57 Peaceful and Non Violent Ways to Resist the GMA Occupation Regime (GMAOR)

1. The GMAOR has snuffed out the light of democracy in our country. Turn off lights where possible when they are around..
2. The force of darkness are defeated by light. Carry mirrors and reflect light on the members of the GMAOR when they are on stage or in public places.
3. The GMOAR is a confederacy of those who are on the dark side of the moral divide. List down and remember all actors and collaborators of the GMAOR in a Record Book of Abuses for the day of reckoning.
4. Join telephone/fax brigades to call government officials serving the interest of the GMAOR and ask that they step down from office.
5. Join the call for the resignation and prosecution of GMA and cohorts.
6. Write to GMAOR officials and family to state what you feel about them..
7. Post photos and picturesof the crimes and victims of the GMAOR in government offices and public places.
8. Do good and be a servant to others, especially the less fortunate in the name of the resistance.
9. Enjoin others to actively but peaceully and non-violently work for the return of the Rule of Law and genuine democracy in our country.
10. Appeal to the patriotism of the military to uphold the Rule of Law by defying unlawful orders and to arrest those who give them.
11. Reach out to the police and other agents of the law to ensure that they will always be on the side of the people and abide by their proper duty.
12. Help fight graft and corruption. The interest of the corrupt and the craven are aligned with the GMAOR.
13 Lend your voice in choosing appointed government officials to protect the integrity of government offices and institution which could be hijacked by the GMAOR and turned against the people.
14 Encourage government workers to gather documents and informartion that can be useful in the eventual prosecution of officials and employees who serve the GMAOR and who may be committing illegal activities themselves.
15 . Appeal to media outlets for a complete news embargo of the GMAOR personalities and their activities.
16 . Boycott media outlets giving publicity for the GMAOR.
17. Appeal to advertisers to withdraw ads from GMAOR friendly media outlets
18. Do not patronize, as far as you know them, businesses of the members of the GMAOR
19. Avoid contact and social interaction with members of the GMAOR and family.
20 Wear symbols of protest until the occupation of our country is ended and the Rule of Law has returned.
21. Keep a miniature Philippine Flag at half mast on your desk or working table as a reminder that the country is under occupation and struggling to be free
22. Fly black and red kites of protest
23. Throw black and red confetti during public functions.
24. Write “57 DEAD” on all publicity and newspaper photos of the GMAOR.
25. Always include the name of the main protagonists in the scandals and crimes the members of the GMAOR are involved in.
26. Sail paper boats on the Pasig with the names of the victims of the GMAOR.
27. Give comfort and support to the victims and families of the GMAOR
28. Demand for government restitution and support for the GMAOR victims and families.
29. Paint the roads that lead to the offices of the GMAOR red and black
30. Write to embassies and ambassadors to make them aware of the abuses and excess of the GMAOR that they deal with and for them to know the pulse of the people
31. Reach out to th supporters of the GMAOR and present your position calmly and quietly
32. Register to exercise your suffrage rights
33. Protect your vote. Join organizations working for clean and honest elections
34. Enjoin and help other people to exercise their suffrag rights as well
35. Be vigilant and report election anomalies to the COMELEC and media and eletoral watchdog groups
36. Help defeat candidates supportive of the GMAOR
37. For people with relatives abroad, discourage them from attending functions for or hosted by the GMAOR.
38. Instead, encourage your relatives abroad to join protests against the GMAOR
39. Bring your indignation to cyberspace. Mark your site with 57 candles.
40. Speak your indignation and grief on blogs, vlogs, youtube etc.
41. Join peaceful and non violent public gatherings against the GMAOR
42. Join prayer rallies and protest vigils
43. Add your voice to the clamor to arrest and prosecute those who have grossly violated the constitution, committed plunder and killed for the GMAOR
44. Protest functions where members of the GMAOR are present
45. Make noise – blow car horns, blow a whistle, bang on pots and pans whenever you see members of the GMAOR in public
46. Red is the color of blood the GMAOR spills to stay in power. Make red the color of protest and let them see red everywhere they go. Sport a red handkerchief or wave a red flag in their presence.47. Cross out in red mark publicity photos of people associated with the GMAOR
48. Recite the names of the victims of GMAOR in public places.
49. Emulate the “tatsulok” of Andres Bonifacio and organize yourselves as a trio of peaceful and non violent protesters. Each member will in turn create a trio of his/her own to carry out a chosen plan of action to support the resistance to the GMAOR
50. Unleash your creative potential for a peaceful and non-violent resistance to the GMAOR
51. Make a poster
52 Do a play
53 Make a joke
54 Paint a picture
55 Compose a song or an anthem for the Resistance
56 Recite a poem
57.Link arms with others and shout - Enough! Enough of the GMAOR!

Efren and Gloria

Efren Penaflorida is an ordinary citizen, son of a tricycle driver and an itinerant vendor.

Through his Kariton Classroom project, he battled the dragon of ignorance releasing hundreds, maybe thousands of children from the mental prison of illiteracy. He did not seek to be elected first to a position of power before he can do good. He just did it from where he was standing, from where he moved. And he made a difference.

For his achievement CNN recognized him as a World Hero.

On the other hand, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had to lie, cheat and even kidnap her way to the Presidency and when her term is almost finished proclaim that she is not ready to step down from public service and files yet her candidacy for another albeit lower elective post.

Is she truly motivated by a desire to serve? Or is she merely a power addict with an insatiable desire for power?

Considering the litany of scandals and crimes imputed to her administration and which she would not squarely face, maybe what she truly is , is that she is a prisoner of power.

If so, she will never give up power. But it is up to the people to transfer her imprisonment from that of power to jail.

The GMA Occupation Regime

The day Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said "I'm sorry" on tv was the day when our country fell under the GMA Occupation Regime. On that day, GMA appropriated the law and made sure that she will not be made to account for accusations that she stole the May 2004 Presidential Election as evidenced by the illegally tapped Hello Garci tapes.

Henceforth, she could only rule by force, by co-optation of the craven co-optable and by wile. And she did.

It is the duty of all just and freedom loving Filipinos to rid themselves of this power usurper and make her to account for what she did.

Ang Babaeng may Malamig na Halik

(isang tulang bunsod ng larawan sa pahayagan ng isang babaeng malamig na hinahalikan ang asawang kampeon matapos makarinig ng mga balita na labis labis na nakasakit sa kanya)

Ang mga mata mo ay walang ningning,
Ang mga ngiti mo ay walang sigla,
Nagbalik ka sa iyong bayan
Na parang malamig na tropeo
Ng isang kampeon
Na ang dinurog
Ay ang puso mo na mas higit
sa tunay niyang kalaban.

Walang maliw ang madla
Sa kalbaryong nilalakad mo
At sa sugat na iyong iniinda
Pagkat lahat ay lasing sa galak
Ng tagumpay na maging ikaw
Ay inaasahang magpakalasing
Sa kabila ng kahihiyan at dagok na
Lumatay sa puso mong naninibugho.

Ngunit sa kabila ng iyong ipinapakitang
pagsasaya
hindi maitatago ng larawan
Ang iyong tulirong diwa at malamig na halik.
Bakas sa iyong mukha,
ang lungkot ng pagkagupo
sa gitna ng maingay na pagdiriwang
ng isang malupit na panalo

Kung may lamat na ang iyong puso
Dahil sa bugbog na inabot nito,
Ano ang gagawin
Kapag namatay ang pag-ibig?

Sabihin mo Noynoy

Dear Noynoy,

Marami ang nagsasabi na ikaw ay mabuting tao. Ang iyong ama ay martir at ang iyong ina ay bayani. Dahil dito, marami ang naniniwala na sakali mang mahalal ka na pangulo, ikaw ay hindi gagawa ng masama.

Ok lang ito. Ang inaalala ko, baka naman kahit wala kang gawing masama, ay wala ka rin namang gawing mabuti.

Kaya sana Noynoy, ngayon pa lang ay sabihin mo na sa amin kung ano ang iyong gagawin. Sabihin mo sa amin na hindi mo lang balak maging poster boy ng People Power. Sabihin mo na hindi ka parang pop corn na mukhang malaki pero walang laman.

Sabihin mo na kaya mong pamunuan ang laban sa mga kawatan na nanambang sa ating demokrasya at sumalaula sa ating saligang batas. Hindi sila baliw na matapos mahuli sa kanilang katampalasan ay matiwasay sila na bibitiw sa kapangyarihang kanilang inagaw. Ngunit huwag kang mag-alala, nasa likod mo kaming mamamayan.

Sabihin mo sa amin kung paano mo ibabangon muli ang paghahari ng batas na pinagtulung-tulungang ilibing ng mga politikong hayok sa kapangyarihan at gahaman sa kayamanan. Sabihin mo sa amin na ang mga politikong ito ang iyong ililibing sa kasaysayan at kung kinakailangan ay ibuburo sa kulungan. At sabihin mo sa amin na sa ilalim ng batas na iyong itatatag muli ang lahat ay tunay na magiging pantay pantay – para sa mayaman, gaya ng sa mahirap, kulungan lamang at hindi ospital ang luklukan ng sinumang gumawa ng krimen.

Sabihin mo sa amin kung paano mo binabalak linisin ang pamahalaan at bakunahan ito laban sa katiwalian. Sabihin mo sa amin kung ano ang aming gagawin upang ikaw ay matulungan. Sabihini mo sa amin na titiyakin mong mabubulok sa kulungan ang mga tulisan sa pamahalaan.

Sabihin mo sa amin kung paano mo bibigyang katarungan ang bayang pinagsamantalahan at pinagnakawan - na ngayon ay tumataghoy at lugmok sa kahirapan. Sabihini mo sa amin na hindi mo isusubo ang taumbayan sa pagbabayad ng imoral na mga utang na hindi sila ang gumawa at nakinabang. Sabihin mo sa amin na sisikapin mong bawiing muli ang mga ninakaw na yaman ng bayan at gagamitin ito sa pagbibigay katarungan sa mga higit na nagdusa at napagsamantalahan.

Sabihin mo na kapag pangulo ka na ay haharapin mo at gagawan mo ng paraan ang legal na pagnanakaw sa kinabakusan ng milyong mamayan sa anomalyang kung tawagin ay kontraktwalisasyon. Kapag ang isang tao ay pumasok sa mall at kumuha ng bagay na hindi niya binayaran, agad siya ay tinatawag na magnanakaw. Ngunit ang mga negosyante kapag hindi ibinigay ang benepisyo na nararapat sa isang manggagawa dahil may paraan na maka-iwas dito, ito ay wala lang. Ninanakaw ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan ngunit ito ay wala lang. Nakakapagtaka ba kung bakit sa ating bayan ang mayaman ay lalong yumayaman at ang mahirap ay lalong naghihirap?

Sabihin mo sa amin na ikaw ay may paninindigan, na marunong kang pumili ng boses na pakikinggan – ang boses ng mga mahihina at walang kapanyarihan, hindi ang boses ng basta lang maiingay o mga nagpapakasasa.

Sabihin mo Noynoy. Sabihin mo sa amin na hindi mo bibiguin ang bayan.

Wala lang

Ngayon ko lang uli nabalikan ang blog na ito. Nagdaan si Ondoy, nagdaan si Pepeng, dumalaw ang kaibigan kong si Foster pero wala akong naisulat.

Kaya eto, kahit walang kapararakan...

PAKATAS

Finally my project is finished and here it is - the PAKATAS.

For something that may look so simple, it still took me over a year to turn this idea into a reality.

The Pakatas is really just a simple coffee filter holding device to make drip coffee on demand. For some people, the pakatas may seem just like a piece of twisted metal, but for me, they are objets d'art. There was sacrifice, pain, frustration in its pursuit but there was also great delight and joy in its achievement that made all the effort and trouble encountered well worth it.

Through the pakatas, I learned many things. Not just about coffee and its paraphernalia but also about the nature and true color of people.

The Pakatas. Bow.

Passing of a Hero

Former President Cory Aquino was the hero and face of the 1986 People Power uprising that toppled the ruthless Marcos dictatorship and who restored constitutional democracy in the country. For these alone, Filipinos owe her eternal gratitude and the love they demonstrate for her while she was still alive and now that she has passed away is well deserved.

But in mourning the passing of a beloved President, we must not lose sight of the never ending task of nationbuilding that calls for the engagement of all of us. And we still have a lot of work to do - the flame of our democracy has been reduced to a flicker, inequality mocks our nationhood and our people still cry for social justice.

President Cory may be gone, but let us take courage and inspiration in what she stood for that we may continue to carry the torch she carried to bring light and hope to our country and people.

President Cory is dead. Long live President Cory.

Letter to a Coffee Queen

To: Ms. X
Philippine Coffee Board


Dear Ms X,

I write to express my extreme disappointment with the “don’t call us, we’ll call you” policy practiced by your staff for the organization that you represent.

This practice shows either misguided haughtiness, laziness or a lack of proper education in business ethics where respect and courtesy are given importance. It is also not worthy of an organization that appropriated the name of the Philippines to project representation of a national interest only to be selectively accessible to those who pass the grade of your social economic discrimination.

While I had respectfully written you a letter over a month ago requesting for a meeting, I received no definite feedback from your staff on whether a meeting is possible or not. Cognizant of your busy schedule on account of your work, I had limited my follow up to once a week until I gave up trying to get an answer.

When I happened to see you at the Kape Isla last 28 July 2009, I thought it would be a good opportunity to follow up on my request but I found it incredible that though I was a mere few feet away from you, your staff could still prevent me from having a few seconds of your precious time and haughtily drive me away with a lofty “don’t call us, we’ll call you” mantra.

I could have gone over the heads of your overprotective staff as you had acknowledged my presence with a brief smile. But I had lost interest in my original purpose and only wanted to tell your staff that what they are doing is ugly and wrong. Will they be doing the same if I were white and looking filthy rich or will they grovel and fall over themselves to bring me to you? If it is the latter, what does this make of you?

I bother to write this letter because I held you in high esteem. We may have different stations in life but in the end we are all in the same boat. We may commit ourselves to great missions in life, but in the end, it is the little details of civilized living like courtesy, respect and equal treatment of others that make our society a better place.

Peace.

Just a thought

It is a long lonely road to follow a dream, so one should not let dimwits and pompous assholes stand in one's way.

An OTOPian Idea for Pateros

OTOP stands for One Town One Product. It is a government program to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.

Pateros, my hometown, would have an ideal OTOP since it has traditionally been known for its duck egg industry, especially the “balut” which is a duck embryo delicacy so loved by many people and reviled by as many others. Unfortunately, the balut industry in Pateros is itself on the wane due to a confluence of several factors.

For one, the river that could sustain duck raising has become very polluted and has almost vanished. For another, the land area of Pateros, by some political administrative decisions have drastically been reduced and urbanization has made it impractical to use precious real estate for raising ducks. Thus only a few old Pateros families cling on to the balut making business.

With a land area of 210 hectares Pateros is the smallest town in Metro Manila. With a population of 62,590 (2008) and very little local resource, it will be very difficult to identify an OTOP product that can be competetively manufactured in the town, create jobs and engage the entire community.

But in every problem, there is an opportunity. Our town may be small, but that does not mean that it can not be great.

I would like to propose to the local government of Pateros and to my kababayans that apart from having our own OTOP, we turn Pateros into the OTOP center of the country. Our barangays can be turned into areas corresponding to the thirteen regions of the Philippines plus that of the NCR, Cordillera and the ARMM. Each barangay can then host the OTOP of the provinces and town of their corresponding regions. Pateros will then be a living, breathing museum and showcase of Philippine products.

The benefits of this idea are many:
- Trade and traffic will increase boosting local income
- Increased traffic will spawn new businesses and create jobs
- The town will be a tourist destination as tourists who can not go to far flung places in the country can just go to Pateros
- Pateros can draw the attention of big business and developers opening opportunities for Pateros to renew and recreate itself as a modern progressive town

This OTOPian idea is admittedly ambitious, But it is not impossible. What is important is for the entire community to buy into the idea and take part in making this idea come true. The alternative is to let Pateros stagnate into insignificance trampled by the economic might of its city neighbors Makati, Pasig and Taguig.

10 Reasons Why Mrs. Dionisia Pacquiao Should be Considered for President

1. She is a good mother. She raised a champion.
2. She truly came from the ranks of the poor.
3. She became rich through honest means
3. She has no record of cheating, lying or stealing.
4. She is deeply religious and her prayers get good results.
5. She is not indebted to politicians or annoying personalities.
6. She is an ideal unifying figure for Pinoys.
7. She has no First Gentleman
8. She is neither a trapo, an activist, reformist, nor a member of Gabriela
9. Her election to the presidency is the better alternative to a bloody revolution
10. She dances a mean tango not cha-cha.

Justice at the stock market at last

At last, after almost a decade, the Supreme Court ruled that the criminal case of the People of the Philippines vs. Dante Tan for the Best World Stock Market scam can now proceed.

This scam nearly brought down the Philippine Stock Market and allowed its perpetrators to steal billions from the economy.

Everyone, but most especially people involved in the stock market should be concerned and working to ensure that this case is brought to its just conclusion.

Until government and the stock market people can prove that they are capable of catching and punishing stock market cheats and manipulators, they should not invite or encourage people to put their money in the stock market. Until this happens, the local stock market will be nothing but a rich man’s instrument to legally take money from the people.

The Sorrow of Our People

The following is a letter of a mother who in a moment of police insanity “in the line of duty” lost her husband and 7 year old daugher during a shootout last December in Paranaque City. In all, sixteen persons lost their lives in that incident including 11 alleged robbers, 1 cop and two other civilians.

Per Jarius Bondoc's backgrounder about that December carnage in his The Philippine Star column last April 03, 2009 entitled “Husband, Daugher Killed: Must She Grieve Alone”:

Initial reports were that they had been hit in the crossfire. Neighbors later recounted that policemen had fired dozens of rounds at Lea Alyana, 7, and her father Alfredo de Vera, 47, as they were exiting their residential subdivision to pick up mother-wife Lilian. The girl was hit first. As the policemen continued shooting, Alfredo lifted his daughter out of the van and ran for cover. The cops approached and fired more shots.

The public raged. The press editorialized. The National Police brass mumbled an apology. Politicians dutifully fumed before the cameras. And then everyone forgot — except Lilian, who to this day seeks justice. Below is her letter, circulating in the Internet, edited to fit this space, appealing so that what happened to her family will not happen to ours:

Two months ago I considered myself one of the happiest people on earth. Why not? I married a man who was the epitome of kindness. Our union was blessed with a daughter who became our main source of joy . . . the center of our lives.

We’re simple folk who led a simple life. We felt happiest even about mundane things — like a sudden trip to Jollibee or a late night raiding the fridge. A perfect family with simple delights, dreams and aspirations ... until that fateful night of Dec. 5, 2008, when my husband and daughter were taken away from me in a very violent way.

That Friday night marked the beginning of my terror, anguish and misery.In keeping with my panata on every first Friday of the month, I went to Quiapo Church to pay homage to the Almighty. My husband and daughter were to pick me up in Pasay City, after which we planned on treating our daughter to Jollibee. While riding a jeep, I tried calling my husband to tell him I was on my way to our meeting place. He didn’t answer. Very unusual, since he seldom missed my calls. In trepidation, I took the next jeep going home and prayed that everything was all right. I promised myself to forgive my husband for not answering my calls and forgetting to pick me up.

I felt relieved when near our place my phone rang. The relief was momentary. The call I got was the bearer of the worst news in my life. My helper said "men in uniform” had shot my husband and daughter to death. The same men who were sworn to protect innocent people from bad guys brutally had slain the two most important persons in my life. They had a duty to preserve lives against harm. Yet they murdered my love ones in the most cruel, savage way.

My husband’s face was unrecognizable because he was shot in the head at close range while kneeling with head bowed. My daughter’s young body was riddled with bullets; one hit her head, blowing her brains out ... all from powerful guns fired by uniformed men at two innocent, defenseless persons.

The men in uniform were allegedly on a mission to take on a gang of robbers. The police shot the van my husband and daughter were riding. Based on witnesses’ narratives, they sprayed bullets into the van with no provocation or shots coming from it. In his last effort to save their lives, my husband grabbed my bloodied daughter and shielded her with his body while running away from the police and taking cover behind a parked jeepney. My husband and daughter were so defenseless. How can you mistake a child for a robber? How can you shoot someone who was already kneeling with head bowed, an indication of helplessness?

My husband and daughter are gone . . . forever. The pain I feel from their loss is too much to bear. My only motivation to go on living is to seek justice for their senseless killing. If the people responsible for their death will be punished, as they deserve, my pain would be alleviated. The misery I live with will lessen. My husband and daughter will be vindicated and I will learn to live my remaining years in peace.

I’m begging everyone who comes across this letter to forward it to all your relatives, friends and acquaintances. Help me bring my cause to the eyes of the people capable of steering the wheel of justice to the right direction. Help me make the loudest cry worthy of attention by those people in charge of rendering justice to all.

Strength comes in numbers; it is where the impossible becomes possible. It is also where the unattainable becomes achievable.

My heartfelt gratitude to everyone who will take a moment from their busy lives to relay this to everyone they know. May God always protect you and your loved ones from harm.

Thinking of Chevening

This time last year was the last day of the British Foreign Commonwealth Office Chevening Fellowship Program on Democracy, Rule of Law and Security I participated in at the Center for Studies in Security and Diplomacy, University of Birmingham, UK.

But after listening to so many experts and meeting many highly placed people, all that I can tell my co-fellows is a quote from the writer Henry James:

"We work in the dark, we do what we can, we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and passion is our task. The rest is the madness of Art."

Chelwood Wing, Chamberlain Hall, Vale Village - our home

for the almost three months of the fellowship program

Our turn

Mr. Chip Tsao

Now that the wrath of the great multitude of Hong Kong based Pinoy domestic helpers, career protesters and pin button nationalists have brought writer Chip Tsao down on his knees and forced him to make a public apology for insulting Filipinos in his magazine column by calling the Philippines a “nation of servants”, maybe it is now our turn to reflect among ourselves- and apologize if needed- on the way we treat people of other races and also our househelps.

I shudder to think of how the people and government of China, India and Korea for example (not to mention the Africans) will react if they could only hear what many of our people say and behave towards their countrymen here in the Philippines. I am also aware that despite the world’s most powerful nation now having a- ahh err – “melanin rich” president, many Filipinos still have a bias against and are even scared of dark colored people.

And while we are on a fighting mood triggered by this inconsiderate assault on our national pride, can we not redirect our fight to advance the rights of domestic helpers here in our own country? For instance, how many futures are ruined when impoverished young women and men are forced to stop schooling and work as domestics? Why is there no legislated wage and benefits for domestic helpers? Is there a Magna Carta of Domestic Helpers Rights?

Mr. Tsao is wrong in calling us a nation of servants. What he may not have known, with the way we treat or allow our house helpers to be treated, the Philippines may well be among the last slave society in the world. But if through his column we can be forced to confront the issue of domestic helpers rights in our country, Filipinos might even thank him one day for his column.

That will be the day. Mr. Tsao started out to write a satire, but ended up with an irony.

Why not an appeal from the Red Crescent?

It is a great relief that the Abu Sayaff did not push through with its threat of beheading one of the three kidnapped Red Cross workers after the deadline for its demands to be met lapsed.

The three Red Cross workers have been in captivity for almost three months now and hopefully they will be freed soon.

While there is no doubt that concerned authorities and negotiators are doing their best to work for the release of the hostages, I wonder why the ICRC has not brought in an influential or prominent member of the Red Crescent to appeal to the kidappers and assist them, the negotiators in their task.

While Pope Benedict XVI has aired an appeal to the Abu Sayaff, perhaps the Abu Sayaff leaders will be more inclined to listen to other international figures who share their faith.

An orgasmic discovery

Coming out in this month’s issue of the Scientific Journal of Human Sexuality is a recent discovery made by Swedish sex scientists that if you brush your teeth long enough, it is possible to achieve orgasm. According to their theory, this is due to the stimulation of the palatine uvula - the conic projection from the posterior edge of the middle of the soft palate



According to the same study, people will reach the same result faster if they gargle thoroughly with warm salt water and play suitable mood music while brushing their teeth.

It's April Fools Day

To anyone reading this blog, Happy April Fools Day!

In praise of Mr. Antonio Calipjo Go

It is summer time. A school year has just finished and a new one is about to begin. But in this ritual of getting an education we may ask what do our young people really learn?

It is possible to go through the motions of going to school without really learning anything- neither good values nor the basic3R skills. And it does not help any if the tools we use for learning turn out to be defective as well.

That is why in my book, Mr. Antonio Calipjo Go, the school supervisor who has made it his mission to expose error riddled and incompetently written textbooks is a hero. Sadly however, he seems to be alone in his crusade while his critics gang up to discredit him and question his motives.

Mr. ACG deserves our full support and appreciation for what he is doing – fighting the idiotication of the Filipinos.

Specimen writing of an idioticated Pinoy?

The following piece from cyberspace is supposed to be funny. But if we Filipinos do not get our act together and by apathy allow substandard books to be used in the education of our young people, then it is not really far fetched to believe that many of us could be writing like this in the future:

We’ ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it’s only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me. He said, “I hope you don’t mine. Can I get your number?” Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn’t give it back? He explained naman na it’s so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect me if i’m wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya, The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we’ll go ouch na rin. Now, we’re so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I’m 33 na and I’m running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. “Will you marriage me?” I’m in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it’s four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, “Well, well, well. Look do we have here.” What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn’t want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don’t want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, “please, mine you own business!” Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it’s not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I’m so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He’s so supportive. Sabi niya, “Look at is this way. She’s our of our lives.”

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we’ll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

Justice so near and yet so far...

As in all murders, the kidnapping and killing of publicist to politicians Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Alex Corbito cry to high heaven for justice no matter how long ago it happened.

Now with the apparent change of heart of suspect former police officer Cesar Mancao and his confession and affidavit implicating his former boss, Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the murder, there is a chance that justice is indeed at hand for Dacer and Corbito.

But in a nation currently governed by a regime on the wrong side history (per US President Obama’s description) and where people are divided between the powerful few who are above the law and the masses who fall below it, there is still that nagging doubt if indeed, justice will truly be served.

In the morality battle of good and evil, there are just two sides. Evil does not fight evil but eventually joins forces to inflict itself against the good, the innocent or the helpless.

It was very puzzling why recently, in connection with the Senate investigation on the World Bank Road Project Corruption Scandal Sen. Lacson who bills himself as Mr. Expose and Mr. Clean suddenly absented himself from a very important session where he had a chance to dig dipper into the case and expose the people behind it. Instead he left this task to his colleagues.

Was this a downpayment for a future or secret alliance to a regime that has the goods on him?

We may never know. For as long as this country is divided between those who are above and under the law, ordinary mortals who are under the powerful will never know.

A mosquito thing

We were having a dinner of grilled corn and sandwiches outside our house last night when we noticed that the pesky mosquitos were not attacking us as usual but instead were congregating over a pile of freshly eaten up corn on the cob. This was the reason why we noticed that the mosquitos were not bothering us with their usual ferocity as in other times.

This got me curious and thinking - if I can find out what is in the pile of that corn cobs, then maybe I can use that knowledge to make a new anti mosquito item.

Importing a peacemaker

What was Mrs. GMA thinking when she had the bright idea of drafting Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help solve the Mindanao Peace Problem just because Mr. Blair happened to stop by the Philippines as part of a world speaking engagement?

That Mrs. GMA has to import foreigners, especially for their “charm and charisma” to help solve the peace problem in the south only horrifyingly shows that she has no idea of what she must do to achieve peace in the south.

Mr. Blair’s and even that of ex UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan’s involvement in Philippine affairs as Malacanang has proposed will not do a thing to move the peace process forward. However, by their association and no matter how little, they might deodorize a government with a questionned legitimacy.

To a regime desperately seeking legitimacy, maybe this will do.

Some favorite maxims

Thinking of a blog entry on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I just thought of sharing some of my favorite maxims some of them collected from my readings, some personally learned through bitter experience:

1. Kung gusto, maraming paraan. Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.
2. We can not arrive at where we want to go by staying where we are.
3. It is not enough to know. More important is to do.
4. Awards and honors are nothing if one can not use it to benefit others.
5. Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
6. To have the trust of others is a form of wealth.
7. There is no shame in failure. The pity is in not trying.
8. Sincerity is not a substitute for correctness.
9. We transform our country by transforming ourselves.
10.The little things that people do tell what they do with big things.
11. No empire was built overnight, but anyone can start to build one any day.
12. All men are created equal but different.
13. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
14. Passion is the key to not living a mediocre life.
15. There are two kinds of failures: those who thought and never did and those who did but never thought.
16. Ang umaayaw, hindi nagwawagi.

The Rape of Daniel Smith

‘Nicole’, the woman who accused American soldier Daniel Smith of raping her and for which crime Smith was found guilty by a Philippine court has recanted. She has also left the country for a new life in the land of her alleged rapist.

In her affidavit, Nicole admitted that her conscience bothered her and questioned if her behavior at the time she met Smith did not indeed contribute greatly to what has become her ordeal.

If Nicole’s decision was based purely on the dictate of her conscience, then what she did was brave and only proper. She should be supported for doing the right thing in admitting a personal lapse in judgement rather than fearing public opinion and causing the needless suffering of another person.

The only people who will be disappointed at this recantation are those with an agenda separate but riding on this rape case.

But these people are not really supporting Nicole or the cause of justice. For their agenda they are raping Daniel Smith.

View of Malacanang II - The Fall

"View of Malacanang - The Fall"

This picture shows a couple ejected unceremoniously from Malacanang by the combined forces of the people, the military and the church. A hole in the ground under the palace shows a stash of hidden wealth hinting at the reason for the couple's fall.

I like this picture because it is a reminder to our leaders of the fate that can await them if they incur the people's ire. Sadly however, People Power has been a much misunderstood and misused idea that people seem to have lost faith in it.

But I myself have not lost faith in this idea. Even if the first two people power did not achieve its promise beyond replacing faces of our political leaders, I am still waiting for the last People Power that will bring the genuine change that our country and people need.

Free Muntadar al-Zaidi

I add my voice to the clamor for the release of Mr. Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist sentenced to three years in prison for throwing his shoes at former US President George W. Bush.

Mr. Zaidi is an admirable patriot of his country and an upright citizen of the world. By his action, he showed all of us what courage and love for truth and justice is all about.

That he is in jail and not the object of his abomination - the man who lied to ruin his country and brought grief and misery to his people - tells us of the enormity of the task yet to be done to achieve a more just and better world.

Ombudsman on the wrong side of history

For failing to act promptly and creditably on scandalous anomalies such as the COMELEC Mega Pacific deal, the World Bank Road Project Collusion Reportl, the Fertilizer Fund Scam, the alleged money extortion by former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez from Mark Jimenez, the Euro General dollar smuggling case and for grave abuse of power in the suspension of local government officials, specifically Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas and Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez became a subject of an impeachment complaint filed last Monday by former Senate President Jovito Salonga and 30 others.

Her retort:

- Salonga is just being used to add “fanfare” to the impeachment complaint. Under his term as head of the PCGG, most of the cases filed by his Office against Marcos et al were dismissed. Salonga must answer for the loss of vital documents pertaining to graft cases against the ousted dictator and company

- Former cabinet member Dinky Soliman should just concentrate on coloring her hair instead of supporting the impeachment against her.

- Party list representative Riza Hontiveros Baraquiel has plans to run for the Senate and is just using the impeachment case to promote herself

- Former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta is just trying to get back at her for the graft charges the Office of the Ombudsman filed against him last week.

With these kind of answers, what more evidence does the public need to be convinced that the Ombudsman has transformed from a defender of the people to the "coddler of the powerful and corrupt"?

Obviously, this woman is on the wrong side of history.

Kabuhayan Versa-Grill

One time while looking for an aptech (appropriate technology) project in the internet, I found a step by step guide for making a garden barbecue grill made from a 55 gallon drum.

The project required a lot of welding work. Fortunately a cousin in law happened to have trained in this particular vocation. Together with my brother in law and a nephew, we pooled resources to execute our first drum grill :

In photo: JRS at work on first grill

Then we tried out how the grill would work on several occassions, cooking different foods…

In Photo: (above) one of the testing sessions, sponsored by Uncle E and Kuya C

(below) foods tried on the grill - pork, chicken, fish, corn

The grill exceeded our expectations and so from just one we decided to make several more….

And a business is born. Maybe...

Potent Anti Depressant

Some people believe that children can help cure depression and I tend to agree with them. There is something in the innocence and laughter of children that can sweep your cares and problems away.

That is why as a depressive, I try to be with children as often as I can. One time when I was again feeling low, I gathered some children of Burmese boat people that washed up on our shore and treated them to an outing at the Manila Oceanarium. See photo below:



I am joking of course! Kids in pics are my nieces and nephews and I love them like crazy.

Liham kay Atty. Leila de Lima

Dear Atty. De Lima,

Sa malalim na kadiliman ng usaping Karapatang Pantao na bumabalot sa ating bansa ngayon, itinuturing ko po na ang pagkakatalaga ninyo bilang Chairperson ng Commission on Human Rights na isang putok ng liwanag na may hatid na pag-asa. Pag-asa na nawa’y sa inyong paninilbihan at pagbabantay, ang karapatang pantao sa ating bayan ay hindi na tuluyang maglalaho, bagkus ito ay mapapagtibay lalo at mapapayabong na muli.

Kung baga, para sa akin kayo po ay si Darna ng Karapatang Pantao.

Kaya po mula sa aking hamak na kalagayan bilang isang karaniwan at di kilalang mamamayan, ako ay nagkalakas ng loob na sumulat sa inyo sa buong paniniwala na ang liham ko ay malugod ninyong tatanggapin, babasahin at ang sinasabi ko ay bukas isip ninyong titimbangin.

Kung hindi man ninyo gawin ito ay ok lang po. E kasi, sino ba naman ho ako?

Wala man nagtatanong sa akin, nais ko lang po na mag comment sa problema ng ating kapulisan at militar ngayon.

Bagamat ang mga kapulisan ay may tungkulin na panatiliin at pangalagaan ang kaayusan sa kapaligiran at ang mga sundalo ay may tungkulin na ipagtanggol ang bansa sa mga kalaban nito, parang may kritikal na pagkukulang sa training at orientation ng ating mga pulis at sundalo na madalas magresulta sa kabaligtaran ng dapat nilang magawa at nauuwi lamang sa kapahamakan lalo na ng mga mamayang dapat nilang pinangangalagaan.

Sa aking palagay, ang kakulangan pong ito ay ang kabiguang ipaunawa sa ating mga pulis at militar ang konsepto ng Paghahari ng Batas (o sa ingles Rule of Law) - na kung paglilingkuran man nila tayo at pag-aalayan ng kanilang buhay, ito ay hindi lamang basta sa pakikipaglaban ng buong tapang sa mga tinag-uriang kaaway ng bayan – maging sila man ay mga kriminal, rebelde, terorista o maging ng mga magnanakaw ng eleksyon – kundi ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanggol at pangangalaga nila ng ating Batas.

Bilang mamamayan sa isang constitutional republic, tayong lahat – walang pwera pwera- ay nasa ilalim ng Paghahari ng Batas . At ang sinumang ayaw pumailalim dito ay maituturing na rin na kaaway ng bayan - maging pulis o sundalo pa man sila na rumaratrat ng mabangis na carnapper, nanggulpi ng astig na drug pusher, o nanortyur ng mga pasaway na rebelde.

Pagkat kung wala tayong Batas na nakabatay sa Katotohanan at Katarungan wala tayong maangkin na Pambansang Dangal (National Honor). Wala tayong matatawag na Wastong Tungkulin (Proper Duty) para sa ating mga kapulisan at Hukbong Sandatahan. Wala rin tayong matatamong tunay na kaayusan at kapayapaan at lalong hindi magiging posible ang tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya na pinakamamahal daw yata natin.

Ito ang hindi yata gaano nauunawaan ng mga pulis at militar natin. Biruin ninyo hanggang ngayon bumebenta pa ang baluktot na argumento na mas concerned pa raw ang publiko o media sa mga human rights ng mga suspect kesa sa killing rights ng mga pulis o militar. Sana po kapag meron po nagsabi ng ganito sa inyo, hambalusin ninyo ng nirolyong dyaryo sa noo sabay sabi ng “Bobo!”

Ang sinuman lumabag ng ating batas para lamang tayo ipagtanggol at pagsilbihan ay tumatawid na sa panig ng labag sa batas at nagiging kaaway na rin ng mga mamamayan. Ang hindi ho maka gets nito ay walang karapatan na maging pulis o militar at lalong walang karapatan paghawakin ng baril.

Siguro kung maipapaunawa ho ninyong maigi sa ating kapulisan ang ideya ng Rule of Law, Proper Duty at National Honor mababawasan na rin ang kahiya-hiyang agricultural practise sa ating bansa na kung tawagin ay planting of evidence. At sana rin ay matigil na ang pagkarinyo brutal sa mga pinaghihinalaang criminal, rebelde o terorista ng ating mga alagad ng batas. Mga short cut ho ito para makuha ng may kapangyarihan ang kanilang gusto, pero sa huli, wala hong nagagawa ito para maging mas maayos ang ating bayan. Nasasala-ula lang tayong lahat. Para kasing nanood lang tayo ng sabong ng dalawang manok na pareho namang lawbreaker.

Kung may idealistang militar po tayo na galit sa katiwalian sa ating pamahalaan, sana po ay maging kasing galit din sila sa mga hindi nagpapasaklaw sa batas, maging ka mistah o kakosa man nila sila.

Hinahangad ko po ang matagumpay na training na gagawin ninyo sa ating kapulisan.

All the best and more power!

Maraming salamat po.

Fidel g.

View of Malacanang I - Building Democracy

Many years ago, I had plenty of time on my hands and I had a stack of magazines with plenty of pictures. A light bulb blinked in my head and I decided to cut out some pictures and compose them as a new image centered on Malacanang Palace because I happen to have postcards of it too. The resulting image pleased me and so I was encouraged to make more images until I had a set of 15 images. I entitled my work as Views of Malacanang: Reflections on the relationship between people and power. Although I am not an artist and never considered myself as one, I was surprised that there were people who were actually willing to pay for my cut out artwork. The first picture:

"Building Democracy" by vfg. Decoupage

Pakatas development

At last I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel with regard to the Pakatas Project. Prof MiS has made a wire prototype that seems to work. We had a meeting this morning where we tested the prototype. The filter paper held well and the contraption is compact and simple enough made from a single length of wire. There is room for embellishment but the necessary critical part of the prototype has been met. We discussed a little how to possibly market it or what group to tap for its mass production. But bottomline, we are happy with what we have got so far. Hope that we can carry it through to the finish line which is now in sight.



In photo - Early pakatas prototype made from bamboo. Created by Prof MeS. While it seems bulky, I am happy to note that there are now some people actually using it. Beside the bamboo pakatas is a wire study (already abandoned) by Prof MiS.

Twenty three years after EDSA

Nakakalungkot. 23 years after EDSA, kailangan ulit mag People Power. Maitutulad ang sitwasyon natin ngayon sa isang shooting ng isang eksena na hindi makuha kuha ng bida ang tamang pag-arte.

Pero kung sa shooting, good acting lang ang kailangan gawin ng artista, sa People Power ang kailangan magawa ng mga tao ay maitatag ang Paghahari ng Batas, mabigyang hustisya ang mga naapi at maparusahan ang mga gahaman. Sa nakaraang People Power kasi ang nangyari ay magpalitan lamang ng mukha ang namumuno, pero wala talaga silang agenda na isulong ang social justice. Ang resulta, patuloy na paghahari ng mga kawatan at pagkawala ng bilib ng mga tao sa People Power.

Pero hindi isang pagkakamali ang People Power. Ang kailangan maunawaan ng mga tao, ang punto ng People Power ay hindi ang pagalis at pagluklok ng mga politiko sa poder pero ang pagkakamit ng social justice at ang pagpapangibabaw ng Rule of Law. Kung ang gloria ng demokrasya ay ang matahamik na pagsasalin ng kapangyarihan, ang glorya ng People Power ay ang pagtatatag ng Rule of Law at pagkakamit ng katarungang panglipunan. At ang taumbayan ang gagawa nyan, hindi mga politiko.

Nakakalungkot. 23 years after EDSA, nag-aantay pa tayo ng huling People Power.


English version (obvious ba?)
Twenty three years after EDSA

Sad. 23 years after EDSA I there is again a need for us to reprise People Power. We can liken this situation to a film shoot where the lead actors could not ever get the acting right and so have to reshoot over and over again.

But if in a film shoot, all that is needed is good acting, in People Power what the people, who are the main actors in this situation, need to do is to establish the Rule of Law, give justice to those who have been wronged and punish the wrong doers. In the past People Power, what people merely achieved then was to change leaders without necessarily achieving justice for the people. The result is the failure to quash kleptocracy and disillusion with People Power.

But People Power is not a mistake. What we need to understand however is that the aim of People Power is not mere regime change but the establishment of the Rule of Law and attainment of social justice.If as former President Cory Aquino said that the glory of democracy is the peaceful transfer of power, the glory of People Power is the triumph of the Rule of Law. And it is the people who have to strive for that, not politicians.

Sad. 23 years after EDSA, Filipinos are still waiting for the last People Power.

Lumang liham sa isang prinsipe ng simbahan

Minsan may napanood ako sa tv na isang proyektong pangmahirap na ginagawa sa Venezuela. Hindi ko na matandaan kung may kinalaman dito ang Katolikong simbahan sa Venezuela pero nagandahan ako sa proyekto. Ito ay isang orkestra na binubuo ng mga kabataang hinugot sa mga dukhang pamilya sa slums ng Caracas yata yon.

Naisip ko maganda rin sana magkaroon ng ganitong proyekto sa Pilipinas nang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga mahihirap na angkinin din ang kayamanang kultural na karapatan nila bilang miyembro ng human race. Kung magtutulong tulong ang mga parokya, madali lamang na makakagawa nito na hindi mararamdaman ang gastos.

Kaya tumawag ako sa Tanggapan ng Archdiocese of Manila at itinanong kung paano makakapagpaabot ng ideya sa Archbishop. Parang hindi na interesado ang kausap ko at sinabi na sumulat na lang daw ako at i-fax o dalhin sa kanila ang sulat.

Makatwiran naman ang ganitong proseso kaya gumawa agad ako ng sulat. At dahil may lakad ako sa malapit sa tanggapan nila, dinala ko na ng personal ang sulat. Pero hindi na ako nakapasok ng loob ng tanggapan. Hanggang sa pintuan lang ako ng Arzobispado at ang sulat ko ay tinanggap na lang ng gwardya. Nag aabang ako ng feedback o courtesy ng isang acknowledgement lamang pero wala na ako narinig sa kanila. Kasi hindi ba tama lamang na pag ikaw ay nakatanggap ng sulat, may obligasyon ka na i-acknowledge ito bilang respeto sa taong sumulat sa iyo? Pero walang ni ha ni ho na akong narinig matapos ko ibigay sa kanila ang aking sulat.



May ilang taon na nakalipas ito. Pero nahalungkat ko ulit ang sulat na ito nang may hanapin akong document sa aking mga old files. Hindi man natanggap ang ideya ko, nais kong ibahagi ang liham na ito para makapagbigay na lang ng isang halimbawa ng pagsulat sa isang prinsipe ng simbahan.


His Emminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros
Manila

Dear Cardinal Rosales,

Through this letter, I humbly submit a proposal for the creation of an Archdiocesan Youth Orchestra whose members shall be drawn from the ranks of the underprivileged. While this proposal may seem ambitious, I believe it is well within the capability of the Archdiocese to pursue this idea.

My idea is not about showcasing potential talents of the poor but opening up opportunities for them. If every parish comprising the Archdiocese of Manila and even the suffragan dioceses will sponsor an indigent youth to train on a specific musical instrument, it will be relatively easy for the Archdiocese to have a complete orchestra without undergoing a heavy financial sacrifice. If a parish is too poor to sponsor one musician, perhaps the parishes in a vicariate can work together to support one musician and an instrument.

Without this orchestra, there will be very little opportunity for the poor, with whose welfare the Church is especially concerned, to partake of the magnificent cultural heritage of their faith. Yet, the benefit of such an orchestra will not just be confined to a few lucky musicians. Entire communities will also benefit as they will be given an alternative to modern popular culture with its insistent messages of consumerism and self-indulgence so hostile to Christian life.

A Youth Orchestra comprised by the poor will be a proud Catholic achievement and contribution to the enrichment of our national culture. More important, it may well represent a life changing opportunity for the poor that will otherwise be not available to them.

Hoping that you find merit in this proposal.

Very sincerely,


V. Fidel G.

Kailan kaya matatapos?

Isang linggo na naman ang nakalipas ng walang nangyari tungkol sa pakatas. Sobra na talaga ang tagal ng pagkakagawa nito at nangangamba ako na matapos ang tinagal tagal na panahon na nag antay ako ay wala ding mangyayari dito. Mahigit limang buwan na rin ako nag antay para matapos man lang sana ang prototype ng pakatas kaya lang wala pa ring nangyayari. Meron ginawa si Prof MeS kaya lang, gawa sa kawayan ito at ayaw na nyang mag iba ng material bukod sa kawayan.

Kaya ko man mag antay ng mag antay, nawawalan din ako ng isang mahalagang bagay – panahon. Kaya umaasa talaga ako na sana ay matapos na nga ito.

Linshak yang pakatas project na yan, hindi ko inaasahan na ilalapit nyan ako sa Diyos. Kasi, sa tagal ng pagkakagawa nito, lahat na yata ng mga santo ay nahingan ko na ng tulong para sa kanilang divine intervention matapos matapos na lang ito.

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Its the Rule of Law stupid

Totoong magulo ang sitwasyon sa politika ng pilipinas ngayon. Kung anu ano ang mga haka haka ng maraming tao kung bakit nagkakaganito.

Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, simple lang naman talaga yan e. Merong mga tao na nagagawang i angat ang sarili nila sa saklaw ng batas at nagagawa ang anumang gusto nila kahit labag ito sa batas. Pwede silang pumatay kung gusto nila, nakakapagnakaw din sila ng walang preno para busugin ang walang kabusugan nilang kasakiman.

Hanggang hindi nagagawa ng taumbayan na maipailalim ang mga taong ito sa batas, wala talagang mangyayari sa atin. Ang Pilipinas ay mananatili lamang na bayan ng kahirapan dahil ito ay bayang pinagnanakawan.

Latest on the Pakatas

Kanina nakipag meeting ako sa Department Head ng Viscom sa UP College of Fine Arts Diliman na si Prof MiR. Pinag usapan namin yong option ko sa pakatas na halos limang buwan na pero parang walang nangyayari at nag lapse na pati ang deadline namin na katapusan ng Enero ng taong ito.

Sa loob lang ng limang buwan na pag aantay ko, ang nakita ko lang ay ang prototype na gawa ni Prof MeS. Yari ito sa kawayan at napaka raw ng itsura nito. Gumagana naman siya in the sense na pwede ka nga gumawa ng drip coffee dito pero mas naging mahalaga ito sa akin sa pagpapakita na hindi yata pwede gamitin ang kawayan sa pakatas.Una may kalakihan sya at hindi madaling itago. Madali syang mamantsahan ng kape. Aesthetically challenged na nga, lalo pang papangit dahil sa mantsa. Baka tubuan din sya ng amag at yong kape ay maglasang kawayan. Ang ambisyon ko pa naman sana sa pakatas ay makilala ito sa magandang praktikal na disenyo na katanggap tanggap sa IKEA at mga tanyag na tindahan ng housewares. Kaya lang ang prototype na ito ay parang isang high school project lang ang dating.
Sa aking paniniwala, mas higit pa dito ang kakayanan at pwedeng asahan sa UP Fine Arts Industrial Design Department.


Yong isa namang inaasahan kong prototype na gawa sa metal ay hindi na lumitaw.

Pagpunta ko sa meeting, balak ko na sana magpull out. Kaya lang nag suggest si Prof MiR na ilalapit nya ito sa isang org ng Industrial Design Students. Pumayag ako dahil gusto ko talaga magawa ito na kasama ang UP. Kahit na parang iba ang assumption at expectation ko nang una.

Kaya lang pag alis ko sa meeting saka ko lang naisip na baka hindi pa rin katanggap tanggap ang kalalabasan kung mga estudyante ang gagawa nito. May komitment akong amount na ibibigay sa department kapag natapos ang pakatas. Kaya lang paano kung pangit at hindi pwedeng ma i market ang mga gagawin nila? e di para lang akong nagpagisa sa sarili kong mantika.

Ang depression

Hindi ako maka isip, hindi ako makakilos, masakit ang dibdib ko. Alam ko depressed ako. Ang hirap ng ganitong katayuan, pero ang hirap ipaliwanag sa ibang mga tao.

May mga bagay na dapat akong gawin tulad halimbawa ng pag-asikaso kung ano ang dapat gawin sa hindi matapos tapos na project na Pakatas pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinakamabuting gawin dito.

Balak ko humingi ng huling meeting department head ng UP CFA na siyang unang kinausap ko tungkol sa ideya ko. Kung hanggang ngayon ay wala pang nagagawang katanggap tanggap na modelo ang mga propesor na kasama sa project na ito, siguro ay wala akong magagawa kundi tapusin na ang usapan namin at humanap na lang ng ibang pwedeng tumapos nito ng maayos. Sayang nga lang dahil gusto ko sana matapos ko ito na kasama ko ang mga taga UP din dahil gusto ko rin sana makinabang ang alma mater ko sakali mang may pakinabang nga na dulot ito.

origami and the art of people power

I happened to buy a book on origami airplanes the other day. At under one hundred bucks for the book it was cheap. But the catch is that it is in Japanese. The saving grace of the book though is that it has nice and clear illustrations so the directions for making the various airplanes are easy to follow.

I have this book project in mind which I would like to name "Origami and the Art of People Power". From this title obviously I will try to tie up origami with people power. I have an idea of how to go about this but although I have been thinking about it for a long time now, I still have not concretized anything yet.