Hate Fitness First at RCBC's new shower heads. It feels like you’re having a car wash rather taking a bath!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Guilty
Simpleng “goodnight” lang di mo pa madelete
At may folder pa para sa text na may “smiley” kahit puro hahaha o hehehe lang naman un message… basta natawa lang sya sa sinabi mo
At may folder pa para sa text na may “smiley” kahit puro hahaha o hehehe lang naman un message… basta natawa lang sya sa sinabi mo
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Ninth of January
As far as my mother’s recollections are concerned, I have been a devotee of the Black Nazarene. Which included her donning me with a maroon dress similar to that worn by the Black Nazarene when I was a toddler.
I was brought up in an old Spanish house along R. Hidalgo St in Quiapo until I was 8 years old methinks. I remember waking up early during the fiesta, making sure I won’t miss the colourful chinese dragon dance, the bandas, and other performances that are part of the fiesta and procession of the Nazarene.
The front of our house was our bakery and canteen and we kept it open even during the fiesta taking advantage of the huge number of people coming in to witness the Nazarene’s procession. As a child, the fiesta is nothing more to me than another reason to continue the Christmas and New Year celebration. Buying ice cream from the peddlers, going out on the street, joining the games held at the nearby Paras compound, the structure of which happens to date from the Spanish period.
But come noon, our helpers would close the store because the Nazarene’s procession is about to come from the street directly in front of our house. The anticipation of the procession is frightening. Mom recalls me crying every time the procession arrives. I can only vaguely remember the statue on top of what appears to me as a river of human heads, and you can’t even see their faces, just their hairs bobbing up and down like a waves of a river.
I forgot when it started, but I made sure that I am Quiapo every ninth of January and I haven’t missed a fiesta ever since I’ve started going there – even by myself. I used to manage to go to the church and say a prayer under the sun, several feet away from the church itself. But now I’m just content of being able to see the Nazarene in the procession at whichever street I could chance upon it. I even had to chase the procession three years ago as when I arrived at the place where I usually wait for, it had already passed. So I’ve asked people on the street where the Nazarene was, and when I try to go there or on to its next destination, knowing how slow the procession moves, I’d find that it already passed. I thought I’d missed the Nazarene that year, but I kept on walking trying to overhear from people on the streets where the procession was at. Lo and behold, I found myself at R. Hidalgo St, beside a photo studio that used to be the place I call home. A minute later, I hear shouts “Viva, Viva”, towels up in the air being swirled by devotees, people making the sign of the cross, and there in front of me was the Black Nazarene. In spite of the chaos, the rowdy devotees, the Nazarene’s presence is just awesome, it fills you with an unexplainable emotion. It makes you weak in the knees, yet you’re filled with extraordinary strength…and life.
Last year, I was with an officemate who came with me when she heard that I would be going there. It was her first time and didn’t believe what she saw. She was an ecstatic as the crowds as if she was a devotee. Unfortunately, as this year’s fiesta was a Saturday she wasn’t able to come with me. I had my parents and sister with me this year, and while we waited a good four hours on the street waiting for the procession, it was all worth the wait when it passed-by us.
Next year, my foreign bosses have asked me to bring them there.
I was brought up in an old Spanish house along R. Hidalgo St in Quiapo until I was 8 years old methinks. I remember waking up early during the fiesta, making sure I won’t miss the colourful chinese dragon dance, the bandas, and other performances that are part of the fiesta and procession of the Nazarene.
The front of our house was our bakery and canteen and we kept it open even during the fiesta taking advantage of the huge number of people coming in to witness the Nazarene’s procession. As a child, the fiesta is nothing more to me than another reason to continue the Christmas and New Year celebration. Buying ice cream from the peddlers, going out on the street, joining the games held at the nearby Paras compound, the structure of which happens to date from the Spanish period.
But come noon, our helpers would close the store because the Nazarene’s procession is about to come from the street directly in front of our house. The anticipation of the procession is frightening. Mom recalls me crying every time the procession arrives. I can only vaguely remember the statue on top of what appears to me as a river of human heads, and you can’t even see their faces, just their hairs bobbing up and down like a waves of a river.
I forgot when it started, but I made sure that I am Quiapo every ninth of January and I haven’t missed a fiesta ever since I’ve started going there – even by myself. I used to manage to go to the church and say a prayer under the sun, several feet away from the church itself. But now I’m just content of being able to see the Nazarene in the procession at whichever street I could chance upon it. I even had to chase the procession three years ago as when I arrived at the place where I usually wait for, it had already passed. So I’ve asked people on the street where the Nazarene was, and when I try to go there or on to its next destination, knowing how slow the procession moves, I’d find that it already passed. I thought I’d missed the Nazarene that year, but I kept on walking trying to overhear from people on the streets where the procession was at. Lo and behold, I found myself at R. Hidalgo St, beside a photo studio that used to be the place I call home. A minute later, I hear shouts “Viva, Viva”, towels up in the air being swirled by devotees, people making the sign of the cross, and there in front of me was the Black Nazarene. In spite of the chaos, the rowdy devotees, the Nazarene’s presence is just awesome, it fills you with an unexplainable emotion. It makes you weak in the knees, yet you’re filled with extraordinary strength…and life.
Last year, I was with an officemate who came with me when she heard that I would be going there. It was her first time and didn’t believe what she saw. She was an ecstatic as the crowds as if she was a devotee. Unfortunately, as this year’s fiesta was a Saturday she wasn’t able to come with me. I had my parents and sister with me this year, and while we waited a good four hours on the street waiting for the procession, it was all worth the wait when it passed-by us.
Next year, my foreign bosses have asked me to bring them there.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Philippine Suggestions
With the election coming in and with all the things that have been happening around us, one stop and wonder how is the Philippines going to recover from where it has slumped decades – or probably centuries ago.
So allow me to impart my craziness on how I think we could pave the way to start the renewal of our country and hopefully our rise to fame once more rather than shame..
Leaders
I think we’re a country of celebrity fans. It has been inculcated in our psyche to “idolise” people. I’m pretty sure we got this from our colonial past, where those whose skin is lighter than ours, whose nose is sharper than ours, and whose built is bigger than ours is considered “better” than us. I think it also explains why a big number of big named celebrities run for politics and win. Even the old political clans win because of their own celebrity status in their own territories.
And so we end up with a well-loved leader but not necessarily an able leader, think President Estrada hehehe or we have an able leader yet hated think GMA (common regardless of what you think and feel about her, you must admit that she did lead the country like an able president should)
How do we balance this mentality burned deep in our culture?
We should have a royalty and a prime minister. Yes, we should vote for a king or queen every after a certain period of time. This would allow people to vote based on “emotions”. That they can relate to this person. That this person is for the poor or the masses. This king or queen is nothing but an opium to the masses. A symbol of the country and it’s people, just like any other constitutional royalty at present. And if they do good at being this symbol, then the people could vote again for them and for their offspring and could continue to be the Philippine royalty albeit voted by the populace.
And then we have a prime minister voted by parliament. Hopefully, this guy would not come from royalty or a celebrity but someone who does wield power and influence. Well, I guess to have parliament vote you as their prime minister already shows your power and influence.
And yes, it should be a two-party system. It’s easier to label one as good and the other evil. Or conservative and liberal. Better and worst. Rather than good-bad, bad-good, goodie-baddie, baddie-goodie. You know what I mean.
Political Landscape
Congress, The Supreme Court, Ombudsman, COMELEC are some of the constitutional bodies that have been established to ensure the check and balance between the government agencies and the people who govern these agencies as well as their responsibilities. But come on, how can someone check the very same person who put them into power. Filipino culture dictates “utang na loob” “pakikisama” and all its variants. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but the other spectrum of these Filipino values could result into what we have today in Philippine politics and society as a whole.
So what’s the solution?
Have these offices up for election. And if they all come from one party and we find that they are in collusion with people in government, there is no one to blame but ourselves and hopefully the voting public would know how to vote the next time around – Wisely.
And because they were voted by the general public, in theory they owe no allegiance to those in power – of whom they should “check and balance”.
I also think that the country should be divided into “states” based on languages. While it looks divisive, it actually is more unifying since people could identify to one another more rather than a Filipino, which honestly is a vague concept. People would identify more as an Ilocano, Visayan or Tagalog than a Filipino. Probably overseas this is evident, but we’re not trying to change the landscape of the world, we are trying to change our country for the better. And once we have identified ourselves with something, then the real Filipino would rise and then we truly could be proud of being Filipinos, not because one or two of our countrymen excel and got the world’s attention, but because we as a nation excelled.
Then probably we could build something to marvel the world. Or we probably have what nature gave us to marvel the whole world.
So allow me to impart my craziness on how I think we could pave the way to start the renewal of our country and hopefully our rise to fame once more rather than shame..
Leaders
I think we’re a country of celebrity fans. It has been inculcated in our psyche to “idolise” people. I’m pretty sure we got this from our colonial past, where those whose skin is lighter than ours, whose nose is sharper than ours, and whose built is bigger than ours is considered “better” than us. I think it also explains why a big number of big named celebrities run for politics and win. Even the old political clans win because of their own celebrity status in their own territories.
And so we end up with a well-loved leader but not necessarily an able leader, think President Estrada hehehe or we have an able leader yet hated think GMA (common regardless of what you think and feel about her, you must admit that she did lead the country like an able president should)
How do we balance this mentality burned deep in our culture?
We should have a royalty and a prime minister. Yes, we should vote for a king or queen every after a certain period of time. This would allow people to vote based on “emotions”. That they can relate to this person. That this person is for the poor or the masses. This king or queen is nothing but an opium to the masses. A symbol of the country and it’s people, just like any other constitutional royalty at present. And if they do good at being this symbol, then the people could vote again for them and for their offspring and could continue to be the Philippine royalty albeit voted by the populace.
And then we have a prime minister voted by parliament. Hopefully, this guy would not come from royalty or a celebrity but someone who does wield power and influence. Well, I guess to have parliament vote you as their prime minister already shows your power and influence.
And yes, it should be a two-party system. It’s easier to label one as good and the other evil. Or conservative and liberal. Better and worst. Rather than good-bad, bad-good, goodie-baddie, baddie-goodie. You know what I mean.
Political Landscape
Congress, The Supreme Court, Ombudsman, COMELEC are some of the constitutional bodies that have been established to ensure the check and balance between the government agencies and the people who govern these agencies as well as their responsibilities. But come on, how can someone check the very same person who put them into power. Filipino culture dictates “utang na loob” “pakikisama” and all its variants. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but the other spectrum of these Filipino values could result into what we have today in Philippine politics and society as a whole.
So what’s the solution?
Have these offices up for election. And if they all come from one party and we find that they are in collusion with people in government, there is no one to blame but ourselves and hopefully the voting public would know how to vote the next time around – Wisely.
And because they were voted by the general public, in theory they owe no allegiance to those in power – of whom they should “check and balance”.
I also think that the country should be divided into “states” based on languages. While it looks divisive, it actually is more unifying since people could identify to one another more rather than a Filipino, which honestly is a vague concept. People would identify more as an Ilocano, Visayan or Tagalog than a Filipino. Probably overseas this is evident, but we’re not trying to change the landscape of the world, we are trying to change our country for the better. And once we have identified ourselves with something, then the real Filipino would rise and then we truly could be proud of being Filipinos, not because one or two of our countrymen excel and got the world’s attention, but because we as a nation excelled.
Then probably we could build something to marvel the world. Or we probably have what nature gave us to marvel the whole world.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Is this the 13th Century?
The next time I hear about some foreigner write that the Philippines is a backward nation, I’ll sing to his tune. Because what happened in Mindanao, and I’m sure elsewhere in the country sans media coverage, is but a concrete example of how backward our government, our political institutions are. It reminds me of feudal times when there were warlords, when a surname equates to territorial ownership, and when that ownership passes from father to son.
Yes. In other more developed – and democratic - countries families also tend to be politically-inclined as well over the years. The Bush’s were, the Kennedy’s, and there are more. But they don’t behave like warlords – or at least openly display their power among their citizens. To other countries probably, but never with their own.
And here we have Filipinos terrorising fellow Filipinos. Correction, we have Filipinos killing fellow Filipinos. All for the sake of keeping oneself in power. This is worst than the Holocaust.
What’s even harder to understand with the recent massacre down in Mindanao, is that we here in Northern Philippines believe that these people stick together. That they’re like one big family under their religion and that they would go through everything for their religion and their people.
Yes. In other more developed – and democratic - countries families also tend to be politically-inclined as well over the years. The Bush’s were, the Kennedy’s, and there are more. But they don’t behave like warlords – or at least openly display their power among their citizens. To other countries probably, but never with their own.
And here we have Filipinos terrorising fellow Filipinos. Correction, we have Filipinos killing fellow Filipinos. All for the sake of keeping oneself in power. This is worst than the Holocaust.
What’s even harder to understand with the recent massacre down in Mindanao, is that we here in Northern Philippines believe that these people stick together. That they’re like one big family under their religion and that they would go through everything for their religion and their people.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Of Heroes
Manny made us all proud to be Filipinos…
But Efren Penaflorida humbled me and encouraged me become a better person…
But Efren Penaflorida humbled me and encouraged me become a better person…
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
This must be a bit late but I was just inspired to write this thanks to Batangistik’s own posting about the subject.
Ever since Pacman rose to fame, every singer of the Philippine national anthem during his title bouts would end up in infamy for the way they sang the anthem. All allegedly singing the anthem contrary to law.
For one is there a law specifying how the Philippine national anthem should be sung?
There is first the Philippine Constitution under Article XVI Section 2 specifies that Congress can by law adopt the national symbols, ie name of the country, anthem, seal etc. This then gave birth to the actual law or regulation which is Republic Act 8491 which is the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philppines specifying that the anthem shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.
A problem with this though is that Julian Felipe’s composition required that the time signature is 2/4 and is on C major. But now it was changed to 4/4 time signature and on G to facilitate singing.
The anthem was a march. This is because it was conceived during the war periods and therefore soldiers or those fighting for our independence could be inspired. Think of those drummers in front of a cavalry attacking, the beat of their drums is intended to inspire their comrades to fight and inspire fear naman with their enemies. The same with our own national anthem, that’s why it was called Marcha Nacional Filipina.
And so why do our singers change the melody when they sing it.
IMHO I think that they’re just a bit of insecure whenever they do it on the international arena. They would be unable to display their vocal prowess if they stick to the “march” and so they need to exercise their artistic license.
Why would they be insecure? Because those who sing the US of A’s national anthem are able to display their vocal ranges. How come? Because their national anthem was set with one and a half octaves thus difficult for singers to sing (again musically inclined individuals – of which I am not – would be able to understand this).
And since the tune was set to a popular British drinking song, it’s not a wonder why it would appear a drunk person is singing the song hehehe
Probably if our singers would know about this bit of information, they would stick to the original beat of our national anthem proudly displaying how sober they are while singing hehehe
Anyway, I also thought about including the original poem in Spanish written by Jose Palma. Have a go singing the lyrics to the beat of our anthem. Enjoy
===========
Ever since Pacman rose to fame, every singer of the Philippine national anthem during his title bouts would end up in infamy for the way they sang the anthem. All allegedly singing the anthem contrary to law.
For one is there a law specifying how the Philippine national anthem should be sung?
There is first the Philippine Constitution under Article XVI Section 2 specifies that Congress can by law adopt the national symbols, ie name of the country, anthem, seal etc. This then gave birth to the actual law or regulation which is Republic Act 8491 which is the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philppines specifying that the anthem shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.
A problem with this though is that Julian Felipe’s composition required that the time signature is 2/4 and is on C major. But now it was changed to 4/4 time signature and on G to facilitate singing.
The anthem was a march. This is because it was conceived during the war periods and therefore soldiers or those fighting for our independence could be inspired. Think of those drummers in front of a cavalry attacking, the beat of their drums is intended to inspire their comrades to fight and inspire fear naman with their enemies. The same with our own national anthem, that’s why it was called Marcha Nacional Filipina.
And so why do our singers change the melody when they sing it.
IMHO I think that they’re just a bit of insecure whenever they do it on the international arena. They would be unable to display their vocal prowess if they stick to the “march” and so they need to exercise their artistic license.
Why would they be insecure? Because those who sing the US of A’s national anthem are able to display their vocal ranges. How come? Because their national anthem was set with one and a half octaves thus difficult for singers to sing (again musically inclined individuals – of which I am not – would be able to understand this).
And since the tune was set to a popular British drinking song, it’s not a wonder why it would appear a drunk person is singing the song hehehe
Probably if our singers would know about this bit of information, they would stick to the original beat of our national anthem proudly displaying how sober they are while singing hehehe
Anyway, I also thought about including the original poem in Spanish written by Jose Palma. Have a go singing the lyrics to the beat of our anthem. Enjoy
===========
Felipinas
Tierra adorada
Hija del sol Oriente,
Su fuego ardiente
En ti latiendo esta.
Tierra de amores,
Del heroismo cuna,
Los invasores
No te hollaran jamas.
En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
En tus montes y en tu mar,
Esplende y late el poema
De tu amada libertad.
Tu pabellion que en las lides
La victoria ilumino,
No veranunc apagados
Sus estrellas y su sol.
Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores,
En tu regazo dulce es vivir,
Es una gloria para tus hijos
Cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Let's Now Hear From the Honourable Gentleman From...
Hmm so it’s finally out – though not official – that the world’s current Pound-for-Pound King, PacMan, will soon be Honourable Gentleman for Saranggani. I heard it over the TV when he was being interviewed and he said he would like to do what he can to help the people of Saranggani.
While his first attempt in politics went down in shambles, I’m certain that this time around, he’d be one of our Honourables (aside: I personally think this reference to Congressmen should be abolished). Everything is on his side at the moment he just need to play his cards right until election day. Still my fearless forecast is he’d be a congressman. A further reason to reinforce my belief that our political system and electoral process is not effective.
But but I’m not saying that people the likes of Manny doesn’t have to right to enter politics and help out our countrymen. I think it’s a noble reason and should be the reason why people should go into public service. It is PUBLIC SERVICE.
Manny has the millions to be able to help out his district, his province, even the country. He could set-up a foundation like the Rockefellers if he really want to help. Afterall people would come to the office of a politician to ask for financial assistance most of the time. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to use his funds for such a noble task?
And there lies the problem. One needs to use HIS OWN funds to do so. So enter public service and you have government funds to dole out to people and still have them thank you for the assistance. Put your face up in posters, sheds, school facades declaring it was through you that all these were made possible.
For all we know years from now the surname Pacquiao would not only be remembered as a great boxer, but a political clan. ‘Cause I’m certain that once they have a taste of the power that comes with PUBLIC SERVICE it’ll be hard for them to give it up.
Unless of course we have a voting public that thinks out the issues and sees beyond personalities. Then our Honourable Congressmen and Senators needs not worry about legislating an Anti-Dynasty Law…
While his first attempt in politics went down in shambles, I’m certain that this time around, he’d be one of our Honourables (aside: I personally think this reference to Congressmen should be abolished). Everything is on his side at the moment he just need to play his cards right until election day. Still my fearless forecast is he’d be a congressman. A further reason to reinforce my belief that our political system and electoral process is not effective.
But but I’m not saying that people the likes of Manny doesn’t have to right to enter politics and help out our countrymen. I think it’s a noble reason and should be the reason why people should go into public service. It is PUBLIC SERVICE.
Manny has the millions to be able to help out his district, his province, even the country. He could set-up a foundation like the Rockefellers if he really want to help. Afterall people would come to the office of a politician to ask for financial assistance most of the time. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to use his funds for such a noble task?
And there lies the problem. One needs to use HIS OWN funds to do so. So enter public service and you have government funds to dole out to people and still have them thank you for the assistance. Put your face up in posters, sheds, school facades declaring it was through you that all these were made possible.
For all we know years from now the surname Pacquiao would not only be remembered as a great boxer, but a political clan. ‘Cause I’m certain that once they have a taste of the power that comes with PUBLIC SERVICE it’ll be hard for them to give it up.
Unless of course we have a voting public that thinks out the issues and sees beyond personalities. Then our Honourable Congressmen and Senators needs not worry about legislating an Anti-Dynasty Law…
