Features

The Tagalogs of Manila colloquially call the University of the Philippines (UP) "Peyups" but its transformation into a national representation and to emphasize the subsidy endowed by the Republic of the Philippines to each UP graduate, the artistic "Iskolar ng Bayan" (Scholars of the Nation) is most appropriate.

Almost 70, by head count, attended the "reloaded" University of the Philippines Alumni Association - Negros Assembly last February 3 at the Grill Guru.* (Gil Severino photo)

It means the "shaping of minds that shape the nation", further elaborated as, "UP students are often referred to as mga Iskolar ng Bayan; this takes root in the university’s origins as a university conceived for the Filipino and funded by the nation (up.edu.ph).

The imposing Berlin Olympic Stadium home of the 1936 ‘Nazi’ Olympics - was the setting for the 1978 World Swimming Championships.

I was there as part of the international PR team for Arena Swimwear, a division of Adidas.

Strolling around the Olympic complex one could not help but think back to 1936 and the black and white newsreels showing Adolf Hitler blandly declaring the Games of the XI Olympiad open.

The recent news that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is to abdicate in April at the age of 75 in favor of her eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander, must have given Britain’s Prince Charles much food for thought.

The British have long wondered if Queen Elizabeth might one day step down in favor of Prince Charles. And since Charles’s son, the highly popular Prince William came of age, it’s often been suggested that she should step down for her grandson and not bother with Charles.

As much as some royal fans would like this to come about, it simply won’t happen.

The Queen has made it very clear she is determined to continue to serve as head of state. Royal observers point to her sense of duty, religious conviction and commitment to her coronation vows.

Mr. Noel Mendoza is not a "big time environmentalist" or a scientist but shortly before his demise, he cultivated some 50 mangrove seedlings in a small area right behind the crab factory of Mr. Nene Jamelo.

After the net covering was destroyed, this mangrove area is now covered with garbage.*

He covered the area from the highly silted and garbage sea water of Barangay 2 upwards to Sibucao and soon mangroves are sprouting. In a recent visit to the area, the net covering was destroyed and garbage came in but the mangroves are mature enough to be destroyed by the intrusion.

Negros Daily Bulletin was ushered by Misters Jamelo and Jesus Kho to an area not to visit a forest similar to that of Barangay Punta Taytay or the mangrove forest of Balaring, Silay City. It was a simple memorial for the late Mr. Noel Mendoza which is a proof that a mangrove forest can be grown if the Bacolod City Government helps in seriously cleaning up coastal areas from Barangay 2 to the next barangay northward.

GMA Kapuso Stars - Heartthrob Benjamin Alves, Sweetheart Kris Bernal, Dance Floor’s bad boy Mark Herras, versatile actress Chynna Ortaleza and GMA’s prince of drama Alden Richard were all here last February 7, 2013 to grace the opening of the Chinese New Year merry making Bacolod City’s version aptly called "The Bacolaodiat".

Mark Herras and Richard Alden giving all "eyes and ears" to NDB writer Gil Severino while telling story of the Yellow Emperor and the Chinese Spring Festival.*

Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) writer and lensman James Toga had the chance to interview them in a press conference prior to the grand opening parade at around 6:00 PM of that same date.

Family and friends gathered at L’ Fisher Hotel last Friday, February 8, 2013 to celebrate Domingo Ciocon Kilayko’s birth-day. The event was hosted by his children who travelled from Canada and the United States to be with him on this special occasion. The celebration continued on Saturday at the family farm in Catabla, Talisay City with holy mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Francisco Javier, followed by food and games for the children. His workers and their children have been a family to him since his return to Bacolod.

Birthday celebrant Domingo Kilayko ready to blow the 100 candles on his cake carried by his great grandchild Alley Kilayko from the US, held at L’ Fisher Hotel last Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. * (Jun de los Reyes/NDB photo)

Domingo Kilayko was born on February 9, 1913 to Primitivo and Rufina Ciocon Kilayko in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. He and wife Clara Kakilala (deceased) have seven children namely: Cecilia Yuthasastrakosol from Winnipeg Manitoba; Antonio Kilayko from Stockton, California; Rexie from British Columbia who currently spends most of his time in Bacolod with his father; Oliver from Missisauga, Ontario; Corazon Kinoshita from Surrey, British Columbia. Domingo and Clara migrated to Baguio in October 1949 where they raised their children until their return to Talisay City in 1963. In 1977, they migrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to be closer to their family, who had set roots in Canada and in the United States. After his wife, Clara passed away in 1998, he returned to Bacolod City. He has 19 grandchildren and is a "Super Lolo" to 23 great grandchildren.

Venerable Chueh Zhe and Venerable Miao Way took turns in leading the auspicious ceremonies last Saturday at the Yuan Thong Temple that culminated in the offering of "a thousand candles". In the words of the Buddha himself, the people are told to remember that "thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened." In other versions, the Buddha taught "happiness never decreases by being shared."

The lighting of candles started in the prayer well beautifully decorated by orchids at the basement entrance of the Temple. One can light a small candle and let it flow signifying a guided "enlightened" thoughts drifting into the eternal bliss. Candle meditation and prayers are powerful ways of mind focusing, something which is needed by this frenzied and flurried world.

The frenzy and flurry outside the Yuan Thong Temple disappeared as the sutras, mantras and other Buddhist texts were chanted to the rhythm of the muyu (fish percussion) accompanied by the Daqing (large bell bowl) and occasionally the hanging bronze Bianzhong (large bell atop) towards the end of the ceremony.

The drum and the bell that signal the start of the Spring Celebration.*

The drum played by a Filipino devotee is unforgettable, the symphony created by all these sounds are refreshing to a weary wanderer. It signals the end of hunger suffered by many hundreds of centuries ago in ancient China and now dramatized right before the eyes of Bacolodnons.

Venerable Chueh Zhe and Venerable Miao Way took turns in leading the auspicious ceremonies culminating in the offering of "a thousand candles" which in the words of the Buddha himself is remembered that "thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened." In other versions, the Buddha taught "happiness never decreases by being shared."

The greatness of the Yellow Emperor Shi Huangdi is in China’s salvation through agriculture economics, basically the invention of the "solilunar" calendar to predict weather conditions.

The Chinese Lanterns signify the completion of harmony (round) and lights the way home. "Lacson Strip" now is lighted by these awesome number of lanterns.* (Gil Severino photo)

The Cosmic Yellow Emperor in 2696 to 2598 BC summoned all the Empire’s intellectuals and eventually a Chinese calendar was invented. From then on, the four seasons were calculated and preparations were done prior to Winter when hunger is suffered the most and the advent of Spring is most awaited.

Little was realized that in a much later date, right here in the Island of Sulu, written in annals of the Ming Dynasty in 1417, the 15th year of the reign of Emperor Yung Le, a Sulu Sultan named Paduka Batara accompanied by Maharajah Kola-mating and Paduka Prabhu. They arrived bringing with them their families and headmen numbering 340 but they were housed by the Imperial Palace and the three leaders were given attendants at their disposal.

As a child growing up in England after World War 11 my father often referred to any strange or complicated-looking gadget as ‘a Heath Robinson contraption.’

It wasn’t until many years later I discovered that Heath Robinson was in fact a famous English cartoonist and illustrator, best known for drawings of intricate and bizarrely eccentric machines.

Indeed, so famous were his illustrations in the UK, especially during World War 11, the term Heath Robinson entered the language as a description of any absurdly complex and implausible contraption.