Announcement:

Prayer For The Three Filipinos Facing Execution in China

San Lorenzo Ruiz

Merciful Lord,

Into your hands we commend the fate of our fellow Filipinos, who are facing death sentences in China.

Redeem them, O Lord, and set them free.

You are our supreme master, our creator, and our sole reason to live.

Lord, you are the only one who can take our lives.

Let no person on this earth impose any kind of punishment that would exterminate a person’s breath;

That even death penalty, no matter how humane it can be in some countries, is a sin against your will.

Lord, in these last few minutes, we raise our prayers to you.

We also pray for the families of the convicted Filipinos, who are grieving at this point of time.

Comfort their hearts and keep them safe. Give them strength and don’t let their hope grow less.

And lastly, O Lord, we are asking for peace and love to reign in this world.

Instill in every person the right for life, the respect for life, and the love for life.

These we ask, in Jesus name,

Amen.

Stanza no.: 011

This poem was written by Jenny Ann L. Sim way back in high school (October 2005. It was inspired by the world of pirates. 

Author:

Jenny Ann L. Sim, R.N.

from Akan Province, but currently residing in Brunei

Health Update:

Start Your Own Five O’clock Boardwalk Habit

By Pepin

Ilonggos are very much aware of how sedentary lifestyle can put them at risk of illnesses. That is why many of them head to Riverside Boardwalk (formally known as Senator Efrain B. Trenas Boulevard) as early as five in the morning to sweat out. Most of them jog back and forth on the 1.3 kilometer trail, while others participate in an aerobic session. You can see a lot of people there from various age groups picking up their pace. 

It’s a perfect spot!

What is great about the place is that you can get close to nature as you sweat out. You will be captivated with the unruffled waters of Iloilo River that glitter as the sunrise shines out, and you will feel invigorated as you pass by the huge mangroves that line at the sides. You can also spot a lot of migratory birds hopping from one branch to another, and you will get to enjoy as much fresh air as you want.

The track is clean and well-maintained by the local government. In fact, you will get fined when you are caught smoking or littering around. Before, bicycling and skateboarding were allowed inside, but due to a number of accidents, these were totally prohibited since February. Dogs are also banned within the jogging area, maybe for reasons that they poop everywhere and they can harm joggers.

Just do your thing!

Aside from doing vigorous running and other forms of exercise, you can also do other fun-filled activities, such as chatting and signing along with your group of friends, reading your favorite book, painting, taking pictures, or just simply strolling along with your family. Riverside Boardwalk is a family-oriented and child-friendly place, where you can enjoy more quality time with your loved ones outside your home. 

If you can’t get on track at 5:00 A.M., you can still set your exercise schedule at five in the afternoon. This is the most fitting time among students and professionals, who find it hard to get out of bed in the wee hours of the morning. This is a good moment to relax your body and mind after a busy day at school or at work. 

Be active for good health! 

A lot of people find it hard to exercise, especially those who are desk-bound for years. Being inactive can compromise our health. In fact, we have learned from infomercials that it can lead to several disease conditions, like heart attack, cancer, and stroke.

Before you suffer all the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, why won’t you start your own Five O’clock Boardwalk Habit? It is time to put on your Ipod or MP3, do some brisk walking or jogging, and enjoy an energizing breath of fresh air.

Feature:

WVRAA 2011: Enshrining School Sports in Western Visayas

By Pepin 

Ma'am Roquita Militante

It was a gloomy Wednesday morning, but the weather did not spoil the games of the 2011 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet (WVRAA) held at Iloilo Sports Complex. The tension in the competitions was just as intense as in the crowd. Deafening sounds of cheers and yells that occupied the entire venue spiced up the event and uplifted the game spirit.

A grueling match of football between Negros Occidental and Capiz took place in the big field, while teams from Iloilo and Antique battled out for a spot in women’s volleyball on the court. Other athletes from the provinces of Guimaras and Aklan prepared themselves for the next match, while the roaring crowd of parents and Ilonggo sports enthusiasts sustained their energetic cheers. 

As for Ma'am Roquita Militante, assistant coach of the Antique Athletics Team, "Everyone's excited for this year's game, and each province is hungry for a gold." She is a  former athlete herself and a two-time gold medalist of the 100-Meter Relay in 1980 and 1981, respectively.

In the afternoon, the people witnessed the fastest and most physically powerful athletes of Western Visayas in the Athletics event. Benjie Quilatis of Negros conquered the Final Pole Vault (Secondary Boys) Event at a height of 3.2 meters, while Dinnes Galos of Iloilo took home the gold for 3000-Metre Steeple Chase (Secondary Boys) at a time of 10 minutes and 21 seconds. Another Negrense, by the name of Alexis Soqueno, dominated the High Jump Competition (Elementary Boys). He jumped at a height of 1.53 meters to clutch another gold for his province.

 

Diana Jane Balino

Lawn Tennis

Iloilo Team

Jessa Christina

Athletics

Negros Team

The female athletes were also powerful and well-prepared in their fight. Some of them who emerged as champions were the following: Jasmine Tayco (Aklan) for the 4x100 Meter Relay – Elementary Level; Shaina Hernandez (Negros) for the 200-Meter Relay – Secondary Level; Shaira Caballero (Iloilo) for the 200-Meter Relay – Elementary Level; and Neslie Torres (Negros) for High Jump – Secondary Level.

 

Volleyball Men

Antique Team

Every sport event turned out to be a tough battle as each of the six provinces of Western Visayas aimed to bring home the over-all championship trophy. However, there were some athletes who failed after facing a very demanding game. But despite their defeat, they were still proud to have represented their respective province. For them, the greatest gold was to become an advocate of sportsmanship and camaraderie, as well as of this year’s theme, “Enshrining School Sports in Western Visayas.”

The closing ceremonies of the 2011 WVRAA Meet will be on March 24, 2011.

Announcement:

You can still send your entries to our official email address: islandpanay@yahoo.com until MARCH 26, 2011. Here are a few reminders:

* Be sure to set your digital camera to the highest possible resolution.

* You can send up to three (3) entries for this contest.

* You can write a minimum of 1-2 sentences for your description.

* Your photo should not contain nudity or any sexually explicit images of persons.

* Please do not edit your photos using a photo editing software.

Feature:

Lola Augustina’s new 
beginning after 109

By Pepin

Last March 18, Lola Agustina died at the age of 109. Her remarkable age may have weakened her body, but in the hearts of those who cared for her, she will remain as a true inspiration of life and living.

I was lucky enough to be given a chance to take care of Lola Augustina when we had our exposure at Asilo De Molo, a place which I would often refer to as God’s little home for the neglected elderly. In one way or another, I have become a part her life; and so is she to mine. I would describe her physically as having a frail frame, totally shut eyes, and of course white hair. She would normally coil on her bed and experience some trouble getting up because of her arched back. She depended a lot on people taking care of her to do her activities of daily living – bathing, toileting, grooming, and eating. 

She usually remained on her bed for the entire day, but she can still get up, sit, and dangle her legs on the sides. The food that was being served to her would usually be something soft and easy to swallow. None of her teeth withstood her age, that’s why she frequently experienced choking. Although she struggled a lot on coping up with her weakness, Lola Augustina would always be as fresh as the morning dew the following day.

Because of her age, a lot of people visiting Asilo loved to take a glimpse of her. She was admired by many because she was already older than a century. But for me, what I loved about her was that she gave me a reason to get up every morning to go on duty. I was always looking forward to see her and to hear her morning orders, like “Inday, lihog tubig (give me water)!” “Tama na (to stop feeding when she feels choking)!” and “Ari kwarta, bakal ‘to bugas (hands over loose change to buy her rice).” And it was just amusing to see how she would slowly hide her purse in safety behind her blouse. When asked how much money her purse contains, she usually answers, “Pulo ka sentimos (ten centavos).” This would keep me and my colleagues thinking that her memory was completely fenced in Spanish times. 

She cared less of the kind of person caring for her, and she made no complaint. She would always address her caregiver as “Inday” regardless of the gender. And even if other elderly individuals were enjoying games during culminating activities outside the cottage, she just remained on her post and won’t be bothered by the noise and laughter, as long as someone would be with her to feed her and to follow her instructions. 

She died peacefully, without any pain or suffering. The small world she had on her bed touched a lot of nurses, volunteer health workers, and even visitors to care with compassion, not only with the rest of the elderly individuals in Asilo, but also with their parents and aged relatives at home. 

Lola Augustina can finally enjoy a peaceful heaven, unrestrained by age and physical strength.

Feature:

Summer Rain

By Pepin

Well, it’s rain season here in the city of love. It sets a perfect mood to extend slumber hours – yeah, more time for hugging pillows and crafting dreams.

People have waited for this kind of weather for a very long time. Typhoon names did not become a part of the daily headlines of local newspapers for months, and the earth – well, was so dehydrated. Farm lands turned into dry toasts; even roof paints of houses started to fade because of the extreme heat of the sun. There was only one thing good about the sunny weather in the past months – you can easily dry off your clothes.

Now, it’s already summer time and the rain is pouring heavily. And isn’t it odd that the sun isn’t blazing at this point of time? I wonder how people will attack the beach when it’s drizzling. Does this means that we won’t enjoy much of our summer this year? Well, we can’t tell. After all, peculiar events are happening in the world today (talk about the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown).

Climate change is a serious problem. It can flip the Earth’s seasons. It spoils summer fun and keeps us wondering of what the hell is happening with the world today. If the sun season won’t be what it should be, then let’s just reserve our swim suites and snorkels for awhile. Let’s just prepare for more mosquitoes breeding around our house.

The heavy rain and howling wind keeps us chilling in our bed, but I hope it won’t ruin our summer. I just can’t afford to see colossal waves on the beach, and neither can you.

Opinion:

Panayanons express thoughts on Japan’s biggest natural disaster

By Pepin

Photo credit to Kim Kyung-Hoon/Yahoo News

The entire globe was shocked to see Japan battered by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and swallowed by a 30 feet high tsunami. The double blows of nature devastated thousands of lives, swept away millions of properties, and left the entire nation in an unwanted menace.

Panay Mud Pie visited some of the social networking sites to solicit the opinions and reactions of our fellow Panayanons on the biggest natural disaster that the world has witnessed in the first quarter of 2011. Here are some of the thoughts they shared:

Chito from Iloilo City said: 

It was terrible and petrifying. Even though Japan was well-prepared, it wasn’t enough. Everything was just unexpected. 

Greg from Kalibo, Aklan said:

After what had happened, we should ask ourselves, “Are we prepared to face the end?”

Therese from San Jose, Antique said:

We can’t really prepare ourselves for natural disasters. When these things happen, we are not really sure if we can move forward or not. But I hope Japan will recover soon.

Peter from Buenavista, Guimaras said:

All of these (earthquake in New Zealand, war in the Middle East, and tsunami in Japan) are signs of impending doom.

Macky from Mandurriao, Iloilo said:

It was the most tragic disaster that ever happened to Japan, and I was shocked to see lives being taken away by the giant wave. The incident was really alarming for everyone.

Shayne from Roxas City, Capiz said:

The news was heartbreaking. I was so scared for my friends who are working there. I hope what happened in Japan will not happen here in our country.

Mark from Roxas City, Capiz said:

Mother Nature is seeking revenge. Natural and man-made disasters are indeed reshaping the planet.

Farrah from Kalibo, Aklan said:

It was really devastating. I was really trembling to see the big wave that was about to swallow the farmlands and cities. It was as if death is coming to get you, whether you like it or not.

Mark Gregory from Sibalom, Antique said:

God bless the souls of those who left this earth unprepared. It was really sad, very sad for the entire world.

Japan’s tragedy is a simple reminder that we cannot escape the forces of nature. We may be well-equipped with all the technologies that help us understand earthquakes, tsunamis, and all other natural disasters, but they cannot tell exactly the time when these mighty blows of Mother Nature will come and get us.

Announcement:

"Woman must not accept; she must challenge.

She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression."

~ Margaret Sanger ~

PANAY MUD PIE joins the world in celebrating the International Women's Day!

Feature:

Sulitin ang Summer!

By Pepin

Summer na naman! It’s like time flies really fast ika nga. But, sino ba naman ang hindi nasasabik sumabak sa tag-init? Meron ba? Of course, everyone’s excited, that’s because school works are finally over at magkakaroon na ng more time to spend with family and friends.

Handa ka na ba for summer? Dapat lang! The season only comes once a year and you should make the most out of it. In other words, dapat sulitin mo na ang summer time ngayon! And Panay Mud Pie gives you these five tips on how to make your sizzling summer days worth it.

TIP 1: Pick A Spot!

Maraming magagandang lugar dito sa Pilipinas. For instance, you can enjoy both the beach and the fun sa Boracay, which is the ultimate summer beach destination in the country. Or you can go to some undiscovered wonders, like Nogas Island or Malumpati Cold Spring in Antique. Kung hindi mo naman trip ang beach, then take a journey sa mga historical sites natin dito. Remember that kahit saan ka man, may mapupuntahan ka to enjoy the blazing sun.

But of course you should always consider your budget, which includes the expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, and leisure-time activities. If you will be going out with your family, make sure your budget plan is already fixed. Pero tip lang: always set an allowance sa budget and prepare that little “extra” no matter how predetermined your budget is already. 

Moreover, marami ang naghihinayang na puntahan ang isang lugar kasi mahal ito. Hindi naman porke sa Boracay ka pupunta ay iisipin mo na its expensive. Mind you, may mga resorts pa rin sa Boracay that cost below Php 1000 even during the peak season. It may require you to walk more distance to the beach, pero sulit naman kasi the accommodation is safe and cozy.

TIP 2: Please Your Palate

Kung summer ang pag-uusapan, lahat dapat sexy. We are all preoccupied of toning our bodies so that we can flaunt it sa beach. Pero mali naman yata na you go on starving until summer ends just to look pleasing to the eyes of many. You also need to satisfy your cravings and pamper yourself with best dishes in town. Of course you still need to eat right and healthy, but a glass of smoothie or a cone of ice cream won’t really hurt that much. If you desire to spend one night sa eat-all-you-can buffet table, then go on. It is just for one night, and remember that you are on the beach; engaging in beach activities that will make you sweat can burn those extra fats fast. 

TIP 3: Settle Down

No, you are not going to get married on the beach, unless you really planned to do so with your partner. But settling down means “to unwind” and it’s easy to do when you see yourself surrounded with the elements of nature. The calming sounds of the rolling waves and chirping of the birds can help you relax to the fullest. At mas nakakatulong magrelax if before you go to your summer destination, you already pledge to yourself that you will be leaving all your worries behind. It’s a good thing to do, especially if sasama mo ang pamilya mo or love one sa bakasyon, kasi you will be a comfortable companion. In other words, “masarap kang kasama!”

If nahihirapan ka magrelax, you can avail of the massage services. This will really help unwind your mind and soothe the tensions sa muscles. Or kung kuripot ka talaga, you can spend a siesta time sa hammock or just play a guitar at the shore.

TIP 4: Learn Something New

Summer schools are common during this time of the year, but if you wished to spend more time sa beach than in the classroom, find something interesting to do or to develop there. Like you can learn fire dancing, Frisbee, beach volleyball, sailing, snorkeling, or scuba diving; or better yet you can learn how to cook sizzling dishes or mix drinks. These are simple things that you can know and add them to your profile by the time summer ends. Hindi ka lang nag enjoy, but you also made your vacation a learning experience.

TIP 5: Protect Yourself

Hindi lang kasayahan at gimik ang dapat paghandaan during summer, but also watch out for yourself. That includes getting sunburned. Always use a sun block lotion whenever you expose yourself under the blazing heat of the sun. Grabe na kasi ang init ngaun; hindi lang nakakasunog ng balat, nakakapag dulot pa ng samo’t-saring karamdaman.

Also be prepared with your drugs (hindi po yung mga pinagbabawal na gamot, kundi yung nasa pharmacy), especially if you think that the weather of a place will not be favorable to you. May instances din that your digestive system is not comfortable with the local food. So always be ready for these occasions with your medications.

And lastly, arm yourself with prayer for safety, especially if you will be bringing your family with you. Remember, there are acts of God na hindi mo maiiwasan minsan, and only God himself can spare you.

So, Enjoy Guys! Have a Happy Yippy Yehey summer 2011!