That effectively concluded the conversation, but it was not the end for me. I could not remember the Bene Gessrit word for their “messiah”. I knew the word meant, “One who could be many places”, but for the life of me I could not make out its translation. It felt shameful. I have read Dune countless of times, but that one word evaded me.
The word Muad’dib kept creeping to my mind. I had to tell myself over and over that it’s not the one. Muad’dib meant desert mouse.
Then I challenged myself to remember that word without searching the Internet or scanning the glossary of terms in Dune. The hint of the word kept creeping up for the next few days but I still could not recall it in full. A few days later, while staring at the cover of Dune a thought began to take shape in my mind. A few seconds later, I remembered the term Lisan al’gaib.
It sounded right, but it felt a bit wrong. I quickly looked at the book glossary and realized my mistake. Lisan al’gaib meant “The Voice from Another World”. It was a Dune term for their messiah, but it was not the Bene Gessrit term. It was a Fremen term.
I kept staring at my Dune collection. I felt the inner workings of my mind reorient itself. It was as if a fog was about to be lifted to reveal a secret. I could make out some details of the word but it was not yet enough. Then I voiced out words that sounded like the Dune messiah.
Hararazak?
Kwaszarark?
Then something clicked in my mind. It felt as if the clouds were finally lifted. The term was finally revealed. It was as clear to me as if I had always known it.
Kwisatz Haderach.
Those were two words. No wonder I had a hard time trying to recall it. I was stuck with trying to find one word, when what I was actually looking for was two words.
Nevertheless, the experience made me realize something. It was not that I finally remembered Kwisatz Haderach. It was the strange but welcome feeling in my mind when it seemed that puzzle pieces seeming to reorient themselves to form one giant picture.
Has my mentat potential finally awakened?!

*Yeah. I’m one big fan of hers.

My condolence goes to everyone whose life was touched by the life of Corazon Cojuanco Aquino.

Her life was the last and final pillar of the EDSA Revolution. Ninoy’s death was the first. Cardinal Sin’s call was the second. She was the final piece in a construct of a swarm of humanity that effectively toppled a totalitarian regime and restored democracy.
Her death placed the country at a crossroads. Only time will tell if her funeral procession marked the last rattle of democracy in the country, or if it was another first cry of life.
She was also the last great Catholic in the country. All the priests and nuns in the country could not measure to the holiness that people now ascribe to her. And because she embodied the Catholic virtues in life, many Filipinos have canonized her in their hearts and now pray in her name.
Her death also placed Filipino Roman Catholicism at a crossroads. Only time will tell if it signaled the end of ubiquitous Catholic influence, or the resurgence of a Church whose members have largely ignored her dogmas and teachings.

Cory, Mother of Democracy, has left us to ourselves. We accept the inheritance she has have left us. May we not squander her last gift as we have done with her first…

*The great physiologist Guyton passed away on 2003…

PS Hall does not miss me as much..

The Cristo Pantocrator is a largely unknown theme of representing Christ in Western Christianity. It is, however, popular with Orthodox Christianity. Pantocrator is the Greek translation of the Hebrew El Shaddai, which in English means Almighty or Omnipotent. The word appears several times in the Book of Revelation to describe God, but not Christ specifically. As a title to Christ, it depicts him as judge of humanity.

Cristo Pantocrator

As to why such a Christian theme ended up covered under an Islamic veneer can be explained by a little history. By 1453, the Turks invaded Constantinople. As a symbol of Turkish/Islamic superiority over the Byzantines/Christians, Sultan Mehmed II converted the Hagia Sophia, grandest church of all Christendom, into a mosque.
The Islamization of the church lasted about 400 years. Mosaics were plastered over. Crosses were removed. Minarets were added. Giant discs bearing the name of Allah, Muhammad, and the four caliphs were hung on the columns.
Yet the Hagia Sophia did not remain a mosque. In 1953, about 20 years from the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and about 500 years from the time it became a mosque, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum. No longer Muslim or Christian, it served as a beacon of secularism symbolizing the current state of Turkey.
The carpets were removed, exposing the marble floor unseen for centuries. The plaster covering the mosaics were gradually peeled off by expert restorers.

John Crysostom, Early Church Father (Restored Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia)

Emperor Bowing Before the Pantocrator (Restored Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia)

Yet a controversy is still under way on whether to expose the image of Cristo Pantocrator in the dome of the Hagia Sophia. Exposing it would mean the destruction of Islamic themes, which would not only offend Muslims it would also be erasing part of the history of the transformation of the church, or of the history of Turkey itself.
Other voices are more radical. They want to restore the Hagia Sophia into a church once again. Some even say that restoration of the church back into Orthodox hands should be a prerequisite for Turkey to join the European Union. Yet this ignores numerous mosques converted into churches in Spain.
I leave the decision to God, and pray that the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) of Cristo Pantocrator settle the controversy of the nations…

Btw, did anybody notice that there’s a Muslim pig there?
On another note, I have recently been interested in Byzantine history. Here’s my take on the Istanbul-Constantinople naming controversy.
For starters, Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire, btw, never called itself by that name. It called itself the Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantine also never called Constantinople as Constantinople. He called it Nova Roma. Prior to that new name, it was called Byzantium.
The Turks took Constantinople on 1253 from the Greeks (Byzantines called themselves Romans, but they spoke Greek). Yet contrary to popular belief, Istanbul became the official name of the city only after 1930 during the formation of The Republic of Turkey. Prior to that, the city was known by a variety of names including Konstantiniyye (Arabic for Constantine’s place), etc. Istanbul was also what the Turks called Constantinople before the conquest.
According to the song, a long time ago [about 70 years actually] it was called Constantinople; now it is Istanbul.
Yet for all this concern on names, I must say that the Greeks (Byzantines) won the war on names against the Turks. Istanbul is taken from the Greek word meaning “the city” or “down town”.
Btw, I prefer the old name Byzantium to Constantinople. Istanbul to me sounds like a desert barbarian’s exclamation on finally coming to a city, and ruling it to boot. IMO, The Republic of Turkey should have settled on Konstantiniyye.

1. Stop eating pork – Give pigs the chance to fulfill their lives’ yummy purpose, specifically being enjoyed on the dining table.
2. Kill all swine in your country*

Sources:
1. Understanding Swine Flu Spread: Questions and Answers (Update1)
2. International SOS Swine Flu (“Pig Flu”) Update > FAQ
3. Egypt orders slaughter of all pigs over swine flu

* The intelligence of Egyptian Muslim officials is know highly suspect considering their recent order to kill all swine in their country.
Support the Christian minority (10%-30% of the population) in Egypt. Many of them base their income and livelihood and especially their diet on the condemned animals.

Photos of the event can be seen at the ABS-CBN site.

Btw, I have never been a fan of Judy Ann or “Juday”, as she is known by her fans, nor of Ryan Agoncillo. I didn’t care either way about their relationship, and I had condescending thoughts of their fans. Yet I must admit that I felt very happy while watching news coverage of their wedding.
I didn’t go howling, giggling, and screaming like a fangirl. I just had a few butterflies in my stomach. They looked authentically in love with each other that it would be impossible not to be affected by the event.
Nevertheless, the wedding did not convert me into one of their loyal groupies. My opinions about their capabilities remain the same. I do, however, offer them my deepest congratulations, and wish them a Happy Ever After!
CONGRATULATIONS MR. AND MRS. RYAN AGONCILLO!

Rule 1. Be unimposing. Note your posture, and remember not cross your arms. Do not give shopkeepers the impression that you are “better” than them. They would feel threatened and give you a higher price. Speak their language, or at least show them some effort. This gives them the message that you are human and in need of a break.

Rule 2. Maintain eye contact. This shows them that you are not just interested in their products, but that you are also interested in what they have to say. This in turn starts them in a generous mood.

Rule 3. Never interrupt. Give them an impression that they are in charge of the conversation. Remember the rule that it is easier to steer someone if he thinks he is in charge.

Rule 4. The bargain is your goal. For example you are buying fish in a market. It doesn’t matter if the fish you are interested in is not the freshest in the market. What matters is if you are willing to buy the fish for the price given. Do not speak against their quality! Feigned disinterest is more successful than insulting a shopkeeper by disparaging his wares.

Rule 5. Act like it’s a game. It’s a contest of wills. Enjoy the banter with shopkeepers. So what if you fail, there are always other stores and other opportunities. In order to improve your skills just practice, practice, and practice.

Rule 6. Use the power of silence. Ask them if that’s the best they can do, then keep silent. Eventually, they’ll name a price. Btw, you could always walk out if you don’t like the offer.

Rule 7. Know your limits. Your purpose is to save, not throw away money. Shopkeepers may offer you the lowest prices in the world, but if they are beyond your range then don’t buy.

Rule 8. Negotiate as if you’re negotiating for others. Your family, friends, children, or organization may need the product desperately. Be their voice. This gives you the courage and will to strike a bargain.

Rule 9. Bargaining is win-win. Remember that shopkeepers need you, while at the same time you need them. A good bargain is fair for all participants.

*Most of these rules are based loosely from a conversation with Mitchel Waylander a character in Betrayal at Krondor, the best RPG ever.
Some of these rules are distilled from an article by Amy Reiter at Salon.com.