National Day of Mourning

Today we honor the 44 fallen members of the PNP Special Action Forces in a simple flag-raising at half-mast at the Philippine Embassy at Washington, DC.

January 30 is also declared as a National Day of Mourning for the fallen 44.

National Day of Mourning, Washington DC

144/365

30 January 2015

Happy 150, Dr. Jose Rizal!

A hundred and fifty years old, that is our national hero, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonso Realonda. To friends and family, Pepe, to us common men, Jose Rizal. On the 19th June 1861, never did any Spaniard expect that one man, a not too tall or fair one, a common-looking man, would be born to spur an oppressed nation into fighting for their freedom. Never have the Spaniards seen the potent powers of this short young man from Calamba, that he would be able to inspire millions of Filipinos from all over the nation. Pepe was truly a one-of-a-kind Filipino. The first Filipino, as the historians would say. A renaissance man, that even other Asian countries praise his various works.


After a hundred and fifty years of existence, hundreds of writings and tons of contribution to building our nation’s history, how do we take Rizal to heart? Does he still inspire Filipinos of today?

In one forum held at the Philippine Embassy here in Washington DC, one of the speakers, Trixie Herrera, who is a descendant of Narcisa, one of Pepe’s sisters, talked about her roots and how to “Rizalize” the present and the future. She did a little elaboration on how to go about it, and I agree with her in all of her examples of how to do it. After the talk, I asked myself how can I, as a regular Filipino, “Rizalize” the nation?

Rizal indeed taught us many lessons that we Filipinos could be inspired and emulate in our daily lives. I will only enumerate and elaborate on three. These three Rizal traits I believe, may be used to Rizalize our nation’s present and future.

In my early years as a student of Philippine History, I found myself amazed at how much Rizal had contributed not just in our nation’s history, but also in art, literature and science. He never ceased to want to learn. Even when in exile, he learned new things. He never stopped learning despite having mastered at least 5 languages, mastered Opthalmology, and wrote a few books. He just kept on learning. Here’s the first “Rizalizing” trait I think we Filipinos should emulate: Never cease to learn. Learning does not end in a College Degree, nor does it end in having a child. He who ceases to learn ceases to live. That is one way a Filipino can Rizalize his life.

Another way to Rizalize the nation is to strive to be the best that every Filipino can be. Rizal showed us how the brown race can be at par with any other race in the world. He was persecuted in his early days in Letran and Ateneo because of his color, but these did not stop him from being excellent. Her showed that he could be equally great in the medical profession as he studied in Spain. He showed the world that a Filipino has every right to be great with his various writings and teachings. He showed how a Filipino should stand in the grand scheme of things. Competitiveness, that is how we could further Rizalize our values.

Remember the famous Rizal quote? Who wouldn’t? Every Filipino in one way or another, has come across the saying, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay masahol pa sa malansang isda.” I myself am ashamed of having written this in English, but of course, the bottomline of this saying is not just the language, but the total package of being a Filipino. Rizal, for one, had many encounters where he was teased and made fun of because of his brown complexion. In his earlier days, he would often get into fights because of his color. He fought for it to the very end. He wanted equality among the white race in the Philippines. He died for it. We got it afterwards. How do we Rizalize the present then? We should be proud to be Filipinos, and continuously work to uplift our race, wherever we may be. Rizal had left the country to study abroad, and he came back to help improve the country. Our OFWs can do the same. Work abroad, learn new things, apply them in the Philippines. Work abroad, gain enough capital, invest in the Philippines, generate new jobs, teach, improve the country.

Some might say that it’s a daunting and very difficult task, but I think every Filipino, in one way or another, can od at least one of these ways to Rizalization. Rizal did it a hundred years ago, when the world was far more oppressing and difficult. In this technology age, the sky is the limit in reaching our potential.

Mabuhay ang ika-150 taon ng kaarawan ni Dr. Jose Rizal! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Pinoy: Maging Tunay Kang Henyo

When does one’s love for country end? As for me, I have been away from my mother land for 5 months now, and it seems that my new home (at least for the next five months) offers the best and the brightest for me and my family. Never have I seen as much species of birds in the metropolis, ducks hovering around parks without worry of being “Pekinged,” People running and jogging in parks without worrying about their health and safety, parks and monuments free of vandalism and destruction, a totally different package from where I was raised and grew up.


It is sad to see that from where I was, it gets much worse every day. As I watch from a local channel to get updated to the news, I see the current events of a worsening nation. Fishkill, flooding, lack of school supplies and buildings, Kris Aquino quitting showbiz, and many others.

Even when I watch what is supposedly a fun lunch-time variety show, I get dismayed by the fact that kids and teens nowadays don’t know much about Philippine History and Geography anymore. In Eat Bulaga’s segment “Pinoy Henyo,” the hosts give the most mundane Filipino terms, places and people, which I think should be answered in a few seconds. But when it comes to Philippine places and heroes, Filipino kids of today are lagging behind. The Pinoy Henyo game is rather simple. A team of two persons need to guess the correct word in one’s forehead by asking the right questions to his/her partner. The partner can only answer questions with a “Yes, No,” or “Puwede (Could be?!),” until the person guesses to word using those questions. Teams were very good with pop terms like the network GMA’s artists, or even mundane objects like a belt or dipper (tabo). What’s frustrating is that when it comes to Philippine Geography, kids tend to get lost in translation. Here’s one sample:

The Term is “Bukidnon”

A: Lugar?
B: Oo
A: Sa Pilipinas?
B: Oo
A: Sa Metro Manila?
B: Hindi
A: sa Luzon?
B: Hindi!
A: Sa Visayas?
B: Hindi!
A: Sa Mindanao?
B: Hindi!

WHERE ELSE COULD IT BE?!?!?! It turns out that the kid didn’t know where Bukidnon was. Time was up and they didn’t a single cent.

This is a mere reflection of how not just Philippine politics, but even culture and tradition, has been deteriorating. So as a person from outside looking in, I am compelled not to stay where I am, where the grass is greener and the pockets are fuller, but to go back to my mother land in due time and help curb whatever is deteriorating in our system. I feel a great sense of hope and faith in our people that someday, we will once again be Southeast Asia’s Tiger Economy.

As the cliché goes, it all starts with the self. We Filipinos need to learn a lot about ourselves, because the more we learn about ourselves, the more we can brag about it and be confident. The more confident we become, the stronger mindset we will have. The stronger mindset, the farther we can proceed. The technology age has helped us bring closer information, so close that we no longer need to travel miles to visit a library and process information. It is in the palm of our hands. Scholars nowadays use IT more and more to bring information closer to the people. Information is there, all we need is to reach out for it and grab it, and learn it.

The Philippines, amidst its bad news, has plenty of good news to offer, we just need to focus more on the brighter side. For example, our economy grew by a higher-than-expected mark. Instead of criticizing where the growth is coming from, let’s use the information, sustain it, learn from it, and proceed. The Peso is strengthening. This means we should further our business domestically and start becoming self-sustaining. Transportation plans are starting to execute. Let us support it and don’t shoot it down. The more we shoot it down, the more we shoot ourselves in the foot, the more we would limp forward.

So when will I stop loving my country? I say never. I will ensure that my kids will learn and speak the Filipino language, that they would learn and honor the values of resiliency, respect for family, and nationhood, all those that make a Filipino great and unique from other nationalities. In due time, I will go back to the Philippines, apply my new learnings to my motherland, and help ensure that my motherland will be a better place for my kids and their kids.

Filipinos in other countries should do the same. Leave if you must, learn new things, be proud of your roots, go back to the Philippines, help in the most sustainable way possible. How? Retire in the Philippines, buy property, put up a business, teach in colleges, adopt a child to go to college, adopt a provincial classroom or student, respect and obey the rules, be a proud Filipino.

I am confident and hopeful that in my lifetime, I will see a better and brighter Philippines.

The Philippine National Anthem

Why do Filipinos keep on bastardizing the Philippine National Anthem? Some sing like it's R&B, some try to "balladize" it, some forget the lyrics along the way. Noypis, for the love of country, please, STOP revising the national anthem. When you sing the national anthem, always remember that the Philippine National Anthem is a MARCH. It's supposed to be happy. It's neither a Jingle nor a Ballad. It's definitely not a Novelty song. please, sing it right. Also, the title of our national anthem is LUPANG HINIRANG, and not BAYANG MAGILIW. If you guys really love your country, you need to start somewhere. And what better way to start loving your country than to begin loving the right national anthem. Don't try imitating Americans with their renditions of the Star Spangled Banner. We have our law on how the song is sung. And we have a reason why the song needed to be sung that way.

Here are two correct versions of Lupang Hinirang:



Here's a newer video, made by Filipino Channel 7:



How difficult could it be?

I just don't get it. Sorry about the rant.

3 Filipinos Executed in China

My condolences to the families of the three Filipinos who were executed today for illegal drug violations. Despite  the government's countless efforts to halt the execution, the Chinese government still followed their laws and did not relent. I could fully understand the Chinese government for doing this, after all they have done it several times before, with British and Australian nationals.

It is but a sad reality that those who were executed really claimed that they had nothing to do with the illegal drug trade. Just like many of the Filipinos who wish to work abroad, they were in dire need of work, thus, will do whatever the recruiter says, even carry baggages with contents unknown to them. In the eyes of the Chinese government, they are criminals. But they were, indeed, victims of the real criminals who hover the Philippine streets in the guise of decent recruitment agencies.

What the Philippine government should do next is a major crackdown of drug dens in the country, find all those recruitment agencies that victimized these three Filipinos and close them down and put the owners behind bars.

As for us, we need to strengthen our law enforcement system so that we will no longer be victims of the real criminals. We put the real criminals behind bars, and yes, if possible, subject them to the same execution as what our Filipino fall guys have suffered.

Three Filipinos have died to show that China is serious in their efforts to curtail drug trafficking in their country. But the real criminals are still out there. And I'm sure, they haven't seen even the tip of the iceberg.

Kaawaawa ang mga Pilipino. Naghahanap buhay na nga, nabibiktima pa ng ganyan. Ang sakit isipin...

Protocol (?!)

Looks like PNoy's men (women) are still not yet used to being in the limelight of politics/governance. Latest incident on Mai Mislang's miscues and utterly insensitive messages over social networking site Twitter gives the President another wake-up call on his constituents. How can a public figure, in this case, an Undersecretary, be posting unnecessary feedback on official trips and business? She violated various diplomatics and official protocols that even the simplest of career government officials know.

First and foremost, she should not have told even a single tinge of what transpired in the meeting, unless it was officially mentioned and she has the authority to do such. Second, she should NEVER, EVER give an unsolicited comment, especially about a country's culture or way of life. We should have learned from the insults that we got from Claire Danes, or even Chip Tsao in the past. Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you. This time, we hit the first blow. It's as if our streets are much safer, or our wines much tastier.

Malacanang officials should learn more about diplomacy and public image or else the President's men will be the ones who will destroy the image of a President who projects leadership by example. If leaders like Mai thrive in Malacañang, looks like there will continuously be a disconnect between our dreams of change and reality. Such an irony for a Presidency's communications group conveying a totally misled and careless message to a venue that is closely monitored by rumor-mongers and pundits.

You can see PNoy's sense of forgiveness and it is seen that he believes in second chances. Well, we only have a pair of feet and a Presidency who keeps on shooting itself on the foot might slowly become paraplegic and useless.

My suggestion: If you can't handle the pressure of being a public figure, please do not stay under the President's wings.

What's with the RH Bill??

Why doesn't the church like families have an extra choice called the Reproductive Health Bill?? Why does the church hate it so much that even the son of an all-out devout Catholic, who had no other intentions but the welfare of his countrymen, will be subject to excommunication?

I haven't read the entire text, but as far as I have read it, there is nothing highly contentious with the bill. It simply gives the family the freedom to choose more options. What is wrong with that??

Here's the text of the bill from JLP Law:

http://jlp-law.com/blog/full-text-of-house-bill-no-5043-reproductive-health-and-population-development-act-of-2008/

And since when did we forget this particular text from the Constitution:

Article II, Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

What part of this text is difficult to understand?

It's about time we start opening up our options. Time is running out. We need to make a change. Noynoy is trying to infuse some changes, and one of the major groups that pledged to support him in this change is turning against him.

So when do we pledge to start with our development?

Quirino Hostage - August 23, 2010

Today, August 24, as my running buddies and I were doing our usual jog around Quirino Grandstand, we stopped at what remained from a scene of one of the bloodiest hostage events in Manila. The Hong Thai bus, with its tempered glass shattered and sheets bloodied, still remained in the Quirino Grandstand as journalists and bystanders stood and reminisced how this 12-hour standoff took place and ended in a bloody manner. I saw a few Chinese journalists there, and a few in front of Manila Pavilion, the hotel where these hostages, some Hong Kong nationals, were billeted. No one could imagine how this supposedly "under control" hostage situation would end up in a bloody way.

My office is just a few blocks away from the scene. As I mentioned earlier, we do a few laps in the Grandstand at least twice a week. Never did we think that this generally peaceful tourist destination would bear witness to one of the most violent hostage situations in our nation's capital.

Whose fault is it? To me, it's everybody's fault. The media, the police, the negotiators, the ground commander. All of them contributed for this to incident to go haywire.

The media are supposed to be the bastion of truth and the bearer of all information. What the media showed yesterday are very limited, and every movement of the hostage-taker's family was sensationalized. One of the biggest reasons for this tragedy is the sight of Captain Rolando Mendoza's brother being "arrested" by the police. I place quotation marks to the word arrest because as what the police said, they did not arrest him. But because he saw a few mediamen, he acted as if he was being persecuted. What did the media people do? They approached him, bloated the scene, and delivered the wrong message. This triggered Capt. Mendoza to get hostile.

There were several negotiators involved. No one was in charge. It was every man for himself. I am not an expert in hostage situations but judging from the way this was handled, no one took this seriously and nobody headed the team. And for that, nobody thought of a way to expedite this situation.

The police obviously are not prepared for these types of crises. If it were a more insane hostage-taker, these policemen could have been killed because their movements were too slow. As me and my officemates were discussing about this today, the way the police acted yesterday was similar to a Three Stooges or your regular slapstick police sitcom. They could not break through the hydraulic door. They tried to pull the door out but the rope cut loose. They tried to throw in tear gas and flashbang, and some haven't found their way inside. One tear gas actually bounced out of the bus, leaving the policemen outside coughing because of the putrid smell. After the incident, rescuers needed to go in and out of the bus because of the smell of the tear gas. Gas masks were never found in the scene. After the situation, crowds of people were able to get near the supposedly dangerous crime scene. No cordoning took place. Obviously, a lot of work should be done by the police force in order to get smarter in situations like this. We just were not prepared at all.

However way we look at this situation, there were obvious and apparent lapses on all parts, from all persons involved. In this day and age where people have become more intelligent, thus tend to get more insane, we, the media, the police force, government, should all be prepared for crises such as this. This just showed that the real action is not within the four walls of Congress and Senate, it is in the streets where nobody pays attention to. We often take mundane things for granted only to find out that some day, one person just snaps out of it, draws out a gun and starts shooting. It's about time we wake up, face the real social problems, and deal with them head on.

To those governments who condemn this incident by issuing a travel warning, please remember that this incident is isolated and should not be received on a large scale. We are trying our best to prevent another situation to happen. It is simply unfair for you to judge us for an isolated case. I hope you reconsider.

Let us pray to the victims that they may rest in peace. Let us also pray that this will never happen again.

May Liwanag ang Alin?? Meralco Advertising

I just can't seem to find the most valid reason why Metro Manila's lone electricity distributor, Manila Electric Company, also known as Meralco, is spending much money on airtime for advertisements! What do they need to advertise?

As far as I remember, there can be two major reasons for a firm or individual to advertise: First is to sell. To cut above the rest of the main players of your industry. Being the lone electric distributor, what do you need the advertising for?

Another purpose for advertising is to inform. Indeed, we are informed that they use geothermal energy, natural gas, etc. etc. But we are also informed that electricity costs are rising, and another spot in prime time slots in television would mean additional costs. Additional costs do not mean sacrifice for Meralco or its blessed employees and consultants, but a heavier burden for its consumers, us Filipinos, in the form of increased electricity per kilowatt-hour. So what do we call this adjustment fee now, "infomercial adjustment fee?" I wouldn't be surprised if I see that in our next electricity bill. :)

I think the public would appreciate better if Meralco will simply call for press conference (which is FREE OF CHARGE) and announce a fee cut in the coming months. What do you think, my fellow countryman?

And now, it's about to enter in the most illustrious basketball league of the country: the PBA. So if the team doesn't make it good, I can rightfully petition the player or coach's termination because I will definitely pay for his multimillion salary!

Where's Manong Johnny?! Senator, hindi kami happy! :)

Tagalog??

It is fun to see foreigners trying to learn the Filipino language. Not many try to learn the language, some Filipinos even try to not speak about it anymore.

In this video, Rafe Bartholomew wrote about one of Filipinos' favorite pastimes, playing basketball and he is inviting people to come to his reading session in FILIPINO. :)

Magaling!

Good Job, Rafe.

It's sad to see that some Filipinos deny they are Filipinos, and even denounce their citizenship, and their language.

Love the language. Love the culture; Be proud to be a Filipino...

Thanks to Tac for sending this link!

Now, where can I buy his book, Pacific Rims? :)

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

The PCOS Anomaly: Neverending Story

And now, the election controversy has gotten even spicier. We got a whistleblower dressed up as a cuddly Australian mammal.

And we got "Hello Garci" part 2: "Hello Nico?" This time, it's PGMA's loyal pawn, Sec. Ronnie Puno, allegedly talking to COMELEC Commissioner Nico Ferrer over the phone to manipulate the elections. Too bad the lead was too big and uncheatable, or else, we'll see another "too good to be true" scenario in the Presidency.

Ayos talaga. God save the Philippines...

What Now?

The longer the canvassing gets delayed, the more errors they will find in the recently-concluded automated elections... Why can't we get on with it??

Well perhaps we are not really used to having a speedy election result. Something has to be wrong all the time. We love digging holes on our selves. And the more we dig the deeper we get and the more deeper a hole we are in. Quite a sadomasochistic breed, aren't we Filipinos? :)

The longer we keep the public waiting for the official results of the elections, the more detrimental it would be to our development. Let's all get this over with.

Eleksyon 2010: after 36 hours

It's crunch time for the ballot-counting! We are about to reach 90% of our counting. Hopefully we get the Visayas results soon to minimize the tension. Who will it be? M or B? Basta ang sigurado, ang Bise-Presidente ko may A. :)

Presidentiable Nicanor Perlas says he won't concede. He'll wait until all the ballots are counted. JC de los Reyes took back his acceptance of defeat because he got reports of fraud. May punto sila.

Leon Guerrero is still the hero of the Senate! Hoepfully they won't cross paths with the Pacman of Congress.

The only two newbies in the magic twelve of the Senate Race are Bongbong Marcos and TG Guingona! And they both belong to their respective powerful political clans! Years ago, we got pissed of traditional politicians so the voters shifted to actor-politicians. Then, we got pissed of the lack of competence of the actor-politicians so we shifted back to trapos. Now, we have a Senate roster that is a combination of both! whapak! :)

The political clans are back... The actor-politicians are back... Padaca and Among Ed are out. What's happening??

10 Things We Learned in Eleksyon 2010

10. Highlighting your humble beginnings does not necessarily convert into votes from the masses.

9. Surveys do not reflect the outcome of the elections. Of course not…

8. It is ALMOST possible to re-elect an ousted, convicted plunderer, then, pardoned Ex-President.

7. Big campaign budgets don’t result to favorable results.

6. The counting was real fast! The indelible ink is still visible in my finger and the results are already out!

5. Jamby was right: celebrity endorsers are not necessarily helpful in gathering votes. Wowowee!

4. Abra should be relocated to Mindanao.

3. Every SONA year will now look like the annual FAMAS awards (with Bong and Lani, Tito and Helen, Ralph and Ate Vi, Jinggoy, etc.)

2. Always bring your glasses so you won’t forget to vote for your running mate.

1. Manny Pacquiao will no longer be part of the SONA speech. He is now part of the SONA crowd! Welcome, Congressman Pacquiao!

Here's my bonus learning: Leon Guerrero is still the country's most famous local folklore... He still keeps the Senate seat (for now, given th 80% counting)!!! :)

Thank God for a successful May elections. We also have a lot of things to thank God for in this elections. Thank God for:

1. No brownouts before, during and after the polls

2. Less election violence

3. Less glitches than expected

4. No failure of elections

5. Stock market rebound today!

Now, we have to monitor what happens next. I just pray that my vote was not wasted. Cheers to the presidentiables who conceded earlier today for their statesmanship and courage to face defeat. We hope to see them support the coming administration.

Transition begins immediately...Good luck!

Power Crisis 2010

When we say history repeats itself, we don't mean to take it literally. This year, we are back in the power-crisis status, after escaping it in 1992. What happens next? A Former Defense Secretary as President? :)

We are now experiencing rotating brownouts around Metro Manila. 2 hours of brownout per day per group just to avoid power shortage. This is in the midst of an extremely hot summer weather. No one's enjoying this, except the exporters and retailers of power generators. Business for them is once again blooming.

I have already heard this crisis around 7 years ago. In 2004, there was a feature article in an investigative magazine, Newsbreak, about the possible power crisis in 5 years time. 6 years hence, the power crisis is here. It was brought out 6 years ago and people in government did not react. Now, in the most crucial, unprecedented period in Philippine history, the period when we are about to test a long-awaited automated elections, authorities will not tell us that we have insufficient power. Coincidence? Perhaps. As our dear Secretary of Energy said, "It's Force Majeure. Act of God. If you want to blame somebody, blame God."

Sir, with all due respect, I can't blame God on this one. God has given us the signs of power crisis several years back. God has given us the brain to process the problems. And now, we have to blame it on force majeure? I don't get it...

Now, there are talks of emergency powers to fix the crisis. First, Mindanao. Then, if things get worse, emergency powers will be necessary in Manila. What happens then to the May elections?

If Sec. Reyes wants to keep a good legacy in the cabinet, he should make things happen in the next few months, the last few months remaining in his term. The first thing to do in solving the problem is accepting it. We should first accept this problem and not blame it on the Supreme Being. We have a few months left before the elections. Time is running out...

December 1, 2009 - Deadline!

A lot of things have passed and I have not been writing lately. :) I'll try to keep up with the things I haven't wirtten about in the past 2 months or so.

The filing of certificates of candidacy has just come to an end, with all the expectations and surprises coming into play. Just to highlight a few:

• There's Bayani Fernando who swore not to become anybody's VP ending up under Sen Dick Gordon's party.
• A flurry of stars and starlets diving into the realm of politics, an industry closely related to theirs since their offices are filled with character actors.
• Senator Jamby Madrigal finally filing for a Presidential candidacy... Nuissance?!? Nah. With Judy Ann again on her side, she might get at least a thousand votes from Juday's avid fans.
• Edu shouts "Game Ka na Ba?" for the Vice- Presidency. The Filipino people shout back: HINDE!
• Buboy, Goma try local politics. I hope Goma doesn't fence with or shoot voters into voting for him, nor will Buboy do the singing bee or buy a fabricated proclamation in Recto.
• Ate Vi and Ralph jump ships from Lakas to Liberal. And now, Luis (The son formerly known as Lucky) is totally confused on who to support.
• Ebdane bids goodbye to his Presidential hopes for lack of funds. Blessing in disguise ain't it Secretary?
• Ampatuans allegedly massacred 56 people including the family of Vice Mayor Ishmael Mangudadatu in what is believed to be the worst election related violence in the country. It's just so confusing to see a grieving Mangudadatu smiling in front of the camera beside Gibo Teodora, just a few days after his wife was massacred in his hometown. This just earmarked the Philippines as the most dangerous place for a journalist, beating the war-torn Iraq!
• ...and the best highlight of the 2010 elections is the utter demotion of our beloved President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who decides to vie for a Congressional seat in the 2nd district of Pampanga. Another first from the Philippines!

And this is just the beginning!

God bless the Philippines.

"Lalaban Tayo" no more...

I thought I shall never see a modern-day Filipino statesman. Today, we just witnessed Mar Roxas announcing the "heaviest decision" he has ever made in his entire political career, and that is giving in for fellow Liberal Party member, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Whatever his reasons were for his sudden backing out, what matters is that in the eyes of the Filipino people, he chose the harder side, the more righteous, and that is to give way to a colleague whose popularity has risen after the demise of her of her mother, former President Cory Aquino.

Initially I was a silent, informal supporter of the Mar-Roxas-for-President-moves. He was one of the most ideal Presidentiables, backed with exceptional credentials and political blood. A few wrong moves here and there somewhat tainted my support, one of which was his public cursing at the current administration during a rally in Makati. Another is his public display of affection for TV announcer Korina Sanchez. Okay, they have every right to be happy, but please! You're almost 50 for the love of... Oh well. Love knows no boundaries.

I was about to abhor Mar for his ill-advised "Lalaban Tayo" and "Padyak" commercials over radio and television, but with this most recent development, I am back to admiring this guy. The fact that he is about to give up the power that he has long cherished is simply astounding. Admirable.

I have never seen genuine statesmanship like this in my generation. With this, we can see his true intentions for genuine change, and that it was his primary aim at Presidency. He gave up his ambitions for this objective. He already has a stable and solid political machinery. I hope he lends this to Noynoy, should he decide to run for President. I heard he is backed by very bright, optimistic, service-oriented supporters so probably he could get things done.

Just like in the United States, the Philippines needs change. In order to have this change, we need people who shall initiate change. Today, Mar has started a change. A change in the political landscape. A change in the seemingly rotting political system. A change that no other politician dare touch. I sure hope this change does not end here. I also hope this is no gimmick. Let this change start and spread now. Mar did the right thing and he'll be remembered in history books for all eternity.

Cheers to Sen. Mar Roxas for showing the younger Filipinos how it is to retreat and accept, how it is to be a true gentleman and a true statesman' and for showing the older ones that there is still a light in this very very long tunnel.

Pure MOA Shores

This is the closest I've been from the USS George Washington. The US aircraft carrier was in Philippines waters a few weeks ago. Just like this man, I was at shore envious of those Filipinos who had the opportunity to tour the famous carrier. All I saw were a bunch of small ships used to transfer the thousands of sailors shopping in Mall of Asia.

Photo taken with Canon A590IS

It's funny to see a few sailors bidding their farewells to their newly found "friends" at the shores of MOA. Indeed, where there are foreigners, there are the Fiipina-bride-wannabes. Haven't we learned anything from Nicole, one of the most controversial rape cases since VFA?

Mall Terrorists(?!)

I just get so afraid to walk on the floors of SM North EDSA. This is due to the new type of terrorists that hover the area! Before you get all scared please read on...

I was walking along SM North EDSA one day, just doing the usual stroll, leisurely observing the people, looking at good buys, etc. etc. Then suddenly I was attacked! I was attacked by what I termed as the mall terrorists! They are no other than the pre-need sellers in malls! They disturb the peace and impede personal space just to make a sale!

The deed begins by them approaching you and asking if you have a credit card. If you do and you show it to them, they will entertain you, grab your credit card, and offer you to join a raffle or something. Then, without your knowledge, they will swipe your card to purchase a product you don't fully understand, and obviously you didn't expect to buy. After which, they explain what had just happened. Isn't that terrorism in its highest sense?!?!

One time I just felt like I wanted to act stupid. When I already spotted the pre-need guy about to approach me, I suddenly screamed, shrieked like when a baby is stripped off his candy. :) The guy got scared and just walked away from me. My screaming just saved me from another few minutes of hawking! Yahoo! :)

I understand that the times have been hard and selling those types of products can be very difficult. But that does not give these people the license to terrorize mall-goers by unethically swiping their credit cards for a product sale.

I myself am working for a company that has a pre-need arm. Given that we belong into one financial services industry, alongside banks, mutual fund coimpanies, and stock brokerage firms, we should exercise the highest level of integrity and honesty. Sales and profit should go hand in hand with ethical business practices.

I sure hope these people would stop sowing terror among the regular Filipino people.

Brothers and sisters, beware!!!!!

Automated Polls in the Philippines?

How about a wager on this one? Sa pula, sa puti. Sa pula, Magkakaroon ng Automated Elections. Sa Puti, hindi. Any takers? Magkano kayo?

Nobody takes this crap seriously so why take this seriously? Let's just gamble on it. At least sa sugal may ilang taong sasaya. Eh dito? Lahat ng Pinoy, malungkot ulit. Nakakatamad na kaya magsulat ng pangalan ng kandidatong iboboto mo lang dahil sa kawalan ng tinatawag na "viable options." Viable options? Okay, relatively viable options.

In President GMA's BEAT THE ODDS battle cry, "Automated Elections" is the letter A. I hope she could fulfill at least this easiest task.

This or Balance the Budget (Letter B)?! Can the Presidency still do that? They can't. They've tried by taxing even the educational books but even so, they won't fulfill this promise. That's why go with the most simple. With this at least you can say you were able to make a "difference."

We're running out of time... We got 10 months to go...