TAKE A VOW, SAY AN OATH, MAKE A PROMISE

                                                                                  by Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde

                                                                            

During the flag ceremony, I realize that there are so many vows/oaths that are recited. A vow or "panata" or "panunumpa" speaks of a promise or commitment to do everything that's listed. The list in every vow or "panata" is a string of  highly desirable , moral, exemplary and eminent acts and values that a public servant or citizen of this country shall possess.

Now, even if one spends hours and even days with the right hand raised or positioned on the chest area while reciting all these vows ( around 5) coupled with a voice that resonates adherence, if we watch the current news regarding leaders who continually dupe our countrymen, the surreptitious invasion of foreigners in our political mainstream with shameless display of arrogance and splatter of lies, the grave incompetence of supposed guardians of sovereignty and justice, I cannot help but feel sorry for this country. 

Just drop those numerous vows, "panunumpa" or "panata". Take one or two seriously and honestly follow each to the core. JUST DO IT! Do not let that right hand slap each one of us with shame.

*Panatang Makabayan

*Panunumpa sa Watawat

*Panata sa Bagong Pilipinas

*Panunumpa ng Kawani Ng Gobyerno 

*Panunumpa ng Lingkod Bayan               

                                         

I am Not A Mother But I Have The Hand That Rocks Cradles

It's Mother's Day! I have uploaded a mosaic of my Mom's pics to show on Facebook how I love and appreciate her.  I've,likewise, greeted my mother-in-law, my kin, friends and whoever flashes the flag that shouts "MOM".  That leaves me a little bit on the wayside because I don't have a child, I have not experienced any birth pang.  Oh how I wish I would have had those crazy cravings,too, in the middle of the night which would have driven my sweet Anthony running to the store in his pajamas just to please the infanticipating me.  But, God did not design my life that way and I am not complaining.

I am not a mother but sometimes, I believe I,too, can give as much love, if not more, to children.  I have rocked cradles of kids without their biological mothers...at school, in my family and in the community.

I have taken kids to their first visit to the dentist, their first day in school, their first walk on the seashore, their first feel of a nursery book, their weekend treats at Jollibee or McDonalds.  I have watched kids say their short prayers, sing their songs, recite their poems.  I have lent an ear to their dreams and their frustrations. I laughed with their funny jokes, got stunned with their awesome discoveries, jumped with them in victory.  I helped them speak,write, read, act and discover more in life. I listened to their tales, ribbed them about their crushes, shed tears on their wedding days, celebrated their birthdays.  I've stopped them from wallowing in self-pity, barred them from vices and self-destruction.  I tried my best to see their self-worth and to know that they are special.  What tops all of these is that I have tried my best to guide them in their moral and spiritual growth.

I think "MOTHER" is just a noun for some.  To me, "MOTHER" is an action word, it is a verb.  I will continue to rock cradles which others dare not touch.

copyright © Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde2014

                                              

What The Government Should Learn From Yolanda (Haiyan)

What should the Philippine government and all Filipinos learn from typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)? 

A LOT!  

After super typhoon Yolanda ravaged Leyte and other provinces in Central Visayas, everyone was struck with unbelievable images of destruction, famine, death and chaos.  I was speechless at the first sight of people begging for food, cadavers on the roadside and on top of trees, mountains of debris, wrecked homes and buildings, impassable roads, and desperate people looting for survival. I could only pray for a speedy restoration of services, provision of relief goods and support for the victims.

A week has passed and the Philippine government is under fire for the very slow, retarded pace it is taking to scoop the victims out from their sorry and destitute state. The swift move of other countries to fly in numerous boxes/crates of food, clothing, medicines and other basic necessities including cash has rendered the President, his officials, and the military almost inutile in the eyes of the world. This is another blow to the government after the recent hearings and revelations regarding the scam purportedly manipulated by some government officials in cahoots with that blood-curdling heap of a fat swine, Napoles.

Yolanda's message is clear. 

Always be ready.  Don't underestimate what a seemingly simple typhoon can bring to your place.  It can rip you off and flatten your domain.  

Stop taking people's money! Government agencies and officials should render services to the people because they are the masters, they are the boss! After all, it is the people (taxpayers, most especially) who chip in their labor's fruits in the national coffers. 

Don't be divisive.  Unite! Drop any political affiliations in times like this. Moreover, do not blame especially those who are helpless.

Don't take advantage of other people's possessions and weaknesses.  Idiots have been reported raping and looting, running away with appliances and cannibalizing vehicles. 

Save lives, yes! But give the dead a decent burial even en masse.  The week-long stench of death inhabiting the afflicted places speaks of callousness on the part of authorities.

Have faith in God!  Don't relax. People tend to leave him in one corner while they enthrone materialism, greed, lust for power, and immorality at the center of their lives.

Knock all these in your heads, our heads lest another typhoon by another name visits us ( God forbid)


                                         copyright © Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde 2013                      

ROLL AWAY THE PORK BARREL, GRUNT NO MORE

I joined the Ilocos Pork O'clock Walk last August 27 at Laoag City's Aurora Park.  The crowd was not as big as the crowd in Manila and other parts of the Philippines but the voices and sentiments about the pork barrel scam were equally resounding.

I grew up hearing and reading about national leaders who have enriched themselves through thievery, dipping their sticky fingers into the national coffers and stashing millions of money in banks abroad. Such shameless accumulation of wealth from people's hard-earned money. These officials and their cohorts have multi-million mansions, a row of expensive vehicles, innumerable vaults of cash and jewelry, properties hidden under fictitious names or fronts.  The list is endless for these insatiable pigs.  I thought such despicable acts ended in the mid 80's but hey, we have more pigs grunting in this country.  What do they want to do with the Philippines, turn it into a pigsty?

 At the Walk,I wondered if there would be young Ilocanos as idealistic as my generation.  Well, there were some, and the sight of them holding placards and streamers denouncing the misuse of the pork barrel fund brought a dose of hope that things would be better soon. I know these kids (a few of them were my students, now in college) need to be more vigilant as we were (and still are).  

I was pleased to see those who have seen other struggles like me. My friends from the media, doctors, former political prisoners, social activists, educators, housewives, religious leaders.

After the nationwide outpouring of rage against the pork scam, investigation should not stop at the year 2009 but it should move on until 2012.  Succeeding years call for a more transparent government to weed out corruption. No biases. 

When I see infrastructure projects going on, I initially see them as signs of progress...but they can reek of the revolting smell of corruption.

At the Ilocos Pork O'clock Walk, I just had one line to say: "Let those pigs fry in their own stinky fat!"

Grunt no more.

copyright © Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde 2013 

pictures by SkyBlue copyright © Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde 2013

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: MY VIEWS ON THE CONFLICT AND CONSENSUS THEORIES

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: MY VIEWS ON THE CONFLICT AND CONSENSUS THEORIES: by Mrs. Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde Master Teacher 1 Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades Two sociological theori...

Political Dynasties Suck Filipinos of Dynamism and Leave Them In A Static Rot

 Some politicians think they are God's gifts to Filipinos that they hang on to their positions until they are octogenarians.  When they feel their strength and wit are fading, they groom their sons and daughters to continue being public "servants". When their ties get sour and snap, they turn against each other as they scramble for their desired posts.  These clans claw and rant against each other...father vs. son, uncle vs. nephew, cousin vs. cousin, brother vs. sibling or what-have-you. There's mud slinging, name-calling, character assassination... MAYHEM!

The worst thing these dynasties can do is condition people to think that nobody else can honestly, sincerely, capably, incorruptibly SERVE.

Political dynasties in this part of the world suck the dynamism out of Filipinos.  They leave the electorate acting collectively based on their dictates, thus, stagnating them.  In this day and age of social networking, electronic gizmos and skyscrapers, people think they have truly advanced but no,they are in a static rot.  Unchanged power structures (especially those that are built by political clans who shuffle positions like musical chairs) leave no room for real change, evolution or positive breakthrough. There's just this stinking rot.

In the polls this May, we will see familiar names, familiar clans on the ballots. Which will we shade for approval?  Will we let some people suck us dry again?

                                                          

                           Copyright©Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde2013

                              

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: Reading Books, Online Games, and Character Buildi...

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: Reading Books, Online Games, and Character Buildi...: Reading is of utmost importance, thus, kids should be encouraged to read early. I grew up with bookworms...my grandparents, Dad and Mama, au...

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: I am a Blogger and a Blogger I will Always Be

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: I am a Blogger and a Blogger I will Always Be: I have been blogging since 2007 and started with my first which was inspired by my column in a Fil-American newsmagazine in California in th...

INCAT Natan-ok Joins "Danum Para Biag" (Water for Life) Infomercial Contest

INCAT Natan-ok's entry is on the facebook page of Ablan Foundation: "Danum Para Biag" (Water for Life) Infomercial Contest.  The video is actually titled "Tubig,Tubig...Nasaan Ka?" and was promptly uploaded on Youtube.  For the contest, Ablan Foundation uploaded it on their fb page with the entry number #01.  Online voters are urged to click "like" upon spotting video entry #01.  Ratings will scoop 20% from the number of "likes". The contest will end midnight of Dec. 9,2012.


My team feels good for coming up with a vid without the help of professional video editors.  It's all hard work done in a jiffy to beat the original deadline which was set. After submitting our entry, we found out the submission of entries was extended.  Whew!  We could have had more time!

Well...God always blesses the work of our hands.  

 Visit the site now and vote (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ablan-Foundation-Danum-para-Biag-Water-for-Life-Infomercial-Contest/114822428669222?ref=ts&fref=ts).  Let INCAT win!
 For a short back story re our video, read my previous post
( http://skyblueactivityhub.blogspot.com/2012/11/tubig-tubignasaan-ka-incat-natan-oks.html)

Father's Day Blues

Father's Day!  I'm sure the restos and malls will be busy with all dads and their families in tow for a day of celebration.  Businesses will have those cash registers happily ringing. I still remember those years when I'd shop for a gift for my Dad weeks before Father's Day.  I never failed to give him a hug and plant a kiss on his cheek to let him feel loved and appreciated on that special day.  Mom and my brothers, together with their families, would join me and my hubby Anthony in the celebration.  

Months after Dad left in January 2007, I found myself at a greeting cards section in a department store, trying to choose what card I would give him on Father's Day.  When I was about to line up to pay for the card, I suddenly realized Dad wasn't physically around anymore to read the message. I shuffled between the card rack and the cashier, wavering whether to get the card or not.  I did.  I bought it and took it home.  With tears, I read the message, whispered it...hoping Dad was there listening.

It's 2012.  Today is Father's Day. I got the blues.  I miss my Dad.  I have the same message to whisper to him.  I love you Daddy. Thank you for everything.

   

RADIO and How I See It Then and Now

I love radio. The first time I went on the air was in high school for a short newscast stint. Months later, I found myself doing radio on a regular basis after Joey Joey (then a famous FM radio disc jock in Laoag) personally asked for Dad's permission for me to be a radio DJ. So, it was DWSN-FM for me, then DWIL-FM before I had a stint at KNDI in Honolulu. When I flew back to my home city, I joined my husband, Anthony (also a DJ or radio presenter as we say it now), at DWHP-FM (now I-FM). Anthony tagged me along,when ABS-CBN opened in Laoag City in the early 90's. There was just a handful of ABS-CBN Laoag staff then. Anthony was the man for news (he did national and international news bits on ABS's Sarimanok Channel)and did the sales too. ABS had an FM station up on a hill in San Nicolas and, right you are, Anthony had to be there as job extension with ABS. Now, ABS has a new set of people. Teaching is my profession but radio has always been an extension. Even at INCAT where I teach,the radio bug continues to bite me. I have been assigned as Program Director of the school's BEAT-FM Station. It's a cool jazz and RnB station with news and campus info thrown in daily. After months of going off the air for some reason, BEAT-FM is rejoining the airwaves this June. Presentations on FM Radio before were way classier than today. DJs were encouraged to speak English, sound and act amiable and respectful. No DJ would sit in front of the mic without putting sensible stuff in between his ears, doing his homework ( like keeping himself updated with the news, music, fashion, politics, relationship and spiritual stuff, etc. so that listeners would have their fill ). DJs were looked up to like some icon. It felt good to receive fan mails,gifts and visits. There was significant respect towards DJ's then. We could tell an FM station and an AM station apart based on the language, format and the music that were used. Now, sometimes listening to an FM station is like listening to an AM station. FM presenters in Laoag seldom use English. Ilocano and Tagalog are the staple...and if they somehow throw in a smattering of English, their lines are very wanting of perfect grammar and excellent pronunciation. Presenters should be aware that their listeners (especially students) can catch their flaws and actually think they are correct unless someone steps in to rectify or regulate them. Presenters have a big responsibility towards their listeners. They should not only entertain but they ought to also inform and educate in between. Radio is a tool for education and blabbing on the air without any direction or objective is pointless. I notice there is this trend among DJs of taking the persona of a male gay even if they are actually straight in private. I hope it's not a desperate move to draw in listeners. Can't there be truth in presenting? Just like truth in advertising? Listeners can't be fooled. Yes, listeners can't be fooled. Over-modulation of speaking voice has taken the backseat. Gone are the days of "barking". No wonder Chico and De la Mar are still drumming up the airwaves with their squeaky and cartoony voices...because they are natural. And their English is not bad. Turn on the radio please. Whatever station you want to listen to ( Laoag's local stations, NYC's Lite-Fm, Pensacola's First Radio Station or DZRH)enjoy but don't be fooled.

CHRISTMAS FEVER IS HERE!

Yes! We've all been afflicted with the Christmas fever. The streets are adorned with Holiday decors and lights, shoppers troop to the malls, Christmas songs are blasting off from stores, the nippy air is everywhere. And yes again...our wallets are flat already, bonuses are gone. Anyway, here's a video to cheer you up for the holidays!

My Own Natan-ok Forebears

Years ago, I toyed with the idea of making a documentary of truly great locals in our city. I noticed that some streets in Laoag were named after people who were heroes or noble in their own right. But there was one name I thought didn't bear much to be honored with a street name.Maybe politics worked that out. Then it struck me...why haven't they thought of my grandpa who has authored books on ichthyology, traveled the globe and served this country as a scientist? He graduated from the University of Washington and is in the list of American Men of Science but opted to come back to his home country to work at the Bureau of Fisheries until he retired and succumbed to cancer. I still remember how the front page of Manila Bulletin appeared with the headline (not the banner head though)FILIPINO SCIENTIST DIES. I felt so proud of him. I still feel the same. While writing this post, memories are running in my mind. I treasure the years I grew up under his and Grandma's care in Project 6, Q.C. I still remember the Sundays he'd hold my tiny hand as we all entered the church. He would be in his suit. On weekends, we'd both trim the yard with his small grass mower, catch fish from the big fishpond at the backyard and just laze around with the family in the little bahay kubo he put up just beside the pond. That was his way of letting us have a taste of Ilocos right behind the main house which was a modern concrete structure that looked like all the houses on Forestry Street in Vasra Village. Oh how I love the task they gave me...that of waiting at the gate for the milk lady to deliver 3 bottles of fresh milk in the morning. More memories are flooding me now: bedtime stories, evening prayers which he and Grandma led ("Now I lay me down to sleep,..."), sumptuous meals( a mix of American and Ilocano), occasional servings of large "boogie" (fish eggs or caviar),big tortoise shells and stuffed fish as wall decors, books and television (kids in the hood would come and watch cartoons in the house). I can mentally see him in his chair and me lying in my small bed while watching "Flintstones" and "Mission Impossible". He had a way of "forcing" us to taste anything new or weird to our taste. He'd say, "You don't know good food!" Well, he is Natan-ok to me and I think he deserves to have a street in Laoag City to be named after him. You might think this is all coming from an airhead but I dare you to google his name GUILLERMO J. BLANCO and maybe add the word FISHERIES or ICHTHYOLOGY and you'll know I have a point. Another name comes to mind: CELESTINO PERALTA. He served as Mayor of Laoag City and was also an author of a Spanish book with Ilocano translation. At least, he has a street named after him already. And more: TORIBIO PERALTA,former Governor of Ilocos Norte and ELVIRO PERALTA (Judge and father of Supreme Court Justice Diosdado Peralta. Toribio and Elviro are sons of Celestino. The person who was truly proud of the aforementioned names was my dad, RUBEN PERALTA BLANCO. He was also a politician who served Laoag City as Councilor for 3 terms. Dad took after his father Guillermo Blanco's fortitude and no-nonsense attitude. Dad stood against the corrupt politicians. He also took after his grandpa Celestino Peralta's adherence to law. His mom (ROSARIO PERALTA and Don Celestino's only daughter) was a teacher. I am humbled by what my forebears have achieved. Their legacy gives me inspiration. I just pray that our generation can keep up with their being truly NATAN-OK.

Video Blogging Mania

November 2011 took much of my time uploading 2 video blogs for a national competition sponsored by Smart. I formed my team late of August this year and named it INCAT Natan-ok ("Natan-ok" means great or eminent). The 2 blogs aim to let the world know about Ilocano culture and famous personages in Ilocos Norte.

The 2 blogs can be followed thru these links:
http://resurrectingtheilocanospirit.wordpress.com and http://tracingthewaytoilocanogreatness.blogspot.com.

All videos of my team INCAT Natan-ok can be viewed in these blogs or on youtube.

The research we did including the travels and sleepless nights of uploading and editing are enough reason for me to proudly share these blogs with you.

Attending a film workshop with famous directors such as Brillante Mendoza and Leo Martinez added richly to the project.

Say "SHAM-SEE" (SHAMCEY)

• I was so irked with the stupid pronunciation of Supsup's first name by TV newscasters. Tiangco and the rest kept on saying "sham-sey" instead of "sham-see" for SHAMCEY. Can you stand these people when they say "stan-ley" for Stanley, "hen-ley" for Henley, "man-ley" for Manley??? Yuck! Send them to Speech School !

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: Birthday Flashes

SkyBlue's Activity Hub: Birthday Flashes: Today, I give God all the praise and honor for the gift of life. I thank Him for always covering me with good health, protection and provis...

YOUNG PEOPLE NOWADAYS DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY WILL BE SPENDING MORE TIME BEING DEAD THAN ALIVE.

I don't see why young people nowadays do not realize that they will be spending more time being dead than alive. Why are they so in a hurry to die? Why do they love to kill themselves slowly with booze, smoke and drugs? They will die anyway...but why rush? Just live , LIVE now! Live and enjoy being healthy. God lent everyone time to live on earth. We all live on borrowed time. Saying "march to your own drum" is utterly nonsense. March to God's drum because every beat that we follow is HIS!

I am saying this because SOME of the youth that I see and read about everyday are aimlessly heading towards destruction. Those who will attempt to negate are probably guilty.

Johnny Moon: Modern-day Juan Luna

"Looking for Johnny Moon" poster

Director Mark Meily and SkyBlue

Director Soxy Topacio and SkyBlue

Johnny Moon! What a name for a modern-day Juan Luna.
Around 200 participants flocked to Plaza del Norte last July 14-16 to seek for Johnny Moon, thus, the festival's theme:"Looking for Johnny Moon".

It was a delightful search for me and my groupmates ( Gyver, Jonathan and Dondi) because we were able to come up with a short film ("Bubble Gum") as output in Scriptwriting and Directing. The script I wrote won first place. Thanks to our mentors, Director Soxy Topacio and Mark Meily. Until now, the realization of having the creative remnants of Juan Luna in all the participants makes me beam with pride. Juan Luna lives and has resurfaced as Johnny Moon. He has crept into new fields like cinematography, digital photography and animation too.

I can say...I'm Johnny Moon!

Looking for Johnny Moon Found New Juan Lunas

I was delighted to chance upon my blog "SkyBlue's Activity Hub" on the fan page of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. I'm in the loop! Great! Check it out!
The first Ilocos Norte Creative Media Arts Festival dubbed as "Looking for Johnny Moon" was held at the Plaza del Norte last July 14-16, 2011. The said festival was attended by educators, writers, budding film makers and artists from DLSU-College of St. Benilde, University of Baguio, SLU-Baguio, schools from Ilocandia like MMSU, DWCL, INCAT, INNHS, ISALA, Savior's Academy and HSAL.
Resource speakers were Soxy Topacio and Mark Meily, both stage and film directors.
I was the lone representative of INCAT on the first day when Scriptwriting was tackled by Soxy Topacio and Directing was shared by Mark Meily. A tour of the different tourist spots in Ilocos was included to enable the workshop participants to get inspiration for the output, a short film shot on the same day.
I joined 3 young gentlemen, one of them was my actor for INCAT Theater Arts Guild of which I've been an Adviser for years now. We made a short movie, "Bubble Gum". I made the script. The 4 of us acted in the film, one was the camera man, and one was assigned as director.
"Bubble Gum" bested other entries in the short fim category. We won first place with a cash prize of 3k.
"Looking for Johnny Moon" paved the way for discovering new talents in digital photography and animation too.
Awarding of prizes was held in a most fitting place, the house of Juan Luna (Johnny Moon) in Badoc, Ilocos Norte.
The new breed of Juan Lunas will inspire others who have what it takes to be a famous Media Arts enthusiast.
I believe there's a Johnny Moon in each of us. There's a Johnny Moon in every gathering or group. There's a Johnny Moon in every Ilocano.

ENROL at SkyBlue Talent Center this Summer!

Don't let bad grammar and poor pronunciation get in the way. Improve your communication skills. Prepare for a good career.
Enrol now at SkyBlue Talent Center. Take the following English language courses:
Basic Grammar and Spelling
Speech Improvement
Radio Broadcasting
IELTS

Enlist now!!! Classes will start on April 12 at INCAT, RA-1, 8:00-9:00 AM, Monday to Friday.
Contact SkyBlue !