Left: John Lesaca (photo by Andrew Masigan). Right: President Cory (photo by Sonny Camarillo)

“When things get awfully tiring,
seek for silence and solitude;
because most of the time,
the loudest lessons are found
in the most quiet corners of our lives.”

--Pempe Rodrigo, Rivers of the Living Water Community

"Her Excellency President Corazon Aquino: Through the Years, Through the Lens” a photo exhibit by ace photographer Sonny Camarillo will open Jan. 19 at the  ground floor of the Glorietta Mall in Makati at 3 p.m.

This is Sonny’s tribute to Mrs. Aquino and will have previously unpublished photos of the Icon of Democracy. He “covered” her before, during and after her presidency and of course her wake and funeral. Surely a labor of love for Sonny! Do you have photos of “Tita” Cory as wife, president, mother or grandmother?

A large photo mosaic featuring her various images is set to be produced to honor the late President Corazon C. Aquino on her birthday and what makes this event special is that everybody (amateurs, hobbyists and professionals) can take part in this historical event.

My inaanak Revoli Cortez, photojournalist and mosaic artist and who is also responsible for producing the world largest photo mosaic recognized by the World Records Academy, is calling on his fellow photojournalists to contribute photographs of the late president (Pls. email your photos to coryphotomosaic@yahoo.com / revolisms2000@yahoo.com.) The contributed photographs will be included in the mosaic which will measure 300ft x 200ft.

The contributing photographers will be acknowledged by having their names printed on the mosaic. The mosaic, which is expected to erase the current world record for the largest photo mosaic, is set to be unveiled on Tita Cory's birthday, January 25. Members of Aquino family will be the guests of honor and will roll out the said mosaic.

* * *
My family spent a quiet New Year’s Eve at our home in Tagaytay, my own “Taj Mahal” from Hubby, bonding, pigging out on traditional “must-have food” after mass at the Augustinian sisters’ chapel.

Close to midnight, the free fireworks show began on the ridge from as far away as the lakeshore towns down in Batangas. The multi-colored flash “paintings” released by revelers lit up the dark sky all around us. The ridge was also lit up with about a half hour display of fireworks power.

As my sons AJ and David gleefully put it, “It was fun watching other people burn their money!” The winds blew away  all of the smoke from the fireworks and the ridge was  calm, clean and quiet in no time  with the full moon lighting up my garden again!

I did not have one single horn, lucis, fireworks or firecracker in the house. It was enough that my neighbors made enough noise for the whole community. My apo Amanda had four of her friends, the sisters’ wards, for a “sleep over” and   they shrieked in delight at the fireworks spectacular from the safety of the roofed veranda. Andrew, Amanda’s dad, had earlier raised a warning about stray bullets, and we took it seriously.

We sat down for hot “tsokolate eh “ ensaymada“   and Glenda Baretto’s bone-in ham after a family prayer before the altar, remembering those who were no longer with us, like Hubby, and those who were far away like Junie, Cora, and Monchu. We also remembered those who were not as fortunate to enjoy good health like my faithful driver-cum-assistant, Roland, now battling the Big C, and others who need healing and comfort.

Thank you, Lord for all your blessings! “Kayo na ho ang bahala sa taong ito!”

* * *

Notes…When the late President Cory Aquino bestowed the  Presidential “Likas-Yaman”  Award  to well known musician,  John Lesaca way back in 1989 for his efforts to promote awareness  for  environmental  protection,  it encouraged  him  to  continue  his  advocacy. And to think, back then, it still wasn’t fashionable to be environmentally aware and committed! 

Well, last  year,  John  accepted  the  nomination  of  Haribon  Foundation  to  be a trustee,  a  position  to  which  he  was elected  by  its  membership  and  which  he  cherishes  to  this  day.   

“I am in a better position now to promote the awareness for environment and to institute  programs  to  further  the  advocacy”,  Lesaca  shares.  He    supports Haribon’s various programs and events designed for community participation and is aspiring to be a councilor in Quezon City’s third district to continue his advocacy.   He is also very excited about his current waste management project  the  ”Trading  Post  Project,”  a recycling system  for  waste  products  in  the  community  level.  The mission- to collect as much recyclable waste as possible, especially in the depressed areas.

Lesaca  adds,  “With the Trading Post project, people  in  the  depressed  areas  need  not  worry  about  food  or clothes.  All they have to   do  is  collect  and  segregate  recyclable waste  around  them,  bring  them  to  the  “Trading  Post”,  and  exchange them for food, clothes, books, and other available items!”  John has   appealed for  donations  of  clothes,  shoes,  books  and other  items,  including  canned goods and non-perishable food products. These items will be stored in container vans at the common collection areas. 

Says John, “Actually, this idea is not new.  My eldest brother Albert conceptualized  it  in  the  mid-70’s  under  the  “Pera  sa  Basura”  program.  He  was  surely  way  ahead  of  his  time,  as  Filipinos,  in those  days,  didn’t  see  nor  feel  the  need  to  protect our  forests,  conserve  our  natural  resources  and  pay   attention  to waste  management.  Now we’re all reeling from the impact of our apathy.”

He has coordinated with the chair of the Baranggay Bagumbuhay, Rolly Datiles whose environmental initiatives have been recognized by both private and government sectors and has given me valuable advice on our common advocacy.

Not  all  baranggays  have the  Material  Recovery  Facilities  for  waste  storage  due  mostly  to  the meager available space. I’m just here to help”. 

John’s observation:  “Never fool around with Mother Nature. When she  gets  back  at  you,  she  doesn’t  choose  between  rich  and  poor.”

Aside from being an environmentalist, John is also an Intellectual Property Rights “Activist”. He is considered an expert on IPR in the international IP community, giving lectures, and talks for schools, organizations, government offices and organizations in Asia and Europe as well.  He is also recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Today, he is a Director of the Optical Media Board. John’s “mantra”- Leadership, Friendship, and Service. That’s what it’s all about.