Rizal’s Sibylla Cumana

A different kind of Rizal revealed.

On December 8, 6 p.m., the Paciano Rizal Family Heritage, Inc., and Cruz Publishing will launch the book Haec Est Sibylla Cumana at Auditorium 1 of the Ateneo Professional Schools on Rockwell Drive in Makati City.

Sybilla Cumana, we are told by the eminent Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, is a seeress and fortune teller in the Graeco-Roman culture.

What will be launched on Dec. 8 is an undisclosed and believed to be the last book written by the National Hero Jose Rizal.

Mrs. Nakpil wrote in the Publisher’s Note:”Jose Rizal continues to surprise us. An unexpected facet of Rizal’s persona has been revealed with this book. He was so humorous, playful and resourceful that he once invented and produced the material for a new parlor game using a character from the ancient Graeco-Roman culture of occult practices, the Sybilla Cumana, seeress and fortune teller.”

The publishers said the book Haec Est Sibylla Cumana is actually a game of chance, to be played by any number of gamesters, with a wooden top to point to the answers to questions asked by the players. Both the questions and answers were written by Jose Rizal. The answers are down-to-earth, irreverent and humorous, denoting the manners and culture of the period. It is like talking to the National Hero himself.

The other thrill is owning a relic like the Sibylla which is an exact replica of Rizal’s very on creation. The wonderful sensation of owning one of Rizal’s toys invented at a crucial point in his life while in exile in Dapitan , a year before he died. What was he trying to tell us?

Haec Est Sibylla Cumana is a set of three books–a replica of the original written by Jose Rizal in Spanish; a Tagalog translation by Rio Almario, National Artist for Literature and Diwa ng Sining (Araw ng Maynila, 2011) and an English version by Gemma Cruz Araneta, great grandniece of Jose Rizal. It also comes with a copy of Rizal’s wooden top.

The book will be available at the launch for Php 950.00 and at Cruz Publishing ( 891-1045).

It’s 25 days till Christmas …. time for Purefoods Fiesta Ham!

You know it’s the Christmas season when ham and queso de bola are on full display in the grocery aisles. In this case, only 25 days to go till the country’s biggest holiday arrives and families gather on the dining table for their merry feasts. As a mom, I get excited in not only buying presents for the kids but also planning the menu for our little get-together on Christmas Eve.

Purefoods fiesta ham

Ever since I was small, Purefoods Fiesta Ham has been a staple in our noche buena table. And when I grew up, it’s either others gave them as a gift to me or I bought them myself.

Through the years, I’ve loved eating it with bread or hot pan de sal. But thanks to a luncheon prepared by the doyenne of Philippine cookery, Ms. Glenda Barretto of Via Mare, I was able to discover new ways to prepare the fiesta ham.

Let’s begin with appetizers. You can slice and dice the ham then place them atop the crostini to serve as canapes for your next party.

Purefoods Fiesta Ham

I Love the idea of this salad! Vegetables like steamed asparagus are wrapped with the delicious ham and accented with fruits like honeydew or melon balls.

Purefoods Fiesta Ham

Another dish to savor – a filling green pea soup topped with yummy ham bits. Serve with the crunchy goodness of knacker bread if you like.

Purefoods Fiesta Ham

The piece de resistance was the main course of glazed Purefoods bone-in leg of ham with candied sweet potato gravy and a siding of veggies.

Purefoods Fiesta Ham

Dessert was bibingka galapong with ham and queso de bola but I wasn’t able to take a picture.

This party tendered by Purefoods Fiesta Ham didn’t only serve delicious food. It was also attended by beautiful people.

Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan, Danica Sotto-Pingris and Christine Jacob-Sandejas shared their own thoughts about preparing culinary treats for the holidays.

Suzi, Barbie, Danica & Christine

I was seated beside this very chic lady with her gleaming Cartier & Bulgari bling-blings and authentic Hermes bag. I told her “you look familiar…” and then I realized she was Ms. Tina Tagle. She used to keep a blog until she decided to keep it private. In person, I thought she was the most down-to-earth socialite ever! :)

Tina Tagle

Our chef & host for the day, Ms. Glenda Barretto.

Glenda Barretto

This holiday season, take a pick from your Purefoods Fiesta Ham in different sizes: 1kg traditional size for the family, the NEW 1.5kg thinly-sliced version for bigger families and gatherings, the NEW 200g Fiesta Ham slices that are affordable and conveniently-packed, and the NEW 3.5kg/piece Fiesta Ham Smoked Bone-in with an additional smoked taste that’s perfect for grand celebrations.

Trillanes: “Mla Pen happened for a higher reason that is still unfolding”

Some “survivors” of what media calls the Nov. 29, 2007 “Manila Peninsula siege” got together with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (no, not at the Manila Pen).

Yesterday’s reunion had an added significance in the sense that Trillanes, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Danny Lim and other members of the Magdalo, who dared take on Gloria Arroyo at the height of her power, are now free. Trillanes is serving his electoral mandate in the Senate and Lim is deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

And Arroyo, their jailer?

It is now being debated whether she should be granted her request for a house arrest or be confined at a government facility. She has been charged with electoral sabotage in the 2007 election, a crime punishable by a life sentence and bail is not recommended.

Definitely, the detention facility being prepared by the Aquino government for Gloria Arroyo is luxury compared to the prison condition that Trillanes and the Magdalo officers endured during their seven years (starting July 27, 2003 in connection with the Oakwood mutiny) of incarceration.

But it underscores what we call “gulong ng palad.”

Reflecting on what happened four years ago, Trillanes admitted there were tactical lapses which in some ways led to political fallouts.

But the fatalist that he is makes him think that what happened in Manila Pen happened “for a higher reason that is still unfolding.”

Trillanes said there are bigger challenges facing the country and he said, “Hopefully the Manila Pen experience strengthened us to face these.”

Woman in ‘Hello Garci’ was Gloria,Senate told

By Antonio de los Reyes and Victor Reyes
Malaya

'I am sorry'

LT. Col. Pedro Sumayo, former commander of the Military Intelligence Group 21 (MIG-21) which specializes in communications and surveillance, yesterday told a Senate investigating panel that he heard the voice of former president Gloria Arroyo in the raw copy of the “Hello Garci” wiretapped tapes, which he burned on orders of his superior.

Sumayo also told the Senate committees on blue ribbon and electoral reforms which are jointly investigating the alleged fraud during the 2004 and 2007 elections that he was given P900,000 several weeks before his testimony.

Sumayo said former T/Sgt. Vidal Doble Jr. presented to him the audio recordings after the 2004 elections.

He said he listened to a portion of a tape and heard a voice which he recognized as Arroyo’s.

He said he informed his superior, Col. Allen Capuyan, who was then head of the Special Operations Group of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, about the recordings.

“When I told him (Capuyan) about what I’ve heard he told me to destroy the tapes,” Sumayo said. He said he passed on Capuyan’s instruction to Doble.

Sumayo was relieved from the ISAFP this year and is on floating status after being tagged as one of the core members of Project Lighthouse, the ISAFP surveillance team that was responsible for the wiretapping.

Sumayo said he has sought Capuyan’s help to be returned to active service.

He said Capuyan delivered to him, through a certain Col. Zosa, a package with nine bundles of peso bills amounting to P900,000.

Sumayo was referring to Col. Allen Emil Zosa, the former head of Isafp’s Special Operations Group.

Capuyan has retired from military service. He ran and lost for a partylist seat in the 2010 elections.

Sumayo turned over the money to the panel, saying that “I was relieved from J2, it would be unwise for me to touch the money and I was only asking for my career.”

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban said the military may look into Sumayo’s allegations while the Senate investigation is ongoing.

Oban said Sumayo, who is currently assigned with the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, is being recommended for another position.

He encouraged military officers and men who have knowledge in the rigging of the 2004 presidential elections to come out in the open and tell what they know.

Was Mark Bautista behind the KC Concepcion – Piolo Pascual break up?

Am not usually into showbiz if not for this KC Piolo break up thing which is too juicy to be ignored. I actually had to check out Mark Bautista who is being mentioned (fairly or unfairly) as the third party behind the break up.Aside from being an actor and a singer, you’ve probably seen him in those posters of Mang Inasal. And yes, he’s labelled one of Piolo’s “trusted friends.” Although I still have to see him in person, I have to say from the pictures that he looks so manly and oozes with sex appeal :)

This photo from the Mark Bautista Facebook page:

mark bautista

Fashion Pulis @ fashionpulis.com shares the grapevine on that crucial day when KC Concepcion was said to have finally seen the light -

Screen grab

What could have made KC say on national television , in that interview with Boy Abunda on The Buzz:

” PJ knows exactly why we broke up. He knows exactly why.”

“May mga bagay na hindi ko na kayang lunukin, hindi ko na kayang tanggapin…”

(there are some things I can no longer take and accept….)

And here’s what Piolo said when interviewed by ABS-CBN upon his arrival from Japan yesterday where he did a show….. with his good friend Mark Bautista :)

“I don’t think there’s anything else to say. KC has already said her piece so hayaan na lang muna natin dun, it’s a very sensitive issue. Hindi naman biro ang pinagdaanan naming dalawa.”