Later on in life, all thirty nine years or so behind by now, it would be explained to me that I held putoseko in both hands because it was the only way anyone could make me stand still long enough to have my solo photograph taken. In a shirt with two fake pockets printed on both sides just around the waistline. In toddler shorts, socks and shoes with one shoelace someone has left undone. In black and white photography, that I now find it impossible to tell you the color of my shirt, shorts, socks and shoes.
It was and still is the earliest photograph I have of me, all just a year or so maybe in age by then. I had incredibly big round eyes and puffy cheeks that came with the large head-size babies are known to have early in life. It was and still is a remarkable Portrait Of A Soberman As A Young Child, so much so that somebody on Facebook commented that she never knew how good-looking I am, knowing only too well I have grown to be a man with chinky eyes and emaciated cheeks that came with a small head-size that I know I will have for the rest of my life. If she were trying to be ironic, she couldn’t have done a better job.
And so it goes:
That the most curious thing I now find about my childhood picture is that of the medallion of Saint Christopher hanging low and heavy on my chest. Made of gold, it definitely did not exclusively belonged to me but to the entire brood which is far, far better I suppose than showing off jewelries hand-painted by skilled artisans on freshly printed photographs just like old folks used to do back in the olden days before digital photography and Photoshop.
Saint Christopher, by the way, is one of fourteen Roman Catholic saints venerated together by the honest faithful who honestly believe their intercession is especially effective during different times of distress. And quite simple enough, these saints are collectively known not as Super Friends nor as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but as the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Hi ho, hi ho. Off to work we go:
Which brings us now to the real topic of this serious work of commentary— my own little unsolicited advice to Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan on how to cope and cope well with the challenges of his office beginning from the end of his first one hundred days in office on the eighth day of the tenth month of the year twenty and ten.
You see, I figure now that those first one hundred days of Mayor Ed were somewhat spooked notwithstanding, mind you, the many positive stuffs his administration was able to accomplish so far, all neatly rolled out during his promised Ulat Sa Bayan just this Friday.
Spooked first and no less by the incredible number of ghost employees, of the vampire kind I am sure, who used to roam City Hall and sucked its coffers blood dry. Spooked second and suddenly by the spate of high profile crimes in the city, from the shooting dead of at least five foreign nationals in less than just three months that made excellent storylines, to murders in motels with one involving the beheading of a young female call center agent that made even more sensational headlines. Spooked finally albeit furtively by Fields Avenue’s indelible image as ‘sin city’ that makes Angeles a most natural target of the national government’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which is, in truth, under extreme pressure to show instant proof of its resolute effort to curb illegal human trafficking in the country or risk the non-release by the United States of much-needed non-humanitarian aid amounting to no less than two hundred fifty million in dollars, mind you, that invariably led to the numerous raids of local a go go bars and nightclubs making them bar and nightclub owners and operators nervous enough to actually think of closing shops and moving somewhere else that will, admit it or not, adversely impact the local entertainment and tourist industry.
Spooked, indeed, but far from cooked for the rest of his days in office. Not if Mayor Ed would beseech the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Not if Mayor Ed and members of his official family at City Hall start wearing the right medallions of the right saints for the right intercession required.
And so this initial saintly list of mine:
Saint Agathius of Byzantium and Saint Denis of Paris, both known for giving protection against headache, for City Administrator Dennis “Nonoy” Pamintuan. Should be a perfect fit given Nonoy’s duty to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the city’s bureaucracy, should be better than over-the-counter Advil after a hard day of ghost hunting at City Hall.
Saint Giles, who protects us from plague and provides patronage for a good confession, should be called upon by city police chief Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista to rid the city of the plague of crimes or perhaps pray for the next best thing, which is a speedy confession after an equally speedy arrest of perpetrators. And speaking of plagues, Saint Giles it is also for Lito Caparas of the city’s disaster council.
Saint Eustace, with his reputation for keeping away family discord, for the city’s First Lady Miniang Pamintuan in her motherly attempts to help keep City Hall appointees toe the line of a promised good and effective governance.
Saint Margaret of Antioch, who watches over our escape from devils, and Saint of Formiae, who guards us against intestinal ailments, for Ato Zapanta, the mayor’s top dog in monitoring the operations of business establishments to include Fields Avenue’s bars and nightclubs. Ato Zapanta, of course, should not only be praying for safe rescue of victims of human trafficking should there be any in the city but, equally important, implore the Divine for a strong stomach to get the job done no matter how dirty it must come to be.
Saint Pantaleon, patron saint of physicians and against cancer and tubercolis, may be even dengue, and Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, both patron saints against sudden death, for Ospital Ning Angeles director Dr. Antonio Dizon and city health officer Dr. Joven Esguerra for obvious reasons.
And finally, my favorite Saint Christopher, patron saint for the safest of our safe travels, must definitely go to Mayor Ed himself for that journey of nine hundred ninety six days more before the end of his current term.
Peace.
It was and still is the earliest photograph I have of me, all just a year or so maybe in age by then. I had incredibly big round eyes and puffy cheeks that came with the large head-size babies are known to have early in life. It was and still is a remarkable Portrait Of A Soberman As A Young Child, so much so that somebody on Facebook commented that she never knew how good-looking I am, knowing only too well I have grown to be a man with chinky eyes and emaciated cheeks that came with a small head-size that I know I will have for the rest of my life. If she were trying to be ironic, she couldn’t have done a better job.
And so it goes:
That the most curious thing I now find about my childhood picture is that of the medallion of Saint Christopher hanging low and heavy on my chest. Made of gold, it definitely did not exclusively belonged to me but to the entire brood which is far, far better I suppose than showing off jewelries hand-painted by skilled artisans on freshly printed photographs just like old folks used to do back in the olden days before digital photography and Photoshop.
Saint Christopher, by the way, is one of fourteen Roman Catholic saints venerated together by the honest faithful who honestly believe their intercession is especially effective during different times of distress. And quite simple enough, these saints are collectively known not as Super Friends nor as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but as the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Hi ho, hi ho. Off to work we go:
Which brings us now to the real topic of this serious work of commentary— my own little unsolicited advice to Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan on how to cope and cope well with the challenges of his office beginning from the end of his first one hundred days in office on the eighth day of the tenth month of the year twenty and ten.
You see, I figure now that those first one hundred days of Mayor Ed were somewhat spooked notwithstanding, mind you, the many positive stuffs his administration was able to accomplish so far, all neatly rolled out during his promised Ulat Sa Bayan just this Friday.
Spooked first and no less by the incredible number of ghost employees, of the vampire kind I am sure, who used to roam City Hall and sucked its coffers blood dry. Spooked second and suddenly by the spate of high profile crimes in the city, from the shooting dead of at least five foreign nationals in less than just three months that made excellent storylines, to murders in motels with one involving the beheading of a young female call center agent that made even more sensational headlines. Spooked finally albeit furtively by Fields Avenue’s indelible image as ‘sin city’ that makes Angeles a most natural target of the national government’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which is, in truth, under extreme pressure to show instant proof of its resolute effort to curb illegal human trafficking in the country or risk the non-release by the United States of much-needed non-humanitarian aid amounting to no less than two hundred fifty million in dollars, mind you, that invariably led to the numerous raids of local a go go bars and nightclubs making them bar and nightclub owners and operators nervous enough to actually think of closing shops and moving somewhere else that will, admit it or not, adversely impact the local entertainment and tourist industry.
Spooked, indeed, but far from cooked for the rest of his days in office. Not if Mayor Ed would beseech the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Not if Mayor Ed and members of his official family at City Hall start wearing the right medallions of the right saints for the right intercession required.
And so this initial saintly list of mine:
Saint Agathius of Byzantium and Saint Denis of Paris, both known for giving protection against headache, for City Administrator Dennis “Nonoy” Pamintuan. Should be a perfect fit given Nonoy’s duty to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the city’s bureaucracy, should be better than over-the-counter Advil after a hard day of ghost hunting at City Hall.
Saint Giles, who protects us from plague and provides patronage for a good confession, should be called upon by city police chief Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista to rid the city of the plague of crimes or perhaps pray for the next best thing, which is a speedy confession after an equally speedy arrest of perpetrators. And speaking of plagues, Saint Giles it is also for Lito Caparas of the city’s disaster council.
Saint Eustace, with his reputation for keeping away family discord, for the city’s First Lady Miniang Pamintuan in her motherly attempts to help keep City Hall appointees toe the line of a promised good and effective governance.
Saint Margaret of Antioch, who watches over our escape from devils, and Saint of Formiae, who guards us against intestinal ailments, for Ato Zapanta, the mayor’s top dog in monitoring the operations of business establishments to include Fields Avenue’s bars and nightclubs. Ato Zapanta, of course, should not only be praying for safe rescue of victims of human trafficking should there be any in the city but, equally important, implore the Divine for a strong stomach to get the job done no matter how dirty it must come to be.
Saint Pantaleon, patron saint of physicians and against cancer and tubercolis, may be even dengue, and Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, both patron saints against sudden death, for Ospital Ning Angeles director Dr. Antonio Dizon and city health officer Dr. Joven Esguerra for obvious reasons.
And finally, my favorite Saint Christopher, patron saint for the safest of our safe travels, must definitely go to Mayor Ed himself for that journey of nine hundred ninety six days more before the end of his current term.
Peace.
