Quo Vadis Pugad Baboy?

After a week of waiting and no news as where Pol Medina Jr. will bring his "baboys" in the Pugad that he created and nourished for a good 25 years, I ask the question now, Quo vadis Pugad Baboy?

The events leading to PM's resignation has been publicized and almost everyone on the Internet has something to say about it, I thought I should refrain from riding the wave of hits for my blog traffic. But here I am, writing about Pugad at almost 12 midnight.

I should.

I should because Philippine Komiks is back and in the mainstream with all the publication coming out every month and the recent turn out of Summer Komikon, Pinoy Komiks is back and I really hope its for good.

PM never wavered in following his passion and perfecting his craft. Pugad Baboy has become part of Pinoy consciousness. During the lean years, PM stayed and worked on his Pugad. He has inspired thousands of Filipino artists and one of them is Arnold Arre,

Arre created the video Pugad Baboy Shuffle as a simple thank you to PM. Let's watch it now:





Pol Medina Jr.'s comic strip that caused a sensation and which led him to resign over at Philippine Daily Inquirer:

And the now-collectible resignation letter from Pol to his boss, Ms. Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc:

I envy the guy holding this copy, seriously!

Win with a Crazy Opening

Here is an easy win for me using a crazy opening, 6-Pawn plank:

 

National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 2013

The consecration of the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary happens today at ten in the morning. We can join the activities or pray the Holy Rosary with your family at home. Here is the official letter from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila:

Circular No. 2013-16
May 10, 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, RECTORS, CHAPLAINS, SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS OF PARISHES, SHRINES, CHAPLAINCIES AND COMMUNITIES, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL

RE: NATIONAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ON JUNE 8, 2013
 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines declared in its 106th Plenary Assembly on January 28, 2013, “the holding of a simultaneous National Consecration to the Immaculate  Heart of Mary on June 8, 2013, feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at 10 in the morning in all cathedrals, parish churches, shrines and chapels in all the archdioceses, dioceses, prelatures and apostolic vicariates of the country.

This solemn act entrustment and consecration is part of our Year of Faith observance and also part of the nine-year preparation for the 2021 celebration of the arrival of the Christian faith in the Philippines.

This act of renewal, accompanies necessarily by our renewal of consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, relies on the immense grace from God that passes through the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary for us, her children whom she loves.  “Pueblo Amante de Maria”: Isang Bayang Sumisinta kay Maria. The national consecration desires that under the banner of Mary all Filipinos will be one and in peace in faith and love.

The Archdiocese of Manila will be in solidarity with the entire Church in the Philippines on June 8, 2013.  We are sending all parishes and shrines, chaplaincies and communities the primer, novena and liturgy (in English and Tagalog) for the event.  We ask that the event and its activities be announced in all masses starting May 15, 2013.  The novena (May 30 to June 7) is to be done before the morning and evening masses.

On June 8, there can be a procession followed by the praying of the Rosary before the Mass at 10 a.m. where the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be done.  And at 12 noon let us all ring the bells in our churches and chapels for the resounding call for the Angelus, the prayer of Mary.

The electronic file of the poster showing the image of the “Madonna and her motherly mantle” (the Schutzmantel Madonna) as ‘inculturated” by priest artist Fr. Armand Tangi, SSP, is available at our website, www.rcam.org and can be downloaded for printing of tarpaulins and other promotional purposes.  The novena and liturgy are also posted on the website.
I also invite parishes and communities to send delegates to san Fernando de Dilao Parish, Paco, Manila where, together with delegates from suffragan dioceses, a common celebration of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Manila will be held.  I will preside at the Eucharistic Celebration at 10:00 in the morning.

Let June 8, 2013 be our very special day with our Blessed Mother, our very own Mother’s day, when we all come together under her mantle of care and protection, of comfort and consolation, of love and peace, and be renewed in faith in Jesus Christ, sent to us by the father through the Holy Spirit.  We will do this confident that we are Pueblo Amante de Maria, Isang Bayang Sumisinta kay Maria.

I ask all to gather in your parishes, shrines, and chaplaincies and really pour our heart and soul in this act of consecration, to reinvigorate the world in the love of God.
 (signed)

LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL TAGLE
Archbishop of Manila

Visit the National Celebration for the Consecration of the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary  page for further details.

Tricky Diagonals FTW!

Here is the only game I won in five games against my opponent. The use of diagonals with my bishops and queen were very helpful for me to get the win. Here is the game:

Philippine Registry for Occupational Therapy Centers

The national association for occupational therapists in the Philippines, also known as Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines Inc. (OTAP), will be launching a database of all centers, clinics and hospitals offering occupational therapy services all over the Philippines. The said database or registry will be launched by July of 2013 and will be updated on a quarterly basis.

You will have to do:

1. Accomplish the registration form
2. There should at least have two (2) active OTAP Members ( in GOOD STANDING, I added this one) practicing in the clinic
3. Pay the annual registration fee of PhP 500.00 thru Metrobank Robinson's Galleria Branch: Account Name: OTAP, Inc and Account Number: 6297629002479
4. Send the following to otap_inc@yahoo.com with subject heading: OTAP Clinic Ad (Name of Clinic):

• Accomplished form
• Scanned copy of the deposit slip with the clinic's name written on it
• Logo of clinic or institution

For further inquiries, you may send an E-mail to Ms. Joan Dominique O. Go, OTRP @ joan_go07@yahoo.com.

FIDE Trainers Seminar - RP 2013

We now have the result of the recently-concluded FIDE Trainers Seminar in Manila, Philippines. Midas Hotel was the host for the Asian Continental Championships and the seminar. THe lecturers were GM and FST  Efstratios Grivas (Greece - Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission), assisted by the first ever Asian GM (& FST) Eugene Torre and GM & FT Jayson Gonzales (both Philippines).

At least our Filipino chess teachers have "teaching certification" to show their paying clients and I do hope they know the basic tenets of teaching and learning process. As we all know, chess coaching or training is more than being a strong chess player. Chess teaching is basically teaching, bringing in the fun and excitement.

Some easily recognized names in the field of Philippine chess coaching and teaching are in the list: Erwin Carag, Rudy Ibanez and Joel Hicap.

So may I present to you the graduates of the FTS-Manila 2013:

FTS Table by buenaventura_f_a

Champion with a Perfect Score @ ChessCube

Whenever I use my wife's FB account for my chess activities over at ChessCube, I always score a high percentage. And tonight I did something I've never done before and that is winning a tournament with a perfect score.

Here are the screenshots:

Time control is 2 minutes and we had 31 players for the tourney. At the start of the tournament, I asked my son, M, to sit beside me because he was my lucky charm. I wasn't expecting this result.

Lucky, lucky lucky!

Education According to Madelo and Pangilinan

Here is something I thought every Filipino should see:  Education by Numbers, an infographic created by Diane Marie Madelo with research by Rei Pangilinan for ABS-CBNNews.com: INFOGRAPHIC: Education by the Numbers | ABS-CBN News.

Looking Back at 2012-2013

Today, June 1, 2013, is the very first day of my summer break from work. After the commencement exercises last night, I had a long impromptu chat with my friend Ricky at the parking lot. The usual review of the year and plans for next year.

Let me take this chance to look back at the year that was.

It was a good year and we had so much to thank for. Hearing the speakers for the night, the two student awardees and the special guest,  made me feel like I am home. It was interesting to listen to the thoughts and hopes of the leaders of the batch. They spoke of how the school nourished their lives, how the school has become their home in the last nine or ten years. They saw the school as a place where thy can be who they want to be and they did. They are the product of what the school is.

About my former colleague, I have all my prayers for her. She was the "Mother" I had when I was a newbie in my school. I had this great opportunity to work with her when she was working as the homeroom teacher for the fourth graders. Tears did fall from my eyes but I had to hold back. I didn't want to make a scene nor be noticed that I was crying. I thought I would see her after the ceremony but she left as soon as she was done with her speech.

I wanted to tell you this but I never had the chance:

Dear Mrs. Z, 

Thank you for the kindness and guidance you have shown me when you were with us. The time I had with you was short, maybe less than a year but those precious times I worked with you were remarkable. You were a mother to me without trying to. You gave me reminders about being a father and about being a teacher in Beacon. You shared stories and TOBLERON whenever you had a chance. You would always tell me that I was in a good place, I was in Beacon. I know now what you meant when you said that I was in a good place, I was in Beacon. Beacon is not just a school or a place for me to teach and work. Beacon is a family. 

Thank you so much. May the Lord our God guide you thru and give you more years to shower your loved ones with the same guidance and you have given me.

And the gifts.
   
Of all the gifts I received from my students last night, there was one I received where I felt my hair on my neck stood and my heart beat faster. The gift was a letter from my student, SB. The student wrote simple but meaningful letter in Filipino. It was a letter of thanks and a letter of looking back. It was heartfelt and it was the first thing I showed my wife and kids when I reached home. So to SB, thank you very much!

For my chess this year, we claimed the MISAA Chess Championship for the first time. I am now reaping the fruits of  more than two years of ground work with the students. As always, students will come and go but those who remain are the ones who truly loves the game of chess. The way I see it, our club will have a solid line up in the next two years. With the material that I have now, both PYP and MYP will play at a much higher lever this coming school year. Will we find a way to play for the DEPED Taguig Sports Meet? I don;t know.

For my Language B class, I have learned more about my subject this year. I have become more relaxed in teaching the units and has befriended the Language B guide more. I got into Pinoy Graphic Novels because of my Pop Culture unit. And now, my own kids are teasing me that my new chess is graphic novels or komiks.

For learning support, I have had the great opportunity to be part of SENIA-Manila. My coordinator, Ms. Y, asked us to present in the SENIA-Manila's Gathering of Professionals and it was great. Thanks!

But I still need to learn something more. It is in "doing" that we learn something more. I have to be more meticulous in my documentation. I have to, I need to.

It was a great year. Another year done, another year of fun.

Thanks much, thanks much!