Archive for November, 2009
“Armando Lao’s BIYAHENG LUPA: Storytelling while the bus is in motion”
In the 70’s, travelling from Cubao to Pasay along EDSA was a breeze. The word traffic was not yet in the minds of the commuters. There was this bus company named JD Transit plying this route. I remember that its garage was located in Project 4, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City. Their conductress (yes at that time, women dominated this work) were wearing khaki uniforms which were always spic and span (well ironed with liwayway gawgaw applied during washing). However, what really stuck in my memory was the notice written on the sides of its ceiling near the driver: “ DON’T TALK TO DRIVER WHILE THE BUS IS IN MOTION!” This notice was written to prevent accidents since talking to the driver while he is maneuvering on EDSA at high speed was very dangerous since the driver might lose focus on the road!
“Lighting Parol ni Bro, 4 November 2009″
As early as October 17, Tita Angge (Cornelia Lee), ABS-CBN’s super Talent Coordinator had texted us cast of “May Bukas Pa” that we will be joining the lighting of Bro’s lantern originally set on 06 November a Friday at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
However, there were changes in the plan and finally the ABS-CBN’s top management decided to conduct the lighting of Bro’s lantern at its premises on Sgt. Esguerra Avenue (formerly Bohol Avenue) in Quezon City on 04 November.
Days before the event, Hazel Parfan, our Associate Producer, texted us the final instructions. We were told to wear red and to be at the ground floor lobby of the ABS-CBN’s Main Building, on Sgt. Esguerra Avenue at 5:00 p.m. I had to text for clarification since in the past, I had experienced that the meeting place was mentioned to be at the main building and I took it to mean that it was the building on Sgt. Esguerra Avenue only to be told later that the meeting place was on the new ELJ Building on Panay Avenue!
Read More..>>“Albert Martinez’ Fund-Raising for Typhoon Ondoy’s Victims”
In our taping day after the 26 September 2009 deluge, Albert Martinez showed us photos of the destruction of some houses inside their plush village -Don Antonio Royal brought by typhoon Ondoy. The photos showed vividly the wrath of nature: muddy flood water inside mansions, expensive cars under water, etc… Indeed, nature is a great equalizer: both haves and have nots are hit by its fury, no distinction. They could either be the expensive mansions inside Don Antonio Royal or the houses of informal settlers under the bridge in Fairview – both are victims of Ondoy’s floods. Albert’s photos captured these destruction.
The following taping, Albert told us that their home owners association decided to have a fund raising for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Ondoy – not the wealthy residence of Don Antonio Royal but the dwellers in depressed areas. They planned to have an Oktoberfest. Ticket was P800.00 for a drink all you can, eat all you can evening. He said there will be bands and solo performers to provide music. He invited us to join the event.
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