Tuesday, October 30, 2012

From Saudi to Manila: Pag-ibig na Pangmatagalan

Finally, the Tide with Downy story is complete! Selected from the hundreds of stories shared to us via the Tide Bangong Padala Promo, the love story of Myrna and Emmanuel truly represents Pag-ibig na Pangmatagalan.

Emmanuel had been in Saudi for 16 years, occasionally reunited when he flies home. And sadly, he never saw his children grow up. But that is the reality overseas workers have to face. The lure of a better future even if it means staying away from your family becomes a clear choice given our situation here in the country. They may have been separated for so long, but their love remains fresh and strong. That’s why we selected their story.

After selecting their story, visiting Myrna at their home and sending Emmanuel her package in Saudi, the ultimate goal was to reunite them here in Manila after being separated for a long time. It was obvious that Myrna yearned to see Emmanuel again. The tears that flowed down every time she told the story was really a sign of longing to see her husband.

When we visited Myrna at her home in Novaliches, we never said when Emmanuel was coming home. When the day finally came, we motored to NAIA Terminal 1 to meet with Emmanuel who was flying in from Saudi.

Indeed, simple scents can remind you of home. I was standing at the arrival area when I saw Emmanuel walking down. And I knew it was him since he was wearing the Tide with the Freshness of Downy shirt that was sent to him from Myrna.

I got to talk to him while on the van en route to where Myrna was. He said that he had been in Saudi for 16 years since he had to earn money to raise his family. While working abroad, you can’t help but remember your family at home. He mentioned to me how the simple scent of his t-shirt reminded him of home, how the scent of freshly washed clothes remind him of Myrna’s care.

Myrna was actually not aware that Emmanuel was home, not aware that she was going to be seeing him that night. She was just being interviewed about her love story with Emmanuel when suddenly…

So what happened really? Watch the video and see how the two got reunited!


This whole experience touched me as a frequent international traveler. I can get homesick especially when I’ve been away for weeks, what more for people who have been away for years. It was also impressive to see how despite distance, love prevails.

If you missed the first video, here it is as well.


Thank you Tide with Downy for that heartwarming experience!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Wiki Loves Monuments Philippines winners named

The winners of the Wiki Loves Monuments Philippines contest was announced last night at awarding ceremonies held at the Filipinas Heritage Library. Of the 2,300 entries uploaded over the thirty days of the competition, fifty advanced to the final round. From the fifty finalists, ten winners were selected. These ten will represent the Philippines in the Wiki Loves Monuments global competition.

Since the ranks will be disregarded in the global competition, here are the top ten in alphabetical order:

Batad Rice Terraces
© User:Captaincid / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Capas National Shrine
© User:RainJorque / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Daraga Church
© User:Angelonce / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Manila Cathedral
© User:Bhoyetjumpay / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Manila Post Office
© User:Corteco8 / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Paoay Church
© User:Leoviernes1 / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Quiapo Church
© User:Obra19 / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
The Ruins (Mariano Ledesma Lacson Mansion)
© Ninya Regalado / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0



UST Main Building
© User:Tristantamayo / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Vigan Cathedral
© User:Jsinglador / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Wiki Loves Monuments 2011 was limited to European countries. Here are the winners from last year's competition. This year, thirty six countries participated, including the Philippines. Good luck to the winners!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Laguna: Save the Alberto House!

If you believe that the Philippine Government should save the ancestral house of Jose Rizal's mother Teodora Alonzo, share this until it reaches our government leaders. No to transfer to Bagac, Bataan!

From Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria of United Artists for Cultural Conservation and Development (UACCD) in Binan, Laguna:  "A part of the Alberto House caved in yesterday. This is the beginning of the end of this historic house. After it was demolished from the inside and its parts transferred to Bataan, the house has been left exposed to the elements. No ceiling, no floor and its foundations dug and exposed, it was inevitable for the house, now left only with its shell, to go down.

"The planned expropriation proceedings by our local government did not push through for some reasons. UACCD has followed it up in the past until the present but the LGU has other pressing problems to attend to. RA 10066 is in effect. But as stated before, the national government does not have the funds to save all heritage structures.

"It is a fact that the house remains to be private property. With the owner's loss of interest to preserve the house and his selling it, this is the moment he has long been waiting for to get rid of this important cultural property. Consummatum est! (Photo courtesy of Star Jenny Carpena Chiucinco-Temprosa)"
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