Tag: October 5, 2001

DUWAG at mahina. Ito ang madalas na tukso kay Haraya ng kapwa niya gagamba. Hindi man niya madalas pinapansin, may mga pagkakataong napapatanong siya sa sarili kung bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya marunong humabi ng sariling sapot.

“Inay, tinutukso na naman po ako ng mga kaklase ko,” sumbong ni Haraya. Halos araw-araw siyang umiiyak pagkaumuuwi galing eskwela. Kung hindi siya sinasabuyan sa mukha ng likidong seda ng kanyang mga kamag-aral, walang-patid naman ang paghahalakhakan habang itinutulak siya ng mga ito sa kanilang patibong na sapot.

ISANG taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang huli akong magpunta sa Sitio Lupang Pangako, Payatas. Noon ay katatapos lamang ng pagguho ng isang bahagi ng bundok ng basura dahil sa bagyo.

Nakapanayam ko noon ang ilan sa mga biktima ng malawakang trahedya sa sinisilungan nilang Lupang Pangako Elementary School. Sa pakikipag-usap ko sa kanila, nakita ko ang kabiguang dala ng mga gumuhong pangarap na bunga ng mga pangakong hindi natupad. At sa muli kong pagpunta roon, baon-baon ko ang pag-asang nagkaroon na ng malaking pagbabago sa kanilang kalagayan.

MOST men would ignore a dull, conservative, and stern spinster who is as prickly as a cactus. But what happens if she becomes a beautiful lady?

Directed by Zeneida Amador, Abe Burrow’s Cactus Flower, the second play of Repertory Philippines’ in its 63rd theatrical season, tells about spinster nurse’s make-over after being asked to play wife to a dentist. Incidentally, she unconsciously wins the favor of the doctor as well as his mistress.

BALLET Philippines (BP) opened its 32nd season with Live, Hot, & Blue, a performance ballet choreographed by renowned ballet gurus William Morgan, Alvin Ailey, and Alice Reyes.

Morgan’s Classical Symphony is a neo-classical piece by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. The members of the company awed the audience with their well-coordinated movements and grace. The dancers’ svelte bodies moved in time with the tempo of the music.

In Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Enemy at the Gates, the war between two states is reduced to a conflict between three men.

The story starts with the friendship of Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), a Soviet political officer, and Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), a Russian sharp-shooter.

Danilov survives an encounter with Nazi troupes and witnesses his friend, Vassili shoot down with a marksman’s facility several Nazis in Stalingrad, the last unconquered city of Russia. The fall of the city would have given the Germans access to the oil fields of the Caucasus.

EAGER to insinuate itself to the lifestyle of young Thomasians, the Student Organization Coordinating Council (SOCC) has introduced a discount card that the SOCC leadership says will be honored by 400 establishments nationwide.

The SOCC Commemorative Card is exclusive to UST students and alumni and entitles the holder to a five to 20 percent discount in purchases.

Through the card, SOCC President Harry Uy hopes to market and improve the image of UST.

SHE DREAMED of becoming a doctor. She would work double-time to keep herself on the right track by juggling both academic and extra-curricular work. She treated responsibilities not as burdens but as stepping stones to her dreams.

College of Pharmacy sophomore Kristina Agustin, could have been another honor student or perhaps a successful doctor, if not with the tragic Manor Hotel fire in Quezon City last Aug. 18 that killed her and her parents.

Born and raised in Isabela, Kristina was the third child of Renato, a businessman, and Elizabeth, a housewife.

SEEKING to establish itself as the Philippines’s foremost university hospital, the 55- year-old University of Santo Tomas Hospital (USTH) is hard-pressed to improve its services despite perceptions that health care in the country is only for those who can afford it.

But the USTH is aiming for total patient care, said Atty. Pilar Almira, USTH’s chief operating officer. She added that the hospital’s renewed focus on service reflects the nature of the hospital as a non-stock, non-profit organization which is “biased for the poor.”

Sa pagkakataong ito, nakatuon ang pansin ng publiko sa intelligence dahil sa mga hearing sa Senado ukol kay si Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Kung sasariwain, nakumpirma umano ng Intelligence Special Action Force, sa pamumuno ni Kol. Victor Corpuz, ang pagkakasangkot ng ilang personalidad sa “negosyong-kidnap-for-ransom” at pagtutulak ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. Lumantad na ang ilang mga saksi tulad nina Angelo “Ador” Mawanay, Danny Devnani at Mary “Rosebud” Ong.

THE SEPTEMBER 11 terrorist attacks on the United States will go down in history as the day of failure of intelligence. Without doubt, because of the failure of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, three speeding aircraft commandeered by terrorists slammed into the global seats of commerce and defense.

US President George W. Bush has sent a very clear message that terrorism will not prosper. He has rallied the world against terrorism.