Posts Tagged ‘Filipino’
Flip Flop Pitchers’ Contest Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Flip Flop Pitchers’ Contest
Elyza Tanahale dashes to claim her “Flip Flop.” Ranyiel Saldana, Elyza’s cousin watches in the background and awaits his turn.
Children have a knack for finding a way to entertain themselves. When Elyza, her brothers, sisters and cousins got together New Year’s Day in Barangay Baras, Leyte in the Republic of the Philippines, they found a way to entertain themselves.
“Flip Flop” is the nickname given to sandal footwear in the Philippines. Many of the “flip flops” that children and adults wear are the basic “shower clogs” that Americans wear getting into and out of the shower.
My Cousin, Bill DeLong, had a reputation in the DeLong Family of being a champion horseshoe pitcher.
My Filipino and Filipina, nephews and nieces “flip flop” pitching is basically the idea of horseshoe pitching, which is a popular past time sport in the United States. Instead of stakes, my nephews and nieces placed an empty tin can several yards away from the starting point.
Nikon Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Links
National Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association of America
http://www.horseshoepitching.com/
Horseshoes Wikipedia
I Envy United States Army General Douglas MacArthur Editorial
I Envy
United States
Army
General
Douglas MacArthur
United States Army
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
Promoted to "Five-Star" rank , December 18, 1944. Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area. U. S. Army Signal Corps Photograph.
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
World War I , in the 20th Century, taught the Citizens Of The World that War is Hell On Earth and no nation or person is “neutral.” World War I proved that War had evolved from nations with disagreements to a force that engulfs the world in a matter of days or hours.
World War II, in the 20th Century, taught the Citizens Of The World, Hell On Earth is always just a
heartbeat away.
The DVD cover shows Actor Gregory Peck in the role of General Douglas
MacArthur in the 1977 movie, “Mac Arthur.”
World War II divided the nations of the world into Us versus Them. World War II confirmed that any War, like fire, can quickly spread and engulf nations in a global holocaust that consumes everything in it’s path.
World War II’s Gift: The A Bomb is the constant reminder that when nations do not deal with issues, then, a violent force will always wait in the wings to settle those issues.
The A Bomb and nuclear weapons are not the threat – they are the reminder that when War becomes a global inferno, then, an Armageddon event is needed to end the War.
Every generation forgets or fails to learn : “The Eternal Lesson Of War is Hell On Earth demands you to find the courage to survive the death and destruction around you to survive and live your life.”
______________________________________________________
The U.S. Army’s Philippine Scouts
“These were General Douglas MacArthur’s soldiers—the guys who fought America’s first battle of World War II. The Philippine Division. Probably the best trained and possibly the best prepared U.S. Army division at the outset of the war.”
– Quote is the lead paragraph for the story on
The U.S. Army website
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the United States Army’s Philippine Division, 12th Infantry Division. The head of the water buffalo symbolizes the Philippines. The colors red and gold represent the island’s Spanish colonial roots.
______________________________________________________
In my lifetime, there has hardly been a day, when I did not pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio or TV or log on to the Internet to read about, yet, another – War.
War is eternal.
War is inevitable.
War is a major event of Human Life.
When The Citizens Of The World forget or ignore The Lessons Of War, then, the next War is only mere seconds away.
The Korean War happened too quickly after World War II for people to understand that World War II was the global event that should of taught The Citizens Of The World that War can be “The Extinction Event For Human Life.”
I admire the American Generals And Admirals of World War II because they knew there had to be a way to quickly end the global pain and suffering. Those military leaders and their troops fought to find a way.
I salute General Eisenhower, General Patton, General MacArthur, all the Allies military commanders and troops for the courage it took for them to wage the battles and campaigns needed to end World War II.
October 20, 2012 was the 68th Anniversary of the Leyte Landing. October 20, 1944, United States General of The Army Douglas MacArthur and Filipino leaders waded ashore at Palo, Leyte, near Tacloban City, Republic of the Philippines to begin the Liberation Of The Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Allies forces were gearing up in the waters of the Pacific for The Battle Of Leyte Gulf, which would become, “The Greatest Naval Battle In The History Of Global Naval Warfare,” in terms of the men, munitions, planes, bombs and ships available to be used to fight a battle at sea.
To date, “The Battle Of Leyte Gulf Is The Largest Naval Battle In The History Of The World.” The battle raged in the waters off the Philippine islands of Leyte and Samar from October 23 through October 26, 1944.
I have always envied General MacArthur because he kept his promise and set free a Pacific nation from the grip of a sadistic tyrant – Emperor Hirohito.
Sam
MONUMENT
TO THE
FILIPINO SOLDIER
Nikon D 100 Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
World War II Battle Of Leyte Gulf Links
Leyte Samar Daily Express
http://leytesamardaily.net/2012/10/simple-memorable-celebrations-mark-68th-leyte-gulf-landings/
The 68th Leyte Gulf Landing Anniversary:
A Celebration of Victory
Tourism office calls on Leyteños to set up wartime museum
Battle Of Leyte Gulf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf
US Army Center Of Military History Battle Of Leyte Gulf
http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/leyte/leyte.htm
The U.S. Army’s Philippine Scouts
http://www.army.mil/asianpacificsoldiers/history/phillipineScouts.html
Philippine Scouts Heritage Society
http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
‘Forgotten Soldiers’ – The Philippine Scouts
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forgotten-soldiers-the-philippine-scouts.htm
US Navy – Naval History And Heritage Command
US Marine Corps History Division
http://edm-sepublic.documentservices.dla.mil/USMC_Oral_History/
US Coast Guard Historian’s Office Battle Of Leyte Gulf
http://www.uscg.mil/global/search/default.asp
U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II
US Navy Ship – USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)
http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/cg55/Pages/default.aspx
World War 2 Facts
Information and Facts on the Great War
Battle of Leyte Gulf
http://www.worldwar2facts.org/battle-of-leyte-gulf.html
Ahoy – Mac’s Web Log
Naval, Maritime, Australian History and more
Mackenzie J Gregory
http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/BattleofLeyteGulf.23-26Oc.html
Military History Online.Com
The Battle for Leyte Gulf Revisited
by Irwin J. Kappes
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/leytegulfrevisited.aspx
Mabuhay Tacloban City
Monument To The Filipino Soldier
October Creature Feature Movie Review Exorcist II The Heretic
October Creature Feature
The Retired Exorcists
Exorcist II The Heretic
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I doubt there is anyone on the planet, who has never heard the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” That saying is probably wise advice for movies as well when it comes to video box covers and DVD jackets.
At Robinson’s Place in Tacloban City, Republic of the Philippines, I was thumbing through the various Video Compact Disc to select American movies to buy. It had become a Friday night ritual, which meant microwave the popcorn and introduce my Filipino nieces and nephews to some of the greatest American horror movies ever made.
I picked the movie out of the VCD and looked at the cover. Linda Blair looked back at me. Richard Burton and Louise Fletcher’s photos were on the bottom of the cover. In my youth, I had watched scores of Richard Burton films.
Louise Fletcher is one of those actresses, when I see her name or photograph associated with a film I know there is about a 99 percent chance that I am going to enjoy the TV Show or movie.
I love movies. I couldn’t believe I had let a sequel to The Exorcists get by me. Then, I watched the movie.
“The Amityville Horror” Exorcists On Call
Suddenly, You are Rod Steiger in the role of Father Delany, in “The Amityville Horror” movie of 1979. The scene where Don Stroud in the role of Father Bolen, the young Vietnam vet, who returns to be a priest, has one knee on the bench and keeps a foot on the ground and kind of leans on the statuesque bench. 
Steiger as Delany just sits on the bench like a knot on a log. He looks like a statue in a priest’s uniform. I always admired the concentration that it took for Steiger to stare out in to space while Stroud in the role of the young priest was talking to him.
I imagine in that scene that It is almost like Steiger is watching a TV and ignoring the people around him. As if “Exorcist II The Heretic” is playing on the TV off screen. He stares through the movie on the TV screen, but daydreams what it would be like to face a real demonic presence.
The Steiger Shroud scene in “The Amityville Horror” movie is what I would expected to find of a “Retired Exorcist Priest.” That scene could have been used to write a whole new script for a sequel to “The Exorcist.”
The Steiger and Shroud scene could be used for an “Exorcist II” to suggests that a successful Exorcist priest comes out of retirement long enough to instruct and help him select two younger priests to become professional, motivated, determined Exorcists.
Steiger and Shroud should have been hired to play the veteran Exorcist and the young Exorcist, who are called in by her doctor to see if it was remotely possible she could be “repossessed possessed.” Then, of course, Burton as Father Lamont would have had to have flown in from the Vatican to make sure that an American exorcism would not cost any more priest’s lives.
Cast Seeks Script
The actual “Exorcist II The Heretic” movie could have been entitled “Exorcist II The Lunatic” and been the four years after Regan MacNeil, suddenly, has a relapse and is hospitalized in a sanatorium.
“Exorcist II The Heretic” proves you can have a magnificent cast of actors, but, you should not have to rely on the actors to ad lib ever scene and line of dialogue in the movie. A movie still needs a script. If you did no research on this film, you would swear it had no script.
God Bless The Screenwriters Of America !
The woman bursting into flames in an opening scene is a clear indication of where this movie goes – “up in flames.” Have a fire extinguisher close to your DVD player.
“Exorcist II The Heretic” is obviously a movie in search of a script – any script.
The date of the movie is 1977. The wardrobe definitely screams “The 1970s.”
Metaphysical Gee Whiz Moments
The movie seems to get caught up in psychiatry and “The New Age Movement” and can’t decide which to choose. Louise Fletcher in the role of Dr, Gene Tuskin shows Regan a hypnotic machine gadget.
In a later scene, Regan teases a friend by faking the famous Uri Geller “spoon bending” that had people pouring through the shelves of bookstores for books on ESP and kinetic energy in the 1970s.
Regan and Dr. Tuskin slip on headbands to connect them to the skinny strobe machine, which looks like a low-budget 1970s version of a 1950s electroshock therapy machine.
Then, Richard Burton in the role of Father Philip Lamont slips on Regan’s headband and slips into the chair. What seems to have been a hypnotic exercise goes from a mind-sharing to a soul-sharing event that might of worked with audiences in the 1970s, but, I doubt it.
This psychiatry metaphysical scene is only missing the “Walk-In” idea that a soul can just walk into a body and allow the original soul to “move on.”
Max von Sydow in the role of Father Lankester Merrin and Karen Knapp in the role of Linda Blair’s double dons the Pazuzu demon makeup appear in a metaphysical overlay to suggest a memory; the technique sort of works, but, makes the screen seem crowded.
August Actors, Actresses, Flat Flick
In my opinion, Burton, Fletcher and Blair were all better than this movie, The actors and actresses in this move all earned every single cent they were paid for this movie. Burton, Fletcher and Blair all did the best they could with their characters and the characters became better than the movie.
Father Lamont gets handed a picture and suddenly the priest has this “Psychological Epiphany” that seems closer to a mental breakdown,which gets talked away by Father Lamont and Dr. Tuskin.
The Magic Grasshopper
By now, obviously, one of the writers must of figured the demon, Pazuzu would have immigration problems with US Customs and tries to smuggle him into the film using “The Magic Grasshopper” – a giant grasshopper dream film sequence.
The Father’s Mission
Paul Henreid in the role of The Cardinal gives the film the credibility it needs. He also get to explain how Father Lamont’s mission is to prove that Father Merrin of “The Exorcist” did not die as a “Heretic.”
My favorite line in the whole movie is, “I’m not here for you.”
Actress Kitty Winn in the role of Sharon Spencer is explaining to Father Lamont how the Georgetown house is full of bad memories for her. Father Lamont suggests that she talk to a priest or a psychiatrist and she grumbles back at him that he is one.
Father Lamont’s, “I’m not here for you,” response is just a basic statement of fact, but, the fact that he is dressed like a priest makes the statement seem cold-blooded.
“The Magic Grasshopper,” the big grasshopper seems to show up whenever the story needs to move along.
In Search Of “The Boy”
A young James Earl Jones is also better than the movie he appears in. He shows up on screen like a young African village medicine man, wearing a ridiculous hat that although it is suppose to be tribal looks like something at the bottom of a clearance bin of lades’ hats.
Fortunately, the quick cutaway to the growling leopard rescues your eyes quickly.
Mental Healing
Regan is suppose to be still recovering from her bout with the demon four years ago. Then, suddenly, she is a mental social worker. She talks to a little girl, who supposedly hasn’t said a word for a long time.
Of course, once Regan starts talking to the girl it becomes Mr. Spock’s “Vulcan mind meld” without the hand gesture or any special effects to show how Regan is getting into the little girl’s mind.
Suddenly, the mother arrives and “Hallelujah ! It’s A Miracle !” I kept waiting for a tent revival preacher in a sweat stained shirt to come rushing in, waving his Holy Bible and shouting for the brothers and sisters to open their hymnals and join in a song.
Father Lamont does his impression of Secretary Of State Henry Kissinger’s “Shuttle Diplomacy” and first dashes to Rome to brief the cardinal and then he is off to Africa to find “the boy.” (At this point, Father Lamont should of forgot the boy and been looking for a script.)
The Cessna And The Crucifix
Ned Beatty in the role of Edwards, the Cessna pilot, delivers a visual clue to the viewers when he gets out of the aircraft and carries this huge crucifix from the plane up the hill to the cafe where Father Lamont is waiting. (Obviously, a screenwriter found a way to tip off viewers, you have had “a cross to bear” for awhile now – hang on a little longer and the credits will roll.)
Locusts Lair
Father Lamont finds “the boy”, Kokumo, who is James Earl Jones in the guise of a village medicine man, wearing a giant grasshopper headdress The surprise is the grasshopper headdress looks more realistic that the earlier hat.
Father Lamont falls down and wakes up in a scientific research facility where James Earl Jones is now the educated scientist, Kokumo, in his dapper white lab coat, who takes pleasure explaining his research into grasshoppers.
Travel Telepathy
Regan and Father Lamont do the “mind sync” in the movie, so that while she is in the States and he is in Africa they are in “sync”, but, the movie was done before computers were built and could do the “sync” routine. I
“Exorcist II The Heretic” is not a sci-fi movie like any of the “Star Trek” movies, so the “Borg collective one community mind” idea doesn’t come off in the movie. There are no special effects to suggests that they are in sync at any time. “The Mind Sync” idea might be a metaphysical or supernatural or New Age concept that I missed in my years of research, but, I doubt it.
My guess is the Father Lamont and Regan “mind sync” is a shot at “telepathy” and no one really could figure out how to show it on screen.
Father Lamont and Regan get on a train. Dr. Tuskin and Sharon Spencer catch a flight to Georgetown. Everyone seems to be heading for the house in Georgetown, where Father Merrin did his exorcism. The Magic Grasshopper is finally replaced by swarms of grasshoppers,
Paranormal Pursuit
When everyone finally arrives at Georgetown, it seems the movie finally realizes it is suppose to be a horror flick and a supernatural thriller.
The final scenes are what you expect of a horror flick. The kind of surprises that if the final scenes would have been moved up toward the beginning or worked as an opening would have people in the theater snuggling down in their seats clutching their large bucket of popcorn and gripping their sodas and whispering, “Exorcist II The Heretic. Bring it on !”
Two Stars
I was tempted to give this movie One Star, but, the truth is all the actors and actresses in this movie worked too hard to try get this movie up and running.
Thus, the First Star has to go to all the actors, actresses and everyone on the movie, but, the director. I just don’t think the director understood he was actually suppose to film a “horror flick” and a “supernatural thriller.”
The second star is for the final minutes and final scenes of the story, which survived to prove at least a portion of a script made it on to film.
I award “The Exorcist II Heretic” Two Stars. The outstanding cast of stars in this movie makes it worth watching. I do not remember watching “The Exorcist III.” I should have because it is a George C. Scott movie,
Sam
Salute To A
Great American Actor
George C. Scott
And
A Great American General
George S. Patton Jr.
George C. Scott is one of those great American actors that I admire and respect. Born in Wise, Virginia, October 18, 1927, he was definitely “A Force Of The Universe.” He came at Life head on.
He was a smiling man, whose brash, vivacious approach to Life could best be described as a United States Navy battleship or aircraft carrier rushing through the oceans of the world and brushing aside any boats naive enough to get too caught up his wake.
I have never seen a movie, where George C. Scott took on the role of a wimp. He was too independent and determined in life to ever portray a powerless victim scared of his own shadow.
The wimp roles of life are better suited to politicians not successful actors, directors and producers.
George C. Scott before he ever became an actor served his nation. In 1945, he raised his right hand and became a member of the United States Marine Corps.
On active duty at 8th and I Barracks in Washington D.C,,he served in uniform until 1949, when he returned to civilian life and went to the University of Missouri. He graduated with a degree in Journalism.
His choice in life to become an actor, put him on stage at Broadway and in front of film cameras around the world. George C. Scott’s hard work and devotion to his profession always brought his characters to life on film.
Americans and other people will remember George C. Scott for a variety of roles. I remember George C. Scott in the role of United States Army General George S. Patton Jr.
Scott’s Marine Corps service made him a natural to play the role of a military commander. Scott’s “I live Life on my own terns attitude”, made him the only man in America or the world, who could of slipped on the United States Army low quarters of “The General” and brought him “Back To Life” on film.
American and International newspapers around the world published the articles about General Patton’s “hard charging approach to life.” Patton, a Scorpio, born November 11, 1885, wasn’t scared of God or Satan. General Patton would stand toe-to-toe with God or Satan and look them square in the eye.
United States Army Signal Corps Photo of Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr., 1943. (pictured before his promotion to full General).
General Patton’s courage in peace and war always made him a hero to his troops and a “discomfort” for the military and civilian leaders in the Chain Of Command above General Patton.
I did not use the term “superiors” because sometimes in Life there are people, who have no “superiors” because they stand too tall and proud in Life that anyone who stands near them are simply ignored or forgotten.
General Patton became Alexander The Great with the American flag genetically engineered into his soul. General Patton put on his US Army “Ike” jacket and strapped on his twin pearl handled pistols to show the world, “When God wants Justice he sends George S. Patton Jr., and his troops to get the job done right the first time.”
Only a United States Marine, like George C. Scott, would of understood, General Patton’s “Devotion To Duty, Honor And Country,” only a Marine like George C. Scott would of understood that General Patton would move mountains and cross oceans to achieve a military objective and to free people from an enemy.
During World War II, the United States of America and the Allies had three magnificent US Army “Weapons Of Mass Destruction” General Dwight David Eisenhower, General Douglas MacArthur and General George S. Patton Jr.
The Allies had scores of brilliant and brave men and women in uniform, who always succeeded. But, three American generals knew World War II would change the lives of people around the globe.
Generals Eisenhower and MacArthur were aware that while military leaders must press forward to overcome the enemy, General Eisenhower and General MacArthur understood the need to keep civilian leaders informed and to outline the importance of the actions to the International News Media.
General Patton understood the enemy had to be defeated at all costs.
General Patton would leave the government politics to General Eisenhower, General MacArthur and the other Allies military generals, admirals and commanders.
General Patton would pay attention to the International News Media only if they were writing stories and shooting film to tell of the exploits of himself and his troops in defeating the enemy.
When you look at the determination and life of General George S. Patton Jr., there was only one man in America or the world, who could of become “The General” in front of a cinematic camera and would of demonstrated the courage, devotion and conviction of being single-minded enough to “Fight Your Way To Freedom.”
Actor George C. Scott is the only man, who could of brought General Patton to life on film for future generations of global citizens to understand.
Scott, a Libra, who could be considered born on the Cusp of Scorpio, knew how to “Balance” his approach to life to get things done. George C. Scott always seemed to smile in public. His public persona of being able to laugh and still move ahead in a determined manner to achieve something must of kept people around him in awe.
Like General Patton, George C. Scott always seemed in news reels, film and photos to be one of those people in life, whose presence overwhelms the people around them and keeps someone like General George S. Patton Jr., and George C. Scott in the center of the spotlight, regardless where they went in the world.
George C. Scott knew how to translate his natural charisma into a subtle energy life force that always had to be acknowledged and respected because it could not be ignored. He had a “radioactive presence” that always came across in his films and television shows.
In addition to his role as General George S. Patton Jr., George C. Scott, played John Rainbird in the movie “Firestarter.”
The Stephen King novel became a movie. Drew Barrymore in the role of Charlie McGee is a little girl, who can use her mind to cause people and objects to burst into flame.
Naturally, a secret government organization wants to keep the little girl under their control where they can perform tests and study her. The insidious mythical organization turns to John Rainbird to try to get close to the child. Of course, the character Rainbird is an Evil man.
In the role of Rainbird, George C. Scott creates a determined villain, with a sense of humor and a laugh that makes the character seem the least threatening of all the bad guys in the movie;
When an actor has the charisma, charm and stage presence to create a bad guy character that you want to admire, then, you have an actor, actress or person who really can reach out to people in their minds.
In the movie, Rainbird is a bad guy; but the way George C. Scott plays the villain; it is difficult not to respect the bad guy.
Since George C. Scott is one of my favorite actors, I seldom overlook any of his TV shows or movies. He is one of the stars in “The Exorcist III.” I do not remember ever watching the movie, so I can’t review it at this point in time.
Sam
” Extreme Fixer Upper ” — Photo for Katie — Photography Patrol
” Extreme Fixer Upper ” — Photo for Katie — Take a camera and take a walk, sometimes you might be amazed at the sights you find near your front door. July 15, 2012 — I took the Nikon D 100 and strolled down the road. A few yards down the Barangay Baras Road from my front door at One Warren Way is this former Filipino bamboo home.
I saw this building and thought of my favorite American realtor, Katie. For three years, in the United States, my wife, Christy Warren and I used the Internet and I went to numerous websites trying to sell the more than 70 acres of Warren Land in rural southwest Missouri. We even listed the property with two other realtors and one realtor was a national American real estate firm.
Yet, it was a third generation Stone County, Missouri native, Katie Philipps of Tri-Lakes Realtors, who helped us to find a “buyer” and close the deal in less than three months Thanks to Katie, Our Favorite American Real Estate Agent, Christy and I are now living “Our American Dream” on the island of Leyte, in the Republic of The Philippines. Nikon D 100 Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Wingman To The Angels
Wingman
To The
Angels
By Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I can die a happy man !
I don’t have a son.
I don’t have a grandson.
I had the honor of any father or grandfather, as I stood and walk alongside my nephew in his commencement exercise.
“What Mothers Do” – Lanail Saldana holds a graduation gown, while Marife Saldana Roa, the mother of Glen Roa, checks the precise alignment of the flower on her son, Glen’s graduation gown before commencement exercises. Canon 40 D Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I walked alongside my nephew, Glen Roa, on the day that he underwent a monumental turning point in his life.
March 29, 2012, I strolled alongside my nephew, Glen Roa, in his formal graduation procession of the Juan Villablanca National High School, in Pastrana, in the Republic of the Philippines.
The joy inside my heart, mind and soul, I describe as, being promoted to the rank of “Seraphim” and given the opportunity to fly Combat Air Patrol off of the left wing of Saint Michael, the Archangel.
As a writer, monumental moments in my life, I always put on paper or place in my electronic journals, the “Sam I Am Blog” and my “Samuel Warren The Writer” blog.
A writer feels emotions like his fellow man and fellow woman, but, a writer has the passion to translate that emotion into words and to commit it to print for future generations.
For me, walking alongside Glen in his commencement exercise gave me a supreme sensation of pride that could only be explained as being assigned to the military ranks of the Heavenly Host.
What greater tribute could there be in the Afterlife for a military man or woman than to be designated a “Seraphim” and authorized to fly alongside the Archangels ?
I am not a religious man. I try to be a spiritual man.
This event, gave me, the Pride, to feel like I had the honor to serve: as “Wingman To The Angels.”
“The Walk” — Samuel E. Warren Jr., strolls alongside, Glen Roa, his nephew, in the formal procession on Glen’s Graduation Day. Canon EOS 40 D Photo by Christy Warren.
The nature of the ceremony, obviously, made the day a monumental moment in Glen’s life.
The day was obviously – “Glen’s Day.”
Glen Roa accepts Communion at the church, before joining his fellow students in the formal graduation procession to the auditorium. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
However, Glen’s American uncle felt the tremendous positive energy flowing from the universe into the graduates, their parents and relatives.
A magnificent, positive energy that reminds people, you can change the world, you can move mountains. You simply need the faith in yourself and your convictions to move you along the path to greatness.
I stood next to Glen and felt like one of God’s Seraphim standing on a majestic mountain peak bathed in golden sunlight. The rays of the sun, moved along my angelic breastplate and tunic. My wings opened to the sunlight. I stood ready to serve in the immortal ranks of The Heavenly Host.”
My feet stood in the Real World on the soil of the Republic of the Philippines, but, my imagination takes flight. I draw my sword and spread my wings. At altitude, I bank in the sunlight and fly through the ranks of the seraphim. I soar and sail among the formation of the archangels and move into position to fly off the left wing of Saint Michael, the Archangel.
Today, I am Saint Michael’s Wingman.
Back in the Real World, I stand alongside Glen. The sweltering heat and sunlight reaches the point that it is uncomfortable to just be standing outside. Yet, Glen stands in the long white line of students selected to graduate.
“The Long White Line ” — boys and girls in caps and gowns move along the route of the commencement exercise procession toward the goal of graduate. Photo by Christy Warren.
I have always been a persistent, passionate writer. When I pick up my camera for a news or important photography situation, I enter my Michelangelo mindset and try to figure out how I will be able to capture a photo that will remain a moving work of art to stand the test of time. The photography mindset is never a conscious act as much as a mental urge to be in the right place, at the right time, to capture a moment of history to stand the test of time.
My calling in life had always been to be the best reporter and photographer that it is humanly possible for me to be.
My writer’s mind, tells me God and Saint Michael, took the necessary actions to move me to this point in time.
In November 1988, I reported to Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines. I was a single American G.I., in pursuit of the dream of earning a Pulitzer Prize for writing or photography. Born a Texan and raised an Ozarks country boy, my ambition in life was to be a world-renowned photojournalist.
Life is an assignment that takes a serious of missions to put you in the right position to attain success and contentment. On duty, in the Real World, the United States Air Force would issue orders that would take Christy and I to Japan, Alabama and finally to retirement in Missouri.
Mount Pinatubo’s noxious sulfur fumes had changed the blanket of air over Clark Air Base into the pungent, persistent, almost choking stench of “rotten eggs.”
The slight shudder of the earth beneath your feet in February had grown to an intensity that seemed Mother Earth was being racked with strong contractions like a woman in labor by the month of May.
Before the rebirth of Mount Pinatubo into a volcano, Christy and I had taken the military orders and landed in Japan.
Mount Pinatubo had been nature’s “bunker buster bomb blast” that severed all Real World communications between Christy and her family in the Republic of the Philippines.
The status of all Christy’s relatives were “Unknown” – Missing In Action.
In a matter of days, Mount Pinatubo had devastated a section of a nation with a force usually displayed by nations at war.
And, the aftermath of Mount Pinatubo’s action, took 21 years for Christy to finally locate and determine the fate of her family in the Philippines. Marife and Ramon had had their own families.
With communications reestablished the Warrens in the United States and the Saldanas in the Philippines were becoming a family separated by a body of water called the Pacific Ocean.
Like United States Army General Douglas MacArthur, Christy Warren was determined to “Return To The Philippines.” General MacArthur had a mission. Christy Warren had family in the Philippines.
Glen adjusts his robe and straightens his mortarboard graduation cap, I smile and realize that at last Life had brought us to this point.
Glen, the young man, had grown up hearing stories about his “Tita Christy and Tito Sam.” Since our return to the Philippines, he had seen we were not fictional characters, but real people.
My grandfather, Joseph Samuel Warren, had been an East Texas farmer. My father, Samuel E. Warren, had served in the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater of Operations, during World War II. Dad had earned two Silver Stars and assigned to the United States Army Signal Corps had installed some of the first telephone lines through the jungles of the Republic of the Philippines, during the war.
Glen had told his mom, he wanted to join the military. I hope the stories of my dad’s military service had inspired Glen to understand that military service is a calling of patriotism and compassionate devotion to one’s fellow citizens.
Glen’s confident smile reminded me of my exciting days at Clark Air Base back in the late 1980s. I looked at Glen and was reminded of General Fidel V. Ramos. I had been fortunate enough to take a photo of General Ramos on one of his visits to Clark.
When I arrived at Clark in the 1980s, I landed in the Philippines in the aftermath of the EDSA People Power Revolution and it was an exciting time.
The Global News Media had labeled former President Ferdinand Marcos an “evil dictatorial strongman.” Since President Marcos had always been a reliable and devoted ally to the United States Government in the Pacific and Asia, people in the Philippines were suspicious of the United States Government and most all Americans.
Life in the Philippines had became a constant topic for the global news media. Since the revolution in 1986, the world watched to see what would happen in the Philippines.
Corazon Aquino, a housewife and widow, had become the President of the Republic of the Philippines. While President Aquino had been educated for a few years in the United States, Americans as a rule, really knew nothing about the new president.
At Clark, we performed out military duties and wondered if we would get orders to pack up and head for “home” – the United States. In 1988 and 1989, I went to work each day in a country that was in transition as a new government established itself. It seemed everyday the international news media had stories of political intrigue originating from the Philippines. Americans back home in the United States were confused about the news coming out of the Philippines.
Every couple of weeks I would call my mother back in the United States, who would usually be upset because she had seen television coverage about the actions of the New People’s Army and had seen on television and in newspapers the coverage of protests demanding “Get US troops out of the Philippines” and, of course, the television footage was always shot outside of Clark or Subic on the days that protestors showed up, a few minutes before the global news media arrived with their television cameras and radio microphones.
I remember seeing a photo of General Juan Ponce Enrile, in uniform, on the cover of “Time” magazine. Despite the news going on around us at Clark, the names of two prominent Filipino generals always seemed to emerge in a positive light: General Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos.
I looked at my nephew, Glen and wondered if he would rise in life to have the admiration and respect of his comrades in arms like General Fidel Ramos. Then, we began walking in the procession toward the auditorium.
In my writer’s mind I had been elevated to the position of “Wingman To The Angels.” In the Real World, my nephew, Glen walked the symbolic pathway that led him through the doorway to decide which path he would take in life.
Glen Roa, steps to center stage, during his commencement exercises to accept his diploma. Samuel E. Warren Jr., his uncle. crosses behind him to stand beside him on the stage. Canon EOS 40 D Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
He stepped on to the stage and bowed to the audience.
I stood at his side and bowed.
As we stepped off the stage, I was confident, that Glen would be a young man, who would make a name for himself, and serve his fellow citizens.
To the reporters of “USA Today,” the “New York Times,” the “Washington Post,” “Time,” “Newsweek,” the “Manila Bulletin,” the “Philippine Daily Inquirer” the “Philippine Star,” Reuters and the Associated Press, I would suggest, “Get your cameras ready,” my nephew, Glen Roa, is a young man, who will make headlines and history.
Congratulation, Glen !
Photography Patrol–Lumpia Making In The Province–Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Lumpia Making In The Province – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. Pina Gempis reaches into the shopping bag. Leneil Saldana straightens the ingredients on the spoon. Vergie Saldana takes a banana break. Analyn rolls a lumpia wrapper, while Endoy reaches for the lumpia ingredients with a spoon. Edwin Saldana watches and smiles. Lumpia is a Filipino favorite that is like a burrito or an egg roll. Christy Warren and the Saldana women all have their recopies for making lumpia, which can be a time-consuming process. However, once the lumpia is rolled, it can be placed in the ice box until it is time to cook. Lumpia is a great snack and with fried rice can make for a complete meal. The Saldana women and their male recruits rolled the lumpia as one of the foods to be served, during this Holy Week. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Lumpia Ready To Cook – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. This plate of lumpia is ready to cook. What makes lumpia preparation time consuming is the chopping up of the ingredients like carrots, onions, bell pepper, and pork. Lumpia wrapper tend to be extremely thin, thus, the wrappers stick together quite easily and you have to have patience to carefully separate the wrappers from each other. In the States, when Christy could not find lumpia wrappers, she would use egg roll wrappers, which also work well. Once the lumpia is wrapped, it simply has to be cooked. The cooking process is more like frying, but the lumpia rolls turn out to be a crispy, delicious, golden brown. No doubt there are many places on the World Wide Web were you can find a lumpia recipe, but if you want Christy’s Lumpia Recipe, then, you will have to email me at samuelwarren55@gmail.com Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Pina Gempis, Leneil Saldana, Vergie Saldana, Edwin Saldana, Analyn, Endoy, lumpia, province, Filipino, Filipinas, Philippines, Republic of the Philippines, Barangay Baras, Barangay Cameri, Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Tanauan, Tacloban City, Fil-Am, tropics, cooking water, gourmet, snack, Holy Week 2012Pina Gempis, Leneil Saldana, Vergie Saldana, Edwin Saldana, Analyn, Endoy, lumpia, province, Filipino, Filipinas, Philippines, Republic of the Philippines, Barangay Baras, Barangay Cameri, Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Tanauan, Tacloban City, Fil-Am, tropics, cooking water, gourmet, snack, Holy Week 2012
The Crucifixion ! Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
The Crucifixion !
Soldiers Stand Guard – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. Filipino citizens assume the roles of Roman soldiers and stand guard at the crucifixion site on the grounds of the Metropolitan Chapel in Palo, Leyte, during Good Friday’s Holy Week observances. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Mourners Approach – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. A raised mound in the courtyard of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo, Leyte serves as the site of the three crosses. Statues on the crosses enhance the eerie feeling of realism. The soldiers stand their post as people dressed as mourners approach the three crosses. People who attended the Good Friday observance were able to watch the re-creation of the crucifixion, during the Holy Week observance. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Crucifixion Cadre – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. Citizens assume the role of the Roman soldiers of the Crucifixion Cadre. The citizen-soldiers’ acting abilities enhanced the experience of witnessing the Good Friday, Holy Week observance on the grounds of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo, Leyte. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Witness to the Crucifixion – Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr. People who attended the Good Friday observance at the Metropolitan Chapel, in Palo, Leyte, were witnesses to this choreographed crucifixion. The significance of the ritual symbolism, could best be described, as the emotional feelings of the individual — within the multitude of witnesses. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Raise The Colors !
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I love to see a flag flying in the breeze.
The Saldana Family proudly flies their Republic of the Philippines flag in Barangay Baras among the coconut and guava trees.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Thanks to my brother-in-law, Ramon Q. Saldana Jr.,in a matter of days, we had a beautiful, tall, functional flagpole in our front yard.
In the United States of America when a military installation or a government agency is ready to begin business, there is a formal ceremony that focuses on the raising of the United States flag to announce the”official” commencement of operations. Even homes, in the United States, with a flagpole usually has some type of ceremony before the flag is raised for the first time.
Once a flagpole is ready, you need to understand your feelings toward the flag that will rise up the standard. If the banner is a national flag, then, you need to understand your emotions and beliefs about patriotism.
Patriotism involves your love of your country and the respect to honor the memory of the people who have sacrificed their lives for your country. If you don’t love your country or feel little to no emotion for the people who have sacrificed their lives for your country; then, you have no business flying a national flag.
In observing my nephews and nieces, they have shown care, concern and compassion for their community and have demonstrated their responsibility in their schoolwork, which translates to me as responsible citizenship. I’m proud to watch them show an interest in current events and Filipino history, which I also view as personal pride in their country.
When you fly a national flag, you should always be aware of your nation’s flag protocol. In the United States Armed Forces, I was taught customs and courtesies, which addressed guidelines for the use and display of the United States flag. And, I know there are detailed procedures for the use and display of the US flag at embassies, consulates and official government agencies. I would theorize that most governments probably have similar procedures and guidelines for the display and use of their national flags.
I explained to my nephews and nieces that proper display of the flag is their responsibility and suggested they ask a teacher or go online and research Republic of the Philippines protocol for the display of the national flag.
Ramon Q. Saldana Jr., and Marife Saldana Roa adjust the flagpole line.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Before we raised the flag, Ramon and Fe asked me if we were going to do “a formal flag ceremony ?” I smiled and answered, “I’m retired. My days of military protocol are behind me.” The truth is before putting together anything like a formal flag ceremony, I wanted to be sure that the flagpole and the flag would work without any flaws.
Christy Warren and Ramon Saldana hold the banner while Marife threads a tie through the top grommet to tie the banner to the flagpole line.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Since I had not tested the flag raising procedure, I didn’t want to risk the kids being assembled for a flag raising and have the line hang up so that the flag did not rise or discover that the grommets were not tied properly and have the flag come loose and fall to the ground. My favorite “Uncle Sam” had taught me to always hope for the “Best Case Scenario” and to be ready to expect the “Worst Case Scenario.” Without a “dry run” to test the procedure, I suggested that we just try to raise the flag the next morning.
Ramon and Fe make sure the top grommet is securely tied to the flagpole line as a part of the process to raise the banner.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I simply hoped that we would have the colors flying when the kids returned home from school the next day.
Nephew Marlon Saldana climbs up a nearby guava tree to snatch the flagpole line which came loose from the bottom of the banner and did not allow it to rise in the first attempt.The failure revealed that the line should pass through the top grommet and the bottom grommet. To keep the banner attached to the line, then, the bottom grommet would also have to be tied to the nylon flagpole line to allow the flag to rise with the line up to the pulley at the top of the staff. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
February 1, 2012, Christy, Ramon and Marife, three of the adult children of Ramon and Nenita Saldana, raised the colors in the front yard for the first time. I, of course, photographed the event.
Murphy’s Law – “Anything that can go wrong; will go wrong,” seems to pinpoint first time events. The initial flag raising did not go smoothly.
None of us had ever tied a flag to the line before. The tie at the bottom grommets of the flag did not hold and the bottom of the flag came loose as it was raised.
Fortunately, the flag did not touch the ground. U.S. Flag protocol states that if the flag falls and touches the ground, then, that flag must be destroyed.
When we attempted to lower the flag, too much of the line came through the pulley at the top and the line rushed through until the knot at the end of the line caught in the pulley. My nephew, Marlon Saldana climbed up the nearby guava tree and retrieved the knotted line caught up in the pulley and brought the line back down.
By the second attempt, the glitches had been remedied and the colors rose up the line to the top of the flagpole.
Ramon Saldana examines the flagpole line to make sure it passes through the grommets of the banner to allow the cloth to rise up the line. Christy Warren straightens the material, so that the cloth should rise like the sail of a ship up to the top of the mast. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
The colors raised – there was only one item missing – a breeze.
The flagpole line raises the flag up to the top of the flagpole on the second attempt. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Time passed. The kids returned home from school, but the flag was not flying. That fact was a disappointment. Unfortunately, there was no breeze.
The irony is ,it was about, a week and a half later before the flag waved. Typhoon winds off of the ocean actually spawned enough of a breeze to unfurl the colors.
The colors unfurl. The Republic of the Philippines flag flies above the Saldana Family residence in Barangay Baras, Tanauan, Leyte.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
If you pass through Barangay Baras, keep looking through the tall coconut trees. When you see a flash of colors in the trees look for the flagpole. The Saldana Family flagpole stands proud and unfurls the colors of the Republic of the Philippines against the sky.
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