Panagsao iti Samtoy wenno Iloko ket mapukpukawen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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SANA statement of Sen. Francis Escudero

Doctors Day India

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..."

KP

Case Unclosed: Sino ang Pumatay Kay Ninoy?

Tuition Fee Hike

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?

5 Ways to Survive College

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.