Maangas na paalala ni PNoy sa mga mahilig magpapaputok sa Bagong Taon

(larawan kinuha sa internet)

Mga kababayan, aking mga Boss, makinig kayo sa sasabihin sa inyo ng inyong Pangulo.

Nalalapit na naman po ang pagtatapos ng isang taon at tayo ngayon ay naghahanda sa pagsalubong sa isa na namang darating na puno ng pag-asa.

Muli, ako po ay nananawagan na sana ay salubungin ninyo ang darating na taon na ito sa mas ligtas at mas responsableng paraaan.

Sa mga alipin ng tradisyon at superstisyon na naniniwala na ang pagpapaputok ang nagtataboy sa kamalasan, paalala lang po na huwag kayong gumamit ng mga ipinagbabawal na paputok at baka kayo ang malasin. Kung maari nga ay humanap na lang kayo ng ibang paraan upang mag-ingay at magsaya.

Nariyan naman po ang torotot, tambol, kalembang at kung anu-ano pang paraan ng pag-iingay kasama na ang karumal dumal na karaoke. Huwag n’yo lang po kalimutan na maligo dahil hindi naman po maganda kung kayo mismo ang may putok sa Bagong Taon.

Binabalaan ko rin po ang sinumang nagbabalak salubungin ang bagong taon sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaputok ng baril. Mga pinaputukan kayo ng tilapya!@@#$#!! Kapag ginawa ninyo ito, makaaasa kayo na tutugisin ko kayo sa buo ng aking makakaya. Hindi ako nagbibiro. Kung presidente nga naipakulong ko, e kayo pang mga kriminal na duwag at adik sa kayabangan.

Sabi po ng aking mga kalaban sa politika, ako daw ay may pagkadiktador. Hindi po totoo yan dahil kung ako lang sana ang masusunod, ang mga mahuhuling gumagamit ng bawal na paputok o baril ay hindi ko lang basta basta ipakukulong. Sa halip ay ipadadala ko sila sa Cebu Provincial Jail para doon sila ay piliting magsayaw ng walang tigil sa tugtog ng 'Fireworks' ni Katy Perry . Tingnan lang natin kung hindi nila isumpa kahit ang magsindi lamang ng posporo pag naranasan nila ito.

Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit hindi maintindihan ng marami sa ating mga mamamayan na ang nakagawiang pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon sa pamamagitan ng paputok ay hindi na angkop sa panahon ngayon at dapat nang baguhin.

Mahirap bang unawain na ang perwisyo ng paputok ay idinadamay ang lahat, maging ang hindi gumagamit nito?

Kitang kita naman natin kung paano nababalot ng nakasusulasok na usok ang kapaligiran tuwing sasapit ang bagong taon., Paano na ang mga may sakit na nahihirapang huminga? Paano na ang mga alagang hayop na walang panlaban sa matinding ingay na gawa ng paputok? Naisip ba ninyo kung ano ang epekto ng usok na inyong pinakawalan sa pag-init ng mundo at pagbabago ng klima? Kung wala kayong paki-alam dito, huwag ninyo kalilimutan sa susunod na matinding bagyo, habang kayo ay paanod anod sa malalim na baha na ‘you deserve it!’.

Mahirap makakawala sa mga nakaugaliang paraan. Ngunit kung para naman ito sa ating kapakanan, hindi po ba dapat lamang ay gawin natin ito. Kung makahingi pa naman kayo ng pagbabago sa pamahalaan ay parang KAYO na ang kampeon sa pagbabago. Ngayon, meron kayong pagkakataon na ipakita ito sa pagbabago ng paraan ng pagsalubong ninyo sa bagong taon.

Kung magagawa ninyo ito, anong hamon na kinakailangan ng pagbabago ang hindi ninyo makakayang harapin? Umaasa ako na magagawa ninyo ito pagkat sa totoo lang, mababago lang natin ang ating bansa sa pagbabago ng ating sarili.

Hanggang dito na lang po at maraming salamat.

Happy New Year!

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all

WIP

wip

Ano ba ang maganda sa Pinoy

Habang inaantay ko na tumigil ang ulan sa kainan sa Fort Bonifacio Mountain Trail, nabaling ang pansin ko sa Christmas decor sa isang lugar na pinagpapahingahan ng mga sundalo at bikers.


Naisip ko kung ano kaya ang ganda na nakita ng mga gumawa ng dekorasyong ito kesa sa pinanatili na lang nilang malinis ang lugar na iyon.

Ano nga ba ang maganda sa paningin ng mga Pinoy? Ganito ba?

Para sa akin sapat na sana ang mga puno at halaman para maging maayos at maganda ang isang lugar. Hirap akong unawain kung paano kaya sa tingin ng iba ay maganda ang magsabit ng mga kung anu-anong palawit, masabi lang na yon ang gayak para sa pasko. Paano kaya naging maganda ito?

Sa mga larawan at sa ilang mga pagkakataon ay nakakakita tayo ng mga lugar na sinasabi nating tunay na kay ganda. Maaaring hindi natin magagaya ito pero gaya nga ng narinig ko sa isang matalinong tao, Kalinisan ang simula ng Kagandahan.

Paano kaya maipapaunawa sa mga tao ito?

Removing our "Corona" of Thorns

I hail the members of Congress who voted to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Their action does not signify an unmerited attack on a co-equal branch of government as the Chief Justice claims. Rather, their action represents a people’s desire to restore the credibility of the Supreme Court and straighten out the judiciary.

With the looming trial of former president Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for electoral sabotage, there is a need to ensure that the justices who will ultimately decide her fate be above suspicion of partiality. The ideal situation would have been for the justices who were appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to have enough decency and delicadeza to voluntary inhibit themselves from continuing with their function or even to quit their post. However, in the evident lack of these virtues from these justices, the people have the right, through their elected representatives to take the proper action to protect their institution and interest.

Chief Justice Corona misleads the people by encouraging the fallacious idea that at stake is the integrity and independence of the judiciary which is being attacked by the executive and legislative branches of government for purely political reason. In effect, he wants a domain wherein he reigns supreme and unchallenged whatever his comportment and decisions may be. Towards this end, he rallies Supreme Court employees to stand behind him in his fight.

But Supreme Court empoloyees are Filipinos too. Their ultimate duty is not to the Chief Justice but to their country. They have no obligation to listen to him if they are not so inclined.

It is an arduous and uphill struggle versus the forces of selfishishness and unpatriotism to strive for a clean and honest government. At this point in our struggle, if we are to succeed, we must get rid of our “Corona” of thorns.

Fidelisms

Where there are bad roads...

(Napindan, Brgy. Cinco Road, Taguig City)
There are bad leaders.


Where there is grim poverty.

(photo downloaded from internet)

There are poor leaders.

No to GMA treatment abroad until...

It is incredible how our government can seemingly allow itself to be bullied and thrown into a quandary over the request of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to travel abroad ostensibly to seek treatment for her claimed illness.

Under the principle of the Rule of Law and equality for all, the government should simply state – in a forceful and clear manner - that justice for the Filipinos has primacy over the personal. One can not simply do as one pleases just because he or she is in power and then simply go away when the time of reckoning comes.

Subordinating national justice to the personal health interest of Mrs Arroyo (or anyone) will be a step back in the strenthening of the Rule of Law in our country. It will not only show that politicians and the rich are a breed apart from ordinary citizens. It will also signal to every aspiring despot and tyrant that they too can break the law and ultimately get away with it.

While there is a potential case against her for which she can escape from when she is allowed to leave the country, Mrs. Arroyo has no choice but to seek local treatment until she would have faced all the issues concerning her. Her situation is of her own making. She would not have this problem now if only she had faced her issues before.

This is not to say however that mercy and charity should not be extended Mrs. Arroyo. As a human being, she is entitled to them except that this should not be under her terms. What should be rejected though is her use of the “health wang wang” to clear the way for her to evade the law.

Pakiki alam sa buhay ng may buhay

Kung may kaibigan ka na nakikita mong medyo nalululong sa isang bisyo, dapat ka bang maki-alam o mas maigi pang pabayaan mo na lang dahil tutal, buhay naman nya yon?

May kaibigan kasi akong nasa ganitong sitwasyon. Pero hindi naman talaga sya adik dahil hindi naman siya sa mga ipinagbabawal na droga nalululong.

Mahilig lang siyang kumain at sa ngayon, pagkalaki laki na niya. Dahil dito, minsan, parang hirap na siyang lumakad.

Bagamat hindi ako doktor, alam ko mailalagay ang kaibigan kong ito sa kategoryang morbidly obese.

Gusto ko siya tulungan. Pero ano ang magagawa ko kung siya mismo ay parang hindi masyadong binibigyang halaga ang kanyang kondisyon. Ang ina-alala ko, baka magalit pa siya sa akin kung pilitin ko siyang harapin ang isang bagay na parang hindi niya masyadong binibigyan ng pansin.

Mabait ang kaibigan kong ito at sa tuwid na landas siya ni Noynoy kung lumakad. Marami siyang kaibigan na alam ko ay may malasakit sa kanya. Sana kahit paano, maka impluwensya ang mga kaibigan niya na mapalakad siya sa landas ng pagpapayat tungo sa kalusugan.

(eto lang muna ang maisusulat ko matapos ako mawala ng pagkatagal tagal)

A Fight for Life- But Whose?

Proponents of the Reproductive Health Bill claim that their objective is to give the people the power to determine the size of their families and provide them assistance in order for them to attain their objectives.

On the other hand, opponents of the bill, mainly the Catholic clergy claim that it is anti-Life and immoral. Thus, by their opposition to it they claim to be pro-life.

Personally, I think the debate about the RH Bill with the Church on one side and some progressive thinking people on the other is a fight for life. However this life they fight about is not that of the unborn but of the Church itself.

Every moral decision that is left in the hands of the people is an erosion of Church influence and power over the people. This explains the violent opposition of the Church to the RH Bill.

But why should government bend over backwards for the Church when government has a job to do and should have its own moral reference to guide it in the performance of its job?

Let Government do what it must do and so too the Church to its flock of believers. But let not the Church interfere with the affairs of the State.

No to Hero's Burial for Marcos

When Ferdinand Marcos was ousted by People Power in 1986, Filipinos rendered a supreme and final judgment on him.

- Marcos was a dictator who ruled ruthlessly. He was responsible for the deaths and suffering of thousands of people.

- Marcos was a kleptocrat who stole from the people and left a legacy of indebtedness, poverty and corrupted institutions.

- Marcos was a fake war hero whose shame should be confined only to him and those who embrace him.

With this verdict, there is no way for the people to allow Marcos to be buried with honor anywhere in the Philippines. To do so would not only be to accede to the vanity of the Marcoses in disregard and contempt of the pain of those who suffered under him. It would also contravene the validity and correctness of the 1986 People Power Uprising which no single person or arm of government has a right to do.

Giving Marcos even a muted military honor will also signal to other aspiring autocrats and despots not to fear history as people can get to be forgetful and history can be tweaked and twisted. Marcos turned the military against the people and used it as his main instrument for his iron hand rule. To allow the military to honor him despite this is to concede that the people have not completely gotten their military back .

In this light, the “win-win” proposal by Vice President Jejomar Binay to allow the burial of Marcos in his hometown with military honors should be flatly rejected. It may be a win-win for the Marcoses and the Vice President. But the Filipino People will clearly be the losers.

The Marcoses have really no option but to simply give their man a solemn private burial if they want to give him a decent burial at all. (If they want, they can even invite Vice President Binay as their special guest). They should be made to understand however that there is no point in time they can wait for when self respecting Filipinos who value truth, fairness and justice will relent to give in to their illogical and unacceptable demand.

On the other hand, the government’s response to the Marcoses after saying no should be to intensify and speed up all legal processes in pursuit of getting justice for all the Marcos victims.

It is not the burial of Marcos that will heal our nation but justice for our people he oppressed.

Pahiyas 2011

Karaniwan sa mga litrato na nakikita ko sa Pahiyas ay kinuha sa umaga. Pero sa bisperas pa lang ng pyesta, maaari nang maglibot at mag-obserba ng mga bahay na tapos na ang pagkakagayak o ginagayakan pa lamang. Siguro matatawag natin itong Pahiyas-by-night

Sa araw ng pyesta, eto ang itsura ng mga bahay. Ang Pahiyas ay dinaraos sa pyesta ni San Isidro Labrador na patron ng mga magsasaka. Sa isang banda, ang Pahiyas ay parangal din sa mga magsasaka at manggagawang bukid.



Pero hindi lahat ng bahay ay nakikisabay sa tugtog, ika nga. Meron ding mangilan-ngilang bahay na walang gaanong gayak tulad na lang nitong nakuhanan ko ng litrato. Sa halip, ang ginawa ng may ari ng bahay ay naglabas ng sound system upang mabigyan ng musika ang kapaligiran. Kaya lang, nang nasa lugar ako na kung saan matatagpuan ang bahay na ito, ang tinutugtog ay isang jazz version ng kantang "Our Love Will Go On" mula sa sineng Titanic.

Hindi ko hinangad na mapakinggan ng buo ang tugtuging ito kaya umalis kaagad ako sa lugar na yon. Iniisip ko siguro mahilig sa mga barkong lumulubog ang may ari ng bahay na ito. Kung ganito nga, siguro naka line up pa na tugtugin ay ang We May Never Love Like This Again mula sa sineng Poseidon Adventure at yong awit na the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.




Isa sa nakita kong display ay ang saging na ito na may bungang nyog. Naalala ko tuloy na minsan
ay may nakausap akong matanda na nagbabalik tanaw sa nakalipas na panahon na kung saan maginhawa raw ang buhay. Ayos lang naman ang ganitong pag-iisip kaya lang nang sabihin nya na noon daw ay may mga punong may iba-ibang bunga, ang naisip ko ay "Aba, e loko yata ito ei!"


Maganda at masayang okasyon ang Pahiyas at certified na pang-akit ito ng mga turista. Ang kailangan lang siguro ay mas mabisang matugunan ng mga otoridad ang problemang dala ng tagumpay ng kaganapang ito tulad ng matinding traffic at kakulangan ng matutuluyan ng mga turistang dumayo pa mula sa malayong lugar.

Graveyard of Culture

Someone told me about a biodiversity exhibit at the National Museum partly supported by the French Embassy and suggested I see it if I want to see how the French Government supports science cooperation projects here in the Philippines.


I did go but I was a little disappointed to see that when I got there, there was hardly anyone apart from me viewing the said exhibit. Not that the exhibit was really worth a special visit especially with an entrance price of P100.00 to the museum. Actually it was a free day when I went since it was a Sunday but even so the free entrance could not make the people come in.



While walking alone inside the deathly quiet corridors of the museum leading to the exhibit, it occurred to me that in our country, the National Museum serves more like a graveyard of our culture instead of a venue of mental enrichment.

I don't think people are to blame. In our country Culture has mostly been the preserve of the privileged and the rich. The ordinary people have far pressing problems to attend to and maybe they simply refuse to become props for the privileged few's illusion and social self pleasuring.

I can imagine how the organizers have gathered during the launch of this exhibit, agreeing about the importance and relevance of the exhibit's subject, toasting to their accomplishment and forgetting everything as soon as the ribbon is cut.

The Big News Today

Photo sourced from Yahoo news image

Not only Americans but everyone and anyone who loves freedom and democracy can rejoice and heave a sigh of relief at the permanent elimination of terrorist OBL. Finally, justice has come to his thousands of victims whose only fault were to be in the wrong place when he sowed his terror.

But justice should not just be the preserve of a people of a nation that happens to be the mightiest in the world with the capability to demolish life on this planet would its leaders please to do so.

There is a people too of a weaker nation who cry for justice in relation to the September 11, 2001 terror attack. A people whose country was invaded and ruined on the basis of a lie by a reckless and enraged former leader of this same mighty nation that now savors the joy of justice.

This leader lied to his people and the world to rain death and destruction on a hapless and innocent people with nothing to do with what he accused them of. His lie led to the loss of lives many many times more than what Bin Laden had taken and it plunged the living into a life of deep misery and poverty. Surely these people too deserve justice.

Americans lost a building but this people lost a nation. How will they ever get justice?

For the world to heal, justice must cover all.

Mayo Uno....

Para sa mga relihyoso, ang araw na ito ay simula ng panahon ng pilgrimahe tulad sa Simbahan ng Antipolo para sa Ina ng Kapayapaan at Mabuting Paglalakbay o kaya naman ay sa Manaoag, Pangasinan para magdasal sa Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag.


Ngunit para naman sa mga militante,ang araw na ito ay ang pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Manggagawa kung kaya sila ay nagtitipon tipon sa lansangan upang igiit ang kanilang mga kahilingan habang nagwawagayway ng bandila na karaniwan ay pula.

Image sourced from Yahoo Image Search

Saan kaya mas mabisang manawagan? Sa langit o sa pamahalaan?

Sincerity is not a Substitute for Correctness

Picture sourced from Yahoo Image search


The good news is that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has resigned.

Ms. Gutierrez is one big boulder removed from the rocky road to a clean and honest government. While we can rejoice a little we should not forget that we still have a long way to go and our path is still littered with obstacles including a crown of thorns.

In her wake, there is a need to determine the extent of the rot that has infected the entire Office of the Ombudsman. Her replacement must be ready to make deep surgical excisions to remove all those who have contributed and made her blighted term possible. This include those who profess support and loyalty to her - they have either benefited from her or have shown an incapacity to determine right from wrong. What for are they in the Office of the Ombudsman?

We can not relent in our WAR FOR JUSTICE in which among the main goal is the apprehension, prosecution and punishment of those who have conspired to do us wrong.

Ms. Gutierrez did not resign quietly and in contrition. In her press conference announcing her resignation she protested her non- culpability and claimed that what she did was in the service of the Filipino people.

She can say what she wants and we can even grant that she is indeed sincere in what she was saying.

What we must all understand however - and the resigned Ombudsman most specially- is the principle that Sincerity is not a substitute for Correctness. She was impeached for not doing the right thing(s).

Heart Talk - not enough to be normal

Yesterday I had a blood test as part of my (ir) regular cholesterol monitoring. Except for Cholesterol which was a frustrating 30 points higher than normal, all the other indicators such as triglycerides, LDLC, VLDL fell within the normal range, albeit on the high borderline side. The good news is that I also have a high HDL count.

Considering that I usually exceeded the normal limits in my previous tests, I thought I had reason to celebrate. But I was told that in my case, since I am also prone to hypertension, I have to bring down my results further.

I thought I can maintain my cholesterol levels by sheer lifestyle modification thru diet and exercise. To some degree, I believe it helped. But for the new target set for me, I guess I have no option but to go back to a maintenance drug again. Hello Simvastatin!

In taking care of our heart, I still believe that diet and exercise are the best options. Drugs should only be a last resort.


Image credit: Image sourced from the internet.

Danny D.

I came to know Danny D. when we were accepted in the Presidential Management Staff, Office of the President (PMS-OP) during the time of President Cory Aquino.

Since we got in at almost the same time, we trained together along with a handful of other recruits.

It was just a couple of years into the Presidency of Mrs. Corazon Aquino and People Power fever was still strong. In fact it was the honor of working under President Cory's administration that lured most of us to work in the PMS, an office mainly tasked to attend and service the official needs of the President beyond what was provided by the line departments and special offices. Admittedly, the mandate and functions of our office at that time were on the vague side, but it was in this vagueness wherein lay its vast potential influence and power.

What I remembered of Danny D. was that he was then a fresh graduate of La Salle University but was already married with two kids. He had a healthy sense of humor but spoke softly. He had a La Sallean idealism with him and he believed in People Power, or his idea of it.

But Danny D. never made it through training.

Maybe because he believed that the government under President Aquino would be different that he thought it should be doing right. Thus, when he saw something that did not seem to be right, he asked a question out loud in one of the offices he was sent to for training.

He noticed that during meetings, the office he was training in tend to over order food much more than what meeting participants could consume. After the meeting, the staff would then partake of the excess food. Since this was what he saw, he asked if it was right to do so.

For this simple question, he became a pariah among the office staff and all directors deemed him to be a potential troublemaker. Some of the directors were holdovers from the past administration and some were new. Not one of the directors though would take Danny in and so effectively, he had nowhere to go after the training and had to leave.

This was a silent injustice that Danny D. faced alone in the administration of a President he admired and wished to serve - but because of a simple innocent question, he lost his chance.

I could not do anything for Danny D. then. All I could do was not to forget and by writing about it now, I stand as witness. I believe it is my duty to do so - not to get justice for him but to give him comfort in the knowledge that there was a person who saw the wrong done to him and who believed that this wrong should not be visited on others.

Some people may think what happened to Danny D. was trivial, but his story partly explains to me why despite the saintly personality of President Aquino, our country never got out from the grip of anomalies, corruption and poverty.

We changed a President, but we did not change as a people.

Kung makakapagsalita lang ang mga tarsiers...

Larawang mula sa internet, Yahoo Philippines News. Hiram lang.

Sa pagkaka-alam ko ang mga tarsier ay panggabing nilalang at isang napakamahiyaing hayop. Kaya nga may kalakihan yata ang mata nila ay dahil kailangan nila ito gamitin upang makahanap ng pagkain sa dilim o sa gabi.

Kaya lang dahil sa turismo, may mga tarsiers na kinukuha mula sa kanilang likas na tirahan upang maipakita at maipang-aliw sa mga tao. Siguro ang pakiramdam ng mga tarsiers na ito ay wala silang ipinagkaiba sa isang anim na taong gulang na bata na pinagmacho dancing sa harap ng maraming tao para makapag-uwi ng sampung libong piso sa kanyang mga magulang.

Maituturing kaya itong tarsier abuse? Bakit walang mga celebrity o tarsier psychologist na nag tu-tweet man lang para sa karapatan ng mga inaaping tarsier?

Kung makakapagsalita lang ang mga tarsiers, ano kaya ang sasabihin nila habang sila ay pinagkakaguluhan ng madla at ng mga paparazzi? Piliin ang letra ng inyong kasagutan:

a) Wow! ganito pala ang maging sikat! Sige na, kami na ang cute.
b) Mga P--ang I-a ninyo! mga usyusero kayo! Layuan na lang ninyo kami, pwede ba?
k) Wala lang. Tanggap naman namin ang ganitong buhay eh.
d) Kung ang tao kaya ang pagkaguluhan naming mga tarsier, ano kaya ang mararamdaman nila?
e) none of the above

View of Malacanang III - Disaster Strikes

View of Malacanang III- Disaster Strikes Malacanang, collage by vfg

This picture reminds viewers of Malacanang's task in protecting the people from disasters when they happen. However while our country is prone to various natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes etc. nothing is as terrible and as punishing to the people as the disaster of a greedy and rapacious administration or a very inept one.

Pangarap ng Gising

Sana magbalik na ang ferry service sa Pasig River para may madaling paraan ng pagpunta sa Binondo na iwas traffic at pollution. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagpalit lang ang administrasyon ay natigil na ito.



Sana magawa ko yong pangarap kong makapag-urban gardening. Masarap kainin yong sariling tanim at tiyak mo pa na wala itong mga pestisidyo at kung anu ano pang lason na ginamit dito.



Sana maibalik muli ang dating likas na ganda ng Baguio at dumami ulit ang mga pine trees dito. Gusto ko nga sana makahanap ng mai nenegosyo dito para may dahilan ako magtigil dito ng matagal tagal sa halip na panandaliang dalaw lang.




Sana makahanap ako ng bagong ipapausong pagkain na magiging super patok sa publiko gaya halimbawa ng Hongkong style noodles o Mang Inasal.


Sana mas marami ang makasubok ng mga pagkaing niluto sa drum grill oven na ginawa namin ayon sa instructions sa internet. Ang sarap ng mga pagkaing inihaw dito, lalu na ang manok. Lasang inihaw pero ang crispy ng balat.



Sana mangyari ang mga sinasana ko. Birthday ko naman e.

Losing (and Finding?) My Religion

It was in UP as a student where I sort of lost my religion -- or at least the stranglehold of the Catholic faith in my life. But then it was also in UP where I had this strange religion related experience.

I had already graduated then and was already working for several years when for nostalgic reasons, I found myself with two other friends drinking one night in an area near the UP Sunken Garden. We talked of a lot of things and covered a lot of topics under the starlit night. As the night wore on and our alcohol was almost entirely consumed our topic drifted to religion.

I don't exactly remember the gist of our conversation but at some point, my friend said that if there was a God, He could very well make it rain in spite of the clear weather we had on that night if He willed it. When he said this, we did not give his statement much import as we believed that rain was not possible that night.

But within maybe a quarter of an hour after my friend spoke, we felt a breeze blew. Then it blew harder and the night sky suddenly filled up with clouds. The air suddenly carried the scent of wet earth and from afar, we heard a roaring noise that was steadily getting louder as it came closer to us. We realized that it was rain and we hurried to pick up our things to run for cover.

But too late for us.

As dry as we were moments ago, the rain overtook us and we became dripping wet. We finally found shelter at a nearby waiting shed and that was where we waited out the rain. We stayed there till almost dawn when we were able to hail a taxi to take us home.

I don't know how this experience had affected the thinking of my friends. As for me, all I can say is that I can not forget this happening. It did not however lead me back to accept unquestioningly some practices and beliefs of my religion although I take part in some of its observations more out of habit.

And for good measure, I try to be honest, good and nice to others.

Now all I know is that I believe in truth and if God be Truth, then I believe in God.

Happy Easter.

Maangas na Talumpati ni PNoy Para sa mga Aktibistang Pasaway sa UP - kathang isip lang

Larawang hiram sa internet.

Sa mga mag-aaral na kinakarir ang pagngingitngit sa pamahalaan, nais ko lang ipaunawa sa inyo na walang ganitong disiplina o kurso sa inyong pamantasan. Gayon din naman, walang may prankisa ng pagmamahal at paglilingkod sa bayan.

Naniniwala ako na lahat tayo – aktibista man o hindi- ay nagmamahal sa ating bayan at sa munti nating sari-sariling paraan ay nagsisikap tayo na makapaglingkod sa kanya.

Kung iniisip ninyo na ang pagbatikos sa pamahalaan at pambubulahaw sa inyong mga imbitadong tagapagsalita ay pagtupad sa panawagan na paglingkuran ang sambayan, maari lang sana na mag-isip ulit kayo.

Ang graduation ceremony halimbawa ay hindi tungkol sa mga taong nabiktima – este – naimbitahan pala, ninyo na magsalita sa inyo. Ito ay moment ng mga kamag-aral ninyo bilang pagkilala at pagpaparangal sa kanilang nagawa. Ito ay selebrasyon ng kanilang tagumpay. Ano ang karapatan ninyo na i-hijack ito para lamang ibulalas ang inyong hinaing na maaari naman ninyong ipahayag ng mas maayos at mahinahon sa tamang paraan, lugar at okasyon?

Totoo, may halaga ang mga kilos protesta na naghahayag ng daing ng mga mamayan. Ngunit hindi dahil sa malakas kayong sumigaw ay kayo na at kayo lang ang tama at dapat pakinggan. Kung ganito ang inyong paraan, paano kayong makikinig sa mga boses na di tugma sa gusto ninyong marinig? Kailangan pa bang ipa memorize sa inyo na sa demokrasya, ang paglutas ng problema ay hindi dinadaan sa palakasan ng boses kundi sa mahinahong pag-uusap ng mga taong may iba’t ibang pupuntahan ngunit may isa lamang na sasakyan?

Sa totoo lang, napakadaling manggulo, napakadaling mag-ingay at napakadaling ipagsigawan ang pagmamahal sa bayan. Ngunit ang mas mahirap na gawin ay isabuhay ito.

Tanungin ninyo kaya kung nasaan na ang mga nagpupuyos na mga aktibista noon.

Karamihan sa kanila ay lumagay na sa tahimik at nabubuhay bilang ordinaryo at produktibong mamamayan. Sa isang banda, ang kanilang pagiging produktibo ay paraan ng kanilang pagtulong sa bayan dahil pinayayaman nila ang Inang Bayan.

Ang iba naman ay naging masugid na tagapagtanggol ng mga rehimen at politikong sinsiskap nating papanagutin ngayon dahil sa kasalanang ginawa nila sa bayan. Paanong nagkaganoon? Ano ang nakain nila?

Ngunit meron din namang ilan- hindi marami- na pinili na lamang sumama sa mga nagpapatumba ng cell phone towers at nananambang ng ating masang kasundaluhan. Ang tangi nilang nililikha ay mga biyuda at ulila. Meron bang pagsisilbi dito? Kung ito ang ambisyon ninyo, ang masasabi ko lang, mag-ingat kayo sa ma-ahos –hindi lang ma-ahas- na landas na tatahakin ninyo.

Bilang mga estudyante, kayo ay nasa kapaligirang may ganap na kalayaang pang-akademiko. Ang dahilan rito ay upang mabigyan kayo ng buong laya na mangalap ng kaalaman, masanay sa pagsusuri, mahasa ang pag-iisip at mapalutang ang pinakamagaling sa inyong sarili.

Huwag ninyong sayangin ang pagkakataong ito sa pagpalit ng inyong aktibismo sa inyong tungkuling dapat gampanan bilang mag-aaral. Huwag ninyong lustayin ang inyong akademikong kalayaan sa pagpupumilit na sa kaalamang meron kayo ay kaya na ninyong ipiloto ang barko ng bansa. Totoo, mas madaling mag-ingay sa halip na mag-aral. Mas masayang makibaka kasama ng mga barkada sa halip na magpakadalubhasa. Ngunit mas kailangan ng bayan ng mga taong marunong at may tunay na nagagawa, sa halip na mga taong mapusok at baka nagdudunong dunungan lamang.

Hindi natin maikakaila na sa ating bansa, hindi madali ang buhay ng mag-aaral. Marami talagang suliranin ang bansa na nakaka-apekto sa inyo. Ngunit hindi naman lahat ay pagsubok. Kung may hirap, may gantimpala. Pagdating ng araw na mabuno ninyo ang lahat ng mga hamon sa mag-aaral at mapatunayan ninyo ang inyong sarili, hindi na kayo kailangan magsisigaw pagkat ang mga tao pa mismo ang hihiling na mapakinggan kayo. Tingnan nyo na lamang ang kamag-aral ninyo na tagapagsalita ninyo ngayon. Hindi lang sya nagsalita sa madla ng once, but twice!

Ang araw ng inyong pagtatapos ay ang araw ng inyong pagpapasya. Bayan nga ba o sarili? Kayo na ang bahala. Baka naman kasi maaari ninyong pagsabayin.

Dahil tayo ang bumubuo ng sambayanan, mababago lamang natin ang ating bayan sa pagbabago ng ating sarili. Ito ang pakatandaan ninyo.

Kabataan, tunay nga na kayo ang pag-asa ng bayan. Ngunit paano kayong mapapakinabangan kung laging nakatiklop ang inyong kamao?

Kung hindi kayo mag-aaral, sino ang mag-aaral?

Kung hindi ngayon, paano kung may test kayo bukas? Larawang hiram sa internet.

Pornography of Grief

I deplore the tendency of media to gravitate around the dramatic and sensational in their coverage of the news. Their frenzied hunt for tears and wailing amounts to what we can only call a pornography of grief.

This egregious practice became annoyingly evident again during the coverage of the execution of the three Filipino drug mules in China last March 30,2011. Reporters went all over town covering and catching on camera the emotional reaction of members of the convicted drug mules' families. They made sure that they recorded every tear, every shriek and every utterance of their subjects while networks competed on who could present the rawest most dramatic coverage of the execution drama. But what was the news value of this?

Sensationalist reporting is not merely a neutral or harmless exercise in bad journalism. It destroys something in our national psyche and degrades us. For the subjects of the reportage, not only is their privacy violated but their dignity is taken as well when they are shown in their most abject and vulnerable grieving state. For the news viewers, the quality of information that they get has a bearing on the opinions they form and decisions they make. For example, when people see an emotional person deny to high heavens something against evidence and circumstance, other people too feel entitled to shamelessly bend truth in their favor when they or their families are concerned. Thus, truth becomes a casualty when it is subordinated to drama.

Another bane in this kind of reporting is that it promotes mendicancy when people become comfortable crying before the camera to get cash and sympathy.

The major rival networks are always in a shouting war with each other in proclaiming that they are the station that delivers genuine public service. But who are they kidding? What they do is a great public disservice.

Willy R and the Kiddie Macho Dancer

Once again, big shot game show host Willie Revillame has provided his non-fans and dedicated critics ammunition to be attacked with, this time through a Willing Willie episode featuring a six year old macho dancing kid.

And as expected the firestorm of criticisms did come but why should he care?

Mr. Revillame has proven to everyone, especially to his business mogul principal(s) that he is a Pied Piper of advertisers. He is completely convinced that his hold on the masses is such that advertisers would follow him unquestioningly where ever he goes. All he has to do is to weather this storm of disapproval out.

I never really liked Mr. Revillame's style of entertainment. Although he may believe that what he does gives joy and hope to the hoi polloi, I rue that his kind of show promotes mediocrity and turns us into a mendicant nation. This episode of the crying dancing boy just supports my case. Although the boy danced and cried in Mr. Revillame's show, it was not Mr. Revillame who taught the boy how to dance that way but his proud and beaming elders.

Clearly the problem is bigger than just a crying dancing kid and a callous, insensitive host. I hope that Willy bashers will go beyond their dislike of Mr. Revillame and face the challenge of answering how and why our people have been so totally taken by a man like him.

Those who were offended or outraged by the particular show in question but who continue to patronize the companies and products advertising in his shows should just shut up.

In a market driven media industry, media direction is influenced not with words but wallets.

Bad Trip, Good Trip ngayong araw

Bad Trip - Sumama ako kaninang umaga para magbike sa Timberland sa San Mateo. Pero wala ako sa kondisyon, kaya hindi ko nakaya. Kasisimula pa lang namin sa trail pero umatras na ako.

Good Trip - Maganda na rin naman ang view sa pinag antayan ko sa mga kasama ko. At masarap ang simoy ng hangin.

Bad Trip - Nagbike ako ng nakatsinelas kahit na sinabi ng kasama ko na dapat ay magsapatos ako para maprotektahan ang paa. Pero dahil pasaway, sige pa rin ako nag tsinelas at ng nagkamali nga ako sa pagliko habang nagba bike, sumabit ang hinlalaki ng aking kanang paa sa semento. Ang lalim ng naging sugat ko at hanggang ngayon ay may iniinda akong kirot.

Good Trip - Habang nagpapahinga ako, may nag text sa akin tungkol sa bagong print project. Oks.

Bad Trip - Kinailangan ko gumamit ng ATM card para kumuha ng pera sa banko pero nang hinanap ko ito ay hindi ko makita. Maloko loko ako sa kahahanap nito.

Good Trip - kung ano ang kunsumisyon ko sa paghanap nito ay ganoon din naman ang tuwa ko ng makita ko ito. Buti na lang hindi ko agad ito pinakansela.

Radioactive Sex

Just the idea of putting something up the ass is unpleasant enough but radium suppositories? WTF?

This clipped ad was an insert to an article on a radium scandal I read on-line. But since I saw it through the internet, I could not really tell if the ad and the product it pushed really existed once upon a time or if the ad was just a crafty fabrication for the gullible.

Considering how wary we are of radiation contamination nowadays, it is incredibly hard to imagine that there were once items such as radium suppositories which were supposed to be inserted up the ass- err rectum- to enhance sexual performance. Did people really use them before? I wonder how soon people got sick after using this 'wonder product'. Did anyone sue the manufacturer when they got sick or were they too embarrassed to let others know about their radioactive sex practice?

I have no answers to these questions because all I saw was this clipping of the advertisement. I was reading another article regarding a radium related scandal sometime in the 1930's that caused the deaths of untold number of factory workers who were mostly women- for which reason the victims became known as the Radium Girls. During their time, not much was known about radium yet, especially its lethal radioactive aspect and so the workers did not take precaution in handling it. Some women even used the radium containing chemical they handled to brighten their teeth or to make their hair glow.

I was actually thinking of an April Fools entry today. But I thought, if this clipped ad is real, then this truth is horribly weirder than the fiction I can concoct.

Senator Lacson, the Law and the Dacer-Corbito Double Murder Case

In the movies, “fugitives from injustice”(to borrow Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson’s term) would at least spend their time on the lam by trying to dig up the truth in order to prove their innocence and bring forth the arrest of those responsible for their predicament. In this way, even if they defied the law, in the end, they would still come out on the side of justice.

Sen. Lacson however, in his over a year in hiding seemed to have done no such thing. Instead by his own admission, we learn that he simply sulked and honed his culinary skills - and to hell with justice for two murder victims and who knows how many more.

What Senator Lacson had done was to show to everyone not his innocence but his being untouchable – a man above the law who abides by it only when it is to his liking.

The flight of Sen. Lacson is not a benign act of personal defiance. It is replete with serious and even dangerous implications foremost of which is the safety of those who continue to investigate the Dacer Corbito murder case or even those remotely connected with it. The law broken in one way can be broken in other ways to frustrate investigation not just by the suspect but by other parties in interest to the crime as well.

Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima had already raised other implications such as the liabilities of those who abetted the senator’s escape by providing funds, refuge and travel documents to him. Addressing these questions is what the Justice Secretary is expected to do and Sen. Lacson should not take umbrage at her for doing her job.

The senator himself said that there is no bad blood between him and Sec. de Lima. Thus this is all the more reason for him to cooperate with her and help. He can vehemently deny any guilt but like all of us, he should realize and accept that it is not his words but deeds that are being weighed.

Senator Lacson may not really have committed a crime but clearly he has deeply gashed the integrity of the Rule of Law in our country. He owes it to the people to credibly acquit himself in this double murder case.

All photos sourced from Yahoo Image Search

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The Japanese People Will Prevail

I once had the good fortune of traveling to Japan as a participant in a Philippine - Japan Friendship Program and I remember I was very much impressed not only by the country's great natural beauty but also by its culture and people as well.

The Japanese have an enviable sense of community, discipline and order that enabled them to attain a high level of economic progress. I believe that it is these very same traits that will make the Japanese people overcome and prevail over the devastating triple tragedy of an earthquake, tsunami and a nuclear crisis that hit their country.

Like they have done time and again in the face of adversity, I know the Japanese people will prevail.

Ganbatte Kudasai!

Truth. Honor. Proper Duty

What honor is there in a man who has little faith in truth and who could not defend himself with it?

Certainly, serious and grave accusations were thrown at former AFP Chief Angelo Reyes in relation to the Gen. Carlos Garcia Plunder Case. But all he had to do was answer his accusers honestly and expose their lies where he found them. Instead he cried persecution and put a hole through his heart.

The fallen General had a chance to help liberate our country from the claws of plunder politics and to save the military institution he said he so loved -an institution now tarnished and eroded by heinous corruption allegedly of its own leaders. This he could have done by simply telling what he knew, by coming out clean. Instead, he embraced the code of omerta preferring to bring his secrets to the grave. Only the mafia types - the guilty, the tainted and the opportunists would have been fortified by this.

I respect the grief of the General's family, friends and followers. Since the General died without taint of conviction by our courts, I concede that he deserves the rituals and honors the State accord to the rank that he has attained. But I reject the proposition that there was anything heroic and honorable in his final act

Truth is the only basis of honor and honor is not diminished by mere insults or by breach of rituals and traditions. Thus the recourse to end one's life can not be justified. Unfortunately, the General for reasons known only to him had thought it best to bury the truth with him.

Now all we know is that the General is as dead as the many valiant soldiers who died fighting for the country with inadequate support and equipment, robbed and betrayed by their own leaders. How can we honor these soldiers without first giving them justice? How can we save an institution without first knowing the full extent of its rot?

The day we learn to honor our true heroes is the day we decide to become truly free.

I can not grieve for General Reyes. I grieve for my country.

The Power of Yellow

Musings on the Nature of Filipino People Power...

This is another book in my mind. I am thinking of replacing the Noynoy Prophecy book which I am currently trying to develop with this one.

I think People Power by Filipinos is an energy that has not really been properly understood and tapped to the max....yet. So there is this opportunity to try.

Re General Garcia Plunder Case

How can mere middle level government officials bound to serve the best interest of the people take the law into their own hands and allow a major major plunderer walk away by simply returning a portion of his loot?

I believe these government officials who entered into a hasty and shady plea bargaining deal with General Garcia are conspirators to plunder. They should be prosecuted and punished as such.

To 2011 - Health, Happiness, Wisdom, Wealth!

Am having a hard time thinking of my first post for this year - sooo hard a time that it is already 7 days into the new year.

I have some things in mind but I prefer to begin with something very positive. Will write about the other things maybe later or never.

Earlier I just read a quote attributed to Confucius - the glory of a man is in not having fallen down but in standing up again after falling.

Nice. And I agree strongly and so I am sharing this idea in this blog.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!