Two thumbs way up

Respeto na lang po, mga kaibigan.

Sa lahat ng taga-UP na nanggagalaiti sa mga salitang binitawan ng “Kagalang-galang” na Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan (o ang kawalan nito) na si Raul Gonzalez, hayaan na lang po natin siyang magsalita.

To Sec. Raul Gonzalez, if you mean destabilizer as being a person who is socially aware, assertive, critical and actively participating in our nation’s development, a person who does not tolerate mediocrity and apathy, a person who selflessly protects the rights and freedom of the people through involvement in various political, social and economic activities, then I am guilty as charged. By all means crucify me and a number our nation’s civil servants, political leaders, and businessmen who strive hard to make this country a better place. Do this, and you will be left with people like yourself who epitomize self-righteousness and utter arrogance.

May I also take the opportunity to thank you for acknowledging the efforts of the Scholars of the Land. This just means we UP alumni are making a dent on Philippine society. Mabuhay ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan.

Di Lumusot Sa UAAP (board)...

It’s the UAAP (69th) season once again and I can’t seem to feel it in the air. I have to admit, La Salle’s absence in the hard court this year gave the league its expected gloom. And it has certainly crippled the league in terms of ticket sales, promotions and sponsorships.

I have to admit that La Salle provides a gargantuan crowd in a given stadium. Other teams are always overpowered by the heat-thumping drums and overwhelming applause of the La Salle crowd. Scalpers are dying to hoard tickets for a La Salle game, especially if the game is against rival Ateneo. La Salle just gives a new meaning to school spirit. Too bad, the drums aren’t rolling this year.

It was reported that major sponsors have abandoned the league this year because of the absence of the largest crowd-drawer school. Some of the biggest sponsors who are missing in this year’s league are Telecoms giant Globe and Nestle, the number one sponsor of the cheerdance competition. Luckily, the league got sponsorships from the Gokongwei group, led by its Telecoms arm, Sun Cellular. That's why the traditional “MILO Three-point shot” is replaced by “Sun Cellular Three Point shot.”

La Salle is sorely missed this year. But that does not mean that their league suspension was a bad decision. Rules are meant to be observed and obeyed at all times. Plus, the value of academic education at par with sports excellence should always be adhered. Taking from what Samuel Jackson said in the movie “Coach Carter,” in college always comes first when you say college basketball, so education should never be taken for granted. Anyone breaking this discipline should be penalized with the strictest of penalties.

Let’s just hope this incident will never happen again. And as for La Salle, they have all the time to practice for Season 70.

As for the other teams, La Salle’s suspension is greater chance to gain a final four slot.

Chicken Soup-type of an entry...

One incident struck me last night, upon going home from my lady’s abode. I rode in front of a jeep going to Sta. Ana bridge, and accidentally eavesdropped at the conversation between the driver and his backrider (a backrider is a person who rides with the driver, and in charge of collecting fees and calling passengers). They were talking about preparing for their children’s future. I was amazed at how determined the driver was to provide for his children’s education. He told the backrider that he gave his kids a free hand to select the courses they want to take. “Kung gusto nilang mag-Nursing, kakayanin ko ‘yan.” He was ready and willing to finance for them, no matter how expensive their chosen course would take. He even jokingly uttered, “Malakas mangarap ano? Samantalang jeepney driver lang ako.” He seems to take everything lightly and confidently. Not to mention, with full optimism, disregarding the challenges of the difficult times. Let’s just hope he is not into something illegal.

Kidding aside, this exchange between two people with relatively ordinary lives (at least compared to squandering yuppies in Makati and Eastwood) has struck me. All along, people complain of low wages, harder way of life, more difficult times. But this man looked at the world in a totally different perspective. He was taking life in a stride, and was determined that he could bring his children to college, no matter what it takes. It just made me reflect that sometimes, we complain too much at things small things, making us so pessimistic about the current situation. However, just like the jeepney driver, we can always look at the bright side of life and work to face the challenges ahead. Instead of complaining that we have less food, we could always look forward that things will be better in the future. There is always a light in every tunnel. “My children will finish college no matter what.”

On the second thought, baka nga mayaman yung driver. Nagpapalipas oras lang sa pag-dyidyip… Oh well… My reflection stays… hehehe.

With this, I remember a quote with the same theme: “I was complaining I had no shoes, until I saw a man with no feet.”

Despite the hard times, we should never stop dreaming and believing.

Kris and the PBA

I have to thank Kris for giving a new spark to the Philippine Basketball Association. Before she came into James Yap’s life (and for this matter, the entire association’s life), the PBA was in the middle of its declining popularity. Special thanks to Kris, and not to mention Filipinos’ penchant for gossips and showbizness, the PBA was revived into another one of those must-see shows on Philippine boob-tube.

You can tell by the number of advertisements and the capacity crowd that the Purefoods’ popularity is constantly improving, almost to the point that it outnumbers the die-hard fans of Ginebra Gin Kings.

Before, the PBA board becomes financially weary if the Gin Kings are not going to the finals because Ginebra provides the most number of seats in the stadium. But now, Purefoods has emerged into one of the biggest providers of ticket sales in the PBA. And all these I give credit to the star-studded ladies everytime they play, and of which, the biggest one is Kris. Aside from James Yap’s lady, showbiz personality present in every game was Marc Pingris’ beau Danica Sotto.

Below are the winners of this year’s PBA Awards:

Most Valuable Player – James Yap

Mythical 1st Team:
James Yap
Kerby Raymundo
Enrico Villanueva
Lordy Tugade
Roger yap

Mythical Second Team:
Dorian Peña
Mike Cortez
Marc Pingris
Marc Caguioa
Danny Seigle

All-Defensive Team:
Marc Pingris
Topex Robinson
Wynne Arboleda
Nic Belasco
Dorian Peña

Rookie of the Year – Larry Fonacier

Most Improved Player – Marc Pingris

Energy Player – Topex Robinson

Sportsmanship Award – Tony de la Cruz

First Filipino(a?!) in Mt. Everest

So the rumors were true. Leo Oracion was not the first Filipino atop the highest peak in the world... Nor was the controversial Dale Abenojar who is about to lose his big toe in Nepal due to frostbite.

It was this person (neither man nor woman)... Please see below.



Congratulations to the first Filipino(a) to set foot on the summit of Mt. Everest...

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Congratulations to the REAL "summiteers" Leo Oracion, Erwin Emata and Romi Garduce for making it to the top of the world. You really make Filipinos proud. Soon, you will be endorsing more products than you can ever imagine... hehehehe...

Imeldific birthday party...

Hasn't PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede heard of the word delicadeza? During his birthday party just last week, he had a rather unforgettable guest. Unforgettable not just to him but to the flabbergasted citizens upon hearing the news. It was no less than the widow of the very reason why his office was created. Yes, it was Madam Imelda indeed. Seems like Abcede got so starstruck that he forgot to realize that he was already sleeping with the enemy.

it was like seeing hubert Webb attending the late Senator Rene Cayetano's diamond birthday party. Or seeing Lucio Tan being a guest-of-honor in Liwayway Chato's. Yes, it was unthinkable. But it did happen.

Whoever invited Imelda Marcos in his party is totally out of his mind. Abcede should put him in solitary confinement, or better, feed him to the lions. Well, that is assuming it was not Abcede himself who invited Imelda to his bitrhday party.

People in highly sensitive positions should learn the value of discernment. The entire nation is watching and for people in these key positions, there is no room for "avoidable" mistakes, nor sheer stupidity.

Da Vinci Hype

It is appalling to hear everyone riding the "Da Vinci Code" controversy. Bishops, Civil leaders, and just now, newspapers say that even the Executive Secretary wants Da Vinci Code banned from local cinemas. It is sometimes disturbing and confusing where the paranoia is coming from.

I have read The Da Vinci Code and I must say that Dan Brown has crafted a literary masterpiece. With its fast-paced, action-packed plot and highly controversial issues, you wouldn't want to stop reading until the end. The book has touched a few sensitive issues on Christianity, the Opus Dei sect, the Gnostic Gospels, and Jesus Christ's human side, irating the faithfuls.

For one, Dan Brown has already cleared it out that his book was fiction, thus beliefs, rituals and facts stated were not true. End of controversy.

Second, being a devout Catholic, I don't think Dan Brown insulted, nor questioned the divinity of Jesus Christ. He just gave Christ a more human nature. Everybody could have made several assumptions on the life of Christ during the hidden years. After all, it was not written in the bible.

I admired Bro. Mike Velarde's statement over the issue, saying that the Filipinos are too secured towards their faith so there is no need to ban the movie. Also, MTRCB Chairperson Consoliza Laguardia was absolutely correct in saying that a simple two-hour video will not change a person's faith overnight.

This is not the first time that a movie has somewhat questioned the facts about the Christian religion. There was the movie Stigmata, which became famous for the line "How's your faith these dyas, Father?" The movie also questioned the validity of the Catholic Church, however, it was never banned by the MTRCB.

Another controversial movie is "The Body," starring Antonio Banderas who played the role of a priest investigating the site where they allegedly found the corpse of Jesus Christ. If I could recall correctly, the movie ended with a scene of Banderas and a bishop, where the bishop weeps and tells Banderas, "A priest is sworn to secrecy" after having found out that the body was indeed Christ.

All these media hype just a) puts the Catholic Church on the defensive, and b) creates interest and enthusiasm in the movie, which would later on convert into ticket sales.

There are more urgent concerns in this country that needs attention.

Pure Shores...

I wasn't supposed to start with this entry until I get the pictures but for lack of anything else to do, I decided to start it with a teaser photo taken from my phone...


Panglao Shores...

Truly exhilarating...

Live and let live?

I don't see the reason behind the administration's sensational announcement of commutation to hundreds of death convicts. This might be a show of conscience as a result of the Cabinet's weekend reflection during their retreat in Baguio City. Probably in the midst of their prayerful recollection, one of them just thought of a brilliant idea of doing one good deed for the Holy Week. However, due to budgetary constraints, they were unable to provide remarkable Gawad Kaling-like projects as good deed so they decided to give love through the least expensive way: Pardon the dead-men-walking.

This is the only logic I see in this decision. I do not see what is the big fuss about this announcement. In the first place, the President has had millions of reasons for these convicts not to die during her empire. First, there was this moratorium in 2001 (I think). After Leo Echegaray and several others' deaths during Erap's time, GMA, during her term, decided to put a halt to all the killings. This decision ignited anti-crime advocates. Yes, the same people who are protesting the current decision.

Years after the moratorium, probably just to gain support from the anti-crime advocates who might gather enough votes for her securing reelection, the President declared that death penalty shall take place, but only to those convicted with kidnapping. This means the convicted rapists, murderers, economic saboteurs, terrorists, and drug traffickers shall stay in death row until further notice. This utterly weird decision came after anti-kidnap (mostly Chinese) groups requested the resurgence of death penalty. Again, to gain the favor of those Chinese businessmen with big funding potential (read: 2004 elections). Amen.

And now, this decision. What prompted the decision? Taking from the two previous events about capital punishment, I can surmise that the reason behind the surprising announcement is still the same: politics. This could probably be a wager to regain the church's trust and confidence. Or this could just be a publicity stint, showing the administration's "merciful" side. But for me, this is just another one of the government's circus acts where they will acidentally shoot themselves in the foot.

I personally believe capital punishment is never a direct means to end crime and violence. As long as the law is bended, as long as the justice system is as slow as Pluto's revolution to the Sun, as long as brilliant lawyers' principles are blinded by millions of pesos cashed in by their wealthy criminal clients, and as long as judges are paid handsomely by filthy rich criminals, criminality and violence will linger the country. How can criminals fear death penalty if they haven't even experienced being in jail?

Capital punishment is merely a mouse trap kilometers away from the cheese. It will never be felt as long as the walk to justice is long and agonizing.

I am neither for nor against any form of capital punishment. But I am solidly behind the reengineering of the country's justice system.

Maybe they should go back to Baguio and rethink their Easter gimmick.

Belated Happy Easter to all...

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Trivia, trivia

Did you know: before politics, Joey Marquez was a noon-time show host of the hit variety show "Kalatog-Pinggan." His entry to politics was the benchmark of other actors who are politicians wannabe. Other noon-time show artists followed suit: Anjo Yllana (kalatog-pinggan), Tito Sotto (Eat Bulaga!), etc.

Tamad...

Bakit ganun? Bakit medyo tinatamad akong magsulat ng entry sa blog ko na ito? Noong una, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko itong praktisan upang makasulat ako nang maayos eh. Ngayon, wala na. Wala na kaong masulat. Siguro dahil din sa limited access ko ngayon sa internet. O sa dahil masyado na akong napikon sa sistema, ayoko nang magkomento. O dahil din nagtutunog sports nalayst na ako pag nagsusulat. Puro basketbol ang nasa utak. Sige, eto ibang entry... Maninira na lang ako. After all, my site is called slingshot... hihihi Here goes.

Magsusulat na lang ako ng hate entry. Ililsta ko ang mga kinaiinisan ko tungkol sa blog, sa buhay, at sa ibang tao.

On the second thought, I will save it for next time. Holy Week eh. Ayokong magkasala. Pero I will make this entry... Har har har.

I will instead boast (as if there's still somethign to boast) that after months of intermittent reading, I have finally finished the book "Angels and Demons" last month. I have to say that as a non-reader, I have learned to love reading because of fast-paced books such as these. Enough said. Dan Brown is such a genius. i just do not understand why there arose hate mails and reviews about the book. The book was surely a masterpiece. It never did break my perception and faith on the Catholic Church, but instead it gave me a different point of view of how religion and belief could co-exist with the development of science.

I have to stop there because people might kill me if they read to much spoilers in this entry. Oh well. This is such a lazy day...

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Trivia, trivia
Did you know: That's Entertainment talent and TV show host Jojo Alejar revived his Philippine movie career by acting in a supporting role to GMA Films' latest movie "Moments of Love."