SIDEBAR REUNION REPORT

Robert, thanks for the speedy uploading of pictures. It was great seeing my old classmates in high school. Nagbago nga ang mga itsura, may mga lumapad, tumagkad, pumuti at kung ano-ano pa. pero nakakatawa kasi hindi nagbago sa kakulitan. Andon pa rin ang asaran, kanchawan at tuksuhan. Nabuhay ulit ang group 1 vs groups 2,3,4 rivalry. Pero di pa rin kami nagsawa kahit na lunes ang reunion, and even though the next day was still a working day for many of us, we still managed to stay until about 1:30 in the morning! Anyway, hope the follow-up reunion on Friday in Makati pushes through. Enjoy the pics (courtesy of Robert Dulce).

(L-R) RODEL BANARES , ROBERT DULCE, OLIVER ACOSTA AND DON RABANAL

DON RABANAL WITH OLD FLAME ELLAINE LASCANO

OLIVER ACOSTA, DON RABANAL AND ANNA FAYE MUNAR-BAUTISTA

THE NEWEST COUPLE OF BATCH 1991: RIZA SUPNET AND RONAN MANLOZA

(L-R): Balikbayan Christine Viola, Karen Maximo, Rodel, Robert Dulce, Oliver Acosta, Don Rabanal, Elaine Lascano, Anna Faye Munar, Riza Supnet and Ronan Manloza.

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

People! Tonight's reunion of Angelicum Batch 1991 will push through at SIDEBAR Ortigas Center at 8:00 pm. See you guys there!!!!

THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE

Talk about the devils having a field day. Raul Roco, former Senator and defeated Presidential candidate (although i don't think he will ever concede na he lost... alam niyo na, lahat nananalo...) has joined the call for the resignation of President Arroyo. Oh for heaven's sake, Raul. My clan and I campaigned for you when you were running for Senator, you are my kabanua, my kababayan. Pero naman, stop fuelling the flames of these opportunist oppositionists. By now, most of the people, though dismayed by what is happening, has not lifted a finger to heed the call for another uprising. Why? Eh mas less credible pa yung nagtatawag ng rebolusyon kaysa doon sa gusto pabagsakin na administrasyon eh. The people are tired of being used as toy soldiers of the people hungry for power. Look at the logic na lang... si pimentel, iiyak-iyak pa during the impeachment of Erap and he was the one who resigned pa kuno out of dignity and honor, but look where he is today... he is allied with the Estrada Camp! The same man whose ouster he was a party to! And this same person, Pimentel, is now an ally of the person he ousted, and they are pushing for the ouster of the woman Pimentel helped to become President! What irony! Where is the prinsipyo? Where is the honor? Wala... he had none to begin with... lumaban siya kay Marcos, pero why? Self-preservation. takot mamatay si loko eh. Sila ni Loren, they're all the same. Mga BALIMBING, MGA WALANG UTANG NA LOOB SA TAONG-BAYAN! Mabuti pa si Susan Roces, napag-isip-isip na ayaw niya magpagamit sa mga pu****-**ang mga taga opposition! Parang awa niyo na, TANTANAN NIYO NA ANG TAONG BAYAN! SOBRA NG PAHIRAP, GUSTO NIYO PA BA SI ERAP??!!!!!!

GAS PRICES

i spoke with a friend last night and she's a station owner of one of the big three oil companies in the country. She was complaining about how the Senate of the Philippines decided to burden the station owners with a new round of taxes (EVAT). Now don't get me wrong. I'm disappointed with the round of oil price hikes myself but knowing my friend, she's really not happy about what's happening. If this new round of taxes are imposed on the stations, pump prices, rightly predicted by mr. consumer-watch joe Concepcion, would jack up to about P50.00 to 55.00 per liter. Wow! That is about 4 liters of every P200.00. And how much does an average worker earn? You mean we have to spend about P200.00 a day just for gas? Sure sure, mag-commute tayo, you say... pero ganoon din... fare is as expensive na rin... I urge Senator Recto, please.... reconsider the burden you will eventually put on the consumer if you tax the station owners exhorbitantly. I am sure you are not stupid or gullible enough to believe that none of these taxes will affect the consumers. Remember, we are the end user here. Papaano kikita ang oil giants? syempre in the end, it's the end user who carries the burden. Back to my friend: she is seriously considering closing her station, and so are other station owners as well. Thinking of the worst-case scenario, she believes that should the prices go up to P50-55 pesos per liter in July, the people will not take this sitting down and massive civil unrest will be in the offing. Let us pray she's worng.

Message to Pearly

please get in touch with me through my email address:

theprman_ph@yahoo.com

or

pds@sbnphilippines.net

THANKS! Hope to hear from you soon! :)

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION AT SIDEBAR

members of Angelicum High School Batch 1991, please attend the mini-reunion on Monday, June 27, 2005 at 7:00 pm at Sidebar in Ortigas Center (EL Pueblo). This is in honor of Tina Viola, who arrived yesterday, June 23 from the United States. It's gonna be a fun night of reminiscing. For more information, visit our yahoo groups (ANGELICUM_HS_1991) or join our yahoo group by entering your e-mail address and clicking on the "join" button at the bottom sidebar of my blog (the one with the dancing Calvin). Thanks and i do hope to see you guys there!

ETO KAMI NOON....

GANITO KAMI NGAYON.

GHOSTS OF HACIENDA LUISITA

I am at the office as I write this blog. I still can't help thinking about our experience at our FM station in Luisita Industrial Park, Tarlac. You see, last June 16, me and my boss went there with a team to check on the status of the station (operations- and marketing-wise). We were there the whole day, and at the end of the day, we were approached by a technician from the station and he showed us a tape recording of one of the shows we produce in Tarlac. The creepy thing about it is that the opening line of the announcer, which was "alright, kids", was repeated by an out-of-this-world voice! The voice was so creepy that it sent shivers down the spine of everyone who heard the recording. The tape and cd and even the original PC-format recording was examined by our audio expert, and to our surprise, even though the voice seemed loud, it barely registered on our program. And to think i was supposed to be assigned there! yikes!

Mom's Radio Tarlac at Luisita Industrial Park

HI PEARLY

Hi, pearl. kumusta na? when are you coming back home? kita tayo when you come home. :) ayan... suplado pa ba ako? :) syempre hindi na..... :)

baguio pics

sorry for posting these pics so late... i just reently got them from jackie g. We went to baguio middle of may 2005 and we stayed at the house next to nida blanca's in south drive (near the Baguio Country Club).

At the Tam-Awan Village (this is the typical Ifugao hut)
with yours truly with Zach, Jessie and Philip

At the SM Baguio Mall (Such a cool place!)
L-R: Rodel, Joel, Poppo, Zach, Jessi and Philip

The Group at Mines View Park (wala na yung mga batang sumasalo ng pera sa side ng cliff).


Enjoying a drink with friends to offset the cold Baguio night


The ever-beautiful Jackie G. at the Tam-Awan Art Hut


Jackie G. again, this time at the Tam-Awan Village Art Gallery
Notice the wonderful "Sun Art" (art using magnifying glass to
burn the desired art design on the wooden canvass

It was really an enjoyable 4 days (the first day was spent in Hermosa, Bataan at Poppo's "Rancho". Other places of interest to visit while in Baguio: Cafe by the Ruins, Forest Grill, Crystal Cave, Club John Hay, Wright Park, The Mansion etc.

CHINESE BRUSHSTROKES

My sister and her group from Ayala Museum's Chinese Brushstrokes recently participated in the Reposo Arts Festival held along Reposo St. Makati last May 28-29. Her group also went on Exhibit at the GSIS Museum on the eve of the Chinese New Year. Here are some of her pictures.



Clockwise, from top left: My Sister (ASVP of Customer Service, MERALCO) with her painting at the RCBC Tower in Makati; Her painting framed in a silk scroll; 2 variation of landscape chinese paintings.

FLAG DAY

In recognition of National Flag Day, mapangurirat.blogspot.com salutes the philippine flag! MABUHAY ANG BANDILA NG MALAYANG REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS!

WHO IS SANDRA CAM?

While most of the media are having a field day with the allegations of whistle-blower Sandra Cam, the Philippine Daily Inquirer's issue today included a small backgrounder on this so-called heroine from Bicolandia. Cam is a native of the little-known town of Batuan inMasbate. She is the 9th in a brood of 10, was schooled at the Batauan Elementary School, Alindogan High School and took up journalism at ta university in Manila, based on reports from Camp Simeon Ola in LEgaspi City.

This woman, who is so self-righteous as to appear so untainted after the fact that she is the bag woman of jueteng in Bicol is not only, in my opinion, sa nut case but a serious threat to the stability of the nation. No amount could ever equal this woman's desire to be placd in the pedestal of people's admiration. A brave fighter, they say? I dare say NOT. This woman, for all her alleged high-level knowledge is nothing more than a woman who is after recognition and nothing else.
Her statement is no different from so many alleged jueteng brokers or bag-persons since the time of Cory Aquino. These are all rehashed by some disgruntled political entity whose cling to power slowly eroded by the legal and constitutional mandate received by GMA. Sure, GMA is not perfect, she has her flaws, but that is the nature of a human being. After all that has been said and done, GMS, despite her shortcomings and despite all the coups and rebellions and revolutions thrown against her still remains standing --- a proof hat her mandate is founded solidly on the people whose sole wish it is for her to stay on until her term expires. As for Cam, go home. You are no more than a patsy in this political game. What will you have gained after everything you have done? nothing. You will lose your friends, your family will abandon you, no one will dare hire you --- and all because you tried to peddle a lie and tried to destroy the president. BY the way, don't accuse Mike Arroyo of being a jueteng lord. If you have done research, you would've found out that the Tuazons and Arroyos are already rich --- landed rich. They belong to the old rich. The areas of Ateneo, Loyola Heights and some parts of Marikina used to be part of Hacienda Tuazon. They have lots of money... they don't need to engage in jueteng. Some, on the other hand, would peddle lies and untruths just to get a few million pesos. tsk. For shame!

NEVER-ENDING COUP PLOTS

It's getting to be outrageous the way some people are ganging up on the present administration. What else can you say about scandals that spring up simultaneously, allegedly involving the president to some jueteng scandal or an audio recording instructing who-knows-what of who-knows-where to cheat in the presidential elections? It's getting to be so obviously orchestrated that people are already shaking their heads in dismay at the way some politicians and opposition people can't accept that their time to shine has come and gone. Now, rumors abound that there's a coup-de-etat in the offing, and it is allegedly being led by a has-been general who would have a hard time wearing a kevlar suit. I think the only reason that this general has not yet been arrested is probably due to the fact that the geriatrics ward of the bilibid isn't ready for him yet. Abat is one general who really wants to be leader of the nation but the position has elluded him and disillusioned him. These never-ending coup plots, destabilization talks and other habalabishpala about ousting La Gloria is doing the nation and the economy a great disservice.

One Last Story: TIME OF THE GREAT JUBILLEE

By Orly Punzalan
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Rodel's note: I was searching the web for a picture of our tatang orly when i stumbled upon this article from kerygma. I hope you like it. It was written by Tatang himself.
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The Year 2000. The Great Jubilee Year. For the Catholic Church, it is a time of great blessing, a time for "abundant remission and pardon of sin," a time of forgiveness.

And indeed, countless accounts on forgiveness have been going around, some of them used by our priest-friends during their homilies. A favorite recount was that of Fr. Basilio David, the Rector of the Our Lady of Counsel Seminary in Apalit, Pampanga. Fr. David was a personal friend. I first met him when I entered this seminary way back in 1954, and for the three years I was with him, he has taught us the real essence of forgiveness. This man was known to breathe, walk, and eat forgiveness.

Three years ago, Fr. David was asked to go to the United States in order to solicit funds for the seminary. While there, he was assigned as Parish priest of the St. Bonaventure Parish in Ohio. One evening, as he was closing the church doors up, a black man came and pointed a gun at him, demanding that he hand over all of the church's money.

"But I don't have money in here," Fr. David said, as he tried to keep a straight face despite the danger. With that remark, the hijacker got upset. Sensing that the robber had been agitated, Fr. David prayed not for personal protection but for the Lord to forgive his marauder.

As the kind priest was praying, the thief staunchly aimed his weapon on the seemingly helpless Fr. David and pulled the trigger. Click! He pulled the trigger a second time. Click! On his third try, the gun still wouldn't go off. The man just stood there perplexed. Suddenly, he found himself handing his gun over to Fr. David, and between uncontrollable sobs, the would-be perpetrator ended up asking for forgiveness and telling Fr. David his problems.

Recognizing sincere remorse on the part of the black man, Fr. David offered to pray for the thief. After that, he called 911, and handed the man over to the authorities, appealing to them not to book the man, but rather assist him so he would stay off the streets.

This story may not have happened during the time of the Great Jubilee. But then again, should forgiveness be conferred only every fifty years?

BACACAY

here are some pictures of my hometown bacacay, albay, where the Banares Clan hail from. hope you like them. The next time you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila, don't go flying off to Boracay or Bohol... Luzon has something better to offer. Wow Albay!


Luzon's newest tourist destination: MISIBIS ISLAND BACACAY


Misibis island with view of Mayon Volcano (photo by Wow PHilippines)


Bacacay's Cagraray Island (one of many islands in the Town of Bacacay)


(Top: Photo of the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados of Bacacay)
(Bottom: The remnants of the Spanish Watch Tower "Roca Baluarte")

SBN 21

Whoever it was that said time flies fast wasn't kidding. Only a week ago, i was in Bataan and then Baguio with a group of friends. The 4 days spent outside Manila did wonders for me. As you know, i recently resigned from angelicum college. I submitted my resume to SBN 21 before i left for Baguio, and while i was in Baguio, i got the call for an interview. So i went to the interview this monday not knowing what to expect, and a day later, i found myself starting work here at the Southern Broadcasting Network. I must admit that the task at hand is daunting, but i also have to admit that it is challenging. Re-learning marketing techniques and developing models and frameworks for marketing strategies almost sounds ominous, but hey, i love a good challenge. I was told i will be assigned to our tarlac station, but so far, it's all training ang re-learning everything i learned and decided to forget in college. Until my next misadventure, adios.

hehehehehehe wala lang. tagal na ko di nag-blog kaya nagpaparamdam lang ako sa inyo.

ITS HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

As i was preparing my stuff to take home from the office, i realized that Angelicum has been my second home for more than half my life and that leaving it means leaving my second family behind-- the angelicum family. But as they say, we all have to move out sometime and that time is NOW for me.
I will miss all the wonderful people who made my stay in Angelicum the most memorable. Don't worry, i will still be the "doting father of the alumni" as one student called me. For now, this is just farewell, and not goodbye. When we see each other again, i hope that we are better off than when we last parted.
So long, Angelicum, until we meet again.

PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY FATHER

Catholics around the world are waiting and praying for Pope John Paul II, but Vatican officials concede he is nearing the end of his long, illustrious life. During a Mass for the pope's health, the vicar of Rome, said John Paul had "abandoned himself to the hands of Christ." In Poland, thousands gathered, many holding candles, in Krakow to honor their countryman.

Millions of Catholics around the world paused Friday to offer prayers for Pope John Paul II in hopes the ailing pontiff will recover.
As dusk fell, thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, where officials held a rosary service under the spotlights.
Lights burned in the papal apartments, high above the square.
At St. John Lateran Church in Rome, a special Mass was said for the pope's health. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar of Rome, said John Paul II had "abandoned himself to the hands of Christ, with whom he has always lived, worked, suffered and had joy."
"We are taken over by an immense gratitude toward the man and toward God," Ruini said. "And now, as we pray for him, we hold on the will of God."
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I enjoin my fellow roman catholics to pray for the Holy Father John Paul II during this time of hardship. The Holy Father has come to symbolize spiritual strength amid physical weakness. He has become, in the truest sense, the light of the world.

pls contact me

will the ff. people, if you ever do visit my site, get in touch with me? thanks! :)

PEARLY LASAM
MARK AQUINO
CASTER BACLIG
OLIVER AREOLA
YANCY AQUINO

remembering papa

ONESIMO SALAZAR (LIM) BAÑARES - 1929 - 2004

Today, March 2, 2005 is the first death anniversary of my father, Atty. Onesimo Salazar (Lim) Bañares. He was born February 16, 1929 in Tinocauan, Albay. He studied elementary in Tabaco City and Bacacay. He then went to Manila to study at the Cosmopolitan College in Sta. Cruz. He took pre-law and law at the Manuel L. Quezon University and Quiapo. He worked as legal Officer of Mantrade Philippines before transferring to First United Bank under Don Jose "Pepe" Cojuangco. He later went on to become the head of the legal department of United Coconut Planters Bank. When he retired in 1983, he put up his own private law practice, specializing in labor and land law. For a time, he partnered with two brilliant lawyers namely former Judge David Libongco and former Senator Francisco "Comong" Sumulong. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2003. He was in and out of the hospital bewtween November to Febraury of 2004. He passed away March 2, 2004, less than a month after his 75th and last birthday.

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What i remember most about my father are our conversations inside the family car. That thirty or so minutes from the house to the office was enough time for us to share each other's ideas of the latest events in politics, the family and any other topic of our choosing. Our conversations became longer when he had water from his lungs removed, which meant i had to drive him from the house to the courts and back again. It was inside the car during our drives that we bonded, and we were able to discuss things about life and the future. In October of 2003, during one of the last hearings he would be able to attend, he talked to me about how he was content about his life and that one thing i should never have are regrets. He told me that the past is the past and that instead of lookking back frequently, we should set our eyes to the future. This were his words of wisdom to me. I think he knew he was dying, for i am sure he felt his body growing weaker as days progressed. My father and i don't often agree on anything, but the precious conversation time inside the car got me to know my father better than most of my siblings. Things are not the same without my father, for as i drive myself to work, i long for our conversations, the witty repartee, the eschange of ideas, the anecdotes about family members and any topic under the sun. I console myself with the fact that though it may seem that i have an empty void in my heart because he is gone, he is never truly gone from my heart. Papa, I miss you and i love you.

Renewing old ties

I was in my office, going over some files, when the head of our security entered the office and told me that last week, a former classmate dropped by and was looking for me. Since i did not report for work last week, he left a contact number. It turned out that my visitor was no less than my old high school classmate and "dance of joy" partner Rommel Cabalu. It was a pleasant surprise, especially since we haven't seen each other for about fifteen years. I was able to talk to him on the phone and i encouraged him to join our e-group. I must admit that high school wasn't exactly memorable for some of our classmates. Some were the butt of jokes and still some were the object of continuous bullying and other "harmless" pranks. In hindsight, i think this is the reason why our batch can never truly asseble together as one group. SOme don't feel comfortable with the fact that they might still be the butt of jokes and others simply harbor ill feelings. In fact, the strain is evident if you look at our grouping system. I belonged to the lowest group (Group 4) while my elementary buddies belonged to the top two groups. I think it is important for us to reach out to our batchmates, especially those we may have done wrong to, in order for old wounds to heal. Only then can we truly be one solid group, when we learn to reach out and bridge the differences that once kept us apart.

my resignation

For everybody's information, yesterday, march 1, I submitted my formal letter of resignation as head of the Office of Public Relations of Angelicum College effective end of March. However, I was asked to stay on until the end of May, enough time, they told me, to get my affairs at work settled and enough time to train my replacement before i leave. As courtesy to my boss and alma mater, i acceeded to their request. So officially, i will remain head of the PR Dept. until the end of May. To the Angelicum community, thank you for all your support! :)

To the students and alumni, continue to seek the truth, stand for what is right, live for justice and grow in love. We, the alumni, are ambassadors of the Angelicum Non-Graded System of Education to the world. We are living proof that the system works. Mabuhay kayong lahat!