December 06, 2005
Moving Back to Boston
Don Pepe
November 15, 2005
My Father
He is my father who lives in Los Angeles. He has a double black belt in Karate and an expert with the samurai sword. He always perform his martial expertise every time I visit him in L.A.....I call it showing off.
I don't really know my father because he left in the summer of 68.
If you are thinking why don't you know him now?
I don't have to because I already have another father that loves my mother and respect her. I only know one father that is my step-father.
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My Father's Father
November 14, 2005
Pinoy Expatriate
November 13, 2005
The Stamatelaky
Dionise 'Papa Nis' - 4th child, boy, dressed as a girl as Lola Bening wanted a girl so much!
Aristidis 'Papa Ting' - 2nd child, son, second one to leave Philippines and stayed in USA
Margarita Sr - the matriach, dressed in 'Maria Clara'
Katherine 'Mama Kate' - 6th child, 1st daughter (finally! - notice she's the only one smiling - spoiled brat heh!?)
Anastasios 'Tassus' or 'Papa Bec' - 5th child, son, also stayed in USA
Iannis 'Papa Johnny' - 1st child, son, first one to leave Philippines and go around the world
Solon 'Papa Solon' - 3rd child, son, one who took care of the family when Lolo Costa remarried
November 07, 2005
Being a Filipino
November 06, 2005
Black Eyed Peas
Makati
It's been awhile I haven't seen the Philippines.
They said the infrastructure, Tele-communication, jobs and more taxes were added to the economy. EVAT can create more of these if the Filipino people can afford the change. If the Philippine Government will increase the minimum wage so the chickens will stop scratching the ground and lay some eggs.
Still Jobless
Our New Home in Florida.
The house is almost a hundred years old I can't figure it out the architecture if it's Spanish or British.
I am still looking for a Job to support my family. I have been looking for work for two months since I moved from Boston. Should I regret moving in this Sunshine State or just keep looking until I find one. I have never been so Jobless for more than a month. Everytime I quit my job in Boston, I always find one but here in Jacksonville it will take some effort and sweat to find the almighty dollar. I wonder how the Black community is handling the job market in this city. I see a lot of poverty from different race. Should I sweat like a cow in Jax or keep my neck red.
October 28, 2005
October 21, 2005
Wet and Hungry
Tapped the car window and she will go away. A gesture that you and me are not interested to buy her National flower of love and pain.
Even though we have a peso in our pocket but we still deny the existence of a hungry child that is right in front of our face.
Some say she is just a pretender and being use by someone to sell her flowers but others still buy the entire bouquet to feed the poor. Filipinos are some times selfish and caring but the entire nation is selling sampaguitas.
October 13, 2005
My Cabanatuan Experience in the early 80s
I stayed there for the summer and asked my mom to enroll me in high school at the College of the Immaculate Conception in Cabanatuan where my cousin Monsignior Camillo de Gregorio was at the time the President of the school.
In 1983, I started my class in Cabanatuan. I was being teased by my classmates because I had a Cebuano accent and my Tagalog was not perfect.
Nueva Ecija is a Tagalog province and with a tremendous violent past. Political rivals assassinated each other just to become a mayor or a governor. Their dreams to become famous but never to served the people of Nueva Ecija who voted for them.
I have learned not only in school but in the streets of Cabanatuan. I have learned to make friends with the poor. I always have a connection with the poor and a bad relationship with the rich. I always avoided becoming a friend of the wealthy Filipinos. Because they always make the poor poorer and neglect them, to make their lives richer from the expense of the peasant but not all Filipino rich are like that some have heart of a cotton and some have heart of a coconut.
October 10, 2005
The Philippine Politics 2005
October 07, 2005
October 06, 2005
She is my life
October 02, 2005
Florida
September 24, 2005
Moved out of State
I passed by Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. It was fun and exciting and will never do it again because it was exhausting and expensive especially the prices of gasoline in America.
I noticed that Maryland drivers are crazy, craving for speed perhaps because their highway speed limit is 60 miles per hour. But when I got to Georgia the speed limit was 75 miles per hour it was a fast driver's dream come true. When I drove by New York City it gave me a headache and rob my pocket for tolls. I never paid so money tolls in my life before.
The other State was fine except for the Hurricane that I drove in and almost flooded my old 1997 Nissan Sentra. I stopped at The South of the Border. It is a famous stop for commuters going to North or South but didn't saw any Confederate flag.
Florida the Sunshine State is hot and lots of Filipino food. I moved into my new house in Jax City. It is like my old home in Boston near a River without the fast moving sound of cars in Storrow drive. I will again find my American Dream in Florida and God help me
August 26, 2005
The War in Iraq Part 2
August 24, 2005
About my Blog
August 22, 2005
Filipino Rap
From The South Bronx to the streets of Metro ManilaThe hip-hop scene in The Philippines is one of the oldest in Asia. It is hard to tell when hip-hop started here and how did it start. But I would like to make several points on how hip-hop was brought to this country.
The Philippines before was a US territory until the country gained independence in 1946. American culture left a strong influence in The Philippines. Filipinos listen to American music, watch American movies or eat American fastfood like MC. Donalds or Pizza Hut. In the 1980s, movies like, Breakdance and Flashdance were shown in cinemas around Metro Manila and got many Filipino youths to breakdancing. Filipinos are also updated with it comes to music especially popular American hits. Early Filipino DJs can get in hold of the latest hits. In the late 70s / early 80s, popular hits from Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow and Blondie are getting played in Manila's radios and discos. Even hit songs like Chic's "Good Times" (which was a major influence in the creation of rap music) were played. Disco, funk, Motown and soul groove were also very popular in Manila.
Filipinos living in the United States (or any country) send money and/or presents to their families or relatives back home. Rap music on records or cassettes may be one of those items. Also Filipinos living abroad especially those living in the United States, Canada, Europe or Australia return to the Philippines as balikbayans with presents. Rap records/cassettes or reading materials with hip-hop issues can be one of those presents.
Filipinos who take a trip to other countries go shopping and buy presents. Again, rap music may be one of those presents bought.
The United States had several bases here in The Philippines before they pull out in the early 90s. African-American or Hispanic servicemen stationed in the Philippines may have influenced the locals into the hip-hop culture.
Influence
New York was still the main influence for most early Filipino rap artists when it comes to beats, flow and style; though California was also important. Some of the early influence were from Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Boogie Down Productions, RUN-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice-T, Salt-N-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and Rakim. The earliest Pinoy Rap tracks contains samples or styles influenced by these artists. An example is Rapasia's track "That's The Way Love Is" which was influeced by A Tribe Called Quest's track "Bonita Applebum". Another example is Andrew E.'s early style. His style in the track "Ize Batayojan" is influenced by Rakim. The fashion style of Bass Rhyme Posse is similar to RUN-DMC and so on. II - Some Important Events in Pinoy Rap
Beginnings
Late 1970s / Early 1980s:
The first rap recordings in the Philippines were by Dyords Javier and Vincent Dafalong. Dyords Javier recorded "Na Onseng Delight" (which copied the style of Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight") while Vincent Dafalong recorded "Nunal".
The Golden Age of Pinoy Rap 1990:
A former breakdancer with name of Francis Magalona released an album called Yo! which became the first rap album in The Philippines. "Mga Kababayan" (My Countrymen) became the first rap track recognized by many Filipinos.
Months later, Andrew E. who was a DJ in a popular disco in Makati released an album called Humanap Ka Ng Panget challenging Francis M.'s dominance in Pinoy Rap. A movie with the same title was also released and it was one of the first movies in The Philippines that featured Pinoy Rap.
"Makati Girl" by Andrew E. was the first pinoy rap track to display beatboxing. Cool MC. Norman B. of Bass Rhyme Posse beatboxed for the track and became the first known beatboxer in The Philippines.
Pia Arroyo, who would be later become Francis M.'s wife was the first woman in The Philippines to record a rap track (with Francis M.). The song was "Loving You" and was released as part of the Yo! album.Gelli De Belen, a popular actress was the first woman in The Philippines to record a rap track in tagalog. The track was "Mr. DJ" which featured Andrew E. The song was released as part of the Humanap Ka Ng Panget soundtrack.
Bass Rhyme Posse became the first rap group in The Philippines. Their debut album was released a year later and were the Philippine counterpart of RUN-DMC.
1991:
Rap Asia was the next group to release an album. Their track "Hoy! Tsismosa" became an instant hit. Michael V. released his first album with the track, "Maganda Ang Piliin" as an instant hit. The song also countered Andrew E's song, "Humanap Ka Ng Panget" and caused rivalry between the two rappers.
Denmark released I'm Markie D.! and the song "Louningning" became a hit Lady Diane and M.C. Lara were the first female rap artists in the Philippines to release an album. Lady Diane released The First Lady Of Rap while M.C. Lara released a self titled album. Lady Diane's song "SA-SA-Saddam" became an instant hit.
Jaime Baby was the first child to record a rap track in the Philippines. The track was "Eh Kasi Bata" which later became a motion picture.
Andrew E. starred in the movie, Andrew Ford Medina which became one the first movie in the Philippines to show a rap battle.
1992:
Francis M. released his second album, Rap Is Francis M. which was arguebly the best Pinoy Rap album ever recorded.
A cultural revolution 1993:
Mastaplann released their self titled album. Though in English, the album changed the way Filipinos look at Pinoy Rap. It was one of first Pinoy Rap albums that recognized the DJ as an important member and recognized their turntable skills. It also recognized the other elements of hip-hop such as breakdancing and graffiti and also made DMC Philippines an important organization in the evolution of Pinoy hip-hop.
Boom who would then become a member of Kulay released an all rap album. The album featured singers Jeannie Oakman (R.I.P), Radha and Jhego who would later team up with Dash and form the group, Legit Misfitz
1994:
Death Threat released the first gangsta rap album in the Philippines with the track "Gusto Kong Bumaet" becoming an instant hit. 1995:
Andrew E. forms Dongalo Wreckords which became the first independent rap label in The Philippines. The label's first roster of artists were Itim Pero Kayumangi, Syke, Chinese Mafia, Richie Rich (Anak ni Bakuko), Madd Poets, B.B. Clan, D.F.T, and Oblaxz
1997:
Andrew E. produces and becomes host of Rap 13, the first Pinoy rap show which was aired the same year. The show lasted until 1999.
2005:
Aikee at the age of 11 becomes the first child to release a full pinoy rap album.
This History of R.A.P was published by Pinoyrap.com
August 21, 2005
August 17, 2005
Boston 2005
August 16, 2005
Living in Boston
August 10, 2005
August 06, 2005
The Event Horizon
August 01, 2005
The Old Man of the Mountain
Picture by Chuck Theodore
I feel like this rock of the mountain.
Old Man of the Mountain no more. I understand why nature is so destructive and unpredictable to damage a certain icon that all nature lovers adored and worshiped.
New Hampshire deserve an answer from above but that question will never be answered. I feel like the old Man being tortured and bombarded by natures wrath and finally was destroyed and never to be seen again.
July 12, 2005
My People
July 06, 2005
King of the Hub
July 05, 2005
Philippine Independence 1946 July 4th from the Americans
June 24, 2005
The War in Iraq 2005
June 09, 2005
Philippines Is Not A Dangerous Country Mr. Bill O'Reilly
June 08, 2005
Philippine Independence - June 12th 1898
June 06, 2005
May 31, 2005
We are still Waiting - Filipino Veterans of WW2
May 11, 2005
Clinton
April 27, 2005
April 20, 2005
My Life in 2005
April 04, 2005
Karol Jozef Woytyla 1920 - 2005
Saint Pope John Paul II
1978 - 2005
He spoke against Communism, Materialism, Imperialism, Unrestrained Capitalism and Oppression. He oppossed Abortion, Capital Punishment, Homosexuality and Contraception.
He was the longest Pope who ever lived. I adore him and cherish him.
I cried when he was shot in 1981 and cried again in 2005.
He forgave his assassin and placed the bullet on the Grotto of The Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima. He knows the secrets of the Fatima but took those messages to his grave. But one secret was revealed and proven to be true.
He was the white man on white clothes.
Picture Courtesy of Wikipedia
March 12, 2005
1972
CPP - NPA
The Hammer and Sickle. Founded by Jose Maria Sison.
March 08, 2005
Pusila - Pusila (Shoot -Shoot)
Senator. Benigno Aquino Jr.
"I HAVE TO SUFFER WITH MY PEOPLE"
Those were the last words of Ninoy before he was assassinated on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on August 21st 1983. I was only 15 years old and never realized that there was a man that was committed to free the Filipino people from the abusive and corrupt government of Ferdinand Marcos.
I was so confused and innocent about the political situation of my country before August 21st.
Ninoy Aquino woke me up and slapped me while I was awake. I couldn't ignore the pain that he brought upon my country. My people are now alone for their struggle for democracy.
We were all alone after he was killed but the struggle was just the beginning for a long Fight for Freedom.
February 22, 2005
February 19, 2005
The First Struggle for Human Rights and His Land
Chief Washakie
Also known has Chief Joseph. He understand the struggle for freedom and continued North to free his people from the invading forces of America.
I can never understand why a precious tribe like the Nez Perce should be destroyed. Because they believed the traditions of their ancestors and the traditons of other 500 nations. The Nez Perce are people who can never understand why you and me are still divided.
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First Generation of Stamatelakis in the Philippines in the early 1900's Dionise 'Papa Nis' - 4th child, boy, dressed as a girl a...
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Julie Vega was a Filipina child actress and singer . I used to date a girl that looks like Julie Vega. Her name was Amery San Jose. But ...
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I have been looking for a job for almost two months now and still unemployed. I will be leaving my family in Jacksonville, Florida. I don...