Café Voltaire

the composer

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:27:00 +0000

Picture above by Portugal's Jaime Reis, a student of major 20th c. German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen who composed the award-winning Helicopter String Quartet. Jaime (his name is pronounced "zshaym") explains that, in the composition, four members of a string quartet perform in four helicopters taking independent flight paths in the countryside: their sounds are mixed together with those of the helicopters and transmitted with their videos to the concert hall!

principles and politics

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:41:00 +0000

President Vaclav Havel of Czechozlovakia:

Please try to imagine the following, somewhat absurd situation:

A literary critic known for his merciless judgment and piercing look, capable of discovering any false tone in a novel or story, is suddenly confronted with the task of writing a novel. Everyone is waiting with curiosity, and even a certain amount of malicious joy, to see how he succeeds in meeting the high targets he himself had set before, not knowing that one day he would have to make the effort to satisfy them.

For years I used to criticize practical politics as a mere technology of vying for power and as a purely pragmatic activity whose objective is not to perform selfless service to citizens in accordance with one's conscience, but only to win their favor with a view to staying in power or gaining more of it.As an independent intellectual, I was continuously developing my concepts of politics as a selfless service to fellow human beings and as morality in practice, a high-principled politics which I tentatively termed "nonpolitical politics."

Fate has indeed played a strange joke on me, as if it were telling me that after having been so smart, I should now show all those whom I have criticized the right way to do it. No wonder my present position is hardly enviable: All my political activities, and maybe all the policies pursued by Czechoslovakia, are being examined under the microscope which I once built myself.

After a year and a half of the presidency in a country ridden with problems which presidents in stable democracies never dream of, I have not been compelled to retract anything. Not only have I not had to change my views, but I have even been confirmed in them.

Despite all the political misery I am confronted with every day, it still is my profound conviction that the very essence of politics is not dirty; dirt is brought in only by wicked people. I admit that this is an area of human activity where the temptation to advance through unfair actions may be stronger than elsewhere, and which thus makes higher demands on human integrity. But it is not true at all that a politician cannot do without lying or intriguing. That is sheer nonsense, often spread by those who want to discourage people from taking an interest in public affairs.

Of course, in politics, just as anywhere else in life, it is impossible, and it would not be sensible, always to say everything bluntly. Yet that does not mean one has to lie. What is needed here are tact, instinct and good taste. That, in fact, has been one of the things that surprised me most in the realm of high politics, where good taste is more important than all the education in political science.

All this is a matter of form: knowing how long I should speak, when to begin and when to finish; how to say something politely that the other party does not like to hear; how to pick out what is essential at the given moment and to refrain from talking about nonessential things that nobody is interested in listening to; how to remain steadfast in one's position without offending the other party; how to create a friendly atmosphere in order to facilitate demanding negotiations; how to keep the conversation going without imposing oneself on one's partner or creating in him the impression that he is being ignored; how to maintain a balance between the serious political subjects and the lighter, relaxing ones; knowing when and where to appear, and when and where to remain absent, and what measure of candor or restraint to choose.

It is also a matter of having a kind of instinct for the period, for the atmosphere that marks it, for the sentiments of the people, the nature of their troubles, and their mental disposition. That, too, is perhaps more important than various sociological surveys.

While education in political science, law, economics, history and culture is certainly invaluable for every politician, it is not, as I can see time and again, the most important thing. Much more important are establishing contact and maintaining a sense of measure; the ability to imagine oneself in one's partner's position and to address him, and the capability of perception and the quick assessment of problems and the condition of human souls.

I certainly do not mean to imply that I possess all these qualities. But when a man has his heart in the right place and good taste, he can not only do well in politics but is even predetermined for it. If someone is modest and does not yearn for power, he is certainly not ill-equipped to engage in politics; on the contrary, he belongs there. What is needed in politics is not the ability to lie but rather the sensibility to know when, where, how and to whom to say things.

It is not true that people of high principle are ill-suited for politics. The high principles have only to be accompanied by patience, consideration, a sense of measure and understanding for others. It is not true that only coldhearted, cynical, arrogant, haughty or brawling persons can succeed in politics. Such people are naturally attracted by politics. In the end, however, politeness and good manners weigh more.

Requiem - Lacrymosa - Mozart

fifth dimension

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:12:00 +0000

The soul of beings is their scent. -Patrick Süskind

Perfume - Movie Trailer - Click here for this week’s top video clips

One of my most memorable readings in high school Psychology class was about pheromones, the chemicals we exude that attracts people to us. I remembered the lesson recently when I saw the VCD of "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" (bought from SM), adapted from the book with the same title by German writer Patrick Süskind.

The story, set in 18th century France, is about an orphan Jean-Baptiste Grenouille who has no odor, making him invisible to those around him. Yet he is gifted with a sense of smell so acute that it is his primary way of perceiving the world.

By covering either our ears or our eyes, we are able to imagine how it is to use sight without hearing, or hearing without sight. But to experience the world only through our nose, what would that be like?

Perhaps because of a spartan upbringing- Tatay admonished me and my brothers while growing up to take no longer than five minutes in taking a bath and to comb our hair without using a mirror, "just like in the military"- I don't think much of perfumes. Except that in my teens, I was given a bottle of musk cologne which I used on dates and special occasions.

The fourth or fifth dimension of scent that I have today was composed mainly by two people- a woman and a man- and of course me.

Tricia, my BFF in high school, was like a female Grenouille (though less deadly): she could differentiate the odor of her different suitors. She also had a brother Gari- a veritable metrosexual before the word was invented- who had a collection of men's perfumes in their room. One time, Trish decided to experiment and try the different scents on me- around a dozen kinds- to see which one would blend best with the chemicals on my skin and complement my personality. I was of course a willing subject. (Gari, I'm sorry- yes we did this!)

The one scent which made Trish exclaim, "This is it! This is it!" was one of the first purchases I made after graduation when I was already working. Here is Trish smelling our food during a memorable lunch in Pebble Beach, California.

In law school, I was also gifted with a scent one Christmas by my classmate Deo- this was for our gift exchange (or Secret Santa). I never thought a man could use it, but it has become my "no-scent scent"- while wearing it, a fellow writer thought I smelled "clean, like soap." The bouquet is transformed and becomes more complex when I'm in love. I discovered from my parfumeur that this is also the favorite scent of actor Richard Gomez.

Here is Deo with the fraternity he headed and their frat sweetheart Maida (now Deo's wife).

Recently, while hiking in the northern forests of Solvalla, I found something fragrant that I took back with me to Manila- I've added this extra note to my scent-dimension, to share a bit of my love of adventure and make the experience even more personal for those interacting with me.

lakambini 3

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:35:00 +0000

I'm deferring publication of my poem dated 6 October 2009.

The title of the painting above is "Wheatfield with a Reaper" (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh.

lakambini 2

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:32:00 +0000

A mother’s sorrow
By the death of her loved son
A grief so immense
-Rod Escobin

The morning after typhoon Onyok hit Manila, after delivering relief goods to Radio Veritas, I saw a new statue in Manila Cathedral that for me symbolizes a nation still in grief and shock, not yet able to understand the death and destruction wrought by the storm nor see the Resurrection- that surge of national unity and collective heroism that had already begun to unfold and would grow exponentially in the coming days.

I attended the Sunday mass celebrated in the cathedral by Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila. Understandably, because of the storm the night before, there were only a few people with us, some of them seafarers, and I sat in one of the front right pews.

After the mass, we went to the first chapel to the left of the massive doors of the cathedral, St. Joseph's Chapel, for the unveiling of Manila's Pietà, a copy made by an unnamed Filipino craftsman from a cast of the original statue by Michelangelo Buonarroti in Rome. Pietà in Italian means pity, sorrow, or compassion- the word is associated with paintings and statues of Mary holding and grieving over her dead son Jesus.

Even if I knew it was a copy- and I would have preferred sculpture that the world had never seen before- the Manila Cathedral's Pietà still took my breath away. It was an exact copy of the original, but this time bathed in the colors of tropical light streaming through the chapel's stained glass windows. Compare it with the setting of the original statue in St. Peter's Basilica- it's dark as a dungeon inside Rome's churches because of the different climate:

They look exactly alike- artists and pilgrims need only go to Intramuros to see the form.

Here is how Irving Stone described the statue in his biographical novel on Michelangelo, The Agony and the Ecstasy (1961):

Because the Madonna was gazing down on her son, all who looked must turn to her face, to see the sadness, the compassion for all men's sons, asking with despair: "What could I have done to save him?" And from the depth of her love, "What purpose has all this served, if man cannot be saved?"

All who saw would feel how insupportably heavy was her son's dead body on her lap, how much heavier was the burden in her heart.

It was unusual to combine two life-size figures in the same sculpture, revolutionary to put a full-grown man onto the lap of a woman. From this point of departure he left behind all conventional concepts of the Pietà. Once again, even as Ficino had believed that Plato could have been Christ's most loving disciple, it was Michelangelo's desire to blend the classical Greek concept of the beauty of the human body with the Christian ideal of the immortality of the human soul. He banished the lugubrious death throes of the earlier Pietàs, bathed his two figures in tranquillity. Human beauty could reveal sacredness as clearly as could pain. At the same time, it could exalt.

Ave Maria (Roa) - Philippine Madrigal Singers

lakambini 1

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Payo sa Kagandahan

Para sa kaakit-akit na mga labi, gumamit ng mga salita ng kabaitan.

Para sa kaibig-ibig na mga mata, hanapin ang kabutihan ng mga tao.

Para sa maayos na pangangatawan, hatian ng iyong pagkain ang mga nagugutom.

Para sa magandang buhok, hayaan mong haplusin ito ng bata araw-araw.

Para sa postura, maglakad nang may kaalamang di ka naglalakad nang nag-iisa.

Ang mga tao, higit sa mga bagay, ay kailangang muling palakasin, baguhin, buhayin, kupkupin, at tubusin; huwag itapon ang sinuman.

Tandaan, kapag kailangan mo ng kamay na tutulong sa iyo, makikita ito sa dulo ng iyong braso.

Habang tumatanda, matutuklasan mong dalawa ang iyong kamay, isa upang tulungan ang sarili, isa upang bigyang kalinga ang iba.

Ang kagandahan ay wala sa pananamit, hugis ng katawan, o ayos ng buhok. Kailangang makita ang kagandahan sa mga mata, dahil ito ang daanang papasok sa puso, kung saan nakatira ang pag-ibig.

Ang kagandahan ay wala sa nunal sa mukha, bagkus nasasalamin ang tunay na kagandahan sa kaluluwa. Ito ay nasa pag-aarugang binibigay, matinding damdaming ipinapakita, at lalo lamang lumiliwanag ang kagandahan sa paglipas ng mga taon.

Hango ito sa tula ni Sam Levenson (1911-1980), "Time Tested Beauty Tips," na paborito ni Audrey Hepburn. Si Hepburn ay isang artistang ipinanganak sa Belgium, lumaki sa Netherlands, at nagtrabaho sa Estados Unidos. Binasa niya ito kina Sean at Luca, ang kanyang mga anak, noong huling Pasko bago siya sumakabilang-buhay sa Switzerland noong 1993. Inihahandog ko ang aking salin kay Coral, ang batang anak ng isang regular na bisita ng Café Voltaire. Gawa ang pampalamuting titik na may lakambini sa itaas ng Pranses na si Napoléon Landais.

roommate

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:36:00 +0000

On the second night, I meet Bram Buijs from the Netherlands- he'll be my roommate for the rest of my stay in Finland. I have the impression that he's a party animal, but he'll surprise me by being Ville's co-speaker on the environment and climate change in Parliament. He's also a concert pianist, a fact which I'll only discover right before leaving Finland- I'll almost miss it! There are many fascinating things about people and the world around us- one just has to learn to observe and be aware.

Here Bram and I are sunning ourselves and drinking cider and beer on the terrace of the Lasipalatsi (Glass Palace), doing what Fins do on summer evenings. Right behind us, at the center of the photo, is the Art Nouveau Finnish Parliament.

And here is a piece by Jean Sibelius, the Lucio San Pedro of Finland:

Finlandia - Jean Sibelius

first night

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

While Europe can be expensive due to different standards of living, one can travel on a budget of 30 to 90 Euros a day if one is able to establish rapport and make instant friends.

When checking in at midnight in the domus or hostel in Helsinki, I am greeted by a fellow participant of the conference, Constantin "Coco" Holzer from Austria. He looks like Josh Groban, only better groomed, and what I found most striking about him was his voice, which was like a gentle breeze- it sounds so polite to my ears, I figure he must have lived in Asia. Soon enough, I would find out that he has been to China and even to the Eastern ends of Russia, beyond Moscow- in fact, Coco speaks Chinese and Russian fluently.

Since we both have rooms with twin beds, we decide to just share one room for the night and split the bill. I open a coconut shell with lambanog wine and we talk about his travels and martial arts (he practices Brazilian wrestling) until 3 in the morning.

Since I haven't been to Austria, I draw on two stories from my personal hard drive to make a connection: the movie "Sound of Music," one of the first movies I saw as a child, and Persepolis, the comic book memoir of Marjane Satrapi (the film adaptation's website is here), who moved to Vienna to escape the war in Iran.

I must have been inspired by my French friend Romain's photos of Iran that I got Persepolis from National Bookstore in Greenhills. It's powerful and engrossing graphic work, expressing serious themes of war and destruction in the voice of an innocent child. Satrapi shows scenes of bombings in Tehran and its transformation from a secular into a fundamentalist religious state and her liberal family's reaction to these; her parents' decision for her to continue her high school studies in Austria; culture shock in Europe; dating; returning to Iran and meeting her husband; and getting a divorce and becoming independent again.

What makes Persepolis unique is its narrative: instead of glorifying the combat between a protagonist and his or her enemy, the comic book presents the details of everyday life of an ordinary child and her brave family while combats of powers-that-be rage around them.

Persepolis has become the inspiration for a future book project for me. I was surprised to find out that a similar comic book has already been done in the Philippines, though I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy.

Climb Every Mountain - Aria Clemente

Thanks to Aria Clemente for the song "Climb Every Mountain." Aria is the 2007 Grand Champion Performer of the World (Junior Division) of the World Championships of Performing Arts.

journey

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:28:00 +0000

The light has gone out, I said, and yet I was wrong... The light that has illumined this country for these many years will illumine this country for many more years... and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts. -Jahawarlal Nehru on Mahatma Gandhi

Why do we travel? Some people do so to get from point A to B; others, to take a vacation. For me, traveling provides an opportunity to go on a journey- to undertake a process of discovering the world and myself.

This is the reason why, while I like to meet people and make new friends, I also enjoy a lot of time traveling in solitude. Away from the bonds of relationships and the usual markers of social roles and responding to a different culture and environment, I can find out about my true likes and dislikes. I can form my own opinions unmediated by those of another and get new inspiration. Ordinary acts, like bowing, drinking tea or relaxing in a sauna, take on new meanings. Ultimately, a journey strengthens one's sense of self or even reconstitutes it, allowing a new and better person to emerge.

As I would tell Irena from Czech Republic, upon reuniting with her boyfriend in Prague, with all she has seen and experienced by herself, she would have more to give to their relationship. And she would also have given them both a chance to miss each other!

What makes this journey different from previous ones is that I'm also trying to clear my head. Since the passing of former Pres. Aquino, I feel as Nehru did immediately after Gandhi passed away, that the light has gone out from the world. I know in my mind that this isn't so- that the flame of freedom which she carried would burn on in hearts of many more Filipinos- but I wanted to find that flame in my own heart, so that I would have more to give to my country and the world.

I've been wondering how people can love a country. Specifically, why do I love the Philippines? Is it because I've been told to do so by patriotic parents? Or because I feel a sense of obligation to give back to society for the excellent education and professional opportunities I've received? Or because love of country has been drilled into me through countless national anthems and flag ceremonies?

These may all be a part of it, but what I'll discover at journey's end is that love of country is part of loving oneself.

When we travel, one of the first things that people look for in our passports or ask about is our nationality and, on that basis, form initial impressions about us. Politicians and businessmen would ask for our opinion about the problems back home that they read about in the papers or see on TV. So whenever each of us tries to solve one of these problems- to fight an injustice or right a wrong- we strengthen our self-esteem- our self-respect- and allow that "greatest love" to happen in our lives.

These are exciting times for the Philippines as we prepare for national elections next year. There are a number of relatively young and qualified candidates who are planning to run for national positions. Since I have a personal or professional connection to many of them- to quote my friend Anna, the Philippines is "incestuously small"- I would have to assess their track records and platforms closely.

I'll vote and campaign, not on the basis of personality, but on principles and plans, particularly on the economy. I'll make choices, not with my heart, but with my mind. And if I don't find the perfect candidates, I'll support the ones who'll give me the least stress if they win.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey with me! Here I am before the Suomen ortodoksinen kirkko, an autonomous Orthodox archbishopric of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Thanks to Zhaoxiong Wang of China for the picture.

Ikaw - Martin Nievera

amsterdam 2

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Miyerkules, Ika-19 ng Abril, 1944

Mahal Ko,

May mas gaganda pa ba sa mundo kaysa umupo sa harap ng bukas na bintana at magpaligaya sa kalikasan, makinig sa huni ng mga ibon, damhin ang araw sa iyong pisngi habang yakap-yakap ang binatang ginigiliw? Nagpapahupa ng kirot at napakapayapa ng pakiramdam ng kanyang mga braso sa palibot ko, ang kaalamang andyan lang siya nang di na kinakailangan pang magsalita, di ito kasalanan, dahil mabuti ang ganitong kapayapaan. Nawa'y di na magambalang muli, maging ni Mouschi.

Sumasaiyo,

Anne

Salin ito mula sa Het Achterhuis o Ang Bahay sa Likod (1947), ang Talaarawan ni Anne Frank, isang 13 taong dalagang Hudyong may natatanging husay sa pagsusulat. Noong Ikalawang Digmaan, nagtago siya kasama ng kanyang pamilya at isa pang pamilya sa lihim na mga kwarto ng isang gusaling pang-opisina sa Esterong Prinsengracht. Pagkatapos ng dalawang taon, nahuli sila ng kalaban at dinala sa mga kampong pinagiipunan ng bihag, kung saan namatay ang lahat maliban kay Otto, ang tatay ni Anne.

Pagkatapos ng giyera, nang mahanap at mabasa ni Otto ang talaraawan ng anak ("Kitty" ang tawag ni Anne dito), nalaman niyang naging kasintahan pala ni Anne si Peter Van Daan, ang 15 taong binatang kasama nilang nagtatago. Si Mouschi ang kanilang alagang pusa.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Otto na- kung mayroon siyang isang natutunan- ito'y ang katotohanang di tunay na nakikilala ng mga magulang ang kanilang mga anak.

Ngayong taong 2009 ang ika-80 taon ng kapanakan ni Anne (1929-1945), kung kaya't ang talang ito'y hinahandog ko sa aking mga kasama sa Amnesty International at iba pang tao't samahang nagsusulong sa karapatang pantao.

Beautiful In My Eyes - Jed Madela

amsterdam 1

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:38:00 +0000

My travel guru Cierlene Benipayo- Justice B.'s sister and Ogie's aunt- had been insisting these past two years that I visit Amsterdam.

Why Amsterdam? I would ask.

To smoke pot legally, see the Red Light District...

Ho-hum.

I thought I'd already seen it all, but after I tried the hemp hand lotion of The Body Shop in the Amsterdam train station (which I haven't smelled in Manila- attention The Body Shop Philippines!) and later saw the city's tall, improbably thin 17th century townhouses (which presaged New York's vertical architecture), I felt, if not love, then something close to it: a bond, a connection.

Here is the actual embodiment of the ideals of my college years: a place with the highest respect for freedom and human rights, the town of Anne Frank in the country of "Big Brother" where people can see what others are doing and yet follow the principle, "Live and let live." No wonder Joma Sison chose to live in exile in this country.

And I remembered I. who, during one lazy afternoon in the green fields of Ateneo when we decided to give it a try, disclosed that she actually stayed with Joma here in the Netherlands. I was captivated by her description of the colorful flowers and gardens of Europe which she read from her diary- in a way, she colored my perception of the continent. She said those flowers were so beautiful, they made her cry- as an activist, because she remembered the faces of poverty back home, but I suspect also as an artist, because they awakened her senses and touched her core.

Though I'm not visiting Joma- my politics and sympathies are much too different now- the faces of his two brothers are very much with me, especially Tito Mon, who succumbed to lung cancer recently. The picture above shows them in Tito Mon's Beverly Hills home, where I stayed during my trip to Los Angeles in the U.S. I miss Tito Mon (you remember him: he's the man on the left)- his stories of Cary Grant and Nora Aunor, his show tunes, his joie de vivre.

It's ironic how close we were to each other- lovers and brothers- yet be politically oceans apart.

In the microcosm of these relationships, I feel hope and am able to envision unity for our country: we may disagree today, we may have fought each other yesterday, but ultimately we're just one family.

...

Topping my playlist on the plane, something witty, not to mention politically relevant:

otaku

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Finally, I knew a Japanese word that Ronnie-san didn't: otaku (おたく/オタク). After aikido practice, he saw the green streaks of paint on my hair and asked what they were for. I said it was my otaku day.

Otaku is a Japanese word referring to people with obsessive interests, particularly in anime, manga and video games. The term is loosely translated into English as "geek" (there is no close translation in Filipino- an entire generation here was weaned on Voltes V and anime).

Anyway, one morning during a Comics Convention in Megamall, I met this group of Filipino otaku. They reminded me so much of "Densha Otoko," one of my favorite Japanese TV series about the true-to-life love story between an otaku ("Densha Otoko" or "Train Man") and a office worker he met on the train ("Hermes"). With the help of fellow users of 2ch (a Japanese Internet forum where everyone is anonymous), he was able to overcome his shyness, undergo a make-over, and court Hermes. There was trouble, however, when Hermes found out that Densha Otoko was an otaku but- and the TV series became a hit because of this- love found a way to bring them back together in the end. The lesson is simple and resonates in anyone who has ever courted, dated or been in a relationship: just be yourself.

Memorable scenes from "Densha Otoko" are here.

How did it feel to have green hair? This has long been something I've wanted to try- it felt great, I felt instantly transformed into someone new. There's another lesson here somewhere but I'll need to think about that...

Here's the perfect Pinoy otaku song, "Maari Ba?" ("Is It Possible?")- thanks to balladeer Ariel Rivera.

maari ba - ariel rivera

simbahan

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:58:00 +0000

23 August

Dear Father,

Buona sera! Come sta?

I'm just sending a picture of my favorite church in Rome, the Chiesa di San Clemente, where I attended mass tonight. Were you able to celebrate mass there when you were living on one of these Seven Hills? It's much smaller than the other basilicas, and certainly tiny compared to stupendous St. Peter's, but I love the way it defines the many-layered history of the Eternal City. All throughout the mass, I felt transported- as if I were smoking pot in an Amsterdam coffeeshop... I couldn't get over the fact that this simple 12th-century church at street level was built over a 4th-century church that was, in turn, built over a 1st-century Roman house containing a temple dedicated to the god Mithras!

I can only agree when journalist Corrado Augias, who grew up near the Via Appia, writes in The Secrets of Rome (2007),

Where can we begin the story of the universe that is Rome? In a city as contradictory as this, filled with all the glory, ruins, and dust left behind by past centuries, it's possible to see traces of every human event and sentiment in its history- the bravery and cowardice, the generosity and indolence, the resourcefulness and louch limpness of the lazy. There's not a single event in its past that hasn't left a sign, scar, or scratch on its hide. Rome will never be a city of order, symmetry, events that unfold according to plan, or the coherent result of urban planning. If human history is nothing but violence and tumult, then Rome has been its mirror over the centuries, capable of reflecting each and every detail with painful fidelity, including those from which we would willingly look away.

In some ways like Manila, no? But with a longer, even more violent past. Surrounded as you were by classical and baroque art and architecture- and breathing air permeated by a conscious, appreciative enjoyment of fine things, la dolce vita- I couldn't believe you were upset with Cardinal Sin when he personally spirited you here at the height of the authoritarian regime- to save your skin.

On the other hand, I can see why as a priest you would prefer our airy, tropical churches back home: ours may not have the richest decorations, but they are living churches, full of people who fervently hold the faith. In San Clemente's Church, there were less than a dozen of us attending mass with the priest and his sacristan- half of the others in the group were Asians, probably kababayans- and to think that it's a Sunday!

And when People Power happened in 1986- sunshine would have been heralding the end of winter's chill- how you must have longed to breathe the air of hope and anticipation, to feel the electricity of a multitude that even the wide arms of the Piazza San Pietro would not have been able to contain. Between the ancient chiesas of Rome and the living simbahans of Manila, which is the better choice? Looking at them through your eyes- the eyes of a priest- the answer is as clear and unblemished as the blue tropical sky.

I hope you take solace in the fact that even the late President Cory- most people now call her Tita Cory- wasn't in Manila when People Power happened- the Mother of People Power was praying with the brown caped Carmelite nuns in their convent in Cebu.

You weren't able to visit her wake, were you? I thought of you when I paid my respects- how even as you recognized the shortcomings of Tita Cory as President, how she couldn't stop the self-aggrandizement of some people around her, you respected her as a person. You once recounted how she personally served lunch to you and a fellow priest in her home after your return from exile here in Italy- from the tone of your voice, I would even say you're fond of her. And you were allies in so many causes. And so I wanted to pray for her for you. I didn't know if it was possible, but I remembered how you sometimes made me your spiritual ambassador, how you asked me to send your wishes to people. So I thought I might be able to do it.

I felt like five hundred saints and angels led me through La Salle that night. It was almost midnight and I had heard about the crowds on the radio but I didn't see them. And then I got lost in the darkness- it was my first time in that campus. Each time I reached a gate or a door, however, a guard or usher would smile and open it for me- and when I realized there was a line, and that it stretched forever behind me, I was already near the ramp leading up the gym where Tita Cory's remains lay in repose... I was a bit confused, but the people behind me said nothing and instead pressed me onward...

And then God granted my second wish. We only had a few seconds to view Tita Cory's remains, and there was the distraction of TV cameras and a jumbo screen. But when it was my turn to shuffle past, in the time it took for me to make the sign of the cross, I was able to focus and join my heart to God's, and I felt that your heart was in there praying for her too.

And three Wednesdays ago, for the second time, you and Tita Cory joined the Power of the Multitudes, not physically, but in spirit.

I now have an idea where you are and am mailing this letter to that place- I go there to watch the owls. I hope to visit you after this sojourn to get your advice and blessing. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Piazza del Popolo and imagine you and Gandhi in conversation while strolling to the top of Pincio Hill. For you, Gandhi, and Tita Cory, I will take in the bella vista of the city where once all roads led.

ArrividerLa and God bless!

Yours truly,

Voltaire

cory

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:29:00 +0000

You ask about my favorite Cory story, but it isn't actually mine.

In high school I had a Filipino teacher named Cris Acuña, a kind and flamboyant man who lit a votive candle at the beginning of every class and who urged us to sing "Lupang Hinirang" out loud whenever we heard this played. From him I learned to read Amado Hernandez, Lazaro Francisco, and our other literary greats.

He had many stories of celebrities who were his students- we were fascinated for example by his observations of the classroom dynamics between Sharon and Pops, then known as rivals in the entertainment field.

One morning- this was Ginoong Acuña's way of holding our attention- he told the story of how he met your mom. In 1983, right after the return of your lola from exile in the US, she enrolled your Tita Kris in our school. I imagine it was September then- too late for enrollment in most Philippine schools, which start classes in June, right after summer. Since most of its students are expat kids, ISM follows the American calendar and begins each academic year in September, making it a viable option for your grandmother and aunt.

G. Acuña said your lola would sometimes accompany Kris to class. Did she wear a yellow dress? we asked. No, she was in mourning and wore black at the time. Where did she sit? She quietly sat in the back of the class. Or she would take a desk outside the classroom, by the soccer field, and sit there enveloped in her thoughts until the class ended.

I like this story, because with the little information G. Acuña gave one can find out so much about your lola: her love for her daughter, her resolve to lead as normal a family life as possible despite the extraordinary challenges she faced, and her simplicity.

Do I have my own story? Well, we led parallel lives: I was growing up, and she was President. My mom adored her, since they shared the same name, Corazon, and yellow is my mom's favorite color. During the early agonizing years of conjugating French verbs, my father mentioned that your lola had actually majored in French, which offered little consolation to me then. I later worked for Sen. Salonga, who headed the PCGG during her term. We also had the same painting teacher, Fernando Sena, though hers was a private class.

But yes I do recall a time when the arc of her life tangentially touched mine, and it was a typically Cory moment.

It happened on February 16, 2003, a Tuesday, in the Supreme Court. Justice Adolfo Azcuna, the presidential spokesperson during your lola's term, was then celebrating his birthday and my officemates said she had been seen in his staff luncheon.

Our office was on the fifth floor and, after lunch, I took the fire exit stairs instead of the elevator to go back- I preferred the fire exit because of the exercise and the relative privacy it afforded. Apparently, your lola thought so too: on the third floor landing, I nearly bumped into her- she wore a finely cut emerald green dress, instead of her trademark lemon yellow, so it took me several nano-seconds to recognize her.

Oh, excuse me Mrs. Aquino, I said.

Do these stairs lead to the lobby? she asked.

Yes, they do...

And, before I could say more, she smiled and disappeared as quickly as any of the secretive superheroes you so love to read about.

Your family has done so much for our country- even now, in this difficult time, you all keep your emotions in check, helping the rest of us hold ourselves together. May your grandparents have peace, and may your family finally have peace and contentment- you are released from the burden of history, we will carry the flame of their ideals in our hearts.

Lift Up Your Hands - Sharon Cuneta

panorama

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:10:00 +0000

I love getting postcards and photos from friends in faraway places- it's like living life many times. Recently, Jerick sent nine panoramic pictures he took of Egypt- they show beauties of a world, but more importantly they reveal the eye and mind of the photographer. This is a mind that, for all the countries it has seen, remains characteristic of the Filipino: it seeks to capture and represent a whole experience, rather than an atomized part of it. It's the same aesthetic that informs the graphic art on our ubiquitous jeepneys.

Raggy - Egypt Nights 2009 ( House )

Here then are nine shots of fabled Egypt, the land of Tutankhamun and Cleopatra, from the viewpoint of a 21st century Filipino:

editor-at-large

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:58:00 +0000

I got a preview of the inspiring plans for Book Development Month of NBDB, led by executive director Andrea Pasion-Flores (seen in the picture with her lawyer-husband Javi). She is multi-talented, having both a law degree and a master's degree in creative writing, but what I see as her greatest trait is her integrity as a public servant. Like J. Mendoza and Sen. Salonga, she raises the standards followed by people around her- she did it as an editor in Collegian and she's doing it as Editor-of-the-Country in NBDB.

With other former Kule colleagues led by Bos Alecks, I got to visit her place again last Friday- it seemed the same as when I last visited it many months ago, with the exception of Javi's burgeoning contemporary art collection and exquisite bonsai forest that he himself tends. I thought of how Kule, despite being an "activist" paper involved in social issues, was like a greenhouse that protected us from a system that we could only understand theoretically.

The good thing about this is that the institution protected our ideals and allowed us to develop a layer in our respective identities that would always be radical, scholarly, and activist. The best model I can think of is Chief Justice Puno, a former Kule Editor who, after reaching the pinnacle of the legal profession, now allows this layer to shine through- the Supreme Court is now engaged in outreach activities that traditionally have been done by NGOs.

Anyway, back to Book Development Month, the proposed theme is "Galing Pinoy, basahin!" and has the following interesting line-up of activities:

Lectures and book club sessions on poetry, fiction, and non-fiction by young writers
National Book Awards at Ayala Museum, with brass-on-kamagong trophies to be created by sculptor Michael Cacnio
Focus on Nick Joaquin: a film screening of "Tatarin" and multi-disciplinary lectures on this National Artist for Literature
Global Filipino Literature panel discussion with the winner and finalists of the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Premio Feronia
Performance reading of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo
Novel Writing Contest- possible genres are Pinoy romance, chick lit, and horror fiction
Books, Food and Art Festival- the activity I most look forward to, this was inspired by Irish writer James Joyce's Araby and is a three-day literary, food, and art festival in the heart of Makati City
Overnight adventure along the Viaje del Sol- touring local art galleries, native restaurants, and pottery centers in South Luzon and participating in a travel writing workshop.

Good luck NBDB!

Subscribe Free
Add to my Page

The poem "Tren (Train)" by Jose Corazon de Jesus from Tulaan sa Tren is posted here under the fair use principle- thanks to NBDB and voice actor Romnick Sarmenta.

flux

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:43:00 +0000

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity. - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, English novelist (1812-1870)

"A time of flux," was how one lawyer friend described the pattern of events unfolding in the country.

"A paradigm-shift," described another.

And I thought I was the only one who was feeling the cool wave of change washing over our institutions and collective psyche.

At the center of the political vortex is an ambitious plan to overhaul a creaky and antiquated election system by replacing humans with machines in counting votes and transmitting results to a central computer.

Admittedly, this would probably not solve the following old-school ways of cheating in elections:

registration of non-qualified voters
disenfranchisement of qualified voters
simple vote-buying
waylaying of voters through fraud, stealth, or intimidation
ballots filled up by only one person or group of persons
voting by persons other than by registered voters.

However, the most cost-efficient ways of cheating are minimized or eliminated by poll computerization. Among the problems that poll automation would minimize or eliminate are:

vote-buying with chain-balloting or identification marks
stuffing of ballot boxes with fake ballots
misreading of ballots
ballot/ ballot box snatching, destruction or substitution when a candidate is losing in a precinct
falsification or tampering of election returns
falsification of statements of votes or certificates of canvass in the municipal or city board of canvassers (adding/ subtracting thousands or even hundreds of thousands of votes)
falsification of statements of votes or certificates of canvass in the provincial board of canvassers (up to a million votes changed per province).

We are coming closer to the democratic ideal of one person-one vote, away from the current one-candidate-thousands of votes. And some feudal lords are not happy with this development at all.

Already, some of those who had reaped benefits from the old school and whose baronies are threatened by the new school have sought to sow chaos and confusion in Cotabato and other places in the South. It's the classic conflict between regional affiliations and national interests, the rule of lords and the rule of law.

These are the interests that we and our next batch of leaders must balance in the months leading to May 10, 2010. What an exciting time.

Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo - Various

finding juan 2

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Arnis 13-moves (Benjamin Lema school):

1- strike shoulder;
2- strike waist (rt. side);
3- strike waist (left side);
4- strike neck;
5- thrust abdomen;
6- strike clavicle;
7- thrust chest (left side);
8- thrust chest (right side);
9- strike rib (right);
10- strike rib (left);
11- thrust right eye;
12- cut throat, thrust left eye;
13- hit forehead.

Learning for me didn't stop after law school- if anything, it's become more intense, particularly in the last 2 or 3 years as I sought to widen and deepen my knowledge and continued to test ideas in the "real world." After law school graduation, we have what is called law review, a couple of months spent preparing for the bar exams, reviewing and synthesizing all materials learned in four or five years of classes. Right now, I'm at a similar stage of reassessing all I've learned in life so far and, at least with respect to the question of race, who I am as a Filipino, I've found arnis to be a useful tool of reflection.

An opinion piece here expresses very well the angst of an adolescent nation- born into freedom a little over a century ago- on the brink of adulthood. Many of our societies are open and welcoming to outside ideas and influences- our big cities porous and cosmopolitan- that it's sometimes difficult to draw a line between the local and the global. With arnis, I feel one with a martial tradition that Rizal and Bonifacio practiced, as did many generations of our ancestors before them long before the advent of globalization.

Here are a couple of my reflections during practice:

The triangle is a favorite Filipino shape: it is on our flag, in the form of the roof of the kubo or local hut, in the popular "panatag" (comfort) milk commercial, and yes even in arnis. If aikido's movements are circular, the feet in arnis move along the sides of an upside-down triangle. The triangle is like a spark- pretty but potentially painful, a symbol of creativity or mysticism- and is considered reflective of conflict in traditional feng shui, though it is a favored shape of Chinese-born architect I.M. Pei (Bank of China Hong Kong, Louvre Pyramid). It is present in our most common views of love, it is in the message of our traditional dance, the tinikling. It's in our politics. Oh, it's also in LRC's logo.
To resolve conflict through arnis, it is believed that the best defense is an offense (or counter-offense). Most of the time, the hit comes from the side, rather than directly from the front (analogous in culture to the palipad-hangin or indirect comment). It was painful for me to imagine hitting or cutting someone, but it was also empowering to embrace this shadow- I understood a pattern of conflict better.
In arnis, the emphasis is on substance rather than on form. I would describe many of our local dishes this way (see how a beer commercial pokes fun at haute cuisine here). Imagine slicing with a bolo using the 13-moves above: the result would not be pretty sashimi, it would be tasty kilawen.

finding juan

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:55:00 +0000

talumpati

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Kahanga-hanga ang talumpati ni Barack Obama sa Cairo, Ehypt, noong nakaraang linggo. Sa aking palagay, matatandaan ito bilang isa sa pinakamahusay na talumpati sa kasaysayan. Isa itong modelo sa sampung aspeto ng mahusay na talumpati na inilahad ni William Safire, ang patnugot ng Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History (2004):

Pakikipagkamay sa mga nakikinig ("As-Salāmu `Alaykum" o "Peace");
Maayos na pagkakabalangkas (ang pitong isyung kailangang harapin ng Silangan at Hilaga);
Indayog o ritmo;
Okasyon;
Pokus;
Layunin ("we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek");
Estilo;
Tema ("new beginning");
Pagbigkas;
Kasagsagan.

Bagamat tila malayo ang Gitnang Hilaga sa Pilipinas, makabuluhan ang mensahe ng talumpati ni Obama dahil sa mahabang kasaysayan ng Islam sa ating bansa at sa laki ng ating populasyong Muslim (4-5 milyong Pilipino).

Sa pamamagitan ng isang talumpati, isinama ni Obama ang madlang tagapakinig sa isang paglalakbay sa malalayong lugar at panahon:

It was Islam – at places like al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

Nabanggit rin ni Presidente Obama sa kanyang talumpati ang Cordoba, isang lungsod sa Andalusia, Hilagang Espanya, na dating kabisera ng Kalipado ng Cordoba na siyang namuno sa buong Peninsulang Iberia. Ang larawan ko sa itaas ay kinuha sa labas ng Mezquita or Malaking Moske nito. Ginawa ito bilang simbahan, subalit kinuha ng mga Muslim at pinalaki; pagkatapos ng Reconquista ng Espanya, ginamit muli ang Mezquita bilang simbahan. Sa kagandahan ng paulit-ulit na mga arko sa loob nito, tila nasilayan ko ang Paraiso ng Sangkatauhan.

Cordoba - Armik

Para sa isang pagsasalarawan ng Ehypt, basahin dito ang kamakailang sanaysay sa Philippine Star ng aking kaklaseng si Jerick Aguilar.

C.

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Playlist:

Keith Martin's "Because of You"

Shawn Colvin's "Never Saw Blue Like That"

Sitti's "Tattooed on My Mind"

Cocktail:

Mindoro Sling

Leaf in a bottle:

At this hour of the dark night
we are still together
on the woven sleeping-mat.
But when the sun gets up
and the stars detach themselves
from the sky,
our bond might break too.
If ever we meet again,
may we see one another, not with mortal eyes,
but with the eyesight of the soul.
- Mangyan ambahan

hola, patria

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:08:00 +0000

"Luzon" (2008), pastel sa papel, 9" by 12"

Subscribe Free
Add to my Page

Salamat sa Philippine Children's Choir from Mandaluyong sa kantang "Dasal" ("Prayer").

webcam postcard

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:05:00 +0000

il magnifico

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:49:00 +0000

The single desire of his heart rose out of love and sorrow: to do something about Lorenzo, a theme that would express the totality of talent, courage, width and depth of knowledge; the human understanding of this man who had undertaken to lead the world into an intellectual and artistic revolution.

An answer was slow in coming: answers always were. Yet it was only by sticking doggedly to the task that he could arrive at a conception that would swing open the doors of his creative force. His thoughts kept returning to the fact that Lorenzo had often spoken of Hercules, suggesting that the Greek legend did not mean that his twelve labors were to be taken literally: the capture of the Erymanthian boar, the defeating of the Nemean lion, the cleaning of the Augean stables by running a river through. These feats perhaps were meant as symbols for all the varied and near-impossible tasks with which each generation was faced.

Was not Lorenzo the incarnation of Hercules? Had he not gone forth on twelve labors against ignorance, prejudice, bigotry, narrowness, intolerance? Surely he had set a Herculean pattern in founding universities, academies, art and manuscript collections, printing presses, in encouraging artists, scholars, poets, philosophers, and scientists to reinterpret the world in vigorous modern terms, and to extend our reach to all the fruits of the human intellect and spirit.

Lorenzo had said, "Hercules was half man and half god, sprung from Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. He is the everlasting symbol that all of us are half man and half god. If we use that which is half god in us, we can perform the twelve labors every day of our lives."

-Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstasy (1961)

master class

noreply@blogger.com (Voltaire) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Perhaps the best assessment of former UK PM Tony Blair's talk in Sofitel this afternoon came from business magnate Robina Gokongwei: "Very good... and very cute." Other heavyweights in the conference were former House Speaker Joe de V., motivational speaker (and former AIESEC International president) Anthony Pangilinan, and former Department of Tourism minister Jose Antonio Gonzalez.

I was motivated to attend the conference, despite the steep fees charged by the organizers (the former PM reportedly bills up to $250,000 a talk) because of the novelty of the event (a joint project of a university, a communications firm, and private companies). Also, an ex of mine confessed that she had a crush on Tony Blair (this was long before the Iraq War, though).

Former CJ Panganiban was the first speaker. The title of his speech was "Leadership during Challenging Times." Some of the useful stuff I picked up from his lecture were: a new remedy from the International Criminal Court for gross violation of human rights, the warrant of arrest for a sitting Head of State; how the statement of mission and vision can be applied even in government; and the dual and sometimes conflicting roles of the CJ, as primus inter pares and as the judiciary's CEO. His concluding message was that the best leadership is one by example, as exemplified by a certain businessman and Jesus Christ during the washing of the apostles' feet.

I think it would be better if, in his subsequent engagements, he tries speaking without a Powerpoint slideshow and going easy on the mnemonic devices- he's a charismatic person anyway and his speeches would have better transitions and a more natural flow. I also wish, as this afternoon's "front act," he gave a more positive, uplifting message- as Carlos Celdran noted, he spent far too much time dwelling on the well-known problems of the current administration (corruption, poor human rights record) and far too little on solutions. Even if he is now a private citizen, I still see the former CJ as a leader whose role, in his own words, is to inspire and motivate people.

Cecilio K. Pedro, Lamoiyan CEO, was the next speaker and the title of his speech was "How a Filipino Company Negotiates the Global Recession." Since the organizers were behind schedule, and Blair was already on his way to the hotel's tent from Malacanang, he had to cut his speech short. I felt shortchanged, since Ernst and Young gave this businessman the Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of 2004 Award and could have shared a lot more valuable lessons as a business leader- this was important since he was the only speaker from the private sector. Some of his most applauded lines: "the Filipino is world-class" and "let's stop blaming government (for our problems)."

Finally, Tony Blair walked into the tent and seemed to charge the air around him with electricity- the very embodiment of charisma (it could have also been due to the pounding music accompanying his entrance). The conferment of a medal by DLSU was 15 minutes long- 12 minutes too long, I thought- and I couldn't understand why officials gave him a school jacket, at least until I saw today's headline here- rival school Ateneo had also given him a jacket earlier in the morning (read Ivan Henares's report on the Ateneo lecture here).

I don't recall the title of Blair's talk since he didn't use Powerpoint (the conference topic, though, was "The Leader as a Principled Negotiator") but so skilled an orator was he that the audience strained to hear his every word throughout the 30-minute speech (Barack Obama is considered by many as the West's greatest living orator, but he reputedly relies too much on the teleprompter- Blair hardly looked at his printed notes yesterday and seemed to talk directly to the audience). Leadership as a conference topic sounds like fluff- it's not rocket science- but I felt in the end the fees were worth it- despite the economic slowdown- because Blair talked about lessons one can't learn from books: wisdom borne from his own experiences.

He got my attention when he started his talk by alluding to "the movie"- of course, a lot of us knew he was referring to "The Queen" in which he was portrayed by Michael Sheen, though he didn't seem sure if it had been shown here (or maybe it was typical British understatement). He continued, I'll tell you what really happened. When England elects a new PM, he doesn't become one until the "kissing of hands ceremony" with the Queen. He had no sleep the night before and on May 2 (1997), in a chamber off the throne room, he was briefed by a tall English gentleman. "Now Mr. Blair," this courtier said, "you've heard about the kissing of hands ceremony. Well, you don't exactly kiss the Queen's hands- you merely brush your lips against them." What? Blair was baffled by this piece of advice on court etiquette. Then, when he was approaching the Queen, he tripped on the carpet "so instead of kissing or brushing my lips, I fell upon her hands!" She must have thought he was a fervent PM. (Laughter.)

Blair and the audience were now one. (Second funny anecdote.) In 10 Downing St., the official residence of UK's PM, there's a tradition that on the PM's first day in office, the staff lines up along the straight corridor leading from the entrance to the Cabinet Room. On Blair's first day as PM, the staff did line up but- since the old party had been in the house for 18 years- a number of them were crying. He deadpanned, "By the time I reached the end of the line, I felt guilty!" (The audience laughed even harder.)

Having simultaneously established his credibility as a speaker and broken the ice, Blair then announced the topic of his speech: the lessons he learned as a head of government and also on the Northern Ireland peace process. What follows are my notes from the body of his speech.

Lessons as a PM:

If you want to understand the world, analyze it as it is; to change the world, you must first understand it. It's an interconnected and interdependent world- lack of confidence in one country spreads to others. There's globalization- the world moves fast- as a consequence, our era is one of low predictability- economics and politics are hard to predict. Power is shifting to the East- there's a need to understand China, India and countries like the Philippines- the consequences of this shift are hard to comprehend in the West- Europe was once a power, followed by America- in the 21st century, there will be more than one superpower and "as that world changes, so must we."
In a fast changing world, countries, companies and people have to be prepared for change. For a lot of people, change is the toughest thing to do. (I thought of poll automation at this point- thankfully we Filipinos are techno-savvy and embrace innovation.)
To make that change, leaders have to make decisions with courage. Blair mentioned some of the difficult decisions he faced: the war after 9/11; environment; poverty in Africa.
What is forgivable is to fail; what is not forgivable is not to try.

Segue now to the issue of peace and peace negotiation and "one or two" of his experiences in Northern Ireland (perhaps it was the speaker's stiff upper lip, but I got the sense at this point that he would share the rest if and when he becomes a consultant to the peace process- of course I've said that we should also consider getting the former Finnish PM, another peace expert, as a consultant- I don't know if the Pope would be acceptable to our Muslim sisters and brothers):

Focus on what's happening continually. Solve or manage problems.
Agree to principles, but understand that there'll be compromises (a lot of which would be controversial). It's important to have a plan: basic principles; a clear framework for proceeding in the peace process (in stages); milestones/ achievements sought).
Know that there are going to be attempts to destabilize what you agree on. The worst terrorist incident happened in Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement. What's important was that the negotiators continued with even greater determination in the process.
You can have peace if both sides want it; usually, you can find a context for finding peace- you must continue and not give up.

Last point: While the economy matters, eliminating poverty is part of our mission, in the end our lives are not just concerned with the material, they're also concerned about values, the type of societies we want. And this is where faith matters. Blair then used the life of Rizal, before whose memorial he laid a wreath last Sunday and who fought "for the right of people to live as equal members in human society," to illustrate this last point.

Final joke: as a PM, Mr. Blair wasn't allowed to have a cellphone. So on his first day as a private citizen, he gets a cellphone and tries to text a friend: "Hi. Hello. How are you?" He forgets to put his name though, so the reply he receives is: "Sorry but hu r u?" "And I couldn't help but think," he deadpanned again, "it's only been 24 hours." (Laughing, the audience gave him a standing ovation.)

There was a question-and-answer segment with the audience moderated by broadcast journalist Che-che Lazaro. Here are some of the issues that were discussed:

On whether his support on the War on Terror was a mistake: no- it was a difficult decision, though (damn-if-you-do, damn-if-you-don't (not his exact words))
On whether President Obama's ascendancy and decision to withdraw from Iraq proves that the War on Terror was a mistake: in part because of the work that's been done, the US is now able to withdraw. Ultimately, there's a battle about and within Islam: the modernizing elements against the extremists and reactionaries. (He made the same point in Ateneo, which drew an interesting comment from a blogger here. I think the line should be taken in the context of his entire speech.)
On the strengths of the Philippines: our Christianity and religions; geographical location in the East, where power is shifting; record of equality of women (loud applause). All countries, even the UK, have problems (ex. alliance with US, difficulties in integrating with EU). Nations partly derive their power from alliances- shared purposes and interests/ values. The Philippines is also top 12 in population (Blair was going to point out how this could be an advantage, but Lazaro doesn't let him finish and says it's one of our problems.)
On his greatest legacy as a PM: Rather not say, other people write history. He's proud of Northern Ireland though.
On the key to getting a country back on track: focus on the top priorities- people want better living standards, economic prosperity.
On birth control, now that he has converted to Catholicism (his wife and children have been practicing Catholics and he had been attending masses with them before his conversion)- no comment, too hot to handle and he's a trained diplomat. (Sharp exchange with Lazaro due to a patronizing comment deftly defused with humor.) Check his political record- "that's my personal stand."
On when a leader should step down: don't leave for the sake of leaving, leave when you realize you can't do what you set out to do.
On his vision for his youngest son, a millennium baby (I wrote this final question for my seatmate Gleo): a world in which he would be comfortable with his faith and that would allow him to feel a respect for and connection to people of different faiths, where they would be in harmony with each other. For the basic tenet of every faith is love.

End of conference.