Archive for April, 2012
Isa na namang tricycle driver na taga-Angono ang nagpamalas ng kabayanihan at katapatan sa kanyang mga pasahero. Ito ay nang isauli niya ang isang mamahaling “I-phone” na naiwanan ng kanyang pasahero na isang balik-bayan.
Ang 35- taong gulang na si Alvin M. Sagrit ay bumibiyahe na pabalik sa kanyang pila sa BITODA nang mapansin niya ang isang cellphone sa sulok ng kanyang tricycle. Ito ay naiwanan ng kanyang huling inihated na pasaherong si Gng. Carpio, isang balik- bayan na mula pa sa Amerika. Sa kagustuhang mapasalamatan ng lubos ang nasabing driver, lumapit si Gng. Carpio kay Mayor Gerry Calderon upang ipahanap ang tricycle driver na si Alvin at nang muling mapasalamatan, bago siya bumalik patungong Amerika.
Binigyan ng parangal si G. Alvin Sagrit kaninang umaga sa flag ceremony ng Angono bilang pagkilala sa kadakilaang ginawa nito kamakailan. Binasa at iniabot ni Manda Icasiano ng Public Information Office ang Certificate of Recognition, habang pinapalakpakan siya nina Kon. Gino Miranda at Kon. Bernie Guir na naging saksi sa nasabing parangal.
Ginawaran ng parangal si Alvin nitong ika-23 ng Abril bilang pagkilala sa kabayanihang ginawa nito. / Manda Icasiano
Save time & effort! Secure your NBI Clearance at Angono Municipal Hall on July 13-14, 2012.
Mobile Passport Application Poster
The Silence Of Holy WeekThe View from Rizal
By GOV. JUN A. YNARES, M.D.
March 31, 2012, 11:08pm
MANILA, Philippines — Last week, I chanced upon Lolo Sisong at the Capitol grounds in Antipolo, Rizal, after the commencement exercises held yearly by the University of Rizal System (URS).
Lolo Sisong, our regular readers know, is the 80-plus-years-old sage of Rizal who serves as the walking data bank for the history, culture, and politics of the province. Despite nearing the end of the eighth decade of his life, Lolo Sisong remains healthy and maintains the proud stance of one who has seen many glorious moments in the province’s history.
I held Lolo Sisong’s arm as I walked beside him, and asked him how he plans to mark this year’s celebration of the Semana Santa.
I waited for him to enumerate the various Holy Week attractions of Rizal province: The pabasas (chanting of the passion of Christ); the unique Cordero of Morong (reenactment of the preparation of the paschal lamb for the Passover meal); the Visita Iglesia to the historic churches of Antipolo, Baras, Tanay, Cardona, and Morong; the senakulos (passion plays); the famous giwang-giwang of Binangonan (literally, “swaying” – which is what happens to the image of Christ as “Santo Sepulcro” when devotees try to touch it during the procession).
I was also expecting him to mention the well-attended “Salubong” (Meeting of the image of Christ and the Virgin Mary on Easter dawn).
Lolo Sisong gave me a puzzled look, as if to say, “How could you not know what the most important things are during this time of the year?”
“Junjun, at my age, I prefer to do what matters most during the Holy Week,” Lolo Sisong finally ended the moment of great anticipation.
“And, what is that?” I asked.
“I enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with this time of the year,” Lolo Sisong answered.
“What?” I blurted out. “And miss the many Holy Week attractions of Rizal?” I said in near disbelief.
“Yes – and attractions are one of the things I try to rid myself of during Holy Week,” the old man answered.
“Explain,” I was finally forced to ask.
“You see, Junjun, once a year, I take time to quiet myself,” the old man began.
“Growing old, I realized there are three aspects of my person that I need to quiet down,” he continued.
“I need to quiet down my senses, my mind, and my heart,” Lolo Sisong said.
“How does one quiet down the senses?” I asked, knowing he would give more of a philosophical rather than physiological answer. I got what I expected.
“To quiet down my senses, I detach from the usual things I do to delight them – eating excessively, listening to junk like news and gossip, watching television and movies, and the like,” he started.
“To quiet down my mind, I spend a lot of time alone in my farm, appreciating the beauty of nature, and getting my thoughts off my usual worries,” he continued.
“To quiet down my heart, I focus and reflect on how good it is to have a simple life,” Lolo Sisong said. “By appreciating the joy of simple things, I tell my heart to remain free from the handcuffs of too much desire for comfort and luxury,” he added.
“Isn’t this effort at quieting down one’s being difficult,” I asked the old man as we made our way into the Capitol lobby.
“Yes, but the mood and tranquility of the Holy Week make it easier,” he pointed out.
“So, what does this do for you?” I asked.
“It makes my friendship with myself stronger,” he answered. “More important, by quieting down my senses, mind, and heart, I feel the presence of God,” he added.
Then, he stopped just as when we were about to take the stairs up to the second floor.
“I won’t accompany you to your office, Junjun,” Lolo Sisong said. “I will allow you some peace and quiet,” he added, smiling. Then, he turned and slowly walked towards the main door. I watched him as he did, and saw a man slowed down by time, but definitely at peace with himself, with the world, and with his Creator.
Then, I remembered a text message sent to me by a friend just as when the Lenten season set in.
It was a quote from Mother Teresa:
“We need to find God and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence.”
May you find God in the silence of the Holy Week.
Ito ang mensahe ni Angono, Rizal Mayor Gerry Calderon kahapon ng umaga, ika-31 ng Marso, kaugnay sa paggunita sa kadakilaan at kamatayan ng dalawang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining na sina Carlos “Botong” Francisco at Prof. Lucio D. San Pedro.
Ang “Angono Dream” ang nagsisilbing gabay sa kasalukuyang pamumuno ni Mayor Gerry at inilalarawan nito ang bayan bilang “An Artists’ Paradise… A Tourists’ Haven” – a healthy, peaceful and orderly community, a just and humane society with blessings from God Almighty.”
Ayon kay Mayor Gerry, ang pagsisikap ng lokal na pamahalaan na maabot ang nasabing pangarap at sa pakikiisa ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng kanilang bolunterismo ang mabisang alay at handog bilang pasasalamat sa nasabing dalawang dakilang anak ng Angono.
“Ang sining at musika nina Botong at Lucio ay nakaugnay sa bayan ng Angono – isang malinis at maunlad na bayan, mamamayang may pagmamalasakit at pagpapahalaga sa sining at ang sining ngayon ay bahagi sa ating comprehensive development plan ng bayan,” wika ni Mayor Gerry.
Pinangunahan ni Mayor Gerry calderon ang pag-aalay ng bulaklak sa puntod nina Prof. Lucio San Pedro at Carlos "Botong" Francisco noong Marso 31, bilang palatuntunang paggunita sa kamatayan ng dalawang dakilang anak ng Angono
Bilang tugon naman ng pamilyang pinarangalan, nagpasalamat ang artist na Carlos “Totong” Francisco (apo ni Botong) at si Cristy San Pedro-Sanidad (anak ni Maestro San Pedro).
“Mahal na mahal ng aking ama ang bayan ng Angono dahil para sa kanya, hindi magkahiwalay ang kanyang musika at bayan. Kung kaya mas pinili niyang ilibing sa Angono kaysa sa Libingan ng mga Bayani dahil ayaw niyang malayo sa kanyang bayang na naging inspirasyon niya sa kanyang sining,” wika ng anak ni Professor San Pedro.
Nagtanghal din ang St. Clement Symphonic Band at mga mag-aaral ng Carlos Botong Francisco Memorial National High School.
(Artikulo ni Richard R. Gappi)
(Litrato ni Patnubay Tiamson)
Manila Time
Angono Dream News Online! 