Lola Lomy

[ Saturday, April 21, 2007 ]

The Big Papi book is out!!!

My sister, Vicki, emailed this and I’d like to share this to all
—check out the copyright page—
Book design by Dylan Rosal Greif (Vicki’s and Rich’s son)
Papi swinging the bat as letter A was his idea also.

Proud of you, Dylan!

[ Monday, April 16, 2007 ]

A Sad Day in Virginia Tech

Apr. 16, 2007— At least 29 people are dead in what may be the biggest mass killing on a college campus in American history — and the death toll may rise.
ABC News has confirmed that there were two separate bomb threats last week at Virginia Tech …
“Nothing like this has happened before,” he said, adding that the average number of killings on all American campuses combined has hovered around 20 since the Department of Education formally began collecting data in the early 1990s.
While information had not been released about the gunman, it was suspected that whoever the shooter was suffered from some deep psychological problem and was likely connected to the university campus in some way.
“In the past, in similar cases, it’s usually been a psychological issue and not just a security issue; one of the people who was killed was an older individual, maybe a faculty member. That could be a likely underlying factor in this case—someone who has failed.”
“It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale,” said Virginia’s Governor Timothy M. Kaine in a statement. “Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community.”

The world is plagued with a lot of incidents that seems to be out of control.

We have to contend with Global Warming, a natural occurrence that continually begins to be difficult to control—we are failing in dispensing disciplinary actions.

There is uncontrolled permissiveness, we are a spoiled society, and there is rampant violence, vile language, ignorant prejudices and cyber crimes committed by bad people out there to unsuspecting juveniles. There are a lot of crazy people out there!

What, I think, we need is utilize all our good psychologists and therapists in our school systems—pay them the big bucks! Let them stem the cause of psychological issues in children before they act them out in their adult life.

My heart goes out to the families of the victims at VT. All my prayers…

[ Thursday, April 12, 2007 ]

Spam

The Permalink deal certainly eased my blood-pressure. Now all I have to check in our website is recent posts.

And this is one.

[ Monday, April 02, 2007 ]

WOWOWEE

Ely and I subscribe to TFC (The Filipino Channel) on cable. We get news updates and enjoy interesting tidbits coming from our native land, and Ely and I have gotten enthused with a few variety shows, particularly, WOWOWEE. At first, I strongly felt it was one of those corny programs that catered and pleased the bakya crowd; but it gets to you, after a while (except for the gyrating, shrieking dancing girls that irritates the heck out of me). I find the show interesting, because I get a glimpse of life of the less privileged in the Philippines, their sad stories, their challenges, their rise above these challenges, and the pleasure they experience with so little; and it certainly keeps me grounded, more sympathetic with the poor, the less educated, because they exude Filipino pride, nonetheless.

Bakya Crowd—to refer to such term sounds snooty; but this is what I think the Filipino system of social distinction is: there is the affluent social class, and there is the Bakya Crowd (bakya, meaning wooden shoe, as, worn by the common people).

A considerable number of the middle-class of the Philippines, I believe, migrates overseas (mostly, to the US). Eventually, once one gets Stateside, one becomes westernized, employs the American way of life, eases into a different culture, and pretty soon develops a tendency to become snooty towards kababayans (fellow countrymen). Every now and then, I notice, when one meets a fellow kababayan, the other (or both) turn an attitude of “I don’t know you—I’m better than you” kind of mentality. Ely teases me that I cast such an attitude—heaven forbid that it’s true! I wonder if I do come across that way, though…

Filipino-Americans come across in different ways to other Filipino- Americans. We are diverse. There are the professionals: the doctors, the lawyers, and their ilk (who, mostly, want to be addressed and introduced as such—with their titles!); and they mostly form a social circle amongst themselves.  Then there are the middle professionals (they, too, tend to be confluent). Then there are those (professionals or not), who ostentatiously flaunt being well off, let you note that they’ve “been there, done that”; love to show off their great house, their name-brand outfits, and their high-end cars, know all the right people (they love to name-drop the rich and the popular). It is sad to say that there are quite a few of these, the ones with the attitude, the snooty ones.

Filipinos have a tendency to rave about their family, from what and where sons and daughters have graduated; it’s a prestige, something to be proud of, and that’s good, in a way. Oftentimes, though, parents drive such exultations such that, they just seem to be gloating over others’ misfortunes.  Reminds me about a woman I know who loves to talk about her nephew, who, she claims, is a scholar, graduated with honors in college of Law, took the bar and passed with flying colors; reiterating that John Jr. had to take the bar exams a couple of times before passing! What’s that about?

What is this Filipino mindset that makes us this way? Is it a form of insecurity? Are we starved for recognition that we go out of our way to get noticed, no matter how tacky it comes across?

Of course, this is me.  I have been here in the US for almost 40 years now, and if I asked Filipino-Americans of my generation, who’ve been here that long, would they have the same perception?

Not to be negative, there are, of course, a lot of real classy Kababayans who are sincere in many ways. Ely and I have a few Filipino friends here in Stafford. Since we are the elder ones, we enjoy respectful and courteous regard from everyone. I am Ate’ and Ely is Kuya to all (or Lola and Lolo to the young ones). They are a good bunch, and we enjoy getting together, having potluck dinners and singing the Karaoke. They all come from different backgrounds, mixed marriages, different ranks and different educations. I like that I don’t have to listen to pretentious show of wealth. These are down to earth people, people I would trust to come to the rescue whenever I would need it. 

And as my friend, Rob, would say, this is how I feel.

Back to WOWOWEE, my grandboys are learning to do the dance moves as they watch…”A doo doo doo, a daa daa daa, ahah hah…” they get it, even 1-½ year-old Evan, and they’re so cute!

Permalink?

I think Weez programmed the recenty-posted blogs to stay open pending comments until it’s seventh day. Then it goes Permalink—no more comments.

[ Sunday, April 01, 2007 ]

April Birthdays

I lost a couple of days when I had posted my birthday greetings to Benny, 2 days ago (I could have sworn it was April 2nd!). Where did those days go? Maybe I was just being an April fool, half awake after a long winter (or whatever crazy weather we’ve been having here) hibernation…

Anyway…Happy Birthday!
Benny(2); Ver Montes & Gemma Cutinello(4); Edwin Nantes & Marcus Fukushima(7); Danny Basco(12); Liz Lawley & Dylan Greif(16); Sister Consuelo Ferrer & Thea Jaromay(17); Al Purugganan(19); and Aidan’s 11th birthday(23)!

Many happy returns to all! and to the ones I have missed.