Bonita excursión desde un alto pueblo asturiano a otro cántabro situado un peldaño más bajo, cruzando los montes que los separan un día de verano -lo crudo debe ser tener que hacerla acuciado por la necesidad, en pleno invierno con un buen temporal- caminando tranquilamente por carretera asfaltada, eso sí con un sol de justicia -en verdad que te chamusca este jodido Lorenzo cuando transitas a más de mil metros- hasta que acudió en nuestro auxilio la niebla en el regreso. Cruzando amplios pastizales, acompañados en varios tramos por encinas, fresnos y avellanos, las lozanas y jacarandosas vacas roxas refugiadas debajo de los árboles moscando como buenamente podían. Sintiendo los buitres en la altura y si acaso algún águila planeando en la lejanía, más cerca del suelo aleteaba el vistoso colirrojo tizón.

Parece ser que por su vecindad y más fácil acceso con los pueblos astures y su aislamiento a la zona cántabra cooperaron a que su tradicional indumentaria se asemeje más a la de sus allegados de región aledaña, constando la impedimenta de los hombres de: chaqueta, montera y calzón, portando empericotadas las féminas en las fiesta, camisa de lino hasta media pierna, abierta por el pecho eso sí para cerrar con botones, saya al tobillo confeccionada con sayalete casero de verde o naranja, corpiño amarillo o rojo de balleta o pana, dengue cruzado sobre el pecho y atado a la espalda, no faltando tampoco el delantal ni las medias de lana blancas o azules, rematando los pies las madreñas o los escarpinos.

Hoy va de revivir recuerdos, dicen que persiste todavía en Tresviso –en mi pueblo hace años que está olvidado- la tradición de los aguinaldos, el último día de Diciembre salen los mozos por las callejas del pueblo y van llamando de puerta en puerta para pedir el aguinaldo; y poco a poco, la comitiva va llenando el saco -o el cesto de mimbre- con huevos, morcilla, tocino, pan, etc., al tiempo que el dueño del hogar saca su mejor vino y en un porrón lo ofrece a los "aguinalderos".

Es costumbre, después de recoger el aguinaldo, dar las "migas" -mantequilla y pan- a los niños del pueblo. Al frente del grupo de jóvenes se elige al "vinotero", que es el encargado del control de todo aquello que se necesite para la fiesta.

Llegada la víspera de Reyes, los mozos se juntan a cenar los "aguinaldos" en una vivienda del pueblo que se denomina "la posada" y que suele ser distinta cada año; allí, en entrañable camaradería las viejas canciones se entonarán con alegría y no faltarán abundantes copas de buen orujo. Al día siguiente se celebra la cena de "la justicia", llamada así porque se invita al alcalde del pueblo, al cura y al juez, siendo en esta celebración cuando los mozos invitarán a las mozas del lugar y al concluir la cena se acudirá al baile que, según la tradición, se acaba a las dos de la madrugada para pasar todos los vecinos del pueblo a tomar café en "la posada"; de ésta forma, juventud y mayores se unen, para reforzar aún más los lazos de amistad.

En mi tierra de nacimiento Teverga –preciosa asemeya de cuenco de plata, gracias a las calizas que la rodean- igual que aquí se elabora un queso picón con leche de oveja, cabra y vaca, con un sabor muy similar al que recuerdo de los años de juventud.

Alrededor de la iglesia de Tresviso

Sotres camino de Tresviso

Andrea de espaldas a Sotres

Carretera a Tresviso

Vacas roxas pastando al atardecer, acompañadas de yeguas

Al fondo la silueta de la cúspide del mítico Naranjo de Bulnes

Tresviso

Río Urdón

Tramo de subida

En la foto siguiente, se aprecia difuminado el sendero de acceso al pueblo desde Cantabria

Al fondo de la foto se ve el picalín del Naranjo de Bulnes

Quienes crean que una excursión tan fácil no tiene chiste y es pan comido, se pueden aventurar por el camino de subida desde el río Urdón, por pedregoso, ancho –para lo que cabría esperar- y revuelto sendero, parte de lo impresionante del reto se puede apreciar en las fotos siguientes, las vistas prometen ser mareantes, me brindo hacer el recorrido en ocasión venidera para comparar y sacar unas cuantas asemeyas que como siempre colgaré aquí. La caseta roja que parece colgada en la roca lo está ciertamente, de allí se distribuye el agua que le llega por un canal escavado en la roca y que allí precisamente se encamina de sopetón, para mover las turbinas de la central eléctrica, que se encuentra bastantes metros más abajo, a nivel del río.

El libro de Hoy ese Santiago Gamboa.

Perder es cuestión de método. Santiago Gamboa

Queso de TresvisoAguilucho

Croquis

Nueva foto del sendero

]]> http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com/?p=100 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:24:13 +0000 pinoyobserver http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com/?p=100

 When police arrested former Vice President Teofisto Guingona in 2007, he was brought back to his cell at Camp Bicutan. It was in 1972 when he first got a taste of prison life. Thirty five years hence, he’s back in prison, now with one of his daughters, Marie.

Thirty five years ago, he was fighting a Madman who wanted the country all by himself. Today, though in the twilight of his life, he’s still fighting a more lethal enemy. He’s fighting the daughter of a man whom he once served. And he’s struggling against the backdrop of a pseudo-democratic state.

That slice of his slice he wrote in his memoirs, “ The Fight for the Filipino”, shows you the character of Tito’s struggle. After having taken part in some of the most historic events of this country in the past 35 years, Tito realized that nothing has changed. Despite his humble yet shining contributions as a government technocrat, a legislator and a Vice President, the same old societal problems still exists. He still saw poverty in his midst. There is still repression against Filipinos. Fighting still rages between Christians and Muslims in his adopted province. And people still suffer under an apathetic government.

Tito wrote that we need change, not only in the echelons of government, but moreso, in empowering people. “ What we urgently need here, “ he says, “..are basic reforms not only in the echelons of government but also in the empowerment of the Filipino. That means devoting the land, the seas, the resources for him, for his own economic advancement. It entails enriching his culture, his literature, his kundimans, depicting a vision he can shape into reality, a legacy he can build for the children—a national strife into the heart and mind, a dynamic leap into the soul of the Filipino!”

Such words coming from a man who has seen it all—the heyday of trapo politics, the ravages of martial rule, government bureaucracy, legislative debates, tear gas and water cannons— makes one sit and ponder. Was change foremost in his mind when he headed the Commission on Audit? Yes, he made his share in enriching government procurement processes. Was change still on his mind when he headed the Justice portfolio? Indeed, he did helped those victims of injustices.

Was societal change still raged within him as a Senator and eventually as Vice President? Yes, he tried making some inroads by serving as one of the most honest Foreign Affairs secretary of our time. 

After all his sacrifices, his struggles, his street fights, was it there a time when he thought of making that ultimate sacrifice of serving his country by joining those in the mountains? Edjop made that leap and died a Patriot. Tito’s contemporary, Ninoy, was killed by the hooligans of the state.  His sacrifice paid for whatever freedoms we enjoy now.

What about Tito? Will he suffer the fate of an Aguinaldo, a forgotten patriot who suffered and paled under the shadow of Bonifacio?

Some would say that Tito Guingona belongs to a vanishing breed of patriotic politicians. I would not agree to that.

In all honestly, Tito Guingona is not in the twilight of his career as a Patriot. No. In fact, he’s just starting to get a feel of things.

He’s just beginning his career as a True Patriot. He has seen everything, met the enemy of change face to face and firmly concluded that real change is what we truly need.

“We must change -  not only the constitution at the proper time but also a nation reborn with faith and freedom, to speak the truth and spurn deception, to work honestly and  strengthen our own for a better future of our children, to govern firmly and fairly for the true welfare of the people.”

But what kind of change, and what mode of struggle was he suggesting? Tito says that in time, Providence will again guide the Filipino towards real, meaningful, change. But how to go about it, Tito? God helps those who help themselves.

You, yourself, have said that we still have’nt learned the lessons of EDSA and Martial rule? Are you talking with your fellow politicians of times past or are you talking with us, your people?

If you’re talking to us, Tito, the People have learned their lesson, that is, never trust those who speak in political pulpits. The People heard the petitions of those who want peaceful change and found them wanting.

The Fight of the Filipino is a struggle not just against governments but against themselves. As we speak, the struggle is being refined, like separating mercury from gold. You’re right, those who made that decision to “mag alsa balutan” or go to another country, are beginning to consider “mag-alsa” as a viable solution.

Yes, the Filipino OFW is starting to comprise a class, a creative one. They will be the ones who will bring back the glory of this country. However, they will do so only through a violent revolution. It is time that this country go through another turbulent era so that peace, true peace, can be achieved, not only for this generation, but for our children.  

'Independence Day' 2008 has come and gone, so I figure it's a good time for a visual retrospective on the years after Aguinaldo declared the Philippines 'free' on12 June 1898. As a Filipino photographer, I find these old archival images gripping...

[above: General Aguinaldo boards the U.S.S Vicksburg, 1900]

[above: Dr. Miller poses for a photograph with two Ifugaos. ca. 1906-1910]

[above: American soldier with Filipino child; Photographer: Bruner, E. Murray; Date: ca. 1906-1910]

[above: American soldiers and Filipinos with small horses, Cavite, 1899]

[above: American soldiers rest during a lull in the fighting, 1899]

“I am not afraid, and am always ready to do my duty, but I would like some one to tell me what we are fighting for.”–Arthur H. Vickers, Sergeant in the First Nebraska Regiment

[above: Dead insurgents, Manila, 1899-1901]

In all the images, and the above image especially, keep in mind that this was taken in 1899. The camera's back then were not the fast exposing, handheld varieties like what we have today, or even during WWII. These were large machines that had to be set up, and the exposures required one to hold still for a long time. I assume all the above facial expressions, except I suspect the elderly lady's, were posed. I can only imagine what the lola above is thinking...

[above: Officers of the Filipino insurgent army against the American colonisers, prisoners in Pastigo Prison, Manila, Philippine Islands. (1901)]

[above: Execution chamber and garrotes, Intramuros. " This machine has an official record of killing 31 men, 1901.]

* * *

The Philippine American War was fought from the moment the Americans claimed ownership of the Phils as a colony until at least 1902 (though fighting continued throughout the American term--and, arguably, is still going on today).

The country continues to bear the scars of this conflict. Official (aka American) numbers put the casualties at: 4234/2818 American dead/wounded and 20,000/200,000 Filipino dead (note the exact figures of the US casualities and the averaged out number for us Filipinos). Filipino estimates are MUCH higher (with at least 500,000 civilian deaths).

After the conflict the US did it's best to create "little brown Americans." The Thomasites opened up schools to 'educate' the populace. And members of the elite were groomed into political positions.

"Independence" was finally granted by the Americans in 1946.

For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine-American_War

Click here to read "White Man's Burden" a poem written by R. Kipling about the colonisation of the Philippines by the USA.

Les Philippines sont une ancienne colonie espagnole et, comme tout pays colonisé, elles se sont caractérisées par de nombreuses inégalités politiques, économiques et sociales suite à l’invasion de l’Espagne. Au début des années 1890, les Philippines développent le premier mouvement moderne anticolonialiste de l’Asie du Sud-Est. L’objectif étant la redistribution des terres aux paysans et de moderniser l’état sous une administration philippine et non espagnole. Toutefois, l’Histoire démontrera que le nationalisme philippin servira surtout la bourgeoisie, car même si l’indépendance des Philippines était désirée par toutes les classes sociales, l’élite voulait surtout se débarrasser du pouvoir colonial espagnol pour contrôler l’état seul;la démocratisation au niveau économique et social n’a jamais eu lieu.

Au départ, le mouvement est dirigé par une élite de jeunes hommes philippins éduqués en Europe nommés illustrados. Un écrivain, José Rizal, éveille la conscience du peuple en se moquant des conquistadors et des Philippins qui les imitent. Andres Bonifacio est influencé par ses écrits et se mobilise pour former la société secrète Katipunan. Il devient le chef révolutionnaire du mouvement nationaliste. Toutefois, Bonifacio éprouve des difficultés contre les forces espagnoles. En parallèle, un dénommé Aguinaldo obtient du succès dans une autre région des Philippes, Cavite. Dû à une rivalité croissante, les deux chefs décident de passer au vote pour qu’il n’y ait plus qu’un seul chef du mouvement révolutionnaire. Aguinaldo est élu. En 1896, la révolution contre les Espagnols prend de l’ampleur. Aguinaldo mène le combat de l’indépendance; celle-ci est obtenue en 1898.

Cependant, avec le traité de Paris en 1898, les États-Unis prennent possession des Philippines. Le peuple désire garder son indépendance. Les Américains encouragent alors les nationalistes philippins à condition de créer un état démocratique collaborateur. La structure politique du pays prendra exemple sur le Congrèsaméricain et les riches familles philippines seront promues à des postes administratifs et désignés comme gardiens des terres. En échange, le secteur agraire devra répondre aux demandes des États-Unis. Bref, les relations commerciales avec les États-Unis continuent d’avantager l’élite et les étrangers.

Le parti nationaliste officiel se forme en 1907. Un des dirigeants, Quezon en prend les règnes et unifie les différents membres partisans du nationalisme : l’église, les syndicats et les paysans. Il gagne les élections. Par contre, Quezon ne croit pas à la redistribution des terres et le secteur agricole reste dans les mains de l’élite. Ce parti pris n’affecte en rien les Américains puisque Quezon favorise le même modèle clientéliste que par le passé (pour les États-Unis, ce qui compte c’est que le gouvernement philippin satisfasse ses demandes commerciales). L’absence de représentation populaire est renforcée par le fait que la structure politique ne force pas les dirigeants de l’État à maintenir des liens avec la population, ils ne sont pas tenus de présenter un programme politique et les chefs de partis sont élus par des votes contrôlés par des chefs locaux qui sont récompensés.

Au début des années 1930, les partis socialiste et communiste (déclaré illégal par le gouvernement) prennent forme. Le gouvernement utilise des mesures coercitives (exécution, emprisonnement, exil forcé) pour affaiblir ces partis. De son côté, le parti nationaliste est fragilisé par des divergences internes. En 1946, il se scinde en deux : le parti libéral et le parti nationaliste. Toutefois, même si le parti libéral et le parti nationaliste se livrent une bataille pour obtenir la présidence, les deux sont plutôt conservateurs. La situation reste la même à travers les années 1950-1960.

De 1966 à 1986, le président élu au nom de Marcos met en place un régime dictatorial aux Philippines. Le pouvoir des terres est détenu par Marcos et ses partisans hauts placés militaires. Encore une fois, le régime maintient une relation clientéliste avec les États-Unis aux dépens de la population philippine.

À la chute du régime, le parti communiste des Philippines et la nouvelle armée du peuple (CPP-NPA) arrivent au pouvoir, il désire unir le peuple pour fonder une véritable nation et distribuer le pouvoir des terres. Le manque de support bureaucratique et la chute du communisme, une économie faible et les problèmes internes du parti font en sorte que cette tentative est un échec. On revient donc au modèle politique américain.

La situation actuelle est à l’image des événements passés. Les discordes entre l’élite et les paysans pour le secteur agricole n’ont que changé d’acteurs, qui sont maintenant entre le gouvernement et le CPP-NPA. (Cheong, Yong Mun, 1999).Les assassinats politiques sont fréquents. Aux élections de 2007, il a été question de luttes armées et de morts d’hommes politiques (philippines.droitshumains.goolepages.com, 2007)

---

Kratoska, Paul. ¨Nationalism and Modernist Reform¨, in The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia , Vol. 3. Cambridge : Cambridge Univerity Press, 1999 : pp.245-286.
Cheong, Yomg Mun.¨the political structure of the Independent States¨. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. 4. Edited by Nicholas Traling, Cambridge university Press, 1999 : pp. 59-131.

www.philippines.droitshumains.googlepages.com

The first Philippine Independence Day occured in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. It was then, the Philippine Flag was raised and waved by President Emilio Aguinaldo. Even though the Philippines was taken over by the Americans and the Japanese way back in the 1940's, the very first Independdence day is being celebrated on this day. This is to commemorate the country's declaration of independence from Spain, who ruled the nation for more than 300 years.

The proclamation of the Philippine independence from the Spaniards was depicted on the back of the old 5-peso bill.

June 12 Independence Day had not been possible without these famous heroes:

DR. JOSE P. RIZAL        APOLINARIO MABINI    

  ANDRES BONIFACIO     GREGORIO DEL PILAR

 GEN. JUAN LUNA             EMILIO JACINTO                    

 MARCELO H. DEL PILAR     EMILIO AGUINALDO

                                               THE GOMBURZA

        BURGOS                                 GOMEZ                             ZAMORA                       

MELCHORA AQUINO

There were speculations though that Emilio Aguinaldo planned for the murder of Andres Bonifacio in Bundok Buntis. I remembered my history teacher in highschool, Sir Manny. He said that Aguinaldo died sad because of what he did to Bonifacio.

Whether it is true or just a rumor, we should not forget the heroic deeds they've done for our country. Today, as our country faces economic difficulties, I believe, that we can  also be a hero in our own special ways to help our country..

Happy Independence day!

Kawit, 1998. Kinulit ko lang ang grupong dumaan dito nung mag-overnight kami sa Island Cove sa Dasmariñas. Sarado ang mansyon kaya hindi na kami nakapasok sa loob.

Walang hindi nakaaalam ng significance ng araw na ito. Nakalakip sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ang alaala ng mga “una” – ang unang constitutional government ng Pilipinas, ang unang naging watawat ng republika (wala naman na sigurong susunod pa) na kaunaunahang itinaas sa saliw ng kaunaunahang pag-awit sa madla ng “Marcha Filipina Magdalo” (“Lupang Hinirang” ang title ngayon – hindi “Bayang Magiliw” ha?) sa bahay ng kaunaunahang pangulo na si Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo. (anhaba, hiningal hako…)

June 12, 1898, idiniklara ang kalayaan at kasarinlan ng Pilipinas.

Isang daan at sampung taon (110 years) na ang nakakaraan. Maraming URI ng kalayaan ang kalakip ng hanggang ngayon ay malimit nating tanong:

“Malaya na nga ba tayo?”

Ang “Araw ng Kagitingan” (April 9) at “Pagbagsak ng Corregidor” (May 5) ay mga kasaysayang sangkot ang mga Amerikano at Hapones; ang “Araw ng Kalayaan” ay mas may kinalaman ang mga Kastila. Mga espasol – eheste, Espanggol ang naitaboy nuon eh.

Antagaaaaaaaaaal nila dito ay… mahigit sa 300 taon! Andami-dami-dami-dami tuloy nating namana.

Nakalaya na tayo sa pananakop ng mga Kastila. Kumusta naman sa pangunahing “turo” at “kaalamang” iniwan nila sa atin, “Malaya na nga ba tayo?” Marami akong kamag-anak nuon sa father side na sarado sa relihiyong ito (palibhasa may 1% na dugong kastilaloy ang angkan ng tatay ko :lol: ).

Just for info:

Hindi sa Espanya nagsimula ang Kristianismo. Kaya hindi komo sila ang unang naghatid ng “Christianity” dito sa Pilipinas ay yung mga itinuro na nila ang ‘orihinal’. Namana lang din nila ang mga turong iyon sa mga Romans na syang super-power nuon. The “faith” that the Spaniards taught us is a deliberate mixture of ancient paganism and the Christian faith, initiated by the Roman emperor Constantine himself, about 300 years after Christ’s birth, death and resurrection.

For years, persecutions had not destroyed the TRUE Christian faith, and Constantine knew this. He “favored Christianity merely from political motives… he made use of religion to advance his policy.” (Excerpts from this church’s encyclopedia). Paganized Christianity, or Christianized paganism, that is what they have been teaching us, get it?

Immediately after our 1898 independence (matapos tayong maipasa sa mga Amerikano) was the flourishing of the Protestant churches. Pero hindi rin mga kano ang masasabi nating originator ng Christian faith. Nanggaling naman ang Protestantism sa Reformation na sinimulan ni Martin Luther sa Europe.

Even before our independence, some natives tried to secularize the priesthood (brought about by racial conflict that began in 1872) and Filipinize ‘Castilian’ Christianity. This resulted to the birth of an indigent Christian religion that is somewhat a native version of Protestantism. Kaunti lang ang ipinagkaiba, pero ang nais lang nating ipaunawa dito ay ang “Pinoy Protestantism” na ito ang naging buhay na simbolo ng 1898 independence day natin. Until now, the Philippine Independent Church (also known as the Aglipayan church) remains the tangible result of the revolution. May mga kamag-anak naman ako nuon sa mother side na ganito – pari pa nga yung asawa ng kapatid ng mamay (lola) ko. :P Hindi ako Aglipayan ha?

Christianity is NOT a western religion; it was once a Middle-Eastern faith that came out of the Jewish nation, home to God’s chosen people. Being chosen does not mean that Jews are more superior that any other race or group of people. God picked that nation as the starting (radiating) point, used by Him as a vessel through which ALL the human race can be blessed. This faith is “designed” to be universal – for all races, for all mankind.

PridaaaaaaaaaammmN!!! Malaya na nga ba tayo?

Siyanga pala…

Next week (June 19), may happening uli sa amin sa bayan ng Calamba. Kaarawan ni Rizal, pero hindi na ako magpo-post, hane? ‘Birthday lang’ naman… pero sa mga taga-Calamba, DAPAT lang na ginugunita ang araw na iyon.

Syempre naman, mas significant pa rin yung talagang Rizal Day na mas popular sa atin. Dahil kung hindi nangyari yung pag-firing squad sa Luneta, magiging meaningless lang yung birhday sa Calamba, di ba? Kaya nga siguro yung December 30 ang pula sa kalendaryo, hindi yung June 19 – mas may impact sa mga Pinoy nuon ang pagpapakamartir ni Rizal, kaysa sa kanyang pagkakapanganak.

Eh bakit yung kay Bonifacio, birthday niya ang pula sa kalendaryo?

‘Yaan na yun… baka may ayaw silang maungkat tungkol kay Bonifacio nung mga panahong niPULAhan ang petsang iyon. Saka huwag na tayong maging ‘KJ’… araw ni Aguinaldo ngayon...

(Trivia: Alam nyo bang nung 1964 lang namatay si Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo? Ahehe, inabot ko pa – magtatlong taon pa lang ako nuon.)

From our 1998 photo album. Paki-CLICK na lang para sa mas nababasang view.

Pasensya na kayo sa mga ‘sinaunang’ piktyur ko dito. Hindi pa ako makapa-nyut ng bago, kasi hindi naman ako naglalalabas ng bahay hangga’t ‘homebound’ pa ako… Yung hindi nyo makilalang pagmumukha dyan sa pinakahuling pikyur? Eyun po ang aking pinakasinauna: :lol: →

Paglilinaw lang po: Wala akong ambisyong maging artista – maski kamamatay lang nitong nakaraang linggo :( nung kahawig ko daw (joke lang, huwag patulan. Ang maniwala uto, ang mainis pikon :lol: ). Hindi ko rin pangarap na maging isang bayani. Sariling pagmumukha ko naman yan, TRIP KO LANG na pinaglalaruan. :lol:

The balcony at the Aguinaldo Shrine used during Independence Day celebrations was added later.

The actual Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence was made from a window, not a balcony.

Leonor Rivera, Rizal's model for Maria Clara, may have been the closest to being the love of his life. Their 11-year romance in letters kept him from falling in love with other women he met during his travels, even if it did not preclude him from flirting with them. Their tale of unrequited love could rival that in Love in a Time of Cholera, where Fermina Daza, waking up to the frivolity of their epistolary romance, promptly rejects the passionate advances of Florentino Ariza and marries the more sensible Dr. Juvenal Urbino. "Leonor’s mother [on the other hand] disapproved of her daughter’s relationship with Rizal, who was then a known filibustero. She hid from Leonor all letters sent to her sweetheart. Leonor believing that Rizal had already forgotten her, sadly consented to marry the Englishman Henry Kipping, her mother’s choice" (from JoseRizal.Ph). Stewing up the melodrama are anecdotal accounts of Leonor Rivera burning Rizal's letters the day before her wedding, gathering all the ashes and tenderly sewing them into the hem of her wedding gown. "Thus, as she walked down the aisle to marry a man we are told she did not love as much, she felt the pieces of a lost love crumble at her feet" (Love letters to Rizal, Inquirer.net).

Leonor Rivera (right) with mommy. Notice her dazed expression as mum clutches her cuello while holding a fan like a whip. Mata lang ang walang latay! Aray ko po!

But even while Rizal reserved his true love for Leonor Rivera, like Florentino Ariza, he allowed, even encouraged, casual diversions during his travels. He had flings with other women. For how can we read Suzanne's (Jacoby/Thill?) giddy and taunting letters otherwise:

…I hope your courts are open and I shall not have to wait a long time for your decision. Don’t delay too long writing us because I wear out the soles of my shoes running to the mailbox to see if there is a letter from you.

*****

There will never be any home in which you are so much loved as that in Brussels, so, you, little bad boy, hurry up and come back. Tell us a little about the kind of house in which you are lodged and how are the people there. (Love letters to Rizal, Inquirer.net)

This actually reminds me of a coy love letter, flower enclosed, to Leopold Bloom--posing as Henry Flower--from his amorous pen pal, Martha Clifford, in James Joyce's Ulysses.

I got your last letter to me and thank you very much for it. I am sorry you did not like my last letter... I am awfully angry with you. I do wish I could punish you for that. I called you naughty boy because I do not like that other word. Please tell me what is the real meaning of that word. Are you not happy in your home you poor little naughty boy? I do wish I could do something for you. Please tell me what you think of poor me...

What do we make of 13 love affairs and three marriage proposals, two of which did not materialize? It's certainly more love than a man can handle in a lifetime, but, then again, this is Rizal we are talking about--the über-über-Filipino might also be just as macho as he is matalino. Ambeth Ocampo in Rizal, Freud and the failure of psycho-history observes, however, "that the fact that Rizal had many women was probably an indication that he was incapable or perhaps had difficulty in maintaining a stable relationship with one woman... [he] would court a woman or show interest in her and when a relationship is formed and he is at that point of intimacy, Rizal would suddenly withdraw".

Bloom tears up the letter, and at the end of that episode, as he takes his bath, Joyce invokes the flower image again, not to signify the awakening of amorous feelings, but the soporific surrender of a man, feeble and flaccid: "He foresaw his pale body reclined in it at full, naked, in a womb of warmth, oiled by scented melting soap, softly laved. He saw his trunk and limbs riprippled over and sustained, buoyed lightly upward, lemonyellow: his navel, bud of flesh: and saw the dark tangled curls of his bush floating, floating hair of the stream around the limp father of thousands, a languid floating flower".

Was he just toying with poor Suzanne, or, was he really frigid, or worse, impotent, at least when it comes to the affairs of the heart? Or, perhaps, for Rizal, women were simply too intractable, like those elusive flowers of Heidelberg--fremde Blumen, strange flowers.

"kaya isipin ninyo mga kapatid kung katoiran o hindi ang kanilang ginagawa pag api sa amin..."

Oryang in her Talambuhay prudently skips over the quarrel (sigalot) between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo that began with the elections in Tejeros, their persecution and humiliation at the hands of Aguinaldo's men, that eventually led to Bonifacio's death. She, however, cryptically refers to having written a letter to Emilio Jacinto, that to her knowledge is supposedly in the hands of Jose P. Santos, the same fellow who was requesting her to write her autobiography in 1929. Another blogger, notes how Oryang--"in almost guarded language"--carefully weighs in on the provenance of the documents in Santos' possession. She attests to having written accounts to Emilio Jacinto, but stops short in stating for a fact that these are what Santos has in his keeping. She was making sure the record was set straight with regards to her own version of the events in Cavite.

Ambeth Ocampo quotes a letter to Emilio Jacinto (is it the same letter?) written close to the events of 1897, where Oryang related her first encounter with the executioners, as she desperately went looking for her husband and brother-in-law.

...kinabukasan ng tanghali nila inalis ang dalawang magkapatid, at ng bandang hapon na ay nagkaroon ng laban sa labas ng bayan na di malayo sa aking kinalalagyan. Saka lamang ako pinakawalan. Nang ako'y makawala at ako'y tumawid ng ibayo at aking hinahanap ay nasalubong ko ang nang hatid na dala ang papalimusan kong damit na siya kong ibinibihis pati kumot gamit sa katawan ng aking bayaw. Ng ako'y itanong kung saan naroon ang kanilang dala ang sagot sa akin ay naroon sa Bondok sa isang bahay ng tuti [puti?], itinanong ko kung bakit nila dala ang damit. Ang sagot ay ako na raw ang siyang biling magdala. (Gregoria de Jesus Nakpil, undated letter to Emilio Jacinto. Original manuscript in The Encarnacion Collection)

In Santos' records ("Tenepe" Si Andres Bonifacio at ang Himagsikan. Typescript in UP Library. Manila: n.p. 1935), Oryang gives a more harrowing account of her search for the bodies, of how she was given the run-around by Aguinaldo's men, and of how Lazaro Makapagal, as if to twist the knife in, continued to lie to her and mock her.

Nang ako ay pakawalan nila ay hinanap ko si Andres Bonifacio. Sa bahay na aking pinagiwanan ay wala na at naipapatay na nila at sa katunayan ay nasalubong ko sa paglabas ng sular na nagtatawanan pa si Lazaro Makapagal at Jose Zulueta at tatlong sundalo pa, at ang isa ay pinalapit sa akin at ipinabigay ang balutan ng damit at sapatos na suot ni Andres at sinabi sa akin na, Perdon na, Señora.

Ay! Mga kapatid! Minulan ko na ang hanap sa pinajeruan sa akin ay natagpuan ko pagdating doon ay itinuro ako sa kabilang Bondok na labis ang taas ang inakyat. Ng kami ay dumating ay wala. Lakad na naman kami. Ay! Mga kapatid! May dalawang linggo kong hinanap sa Bondok na walang tigil kami kundi gabi. Nang di ko makita at walang makapagsabi. Kami ay sumunod sa kanilang tropa at kahit ang aking pagtanungan sa kanila ay kung saan saan ako itinuturo magpahanggang ngayon. Kaya lamang ako natuluyang ng paglabas [sa Cavite] ay nang nakausap ko ang aking amain [Mariano Alvarez] na sinapi sa akin na tapat... kaya isipin ninyo mga kapatid kung katoiran o hindi ang kanilang ginagawa pag api sa amin...

One can almost palpably hear the outrage in her voice (Ay! Mga kapatid!), as she appealed to the Katipunan, or to some other higher authority, to be judge of the injustices they suffered in Cavite. With the trial, and possibly its records, rigged, with the sneaky way by which the execution was carried out, and with the absence of the bodies of the deceased, Oryang, as if to steady herself, concludes by putting on record the plain facts.

Ako ay hindi maaring malinlang ng sino pa man tungkol sa nangyayaring ito pagkat ako'y saksi sa lahat ng nangyari mula ng gawin ang halalan sa Teheros na siyang naging simula ng kaguluhan hanggang sa siya'y ipapatay o barilin na nangyari noong 10 ng Mayo ng taong 1897 na naganap sa ibayo ng barrio ng Marigundong, sakop ng Kabite, at kaya ko naman natatandaang 10 ng Mayo ay dahil sa kinabukasan ng aking pista ng kapanganakan siya binaril.

Ang mga hirap at sakit na dinanas ko sa kasawiang palad naming magasawa ay di ko na ibig magunita pagkat tunay na nadudurog ang aking puso. Pinabantayan ako na parang isang tunay na salarin o kriminal sa lahat ng kilos na ang dalawang tanod ay may dalang baril na nakalagay ang bayoneta.

...Ang nagsiganap ay si Lazaro Makapagal na katulong si Jose Zulueta na may kasamang ilang kawal na may dala ding mga baril. May kasama pa silang Cazadores na bihag na tila ang pangalan ay Juan Marinio na siyang nag-abot sa akin ng balutan at sapatos ni Andres na iniutos ni Makapagal.

With all the double-dealing she had endured to get to the bottom of things, she states in a very lucid and poised manner, why she cannot be deceived and why she can never forget. She speaks with the same indignation as future witnesses in the Nuremberg trials, or the torture victims of the Marcos regime. Yet, true to her husband's dreams, in the end, Oryang yielded her rights of redress, as the moment for revolt against Spain was ripe, and unity among Filipinos what the times demanded.

Ang paghihiganti ng mga oras na yaon ay natiim ko sa kalooban dahil nasa gipit na kalagayan ang bayan at lahat ng lumapit sa akin na humihimok upang magsamasama kami sa paghihiganti ay sinasaway ko at pinagpapayuhan ng kapayapaan sa hangad kong magkaisa ang lahat at matamo natin ang kalayaan na siyang layon ng paghihimagsik laban sa mga kastila.

I originally set out to write a short account of the less celebrated love life of Andres Bonifacio for a Valentine's Day blog entry. The literature about Bonifacio's life was so thin compared to Rizal's who seemed to have made sure he left a stockpile of memorabilia, all over the world, as if he had prescience of his heroic destiny. While there are endless anecdotes about Rizal's courtly ways with women, I did not find any gushing love letters for Bonifacio. All we know is that he had a first wife who died of leprosy, and that he re-married with 18-year-old Gregoria de Jesus, in secret Katipunan rites. What an extraordinary woman Oryang turned out to be. Not bad for someone he was thought to have met in a town fiesta or a baile, and courted for about six months. By 21, she would be deeply entrenched in the flames of a revolution sweeping the country, that her husband sparked. She would also be a widow. Theirs was a love that endured the worst, but survives through her witness and her voice.

A haven for Filipinos

By Ambeth Ocampo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
To be in Hong Kong before the Chinese New Year is quite a treat. There is a festive air about town, and all the stores are on sale.

This year it was quite cold with temperatures dipping to 8 degrees Celsius. Weather forecasters said this was the coldest winter Hong Kong has experienced in the past half century. As always, I went to all my favorite places to eat: Yung Kee for roast goose, Liu Yue Mun market for fresh seafood, Peking Garden for lunchtime dimsum, Spring Deer for Peking duck, Macau Restaurant for roast pigeon and Macanese fried rice, and one place that serves chicken three different ways.

Some friends texted last week to tell me about the suckling pig they devoured during the Year of the Pig and the wonderful stuffed chicken they feasted on in the Year of the Rooster. But since this is the Year of the Rat, they decided to go vegetarian during the Chinese noche buena.

I went around tasting all the egg tarts I could find, comparing them with the famous Lord Stow’s because it is rumored that Lord and Lady Stow had a parting of ways and Lady Stow sold her recipe to the Hong Kong franchise holder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, so that now the best egg tart is to be found in KFC. In my opinion this is the sweetest among the egg tarts available, and much to my liking, next to those served at Macau Restaurant in Tsim Tsa Tsui where you can actually order a pork chop sandwich (imagine a real pork chop between toast).

Filipinos travel to Hong Kong for different reasons. For many it is a place to work, for others it is a place to shop or transact business, and for me it is a place to eat, a place to roam around tracing the footsteps of our heroes in Hong Kong side. I have written in the past about the two sites where Jose Rizal stayed that were marked by the Hong Kong Antiquities Board during the time of Home Affairs Secretary Patrick Ho, an admirer of Rizal, and an ophthalmologist who maintained a clinic on the street where Rizal also treated eye patients. A marker has also been installed in a playground that was the site where Marcela Agoncillo and some friends made the first Philippine flag. These markers show Filipinos today that Hong Kong was a place of refuge for Filipinos during the Philippine Revolution. More importantly, they educate Hong Kong residents on our shared history.

Joe Narvaez sent this email and made me realize that our consulate in Hong Kong has to lobby for more historical markers with the Antiquities Office:

“I am a history buff. Even as a kid, I have always been fascinated by museums, old books and antique pieces. In fact, I keep a 1944 bronze Philippine-USA 1-centavo coin in my wallet. I prefer movies and novels of the historical genre. My girlfriend routinely teases me by asking why I have a strong affinity to things that are ‘nabubulok-bulok’ [decaying] or ‘naaagnas’ [decomposing] Nonetheless, she agreed to marry me in February next year on one such site, Paco Park. [My unsolicited advice: It may be a very romantic place, but I do not think it is good ‘feng shui’ to get married and start a new life in a mortuary chapel.]

“I would also like to think of myself as a patriot. Well, if you can consider an OFW [overseas Filipino worker] who frequently buys the delicious Del Monte brand bananas that are ubiquitous in Hong Kong for the sake of contributing humbly to gross Philippine export, then maybe I am a patriot. Currently, I am working for a pharmaceutical company in the New Territories of Hong Kong.

“I have observed that the presence of a horde of Filipinos here is a truth well tolerated by Chinese locals. Last week, as I was going out of my flat for work, I noticed a medium-sized plastic bin for dog excrement near the bicycle lane. Instruction on the container read, ‘Clean up after your dog’ and under that was ‘Lagayan ng dumi ng aso’ [‘Depository for dog poo’]. Initially, I felt proud to see Tagalog written by non-Filipinos on a poo can owned by non-Filipinos. Wow! Tagalog is going places nowadays.

“On second thought, I realized that maybe they included Tagalog because they suspect Filipino domestic helpers tasked to regularly walk their employers’ dogs are responsible for the unsightly sidewalk mounds.

“This and a recent brush with your articles on inquirer.net made me ponder about the role of Hong Kong in Philippine history. I bet that years back, our relationship with HK was more than just supplying them with our industrious Filipinas, both young and mature, to be their domestic helpers, right? HK must be one of the ports of choice for ancient Chinese merchants sailing to Las Islas Filipinas for trade, right?

“I know only a few significant historical facts. HK served as haven for some Filipino heroes during Spanish rule. Among them were Jose Ma. Basa, Felipe Agoncillo and Galicano Apacible. Rizal used to have a clinic on D’Aguilar Street. Aguinaldo’s junta. Marcela Agoncillo and the Philippine flag. Juan Luna’s death. Dewey’s fleet docked in Hong Kong harbor before taking Manila. What else should an interested Filipino living in HK know?

“I hope more of our countrymen will read your articles and get armed with the past for our continuing fight for a future more fair. I wish to see the day when Filipinos would only need to clean after their own dogs instead of any foreign master’s.”

____________________

Dear Mr. Ocampo,

I am a history buff. Even as a kid, I have always been fascinated by museums, old books and antique pieces. In fact, I keep a 1944 bronze Philippine-USA 1-centavo coin in my wallet. I prefer movies and novels of the historical genre. My girlfriend routinely teases me by asking why I have a strong affinity to things that are "nabubulok-bulok" or "naaagnas"? Nonetheless, she agreed to marry me February next year in one such site, Paco Park.

I would also like to think of myself as a patriot. Well, if you can consider an OFW who frequently buys the delicious Del Monte brand bananas that are ubiquitous in Hong Kong for the sake of contributing humbly to gross Philippine export, then maybe I am a patriot.

Currently, I am working for a pharmaceutical company in the New Territories of Hong Kong. I observed that the presence of a horde of Filipinos here is a truth well tolerated by Chinese locals. Last week as I was going out of my flat for work, I noticed a medium-sized plastic bin for dog excrement near the bicycle lane. Instruction on the container read "Please clean up after your dog" and under that was the Tagalog "Lagayan ng dumi ng aso". Initially, I felt proud to see Tagalog written by non-Filipinos on a poo can owned by non-Filipinos. Wow! Tagalog is going places nowadays. On second thought, I realized that maybe they included Tagalog because they suspect Filipina domestic helpers tasked to regularly walk their employer's dog responsible for the unsightly sidewalk mounds.

This and a recent brush with you articles on inquirer.net made me ponder about the role of Hong Kong in Philippine history. I bet years back, our relationship with HK was more than just supplying them with our industrious Filipinas both young and mature to be their domestic helpers right? HK must be the one of the ports of choice for ancient Chinese merchants sailing to Las Islas Filipinas for trade right?

I know only a few significant historical facts. HK served as haven for some Filipino heroes during Spanish rule. Among them were Jose Ma. Basa, Felipe Agoncillo and Galicano Apacible. Rizal used to have a clinic in D'Aguilar Street (the inconspicuous marker overwhelmed by the Starbucks sign, I had a hard time locating). Aguinaldo's junta. Marcela Agoncillo and the Philippine flag. Juan Luna's death. Dewey's fleet docked in Hong Kong harbor before taking Manila.

So what else should an interested Filipino living in HK know? I have seen the Rizal clinic marker in D'Aguilar and I believe there are 2 more markers to see here. Do you know of further plans to install more of these? I think Luna---where he died---equally deserves such a token. Not sure if that is possible though.

I admire your work Mr. Ocampo. I hope more of our countrymen would read your articles and get armed with the past for our continuing fight for a future more fair. I wish to see the day when Filipinos would only need to clean after their own dogs instead of any foreign master's.

Regards,

Joe Narvaez

____________________

Here is Mr. Ocampo's reply:

Thank you for reading the columns and taking the trouble to send an email. I do appreciate it. There are two markers: one on mid-levels escalator in the alley leading to Rednaxela Terrace where Rizal once lived, there is also another in Morrison Hill road its actually a childrens playground where our first flag was made. Have to locate the place where Luna died though, and also that of Josephine Bracken. I go to Hongkong at least once a year---sometimes thrice---and always enjoy it. Will be there the weekend before Chinese New year when prices are down.

Merry christmas

ambeth

Graduación del Dr. Julio. 

Bueno, después de tanto esperar, por fin Julito se graduó de medicina, sí, así mismo… de ahora en adelante, por favor referirse a él como el Doctor Julito García Belliard, de cualquier otro modo, por favor ni le hable, que ese título dió trabajo.  Ahora solo esperamos que se decida por la cirugía plástica, para que nos arregle un par de cositas ! La familia de Juli le organizó tremenda fiesta para celebrar el acontecimiento.  Fue una noche muy, muy divertida, estábamos los de siempre, los nuevos, los que ya no nos vemos tanto, los que queremos, aquellos que no tanto, en fin estábamos los justos. La pasamos de maravilla y el bonche se extendió hasta la mañana… bueno yo me fui a las 6 :00 am., porque era jueves y al otro día tenía trabajo.  Pero los reportes que llegaron después hablan que el asunto se acabó después de las 7 :00 a.m. Estoy muy orgullosa, y asumo que July lo sabe, porque ya por fin terminó su carrera y ahora puede seguir adelante con los planes a futuro, y espero que Dios, le haga llegar todas las cosas que él desea y necesita, pero a SU tiempo.  

Cumpleaños de Mingy. 

Mingy es mi hermano, nació antes que yo y me lleva 5 años (y si pensaban que les iba a poner la edad de Mingy se equivocaron !).  En diciembre es su cumpleaños y decidió celebrarlo en Dock acompañado de los sospechosos habituales :  Su esposa Ingrid y nosotros… los Coraleños. Yo llegué un poco tarde porque venía camino de una de las fiestas de Navidad de la empresa que se celebró fuera de la cuidad, pero aún así llegué a tiempo para celebrar y pasarla bien.  Y aunque Mingy y yo nos vivimos matando, no sé si será porque somos muy diferentes o por el contrario somos demasiado parecidos, de todas formas yo quería estar presente en el cumple.  Pasamos un buen rato que terminó con irnos a su casa a preparar cena para todos.  Buen inicio de la temporada navideña que llegó cargada de Bonches, cenas, almuerzos, Angelitos, y todas esas cosas donde hay mucha comida y que le engordan a uno hasta el alma.  

Cena de Navidad G8 y demás allegados. 

Nosotros, el G8 y demás allegados, desde hace algunos 5 años celebramos nuestra ya tradicional Cena de Navidad, y desde hace 3 años la celebramos fuera de la ciudad.  Este año nos fuimos a Jarabacoa. Salimos el sábado a las 2 :00 p.m., luego de adelantar un poco la cocinadera en casa de Jani, y una respectiva sesión de Rock Band (Esa **MA !!!!), salimos a Jarabacoa.  Hicimos una parada técnica en Carrefour, y seguimos el camino. Llegamos a Jarabacoa y como yo no había dormido nada la noche anterior (porque el bonche anterior fue hasta las 8:00am), desde que llegué a mi habitación caí en los brazos de Morfeo hasta que la Pilarica me despertó para ir a cenar.  Nos cambiamos y subimos a la cabaña de los muchachos que era nuestro punto de reunión. La cena.... MORTAL.... había de todo y como siempre en este grupo, en grandes cantidades.  Comimos, brindamos, y hablamos hasta que se nos fue la luz.  En ese momento escucho que el Master y Joseph se van para el parque del Pueblo y Pilar y yo nos anotamos con ellos.  Bajamos al pueblo:  Master, Joseph, Pilar, Bigo, Laura, Ariel, Laura (otra), Nelson y yo, con la neverita y las bebidas. Ya estando en el parque, por más que intentamos ligarle una jeva a Nelson, no hubo forma, todas las mujeres que nos cruzaban por al lado, absolutamente ninguna, le gustaban.... bueno sí, le gustó una pero después que la vimos de cerca máximo debía tener como 13 años, eso sí andaba vestida como si tuviera 20! Luego de par de horas nos fuimos a comprar fuegos artificiales (que en Jarabacoa con 300 pesos se puede casi explotar una casa.... esos cuartos si rindieron!) y llegamos  a la cabaña a despertar a todo el mundo. Al otro día las cosas fueron más suaves, nos despertamos, desayunamos y zarpamos para la capital.  Yo quería llegar temprano porque precisamente esa noche yo tenía otra cena de Navidad, esta vez con mis amigos-hermanos de toda la vida.  Pero eso es un tema que viene un poco después. 

Mi Otra Cena de Navidad! 

Llegando de Jarabacoa.... pues era mi otra cena de Navidad, esta vez con mis amigos-hermanos a los que tengo más de 25 años conociendo, los que nos criamos juntos y aunque de vez en cuando nos vivamos matando, son de esa gente que uno quiere irremediablemente (y unos cuantos amigos más que se sumaron a celebrar con nosotros). 

La cena se pautó en un restaurant italiano maravilloso, yo no lo conocía, pero 10 puntos para la Pinta por haber encontrado el lugar, se llama Il Tramezzino (espero haberlo escrito correctamente) y la comida, y sobre todo las atenciones que recibimos estuvieron fuera de toda liga.  La carta de vinos que tiene... bueh! Yo no voy a seguir hablando del lugar porque entre el vino, la comida y la compañía nos quedamos hasta que éramos los únicos y ya nos fuimos cuando nos comenzó a dar vergüenza con los empleados, seguro locos por irse a su casa y nosotros cantando Aleks Syntek a toda voz.

 Estuvimos Eugenio, Melisa, Ricardo, Robert y Mabel, Edwin y Heidi, Julito, Rafael, Pinta, luego llegaron Mayra y Gilbert. Fue una noche, como casi todas las que compartimos, llena de risas y complicidad que no se tiene con todo el mundo.  Deseamos muchas cosas para este año que inicia y sobre todo deseamos suerte a los que se amarran este año (Melisa que se casa el 5 de enero y Ricardo que tiene fecha para junio). 

Aguinaldo  Fallido. 

Recuerdo que era la primera noche en que por fin iba a dormir la noche completa (porque llevaba 4 días llegando a las 6:00 y 7:00 a.m. a mi casa) y mis queridos amigos, esos a los que adoro tanto:  Tony, Carlitos, Violeta, Paul, Indira, Carolina y no sé quien más, se antojaron de llevar un Aguinaldo a mi casa.

 Para aquellos que no saben:Aguinaldo:  En Navidad en Rep. Dominicana (y otros países) es costumbre que los amigos vayan casa por casa en la madrugada cantando villancicos acompañados por panderetas, ollas, calderos, tamboras, botellas vacías, o cualquier otro elemento que haga ruido a modo de instrumento musical. A esta costumbre se la conoce como pedir el aguinaldo, que en este caso, en lugar de dinero, consiste en bebidas alcohólicas, galletas o chocolate caliente y té de gengibre.

Pero para el que lleva 4 noches sin dormir, este lindo detalle de sus amigos pasa a ser una pesadilla, y debo decir que lo mínimo que hice fue insultarlos para que se fueran de la casa.  No me ha valido pedir disculpas y expresar que el sueño me estaba matando..... no hay forma, no me han perdonado todavía!  Y en el viaje de fin de año a Cabarete, me atacaron muchísimo con eso!

Para terminar les comento que las fotos de estos acontecimientos vienen pronto en la Galería...... los que leen, estén pendientes!! 

AHHHHHHH........ y los detalles de fin de año vienen en otro artículo, porque eso viene con más detalles y un viaje de fotos!!

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año 2008  ! !                              

Je vous parlais dans un billet précédent de villancicos, aguinaldos, parrandas et gaitas. Késeksa? Ce sont les musiques traditionnelles de Noël au Venezuela. Comme quoi, il n'y a pas que la salsa... Les Vénézuéliens, comme la plupart des Latino-Américains, ont la grande chance de connaître et d'apprécier encore leurs musiques traditionnelles, de les danser, de les chanter, de les partager.

Or, interpréter les musiques traditionnelles, c'est aussi, précisément, se créer des moments privilégiés pour l'échange. Et quel meilleur moment pour échanger que la période de Noël? Même si celle-ci est, ici comme ailleurs, un grand moment de consommation collective (le socialisme du XXIe siècle n'y retrouve pas ses petits...), elle est aussi, par excellence, le moment de partager en famille.

Réunis en famille (regroupant le plus souvent trois générations), les Vénézuéliens partagent le pesebre [la crèche], l'arbre de Noël (made in China, voire importé du Canada, si on en a les moyens), les hallacas [plat typique de Noël, une sorte de ragoût de viandes et légumes variés, enveloppé de semoule de maïs et d'une feuille de bananier], le pan de jamón [pain au jambon, olives et raisins de Corynthe], la torta negra [sorte de cake noir], et j'en passe. Tout cela, bien entendu, au rythme des musiques de circonstance. Car, ne l'oublions jamais, la musique est l'ingrédient majeur de toute célébration au Venezuela.

Question musique de Noël, on n'entendra pas autant Douce nuit ou Jingle Bells que ces villancicos, aguinaldos, parrandas et gaitas dont je vous parlais plus haut. Pour vous donner une idée de cette ambiance un peu folle, rien de tel que de décrire ces genres musicaux et surtout, les écouter et les voir. Voici.

Le villancico

Il s'agit de la première forme d'expression musicale de Noël que l'on connaisse au Venezuela. Au XVIe siècle, les Espagnols apportèrent sur le continent américain des compositions qui louangeaient la naissance de Jésus, destinées à être interprétées essentiellement par des chorales religieuses. S'inspirant de ce genre, les habitants du Venezuela ont créé de nouvelles représentations musicales, avec des paroles et des sonorités propres au métissage qui les identifiait. Sur un rythme simple et uniforme, sans refrain, ces cantiques de Noël possèdent une seule strophe, que les choristes répètent à volonté ou a satiété... Le cuatro [petite guitare à quatre cordes], la tambora (sorte de tambour grave), le tiple [guitare aigüe], le bandolín [instrument de la famille du luth] et la charrasca [instrument de percussion a rainures frottées] sont quelques-uns des instruments utilisés pour son interprétation. Voici un villancico interprété à l'ancienne par le groupe Camarita.

Les aguinaldos

Ce sont les chants typiques de Noël au Venezuela. Les paroles font allusion à des épisodes de la naissance de Jésus : l'annonce de l'ange Gabriel, le voyage de Marie et Joseph à Bethléem, l'arrivée de l'enfant, l'adoration des bergers, les offrandes des rois mages, etc. Les vers de ces mélodies sont en général d'extension libre et leur interprétation se caractérise par la présence d'une refrain entre les strophes. Les instruments utilisés varient de région à région, mais les plus utilisés sont le violon, le cuatro, le tambour, le furruco, la bandola, la charrasca, la pandereta [tambourin] et le triangle. Je vous propose d'écouter un aguinaldo très connu, Corre Caballito, interprété ici par Juan Carlos Salazar.

La Parranda

La parranda est le genre musical qui exprime le mieux le sentiment de joie qui anime les Vénézuéliens durant la période de Noël. Les paroles traitent de personnages populaires et de situations de la vie quotidienne dont on se souvient avec plaisir et sympathie en cette fin d'année. Le cuatro, la guitare, la tambora, le furruco, le chapero, le chineco, les maracas et le tres [guitare à six cordes groupées par deux] sont les instruments avec lesquels on l'interprète généralement. Chantée en groupe, la parranda fait intervenir divers solistes accompagnés par un chœur qui s'ingénie à improviser des réparties. Son rythme contagieux témoigne d'une influence marquée des genres et des chants indiens et africains. Pour vous illustrer tout cela, voici une parranda de l'île Margarita interprétée par l'ensemble Aguinaldos y punto.

La Gaita

La gaita est originaire du Zulia, la région de Maracaibo, dans la partie occidentale du pays. Comme beaucoup de manifestations culturelles du Venezuela, elle nait de la fusion de chants et rituels indiens, européens et africains et est donc une expression du métissage qui a fait le pays. En fonction de ses caractéristiques musicales, des instruments utilisés et de la région et la date où on l'interprète, on peut distinguer divers types de gaita : la gaita de furro, la gaita perijanera, la gaita de tambora et la gaita de Santa Lucía. Les thèmes traités dans ces chansons sont extrêmement variés. Ils vont de chants dédiés à la Chinita, la vierge régionale du Zulia, jusqu'à des chansons d'amour, des chants cocasses ou même des chansons socialement engagées. Toujours joyeuse et entrainante, la gaita est maintenant diffusée bien au-delà de sa région d'origine. Depuis de nombreuses années, elle s'identifie comme l'une des manifestations de Noël les plus caractéristiques dans le Venezuela tout entier. Écoutez la gaita intitulée Vivo y muero interprétée par Los Gaiteritos.

Même si la gaita est un peu plus délurée, toutes ces interprétations peuvent vous paraître quelque peu guindées. Je vous l'accorde, mais je vous réserve pour la fin une parranda familiale dans toute sa splendeur. C'est moins académique, mais cela déborde de vécu! Vous pénètrerez ainsi, subrepticement, au cœur même du Venezuela, là où vous n'auriez jamais pensé parvenir!

Joyeux Noël à tous –en entonnant une parranda, bien sûr!

Source : Educación musical en Venezuela

Una de las principales recomendaciones que hace Comisión Nacional para la Defensa de los Usuarios de las Instituciones Financieras (Condusef) es invertir “un poco de tiempo” para pensar cómo usar mejor esta prestación.

Y ya que esta época es en la que más se rebasa el nivel de endeudamiento, lo más conveniente es distribuir este ingreso y una vez cumplidas estas obligaciones, destinar el resto a diversión y obsequios, lo cual parece como castigo pero creo que es la forma más sana de convivir o co-existir con tu dinero.

Un primer paso antes de comprar es establecer el número de regalos y ponerles nombre, si piensas en destinatarios en vez de objetos, es más fácil descartar algunas opciones y ayuda a no rebasar el límite establecido cuando recorras las tiendas.La falta de cultura financiera queda de manifiesto en un sondeo que Profeco elaboró en 2006 sobre el uso de esta prestación, y en el que establece que sólo el 10% de los mexicanos la usa para ahorrar y poco menos del 1% completa el enganche de una casa habitación. En cambio, el 25% usa su aguinaldo para comprar ropa y calzado y el 15% para adquirir regalos y juguetes.

Aunque el estudio asegura que 80% de los mexicanos planea cómo gastar su aguinaldo, una tercera parte de la muestra compra de algún producto a meses sin intereses. Sólo el 11.3% paga sus deudas con este dinero.

Si esta Navidad deseas aprovechar las ventajas que ofrecen las tiendas para adquiri artículos a meses sin intereses, es importante que lo que compres sea únicamente un producto o servicio duradero como una PC, un auto, etcétera, para que este endeudamiento a largo plazo valga la pena.

Según la Condusef, entre los usos más productivos del aguinaldo destacan el pago de adeudos onerosos, reunir el enganche de un crédito hipotecario o de automóvil; prever la anualidad de algún plan de seguro que proporcione previsión a futuro como los educativos, de vida o de salud; o la aportación voluntaria adicional a la cuenta personal de la Afore.

Ponte listo con tu aguinaldo

Para sacarle jugo a este dinero que te costó un año de trabajo, Profeco recomienda dividirlo en tres rubros:

1.- Si tienes deudas, págalas

Aunque el gasto en esta época es una tentación constante, lo mejor es saldar tus deudas, pues esto te permitirá estar tranquilo y sin presiones financieras el resto del año.

¡No te dejes llevar por la tentación!

2.- Ahorra o invierte en una parte

Si tus finanzas están en buen estado y no tienes deudas, piensa a futuro. La mejor manera de aprovechar tu aguinaldo es invirtiéndolo o ahorrándolo. Lo más recomendable es la inversión, ya que el efectivo que se queda en el colchón siempre se muere, pues no gana rendimiento.

Recuerda que lo que no gastes hoy, lo disfrutarás mañana.

3.- Destina una parte a la diversión

Ya que esta prestación no fue un regalo y tardaste un año en obtenerla, es justo que una parte sea destinada a la diversión o consumo. La clave no es privarte de todos los gustos, sino comprar de manera inteligente para disfrutar sin complicaciones financieras.

Feliz cuesta de Enero!

Ancrées dans la tradition vénézuélienne depuis des siècles, les messes d'aguinaldos se célèbrent pendant la neuvaine qui précède Noël, soit du 16 au 24 décembre. Ce sont des messes bien particulières : elles ont lieu nécessairement à l'aube et s'accompagnent toujours de chants de circonstance, aguinaldos et villancicos, dont l'origine remonte à la Renaissance espagnole. Il s'agit donc d'une espèce de rite de préparation aux réjouissances de Noël, célébration particulièrement chère au cœur des Vénézuéliens.

Privilège

À l'origine, les messes qui précédaient Noël se caractérisaient par leur sobriété. Mais un tel recueillement correspondait mal au sens inné de la fête qui anime les Vénézuéliens. Aussi le Saint-Siège leur a-t-il concédé le privilège d'inclure des villancicos et des aguinaldos dans la cérémonie.

C'est ainsi que le cuatro (petite guitare à 4 cordes), le tambour, les maracas, le furruco (instrument de percussion à friction) et la pandereta (tambourin) sont entrés dans les églises vénézuéliennes bien avant le concile Vatican II.

La fête commence avant la messe, avec les inévitables pétards. Elle continue pendant la cérémonie, avec les aguinaldos. Mais elle ne s'arrête pas avec le Ite missa est : une fois la messe terminée, il est fréquent que les participants se réunissent autour d'une table pour un repas communautaire. C'est alors l'occasion d'entonner d'autres chants, tout spécialement les entraînantes parrandas ou même les gaitas plus profanes.

Rouleau compresseur

La fête et le bruit, donc, dominent largement cette manifestation matinale. La messe d'aguinaldos est devenue, avec le temps, un fait plus social que religieux. Il est vrai que, collectivement, les Vénézuéliens –comme la plupart des Caribéens– aiment la fête et le bruit. Le principe en est simple : plus il y a de FÊTE, plus il y a de BRUIT, plus il y a aussi de VIE!

Quant à ceux –ils existent– qui voudraient échapper au tintamarre et préfèreraient le silence à cette agitation matinale, tant pis pour eux. Le rouleau compresseur du conformisme social et religieux n'a pas la moindre pitié pour ces pauvres marginaux!

Messe d'aguinaldo : dans l'attente du repas

They're a tad too long for those who do not have the patience to read stuff like this but instead of separating these entries, I decided to enter them as one, hence the length. I find this very interesting. I hope you will too.

RP Politics: A Family Affair

In 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines an independent and sovereign state and became this nation's first president. A century plus three years later, his cousin, Gloria M. Arroyo, rose to the same position when Joseph Ejercito Estrada was toppled from power through the event known as People Power II. As it happened, Erap, too, was Gloria's relative. In fact, in a complicated and Byzantine manner, almost all of our former leaders were related to one another, in one way or the other. Allow me to extrapolate.

Emilio Aguinaldo's first cousin's, General Baldomero Aguinaldo, great-grandson was Cesar E.A. Virata, the first and only Prime Minster of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Virata family, through marriage, is connected with the Acuña family. One Acuña married a scion of the Roxas family. The product of this marriage was former President Manuel A. Roxas, whose son Gerry Roxas was a former Senator and whose grandson, Mar Roxas III was a Trade and Industry secretary and currently a Senator of the Republic.

Also, due to his dalliance with Juanita McIlvain, former Miss Universe Margarita "Margie" Moran Floirendo just happens to be President Roxas' granddaughter.

"President Manuel Roxas' wife, Trinidad de Leon, was the daughter of former Senator Ceferino de Leon. Sen. De Leon's brother, Jose, married Dona Narcisa "Sisang" Buencamino, one of the most successful movie magnates in her time. Narcisa's first cousin's son was Philip Buencamino, who married Nene Quezon, daughter of President Manuel Luis Quezon.

Further, another scion of the Roxas family was Margarita Roxas, whose marriage to Antonio de Ayala produced Trinidad de Ayala. Trinidad later married Jacobo Zobel and started the legendary Zobel De Ayala family.

Some of the minor branches of the Zobel de Ayala family married into the other aristocratic families of Manila. The Aranetas, Ayalas, Elizaldes, Prietos, and more. Through the Roxas family's connection with the Aranetas, former Tourism Secretary and beauty queen Gemma Cruz-Araneta is also related to Pres. Roxas.

It must also be remembered that Gemma Cruz's paternal great-grandmother was Dona Maria Rizal, the sister of our national hero, Jose P. Rizal.

Gemma Cruz's mother, Carmen, remarried Mr. Angel Nakpil, the nephew of Julio Nakpil, composer of a version of the Philippine National Anthem, who in turn was the husband of Gregoria De Jesus, the "Muse of the Katipunan."

Gregoria de Jesus was also the widow of Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio. Similarly, two of Gemma's first cousins, Paz and Maria Cruz Banaad, married Bienvenido and Roberto Laurel, respectively, relatives of former Vice-President Salvador "Doy" Laurel, son of President Jose P. Laurel.

Two branches of the Araneta family further married presidential daughters; the first one being Juan Miguel Arroyo, whose second cousins are Aranetas. He married then Ms. Gloria M. Macapagal, daughter of President Diosdado Macapagal. Of course, GMA is now the country's Chief Executive. The second to marry a presidential daughter was Greggy Araneta who married Irene Romualdez Marcos, the youngest child of President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and Imelda Romualdez. The Araneta-Marcos marriage further stretches our already complicated family connections.

A maternal grandfather of Marcos, Don Fructuoso Edralin, was a cousin of Gen. Antonio Luna and his brother the Filipino national artist, Juan Luna. Juan Luna in turn married Paz Pardo de Tavera, of a rich and powerful Spanish-Filipino family.

Ferdinand Marcos' grandfather's sister, Crispina Marcos, married Hilario Valdez. Their daughter, Angela Valdez, married Ambassador Narciso Ramos, father of Fidel V. Ramos, also a President of the Republic. Narciso Ramos, after becoming a widower, married Alfonsita Lucero, whose father's maternal family, the Birondos of Argao, Cebu, married into the Almendras family of Cebu and Davao.

Alfonsita's fourth cousin, William Birondo, married Kukit Tecala, whose uncle, Pedro Tecala Sr., married Sofronia Almendras. Two of Sofronia's siblings married into political families. Her brother, Paulo Almendras, married Elisea Durano, the daughter of Demetrio Durano and progenitor of the Durano family that has ruled Danao and Sogod, Cebu for many years. A prominent member of the Durano family is Ace Durano, a former representative and now Tourism Secretary.

Another cousin of Alfonsita, Dr. Procopio Lucero, Jr., married Gliseria Gullas, sister of politicians Jose and Eduardo Gullas.

Still another fourth cousin of Alfonsita is Hilario Davide, Sr., whose son is Hilario G. Davide, Jr., a former Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.

A son of Paulo was former Senator Alejandro Almendras, whose marriage to a Bendigo of Davao City connected them to the ruling families of Davao: the Banggoys, Palma Gils, Lizadas, Nograleses and others. The current House of Representative Majority Leader is Prospero "Boy" Nograles from Davao City. Senator Almendras' brother, Josefino, married Rosita Dimataga, the sister of Leonila Dimataga, who in turn was the wife of President Carlos P. Garcia.

One of Sofronia's sisters was married to an Osmeña, thus linking them to the family of President Sergio Osmeña. Most of President Osmeña's male descendants have become senator, governor, mayor, Representative, and councilor at various points in time and his family remains the premier political dynasty of Cebu: Tomas is the current mayor of Cebu City; other members of the family who held or are holding political offices are Jing-Jing, Emilio "Lito", John, John-John, and many more.

President Osmeña's half-sister was Doña Modesto Singson-Gaisano, the matriarch of the affluent Gaisano family of Cebu City. Modesta was a progeny of Don Pedro Gotiaoco, whose other descendants include Atty. Agusto Go, President of the University of Cebu and Honorary South Korean Consul; John Gokongwei, Jr., a great-grandson of Don Pedro Gotiaoco and the owner of Cebu Pacific, Robinson’s Mall, JG Summit, and many more; and the Sy-Gaisano family, who operate chains of shopping malls all over Visayas and Mindanao. A grandson of the brother of Don Pedro is Andrew Gotianun, who owns FILINVEST Group and East West Bank.

Imelda Romualdez's marriage to Marcos also brought in many famous personalities. Imelda’s daughter, Imee, currently a member of the House of Representatives, married Tommy Manotoc, whose mother was related to a wife of Genny Lopez, whose own nephew Beaver married Jackie Estrada, daughter of Pres. Erap Estrada.

Her own niece, Marean Romualdez, daughter of her brother Gov. Alfredo Romualdez, married Thomas Pompidou, the grandson of the French President Georges Pompidou.

Imelda's first cousin, Senator Danieling Romualdez, married Pacita Gueco of Tarlac. In an ironic twist of fate, Pacita Gueco happened to be the first cousin of the Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

Of course, the Aquinos themselves have allied with many political families, and a scion of the Aquino clan was Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, one of the Philippines' very first female senators.

Ninoy's marriage to the heiress Corazon Cojuanco also allied his family to another political dynasty. Corazon Aquino, after her husband's heroic death in 1983, later became the country's first female Chief Executive. Her maternal family, the Sumulongs, have also produced several lawmakers. The Cojuangco family, on the other hand, owns one of the oldest-existing haciendas in the country today, and the Cojuangcos control many of the country's business enterprises.

Two Cojuancos, sons of Cory's cousins Ramon and Eduardo, respectively, married (sic) Rio Diaz (Charlie Cojuanco), sister of former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and Gretchen Baretto (Tony Boy Cojuanco). Gretchen's sisters are Claudine and Marjorie, themselves married to actors. Cory's niece, equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco, married Dodot Jaworski, son of basketball legend and Sen. Robert Jaworski. Senator Jaworski, on the other hand, married Susan Bautista Revilla, daughter of Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., whose son Bong Revilla was a former governor and Senator. This connection, no doubt, extends this family tree to most of the country's movie personalities.

Clearly, this Byzantine illustration of family connection is proof of the intricacies of Philippine politics. In this short presentation we have already linked no less than 12 of our 14 Presidents, one Prime Minister, two former Miss Universe winners, several senators and many other personalities, political or otherwise. We have even connected our "Philippine Family Tree" to a former French President! Imagine what further research into the other family trees could reveal?

Philippine politics, undoubtedly, is a family affair.

Tangled Webs of Families and Intrigues

What do President Arroyo, Ping Lacson, Erap Estrada, Imelda Marcos, Danding Cojuangco, Ace Durano, and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz have in common other than all being involved in the Davide impeachment, one way or the other? Well, they all also happen to be related to each other, in one way or the other.

President Gloria Arroyo, alleged to be behind the Davide impeachment, is married to Mike Arroyo, of the infamous JOSE PIDAL CONTROVERSY, whose own grandfather, Jose Maria PIDAL Arroyo, married a Lacson, who also happens to be related to Senator Panfilo Lacson, whose KURATONG BALELENG case has been reoppened by Davide. Mike is similarly a second cousin of Aranetas, whose one member, Greggy, is married to Irene Marcos, daughter of Imelda Marcos, also having recently received a negative SC ruling on her SWISS ACCOUNTS. Irene's sister, Imee, married Tommy Manotoc, whose mother is related also to the wife of Geny Lopez, whose family has recently also received a blow from the Supreme Court because of their MERALCO RULING. Another Lopez, Beaver, married Jackie Ejercito, daughter of deposed President Joseph Estrada, whose ouster was legalized by an SC ruling declaring GMA's presidency constitutional in 2001. Meanwhile, Imelda's first cousin, Danieling Romualdez, married Pacita Gueco, first cousin of Ninoy, whose marriage to Cory Cojuangco made related him to Danding Cojuangco, another recipient of a negative SC ruling, this time on the COCO LEVY FUNDS. He is similarly related to Rep. Teodoro, his own nephew. Imelda's marriage to Ferdinand Marcos goes on to relate her to FVR, who was Marcos' 2nd cousin. FVR's stepmother's, Alfonsita Birondo Lucero vda. de Ramos's, fourth cousin William Birondo married an Almendras, who is in turn a cousin of Ace Durano, a signatory of the impeachment rap against Davide. Another fourth cousin of Alfonsita, James Lucero, married Nazarena Soon, the sister of Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, another impeachment signatory. It seems really astounding that all those involved in the Davide impeachment are related, but what's more astonishing is that they are all also related to the man they are trying to persecute. How? Well, FVR's stepmom is also the fourth cousin of the embattled Chief Justice, both coming from Don Agustin Cristobal Bayot of Argao, Cebu, who is both their great-great-great-grandfather.

Who says genealogy is boring?

It's been weeks after I have conceptualized binary XML as the problem domain for my thesis. I have changed it to XQuery then to Python, and after some deliberation with my adviser, we came back to binary XML.

Here's the (initial) title of my thesis: Optimized Integration of the Fast Infoset Encoding Format with the JAXB API.

Aguinaldo Highway

The more I pass by Aguinaldo Hi-way, the more I realize I am living in a third world country.

The mere mention of Emilio Aguinaldo reminds me of traffic and burnout.

I feel sorry for the General.

Hacking

Eric Raymond's "tutorial" on How to Become a Hacker has taught me much more than what it promises. Here's an excerpt:

Q: I'm having problems with my Windows software. Will you help me?
A: Yes. Go to a DOS prompt and type "format c:". Any problems you are experiencing will cease within a few minutes.

The "aguinaldo" is a mandatory annual payment given in the month of December, prior to the 20th, to each worker in Mexico.  This includes all employees in private industry, and all government employees.

The aguinaldo is equivalent to 15 days wages, or more.  For employees with le