Biking for life
I do not know of anybody who bikes for death. Biking, like any other sport or activity that requires physical exertion always involves somebody who, in varying degrees, has to be conscious of life, of their life, of the workings of their muscles, tendons, sinews and will at that moment of engagement with that activity.
But there are those who when they bike, they do so, not only for their own lives, but for the lives of others. They are the ones for whom biking for life goes beyond its slogan-content into its life-affirming context.
I had heard from friends that last year the Cancer Warriors led by James Auste the founding-president of the foundation with the same name, were in town. I don't know what I was doing or where I was then that I failed to join the ride. This year, I vowed, I will not miss it.
This ride on bicycles is the main activity initiated by this foundation its supporters and friends in a particular locality in order to highlight their cause which is summed up in the foundation's slogan or vision: 'A world where no Filipino child will suffer a diminished quality of life because of cancer.”
For the local supporters and friends this ride could just be a cruise around the city or town which will often be no longer than a few kilometers. Certainly less than the regular kilometrage serious bikers log every time they go on a ride.
Or, it could be serious distances, like this year's edition of the Bike for Life is embarking on. This edition is, by far, the most ambitious and challenging for the foundation and this project. This year a total of 21 bikers, together with James Auste will pedal 1500 kilometers from Alabang to Davao City.
Along the way local supporters and bikers will make this number swell from the tens to the hundreds.
A bike parade is always inspiring to see. Especially at this time of global warming and the climate crisis when people are beginning to be conscious of the carbon footprint of an activity or the energy consumption of such.
But beyond that, what is specially inspiring about this year's Bike for Life rides is that together with the core group are 9 special bikers. They are otherwise quite ordinary people who, because of special circumstances, are in a very extraordinary situation. They are fathers of children with cancer who are beneficiaries of the Cancer Warriors Foundation.
Romeo Patnugot is one of them. He was a tricycle driver. He is the father of 9 year old Regine who is battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia accounts for 50 percent of all child cancers in the Philippines. Because of the burden of single-handedly caring for Regine he has had to sell his tricycle and give up his main source of livelihood. He now does laundry for his neighbors to make ends meet.
As quoted in the handout provided by the Cancer Warriors, he says, “To see my kid rise up with a smile every morning, to imagine her laughing and playing again, to know she has a chance to be healthy again and live a full and long life – this is what motivated me to get on the bike, prepare myself for this long, exhausting ride . . . .”
He continues, “This will be an opportunity to inform everyone how difficult and demanding childhood cancer is, especially if you are a child of poor parents. People out there need to know that children can have cancer and that they can do something to help these kids face cancer . . . .”
For me that was getting up early in the morning, hopping on my bike and joining these courageous people on a ride to dramatize and further their cause. Or that should be, our cause. This, I know, is a small thing. But it's something I can do.
For more information on the Cancer Warriors please log on to www.cancer-wariors.org.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
9.20.07 kulturnatib
Greenpeace Cebu
Greenpeace is one of the most visible environmental organizations internationally. They have become synonymous with direct actions, as they call it, that are designed to confront the issues as much as make it to the front pages of newspapers and the prime time news on TV.
They are known for huge banners that are unfurled over the facade of buildings, often without the building owner's permission or knowledge, and other prominent structures by their activists in harnesses and rappel ropes. Or their small, zippy zodiac boats that skim along the waves to harass - as much as this is possible, given the David and Goliath proportions of these encounters -- Japanese, Norwegian or Russian whaling ships.
In short, Greenpeace is one environmental organization that is extremely media-savvy. They have learned to harness the power of media for their cause.
It is no wonder that they were one of the main partners for the Live Earth : SOS Concert for a Climate in Crisis. This global event last July 7 (070707) was tailor made for the media with simultaneous concerts in key cities worldwide bannered by some of the global music industry's top acts and personalities.
Here, the local version of this event – one of the biggest among those that were officially accredited by the Live Earth organizing group, -- Greenpeace SEA (Southeast Asia) was also one of the main event partners.
One of the biggest enviro-cultural events to have happened in Cebu in recent memory, this event, though,clearly riding on the momentum of its global counterpart, was organized by a disparate group who did not belong to any single organization, but who realized that 'we had to do our share.'
Even while the event, that turned out to be successful by most measures, was still on-going, the question occurred to many of those in the organizing group: What should happen next?
When Greenpeace SEA (Southeast Asia) inquired about holding an exploratory meeting for organizing a Local Group, weeks after the event, the next step had apparently presented itself to some of those in the organizing group who lobbied for the inclusion of Greenpeace SEA’s Simple Lang Campaign in the event program and facilitated the invitation and participation of a Greenpeace SEA representative in the event.
That exploratory meeting became a confirmatory one. About a dozen people signed up to be the core group members of the Greenpeace Local Group Cebu, or simply Greenpeace Cebu.
“Some of us have been volunteers for some of Greenpeace’s earlier campaigns. It's about time that this gets organized more formally,” says Gelena Asis, Greenpeace Cebu Assistant Coordinator.
Tomorrow (September 21) Greenpeace Cebu will be launched at the Outpost restaurant, Veteran's Drive, Lahug, starting from 8pm onwards.
Kicking or pedaling-off this launch will be a bike-a-cade – in lieu of a motorcade – at 7pm. Spearheaded by the Bike4U Foundation, this fun ride will wind its way through the city's main streets from the IT park down to Plaza Independencia then back up to the Outpost restaurant.
An hour-long program that will include the relaunching of the Simple Lang campaign, the introduction of Greenpeace and a briefing by some city and provincial officials on their respective environmental programs and projects will be the main focus of the evening.
After this, the bands, who were also involved with the 070707 concert will take over.
The first projects of the group will be related to the Simple Lang Campaign. A recent radio appearance by Greenpeace Cebu over Mom's Radio (88.3 FM) led to an invitation to present the campaign to a community group where the radio station has continuing projects.
Along this same line, a proposal to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the national radio-TV industry organization to involve particularly the radio stations in this educational campaign is being mulled.
Greenpeace is one of the most visible environmental organizations internationally. They have become synonymous with direct actions, as they call it, that are designed to confront the issues as much as make it to the front pages of newspapers and the prime time news on TV.
They are known for huge banners that are unfurled over the facade of buildings, often without the building owner's permission or knowledge, and other prominent structures by their activists in harnesses and rappel ropes. Or their small, zippy zodiac boats that skim along the waves to harass - as much as this is possible, given the David and Goliath proportions of these encounters -- Japanese, Norwegian or Russian whaling ships.
In short, Greenpeace is one environmental organization that is extremely media-savvy. They have learned to harness the power of media for their cause.
It is no wonder that they were one of the main partners for the Live Earth : SOS Concert for a Climate in Crisis. This global event last July 7 (070707) was tailor made for the media with simultaneous concerts in key cities worldwide bannered by some of the global music industry's top acts and personalities.
Here, the local version of this event – one of the biggest among those that were officially accredited by the Live Earth organizing group, -- Greenpeace SEA (Southeast Asia) was also one of the main event partners.
One of the biggest enviro-cultural events to have happened in Cebu in recent memory, this event, though,clearly riding on the momentum of its global counterpart, was organized by a disparate group who did not belong to any single organization, but who realized that 'we had to do our share.'
Even while the event, that turned out to be successful by most measures, was still on-going, the question occurred to many of those in the organizing group: What should happen next?
When Greenpeace SEA (Southeast Asia) inquired about holding an exploratory meeting for organizing a Local Group, weeks after the event, the next step had apparently presented itself to some of those in the organizing group who lobbied for the inclusion of Greenpeace SEA’s Simple Lang Campaign in the event program and facilitated the invitation and participation of a Greenpeace SEA representative in the event.
That exploratory meeting became a confirmatory one. About a dozen people signed up to be the core group members of the Greenpeace Local Group Cebu, or simply Greenpeace Cebu.
“Some of us have been volunteers for some of Greenpeace’s earlier campaigns. It's about time that this gets organized more formally,” says Gelena Asis, Greenpeace Cebu Assistant Coordinator.
Tomorrow (September 21) Greenpeace Cebu will be launched at the Outpost restaurant, Veteran's Drive, Lahug, starting from 8pm onwards.
Kicking or pedaling-off this launch will be a bike-a-cade – in lieu of a motorcade – at 7pm. Spearheaded by the Bike4U Foundation, this fun ride will wind its way through the city's main streets from the IT park down to Plaza Independencia then back up to the Outpost restaurant.
An hour-long program that will include the relaunching of the Simple Lang campaign, the introduction of Greenpeace and a briefing by some city and provincial officials on their respective environmental programs and projects will be the main focus of the evening.
After this, the bands, who were also involved with the 070707 concert will take over.
The first projects of the group will be related to the Simple Lang Campaign. A recent radio appearance by Greenpeace Cebu over Mom's Radio (88.3 FM) led to an invitation to present the campaign to a community group where the radio station has continuing projects.
Along this same line, a proposal to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the national radio-TV industry organization to involve particularly the radio stations in this educational campaign is being mulled.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
09.06.07 kulturnatib
Lullabies
When I moved to my present apartment almost seven years ago, – a bachelor's pad until recently when I hung up my bachelor's togs – one of the deciding factor's was how quiet this village was.
And, my unit at the back of a big house, whose present configuration now accommodates three families or large households really, has a nice view of the city whose enjoyment often requires silence for maximum effect.
For all these years and through all the changes in the tenancy of this house, that general quietness has held. Even when, I am immediately reminded that, once, upstairs, was a neighbor who fancied himself a drummer. His practice sessions, however, were mercifully conducted at hours that I was away. But, he was also a womanizer, often bringing more than one woman into his place, and this went on, quite disturbingly, at all hours.
I survived that, as I do now when I realize how noisy this place can really get.
I realized this because recently I needed absolute silence. Or as near absolute as is possible in this decidedly non-audio studio apartment environment.
I had to record some guitar music for an upcoming performance event. This will be next week, September 12, at the Tapas Lounge, at Crossroads, in Banilad.
This music is to be passed on to Winston, a professional musician, who I have mentioned several times in this column.
We have been collaborators in a few performance art pieces. More immediately, he provides the live music or auditory element, either alone or in tandem with some canned music or sound. But, more generally, he is, himself, an element in the performance piece that adds to the the overall layers or trajectories of meaning of the piece in its entirety, enriching it.
We have already discussed the concept for this piece and what was needed was for him to have an idea of the actual music I will play on the classical guitar for his guidance in playing percussion; On a pillow.
More than just the music itself, there is a crucial sound effects track, whose timing is critical for our separate but related actions to be synchronous.
So, with a digital video camera that can also record sound, I went about making the recording.
Almost immediately my difficulties started. First, part of the music I have thought of playing – a series of short lullabies – was a variation I have developed myself from a somewhat Arabesque tune I have the tablature or musical notation for. With the notation, I have no difficulty. With the variation, I have plenty of difficulty. But, nothing that practice won't mitigate, if not entirely erase; Something I cannot say with the noise.
While true that this recording was only to be some kind of guide and not necessarily one with any high-fidelity quality, noise would be anything from mildly irritating to disturbingly distracting. Especially from my music generating end.
Distracting it was. Even the birds whose song accompany the slow rhythm of this near mountain idyll were now interferences. What sort of bird would make that call? Have I heard that before? I should really try to connect calls with configurations. Etc.
Thoughts like this, innocuous sounding as they are, tripped me.
And then: How many babies do my neighbors have? What are they doing awake at this early afternoon hour? Shouldn't they be taking their afternoon nap? Why are they conspiring to altogether shriek at the same time? Where are the yayas?
Then the dogs, the roosters, the motorcycles, the jet liners that often pass through this approach corridor over our hills seem to be flying lower than usual, even the water pump is noisier than ever. Then the cicadas jump into the concert.
Impossible.
But, I press on. I guess that's what this performance piece is saying. In the general chaos of life there is or, should be, a silent space, lullabies, to help us keep on. Though it's never as neat and easy as that.
When I moved to my present apartment almost seven years ago, – a bachelor's pad until recently when I hung up my bachelor's togs – one of the deciding factor's was how quiet this village was.
And, my unit at the back of a big house, whose present configuration now accommodates three families or large households really, has a nice view of the city whose enjoyment often requires silence for maximum effect.
For all these years and through all the changes in the tenancy of this house, that general quietness has held. Even when, I am immediately reminded that, once, upstairs, was a neighbor who fancied himself a drummer. His practice sessions, however, were mercifully conducted at hours that I was away. But, he was also a womanizer, often bringing more than one woman into his place, and this went on, quite disturbingly, at all hours.
I survived that, as I do now when I realize how noisy this place can really get.
I realized this because recently I needed absolute silence. Or as near absolute as is possible in this decidedly non-audio studio apartment environment.
I had to record some guitar music for an upcoming performance event. This will be next week, September 12, at the Tapas Lounge, at Crossroads, in Banilad.
This music is to be passed on to Winston, a professional musician, who I have mentioned several times in this column.
We have been collaborators in a few performance art pieces. More immediately, he provides the live music or auditory element, either alone or in tandem with some canned music or sound. But, more generally, he is, himself, an element in the performance piece that adds to the the overall layers or trajectories of meaning of the piece in its entirety, enriching it.
We have already discussed the concept for this piece and what was needed was for him to have an idea of the actual music I will play on the classical guitar for his guidance in playing percussion; On a pillow.
More than just the music itself, there is a crucial sound effects track, whose timing is critical for our separate but related actions to be synchronous.
So, with a digital video camera that can also record sound, I went about making the recording.
Almost immediately my difficulties started. First, part of the music I have thought of playing – a series of short lullabies – was a variation I have developed myself from a somewhat Arabesque tune I have the tablature or musical notation for. With the notation, I have no difficulty. With the variation, I have plenty of difficulty. But, nothing that practice won't mitigate, if not entirely erase; Something I cannot say with the noise.
While true that this recording was only to be some kind of guide and not necessarily one with any high-fidelity quality, noise would be anything from mildly irritating to disturbingly distracting. Especially from my music generating end.
Distracting it was. Even the birds whose song accompany the slow rhythm of this near mountain idyll were now interferences. What sort of bird would make that call? Have I heard that before? I should really try to connect calls with configurations. Etc.
Thoughts like this, innocuous sounding as they are, tripped me.
And then: How many babies do my neighbors have? What are they doing awake at this early afternoon hour? Shouldn't they be taking their afternoon nap? Why are they conspiring to altogether shriek at the same time? Where are the yayas?
Then the dogs, the roosters, the motorcycles, the jet liners that often pass through this approach corridor over our hills seem to be flying lower than usual, even the water pump is noisier than ever. Then the cicadas jump into the concert.
Impossible.
But, I press on. I guess that's what this performance piece is saying. In the general chaos of life there is or, should be, a silent space, lullabies, to help us keep on. Though it's never as neat and easy as that.
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