila
We don’t always wear our barongs and dance the tinikling. We are just as modern as everyone else. We take in as much of western pop culture through the media, fashion and commercial goods. Nostalgia Manila (nostalgiamanila.blogspot.com) celebrates the generation of people who grew up in the Philippines during the ‘70-‘80s. It was the heyday of the disco era and the beginning of New Wave. The world economy was on an upswing, marketers were promoting the “me” generation, targeting people’s aspirational wants and mechandising anything. That’s why this generation remembers “Star Wars,” “Sesame Street” and the Bee Gees; people hum their tunes, buy their lunch boxes and wear their T-shirts.

The site is compartmentalized into the different ingredients that form the manchild of the baby boomers. Explore retro fashions such as the Reebook hi-tops, Sperry topsiders, Swatch watches and big brand T-shirts. Sing-along to your favorite tunes lifted from Jingle Songhits digests. Relive the fun and excitement of pop icons Voltes V and midget comedian Weng-Weng.

Even if you thought it was hoi-poloi then, I bet you’ll spend endless hours laughing and growing up all over again.—Raymond Virata

A Many Splendored Dish

2007-03-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Cendrillon owners Amy Besa (second from left) and Romy Dorotan (third from left) were in the San Francisco Bay Area to promote their book "Memoirs of Philippine Kitchens" and presented cooking demonstrations at the Ferry Plaza, Bayanihan Center and Bistro Luneta. Assisting them at the Ferry Plaza are Cindy Mendoza and Michael Magnaye.

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, April 2007)

It was like a rock star tour for New York-based restaurant owners Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, who came to the San Francisco Bay Area to promote their book Memories of Philippine Kitchens. In every venue, such as the Book Passage bookstore in the Ferry Plaza or the Bayanihan Community Center in South of Market, people came in droves to meet the owners of a New York Times favorite, Cendrillon.

Amy Besa gave a passionate discourse on what defines Filipino cuisine. “It is a dish best served at home because it’s a dish prepared with love.” Whenever Filipinos talk about food, we have a lot to say, some of our best memories are centered around the table.

One patron didn’t believe she would cry over a cookbook because it unleashed fond memories. Over the three years it took to write the book, Besa interviewed several families on their culinary secrets. What she got revealed more than just ingredients, but also endearing stories on how a dish came to be and how it was enjoyed through the years.

Despite influences from the different cultures that visited our shores such as the Malay, Chinese and Spanish, the dishes we can call our own are adobo, kinilaw, and sinigang. Each is not just a dish, but also a means of preserving food without refrigeration. Our ancestors’ meals of rice, fish and meat incorporated a lot of sour fruits, such as tamarind, guava and kamias, which were easy to procure. Although adobo is perceived to be a Spanish dish, it isn’t, according to food writer Raymond Sokolov, who has sampled various Spanish adobos and found ours to be different. The locals had been preparing the dish with vinegar long before the Spaniards arrived. The Spaniards called it “adobo” because it tasted similar to a dish they and the Mexicans had.

Filipinos love this book. Amy Besa didn’t just write a recipe book, she wrote an intimate tome on the evolution of our cuisine.—Raymond Virata

Choose Your Poison

2007-03-30T17:24:00.001-07:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, April 2007)

This month we have a mixed bag of website referrals. From history, to religion and music, whatever your click addiction is, enjoy.

Youtube, Itube, Wetube
Youtube, Metacafe and other online video services have made video more personal and accessible than ever before. Besides vlogs (video blogs), people are uploading video previously unseen or not regularly shown on broadcast television. A Pre-War historical film (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4933039399110-729804&hl=en) was uploaded on Google video, which made it convenient to access history without having to visit the library or archive facility. This old footage brings us back to a less crowded and laid-back Manila where streets were plied by horse-drawn calesas and streetcar tranvias. Life was simpler then, you can even jump into the clean Manila Bay for a swim.

Interactive Fandom
Websites bring music fans to a new level of worship by providing their idols’ biography, discography, photos and concert schedules. Hip-hop hero DJ QBert’s (www.djqbert.com) website has the flash of youth by offering videos of QBert’s brash and innovative scratching style. The renowned DJ also offers downloadable MP3 samples you can buy at an affordable price. The Apo Hiking Society’s (www.apohikingsociety.org) website is a celebration of more than 30 years of music history of the Philippines’ most prolific singing group. The site is a treasure chest of Apo memorabilia—photos, concert posters and MP3s of their greatest hits. A great way for a fan to relive those years with Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo.

Hallelujah Highway
www.santoninonline.com is an informational website for Santo Niño devotees worldwide, started by Greg Trabaca of Chicago, Illinois. Devotees can share Santo Niño articles from around the world. It has links to several Holy Child sites such as the Basilica del Santo Niño of Cebu, the Infant Jesus of Prague and the Santo Niño De Cebu en Texas. There is also a link to a flickr site of Holy Child images and a calendar celebrating feast days, such as the Sinulog Festival.

Blogging for the Soul
2006 Philippine Web Award winner for best blog, “Touched by an Angel,” (aboutmyrecovery.com) is a “grief journey” and “health recovery” for Noemi Lardizabal-Dado, a homemaker and netrepreneur who lost her son Luijoe in May 2000. The blog serves as a coping mechanism that also brings together families who are recovering from loss in the family. Her site offers opinions, family advice and self-help tips.

Let Your Fingers Do The Clicking
Another 2006 Philippine Web Awards winner, E-YellowPages (www.eyp.ph) is the official online edition of the DPC Tele-phone Directory. The Community and Portal awardee offers a search engine for Philippine business listings, consumer buying tips and business advice.—Raymond Virata

Natural Disaster Night

2007-03-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

March 1, 2007 Natural Disaster Night

Fire - While cooking fish in the oven, I didn't realize the aluminum pan I was using had a tiny hole in it. The olive oil which greased the pan seeped through, gathered on the oven bottom and caught on fire. Luckily, I was checking on the fish to turn it over, I saw the fire. When I was a kid I remember a TV show where the cook used salt to douse the flames, I always keep a large pack of salt near the oven just in case such an event would occur. And so it did. The fire occupied a space as large as your open hand, and since it was an oil fire, water won't do the trick. Oil and water don't mix, so you'll just spread the fire. Two palms of salt was enough to put it out. Whatever that old TV show was, I thank you. By the way, the fish was okay.

Earthquake - After finishing my fish dinner, I went back to working on my computer. The monitor and windows started shaking. OK, earthquake, a typical occurence when you live in California. It registered 4 on the richter scale and the epicenter was across the bay in Lafayette. I talked to people at work the next day and they haven't felt it. You feel everything when you live high up on the eighth floor.

That WRMN Feeling

2007-03-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, March 2007

The New Jersey-based radio station serves as a platform for expatriates longing for news about the Philippines and for discussing issues facing the Fil-Am community.

Despite advances in communication, like the Internet, never underestimate the power of radio broadcasting, which has a deep sociological impact among Filipino listeners.

In the Philippines, heartstrings are easily pulled when an unfortunate kababayan would appeal to listeners for financial or medical help, or when announcers sway people’s opinion regarding an inept politician or a delayed public works project. Radio also played an important part in Philippine history when Cardinal Jaime Sin called to the people over Radio Veritas to protect rebel soldiers in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Here in the U.S., radio still is an important medium for the Filipino community. In 1995, New Jersey-based broadcaster Lino Celle was able to rally the public against prominent shock-jock and “King of All Media” Howard Stern, who called Filipinas prostitutes and lambasted Filipinos as people who “eat their young and sell their children for money.” Celle’s comments were sent to Stern’s producer Gary Dell’Abate, who set up a on-on-one with Stern. Letters regarding Stern’s comments reached New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman, who contacted Stern to stop his comments on Filipinos.

Celle’s station WRMN Radio Pinoy USA was founded in 1989 by the Canoy family of Radio Mindanao Network. The station was then called WRMN-NY and was originally located in Forest Hills, New York.

The Canoys, in 1991, brought in Lino Celle to manage the operations of the station. In 1993 he formally took over the station and renamed it WRMN Radio Pinoy USA as a marketing thrust for mainstream American clients. Originally, the Canoys financed the station from the Philippines, which cost a lot of money in terms of the exchange rate. A volunteer brigade came on board to take care of the station’s sales and marketing. By being linked up with the Radio Mindanao Network in the Philippines, the East Coast-based station can get up-to-date news reports and access live broadcasts. The station is currently located in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Radio Pinoy USA got AT&T to sponsor its lead program, “Sapagka’t Mahal Kita,” a talk radio program hosted by Celle (simulcast on WRMN Radio Pinoy in New Jersey and DZXL Manila) providing commentary and assistance to overseas Filipinos and their relatives in the Philippines who wish to talk to their relatives abroad. The program is successful because it reaches a mass audience that identify with Celle, who provides a satirical yet straight-to-the point commentary on today’s issues. Celle credits Filipinas publisher and Minority Media Services, Inc. (MMSI) president Greg Macabenta with helping set up the program.

“MMSI was AT&T’s consumer long distance (Philippine market) ad agency at the time. I persuaded the client to sponsor Lino’s program and wrote the lyrics of a song, ‘Sapagka’t Mahal Kita,’ which Noel Adricula (a Bay Area resident, pianist composer) set to music. That also became the title of the show. It was a great hit,” says Macabenta.

Western Union now sponsors the Friday night program, which is now called “Sapagka’t Mahal Kita, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao”.

Radio Pinoy USA operates on cable-specific radio units given by its distributors to the mass market. Originally, it was an AT&T promotion for subscribers who switched from MCI to AT&T. On these radio units, a switch would directly tune into Radio Pinoy USA.

Celle considers himself a renegade in broadcasting. He doesn’t have a degree in journalism but in business administration. He likes to talk to people and find out their way of life. This ability to talk to different people enables him to engage in lively and candid interviews with prominent celebrities and politicians, such as former President Joseph Estrada, former first lady Imelda Marcos, and entertainers Jun Polistico, Anthony Castelo, Nora Aunor and Sharon Cuneta.

His program is so popular that his station has become a “city hall” for the masses. People personally come to the station to seek assistance on the air. People who get caught up in legal cases or medical expenses they can’t afford to pay turn to the radio station as a last resort to appeal to the large number of Filipino patrons who consider the station as link to their heritage.

Celle remembers how they were able to call attention to different cases affecting Filipino common folk. In 2005 Claire Mariano, mother of Army Specialist Christian Mariano, who was detained in Texas for murder, called up Celle to seek assistance for her son, whom she felt was wrongly portrayed in mainstream media. On the air, Celle called up the captain in the detention center to provide a priest for spiritual counsel, which had been denied Mariano. With the help of NaFFAA, Mariano was acquitted when the jury found he had acted in self-defense.

Celle’s program saved the life of young Zamboanga native Nicole Diamandre, who needed medical help to save her liver. Her mom cried on the air to appeal to the audience. Filipino businesswoman Loida Nicolas-Lewis provided the seed money of $30,000 for her fund.

Besides commentaries and providing a venue for public appeals, Radio Pinoy USA is a 24-hour music station catering to Pinoys who’ve settled here—nurses, lawyers, doctors and late-shift workers. In touch with its market, the station also provides soap operas produced in the Philippines and a novena prayer segment.

The station started its online radio (www.radiopinoyusa.com) in 2000, providing expanded reach to new markets beyond the New York Tri-state area. Filipinos anywhere in the U.S. and even around the world can tune into the 24-hour station because of the worldwide web. The site also provides up-to-date news feeds from the Philippines, a program schedule, an events calendar and Celle’s online column under his nom-de-plume “Matang-lawin” (hawkeye). In the near future, Celle says he will include an archive of his famous interviews and a live webcam to give the audience an added dimension in interactivity with his popular talk program.

Despite the popularity of Radio Pinoy USA, Celle feels his success is also his greatest weakness. The station is greatly identified with Celle, so that if he leaves or something unfortunate happens to him, the ratings may be greatly affected. “Radio is personality-oriented,” he says. Yet, it’s the personal touch of radio that keeps Filipinos tuned in.

In 1979, there was a new wave song “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles. It’s now the 21st century, and WRMN Radio Pinoy USA is still going strong.

Meeting the Man in the Middle

2007-02-21T20:34:00.000-08:00

Gay former NBA center John Amaechi (left) comes to Borders San Francisco to promote his book "Man in the Middle"

After covering the book launching of Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan's "Memoirs of Philippine Kitchens", I chanced upon recently outed former NBA center John Amaechi's book launching at Borders on my way home.

Being the gay capital of the world and bluest of blue states, there was a long line of new fans and well wishers who hail this basketball journeyman's courage to reveal who he is amidst the macho man's world of sports which he plied his talents for an unappreciated number of years.

Though he wasn't in league of superstar names like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, he made the most impact coming out as the first professional player in any sports to admit he was gay. Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hailed his move and said he could have made more money if he were still playing.

Amaechi is not without detractors as fellow former NBA player Tim Hardaway admitted in a radio interview that he hates gay people. Hardaway claimed it would ruin team chemistry if he found out that there was a gay man among his teammates. Though he was being honest with his comments, he portrayed himself as a bigot and the NBA banned him from representing the organization at this year's NBA All-Star Weekend.

Amaechi reached a level of popularity he never achieved as player. The British transplant is treading on new waters which will create ripples for years to come. Will the macho world of sports accept playing along side gay men? Will tolerance take over? or will sports take on to shock ratings or money making fads?

I wrote on my basketball blog "The House of Basketball" that someone could take advantage of the situation and market retro Amaechi and Hardaway shirts depending on your point-of-view. I doubt this would happen as it will create a lot of uncomfortable situations depending on where you take your shirt.

Savory Sites

2007-02-03T05:28:00.000-08:00

Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, Feb. 2007

Until someone can find a way to safely ship your “manangs" around the world to soothe your starving stomach, the Internet can supply you with all the Filipino recipes you need. Filipinos share, “borrow” or post their favorite gastronomic delights on the world wide web as a way of connecting back home in Philippines or reaching out to Pinoys on all ports of the planet. Here is a sampler of Filipino recipe sites to whet your appetite:

Pinoysupermart.com
To promote its products abroad, Philippine food exporter Florence Food Corporation provides a unique way of presenting recipes on its website Pinoysuper-mart.com. While most sites list their favorite kare-kare or pancit recipe and some would come with a picture, on Pinoysupermart, every recipe is visually told, every ingredient has corresponding picture icon. You can prepare ginataang hipon (shrimp cooked in coconut milk) knowing what every ingredient looks like (also a smart way of advertising one of its products “Coco Delight” canned coconut milk).

Carinderia.net
An ode to the neighborhood diner, the “carinderia”, this website presents interesting facts alongside favorite Filipino food formulas. In its primer to Filipino cuisine, the site quotes Frugal Gourmet Jeff Smith: “The following selection of recipes is about as legitimate as you can get when it comes to Filipino immigrant cooking. Kare-kare, or oxtails cooked with tripe in peanut sauce is my favorite. You are right, this is not a cuisine that can be called “high class,” but it is a cuisine that can be called delicious. The lumpias are heaven and the chicken and pork adobo is simple and sensational. Make a meal of any or all of these and you will be quite happy. You might even try the pork cooked in pork blood. Calm down! It is a delicious dish. Now then, enjoy the presence of our wonderful Filipino immigrants.”

Pinoycook.net
Currently ranked No. 4 on Pinoy Top Blogs, Pinoycook.net is a mom’s recipes journal by Connie Veneracion, also known to blogger fans as “The Sassy Lawyer.” It has a more personal approach in sharing her recipes, as she describes the journey from procuring the ingredients to preparing the meals for her children. Beside Filipino recipes, there are Chinese dishes as well because of Veneracion’s Chinese lineage. She also shares food tips and holiday ideas. Overall, it is more than a recipes website but an invitation into her household kitchen.

Kitchenomics.com
The weekend morning staple on Philippine TV for mothers and budding chefs is now on the Internet. A campaign launched by food giant Del Monte in 1984, Kitchenomics promotes cooking that’s easy to prepare and high in nutrition. Did you know that their beef ampalaya (bittermelon) with sotanghon is easy on the budget and high in Vitamin B12, which prevents anemia, or that fish menudo would be an excellent source of potassium for proper muscle and nerve function?

Kusinaatbp.com
Since Pinoys always search for recipes, technopreneur Jovel Cipriano (Filipinas Magazine, November 2006) created the recipe portal kusinaatbp.com as value-added service to his successful pinoydelikasi.com, an online store selling native delicacies such as dried mango and pusit (squid).

Being an Internet recipe gourmand doesn't stop here. Going on Google or filipinolinks.com (Filipinas Magazine, January 2006), would reveal to you a whole smorgasbord of your kababayans’ culinary secrets. But with all the choices to choose from, which one is the best to try? Like most restaurants, try those that have pictures so you know what you are cooking.

To top off this month's column, we will suggest one more site. It doesn't have recipes, but it is highly recommended for those who are on a "see-food" diet. Pinoy Food Photoblog (http://pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/) will make your mouth water.—Raymond Virata

Touring San Francisco

2007-01-16T09:45:00.000-08:00

Raymond at the Fountain of Yoda, Industrial Light and Magic, Letterman Digital Arts Center, The Presidio, San Francisco, January 15, 2007

When friends and family visit, I bring them around San Francisco showing the sights. Each tour is different from the rest, I try to cater to what they want to see, or not see (some just want to talk, doesn't matter where I'll bring them).

For my folks, they find museums boring (as I found out in my first tour). They prefer shopping. Since I live near Union Square, it's easy to take them to the department stores and they are on their way. Dad will hit the sporting goods store for golf equipment. Recently when my sister arrived for a stopover, I drove her straight to the Gilroy Shopping Outlets.

My friend Chito is the off-the-beaten path type of tourist. Instead of bringing him to to the usual touristy places, we walked through Chinatown, through the markets, exploring dried goods stores and medicinal shops. Luckily, North Beach is right beside it, the culture immediately changes from Chinese to Italian, we sat outside a cafe near Washington Square watching a pickup volleyball game.

Due to the limited time available whenever he visits for a conference, I bring my friend Deng to the nearby nightspots, like Lefty O'Doul's Sports and Piano Bar and Naan and Curry (Indian).

For my friend Benjie, we had a driving tour. He's an urban planner, so you simply can't outgeek him with what you know about the city. He also checks out everything on Google Earth. But there's nothing better than taking him to the real thing, he noticed that the TransAmerica Pyramid is smaller than he thought. We drove through the Presidio and got a glimpse of the skyline of the city. The last place we visited was the new offices of Industrial Light and Magic at the Letterman Digital Arts Center.

I've heard of different San Francisco tours, like the city tour, the wine country tour, Victorian Homes tour, the Vampire tour, the gay Castro walking tour. If I were to create the Cross Postings SF tour, I would include:

1) The labyrinth at Grace Cathedral
2) The exclusive clubs such as the Bohemian Club and Pacific Union Club.
3) The Jose Rizal plaque at the Sheraton Palace.
4) The water tower (there are now 2) at Maclaren Park where they are said to hold wiccan rituals.
5) The fountain of Yoda at ILM.

Filipiniana Resources Online

2007-01-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, January, 2007

One of the things that the Internet improved by leaps and bounds is access to Philippine studies. No longer are eager Filipino minds limited to small volumes of yellowed paper books stashed in your library’s forest of shelves. Authors, researchers, bibliophiles and hobbyists have made information available at the click of a button. Here are some great Filipino resource sites.

Tanikalang Ginto
What started out as a hobby listing websites turned out to be a terrific resource for anything Filipino online. Since 1994, Chicago-based Ken Ilio has linked and categorized more than 23,000 Filipino websites on his Tanikalang Ginto, (golden chain or links) or Filipinolinks.com.

When he started the site, the worldwide web was new and there was no information on the Philippines. He came up with a Filipino trivia site “Tribung Pinoy” (www.tribu.org) and Tanikalang Ginto was his links page.

The Aklan native created his sites while taking up post-doctorate work at North-western University Medical School in Chicago. The University encouraged its students and staff to access and develop webpages on the Internet using its public webserver.

It was difficult linking to Filipino websites because there were so few during his first two years. The number multiplied as the years went by as the Internet gained popularity and Filipinos found it easy to access and post information.

In 2005, Ilio was named one of 50 Asian movers and shakers by Asia, Inc. magazine.

Filipiniana.net
Filipiniana.net is a virtual library that collects unpublished literature, unique works and out-of-print books on Philippine history, art and culture. Among its resources are “a master electronic archive, online search facility, knowledge maps, forums, blogs, electronic directories, virtual tertulias, an e-scholars’ notebook and an e-journal gathering the best work of Philippine scholars.”

Among its collection are the Papal Bull of 1493, in which Pope Alexander IV gave Spain rights over newly discovered lands, La Indolencia de los Filipinos by Dr. Jose Rizal, and Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog by Andres Bonifacio.

Its editorial board is made up of historians, publishers and academics led by Gus Vibal, who has worked 20 years in the publishing industry.

Philippine e-Lib
Philippine e-Lib (www.elib.gov.ph) is an online book catalog that cross-references the collections found in the National Library of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture and the Commission on Higher Education. If you’re in the Philippines and need to locate a book on a certain Filipino topic, it can be located on this website. Nearly a million books can be referenced in this combined collection. It also contains digitized versions of theses, dissertations and researches.

The project was started in 2003 through the efforts of Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato T. dela Peña.

The Filipino Wikipedia
For nationalists, those who are at home in the native tongue or who want to practice reading Filipino, there is a Filipino Wikipedia (wikis are free online encyclopedias where the public can contribute or make updates) at tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unang_ Pahina. Started in Dec. 2003 in Tagalog, the wiki is also written in other Filipino dialects such as Cebuano, Waray, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan and Chavacano.—Raymond Virata

What a Racquet

2006-12-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, November 2006)

In the past few years, badminton has scored a huge following in the Philippines. The racquet sport is a great aerobic workout and is easy to pick up. It’s also perfect for hanging out with friends. It doesn’t require large teams unlike basketball.

Badminton’s popularity caused new courts to sprout around Metro Manila. Even some old warehouses have been converted into badminton courts.

Philippine badminton enthusiasts (shuttlers, “baddicts” or badminton addicts) have set-up websites, message boards and forums to share information, post events, find courts and network. Here are two sites that provide a lot of facts and listings to satisfy that badminton craving.

In 1997 PBNet (www.PBNet.net) was created by Wilred Fragante and is an offshoot of the Camp Crame Badminton Club website. PBNet has articles from Badminton Philippines Magazine and other notable sources, links to local badminton groups, such as the Ateneo Alumni Badminton Yahoo group, Badminton Benilde (La Salle) and the UP Alumni Badminton Club, event postings and, best of all, a comprehensive court locator of playing areas in Metro Manila and around the Philippines. It has tips on proper racquet grip, doubles strategy and how to repair a broken racquet. The website won a Philippine Webby Award in 1999 for best sports site.

Yourbadminton.com has a great graphics interface and other features not found in PBNet. The website has product reviews of badminton equipmen such as the Adidas Stratos 3 sports shoes and Yonex Nanospeed 9000 racquets. It also has TV listings of badminton events such as the International Badminton Federation World Champion-ships. The site also features a large photo gallery of Philippine tournaments and clubs, and a streaming video section for fancy shots. While PBNet lists three trainers on its site, Yourbadminton.com has four more to choose from.—Raymond Virata

Click Me to the Church on Time

2006-12-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

(Originally published in Filipinas Magazine, December 2006)

Preparing for weddings is one grand production. Everything should be perfect to the last detail—the ideal wedding gown, the best reception place to fit your budget and your relatives, an expert photographer and the right souvenir to heartfully thank your guests. To take on this endeavor, two Philippine-based websites, Weddinglibrary.com.ph and WeddingsAtWork.com (W@W), provide couples with a comprehensive list of tips and suppliers.

The Wedding Library started as a business in 1998 and launched its website in 2001. According to its general manager, Winnie Natividad, the website was created “mainly to advertise our shop, and, at the same time to provide additional services to couples. Our site enables couples to create their own wedding website without having to have any web design knowledge. Couples are also able to use various features such as the Bridal Registry, RSVP and guestbook. One aim is to link Filipino about-to-be-wed couples abroad to their relatives and friends here in the Philippines, and about-to-be-wed couples here to their relatives and friends abroad.”

W@W is the baby of John and Bennette Rana, who turned their experience of setting up their perfect wedding into a web portal that help other couples wed in a grand fashion. Like other couples, they relied on magazine and newspaper research and attending bridal fairs to get wedding ideas. They found out that not all wedding suppliers advertise their services. Quality souvenirs can be found in the most unlikely places. The candles used in their wedding were made by prisoners serving time in Muntinlupa. The wedding industry is such a close-knit community that can only be broken into through referrals. The Ranas observed that the best wedding professionals are those referred by previous clientele and by the suppliers themselves.

On the Internet, through websites and mailing lists, they found unique ways of celebrating weddings, like releasing butterflies instead of throwing rice and confetti. This led to the creation of their own wedding announcement site “1026 Online!”, which caught the attention of people wanting to have a Filipino wedding. Their current portal, W@W, contains articles, a directory and links to various forums such as Yahoo Groups and Friendster to expand its network of tips and advice.

The amount of detail one can find on these sites has brought tremendous feedback.

According to Natividad, “There are several things visitors of the wedding portal have cited:

1. The wide array of wedding accessories, which couples can order even through their relatives and friends.

2. The comprehensiveness of supplier sample photos—the site has a large compendium of wedding supplier photos, which users can extensively browse through. Thus, it enjoys an average of 25,000-30,000 hits a day.

3. The usefulness of the bridal registry feature—about-to-be-wed couples can input an endless list of items, which they would like to have as gifts for their wedding. The list may come from any company of their choice, even if the said company does not have a bridal registry.

4. FREE couple membership—a lot of couples like to use the Refer-a-Friend promo. Couples just have to input five email addresses of their friends or relatives who they think will benefit from visiting the site, and they get to enjoy creating their own wedding website for free.”

According to Cynthia, a frequent W@W visitor, “WeddingsAtWork is truly a godsend to us brides and grooms to be. At first I was skeptical about joining because Arn and I didn’t want to divulge our wedding plans to friends (para surprise), what more to people we don’t know. But W@W proved me wrong. Over the months I gained not just added knowledge but an online “family” with whom I can share ideas, emotions and interests with.”

The great interest in their websites carried over to the vendors as well.

“A lot of Filipino couples abroad visit our website and ask their relatives or friends to visit our shop branches to purchase or order their wedding items. The wedding suppliers we feature on our website directory are also able to get inquiries and bookings from Filipino couples both here and abroad,” Natividad says.

“Some of the better-known suppliers here in the country right now credit our website for launching their careers,” John adds.

Both websites won in the Home & Living category of the 2005 Philippine Web Awards. Weddinglibrary.com.ph was awarded the Best Website, while W@W was the People’s Choice in that category.—Raymond Virata

An Idea that Clicked

2006-12-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, Nov. 2006
Jovelito Cipriano of Pinoydelikasi.com

Making e-commerce work requires some ingenious approaches and a lot of networking.

With Pinoydelikasi.com, Jovelito M. Cipriano not only built a successful business, but also created a multi-award winning e-commerce model. Its products are not hi-tech or scientific breakthroughs, but things closer to our hearts and palates—Filipino delicacies such as danggit (dried siganid fish), pusit (dried squid) and dried mangoes.

Donald Trump always harps on “location, location, location” to his “Apprentice” contestants, but Cipriano’s store is in the worldwide web, which offers global reach and overhead cost-efficiency.

His brand name “Pinoydelikasi.com” was derived from his company’s mission statement “Lutong Pinoy, Delicious Kasi,” which was suggested by his secretary. In traditional business, it’s important to have a unique brand name to identify your company. But on the Internet, it doesn’t hurt to register around 50 other names, just as Cipriano did by listing names such as filipinostores.com, lutongpinoy.com or phi-lippinemangoes.com to drive traffic to his site or prevent unwanted competition.

Despite setting up an e-commerce site during the dotcom bust, the triple degree holder from the University of the Philippines (computer science, mathematics and tourism) took advantage of his consumers’ familiarity with using the Internet to purchase products and their desire for Filipino comfort food.

Cipriano’s best asset is his passion to sell. He was territory manager for IBM Philippines and corporate sales executive for American Express International. Besides selling his delicacies online, he’s promoting the livelihood of fishermen and farmers from different regions of the Philippines. He serves as the vice chairman of the Philippine Unique Products and Traders Association (PUPTA), which aims to “encourage Filipino entrepreneurs engaged in wholesale or retail of rare Philippine products to showcase the Filipino’s ingenuity and promote the Philippines as a contender in the global market of unique wares.”

The idea for his company flashed when Cipriano carried almost 60 kilos worth of delicacy “pasalubong” (courtesy gifts) for his family and friends on one of his return trips as territory manager assigned to Southern Philippines. He says “pasalubong,” bringing loved ones something unique from a trip away, is part of Filipino tradition. While “pasalubong” was a courtesy, some of his family members insisted on paying. Already earning a profit from each trip, he thought of turning pasalubong into a business venture. He quit his high-paying job at IBM and started Pinoy Unlimited, Inc., the parent company of Pinoydelikasi.com.

It was difficult finding investors, since he had no background in starting up a business. He took courses on basics of exporting, merchandising and packaging at the Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC).

With an initial investment of P10,000, a computer, 24-hour access to the Internet, some storage space out of his home and nine product lines to sell, Pinoy-delikasi.com was up and running by January 2000.

Formula for Success
The first two years was difficult and Cipriano nearly gave up. “Pinagtawanan ako noong una (At first, I was laughed at)—from making a lot at IBM to selling danggit and pusit.” The budding entrepreneur set up a retail store patterned after his web site, for local sales. He had to close shop after a year to concentrate on the growing export market. Logistics were another problem as his first customers were canceling orders when they found out that the price of shipping was actually higher than the product.

He kept on going because of his burning passion to sell and succeed as a world-class exporter. This was also buoyed by positive feedback he got from the customers who emailed him regularly.

Cipriano initially got his products from the supermarket, but when he got an order for one cubic meter of dried mangoes from abroad, he knew he had to get his goods straight from the manufacturer.

He now gets his products from the original suppliers. His danggit comes straight from the fisher community on Bantayan Island in Cebu. His uraro (arrow root cookies) comes from Marinduque, where supplier Mita Rejano has found an outlet for the native delicacy. As his inventory expanded to 100 product lines, his sources also began to include key areas such as Bulacan, General Santos, Iloilo, Bacolod, Ilocos, Bicol, Pangasinan, Quezon, and Davao.

From selling to consumers, Cipriano shifted to selling directly to businesses abroad. He also “initiated tie-ups between Filipino stores in Hong Kong, Cyprus, London, Switzerland and the U.S.” He created a franchise business by offering exclusive two-year deals to these stores to distribute his products.

Starting from the P10,000 seed money, his business has grown into a P30 million enterprise, delivering Filipino products to the U.S., Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Cipriano has bagged awards such as the 2006 Best Practices in E-Commerce for Small and Medium Enterprises at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Digi-tal Opportunity Center Awards, Best in E-Commerce at the World Summit Awards in Dubai (2003), and one of the six best E-Distribution models honored by the World Trade Organization (2002).

As his business grew, he didn’t forget the people who helped him. For his supplier in Bantayan Island, Cipriano gave subsidized cell phones for better communication. He now lectures at PTTC, where he handles “Basic and Advanced Exporting,” “Mer-chandising” and “E-Commerce.” With PUPTA, “Our aim is to gather all of these unique Filipino products under one umbrella group and export them bearing the seal of PUPTA. That way, customers will be able to identify that the product is exclusive and unique, and can’t be bought elsewhere. We want the product seal to be synonymous to excellence,” he said.

With the success of Pinoydelikasi.com, Cipriano added two more websites to showcase more of Filipino ingenuity. Through Galingpinoy.com, he offers non-perishable goods such as Christmas lanterns, baskets, capiz ornaments, narra furniture and barong tagalog. He also created Kusinaatbp.com, a free Filipino recipes portal which is a value-added service to Pinoydelikasi.com customers who often request for recipes to Filipino delights such as adobo (chicken or pork simmered in vinegar) and kare-kare (oxtail in peanut sauce).-Raymond Virata

The Girls of Summer

2006-12-13T01:06:00.000-08:00

Originally printed in Filipinas Magazine, Nov. 2006

Youth springs eternal in Oregon, where the young girls of the underdog Philippine softball team played hard and brought the Filipino community together.

In the heat of competition during the 2006 Little League Softball World Series at Alpenrose Field in Beavertown, Oregon, the girls of the Philippine team found a different kind of warmth. The Oregon Filipino community was behind them all the way.

The 12 girls—Chacha Bamba, Czar Buenviaje, Marielle Jalandoni, Laura Lehmann, Mady Lhullier, Sella Mendoza, Toni Ondrik, Jassy Singh, Sarah Stewart, Jill Tanaka, Maia Trinidad and Mei Uy—were representing the Asia Pacific region against a field of larger and well-trained girls.

The tightly knit community housed the young Filipinas, drove them to the games, toured them around the evergreens, shopped with them and cheered loudly from the stands to keep the young athletes going.

Gloria Rivera, organizer for the local support group, said, “We’ve been doing this for seven years with the Bacolod team, now we have the girls from Manila. We get the families together to help and provide moral support.” Her home served as a clubhouse where the girls, coaching staff and foster families gathered to wind down and feast on home cooked Filipino delicacies like pancit (noodle dish), dinuguan (blood stew) and bangus (milkfish).

Dennis and Linda McCubin, who took in Jill and Sarah, made the girls feel like family. “We made it feel like a slumber party even if our accommodations are not that big, but Jill said, “That’s not important, tita (auntie), you’re the best!” Dennis drove some of the girls in his van, which was graffitied with “Welcome Back, Asia Pacific” and the names of the 12 players. The couple have no children of their own and became softball parents when they watched the Little League World Series and supported the Filipino teams brought over here.

Larry and Merlie Keith, foster parents of Jassy and Mei, turned breakfast into quality time. The Keiths tried to get better acquainted with the girls. Talking about school and life in Manila, the Keiths found out that life for the girls was the same as the brisk-paced life here, where the fast-food restaurant has become the common dining place.

Getting to the World Series was no easy task for the softbelles. According to Weena Mendoza, head of the Asia Pacific delegation and mother to player Sella, the girls had to go through tryouts before being selected for the Manila team, International Little League Association of Manila (ILLAM). Ulysses Mejia, the head coach, trained them with techniques he learned from his stint as a coach for China, which employed foreign coaches to strengthen their teams. Mejia, a former pitcher and coach of Big League girls’ teams, made sure the girls would get used to fast pitches to counter pre-qualifier favorite Santa Cruz, Laguna, which had a good pitcher on their team.

The coaches had to “instill discipline and push them hard” in order to succeed. Manager Hiroyuki Bamba, the Japanese father of pitcher Chacha, prepared them to focus on their game to overcome pressure. He also taught them how to meditate in order to relax. They trained four times a week in Alabang and Makati.

After being treated as a punching bag at the start of the qualifying league games against three other Philippine teams, ILLAM rose to the top and beat defending champion Bacolod. “No one expected us to win,” Mejia beamed proudly.

The girls had the support of their parents and relatives every step of the way. Cris Trinidad, mother of Maia, said, “We would accompany them to all the games.” Mona Caccam, godmother to Jassy, helped write solicitation letters for sponsorship.
In the Asia Pacific qualifier match, the young Filipinas held Guam scoreless in two games (11-0, 8-0) to earn their spot in the World Series.

Marielle proudly said, “It was cool, we get to represent Asia and the Pacific.” Catcher Laura “felt excited to represent our country in a sport that’s not famous” in the Philippines and at the age level they were in.

Upon arriving in the States, the team realized they had to face teams who were taller and used to the sport, which is popular here. In the 2006 Little League tournament, there were six teams from the United States; teams also represented Canada, Germany and Curacao. Bamba noted that their opponents were more aggressive. He and Mejia commended their wards for being skilled enough and defending well. The Filipinas had to sharpen their batting skills and keep from getting nervous.

Support from the league organizers and the Filipino community helped relieve the girls of their jitters. Oregon Filipinos, numbering around 12,000 in the area, came in droves to every game, outcheering the local teams’ fans. Inspired by the journey made by the girls, Filipino businessmen gave them free products. “They kept giving us stuff,” Sarah mused. Nympha Grubbs, who’s not from Oregon, chauffeured some of the girls and their parents between venues and provided Gatorade. During Sunday services at the Holy Trinity Church, well-wisher Margaret Sawyer asked Father Greg Meyers to bless the team. The scene looked like a king sending his knights on a holy mission.

The quest seemed easy at first, with the Asia Pacific team beating Germany, 10-4. Though buoyed by the early victory, the girls lost focus and had an error-filled game (5-16) against the Gilroy, California team.

The team had to bounce back in the next two games in order to reach the finals, but came up short due to lucky breaks for the opposing teams. A ball lost in the Oregon sunset led to three runs in the fifth inning to win the game for eventual champion Michigan (0-3). A home run in the extended inning broke a deadlock with Tennessee (5-6).

Despite the losses, the girls showed they had the skill and heart to be in the tournament. Pitchers Chacha, Maia and Jill kept the hard-swinging batters at bay. Marielle, Toni, Mady, Czar and Mei roamed the field gallantly, racing after swatted balls. Catchers Laura and Sarah took in whatever the pitchers blazed at them and took off their masks in a frenzy to spot close flyballs. Jassy took a hard hit while taking a risky steal against Tennessee catcher Kalynn Doute. Popping her head from the dugout, Toni yelled “Louder!” to her fellow kababayans (countrymen) in the stands to keep the decibel level at fever pitch.

At the end of the elimination games, Gloria Rivera told the girls that despite the outcome, the community would always be proud of them. Hugs from friends and family members gently wiped away the wounds of defeat. A hearty picnic lunch comforted the exhausted young souls who toiled in the grassy battlefield amid the green forests of the Pacific Northwest.

The day after the last pitch was thrown, the foster parents took the team on a last trip to Multnomah Falls and the Bonneville Dam. They treated their wards to one last dinner, where tearful goodbyes where exchanged.

As the girls returned to their various schools in the Philippines, they could always look back to summer in Oregon, where they carried the Philippine flag on their backs and won the hearts of many.-Raymond Virata

Football Fiasco

2006-11-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Gabe Salvana's Warriors teammate running for a touchdown.

I was able to watch Gabe Salvana's Flag Football game in Chicago last Oct. 28. It was important game for Gabe's team, Warriors which would advance to the playoffs if they win. They could have won if the refs hadn't taken away 2 touchdowns (hey, this is a blog, I can be as biased as I want, no journalistic balance here... oh BTW... there's no such thing as a balance... there's always a slant...).

One of the two touchdowns the refs threw away in favor of the Warriors' opponent, the Gators.

The great thing about the Warriors is that they kept running and running despite the lost touchdowns. Unfortunately, the tall kid on the opposing Gators team was able to score twice late in the second half.

I'm doing a Mark Cuban "Refs, you suck!!!"

Gabe

Gabe and the greengos practicing

Football mom's got your number

Coffee Klatsch

2006-10-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

Originally printed in the Oct. 2006 of Filipinas Magazine

If you fancy yourself as a coffee connoisseur, you better savor every sip of Philippine Barako (liberica coffee grown in Cavite and Batangas). The Filipino coffee bean is on its last brew due to the sad plight of the Philippine coffee industry, which faces unfavorable pricing in the world market.

To stem the tide, two websites are giving the Barako a break by raising awareness online.

www.savethebarako.org is an endeavor of the Figaro Foundation Corporation, an organization of the successful coffee chain Figaro Coffee Company. The site educates the public on the history of the Philippines as a coffee producer.

“Two hundred fifty years ago, Spanish friars brought coffee over to the Philippines, turning much of the country’s highlands into coffee farms. After about 150 years of getting rich on the world’s addiction to caffeine, a blight hit the country. “Coffee Rust” as the infestation was called, wiped out many of the Philippine coffee farms.

Today, only two countries hold sway over the world’s coffee prices: the United States, which is the top buyer; and Brazil, which is the top producer, supplying 30% of the world’s demand. What happens in Brazil determines what happens to coffee trading prices around the world.

Barako has an annual export volume of 1,200 bags, valued at $0.15 million. Most of it goes to Saudi Arabia.
We need to plant 100,000 barako trees within the next five years for it to survive.”

The site also promotes projects such as coffee-tree planting, the “Wild About Organic” Farm Tour and the Pamihis Coffee Thanksgiving Festival in Amadeo, Cavite.

If you want to experience the aroma and strong flavor of the barako, you can order a bag from the Filipino Coffee Company at www.gotbarako.com. San Francisco couple Tom Lommen and Liza Briones have parlayed their love for the bean into a business enticing people to try seven different blends of the exotic java.

Briones said that they began their business just last June and attracted clientele as far as New Jersey and Hawaii. At first, she noticed that another site offered barako but she wasn’t sure if its online payment system was secure enough. She started up their online business and contacted Filipino distributors to supply their coffee. Being a first-time business owner, it was difficult because of the business and government regulations they had to comply with. Their payment system makes it easy to order and is secure for its customers to use.

“We had no real exposure because we didn’t have much response from the Filipino community. Filipino immigrants are used to instant coffee. It’s the younger generation and coffee connoisseurs who are acquainted with brewed coffee.”
Briones hopes the new demand and activities promoted by the Figaro Foundation Corporation will help the barako industry brew a little longer.—Raymond Virata

2006 Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival

2006-09-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Archie and Michelle Bustamante, 2006 Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival, Treasure Island, San Francisco, Sept. 23, 2006.

Michelle getting her gear before joining her company team the Celera Diagnostics SNP Dragons.

The Celera Diagnostics SNP Dragons off to the starting position for the first heat.

The Celera Diagnostics SNP Dragons winning the first heat.

No Santinos Here

2006-09-04T00:04:00.000-07:00

I was able to attend a fashion show during SF Fashion Week last Aug. 26 and checked out the designs of His By Her, Pink Elf and Tamiece. I'm posting a sample of each, let me know if its a hit or miss.

His By Her

Pink Elf

Pink Elf

Tamiece

Reliving the Renaissance

2006-09-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Last Aug. 27, Chito and I went to the Golden Gate Renaissance Fair in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. It was a celebration of era long gone, a visualization only found in our books, plays and old movies. People dressed up in costume of old Europe, talking in lyrical banter, singing a drinking song, swishing and swashing a sword. Participants seems to revel in the roles, playing pretend for a weekend. The visiting public have fun interacting with the players or taking a look through the old market filled with swords, wood craft, curios and other antiquities.

Catch the Wave-Philippines Style

2006-08-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

Originally printed in the September 2006 issue of Filipinas Magazine

Department of Tourism

The Philippines is known as one of the last frontiers of the surfing world, but getting there may require a path through cyberspace. The net is teeming with info on where to surf. It is now a vital tool in reaching the hardcore enthusiasts and those who want to catch a new riding experience.

The islands’ surfing destinations are found in the northwestern (La Union and Ilocos Sur) and Pacific sides (Aurora) of Luzon and the eastern Mindanao region (primarily in Siargao in Surigao).

Two Fil-Am surfers gave their suggestions on where to go when looking for info.
Dan Moreno, a Bay Area surf shop owner, and Jocelyn Formento, product portfolio director at biotech firm Genentech, participated in a documentary film titled “The Gift of Barong: A Journey from Within,” a documentary about Dan Moreno’s self-discovery of his heritage. Formento helped produce the film, which was directed by fellow surfer Benito Bautista (www.wanderlustproject.com).

Besides presenting Moreno’s story, the film promotes surfing in the Philippines. Moreno and fellow Fil-Am surfer Jon Villar explored the different surfing areas in Northern Luzon while interacting with the local folk and mingling with the surfing community there.

Moreno recommended the site www.wannasurf.com, which turned out to be a click- friendly guide showing different surfing spots around the world. It reads like an encyclopedia on surfing and provides meaningful info such as wave quality, frequency and height.

Formento mentions that the Philippine Surfing Foundation has a blog surfpinoy.blogspot.com, which includes schedules for local surfing events. It leads to other sites such as Batang Baler (www.batangbaler.net/pasirit.html) and the Philippine Surfing Forum (www.xsorbit4.com/users/todd/index.cgi) where local surfers discuss or sell equipment. Judging by the language used on the message board, the surfing culture is pretty laid back.

Similar to the look of www.wannasurf.com is www.globalsurfers.com (www.globalsurfers.com/country_details.cfm?land=Philippines), which places its info and links to surfing sites and forum on one page, which is very convenient.

Here are other sites you can find by searching Google.

The Surfer Magazine website (www.surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/callhan_philppines05) has breathtaking, “in-your-face” shots by John S. Callahan. You’ll feel like riding that rolling wall of water.

Siargao.com presents a warm panorama of the Surigao Islands and includes the beach resorts and other seaside activities.

Aurora.ph/tourist-surfing.html promotes surfing on the eastern side (Pacific) of Luzon. This destination was made famous by Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam war epic “Apocalpyse Now.”

Calicoansurfcamp.com provides publicity for Calicoan Surf Camp in Eastern Samar. The site entices you to visit with its gallery of beautiful images plus a short video.

Moreno says the “three unique attractions about surfing in the Philippines are 1) uncrowded surfing conditions in warm tropical waters, 2) friendliness of the (small in population) local surfers and 3) the quality and abundance of surf spots (some yet to be discovered).”

Philippine waves “have been known to be inconsistent especially on the South China Sea side of Luzon. However, the Pacific side never lacks in swell activity for places like Catanduanes and Siargao. We visited the island of Catanduanes, the provinces of Bicol, Zambales and Ilocos Sur as well as the Manila area.”

Surfing in the Philippines is limited to several months of the year. According to Formento, the best times to surf on the northwestern Luzon side is from November to January. Siargao waves are best during September and October.

Besides the limited surfing season, there are other drawbacks, according to Formento. There is a lack of infrastructure leading to surfing sites. It takes a while to reach them by plane, jeepney and getting directions from local guides. Foreign surfers only have a few days to visit and catch the good waves. Resorts are pretty low key and scarce.

Formento started a company, In2World, that caters to surfers looking for cultural immersion in remote surfing destinations in the Philippines. She will provide an all-inclusive package: travel, food, lodging, surf lessons and local surf guides to help address this emerging market.

Moreno says, “It’s hard to describe the feeling or sensation of surfing but I can tell you that no other sport can give you such a natural or endorphine high.”—Raymond Virata

Jassy vs. the Giants

2006-08-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

"We haven't seen each other in 7 years" said Jassy Singh, my 12 year old god daughter, who I used to see running around as little girl. Today, she is still running around... around the bases on the world's biggest stage of Little League Softball, the 2006 World Series in Portland, Oregon.

It was quite a feat getting here itself. She had to tryout among thirty girls to make the Manila team, International Little League Association of Manila, face 3 other teams in their league. Beat perennial Philippine champion Bacolod. Rout Asia Pacific rival Guam.

The biggest battle lay when they got here. The Filipina softbelles had to face 9 other teams from the United States, Canada, Germany and Curacao. Their rivals are much bigger and used to the game which have been part of their everyday lives. They've traveled the farthest out of all the teams (some 6000 miles) and for some of the girls, it's their first time here.

"Skills are not a problem." says Japanese manager Hiroyuki Bamba. "It's a confidence problem, they don't know what to do when they make a mistake, someone has to step up and cover."

Jassy plays the tough job of shortstop, having catch quick popups and quickly pass it on to the nearest base to tag a runner out. In the games I've watched, she's second in the batting order.

In the game against a team from Tennessee, their catcher tagged Jassy to the ground. She was holding on to her jaw and Hiro had to accompany her back to the dugout. She was ready to play in the next inning.

The team lost against Tennessee who had a homerun in the extension period. The girls were heartbroken with the loss, which took them out of contention. Avid supporter Margaret Sawyer noticed Jassy didn't shed a tear and asked "Why aren't you sad?". "It's just a game" Jassy replied.

It's Hip to be Cube

2006-08-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Filipino American Ryan Patricio, 17, of Temecula, CA, 1st place Single Hand 3x3x3 Solve (World Record Holder), 2nd place 4x4x4 Solve, 2nd place 3x3x3 Solve, 2006 US National Rubik's Cube Championship, San Francisco, CA. August 6, 2006.

Since it's invention in 1974, the Rubik's cube has caught millions in its spin. The original colorful puzzle is made out of 54 cubes (48 actually, the 6 center squares make up the turning mechanism), which the player turns and spins in order to create 6 solid colors on each side. Variant cubes have come out since then, the 4x4x4 cube, the 5x5x5, the 2x2x2 and now a 6x6x6 cube.

I'm one of the many who still couldn't solve it, but I'm still amazed how people do it at blinding speed. I remember back in high school, my batchmates Joel and Manny were trying to outrace each other.

In 1982, the first speedcubing contest was won by Minh Thai, a Vietnamese American student, with a record of 22.95. Last Aug. 6, 2006, I was lucky to witness Taiwanese student Toby Mao establish a new world record at US National Rubik's Cube Championship held at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The event was organized the Caltech Rubik's Cube Club under the regulations set by the World Cube Association.

Speedcube competitor Brittany Dzoan racing to solve a 4x4x4 cube at US National in San Francisco, 2006.

Members of the Caltech Rubik's Cube Club do a sychronized solving stunt. Everyone here turns the cube in one direction and passes it on to the next guy. Chairman Tyson Mao is at the end to solve all cubes.

World ranked cuber Frank Morris makes a crucial error in the final 3x3x3 competition. All solves are timed by stackmats, which the competitors hit at the start and slam at the end. Competitors sometimes release the cube in midair to slice milliseconds off the time. Morris's cube was one side off when it landed.

New world record holder Toby Mao

Blog of the Nightingales

2006-08-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

I gotta hand it to our editor Rene Ciria-Cruz for thinking of snazzy titles for our articles in Filipinas Magazine. I stumbled on this blog through Pinoy Top Blogs and this was a great concept.

We Filipinos are slowly ruling the world with our domestic helpers, overseas workers, nurses and caregivers. Overseas money is driving the economy back home. In a time of outsourcing (our call centers is a sunrise industry), we are doing the reverse and outsourcing our labor around the world.

In order to adjust and compete in global economy, this blog is a great help or our nurses and nurses-to-be.

Blog of the Nightingales

As Filipino nurses care for patients in faraway countries, Registered Nurse (RN) Lyle R. Santos provides a different kind of care for his peers through an online resource guide and forum on his "Pinoy R.N" blog (http://filipinonurse.blogspot.com).

Ranked 8th on Pinoy Top Blogs, "Pinoy R.N." contains a wealth of information to aid the global Filipino nurse. It has recent news on legal issues facing immigrant nurses and statistics on the candidates who pass the current National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The blog has a forum where nurses and nursing students can share tips on how to better manage their nursing career. It also has links to the websites of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School, National Council of State Boards of Nursing and Philippine Nurses Association.

Santos started "Pinoy R.N." in December 2005 when he became a registered nurse. The Davao, Philippines-based nurse had a hard time looking for nursing information online. Anything he found were either vague, inaccurate, outdated or difficult to find. He hit upon the idea of putting all the nursing information in one place. Santos built his site all by himself through Blogger.com’s self publishing tools. "Except for some help with research/content validation by my girlfriend/study partner who is also a nurse, all articles are written by me," he says.

The demand for Filipino nurses worldwide has grown tremendously over the last few years. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the number of Filipino nurses deployed worldwide has shot up from 5,085 in 1998 to 13,543 in 2001 (Filipinas, "It’s Not Brain Drain, It’s Hemorrage" by Booma Cruz, May 2004). Former Philippine Health Secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan said the number of nursing schools grew from 40 in the 1970s to 370 by 2004 (Filipinas, "Nurse Visas Dry Up" by Julie Javellana-Santos, March 2005).

Santos’ site comes at the right time. Nurse Mara Torres says, "Nursing in the U.S. is a culture change for Philippine-educated RNs, so anything that will help them adjust to change is good." Activity on the site is high, which is due to the personal nature of the blog. Posters are candid and can get nasty with their comments, especially with hot-button issues such as the results of the licensing exams.

Another Hundred Years Hence

2006-08-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, if you've noticed I haven't been posting lately, no fear. I now write for a legitimate publication. I'm mainstream now. I've sold out to "The Man." I currently write the "Web Watch" column for Filipinas Magazine, which I also work for as art director. At "Web Watch," I recommend websites which might interest our Filipino readers. Last July, I wrote about Benjie dela Peña's blog "Another Hundred Years Hence" (he's my kabarkada), which talks about Urban Planning. I like because it's so focused on one thing, has a lot of links (it's so anal, which I like about websites like these) and offers solutions (which a lot of stuff out there is just complain, complain, complain). If your website is so anal (no hairy butt shots please), I may recommend it.

Another Hundred Years Hence

While most blogs list a litany of never-ending rants by armchair pundits, Benjamin dela Peña’s (a.k.a. Urbano dela Cruz) "Another Hundred Years Hence" (http://hundredyearshence.blogspot.com) serves as a forum for discussing solutions to socioeconomic problems in the Philippines and possible changes through urban planning. His blog’s title is a take-off from Filipino patriot Jose Rizal’s 1889 essay "The Philippines a Century Hence."

Dela Peña cracks open a claypot of ideas as he discusses topics such as the Land Use Code, Rent Control in the Philippines, building action networks and adapting Prof. John Kotter’s model of change for improving the quality of life in Metro Manila. He even posted a little “Here” quiz to see how well we know our surroundings. Here are some questions:

1) What is the largest flowing body of water (creek or river) in your neighborhood? What direction does it flow?

2) Can you name at least five small retail or service establishments (sari-sari or grocery store, laundry, coffee shop, drug store, etc.) closest to your house?

3) How many modes of public transportation (bus, jeep, tricyle, pedicab, etc.) are available in your baranggay (town)? What are the major routes?

4) What’s the nearest public open space to your home? (Is it a park?)

5) Other than your relatives, if you needed urgent help, whom would you run to in your neighborhood?

Dela Peña is the associate director for implementation of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that helps local governments implement alternative and more sustainable development patterns. "My current job has me working in the space between politics and policy implementation, which is basically leadership in local governments," he says.

He came to the U.S. in 2002 to get his masters in urban planning at Harvard University. In Manila, he was in charge of Ayala Corporation’s national youth leadership program.

"I wanted to start a discussion on Philippine urban issues. All of the prominent Pinoy blogs talk about national politics and no one was talking about the condition of our cities and what we can do to improve our cities."

"I hope the conversation I started can at least help Pinoys think differently about Metro Manila, help them recognize that our problems are not unique and that we share the same challenges facing other megacities and that there is so much room for innovation."

His blog has a growing following among those concerned about the quality of life back home. Ernesto Sonido, Jr., an information editor at Financial Times Electronic Publishing in Makati, comments that it is "informative about urban issues and solutions, but he does not update as frequently as I would like."

Carlos Celdran, artist and Manila walking-tour guide, says, "It’s a great blog. Not often do you see someone so thrilled about something like urban planning. Also, from someone so far away from the city of his focus. I look forward to him coming back to Manila after his studies and applying over here what he learned. Perhaps it won’t be any time soon but when the day comes, Manila will be a better place for it."

Batman vs. Men of the Mother Tongue

2006-07-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Australian Heath Ledger has been cast as the Joker for Warner Bros. Batman Begins sequel. Get ready for the Brokeback Batman jokes.

The new Batman franchise is turning out to be a Star Wars Mother Tongue casting. Prime roles are outsourced to British speaking actors. Check out my archived post Deliciously Evil. In Batman Begins, "Henri Ducard" was played by Irish Liam Neeson and Scarecrow was played by Brit Cillian Murphy. Batman himself is played by Welsh actor Christian Bale.

July 4th Weekend Chick Flicks

2006-07-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

Superman Returns - Despite leading the July 4th blockbuster weekend, this film is more of a chick flick than an action movie. The action is there but it lacks the bite and whoa of blockbuster weekends past. The plane rescue is worthy to bring you to your feet but it ends on the Jerry McGuire's "You had me at hello" moment when Superman checks on Lois. The films focuses more on character interaction. Superman goes on an intergalactic road trip. Lois is pissed he didn't say goodbye. So she burns her bra, and writes a Pulitzer Prize winning piece on why the world doesn't need a savior. She has a kid and bangs the next super guy who comes by (James Marden, Cyclops of X-Men, who plays Perry White's nephew). Superman comes back and gets jilted in a big way. Hey! you've been gone for five years! It's like X-Men fans still expecting their comic book is number one until DC brings in Identity Crisis (sorry for that geek moment, but that jilted moment was meant for us fanboys as well). So Superman tries to muscle his way in back in her life but realizes Lois has grown up. As he lets go, the movie goes into Superman as Jesus Christ mode.

The Devil Wears Prada - The film chronicles the journey of a young office assistant, Anne Hathaway, under the yokel of fashion magazine maven Meryl Streep. This movie is treasure chest of catty oneliners "I just saved your size 6 ass". Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are effectively cast as movers and shakers of the fashion industry. Anne Hathaway is dolled up as the next Audrey Hepburn. Like this movie and Jennifer Gardner's "13 going on 30", why is Hollywood portraying us magazine industry types as cold and heartless, when we are just as evil as the women at a beauty salon.

The Lake House - Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunite in this Griffin and Sabine-like tale where two people who communicate through letters but are unable to meet each other because they living in 2 separate timelines, Keanu lives in 2004 while Sandra lives in 2006. Interesting concept, the story builds tension because the 2 characters cannot meet physically. They can only send letters via the magic mailbox at Reeves' lake house, Bullock is the eventual owner in 2006. Somethings happen along the way which make you shout "temporal paradox", but you just have to suspend in disbelief and let the story unfold itself. All this time travel can get a little confusing, but Reeves has been there before through his Bill and Ted Excellent Adventures.

The Colors of the Carnaval

2006-05-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

Bolivian dancers at San Francisco's Carnaval, May 28, 2006

The Carnaval in San Francisco is one of the city's largest multicultural events featuring music, dances and costumes from the Latin American and Caribbean countries. During the last week of May, the latino community in the mission district holds a street festival and parade.

A Mexican Aztec Dancer

A dancer from the Aquarela Brazil Dance Group

Children in traditional Mayan dress, representing the Yucatan community

The Sleeping Giants of Suisun Bay

2006-05-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

Stationed in the middle of Suisun Bay, California, the Battleship USS Iowa and the vintage ships of the US Navy Reserve Fleet still can be called upon active duty in times of war.

I heard and read about it on the internet, a graveyard of old Navy ships stationed somewhere in Northern California. My search led me to a location much closer than I thought, the US Navy Reserve Fleet (Mothball Fleet) just off the coast of Martinez, California in Suisun Bay. A month ago, I drove out to Benicia which is across the Bay but couldn't see anything. I research further and found out you can only reach the mothball fleet by boat. Bay View Charters offers a cruise once a month on the last Sunday.

It is cheaper to store and maintain old ships rather than build new ones just in case the US is drawn into war.

I finally booked a reservation and I was amazed when the boat reached the fleet. The fleet was row after row of floating steel goliaths. You'll see old warships, support ships, oilers, and other vessels dating back to World War II which the US Navy keeps just in case of war. It is cheaper to keep these vessels than to build new ones. Old ships also contain hazardous materials such as asbestos which make it environmentally dangerous if discarded in the ocean.

The helicopter carrier USS New Orleans is scheduled to be sunk as a target.

The tour was organized by the Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, which brought the battleship USS Iowa to the Bay Area. The group wanted to station the Iowa at San Francisco, but the City's Board of Supervisors rejected the idea because of the board's anti-war stance. The ship would have been ideally based in San Francisco because of its rich tradition as a port city. The city of Stockton is applying to dock the ship as floating museum while Vallejo, which is closer to the Reserve Fleet has still to vote on whether to get the ship or not.

More photos at my Filphoto Gallery

Number 710

2006-04-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Giants Third baseman Barry Bonds hits career home run no. 710, Bottom of the 2nd, April 25, 2006, AT&T Park, San Francisco.

It was an overcast Tuesday. Despite the steroid scandal surrounding their favorite player Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants fans still came in droves to support the home team playing against the New York Mets. Starting Giant pitcher Jamey Wright couldn't hold off the Mets hitters who jumped ahead to a 1 run lead in the first inning. Giants fans still have a love for Barry who brought the house to its feet when he hit his 710th home run in the bottom of the second against New York pitcher Steve Trachsel. Unfortunately, the Mets won in the end 4-1.

Getting our free "I was there!" home run pins at the Giants store.

The things you don't hear on TV are the heckles from the fans, which makes watching a live ball game more interesting.
"Hey you, with the cell phone! Sit Down! Everybody! Don't be like that guy!"
"Hey Guerrero! I hope that comes out of your salary!" (NY Mets' Guerrero's wild fly ball hit the lighted scoreboard)
"Hey Endy! I know your sister and she's HOT!"
"Hey Matsui! Isn't that a girl's name?!!"

2006 Cherry Blossom Festival

2006-04-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

I had to run up and down Post Street, squeeze through the crowd of onlookers and costumed otaku (fans), and inch up over heads just to get good shots of this year's Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown, San Francisco. It's one of those colorful city parades you have to see. It's a Japanese tradition that's now brought together the diverse ethnic communities of the City by the Bay.

Lots of community groups particpated. Each getting the young involved in civic activities.

Kinukuniya Bookstore's creative float

Cherry Blossom Princesses

San Francisco's popular young mayor Gavin Newsom posing with a future voter.

The Dogs of Mill Valley

2006-04-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

While waiting for an appointment in Mill Valley, I decided to take pictures of this tiny piece of serenity nestled in the mountains a little north of Golden Gate Bridge. I sat in the square near a bookstore and cafe and noticed bikers drifting by and young families bringing their kids out to play on brick plaza. I felt the troubles of the world, whether it be Al Qaeda, Katrina, pollution, homelessness, or poverty haven't touched it at all. It's like you're on "The Island," "Pleasantville," "The Truman Show," or "Lost Horizon's" Shangri-la. The intimate small street community is clean and people are friendly.

There are a lot of dogs in this neighborhood, and the owners take them anywhere they go. I'd like to share with you pictures of Mill Valley's canine citizens.

Camera-shy Maya

Fluffy Katie. Unless dogs are familiar with cameras, they'll pose for you. Dogs lose interest in you when you hide behind the camera. Owners lend a hand in getting their attention.

Guess where Lucy is heading.

Pierre didn't bother I was around. He was always looking out for his master.

Maya looks around at the other dogs. Again, the dog loses interest when I duck behind the camera.

Four New Years

2006-04-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Young Thai American dancers anxiously wait for their bowl of Thai Noodle Soup during the 2006 Songkran Festival in Berkeley, California.

It's April already and I'm in my fourth New Year celebration. After years of taking part in the Christian and Chinese New Years, I went on culture trip to different Southeast Asian enclaves around the Bay Area to see how they celebrate their new year.

Tet Festival
Held in late January, the Tet Festival is celebrated by the Vietnamese to commemorate the beginning of Spring.

Tet Festival in Little Saigon, San Francisco

San Francisco's Tet Festival was held in Little Saigon, located in the Tenderloin district near Civic Center. Polk Street was closed off to accommodate a festive street fair and Miss Little Saigon Beauty Pagaent. Vietnamese Americans transformed part of this rough neighborhood into a small business center of restaurants, convenience stores and beauty parlors.

Spring Beauty Queens

Songkran Festival
A new year co-celebrated by Thai, Khmer, Cambodian and Lao peoples. The celebration still follows the the old lunar calendar of Siam and is held from April 13-16. It is highlighted by the "pouring of the water" ritual. Symbolically, its meant for good luck, but in modern times, thais have turned it into a water-throwing free-for-all (similar to St. John the Baptist Day) during the warm summer.

A young thai miss presenting a story between the monkey and lady fish.

I attended the Songkran Festival in Berkeley. It's not as hot as a Southeast Asian summer but local Thai Americans came to celebrate. It's an intimate neighborhood setting where people feast on Thai delicacies such as noodle soup and barbeque satays. The weather refused to cooperate but the festivities went indoors for cultural dance and Muay Thai demonstration.

Monks spreading good fortune.

Martial art Muay Thai is a hit.

Swimwear on the Square

2006-04-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

As part of its 60th Anniversary, Macy's had an outdoor fashion show on Union Square. Fortunately, the weather cooperated but the organizers held the event under a tent to be safe. This year's theme is Italy, it's a mixed palette of the lush sky and earth colors.

More Swimwear Photos at my FilPhoto Gallery

Why Pay To Hear Snarky Remarks?

2006-04-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

From Yahoo News/Associated Press

Howard Stern Lashes Out at Some Fans

Fri Mar 31, 4:20 PM ET

Howard Stern is angry more fans haven't followed him to satellite radio. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 52-year-old shock jock lashes out at those of his fan base who haven't made the transition to Sirius Satellite Radio.

In January, Stern moved his popular and bawdy morning show to the subscription satellite radio provider.

"I was just at my psychiatrist and I said, `I just got great news: We hit the 4 million mark. And I'm angry. It should be 20 million,'" Stern says in the magazine, on newsstands Monday.

"It's insulting to me that everyone hasn't come with me. I take it personally," he says.

"I want to say to my audience... `You haven't come with me yet? How dare you? We're up to wild, crazy stuff, the show has never sounded better. You cheap bastard!'"

Oh, the ego! Stern finally realized the universe doesn't revolve around him! Yeah, we're cheap, if I want to hear a snarky remark, I go to my friends... they're free! What's more? I can have a drink with them!

"The show never sounded better?" Wilmer Valderama's sexcapades?

If You Can Dodge a Wrench, You Can Dodge a Ball

2006-03-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

The guy has the balls to play like this.

The YCMA in downtown San Francisco had the Ultimate Dodgeball Challenge last March 23, 2006. The Presidio team led by Mr. Indestructible (even the honor system can't touch this guy), beat out three other teams in this fun and freewheeling event.

The Rocket Launchers taking off.

Slip of the tongue.

Grabbing their balls.

The Rocket Launchers having a ball.

The Real World Series

2006-03-21T05:34:00.000-08:00

For years, you'd often wondered why Major League Baseball called its championship "The World Series?" It's 30 team league had 29 teams in the continental U.S. and 1 Canadian team. There used to be 2 teams north of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, until the Expos owner couldn't afford them and the team led a nomadic existence in San Juan, Puerto Rico and then finally settled in the nation's capitol as Washington Nationals. This is the land that invented baseball where everyone breathes and spouts its stats like a mantra. For decades, no other country had an organized sports league that would count the average joe as its faithful night after night during the non-winter months (basketball was invented to cover for that).

Baseball did spread to other countries, not as big as in U.S., but it was great sport for the rest of the world who wasn't physically tall or huge or had to go to a special training clinic. The equipment such as the gloves, bases, and catcher's protection where expensive in other countries, but it's a sport where everyone can easily pick up and not get hurt a lot, like in American football (for the rest of the world, soccer is football) or hockey. Japan has its own professional leagues and developed its own history and rabid fan base. The Latin American countries had their own leagues and have contributed great players to American baseball.

Since there wasn't much team competition outside the U.S., it was never included in the Olympics until recently. Then it was only a demonstration sport. Due to its oversaturated schedule, the Olympic pantheon decided to drop the god of American sports from its lineup.

Recently, Major League Baseball introduced the World Baseball Classic in order to develop interest in baseball worldwide and create a new market outside the regular American season. There were a lot of non-believers on the American side. Not many fans are familar with baseball outside the U.S. Will it be a one-sided romp like with the 1992 Olympic basketball team filled with NBA players called the Dream Team? Even a lot of the well-known baseball players decided to stay away. It will coincide with the start of spring training and any chance of injury would ruin their their chances for a huge payday or a shot at the "World Series."

Despite the skepticism, the World Baseball Classic came on its own and it came like a juggernaught. 16 teams from around the globe came to play and the whole baseball world came to watch. Teams wanted to face the Americans to see how they stack up and eventually beat them. Games brought in fans from different nations to passionately cheer for their homeboys.

World baseball didn't lack the passion that major league purists thought. The Japanese brought the best players from their Pacific and Central leagues. Cuba, despite a political embargo from the US government, came and showed why it was a monster in international play. Latin American players in the major league went back to their home countries' team to show they are worthy of playing on the world's biggest stage. Korea showed it was a power to contend with by sweeping the opening rounds. Fans came in armed with their thundersticks, cowbells and hisses.

In the end, the inventors of baseball were run over and new fans were won over. The American team underestimated the world teams and came in undertrained despite the system allowing them enough chances to reach the championship. Japan beat Cuba in a roller coaster game at the San Diego Padre's Petco Park, 10-6. A new era in world sport had begun.

Idol Intrigue

2006-03-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

I'm just spreading the gossip...

According to a Newsday post:

Is it a love connection for Kellie, Constantine?

March 16, 2006

And now today's "American Idol" water-cooler topic: Rumors are flying on the show's set that finalist Kellie Pickler, 19, is dating last season's contestant Constantine Maroulis, 30, according to Us magazine The two met at Fox's Idol party on Feb. 18, where, a source says, they exchanged numbers. "She grew a serious crush on him," says the source. Still, Pickler tells Us she is single, saying "I'm on the market!" Fox declined to comment.

Rock Star: Supernova

2006-03-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, my other guilty pleasure will be on this summer. After a successful run of Rock Star:INXS last year, Mark Burnett Productions, producers of Survivor, will follow it up with Rock Star: the Series, featuring a new heavy metal band consisting of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and Gun N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke. Unlike last year's show, "Supernova" is a completely new band, consisting of veterans of rock bands. Contestants won't have to box themselves into an established band's style and will have free rein when they compete for this band's lead singer. Previous rumors of which band will carry the second season included Van Halen, REM and Alice in Chains.

Hopefuls can audition for Rock Star: The Series on this web page: http://rockstar.msn.com/Season2

Kicking the Whole Beach in your Face

2006-03-12T04:49:00.000-08:00

2006 San Francisco Grand Prix IFBB Men's Pro Championship, Hayward, California

This is the first time I've gone to bodybuilding championship. This contestants have built themselves up to insanely massive proportions. With today's training and supplements, these people would have run Charles Atlas into the ground. Magazine pictures and documentaries don't complete the whole experience of watching a tournament live, you could feel the tension in every flex and contortion and smell the testostorone mixed with body oil. On an interesting observation after the contest, I noticed I'm still taller than some of the contestants, heheheh.

2006 San Francisco Grand Prix IFBB Women's Pro Figure Championship, Hayward, California

The 2006 San Francisco Grand Prix in Hayward, California, included the IFBB Men's Pro, Women's Pro Figure and NPC Steel Rose Championship (Women). The Women's Pro Figure did not emphasize body building but focuses on form and muscle tone. It's more feminine than Women's Bodybuilding where the contestants look like men. I overheard a woman behind me mentioned she used to compete before and retired after 6 years of active competition. She's trying to lose the muscled figure she has because she felt she didn't look good when she was shopping for clothes, she only looked good when she was on stage competing.

The AmGen Tour of California

2006-02-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

The Tour of California is off and running. Top professional teams, big local sponsors and 200,000 fans gathered today, Feb.19, at the Ferry Building in San Francisco to kick off a cycling classic which promises to be as big as the Tour De France. The race will take cyclists through Northern California's wine country, along the scenic Pacific Coast highway and ending up in LA-LA land's Redondo Beach.

Too bad Lance Armstrong retired, it would be fun to see him race here (oh, he used to, at the T-Mobile San Francisco Grand Prix)

Headshots from Wondercon

2006-02-19T23:48:00.000-08:00

A local San Francisco Star Wars fan club provides crowd control at the 2006 Wondercon Convention at Moscone Center West.

To the batcave! This Shakepeare bust comes complete with the hidden switch underneath the head.

Superman lands at Wondercon

2006-02-11T23:19:00.000-08:00

New Superman Brandon Routh (left) makes a surprise appearance at San Francisco's Wondercon Comic Convention during "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer's presentation.

Now running in February, San Francisco's Wondercon is the first major comic convention of the year. It's a great time to create buzz for comics and comics-related movies. In the past 2 years, Wondercon has scored coups in inviting Hollywood stars like Tobey Maguire (Spiderman 2) and Christian Bale (Batman Begins). This year is no different as this year's special guest is new Superman Brandon Routh.

Director Bryan Singer was fielding questions from the floor during his "Superman Returns" presentation. After featuring more clips from the upcoming movie, Bryan revealed the new guy tasked to carry the Superman franchise. Actor Christopher Reeve has set the bar high in portrayal of the world's foremost superhero. But as the new footage reeled in and Routh got to establish rapport during the open forum, the fans were won over and are looking for more years of Superman on film.

On a quiet note, I got to meet actress Noel Neill, the original Lois Lane from the 1950s Superman TV series starring George Reeves. Noel was a bit part in the new Superman movie. A fan asked what happened to her after the TV series, why did she vanish? She replied she opted to become a housewife and raise a family. I asked her what she thought about the other Superman movie, the biopic about George Reeves... "The one with Ben Affleck?" Thumbs down.

OK, for people complaining about Routh's small "S" symbol... the reason why it's small is that it makes Routh's chest bigger. They tried designing a suit with big "S" but it would only work if the actor wearing the suit had a massive chest. Singer commented that artist Alex Ross always paints Superman as a larger than life person. Routh is not that big so...

Separation Anxiety

2006-02-11T04:10:00.000-08:00

Office dogs Cabo (the black labrador-pit bull mix) and Pepper (Jack Russell terrier) await the return of their masters from lunch.

Grammy is Granny

2006-02-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

The Grammy Awards is a disaster of cliches. They followed formula again this year and combined artists from different genres together, but then like oil and water, the experiment failed again. The producers wanted to reach the largest audience possible and think a cocktail of Paul McCartney, Linkin Park and Jay-Z singing "Yesterday" would light a fire. Even album of the year winner U2 was uninsipiring, it was a safe choice. The nominees were a crate of apple and oranges... pit Kanye West vs. Paul McCartney vs. Gwen Stefani vs. Mariah Carey?

Music is not one industry where everyone can get along, choice in music has become so diversified. They should split up the Grammys and have independent awards shows like the Rock Awards, the Country Awards, the Hiphop Awards, the Soul Awards... oh, there are awards shows like that already... Country Music Awards, Soul Train Music Awards

The Grammy Show is now irrevelant.

Finis for Film

2006-01-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

When photography giant Kodak announced it was slashing 15,000 jobs last year due to slumping film sales, it signaled the end of the film camera. This year, other major players have announced their decision to end photographic product lines, Nikon will discontinue the D100 line and Konica Minolta will pull out of the film camera industry altogether.

The film camera was invented a little over a century ago. Ushering a new art form, accurate capturing images which only skilled painters and illustrators can only accomplish. It has made art more accessible to the masses.

The introduction of the Sony Mavica, the first consumer electronic camera in 1981, brought in a new era of stored images. Now people don’t need to wait for developing. The initial problems with digital cameras were: the images weren’t as detailed as film images, memory wasn’t enough to store larger images, and their price was expensive.

With the advent of better memory chips and availability of the internet to the masses, digital cameras got better, more affordable and have become a necessity to modern living. People can take photos and share them in an instant.

By making photography ever more personal, the film camera and its complimentary businesses such as accessories and developing will retreat and cater to a nostalgic and sophisticated few, just like the vinyl record player.

The Power of Pacquiao

2006-01-22T00:32:00.000-08:00

"Life in the Philippines virtually stops when Manny Pacquiao fights. Even high ranking officials such as congressmen and senators make it a point to watch a Pacquiao match"

That intro on HBO's Pay per View broadcast of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales WBC Super Featherweight elimination bout rang true as I watch with 20 other Filipinos at Tom and Yolanda Stern's home in Berkeley, California.

Filipino endear themselves to their boxing heroes. Every victory brings elation to nation of 80 million. From the poor to the rich, everyone is glued to their TV sets vicariously living up the bout, feeling the intensity of the struggle as if it were their own. The champion's win becomes their win.

Pacquiao and Morales met one year ago in one of the best bouts in boxing history (ranked no.2 of 2005). Morales bloodied and outpointed Pacquiao, who blamed his manager and heavily padded boxing gloves for his loss. Morales turned out to be the more accurate boxer because his punches found its target better than his Filipino opponent's.

Pacquiao came into this battle better prepared and fresh from 2 great victories. He worked on a new combination of punches and came into the weigh-in one and a half pounds less than the required weight. This means he can eat more before the fight and benefit from the extra energy.

Morales just lost his boxing crown to fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera and has trouble making the weight. He would have to lose weight before the fight and have his energy level diminished.

During the early rounds of the fight, Morales was ahead as he used his accurate hitting ability and his left jab, which Pacquiao had no defense against. Pacquiao fought his way back by throwing more punches, though not as precise as his Mexican counterpart, but each landed punch was hard enough to do the damage. Morales soon had a cut on his right brow and lumps on his face. His latino legs started to feel weighted and required massaging inbetween the ninth.

The "Pacman" dominated all rounds after the sixth. He had his own weapon which "El Terrible" cannot stop, the straight left. At times he looked cocky, dropping his arms, egging Morales to go after him inside. He was in good physical shape to take any blow Morales would deliver. The baiting tactic would expose the former Mexican champion to heavy body blows. His conditioning did him well as he was still bouncing around in the tenth when he knocked down Morales twice. The referee stopped the fight and declared a technical knock-out. Pacquiao went to his corner on his knees in tears and let out a yawp. The Filipino nation roared in jubilation as their champion won once more!

The victory makes Pacquiao the number one contender against Barrera who was beaten before by the Filipino.

The Return of a Guilty Pleasure

2006-01-17T23:00:00.000-08:00

OK, American Idol is back. Though it makes me cringe to listen the musically ungifted sing and roll my eyeballs whenever some self-deluded overinflated ego open their crap trap, I am entertained by a show that's unscripted and unrehearsed but throughly packaged to appeal to your knack to see people reveal themselves whether it's good or bad. It's bipolar entertainment, you applaud and line up to support the amazing voices and potential talent, or unleash your inner Anne Robinson and chew out the weakest link.

The first few shows is always a blast, the best when the worst performs. The first show takes place in the windy city, Chicago. The first applicants get eliminated because they weren't serious as singers and were heavy on the self-hype. Despite the thousands who showed up for the auditions, Chicago is sending 34 people to Hollywood.

Rickey.org noticed the judges are following a formula from Idol shows past. The sweet hometown blonde girl. The rocker. The soul belter. Rickey Yaneza hit the motherlode by blogging on reality shows.

Once the worst are weeded out, the real show begins. Talent will bring you far but is sometimes not enough to get you crowned as American Idol. The best sometimes are beat out by the most popular. American Idol generates an instant following for a new talent. I wonder what deadly daggers Simon Cowell will throw this season.

Shadowbox lighting experiments

2005-12-31T23:55:00.000-08:00

I get comments from people that they would like to see my shadowbox lighted. I did some experiments below, let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions to light my shadowboxes.

LED lighting

Incandescent lighting

Christmas Guilt

2005-12-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

1) Do you give a gift to someone who you don't like (obviously, no), what if it's a relative, a neighbor or co-worker in your same team?

2) What if you receive a gift from someone you don't like, do you return the favor?

3) Have you ever given coal for Christmas? received coal?

4) Do you feel hurt when a loved one forgets to buy you a gift?

5) Are you a "re-gifter"? Giving gifts you received to other people if you don't like the gift or if it will save you time and money from buying a new one?

6) When did you tell a child Santa Claus did not exist?

7) Have you ever greeted a Muslim or Jew "Merry Christmas?"

8) Are you an after-Christmas gift buyer?

Hearts Across the Pond

2005-12-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

"Michelle, I'm off to meet my future husband," Emmily jokingly said as my former co-worker heads off to the Haight in San Francisco for a book signing with British author Daniel Rhodes (Anthropology, Timoleon Vieta Come Home, Don't Tell Me the Truth About Love, The Little White Car). Little does she know that her little jest caught the ears of the gods.

Mae Emmily Magtalas is an adventurous soul. After a failed romance, she uprooted herself from thousands of miles away in the Philippines to the San Francisco Bay Area to find a new life and better opportunities. She ended up working as a staffwriter at Filipinas Magazine, where I met her, and I would listen to her endless stories about her life in the college dorm and the strange men who she would meet in bars (don't worry, there were the cute ones too).

She found out about Daniel through the books she's borrowed at nearby public library. When she read Anthropology (an anthology of 101 stories written in 101 words), she emailed Dan her own story of 101 words "Anglophile". The fan girl in her got excited when he would be visiting the Bay Area in person for a booksigning.

At the event, she brought along our friend Irene who hadn’t heard of Dan until Emmily started singing his praises. When Irene saw him, she goes “He’s cute! Your boyfriend’s fucked!”

After the signing, Dan invited Emmily and Irene to a bar for drinks. The two got to know each other better and he left her a rose (which she almost forgot). Next day, tongues started wagging at the office.

Dan and Emmily kept correspondence despite the distance, she’s on the Pacific while he’s on the Atlantic. Emmily broke off with guy she was dating with at the time. She continued to email Dan regularly and even he sent a picture of his dog Blimey, which became her desktop screenshot on her PC.

At work, tongues started wagging harder. The office started living vicariously on this new long distance fairy tale romance. Everyone wanted an update on Emmily’s “prince” who would one day take her home to the United Kingdom.

Dan would visit San Francisco when he could get the chance. He and Emmily would tour the Bay Area by car. While Emmily was at work, he would keep himself busy writing drafts of future books on his laptop or visit the bookstores downtown to see what people were reading. On latest book (or a new edition of his previous work, I can't remember), Dan dedicated it to Emmily. At work, the tongues would never stop.

After a few months romance, Dan got down on bended knee and proposed… Emmily thought he was joking… then she said yes. They wed at the historic San Francisco City Hall. The tongues rejoiced!

Today, both are living in Edinburgh, Scotland and just finished Dan’s European book tour. Dan and Emmily, both writers, penned the perfect romance for long distance lovers.

Click here for more on Daniel Rhodes. Emmily doesn’t like to be clicked.

More than a year after their wedding, the tongues still talk about Emmily and Dan once in a while.

Deliciously Evil

2005-12-19T03:02:00.000-08:00

The Bad Brits (clockwise from top left): Tilda Swinton (Gabriel, "Constantine"). Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber, "Die Hard"). Christopher Lee (Saruman, "The Lord of the Rings"). Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy, "Harry Potter").

Why do Brits always play the bad guys? In Star Wars, Ian McDiarmid, who plays the ever-plotting Emperor Palpatine and his spiffy Star Destroyer captains bark their orders in the Queen’s language. In the Hannibal Lecter series, Sir Anthony Hopkins seduces and slices you in the British tongue.

Two websites look into the movie stereotype where bad guys speak as if Oxford was the University of Evil: Why Villains in Movies have English Accents and Does evil have an accent?

It’s become a Hollywood stereotype, the hero is the everyday-nice-guy-joe, who the All-American audience can identify with. Along with him is loyal wise-cracking buddy, the old wise man and the sweet damsel in distress he must rescue. To carry out his journey, he must face a villain who’s diabolical and “intelligently evil.” The smarter the villain, the greater the peril, the greater the thrill ride. Follow the stereotypes and you’re sure to make a hit movie.

Author Joseph Campbell laid down the rules in his “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” Guess who’s his greatest disciple… George Lucas.

Why the Brits? According to the websites, you need someone who’s evil with sophistication, speaking in the mother tongue shows a high level of education.

"14-year-old Emily Watson, an American raised in Great Britain, thinks Americans can find British accents a little disturbing.
'A British accent is more sinister-sounding than an American one,' she said. 'An American one is happy sounding.'"

In this world of political correctness, old villains such as the Germans, Russians and the Arab terrorists are out. Real world politik will only last with the times… the smart villain lives forever.

As for casting villainous Brits: "'It's one of the few (nationalities) yet to be labeled politically incorrect,' speculated Boston University film professor Bob Demers, who hadn't noticed the trend but wasn't shocked by it."

Brits who play the antagonists don’t mind, they get the best lines of the film.

On the other hand, some action movies made on the other side of the world have the money-mad, gun-slinging Americans as the bad guys, reflecting the fears and distrust the rest of the world has against the "gringos." They do follow the Hollywood formula of playing sterotypes.

The XBox 360 Xpedition

2005-11-23T20:32:00.000-08:00

Back on an early August morning, I came upon a line formed outside casual shoe boutique HUF. It was a strange sight to see and I asked the people in line what they were waiting for. The guy in front said they were waiting for a Nike shoe variant colored "Tiffany Blue". Nike released limited quantities of this shoe and it was selling at $200 on eBay. I see lines like this for Star Wars, where devoted patrons wait long hours even sleep over in line just to be the first to see a movie or buy a new console. I always thought I'd never do that, but now I eat my words.

Customers waiting in line for a Nike shoe colored "Tiffany Blue". Aug. 2005

A month ago, my cousin from the Philippines emails and asks for favor to buy the new XBox 360. The XBox 360 is new generation game console and would be released this November ahead of its rival Sony Playstation 3, which will be released next year 2006. Though launched worldwide, the XBox will not be launched in the Philippines. Some retailers may buy units during the launch here in the states on Thanksgiving weekend and bring them home to the Philippines to sell.

I did my search on the internet and found out it was too late to preorder. Any new preorders would have deliveries in January and February at the earliest. Circuit City and Best Buy were not taking preorders. There was a web special last Nov. 18 on the Circuit City website but the consoles were gone after the 2 pm EST release. The only way to score an XBox 360 was buying in the store.

I was thinking of buying a unit after work on launch day, Nov. 22. I checked for available supplies on the day before. The Circuit City near my place only have 20 premium units and 6 core units (premium units have a hard drive to save games). What I deemed unthinkable became the only way to get this holy grail. I have to wait in line. The manager said people will be starting a line at 2 am. I thought maybe 4 am would be ok. I'll have 2 hours more sleep and less time holding my thing before doing number 1 and 2. I'm a patient person so waiting in line is no problem.

My alarm sounded at 3. I went to work. Packed a bottle of water (to sip, not fill up my belly in cold weather), cornbread, a book (I didn't care which book I got, just to read passing the time away), All-Star Superman #1, Green Lantern #5, a Game Boy, a notebook, a digital camera and a towel to use as a small blanket. My sister left a light outdoor chair which I only used once before, now's the time to use it. Dressed warmly to endure the cold San Francisco morning. I was ready for my first wait-in-line-for-long-hours gig.

When I got there, there were people in line. It looked few enough at the start. One of the guys had the initiative to make a list so no one would jump ahead in line. He would give the list to the store manager just in case they would assign vouchers so people don't have to wait until the store opening at 10 am.

When they gave me the list, I was number 21. Uh-oh, there are only 20 premium units! People in line seem like hardcore gamers and would prefer only the premium units to the core units. In front of me was guy who works for a game company (the one that makes Star Wars), an asian law student and her boyfriend, the list guy and his white friend who's new to this wait-in-line-thing. "Lawyer Girl" told me that there were homeless people in line as well, they are going get the vouchers and scalp them on the street. I can only hope that some of these guys would get vouchers for the core units and that there would be a premium unit for me.

"Gamemaker", list guy and lawyer girl exchanged stories that they went around the different stores through the night and found out that there were long lines there already. Best Buy claimed they have 40 premium units and that they would give vouchers at 8 am. Target would not allow people to wait in line and told them to come back at 7 am. Gamemaker found out from friends that other stores would carry around 30-40 premium units each. He kept tabs with his friends on his cell phone. He had this one friend at Best Buy who thought he was the 30th in line but other people jumped ahead making him number 43.

To pass the time away, gamemaker and list guy brought Gameboy Advance to pass the time away, lawyer girl had her big-ass case book and her boyfriend went to sleep in the car. I read my book for a while but decided to catch quick winks or munch my cornbread in between. As I sit in my chair, I wrapped my towel over my lap to keep my balls warm (to keep from going to the bathroom). I notice people's chairs were different, lawyer girl and her boy friend brought folding chairs, other people brought collapsible outdoor chairs with cup holders and leg rests, and list guy brought a small rocker. Gamemaker decided to stand or squat on the ground, then he found out that the pavement was cold and hard. I wanted to take a picture of the line but my camera ran out of charge. Gamemaker checked with his buddy again and found out that the manager announced Best Buy had 60 units, so he was safe at 43, but there were hundreds in line. Though I was 21st in line, more people appeared after me, hopeful that the store would have enough premium units because they felt the core units were crappy not save their games.

At 7:30, the store people came out and said they only had 20 premium units and 6 cores and would give vouchers for the people in line. List guy gave his list and they followed it. My new buddies listened carefully as the store people called each number in order. Some premium units are already packaged with games and with an extra games. Lawyer girl heard that someone got a voucher for a core so there was still a chance! When they called out my number, there was only one premium package voucher left... and it was mine!

My Circuit City XBox 360 Voucher

I felt relieved after I got my voucher. Gamemaker came up and congratulated me on getting the last one. We both went our separate ways to refresh ourselves at our respective apartments before we come back and claim our booty at 10 am. I heard some of the guys who came after me after they earlier dissed the core unit decided to take the remaining core units and sell them on eBay. The homeless guys did take the vouchers and started selling them for $50. Not to invoke bad karma, I did not gloat or brag about having the last premium package voucher at Circuit City (I did it in the privacy of my apartment where I did a little shadow boxing).

I got back at 10 am, refreshed, but people were still asking if there were any units still around. I met up with list guy, his friend, lawyer girl and her boyfriend as we claimed our prizes with relieved smiles on our faces.

The last XBox 360 premium unit at Circuit City Van Ness, San Francisco, Nov. 22, 2005 (maybe not the last if the homeless guys sold their vouchers before 12 nn).

Match.com Mishmash

2005-11-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

According to C/Net News.com, 2 of the biggest online dating services, Match.com and Yahoo Personals have been accused of fraud by frustrated online daters who have filed lawsuits against them.

Accusers of Match.com contend that they have been resorting to "date bait" tactics like sending fake emails from prospective dates to keep them subscribing to the service. Some employees have even been paid to go out with unsuspecting victims.

Plaintiffs against Yahoo's service argue that the Sunnyvale-based company has been planting fake profiles to make it appear that they have more singles subscribed to the service.

This incident puts a black-eye on the online dating service industry which aims to relieve the pressures of finding suitable dates. Prospective customers already weed out people who they don't have to meet in natural social settings in bars, dance clubs, weddings, funerals, parties or through blind dates. It creates excitement since you don't have to reveal yourself and you can play god/goddess and select at your own leisure from confines of home. Though pranksters and players muddle the process, these lawsuits represent a big setback to a competitive industry.

A few years ago, my macromedia director instructor told me of a project he's been working on for a startup company which they have been given venture capital money to develop compatibility programs. We tried in class and I was amazed how they turned a psych analysis test into an interactive experience. The company which he worked for turned out to be Match.com.

I wish the industry didn't have to resort to such tactics (if proven true), unless if the date failure rate is high or people can still find dates for free. But when you think about it once they find someone compatible, the dating service loses 2 customers (my sister was a success story).

PilDesign's Exhibit P3: Our Ongoing Journey in Pilipino American Design Aesthetics

2005-11-15T11:09:00.000-08:00

December 1, 2005 to January 31, 2006
3rd Floor, Filipino American Center
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, California

PilDesign is promoting the Philippines through a series of inspiring visuals of the Pearl of the Orient. Fil-Americans, Immigrants and Foreigners will be enticed to visit the motherland though the sights of her historic landmarks, luscious food and rich art and culture.

A panel talk on Filipino Design aesthetic research will be held on December 21, 2005 at 5-7 PM. Artists' reception will follow from 7-7:30PM.

Pildesign is a group consisting of Filipino Americans and Philippine born designers and artists seeking to define Filipino Design Aesthetics. The members are also finding more ways to incorporate their Filipino culture into their work, both professionally and for personal, artistic goals.

This year's exhibit will feature work from Al Perez, Gloria G. Galang, John Lomibao, Eduardo Datangel, Raymond Virata, Bren Bataclan, Milbert Mariano, Mark Sta. Ana, Christian Alcala and Gerard Talampas.

Turning life around with Mercury Retrograde

2005-11-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Ronica (left) and Vivian Z. Araullo

The word retrograde applies, in astrology, to the apparent backward motion thru the zodiac of a planet. An old encyclopedia of astrology describes this retrograde motion as "the effect of a slow-moving train as viewed from another train traveling parallel to it but at a more rapid rate, wherein the slower train appears to be moving backwards. However, in the case of the celestial bodies it is not a matter of their actual speed of travel, but of the rate at which they change their angular relationship."*

All the planets, except Sun and Moon, have these retrograde periods, but Mercury is most famous for them, probably because Mercury represents our very essential communication abilities.

While people speak of Mercury Retrograde periods that screw up computers and television sets, today's astrologers believe the mishaps happen in more personal realms (Uranus is the planet that rules television and computers). Mercury rules communication, but more informal communications, like writing, speaking, short shopping sprees and other erranding endeavors. So, while Mercury is Retrograde, don't give that party, be extra aware of what you say and what you interpret when chatting with or writing to friends, cut back on errands, expect that the check will be in the mail longer than usual. Since the car is usually used for shopping and errands, don't be surprised if the battery wire loosens or the fan belt snaps just when you have rush out for that one ingredient you forgot to buy.

The good things to do when Mercury is Retrograde: meditate, contemplate, edit the book/poem/song/essay you've been writing, clean house, talk to your pet, listen to music, paint, catch up on sleep!

* Encyclopedia of Astrology, Nicholas deVore, Philosophical Library, 1947

I first learned of the term "Mercury Retrograde" from my former co-worker and associate editor Vivian Z. Araullo. Vivian is a Realtor now, if you want to buy a house from her or find out how to own a home in the San Francisco Bay Area, just let me know and I'll hook you up with her. Before then she was an anchorwoman for ABC-5 and reporter for ABS-CBN-2 in the Philippines. This highly energetic and creative person is also well-versed in tarot card reading and astrology (last plug... she does video production, too).

There are days when things go wrong and it can be attributed to Mercury Retrograde. Anything that has to do with communication, like computers or contracts, may get screwed up. It's not the end of everything, that you should stop what you're doing for a couple of weeks, you can still do what you need to do, but the road getting there becomes a little harder.

Filipino Celebrity Sightings

2005-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Great thing about working for Filipinas Magazine, you get to meet a lot of famous Filipinos. Here's my little scrapbook.

Former Boxing Champion Louisito Espinosa

Newsbreak publisher Maan Hontiveros

Comedian Rex Navarrete

Radio personality and station manager Rey Langit

Former University of the Philippines President Francisco Nemenzo

Retired Police General Victor Corpus