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Showing posts from 2011

UST human cross now Guinness World Records’ largest

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It’s now official!  Guinness World Records has certified that indeed, the human cross formed by the Thomasian community at the the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011, is the largest ever formed in the world. The letter from Guinness, dated August 8, 2011 and addressed to the UST Office of Public Affairs (OPA) says: “We are pleased to confirm that you have successfully set the new Guinness World Records title for ‘Largest Human Cross’.  Guinness World Records congratulates you on your achievement.  Enclosed is your official Guinness World Records certificate confirming your title.  Details of your achievement have been entered into our Records Database.”      The Guinness World Records Certificate bearing the GWR seal was received by the UST-OPA on August 10, 2011, states: “The largest human cross was achieved by 13,266 participants at an event organised by the University of Santo Tomas (Philippines) in Manila,

Take 3: Mideo, TBoy, Miriam

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS What would you say if you were asked for comment on these occasions? Last July 23, I got three emails from friends.  One reacted to a TV coverage of an art exhibit at the CCP where the artist reportedly “disfigured the image of Christ… with obscenities”.  Another suggested that the exhibit be stopped.  The third one enclosed the video coverage of the contentious exhibit.  Coming on the heels of the media-bloated Pajero-bishops brouhaha, this CCP thing understandably infuriated many devout Catholics like my friends who were rallying others to denounce the Church-bashers.  I emailed them my take on it:  “I'd leave it to others to ‘do something about it’. As far as I see it, this particular piece is not art ; it is graffiti .  Art elevates the soul; graffiti regurgitates all the dirt the artist has swallowed from his environment. Based on what the artist Mideo Cruz says in the TV interview, it seems his purpose for creating that piece is NOT to ele

One woman's story, as told to...

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Following is the story of a public school teacher who went with friends to the Batasan to give moral support to the sponsors of the RH Bill.  Here’s her account, as told to this writer:  “I am a public school teacher. I grew an interest in the RH Bill because of my friends who work in a Non Government Office (NGO) and are in favor of the bill’s passing.  Ever since I learned that we women would have at last a law dedicated to our health and empowerment, I followed the developments in the news.  I watched ‘Harapan’ and ‘Grand Debate’ on television.  I rooted for the pro-RH side, convinced beyond doubt that I would be among the first to benefit from the RH Bill if passed.  I voted online for the bill’s passing, and although I wondered why the anti-RH gathered more votes,  I thought people voted against the bill because they did not know what I and my friends knew; or maybe they were nuns and society women who do not experience the same problems we lower class women do. “I am still of

Witnessing, Pacquiao Style

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Note: the following article came out in the CBCP Monitor, Feb. 10, 2005. I’m reprinting it here for those who would want to know what makes the Pinoy champ tick. The photos, however, are being published for the first time. That's me with Manny, while in the other photo I'm wearing the robe and holding up the shorts Pacman was to wear for the fight. This was taken at shop of Davao couturier who made the outfit, Boy Guinoo, beside me.—TRT I'm not a boxing fan. I don't relish fights—cock fights, dog fights, horse fights, salagubang fights—least of all people fights. So I'm not into boxing, really. But it's not everyday one gets the chance to shake hands with a boxer—a world champion at that—who makes the sign of the cross and kisses the rosary before entering the boxing ring. In fact, his posters depict him with arms raised in victory, and proudly wearing a rosary around his neck—so proudly that I'd wish certain priests would do the same with their R

Reading between the lies

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An open letter to my Congressman Dear Congressman: you had for so long given us the impression that you were against the RH Bill until one day when you were identified in the papers as one of its supporters. We were shocked; we could hardly believe someone we had trusted and respected could actually espouse what this RH Bill stands for. Sir, I have tried several times to get through to your office to express concerns aired by some of your constituents, mostly women. I say “some” because we cannot show you a million signatures opposing your stand. We are ordinary mothers, grandmothers, maiden aunts, sisters, professionals and plain housewives who only want the best for our families. And we voted for you. We had simply wanted your ear for a few minutes, but we have not been fortunate, so please understand why we are instead writing this open letter to you. We have a fair knowledg e of what the RH Bill is about but none of us is a lawyer, a philosopher, a politician or a theologian, so pl

Is truth red or white?

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When I was about to finish high school, one of the courses I wanted to take up at college was Law. Being young, I wanted to be many things—doctor, nurse, painter, ballet dancer, writer, and lawyer. To all of those I felt I wanted to become, my father had objections, but the strongest was against Law. He would say, “Yang mga abugado, magaling magsinungaling ang mga iyan! Ang puti, ginagawang pula, at ang pula, ginagawang puti!” (Lawyers are good at telling lies. They make