One good person
By Conrado de Quiros
I’ve written a good many things about Cory this past couple of weeks. I guess it’s time I got a little more personal.
I wasn’t an ardent fan of Cory at the beginning, I was an ardent critic. I came from the ranks of the red rather than the yellow, and looked at the world from the prism of that color. It got so that in one program Kris Aquino invited me to (I don’t know if she remembers this), she took me to task for it. It was an Independence Day show, and during one break, Kris turned to me and said: “Why are you so mean to my mom?”
I was, to put it mildly, taken aback. It’s not easy finding a clever answer to an accusation like that put with breathtaking candor. I just flashed what I thought would be a disarming smile. I don’t know if it disarmed.
What can I say? Maybe I’m just naturally mean. Or maybe I just say what I mean and mean what I say.
Years later, when the world had turned, and not for the better, I got an unexpected phone call. Cory was at the other end, which awed me. She said she was calling just to express her appreciation for something I had written about her. I do not now recall what it was. What I recall was mumbling something about not being the best person to say those things in light of what I had been saying before. She said that wasn’t true: I was the best person to say those things because of what I had been saying before. I appreciated the appreciation.
Still years later, I would have cause to appreciate yet one more thing. That was February this year when, from out of the blue, Cory visited at the wake of my mother. I did not bother to ask, “Why are you so kind to my mom?” I knew by then it was her nature to be so. She stayed for about an hour, and did much of the talking. Boy, could she talk! I didn’t know that before. But I’ve always been a good listener. She talked, I listened. What we talked about is best left for another time. But afterward, I thought: What strange directions life takes. What strange forks, detours, and crossings life takes. I’ve seen activists who began by serving the people, or exhorting the world to, end up serving only themselves. And I’ve seen students who thought only of saving their families end up saving the world, or trying to. I’ve seen the best and the brightest turn only into the worst and greediest. And I’ve seen someone who was walang alam, or who was made out to be so, teach the world a thing or two about honor and courage and grace.
Maybe it’s not so strange that people who start out being enemies on grounds of principle end up being friends on those same grounds. And people who start out being friends without principle end up being enemies on that same ground. I wondered, like someone who had come back to where he started and saw the place for the first time: Maybe colors are there to unite us more than separate us. Maybe red is just the blood that pulses in the veins in love and war. Maybe yellow is just the pages of a letter from a loved one that magically bring him back to life. Maybe blue is just the sky, however cloudy, when looked at through the bars of a prison cell. Maybe green is just fields promising plenitude. Maybe black is just the tangle of our fate, the twists and turns of our life, as we grope our way forward. Maybe white is just the grace to push on, amid the darkness.I wondered with the wisdom of innocence and the naivete of age: Maybe we’re divided only into good people and bad people. How people are so, or become so, I’ll leave others to divine.
Maybe they are just born that way, maybe like scorpions they sting because it is in their nature to sting. Or maybe they are made that way, as much by the circumstances that mold their character as their character that molds their circumstances. But bad people are there; we know that only too well. Just as well, good people are there too; we know that even more so.
We know the latter because we had someone walk with us who was so. Someone who was so disinterested in power she accepted it gravely as a matter of duty and gave it up gracefully as a matter of trust, for which she remains an awesome force even in death. Someone who, while she lived, showered not very small kindnesses on others in their hour of need or bereavement, having known bereavement herself and the comfort of empathy as much as the empathy of comfort, for which she continues to live with us even in death. Someone who proved once before as Joan of Arc and who will prove once again like El Cid the terrifying and wondrously prophetic vision of her faith: The exalted shall be humbled and the humble exalted.
In life and in death, Cory has been—pardon my French—one damn good person. Good persons of the world, unite. You have nothing to lose but your bane.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Eulogy Speeches
Matindi naman ang speech ni Inspector Mamaril during the necrological service. Nakakaiyak talaga. Pero nakakaiyak din ang speech ni Teddy Locsin - ang lalim ng INgles! haha
Eto ang transcript:
EULOGY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT CORAZON C. AQUINO
By Rep. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.
THROUGHOUT 13 years of martial law, until I laid eyes on her again, I never thought that I would ever see the end of it. Least of all that my father would survive it. I am not much given to prayer or pious reflection but when I could set aside my anger, I prayed my father would see democracy again.
Late one afternoon, in San Francisco, I got a call. It was from Cory Aquino, for whom I had written one speech after her husband’s assassination. She said she had accepted Marcos’s challenge, in a Snap Presidential Election.
I put down the phone, and packed my bags, and reported to her at the Cojuangco Bldg. I knew then she was the answer to my prayers. What I did not notice, was that the closer we came to victory, which is to say the farther the prospect receded that the Marcos regime would survive, the less I felt the anger inside me.
As each day passed, bringing me closer to the day I could get even, the less I felt the need for it as I spent more time with the woman who alone could make it possible. I did not notice, but I was no longer looking back in anger, or looking forward even, to victory and vindication. Only now do I see. I had lived with my anger so long, only for the day to come, when it no longer mattered to me.
The only thing that counted was that I was living every day to the fullest, bringing out the best in me—for someone else. A dream I hadn’t had since I was a boy, feeding on stories of chivalry, had been achieved. I was serving a woman who was every inch a sovereign, all the more for scorning, the slightest pretension to the role.
I did not realize it, even when I was already in the Palace, by the side of the President—among all her advisers, I like to think, the one who loved her most. It never again occurred to me, that I had scores to settle. And not until today, that I had passed up every chance to get even. From the moment I came in from the airport and reported for duty, and she gave me in return the same smile she gave me on her deathbed, I never noticed…
Not when I was with her in the campaign when she corrected me for not looking at the people I was waving at… Nor when I was with her in the presidential limousine looking intently, for her benefit, at the crowds at whom I waved…
I never noticed anything. Except that I was with the only person that I would ever want to be with. I certainly never noticed, that I had left my anger behind. I don’t know how it happened. Except that Cory Aquino ennobled everyone who came near her. I have tried to say it publicly but never could finish. If you saw me as I felt myself to be, anyone would fall in love with me. I saw myself in that hospital room, a knight at the bedside of his dying sovereign, on the eve of a new Crusade, oblivious to the weight of the armor on his shoulders, for the weight of the grief in his heart. And because she always doubted my ability to be good for very long…
Indeed, when my wife told Ballsy that I prayed the rosary at Lourdes for her mother’s recovery, Cory said, “Teddy Boy prayed the rosary? A miracle! I feel better already.” Because she doubted my capacity for selfreformation, she made it effortless for me by being herself. I did not notice, that I was doing right, by serving a woman who never did wrong. I am not sure how to take this moral self-discovery. It is so unlike myself. But if it will bring me before her again, I am happy. —TLL, Jr.
Eto ang transcript:
EULOGY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT CORAZON C. AQUINO
By Rep. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.
THROUGHOUT 13 years of martial law, until I laid eyes on her again, I never thought that I would ever see the end of it. Least of all that my father would survive it. I am not much given to prayer or pious reflection but when I could set aside my anger, I prayed my father would see democracy again.
Late one afternoon, in San Francisco, I got a call. It was from Cory Aquino, for whom I had written one speech after her husband’s assassination. She said she had accepted Marcos’s challenge, in a Snap Presidential Election.
I put down the phone, and packed my bags, and reported to her at the Cojuangco Bldg. I knew then she was the answer to my prayers. What I did not notice, was that the closer we came to victory, which is to say the farther the prospect receded that the Marcos regime would survive, the less I felt the anger inside me.
As each day passed, bringing me closer to the day I could get even, the less I felt the need for it as I spent more time with the woman who alone could make it possible. I did not notice, but I was no longer looking back in anger, or looking forward even, to victory and vindication. Only now do I see. I had lived with my anger so long, only for the day to come, when it no longer mattered to me.
The only thing that counted was that I was living every day to the fullest, bringing out the best in me—for someone else. A dream I hadn’t had since I was a boy, feeding on stories of chivalry, had been achieved. I was serving a woman who was every inch a sovereign, all the more for scorning, the slightest pretension to the role.
I did not realize it, even when I was already in the Palace, by the side of the President—among all her advisers, I like to think, the one who loved her most. It never again occurred to me, that I had scores to settle. And not until today, that I had passed up every chance to get even. From the moment I came in from the airport and reported for duty, and she gave me in return the same smile she gave me on her deathbed, I never noticed…
Not when I was with her in the campaign when she corrected me for not looking at the people I was waving at… Nor when I was with her in the presidential limousine looking intently, for her benefit, at the crowds at whom I waved…
I never noticed anything. Except that I was with the only person that I would ever want to be with. I certainly never noticed, that I had left my anger behind. I don’t know how it happened. Except that Cory Aquino ennobled everyone who came near her. I have tried to say it publicly but never could finish. If you saw me as I felt myself to be, anyone would fall in love with me. I saw myself in that hospital room, a knight at the bedside of his dying sovereign, on the eve of a new Crusade, oblivious to the weight of the armor on his shoulders, for the weight of the grief in his heart. And because she always doubted my ability to be good for very long…
Indeed, when my wife told Ballsy that I prayed the rosary at Lourdes for her mother’s recovery, Cory said, “Teddy Boy prayed the rosary? A miracle! I feel better already.” Because she doubted my capacity for selfreformation, she made it effortless for me by being herself. I did not notice, that I was doing right, by serving a woman who never did wrong. I am not sure how to take this moral self-discovery. It is so unlike myself. But if it will bring me before her again, I am happy. —TLL, Jr.
TV Moments for Tita Cory
For the first time, mapapatawad mo ang pag-iyak ni Kris Aquino sa TV. Dati kasi pag umiiyak siya sa TV, lipat na kaagad ng channel.
Pero iyong interview sa kanya sa The Buzz last Saturday was really sincere and honest. Napanood nyo? Nakakaiyak nga din. Marami siyang sinabi tungkol kay Cory Aquino bilang nanay, bilang presidente at sa pakikipag-kapwa-tao.
Pero meron din siyang juicy revelations na interesting kung paano binalak ni GMA na ipatanggal ang guards ni Tita Cory. Tapos iyak na siya ng iyak. Medyo ma-ge-gets mo naman kung bakit.
Pero lalo mo palang maiintindihan pag napanuod mo ang testimony ni Inspector Mamaril (iyong isang guard ni Tita Cory) nung necrological service.
Pero iyong interview sa kanya sa The Buzz last Saturday was really sincere and honest. Napanood nyo? Nakakaiyak nga din. Marami siyang sinabi tungkol kay Cory Aquino bilang nanay, bilang presidente at sa pakikipag-kapwa-tao.
Pero meron din siyang juicy revelations na interesting kung paano binalak ni GMA na ipatanggal ang guards ni Tita Cory. Tapos iyak na siya ng iyak. Medyo ma-ge-gets mo naman kung bakit.
Pero lalo mo palang maiintindihan pag napanuod mo ang testimony ni Inspector Mamaril (iyong isang guard ni Tita Cory) nung necrological service.
Monday, August 3, 2009
PB Ranking
The first category for our PB Ranking Gig - ATAT.
For the record, dine-deny ni Tita Yet na atat siya. Hindi naman daw. Pero tulungan nyo please na buuin ang PB Ranking - ATAT. COmment lang kayo ng Top 3 atat ninyo. FOr now eto ang ating ranking.
Pamilya Banal ATAT Ranking as of August 3.
1) Tiyong
2) Ditse
3) Tita Yet
4) Rap-Rap
5) Evot (lalo na sa Poker)
6) Tito Jim
7) Andrei
8) TIto Ido
9) Karen (lalo na sa layasan)
10) Tita Dang
Puwedeng tumaas at bumaba ang mga tao based sa votes ninyo.
For the record, dine-deny ni Tita Yet na atat siya. Hindi naman daw. Pero tulungan nyo please na buuin ang PB Ranking - ATAT. COmment lang kayo ng Top 3 atat ninyo. FOr now eto ang ating ranking.
Pamilya Banal ATAT Ranking as of August 3.
1) Tiyong
2) Ditse
3) Tita Yet
4) Rap-Rap
5) Evot (lalo na sa Poker)
6) Tito Jim
7) Andrei
8) TIto Ido
9) Karen (lalo na sa layasan)
10) Tita Dang
Puwedeng tumaas at bumaba ang mga tao based sa votes ninyo.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Kriza, Kevin & Ayka's Party @ Farmer's Pt 1
1. Venue
was at Dampa sa Farmer's Market @ Cubao. Akala ko first time ko sa Farmer's kanina. Di pala. Nanuod nga pala ako ng sine dun dati, kasama si Mommy at Daddy. Pero that was more than 20 years ago. So katulad ko yung mga bata, first time sa Farmer's in a long time.
ang angal lang ni Tita Yet - parang di maganda ang pangalan - "Dampa." Kasi yung mga friends daw niya, pag tinanong siya - "so where was your party yesterday?". Ayaw daw niyang sabihin sa 'Dampa'. haha. Sasabihin na lang daw niya - sa Farmer's Plaza. Mas sosyal nga!
Tehya, Andrei, what is Dampa in English.
2. Food and more food.
Wala ng seafoods sa dagat, dahil hinanda na nila Par ata lahat. Sobrang dami talaga pagkain - madaming putahe at madaming amounts. For the first napataob ang table namin sa dami ng pagkain.
Let us list: Crispy Kangkong, Halaan Soup, Chicken Lollipops, Prawns, Pinakbet, Inihaw na Liempo, Green Mango Salad, Sweet and Chilli Crabs, Pansit, Lapu-Lapu, at Baked Mussels. Sandamakmak ding fruits - plus puto and kakanin.
Ate Yet's favorite was the Baked Mussels with Cheese
Ashlie's Favorite was the Halaan (nagulat nga kami kumakain pala sya nun)
Julienne's favorite was the Sugpo
Ayo's favorite was the Chicken Lollipops
Ditse's favorite was the Liempo
Lolipot and Lola Maam's favorite were the Crabs
(kayo ano favorite ninyo?)
3. Color Yellow
Naging madilaw din ang party kanina. Siguro tribute kay Tita Cory.
Si Par naka yellow, as you can see while Kriza says the opening prayer.
Shades of Yellow - from Tito Par, Tiyong and Tita Bhogs
Syempre may naka-Blue din, Red, Grey at Orange (Tita Yet). Pero yellow was the color of the day.
4. BFF
2 lang ba talaga ang friends ni Par? haha. Bata pa kami, friends na ni Par si Dr. Norman at si Melchor Macabalitao. So nice to see friendship lasting decades. At terno pa silang tatlo - Yellow.
was at Dampa sa Farmer's Market @ Cubao. Akala ko first time ko sa Farmer's kanina. Di pala. Nanuod nga pala ako ng sine dun dati, kasama si Mommy at Daddy. Pero that was more than 20 years ago. So katulad ko yung mga bata, first time sa Farmer's in a long time.
ang angal lang ni Tita Yet - parang di maganda ang pangalan - "Dampa." Kasi yung mga friends daw niya, pag tinanong siya - "so where was your party yesterday?". Ayaw daw niyang sabihin sa 'Dampa'. haha. Sasabihin na lang daw niya - sa Farmer's Plaza. Mas sosyal nga!
Tehya, Andrei, what is Dampa in English.
2. Food and more food.
Wala ng seafoods sa dagat, dahil hinanda na nila Par ata lahat. Sobrang dami talaga pagkain - madaming putahe at madaming amounts. For the first napataob ang table namin sa dami ng pagkain.
Let us list: Crispy Kangkong, Halaan Soup, Chicken Lollipops, Prawns, Pinakbet, Inihaw na Liempo, Green Mango Salad, Sweet and Chilli Crabs, Pansit, Lapu-Lapu, at Baked Mussels. Sandamakmak ding fruits - plus puto and kakanin.
Ate Yet's favorite was the Baked Mussels with Cheese
Ashlie's Favorite was the Halaan (nagulat nga kami kumakain pala sya nun)
Julienne's favorite was the Sugpo
Ayo's favorite was the Chicken Lollipops
Ditse's favorite was the Liempo
Lolipot and Lola Maam's favorite were the Crabs
(kayo ano favorite ninyo?)
3. Color Yellow
Naging madilaw din ang party kanina. Siguro tribute kay Tita Cory.
Si Par naka yellow, as you can see while Kriza says the opening prayer.
Shades of Yellow - from Tito Par, Tiyong and Tita Bhogs
Syempre may naka-Blue din, Red, Grey at Orange (Tita Yet). Pero yellow was the color of the day.
4. BFF
2 lang ba talaga ang friends ni Par? haha. Bata pa kami, friends na ni Par si Dr. Norman at si Melchor Macabalitao. So nice to see friendship lasting decades. At terno pa silang tatlo - Yellow.
Kriza, Kevin & Ayka Party @ Farmer's Pt. 2
5. Guests
Nandun ang mga friends ni Par and their families. Sabi nga sa table namin, OK lang kumain ng madami kasi maraming duktor hehe.
At siyempre ang PB came in full-force. Syempre exempted si Tito BOyet (who is in Marseille, France), Tita Tetes, Popoy, MM and Alex (in Canada), Ia (Tokyo), Tita Che-Che (Singapore).
Inferness ang babait naman kasi ng tatlong bata(di na pala sila bata) na ito, kaya siguro lahat nag-effort pumunta.
Ngapala update lang sa kanilang tatlo: Kevin and Ayka are both working na. Kevin in an Accounting firm in Pasong Tamo, Makati and Ayka sa food company near Pasig.
Si Kriza, di pa puwede until she completes her oath taking. So farmville at Sorority life muna sa facebook ang inaatupag nya ngayon.
nice. si Carl ready na talaga sa blog pic
bago kumain ang picture na ito, kaya maayos pa ang table
Eto ang table ng mga Haponesa. Peace!
dami talaga ng food ano?
6. August Bday
Kinantahan din kanina ang mga may bday ng August.
Tita Bhogs on Aug 11
Tita Vangie on August 1.
and Lolipot whose birthday was today, Aug2
Happy Birthday sa inyo!
Nandun ang mga friends ni Par and their families. Sabi nga sa table namin, OK lang kumain ng madami kasi maraming duktor hehe.
At siyempre ang PB came in full-force. Syempre exempted si Tito BOyet (who is in Marseille, France), Tita Tetes, Popoy, MM and Alex (in Canada), Ia (Tokyo), Tita Che-Che (Singapore).
Inferness ang babait naman kasi ng tatlong bata(di na pala sila bata) na ito, kaya siguro lahat nag-effort pumunta.
Ngapala update lang sa kanilang tatlo: Kevin and Ayka are both working na. Kevin in an Accounting firm in Pasong Tamo, Makati and Ayka sa food company near Pasig.
Si Kriza, di pa puwede until she completes her oath taking. So farmville at Sorority life muna sa facebook ang inaatupag nya ngayon.
nice. si Carl ready na talaga sa blog pic
bago kumain ang picture na ito, kaya maayos pa ang table
Eto ang table ng mga Haponesa. Peace!
dami talaga ng food ano?
OK, nahulaan nyo na sino ang wala?
6. August Bday
Kinantahan din kanina ang mga may bday ng August.
Nanay on Aug 15
Tita Bhogs on Aug 11
Tita Vangie on August 1.
and Lolipot whose birthday was today, Aug2
Happy Birthday sa inyo!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Tita Vangie
Happy Birthday to one of the most beautiful faces of PB.
Happy Birthday Tita Vangie!
Happy Birthday Tita Vangie!
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