[Left photo shows the tandem of ANDREW PUEN and EDNA NATIVIDAD at the BACKCOURT while the tandem of ROBERT TAN and DIGNA GAVINA awaits the shuttlecock at the FORECOURT, from a service tendered by ANDREW. Right photo shows the tandem of RACHELLE TAN and ROSIE ROQUE as they await the shuttlecock during the training-play being provided them by my brother WARREN (not seen in the photo) who intended to do a long serve from the BACK PORTION of the opposite court.]

 

 

Ang SCHEDULE ng TOURNEY ay sa Mayo UNO,

Sa TOURNAMENT naman ang laban ay kung sino ang PRIMERO;

May SAMPUNG LIBONG PISONG tumataginting,

Sa KOPONAN na siyang magiging WINNING!

 

 

Syempre DOC ANDY TAN BADMINTON CUP ang syang NGALAN,

Dahil last term na ito ng mahal nating si  DOC ANDY TAN;

Dapat lamang na si DOC ANDY ay PARANGALAN,

Sa SERBISYO nyang halos ay mukhang WALANG HANGGANAN!

 

 

Kaya dapat tayong lahat ay dumating ng MAAGA,

Para wala pong magiging DISGRASYA,

Baka mayroon diyang mag-O-OVER-HEAT,

Naku baka magalit dahil COCK ‘di nya MA-HIT!

 

 

Pero mas maganda talagang mas MAAGA,

Para sobrang init ng ARAW di tayo MALANTA;

Meron nga namang ELECTRIC FAN na MALAKI,

Subalit SHUTTLECOCK lilipad ng PAWARDI-WARDI¹!

 

 

At bigyan din nating ng magalang na PAGPUPUGAY,

Yaong mga NON-ASPAC na aking KINARAY²;

Syempre MAAGA din silang DARATING,

Huwag naman sanang tayo pa ang syang AANTAYIN!

 

 

O JOAN NETTE — huwag sanang MAKALIMUTAN,

Yong NAME TAGS natin ay iyong  dapat PASAN³;

Syempre meron ding NAME TAGS ang mga NON-ASPAC…

Upang ang NAME-CALLING naman ay di PUMALPAK!

 

 

At may  praktis pa rin tayo sa SABADO,

Siyempre dahil SIGNATURE YELL meron ding PAPREMYO;

Kaya LIGHT-TRAINING na lang ang training na YAON,

Para hindi na tayo magtagal sa HALL ng MALAON⁴!

 

 

Kaya si ROBERT TAN tila’y nag-IISIP,

Magtatayo na lang daw siya ng TENT sa PREMISES;

Doon sa HALL na daw silang mag-asawa’y MAIIDLIP⁵,

Upang NUMBER ONE daw sila sa ATTENDANCE SHEET!!!!

========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – PAWARDI-WARDI is Filipino/Tagalog slang which means no specific direction or something which is topsy-turvy or awry. Indeed, if the BIG FANS will be turned on and directed into the COURTS, the shuttlecocks will FLY LIKE CRAZY.

2 – KINARAY is a Filipino/Tagalog term which means INVITED using some kind of enticement or intimidation.

3 – PASAN means to bring or something which denotes as a responsibility.

4 – MALAON means to stay for LONG.

5 – MAIIDLIP means to SLEEP.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[On the second day of the practice-session of the ASPAC officers/staff held at the Badminton Hall on April 22, 2017; TWELVE (12) players-participants were in attendance and the LEVEL 1 players among the ASPAC officers/staff were accorded specialized training by my brother WARREN, myself and by ANDREW PUEN.]

 

 

 

OKEY na OKEY ang praktis noong SABADO,

Si DIGNA¹ may dala pang DRINKS — ang akala ko’y SAGO;

Pero mas masarap pa sa SAGO DRINK na bitbit nya DATI…

CUCUMBER JUICE pala, tunay na VERY TASTY!

 

 

Si EMILY² naman ay bumili  pa nang BIKO,

Na LATE tuloy sya sa special training na na-sked KO;

Pero OKEY din naman ang SERVICE³ ni EMILY,

COOL na COOL siya at hindi nagmama-DALI⁴!

 

 

Galing pala ni ANDREW⁵ , kala ko’y BAGITO—

Mukhang malakas ang TANDEM ng BLUE Team na ITO;

Sorry na lang sa lahat …na-publish na ang PAIRING…

Ang tunay na importante, lahat tayo’y MAG-BA-BONDING!

 

 

Eto namang si CINDY⁶, may DRAMA pa KUNWARI —

Baka daw di makapaglaro at mayroong INJURY;

Aba noong natikman ang PANCIT na binili sa PARES-PARES⁷,

Biglang lumakas ang ENERGY at nawala po ang STRESS!

 

 

Si ROSIE⁸ naman ng WHITE TEAM na pang-huling TAMPOK,

Aba INTERESADO talagang sa SERVICE maging PATOK…

Nag-sarili ng TRAINING at siya’y  nag-FOCUS sa dulong COURT—

Animo’y si BILBONG⁹ PANDAK; and SERVICE nama’y puro SHORT!

 

 

Ang isang REVELATION noong Sabadong TRAINING,

Itong si YSA¹⁰ na sumulpot at bigla ding nag-LEAVING¹¹;

Pero ang dali nyang natutong mag-SERVE¹²,

Magaling siyang PUMITIK at mukhang may ENERGY pa syang RESERVED!

 

 

Si EDNA¹³ namang talagang malakas HUMAMPAS,

Maliksi pang kumilos, tunay na PAGASPAS;

Malakas din ang ka-TANDEM nitong si EDNA…

Partner niya si JING¹⁴, na expert sa BOLA¹⁵!

 

 

Si JOAN NETTE¹⁶ naman ay masayang-MASAYA,

Ang HENERAL¹⁷ na ka-TANDEM ‘di na ikahihiya SIYA;

Kabado si NETTE na kapag sila’y NATALO,

Baka daw PUTUKAN ang lahat ng PANALO!

 

 

 

Ito namang si TESS¹⁸ nagkaroon na nang IMPROVEMENT,

Magaling nang mag-SERVE, bago pa ang EQUIPMENT¹⁹;

Pero dahil SPIRITUAL at sagradong RELIGIOUS,

Bantulot pa ring HUMATAW, dahil sya’y  MAKADIYOS!

 

 

Pero ang SORPRESANG dumating TALAGA…

Ang TAMBALANG TAN, so SWEET na mag-ASAWA;

Si ROBERT²⁰ na TEAM CAPTAIN ng BLUE TEAM,

Si RACHELLE²¹ naman RED TEAM ang DADALHIN!

DALAWANG KOPONAN ng TAN …SIGURADONG MAHIGPIT ANG LABANAN!!!!

 

========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – Digna is Dra. Digna Batoon-Gavina who is currently a Year Level Representative of ASPAC.

2 – Emily is Emily de la Cruz who is currently Board Member of ASPAC.

3 – SERVICE or TENDER is the act of a badminton player to bring the SHUTTLECOCK into the opposite court to start the play.

4 –  What is nice about the SERVICE of Emily is that she is not rushing the SERVICE as she takes time to make the SERVICE perfect.

5 – Andrew is Andrew Puen who is currently a Year Level Representative of ASPAC. I thought all along that Andrew is a BEGINNER; anyway as I have already published the TEAM PAIRING, we just have to stick to the TEAM PAIRING, as it stands now. Indeed, BADMINTON is not PURE SKILLS; it also involves LUCK…LUCK on having a skilled partner.

6 – Cindy is Cindy Franco who is currently a Board Member of  ASPAC. Earlier, Cindy was complaining of an injury but after a while, she slipped on her playing shorts and grab a racket to practice and play.

7 – PARES-PARES is the name of the restaurant along 20^th Avenue almost near the P. Tuazon Avenue which sells delicious-tasting PANCIT MIKI-BIHON GUISADO.

8 – Rosie is Rosalinda Roque who is currently a Year Level Representative of ASPAC.

9 – BILBONG is a reference to BILBO BAGGINS of the HOBBIT novel series who is SHORT.

10 – Ysa is Maria Luisa B. Concepcion who is currently the Corporate Secretary of ASPAC.

11-  As Ysa had a priorly scheduled engagement, Ysa left the training/practice session at around 6:00 PM.

12 – Ysa showed a quick inclination to master the trick on making a correct SERVICE; just a little above the net and on the LINE, not before and not even after…truly on the LINE (as in ON THE DOT).

13 – Edna is Edna Natividad who is currently a Board Member of ASPAC.

14 – Jing is the nickname of my brother WINSTON who is with the UNILAB/UNAHCO group and who donated the playing t-shirts.

15 – BOLA refers to the SHUTTLECOCK. Jing aka WINSTION is one of the highly-skilled badminton players in the fold of the regular players at the Badminton Hall. Jing is also skilful in MAHJONG which speaks of STICKS and BALLs, etc.

16 –  Joan Nette is Joan Nette Laurente who is currently the Secretary-Admin Assistant of ASPAC.

17 –    HENERAL refers to PNP General George Piano who is Nette’s tandem-mate.

18 –  Tess is Maritess Cordero who is currently Board Member of ASPAC.

19 –  Tess told me that she was able to purchase ON SALE, a new gum-soled pair of rubber shoes which is ideal for a badminton match.

20 – Robert is Robert  Tan who is currently a Board Member of ASPAC.

21 – Rachelle is Dra. Rachelle Tan and who is  Robert Tan’s gracious and lovely wife.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doc Andy Tan is shown here being provided PERSONALIZED style of training by my brother WARREN T. YOUNG in the SERVICE or TENDER of the SHUTTLECOCK, by striking the COCK seamlessly in bringing the same unto the opposite court. It was indeed a unique show of humility and exemplary leadership on the part of Doc Andy to be there on the FIRST DAY of practice which was held on April 15, 2017. ASPAC Board Member Cindy Franco is shown at the extreme right portion doing the role of a “PULOT-GIRL” for Doc Andy as can be seen from the clump of COCKS which Cindy collected on the floor then being clutched by her on her left hand. ]

Ngayong ang syang IKALAWANG ARAW¹,

PRACTICE ng mga ASPAC Parents, pero KWIDAW—

Merong ganadong darating ng MAS MAAGA²…

Magandang pangitain ito, bilang pagpapakita ng TIYAGA…

 

 

Ang sabi nga ng mga MATATANDA,

Na tunay na kumita na nang swak na PRUWEBA…

Kung walang TIYAGA, ay walang NILAGA…

Tugon naman ni TESS: “Nasa DIYOS ang AWA, nasa TAO ang GAWA!”…

 

 

Bilang pangalawang POINTERS sa mga BEGINNER…

Dapat pag-aralan ang SERVICE o TENDER³;

Yan ang tawag sa PAG-UMPISA ng SET⁴…

Pag-aralan ng HUSTO at huwag PONG MABUWISET⁵…

 

 

Ganito ang dapat para ang SERVICE ay SWAK,

Hawakan nang mabuti ang COCK⁶ sa may PAKPAK;

Hawak ng KALIWA, at KANAN naman ang syang RACKET,

Pitikin⁷ lamang ito para dumausdos OVER THE NET!

 

 

 

Ang sabi nga ay ganito mga PANYERAS y PANYEROS…

HALF OF THE BATTLE ay siguradong LOST —

Kapag nagmintis ang SERVICE o kaya ay TENDER…

Kung ito’y KINAPOS o LUMAMPAS sa SECOND LINER⁸!

 

 

Pero HALF THE BATTLE is WON, IKA NGA…

Kapag SWAK ang SERVICE, bubuka ang BUNGANGA…

Nang KALABANG BEGINNER na mag mumukhang KAWAWA…

Kapag PUNTOS na naman …malapit na GANTIMPALA!

 

 

Kaya pati si DOC ANDY TAN⁹ ,

Minabuting mauna sa PRACTICE ng PALIGSAHAN…

Makikita sa PROFILE PHOTO¹⁰ sa itaas PO NITO…

Aba ang galing ng FORMA, parang ‘di BAGITO¹¹!

 

Kaya dapat magdatingan ang mga BEGINNER,

Para maganda ang LARO lalo na ang TENDER¹²;

Kasi nga kapag sa TENDER ay PUMALPAK…

KNOCK-OUT¹³ tiyak kayo dahil tuwina’y PALPAK!!!!

 

==================================================================

[Legend: 1 – Today, April 22, 2017 is the SECOND DAY of practice sessions for the scheduled FIRST EVER ASPAC BADMINTON TOURNAMENT.

2 – The PRACTICE SESSION is set to start at 4:00 PM today (April 22, 2017), but earnest ASPAC parents who want to learn more, may opt to come as early as 3:00 PM to start their personalized practice.

3 – SERVICE or TENDER is the act of a badminton player to bring the SHUTTLECOCK into the opposite court to start the play.

4 –  SET refers to a BADMINTON PLAY.

5 – Doing the SERVICE may become a BORING thing for a BEGINNER to practice as it would be a monotonous skein of bringing the SHUTTLECOCK seamlessly (to be repeated over and over again) into the opposite court via the striking of the COCK with the PADDLE or RACKET. So, please do not get BORED…Huwag pong ma-BUWISET!

6 – COCK refers to the SHUTTLECOCK.

7 – PITIKIN is a term used in BADMINTON of serving the COCK via a mere quick movement of the hand which handles the PADDLE by means of a quick hand-twisting movement from the waist.

8 – The SHUTTLECOCK upon the SERVICE of the same must not go beyond the SECOND LINE of the opposite court.

9 – DOC ANDY TAN is Doctor Alejandro K. Tan who is the incumbent President of the Ateneo Schools Parents Council (“ASPAC”). It was indeed a distinct and humble show of leadership when Doc Andy appeared at the FIRST DAY of PRACTICE SESSION on April 15, 2017.

10 – The PROFILE PHOTO referred to is the PHOTO introducing this FUN-RHYME BLOG.

11-  BAGITO is a Filipino slang which means BEGINNER.

12 – TENDER is another term for SERVICE.

13 – The TOURNAMENT will use the KNOCK-OUT system of ELIMINATION meaning, ONE LOSS would spell exclusion from the sequel plays. But not in the BOODLE FIGHT certainly.]

 

 

 

 

[On May 1, 2017; the ATENEO SCHOOLS PARENTS COUNCIL (ASPAC) will hold its first ever BADMINTON TOURNAMENT-DOUBLES at the BADMINTON HALL located at No. 6 20th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City. Games start at 7:30 AM after the registration and an opening ceremony; with assembly and roll-call time at 7:00 AM.  It will be a unique tournament as the tandem of players will consist of a BEGINNER and a PRO-PLAYER.  By way of guide to the BEGINNERS who truly are RARING to “RUMBLE”, I thought of writing this FUN-RHYME BLOG. Indeed, the best game plan is for the BEGINNER to quickly glide into the BACK COURT immediately upon the service of the BALL so that the ball’s return is assured via the PRO-PLAYERS hit or strike or smash. The BEGINNER who will invariably be at the BACK COURT can perhaps master the art of doing a DROP BALL shot in case the ball comes up to him/her at the BACK COURT…usually a BALLOONING shot from the opponent-tandem that customarily is aimed at the BACK COURT. The PRO-PLAYERS referred to are the regular Badminton Players at the BADMINTON HALL. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!]

 

 

Kakaiba ang TORNEO sa Mayo UNO,

Dahil nga ay kombinasyon ng LUMA at BAGO;

Yong BAGO’y mga BEGINNERS na RARING…

Yon namang LUMA, mga batikang PLAYERS na DARING!

 

 

Maliban yata kay KATTIE¹ pati na si TINA²,

Halos lahat ng ASPAC Parent kelangan BUMUSINA³…

Pero lalabas pa ring EXCITING ang LARO,

Basta may GAME PLAN sa BEGINNERS na NAITURO…

 

 

Para parehas ang laban I-PUBLISH ko na GAME PLAN,

Guide ito para sa NOVATO na LALABAN;

Pati na rin sa PRO-PLAYERS na KATAMBAL,

Para naman ang SCORES ay di maging KAHAMBAL-HAMBAL⁴!

 

 

Dapat lang ay marunong sa SERVICE⁵,

Dapat sa SABADONG training huwag ninyong ma-MISS;

Kaya pagdating ng LABAN, sa LIKOD⁵ agad ang TAKBUHAN,

Sa LIKOD ng PRO-PLAYER ng bawat TAMBALAN!

 

 

Kasi kapag ang BEGINNER ay nag-FRONTA⁶,

Sigurong BOBODEGAHIN⁷ ng TIRA⁸;

Kung ikaw ay nasa likod ng PRO-PLAYER,

Sagip lahat ng TIRA dapat na lang ay PRAYER!

 

 

PRAYER  na ang lahat ng TIRA ay maibalik,

At kung may palobong TIRA,

Dapat BEGINNER may GIMIK…

USUAL na GIMIK dyan DROP BALL⁹ na BUMABALANDRA!

 

 

Pero dapat isipin ng LAHAT,

Laro lang naman ito ng mag-KAKASAPAKAT¹⁰;

Matututo na kayo ng BADMINTON GAME,

May bago pang FRIENDS– mga MALES at meron ding DAME!

 

 

 

Pero sa BOODLE FIGHT na TAMPOK,

May ADOBO, at CRISPY TILAPIA ang COOK¹¹;

Pero wala ng KARE-KARE¹²— Boss DOC,

Pang-TAKE HOME na lang at ‘di bagay ang BROTH¹³!

 

 

 

 

=========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – KATTIE is ASPAC Veep KATTIE SY.

2 – TINA is ASPAC Board Member CRISTINA ANDAYA.

3 – BUMUSINA is a Filipino slang wherein if one does not know the whole story or is unaware of the details of a situation, one has to be extra careful and must take heed of the signs, the intimations and the over-all situation. Thus, as BEGINNERS, those beginners must rely on some GUIDE.  

4 –  KAHAMBAL-HAMBAL is a Tagalog term which means APPALLING…a ZERO score by a TEAM woulr truly be KAHAMBAL-HAMBAL.

5 – LIKOD is BACK COURT while the FRONT part of the HALF COURT is the FORE COURT.

6 – FRONTA is the FORE COURT.

7 – BOBODEHAHIN is a slang term used in the BADMINTON circles wherein the not so-strong player in a TANDEM during a DOUBLES-GAME will be made the FOCUS by the opposing tandem of the return flight of the SHUTTLECOCK so that the probability of the SHUTLLECOCK being returned back to the opposite half-court becomes NIL.

8 – TIRA is the strike or a smash of the SHUTTLECOCK to bring it back to the opposite court.

9 – DROP BALL is a term to describe an almost point-gaining strike of hitting the SHUTTLECOCK with a mild or light tap so that the SHUTTLECOCK would just drop or fall at the point under the net. The best DROP BALL shot is one known as BUMABALANDRA wherein the SHUTTLECOCK would drop precisely at the top of the net and fall subsequently unto the opposite court.

10 – KASAPAKAT is a Tagalog term which means comp-anion or compeer or friends animated and united  by a common goal.

11-  COOK refers to our UTILITY WOMAN in our Law Office, FE TOBIAS, who will cook my POT-LUCK donation of ADOBO and CRISPY TILAPIA.

12 – KARE-KARE – I have made a promise to someone that I will ask my sister WILMA to cook KARE-KARE too. But as a BROTH will not be suitable for a BOODLE FIGHT…pang TAKE-HOME na lang…

13 – BROTH is a dish consisting of soup consisting of meat or vegetable chunks just like KARE-KARE.]

 

 

 

 

 

[My UP Law classmate and friend ARIEL F. ABONAL (former CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL of CHEVRON PHILIPPINES) is shown in the LEFT PHOTO doing a THUMBS-UP sign as though virtually intimating that he has truly been financially-rewarded by his past-and-last employer CHEVRON-PHILIPPINES as he NOW just whiles away the time playing GOLF weekly without fail. This seems to be the indication as the RACONTEUR in ARIEL entertained us all with exciting stories and tales (i.e. myself, JOE CAMANO, PAUL LENTEJAS and MARYJO, JOE’s niece) at the BARRIO FIESTA last night for an evening cum dinner to remember, courtesy of JOE CAMANO who is returning to MICHIGAN, USA today. Top-right photo was snapped by a waiter and the blonde-haired ARIEL (second from right)  is seen in an all smile pose, a picture of contentment and sheer affluence. Bottom-right photo is a GOLF score-sheet showing ARIEL leading the pack of players at the SOUTHWOODS GOLF COURSE. I was actually of the initial impression that as he was mostly into CORPORATE LAW practice, he was sort of not much honed in LITIGATION. But, I got so amazed after ARIEL talked about his wide LITIGATION experience with RELISH and GUSTO. ARRIBA ARIEL!!!!]

 

 

‘Twas good that JOE CAMANO¹ CALLED,

For if not, I would have not been TOLD;

That a lawyer-friend and a gushing CLASSMATE,

Who for a time was once my helpful SEATMATE —

Is an all-around lawyer with classy TASTE!

 

 

His DOUBLE-A name is ARIEL ABONAL²!

And his ELECTION³ has appeared in an ANNAL⁴;

I was amazed that he’s swell at LITIGATION,

I thought all along that he’s just best in SHEER LOCUTION—

As what he narrated last night was REVELATION…

 

 

He has slammed a Board Member in NAGA CITY⁵,

Who thought all along his term is in PERPETUITY;

And the COMELEC EN BANC sustained ARIEL’s CAUSE,

Thus ARIEL served with HONOR sans any RECOURSE⁶—

He has served as EXEMPLAR without any RUCKUS⁷!

 

 

 

 

And his tastes are varied and DIVERSE,

For as CHEVRON’s ⁸ Chief Law Counsel he’s not PERVERSE;

He has served the company⁹ with HONOR —

And advanced CHEVRON’s cause with VALOR…

A case of DUE PROCESS which magistrates did not FAVOR ¹⁰!

 

 

But the LAW of KARMA ENDURES…

As the case at first seemed to have been ASSURED;

Though some kind of manipulation and PRESSURE…

Turned the tide against his client for SURE!

The author of the SCAM eventually got FISSURED¹¹…

 

‘Twas a night filled with FOOD & NARRATION,

ARIEL caused us to laugh with SATISFACTION;

His skills as EXPERT RACONTEUR has not DIMINISHED…

Our TABLE of FRIENDS surely never got FAMISHED…

The TABLE remained filled with food that was “UNRAVISHED”¹²!

 

 

 

And his rambling account of his POLL CAMPAIGN,

Where he got benighted in the boondocks near the PLAINS;

Got left behind by those younger campaigners…so FUNNY,

Was compelled to ride a PONY…so BONY—

Thus he opted to walk along the road…so STONY!

 

 

Indeed ARIEL’s stint at CHEVRON was truly REWARDING,

He now plays GOLF every week without MISSING;

And his auburn sun-tanned skin still mesmerizes the DAMES…

His blonde hair makes him look as though one of the DANES¹³…

A closer view makes him look as though Asturian from SPAIN¹⁴!

 

 

 

The quick meet among friends was organized by JOE ¹⁵,

And ARIEL was JOE’s town mate¹⁶ and closest AMIGO;

PAUL LENTEJAS¹⁷ was there too, coaching us not to be LOCO^17a…

He said he has helped a lot of mates from UP Law…

One even got rescued from dire CONTEMPT…it’s TRUE¹⁸ !

 

 

And JOE will fly back again to his SECOND HOME,

That’s in MICHIGAN the site of Mount ARVON¹⁹;

His gracious wife is a TOPNOTCH and EXCELLENT NURSE²⁰,

That’s why perhaps JOE CAMANO has a FAT BURSE²¹ —

And he’s a proud baby-sitter²²; the best in the UNIVERSE!!!!

 

 

===================================================================

[Legend: 1 – JOE CAMANO aka JOSE CAMANO is my good friend and classmate in the UP College of Law way back in the 70s. He started out as an evening student and thereafter, perhaps raring to become a lawyer so quick, he transferred to the morning section.

2 – ARIEL ABONAL is a very amiable classmate at the UP Law who started out at the UP Law in 1973 and for a time was my classmate (and for once my seat mate) in some of our UP Law evening classes. Both JOE and ARIEL hail from Naga City, the seat of the widely venerated OUR LADY OF PEÑAFRANCIA.

3 – ARIEL for a time threw his hat in the political arena and untimately was elected as BOARD MEMBER of the Province of Camarines Sur after a grueling election suit which saw the disqualification of the initial WINNER by reason of having ran for more than 3 terms in violation of the 3-term limit enshrined in the law and Constitution.

4 – The hotly-contested legal BATTLE was actually journalized and is contained in the SCRA except that ARIEL failed to give me the citation.

5 – NAGA CITY is the premiere city in Camarines Sur; though the post which was contested is the PROVINCIAL post of BOARD MEMBER. The rival of ARIEL was espousing the view that after a “gerrymandering” was had which entailed the splitting of the Congressional district in TWO (2) a fresh term could be had despite the fact that this rival has already served 3 terms.

6 –  ARIEL ran for election without much FUNDING from the acknowledged POLITICAL WAR LORDS of Camarines Sur. Indeed, ARIEL bank-rolled his campaign mostly through his own financial resource; a rare breed of politicians INDEED.

7 – ARIEL served as BOARD MEMBER without any scandal or tinge of corruption during his term.

8 – CHEVRON-PHILIPPINES is one of the largest investors in the country, with more than $2 billion in capital investments. It markets Caltex® fuels, lubricants and other petroleum products. Its network of service stations, terminals and sales offices forms the backbone of its presence in the Philippines.

9 – The COMPANY referred to is CHEVRON-PHILIPPINES.

10 – As the case involves BIG names, just ask ARIEL about the FACTS of the CASE (in case you’d bump into him) and he surely would narrate about the SNAFU with gusto.

11-  Indeed, the SCAM’s author got “disjointed” from his venerable post.

12 – UNRAVISHED is used in this BLOG to mean “UNCONSUMED” due to sheer number of the FOOD ordered. 

13 – A quick and hurried look at ARIEL would make one feel that he is CAUCASIAN with auburn-tanned skin. The CAUCASIAN look is somewhat akin to a Dane friend of mine who sported a BLONDE HAIR and BLONDE moustache too…he,he,he…

14 – A further look unto ARIEL’s mien reminds me of an Asturian whom I met when I went to the Northern part of Spain in 1999 …it is the same BLONDE HAIR and BLONDE MOUSTACHE which seems to me as to be truly Castilian, nay Asturian, in character. The BLONDE MOUSTACHE seems to look as showered by sea-salt aerosols from the nearby Cantabrian Sea which adjoins and sort of washes the ASTURIAS province in northern coastal Spain.

15 – JOE is JOE CAMANO.

16  – ARIEL and JOE as earlier said, are both from Naga City.

17 – PAUL LENTEJAS is another classmate at the UP Law whose LAW PRACTICE is truly FANTASTIC. He is a regular habitué at the halls of the SANDIGANBAYAN where he has acquitted a host of satisfied and grateful clients. PAUL is actually Batch 78 of UP Law (the same batch with ARIEL and JOE). I was originally supposed to be Batch 79 and JOE was my original batch mate except that he transferred on the following year into the morning-professional section (non-working students). But, I took a leave for a year and landed thereafter as Batch 1980.

17a – PAUL excellently advised us that in case we are engaged by fellow-lawyers to be a counsel in a disbarment case…”NEVER EVER BILL THE CLIENT’, he said.  And that has been his guiding rule ever since, as PAUL said that if eventually you got into “hot waters’ too; you can quickly expect a counsel pro bono who will earnestly defend you.

18 – PAUL talked about a classmate who engaged his services in a disbarment case. But as PAUL is a true-blue gentleman, PAUL never revealed the name of his client despite the persistent prodding made by ARIEL.

19 –  Mount ARVON is the highest natural point in Michigan, USA.

20 – JOE CAMANO’s wife, the GRAND and GRACIOUS GLORIA,  is a topnotch NURSE in Michigan.

21 – BURSE is BIG PURSE.

22 – JOE has proudly confessed that he is the BABY-SITTER of his APOS (i.e. grandchildren) and it seems, JOE is really raring and willing to SPOIL and PAMPER them all…He,he,he…HAPPY BABY-SITTING JOE!]

 

 

 

[Animated by the CASH PRIZE, the TROPHY and the bragging-rights to be acclaimed as soon-to-be CHAMPION of the May 1 DOC ANDY TAN CUP-ASPAC BADMINTON TOURNEY, Board Member Cindy Franco really sweated it out (as shown in the LEFT PHOTO) at the FIRST DAY of the  PRACTICE SESSION held this afternoon (April 15, 2017) at the BADMINTON HALL.   Top right photo shows ASPAC Prexy DOC ANDY trying his hand in doing the successful service of the shuttlecock unto the opposite quadrant of the badminton court. Bottom right photo shows Veep KATTIE SY playing a singles set of play with my brother WARREN YOUNG while the tandem of Doc ANDY and son ANDRE do the scoring.]

 

 

Nauna pa ngang dumating si DOC¹,

Di marahil nabasa ang POST ko sa FACEBOOK²;

Dahil nga nag-request itong si CINDY³,

Ginawa ko ang start ay THREE-THIRTY⁴!

 

 

 

Pero mag-aalas DOS pa lamang NUN,

Eto na si DOC at kasama ang kanyang ONLY SON⁵;

Text ko agad ang team-mate nyang si KATTIE;

Pero nauna pa ring dumating itong si CINDY!

 

 

Nagkaroon muna kami ng PLAY,

Mukhang si KATTIE matagal nang di na-DISPLAY⁶—

Ang kanyang mga SMASHES at POWER HIT,

Kaya kami ni KATTIE ang naging mag-TEAM-MATE!

 

Si CINDY naman at utol kong si WARREN,

Syempre gusto ni CINDY magkaroon na ng TEAM-BONDING⁷;

Pero si DOC naging SCORER na lang MUNA,

Assistant niya si ANDRE, nag-BONDING din ang DALAWA!

 

 

Pagkatapos ng PLAY nag-training na si CINDY,

Gusto nyang ma-PERFECT ang scoring STRATEGY;

Kaya’t minabuting mag-SERVICE-TRAINING⁸ NA MUNA,

Pag-pumalpak sa SERVICE, ang puntos ay sa KABILA⁹!

 

 

Si CINDY ay na-pa-NGIWI-NGIWI,

Habang hinahanap ang angkop na SERVICE na okey ang URI;

Ang naunang STYLE ay yaong papitik na parang KOMANG,

Pero na-type nya yong BALLOON HIT-style na ang bola’y PUMAPAILANG-LANG!

 

 

 

Nag-SERVICE TRAINING din itong si DOC,

Mabilis natuto kaysa dun sa LOLANG hawak sa PADDLE¹⁰ parang SANDOK;

Iba talaga kapag SENIOR AGE na KASI,

Kulang sa FOCUS; TIRA’y pa-EASY-EASY!

 

 

 Pero dahil sa ENTICEMENT ng CASH PRIZE¹¹ at TROPHY,

Nag-uwi pa si LOLA ng SHUTTLECOCK na PRETTY;

Mag-tra-training daw siya sa kanilang  BAHAY,

Naku! baka mahampas ng  RACKET si Dwayne¹² kapag-SUMABLAY!

============================================================================

[Legend: 1 – DOC is Doctor Alejandro K. Tan, the current President of the ATENEO SCHOOLS PARENTS COUNCIL better known through its acronym ASPAC.

2 – I actually posted a message in the ASPAC FACEBOOK TIMELINE saying that as requested by Board Member Cindy Franco, the earlier schedule of 2:00 PM for the PRACTICE-TRAINING SESSION was rescheduled at 3:30 PM. Actually, Cindy requested for a 4 PM sked; by way of a compromise, I resked it to 3:30 PM instead.

 3 – CINDY is CINDY FRANCO, currently a Board Member of ASPAC.

4 – As earlier said, the original schedule at 2:00 PM was resked to 3:30 PM.

5 – ANDRE is Doc Andy Tan’s ONLY SON.

6 – According to KATTIE, she played BADMINTON last in December 2016.

7- CINDY and my youngest brother WARREN are the matched-up team-mates in the May 1 ASPAC Badminton Tourney.

8 – SERVICE-TRAINING is the basic training on how to serve the SHUTTLECOCK at the start of a play, which is done by tossing the SHUTTLECOCK via a hit by the RACKET to fall at the opposing quadrant of the badminton court from the player doing the serve diagonally unto the opposite quadrant of the badminton court.

9-  In case a server fails to toss the shuttlecock correctly and successfully unto the quadrant diagonally opposite the quadrant where the server tossed the shuttlecock, POINT is garnered by the opposing team of the SERVER.

10 – PADDLE is another term for a badminton racket.

11 – CASH PRIZE for the TOURNEY CHAMPION and CO-CHAMPION is Php 10,000.00

12 – DWAYNE is Board Member Cindy Franco’s ONLY SON.]

[Hannah Y. Kim recently resigned as CHIEF OF STAFF of Congressman Charlie B. Rangel who retired in January 2017 as Congressman of NEW YORK-MANHATTAN district. Hannah was formerly the communications director for retired Congressman Charlie B. Rangel and who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1971. Hannah during her co-terminous term, chaired the 10-elected-member Board of Democratic Communicators Network made up of congressional press aides in both chambers and the administration. As founder of Remember 727, Hannah spearheaded the historic passage of the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (U.S. Public Law 111-41), which was enacted by President Barack Obama on July 27, 2009. Hannah grew up in Los Angeles, California, and envisioned herself as an ambassadress between the United States and Korea. When Hannah graduated early from high school, she thereafter attended the Seoul National University, where she eventually earned a bachelor’s in literature. Upon returning home to the United States, she obtained a master’s in legislative affairs at the George Washington University as well as graduate certificates in entrepreneurship at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and international relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Hannah remains very passionate about all things related to the Korean War, as she on her own embarked on a private enterprise to do a journey through all the nations that sent army contingents to the 1950 KOREAN War and helped South Korea to defend FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY against the communists-invaders .]

 

The visit of HANNAH to DADDY MAX at the UERM¹,

Proved to be a breath of fresh air- – AMEN²;

It excited each and every one of us in our CLAN³,

DADDY MAX accommodated HANNAH with much ELAN⁴!

 

 

And we all got swept off our  FEET,

As we met an alluring lady who’s statuesque and SVELTE;

DADDY⁵ has been reported much BORED staying at his ROOM⁶,

But the BOREDOM got swept by a seemingly dainty BROOM!

 

 

 

Though HANNAH wore a face MASK,

Her beauty cannot be hidden as MUCH;

Her eyes are truly TANTALIZING,

She’s got the OOMPH – she too has  much ZING!

 

 

When this SKED for DADDY’s INTERVIEW was DISCUSSED⁷,

Most were against it, some were a bit HUSHED;

It truly was not an opportune MOMENT,

DADDY MAX was then already in CONFINEMENT⁸…

 

It took the Prexy of the UERM⁹ to make a DECISION,

Though it entailed some kind of DISSENSION;

Well, it was indeed a happy ACCOMODATION,

Could have broken HANNAH’s heart, if ‘twas “NO PERMISSION”…

 

 

But as it turned out and RESULTED,

DADDY MAX seemed so TRULY EXULTED;

For it really is DADDY MAX’s BABY¹⁰,

All about PEFTOK¹¹, he’ll tell the pretty LADY!

 

 

 

When HANNAH briefed us ‘bout the INTERVIEW,

We were all the more amazed with the scope , the PURVIEW;

She even made DADDY feel like ROYALTY,

HANNAH bowed down to DADDY as though an ORDERLY…

 

But HANNAH truly has excellent CREDENTIALS,

She was CHIEF OF STAFF & former recorder of ANNALS;

It was at the United States CONGRESS¹²,

Started out as a SECRETARY involving the PRESS!

 

 

And now with HANNAH’s COMING,

We’ve added a kin, a nice COMMINGLING;

With DADDY MAX’s American BLEND,

We’ve sort of put in a KOREAN GENE!

 

And so HANNAH we welcome YOU,

You’ll be an AUNT to all of my KIDDO¹³;

And DADDY MAX will be your beloved GRANDPA,

Hope to see you in a formal BARUCH HABA¹⁴!!!!

 

==========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – UERM is acronym for the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center. It actually is a hospital with a medical school.

2 – AMEN is a word of Hebrew origins which means “SO BE IT” or “IT IS TRUE”.

3 – CLAN refers to the YOUNG CLAN; our CLAN composed of Daddy Max and his wife, myself and my family and the families of my other SEVEN (7) siblings as well as the families of the children of my siblings.

4 – ELAN mean lively ENERGY.

5 – DADDY refers to DADDY MAX.

6 –  ROOM refers to the hospital room at the UERM where Daddy Max got confined after an initial diagnosis of some strain of FLU which turned out to be a case of PNEUMONIA.

7 – When the matter of the INTERVIEW to be conducted by HANNAH Y KIM was discussed among the medical doctors of Daddy Max, his own physician was actually against it as in fact, visits to Daddy Max was limited to ONLY TWO (2) per visit and that the visits must be SHORT not to exceed 10 minutes.

8 – Daddy Max was already in confinement on April 1, 2017.

9 – It was actually the President of the UERM, Dr. Romeo Divinagracia, who gave the permission for HANNAH to proceed with the interview as the medical doctors attending to Daddy Max’s needs were not then accommodating at all due to the risks of further contamination which could prejudice Daddy Max’s recovery.

10 – DADDY MAX is much engrossed in the affairs and activities at the PEFTOK which is the association of Filipino Korean War veterans and he actually treats the PEFTOK as his own BABY, so to speak.

11-  PEFTOK is acronym for PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA.

12 – HANNAH served initially as Press Secretary, then Director for Communications and eventually as CHIEF OF STAFF to former Congressman Charlie Rangel of the United States Congress (who was Congressman for NEW YORK-Manhattan District) until his retirement in January 2017.  

13 – KIDDO is slang term for CHILDREN.

14 – BARUCH HABA is a Hebrew practice, sort of an event of a WELCOMING party.]

 

 

 

[My dear UP Law classmate and friend, MARIO CLUTARIO, with his soul-mate, gracious wife and marital partner MARITA when they attended the recent National Convention of Prosecutors of the Philippines which was held in Subic, Zambales. HAPPY 65th BIRTHDAY! BIRTHDAY BOY…MARIO CLUTARIO!]

 

 

 

You are an ARIAN, my dear MARIO,

And of the CHINESE ZODIAC LOGO —

You are a WATER DRAGON, it’s TRUE…

And VLADIMIR PUTIN¹, is of your same BREW!

 

 

As a WATER DRAGON² person,

You’re as VIGOROUS like a LION;

You’re persevering and farsighted too,

‘Twas my perception in our class at UP Law³!

 

 

 

In my honest cognition, you really talked sense…

As in our Law evening classes thence,

I would attentively listen to your circumspection- –

Knowing fully well, that it’s not just mere locution!

 

 

Indeed, every time you do a discourse,

My   ears as a cinch would listen, of course!

For you did not only sound so authoritative —

It’s as if you’re a pastor,  who’s gone contemplative!

 

 

And as a diligent public prosecutor⁴,

You’ve helped me with much vim and vigor;

Accepting my plea for an early dawn meet,

Even at your house, with my client who’s unmeek⁵!

 

 

I could not really forget that concession,

Almost breaking the rule in an investigation⁶;

But as you really value much FRIENDSHIP,

You even raised my esteem amongst my KITHSHIP⁷!

 

 

 

And on your NATAL day, I’ll joyfully state- –

Happy BIRTHDAY!    my dear UP Law classmate;

You’ve been my secret IDOL Monsieur – – –

I’m quite amazed then, as you quaff much LIQUOR!

 

 

By being absent at your BIRTHDAY PARTY,

BABES NAVARRO will be my able PROXY;

But as I am really busy for a FAMILY EVENT,

Hope you’ll find time to be at the PAGEANT!

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIO!

 

=================================================================

[Legend:

1 – Russian Federation President VLADIMIR PUTIN was born on October 7, 1952 and is therefore under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the WATER DRAGON.

2 – Water Dragon persons are known for their traits of being PERSEVERING, FARSIGHTED and VIGOROUS.

3 – Mario and I were classmates at the University of the Philippines-College of Law circa 1974-1979. I actually filed a leave of absence for a semester, and as some subjects are offered only on a yearly basis — for which reason I graduated in 1980 at the UP Law.

4 – Mario was appointed PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the province of Rizal. There was a time when I got engaged by a client who had an earlier criminal case where a warrant of arrest was issued with no provision for bail, I asked Mario to accommodate my client’s plea to subscribe before him at his Pasig home in the wee hours of the early dawn to elude a possible arrest by the Pasig police force. This was so as the case where a warrant of arrest with no provision for bail  similarly emanated from the  Office of the City Prosecutor of Pasig City.

5 – My client then was a little bit UNMEEK as she was even boasting about the early dawn setting for her to subscribe under oath before Mar (at Mar’s very own Pasig home) in regard to the affidavits that she was to file relative to sequel criminal complaints which were filed against her. I myself was amazed by the bravado shown by my lady-client who eventually was arrested and even stayed pregnant in jail and delivered a baby while in confinement.

6 – INVESTIGATION refers to the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the City Prosecutor.

7 – My lady client eventually even boasted about how she earlier on, evaded arrest via the strategy of getting Mario’s accommodation to have her subscribe under oath (those affidavits) before Mario sub rosa at his residence (i.e. Mario’s Pasig Home) as early as 5:00 AM then.]

[ I actually called the YOGA sked last night OFF as I abruptly opted to visit Daddy Max at the UERM where he has been confined since April 1 initially due to FLU. This was after his doctor texted us all to do short visits to him as Daddy Max was getting bored and unhappy for his lengthy confinement. But Warren, my youngest brother who was at the Badminton Hall playing with his regular badminton buddies, called me up by cellphone as I was on my way to UERM. Perhaps those who appeared raring to do YOGA may have not checked their phones after I made a text blast. So, as I actually visited Daddy Max earlier in the morning; I decided to just visit him today as visiting him after 8 pm (if I still went on to do a visit after the YOGA) would disturb his circadian cycle of sleep! So, I called in at the BADMINTON Hall and yelled..LET’S  DO YOGA! Above photos  were snapped by a prospective yogi who said he’ll just watch first the session and decide next time to join or NOT. …Well, it is good too that my brother WILSON is Vice-Chairman of UERMMCI acronym  for University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center, Inc., for which reason the excellent doctors thereat are all taking good care of Daddy Max…]

 

I was set to visit Daddy Max at the UERM¹,

But ended up in early evening still in the company of FEMMES^1a;

I actually text-blasted the word —

“YOGA SKED TONITE IS OFF”, I wrote…

 

 

But as it was timely reported to me,

Some cute ladies² were waiting for me;

So, I turned back my CAR in FULL,

And drove back to the BADMINTON HALL!

 

 

‘Tis indeed surprising why ladies—

Outnumber the boys, those BEES³;

Indeed, the FLOWERS⁴  in NUMBER—

Dominate the BEES, mostly in SUMMER⁵!

 

 

So, I got curious as I did a research…

Even among celebrities, ladies seem on PERCH⁶,

Though CHARLIZE THERON⁷ is on TOP of the LIST,

LADY GAGA seemed to be TOPs on YOGA gossips⁸!

 

 

YOGA is truly healthy exercise,

Starts with deep breathing, toxins get EXCISED⁹;

Posture is TRULY PERSISTENTLY PROMOTED —

SPINES need to be bent to keep it ADJUSTED¹⁰!

 

 

For every YOGA posture POSING¹¹,

There’s a benefit … with added HUMMING¹²;

And expelling the STALE AIR from the LUNGS¹³,

It’s as if one’s grunting like those warlike HUNS¹⁴!

 

 

I sort of reminisce the not so distant past,

When bunches of attendees take an early REPAST¹⁵;

And that the BADMINTON HALL would swell,

With almost 40 yogis…that’s well!¹⁶

 

 

As long as I can make it STILL,

I’ll conduct FREE YOGA even in a MILL¹⁷;

For GOOD HEALTH is truly WEALTH,

Even though it’s ORDEAL, am not a  MELT¹⁸!

 

 

===========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – UERM is acronym for the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center. It actually is a hospital with a medical school.

1a-  FEMME is a French word meaning WOMAN and FEMMES means WOMEN.

2 – The CUTE ladies who were waiting for me were Mes. Grace Agane, Marilen Banaticla and Mae De Lima, who are part of the usual YOGA group which has regular sessions every Thursdays and Saturdays. Except that as this week is HOLY WEEK, the Thursday sked was cancelled and it was sked on Tuesday instead. 

3 – BEES is a poetic reference to BOYS or the GENTS.

4 –  FLOWERS is a poetic reference to GIRLS or LADIES.

5 – SUMMER in the Philippines is usually the season for outings and excursions and school vacation. Some lady attendees would have the time to attend the YOGA practice as they are not much engrossed in fetching their child or assisting their kids by teaching them their school lessons. Actually, the female attendees outnumber the males 10 to 2.

6 – ON PERCH is used to denote here as being on TOP (as the act of perching among the FOWL species is mostly done atop the tree branches); though the actual meaning is RESTING.  

7 – Among the top Hollywood celebrities who are into YOGA, Charlize Theron is NUMBER 1.

8 – LADY GAGA is however number 1 in GOSSIPS about her supposed YOGA predilection. Gossip columns are filled with stories doubting as to whether Lady Gaga is really doiung YOGA as she would be going to those YOGA studios elegantly dressed even in high-heels and would come out of the YOGA class, again elegantly dressed and in high-heels without any trace of sweat.  On the other hand, Charlize Theron comes to YOGA casually dressed with a sleeveless top,  leggings and  trainers and would leave the YOGA class attired the same and sort of sweaty a bit.

9 – The DEEP BREATHING exercise is supposed to be aimed at expelling or EXCISING the stale air or bad air from our lungs after those stale air is accumulated in the lower bottoms sacs of the lungs.

10 – There is a YOGA posture called the HALF-MOON pose wherein the bending is done as though bending the spine to the right; thence to the left; thence backward and finally forward. This is prefaced with the stretching of the spine as though elongating it from its regular length; sort of adjusting it, the SPINE.

11-  POSTURE POSING could either be done via BENDING, or CRUNCHING, or ARCHING or STRETCHING.

12 – When expelling the STALE air from one’s lungs, the exhalation is done through the MOUTH and to add some air of a relaxing juncture, the expulsion of the air through the mouth is done with a HUMMING SOUND.

13 – As we do not do deep-breathing 24 x 7, the tendency is that stale air is stored in the lungs which invariably causes some pulmonary ailments. Thus, it is best to clean the lungs via deep-breathing YOGA style.

14 – The HUNS is a warlike tribe of people originally based Central Asia. These Huns have been reported as a “savage race, which dwelt at first in the swamps, a stunted, foul and puny tribe, scarcely human and having no language save one which bore but slight resemblance to human speech.” Thus, their language seemed to be some kind of a mere GRUNT. And in YOGA, every time you expel the air, it is suggested to do is as though with a grunt.

15 – REPAST is a meal. And as YOGA being a form of exercise; it is not advised to do it with a stomach that is full; so the resort to taking an early supper before YOGA.

16 – At the height of the popularity of YOGA among my regular attendees when I started doing FREE YOGA sessions to KITH and KIN, the highest number of attendance registered 39 in all.

17 – Going through a MILL is slang for ORDEAL. Truly, YOGA, particularly BIKRAM YOGA,  if you do it by yourself alone is ORDEAL.

18 – MELT is slang term for IDIOT. So, as it is ORDEAL, I do YOGA with a group so that it would look, sound and feel a bit of FUN.]

 

 

 

[This a photo taken at the BUON GIORNO Restaurant in Tagaytay City during one of the ASPAC’s TEAM BONDING ACTIVITY held on March 18, 2017 with Doc ANDY TAN (ASPAC President at center sitting at the HEAD of the DINING TABLE.  On May 1, 2017 ( a Monday, though a public holiday), the ASPAC parents and their kids will undergo another TEAM BONDING exercise via a BADMINTON TOURNEY complete with actual officiating with the likes of UMPIRES, LINEMEN, etc. as though a real professional tournament. ASPAC is acronym for ATENEO SCHOOLS PARENTS COUNCIL…SEE YOU ALL ON MAY 1, 2017 at the BADMINTON HALL!]

 

 

Dahil kasayahan naman ang tampok na LAYON,

Kaya’t ang plano’y masayang kainan at PAGLILIMAYON¹;

BOODLE FIGHT, ganyan ang NARARAPAT,

Para ang lahat ay mabusog at MABUNDAT²!

 

 

And kainang BOODLE FIGHT naman KASI,

Susubo ng pagkain habang ang lahat ay NAKA-PIRME;

Nakatindig sa harap ng mahabang dulang³ at mag-KAHARAPAN,

Maeengayo tuloy na tsumibog⁴ ng may USAPAN!

 

 

WASHING STATIONS⁵ ating ILALAGAY,

Upang makapaghugas ng kanya-kanyang KAMAY;

Kamayan to-its – walang kutsara’t TINIDOR,

Halos isang MILYA ang ating KOMEDOR⁶!

 

 

Panalangin ni TESS⁷ ay napag-ukulan ng PANSIN,

TEAM PAIRING nga ay PAPANDAYIN⁸;

Para parehas ang syang LABANAN,

OKEY ang magiging laro ng bawat KOPONAN⁹!

 

 

Kaya ang mga IMPORTS na PRO-PLAYERS,

Maitatambal na natin sa mga TEAM “TRIERS¹⁰”;

Kapag ganito na ang syang “TEAM-MANNING”¹¹,

Mas magiging masarap ang “GAME-WINNING”!

 

 

Kaya sana ay makita ko NAMAN,

Laro ng bawat PARENT sa “PRACTICE RUN”¹²;

Para magkaroon ng angkop na “LEVELLING”¹³,

At lalong maging SWAK ang “TEAM-PAIRING”!

 

 

 

Sa bawat SABADO, mula sa A-KINSE¹⁴,

Nitong ABRIL- – – pero wag MAG-PAPALANSI;

Meron dyang ang sabi’y BEGINNER DAW,

Pero linsyak naman kung siya ay HUMATAW!

 

 

Basta’t ang IMPORTANTENG tunay nga NAMAN,

Masaya tayong MAGKAKANTAHAN;

Dahil pagkatapos ng BADMINTON TOURNEY,

Mag-DU-DUET si Doc ANDY at si RAUL na ATTORNEY!

 

 

Kaya DAPAT sa atin at bawat ISA,

May handang TIG-IISANG AWITING PIYESA;

Pero siguradong ang TAMPOK na syang AANTAYIN,

Ang AWIT ni MARITESS na titulo’y PURIHIN….!

 

 

=========================================================================

[Legend: 1 – PAGLILIMAYON is a Tagalog word which connotes SOCIALIZING and which necessarily includes BONDING.

2 – MABUNDAT is a Tagalog term which denotes filling up the stomach until it is TAUT into satiety.

3 – DULANG is a Tagalog term which means DINING TABLE. Actually, the idea of a BOODLE FIGHT was suggested by Atty. Ramon M. Maronilla (a regular player at the BADMINTON Hall) who is currently the  UP Alumni President and member of the UP Board of Regent. Atty. Maronilla together with my brothers Warren and Winston (who is from the UNILAB/UNAHCO group and who will donate the T-shirts and trophies c/o UNILAB/UNAHCO) and Fiscal Perlo Chua-cheng are helping me in seamlessly organizing the ASPAC Badminton Tourney.  

4 –  TSUMIBOG is a slang Tagalog term which means TO EAT.

5 – The idea of WASHING STATIONs was also suggested by Atty. Maronilla just as to prevent a long line from forming when its EATING time as only ONE (1) CR is easily accessible and available near the Badminton  Hall. But on TOURNEY date, we will open the back gate to gain access to another TWO (2) CRs and LAVATORY. The improvised WASHING STATIONS to be placed near the FRONT GATE of the BADMINTON HALL will consist of THREE (3) SMALL tables with basin and a PAIL filled with water with DIPPER plus soap and towel for drying up the wet hands, for each table. The TWO (2) tables near the front of the CR at the FRONT GATE and another table near the window of the DRESSING ROOM at the left part of the FRONT GATE to the BADMINTON HALL.

6 – KOMEDOR is actually a corruption of the Spanish word COMEDOR which means the DINING ROOM but it eventually metamorphozised into the Tagalog verbal milieu to mean also, as a DINING TABLE.

7 – TESS is Maritess Cordero who is an active and diligent BOARD MEMBER of ASPAC.

8 – PAPANDAYIN is a Tagalog term which means to CRAFT into PERFECTION. It also means to smoothen up some kinks in a job, a thing or an event.

9 – KOPONAN is a Tagalog term which means TEAM.

10 – TRIERS would refer to the BEGINNERS in this BADMINTON PLAY.

11-  TEAM-MANNING is another term for TEAM-PAIRING.

12 – PRACTICE RUN – Practice and training for BEGINNERS will be held every Saturday of this month of April 2017 starting on April 15 starting at 2:00 PM. Then, on April 22 and 29, 2017 also at 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the BADMINTON Hall.

13 – LEVELLING is a process to determine the level of SKILL of every badminton player to arrive at a correct TEAM-PAIRING determination.

14 – A KINSE would mean on the FIFTEENTH (15) day of April 2017.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[My cousin ARLENE “BETH” LLORCA LEVER is seen on the left photo in a Marilyn Monroe-ish pose. At right photo is the husband and wife tandem-STEVE and BETH posing in a photo session. The photo session was held as BETH won FIRST RUNNER-UP in the QUEEN LOLA BEAUTY CONTEST participated in by Filipina grandmoms who are scattered all over the world. The beauty pageant-contest was held in   Ontario, California in 2012 with BETH representing FILIPINA grandmoms based in AUSTRALIA.]

 

 

She’s among my BEAUTIFUL cousins on the DISTAFF SIDE¹,

She displays much AMITY—treats worries IN A STRIDE;

She’s truly FRIENDLY, a rare kind of COUSIN, and even so FUNNY —

She’ll make sure that you’ll have a nourished TUMMY²!

 

 

In our YOUNGER days, she brought much LAUGHTER,

She seemed to be one of Tio Gene’s³ FAVE DAUGHTERS;

She was suspected of being TOMBOY,

Eventually, she became the CRUSH of every BOY!

 

 

 

She’s happily married to STEVE LEVER⁴,

With a daughter who never was a “REBEL”⁵;

For ADRIE is SWEET, SOFT, TENDER and GENTLE —

As BETH took real care of her; under her MANTLE!

 

 

 

An amazing picture that I just saw,

My cousin BETH posing like DUMB BLONDE MONROE;⁶

But as you gaze and scrutinize the PHOTO,

It’s MARILYN who seems to be BETH’s ECHO!⁷

 

 

On this– her natal day she’s on TOUR with FAMILY,

They “invaded” EUROPE with sterling COMITY;

‘Twas a nice GIFT, from a DAUGHTER, who’s so LOVELY—

It truly soothes the HEART, a MEMORY for POSTERITY!

 

 

You ARLENE have been a REAL PEARL⁸,

To all your CLAN and all who loves you so DEAR;

GOD has blest and showered you with GRACES—

Your kith and kin have accorded you much PRAISES!

 

 

Being now a card-carrying SEXAGENARIAN,

I do hope you’d remain to be VICTORIAN⁹;

You’ve been so HELPFUL to all and SUNDRY—

AT SIXTY you really look still so SEXY!

 

 

 

The reason perhaps why you still ooze with SEXINESS,

‘Tis because STEVE took care of you with GOODNESS;

And ADRIE, IVAN¹⁰, JEREMY¹¹ as well as BETTY¹² – –

Have even made you YOUNGER without DUBIETY!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY COUSIN BETH!!!!

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[Legend: 1 – DISTAFF SIDE is the MATERNAL SIDE.

2 – It is an inherent TRAIT perhaps among Filipinos to feed the guest into SATIETY; and we experienced that when we were guests of Mr. & Mrs. STEVE and BETH LEVER at their Oxley Park home in Sydney in Australia in September of last year. In fact, it has been oft-repeated that when a friend or a kin hops into a Filipino home, the usual greeting is “O KUMAIN KA NA BA”, roughly translated as: “HEY, HAVE YOU EATEN”. 

3 – Tio Gene, better known as Maj. Generoso Potato Llorca, is the late Dad of my cousin ARLENE “BETH” LLORCA LEVER.

4 –  STEVE LEVER is my handsome cousin-in-law and loving husband of ARLENE aka BETH. STEVE is AUSTRALIAN but he has quickly adapted to the FILIPINO way of life and thinking. For which reason, STEVE has easily bonded and blended with all of us relatives of ARLENE aka BETH.

5 – ADRIENNE aka ADRIE who is ARLENE’s daughter is truly a model child who never brought any troubles or worries unto BETH aka ARLENE. ADRIE was so good and was never ever became a mischievous or a rebellious child; the usual worries of parents nowadays. ADRIE is happily married too, to IVAN GARCIA.

6 – DUMB BLONDE MONROE is Hollywood sexy actress Marilyn Monroe who took on comedy as her genre in the movies.

7 – Though it could be treated as HYPERBOLE, I honestly felt that Marilyn Monroe looks like BETH’s copy cat and that BETH is the original while Marilyn Monroe is the PHOTOCOPY…he,he.he..

8 – PEARL is used here to mean so PRECIOUS and so FINEST. 

9 – VICTORIAN would mean to be truly strong in one’s moral values.

10 – IVAN is ADRIE’s debonair looking husband.

11-  JEREMY is the son of ADRIE and IVAN.

12 – BETTY is STEVE’s gracious and pleasing mother and ARLENE’s MOTHER-IN-LAW.]

 

 

 

 

[Photo above shows the VENUE of the ASPAC BADMINTON TOURNEY to be held on May 1, 2017 (Monday, a public holiday) which has been dubbed as HATAW SA TAG-ARAW and/or DOC ANDY’S BADMINTON CUP  as it underwent its yearly repainting job in December of last year.   The gleam and the polish of the BADMINTON HALL floors seem to be so inviting as though telling the ASPAC Badminton Tourney competitors to play as excellently and competitively as possible. MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!!!]

 

 

Malapit na ang BADMINTON TOURNAMENT,

Marami’y matindi ang COMMITMENT;

Pero dahil kaakit-akit naman ang PA-PREMYO,

Marami-rami din naman ang DADALO¹!

 

 

 

Meron pang libreng playing T-SHIRT²,

May dibuho pang tunay na PANG-EXPERT;

Pagkatapos pa ng masayang LABANAN,

Mas mahaba-haba po naman ang KAINAN!

 

 

Up to POINT 25 lang ang bawat SET³,

Change court pagdating ng PUNTOS TWELFT⁴;

KNOCK-OUT system⁵ nga po ITO,

Yon lang lalamang sa POINTS ang MANANALO!

 

 

Importanteng sa SERVICE⁶ po ng COCK,⁷

Umabot sa FIRST LINE pero dapat wag LALAMPAS;⁸

DIAGONAL po palagi ang SERVICE play⁹,

WRONG COURT po ang tawag pag-SUMABLEY!¹⁰

 

 

BEGINNERS’y dapat mag-practice ng SERVICE,

Dahil puntos agad kalaban pag-nag-MINTIS;

EYES ON THE BALL, ang guiding RULE,

Pag tama sa RACKET’s¹¹ SWEET SPOT—THAT’S WONDERFUL!

 

 

Hawak na RACKET¹² dapat palaging nakataas,

Facing the opponent, so you can do a forward THRUST¹³;

Kaya’t pagdating sayo ng SHUTTLECOCK na pataas,

Hatawin mo habang ika’y UMAATRAS!¹⁴

 

 

Movements mo’y dapat VERY QUICK,

GLIDING MOVES¹⁵ lang dapat — yan ang TIP;

Dapat ay naka-TIP-TOE stance kang PALAGI,

Para placement mo pwedeng change DALI-DALI¹⁶…

 

 

Always stay back at the MIDDLE,

Pagkatapos makahataw ang iyong PADDLE;

Para you’ll have the access to all the POINTS¹⁷,

In your own quarter, para di sumakit ang iyong JOINTS¹⁸! 

 

 

Uyy! may PREMYO nga din pala,

Yong SIGNATURE YELL ng bawat tropa;

Dapat may OOMPH at saka may ATTRACTION,

Pwedeng may-sayaw ala MICHAEL JACKSON!

 

 

Pero ang syang pinakahihintay ng LAHAT,

Ang PRAYERS ni TESS na sadyang MABIGAT;

Kaya’t pag nag-CHAMPION ang tandem na ito¹⁹,

AAWIT ng PURIHIN ang madlang PUBLIKO²⁰!

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[Legend: 1 – During the April 8, 2017 ASPAC Board meeting, a division of the house was called by Prexy Doc Andy as there was a group which was urgently requesting that the date set for the tourney (i.e. May 1, 2017) would conflict with their priorly scheduled commitments as in fact, one aired his problem on how to get his better-half’s OKEY as May 1 is their wedding anniversary date. But, the May 1 sked won over the alternate date of May 20, 2017. However, the one whose wedding anniversary coincides with our TOURNEY sked promised to convince his spouse to join the morning sked at the TOURNEY and just celebrate their anniversary at dinner time of May 1, 2017. During the same ASPAC Board meeting, Doc Andy announced that the CHAMPION tandem will receive Php 10,000.00 as CASH PRIZE; the RUNNER-UP, Php 5,000.00, and the 2nd RUNNER-UP – Php 2,000.00. On top of the team-tandem cash prizes, TROPHIES will be awarded the winning TEAMs. Each team  is composed of FIVE (5) team-tandems. The following are the TEAMS – YELLOW TEAM to be skippered by Doc Andy and Kattie Sy,  BLUE TEAM by Robert Tan and Lourdes Ozaeta, GREEN TEAM by Warren Young and Cindy Franco and RED TEAM by Roque Andaya and Michel Rubina.

2 – Playing T-shirts will be distributed on TOURNAMENT date, the colors of which will coincide with the team color. There will be 4 teams: YELLOW,  BLUE, GREEN and RED.  

3 – To abbreviate the TOURNAMENT, each set-play will be scored up to 25 POINTs ONLY (i.e. the tandem-team that reaches 25 points first shall be declared WINNER).

4 –  Change court will be upon reaching POINT 12 or 13, I think.

5 – KNOCK OUT system would mean that ONLY those who are WINNERS who will ascend to the FINALS and CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDs. The teams that would lose a set-play will be automatically DISQUALIFIED for the succeeding plays.

6 – A SERVICE starts the game with the player tossing and bringing the shuttlecock diagonally unto the quarter of their opponent by hitting the cock with his paddle.

7 – COCK refers to the SHUTTLECOCK which is the BALL in this badminton play that players would hit and smash back and forth from one court to the other.

8 – Upon the SERVICE of the COCK, it must go beyond the FIRST line at the foreground of the opponent’s court’s QUARTER but must not fall beyond the SECOND LINE of the said QUARTER.  

9 – The DIAGONAL SERVICE play is done by tossing the BALL unto the opponent’s court into the quarter of the opponent of the one doing the SERVICE.

10 – SUMABLEY  was intentionally misspelled from the correct term “SUMABLAY” (which means to commit a mistake) just as to achieve a FUN-RHYME with the word “PLAY”.

11-  The objective is to have the SHUTTLECOCK hit by the RACKET at it’s SWEET SPOT, meaning at the very center of the RACKET.

12 – In holding on to the RACKET, while at PLAY, the RACKET must be facing the opponent’s side and raised above one’s head to insure that upon the COCK’s arrival at the player’s very own COURT, he/she can easily strike or slam it hard.

13 – FORWARD THRUST could be either a hit, a slam or juts even a nudge with the objective of bringing the ball back to the serving court. A slam could make out a smash HIT while a nudge, a mere DROP SHOT just very near the net.

14 – UMAATRAS – the usual technique to bring back the ball to the opponent’s court when the COCK is high up, is to move backward in a gliding manner and as the COCK drops unto a lower altitude, you can reach it and smash it then HARD.

15 – The GLIDING MOVE is done by using the RIGHT FOOT to lead your GLIDE towards the RIGHT SIDE of the COURT or your LEFT FOOT to lead your GLIDE towards the LEFT SIDE of the COURT, in a hopping fashion.

16 – DALI-DALI is a Tagalog term which means “READILY” or “QUICKLY”.

17 –  When at the MIDDLE of your QUARTER in your own COURT, you can easily gain access to the front part as well as the rear part of the quarter. It would be hard to get to the FRONT quickly if you are at the REAR portion. So, the RUEL is GET BACK AT THE CENTER QUICK!

18 – You’ll easily have JOINT PAINS if you will always be running trying to gain access on all points if you are not at CENTER most of the time.

19 – The much vaunted tandem of TESS CORDERO and ANDREW PUEN (or POON) is bruited about to be vying for the CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE, as they surely will be BLEST fully…one is CORDERO and the other is POON…that’s per IPP Raul’s prognostication.

20 – I am sure that all those in attendance at the TOURNEY on May 1, 2017, the PUBLIC, so to speak; will surely be enticed to sing PURIHIN…in the event that the prayerful TEAM of Tess and Andrew grabs the CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.]