Pisay Homecoming 2007, Part 3

PSHS '77 Batch Reunion Photos
September 1, 2007
Philippine Science High School
Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Please click on the links to see the following photos:

1. Deed of Donation Signing

2. PSHS '77 T-shirt, 2007 Edition

3. 'The Early Birds'

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
9/3/07

In Memoriam: Zacarias Acacio, PSHS '77

(Photo Caption: Zachy's yearbook picture taken in 1977. Source: Lagablab '77)









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Like Rodelo "Delo" Manaog (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html , another batchmate of mine named Zacarias "Zachy" Acacio passed away at a young age. Zachy was involved in a fatal car accident many years ago. I was a graduate student in Monash University, Australia when that car accident happened so I was not aware of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Zachy's birthday falls on the 2nd of September.

Thirty years after graduating from high school, our batch (PSHS Class of 1977) would like to commemorate the early departure of Zachy and Delo from this world.

To Zachy and Delo, we -- your batchmates -- miss you!

In prayers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
9/3/07

Pisay Homecoming 2007, Part 2

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During the Philippine Science High School Alumni Homecoming held last 1 September 2007, our batch (PSHS Class of 1977) donated the following:

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1. TV set (29") with rack

2. DVD player

3. LCD projector

4. Overhead Projector (OHP)

5. laptop computer

6. two printers

7. books and journals authored/edited by members of PSHS '77 including those written/edited by Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (University of the Philippines-Diliman), Dr. Rodel Lasco (University of the Philippines-Los Banos), Dr. Ma. Emma Concepcion Liwag (Ateneo de Manila University) and Dr. Rafael Saldana (Ateneo de Manila University).

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These donations are part of Phase 1 of PSHS '77 thirtieth anniversary batch donations. The other components of the batch projects include refurbishing of the PSHS Science Audio-Visual Room and acquisition of computers for the PSHS Dormitory Internet Cafe.

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The PSHS Class of 1977 has a continuing commitment to support PSHS. Our batch has contributed to PSHS not only financially but also through human resources: as campus directors, as faculty, as members of the Board of Trustees, as officers of the Alumni Association and the Foundation, and as parents of scholars.

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More information about PSHS '77 may be found at:

Batch e-group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pshs77

Batch blog: http://pshs77.blogspot.com/

E-mail: pshsbatch77@yahoo.com

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Cheers,

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Raffy

The Pisay '77 Blogger

9/3/07

Pisay Homecoming 2007: Notes and Photos, Part 1

[Photo Caption: Members of PSHS '77 together with their former teachers and current PSHS

administrators during the turn-over ceremony of the 30th Anniversary batch donations (phase 1)]


Yesterday (9/1/07) was the 2007 Philippine Science High School Alumni Homecoming organized by the Jubilarian batches: '72, '77, '82, '87, '92, '97, 2002, and 2007. The silver (25th) jubilarian batch is the PSHS Class of 1982.

For our 30th anniversary homecoming, our batch (PSHS Class of 1977) had the following activities:

1. Visit to the memorial marker of our former classmate Rodelo Manaog at the 'Bantayog ng Mga Bayani' (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007/08/rodelo-manaog-my-batchmate-is-hero.html ).

2. Turn-over of audio visual equipment (laptop computer, TV set, LCD projector, OHP, and DVD player), printers, and books (authored/edited by members of Batch '77) to PSHS and signing of the deed of donation.

3. Participation in the PSHS Alumni General Assembly and Homecoming Night at the PSHS multi-purpose gym [complete with a batch t-shirt with an eye catching design: PSHS 77 : Rated XXX (30 Years of Bonding) ].

More notes and photos in my next blog entries...

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
9/2/07

Rodelo Manaog: My Batchmate Is A Hero

[Photo Captions: (1) Marker at 'Bantayog' which includes Delo's name (2) Monument of Mother Philippines (Inang Bayan). Photos by Raffy Saldana, 9/1/07]

A few days ago my Pisay batchmate Iye (Mirriam Coronel-Ferrer, a professor at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and a columnist at abs-cbn online news ) shared with fellow batchmates in our e-group a beautiful piece she wrote about our former classmate, Rodelo 'Delo' Manaog. (See Iye's article, "Two Young Men From Mauban", http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=89687 .)

Delo and I belonged to section Jupiter in our freshman year (1973-74) at the Philippine Science High School in Diliman, Quezon City. Although Delo was also a dormer (at that time the school has one dormitory for boys and another one for girls), we did not interact much. I remember that he was from Mauban, Quezon but I had no idea how Mauban looked like. All I knew was that people from Mauban have a peculiar Tagalog accent (distinct from the Tagalog accent from Bulacan or the Tagalog accent from Batangas. I am also a Tagalog, coming from the province of Bataan). I also remember that Delo was very good in the subject 'Filipino' and that he played soccer (football) well like many of my batchmates.

Our batch entered Pisay (or PSHS) nine months after Martial Law was declared by former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. The years before the declaration of martial rule, there were lots of political tumoil in Metro Manila: rallies abound everyday. But during our highschool years (1973-77) there were practically very few rallies (or none at all). It was the era when dissidents were incarcerated and thousands of political activists went 'underground'.

From Iye's article I learned that Delo was already a political activist during our highschool years. From high school, Delo continued his involvement in the movement against the Marcos dictatorship. Then in 1984, Delo was declared missing. He was last seen in an establishment near the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna.

Together with other victims of martial law in the Philippines, Delo's memory is enshrined in a park called 'Bantayog ng mga Bayani' (Heroes' Shrine) located at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue (very close to the PSHS campus in Diliman, Quezon City).

Below is an excerpt from Delo's 'case file' found at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RODELO MANAOG

Born: 11 July 1960
Missing: since June 1984
Occupation: Student leader/Labor organizer
Address: 60 San Buenaventura St. Mauban, Quezon
Parents: Mr. Arsenio Manaog and Mrs. Numeriana Manaog
Brothers: 3
Sisters: 5
Birth order: 8th
Spouse: n/a
Children: n/a

Education:

Elementary: Mauban South Elementary School
High School: Philippine Science High School (1st-3rd year)
Manuel Luis Quezon High School (4th year)
College: Luzonian State University, Lucena City (1st year)
UP Los Banos (Communication Arts)

Academic/Professional Achievement/Activities:

Delo was consistently at the top of his class, receiving various merit awards in his elementary years. He graduated class valedictorian in 1972. He passed the Philippine Science High School scholarship examinations, the first ever from Mauban, Quezon. Encountering some academic and cultural pressures at PSHS, he transferred to MLQU High School on his 3rd year and finished his 4th-yr high school in 1976. For a year, he enrolled at Luzonian State University (renamed Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation) in Lucena City. As a College of Arts And Sciences student, he was involved in various school activities. He was member of the staff of the school paper The Luzonian and was an active member of the University Student Council.
The following school year, 1977-1978, he transferred to UP Los Banos as a Communication Arts student. A natural-born leader, he became an active member of the UPLB Writers’ Club and managing editor of the UPLB Perspective. Later, Delo opted to work as a full-time labor organizer of the Institute for Worker’s Leadership and Development of Laguna. He was also known as a labor organizer of NAFLU in Balayan Sugar Central and Nasugbu, both in Batangas.

History of Social/Political Involvement:

Delo was exposed to military/progressive ideas through an older sister, Wencita, who used to bring him along with her to teach-ins she regularly attended as a member of the Kabataang Makabayan in 1969-1970. Delo was then in Grade Six. He became a militant nationalist when he formally joined KM as a student at PSHS from 1972-1975. Delo’s advocacy of the national democratic struggle was further enhanced when he studied at Luzonian State University where he was active as a campus journalist and member of the student council. His eventual transfer to UPLB in 1977 as a communication arts student exposed him to a wider view of the struggle for freedom and democracy. His stay at the UPLB campus is described as the “dark period” – the height of campus terrorism waged by elements of the much-dreaded 2nd MIG based at Camp Eldridge. At that time, there was a growing list of salvage victims and missing persons, a large number of them former UPLB activists. Yet, this alarming situation did not deter Delo from finally deciding to leave his studies and instead willingly and courageously devoted the rest of his youthful years as a labor organizer for Southern Tagalog.

Manner/Circumstance of Disappearance:

Delo has been missing since 1984 and presumed dead by now. He was last seen in a “mini-mart” near the UPLB gate. A sister went to Camp Nakar, accompanied by Mauban mayor Llamas to inquire about Delo’s disappearance but the military refused to acknowledge any involvement. Several days after, the sister and some family members went to UPLB to consult Delo’s friends who also organized a group to look for him.

With the help of Task Force Detainees (TFD) Lucena, his family joined a picket at Camp Nakar. However, military authorities there rebuffed them.

Nevertheless, Delo’s family and friends alleged that the military was responsible for his disappearance because Delo mentioned to them he was already under surveillance.

Sources:

Bantayog Profile
Transcribed speech of Mrs. Wency Flores, sister of Rodelo, UPLB Parangal, 28November 1986
TFD Southern Tagalog file
Tributes:
UPLB Parangal, St. Therese Chapel, 28 November 1986
Pagpupugay at Parangal sa mga Bayani at Martir ng Uring Manggagawa at Sambayanan, 1 May 1988, Crossing, Calamba, Laguna
Signed Testimony of kin and friends
Sworn Statement of Mrs. Wencita M. Flores

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today, September 1, 2007, some of my batchmates and I will pay tribute to Delo. We will visit his 'marker' at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani before we proceed to the Philippine Science High School for the 2007 PSHS Alumni Homecoming and for the turn-over ceremony of PSHS Class of 1977 thirtieth anniversary batch projects which include donations of audio-visual and computer equipment for the PSHS Science Audio-Visual Room and books (authored/edited by members of PSHS '77) for the school library.

To Delo, you are truly a scholar of the people (iskolar ng bayan). We salute you, and we are proud of you..

"Para sa bayan... Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo." -- Rodelo "Delo" Manaog


Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
9/1/07

PSHS: 'A High-Yield Public Investment'

Last night (8/30/07) , while watching the PSHS Alumni Concert (featuring musical talents from batches '69 to '75) at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007/08/pshs-alumni-concert-i-am-what-i-jam.html ) I received a copy of an article written by my colleague Dr. Cielito "Ciel" Habito (a member of PSHS Class of 1970, former NEDA director-general, chairperson of the Economics Department of Ateneo de Manila University, and president of the PSHS Alumni Association). The article was published in his regular column ("No Free Lunch") in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The title of the article is "A high-yield public investment".

Below is the link to Ciel's article about Pisay (or PSHS):

http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view_article.php?article_id=84839


Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
8/31/07

PSHS77@25: Photo Caption

Five years ago (year 2002) our highschool batch (Philippine Science High School Class of 1977) was the PSHS alumni silver jubilarian. Now, it is the turn of Batch '82 to be at the helm of the PSHS (or Pisay) Alumni Homecoming on September 1, 2007.

In our batch e-group the featured photo is a group picture taken during the PSHS alumni homecoming in 2002. However, for five years this group picture was not given a caption.

I remember that at one point I challenged my batchmates to identify the people in the group picture. I think only one (aside from me) was able to identify it correctly. Her name is Jess (Dr. Jessamyn Yazon) and she is currently the OIC Director of the PSHS Diliman (or Main) Campus.

So here is the proper caption for our batch's 25th anniversary group picture (Note: Not all members are present in the photo):

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From Left to Right: (1st row) Marissa Fernandez, David 'Butch' Reyes, Melchor 'Mel' Jose, Ramon 'Mon' Duremdes Jr., Rene Abad, Alvin Matos, Jaime 'Jim' Trinidad, Emmanuel 'Em' Fajardo. (2nd row) Eva 'Ebb' Ratilla, Chona Ramos, Amelia Luz 'Amy' Pulvera, Kathryn 'Kate' Cuadra, Fe Santos, Lourdes 'Lulu' Yutangco, Olivia 'Olive' Zuluaga, Ma. Emma Concepcion 'Emy' Liwag, Ma. Elna Corazon 'Cora' Juguilon, Marie Santos, Vivian 'Vien' Amandy, Norieta 'Norie' Calma, Marion Gaspar. (3rd row) Juan Climaco 'Kim' Elago, Rafael 'Raf' Saldana, Rolando 'Rolly' Banez, Carlo 'Caloy' Arcilla, Augusto 'Toti' Versoza, Ramon 'Mon' Jocson, Ramon 'Mon' Jocson, Ricardo 'Ricky' Lim, Augusto 'Auggie' Soriano, Bernard 'Bern' Lapuz, Fernando 'Andy' Santos, Fidel Borja, Jesse Clamor, Alexis 'Al' Santos, Joseph 'Jojo' Ibanez, Francis 'Keku' Domingo, Ma. Regina 'Rina' Jose.

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Cheers,

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Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
8/29/07

CIMPA Lecturer 2: Dr. Michael Hintermueller

(Photo Source: http://math.uni-graz.at/hintermueller/)

CIMPA-IMAMIS-Philippines School on Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
27 August - 7 September 2007
Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
Hosted by: Mathematics Department, Ateneo de Manila University

Lecturer: Michael Hintermueller, Ph.D.
Affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz, Austria
E-mail: michael.hintermueler@uni-graz.at

Topic: Mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCCs) in function space

Outline:

1. Introduction

2. The finite dimensional case:
a. Problem statement (mPECs, MPCCs)
b. Lack of constraint regularity and potential dangers
c. Applications
d. A view on first order necessary conditions
- weak staionarity
- M-stationarity
- B-stationarity
- strong stationarity

3. MPCCs in function space
a. Problem statement
b. Some differences to the finite dimesional case
c. Special case: Bilebel problems
- First order necessary conditions
i. penalization
ii. regularization
iii. passage to the limit
d. A more general case
- First order necessary conditions
i. A relazation and regularization technique
ii. Relaxed first order conditions
iii. Passage to thelimit

4. Solution algorithms
a. Review of finite dimensional approaches
- Implicit programming
- Piecewise sequential quadratic programming
- Interior techniques
b. Methods in function space
- Bi-level case
- General case
c. Some results


Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
8/28/07

CIMPA Lecturer 1: Dr. Doina Cioranescu

CIMPA-IMAMIS-Philippines School on Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
27 August - 7 September 2007
Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
Hosted by: Mathematics Department, Ateneo de Manila University

Lecturer: Doina Cioranescu, Ph.D.
Affiliation: Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, Paris, France
E-mail: cioran@ann.jussieu.fr

Topic: Advanced Partial Differential Equations

Outline:

1. Distributions and equations with constant coefficients·

• General notions about distributions
• Elliptic operators
• Local solvability of constant coefficients PDE

2. Sobolev spaces· Introduction· Imbedding and trace theorems· Generalized solutions

3. Elliptic equations and boundary-value problems

• Laplace and Poisson equations· Maximum principles
• Variational formulation, Lax-Milgram theorem
• Dirichlet, Neumann and Robin problems
  

4. The heat equation

• Variational formulation
• Existence and uniqueness theorems
  

5. The wave equation

• Variational formulation
• Existence and uniqueness theorems
  

6. Navier-Stokes equation

• Variational formulation
• Existence and uniqueness theorems
  

Schedule:

August 27, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, Rm. SOM 111
August 28, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Rm. SOM 111
September 4, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Rm. SOM 111

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
8/28/07

CIMPA-IMAMIS Philippines School

I am a participant in the CIMPA-IMAMIS Philippines School on 'Numerical Methods For Partial Differential Equations'. The school (which consists of a series of lectures by experts from France and Austria) is held on August 27 - September 7, 2007. It is being hosted by the Mathematics Department of Ateneo de Manila University.

The School's homepage URL is http://www.math.admu.edu.ph/cimpa/index.html .

CIMPA (International Centre for Pure and Applied Mathematics) is a non-profit international organization established in Nice (France) in 1978. Its aim is to promote international cooperation in higher education and research in mathematics and related subjects, particularly computer science, for the benefit of developing countries.

IMAMIS is the acronym for International Master in Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences.

Below is an excerpt from the website:

"The School will focus on two areas:

• Advance numerical techniques for Partial Differential Equations.
• Applications to some classes of PDE, namely to fluid mechanics and mathematical finance.

This school is intended for graduate students, young researchers, teachers and practitioners who are working on applied mathematics, numerical methods and mathematical finance. A basic background in Partial Differential Equations is a pre-requisite for this School.

This CIMPA School can be considered as part of efforts in South-East Asia to bring together the researchers, educators and practitioners in this area. We hope that the School will strengthen collaboration between Southeast Asian and European mathematicians.This school belongs to the series of schools organized/supported by CIMPA in developing countries. This CIMPA School is also part of the Asia Link program IMAMIS (International Master in Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences) that has been suggested by CIMPA in 2002. This project, that has been worked out mostly by the Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis (UNSA) and the University of the Philippines (UP), is a training programme for higher education scholars, and devoted to the creation of 15 new courses in Applied Mathematics and Information Science. The main sponsors of this school are IMAMIS, CIMPA, IMU, and ICTP. "

The list of participants can be found at http://www.math.admu.edu.ph/cimpa/downloads/List%20of%20Participants%20and%20Speakers.htm while the schedule of lectures can be accessed at http://www.math.admu.edu.ph/cimpa/downloads/Schedule-jumela.htm .

Raffy
8/28/07

'Pisay' and 'Bear Claw'

Another amusing incident happened to me last Saturday (8/25/07) -- the day when I watched the fim "Pisay (Philippine Science High School)" (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007/08/pisay-movie-website.html).

Earlier that day I visited a friend in a hospital in Quezon City. At the lobby of the hospital, I was surprised to see a Merced Bakeshop outlet. To me and my highschool batchmates (PSHS Class of 1997) Merced Bakehop is equated with the pastry 'bear claw' -- a piece of bread shaped like the claw of a bear and with a brown filling (which seemed to be a mixture of chocolate and mongo). Merced Bakeshop is located near the corner of EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) and Quezon Avenue. Before the existence of flyovers and MRT, Merced bakeshop was just walking distance from Pisay. When we were students in Pisay (some 30 years ago!) we regularly go to Merced Bakeshop to buy 'bear claw.

So, when I saw the Merced Bakeshop outlet at the hospital in Quezon City that I visited last Saturday, I immediately asked the saleslady if the shop sells 'bear claw.' I thought the last time I ate 'bear claw' was when I was still a student of Pisay way back in 1977. I was told that there were three pieces left. I immediately bought all the three pieces of 'bear claw'.

When evening came, I went to The Block in SM North Edsa to see the film Pisay together with some of my batchmates.

Since I did not have merienda in the afternoon of that day and I haven't had dinner, I started eating one of the 'bear claw' pastries that I bought from the Merced outlet while watching the film.

Then came another surprise of the day: During the second act of the movie Pisay [there were four acts: each act representing a shoolyear level experience of the eight main characters (students) in film] 'Matt' (the dormer) and 'Minggoy' (the kid with cancer) climbed the fence near the dormitory to go to a nearby portion of 'Parks and Wildlife'. At the park 'Matt' brought out a 'bear claw' and started eating it while he was having a serious talk with 'Minggoy'. Many people from the audience gave out a hearty laugh [including me who was also eating 'bear claw' like 'Matt' :) ] because they knew that 'bear claw' was associated with Pisay students during that period (1970s to 1980s).

I'm sure that those who did not recognize the connection between 'Pisay' students and 'bear claw' were wondering why some people were laughing when the scene being portrayed in the movie was a serious one :)

Long live 'Pisay' and 'bear claw'!

Cheers,

Raffy

The Pisay '77 Blogger

8/27/07

Pisay Movie Review By Butch Francisco

(Photo Caption: Child actor Elijah Castillo as 'Minggoy'. Source: http://www.pisaythemovie.com.ph/castcrew.html)

Filipino film critic and Philippine Star entertainment writer Butch Francisco recently wrote a review of Pisay The Movie. It can be found online at
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=88653 .

The review is being quoted here:

"[startofquote]

STARBYTES (The Philippine Star)
By BUTCH FRANCISCO

A FILM THAT IS BRILLIANTLY PISAY

Months before I graduated from elementary, our class adviser informed us that she had with her application forms to the Philippine Science High School. In my mind, I thought that was so sweet of her to have offered — until she dropped the addendum: “But don’t bother if you’re not the Number One in class.”

I was certainly not Number One — wasn’t even close to it. In fact, in second grade I even experienced being in the bottom one grading period — but that was the time I successively had the measles, chicken pox, had the mumps month after month and missed two periodical exams, including the finals. In the entire ten school months, I only managed to show up for eight.

Somehow I managed to pass, but was relegated to a lower section the following school year and did better in third grade. Eventually, I was brought back to the higher section, but was never Number One in class. And so goodbye, Philippine Science High School — or Pisay.The only time I set foot in that campus — on Agham Street in Quezon City — was when I was invited by one of the teachers there, Ms. Anna Santiago-Oblepias, to give a lecture on film criticism. I knew that this was no ordinary high school. The lecture I prepared, in fact, was something even beyond college level. I made the right decision. The students were brilliant and they would have been bored stiff had I talked to them on the level of a regular high school.One afternoon with them, however, wasn’t enough for me to get an insight into what goes on in the minds and in the lives of these young people considered to be the crème dela crème.

Thankfully there is Pisay, the movie, which is shot entirely within the Philippine Science High School compound. In this film, we see what life is like for the students there — and how it could also be unenviable at times. Oh, just think of the pressure they go through every day of school life.Pisay is made up of different stories divided into freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior years, but all intertwined. And so we see a tale of young love (and how it can get in the way of academic performance), being unable to cope with the high standards set by the school (with or without the distraction of a love life, it’s one tough world studying there), getting politicized and finally being in a crossroad of choosing a career path (aside from sciences, they are also taught to dabble in the arts to make them more well-rounded).Pisay is set within the first half of the ’80s — when there was so much political upheaval in the Philippines. These events — the Ninoy Aquino assassination and all the way to the first EDSA — serve as backdrop to the stories of the Philippine Science High School students and no period in our history could have been more appropriate than that time frame to tell us the victories, failures and awakening of the young people at Pisay.

On the lighter side, we also see the Pisay students having fun and sporting the Bagets look, which was big during that era. And so they also party and unwind — although now they’ve gone big time because last year I sat as judge at the Philippine Science High School Prom King and Queen search and it was held at the posh and every expensive Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Pisay actually shows that the people there are more or less like you and I, except that they’re more exceptional. They also hurt and get disappointed like the rest of us. But they’re more brilliant.Oh, brilliance! Like the students whose lives are depicted in the film, Pisay is a showcase of brilliance in direction, script and performances. Eugene Domingo as the physics teacher is her usual brilliant self. She has a Visayan accent here, but it is not intended to elicit humor the way other local films do. She is depicted as a native of one of the Visayan islands and still speaks on an accent — and doesn’t apologize for it.

Another brilliant performer is Claudine Najero, a stage actress who also is an alumna of Philippine Science High School I understand. She is very pretty, has perfect diction and delivers a good acting job as the geometry teacher sympathetic to the plight of her students.

Actually, everyone turns in more than above average performances, particularly those playing students — led by Gammy Lopez, the twin of Nathan Lopez, who plays the title role in Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. That Pisay is brilliant (it was graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board) shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore. It is, after all, a film by Auraeus Solito, whose first full-length film, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros won Urian Best Picture the other year. Solito, it turns out, is a Philippine Science High School alumnus. He may not have pursued a career in science, but his alma mater should still be proud of him — especially with this film. With Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros and this movie, he is brilliantly Pisay.

[endofquote]"


Related Links:

http://www.pisaythemovie.com.ph/pressreviews.html

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
8/26/07

"Pisay: The Movie" Website

(Photo Caption: Poster of "Pisay The Movie". Source: http://www.pisaythemovie.com.ph)

Finally, I was able to watch Pisay The Movie last night (8/25/07) at Cinema 4 of The Block, SM North Edsa -- thanks to the generosity of my highschool batchmate, Mon Castillo (PSHS Class of 1977)

The movie is classified as an independent film (film in digital format). It was directed and produced by Aureus Solito, a member of the Philippine Science High School Class of 1986.

I originally intended to watch this film during its premiere showing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 2007 but I was in Japan at that time.

Last night's showing was sponsored by the Philippine Science High School Foundation (PSHSFI, Inc.). (Note: I was a former vice-president of the PSHSFI.)

There were many Pisay (the popular term for PSHS of Philippine Science High School) students, faculty, alumni, and parents at last night's film showing. It was almost like an alumni homecoming already (the PSHS Alumni Homecoming will be held on September 1, 2007 at the PSHS Multipurpose Gym.).

The movie evoked a lot of memories in me: as a former student and a former director (or principal) of the school. -- This will be my subject in future blogposts.

Recently, I found out that the movie has an official website: http://www.pisaythemovie.com.ph/
This website contains the following information:

• Showtimes


• Trailer


• Synopsis


• Director's Biography


• Cast and Crew
  
• Press Reviews

"Pisay The Movie" garnered the following awards during the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival held last July 2007: Best Director, Audience's Choice, and Best Production Design. It was also Graded A (the highest rating) by the Philippine Cinema Evaluation Board.

Congratulations to Film Director Aureus Solito, the PSHS Class of 1986, and the PSHS Foundation!

Cheers,

Raffy
"The Pisay '77 Blogger"
8/26/07

My Batchmate Andy Santos

Fernando "Andy" Santos is my batchmate in high school (Philippine Science High School Class of 1997). He is a geologist.

Andy and I were classmates during our freshman year (1972-73) in section Jupiter.

We also stayed in the PSHS Boys' Dormitory during high school (1972-1977). We were both from the provinces (Andy is from Ilocos in Northern Philippines and I am from Bataan, a province west of Manila). Students coming from the provincese were given priority to stay in the campus dormitories. We were called 'dormers'. Those not staying in the campus dormitories were called 'externs'.

Andy seemed to me to be a very quiet person. But when he speaks, what he says are very sensible.

Andy is a geologist and a father of two daughters, Krizia and Lala. His wife, Lani passed away in May 2007 after a long bout of illness.

Last Thursday (8/23/07) I received an e-mail from one of Andy's daughters -- with attached pictures of Andy, his wife, and two daughters. She requested me to include the photos in the PSHS '77 blog that I did for the batch(See http://pshs77.blogspot.com/). I acknowledged her e-mail and thanked her for the photo contribution.

I would like to share to the public a beautiful piece that he wrote about his wife Lani...

Raffy

"The Pisay '77 Blogger"

8/26/07

Quote From Andy:

"
Thank You

Dear Batch-Mates,

The mortal body of my wife, Lani, was finally put to rest into the earth where it rightfully belongs on May13, 4 pm at Manila Memorial Park, Paranaque. However,I’m sure that her soul/spirit is now in heaven withour Creator, where there are no more tears, sickness and pain. She’s now in another life, a better life than here, after passing all the trials and tests that this world could give.

She had a lung disease since1997 (COPD-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) but she was very sick and bed-ridden for the last four and a half years: also sick with COPD but with “trache”("tubo sa leeg na nakakabit sa respiratory tract"), supplied with constant medical oxygen andasthma/emphysema/heart/kidney medications.

With the help of God we were able to prolong her life for another 10 years. During her sickness, her faith in and relationship with God/Lord Jesus Christ/HolySpirit continuously strengthened and grew; she was able to raise her two beautiful daughters well; and she was a good wife to me. She was also thespiritual/moral leader of our family and her extended family.

On my part, I learned how to care for the sick, love spiritually and unconditionally, to be patient,humble, kind, meek, gentle, and to have faith in God, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In the process, I learned that the most important things in life areto have strong, good loving and friendly relationships with God, family, friends and other fellow human beings. Career and wealth should only be used as vehicles for living, service to others, to win more souls for Jesus Christ/God and to build-up His Church.

Also, for the past 10 years, I silently and patiently bore the expenses, trials and pain, until I asked for your help…

Thank you for your prayers, condolences and visits during my grief; and for your support during my times of need. Honestly, I was humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of prayers, sympathy and support during my hard/low times, which I have never experienced before. I also give thanks to God, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, Who have never left men or forsaken me; and to the saints (which includes theVirgin Mary) who have prayed for me."

-- Andy Santos

Meeting With Doctors: Research and Consultation

Last Thursday (8/23/07) I had a meeting with medical doctors at Medical City Hospital in Ortigas, Pasig City. I (together with some faculty members and students of the School of Science and Engineering of Ateneo de Manila University) have on-going research collaborations with some medical doctors of Medical City. (The Medical City is affiliated with the Ateneo.)

During our meeting I was in pain. My left shoulder and neck were aching. However, I could not bring it up (my pain) during the meeting because our group was absorbed with research discussions. Normally, if one goes to a hospital it is about getting some kind of treatment for an ailment. In my case, that day, it was primarily about research collaboration.

After our meeting (which ended around 7:00 p.m.) I went to the information counter of the hospital to ask where I could get treatment for my shoulder and neck pain. I was referred to the Emergency Room (ER). At the ER, some nurses and clinicians checked my shoulder and neck pain. I asked them the possibility of whether my pain was due to my car accident that happened last August 5, 2007 (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007/08/do-you-know-what-to-do-after-car.html ). They also checked my blood pressure. The reading was unusually high: 160/110. They gave me a pain reliever and observed me for an hour. My blood pressure later went down to a level close to normal. (Note: I have hypertension and I am under maintenance medicine.)

That day, I went to the hospital (Medical City) for a one reason (research collaboration meeting) but I ended up in the Emergency Room for another reason (to get treatment for neck and shoulder pain)!

[I find this incident quite unusual so I wrote it in my Blog :) ]

Raffy

8/25/07 in Quezon City