2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.



Here's an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 20,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 5 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

From the OSM! team to everyone else:

Thank you for a good first year, everyone! <3 More insanely awesome good stuff coming your way in 2013, you can count on that!

Christmas is for Children and the Givers

By Marivir R. Montebon
New York, New York

The ambience of the year changes when September comes in the Philippines. The airwaves are filled with Christmas songs, and homes and commercial establishments begin to spruce up their exteriors and interiors with Christmas decorations. Towards November, the city streets glitter with Christmas lights. The overall community mood is thus brightened up.

Despite the perennial challenges of natural disasters and economic pinch, there is no stopping the average Filipino (about 90% are Catholics) to celebrate Christmas. At this time, the mood is always festive and looking forward to parties and gatherings of family and friends. People begin to make their shopping list to give people they love a little something for Christmas.

For hundreds of years of practicing the Catholic religion, this Christmas lifestyle has been engrained in most of us. We have imbibed Spanish religiosity and American commercialism to become the animated, fun-loving, and caring Filipinos that we mostly are.

I believe that Christmas is mainly a time for giving. Definitely, it is for children. It is their time of glee, with all the gifts they receive from those who love them.

For some fancy reason, people tend to be in the giving mode at Christmas. I suppose this is inspired by the pervasive story of the three wise men from the east who searched for the child Jesus and gave him myrrh, incense, and gold. Or by the merry thoughtfulness of St. Nicholas who gave toys to children during Christmas.

For sure, the global tradition among Christians of gift-giving will remain as it is for a long time because it makes the giver and the receiver feel good. The message of Christmas is not the gift, per se, but the thoughtfulness and concern. That's what keeps the happy mood going.

OSM! is happy to have timely brought books in for the young children in Tipolo Elementary School as a gift of knowledge and opportunity to be interested in reading. The givers are thoughtful people in the US, Miss Carla Mayol and Edgar Patilano, and more are coming up with their books.

This Christmas, I would like to bring on the thoughtfulness and love always.

For details and orders, visit healthychocolatenyc.com

TOAST TO 2013 ARTSY YEAR

By Bisai Ya

Just as I was wrapping up my last painting for 2012 to officially close my art year 2012, my OSM! editor Marivir sent me a reminder for our next submission and asked me to share my goals and plaor the year ahead.

Actually I totally forgot all my plans for 2013 until she pinged my phone with this reminder. Oh boy, I was ready to share my year-ful of fresh art aspirations to her and to the growing fans we gathered at OSM and Bisai Art Café (an online art gallery run by emerging artists).

New Year has always been one of my favorite times of the year to share plans, goals and resolutions. With love, faith and hope blazing aglow in my heart, I never felt so determined to start the year with good plans that I’d hope would materialize in the near future, of course by God’s grace.

Making them come true is another challenge.

As a gesture to thank my art patrons and dear friends who supported me in 2012, last week saw me release a video on my youtube channel where I showcased over 90 paintings I had created last year. This music video featured my humble works made from April to December 2012 and it shows how enthusiastic and inspired I was last year and how I hope that I could duplicate this feat come 2013. (link to view video here: http://goo.gl/5OIEe )

As we know it, Art is not about the quantity of pieces one makes but the quality of work we artists create to share in order to help brighten up the lives of our art admirers. And so I thought that my plans for 2013 would be to surpass whatever art activities and objectives I carried out this year, with help of my dear friends - you!

As opening salvo for my artsy 2013, two of my oil paintings “Kalayo 1 and 2” has been confirmed and selected as book cover for Marivir Montebon’s new book which is coming out soon. Initially, the book will be available online.

In March and April, I am invited to participate in a select group exhibition by the Intercontinental Self Taught Artists Association (ISTAA) for another Fashion Show cum Art Exhibit to be held in Spain and Vienna, Austria. This is the same group that organized Art to Relieve Fashion & Art Show in Cambridge, England last November 20, 2012 at the prestigious Cambridge University for which I had participated and sold my pieces. Part proceeds of the exhibits will be donated to poor women in Cambodia and build a children’s shelter in Negros, Philippines.

When OSM! magazine turns one year come March 2013, I will be happy to participate in any art related event that our publication will come up with. OSM! is a staunch supporter for Filipino artists worldwide and art related projects are always close to our hearts. Plans are afoot on this one so this we will keep you posted very soon.

In April 2013, I will be joining several collaborative outings with fellow artists mostly Europe-based, where our paintings will be exhibited inside a cathedral venue. The exact venue will be announced soon and it is likely going to be held in Ireland.

Bisai Art Café will be celebrating its first birthday come May and it would be my wish to be able to mount a week-long exhibit of some of the best paintings by emerging artists like me. We are planning to conduct an art sale cum auctions where art donors and buyers mingle online to see, taste and live art in a unique and exciting way. More of this will be discussed soon here at OSM! in the future issues.

By June, I’m taking a hopeful shot to be included in the next See.Me Art Exhibition in Times Square in New York, USA. In June of last year I had also participated at their first art exhibit called “Art Takes Times Square 2012” where my painting was beamed to worldwide audience and flashed in glaring and massive LED billboards in Times Square along with many other multi-national artists worldwide. There were about 10 Filipino Artists last year who were selected to participate in New York and am glad to be counted being one of them.

That was one of the highlights of my art career in 2012 and I am looking forward to duplicating this achievement in 2013 with hope in my heart that new painting pieces of mine will be shown to a much larger audience not only in New York but also to translate to more art exposures and sale for all participating artists.

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="1546,1547,1548,1544,1542,1543,1545"]

It is also my desire to be able to mount a mini-solo or duo art exhibit with my 9-year-old son Angelo who paints as well. Plans are now in progress with our sponsor and a date has been selected sometime July and August, when school is out and summer commences.

In response to call for awareness towards cancer, my very own Bisdak Artists Group (which is Philippine-based and made up of Bisaya speaking women artists) are coming up with our own Pink Art Exhibit in 2013. Venue and date will be announced for this show, which is likely to be held in October 2013 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month).

As a bonafide member of the Pinoy na Pinoy Visual Artists Association (PPVAAI), I had been informed to prepare new pieces to exhibit at the SSS Museum, Megaworld at The Fort, Sigwada Gallery, NCCA and our All-women PPVAAI Art Exhibit for 2013 all taking place in Manila.

Team Bisai Art Café will likewise endeavor to participate in many group art events and exhibitions that will harness the power of art to aid our fellow beings who might be caught up in unfortunate incidents in 2013. We will be participating through the efforts of Art for Humanity Group in many planned charity art events hoping that we will be able to share in building humanity through our humble gift of art.

I hope you'll wish me success in my goals and plans this year. I always believed in community prayer and support and with our ever-loyal followings here at OSM, and by the grace of God Almighty, I know all these will come into fruition in 2013.

Happy New Year to everyone! May you enjoy life in an artful way always!

Chasing the Magic of Christmas!

By Sylvia Hubilla
Round Rock, Texas

Christmas is for children – and rightfully so. Because Christmas is, essentially, a birthday celebration for One Very Special Child!

Going back, after the thrill and joy of Christmases of my childhood, the season was just a series of hectic shopping and ticking off my gift list for 17 or so years. There was no hushed anticipation, no thrill, or magic to it at all. The magic was gone!
Until – my precious babies came! Then, it was like a door opened.... and the magic, the joy, the thrill and anticipation came rushing back along with them! I threw myself into planning, decorating, secretly shopping and reading the letters to Santa. And my co-conspirator answered the letters, making sure the handwriting was just magically correct! Oh those were irreplaceable, indescribable, literally “MERRY and JOYFUL” Christmases!
Then came the empty nest. Christmases just came and went. With sporadic, short surprises of packages in the mail. How I longed for the Magic of Christmases past. I wondered if I will ever see it again.
And then baby Xavi came – my first grandchild! But so far away in The Hague, in the Netherlands! Still, there was a flicker of what used to be. I felt hopeful. I looked forward to precious pictures in the mail. And thank heavens for technology, I was soon printing photos from my email. Sadly though, I wasn't able to enjoy Christmas with my Xavi. I had to content myself with mailing my gifts to him and not enjoy looking into his face and see his smile.
Then Maite came, and Rocco. From California. came Gianina, and Nicco, and from Arizona, Ariana. Before I knew it, I had six grandchildren! I realized, I have to get my act together. Get back to the task of getting the Magic of Christmas back!
Here I am now, wrapping gifts, ticking off names on my “favorites” list. Moving Xavi and Maite now to the “Teens” section on my list. Oh, I should remember to put the sign out on my bedroom door – OFF LIMITS TO GRANDKIDS! I can barely move around the boxes and ribbons and wrappers in my tiny room. But I am not complaining. In case you haven't noticed – I have found the MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS! It's back, and I am basking in it; relishing, memorizing every precious minute of it. Merry Christmas to all!

Postscript:

It was difficult to write this with joy. I remember Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, and the images especially of the little angels are forever ingrained in my heart and I cannot shake them off. Let us always pray for them, and most especially the heartbroken parents and grandparents, to give them strength, and hope, that they too, will someday, find the Magic of Christmas again.

Little Mado: Happy Thanksgiving!

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Madonna Angeles-Davidoff is a Filipino, American and Swiss rolled into one whose artistry have become pervasive in three continents with a stroke of a paint brush or pencil.  This New York-based artist was born and schooled in Manila. She considers famous Philippine artist Larry Alcala (way back in her college days in UP) and New York artist Matt Madden (School of Visual Arts in NYC) as motivated to boost her skills in cartooning.

Madonna created Little Mado, the cartoon series in 2011 after having been inspired by grade school friends whom she reconnected through social media.  The amusing memories they shared online actually gave birth to the cartoon Little Mado.

The artist in her got inspired and illustrated those shared memories and posted her own personal experience on social media. Interestingly, it got a lot of positive feedback which prompted Madonna to take seriously making a graphic novel or comicbook.

OSM! features weekly the Little Mado series starting in this issue.

Family Ties in the World Wide Web

By Sylvia G. Hubilla

California -- The little boy picks himself up on unsteady feet and makes a few unsure steps … before he falls again. My eyes light up with joy and I break into a smile as I look at my youngest grandson, Nicco, take his first steps.

“OMG! (read Oh my God!) He’s walking!” I type on the message box on my Yahoo Messenger, while looking at the small video on one corner of a computer as I chat with my daughter in California from an internet café in Manila. This is the highlight of my week, when I go to an internet café and specify to the technician, “with a webcam.” I then invite my three daughters – one in California, another in Arizona, and one in Texas - to a conference where they have set up their webcams and speakers on the other end and we all see and talk to each other as if we were all together! I am there on highlights like my grandson taking his first steps. Or see my oldest grandson, Xavi in his Halloween mask and try to look scared when he says “Look at this, Meh (this is how my grandchildren call me, short for Mommy) as he makes blood drip from his mask. I am there on birthdays and join in the birthday song and watch them blow their candles on the cake. I am there on Christmas and see them opening presents from grandma. And get such a warm feeling when they say, “Thanks Meh. We love you.”

The wonder of technology – takes globalization to a new level and creeps into the living room where the family bonds and nurtures – thousands of miles apart.

I used to think my life as a grandmother would pretty much be like my mother’s. Sundays the married children bring the grandchildren to visit. Or I could visit my grandchildren anytime. But by 1994, when all my three daughters were all out of the country, I found myself face to face with the reality of the empty nest syndrome.

It was on one visit of one of my daughters when I was introduced to text messaging. It took a while for my right hand to learn to operate my cellphone with just my thumb. I used to hold the phone with my left hand and type with my right. It took me forever to reply to messages from my daughters, they ended up calling me to ask, “Why aren’t you replying, Meh?” And I of course said I am, but it just takes me so long to type a message. Finally, I got the hang of it - before my long distance calls to my daughters almost sent me to the poorhouse.

Before my eldest daughter moved to Europe, she enrolled me in a basic computer class before I could say no. So I learned Word and Excel, and most enjoyable of all, the world of electronic mail!

I have expanded my vocabulary to include lol (laugh out loud), brb (be right back), idk (I don’t know), fyi (for your information), omg (oh my God), isnf (it’s so not fair) among others.

Not only can we “chat” on the internet using the keypad, there is the wonder of voice mail! I receive my daughters’ voice messages even when I am not logged on, and check it at a later time – much like an answering machine on the phone. We can do the same thing on our cellphones.

When I first joined the grandma club at age 54, I got and printed out the first photo of my first grandchild, Xavi, from my daughter’s email, all the way from the Hague in the Netherlands. I marveled at this technology! And I felt so empowered to be part of it.

On one trip to California to be with my second daughter, for the birth of her first baby, my son-in-law gifted me with my first digital camera, a Canon Powershot A60. Not only could I take still shots, I could take video shots with sound! Oh I had a field day recording almost every move my new granddaughter made. Then I could immediately view the photos from the camera itself, or from the television screen using a royal cord. Best of all, I learned how to download the pictures from the camera’s memory card and save them into the computer using a USB attachment or a card reader. So I can view these photos over and over again when I am back in the Philippines.

Now, 61 and a grandma five times over, I needed more and more time on the internet. And the time difference in our locations made internet café conferences difficult, if not next to impossible. So I subscribed to my own DSL connection. Now I can listen to and watch four-year-old Gianina sing to me a song from High School Musical, have a real conversation with six-year-old Maite, and listen to three-year-old Rocco sing me “Happy Birthday” on my birthday – no matter how late, in the privacy of my living room.

My phone bill? Oh, I have learned to call my daughters for free from my computer, using (get ready for this) VOIP, or voice over internet protocol. I love using big sounding technical words! And although I still miss the warm, little hugs and wet kisses from my five grandchildren, the seemingly cold world of complicated technology has brought back the warmth of family in my empty nest.

Oh btw (by the way), this grandma makeover story doesn’t end here. I am now finally with my daughters and grandchildren in the U.S.A. as of March, this year. But since they are spread out across three states, I still use the internet to keep in touch with all of them, and with family back in the Philippines. (Women's Feature Service)

Orchard Chicken Salad

By Ruth Ezra

1/4 left over chicken cooked, cubed
1 Granny Smith apple, cubed
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/2 c cranraisins
1/4 c light mayo
Dash of white pepper & sugar

Mix all and enjoy.

|*|*|*|

Ruth D. Ezra is a culinary queen in her own right through experience and training. She works at the AllState Roadside Services in Northbrook, IL.  Her greatest delight is serving good and healthy food to her husband Heman and only daughter, Isabelle. Kit would love to receive feedback on her recipes, and exchange them with yours at ezraruth@comcast.net.

Teach 'em Young

Bisai Ya
Dubai, UAE

My two young sons Angelo, 9, and Miguel, 7, look forward to receiving their Christmas gifts from us, godparents and friends. It’s that time of the year when they remind us of their wish lists as early as September (the start of the BER months means Christmas to them).

This year however has been different for my elder son Angelo. At this age, he understood the hardships some people went through, especially when we shared to him the sad news of people who lost their families and livelihood during Typhoon Bopha (a.k.a. Typhoon Pablo in Philippines) that struck the Philippines in early December.

He was personally affected because his grandma’s house (my mom) was devastated by it. She will not be able to live in the house safely again until we are able to help rebuild it.

We told Angelo of our plans to curtail our expenses this Christmas so that we can send funds back home to repair the house. Angelo knew that it meant he won't get his Christmas toy at this time.

I made Angelo watch the news on TV and explained to him how lucky he was, compared to those who lost their homes and were sick.

The information has sunk in his tender heart, and he did his math.

All he had for Christmas from us was $50 to be able to buy the LEGO he's been eyeing all these months, or he could keep it in his piggy bank.

Having seen me work with my fellow artists for an ongoing online charity art exhibit called ART for HUMANITY (where proceeds of all artworks sold will be donated by Filipino Artists to victims in Mindanao, Philippines), Angelo asked me how it would work out.

I explained to him that this is a great opportunity to buy quality artworks made by Filipino artists (both renowned artists like National Artist Solomon Saprid and many emerging artists, based in and out of Philippines donating pieces generously). Because bidding starts at ten percent of the gallery price, the chances of winning an artwork is good although he has to be smart in bidding a good one. And that means if he bids on an artwork say 1,500 pesos, he is paying only ten percent of the original gallery price of P15,000 or more.

In the future, should he decide to sell the art piece that he bought, it could be at a higher price and gain from it. We call it profit.

I know my son is smart. He calculated that if he spends his U$50 on at least one painting and (hoping he will win the bid) he can later double or triple his money by reselling. That means he can buy three times as many Lego toys as he wants with the sales of his art piece. Simple, isn’t it?

Without much discussion, Angelo gave me his go signal to bid on his behalf on paintings, which I think will be good for him. It was for this purpose that I bid on select pieces he might fancy keeping at home or at our soon to be art café. I told him I shall handle his art: buy and it will be his forever.

He was too happy to learn early the lesson of art buying and auction and why it is good for kids to learn how to value their money gifts and spend them on essential things they can later enjoy in life. He was particularly happy that his purchase is already a donation to the poor kids he saw on TV news.

I’m so happy that both my sons grew up not being so materialistic. Whilst I do not ram down on them my interest and passion on creative art, they both appreciate the fact that indulging in artsy pleasures has its good benefits. They both get an incentive from me whenever they show interest or do an artwork made by them. Simple incentives like movie dates or mall visits or book or small toy is already something valuable to them at their age.

Teaching our kids early about realities of life, building better values and living it can be challenging. But it is worth the efforts when we know we are teaching them in the right way and in the right spirit. Teaching them early also allows us to help them shape their lives based on their comprehension skills (with our guidance). The earlier we teach them these things and lessons especially on being generous, kind, respectful, prayerful and frugal, the more they will quickly make this a habit because they see their parents doing it as well.

Remember children are like sponges; they absorb whatever is given them. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." [Proverbs 22:6]

Postscript:

Here is the facebook link to participate in the ongoing charity online art auction for the benefit of Typhoon Pablo victims. ART for HUMANITY group link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/379249525498040/

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="1520,1519,1518,1517,1511,1512,1513,1514,1515,1516"]

Participating Filipino Artists makes a full donation of their artworks for the Victims of Typhoon Pablo. Donated artworks are posted on the group page and peg the starting bid as suggested all bidding starts at 10 percent of its current Gallery value. If painting is worth 10 Thousand Pesos - the bid price starts at 1 Thousand or less to encourage bidders and buyers. This online art initiative is for all our poor countrymen in Mindanao South who are homeless and hungry.

God's Slipper

By Janet Villa

Dear Anna,

“Tell me the story of the snake,” you’d say. You say that right after you shout, “Bible time!” Bible reading, which comes after Word World on TV, is one of your favorite times of the day.
That “snake” is the one in the story of creation. When we’d start with, “In the beginning, there was nothing and there was nobody,” you’d close your eyes and say, “No nothing, no nobody. No Mommy, no Daddy, no Anna, no Ate Mae.” You go ahead of us, complete our sentences, and eventually take over the telling. And when you’d lose steam, you’d sigh as if from the weight of your words, “Mommy/Daddy, you say it.”
Sometimes we’d tell you the story by asking questions. When you’ve had enough of our questions, you’d pinch our cheeks and say into our eyes, “No, tell me. Tell me.”
Then we’d get to the snake, the one you proclaim to be bad, even as we tell you that there are good snakes and there are bad snakes (just as there are good sharks and bad sharks, but you disagree, your imagination working overtime, which is why you love the beach but not the sea).
Tonight you got upset at the snake that had kept tempting Eve, so you told us, “I will palo the snake.” You said this in a voice full of gravitas. I told you, “No, let God be the one to take care of the snake.” You nodded, “Yes, I’ll tell God to palo the snake. He can use his slipper.”
I wonder where you get these ideas of palo.
We hardly spank you. In the few times we had to, it was to rap your hand with a ruler when you wouldn’t accept logic. You listen to reason most of the time and respond positively to a kick-kiss discipline (which is to tell you what you did wrong, why it is wrong, what its consequences are, ask you to repeat what we said, then affirm our love for you), so spanking was hardly needed. But when you saw a scary, luminous mask at the Halloween Trick or Treat, you cried and screamed for your father to pick up a hammer and palo the mask. A hammer! Your dad smiled, but I was unnerved by the violence.
I guess yours is the age when we can’t entirely shield you from what the world feeds you. Our accountability to you has leveled up: we now need to help you process, filter and decompress from all the information you receive beyond the cordon sanitaire of Disney Junior.
One day, perhaps when you chance upon the news and the violence it often brings, you might ask us, “Why did that man do that?” or the trickier “What makes a person bad?”
How does a parent discuss evil with a three-year-old? Perhaps I can tell you, in a language adjusted to your age, “A person becomes bad when he or she knowingly makes a decision that hurts somebody in some way. That somebody can be anybody; that somebody can be you.”
I find myself relearning, yet again, from anticipating your questions. Each day, each moment, we are faced with decisions: to study or not, to cheat or not, to eat or not—each decision either benefiting or harming us or another. Our life, our choice. In many of those choices, we would be tempted to make the wrong one. Our job is to say no, whenever a no is needed to uphold good or avoid harm.
Dearest daughter, it’s much tougher than it sounds. It is why Eve gave in to the snake’s persistence or why we pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Perhaps it might help you—help us—to remember that life is a moment-by-moment decision. All we have to work out is today. The past has gone, and tomorrow is yet to come. Today is all we need to do.
God’s slipper is more benevolent than any parent’s.
Because He is wise, He allows you to fail if you choose to do wrong. He lets you go through the consequences of a wrong choice. You might have to leave Eden. To do otherwise is to tolerate a mistake that could fester into misconduct. Sometimes, an injury that happens to you is the consequence of somebody else’s decision. That doesn’t sound fair, but it is logical: our world is a cauldron of free will and consequences.
Because He is merciful, He steps in when you ask Him, in a way that does not detract from the life lesson meant for you.
Because He is forgiving, He asks you to also forgive yourself. Forgiveness is vintage God, why He made coats of skins to clothe Adam and Eve after the Fall.
Because He is gracious, He redeems you from your mistakes. Our God is a God of second, third, fourth, and hundredth chances.
Because He is loving, He offers to carry your load. His Son, after all, had already carried you through Calvary. Through death and beyond.
With God, and mostly with us parents, the bottom line is love. In the choices that you have to make, let love be the distinctive.

Love,

Mommy

Tipolo School Kids Love Books

Young students were beaming as they scanned through the books and played on some jigsaw puzzles sent to their school as OSM! online magazine's flagship project on educational support. The first shipment of these education materials reached the Tipolo Elementary School in the Mandaue City in mid-December, appropriately timed for the Christmas season.

"Nindot ni siya nga libro. Ako ni basahon karon," (This is a nice book. I will read it) says six year old Charles, showing us the book

OSM! Educational Support operations manager Anet Aguirre together with OSM! Marketing director Joana Jumalon personally handed the materials to Tipolo Elementary School Principal Tagalog.

Ms. Tagalog expressed thanks to OSM! for having chosen her school to be the recipient of its educational support project. "Thank you so much for all the donations. The students will enjoy learning from the nice colorful instructional materials. Even grown ups will enjoy looking at it," said Ms. Tagalog.

Teacher Belen Baraquia said the kids are so happy to have received the books in time for Christmas. "They will enjoy and learn so much from these books, "she said.

Aguirre and Jumalon said more books and education materials will be shipped next year.

 

 

 

 

Through Triumphs and Tragedies

By Marivir R. Montebon

It felt like I was knocked down last night. The defeat of Philippine boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to Juan Manuel Marquez was a personal tragedy and for his legions of fans as well.

One gets shocked at how the formidable Pacquiao fell fast and flat on his face on the sixth round. And gripping fearful when he was totally out for more than a minute. That was horrible!

Athletes have their glory days and tragedies. I feel for Pacquiao, as I feel for a figure skater who miscalculates and lands her body on ice and instead of her feet, or when a gymnast falls from the uneven bars. Despite those unfortunate miscalculations, I still admire the discipline and grace they bear in the moment of defeat. It happens.

If for anything, the Pacquiao-Marquez fight last night was an ego trip and not a title bout. It should give Pacquiao some soul searching as to whether he has to retire as a boxer and concentrate on public service. No easy feat for a man on top of his career. But then, one has to understand the law of Physics, what goes up naturally goes down. Perhaps Pacquiao should have kept his winning title on the third fight with Marquez where he won. As he humbly admits, he did not see it coming.

Overall, I am sympathetic. And I congratulate Marquez who seized the moment.

For us all, the game of life continues.

For details and orders, visit healthychocolatenyc.com

Why I Read

By Janet Villa
Today Anna asked me five why’s in quick succession. When I ran out of answers, I had to do the only quick survival tactic available to tired mothers: I pointed out the window and shouted, “Look!” (So what if every slapstick comedian does that? It worked this afternoon.)
One day Anna is going to ask us, why is the sky blue? My first thought is, “Because it doesn’t look good in red.” It might make her laugh, perhaps make her think out of the box, maybe exercise her imagination, but in the end it won’t help her much.

So this is what it also means to raise a mother—I have to read.

I read because I know so little. I’m not as smart as a fifth-grader. I don’t have to be all-knowing to Anna; heaven knows pretending can only take me so far. But I fear that an “I don’t know” might come across as “I don’t care to know.”

I read because given my influence in this phase of Anna’s life, our mother–daughter dynamics take after the usual writer–reader dynamics: whatever interests me interests her; whatever does not interest me would hardly interest her. An “I don’t know” does not excite curiosity.

I read because learning fuels my thinking and Anna’s. Reading uncovers mysteries. Books open doors. Understanding opens hearts. An “I don’t know” repels questions.

I read because I do not know enough to make a good decision. Sir Francis Bacon taught me, “Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.” An “I don’t know” sows apathy or prejudice.

I read so that a world—not just this one—comes alive for Anna: people jump off the page, colors shimmer with texture, and sounds vibrate with meaning. Fish can talk, and furry monsters like green eggs and ham. An “I don’t know” smothers the imagination.

I read because many times other people’s thoughts are better than my own. Before Anna graced our lives, I was devouring books and websites on parenting. Some people told me, “You do not learn parenting from books.” But I thought, “Neither can I learn it from ignorance.” While mothering does require instinct and intuition, an “I don’t know” hints at hubris.

I read to find my way and to know the direction Anna should go. For my husband and me, the Bible is our first-stop resource. I read it now with a growing awareness of my and Anna’s need for a Savior and a gratitude for the undeserved mercy. An “I don’t know” echoes in eternity.

I know someday I will have to answer Anna with an “I don’t know.” On that day I pray I will have the time and the patience to add to my answer,  “Let’s find out the answer together.” She and I will write down her question in a notebook I’ve created: Anna’s Book of Questions. Then perhaps on another day we will ask for help—from her Daddy, from family and friends, from books, from the Internet.

I understood early on: It takes a village to raise a mother. Mothers from all over the world, sharing their wisdom and experience in books and on websites, have helped me collect information and select what I need to help Anna and me and our peculiar temperaments.

Even Anna knows it. Last week she got off her chair and said, “Mommy, help Anna wash hands.” As I led her to the sink, she said, “Everybody needs help, right, Mommy?” Yes, sweetie, everybody needs help. Especially a mommy.

Christmas in the East and West

By Marivir R. Montebon

I grew up celebrating Christmas in the most joyous of ways in my home country, the Philippines, which lies in the Far East.  In fact, my heart can still vividly recall the jubilation of my youth during this season. It has molded many of us that at this time, we think of what gifts to give our friends, parents, and teachers.  It is also the time of family get-togethers, and of parties with friends and work colleagues. Despite the year-long challenges and difficulties, most Filipinos look forward to Christmas as a time of togetherness and gratitude. This value I so hold dear, despite my relocation in the US.

The Philippines is host to the longest Christmas celebration in the world. When the Roman calendar enters the "ber" months (September, October, November, and December) up until January of the following year, it is Christmas in the Philippines.  The long celebration is not surprising because the Philippines is the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia, being a colony of the Spain for over 300 years.

Spain and America have made the celebration of Christmas in my country highly religious and yes, highly commercial. But in that outright imposition of power and influence, lies the personal impact of thoughtfulness and unity that bind families and friends together. It has become a welcome culture among us, and has meant to have some functionality in our practical lives.

For someone growing up in the merriment of Christmas, any attempt to equalize its celebration with the other holidays in the name of religious equality (at least by one atheist group) in the US, is to me unnecessary, insensitive, and truly disrespecting.

American leaders have so much major concerns to get busy themselves with, instead of working on legislation to stop the greeting of Merry Christmas or changing the name Christmas tree into something else. I just wish they let the culture of faith and positivity, which is getting more and more scarce these days, thrive.

The issue at hand is not much on religious equality, but rather supporting, instead of suppressing each religious celebration's expression of unity and faith.

Christmas in the East and West may have clearly distinct faces and depth. In the US, one could get drowned by the spectacle of bright neon Christmas lights and fireworks and awesome extravaganzas of stage shows, and short-time parties.



In the East, one could just be touched by a community of neighbors who have long lived the tradition of potluck Christmas parties. The sharing of food and organized gift giving have strengthened their bonds of fraternity.

Despite the differences, the message of the man larger than life, whose influence has spanned more than 2000 years, is about sacrificial love and sharing and giving. This value never goes old-fashion or outmoded. It is the continuous call of the day, it is what the world hungers from.

And so, Merry Christmas! Let it be.

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Surviving the Season of Festive Longing

By Bisai Ya

It’s festive time once again, the season to be jolly and merry. However, for some this is also the season when a strong sense of longingness envelops the person. Many of us experience that season where we are weary with our feelings of insecurity, or maybe feel unloved and sometimes enveloped by certain degree of dryness in our lives, either in our relationships or career or passion.

This feeling of longingness specially rings true for those, like me, who are physically away from their immediate families or loved ones. The distance that separates me from my dear one does not help make the situation easier to handle.

I feel the void and empty spaces within me that hinder me from feeling happy and gay at many times. My usual bubbly personality seemed to be coiling backwards wanting to just hide its head from the crowd. I hate this feeling. It is stealing my future in welcoming what probably might be in store for me in 2013.

This period I also call “My personal Advent”. This is a period where I contemplate to readying myself for the coming of the Almighty one into my life in this season. The waiting associated with my personal advent is both challenging, where a good mix of fretfulness and fun often manifests.

Very few of you might know that this year has been a very challenging year for me, both in my professional and personal life. This could be reason enough for me to feel edgy at times. Being a creative person, I too had my share of advent wishes and I long to get it fulfilled.

- I’m longing to be reunited with my youngest son whom I have been an absent mom for 7 years
- I’m longing to establish a sense of betterment both as a mother and mentor to my two sons
- I’m longing to have a better relationship with my family back home and be able to take care of my aging and sickly mom
- I’m longing for a renewal of relationship with friends whom I have not been reunited for a long time
- I’m longing to create my art so simple that anyone who looks at them will embrace it without wanting for explanation
- I’m longing for renewal of self so I may become a better individual and face my future with positive enthusiasm

I’m no different from some friends I keep. We all had the same share of happiness and certain degree of problems. So I see my deep longings as being borne out of incompleteness of certain aspects in my life.

The only way I see to heal myself from all this brokenness and angst is to let go of my fears like my fear of loving and being loved, my being expectant of people and to learn the value of emptiness.

Because I was brought up by my parents to be helpful, kind and selfless to others, I had expected the same of others to do to me, which is impossible, thus resulting to my often disappointing high expectations of them.

I realized I needed to empty myself of these expectations so that I can start to heal myself from easy disappointments, for when I begin to empty myself, only then I can expect to refill my life with new things, new ideas, new feelings, and perhaps new people to love and shower affection to make me whole once again.

As this year draws closer to its end, I am hoping to be able to draw inspiration from families, well-intentioned friends, new acquaintances and build more positive energies to meet life ahead with much vigor and dynamism. I see that renewal in all things and in all forms will help me survive the tough challenges of life.

With my renewed passion in creative writing, visual art and mentorship, I will look ahead to 2013 with fuller belief that the Almighty has something fruitful in store for me other than these mighty blessings I already had.

Immigrants Long for Security They Deserve

By Marivir Montebon

New York -- The fabulous neon Christmas lights on Fifth Avenue in bustling Manhattan don't truly fascinate Jenny. In fact, each colorful blinking makes her heart ache and long for her daughter whom she hasn't seen for four Christmases now.  I wish my daughter saw all these beautiful lights, she wished to herself. It is uncertain as to when she will see her child again, who was three years old when she left home in Davao in the Philippines.

Jenny, petite at 31, is awaiting the approval of her US permanent residency status.  It could take at least five years and it could be denied. In the meantime, she has missed raising her child as she works as babysitter for a rich family in the city of New York.

"I always work during Christmas and New Year, because if I didn't I would die of homesickness. And I feel very lonely when I see families together and I am away from my child," she said seriously, teary-eyed.

Jenny is among the four million immigrant workers in the US who copes with Christmas by working non-stop just so to survive the holidays. In the Philippines, while every one seems festive despite economic difficulties, immigrants here are battling against the cold and homesickness.

There is nothing much that Jenny could do about her status but to wait until she gets her green card. That story isn't so bad for Jenny. It could be worse for tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in the US, who in one way or another, have unfortunately become victims to illegal recruitment and unfair labor practices which have rendered them defenseless for the lack of legal status.

Each immigrant has a story to tell.

However in the high echelons of the US Senate, hopes for immigrants have remained pending, as the DREAM Act has been shelved and continues to gather dust.  Among other things, it would have given legal rights to children of immigrants born in the US whose parents have not acquired the legal residency status.

Migrant organizations in the US have called for a blanket legalization of all immigrants, citing that America has nothing to lose when it gives immigrants the path to citizenship.

"In fact, it would mean economic stability for the US due to its billion earnings from immigrant documentation fees and subsequent taxation," said Arnedo Valera, an immigration lawyer and co-executive director of the Washington, DC-based Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC).

MHC is also lobbying before the Philippine Senate a legislative piece that would ensure the rights and welfare of immigrant Filipinos and their families. Valera has approached Senators Teofisto Guingona and Gregorio Honasan to sponsor the Magna Carta for the Rights of Migrant Workers which will protect their rights and welfare while working abroad.

The Philippines, one of the highest producing countries of immigrants, has ratified the United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of the Migrants and Members of their Families in 1990.

“The Philippine government is thus duty-bound to create a national law that will enforce the international treaty in the community of nations,” Valera explained.  The Philippines has expatriated more than 11 million Filipinos overseas, the majority of whom are in the US, Saudi Arabia, Canada, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

Among the key provisions of the proposed bill, Valera said, would be the right of the migrant worker to verify the legitimacy of employment, the abolition of placement fees, the clear identification of the salaries and benefits for the migrant worker and her/his family, and the setting up of free legal assistance centers for migrants in the host countries.

Valera, along with MHC co-executive directors Jesse Gatchalian and Grace Valera Jaramillo, attended the UN International Conference on the Rights of Migrants and their Families on December 17, 2010 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

During the conference, he told about 60 attendees from various state governments and international non-government organizations, of the need to bridge the wide disconnect of the paradigm of the international convention and the realities hounding migrant workers.

“While it is true that migrant workers are the life blood of sustainable development because of their regular dollar remittances, they are facing challenges of economic stability, health, and well-being in the countries where they are working. This has to be addressed by the sending and host countries if we are to be realistic in our definition of what sustainable development is,” Valera said in a privilege speech.

He urged sending countries to legislate their own national charters for the rights of migrant workers and the host countries to likewise ensure that the rights and welfare of these workers are being respected.

MHC is a not-for-profit organization that has provided legal assistance to immigrants in the US for the past six years. It also engages in health, education, publication and communication, and policy advocacy campaigns for the rights and welfare of immigrants.

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called States that have yet to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families.

To date, no Western host country has ratified the Convention, even though majority of migrants live in Europe and North America (US and Canada).  Other important receiving countries, like Australia, India, and the Arab states in the Middle East have not ratified the Convention as well.

The UN notes that there are about 214 million migrant workers all over the world, as a result of globalization and extreme poverty in their home countries.

“Migrants contribute to economic growth and human development they enrich societies through cultural diversity, knowledge and technology exchange and they improve demographic balance in ageing populations. While for many, migration is a positive and empowering experience, many others endure human rights violations, xenophobia, and exploitation,” said Mr. Ban.

Mr. Ban stressed the plight of the tens of millions of migrants who are in “an irregular situation” and thus more likely to be denied basic labor protections, due process guarantees, personal security, and healthcare.

“They are vulnerable to suffering prolonged detention or ill-treatment, and in some cases enslavement, rape or even murder,” he said. “Clearly much more needs to be done to safeguard the rights of migrants,” the UN Secretary-general said.

The UN has very well articulated the needs of the ordinary immigrant.  But the day remains uncertain as to when her/his rights and welfare are formidably secured. As for Jenny, and the millions like her, it will be forever a mix of melancholy and inspiration as she works for the money to sustain the life and well-being of her child who is growing so far away from her. # (A Reprint from Universal Class)

FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS

By Marivir R. Montebon

Genara Rubi (1919-2011) is a bastion of faith. She passed on last year at age 92, after a long haul of nine silent years due to a massive stroke that rendered half of her body dead and silenced her speech.

But she lived that long. My mother, her eldest child Jocelyn, took care of Lola Nara since she became bedridden. Together, they hurdled the most basic of life's challenges...stubbornly clinging on to it despite a lingering disability.

In the rare times that I visited Lola in Stockton, massaging her, singing to her, feeding her, wheeling her to the park...I asked myself if ever she really would have wanted to just cross to the other line. For somebody who was feisty, noisy, a big time laugher (my word), hardworking, she may not want to live in silence and immobility for too long.

But I can only surmise that, because what is clear is her willingness and faith to live day by day, by the care of my mom and youngest brother, which lasted for nine difficult years. I would also take credit the amazing health technology and medical care accorded to her, without these my grandmother could have easily slipped away.

Genara Rubi's life has always been that of hard work and faith. These made her as solid as a rock.

My aunt Linda, her second child, tells the story of how Lola and my dear grandpa Domiciano Rubi Sr. went through the most difficult time of their lives, the outbreak of World War II. I didn't remember having known this at all...that Lola gave birth to Tita Linda when the Japanese invaded the island of Siquijor.

What could have been worse than being caught in an invasive war with your lives on the line and giving birth to a new life at the same time.

Faith must have pulled my grandparents through, larger than their fear and pain and exhaustion. My aunt was born during the war, and as my cousin Aldous Arbon (my aunt's ghost writer) has put it..."against the pangs of war, there was a birth pang; the first brought death, the second brought life."

Circumstances like these mold characters of people to be strong and unwavering. How lucky they were to have withered that through their faith, because there was nothing else could disturb them.

At one time, I saw Lola Nara easily relaxed my mother while we were aboard a rickety small boat in the dead of the stormy night on the way to Cebu. My mom woke up my grandma and frightfully said, Ma, it is so stormy and getting too rough. Lola just told her, just lay down there and pray. Mom obliged as the defunct Dona Magna was tossed by giant waves throughout the night. As a child, I innocently thought the big waves were all right, it made me sleep faster.

I saw my grandmother's faith when she went through the painful process of letting go of my grandfather to lung cancer. She took care of him in those difficult moments, stretching money for his medicines and keeping him clean and comfortable in bed.

Grandma did not think so much there was going to be a miracle of life for my grandfather. At the time, she thought it was best to gracefully humble down in pain, and say God's will be done.

Genara Rubi's life is my anchor. She was a happy farmer and fantastic dress maker, and she glorified such humble life with faith.

Up to this moment, I can remember her laughter, her singing, her scoldings. I see her work efficiently as a housekeeper and dressmaker. Oh how she effectively delegated house chores to my aunts and uncles, making them responsible people in their later years.

Genara Rubi, you rock.

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Movie Review: Lincoln is Perfect

By Marivir R. Montebon

Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another - Euclid

Euclid must have profoundly influenced Pres. Abraham Lincoln, and director Steven Spielberg did an outstanding piece of worksmanship in creating the film Lincoln.

Pres. Lincoln was flawlessly portrayed by actor Daniel Day-Lewis as a man of vision and extraordinary resolve.  Lincoln is sure to become a timeless monumental film. Hence today, Lincoln is a must see.  It imparts the message of true, brave, and visionary leadership which Lincoln was.

The film also showed the 16th president's human side, he being an amazing story teller, a doting father, a torn husband, and a believer of the meaning of dreams.

Lincoln opens with the dream of First Lady Mary Todd, who saw her husband on a ship mooring towards an unknown harbor. She later interpreted her dream as the successful passage of the 13th amendment to the Constitution which sought to abolish slavery in the US.

After that, the scene unfolds the last tumultuous months of President Lincoln which sent the audience to a roller coaster of emotions, enthralled, amused, disturbed, sympathetic.

From the film, we learn that Pres. Lincoln was profoundly influenced by the great mathematician Euclid whom he quoted in fascination in an anecdote he told the young radio transmitters to explain his passion for abolishing slavery (the 13th Amendment). "Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another," Lincoln said in reference to Euclid.

The film is highlighted by the voting of this Amendment.  To describe it as thrilling would be lame. It was breath taking. The final day of voting was to be the greatest moment of the lives of Democrats and Republicans, because the individual decision cuts through the very core of their essence as persons and leaders.  It took each one of them incredible courage and guts to say nay or yey to the amendment, and each response took everyone's breath away.

The road to the 13th Amendment was paved by the unbending resolve on the part of Pres. Lincoln and by the genius of his State Secretary William Henry Seward's choreography to lobby for the votes of the Democrats. The latter provided jest in the film as it progressed, and also a real insight of how indispensable underground maneuvers (quid pro quo) via the White House are.

Lincoln is perfectly crafted, in terms of cinematography, music, and costumes. Its characters get their voices from an impeccable script, making it truly reflected of the challenging times of the Civil War in the 1860s.

Lincoln is one of the perfect films ever created. Its relevance, inspiration, and artistry would make one love to watch it over and over again.