Trese Series: Twist and Shout

Yes I read the 5 books in the Trese series created by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo about two months ago. I was introduced into the series by one of my students last year when we were discussing Pinoy Pop Culture, particularly Filipino Komiks.

When she brought the 5 books and showed them to me, I simply nodded to show her that I do approve her reading the series but I never read it nor even touched any of it. I thought this was another thrashy-time-wasting-publication that National Bookstore was propagating by having so many stocks on display all over the Philippines.

Then I chanced upon one of our school librarian and IT guy discussing about Alexandra Trese and how almost everything in the stories are very Filipino. Something ticked and I said I should start reading Trese.

Then one Friday afternoon, the universe opened and before I knew it, I was reading Book 1 and could not even put it down. Thanks to Mr. F for lending me his 5-volume collection of the series, I managed to read it everything in one weekend.

And my daughter did the same thing, she read after me and beside me on the sofa. She would ask me which book I' have read so that she can read too. And we were in awe! Filipino mythology in twisted form that will leave the readers screaming, shouting for more.

Where's Trese Six?

Thanks Budjette and Kajo!

And today I chanced upon Rappler's interview of the creators of Alexandra Trese, Budjette and Kajo:

   

Little League Dodgeball September 2013

The Little League Dodgeball Games main man, Teacher Ron, sent us an email with invitation for everyone:

Greetings!

I would like to invite your students/children to join our Little League Dodgeball Games on September 14, 2013 (Saturday) to be held at the Meralco Sports Center Covered Tennis Courts from 9:00am to 12:00nn.  No previous experience necessary and we will conduct a short clinic at the onset of the activity to teach the basic rules and how to play the game.

Dodgeball is a fun sport for children. It uses a ball specifically designed for the sport made of a rubber sac covered with soft foam and cloth to significantly decrease the impact of the ball upon hitting an individual. This makes it relatively safe for children, boys or girls.

Dodgeball is played with teams composed of 6-8 members; all male, all female or mixed gender.  You may form more than one team.  However, in case you can’t meet the minimum of 6 players, you may opt to form a team with the other participants in the venue who also don’t have a team yet.

The participation fee is only Php 100.00 for each team member.  However, for a group of 5 members, you may pay a discounted fee of Php 300.00.  Furthermore, a team of 8 members will pay only Php 500.00. Our future direction is to establish a little league which would meet on a regular schedule to be set by the interested participants. 

Should you find this activity interesting for your students/children, kindly send me an email @ ronald.devilla@gmail.comor you may also call our office at 972.5974 on or before Friday, September 6, 2013.  

Attached is the poster of the activity. We hope to see you there!

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

Teacher RonThe Builders’ School972.5974

 Register now!

Million People March Against Pork Barrel

Ten years ago, former Senator Ping Lacson wanted the Pork Barrel Fund scrapped and when he took the podium and gave the privilege speech, he was torn to pieces with all the attacks coming from all directions aimed at character assassination.

Two decades ago, during my college days, Datu's Tribe screamed on top of their lungs:

 

And Lourd de Veyra's Radio Active Sago Project came up with this:

 

2013 Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships

Congratulations to NM Jerad Docena and WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda for winning this year's edition of Philippine National Juniors Championship for boys and girls divisions respectively.

NM Docena bested twelve other players with a score of 6.5 points in 9 rounds while WNM Fronda scored 6 points in a field of 11 players in 7 rounds.

Check out 2013 National Juniors Championship Boys Division and Girls Division for an overview of all the players results.

And if you would want your kids to learn chess and play like these age groupers who seem to play like the pros but don't know where to start, you can direct them to http://chesscademy.com/login. Learning chess via online videos, nothing new, nothing spectacular but very effective --and its Free.

Watch Online: The Conjuring 2013

Scare yourself and watch this year's best horror film, The Conjuring.

I couldn't help but post this link here ==> Watch Online: The Conjuring 2013.

Here is one of the reviews I read:

"Overall, watching the film will really immerse you into the intense malevolence that terrorized the Perron family. Many creepy images you see will stick with you for a long time. All the hype was accurate this time. This IS one of the best horror films in recent years. 8/10"-  Fred Said

RIP Rudolfo Tan-Cardoso

Asia's first-ever International Chess Master Rudolfu Tan-Cardoso died of a heart attack at the age of 75 last August 21, 2013 at 3:10 P.M.. 

A chess player, enemy over the board, teacher and father/lolo figure in the Philippine chess community, he is best known for beating Robert "Bobby" Fischer in this game in 1957.  The year before this, he won the Philippine National Junior Championship.

He played for the flag in four Chess Olympiads with the following board assignments and results:

• 1956, Board 4 in the 12th Chess Olympiad in Moscow (11 wins, 4 draws, 2 defeats)
• 1958, Board 1 in the 13th Chess Olympiad in Munich (10 wins, 5 draws, 4 defeats)
• 1972, Board 2 in the 20th Chess Olympiad in Skopje (10 wins, 3 draws, 4 defeats)
• 1974, Board 2 in the 21st Chess Olympiad in Nice (9 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats)  

He won the silver medal at the 1956 Olympiad with a winning percentage of .765.

I met Mang Rudy a couple of times in tournaments and chess workshops while I "chaperoning" for my brother-in-law in these events while he would simply look around and check out talents. 

Thanks for all the contribution you have given to Philippine chess. They will not be forgotten. You students will always remember you.

Farewell IM Rudolfo Tan-Cardoso! 

 

Mother Mary: The Queen of Heaven

Today we celebrate the Queenship of Mother Mary:

"The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb" (Ven. Pius XII, Ad. Coeli Reginam). 

On the day of her Assumption, Mary our Mother was solemnly crowned by Christ and received by the whole court of Heaven as Queen.  

What Christ has done in Heaven and the Church has done on our behalf we should now do individually, that is, we should recognize Mary's Queenship, enthrone her in our homes, consecrate ourselves to her and, by this means, establish in our lives the reign of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe."

Click instructions on How to Enthrone Mother Mary in your Home and Consecrate your Family to Her.