Free Mind and Speech

Panagsao iti Samtoy wenno Iloko ket mapukpukawen

2010-09-14T16:14:00.000+08:00

La Union- Nagkikita daguiti opisyales manipod probinsya,” assessors” ken daguiti inhinyero nga idadaulwan ni Dr. Geoffrey S. Tilan, administrador iti La Union ken dadduma pay nga hepe iti up-upisina tapnu dinggen iti nasao nga resulta iti adal (research), panggep iti pangta nga mapukawen iti pagsasao nga Ilocano wenno Samtoy.

Bababen iti nasao nga presentasyon iti resulta ket naamwan nga adu pay lang iti daddakkel wennu nannanang ken tattatang nga agus-usar iti Ilocano ngem iti annakda- ket kaadwanen nga us-usarenda iti pagsasaon nga Ingles ken Filipino wennu Tagalog. Naamwan manipud iti nasao nga adal nga iti panagsaon iti Ilocano ket maamwan laengen kadaguiti nataengan wennu lallakay isunga makapaalarma iti nasao nga nai-report nga maibasar iti naiprisintar nga estadistika.

Sigun iti eksperto, saan nga napintas nga resulta iti maipakpakita iti nasao nga “trend” sipudta nu maamiris daytoy ket isunto iti paggapwan iti pannakapukaw iti “kultura” wenno adal iti Ilocano. Naisuhir met iti panggep nga mangipauli kuma iti ordinansa iti probinsya nga La Union, tapnu maangay iti panangpabiag iti pagsasao nga Ilocano (Revitalizing the Ilocano Heritage) ken pannaka-angay iti Makalawas nga panagtignay iti panagusar iti Ilocano (Ilocano week).

Sigon iti nakapatang iti La Union Times nga maysa nga mannurat, adu kano iti maitudtudo nga rason nu apay mapukpukawen iti pagsasao nga Ilocano. Maysa kadaguitoy iti impluwensya iti kangrunaan nga media (mainstream media), panagipagel iti kangrunaan nga pagadalan ken kina-awan iti aktibidades panggep iti Ilocano nga kas pagsasao ken pakakitaan iti kultura. Addaan pay adal panggep iti panagbaliw iti persepsyon iti agtutubo (youth) gapu ta ti dadduma ket “mabainen nga agsaon iti Ilocano” sadinno man nga paset iti ili ah kas pagadalan, paggatangan, ahensya gobyerno ken daddumapay. Dinakamat pay iti nasao nga mannurat nga kasapulan iti suporta ti kaadwan agraman gobyerno ken lideres ditoy probinsya tapnu masibugan iti panaglaylay iti pagsasao nga Ilocano, aglalo iti media, balay- pagadalan, internet , mannurat ken daddumapay. Innayon na pay nga “ironic” wenno sab-sabali daytoy nga pasamak ngamin makuna nga maibilang ti “Region I – Ilocos” iti La Union ngem manmanun iti makaammon nga agsao ken makaawat iti Ilocano.

Maipalagip nga haan laeng nga iti pagsasao nga Ilocano iti maipadpadamag nga mapukawen iti sumarsarunno nga henerasyon nu diket pati pagsasao nga “Pangasinense” wenno “Panggalatoc”. Babaen iti naireport manipud Balitang Amianan, “mabain kano iti kaadwan nga agtutubo” nga usaren iti nadakamat nga pagsasao isu nga iti gobernador iti nasao nga probinsya ket al-allukoyenna daguiti kaadwan nga biagenda met iti Pangasinense.

Sigun iti panagkalap iti adal ti La Union Times, iti pagsasao wenno “lenguahe” ket maysa nga aspeto iti panagbiag wenno dara iti kultura iti tattao ti maysa nga lugar nga haan lang nga madakamat iti literatura wennu mabasbasa nu diket maysa daytoy nga sarming nga pakaladawan iti naggapwan iti umili, panagprogreso para masakbayan ken panagkaykaysa.

Huling aksyon ng BPCI sa kaso ni Maria Venus Raj, isang hamon at hindi pagbawi sa naunang desisyon ng dethronement

2010-04-12T12:56:00.005+08:00

Ano sa tingin ninyo ang maaring maging kahihinatnan ng isyu patungkol sa posibleng pagrereinstate kay Maria Venus Raj bilang opisyal na delegato ng RP sa Miss Universe?Ako’y may halong pananaw ukol sa balitang ito ng basahin ni Ricky Lo ang opisyal na liham mula sa BPCI. Maaring ang ilan sa ating mga sumubaybay sa isyung ito ay naka-focus lamang sa puntong karapat dapat naman talaga si Bb. Raj at ang BPCI ang nagkamali sa kanilang naging naunang aksyon nang i-dethrone ang naturang beauty queen. Hindi maikakaila na marami ng sumawsaw sa petisyon, marami ng nagalit at kumwestiyon sa paraan ng pagpili ng BPCI sa mga kandidata sa una pa lamang at samu’t sari na ang pinukol, kesyo may isyu sa kulay, racism, pagiging hindi makatarungan, etc. Marami naring mga nakisakay sapagkat kung nasaan ang “masa”, naroon din sila, “taking advantage of the situation for their own motives but neither reaching a hand to help clear the situation.”Sa ganang akin, ang liham ay nagpapahiwatig ng hindi pagbawi sa kanilang naunang aksyon kundi ito’y isang “paghamon upang hukayin ang ugat”. Sapagkat, ang BPCI ay wala sa posisyon para ibigay ang linaw sa totoong estado ng nationalidad (citizenship) ni Ms. Raj. Kung kaya’t nais ko lamang pong ilahad sa diskusyon ang punto: Maaaring si Ms. Raj ay nasa kategorya ng Person of Indian Origin/Non-resident Indian (na maaring sa puntong ito’y hahalukayin din ang estado ng pagkamamayanan ng kanyang ama). Eh ano naman kung nabibilang siya rito? Ang nalalaman lang kasi natin ay Indian National ang kanyang ama ayon sa mga naging pahayag sa kanyang kampo. Subalit, kailangan kasing magkaroon ng “linaw” kung ano rin ang totoong estado ng pagkamamamayan ng kanyang ama upang maging malinaw kung ano nga ba ang magiging basehan ng mga kinaukulan sa kaso ni Ms. Raj. Maaaring sa imbestigasyon ay maungkat din ang estado kung papaano nakauwi ang kanyang ina noong mga nahuling panahon nasa Qatar ito. Lahat ng mga signipikong detalye rito ay lubhang napakahalaga sa imbestigasyon para ang mga kinaukulan ay mailahad ang “tamang legal na pahayag sa naturang isyu ng pagkamamayan ni Ms. Raj” at anu ano ang kanyang mga karapatan at pribilehiyong nakalahad ayon sa kanyang pagkamamayanan. Matatandaan natin na masalimuot ang sitwasyon ng mga batang ipinapanganak sa puntong maglalagay sa kanila sa pagiging “illegitimate”, at sa aking pananaw, napakasakit ang mga katotohanang ito (Ito ay realidad na nakaukol sa usaping batas). Kung matatandaan natin ang mga nabubuntis o nagkakaanak sa middle east na naipalabas sa balita o dokumentaryo, maiintindihan ninyo ang aking nais ipahayag.Ngunit, ang natitirang matibay na puntos kay Ms. Raj ay ang pagiging Pilipina ng kanyang ina (Subalit kung nakasal ang kanyang mga magulang ay maaring ito’y magdulot ng karagdagan pang aberya.). Samakatwid, maaring dito huhugutin ang lakas ng kanyang kaso lalung lalo na na si Ms. Raj ay lumaki at pinapatunayan ng marami ang kanyang paglaki sa Albay. Hindi kuwestyon ito. Subali’t maaring naging basehan ng kumplikasyon ng BPCI ang naunang parapo na aking binanggit kung kaya’t pinatitibay ang kanila noong naunang pahayag na, “misrepresentation” (base rin sa hindi magkakatugmang impormasyon sa birth records) na nagdulot sa desisyong dethronement. (Gusto kong linawin na ito’y sa aking analysis lamang at hindi ko inaari na ito ang opisyal na pahayag). Kung kaya’t nabanggit kong isa itong “hamon” sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng pasaporte maaaring mabungkal ang mga isyung yaon at ang legal na pahayag mula sa mga autoridad ay ang siya lamang makakapag-alis ng ating mga pagdududa. Ang nakakabahala nga lamang, ay kung ang kalalabasan nito ay magpapalakas sa posisyon ng BPCI na tama ang kanilang naging naunang desisyon. At ang kanilang sulat, ay isa lamang mekanismo upang hamunin ang posisyon ni Ms. Raj sa kanyang hinaing. Mula sa nakikita ng marami, ang paglabas ng opisyal na pahayag ng BPCI ay pagpapakita na sila ang nagkamali. Pero kung susumain at iintindihin, ang sulat ay pagbibigay-daan sa direksyon kay Ms. Raj upang bungkalin ang mga katotohanan sa bahagi ng kanyang pagkatao. Hindi ito kwestyon kung siya ay karapat-dapat na delegado ng RP. At nawa, ang BPCI ay balasahin/baguhin ang kanilang mga pamantayan ng hindi nalalagay sa kahihiyan/alanganin ang ating mga dilag na ang nais lamang ay itayo ang karangalan ng ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng mga patimpalak ng kagandahan na sa huli’y buong bansa ang siyang makikinabang.

The Way of the White Couds

2010-03-25T21:54:00.006+08:00

Buddha is reported to have said:

‘Just like a white cloud disappearing’.

A white cloud is a mystery—
the coming, the going, the very being of it.

A white cloud exists without any roots—
it is an unrooted phenomenon, grounded nowhere,
or grounded in the nowhere.
But it still exists.
A white cloud really has no way of his own.
It drifts. It has nowhere to reach, no destination,
no destiny to be fulfilled, no end.
You cannot frustrate a white cloud

because wherever it reaches is the goal.
Enlightened One's come and go,

just like white clouds in the blue sky,

without leaving a trace.

Peace
KP

Tuition Fee Increase

2010-03-25T09:54:00.008+08:00

Patuloy ang pagpapahirap sa mga estudyante dahil sa mga nakaambang resulta ng pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga paaralan sa Pilipinas. Hindi lamang ang PUP ang may ganitong sitwasyon sa ating bansa. Habang patuloy ang komersyalisasyon ng Edukasyon sa Pilipinas at hindi pagtutok ng mga kinauukulan, lalung lalo na ang gobyerno sa kalidad ng Edukasyon; nananatiling biktima ang mga kabataang Pilipino, ang kanilang mga magulang o mga nagpapaaral sa panganib na maidudulot nito sa kanilang kinabukasan. Ang PUP, bagama't may mga organisasyong tumatayong mata at boses sa naturang mga hinaing ng mga estudyante ay maaring mauwi lamang sa wala ang kanilang mga pinaglalaban kung hindi mareresolba sa pamamagitan ng dialogo o matinong pag-uusap upang mailahad ang mga isyung kaakibat nito kasama na ang agarang resolusyon. Paano na lamang ang ibang mga paaralan na walang organisadong liderato ng mga estudyante? Mananatiling busal ang mga kanilang mga bibig sa mga ganitong usapin at patuloy ang mga ganitong klase ng paglabag ng mga namamahala ng kani kanilang mga paaralan. Hindi rin bago ang naturang usapin sa mga ilang paaralang may mga student council ngunit ang kanilang liderato ay PAPET ng kanilang school administration. Oo, inuuna ang pampisikal na hitsura ng paarala, maaring mabuti nga sa imahe nito at makaakit ng iba pang mga mageenrol subalit pinunan ba nila ang mga kakulangan sa mga pangangailangan sa pagtuturo at mga importanteng gamit para itaas ang kalidad ng edukasyon?

Hindi na dapat mauwi sa marahas na demonstrasyon ang mga estudyante ngunit nakakapanggalaiti ang kawalan ng tainga ng mga taong nasa CHED na ibalik ang naturang usaping sa mga school administration ng PUP na ayon sa mga militanteng estudyante ay hindi handa sa pakikinig at bagkus hindi tapat sa kanilang mga tinuran para resolbahin ang naturang usapin.

Nawa'y hindi ganito ang klase ng pamamalakad ng mga ibang school administrators. Dapat sila maging handa at tapat sa estudyante sapagkat ang huli ang mga nakikinabang sa mga teorya at mahahalagang balangkas ng aralin na kanilang itinuturo. Kung ganito man lang ang sistema, marahil tama nga si Osyo na lahat ng mga tagapagturo sa paaralan ay sinungaling simula't sapol pa.

Tay ima ti Manngagas

2010-01-16T20:27:00.001+08:00

Adumet gayam ti langat kinaduktor,

Adda naisem ken saan,

Adda madi mo maispelling ken maawatan,

Sipud tay suratna ken templa,

Masapul nga agdingeg aprentis ken nars dita.

Ngem adda met tay naasi kas alumpipinig,

Adda met tay naunget nga kasla makaablat,

Uray marurodka, makailunod makaibabawi’t gura,

Iyunam latta tay kumbaba ken kapya.

Nu nabasam tay naglabas,

Adda met henyo nga kas ni Rizal,

Tay maysa pay ket ni Hen. Juan Luna,

Ken sumagmamano nga dadduma nga kas ni Pio Valenzuela.

Ngem tatta ket aduti duktor nga di-metro,

Kasla presyo’t krudo, de-kumisyon ken delikado,

Ta unayen pati dadduma diya’y ospital ket adda gudwada,

Kasanun tun laengen igatangen ti agas,

Kapas ken alkuol, suwero ken kanen pasyenteda?

Nu apay met adda subra nga naannad,

Adda met awan annad ken kunsidera,

Ngem awan makaypulong nudiket aguray lattan

Asi ni Apo ket sapaykuma’t makarwaren piman,

Naka-pirma pay utang ospital, salda’t nuwang ken daga.

Tay kayatmo nga duktor,

Madi mabaydan marunggay ti serbisyona,

Isunga tay dinuduktor ti nangkita ken Inang

Awan kanut nagbati nga limpiyo, nag-abroadda.

Ngem ti ut-ot ti ayannudtan ket haan nga maiyuray

Limpiyona, haan aya?

Ikidem lattan nu tay duktor nga ammuna’t umapros

Wennu tay maysa nga awan kararwana

Ken tay pay na-gita’t ngiwatna.

Sipud idi, nangatut saad ken kita ni Ama

Ta intuding kanot Apo ti kinaduktor nabasada ngata diya’y bibliya?

Tapnu pagtalkan salun-at, mangpababat kinabara

Nu panunotem nalaing kaslansa haan nga usto tay lolo Hipocrates

Gapu’t nagluwa ken immanug-ogmet ni mang Apol

Idi nagbugsot ni tata, awan naaramidan laingna.

Rizal's Retraction: Case Unclosed

2009-12-02T20:27:00.003+08:00

This world needs a few lies too......

2009-09-06T13:39:00.007+08:00

You there?

Hey!! r u busy….

I kept on buzzing and buzzing but there was no reply, so I closed the yahoo window. Fifteen minutes later, suddenly, a window popped up with words…” I’m eating”…yeaaa….she said.

I smiled. It happens after every two three days. Whenever she doesn’t want to talk to me she is either busy or eating or doing something very -very important. I was not amazed cuz I was used to it, it wasn’t a BIG lie, but still a lie is a lie. I thought what if she had said KP ryte now I don’t want to talk to you. It would have sounded rude. So it was just a practical way of saying that I don’t wanna talk to you at the moment.

Even I lie…sometimes ;). We all lie. A person who has not lied, even once, in his or her entire life will be a unique Human. Still to be discovered. Truth and lie, both are equally important. Without lie truth will have no value. And without truth there is no lie. Then why to fuss around. Man can’t live only with truth. He needs lies. He lives through lies. You can go on saying that we all want truth. But the fact is that no one wants truth. And our so-called truths are nothing but lies. Beautiful lies. Try to see the reality. Naked reality.

And what a lie is?? It’s just another form of illusion. And we love and live in deep illusions—illusions of hope, of future, of tomorrow. Nietzsche says somewhere that man cannot live with the true: he needs dreams, he needs illusions, he needs lies to exist. And Nietzsche is true.

Osho said something very interesting about Lies.

Maybe you lied once to somebody, maybe you deceived somebody. So what? This whole life is a drama and we are all actors. And a little bit of cheating is perfectly okay -- it makes life a little juicy, it gives life a little spice! Otherwise everybody telling just the truth....

Just think: if even for twenty-four hours everybody on the earth decides to tell the exact truth, there will be no world -- finished! Just think in your mind: twenty-four hours... everybody telling the exact truth and nothing else... nobody will be a friend to you; you will not find two friends in the whole world. Every couple will be divorced. Children will leave their parents, parents will leave their children. All will be finished! No customers will come to any shop. The world will come to a stop immediately -- nirvana(final emancipation) for the whole world in a single blow!
This world needs a few lies too. It makes life smooth, it helps. Lies are like lubricants.
So... keep eating until you feel stodgy. Cya later. So long…

ANG ELEKSYON AT (kita ng) MEDIA

2009-08-06T10:02:00.004+08:00

Bagama’t hindi nako aktibo sa sirkulasyon ng pang-estudyanteng publikasyon, hindi ko naman ipinipikit ang aking mga mata at mga sensitibong bahagi ng aking pandamdam sa ating lipunan sa kabila ng mga ugong ugong na balitang destabilisasyon at mga pakana na lumpigin ang kasulukuyang rehimen.

Oo’t malapit na ang naturang eleksyon, mga sampung buwan na lamang kung tutuusin. Ang MEDIA ay tutok din sa mga usaping pampulitika at tila baga nasa radar na ang mga pinipisil na kandidato sa pagkapangulo. Nakakairita kung tutuusin lalo pa’t kung pinapag-usapan ang “makinarya”- hindi ba ninyo pansin na parang bugok na itlog ang mga taga-mainstream MEDIA ukol sa paglalagay ng tunay na balita at pagpapasahimpapawid ng mga “isyu” na kung sana ay magsisilbing gabay sa bawat mamamayan sa pagtimbang ng katwiran at pagtuklas sa katotohanan.

Tila baga, mas mahalaga na ang “pagpasok ng salapi mula sa mga kita ng advertising” at nabahiran na ng nakakakuliting mantsa ang totoong paninindigan ng bawat MEDIA entity na kotohan ang mga taong nasa hapag ng mga anunsyong ito. Oo’t may kanya kanyang pakulo na “special coverage” ukol sa paparating na eleksyon at sa mga posibilidad na mga maaring maging pangulo ng bansa. Ngunit, ang mga kritikal na analysis ng mga “pangyayari” ay tila ba nakapako sa mga usaping napagsawaan na ng mga senador pagka’t pasong paso na ang balita para maiangat pa ang kanilang mga ratings sa national surveys. Kawawang mamamayan na pinaikut-ikot lamang para tutukan ang live coverage ng mga harapang pambabalahura sa ating dignidad bilang Pilipino at manipulasyon upang igawad ang sisi sa mga tao, listahan ng mga tauhan hanggang mauwi na naman sa wala ang hustisyang hinihingi at kasagutan para sa katotohanan. Hindi ba’t ganito rin ang tila circus na usapin ukol sa mga Marcoses?

Nakakainip, nakakabitin at nakakabinging katahimikan na may anas parin mula sa tangkang pagsasabago ng ating Saligang Batas Naroroon parin ang mga agam-agam ng madla… pagkat sa katatapos lamang na SONA ay hindi “tinuldukan”, ang noon sana ay pagkakataong sagutin ang nakakabahalang katanungan. At bakit ngaba tutuldukan ni PGMA kung ito ang magpaparaos sa kanyang motibo at uhaw sa matinding kapangyarihan? Kung meron sanang dapat idiin sa mga walang kabuhay buhay na leksyon sa klasrum ay ang pagpapaliwanag sa mga isyung totoo- ang katotohanan na ang bansang Pilipinas ay nasa Asya, na ang Pilipinas ay hindi lamang Kristianong bansa, na ang Pilipinas ay inaangkin ng mga makapangyarihang gumawa ng mga kasulatan at dokumento sa kabila ng diklarasyon ng kalayaan at pagdanak ng dugo ng mga itinuring na bayani at mga sinauna na naniniwala sa “batas ng kalikasan”…

All the Way... More than a decade but Eons

2009-07-29T00:24:00.004+08:00

All the Way... a Decade of Song is a celebration of Celine's decade of journey in terms of her career, life, so on. I noticed her sincerity from her message in the cover leaf of the album and it led me to tears when she thanked one again, Rene for all the good times they shared together as partner, couple, friend. This album is not only about Celine but this is a nice package to be given as gift to friends, special someone, parents who are celebrating their anniversaries.

Let me have a rundown and give you an impression of each song in the album:

The Power of Love. is Celine's version that I think more powerful as she exercises her vocal prowess. I heard two versions from Elaine Page and the Air Supply but certainly this is the best one in terms of rhythm, beat and style.

Beauty and the Beast is a magical duet with Peabo Bryson which immortalizes the Walt Disney Movie in my thoughts. I love the blending as they sing the chorus and this pop version is certainly one of the most popular Disney Songs that I include in my play list.

Because you Loved Me is a song written by Diane Warren. Among many songs written by one of my favorite song writers, this has one of the best lyrics to be dedicated to anyone. It begins with a relaxing tone and ends brilliantly with that line, "Because you love".

It's All Coming Back to me Now. has a long and short version, the one included in the album is the shortened version that has more electric instruments and too digital to listen. I love the long version though it takes about 5 minutes listening. Sounds like forever.

Immortality. is a collaboration with the Bee Gees, it really captures your mind from the seventies era and let's you time-travel to this space. Like what I've said in my other review, the group seemed to be more as a back-up vocals.

To Love You more. I love the violin introduction and the orchestral arrangements with this one. I would certainly love this song to be sung by Andre Bocelli with Vanessa Mae doing the violin... Imaginative!

My Heart Will Go On. is still immortal in this album, it kept me wondering why but the touch of the heart of the ocean is still here and to follow it with another song "Be the Man", is a relief from that tiring ending which sounded like an ambulance siren.

I'm your Angel is a fantastic duet with the RnB sensation R. Kelly but thought to be this ironic since the man didn't end up like one yet I like the blending and the natural fade of the song from that competing bridge.

That's the Way it is. is more like the beat of A new Day has come but it never ceases to amaze me on what level can we sing through it?

If the Walls could Talk and The first Time I ever saw your face. are two exceptionally collaborated interpretations that are somewhat related. The latter however is a revival that is given a gloomy interpretation.

Lastly, the four songs: All the Way, Then You Look at Me, I want you to need Me, and Live are the important pieces that you need to pay attention to. It provides a cinematic experience and the instrumentation are so vivid that you wished you're in an opera house.

All the way... a decade of Song is rare but the songs put together are just as appropriate for Celine's choice because this is I believe to be personal and I guess she deserves a standing ovation for such interpretations.

AS YET ANOTHER B’DAY PASSED BY

2009-07-28T23:48:00.005+08:00

Thanks for the wonderful b’day wish (though you were late by a fortnight :D). It was a real nice song. Your voice is a treat to ears. I too, wish you well. Happenings and events of our life begin with birth and end with death but "Life" has a continuity which can't be broken down or divided into years or decades. We measure time and as we grow old, we look back from every year to see what all happened in our lives in the past. We even compare the passing year with the other years of our life and try to calculate how important the passing year was, how different it was... We arrange and put events according to our historical perspective. I don’t know if people take resolutions on their b’days but many people make resolutions for new year and at the end of each year, they boast of how much they succeeded in standing by their resolutions and cycle goes on. Ahhh!! How can people have such a systematic and planned life through resolutions, diaries and notebooks? How can they? For me, I can't...

When I feel alone and need support and mental power I read books ( Though I am a bibliomaniac but I think I haven’t read any book in my selection till its last page…..:D). Anyways. Once I came across a line in a Hindi book it was like this- HE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING, WILL GO THE FARTHEST. Interesting? Naah, how true? And I went thinking- Those who have set goals for themselves will reach till there only but those who have not and are just drifting with time and tide- as if fishing in infinity, nothingness- they will surely reach to a place which neither they had thought nor the world has ever thought. When we get immersed in nothingness and live along with infinite possibilities anything is possible for us. I say those who are running will never reach the place they want to. You can say I am crazy but believe me- "To be able to reach somewhere, you don't have to run or walk briskly or even stroll". Many people don't run to reach anywhere. They run to have the feel of being in the run and maybe, this also keeps them healthy.

As I said, "you don't need to run or walk continuously to reach somewhere"- More or less it is a mental state. Much before the starting of this neo-Liberal age of hustle-bustle and running amuck, like a headless chicken.

"A story was written in our Puranas (These are religious scriptures of Hindus, full of stories and anecdotes ). Once Lord Shiva and his wife, Parvati were sitting on mount Kailash (their abode). They called their sons Kartikeya (the elder of the two) and Ganesh. They asked them if they could go around Earth and come back. Whosoever comes first, will be blessed by them. Kartikeya was a young and energetic boy, peacock was his vehicle ( in Hindu mythology every important deity has been identified with a creature, latter being their vehicle...it has other practical meanings also.). On the other hand, Ganesh- though he was young, was short, stout and had a pot belly with mouse has his vehicle. Among Hindu's of north India, Ganesh is a very important god. He has a strange figure, skull and face of an elephant and has a trunk also...Amusing for you naaa…

Ganesh is the deity of knowledge, loves eating Laddu's- a especial kind of round shaped sweet. So for Ganesh to go round Earth was harder then Kartikeya. Kartikeya immediately set off for the journey. Ganesh was in a fix. He decided something else. He bowed in front of his parents and mount Kailash, offered prayers went round them and sat at his place eating Laddu's. His parents also didn't objected to this.

After sometime, Kartikeya returned with a winner's attitude, bowed in front of his parents and stood aside smiling because Ganesh was not even in the race. On seeing Kartikeya standing, Ganesh also came and stood there beside his brother with a proud face. Ganesh said that parents are bigger and important than any other thing in this entire universe, so going around them once means going around Earth 1000 times. Hence he is the winner. So, what you think or say, who is the winner?? You know about what Ganesh did, and yes Kartikeya did went around earth did put in all his effort and who knows that when his peacock might have puffed he would have ran on his foot. After so much labor and hard work, isn't he the winner? NO. The story say's that Lord Shiv and Parvati declared Ganesh as winner and blessed him.

One of my friend once remarked that Ganesh used the buttering tactics to flatter his parents so he was declared winner. The honest and laborious Kartikeya got nothing. So where parents don't treat their children equally but are biased towards one who flatterers... Can honesty, truth and labor be valued in such a society? What you say? One is free to draw his or her conclusions.

I said nothing to my friend. What could have I? I have been taught from childhood to use intelligence and knowledge. Ganesh is the god of intelligence and knowledge. He didn't waste time and energy in literally going around Earth. Instead he used his intelligence. Isn't it true that none is more important for us than our parents? So, intelligence is the biggest sword. Anyways one thing is clear from this story that it is merely a question of how you take something and give meaning to it. Reaching somewhere or achieving some big goal can't only be decided by objective standards of valuation. It is also decided by what you think about it. And your decisive power should be such that the whole world falls in line with you.

Don't think that I am ignoring the basic rules of this world or that I am escapist by nature. One should do whatever he feels is good for him or her but if you are not in the race, then you should not be jealous of anyone. If others' lives don't kindle in you the desire to live then you should not feel left out and then, why calculate gains and loses? People might have covered milestones and I am where I was- so be it. Well, to lag behind and get rotten is more psychological then physical. So it is up to you whether you feel happy with what you have or not. Those people who live by the values of and standards of others don't have their own values and standards. They are living their life at the mercy of this world. Can god, world or society ever help or do anything for anyone? No, I don't think so. We will always be what we want to be- will reach where we want to reach. None but we can decide this for ourselves.

It will be philosophical to say that don't run behind success but I take that chance because success is given by this world. So just try to be meaningful because we are meaningful or not can only be judged by us. No one can know you from outside whether you are what you wanted to be. Real pleasure of life is in being what you want to be and to live the way you want to live. They say not many people know what it means to be "to be" and those who know become too much practical. Some say it's a vicious circle. Thinking ourselves to be the centre of universe is the pastime of philosophers of individualism. What you say are we made by this world and its time?

Now they are saying that you will be whatever market wants you to be. From where does this market has got this god- like power? Till yesterday there was religion, there was state, there was Science, there was thought. Today there is "market" because those who have capital want market and those who have market they want to make it god because man easily surrenders before god. These supporters of market are themselves non-believers but they want to make market in the name of god. Capital is their real god and profits their salvation. In my country, there is an old saying that "Maya" i.e. wealth is deceptive. Market is the shine of this wealth. So if we know the real character of Maya then we will not be deceived and if we let ourselves to be deceived then it’s done knowingly. All is meant to say that no one can make us but only we can make ourselves. So why to be afraid of market? If I went past market and I am not its customer then why should I be afraid of it? It can't harm me. Majority of the people of my country are outside the reach of market about whom it says it can make their life. It will take decades for these people to become the part of market and I think by then, market would be a thing of past. As communism went past in many countries without touching the lives of majority of people, as socialism went past in my country.

Aaah!! what am I writing? You just wished me Happy B’day, I must stop my bla bla…. In a country where average age is 64 yrs I have almost completed half. In a way life has not yet started for me. So many stars to catch, so many skies to reach. Have to search for answers- WHO AM I and why I am here? And yes, have to meet ISHU with a beautiful Red Rose. So in a way passing of yet another b’day is just a matter like changing of calendar. Time is infinite. Life is continuous.

Thanks my friend. All the best!!!

GMANews.TV - Arroyo's State of the Nation Address 2009 - Video - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

2009-07-28T11:13:00.002+08:00

GMANews.TV - Arroyo's State of the Nation Address 2009 - Video - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

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SANA statement of Sen. Francis Escudero

2009-07-27T14:05:00.002+08:00

Doctors Day India

2009-07-21T17:44:00.008+08:00

Just want to share to you this email sent to me by a friend, Kushal Pratap Singh from India. (July 1, 2009).

_________

Buna friends! Here I go again. It's July 1 and Doctors Day India. Well in US and other western countries it's celebrated on March 30, the day when Dr. Crawford W. Long first used ether anaesthesia in surgery. We celebrate it on July 1, as a mark of respect for the great physician, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

So it’s time for us to show appreciation and say thanks to the doctors who care for us (???).

Lets talk about Dr. George Tiller. He was from US. Dr. Tiller, who was one of very few doctors in US who publicly provided late term abortions to women, was dedicated and passionate about saving women’s lives. He was known for wearing a button that said “Trust Women.” So naturally he was on the hit list of CHRISTIAN TALIBAN’S and OSAMA’S. Death threats, harassment, vandalism, rabid picketers, baseless lawsuits were a part of Tiller’s daily life. In 1986 his clinic was bombed. In 1991, his clinic was under total siege by the anti-abortionists for 47 days in what they called the “Summer of Mercy.” In 1993, he was shot in both arms by Shelly Shannon who identified with the extreme Christian Fascist group called the Army of God. Dr. Tiller neva backed down. But on a fateful Sunday (May 31), this year, he was murdered by an anti-abortion assassin.

Now lets talk about a great Indian Doctor of our times, Dr. Binayak Sen. A pediatric doctor by profession — a gold medalist, from the prestigious Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore. A mesmeric character — intense, articulate, idealistic, a man of privilege who seeks nothing for himself, his two years of detention by the state of Chhattisgarh on shameful frivolous charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy, making war against the nation, and knowingly using the proceeds of terrorism (sic), is a scandal that should shame any civilized society. Binayak Sen has worked for more than 30 years with the tribal poor in Chhattisgarh, battling malnutrition, tuberculosis, and the lethal falciparum malaria strain rampant in the area. He ran his famous Tuesday clinic in the forests’ around Bagrumala and Sahelberia in district Dhamtari, peopled by Kamars and other tribals, the most neglected of the Indian human chain, destituted further by the Gangrail dam on the Mahanadi river. No schools. No drinking water. No electricity. No access to public health. And increasingly, no access to traditional forest resources.

In 2004, CMC honoured Binayak with its prestigious Paul Harrison Award. In a moving citation, it said, “Dr Binayak Sen has carried his dedication to truth and service to the very frontline of the battle. He has broken the mould, redefined the possible role of the doctor in a broken and unjust society, holding the cause much more precious than personal safety. CMC is proud to be associated with Binayak Sen.” I think that speaks volumes for the man. For more about him plzz Google his name.

And now lets return to our real world. My city, Bareilly, I think it has more Doctors than the vendors and grocers. You will find them at every nook and corner of the city. But these are incidents of Government hospitals. June 24. A small town Ramnagar. A woman gave birth to a child. But where? -At the gates of the hospital, under the burning sun. Why?- She was denied entry cuz the PHC (Primary Health Centre) was closed n its opening time was uncertain.

Next, June 26, women hospital, Bareilly. A pregnant lady was turned back by hospital staff with the advice that the baby is dead and she should go to a private hospital for operation. On her way to a private hospital she gave birth to TWINS. (Yeaaa alive twins, one on the cycle rickshaw itself and the other in the house of gentleman.) Inquiries have been ordered and hopefully they will go on and on and on. As always, "Poor People, Hungry People, Indian People". Anyways, "our wishes to Tiller’s and Sen’s and to those who really care for us..."

Case Unclosed: Sino ang Pumatay Kay Ninoy?

2009-07-03T13:56:00.002+08:00

Tuition Fee Hike

2009-03-25T10:35:00.006+08:00

Nakakainis hindi ba? The CHED does cha-cha over their stand on schools who are requesting some tuition fee hike amidst the economic slowdown that the Philippines is on (Economic slowdown, not recession according to Winnie Monsod). Ang masaklap pa nito, maraming mga paaralan sa bansa ang abuso sa kanilang deregulated status na kesyo hindi na sila sakop ng CHED moratoriums eh halabira na silang gawin ang gusto nila at the expense of the "kawawang" parents (na nagkakanda-kuba na sa tuyot na sakahan na pagmamay-ari ng iba). Marami ding hanep ang sakripisyo, tigil-aral kasi hindi na kayang tustusan. Pero hindi kailangan masadlak nalang sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kung talagang magaling ka, puwede kang magbanat ng buto at labanan ang sistemang dulot ng kawalanghiyaan ng mga ilang paaralan, ang kakitiran ng mga utak ng mga nasa sangay ng pagbalangkas ng mga polisiya sa Edukasyon at iba pang awtoridad. Utak niyo amag!

Worse, karamihan ng mga estudyante ay feeling! Wala lang sa kanila ang mga aspetong ito bagkus mas inintindi pa ang pagliit ng kanilang kupit mula sa kanilang ibabayad sanang tuition fee sa kanilang paaralan para matustusan lamang ang kanilang luho: bisyong alak, babae, drugs, yosi, textmates, computer games, atbpa. (Huwag ka, totoo ito... nakatira ako sa community na maraming nagpapaboarding kaya alam ko ang huwisyo ng maraaming estudyante.). Imbes na mag-aral ng mabuti para kapag naka-top eh makadiscount or ma-exempt sa exam ng maging proud naman ang parents, hayun naroon sila sa kanto kanto ng Mormon's Church patext-text at pabaske-basketball... Hay buhay! Mabuti na lamang ay walang tuition fee hike sa LC. Pero hanggang kailan? Ano naman ang mga masasakripisyong services? Hindi naman ito magic magic para ignorin ang needs ng school para sa isang de-kalidad na Edukasyon at para sa mga empleyado nito. Pero saludo ako sa LC, katulad din ng ilang schools sa Dagupan sapagkat kasama nila ang parents na tumitiklop sa panahon ng krisis pang-ekonomiya na nararanasan ngayon. Matatandaan na hindi lamang sa taong ito nagkaroon ng "No tuition Fee Hike" sa LC kundi nagkaroon din ng ilang payment scheme sa naturang paaralan kagaya ng O down payment, enrol now pay later, etc.

Kaya mga estudyang pulpol... Huwag na kayong mag-aral kung hindi niyo kayang ayusin ang buhay niyo. Kung mahal niyo ang pamilya niyo; Makisama kayo sa pagtitipid. Nag-imbestiga na ba kayo kung nagmemeryenda ang nanay o kaya tatay niyo, may maiabot lang na datung na siyang kakaltasan niyo lang sa bandang huli? Kaya pala walang naglalakas-loob sa inyo para salungatin at ipaglaban ang karapatan sa school kasi karamihan mismong mga estudyante lalu na ang mga lider lideran, mga nagsisimula sa mababang uri ng corruption... ang "pagkupit" sa tuition fee. At ano ang susunod na mangyayari? "Infection", na magdudulot ng "chronic" na sakit na matindi pa sa TB na tatama sa inyong buong pagkatao at magpapahirap sa buong bansang Pilipinas. At pagkatapos, maninisi kayo ng iba? What a lame excuse!

Hay buhay... gising gising! Makibahagi sa pagtiklop, hindi lang school ang dapat gumawa ng paraan. Kayo din. Nakita niyo naba ang mga estudyyante ng DMMMSU? Maraming naglalakad hindi ba? I-divert ang ilang energy para makatipid. Gamitin ang utak hindi ang utak sa ibaba... turn off the TV when the freak shows are there, watch programs that matters. Hindi yung mga programang nagpro-promote ng hindi matalino at realistikong pakikipagrelasyon, "marami na pong tao sa Pilipinas buhay ng mga artista parin ang pinoproblema..."

For Pinoys or For Few?

2009-03-20T19:47:00.001+08:00

5 Ways to Survive College

2009-03-17T17:28:00.002+08:00

First of all, gusto ko lang mag-apologize kay Jenny for the late reply of her email. Gusto ko man sagutin lahat ng emails mula sa mga students ng Lorma Colleges, hindi ko naman kaya ang multitasking. Right now, I am bound to fly in Dhaka, Bangladesh to check on this University in which I intend to pursue a crash course in business.

The email question is, "How to survive College?". Since, Jenny (not her real name) mentioned that she is pursuing a BS Nursing. I was relieved that somehow I can relate
my experiences when I was still a student.

Nursing is not an easy course and it is in fact one of the expensive courses in the country today. Some may totally disagree but majority of the programs may even have the same financial quotations as if you're studying Medicine in a private institution. I would not mention any schools in that instance since this article is not about the cost of such course. Yet, I presume Jenny 's parents have really planned for her education since the choice was mutually decided by her and her parents. Meaning, as she wrote, "Umupo kaming tatlo ni mama at papa sa dining table para pag-usapan ang gastos after researching which College in La Union will be the best for me.". Since her Dad is an OFW, majority of the remittances ay napupunta sa kanyang College Education basically her mom sticked to the planned budget. That's pretty impressive because not all parents stick to any budgeting and Jenny stressed that it was effective since she would pay her tuition fee on required time.

The problem appeared when the dollar went down and worse, nagkaroon ng problem ang Dad niya sa work. So she continued her email on what are the possible/ available options that she could survive in College, should stopping for one semester a good option?

I took a deep breath and I went to visit Lorma's website to check on any good news because I was also moved by some news that most schools are also increasing the tuition fees due to the global economic crisis.

I am relieved that Lorma will not have a tuition fee increase and this is a good news for Jenny and the rest of the students. Or else, some would have transfer to another cheaper nursing schools in La Union and may have to undergo another form of adjustment/s.

Adjustments in taking the same course and with the environment may have different impacts to a College student. Kung tutuusin, kapag na-kick out ka, expected na may impact yan sa self esteem mo. Lalo kapag ang peers mo ay naroon, pursuing the course and you felt being left behind. On another point, if you are transfering because of financial problems, halos ganoon din ang impact sa isang student and certainly getting back on track is a crucial stage.

So to help Jenny ease her problems, dahil nga hindi pa siya decided if she will transfer or not; here are some of the survival tips.

1. Scholarships and discounts. Maraming hindi ito napapansin pero andaming scholarship option sa LC. Visit, lorma.edu.ph to know more about this or simply, visit Mrs. Melba C. Ano, Dean of Student Affairs to find out if you are qualified for any of the scholarships. If you are good with academics, meron ding discounts depending on your grades, meron ding discounts if you have relatives working in the company (Lorma schools, hospital), meron ding discounts if you have siblings (I'm not sure if this is still followed but ask the business office about it) at higit sa lahat, be an active member of an accredited school organization in Lorma because they have discounts sa tuition fees upon approval of the org's adviser and the College Director. Some of the most notable orgs are: the Lorma Highlights, SML, Lorma Dance Troupe...

2. Volunteer and be a working student.- There are postings for volunteers usually for some offices in the College. If maluwag naman ang schedule mo, you can make arrangements with it. Usually top sa list na nagpapa-volunteer/intern for a clerical work ang Library, Guidance Office, Registrar. Yet, kung gusto mo naman ng iba pa, I would suggest you to express your intention in writing sa Lorma Foundation, MIS or even in the hospital. This way, you can make arrangements for certain fees and you will be entitled for a work experience also while rendering volunteer work.

There are some establishments in San Fernando area that hires students like food chains, burger stands, and other services. I would suggest you to secure some necessary papers (NBI, barangay clearance and other stuff, it's also a good experience since you'll be doing the same processes after College and mahahasa pa ang interpersonal skills mo.). I also suggest to choose a work that is "decent" (hindi naman yung pang-club thing, siguro naman gets...) and something that you will learn for future application of your chosen field.

Is network marketing a good option?

I have mixed opinions to this because one of our professors in College was "makapal ang mukha" in introducing his networking business while we were having and after our class. It is unethical to do it in class because student-teacher may have to deal with conflicts of interests in the academic environment. It is not bad to be a network marketer. I am also engaged to this but you have to research first before joining and assess if you are capable with the terms of the networking system. Baka naman maabala ang schedule mo, you'll get exhausted and mabaon kapa sa utang. Keep your options open and be nice in declining if you wish not to when solicited by your professor.

3. Shared expenses.- I have been an advocate of this while in College. Gustong gusto ko ang group work kaya kung may projects sa mga subjects, Always suggest for group works. Yun nga lang may ups and downs din ito because you cannot expect everyone to really work on their assigned task dahil iba iba naman ang group dynamics. On the other hand, kung kelangan ng photo documentations, kelangan yung may mga kaklaseng may efficient na camera ang gamitin (good thing if everyone has a good camera phone), for paper works- siguro you have to do away from the Malls kasi mas mahal po ang school supplies nila doon (may mga mura option but same good quality along supermarkets), computer rentals is a no no (make a written request sa Internet room duly endorsed by your professor and Dean to make special arrangements kung hindi kayo makasingit), printing naman sa school is cheap but edit your work thoroughly before printing. If there are excesses in your supplies, assign a classmate to be the custodian (piliin naman yung nasa malapit ang boarding house) just in case kailangan niyo ulit gamitin ang pentel pens, bond papers for future projects.

If it's a big project like case studies, kelangan may listahan, keep all receipts para hindi akusahan na ibinulsa ang excess.

Another thing that can be shared in terms of expenses ay food, pamasahe (mostly sa DMMMSU area eh nakikita ko, naglalakad nalang ang students papuntang bayan, mainit but it's also an exercise.), boarding house (if there is a boarding house that has a lower rent but it has good amenities and safe, why not?). These are among the things I could say na puwedeng "shared". Ang problema lang minsan sa food ay kung mas matakaw ang isang contributor at nagdadala pa siya ng sabit like "syota" or barkada, sira ang budget so be specific to this when you decide with your peers.

4. Plan for the summer and semesters to come. -I had a good experience when I approached Prof. Pacita Apilado when she assessed my transcript of records. So, find a mentor to deal with your academic issues. If you feel like you want to take a subject in advanced, look for some of your classmates who wanted to "open" it, seek the advice or endorsement of the Dean for the Registrar to act on your problem. Do not leave pre-requisites and minor subjects behind. Lastly, when you're given a project, avoid cramming...

5. Sacrifices. - Of course, you are in College to Study and expected to finish the course with flying colors and with dignity. Kaya, huwag ng kupitan ang parents or tell lies about what you have to be needing na hindi naman. Wag na bumulakbol at magbisyo. I'm talking about some extra money to buy luxuries like clothing also (usually branded at mamahalin pa yung iba). I remember one classmate who is not ashamed that he "arbored" a uniform from a previous roommate because the latter is graduating. Some of my classmates also were good at "arboring" books, extra school supplies, notes from their roommates. I would not say you would do it na sobrang "OA" but there are some practicalities out there. Be assertive. If you can't buy brand new books, seek for used ones, if you can't buy fashionable clothing for now, work for it or find a better option at the "wagwagan". I tell you, there's nothing wrong about being "jologs" to that effect. Sir Ever even boasted he joined a fad and he was surprised to buy a designer pouch at wagwagan. Going back to books and manuals, you can advocate your classmates not to spend much on these if there is a viable reason. Be united, be a leader. My batch did not have a yearbook because majority of my section then were united and they fought for their rights at that time. Ikaw ba naman ang lapitan ng isang classmate saying, "Madi kam pay nakalako ti irik my friend. Tal-talaga." Anya ngay ti ubraem nu sika ti LEADER?

To end this 5-point Survival for College. (Which will be followed by more...) I hope Jenny would be enlightened and will have a good decision in staying and finishing her course in LC.

Blue is Hope: Doraemon

2009-03-03T21:13:00.002+08:00

I was high school when anime regained another craze in Philippine television. Almost all television stations have their own anime programming schedules that is targeting the younger audience and the young at heart. Most of these cartoon series are re-runs that were aired way-back in the 80's which also culminated an important era of our Philippine History.There were commentaries by journalists that the popular Voltes V was banned for quite sometime in the Martial Law era due to its plot that could somehow influence the people to fight against the dictator government at that time. Ironically, history run its course; the Philippines had a refresh of its own version of Democracy and the world witnessed a Bloodless Revolution that has become a living inspiration of many other countries to date.However, the outcome spurted a wide debate of whether the Filipinos then really made a good decision. It has varying points of views. The reality? The country is still in bondage and the people are struggling to make ends meet. To survive as a nation is an ongoing battle, like most anime plots that this generation is watching, it is somehow in my opinion, a reflection of certain truths to our own alienation and undirected future.

I find anime plots fascinating because of some elements that are futuristic and yet, the human value is still somehow in tact in so many levels. One of these examples is Doraemon, a derivative from Doraneko which means stray cat that has made its way back in time from the 22nd century (created in September 3, 2112) with a mission to save Nobita. This cat-type robot caught my attention as I was studying because each episodes brought out a great deal of relationship to my experiences with friends. When one is a teenager, the peer pressure is strong and it is inevitable to escape a lot of situations when you are confronted with it. The surrounding characters in Doraemon series are like the people around school, home and the community. Each of these characters could be anyone: you, your friends, enemies, foe. In addition, Doraemon is a character that symbolizes a friend who is there to act as a hero and a dangerous enemy. He travels back in time with Nobita's great-great grandchild, Sewashi to fulfill that mission and as the process went on, he acted as protector, a best friend. Each of us has a best friend like Doreimon or we ourselves are him in fragments.

Alvin Toffler has many theories about the future on his book, Future Shock and certainly, some of the outskirts of the plot in Doraemon series are related to it. It transcends beyond human focal points and it involves technology. Doraemon introduced us to technology from the future through his 4D (Fourth Dimensional Pocket") or yojigen pocket on his tummy. The situation suggests that each gadget from that pocket could resolve even the simplest problems of a 4th grader in the person of Nobita. Yet, the episodes always emphasizes that technology itself has its own limitations and such limitations could be destructive to the one using it or may post danger to others. Doraemon however, is not always pictured as the technology introducer, he possesses the gadgets but he always have stern warning against its improper usage. However, Doraemon, despite his shrewdness, could also be outwitted due to his over-protectiveness in certain situations. He is also vulnerable to man's controlling nature because human desire itself is indestructible especially when it is focused and greatly motivated to certain degrees of achievement, even how simple the goal is... could mean disregarding other people's welfare, and even human relations such as friendship. We could see a lot of examples through other characters in the series like Gian (also called Damulag in Philippine TV) and Suneo. Yet, what most viewers don't usually realize is Nobita's "zero" attitude which is so interesting. Nobita, the missing link of Doraemon's journey into the past is the key character of the hero's existence and purpose... Whether Nobita shall change his ways, could greatly affect Sewashi's future.Doraemon is my favorite super hero because he is not the typically example of human-like figures with super powers. He is a robot with AI in it programmed to do tasks that results to an entertaining and worth-analyzing cartoon series. No wonder he is TIME Asia's Cuddliest Hero and one of 22 Asian Heroes in 2002. Yet for me, he is the all-time cuddliest anime friend who stirs tons of dorayaki, tools of imagination and a funny yet BLUE truth mirror about human choices.

Political Creativity

2009-02-03T09:05:00.002+08:00

Career Activism: Good or Bad?

2009-01-29T11:06:00.002+08:00

Certain testing methods are developed and readily available to determine if one can be diagnosed as a career activist. Career activism is often not encouraged in other work environments specifically for most corporate capitalists who would think that collective bargaining or sitting down with employers to meet at the midpoint is a waste of time and connotes big losses on investments. Most companies resort to outsourcing abroad because they are just too afraid to take the risk on the kind of employers that is taking the path to career activism. So, they innovate (if that is the correct way to say it) by exploring cheaper labor abroad while this may post risk or compromise their production. Fortunately, most of them succeeded because some countries have bankable manpower- as long as the company keep their books and adhere to their manuals strictly; the "lazy or less fortunate man becomes a modern product of corporate evolution". To determine if this is good or bad for the economy can be tested and analyzed through the current financial turmoil that is happening globally. There are plenty of determinants to a company's survival. Production for example cannot be increased when the demand is undetermined. Some CEO's would lament that "In the absence of wants, advertising should do the trick to convert it as need, so create it somewhere else."

Being a career activist has two significant effects in a basic feedback mechanism. One for the person involved and second, to the company in general.

So if one is a manager, he should know who the career activists among his subordinate are in order to drive along with a strategy to make a feasible work environment running and productive.

The picture of happiness

A career activist routinely asks himself if he is happy, involved or is learning in the organization. When he feels unhappy with work, he tries to do something about it. The solution may not come solely from him until it becomes contagious to his co-workers about the need to make changes in the work environment. People think of him as passionate and engaged in his work so co-workers might be convinced to consciously or subconsciously participate unto his proposition. On the other hand, if he can't push further and continues to be unhappy or not learning at work, he seeks out alternative opportunities from different sources.

Decision-making skills

Every work entails a lot of decision-making process. The quality of decision-making process is dependent on a series of different strategic solutions. For a career activist, he is aware of what sacrifice is and makes it basing from a thoughtful analysis of the pros and cons of such decision. However, a career activist knows how to apply standards and knows how to deal with performance appraisal

Self-awareness of skills, strengths and weaknesses

Since he is thoroughly aware of his skills, strengths and weaknesses; the career activist knows how to leverage his skills to get better assignments. He is defined by his skills not by job description so he works well on most contemporary management styles. His awareness of personal strengths allows himself to work effectively on environments adaptive to such skills. He is prepared to be seen as pushy if it's the last resort to get his work needs recognized. Whether he is a manager or a subordinate, a career activist must be a good communicator to achieve maximum potentials.

The learning direction

The career activist is not stagnant water. He has a directional career path and a time-plan. Some keeps records of what he has learned for the past six months and what he is about to learn in the near six months.

Attitude towards the monster (boss)

He may be treated as the monster's greatest villain but a career activist makes the organization dynamic because he works according to his interest. It is essential to take note of his skills before deciding if you'll need to give him the project or not. This type of person should let his dignity be compromised because he is fully aware with the standards, most specifically with professional standards; that means he can sacrifice by being prepared to lose clients, prepared to turn down lucrative assignments when it is personally painful. Yet, he is prepared to do work that he does not like if it increases a longer-term options.

Interaction beyond…

Since the business world moves along with etiquettes, a career activist usually takes note about meetings canceled thrice and is ready to deal with compromise especially when his personal commitments are held in conflict. However, he is not going to sacrifice for himself or make sacrifices that he can't justify. After all, he likes being stretched at work; he is hungry for life-work balance (so a company should have this protocol) and lastly, he has selected a network of mentors and friends who can provide him with professional and emotional support. So, if you are his manager, be in this circle so that you can easily be in-tuned with a career activist to outwit him to get on track with work, motivate him to achieve corporate goals.

Multitasking: Working beyond your Limits

2009-01-29T11:04:00.001+08:00

The medical director of the popular TV series Grey's Anatomy encouraged the head resident to "learn to delegate" when the medical resident has done a lot of multitasking in the facility. The latter did the delegation apparently but ended up doing the job herself basically because she did not have a sense of trust with the other co-worker. The medical director continued, "Go home to your family or you'll end-up going home to no one…"

Some doctors in the field tend to overlap into their job description due to various reasons. Sometimes they felt that they could do it all most especially when their personality is a competitive one. The know-it- alls , do- it- alls principle does apply to many individuals who are confronted with many issues within work which is becoming unhealthy for them as they continue such multitasking in the organization. In some health facilities, under-staffing provokes employees to fill in the task of the absent person. In the long run, they would have to do their work while eating, abuse or push the methods of modern technology to its maximum; create conflicts with other co-workers (because of overlapping responsibilities) and putting their own health at risk. The same is through to other work environments- nurses in the health care facility, financial analysts, call center agents, etc. Almost all work environments today have multitaskers and their kind is greatly preferred and encouraged.

Today's knowledge-based economy, multitaskers are the most in-demand type of people. Yet, their value to the company can only be measured through organized processes. Multitaskers must learn the principle of "work-life balance" in order to achieve the so-called company objectives. Bosses love these people undeniably because it is the trend of today's modern lifestyle in the advent of modern technology. Just because there is technology, does not always have to push humans to adapt with technology. Isn't it that technology should be used to aide humans with their work and that humans must not be the ones fitting himself into existing technology? Ironically, humans are the ones adapting with the advent of modern living hence the word "upgrade" does not always apply with technology but to humans as well. He or she undergoes professional enhancement or worse, work outside of his or her qualifications thus re-creating a figure of him as the living robot of the century. The more he does multitasking, the more he compromises his quality of work because it is a fact that the human brain literally shuts down when it can't handle all the processes that it needs to act upon. John Arden, a psychologist and Dr. Glenn Wilson, commissioned by HP in 2005 have correlated findings regarding multitasking and memory. In their separate findings, Wilson showed that an average worker's functioning IQ drops to 10 points which may lead to sluggishness posting greater health risk in chronicity while Arden stated that "Multitasking decreases memory ability" which will allow a demonstration of "divided attention', another similar concept that will cause "shifting from one activity to another".

Reasons for Multitasking

1. Out of Desperation

Time is an element in which an individual has no control of. He cannot prolong time, stop it nor turn it back so that could do more tasks in an hour or a minute. The inclusion of "time management and planning or realistic schedules" is an efficient way to avoid "cramming". When a task is given ahead of deadlines, one should plan to finish it ahead of schedule to avoid going through desperation. One thing more, one should not accept additional assignments when a certain project has not yet materialized or it requires total attention. Prioritization is a keyword and "quality" should always come first when results are being talked about.

2. Impulsively

Most people are easily interrupted by ringing phones, text message alerts, fax machines while meeting or discussing a certain issue with a co-worker or a boss. An ability to control "technology" to answer the demands of a current problem requiring human interaction is a plus in order to put multitasking to a proper basket. Impulsively, interrupts communication and becomes a moving obstacle in gaining effective feedbacks from sender and receptor, vice-versa. When you have experienced stating, "Where were we?" after taking too much call, one is on a verge of multitasking impulsively.

3. Pride

David Mayer, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan stressed that "Many people delusionaly believe that they are good at this." He explains that the brain is only equipped to do heavy-duty multitasking. Although people are asked to do multiple things, they would need a superhuman ability which is only true when one performs two activities that require the use of the same part of the brain. So does it apply to one reading a financial report while making love to his spouse? This would be futile.

As the three experts suggests, multitasking could result to serious health risks. Further it affects one's level of concentration or focus. You can just imagine how many of these people who gets a car accident while answering their mobile phones. Scientifically speaking, stress hormones play an integral part in straining the human body. Drugs (like sleeping pills, vitamins and supplements) mistakenly taken to boost the body's defenses could result to even more serious problems like dependency and addiction. Occupational safety and Health researchers confirmed that with this biologic changes, it would contribute to headaches, sleep problems, stomach problems when in acute phase but for long term effects, could lead to heart diseases, depression and back pain to name a few.

Time magazine in an article about "Inflammatory responses" also affirms that chemicals produced in response to the body's stress leads to many debilitating diseases of the century like diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.

Aside from this, multitasking is a significant factor to brain cell permanent damage which would latter make a person have difficulty doing one thing at a time.

Work-Life Balance Promise

Work-Life balance is concept that has been gaining buzz in most contemporary organizations. Little emphasis on work-life balance creates influence to employers' attitudes, behavior and values in the workplace. This concept could be an answer to addressing multitasking problems; wherein an employer or employee, who has not been able to balance these two core concept: work and life, tend to resort to multitasking. Balancing to avoid multitasking can be achieved by engaging in a formal work-life planning process in a structured disciplined manner. The measures could be allowing alternative working arrangements like flexi-time work arrangements. It is a promising solution which would decrease tension between superior and subordinates, creates more responsibility and empathy in the workplace.

The benefit of work-life balance is owed to policies developed that includes family or simply goes with the principle of family-friendly policies. This would result to a wide array of solutions from reducing employee absences, better staff retention, easier recruitment or filling of positions, improvements in morale, commitment and productivity of the employees.

As a conclusion, truly an answer to this multitasking problem is to stay organized and avoiding putting work on hold for tomorrow. Thus, tasks are done during the course of the day and decreases piling of work loads. When you are working on a project, control technology like ignoring your cell phone when it rings, your IM when it pings, and focus. Take a break: have a brief walk, take a nap, browse the net for fun in less than ten minutes, and sip tea to calm your nerves as the experts say. Focus on one task at a time. Don't be pressured and resist the urge to do multitasking.

Out-knowing the Monster?

2009-01-29T11:00:00.002+08:00

He is the boss and you're the slave, so? Does that mean that the slave does not need a sense of liberation from the boss's invisible remote control? There are diverse types of leaders and managers in the world of WORK. Sometimes we stumble to the one that really heats our butts because we are not used to with the kind of needle that he or she is exposing us in our work environments. Yet, we cannot be silent or act like a buzzing bee when we failed to assert ourselves as co-workers. We want to make things work or else the company which is undeniably the source of our bread and butter; suffers because of our undirected egos. So before you resort to "resignation" (which I suggest to be a last option for your dilemma); you might want to read some thoughts which might help you realize that you can actually outwit that guy up there and who knows, you might grab his or her seat one day and experience a different kind of hell that you might want to re-create.

First of all, the monster is not a god and certainly he is like Goliath that has a weakness. He or she shouts, throws things, rewards the wrong person and annoys but you must have to look at a perspective that he or she is hiding a "secret closet", that once you unlock it, he or she is going to be your own proto-type asimo. So take note of your strengths and observe that without it, your boss is screwed. There's got to be that thing in you that he or she does not have. Use it when the right time comes. In short, know the things that the monster does not know. Have an extra ear and of course, always listen with your two ears and your eyes. If you have that sixth sense, then add that up!

Working with numbers and other data

The TV series Numbers for example suggests that problems in crimes can be statistically analyzed using collated data. Though it has a varying degree as to how efficient statistical analysis resolve even the toughest organized crimes like terrorism, it gives us an idea that when you are capable of analyzing these and your boss definitely depends on you on such information; this could translate to you being the asset of the organization. When you are able to translate figures to valuable information in resolving the toughest organizational problems, you can maximize your own potentialities.

In the field of medical science, laboratory analysis are derived from "numbers" which is a fact, an important tool in the treatment and management of diseases. Nurses and doctors depend on this information in making critical decisions in health care. If you are the nurse, when you know how to deal with numbers and data, you won't feel that you are a mechanical puppet when the doctors just happen to make his "orders"; actually you can make pertinent suggestions by which you believe, best for your patient. Gone are the days that a nurse is treated as that mechanical assistant who operates on "push-buttoned" responsibilities.

In the field of business however, when every data is equal to "money", when you are good at working with numbers and other data, you can help the company to minimize losses in the stock market. When your boss misses that single detail which you provided a door of opportunity may open for you…

Getting caught with your bluff

The boss is the boss. You are not yet. Remember that it is not wise to be overconfident about your value to the organization. Yet, you should always anticipate that he or she might ask for you to double check on something. On the other-hand, do not push that all answers provided by you and everything else is complete. When at the back of your mind, you missed something and you just had that flickered while having the presentation, do not get caught and have your confidence melt down. Admit it when it is too obvious. Say that, "I do not have the answer for the moment or the information at the moment", and then offer to find out. Yet when you do, do not make a promise; just do it. This works well for medical interns or personnel making a stiff monitoring. Do not make an alibi that there are so much things to do especially when you are dealing with lives. If you are keen with monitoring machines, then check immediately if there is stored information which you have missed. Most health managers want to see changes that make a patient recover, achieve his or her optimum level of functioning; that is why the health care provider is supposed to be the "generalist" in a certain situation.

The test-retest Method

The WORK world works with logic and from logic, we extract the thing known as common sense, so when you learned to anticipate the monster's questions, be ready to advance the questions that starts with the word, "why". In a presentation, you must be able to monologue for that question and answer portion. Visualize the results as you present the solutions to the problems. The basic principle is "cause and effect" but the "why" thing weights the solution that you are presenting. The keyword for this principle is, "Initiative". Before the monster manages to find out for him self, have the initiative to look further.

Your back-up support system

Einstein, one of the great thinkers of the century, said that never reveal your sources which is one best principle while you are still developing a strategic idea on your next career move. It is not wise to depend solely on your knowledge and skills; you must have a back-up of support systems in the field where you can extract ideas and where you can depend on when you are confronted by your waterloo. Admit it, you are not a superhuman. You can be a walking Almanac or a concise Encyclopedia but you are not a compendium of all knowledge so you must know who are in that "support gear" that you must be wearing. He may be another manager you met from a convention you had coffee with a couple of hours ago, a reliable expert, a corporate geek or an explorer. The point is you are clever enough to out know the monster so as to advance yourself in that organizational ladder. The idea is simple, when you have access to such information that the monster don't, you can synchronize with the boss's strategies easily, propose outstanding solutions, or innovate on existing standards. Whichever the step, you are building your value with your career and to the employer.

The Post Graduate

2009-01-29T10:59:00.003+08:00

The Graduate is a classic example of college seduction in which a question of morality is put into test from the mature ones- who should uphold the highest standards of human wisdom;yet it pictures that age is not correlated with morality but "character" is a product of time-tested experience- that can be molded into an unbelievably ugly phenomenon set to be loved by an ailing society.

Mrs. Robinson is a victim turned to victimizer while Ben is a picture of a dead man walking seeking for another chance. While personally I would say that the plot is a reflection of the reality that we are living in, there are certain spots in the plot that I can say, contrary to human nature. This conflict is alluded in the sound-tract but to wave away from the predecessors of the movie, I would beg to disagree on Elaine's responses to the conflict. She is typically no different from Mrs. Robinson, a corruption of womanhood and a figure of weaker vessel in the movie and Ben, the typical chauvinist nature fashioned by a lovable face that is in the guise of a carnal man who never really changed his real skin. I love how the movie portrayed the conflicts. Dustin Hoffman was superb in any angle- his nervousness comes in almost normal to fine acts. I like how the addiction was presented (though some may disagree that it is plainly temptation).

The fornication may not be an issue today but the scene, was bold enough to expose how a man could go further to the extremes of his desires and yet, when confronted with his conscience, the act of transformation to betterment is not just enough to fill in my viewer's taste. If I would have to base that movie to current western culture, I would get murdered, yet the idea there is to explore human emotions which is not vastly portrayed.

Elaine's screaming were not enough, she should have undergone some series of alienation and depression and Ben is the culprit behind- the master opportunist on the situation. We don't sympathize on that kind of person but the movie is wise enough to inject that he was indeed the victim yet he was a maturing adult who is nothing but a blind and selfish person.

I also pity Mrs. Robinson for grabbing into her sense of controlling nature in which she has failed in her character. The succeeding characters were typical parents who are "detached" from their children. I can see injustice for using the house of God as a place for that climax. Yet, the crucifix may symbolize "salvation" in anyway for Ben and Elaine to start a new life together. What if they don't take that bus?

A Borrowed Chance

2009-01-29T10:55:00.002+08:00

Mr. Pedro Donoso's downfall was Ysabel Arroyo, his second wife at is ailing health and old age. It was a quick marriage at first in the guise of betrayal shared by the latter with Andres Corona, Pedro's most trusted servant. Days past as the newly wed couple started their new life together, the ambitious Ysabel has recently had a friction with Donoso's only daughter who was witness to her infidelity. Naturally, the old man- so in love with Ysabel would side with his new wife until his death prompted Cayetanna- a fortune teller and occultist to warn of the future. Donoso died in the hands of the woman he loves. Yet, fate decided to help a wandering Pedro's soul to take over a farmer's body owned by Salvador Serinza for his forthcoming revenge...

So much for the prelude but this unique Mexican telenovela is not like the typical rags to riches story of a woman fairy tale that ends up into a happy ending but the plot speaks of a spiritual journey of a man who is given a chance to seek the truth beyond the lies and betrayals of his beloved and gradually resolves unfinished business and conflicts with his neglected family members due to his ill-fated decisions. The funniest aspect of the story roots from his awakening from a body that supposed to be buried which prompted the grieving community folks to suspect that he has risen from death and can perform miracles because of remarkable changes in his behavior and newly-found intelligence. Donoso found himself in the body of a man whom he assumed to take as he returns to avenge his own death only to realize that as he unfolds the truth, he is still in love with Ysabel's cousin yet has to make a swallow-hard decision to stick with Ysabel up to the end of his journey. His revelations led to a collective hysteria which began with Simon, Andres Corona (who became mentally ill), Walter and Ysabel's aunt's death. The plot talks about obsession, rise to power, greed, passion, compassion, resolution, revenge, love, etc. The climax is exquisitely unexpected as both Ysabel and Donoso crashed through a car chase once authorities unlocked the mysteries of the black-widow's (Ysabel Arroyo) crimes.

What is touching is Ysabel's admission of his sins but failure to be forgiving for her cousin and the rest of Donoso's family. She was trapped by her own curse and offered death as her repentance for all the crimes she did in the name of love. I surely miss the drama, I love Cayetanna and her company, Serinza's family and his funny wife, Father Jacobo's immaturity in his religious belief's and Walter's sarcasm. This drama is a new taste and a new fold of plot yet to be re-explored as we begin to untangle the mystery of death and rebirth.

Not Sweet Enough: A Sweet November Breeze

2009-01-29T10:51:00.002+08:00

What would you do if you lose control on what would you want your life would be? All of us wants to take over, we would sing to the very idea of self-determination only to realize that this life is all bout suffering and with the idea of impermanence no matter how perfect we want our life to be, impermanence stays and it is just one sweet element.

Nelson is a portrayal of a man who would want to tap that very direction of calculated living and when he thought he gets all the grip of how life should be lived, he realized that one fine contact with a stranger's eye is the beginning of a life-changing moment; his own interpretation of romance and his quest for happiness.

I like this movie for two personal reasons: One it is another re-interpretation of "love" and second, it is set in a controlling manner that will keep you glued to watch the whole movie or else you'll be sorry.

While it is intriguing to understand why would a woman opens her door to a verbal contract with a guy, a thought-provoking concept that would often have a thumbs down for most feminists and conservatives; we would unveil the motive that she resorts to it in response to her defense mechanisms because she has that inner conflict within herself while she is holding on to her own battle with a disease. If this is promoting a mind-over-matter thing that is leaving us with a big question mark in the end; this conflict is clouded by romance as the scenes progressed to the cinematic portrayal of what a couple should be. Aww! I hate to say that this is a tragic comedy but I am more keen to the symbolisms that the movie is showing.

California is a mix of the old country as well as the new and I guess this movie is conveying a message that it is not just a remake to do justice from the first but a revelation that the concept of "love" and the confrontation of the conflicts present in the movie knows no time. So I guess this is in sync with the soundtrack as well.

I love how the colors blended and how realistic the place was. Who knows we might bump at a real-life Nelson or Sara in our own California streets but what is truly moving is not just its simplicity. The movie is about a critical audience who could distinguish the relationships of each elements in the plot, the set and the characters...

I did not like how the characters tend to be cold-hearted as Nelson chased Sara effortlessly. It was like, Keanu Reeves was thinking more than setting his real emotions.

Sara is a selfish individual who finds comfort in a man's down side. Nelson has been submissive for the very first time yet he was even more trapped when he finds that he is going to lose what he had worked for but he was a risk -taker.

However, Sara rediscovered her humanity as she let-go of Nelson for it was not her plan to go on with him because something is holding her back and she has to face it beyond November. Whether both are truly in love, pride tore them apart because of one has to be in-control.

And yes, Sara won over making her decisions despite Nelson's willingness to give out more. Until, a too "familiar" goodbye sets the denouement to an ending scene. The classic sun rays and smooth breeze is a classic symbolism of "hope" and this is what I hate about open-ended stories in movies... it is not a reality show where the audience could just make a text vote or call to have their own desired endings. This is not a reality show but it aims to portray reality in dream.

To GREEN now or?

2009-01-29T10:43:00.001+08:00

How do we go Green when all we think is to get the latest in the market.?We want to throw or just take away some things that we believe we no longer need, the green revolution's calling is simply not our creed... it indeed easily said than done.

My mother has been very influential in the family when it comes to going green. She has been working in the Environment Bureau for almost thirty years and with her expertise, she has been consulted by many organizations, including our City government with regards to solid waste management. Within our city, each household is obliged to segregate garbage and yeah, we pay for garbage fee too. We have also our option by selling our own trash (the non-biodegradable ones like scrap metals, computer hardware, plastics to junk shops of our choice) or just segregate it and allow the city garbage collector to take it and from there, they manage your trash...

Solid waste is not just the visible garbage that we get rid from our households. It also includes the other establishments in a certain place. The municipal hall is an abiding model where it boasts its earning for the past years and it mobilized the funds in taking care some of the expenses of the city like medicines and other services. It was not a highly profitable one but yes an evidence that, "there is indeed money in the garbage".

The other proponents of going green could not even deny that to live with it, you have to spend money to really achieve that full potential but for ordinary people like me, change does not come with a snap of a finger. Money is not always available to change your lamp bulbs, your TV screens, some house finishings, your cleaning gadgets, your car, etc. It denotes time to really figure out and to make your decision. Most especially, when you are not living on your own. How could you advocate others in your household to change just because it is the calling? We simply need some right timing, right information and of course, the right "choices" in which we could make a "compromise."

We have to be honest to ourselves that there are some things that we could not just let go simply because the "cost" is not feasible. We can't let go of this refrigerator because there's no budget to get a new one nor let go of that non-environment friendly washing machine and detergent when the supposed to be friendly stuff is not yet commercially available.

Yet, still the best place to assess how "green" we can contribute to the environment is to start from our homes, we can determine "wastes" from all areas beginning from our own closets to our garage. According to a popular show, when you don't use your clothes for more than 6 months, then it is a candidate for either giving it to charity, for your garage sale or trash (trashing also follows the words: recycle, re-use, repair/recondition, re-sale, etc). So many solutions available and yet "the choice is in your hands. "

My parting words, when you decide to go and live green, are you ready to change your lifestyle by considering going back to the basics? Using stuff you haven't tried, spending in an environment-friendly technology? How about your government initiatives? The big corporations?

Reliving the Cast Away Conflicts

2009-01-26T11:43:00.002+08:00

Whenever I see a volleyball, I would always be reminded by Tom Hanks' unforgettable best-friend, "Wilson" in his Cast Away Movie. Yes, we will surely agree that "No man is an Island" but his Character managed to survive in that island, thanks to his sanity and grip of personal human self-preservation. At first, I was preempting that this is no less than a "easy-made" movie commercialized by the famous FedEx campaign but as the scenes progressed to an expanded possibilities in which several situations arise, it touches more human interest and depth in acting supremacy that crosses from serious hopelessness and life's natural comedy.
I would like to stress on the following conflicts:

1. Survival- The island reminds me of the "reality show" series when human subjects are placed in an environmental and situation-controlled simulations. Worse case that a man could experience is conflict within himself as to the idea of answering the question, "Will I survive?". So Hanks' character was challenged in using his resourcefulness in order to gather food for himself, cook and be filled in the absence of certain luxuries in life. There was a point when he needed to deal with opening the packages to see if there's something he could use for that cause. Yet, his detachment to human civilization did not impede him to become human by carefully deciding which package is worth salvaging and not...

2. Anger- Who would be so happy in that island if all you got is a non-responding volleyball ,you fashioned to keep track of your human senses? In here, we would see Hanks' character resort to displacement and series of defense mechanisms like self-talk" put to its critical limits. There was anger against the island itself, anger at the typhoon and anger against fate or God who put him into that kind of situation. At first he was determined to utilize all his strength to get off that island, he failed, got injured... Next day, he determined to kill himself, the next thought was "Never say never."... Yet he did, he rebuilt his hope and he succeeded.

3. The Challenge to get off that Island no matter what...-is always a climax to his solitude. He was physically exhausted yet, powerful enough to inspire the audience to exhaust all his human capacities to get out of his "hell" and take back his life.

4. The Resurrection- Now, we pity Hanks' character as he battled against "time" and unresolved issues of his past. In this case, he never thought that his engineering skills has its own limits and he can't take back the past. It was quite a short phasing of the Cast Away movie but it needed no further dramatization because it clearly speaks of the idea of "impermanence" and what's important is, He was able to look ahead into the future.

Was that salvaged FedEx package sync to culminate his future? That was the beauty of how the story unfolded- open-ended, simple, and brilliant.

LORMA Polls Oct . 9, 2008

2008-11-19T10:52:00.004+08:00

Sasagutin ko lang ang Lorma Polls nung October 9, 2008 for my own sanity...

On Intramurals 2008.

Pageant-oriented parin ang LC Intramurals. Sana dagdagan ang safety para sa cheerdance competition. Sana repasuhin na ng SML ang sports program ng College and make use of the full potentialities of professionals who know the ins and outs of sporting. Why not seek professional guidanc3e from Dr. Pedro Patacsil?

On milk scare.

Paso na ang topic na ito. While lipana ulit ang mga commercial ads ng gatas at mga produktong nasama sa listahan ng mga "alleged" na melamine sa ingredients ng mga ito, will it change the fact that more mothers are still neglecting the benefits of "breast feeding" for their children up to 2 years old. This is a challenge to student nurses, "are you good enough to be part of that breast-feeding campaign while pa-bungee bungee lang ang ilan sa mga community-health nursing activities?". No offense but if you're gonna upload youtube entries sana naman yung may kabuluhan to make a different impression of what community health nursing is all about. Is this the ill-effect of that gross transportation expenses in which the College has not yet addressed to date?

Course na i-offer ng lorma.

I don't think LC should open another course when it neglects the other departments to achieve their full potentials. I would suggest that LC should keep track of the nursing program (more hands-on and modalities) and hire more competent clinical instructors who are really dedicated to the profession (di basta yung nagsasabing "CI nalang ako...") Imagine the impact of how this less empowered individuals contagiously pass unto the student nurses. I don't think it's time for LC to open other courses. For what reason? Experimentation? Have they conducted feasibility studies on this? How about the rest of the paramedical courses? Puro nursing nalang ba? The IT and Ab department? I think it's about time to review on how to make the other courses progress. Neglect nalang ba ang pagbili ng gamit nila just because they have a low population on their enrolments? C'mon, where's the spirit?

ang pinakamagaling na instructor sa lorma

My best yet the worse is dead. Tama, yung English teacher namin dati na si Mrs. Rufina Depalco who was principal then of LCSSHS. Sana gawan siya ng pagkilala. The best instructors are the ones who left the school with a heavy heart simply because they hold unto their principles...

ano ang reklamo mo? hinaing o ano mang suhestiyon sa kahit anong bagay na may kinalaman sa lorma.

Marami. Yet, the crusade just goes on. Hindi kelangan hilain ang pangalan ng school because of these. Pero sana, mabuksan ang gate para sa mas mahusay na LC para sa estudyanteng nangangarap at lumalaban sa mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong pagbabago.

Titser Titser EDUKHA-lay!

2008-11-04T21:27:00.008+08:00

Kelan ba nakialam ang mga guro sa school patungkol sa mga karapatan ng mga estudyante para ipaglaban ang pagbalasa sa mga panuntunan ng Kolehiyo? Mangilan ngilan ang pawang laway meron lamang sila in the guise of a so-called kunwaring pakikisimpatya. There you have it guys, they don't care whether you fail or not. They don't. Meron pasimpleng papikit nga maglagay ng grade sa di deserving pumasa eh. Next thing you know, they're out in the street eating fish balls together. Aaaw so sweet! Why would they care? There are just some people who want to keep their jobs in the long run. Mga hinayupak na deadma! Ayaw pagamit ang facility ng school kasi may SOP na dapat sundin. ERR, eh sasabak ng contest ang kahabag habag na estudyante, ni pamasahe hindi siya pinondohan ng kumag na edukador! Aminin man nila o hindi, ang employees association nila ay burak- it does not have any significance. Puro payaso ang mga lider lideran dun. Projects nila bulok! Kaya pati mga org ng students, sunod sa uso. Does it change employer-employee relations. Kupal! They just make sure the president is under their dictatorship para walang "rally", walang collective bargaining. So burak is that puppet organization to the extent that they can't even unite in solidarity to come up with "just compensations" sa mga naghihingalong guro. No wonder kung anu-ano nalang krimen ang nagagawa ng ilang guro from emotionally torturing their students, selling their MLM, suggesting a book to buy in exchange for commissions, halla from eload to va-jj nadamay na. Take it for example the faculty from the a department who teaches in all the rest of the college. Sa pamasahe nalang laking dusa na when if fact they should be entitled for a transportation allowance. Grabe taas na ng presyo ng gasolina at pitchi pitchi lamang ang mga rollback ng mga kumag na petroleum companies na yan pero heto si mam at sir, super tiyaga kahit namamaos ang boses para hindi lamang ma-late sa klase. Oo, suwail nga kasi may checker ano? May surveillance camera pa ang ilan. Those capitalists monsters! Heheh, buti sana kung per hour ang bayaran. Yung iba nga night differential nila "coke at lugaw" from a graveyard canteen. Eeew! Don't they be given a chance to cut that stress? Do you think they too should be entitled to be late for humanitarian reasons? (Shungak namang Igme to, pati pagiging late ng empleyado kinukunsinte. ) Di nga, kasi si mam may sakit sa puso eh di kayang akyatin ang ganung kataas na kuwarto gayong hindi naman puwedeng lipat ng ibang kuwarto ng basta basta kung wala namang iba pang rekititos sa admin. (Diyaskeng Igme, pati comfort ng mga titser inintinde eh may karapatan naman silang mag-terror at mambagsak ng estudyante, di ba? ) Oo nga no tukmol. Pano naman ang mga titser na talagang hina-harass ang mga estudyante para lang matsansingan nila? Oo nga, titser bang matatawag yun? Ano yun? Langaw pare! Isang maitim at malaki't mabahong bangaw! Wala akong homophobia pare, pero don't you think foul naman yung himas himasin ka while taking the academically challenging exams or you get to be called for a few minutes after dismissal for that indecent proposal. Impakto talaga pare! This is a nightmare pero pano nga ba iwasan ang ganoong may matinding pagnanasang Bangaw?
Maging mabuting estudyante. Mabuti in the sense na walang late, walang absent, pulido ang lahat ng requirement at mag-aral ng mabuti para walang black-hole para masabit sa tukso para makapasa lang later on. (Eh Igme pano kung too late na?") Eh di bagsak at kung bagsak ka, wag ka ng magpawis para hanapin yang Bangaw na yan. Ang bangaw, sensors lang meron yan, walang human brain. Bangaw nga eh! Repeat mo nalang at malas kung sa kanya ka na naman natapat. Olats kung hindi kapa matuto pre. (Igme, eh habulin talaga ako ng mga Charing, hindi ko rin alam eh.) Wag ka kasi masyadong mag-gym kasi patok ang macho p're, eh. Magpanggap ka kayang ka-pederasyon din? Yan kasi sabi ng friend ko na kasama sa circle, basta malaki kasi katawan p're... (Igme, ano pa tip?) Argh, antokers nako pre. Next time ulit!

Ritu and Amrish Kumar at WIFW

2008-10-17T10:15:00.002+08:00

Ethnic and sexy are two complementary words for today's yahoo feature but the statement is more than the words itself. According to the photo caption, top designers "Ritu and Amrish Kumar's creations are synonymous with traditional Indian embroideries and textile". As a personal opinion, it's a revival of two decades of human history set in a ramp, speaking of "a glamorous expression of every woman's individuality".

The models parade in dresses ranging from "thigh and knee lengths to full-length maxis, shifts and spaghettis and pallazo's, gharara's and wide bottom denims in loud prints and textured wovens. Colour pallet includes Teal Blue and Brick Red, purples, oranges, off whites and yellows."

The symmetry of each design and jewelry matches. It is neither Samoan, Greek, Egyptian, nor Spanish Gypsy who is paving the catwalk but having that second look, it is Indian fashion reinvented to be worn by one who wants to fit into the sandals of a princess. Yet some fashion gurus are still bothered about the sensitivity that most of Indian designs are confronted by the west's perception of being unable to "fit in"; this is a trend that Indian fashion is moving to a direction of Innovation and Exploration. Despite ambiguous matches with some bags and wallets, both designers are masters in persuading women to be free, not careless of modesty despite modern living.

Sex Addiction

2008-10-10T02:17:00.002+08:00

I am surprised that this issue came to be a point of interest when David Duchovny (X-files' Fox Mulder) have undergone rehabilitation due to this condition. According to www.medicinenet.com,

"sexual addiction"- used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.

Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, rationalization and blaming others for problems. One defense mechanism is also denial. In most cases, the sex addict's treatment is dependent on his acceptance of admission of the problem which is mostly influenced by significant event—such as the loss of a job, the break-up of a marriage, an arrest, or health crisis—to force the addict to admit to his or her problem.

Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:

Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
Consistent use of pornography
Unsafe sex
Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
Prostitution or use of prostitutes
Exhibitionism
Obsessive dating through personal ads
Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
Sexual harassment
Molestation/rape

Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sexual activity and forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners. In addition, the problem of sex addiction often leads to feelings of guilt and shame. A sex addict also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional).

Treatment

The focus is on controlling the addictive behavior and helping the person develop a healthy sexuality. It includes education about:

- healthy sexuality
- individual counseling
- marital and/or family therapy.

Support groups and 12 step recovery programs for people with sexual addictions (like Sex Addicts Anonymous) also are available.

In some cases, medications used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder may be used to curb the compulsive nature of the sex addiction. These medications include Prozac and Anafranil.

Does the School Matters?

2008-10-09T14:13:00.006+08:00

I visited my old old school's website and I'm surprised to find an ongoing argument via the LH message board. It has been there for a while, the argument was posted by an unknown person claiming to be a Luisian. It was a funny ass I guess but as he keeps on bugging the site for Lormanians to react (not even sure if they are from LC); it arouses claims on the superiority of two rival schools who are totally different in terms of the standard of Education that it provides its students. Popularity-wise, Lorma and SLC do share their own domains but to tackle on its "superiority" without making concrete points as to what areas are mere immature quarrels that is not even viable as a Debate proposition. The LH blog is not even the proper forum to post such pronouncements as it lacks that kind of feature. Why the absence of such forum? Is this part of the transition from a threat? I know jalm might react on this because way-back few months ago, he did a little contribution in coming up with an amateur discussion forum that lacked support from the LH staff. There was even fear as we chat, is that due to censorship issues? Personally, I admire people like jalm because he is a proof of a student who seeks answers to variable questions and issues concerning them. However, we could not be sure how long his determination could hold him up and others; or simply he is just a representative of so many youth who are bored by this existing Educational Systems in most schools in the country.

Going back to the question, "Does the School Matters?" I would have to qualify my answer with a "yes" because it is a learned social behavior that is relevant to most Asians - it is in Education that uplifts the individual to interact from one social agency to another. An individual begins interaction within the Family through his parents and the school is usually the second agency that he interacts with. Education plays a crucial part in "career path" and certain elements within the school are influential factors in a man's self-esteem and ability to survive in each niche. Remember, Obama attended Harvard and it is within Harvard that he has expound his political views crossing from a least passive role in Chicago to now, the ultimate path of his career as the new US president. I would say that the school matters because that agency should have a "simulation" of the actual world up there but I think most schools stagnate because instead of moving forward as society progresses from agriculture to industry, it makes a significant picture that indeed it has a difficulty in adopting to such vicious change. The late Gov. Justo O. Orros rationalized that the "Philippines is taking its time" when confronted with a question as to why Malaysia and other rice-producing country in Asia are far progressive well in fact they trained from the Philippines via IRRI? The politician had that rationalization which stuck into my head for years in one of the events in LC. I was struck by the response of laxity and I bet those who listened have their own opinion. (Why would LC have such laxity on choosing such speakers? What are their guidelines?) I am not against politicians speaking in schools but how good are these "figures" in motivating students? The school matters because the student is supposed to take his first liberal step outside of his own family circle. I would affirm Dr. Emilio Joven's little chat while we were assisting him in a minor operation commenting on "Why would student still be accompanied by their parents in the enrollment process? Aren't they old enough to make decisions?" He has a point there, was it because of a certain level of "mistrust" that the parents are so rigid in entrusting their money or was it the over-protectiveness or fear of most mothers that they felt the need to accompany their children all the time from filling up those enrollment forms, doing the talking for their children at the Dean's office or Registrar. There are many implications of such unnoticed harmful effects of over-protectiveness. On the other hand, a "student" begins to "cheat" based on outside variables. His vulnerability is a result of so many laxities, within the family itself and yes, the schools are not addressing such laxities because some are just too concerned about getting the cash and providing a sound-to-be-good service disguising as Best Quality to be sold. Like what Inday said in her earlier testimonials about that Champion detergent commercial, that you have to pay... School matters because the school is supposed to be the first battle ground to exercise your freedom. It is saddening to realize that most schools are "underachiever" of so many things, that they could not facilitate to preach what they revised in their new directions. No matter how authorities would "revise and put a tag on a commodity if the content is still the same, fortification will fail (just like what happened with FIT, it did not replace water to wash our vegetables and fruits.)". You want to know where your money goes? Don't look at the new buildings, not the facilities... look at the heart of the institution- the teachers. They are significant determinants of the power of quality Education. The question is, how long will the teachers remain "passive"? Are the students ready to learn?

My thoughts about these 10 Ads...

2008-09-09T10:11:00.003+08:00

So far this is the most stimulating AD but it has too many elements. It's like selling the whole line of artists (some of them don't need to be in the Ad coz they sell themselves simple) but it's fine! I would love to see the King kong wearing some headphones or ipods like that. Was there a tie-up? This is nice but it turns Virgin more as a video store than a music market.

Virgin Digital Market

It looks like the football star went fishing or hunting. I won't mind the environment but the whole get-up is like a field reporter for National Geographic. If this is a football Hero, it's fine that he'll be in proper sport get-up and the whole lighting will be with a sunrise or a sunset maybe. Not gloom! I believe that's a hunting dog, a more sporting dog is a better company. A team could also be in action in this environment just to make a statement that "Hey, this shoe works even outside the field!".

the athlete at hunt

No there's no such thing as Italian circus. It would be better statement if the environment is about gypsies on a bone fire having a coffee moment. Is this selling an underwear, pantyshield, nail polish or luscious ? This is more Las Vegas to me and the woman keeps distracting the whole concept. If it's the tiger and the cup, I would think it's cute or a pup and a cup? then a milk is spilled over... then it's a suggestion to switch from the kiddie taste. By the way, is this a gourmet coffee? If it is, then it's a poor concept. I would love royalties in a tarot reading session with this coffee. The woman is a total distraction.

Tiger cup

Juggle not the taste. Americans love Italian taste and that's a fact. If you wanna taste Italian, convince me to sip Venice and Italian romance. Like I said in chat, it should have been a realistic moment since coffee is more associated with personal experiences with family and special someone. If you wanna introduce this product to the corporate world, then bring this to a call center's vending machine or a company meeting. What's alluring is this circus presentation of women juggling the taste of Italia! Italian culture is best known by the scenes of Godfather, bring Sicily to American coffee moments, I'm sure it would be embraced. I would be more intrigued if 2 oldmen are in a boat in Venice, one is pouring the coffee using traditional metal cups, now that's a statement!

Juggled taste

It's a statement that JW is about male's sexiness but this Ad is too green for me. I mean what's the point of distorting the environment and shade it all in Blue? It still has a sensual message and it's fine but without the JW bottle and the LOGO, this is nothing but a condom Ad. I've seen old JW and other liquor Ad, adding glam on the fizz but it seems that this Ad lost its glam. Without glam, you can't sell much. Bring it back to its original picture. It's better to be compared to a perfume Ad than a condom Ad.

JW lost its glam

Fashion have nothing to do with furniture although most designers in the industry have their contribution to the rise of boutique hotels in England. Who would like the idea of wearing your curtains or wallpapers and say "I'm home."? If the environment would convey of moving to a new place or home improvement; I won't mind the model wearing the curtains or wall papers as I may refer the model as myself personalizing my home but do they have that kind of customized service?

wearing my home

The shirt caught my attention. Probably it's the color. What's the point of anatomically changing the guy's lower extremity? The futuristic environment is fine and it did help convey interest. What's bothering is the robotic idea which is quite diminishing the athlete's capacity to give grace and motion to the sport! PUMA is built in real human capacity. To convince me to buy PUMA is to give justice to that sport that I as a fan or as an athlete could relate to.

Futuristic athlete

At least the model wore the product being endorsed but that did not give much power and clarity as to how good the product is/are or how interesting the products are... The idea of using the "extreme" is quite unfit to endorse a lot. Does it have any association with the durability or the quality of the products? If I'm a guy, I would easily be lured with activity that I am participating much into. Like for example mountain biking with a girl, properly geared up with the Project blue products. That is plus points to my personality or plus points to make an impression with someone. The blown up vehicle distracted me but the LOGO is fine. I don't have any idea what the AD is selling, is it the pair of shades only until I visited the website which is poorly imprinted.

Running with extremes

Oh yeah, it's fantasy that comes with a package. I like the idea. It's a bedroom theme and it's an appropriate one. I just don't get it immediately that it's all about the bed sheet and the pillow. I thought it's a sleeping pill or drug that's being promoted. If the two pictures on he right ride won't be available, I wouldn't have an idea. The sheet should be ironed. Sleep is about comfort. Is this a home or a motel? It should have an emphasis on that area. Nice but the un-ironed sheet distracts me.

Fantasy that comes with a package.

That's no outdoor fun with only one party balloon escaping from the air... that caught my attention first then the gift box followed; only then I realized it was a birthday party when there's a cake! Not so fun to celebrate a kids party. So dull! Parties should come with many colors especially for kids. Plus I didn't get the idea why the other girls are running? Was that playing with the cake? Hmmm... I like the idea that the kids wore the shoes, appropriate but isn't it that PUMA is also for women? The birthday part should have a "theme" and from that theme, they could have extracted the idea of the product in there. It would be best if there's a parlor game for the boys and their Dad's wearing the shoes. That I think would be cooler and more associated with that guy from the party table. Was he endorsing the gloves or the shoes?

the PUMA party

How are you Classified in Class?

2008-09-05T12:40:00.003+08:00

djoyce71: Some schools use homogeneous sectioning wherein they classify students according to average grades which means that all fast learners are together in one room and all the slow learners are together in another room. While some schools use the heterogeneous sectioning wherein they just distribute the students equally into sections where extremes meet. I have been to both ways when I was in high school and for me both have advantages and disadvantages.
manunulat: In homogeneous, lessons are taught fast paced because students are fast learners and competition is healthy. In the heterogeneous, lessons tend to go slow because others could not understand easily, and the fast learners suffer sometimes because they get bored. But in heterogeneous, fast learners are tasked to help their slow learner classmates. They serve as paratutors and their classmates like it because they could improve in that way.
If you are a parent, what sectioning would you like for the school of your child? If you are a student, what would you prefer?
I prefer that heterogenous sectioning for more personal controls since I am no fast learner nor a slow learner, it's just that teachers should have a flexible method other than the classical method of teaching because there is a thing which we call as right and left brain learner which is I think more vital than utilizing the term homogenous or heterogenous sectioning. From your homogenous section point of view, this is done not in favor of students but rather more in favor of the teacher because the teacher won't be too concerned of who is catching up with his style or not. Yet competition could be healthy also and tension is high if students are highly participative. There is a tendency of more debates also in the setting. While in that heterogenous, this may not be possible since the fast learner may have to slow down and be in congruent with the others who can't catch up. Advantage? Maybe for the latter but it can also be a detriment to the advancement of the first. Secondly, slow learners may not be slow as we think they are. Motivation comes in different sources, they could use the whole idea as an advantage for them to outwit the known fast learners. If I am a parent, I won't be too concerned on which section my child will be in to. I would be more concerned on the quality of teaching he receives and how he digest or process the lessons. Do they have a fair grading system and curriculum? I would love my kid to fail and succeed in class also; be on his own.

Ulalume's Fate in two Schools Unveiled

2008-09-05T09:50:00.005+08:00

While the contenders fight for whose the one who did it better over youtube, as I studied the videos, though they deserve considerable commendation for a "job well done". I think it's just self-exaltation to boast that the winner is the "best" when the performance is nothing but a drama that is "branded" positive but as a literary and drama enthusiast myself... this is a "circus" so amateur and deserved to be called "neophyte". The outcome always reflects about the English coaches' skills but they failed to train how to read one of the best written literary pieces of Edgar Allan Poe. They dramatize yes but the drama just plainly destroys what is supposed to be simple but elegant Ulalume. I hope the next interpretations would turn out to be better. My New York City friend commented that the poem is freely interpreted in parks by high school students and she believed that there was music as the lines are delivered. I think that point was distorted in these two interpretations. The natural music is lost as they interpreted it. There are too many elements where in fact, the essentials are not in props and drop-dead entrances, it's about RHYTHM.

Do you thinks it's right to Change for the Other?

2008-08-29T11:34:00.002+08:00

jhl930: i think that we have all heard some stories about people changing for the other and sometimes that is good in my opinion and then again sometimes its not that good honestly...i think that its good to change if you are doing something bad like maybe your a big drinker and you change for that person and your not such a drinker anymore or you are on drugs or something like that and you change for that person and you don't do drugs anymore, just stuff like that or maybe before you were the kind to have a few boyfriends/girlfriends at the same time(nto serious)and you just have the one now and you are happy...but then again there are bad ways that you can change...so what about all of you do you think its right to change for the other? thanks for taking the time to read my discussion and hopefully you will take part and answer...i hope that you all have a great day today!

manunulat: The questions that we should ask ourselves would be "Are we going to change for the better? And if so, are we ready to leave the old person we are?" CHANGE should not be treated as an enemy, it's a life force and it's inevitable. When we engage into a relationship, a change should always be welcomed as a force that could make both person grow and mature. When the examples that you have mentioned are stopped or measures have been done by the person who has that annoying behavior; the idea of determining whether he or she made that decision right is the quality of how that person made that decision. When a person decides to take action on that decision, there should be an affirmation that he or she is doing it for the better- the examples that you have cited is more beneficial to that person who has that unaccepted behavior when he or she realizes that the behavior needs to be changed. There should be a commitment to do the necessary ways to make his or her plans work and if the expected result does not manifest, a person should be ready to re-evaluate the kind of decision that had transpired. On the other hand, we cannot force others to make life changes according to our standards (it's confrontational when we nag or face our men, it won't work.). We can motivate others to Change using non-confrontational approaches because there are some people that really needs life-coaching. Yet, what's been embedded as Character is really difficult to address because a person may not be open-minded to consider the benefits of such decision. And if so, are we ready to live in with that kind of relationship and are we ready to accept that kind of person he or she is? If we respect individual differences, how long can we handle their behavior? We can not not communicate.

Reading to kids

2008-08-21T10:03:00.003+08:00

"Reading maketh a full man." as the saying goes and it's true that you cannot replace the quality of enjoyment that books could provide in Learning. While it is true that most of the materials today can be viewed in television or the internet- there are many important points missed. Have your children be checked by an specialists for physical impairment or Reading disabilities. Maybe that's one cause why your children could not stand long periods of time. Age also influence reading interests. Remember that each child have different "attention spans" so it is nice for you to be creative in making them love Reading. Before the advent of technology, reading have already contributed to man's curiosity and imagination. In that way, it allowed them to explore, seek visual evidences by traveling and do more investigation. Of course that's the missing part in television and additional media because it has already spoil the excitement of "wonders" that is supposed to be in the imaginative state in the human mind.
Do you have quality materials that fit to your children's age?
It is not necessary that children would read long paragraphs like us adults on a first introduction of a subject matter. Read with them. Demonstrate how you read and be creative. For example in reading stories, poetry and other prose that makes use of characterizations... you might want to change voice to emphasize character. In that way, children will have a grip that Reading is not purely narration but there is also Drama in it.
Do they have a routine for play and study?
If you just want your kids to Read without making schedules on their study time at home then I think this is stressful on their part especially if they are going to school... They should feel that you are not acting like their teacher. School age children normally do not listen to their parents when it comes to academic areas. If you want to impose something to your kids on this area, talk to his or her favorite teacher so that she or he will introduce it to your children then you reinforce it at home. Don't worry too much on this because this is how child develops socially.
Introduce materials related to their study and a variety.
This is something that most parents miss in seeking Reading materials. Children get bored when story books are often used most especially those stories that they are already familiar with and already watched (So don't let them be glued in the television. TV might spoil your technique. Schedule for TV viewing.). Introduce simple Science, then allow them to participate in the kitchen. Introduce sport, let your kids go out with your husband for fishing, skating, jogging, etc. There are a variety of ways to stimulate children to participate into Reading. Of course they wont be very willing at first but when you demonstrate and do stuff like that in school where there is singing and some skills demonstration; they would be interested later on. You could actually help them visualize and solve problems in mathematics by using available stuff inside your fridge. So next time they have this math homeworks, get them into the kitchen, go to a science fair, etc..
Children will love Reading, let them decide for materials. Get them into the bookstore or library with you. The more you expose them with stuff they haven't experienced, their attention will be re-focused.

Like Father, Like Son; Like Mother, like Daughter?

2008-08-19T20:28:00.004+08:00

I read that children emulate both good and bad health habits. Teens whose parents smoke will have a tendency to smoke while kids whose parents exercise will develop the habit of exercising as well. I have read and also mentioned in our RRL on our undergraduate thesis that parents are the models of their children.
In the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, research result show that parents influence on teens follow gender lines, boys emulate their Dad and mothers emulated by daughters.
In the aspect of health routines/ habits, what do you think have you acquired/ learned from your parents?

Fiesta

2008-08-19T15:26:00.003+08:00

Muelitz: Yesterday, we celebrated the whole day as if we were back in our country of origin.It was a Philippine Fiesta in Canada. The organizers of the festival rented a picnic area at Meadowvale Conservation Park in Mississauga, Ontario. There were a lot of people from different corner of Canada and even from the USA. There were so much food and drinks that there were still left over 10 hours later. Aside from eating and mingling there were plenty of parlor games for the kids which they really enjoyed. I surely wished my kids were here as they would have enjoyed every minute of it. Do you enjoy attending fiestas or such an event?Just Sharing,

Manunulat: Yes and No. Yes for religious gatherings, family gatherings (especially reunions but we really keep things short to avoid disagreement circumstances since my family is BIG and complicated.) and no for merely socializing and show off. You can't deny it man, PINOYs are often extravagant in some fiestas. It is like missing the real meaning of celebrating the whole thing. In most traditional provinces, there's a so-called "house-hopping" wherein you get to go to a strangers' house to eat up, drink a lot and stuff. It is really bad since other families are in difficult situation financially but they have to resort to "debts" just to keep up with the tradition. I am lucky I am Ilocano. Most of our fiesta's don't promote such extravagance, except for the "babaknang" where it's their chance to share their blessings to others that's why most of them usually are the hermana mayors. Most festivals in the Philippines now are enhanced, fading the real spirit of celebrating it in order to commercialize it for Tourism. Good or bad? It has both effects in our values as a people.

To a Married man or the Bachelor?

2008-08-19T15:23:00.003+08:00

Cecelgay: There are poelple says married man are a good lover than a bachelor because married man knows how to show his care, love and gives his best effort to his woman.....
>Sorry to all bachelors in mylot but i will agree on that, married man are more showy than bacholrs, married man are not afraid to show thier feeling... while most of bachelors that i know doesnt really care how thier girlfriend feel, they are busy in so many things... and sometimes they are busy in hunting another girl....
Peace to all bachelors, that is just my view... what is yours?

Manunulat: Married man is not afraid to show their affection because being into a relationship with him with a single person boosts his self-esteem, that despite he's married... he can still be attractive and can enjoy what a single guy would have. On the other hand, they could be good lovers in the aspect that they have already enough experience in committed relationships like that and committed relationships oftentimes have a higher degree of communication. I don't think being married gives a guarantee that he is a good lover. There is something wrong in the marriage that is why a man resort to illicit affair like that. On the other hand, singles often are not that affectionate because each have a degree of priority/ies that are not solely on their girlfriends. And yes, some are busy hunting on another girl because there is no commitment but there are singles who could stick to one woman. It's just a matter of how singles view their freedom.

Autism

2008-08-19T14:45:00.005+08:00

Jsvanriet: I have a child who is 3 almost 4 and he was dianosed with low functioning Autism. he is going to a early preschool and the school is tring to rediagnose him and I am not sure how to handle this. I feel like they are pushing him aside because he has had early help and is beginning to socialize better. If anyone has any advice I am always open to suggestion. We are in Indiana and I really dont want to see my little man get pushed farther behind. We moved here from a military base and we had all the help we could ask for but now that we are in the real world we seem a little lost as what we can get for him or do for him to make his life a little easier.

manunulat: I understand your feeling as a mother. I learned that Autism is best diagnosed early in order for the caregiver to provide the necessary needs of the the child. I'm not sure what you mean by your child being re-diagnosed in pre-school. You have to realize that Medicine and Special Education have different modalities in coming up with the right approach to cater to the needs of your child. Pediatricians are most concerned with physiologic health and development while the SPED is most concerned with the optimum level of functioning of your child. I would like to point out that both of this discipline is not in contradiction but best supplements each other. How to meet it is in your hands as the primary caregiver because most of the decision-making is on you as parents. My suggestion is for you to ask questions and be more involved with these modalities.If there are any groups of parents who have the same condition like your child, consider being a member. In that way, you can have a wide array of ideas on how to handle related situations. Further, you can be more empowered and you will have additional support system. There are websites also that are accessible. You have to equip also yourself, together with your husband with some information that could be vital to your child. If you feel that your child has been stressed so much, you have to ask and ventilate your concern to the secondary caregiver. He or she could explain to you the rationale behind the approach and that is important so that you may also learn to reinforce it when you are at home. I know it is not easy but you have to be pro-active at all concerns, not only you as the mother but also with your husband.

* I don't have specialization on these kids... Hmmm do you have any more ideas? Email or post it here.

Do boys mature sooner too?

2008-08-19T14:30:00.003+08:00

SViswan: My almost 8 year old (his birthday is in two weeks) behaves like a teenager and it's driving me crazy. He was a lovely child(and still is) but the temper tantrums and the 'not fair' (which I didn't expect till he was into his teens have started. He is irresponsible with his things and I just didn't know how to handle him (never had this problem earlier). Yesterday, I was reading a Reader's digest article on sleep patterns and his fits the teenager's sleep pattern and I suddenly could understand a bit of what he was going through.

Though I've always felt my son skipped an age (we never went through the 'terrible twos' and always had a child who was mature for his age), I didn't think the 'teenage years' would be here sooner.
But coming to think of it, girls are maturing at a faster pace now than a few years back. Could that be possible with boys too? Could that be what my son is going through? I tried to talk to my husband to find out what boys go through when they mature....but he's been of no help.
Can anyone explain this to me and help me handle my wonderful son? He's really skilled in different areas and a wonderful child. It's only the tantrums and the irresponsible behaviour I cannot stand because it's so unlike him. If it was my younger son doing it when he grows I wouldn't be surprised. But coming from my older one, I just don't know what to do!

Manunulat: It is generally perceived that girls mature earlier because their physical development seems to speed up. In puberty for example, they would develop their breasts or physical changes are more noticeable than in boys. Growth and development is a very significant matter in parenting but always remember that there are so many factors that are directly or indirectly affect growth and development. Nutrition for example is most attributed to quality of growth. Growth basically talks about physical aspect while Development basically is to maturity. These two go hand in hand.
When a child reaches 3 to six years old, they assert themselves more frequently by planning activities, make up games and initiate activities with others. If these opportunities are present, the child will develop a sense of initiative and sense of security in their ability to lead others and make decisions. If the tendency is squelched by parents by criticism and control, the child will develop a sense of Guilt making him a nuisance, a follower, lacking Initiative.
Your 8 year old is not yet a teenager so you might wanna drop your apprehensions to that sleep pattern issue that you read on teenagers; but I am not pointing that sleep is not important to your growing child. Your child falls to Erikson's psychosocial development which is Industry vs. Inferiority. This stage refers to 6 years old to puberty. Puberty is what we call the stage when a child enters the adolescence period. Going back to Industry vs. Inferiority. Your child is beginning to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments. They initiate projects, see them through completion, and they feel good about this achievements. This is more exemplified in school. That's why, teachers play an increased role in child development. So if you're concerned to this aspect and want to find out how your child is doing in this area, you should ask your child's teacher on this. If children are encouraged and reinforced in their Initiative, they begin to feel industrious and feel confident in their ability to achieve goals. I don't think that temper tantrums and your child's mentioning of not fair a manifestation of his being irresponsible. Encourage your child for more initiatives. Define his role in the home. Don't expect him to fix his room or stuff when you fail to demonstrate it. Remember, if you have 2 children... do not compare them because they are two separate individuals. If Initiative is not encouraged, if it is restricted by parents and teachers, the child begins to feel inferior doubting his own abilities and therefore may not reach his potentials. Listen to your child and don't take his verbal replies as tantrums or his actions as tantrums. A tantrum happens when a child lacks the verbal ability to convey his needs and wants. When he say it's not fair, explore his feelings in order to determine his thoughts. Then it is your duty to present choices that enables him to make decisions. If otherwise you think a certain aspect cannot be met, you should tell the truth and make valid explanations. Children look at parents as their models so be more demonstrative in certain projects at home that they might wanna be involved with. It is a very good thing that you talk things with your husband. Try to encourage your husband to go out with some activities with your kids. Husbands may not be aware but they are effective teachers in terms of many adventurous ideas like fishing, and other sports. Determining physical changes are important also, most significant changes in boys would be physical: height, weight, hair growth, changes in voice (which marks puberty), and of course other areas of development (changes in appearance). Since you mentioned that your child is skilled in many areas, explore his needs in these areas and encourage more Initiatives to this that allow him to participate and make decisions. Don't worry, it will be fine. You are a great mom, you are observing such things. Other moms don't care this much.

SViswan: Well, my son has always been mature for his age...and a friendly and social child. His teachers at school also encourage him and they do it openly. They give him the challenging projects and don't forget to mention that they are getting him to do it 'because they know he can'. I also spoke about my concerns to one of his teachers who has known him for 3 years and she agrees that she sees drastic changes and he's not the same boy we know. She even finds him distracted in class which is so unlike him. At school, he is encouraged to do everything he can and he is the kind of child who takes initiative to do things on his own. Even if it's a competition he knows nothing about...he will enter his name and then try to figure out what to do so that he can participate....which I see as a good quality. He loves to learn new stuff and is interested in almost everything and I never stop him from exploring his interests. In fact, my only worry was that he would be over-confident and feel that there was no area that he could fail at.
Both my kids are never compared and they are very different from each other...and that is why if this behaviour I see in my older one....was seen in my little one at the same age, I wouldn't be surprised.
But you might be right on the part where my older one lacks the vocabulary to explain what is going on in his mind and maybe that is what is coming out as his frustrations. I've always had open conversations with him (he talks to me more than my husband). He even came and told me how he feels when he sees the body parts of women and he was worried it was wrong. That's when it struck me that this is how boys going through puberty feel and the way he was physically growing...not just tall.
Anyways, I have started talking to him and even though he might not have the vocabulary to verbalise what is going on, I will try and figure out what it is.

Is there Heaven?

2008-08-19T14:23:00.002+08:00

There are many heavens. I had an OBE as a kid and I'm so sure that there is heaven. My OBE is a proof that there is life after death so I'm not worried about any thing. Moreover, holy scriptures speak about the heavens so it's a spiritual quest. More so, there is a mention of a New Heaven. So I guess that would be very fantastic. So, I'm living my life good so that I could get there someday.

Filipino Boxers minus Pacman

2008-08-19T14:12:00.002+08:00

Luisito Espinosa is back in the country to train boxers. Alex John Banal lost in a title bout this month, certainly he will get up on his knees. There are more boxers who needs to climb some ladders to regain lost fights like Bobby Pacquiao. Here are the top ten boxers ranked with highest winning percentage according to PhilBoxing.com: Cisco Morales, Draian Francisco, Eusebio Baluarte, Milan Melindo, Nonito Donaire, Jr., Alex John Banal, Rey Labao, Mercito Gesta and Bernabe Conception.

While it is really disappointing when we see the Filipino boxers lost in their bouts, the main concern really is "How to make a greater fighter after that lost?". We hear stories of neglected fighters- they don't get really professional help after some injuries or so. We don't really have enough statistics to determine boxers who have been injured badly or died in the ring. It is really a risky sport and the authorities should look into this matter. I heard a comment in Banal's fight that Panama is also a boxing fanatic country like the Philippines. Gee, they really produce millions of Champions. Imagine the spirit they have! More so, there is also politics in boxing that we are not aware of. It's really part of the system. Most of Filipinos boxers are from grass root levels who came from disadvantaged families in provinces. I think, its not only the physique that matter since these fighters are already exposed to hard labor. There are many factors in making a Champion. I hope the amateurs could really get proper training and management. It's not the lack of equipment actually- we saw Pacman's old gym featured on TV... there's also what we call "so-called LUCK" but when the fighter becomes a national hero, being forgotten is undeniable. A fighter should also have good VISIONS.

Lorma Idol

2008-08-15T16:05:00.004+08:00

Inspired by the wave brought about by Simon's popular American Idol that soon revolutionized Star in a Million, Pinoy Pop Superstar and other reality singing contests that invaded Philippine TV. JJ Macagba, director of the Creative Services , Albert de Guzman (Chairman of the project, SML secretary) brought the Brown Flava to LC's stage. Brown Flava composed of Carlo, Nelson, Josia, Jaema, Deni, Johann infused the new flavor of urban music mostly to my interpretation a groove soul of RnB. They appeared as opening acts of South Border in their Northern Luzon Crossover Concert in SLU so with Side A's promo tour. Also, they played back-to-back with K24/7,Retrospect, Pido and P.O.T.... It was August 14, 2003 when the Gimik Night was held at the LC Multi-purpose Hall. The first Lorma Idol was Genalyn F. Viola, a nursing student. The runners up were Jhoanalyn Noble Nano, followed by Trisha Badong, if my memory serves me right. The other contenders were: Gerald Roque, now a full pledged nursing Clinical Instructor (the last time I saw him was during a job fair in LC coz he's eyeing a middle east job.)- he was one versatile singer who could do pop, RnB... he was singing in LGS to LCSSHS, Ireneo Dulatre- he's a balladeer, Jaycus Nacis- too bad he pulled out last minute in the contest (reasons are not clear)- he's a superb amateur singer from the MT Department, also a PAMET scholar (I saw him at ITRMC Laboratory Complex), Kristina Marie Vendiola, Marife AimeeTrinidad, and Princess Marie Antonio also heat the night. Well it was a good project and the Gimik Night was a fresh experience. The SBO chairmen were among the judges but there was a text vote that enraged me that night. I'm just disappointed with the result because my bet was really on Jhoanalyn who rendered a difficult Miss Saigon piece but lost the title to Genalyn due to some text votes. I really don't believe in text votes. Sorry to say but I hate how the PDA or PI does when they do promote text votes. It spoils the real talent! More to say, I saw Trisha Badong's earlier performances before she stepped the Starstruck. I heard she's in the USA as a full pledged nurse now but I still bumped at some easy videos showcasing her talent over youtube. The Lorma Idol was also supported by the Lorma Highlights in terms of poster designs and some leaflets... some editors were even part of the production crew. The stage back-draft was done by the LC Visual Arts Guild. LH also partnered with the "Donate a Book Project" chaired by former EIC, Albert de Guzman who was SML secretary.

PROSTITUITION

2008-08-13T13:57:00.003+08:00

There has been some buzz over an alleged prostitution activity of LC BSN nursing students (basing from an alleged email that has been circulated, it also involved some other schools.). Opinions have been posted on the LH blog message board which as follows:

by kasyam apo:
yuck….
at take not jalm….
hindi lang po mga babae
kundi pati mga lalaki na din…. i have a friend na lalaki… third na sya ngayon dito sa lorma, nursing student sya… ang sabi sa mismong mga boarding house nila ginagawa yun..
i hoping sana next issue ng lormahighlights, maging bahagi po ito doon… thank you po

by Jalm
To kasyam apo:
yupz may nabalitaan na rin akong mga ganyan. mas malala pa yung iba kasi mismong mga doctors ang costumers nila. di naman pinangalanan ang mga nursing students na mga yun.

sana nga sa next issue meron na ito. para malaman na rin natin ang kanilang mga rason kung bakit nila ginagawa ito. nga pala kasyam apo kung gusto mo eh magregster ka sa forum site ng LH

by kasyam apo:
sana nga po.. mailathala po ito sa next issue
salamat po ulit…

by sabaw:
wag niyong ijudge ang other people malay niyo may rizon cla kung bakit ganun

by kasyam apo:
baka naman sabaw you’re of them…
walang lugar ang mga pokpok dito sa mundo..
sila pa nga ang sumisira sa isang pamilya eh…
at one more thing, bawal ang makiapid… so better quit in that bad habit or else… KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

by have mercy:
kasyam apo is right. malay mo baka maadik sila sa gingawa nila at magkaroon sila ng sakit. o di kaya ay magkakaso sila pagdinemanda ng kampo ng pamilya ang pagiging kabit nya. see………

by Igmedio Damian:
I don’t think that publishing the issue would change much as the city seems to be legalizing prostitution at some points. Jalm, nurse ka diba… u should be aware that local prostitutes are even entitled for medical check-ups sa city health. Don’t judge the person, you should point to the act. Tama si Sabaw at some points, may rason ang lahat ng bagay. Oprah even admitted to have been in that situation. Remember empathy Jalm. If you’re really concerned about these persons, bakit hindi niyo sila tulungan? Isa lang naman ang klaro diyan eh, they seem to have no other choice… give them another choice so that they can change. Payak na pag-usapan ang acts of prostitution… you should dig dipper. Kung may rason kung bakit napipilitan ang ibang cheerers (because they are failing academically); I’m sure may rason din ang mga alleged nursing prostitutes na yan.

by piz:to igmedio damian….may razon nga sila pero hindi naman nila iniisip kung ano yung mga negative or magiging bunga ng kanilang ginagawa… nakaksira sila ng pamilya… hindi mo kasi alam kung anong pakiramdam.. i admit ng dahil sa isang nursing student, nawala ang taty ko… iniwan kmai ng nanay namin at ngayon, 3 na lang kaming magkakapatid ang nabubhay dito sa mundo… mahirap yun.. sana wish ko lang maramdaman mo din ang nararamdaman ko, namin…

by jalm:Yupz may reason nga sila, pwedeng kulang na ang pangtuition nila. I know the feeling kasi scholar din ako hehehe. Pero I think prostitution is not the best solution to that problem. Pwedeng siya ang pinakamabilis na pwedeng kumita ng pera pero Nurse tayo eh, dapat imaintain natin ang “kaputian” ng ating uniform. May ibang paraan pa naman siguro para kumita ng extra income.
About sa medical check-ups sa city health, nakita ko yung mga pics at profile ng mga CSW at ang bata pa nung iba. At kung sakali mang maipublis ito, I think dalawa ang magiging result nito, first - pwedeng matauhan ang mga Nsg Students na ito at maghanap na lang ng ibang job and Secondly - pwedeng maencourage yung ibang Nsg Student para gawin din iyon knowing na di sila nag-iisa!

by jalm:to piz: nag-aaral ka pa rin ba? ang hirap naman ng situation mo ngayon. I got your point. At sana di na lumala pa ang problemang ito, sana ay magawan na ng solusyon.

by Igmedio Damian:To Piz: It must have been very difficult for you. I am not tolerating the act or even taking sides on the alleged people involved. Don’t prejudge as if I am insensitive. Dysfunctional nga ang society natin eh. Kaya napakadaling masira ang basic foundation which is family. To strengthen it is to find ways to understand the whereabouts of the components. You are speaking as to experience, I understand the rage but if we radically hang each suspected prostitute, will this world a better place to live in? I’ll give you a hypothetical question, are you blaming solely on the prostitute because of what had happened to your family? That is why you are reacting on that compulsion? In that case hindi pa nga handa lahat ng senses mo para makinig.

by Igmedio Damian:Jalm, tama ka sa puntong hindi nga solusyon ang prostitution. It will never will. Classical ngang example ito ng dysfunctional behavior. Kaya nga natin yan pinapag-aralan kung papano natin atakihin ang problema. Kaya dapat huwag kang maging OR nurse eh kasi mas magiging epektibo ka sa human to human interaction. More to say buddy, tama na maipublish ang prostitution issue pero dapat protektahan ang identities ng alleged people involved. Menor de edad nga eh. Matagal ng may ganito sa Lorma. May encounter na ring ganito si Jubilo noon (former dean). Ang punto lang, gaano kalawak ang jurisdiction ng school dito? Kung pagbabasehan mo yung Guidelines ng Nursing Department, wala ng laban ang mga ito kung tutuusin. Pero, Christian educational institution ang LC, alam mo ba kung ano ang meaning ng pagiging Christian? So to speak, responsibilidad din ng Lorma na palawigin pa ang kanilang kamay para maitama ang mga ito. To add, may batas tayo eh. Kung may reklamo sa mga ito, mag-file ng kaso. Kung tutuusin nga trial by publicity na itong ginagawa natin. Man, may human rights din sila.

post script: LH already published a topic related to the issue titled: Investigative Journalism... PLAZA: Sa Likod ng Liwanag written by Elmer dela Cruz (Filipino Literary Editor). Vol 27 issue 2 of LH magazine with a theme CAMPUS JOURNALISM TOWARDS A HUMANISTIC SOCIETY.

Sporting On

2008-08-12T19:46:00.007+08:00

Sporting On
by
Igmedio Damian

Hindi natin alam kung papano nangyari ang aksidente.
It was posted:
Let us pray for the fast recovery of one of our
schoolmate...

Walang masama sa pagdarasal. Ang pagdarasal nga
"can move mountains". Hindi ba? Gusto kong iparating sa mga authorities na bagaman ito ay
matatawag na aksidente. Hindi kaya't mayroon ding
matatawag na kapabayaan o pagkukulang?
Pagsasawalang-bahala sa kaligtasan ng mga
estudyante na may kinalaman sa aktibidad ng
paaralan? Do all schools have safety rules on sporting
events?

Sa aking pagkakaalam, itong insidenteng ito ay
matatawag na grabe kung pag-uusapan ang bahaging
nasaktan. May mga aksidente narin noon na kung saan
nasaktan ang isang pep squad member. Hindi ko
sinasabing sa pep squad na ito, dito ring nagmula.
Sinasabi kong maaaring sa ibang departamento
sapagkat ang bawat Kolehiyo ay may sari-sariling pep
squad at ang main pep squad naman usually na pang
inter-school ay binubuo ng mga miyembro mula sa iba't
ibang departamento. Isa ito magandang tradisyon at
magandang ehemplong pagpapakita ng "true
leadership" ng mangilan ngilang guro. (Sinu sino pa po
ba sa mga guro ngayon ang may ganitong dedikasyon?
Mangilan-ngilan nga lamang hindi ba? Kung meron man
natitira ay yaong mga matatawag na lamang na
"remains", coaches for compliance sake.) Dapat po
natin tularan ang mangilan ngilan na aktibong
nagtataguyod ng interes ng mga estudyante.
Bagama't ito ay bahagi lamang ng usaping pang-
akademiko (maaring tutulang hindi nga pang-
akademiko sapagkat ang sigaw ng mga elitista ay
ibalik muli ang focus sa Agham at Teknolohiya);
sapagkat ang Isport daw ay hindi naman ang
pangunahing interes sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon. (Is
this the reason why DE is no longer DECS?) Atin pong
alalahanin ang mga sinimulan ng the "great Dr. C." who
lived by example, advocating the value of physical
fitness in overall health.

Bagama't mukhang "cheering" na lamang ang
bumubuhay sa mapaklang sporting event ng bawat
paaralan at inter-school competitions; kung
pagbabasehan ang mga kumento sa LH blog at mga
opinyon ng common students; dapat din nating alamin
ang masalimuot na problema ng isport. Dapat,
dagdagan ang safety precautions sa mga practices ng
CHEERING o anumang event. Have it written. Science
should be applied in each stunts. It's not just an art.
"I've watched some documentries on how stunts are
executed, it's not just a matter of coming up with it
successfully (PE teachers know this) but behind
that... SAFETY should always be a priority. Needless
to say further, should we qualify an athlete's
assumption of risk factor?" O dili kaya'y nasabak
lamang sila sa naturang sporting event simply because
there is no better choice or simply this is quite the
easier choice than to take another exam? Or given No
choice? Oh yeah, because this is like an unwritten rule
kagaya ng isang Dean's prerogative over who
deserves to pass, who deserves to attend the
capping and badge ceremony, who deserves to
proceed in OJT or level higher and move one step
further, who deserves to graduate with flying colors.
Fact is, this is categorized in extra-curricular activity
to break some gaps in deliberation of grades. Or
rather, a poor interpretation and exercise of the so-
called Academic Freedom. Make sport an option to
supplement academics? If Logic could solve this
mystery, how would the logic gurus translate these?
Or just be blind and ignore the facial expressions of
students who don't want what they are doing? Watch
them in youtube, have fun, laugh till it hurts.

Kaya nga napakahirap maging isang boxer kasi
maraming exercises... Inaanyayahan kong suriin ng
studentry at mga student journalist ang
napakahalagang bahagi ng usaping pampalakasan sa
paaralan. Meron nga bang matinong sports program
ang bawat paaralan? Or simply it reflects how poor
and we lack so much that we can't even have a good
match in major events such as the Olympics? Or we
have the poorest Characters behind it that we can't
be proud of having?

Kung ikaw ay isang mapanuring estudyante,
napagtanto mo na ba kung ano ang importansya ng
PRISAA fee na inyong binabayaran? Bagamat hindi
natin nalalaman kung ano nga ba ang halaga ng
PRISAA sa buhay ng isang simpleng mag-aaral. Para sa
iba'y ito lamang ay payak na "patungkol sa simpleng
kataga na sports." Para sa isang tunay na atleta, ito
ay higit pa sa salitang sports. Ito ay nagpapahayag
dapat ng isang "pagkakataon" ng isang malalim na
paghubog sa isang pambihirang kakayahan ng
indibidwal. Ang salitang sports ay sumasalamin sa
isang kahusayan na hindi lamang pampisikal na bahagi
ng katauhan ang nahuhubog kundi ang kabuuan ay
natututong maki-ugnay sa bawat isa para namnamin
ang salitang "tagumpay" at "karangalan". Ano nga ba
ang kalagayan ng mga paaralan sa PRISAA? Marami ng
atletang sinubukang bagtasin ang rurok ng tagumpay
sa kabila ng "kawalan o kakulangan ng suporta" at
pansamantala'y maging popular pagkat nailimbag ang
kanilang nagawa sa mga pang-estudyanteng
publikasyon o promosyon. Hanggang pagpapalimbag na
nga ba? Hanggang padayu-dayong kumpetisyon kung
saang may piyesta na lamang ba? Manalo,
magpakasaya sa buong gabi sa isang night spot at
hintayin ang umaga? Let's aim for the National and
International Events. We can! Gaano ba kataas ang
ating pangarap? Gaano ba kataas tumalon ang isang
MVP? Makakaya ba niyang patumbahin ang mga
naghahariang mga kakumpetensiyang paaralan? Can
we give a good game or just mumble our bitterness
because of a beauty pageant? Kailan naman tayo
sisigaw sa level ng pang UAAP? One hundred years
from now?

Walang bang maayos na sport program? Everyone is
just preoccupied by Imeldific display of lighting
torches. Halos maghingalo na ang noo'y mga buhay na
buhay na guro ng PE. Nirarayuma na ang bawat kasu
kasuan ng mga ito sapagkat nanamlay ang kanilang
aktibidad. Papano'y wala namang malinaw na polisiya.
Wala hindi ba? "How do you make a Champion?" Paulit
ulit lang naman ang mga naglalaro sa basketball diba?
(Performance has never been so bland.) Kaalinsabay
ng ibang sporting event mula track and field,
badminton, tennis, chess, darts, volleyball, etc, sila-
sila na naman (minsan nagdo-double body ang isang
participant... dalawa or tatlo ang sport niya, conflict
tuloy sa schedule. Hindi na nakapagtataka if may
manalo by default.). Bad gaming. Bad schedule. Sila
na naman nung nakaraang taon, sila na naman
ngayon. Dapat kumukumpitensiya na sila sa labas para
"sila" naman na nagsisimula ay "sila naman". Saan ang
motibasyon na dapat ay nakapunla para sa mga
nangangapang freshman? Na-review na ba kung maari
nang isalang ang matagal nang nakaupo sa bangkong
atleta? O dili kaya'y naghihintay na lamang ng suporta
mula sa mga nag eeli-elitistahang student leader kuno
na pre-occupied sa isang napakagarbong "beauty
pageant" sa bawat school event. Pamilyar diba? Tipikal
na Filipino culture, mahilig sa pageant... di ba nga
halos lahat ng sulok may masasabing "pageant" mula
Miss Talipapa, Mr. Suwave, Mrs. Banyera. Pinoy na
Pinoy! Hindi ako nagtatangi sa mag ito pero ano nga
ba ang "sense", ano ang nais na iparating?
Imeldification. Bakit di niyo tignan kung maari niyo ng
palitan ang mga officers ng bawat sporting event?
Bakit hindi pag-aralan ang mga rules kung angkop ba
sa students? Baka naman may marunong sa faculty? o
sa non-teaching employee kaya? Ano naman kaya ang
mensaheng maipaparating nito sa isang baguhang
kolehiyala o high school? How could we erase the
blemishes of cheating? Meron ba?

Isa sa aking sina-saluduhang mga atleta ay ang
naghihingalong Martial Arts team ni Sir Noel Sumingwa.
Opo, ang walang kakupas-kupas na "Dragon" ng LC
martial arts Club. Mantakin niyong kayang kaya niyang
magpa-demonstrate ng routine sa ilalim ng puno ng
santol at sirok ng mangga? Hindi nahihiya ang team na
ibuhos ang kanilang high kick sa ere para lang ipakita
ang abilidad, ang pormang may disiplina. This team
should have a space in the Gym with real equipment!
Alam ni Sir Noel how it's like to have nothing to come
up with something but we can't wait to have
"quantum physics" take its effect. I mean, gosh
having a Champion coach is not enough to motivate
martial artists. This is not classical anime or
something. Martial arts is a discipline that Filipinos are
excelling in and out of the country. International
martial arts enthusiast come to this part of the world
just to train and learn variations from Kali to Sikaran,
etc.. Kaya support what the team deserves.

I met an athlete in a school in Pangasinan, yeah their
gym was in bad shape. The student paper keeps on
publishing how bad the gym was... but then, the lack
does not kill their morale. It sucks but their team was
struggling and they produce Champions. Should they
be given better equipment, their Champions are not
just ordinary Champions. However, when they should
be given a chance to compete in the Nationals, make
a step further to join the Olympic team... Hmmm some
crocodiles kill their hope. Yeah sad but true. Mafias in
the National Team. There's no unity to come up with a
powerful team. You can just feel how that Olympic
coach sighed. OMG! The lack, yeah the Lackl.

Sepak-takraw. Is sipa still our National Sport? Di
naman kasi importante ... (Hahah. No sense of
Nationalism nga ang kabataan ngayon. Biruin niyong
kailangan pang magpalabas ng directive si Sec. Lapus
just to stop playing canned Lupang Hinirang during
Flag Ceremonies. Well, do you still know how to sing
Lupang Hinirang with your heart?); Darn, do we know
how many teams that are viable for any sporting
events? Authorities would boast of the well-publicized
accomplishments of many students who made it to
the national or international arena but the reality is,
they only did little to the development of such talent.
Sad reality. I would say that those who made it to
these scenes are really the lucky ones because they
are well-supported by their parents, if not... let us
give commendation to PTO/PTA for their full support.
Give commendation for the Politician who signed some
clearance and gave financial support out from his own
pocket? (and make sure we dont forget to vote for
him in the next elections.) In most schools, an
athlete is lucky if student leaders will raise funds or do
something for the delegate. Sa barangay nga namin,
mismo yung mga atleta ang nagso-solicit pero
nakakainis, makikita mo lang silang tambay na naman
pagkatapos ng liga. When funds are available, there
are delegates... if non, hmmm maybe look forward for
another event next time or next school year anyway
the final exams are approaching, focus on your studies
instead. The high spirited athlete would go anyway.
Assuption of Risk factor. If he still have PE, inform the
instructor to make an exemption, don't tell other
students they might get jealous. For the remaining
subjects, make-up exams. Enter at your own Risk. Be
a Hero, they would just have to be too proud of the
"bacon" when you are LUCKY but truth is; the school
did only little. This is a sad reality again. Napapansin
ka lang kapag nananalo ka. If natatalo, normally
authorities would rethink of Politics behind the
sporting event: corruption, cheating, etc.; then wala
ng pasasalihin or kaunti na ang suporta the next time
kasi feeling nadaya yung result or di na worthy yung
competition. That should not be the attitude. Mas
masarap kaya ang matalo, at bumagsak, at
bumangon... It's better to fight and avoid
procastinations than to be Impotent. Impotent na
nga, wala pang erection.

We hate Politics in Sport. Some school authorities
really hate it to the point of discouraging inter-school
competitions. Others dance to the music. Can't beat
them, join them. Yeah, the fact that sports should
promote an apolitical environment as in the case when
Pacquiao's fight would allow politicians to enjoy the
fight nor we see the world leaders in Olympics to
convey their support... though the hot part is "We get
more ringings with activists outcry of Freeing Tibet".
No one would dare to talk much in media if a religious
fundamentalist burned himself as a form of protes.
Rather, we would track the medals, see who is the
hot babe or adonis among the athletes. Fact is, We
love sports to death that we are most amazed to see
our heroes demonstrate their world record skills. It is
like being in the game itself- inspiring, empowering,
adrenaline rush, sometimes stupid because it is spoiled
by technicalities and boboos from different factors,
protests due to age, scoreboards, unsportmanlike
behaviour, drugs, and shits. Hate Sports and Love it.
It's like reliving the Gladiator movie.

Worse and more exposes. In public schools... kids are
taught to lie on their age just to have a grip of that
scholarship; never try to break that old rule for the
school's glory. That expose is nothing more different
when that gymnast was asked... Too bad the
Standards imposed does not favor one's winning
strategy. Win, no matter how it takes. Be otherwise,
you'll break the rule then you'll have no future. Yet,
does an athlete ends being an athlete when the Game
is Over?

Sa ganang akin ay...

2008-08-11T12:57:00.002+08:00

Sampung bagay na naglalaro sa aking isipan... 1. Nung huli kong makausap ang aking kapatid na lalaki, nabanggit niya ang katagang "racial cleansing" sa harap ng aming diskusyon sa pulitika. Aming napag-usapan ang mga posibilidad kung hindi napatalsik ang rehimeng Marcos... 2. Naninindigan ang aking ina na hindi lehitimong pangulo si PGMA bagamat nasambit kong hindi man lehitimo, sino naman ang karapat dapat? 3.Dalawang beses ko ng nakasalu sa inuman ang aking Ama at ang pinakamahalagang sinabi niya sa akin ay ang paghingi ng kapatawaran sa mga nagawa niya sa amin. 4. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit hindi pa nareresolba kung sino talaga ang pumatay kay Ninoy Aquino. Maraming teorya ngunit mahalaga na sana'y mapahayag kung sino ang may sala. 5. Masyadong mahal ang usapang pangkapayapaan. 6. Nakakatakot pakinggan ang mga religious fundamentalists pero kung hindi ka naman makikinig... wala ka ng ibang magagawa kundi magpalahi... 7. Nakakabahala ang pilosopiya ni Manong Dolphy, wala daw siyang pinagsisihan pero nasusuklam siya sa kanyang sarili. 8. Kung gusto mo ng isang radikal na pagbabago, magpasabog ka ng bomba. Pero, kung katulad ng paunti-unting pagpapasabog lamang, malamang mabagal ang pagbabagong iyan. Ikumpara mo naman ang bomba sa Hiroshima at ang pangyayari sa twin towers; alin ba dito ang pagbabagong gusto mo? 9. Hindi mamamatay ang usaping pangkalayaan. Sino ba ang malaya? 10. Bakit kapa nag-aaral kung alam mong sa huli'y hindi mo naman gagamitin ang iyong pinag-aralan?

PGMA's basket

2008-08-11T12:12:00.004+08:00

Amidst ailing popularity ratings delivered her one hour bland SONA in July 28, 2008. Activists and civil groups protested outside Batasang Pambansa accusing her of lies of the true picture of the country. Solons have a way to say support and not. The question is "How long can Filipinos hang-on with VAT?"

CEGP Corner

2008-08-02T20:12:00.008+08:00

Campus Press Freedom

Our caucuses on campus situation prove the glaring cases of press freedom violations (CPFVs) in every formation. One of the worst is the case of UPLB Perspective. Direct interference of the university’s high official in the selection process is alarming and enraging.

Other publications remain closed such as The National of National University of Pintig ng Diwa of the Philippine School for Business Administration-Quezon City. Regina, student publication of Assumption University in Pampanga, was closed due to ‘vulgar and immoral language.’

These attacks aim to blunt our opposition to anti-student policies and practices of school authorities. Repression exists where commercialization of education is intense. Still, the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (RA 7079) is being used by the enemies of press freedom to suppress student papers. Its provision on non-mandatory collection of publication fee results to closure of many student newspapers. Even as the Guild has been calling for the scrapping of the flawed law, the government continues to implement it to our detriment.

To launch an all-out campaign for CPF, all formations must systematize documentation of violations. Ensure that every member-publication accomplish the CPF profile. Submit the accomplished profiles to the National Office in the soonest possible time. Publish regional/provincial report on the situation of the campus press.

In pursuance of our three demands, [Reopen all closed student publications; Establish student papers in schools; End all forms of CPFVs] every formation, especially the chapters, must identify campaign schools with worst cases of CPFVs. Update the N.O. of your specific plans and actions. Our local struggles on campuses must reap concrete gains. Education, propaganda and alliance works are vital.

Sponsor/Co-sponsor forums, alternative classes and other venues for discussing CPF, CJA of 1991 and other issues hounding the campus press. Our objective is to raise the awareness of the most number of students and people.

Particularize the conduct of our CPF Week on July 22-26 and our National Day of Action for Press Freedom on July 25, the Guild’s 71^st anniversary. Inform us as soon as possible. We must unite the most number of students, press freedom and advocates and allies on this issue. We may launch a press conference as a kick-off for this campaign. Design broad and militant build-up activities for NDA. Our aim is to highlight our continuing struggle for press freedom vis-à-vis other democratic rights.

Tuition Hike

This is a hellish school year. Amidst the worsening economic crisis and increases in power and water rates and oil prices, many heartless capitalist educators managed to increase tuition. As a result, there has been an alarming trend of enrolment decline in many colleges and universities. Extended enrolment in many private educational institutions is a clear indication of a commercialized education. Those who cannot afford to pay high fees are compelled to transfer to schools with cheaper education or worse, to stop schooling.

If the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government were a bit considerate, it should have declared a moratorium on tuition hikes and other fee increases. This year, 376 private schools increased their tuition. The national average of said hikes is 12.33%, equivalent to P36.66 per unit.

Instead, it continues to implement Education Act of 1982—the culprit of deregulation tuition increases. Even its own toothless agency, Commission on High Education, conveniently uses the law as an alibi. It is high time we seriously call and work for the abolition of Education Act of 1982. There is a need to develop it as a tactical fight.

Meanwhile, the sorry state of state colleges and universities has never gone any better with the government’s meager budget for education. Like her ousted predecessor, Macapagal-Arroyo ‘encourages’ SCUs to be self-reliant (read: rely on income generating projects such as privatization of assets and services and tuition hikes). In fact, tuition increases in SCUs reach to as high as 100%. Merging, essentially closure of other SCUs, is rampant.

Release regional/provincial Campus Watch, our monitor of tuition hikes, violations to democratic rights and other anti-student policies. Encourage our publications to write features and investigative reports on the history of tuition hikes vis-à-vis decline in student population, exorbitant fee increases, low salary of faculty members and employees, etc.

Most importantly, our formations must strive to develop anti-tuition hike struggles in schools and win concrete gains.

On July 11, there will be a National You and Student Summit at Balagtas Hall, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. Nearby provinces may end delegation. Other formations may launch similar indoor activities. Primary issues to be discussed in this year’s Summit include Economic Crisis vis-à-vis Rising Cost of Education, Education Act of 1982, Budget for Education and Miniaturization, among others.

Our demands: (1) Stop tuition increases; (2) Allocate higher subsidy to education; (3) Scrap Education Act of 1981; (4) Fight for a nationalistic, scientific and mass-oriented education.

Curriculum Revisions

Under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime, globalization in education continues to escalate. Besides merging the state colleges and universities and lower budget for education, curriculums are revised in adherence to the impositions of International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

In tertiary education, the general education program in the University of the Philippines has been altered. The Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP), masquerading as a liberal program, actually makes nationalism optional. By giving ‘freedom’ to students to choose their subjects, history and social sciences become mere options. Sooner or later, the scheme will be implemented in other state-run schools.

The Millennium Curriculum or Basic Education (BEC) for elementary and high school students prioritizes English, Math, Filipino and Science. All other subjects are lumped together in one subject, Makabayan. At young age, Filipino youth will have their history forgotten, their creativity and skills dulled. Such abrupt and absurd curriculum revision has sown confusion among teachers and students.

Both programs replenish the colonial character of the Philippine educational system. Both aim at molding the Filipino youth into cheap, ‘globally competitive’ labor force for multinational and transnational corporations.

We must strive to expose and oppose these. We may link up with progressive teachers union and associations.

NSTP

The National Services Training Program (NSTP) is even worse than the ROTC as it requires women students to undergo the same nauseating, senseless program of fascist orientation. The NSTP is an insulting response to the students’ overwhelming demand to abolish ROTC.

We must continue to expose and oppose this and call for the scrapping of the NSTP. In particular, we may write investigative articles on the corrupt and violent practices of ROTC officials and intelligence work carried out against progressive student organizations and individuals.

US Interventions

The US and Philippine governments are talking about the extension and widening of the scope of Balikatan exercises, approval of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement and the participation of US troops in actual combat operations. The MLSA would transform this country into a virtual US military zone.

We must intensify efforts in opposing such blatant military intervention. We must ensure in-depth discussion regarding the issue. Include the topic imperialism in every discussion. Use creative forms of propaganda such as film showing, exhibit, concert, cultural night, etc.

Strengthen/Establish Anti-Imperialist Movement (AIM) of the Youth or any similar alliance against US military intervention in schools and communities.

All information are encouraged to respond to the National Youth Protest to Balikatan on July 4. plan other activities for this issue.

Triple Whammy

As the Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo regime implements its wages- freeze policy, it tolerates capitalists to increase power rates, water rates and oil prices. Forced by the decrease in her popularity rating, Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo merely pays lip service to the people on the issue of Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA). As a patroness of the deregulation and privatization, she connives with the prize sector in exploiting further the people.

All formations must respond to these economic issues. We must participate and may initiate protest actions regarding these. We may reach out to local associations in communities.

Youth WALKOUT - 18 July 2008

2008-08-02T20:01:00.001+08:00

OUR EARTH

2008-08-01T10:13:00.001+08:00

Tirador

2008-08-01T09:04:00.004+08:00

Kasalanan ba Inang diwata
Na di sinasadyang kitilin
Si Maya?

Kasalanan ko bang tawagin
Nilang Insiang tanga?

Kasalanan bang maging
Totoo at magpakatao
Oh Ina?

Kasalanan ba?

Isa, dalawa

Umpisa…

Ang mga hilong talilong,
pinagod ng ugoy ni
Haring hangin,
Ako’y nautal saglit,
Nagpatuloy, nanalangin.

Shadow Love (1989)

2008-07-31T11:11:00.001+08:00

EVAT, Pahirap na Naman

2008-07-30T23:33:00.004+08:00

Batasang Pambansa, Manila- Detractors of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took turns in criticizing the 57-minute State of the Nation Address (SONA), which was filled with explanations of how eVAT will help the Philippines in coping with global economic crisis.

Senator Edgardo Angara, said the subsidies from e-VAT "though good, are not sustainable."

Activist lawyers, the Alternative Law Groups (ALG)- "was a very long defensive statement for e-VAT and a poor attempt at presenting success stories in various parts of the country." while the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in doubt due to unrealistic presentation of data and added that it was more of a political statement.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) disapproved- "spoken by someone who seemed to be from another planet and detached from reality."

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño added that Mrs Arroyo failed to articulate the aspirations of poor Filipinos in her latest SONA.

Bayan Secretary General, Renato Reyes said that it was "rediculous" and that eVAT is anti-people.

Leftist partylist representatives also criticized the SONA and then again, the people failed to hear the reforms they wanted from the government.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said his group was disappointed because the President did not tackle the P125 wage hike; the P3,000 salary increase for government workers; and the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

*The VAT Reform Law gives the President the power to increase the VAT rate to 12 percent if (1) VAT collection-to-gross domestic product ratio for 2005 exceeds 2.8 percent or (2) if the national government deficit-to-GDP ratio for 2005 exceeds 1.5 percent.

Full text, State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2008 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO DURING THE 2ND REGULAR SESSION OF THE 14TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, 28 July 2008

Thank you, Speaker Nograles. Senate President Villar. Senators and Representatives. Vice President de Castro, President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen:

I address you today at a crucial moment in world history.

Just a few months ago, we ended 2007 with the strongest economic growth in a generation. Inflation was low, the peso strong and a million new jobs were created. We were all looking to a better, brighter future.

Because tough choices were made, kumikilos na ang bayan sa wakas. Malapit na sana tayo sa pagbalanse ng budget. We were retiring debts in great amounts, reducing the drag on our country's development, habang namumuhunan sa taong bayan.

Biglang-bigla, nabaligtad ang ekonomiya ng mundo. Ang pagtalon ng presyo ng langis at pagkain ay nagbunsod ng pandaigdigan krisis, the worst since the Great Depression and the end of World War II. Some blame speculators moving billions of dollars from subprime mortgages to commodities like fuel and food. Others point of the very real surge in demand as millions of Chinese and Indians move up to the middle class.

Whatever the reasons, we are on a roller coaster ride of oil price hikes, high food prices and looming economic recession in the US and other markets. Uncertainty has moved like a terrible tsunami around the globe, wiping away gains, erasing progress.

This is a complex time that defies simple and easy solutions. For starters, it is hard to identify villains, unlike in the 1997 financial crisis. Everyone seems to be a victim, rich countries and poor, though certainly some can take more punishment than others.

To address these global challenges, we must go on building and buttressing bridges to allies around the world: to bring in the rice to feed our people, investments to create jobs; and to keep the peace and maintain stability in our country and the rest of the world. Yet even as we reach out to those who need, and who may need us, we strive for greater self-reliance.

Because tough choices were made, the global crisis did not catch us helpless and unprepared. Through foresight, grit and political will, we built a shield around our country that has slowed down and somewhat softened the worst effects of the global crisis. We have the money to care for our people and pay for food when there are shortages; for fuel despite price spikes.

Neither we nor anyone else in the world expected this day to come so soon but we prepared for it. For the guts not to flinch in the face of tough choices, I thank God. For the wisdom to recognize how needed you are, I thank, you Congress. For footing the bill, I thank the taxpayers.

The result has been, on the one hand, ito ang nakasalba sa bayan; and, on the other, more unpopularity for myself in the opinion polls. Yet, even unfriendly polls show self-rated poverty down to its 20-year low in 2007.

My responsibility as President is to take care to solve the problems we are facing now and to provide a vision and direction for how our nation should advance in the future.

Many in this great hall live privileged lives and exert great influence in public affairs. I am accessible to you, but I spend time every day with the underprivileged and under represented who cannot get a grip on their lives in the daily, all-consuming struggle to make ends meet.

Nag-aalala ako para sa naka-aawang maybahay na pasan ang pananagutan para sa buong pamilya. Nag-aalala ako para sa magsasakang nasa unang hanay ng pambansang produksyon ng pagkain ngunit nagsisikap pakanin ang pamilya. I care for hardworking students soon to graduate and wanting to see hope of good job and a career prospect here at home.

Nag-aalala ako para sa 41-year old na padre de pamilya na di araw-araw ang trabaho, at nag-aabala sa asawa at tatlong anak, at dapat bigyan ng higit pang pagkakakitaan at dangal. I care for our teachers who gave the greatest gift we ever received – a good education – still trying to pass on the same gift to succeeding generations. I care for our OFWs, famed for their skill, integrity and untiring labor, who send home their pay as the only way to touch loved ones so far away. Nagpupugay ako ngayon sa kanilang mga karaniwang Pilipino.

My critics say this is fiction, along with other facts and figures I cite today. I call it heroism though they don't need our praise. Each is already a hero to those who matter most, their families.

I said this is a global crisis where everyone is a victim. But only few can afford to avoid, or pay to delay, the worst effects.

Many more have nothing to protect them from the immediate blunt force trauma of the global crisis. Tulad ninyo, nag-aalala ako para sa kanila. Ito ang mga taong bayan na dapat samahan natin. Not only because of their sacrifices for our country but because they are our countrymen.

How do we solve these many complex challenges?

Sa kanilang kalagayan, the answer must be special care and attention in this great hour of need.

First, we must have a targeted strategy with set of precise prescriptions to ease the price challenges we are facing.

Second, food self-sufficiency; less energy dependence; greater self-reliance in our attitude as a people and in our posture as a nation.

Third, short-term relief cannot be at the expense of long term reforms. These reforms will benefit not just the next generation of Filipinos, but the next President as well.

Napakahalaga ang Value Added Tax sa pagharap sa mga hamong ito.

Itong programa ang sagot sa mga problemang namana natin.

Una, mabawasan ang ating mga utang and shore up our fiscal independence.

Pangalawa, higit na pamumuhunan para mamamayan at imprastraktura.

Pangatlo, sapat na pondo para sa mga programang pangmasa.

Thus, the infrastructure links programmed for the our poorest provinces like Northern Samar: Lao-ang-Lapinig-Arteche, right now ay maputik, San Isidro-Lope de Vega; the rehabilitation of Maharlika in Samar.

Take VAT away and you and I abdicate our responsibility as leaders and pull the rug from under our present and future progress, which may be compromised by the global crisis.

Lalong lumakas ang tiwala ng mga investor dahil sa VAT. Mula P56.50 kada dolyar, lumakas ang piso hanggang P40.20 bago bumalik sa P44 dahil sa mga pabigat ng pangdaigdigang ekonomiya. Kung alisin ang VAT, hihina ang kumpiyansa ng negosyo, lalong tataas ang interes, lalong bababa ang piso, lalong mamahal ang bilihin.

Kapag ibinasura ang VAT sa langis at kuryente, ang mas makikinabang ay ang mga may kaya na kumukonsumo ng 84% ng langis at 90% ng kuryente habang mas masasaktan ang mahihirap na mawawalan ng P80 billion para sa mga programang pinopondohan ngayon ng VAT. Take away VAT and we strip our people of the means to ride out the world food and energy crisis.

We have come too far and made too many sacrifices to turn back now on fiscal reforms. Leadership is not about doing the first easy thing that comes to mind; it is about doing what is necessary, however hard.

The government has persevered, without flip-flops, in its much-criticized but irreplaceable policies, including oil and power VAT and oil deregulation.

Patuloy na gagamitin ng pamahalaan ang lumalago nating yaman upang tulungan ang mga pamilyang naghihirap sa taas ng bilihin at hampas ng bagyo, habang nagpupundar upang sanggahan ang bayan sa mga krisis sa hinaharap.

Para sa mga namamasada at namamasahe sa dyip, sinusugpo natin ang kotong at colorum upang mapataas ang kita ng mga tsuper. Si Federico Alvarez kumikita ng P200 a day sa kaniyang rutang Cubao-Rosario. Tinaas ito ng anti-kotong, anti-colorum ngayon P500 na ang kita niya. Iyan ang paraan kung paano napananatili ang dagdag-pasahe sa piso lamang. Halaga lang ng isang text.

Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecoms to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos.

Noong Hunyo, nagpalabas tayo ng apat na bilyong piso mula sa VAT sa langis—dalawang bilyong pambayad ng koryente ng apat na milyong mahihirap, isang bilyon para college scholarship o pautang sa 70,000 na estudyanteng maralita; kalahating bilyong pautang upang palitan ng mas matipid na LPG, CNG o biofuel ang motor ng libu-libong jeepney; at kalahating bilyong pampalit sa fluorescent sa mga pampublikong lugar.

Kung mapapalitan ng fluorescent ang lahat ng bumbilya, makatitipid tayo ng lampas P2 billion.

Sa sunod na katas ng VAT, may P1 billion na pambayad ng kuryente ng mahihirap; kalahating bilyon para sa matatandang di sakop ng SSS o GSIS; kalahating bilyong kapital para sa pamilya ng mga namamasada; kalahating bilyon upang mapataas ang kakayahan at equipment ng mga munting ospital sa mga lalawigan. At para sa mga kalamidad, angkop na halaga.

We released P1 billion for the victims of typhoon Frank. We support a supplemental Western Visayas calamity budget from VAT proceeds, as a tribute to the likes of Rodney Berdin, age 13, of Barangay Rombang, Belison, Antique, who saved his mother, brother and sister from the raging waters of Sibalom River.

Mula sa buwang ito, wala nang income tax ang sumusweldo ng P200,000 o mas mababa sa isang taon – P12 billion na bawas-buwis para sa maralita at middle class. Maraming salamat, Congress.

Ngayong may P32 na commercial rice, natugunan na natin ang problema sa pagkain sa kasalukuyan. Nagtagumpay tayo dahil sa pagtutulungan ng buong bayan sa pagsasaka, bantay-presyo at paghihigpit sa price manipulation, sa masipag na pamumuno ni Artie Yap.

Sa mga LGU at religious groups na tumutulong dalhin ang NFA rice sa mahihirap, maraming salamat sa inyo.

Dahil sa subsidy, NFA rice is among the region's cheapest. While we can take some comfort that our situation is better than many other nations, there is no substitute for solving the problem of rice and fuel here at home. In doing so, let us be honest and clear eyed – there has been a fundamental shift in global economics. The price of food and fuel will likely remain high. Nothing will be easy; the government cannot solve these problems over night. But, we can work to ease the near-term pain while investing in long-term solutions.

Since 2001, new irrigation systems for 146,000 hectares, including Malmar in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, Lower Agusan, Casecnan and Aulo in Nueva Ecija, Abulog-Apayao in Cagayan and Apayao, Addalam in Quirino and Isabela, among others, and the restoration of old systems on another 980,000 hectares have increased our nation's irrigated land to a historic 1.5 million hectares.

Edwin Bandila, 48 years old, of Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, cultivated one hectare and harvested 35 cavans. Thirteen years na ginawa iyong Malmar. In my first State of the Nation Address, sabi ko kung hindi matapos iyon sa Setyembre ay kakanselahin ko ang kontrata, papapasukin ko ang engineering brigade, natapos nila. With Malamar, now he cultivates five hectares and produces 97 cavans per hectare. Mabuhay, Edwin! VAT will complete the San Roque-Agno River project.

The Land Bank has quadrupled loans for farmers and fisherfolk. That is fact not fiction. Check it. For more effective credit utilization, I instructed DA to revitalize farmers cooperatives.

We are providing seeds at subsidized prices to help our farmers.

Incremental Malampaya national revenues of P4 billion will go to our rice self-sufficiency program.

Rice production since 2000 increased an average of 4.07% a year, twice the population growth rate. By promoting natural planning and female education, we have curbed population growth to 2.04% during our administration, down from the 2.36 in the 1990's, when artificial birth control was pushed. Our campaign spreads awareness of responsible parenthood regarding birth spacing. Long years of pushing contraceptives made it synonymous to family planning. Therefore informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning.

From 1978 to 1981, nag-export tayo ng bigas. Hindi tumagal. But let's not be too hard on ourselves. Panahon pa ng Kastila bumibili na tayo ng bigas sa labas. While we may know how to grow rice well, topography doesn't always cooperate.

Nature did not gift us with a mighty Mekong like Thailand and Vietnam, with their vast and naturally fertile plains. Nature instead put our islands ahead of our neighbours in the path of typhoons from the Pacific. So, we import 10% of the rice we consume.

To meet the challenge of today, we will feed our people now, not later, and help them get through these hard times. To meet the challenges of tomorrow, we must become more self-reliant, self-sufficient and independent, relying on ourselves more than on the world.

Now we come to the future of agrarian reform.

There are those who say it is a failure, that our rice importations prove it. There are those who say it is a success—if only because anything is better than nothing. Indeed, people are happier owning the land they work, no matter what the difficulties.

Sa SONA noong 2001, sinabi ko, bawat taon, mamamahagi tayo ng dalawang daang libong ektarya sa reporma sa lupa: 100,000 hectares of private farmland and 100,000 of public farmland, including ancestral domains. Di hamak mahigit sa target ang naipamahagi natin sa nakaraang pitong taon: 854,000 hectares of private farmland, 797,000 of public farmland, and Certificates of Ancestral Domain for 525,000 hectares. Including, over a 100,000 hectares for Bugkalots in Quirino, Aurora, and Nueva Vizcaya. After the release of their CADT, Rosario Camma, Bugkalot chieftain, and now mayor of Nagtipunan, helped his 15,000-member tribe develop irrigation, plant vegetables and corn and achieve food sufficiency. Mabuhay, Chief!

Agrarian reform should not merely subdivide misery, it must raise living standards. Ownership raises the farmer from his but productivity will keep him on his feet.

Sinimula ng aking ama ang land reform noong 1963. Upang mabuo ito, the extension of CARP with reforms is top priority. I will continue to do all I can for the rural as well as urban poor. Ayaw natin na paglaya ng tenant sa landlord, mapapasa-ilalim naman sa usurero. Former tenants must be empowered to become agribusinessmen by allowing their land to be used as collateral.

Dapat mapalaya ng reporma sa lupa ang magsasaka sa pagiging alipin sa iba. Dapat bigyan ang magsasaka ng dangal bilang taong malaya at di hawak ninuman. We must curb the recklessness that gives land without the means to make it productive and bites off more than beneficiaries can chew.

At the same time, I want the rackets out of agrarian reform: the threats to take and therefore undervalue land, the conspiracies to overvalue it.

Be with me on this. There must be a path where justice and progress converge. Let us find it before Christmas. Dapat nating linisin ang landas para sa mga ibig magpursige sa pagsasaka, taglay ang pananalig na ang lupa ay sasagip sa atin sa huli kung gamitin natin ito nang maayos.

Along with massive rice production, we are cutting costs through more efficient transport. For our farm-to-market roads, we released P6 billion in 2007.

On our nautical highways. RORO boats carried 33 million metric tons of cargo and 31 million passengers in 2007. We have built 39 RORO ports during our administration, 12 more are slated to start within the next two years. In 2003, we inaugurated the Western Nautical Highway from Batangas through Mindoro, Panay and Negros to Mindanao. This year we launched the Central Nautical Highway from Bicol mainland, through Masbate, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin to Mindanao mainland. These developments strengthen our competitiveness.

Leading multinational company Nestle cut transport costs and offset higher milk prices abroad. Salamat, RORO. Transport costs have become so reasonable for bakeries like Gardenia, a loaf of its bread in Iloilo is priced the same as in Laguna and Manila. Salamat muli sa RORO.

To the many LGUs who have stopped collecting fees from cargo vehicles, maraming, maraming salamat.

We are repaving airports that are useful for agriculture, like Zamboanga City Airport.

Producing rice and moving it cheaper addresses the supply side of our rice needs. On the demand side, we are boosting the people's buying power.

Ginagawa nating labor-intensive ang paggawa at pag-ayos ng kalsada at patubig. Noong SONA ng 2001, naglunsad tayo sa NCR ng patrabaho para sa 20,000 na out of school youth, na tinawag OYSTER. Ngayon, mahigit 20,000 ang ineempleyo ng OYSTER sa buong bansa. In disaster-stricken areas, we have a cash-for-work program.

In training, 7.74 million took technical and vocational courses over the last seven years, double the number in the previous 14 years. In 2007 alone, 1.7 million graduated. Among them are Jessica Barlomento now in Hanjin as supply officer, Shenve Catana, Marie Grace Comendador, and Marlyn Tusi, lady welders, congratulations.

In microfinance, loans have reached P102 billion or 30 times more than the P3 billion we started with in 2001, with a 98% repayment record, congratulations! Major lenders include the Land Bank with P69 billion, the Peoples' Credit and Finance Corporation P8 billion, the National Livelihood Support Fund P3 billion, DBP P1 billion and the DSWD's SEA-K P800 million. For partnering with us to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit, thank you, Go Negosyo and Joey Concepcion.

Upland development benefits farmers through agro-forestry initiatives. Rubber is especially strong in Zamboanga Sibugay and North Cotabato. Victoria Mindoro, 56 years old, used to earn P5,000 a month as farmer and factory worker. Now she owns 10 hectares in the Goodyear Agrarian Reform Community in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, she earns P10,000 a week. With one hectare, Pedro and Concordia Faviolas of Makilala, North Cotabato, they sent their six children to college, bought two more hectares, and earn P15,000 a month. Congratulations!

Jatropha estates are starting in 900 hectares in and around Tamlang Valley in Negros Oriental; 200 in CamSur; 300 in GenSan, 500 in Fort Magsaysay near the Cordero Dam and 700 in Samar, among others.

In our 2006 SONA, our food baskets were identified as North Luzon and Mindanao.

The sad irony of Mindanao as food basket is that it has some of the highest hunger in our nation. It has large fields of high productivity, yet also six of our ten poorest provinces.

The prime reason is the endless Mindanao conflict. A comprehensive peace has eluded us for half a century. But last night, differences on the tough issue of ancestral domain were resolved. Yes, there are political dynamics among the people of Mindanao. Let us sort them out with the utmost sobriety, patience and restraint. I ask Congress to act on the legislative and political reforms that will lead to a just and lasting peace during our term of office.

The demands of decency and compassion urge dialogue. Better talk than fight, if nothing of sovereign value is anyway lost. Dialogue has achieved more than confrontation in many parts of the world. This was the message of the recent World Conference in Madrid organized by the King of Saudi Arabia, and the universal message of the Pope in Sydney.

Pope Benedict's encyclical Deus Caritas Est reminds us: "There will always be situations of material need where help in the form of concrete love for neighbour is indispensable."

Pinagsasama-sama natin ang mga programa ng DSWD, DOH, GSIS, SSS at iba pang lumalaban sa kahirapan sa isang National Social Welfare Program para proteksyonan ang pinaka-mahihirap mula sa pandaigdigang krisis, and to help those whose earnings are limited by illness, disability, loss of job, age and so on—through livelihood projects, microfinance, skills and technology transfer, emergency and temporary employment, pension funds, food aid and cash subsidies, child nutrition and adult health care, medical missions, salary loans, insurance, housing programs, educational and other savings schemes, and now cheaper medicine—Thanks to Congress.

The World Bank says that in Brazil, the income of the poorest 10% has grown 9% per year versus the 3% for the higher income levels due in large part to their family stipend program linking welfare checks to school attendance. We have introduced a similar program, Pantawid Pamilya.

Employers have funded the two increases in SSS benefits since 2005. Thank you, employers for paying the premiums.

GSIS pensions have been indexed to inflation and have increased every year since 2001. Its salary loan availments have increased from two months equivalent to 10 months, the highest of any system public or private—while repayments have been stretched out.

Pag-Ibig housing loans increased from P3.82 billion in 2001 to P22.6 billion in 2007. This year it experienced an 84% increase in the first four months alone. Super heating na. Dapat dagdagan ng GSIS at buksan muli ng SSS ang pautang sa pabahay. I ask Congress to pass a bill allowing SSS to do housing loans beyond the present 10% limitation.

Bago ako naging Pangulo, isa't kalahating milyong maralita lamang ang may health insurance. Noong 2001, sabi natin, dadagdagan pa ng kalahating milyon. Sa taong iyon, mahigit isang milyon ang nabigyan natin. Ngayon, 65 milyong Pilipino na ang may health insurance, mahigit doble ng 2000, kasama ang labinlimang milyong maralita. Philhealth has paid P100 billion for hospitalization. The indigent beneficiaries largely come from West and Central Visayas, Central Luzon, and Ilocos. Patuloy nating palalawakin itong napaka-importanted programa, lalo na sa Tawi-Tawi, Zambo Norte, Maguindanao, Apayao, Dinagat, Lanao Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate, Abra and Misamis Occidental. Lalo na sa kanilang mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

In these provinces and in Agusan Sur, Kalinga, Surigao Sur and calamity-stricken areas, we will launch a massive school feeding program at P10 per child every school day.

Bukod sa libreng edukasyon sa elementarya at high school, nadoble ang pondo para sa mga college scholarships, while private high school scholarship funds from the government have quadrupled.

I have started reforming and clustering the programs of the DepEd, CHED and TESDA.

As with fiscal and food challenges, the global energy crunch demands better and more focused resource mobilization, conservation and management.

Government agencies are reducing their energy and fuel bills by 10%, emulating Texas Instruments and Philippine Stock Exchange who did it last year. Congratulations, Justice Vitug and Francis Lim.

To reduce power system losses, we count on government regulators and also on EPIRA amendments.

We are successful in increasing energy self-sufficiency—56%, the highest in our history. We promote natural gas and biofuel; geothermal fields, among the world's largest; windmills like those in Ilocos and Batanes; and the solar cells lighting many communities in Mindanao. The new Galoc oil field can produce 17,000-22,000 barrels per day, 1/12 of our crude consumption.

The Renewable Energy Bill has passed the House. Thank you, Congressmen.

Our costly commodity imports like oil and rice should be offset by hard commodities exports like primary products, and soft ones like tourism and cyberservices, at which only India beats us.

Our P 350 million training partnership with the private sector should qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010.

International finance agrees with our progress. Credit rating agencies have kept their positive or stable outlook on the country. Our world competitiveness ranking rose five notches. Congratulations to us.

We are sticking to, and widening, the fiscal reforms that have earned us their respect.

To our investors, thank you for your valuable role in our development. I invite you to invest not only in factories and services, but in profitable infrastructure, following the formula for the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

I ask business and civil society to continue to work for a socially equitable, economically viable balance of interests. Mining companies should ensure that host communities benefit substantively from their investments, and with no environmental damage from operations.

Our administration enacted the Solid Waste Management Act, Wildlife Act, Protection of Plant Varieties, Clean Water Act, Biofuels Act and various laws declaring protected areas.

For reforestation, for next year we have budgeted P2 billion. Not only do forests enhance the beauty of the land, they mitigate climate change, a key factor in increasing the frequency and intensity of typhoons and costing the country 0.5% of the GDP.

We have set up over 100 marine and fish sanctuaries since 2001. In the whaleshark sanctuary of Donsol, Sorsogon, Alan Amanse, 40-year-old college undergraduate and father of two, was earning P100 a day from fishing and driving a tricycle. Now as whaleshark-watching officer, he is earns P1,000 a day, ten times his former income.

For clean water, so important to health, there is P500 million this year and P1.5 billion for next year.

From just one sanitary landfill in 2001, we now have 21, with another 18 in the works.

We launched the Zero Basura Olympics to clear our communities of trash. Rather than more money, all that is needed is for each citizen to keep home and workplace clean, and for garbage officials to stop squabbling.

Our investments also include essential ways to strengthen our institutions of governance in order to fight the decades-old scourge of corruption. I will continue to fight this battle every single day. While others are happy with headlines through accusation without evidence and privilege speeches without accountability, we have allocated more than P3 billion – the largest anti-graft fund in our history – for real evidence gathering and vigorous prosecution.

From its dismal past record, the Ombudsman's conviction rate has increased 500%. Lifestyle checks, never seriously implemented before our time, have led to the dismissal and/or criminal prosecution of dozens of corrupt officials.

I recently met with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US agency that provides grants to countries based on governance. They have commended our gains, contributed P1 billion to our fight against graft, and declared us eligible for more grants. Thank you!

Last September, we created the Procurement Transparency Group in the DBM and linked it with business, academe, and the Church, to deter or catch anomalies in government contracts.

On my instruction, the BIR and Customs established similar government-civil society tie-ups for information gathering and tax evasion and smuggling monitoring.

More advanced corruption practices require a commensurate advances in legislative responses. Colleagues in Congress, we need a more stringent Anti-Graft Act.

Sa pagmahal ng bilihin, hirap na ang mamimili – tapos, dadayain pa. Dapat itong mahinto. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na magpasa ng Consumer Bill of Rights laban sa price gouging, false advertising at iba pang gawain kontra sa mamimili.

I call on all our government workers at the national and local levels to be more responsive and accountable to the people. Panahon ito ng pagsubok. Kung saan kayang tumulong at dapat tumulong ang pamahalaan, we must be there with a helping hand. Where government can contribute nothing useful, stay away. Let's be more helpful, more courteous, more quick.

Kaakibat ng ating mga adhikain ang tuloy na pagkalinga sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino. Iisa ang ating pangarap – maunlad at mapayapang lipunan, kung saan ang magandang kinabukasan ay hindi pangarap lamang, bagkus natutupad.

Sama-sama tayo sa tungkuling ito. May papel na gagampanan ang bawat mamamayan, negosyante, pinunong bayan at simbahan, sampu ng mga nasa lalawigan.

We are three branches but one government. We have our disagreements; we each have hopes, and ambitions that drive and divide us, be they personal, ethnic, religious and cultural. But we are one nation with one fate.

As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people's wellbeing. Hindi ko papayagang humadlang ang sinuman sa pag-unlad at pagsagana ng taong bayan. I will let no one – and no one's political plans – threaten our nation's survival.

Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now.

Maraming salamat. Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Holy Spirit

2008-07-30T13:42:00.006+08:00

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY SPIRIT, THOU WHO MAKE SEE EVERYTHING AND SHOW ME THE WAY TO REACH MY IDEAL. THOU WHO GIVE THE DIVINE GIFT TO FORGIVE AND FORGET THE WRONG THAT IS DONE TO ME AND WHO ARE IN ALL INSTANCES OF MY LIFE WITH ME. I, IN THIS SHORT DIALOGUE, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND CONFIRM ONCE MORE THAT I NEVER WANT TO BE SEPARATED FROM YOU NO MATTER HOW GREAT THE MATERIAL DESIRES MAYBE. I WANT TO BE WITH YOU AND MY LOVED ONES IN YOUR PERPETUAL GLORY. AMEN.

Pray for 3 consecutive days without stating one's wish after the 3rd day your wish will be granted. No matter how difficult it may be promise to publish this, as soon as your favor has been granted.

Duyan

2008-07-29T09:48:00.003+08:00

Ako’y nauuhaw
Sa pag-ibig ni Ama,

Nang marinig niya ang aking tangis
Ako’y napawi at nabuo,

Nang ako’y muli humiling,
Si Inang Likas inawit ang uyayi,

At ang pagod ko’y nagwakas
Kasabay ng habambuhay na

Paghimbing.

Never Give Up

2008-07-29T09:08:00.004+08:00

Walang Iwanan

2008-07-28T09:54:00.005+08:00

Walang Iwanan...

Gaano tayo katatag sa ating paninindigan? Gaano tayo katagal sa pagtitis sa ating kinasasadlakan? Kailan ka nagmuni-muni kaibigan para sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan? Dili kaya'y sarili mo lamang ang iyong iniisip, pansariling kapakanan, pansariling pangarap...

Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa kapuwa. Ang ating mga anak, bilang regalo ni Bathala ay hindi kailanman atin kundi sila'y mga hiram mula sa Dakilang Maykapal upang ipunla sa mabuting lupa at payabungin hanggang sa sila'y makapagbigay ng binhi ng kabutihan.

Ang Pilipino ay hindi isinumpang lahi. Hindi tayo isinumpa para manatiling alipin ng mga dayuhang walang hinangad kundi pairalin ang kanilang batas na sila lamang ang sumulat. Alalahanin natin na ang sagradong dugo at pawis ng mga bayani ay bumuhos sa lupang Hinirang upang ipabatid ang mensahe na tayo'y may sariling pagkakakilanlan. Tayo ay buhay. Tayo ay nabubuhay hindi para yumukod sa mali at baluktot na paninindigan. Tayo ay lumuluha, hindi lamang dahil sa sakit ng katawan kundi sa katotohanang gusto nating sumigaw ng malaya at dumaan sa tahak na hindi niyuyurakan ang ating pagkatao. Ang panahon ay ngayon at ang ngayon ang nagbabadya sa hinaharap.

Where do we go as a Nation?

2008-07-25T13:57:00.005+08:00

Planet Earth: Balance of Power. @ Yahoo! Video

Is it in me?

2008-07-23T22:30:00.002+08:00

I'm a writer, motivated by Educators whom I catch their attention. I didn't know why? I thought being introvert was cool enough to shield myself from walking with the world but these keen eyes were able to dig me out from my shell. I was trying to mimic the ordinary but the more I tried, they seem to think I am extraordinary. Too much applaud could be addicting. I left the zone only to trap myself from the fact that I belong to this craft. During my life's struggles, I paid homage to Rizal and I still believe in his crap. I tried to switch to Boni not for a change but to abandon the first until I finally discovered how parallel they were. Rizal may not be in congruence but his ideas lead the Revolution. Destiny is hard to cue, it is a matter of timing. Yeah, timing is everything and I'm pretty sure it always works when we keep track of the time. I am ordinary. That's what I know about myself. Being perceived as the other side is a matter of auto-suggestion. Have you tried questioning if I deserve such exaltation? Examine thyself. You could be wrong. I am simply, Igmedio. I am a friend. I can be your nightmare. It's good to be clever but stupidity can save lives most of the time. I can swallow my pride and admit my wrongs. Though I can seriously express how sorry I am for such things I may have caused, it doesn't happen all the time. I am me and I am a walker. I am my speech and I am my free mind.

LETTER OF SUPPORT TO LH FROM FORMER EIC

2008-07-23T12:19:00.004+08:00

LH peeps!

I am Karen Michelle Calacal, former editor. In high school we were repressed (LI/Usbong)... in College we pressed and were pressed... While we had our own issues before that we feel Campus Press Freedom was violated, more to say it's more than Repression per se but we have suffered almost all forms (from ignorant and angry teachers, etc.) yet I cannot imagine the "self-control" that we have to condition and impose on ourselves- perhaps because of the idea of fear, prioritizing first our Education/graduating, and some other or personal reasons, etc. Though we have our own share and differences in opinions, I am one with the Lorma Highlights for a variety of reasons; that LH is the only organization that is brave enough to do moral and social responsibility as the YOUTH exercising their DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM in an Academic Environment - that should serve as a breeding ground for the purpose of exercising such RIGHTS.

The role of the student paper does not have to reflect a distorted element of what is really happening to the Environment. This is just one manifestation of our Nation's current status, a picture of a derailed Nation suffering from major crises in the face of weakened leadership and spiritual dilemma. When the questioning mind begins to untangle human constriction, it is inevitable to stop it; for it is human nature to search for answers, to infer and discern TRUTH. We cannot further question when such ideas are more than visible to the naked eye and what a BLIND man can see nor feel with his breath. A man will die but not his ideas.

Though it is undeniable that the publication fee is the lifeline of the paper; SUPPRESSING its distribution is more than a GESTURE of authoritarian power- a kind of leadership that could kill human spirit and hope; ironic to the mission and vision of LC as an institution where it boasts its humble beginnings from a quiet peaceful barrio. The Administration's reaction is a pre-empted damage control.

We cannot deny the fact that CHANGE is inevitable and perfect TIMING is very important and crucial. This is a NEW WAVE of student Idealism taking its FORM. Anyway, there is more to this after College. The real world is not in Lorma and it is true that despite we see forms of injustices and sense of discontentment fired at us, we have to be reminded that this is not a PERFECT world... but at least they could have LISTENED. They should have listened using all their senses because we also CARE and there is a felt need for us to take action and work together. The article published is a clear picture of a desire to walk in a direction, a path to alleviate this sense of emptiness that the Educators and authorities have failed to fill-in because they too are in their own crises situations. The Student-Administration Dialogue is not enough to fill into the gaps; for democracy has no boundaries no matter theories have come out to define it. Lormanians are not IGNORANT and deserve to be respected. If the Academe is still in the DENIAL stage, let the STUDENTS move forward and take their coarse. Fight and stand up for TRUTH you believe in!

Why SUPPRESSION? Because Knowledge is Power so distort it. That's the idea. Whether it could be rationalized as some other way… the TRUTH IS OUT THERE.

Dirty, Sexy, Money

2008-07-22T17:28:00.003+08:00

Saw this last Sunday. One of the most moving scenes; The element of conflict in it (the affair in particular) though not new is presented in a flavorful intriguing manner. It was also an intense moment when Letitia said on one of her conversations with Nick "Because I love him too..." referring to her husband Tripp.

This is just one amazing stuffs; I can't believe how a son (Nick) could bare the situation where the line of being personal and professional comes thinner and thinner. Yet, on my opinion... this is all about Nick's defenses on making up for his Dad. This is so appealing because this type of relationship does not always work well in most families. I love the implied meanings of every scene as well as the thought having some twists and what ifs later on.

Questions I wanna Know about RIZAL

2008-07-21T11:34:00.005+08:00

Sa mga kumukuha ng Rizal's Life Works and Writings, may natutunan ba kayo sa mga sensational na pagsasalarawan ng kabataan ni Rizal? Sa paulit-ulit na pagrerecycle ng LECTURE nina Sir at Ma'am ukol sa pagiging kakaiba ni Pepe at sa walang katapusang pagyurak at sobrang OA na pang-iintriga sa di umano'y pagiging babaero ni Dr. JPR? Buhay pa kaya ang tanging LIBRO na tinuring nang Bibliya ng mga College studes sa library? o baka napudpod na ito karu-run sa photoopyiung machine para lamang may mapagrebyuhan. May katuturan pabang manatili sa curriculum ang patungkol kay Rizal? Gayong hindi naman epektibo ang pamamaraan ng pagtuturo nito. Gayoong hindi naman natin nakikita ang isang Rizal sa mga taong namamahala sa ating pamahalaan. Gayoong hindi naman natin naisasapuso ang pagmamahal sa bayan nating api. Simpleng analysis sa pinaka-importanteng pamana ni Rizal: ang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo; ni hindi alam, ni hindi maiksplika ng mabuti ng mga tagapagturo. Kung sa gayon, tatapusin nalang ang asignatura. Palalampasin na lamang ang kawalan ng buhay sa tipikal na dula-dulaan sa classroom. Basta matapos na lamang ang exams at makakuha ng pasadong grado... Ayos na?

Jasmineflower, kung nabubuhay kapa...
1. Did Rizal really wrote the retraction before his execution as claimed by the Jesuits? What is the role of Masonry in our National Hero's Idealisms?
2.Do you believe that Andres Bonifacio should occupy Rizal's place as National Hero? Did the Americans have a hand on deifying Rizal because of his non-violent approach to Independence?
Last but more to come...
In one of the theories in "pop culture"
3. Do you believe that Rizal's illegitimate children are Adolf Hitler and Yuriko- who have been linked to World War II? What happened to his child with Josephine Bracken: Is it true that the only offspring portrayed in movies was indeed a stillbirth?

Pinatigil ang Pagdistribute ng LH tabloid

2008-07-21T08:55:00.009+08:00

This is getting exciting and intriguing. LH people, let the "tabloid" be circulated. Students already paid the publication fee. Besides, students know these issues before you even came up with it, LH acted as their voice since the authorities concerned seems inadequate in giving information that may shed light to these issues. Lahat po ng impormasyon, be it good or bad ay karapatan ng mga estudyanteng malaman. With regards to the authenticity of the reports, estudyante parin po ang bahalang huhusga niyan. It only shows that when an issue is PRINTED implies more than a CONFIRMATION of an issue/s. It only shows how powerful a pen is and what level of LH integrity has. "Wala po sa history ng LH na hindi na-circulate ang diyaryong pang-estuyante." Ang LH ay pag-aari ng estudyante. Do not be intimadated. "Bakit kasi pinakita niyo ang bomba?" Arrrgh! I'll give you a fact, the Black issue was supposed to suffer the same fate but the President said that it is against Law to stop its circulation. (Meaning, he is totally aware of the Law and we respected him more out of that statement. Out of that sincerity that he showed to us, we did our best to become more responsible student journalists.) Since that was a different situation, I would suggest the board to keep things cool. Listen more and be united. (Do not resort to CEGP bara bara ok but listen to whatever they could advice. You don't wanna end-up like UCC right? ). This is time to lay your cards. Remember, no one should be sanctioned because of this (there is no specific sanction in the LC handbook as to press issue is concerned (this is not about the writer/s, this is about the issue/s) since we are governed not by such law but by Freedom of the Press and by CJA). So, if your case reached the conduct board and Admin, Challenge them to make their own press statement to counter your issue/s. No matter what the impact is at stake against LH. You hold the TRUTH (is with evidence and witnesses) you believed in. It is only a sphere that can't be demolished by LIES. Allow them to REACT, compose yourselves and LISTEN. No one should even think of resigning. I am also encouraging you to publish a supplemental issue/position paper. What about the puppet Student leaders? Allow the non-puppets to get involved also. This is not about LH in the first place, it's about students' issue and the Admin's IMMEDIATE ACTIONS to such problems. Sa mga taga-Admin po, hello po. Ma'am Ano, Sir Mainggang, Ma'am Magpali et al. : napapanahon na po na lawakan natin ang ating pang-unawa at isipan ukol sa mga naturang bagay. Huwag po nating ituring na bata at pasaway ang mga Kolehiyalang naghahanap ng kasagutan at kaparaanan. Ito po ay isa lamang sa mga ebidensya na ang bansang Pilipinas ay humaharap sa pang-ekonomiyang krisis. Ang pagpigil sa sirkulasyon ng isang dyaryong pang-estudyante ay pagyurak sa karapatan. Ito po ay isang moral at sosyal na responsibilidad ng LH. Hayaan po ninyong gawin ng LH ang dapat. Ang dapat ay maaaring hindi tama para sa lahat, pero sino po ba ang nakakaalam ng tama para sa lahat kung hindi ginawa ang dapat? Pulsuhan po ninyo ang sangka-estudyantehan at tanungin po ang mga sarili... lalung-lalo na po ang mga guro at pangkaraniwang empleyado. Ito po ay nagpapakitang gising po ang kamalayan ng Lormanian. Kesa pigilan ang isang bagay na maaaring nakakatakot, harapin po natin ng sabay-sabay ang problema at matalinong solusyunan ang mga ito.

Jose Rizal 1861-1896

2008-07-17T11:35:00.002+08:00

When Money is not Enough

2008-07-16T14:46:00.006+08:00

Saving money is one of the most difficult task to do especially when you're in College. For most freshmen, it is almost entirely impossible to save some more for yourself especially when you're living in a boarding house wherein, everything is timed, metered or scheduled from the use of electricity in charging your cellular phones, ironing your uniforms to washing your clothes and taking your shower. It is almost impossible to save since you have to spend a lot for a major project or assignment that requires a nice face from a book-binded thesis, a well computerized term paper with colored graphics, buying some extra computer hardware for a system you're developing, and a well-designed case study documentation. What's worse, you can't save at all when after the defense, your professor has a bunch of corrections on your 300-page output and you have to make extra copies for other dummies who wouldn't mind reading your work at all but rather feed it only in book shelves for future research purposes or probably recycling the product of your intellectual ingenuity to impress future students who would suffer the same fate as yours. You don't have a job. When you try to get one, your schedules are in conflict and you don't want to suffer from dropping out a subject that is a precursor to a major discipline... You try to involve yourself from MLM, only to find out that your professor is one of your up-lines and then you get screwed because you can't get the quota on track. Then you started to get harassed and tormented with some conflicts of interests- Are you going to push through with the course, shift probably or transfer? Now you're doomed and in debt from your landlady or your girlfriend because all you have to do is to make the pyramid legs pay-out. Then you think of a crime, so that your girlfriend enrolled in another school won't suspect that you're dating the most popular girl in campus. So you SMS your Nanang (who is out in fields working all day, rain or shine with your Amang.) You add a little drama and voila! Your "padala" is at your doorstep the next morning. Thank God, your parents didn't know what were the terms you were talking about. Thank Webster for a continuous celebration of English Advancement while your conscience is speaking "Babawi nalang ako next semester... Kaya siguro. Kaya pa! Bahala na si Batman." while on a drinking spree with your dabarkads the night before a unit test or major exams. The worst case scenario is to give-up and selling yourself. The other way is to apply the principle of "the Secret" to end your misery and live a good College life.

Here are some tips to your College survival
1. Set your Goal
Eliminate your debt first. Being free from debt will make saving easier. There are two types of goals: short-term goal: ex. buying a pair of jeans- you have to look for a lot of stores in town, compare prices and look for quality. If you want to buy a new cellular phone, you might wanna consider trading or getting rid of the old one. Sell some of your stuff: old notes, books,projects, uniforms/ paraphernalia to lower years if you''re a senior. For long term goals like finishing your way up to College, you might wanna consider working during summers, look for some jobs available in the campus (assistant, clerical work). Besides from acquiring experience, you could use the extra cash or the program may provide some tuition fee discounts. If you're a scholar, maintain your high grades. If you're a member of an accredited organization, be an active one. Participate in fund raising activities. You could profit from it. You'll not only help raise funds for your club but at least have some cash to pay for some projects.

2. Time frame
This can be conditioned into your system. Do u need to save on a daily basis by sacrificing a bottle of soda. Is it weekly? Cutting your luxuries on Mall weekends or drinking sprees and invest rather in your review hours and starting a major requirement to avoid cramming when the deadline come.

3. Figure out how much you'll save per week
It would be best to save the same amount per period. With the rising price of gasoline, consider walking if the school is not far from where you live. Make arrangements with your professor for you to manage some class schedules to avoid long periods of free time. The longer the free time you have with no scheduled activity, the more you are exposed to unexpected spendings.

4. Keep a record of your expenses
Have a notebook or diary of your expenses and review them. Be detailed as much as possible: fare, snacks, meals, communication, board and lodging, electricity, water, etc. Try to categorize it according to your needs. Remember, you are not at home so make a diet list so that your health will not be sacrificed.

5. Trim your expenses
If you're used to fast foods, try to explore if you could save by cooking. Ask if some of your roommates are willing to share.
Can you transfer to another boarding house?
Can you live without computer games or going to the internet cafe?
Look into the available services in your school, which you are actually paying upon enrollment that could let you save more.
Can you cut down your cellphone loads?

6. Reassess your saving goals
Subtract your expenses (the ones you can't live without) from your allowance. What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals?

7. Make a budget
Once you’ve managed to balance your allowance with your savings goals and spending, write down a budget so you’ll know each month how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is important in cuing deficits.

8. Open an interest-bearing savings account
Yes, as early as College, you should have one. Look for a bank that you could work on with your money after you get a real job. After all, you need to save now because you need some cash when you're job-seeking after graduation most especially when your parents will stop giving you allowance.

Sunflowers for Alfred Roy on Emancipation of Mimi

2008-07-15T17:37:00.005+08:00

Since she began reinventing herself as a recording artist, Mariah never fails a dedication to his Dad. Her music is her soul. Despite the not so good atmosphere with Virgin, she managed to make it through the storm. What 's so special about this song is her undying exaltation of a figure that shaped a woman-child presentation of her self. A majestic voice trying to survive in a hip-hop dominated era. Despite the supreme utilization of voice ingenuity, it merely re-introduces Mariah as the voice behind before she became the Diva now. Mariah simply is doing her own.

Everything Fades Away (Mariah Carey)

2008-07-15T17:35:00.002+08:00

This is dubbed as one of Mariah's rare songs. This is what I call "Pure Mariah sound" before she decided to make that crossover with other genres. This song brings out the soulful voice as it was expressed in her similar work like "Can't Let Go" from her Emotions album. I find her voice experiments and back-up vocals classic. This is a manifestation of her roots as a musician- pure soul. It is one of the justification of a standing ovation from her performance in the Grammy's.

Campus Journalists as Change Agents

2008-07-12T21:52:00.006+08:00

Before we tackle some points battled by student journalists this morning, let me raise a question to you writers: “Why do you write?” It’s an elementary question isn’t it? But this question may have different answers from you mainly for the reason- not everybody is writing for the campus paper. Some of you are just here because of the fact that you are readers and as part of the writer-reader relationship, we are here to convey understanding on some issues faced by campus journalists today.

Filipino journalists, like Filipino politicians and policemen, draw the wildest mix of sentiments among the citizens. There are those who hold journalists with great owe and reverence, and others who view journalists with great contempt and derision.

We must open or minds to the struggles of campus press freedom. Though thousands of students in the country still suffers from violations of this democratic right, the Campus Press, being the voice of the students, must find way to battle censorship, intimidating and punishing Editors and writers, holding back the funds for publication or shutting down the publication, to have a publication, council and organizations.

But we can not have a direction to achieve our goals for Campus Press Freedom, if student journalists do not even have organizational objectives. We are faced by the tragedy that “Student writers, just write without a Purpose”.

Know your Purpose

The Campus paper is a breeding ground for student leaders and advocates for better conditions in the educational system and in the entire society. These are the reasons why student writers should uphold a high standard for writing meaningful and quality articles for publication. It is not mainly to “Express Oneself” as journalism is defined in high school nor attack the student council for allegedly being Puppets of the School Administrators-but to promote awareness and involvement of students in all aspects affecting them in the educational community.

How can student writers be catalysts of change?

Know the Culture of the students

Students from this institution display distinct norms as manifested in their language, habits, or student life when compared to other institutions in the city. Of course, there’s that certain brand you have for DMMMSU, iba naman ang tatak ng UCC, AMA, at iba pa. Sinasabi nila ang UP may Fernando Poe, Sr, yung oblation, ang UST may ST. Thomas, ang Ateneo may Santo din, isali mo na ang iba pang Catholic Schools, pero ang AMA daw sino ang kanilang modelo? Siyempre, meron din, si Jolina…What I’m saying, we do not need to write according to the standards of the big schools using the coño language of la Salle or the trying-hard pa-effect of the emerging tag-lish na madalas gamitin ng mga showbiz chikadoras kung hindi rin naman kakagatin ng mga readers natin. It’s a fact, Ilocanos are hard to please and always on the go, like the old brand “Kuripot”, the articles should be substantial and informative equipped with a language that does not require them to scan pages of Webster and Oxford. Write something that could make student lives productive. To achieve this, make a simple survey on their interests or expand your knowledge and apply the principles of development journalism and investigative journalism. Write about issues that primarily affects students, add spice not only plain news on school events, hot issues confronting middle-adult readers, tuition fee increases, problems faced by teachers and even non-academic personnel to name a few. In this way, you could revolutionize to facilitate an interesting content of the paper.

Develop a plans to improve on the aspect of

- Writing Styles

There are few who could write effectively in both English and Filipino. Some writers prefer to write in English, coming up with more mess after arriving in a final draft, only to find out that it is not better or otherwise far worse than the other write-ups. Use the language you can utilize at ease and easily understood by your readers. Editors are faced with this example because they often have this reporter who has a long track of wrong grammars, misspellings and getting around the bush beats. Are there too much or too little information? All you have to do is to write all the facts of the story and organize them according to importance, date, etc. Write simple and appropriate words. Be a reader as well- reading is the key to writer’s block. In this case, you will be able to absorb the energy of how other writers let their ideas flow. Experiment by using variety of styles. Hence creative writing will be improved as well as critical thinking develops. The IBC format or the Introduction, Body and Conclusion is not new in writing. However, this is a trend in English Examinations today.

- Publication and Layout

Have you seen students crumpling your newspapers in front, tearing the pages samantalang kaka-release niyo lang, kabibigay mo.E nataon na sinulat mo yung pinunit? You’re first reaction, siyempre dahil normal ka naman eh magagalit ka but it should not just move you, you should figure out bakit? Was the article poorly written? Or most of the time, hindi maganda ang layout at presentation eh hindi Makita yung picture? Even if the school publication has the best writers in the city, if the presentation particularly the type-set is not clear, it has also a big-bang on the readers. Layout artists are there not just to arrange, place graphics or do the typeset but a certain standard must also be followed. Hindi dapat pinagtatabi ang mga hindi dapat sa layouting sheet. Editors as well and advisers must find ways to improve publication and layout presentation. Computer Application programs are now trends in publication. There are loads of free wares and these do not require long-term training since computer application programs could be self-studied. The only problem is the equipment and the financial resource. Expand your readers using the Information Superhighway or Internet, with it, you could convey information to other students to provide a gateway for communication to other students and writers here and abroad.

Editorial and Staff Development

Skills training in seminars, symposiums, small group, chat/ e-mail could be acquired through a variety of sponsors. These opportunities should be part of the publications action plan for the year. Of course, these opportunities should not be exclusively for those in the higher positions of the publications organizational chart. There should be a criteria whom to send in this affairs. Since, a publication is faced by problems concerned on the availability of funds; it must allow a shared decision-making by editors and staff.

Decision-making is a critical and productive activity within the publication, issues facing conflicts of interests could be discussed in this matter. It can not be denied that some students are part of the publication and other organizations in the campus. However, priorities should be set and discussed in order to have balance for both. There might be instances that confidential information is fed. Hence creates problems confronting this issue. With this, the publication should strengthen its policies and guidelines to avoid this conflict.

Affiliate in Organizations that Promotes the Interest of Campus Press

There are but few Organizations on the interest of Promoting Campus Press with a variety of Ideals. The Publication officers must study and seek more information about these organizations because some are just using Campus Press for the interests of politicians and certain groups which do not contribute to the real essence of true democracy and upholding student rights.

Know the issues facing Campus Journalism and its development

- Campus Journalism Act or RA 7079

- Academic Freedom and Commercialization of Education

- Cases in the Suppression of Campus Press Freedom

- Ethics in Campus Journalism

Campus journalists, students must continue to serve the best interests of the students and the people. Let us defend and assert the rights to free speech, free expression and free press.

portions of speech by
Karen Michelle P. Calacal, RN
former LH, EIC
during the 2nd Journalism Seminar-Workshop
College of Technology
held at Apilado Hall
DMMMSU-MLUC, San Fernando City
August 18, 2004
published with permission.