Egotism in the Arts

I sincerely believe that actors, authors, musicians and alike, people who depend on media to be wealthy, are too rich and should not complain so much about piracy. It is their time to share their talent to humanity and not focus on the money alone.

The only reason they became rich nowadays is because of technology. Two centuries ago, if one desires to become an artist, it was only for the love of it. With the uncertainty of income and exposure to road bandits, actors and musicians would travel long and hard in caravans to great distances across the land just to perform briefly on stage in country fairs wherever they maybe. Sometimes they earn so little, they couldn’t afford three square meals a day. They were not as glamorous and idolized like today.

Also, they were regarded at the same level as the peasant. It is even said then that it is better to be soldier or a priest; much more respectable. Also before, books were scarce and handwritten. The only people who would most likely read them are academics.

It is only now, because of the wonders of mass production and media, the possibility of becoming rich and famous overnight is an accepted reality. Successful artists are revered like gods.

However, since people can now easily copy their creation due to rapid advancement in technology, they complain about that same technology that brought them wealth in the first place. Selfish is the word.

Same goes for doctors, early physicians consider their profession a vocation, a calling; not a means to earn big money.

Importance of big rallies

Last Wednesday, former Philippine President Corazon Aquino joined Susan Roces, wife of the deceased actor Fernando Poe, Jr., who ran and lost in the last Philippine presidential elections, in a rally at the People Power Monument along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) to demand the ouster of the incumbent president, Gloria Arroyo.

It is funny, as I watched on TV the unfolding event, that the most of crowd who gathered at the monument was dressed in simple clothing. People were wearing shorts, slippers, and tank tops. People you might view as the masses or the C/D classes. So, I assumed that this is another “hatak” crowd congregated by the rally’s promoters; a crowd that was promised compensation.

It was completely different from the earlier rallies which brought down the country’s previous two presidents. People from all walks of life came to join; the poorest to the richest. And some even came from far-flung provinces. Now, I think this crowd was basically from Tondo.

Come to think of it, this is a clear sign that today’s politicians understand the value of a large protest rally in pursuing any agenda. However, it is still lacking as anyone with a sharp eye can see through the masquerade.

Pattern of arrogance seen in Hurricane Katrina response

About the Hurricane Katrina disaster, we can add this to the growing list of shortcomings by the U.S. Government in response to catastrophes.

In the last 65 years, every major tragedy in the U.S. always catches the American people unawares. The list includes the Pearl Harbor bombing and the September 11 terrorist attack. I don’t know why but it tells us that lack of foresight is a persistent weakness in U.S. policies.

I suspect it is arrogance. Americans generally believe that because of their nation’s wealth and power, their country is invincible. They think terrible things only happen to other countries, but that notion is always proven wrong, first by war, then by terrorists, and recently by nature.

If you carefully study the history in the incidents I mentioned prior to the current calamity, you will notice this pattern. Furthermore, the pattern also shows that the government overcompensates in response.

As a result, I assume they would now pour substantial amount of time and money to prevent this from happening again as the pattern dictates. Don’t be surprise and expect their government to declare a “War on Nature” this time.

Intergenerational Decadence

Sometime way back just before the millennium, I had a reflection or an epiphany regarding intergenerational decadence in values, especially in our family line. You see, the current behavioral pattern in each one of us is strongly influenced by our parents, previously by their parents, ultimately our ancestors.

When our ancestors neglected to uphold certain cultural, moral or spiritual values to their children, their children learned to grow up with lesser values and they tend to pass these on to their own children, particularly the bad habits. And with each generation, the bad behavior tends to get worse than before. If you examine a juvenile delinquent's family history, a same pattern of behavior is seen way into their ancestors' profiles. Jack the Ripper's ancestors must had problems interacting with women; something like that.

Now, Divine Providence has shown me this insight to understand why I behave in a certain way. For example, whenever I come into conflict with my siblings, I react violently and sometimes making amends becomes hard. Other examples are: the tendency to pry into other people's business, simple habits like tidying up one's place or how you spend your money.

God laid this path for me to follow so that I can change the way I am today into a better person tomorrow. It would be hard fighting a tradition of bad habits, but I must turn back the tide, so to speak; to go against the heavy flow of convention. I need to break the chain.

Death in the family

I’d like to relate something that happened during August of 1997. My dog “Sasha” died. I was terribly distraught. It was hard to lose something or someone you love and can’t do anything about it. Although we could have spent a lot of money to try saving Sasha, we did not because the chances of survival are very, very slim against Leptospirosis. It was a hard decision. Especially, when you can see how much the dog is suffering day by day. My heart poured out for Sasha.

When someone dies, you begin to think about the impermanence of life. Life becomes so much more precious to you. Also, The inevitable sadness brought about by the loss comes in conflict with the hoping against hope that all this is not true or everything will be okay. But then it dawns on you that life has forever changed.

Then, you begin to get angry with the people you rely on to take control or to change the fate of the inevitable and at yourself for being helpless. You get angry at the thought that if you had more money, the outcome would be different.

Chess playing on the street

Most of us probably assume that chessmasters such as Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua, and Ronald Bancod in the Philippines practice their craft in cozy chess clubs where the surroundings emit a certain air of affluence such as found in modern and air-conditioned bowling centers or billiard halls.

Little do people know that some aspiring and professional chess players in the country go to only three places to hone their skills: the Luneta Chess Park, the Quezon Memorial Circle, and most especially, the Tulay.

The Tulay, located under the west stairs of a pedestrian overpass along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue at the corner of Monte de Piedad Street in Barangay Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, is renowned for being the most rugged of all chess venues in Metro Manila. It is composed of nothing but a few sets of chessboards, tables, and chairs.

And the man behind this simple yet offbeat scheme is 44-year-old Rolly Espino. For Espino, renting out chess equipment at the Tulay has been his livelihood for over a decade.

He, whom the locals fondly call Tulfo after he lost his right arm in a freak accident at a coffee factory some 24 years ago, spends nearly 12 hours every day, rain or shine, manning the place. Sometimes he stays on until the wee hours of morning since some of his visitors continue to play on. He also sells coffee and cigarettes to complement his main income.

Espino said some of the Philippines’ finest chess players come to the Tulay to practice for the national tournament such as: Soud Mamailaw, Roberto Suelo, Luis Abraiham, Rudy Ibanez, Chito Garma, Louis Chong, and Joey Antonio-- all masters in different classes.

He added that, sometimes, a few come to play for money. Bets would run from tens to hundreds of pesos. Occasionally, it gets them into trouble with the police. Although some police officers would just stop by, drink coffee, and once in a while join a game.

He even brags that the Tulay has more visiting players than in Luneta Park and the Quezon City Circle since it is more accessible and cheaper. Americans, Germans, and other foreigners also like to play there. Even one Iranian national became a regular visitor, he said.

Espino, a former newspaper vendor, said it was in 1987 when he first unwittingly stumbled into the trade of chessboard rentals. Initially, he was just doing his usual chore of selling his wares in the area one day, when suddenly two young men decided to play a game of chess to kill time under the said overpass. After asking for Espino’s permission to place a chessboard beside his spot, they quickly began to play.

This prompted many passersby to stop and gather around to watch their private tournament. Espino narrated that the whole incident was a sight to see. Soon afterwards, the two youngsters would meet daily beside Espino’s spot to play chess the whole day.

But one fine afternoon, somebody snatched their chessboard under their noses while they were having their coffee break. This did not stop them and instead they suggested to Espino that maybe he should buy several chessboards and rent them out so that some of their chess buddies can also play.

After some careful consideration, he agreed to do it. Soon he was able to buy five brand new chessboards and game clocks. He also built five sets of wooden tables and chairs.

Today, he charges three pesos an hour for every board and five pesos if played with a game clock.

Despite his obvious disability, Espino said his earnings are just enough to survive the city and send some money to his relatives in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

He said he is quite content with his daily earnings of P350 and the chance that maybe one of these days he might be able to witness the emergence of a Filipino world champion in his spot.