Kennedy's presence

A few days ago, the world lost the physical presence of last of the famous Kennedy brothers. Senator Edward M. Kennedy passed away at the age of 77. He died of brain cancer. He had served 46 years as a Democrat in the Senate.

His other brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated in the 60s. Both were young. Only in their 40s. Their eldest brother, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., died at the age of 29 during World War II while on a bombing mission. Photo of the famous three brothers (July 1960) by Associated Press

Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts could have been president, following his famous brother, John F. Kennedy. But along his political and personal life, he had a couple of stumbles, specifically the Chappaquiddick accident which resulted to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.

And we would all surely remember the death of John F. Kennedy Jr. during a plane crash in 1999. Many had hoped he would follow JFK’s footsteps in the White House and keep the Kennedy tradition alive. See the young Ted on his father's lap in this photo from the New York Times.

President Obama said, “His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives — in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education’s promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just — including myself.” Wonder what Pres. Obama is whispering to the late Senator's ear in this photo by Brendan Smialowski (NYT).

Still, this tradition will continue to live with the Kennedy Library in Boston, the Kennedy Center in Washington and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Last December, in Harvard University, he said, “We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make. I have lived a blessed time.”


The Kennedy spirit will continue to shine in US politics as long as there are Democrats and Republicans who argue and debate in the halls of Congress. Am no expert in American politics but am sure many will miss the fire and vigor of Sen. Kennedy in the US Congress. Photo by George Tames in the late 60s, shows the young Ted talking to his supporters on top of a van.

Many Filipinos here are also Kennedy followers. They are not only mesmerized by the “royal family” of US politics, but firm believers of the democratic process and good governance. Associated Press photo shows the Kennedy family after the death of JFK.

Come May 2010, we do need to make our own presence felt as we select leaders who live and practice the ideals of good governance, just like the Kennedys. There is still time to seek change. Let us trash all traditional politicians and support those whose ideals are for the greater good of Filipinos.

Media Presence at Con-ass

Not only where the religious, students and professionals present at the recent rally against the constituent assembly, but media also made their presence felt.

Here are a few pictures of media as they pursued their responsibility to report the truth about the Filipino presence in the “parliament of the streets.”


Photo shows photographers taking a good view of the crowd from one of Makati's high rise buildings. Wish I was up there to capture a panaromic view of the rallyists the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue.


Other photographers are high on this make-shift photographer's platform. But I couldn't get up here as I came in late for this rally. I do remember covering Ninoy Aquino's burial and I riding a long flatbed truck that followed the main truck carrying Aquino's casket.

Fr. Armand @ 55

It was Fr. Armand's 55th birthday today, and Cecile and I, together with Grace Feliciano, my friend from the Ateneo "unwinders" attended this celebration. Photo shows Grace, Fr. Armand, Cecile and myself. More than a hundred of Fr. Armand's closest family (including his mom) and friends (from SMC, UPCP, Yuppeace, CodeRED Magazine, etc.) were present for an evening of inspiring words and music.

The invitation read:

“A new leaf emerges in time for Fr. Armand’s 55th birthday. Join us for thanksgiving as we celebrate and nurture the tree of life.

6pm, Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Joy Center, Don Bosco Makati
In lieu of gifts, donations are welcome.”

And there was a letter with his words, and I quote, “I dream for you and for me meaningful lives of Pinoy kagandahang-loob. This is compassionate leadership. It is non-violent. It is the leadership style of Jesus Christ. Together, let us invest our faith on our task of nation-building.

I dream of varied and effective educating initiatives to shape the minds and hearts of the young. I need your support for CodeRED, the family leadership magazine on character and competence. I dream of enriching the lives of our youth leaders with seminars, fora, gigs and more creative strategies. Here is your chance to share your talent, time and treasure. Photo shows Fr. Armand, Carol San Pedro (editor of CodeRED Magazine) and my wife, Cecile Gabutina-Velez. Both Carol and Cecile used to work for J. Walter Thompson.

I dream of a CodeRED Society where individual lives of kagandahang loob, out faith-politics of compassion, our servant leadership magazine as our mouthpiece, with our various servant leadership activities converge with each other to nurture the tree of leadership for our people. Come and journey with me and many others as we gather together the little we could share, and build a future for our children here in our country.

Let us dream for our country. And you know what, it starts in your heart."

Varian Fry's Presence

Last Tuesday night, Chief and I just stayed at our Greenhome after a working day. It was our first day back to work after the long weekend.

I stumbled into the Hallmark Network and caught an image of marching German soldiers into Marsielles. This was a scene from “Varian’s War.” We both found these images interesting and we stayed on to finish the movie.

Now, who is Varian Fry? And what was his war?

I quickly “googled” his name and found out from Wikipedia that Varian Fry is America’s Schindler. You probably remember that Steven Spielberg movie about a man who helps Jews escape Germany. Images from www.showtime.com

Varian Mackey Fry was an educated American journalist who helped around 2,000 to 4,000 anti-Nazi and Jewish refugees to escape Germany and the Holocaust.

In that scene in the movie, we saw Varian Fry (played by William Hurt) witnessing how the Nazis where persecuting the Jews. As a foreign correspondent for the American journal, “The Living Age,” he was in Berlin in 1935

Returning to the States, he helped raise money through the Emergency Rescue Committee. In the movie, Fry gives an inspiring speech during a fund-raising party to help persons flee the Nazis.

Fry developed a short list of refugees that including intellectuals, from artists to teachers. By August 1940, he was in Marsielle where hundreds fall in seeking any chance to escape France. The movie show Fry with the intellectuals taking a train and walking through the forest to reach the Spanish border.

He actually helped more than 2,200 people cross the border to neutral Portugal. Others escaped abroad ships leaving Marseille for the French colony of Martinique.

Fry had a lot of help from Miriam Davenport (played by Julia Ormond) She is described as a former art student at the Sorbonne, and a lover of the arts. She easily talks about her sex life in the movie but is rejected by Fry as she offers to sleep with him.


In the movie, Fry is surprised that Hiram Bingham IV, the American Vice Consul in Marseille was actually supportive of his cause. He was personally responsible for issuing thousands of visas, both legal and illegal. In the movie, he “housed” a few of the intellectuals in Fry’s list.

After the war, Fry published in 1945 Surrender on Demand about book about his time in France and also wrote and spoke extensively about the fate of Jews in Europe. Image of Fry and Davenport from Wikipedia

After the war, his cause and efforts were recognized. He received the Legion of Honor from France in 1967.

In the States, he is known as The American Schindler and in 1995 became the first United States citizen to be listed in the Righteous Among the Nations at Israel's national Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem. Image shows William Hurt as Varian Fry.

The square in front of the Consulate in Marsielle was renamed Place Varian Fry. Even a street in the newly reconstructed East/West Berlin Wall area was named Varian-Fry-Strasse .

“Varian’s War” was written and directed by Lionel Chetwynd co-produced by Barbra Streisand. Varian Fry is definitely another person whose presence created a long-lasting impact on the lives of thousands across the world!

Presence of a King

40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated by James Earl Ray at balcony of room 306 of the Lorraine Motel, in Memphis. His life and death raised the consciousness of many Americans on the civil rights movement during the 1960s. Photo from Wikipedia.

His “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March to Washington continues to resonate in the minds and hearts of many Americans. He has been quoted by candidates for the Oval Office in Washingston.

I was still a young kid in 1968 and didn’t really know who Dr. King was until my college years in UST.

Today, am watching a special feature on Dr. King at the “Today” Show at NBC. Al Roker is talking to Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other leading African-American leaders about what the 40th anniversary means.

For me, his life and death is a continuing example of how one’s presence can continue to change lines. His is a rare man whose iconic presence inspires men and women, regardless of race, color or creed, to do good for others!

Hi son, Martin Luther King III mentioned on the “Today” Show that his dad was advocating for economic equality. His quoted figures of how many Americans live below the poverty line and how these needs have to be addressed and resolved by three candidates (Obama, Clinton and McCain).

Now, whether any of the candidates translate King’s dream and vision for economic equality after November 2008, remains to be seen and realized.



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Patrick's Presence

Patrick Velez continues to make his presence in our lives. He is my first cousin, as his dad (Rene) and my dad (Hector) are brothers. In 2005, his presence was felt in HCMC, where he stayed with us for a few months. I remember, I picked him up at Tan Son Nhat Airport, brought him to McCann Erickson office to meet Cecile, then rushed back home to Tran Nhat Duat to drop his bags and shower and pack a luggage to join me for my trip to Hanoi! He was amazed with the thousands of motorbikes on the road and Vietnamese "ao dai."

Here are pictures from his Vietnam "tour of duty" from May to August 2005.


Patrick inside a music shop in Hanoi's backpackers area, where we stayed for four days that stretched through the weekend so we could go around Halong Bay, around 2 hours by bus.


Patrick with my REMBA 2 students from the Hanoi School of Business, enjoying "bia oi" in the streets of Hanoi. After beer, we even went for karaoke. And he also joined my training workshop and role-played as a client.


Going on board a boat for our trip along Halong Bay. Try riding these boats without the luxury and convenience of the "love boat." We spent a night in one of the islands while other backpackers opted to sleep on the boat... and got robbed!


And during our trip along the Mekong Delta, he played around with this snake.


Patrick helped us pack and unpack our stuff in our 1st Greenhome at 25 Tran Nhat Duat Street. Then, we transfered to Phu My Hung, where Patrick's presence continued even until the arrival of my sister, Minnie.

Around September 2005, my sister Minnie arrived in HCMC. It was her second overseas trip (after HK) and the first time (since the mid-70s) to share many experiences with Patrick. He also showed Minnie around HCMC, accompanying her on a city tour, just like a big brother. Photo taken at the Sheraton Hotel, our favorite hotel where we had breakfast after an hour of tennis at the Rex Hotel. This was uur last breakfast together before Patrick flies back to the States. Maybe, next time, they will meet each other in the East Coast?


Above is a photo taken during our first visit to New York last January 2004. Patrick is in a grey shirt. Also in photo is his mom and dad and brother, Ben and eldest sister, Renelle.


Photo shows Chief and myself, with Patrick at the center. His dad and my ninong, Tito Rene is on the right side.


Photo shows Chief and I and Patrick (right) enjoying dinner last December 2007 at the Russsian Tea Room, one of the more famous restaurants in New York City.

Today is his birthday! Happy birthday cousin and may you achieve your "half a pat" goal! And here's to more presence with us again soon.

Fr. Joe Dizon & Communal Action

Photo of Fr. Joe Dizon on a near empty stage as organizers prepare for a rally.

According to a published story in the Malaya last December 11, 2007, Fr. Joe Dizon, a convenor of the group Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights, said: "She (Arroyo) will easily surpass Marcos in violating human rights because at least Marcos had the decency to declare martial law while she is still (pretending) to follow the rule of law… she just reiterates it again and again. That is her hypocrisy," Dizon said.

But there are many other hypocrites, specially, people who stand and watch in the sidelines and wait for change to happen before their lives.

Didn't they hear the call for "communal action?"



My photo shows Fr.Joe Dizon being interviewed by a TV journalist.

I haven’t joined an anti-GMA rally in a long time, since the Sept. 21, 2006 rally in Makati City. But through these words, I join other Filipinos in search for truth and justice.





Shouldn't you be part of CBCP's call for "communal action?"

Kite Runner's Presence

Cecile and I watched this movie Tuesday night at the Powerplant Cinema at Rockwell. Olwen Abergas had given us a copy of the book and strongly urged... literally pushing us to watch this movie while we were in the States last December, but we missed it. Now, we saw it and must admit, the movie tells a very good heart-warming story. Chief was describing to me the loose ends not captured in the movie as she had finished the book.

Now, it is my turn to read and finish the book. Hopefully, while we are in Camigiun next week.

Wins in Ohio and Texas

After 11 straight wins by Obama, Hillary Clinton made her presence felt and scored wins last Tuesday in Ohio and Texas. This is one of the last biggest challenges for both Obama and Clinton as they race neck to neck for the Democratic Party nomination.

No, I won’t vote in November but Chief and I have been following the US elections closely in CNN and through on-line news.

According to reports, Obama said, "We know this: No matter what happens tonight, we have nearly the same lead as we did this morning, and we are on our way to winning the nomination." Still confident.


Clinton, hoping to become the first female president in the US told backers in Ohio, "As Ohio goes, so goes the nation. Well, this nation's coming back and so is this campaign. People of Ohio have said it loudly and clearly: We're going on, we're going strong and we're going all the way." Photo by Carolyn Cole of the Los Angeles Times.

Despite the weather, voters responded and made their strong presence felt in record numbers

There is no problem on the Republican side as Arizona senator, John McCain, would surely clinch the Republican nomination. He received the endorsement of President Bush. But that could work against him specially with the war on Iraq a big issue.

Closer to home, people are slowly making their presence felt on the streets and that would be another blog.

Dancing Classroom

I spent 30 minutes on the threadmill while watching the start of the dancing classroom at Fitness First.