How the mighty have fallen....

After a busy morning and early afternoon trying to get my unit's budget for 2012 approved, I spent the afternoon reading my e-mails and catching up on the day's news online. My attention was caught, however, by the dramatic unfolding of the news being reported over the radio blaring in the background. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's plans of leaving the country to seek medical treatment abroad was stopped by a Pasay City court ordering her arrest after charges of election sabotage were filed against her. Instead of covering her flight from the country made possible by a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court, reporters scrambled to get the lead on the news of a warrant of arrest for GMA. Then DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima gave a press conference explaining the situation and minutes later, the Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez also held his own press conference. Whew! The reporters are really having a field day even as I write this....

I tried to imagine how it must have felt for GMA and her family to be humiliated that way. I could only shake my head and think about how the mighty have fallen. Just recently, strongmen like Gaddafi and Hussein have suffered worst fates in the hands of their long-oppressed people.  I think Filipinos are much kinder and are pusong mamon or soft-hearted; we forgive easily. Maybe because we know that there is always Divine justice. Still,  I am certain that many rejoiced when FG and GMA's plans were foiled. Millions are crying out for justice and today's events are just the beginning of that struggle to finally find it.

A wicked man's come uppance will always come sooner or later, and we can exclaim these words from Psalm 36:12--"See how the evildoers lie fallen— thrown down, not able to rise!"

P.S.:

Psalm 37: 1-2 says:

Do not fret because of those who are evil
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.

Do you know Datu Sikatuna?

                                                                                                                                                                                      A subdivision in Quezon City was named after him.  Some streets in the country are called Sikatuna. But who is Datu sikatuna?

Every so often I would pass through Sikatuna Village and go by this statue; but I did not pay much attention to it until one day while I was held up in traffic, I had a chance to really look at this figure. I was struck by the seriousness of his facial expression.  Curiosity led me to know a little more about this somewhat obscure historical figure and here's what I found out from Wikipedia:

Datu Sikatuna was the Datu (lord) in the island of Bohol in the Philippines. His real name was "Katuna" but "Si" was added to his name as this is a nominative marker for a Filipino. He made a blood compact ("Sandugo") and alliance with the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi on March 16, 1565 near the modern town of Loay.

 His pledge of allegiance and friendship with the Spaniards through the blood compact sealed the fate of the Philippines, and paved the way for Spain's conquest of the islands.

The Sandugo Festival commemorates the March 16, 1565 treaty of friendship and brotherhood between the Spanish explorer and captain general Miguel López de Legazpi and Bohol's chieftain, Datu Sikatuna. More than being the Philippines’ first international treaty, the sandugo or blood compact between the two leaders celebrates the kinship between two people of different religious beliefs, different cultures, and different nationalities.  

This historic treaty of friendship was formalized and sealed through a blood compact between the Spanish conquistador and the island's leader. It is believed that the two made a cut on their arms, mixed their blood in a cup of wine, and drank it to honor their brotherhood. This symbolic bloodletting to honor and seal one’s commitment is in accordance to tribal tradition prevalent in the Philippines back then. This treaty simply means that Datu Sikatuna swore commitment and allegiance to the Spanish crown. And the blood compact sealed that commitment. The Sandugo Festival got its name from the Visayan word “dugo,” which means blood. (http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/sandugo.html)

A true wonder of nature

The first time that I had ever been to the Puerto Princesa Underground River was during the Holy Week break of 2010. I was fortunate to be a guest of Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn who assigned to me a tourism officer to show me the places that I wished to see. I skipped the island hopping and opted to see the famous Underground River. What a wonder it was!

Getting there was not difficult at all.  An hour and a half ride to Sabang by private van gave me a chance to see the countryside of Puerto Princesa. The road is much improved (well-paved and cemented) and the solar powered lamp posts lined the roadside for the most part of the trip. We made a stop for lunch at Nagtabon Beach before proceeding to the small pier in Sabang to ride an outrigger boat (banka) to take us to the Underground River National Park. (For more information on how much and how to get to the PPUR, check out this site: http://travel-philippines.com/locations/palawan/3-sabang.htm) The beautiful beaches, the clear blue water of the sea, the lush green mountains and hillsides of the islands we passed and the lovely sea breeze all made our trip to the PPUR quite a pleasant and enjoyable one. But the cherry on top was the Underground River itself! I was truly awed by its natural beauty and the fact that it is pretty much in its pristine state: a true wonder of nature that is home to still to be fully explored species of flora and fauna.

(Daluyon beach resort in Sabang, photo courtesy of http://www.travelogphilippines.com/)

(Mangrove forest irver ride, photo courtesy of http://travel-philippines.com)

(At the entrance of the Underground River cave. The wearing of vests is a must and permits are needed before entrance to the cave is allowed. Photo courtesy of www.travelogphilippines.com)

According to the Official Nomination page of the PPUR: "The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. It features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape that contains an 8.2 km long underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower half portion of the river is brackish and subject to tidal influence. The area also represents significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. It contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia."

I never imagined that this jewel of nature is right here in our own country and I felt really proud and at the same time humbled at the thought that we Filipinos have been entrusted by God with one of His marvelous creations. I left Palawan with the realization that the Philippines is truly a blessed country and grateful to Mayor Hagedorn for making my visit there a truly enjoyable one.

Congratulations to the Palawenos and to us all for voting for PPUR. It is indeed deserving to be one of the 7 wonders of nature in the world!

I shall not entirely die

Last Saturday, my sisters June and Mercy together with my niece Julie Ann and my friend Tito went to the Metropolitan Museum to see the Picasso Exhibit.  It was my first visit to the Met after a long, long time and I was very happy that I went. The Picasso exhibit was stupendous! It featured the Suite Vollard by Picasso which is a collection of 100 etchings using different techniques that were made in Paris from September 1930 to March 1937. How I wished more people could see the exhibit, especially youngsters. Well, there is still time as the exhibit will be on till January 7, 2012 at the Metropolitan Museum at the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas complex along Roxas Blvd. Museum hours are from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 pm Mondays to Saturdays. Entrance fee is P50.

Farther into the exhibit hall of the Met was a separate chamber that featured exhibits by Hidalgo and Juan Luna. A masthead designed by Juan Luna quoted these words by Horace: "Non Omnis Moriar"-- I shall not entirely die--which caught my attention and made me think. It is for this reason that I am once again starting a blog page so that a piece of me will live on even if I were to move on to the next level.

Non Omnis Moriar!