LitWit Challenge: Cramming the Philippines
Look at this stack of books: The Lost Language: Stories by Marianne Villanueva, Flames and Other Stories by Angelo R. Lacuesta, Waking the Dead and other horror stories by Yvette Tan, Cory: An Intimate Portrait, and The Flip Reader. You can win all these books by joining this week’s LitWit Challenge.
The situation: Brad and Angelina are coming to the Philippines with their friends George and Matt. They know very little about our archipelago, other than the fact that it has been ravaged by typhoons (although Mark and Russell have told them all about PacMan). Brangelina and Co. would like to know more about the Philippines before they get here; they’re very busy people but they will have time to read one book on the plane.
The question: What book should they read? Why? Don’t limit yourself to travel guides; you can recommend novels, history or anthropology books, poetry, anything, and it doesn’t have to be the work of a Filipino author.
Post your answers in Comments before midnight on Tuesday, 24 November 2009.
The Weekly LitWit Challenge is brought to you by National Bookstore.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
November 19th, 2009 at 01:08
The Beach by Alex Garland. Brad and Angelina will not only find out how intriguing characters we Filipinos are but also see that there’s still a piece, if not pieces, of heaven amidst the chaos here in the country.
November 19th, 2009 at 03:25
the tesseract by alex garland. or for news and current events, they should just read yes magazine.
November 19th, 2009 at 03:31
Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s autobiographical trilogy. Most importantly, Exeunt.
November 19th, 2009 at 09:01
The easy answer I think would either be Noli Me Tangere or El Filibusterismo. Instead, I would recommend Nick Joaquin’s Culture and History, a collection of his essays. With Joaquin’s trained eye for the zeitgeist and his insight of what it means to be Filipino, his essays continue to be relevant today as it was when he first wrote them. Anyone who reads this book will have a good grasp of who Filipinos are and how they became that way.
November 19th, 2009 at 09:25
not to be a kiss ass…
but any of your twisted books would be a very good choice…
maybe they could have 1 edition each…
:)
November 19th, 2009 at 11:05
Ghosts of Manila by James Hamilton-Paterson for their anthropological exploration. :D
November 19th, 2009 at 11:43
Any one of the Pugad Baboy books! (Since we’re working with a hypothetical scenario let’s extend the fantasy to one where Brad and Angelina can understand Tagalog or could be bothered to hire somebody to explain the jokes to them :) Pol Medina’s strips are quick, incisive, humorous and can spur endless discussions about the joys and tragedies of life on these Islands.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:58
I can’t really win the books, I’m just saling-pusa, but it’s fun to recommend books to Brangelina, George, and Matt, so here goes:
1. Ghosts of Manila (James Hamilton-Paterson): Consider the imagery: Dead bodies–victims of salvaging, traffic and construction accidents–dumped in archeological digs; slums next to lavish cemeteries; aswangs; a drug lord whose base is her family’s mausoleum; fake designer brands…sound familiar? Because we live in this world. :)
2. Cracks in the Parchment Curtain (William Henry Scott): Whenever you get depressed about what’s going on in the Philippines, Scott makes your proud to be Filipino.
3. State of War (Ninotchka Rosca) and Dogeaters (Jessica Hagedorn): Because much of contemporary Filipino life is still informed by what happened during the Marcos/martial law era.
4. Pop Stories for Groovy Kids (Nick Joaquin): A funny, irreverent, and contemporary (even if these were published sometime late 70s-early 80s) series of children’s books retelling local local legends. To my mind, still the best set of children’s books we’ve produced. If I had a kid, I’d get them these–if they’re still in print. Plus, they’re wickedly funny.
5. All the Twisted books. Not kissing ass, but they’re the best chronicle of the zeitgeist we have. ;)
Bonus: De Quiros’ collections of his columns and Pete Lacaba’s Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage–his account of martial law and The First Quarter Storm. The events he recounts happened almost 40 years ago, but given our penchant for mass demonstrations and chaos, this feels really contemporary, which means it’s frightening because nothing has changed!
November 19th, 2009 at 12:00
If they will stay in Manila or Makati, Brangelina should read poet Conchitina Cruz’s book “Dark Hours.”
For history, any F. Sionil Jose books.
For current events, they will get everything from Bulgar or Abante.
November 19th, 2009 at 12:09
the pretenders by f. sionil jose and/or bamboo in the wind by azucena grajo uranza. both books paint a pretty comprehensive picture of our socio-political landscape (before the rise of the filipino chinese)
for more fun and excitement, they could probably watch the ff during their breaks from reading:
1. tasya fantasya
2. salamat sa lotto linggo linggo double pasko
3. nympha
etc
November 19th, 2009 at 12:54
A book written by Kris Aquino. Because the craziness of this country will only make sense through the eyes of Kris Aquino.
November 19th, 2009 at 13:30
the answer i think is right in front of us….CORY:An Intimate Portrait beautifully written by Margie Penson-Juico…..A nation character is always judged by its leader, and there is no better criteria to set the stanndards with other than the former president Corazon Aquino.
November 19th, 2009 at 13:45
War Makes Me Sad, a children’s book from Mary Ann Ordinario-Floresta.
November 19th, 2009 at 14:35
Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn
November 19th, 2009 at 15:05
Jessica, can I change my post to:
“Dream Jungle by Jessica Hagedorn”?
I’ve read both and I think Dream Jungle shows both the pleasant and unpleasant side of the Philippines. Unlike in Dogeaters, which portrayed mostly the ugliness of this country. Thanks!
November 19th, 2009 at 15:30
Rizal without the overcoat by Ambeth Ocampo. The power couple should know that we have Pepe before Charice and Ralp Salazar. The former’s ideals are admirable, the latter adoptable.
November 19th, 2009 at 15:33
Salamanca by Dean Alfar. Fantasy, reality, lust, ludicrity, and many other things interweaving would appeal to Holywood visitors. In due time, they will find out that everything is not confined to the books.
November 19th, 2009 at 16:20
Slum as a way of life: A study of coping behavior in an urban environment by the anthropologist F. Landa Jocano. As soon as Brangelina and Co. will arrive in the Philippines, one of the things that they will notice, aside of course from the hanging garbage (read: election posters), is the plethora of slum. To be sure, Brangelina are no stranger to this. Still, they should read it just so they will have an idea how come Filipinos still breathe, notwithstanding the putrid air around them.
And just in case Brangelina will happen to find themselves in a slum (they always do anyway), they know how to cope up.
November 19th, 2009 at 16:36
I would recommend “We Filipinos: Our Moral Malaise, Our Moral Heritage” by F. Sionil Jose. First of all, I love the book because it’s a very accurate explanation of how we are and why we are what we are. Second, it’s a very thin book; surprisingly thin for its breadth. I gave a copy to a friend from Portugal who works for the UN. She read it on the plane out of Manila. She e-mailed me back saying she loved the book and could not wait to go back to get to know more about Filipinos.
November 19th, 2009 at 16:37
I recommend the history of the Filipino People by Mr. Teodoro Agoncillo. It presents our history with good narration, some almost like scenes from movie. Its easy to read and I enjoyed it way back in college.
Brangelina will have a good point of view of what is to be a Filipino and will have a good grasp of our cultural, historical, and intellectual legacy. They will then have appreciate more of our land.
November 19th, 2009 at 18:18
“Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas” by Bob Ong. The most amusing reference to the Philippine society.
November 19th, 2009 at 18:24
Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn and Philippine Food and Life by Gilda Cordero Fernando :D
November 19th, 2009 at 18:35
^ Sorry, the contest calls for 1 book— It’s Philippine food and life is my answer because really, one of the most interesting thing about us Filipinos is our love of food :D
November 19th, 2009 at 19:40
A compilation of Carlo J. Caparas comic novels, if ever there is one. That’ll give them a good view of the cellar. Maybe they’ll catch some vernacular while browsing through these masterpieces of our national artist.
November 19th, 2009 at 20:27
They should read Umbrella Country by Bino Realuyo. It explains why in the Philippines, the umbrella is your best friend. You can almost smell the slums from this book.
November 19th, 2009 at 20:57
Soledad’s Sister by Jose Dalisay
So Brad, Angelina, Matt and George would understand the Filipinos’ need to do whatever it takes to help their families and themselves. It is this tenacity and determination (and desperation) that fuel their exodus to lands unknown. With high hopes, they might return moneyed and able to help their poor families. But often, they return scarred for life – or worse, in a box.
I hope that by reading this book – they would look favorably at Filipinos. Filipinos are much more that just your nanny, au pair, maid, driver, mechanic, etc. Filipinos are also mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.
November 19th, 2009 at 21:37
For a taste of raw Philippine culture (up close and personal), Brangelina should read “True Philippine Ghost Stories.” They say to know a country is to know its ghosts. Or something like that. Literally and figuratively.
November 19th, 2009 at 21:38
I would have recommended any work by F. Sionil Jose but a lot of people here have already done so. I’m not sure if we can name books written in Tagalog but still, I suggest they read “Mga Agos sa Disyerto”. It is a collection of Short Stories written by 5 different writers during the 1960s (Rogelio Sicat, Efren Abueg, Dominador Mirasol, Rogelio Ordoñez, Edgardo M. Reyes). The book has covered different aspects of the Filipino life like family, politics, social norms, religion and even sexual awakening.
November 19th, 2009 at 22:52
I’d recommend The Tesseract by Alex Garland. It shows Manila through the eyes of a Westerner and Garland’s account of the miserable lives of the street urchins might just lead Angelina to adopt all of them. Besides, reading a book about a place that one has never been to is a bit like a tesseract: other people’s stories allow us to unravel some of the mysteries behind the place, but we never really get to see the whole picture.
November 19th, 2009 at 23:22
This journal entry of David Byrne ;
http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2005/12/philippines_mar.html
November 20th, 2009 at 00:39
The Twilight saga or any other boring book they can get their hands on. They don’t need a background on Filipino culture, the moment their plane lands, everyone would be telling them everything.
November 20th, 2009 at 06:08
I would recommend Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan, because it’s the only Filipino novel that I’ve read (I know, bad bad me). And it also features a serial killer, which is so not Pinoy, hehehe. I would also recommend the horror komiks that I read when I was a kid, I loved the illustrations and the wacky stories!
November 20th, 2009 at 09:38
Any Filipino cookbook with good pictures. So they salivate while on the plane.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:12
they these celebs will go down Bacolod and Negros way…
i’d recomment Vince Groyon’s Sky Over Dimas… it’s rich, redolent with the heady air of sugar, the plot a satire of the real lifestyle in Bacolod, the story so thick and embedded into the hacienda earth that they will relish every sentence while relaxing in a hammock overlooking the turquoise waters of Sipalay or Lakawon….
November 20th, 2009 at 12:01
it has to be great philippine jungle energy cafe by krip yuson.
written at the temporal crossroads of our country, it is janus-like in looking back and looking forward at the same time. nakakapanindig-balahibo how krip identifies the universalities that define who we were (our history) and who we are now. i read this exciting and sexy novel more than two decades after it was first published and man – totoo pa rin ang nakasulat!
reading great philippine jungle energy cafe affirmed to me that filipinos live with a good dose of fantasy in their daily existence. if brangelina wants to know why we’re so poor and yet so resilient and happy, this palanca-winning nobela is living proof na meron tayong dugong agimat.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:50
Tikim by Doreen Fernandez because we are what we eat.
November 20th, 2009 at 13:31
Miliminas 0069 :)
November 20th, 2009 at 14:16
1. Bob Ong’s “Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?” so they will find more questions than answers pertaining to Pinoy culture. Plus, the book provides insights on where is the Ganges River in the Philippines, and they will probably get insights and learn from fellow Hollywoodian, Claire Danes.
They may need an interpreter to fully enjoy Bob Ong’s compilation, though.
2. Han Ong’s (not related to Bob Ong) The Disinherited, so that (even if they may be aware of it or not) they’d be more familiar to a country where the demarcation between the rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots, has never been more finely drawn.
3. The English-Filipino/Tagalog dictionary, so that unlike Katy Perry, they won’t have to ask the audience for the Filipino translation of the male genitalia.
November 20th, 2009 at 14:32
Not a book per se, but the screenplay, or an adapted version if there was one, of the movie Tribu. or Pisay.
November 20th, 2009 at 15:21
Alfred Yuson’s “Great Philippine Jungle Energy Cafe” – it captures the craziness, beauty and surrealism of living in the Philippines, what with its mix of historical characters in fictional events and stream of consciousness style of writing.
November 20th, 2009 at 15:43
Is it just me or did you delete my earlier post? Anyway, lemme try again:
Dean Alfar’s Salamanca, an excellent speculative fiction. The merging of fantasy, reality, lust, ludicrity, and many other things should appeal to Holywood visitors. In due time, they’ll discover that we are a fine speculative mix-up ourselves.
November 20th, 2009 at 18:08
Fruitcake by the Eraserheads. The book may seem like a child’s storybook but a close inspection would reveal curious Flipino traditions in celebration of Christmas and the elections (did I say tradition?!) which are just arond the corner. Plus, they get to peek into the lives of the fab four immortalized in the story book.
November 20th, 2009 at 18:22
I’d recommend Philippine Speculative Fiction Volume 3, because of Mia Tijam’s the Ascension of Lady Boy and Pedro Diego’s Homecoming. The stories reflect the idyll and the quaintness of everyday Filipino life (I guess they won’t be trawling in huge cities when they come here. If they still want to know how Pinoy urban life is, they could read the stories (still in PSFV3) Yvette Tan’s Sidhi and Charles Tan’s Urban Legends.
But the entire book is basically a summary of Filipino culture, past present and future. Plus, it’s the literature of the fantastic so it’s a wonderful read.
November 20th, 2009 at 21:05
Jolography by paolo manalo. its a collection of poems, just in case their attention span dont last that long.
November 20th, 2009 at 23:02
dhil kumpare at kumare ko sila eh yung Noli me tangere ni bespren Jose Rizal.
November 20th, 2009 at 23:05
There this little- known short story of Nick Joaquin called A Pilgrim Yankee’s Progress that I swore I’d feed to any foreign person I’d be close to in my lifetime. The short story is so potent and perfect in its painting of what Americans think of us (to hospitable to be true, therefore crooks), and what we think of them (uneasiness- do we have enough spam sa kusina to feed him?). The Pitts read that and they’re all set.
November 20th, 2009 at 23:45
i think it would be a great idea if they will read and digest the contents of
Sa Labas ng Parlor by Honorio Bartolome. of course that should be all written in English or they should have an interpreter from Hortaleza house of beauty…
November 21st, 2009 at 02:42
Not an entry, I just want to let you know I already have my Junot Diaz book. It was easy, breezy, beautiful (the claiming part, that is). So I went straight to the Customer Service counter (National, Rockwell), and I was like, “Miss, nanalo ako dun sa Blog ni Jessica Zafra,” and they were like, “Ah okay,” and they opened this cabinet with two copies of the Junot Diaz books.
I gave them my name, they gave me a book with my name on it, asked me to sign on this piece of paper taped to that book, and that was it. I’ve never won anything on a blog before, so I just wanted to make a report.
Cheers!
November 21st, 2009 at 05:37
Sa Aking Mga Kabata and Mi Ultimo Adios by Jose Rizal. nothing beats the classics.
November 21st, 2009 at 05:42
“Shining a Light on the Philippines (Translation: Liwanag sa dulo ng tumbong)” by Kleng-Kleng BatongStainless. it’s written in the style of the Tao Te Ching which Brangelina might be comfortable with. 81 snippets of Philippine life situations, one snippet on each left-hand page, a few words of wisdom underneath, and an empty #8 envelope glued on each facing right-hand page. i think it’s easy reading, promisingly spiritual, and yet very practical—priceless!
November 21st, 2009 at 05:53
Much of how this country is today is due to the fact that we had to fight for what little freedom we enjoy today. Renato Constantino says that ours is a history of struggle. The following books would provide some background:
1. Noli and Fili by Rizal which gives a glimpse of the Spanish occupation, especially abusive monastic rule. I would give them the translations by Soledad Lacson-Locsin which is said to be the best.
2. When The Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza-Holthe, a story about the Japanese occupation and American intervention in the Philippines with a touch of magic, similar to Gabriel Garcia-Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. This book poignantly reminds one of the line in Bayan Ko: “Sa At sa kanyang yumi at ganda, dayuhan ay nahalina; bayan ko, binihag ka, nasadlak sa dusa.”
3. Eating Fire and Drinking Water by Arlene Chai, a dramatic satire of Martial Law written by an Australia-based Filipino, which would probably enlighten them as to why Filipinos cherish the post-martial law freedom, however limited it may be.
Also, it would be nice to see the Philippines from a young perspective and so the Youngblood series would also be a good read for the bakasyonistas.
November 21st, 2009 at 09:45
Empire of Memory by Eric Gamalinda. a contortion of philippine history. accuracy doesn’t matter because what we and world really remember is the fiction we create around these islands.
November 21st, 2009 at 17:47
The Myths – Compiled and Edited by Damiana L. Eugenio.
November 21st, 2009 at 18:53
Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang
November 21st, 2009 at 20:23
My Friends in the Barrios by Juan Flavier. It’s a candid account of the Philippine rural life. it’s a bunch of anecdotes so it would be convenient to read on a trip. who knows, maybe they’d head for the barrios as well and Brangelina will end up adopting their (is it 7th?) child.
November 22nd, 2009 at 15:31
Volume 10 of the “Kasaysayan: A History of the Filipino People” encyclopedia issued by Reader’s Digest back in 1998 during the Philippine Centennial celebration. That volume features the timeline of Philippine recorded history and geographical history dating back thousands of years up to 1998. Of course a lot has happened since 1998, but Brangelina can just google them or check YouTube for news clips.
November 22nd, 2009 at 23:30
rosario cruz lucero’s “feast and famine,†because some of the stories in this collection can pass for novellas! they incorporate cultural and historical references, and are written with relentless grace.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:07
F.H. Batacan’s Smaller and Smaller Circles. Nothing but a good detective book by a local talent. I’m sure they’ll love it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:15
A Different Love: Being a Gay Man in the Philippines
by Margarita Go Singco-Holmes, Ph.D.
~~Hopefully they could kill bigotry when they get here…
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:07
I suggest they read a book on the rules on how to adopt a Filipino child, so they will not have any problems taking home one.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:10
I would recommend “Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture” by Doreen Fernandez. More than just being a collection of food reviews, Tikim gives a good glimpse into the Filipinos’ way of life: our quirks, our habits, our beliefs, and even our notions on gender, family, love and everything else in between.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:11
Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon.
And they’ll probably make a movie version of it starring themselves.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:14
oh, and this … http://www.psbi.org/site/DocServer/Philippines_Adoption_Process.pdf?docID=468
November 23rd, 2009 at 15:46
Bob Ong Books – I don’t know kung nandun pa rin yung Power pag trinanslate na sa English ang mga salita ni Bob Ong. I like them to read Macarthur because it is very down-to-the-estero Filipino and Brad Pitt might produce a movie version of the Book.
Twisted 1-8 – No major translation needed. It will give them enough information about the Pinoy Pop Culture of 20 years or so.
The Swank Style Blog – they’ll like the artistic sensibilities of the Pinoys through this one.
Mondomanila and Responde – they will feel the gritty atmosphere of the Philippines at the comfort of their Boracay hotel room.
Tanong: di ba mas madali kung ipapanood na lang sa kanila ang mga pelikulang Filipino? Subtitles lang ang babasahin nila plus they’ll get the images of Manila with the movies. I’ll actually recommend Big Time, Maxi Oliveros and Serbis.
November 23rd, 2009 at 19:07
i would personally recommend “Sa Labas ng Parlor”by Honorio Bartolome…
of course it should be written in full english except the gay linggos otherwise they should have an interpreter beside them from Hortaleza House of Beauty…
November 23rd, 2009 at 20:17
1)
Not to suck-up to you Jessica, but I have to say Twisted 8. Among other potentially useful essays in the book for Brangelina, there’s this one a la blog entry (I think title is Alternate/Alternative Universe) that says something about the rich here “getting away with everything, because they own pretty much everything.†In 1000 words (more or less), it even touched our feudal and colonial past, Marcos and Aquino cronies, the vicious cycle of poverty in the country, the fenced subdivision of Forbes where when you enter, you’ll seem to be on an entirely different country altogether, etc,… And then still managed to end with humor. Brangelina would be enticed by the book (of course with the trademark Zafra irony) to stay and live in the country, because the rich will always have it best here… and the rest (the poor), however dire the circumstances. always find something to laugh at
2)
If someone can translate Filipino to English fast, I would recommend any thing by Norman Wilwayco. Upfront, honest, funny, even his utility of language captures where the Filipino writing style and the Filipino youth are heading. Sample this one short story . This and the other stories in the collection called Responde would also let the couple know that amidst the squalor and struggle, we’re the bunch that always look at the bright side of life (with a whistle!). Smile our legendary Pinoy welcoming smile to every visitor every time.
November 24th, 2009 at 07:26
The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings. I think Pinoys are a lot like hobbits. Hobbits don’t wear shoes, our men don’t like wearing shirts. Hobbits like to drink and smoke. Hobbits like to give away gifts on their birthdays, we’re expected to treat everyone else on our birthdays. And honestly? Not a lot of Pinoys will choose adventure over comfort. But the worst of us are orcs.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:53
I think that Philippine Lit. is too often marred by a tendency to be too maniacal, too over-the-top. Most of the time we are treated to a lurid parade of overblown characters and situations. When in reality, no one really gives a damn one way or another what Imelda Marcos is on about, or about our “lost” Spanish heritage.
A welcome relief, then, is James Hamilton-Paterson’s “Playing With Water: Passion and Solitude on a Philippine Island”. The author writes about his times spent spearfishing for his own food on the small island of Tiwarik. Along the way, he offers personal reflections on life in rural Philippines, and offers glimpses into their inner lives, as well as his own. I can’t explain it, but it is intensely moving, in a silent way.
Also not to be missed (if Brangelina have the time) is “Eye Of The Fish” by Luis Francia.
November 24th, 2009 at 23:56
I have two suggestions. I am originally going by the first. I am unsure of its admissibility; I made it up.
1. I was inspired by my notes in Grade 1 Civics and Culture [Remember “Sibika at Kulturaâ€? (= ]. I have this dream travel guide/country primer/coffeetable book (and I had it copyrighted). Basically, things are going to take off from children’s drawings of what they love or what they are proud of about this blessing of our country. My notes have awkward scrawls of the Chocolate Hills, the Sulu Sea, etc. They follow notes about those “likas-yaman†(The days…). In the book, though, instead of a bulleted Powerpoint slide, if you know what I mean, accompanying are their equally-awkwardly scribbled memories, impressions, and clips of sights and sounds they took away with them. There will be more than just the obvious tourist attractions (calling “Likas-yamanâ€), to include personalities, living and historical and most importantly, experiences unique to our country, like that cool halu-halo or a ride in the colorful jeepney. Now, the effervescence of the thought bubbles! Like, say how a trip to a white Christmas in the US midsummer is just a skip and a hop away – a halu-halo from a neighbor’s stand just across the street – as told by a clever lola, of course, or how a bumpy jeepney ride is a rollercoaster “courtesy†of corruption, as he /she deduced from adult conversations overheard or eavesdropped on. Or a “bugtongâ€. Then, for “Philippine primer propernessâ€, all of the above will be supplemented by the guide prose, in fine print though, to avoid focus shift. Brangelina and gang have reference in case their busy jetsetter minds have a bit more time to spare. I believe kids capture the register of travel well with the unaffected expression of their thoughts and how they do not omit the little details.
2. The collection of Philippine riddles published by the UP Press. Perfect for the profiles in the brief. They are “haikus†of the Filipino culture, psyche, ethos, values, society, and more importantly, wit encoded. Crack it, and a la that egg candy Kinder Surprise, you get yourself a toy—the answer! Now, what will they think of this timid reserved people once they get to the riddles that involves the awkward parts of the human anatomy lecture, even in nursing school?
P.S. I was completely oblivious to Brangelina’s Baby United Colors of Benetton Project when I came up with the first.