A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCY

Meyen and all,

Sorry for not participating sooner, and I don't see how I can too soon.... as soon as our response to two disasters really has settled down. Remember the Globe tower behind the UPV Admin building where you were 'tortured' by the orientation video.... well some of it came down again and the base of the tower is exposed, threatening one side of the building which has now been partially vacated. But the more terrible thing is that Solar I oil spill which will really cost the Taklong marine reserve and surrounding communities a long time to recover. You can follow all the wild ideas of how to get to the root of the problem (the sunken tanker which is still leaking) from many sources.

I came back from Vietnam on the 21st of August to meet all of these developments and was immediately flung into the flurry of organizing clean-up, relief, research and other types of teams. Last Monday, our Chancellor was given authority by 'da madam president' to oversee all sorts of scientific assessments on which the costs of any claims are to be based... So you can imagine the mobilization that we are in.... There are all sorts of opportunities, even if the Taklong Station is among the areas most affected. I just hope that with our involvement in the earlier spill at Semirara and now this, we will not just be known as the 'oil spill' university.

Basta... natuyo na gid ko subong... sa liwat lang ugaling!

A MANGROVE SHOOT

with a coat of oil. 

NEWS FLASH

These are some pictures of the oil spill that hit Guimaras
recently, including our Taklong Island Marine Reserve. 

MEYEN'S

Gabe and Megan. It's amazing how much time these kids spend Instant Messaging their friends!!! Gabe wants to do Philosophy and Creative Writing in college, and Megan wants to be an art teacher.

DOMINIC

........a special gift to Jore and wife Bernie. Dominic masters new skills everyday. Loving and playful, he is a source of light and joy. 

ALSO IN THEATER

...........is Etic's son, John Victor Villareal:

June 28, 2006

Virgin Labfest 2006 at the CCP

After the sensational hit of last year’s Virgin Labfest, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino and the Writers Bloc, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, proudly present its second edition of untried / untested / unpublished / unstaged works, from July 7 to 16, 2006 at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute.

This year’s festival features fifteen new plays culled from the year-long regular series of readings by the Writers Bloc, and penned by some of the country’s finest breed of vibrant and prolific playwrights:

I. Opening July 7, 2006 (Friday) 8PM

A glimpse of Virgin Labfest 2 featuring three new works from the roster.

II. Like a Virgin July 8, 2006 (Saturday) 3 & 8 PM

(previously staged works directed by the Dulaang Sipat Lawin Ensemble & J. William Herbert Sigmund Go feat. the Dulaang Sipat Lawin Ensemble)

Dulaang Sipat Lawin’s PRAGRES

A musical adaptation of F. Sionil Jose’s story. Set during Martial Law, a provincial senior clerk is sent through an arduous affair of going to Manila to seek the endorsement of her promotion. As she encounters one bureaucrat after another, she drowns in incompetence and corruption.

Alfonso Dacanay’s FIRST SNOW OF NOVEMBER

Palanca-winning play based on Bienvenido Santos’ The Day the Dancers Came. A Filipino expat in Chicago longs for home. When a group of Filipino dancers arrives for a performance, he is determined to invite them to a night of bonding and reminiscing. But how does one win the hearts of complete strangers when he himself is a stranger in a foreign land?

Rody Vera’s ANG UNANG ASWANG

The legend of the aswang: Ang unang aswang ay naulilang sanggol na sumuso sa dugo ng bangkay niyang ina. Ang kaniyang tanod ay ‘sang pusang itim, ‘sang asong may pangil at ‘sang baboy ramong nagpasuso sa kanya. Nang ang unang aswang ay magdalaga, sinipingan siya ng ‘sang binata, at nang magbunga’y kinain ang sariling supling. Ang lahat ay tumuro sa kanyang pagkabata, wala ni isang nagbintang sa binata.

III. Hora de PeligroJuly 9, 2006 (Sunday) 3 & 8 PM

J. Dennis Teodosio’s BAKA SAKALI (directed by Catherine Racsag featuring Nanding Josef & Joel Garcia)

One dreary midnight, a grandfather eagerly convinces his grandson to push their luck further. A noon time show promises instant fortune and taking a chance at it won’t harm them. Their talk gives them high hopes until fate plays its trick the next morning. Is dreaming risky?

Layeta Bucoy’s ANG ANAK NI GLORIA (directed by Tess Jamias featuring May Bayot & Mayen Estañero)

In order to avoid prostituting herself again, Gloria clings to her Dutch boyfriend’s promise to take her to Holland. But after failing to send her money, Gloria begins to think that her lover has abandoned her. When he resurfaces, she moves heaven and earth to convince him that the dark, ugly, Pinoy-looking baby is his.

Rogelio Braga’s MAGANDA PA ANG DAIGDIG (directed by George de Jesus III featuring Ama Quiambao)

A family tries to cover up a crime committed at the height of EDSA Dos Revolution. After finding a way to dispose the remains of a dead boy, the family faces a new challenge: how to free their conscience of the committed crime, as the mother of the dead boy arrives for a tête-à-tête with them.

IV. DespArate Voices July 13 & 14, 2006 (Thursday & Friday) 8 PM

Nicolas Pichay’s TRES ATAQUES DE CORAZON (directed by Vincent de Jesus featuring Eric Bisa, Andoy Ranay & Jef Dee)

Three short monologues about three characters dealing with triple blockages in the heart. Rody Vera’s THE RETURN OF FLOR(directed by Rody Vera featuring Mailes Kanapi) God is playing a joke that nobody understands, and nobody’s laughing. God sends Flor Contemplacion back to earth to console Gwen, a Filipina who is also accused of a grisly murder in Singapore while Flor’s twin sons are also imprisoned for selling drugs. Flor brings along a microphone to sing and lull Gwen to sleep, as her two sons also sleep in prison. Some joke!

Rene Villanueva’s ISANG DAKILANG MAMAMAYAN NG REPUBLIKA (directed by Regina Ronquillo featuring Mae Paner)

Sa Recto, nagtitinda ng banana cue si Lola, exasperatingly over weight at laging mamantika. Sa kanya naiwan ang tatlong apo, anak ng anak niyang nakapag-asawa ng adik. Ang bunsong apo ay laging nagkakasakit at wala siyang perang pampagamot. Akala mo melodrama ito, wrong answer! More like a suspense thriller pa!

V. Hopelessly Umaasa, July 15, 2006 (Saturday) 3 & 8 PM

Job Pagsibigan’s THE PALANCA IN MY MIND (directed by Roobak Valle featuring Wenah Nagales, Clottie Lucero, Eric Cruz & the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors’ Company)

See how far Dory, a call center agent, can go to have a crack at the country’s premier literary competition. Up to the challenge, albeit mentally-challenged herself, one can catch a glimpse of what goes on in the minds of aspiring winners, even the most delusional of them.

Debbie Tan’s DRAGON’S BREATH (directed by J. Victor Villareal featuring Marj Lorico)

The prospect of losing one’s sight is daunting but meeting someone who has already lost it keeps life in perspective. Dragon’s breath is a dream where inner fantasy is hope, where oriental myth merges with reality.

Niel de Mesa’s PAG-UWI ‘PAG UNDAS (directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio feat. Chromewell Cosio & Carmela Magtuto)

Undas: Dalawang taong naghihintay sa isang dinumog na sementeryo. Isang babaeng mainipin at isang lalaking masigasig. Ano nga ba ang saysay ng buhay kung lagi na lang tayong pinaghihintay ng ating mga mahal sa buhay? E, ano nga ba ang hinihintay natin? Baka mas mabuting umuwi na lang. Pero sayang naman ang paghihintay kung mauuwi lang sa uwian.

VI. Naked Truths July 16, 2006 (Sunday) 3 & 8 PM

Liza Magtoto’s HUBAD (directed by Denisa Reyes featuring Nonie Buencamino & Irma Adlawan)

A middle-aged couple is discontented with their married life, so they start to engage in sex games. As they play roles and act out their fantasies as student-teacher, driver-master and even cross dressing, the woman realizes that she just wants to be accepted as she is.
Argel Tuason’s PALABAS / EXIT(directed by Rolando Inocencio featuring Noel Escondo & Jejie Esguerra)

Sa sinehan, hinihintay ni Borji ang isang misteryosong lalaking nakaulayaw niya nuong nakaraang buwan, si Rey. Si Rey ay isang sakristang umibig sa isang pari, bagay na di nakaligtas sa mga mapang-usyosong mata ng mga taga-simbahan. Sa pag-alis sa simbahan, anong mga sagabal ang bumabalakid sa muling pagtatagpo nina Rey at Borji?

Dennis Teodosio’s PAYB-SIKS (directed by Phil Noble featuring Gerard Pizzaras & Arnold Reyes)

Kapag may umuutang, sino ba ang mas may power, ‘yung nangungutang o ‘yung inuutangan? A seduction play about the politics of money and sexual dominance.


Tanghalang Pilipino 832-3661; 832-1125 locals 1620 / 1621(0920) 953-5381(0920) 953-5419 ccptanghalan(at)yahoo.com
TicketWorld 891-9999

ANOTHER TURN

ONSTAGE,

PHILIPPE ONSTAGE

Philippe in "The Forum". 

THE NEXT GENERATION - 2

Andie Javier's son Philippe, who is a
writer and an actor based in New Jersey. 

BING'S BROOD

........of 5 girls: Rhoda (Dang) - Dev Com major at UP Visayas,
Rona (Bambam) - Process Engineer with Agilent in Singapore
(the future Mrs. Tony Prado), Donna (Tisay) - UP Visayas
Faculty Member, Deanna (Tootsie) - a medical doctor,
Ria (Dimple) - UP Los Banos Faculty Member.

THE NEXT GENERATION -1

Diana Edna (Bing) was one of the first of our group to get
married - to Bert Corda, who was 2 years ahead of us at UPIC.
Here you see Bing and Bert's first born, Rona - who is engaged
to be married to Tony in December. He is a government
official, she is an accountant (was one of the top 10 in the
Board Exam for accountants).

MEYEN

..........has fulfilled her dreams of seeing the world. She has lived and worked in East Africa and in Pakistan, and presently resides in Turkey with her family, where she teaches at Isik University in Istanbul. Always the youngest in Class 66 with Jim, she is now one of the "elders" in the teaching staff. She returned to school in 1986 to get the requisite Master's, but has no plans of getting a Ph.D. She considers Gabe, 17, and Megan, 15, the best that she has ever done with her life. 

EASTER IN HER GARDEN

Easter heads an engineering unit in BOEING - yes, BOEING, the airline titan, in Seattle, USA. She and her husband Mauricio, also an engineer at Boeing, have a lovely home not too far from where she works. Their son Maurice received a full scholarship in medical school in California and is now a resident in Minnesota, specializing in radiology. Easter finished Chemical Engineering in Diliman and did a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. She is proud owner of a very wide garden with many blooms, and is also proud member of a Filipino choir. ("Indi na ako libagon.") Her husband Maurice plays the piano.

ANDIE IN NEW JERSEY

For graduation speakers, the UP invites people who have won wars, led wars, headed governments, piloted businesses, and other such grand exploits. Note Miriam Defensor, Franklin Drilon, and other big people. The UP does not celebrate the quiet heroism of the everyday. Andie spent many years alone in the US, working as a nurse, in order to bring her family to the States. Today she can bask in the accomplishments of her son Philippine who has distinguished himself onstage. Andie finished two degrees: English and Comparative Literature, her first love, and Nursing.

RON LAGLAGARON

..........is President of Belmont Consulting, a computer consulting company that he owns in Vancouver, Canada. He has tried his hand at other enterprises, including, at one time, a restaurant! He is the proud father of Laureen, a human rights lawyer in California. Ron's wife Delia is a Harvard University graduate and one of the chief administrators of the city of Vancouver. Ron also finished Engineering in Diliman. Ron and Delia live in a luxury condominium in a prime location in Vancouver, British Columbia. In July 2006 he went home for the reunion and also to oversee the building of a retirement home in Bohol.

AN AWARD FOR

Evelyn B. Crow
2001 Global Educator Award winner
The National Peace Corps Association, USA

Director of International Programs
(with teaching and non-teaching responsibilities)
for K-12 independent school
Saint Mary’s Hall
9401 Starcrest Drive San Antonio, Texas 78217
ecrow@smhall.org
ebcrow@usa.net

Since I met my first Peace Corps Volunteer teacher, Dirk Ballendorf, in 1961 in my 6th grade class in Devera, Sara, Iloilo, Philippines, I have been in involved in global education. That was the beginning of my curiosity and desire to learn about other countries and cultures.

Throughout my high school and college years (1962-1970) at the University of the Philippines in Iloilo City, I had several more Peace Corps teachers – Oliver P. Jones, John Zey, and Judy Zwigost, to name a few. I also had schoolmates from other countries through AFS and other international organizations. I majored in English and Comparative Literature, which gave me an insight into the various literary traditions of the world.

My first job out of college in 1970 was to be a Cross-Cultural Trainer for Philippines Peace Corps Group 37, composed of education volunteers. One of them became my husband, Burton C. Crow. We taught together in Ormoc City and lived through Philippine Martial Law. Later, in 1974, after a short leave in Dallas, TX, I was sworn in as an American citizen and Peace Corps Volunteer. We then went back to the Philippines to serve for two more years, this time upon the request of West Visayas State University, a teacher-training institution in Iloilo City, where we had previously started a college-wide reading program. During our stay in the Philippines, we assisted in other Peace Corps training programs, especially in education and community development.

After we completed our Peace Corps service in 1976, my husband and I both enrolled at Columbia University Teachers College, where Burton pursued a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education and I obtained my Master’s in Anthropology and Education. We met a number of RPCVs at Teachers College and we were there when the Peace Corps Fellows Program started. The vibrant multi-cultural life of New York City and the stimulating international environment at Columbia further enhanced my knowledge, experience, and desire to promote global education.

Since 1986 I have been in San Antonio, TX. It is the tenth largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population but with a very diverse mix of other minority cultures also. Being an Asian American, having education, training, and experience in international education and global issues-especially about Asia- has always been an integral part of my curricular requirements. Also, as Director of International Programs at a school that has a number of foreign students, I serve as the consultant/resource person on international issues and activities for other faculty and staff in both academic and co-curricular areas.

Primary Resources:

My primary resources for teaching are my own personal collection of multi-cultural materials and artifacts that span more than thirty years of education, Peace Corps involvement, travel, and networking with a host of international organizations. In addition, I use resources from our local Institute of Texan Cultures, as well as materials from UNICEF, Asia Society, Global TeachNet, World Wise Schools, National Geographic Society, etc. Publications from Intercultural Press, NAFSA, TESOL, and other companies are also valuable.

I continually research and network with several ethnic associations and organizations locally, such as the World Affairs Council, San Antonio Council for International Visitors, Refugee Services, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, the UT Health Science Center, and also the colleges and universities. They are good resources for speakers and presenters. Recently, we have also become a member of the International Studies Schools Association based at the University of Denver.

Belen was one of the first in our class to get married. She has two sons, David - who went to MIT - and John who recently finished university in Texas. She is currently on sabbatical from St. Mary's, tutors Korean students, dances, and organizes a Filipino cultural group in San Antonio, bringing in performers from Iloilo. She and Meyen still have dreams of writing a boom someday.

THE IRI

...........Pinky's workplace in Palisades, New York. Yes, there is a big mall too in Palisades. 

PINKY AT WORK

Pinky is Assistant to the Director General of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society of Coumbia University.

The mission of the IRI is "to enhance society's capability to understand, anticipate and manage the impacts of seasonal climate fluctuations, in order to improve human welfare and the environment, especially in developing countries." IRI has programs in strategic and applied research, education and capacity building, and provision of forecast and information products.

Pinky also worked for many years with UNICEF in New York City. She lives upstate New York in Valley Cottage - an area with a large concentration of rich Republican Asian Americans. She doesn't cook, but she drives. Her home is a way station for many people visiting New York.

Pinky met her husband, Dido Salgado, in Diliman. Their daughter Joanna finished at Stanford University and is a computer software engineer. Joanna recently got married and lives in San Francisco, where she sings in a choir.

Pinky was our valedictorian throughout high school, and was an Insular Life Academic Scholar in college. After college she received a Mombusho scholarship to study in Japan.

ERNIE AMPARO

..........shown here with his wife and daughter on a trip to Guam, is a disrict attorney in Maryland, USA. Ernie went on to law after finishing Engineering in Diliman.

NO, NOT JAMES BOND

....but our very own RODEL, who survived Samson's daily ribbing about his last name to become manager at Philippine National Railways in Panay. Rodel came for the first day of reunion but not the others so we were not able to pry any secrets from him or details about his current hobbies and interests. We have to make him do all the days of the next reunion. With his current position, perhaps the next reunion will be a train trip throughout Panay? 

OUR FAVORITE AND TRUE

.....revolutionary. We do not know this man by his other names - to us he is simply TOMAS: reader, thinker, sitter-on-mulberry tree. In high school he was always with a book, and always with ink stains on his shirts. Today Tomas is a family man - one who has not compromised his deeply-held beliefs about the struggle for national liberation. He emeregd smiling from his other pursuits to join us at Tim's and was wildly welcomed. We are proud to have someone of such unwavering commitment as one of our group. 

IF A MOVIE

.........is made of Wilmer's career it would be titled "The Landlord." Wilmer is a housing magnate in La Paz, Iloilo City, where he oversees the running of a family-owned dormitory accommodating a large number of students. When he is not seeing to the business he runs from La Paz to Mandurriao, Molo, and back, sometimes bumping into Etic at the Sports Complex. Wilmer was one of the most faithful attendees of the July reunion and helped in various logistical arrangements.

QUIET

........and unobtrusive in high school - still quiet and unobtrusive today, though these days Andy can let loose a green joke (or two). Andy is a practicing endocrinologist in Iloilo - familiar with thyroids and stuff. He was a Medical Board topnotcher and was at the top of his class in medical school (UP PGH). In due time we will probably be lining up for check-ups at your clinic, Andy! Andy has children in elementary and high school and bewails the fact that we who have gone on to successful careers because of our UPIC High School education are not able to have the pleasure of seeing our children go to the UPV high school, precisely because of our success - only low income students can apply. This policy punishes achievement!

GRACEFUL

....calm, and musical in the 1960s - graceful, calm and musical 40 years later, is our Dot (AKA Dorothy). Noel's partner in "Grandma Grandma" Dot always knew what was going on in the lives of famous people and movie stars. She worked many years with SONY Philippines, and has stepped out of retirement by joining a private firm that markets health food and organic products, joining sister Wilma in the health field. Dot visits sister Gerlie in Texas and sister Virgie in Iloilo but calls Manila home, where she is mahjjong partner of Jim, Sony Escarilla, and Melba Aligaen. Dot hasn't lost the golden voice with which she harmonized our singing in high school.

WHAT DO

pure breed dogs, a farm, food catering, and prayer have in common? They are all personal and business pursuits of our Frank Brit who, like Tita, is a veteran of the parliament of the streets of the 1970s. His social commitment is undimmed, channeled now to running a farm community in Sipalay, Negros Occidental. It should come as no surprise that his idealism expresses itself these days in a fervent faith and a life of prayer and service to others. We'd love to have a reunion at his farm but goodness what about all those dogs - 200 at last count?

CHEERFULNESS

......generosity, optimism, and faith characterized Rachel in high school - and characterize her today! Living part of the year in Dumaguete and part of the year in the US, Rae is sister to Chi Chi, is an aunt, and the main loving caregiver for her mom Ruth Grace, who in the 1980s married Dr. Jim Kingsland of Arkansas. Spending part of the year in Dumaguete and part of the year in the US, Rae has been involved in media, administration (at the US Embassy), and health care in the US. She has never strayed from her strong faith and love of her church. 

WHEN YOU ARE TAKING A STROLL

....through the Ayala Development Corporation's Green Belt park and malls - which make Makati what it is - you need to know that our very own Jore is a member of Ayala Corp.'s engineering team. Jore finished Engineering in Diliman. Several of us - Jore, Dot, Meyen, Bing Corda - were at Jore's wedding to Bernie in Diliman, with a reception afterwards on Quezon Boulevard. Today one of Jore's passions if flying planes - by remote control, that is, and he is father of Dominic, who always brings a smile to his Dad's face.

TIM

.....was Jeff to Ernie Amparos' Mutt, arriving as they did - at the same time - from the US when we were in second year high school. Today Tim manages multiple business interests, including the Cebu Pacific Sales Office in Iloilo. He is Treasurer of the Passi Sugar Central. Tim's wife Ida was Chancellor of UP Visayas for several terms. They have two sons in university. Tim and Ida hosted a lovely dinner on our last night together in Iloilo at their home near the PhilAm compound in Jaro, and said a beautiful blessing before we shared the meal. Tim very gamely came to all the events of the July reunion, although he doesn't like all-nighters. He was patient with our reunion euphoria and generous with himself and his time. (Perhaps we need to skip the all-nighters for our 50th reunion.)

THIS IS JIM'S PICTURE

...on his website, FORESIGHT HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGISTS. Jim's biodata is listed as follows:

Jimeno M. Damaso

He is an HRD consultant to some big corporations on Entry-Point Skills Development, Leadership Strengthening and Retirement Planning. He introduced Workers Lifestyle Planning to Filipino workers in 1987 to improve their worklife-family life productivity. He is an international project development consultant and is the author of several books on entrepreneurship. He is a Consultant on Organizational Development, Career Development, Change Management and Human Resource Development.

After two years as a Corporate Planning Associate at a local Trading company, he worked as an Export / Import Manager at an export zone company. He then served as a Senior Economist and Manager for Project Promotions at a private development bank. He has been on his own as an entrepreneur and business consultant since the early 1980s.

He worked with NGOs throughout the 1980s as a small business development consultant. He managed a small bank and a Business Advisory Service in West Africa.

He has been a consultant to the International Labor Organization and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions since 1990. He authored an ILO manual on Economics for Trade Unionists which has been translated into several languages. He has also trained labor representatives to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards on minimum wage negotiations.

He has been an HRD consultant to large companies on retirement planning programs. These include Nestle, Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, Novartis, United Laboratories, Meralco and PLDT.

He also had fixed term consultancy engagements with regional development programs including the Growth with Equity in Mindanao and the North Quad Project in Northern Luzon.

He is President of Foresight Human Resource Strategists, Inc., Foresight Business Learning Systems, Foresight Bookstore and Publishing, Inc., and EPIC-ASIA International Consultants, Inc.

He completed a BS Civil Engineering course at the University of the Philippines (1973) and an MS Industrial Economics at the Center for Research and Communication (1975) now known as the University of Asia and the Pacific.

He attended programs on Organizational Development at the Ateneo de Manila University and Financial Integration at the University of Bonn in West Germany.

WE HAD TWO SETS

....of T-shirts at the reunion: one set produced by Etic's son Vince, and a second set donated by Romola, uniform magnate and textile entrepreneur. Operating out of her home and another piece of property in Laguna, Romola supplies uniforms to schools in Manila. She is also the proud mother of two girls, one of whom got married recently.