blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

Perhaps I have a teeny weeny bit of right, by right as the English would have it, to comment on things about National Artist Sionil Jose's essays, novels, short stories and plays. I will have to confess, I have read all his books and I have all his books, save one "Vibora" which some idiot of a friend never returned (Never lend books. There was a legit reason why in medieval England they had them chained to the desks!). This is a fact that my mother was so proud of  during one formal cocktail shindig at the US Embassy's historic Chuck Parson's ballroom. Mom, my sister and myself had been Fulbright grantees and so was F. Sionil Jose. During the usual literati banter that accompanies these events, my mother told Mr Sionil Jose that "My son has read all your books" . To which Sionil Jose replied "Give my condolences to your son" . This I heard within earshot since I was at a nearby cocktail table talking to then  US ambassador Kirstie Kenney! (Ken...

Di masasabing hindi ka mamamtay sa katatawa sa pelikulang Zombadings: Patayin sa shokot si Remington na ngayo'y palabas pa rin sa mga sinehan. Sa pamagat ng komedya, ang salitang "shokot" ay marahil nagmula sa "shock" at "takot". Isang katagang nanggaling sa "gayspeak" nag karoon ng ibayong ibig sabihin ang bagong kataga. Ngayon nasa balita ang kaso ng isang sikyo na sinuntok daw ng isang congressman or representante ng isang distrito sa Mindanao sa UP Ayala Technohub ng kinailangan para sa seguridad na suriin ang sasakyan ng congresista. Hindi daw itutuloy ng sikyo ang reklamo dahil isa lamang siyang maliit na tao. Si pelikulang Pinoy, may mga sinasabing "memorable" na eksena ng mga "maliit na tao" na lumaban. Kasama na dito ang ginampanan ni FPJ na isang maliit na police sergeant sa "Kapag Puno na ang Salop" laban sa di makakalimutang Judge (na ginampanan ni Eddie Garcia). Hay naku napuno na nga ang salop. K...

I do not know James Soriano but those netizens who know him say he is an Ateneo de Manila senior. The essay he wrote for the Manila Bulletin is honest on his experience in the use of English and Filipino in Filipino society. The mass of Filipino society especially on the net will label him as conyo , but we cannot fault him for that. The class stratification in Philippine society is sharply demarcated by language use as this blogger writes . This cuts across regional and cultural boundaries. Since in almost all political jurisdictions, those who are elected to public office belong to the elite, we can observe that signs in public buildings are in English or may be bilingual but the sign in a Philippine language is less conspicuous than the one in English. I have seen and stared at these while peeing  in countless toilets in the Visayas and Mindanao, where a warning (pahibalo) in not flushing the toilet will result in a fine. The warning is in large font English and the one in ...

I just came from the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in the Philippines. My mom and sister were also there being Fulbrighters like myself. The creme of the creme of Pinoy academia, arts, sciences and intellectuals were there.Ex National librarian Dr Serafin Quiason was as bubbly as ever on a zillion topics most of them dealing with Queen Gloriana. Ateneo VP Tonnette Palma Angeles were there too. National artists Napoleon Abueva (sculpture) and F. Sionil Jose were moving through the cocktail crowd. My mom knew both men since she was a librarian. Abueva was dean of Fine Arts at UP and that college was then on the 3rd floor of the Main Library building. Abueva designed the Fulbright award trophies. Sionil Jose was and is still at 85 promoting reading. My mom introduced me to Sionil Jose by simply stating the truth. "My son has read all of your books! In fact he has all copies of your books." Sionil Jose repliedand smiled "My condolences. ...