Vol. 7, No. 16, November 10, 2003

Mr. Dy Un Suy (in photo) celebrated his 96th birthday last Nov. 1 with close friends and family.  The event left many people confused as they recalled that in 1997, the grand patriarch of the Dy clan celebrated his 90th birthday on July 5.  Carlos Dy, the eldest son, explained that it was not a matter of observing the Gregorian or the lunar calendar.  The 1997 affair was held in July to allow his sons and grandchildren in America and Canada to come home as it was vacation time there.  His father’s birthday really falls on Nov. 1.

Mindanao railway project to start at Linamon

Genne Mamondiong, Philippine National Railways (PNR) project director for Mindanao, said that the first phase of the Mindanao railway project will start at Linamon.  It will go eastward up to Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, passing through the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro and the proposed international airport in Laguindingan.  It is about 120 kilometers long, will cost 500 million dollars, and will be funded by a Thai grant.

It was learned that the second stage will be the route from Cagayan de Oro to Davao through Bukidnon and Davao City and Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan and Villanueva towns in Misamis Oriental through Agusan del Sur.  The third stage will be from Linamon to Cotabato, passing through Marawi City.  And the fourth stage will be from Linamon to the Zamboanga peninsula. The 2,000-kilometer railway project will cost six to seven billion dollars.  Construction will start next year.

Despite fear of terrorist attacks
Palaro ’03 a resounding success

After several postponements, the Palarong Pambansa 2003 finally kicked off last Oct. 25 at the newly-built Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor. The games in which 5,000 athletes participated lasted until Oct. 29.

Because the National Capital Region, the perennial champion, failed to send delegates due to security concerns, Davao region emerged as the over-all champion, followed by Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao where Iligan belongs.  The Tubod Palaro was shelved twice last year due to uncertainties in peace and order in the region.  Tubod was also supposed to host the Games in 2002 but hostilities between the government forces and the MILF forced the Philippine Sports Commission to move the Palaro to the Bicol region.

Roger Suminguit, Batch '73

Iligan's new hangout

It's only a little over a month since Spectrum columnist Marie Janiefer Lee (Batch '87) started writing for the weekly newsletter of the Rotary Club of Muntinglupa South, yet this early her articles are already instant hits. No less than the immediate past president of her Rotary Club made special mention of her contribution during their club meeting.  In the 13 years of the club's existence, the past president noted, this is the first time their club bulletin got spiced up. Their newsletter used to be too serious and business-like until Janiefer turned it around with her brand of humor and down-to-earth prose.  Well, that certainly doesn't come as a surprise to us in the Spectrum.  Janiefer's "Straight from the Heart," the longest running column in our own Specrtum, has become a household favorite among our our alumni readers as well.  Her candor, embellished with characteristic wit and humor, in all her articles has earned Janiefer many fans here and abroad. Touché, Jen!  Keep up the good work.

Last Oct. 31 Janiefer flew home to Iligan to spend time with her hometown folks. She was promptly seen enjoying a get-together in the evening of Nov. 1 with her batch mates of Class '87 at Iligan's newest hangout called Bat-C.  Huddled in a section of Bat-C bar together with Jen were Benedict Co, Romeo Sy, and Chester Dy-Carlos (in photo, taken with a cell phone camera by Igdono Caracho). Bat-C is the newest place in town that's fast becoming a favorite destination among Iligan's night owls.  Owned and developed by the Tamula family, Bat-C is situated in a vast open space near the City Hospital in Pala-o.  The arcade offers a wide variety of delicacies, such as barbecue and a sushi bar, in a refreshing garden ambience.  It also features a bar where patrons can unwind with their favorite drinks under the stars. Built around a huge old tree that serves as its centerpiece, this new restaurant, with wide open parking space, is the latest addition to Iligan's steadily expanding nocturnal landmark. This is one place where one can surely get to meet fellow alumni any given night, aside from two other favorite alumni hangouts like Teepoy's and Taps, also located in Pala-o.

It was triple red-letter days last Nov. 1 & 4 in the household of LCHS-AA past president Carlos "Bonnie" Dy (Batch '58), in photo at left.  A dinner party was held at Bonnie's residence in celebration of his birthday and the baptismal of his granddaughter Chestine Ashley Dy-Carlos, daughter of Chester Dy-Carlos (Batch '87), in photo at center, & Angelie Tan Dy-Carlos (Batch '87), in photo at right. Despite a relentless downpour, relatives and friends, including alumni officers, attended the party in full force.  And on Nov. 1, the family all got together to celebrate the 96th birthday of the patriarch of the Dy clan, Mr. Dy Un Suy.   Also last Nov. 1, while visiting the Chinese cemetery in Iligan, Igdono Caracho also got to meet several long lost friends. Among them was his 1966 batch mate Perla Yu, who now runs a general merchandising store of her own somewhere in Sta. Filomena, Iligan.  Another old friend whom Igdono bumped into was Rosario Chan-Co (sister of Antonio "Dodo" Chan). Rosario used to own a gift shop located near radio station DXWG fronting city plaza called Lyns Minimart. In the 50s and 60s, Rosario's father owned one of Iligan's notable tailorings, Jam Lung Tailoring.

More on airport for Iligan
Tue, 28 Oct 2003

Thanks to the editor of this nice school paper.  To cite a few more advantages with regards to having your own airport there in Iligan, it generates income and jobs. An airport is a gateway to and from other places even in the domestic sectors.  We can make our 7,107 islands smaller or nearer for that matter.  Officials of Iligan, think about it.  --Aries Dy Lo, Cebu, Philippines,  from messages posted on guestbook of Spectrum Home Page

I am very glad to read about Vivina Chiu (Spectrum, Oct. 27, 2003 issue). What a great achiever which brings honor to the LCHS community. I think we have two firm nominations for the next batch of our most outstanding alumni, namely Kho Siok We and Vivina Chiu.  You know what I did today while driving around doing my job? I was whistling our distinct 3-note whistle!  It was really amazing: the effect of the whistle that brought back so many memories.  Thanks for bringing that whistle back.  I remember that it was very handy when locating our mates inside a crowded dark theater on Saturday afternoons many summers ago!  --Leonardo "Loloy" Tan (Batch '66), Sydney, Australia, email: edtan@iinet.net.au

Yes, this unique whistling tune was commonly used inside the movie houses too during the 60's among LCHS students.  It's funny but I still whistle this tune to look for my mother while shopping in some department stores.  --Alex Sy Handumon (Batch '68), Lansiing, Illinois, U.S.A., email: SyAlex@aol.com

My compliments to the Spectrum for adding a PDF edition to the newsletter.  I congratulate you for applying this latest trend in the desktop publishing industry.  It is the most convenient and practical approach for sharing graphic intensive documents on the Internet. With the application of PDF to your newsletter, your Spectrum has become truly a newsletter in form and substance. The tabloid layout now looks very much better and more pleasant to read with its shorter column widths.  Compared to the html format, the Spectrum in PDF is really a great innovation. If I may add, could it be possible for you to send the PDF edition to all of us subscribers instead of the old html format?  Or can you replace the html edition on your website with the new tabloid format?  In any case, I would request that you continue to send my subscription in the new tabloid format.  Mabuhay, Spectrum!  --Glenn Irving Tan, San Francisco, CAA, U.S.A., email: gtan@hotmail.com

[Rejoinder:  The PDF (Portable Document Format) edition is designed to enable the LCHS-AA and everyone else concerned to print hard copies of the newsletter in tabloid format exactly as envisioned.  It is sent only to subscribers upon their request.  We cannot distribute the PDF edition to all our subscribers yet because not everyone's PC has the Acrobat Reader software needed to read PDF documents.  It's also not advisable to post the PDF on our website because of its file size.  For this reason, our website edition will continue to be in HTML, which is the standard applicable format for displaying web pages.  However, we shall be pleased to email issues of the Spectrum in PDF directly to you and to anyone interested.  --Charles O. Sy, Cebu, Philippines, email: syanlok@yahoo.com]

Charles O. Sy, Batch '67

Who Belong to Batches 1948-1954?

Some congressmen are contemplating new laws to combat AIDS.  They call their efforts in AIDS of legislation.

-- ooo -- Still others in the august chamber of Congress outdo one another in delivering privilege speeches -- all in aid of election. -- ooo -- Many aging lotharios have stopped monkeying around with sex not only because they fear HIV but because they have come of AIDS. -- ooo -- I know of some playboys, however, who continue to fool around despite the scourge of AIDS. It's their belief that AIDS doesn't matter. -- ooo - F4's Jerry Yan, better known by his character's name Dao Ming Si, says a person should always be faithful to one's wife.  His motto is: Dao Shall Not Commit Adultery. -- ooo --- Fernando Khu thinks that the Philippine economy will improve if we put a stop to all nasty rumors of a Khu d'tat. -- ooo -- When a recent typhoon destroyed the lettuce farm of a friend of mine in Mantalongon, Cebu the parish priest there told him: lettuce pray. -- ooo -- My friend Suniel Lim says the Spectrum makes our alumni abroad feel closer to home. Suniel yet so far. -- ooo -- Postscript:  We received a reaction from Kho Siok We about the observations of "Tracers" in our last issue regarding the CEC alumni homecoming.  She called up to say that the organizers of their recent alumni homecoming indeed had some difficulty in gathering their alumni. She attributes this to the absence of an official alumni directory by which the organizers could have been guided to reach out to their alumni by batches. It's a typical problem in all schools with a large alumni population.  Added to that is the perennial question of whether the alumni batches should be identified by their Chinese or English classes.  Most large Chinese-Filipino schools like CEC in Cebu and Chiang Kai Shek College in Manila find it more convenient to group their alumni batches according to Chinese classes.  That's because most Chinese classes have their own class organizations that maintain contact with their batch members long after their graduation. Kho Siok We, who was my Grade VI Chinese teacher in LCHS, concluded by saying that each school or its alumni association may choose to classify its alumni according to English or Chinese classes -- whichever system is more practicable for them. What is important, she says, is that whenever there is an affair involving their alma mater, the attendance of the alumni is always welcome, regardless of whether they come as a group belonging to a Chinese or an English class.  We thank Kho Siok We, who is now the School Administrator of CEC, for sharing her enlightening insights with us. -- ooo -- I remember when we started tracking our alumni for the grand alumni homecoming in 2000, we were faced with the same question of whether to sort our alumni by their Chinese or English classes.  We eventually decided to list them by their English classes, otherwise many alumni would have been left out of the lists because many others either were not attending Chinese classes at all or had quit Chinese classes early.  Even then it was not easy preparing our alumni directory despite our comparatively smaller alumni population. Part of the problem is due to the missing official student registry at LCHS, especially involving earlier batches.  As it is, our alumni directory (available on our Spectrum web site), is not even complete yet and is continually undergoing updates. The directory still has several batches missing between 1938 (when LCHS was supposed to have started) and 2003.  School was interrupted by World War II from 1941 to 1947.  Still unaccounted for are batches 1948 to 1954.  Who belong to these batches still remain to be identified.  The LCHS Alumni Association will do well to start tracing these batches in time for our second grand alumni homecoming in 2005.

As I write this column, I’m also listening to music, another of my greatest loves.  This time it is American folk music:  Carol King, Kris Kristofferson, James Taylor.  Good music does strange things to me, makes me lost control. Like now, listening to Carol King’s It’s Too Late, I drop my pencil, stand up and burst into frenzied, unrestrained dancing and prancing. A while ago, I shed copious tears listening to Kris Kristofferson’s elegiac Black & Blue, a song about a woman who “dreamed pretty dreams … that never came true … whose life was so lonesome, she died all alone.”

Way over yonder is a place that I know/
Where I can find shelter from hunger and cold ...
To the land where the honey runs in river each day/
And the sweet-tasting good life is easily found.

Marie Janiefer Q. Lee, Batch '87

I had a chance to go home to Iligan last weekend, it was a trip to fulfill my filial obligations. Since it was just a “short trip” I went alone, sans the kids and the husband.  I was all set to enjoy that trip, I made up my mind to treat it like a mini-vacation; I deserve a break too, don’t I?  I was slowly chanting inside my head that I wouldn’t let anything nor anybody ruin my trip.

When I reached the bustling airport, I found myself face-to-face with thousands of people like me -- hurrying to our respective destinations on the last day possible.  “This shouldn’t affect me,” so I thought, until I couldn’t find even a single cart.  This means I had to carry my two boxes and one bag all by myself because they ran out of carts.  Whew! But I wouldn’t let that little snag ruin my whole trip. I looked at the bright side of the situation and the only bright idea I could come up with to console myself was that “this is my only chance to make good use of the weight-lifting I’ve been doing at the gym.”

So I went along and checked myself in.  Right then I found out that I was carrying a total of 23kgs of baggage with my bear hands.  Omigosh!  I never would have carried it all if I had known that it was that heavy. Hehehe.  Looking all sweaty like those kargadors at the pier, the kind lady at the counter just pretended that she didn’t see that I exceeded three kgs for my allowable baggage. So with the few hundreds I saved  I went for a half-body massage right inside the waiting area. Yup, you got it right, I had a massage right before take-off.  Although they were not as good as I expected them to be at least they were able to relieve some of the muscle tension used up while carrying my 23kg pasalubong.  After all the pressing, the kneading and the pulling, I already felt like a perfect dough just waiting for the oven temperature to rise and I’d be a tasty Monay.

From that time on I knew and felt that my trip was going to be “nicely done”: a little crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside. My short vacation did turn “nicer” because what started out as just a three-day trip turned to almost-week-long engagement. On my first night in Iligan, the first stop was at my A-ko’s house to see my new niece Chestine.  After being mesmerized by her angelic face, how could I say no to my favorite cousin Chester, when he asked me to stay on until Wednesday and be one of Chestine’s godmothers.   I was supposed to be back in Manila by Monday but the baptism was on Tuesday, the same day my A-ko Bonnie would turn another year older.  There were more reasons to stay than to leave.  I had to ask myself what’s the worst thing that could happen if I stayed a few more days, and the answers I could think of were not as earth-shattering as I thought.  So after my 4-ko (Henry Dy) made some phone calls to Philippine Airlines, I was officially on an extended stay.

Now I’m trying to recall what I did the five nights that I was in Iligan since I can never think of one night that I had dinner at my house.  We were always somewhere else. Like when my Angkong celebrated his birthday on the 1st  of November, although until now we’re still debating if it’s his 96 or 97th birthday.  Anyway, we all gathered for an intimate dinner.  We had some pictures taken with Angkong. He may have a little difficulty hearing but his memory is still as sharp as ever.  When I went up to him to kiss his hand, he still knew how many kids I have and he can still recall the time that he stayed with us at my house.  Wow, that’s really amazing!

To Angkong, may you have more birthdays to come!  I wonder how many more birthdays I have left to celebrate after staying up late for those nights that I was in Iligan and for eating like there’s no more tomorrow.  We visited Taps and Bat-C, on two different nights, and I also sneaked into BBQ Inn at the Plaza on another night with my cousins Carina and Cristina, together with Pepo, RJ, and Correne.  It’s like a trip to Iligan won’t be complete without the taste and the smell of barbecue from the BBQ Inn.  It’s so funny how everything was “self-service” at that place.  With the growing crowd inside that night, I was afraid that we might be asked to roast our own barbecue before going up to find ourselves a table.

The taste of poso with slices of pork barbecue is still unmatched. I ended up competing with my nephew RJ for the last stick of barbecue.  Good thing he was kind enough to let go of it before our nice and quiet dinner turned into a fist fight.  It’s also amazing what the effect of the barbecue can do to our own version of Dennis the Menace in the person of RJ because it’s the first time that I saw him quietly eating and sitting through the whole dinner without running around nor saying a word. I know that by the time RJ reaches high school age Cristina and Pepo would be the major stockholders at BBQ Inn.  It’s like the annex of their very nice kitchen.

Of course my trip won’t be complete without a visit to Sunburst, the annex of our kitchen.  We used to go there as a family when somebody graduates, hay naku, those were the days. I feel that I had to go there, so this time I went there on a lunch time since our dinner time was already fully booked.  I was there with mama and my best friend Sioleng.  Hay sarap! It would have been more complete had Geraldine “Gigi” Tan been able to join us, as my way of thanking her for going all the way to the airport to pick me up.

That’s why if I get another chance to go home, I would.  Even if it means doing overtime at the gym when I get back, because my stay, however short, is always worth the long and tortuous trip.

It seems so strange now, coming home to the Manor.  The first few months were the hardest.  My father and I didn’t talk about mother.  We went about our daily routine but it felt like we were actors playing a recurring role once too often.  We said the right things and did the right things but it was all so hollow.  There was just no ring to it.  So, one night we decided to talk about it.  Yes, Mother was gone and with her part of our life, our light, and our joy.  But she wouldn’t have wanted us to continue living our lives this way.  Father and I still had each other and that was very important.  After that night, things began to slowly change.  There was laughter slowly trickling in and my fingers again waltzed to Chopin’s melody.  My father discussed his day with me and I told him about my day in school as only a ten-year old could.  When the fire had burned low in the fireplace, my father and I would gently reminisce about mother.  This treasured time was often punctuated with tears, shared laughter, and fond memories.  The Manor was slowly coming to life, awakening from its lengthy spell of gloom.

“Helene, I would like you to meet a friend of mine, Barbara James.”
“How do you do, Miss James?” I extended my hand which was not received.

The blonde clinging to my father’s arm stared at me, the expression on her face very close to revulsion.  “Really, Charles,” she began, her shrill voice grating on my nerves “you never told me that she was the very image of your dead wife.  Now, I will have to eat my dinner trying not to think of that.”  She ended this with a well-placed pout on her rouged lips, her hands with their scarlet-painted nails rubbing against my father’s coat sleeve.

“Now, Barbara,” he began, only to be rudely interrupted with “Really, Charles! The name is Bambi.  You know how I love to be called by that name.  Barbara is so horrid, sounds like a plaintive, old housewife!”  With that, she burst into bawdy laughter.  Laughter like I had never heard before.  It made my hair stand on end with its high pitch, the crassness of it bouncing off the marbled walls.

“Bambi, I never told you because I wanted you to get to know each other first.  Now shall we go in for dinner?”  And with that my father escorted her to the dining hall, leaving me to stand bereft.

Dinner was not a pleasant affair.  Bambi sat in my mother’s chair which hadn’t been occupied by anyone since her death.  She sat there as if she had sat there all her life.  All the polite questions I asked her were often unanswered.  I could sense that any attempts on my part for a polite conversation were always dismissed.  She only had eyes for my father, who for the first time since Mother’s death, left me feeling all alone and lost.  It was as if I didn’t exist.  My very presence was resented.  Barbara made it very apparent that she disliked me on sight, making snide comments about how closely I resembled my mother in looks.  My father didn’t come to my rescue and instead laughed with her.  How could father do this to mother and me?  To mother’s memory?  I refused the strawberry-peach cobbler served for dessert.

“Father?”
“Yes, Helene?”  He was obviously distracted by Barbara’s clinging and did not see the venomous look she threw my way.
“Father, shall I wait for you in the study? I have much to tell you about school and also it is mother’s sixth-month anniversary.”
“Helene, I …” my father began only to be rudely interrupted again.
“Charles, you said that you were taking me to the country club tonight.  You know that I have been longing to see the place for ages.”  Her voice was whining.  “Surely that would be so much more fun than sitting in your study talking about a person who’s already six months into her grave!”  With that sick joke, she broke into laughter again.  My father joined in, lamely.
“Miss James, I would please ask you to refrain from speaking about my mother in that fashion.”  My voice was soft but there was a steely undertone to it.
“Charles,” she shrieked.  “Look at how you daughter talks to me!  She acts so hoity-toity.  Is that a threat, Charles?  I did not come here to be threatened by a ten-year old who is too sensitive to take on a joke!”  At this, she gave a theatrical gasp and what appeared to be real tears formed quickly in her eyes.
“Now, now, Bambi.  Don’t cry so.  Helene, you will apologize to Miss James at once.  That was rude and uncalled for.  She is our guest and is to be treated as such.”
“But, Father!  She was insulting and …”
“Helene, you will apologize now and then go straight to bed.  We will not talk of your mother tonight.  Bambi is right.  It is morbid and unhealthy.”

I left the dining room without apologizing.  When I had reached my room, I lay on the bed and wept for what seemed like a long time.  I was only later aware of Mrs. Grosvenor, our housekeeper, holding me against her maternal bosom, stroking my hair and consoling me in the best way she could.  (To be concluded next issue)

Pinoy French translations
Forwarded by Ellen Lim
Manila, Philippines

1.  Turn - Le coup
2.  Liter - Le true
3.  Behind - Le coud
4.  Fly - Le pad
5.  City - Ce vou
6.  Drugs - Sha vou
7.  Musical band - Com vou
8.  Bald - Cal vou
9.  Caught in the act - Na vou coup
10. Unclear - Ma la vou
11. Sink - Lah va vou
12. Joseph Estrada - Vou vou

Fernando Poe. Jr. "The King" of Philippine cinema (in photo) should not inflict himself upon the Filipino people by running for president. If he does, the cinema’s loss will become the country’s loss as well.

In his conscience and heart, FPJ (as he is called by his adoring fans) knows he cannot hack the presidency. He knows his personality and aptitude is not cut for the presidency – that does not make him less of a man, we must add. He knows his educational (sophomore high school drop-out) and career background (purely film) does not prepare him for a herculean task as a president of 80 million Filipinos.

Roland Allan Key Poe (in real life) is only egged by opportunists like Senators Ed Angara and Tito Sotto. (And some businessman who has a stake in the country’s politics because he has an empire to protect).

Angara, the LDP head, is betraying a sense of desperation in backing FPJ as opposition candidate because he can't find a worthy candidate for the opposition among the 80 million Filipinos – that he as to choose an actor. His argument, former U.P. and senate president that he is, that FPJ must be president because he has a clean image is so intellectually bankrupt, one can puke in disbelief. If being of good "character" (and that is even debatable) was the sole criterion for the presidency then oh gosh by golly, let the holiest monk in the monastery run for the 2004 presidency.

Angara knows, bright as he is, that one needs both character and competence to run this unwieldy country. Marcos had competence but no character – the other extreme – where did it lead the country?  Character and competence – horse and carriage, they are.

A TV comedian whose achievement in the Senate is to use his baritone voice and manicured mustache to go around in circles in answering questions of grave national interest wants FPJ president because he reportedly eyes being the Little President as Executive Secretary.  Can one compare this clowning senator with the stature of a Romulo or even a Ronnie Zamora?  It's David and Goliath and don’t tell us you don’t know who David is in the comparison.

Once in the hot seat of the presidency, there are no "Take Twos" on the job – one mistake can be fatal for the country unlike in the movie world.  It is not enough that the president has many sound advisers for there will always be conflict between a series of advice – eventually the buck stops at the president’s lap.  He will have to decide which among the many pieces of advice of his betters will be best for the country. Is FPJ, legend of 200 movies, capable of that? Honestly?

Can FPJ hack the diplomatese language and international niceties plus protocol required of multi-lateral meetings? Does he understand economics – or how to address poverty in a Third World country – or does he just want to repeal the law of supply and demand?  How will he mediate at the LEDAC such that his executive vision is carried out by his Congress and implement his blueprint for the nation? Does he have the personality and skill of a De Venecia (grudgingly admitted) to mount coalitions to pursue an agenda for public welfare?

Can he handle the volatile Military when he is used to being always free of stress on the set because FPJ – the Panday, the Agila – always wins in the end according to script?  How can he handle the uncertainties of governance compared to the certainty of a movie script that is always assured of him being the perennial hero?  How will he handle the Muslims, the NPAs and the terrorists – since we know that peace is not always won by fists, ammunition and "Isang Bala Ka Lang" dialogue.  What does he know about negotiating from the position of strength or weakness?

And frankly, it should be asked even if it sounds like a mendicant query, how does Washington view Fernando Poe’s presidency, for goodness sake?

Right now, FPJ is exhibiting a serious case of indecisiveness on whether he wants to run or not. "Mr. FPJ, the problems of this country cannot afford a minute of delay as some people are dying of hunger."  How decisive can he then be if FPJ does not have the tools for effective, efficient decision-making. What does he know of True North and Paradigm Shifts in today’s ever-changing milieu?

One thing sure, though, the question of citizenship has been settled since FPJ is a legitimate son of a Filipino father and under the 1937 Constitution, he is therefore a Filipino. One other thing sure is that Susan Roces, the comely wife, would rather have a quiet life but has since been shedding pounds of fat, you know, just in case. A First Lady must always look proper and fit, see? Oh please.

As a presidentiable, FPJ is now reaping his share of black propaganda – whether real, half-true or hogwash. That comes with the territory.

It is said that like his friend (deposed president ERAP), FPJ has his share of "extra-curricular" activities with women. Childless with Susan Roces, he is rumored to have sired children with actresses N.V and A.M.  Reportedly, he used to frequent a San Juan bar club where FPJ would herd ten female GROs (Guest Relations Officers) in a room and stay with them till noon the following day. Of course, they just don’t play dama or tic-tac-toe there.

Mon Tulfo narrates in his column in the Daily Inquirer that FPJ’s innate generosity and gentleness with women translates into tips ranging from P10,000 to P15,000 per GRO. Of course, that is none of our business, because that is FPJ’s money.  Can he, however, resist the temptation when he is in charge of millions of discretionary funds as president?  Or will the end of his Lord’s Prayer be "...and Lord, lead me not into temptation, because I already know the way."?

Like Erap, FPJ is known to have an on-going romance with the bottle which can sometimes last for three days, allegedly. That’s bad for one who has to inevitably burn the midnight candle just to sign all the pages of reports and decrees as president of the country. Do you remember Erap and his Gang of Johnny Walker Blue Boys?  Will FPJ also have his Midnight Cabinet?

Also, temper, temper. Gloria Arroyo, Raul Roco and Fernando Poe Jr. all got that expressed rage. GMA can give dagger looks and castigate one to smithereens in public. Raul Roco will bawl one out hurtling across the other room. But FPJ could walk to one calmly and threaten to shoot him back to your Creator. Danger, danger.

In sum, ladies and gentlemen, wouldn’t life be simple – for FPJ and the Filipino people -- if he just remained "The King" of cinema that he rightfully belongs?

Let us then all pray for enlightenment – but mostly for FPJ.

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Bingo Dejaresco (in photo) writes from Makati, Philippines, where he heads a tri-media consultancy firm. He also writes a column for the Manila Bulletin, and the Negros Chronicle of Dumaguete City.  A native of Tagbilaran, Bingo is editor of the family-owned Bohol Chronicle, which he edits by means of the Internet from his home base in Makati.  He was editor of the Weekly Carolinian of the University of San Carlos in 1971-1972 before Martial Law brought to an abrupt end the paper that had served as a veritable breeding ground for many other militant student editors of the 70s, two of whom were Iliganons Stephen Monsanto and Charles O. Sy.  Dejaresco can be reached by email at: bingo_ayala@yahoo.com]

There's a song verse in our Praise and Worship that says "yes, Lord, yes, yes Lord!".  It's easy to say "yes" when things are in order, when everything is fine.Who doesn't want comfort zone?  I know I do. I'm very organized, and I like everything done before the deadline. I like routine and stability. Maybe it's not for everyone, especially when you're young and adventurous. But the point is, you're in cloud 9 when things in life are honky-dory.

How about when life turns upside down, with rapid twists and turns that it's hard to catch a breath? When you lose someone very dear to you or something priceless? When the unexpected hit you? Would you still raise your voice and say "yes, Lord, yes, yes Lord"?  Hmmm ... quite fishy, isn't it?

Remember those days when we were students? Those sleepless nights, cramming for midterm and final exams? Why did we do those? To pass with flying colors! Without passing grades, we wouldn't be where we are today. Our teachers were very tricky in those test questions, and they even had rules like minus 5 points for 1 wrong answer! Oh, what a struggle not to make more than 5 mistakes to get a passing grade! The fact is, we were exposed to tests since we were students; we earned our grades based on how much effort and patience we spent studying, doing research, homeworks and projects.

Those tests prepare us to handle bigger tests in our lifetime. Life is a journey, not a destination. When we graduated and received our diplomas, another door opened, another chapter in our lives began. It goes on and on. Are we going to worry about what's out there for us? Are we going to live with fear and doubts? If you do, you will never be able to live a life of victory. You have to surpass trials before you can enjoy the triumphant crown waiting for you at the other end. Yes, it's easier said than done, but it can be done. How? I'd like to share with you all some tips I do practice and proven effective:

1.  Have faith in God and live a prayerful life. Spend time alone and speak what your heart dictates, you don't need repetitive prayers.

2.  Read your Bible, don't act like a philosopher who interrogates everything and always wants proof. You'll be surprised how powerful are the words of God to help you change your attitudes.

3.  Find a church that will feed your spirituality to grow and mature. You don't go to church just because it's Sunday or holiday of obligation, but to worship God, hear his words and pray as a community.

4.  Fellowship with other believers (have you ever heard of the song "No Man Is An Island"?).  Get involved, socialize -- don't stay inside your shell.

5.  Know who you are, accept and love yourself, don't expect perfection. Let go of the negatives and develop the best part of you. Stop comparing yourself with someone else.  Stop those self-pity attitude. Stop judging others. Stop gossiping.

6. Stabilize yourself. Stop spending more than what you can afford. It's time to teach yourself "self-control" -- don't cater to yourself all the time and give in, learn how to say "no" to your fleshly desires.

7. Take a good vacation at least once a year to relax and enjoy life. You definitely needs to recharge your energy or you'll get burned out.

8.  Do your best at work. Job is a commitment and not just a source of income. You need to be happy with what you do.

9. Try to manage your time and don't make this famous excuse "I'm sooooo BUSY!" You are and will be if you don't plan your activities according to priority. Stop being a procrastinator.

10. Take good care of yourself: watch what you eat, exercise, do fun stuffs that you enjoy on your days off rather than same old routines all the time -- you need to break the cycle once in awhile.