Friday, August 31, 2007

Prince Harry Eulogy

The text (from Yahoo News) of Prince Harry's eulogy for his mother, Princess Diana, delivered Friday, 31 August at a memorial service in London:

William and I can separate life into two parts. There were those years when we were blessed with the physical presence beside us of both our mother and father. (Photo of Prince Harry by Reuters)

And then there are the 10 years since our mother's death. When she was alive, we completely took for granted her unrivaled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She was our guardian, friend and protector.

She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated.

She will always be remembered for her amazing public work. But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.

We would say that, wouldn't we.

But we miss her. She kissed us last thing at night. Her beaming smile greeted us from school. She laughed hysterically and uncontrollably when sharing something silly she might have said or done that day. She encouraged us when we were nervous or unsure. (Photo from Associated Press)

She — like our father — was determined to provide us with a stable and secure childhood.

To lose a parent so suddenly at such a young age, as others have experienced, is indescribably shocking and sad. It was an event which changed our lives forever, as it must have done for everyone who lost someone that night.

But what is far more important to us now, and into the future, is that we remember our mother as she would have wished to be remembered as she was: fun-loving, generous, down-to-earth, entirely genuine.

We both think of her every day.

We speak about her and laugh together at all the memories.

Put simply, she made us, and so many other people, happy. May this be the way that she is remembered.

Princess Diana


Just a quiet moment for a princess. (Photo from http://www.leninimports.com)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The Big Difference

Yesterday, I read a column of Manolo Inigo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He wrote about Carlos Loyzaga.

And suddenly I remembered the “Big Difference” and his continuing presence in Philippine basketball history. I recount the old MICCA days, the predecessor of the PBA. I remember my favorite team, Mariwasa, who had a young lady at its manager. She was Nikki Coseteng, daughter of the late Emerson Coseteng.

I remember players like Yoyong Martirez (running fast across the court), Atoy Co (with his Beatle’s haircut), Mom Fernandez, Adriano Papa (who could shoot beyond the three-point area even before there was the arc), David Regullano (with his famous black rubber shoes) and Robert Jaworski (with his famous number 7 jersey).

But among all the top players, nobody beats what Caloy Loyzaga has achieved for flag and country.He was born August 29, 1930 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. He was first called “The Big Difference” by sportscaster Willie Hernandez.

He led the Philippine National team to a Bronze Medal finish in the 1954 FIBA World Championship and was named to the Mythical Team of that tournament. This third place finish remains the highest finish of any Asian team in the history of the tournament. And it looks like it will never be repeated or broken. Our team just lost the FIBA qualifying tournament.

Before Caloy could be a Thomasian player, Coach Fely Felicisimo Fajardo, took him to San Beda where Fely polished his playing style and then shined in the NCAA.

He also played for the Yco Painters during MICCA (Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association) from 1954 to 1956.
He was a two-time Olympian (Helsinki,1952 and the 1956 Melbourne, 1956) and led the national team to winning four consecutive Asian Games gold medals and two consecutive FIBA Asia Championships. After his playing years, he turned to coaching by coaching the Philippine team during the 1967 ABC tournament and earning 13th place during 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Manolo IƱigo writes, “There is no question that Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga is the greatest Filipino basketball player in history” I agree.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Pride and Presence of Madz

Many Filipinos around the world continue to make us proud with their presence. From Efren Bata Jr. to Lea Salonga, their presence alone on any form of stage will make Pinoys like me proud.

Add the The Philippine Madrigal Singers to the list of Filipinos. They recently won the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held last Sunday in at the Church of Sta. Maria della Pieve in Arezzo, Italy.

The 44-strong Philippine choir is the first and only choir to win twice in what is known as the choral Olympics of the world. The Madrigals beat formidable choirs such as Russia’s Vesna Children’s Choir, Hungary’s Cantemos Mixed Choir, Cuba’s Schola Cantorum Coralina and the Taipei Chamber Singers.

“Its overwhelming. Up to now we are very happy and pleased. No words can describe it,” Mark Anthony Carpio, the Madrigal’s choirmaster in a article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion, The Philippine Madrigal Singers has won many choral competitions from all over the world.

Their impressive track record and musical virtuosity, they are now regarded as the one of the world's best choirs.

The Madrigal Singers first earned critical acclaim during their performance in the First Choruses of the World Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York in 1969.

They have performed before for royalty and heads of state like Pope Paul VI, Presidents Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, King Juan Carlos de Bourbon and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Find out more about the Madrigal singers at: http://www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com/

Monday, August 27, 2007

Family Guy

Last night, for the first time, I caught an episode of Family Guy on "Jack TV." In fact, Chief had seen a couple of episodes and was able to describe to me how the characters relate to each other.

I did some research and learned about this animated TV series, which first made it’s presence on Fox in 1999. It is about a family residing in Rhode Island and was created by Seth MacFarlane. There is even talk of a possible movie. Following the footsteps of "The Simpsons."

The series was cancelled once in 2000 and again in 2002, but strong DVD sales and the large viewership of reruns on Cartoon Network's convinced FOX to resume the show in 2005. Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Last night episode showed how the son, Chris Griffin, helped arrest a criminal until the FBI relocated the family to the “south.” Here they adjust to the “southern” lifestyle.

There were some real fun moments specially, when there was a “brokeback” kiss until the son finds out that the boy is a girl, when she invites him for a swim and she strips down to her underwear.

When the criminal catches up with the family, their southerner neighbors come to the rescue and kill the criminal. Chris and his girlfriend kiss goodbye.

If you want a couple of good laughs on a Sunday night, why not catch an episode of “The Family Guy.”

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Diana's Legacy on AIDS

Even after 20 years, Princess Diana, continues to reach out the less-fortunate people around the world through her organizations and her two sons, Princes William and Harry.

Here is what Bill Clinton said about Princess Diana, back in December 2001 during the “Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture on AIDS. “In 1987, when so many still believed that AIDS could be contracted through casual contact, Princess Diana sat on the sickbed of a man with AIDS and held his hand. She showed the world that people with AIDS deserve no isolation, but compassion and kindness. It helped change world's opinion, and gave hope to people with AIDS.” (Photo courtesy of http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk)

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Our Team

Will write about our team soon.