How Raffy saved a kidnapped girl

I take my hat off to my friend Raffy Tulfo for his dogged fearlessness in going after criminal elements and being the champion of the oppressed (Kakampi ng Mga Inaapi) who are mostly moneyless and defenseless.

I should know. On the way to the office, I tune in to his program Wanted Sa Radyo (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays on 92.3FM), with Nina Taduran as co-host, and I’m amazed no end not just by his colorful language (I think only he and his brothers Ramon, Erwin and Ben can get away with it, no kidding!) but also, more so, his dedication as a crime-fighter.

Recently, I was in the car with East Kamias (Quezon City) Kagawad Julius Sevilla and his wife Arlene when we heard Raffy calling on the parents of a four-year-old girl brought to the studio by a kind-hearted elderly woman who said that she found the girl looking confused at a bus station being hugged by a 14-year-old in a manner that didn’t look like they were siblings. The woman recalled that when she approached them, the boy ran away. It turned out that he snatched the girl at the Nepa Q-Mart while her mother was tending her vegetable stand.

Kagawad Julius and Arlene exclaimed “Siya na nga!” when they heard how Raffy described the girl. The night before, the girl’s tearful mother went to the East Kamias Barangay Office (manned by Kapitan Arnold Gaddi) to report her missing daughter to Kagawad Julius who promptly mobilized his companions.

I called Raffy and even if he was on air, he gladly took my call. Earlier, he announced that, upon hearing the report, a man rushed to the studio to claim the girl. He turned out to be a “fake” uncle (“Na mukhang addict,” said Raffy).

Losing no time, Kagawad Julius asked the East Kamias Barangay Office to contact the girl’s mother. In a jiffy, mother and daughter were reunited at Raffy’s radio office.

The story didn’t end there.

The next day, Raffy (with Nina) did a follow-up on the case, with the mother and her daughter as guests. What happened to the boy who snatched the girl (and touched her private parts, according to the girl, but thankfully didn’t do anything worse than that)? He is at-large.

I’m writing this piece to thank Raffy Tulfo and say, “Mabuhay ka, Raffy!” Keep up the good work!

Kuya Jun’s prize-winning Lampara Books

Speaking of children, I want to congratulate another good friend, Segundo “Jun” Matias for winning first prize in the Tagalog Children’s Story Category of the recent 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. His winning entry, Alamat ng Duhat (The Legend of the Java Plum), is one of the more than 30 children’s books Jun has written so far for his Lampara Books, endearing him not only to kids (who fondly call him Kuya Jun) but also to parents.

For Lampara Books, Jun regularly attends the annual Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany and travels to a similar fair in Bologna, Italy, in his effort to update himself on trends in children’s book publishing.

“I love kids,” said Jun, very obviously.

Segundo ‘Jun’ Matias and some of the kids he regales with his storytelling sessions and his Lampara Books, one of them, Ang Alamat ng Duhat (The Legend of the Java Plum, right), won him first prize in the recent 2011 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Tagalog Children’s Story Category

Aside from being a publisher (for 20 years now), he is also a storyteller. He has done several storytelling videos of the books published by Lampara Books, and those videos can be viewed on the YouTube (simply type “magbasa kasama si Kuya Jun” or “mga kuwento ni Kuya Jun” on the search box). The same videos are sold in schools to cater to children who prefer aural storytelling. Jun is currently touring schools for the Lampara Books live storytelling sessions.

“Those sessions are becoming popular among school children,” said Jun whose recent sessions were held at the La Consolacion College, Richland Montessori, National Christian Life College, Merdedarian School, World Citi College, St. Vincent School and St. Claire Foundation of Knowledge.

Lampara Books are very affordable, costing only P69.75 per copy at National Bookstores and Precious Pages Bookstores.

What’s up?

• Yes, of course, BKJ (Baby K. Jimenez, now based in Vancouver), Susan Roces and FPJ were married at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan (not yet a city then) on Dec. 25, 1968 after they were married in civil rites (on Dec. 16, same year) officiated by then Mayor Gerry (not Jess) Angeles in a Bulacan town.

•  Genesis Walcher (a.k.a. Patricia Javier) gave birth to a boy, named Ralph James Walcher, last week in San Diego, California, where she and her husband, chiropractor Robert Walcher, live. It’s their second child. The first, also a boy, is named after Robert.

•  This piece of sad news came from Lito Balquiedra: Do you remember Bobby Ng? He was a great talent before our time. He was a sportscaster, play-by-play announcer for a lot of basketball games, host of TV programs, i.e. Jam Session, etc. Of course, you remember Bobby, he of the pleasant and easy manner. He who was one of the shining lights of Philippine radio. Much-loved Bobby passed away Oct. 5 in Edmonton, Canada. Please pray for him.

•  Camarines Norte Chung Hua High School (where Ricky Lee graduated) in Daet is currently celebrating its 90th founding anniversary (until the 15th). Among the highlights are the coronation of Miss Camarines Norte Chung Hua High School, the blessing of the Alumni Center and the Handog Talino Program for pre-schoolers of Daet. Host this year is the school’s alumni association.

•  The Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic School, Inc. of Imus, Cavite, celebrated its founding anniversary on Oct. 10 and 11, for the first time after 11 years. The celebration was headed by the school director, Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle, assistant school director Rev. Fr. Allan C. Valero and school principal Lourdes G. Villafuerte. The school is now on its permanent site at Tirona St. (Lumang Palengke), thanks to the generosity of Elena and Remedios Monzon, the Felicidad Sy Foundation (which donated three buildings), Dr. Nicanor and Mrs. (Dr.) Nicanor Montoya (who donated a fully-equipped library) and Justa Lee’s family. It’s the only private school in Imus that offers socialized tuition fees.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)