Lavender & Coffee Stains

Saving Anilao's coral reefs
Updated 03:42am (Mla time) Oct 21, 2004
By Marlon Ramos
Inquirer News Service

Romy Trono, a scuba diver and dive instructor, has been in Batangas for almost 25 years. Yet until now he continues to be amazed at the rich marine life in the waters of Anilao and the Verde Passage in Mabini, Batangas.

But recent news on the sudden rise of illegal fishing activities in the area are troubling Trono and environmentalists like him.

He said the reported incidents of dynamite and cyanide fishing have destroyed a considerable part of the coral reefs in the Anilao and Verde Passage.

Trono, executive director of Conservation International (CI), has loved Anilao since his college days. He said its underwater scenery is stunning.

"This is a spectacular place for scuba diving. It's the most beautiful dive site nearest Manila. And if you want to see reef fishes and live corals, this is definitely the place for you," he said.

Trono cited a scientific article prepared last month by American fish taxonomist Kent Carpenter and scientist Victor Springer, which detailed the biodiversity of Verde Passage.

The two researchers said the sea channel that covers Batangas Bay, Anilao, Tingloy Island, Verde Island and the northern part of Mindoro has over 60 percent of the 2,983 species found in seawaters around the world.

"That study identified a part of Verde Passage, which is some 10 square kilometers, as the center of the global marine biodiversity," Trono said.

After learning about the illegal fishing, Trono immediately asked his friends from the Rotary Club of Makati-Salcedo to help safeguard the municipal waters of Mabini and the island-municipality of Tingloy, south of Batangas.


Meeting

Upon Trono's initiative, officers of the Rotary Club met with Tingloy Mayor Antonio Atienza and members of the local Bantay Dagat last Sept. 22 in Makati.

During the meeting, Atienza raised his concern about the renewed activities of operators of small and large commercial fishing vessels that are engaged in destructive fishing.

Atienza admitted that his town, a fifth-class municipality, could not afford to patrol the entire seawater surrounding Tingloy.

He said the incidence of illegal fishing in Mabini and Tingloy increased after a marine ecosystem preservation project of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in their area ended in July.

Atienza also disclosed that the two boats that Bantay Dagat members had been using in patrolling the locality needed repairs. The WWF used to fund the maintenance of the two boats, he said.

"That is where we thought our group could be of help," said Ed Dannug, Rotary Club of Makati-Salcedo president.

Dannug said the group approved the project as part of its centenary celebration.

The Rotary Club also forged an agreement with the local government of Tingloy for the boat maintenance.

On Oct. 2, the club handed over the money to Mercado de Guzman, head of the Bantay Dagat, to start the repair of the patrol vessels.


Mooring buoys

The Rotary Club has also financed the setting up of around 20 mooring buoys in the area since 2000 to prevent the destruction of coral reefs.

Last year, the group put up fish shelters to propagate corals around the area.

De Guzman, who is also a town councilor, said the repair of the boats was a shot in the arm in the operations of the Bantay Dagat.

In the past, fishermen engaged in dynamite fishing and other forms of destructive fishing could run away because local authorities had no boats to use in running after the culprits, he said.

Some operators also issued cellular phones to their crew.

"They could easily send text messages to their people and inform them that we were coming. This made our job even harder," De Guzman said.

He added that the meager P100-a-day allowance each of the Bantay Dagat members receives does not compensate for the risk they face in their job.

De Guzman blamed some local politicians who continue to tolerate illegal fishing. He said some barangay officials coddle operators of destructive fishing.

He said the residents had come to realize the ill effects of illegal fishing after nongovernment groups taught them to veer away from illegal fishing.

He, however, said the project was not that easy to sustain. He said they needed P26,000 to cover monthly expenses.

"We need help from other groups to keep the project going. We are now actually negotiating for a sisterhood agreement with Rotary Clubs from Japan and Taiwan. We could source funds from them and [use the money] to expand more into community service," he said.

Dannug said they also intended to build an ice plant where fishermen could store extra fish, and introduce cottage industries and other livelihood activities to residents as part of their coastal resource management program.

But for Trono, the enforcement of environmental laws is far more important than monitoring.

Those who would like to help may visit the Rotary Club, 7th floor, Erechem Building, Salcedo corner Rufino Streets, Makati City or contact Vanessa at 8107977 or Ed Dannug at 8966247.

I left home kinda late today but surprisingly, I didn’t even care. As you know, I have been trying to challenge myself in gaining discipline and regaining my self-control. I started this last week and to be honest, I’m faring ok. A mere two weeks is not enough to calibrate my improvement but darn, I’m really proud of myself. Too shallow but what the heck. Whatever I am after, I mean the ways and strats I am trying to do is something I do not want to divulge in the open. As I said two weeks is not enough. Maybe a month will count but I still have to find a way to struggle.

Sometimes, I even think if I am doing everything all at the same time, which in all cases, prove to be worthless (I mean the efforts and the expectations). But no. I don’t think so. I am applying everything but not as downright as they should be. As a cliché would put it: “Slowly but surely.”

Anyway, as I mentioned a while ago, I was supposed to be late but the Heavens forbid me. When I got to the fx station, I found that I was the last passenger to a waiting cab ready to depart. Cool! It has always been like this. Thinking about it, I wanted to smack my head for being mean before. You see, I was born with a hot head. I hate waiting for more than 30 minutes when in fact I was supposed to wait for 15 minutes only. I do not really want to elaborate about this particular thing because the rational part of me will always blurt out with a “why-don’t-you-take-a-taxi-you-bitch” retort. Hehehe.

This rational part of me is indeed very helpful. Not that I am a nut case but most of the time, it reminds me of what things must be and supposed to be. When emotions tend to take over my sanity, the reason in me will take form of a whisper and voice out that these how things must be. More often than not, it works. But sometimes, things don’t work as they are. My mind knows that that thing is wrong and that it understands what’s rational. But because I let my emotions reign free over me, I just know and accept that things will get screwed up. I believe that as human beings, we are responsible for everything. But I also believe that no matter how much we try to make things as they are, there will come a time that our invulnerable, weak self will surface above our tougher exterior.

So, I found myself sitting a little too uncomfortable in the rear side of the fx cab. I pulled out my newly bought book by David Baldacci entitled Wish You Well. As usual, I read the rundown tale at the back cover of the book. Afterwards, I flipped it off and read every page beginning from the reviews, acknowledgement, copyright, etc. I was not able to really start reading the first chapter because I preferred to observe the sights around me. As always, it was fun watching the people go about their ways in the morning. Usually, I chose to watch people’s movement from the US Embassy to Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard.

Back to the book, I finished skimming through the Author’s Note page. Written by Baldacci, he narrated about how fictional the book is. Despite that, he admitted how real the experiences of the characters were. After all, he dedicated that book to his mother. It talked about the fascinating encounters in life of her mother, of her youth and growing years in her hometown in Virginia. As I was finishing Baldacci’s note, I remembered my mother. When I was younger, she discovered my love for writing even abou the mundane stuff. She expressed her enthusiasm of me writing her biography. Contemplating about this, I had serious doubts. Not that I do not believe that I am a good writer (because I am really not, I just love to write), it is just that pursuing this request of Mamu takes a lot of time to begin with. Simply, I cannot think how am I gonna go about this. I was even thinking of hiring someone to do this for her. But I know in my heart that mom will appreciate it more if I am the one to accomplish this.

One may think how egotistical this request is. I mean, writing about one’s biography. But you see, my mom has a lot to tell. I was thinking about this, too. I am damn sure that when I interview my mom about her childhood, how her life was when she was younger, buckets of sad tears will flow down from her face. My mom experienced a hard life. For me, it was quite unimaginable. She grew up as an orphan when she reached nine years old and had to live her life like a ball, living with one relative to another to survive this life. She strived harder to go to school and earning her degree. To study while working or to work while studying is such an immense task for a person living alone. In between the years that she was growing up with this kind of life is already an unthinkable thought.

This book will surely touch me. Baldacci mentioned that it was rather ironic that he, as a writer, is always in search of a worthy story material and yet, he finds a wealth of those in his own family backyard. I thought about that and it made me realize something not entirely related to writing. It was the thought that I really never spend more time with Mamu. I never get to know more about her good side. Yes, I may knew about some irritating things about her, her fears and worries which I always regard as baseless, but it struck me real that what I knew about her was not really enough and that there are things far more important than the obvious.

The University of the Philippines-Manila Alumni Association will hold its "Balik Tanaw sa Patuloy na Kagalingan" grand reunion on October 22 at 6pm at the Manila Hotel onboard the M/S Philippines Floating Restaurant, Rizal Park, Manila.

This year's grand reunion, hosted by the UP College of Dentistry Alumni Association, covers alumni from the UP Colleges of Allied Medical Professions, Arts and Sciences, Pharmacy, Public Health, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, the National Teacher Training Center for the Health Profession and the UP-PGH Medical Health Center.

Health Secretary Dr. Manuel Dayrit is the guest speaker at the homecoming which promises to deliver a night of reminiscing, dancing, singing, rebonding and fun.

For information, call 302-6360. Look for Dr. Tristan Ramos, UPCD College Secretary.

Info Source: Manila Bulletin

Oh yes! I am 10 minutes early today. I know it is not much but you see, I am always late. Actually, I started last week and so far, it was only last Friday that I arrived late.

I had already announced at home that the bathroom must be free by 6:45 in the morning. Unfortunately, my younger sister beat me to it. I wanted to get mad with her but I decided to control that. It was just a minor thing and I must really not fret too much on trivial things. So, I let go.

Leaving the house a little earlier than usual also helps because I can line up earlier for a ride to Ayala. There will be less people and the traffic flow will not be so congested.

I have to show back at work that they can still depend on me when it comes to being punctual. After all, shifting back to my previous work will require me to do so. I better start now before this month ends. Anyway, I still have 4 more days to challenge myself again.

----------

Lunes na Lunes, maloloka ko dito sa ofiz. Paano ba naman kasi may ginawa akong draft contract para sa isang trabaho ko. Pina-check ko last Friday sa amo ko. Anak ng tipaklong! Akalain mo ba naman na kinorek pa ng mokong ang English ko! Heto ngayon at binabasa ko. The nerve.

Siya kaya itong dayuhan sa Pinas na daig pa ang barok kung mag-English. Ang nakakaloka kamo, ganon silang lahat dito sa ofiz. Ang kakapal ng mukha, hindi naman tama iyung English. Hindi man lang magtanong kung ayos ba iyung pagmamagaling nila, kung nasa lugar ba? Hay naku.

Kung hindi nga lang ang mukha ko ang mapapahiya kapag nalaman na dito ako nagtatrabaho sa kumpanyang ito, matagal ko nang hindi pinakialaman ang karunungan nila na hilig nilang ipangalandakan sa madlang pipol.

Tapos ang tamad-tamad pang magbasa. Saan ko daw ba kinuha iyung background nung study? Halatang-halata naman na summarized na iyon nung kopya na binigay niya na background of the study. Anong gusto niya kopyahin ko lahat? Anong klaseng trabaho iyon? Hindi talaga nagbabasa. Kaya nabubuwisit si Jill sa iyo eh. Tamad! Tamad!

Isa pa itong mayabang na ito. Bespreyn daw ni mokong 1 (amo ko) si mokong 2 (amo ni Jill). Hehehe. Isa pang tamad iyon at di hamak na mas mayabang kay mokong 1. Sa araw araw na ginawa ng Diyos, wala iyan ginawa dito sa general office kung hindi makipag-tsismisan dun sa isang amo naming na masipag at subsob sa trabaho. Lagi ganyan yan. Minsan nga pag bumukas na iyung pintuan tapos siya ang papasok, gusto ko tuloy sigawan ng: “Hoy, busy mga tao dito. Tsupee! Balik dun sa opisina mo sa kabila. Masyado pang maaga para mang-istorbo ka!” Hehehe. Ang bad ko no.

Nami-miss ko tuloy iyung mga previous set ng mga amo dito. Masisipag, matatalino, magagaling pa. Nakakatuwa na pantayan ang dedication nila sa trabaho. Hindi tulad ngayon. Puro pang-bokya at hangin ang mapupuna mo dito.

Gusto ko kumanta...Nasan na? Nandyan ka pa ba? (me thinks: may kanta nga bang ganito?)

----------

I am looking forward to lunch time today. Ask me why?

I will be taking a nap starting from 12 noon to 1:30 in the afternoon (nap? Hehehe). Good thing that I took my breakfast today. Well, my eyes are kinda droopy and my body is aching. Credit that to my insomnia and my first practice in playing badminton yesterday. I think I am getting old already. Hahay.

I have been secretly following the life of this funny girl named Chona for a month and a half. Surprisingly, she bid the blogger world goodbye.

Ei, Chona! Did you know that you've been practically part of my morning ritual here at the office? Your readers will surely miss you.

I miss school and I missed it all the more last night. Maybe because I was reading something and it mentioned my alma mater.

I was actually reading Joey Silayan's Orange novel.

Well, I miss Oblation as well. As Anna had said: "Only simple minds see a naked statue."

Chip and Kim: Real Winners
Updated 09:44pm (Mla time) Oct 05, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service

ANY day now, Season 6 of "The Amazing Race," which bested older and better-rating "reality" shows in the last Emmy Awards, will open with a whole new set of contestants, a whole new itinerary and new challenges.

Producers, though, are keeping mum about any possible innovations they might introduce, like the infamous "Yield" that made the final episodes of "AR5" so exciting. There still isn't any word, either about the destinations the teams might be visiting. If you will recall, Filipinos followed Season 5 with feverish devotion because the Philippines was included in the itinerary, and as it turned out, the episodes shot in Manila, Cavite, Laguna and Lagen Island in El Nido, Palawan were some of the most intense and tension-filled during the entire season.

As everyone who followed the last season--as well as those who merely followed the reviews--must know by now, the winners were Chip and Kim, a married couple who live in California with their three children. Jovial and helpful, and ever-appreciative of the sights and the people they encountered in their race around the world, these "married parents" topped the on-line popularity polls among viewers with 88 percent of the votes. That they ended up beating the super-competitive team of Colin and Christie must surely have gladdened the hearts of many viewers!



Yesterday, courtesy of ABS-CBN Studio 23 (thank you, Amy Mosura!) and Buenavista Television in the US, I got a chance to briefly interview Chip and Kim by phone. Though the connection was spotty at times, the couple's high spirits and positive vibes came through strongly.

* * *

"WE MUST definitely return to the Philippines!" Chip boomed when I asked him his impressions of the country. "The people are so friendly, and El Nido is the most beautiful island we have ever seen." He added that he and Kim had been to many beach destinations, even before they joined Amazing Race, but none was as enjoyable and "extremely beautiful" as Lagen Island.

Chip also expressed his "appreciation" of the drivers in Manila, noting that while "I had never been scared of dying" during the entire race, "the taxi and jeep drivers of Manila were certainly energetic," and whizzing through the city's chaotic streets was itself an experience.

While Kim knew that the petite young woman who welcomed them at the Coconut Palace was Luli Macapagal Arroyo, the President's daughter, Chip confessed that "I never found out who she was until we were already back home. I'm upset that I wasn't told who she was."

"You see," Chip explained, "we agreed that I would do all the physical challenges so that Kim could do the thinking, the strategizing and relating to the other teams and production staff. I must confess that I wasn't even aware of what was happening half the time."

Only now, Chip and Kim admit, are they aware that, outside the US, "Amazing Race" rates highest in Canada, New Zealand/Australia and the Philippines. They expressed appreciation to their Filipino fans.

* * *

DURING the penultimate episode, at the Malaguena jeepney factory in Cavite, Chip and Kim brought the level of competition up a notch when they used the "Yield" on Colin and Christie, who up till then had dominated the race and arrived first at practically every pit stop. The two Texans, who had been dating for a year when they joined the race, were certainly vocal about feeling "betrayed" by Chip and Kim.

"There's still a certain level of animosity" between them and the Texans, admits Kim. "They were just so intense about the whole thing. From the beginning, Chip and I agreed that we were just going to enjoy ourselves and embark on this adventure, and winning was just going to be the gravy. But Colin and Christie were so focused on the prize money that when they lost, they felt they had ended up with nothing."

Asked who their favorite competitive team was, Kim replied, "Oh, no doubt about it, Marshall and Lance. We always got along very well and tried to help each other as much as we could." The brothers, who got eliminated midway, own a pizza shop in Dallas.

Chip, 46, and Kim, 44, are the oldest participants to win the Amazing Race. "We don't feel old at all," protests Chip, "in fact we feel very young." Though they concede the other teams used their youth and fitness to put themselves ahead in the game, Chip says, "We didn't feel handicapped by our age at all. We decided to play a mental game, to outwit the others and plan better." Not once did they ever feel like losing, they say, "although there were times early in the race when we made pretty stupid mistakes."

* * *

AS THEY promised soon after reaching the finish line, Chip and Kim have "tithed" part of their prize money to their church, the Jubilee South Port. But aside from "Chip having to have his toys for the big boys, like an iPod and a laptop," says Kim, they have decided to set aside the larger part of their $1-million prize money.

Married for over 25 years now, Chip, who owns an Internet company, and Kim, who owns her own information technology recruitment firm, have three children: Elon, 23, Phillip III, 19 and Kristen, 17. Told they're soon to be "empty nesters," Chip joked that he didn't mind this at all. "Don't get me wrong, they're great kids, but we won't stop them if they want to strike off on their own and get on with their own lives."

Doubtless, as they showed throughout the race, Chip and Kim will weather this stage in their life with humor, grace and optimism, proving that they're real winners, not just in a race around the world, competing against 10 other teams, but also in the race of life.

©2004 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Do you want to win an overnight stay at the Discovery Suites? If you do, kindly describe what type of pillow you are at Herword's What Type of Pillow Are You Contest?

Hahay. Grabe po yung earthquake na yun. I was lying in our sofa in the living room, trying to focus reading this boring book. I thought I just got dizzy. I closed my eyes for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, I saw the terrace gates moving like it was being pushed from the outside and I looked at the opposite corner of the house and I saw the door chimes moving incessantly. Their movements were out of the ordinary and when I got up, I realized that it was an earthquake. My goodness! I knew it only took seconds but as those seconds ticked by, the movement of the quake grew stronger. My brother who was in the 3rd floor reviewing for his board exam was rushing down the stairs calling my mom. My brother and I were pretty worried because her blood level shoots up when she gets nervous or panicky. I told my brother to wake up my sister who was in the second floor. My mom was still up. She was in the kitchen doing something and she was already complaining she felt dizzy. We told her to calm down and I snatched the keys in my bags to unlock the main door at the ground floor. I know it was stupid but I really wanted all of us out of the house. Panic, I guess.

When my brother got out, he said there were a lot of people in the streets. Honestly, I really got scared. It reminded me of the last devastating earthquake I experienced in my entire life. It was the July 16, 1991. It was already class dismissal and I was running carefree around the school grounds while waiting for my siblings to show up. Then the earth shook and I was left standing there, rooted on my spot while parents snatching their kids who were already crying due to fright. All I was thinking was where were my siblings. Everyone was seeking for cover and I did not care. All I know was that I was praying harder than I could ever imagine and hoping that the earth would stop shaking. Finally, I saw my brother and my sister. I held them tight as we went out of the school. That time, the earth stopped and everything stood still. For a moment, it did. But there were aftershocks.

I still feel the goose bumps everytime I remember that fateful day. Still deeply etched in my memory were the vivid snapshots of sheer fright, mumbled cries of helplessness, endless screams. I thanked God for delivering me, my family and the rest of the people out there to safety. We were alive.

My father used to kid me about entering PMA right after high school graduation. I was then an active cadette officer in high school. Hmm. That time, I was considering it but I wanted to make it big. I was more inclined to take Physical Therapy or pursue journalism. Also, I somehow doubt if I would survive the rigours of the training.

I also recall a female co-officer who seemed so outrightly focused in doing her duties. My! She proudly told me she would be joining PMA. Guess what? She did not and up to now, acts like she is an officer figure. With her attitude in dealing with other people, she surely impressed me as a loser.

But as far as I know, females weren't then accepted at the military institution which was solely a haven of the stronger species.

TOP 10 PMA EXAM PASSERS NAMED
Sun-Star Baguio/Sunday, October 10, 2004
By Jane Cadalig

PHILIPPINE Military Academy Supt. Cristolito Balaoing said a minimal 5.08
percent of the original applicants who took the PMA entrance examinations
were able to make it for the next physical and medical assessments of
cadet applicants.

Balaoing said that out of the 9,511 examinees, only 483 qualified to
undergo the next level of the cadet selection. Among the qualifiers are 80
females and 403 males. The entrance examination was conducted last
September 6.

He explained that the entrance examination was merely the first in a
series of tests that a PMA applicant must pass to earn his or appointment
as a cadet. "(The applicant) must also undergo and pass a rigid physical
and medical examination, which includes neuro-psychiatric test and a
series of aptitude for the service interviews."

The yearly examinations cover subjects in algebra and geometry, grammar,
composition, reading and comprehension and special PMA aptitude.

"This is the third year that PMA required applicants to have a high school
general average of at least 80 percent or higher. The implementation of
this grade requirement for cadet-applicants aims to ensure that they will
be able to hurdle the tough academic curriculum at PMA," explained
Balaoing.

Topping the successful qualifiers is 18 years old Siegfred Alan Baluyot
from Paranaque City. Ranking second and third are Fasl Goldanne Buenaflor
from Cotabato City and Edward Espiritu from Quezon City, respectively.

Others in the top 10 (4th to 10th) include Glan Carlo Melad from Cainta,
Rizal; Justin Benigno Aquino from Quezon City; Cherry Bañez of Baguio
City; Conrad Smith Lacsina from Tarlac, City; Jesse Lance Reyes and Mark
Edison De Vera both from Makati City; and Lawrence Bello from Quezon City.


The first batch composed of 80 passers would be reporting to the Armed
Forces of the Philippines Medical Center for the physical and medical
examinations starting on the first week of November. Results are to be
submitted to the AFP chief of staff then to the secretary of National
Defense towards the end of February.

Names of those recommended would be forwarded to the President, who signs
the appointments of cadets, which will compose class 2008.

PMA information officer Alvin Lopez also explained that as full-time
government scholars, applicants are given free board and lodging while
undergoing the medical and physical tests.

"Upon admission to the academy in April 1, cadets enjoy a four-year
complete and quality education no other college can offer. They receive
pay and allowances while studying. They are also guaranteed of a job after
graduation for which they are commissioned to the branch of service of
their choice as second lieutenants or ensigns in the Phil. Army, Navy, or
Air Force of the AFP," Lopez added.

Aside from treating myself to splurging for clothes as a reward for toiling my ass too hard, I also credit myself to wanton shopping for books. I may forego an already 2 months' promise of a spa treatment or cancel a planned dinner schdule with a long, lost friend but I will never let opportunity pass me by when it comes to a much-coveted book.

Who wouldn't? They take me to places unknown to me; they remind me of experiences I would love to sense again. They broaden my perspective and debate with my mind. They render me sleepless at night when everybody else snores the darkness away. They make me smile, remove my boredom, ease my anger and most of all, drive me to addiction.

But this month, I have to try to stay away from my all-time favorite sanctuary in the world - the bookstores. I have to face my financial priorities first -- my 2 months' delayed payment of my credit card bills, my 4 months' long overdue mobile phone charges, my brother's engineering board examination fee, household expenses like the landline phone bills and the electricity bills and even the monthly groceries.

Tough and rough times for me.

Good thing I got a book, Life of Pi from Dex. =)

I just learned that the blood from a baby's umbilical cord has effectively treated a number of genetic diseases that affects the blood and immune system, cancer and leukemia.

The stem cells from the blood of an umbilical cord will remain useful for as long as 21 years if stored in deep freeze.

Come to think of it, if there is a blood bank for blood, sperm bank for sperms, there is also a stem cell bank for storing cord blood.

Ain’t that cool?

I couldn't help but cry while I read through this forwarded message. It was so touching that I was sniffling till the last word of this article. It reminded me of the small and big things that my younger brother and sister have done and still doing for me. Most of the time, I ignore them. I cried because I felt guilty for being unappreciative. I never get to spend quality time with them and it was very rare that I ever find the time to be with them. I love my brother and sister. I know that I can depend on them even if the entire world has deserted me. So to people droppin' by my blog right now, make sure you send your love to your siblings.

Anything For My Sister

I cried for my brother 6 times.
I was born in a secluded village of a mountain.
Days by days my parents plowed the yellow dry soil
with their backs facing the sky.

I have a younger brother, 3 years younger than me.
Once, to buy a handkerchief which all girls around me
seemed to have, I stole 50 cents from my father's drawer.
Father known about it right away.

He made my younger brother and me kneeled against the
wall, with a bamboo stick in his hand.

"Who stole the money?" he asked.

I was stunned, too afraid to talk.
Father didn't hear any of us admit, so he said,
"Fine, if nobody wants to
admit, you two should be beaten!"

He lifted up the bamboo stick.

Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and
said," Dad, I was the one who did it!"

The long stick smacked on my brother's back
repeatedly.

Father was so angry that he kept on whipped my brother
until he lost his breath.

After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded
my brother, "You have learnt to steal from your
own house now, what other embarrassing things you
will do in the future?? You should be beaten to death!
You shameless thief!"

That night, mother and I hugged my brother. His body
full of injuries, but he didn't shed a single tear.

In the middle of the night, all of sudden I cried out
loudly.

My brother covered my mouth with his little hand
and said, " Sis, now don't cry anymore. Everything
has happened."

I still hate myself for didn't have enough courage to
admit what I had done.

Years gone by, but the incident still looked like it
just happened yesterday.

I will never forget my brother's expression when
he protected me.

That year, my brother was 8 years old; I was 11
years old.

When my brother was in his last year of his lower
secondary school, he was accepted in an upper
secondary school in the central. At the same
time, I was accepted into a province's university.

That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking,
packet by packet.

I could hear him said, "Both our children have
good results? very good results?"

Mother wiped off her tears and sighed," What is
the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?"

At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in
front of father and said,"Dad, I don't want to continue
my study anymore, I have read enough books."

Father swung his hand and slapped brother on his
face.

"Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if
it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I
will send you two to school until you both finish
your study!"

And then, he started to knock on every house in
the village to borrow money.

I stuck out my hand as soft as I can to my
brother's swollen face, and said, "A boy has to continue
his study; If not, he will not be able to leave this
depths of poverty."

Me, on the other hand, had decided not to further
my study to university.

Who knows on the next day, before dawn, my
brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out
clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to the side of my
bed and left a note on my pillow;
"Sis, get into an university is not easy. I will
go find a job and send money to you."

I held the note while sitting on my bed, and
cried until I lost my voice.

That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20
years old. With the money father borrowed from the
whole village, and money my brother earned from
carrying cement on his back at construction
site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in
the university.

One day, I was studying in my room, when my
roommate came in and told me,"There's a villager wait for
you outside!"

Why is there a villager looking for me? I walked
out, and saw my brother from afar, His whole body is
dirty, covered by dust, cement and sands. I asked him,
"Why don't you tell my roommate that you are my
brother?"

He replied with a smile," Look at my appearance.
What will they think if they know that I am your
brother? Don't they laugh at you?"

I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I
swept away dusts from my brother's body. And said with
a lump in my throat, " I don't care of what people
say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance
is?"

From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair
clip. He wore it on me, and said, "I saw all the girls in
town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have
one."

I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my
brother into my arms and cried and cried.

That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23
years old.

The first time I brought my boyfriend home, the
broken window had been repaired.And it looked so clean
inside the house.

After, my boyfriend went home, I danced like a
small girl in front of my mother, "Mom, you don't have
to spend so many time cleaning the house!" But she
said with a smile," It was your brother who went home
early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on
his hand? He was injured while replacing the window."
I went into my brother's small bedroom. Looking
at his thin face, I felt like there are hundreds of
needle pricked in my heart.

I put some ointment on his wound and bandaged it,
"Does it hurt? " I asked him.

"No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when I was
working in the construction site, stones falling on my feet
all the time. Even that could not stop me from
working and?"

In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I
turned my back on him and tears rolling down my face.

That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26
years old.

After I got married, I lived in the city. Lots of
time my husband invited my parents to come and live
with us, but they didn't want.

They said, once they left the village,they didn't
know what to do.

My brother also didn't agree, he said, "Sis, you
just taking care of your parents-in-law. I will take
care of mom and dad here."

My husband became the director of his factory. We
wanted my brother to get the job as the manager
in the department of maintenance. But my brother
rejected the offer. He insisted on starting to work as a
reparation worker.

One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder
repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and
was sent to the hospital.

My husband and I visited him. Looked at the white
gypsum on his leg, I grumbled,"Why did you reject
to be a manager? Manager will not do something
dangerous like this. Look at you now, such a serious
injury. Why you didn't want to listen to us?"

With a serious expression on his face, he
defended on his decision, "Think of brother-in-law? he just
became the director, and I almost uneducated. If I
became the manager, what kind of rumors will fly around?"

My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then
I said, "But you lack in education also because of
me!" "Why talking about the past?" My brother held my
hand.

That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years
old. My brother was 30 years old when he married a
farmer girl from the village.
In his wedding reception, the master of
ceremonies asked him, "Who is the one you respect and love
the most?"

Without thinking, he answered," My sister." He
continued by telling a story I could not even
remember.

"When I was in primary school, the school was in
different village. Everyday, my sister and I walked for
2 hours to go school and go home. One day, I lost
one of my pair of gloves. My sister gave me one of
hers. She only wore one glove and walked for so far.
When we got home, her hand was so trembled because of the
weather that was so cold that she could not even
hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore
that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister
and be good to her."

Applause filled up the room. All guests turned
their attentions to me.

Words were so hard to come out from my mouth, "In
my whole life, the one I would like to thank the
most is my brother," And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd,
tears rolling down my face again.

Love and care for the one you love every single
days of your life. You may think what you did is just
a small deed, but to that someone,
it may mean a lot.

Finally after 35 years, the very 1st The North Face store is now open in the Philippines.

It is located at the Ground Level of Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City.

To TNF addicts (hehehe! Calling Rommel!), you can now see & feel, buy & own the latest gears, apparels and equipments for your outdoor activities.