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Happy Valentine's Day!

TUWING sasapit ang buwan ng Pebrero, nagkakagulo na sa ating bayan sa pag-iisip ng kanilang gagawin upang ipagdiwang ang Araw ng mga Puso. Candies, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones – all in the name of St. Valentine. Sino nga ba itong mysterious saint na ito and why do we celebrate this holiday?

Brief History of St. Valentine

February has long been a month of romance. The history of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery. St. Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first Valentine’s greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl. Before his death, it is said that he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legend is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.

A Filipino Love Story

One of my readers sent me this Filipino love story.

“Bing, a beautiful Filipina fell in love with Edong. She planned to marry him very soon. She was so happy about her wedding plans that she decided to tell her father. Her Tatay told her, ‘Bing, you’ll have to find another guy to marry. Your Nanay does not know this, but Edong is your half-brother.’

“Bing forgot all about her Edong. Soon she planned to marry Ricardo. But after telling Tatay again about her wedding plans, her Tatay said, ‘Bing, anak ko, there’s trouble still. You cannot marry Ricardo. Please don’t tell your mother, but Ricardo and Edong are your half-brothers.;

“Bing had no choice but to go to her Nanay. However, her Nanay already knew about Ricardo and Edong. Her Nanay told her, ‘Anak ko, do what makes you happy. You may marry Ricardo or Edong because you are not related to Tatay.’”

What a beautiful love story, hehehe.

A Mother’s Love

I’d like to share with you another email I received from a friend. The email has been forwarded many times because it’s funny. This letter of a mother to a child illustrates the creative and imaginative mind of the Filipinos.

“Dear Anak,

“Naipadala ko na ang 50 thousand pesos na tuition fee mo, pinagbili na namin ang mga kalabaw natin. Ang mahal pala ng kursong COUNTER STRIKE, wala na din pala tayong baboy naibenta na din para dun sa sinasabi mo na project nyo na NOKIA N75, ang mahal naman ng project na yun. Kasama din ang 7 thousand dun para sa field trip nyo sa MALL OF ASIA. Anak malayo ba yun? Mag-ingat ka sa pagbibiyahe mo, isasanla palang namin ang palayan natin para mabili mo na yung instrumentong iPOD na kinakailangan mo sa laboratory nyo.

“Anak, komportable ka ba dyan sa boarding house mo? San ba kamo yang VICTORIA COURT? Maganda ba dyan? Di ba mainit dyan?

“Anak, kumusta na pala yung group project nyo na SAN MIG LIGHT? Napailaw nyo na ba? Mataas ba nakuha nyo na grado dun?

“Anak, sana bago pa maubos ang lahat lahat ng ari-arian natin ay maka-gradweyt ka na, walong taon ba talaga ang kurso mo sa SECRETARIAL??? Sana pag gradweyt mo makakuha ka ng trabaho kaagad kagaya ng manager ng kumpanya para mabawi natin ang mga ari-arian nating nasa sanglaan.

“Ay, sya nga pala anak, di ba sabi mo sa JOLLIBEE / MAK DONALD ka palagi kumakain? Okey ba naman sayo ang mga ulam dyan? Baka hindi masarap kawawa ka naman.

“Anak, hanggang dito na lang at sa susunod ay ipapadala ko sa yo ang pera na pambili mo ng ALTIS na gagamitin mo sa VACANT SUBJECT mo.

Ang nagmamahal,
Inang”

The letter seems funny but there is some truth in it. I remember during my school days, a friend told us that his cousin wrote to his mother in the province and asked for money to buy “subject and predicate.” Pinadalhan naman ni nanay ng pera ang kawawang anak na naghihirap sa pagaaral.

Tawa naman dyan!

Norman Domingo now writes
for ONE PHILIPPINES

Norman Domingo, a former staff of the defunct Seattle’s Pilipinyana newsmagazine, is now writing for ONE PHILIPPINES. Norman is a monthly contributor of “Tawa Naman Dyan” section of ONE PHILIPPINES. Kabayan, subaybayan ninyo ang pagsusulat ni Norman. Sigurado ako na maaaliw kayo sa kanyang mga “pabida.”

Norman, welcome to ONE PHILIPPINES family!

LASCI holds Annual Ball

The Lucena Association of Southern California, Inc. (LASCI) held recently its Annual Ball and Coronation of Mrs. Lucena 2008 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Monrovia, California. This year, Mrs. Lucena is Natividad H. Javierto. Her court of honor includes Luz Etorma-Protacio, Mrs. Charity, and Remie Jaro Valduria Parungao, Mrs. Faith,

LASCI’s annual ball is to raise funds for the club’s scholarship program in Lucena. It was also an evening honoring some “Lucenahin.” The honorees are role models for the young generation. The honorees were Simplicia Gutierrez, Lydia Cadiz Zaballero-Tolentino, Flora Gilbuena, Luz Casareo Obmina, Anita Chua, Adela Casareo Sangalang and Lourdes Torres-Apolo. Sila ang pinagmamalaking mga anak ng Lucena na simbolo ng tiyaga at pagsusumikap alang-alang sa kanilang mga anak at mga kabataan ng Lucena. They are now in their 70’s and 80’s but still active in helping the less fortunate of Lucena.

In a message by Honorable Etorma-Suarez, Congressman, 3rd District, Quezon Province, he said, “LASCI has been an important influence to other people in order to become aware of the needy and bring forth the spirit of generosity in each of us. It is my fervent hope that you will continue to persevere in your quest to help the less fortunate.”

Timmy Pavino represents
JHS-Kirkland

Timmy Pavino is representing his school, Juanita High School (JHS)-Kirkland, at a regional scholarship competition for the entire State of Washington in the solo musical-theatrical category. Timmy earned the “honor thespian” certificate from his school to qualify him to compete in this program.

Timmy almost missed the selection process because he was earlier disqualified because he thought he could do an acapella of “I Have Dreamed” from the musical, The King & I. The contest rule specified that no one can perform acapella. Fortunately, he had a CD that one of the contestants borrowed from him. It was a brand new Broadway CD that he recently purchased from a karaoke store. He entered the competition with his rendition of “Home” from the The Wiz.

When the winner was announced, Timmy got a standing ovation. He qualifies to join the state and the national competitions. According to Tim, he attributes his win to the three things he learned about singing: one, believe in his heart that he can do it; two, it is better to overdo it than underdo it; and three, always have different choices in movements.