PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88554962011-12-13T19:56:25.415-08:00PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang - A home for PasikingsPnoyAndTheCity has become the become a premiere website for Pilipino Traditional Culture with exhibits like Carriers of Tradition (pasikings from the Northern Philippines) and Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines (kulintang music)Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-21138949980080291522007-02-14T10:47:00.000-08:002007-02-14T10:49:27.558-08:00A license to play kulintang music

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWith the way things are going, the answer could very well be yes.I came to this realization in Berkeley where we own a restaurant. Along University Ave, it serves Indonesian food, has copies of Philippine News but something that we’ve been offering to patrons for a limited time is live kulintang music played by yours truly.Now, I know what you are thinking. Kulintang

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1163231471293175992006-11-01T23:35:00.000-08:002010-04-13T07:01:39.802-07:00Learning about the RP with Google in the Sky (UNEDITED VERSION)

By Philip Dominguez MercurioHere’s a program you should download: Google earth.My Uncle Henry suggested it a while back. I initially didn’t download it when I first learned about it but when I did - Wow.Incredible. What can I say - It’s like having the globe at your fingertips.The features are amazing. Just like your desktop globe, you could turn it anyway you please but unlike it, on this globe

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160629042941048642006-10-11T21:57:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:02:07.246-07:00Try Wikipedia

By Philip Dominguez MercurioHave you ever heard of Wikipedia? Well if you haven’t, I implore you to check it out.Wikipedia is the web’s solution to the encyclopedia. This online encyclopedia is free, made from the collaborative efforts of hundreds of volunteers willing to spend their precious time, contributing and editing hundreds of articles in an effort to make the world’s most comprehensive

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160629243194880252006-09-27T21:57:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:00:43.236-07:00Interesting Asian American business stats

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI think it was a few months ago when I was listening to the car radio and a report came out that stated the number of Asian American businesses have increased in number by 25 percent, a stat said to have surpassed the national average by nearly fifty percent. Those stats, taken by the U.S. Census Bureau, were just another confirmation of the model minority status that

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160629545756454412006-08-30T22:03:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:05:45.820-07:00Don’t ruin our nurses’ reputation

By Philip Dominguez MercurioLast week I was watching TV Patrol when the nursing board exam scandal came up. I initially thought, “Not a big deal. Just another one of those stories. Chatter over here; a resignation over there. All blown out of proportion.” This is commonplace when watching our news programming.Until… Bam! As I was on the plane over to Nashville, this headline made it to page four

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160629689439591952006-08-16T22:06:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:09:48.660-07:00Where do you stand on the war?

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI don’t like stating my stance about issues concerning war. I’d like to, especially in these days of conflict, but I don’t because in this country, you’ll likely end up either at the end of one of two extremes: the “for war” crowd or the “against war” bunch. Haven’t you ever noticed? Either you’re portrayed as a war hawk, stomping the pulpit for blood or you’re seen as

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160630238693062572006-08-02T22:15:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:17:18.740-07:00Say something or nothing at all

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI’m very concerned these days. A sense of unease has come upon me, and the reasons cannot be clearly written in stone.I was attempting to publish a column piece last week called “Five Years Later,” commenting on the terror of September 11 and why the extremists had targeted America. It was tough going as my editors here at Philippine News and I debated on whether to

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1160630011695188962006-07-12T22:11:00.000-07:002006-10-11T22:13:31.810-07:00Common Sense Driving

By Philip Dominguez MercurioThis really amazes me sometimes.I was driving down 101 in a region of the highway where traffic starts to decongest right after the 101-280 split. Traffic normally starts speeding up past the 65 mph speed limit after the junction but I happened to be a few cars behind a container truck.As we started climbing the hill, the truck started slowing down, really slowing down

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1151616300836846252006-06-28T14:22:00.000-07:002006-06-29T14:25:00.840-07:00My Two Cents on Global Warming

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI’m sure you’ve heard the rhetoric already. Global warming has caused havoc upon our fragile environment. Stories in the media abound about the loss of polar ice caps, the rise in sea levels and the escalating frequency of powerful hurricanes all due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere. Stirring warnings have been given from the likes of

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1151616159911760622006-06-14T14:19:00.000-07:002006-06-29T14:22:39.923-07:00The Most Important Code

By Philip Dominguez MercurioMaybe I missed something.Recently, I went to watch that controversial film the Da Vinci Code, two days after its premiere.Now, I’m not really sure why there was so much controversy behind this film. The movie was O.K. lang. Although, it wasn’t the best produced movie this year and was lacking some pizzazz in the suspense category, overall the movie came out as a cool

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1149106417331483702006-05-31T13:11:00.000-07:002006-05-31T13:16:05.583-07:00The Nursing Conundrum

By Philip Dominguez MercurioShould the United States lift the cap on the number of nurses allowed into the country to address the limited supply of nurses in America?Those against it are fuming that the provision places the very health of the Philippines in jeopardy, leaving a crumbling health system in its wake. Vacancies for nursing jobs in the Philippines hover in the tens of thousands. In his

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1148021581765774042006-05-17T23:48:00.000-07:002006-05-18T23:53:01.776-07:00Dear cousins,

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI recovered all the e-mails you sent me and pasted it onto Notepad and printed it out at work. 33 pages. It reads like a literary novel – a diary of correspondence.Very interesting -- humbling even -- the stories. Some of them troubling, but you were able to pull through and that indeed is amazing. I don’t think I would have been able to pull through if I were in your

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1146796594380485732006-05-03T19:33:00.000-07:002006-05-04T19:36:34.396-07:00Is there a preference for ‘white’ immigrants?

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWhen it comes to race relations in this country, I’m always reminded of the attitudes professed by my high school comrades. They were of the belief that by then (the late nineties) we had come to the point where the civil rights movement and its underpinnings weren’t necessary anymore. Those who continued believing that minorities weren’t equal either had to be kidding

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1145517399163439192006-04-19T00:14:00.000-07:002006-04-20T00:16:39.176-07:00‘To the back of the line’

By Philip Dominguez MercurioYou know if you’re a regular-- driving in and out of the City from across the bay-- let me tell you that I am humbled by you’re patience.The infamous onramps to the glorious Bay Bridge function like the isthmus in an hourglass, rushing an enormous amount of sand grains though the smallest of openings. Out of the five lanes going outbound, three are devoted to

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1144313717381799752006-04-06T01:52:00.000-07:002006-04-17T11:49:21.546-07:00When ‘brain drain’ can be a good thing

By Philip Dominguez MercurioMy girlfriend is Indonesian and it’s quite natural for me to compare our two nations.I’d boast about our 7,100 islands but they have 11,000. Roughly 50 million souls are stacked onto Luzon but they’ve sacked 115 million onto Java, an island of similar size. We had Pinatubo, the biggest eruption last century but they have Toba, the largest ever recorded. We had Marcos

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1143758504018159492006-03-22T14:38:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:12:43.666-07:00Understanding the complex dynamics of our community

By Philip Dominguez MercurioThere we were in the 5th floor Social Hall of the Philippines Consulate, me, Oliver, Lance and Elton — all from Philippine News — sitting and listening as the American and Philippine anthems were sung. Apparently, oblivious to yours truly (until I arrived there), this event was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Edsa. Photos lined the walls as photographers from

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1141874209022860452006-03-08T19:13:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:14:30.510-07:00Sliding from One Disaster to Another

By Philip Dominguez MercurioIt’s deja vu all over again. When it comes down to our islands against the elements, in this case heavy downpours, we always seem to get knocked out.On network news, the Guinsaugon mudslide looked like a big muddy hand had come down from the mountainside, slamming into the lust farmland below, grabbing everything and everyone into its fold. Boulders - the size of small

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1140685375887863692006-02-22T00:53:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:16:18.406-07:00Those Country Filipinos

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWhen one thinks of the Filipino diaspora in America, a few designated regions usually come to mind. Cities from Daly to Jersey City are always mentioned. Then there are the beltways around DC and Houston. One could find them listening to the Tagalog choir at late masses at the Church of the Epiphany in the Excelsior district or congregating after mass at St. Augustine’

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1139441517243760302006-02-08T15:29:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:17:22.130-07:00Cha-Cha: Finding the shoe that fits

By Philip Dominguez MercurioIt’s my understanding that since a good chunk of the Philippine workforce resides outside of the Philippines, it’s pertinent that those OFWs play an integral part in the coming charter change. OFWs represent a sizable portion of the overall GDP of the country. Why shouldn’t they?But here’s a pickle. How about native Filipino Americans, meaning those born in the States.

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1135317233966447042005-12-21T21:48:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:35:53.070-07:00All Wrapped Up

By Philip Dominguez MercurioEver been to one of your relative’s houses, perhaps located in one of those ‘Pinoydoms’ along the Peninsula or the East Bay, hoping for some downtime?You knock. They open the door, ask you if you had eaten but all you want to do is rest and logically eye their couch. You sit and sink slowly into the cushions. You try to relax but soon realize something odd - the couch

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1134116760319636352005-12-07T00:22:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:36:03.670-07:00Disturbing Comic Books

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWe’ve all heard it before. The prime minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi goes to visit the Yasukuni Shrine to honor and pray for the 2.5 million Japanese who died during the war, including the war criminals. Insulted Korean and Chinese officials condemn the visit, canceling diplomatic engagements and threatening Japan with isolation. Japanese officials have removed

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1132788792614566982005-11-23T15:32:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:36:14.580-07:00Discrepancies in PCN Dance

See this article,"Bayanihan: tradition and truth in dance" in Philippine News. Click here.

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1132790314748775092005-10-26T15:57:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:36:22.410-07:00Why We Are The Weakest Link

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI met one of my girlfriend’s relatives a couple of weeks back and the first reaction they said to me on learning I am Filipino was, “O, Abu Sayyaf.”It was a joke of course but it gives a horrible first impression of the Philippines: Abu Sayyaf and stories about the kidnappings of businessmen.Of course, we’re not alone in the negative department. Mention Indonesia and

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1132789777876686202005-10-12T15:44:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:11:21.086-07:00The Talking Gongs

By Philip Dominguez MercurioIf you’ve ever seen a kulintang ensemble, perhaps at a Pilipino cultural event, you would have witnessed the incredible majesty and splendor that kulintang music has to offer. Unfortunately, you would have also missed all the functionality kulintang music has to offer as well.Besides its entertainment value during community gathering, such as festivals or milestones,

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1134012846058243332005-09-28T19:32:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:36:32.596-07:00Government says ‘sorry’

By Philip Dominguez MercurioAdmitting something, especially something wrong, is always hard.Upon hearing Ate Glo's admission a few months ago, I thought she dealt herself a deathblow. Most leaders would have instead stuck by some story denying the facts, especially in the Philippines where admitting one's guilt instantly throws you into the lion's den.My thoughts were that she should have

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1126759299446442822005-09-14T21:38:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:36:54.940-07:00Housing Bubble and Hapless Immigrant

By Philip Dominguez MercurioFrenzied. Bubble.All these words have now become synonymous with the frantic US housing market.Looking at all the media reports, there isn’t any consensus, either from those in the real estate business to the government itself, where any of this is going.Some claim that a collapse is eminent, perhaps within a year or two, citing studies that suggest incomes and job

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1126419415836586432005-08-31T23:11:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:37:14.833-07:00Fading Away

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWhew, am I tired. Just took the MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test. Composed of four different tests ranging from genetics to phase-matter equilibriums compressed into eight hours of strategic mayhem, the MCAT attempts to wrangle one’s mind in every conceivable way possible. The science problems were numerous, and we were given a small amount time

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050945599334322005-08-03T03:08:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:37:30.146-07:00Corruption? No… It’s stability silly.

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI was dropping off Master Danongan Kalanduyan after one of our practices a few weeks ago. We were discussing his third trip to Alaska but as we entered the I-380 over crossing, we couldn’t help but stumble upon the wonderful world of Philippine politics. He had much to say, particularly about recent events and how La Presidente should resign.I was trying to distance

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050889599868612005-07-06T03:07:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:37:48.740-07:00Defining Filipino II

By Philip Dominguez MercurioRecently, I got back from Atlanta and was pleased to find that my hotmail account was flooded with e-mail concerning the last column piece I wrote entitled “Defining Filipino.”Some were in support of the column and the issue I wrote about. Others weren’t so enthusiastic.Many chastised my conduct as irresponsible, careless, and others characterized the piece as “

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050827819879202005-05-25T03:06:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:38:06.416-07:00Define Filipino

By Philip Dominguez MercurioRecently at Filgrad, an event for graduating Filipino students at San Francisco State University, a white girl wanted to participate in the occasion as one of 70 other Filipino graduates. The organizers were delighted to have her participate since she was involved in many Filipino affairs as one of Professor Begonia’s students. So it seemed logical for her to top off

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050790064379312005-05-11T03:05:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:38:19.730-07:00(Kulintang Reinstated) - newsstory

SAN FRANCISCO - “It is official,” said Kenneth Monteiro, current Acting Dean of College of Ethnic Studies. “The course was reinstated.”ETHS 545, a class devoted to the Tradition Music of the Southern Philippines, which had been destined to be eliminated from the curriculum of San Francisco State University, is to be funded for the upcoming fall 2005 semester.The news was sheer joy to many of its

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050686404090052005-05-11T03:04:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:41:13.963-07:00A Hollow Victory

By Philip Dominguez MercurioHopefully you’ve heard the news.Kulintang music at San Francisco State is up and running for another semester this fall. Better sign you and your lola up, if you haven’t already.Everyone involved seemed on the up and up. The university will retain a unique discipline taught by the one-and-only Master Kalanduyan and the students and the surrounding community will be on

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1125050654077955882005-04-27T03:03:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:42:01.206-07:00Shortchanged

By Philip Dominguez MercurioDuring class, one of Master Kalanduyan’s students, John Kenney, couldn’t comprehend why ETHS 545 was being cut. He kept asking, “Does it really cost that much to keep Master Kalanduyan here at San Francisco State?” Now, let’s be fair. Schools all across California are facing budget cuts so everyone within the school system is struggling. But if you think about it:

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568825424882192005-04-20T19:25:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:42:13.740-07:00Fund Cut Silences ‘kulintang’

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO — ETHS 545, a class that explores the art of kulintang (gong) music from the Southern Philippines, is getting the ax this coming semester. This was a result of Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s moves to borrow $2 billion in funds from California’s already strained education budget. Similar culturally rich classes are also being eliminated. Seeing no

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568653897159142005-04-13T19:23:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:42:33.280-07:00Filipino Pope, Anyone

By Philip Dominguez MercurioIT’S a shame that the Philippines does not havea front-runner contender for the papacy. Looking at the list of potential candidates in many of the national papers, you’re not going to find a Filipino candidate in any of them.Brazil and Mexico are the biggest Catholic nations in the world, each of them have at least one person in contention: Cardinals Claudio Hummes and

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568587662988122005-03-30T19:22:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:42:52.263-07:00Annex Sabah

AS OF NOW, war perhaps is a long shot but not off the table yet. I’m not referring to the long and arduous scuffle between some rebellions ruffians and the Philippine military in the Sulu Sea but brewing tension just a few miles due south of there between our closest Malayan neighbors: Indonesia and Malaysia.In Jakarta, apparently, this is big news. According to the Jakarta Post, Jakarta insists

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1134119201122648512005-03-02T01:03:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:43:05.846-07:00The First Lumpia

By Philip Dominguez MercurioFAIRYTALES and folklore have been commonplace throughout the world and there have been quite a few in America that have been imported from the relics of the ancient world and the northern regions of Europe. Even The Philippines has their own mythologies about the origins of the world, man, etc., but I’ve been particularly interested on where things, especially things

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568516965238512005-02-09T19:21:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:43:16.813-07:00Lost in a Shun

By Philip Dominguez MercurioNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Her arrival came to me through an email invitation from the Philippine Consulate General. The email read: “The Bay Area Filipino American Community and The Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco celebrate the first visit to the United States of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her new mandate as President of the Republic of the

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568384731481872004-12-15T19:18:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:51:08.036-07:00Boxed In

By Philip Dominguez MercurioANOTHER presidential season has come and gone, and hopefully everyone who could have voted in their own special way, did this November. Delegates of all forms sprang into action en masse, enticing “newbies” to fill out those all too wonderful voter registration forms.Now, I could never understand these registration forms. They seem straight forward. Just fill out your

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1114568296634559292004-11-03T19:16:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:56:19.683-07:00Occupiers not Liberators

By Philip Dominguez MercurioRECENTLY, the Republican convention took center stage after the conclusion of the summer Olympics in Athens. For four long days, GOPers watched as the superstars from their party paraded into primetime and onto the television screens of hundreds of thousands. From the humble honesty of John McCain to the powerful poignancy of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. All elements

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1099034600124720402004-10-06T01:22:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:56:31.106-07:00Over Glo and Morality

By Philip Dominguez MercurioAS THE dust settles from the firestorm that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo brought the world months ago, it’s good to ask: What could have driven Ate Glo into finally succumbing to the kidnappers’ demands? We could all speculate on what grounds she made her decision on, whether it was to insult another administration or as payback to someone she owed. Who really

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1099034901738713932004-09-22T01:27:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:56:46.890-07:00Keep on Dancing

By Philip Dominguez MercurioA COLD Monday morning in June. We stood atop a hill over- looking Interstate 80 watching the cars participate in their daily rush to work. Before us was a hole covered in thick green sheets to conceal the dirt below it. Lifting part of it, you could see the gravestone of our Grandma – Rufina Dominguez Wabe – who passed away three years ago.My Aunt Corazon, sensitive to

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1099034852966958182004-09-15T01:27:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:58:51.753-07:00My Two Cents

By Philip Dominguez MercurioA FEW months ago, I received a call from the editorial staff informing me of a meeting at our headquarters. No reason was given about what was to be discussed but all I knew was they wanted me to attend. In the glassed conference room were seated all those in the newsroom with a youthful exuberance for an immediate brainstorming meeting.Its aim: To identify ways in

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1099034107144524512004-09-08T01:12:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:01:40.966-07:00Incessantly Superstitious

By Philip Dominguez MercurioTRUTH be told, I’m not exactly a superstitious person. I try not to believe in stuff out of the extraordinary or in the “too good to be true” category. That’s not my style.But beliefs could change very quickly. After my third cousin’s funeral, I happened to leave the funeral banner, the banner which allows you to participate in vehicular processions, on the windshield.

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610713341254492004-06-09T02:38:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:03:26.106-07:00A Historical Look at Leche Flan

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO – THIS one week, I was watching the movie “Envy” with my girlfriend and her close friend. We went to the Sony Metreon after a wonderful day of shopping and succumbed to the realization that we needed a break from all the walking and escalating we did around Union Square – specifically in the seven-story mammoth of a store, Macy’s. It was concluded

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610585142523202004-06-02T02:35:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:05:52.853-07:00In-Lawing

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO – IF EVER you wandered into the Sunset district in the late ‘80s – assuming you either wanted some good Chinese food from Irving or were just plain lost – you may have witnessed a little kid pedaling away along one of the sidewalks. With colorful noise makers attached to axle of his wheels and a Cookie Monster bell for a horn, approaching him would have

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610437129509952004-06-02T02:33:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:06:01.350-07:00Pure Filipino

… of Master Danongan Kalanduyan and his Palabuniyan Kulintang EnsembleBy Philip Dominguez Mercurio SAN FRANCISCO - Riveting. It’s a word only used to characterize something that is captivating, motivating or something which elucidates a deep feeling from within oneself that at times cannot exactly be explained into actual words. Defined in this way, riveting also depicts the exact feeling I was

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610316618378432004-05-12T02:30:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:06:09.146-07:00The New Generation of American Filipino

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO - “WHAT do you think Matthew?” John John stood sa corridor flanked by doorways; his question still reverberating back to his cousin, Matthew, who at the time was still making his way up the coiled stairwell. Matthew, still a little lost from the new environment he was in, couldn’t help but nod in agreement with his older cousin. Soon the two scurried into

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610212200086362004-04-14T02:29:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:06:23.433-07:00Beginning of a New Era

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN RAMON, Calif. - I WAS supposed to be in the building by noon. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. At that very moment, I was still outside.My little white car approached the guard station. I sat in the car, tense as usual, for I realized that my punctuality was just fueling the unproven stereotype that Filipinos are always prone to being relatively late.With a complex of

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610129564450792004-03-31T02:28:00.000-08:002006-04-17T12:26:10.146-07:00Carriers of Tradition

By Philip Dominguez MercurioTHESE backpacks hailing from a region of the Philippines known as the Northern Cordilleras are now on exhibit at the Hohenthal Gallery of the Treganza Anthropology Museum of San Francisco State University. Their beauty and exceptional craftsmanship is unlike any other – just another example of the wonders that have remained relatively hidden in the mountains of Luzon

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098610046211133772004-03-10T02:26:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:06:39.480-07:00The Chinese and the Amish

By Philip Dominguez MercurioI THINK she was studying Organic Chemistry. It could have been that. You could tell by all the chemical reactions she left on her yellow legal pad. Agnes Lau sat in one of the benches in the Java coffee house, cuddled in her Tommy jacket while spending time spinning her black pen, swinging her foot precariously back and forth underneath a shaky wooden table. I forgot

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609787817075862004-01-28T02:22:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:06:55.753-07:00So Deprived

By Philip Dominguez MercurioNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Meeting Filipinos in the desolate but still inhabitable parts of the American frontier is always a joy. An ecstatic feeling almost always electrifies the air once two flat noses cross, a feeling filled with relief in which those Tagalog words that have been withheld on the tip of one’s tongue for so long could be immediately drawn out into a sensible

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609713592828622004-01-14T02:21:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:07:39.813-07:00Pass the Apron

Pass the ApronBy Philip Dominguez MercurioNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Another cold December night and I am with only pot and pan. Or maybe just pot, this time around.Into it, the cold tap waters from the dams of Tennessee were aptly applied, nearly rounding up to the pot’s very rim, as a coiled furnace gleaming hot red was added from below. Moments later, the dried noodles were thrown in; its soaked self

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609597233826822003-12-10T02:19:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:08:03.696-07:00Que Serra Serra

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO - It was another Monday, the 10th of November, in the year 2003. I was fiddling through the trunk, looking for some equipment: the digital tape recorder, the digital camera. Christine continued to sit in the car, twirling her pen while holding onto some papers. A bit of anxiety was in the air for… we’ve actually never done this before.I and my crew,

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609516626652532003-11-19T02:18:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:08:12.053-07:00Road to Rosales

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO — A pile of fallen leaves meekly lay along the roadside. They didn’t remain there for long for they were soon gathered up and thrown into the air, twisting and twirling as a car wistfully rolled by. As they spun round and round, its tornadic form started to subside as it drifted towards the dust-ridden sidewalk. As the leaves commenced to rest, my mommy

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609441773516912003-11-12T02:16:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:08:20.236-07:00Care Not Stash

By Philip Dominguez MercurioIT started with a phone call. My Grandma was holding the phone telling me that one of my aunties wanted to talk to me about something. What it was about I didn’t know but from the get co, it didn’t sound good. On the phone was my auntie, who was telling me about her ‘plan’ to handle her mom’s Alzheimer’s, which according to her was already way bad. She explained to me

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609300706517092003-10-29T02:14:00.000-08:002006-04-17T13:08:32.266-07:00When Worry Equals Care

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO — 4:20 a.m., the 11th of October, 2003. Another early Saturday morning or really, really late Friday night. Whatever. I turned off my headlights and moseyed my car up into the driveway, incognito. Quietly turned off the engine and went inside. Everything was a delicate operation. I mean, you didn’t exactly want to wake up anyone… if you know what I mean.I

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609203430796602003-10-22T02:12:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:08:43.130-07:00Those Silly Photographs

By Philip Dominguez MercurioSAN FRANCISCO - Going through an old picture album is fun. Many times, I can’t help but laugh when finding pictures of my mommy and her brothers lined up together in front of some fountain somewhere in the city, all with jerry curls and sunglasses, making them look like an Asian version of the Jackson 5. Then there are my cousins, all double-parked in front them in

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098609097141888232003-10-01T02:10:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:08:50.726-07:00Expedition into Filipino 101

By Philip Dominguez MercurioNow, I’ve gone to SF State for three semesters now but (surprisingly) I haven’t really divulged myself into the Filipino scene yet. I mean, the Asian American History class I took had a good rise on the make-up of the Filipino-American community and how we came about, but that was basically a history lesson. Nothing really self-involving there.So, here I went, adding a

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098608945416919042003-09-17T02:08:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:09:01.883-07:00Feelin’ the Manongs

By Philip Dominguez MercurioCOOKEVILE, TN — The smell of freshly cut grass. The purr of a humming engine. The utter release of pollen and other known allergens into the placid air.These are the sights and sound that accompany the tonic, which is lawn mowing. Mention this concept to anyone living beneath the clouds in Daly City and bewilderment ensues.“Lawn mowing?... What the h**l is a lawn?”Here

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098608732739896992003-08-27T02:04:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:09:19.036-07:00The Ultimate Filipino Driving Machine

By Philip Dominguez Mercurio10:10. I glanced at my phone and got up.Another morning. Another day.Change attire, pack the computer, wash face, and after that first minute, bam… just like clockwork, I was all ready to go. Turn on the car engine and drive away could have been added to that first minute, but there are always those uncontrollable snags that periodically come up. In case, it was

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098608204082151952003-08-20T01:54:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:09:29.210-07:00The Art of Trickling

By Philip Dominguez MercurioPeeing. Don’t be ashamed to admit it. For ages, this unique art form has been passed on from generation to generation. Its golden arches of high-octane rich urea, springing fruitfully from between the loins of countless millions like the geysers found in Yellowstone, eliciting the minds of hundreds of dreamers seeking that elusive feeling of total emancipation only

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098608402590236462003-07-09T01:58:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:09:46.273-07:00Accented

By Philip Dominguez MercurioAN IDLE computer. Two months later, it remains in its stagnant state, disappointed to find its mouse never yet being used to click on icons, its keyboard never yet being able to hear the riddle of fingertips along its keys and its plush screen never yet having contact with pupils for a sustainable period of time. Technically, you’d think that if somebody was given such

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098607825003651372003-06-25T01:45:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:09:59.030-07:00Unconsciouly Filipino

By Philip Dominguez MercurioA SNAP. A crackle. A pop. Was this a Rice Krispy commercial?Well, no. But, at least from my perspective, it da** well could have been one.My nephew sat across me, shotgun, trying to control his laughter, for he knew what was up. My face was slowly turning into a timeless masterpiece of frighten madness and the reason behind why this was so could be explained by what I

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098607926753430122003-05-28T01:50:00.000-07:002006-04-17T12:23:27.416-07:00On the Line

By Philip Dominguez MercurioWHAT’S your impression of the Philippines? Really, what is it? When you think of your country, don’t you think of a country filled with loving, welcoming people, always smiling as they open their balikbayan boxes, filled with cans of delectable spam and corned beef, many coming straight from the North Pole, also known as Costco?How about the guy sitting next to you on

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8855496.post-1098607092229438122003-05-21T05:21:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:10:17.313-07:00Just an 8 Letter Word

By Philip Dominguez MercurioAH, closed captioning. Yea, that scroll of white letters encased in black rectangles, which routinely zips across your television screen, telling you that English apparently has a written component to it as well. I was casually observant of this television phenomenon one night, while watching the really nightly news and a story came up about Rodel Rodis. Gee, I thought

Philip Dominguez Mercuriohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08580897412461727000noreply@blogger.com