The beautiful and talented Tata Kay Habana. (Photo by Edwin Ochoa) 1 / 7
JOHN Dryden, English poet who was made Poet Laureate in 1668, wrote in one of his works, All have not the gift of martyrdom. Indeed, but I would say everyone has the potential to be one for I believe in John Locke s concept of goodness and courage by nature in every individual. It is one s environment that shapes the individuality of a person, Locke noted. The martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, national hero of Filipinos, was shaped by the exploited state and absence of freedom and independence throughout the Philippines in the hands of Spanish colonizers during his time. He gave his life for his country before a firing squad. Rizal s martyrdom can be summed up in the first stanza of his immortal Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), which I am quoting from memory: Adios Patria adorada, Region del sol querida, Perla del mar de Oriente, Nuestro perdido eden. The above, first of 16 stanzas, which the martyr wrote hours before his execution, reflects Rizal s deep love for his country. 2 / 7
It was this deep love that gave him courage to face the firing squad. The martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino was shaped by the realities of Ferdinand Marcos martial rule. Ninoy s life was taken away from him, his family and his country. He said in a letter to his son: No to tyranny! No to corruption! No to all this degradation of human dignity! Because, I feel the true air of your fathers who before you have shed their blood for our freedoms. Ninoy s blood was shed for freedom as he was assassinated on his return to his homeland. The martyrdom of South Africa s Nelson Mandela could be traced from his own words in 1964 when he was being tried by a South African court as a political prisoner accused of being a terrorist. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. Nelson Mandela lived to enjoy a free South African society, which he worked for inside his solitary prison cell for 21 years. It is a Mandela legacy that is almost unequalled in the history of nations and struggles for 3 / 7
freedom. Mabuhay ka Nelson Mandela for cutting the chain of racial discrimination in that African continent of 21 countries! *** Tata Kay Habana From martyrs, let s shift to an artist. A fairly new but promising and friendly singer in our community has been giving performances superbly. Tata Kay Habana. She is a Batangas-born Spanish-Canadian-Ilonga who uses the Ilonga term of endearment Tata in her stage name because, according to her, she wants her audiences to know she is Pinay. (We like that.) I first heard this adept musical artist during the recent Miss World Megan Young s Typhoon Yolanda fund-raising event in New Jersey, although she has been featured in other community gatherings earlier. 4 / 7
She gave her rendition of the patriotic piece, Bayan Ko. She also sang flawlessly both national anthems of the Philippines and the United States. Usually, in community events, two artists sing those two songs. It only demonstrates the versatility of Miss Habana. Tata K. Habana will perform in a Christmas concert at the Philippine Consulate along Fifth Avenue, New York City on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Her first CD will be released that evening. Interested parties may contact Ria Serrano, Ms. Habana s manager, at 718.414.4041 or airserr ano@gmail.com. The singer has a fanpage in Facebook at facebook.com/kayhabana. (As an aside, I thought for a while Ms. Habana is from Havana, Cuba, till she told me in an interview that her last name is actually Habaña, a Spanish name.) *** Advent 5 / 7
Christians around the world, including of course, Filipinos, are now in the period of waiting. Waiting for the coming of the Messiah with stillness of our hearts. I d like to share a beautiful Advent spiritual reflection by Sister Diana Seago of the Sisters of the Monastery of Mount St. Scholastica. O God of Comfort, soothe our weary world as a mother comforts her child. We easily get caught up in the ragged edges of shopping, cooking, decorating and other preparations for Christmas, forgetting that Advent is its own blessing if we only take time to notice. The world needs the comfort that God can bring to it through us. We are the instruments of God s gentle, motherly embrace. During this time of waiting, let us make of ourselves a forgotten in our world amid their struggles and despair. Come Lord Jesus, work through me! *** I ll end with a sharing. 6 / 7
The other night, while driving in a busy circle, I saw a minority middle-aged woman holding a sign which read, No Work. With Children. Please help. I thought for a moment she was looking for job, until I saw a driver in front of me gave money. When the lady came to my window, I pulled my wallet, pulled a dollar bill and handed it to her. (I knew I had a 20 dollar bill and a five dollar bill in my wallet.) I do not know why I cried after the woman said, Thank you. God bless you. Age, I guess. When I checked my wallet, I found out that instead of giving $5, which I intended to give, I gave the 20 dollar bill. Now, I think I know the reason why I cried. mcaball241@aol.com 7 / 7