Monday, May 5, 2025

Lives of Great Men and Women – Selected Models for Today’s Youth

Lives of Great Men and Women 
– Selected Models for Today’s Youth*

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Young Charles Darwin after his historic voyage on the
Beagle as naturalist. He was to become the father of
the theory of evolution named after him - Darwinism.

It is said, that indeed everyone is great in his or her own way, if greatness is measured by ones ultimate capacity to do good, and goodness means being of service to others and of contributing something, even only a drop in the bucket, so to speak, towards betterment of mankind, and of making this world a better place to live in. Nay, but how so few come to the knowledge of others for the good they have done. They are like the unknown soldier. They are like what Thomas said in his famous poem “Elegy on the Country Churchyard.”

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
 The deep unfathomed caves the ocean bear;
 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
 And wastes their sweetness in the desert air.”

The poem makes us think though, that if we do not make use of that which can make us great, then we are like the obscure gem under the sea and the blooming flower in the desert.

Amongst us stand rare and distinct men and women who have excelled, more than most of us have ever done. Their contributions are of outstanding significance that has invariably affected us, our way of living, our thinking and even our perception of the future. And indeed if we have to look back without them we would doubt if ever we would be in the present state we are in. What would the world be without them?

Undoubtedly too, greatness is mirrored not only on the norms of how most of us live and would like to live, but on how these rare breed of men and women perceived ideas beyond their time in the way of the pioneer, in space and in time that few would dare to travel by, which in the words of Robert Frost goes like this –

“I will be telling you this with a sigh,
 Ages and ages hence where two roads meet in a wood.
 And I, I took the road less traveled by.
 And that is what made the difference.”

How many people dare to take the road less traveled? How many of us found true freedom while treading on it? How many of us have dared to take the road of truth? The lonely road, the road barely a path? And to beat it in order to make one? Is it a choice? Is it fate? And fate we associate with gift – or luck we often refer to as serendipity?

Our world goes around and around, fortunate that there are people whose ideas were born ahead of their time? From these ideas bloomed into many ideas that found expression in a multitude of ways that feed of rationality as being and society. It is to these people to whom we dedicate this lesson in Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid. In so doing we may lay down an alternative path and present models of living particularly to the youth of today.

Florence Nightingale - Founder of the nursing profession 

We have chosen for this purpose the following great men and women from various nations (We will be featuring separately great Filipinos in future lessons, though a number of them will be associated with the names of these international figures.)

1. Charles Darwin – Interpreter of the pattern of life, founder of theory of evolution
2. Louis Pasteur – Father of immunology, science in the service of man
3. Florence Nightingale – Founder of the nursing profession
4. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – The living saint.
5. Joan of Arc – The saint who freed France

6. Albert Schweitzer – Road of “the life of service”
7. Abraham Lincoln – Champion in the emancipation of slavery
8. Jose Rizal – The pride of the Malay race
9. Francis of Assisi – Father of Ecology, the “upside down” Saint
10. Robert Baden-Powell – Chief scout of the world

11. Leonardo da Vinci – The man of many minds
12. Pablo Picasso – Painter of an epoch
13. Anna Pavlova – Prima Ballarina
14. Ludwig van Beethoven Stormy genius of music
15. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Prodigy whose genius is therapy
 

 

16. Galileo – Greatest of early scientist
17. Carolus Linnaeus – Introduced systematic classification of living things
18. Juan Luna – His Spolarium inspired a people to gain freedom PHOTO
19. Fernando Amorsolo – Master of romantic-classical painting
20. Thomas Alva Edison – Man of practical knowledge

21. Wilbur and Orville Wright – Conquerors of the Air
22. Charles Dickens – Life of the imagination
23. Gregor Mendel – Founder of the laws of heredity
24. Ramon Magsaysay – Champion of the masses
25. Christopher Columbus – Discoverer of a new world

26. Alexander the Great – Conqueror of Kings
27. Socrates – Man of Character
28. John F Kennedy – Charismatic American leader.
29. William Shakespeare – Greatest dramatist
30. Mao Tze Tung – Steered The Sleeping Giant China to become a modern nation

31. Ho Chi Minh - Vietnamese national hero
32. Pierre and Marie Curie - Discoverers of Radium
33. Herr Daimler and Herr Benz - Inventors of the horseless carriage
34. Thomas Alba Edison - the man of practical genius, 
      inventor of the incandescent lamp
35. George Bernard Shaw - the Irish Shakespeare

36. David Livingstone - Christian explorer in Africa ->
37. Sir Walter Raleigh - The last Elizabethan
38. Socrates - Father of Philosophy, the man of character
39. Franklin Delano Roosevelt - The People's President
40. Mohandas K Gandhi - Man of peace, man of the last millennium

Characters that accompany greatness
1. Genetic propensity, genius, talented
2. Meeting challenge in early life
3. Endurance of pain and various trials
4. Persistence, often stubbornness,
5. Resoluteness
6. dedication
7. Inquisitiveness
8. enthusiasm
9. Pioneering
10. Humility
11. Sacrifice
12. selflessness
13. Courageous,
14. Steel character
15. Competitiveness, often against oneself
16. Accuracy
17. Perfectionism
18. Strong character
19. Grateful
20. Admired, vice versa

The other “side of midnight” in the lives of many great men and women may be characterized by the following:

1. Short-lived
2. Unhappy
3. Loner
4. Turbulent
5. Sickly/with infirmity
6. Misunderstood
7. Outcast
8. Maligned
9. Non-conformist
10. Poor, and the like.

To the readers of this Blog.

1. Tell something about the legendary character - The Boy who Save Holland.  PHOTO

2. “Serve the greatest good for the greatest number  of people.” 
 Is this parameter a good measure of how great a deed we have done?

3. Greatness can be demonstrated by certain leaders in our local community.  What are the qualities of these leaders? ~
-------------------
* Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening, Monday to Friday


Life Patterns for Survival: Shrew, smallest mammal and most voracious predator

                                                            Life Patterns for Survival 

Shrew, smallest mammal and most voracious predator

Dr Abe V Rotor

White-toothed pygmy shrew or the Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus Internet

This animal is the smallest mammal in the world, yet the fiercest of all fighters and the most voracious of all predators.  It spends its life hunting for food to supply the necessary energy released by its high rate of body anabolism (breaking down of substances for the release of energy}.  It dies of starvation after a day without food.  No wonder it dies old after thirteen months. 

Also known as the white-toothed pygmy shrew or Suncus etruscus, the Etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal by weight alive today. At 36–52mm long, excluding tail, it's larger than Kitti's hog-nosed bat. However, individuals can weigh as little as 1.5g, meaning the Etruscan shrew takes the crown. (Acknowledgement: Internet photo)

Life Patterns for Survival by A V Rotor
Faculty Journal 1967
Lyceum of the Philippines

Carpe diem (Seize the Day) in paintings*

Carpe diem (Seize the Day)
in paintings*

Dr Abe V Rotor

Ghostly Forest* by AV Rotor 2025

Capture dreams on waking up from sleep,
else they fade and depart,
however weird, strange and even creep,
make them a work of art. 
    
*He who loves nature finds the forest a friendly place; 
he who doesn't, finds it haunted." - avr  
 
End of Summer* (12.5" x 33.5") by AV Rotor 2025

Late morning at autumn's start,
with the sun peeping shy;
southward the birds soon depart,
as we bid summer goodbye.

*“The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness 
that hinted at the end of summer.” - George R.R. Martin

Legendary Cave by AV Rotor 2025

It reminds us of the Minotaur*
slayed by a young hero; 
 wonder if there's a Theseus today,
to make the story true.

*Minotaur - a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity 
with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man

 Forest Primeval* (34" x 24") AV Rotor 2025

Seres - succession in ecology, 
forests evolve in diversity
and sustained stability - 
but where are the forests today?

* A "forest primeval" refers to an old-growth forest, untouched by human activity, characterized by large, mature trees, and diverse ecological features. AI Overview

 
Waterfall (34" x 24") by AV Rotor 2025

Cloud to rain to waterfall,
down the river to sea, 
again and again,
ad infinitum.  

The water cycle or hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface, driven by the sun's energy, involving processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. AI Overview

Blue Fish AV Rotor 2025

Blue* in the deep sea 
makes the fish free,
invisible to their enemy
and to their prey.

* Blue light is known as high-energy visible (HEV) light because it has the shortest wavelengths - and therefore the highest energy - of all visible light. Thus making the ocean and the sky appear blue.

Nature's Lament Enshrined, AV Rotor 2025

Remnants of an old, old Bitaog* tree
rise against a sky on fire;
in whose hands entrusted by Thee 
failed to love and care. 

* Bitaog or Palo Maria tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), family Calophyllaceae, is a native species that plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem.  Bitaog trees were once abundant in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.

 
Death of a Pine Tree (35" x 16.5") AV Rotor 2025

A living fossil of the once mighty pine* 
rises like the Cross, reverence and peace, 
it begs for man to take care of Nature
  from indifference, folly and remiss.

* The Pine tree belongs to Gymnospermae or cone bearing plants, that include conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, gnetophytes, and others, now listed among the threatened species. ~

"Carpe diem," meaning "seize the day," is a Latin phrase popularized by the Roman poet Horace, encouraging people to live in the present and make the most of each day, rather than worrying about the future ~.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

May 2015 National Heritage Month* Feature: Our Town's Landmark and Heritage, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Our Town's Landmark and Heritage
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur
Heritage Zone of the North RA 11645

Dr Abe V Rotor

1. 18th Century Basi Wine Cellar

 Late 18th Century Basi wine cellar retains the original brick walls and wooden structure made of hard wood. The jars are original as well, and have been in use through the years in brewing and aging of basi, and lately, different table wines from local fruits.  Students from SVIS are full of awe and wonder at the old trade and technology of basi and vinegar making during their study tour, with the guidance of the author as in-charge of the project.
    
Table Wine products from 16 different local fruits growing in the Ilocos region. Table fruit wine making is a continuing project of developing  table wine from local orchard and wild fruits in the region, basically following the old basi wine and vinegar making process. 
 
 
Top photos, products are bottled and labelled, displayed and marketed  on a limited scale.  Lower photos: hermetically sealed jars await 2 to 5 years of aging (10 years on special occasions).  SVIS students delight in examining the specimens, eager in learning  about the indigenous industry.     

2. Art Gallery 
 
 
 
Ethnic and Nature's Art 
 
 
garden
3. Arboretum, Ecosanctuary & Botanical Garden 
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."
 – Cicero

Heritage tree of three generations - native mango (Mangifera indica) is host
 to viny plants, ferns, and lianas like Rosary Pea and Philodendron

 
Shrine of national hero, Dr Jose Rizal in exile at Dapitan. Right, coed poses with a Heliconia flower with the bust of Emilio Aguinaldo, first president of the First Republic of the Philippines, at the background.  Both heroes, other than their deeds in liberating the country from foreign colonization, are known for their love and care for the environment.


A garden pond beautifies the surrounding  and keeps it cool.  It serves as catchment of rain and runoff water.  You can raise hito, tilapia, kuhol, and the like, including aquatic vegetables like kangkong and ribbon grass (Vallisneria).
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Netted treetops hide the sky 
Heritage Macopa and caimito trees
Towering anahaw palm trees
Mango grove

Arboretum or Miniature Tropical Rainforest
As miniature replica, the Center maintains the three-storey distinct 
structure of a tropical rainforest, namely, underbrushes, canopy layer, 
and emergents, cum epiphytes and lianas, as virtual field laboratory 
in forestry and ecology, and other related fields of study.

An arboretum is an outdoor living tree museum. A garden is a planned plot of land adjoining a house for cultivating plants, flowers and fruits, and other forms of nature.

4. Museum and Library 
"Books last longer than the computer
in mind, heart and spirit." - avr

Students from San Vicente Integrated School pay homage to the icon of 
the Risen Christ, at he LWNC Museum and Library.  

Left, a curious SVIS grader examines a wooden head of a Philippine deer, 
a wildlife species now at the brink of extinction in the Ilocos Region. 
Right, a SVIS coed sits on an antique "Cleopatra" reclining chair made 
by local artisan.
  
First published in 1934, Bannawag is widely regarded as "Bible of the North." It reaches the heart Northern Luzon, as well as Visayas, Mindanao, and Ilocano communities in Hawaii and America's West Coast. Bannawag highlights family values in its stories and articles and through the years, has continued to inspire, entertain, and empower its readers.

"Build a home library where knowledge grows into wisdom." - avr 

5. School-on-Air, Research & Workshop
School-on-Air: avrotor.blogspot.com  
Radio broadcast TATAKalikasan Ateneo de Manila University,
and Usapang Bayan 

 


ANNEXES 
Living with Nature Center (Concept and Thrusts)
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

Linked with Website avrotor.blogspot.com LIVING WITH NATURE; Book Series:  Living With Nature (5 volumes), Bannawag Okeyka Apong Column. TATAKalikasan Ateneo de Manila University 87.9 fm Radyo Katipunan, and Usapang Bayan

   
    San Vicente Integrated School Teachers at Dr Abe V Rotor's Family 
Residence in Poblacion, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

1. 18th Century Basi Wine Cellar
Fruit Wine
Ilocos Vinegar
Livelihood Projects

2. Art Gallery
Nature's Art
Cyptobiology
Ethnic Art
Mural Paintings
Contemporary & modern paintings

3. Arboretum, EcoSanctuary & Garden
Biodiversity
Heritage Trees
Natural Farming
Tri-commodity Farming
Shrines (Jose Rizal, Apo Baket, etc)

4. Museum & Library
Indigenous articles, artefacts
Exhibits, and displays by occasion
Holy Icons (The Risen Christ)
Book Collection 
Journals and Periodicals collection

5. School-on-Air, Research & Workshop
Multi-Intelligence Development
Humanities, Integrated Art
On-site and Hands-on Study
Thesis and Dissertation, Studies
Workshops, by sector/topic

6. Internet: Living with Nature avrotor.blogspot.com and Naturalism - the Eighth Sense with 6,000 published articles to present. Accessible worldwide on the Internet.

---------------
May 2025 National Heritage Month*
In May 2025, the Philippines celebrates National Heritage Month (NHM), which is an annual observance in the month of May. NHM, established by Presidential Proclamation No. 439, aims to foster awareness, respect, and love for the nation's culture and history among Filipinos. The theme for NHM 2015 was likely related to preserving cultural heritage and the role of communities in its preservation, as seen in the theme for the following years.

While the specific activities and events for NHM 2015 are not detailed in the provided search results, it's likely that the celebration involved various activities aimed at promoting Filipino culture and heritage, such as:
Community-based initiatives:
Encouraging communities to participate in the preservation of their local heritage through cleanup drives, planting trees, and highlighting local traditions.

Highlighting National Artists:
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and other cultural organizations may have organized events to honor and celebrate National Artists and their contributions to the nation's artistic and cultural landscape.

Museum visits and exhibitions:
Museums and cultural institutions may have offered special exhibitions and programs to showcase Philippine history and culture.

Educational programs:
Schools and educational institutions may have organized lectures, seminars, and workshops to educate students about Philippine heritage.

Public awareness campaigns:
Government agencies and cultural organizations may have launched public awareness campaigns to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving national heritage.

It's worth noting that the National Heritage Month is a continuous celebration, with each year's theme and activities focusing on different aspects of Filipino heritage and its preservation. The NHM celebrations in 2015 were likely a continuation of this tradition, with a focus on empowering communities and highlighting the value of cultural heritage in building a sustainable future. 
AI Overview
----------------------------

Annex 
About San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

The Green House
Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, officially the Municipality of San Vicente (Ilocano: Ili ti San Vicente; Filipino: Bayan ng San Vicente), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 13,118 people.

Etymology
The municipality's name came from the name of Saint Vincent Ferrer, whose winged statue was found inside a box entangled in fishing nets. The fishermen consulted this matter to the friars in Villa Fernandina (now Vigan), who identified the person depicted by the statue. The statue was carried to the town's center, where a church was built. From then on, the town formerly known as Tuanong (sometimes called Taonan) was renamed San Vicente.

History
In tracing the history of San Vicente, one always has to start from Vigan. Vigan was established by the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo on June 13, 1573.

Upon Salcedo's return in 1574, he brought with them the Augustinian friars in order to proselytize Christianity among the inhabitants. After Salcedo's death on March 11, 1576, Franciscan friars replaced the Augustinians in 1579. These same friars spread up to San Vicente to convert the people to the Catholic faith.

Up until 1582, there were only about 800 residents in Vigan. In 1591, Vigan began to organize its government, which included the barrios of Tuanong, Santa Catalina de Baba, and Caoayan. There were then a population numbering about 4,000 inhabitants at this time.

Between the years 1720 and 1737, the first chapel of Barrio Tuanong was erected. Later in 1748, the Confraternity of Jesus of Nazareth was organized. In one record of the Vigan Convent archives, a funeral that took place on January 29, 1748 in the chapel of Barrio Tuanong was recorded. Two chaplains, Don Agustin de la Encarnacion and Don Pedro Geronimo de Barba, were the priests of the chapel in that year. It is believed that the chapel is the first stone building that one sees upon entering the San Vicente Central School from the main road.

On June 16, 1751, the chaplain was Don Miguel de Montanez. He was the first priest there and also in the then newly constructed chapel of San Sebastian.

Difficulties in reaching Barrio Tuanong and Barrio Santa Catalina de Baba from Vigan especially during the months of June to October were experienced due to the absence of a dike or bridge. Priests from Vigan reached these areas by means of a raft. The problem prompted the separation of these two barrios from Vigan in 1793.

In 1795, the seat of the municipality and the church in Barrio Tuanong were inaugurated, and the town became known as San Vicente. Don Pedro de Leon was the first parish priest and he was believed as the initiator of the construction of the Church of San Vicente.

Geography
San Vicente is situated 3.33 kilometres (2.07 mi) from the provincial capital Vigan, and 405.53 kilometres (251.98 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays
San Vicente is politically subdivided into 7 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Bantaoay
Bayubay Norte
Bayubay Sur
Lubong
Poblacion
Pudoc
San Sebastian

Demographics
Population census of San Vicente
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,060 —
1918 5,858 +0.98%
1939 6,163 +0.24%
1948 6,151 −0.02%
1960 7,094 +1.20%

YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 7,539 +0.61%
1975 8,299 +1.94%
1980 8,488 +0.45%
1990 9,989 +1.64%
1995 9,848 −0.27%

YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 10,877 +2.15%
2007 11,907 +1.26%
2010 11,720 −0.57%
2015 12,758 +1.63%
2020 13,118 +0.55%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, San Vicente had a population of 13,118. The population density was 1,000 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,600/sq mi).

Economy
The municipality is known for its production of beautiful furniture made from narra and other tropical hardwoods, even from old wood previously used in wooden sugarcane crushers and old houses to make reproduction antiques.

Government
San Vicente, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Education
The San Vicente Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality.
Primary and elementary schools 
Bayubay Elementary School
Mindoro Primary School
Nagtupacan Elementary School
Pudoc Elementary School
San Sebastian Elementary School
San Vicente Baptist Bible Academy (Elementary)
San Vicente Integrated School (Elementary)
St. Paul College (Elementary)
Secondary schools 
San Sebastian National High School
San Vicente Baptist Bible Academy
San Vicente Integrated School
St. Paul College (High school)
References
^  Municipality of San Vicente | (DILG)
^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ Jump up to:a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
^ "San Vicente: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
^ Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
^ "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
^ "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2025.

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Philippine Census Information
Local Governance Performance Management System Archived 2012-05-02 at the Wayback Machine