5 Bohol quake survivors excited, nervous to meet Pope Francis

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Andrea Trinidad Echavez of USAid Compete on Visit Bohol 2015 Bohol Travel Fair at Glorietta: Such a glorious, blessed day! Today's opening of the Bohol Travel Fair was very successful. To God be the glory! Congratulations to Gov Chatto and team and all tourism stakeholders! And thanks to all friends who supported in one way or another. 

 

S

Sam Penaso (2^nd from right) and friends on
 The Metalscape.  -Contributed Photo

cene: The Metalscape, the 22nd solo exhibit, of Boholano virtual artist Sam Penaso at Altro Mondo Gallery, 3rd level of Greenbelt 5 on Jan. 8.

 

Scene: Despite heavy rains, devotees climbed the Mt. Calvary in barangay Malinao, Garcia-Hernandez for the feast of the Black Nazarene on Friday. Visionary Marina Tadle-Reblinca said that the image of the Black Nazarene came from Palawan. While their counterparts paid respect to the Black Nazarene, devotees also paid similar homage to the White Nazarene in barangay San Agustin, Talibon town.

 

Scene: The Laugh Out Loud Benefit Concert featuring K Brosas and two of Manila’s best comedians, Sweet Iyah and Divine Tetay, on January 10, 2015 at HNU Dampas Campus Oval, Tagbilaran City. Tickets are available at Dunkin Donuts Plaza Rizal, Gelateria Milano, Tambayahan Café, Gerisonic, Renaissance Spa, and DRC at P150 (student price), P200 (general admission), and P1,000 (VIP). Proceeds go to the rebuilding of classrooms in Bohol.

 

Scene:  The Rock N Rebuild 2! with Rivermaya and Paolo Valenciano on Jan. 28 at Ubay gymnasium.  According to Van Delima, there will be an after party, Back 2 Back Live Band/ Disco performances ‘til the break of dawn. Call or text 0939-765-4093 for info.

 

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Last year, I was able to interview the five survivors of the powerful earthquake in Bohol province who will have lunch with Pope Francis on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Pope’s visit is to assure us of God’s mercy and compassion.

 

The five Boholano survivors who will meet Pope Francis are Veneranda Gentallan of San Roque, Maribojoc; Shirley Bongay of Lintuan, Loon; Niza Flores of Poblacion, Sagbayan; Saturnino Barace, Jr. of Tagubaas-Obujan, Antequera;  and Salome Israel of Tubigon.

 

 Niza Corbita Flores lost her youngest son, Geevie, 12, who was covered by rubbles of the collapsed internet cafe. She said that she’s can hardly overcome what happened to her youngest son.

 

Salome Israel lost her right arm and broke her pelvic bone when earthquake struck. However, the cheerful Salome said that“everything happened has a purpose.”

 

Shirley Bongay of Loon town lost her right hand after being trapped in wreckage for nine hours.

Veneranda Gentallan almost died when her house collapsed. She suffered a head injury and was brought to Cebu province to undergo an operation. She stayed at the hospital for one month. Her recovery was said to be a “miracle.”

 

Half of Saturnino “JR” Barace, Jr's body was buried underground after the quake. He too was injured, but managed to survive. Unfortunately, Barace lost four of his family members who died during the earthquake.  After the tragedy, Barace entered the seminary.

 

All of them couldn't help but get excited — and nervous — about their scheduled face-to-face meeting with Pope Francis. There can be no other more rewarding experience in this lifetime than “being with the Pope.”

 

After one year, how are you?

Salome Israel: If I am going to rate 1-10 about the recovery, it’s only 6 because I am not totally okay. A little bit.

 

Veneranda Gentallan: Ania gihapun buhi tungod sa presensya sa Ginoo. Ang Ginoo nag-uban kanato ilabina sa nahitabo nako niadtong linog. Wala nawala akong pagsalig sa Ginoo.

 

Saturnino Barace Jr:: Makahinumdum gihapun ko sa akong pamilya.

 

Shirley Bongay: Padayun ang life.  Wala gihapun nawala akong pagtuo sa Ginoo.

 

 

How does it feel being one of the chosen five Boholanos to dine with Pope Francis?

Veneranda Gentallan: Wala ko kasabot sa akong gibati sa pagkahibaw nako makauban nako si Pope Francis. Nahadluk ko nga murag excited. Wala jud ko kasabot sa akong gibati.

Shirley Bongay: Nalipay ko nga ako ang napili sa parokya namo.

 

Salome Israel: My feelings can’t be measured. I feel I am so blessed... we all know millions of Catholic people want to have that opportunity. I feel so happy and lucky to be given the opportunity to meet Pope Francis.

 

Niza Flores: Kinaunhan wala jud ko makatug sige ko hunahuna kung “tinuod ba ni? Nga makauban nako si Pope Francis?’ Nalipay ko pag-ayo kung mahitabo na.

Saturnino Barace, Jr.: Sa pagkahibaw nako nga usa ko sa napili makauban ang Santo Papa, nalipay ko pag-ayo kay wala nako damha nga sa kadaghan sa biktima sa linog napili ko.

  

What will you tell Pope Francis?

Veneranda Gentallan: Magpasalamat ko sa Santo Papa nga iya mi gitagad kaming mga pobre sama nako ug ubang mga biktima sa kinaiyahan. Nga maskin wala ko nakadawat og hinabang nga naguba akong balay aduna man diay labaw nga giandam ang Ginoo mao kana nga makauban nako ang Santo Papa.

 

Salome Israel: Actually, I want to surprise the Pope.  I will give you a hint. I just want to tell Pope about my experiences during the earthquake at that time it happened. For me, it’s a remarkable or tremendous or anything I can say about the calamity. Maybe I will ask Pope to pray for me, to give me guidance especially now that I am disabled. It’s really hard to be like this.

 

 Niza Flores: Magpasalamat lang ko kang Pope nnga mingduaw diri sa Pilipinas nga makauban niya ang mga biktima sa trahedya sama namo diri sa Bohol.

 

Shirley Bongay: Magpasalamat ko ni Pope nga nagpasalamat ko sa Ginoo nga buhi pa ko ug blessed nga makita nako siya personal.

 

Saturnino Barace, Jr.:  Magpasalamat ko nga buhi pa ko, magpasalamat ko nga makita nako siya sa personal ug kini usa ka blessing para nako ug sa akong family.

 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Ubi jam, the best dessert at Ubi fest

Wake-uppers:

Seen: Dominic Villafuerte is the newly-appointed councilor of Candijay town who replaced former councilor Sergio Amora Jr who died last year.

Seen: Spotted in Bohol last week were Michael V, Tom Taus and Katherine de Castro. Also spotted in Panglao town were LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas and his wife Korina Sanchez and Isabelle Daza who attended a VIP wedding.

AWARD-WINNING composer 

and lyricist Ralph Maligro. 

Contributed Photo 

Scene: During the 36th Cebu Popular Music Festival, Ralph Maligro's “Awit Ning Gugma,” arranged by Ralph Joey Cabusas and interpreted by Philip Mancol, emerged as the winning piece in the Love Song category. Maligro is from Tubigon town.

Scene: The "UNLIMITEXT" exhibit of  multi-awarded Boholano visual and performance artist Sam Penaso at Galleria Quattrocento,  2nd Floor Serendra, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Jan. 20 to Feb. 2.  For info, text/call (02)-8230935; 0917-8911322. Penaso is a multi-disciplinary artist that dabbles in painting, sculpture and performance art. He has held 23 solo exhibitions, five of which were held in Japan, Thailand, Austria, Germany, Singapore, New York and Abu Dhabi. He has also been a recipient of several Art grants including Asian Cultural Council (ACC) and the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York and the Thailand-Philippines Art Exchange Program in Bangkok, Thailand.

Scene:  The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) General Counsel John Simpkins was here in the province on  January 26-27 to renew the U.S. government’s commitment to the province’s inclusive and sustainable development.  Simpkins joined other Bohol officials to launch the Stakeholders’ Forum, which was organized by the U.S. Embassy Manila’s USAid through its Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (Surge) Project. Simpkins visited Tagbilaran City Elementary School, where he handed out learning materials to Grade 2 students on behalf of the American people and led a reading activity for the children. In his interaction with school administrators and faculty, he reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to help improve the reading skills of students through its basic education program, Basa Pilipinas.  Surge is the flagship activity of USAid’s Cities Development Initiative (CDI), which aims to transform secondary cities into engines of growth. Tagbilaran is one of the CDI partner cities.

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Couple Cipriano and Marcela Curay had to wake-up early last Wednesday.  They had to travel at least 100 kms from Alicia town to Tagbilaran, Bohol’s capital, to attend the 16th Ubi Festival.  The Curays brought 20 bukags (baskets), inside were ubi (yam) they would sell during the three-day festivity.

 Ubi (Dioscorea alata) growers and supporters have gathered last week for the Ubi Festival to honor the crop as a major agricultural product.

Ubi Festival 2016 on National New. Courtesy: GMA News

Curay, 53, started planting ubi in 2010. He said he found ubi a great potential for livelihood.

He planted 50 kilos of ubi tubers in July and harvested 650 kilos of ubi in his 200 sq meters farmland last December.

For the Curays, the rootcrop has helped their family needs.

“It is a great help for our family. Like now we could not plant rice and ubi could help us,” he said.

For  Dely Niluag, 68, the Ubi festival was an opportunity for her to make special desserts-- ubi jam/halaya and sorbetes (ice-cream).  Niluag took advantage to choose different varieties of ubi --- kabus-ok, kinlot, balagon-on, binanag, tam-isan, apale, iniling, lima-lima, kot, bot and kinampay, the most aromatic ubi in the world --- at low prices.

“I am happy if there is ubi festival,” she said, “I can ask for a discount unlike in malls.”

She said there would be enough ubi desserts this month.

Ubi is an important rootcrop in Bohol province, the country’s ubi capital.

The crop is heavily planted in the towns of Alburqueque, Alicia, Antequera, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Dimiao, Garcia-Hernandez, Lila, Loay, Loon, Mabini, Maribojoc, Panglao, Sikatuna, and Ubay.

It is traditionally planted in May or June and harvested from December to January.

According to Zenaida Darunday, a plant pathologist and keynote organizer of Ubi festival, ubi is a healthy energy source with important nutritional benefits.

 "Ubi is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, and a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. When you take ubi, you won't be constipated," said Darunday.

The kinampay, the queen of all ubi varieties, is a good source of anthocyanin, a strong anti-oxidant, she added.

"Of course, it's a good alternative for rice especially now that we are trying to cut on rice consumption, ubi is a substitute. You can eat ubi without eating rice. Compared to potato, it has more nutritional element."

Ubi is also good for people who have hormonal imbalance and women who suffer menstrual cramps.

"It has dioscorin and it is good for women with dysmenorrhea," said Darunday.

For almost half a millennium, the ubi tuber has been venerated by the Boholanos.

Boholanos considered ubi a "sacred" crop. In fact, ubi is the only staple food included in the Bohol hymn.

“Yes, ubi is sacred in Bohol,” confirmed Darunday.

“Boholanos kiss the ubi when it falls on the ground,” she added.  She said that ubi culture is authentic because it started from the earth.

“It's our culture because according to a legend there was a famine in Bohol. Boholanos were able to stay alive because they found ubi when they were scratching the ground because ubi survives during drought and famine. And when they saw ubi, ‘praise the Lord' because it saved them from starvation.  If ubi tuber falls, you have to kiss it," said Darunday.

UBI GROWER Cipriano Curay

 proudly shows his ubi kinampay,

 the queen of all ubi varieties.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

For the past years, the production of ubi has declined.

Darunday said that people who are planting ubi are aging.

Ireneo Gabato, municipal agricultural officer of Sikatuna town, said that only few farmers plant ubi. He said, only three out of 10 barangays joined this year's festival.

To encourage farmers to plant ubi, his office provided materials (tuber) to farmers.

"It's plant now, pay later. If they plant 20 kilos of ubi tuber, they would return 20 kilos of ubi to our office," he said.

The Ubi festival was also a venue for educational forum to increase farm production.

“I hope this is an avenue to invite farmers and attract young people to plant more ubi in Bohol,” she said, “Young people should be familiar with the importance of ubi.”

She also noted that climate change also affected the ubi production.

“One of the reasons why the harvest of ubi in the province now is low is due to the impact of climate change,” she said.

With that we hope we can innovate technologies that ubi can still survive even with the change of the climate, added Darunday.

Anyway, the most popular way of cooking ubi is to make it into ubi jam (halaya).  It is a sweet sticky jam-like concoction that may be eaten by itself or as an ingredient in other deserts like halo-halo.

Ubi Jam (Halaya) Recipe

Ingredients:

MORE USEFUL THAN RICE, Boholanos find time

 to honor ubi (yam), the province's most important crop, 

during the Ubi Festival 2016.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

1 kilo ubi  (kinampay, baligonhon, etc) mashed or 2 packs purple yam

2 cans condensed milk

1 can evaporated milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar (amount optional)

1/4 cup grated cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1) Cook ubi in boiling water until soft. Peel and mash ubi until smooth in texture. A blender can be used for a better result.

2) In a big wok, melt butter or margarine. Place in the mashed ubi; pour the condensed milk and sugar over it. Keep  stirring on low heat for at least 30 minutes or the until mixture is well blended.

3) Add evaporated milk and continue mixing until well blended and thick. Stir constantly to prevent sticking to the pan. Let cool and transfer into a large greased tray or pans Sprinkle with grated cheese for extra flavor. Chill and serve.

Yam! Yam! Yam!

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Start your days right in 2014

With the New Year comes the opportunity for a fresh start. The best way to greet 2014 is to start its first day on a healthy and a fabulously positive note. Thus, I am sharing with you some “reminders” to welcome your most awesome year yet.

Top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2014 from statisticbrain.com:

1. Lose Weight

2. Getting Organized

3. Spend Less, Save More

4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest

5. Staying Fit and Healthy

6. Learn Something Exciting

7. Quit Smoking

8. Help Others in Their Dreams

9. Fall in Love

10. Spend More Time with Family

Top five (well, six) tips for staying healthy in 2014 from Cambridge News:

1. Eat breakfast – Ensure you have a substantial breakfast which includes some protein and fat, and aim to eat it within an hour of getting up. This will help your body to maintain balanced blood sugar levels and that’s key in order to reduce your cravings. And do yourself a big favour and skip the fruit juice - it plays havoc with your blood sugar levels.

2. Get active – Find an activity that you enjoy and actually look forward to, such as cycling, dancing, running or yoga – and do it twice a week. Current research suggests sitting for long periods can increase the risk of heart disease, weight gain and diabetes, so if you’re office based ensure you get up several times a day and take a walk.

3. Protein – Include some with all meals and snacks: think eggs, chicken, fish, pulses, nuts and seeds, approximately the size of your palm. This will slow down the insulin response and help keep your weight stable.

4. Get into green tea - Replace some of your tea and coffee with green tea. It is rich in polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that will not only help to keep you healthy this winter but may also slow down the ageing process as may encourage faster metabolism. Start with two cups a day and experiment by adding fresh mint and a slice of lemon.

5. Cut back on carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, biscuits - and ensure you load your plate up with healthy seasonal vegetables instead. Make them interesting by stir-frying, sautéing, baking in the oven, adding garlic and chilli - whatever works for you.

6. One final tip... Include mushrooms in your diet. They contain powerful compounds called beta glucans which have long been studied for their immune enhancing properties.

And some inspiring words from Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol on New Year's resolutions - The Pope Francis list:

1. Don't gossip.
2. Finish your meals.
3. Make time for others.
4. Choose the "more humble" purchase.
5. Meet the poor "in the flesh."
6. Stop judging others.
7. Befriend those who disagree.
8. Make commitments, such as marriage.
9. Make it a habit to "ask the Lord."
10.Be happy. This joy should translate to love of neighbor.

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VRS asked you to share your greatest moment of 2013. These are your stories...

Volunteerism-“It's being able to rediscover myself by realizing my capacity to help. The 7.2 earthquake and typhoon Haiyan were my greatest moments because it helped me realize not only that I can actually help but it let me witness the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen – the Filipinos and other countries helping each other to give aid to the victims. As they say, it is in times of disaster that brings out the best in the community.” -Anna Maris Igpit

Daughter’s Birthday-“When Cielo celebrated her 16th birthday with our family, her Grandma Wincie and Mommy Lou in attendance; when Jerome and I put on her medal for her victory in the Regional Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge in Cebu City, and when I escorted Cielo to the University of the Philippines-Diliman upon her college entrance.”- Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin

Heaven’s Bliss- “When I met Padre Pio in Boracay that made me back sincerely and religiously with God in the Catholic Church. I swear! Isn't that amazing?”- Joy Suarez

Partner-“My greatest moment of 2013 is that I met and married the woman that I'll love for the rest of my life, Atty. Joan Jagonos.” – Benjie Oliva

For Art’s Sake- “When I was chosen by the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) fellowship grantee for visual arts here in New York for six months to observe contemporary arts.”- Sam Penaso

Beauty with a Purpose-“As usual, the success of Anyag sa Tubigon 2013 with Daniel Padilla as special guest and when I was able to defend my master’s thesis en route to my Master in Business Management Degree at the Graduate School of Business and Administration of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.”-Raymund Delgado

A Helping Hand- “Co-convening the Oplan Bangon Bohol and doing relief and rebuilding missions in Bohol but still getting a year-end Performance Award from our Law Firm.” – Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado

Youth Service- “Winning the "Outstanding Barangay Official of the Year 2013 (Toboy Awards)" SK Category among 3,003 SK chairmen of the whole Region 7 and elected as Barangay Kawagad in our beloved Barangay Booy.” - Clement Ingking

Happy Feet- “The best moment for me this 2013 is when I went to the Grand Canyon...I felt God's presence there!!!”- EJ Relampagos

2013 was a good year for VRS as he was interviewed and featured on CNN.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Sam Penaso’s sentimental homecoming in Bohol

Sam Penaso’s sentimental homecoming in Bohol

Wake-uppers:
Scene: Some of the biggest and hottest Kapuso celebrities like Katrina Halili, Moymoy Palaboy, Daniel Matsunaga, Paolo Contis, Benjie Paras and Jillian Ward will grace the Bohol Sandugo street-dancing on July 31 (Sunday). Boholanos will see more of the Kapuso stars after the street-dancing competition at the CPG Sports Complex.

Scene: Only eight (8) contingents will join the street-dancing competition. The Sandugo organizers see few out-of-town contingents joining this month’s grand parade, but they won’t let it dampen the festive mood and ongoing preparations. The event should be repackaged after the noted drop in contingents from out of town.

Scene: Hordes of people were definitely erupted in unison in Tanduay Power of 5 last July 16. The event featured Parokya Ni Edgar, Chicosci, Kamikazee, Sandwich and Wolfgang. Iya Villania became the center of the event when she entertained the Boholano youngsters.

Scene: Half of the Bohol Cultural Center was occupied during the Miss Bohol Sandugo pageant on July 16.

Seen: Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal was wearing black jeans during the opening of the Miss Bohol Sandugo; his slacks didn’t arrive on time. He was seen taking nebulizer in between break during the pageant. Also, Raul’s pretty co-hosts Johanna Feliz Pilayre and Felisse Marie Gonzales were not smiling on stage and hosting in the most monotone voice. Again, Raul saved the pageant night.

Scene: The members of the Association of Young Boholanos in Metro Manila, Inc. (AYBM) were enjoying the Dagan Para sa Pamilacan, a trail run for a cause. The participants treasured the singlet.

Scene: Some of the performers didn’t impress the judges during the audition of TV 5’s Talentadong Pinoy last July 29 at the Island City Mall.

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“The power of the greatest art,” says art historian Simon Schama, “is the power to shake us into revelation and rip us from our default mode of seeing.” In the case of our Boholano artists like Yoyoy Villame, Cesar Montano, Clovis Nazareno, Napoleon Abueva, Nene Lungay, Ric Ramasola, et al, their love of art have inspired them to break out of the mold by initiating an activity that allows art to demonstrate its power and influence not just on a metaphysical plane but on a more pragmatic scale.

And then there's Samuel “Sam” Penaso.

The success story of Sam is something for the books, a saga that started in the sea of Guindulman where he tried to help augment the family income by being a fisherman and ended in the spotlight of imperial Manila.

I knew Sam years ago when he had his 7th solo exhibit “Boholandia” at SM Megamall. A certified Boholano, he is a visual and performance artist from Guindulman.

He has held 15 solo exhibitions, five of which were held abroad. He has also participated in numerous group exhibits and performance art festivals locally and abroad.

He represented the Philippines in the Nippon International Performance Art Festival in Japan in 2005 and 2011, Asia Performance Art in Seoul Korea, Asian International Art Exhibition in Indonesia, Philippines-Thailand Artists Exchange Residency in Bangkok, The Korea-Manila Fine Art Biennale, ArTriangle in Malaysia, Young Art Philippine in Luxembourg, Essen-Berlin, Germany, London and Austria. He has won in some of the most prestigious art competitions in the country, namely Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), Metrobank Foundation’s National Young Painters Annual, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Painting Competition\ and Philipp Morris Art Awards.

Last month, I saw Sam on TV for the Rizal + 150 reverse cosplay parade, the backward March held in Intramuros, Manila. His famous “stripewalker project” makes him popular. “This is guy’s Einstein, Wolverine and Picasso,” I told myself.

After his exhibitions abroad, Sam Penaso and his works have finally returned home.

The paintings in Sam Penaso: The Homecoming, Sam Penaso’s first art exhibit which opened at the Island City Mall’s Prawn Farm on July 22, also Bohol’s Day and run until July 24, are abstract and conceptual, all right, but they touch the heart because most of the paintings are experimentations in lines and colors.

“The increasing tantalization of the world has become the very matter imprinted on his artworks,” art critique JPaul Manzailla of UP Manila pointed out, “Sam does not want to be a prophet who, unfailingly, is not recognized in his own land. He does not prophesize but challenges young Boholano artists to offer what they have in Bohol and to universalize their individual, particular experiences.”

Sam’s homecoming was made possible through the effort of the Association of Young Boholanos in Metro Manila, Inc. (AYBM) headed by Atty. Julius Gregory Batusa Delgado. The exhibit was one of the activities organized by AYBM during the Sandugo festival.

Others who were at the opening were Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Añanas-Piezas , Vice Mayor Maria Edineth Hohmann, Atty. Doi Nunag of Amarella Resort, artist Ric Ramasola, architect and violinist Nigeli Cabreara Abarquez, Raymund Delgado, Glenn Lumantao, Atty. Menedio and Mrs. Vanessa Mae Bernido, Atty. Ted Lagang, Gen. Leo Olegario, Doris Dinorog-Obena, Vilma Yorong, Edward Guyano aka Inday Charity, Sandugo festival-goers, and the photographer-artist friends.

Sam Penaso (extreme left) with Atty. Doi Nunag, Ric Ramasola, Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe Añanas-Piezas, Vice Mayor Maria Edineth Hohmann and family friends during his homecoming in Bohol.

When some of the patrons asked Sam to sign the paintings they bought and won in the raffle, Sam happily obliged.

Among the most admired paintings were those faces old people Aling Basyang, Mando and Worker which JPaul said could be our kin and neighbors and acquaintances. “They are individual yet general.” People also felt a sense of wonder and excitement seeing generation x, neonlights, eye candy and time machines.
“Sam Penaso hopes to challenge the young and upcoming artists of Bohol to hone their craft,” said Mary Catherine Biliran, AYBM’s board of trustee. “Sam also hopes to contribute in making Bohol art scene active and aggressive,” said Ethel Mae Manlupig in her opening remarks.

Mayor Piezas of Guindulman was all praises for Sam’s achievement, “We are proud of Sam. He deserves all the accolades that he’s getting. This just proves that Sam Penaso is the next Fernando Amorsolo. Makita nato nga ang mga Picasso, van Gough tagpila na..dili na nato makab-ot. Usa ko sa mingpalit sa iyang paintings kay ming-admire ko. Gusto ko isip Mayor, inahan sa lungsod sa imong ginikanan, ako mupalit sa usa sa imong mga paintings.”

Mayor Piezas recalled one incident in 1967 when she saw the paintings of Filipino master Fernando Amorsolo sold in low prices. Amorsolo was not yet popular at that time. “Now his paintings are millions and we can’t afford it. Nagmahay ko wala mupalit.”

At the cocktails, Inday Charity was telling Sam he could be a future National Artist, which the artist brushed aside with modesty, saying, “Malayo pa yan..Hahahaha Hayo pa ta ana..Marami pa na more deserving of that honor.” But Inday Charity disagreed, saying he meets all the qualifications required of a National Artist.

I asked Sam if “What's the best lesson that you want to impart to the youth and people who are in the same situation as you were before?”

“They should believe in themselves so they can pursue their dreams and take the lead in making a difference. They should finish their studies. Kung sa art, pag-igihan ang pagpinta at maniwala sa ginagawang obra then at ang art na ang bahala sa kanila. Basta ibuhos ang galling. Be an artist with your whole substance; give everything you have. If you are fully engaged in your life, you will fully engage others,” said Sam. It pays to remember the Filipino saying, Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.

(Visit http://sampenaso.multiply.com; Text or call: +639283482268)

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Email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.