The first home of democracy is the human heart!

“The human heart is the first home of democracy.” - Terry Tempest Williams, as quoted by Parker J. Palmer, The Politics of the Broken Hearted, 2005. Parker Palmer offered his reflections: “This 'one nation, indivisible' is deeply divided along political, economic, racial and religious lines. And despite our historic dream of being “a light unto the nations,” the gaps between us and our global neighbors continue to grow more deadly. The conflicts and contradictions of twenty–first century life are breaking the American heart and threatening to compromise our democratic values." America used to feel like the safest country there is for immigrants.  In 1972, I remember being homesick. I cried pretty regularly in six months. I also felt the rush of claiming the opportunities to make something of my life.  After six months of being unemployed, I was finally hired at an insurance company.   In the evening and weekends, I volunteered to be part of a civil rights group -- one that advocated for the restoration of democracy and human and civil rights in the Philippines. During that time, martial law had just been declared in the country.     Three principles were important to me: tell the truth, serve the people wholeheartedly and love folks with all your might.  Because of that, I expanded my concept of family: I had family at work, family in the community, family in the quality professional organizations, family of close women friends.  Then, I sensed a sea change.  America started feeling unsafe to me, a naturalized US citizen. The newspaper headlines reported that 800,000 undocumented immigrants were deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2008-2010.   In the first half of 2011, ICE ‘s goal is 411,000 deportations.   Last week, Pulitzer-prize winning, journalist Jose Antonio Vargas re-ignited the firestorm for immigration issues, when he shared his riveting personal story that he is undocumented.  A new movie, "A Better Life" is now in the theaters.  It is a story of love between a gardener father who cuts trees in upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods, and his teenage son who goes to a school in Los Angeles, challenged and terrorized by gangs in his school.  Their lives were torn apart when the father was deported to Mexico.   During the film premiere, an octogenarian Hungarian dancer, M.W., stood up to compliment the producers. She said she identified with the characters and felt their fears, although she had nothing in common with them. Nonetheless, their fears felt like her own during the holocaust.  The same fears were depicted when I saw a short documentary of the Road to Freedom exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center.  Rabbi Rachel Cowen described the civil rights movement as “ a religion, a secular creed, a community, with values, its liturgy, its rituals, part of a larger narrative, with its high ideals that the world can improve, love would conquer, it would triumph." Dorothy Zellner spoke of her conviction, that when you see such inhumanity, there is a moral imperative to go “ thou shalt not stand idly by."   Half of the white attorneys working in the South were Jews who felt a kinship with the injustice happening to blacks.  Rabbi Prinz shared a “ sense of complete identification and solidarity born of their painful experience." This mattered to him to take a stand: will he allow these state troopers to kill in his name? These were the dilemmas that they faced, dilemmas that are like ours now, as we are confronted with the issue of immigration reform for 11 million undocumented individuals.   Recently, I had a conversation with Fr. Alberto Carreon, 88, who is the resident priest of Assumption Church. His special ministry is to teach sobriety through faith.  He has been in the forefront in advocating for immigration reform, leading a 2,000 person strong rally in Nevada, and after, he was invited to dialogue with Senator Harry Reid’s staffers.  His position is to revive the bracero program to give a legal path to progress to those who want to work in the US.  He believes that after three years of a consistent, law-abiding track record of employment, these workers have earned the right to apply for a green card.   He cites the history of immigrants from Europe who fled to survive the holocaust unleashed by Nazi Germany. They were given their own paths to progress, facilitated by a change in their immigration status, legitimized by a humanitarian public policy.   This public policy should also extend to those who fled their countries at the height of the civil war in El Salvador, and had some resettling in parts of Honduras and Mexico.   Like the European immigrants, they too need their own paths to progress.  Why? USA propped some of the dictators in these countries, causing some of their citizens to leave, not unlike the exodus of Filipinos to go overseas during the Marcos dictatorship.  By allowing them a legitimate way of working in the harvest fields, backbreaking work that most Americans do not care to do, then, these immigrants can contribute to increase the tax base of the nation.   A recent immigration panel organized by Coro Leadership estimated the US economy can grow by a trillion, if immigration reform is enacted for the 11 million undocumented. In Silicon Valley, most of the startups in technology were done by immigrants. Slate cited that Andy Grove, Intel's former chairman and CEO, was born in Hungary in 1936 and immigrated to the United States in his 20s. Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and moved to San Jose, CA, with his family as a child. Sergey Brin, who co-founded Google, came to the United States from his native Russia when he was 6.  They aren't special cases: About one-quarter of American tech companies are founded in part or entirely by foreigners. The proportion in Silicon Valley is even higher—a recent survey by Vivek Wadhwa, an engineering professor at Duke University, showed that more than 52 percent of Valley startups were founded or co-founded by people born outside of the United States. According to Wadhwa's research, immigrant-founded firms produced $52 billion in sales and employed 450,000 workers in 2005. We are faced with a choice of reactions.  When we step back and consider that our grandparents, parents and those who came before us were immigrants at one time who sought refuge in this country, fleeing from injustices from their ancestral countries, we identify with the pain of undocumented families. When we contemplate and reflect, we sense our hearts breaking open to allow these folks to come in.  But when we suppress our gut reactions towards them, we spew out hatred and biased statements and in fear, like Senator McCain did, blame an Arizona wildfire to immigrants. "There is substantial evidence that some of these fires are caused by people who have crossed our border illegally," McCain, said at a press conference Saturday after touring the Wallow fire, which began on May 29 and has burned over 500,000 acres to date.  He provided no proof of his opinions,” Huffington Post reported. Writers are the guardians of democracy. When a country has good writers, public policies are uplifted, and so is democracy.  But a writer needs a pure heart or they write the politics of the broken-hearted, recycling fears and negativities, and they stand to threaten the foundations of the democracy we all cherish in America.   It quickly disintegrates to a hateful nation full of imaginary illusions that the end is near, because the immigrants are coming.  It is time to stop the fears and renew America on what it truly stands for: A nation indivisible, a true light upon the nations!

Shining Light into Dark Souls

“The soul is explosive and powerful. Through its medium of imagination, which is always a prerequisite for action and is the source of meaning, it can accomplish all things.  In the strength of its emotions, the soul is a gun, full of potential power and effect.  The pen, expressing the soul’s passion, is mightier than the sword because the imagination can change the life of a people at their very roots." - Thomas Moore

My firstborn, Corina Teresa, a 27-year-old law school senior, recently married Sergio Flores, a 28-year-old retail store manager. 

It was a wedding full of solemnity and ceremony -- and non-stop dancing till midnight! As my husband, Enrique made a public toast, it signified the intermingling of three families: the Abarquez family, headed by my mother, Asuncion Castro Abarquez; the Flores and Chavez family headed by Abuelo Chavez and Nancy Chavez; and the Delacruz Family headed by Felisa Buado Delacruz. It became a blending of cultures, with Spanish and Malay roots at its core.  

It was a joyous night --an  exchange of marital vows and the consecration of love through presence -- thoughtful consideration to others, a giving. Those resonated with most of the folks who attended the celebration.

Contrast the joy of celebrating a young couple's marriage and these three families’ union with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ fight for her life while a nation prays for her quick recovery and national civility. 

There have been many theories about why Jared Loughner, the gunman, unleashed his madness.  Several commentators called for a dialing down of rhetoric, including Sarah Palin’s narcissistic view: “ enough already of the blood libel of the media folks,“ which prompted a blogger to write “ Poor, poor Sarah! “, she has been victimized again, except she drew the gunsights on the democratic districts and used gun metaphors, Yet, she is not the one laying in the hospital with fluid in her brain and will need three hours of rehabilitation therapy to do basic actions."

The national discourse changed the next day, and Sarah Palin’s gun sights were taken down from her website.  Could these gun metaphors be fueling national realities?

It called to mind what Thomas Moore wrote in his book, Care of the Soul: “ If we do not claim the soul’s power on our own behalf, we become its victims.  We suffer our emotions rather than feel them working for us.  We hold our thoughts and passions inward, disconnecting them from life, and then they stir up trouble within, making us feel profoundly unsettled, or it seems, turning into illness.  We all know what it feels to hold anger in our hearts, as it builds and transmutes into corrosive resentment and rage. “

Over the years, I've been labeled by my detractors with names which deeply hurt.  Because of that, I learned soul searching, reflections and conscious service to others to feel grounded -- to feel God’s love for me, and to know that I am a beloved,  loving righteous Child of God. 

Lately, my faith-inspired articles have awakened dark souls who began to manifest around me.  Instead of focusing on their own life reviews, they have thrown darts at me.  I will not claim my soul is crystal-clear or pure, for God is the only judge, but thanks to my workplace detractors and few relatives, for through them, I got my sagging spirit back and did the hardwork to reclaim its vibrance and Nature’s joyful splendor. 

Life does not become joyful just like that. Joy and inner peace does not come through alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.  It comes from embracing the Higher Universe’s bestowed blessings and from using our talents for goodness of humanity. 

I looked at my past self, a person who cried so much that at some point, I felt my legacy would be all about tears. I stood up and said, "Enough! God did not create me to be a reservoir of suffering and tears."  

I claimed God back into my life. Previously, I have stopped going to mass before this change of heart.  I justified not going by focusing on the Church’s erroneous practices, like pedophilia, instead of the total spiritual richness of the entire congregation.   

Spiritual journey

I was personally attacked and labeled as naïve, "unable to hang with the big boys" in my workplace, while I stood for fairness and workplace democracy.  I was hyperscrutinized and rumors flew like wild fire.  Friends shunned me.  Few allies who shared my values stood by me and protected me. 

It got me looking into my life -- including my family who could not protect me at my workplace, and my teenagers who saw my unhappiness.  I experienced tragic losses of family members and good friends. Their abrupt endings did not make sense to me.  But instead of questioning God, I embraced Him as my only ally.  

I came upon Henri Nouwen’s book, “ Wounded Healer. “His insights mirrored the anguish of my inner spirit. I experienced the emptiness of my life, and it got me into a journey of spiritual development. 

I went through a rigorous life analysis.  The questions were developed with help from Dr. Phil, whom some misidentify as ‘"the hack." Yet, his questions were probing, difficult and in –depth.

I realized who the folks who helped me reach the wondrous qualitative moments of change were. They gave me love, shelter from harm, protection, and unconditional, wholehearted love. 

When I finally realized who they were, my passion and dedication to serve them intensified.  I did not leave any stone unturned for their needs.  And I said a prayer for my detractors -- because of them, I learned to say grace and gratitude.

When someone calls me names, with the most despicable profiling I have heard, I regard it as the mirror of a very dark soul, a ‘black heart’ that forgot to reflect and soaked up on the sufferings of others, without doing their own hardwork. They measure themselves through failed dreams and failed goals.

It is easy to spot folks with dark souls -- they are the ones who are suffering from deep-seated negative energies. They survive without self-love. They call themselves idiots  and criticize their parents. They sow intrigues and manufacture falsehoods to suit their cutthroat competitive behaviors. They thrive on making “ pulutan “ or sprinkle toxic criticisms about others and suck positive energies dry -- transforming them into the negative.

Many dark souls abound today and the cure for them is not violence, it is to push them to care for their soul’s power.  Sometimes, it's awakening them to make a choice: to persist to nurture their past and to live in darkness or to choose light and the vibrance of their human spirits.  

Imagine a single act of a gunman with a depraved heart now has become the focus of a national rift. Soon, I hope it will lead to national healing and reconciliation. Thomas Moore said it eloquently: “…If there is crime in our streets, it is due, from the viewpoint of our soul, not just to poverty and difficult living conditions, but to the failure of the soul and its spirit to unveil themselves. “

Civility is not achieved through prayers. Civility is personal action.  It is taking care of your own soul and excavating the past to be viewed in a new light  and being re-born as a precious child of the Beloved Higher One.   

Without self-love and recognizing you are beloved, you take on the sufferings of others, preferring to be the suffering Jesus Christ, forgetting that though Christ died on the Cross, he was also resurrected to give us all LIFE -- blessed on earth with joy and happiness.  

Corina Delacruz Flores and Sergio Flores, on their wedding day. Photo taken by Ja Tecson. 2011

When I fully realized that wonderful life-giving lesson, I was freer to enjoy the most loving marriage I witnessed between Sergio and Corina!

Turning the Tide Toward Justice!

Turning the Tide towards Justice!

Posted by Prosy Delacruz

John Salud Mina and John Davis, one of my favorite gay couples!

“History is a chronicle of human struggles to build a better world for all; but even as humanity moves in that direction, it will have many deviations. A setback may feel devastating when it happens, but it is only a small deviation in the larger movement. There will always be a few who will keep nudging humanity to move toward that vision. That is the role of social justice advocates in every generation. History in the long run is progressive." - Daniel Boone Schirmer, Ph.D. I decided to share my Rhizomes space in Asian Journal with community voices and allow a plurality of their voices to look at Judge Vaughn Walker's decision. I invited gay and straight friends to make comments which are now reposted in my blog, ProvencalinLA. John C.Davis and John S. Mina are two generous folks I know. They attend many events, eager to help causes, from the Filipino-American Library to 5K walks for the Homeless, Historic Filipinotown to those supported by Hollywood. They said, “Judge Walker got it right. This isn't an issue of gay marriage versus heterosexual marriage. This is an issue of rights...Equal rights and HUMAN rights. Our love is just as valid as the love a man can have for his wife. Hate is the root of all evil. God does not look kindly on people who hate. If the marriage of same sex couples threatens the state of your "traditional marriage"... maybe the problem is with your marriage not ours.” Keith Kamisugi works for civil rights causes, but also donates his time to significant campaigns, like Pres. Barack Obama’s. He serves on the boards of Chinatown CDC, Asian Law Caucus, CAA, Japantown Foundation and Nichi Bei Foundation. He said , “The American experiment with democracy, even after more than two centuries, shows that it often takes some time for the law to catch up with society. Judge Walker's ruling against Prop. 8 is in part a victory resting on the incredible efforts of many organizations and millions of people in this country that fight every day on the long road towards equality and opportunity. And the fight is not yet over. " Keith Kamisugi, director of communications at the Equal Justice Society, a SF-based racial justice strategy group. Kevin Hamano is a recent UC Berkeley graduate. He helped some tech-challenged senior citizens on the use of Facebook, Flickr and computers, and now works fulltime in this tech area. He said, “When I heard about the overturning of Proposition 8, I became very excited. I didn't become excited simply because I knew so many of my friends would be able to marry, but instead because it provided evidence that my friends are just as much people as anyone else. In all, the ruling on Prop 8 is a great moment in California's history and the fight for equality. It is just one step, but a step in the right direction, nonetheless.“ Giselle Tongi-Walters is a student at UCLA, a popular movie star in the Philippines, married with two children, and is now directing her first short film. She volunteers her time to reproductive health issues for Likhaan. She too, is elated at the ruling. “I am overjoyed that Prop 8 has been overturned. Now the true essence of equality can be enjoyed by all of humanity," she said. Giselle Tongi-Walters and her daughter! Brian Imagineering Loo, an industrial engineer that works at a dream jobsite, Disneyland, has this to offer: “Hearing about the overturning of Proposition 8 put me out of words. I was very surprised to see that on the Federal level, that it would be seen as unconstitutional. I am very excited, nervous, and anxious to see what the next court will have to say on the issue. I never would imagine that all of this would happen during my lifetime.” Jury Candelario, Community Activist/API Equality-LA, Director/Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team - Los Angeles, had this to say: "This is a great victory for human rights, not just civil rights. My husband and I were among the fortunate 18,000 couples who got married in 2008 before Prop 8 loomed its ugly head. We are thrilled with Judge Walker's ruling but this is far from over. We must stay vigilant and continue educating our community about the freedom to marry." Alice Hom is the current California Partnerships Program Manager for the National Gender and Equity Campaign, a demonstration project for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. From 2001-2006, she served as the Founding Director of the Intercultural Community Center at Occidental College where she worked on diversity and social justice issues. She served on the board of Visual Communications, an Asian American media arts organization. Alice is completing a Ph.D. History Program at Claremont Graduate University. She offered us these comments: “I felt a bit of emotional and relief that the ruling went our way. I didn't want my hopes up high only to be disappointed so I tried to keep a balanced view. I didn't think I would get emotional about it because I recognize and know that marriage equality is not the 'end all and be all' for progressive folks working for social justice. I did feel this strong sense of solidarity that this ruling is not for "just us" as queer folk, it's about justice. And that's what I heard from the speakers at the Olvera Street vigil/rally in downtown LA that was organized by Latino Equality Alliance, API Equality-LA, Jordan/Rustin Coalition and others. I went to Olvera Street to support and to show that LGBTQ people of color and particularly LGBTQ AAPIs are a part of this movement and we have other issues that are important to us as well.” From the husband/wife team of Ruben and Janet Nepales, who are the first Filipino members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the convening organization for the Golden Globes) and who recently spoke about their association’s philanthropy in donating over $ 1,500,000 grants to film-related projects with People Magazine: “Marriage is about the love and commitment between two people. I am happy that California is finally recognizing that,” said Janet. “When the state passed Proposition 8, it wasn't a proud a day for me to be a resident of California. Last August 4, 2010, when Proposition 8 was overturned, I was glad that justice was served and that the principle of equal rights for all was upheld,” according to Ruben. In our circle, a good friend, C, had this to say: "Marriage is between a man and a woman. Gays can have their relationships and they can have their union, but not under the institution of marriage. They can have their domestic partnerships. We are not saying they cannot have their relationships as gays. If we allow gays to be married, who is to stop those in polygamy to be married? " Let us hope this window is kept permanently open. I will summarize Judge Walker’s judgment and how it was arrived at -- key findings of law, the findings of fact, the credibility determinations of the witnesses presented, all in a 138-page long ruling in my next piece.

The Take Home Dress

What a glorious evening of fun, complete with bruised soles and weary feet from walking to five parties after Golden Globes awards, yet a full heart and soaring spirit!  That was what Golden Globes experience did for me. But, the showstopper for the evening was Janet Nepales, the spouse of Ruben Nepales, a Board of Directors member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who was recently mentored by Judy Solomon. Janet, the hot fox whose left shoulder was touched by Johnny Depp, who was noticed by Jon Hamm and another man who told her that she was hot and placed his arm on Janet's shoulder saying, "C,mon I am taking you home." Janet's reaction made us chuckle: "He must have thought of me as Chinese food."

That was our hot fox, Janet Nepales, a member of the prestigious Hollywood Foreign Press Association. She strutted the gown fashioned by Carlyn Nuyda Calloway of Thumbelina. She walked like a princess, a mermaid, a beautiful queen -- call it what you want but she owned the red carpet when she walked it.  All eyes were on her and her gown. Lea Michele of Glee screamed upon seeing her outfit.   Of course, the most endearing comments came from spouse Ruben.  Ruben kept posting her photos on Facebook saying, “Bear with the proud husband for posting non-stop about how his wife Janet Nepales looked in her gown by Carlyn Nuyda Calloway ( Thumbelina Cnc). I heart my wife but last night, I fell in love with her all over again! Bravo, Carlyn! Mama Rocio Nuyda, you have a genius daughter!"  I wanted to tell him not to forget that I introduced them to the family of artistic Nuydas. I even chauffered Janet to Thumbelina’s shop.  Success has many fathers and mothers and truly that night, Janet shined in Thumbelina’s gown that I, too, shared her joyous splendor.  She danced all night, feeling like she owned the dance floor.  And she did -- stealing thunder so folks watched as she danced with Harry Shum Jr., after a flawless cha-cha dance with husband Ruben. To see her dress glimmer next to Paris Hilton and to recognize it as equivalent in grandeur and excellence -- one can absolutely say the genius is in Thumbelina’s hands. Thumbelina described it as

"The dress's silhouette is a one-shoulder long sleeve mermaid gown made from silk taffetta and ruched silk tulle.  The skirt is made from embroidered silk tulle composed of flowers in various stages of bloom in hues of peach, nude and coral against a backdrop of a soft sage green.     On the bodice, I hand sewed silk tulle appliques of leaves and flowers cascading from the shoulder down to the waist.   It is lightly hand-beaded with vintage diamantes for a hint of sparkle.  The gown's skirt has a sweep train. The jewelry was generously provided om loan by Tabesh Mirmirani for Amrapali, a leading jeweler in the world.  I noticed many celebs wearing Amrapali last night including Globes winner Dianne Warren.  The earrings set in 24k gold is composed of almost 14 carats of diamonds surrounded by little rose cut diamonds.  The cuff, also set in 24K gold is made from raw cut clear and champagne diamonds fashioned in an art deco setting.   Lind Duclos is my Tailluer Principale  (Lead tailor)" Yong Chavez had this to say about Thumbelina’s creations: “Janet’s [gown] was such [a] head turner! Her gown was so intricately made and yet it wasn't cumbersome so she was able to party all night wearing it. I think Thumbelina's gowns are magical!"

Thumbelina's genius, Carlyn Nuyda Calloway next to another hot fox, Yong Chavez, Balitang America newscaster!

Yong also wore a Thumbelina creation that was similarly a head turner to the point that one of the television newscasters propositioned her to go out on a date.  Wow, two take home dresses by Thumbelina in the Golden Globes!   Sorry fellas, both stunning head-turners are already happily married!

The Road to Freedom

“We are fortunate in our society that a means of resistance has been built into the law and the political process – the vote.  The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy.  We must use our votes, our power and our organizational abilities to create a movement for good. We must not give up this power.  We must not give in.  We must not give out.  We must use what we have—all our talents, resources, energy, and creativity.  We must do all we can to help build a better nation and a better world. “ Congressman John Lewis, 2008.

I was 4 when the US civil rights movement started in 1956, and 13 when it ended in 1968. I was in my third year of high school in Manila.

I had long been inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches, but, I did not realize the full significance of the civil rights movement in redeeming the soul of America.  Not until I saw two exhibits, “Road to Freedom“ and “Breach of Peace“ at the Skirball Cultural Center. I saw the exhibits one cold, dreary weekday, when gray clouds blanketed Los Angeles and rains were pouring non-stop. The weather compelled you to shirk, to hide underneath the blanket. But at the urging of my daughter, Corina Teresa, I went.

I found myself perusing over more than 170 photographs, taken by more than 35 photographers. The images were moving: policemen hosing down citizens; a hotel owner pouring acid on the swimming pool with black folks wading in; attack dogs pursuing demonstrators kneeling on the sidewalk; a fresh pool of blood next to a man laying down on the sidewalk; police using their batons on folks in a prone position; unarmed boys and women with linked arms, guarded by rifle-armed men; buses that were firebombed with passengers locked inside; and a storm of state troopers breaking up marchers.  Many more brutalities were documented for preservation, displaying America’s loss of soul.

Equally moving were photographs depicting hope and a sense of idealism that America’s constitution has yet to be realized: “ life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for everyone." America brutally reflected on those images had another side to it, an aspiration contained in the Bill of Rights that all men are equal, but deeply buried in its soul.

More images move me to tears: linked arms of men in their coats braving the rain and snow; women holding hands with men clad in their overalls; young black faces singing with tears in their eyes, afraid yet defiant of injustice; marchers standing tall while being given a two-minute warning by state troopers, yet not cowering in fear; a woman kneeling on the sidewalk, dressed in her Sunday suit, pearl earrings, a hat and an umbrella; a poster demandingfreedom, and hovering is a white police officer inside a black police van.  Images of lynching or killings were not there, nor corpses, but the audio recordings of the marches were enough to move us to tears -- myself, along with exhibit goers composed of young students, teachers, young professionals and older folks lingering, reading captions, listening to Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches.

A short documentary depicted Rabbi Rachel Cowen speaking of the civil rights movement as “ a religion, a secular creed, a community, with values, its liturgy, its rituals, part of a larger narrative, with its high ideals that the world can improve, love would conquer, it would triumph."

Dorothy Zellner spoke of her conviction, that when you see such inhumanity, there is a moral imperative to go “ thou shalt not stand idly by “.  Half of the white attorneys working in the South were Jews who felt a kinship with the injustice happening to blacks.  Rabbi Prinz shared a “ sense of complete identification and solidarity born of their painful experience." This mattered to him to take a stand. Will he allow these state troopers to kill in his name?

These were the dilemmas that they faced, dilemmas that are not unlike ours, especially with the choices we have to make for the upcoming Philippine national elections.

When I was part of a panel on clean elections at an EDSA I commemoration forum, I spoke of three traits of good citizenship: loyalty, teamwork and social responsibility.

Loyalty
I spoke of loyalty to the ideals of People Power I, when we as a people, advocated for the return of democracy and an end to the dictatorship in the Philippines. Collective aspirations for decades were crystallized in 3 days through non-stop rallies, where millions converged in EDSA to say no to dictatorship, guns, battalions,tanks and violence; and yes to rosaries, flowers, lumpia and pancit, and yes to freedom.

Friends spoke of their convictions, their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice: their lives in EDSA in exchange for freedom. They have reached an ultimate tipping point -- we want to be free!

Teamwork
When we are free, we can choose good actions.  Thich Nhat Hanh said "Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice… No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out."

When we choose teamwork as a life’s ethic, we learn to harvest what Fr. Rodel Balagtas called “harvesting God’s nuggets of grace," when we become our kababayans’ source of strength, our folks’ source of unconditional support.

Try it, start looking for strengths in others.  Cultivate it, and connect with folks to help them reach their dreams.  Without realizing it, you have created a safety net, a firewall of goodness, a sense of security that wherever you go, God’s family is wide.  Drive that goodness forward during the upcoming elections.

Social responsibility
Consider our choices this election. If you are a dual citizen, ask yourself: can I cast my vote for the highest common good? Which candidate did not resort to votebuying? Check, and steer away from the candidate who significantly destroys the sanctity of democracy and mocks the electoral process.

Who has served the Philippines with honesty and integrity? Steer away from those who compromise themselves, while in public office.

Who is that candidate, who, even when faced with the barrel of a gun, chooses goodness over evil?

Who is the candidate who can pray to God and say, “ Lord, thank You for guiding me to choose You, to not lose my soul in all that I do.”

Choose, my readers, and let us vote for the presidential candidate who will redeem the soul of the Philippines, so we may no longer be at the top 20 corrupt countries of the world!

I believe that the May 2010 elections will be a transformative event that will redeem our collective souls, to uphold the sanctity of democracy, and become heroes of the world that we can all look up to, just like Efren Penaflorida, Charice Pempengco, and Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno of the Supreme Court of the Philippines who will receive the prestigious Elise and Walter Haas Award at UC Berkeley this May 16, 2010.

We are the heroes we are waiting for, we can elect a president who will stand up for our collective values and who will preserve the democracy as envisioned by our founders.

Jazzmopolitan: A showcase of talent and creativity

"Groove is that quality that moves the song forward, the musical equivalent to a book that you can’t put down. When a song has a good groove, it invites us into a sonic world that we don’t want to leave.  Although we are aware of the pulse of the song, external time seems to stand still, and we don’t want the song to ever end." -- Daniel Levitin

It was more than a song, it was the entire Jazzmopolitan concert’s array of performers -- Raffy Lopez, Ner De Leon, Mon David and Michael Paulo -- who all transfixed the audience.  We melted in awe! A band usually stays in the background, forgotten in the recesses of the grotto, but Tateng Katindig’s band foregrounded the performers. That was self-assurance!

Just imagine Tateng Katindig on the piano, simultaneously playing a keyboard and adjusting his synthesizer.  He had no limits to his multidimensional talents, yet he retains his humility as any master artist would.

Next, consider Abe Lagrimas, Jr. who on the drums can beat them, as if a one-man band, accelerating his performance to a summit of fully engaged interaction with Michael Paulo, to the point of firing up the crowd to jump up, clap, dance, and shout bravos.  The performers had the audience captivated, ready to play for them. They were on fire! 

At first, Abe had a full suit on and was relaxed. Then, he took off his jacket.  Mid-concert, he took off his tie, and just before Michael Paulo turned to him with his saxophone, Abe had rolled up his shirt sleeves.  Dimples showing, his whole body matched his relentless drumming.  We were surprised that he still had a full set of limbs after. 

As if playing the saxophone was not enough, Michael showed the Ford audience the range of motions and emotions that he could evoke from them. Michael got on his knees while the audience was transfixed, watching him. The band stopped, as he became one with his saxophone and played The Last Tango in Paris, a tribute to his 83-year-old father, Rene. Michael sent his tunes some thousand miles away, across the ocean. 

Michael Paulo, photo taken by Charmie Morales-Salihan

I still remember the duet between Michael and Rene, when the latter got the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) in Hawaii.  Father and son played an original composition of Michael's -- My Heart and Soul, and at the end of the song, all 70 people in attendance had tears in their eyes. As Daniel Levitin says " the timbre and overall sound "was preserved with high fidelity in our long-term memory system."

That night, after hearing the song again, I could not help but cry. 

As if getting on his knees was not enough, he climbed the grotto to play his sax and to dance. He was more than gifted -- he was one with his musical instrument and his grooves. ‘His beat dimensions created a strong momentum’, using Daniel Levitin's words.

During a post-concert brunch with friends, one exclaimed that the whole evening was "nakakaano,” evidently at a loss for words. But we had fun translating the ambiguity -- nakakaloka, nakakabaliw, nakakalunod sa tuwa. One woman boldly described the whole experience as “better than foreplay."

Mon David humbly gave his tribute to Michael, saying, "Sinunog niya ang Ford!" In other words, he torched the audience’s hearts, literally!

Jeff Bello, a jazz aficionado, flew in from San Francisco with his muse, Tricia Maristela.  He had this to say: "I was blown away to see the passion of every artist on stage.  The love for their craft showed as it reflected from the cheers and the standing ovations from the crowd.  Even though it was a chilly night under the stars in the Ford Amphitheater, I forgot about it because I was so focused on the music and the vibe."

"Mon David's rendition of Balut Penoy and the Kapampangan song, O Rosing, were spectacular because it not only showed [his recognition] of his roots but it [also demonstrated] his creativity -- [proving] that there should be no limitation to art.  Michael Paulo was also amazing.  To [know] his credentials and [to] find out [that he worked alongside] famous artists were awesome.  He got the crowd going with his saxophone and his dancing.  I have never seen a saxophone player do both at the same time.  It was mind- blowing."

"The performance not only showcased each featured artist, but also acknowledged each band member by highlighting their talents with solo performances not just once, but all throughout the show.  The collaboration between the player and the featured artist brought the performance to a different level.  It's about time to bring them up front and center -- not just in the background.  My gratitude to whoever choreographed the event."

The ascent to excellence was Jazzmopolitan’s mark!  Raffy Lopez was quiet and unassuming while performing Brazilian tunes on the guitar. He credits Serge Osmena III for exposing him to Brazil's music at the age of 15.  

Ner de Leon was brave to tackle Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo and his saxophone performance was superb. Mon David was self-assured with his world-class serenade(in Kapampangan). His words were sobering as he gave tribute to the 9/11 victims and their surviving families. 

Jazzmopolitan replaced the infamy of 9/11 with feelings of bliss and unity. This was a night of community building manifested through collaboration, teamwork and excellence! As Daniel Levitin said, "Groove had to do with a particular performer or particular performance, not with what is written on paper.  Groove can be a subtle aspect of performance that comes and goes from one day to another, even with the same group of musicians. Groove is the beat dimensions that create a strong momentum."

Created by Ted Benito and Rex Sampaga, Jazzmopolitan left us with the grooviest of grooves, imprinted with the highest fidelity, in our memory banks.  

During Kultura's performance at the Ford some months ago, I whispered, "Ted, you have to exceed Kultura's excellence!" He simply looked at me with quiet confidence. 

Now, witnessing Jazzmopolitan and its new legacy of impeccable artistry, I know excellence has been set.

Kindness on the People's Coast

“ Right action demands that we find a deeper and truer source of energy and guidance than relevance, power and spectacle can provide." - Parker J. Palmer Sometime in the 1930s to the 1950s, the visionary thinking of two Sams, have provided for the public enjoyment of 363 miles of breathtaking coastline along Highway 101 in Oregon.  It starts from the border of California on the north and ends in the border of Washington onthe south.  It is a rugged coastline of spectacular views, attracting bikers and motorcycle riders and vacationers all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia making their way down to San Francisco and for the more adventurous, all the way south to the Mexican border.  We were coming from Los Angeles to Seattle, the other way around.  In admiring the rugged coastline, we thought of the right actions of two Sams, who envisioned and planned for the People’s Coast. Sam Boardman negotiated for lands to be bought, as Oregon State Parks’ first superintendent and the markers in Sam Boardman State Park credits him as Oregon’s Father of State Parks.  The second Sam, Sam Dicken, was a professor of geography in University of Oregon who persuaded the state officials to create the Oregon Coastal trail from border to border.  He was worried that the rugged Oregon coastline might be lost to public access.  He is credited as the father of the OregonCoast Trail.  No cars make it directly to the beaches, instead, cars are parked in paved areas and the beaches are accessed by foot.  Harris Beach was accessed minutes by foot, while another, Lone Secret Beach took more.  Harris Beach attracts more visitors and is more interesting because of its coves, the wading pond, including waveboarders (they use the receding waves of the ocean and the compact sand to ride their boards).   We first met an Oregonian transplant, formerly from Chicago, in Harris Beach.  Lisa works in a dental office. After work, she takes photos of the Oregon coastline and now has a collection of 1,000 images.  She offered us the front of her car to lean on, with an Indian wool rug thrownon top, while we waited for the sunset.  It felt cozy!  With our map, she highlighted spectacular photography viewpoints: Natural Bridges Cove, Cape Sebastian, Cape Foulweather and more.  These were all gratuitous by the way, unsolicited!  With Lisa’s help, we got to our first spot.  We came upon the Natural Bridges Cove, a natural bridge that connectsthe two coves. The water looked calm and the serene.  In the afternoon,the sight is breathtaking, and even more enchanting in the morning.  Here, we met another Oregonian, Bill, who lives near Harris Beach.  He loves Oregon and would not consider living elsewhere.  “ There is so much beauty here that I am willing to put up with some cold.  It is not too bad, it gets 50 to 70F, but for my wife, it gets too cold for her. “   We planned to walk the entire coastal trail to reach the Natural Bridges Cove’s beach area.  It would be at least two miles downhill and another treacherous climb uphill -- only to find a fallen tree morphed into a log!   It became both a crisis and a reward point for us.  Do we climb over or crawl under?  We watched a thin, young man climb over the log adeptly.  What choice should we make?  If we do not proceed, we succumb to our fears of height, and stay caged inside this familiar fearful zone with no action.  The trail was but 24 inches wide, enough for us to stay safe, but the other side of it is the cliff.     We decided to face our fears, kneel down, step a bit on the roots of a fern, not much to keep us from going down into the cliff.  With our legs shaking, we practically crawled our way to the other side.   We met a teenager who coached us, as we crawled under the fallen log, and when we were done, he offered to take us to the lookout point.  No need, but thank you very much for helping us!  We wanted to do it by ourselves.  We went back to the trail the next morning.  This time, equipped with feeling and a memory of a challenge conquered, we bent such that our body could fit the space under the fallen log without crawling and soiling our clothes. Perhaps when fears are let go, bodies become pliant and flexible.  Once we got to the other side, we smiled, a big one that came from within. We walked most of the trail with no one watching us to make a spectacle of ourselves.   We walked uphill and downhill, more assured and on our own!  We felt an inner joy to rid ourselves of baggage: no longer fearing the heights, no longer afraid of the cliff, and now, with a sense of ease that we trust ourselves to take on the challenges that life gives us.  Our next challenge: to walk down to reach the natural bridges and do the‘treacherous climb uphill’ to get back, and our third visit to the Natural Bridges Cove would be a charm! But, in these two visits, we saw the fruits of the right actions of theOregon’s state government: of providing their coastline for generations to enjoy, supported by the right actions of Oregonians to put people firston their people’s coast!  We feel blessed by these random acts ofkindness from Oregonians, for they represent the best of America we love!  For us, we scored one on life!