The
year was 2036 and all of humanity converged outside their homes, stared at the horizon, and prayed for deliverance. Asteroid
99942 Apophis made another close pass to Earth and though NASA had ruled out
any potential threat, people could not help but marvel at the night sky. How could
that little flicker be 3 ½ football-fields big and capable of destroying a
city as big as Metro Manila?
It
was a scare humanity will never forget, April 13, 2029, Friday the 13th,
when Apophis had its first flyby a mere 36, 000 kilometers from Earth,
destroying the geostationary satellites in its way, and changing the world
forever.
Basic.
Primitive. Whatever you call it. But the fact is, it is only with a threat of
death or oblivion does a man gain retrospection and see life as it is – ambiguous, relative, and irreplaceable.
The
first flyby in 2029 catapulted the second Renaissance, the perfect fusion of science
and arts, of life and chaos, and of hope and hell.
But forget your dystopian-end-of-the-world ideas! My friend Melanie Iremedio for example, continues to revolutionize dieting and recently introduced the Diosa Diet that could make anyone gain muscle mass without exercise. I read she’s recently hailed Woman of the Year by Vogue Philippines but of course, our friend Pamela Dapitanon is the Editor so you can’t really blame the haters for doubting the poll --- unlike Gwenn Nicole Pabalate, a UNICEF Ambassador, who topped the House of L’Oreal’s list of Non-Celebrity Women of the Year hands down! Gwenn is lucky because she’s got unsung heroes for friends who share her ideals from the get-go. When she told fellow philanthropists Christian Tripole, Ariele Faye Labi, Shane Mallas, John Lord Morales, and Maria Emah Bon about her plan of putting up a school for the differently-abled and street children, they opened their hearts to the challenge and created classroom assistive technologies from scraps.
But forget your dystopian-end-of-the-world ideas! My friend Melanie Iremedio for example, continues to revolutionize dieting and recently introduced the Diosa Diet that could make anyone gain muscle mass without exercise. I read she’s recently hailed Woman of the Year by Vogue Philippines but of course, our friend Pamela Dapitanon is the Editor so you can’t really blame the haters for doubting the poll --- unlike Gwenn Nicole Pabalate, a UNICEF Ambassador, who topped the House of L’Oreal’s list of Non-Celebrity Women of the Year hands down! Gwenn is lucky because she’s got unsung heroes for friends who share her ideals from the get-go. When she told fellow philanthropists Christian Tripole, Ariele Faye Labi, Shane Mallas, John Lord Morales, and Maria Emah Bon about her plan of putting up a school for the differently-abled and street children, they opened their hearts to the challenge and created classroom assistive technologies from scraps.
Some
though are not so career-driven. Dominica
Mae Unlang, Judy Ann Awitin, Elyn Joy Cuanan, Edelyn Sabello, Rusheen
Cabiles, Mary Joy Madoc and Jasmin Ongcoy who used to just pretty
things up in school, end up enjoying housewifery! In fact their recent book
collaboration entitled “Most Desperate Housewives” is a certified bestseller in
Amazon. I heard ABS is brewing up a movie version and had asked Angel Zarah Badilla to do the screenplay.
She declined the offer though. Angel wants to devout all of her time in Hanzfer John Galvan’s Travel to Mars. Efren Michael Tenizo has wrapped up his
comic book take on it and Angel thinks that with Efren’s extensive comic book
resume, they could both market the story as a franchise material worldwide.
Nope, Hanzfer is no Clark-Kent-kryptonite freak but since the discovery of
Apophis in 2004, scientists around the world had pushed for manned space
exploration and with the go signal during the Obama government, started to send
astronauts in 2021 to low-Earth orbit explorations. Hanzfer, having showed
exemplary skills in the PMA, was one of the 12 Filipinos handpicked to join the
Orion Crew, and what used to be Marvel superheroes have become real-life people
who have changed the world.
Peter Uban, the current PNP Chief cannot
be outdone though because upon Orion’s return voyage, he launched the Thor
Selection, a transmorgrified process of selecting the best of the best Filipino
law enforcers likened to that of US Navy SEALs. The maelstrom of reproval was
as expected but when Peter dismissed Rajel
Atason, Joemari Baliling, Rizaldo Coronel, Jaymar Diampon, Ian
Christopher Nuñez, Harley Sean Paulo,
Jay-Ar Radores, Elioterio Caimtang and many of our friends from the Thor Camp, the
people knew Chief Uban meant business and would never tolerate the Padrino
system in his leadership.
It
was the worst of times. It was the best of times. People started to see merit,
not money or connections, as the basis of all things important. And so people
learned to create and recreate themselves to fit in the new world order. Jan Mark Baay for example, had ceased
just dating models and started to devout his flirting energies instead to
photography. Ana Mae Atugan is a
wallflower no more, and now successfully runs a talent agency for introverts. Maico Atoma produces “Just for Laughs”
Philippines. Rachel Mae Gornot
currently does Broadway while Daniel
Mongcal scores music for Paramount Pictures. Kent Sarza and Mark Jason Encio
are highly respected clinical psychologists while Carlo Didal and Joylyn
Pilong are making waves doing motivational speaking gigs to druggies and
pill poppers. Abner Ibarani and Anthony Virgilio teamed up to build
Recess Foundations Inc., an organization that helps ADHD kids cope up with boring
academic routines. Roy Diez and Adrian Gonzalez are currently
developing a new kung fu animation at Pixar while Gracel Labarda and Queenie
Grace Balante have both successfully launched the Royal Magazine that
features all things household made regal. May
Flor Ludia does talk show at TLC while Febie
Lou Martinez and Hannah Jean Ongcoy
run their M.O. Cosplay Store along Matiao Avenue, beside the “Be a Princess”
Photo Studio of Allyson Morales and
Abercrombie Store of Judy Ann Baliling.
We
are the post-millennial generation and the world has finally removed most
traces of divisions, of partisanship. Technology has made the world smaller and
life, bigger. A lot bigger. Shugar Cabo
for instance, has just announced her retirement at 40, after a modeling
portfolio that included House of Harlow, Guess and Dior. Even Angelica Mapaa did covers for Nightingale
Magazine. I also remember a catch-up over coffee with their pro stylists Ronel Gonzalez and Chrisa Mae Gamboa, and had a blast from the past when we saw the
coffee table book of renowned artists Christian
Jay Timbogan, Joy Dimana, and Marianne Bagajo just right there in
front of us! Once, while traipsing East 50th Avenue in Vancouver, I
literally bumped into Maila Benituasan, Benjie Pabuaya, Mailene Ornales and Master Cyrus
Jeff Lacang who are teaching in The Academy of International Dance Arts. Filipino
dancers they said are still all the rage because being the melting pot of all
races, we are highly adaptive and flexible.
I am
really proud of Batch 2014 because everyone has gone the extra mile. We are as
ubiquitous as leaves on trees and as unrelenting as gravity. When I turn on the
TV for example, there’s Maria Nikola
Bakiao’s Gossip Show every 10pm at E!, or Abdiel Bauyot’s band at MTV, or Celso Burgos doing late-night at ANC, or Jefferson Lintuan covering the FIFA at ESPN, or Brother John Michael Mamparo giving sermons
even on idle Tuesdays. You check the racks on the bookstore near you and you’ll
see Playboy’s Editor-At-Large Karl Louel
Faustino, or Marinell Lantaca’s
Health Journal, or Joseph Sinson’s
Travel Guide for Newbies. You turn on the radio and there’s Armenio Pabio at DZMM, or Crestine Ann Ambrocio at Bombo Radyo
Cebu, or Danilo Caumanday at Radyo
Natin Manila. Roy Jhon Narvaez who used to roam every nook and crannies of our
campus, has put his roaming-around to good use and now works in National
Geographic Channel.
I am
particularly proud of the quiet achievers though. Hannah Marie Lubiano did the amazing road works connecting Mati
City airport to the rest of the metro. Clemente
Gaganao I’ve heard has put up a state-of-the-art resort along Pahamotang
District. Christopher Bedolido has a
small sports center in Madang Avenue. Hopkinson
Ligan has a Korean Karaoke Bar equipped with technologies imported from
Jeju. Joseph Icoy owns an exclusive Hokage
Bar and Resto which features Naruto’s ramen as house specialty. Nemesio Soriano has a Joke Shop along
West Central District. Katrina Krizara
Obrial has an exclusive medical school along Dahican Complex. Lovely Jean Son has 4 derma clinics all
over the Central District. Jenny Rose
Gildore owns the Smile for a Cause Foundations while Shiela Mae Lumangyao and Antonet
Ortiz collaborated on a Zen Spa and Resort for people who like the peace
and quiet.
It’s
not surprising really. The global recession from 2008 to 2012 was a good poke
in the head to youth and young professionals --- a life plunged in debt is no
life at all. Loans and predatory lending even sunk the solid US economy! So what
can a Third World country do? We just can’t expect our government to bail us
out, so us, the post-millenials, encouraged business, encouraged financial
innovation, encouraged interdependence, encouraged discovery and growth. And so
we have Ailene Fe Muñoz who makes
headbands and all things kikay to Abdul
Raof Bastian who designs volleyball clothes and accessories, to Carlo Leonor’s Celebrity Tattoo Shop,
to Janesie Tirol’s Hair Salon, to Geraldine Silongan’s high-end gift
shop, or Rebecca Alcayde’s perfume
business, or Dawn Suzette Malasarte’s
hair care products, or even Joseph
Sinson’s Car Parts and Hardware.
It’s
the best feeling in the world really, when you look back and realize you’ve
done something worthwhile, no matter how small, because you stood up to your
dreams, your passion, to what you believe in. Take Cris John Abalunan for example. He spent 20 years guarding the Spratly’s
without an ounce of regret. Or Markie Bernal, who dreamed on studying
at Harvard and ended up guarding Harvard instead…or Edsel Chavez, an assistant of the assistant coach of Team Azkals when
the team ranked 6th in the FIFA World Rankings.
It
was 2026, the team hit an all-time record high and we couldn’t be any prouder of
our friends. Philippine Football
Federation President Aljer Rueles put
his whole career at stake when he supported head coach Mhel Yusores’ goal of crawling through the most humiliating upsets
in football history, and have the team finally qualify for the FIFA World Cup. It
was in Tokyo, the largest city in the world, and what was supposed to be a
football frenzy became an unexpected class reunion. Jomar Silat owns the FIFA-affiliated ticket company in Manila and
he phoned us all to meet at Tokyo. Some of the men stayed at Architect Christopher Lumangyao’s house in
Shinagawa, while others went straight to Hotel Chinsanzo where Kenneth Manlucob mans the most
luxurious kitchen in Tokyo Central District. There we met with Davee Palmiano who works with Japan
Basketball League, Pastor Jepte Dalde
who works with the Filipino expats in Chiyoda, Anime Creator Ken Daryl Masaudling, Professor of Meme
Culture Renster Paluga, and
Professor of Hokage History Abdul Aziz
Nacada.
It
was so cool. Jumel Inabiogan is a
self-confessed President of the Azkals Fans Club so he hosted a party at Araihama
Bay. Kevin Keisler Terona let us
borrow his cars and toured us around Miura Peninsula. Even Joseph Rosas and Charlie Jay
Lindo who both manage their own stores outside Tokyo, came over to join the
fun. We stopped by the Tokyo Marine Biology Station in the area where Patrick Abaño and Lester Bong Bunani are working on their latest online game that
comes with metamorphed marine species. Then we walked to Arabatsubo Marine Park
where Noel Balusca and Jeneric Elga have been working the last
12 years. It’s a pity really that Alver
Jade Ablayan and DJ Charlie Lubiano
both have conferences in Hokkaido two nights before and just couldn’t secure
flights back in time.
It
was a crazy night out because we had the whole bay to ourselves. Kristine Joy Andan, Grace Anquillano, and Charmaine
Lunay staged a karaoke concert that only us friends could appreciate. Charlyn Bualan and Clarize Cape spent the whole time taking pictures while Christine Larrobis and Mara Jean Camense led the parlor
games. Dianalyn Lerio, Grace Tunong and Chen-Chen Muaña all brought with them their Japanese husbands
while Amelina Untua, Brendeth Vee Gornot
and Mary Cris Piañar just
enjoyed sipping their Chardonnay by the portico.
Make
no mistake. They are extremely busy and accomplished women and just really want
to relinquish stress and have fun. Princess
Angelic Catog for example, who went downright crazy on the dance floor that
night, actually works in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Prezelle Arianne Bello is the current asthma specialist at Davao
Doc. Grezelle Faye Ybañez is the
trusted political adviser of the Padullon administration. Maria Rosario Enriquez and Rica
Palen just finished their fifth self-help book called “How to Attract Real
Friends and Keep the Fakes Away”. Mel
Deniel Ong leads high-profile cases in no less than the National Bureau of
Investigation. Chrislyn Tagaunsod is
a speech and language pathologist based in Jakarta while Christine Eden Manibad owns a first-rate flower farm in Marayag
District. Anacel Rufino is the
current Chair of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines while Diana Sumalo coaches the Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team.
They always say time changes
things, but you actually have to change them yourself. It’s been 10 years since
that Tokyo excursion and I haven’t met much of them in years since I shuttle
from airport to airport, and this port to that port. It’s never easy being with
the UN. We live to keep the peace and get the world affairs going but never
have the time to live with our self, or have something to call home. Tonight
though, as I presided over the security details in Times Square, I was on the
moon and back when I saw the CCTV’s and realized, Class Dignity has practically
taken over Midtown Manhattan! Who knew?! Jade
Abaño is an accountant at Bank of America. Khalid Bocong is the only Filipino cleric at Church of Saint Mary. Aldrin Paganduman is a cashier at Toys
R Us (but really does undercover for The New York Times). Jornel Lumangyao is a Chief Security Officer at One Astor Plaza
while Daniel James Lopez does global
PR for a variety of New York Knicks’ merchandise. Most are into major
corporations though. Neljay Barrientos
is with Coca-Cola, John Rey Leones
is with Budweiser, Joshua Petallana
is with M & M’s, Jay-Ar Goc-Ong
is with Hard Rock Café, and Victorino
Magdoboy is with Chevrolet.
I can’t blame them really.
It’s less difficult to climb the corporate ladder in the US than say Manila or
Davao. So Jorlan Tabigue had no
regrets selling his dance studio in Mati years ago to migrate in the US. Clint John Hinayon, Kevin James Salibat, and Marjun Legaspi did the same and now,
all four are execs at Crowne Plaza Hotel and had even helped Ralph John Perez, Ranie Jay Toyu-an and Jivanie
Vergara migrate to the US as well. Jeffrey
Decena is a celebrity trainer and often does appearances in Good Morning
America. John Paul Aradillos, John Lester Bacar, and Phil Bustamante all found luck at
Planet Hollywood. Aljun Monday has
his hands full managing both Battlefield 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV Amusement Parks
so he hired Allan Cris Cruz, Lizfernan Ejara, and Christian Arnold Galgo to help him
recreate and maintain the Liberty City.
The women aren’t so shabby
themselves. Geona Mae Aguilon, Jessie Amado, Mary Grace Andan, Hanielee
Gasindo, Alcheme Mabiscay, Regine Neri, Rona Mae Sanchez, Mheilane
Pugon, Omol Khayr Moro and Jessa Sumbadon have formed themselves
the Silent 10, a group of silent artists that started the Silent Theater along
1500 Broadway. It was Rowena Loyola’s
idea really and Charvie Jane Neri
committed to do their choreography, Angelica
Conlabong does the PR, but it was Monera
Sabas who pitched the whole thing first to May Elaiza Manibad, since Elaiza has long gained popularity and
following in New York. The others are just scattered around. Yesterday when I
shopped at Forever 21, I met Lovely
Grace Ambasan, the manager, with Lyka
Silagan her assistant. Melvie Cortez
owns a Hershey’s store, Cecil Maque manages
3 Victoria Secret shops, and Gladys Marcellones owns not just 1, but 7
Starbucks from the 42nd to the 47th Street. Yolie Libaton and Gina Fe Sebog were true to their heritage though, and opened a
Filipino shop across Paramount Theater.
Yes,
many of us are still Filipinos through and through. Some think it’s the Android era but I say the change
is peripheral. A person’s moral strength is only as strong as his conviction,
his belief system, and that is independent of trends.
Architect Laila Dumpao for example, preferred to stay in the country and
revolutionized Filipino houses to stand against tropical storms, combustion,
and earthquakes. Mayor Catherine
Padullon reinstated a new city plan that eliminated the wretched
establishments and put up Architect Dumpao’s designs along the banks of Mati
River and the Pujada shores. Mayor Padullon also approved City Engineer Gabriel Mendoza’s proposal of installing
weirs, reservoirs and tide gates as preventive measures for floods and
tsunamis. It was an ambitious project, but needed nonetheless. To curtail the high
cost, Engineer Phillip Abella
devised materials from the local ore deposits. But first, Attorney James Sialonga fought tooth and nail
for the shutdown of mining activities operated by illegal and foreign traders. Together
with the studies conducted by Doctor Shieneva
Baron from the Department of Science and Technology, Attorney Sialonga has
made the case and made it possible for fellow progressivists to bring Mati City
to the future. Of course it doesn’t hurt that Congressman Rhynz Aldrus Bacus and Senator Patrick
Zessie Baay helped them champion the cause in secret.
Some are renowned national
artists in their own right. Reynaldo
Archie, a world class film director, has conquered both the Cannes and the
box-office with his new age film-making. Shierre
Mae Avila is a legendary theater artist. Daphne Quillope’s books have earned her the coveted Pulitzer Award
for Literature. Luzille Bedeña is
the current NCCA Chair with at least 7 books and 39 indie films under her belt.
Jade Adesna is a multi-awarded
photojournalist who has covered events that culminated in the Treaty of
Maguindanao while Angelo Antonio
owns at least 27 edutainment centers across the country.
Some found love in rearing the
new generation of artists though. Beverly
Aporbo owns the multi-awarded ballet school in Martinez District. Malvin Bohol has his hands full with
his Mati Orchestra, and Lormalyn Alimbon,
the current Director of the City Special Program in the Arts has successfully continued
the legacy of Pagsilak, Inc, along with Jera
Mae Muaña as the school principal.
Niña Febie Dimpas
founded the Philippine Julliard School, the most expensive performing arts
school in the world and continues to produce a distinct poll of Tony award
winners. Rochelle Valera is a
renowned yogi across Southeast Asia and helps design a rehabilitative therapy anchored
in Zen workout. Artist and human rights activist Chedelyn Cabugnason has found love in helping to protect the
indigenous culture and arts and together with friends Attorney Sialonga and
Doctor Baron, lobbied for the satellite shutdown on indigenous communities. Executive
Producer Daren Adtoon is responsible
for bringing Philippine masterpieces in both Broadway and West End such as Biag
ni Lam-ang, Orosman at Zafira, and even the Oscar record-breaking winner The
Social Cancer to which Cyreen Amana
as Salome and Shamie Rose Dapitan as
Maria Clara both win Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively.
Both actresses also work with Opera Director Daryl Crest Malicay.
By happenstance, my security
division became responsible for the protection of both Christopher Quilaton and
Nero Handugan from Communist crusaders who desperately want their hands on
these two brainiacs. Christopher
Quilaton developed a rerouting technology to combat government spying on
its citizens. His software automatically deletes caches and prevents suspected
sites to infiltrate household connections. His friend Nero Handugan has toppled both Wikipedia and Google’s Freebase when
he created Athena, an artificial intelligence incorporated on all devices and
capable of processing 1 terabyte of information per millisecond. The result is a
phone, tv, or even refrigerator that does what you want. He failed to get a
Nobel though for not disclosing the help of the MOP technology created by Everlyn Torres, a technology that wipes
out false and useless sites, pages, and infos on the net.
This is our future. There are
still no light sabers, or time machines, and we still unfortunately are aging.
Mortality I think is humanity’s gift, not a curse. For as long as we know that
life is short, we would continue to make the most of it. The passing of
asteroid Apophis validated this thought. Given the threat, humanity has
forgotten wars, politics, and even slacking. We stood together, or else, we
would fall together. We have come to realize that simple dot of wisdom that by
making ourselves better, we make our world better. So go live your dreams, your
ideals. You don’t have to compromise.
Good evening ladies and
gentlemen. And say cheers to the future!