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P I E C E S

Sparkle teen artist

Andrei Sison passes

away after car

accident ANDREI SISON, A TEEN ARTIST UNDER SPARKLE GMA ARTIST CENTER, HAS PASSED AWAY. ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT BY SPARKLE ON FRIDAY, HE DIED "DUE TO A CAR ACCIDENT EARLY THIS MORNING."

THE TALENT MANAGEMENT ARM EXTENDED THEIR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO ANDREI’S FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.

“WE REQUEST EVERYONE TO RESPECT HIS FAMILY’S PRIVACY IN THIS TIME OF GREAT LOSS AND JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THE ETERNAL REPOSE OF HIS SOUL,” THEY SAID.

“HE WAS A WELL-LOVED AND MUCH CHERISHED MEMBER OF THE SPARKLE FAMILY. WE WILL MISS YOU, ANDREI. BE WITH GOD NOW,” THEY ADDED.ON THURSDAY, ANDREI WAS TAPING FOR A VARIETY SHOW AT THE GMA STUDIOS AND WAS RELEASED FROM TAPING BEFORE 7PM. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THE CAR ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE AT 2:30AM ON FRIDAY. SPARKLE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANDREI'S RELATIVES AT AROUND 5:30AM ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. ANDREI CHARMED FOLLOWERS WITH HIS TIKTOK DANCE COVERS AND LIVESTREAMS WITH FELLOW SPARKLE ARTISTS. HIS LATEST INSTAGRAM POST FROM MARCH 11 IS FILLED WITH COMMENTS FROM FANS, WHO ARE SAYING THAT HE WILL BE MISSED AND THAT HE IS GONE TOO SOON. REST IN PEACE, ANDREI. —JCB/LA, GMA INTEGRATED NEWS

By NIKA ROQUE, GMA Integrated News

Paul Salas on exgirlfriend: 'Ngayon lang nawala 'yung pagiging bitter ko sa kanya' Paul said part of why their relationship did not work is because of his lingering trauma over the split of his parents. "Kaya rin po actually Tito Boy naging toxic dahil meron po ako sa sarili kong nandun na 'yung trust issues ko, nandun na 'yung tamang hinala ko," he said.

"Aminado po ako sa sarili ko sobra pa ako sa seloso, kasi feeling ko onting time lang may makausap lang na ibang lalaking kaibigan 'yung nagiging ka-relasyon ko, feeling ko lolokohin na ko, feeling ko iiwanan na ko." Paul said this is something that he only realized when he started dating Mikee Quintos.

Mikee, for her part, assured Paul that she will always be there beside him to support him. "Sana kapag may mga times na nati-trigger 'yung mga traumas natin both, I want to assure you na hindi mo kailangan mag-isip or kabahan kasi ikaw naman 'yung lagi kong pipiliin kahit mahirap." Paul and Mikee are currently starring in GMA Network-Viu Philippines collaboration series "The Write One."

—MGP, GMA Integrated News

A woman’s right to identity

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives committee on population and family relations approved unanimously (on a vote of 12-0) a substitute bill reinstating divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage. While for now the Philippines is one of only two countries in the world (the other being the Vatican) where there is no divorce, it wasn’t always so. In 1917, absolute divorce was made legal here, replacing Spanish civil laws that only allowed relative divorce or legal separation. But the divorce law was repealed in 1950 after the passage of the Civil Code, so the only allowed regime to legally end a marriage these days is a declaration of nullity, which is both tedious and expensive. “Spouses, especially wives, will soon have the option of getting out of an irremediably broken marriage and get a new lease on life,” said Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the principal authors of the measure. The Gabriela party list added that couples will now have a chance to free themselves from a toxic and abusive relationship to begin life anew. But while Filipinos wait for the eventual passage of the divorce bill into law, women (as well as legislators and the courts) are making progress in the fight for equal rights on other fronts. Despite it already being a reality in law, a proposal that would allow married women to retain and use their maiden surnames has just been approved by the House on second reading. Authored by Manila Rep. Edward Vera Maceda, the measure was approved through “via voce” or voice voting on March 14, a day after the ceremonial and symbolic turnover of leadership roles in the House to women representatives as part of the celebration of Women’s Month. Once the proposal is enacted, the New Civil Code of the Philippines would be amended, which would allow a married woman to use her maiden first name and surname (Maria dela Cruz), her maiden first name and surname plus her husband’s surname (Maria dela Cruz Santos), her maiden first name and her husband’s surname (Maria Santos), or her husband’s full name, but prefixing it with a word indicating that she is his wife, such as “Mrs.” (Mrs. Jose Santos).







A woman’s right to identity

As explained, Filipino women assume that once they marry, they must change their last name. But the Civil Code says otherwise, with women always having had the option to opt for any of the previously mentioned alternatives. The Supreme Court also said that a married woman is not prohibited from using her full maiden name, so long as she changes her civil status from single to married. Despite the established policy, however, not many government offices, health establishments, and other institutions are aware of this. Some mothers, according to a parenting Facebook group, were forced to adopt their husband’s surnames by circumstances. In some cases, employees in government agencies have been reported to automatically change a woman’s last name to that of her husband in their records because she is married. This is one instance when social and personal mores dictate government policies and practices, with civil servants “enforcing” these mores despite laws that discourage or are neutral on them. Many employees and officials, even in private firms, still seem unprepared to acknowledge or recognize the legal status of a married woman who prefers to use her maiden name. For instance, if a woman wants to add her husband as a dependent on her health maintenance organization (HMO), she is often required to update her surname to that of her husband, even if it’s declared on the marriage certificate that they are married to each other. Banks, too, have a lot of questions if a married woman continues using her maiden name in transactions. A woman’s right to use her maiden name, (and thus assert her identity) even after marriage, is just one aspect of the continuing struggle for true equality between women and men in the eyes of the law and in practice. One wonders how much more complicated it would be if and when divorce is legalized in this country. The arena, it seems, is much broader than the halls of Congress and the premises of the courts. Much more reforms are needed in the real battlefield of minds and hearts, and practicality.



Staving off rotating blackouts

The hot summer months are almost upon us, and with them the alarming prospect of rotating blackouts as demand peaks and power output from hydroelectric plants sinks. Which explains the call for President Marcos Jr. to resurrect and improve the energy conservation program first implemented in the 1970s by his late father. This was one of the measures raised and approved during a recent Cabinet meeting to solve the twin problems of escalating energy costs due to elevated global fuel prices, and the thin power reserves given the spike in the use of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), demand in Luzon will spike to 13,125 megawatts toward the end of May, an 8.35-percent increase from the actual 2022 peak load of 12,113 MW. While projected supply will be enough at between 14,730 and 15,800 MW to cover the maximum, this also means that the operating reserves required to keep the power grid up and running will just hover at the minimum of some 1,800 MW. Thus, any unexpected outage will lead to blackouts. Such a scenario has prompted several government offices to put in place a slew of energy conservation measures before temperature rises further and increases the demand for power. Among the measures being pushed is the adjustment of working hours to start at 7 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. as implemented by DOE; the four-day work week, with a work-from-home scheme on Fridays, and the setting to 25 degrees Celsius of air-conditioning units to keep power consumption at a minimum. As stressed by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the Philippines cannot influence global fuel prices, but it can attack the nagging problem from the demand side, as seen by these proposed simultaneous moves to shave megawatts off the peak demand. House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto echoed Diokno’s call, warning that if the government fails to act, the combined expenses of national and local government units on utilities, fuel, oil, and lubricants could hit a staggering P100 billion a year. “Surging inflation or not, the government’s P91 billion annual utilities and fuel bill should prompt President Marcos Jr. to relaunch a better version of his father’s 1970s ‘enercon campaign,’” Recto said in a statement. He also advised Mr. Marcos to take a page out of his father’s book by combining a conservation campaign with the rapid construction of new power plants. Recto cited as well former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s response to the spike in oil prices during her term, which was to direct government offices to reduce their consumption of fuel, electricity, and other utilities by 10 percent, and to institutionalize a Government Energy Management Program.



Staving off rotating blackouts

“President Marcos Jr. should launch [his own program] now to familiarize [government] offices before summer sets in, when a rise in air-conditioner use, low water levels in hydroelectric dams, and distribution lines trip-offs caused by high heat index combine to trigger power outages,” Recto said. The private sector, keenly aware of the precarious power situation over the next few months, has been doing its share to help government stave off blackouts. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest private electric utility with a franchise area covering Metro Manila, has embarked on a campaign to encourage large power consumers to join its interruptible load program (ILP). The program asks the company’s big load customers to use their own generators instead of drawing power from the national grid, when there is a red alert or supply is not enough to meet demand. “Big companies, malls, hotels, and buildings have their own gen sets that can run or may reduce their operations, so we can avoid brownouts. This [would allow] small businesses and residential users to continue their dayto-day activities without any power interruptions,” Meralco vice president and head for enterprise and national government Ma. Cecilia Domingo earlier said. Fortunately, as of end-February 2023, almost 120 customers with a total committed “de-loading” capacity of around 560 MW are part of the ILP in the Meralco franchise area. The public can do its share by reducing its own power consumption in households through such simple steps as using more efficient lighting fixtures and turning them off when not in use. But even while Filipino consumers do this, the government is enjoined to revisit its energy development plan and implement long term, rather than quick fix, solutions to the longstanding problem of expensive, and sometimes inadequate and unreliable power supply, that has been turning off investors and adding to the burden of consumers. The Marcos Jr. administration can take advantage of new energy technologies that can be harnessed to address the country’s urgent need for affordable, reliable, and clean energy to power not just today’s increasing electricity need, but the expected rise in demand tomorrow.

Liceria & Co.

ORIGINAL EDITORIAL 01 March, 2023

BY CIARA SORNITO

DINAGYANG: DIVING INTO ITS

RICH AND VIBRANT HISTORY Dating back to November 1967, the first Filipino rector and the former parish priest of San Jose

Parish, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, introduced the devotion to Santo Niño after he visited Aklan

for their annual Anti-atihan Festival. Ati-atihan festival consists of processions wherein

showcases the essence of culture and religion through their themed floats, marching bands, and

performers covered with soot and ashes to simulate the ancient Filipino tribes.

On 1968, a replica of the original image of Santo Niño de Cebu was gifted by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez,

as a gift of Cebu to Iloilo City. The venerated devotees; Confradia del Santo Niño de Cebu, Iloilo

chapter, organized a fitting reception, followed by a march, starting at the Iloilo International

Airport to down to the streets of iloilo.

1n 1977, during the Marcos Administration, imposed that every region in the Philippines must

come up with festivals that could boost the tourism and development in the country. Iloilo city

expeditiously identified Dinagyang then ‘Iloilo Ati-atihan’ as its project. Performers were

covered in soot and ashes, dressed in vibrant costumes made of indigenous materials, dancing to

impressive choreography and traditional upbeat music produced by drums, commemorating the

arrival of the Malay settlers and the legendary barter of the Panay Island from the Panay natives,

Atis. However, during this time, the parish couldn’t handle the overbearing that comes along with

organizing the festival.

Dinagyang is one of the most awaited events in the Philippines. Mainly because of its three major

events; Dinagyang street dancing, formerly known as the Ati-ati Street Dancing; Kasadyahan

Street Dancing; and Miss Dinagyang. These events attracts thousands of tourist, not just in the

Philippines but also from many other countries.

Today, the festival flourished and developed into one of the Philippines’ most notable festivities and tourist attractions. Its religious and traditional background and history is brought to life by

lively events and activities established by the city folk to celebrate the occasion and raise the

spirits of the people in the City of Love.



Liceria & Co.

ORIGINAL EDITORIAL 01 March, 2023

BY ADRIAN CARTAGO

INI ANG AKON SANDATA A HILIGAYNON POEM

Ako nagaobserbar sing maayo kag mainamligon sa akon paligid. Napamatian ang mga matam-is kag mapait nga tinaga sa akon gilid. Iban na ga ingles, ang iban naga kinaray’a, kag damo pa. Basta ako sa pag-istorya dapat kita maprangka.

Ako kag ang akon mga abyan malipay nga naga isturyahanay. Kung may problema ang isa sa amon isturyahan gid na danay. Salamat sa aton nga lenggwahe kag dayalekto nga kita makadapon. Sa pagwakal sang aton nga lenggwahe makita gid ang hiugyon.

Ang aton nga lenggwahe pati dayalekto nagatindog nga instrumento, Nga ginabugkos ang isigkatawo kag gina pakusog ang aton nga alibio nga daw sacramento. Ini ang aton nga bahandi nga imposible gid nga makawat ni kung sino man na. Tani ini tagaan sang importansya kay ini sa aton nga mga Pilipino gin pamana.

Kapareho sang dungan nga tani ang pagamit sang aton sarili nga wika, tani ini gamhanan. Ini ang aton nga sandata sa kung ano mn ang ihaboy sa aton. Ang paghambal kag pautwas sang aton nga opinyon kag ideya ang siyang gabulig unlad sang aton

nga nasyon.

Ako kag ikaw tani mabadang sa pagpalangga kag pagpreserbar sang aton nga wika, bisan indi man indi makita or matika. Ako kag ikaw tani magapasalamat sa mga katigulangan nga kita ginbiyayaan. Biyayaan sang isa ka bahandion nga ma pasa aton asta himatayan.

Ini ang sandata sang tanan nga makapadayon kag makapadabong sa aton nga mga imaginasyon nga

makabulig sa aton nga alatubangon. Hiligaynon ukon ano man ang inyo nga ginagamit nga lenggwahe kabay pa ini maging agubay. Makabulig ni tani sa imo kag sa akon nga kita maglanay.





Life

by Okie Howe, 1997,

age 91

raindrops are falling down Those will vanish to somewhere but I am waiting... Until that drizzle come again

Jasmines have died liley blossoms have gone but I am waiting... till next summer to see those expecting

heart feels immence lonely since you have left me but I won't shed tears I am waiting... until you come to my life

Paraluman

Sa unang tingin agad na nahumaling Sa nagniningning mong mga mata Ika'y isang bituin na nagmula sa langit

Hindi ko mawari ang taglay mong tinatangi Sadya namang nakakabighani 'Di maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman

Namumukadkad ang aking ligaya Sa tuwing ika'y papalapit na Hawakan mo ang aking kamay

O paraluman Ika'y akin nang Dadalhin sa di mo inaasahang paraiso

Palagi kitang aawitan ng kundiman

'Di magsasawa, 'Di ka pababayaan Isasayaw kita hanggang sa walang hanggan

Mga gunita na laging naiisip sumisilip

(sumisilip) Ang itinakda ng mahiwaga liwanag na dulot mo Nagbigay sinag sa madilim kong mundo ibang-

iba ako, Kapag ikaw na ang kapiling sumisiping

ang buwan at mga bituin na para bang

sumasang-ayon sa atin ang kalawakan

(kalawakan)

TAGALOG

Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita Roselle Nava

Kapag ako ay nagmahal Isa lamang at wala nang iba pa Iaalay buong buhay Lumigaya ka lang, lahat ay gagawin Tumingin ka man sa iba Magwawalang-kibo na lang itong puso ko Walang sumbat na maririnig Patak ng luha ko ang iniwang saksi Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit 'di pinapansin ang damdamin ko 'Di mo man ako mahal, ito pa rin ako Nagmamahal nang tapat sa 'yo Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit na may mahal ka mang iba Ba't baliw na baliw ako sa 'yo Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis O, bakit nga ba mahal kita... Ano man ang sabihin nila Pagtingin ko sa 'yo'y 'di kailan man magmamaliw Buong buhay paglilingkuran kita 'Di naghahangad ng ano mang kapalit Tumingin ka man sa iba Magwawalang-kibo na lang itong puso ko Walang sumbat na maririnig Patak ng luha ko ang iniwang saksi

Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit 'di pinapansin ang damdamin ko 'Di mo man ako mahal, ito pa rin ako Nagmamahal nang tapat sa 'yo Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit na may mahal ka mang iba Ba't baliw na baliw ako sa 'yo Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis O, bakit nga ba mahal kita... Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit 'di pinapansin ang damdamin ko 'Di mo man ako mahal, ito pa rin ako Nagmamahal nang tapat sa 'yo Bakit nga ba mahal kita Kahit na may mahal ka mang iba Ba't baliw na baliw ako sa 'yo Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis O, bakit nga ba mahal kita... O, bakit nga ba mahal kita...

Ang Dutay nga

Damang And dutay nga damang nag saka sa sa-nga umabut and u-lan na anod siya nag gu-wa and aglaw nag mala and duta and dutay nga damang nag saka sa sa-nga.

HILIGAYNON

Maghimaya Ka, Maria Maghimayà ka, María, magkalipay ka! Napunô ka sing grasya! Ang Ginuo nga Diyós yarà sa imo! Labí ikáw nga bulahan sa ngatanán nga mga babae, kag bulahan man ang Bunga sang imo tiyán nga si Jesús! Santa María, Ilóy sang Diyós: Ig-ampò mo kamí nga makasasalà, niyán kag sa tión sang amon kamatayon. Matuman kuntà.

Di ba duwa duwa ra maning ato-a Nganong masakitan man ko kung magkuyog mong duha Di ba nasabot na ta kung mo-abot na siya tapuson dayong ni natong relasyona Og ako karon nakapangutana Nganong karon pa man ka nga may uyab na tang duha Maikog na nuon ko sa pagbiya na niya kay gi paila-ila na ko sa iyang mama Maong ikaw akong gi-biyaan Nang hinaot nga makalimtan Ang talagsaong kalipay nga kanimo ra matagamtaman Bisag asa ko dagan palayo sa imong kiliran halos kada lugar akong maabtan ikaw ra gihapon akong mahinumdoman

CEBUANO x

Jacquelin Chang Magkatawa ko'ng maghunahuna Nganong naglisod ko'g move on nimo sa una Di ba limtanon man gyud unta ko Ambot og naunsa to di gyud ko kalimot nimo

Apan karon nabag-o na Ballpen man gani mawala Feelings pa kaha...

Diri na lang ko kutob Diri na lang ko taman Dili na ko mogukod Sa taw'ng kusog modagan Kay kung di gyud, di gyud Wa na ta'y pugsanay Ay'na lang Ay'na ko'g atika Pero atik ra ha, ha Atik ra ha, ha Atik ra ha, ha Atik ra...

x

MARY JANE Richard Garcia

SIPUD PAY NAGAM-AMMO TA TUY PUSOK NAGDUYUSEN KENKA GAPPO'T PINTAS MO NGA NAGPAIDUMA DIAK MAKATURTUROG NU DIKA MAKITA KOROS: MARYJANE SADINNO TI AYAN MO OH MARYJANE OH BIAG TOY BIAG KO OH MARYJANE PATPATGEN KA OH MARYJANE MANGNGA-ASI KA SIPUD PAY NAGPUKAW KA MARYJANE NAKELTAY TI AMIN A RAGSAK KO PANAGADAL DIAKON MAIYULO NASURSUROK TI AGBISYO

PARA KENKA DAYTUY A KANTA MARYJANE NAPUTAR GAPPU'T PATEG MO KANYAK IL-ILIWEK TI INKA PANAGSURAT TA UMANAYEN A LIWLIWAK ITI TUNGGAL KAILIW KA MARYJANE PAMRWAYAK AGTUKAR ITI GITARAK DANGGAYAK NGA IKANKANTA TA NAGAN MO MARYJANE... KAS LIWLIWAK... ADLIB: MARYJANE SADINNO TI AYAN MO OH MARYJANE OH BIAG TOY BIAG KO OH MARYJANE PATPATGEN KA OH MARYJANE MANGNGA-ASI KA MARYJANE SADINNO TI AYAN MO OH MARYJANE OH BIAG TOY BIAG KO OH MARYJANE PATPATGEN KA OH MARYJANE MANGNGA-ASI KA MARYJANE SADINNO TI AYAN MO OH MARYJANE OH BIAG TOY BIAG KO OH MARYJANE PATPATGEN KA OH MARYJANE MANGNGA-ASI KA MARYJANE SADINNO TI AYAN MO OH MARYJANE OH BIAG TOY BIAG KO OH MARYJANE PATPATGEN KA OH MARYJANE MANGNGA-ASI KA...

ILOCANO

Manang Biday Manang Biday, ilukatmo man Ta bentana ikalumbabam Ta kitaem toy kinayawan Ay matayakon no dinak kaasian Siasinno nga aglabaslabas

Ditoy hardinko pagay-ayamak Ammon ngarud nga balasangak Sabong ni lirio, dipay nagukrad Denggem ading ta bibinenka

ta inkanto diay sadi daya agalakanto’t bunga’t mangga ken lansones pay, adu nga kita No nababa dimo gaw-aten, no nangato dika sukdalen, no naregreg dika piduten,

ngem labaslabasamto met laeng Daytoy paniok no maregregko ti makapidot ikutannanto ta nagmarka iti naganko

nabordaan pay ti sinampuso Alaem dayta kutsilyo ta abriem toy barukongko tapno maipapasmo ti guram kaniak ken sentimiento

A Million Dreams I close my eyes and I can see Every night I lie in bed The world that's waiting up for me The brightest colors fill my head That I call my own A million dreams are keeping me awake Through the dark, through the door A million dreams, a million dreams Through where no one's been before I think of what the world could be But it feels like home A vision of the one I see

A million dreams is all it's gonna take They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy A million dreams for the world we're gonna make They can say, they can say I've lost my mind

I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy For the world we're gonna make We can live in a world that we design



'Cause every night I lie in bed The brightest colors fill my head A million dreams are keeping me awake I think of what the world could be A vision of the one I see A million dreams is all it's gonna take A million dreams for the world we're gonna make

There's a house we can build Every room inside is filled With things from far away The special things I compile Each one there to make you smile On a rainy day

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy They can say, they can say we've lost our minds I don't care, I don't care if they call us crazy Runaway to a world that we design

Every night I lie in bed The brightest colors fill my head A million dreams are keeping me awakeI think of what the world could be A vision of the one I see A million dreams is all it's gonna take A million dreams for the world we're gonna make

ENGLISH

On My Own On my own Pretending he's beside me All alone I walk with him 'til morning

Without him I feel his arms around me And when I lose my way I close my eyes And he has found me

In the rain the pavement shines like silver All the lights are misty in the river In the darkness the trees are full of starlight And all I see is him and me forever and forever And I know it's only in my mind That I'm talking to myself and not to him And although I know that he is blind Still I say, there's a way for us

I love him But when the night is over He is gone The river's just a river

Without him The world around me changes The trees are bare and everywhere The streets are full of strangers

I love him But every day I'm learning All my life I've only been pretending

Without me His world will go on turning A world that's full of happiness That I have never known

I love him I love him I love him But only on my own

"Be yourself; everyone

else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde

"A room without books is

like a body without a soul"

-Marcus Tullius Cicero

"Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter, and

thos who matter don't mind" -Bernard M. Baruch

"If you want to know what a man's

like, take a good look at how he treats

his inferiors, not his equals."

-J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the

Goblet of Fire

It is Christmas morning, and the warm smell of

cinnamon and hot chocolate is flooding the house. Susie

and her brother, Joe, just finished ripping the paper off

of their last present as their parents look through the

lens of the video camera.

They know they are about to witness pure excitement at

its finest. Susie picks up the box she and Joe just

unwrapped and runs her finger over the mouse head

image on the top. Joe quickly snatches the box from her

and violently opens it. He raises his brow as he realizes

there is only a small piece of paper inside.

He lifts the paper, out of the box and reads aloud. “Pack

your bags, kids, 'cause we’re going to DISNEY WORLD!”

Instantly, pure elation fills the room. The kids look at

their parents in disbelief, but they receive a nod of

approval which is all the reassurance they need. Both

kids jump and down screaming in excitement.

xxiv

Gloria Stuart Old lady actress Gloria Stuart refused to sign an

Asian man’s photographs at a book signing because she

was convinced that he was going to “sell them at a

convention.” As a gift, one of Gloria’s fans mysteriously

gave her a can of air freshener, which she left with me,

after briefly wondering why it was given to her.