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April 26, 2007

Evelyn Penaverde Arana

From Romy Coronacion

I'm sorry to hear about Imben. May his soul rest in peace.

It is also sad that Evelyn is undergoing treatment for cancer.

April 23, 2007

Correction: The Way We Were

Dear folks: Remember I tried to reproduce the lyrics of the song “The Way We Were” by Barbara Streisand by merely hearing it thru the CD?

It turned out I committed some mistakes. Edward gave me the email address where I could get the lyrics of songs. I immediately consulted such email address and hereunder is the correct one.

Sorry, for giving you the wrong lyric. “Mea culpa, mi gran culpa.”

Rudy

THE WAY WE WERE
By Barbara Streisand

Mem’ries light the corners of my mind.
Misty water color mem’ries of the way we were.
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind.
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were.

Can it be that it was all so simple then,
Or has time rewritten ev’ry line?
If we had the chance to do it all again,
tell me, Would we? Could we?

Mem’ries may be beautiful, and yet,
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget.

So it’s the laughter we will remember,
When ever we remember the way we were,
The way we were.

April 22, 2007

Infanta's town fiesta

On 25 April is the Feast of St. Mark - Infanta´s town fiesta. Below are some lines as my "Kuro-kuro" on said occasion instead of writing a long essay.

You may note, however, that in the short six stanzas, I try to convey three main points:

1. The significance of the feast of St. Mark and how we celebrate it - in the past as well as at present..

2. That while we retain the traditional celebration of the town fiesta Mass, we have done away with, according to reports, the traditional town procession wherein images of saints participate; not only during town fiesta but also during Good Friday. Also, during our town fiesta celebration, we no longer hold the traditional "komedya" - the main theme of which is the struggle in spreading Christianity or the "Good News" throughout the world, and

3. That the image or statue at the altar in Infanta´s St. Mark Cathedral is that of an Evangelist accompanied or at his side an "ox" and not a "lion".

According to the New Testament edited by Catholic scholars, St. Mark is represented by the "lion" because he starts his Gospel with St. John the Baptist, "the voice of one crying in the desert," (some say "wilderness) and emphasizes the miraculous powers of the Savior.

St. Luke is typified by the "ox", the animal of sacrifice, because he begins with the history of Zachary the priest offering sacrifice to God, and accentuates the universal priesthood of Christ.

Could it be that the image or statue at the altar at St. Mark's Cathedral in Infanta, Quezon is that of St. Luke because of the presence of an "ox" by his side?

Be that as it may, it does not diminish our respect to St. Mark as the Patron saint of our town and of course to St. Luke, another evangelist like St. Mark.

Perhaps, one day, we could replace the "ox" with the figure of a "lion" to reflect truly the personality of our patron saint accordidng to the scripture..

Rudy
- - - - - -
KAPISTAHAN NI SAN MARCOS

Ni Rudy A. Arizala

25 Abril 2007

San Marcos itinaghal
Patron ng bayang mahal
Infanta ang pangalan
Ngayon ay nagdiriwang

May misa sa simbahan
At mga pagtatanghal
Ibat-ibang libangan
At tinda sa peryahan.

Ang "komedya" nawaglit
Gayon din ang prosesyon
Lumang kaugalian
Dapat na sariwain

Paglaganap binyagan
At Santong kasulatan
Ni San Marcos na mahal
Sa lahat kanyang aral

Kasama ng ating patron
Isang hayop na leon
Tapang at panambitan
Buhat sa kagubatan

Ang kay San Lucas naman
Ay hayop sa bakahan
Tanda ng kasipagan
At pagpapakasakit.

Wakas

April 21, 2007

The way we were

By Rudy Arizala

We have been discussing in the past up to now, the old customs, traditions and habits in Infanta which have disappeared.

Is it true that according to reports the latest to disappear or to be prohibited is the participation of the saints (images) in the town procession during the Good Friday and town fiesta? And speaking of town fiesta, the traditional "komedya" is no longer held?

So, allow me to send you a copy of the song "The Way We Were" by Barbara Streisand. If there are words I omitted or failed to consider (I merely based it on what I heard from the CD I resently bought from a local store), please send me the corrections.

The song could be re-titled. "The Way We Were in Infanta." Most of the customs, traditions, and practices we used to know when we were growing up have disappeared. They now merely exist in our memories.

Regards and happy reminiscence of your youth in Infanta..

- - - - - - -
THE WAY WE WERE

by Barbara Streisand

Humm. . humm. . .humm..
Memories, like the corners of my mind
Misty mode of kind of memory
All the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind

Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

That is be that is what is all so simple then
All then one time of every life
If we have the chance to do it all again
Tell me, won´t we?, Could we?

Memories may be beautiful and yet
What to pain for two, remember
We simply choose to forget
Though it´s the last time, we will remember

All that what we will remember
The way we were
The way we were!

E n d

April 18, 2007

BLACKSBURGH´S BLACK MONDAY

By Rudy A. Arizala
18 April 2007

The Virginia Tech Tragedy last Monday morning, 16 April 2007, when a 23-year old South Korean immigrant student Cho Seung Hui went on a shooting rampage inside the university killing 32 students and some professors and then reportedly shooting himself is indeed, tragic. We pray for all the victims of such violent act. And we mourn for so many promising young lives, still in the flower of their youth, being snuffed out of existing by gunfire.

What happened in that university campus in Viginia, led one to wonder if in our modern globalized world there are less mutual warm inter-personal sincere relations or less humane, physical contacts. That due to development of modern technologies such as computers, cellphones and other electronic gadgets, we are having a society practically dominated by "robots" or people having less and less physical or direct contacts with their fellow-beings.

The 23 year old South Korean student prior to the tragic event has been described as showing "hints of anger and isolation" and complained of "moral decay" among students of his school or university.

And according to The New York Times, the only clue left by the perpetrator of such shooting rampage were "snippets of a lonely life, prescription medicine, ominous words and two newly-bought handguns."

As a consequence of such shooting rampage, Congress, politicians and concerned citizens in the United States would again go into debates whether to amend or not their "gun laws", specifically the "Second Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution-- the "right to keep and bear arms."

The problerm, it seems, especially of foreigners coming to the United States and trying to settle down in their newly-adopted country or place of residence is the feeling of not belonging to the the society of their host country and sense of "moral decay", especially those from countries where conservative societies, traits, habits and customs still exist or still exercise influence in their lives.

This is for sociologists and psychologists to analyse and work on to avoid that feeling or sensation that we live in an uncaring society. The feeling of being alone among the crowd.

We deeply mourn the dead and condole with their bereaved families. We pray that we shall overcome such tragic event in Blacksburgh where so many young men and women died.

April 16, 2007

Mr. Imven Peñaverde, former veterinary inspector, dies of cancer

By RudyArizala

According to information Pareng "Imven" Peñaverde, the former veterinary inspector of Infanta,Quezon, and husband of public school teacher Ms. Juliet Peñamora, passed away. He allegedly collapsed in front of the house of Mr. Portillo. Autopsy showed he reportedly died of "cancer of the stomach".

I know she has a daughter in the States, Ms. Evelyn Peñaverde Araña whose latest known address is:

85 Berwick Blvd.
Williamstown, New Jersey 08094
U.S.A.
Tel. (604) 875 - 4338

Please try these numbers (thanks to Shelley Ortiz)
I checked zabasearch and found the following phone numbers: 856 740 9180, 856 262 0847

I am not sure if Ms. Evelyn still lives in the above address. Internment day, I have no idea (Editor's Note: If address and phone number are incorrect, please let us know so we may inform our kababayans who would like to express their sympahty to the Peñaverde family).

Probably, Kuya Poling Derilo who is now in Infanta would know.

Edward and Dady: Probably, you would remember Pareng "Imven" was a medical assistant of Tata Mando Gurango at the Hospital of Anderson Battalion in Infanta (Masanga) as well as in Polillo Island during liberation (WWII).

During post liberation when Tata Mando resumed his private practice of medicine in Infanta, Pareng "Imven" continued to be his medical assistant helping in administering injections to patients of Tata Mando as well as in taking blood pressures.

He studied veterinary science availing of his veteran´s educational benefits. When he finished his studies, he became the "Veterinary Inspector" of Infanta, Quezon until his retirement. No hogs, carabaos, cattle could be butchered and sold in the Infanta public market without his prior inspection and approval.

He married a public school teacher Ms. Juliet Peñamora. They have children. One of them is Ms. Evelyn Peñaverde Araña, methinks she is my "inaanak sa binyag."

May Pareng Imven´s soul rest in peace. And I extend deepest condolence and prayers to his bereaved family.

April 12, 2007

Concern on lack of response

By Pol Derilo

I'm sending you this email urgently conveying Fr. Pete Montallana's concern on the lack of any response to his appeal for financial support. Task Force Sierra Madre (TFSM) is facing two battle fronts to counteract the continuous efforts of unscrupulous politicians and big businesses along the Kaliwa and Kanan Rivers in Gen. Nakar. TFSM consists of mobilized stakeholders from the three towns of Real-Infanta-Nakar. They also represent civic, religious, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and small business entities and private residents.

Fr. Pete's concern is reasonable inasmuch as his appeal for assistance is for a very legitimate casuse and individual support may not be that much considering the benefits it will bring to the whole region, protecting lives and preserving Sierra Madre. Not much more to expect aside from these two grand desires.

I monitored the number of website hits from April 1st to April 12 and noted that 998 surfers accessed the site including mine for 5. I thought that if only we should have contributed a $1 to TFSM every time we hit it, almost $1,000 could have been earned by the movement. That is almost 47,000 pesos at current exchange rate, a big push to the uphill assault of TFSM against unconscionable vested holders.

Once more and with your assistance, please relay this financial appeal to the big groups of R-I-N in California, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and other states. This appeal primarily address the officers of these groups to lead in sending us your donation. Your roots may also be at stake. Help our local stakeholders. Thank you.

P. S.
As a reminder, Fr. Pete's letter appeared on the website on March 29, 2007. The letter is an appeal to everybody abroad to help finance the movement for defraying volunteer expenses for supplies, transportation, foods and other petty expenses.

April 09, 2007

Global Warming

By Rudy Arizala
(a letter sent to Fr. Francis Lucas)

Right now we are pre-occupied and with valid reasons and urgency, about the Laiban Dam and Kanan Agus River hydro-electric power plant projects due to the danger they poise to environment, fauna and flora, and people of REINA.

There is an equally important and pressing problem facing us not only in Infanrta-Real-Gen. Nakar area being near the sea aggravated by reportedly continuous deforestations and man-made interference with nature but also the whole world. The "global warming" or climatic change as reported by UN experts below.

Are we prepared for it in Infanta? And if so, what are we doing about it?

Of course, according to Michael Crichton, author of a book "State of Fear":

"Nobody knows how much warming will occur in the next century. The computer models vary by 400 percent, de facto proof that nobody knows. . .

"I conclude that most environment principles (such as sustainable development or the precautionary principle) have the effect of preserving the economic advantages of the West and thus constitute modern imperialism toward developing world. It is a nice way of saying: ´We got ours and we don´t want you to get yours, because you´ll caus too much pollution.

"Scientists know that continued funding depends on delivering the results the funders desire. As a result, environmental organization studies are every bit as biased and suspect as industry studies. Government studies are similarly biased according to who is runningthe department or administration at the time. No faction should be given a free pass.

"We desperately need a nonpartisan, blinded funding mechanism to conduct research to determine appropriate policy.

"We need a new environmental movement, with new goals and new organizations. We need more people working in the field, in the actual environment, and fewer people behind computer screens. We need more scietntists and many fewer lawyers.

"We cannot hope to manage a complex system such as environment through litigation. We can only change its state temporarily..usually by preventing something--with eventual results that we cannot predict and ultimately cannot control."

The above, methinks, are good food for thought regarding reportedly global warming, climatic change and on how to deal with our environment.

In other words, everybody has its own agenda, except nature or climate which merely follow the laws of nature.Like the coming and going of the seasons.

We had a "Deluvio" before as narrated in the Holy Book. But the same Hoy Book says there was a Covenant between the Lord and mankind, when a rainbow appears in the clouds, the Lord shall be reminded, never again there shall be a deluvio which shall erase mankind from the face of the earth.

Fiction or not, the Lord manifested to manmkind also to take care of the environment and not abuse it.

- - - - -
CLIMATIC CHNGE - GLOBAL WARMING

(Excerpts from a news report from The Philippine Star, 08 April 2007)

Climate change is set to inflict damage on every continent, hitting poor countries hardest and threatening nearly a third of the world's species with extinction, UN experts warned over the weekend.

Global warming will affect much of life on earth this century, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in a landmark report released in Brussels, Belgium. The drafting of the report was marked by an angry row.

Damage to the earth's weather systems from greenhouse gases will change rainfall patterns, punch up the power of storms and boost the risk of drought, flooding and stress on water supplies, the IPCC said.

This will have consequences that, according to the level of carbon pollution that stokes global warming, will be adverse or, in some scenarios, even catastrophic.

"Poor people are the most vulnerable and will be the worst hit by the impacts of climate change. This becomes a global responsibility,'' the IPCC's chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, declared.

Up to 30 percent of animal and plant species will be vulnerable to extinction if global temperatures rise by 1.5 degrees to 2.5 degrees Celsius, the IPCC said.

No continent can expect to be unscathed by even a relatively modest increase in temperatures.

April 08, 2007

PASKO NG PAGKABUHAY

Ni Rudy Arizala
Matapos mabayubay
Siya sa krus namatay
Kristo muling nabuhay
Kapayapaay taglay

Ngunit ang taong tanan
Mayroong alinlangan
Tulad ng kasamahan
Santo Tomas ang ngalan.

"Habang di ko matingnan
Ang sugat sa katawan
Di paniniwalaan,"
Wika sa kasamahan.

Nang masalat ng kamay
Sugat katawang buhay
Ni Kristo Diyos na tunay
Si Tomas nagkamalay.

Mapalad ang nilalang
Maniwalang lubusan
Kahit hindi namasdan
Ang katawang sugatan
Ang muling pagkabuhay
Kay Kristong alay
Sa lahat ng nilalang
Buhay na walang hanggan!

Wakas

April 06, 2007

Alay sa mga Santong Araw

Ni Rudy A. Arizala

Huwebes Santo, 5 Abril 2007

HULING HAPUNAN

Sa Betany na bayan
Doon nga naghapunan
Si Kristo´t kasamahan
Ng alak at tinapay

"Mayroong magtataksil,
Ako´y ipadadakip."
Lahat nagulantang.
"Sino po, Panginoon?"

Hudas dagling lumisan
Di alam punta saan
Ng kanyang kasamahan
Patuloy sa pagkain.

Kristong huling habilin
Tinapay kong katawan
At alak-dugong alay
Tubos sa kasalanan.


Biyernes Santo, 6 Abril 2007

SA PAANAN NG KRUS

Panginoon kong Hesus
Nakabayubay sa krus
Ako´y iyong tinubos
Sa kasalanang lubos

Mundong sangkatauhan
Mula kay Eba´t Adan
Ligtas sa kasalanan
Dahil sa krus na pas-an.

Subali´t nalimutan
Nitong sangkatauhan
Hesukristo ang ngalan
Ang sumagip sa tanan.

Panginoon kong Hesus
Patawarin pong lubos
Dugo mong ibnuhos
Ay nalimutang lubos!

Domingo ng Pagkabuhay

PASKO NG PAGKABUHAY

Matapos mabayubay
Siya sa krus namatay
Kristo muling nabuhay
Kapayapaay taglay

Ngunit ang taong tanan
Mayroong alinlangan
Tulad ng kasamahan
Santo Tomas ang ngalan.

"Habang di ko matingnan
Ang sugat sa katawan
Di paniniwalaan,"
Wika sa kasamahan.

Nang masalat ng kamay
Sugat katawang buhay
Ni Kristo Diyos na tunay
Si Tomas nagkamalay.

Mapalad ang nilalang
Maniwalang lubusan
Kahit hindi namasdan
Ang katawang sugatan
Ang muling pagkabuhay
Kay Kristong alay
Sa lahat ng nilalang
Buhay na walang hanggan!

Wakas

Biyernes Santo

By Rudy Arizala

I woke up this morning feeling, sad, lonely and homesick. I remember
how, when I was still a child and even when already grown up, Biyernes
Santo is observed in our hometown of infanta.

As narrated in my piece "The Meaning of Lent" published in a book of
mine "A Need for Moral Recovery and Other Essays,"in 1994, (Remember
when I launched said book at the Philippine Center, Fifth Avenue, New
York City when I was still Consul General in the Big Apple?), I recalled
it as follows:

"Whenever Lent approaches, I remember the old stone chuch of my town,
the old women in ´sayas´or skirts with black veils covering their faces
and huge ´scapularios´hanging around their necks. I also remember the
various statues of saints which participate in the long procession
during Good Friday.

"The fishermen of my town, including the ´dumagats´or ´aetas´ crowd
around the corpse of a ´dead Christ´and elbow each other to get hold of,
and get a bite of the ´cordon´ or rope tied around the waist of the
statue. For it is their belief that if you are a fisherman and get a
bite of the rope tied around the ´dead Christ´, you will have plenty of
catch when you go fishing.

"The others who crowd around the statue of the ´dead Christ´ during the
procession, are those having ´anting-anting´or amulets. It is the
belief of the holders of amulets that by touching the dead Nazrene,
their amulets are énergized´and remain valid.

"Aside from the procession on Good Friday, we also have the ´
penetencias´or flagellats. These persons wear no clothing except leaves
of trees and banana plants tied around their waists whlle their heads
are covered with leaves and flowers. They dance and move around while
whipping themselves with iron chains and twigs with thorns. Their sweat
mixed with blood glistens in thier bodies under the afternoon sun.
After two to three hours of such rituals, they go to the river or
stream and bathe themselves.

"Why do they practise such things, or become flagellants? Most of them
have been sick or afflicted with an incurable disease and made a vow
that once they get well, they will be flagellants. Others simply do it
as a sacrifice for the atonement of sins.

"These penetencias or flagellants observe their religion or belief with
so mch faith and devotion. They are simple folks - fishermen and
farmers - who still cling to the old traditions, with the innocence of a
child.

"They are like the old woman of my town who are still with their ´
sayas´(skirts) and ´kotsus´(thick leather slippers) with long rosaries
and ´scapularios´hanging around their necks; and the flickering lights
of candles during the procession on Good Friday trying to defy the winds
of change and modernity.

"Will they be able to hold on and defy the winds of change?

" In this moder age of computers, cellular phones and laser, people
still like to hold on to old traditions and belief or in miracles,
perhaps to reassure themselves that after Good Friday comes Easter or
Resurrection and therefore, the possibility of their own immortality."

NOTE:

Wonder if the above practises and relgious rituals are still observed in
our hometown of Infanta. If no longer, they merely exist in our memory
and on the pages of the book: "A Need for Moral Recovery and Other Essays."

Have a blessful Good Friday and Joyous Easter Sunday.

April 02, 2007

Sponsors complete for 2006-2007 MIF High School Scholars

By Mila Glodava

Metro Infanta Foundation has secured the 2006-2007 sponsors for current 16 high school scholars from the Catholic schools of the Prelature of Infanta. We can now begin enlisting sponsors for the next batch of first year scholars beginning 2007-2008 and ending through 2010-2011. If interested, please let us know at editor@infanta.org. A donation of at least $125 will take care of one year for one student. We recommend that you consider making a donation annually for four years to cover the cost of the entire high school course for one student.

Romy and Julie Coronacion
Sharmain Eranista, Infanta, 2nd year (2006-2007)
Ben Gurango, Infanta, 2nd year (2006-2007)

Melecia Garcia
Lady Diane Castillo, Casiguran, 1st year (2006-2007)
Benji Minor, Ma. Aurora, 1st year (2006-2007)

Rudy and Bennie Garcia
Sienalyn Manzanillo, Dipaculao, 1st year (2006-2007)

Kevin and Trish Glodava
Jane Pauline Pasion, Infanta, 2nd year (2006-2007)

Kirsten Glodava
Mhel Luna, Polillo, 4th year (2006-2007)

Jack Green (in memory of his wife Wilma)
Liezel Supat, Burdeos, 1st year (2006-2007)

St. Thomas More Youth Ministry
Ron Mark de la Torre, Baler, 1st year (2006-2007)
Fenela Ecleo, Dingalan, 1st year (2006-2007)
Marben Marte, Nakar, 1st year (2006-2007)
Carmela Curia, Polillo, 1st year (2006-2007

John and Joni Sanderson
Jessa Hertez, Burdeos, 3rd year (2006-2007)
Nino Niebres, Nakar, 3th year (2006-2007)
Julius Herminigildo, San Luis, 1st year (2006-2007)

Colleen Smith
Paymard Huerto, Burdeos, 3rd year (2006-2007)

April 01, 2007

Palm Sunday and April Fool's Day

By Rudy Arizala

Today is Palm Sunday or what we call in Infanta "Domingo de Ramos". We Catholics commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ astride a donkey (ass) through the gates of Jerusalem City. According to evangelist Mathew, "most of the crowd spread their cloaks upon the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees, and strewing them on the road. And the crowds that went before him, and those that followed, kept crying ot, saying, ´Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.´ And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was thrown into commotion, saying, ´Who is this?´But the crowd kept on saying, ´This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.´" (Math 21:8-11).

In Infanta, like in any other towns of the Philippines, the people bring "palaspas" or fronds or palms of coconut tree, to church for the blessing and at the churchyard (patio ng simbahan) there were several make-shift stage where children sing "Hosanna filio David..." They threw on the path of the priest carrying a frod or palaspas petals of various flowers among them roses. The crowd at the churchyard, mostly farmers spread pieces of cloth or opened umbrellas to catch or collect the petals being thrown by the children from the stage singing "Hosanna filio David". Why collect the petals of the flowers from the "mag-oosana"? It was the belief among the farmers that if you mix the petals with the soil on which you will plant rice seedlings, you will have a very good harvest and protect the riceland from calamities.

True or not, it is a good tradition. I do not know if it is still being done or observed today in Infanta.

With respect to the "palaspas" blessed by the priest, the old folks usually place them at the door or at the corner near the door of their homes. They believe that the blessed "palaspas" protect them and their homes from natural calamities such as being hit by a lightning or even a "contra" (antidote) against the entry into the house or premises of the "lamang-lupa", tikbalang, and the like.

With resspect to April Fools Day, how the day originated is unknown. But it is observed or celebrated worldwide usually with practical jokes and harmless pranks.

The closest explanation on how April Fool's Day started can be traced back to the 1500´s during the reign of Charles IX. At that time, the New Year was celebrated from March 25 to April 1. But when the Gregorian calendar, which we are using today, was introduced, New Year´s Day was moved to January 1. That piece of important news, however, did not travel fast enough and it took several years before the rest of the people knew about it. Those who refused to accept the change continued to celebrate on April 1, and were ridiculed as "fools," invited to non-existent parties and subjected to one form of harassment or another.

And for your entertainment on April Foo'ls Day today, 01 April, hereunder are some quotes on Fools.

APRIL FOOLS DAY QUOTATIONS
Compiled by Rudy A. Arizala

01 April 2007

* If a million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. – Anatole France.
* There is a foolish corner even in the brain of the sage. – Aristotle.
* Wise men don´t need advice. Fools won´t take it. – Benjamin Franklin.
* Wise men learn more from fools that fools from the wise. – Cato the Elder.
* The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistake of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world. – Charles Caleb Colton.
* Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will want to use it.-George Bernard Shaw.
* You don´t have to fool all the people all of the time; you just have to fool enough to get elected. – Gerald Barzan.
* Hain´t we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain´t that a big enough majority in any town? – Mark Twain.
* Take all the fools out of this world and there wouldn´t be any fun living in it, or profit.- Josh Billings.
* Ah, well, I am a great and sublime fool. But then I am God´s fool, and all His work must be contemplated with respect.- Mark Twain.
* Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky. – Michel Eyquem de Montaigne.
* Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.- Plato.

'Day!