THE WRITE CONNECTION
Sarah Palin and Meghan McCain: Opposite Faces of the Republican Coin
September 24, 2010
Sarah Palin’s star power soared incredibly to unparalleled heights not long after President Barack Obama was installed into office in 2009. It was as if she had been there, lurking briefly in the shadows of Alaska’s enclaves, waiting for that opportune time to resurface and claim her spot in big time political arena, far and away from Wasilla where her public life began as member of the Wasilla City Council and in Fairbanks where it supposedly ended having resigned her position as governor of Alaska 17 months before her term expired. Continue reading
A Glorious Day!
September 18, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010 wasn’t just another Labor Day weekend for the Tubalinals in Chicago. It was, after all, the wedding of our only daughter, Madelene Grace, the very first and a much awaited wedding event in our family.
I hope you can forgive us for this all-out publicity. A colored publicity spread and a featured bride in “This Week’s MegaScene” wouldn’t suffice. So, there was another full page photo story on page 16 and this, my column, occupying the entire page.
I admit; I went a bit overboard. But you know what? I would have devoted half the pages of this MegaScene issue if I had my way… No kidding.
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Integrity Vs Artistic License
July 9, 2010
When does artistic freedom actually trample on the hallowed ground of truth? Every now and then this question about how much artistic license a journalist can practice without compromising the integrity
of his or her piece comes up. It is probably a challenge now more than it has been decades ago when Adobe Photoshop didn’t exist. Having this powerful tool within easy reach of a photo journalist or an editor makes it even harder for anyone in the publication industry to resist the temptation of “doctoring” a photo for a stronger impact or simply for aesthetic and dramatic effect.
Such was the debate on the recently released cover of “The Economist” featuring President Obama in a pensive, solitary state, looking down on the oily shore of the Gulf of Mexico with the oil spill clean up equipment looming albeit eerily on the background. From an artist’s perspective, it is a picture perfect cover that conjures up images of the dreadful lifelong environmental damage of the oil spill and the weight of the world that is upon this President. Brilliant and powerful! The editor has picked a cover that speaks volumes of thoughts and emotions to The Economist readers.
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Between Faith and Reason
July 2, 2010
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. Saint Augustine Something happened at our church two or three Sundays ago. Having found out from Sis. Nini’s report that our collection for the raffle, our first fundraising this year for our building, was barely enough for the promised prizes, I snapped. I requested Pastor Armand to yield me no more than 5 minutes to speak to our congregation. While at the pulpit, I was filled with frustration and my emotion got the better of me. I felt betrayed by the very leaders with whom I work on other projects they chair. Blasting the people for not doing their share of work or giving it enough time and attention I demanded them to sell those tickets given to them or buy them themselves. After our service, I learned from people’s feedbacks or by directly talking to some how they felt about my action. Understandably, there was a mixed reaction. Continue reading
Hoisting the Philippines from its Sinkhole. Aquino’s Herculean Task Begins
June 25, 2010
“Being world class doesn’t mean going international and showing our best out there. Being world-class is passion and commitment to our profession. Being world-class is giving our best to our country and our people. For teachers, being world-class starts right inside the classroom.” 1 — Dr. Josette Biyo
Poised to help and lend support to the newly elected Philippine President, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the almost 170 Filipino Americans originally belonging to US Pinoys 4 Noy- Mar led by Attty. Loida Nicolas Lewis, chartered a plane to attend their President’s inauguration on June 30. Moved by the initial success of their efforts to elect the president they hope can and will do what is best for their beloved country of birth, the group continued on its proactive mission to get involved in this new administration. Continue reading
Father’s Day Reminiscences
June 18, 2010
It’s not that I have not sung enough public praises for this man, the father of my three children, but that I don’t think he has really seen or truly understood what is etched deep down in my heart. For occasionally, in our rare moments of disagreements, he would tell me how insensitive I was to his feelings. How I had hurt him with my jokes. And just how much he resented me for my ‘cruel’ words.
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Reconciliation
May 27, 2010
I wish I could write about this topic in the context of the controversial health care reform but now is not the time. Though it’s a word that sends a lot of smoke to people watching what’s going on in Washington these days, I’ll take my chance at waiting till the smoke clears up and the solution to health care reform is more predictable and firm and there- fore, no longer vulnerable to political maneuverings.
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