Today is Friday, Janurary 2nd, 2009 and it is now 1:45 AM here in the Philippines.
Music wise, Norman Brown is a superb guitarist and is famous for making Smoothe Jazz remakes of popular R and B songs. The following video is a song by Janet Jackson, "That's the Way Love Goes," and was shot with Brown and his female partner vacationing in Hawaii. Sounds lame but it is a fantastic song.
We have a Smoothe Jazz station here in the Philippines. Many large stations in the capital of Manila use relays to simulcast on most of the other islands here. In Davao City the station is on 106.3. We cannot pick it up here in San Franz because of the distance (200 odd kilometers) but whenever we go or come from Davao we listen to this station (Dad and I anyway).
You can pick it up as soon as you enter the village of Monkayo on National Hiway and it is always a milestone in our frquent trips to that city although with the violence now I can no longer even ride with someone in that direction let alone drive myself. Too many Check Points and firefights on the Hiway south of Trento, the next village south.
Anyway, this song was made (by Brown) in 1994 but is just as good now, if not better...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-C8_ugOr0
The 2nd song is by a Smoothe Jazz saxophonist, Najee. This particular song is "Bethya (sic) Don't Know" and is one of the coolest jazz songs ever made. I believe it was first released in the late 1980s.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdee9fdyby8
The final song today is by Brothers Johnson, a very smooth 70s R and B outfit. They had monster hits back in the day like "Stomp!" and this song here which is just amazing.
The song was also a monster hit but I used to hate it. Just never appealed to me but when I really dissected the song I was crazy about it. Those with interests in psychadelics will find it very interesting as well perhaps because prior to Prince there were not many R and B artists flirting with psychadelic imagery and music (although one MIGHT argue that this was spawned the whle G-Funk genre).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKJw1h4KQuw
Book wise I am reading "Christ the L-RD out of Egypt" by Anne Rice, the author best known for her "Vampire Lestat" series. The book is a sort of historical fictional piece about the "Missing Years" of Jesus Christ's alleged life. Purely conjecture it is still a very well written piece as Ms. Rice is very entertaining.
I am also simultaneously reading "The Lost Disciple: The Book of Demas" by Leslie H. Whitten Jr. it is another piece of historical fiction, about a half Jew living during the time of Christ in Judea (the Jewish kingdom that existed where part of Israel and so called "West Bank" stand today. It is OK but I am slow with it because I am reading both.
I do that quite often, I will read up to 4 books at a time , switching between them as the mood takes me.
So, New Years is upon us, and I managed to live another year (Yay). New Years Eve is a very, very dangerous time here. Almost every family on this island has at least one working gun and many , from all all ethnicities, like to fire them into the air on New Years Eve so I stay inside and away from windows.
Just as within Gaza, etc. if one is hit by a stray bullet it is usually very difficult if even possible at all to find the assailant. Aside from religious and political violence here there are also bloody family feuds, like the one we are engaged in with Uncle Asshole, I mean Uncle Alan.
A person could place a cold zero on my chest and that would be the last she wrote. So, better to be circumspect. Today Rizza , her nanny and my second eldest bro-in-law Nigel took the ferry at Nasapit, to return to Cebu.
Rizza was very upset because she wants me back in Cebu but the fighting here is getting fierce and I must do my part to make sure the family is protected. I could not even go for the late afternoon ride to Nasapit (about 100 odd kilometers north of us. Although I might chance it in daylight it would probably be dark before we even began the long drive home (100 klicks on these roads is like 300 in the West).
There are regular Check Points every 10 to 15 kilometers along National Hiway and the Hiway is the ONLY road on much of NE Mindanao, which is my region. the region is actually called Caraga.
The municpal structures are alot differrent than in the West. The basic unit is the "village," or what is known as "Barangay" (sincgular) here in the Philippines.
Barangay is an interesting word really. There is a mythical Migration Story told of the Bisaya (Visayan) Tribe sailing to the Philippines from Borneo. The outriggers were know as "Barangay" and since each grouping from each boat tended to be comprised of related people, each boatload of people settled in seaprate settlements, which became known as "barangay.
Then there is the town or city. Cities and towns have exact qualkities as far as area and pupulation. Then these cities and towns are classified into different groupings per their characteristics.
Then there are "Provinces" which are akin to "Counties" (not states as one imagines) in the West. Above provinces are "Regions," and then finally islands themselves which serve as de facto "states" as in the American sense of the word.
Me? I live in Barangay 5 (switched from 4 when were rezoned), San Francso town, Caraga region, Mindanao island. See? Good, tomorrow there will be a quizz.
Then aside from regular Check Points, there are mobile ones as the situation warrants it and this combined with very bad roads leads to a slow drive in most places on this island.
Mindanao is the 2nd largest of the Philippine islands, with only Luzon whih holds Manila, almost 1000 km. north of us being larger. Mindanao is roughly 30,000 square miles. Most is unmapped and alot is unexplored.
When people think of Filipnios they think of the kind they see in the US, etc but the country is actually a highly varied mosaic of races, ethnicities, and cultures. When the first sterotypical Filipinos arrived from 900 to 2000 years ago there were alredy Peoples living here. The first imhabitants were (they still exist) Negritos. they are similar in appearance to Papuan islanders or people from the Solomon Islands.
Black skinned, very short (very similar to pygmies), and wth sterotypical African features although their genome shows no connection to modern Africans. When my wife's tribe arrrived, said to be the first brown skinned of the Filipinos, about 900 years ago according ro legend, they quickly made peace with the Aeta Tribe, which still exists.
As these lighter skinned People began migrating in increasing numbers the Negritos relocated to the more isolated mountains where those surviving remain today. Brown skinned Filipinos are now called either Bangsmoro (Moro for short) oe "Christian Lowlanders."
Bisaya are the largest single groupin in the "Christian Lowlander" classification and comprise roughly 40% of the entire population yet are treated as second class citizens although Negritos are treated much, much worse.
Genomic studies point to a typical Pacific Migration Theory. It shows the Bisaya migrating from the South Asian mainland to Formosa (Taiwan). From there it is believed they made their way to Borneo where the Bisaya Tradition begins.
On Borneo, which is relatively close to Mindanao, the Bisaya entered into a fierce civil war, according to tradition, roughly 900 years ago. Some decided to flee the isalnd, and following their Datu (chief) they pointed their outriggers north and very gradually began peopleing thse islands over many years.
Later migrations continued with other Malay/Austronesian Peoples taking a slower trip north. The later migrants had been Islamicised for the most part, in the 1200s (CE/AD) and so this affectation became a huge divide between Muslims (Bangsmoro) and the then animist Bisaya (who had Hindu influences interestingly).
When Magellan made his way to Cebu Island he entered the bay near Mandue, just outside Cebu City. He made an alliance with a local chief who was impressed by the Westerners' wealth and technology, and even quickly converted to Catholicism to cement the alliance, and is known to the world as Chief Antonio.
Readying to leave the island to venture forth in search of new sources of spices, Magellan thought to give a demonstration of so called "Shock and Awe (Rapid Dominanace in actual military jargon)." Ordering his ship in close enough for a demonstration of its cannons' power and after issuing orders to bring the ship into range, embarked with his landing party ro parley with a
2nd chief who was on bad terms with Chief Antonio (AKA King Antonio).
However this chief did not care and took umbrage at Magellan's arrogance and disregard for local etiquette and custom. Magellan led 48 of his men through the reef and towards the beech. Although in armous they had to take their boots off and ended up unprotected from the knne down. As soon as they came into range the Bisaya began shooting arrows, many poisoned as well as spears.
The Bisaya were in 3 divsions of 500 men each, 1500 against less than 50 Spaniards. To make a long story short the Spaniards were hit hard and tried retreating as the Bisaya surrounded them on every side except behind and as they made a fighting retreat, Magellan was struck with a poisoned arrow which ended up killing him once they were back aboard ship.
The ships made its it way to what is now Indonesia and although Magellan did not live long enough to note the success of his mission he is noted as the first official European visitor to the Philippines.
I will continue in the next entry...
Music wise, Norman Brown is a superb guitarist and is famous for making Smoothe Jazz remakes of popular R and B songs. The following video is a song by Janet Jackson, "That's the Way Love Goes," and was shot with Brown and his female partner vacationing in Hawaii. Sounds lame but it is a fantastic song.
We have a Smoothe Jazz station here in the Philippines. Many large stations in the capital of Manila use relays to simulcast on most of the other islands here. In Davao City the station is on 106.3. We cannot pick it up here in San Franz because of the distance (200 odd kilometers) but whenever we go or come from Davao we listen to this station (Dad and I anyway).
You can pick it up as soon as you enter the village of Monkayo on National Hiway and it is always a milestone in our frquent trips to that city although with the violence now I can no longer even ride with someone in that direction let alone drive myself. Too many Check Points and firefights on the Hiway south of Trento, the next village south.
Anyway, this song was made (by Brown) in 1994 but is just as good now, if not better...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-C8_ugOr0
The 2nd song is by a Smoothe Jazz saxophonist, Najee. This particular song is "Bethya (sic) Don't Know" and is one of the coolest jazz songs ever made. I believe it was first released in the late 1980s.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdee9fdyby8
The final song today is by Brothers Johnson, a very smooth 70s R and B outfit. They had monster hits back in the day like "Stomp!" and this song here which is just amazing.
The song was also a monster hit but I used to hate it. Just never appealed to me but when I really dissected the song I was crazy about it. Those with interests in psychadelics will find it very interesting as well perhaps because prior to Prince there were not many R and B artists flirting with psychadelic imagery and music (although one MIGHT argue that this was spawned the whle G-Funk genre).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKJw1h4KQuw
Book wise I am reading "Christ the L-RD out of Egypt" by Anne Rice, the author best known for her "Vampire Lestat" series. The book is a sort of historical fictional piece about the "Missing Years" of Jesus Christ's alleged life. Purely conjecture it is still a very well written piece as Ms. Rice is very entertaining.
I am also simultaneously reading "The Lost Disciple: The Book of Demas" by Leslie H. Whitten Jr. it is another piece of historical fiction, about a half Jew living during the time of Christ in Judea (the Jewish kingdom that existed where part of Israel and so called "West Bank" stand today. It is OK but I am slow with it because I am reading both.
I do that quite often, I will read up to 4 books at a time , switching between them as the mood takes me.
So, New Years is upon us, and I managed to live another year (Yay). New Years Eve is a very, very dangerous time here. Almost every family on this island has at least one working gun and many , from all all ethnicities, like to fire them into the air on New Years Eve so I stay inside and away from windows.
Just as within Gaza, etc. if one is hit by a stray bullet it is usually very difficult if even possible at all to find the assailant. Aside from religious and political violence here there are also bloody family feuds, like the one we are engaged in with Uncle Asshole, I mean Uncle Alan.
A person could place a cold zero on my chest and that would be the last she wrote. So, better to be circumspect. Today Rizza , her nanny and my second eldest bro-in-law Nigel took the ferry at Nasapit, to return to Cebu.
Rizza was very upset because she wants me back in Cebu but the fighting here is getting fierce and I must do my part to make sure the family is protected. I could not even go for the late afternoon ride to Nasapit (about 100 odd kilometers north of us. Although I might chance it in daylight it would probably be dark before we even began the long drive home (100 klicks on these roads is like 300 in the West).
There are regular Check Points every 10 to 15 kilometers along National Hiway and the Hiway is the ONLY road on much of NE Mindanao, which is my region. the region is actually called Caraga.
The municpal structures are alot differrent than in the West. The basic unit is the "village," or what is known as "Barangay" (sincgular) here in the Philippines.
Barangay is an interesting word really. There is a mythical Migration Story told of the Bisaya (Visayan) Tribe sailing to the Philippines from Borneo. The outriggers were know as "Barangay" and since each grouping from each boat tended to be comprised of related people, each boatload of people settled in seaprate settlements, which became known as "barangay.
Then there is the town or city. Cities and towns have exact qualkities as far as area and pupulation. Then these cities and towns are classified into different groupings per their characteristics.
Then there are "Provinces" which are akin to "Counties" (not states as one imagines) in the West. Above provinces are "Regions," and then finally islands themselves which serve as de facto "states" as in the American sense of the word.
Me? I live in Barangay 5 (switched from 4 when were rezoned), San Francso town, Caraga region, Mindanao island. See? Good, tomorrow there will be a quizz.
Then aside from regular Check Points, there are mobile ones as the situation warrants it and this combined with very bad roads leads to a slow drive in most places on this island.
Mindanao is the 2nd largest of the Philippine islands, with only Luzon whih holds Manila, almost 1000 km. north of us being larger. Mindanao is roughly 30,000 square miles. Most is unmapped and alot is unexplored.
When people think of Filipnios they think of the kind they see in the US, etc but the country is actually a highly varied mosaic of races, ethnicities, and cultures. When the first sterotypical Filipinos arrived from 900 to 2000 years ago there were alredy Peoples living here. The first imhabitants were (they still exist) Negritos. they are similar in appearance to Papuan islanders or people from the Solomon Islands.
Black skinned, very short (very similar to pygmies), and wth sterotypical African features although their genome shows no connection to modern Africans. When my wife's tribe arrrived, said to be the first brown skinned of the Filipinos, about 900 years ago according ro legend, they quickly made peace with the Aeta Tribe, which still exists.
As these lighter skinned People began migrating in increasing numbers the Negritos relocated to the more isolated mountains where those surviving remain today. Brown skinned Filipinos are now called either Bangsmoro (Moro for short) oe "Christian Lowlanders."
Bisaya are the largest single groupin in the "Christian Lowlander" classification and comprise roughly 40% of the entire population yet are treated as second class citizens although Negritos are treated much, much worse.
Genomic studies point to a typical Pacific Migration Theory. It shows the Bisaya migrating from the South Asian mainland to Formosa (Taiwan). From there it is believed they made their way to Borneo where the Bisaya Tradition begins.
On Borneo, which is relatively close to Mindanao, the Bisaya entered into a fierce civil war, according to tradition, roughly 900 years ago. Some decided to flee the isalnd, and following their Datu (chief) they pointed their outriggers north and very gradually began peopleing thse islands over many years.
Later migrations continued with other Malay/Austronesian Peoples taking a slower trip north. The later migrants had been Islamicised for the most part, in the 1200s (CE/AD) and so this affectation became a huge divide between Muslims (Bangsmoro) and the then animist Bisaya (who had Hindu influences interestingly).
When Magellan made his way to Cebu Island he entered the bay near Mandue, just outside Cebu City. He made an alliance with a local chief who was impressed by the Westerners' wealth and technology, and even quickly converted to Catholicism to cement the alliance, and is known to the world as Chief Antonio.
Readying to leave the island to venture forth in search of new sources of spices, Magellan thought to give a demonstration of so called "Shock and Awe (Rapid Dominanace in actual military jargon)." Ordering his ship in close enough for a demonstration of its cannons' power and after issuing orders to bring the ship into range, embarked with his landing party ro parley with a
2nd chief who was on bad terms with Chief Antonio (AKA King Antonio).
However this chief did not care and took umbrage at Magellan's arrogance and disregard for local etiquette and custom. Magellan led 48 of his men through the reef and towards the beech. Although in armous they had to take their boots off and ended up unprotected from the knne down. As soon as they came into range the Bisaya began shooting arrows, many poisoned as well as spears.
The Bisaya were in 3 divsions of 500 men each, 1500 against less than 50 Spaniards. To make a long story short the Spaniards were hit hard and tried retreating as the Bisaya surrounded them on every side except behind and as they made a fighting retreat, Magellan was struck with a poisoned arrow which ended up killing him once they were back aboard ship.
The ships made its it way to what is now Indonesia and although Magellan did not live long enough to note the success of his mission he is noted as the first official European visitor to the Philippines.
I will continue in the next entry...