Ang Pagninilay at Pag-alala ng isang Batang Batibot

Isa ako sa mga batang napasaya at napalaki ng mga aral ng Batibot. Ang Batibot: ang tambayan ng isang pagong na nagngangalang Pong at ang matsing na si Kiko, at ng kanilang mga pinakamamahal na kaibigan, kasama na sina Kuya Bodjie, Ate Shena, Kuya Mario, Kuya Dwight, Ate Isay, Kuya Ching, at marami pang iba. Sa huli ko na lamang nalaman na ang Batibot pala ay iyong mistulang silyang nakabakod sa puno sa gitna ng palaruan.

Bagamat ito’y hango sa palabas sa Amerika na Sesame Street, naituro ng Batibot ang kultura at aral Pilipino. Hindi natin maitatanggi na malaki ang naitulong ng palabas na Batibot sa mga batang manonood, hindi lamang sa larangan ng panitikan at sining na Pilipino, kundi pati na rin sa pang-araw-araw na buhay. Siguro’y sasang-ayon sa akin ang mga kapwa ko batang Batibot na hanggang ngayon ay hindi namin nakakalimutan ang mga ginintuang aral na itinuro ng palabas nito sa pamamagitan ng tula, kanta, at kuwento. Hayaan niyong magbanggit ako ng ilan sa mga hindi ko malilimutang bahagi ng Batibot:

1. Isda-da-da, isda – Sa kantang ito, tinuri sa atin ng Batibot ang bawat parte ng isang isda. Palikpik, taliptip, kaliskis, ang ilan lamang sa malalalim na salitang Pilipino na madali mo nang maituturo sa pakikinig at panonood lamang ng kantang ito. “Anong hayop ka ba? Sa tubig nakatira? May palikpik, dalawang mata, walang kamay, walang paa?

2. Balut, penoy – Sino ba naman ang makakalimot kung paano ginagawa ang balut sa Pateros? Eto ang isang yugto ng Batibot na kung saan ang “music video” ay mala-Ating Alamin ni Ka Gerry Geronimo ang dating, na kung saan sinusundan ng camera and mga itlog ng itik mulang pagkuha hanggang pagiging balut, na may background music na kinanta ng batikang mangangantang si Sylvia La Torre. “Balut, penoy, balut, bili na kayo ng itlog na balut…”

3. Mga Kuwento ni Kuya Bodjie: (Ang pamilya Ismid) – Ito ay isang kuwentong ibinahagi ni Kuya Bodjie sa isa sa kanyang mga pagkukuwento. Ang Pamilya Ismid ay isang pamilya ng mga Baboy na matapobre at hindi mahilig makipagkapwa-tao (este baboy). Ang nais lamang nila ay manatili sa bahay at pagandahin ang kanilang nagkukulutang mga buntot. Nang minsang nagkaroon ng sakuna sa kanilang baryo, nasunugan ang pamilya Ismid at doon nila natutunan kung paano makipagkapwa tao. Napakasimpleng kuwento na may ginintuang aral.

4. Ako ang kapitbahay, kapitbahay niyo – Isa na naming kantang mananatili sa iyong isipan kahit ilang oras matapos ang segment na ito sa Batibot. Ipinapakilala ditto ng Batibot ang iba’t ibang tao sa paligid ng inyong komunidad: Pulis, Metro Aide (noong panahon na wala pang MMDA), Karpintero, Tubero, Magtataho, Panadero, at kung anu-ano pa. Magpapakita ng kung anu-anong mga bagay na gamit ng taong ito upang lalo mo siyang makilala. Halimbawa sa Pulis, papakita isa-isa ang kanyang tsapa, silbato, batuta, sombrero. Para makilala mong pulis siya. “Kilala niyo ako, kilala niyo ako, ako’y isa sa kapitbahay kapitbahay ninyo!!!”

5. Pagsama-samahin ang pare-pareho – Isang simple ngunit praktikal na aral na ating nakuha sa Batibot: Ang magkakapareho, pagsamahin. Sa lahat ng bagay magagamit mo yan, hindi lang sa paglalaba o sa pagsasalansan ng gamit sa mga bodega. “Ang magkakatulad ay ating igrupo. Kay saying libangan, kay daling gawin.”

6. Tinapang bangus – Isa na namang segment sa Batibot na hinding hindi ko makalimutan. Pinakita ng Batibot sa kanilang Music Video ang paggawa ng Tinapang Bangus, at kung paano pagsaluhan itong ng mga pamilya Pilipino. Matapos ang kantang ito ay mapapabili ka talaga ng tinapang bangus sa palengke. “Tinapang bangus, tinapang bangus, masarap at masustansya.”

7. Sitsiritsit, Alibangbang – Ang magbarkadang alien na sina Sitsiritsit at Alibangbang at ang kanilang nakakahawang pagpasok sa eksena ay walang tigil na humahanap ng mga bagong kaalaman sa mundo ng mga tao. “Sitsiritsit, Alibangbang (repeat 3x).”

8. Ang bakang si Puti – Alagang alaga naming si Puti. Yan ang awit ng ilang mga batang may kaibigang baka na nagbibigay sa kanila ng tuwa’t saya. Isa na naman sa mga kantang Batibot na nagbibigay aliw at tuwa

9. Perlas na bilog, wag tutulog tulog, sabihin agad sa kin ang sagot. Ba be bi bo bu! – Sabay iilaw ang bolang Kristal ni Manang Bola at masasagot ang katanungan ng bawat batang lumalapit sa kanya. Ang kakaibang malumanay na boses ni Manag Bola ay nakatatak sa aking isipan hanggang ngayon.

10. Teatro bulilit – Ang segment na ito ay madalas kong gayahin noong ako’y bata. Nagdodrawing ako ng mukha sa aking daliri at gagawa ng kuwento at mayroon na akong munting puppet show. Napakagaling na konsepto ng pang-aliw sa mga kabataan. Sa mumunting mga daliri, marami ang natuwa sa kuwento hinahatid nila.

At paminsan-minsan, may ilang mga segment ang Batibot na nagpapakita sa ilang mga katha n gating mga kapatid na Pilipino sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo. Halimbawa’y ang paggawa ng basket na rattan, at kung anu-ano pa…

Sinong batang Batibot nga ba ang makakalimot sa ganitong mga eksena? Isa sa mga kagalingan ng palabas na ito ay ang pagkiliti sa damdamin ng bawat batang Pilipino. Ito ay nagagawa nila sa tulong na rin ng mga tauhan at mga puppet na kumakatawan sa bawat kakatwa, minsan ay nakakainis na katangian ng mga Pilipino. Sa mga tauhang ito, may ilan din akong paborito:

1. Irma Daldal at Direk – Sinong batang Batibot ang makakalimot sa batikang aktres na palaging nagkakamali sa eksena, na kung saan sumisigaw si Direk ng “CUT!” sa bawat maling katagang sambitin ni Irma? Ipinapakita ng eksenang ito ang pagmamahal ng Pilipino sa sining ng pinilakang tabing at ang pagkahumaling natin sa mga artista. Kaya’t si Irma ang kumakatawan sa mga taong ito, na kahit ilang ulit magkamali ay minamahal ng masa.

2. Ate Ningning at Gingging – Paggalang sa kapatid ang aral na dinudulot ng magkalarong magkapatid na ito. Sa bawat suliraning kaharapin ng dalawa ay palaging nakahahanap sila ng solusyon. Ipinapakitang halimbawa ito ng dakilang pagmamahalan ng magkapatid.

3. Manang Bola – Paggalang sa matatanda ang nasi ipakita sa mga eksenang kasama si Manang Bola. Sa tuwing kokonsulta si Manang Bola sa kanyang Bolang Kristal tiyak may kasagutan siya sa bawat batang magtatanong sa kanya.

4. Kapitan Basa – Ang sikat na superhero ng Batibot, ang pangunahing misyon ni Kapitan Basa ay hikayatin ang mga bata na magbasa nang lumawak ang kanilang kaalaman.

5. Pong Pagong – Ang palaging matanong na si Pong ay ang simbolo ng isang batang pilit tinutuklas ang kanyang kapaligiran. Sa tuwing may bago siyang natututunan maririnig natin ang tunog ng kanyang pagkasabik: Wheeeeeeee!

6. Kiko Matsing – Ang makulit na si Kiko ay ang simbolo ng isang batang mapaglaro. Makulit, matanong, masayahin, tulad ng isang batang masayang sinasamsam ang kanyang kabataan.

7. Kuya Mario – Sino ba ang makakalimot sa mababang tono ng boses ni Kuya Maryo na isang jeepney driver, isang matalinong Jeepney driver. At mahilig kumanta. :)

8. Ate Isay – ang tagapagpayo ni Kiko at Pong, si Ate Isay na palaging binibiyayaan ng himig ang dalawa

9. Ate Shena – Ang isa sa mga pangunahing tauhan ng Batibot, si Ate Shena ang tagapagpayo at tagakuwento sa mga batang Batibot. Hanggang ngayon sa tuwing nakikita ko siya sa ilang mga pagkakataon ay hindi ko maiwasang mapasabi ng “uy si Ate Shena!” Ang ate ng bawat batang Batibot.

10. Kuya Bodjie – Ang pinakatumatak na kuya sa lahat. Ang tagapagpayo, tagakuwento, tagalathala, at voice over na rin ng Batibot. Isa siyang alamat para sa ming mga batang Batibot. Hindi hindi naming makakalimutan ang mga kuwento niya. Ako, hindi ko malilimutan ang kuwento niya tungkol sa pamilya Ismid.

Ilan lamang ito sa mga tumatak sa aking kaisipan nung ako’y bata pa. Masasabi kong bilang isang batang Batibot, malaki ang naitulong ng palabas na ito sa akin sa paghubog ng aking kaisipan bilang isang Pilipino. Nakalulungkot isipin na wala nang palabas na katulad nito sa Pilipinas. Ito ay dahil mas gusto ng mga network na Pilipino na kumita ng malaki kaysa tumulong sa pagpapalago ng kaisipan ng kabataan. Hindi kasi bumebenta ang palabas na pambata, at hindi pinapanood kung ito’y hindi telenovela o nagpapamigay ng pera. Nakalulungkot namang talaga.

Oras na siguro upang ibalik ang mga palabas na tulad ito nang hindi naman lumaki ang mga kabataan Pilipino na walang ibang alam kundi kantahin ang mga awitin ni Willie Revillame na madalas ay walang katuturan o hindi kinapupulutan ng aral. Panahon na upang tumulong ang Philippine media sa pagsulong ng mas malalim na kaisipan ng kabataang Pilipino. Panahon na upang magkaroon ng mga palabas na may katuturan… GMA, ABS-CBN, kayo ang pag-asa namin. Utang na loob, pahingi naman po ng mga palabas na may katuturan sa mga kabataan Pilipino! Aking nabalitaan na sinubukang buhaying ng TV-5 ang Batibot. Nawa'y mapalawig pa ang palabas na ito!

Ako po ay batang Batibot. Pinalaki ako ng mga kanta at kuwento nito at masasabi kong ito ay nakatulong sa aking paglaking maliksi at masigla…

Malamang ikaw din ay may paboritong parte ng Batibot. Maaaring magbahagi sa pamamagitan ng pagkomento. :)

Mabuhay!

“Pagmulat ng mata, langit nakatawa sa Batibot.."

Amigo: In US Theaters 2 September 2011

It is a rare occasion to see Filipino movies being shown in foreign theaters. And if they happen, Filipinos must show their utmost support! That is what I do as a member of the Filipino community here in DC. Amigo, an independent film about the Philippine-American War is to be shown in Washington DC, Gaithersburg and Virginia Beach on September 2, 2011! It will also be shown in 15 other states in the US!

This movie has a cast of great actors from both the US and the Philippines, headed by one of the best Filipino actors of this generation, Mr. Joel Torre, award-winning veteran great Mr. Chris Cooper and and a roster of Filipino greats like Ronnie Lazaro, Rio Locsin, John Apacible, Pen Medina and Bembol Roco.

I was fortunate to meet Joel Torre in his presscon here in DC.

Amigo's synopsis:

AMIGO, the 17th feature film from Academy Award-nominated writer-director John Sayles, stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War.


When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer (Chris Cooper) to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael’s brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country.


A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, AMIGO is a page torn from the untold history of the Philippines, and a mirror of today’s unresolvable conflicts.

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I sure hope Filipinos in the area watch this movie and bring with them their non-Filipino friends so that they could understand and learn what history books seldom brings out. It is for the whole world to see that our relations with the US is not entirely a bed of roses, but started out as a thorny one. At the same time, it is to show the world how Filipinos survive amidst the war, and how they cope and learn and thrive in the midst of oppression or struggle.

Kudos to John Sayles for taking this opportunity and to Joel Torre and the entire Filipino cast for masterfully braving this project. Mabuhay kayong lahat!

To know more about Amigo, visit http://www.amigomovie.com/.

God works in mysterious ways...

No matter how cliché this may sound, God indeed works in mysterious ways. And I do know He is on my side and He trusts me so much. Fatherhood is one good sign that He does trust me that I can carry on my back the responsibility of becoming a parent. So does He trust my wife, to mother a child. And we are, in God’s guidance, about to embark on another journey called starting a family. As of this writing Bubbles is going on her 15th week. :)


Our unexpected gift came last May. I just started work (thank God that I was able to find work early in my stay in DC!) on May 2nd, and Bubbles was busy preparing for her big event, the annual Independence Day festivities. In the midst of the busy schedules, we would also attend receptions, and even watched a Weezer concert! We were oblivious of the fact that Bubbles is already on her way! On the 28th of May, we noticed that Bubbles’ monthly visitor hasn’t arrived yet and we were a bit “concerned” since the visitor comes regularly. Thus, we decided to take a little experiment called the “Home Pregnancy Test.” Never did we know that the little plastic stick could change our lives that day.

I went out for a few errands and Bubbles decided to stay home to finish some chores. I got back a few hours later. As usual, I knocked on the door, she opened, I entered, sorted the grocery on the table, and decided to go to the bathroom. I didn’t notice anything different except of course for having a pail, detergent, gloves and scrubs in the bathtub since Bubbles was supposed to be busy cleaning the toilet. Until I noticed a recognizable plastic stick we both a couple of days ago in a grocery nearby, and alas! I saw two pink lines crossing the two boxes! I then ran back to Bubbles and gave her a big hug as we cried and celebrated the beginning of life in her tummy.

But of course, we needed to confirm it via a visit to an Ob-gyn. That was another great adventure. We were referred by a friend some good doctors, however, their clinics were packed and they are not taking in new customers until later July. So we decided to look for other options. Bubbles then remember she had met a doctor from the Filipino community who was then practicing and knew a lot of good doctors. She called her and she referred a few. One of the names in her list responded and gave us two appointments: one, a nurse appointment to do the lab work, and another, for the doctor’s appointment which can only happen on her supposed 8th week.

And so we came for her first appointment, the nurse tests. She insisted on going there even without a doctor just to confirm her pregnancy from a person, and not just a piece of plastic stick. We went in the clinic, she filled up some papers, then waited. After a few minutes we were fetched by the clinic administrator, telling us that we had the wrong clinic since they do not honor Bubbles’ insurance card! So we went out embarrassed and looked for another doctor. We again called Bubbles’ doctor friend and asked a few more names hoping that we find one that is accredited to her health insurance. Voilah! We found one! She gave two names who are partners in a different clinic from the same hospital that we were in. We called the clinic, scheduled for an appointment, and finally, on June 20th, in the middle of her 8th week, we were able to confirm from a doctor that she is indeed pregnant! Words could not express our feelings as we walk out of the clinic. We are going to be parents! Wow!


The Sonogram day - 18 July 2011

As I said, God works in mysterious ways. My child is supposed to show sign of life on his/her 3rd month. And by a very fortunate stroke of luck, Ichi, Bubbles’ sister was to be in town on that week! And since Ichi is with us that week, Bubbles’ Auntie Chit and Uncle Noy decided to fly in on that weekend too! So my child had an audience of 5 as we listen to his/her heartbeat for the first time!

The doctor initially did a routine checkup on Bubbles as we waited on the reception area for us to be called for the sonogram. We were then called, and I was escorted by Ichi, and Auntie Chit. Uncle Noy waited in the reception area. We entered the clinic and the doctor was surprised to see a big audience for my baby. She then asked a few questions to Bubbles about her weight, and how she felt, and then she asked the doctor back with questions on what to eat and not to eat. I even cracked a joke asking the doctor on what the husband can and cannot eat, which gave her a short chuckle. After a few minutes of what seemed to be the most exciting 5 minutes of our family life, the doctor then brought out what seemd to be the baby’s microphone, and the stage was set for his/her performance. Doc stroke some gel and afterwards stuck the mic in my wife’s tummy. And in an instant, we heard it… My baby’s first signs of life… Rub, dub, rub, dub to the tune of 150beats per second. There he/she was. My baby with a heartbeat…. Tears welled Bubbles’ and Auntie Chit’s eyes, and as for me, I held back my tears but I was bursting with joy deep inside as we listened to my baby’s first one-minute performance. I am going to be a daddy! I am! Yahooo!

God works in mysterious ways. I always tell it to myself. I remember my boss mention to me that somewhere, somehow, there is a laid out plan for all of us. No matter how bizarre life gets, there is always a plan. As for me, I kept on praying that I may be able to provide for my family. I prayed everytime that I will be ready to be a father as soon as I get to be a provider. And there it was, a job, that struck me like lightning and I suddenly felt the jolt of being back to working after a 4-month "vacation." And after a few days, we found out Bubbles was pregnant. For some reason, Ichi, Auntie Chit, and Uncle Noy had a chance to be with us to share with us this joy in my baby's first sonogram. Truly amazing. Things happen and they happen for a reason. They are all part of God's grand plan for us. Truly Amazing.

I thank God for entrusting me with a child, now 15 weeks on the way. I will ensure and am very much confident that I will not let Him down. I will try my best to raise a happy, wealthy, God-loving family as we go on through this adventure called life.

The adventure continues! :)

On the road to Fatherhood

It’s official! I am going to be a daddy by January! I am lost for words as to how happy I felt the day the home pregnancy test gave a two-line result (yes, it says, my wife is pregnant!). I always pray that I will be a good example to my child and I pray that I am and will always be a role model for him/her. :)

Wheeeeeee!