[Shown above is a collage of delightful photos depicting Cousin Marian with her suave and gentlemanly hubby, STEVE MCDONALD — from their wedding (at bottom right corner); another photo of yesteryears, showing the cutie couple at the top right portion of this collage and two (2) more recent photos of the lovey-dovey tandem. Once again, thank you Cuz Marian and Steve!]

I first learned about her when I waged a root-tracing VENTURE¹,

‘Twas the quest to visit my paternal Grandpa’s SEPULCHER²;

We traveled up to Santa Clara³, from a Los Angeles HOME⁴,

Finally, we were able to even take photos of the TOMB⁵…

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

She is my cousin MARIAN, a true-blue AQUARIAN—

Who on the basis of her horoscope ZODIAC SIGN,

Is considered as very AMIABLE and KIND…

AQUARIANS are touted too as EAGER and  with a BROAD MIND!

And as a HORSE person per the Chinese ZODIAC,

You really could achieve much LUCK…

Your LUCKY numbers are 2, 3, and SEVEN…

You could perhaps buy a quick LOTTO ticket at 7-11!

Though we have not actually MET,

Perhaps, it is some kind of typical KISMET⁶;

As after communicating with her, thru FB—

I learned more about our ANCESTRY⁷!

I wish to thank her for the DONATION,

As my daughters are preparing for a COMPETITION;

It’s the WORLD HIPHOP CONTEST⁸,

That would showcase the world’s dancers at their BEST!

And as a resident of REDWOOD⁹,

My hunch persists that there’s still that LIKELIHOOD;

That you could win the JACKPOT in LOTTO,

Well, I’ll not ask for a BIG (perhaps just a little) “BALATO¹⁰”!

Thank you again my charming COUSIN,

I hope someday we’ll have our elbows RUBBING;

I hope to meet you in the FLESH,

And your hubby STEVE¹¹ too, I’m so much  IMPRESSED!

THANK YOU SO MUCH CUZ AND STEVE!!!!

[Another photo of the cutie couple (i.e. Marian and Steve) with their lovey-dovey smiles, which photo was snapped recently while they were on a holiday trip.]

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[Legend: 1 – In August 2015, I and my Daddy Max, went to the U.S.A. principally to meet up with his (i.e. my Daddy Max’s) half-sister, Auntie Aida, and to visit the tomb of Grandpa William Young. Daddy Max only saw his father, Grandpa William, alive ONCE and this episode in August 2015 was the very first time for Daddy Max to visit the grave of his father, Grandpa William.

2 – SEPULCHER is another term for a GRAVE or a TOMB.

3 – Santa Clara is the town in California where Auntie Aida lives and at the Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery where Grandpa William’s remains were buried in January 1971.

4 – The LOS ANGELES Home referred to is the home of my maternal cousin, Bishop Raul C. Tobias, who lives at 14373 Shady Hollow Lane, Chino Hills, California 91709.

5 – The TOMB of Grandpa William was a typical grave which showed Grandpa William’s name on the epitaph as SGT. WILLIAM B. YOUNG. I guess the “SGT.” which is abbreviation for Sergeant, was Grandpa William’s rank in the US Army when he fought as part of the contingent of forces brought by Admiral George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay against the Spanish “conquistadores” in May 1898.

6 –  KISMET is a Turkish term which means FATE. It could be pure FATE and DESTINY for me to have the opportunity to connect more with my kin on the paternal side, as I continuously embark on my quest to retrace my paternal roots.

7 – Though I have had acquired snippets of information about Grandpa William, I was able to sort of confirm it from Cousin Marian (through our FB communications) and from Auntie Aida when I met Auntie Aida in August 2015 at her Santa Clara, California home.

8 – It’s the WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST to be held at the ARIZONA GRAND RESORT & SPA located in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. from August 7-13, 2017.

9 – My cousin Marian Breslin McDonald is a resident of Redwood City, California, U.S.A. Marian works at the Scott Nissenbaum Chiropractic Clinic. She studied and pursued a course in Nutritional Science at the San Jose State University in California, U.S.A.

10 – BALATO is a Filipino word which means a GIFT consisting of money given away as a manifestation of gratitude to friends and kin by a WINNER at the casino or in a numbers game or a cockfight and/or other games of chance.

11 – STEVE is STEVE MCDONALD, the handsome and debonair-looking husband of my cousin Marian.]

[My nephew WOODY is shown here aboard a boat during their ALASKAN cruise-holiday with his wife PAM, about to take a bite of what looks like a cookie. WOODY aka WOODROW WILSON C. YOUNG is the eldest son of my brother WILSON T. YOUNG and his amiable and charming wife, LEN aka Marlyn Casquejo-Young. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY!!!!] 

His maternal GRANDPA is from the CASQUEJO clan of CEBU,

CASQUEJO¹ as a name depicts an energetic and charismatic FAMILY CREW;

It speaks too of STRONG SELF CONFIDENCE² that would well ENSUE,

…Innate traits for those who are lucky in NEGOCIO³!

WOODY is the first APO in his CASQUEJO NEXUS⁴,

Thus WOODY got the attention and all the FOCUS;

Grandpa RODY will call him “GA”,

That’s the idyllic abbreviation of PALANGGA⁵!

Being a CANCER person, you’re quite INTUITIVE,

That’s what it says in the HOROSCOPE.COM⁶ page;

You’re even described as OVER-SENTIMENTAL,

I’ll drink to that as it’s a usual trait of an ORIENTAL!

Your HOROSCOPE further describes YOU,

As ACCURATE but SHY, ‘tis such a CUE…

That you are in fact a WELL-DISCIPLINED MAN,

And CLEANLINESS is your prime COMMAND!

Based on the CHINESE ZODIAC,

you’re guided by the ROOSTER—

You hate whoever would commit a BLOOPER;

For you are an ORGANIZED PERSON,

You’re even DETAILS-ORIENTED as though delivering a SERMON!

As you were born on a MONDAY⁷,

It’s nice to reflect about your BIRTHDAY;

MONDAY is the day of the MOON,

A day for true potential, to make you ZOOM⁸!

‘Tis said that in order to prep for MONDAY’s ENERGY,

You ought to get some SYNERGY⁹;

A good nights’ REST is ESSENTIAL…

That’s GOOGLE’s note again, so

QUINTESSENTIAL!

On your NATAL DAY my nephew WOODROW,

Wish you further SUCCESS and your career to GROW;

Your fruitful partnership with your gracious wife PAM¹⁰,

Will surely bring much DELIGHT as a best-baked HAM!

[Woody is shown here with his gracious and pretty wife, PAM UNITE-YOUNG.] 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY!!!!

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[Legend: 1 – A check in the INTERNET at this link: http://www.meaningslike.com/name-stands-for/casquejo; would show that the name CASQUEJO depicts the following traits, namely: ENERGETIC, CHARISMATIC, and STRONG SELF CONFIDENCE, among others.

2 – In the same link at the INTERNET, a CASQUEJO is described as possessed with a competitive trait who usually gives everything they have in order to win. Thus, it further states that it is the strong self confidence about the CASQUEJO’s  traits that makes this possible. It further averred that such qualities help a CASQUEJO tackle all difficulties and solve problems in a leading forward thinking manner.

3 – NEGOCIO is Spanish term for BUSINESS. And my earliest exposure with the CASQUEJOs which is  the maternal roots of the family of WOODY  particularly with the late patriarch of the CASQUEJO clan, Mr. Rodolfo Casquejo (“Rody Casquejo”), was that almost all of them were involved in business, particularly the pawnshop and the jewelry businesses.

4 – NEXUS means linkage or relationship.

5 – PALANGGA is a Cebuano term which means BELOVED or LOVED ONE. Truly indeed, WOODY was the late Rody Casquejo’s fave and pet and BELOVED.

6 –  The HOROSCOPE.COM link is at (/)Zodiac Signs(/zodiac-signs-php) Astro(/astrology.php) Daily Horoscope (/daily-horoscope.php). It describes a CANCER person too with the following traits, such as: ENERGETIC, TAKES INITIATIVE VERY OFTEN and PREFERS ACTION RATHER PLANNING.

7 – July 13, 1981 was a MONDAY.

8 – ZOOM would refer to the ideal career growth on Woody’s part which on the basis of his disciplined upbringing would make it really happen.

9 – SYNERGY is used in the FUN RHYME BLOG to mean

the interaction or cooperation of two or more traits of my nephew WOODY (i.e. ENERGETIC, TAKES INITIATIVE VERY OFTEN and PREFERS ACTION RATHER PLANNING) to produce such a desirable effect of a ZOOM in his career path.

10 – PAM is PAM UNITE, the gracious wife of my nephew WOODROW.]

 [Brod BUTCH CAPARAS is shown here opportunely sporting a T-shirt with the picture of a SOARING EAGLE emblazoned on it and with the MOUNT ARAYAT as apt backdrop. This convergence of elements in the photograph augurs well for the future of the PI OMICRON-PAMPANGA CHAPTER as it conveniently denotes in combination, the aspiration of SOARING HIGH like an EAGLE and of REACHING the top peak of the ARAYAT MOUNTAIN. PUSH ONWARD PAMPANGA BRODS AND SISSES and GOOD LUCK TO YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS!!!!] 

Hanggang gabi ako’y pabaling-baling,

Dahil sa ako nga sa kama’y pabiling-biling;

May GUILTY CONSCIENCE nga po ako,

Dahil hindi ko napagbigyan ang aking KATOTO¹!

Mula noong tumawag sa akin si Brod BUTCH²,

Sumasagi-sagi sa aking isip ang ating MOTTO na “PUSH”…

Talagang iba itong si Brod BUTCH…

Hindi siya tumitigil ng ka-PU-PUSH³…

Yan ang tama at angkop na karakter,

Pursigido dapat  at aktibo ang CHAPTER⁴;

Ganyan ang tamang pananaw sa KAPATIRAN⁵,

Sabi nga ni ROBIN⁶: “WALANG PONG IWANAN”!

Naisip ko nga pong sana’y HUMABOL,

Para mapasaya ang BRODs sa BIRTHDAY BALL⁷;

Pero ang gabi’y tunay na PALALIM,

Marahil senglot na ang lahat sa GIN⁸!

At kung ako’y darating sa PARTY,

Baka akalaing dala ko si LOLIT ng ating SORORITY…

At sa dilim ako’y isiping si LOLITA,

Naku baka mauwi po sa DISGRASYA…

Baka ako’y LINGKI-LINGKISIN⁹,

Baka ako’y HAGKA-HAGKANIN¹⁰;

Maari ring ako’y pindot-pindutin¹¹…

Mas masakit kong ako’y KUKUROT-KURUTIN¹²…

Anyway and anyhow…sa NATCON¹³ na po na lang,

Sure na pong darating si LOLITANG, ating MANANG¹⁴;

Doon siguradong mayroong GRAND LINGKISAN¹⁵,

Naku malamang lahat ay sobrang PAG-PAPAWISAN¹⁶!

Bago ko tapusin ang FUN RHYME BLOG na ito,

Mag-BI-BIRTHDAY GREETINGS po muna ako;

Belated greetings po kay Brod Ronnie Manuel¹⁷,

I hope that he is FINE, HAPPY and is so WELL!

At syempre po ay GREETINGS kay Sister,

At kaarawan din ni Sis LENNY¹⁸ ng PSAU¹⁹ Chapter;

Dalangin natin na ang buong Pampanga Chapter…

Ay uunlad with such an EXCELLENT CHARACTER²⁰!!!!

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[Legend: 1 – KATOTO is a Tagalog word which denotes a FRIEND.

 2 – BROD BUTCH is Brod BUTCH CAPARAS of the PI OMICRON HOLY ANGELS UNIVERSITY CHAPTER which is based in Angeles, Pampanga. Brod BUTCH has been persistently inviting me to attend the PI OMICRON-PAMPANGA CHAPTER MEETING cum BIRTHDAY PARTY which was scheduled yesterday evening in Angeles City, Pampanga.  I failed to attend and I am conveying this “I AM SORRY” Blog to Brod BUTCH CAPARAS.

3 – The motto of the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY is PUSH ONWARD which connotes the idea or PERSEVERANCE and PERSISTENCE. Brod BUTCH CAPARAS is living up to the ideals of the MOTTO as Brod BUTCH has shown actual persistence in inviting me to the BIRTHDAY PARTY cum  CHAPTER MEETING of the whole Pampanga Chapter which was held last night, July 14, 2017.

4 – CHAPTER refers to the whole PAMPANGA Chapter of the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY.

5 – KAPATIRAN is a Tagalog word which means BROTHERHOOD and is used in this FUN RHYME BLOG to refer to the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY.

6 –  ROBIN is actor ROBIN PADILLA who popularized the slogan” “WALANG IWANAN”, in one of ROBIN’s commercial promoting a brand of a popular and favorite beer in the Philippines.

7 – The meeting of the fraternity brothers of the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY-PAMPANGA CHAPTER also served as BIRTHDAY BALL in honor of the birthday celebrants, namely: Brod Ronnie Manuel of Assumption College-Pampanga Chapter and Sis Lenny Villanueva Gamboa of the Pampanga State Agricultural University Chapter.

8 – GIN which is a favorite alcoholic beverage touted as popular in the provinces was used in this FUN RHYME BLOG merely to achieve a rhyme.

9 – In the Philippine setting, it has become a practice among friends including fraternity brothers to do a BEAR HUG and is roughly captured by the word LINGKISIN. Lingkisin is actually na action of an embrace or enwrapping someone with one’s arms.

10 – HAGKA-HAGKANIN is similar to the practice of doing the BESO-BESO, which is done by bringing both cheeks together among friends while doing an embrace.

11 – PINDOT-PINDUTIN is the act of the pressing one’s finger or fingers unto the arms, body or at times the face of the person who would usually be the cynosure in a gathering or a social event. This practice has become popular especially when welcoming a celebrity, as though just trying to make sure that the celebrity is REAL and is really within and among their midst. Sometimes, this act is spurred by a feeling of amazement and excitement.

12- KUROT-KURUTIN is actually the act of pinching someone using one’s fingers particularly the thumb and the forefinger. Also, this practice has become popular especially when welcoming a celebrity, as though just trying to make sure that the celebrity is REAL and is really within and among their midst. Sometimes, this act is spurred by a feeling of amazement and excitement too.

13 – NATCON is the Third National Convention of the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY which is slated to be held on December 15-17, 2017 in Legaspi City, Albay in the Bicol Region.

14 – MANANG is a Filipino word of esteem and respect used as title to identify an older sister.

15 – GRAND LINGKISAN would refer to the BEAR HUGS that will happen and transpire during the Third National Convention of the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY and it surely will be many, as slated to attend the affair would reach 500 delegates-members.

16 – With such a great number of attendees, each delegate-member will act out and do a BEAR HUG for at least 500 times for the whole duration of the 3-day NATCON affair. And it will make all PERSPIRING a  lot, I am sure.

17 –Brod Ronnie Manuel, one of the birthday celebrants, is from the Assumption University-Pampanga Chapter.

18 – Sis Lenny is Sis Lenny Villanueva Gamboa. Sis Lenny is form the PSAU Chapter.

19 – PSAU is acronym for PAPANGA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY. It was previously known as the PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

20 – This prayer for an EXCELLENT CHARACTER to befall and to CONTINUOUSLY rub off unto the Pampanga Chapter as APTLY typified and exemplified by Brod BUTCH CAPARAS is for an aspiration that their PERSEVERANCE and PERSISTENCE to PUSH ONWARD and attain GREATER HEIGHTS would continue unrestrained and with perpetual constancy.]

 [Photos above show my youngest daughter ALEE, DANCING like crazy…prancing, sashaying, careening and cavorting as she leads her team mates of the LEGIT STATUS VARSITY Team in their dance capers as depicted particularly in the bottom photos snapped in their various dance competitions. Top left photo shows ALEE as she skippered the MIRIAM HIGH SCHOOL SAYAWATHA Dance Team (being the Team Captain then) to a GOLD MEDAL WIN in the DANCEWORLDS International Contest held in April 2015 in Orlando, Florida.] 

Malapit na ang PALIGSAHAN¹ —

Sa Agosto SYETE², simula na YAN;

Mainit po ang KLIMA sa PHOENIX³,

Malamang temperatura mag-LIMANG-EKIS⁴!

Kaya ang labanan doon sa ARIZONA⁵,

Lalong mag-iinit at siguradong RARATSADA⁶;

Mahigit na LIMAMPUNG BANSA,

Magwawagayway ng sari-sariling BANDILA…

Kaya pati ang RIGID TRAINING,

Nang LEGIT at ALLIANCE TEAM;

Lalo pong nag-aalab at tunay na TUMINING,

Lahat ng DANCERS ay gigil na  GUMIGILING!

Itong aking BUNSO ay lalong LUMUGSO⁷,

Puspos na HUMAHATAW, ang kanyang BUGSO⁸…

Animo nga ay TIGRE⁹ na nais UMABANTE,

Talagang pong pursigido maiuwi s’ating “COUNTRY”¹⁰!

Siyempre ano pa nga naman BA…

Kundi po ang GINTO PONG MEDALYA…

Dahil natikman na po ang PILAK¹¹

sa WHHI sa SAN DIEGO¹²…

Kaya naman ngayon gusto ay BAGONG-BAGO¹³!

Kaya mga kaibiga’t mga KABAYAN KO,

Magdasal at manalangin po TAYO;

Pero kung ang gusto’y “ISTUKA”¹⁴ pong pam-BUWELO,

Mas maganda po sana’y mag-“gay-bi”¹⁵ ng REGALO¹⁶!

GO GO ALEE…GO GO LEGIT TEAM! 

[*ROUGH ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE TITLE: “MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER ALEE, GIVING HER ALL… LEADING IN THEIR DANCE TEAM CAPERS; PRANCING , CAVORTING, SASHAYING AND CAREENING]

 [My youngest daughter ALEE is shown here again in various poses while performing  dance numbers in the various dance competitions which she has participated in as member of various hiphop dance teams. ALEE with 49 of her team mates under the team name LEGIT STATUS MEGACREW DIVISION Team will compete anew in the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST in Phoenix, Arizona on August 7-13, 2017. LET US ALL SUPPORT THEM!!!!]  

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[Legend: 1 – PALIGSAHAN means CONTEST and the contest referred to here is the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST (“WHHI”).

 2 – The INTERNATIONAL segment of the 2017 WHHI starts on August 7, 2017 as there will be a contest among American Hiphop Dancers on August 6, 2017 to determine which US Team will ascend into the INTERNATIONAL stage of the competition.

3 – The venue of the 2017 WHHI is Phoenix in Arizona. For years, the WHHI was based in Las Vegas, Nevada until in 2015, it was relocated to San Diego, California. But in 2016, the venue was returned to Las Vegas, Nevada.

4 – The temperature in Phoenix, Arizona is expected to rise up to 50 degrees CELSIUS…Five X’s in Roman numeral is equivalent to 50.

5 – The specific venue of the 2017 WHHI is at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa with address at 8000 Arizona Grand Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85044, USA.

6 –  RARATSADA is a Filipino slang which denotes of a rolling and roaring commencement of an event or an activity.

7 – LUMUGSO is a Tagalog term which means to become joyfully active.

8 – BUGSO is a Tagalog term which denotes of spurts of PURE ENERGY.

9 – The use of the term TIGRE which is TIGER in English is significant. TIGER symbolizes POWER and those born in the Year of the TIGER are known to be cautious and energetic. So, as an unsolicited advice, our hiphop dancers (i.e. LEGIT and STATUS) must be cautious not to commit mistakes, and must be prepared to give their all in terms of PURE ENERGY.

10 – COUNTRY is our country, the PHILIPPINES.

11 – PILAK refers to the SILVER MEDAL finish and award conferred unto the LEGIT STATUS VARSITY Dance Team in the 2015 WHHI held at the Viejas Arena in San Diego, California.

12- SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA was the venue of the 2015 WHHI.

13 – BAGONG-BAGO means NEW. Indeed, a GOLD MEDAL win for either the LEGIT STATUS Team or the ALLIANCE Team would be a welcome novelty to their dance-jousting career.

14 – ISTUKA is some kind of a steroid which is injected into a horse to improve its performance and strength. The jesting reference to this is to further enhance the risibility (i.e. ability to provoke laughter) of the FUN RHYME BLOG.

15 – “GAY-BI” is Filipino slang of “TO GIVE”.

16 – REGALO is a gift and the reference hereto is to a CASH DONATION.]

 [Photo above shows Brod HONORIO “NORI” PALARCA holding on to the statuette-award which was conferred unto him last year by the PHILIPPINE REGULATORY COMMISSION for being the MOST OUSTANDING FILIPINO PROFESSIONAL in the field of Landscape Architecture/Environmental Planning. KUDOS and LAUDS to Brod NORI, his wife HELEN and the whole of his family!] 

Sa larangan ng KAALAMANG-TEKNIKAL¹ ay wala marahil KAPANTAY,

Kahit na pagsamasamahin pa ang lahat ng PANDAY²;

Itong FRAT BROD ko na maraming EXPERYENSIYA,

Tunay na DALUBHASA alam yata pati MENUDENSYA³!

Itong BROD kong ito ay isang POTOGRAPO⁴,

Kaya nga sa DILIMAN siya’y nagkaroon ng KUARTO⁵;

Naging tambayan tuloy ito ng  miyembro ng PI O⁶,

Napakalaking tulong sa mga puyat na BRODS ko⁷!

Si HONORIO PALARCA⁸ alyas BROD NORI,

Halos kakilala ng talos na miyembro ng FRATERNITY⁹;

Dangkasi nama’y maraming pinag-aralan,

Hanggang ngayon nga’y nakasiksik sa ESKWELAHAN¹⁰!

Kaya siya’y nagtagal sa aming PAMANTASAN¹¹,

Doon, dito at andyan halos pinag-aralan;

Tapos sya ng kurso sa pag-ka ARKITEKTO¹²,

Environmental planner din itong KATOTO¹³ ko!

At siya’y tunay na nagbigay DANGAL po sa PI O,

Aba, siya po pala’y tunay na naging OPISYAL ng I.L.O.¹⁴;

Maraming parangal ang sa kanya’y iginawad,

Tunay na DANGAL nga nya’y wala nang matatawad!

Noong kami’y nag-tunggalian sa PI O,

Yaong halalan naming– kami-kami; tayo-tayo¹⁵—

Naungusan ko siya, bahagya nga lamang;

Maginoo nyang tinanggap ang aking pagkakalamang!

Subalit tunay na napag-tanto’t nalimi ko;

Mas magaling marahil kung sya ang nag G.O.¹⁶—

Dahil ako nga’y EKONOMISTA¹⁷ ang siyang dating,

Malayong kalamangang ang kaisipan  nya bilang PLANNER¹⁸!

Naisip kong gawan ng BLOG itong si Brod NORI,

Dahil ngayon nga siya’y paroon at PARINE;

Naging JET-SETTER na at nanggaling  nga sya sa FRANCIA¹⁹,

Sa susunod naman tungo ay sa FRISCO-CALIFORNIA²⁰!

Noong nalaman nya ang FUNDRAISER kong TALAGA,

Biglang dumukot sya ng DOLYAR sa kanyang PORTAMONEDA²¹;

Aba’y singbilis po talaga ng HAGIBIS,

Nakatanggap tuloy si ALEE²² ng mga DOLYARES!

TUNAY NA BIDA, HINDING-HINDI NAG-KONTRA-BIDA!!!!

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[Legend: 1 – Brod Nori Palarca is so really skilled in variegated subjects and fields. He is a topnotch photographer, has excellent knowledge in various modes of screen printing, knows too calligraphy and has now become a topnotch landscape architect and environmental planner in our country. He eventually became the National Programme Officer of the International Labor Organization in the Philippines. At times, he even can prognosticate the future and is an informal political analyst. As a BROD, he was so cooperative and never acted like a maverick whenever his ideas and/or stand would not successfully court the favor of the majority…a true gentleman and an obeisant fratman.

 2 – PANDAY is a Tagalog terms which denotes of a very SKILLED PERSON.

3 – MENUDENSIYA is a Tagalog terms which may have been derived from Spanish which actually means the entrails of animals. In ancient folklore there is such a practice of foretelling and/or prognosticating the future by merely examining the entrails of a slaughtered fowl or livestock; and it is termed in English as HARUSPEX.

4 – POTOGRAPO means PHOTOGRAPHER. Indeed,during our college days, Brod Nori was designated as OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

5 – As OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER, Brod Nori was assigned an office which serves too as his DARK ROOM to develop those photographs he would customarily snap as UP Official Photographer.

6 –  PI O is the Pi Omicron Fraternity where I and Brod Nori are members. Brod Nori’s room which was then located at the SECOND FLOOR of Pavilion One of the PALMA Hall eventually became the hang-out of our PI O brods.

7 – Those BRODS who would usually do cramming to pass an exam and would arrive at the campus sleepless and tired, would usually repair to Brod Nori’s room to take a power nap.

8 – Brod Nori’s full name is HONORIO TAGUENCA PALARCA. He entered UP in 1966 and entered the PI O in the latter part of 1967. He hails from Tagbilaran, Bohol and was sponsored by our late fraternity brod, Gerardo “Gerry” Santos, who is his neighbor in Santa Mesa, Manila.

9 – FRATERNITY is the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY.

10 – ESKWELAHAN actually denotes SCHOOL. Presently, Brod Nori is enrolled in a DOCTORAL course in ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES at the MIRIAM COLLEGE.

11 – PAMANTASAN is the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

12- ARKITEKTO means ARCHITECT. Brod Nori pursued a course in LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE in UP and passed the course with flying with colors.

13 – KATOTO is a Filipino term which means FRIEND.

14 – I.L.O. is acronym for the INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION. Brod Nori presently, still serves as CONSULTANT to the I.L.O.

15 – In most organizations, there is that usual phenomenon of factionalism and grouping which during election time to elect the head of the organization would become so enhanced and much well-defines. “KAMI-KAMI; TAYO-TAYO” would thus actually mean and roughly translate in English as: “WE and US”. During that hotly contested election for the post of Grand Omicron, where I and Brod Nori were the ONLY contenders to the post; I think I won the VOTE with just a margin of ONE (1) POINT.

16 – G.O. is acronym for GRAND OMICRON, which is the appellation of the head of our fraternity, the PI OMICRON FRATERNITY.

17 – EKONOMISTA denotes my field of professional discipline in ECONOMICS, as I hold a degree from UP in Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

18 – PLANNER is Brod Nori’s field of discipline as ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER.

19 –  Brod Nori and his wife Helen went on a European holiday last month, hopping from Italy, France, Germany, etc.

20 – This August 2017, Brod Nori together with the whole of his family will trek to San Francisco, California to attend the wedding of his youngest daughter who is a doctor by profession, Nona.

21 – PORTAMONEDA is WALLET.

22 – ALEE is my youngest daughter who together with her olde sisters, Shayna and Cheska, would compete in the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST in Phoenix, Arizona from August 7-2, 2017. ]

 [The TITLE of this FUN RHYME BLOG which is in TAGALOG: “TEAM NA AKIN IDINIDIGA; SIGURADONG MAY IBUBUGA!”, literally means in ENGLISH as: “THE TEAMS THAT I AM PROMOTING; THEY CAN REALLY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!” or perhaps, “THE TEAMS THAT I AM BATTING FOR; THEY HAVE THE CHAMPION EXPERIENCE!” or words to that effect…he,he,he…LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!]

Sa gitna nitong PAGLILIKOM¹,

Ng pundong magiging syang BAON²;

Nitong dalawang  HIPHOP Team³,

Para sila’y di tuluyang MABITIN⁴!

Aba, ito’y mantakin po ninyo,

Halos NOBENTA silang TAO⁵;

Sa pagkain na lang nila’t AUTO⁶,

Organizers nila’y tiyak na MALILITO!

Kaya sana’y maging GENEROSO,

Yaong mga pinadadalhan ng MEMO⁷;

At kanilang palawakin ang PANINGIN⁸,

BEST FRIENDS at KIN ay kanilang isama na RIN⁹!

Itong LEGIT STATUS Team noong 2015,

Natanghal din po namang tunay na RUNNER-UP DIN;

Sila’y naging pong PANGLIMA¹⁰,

Sa larangang ng 53 na bansang syang SUMAMA!

Sa totoo nga po pala LEGIT ay nag-SEGUNDO¹¹,

Sa paligsahang VARSITY, lahat halos ay TINALO;

Si RACE MATIAS¹² pa nga ang CAPTAIN^12a,

Tunay na magaling mag-TRAIN¹³!

Yaon po namang ALLIANCE Team,

Aba eh! pambato din at DINGGIN;

TUMERSERA po ko sila sa 2016 na LABANAN,

Sa LAS VEGAS na kung saan maraming NAGPALIGSAHAN!

Kaya dapat ipanalangin nang marubdod nating DASAL¹⁴,

At kung pwede’y humingi ng EKSTRA po na PAN DE SAL¹⁵;

Dahil sa PHOENIX ARIZONA po pala’y,

Napakainit po na para pong HURNO¹⁶…NAKU PO INAY¹⁷!

Kaya marahil meron na tayong masasabing PARTIDA¹⁸,

Dahil mga banyagang Caucasian¹⁹, hirap sa INIT na magpahinga—

Talo ng ating mga PINAY na kung saan tayo’y  SANAY²⁰…

Mainit man o malamig, tiyak tayo’y WAWAGAYWAY²¹!

Kaya nga’t sa PANGALAN NG PAG-IBIG,²²

Pag-ibig sa bayan at sa mga batang halos sa sayaw ay SAGIGILID!²³

Ipamanhikan natin sa ating PANGINOONG DIYOS, 

Na wala sanang masamang mangyari’t o kaya ay KUMABYOS²⁴…

Kumpiyansa at pananampalataya ang DAPAT,

At sa inyong mga ASPIRASYON ay maging TAPAT;

Maging magiliw at galak sa inyong PAGSASAYAW…

At ang magandang kapalaran siguradong KAKAWAY!²⁵

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[Legend: 1 – PAGLILIKOM is a Tagalog term which means FUND COLLECTION in connection with the FUNDRAISING DRIVE in support of the LEGIT STATUS and ALLIANCE Hiphop Teams who will see action and compete in the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST in Phoenix, Arizona on August 7-12, 2017.

2 – BAON is a Tagalog term which means monetary allowance or money to be used to defray expenses in a trip or travel.

3 – The TWO (2) HIPHOP Teams referred to are the: LEGIT STATUS DANCE TEAM and the ALLIANCE DANCE TEAM.

4 – MABITIN is a Tagalog term which means to fall short of expectations or to feel inadequately financed in this aspiration of the TWO (2) Philippine Hiphop Teams (i.e. LEGIT STATUS and ALLIANCE) to BAG the GOLD.

5 – The tally of those who will join the TWO (2) Hiphop Teams in their quest to BRING HOME THE GOLD stands at 89 (50 for the LEGIT STATUS and 39 for ALLIANCE), almost 90 in all.

6 – AUTO is used in this FUN RHYME BLOG to refer to transportation needs and most particularly to achieve a FUN RHYME.

7 – MEMO is used in this FUN RHYME BLOG to refer to a letter.

8 – PANINGIN is a Tagalog term which would mean the sense of sight or some kind of a gaze and also, to refer to the SCOPE of the range of would-be donors that need to be viewed as prospective and most certain benefactors.

9 – A push or perhaps continued reminders ought to be issued to sway those who will be receiving the letters of solicitation to pass it on to their best friends and kin.

10 – PANGLIMA is a Tagalog term which means FIFTH PLACER but the official ranking of LEGIT then was as FOURTH RUNNER-UP.

11– SEGUNDO is a Spanish word which has been accepted as Filipino term too for SECOND PLACER. But the official ranking of LEGIT STATUS’ Varsity Team was as FIRST RUNNER-UP.

12 –  RACE MATIAS is the handsome team captain of the LEGIT STATUS Varsity Team who skippered the LEGIT STATUS Varsity Team to its SILVER AWARD victory in the 2015 WHHI (Varsity Division). RACE’s father, Mayor Herbert Bautista was a generous benefactor of the Team then.

12a – Captain means TEAM CAPTAIN.

13 – Asked then, as to what made them rank SECOND and landed on a SILVER AWARD rank, RACE said that TRAINING is very much important in such kind of competition.

14 – DASAL is Tagalog term which means PRAYER.

15 – PAN SE SAL is a popular Filipino bread. And BREAD actually is a SLANG term which means MONEY.

16 – HURNO is a Filipino term which means OVEN.

17- INAY is actually an INTERJECTION customarily uttered by Filipinos to express FEAR or PAIN…the precise phrase is actually “INAY KO PO!”.

18- PARTIDA is a Filipino slang which means ADVANTAGE. 

19 – CAUCASIAN – Majority of the teams from other countries are of the Caucasian breed.

20- SANAY is a Filipino term which means ACCUSTOMED.

21 – WAWAGAYWAY is a Filipino term which means waving the flag in VICTORY.

22 – As has been said, LOVE and PASSION for DANCE is the uniting spirit that binds all the dancers of the LEGIT STATUS and ALLIANCE Teams. For those who will serve as DONORS, it would be LOVE for our country and LOVE for these skillful kids who want to show off their talents unto the WHOLE WORLD.

23 – SAGIGILID is a terms for the early Filipino slaves; indeed these kids-dancers by reason of their PASSION for DANCE have virtually enslaved themselves to the culture f DANCE of the HIPHOP genre.

24 – KUMABYOS means to commit a mistake or a miscue.

25 – LUCK and FORTUNE will surely wave and will soon be attracted to those who will show off their confidence in a GLEEFUL and JOYFUL manner.]

 [Photo shows the best of friends within the UP PI OMICRON FRATERNITY: Brod George Bacuta, at left; and Brod Rene Alhambra, at right. Brods George and Rene were high school classmates at the MARY HEIGHTS at CICM, Baguio City. As CICM and Saint Louis High School were both run by the same congregation of priests; those Mary Heights High School students including Brods George and Rene would troop to the Saint Louis school grounds to avail of the Latin classes  at the Saint Louis High School. Brod George evcentually became a topnotch geologist in the US; while Brod Rene, in the very words of Brod George is: “…his Honorable Executive Judge Rene Alhambra …. the Judge of all Philippine RTC judges — “ ]

He started as a UP Baguio fraternity BROTHER¹,

Could have been better if he began in Diliman, if I had my DRUTHER²;

For he indeed is so JOLLY– with a deft SENSE of HUMOR,

Surely, his company could have added JOY and RAPTURE!

Learned he was an a ex-SEMINARIAN,

Truly, the impression is that he could be VICTORIAN³;

But BROD RENE is not that PRUDISH,

He could in fact be a ladies’ man, but that’s just “TSISMIS⁴”

The SEMINARY which he attended,

Was the CICM Seminary, it’s quite WIDESPREAD;

It’s run by a ROMAN CATHOLIC congregation—

With headquarters in far BELGIUM!

Perhaps by reason of his MONASTIC SCHOOLING,

He has become a PERFECTIONIST, not much of DROOLING;⁵

But it’s his HOROSCOPE as an AQUARIAN,

He’s so CREATIVE, a LIBERTARIAN…

And as a MAGISTRATE in the Philippine CAPITAL,

He is number ONE being the top JUDICIAL;

As the EXECUTIVE JUDGE, he’s full of MIGHT,

But rest assured he’s always on the RIGHT!

And I am much proud of him as my “KA-BROD”,

For his SENSE OF HUMOR is truly not BAD;

He sometimes would somewhat go OVERBOARD,

But his REPARTEES are truly TOP of the HOARD!

I hope and pray that soon and NEAR,

He’ll ascend unto the MAGISTERIAL ladder;

And then perhaps, within this ERA…

He’ll carve a niche in PADRE FAURA!!!!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BROD!

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[Legend: 1 – Brod Rene Alhambra became a member of the UP BAGUIO PI OMICRON Fraternity during his pre-law studies. We became contemporaries at the UP College of Law where he enrolled in the MORNING section, while I enrolled in the EVENING section. His first job after Law School was at the OMBUDSMAN. Thereafter, during the incumbency of Pres. FVR, Brod Rene was appointed as RTC Judge in San Jose; Nueva Ecija; thence re-assigned to RTC Manila. In recognition of his exemplar service as a magistrate, he was adjudged as MOST OUSTANDING RTC JUDGE of Manila in 2016 by Mayor Joseph Estrada. Brod Rene is the incumbent Executive Judge of RTC Manila.

2 – DRUTHER means PREFERENCE.

3 – VICTORIAN means PRUDISH.

4 – TSISMIS is Tagalog slang for RUMOR.

5 – DROOLING is used here in this BLOG to denote DESIRE. Indeed, Brod Rene’s being a PERFECTIONIST is not much of a DESIRE, but by reason of his being an a AQUARIAN and guided too by the Chinese ZODIAC sign of a WOODEN HORSE.]

[Photos above show the TEASER signages of both the ALLIANCE and the LEGIT STATUS DANCE TEAMS announcing their respective dance concerts for the FUNDRAISING ventures that they have both launched in connection with their participation in the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST to be held in Phoenix, Arizona on August 7-12, 2017. The specific venue in Phoenix is the ARIZONA GRAND RESORT & SPA  with address at  8000 Arizona Grand Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85044, USA and with contact number as follows:+1 602-438-9000.]

With the FUNDRAISER launched at GENEROSITY¹,

People would be wont to ask: “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” —

Well, it could be the PRESTIGE and BRAGGING RIGHTS, perhaps—

As long as there will be no MISCUES and MISHAPS!

But these teams: LEGIT² and ALLIANCE³ are of CHAMPION QUALITY,

They seem to be training for ALL ETERNITY⁴…

And they have placed so GOOD BEFORE,

They actually missed by some inch the HIGHEST SCORE!

LEGIT was the 4^th Runner-Up in 2015⁵,

That’s  the MEGACREW Division; it was sort of SLIM⁶…

But LEGIT’s Varsity TEAM got the award that’s SILVER⁷;

The edge of the CHAMPION was as thin as  a SLIVER!

ALLIANCE was hailed as 3^rd placer in 2016⁸,

That was in the Las Vegas WHHI, ‘twas so EXCITING!

And ALLIANCE was TOP in this year’s Philippine QUALIFIER⁹…

That’s wonderful enough,  ‘tis as though a budding ACROSPIRE¹⁰!

LET’S SUPPORT LEGIT and ALLIANCE,

For your donation though some kind of DALLIANCE¹¹;

It would bring JOY to the KIDS and our NATION,

You’d treasure it in your distant RECOLLECTION¹²!

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[Legend: 1 – GENEROSITY.COM is a website for FUNDRAISING activities. This website was introduced to me by my “NIECE”, Ms. Hannah Y Kim. Hannah who is a Korean-American embarked on a personal journey to visit all the countries which sent forces to fight for democracy in the 1950 Korean War. Hannah visited my Daddy Max here in the Philippines in April 2016 and she, as a manifestation of her gratitude to Daddy Max’s Korean War efforts, “adopted” Daddy Max as her GRANDPA.

2 – LEGIT STATUS is a Philippine Hiphop Team which was organized by my son-in-law, Vicente Miguel “Vimi” Rivera in 2009. It started out as a triple-school-based team of DE LA SALLE, XAVIER UNIVERSITY and ASSUMPTION COLLEGE but has now eventually become a team composed of students from various colleges in the metropolis:  Ateneo, De La Salle,  UP, UP Los Baños, Assumption, etc.

3 – ALLIANCE is a Philippine Hiphop Team which was organized by my daughter’s BF, Jayjay San Juan in 2014. It also started out as a mono-school-based team of COLEGIO DE SAN AGUSTIN (“CSA”) but has now eventually become a variegated team composed of students from various colleges in the metropolis: Ateneo, De La Salle, CSA, CSB, UE, UST, UA & P, LSM, Miriam, St. Paul, UP, etc.

 4 – These teams would at times train/rehearse from 6 PM up to 2:00 AM, the next morning.

5 – At the 2015 World Hiphop International Contest (“WHHI”) held in San Diego, California; 53 countries participated with majority of countries sending at least TWO (2) teams.

6 – The scoring differences turned out to be so SLIM then; and 3 Philippine teams fought it out in the FINALS composed of FIVE (5) topnotch teams.

7 – The LEGIT Varsity Team which was skippered then by Race Matias, was adjudged as FIRST RUNNER-UP in the 2015 WHHI in the VARSITY DIVISION.

8 – At the 2016 World Hiphop International Contest (“WHHI”) held in Las Vegas, Nevada; 50 countries participated with majority of countries sending at least TWO (2) teams. In that competition, ALLIANCE was adjudged as 3^rd placer in such a field of 50 participating countries.

9 – ALLIANCE placed FIRST in the PHILIPPINE QUALIFIER ROUND while LEGIT STATUS placed SECOND.

10-   ACROSPIRE means the first sprout appearing in the germination of a grain with the plumule or shoot or stem reaching upward.

11 – DALLIANCE is used in this FUN RHYME BLOG as a BRIEF INVOLVEMENT.

12 – RECOLLECTION would denote that in some future time, if indeed either of these TWO (2) teams is declared CHAMPION; you could state that one way or the other, you have been part of that quest to BRING HOME THE GOLD!]

 [GLO aka GLORIA PASCUA AGUINALDO was  a colleague of mine in the TONDO FORESHORE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT  which was launched in the 1970s. This project was sort of a PIONEERING project as it was the very first time that URBAN RENEWAL via SITE UPGRADING was implemented by the Philippine government through WORLD BANK-financing. GLO eventually zoomed up in her career after she migrated to Europe {following her marriage to a Dane (i.e. a citizen of Denmark)} where she became a very important functionary in the EUROPEAN UNION. At the time this BLOG was written, GLO was then an INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT on the field  of ENERGY STATISTICS. We also got reconnected through the FUNDRAISER put up by my daughter ALEE. GLO was the first DONOR to the FUND DRIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH GLO!!!! MUCHAS GRACIAS…MERCI BEACOUP…TAK….SALAMAT PO!!!!]

We were together in a TROOP¹,

That’s the ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY GROUP²;

That was in TONDO FORESHORE in the SEVENTIES,

Tipping then into my mid-TWENTIES!

There was one colleague whom I ADMIRED,

She’s ILOCANA³ but always elegantly ATTIRED;

She was BRIGHT and ANALYTIC,

She sometimes even was PROPHETIC⁴!

In those days when we were FREE⁵,

We’d go on an escapade near RIZAL’s MARQUEE⁶;

We’d dine at the well-liked HONGKONG HOUSE⁷,

After sipping fresh sugar cane juice on the GRASS⁸!

At times when we were FREER,

We would go to our MURPHY HOME and sip some BEER;

And our fave finger food would BE…

The spicy fried “dilis”⁹ that Mom¹⁰ would cook for ME!

But as FATE would truly have it,

GLO would eventually don a DANISH SKIRT;

And she truly became EUROPEAN,

She worked as a cosmopolitan economic STATISTICIAN¹¹!

And I am proud of her more SO…

As she typifies the typical Filipina HERO;

She worked hard not only for ONE NATION,

But actually for the whole GLOBAL ASSOCIATION¹²!

Alas, I got totally and superbly AGHAST¹³,

When I saw GLO’s bio data AT LAST;

She speaks FRENCH, SPANISH, DANISH and ENGLISH…

And she’s even a lawyer, a JURIST¹⁴!

And as she has sought her work RETIREMENT,

It would indeed be a happy COMMENCEMENT;

As RETIREMENT indeed, is the start of a new ADVENTURE¹⁵,

To attain new heights and to seek  GREENER PASTURE¹⁶!

HAPPY PASTURE TRIPPING GLO!!!

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[Legend: 1 – At the TONDO FORESHORE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT (“TFURP”), one of the predecessors-agencies of the NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY,   which was placed then under the Office of the President and the mandate was to erase the slum condition of the Tondo Foreshoreland which consisted of a 137 hectare strip of land facing the sea. I consider ourselves as composing a TROOP, as in military parlance, as General G. V. Tobias virtually ran our outfit as though a military unit, considering that Gen. Tobias’ is truly a dyed-in-the-wool military man.

2 – We formed  the unit known as the ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY GROUP and we were working on then as to how the cost of the urban renewal would be passed on to the beneficiaries of the project who are the mere low-lifers in Philippine society.

3 – GLORIA PASCUA AGUINALSO is an Ilocana from the town of PASUQUIN in Ilocos Norte.

4 – GLO was truly prophetic as in our talks she could almost prognosticate on what will happen next; perhaps an aspect of female intuition.

5 – Our workload was irregular; sometimes too heavy; and at times LIGHT. On those days, where our load was light and mostly during summer when I have no classes (I was enrolled then in UP Law’s Evening Section), we would go to the Rizal Park, formerly known as LUNETA.

6 –  RIZAL’s MARQUEE would be the RIZAL MONUMENT at the LUNETA PARK.

7 – HONGKONG HOUSE is a popular Chinese Restaurant in the Ermita Area near the Luneta Park.

8 – LUNETA was and still now, a favorite leisure park where pedestrians could unwind and relax by sprawling or sitting on the grassy lawn while sipping some cold beverage.

9 – “DILIS” is the vernacular for anchovies.

10 – MOM would refer to my late Mommy Norma, who truly was the best cook in this side of the globe.

11 – GLO’s last job at the European Union was at INOGATE. INOGATE was an international energy co-operation programme between the European Union (EU), the littoral states of the Black and Caspian seas and their neighboring countries. The programme was operational from 1996 to 2016. INOGATE was one of the longest running energy technical assistance programmes funded by the EU. Up to 2006, it was funded by the Tacis Regional Cooperation Programme, and as of 2007, it was funded by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) under the ENPI-East Regional Indicative Programme 2007-2010 and 2010-2013. EuropeAid supported the programme through the ENPI and the Development Cooperation Instrument. The coordinating INOGATE Technical Secretariat was concluded in April 2016.

12 – GLOBAL ASSOCIATION would refer to the whole world. In this GLOBALIZED WORLD, the actions taken most specifically by the EUROPEAN UNION would almost always be affecting the whole world.

13 – AGHAST is used here to mean FLABBERGASTED, AWED and AMAZED.

14 – In some JURISPRUDENTIAL JURISDICTIONS, a lawyer is also termed as a JURIST especially those of lawyers of the highest caliber. Having seen GLO’s bio-date lately, and being a an eminent member of the ASSOCIATION OF DANISH LAWYERS AND ECONOMISTS, I could say without batting an eyelash, that GLO is a lawyer PAR EXCELLENCE.

15 – Truly indeed, GLO and her husband BJARNE RUBY,  have embarked on a never-ending adventure of SORTS; trying to discover and re-discover new and old places alike.

16 – PASTURE would mean in this FUN RHYME BLOG as new places of INTERESTS as GLO is truly an amazing traveler too.]

 [Mariz (aka Marisa Alvarez Williams) and I were colleagues at the WORLD BANK-FINANCED TONDO FORESHORE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT in the 70s. We got accidentally connected to each other after my daughter ALEE put up the FUNDRAISER (through GENEROSITY.COM) for the 2017 WORLD HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL CONTEST (“WHHI”) in support of the Philippine Hiphop Dance Teams (i.e. LEGIT STATUS and ALLIANCE). Mariz who is based in Zamboanga City, has been here in the Philippines for 11 months  now after she attended the funeral of his brother Greg last year. Mariz is scheduled to depart at 3 PM today for Lancaster, Ohio, U.S.A to reunite with her husband Bob. Bon voyage Mariz!!!!]

In December 1974 I got employed at TONDO FORESHORE¹,

It was a pioneering project for the MARCOS REGIME² to SCORE³…

It consisted of URBAN RENEWAL and UPGRADING OF SITE,

The WORLD BANK vowed to finance it with all its MIGHT!

I met then my colleagues who were all smart LADIES,

It was MARIZ⁴, GLO⁵ and CHONA;⁶ and ABE⁷ was our CHIEF—

MARIZ was from the SOUTH, a vibrant Zamboanga LASS…

And GLO was somewhat meek but with a mind as sharp as CUTLASS⁸!

I’ll concentrate on MARIZ for tomorrow we will MEET,

She’ll be flying BACK to the U.S., I hope it’s not FOR KEEP;

We’ll meet somewhere near the AIRPORT,

Would be nice if she could make it to the FORT⁹!

I remember during those TONDO Days,

We would ride in one car to reach the QUAYS¹⁰;

We worked near the PIER called the NORTH HARBOR,

It was breezy and the horizon was filled with BAPOR¹¹!

One time when there was some kind of RE-ORG!

And the General¹² was proposing changes in a place so full of ROGUE¹³;

The General offered ABE¹⁴ the position,

Another ABE¹⁵ butted in, saying it’s too much for his EDUCATION!

There were times when GANG WARS

would erupt,

We make sure that our colleagues were SAFE and our work not DISRUPT;

But despite this eerie SURROUNDINGS,

We brought to TONDO such GOOD TIDINGS¹⁶!

And those CHRISTMAS parties we’ve HAD,

Brought the house DOWN as though falling from a CRAG¹⁷;

Us MALES — would dress up like HOOKERS,

While our FEMALE counterparts remain as real LOOKERS!

And the thing that has etched in my MIND,

Is that MARIZ was so solicitous and so classic as WINE;

She’ll be praying when I’m driving the CAR¹⁸,

Saying that I’m a reckless driver as though wanting a SCAR¹⁹!

THANK YOU MARIZ!!!

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[Legend: 1 – It was the TONDO FORESHORE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT (“TFURP”), one of the predecessors-agencies of the NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY,   which was placed then under the Office of the President and the mandate was to erase the slum condition of the Tondo Foreshoreland which consists of a 137 hectare strip of land facing the sea.

2 – It was a project which was launched during Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ MARTIAL LAW regime.

3 – As Pres. Marcos was facing a challenge to extirpate the roots of growing dissent and rebellion and to accelerate the development of the country, Pres. Marcos wanted to showcase the TONDO FORESHORE DEVELOPMENT Project as one way to alleviate the degradation of the poorest of the poor as depicted in the TONDO slums. It was indeed a PIONEERING project for way back then, URBAN RENEWAL was a novel idea of urban development.

4 – MARIZ is Marisa Alvares Williams, my Zamboangueña co-employee at the TFURP, who at that time was so alluringly svelte and statuesque.

5 – GLO is Gloria Pascua Aguinaldo, my Ilocana co-employee at the TFURP and who is now based in Belgium; and who at that time was so attractively demure, coy and affectionate.

6 –  CHONA is Rosario Logan Villanueva, who was then  a chubby but pretty  co-employee at the TFURP, who is still employed with the government as Department Head of the National Housing Authority’s Estate Management Department.

7 – ABE is our immediate supervisor, Mr. Abelardo Ressurrecion.

8 – CUTLASS is a very sharp knife or saber.

9 – The FORT is the favorite week-end and classy destination in Metro-Manila and located in Taguig.

10 – QUAYS mean the seaport.

11 – BAPOR is Tagalog term for ships especially those SHIPs anchored at the Manila North Harbor area.

12 – GENERAL refers to General Gaudencio V. Tobias, my uncle, who was named by Pres. F.E. Marcos as the Director-General of the TFURP.

13 – ROGUE would refer to the various rascals, villains, knaves, criminals and tough guys to where TONDO is famous/notorious for.

14 – ABE refers to Mr. Abelardo Ressureccion, the expert economist, who was then heading the ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY GROUP of the TFURP.

15 – ABE is the namesake of Mr. Abelardo Ressureccion and one of the JANITORs employed at the TFURP. It was in an informal meeting attended by all officers and staff of the TFURP where General G.V. Tobias first sounded off the need to reorganize the TFURP.

16 – Indeed, we brought to TONDO such a good news as eventually the upgraded sites thereat especially the residential area (which is located in the heart of Manila) was eventually sold to the censused occupants at Php 95.00 per square meter.

17 – CRAG means CLIFF.

18 – Back then, we were into CAR POOLING. Alternately, it would be MARIZ or my TOYOTA Corolla Car that we would use to bring us to NORTH HARBOR. When I drive my CAR, Mariz feels so insecure as she feels I was a reckless driver.

19 – It would seem to Mariz’s mind that I want to get into some kind of a mishap that would bring us all SCARS as a consequence of a collision or any other mishap.]

[I am reprinting the FUN RHYME BLOG which I wrote for my NIECE HANNAH when she celebrated her BIRTHDAY, with some addition. I wish to thank HANNAH for introducing me to the WEBSITE-GENEROSITY.COM which served as a convenient FUNDRAISER for the aspiration of my HIPHOP dancing kids (together with their team mates, 89 Filipino kids in all) to adequately finance their trip to the 2017 WHHI. With this support, I hope it would fully actuate the Philippine HIPHOP teams to bag and bring home the GOLD. Thank you HANNAH for your donation.]

It was as though a breath of fresh air ARRIVED,

As Daddy Max recounted the persistent plea for an INTERVIEW… LIVE;

‘Twas apt and timely, as Daddy Max was then feeling WEARIED¹,

The plea for INTERVIEW cause Daddy’s doctors to be WORRIED²!

And the appointed time for the TALK CAME,

HANNAH Y. KIM went to see Daddy Max, she was GAME³;

Despite the requirement to wear a FACE MASK⁴,

HANNAH pushed her luck and took the risk to TASK!

HANNAH was indeed a pretty LADY,

She was statuesque and truly DANDY;

She could even pass for a Hollywood STAR,

She felt so INVINCIBLE as though shielded with KEVLAR⁵!

And that interview animated our DADDY,

As though DADDY MAX popped an energy pill…so FUNNY;

Daddy Max’s answered in STENTORIAN MANNERS,

As though he’s not sick in  his tired TUBERS⁶!

But what really amazed us is HANNAH’s  PRONE POSE,

She lied flat on the ground almost touching her NOSE;

Thereafter she knelt and bowed down to DADDY,

Showing much respect to a GRANDPA⁷…DADDY felt so HAPPY!

Found out thereafter that HANNAH was past PEACE CORPS,

She was Congressman Rangel’s⁸ Chief COMMUNICATOR;

Graduated HIGH SCHOOL at Seoul’s National University,

Pursued thence a course in LITERATURE— she’s quite LITERARY!

She’s got a MASTERAL at George Washington U,

It’s a topnotch school available only to a FEW;

A certificate in ENTREPRENEURSHIP at UCLA,

At JOHN HOPKINS,  scored a course on foreign relations’ CONSORTIA!

But HANNAH’s quest has now become HISTORIC,

She has retraced  and reminisced a WAR EPIC;

Visiting and giving warm greetings to KOREAN WAR VETS,

It’s a PASSION, as she’s keen too on lifetime learning and FITNESS!

And as a “NIECE” now via her adoption of DADDY MAX,

She truly proved to be HELPFUL in my TASK;

She introduced to me into the website of  GENEROSITY.COM,

And now the FUNDRAISER has reached a SUM!

I hope that when we meet in LA,

Will have the time to dine and PARLEY;

Perhaps my KIDS could dance a number,

To thank her so… for this website WONDER!

THANK YOU SO MUCH HANNAH!!!!

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[Legend: 1 – Daddy Max was hospitalized at the UERM Medical Center for over two (2) weeks due to a bout with PNEUMONIA and he was getting bored and wearied by that unwanted episode of inactivity and dormancy.

2 – Daddy Max’s doctors got so very worried as the strict directive was to limit visitors to Daddy Max’s room. But as the President of the UERM knew fully well the passionate feeling of Daddy Max about the KOREAN WAR, UERM’s Prexy, Dr. Romeo A. Divinagracia,  yielded and acquiesced to the requested LIVE interview. Actually, the doctors who were medically attending to Daddy Max’s needs were somewhat adverse to allowing the LIVE interview.

3 – HANNAH was truly GAME as she actually risked her health in going into a LIVE interview with a hospital patient who just had a recent bout with such a deadly illness, PNEUMONIA.

4 – Most people would certainly think twice in cases where a visit to a hospital patient would be required to go through the sanitary practice of wearing a FACE MASK.

5 – Kevlar is a well-known component of personal armor such as combat helmets, ballistic face masks, and ballistic vests.

6 –  TUBERS  is a term used in this FUN-RHYME BLOG to mean the LUNGS.

7 – HANNAH announced during the LIVE interview and  after lying prostrate on the ground and bowing thereafter unto Daddy Max that she has adopted Daddy Max as her GRANDPA.

8 – Congressman Rangel is former U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel of New York.]