I challenged myself today, following the inspiring post of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. I walked even while drizzling, savoring the freedom we enjoy and are very much grateful for. Thank you, Lord, Mama Mary, Virgin de Guadalupe, Holy Spirit, President Joe Biden, and your reasonable, sane and wise leadership.
Captivating landscapes to ocean views to sunsets to oceanfront view, more like the view at the cove.
Thank you my dear Enrique de la Cruz who has a love for adventure, discovery and travel. The best trip thus far for the serenity, calm and meditative retreat and reflection.
As I prayed the rosary and remember the beautiful homilies of Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas, Fr. Ernesto Roxas Cordero Fr. Raymond Bareng Decipeda Fr.Thomas Asia, Fr. Michael Montoya, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, I am most grateful for how they impart the passion of their love of God, Jesus Christ, Mama Mary, St. Joseph and all the saints, martyrs, angels.
I am sitting by the cold waters of the cove of Pismo Beach, warmed up by the burning flames of their hearts of love for Jesus, their parishioners, their communities, their families and their countries of residence.
2023 will be a year of important milestones for me, the figure 8 is prominent, as 100.
44 years of marriage = 4 plus 4 equals 8
71 years old for me = 7 plus 1 = 8
8 years old for my #princess2015la
80 years old for hubby
100 years old for my dad’s heavenly birthday
8, 8, 8, 80, 100 = 204
When asked how did we last 44 years – I answer forgiveness, love, pilgrimage travels, celebration of each year anniversary, and soulful friends who remind us of our strengths, not weaknesses.
ART is the natural attitude of the soul, wrote Lissa de Guia. Even in sorrow and pain, true artists connect to their art. Imagine performing your music for 40 years. Think of how Martin Nievera persisted, irrespective of his surroundings and circumstances, in giving the best of his performances to fans as if they are the king.
“No one ever told me I was good. No one ever told me, ‘You’re great.’ Then, someone had to name me Concert King. It’s hard to live with the name Concert King. My philosophy is that as a singer, I want to be that singer who gives a performance fit for a king, and the king, for me, is the audience,“ Martin shared.
Joyful moments defined the #M4D concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Journalist Ruben V. Nepales described it: “The show is a big milestone for Martin, known as the Philippines’ Concert King, as he bows in revered architect Frank Gehry’s landmark hall.”
Martin was accompanied by his live band, who traveled all the way from Las Vegas and returned home that same night.
Goodwill greetings from Martin’s peers
Apl.de.ap introduced a nine-minute video, came in person to give tribute to Martin, and watched the compilation of greetings from their professional colleagues:
*Pilita Corrales described how she knew the first time she saw him that he would be a superstar.
*Coco Martin thanked him for helping with the theme song of a teleserye, Juan de la Cruz.
*Becca Godinez, who met Martin when he was 17 years old and forecasted his success, and now witnessing the “stretching of his vocal cords to reach high notes. You give to your audience, and that is what endears and brings them with you.”
*Regine Alcasid and Ogie Alcasid, who playfully had a short repartee to greet Martin.
*Susan Anton acknowledged Martin’s concerts getting audiences’ raves.
*Manny Pacquiao, Sharon Cuneta, and Piolo Pascual greeted him as well.
*The most meaningful and loving greeting came from his ‘bro,’ Gary Valenciano. Gary described their journey together as fellow artists, how they would try to outmatch each other and, by doing so, became even better professionals. He was certain they would reach heaven and perhaps joke about who outlasted whom. He ended it with an endearing “I love you, bro!”
*Lea Salonga congratulated him for performing on the best acoustical stage in Los Angeles and for a fantastic career that had longevity because he was such a joy to be with, having so much fun and “being such a presence [onstage], makulit (persistently annoying) whom I highly respect and love.”
Ikaw was sung by Martin Nievera, quite endearing and quite a spectacular Disney Hall performance, attended by 1,601 folks in August, a tough vacation month to fill up venues.
I replayed the video vignettes, feeling the emotions that he conveyed, with every lyrics sung expressing tender feelings of love, one would surmise – is he singing to his three sons or to his current partner?
Ikaw ang bigay ng Maykapal (You are a gift from God)
Tugon sa aking dasal (The answer to my fervent prayer)
upang sa lahat ng panahon (So that for the time that goes by)
bawat pagkakataon (Every opportunity)
Ang ibigin ko’y ikaw. (I get to love you)
Ikaw ang tanglaw sa aking mundo (You are the light in my world)
kabiyak nitong puso ko (The other half of my yearning heart)
wala ni kahati mang saglit (No one even in a split of time)
na sa iyo’y may papalit (There will be no one else)
ngayong kailanman ikaw (Now and forever, but you).
At the press conference convened by Ted Benito as director and producer in August 2022, I told Martin that I would read my questions, to which he responded with wit, “I will read my answers.” That quickly gained rapport with me.
“I am an aging grandmother, that I cannot help attending your press conference. I saw you perform TwoGether with Pops Fernandez and I like you both a lot, so I followed you performing at a casino. This is my third concert, and I bought the first seven tickets for my family,” I told him.
Since 2007, when I experienced a healing miracle, after feeling like I would die in Baybay, Leyte, but for God’s hand plus the healing mind, heart and spirit of VSU’s Dr. Elwin Jay Yu and the staff of VSU, headed by Dr. Joe Bacusmo at that time with Rosa Ophelia D. Velarde who visited me while at VSU infirmary, and my husband walking miles to purchase my prescriptions, I made a promise to God to attend Simbang Gabi masses for 9 days.
I have kept that promise by attending masses for a decade at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in East Hollywood, then headed by Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas who warmly welcomed me as a lapsed Catholic. I also attended mass at St. Brendan’s, 2021 at Incarnation Church in Glendale, for a total of 15 years.
I consider myself now a relevant and active Catholic who offers no judgment to others with different mindsets.
Last night at dinner my precious 7yo #princess2015la said: “Don’t say that Grandpa, that hurts Grandma’s feelings. Someone told me not to believe in the ‘magic of this’ and that hurt my feelings because I really believed it.”
Wow, she has, even at this young age of 7yo, knows the value of deep respect, which includes beliefs in different perspectives and higher divine energies. She sees all my Santo Nino and Blessed Mother’s statues in my home.
This year, I will try to attend at St. Monica’s on Dec 17 at 7pm and Dec. 23 at Incarnation at 7pm, with livestreaming masses for the 7 days, as I recover fully from Coronavirus, contracting it mid Nov. before Thanksgiving.
Another factor in my health and wellness journey is vegetable juicing introduced by Enrique de la Cruz to family, since 2008. That’s 14 years of powerjuicing plus 10 years of acupuncture, cupping and massaging by Antonio Whiteley.
Thank you Lord for journeying with me and with my village of family and community healers to keep me healthy.
To you all, I give my profound thanks and appreciation! Thank you very much for extending my life from Visayas to Los Angeles!!
Published in Asian Journal
Cris Liban receives the Henry Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research with ASCE President Maria Lehman | Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
“Society works best when we can take its functions for granted. It works best when we can trust that our personal safety is never in doubt. Trust, often unseen, is indispensable for a healthy, functioning society. And, in the absence of trust, nothing that works can work well.” — Pete Buttigieg, Trust: America’s Best Chance, 2020.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg must have been a prescient forecaster of events when he wrote his book, “Trust: America’s Best Chance.” In it, he described how it took a million tweets from the beginning of 2014 to erode public trust. It took a thorough research paper in 2018 on Russian bot activity in the American Journal of Public Health to describe their findings on Russian trolls’ posts on vaccination. He wrote, “By promoting a cloud of ‘fifty-fifty’ messaging on a matter of settled medical and scientific consensus, the overall effect was to create doubt in the truth. It undermined vaccine science while also serving a broader goal of adding controversy. Russian trolls promoted discord. Accounts masquerading as legitimate users create false equivalency, eroding public consensus on vaccination.”
During two years of a slowed-down economy, most in-person meetings were suspended, with Zoom conferences as the norm. With virtual connections for two years, what happens to a national convention attended by worldwide participants? Will they trust again after being socially isolated from connecting with one another?
Disneyland, where frontline customer service was streamlined and efficient, was the chosen site. From that first encounter, mirrored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)’s frontline staffers, I found them equally knowledgeable and efficient.
I also recall how decades ago, I would sit behind a Metro bus and literally curse it for its emissions that triggered my asthma attacks. Now, I enjoy riding the bus occasionally, even riding the MetroLink and Amtrak’s coast rider to San Diego. It started with clean Metro buses, encouraging me to trust public transit again.
Distinguished member distinction
Dr. Emmanuel “Cris” Battad Liban’s induction happened on October 24, 2022, on the festival of Diwali, the triumph of light over darkness, with a deeper significance, given the darkness we all felt from being isolated for two years by this Coronavirus pandemic. It historically occurred during the month of October, traditionally celebrated as Filipino American History Month and officially recognized by the White House.
For each of the 10 distinguished members, a short video was prepared with a younger student congratulating the distinguished member/professor, and for Cris, his son JP congratulated him, followed by a trailer about his accomplishments in life.
His wife, Benel, rearranged her busy CEO schedule of managing 25 accountants on financial and business consulting services to support this distinction.
Engineering News-Record, a 105-year-old publication with over 500 design firms listed, 600 specialty contractors, and a 2015 circulation of 62,285, and one that ranks the largest contractors and design firms in the U.S. annually, selected Cris in 2020 as their Award of Excellence winner for his work on Metro’s Sustainability Practices and its usage of green construction practices [upended in part by the recent Purple Line construction shutdown given the contractors’ gross inability to correct workplace injuries], usage of renewable natural gas to power all of its bus fleet, operating electrical vehicle chargers, helping to eliminate food deserts near Metro stations, and helping to provide opportunities to the homeless.
Thomas Small, chairman of the LA Metro Sustainability Council, asserted: “I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world who has the position and the grit and knowledge to take Metro forward as it becomes, even more, the most innovative and the most effective transit system in the country, and we’re lucky to have [Cris Liban],” ENR reported in its January 21, 2020 publication.
ENR also reported on Cris “quietly changing the environmental, financial and social landscape of Los Angeles for the last ten years,” according to ENR newsmaker Bilal Ayyub.
Cris is LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s first-ever chief sustainability officer, leading the efforts to ensure LA Metro’s $140-billion infrastructure program and 28 transportation and transit projects that must be completed by the 2028 Olympics the region is hosting –are climate-adapted and resilient.”
[Full disclosure, I have been friends with the Liban family since 2013, with his wife Benel and their son, JP, sharing birthday and Christmas get-togethers. I have interacted with Cris on politics, LA City’s transportation issues, homelessness, climate change, and infection control. Our conversations can last hours, and I am struck by how patient he is to fully understand my point of view and waits for an opportune time to share his point of view ultimately, by deferential action on his part, he invites a higher common ground to end the discussion.]
That humble trait of an academician is not forgotten and becomes the prism from which I have had to observe him for eight years. I volunteered to attend the American Society for Civil Engineers’ convention at my own expense, realizing the significance of Cris being installed as a distinguished member, the highest member designation of this organization, founded in 1852, a 170 year- old organization. You might think that if it is that ancient, what old practices they must have? I was so wrong!
Sustainability leader and Henry Michel awardee
The Henry Michel Award is named for the now deceased President of Parsons, a well-known and credible engineering construction firm that completed historical projects: the IRT subway line in New York City, Atlanta’s rapid transit system, the first Caracas Metro Line in Venezuela, and transit system of Taipei, Taiwan, as New York Times reported in 2018. The award recognizes design, construction, and aggressive vision in the industry.”
Cris was recognized as a Henry Michel awardee for being a “world-renowned leader in sustainability who tackles issues on social equity, resilience, climate change impacts, greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies, life cycles, and cost framework, sustainable transport funding and financing,”
Among the 25 recipients in ASCE’s history included individuals from Walt Disney, Shimizu, NY State Department of Transportation, MIT, Bechtel Corporation, and McGraw Hill.
“Cris has really been a very innovative force when it comes to sustainability. He’s aware of all the latest developments in that field, but he’s also very innovative and willing to think outside the box. He makes sure we use the latest, most efficient equipment with our contractors, even to the level of what type of fuels are used and how we specify materials that are used on specific projects. It’s pretty all-encompassing,” said Rick Clarke, retired Metro Chief Program Management Officer and one of Cris’ colleagues at LA Metro.
Maria Lehman, ASCE’s President for 2022, acknowledged working with Cris on Envision for a decade, a sustainability rating system for infrastructures.
His wife Benel has been consistently sharing on Facebook posts his consistent involvement with ASCE: contributing three chapters to a new technical book on Engineering in 2017; ASCE’s California 2018 Outstanding Civil Engineer in Public Service; ASCE’s Most Outstanding Sustainable Project won by Liban’s Metro Team in 2019 and now Henry Michel Awardee of ASCE 2022.
When Cris made the front page of the Engineering News-Record, these quotes from Pam Radtke Russell’s April 15, 2020 article struck my attention:
“He has a quiet, powerful image that he projects.” –Ileana S. Ivanciu, Senior VP, Dewberry
“He’s looking at the topic of sustainability write large. Part of it is standards, and part of it is advocacy in the political sphere. He is really trying to identify root causes and challenges and reflect on how we can make significant long-term progress on these things. He’s definitely big-picture. But he realizes you’ve got to tie it together and drill down to basics as well.” –Doug Dietrich, Sustainability Manager at Burns & McDonnell.
“Where Cris stands out is he looks beyond LA Metro, to the whole region and the country, on how he can leverage what he is doing at his agency to make a difference in the world.” – Anthony Kane, president and CEO at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, a non-profit that implements the Envision sustainability rating system for infrastructure.
Cris’ acceptance speech started with thanking God, the power he comes to, about 10,000 times in the last 25 years, to make a difference in people’s lives. He thanked his wife, his son, and the legion of mentors that formed him.
Attending the ASCE convention cemented my fundamental beliefs in mentoring as propelling right-minded change. ASCE’s structured mentoring mechanism keeps it vibrant, relevant, and credible.
For me, in Los Angeles, we enjoy Metro’s fleet of 2,200 buses that are run by renewable natural gas, with no visible pollutant emissions. It makes for a very comfortable ride for the riders and the car drivers behind these buses, all waiting for the green light.
During a workshop panel on ‘Engineering and Climate Change,’ Liban reported on having trained over 500 employees on the principles of sustainability and resiliency, which includes the budget office that now is more aware of the billions needed to enhance infrastructure and the inspector general’s office that is now more aware to police the expenditure of these funds without fraudulent practices.
Liban earns credibility and trust as he draws in more people to be in his orbit, to be collaborative, to be right-minded in viewing the consequences to the riders, and to share his perspective for changes outside the bus to the over 12,000 bus stops and into the millions of trees whose roots are buckling and destroying LA’s sidewalks and to the people populating these sidewalks because they have no shelter.
I remember visiting Mamay PH Lolit Andrada Lledo at the former office of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC). We talked for hours about the unpaid extra hours of caregivers, of how some employers would not let them eat their meals with patis and bagoong, of how the caregivers felt degraded.
All I had with me at that moment was my knowledge of how two institutions and organizations have helped transform working conditions through passing laws: one was the slave working conditions of the Thai garment workers who were rescued and made whole by Asian American Justice Los Angeles (formerly Asian American Legal Center), UCLA Labor Center and working with the District Attorney’s offices to file complaints on egregious violators. I shared them all with Lolit.
She listened. She acted.
But more than that, she organized the caregivers until they formed their own organization. She always believed in their organizational strength. It took years, approaching a decade and today, the Caregivers’ Bill of Rights exists in California because of this wonderful woman and the conscientious selfless caregivers who believe they have dignity under the empowering leadership of Aquilina Soriano Versoza – quiet, subtle, strong and motivating.
Lolit helped make that happen. Rest in power, Lolit Lledo Mamay PH you are now with the Angels. Please look after us until we join you!
Photos taken by me on Nov. 21, 2014, at PWC standing with then Pres. Obama as he approved an executive order for DACA. “Expansion. In November 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama announced changes to DACA which would expand it to include undocumented immigrants who entered the country prior to 2010, eliminate the requirement that applicants be younger than 31 years old, and lengthen the renewable deferral period to two years.”
My deepest condolences Ivy Marie Lledo and Dong Lledo
https://www.kcet.org/history-society/lolita-lledo-fighting-for-democracy-in-the-philippines-and-l-a
