tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64859268301919779772024-02-26T09:34:58.245-08:00Pogi4LifeMy efforts to be a bird on the wire, to pursue strange butterflies into dark forests, and go fishing in enchanted and forbidden streams. To mix the works of masters old and new, like Bon Jovi and H.L. Mencken.William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-20186693230871139332020-03-30T23:20:00.000-07:002024-02-26T02:56:48.621-08:00Easy<img alt="" id="id_cb7_18c6_7c1b_6579" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNfr6p15boZZUK4oTHSZSVfWLUC5ZNIqvKWo0n80Sg04kkjVN22OqWP88TfyNamPn5BLptwGAPiXvb8Fvc2JoLsk-MtfoISzxzQilJw2dD6qUYhGXFkgFYNyRSdYjuGShsmU3PNF5b4QW/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 299px;" title="" tooltip="" /><div><br /></div><div>This is an old photo taken five or six years ago, when I would have used the staid and formal word, photograph, instead. But that’s here and there in this more stressful existence now.<br />
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By this time that kitten has grown up in another home, and I hope it is still playing and jumping and always filled with food. And love, lots of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I often wonder why we people, if we truly are endowed with higher intelligence, managed to end up like this — daily scrounging for lucre to buy food, clothing, for rent money, for the bare necessities of life. Even if we earn more to grow past the bare bones of living, the struggle does not abate. It intensifies to meet the corresponding growth: Better food and clothes, this time with accessories like an expensive watch to adorn the wrist, the latest iPhone, and a bigger house to accommodate the more strenuous life filled with invitations and events, and cars to take you to those events, and a driver to drive you to your destination, if you’re not vacationing abroad.</div>
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My mind always goes back to the kittens. I have seen them fit their little bodies in small plastic bowls or paper bags or jump into boxes of all shapes. They are jealous little creatures, I notice. Pat one and the others will flock to you to get their share. You hand a food bowl to one, and there’s a scramble for the food bowls, while a few minutes ago everyone is ignoring food and just busy tumbling books down the bookshelf. Those below take a bite on the books, testing whether a Vonnegut tastes better than a Didion. </div>
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I mean, their mind do not extend beyond food, play, caress, sleep. No wishing to upgrade a Seiko to a Rolex Datejust, a Mercedes to a BMW to a Rolls, a Malang to a Picasso, upgrade upgrade upgrade! I’m sure no one thinks of a better mausoleum than what others have. Or are there a few out there? A few who have lost their lust for battle, who no longer care for status, tired of making money pour their way, even kicking the erstwhile routine of poring through new books or catalogs of collectibles. The colors run past the jaded eyes. The beauty of women fails to perk the heart. The world has turned stale. The universe might as well be so much ashes. Turn the light out. I’ll sleep with the cats buried under the tree in the garden. My treasure is rest.</div>
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</div>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-79292963136103911372018-01-06T23:36:00.000-08:002020-03-16T18:45:48.834-07:00Those Mama Sita stamps<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>In 2013 the Mama Sita food company signed a contract ending 2017 with Philpost for the issuance of stamps bearing the image of founder Teresita Reyes. Many collectors howled and asked why did the post office allow commercial entities to appear in our stamps. The first set appeared that year. Again, grumbling from collectors were heard about the awful design of the souvenir sheet (S/S), particularly the perforations for two "ghost" stamps that amounted to P10 each, making the S/S cost P30. "The extra P20 surtax is twice the amount of the P10 stamp in the S/S," they asked. "What for?"</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2013 Mama Sita, the first set</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The answer: Because the Post Office needed money, that's why it is accepting commercial products to appear in our stamps. A minimum amount of stamps that must be bought by the proponent was required and established, even before the Mama Sita stamps. More about this later.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Many people do not know that the Bureau of Posts was created in 1922, when the Philippines, under American Occupation, joined the Universal Postal Union as a "sovereign" entity. The Manila Central Post Office building in Liwasang Bonifacio was finished in 1926 and became the headquarters of the Bureau of Posts. The building was destroyed during the battle to liberate Manila from the Japanese in February 1945. It reopened on 1945 April 16, even as other parts of the building were undergoing restoration. Philately was strong in pre-war and post-war years; it did not abate during the Japanese Occupation, when the Philippines' first ever souvenir sheet was printed in 1943 to celebrate the country's "independence" from American rule.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First souvenir sheet was printed under Japanese Occupation.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stamp shops proliferated in Manila and neighboring cities and even distant provinces. Many families became rich through the stamp trade; they bought cars and big houses, some established branches and the dealers kept churning many variations of First Day Covers (FDCs) by designing for each stamp different cachets on envelopes they embossed by silk-screen printing. Thus, 5-centavo stamps were affixed on envelopes of various designs and sold for, say, 50 centavos, a ten-fold increase of capital. Thousand were made by each dealer. And what remains to the heirs now are just cherry-on-top windfall items whose companions had already recovered the cost of production and had made huge profits all around.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Samples of embossed FDCs made for the stamp commemorating<br />the inauguration of the Manila Cathedral in 1958. Many variations were made,<br />as much as the market could bear.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1986 the People Power revolution ousted President Marcos and loosened the government's hold on the Post Office, albeit temporarily. "</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b>With the overhaul of the Philippine bureaucracy in 1987, the Bureau of Post was renamed the Postal Service Office (PSO) by the virtue of Executive Order No. 125 issued by then-President Corazon Aquino on April 13, 1987. It was also that order which placed PSO under the Department of Transportation and Communications(DOTC). On April 2, 1992, by virtue of the Republic Act No.7354 issued by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, PSO became a government owned and controlled corporation named as the Philippine Postal Corporation of more commonly known today as PHLPost."</b></span><br />
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under Martial Rule -- from 1972 Sept. 21 to 1986 Feb. 25 -- the Post Office was implicitly under behest orders to sometimes print "special" issues; for example, Sept. 11 in 1981 and 1982 for Marcos's birthday. Of particular interest is the 1981 Justice Fred Ruiz Castro issue, of which 2,000,000 copies were printed. It made the Guinness Book of World Records (about unusual facts) ask why the 67th birthday of a Supreme Court justice was being made indelible on a Philippine stamp. The answer that tickled rebellious hearts was, "So that we can spit on his back." And there were bundles of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos stamps printed, before and after Martial Law was declared. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why is he on our stamp? Because Marcos needed the SC's cooperation.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last year, in 2017, President Duterte asked the Philpost to issue the Marcos Birthday Centenary stamp, following the request of Bongbong Marcos and family, a few months after the dictator was hurriedly buried in the Libingan ng Bayani. Public money shouldered the cost. When no Marcos stamps were sent to the northern provinces, busloads of people from Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan traveled to the Manila Central Post Office and bought sheets and sheets of the stamp. The stock of FDCs, whose production (since 2008) was limited to 400 copies, was quickly depleted. Apparently there was no special order from Malacanang to make more than the usual amount of FDCs, thus high officials' ignorance of the philatelic process somewhat saved a bit of the public fund from extending a tyrant's memoriam. Dead and still stealing! </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dead but still stealing from the public in 2017.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Except for the last thirteen or fifteen years of the last century, dealers made very decent living by buying and selling mint and used stamps and covers. The slump in stamp collecting, and therefore in the sales of stamps, started about 1997 onward. Most likely this was a result of the emergence of affordable cellphones and personal computers for the masses, who are not as disciplined and educated as those of the previous generations. One of the dealers told me about the quiet desperation of staying in her store with almost no collector coming for entire weeks. </b><br />
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commemorative stamps used to be printed in the hundreds of thousands, with the definitive issues printed in several millions. Definitives are usually smaller in size and used mainly as postage). </b><b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fluctuation in printing was evident by 1998, when President Estrada was elected. A set of commemorative stamps for his inauguration was printed, at 200,000 each for each value. The set was sold on November 10.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last of the commemoratives to be printed in the hundreds of thousands. </span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last commemorative single in high volume was the Victoriano Mapa High School stamp, sold on 1998 May 5. Records show that 205,000 were printed by Amstar, which is still printing for Philpost today. Allow 2,000 copies of that for the official FDCs. In 2001 Philpost printed only 5,000 sets of the Gloria Macapagal Inauguration stamps. Later on, another 5,000 sets were requested to be reprinted. That's still half of the Estrada sets printed.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">203,000 for collectors and as postage, 2,000 for FDCs.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next single after the Mapa High School stamps suffered an abrupt decline in volume; only 50,000 copies of the 1998 University of Baguio stamp were printed. The steep drop went unnoticed by both collectors and Post Office employees, but the impact would be felt year later, when some collectors went searching for this stamp to fill the hole in their album.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdAsX1OpFKBHro8cMMG3PV2q9LIzvNyxhyphenhyphen9h1zEbtw5WnBhQZspYiaEeOLM49Skc_kpHHy_nVgnRYctI_nZfgWRtM4G0YSZSKWSSqvcK0hogKVvpFfm-GEPXj2GmMj805AaVbARiuGBPJ/s1600/98+UofBaguio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="445" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdAsX1OpFKBHro8cMMG3PV2q9LIzvNyxhyphenhyphen9h1zEbtw5WnBhQZspYiaEeOLM49Skc_kpHHy_nVgnRYctI_nZfgWRtM4G0YSZSKWSSqvcK0hogKVvpFfm-GEPXj2GmMj805AaVbARiuGBPJ/s320/98+UofBaguio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first lowballer</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The decline in demand not only forced the Post Office to reduce the number of stamps, souvenir sheets and sheetlets to be printed, this also led to the reduction of the FDCs, from a healthy 2,000 down to an erratic 400 pieces. If the stamp is thematic -- about animals, fish, ships, flowers -- all 400 were quickly snapped up; if the topic is humdrum, many are left over. To save further, the Post Office has decided that FDCs are to be made by request: The buyer who wants FDCs will have to buy the stamps and envelopes first, then go upstairs to have an employee affix the stamps and postmark the envelopes. A very tedious process that only avid cover collectors will endure.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Such was the situation that left the Post Office willing if not averse to soliciting sponsors for stamps or postal materials to be printed, anything to counteract the huge loss of revenues. When Mama Sita arrived, it was received happily, it was deemed a helping hand that produced the fund to meet the budget for stamps and envelopes scheduled to be printed, for salary of all personnel, and for all other regular expenses. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In 2014 the second Mama Sita set came out, just a B/4, no S/S, and the corresponding FDC. </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxuJ8B586UVs53uaNFzIot-0dKlz7xENpdC0dl43XZuZt-FLNd3eF40UGfTx3BSqFSYmpmchRwjhpuAbIzcc3SBmZcz9f9beuGZ9nxWGW82SMthyphenhyphen83e7uoGzjPQ5Wrq1cHnGmN1oxpKlw/s1600/2014+MamaSita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxuJ8B586UVs53uaNFzIot-0dKlz7xENpdC0dl43XZuZt-FLNd3eF40UGfTx3BSqFSYmpmchRwjhpuAbIzcc3SBmZcz9f9beuGZ9nxWGW82SMthyphenhyphen83e7uoGzjPQ5Wrq1cHnGmN1oxpKlw/s400/2014+MamaSita.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2014 set and FDC</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who are crying out against the commercialism of PHLpost now don't even remember that a Shell Oil Refinery B/4 set, a sheetlet, and FDCs with two different cancels were also sold the same year. The B/4 set costs a steep P100, at a time when collecting stamp is still declining. The Postmaster General then was the former governor of Bulacan, Josie de la Cruz, who knew nothing about stamps, nothing about making profit, and had even made deals which caused losses to the Post Office. But the PHLpost, a government-owned and -controlled corporation is full of corrupt employees and consultants; the stamps, </b><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">however,</b><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> are legitimate. What happened to the money earned by philately remains vague. Let's not even talk about the huge but unremitted earnings from metered mail.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mJW5149Su-U0CufBjd3R6KmULQxx1OuxfJvNRj5Qw6e62dreTfV5jbqJ07Q19QbtVMoUyNnR2JRzCcm7nA534dQ9QeaXXBDkIcoJbRXZpW-N7_V-wVUN37K6bZMZMU2d5O0RlSYaBDP/s1600/2014+Shell+sheetlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1114" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mJW5149Su-U0CufBjd3R6KmULQxx1OuxfJvNRj5Qw6e62dreTfV5jbqJ07Q19QbtVMoUyNnR2JRzCcm7nA534dQ9QeaXXBDkIcoJbRXZpW-N7_V-wVUN37K6bZMZMU2d5O0RlSYaBDP/s400/2014+Shell+sheetlet.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiTm0HscuIl_4KP_sJoqv0sIhaBor2q4caJS2w3xiTSMHLivA0KCBJh8Mg1fUpUP9LEfurGWjU40e9lGt2Xls-PbnK-5cngMopc77pZSBudHjbbOn-GVLpWZvG7c6Q-I0K69hvZprzD70/s1600/2014+Shell+Makati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiTm0HscuIl_4KP_sJoqv0sIhaBor2q4caJS2w3xiTSMHLivA0KCBJh8Mg1fUpUP9LEfurGWjU40e9lGt2Xls-PbnK-5cngMopc77pZSBudHjbbOn-GVLpWZvG7c6Q-I0K69hvZprzD70/s400/2014+Shell+Makati.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2014 Shell sheetlet and FDC with Makati postmark</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Then followed the 2015 Mama Sita strip-of-3 set, but arranged in three different formats. So if a collector wants all variants he must buy all three strips, one sheetlet, and three different FDCs. At a time when the number of collectors of Philippine stamps was dwindling and shifting to the much cheaper and at least as beautiful Thailand stamps.</b></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ13eL_MWPANRjGFFPXG-__eV9OPGoArq08BYLKUIkwRZ7PTNJAiUfeS2KGdwtd-uvsEjfNIB0ctiPhBKT5A4oDiiyRDngrkEBvHQj0UpqSOzMOw4BFxD_INqTCCKt1h0Td6i5zJFFFj0P/s1600/2015+Mama+Sita+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1147" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ13eL_MWPANRjGFFPXG-__eV9OPGoArq08BYLKUIkwRZ7PTNJAiUfeS2KGdwtd-uvsEjfNIB0ctiPhBKT5A4oDiiyRDngrkEBvHQj0UpqSOzMOw4BFxD_INqTCCKt1h0Td6i5zJFFFj0P/s320/2015+Mama+Sita+.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLW7JOjzB_s08Kbwslahw7mEpFje7jQVPqIEQ-oNYX-RPvxQitTZvm_0WzstzzEQpBDLQO6t4Alqv7TeshXfX0gr7w0Ij5dKi-l8Fwdf6wKe_8jkoKCFFrOOtGtU39Fs_kq7QZBWCtYx1/s1600/2015+ms3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1557" data-original-width="1600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLW7JOjzB_s08Kbwslahw7mEpFje7jQVPqIEQ-oNYX-RPvxQitTZvm_0WzstzzEQpBDLQO6t4Alqv7TeshXfX0gr7w0Ij5dKi-l8Fwdf6wKe_8jkoKCFFrOOtGtU39Fs_kq7QZBWCtYx1/s320/2015+ms3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06C0iFstx3rhIqo98Ren6zf6sxE2YY1A56ry7EhBYy_V7_dQG5WkB0kiX3DNy_VM9FSqdWTnbLME1JKA0JgI3aqv3Yj-8JKX8Wij4a5OtkwZh9vZwsj4Z9ty7uALYG-WB-tut-Yu5fxdF/s1600/2015+ms2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06C0iFstx3rhIqo98Ren6zf6sxE2YY1A56ry7EhBYy_V7_dQG5WkB0kiX3DNy_VM9FSqdWTnbLME1JKA0JgI3aqv3Yj-8JKX8Wij4a5OtkwZh9vZwsj4Z9ty7uALYG-WB-tut-Yu5fxdF/s320/2015+ms2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsldUMrAXpXFA8BlTiZSEZFWV1bVQS1buANLb7MpmKS7E42PHrbwx6NbAEhBZ4Nf4F_xtxSca4zeXuVuEjaD3g1wryJ_oakEJ36npCBErg4mfaW6-_HRyPtTkSMG0WG6ZWIePG_aM-x17R/s1600/2015+ms1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsldUMrAXpXFA8BlTiZSEZFWV1bVQS1buANLb7MpmKS7E42PHrbwx6NbAEhBZ4Nf4F_xtxSca4zeXuVuEjaD3g1wryJ_oakEJ36npCBErg4mfaW6-_HRyPtTkSMG0WG6ZWIePG_aM-x17R/s320/2015+ms1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">2016 produced a respite in expense for Mama Sita stamps -- just a single plus its FDC. 2017 followed suit, but the design of the single is light-years better than the 2013 S/S. A top employee at the Post Office said the 2017 single is the last Mama Sita stamp to be printed, as provided by contract. But I'm sure in the Philippines, everything is negotiable -- a tyrant who plundered the coffers and caused many Filipinos to disappear can be buried in cemeteries reserved for heroes or decent presidents. Same tyrant has a new stamp and FDC too. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej_2ZINnWh_a7Ol7EkvC-ktYVxQO4XxpLz8yiewGpQL-wAWknyXAnrzb_yKQEbETmkQbCl6rPzjEMMY7BeD8gV-EreT38l6fDnLwDpt1c4Qa8y0dW29eRPrGriOL3GtwhNABWJxIUd7n3/s1600/2016+Mama+Sita1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej_2ZINnWh_a7Ol7EkvC-ktYVxQO4XxpLz8yiewGpQL-wAWknyXAnrzb_yKQEbETmkQbCl6rPzjEMMY7BeD8gV-EreT38l6fDnLwDpt1c4Qa8y0dW29eRPrGriOL3GtwhNABWJxIUd7n3/s400/2016+Mama+Sita1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2016 single and FDC</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUTfpSqtgvQY2W-hgpdEW3mCxs-GSvwIaOu63WQXY1YOVrjtM6oueLbgUDxty4RcLQhgXDTt_joCxjA8gj4OSSifH0o-mqJDK4iUYRGIOzwmO8Pgyx-PNOGcefSUZrmObh1c4dB4Um091/s1600/2017+Mama+Sita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUTfpSqtgvQY2W-hgpdEW3mCxs-GSvwIaOu63WQXY1YOVrjtM6oueLbgUDxty4RcLQhgXDTt_joCxjA8gj4OSSifH0o-mqJDK4iUYRGIOzwmO8Pgyx-PNOGcefSUZrmObh1c4dB4Um091/s400/2017+Mama+Sita.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2017single and FDC</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How many collectors know that around 2002 Philpost and Hallmark teamed up to make two postal cards printed for the 2002 Meetings of Families set?</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuz_YP9Aft8KIqlky2t4pCb8HdcPnKP4yNa4VWHgCy1w_76MD5MU2ZwqO-TAbA98mUBnoDqmR5UUS-SWz88JcJV5Me4PXCHfRIM2n8JJnyMxdby5b4a-DFCyxfqe0hwohGJHznAxML1gE/s1600/2002+Philpost+Hallmark1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuz_YP9Aft8KIqlky2t4pCb8HdcPnKP4yNa4VWHgCy1w_76MD5MU2ZwqO-TAbA98mUBnoDqmR5UUS-SWz88JcJV5Me4PXCHfRIM2n8JJnyMxdby5b4a-DFCyxfqe0hwohGJHznAxML1gE/s400/2002+Philpost+Hallmark1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDStcDoC5a3tlP8SSymW7gCzHDs588NB3XBUAoKnunxjpOXc4lirePWKNB1UNykl-9YXdzd6ALPvxx3OqJ72SdsAqcnISMXqpo2Iq55NNq-7buFGoaQFF53dUaGcocgmHhqvQHQKvwLzA/s1600/2002+Philpost+Hallmark2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1600" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDStcDoC5a3tlP8SSymW7gCzHDs588NB3XBUAoKnunxjpOXc4lirePWKNB1UNykl-9YXdzd6ALPvxx3OqJ72SdsAqcnISMXqpo2Iq55NNq-7buFGoaQFF53dUaGcocgmHhqvQHQKvwLzA/s400/2002+Philpost+Hallmark2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Philpost and Hallmark postal cards front and back</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And a bit later four postal cards were printed by Philpost for Manila Bulletin. The postcards were awarded by the newspaper to participants of an event sponsored by the Bulletin. Although some were left at the Post Office ten years later, they were not advertised or sold. For avid postal collectors, anything issued by the Post Office for public use is eminently collectible, but many up to now are not aware that this set is missing from their collection. I printed photos of the postal cards (front and back), each paired with a 2000 Manila Bulletin Centenary stamp.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kS5efn7cRWenXQKcKIAgWOw0jadvXFYW_1GQgXmycWPlnFadSqyzNCGzf2Fwmntn5zYtCXxE45kT0EfE32LFP14O4Zvk6fovyZg0dWmleq-MKvxCwvhZsrPGBjB6B8fzmMDmYz-P2bTj/s1600/2000Bul1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kS5efn7cRWenXQKcKIAgWOw0jadvXFYW_1GQgXmycWPlnFadSqyzNCGzf2Fwmntn5zYtCXxE45kT0EfE32LFP14O4Zvk6fovyZg0dWmleq-MKvxCwvhZsrPGBjB6B8fzmMDmYz-P2bTj/s400/2000Bul1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Not counting UST, the earliest stamp with commercial leaning in the Republic era is the Philippine National Bank set; it was followed by a centenary set in 2016. 1969, 1972 and 2008 saw sets Development Bank of the Philippines commemoratives, in 1971 a First National City Bank set. A Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation single was released in 1975. A set of Asian Development Bank came out in 1977, followed in 1988 by a Land Bank set and a PCI Bank set, Equitable PCI Bank single in 2000, a Bank of the Philippine Islands single and a postal card in 2001, a Metrobank B/4 set and a Security Bank se-tenant set in 2010.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2hRpBZlptjWJzzAO4AGMsWj0w0R4BzTY_K4b2Evk4qbrtjQHGqq5GO1FDHhzxZ5n_q7MN27OYuckBAmeH7xKywsUq99SQ-CD8RCg6jfN_jHkN_Wv5iWgU9S-mXDOv-zrk00m9820m1hN/s1600/66pnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2hRpBZlptjWJzzAO4AGMsWj0w0R4BzTY_K4b2Evk4qbrtjQHGqq5GO1FDHhzxZ5n_q7MN27OYuckBAmeH7xKywsUq99SQ-CD8RCg6jfN_jHkN_Wv5iWgU9S-mXDOv-zrk00m9820m1hN/s400/66pnb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1966 PNB set, the first enterprising Republic stamp?</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippine Airlines came out four times: sets of 2 in 1976 and 1991, a se-tenant with two B/4s in 1986, and a single in 2017. A Pan American Airlines single was issued in 1977, and in 1979 an Air France set of 2 made its contribution to the aviation topicals.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Drinkers got their share of stamps in the San Miguel Beer Centenary set in 1990, and another set in 2015 for the beer's 125th anniversary. Hard drinkers will get by with the Tanduay Rhum single of 2004. In 2016 Philpost approached Coca-Cola and asked if the corporation would like to have its 125th anniversary in the Philippines celebrated in stamps. The firm declined, explaining that it was still recovering from the loss of its bottling plant in Tacloban after Yolanda devastated the area.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie118uvnX7vtUrSE25n6LWT80MrLfJFn_Z3v_zZin1-vsG5pYVSPd7py0lwmm7Qlh56BVc52QIQgfwXJ2J0DKas9-q7RnKgEYdYw58K0ynmVsB5YJBvZptjpYAG0RukSjXe7di6lAL69n8/s1600/2015+SMig+Mandaluyong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie118uvnX7vtUrSE25n6LWT80MrLfJFn_Z3v_zZin1-vsG5pYVSPd7py0lwmm7Qlh56BVc52QIQgfwXJ2J0DKas9-q7RnKgEYdYw58K0ynmVsB5YJBvZptjpYAG0RukSjXe7di6lAL69n8/s400/2015+SMig+Mandaluyong.jpg" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2015 San Miguel Beer FDC set, Mandaluyong cancel</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We saw a 1995 Mercury Drugs single in 1995, and a Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in 2004. The UST Hospital single was released in 1996, the Baguio General Hospital in 2002, and a St. Luke's single and a maxicard in 2004.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>PLDT came out with a se-tenant in 1978 and a single and a sheetlet 10 years later. In 1988 the Bataan Oil Refinery set was sold. The Meralco Electric Company single and a big sheetlet were issued in 2003. In 1970 Iligan Integrated Steel Mills company was represented by a set of 3 stamps. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The 1978 Benguet Consolidated Mining single was followed by a Benguet Mining Corporation single in 2003 for its 100th year anniversary. A se-tenant Lepanto Mining set came out in 2012.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPygZdxn1pH2vnKnqCFHx5PUt5H4Gn08WbfjNmcaJ6RARJmoBWd5HleTbX5bUwW2buH713fNbajVmUlKeXGC4QAtJL58p4Pd774_hr3DnQyNpiNdNFpFDIO_L2fsViIu9UL3EIYWS2Qirp/s1600/2003-2012mining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1092" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPygZdxn1pH2vnKnqCFHx5PUt5H4Gn08WbfjNmcaJ6RARJmoBWd5HleTbX5bUwW2buH713fNbajVmUlKeXGC4QAtJL58p4Pd774_hr3DnQyNpiNdNFpFDIO_L2fsViIu9UL3EIYWS2Qirp/s400/2003-2012mining.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2003 Benguet Mining and 2012 Lepanto Mining set</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1995 the SGV & Co. Accounting firm celebrated with a stamp in 1995. So did the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan Law Firm in 2010.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Insurance firms are well-represented, starting with the 1996 Sun Life Assurance Company set of 2, followed by 1997 Philamlife Insurance Co. single, the 2004 Grepalife Life Insurance Co. single, the 2007 Manulife Insurance single and mini sheetlet, and then the now-infamous Yuchengco Group of Companies single (2011).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A set of 2 of ABS CBN TV Network stamps showcased in 1996, and the GMA-7 TV Network entertained us with a single. In 1987 and 2012 the Manila Hotel celebrated with four stamps, while the less elegant Apo View Hotel made do with a single stamp. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5bxP3ldqwjcwDUN0kFHyND2i1wJauvAgBZekLKIF-RV1lystlMyh6JAh-lmb4mtYYy_0o1tcgieGlvL3YirJDoIPShddd3V-K43l7hWstIvUYdbY109ztOZw6uQSyMW_gariPakxoUbl/s1600/96abs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1019" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5bxP3ldqwjcwDUN0kFHyND2i1wJauvAgBZekLKIF-RV1lystlMyh6JAh-lmb4mtYYy_0o1tcgieGlvL3YirJDoIPShddd3V-K43l7hWstIvUYdbY109ztOZw6uQSyMW_gariPakxoUbl/s400/96abs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1996 ABS CBN Sarimanok set</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yes, the Boysen Paint pre-stamped envelope set were escorted in by a renowned catalog maker in 2010. And reappeared again in 2013, this time with a B/4 and a paint-can-shaped S/S. It can be a colorful world if you have plenty of stamps, for they are worth a lot of money. Even our stamps, it turns out, are very enterprising.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLQK3Ahd_e3DewEZXWsM4laUI0-JDWtPIGTeQcaomLoykj_R8EA2mJAS55ygoY_aoMX4v23yMZmu-LN7RqUJz0u4lRX8pAfA2XxBCos6_7y_jAcBPrNVqqo8w1biMYxxzvg-Jh6Gc_dNY/s1600/2010boyfdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1600" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLQK3Ahd_e3DewEZXWsM4laUI0-JDWtPIGTeQcaomLoykj_R8EA2mJAS55ygoY_aoMX4v23yMZmu-LN7RqUJz0u4lRX8pAfA2XxBCos6_7y_jAcBPrNVqqo8w1biMYxxzvg-Jh6Gc_dNY/s400/2010boyfdc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uncancelled Boysen Paint pre-stamped set (Front and Back)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZDz-vlHpfK6mEJaMGjAR5YaKSB1B4IwQmk3Ukl6poRiXW3Br9evqco-KJ3VOouWf4G_I5NM12-60_BBRnERHJ6ObCUE3YBYN09xbqul7PxI4IFd1387Sv11L2P7GJdrltf3fuLx11GEy/s1600/2010boysencancel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZDz-vlHpfK6mEJaMGjAR5YaKSB1B4IwQmk3Ukl6poRiXW3Br9evqco-KJ3VOouWf4G_I5NM12-60_BBRnERHJ6ObCUE3YBYN09xbqul7PxI4IFd1387Sv11L2P7GJdrltf3fuLx11GEy/s400/2010boysencancel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cancelled set, one for regular rate, the other for Air Mail.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5kB_VrbYTDB5RVNvmFpqrcGzDviiRnaidfB7vnstR3oMOvJjL2SP7rV_i7mbkUvPvC5A9lid40fJ5GFaMXdXHB7k1tcNa4f-vmqV65NNcZAdT6GWbRdxsaftS9zyvR1zWeLamC2HhTpS/s1600/2013boysen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5kB_VrbYTDB5RVNvmFpqrcGzDviiRnaidfB7vnstR3oMOvJjL2SP7rV_i7mbkUvPvC5A9lid40fJ5GFaMXdXHB7k1tcNa4f-vmqV65NNcZAdT6GWbRdxsaftS9zyvR1zWeLamC2HhTpS/s400/2013boysen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2013 set, a delight for collectors of unusual stamps</span></b></td></tr>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-50147497208966308272017-09-16T17:48:00.000-07:002020-03-30T23:20:16.935-07:00Mga salot ng bayan<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ5lMFLBzzMTnNIlURMD-nHokBH_fIZ5jthGe_6xwZGnaaQSKSnvoFRn5Imeqyuh_U88W3RYIndCoCLS6fKYi5YsVmyRpjJr8I7b_lhE6RTxbh_BSrxKivkojrpU3YMIBFACzYiWM5wrD/s1600/Marterte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="910" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ5lMFLBzzMTnNIlURMD-nHokBH_fIZ5jthGe_6xwZGnaaQSKSnvoFRn5Imeqyuh_U88W3RYIndCoCLS6fKYi5YsVmyRpjJr8I7b_lhE6RTxbh_BSrxKivkojrpU3YMIBFACzYiWM5wrD/s400/Marterte.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Bagong
uring nilalang itong si Duterte: Sariling utang na loob sa mga Marcos,
bayan ang pinagbabayad. Eto, lumabas na ang selyo para sa ika-100
birthday ng diktador at world-class kurakot. Request ni Bongbong yan,
pati na yung gawan nang official proclamation ng Malacanang na gawing
holiday ang 9/11 sa Ilocos Norte. Binaboy na yung Libingan ng mga Bayani
(at ni Marcos), sinabuyan pa ng putik ang s<span class="text_exposed_show">agisag ng pangulo ng Pilipinas.<br /> <br />
Ang daming nauto ni Duterte nung campaign period, dahil di niya
binanggit na alipin siya ng mga Marcos, na kunsintidor siya sa mga
Chinese na sumasakop sa teritoryo natin at, bilang tenk yu, ay
nagpapadala ng sangkatutak ng shabu. Ba't di nagmumura itong buang sa
mga tiga-Customs saka NBI na tumibag sa ebidensiya sa P6.4 billion drugs
na nahuli? Ba't di niya ipa-salvage ang mga kasabwat ng mga Chinese
dealers? Ang pinapatay na drug dealers ay karibal lang ba sa operations
ni Paolo? "Pesteng yawa yang mga blahblahblah na iyan... Buang! (Tapos
dirty finger)." Walang ganito? Tumulong ba ang China sa election mo?
Ikaw ba ang Donald Trump ng Pilipinas at China ang Russia ng Asia?<br /> <br />
Anyway, noong Martial Law ay nagtanim si Marcos ng mga crony sa iba't
ibang position sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa Supreme Court. At namumunga na
ngayon ang itinanim niya -- nakapuwesto na yung mga anak, apo, at
kaibigan ng unang binhi. Natatandaan pa natin si Chief Justice Fernando,
na pinapayungan pa ang First Lady noon sa Luneta Park -- symbolic
protection ng SC sa Conjugal Dictatorship. Lumabas pa sa selyo yung si
Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro noong 1981 -- pampasaya sa mama dahil ok
namang ibenta niya ang lahat ng SC decisions in favor of Marcos family,
friends, and cronies. <br /> <br /> Isa sa itinanim ni Marcos noon sa Office
of the Solicitor General ay ang magiting na si Estelito Mendoza, na
ngayon ay uugud-ugod na pero may asim pa rin ang superpower para
"ayusin" ang mga kaso sa SC. Noong 2000 ay nagdesisyon ang SC na guilty
beyong reasonable doubt sina Hubert Webb at barkada sa pagpaslang kay
Ginang Vizconde (49 years old, 13 stab wounds), anak na si Carmela (19,
stabbed 17 times and raped), at ang busong si Jennifer, 6, 13 stab
wounds. Nakulong naman ang mga anak-mayayaman (puwera yung dalawang
nakapuga abroad), pero 15 years later nabalitaan ng biyudong si Lauro
Vizconde na may nag-aareglo sa kaso. Di kalaunan nga bumaligtad ang SC
at pinalaya ang mga salarin. Puwede palang mag-loop-the-loop ang "final"
decision ng SC. At lumabas sa balita na nagpadala pala ng sulat si
Mendoza sa SC at kinausap yung ibang justices. Sabi ni Lauro Vizconde:
"Is there still anyone among you who doubts that there is rampant
corruption in our government? Remember when I made the disclosure that
someone is pressuring the justices to vote for a reversal? I did that
hoping to make them have second thoughts about doing so. There is no
justice in the Philippines. All of us who have cases in court, don’t we
realize that if your opponent has money, brace yourself. Anyone can be
paid!"<br /> <br /> Alam ng lahat sa itaas (hindi sa langit; sa barandilyas
ng mga may poder) na magmamarakulyo ang mga militante, maglalabas ng "We
object in the strongest term possible" ang mga gustong sumakay sa
issue, at pagkatapos ay... wala. Parang yung pag may namatay na
superstar, dagsaan ang pagbigkas ng suporta, puro "I love you forever"
sa harap ng CNN camera. Ang forever ay halos dalawang linggo ang haba,
or less. <br /> <br /> At nandiyan yung kasabihan "Sed lex, puta lex" na ang
ibig sabihin ata eh "Tarantado ang batas, kung hindi ay hindi ito
puwedeng bilhin" or something like that. Kung anak-pawis ka lang, huwag
ka nang umangal.<br /> <br /> Isa pa ring oldies ay si Atty. Oliver Lozano,
na naunang nagpa-approve ng impeachment complaint laban kay VP Leny
Robredo, na siyang balakid sa tambalang Duterte-Marcos. Si Lozano ay
medyo tumanda na rin, pero sa hawi ng buhok at hilatsa ng mukha ay
parang kambal siya ni lakay Ferdinand. Tulad ni Duterte at yumaong
Duterte Sr., ultra Loyalist si Lozano. At baka PBB ni Bongbong?<br /> <br />
At ang baligtaring si Rigoberto Tiglao, dating activist nung Martial
Law, naging kakampi ni Gloria sa panahon ng biyaya, at ngayon ay masugid
na tagapagtanggol ni Duterte. Di raw totoong may palit-ulo sa mga
pamilya ng drug suspects. Parang wala ring EJKs, sabi ni VACC chief
Dante Jimenez. Ibig sabihin ng VACC ay Volunteers Against Crime and
Corruption. Dati ay galit si Jimenez sa mga kumakatay sa mga Vizconde at
iba pang sangkot mararahas na krimen. Dati ay galit din siya sa mga
kurakot at kotong (at mandaraya sa larong dyolens). Parang iba na ang
ihip ng hangin ngayon. Nakakainggit ba ang mga suweldo at posisyon nina
Mocha, Arnel Ignacio, Andanar at iba pang alipores? At ang dami pang
binabayarang mga Marcos loyalists na nagtratrabaho para tumalsik si
Robredo, Comelec chairman Andy Bautista, at SC Justice Sereno. Lahat ng
sipag nina Alvarez at Koko Pimentel ay para maibalik sa puwesto ang
bunga ni Marcos, si Bongbong na itinutulak sa lalamunan ng masa na
bayani ang kurakot na ama. <br /> <br /> Kahit anong denial ni Duterte,
nakaamba na ang mga impeachment complaints kina Robredo, Bautista,
Sereno, at kung puwede isali na rin si Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio-Morales. Galing, ano? Indirect Martial Law. Tibag na ang
Congress, nakopo na ang Senate, Supreme Court na lang at wala nang
kokontra.<br /> <br /> Ano ang magagawa ng taumbayan kung ayaw mangyari ito?
Kung ok pa rin si Duterte sa kanila, eh di panalo na naman ang
kabuktutan ng mga loyalists. Matigok man si Duterte mas mahaba naman ang
buhay ni Bongbong. At pag naupo si Bongbong, ang magiging vice
president ay ang Senate president. Ayan, Koko, puwede na namang
ipakulong ang tatay mo, tulad ng ginawa ni lakay Marcos sa kanya noong
1972. Pero tingnan mo sino ang nasa likod mo, next in line sa iyo pag
nawala ka -- walang iba kundi si Pantalon Alvarez. Away kayo, sige! <br /> <br />
So, anti-corruption daw si Duterte, pero ayan ang Marcos stamp.
Nakangiti pa. Isosoli na raw yung ninakaw ng mga Marcos sa bayan? Kasama
ba yung gadambuhalang interest na kinita ng $10 billion, o bayaan na
yan tutal blah blah blah bleh ..." Galit daw sa illegal drugs, pero
kahit isang piyok walang marinig laban sa mga Chinese drug syndicates na
ginagawang expressway ang Custom. Pero kung ang majority ng Pilipino ay
nauuto mo pa rin, at kahit bastos, walang modo (familiar itong
katangiang ito), at mamamatay-tao ang ilan, well, let's go to hell. I'm
sure di ito ang lahi ng Pilipinong nasa isip ni Quezon nang sabihin
niyang "I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a
country run like heaven by the Americans, because however bad a Filipino
government might be, we can always change it." (And I thank you.)
Hindi niya kasi alam na iuutot ng kalikasan ang isang Marcos, at lalabas
sa biyak ng kawayan ang makamaharlikang Duterte.</span></span></span></span></b>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-60094141571721079712017-08-24T19:44:00.002-07:002017-08-25T19:40:43.786-07:00Without me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What you see is a comic book published and sold in 1950, and this surprises me and a lot of baby boomers that are still functional this side of the grass. This issue qualifies as part of the Golden Age of comic publishing, sold at 10c, containing 52 pages, and sort of expensive now. But that is not the reason for our griping -- it is that the world had already been functioning even without waiting for us to be born into it. We missed two World Wars and their heroes and villains, like Kaiser Wilhelm and Hitler. At least we got involved in the Cold War, though not actively; the 1969 moon landing, the Hubble telescope which expanded out view of the universe.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This universe has been going on for at least 15 billion years, and the Hubble reveals very distant galaxies that range from a close seven million light-years, practically a cosmic neighbor, to the distant cluster of more than 10 billion light-years. Of course the images that reach us are very, very old, so old that those galaxies, nebulae and whatelse do not look like that now. And they keep changing at distances that even light, with its tantalizing speed of 186,000 miles per second, cannot hope to update us. Many images are older than the Earth, which is estimated to be a toddler 4.5 billion years old. So, in a cosmic scale, our planet, like its baby boomers, had been left out of the preliminary game.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All these data hinge on the fact that we Earthlings believe that the half-life of Carbon 14 is accurate enough to determine the age of things that existed before this planet was borne out of cosmic dusts. We also place our faith that photons, light particles, live forever and can travel through the vast spaces and time to reach our eyes. There's a caveat though: we can look into the distant past, but not into <i>our</i> immediate past. So we cannot see how Jesus looked like about 2017 years ago; whether he looked like a blunt faced, shaggy haired, slightly crossed-eyed Arab, like most people in the Middle East looked at that time and locale, or is he the brown-haired, bearded, handsome idol that was painted by an European much later. We will not know who instigated Oswald to shoot Kennedy, if Marilyn Monroe really died of overdose, where the bodies of Hitler and Eva Braun were located, if it's true that Russian soldiers found the Fuehrer's corpse and Stalin had it shipped to him. A consolation is that we will not see people having fun even if we were not here yet. What is offered is the events that occurred before the whole planet joined the galaxy. The Milky Way did not wait for the birth of the Earth; in turn, this blue globe is not waiting for anyone. A cosmic tit-for-tat.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have framed some magazines having Einstein in the covers. He died months before I was born, and I'm sure many people, born weeks or months after he died, had entertained the notion that the genius' soul had reincarnated in them. That notion died in me years later, after I got my report card and saw Math and Physics gasping for breath, just hanging on by a thread to keep from failing the grade and making the teachers smug with their "I though so!" smirk. And I realized I was not alone in thinking myself particularly special, destined for great achievements and honors. A fad appeared, when seers and psychics made a bundle by claiming to see people's past lives. Many Hollywood stars declared that they had been Cleopatra or at least a high personage in her court, or they were Mary Magdalene gasping as Jesus' face materialized in the handkerchief she had wiped his face with, or Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Czar Nicholas, Genghis Khan, Shakespeare. Not one is a stinking peasant of the Middle Ages, gap-toothed, lice-infested, ignorant and superstitious. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so I awoke from my delusion: this Earth can do well without me, and I don't want to be a part of its hoary past, when cavemen hunted not only bisons but those of other tribes -- for food. Europe in the past was a mud-hole where citizens spat on the squalid alleys and in their hovels, where water was not sanitary and more likely a source of typhus, pigs and dogs and horses defecated in dirty streets, where night soil of citizens were thrown into the mix. The past offered only a filthy, stinking, disease-ridden existence. Even in the royal courts, lice crawled all over the queen with her hair piled in a high bun sandwiched with honey and attendant insects. Princesses, princes and other members of the nobility believed that taking a bath is detrimental to one's health, and they kept bottles of scented water to ward off their grimy smell. It's not Games of Throne, where every character is fashionably coutured, hair groomed with fragrant shampoo, where women appear ravishing to gallant, full-toothed dukes or earls. Hygiene in medieval time is TV fiction. Truth shows many pigsty palaces and germfilled homes.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm only consoling myself, I know, from an imaginary and indulgent slight. Now I think of the million sperm cells I bested decades ago: they lagged behind, then swam in confusion, then died off, never seen nor heard nor thought about. And I, survivor of the race for life, grew up, fooled around, wasted 25% of my lifetime in enforced slumber and, now, at old age, grumbling about how this cosmos did not make me its fair-haired boy, had not led me to the Yellow Brick Road, or bestowed me with the facility of a bard. Anyway, I will settle to be a petkeeper, with an occasional kitten to keep me company. I never heard a kitten whine like me. Kittens are better than humans.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diffident but lovely Tintin</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></b>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-11712113456325616252017-08-24T02:39:00.001-07:002017-08-24T18:18:24.584-07:00P20k per Filipino soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<b>The Senate has approved a big increase in the President's discretionary fund, money meant for national contingencies like earthquakes and typhoons, outbreak of diseases hitting fowls, livestock and humans, and, now, to pay for each soul killed by police during legal and extra-judicial operations.</b></div>
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<b>The cops who salvaged 17-year-old Kian are waiting to be exonerated by the Internal Affair Service, which has become notorious for letting rogue cops loose to commit havoc on the criminal justice system again, and again, and again. Not that Justice secretary Aguirre or Duterte care, as long as the cops are not made to pay for attack on a government facility like a prison compound, murder, planting of evidence, and perjury -- like what Supt. Marcos and his cohorts did in their operation to erase Albuera Mayor Espinosa. They had even applied for a search warrant to serve Espinosa, a prisoner already secured and under control in prison! How else could these rogue cops gain access to Espinosa, except by pointing their guns on the prison guards, and to hide their criminal acts by stealing the prison's CCTV? The Senate panel eventually concluded that the Marcos operation was no less than a heinous murder. But Duterte declared that he believed the rogue cops' moronic version of what had transpired. </b></div>
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<b>It's a given that Espinosa had controlled the illegal drug trade in his territory, had destroyed many lives, had presumably ordered some rivals intimidated or killed. To eliminate him, the president allowed, and still allows and encourages, cops to become wayward and commit several other crimes to get the big drug lords -- unless they are Chinese. Early in his term Duterte has declared he will give P20,000 for each drug pusher killed. A reward bigger than an average cop's salary is a powerful incentive for good cops to turn sour, and many are tempted. And the budget for public schools is about to be sacrificed so that Duterte's criminal decree can be maintained. </b></div>
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<b>When Duterte ordered Supt. Marcos to be reassigned to his former post, despite ongoing investigation, Senators Gordon and Lacson protested, pointing out that their hearing had produced definite proof that murder had been committed. Then silence. What else can be expected of a legislative body, headed by Koko Pimentel, to be coopted by the executive branch? So the country's system of checks and balances is now tottering on a crippled Judiciary's leg. The mining conglomerate in Congress has succeeded in ousting Gina Lopez out of the DENR. The depredation of natural habitats continue, the price Duterte paid for his insane programs. Taguiwalo followed, and somehow we are beginning to suspect that this president is not fighting for the good of the citizens but for the benefit of his cronies. What a group surrounds this Duterte! -- The entire Marcos family with their puppy Erap Estrada, now crunching Manila's coffer (father, like son Jinggoy, has not learned during their first incarceration); Gloria Arroyo and her dubious allies in the fake minority in Congress; Tessie Aquino has been resurrected; of course Tito Sotto and Manong Johnny Enrile are in attendance, Bible quoting Pacquiao apparently replacing the dead Maceda burning in hell, to name a few. </b></div>
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<b>But are these criminals to blame at all? We ignore the fact that the people of Ilocandia gave us Ferdinand Sr. And Jr., Imelda, Imee, Fariñas, and others who have robbed the entire land. Pampanga nurtured Gloria and her thieving family, and Davao spawned the evil loyalist Duterte. Who protested when Recto filed his law introducing VAT in our economy? As if the crocodiles in Congress have not grown fat with the bounty from our sweat that more are extracted, excise and confiscatory; we financed their stately homes and townhouses, and the apartelles where they keep their mistresses in style. We are feeding Pacquiao's idiot brother in Congress too. We are breaking our back to get food to our table, yet the government is taking 32.5% of what we earn to pay the very large (to us) salaries of poopymouth Mocha Uson and airhead Matin Andanar at the Presidential Communications Office. We are also paying other hoary Abella and weirdo Panelo to lie to us from time to time. Now Duterte is surrendering territories to China in our behalf, even making threats for China gratuitously. Are missiles really pointed at the Philippines? We are surrendering too? Even rats fight for survival when cornered, but this Duterte is a whining dog with his tail between his legs. Like any coward he strikes only at foes that are helpless behind bars, or let rogue cops kill, at his instigation, under-age citizens whose alleged crime is not as heinous as the president's setting the price of a Filipino soul at P20,000. We do not forget the death of a seven-year-old girl: she was eliminated by cops who gunned down her grandfather while they were taking a stroll. Yet other Filipinos who are supposed to be decent, educated, professional, religious and adherent to God's admonition against taking a man's life, are openly declaring support for state-sponsored murder. Where is the bottom to this hypocrisy?</b></div>
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<b>What is clear is that the citizens have surrendered their rights and patrimony long ago -- first to the Spaniards, then to the Americans, now to Filipinos who control every aspect of our lives -- to the Ayala family and Pangilinan, who control the flow of water and overpriced electricity to our homes; and to their Singaporean and Malaysian partners, who decide how much the citizens can endure the slow broadband signals in their desktops and gadgets. Investors may be inveigled to roost in the Philippines, but it does not take long before they eventually flee to Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, where electricity is cheaper and more dependable, where wifi thrives on 4G, where electric wires are buried underground and not shamelessly littering the skylines like thick and dirty cobwebs. ASEAN's 75th anniversary was celebrated here, but the world leaders were gathered at Pasay's PICC, far enough from the sight of the squatter shanties hugging Manila's Pasig River. At least there is subtlety now in hiding our shame. In Marcos' time, in 1981, the sides of the roads, from the airport to Malacañang, were fenced with whitewashed galvanized sheets, to hide the unsightly home of the poor from the eyes of the visiting Pope John Paul II. The Pope found the Coconut Palace, constructed for his stay, too lavish and he decided to stay elsewhere. Pope John Paul II held dear in his heart the impoverished Pinoys. He saw that the people's material impoverishment does not reach the core of their happy acceptance of what life offers them, even if the offering is often meager. </b></div>
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<b>Maybe by this attitude we can understand a piece of the puzzle here, why Filipinos allow themselves to be abused so much. The Filipinos, even after a fire that razed their community, after a typhoon or raging volcano devastated their homes, can still afford to smile in the face of adversities. We let the crooked politician, businessmen and government officials take our money, with the corresponding headaches, backstabbing, envy and intrigues, and we let events slide, as long as our children, unshod, wearing uncoordinated garments, eating cheap noodles and headless sardines, still manage to laugh at play and once in a while remember to toss a kiss our way, then we are alright. The thieves may be buried under ornate tombs, but the undiscriminating worms devour their earthly presence and burp off their atrocious schemes. In the end, what counts is how much fun we did have in the Philippines.</b></div>
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<b>Omanignatup, Duterte!</b></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-77793648747602064272017-08-20T22:08:00.001-07:002017-08-24T03:06:50.101-07:00Whyfi<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As I type this on my desktop computer, part of the wifi signal is not working properly -- no YouTube now; but at least this is better than not having anything online. I call customer service and I'm required to press many options on the phone before I get to talk -- after a long wait -- to a human service personnel. This time I get a sympathetic one, an old hand who knows all the kinks of the system. But the new system, since Bayantel has been absorbed by Ayala's Globe, has slower signals, longer schedules before their technicians can check and correct the trouble: No more "A technician will be there today or tomorrow, at least within 24 hours." Now Customer Service checks when a technician will be available -- last time one was scheduled for one week after my call; this time it took only three days before they "fixed" the problem. But the signals are still either misaligned or incomplete. Still, I'm grateful that some windows enable me to work on, even though a message has appeared right now on this site. It says, "An error occurred while trying to save or publish your post. Please try again. Dismiss." I click "Dismiss" but the message reappears, like the wifi problems now, which seem to have no end. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>World without end, with an infinity of high-tech problems that did not exist before 2005. I used to think that the future generation is luckier -- to see travels to Mars; 3D printing as part of everyday leisure, hobby and lifestyle; highly efficient ultrasound to dissolve blood clots or defective genes, with no more expensive and invasive surgery. But I realize that with new technologies, new problems will crop up, like evolved virus meeting the challenges posed by new cures. A never-ending battle so that the human species will survive and grow while other species are decimated to make space for the billions more that are coming.</b></span></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-61977674786926412502017-05-14T01:18:00.001-07:002017-06-18T19:37:40.140-07:00Fleshwork<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>“That is the eternal folly of man. To be chasing after the sweet flesh, without realizing that it is simply a pretty cover for the bones. Worm food. At night, you’re rubbing yourself against worm food." -- <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Excerpt from <i>American Gods</i> by Neil Gaiman. </span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1899 photo of unidentified young woman</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>One morning Paul rolled out of bed with a tune in his head. If he was not still sleepy he would have thought it remarkable that he had dreamed an entire song, and it was still playing in his mind, sort of jazzy, the sort of music his dad used to play. He went to the piano by the bed and found the chords -- "Sort of G, F#m7, some B in it ..." he would recount later. "It could not have been mine because it was a fine little tune and I just dreamed it."</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>He went the rounds asking his friends if they knew such a song, humming a bar or two, or, if a guitar was available, he played it for them, improvising the lyrics, because he was not familiar with soft jazzy songs at all. He gave the tune a provisional title, "<a href="http://Scrambled Eggs">Scrambled Eggs</a>." It was probably what he had for breakfast that morning.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Scrambled eggs</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Oh my baby how I love your legs,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><i>But not as much as I like scrambled eggs.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Oh, we should eat some scrambled eggs.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Paul's dream became the fi<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P3UpuGnYKA">rst solo act by a Beatle</a>, because the song cannot be accompanied by Ringo's drum or another guitar by John or George. He sang it in a concert, with just an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, the guitar and its strings upside down because he was left handed. John, George, Ringo stayed behind the curtains. <i>Yesterday</i> became the most covered song in the world, about 3,200 versions at last count. Another of the many record-breaking firsts, literally and figuratively, the Beatles had given the music world. Paul's version of the song's story also metamorphosed as it traveled from one artist to another. Eventually Paul wrote down a neat copy of the Yesterday lyrics. That piece of paper should cost a lot today. John Lennon's <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lennons-a-day-in-the-life-lyrics-sell-for-1-2-million-20100618"><i>A Day in the Life</i></a> lyrics, penciled in Lennon's handwriting on a piece of paper, some phrases crossed out and corrected, sold for $1.20 million at a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdigdFkv1j0">Sotheby</a> auction in New York in 2010 June 18.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EdPYwMYkRP4ZjBdu6lyoCGQHBVuHM3xIxq3Vg295mZsEPnlEi0WG_aG9X9RVa0AkFA1Ghqk21BV95X-q8vFlQysUnaSr1nOHVp8cV9ey9WhVAcOj-_bUeNwluaDdDhPRlfQevFL_JE79/s1600/yesterday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EdPYwMYkRP4ZjBdu6lyoCGQHBVuHM3xIxq3Vg295mZsEPnlEi0WG_aG9X9RVa0AkFA1Ghqk21BV95X-q8vFlQysUnaSr1nOHVp8cV9ey9WhVAcOj-_bUeNwluaDdDhPRlfQevFL_JE79/s320/yesterday.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Lyrics in Paul's handwriting</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>It's a coincidence that the Sotheby auction happened on June 18, Paul's birthday. In 1965, when Paul wrote and sang <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g2Q1YhPZp8"><i>Yesterday</i></a>, he was 23, young, handsome, famous and wealthy. This year he will be 75, with the sort of memories that afflict people who have had a very good life. Age tends to take away the good looks, the smooth and supple skin, leaving painful memories as you see in the mirror the turkey neck of today. Surely Paul had thought of the dozens of sexual fans who are grandmas now; some had gone to the ground and been burped up by worms to be finally melded with the earth. His wife, Linda, had succumbed to cancer complications in 1997 at their farm in Tucson, Arizona (Y'know, <i>Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, and bought some California grass. Get back </i>...) and her ashes were scattered at another McCartney farm, in Surrey, England. American particles in English soil.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Two of us" was about Paul and Linda (written during their trip to still another farm, in Scotland). The song had nothing to do with John, who was gunned down in December 1980, ten years after the Beatles went their separate ways. His ashes became part of Central Park in New York, where now stands the 2.5-acre Strawberry Fields Memorial. Dead also was George Harrison, of cancer of the lungs which had spread to his brains. In 2001 he was, like Linda McCartney and John Lennon, cremated. His ashes now flow in two rivers in Varanasi, India. John and George had escaped the worms, and their music lives on, and each </b><b><b>earn, every </b>year, millions of dollars from the royalties their old music bring. They had worked when flesh had adhered to their bones, now they are dead but still earn huge amount of money which the average, untalented and living working-stiff cannot hope to see in a lifetime.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A day after Paul's birthday,<b> </b>on June 19, we commemorate Jose Rizal's birth anniversary. Except for a few government officials who will lay wreaths on his monuments nationwide, and Rizal cults who upgraded him to god status, other Filipinos will not remember: classes and work will go on as usual (unless the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday), his day not a holiday at all: What did he achieve as a newborn baby? However, the day he was killed is a convenient holiday, December 30 being between Christmas and New Year. That day in 1896 his corpse was not given to his family, as Rizal had assumed. His corpse was secretly buried at the Paco Park. On 1898 August 17, just a few months after the Spanish were driven out of the Philippines by the Americans, his skeleton was exhumed. The flesh, along with his last message to his family (hidden in his shoes), had long been consumed by the earth. His bones were interred finally on 30 December 1913 at the site of the Rizal Monument at the Luneta Park. Haunting is an eerie photograph of old Doña Teodora holding her son's skull at their home in Binondo. The skull of an ex-filibustero, poet, ophthalmologist, a tragic genius.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yx9gkKG_GidCDsz83HxX92ZZ9PAqdu2D10V38zZFOHPDZ1QRSsjFL0okvH7nXKC3hNyy-fHjC_UHePL5p5aPPAbXNNEd85blCd42-WMi3jMN0wTL7saNnCxzAkx11BWndM5qPsSJzlZN/s640/blogger-image-2057089642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yx9gkKG_GidCDsz83HxX92ZZ9PAqdu2D10V38zZFOHPDZ1QRSsjFL0okvH7nXKC3hNyy-fHjC_UHePL5p5aPPAbXNNEd85blCd42-WMi3jMN0wTL7saNnCxzAkx11BWndM5qPsSJzlZN/s400/blogger-image-2057089642.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Mother and son in Binondo</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The unidentified young woman in the portrait far above, taken in 1899, crossed Rizal's timeline: Was she one of those who went to see his execution in 1896? Except for the fact that she was pretty, nothing else is known about her, not even her name, age, or location. That she wore a ring might have indicated that she was engaged or married. The bulge in her tummy meant she was in the family way or just had a big lunch. The big volumes of books in the background could only be found in the residences of the educated classes of her time, a time when men debated whether women had souls, too. All the same, she had been thrown into a different era, under different colonizers who brought along with their technologies their rifles with which to exterminate the rebellious faction of the islanders. After a few years Manila glowed in electric lights, far north a delighful summerplace was constructed up through the excavated zigzag road in Baguio, movie theaters introduced the little brown brothers to Hollywood, while American politicians exchanged the corrupt Spanish ways with the thieving American ways. In 1906 the first Rizal postage stamp appeared, commemorating the memory of a hero who espoused assimilation with the colonizers and discouraged violence and dissension. Our hero, for better or worse, parted by death.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Another genius, more prominent because of his achievement, was Albert Einstein. Did any of the thousands of books written about him mention that his birthday was <i>pi</i> day, March 14? <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="texhtml" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">π</span> is approximately 3.14, the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle. Anyway, Einstein showed that light can be bent by massive gravitational pull; that matter disintegrates into light, and light condenses to matter, and a small amount of mass contains a huge amount of energy; that space and time are not constant, as Newton and all other humans had thought 300 years ago; and it's okay to marry your double cousin. He was born in 1879, eighteen years after Rizal, and died in 1955, ten years after Hitler, who hated Jews and exterminated millions of them, shot himself. Einstein, who died of abdominal aneurysm in the United States, far from Hitler's reach, was cremated and his ash placed/scattered in an undisclosed place. Hitler and his wife, after committing suicide, were burned, according to his will. Thus in different ways do mortals -- the famous and the infamous, the pretty and ugly, the rich and the poor, the beloved and the scorned -- return to Mother Earth, after their brief work of the flesh is done.</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Einstein's birthday is March 14 or 3.14</span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-34570122989940343442017-04-08T19:39:00.002-07:002017-04-12T02:46:40.986-07:00Bully<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhDksDyQI2uhoi0kt-tXBlfx2LcRxKHACYvQekILmBgKGs0MKZJkoY2WI2macYFEltIES3ysU6fxHmHpJhLlvB0putts1Z1N5yRF2Rp9EByFMGhCdrwIUHqKaLm6c4oJljZyvV-3WpGqF/s1600/quack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhDksDyQI2uhoi0kt-tXBlfx2LcRxKHACYvQekILmBgKGs0MKZJkoY2WI2macYFEltIES3ysU6fxHmHpJhLlvB0putts1Z1N5yRF2Rp9EByFMGhCdrwIUHqKaLm6c4oJljZyvV-3WpGqF/s400/quack.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_s">
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>True,
Donald Trump is still a mean, mealy-mouthed liar, a tax-cheat, and a
vengeful bully, but his action to send 59 Tomahawk missiles to disable
the Syrian air base which launched a gas attack on Assad's own people
received the approval even of politicians and generals who still doubt
his ability to lead America. Trump did not win the presidency: Obama and
Hillary, by their foolish consistency to rules instead of using brute
force against the big bullies of the world, defaulted the seat to the
racist tycoon.</b></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Assad had stepped over Obama's red line three or
four times, launching separate gas attacks which killed tens of
thousands of Syrians, and what did Obama do? He asked the
Republican-controlled Senate to give him the permission to act. He
relied on the United Nations to support his intention to attack Syria;
Russia vetoed the resolution, and Obama, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon bowed to weak, unenforcible rules, held more meetings, issued useless condemnations and expressed
futile outrages, while the death toll in Syria climbed from 8,000
(others died from bullets and bombs supplied to Syria by Russia) in 2011
to 400,000 in 2016, when Obama finally left the presidency.</b></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> In a
world where murderous men like Assad, Putin and Kim Jong Un tend to
take over the vacuum of power abandoned by weak intellectuals, the
United States does not stand a chance under the likes of Obama, Hillary
Clinton, Kerry and Ban Ki Moon. Out there in the global village, the
street fighters can only be beaten by men who discards the rules if and
when necessary. Obama talked glibly of principles but cannot uphold
them, he wrote books about himself and uprightness, but Russia and
Syria, North Korea and China were dancing on the world stage. The West
looked on while Putin annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014,
and later on Russian separatist shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17,
killing all passengers and crew on board -- 193 Dutch, 10 British, 4
Germans, and 4 Belgians. Putin is a war criminal, so is Assad, yet there
they are, not placed in prison by the international Court of Justice,
and playing the charade of condemning the US attack. And the dead, who
talks for them?</b></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Our president, Duterte, did not have to go as
far back as the Filipino-American war to chide the US for not protecting its treaty allies, he has only to look at Obama's feeble talk
against China's occupation of Philippine territory. Even now, months
after Trump took office, Duterte has voiced out his doubt about the US
sincerity to defend a vital ally in the Pacific. "Why does the US not do
anything out there?" he said. Obama looked with disdain at Duterte's
killing of thousands of Filipinos, but Duterte could have spat back the
number of Assad's victim at Obama, who let the death toll in Syria swell
from 8,000 to a horrifying 400,000. Trump's latest act -- without
consulting the US Congress, without waiting for Russia to veto another UN
resolution to bomb Syria -- he just went on ahead and sent the Tomahawks
on their way. Now the UN has announced it is holding an emergency
meeting about the attack, and maybe ask Trump to undo what has been
done? There's no problem from the US senators like Rubio and McCain,
who, along with nations not aligned with Russia -- Syria, North Korea,
China and Iran -- have expressed their approval over Trump's
much-awaited resolution against Putin and Assad's wiping their asses
with the American flag.</b></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Now it's Russia's turn to accuse the
United States of breaking international law, law which favored the
strong and murderous, law which did not protect the weak and unarmed.
It's the bully Trump that Russia has to contend with -- the teacup-eared
Obama has fluffed away.</b></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> The United States is back in the game -- if Trump does not flub it.</b></span></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-63886714231728616392017-03-25T18:55:00.001-07:002017-08-24T02:34:30.801-07:00Kikay<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Kikay (March 25, 2017)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Paalam, Kikay</b></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>By Leena Calso</b></span><br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBozjf0WFF3rl_UiyvKUPjr42Ese3vF9cnl9pFAjJLXh2GZVEElE1kuiJdA_KRZz6BfHKmg1vPy3DxXVVzv9q_TTQFb2WMWflSf9z9LA0ii0479TgoKgZ42cMVZwmnBAAnU0eao5xpvIAc/s1600/pogitaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBozjf0WFF3rl_UiyvKUPjr42Ese3vF9cnl9pFAjJLXh2GZVEElE1kuiJdA_KRZz6BfHKmg1vPy3DxXVVzv9q_TTQFb2WMWflSf9z9LA0ii0479TgoKgZ42cMVZwmnBAAnU0eao5xpvIAc/s320/pogitaw.jpg" width="239"></a>A<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ng bilis ng iyong pagpanaw. <br> Akala ko magsasama pa tayo ng ilang linggo, ilan pang araw.<br> Handa naman akong pakainin ka, painumin ng gamot, linisan, damayan.<br> Kanina,'yun na pala ang huli kong pagsuklay at paghimas sa 'yo.<span class="text_exposed_show"><br> Ang tanging kunswelo ko, di ka na naghirap. Nagwakas na ang iyong paglalayag.<br>
Tahimik na ang gabi. Wala na ang kahol na gumugulantang sa akin para
takbuhin ka, alamin ang dahilan ng iyong pag-iingay. Tahimik na rin si
Chico na dati ay sumasabay sa iyong pagtahol. <br> Tahimik din sina Kit at Princess, ang mga naulila mong anak. Bukas kaya ay hahanapin ka?<br> Marahil alam din nila. Wala na ang kanilang ina.<br> Nagwawakas ang buhay. <br> Ako ay umaasa, sa kabilang ibayo, balang araw tayo ay magkikita. <br> Paalam, Kikay.</span></b></span><div><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show"><br></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="text_exposed_show"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit02xjJWqRbC2U8FoaZwuD_mb2vep0Lwo8Z-aW-8TM8TvTRekzL5ErFBUGqjMjWi7x3uMk37kn_4qxSvsEb6HcX6S9flW_2vuN-IPqPvnliXaBtG0vsH-XzF86y-1A9uD5Jwxors1QBSwi/s640/blogger-image-1252252749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit02xjJWqRbC2U8FoaZwuD_mb2vep0Lwo8Z-aW-8TM8TvTRekzL5ErFBUGqjMjWi7x3uMk37kn_4qxSvsEb6HcX6S9flW_2vuN-IPqPvnliXaBtG0vsH-XzF86y-1A9uD5Jwxors1QBSwi/s640/blogger-image-1252252749.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></span></b></span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcPqhvSUNIkp_WtzsTwGI_Wkuff-TKSJwBjEVv9lFLfCxxmuHGjjyQbnOxvPLCCTX9o46WBvAFCs4fP91SaiSSS6LDEz49mWVXtKtqWe7dSxQjVvFZmTO-r8wK0jk-12WSkhCBJWZAgT2/s640/blogger-image-186780670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcPqhvSUNIkp_WtzsTwGI_Wkuff-TKSJwBjEVv9lFLfCxxmuHGjjyQbnOxvPLCCTX9o46WBvAFCs4fP91SaiSSS6LDEz49mWVXtKtqWe7dSxQjVvFZmTO-r8wK0jk-12WSkhCBJWZAgT2/s640/blogger-image-186780670.jpg"></a></div>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-8236799351905465962017-03-23T00:08:00.001-07:002017-03-25T23:23:23.480-07:00Earthly denial<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbTkKaJxpYnCnt7Jb9G9mspZob2aTou2HgGjjRn8U30BVqugUeJRkz7dbruO2tyhnvhiiGL03KnaCNXIcw05VBog-69mIKcbYkY-ueKCBg3meimz0hqunPyz2a1e96BweIPQUCbXHMw4b/s640/blogger-image-628388898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbTkKaJxpYnCnt7Jb9G9mspZob2aTou2HgGjjRn8U30BVqugUeJRkz7dbruO2tyhnvhiiGL03KnaCNXIcw05VBog-69mIKcbYkY-ueKCBg3meimz0hqunPyz2a1e96BweIPQUCbXHMw4b/s400/blogger-image-628388898.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-text="true">There is no frigging frigate like a book</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span data-offset-key="9gda4-0-0"><span data-text="true">I used to grouse about how messy human affairs are in this planet, and Leena would tell me to go to another, and I'd say, "If there's really that alternative." When I reached junior age -- you know, the age when oldies with extreme denial refuse to join fellow earthlings who own cards exempting them from paying (1) taxes on maintenance medications, (2) fees on movies, on certain days, (3) for deadly foods in mall eateries -- I learned to relax, the way only Type A (I think I'm triple A) goonies can: no more shouting so the cats in the room don't scurry to the clothes hamper, accepting mistakes without trying to melt the offender with imaginary Cyclops eye, calmly clicking to another channel when Duterte or a representathieve appear. I have mellowed, or I'm melting; either way, it's a way out of stress.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span data-offset-key="71qm1-0-0"><span data-text="true">Lately, with movie channels swamped with Harry Potty, Divergent and Percy Whoosis series, there's no alternative truth to be found except in books. (Ok, there's video games, Duterte yakyaks, Trump behest truths, Kardashian reality, but I limit myself to books.) I'm almost done rereading Sagan's book, have seen the Hubble telescope pictures of galaxies billions of years outside our solar systems, pictures which would have astounded Aristotle (who calculated the Sun is 5,000 miles above the Earth, just a little bit off, by about 91,995,000 miles), Copernicus, Galileo, Hershel, Kepler, Newton, Halley, Einstein, Hubell, Hubble, Feynstein. Even Sagan, who died in 1996, would have been impressed by the Eagle Nebula, estimated about 13 billion light-years away -- meaning, it will take 13 billion years at the speed of light to reach that Nebula, which is about 7 light-years high. Which also means that photons (particles of light), to travel that mind-deranging distance, are indestructible. Also, what we have seen happened was 13 billion years ago; by this time, that nebula may have already given birth to unimaginable numbers of stars and planets and has dispersed to a totally different shape.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The frigging Eagle Nebula</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span data-offset-key="5i2ef-0-0"><span data-text="true">One chapter of Sagan's book near the end deals with the inevitable question dealing with creation: What about God? For most scientists and some philosopher, God is not the outsized, Caucasian male with long, white beard micromanaging in his throne somewhere up there the fall of every sparrow's feather. Baruch Spinoza and Albert Einstein, Sagan points out, "considered God to be essentially the sum total of physical laws which describe the universe." John Lennon was more cynical, "God is a concept by which we measure our pain." They were the tactful ones, compared with Mark Twain's attack on religion in a book he asked to be published years after his death, or the blistering commentaries of Ingersoll, Schoppenhauer, Shaw, Bertrand Russell, Mencken, Ayn Rand, and of course Marx, Engels, and Mao, to name a very few. Anyway, religion should serve as a succor, a brief surcease, from the insanity brought about by humans dealing with other humans. There were knights in ancient crusades who slaughtered people who did not believe in Christ, mainly Muslims. Now it is the Islamic fundamentalists grouping up to destroy Western civilization in the name of Allah. The monstrosity of 9/11 scorched my mind, but now, when I see how the Americans elected an insane gremlin as president, I imagine a sequel to White House Down, wherein the terrorists win for a change. (I'm aware that before Trump, we in this Banana Republic showed the way by electing our own madman. This time a green card offers no asylum.) Headache beckons, so back to space...</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="48kjj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Scientists have discovered that the universe is expanding, at a very fast rate, and away from the viewer, all receding from Earth, it seems. I'm very much tempted to offer my Pogiistic wisdom -- If I were a chicken, a pig, a cow, a fish, seeing the proliferation of all those McDonald's, Jollibees, Burger Kings, KFCs and other centers for carnivores, I certainly would escape to the next planet, even if its red color from a distance reminds me of the incessant slaughters here. But Mars up close is coffee-colored rocks, hills, ravines, valleys, mountains and volcanoes -- a Starbucks planet. However, this will be invaded by the technologically adept carnivores soon. Already, plans are being hatched to bring to reality what was in the realm of the science fiction of the 1950s. The technology to take Flash Gordon (or Digong Duterte, if you wish) to the Red Planet is available now; however, the information for the human pioneer to survive the atmosphere of Mars is not. Simplifying a lot, a space buggy from here, at a velocity of 36,000 mph, should take about six months to reach Mars. (If you take the EDSA detour, add at least 10 years to your ETA.)</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-text="true">So there you are, the pebbles of Mars at your feet, the mountains like mounds of Cappuccino awaiting a barista, except there's no other species around, not a mulcting traffic cop, no ugly congressman or similar thieves, no bird singing, not even a worm for fishbait or fertilizer to nonexistent flowers. What to do? Return, of course, and appreciate the human noise and sweat, the pretensions high or low, motives malign or benign; mix right in, carry in your belly shredded meat (legs by which chickens used to strut with, goose liver, scorched skin of pig whose agonized face you ignore, belly of mother tuna whose kids died of starvation), wear skins of cute and fattened and slaughtered minks or ermines to keep you warm, entrust your hard-earned money to politicians you loathe. Or just shut up and read -- There is no frigging frigate like a book.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-offset-key="109di-0-0"><span data-text="true"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6leKx2dgzBbdbwxmdhSahe7ym2iY7YWcqNfEd3o69B-GJzhA_lDssI0LfxI5tMwq_ZTz0DLTBgHe_3OFPjrLgZyAFN6_X3mJ2RcddOSp-0-ICfpOBIp9Y5pgb6Pks9WOGMjVy5wXGMtwp/s640/blogger-image--539084301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6leKx2dgzBbdbwxmdhSahe7ym2iY7YWcqNfEd3o69B-GJzhA_lDssI0LfxI5tMwq_ZTz0DLTBgHe_3OFPjrLgZyAFN6_X3mJ2RcddOSp-0-ICfpOBIp9Y5pgb6Pks9WOGMjVy5wXGMtwp/s640/blogger-image--539084301.jpg"></a></div><br></span></span></div>
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</b></span>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-13571153269972684102017-03-20T22:54:00.001-07:002020-03-30T23:20:44.134-07:00Like kita c",)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBlP5H7lS8bIU7tKGvfaz6sKO-j3EOhq1f-XxMrgCah8ikL0CY7vzp1elomOMqQm4SBhZbJ6aiqYgvzy_VsnI84UV_fyWlX-KnKoL8UZTNVgfQT_tI556vqIRgjOW0NKM_jdfKYl84ejY/s1600/Snoopyblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBlP5H7lS8bIU7tKGvfaz6sKO-j3EOhq1f-XxMrgCah8ikL0CY7vzp1elomOMqQm4SBhZbJ6aiqYgvzy_VsnI84UV_fyWlX-KnKoL8UZTNVgfQT_tI556vqIRgjOW0NKM_jdfKYl84ejY/s320/Snoopyblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Na-unfriend ka dahil di mo gusto si DU30? DE5? Leni?<br /> <br />
Nakikita ba nila yung mga "Likes" mo para sa kanila? May bigat ba yung
pagsang-ayon mo o hindi sa ejk, death penalty, sovereignty? FYI: Hindi
sila nagbibilang ng Thumbs-up o <span class="_5mfr _47e3"><span class="_7oe">😡</span></span> kung may oras man silang mag-FB.<br /> <br />
Mas matimbang yung likes ko sa post mong puro prayers, dahil kahit
hindi ako nagsisimba ay ayos ka pa rin sa akin (at ako naman ay parang krus na pasan ng Friends file mo). Hindi kita ipagpapalit<span class="text_exposed_show"> sa sampong Duterte o Pacquiao o Lacson. Pero baka kay Leni (napansin din ni Digong ang legs niya ha)... *Jokes!*<br /> <br />
Einiwei, kung happy ka kay Trump, kahit na kay Kim Jong Un, okay na rin
ako. Ang natatandaan ko lang, nung nasa ilalim ako ng gulong ng buhay
ay nandoon ka at umalalay sa akin. Isang "Like" lang ang bilang ko, pero
higit pa sa libo-libong likes na ibinibigay mo sa kanila.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-30322479558843185972017-03-10T20:49:00.001-08:002017-03-11T19:38:30.632-08:00Our kite<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxc_tg3VGJCa1U__j8CYPTO6lg20ZcYAxYu3-Xrq9kmiauwOM9zqwinHq7YUeHRm_hRao3Og8eE15H4ULqiqMmWII355kYbfjkDGVc4MOt9FA184JYqniml3GE2Qp8ZSOxxCZ0OiAbNNU/s1600/Robot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxc_tg3VGJCa1U__j8CYPTO6lg20ZcYAxYu3-Xrq9kmiauwOM9zqwinHq7YUeHRm_hRao3Og8eE15H4ULqiqMmWII355kYbfjkDGVc4MOt9FA184JYqniml3GE2Qp8ZSOxxCZ0OiAbNNU/s400/Robot1.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo credit to online owner</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_2j">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The
Philippines is like a kite snagged on a tree, unable to soar beyond its
third-world sky, because of a few ambitious and virulent politicians.
The anti Leni fake news on Facebook (and I'm guessing there's more on
Twitter and Viber) have started proliferating; one of the culprits is
"Thinking Minds" -- obviously a Marcos spawn which is pushing the lie
that the vice president's late husband had a mistress and a child or
more outside their marriage. A more malicious (but moronic) group has
gone to the extent of claiming that Jesse Robredo had no less than 12
mistresses. If that's true I'm beginning to admire the man's prowess and
ability to juggle his time to accommodate the lovely tootsies. But more
likely the extra dozen is a dumb overkill of an overzealous
Marcos-Duterte loyalist.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> The appearance of the trolls' claims,
however, should disturb the citizens: the program is groundwork for
Leni's ouster. That means some of the SC justices -- enough of them to
put a Marcos back in the executive branch -- have already safely hidden
their huge bribes in bank accounts abroad and are ready to make public
their decision, after a zarzuela hearing to make it credible for the
misguided citizens.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> I thought that last year, when Duterte was
spiking rumors about his bad health, the SC would take Leni down, but
some big events -- like the murder of Mayor Espinosa in prison and the
Matobato Senate hearing-- made it dangerous for short-tempered Pinoys to
accept one more national anomaly. (The politicians still remember that
Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta's taunting the crowd over the unopened
envelope quickly led to EDSA 2 and the ouster of President Estrada in
2001. Oreta, Tito Sotto, Miriam Defensor and other Estrada supporters
were not reelected in the next election.)</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> In the last election
campaign my admiration for Duterte was at its peak, because he showed
that Poe is comparatively weak (Roxas and Binay are corrupt in different
ways, although Roxas does not realize that simple fact), Defensor was a
front and vote-getter for Bongbong, who, with his family, had really
hoped and financed Duterte to win. Down to earth, blabbing
honesty out to reporters (about throwing drug lords or notorious
criminals out of a helicopter, about his aim to decimate the drug
dealers, etc.), Duterte made me think, "This is the man who will and can
do the reforms." I applauded when he warned the telcos to speed up our
wifis and bring down the cost to the levels of our Asian neighbors or he
would bring in foreign players. I also cheered when he noted that
electricity in this country is the most expensive in the region, and
expected him to throw MVPangilinan behind bars. He would solve the
traffic problem, although the solution needs time, the smuggling at
Customs should stop blah bleh blah.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> But Duterte, it turned out,
could also keep his mouth shut on crucial matters -- at least until he
won the presidency convincingly. Then he revealed that the Marcoses had
been rooting for him all along, that Imee Marcos even contributed to his
campaign fund. Also, he loved the Marcoses so much that the country
came second: he did not give Leni a Cabinet post because, Duterte said
on live TV, he did not want to hurt the feelings of Bongbong. After some
pressure (and, certainly, permission from Bongbong and family) he
appointed Leni to take charge of housing the indigents; she did well,
but she spoke out against the Dictator Marcos' sudden burial and was
rudely kicked out. The Supreme Court, or the enriched members, had
decided to grant the Marcoses' and Dutertes' wish. Duterte has been
hinting he will not finish his term. I think he's just waiting for the
ascension of Bongbong so he can step down, due to ill health --
mentally, I guess.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Media people realized that the SC decision to
allow Marcos' burial was anomalous because the SC decision was already
known two days before the justices sat down en banc and "voted." We were
not surprised that on the morning of the decision Imee, down from
Ilocos Norte, was at Padre Faura with paid supporters carrying placards
and banners of support. The supporters said they had gathered
spontaneously when they heard the news. I assume that many of them were
capable, almost instantly, of making well-designed banners and placards
with neat slogans neatly lettered as if by professionals.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> The
same members of the SC who always voted according to the sway of their
bank accounts are expected to decide to oust Leni. Or they have already
decided, and are waiting for the right time to meet en banc (should be
"in bank", really), dragging along to opposing members to make the
sideshow credible. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to jump with joy that
there's hope for this ill-starred nation of servants with diplomas.
This Supreme Court, with a bit of variation, is the court that changed
its decision, after ten years of having been carried out, that Hubert
Webb and his cohorts, all serving time for homicide then, did not
really rape and kill Lauro Vizconde's wife Estrellita (13 stab wounds),
18-year-old daughter Carmela (13 stab wounds), and six-year-old Jennifer
(19 stab wounds). News leaked out that the reversal occurred after
Estelito Mendoza wrote a letter to some SC justices. Estelito, still
alive, served as Ferdinand Marcos' Solicitor General during Martial Law.
It is said that Estelito remains potent due to his enduring contacts
with judges in the Appeals Courts and the SC. Did he fix the Marcos
burial? Is he fixing Leni's ouster?</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> I have been thinking, Why are
the Duterte supporters such rabid fanatics, even after the malignant
revelations about him? I can understand the paid online trolls, even the
bribe-loving judges, but I'm confused by regular citizens that are
deliberately averting their sights on the killings of young boys and
girls in Duterte's war on drugs. Religious Filipinos disavowing the
sixth commandment for an insane president, who calmly declared that the
innocents were collateral damages? Life is so bad for some that they are
hoping for a reshuffle of the bad cards fate had allotted them, and the
rest can go to hell. That's the miseducated Filipino, heavy with the
crab mentality that drags the country down when it moves up towards
progress. It's fitting that the antonym of progress in this country is
congress.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> I have planned to be quiet about politics this year,
but events prod me. In this Year of the Hen, I will keep in mind what I
have learned about the victims of violent crimes when I was astill a
newsman: the young chicks placed on top of the casket of a murder victim
are expected to peck at the grains of rice there, each peck supposed to
pinch the perpetrators' conscience, if any at all.</b></span></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-67338201259173704102017-02-28T20:06:00.001-08:002017-03-02T19:34:39.480-08:00Noli 2017<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeXVoXfxh_rVAlIi8IutFU8QkVeaZkBGlWOHDfX_Md5RvNXxZl6JO4uAXkqJUz5e4svsmNOKZ_rITzZa_vb0infNFcOeK4zMpJSWr4M3cHGx3wrCrD4QwS_2Ipqm_RreMQa4Bz1Zxo4Um/s640/blogger-image-256130419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeXVoXfxh_rVAlIi8IutFU8QkVeaZkBGlWOHDfX_Md5RvNXxZl6JO4uAXkqJUz5e4svsmNOKZ_rITzZa_vb0infNFcOeK4zMpJSWr4M3cHGx3wrCrD4QwS_2Ipqm_RreMQa4Bz1Zxo4Um/s640/blogger-image-256130419.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div>
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<div>
F<b>ound this book while searching for another; dropped the search and started to read this Filipino version by Virgilio Almario. Now I know why I found it so easy in high school: we had skipped many tedious chapters, mostly about religious and philosophical digressions, and pedantic quotes going back to Roman orators and classical writers. Now, although my interest remains strong, I just wish I don't find it too hard going through narrations of tepid protagonists and wilting young ladies manipulated by murderous priests and ugly harridans. After a chapter or two I have to put the book down for a while, to stop my head whirling through 130 years of events. Rizal finished writing this novel at 11:30 p.m. of 1886 February 21. I put down a modern, translated copy for a while, and Silver uses it as a pillow. My rest is extended.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Tentatively titled "Sampagas," 2000 copies came off the press on March 29, giving this country the most famous Latin phrase ever: Noli Me Tangere. He gave the first bound copy to his friend, Maximo Viola, who defrayed the P300 needed to publish Rizal's first novel. A sequel would follow a few years later, after his family, along with other tenant-farmers, was evicted from Calamba. He did not get the chance to finish a third book he had started because he was executed 10 years, six months, seven hours and 34 minutes after the Noli was born.</b></div>
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<b>Noli Me Tangere was derived from John 20:17, wherein Christ, just resurrected, told Mary Magdalene, who was searching for him and found his tomb empty, "Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father..." Almario's version, like most modern translations, resurrected the "missing chapter" in Rizal's original, Spanish edition. Lacking fund in 1886, Rizal decided to omit what would have been Chapter 25, which introduced <a href="http://www.pogiforlife.com/search?q=Salome">Salome</a>, the woman the fugitive Elias loved. Salome lived alone in a hut in a remote corner of the forest, always pining and hoping that her man would return to her safely. It was not be, just as Juan Crisostomo would lose Maria Clara, just as Rizal lost Leonor, just as the Filipinos would lose their revolutions and, up to now, would be searching for leaders in high office who would not betray them. Until then we search for the touchstone of salvation.</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UOEQfpKyAjJTobmz7FHD7wOWvS0oDQ-VUIwKzabfj59HgH1GR97kzOhDJ9YMtyrPMdEE2qKSQfZnVu-A6AVbllAh00gJZ1947noIcP61Ypj6zX-uUXNKylU3gczJJENU7Wa61gBx95qn/s640/blogger-image-1337549332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UOEQfpKyAjJTobmz7FHD7wOWvS0oDQ-VUIwKzabfj59HgH1GR97kzOhDJ9YMtyrPMdEE2qKSQfZnVu-A6AVbllAh00gJZ1947noIcP61Ypj6zX-uUXNKylU3gczJJENU7Wa61gBx95qn/s640/blogger-image-1337549332.jpg" /></a></b></div>
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What Rizal saw</div>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-12316233218282654752017-02-24T19:45:00.004-08:002017-02-25T19:51:20.905-08:00Ding 2012-2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxquPbv09imhAnpYjzc_M1D2MmjAQJB0Wzi44_OZFRAS77qaTDCzPNOIdRdtYRYvb9VpEHognQOOAg9uMIOd8B-ypyKyi-qHPfFJ5GSk_Vs7qLH7Ub1YH29DSIfkUZ5RdQmcXj6uoVRzJ/s1600/ding222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxquPbv09imhAnpYjzc_M1D2MmjAQJB0Wzi44_OZFRAS77qaTDCzPNOIdRdtYRYvb9VpEHognQOOAg9uMIOd8B-ypyKyi-qHPfFJ5GSk_Vs7qLH7Ub1YH29DSIfkUZ5RdQmcXj6uoVRzJ/s400/ding222.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Ding (August 2012-22 February 2017)</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In 2012 there still stood across the end of our short street a jackfruit tree, under which garbage were heaped for collectors to pick up. That's also where newborn kittens were thrown, their cries for hunger and warmth unheeded by commuters waiting for rides to work. One August morning, just after habagat Gener, </b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>the
non-typhoon which was almost as destructive as Ondoy,</b></span> Leena heard such piercing cries emanating from one wet skin-and-bones creature in the trash pile, awaiting the garbage crew or sometime crawling out, to be crushed by the wheels of sporting jeepney drivers. Calling home, Leena asked Neneng to get the kitten and see what can be done. That was how Ding joined our family of many pets -- four dogs, a big aquarium full of fishes, one bird in a cage, and several Ragdolls, friendly Maine Coon Cordell, three Belgians, Persian MauMau, British Shorthair Ruby and kitten Silver, and uncountable rescue cats, strays and occasional visitors to our dirty kitchen, where food is always available for all.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Neneng wrapped the thin, wet and hungry kitten in a cloth to stop her shivering. The strong rain must have prevented the garbage crew from coming and throwing the cat into oblivion. We did not want to think how many days and nights the kitten was soaked, wailing in the night, and if he had siblings whose strength and cries were slowly muffled and finally silenced, their arrival unrecorded. Neneng took one of the small feeding bottles in the kitchen, filled it with lukewarm water and milk, and cradled the kitten while it eagerly sucked the lifegiving nourishment. We wondered, briefly, if the mother cat survived the strong monsoon rains; we let the thought pass: we can only do so much.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The naming ritual followed. Neneng usually took the convenient way of naming the rescued kittens by the months they joined the family, so we have April (female), May or Mimi, JunJun, July, Steve (for September). But that August the big event was the big monsoon rain that hit Luzon, so the new kid became Gener; but Melay remarked that Gener was sort of <i>baduy</i>, so the name was adjusted to Ding. </b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>By the manner the ginger-and-white kitten emptied the bottle, Ding
apparently was at the point of starvation, shown by the the ribs
sticking out of his frail body. Becoming a surrogate mother to a kitten is arduous: it entails bringing the baby bottle to the kitten every two hours, including getting up several times at night, until the day the little one can eat solid food. After a few weeks Ding's flesh rounded out; at
night he nestled on Neneng's neck for warmth and blissful sleep. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Kittens, or any other creatures for that matter, are good-natured and trusting at birth; their environment later would determine if they remain so. A cat, or a boy child, growing up in the street, fighting others for scraps of food, would become tough, sneaky, fleet, defensive and mistrustful. Theft becomes a mode of survival; so does the ability to dodge rocks aimed at them, to escape from boys, armed with pipes or slingshots, hunting them for fun. Cats have earned the undeserved reputation of being scratchers, but streetkids have the same disposition -- </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">always ready for flight and, if necessary, for a fight with whatever weapon is at hand: an improvised knife (instead of claws), teeth, and agility to hit and run. Cats who grew up with people who invariably treated tham gently, gave them treats, delighted them with strokes and tickled their chins have learned to trust people, expecting the same treatments from visitors. And, as children do, they play a lot, unconcerned with breed, color of skin, gender or family background. Grownup humans have a lot to learn from children and other creatures we share this Earth with. Play consists of running, skipping, jumping, hiding, wrestling, light bites, playful exchange of punches -- all over the house. Since we started having cats, all vases, bottles and anything they can topple and break have become just memories. Our unfulfilled wish is that none in our menagerie becomes a memory.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt3_HT-7Ak-ulC5ODQQ4629BEhEMMoCYgf8gBEeNTNZUwEKYpW0XUXe3H1lnPW4hcKF7coEYalOkdAoz0U0nda15GQNM1YTa4EtRIG0x0Hf0NM3EpS6yXAu7cLQE2Ibvfkgr6E5EHDepn/s1600/Ding-Jango.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt3_HT-7Ak-ulC5ODQQ4629BEhEMMoCYgf8gBEeNTNZUwEKYpW0XUXe3H1lnPW4hcKF7coEYalOkdAoz0U0nda15GQNM1YTa4EtRIG0x0Hf0NM3EpS6yXAu7cLQE2Ibvfkgr6E5EHDepn/s400/Ding-Jango.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Ding and Jango playing tag 2012</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>As the days and years passed, Ding learned to roam with the other foundlings and strays throughout the neighborhood, coming home to eat for a while then jumping on the fence and did whatever cats do all afternoon. When the sun went down Neneng would go to the dirty kitchen and call the cats home -- Ding! JunJun! Pogi! Bai! Steve! Lord! Bas! (named after Leena's editor colleague). And the tin roofs all around would rumble with running feet headed for home. By the time the moon glowed big and silver, the cats settled in their appointed niche and slumbered while we humans read or watched TV. Early next morning Ding would softly stroll on the edge of the wall separating our house and the neighbor's and off he would go, scouring our neighborhood which cats know more than human residents do. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Three weeks ago, Ding did not respond to Neneng's call, a deviation from routine, which puzzled her. Neneng searched for him next day, calling his name. Ding appeared, slipping under our neighbor's gate. He seemed all right -- no sign of injury, no limp, body sleek and clean. Neneng offered him food; she became slightly worried when Ding scarcely touched the kibbles and barely lapped the water in the bowl. The following day, when Ding stopped partaking food nor water, Neneng reported the problem to Leena. After having gone through many cases involving cats, Leena easily recognized trouble and immediately brought Ding to Animal House in Cubao. After examining Ding, the doctor confined him to bed, where an IV tube was inserted in Ding's vein so liquid food would sustain him. A catheter enabled Ding to expel the urine which his damaged kidney could no longer do. After four days the doctor gently told Leena that it would be better if she took Ding home; meaning, the doctor cannot operate on Ding because the cat, in his weakened state, would not survive the procedure. Ease Ding through his remaining days. And Ding returned home. Neneng and Manilyn together, thrice a day for three weeks more or less, forced him to take his hydrite and antibiotic with his food. It is relected on each of our pet's gentle and trusting nature the affection, patience, and care with which Neneng, Marilyn, Leena, and me (in my limited capacity) were able to extend to all. We all adjusted.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrx6nXu94rhCW41MvZ6IONcty9Pdos_9Eguzjm-iuaEHjjXLuJNliTesBUi_QVpurShj3eLD_S8AuVdeiayKt3OigYPmv8vlQdFejgMUrAZgiBicWE7h9WJf2_43svq-EGOkNrOT82fYu/s1600/ding3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrx6nXu94rhCW41MvZ6IONcty9Pdos_9Eguzjm-iuaEHjjXLuJNliTesBUi_QVpurShj3eLD_S8AuVdeiayKt3OigYPmv8vlQdFejgMUrAZgiBicWE7h9WJf2_43svq-EGOkNrOT82fYu/s400/ding3.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Leena and Ding</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>We were supposed to celebrate Manilyn's birthday on February 22; however, it's Neneng recollection of that day that remains vivid. "Parang hinintay lang ako ni Ding nung umaga," Neneng said. "Paglapit ko tumayo siya at nag-meow nang mahina at naupo siya. Tapos tumayo uli, pero maya-maya ay natumba na, at habol-hinga siya hanggang wala na." Neneng cried when she recalled the loss of her pet, her ward, her child. Ding was buried under the mango tree, where he keeps company with Rex, the Chow Chow patriarch, and so many kittens mourned and loved. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here then is the record of Ding's short life, cushioned by food and play and some comfort, filled with Neneng's love and devotion. The earth abides. So do we.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWHxBqwYVZDkQ6y5L-k5rfGFD3-ZCH93jlhCU1LQkxrNEC96h3wfrY-XoX5RT7hXC2f9QlzF6JcDXUuXIVM5E2iJCH5vTEHDMK7ghgZRw6vNqkYLlkOJudMiipN642C50iScypZGMQJvN/s1600/ding4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWHxBqwYVZDkQ6y5L-k5rfGFD3-ZCH93jlhCU1LQkxrNEC96h3wfrY-XoX5RT7hXC2f9QlzF6JcDXUuXIVM5E2iJCH5vTEHDMK7ghgZRw6vNqkYLlkOJudMiipN642C50iScypZGMQJvN/s400/ding4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Ding at food bowl: all grown up</b></span></span></td></tr>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-46011092421695633232017-02-12T18:12:00.001-08:002017-02-12T18:12:55.913-08:00 Small things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_eN2Nr7h2Fdgwe_VEjvdJ4LL8lrOzn5C2OdKuENa9Y-g3w7vplaGP0lqwMnfo74vyfDl9eYvUvlSWe3L3XbWGs3FuEHl4OBk4qw3o4A_xIGz3QF-e4EuXeDhxH4ALvpsrew6RXwH3zQZ/s1600/0+kibble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_eN2Nr7h2Fdgwe_VEjvdJ4LL8lrOzn5C2OdKuENa9Y-g3w7vplaGP0lqwMnfo74vyfDl9eYvUvlSWe3L3XbWGs3FuEHl4OBk4qw3o4A_xIGz3QF-e4EuXeDhxH4ALvpsrew6RXwH3zQZ/s400/0+kibble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>It's an x-shaped kibble, one of hundreds in a small bag of cat food,
except that this particular one was seen being carried away by a
cockroach from the food bowl. Hefting the comparatively heavy loot, the
insect was quite agile, its six legs deftly scurrying on its escape
route on the floor, while the mouth maintained its captivity of the
prize.</b></span><br />
<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_1m">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> I'm guessing that the thieving cockroach, in spite of its
designation, is a female, violating its nocturnal nature to search for
food for the little cockies that have recently emerged from their
eggshells. And she has stumbled upon a small mountain of delectable
treats heaped on a stainless bowl. Then she snatched one x, skittered
down, and ran its erratic course.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Big Boy, a Ragdoll-Shorthair
mixed breed, stopped licking his feet when his ears picked up
pitter-pattter of small feet, his eyes followed the imaginary dotted
line which was quickly lengthening away from his food bowl. He pounced,
but the fur kept his paw from reaching the maverick mom, whose path had
suddenly become wobbly and tottering. Still, at the risk of life and
limb, she struggled to keep her loot. Only after several near-misses did
she ditch the kibble and wedged herself into a crack in the closet.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
One may ask, how do you determine the gender of a cockroach? And, does
it not seem incongruous to give a female such a name as cockroach? After
all, have not the Post Office mended its sexist attitude and, beginning
in 2005 and as seen this year of our Lord 2017, revised the Year of the
Cock to focus on the delicate Rooster instead. In this enlightened
time, it does not matter if the rooster is tough meat or gay as a hen: a
fowl with any other name, well, he has a nom de plume. And, for that
matter, how do you think a male ladybug would feel if it understood
human words? A male species of Dalagang Bukid should be afforded an
extenuating excuse if once in a while it ran amuck under the sea bed.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
As to the question of gender determination, Sherlock Holmes had
observed that any species unencumbered by offspring to feed, will
gallivant for days, eating where it finds itself hungry, and leaving
leftovers behind. And that cockcroach mom, the one who got away from the
cat, was not eating the food she had hijacked: she had intended to
bring it to the her little ones. But Big Boy intervened, and a family
went hungry for the day, like hundreds of thousands of human family.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
That despairing cockroach mom is, as a US dollar will remark, "E
pluribus unum" -- Out of many, one. I used to take umbrage at the fact
that George Washington should be assigned to the lowest denomination of
the currency of a nation that was once great but is now occupied by
babbling idiots led by one Donald Trump. Same thing with Rizal, who used
to reside in the one peso banknote, until that paper money was done
away with, in favor of a coin which kept getting tinny and tiny with
every passing generation. Then I learned that common sense is
counter-intuitive: What seems bad is really good, if people can only
hurdle over their -- what's that alternative term for human nature? --
moronic notions. One dollar or one peso is the lowest denomination,
therefore it is the denomination most people can afford, therefore it is
the most familiar currency at hand. Go lower or higher and the people
behind those currencies get harder to know. One centavo, when it existed
in the 1970s (or was it 1980s?), was Tandang Sora, made of material
that made it float on water. Then was it Lapu-Lapu on the tiny square
coin? Name the three people in the P1,000 bill, and even if you get the
names right you most probably doesn't know why they are there. And even
if you do, so what? This is about kibbles and roaches (and Big Boy);
Quijano de Manila's "Small Beers"; Hawking's Big Bang, which requires
you to understand microscopic units so that you may understand the
existence of huge nebulae billions of light-years high, and as far; and
e.e. cummings' poem about someone with small hands, which nobody, not
even the rain, can have. I just hope Cummings meant that that someone
was a woman. I dropped all of Shakespeare's sonnets after I read
somewhere that they were all written with another man in his mind.
Somehow my small mind cannot accommodate the huge talent behind those
universal verses anymore. Henceforth I confine myself to x-rated
kibbles.</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjwieIr0Asbooto5dasToQrFusetl3L0MrpH6mlZoHxhLTH9slj5_BKAEItBwCI4HS9-daXRU-PdjHr4Z5VrDtakG-86uaMeHF-QrKT-A5DM7LLBcgDv5g8KdKkDzt6_2SjgxMDpfpNkn/s1600/BigBoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjwieIr0Asbooto5dasToQrFusetl3L0MrpH6mlZoHxhLTH9slj5_BKAEItBwCI4HS9-daXRU-PdjHr4Z5VrDtakG-86uaMeHF-QrKT-A5DM7LLBcgDv5g8KdKkDzt6_2SjgxMDpfpNkn/s400/BigBoy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Big Boy, the cockroach-chaser</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-45968701914211877332017-02-07T03:19:00.001-08:002017-02-07T17:55:12.821-08:00Remembering father<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVpUnas7Mc3neg_Z3y-ZPV2eAGzyaNzFW95az6FloueJcBiqdVHo0Fu3ManpR85N-pQoSeCPOPvqRCGT8iAK7GmzuVs6KsDKArk9XW6D1autF1NwPYYcm4FJ6-b-XdEuLbg9e_g2Nw4En/s640/blogger-image-1552079806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVpUnas7Mc3neg_Z3y-ZPV2eAGzyaNzFW95az6FloueJcBiqdVHo0Fu3ManpR85N-pQoSeCPOPvqRCGT8iAK7GmzuVs6KsDKArk9XW6D1autF1NwPYYcm4FJ6-b-XdEuLbg9e_g2Nw4En/s400/blogger-image-1552079806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Bought
this at a Book Sale branch for the stupefying price of P35, cheaper
than a pack of Poland hopia. Here I learned that the Japanese invasion
of China was much earlier than I thought, which explains my father's
immigration to the Philippines, and my subsequent appearance in this
world. If not for the beastly Japanese colonizers and murderers, I and
my siblings would not be here at all?<br /> <br /> David <span class="text_exposed_show">Kwan's
description of events in a vicious time, in a country controlled by the
corrupt General Chiang Kai Shek, might explain why those who had fled
preferred the rebel Mao Tse Tung. In 1975, Mao's chubby visage in large
posters proliferated in Chinese book stores in Binondo, shortly after
Marcos initiated diplomatic ties with the Red republic. I was then
studying in Chiang Kai Shek High School, and learning from Barbara
Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China" how the
general and his profligate wife pocketed millions of American dollars,
sent for the purpose of defeating the communist rebels and maintaining
Chiang's unwieldy but amenable regime. Much later, Marcos and Imelda
would outstrip the Chiang couple in stealing American dollars. It was
truly an educational time: There were treasures everywhere!<br /> <br />
Maybe the old people who could have appreciated Kwan's narrative are
already gone, and the new generation doesn't have the capacity to relate
to a time blown to dust, leaving such a book to me, a leaf wobbling in
the wind. One thing not to be forgotten was my father's gentle
disposition with animals: We always had a lot of dogs and, in hindsight,
they were part of the family setting. What my brother, sisters and I
never saw was the cow which had been my father's companion, helper and
friend way back in a peasant's farm in China. Maybe there was barely
anything good to recall in my father's youth, so there was no story of
his days in China; but one distinct fact was impressed upon me early on
-- my father never ate beef. <br /> <br /> Is this about me and my father?
Perhaps. Because David Kwan's book is mainly about him and his father,
in a backdrop harsh but distant now. And for P35, it can be about any
boy remembering his father.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNAOYIaPiQwumG7Katqf2lyMdYCh2THJy3Q1QwnbCStO66K5Z3wr6AFUy1la0YR4lM9alfBH95yAAl9ELCPvC_7COIiw_oy4jkePFk_9Ap05K678rkcQrUGkU3QNSDeZ-0u5hyphenhyphenaB183Y0/s1600/1tang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNAOYIaPiQwumG7Katqf2lyMdYCh2THJy3Q1QwnbCStO66K5Z3wr6AFUy1la0YR4lM9alfBH95yAAl9ELCPvC_7COIiw_oy4jkePFk_9Ap05K678rkcQrUGkU3QNSDeZ-0u5hyphenhyphenaB183Y0/s640/1tang.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">In happier times in Angeles City, father with one of the dogs, and fresh paint</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudISJJ6ixLoNW3gv-c3oE-nmtnnyLvwOnY6uxCiB2CxsZ-T0wbaALOdcFbemByPCAZaRDVzmY5lufHUis05RIFSXfE1ewHFi3VSNEFR39S4m6hTNlketmPcM6uwStAZd2cCLIsh-HNGj/s1600/Tang1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGudISJJ6ixLoNW3gv-c3oE-nmtnnyLvwOnY6uxCiB2CxsZ-T0wbaALOdcFbemByPCAZaRDVzmY5lufHUis05RIFSXfE1ewHFi3VSNEFR39S4m6hTNlketmPcM6uwStAZd2cCLIsh-HNGj/s400/Tang1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-20857259431434058642017-01-23T18:59:00.000-08:002017-01-23T18:59:00.306-08:00Jojo<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjXPBIs97izuRi_0jSxEWzEvX-IGn2s5cRrPiGUC5j2Wz_cirDOgltV6lB9is4-9N8iM_A-KMuc8teT9bdgS2U6r2MF68qXIZALSSJ5NDj4NCiuPWbTtUHueB6H9OnXD_b6LGgLuev4Ex/s1600/jojomejiapic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjXPBIs97izuRi_0jSxEWzEvX-IGn2s5cRrPiGUC5j2Wz_cirDOgltV6lB9is4-9N8iM_A-KMuc8teT9bdgS2U6r2MF68qXIZALSSJ5NDj4NCiuPWbTtUHueB6H9OnXD_b6LGgLuev4Ex/s400/jojomejiapic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Jojo, September 2016</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Saan ka man ngayon, harinawa'y naghahabi ka pa rin ng mga nakakaaliw
na mga kuwento tungkol sa iyong girlfriend forever, tungkol sa
kagitingan mo bilang hari ng tahanan (Alas siyempre ang gff) --
malikhaing kusinero, dalubhasa sa paghiwalay ng puti sa may kulay na
lalabhan, masigasig sa pagpalit ng diaper nang sanggol: kaibigang tunay
ng rice cooker at washing machine (o kalan man at batya) at magiliw na
lolo sa apong kasalo sa mga laruan.</b><br />
<br />
<b> Sa Gibson na gawa ng Lumanog o mas a<span class="text_exposed_show">bang
pinsan na gitara, di man plakado ang mga chords mo sa Beatles hanep
naman ang hataw mo sa lyrics. Hamak na mas bata tayo nung mula sa kulo
ng utak ay napipiga ang anu-anong kathang-isip na naging laman ng
<i>People's Tonight</i>. Di ba masaya tayo kahit hindi bottomless ang ating
suweldo? Itinatabig ng pagkalulong sa paglikha ng hugot-lines at
kuwentong kenkoy ang katotohanang lagi tayong sawi sa pera. Paglipas ng
dalawampung taon makita kang naghahabi sa FB ng ilang vignette tungkol
kay Nette, si girlfriend forever, kumander ng iyong puso. Panday ka pa
rin ng mga nakakatuwa at kakatwang salaysay. Higit sa lahat, ipinakita
mong masaya at marangal ang buhay hangga't alam mong kalikutin ang mga
alphabets at maghasik ng katatawanan, palitan ang lyrics ng isang awit
para maisingit mo ang initials ng pangalan ng lovey-dovey mo, at ipaalam
sa amin ni pareng Abner na naiintindihan mo ang pagsubok na ginagapang
ng mga naglalakas-loob magsulat.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<b> Nauna ka lang sa amin, at magkita tayong muli. Harinawa.</b></div>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-73802530158765960302017-01-09T18:15:00.001-08:002017-01-09T18:15:15.459-08:00Marcus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pJJsgh0Du7UULebYR7NtUn2DJGrwa1RWFj6RcR7G12sTdvo4mDr9kgxzJjeCnqHbavoYfnBoAwwOl98qKgLpEyxqJZcEmEseiANM5ygROuIDWl5Uq2myvzcJYUqGlTVkHohsSYgvZ-6B/s1600/Marcuslovelove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pJJsgh0Du7UULebYR7NtUn2DJGrwa1RWFj6RcR7G12sTdvo4mDr9kgxzJjeCnqHbavoYfnBoAwwOl98qKgLpEyxqJZcEmEseiANM5ygROuIDWl5Uq2myvzcJYUqGlTVkHohsSYgvZ-6B/s400/Marcuslovelove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2017 bewilders me. After searching YouTube in vain last month to watch <i>About a Boy</i>, here it is now in HBO, undistorted and unsegmented, the
story of the boy after whom this photogenic tyke, my grandson, is named
-- Marcus. The movie was first released in 2002, and what chance is
there of HBO choosing to run it after more than 14 years, just as I take
a break from my task this afternoon? Sometimes it's no use getting
deeper into circumstances beyond my ken: So I just sit back and partake
of what this crazy and wonderful existence bestows in blessing. Thank
you.</b></span>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-78254874739365057282017-01-09T18:09:00.001-08:002020-03-16T18:39:19.725-07:00Silver: Loveable Sleepyhead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfW948CeiLFOWQ0rr6V9XYQer9Er65S_Sp2qXktBOjdcyD52tSSJeaeJpo_RpIjkHxystcCRIR5k0n_NQyOHbrfdQ6wjAYPUcKT25q42KLi_w8LAiSBJqFYPXXj6_xW1YvS5zWfs-SGF-/s1600/Silverlove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfW948CeiLFOWQ0rr6V9XYQer9Er65S_Sp2qXktBOjdcyD52tSSJeaeJpo_RpIjkHxystcCRIR5k0n_NQyOHbrfdQ6wjAYPUcKT25q42KLi_w8LAiSBJqFYPXXj6_xW1YvS5zWfs-SGF-/s400/Silverlove.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Sometimes
I do not plan to write anything at all, or I want to write but I don't
have anything interesting at hand, so I read instead. Then I have to
answer a phone call and I put the book face down so as not to lose my
place. After the conversation I go back and I find Silver asleep, my
book her cozy pillow. This time my iPad is not under the book, so I take
this picture, and write this down. The<span class="text_exposed_show">
only sound in the room is the click of the keyboard for each letter and
punctuation I tap as I record this quiet moment, and the soft hum of the
electric fan. <br /> <br /> I have figured out that I can read any other
time and I'd rather have Silver near me, asleep on my book, or perched
on my stomach. We have known each other since she was a wee, undersized
kitten, born prematurely, smaller than my hand. She's a mixed breed, but
I'll lean on her love, loyalty and gratefulness than trust the majority
of my own species. That's one of the hard truths I got from reading
books. True love and peace of mind, I get from cats like Silver.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSoUGBxy5tnfZY_xxCR9Jy1xlFQBsyrmR12DolG_Ai1Ksa-YOiEu11YGvhZKaW-68kfwynSiC5iovZyArnnSfXdxUjfzEPALD8u386QUCA-QMX_aatLJnuTOAlc2KOy45cNHpBj-9Tx9K/s1600/Silverlove1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSoUGBxy5tnfZY_xxCR9Jy1xlFQBsyrmR12DolG_Ai1Ksa-YOiEu11YGvhZKaW-68kfwynSiC5iovZyArnnSfXdxUjfzEPALD8u386QUCA-QMX_aatLJnuTOAlc2KOy45cNHpBj-9Tx9K/s400/Silverlove1.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wee Silver</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-67134647362935223162017-01-09T18:04:00.000-08:002017-01-09T18:04:00.990-08:00HAPPY RAGDOLL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3sJBYfls9XZCHBXDmd-31P2x-m-xT-69L4hj5luefggTY8a4JrHV_VUkeZGnJkXdLEvzvLVu2VC1hPiOI6NoFRppTAmOO6rAAw-2ZxkXS6wRked6O2FabE3_vluHHX3HDffGXtmq4_0C/s1600/Dugyotlove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3sJBYfls9XZCHBXDmd-31P2x-m-xT-69L4hj5luefggTY8a4JrHV_VUkeZGnJkXdLEvzvLVu2VC1hPiOI6NoFRppTAmOO6rAAw-2ZxkXS6wRked6O2FabE3_vluHHX3HDffGXtmq4_0C/s400/Dugyotlove.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /> <b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This cyberphoto is one in a series taken a few years ago. When we were
looking at the results we had to smile along when we came upon this
unexpected gem -- pure delight, unfeigned happiness, a smile to brighten
the day, a reminder that the world can't be all bad when a kitten can
knock the anxiety off your heart. Lovely. </span></b><span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="heart emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v6/f6c/1/16/2764.png" width="16" /></span></span></span>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-59773212547597809492017-01-09T17:54:00.001-08:002017-01-11T19:58:21.422-08:00LAUDATO SI'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSR8RnErUeA2sVhmhuGlutHe5e1rxa1gb8_EsAFNx4CFSTorYcdsZI5EDht_N6Xqal8XgYBYbxcBGA8gpEvteJgFZ-zNnpC7mhus6iK9bzrho8ZNrBgSIQMyQoRYcIOgS7ByBLBQCfK0v/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSR8RnErUeA2sVhmhuGlutHe5e1rxa1gb8_EsAFNx4CFSTorYcdsZI5EDht_N6Xqal8XgYBYbxcBGA8gpEvteJgFZ-zNnpC7mhus6iK9bzrho8ZNrBgSIQMyQoRYcIOgS7ByBLBQCfK0v/s400/cat.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Some days are more stressful than others, and I look back to the days
of happiness unadulterated with troubles, and I realize that those
blissful days are the privilege of youth and its concomitant ignorance, and arrogance.
The needs of youth -- shelter, sustenance, and responsibilities -- are
shouldered by parents and, if luck shines, by kindly grandmas too. Then
we grow up and we fend for ourselves<span class="text_exposed_show">,
and inevitably we have to deal with other people, all carrying burdens
and fighting innner battles as we do. That's why the smiles of grownups
rarely reflect in their eyes. <br> <br> And there are days so distressful
we feel like bending on our knees (and shouting, but we silence our
personal turmoil and tune down the desperation), and we see multitudes
beseeching the gods of fortune, the saints, the stars, the cards, tea
leaves, and the zodiacs -- to give us our daily bread, to cure
our illnesses, to vanquish our foes (who are asking for the same thing),
to ease our business problems, to mitigate our dread so we can rise up
every day without shrinking and trembling at what lies ahead. <br> <br> A case in
point: I started work this morning and found out that not all functions
of my eBay link are working -- I cannot reply to a client's question,
the link with my email is gone, I cannot post new listings, and I don't
know if the problem is temporary. Then I remitted a payment by Paypal,
and this triggered a note requiring me to verify my identity, as
required by this country, and send a jpeg photo of either my driver's
licence, government ID, or passport; I tried to comply but the cyber
form provided would not respond. I washed my face and was locked in the
bathroom, because the doorknob chose that moment to declare it's
disobedience. Smothered by a doomsday feeling I decided to hide in our
bedroom: I was cleaning my ear and the cotton bud said my right ear,
from now until further notice, was blocked from high fidelity sounds. I
replied, "Eh?!" <br> <br> I found out loooong before this day, this 9th
of January 2017, that in time of deep doodoo -- Mt. Pinatubo closing
down my bookstore in Pampanga, three heart attacks, a stroke, los<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span> of
beloved parents and friends, massive lifestyle downgrade -- I become
very calm, I can think my way out, and, if I fail to get out, I'm ready
to accept my fate. It's a grand thing to find out that I have been
tested and not found wanting. But I was much younger then and not so
reliant upon the intelligence, competence, and honesty of others. It's
this reliance on other people doing right, and their failure to do so,
that bring so much wealth to the manufacturers of Prozac, Zoloft, and
other antidepressants. <span class="_5mfr _47e3">♫</span> Every night I hope and pray, this li'l pill may sleep bring my way...<span class="_5mfr _47e3">♫</span><br> <br>
Maybe this stressful setup explains the hermits hiding in caves, rock
stars shooting denials up their veins, our crazy president deluding
himself that death is the cure for those who can't competently cope with
the travails of life and had to drown their fears with drugs. All, in
one way or another, is a turning away from the pressure of humanity. I
have encountered that pressure many times, and there were times that I
cowered, suffered panic attacks, only to be saved by a few good souls,
and the innate resilience we all have. Surviving the stroke that
disabled and scared me, I finally got over my confusion when I decided
that I'd rather die than live cowering in fear. Without self-respect,
how can we extend respect towards others? <br> <br> Still, there are
times when I look at cats and wonder if it's worth becoming a cat in
order to acquire their good nature, serenity, and peace of mind. Cats purr in content
with a few loving strokes and tickles on the chin; they sleep a lot --
like Silver now -- tummy up and legs in full stretch; throw a ping pong
ball and cats will chase it around the room until they pant. Ok, they
are not immortalized by books they cannot write; by masterpieces they
cannot paint, sculpt or erect; by wealth they cannot amass through
enterprise or plunder; they have none of the deference extended to high
office or exalted birth, but to how many of us humans can any of these
distinctions apply? It's the journey through life that counts, doesn't
it? Not the conveyance (being a cat or being human) nor even the
destination. "Because all creatures are connected, each must be
cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are
dependent on one another," said Pope Francis in his 2005 encyclical,
Laudato si', an ancient phrase which means "Praise be to you."<br> <br> Through all our fears, may we earn that praise.</span></b></span>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-85346794330145462632016-12-14T21:33:00.005-08:002023-12-16T19:33:35.109-08:00Christmas stamps of the Philippines<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh648AULK1oaUwDce1LmjjplCw2En_6ypzisaRQQ45QEN_0F_xoy0qO1cr8eHh9a7xE7r2IvN296WEv2-_4cDfxw1idgTtvVqPPIPeTpBwEeHmlwN85mV7sz1LkkZ3P-1qNiCz5AyDWGZ70/s1600/67xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh648AULK1oaUwDce1LmjjplCw2En_6ypzisaRQQ45QEN_0F_xoy0qO1cr8eHh9a7xE7r2IvN296WEv2-_4cDfxw1idgTtvVqPPIPeTpBwEeHmlwN85mV7sz1LkkZ3P-1qNiCz5AyDWGZ70/s400/67xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Philippines' first Christmas postage stamps</b></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span><div><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Above is the first set of Christmas stamps, printed in 1967 to be used as legitimate postage, unlike the TB seals, which were first printed in 1946 and continue to be sold to date as charity labels with no actual postal function, with option to affix along with the recognized postage issues. The 1967 Christmas postage set were printed in Japan for the Philippine Bureau of Post (later acquired by Philpost or the Philippine Postal Corporation). Ten million of the 10-centavo values and five million of the 40-centavo values were delivered to the Bureau of Post and were released starting December 1. The huge quantity makes the set affordable to today's collectors. Dealers sell the mint stamps for P50 -- relatively cheap for a 53 years old set.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>The 10-centavo Christmas postage stamp was used for local mail in 1967; as a young student I got some used issues, soaked off the envelopes of letters. It was many years later that I saw and fell in love with the blue 40-centavo issue, not knowing the existence of such a bright partner to the so-familiar 10-centavo nativity scene. Lovely is the concept of Mary in saya carrying the haloed Jesus, and Joseph in barong holding a stalk of sugar cane, probably acquired in the field leading to Mt. Mayon, lighted by a star shining brightly. Completing the scene is the carabao, replacing the western donkey. I learned that 40 centavos was the air mail rate, and, receiving no mail from abroad, I did not get to see it until my allowance was increased to start my collection of Republic stamps.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4gG7Ax8WcSAr2-IQRdTjcSeu1kN5WlIL63NdvWTulV9fN-_Vix1YAk4Kiwel-hoZ_wf1TI6ask7USiaHZ7_yv1ufGCsJLCh4auc-b0YBaTI72aBjEMjZmzStw7AlmzpyH6zpHFhqBgEK/s1600/68cm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4gG7Ax8WcSAr2-IQRdTjcSeu1kN5WlIL63NdvWTulV9fN-_Vix1YAk4Kiwel-hoZ_wf1TI6ask7USiaHZ7_yv1ufGCsJLCh4auc-b0YBaTI72aBjEMjZmzStw7AlmzpyH6zpHFhqBgEK/s400/68cm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: purple;">1968 Christmas caroling set</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>The caroling set was released on 1968 December 16. Then, for some reasons, no Christmas postage were printed in 1968-1971. The next set was the Lantern-making set of 1972 (December 14), which showed people indoors because a curfew was imposed after the Dictator Marcos placed the entire country under Military Rule.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrCgh9bCKYlhoilhe-V1X724Mb5v1rgneuGas3Urvk5thvZLZMCMJOvu3gfIuCsteShi5J5HUBGR_UH6kV-roptWq19nw2ySRBcGkvn8TF7jYBaibs1po9ZQReK1OfDaqgHX-tOKVzE-w/s1600/72xx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrCgh9bCKYlhoilhe-V1X724Mb5v1rgneuGas3Urvk5thvZLZMCMJOvu3gfIuCsteShi5J5HUBGR_UH6kV-roptWq19nw2ySRBcGkvn8TF7jYBaibs1po9ZQReK1OfDaqgHX-tOKVzE-w/s400/72xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>1972 set</b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>There were no Christmas stamps again in 1973-1975. The solemnity of the midnight mass set in 1976 set, however, made up for the three-year dearth. This was followed by another caroling set in 1977. And the post office issued no Yuletide stamps in 1978; 1979 gave us a miserable pair, followed by a pedestrian single in 1980. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl-O4xJ9BvWpAGPODKCvf7u_pbglKaGNmU948oJ_G5zsgqwziXcDT49q3B1aauiw6UkYkftuEPw5paHgkbbmnmgtzD4pS873MonhaXJZktP0MtZ92fRTIYjNnwcri3TU-FA3aP1XiPZjT/s1600/76cx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl-O4xJ9BvWpAGPODKCvf7u_pbglKaGNmU948oJ_G5zsgqwziXcDT49q3B1aauiw6UkYkftuEPw5paHgkbbmnmgtzD4pS873MonhaXJZktP0MtZ92fRTIYjNnwcri3TU-FA3aP1XiPZjT/s400/76cx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1976 set</span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32uM2S_lJyRNKmgb3zl_S4O0t50fvIILhZwXFOzRIxlZHT2m8v4ollwjoMAqH9vGE0RWJCExwa4-OBtqqqE8O3FauspfPT12sABwQoqsK22xZpoVlaSqD11jz8pq2cxIC1tsmFLMyL9Cw/s1600/77pk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32uM2S_lJyRNKmgb3zl_S4O0t50fvIILhZwXFOzRIxlZHT2m8v4ollwjoMAqH9vGE0RWJCExwa4-OBtqqqE8O3FauspfPT12sABwQoqsK22xZpoVlaSqD11jz8pq2cxIC1tsmFLMyL9Cw/s400/77pk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: purple;"> 1977 set</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5jwF27xZDPMYqAkwreEY-bmSD6ntPS4Bvy8UEOVhyphenhyphenrHjcA47WDtM9tYAKJjueASUIzoVbC49NMJo2IU53DQtTZm6ACEhFrP2mGIp12EJwB977z3XNVIyCOx6IVRC2kajCrOCGx-sFMI4/s1600/79xx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5jwF27xZDPMYqAkwreEY-bmSD6ntPS4Bvy8UEOVhyphenhyphenrHjcA47WDtM9tYAKJjueASUIzoVbC49NMJo2IU53DQtTZm6ACEhFrP2mGIp12EJwB977z3XNVIyCOx6IVRC2kajCrOCGx-sFMI4/s320/79xx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: purple;">1979 set</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfytHkkAxM7KTm0aIHI22VmuBlimn9KWy7tG5jEbCMyPOiQ_F_KNCesjddNGfKWa-3w0NC2m3a-AFGMf7Zx4rEA828yitObUqlVI5f3Ax5Kbh3OEUOpEiCL284kDNHUawjqZEUJxRk277/s1600/80xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfytHkkAxM7KTm0aIHI22VmuBlimn9KWy7tG5jEbCMyPOiQ_F_KNCesjddNGfKWa-3w0NC2m3a-AFGMf7Zx4rEA828yitObUqlVI5f3Ax5Kbh3OEUOpEiCL284kDNHUawjqZEUJxRk277/s400/80xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>1980 Christmas Tree single and FDC</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esO5ZkbnNCUnMZ4T_vrX6LEyKsB8Nnc1Shuh4mA5spZGz5BZ_JNa6uVo3f_n2WDt_cf-chconaVhaYYt5aJExNurrMaxTUyeLjl1Mk7tFD4mJuoYSBQ7X_RTUfad5HNz5CNi7fpcbEKM/s1600/80-81xx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esO5ZkbnNCUnMZ4T_vrX6LEyKsB8Nnc1Shuh4mA5spZGz5BZ_JNa6uVo3f_n2WDt_cf-chconaVhaYYt5aJExNurrMaxTUyeLjl1Mk7tFD4mJuoYSBQ7X_RTUfad5HNz5CNi7fpcbEKM/s400/80-81xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>1980 and 1981 surcharges of 1979 set</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Also a 1979 issue was surcharged in 1980, and the other was surcharged for 1981. Then followed the issues 1982 to 2016.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI_BOKGRE1Q3pEWELie9Nwi9luheY7JcBoIjMR1fX-G1WYuVZt9iLairTrR-ioefSvUfvaGVCrARzB3uZ9cfZ8ZqXpfJrKizZfIZyYIXWZtkiCTBNfJNeL5wH295npEySyOo8t4UXP2rN/s1600/82xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI_BOKGRE1Q3pEWELie9Nwi9luheY7JcBoIjMR1fX-G1WYuVZt9iLairTrR-ioefSvUfvaGVCrARzB3uZ9cfZ8ZqXpfJrKizZfIZyYIXWZtkiCTBNfJNeL5wH295npEySyOo8t4UXP2rN/s400/82xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>1982 Santa in Barong set</b></b></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o_MYjh4L4Or-2sBMdXAZJYEJKlPB3uW9TjICQjExcKmPunN9P_j24b6Ajg33TrJYhmdgMKBu0t8e_pZnDwXou18L1CeUqcgJQIJkQWarVQiyxETVTwVaRfROJ-NNp95kqZAMzikc1oUJ/s1600/83xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o_MYjh4L4Or-2sBMdXAZJYEJKlPB3uW9TjICQjExcKmPunN9P_j24b6Ajg33TrJYhmdgMKBu0t8e_pZnDwXou18L1CeUqcgJQIJkQWarVQiyxETVTwVaRfROJ-NNp95kqZAMzikc1oUJ/s400/83xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"> 1983 Lechon strip set with first Christmas S/S</span></b></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhey4N6_4eTPwoRNTdNqNP-efsGqV_FwHMt3FenHl75KfLjxeWFRdXRyhSveQYtWbcw7AGXT1m7ZSJWragjcQh3hXwrReJXDJ90YQtsEl-a_JU36hVZcgPukO5NNGvPl10t1lNBaqBYX5Vd/s1600/84ct.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhey4N6_4eTPwoRNTdNqNP-efsGqV_FwHMt3FenHl75KfLjxeWFRdXRyhSveQYtWbcw7AGXT1m7ZSJWragjcQh3hXwrReJXDJ90YQtsEl-a_JU36hVZcgPukO5NNGvPl10t1lNBaqBYX5Vd/s400/84ct.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> 1984 se-tenant set</b></b></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk00F6Sl3_R492cTtoO2WCl1xlgx3P6HgNJYJUaWHuYWGvfWK2U7VgHqU-r6gZtEYnxsyHzBAr0z31GNS0_yxy7Q0cNHX3A8B8tG1XiHqFwoCchSk4AYINqKaD0nox0XpFzx4L0GbcsZ7X/s1600/87xxm.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLjIRTNZPnkgNTzMxlWPWQ_dEvA5xMYHTIVuYH90ubFIEu3s7zbnYyOufp9SKhn11HfonKWgQbIx_WEeB0tdWAyUK7WjRu1bABZ63IvKNO8OOMV0XvYZ_KGVLbb-xLMyY1x2wnmfCOImX/s400/85xx.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> 1985 set</b></b></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lviJZUroycMJF_T9zCvg5CAYmSSbcusPh7UblwY_PCZ-5bcpHfKeotTOZgAk9MNl-dsqpB_4NibjWwEDbq_pPnzRb9ONlow29We_AS9zkHHml6drBilfI68MRqSujqZ8pWKdjBjfp0eB/s1600/86xx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lviJZUroycMJF_T9zCvg5CAYmSSbcusPh7UblwY_PCZ-5bcpHfKeotTOZgAk9MNl-dsqpB_4NibjWwEDbq_pPnzRb9ONlow29We_AS9zkHHml6drBilfI68MRqSujqZ8pWKdjBjfp0eB/s400/86xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> 198<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">6</span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>198<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">7</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>198<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">8</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2Ca7xvhCJdB9zu2I3i6SEIbD2ykQuStiuN3xaVptS4Rt6RQPG9mWpdBLygHoOI1-IJ8Y5Rc8Zb32GMGf8tG61BLhRykaaNe4f7hsMpcWAzV3espgJ4bP1bZmVUh_nPXFW7JH7jy2UNcI/s1600/89xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2Ca7xvhCJdB9zu2I3i6SEIbD2ykQuStiuN3xaVptS4Rt6RQPG9mWpdBLygHoOI1-IJ8Y5Rc8Zb32GMGf8tG61BLhRykaaNe4f7hsMpcWAzV3espgJ4bP1bZmVUh_nPXFW7JH7jy2UNcI/s400/89xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>198<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeESDpzeC2Tf1SHG0SR7bfN-Q1M6I2lqVfXC65sx9qtst2EbeddK-Vvx5C7Oke5E8kxTa-7oiyaezB-W0sSS13zH2QdSITPB-rcI7zdO7BUZT0cKPczEXYOd-L03h9EkiuD0zOyoVRzSL4/s1600/90xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeESDpzeC2Tf1SHG0SR7bfN-Q1M6I2lqVfXC65sx9qtst2EbeddK-Vvx5C7Oke5E8kxTa-7oiyaezB-W0sSS13zH2QdSITPB-rcI7zdO7BUZT0cKPczEXYOd-L03h9EkiuD0zOyoVRzSL4/s400/90xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></b></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">90</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></b></span> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqTlGeBcIaMQb4cxS5TRLDOcctU7B0sqD3eRG-I60UqKpiYC8xZLrV1AB2gsFtR_7CUN_den6Qjp1q5vJPGCcUkj7BDs6VqzEJdb1AAb5GbSOhq9ajKwzpYhKoTSXmm9N0_MsH8NmjcxZ/s1600/92xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqTlGeBcIaMQb4cxS5TRLDOcctU7B0sqD3eRG-I60UqKpiYC8xZLrV1AB2gsFtR_7CUN_den6Qjp1q5vJPGCcUkj7BDs6VqzEJdb1AAb5GbSOhq9ajKwzpYhKoTSXmm9N0_MsH8NmjcxZ/s400/92xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">2</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b> <br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCyl8qdhhlEYJeLKYa8DbjS-gMwMtJrL_BxzNsR1aOPTkA0L-NQ3MgKck3GrQTP_7sp8wL_CLEM0I6bBN4-pIBmVyVBHlnCjEhNTfmVH5z2TPbWBFoETe6ECxalRe64Hf_e78ymmC6pLE/s1600/93xm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCyl8qdhhlEYJeLKYa8DbjS-gMwMtJrL_BxzNsR1aOPTkA0L-NQ3MgKck3GrQTP_7sp8wL_CLEM0I6bBN4-pIBmVyVBHlnCjEhNTfmVH5z2TPbWBFoETe6ECxalRe64Hf_e78ymmC6pLE/s400/93xm.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></b></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">3</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMTizAGY_VL2pySxnIpEArsIcD69qvKvHllHI96JTt70IP96w4ysRlOVFzwevRt6mtuF1gVNO5_t8sn_Dld-16YsPuefwwf5s3Xra9k8CZdBvr6kR4_oG_7cIKzQsrt3OQWD6ayjO74NG/s1600/94+xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMTizAGY_VL2pySxnIpEArsIcD69qvKvHllHI96JTt70IP96w4ysRlOVFzwevRt6mtuF1gVNO5_t8sn_Dld-16YsPuefwwf5s3Xra9k8CZdBvr6kR4_oG_7cIKzQsrt3OQWD6ayjO74NG/s400/94+xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></b></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">4</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFpZw4g6DmGWZykLvNsr0D55YWPHzx_sVwwGbS_NoXNJw7CpAJBgcqPeHHW4EmAFEUY039O8ux_KT4s5pjvLWIMraezod6O-_-Jp7qMbTK3nnqZWdGIO4CmsubyRaXF7JrD8gJSwtFC-o/s1600/95xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFpZw4g6DmGWZykLvNsr0D55YWPHzx_sVwwGbS_NoXNJw7CpAJBgcqPeHHW4EmAFEUY039O8ux_KT4s5pjvLWIMraezod6O-_-Jp7qMbTK3nnqZWdGIO4CmsubyRaXF7JrD8gJSwtFC-o/s400/95xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">5</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5LNsDNAODL43x4-o6b6qUxO_v5nKwS7PcgYt0ugQH8HZZNVlQ723tFx3EiVa-b7ti0nTmDCqD_afdRAMBrdrT3vnYWqTejkZrlKhK85_rF12EEjFOXRdi5fCIJgm88hi_JYHUNgYk3fG/s1600/96xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5LNsDNAODL43x4-o6b6qUxO_v5nKwS7PcgYt0ugQH8HZZNVlQ723tFx3EiVa-b7ti0nTmDCqD_afdRAMBrdrT3vnYWqTejkZrlKhK85_rF12EEjFOXRdi5fCIJgm88hi_JYHUNgYk3fG/s400/96xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">6</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">7</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MgVIRxhiIOzgucWYUMHSeG7rGY9TklbLBHsrWzON_Qum4s1RxZuegi_QVJleL9jF61egGLCp_FtAhz8SmoD4dr2tEQXPaTiAyu2hJnJiXQUzNFEWKTAPcoZ7fbpqKcPd1A6WnxvM3LhA/s1600/98xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MgVIRxhiIOzgucWYUMHSeG7rGY9TklbLBHsrWzON_Qum4s1RxZuegi_QVJleL9jF61egGLCp_FtAhz8SmoD4dr2tEQXPaTiAyu2hJnJiXQUzNFEWKTAPcoZ7fbpqKcPd1A6WnxvM3LhA/s400/98xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">8</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pEBJwaZBsgNUEEl9_dvsgJcfNisthYyFmjvPbbwDXlhJ_AojNTesmdSpuMe6J0PDH6tANFIzkGqO2AzE_Lez8VB-UkOoWF1UoQ15Wa7_FCjFrn_4pEo-Y-tz7ghn4y-6LazObc8Z7S-z/s1600/99xxx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pEBJwaZBsgNUEEl9_dvsgJcfNisthYyFmjvPbbwDXlhJ_AojNTesmdSpuMe6J0PDH6tANFIzkGqO2AzE_Lez8VB-UkOoWF1UoQ15Wa7_FCjFrn_4pEo-Y-tz7ghn4y-6LazObc8Z7S-z/s400/99xxx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>19<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></b></span></b></b></span></span></b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN6Glm2rqEQJ8P1yX-6wYD7RezM4cWGiKkfbAr-znlm3kTYce8IAnso5oql25hxBce3vS7vBW1I-h8gmx6fm_cbPU9NIwMn2lIZ2oXxa6gSjAg1WDxDBQMyme8wYa5Dec2U4QhTTU-wgR/s1600/2000xx1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN6Glm2rqEQJ8P1yX-6wYD7RezM4cWGiKkfbAr-znlm3kTYce8IAnso5oql25hxBce3vS7vBW1I-h8gmx6fm_cbPU9NIwMn2lIZ2oXxa6gSjAg1WDxDBQMyme8wYa5Dec2U4QhTTU-wgR/s400/2000xx1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2000 set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1</span> set </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNy47qkMqNz6qCTB96TvNdUlS11UOHOZX9gBifBAYB4MkR8_CAhYefU6rX2rmbahWlyZ9zvD8tH0U2NBBBfqd5AGE98VlsIFwv9ml9opMAdodLVMsQUHCpoRR8EqGJ_wAsgMeiXm_dddk/s1600/2002xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNy47qkMqNz6qCTB96TvNdUlS11UOHOZX9gBifBAYB4MkR8_CAhYefU6rX2rmbahWlyZ9zvD8tH0U2NBBBfqd5AGE98VlsIFwv9ml9opMAdodLVMsQUHCpoRR8EqGJ_wAsgMeiXm_dddk/s400/2002xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2002 set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nPMfJkw_xaf-dzsoNrk-kH7XppLiRr2LrnrGryKsXFlkka4zJJ08RD2kJ1cJ6r-O_Cr3rll3AmORI-I0gGr7XVvCElaNk47OzTqkNka38l8nKjjb3nWdSucwVZCw4ero9nK7tpZRLOW_/s1600/2003xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nPMfJkw_xaf-dzsoNrk-kH7XppLiRr2LrnrGryKsXFlkka4zJJ08RD2kJ1cJ6r-O_Cr3rll3AmORI-I0gGr7XVvCElaNk47OzTqkNka38l8nKjjb3nWdSucwVZCw4ero9nK7tpZRLOW_/s400/2003xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></b></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">3</span> set </b></b></span></span></b></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b> </b></b></span></span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLugVKSxFzE0R8FqcHeQj8XpCHDkLmUsrghKxYWljFxqn4vypRPY23c58T2VOwPNwoyAVMF38_sldE9i0PidhcRa_bBoplqbANjtLSc1cY00E109XA50m6O3eOlXZg6GfjWBR91-WvyHvW/s1600/2004xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLugVKSxFzE0R8FqcHeQj8XpCHDkLmUsrghKxYWljFxqn4vypRPY23c58T2VOwPNwoyAVMF38_sldE9i0PidhcRa_bBoplqbANjtLSc1cY00E109XA50m6O3eOlXZg6GfjWBR91-WvyHvW/s400/2004xx.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">4</span> set </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKdt6nD15gG1Qgp787PyfdUNCY9MTBoMfdSpHEa2x_wCaIjyacu7982sGY8LNMMksP6xJylngJvbCb62pTNFOmMCfPxuzOlUBaygSrmAQiOcNK4vMei5uiYZZHAAWrxckvAN2ThN_nVb_/s1600/2005xxm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKdt6nD15gG1Qgp787PyfdUNCY9MTBoMfdSpHEa2x_wCaIjyacu7982sGY8LNMMksP6xJylngJvbCb62pTNFOmMCfPxuzOlUBaygSrmAQiOcNK4vMei5uiYZZHAAWrxckvAN2ThN_nVb_/s400/2005xxm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">5</span> set </b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDL5bwnbG9d-viu1J04Ej1v0MThCGH5DvjSrIZFGGt29uatULFNd32PwDh6fEZ0RqmlHzQRTYpLVVYGbNG49JXIer75Dq5pUBzPBhMjAblbd5ULpPtonJDkLXv3q5fZ8tYOLxPac4Z_Jf/s1600/2006xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDL5bwnbG9d-viu1J04Ej1v0MThCGH5DvjSrIZFGGt29uatULFNd32PwDh6fEZ0RqmlHzQRTYpLVVYGbNG49JXIer75Dq5pUBzPBhMjAblbd5ULpPtonJDkLXv3q5fZ8tYOLxPac4Z_Jf/s400/2006xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">6</span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hlEjP2QRjgXYbRFCsdve7b5wfrJda1KVxriyc_hzUTvMwdIjLqjpZYka_wyj8n6JZRMNtk3d-xgJc0_YeXzyKrpUreqe4y9qKtsH3bBUsW6TlVXeJ95-gWqhC_C5lK51WWVVYW7_7y1Y/s1600/2007xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hlEjP2QRjgXYbRFCsdve7b5wfrJda1KVxriyc_hzUTvMwdIjLqjpZYka_wyj8n6JZRMNtk3d-xgJc0_YeXzyKrpUreqe4y9qKtsH3bBUsW6TlVXeJ95-gWqhC_C5lK51WWVVYW7_7y1Y/s400/2007xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">7</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY1ZSVPAZ9g2EhdFMoKeuvFyYLUMcZigO278K4M3OzAXm877wU34LlJtU0Las4NBkd2c5UsNl7KwCgJ8hpjg4T0DTx-lAJPDOyuE3GR43Sj7ZCJVfXVsJ7HzO_jv-Xp1kXOFPO7JUfRFu/s1600/2008xxs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY1ZSVPAZ9g2EhdFMoKeuvFyYLUMcZigO278K4M3OzAXm877wU34LlJtU0Las4NBkd2c5UsNl7KwCgJ8hpjg4T0DTx-lAJPDOyuE3GR43Sj7ZCJVfXVsJ7HzO_jv-Xp1kXOFPO7JUfRFu/s400/2008xxs.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">8</span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I7pVMQrR3c4jeA003xiEdZL4CZ44HcGXryu7hoyIb6FNf8KIQD2eS8r0jA59ogCz0qdvtpA0BJudowiOJAfbfrPwoGugzQPtLH6q4eB85Ii1iTdSjmsoN-AVdcwWiQg5USgAEwOL_KUm/s1600/2009xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I7pVMQrR3c4jeA003xiEdZL4CZ44HcGXryu7hoyIb6FNf8KIQD2eS8r0jA59ogCz0qdvtpA0BJudowiOJAfbfrPwoGugzQPtLH6q4eB85Ii1iTdSjmsoN-AVdcwWiQg5USgAEwOL_KUm/s400/2009xx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>200<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">9</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O8VEi9TXj_u_2wBDOB9E7LouOS6or4pi2eTypYShYTTSmSVNEXP3HwcShEqG271BQqDHqE4v_oSXBqYORYRSdVmCJmZcXh9jCGXJdhE_r3Iwkt_pjezFOW6p_Ic8U_2fo4wc9P9z65CB/s1600/2010xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O8VEi9TXj_u_2wBDOB9E7LouOS6or4pi2eTypYShYTTSmSVNEXP3HwcShEqG271BQqDHqE4v_oSXBqYORYRSdVmCJmZcXh9jCGXJdhE_r3Iwkt_pjezFOW6p_Ic8U_2fo4wc9P9z65CB/s400/2010xx.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>20<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">10</span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgQratxDRdimDVIEzDAMAhPUIO1pVSQ7LrHrFaVqe_LwKkRSu9h03NN50QToIIhoVsux1RcAyLXN2DOEY8irjZ21OfKIBzloeXFZAadxDFl5E4X3JiD4NKyPZ_vak63zT_Vg6-NkyWdbP/s1600/2011xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgQratxDRdimDVIEzDAMAhPUIO1pVSQ7LrHrFaVqe_LwKkRSu9h03NN50QToIIhoVsux1RcAyLXN2DOEY8irjZ21OfKIBzloeXFZAadxDFl5E4X3JiD4NKyPZ_vak63zT_Vg6-NkyWdbP/s400/2011xx.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>20<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">1</span></span> set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D1youjB6zQMNfQscJtqbDuaxgrlRxwuMnzRYIEMf4Q68F7U1HfMX8Wbsr2yBngeUDoGuHMfKNH4ZLjdawN7jPZVzN-hsZLFoXg7JXLLr3yBiPnTWdaKhV-JNyuSSXtCmk2rBbTjBd2Y_/s1600/2012xx2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D1youjB6zQMNfQscJtqbDuaxgrlRxwuMnzRYIEMf4Q68F7U1HfMX8Wbsr2yBngeUDoGuHMfKNH4ZLjdawN7jPZVzN-hsZLFoXg7JXLLr3yBiPnTWdaKhV-JNyuSSXtCmk2rBbTjBd2Y_/s400/2012xx2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2012 set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2013 set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2014 set</b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2015 <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">set</span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj063NAxxiqlRJ8-JWOPzGT5UUjf4wz8fsTLNrvnTprDYHqGz1ZS2mmjqeNdBYdfYHnsHUW_PqXqUDdrci4O0m3otULLWYsM4LCfoU9vDp0tQ5W7-mal1LiOVcZ39SJpGiSaBgk4lrn6nph/s1600/2016+xx+set.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj063NAxxiqlRJ8-JWOPzGT5UUjf4wz8fsTLNrvnTprDYHqGz1ZS2mmjqeNdBYdfYHnsHUW_PqXqUDdrci4O0m3otULLWYsM4LCfoU9vDp0tQ5W7-mal1LiOVcZ39SJpGiSaBgk4lrn6nph/s320/2016+xx+set.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b>2016 set</b></b></span></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8jTszwqJlVkA6sT1-8zbzUjaISmqyGjyJvdgOAOzMHLmxJtHVG5E_ESsIUER3VWVn7wQyU5UDKXtGK3TOER_8Di3kclilD8vNY0JVsY81HJ4DwKEV_v0la9CGTWEdmgVLoSIxhdI3lkX/s2048/2016+xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8jTszwqJlVkA6sT1-8zbzUjaISmqyGjyJvdgOAOzMHLmxJtHVG5E_ESsIUER3VWVn7wQyU5UDKXtGK3TOER_8Di3kclilD8vNY0JVsY81HJ4DwKEV_v0la9CGTWEdmgVLoSIxhdI3lkX/s320/2016+xx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> </b></b></span></span></b></span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b> 2016 sheetlet</b></b></span></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><b><br /></b></b></span></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU7Xxvr09uZmv6pfRgrCvhizFsjWzzrNnMI8NfRkne09By1uCzg2sV6X3mL1aeQcOVPx9htpnKu0xkBfY4QfvXbPMmaRAQ6QeNWIF320m6MCXm0LPSQTmBJAHvXDKmSdrOe9UJAaIfHeq/s2048/2017+xx1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1140" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU7Xxvr09uZmv6pfRgrCvhizFsjWzzrNnMI8NfRkne09By1uCzg2sV6X3mL1aeQcOVPx9htpnKu0xkBfY4QfvXbPMmaRAQ6QeNWIF320m6MCXm0LPSQTmBJAHvXDKmSdrOe9UJAaIfHeq/s320/2017+xx1.jpg" /></a></div></b></span></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> 2017 set</span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsVzfKGn3r40P6OHdz9XiihkwveV5eyyUiSk_3c9BIx-HkmfdeSCQZbdEYwjDqicWSyQW09NBzkob10DJz-8Y7Ij_sznuWgao0x8SfOJWWbH3mOsEwDERjmrsn8p6a1pX7g1in_JitjNI/s2048/2017+xx+sheetlet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1834" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsVzfKGn3r40P6OHdz9XiihkwveV5eyyUiSk_3c9BIx-HkmfdeSCQZbdEYwjDqicWSyQW09NBzkob10DJz-8Y7Ij_sznuWgao0x8SfOJWWbH3mOsEwDERjmrsn8p6a1pX7g1in_JitjNI/s320/2017+xx+sheetlet.jpg" /></a></div></b><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> 2017 sheetlet</span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV5E8cdh5IFXq03St6fkp-8OGBYhu1sr6gaYRt-bG7x612w58T-GvzDTQuqnHaDitZa7Wm90kxW8rteNe-3rwaxh87DbZLh00L-mldqRIeM2WQrSD6gmROnS4q_IScp3pTPhoznM_TmD2/s1752/0000+2018+xx+strip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1752" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV5E8cdh5IFXq03St6fkp-8OGBYhu1sr6gaYRt-bG7x612w58T-GvzDTQuqnHaDitZa7Wm90kxW8rteNe-3rwaxh87DbZLh00L-mldqRIeM2WQrSD6gmROnS4q_IScp3pTPhoznM_TmD2/s320/0000+2018+xx+strip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> 2018 set</span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcABXZtM3tNezGAU2JO8If7A1WcRl65PmdLGUW4d7azSGrtkxJUy-soEjf4GS6-3F2N_CKfC-xy_iAw_a5ptS-YY7wqPt5nGXxK17szFQPEvZ9jbqtlm1f__v1EAKxjEFlqIKIJM_Iftns/s2048/0000+2018+xx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1543" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcABXZtM3tNezGAU2JO8If7A1WcRl65PmdLGUW4d7azSGrtkxJUy-soEjf4GS6-3F2N_CKfC-xy_iAw_a5ptS-YY7wqPt5nGXxK17szFQPEvZ9jbqtlm1f__v1EAKxjEFlqIKIJM_Iftns/s320/0000+2018+xx.jpg" /></a></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> 2018 sheetlet</span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfCOGc0MBhwWv86mrh-1IYpFeDJaQ4cRW5n8Csxo8bPl5VTDUEuSNMuivMf0qMLO30No9uriJNp-2p8OQhhw8vdd1Y-rYXurwt7XcuTPShqp2QzrUygHQkzkiwLbNvlMbqpLBM7hd_GEX/s524/2019+Cmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfCOGc0MBhwWv86mrh-1IYpFeDJaQ4cRW5n8Csxo8bPl5VTDUEuSNMuivMf0qMLO30No9uriJNp-2p8OQhhw8vdd1Y-rYXurwt7XcuTPShqp2QzrUygHQkzkiwLbNvlMbqpLBM7hd_GEX/s320/2019+Cmas.jpg" /></a></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">2019 set</span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FOJJElrdhgcAgnGJYfALAY4mk4uwLtU1IHgXdb2iiFV29y0pb3I3w7Q51BmX_TohjJulgOH1hRaYqvAG_VPLM2JTTBPmjbcN-3l0QlMGNWm4DHlrMSSkXkVCw4Z0ly-GNvFOYScHtLjl/s1435/2019+Cmas+sheetlet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FOJJElrdhgcAgnGJYfALAY4mk4uwLtU1IHgXdb2iiFV29y0pb3I3w7Q51BmX_TohjJulgOH1hRaYqvAG_VPLM2JTTBPmjbcN-3l0QlMGNWm4DHlrMSSkXkVCw4Z0ly-GNvFOYScHtLjl/s320/2019+Cmas+sheetlet.jpg" /></a></div></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">2019 sheetlet<b style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b></span></b></div></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj9hWO5Zeg8X6IfUIlSbrHORCDftUpWAmsVsFvpQCnTqgxhXs_nt2r6Zewl35i21PhrI6UtF9uIB-TC0QP4pvkuOHhgr1XkiJAqRUf9CD1-cwFYD2264CUmQ0u5hT3LM94yYPrg0Uie5u/s1701/2020+Cmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="1566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj9hWO5Zeg8X6IfUIlSbrHORCDftUpWAmsVsFvpQCnTqgxhXs_nt2r6Zewl35i21PhrI6UtF9uIB-TC0QP4pvkuOHhgr1XkiJAqRUf9CD1-cwFYD2264CUmQ0u5hT3LM94yYPrg0Uie5u/s320/2020+Cmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><span style="color: purple;"> 2020 Covid Christmas</span></b></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YYw1rmEHEpFrXp4t_3QmC_Pqn3ZdX1QwSvxDBE_HqNKK8swDMzUDLLLZ72-ZraONomG0hhdU0Me0V_-g0M0mJLoOrkAaeD2HisG1GNFyaHbKWGoRlvC6g48W4IVoZN3pwPyWkoz7jj-0/s1170/2020+Cmas+fdc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YYw1rmEHEpFrXp4t_3QmC_Pqn3ZdX1QwSvxDBE_HqNKK8swDMzUDLLLZ72-ZraONomG0hhdU0Me0V_-g0M0mJLoOrkAaeD2HisG1GNFyaHbKWGoRlvC6g48W4IVoZN3pwPyWkoz7jj-0/s320/2020+Cmas+fdc.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;">2020 Christmas FDC</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9UQQN1oMEHSB91BbNmbBl4DXYWuH6lxqaTZTviIKXoeTW7EnbbQz21GYwdrwoZP5AIn-1txhu7CrDH3DMyJ_nHMMnhzWCeRHp7M729hp406YmKllecHXnLmhYI9FrY_EXGi2XkXfhcloInhjNcNCwR7CUXlB506unEw-hzPYYSSSgy-l5K7JlcPnn3lK/s2048/2021%20Cmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9UQQN1oMEHSB91BbNmbBl4DXYWuH6lxqaTZTviIKXoeTW7EnbbQz21GYwdrwoZP5AIn-1txhu7CrDH3DMyJ_nHMMnhzWCeRHp7M729hp406YmKllecHXnLmhYI9FrY_EXGi2XkXfhcloInhjNcNCwR7CUXlB506unEw-hzPYYSSSgy-l5K7JlcPnn3lK/s320/2021%20Cmas.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="color: purple;">2021 Christmas set</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU_GlparBol3EIQo464Ae7OG3GLMCyCQcI1dz0-_99BRz-m_u6lAm8C-d8iUy5pb3GwhmNdD9Y0ckKuRhzRzbSVeq9y6Vp3Z9MPkQnni8RubXOrRIztJr0xelS0OFwagAAz6QIan3qD2OFRRE891wfQyIOJeSf1AIwogA60SisqJBewe93rvncc_N0ps-/s2048/2021%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="2048" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU_GlparBol3EIQo464Ae7OG3GLMCyCQcI1dz0-_99BRz-m_u6lAm8C-d8iUy5pb3GwhmNdD9Y0ckKuRhzRzbSVeq9y6Vp3Z9MPkQnni8RubXOrRIztJr0xelS0OFwagAAz6QIan3qD2OFRRE891wfQyIOJeSf1AIwogA60SisqJBewe93rvncc_N0ps-/s320/2021%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;">2021 Christmas FDC</span><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b></span></b></b></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxDyKYRqLfv4ZSZj91F_MrQAGZbY_-oq9JccDRSidQpuXBYuJd8qPznu6Ag1K-IYo3DmNKlN0S7Q1UKnYzSkSt2o7jHPD1JCL2xj1IuGJkQfwSInq331ceLXThUzuJDkyvtD-zzvlbzRWtZPMqU-gBMQvPv0U21R02Ty8OOhQ5rt9al3iq_UPOwWyRwHT/s2048/2022%20Cmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="2048" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxDyKYRqLfv4ZSZj91F_MrQAGZbY_-oq9JccDRSidQpuXBYuJd8qPznu6Ag1K-IYo3DmNKlN0S7Q1UKnYzSkSt2o7jHPD1JCL2xj1IuGJkQfwSInq331ceLXThUzuJDkyvtD-zzvlbzRWtZPMqU-gBMQvPv0U21R02Ty8OOhQ5rt9al3iq_UPOwWyRwHT/s320/2022%20Cmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: purple;">2022 Christmas set<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvhMWTMEQh4MtcrAOrjJa76RE-drJz7CTpUMaffgdcSGRZf07_z-Lr_SBL91cvMw24XAF7rDKy8cnRb6buEFyLLIJl_QCeqPUT-zNkOF3FXj1omH5rjoEQsg5k0jR6SLejb_I_RisShyphenhyphenUPOEy3_2VXI1uFxAJsg-6Ej-Bp3xystanVo8aQ-T8bZ_XOcLd/s2048/2022%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="2048" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvhMWTMEQh4MtcrAOrjJa76RE-drJz7CTpUMaffgdcSGRZf07_z-Lr_SBL91cvMw24XAF7rDKy8cnRb6buEFyLLIJl_QCeqPUT-zNkOF3FXj1omH5rjoEQsg5k0jR6SLejb_I_RisShyphenhyphenUPOEy3_2VXI1uFxAJsg-6Ej-Bp3xystanVo8aQ-T8bZ_XOcLd/s320/2022%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="color: purple;">2022 Christmas FDC<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUTbv4Ro2ljYSu_p27Df3a59aRK0ziXF6LuiyhdC4oO0AyB7IKvHvtbySHTvwuwZ9eFOTh8aqv0eIrMKcDCMzHgUBi6j4esuOWqt-mNp94tRC7Tc6prOPV4VMkCUUN7L1XxtnKoDOvx5c_4rVHVouofzkffFguaZvwTjXBlm4ptWtIHe5byVX9ooTqAno/s2048/2012%20Cmas%20set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUTbv4Ro2ljYSu_p27Df3a59aRK0ziXF6LuiyhdC4oO0AyB7IKvHvtbySHTvwuwZ9eFOTh8aqv0eIrMKcDCMzHgUBi6j4esuOWqt-mNp94tRC7Tc6prOPV4VMkCUUN7L1XxtnKoDOvx5c_4rVHVouofzkffFguaZvwTjXBlm4ptWtIHe5byVX9ooTqAno/s320/2012%20Cmas%20set.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><b><span style="color: purple;">2023 Christmas set<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTAjoGiH5jNnBhZsIvE3CE7OaglIZSR_gEx4_cBN7sqb9-zlIZd-CGLXVhKvOprCefNckZrYpNSJ4mAldla1gpdAHhJDzcohj1o0dLoltwNQq1mdwp2GMpQ1so4qZnDys-XU15cgMqt2KQNE3ZUvfUga08AHTdl2YJJdmmMOEFbArespWQqzwit1-nk-a/s2048/2012%20Cmas%20sh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTAjoGiH5jNnBhZsIvE3CE7OaglIZSR_gEx4_cBN7sqb9-zlIZd-CGLXVhKvOprCefNckZrYpNSJ4mAldla1gpdAHhJDzcohj1o0dLoltwNQq1mdwp2GMpQ1so4qZnDys-XU15cgMqt2KQNE3ZUvfUga08AHTdl2YJJdmmMOEFbArespWQqzwit1-nk-a/s320/2012%20Cmas%20sh.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><b><span style="color: purple;">2023 Christmas sheetlet<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvAVnFTR4ip32FrX6fs5jIXxMnHIrnubOX51j887AtBzOoCL4Lm3IsZ6LfwBQQbopqm21LTE3tKPGGuq1ZriSSqf3SkK4SZndbKwvyWYIv2bmKofC7AdVw3xwI61nhyphenhyphenvq670h4DjYmS3d-o5K-CPVYxgnsVon9wTjoIYD3riyiOKgmQV0r6Ww2kfG5sRR/s2048/2012%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvAVnFTR4ip32FrX6fs5jIXxMnHIrnubOX51j887AtBzOoCL4Lm3IsZ6LfwBQQbopqm21LTE3tKPGGuq1ZriSSqf3SkK4SZndbKwvyWYIv2bmKofC7AdVw3xwI61nhyphenhyphenvq670h4DjYmS3d-o5K-CPVYxgnsVon9wTjoIYD3riyiOKgmQV0r6Ww2kfG5sRR/s320/2012%20Cmas%20fdc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="color: purple;">2023 Christmas FDC</span></b></b></b></b></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /><b><br /><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-42798037049569491952016-12-07T17:15:00.002-08:002020-06-20T00:15:11.812-07:00Loving Cory<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjxTwqTMtflu2I9H8xAixTjJWXcifmsjMTYFoUqr-Vey47tVZKYVGIY8KFkGmc41mRUlAyTLWkSGyPH1X9heXecZbiGVaLOJuzDjMH48y5fW8aX2lmCHZCEe1vkXpNATo_LZ5xhXuhAE_/s1600/Cory2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjxTwqTMtflu2I9H8xAixTjJWXcifmsjMTYFoUqr-Vey47tVZKYVGIY8KFkGmc41mRUlAyTLWkSGyPH1X9heXecZbiGVaLOJuzDjMH48y5fW8aX2lmCHZCEe1vkXpNATo_LZ5xhXuhAE_/s400/Cory2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Cory the builder fish</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Cory,
a yellow Midas cichlid who joined our family six years ago, passed away last
December 5, maybe of old age, or of having pebbles in her belly, or
probably a combination of both. In 2010 Cory and other colorful
cichlids, plus some goldfish, enlarged the population in the 80-liter
aquarium. It takes only a molecular jump of the imagination to connect
her vivid yellow coloration to a certain president,<span class="text_exposed_show"> although that president was never admired here. The Cory we had learned to love was the fish. <br /> <br />
"Ang galing natin, no?" I told Sogo, my assistant/yaya/adviser, "Paano
nga ba natin nalamang babae si Cory?" It turned out that after the
arbitrary naming, came the assumption that every Cory is certainly a
female. Never in her entire existence, from fingerlinghood to adulthood,
did Cory reproach us for such an unscientific approach; with neither a word
nor an eyeblink did we discern any displeasure on her part. We did not
have to offer the excuse that we had been used to determining genders by
peeking at rear ends of numerous kittens and puppies that had become part of
our large menagerie of mammals and fish, which included us, of course.<br /> <br />
We learned one vital thing about raising fish: Cichlids and goldfish do
a colorful aquarium make, but certain species are not meant to be
together in one place. This fact was driven home when one morning we saw
one of the goldfish wagging its tails erratically, because its
prominent eyes were gone, just empty, dark sockets left; while in a
bottom corner float<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed</span> the fleshless but intact skeleton of another fish
-- the kind we see on cartoon shows on TV, when the cat drops a fish
into his tummy and pulls out a skeleton complete with fishhead, ribs,
and tail -- mini scenes befitting a Stephen King novel, if the thought
crosses his mind to write about terror in 80 liters of water.<br /> <br />
The quirk that made Cory memorable as well as adorable was her ability
to make a small hill at the right front corner of the aquarium. Whenever
the water was changed and after all the fish were returned, Cory right
away sucked into her mouth some of the pebbles that served as the
surface of the aquarium floor and then disgorged them at her regular
corner. Without stop she went to get more pebbles and added to the stack
until the floor in the vicinity became clear glass. </span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span data-offset-key="85gig-0-0"><span data-text="true">In her youth, when her coat was full yellow, she was even able to build two mounds, one on each side of her. The first time I saw the high mound she had built, I was so impressed I took several cyber photos of Cory beside her engineering feat. My wife made some video records.</span></span><br /> <br /> At the beginning of December I
happened to look at the aquarium, and I sensed that something was out of
place. Then I realized what was wrong: every pebble was in place -- no
big mound, no busy Cory sucking and disgorging pebbles! I looked at her
preferred corner, and there she was, bigger but paler, and slower. She
was just in her corner, just floating in a way that alarmed me. In my
school days I also raised goldfish in a smaller fishtank, and I learned
that when a fish swimmed in a way that its body pointed vertically rather than
horizontally, it was just a matter of days when it would float belly up.
And that was how Cory was coping, fins slowly waving while her body
tilted upward. I asked Sogo to take pictures of Cory, to remember her
by.<br /> <br /> On December 5 I heard someone say Cory was no more. Now not
only her corner but the entire aquarium seems dark without her
coloration and movement, and it doesn't seem foolish to write about a
fish who kept building mounds as long as she could, the clicks of the
pebbles resonating in my memory.<br /> <br /> Cory was interred below the
mango tree in the garden, where she joined Rex, the Chow Chow patriarch,
and the numerous kittens who died at birth or of illness. They say
beloved pets who die go to The Rainbow Bridge, where they <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ro</span>mp and play
all day. I'm hoping that below that consoling bridge is a lake or river
where fishes can swim in delight and find worms or pebbles to put in
their mouths.</span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs8o5tBSBQN3xsFi-2qHaPtAezDdaR8KgshxYINv6raY5WEBRcoHlZ2okFb1scg_Dfxg8Sy1kUh-SBIGWd_ylvrWracsNbtQ6zn_KRSgg7BSFH_O5p5NLuWfUkjihzKK8FVV1y26fyJwh/s1600/Cory3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs8o5tBSBQN3xsFi-2qHaPtAezDdaR8KgshxYINv6raY5WEBRcoHlZ2okFb1scg_Dfxg8Sy1kUh-SBIGWd_ylvrWracsNbtQ6zn_KRSgg7BSFH_O5p5NLuWfUkjihzKK8FVV1y26fyJwh/s400/Cory3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Cory in happier days</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/leena.calso/videos/vb.1004570596/10209696013009477/?type=2&theater </b></span></span></td></tr>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-56143433914898005512016-12-07T17:05:00.002-08:002016-12-07T17:07:39.465-08:00Protect Leni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyQpr3Msch9JXKV0YB7CFwtraJCXd1U2ieFtuFnTxks64lxsqG_BiKBETXqZlQthvO78djVtKqxiCwLsGOoJ2jvjLJ2FTXGqq5FEuew7hEBbdkvguFacA-wmB5v0c0w4OoSSyBEVV1aCK/s1600/leni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyQpr3Msch9JXKV0YB7CFwtraJCXd1U2ieFtuFnTxks64lxsqG_BiKBETXqZlQthvO78djVtKqxiCwLsGOoJ2jvjLJ2FTXGqq5FEuew7hEBbdkvguFacA-wmB5v0c0w4OoSSyBEVV1aCK/s320/leni.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Now
it's official: VP Leni has quit her post in Duterte's Cabinet. She has
confirmed that moves are underway to oust her from the vice presidency. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
Duterte has been actively working for the reinstatement of a Marcos to
the presidency, since he was coaxed, cajoled and financed by the
Marcoses to grab the power offered him. And the Supreme Court has shown
its adherence to the "feed our piggy bank" rule of law. Estelito has
ensured the burial of the dictator (along with that EDSA 1986 event);
now he's transferring some stolen wealth to some SC justices's secret
accounts.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> The peasants' tepid protests after the Marcos burial,
with full state honor, plus a wreath from lackey Duterte, show how
enfeebled our sense of outrage has become, how we respect institutions
that, instead of being excoriated, are obeyed and respected without
question -- the SC, which cited an AFP regulation as the basis for its
decision to let the thieving and treasonous Marcos join the resting
place of real and valiant soldiers; the PNP, which now serves as a
killer squad for the loony president; the AFP, which Duterte has been
courting with pay raise and housing incentives, because it will soon
enforce a burgeoning tyrant's powerplay; the Cabinet, which now consists
of leftists mellowed by perks of positions, foolish men drunk with
power, lying in their old age to explain Duterte's twitches of insanity;
pompous reporters and bitchy bloggers lifted to lofty positions their
grammar cannot reach; a Justice secretary whose wig cannot hide his
incompetence; and Asecs and Usecs drawing high salaries from the high
taxes the boobooisies squeeze out of their sweat every month. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> In
a country where servility is the norm, education and knowledge are mere
tinsels that lack the strength to strangle the criminals in high
office. It is the tragedy of this country that not one leader in its
entire history has really cared for its citizens. And what is there to
love in a people whose loyalty sways to where the money flutters? Rizal
wrote two books about this, and on the morning he was executed in
Bagongbayan Field, people brown and white cheered, under holiday
buntings, after his body hit the grass. When I see Duterte's eyes, I see
a man who will not let that kind of fate befall him, because that is
not his definition of "wise," and, with that kind of mindset, respect
and patriotism and service and honor become mere catchwords to beguile
dumb voters. "The more things change, the more things stay the same."</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>
There are times when I think we sweathogs deserve our fate. Who does
not bow to this democracy -- this system where the majority rules? Let
me state this another way, and see if the taste remains the same: Our
lives are governed by what is decreed by the lowest common denominator
of our society -- the uneducated serfs, the miseducated diploma-holders,
the stressed-out employees, the dregs of society -- mostly ignorant,
superstitious, fearful and cowering every day and every tomorrow, rude,
noisy, dishonest, sycophants, hypocrites, and other characteristics that
make us imbeciles. All, except the wily and the crooks, entrusts in
form of taxes a third of their earnings to thieving government officials
who should be hanged by their intestines on the nearest electric posts.
Yet, as Stephen King said, we all float. The sea of humanity has become
huge, and polluted. At least we are consoled by the thought that the
young thugs who are shouting about the beneficence of Martial Law will
soon get a personal taste of the New Society-the sequel, sponsored by
Dodirty.</b></span></div>
<br />William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6485926830191977977.post-50884916380206258252016-11-18T23:21:00.001-08:002020-06-19T21:32:47.224-07:00Ode to the Uod<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Ang Paraan sa Paglilibing sa Isang Magnanakaw by ISAGANI FUENTES</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Isang Peklat na Pahimakas</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Aba, ginoong Marcos, ginulat mo kami!<br /> Para kang magnanakaw sa dilim ng gabi --<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> Diretso sa hukay, kulang sa paalam,<br /> Dagdag-bawas pati iyong pasiyam.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> May nagmamarkulyo, di ka raw santo.<br /> Okay lang kay Digong, bato rin ang puso.<br /> Sasamahan ka hanggang impiyerno --<br /> Sabihin kay Imelda, mag-LBC ng yelo.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Paalam, sundalong pulpol,<br /> Tangna nyo, loyalistang ulol.<br /> Kahit na marmol ang iyong puntod,<br /> Lakay, pulutan ka ng uod.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>***</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Isang baku-bako at tulalang tula na isinilang matapos makita ang painting ni Isagani Fuentes. Salamat, Igan, sa permisong magamit ko ang iyong obra dito. </span></b></span></div>
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William Pogi Chuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151057152396044717noreply@blogger.com0