Philippine oriole

First time for me to see a Philippine oriole but sad to see it in a cage.

At first I thought the yellow color of the wings was just sprayed on the bird but the vendor told me it was the real thing and that this bird can be found and caught in Quezon Province. I asked him if it was legal to be selling those birds and he said yes.

It may be legal but I wonder what joy is there for some people to own an imprisoned bird that should be flying free.

Until I can give other options for the vendor however, I will rather not say anything about his livelihood.

Fickle Weather

Waking up to a picture perfect morning with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky, it is easy to forget that there is a storm brewing somewhere in the country.

But yes there is as this hard driving rain made me remember just a few hours later..

Healing Origami

People may know that origami is the art of Japanese paper folding. What is not commonly known though is that origami has some health benefits that can be helpful to some people.

As an origami practioner, I can vouch that origami can be very relaxing and that it helps me fight stress. For that reason, I suspect that it can even help lower blood pressure even without medicine. This I want to find out in a more scientific way though.

It is said that origami can also help people who are suffering from depression. But apart from that, I believe that origami can help improve mental health in general as it exercises the mind and engages both our left and right brain.

Election is not Vindication

In voting for former President Joseph E. Estrada to be their mayor, the people of Manila have spoken. We who are not from that city can only respect and in goodwill support their decision.

For his part however, Mayor elect Estrada should not use his election victory to claim vindication from the crime of plunder when he was President for which he was convicted and subsequently pardoned. His successor, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is now on trial for plunder also won re-election as Pampanga representative. Should we therefore believe her if she claims that her victory is proof that she is innocent?

An election victory is only a mandate to serve a constituency as best as one can. It is not a franchise on truth nor a license to rewrite history. Truth is established by proofs and evidence and not by vehement protestations. If Mr. Estrada truly wants to clear his name and find convincing vindication, he should clamor and insist on a Truth Commission to render judgement on his presidency. This will give him the chance to substantiate his claim of innocence and at the same time expose all his detractors and accusers who conspired against him.

We are sadly a country vertically divided between the powerful and rich who are few and the many who are not. By clamoring for a Truth Commission, Mr. Estrada can at least move us closer to at least be a people united in truth.

The Long Road to Malacanang

From my visual essay, 15 Views of Malacanang: Reflections on the Relationship between People and Power

Just a thought in this election period:

Vote buying is a perennial problem and feature of Philippine elections. Obviously, politicians who invest in vote buying have an eye on "recouping" their investment once they win. Yet many people, despite being aware of this fact continue to sell their votes. What gives?

For me, I have come to believe that selling of votes is not an act of irresponsibility or ignorance on the part of the voters..Voting is such an organic exercise that  people will not really do something that will very clearly hurt them. Although vote buying and selling have ultimately harmful consequences, people sell their votes because that is their only chance to squeeze something out of their politicians who they know are sure to forget them after the election. In this sense, vote selling is the poor people's political statement.

Those who want to see the end of vote selling must show the people how things can be different instead of just telling them not to sell their votes.

Dealing with the indiscriminate firing of guns

Despite the tragic deaths of innocent people among whom was Nicole Ella, arising from the indiscriminate firing of guns in the air, I doubt if those who do so are deterred by the potentially fatal result of their action. These people who know the risks and dangers of firing their guns in the air yet who do so anyway are criminally minded and must be sick in the head.

I would therefore like to suggest that those who will be caught firing their guns be made to undergo an obligatory extended mental health examination at the National Mental Hospital and if possible, from the precinct where they will be first brought, they should be brought to the Mental Hospital in straight jackets. Being branded as mental cases may be more of a deterrent than simple scare tactics for this will give them a stigma that they can not simply sleep away. This treatment could also be given to those who light illegal and banned fireworks with the DOH announcing this kind of treatment.

I also propose that Innocents Day, which is celebrated every 28th December, be made as a day of remembering (especially in media) all those who died senselessly from stray bullets or illegal fireworks. Apropos, I am interested to know what percent of those reported by the DOH as being injured by illegal fireworks had received police action in the sense that the users were investigated and vendors apprehended and prosecuted. This kind of count may matter more than just a simple injury count. The DILG should also make a count of Barangays who have decided to do away with fireworks in favor of a safer way to greet New Year and encourage more barangays to follow suit.

Manigong 2013!!!

Para sa lahat, isang malusog, mapayapa at masaganang bagong taon!

Kailangan maka-isip ng mas mapayapa at makabuluhang paraan ng pagsalubong sa bagong taon. Makabitaw kaya ang Pinoy sa mapanirang ugali ng pagpapaputok tuwing bagong taon?

Siguro naman ay oo ang sagot dito.

Democracy and Dynasties

Building democracy is a never ending people's enterprise. As a constant work in progress, democracy is imperfect. It has flaws and vulnerabilities.

True champions of democracy work to make it better and make it as close to perfect as possible. Aspiring despots and political opportunists however take advantage of democracy's weaknesses to worm their way to or deepen their hold on power. Thus by looking at the way politicians deal with the shortcomings of democracy, we can see their true color.

One area where democracy has to be strengthened is in making it immune to political dynasties. Dynasties defeat the spirit of democracy and eventually threatens its very life that our constitution has a provision banning them. Yet despite this ban, many politicians  are shamelessly set on dynasty building. These people have an undemocratic agenda and can not be trusted.

Tagaytay Flora

I was walking somewhere along the main highway in Tagaytay City when I noticed this plant with an interesting fruit of bright red berries. I don't think they are edible but they certainly look cheery and pretty.

 This is the reason I like to get away from the madding crowd once in a while. It gives me time to stop and "observe" the flowers so to speak. I would have loved to smell them but unfortunately, they have no scent

 Other interesting plants I noticed:

At first I thought that this plant has white flowers but when I looked closer, I realized that they were just leaves.

These other flowers just caught my attention for their unusual shape and attention getting colors.

Fidelisms

It is not in being selfish, greedy and miserly but in being honest, fair, hard working and goal oriented that one becomes wealthy .

To be trusted and respected by other people is a form of wealth.

In the end, the only wealth that matters is good health and ...contentment.