klaireyapreyes.blogspot.com

The Ateneo Blue Eagles wearing their BLUE CREW PopArt shirts!

Please visit:
BLUECREWPINAS.multiply.com

The people of my generation are soft. We have it so easy, and we take it all for granted. I'm worried about Cara (and all my "children-to-be" *wink, wink*), I wonder how people of their generation will be. I have learned so much from my grandparents. I hold deep respect and admiration for the lives they led.

Lolo Manoling was very strict and square—understandably so because he was a military man and an aristocrat—he lived on rules. He was a gorgeous man— tall and mestizo with the finest facial features and beautiful brooding eyes —his presence commanded immediate respect, Papa felt very small in his presence. Extremely quiet but concise, a little too frank at times.

Lola Puring was the exact opposite. Rules were almost of no importance to her, hers was a life of faith and prayer. Lola was a teacher, thus, she had a great deal of patience and tried to see the beauty in everything, that being so, she was never in a foul mood. She was an easy touch but not an easy meat as she was a very intelligent woman. She was only about 5 feet 5 inches tall at the most but looked much much taller because of the way she carried herself. She did not care for luxury yet she looked very expensive and classy. She took everything with a grain of salt and a whole bunch of prayer, she knew that God always had a way of making things fall into place.

I guess it's safe to say that they were a perfect match. Lolo, cold and hard. Lola, warm and tender. Lolo believed that "fair is fair", Lola was kind to a fault. They taught each other what each other had to learn. Together, they made the perfect couple and raised the perfect family. Lolo and Lola were totally different characters, both were very good people but the goodness manifested in very different ways. The common denominator was that amidst all the adversity of their time they were both strong enough to keep their honesty and integrity. They passed away a few years before I got married and had Cara. How I wish Cara had met them.
To my dearest Lolo and Lola, Happy Birthday.

The National Artist title is given by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation. It is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

Part of 2009's roster of National Artists is world-renowned fashion designer Jose 'Pitoy' Moreno. The person who put the Philippines on the fashion map of the world. Philippine fabrics like the jusi, the pina, and the lepanto were made known to the world by Pitoy. His dresses aren't only beautiful to look at, they are also of exquisite workmanship.

Some people think somebody deserves receiving the National Artist title more than Pitoy Moreno. Some say the honor was granted as a "political favor". For me, I think it was simply giving the award to someone who truly fit the bill — he is in some ways nationalistic, and in every way artistic.