Mitsuru

In 1880, Gobernadorcillo* Higino Templado conceptualized and constructed Tiwi's first town plaza in order to provide the community with a wholesome place for people to gather on Sundays and holidays to relax and watch the Comedia or local plays. Municipal President* Mateo Clidoro (1926-1931) initiated the naming of the town plaza to Plaza Templado in honor of Higino Templado during his incumbency. His successor, Mayor Lino Clutario (1931-1934), with monetary donations from the townspeople, was instrumental in erecting a bust of the late mayor Higino Templado at the center of the plaza, where it remained until it was relocated to give way to the building of the "Kiosko" during the term of Mayor Eleodoro Cortezano (1948-1951). Mayor Cristito Cirujales (1952-1955) contributed a water fountain in front of the kiosk, while Mayor Jose C. Templado (1956-1959) in turn built a concrete fence surrounding Plaza Templado in the mid-1950's. Some of these contributions can be ...

This is a picture that I grabbed from the LGUTiwi FB page of the ongoing redesign and enhancement of the Plaza in front of the municipal building. What caught my attention amid the chaos of construction and what have you was the concrete base of the flagpole. I can still vividly remember the story behind said structure. One day in the late 70s or early 80s, while supervising the construction of the koi (Japanese carp) ponds & water fountains in front of the old 'municipio', my father, Aki Shimizu, was asked by mayor Oriel Clutario if he could improve the old flagpole in the plaza. He immediately asked his workers to gather the materials needed for the simple design that he sketched on a paper bond in haste: bricks made at the Tiwi Ceramic Plant and corals that were brought from Corangon earlier; they finished the job by late afternoon of the same day. Of course, as with many of his public landscape projects and works in Tiwi, my father did it for free. The koi ...

When I was about 11, my Dad gave me a cassette tape of Chopin’s nocturnes and told me to just listen to it and let the beautiful melodies carry me to places that I have never been to. "Just go with the flow," he said. Although I did not quite get it then, I certainly understand it now. I had it on my Walkman and cassette player for years until it died a natural death due to the inevitable wear and tear. I have since bought a similar recording on CD years ago where I would usually listen to the very familiar tunes in my quiet moments. It helps my mind relax and dream of the future in stressful times. And today, I am returning the favor. I say Dad, let the familiar melody of your favorite nocturne bring you joy wherever you are today. Requiescat in pace. Happy Birthday Akihiko-san!

You used to tell me when I would admonish you about your drinking that just like Edgar Allan Poe with his Amontillado, you need your beer to summon the creative spirit from deep within you. Yes, you were quite an artist albeit a temperamental one everyday you pursued the muses, challenged the gods and wrestled with the demons that came your way. Although in the end you succumbed to the frailties that made and unmade you. This I can say-- You put up a good fight, laughed your heart out and enjoyed the ride… Tonight, I will drink a bottle of beer in your honor but instead of an Ice-cold San Miguel, I’ll toast a Michelob for you. So, I say Kampai to you Akihiko! +++ My Japanese father AKI was born in autumn 2 years after the end of the Second World War and left in May, 18 summers ago to play chess and drink with his buddies in the great beyond. He would have been 61 today. # I'll share with you this lovely piece of music by Stanley Myers. It is the theme from o...