Showing posts with label U.S. Facility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Facility. Show all posts

Friday, June 17, 2022

MAY SAYAD

(NOTE:  The following did not actually happen. Joke only.)

Sa Main Gate ng dating U.S. Facility sa Subic, na ngayo’y SBMA, as the day’s grind begins, maraming tao ang sumasagsag sa pagpasok sa trabaho. Sa bungad ng Main Gate bridge, naglipana ang mga tindera ng samut-samot na merchandise na lalo pang nagpapasikip sa pedestrian traffic. 

Si Sassy ay isa sa mga employees ng SBMA na every working day ay sumasagsag sa pagpasok sa trabaho. Minsan, dahil sa pagmamadali niya, nalimutan niyang bitbitin ang baon niyang pagkain for lunch. So, napilitan siyang huminto upang mamili ng pang-lunch niya. 

Ibubuka pa lamang ni Sassy ang bibig niya upang sabihin kung ano’ng bibilhin niya nang biglang iniabot ng isang lalaki ang paper bill niya at bumili ng sigarilyo. Una itong napagbilhan ng tindera na ikinagalit ni Sassy. 

Nanggagalaiti sa galit na sinigawan ni Sassy ang tindera ng ganito: “Bakit siya ang inuna mo e, nauna ako sa kanya?!!" 

Nagitla ang medyo-intimidated na tindera na sumagot ng ganito, “E… e, kasi po iniabot na niya sa akin ang pera niya e…” 

“Bakit, siya lang ba ang may pera? May pera rin ako, a! Mas malaki pa nga ang pera ko kaysa sa kanya!” 

“Hindi po… e, kasi po…” Nag-isip ng maidadahilan ang tindera hanggang nakaisip ito ng, “E kasi po, nagmamadali siya. Late na kasi siya e.” 

“At bakit, siya lang ba ang nagmamadali? Siya lang ba ang male-late? Mas malaki na nga ang late ko kaysa sa kanya a!” 

Mabilis na umisip ng strategy ang tindera para matapos na ang diskusyon. At nagliwanag ang mukha niya sa naisip niya. 

“Ay naku, huwag n’yo hong papansinin ang mamang iyon. Kasi ho, may sayad iyon e!” 

“At bakit?! Siya lang ba ang may sayad?!! Mas malaki pa nga ang sayad ko kaysa sa kanya 'no!”

Friday, June 3, 2022

I LEFT MY FACE IN SAN FRANCISCO

(NOTE:  This is a repost.)

Goddy beside Mang Ben (partly hidden) at Wimpy's Olongapo

Just this morning, I met Mang Ben, yung mabait naming Criminal Investigator at kasama ko sa trabaho noon sa U.S. Facility.

Mang Ben:  Goddy, dumating si Bernie noong May.  Nag-get together kami sa Wimpy's sa Maysaysay.  Bakit hindi ka pumunta?

Goddy:  Sa Wimpy's?  Sa Magsaysay?  Nandun ako a!  Magkatabi tayo sa upuan.

Mang Ben:  A... oo nga pala.

Goddy:  Nagpe-Facebook ka ba?  

Mang Ben:  Oo naman!  Doon nga ako pinadalhan ng birthday greeting ng mga anak at apo ko noong nasa Amerika ako.  

Goddy:  Tingnan mo fb account niya.  Nag-post siya ng mga pictures.

Mang Ben:  Kaya lang, hindi ako nakakapag-Facebook ngayon.  Naiwanan ko'ng Facebook ko sa Amerika. 

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

MEET MS. CHARMAINE CLAMOR


Nearly a decade ago, Ms. Eve Clamor, the Administrative Officer of the Facility Security Department of the now defunct U.S. Facility in Subic Bay, and whom we fondly called “Mother”, arrived from the U.S. for a brief visit and dropped by our office.

A very warm and accommodating person, Mother gave me her address and telephone number and even offered her residence in Los Angeles to me in case I decide to avail of the Special Immigrant Program, a privilege given to Filipino civilian U.S. Government employees who have rendered 15 or more years of service outside of the U.S.

Mother was accompanied by her daughter who was then wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. Having graduated Valedictorian both from Columban College in Olongapo and from the school she attended in Los Angeles, I knew Mother’s daughter to be very intelligent. But I never realized she could sing amazingly well.

Her name is Charmaine Clamor, another Filipina who has made a name for herself and found a place in the international music scene.

Charmaine coined the term “Jazzipino”, a newly-developed musical genre that results from melding traditional Filipino melodies, languages, and instruments with the soul and swing of American jazz.

She has recorded several songs and released a number of albums. Her song “My Funny Brown Pinay” is one I appreciated much because it takes pride in the unique attributes of an indigenous Filipino woman who has flat nose, black hair, and dark skin. It conveys the message that the Filipino is not inferior to any race.

Charmaine has received awards and recognition for her extraordinary talent and has evidently joined the likes of Charice. Lea Salonga, and Vincent Bueno (of course!) in giving honor to her native country, the Philippines, and its people.

Among the awards Charmaine reportedly received were the 6th Annual Asian Heritage Award in the Performing Arts in July 2009 in San Diego, California, and the 12th Annual FILIPINAS Magazine Achievement Award in Entertainment, in October 2009. She was also honored with a special FAMAS Award for her "cultural trailblazing". 

Lately, I learned from her Facebook page that she was having concerts for the benefit of Filipinos who were victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

I embedded one of her video clips uploaded by
abegabe on YouTube. Watch her sing Lahat ng Araw, a Filipino kundiman, in the said video below.