| Letter from Paris
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Oct. 28, 2008 For the Standard Today We took the Eurostar train from St.Pancras Station in London to Gare du Nord in Paris. The train glided noiselessly under the English Channel in less time than it took me to read the International Herald Tribune, which has become my medium of choice, in London and even in Paris, even though I can read French passably. The IHT feels like an old shoe. When I was a student in Evanston (Illinois) in the late 1950s and early 1960s I used to buy the Sunday edition of the New York Times every weekend, to find out what was going on in the world, the Chicago papers being terribly insular and parochial. The leading London and Paris newspapers are anything but insular and parochial, of course, but I felt comfortable in the editorial embrace of the IHT, which is the international edition of the NYT. Like slipping into an old shoe. If you should think of taking the Eurostar, be informed that there are no porters, in either London or Paris, to pick up your luggage for you. And apparently no trolleys in Gare du Nord. We were a party of seven adults and two children, with 11 full-sized pieces of luggage and eight hand-carrieds. After unloading our impedimenta from the train, we waited vainly for a porter with one or two hand trolleys to transport our baggage to the station exit. The two young men in our party searched the station for some hand trolleys, but they could not find any.. While I was left alone with the women and children and our pile of luggage, a motorized trolley glided by on its way to pick up some official cargo at the other end of the train. When it headed back our way, I noticed that all the driver had picked up was some equipment the size of a fat DVD player, perhaps the cockpit recorder of the train. So I flagged him down and in the best French that I could muster I requested him to also load our belongings. At first, he said he was not allowed to load unofficial cargo, but I pleaded that we were the only passengers left on the platform and we could not possibly move by hand the amount of luggage that we had. He must have taken pity either on our hopeless situation or on my bad French, because he relented and personally loaded all our 19 pieces of luggage on his mechanized trolley. The moral of the story is: if you are travelling across the English Channel with more luggage than you can personally pull, push or levitate, take the plane. The last time I was in Paris was in the early 1980s. I cannot even recall the exact year. But Paris has always been my favorite city. I think it is the most beautiful city in the world, and would gladly have visited it more often than I have, if it had not been so expensive to fly here and to stay here. It was my children who zeroed in on the hotel we are staying in, after diligent search on the Internet. We are in the 7th arrondisement, less than ten minutes away from the Tour Eiffel. We are enjoying the generosity of a wealthy friend, who has lent us a Volkswagen van with driver to take us around during our entire stay here. Thierry has been much more than a driver. He is a knowledgeable tour guide with a wealth of arcane historical information, which flows effortlessly out of his mind in and outside the museums. He knows about wines and gourmandise. He knows about fast cars and motorcycles. He knows about films, with whom I agree completely that, after Au bout de Souffle ('Breathless'), the director Jean Luc Godard, one of the fashionable icons of the French Nouvelle Vague movement in the 60s and 70s, has created nothing but garbage. He is also a regular reader of the satirical and irreverent political weekly Le Canard Enchaine, which probably explains why he has such a low opinion of his president, Nicholas Sarkozy. How many drivers do you know possess such impressive intellectual credentials? Thierry has also been something of a valet. He makes reservations for dinner, buys museum tickets, and even follows up on tax-refunds for purchases at the Galeries Lafayette. And he is a most capable driver, as well as a pleasant and amiable travelling companion. The other day, he drove us to the Loire Valley for a balloon trip which, through no fault of his, was less than the exciting experience that we had anticipated: the wind speed was almost sedentary at three knots, the balloon failed to reach the chateau that I had wanted to fly over � Chennonceaux � and instead landed on a private hunting preserve near Blois, which angered the landowner against the operator. But she was gracious enough towards us innocent passengers, whom she kindly showed around the grounds of her chateau. Yesterday, we spent the whole day and part of the evening being expertly driven by Thierry through Normandy, which was my personal itinerary for this trip, meaning that I wanted to see what I had missed on my two previous visits to France: the extraordinarily impressivre Mont Saint Michel; the 12th century tapestry in Bayeux narrating in Latin the events leading to the invasion of England in 1066 by Guillaume le Conquereur of Normandy; and the lovingly manicured American military cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, scene of another, more formidable, invasion, this time of Normandy, by American, British and Canadian armies in June 1944. In the dark, because of the late hour, Thierry even took us to one of the concrete blockhouses, 155mm gun still intact, that the Germans had built in Normandy as part of their Festung Europa On my request, he took us on a tour of the Paris streets which I knew in 1961. We searched the length of the lengthy Rue du Cherche Midi for the Hotel du Cherche Midi, where I had stayed in April 1961, but alas the hotel seems to have disappeared. I especially wanted to revisit it because I recall that a few hundred meters from the hotel there was a historical marker honoring Jose Rizal. I could not recall what Rizal was doing on Rue du Cherche Midi in the 1890s. But the historical marker seems to have disappeared also. Perhaps, theorized Thierry, the area had been renovated and they forgot to put back the marker. We also visited Rue Racine, off Boulevard Saint Michel in the Latin Quarter, to look for Hotel Racine. where I had stayed in October 1961. it too has disappeared, or rather has been reincarnated as a Best Western hotel, with a new name and a modernized facade. And the Vespa agency on Rue Lauriston near the Arc de Triomphe, where I had bought my Vespa in 1961, seems to have disappeared as well. We drove to the suburbs of Aubervilliers where my Vespa had run out of gasoline and I out of money, in October 1961. The main street, the Avenue de la Division Leclerc, is still there, but the cross street, Rue de la Republique, has also disappeared. Instead there is now a wide Avenue de la Republique which, however, does not cross the Avenue de la Division Leclerc. (Leclerc was the commanding general of the French Army division which was given by the Allies the honour of liberating Paris from the Germans in 1944). For those who may have tuned in late. I was on the last leg of my six-month, 18,000 km Vespa trip through Europe . I had spent the night before in the auberge de jeunesse in the town of Givet, near the Belgian frontier, about 270 kms from Paris. After buying a loaf of bread, which was my breakfast and lunch for the day, I tanked up the Vespa, which from experience I knew would take me about 250 kms. Not unexpectedly, my Vespa sputtered to a stop before I reached Paris, precisely at the corner of Avenue de la Division Leclerc and Rue de la Republique in the suburbs of Aubervilliers. It was out of fuel, and I was out of money. I had enough coins left to make one telephone call, to the Philippine Embassy in Paris, where, as previously instructed by my sister � then visiting Paris � I was to talk to Nene Zacarias, When I identified myself, Nene exclaimed, "Naku, itung batang ito, matagal ka nang hinahanap ng kapatid mo!" What to do? Nene told me to leave my Vespa behind , take a taxi to the Embassy � at 26 Avenue Georges Mandel � where they would pay for my cab fare. I asked permission from the owner of the grill-bar where I was calling from to leave my Vespa in front of her establishment. Instead she kindly allowed me to park my Vespa inside the courtyard of the building, for safe-keeping. As instructed by Nene, I took a taxi to the Embassy and entered Paris that day in October 1961 with exactly ten centimes � the equivalent of two US cents � in my pocket. But now, a few days more than 47 years later, Hotel du Cherche Midi has disappeared, Hotel Racine has disappeared, the Vespa agency on Rue Lauriston has disappeared, Rue de la Republique in Aubervilliers has disappeared. And inexorably, I too will disappear. Sic transit gloria Vespae.***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in acabaya.blogspot.com. Tony on YouTube in www.tapatt.org. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to "Letter from Paris" More Reaction to "Deeper in Corruption" More Reaction to "Is Batanes Taiwanese" More Reaction to "Bonifacio Revisited" First Psalm of a Filipino Bravo, Antonio! I enjoyed this one immensely! Sic transit gloria Vespae (Lambretta?). Hahaha. I definitely agree about the beauty and historicity of the city of lights, romance and culture. My first visit to Paris was in 1997 then in 2000 and 2006. Each time enthralled by the beauty of the structures and architecture from the simple window grill of an old apartment with colorful flowers in pots to the grandeur of Torre Eiffel and Jardin de Luxembourg. Ah, I love Paris! Bon voyage! Ed Tirona, (by email), Paranaque City, Oct. 29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony: Great letter. I had not heard about a historical marker honoring Jose Rizal near Rue du Cherche Midi. I will try to find out more about that. There is a newly named Place Jose Rizal along Rue Maubeuge (I don't remember which corner, you will have to walk the whole length to find it). The last time I was in Paris I went to 124 Rue de Rennes, where Rizal stayed with Juan Luna in 1883 (see http://rizaldiaries.livejournal.com/2004/06/28/). I had been told years ago that there was a marker there, but I didn't see any plaque or marker. The building is now Hotel Aramis. Rizal also stayed at 45 rue de Maubeuge with Valentin Ventura, who financed "El Filibusterismo". Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo stayed with Juan Luna at 65 Boulevard Arago in 1884. Juan Luna later moved to 175 Boulevard Pereire. That is where he killed his wife Paz and mother-in-law and wounded his brother-in-law Felix Pardo de Tavera. Felix stayed nearby at 14 Avenue Wagram. Enjoy the rest of your stay, Hi again Tony: I just realized that the house at 124 Rue de Rennes is actually very close to Rue du Cherche-Midi. So the marker you saw in 1961 is certainly the one I heard about that used to be at 124 Rue de Rennes. Attached is a picture of the building that I took earlier this year. Do you recognize it? Christian Perez, (by email), Oct. 29, 2008 French resident in Manila wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sometimes it is best to remember things as they were and not as they are.Enjoyed your narration of your visit to France. Traveling rejuvenates the spirit! Margarita M. de Ortigas, (by email), Oct. 29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello Kuya Tony C.Abaya, You must have a great memory to remember those travels you made in Europe,Paris, etc. Thanks for sharing with us those memories you had. Keep on writing and God bless you. Leona Guera, (by email), Australia, Oct. 29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Ka Tony, Sa pagtunghay ng inyong travelogue ay waring nakapaglamiyerda na rin ako sa dakong kinaroroonan ninyo diyan ng Europa. Taong 1961 pa ang isinalaysay ninyo, pero ako'y nun lang nag-graduate - Octoberian - sa kursong AB sa FEU. Gapang kasi ako sa pag-aaral (36 na ang edad ko nun); na kapalaran lamang ng isang dating footsoldier sa ating armed forces. Malaki talaga ang agwat ng uri ng ating buhay. Sa London lang ako nakarating (Jan-Mar 1975) kung saan idinistierro ako ni Kgg.Kit Tatad -- boss ko sa Press Office -- para ilayo sa kahibangang pagsusulong ng ating wikang pambansa sa larangan ng pamamahala sa gobyerno at sa edukasyong publiko. Ngayong wala kayo sa Pinas, ang pinaka-mainit na talakayan ay tungkol sa Fertilizer scam (ni) Jocjoc Bolante. Sana, makatunghay muli ako ng inyong mga salaysay-paglalakbay. Masaganang komusta. Irineo Perez Goce -- a.k.a. Ka Pule2, (by email), Lipa City, Oct.29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Loved your letter, dear Tony, Bless your heart and all of France..... toured yearly with my mom Chona in the spring and summer and I lived there off and on in the late 60's. Heartwarming and nostalgic...... Merci beaucoup. Techie Bilbao, (by email), Oct. 29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mon cher Tony, Oui, Paris est la plus belle ville du monde et avec votre confirmation je suis bien s�r d'accord et nous faisons Mlle Paris. Chita et moi projetons de le faire l'ann�e prochaine. J'ai appr�ci� cette colonne ... bringng les souvenirs en haut pendant notre visite de 1983. Bravo, mon ami et tocayo. Tony "Antoine"Joaquin, (by email), Daly City, CA, Oct. 29, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very interesting, informative and educational. Linda Baisa, (by email), Oct. 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Must have been a nostalgic trip for you. Being with your family must have made the trip very comforting and doubly enjoyable. No fear that you will run out of cash or that you have to buy a loaf of bread for your breakfast and lunch. See you soon. Cesar Sarino, (by email), Oct. 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Vive la France! Jose Leonidas, (by email), Oct. 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks ACA - it's was a fascinatingly nostalgic "report" - Your Letter from Paris is so full of nostalgic memories. Indeed the only thing that is constant is change. Now you see the edifices, tomorrow they are gone - all in the name of "modernization" . Travelling 18,000km on a Vespa for six months through Europe is another thing. It shows how adventurous you were as a young man! If you documented that experience I am sure it would make an interesting reading, as well. Thanks too for the piece of advice about avoiding heavy luggage when taking the Eurostar. Enjoy the rest of your trip while you can, ACA. God bless you and your entourage. Jun Manzano, (by email), Oct. 30, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony- Lovely story - and useful! Looking forward to seeing you again in February, All the best, David Szanton, (by email), Berkeley, CA, Oct. 30, 2008 Faculty, University of California at Berkeley wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Your letter from Paris brought back many fond memories; plus many of schlepping our luggage up and down metro steps - we have yet to learn to travel light! We've been fortunate to snag an apartment on the Ile Saint Louis through Dee Marquez Litchfield and stay two weeks every other year. Your travel memories rekindled a desire to go back since our last trip was in 2004. One of my best climbing achievements was ascending the steep stairs to the chapel at Mont St. Michel twice on the same day! Paris has to be the best city to walk around, about, in and back again and most of the Parisians we encountered on the whole have been cordial, helpful and even warm! Enjoyed reading about your Paris, thanks! Cayo Marschner, (by email), Moraga, CA, Oct. 31, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Enjoyed your travelogue, past and present. Thanks. Remedios Marmoleno, (by email), Nov. 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What a lovely letter; thanks loads for sharing. Romeo Encarnacion, (by email), Bulgaria, Nov. 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thank you. I had the chance to tour Paris in 2000, a week's stopover before proceeding to Lourdes. That was quite a hectic travel - Spain, France. Yes, like you I loved Paris. the lights and the view along the River Seine was an enthralling experience. Yes, luggage IS the problem in land trips or rail. Victor Manalac, (by email), Nov. 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, you really had a super nice journey, especially. together with your remembrances to your traveling Europe 50 years ago. You mention the French army division and its commander for liberating Paris. But that never happened in reality. Paris has been declared "Offwnw Stadt" means open city, an area the would not be hold and protected by military fighting. Paris has been surrendered by the German Command as it has been surrendered to the German forces 1940. That French division had never to fight for liberating Paris, but the Allied Command, Eisenhower and Montgomery, gave in to the request of Gen. Charles de Gaulle that he and French troops should enter Paris as the first military contingent to make Paris liberated by French military, wiping out the shame that the same French army had surrendered Paris to Hitler's troops. French proud .... Not only Paris has changed so much, near all of Central Europe. Some of the most changed places are those which have been near totally destroyed during the war, even many have in the meantime being rebuilt in historical shape. Regarding your Vespa, it is true it has been an extremely convenient vehicle at an affordable price and consumption. It would also decongest traffic in the Philippines, much better than the usual motorbikes used now. Maybe together with the legendary Citroen 2CV Canard, which even could swallow the pothole lanes called roads in the Philippines. Of course, it is nothing to "show". I have been traveling with a friend, a travel guide, near across Iceland, crossing sand, mud, water, rocky areas, since Iceland has very few real roads. They would be totally damaged every year during winter and by the moving of the big volcanic areas of Iceland. My friend used the car some seven years there until it crashed so far from any repair that he had to give it up. The Canard could, if widely used, bring down the oil imports of the Philippines very noticeable. Unfortunately, it has also disappeared. Regards and good homecoming! Kurt Setschen, (by email), Switzerland/Tagbilaran City, Nov. 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Abaya, I was hugely amused by your apparent surprise at the lack of porters in London and Paris. I sometimes think that Filipinos can underestimate the many very positive aspects of life in their own country, personal courtesy, strong family bonds, a respect for traditions, blissful weather and excellent standards of service being good examples. Try to get someone to pack your bags or carry your shopping to the car at an English supermarket and you will be met with looks of incredulity. I meet so many Filipinos who come here in search of a better life only to find that they just get better salaries, and I suppose that's why so many of us Brits are more than happy to jump on the 'plane to Manila as often as we can. Enjoy the rest of your trip, Regards, Tom Hewitt, (by email), United Kingdom, Nov. 02, 2008 (There was a sequel to this, which explained why there were no trolleys for disembarking passengers at Gare du Nord. (My son Hochi did not fly home with us from Paris. His ticket was from London Heathrow to Manila via Hong Kong. So he had to take the Eurostar back to St. Pancras. At Gare du Nord, the trolleys had been cornered by gypsies, who charge embarking passengers 20 euros per trolley. Our guide-driver Thierry, who knew that the trolleys cost only one euro each, scuffled with a gypsy woman for possession of a trolley, for which he gave her the official one euro, instead of the 20 that she demanded. A minor urban legend of Paris. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Here's the Paris that you may not know about: Bob Manasan, (by email), Burke, Virginia, Oct. 30, 2008 "I am now come to Paris, this huge magazine of men, the epitome of this large populous kingdom, and the rendezvous of all foreigners. The structures here are indifferently fair, tho' the streets generally foul all the four seasons of the year; which I impute first to the position of the city, being built upon an isle, (the Isle of France, made so by the branching and serpentine course of the river of Seine) and having some of her suburbs seated high, the filth runs down the channel, and settles in many places within the body of the city, which lies upon a flat; as also for a world of coaches, carts, and horses of all sorts that go to and fro perpetually, so that sometime one shall meet a stop half a mile long of these coaches, carts, and horses, that can neither move forward or backward, by reason of some sudden encounter of others coming a cross way; so that oftentimes it will be an hour or two before they can disentangle. In such a stop the great Henry IV was so fatally slain by Ravaillac. Hence comes it to pass, that this town (for Paris is a town, a city, and a university) is always dirty, and 'tis such a dirt, that by perpetual motion is beaten into such black unctuous oil, that where it sticks no art can wash it off some colours; insomuch, that it may be no improper comparison to say that an ill name is like the crot (the dirt) of Paris, which is indelible; besides, the stain this dirt leaves, it gives also so strong a scent, that it may be smelt many miles off, if the wind be in one's face as he comes from the air of the country: this can be one cause why the plague is always in some corner or other of this vast city, which may be call'd, as once Scythia was, Vagina populorum....." Paris, 30 March, 1620. James Howell, B.A. 1613 Jesus College, Oxford University, England Excerpted from the: Familiar Letters of James Howell, London, 1890 "I thank you for the desire you have to know how it fares with me abroad. I thank God I am perfectly well, and well contented with this wandering course of life a while. I never enjoyed my health better, but I was like to endanger it two nights ago; for being in some jovial company abroad, and coming late to our lodging, we were suddenly surpris'd by a crew of filous or night-rogues, who drew upon us; and we had exchanged some blows, it pleas'd God the Chevalier du Guet, an officer who goes up and down the streets all night a-horseback to prevent disorders, pass'd by, and so rescu'd us; but Jack White was hurt, and I had two thrusts in my cloak. There's never a night passes, but some robbing or murder is committed in this town; so it is not safe to go late anywhere, especially about the Pont-Neuf, the New-Bridge...." Paris, 1 May, 1620. James Howell, B.A. 1613 Jesus College, Oxford University, England Excerpted from the: Familiar Letters of James Howell, London, 1890 "France, as all Christendom besides, (for there was then a truce betwixt Spain and the Hollanders) was in a profound peace, and had continued so twenty years together, when Henry IV fell upon some great martial design, the bottom of whereof is not known to this day; and being rich, (for he had heap'd up in the Bastille a mount of gold that was as high as a lance) he levy'd a huge army of 40,000 men, whence came the song, 'The King Of France with forty thousand men;' and upon a sudden he put this army in perfect equipage, and some say he invited our Prince Henry to come with him to be a sharer in his exploits. But going one afternoon to the Bastille, to see his treasure and ammunition, his coach stopp'd suddenly, by reason of some colliers and other carts that were in that narrow street; whereupon one Ravaillac, a Lay-Jesuit, (who had a whole twelvemonth watch'd an opportunity to do the act) put his foot boldly upon one of the wheels of the coach, and with a long knife stretch'd himself over their shoulders who were in the boot of the coach, and reach'd the King at the end, and stabb'd him right in the left side to the heart, and pulling out the fatal steel, he doubled his thrust; the King with a rueful voice cry'd out, Je suisse blesse (I am hurt), and suddenly the blood issued out at his mouth. The regicide villain was appprehended, and command given that no violence should be offer'd him, that he may be reserv'd for the law, and some exquisite torture. The Queen grew half distracted hereupon, who had been crown'd Queen of France the day before in great triumph; but after a few days after she had something to countervail, if not to overmatch her sorrow: for according to St. Lewis's Law, she was made Queen Regent of France, during the King's minority, who was then but about ten years of age. Many consultations were held how to punish Ravaillac, and there were some Italian physicians that undertook to prescribe a torment for three days; but he escap'd only with this, his body was pulled between four horses, that one might hear his bones crack, and after the dislocation they were set again; and so he was carry'd in a cart standing half naked, with a torch in that hand which had committed the murder: and in the place where the act was done, it was cut off, and a gauntlet of hot oil was clapp'd upon the stump, to staunch the blood; whereat he gave a doleful shriek. Then he was brought upon a stage, where a pair of new boots was provided for him, half fill'd with boiling oil; then his body was pincer'd, and hot oil pour'd into the holes. In all the extremity of this torture, he scarce shew'd any sense of pain; but when the gauntlet was clapped upon his arm to staunch the flux, at that time, of reeking blood, he gave a shriek only. He bore up against all these torments about three hours before he died: all the confession that could be drawn from him was, 'That he thought to have done God good service, to take away that King which would have embroil'd all Christendom in an endless war.' A fatal thing it was, that France should have three of her Kings come to such violent deaths, in so short a revolution of time. Henry II, running at tilt with M. Montgomery, was kill'd by a splinter of a lance that pierc'd his eye: Henry III, not long after, was kill'd by a young friar, who in lieu of a letter he pretended to have for him, pull'd out of his long sleeve a knife, and thrust him into the bottom of the belly, and so dispatch'd him, but that regicide was hack'd to pieces by the nobles. The same destiny attended the King by Ravaillac, which is become now a common name of reproach and infamy in France." Paris, 12 May, 1620. James Howell, B.A. 1613 Jesus College, Oxford University, England Excerpted from the: Familiar Letters of James Howell, London, 1890 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww First Psalm of a Filipino Dear Tony, This poem reflects pretty much what you write about GMA. I wish I knew who "Crabby" is. I want to shake his hands. The piece was forwarded to me by Ding Roces. Cordially, Ben Sanchez, (by email), *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ FIRST PSALM OF A FILIPINO GMA is my Shepherd, I shall not want. She leadeth me beside still factories, She restoreth my faith in the Filipino, She guideth me in the paths of unemployment. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the NFA line, I shall not go hungry. GMA has anointed my income with taxes, My expenses runneth over my income, Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life. We Filipinos will live forever in a rented barong-barong. But I am glad I am a Filipino, I am glad that I am free. But I wish I were a dog And GMA a tree. Crabby wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reaction to "Bonifacio Revisited" (jan. 30, 2008) Dear Mr. Abaya, I have sent two feedbacks to your program, but I think it failed be sent. I think I am too out of date, but nevertheless, for Andres Bonifacio's sake, I am going to send a feedback, and I will entrust it to the Lord Almighty and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that in His own divine will and intervention, with the Most Holy Spirit, with all His legions of angels and saints, and in unity with our Most Holy Roman Catholic Church, may we be truly enlightened, and may we fully know the truth, and everything about our hero "Supremo Presidente" Don Andres Bonifacio. (No need to plead for divine intervention. All you have to do is follow instructions: send all reactions to [email protected], not �as you did- to [email protected] which has been sabotaged by person or persons unknown. ACA) Since childhood, I am puzzled about our heroes, especially on the part of Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. It was obvious that Bonifacio is the founder and the first leader, and rightfully he should be our first president, but what happenned?. .. I have read the reactions to your program especially on the part of Balacanao and others who are against Bonifacio, and I found out that engineers as they are, or proffessionals, their are some flaws in their reactions, as well as some ignorance and superficial knowledge of our history. One accussation stated by Balacanao was: "the Magdalos suspected that Edilberto Evangellista's death was not caused by an enemy bullet, but by an assassin's bullet, allegedly hired by Bonifacio." That accussation however was never proven, and if not proven, then it is a lie. Their was no any evidence that Bonifacio was a treacherous killer. All his battles were done frontal attack, "Commando style"(Buo ang loob!). And it is impossible for him to conceive such a cowardly act. On the contrary, Aguinaldo and his men were proven as killers, murderers, cowards, liars, and some were rapists. Another accussation said by Balacanao against our hero was, Andres Bonifacio according to them was an atheist because he stopped practicing as a Catholic. Like Rizal, Bonifacio detest hypocrisy, and for this reason, he might have been discouraged like Rizal in the outward practices of religion. Although, if we read his decalouge, and some of his poems, he indicated some prayers and deep faith in God. When the authorities searched Bonifacio's house, they found included in his mini-library the "Bible"(5volumes) and some books of religion. Born by religious parents, who were devout Catholics, Bonifacio's parents named him "Andres" from the name of St. Andrew because he was born on the saint's feast day. Andres Bonifacio married Gregoria de Jesus in a puritannical Catholic-Christian wedding, but because of anti-Catholic sentiments at that time, they were married again in the Katipunan society. And it was true however that the Katipunan has based their practice in some of Masonic rites. Nevertheless, though his faith in religion might have lessened to a great degree, he was never an atheist. Bonifacio committed his life for his country, and for the fight for Her freedom, and he fully believed that love of counry is love of God. That was his prayer and his religion. Balacanao and other historians mentioned that Bonifacio lost in his 27 battles, but it seems that they do not like to mention that Bonifacio have won at least 2-3 battles. In San Juan del Monte where they successfully launched an "agaw-armas" operation, and in the first battle of San Mateo where they killed many defenders, while the rest fled in panic. The badly beaten Spaniards were furious of this defeat so they send a very large number of soldiers to retake San Mateo. At this time, the Supremo and his men had to retreat to the hills of Montalban and to the Sierra Madre mountains. Magdalo historians says that Bonifacio's revolution ended in his retreat at San Mateo. That was a lie, an obvious and a very unreasonable lie. How could they say that Bonifacio's revolution ended at his defeat at San Mateo when the Katipunan he founded includes the whole archipelago as stated in his manifesto? The truth was, Andres Bonifacio was "never" defeated. He only retreated. .. Generalissimo Don Mariano Alvarez and his son the valiant Captain General Santiago Alvarez alis "kidlat ng apoy", best friends of Bonifacio after Jacinto, were the best fighting generals who headed the Magdiwang forces in Noveleta and Cavite (It was not true that Emilio Aguinaldo is the best general as most historians says). Contrary to popular belief, the Magdiwang forces who supported Bonifacio and not the Magdalo have won the most and greatest battles of the revolution. Aguinaldo actually have two major victories, after that, he suffered defeat after defeat, and heavy losses until his capture in Palanan Isabela. Aguinaldo however has a great influence over Cavite on account that he was a rich farmer's son, as well as the Aguinaldo family was the richest and most influential politician-dynasty in Cavite. Aguinaldo's father was three times gobernadorcillo, and Emilio Aguinaldo also served that office for three terms. He was elected "kapitan municipal", the highest office allowed by the Spanish government at that time He was serving that office when he was introduced to the Katipunan, and he was initiated and admitted to the Katipunan by Supremo Andres Bonifacio himself. Andres Bonifacio's "Morong command" and all his men who fought side by side with him in his first battles in Manila, whom he left with tears and sad farewells as he leave for Cavite, became the most feared "Tiradorez de la muerte"(riflemen of death!) who won the greatest and most brilliant victories over the most powerful army in the planet. the U.S. Army. Licerio Geronimo defeated the famous American General Henry Lawton at the "battle of Pulang-Lupa" San Mateo, while his Coronel Maximo Abad defeated another group at the famous "Battle of Paye" Mariduque. Therefore, the accussation of the Magdalos that Bonifacio's revolution ended in his retreat at San Mateo was proven false, and a lie. The truth is, "Segundo Supremo" Julio Nakpil and Generalissimo Emilio Jacinto lead and continued the war, even when Aguinaldo compromised with the Spaniards in "Biak na Bato", Nakpil and Jacinto never surrendered, and they never accepted the leadership of Aguinaldo. Bonifacio's loyal men finally won the last battle in "Pulang-Lupa" San Mateo. and in the "Battle of Paye". The great Don Mariano Alvarez and his valiant son Generalissimo Santiago Alvarez alias "kidlat ng apoy" were Bonifacio's best friend in Cavite. They never actually recognized the assumed presidency of Aguinaldo, although Santiago continued to fight for the country's sake. It is to be noted that the Magdiwang armies diminished in their recent strength and enthusiasm since the death of Bonifacio. Nevertheless, all the last generals who continued the resistance after the fall of Aguinaldo and his cowardly men were all Magdiwangs, or one of Bonifacio's original men. General Miguel Malvar who was admired by Bonifacio(this was one of the cause of the murder of Bonifacio, for they suspected he was conniving with Malvar to ovrthrow Aguinaldo. Their evil thoughts lead them to many suspicions which were unfounded.) was the last general to surrender. Bonifacio's own Tondo General Macario Sakay however outlasted the brave Batangueno General Miguel Malvar. Lastly, (against all the protest of liars) Andres Bonifacio is the true founder an father of the Philippine Army. "Supremo Presidente" Don Andres de Castro Bonifacio is the founder of the first, most famous, and most dramatic revolution in Asia! The "great-plebeian" and the father of Philippine Democracy. God bless us Filipinas!!! Sincerely Yours, John Marcel "the lion-hearted" Toyaoan, (by email), Oct. 04, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to "Is Batanes Taiwanese?" (Jan. 28, 2007) The thing is, Batanes has always looked southward in terms of who they saw as their brethren. Batanes is definitely unique in our Philippines and has a familial links to the native Taiwanese and their Austronesian seafaring ancestors. My father is Ivatan for his mother and her ancestors are all Ivatan. My father's father though is an Ilocano. Which again shows how the Ivatan has always looked southward and never north to their Taiwanese cousins. The question should be, if the Chinese hadn't overrun Taiwan throughout history, would they have looked down south as well to their Ivatan cousins for familial, cultural reasons as well? Several writings about Batanes pre-history do say so. Only a rift which resulted into a war between the Ivatans and the Y'ami caused a split and centuries of no contact. Which may have resulted in the separation and the subsequent divergence in history and culture. So the correct question should be: Is Taiwan a part of the Ivatan nation and therefore a part of the Philippines? On the other hand, all throughout recorded history, there has been a total of ZERO claims by any foreign government on the Batanes Islands. It was and is and always will be Basco, Batanes, the Philippines. Victor S. De Padua, (by email), August 27, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to "Deeper in Corruption" (Sept. 30, 2008) Very true, Tony. But I have always maintained that "SHE" will not vacate her position knowing very well that she will lose her immunity if she does, which could open the gates for criminaal charges.........May God have mercy Jose Genato, (by email), Oct. 13, 2008 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |
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