Bihasa Sa Pagtitiis Ang Mga Pilipino

Panimula
halos nakakabingi na ang paulit-ulit na isyu ngayon laban sa pamahalaang Arroyo. pero kung gaano itong mga "patalsikin si Gloria" movement ay masigasig sa pagbibigay-pahayag ng kanilang saloobin, kapit-tuko naman ang administrasyon sa pwesto kahit ubod na ng ingay ang taumbayan sa pagkwestiyon sa diumano'y katiwaliang pinapasok ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng bansa at mga kaalyansa nito.

"Hello... hello, Garci?"
nagsimulang mayanig ang administrasyong arroyo nang ipiniyok ng isang dating deputy director ng NBI na may matibay siyang ebidensya (at nasa kanyang pag-iingat) ukol sa usapan ng pangulo at ng dating COMELEC Commissioner. Ang usapang ito ay ukol sa "pagmanipula" diumano ng pangulo sa magiging resulta ng pambansang halalan. dahil dito, pumalag ang sambayanan at nakumbinsing kwestyunin ang pagiging lehitimo ng pagkakaluklok ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng bansa. ito ay agad namang sinakyan ng mga maka-kaliwang grupo, sumuporta sa oposisyon, at hinimok ang pagbibitiw sa pwesto ng pangulo.

bago pa man ito, isang kontrobersyang kinasasangkutan ng unang ginoo ang nagbigay na ng lamat sa administrasyon--- ang isyu ukol kay Jose Pidal. subalit hindi kasing alab ang reaksyon ng sambayanang Pilipino tulad nang lumabas na ang isyu ni "Hello, Garci?" lalong nagwala ang taumbayan nang bitiwan ni Pangulong Arroyo ang maituturing kong pinaka-panalong tatlong-salita ng taon (2005): "I am sorry." guilty na, hindi pa rin?

NBN-ZTE controversy
fast forward to the present... eto ngayon ang masasabi ko, ayon sa aking nakikita, na isyung tila may patutunguhan na wala. mas maraming tao ang nahihimok kumilos kumpara sa iba pang "anomalya" ng administrasyon at mga may kaugnayan dito pero parang hindi rin magkakaroon ng resulta na papabor sa mga taong nais bumitiw sa pwesto ang pangulo. tignan na lang natin ang magiging resulta ng interfaith rally bukas. Bakit may pagtitipong ganito bukas? Paghahanap ng katotohanan. Sumikat na nang husto higit pa sa isang umuusbong na artista ang pangunahing saksi sa pagdinig ng kaso sa NBN-ZTE deal pero mukhang pinipigilan pa rin ang paglabas ng katotohanan sa likod ng isyung ito. pero bakit ganun, sa isang panayam sa radyo ng pangulong arroyo, inamin niyang alam niya ang iregularidad ng nasabing proyekto pero hindi na diumano niya nagawan pang pigilin ito? akala ko ba ayon na rin sa kaniya, "ako ang pangulo ng bansa at walang iba." pero ano yun, guilty na, hindi pa rin?

Sayang, Madame President
sa mga kumandidatong pagka-pangulo ng bansa noong 2004, si pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ang pinaka-kwalipikado kung pag-uusapan ay edukasyon at karanasan sa pagiging opisyal ng pamahalaan. SANA. anong nangyari sa ekonomistang Pangulo? Oo, tumaas ang halaga ng piso. Pero para sa akin, mas tama yatang sabihin na bumaba ang halaga ng dolyar. Isa kase itong indikasyon ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng isang bansa, pero hindi ito lang ang batayan. at yun nga, bumaba ang halaga ng dolyar. alam naman nating lahat na ang pag-unlad ng bayan natin ay hindi makakamit sa isang pagtulog at paggising kinabukasan pero napa-plastikan ako sa patalastas sa TV kapag napapanood ko at naririnig ko ang mga talents na binayaran para magsabing "damang-dama ko ang pag-asenso." huwaaaatt?? inutil nga ang pamahalaan sa pagpapababa lang ng presyo ng gamot sa bansa. nakakapagngitngit pa na ang korupsyon ay hindi naitatago sa publiko--- naisisiwalat at nabubuko ito ng media. nasa pagmumukha na ng taumbayan ang katiwalian, wala pa rin!

"Gloria Resign"?
sa ganang akin, hindi ako sang-ayon sa Gloria Resign na panawagan ng ibang mamamayan. dahil sigurado ako siyento por siyento, ayaw din nila (mga nananawagan sa pagbibitiw ni Arroyo) kay Kabayang Noli De Castro na kung susundin ang saligang batas, siya ang pinakatamang pumalit kay PGMA. babuyan na lang ng Konstitusyon ang tinatahak ng kilusang ito. Marahil kaya hindi mabuo ang pag-aaklas ng bayan laban sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, walang ipapalit sa kaniya sa kasalukuyan. nakikiisa ako sa pananalangin ng mga mamamayan sa paglabas ng katotohanan, ksabay ng pagkakaroon na ng kapayapaan sa bansa. dahil bagama't bihasa sa pagtitiis ang mga Pilipino, napapagod rin ito. nakakapagod na ang EDSA Revolution. Nakakapagod na ang katiwalian. Nakakapagod na ang pagtatago ng katiwalian. Nakakapagod na ang pulitika. Nakakapagod nang malaman na ang buwis na ibinabayad ng maliliit na mamamayan ay winawaldas lang sa walang kabuluhang gastusin ng pamahalaan. Maraming Pilipinong dapat pakainin, bigyan ng edukasyon, tirahan at trabahong makakasapat sa pagtawid sa mahirap na pamumuhay. Nakakasawa na. Malimit kong sabihin, hindi Pangulo lamang ng bansa ang makapagpapaunlad ng isang bansa--- tulong ng BAWAT ISANG mamamayan ang makapangyayari rito. sabi nga ng isang sikat na pangulo ng bansa: "huwag mong itanong kung ano ang magagawa ng gobyerno para sa iyo, itanong mo kung ano ang magagawa mo para sa gobyerno." kung sa bawat pangulo ng bansa ay hahanapan na lang natin ng mali, wala tayong mararating. sige. kaninong administrasyon ng Pilipinas ang hindi nangurakot? . . . . . . . . . ? nakita na ninyo? ngayon, bakit pa tayo mag-eeleksyon kung bawat hindi natin maibigan sa pwesto ay basta na lang natin tatawagan ng pagpapatalsik? hilaw pa tayo sa demokrasya. hindi pa tayo marunong lumasap nito. akala ng marami katumbas ng salitang demokrasya ang pag-abuso. mali e.
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marahil kung alam lang ni PGMA na magsasalita pa ng kung anu-anong laban sa kaniya si Erap, hindi na niya sana ito binigyan ng pardon. isa na namang sayang. ang nakita kase (marahil) ni PGMA sa hakbang na ito, na siya ring basa ng ilang mga senador, magbubuklod ito at maghihilom sa krisis-politikal ng bansa at kahit paano sana ay makausad tayo sa isang tila kumunoy na pumpipigil sa ating umabante patungo sa mga bagay na may mas kabuluhang harapin. yun na lang din ang tinignan kong positibo sa pangyayaring iyon bagama't sa pakiramdam ko ay merong hindi tama sa Erap pardon . at eto na nga yung pakiramdam kong hindi tama... nangyayari na. nawalan rin kase ng kabuluhan ang hakbang na iyon ng Pangulo para sa dating Pangulo. hindi lamang umasim ang reaksyon ng taumbayan na anti-Erap, marahil ngayon ay inuuntog na ni PGMA ang ulo niya sa pader. panawagan kay Erap: tama na po.

Pangwakas
Maganda ang bansang Pilipinas. Mayaman sa likas na yaman. Masayahin at likas na matulungin ang mga Pilipino. Masisipag ang mga mamamayan at kayang mabuhay sa gitna ng matinding kahirapan. Lumalaban. Malakas ang loob. Punung-puno ng pag-asa. Ilang Pilipino ang matatanong mo kahit saan na gusto ng pagbabago. Pagbabago sa alin? Tayo rin ang makasasagot. At ang kasagutan ukol dito ay makakamit lang natin kung sa ating mga sarili sisimulan ang pagbabago.

mga reperensya:
Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo: The story of an eroded alliance
Hello, Garci?
Scandals in the (First) Family
Interfaith rally seen to draw 50,000 shouting for 'change'
Senators laud Erap pardon as 'unifying' act

NEU Glee Club Members Reunion

all students who are active in their extra-curricular activities would most likely know about their school glee club--- the group that makes a lot of noise through singing & dancing. as for me, i'm thankful enough to have belonged and attain a gracious exit in our university glee club. it is more than the usual singing and dancing glee club.

the New Era University Glee Club has taught me a whole lot of things more than just vocalization and choreography. It has shaped up my personality and has encouraged me to get out of my shell. yes, i was a very reserved and timid person until i joined the group. i learned time management and responsibility. i got aware of command responsibility. my value for brotherhood strengthen and it made me understand other people better. on the spiritual aspect, it primarily helped me understand the role and importance of the church administration in the church and it edified my faith in prayer. it is through this group where i followed what our mentor, professor fe aguilar-walath, told us during one of her fruitful lectures: "lahat ng bagay ay may kaukulan", which i later on translated a version of my own: "all things happen with a purpose."

for four years i have balanced my academics and extra-curricular activity. i have experienced to be a "superstar" on stage through the numerous concerts we've performed for the school and for the church, i have appeared in a number of music videos, experienced studio voice recording and has contributed my share in remembering the country's centennial independence celebration through a musical concert solely dedicated for the said occasion. A WHILE AGO, some of the groups alumni met for a very special purpose. even the cloudy weather and the occasional scattered rainshower didn't hinder us from pushing through with the meet. three batches (although small in number) gathered in Proud Mary's Cafe near ABS CBN in Quezon City. seeing them was a breather and at the same time nostalgic. it was fun and at the same time drafted a serious business. all for the group that nurtured us when we were once a young eagle getting ready to soar high. so now, it's payback time! the current members may not be aware but we heard that our glee club adviser, who eventually is the same founder of the group, is already retiring. since she hasn't had any assistants ever since, all of us were asking what's next? and it was one of the reasons of the emergency meeting. we're mixing ingredients to produce something that the glee club audience haven't tasted yet. and we're cooking not just an ordinary dish. we're preparing an A1 menu.

the groups humble beginnings and since-then achievements were narrated by our one and only college choir mentor, mom fe:



[the video above was aired on TV in March 1998, shortly after the group celebrated its 18th anniversary. the NEU Glee Clubs achievements were not limited to the major concerts mentioned in the video but among other achievements, it can boast also having won 2nd placer (regional) and 4th place (national) in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 1993]

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tinatamad na akong mag-blog.
...dahil may bago na akong career. LOL. :P

post edited 02.25.2008, 0845hrs

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hmm... pitong araw na lang, kaarawan na ng blog kong ito.

rat is full of surprises

as superstitious as it can be, i haven't imagine the year of the rat playing tricks on me. before the chinese new year was celebrated, i have watched a TV feature about the unexpected "ups & downs" of the years that the rat brought in the past and the TV guest stated that the rat brings a load of surprises. Some general information (events) about Manila in the past years of the rat:

1912 - Manila Hotel inauguration
1924 - the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was organized
1936 - inauguration of the autonomous Commonwealth of the Philippines
1948 - The Philippines capital was transferred to Quezon City (but later on brought back to Manila in 1976)
1960 - Cubao landmark Araneta coliseum opened, with Filipino boxer Gabriel 'Flash' Elorde wrestling the World Junior Lightweight crown from American Harold Gomes
1972 - Pres. FM declared martial law; Manila was damaged by floodwaters resulting from more than three weeks of torrential rains
1984 - Half a million people in Manila demonstrate against the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.
1996 - ozone disco tragedy

all these, good and bad, happen not only during the rats year but they can happen any time, any year. as early as halfway to the first quarter of this year, i can already foresee what's in store for me for the entire 2008. it seems that this year is going to pass by real quick and the next thing i know, it's all done. many people who knows me anticipate my wedding in August but there are other things that should be getting in the way where i am treading. this is going to be an exciting year. for me. for my loved ones. for my family...

Life... who can fathom it?

an old church minister once said, "how does God speak to His people in the times of the patriarch? he speaks to them 'face to face'. how does God speak to His people in the time of the prophets? by means of dreams He speaks to them. now in our times--- the Christian time, how does God speak to His people?" he paused, waited for someone to respond, then a moment of silence.

"learn how to read your life... what is going on with your life? in which path are you treading and where are you heading to? that's it... God speaks to you through your life. He wants you to understand what He is telling you by what is happening in your life now. learn how to read your life. be prayerful. God is exactly Who you need when you seem to have met the dead end. man has limitations but Gods grace is endless..."

until now, those words are written in my heart. and it's all i need to remember whenever i can't seem to fathom the wonders of life.

happy new year!

to all my chinese friends, colleague, and acquaintances... kung hei fat choi! having a chinese boss never spares us (office) from observing chinese rituals when important occasions come. yesterday, we had the lion dance in the office and together with it was the traditional coin / candy throwing done by the lion. the dance is accompanied by one set of drummers that'll rock the building with their beat and seeing the lion dance simply puts a smile on everyones faces. what i like about these chinese rituals, they are always fun, there are always MORE food, and whatever "beliefs" they have regarding things (feng shui), i just smile in awe:











while it is amusing to take a peep on chinese signs (this year is the year of the rat) to have a good overview on what is "lucky" for you this year, i have always believed that these are just but something for "entertainment". it is always the individual who will make his future, turn it into a favorable or an unfavorable one. the "stars" don't have anything to do with one's life and even if the manghuhulas say that they are just our guide to life, faith in God still prevails over all.

i have said this because this is the year when i planned to take a big turn in my life. this passing week has been tough, but talking it out with a listening and an understanding person resolves the 'bumpy' situation. now i believe that getting married isn't just a walk in the park. i'm just firm in my belief that everything will turn out fine especially that ayah & i are not wavering with our commitment to Him. Thursday nights are always being looked forward to. It's the night when ayah & i hold our devotional prayer together and it simply feels good after praying. it gives us strength and it clears the direction on where we are heading to. God is amazing!

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i got an increase! kapuso (our finance & admin manager) said i got the highest rate range of increase and i was thanking her for that. i knew she was the one who lobbied it to GM. i was delighted of course but the first question that popped out from me to her: "magkano ang tax nito?" LOL. i know that the increase in base salary will slightly be felt since tax for the circus government of the Philippines will also go up. gudlak na lang! dapat na talaga akong magka-anak at magkaroon ng dependents para bumaba ang kinukurakot lang naman na tax. :P

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kilala nyo ito?

It's Super Tuesday!

i'm so saddened with what transpired at the House of Representatives yesterday. not that i don't want to congratulate the new House Speaker, Prospero Nograles but hearing the former speakers (JDV) privilege speech wanted me to sink in front of the boob tube out of embarrassment. before former speaker Jose De Venecia was unseated in the House as speaker, he emotionally delivered his speech with almost all of it focused in attacking his most beloved president Gloria Arroyo. what the heck? saying those words might be bravery but many see it more of a sour-graping stint. i could have exited more with dignity and respect if i were in his shoes (but only in this blog post that it has entered my mind filling JDV's shoes). sour-graping, revealing things against the president will neither make him credible nor good-smelling among the Filipino people. every Filipino soul who has witnessed his speech might be laughing at him that time and at the same time nodding their heads in dismay. Quoting JDV on another implication, "What is happening to our country? ... Is this the Philippines that we want?"

Politics has ruined the beautiful Philippines. Enough of having politicians. The people deserve better public servants.

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in a few hours, it's going to be Super Tuesday. as i've expressed here, Super Tuesday might be more interesting for those who follow closely the political activities in their country but for those who see low-priced shopping delightful and are getting excited "competing" with people in purchasing the sale items as early as dawn, boxing day will be a more much-awaited event annually. I promised myself to experience this event when i get back to Canada. I remember my brother-in-law glued to the internet a day before this event in 2004. He was browsing online for sale items for boxing day and even before the roosters crow the following day, he's lined-up already in one of the major stores in Mississauga--- he purchased this TV (with free rack) for the family and man it was heavy! we had a hard time bringing it down to the basement where we used to stay but eventually after that we were all happy. now i'm so looking forward to it adding to the fact that people as excited as me will be there early to get what i want. una-unahan na lang yan! "balyahan" sa mas kantong termino, haha!

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on another note, it feels good (somehow) having no mobile phones at hand. i left mine in the office last night and just found out about it when i reached home after driving. unusual because i usually send SMS and twit via mobile while driving (kids, don't do that at home, texting while driving, that is. LOL) but anyway, it saved me a few pesos not to text and it made me think if i really needed these mobile phones. i've slept, waken up, and now sipping my cup of coffee--- without any mobile phone but still nothing seems to be different.

Planet Mercury is shrinking?

from GMANews.tv report, WASHINGTON - The first pictures from the unseen side of Mercury reveal the wrinkles of a shrinking, aging planet with scars from volcanic eruptions and a birthmark shaped like a spider...

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makes me think. according to basic science education, we need ALL the planets in the solar system to have a normal earth rotation AND revolution around the sun. if Mercury shrinks and eventually destroyed, what now?

*goosebumps*