War and Honor: What Donald Trump can learn from Admiral Dewey

Playwright Dennis Posadas will launch the first reading of his play "The Court Martial of Admiral Montojo" off-Broadway in New York. The public is invited to the free reading on December 9, 2017 Saturday 3pm.

Why is this play on Admiral Dewey of great significance to modern readers?

People need to remember the forgotten values of honor on and off the battlefield. Not that there were no atrocities committed during the subsequent Philippine-American War. I simply picked the story of two individuals, who while representing their respective countries, also used their sense of fair play. After their war had ended, while they did not necessarily become friends, at least their humanity or their civility was still there.

By the way, some people may ask why I chose to write about a Spanish character instead of another nationality. Actually the way I see it, is that this is really a play about how people should treat each other. It just so happened that the character was Admiral Montojo, a Spanish officer. But it could just as easily have been a Filipino, or an American, even from another time, who showed compassion towards another human being.

In short, instead of generalizing nationalities, I chose a story of two individuals who acted humanely in that instance.

Do you think the story is relevant today as it was more than a hundred years ago and why?

Yes especially in this age of senseless killings and beheadings by terrorists, etc.

If I may add, the Battle of Manila Bay happened on 1 May 1898 which means it will be celebrating 120 years next year. 

Also we have to remember that Aguinaldo's contingent, after the Truce of Biak na Bato, was holed up in exile in Hong Kong. Without this event, June 12, 1898 (Independence Day) would not have happened. You can ask any historian about that. There is no dispute.

By the way, relative to this last point, there is a surprise in the play that I won't divulge for now.

If Admiral Dewey were alive today, what advice would he give Donald Trump?

When you give an order like “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley” that should only be done when you will actually fire a weapon. Not because you are trying to fool your opponent, and possibly miscalculate with your threats.

How do you think Admiral Dewey will handle the North Korean crisis?

Dewey was given a legal order to execute and he did so without hesitation. When he entered Manila Bay, he was unsure about his chances. In fact, when he left Hong Kong, the British (who were so unimpressed at that point with the American Navy) were said to have remarked, “A fine set of fellows. Unhappily we shall never see them again.”

Contrast this with the way the situation has played out in North Korea. Unlike Dewey's quiet approach, there has been too much talk on both sides. 

The advice Dewey would give is not to saber rattle. More circumspection, less tweets perhaps.

Who would most likely enjoy the play reading on Admiral Dewey? 

If you like a good court room drama like A Few Good Men or the Caine Mutiny, I think you will enjoy the play.

For those based in NYC or visitors who will be there on December 9 Saturday at 3pm, I hope you will check out the debut play reading of The Court Martial of Admiral Montojo at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre on 17-19 West 45th Street, NYC.

Dennis Posadas is the author of Leap: A Sustainability Fable (Singapore: Pearson, 2015) and Greenergized (UK: Routledge/Taylor & Francis, 2013). The Court Martial of Admiral Montojo is his first stage play which won awards in the 2017 Hollywood, New York, and Barcelona screenplay contests.

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Why bank signature cards need a custodian

The recent news about the Metrobank theft brought me back to an old story that I wrote for Inquirer about bank signature cards. It dawned on me that if the bank internal control system for signature cards were stricter, perhaps, multimillion scams could be avoided – assuming of course that there is no conspiracy from within the bank.

http://business.inquirer.net/46487/how-secure-is-your-bank-signature-card

In my opinion, signature cards should be entrusted to a custodian or one bank staff (per branch) who is trained to verify signatures. 

If you visit some banks nowadays, you will notice that it is often also the teller who verifies the signature from the computer system. This method is a speedy solution but it loosens internal control. 

There is no check and balance in this case. There should be another person who will approve the signature before the final transaction is completed. This offers an opportunity to spot inconsistencies in the transaction.

As a young banker for a major foreign bank in the Philippines, I was once sent for training on money laundering. During the session, I learned that syndicates recruit young people to do forgery and the copiers are often quite talented to the point that actual signature verification at the bank can be tricky. Thus, I had always assumed that bank personnel needed some formal lessons before undertaking signature verification.

Keep in mind that it is the signature cards that serve as the key to proceed or stop a transaction. Much of it boils down to a customer’s signature. Therefore, it is a critical point in a banking transaction. The question now is this - are there still banks who employ and train employees to become custodians for these signature cards?

For example, in the case of the alleged Metrobank theft, an extra step in signature verification from a third party could have stopped that transaction if the instruction letter was forged to begin with (as reported in the news). 

Of course, another angle that is being investigated is whether there were other bank officials involved in the scam. If so, that would be a different story all together.

Bottom line is this. When a customer gives the bank his signature card, he is basically telling the bank to honor transactions based on his signature. 

If the signature is the main instrument needed to proceed with a transaction, then it means that the bank is expected to guard them the way they would care for a person’s privacy. 

Thus, signature cards should not be left in the open for everyone to see. Rather, the documents were meant be kept private and confidential, for the ultimate protection of the bank customer and his money.

The elegance of a peacock and a mallard duck

Although both are males, the peacock and the mallard duck are considered symbols of beauty and elegance. The peacock tends to be known for showing off its feathers and making some noise in the process. The duck, on the other hand, exudes quiet elegance. I once went boating and a mallard duck swam beside me without much fanfare.

I learned that ducklings swim and feed immediately when they are hatched. Plus, the female duck lays a lot of eggs that are more than half her body weight, thus making nesting a somewhat stressful experience.

A rich lady wanted to teach the meaning of elegance by showing the world her expensive gown and her perfectly assembled dinner centerpiece. On the other hand, an old lady with average means never said a word about elegance but rather, exuded it through her exemplary character. Somehow, they reminded me of the peacock and the mallard duck. So, what exactly is human elegance?

It was Coco Chanel herself who said, “Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.” She also used the word “modesty” to describe elegance. And most of all, she is often quoted for saying that “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”

Simplicity suggests that true elegance is almost always never flaunted. People will call a lady elegant but it does not usually come from the person herself. If you find a woman who likes to call attention to herself, that would constitute vanity and not elegance.

Quiet elegance involves developing good taste in one’s appearance or demeanor but it has nothing to do with a person’s material wealth. Design techniques or fashion sense can be learned.

It is a word that is hard to define because practicing elegance also includes a spiritual aspect to it, a certain sensitivity to society in general. If the wardrobe or centerpiece costs more than an average worker’s monthly salary, for example, sometimes discretion is needed. 

At least from what I remember, it was also Coco Chanel who said that a stylish woman can pass through an ordinary crowd unnoticed and then gather attention as she enters a room full of so-called important people.

Elegance goes beyond the dress and heads straight to the character of a person. While it is good to learn about matching colors and coordinating pieces, it is even more imperative to build virtues such as honesty, integrity, and kindness.

Simplicity is acquired through one’s upbringing or life experiences. It is a series of decisions that often reflect themselves in a person’s design choices, among other things. It is also the touchstone of grace and perfection.

See the Philippines through a 6-D eagle ride

Just a wild idea but perhaps the Philippine Department of Tourism’s marketing campaign can include bringing tourists to experience the six dimensional “Agila” (translated as eagle) ride in Enchanted Kingdom. Essentially, viewers experience a simulated eagle flight and are brought around beautiful spots in the Philippines through a short video clip with corresponding special effects such as moving seats and water sprays.

Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna has taken the initiative to support the preservation of the Philippine eagle, thus the connection with the “Agila” theater ride. This special feature is housed in a separate building and requires a short walk from the main amusement park.

The trek to the main theater is dotted with inconvenient stops and is thus, an area for improvement. Viewers, especially more senior visitors, who have to walk under the hot sun normally, seek immediate relief. Unfortunately, one has to walk a few meters more upon entering the gate only to be greeted by staff saying that big bags still need to be stuffed in a locker. 

Upon entering the air conditioned building premises, the audience is led to a dark room with a video introduction from Enchanted Kingdom’s wizard called Eldar, making one believe that the show has finally started. The audio system is muffled that only a few sentences can be understood.

Then the people are led to three more dark rooms until they are shown the lobby, only to be told to wait for another 15 minutes. As it appears, they use this time gap to take pictures and show a short video clip about the eagle sculpture found in the lobby, among other things. It is also at this point that it becomes apparent that the air conditioning is not sufficient, at least for some people. 

Finally, the viewers are called to enter the movie theater. For the third time, they are asked to show their tickets. It doesn’t look like a well-planned system because normally, guests only have to show their ticket once upon entering the gate. 

As we reach the entrance to the theater, the guests are again asked to stop and watch a security video. Remember that at this point, the place is not that cool. Anyway, everyone’s patience pays off after the crowd finally enters a perfectly cooled theater venue.

The main show was memorable albeit, a very short one. The audience can be heard reacting to the water sprays and other effects. According to one staff, it was a six dimensional experience but it is unclear how much different it is (except for moving seats that give the illusion of flying) from their older theater Rialto that offers a four dimensional experience of “Ice Age.” 

Nonetheless, the multimedia show that ran for only six minutes is enough to bring thoughts of patriotism and love for country that perhaps is the goal. After watching and flying like a Philippine eagle, the viewers are likely to conclude that indeed, this country is incredibly beautiful.

A missing element in fashion design

As a young corporate executive, I took a year-long sabbatical from work and pursued a side interest in image consulting and fashion design. I once wrote a few insights that were published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/112351/insights-from-a-san-francisco-sabbatical

Prior to leaving the Philippines, I was already involved in giving talks about fashion colors and image enhancement. So, I chose to attend a workshop in Maryland that increased my understanding about dressing well, among other things.

When I went to San Francisco, I took the opportunity to pursue a fashion design class for a semester. It was an exciting moment and I learned so much. It was also interesting to observe the whole class as an outsider looking in.

Many Americans, at that time, were not highly knowledgeable about the Philippines. When I told my teacher about the piña and jusi fabrics at home, my teacher sounded really interested to see a sample. 

During an exercise where we were asked to write a fashion forecast, I predicted that with the advent of the Internet, fashion designs from exotic lands will come to the fore. For some reason, certain classmates (they were freshmen and very young) applauded me on what I wrote. Nowadays, I can’t help but admit that it has come to pass.

My classmates were really talented in art illustration. Most of them could draw and color very well without need for much instruction. I also noticed that fashion design was treated as purely an art form, meaning they would do whatever they wanted with the croquis (the basic female form that is drawn before clothes are illustrated) without regard for modesty or anything else. Art was pursued for its own sake and never was it discussed in class that behind the clothes was actually a person or a personality. Perhaps that was a different subject altogether.

As someone who was then involved in image consulting, I could not help but conclude that the missing element in fashion design is the lack of recognition for the human person behind the art. Bringing that into the equation naturally changes the design strategy.

In class, we were taught to start with an inspiration, then a mood board, and then a fashion collection. If we include the human aspect into the mood board, perhaps the overall outcome will be different, with less absurdity or nudity.

During that time, I started a fashion newsletter and wrote this point that encapsulates my whole perspective on fashion: “The main idea in elegant dressing is to bring attention to the face or the eyes. We want others to see the person and not the body. If there is something that distracts the other person from looking at our face, that is one clear signal that we have put on too much or too little in our clothing.”

The lack of focus on the person is, in my opinion, one reason why certain fashion designs fail to capture the interest and loyalty of ordinary people.

Dipping my brush into Mijello Mission Gold paint

I just picked up my watercolor paintbrush recently and still consider myself a student. In the past, I tried art school and attended a few painting workshops here and there. In any case, I seem to be taking this watercolor interest a step further, by now spending more time in actual practice.

For the first time, I have also gotten hold of artist grade watercolor materials such as Mijello Mission Gold watercolor paint and I am sharing some notes of experience here.

The above 12-color palette was the first set that I acquired and the colors did not disappoint as far as brilliance is concerned. I found out later that these were the pure pigment colors of Mijello Mission Gold.

The pure pigment colors are vibrant and strong. Plus, they spread out evenly. I heard that other brands like Daniel Smith have a tendency to granulate. But I guess I still have to discover that as I keep on trying different paints. For now, Mijello Mission Gold is the first artist grade paint that I have tried.

At some point, I wanted to try the pastel colors and so I obtained the individual tubes. Unfortunately for this one, I found the colors somewhat opaque or chalky. I was told that for these kinds of mixed colors, you need to spread out the paint thinly. I have tried doing exactly that but still find myself looking for the pure pigment colors.

For example, when I first applied the lavender color, it had a tendency to come out whitish suggesting that the blue pigment used may be minimal. I tried using shell pink color thinly as suggested but somehow felt that I could do better mixing the colors myself. Also for mixed colors, there is a tendency for the mixture to get muddy when blended with other colors.

Overall, I can recommend the pure pigment colors of Mijello Mission Gold but probably not the mixed colors. The above 12-color palette is ideal for beginners as they contain pure pigments and can be mixed easily.  

The colors found in the palette are: lemon yellow, permanent yellow deep, red orange, permanent red deep, permanent magenta, bright clear violet, cerulean blue, ultramarine light, viridian, sap green, red brown, and van dyke brown.