The Ugat ng Lahi, May 28, 2010, with Dr. F. Landa Jocano, Phd. was an eye opener.  Willy Sanson's comment about we being weird because the Convenarium was so full ...and with so many young people at that...for a Friday night was spot on.I thought that we would only be a few people in a small venue. Seeing the place packed to the rafters, people lining up to have their books signed by Dr. Jocano (who admits to being 80 yrs old) and still others scrambling to buy his books at the end  of the symposium was amazing.  I would not have believed it if I didn't actually see it.It showed me that, like me, there were so many other people who were searching for their roots.  I did not feel alone anymore.  The time of confluence is here.Thank you to HistoryKo.org and C-Future for organizing such a wonderful experience.  Seeing Dr. Jocano would have  been in my top 50 things to do - after I read his Sulod book -  which I never thought it would happen.  And to top it, he has a wonderful sense of hunor and has a son who grew up with what he wrote about and also followed his field of interest. Double wow truely! Legacy lives on.

 I just came across a book "The Blue of the Capricorn" by Eugene Burdick copyright 1961.  There was one chapter that talked about Malays. According to the author, the Malays are the most numerous race of the Pacific.  They are the most effervescent, the most resilient, the most musical and the most beautiful in the Pacific. Then the author refered to the Filipinos & Filipinas.  The Filipina was described as small -boned, with round perfect face and great melting eyes, long black hair, rounded child-like hips. With this kind of physical perfection, no wonder with todays high fashion, the Filipina will startle the world.  On the other hand, the Filipino (men) was described as small in stature, well muscled, exceedingly vain, and had something of the psychology of a modern Casanova.  Even when a Filipino  becomes a successful businessman, picks up weights and wears modern or conservative suits, he will still exude a catlike, predatory and utterly charming disposition.  With the gift of this physical features, I still can't understand why whitening products are still popular in our country.  Someday Filipinos will realize how beautiful our features and complexion are.  

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