Overheard at Ateneo

I'v only been using my facebook account for stalking. Hahaha. I neverreally like playing those apps and games although I did get into Mafia wars, Typing Maniac and Poker for a while. But recently I've been enjoying his group Overheard at Ateneo de Manila University where students, alumni and teachers get to share their funniest and most sentimental stories and pictures of time spent in the campus. Here are my favorites:

During a Fil 11 exam:

Teacher: Guys alagaan ninyo ang mga papel ninyo dahil gagamitin pa yan ng mga susunod na batch.

Student: Sir bats? (flaps arms like wings)

Teacher: Lagyan mo ng minus one yang papel mo.

-----------------------
Two girls were talking about dorm life:

Girl 1: Paano kung may bading na gustong magdorm. Aling dorm siya mapupunta?
Girl 2: Eh di sa heaven...

--------------
Freshman year. Blockmate enters classroom shaking.

Blockmate: Ohmigod! Ohmigod! Guess what, I commuted!
Us: Really? From Alabang?
Blockmate: No from Burgundy. I took a trike, it was so scary!

-------------------
In SEC A Xerox place, 3 friends were waiting for their photocopies.

While waiting, one friend tried to bearhug his friend.

student: BEAR HUUUUUGGGGGGGGGG (yeah, he shouted.)

After about 2 seconds of clinging to his victim, he realized he's hugging a stranger.

-------------------
During Theo121 class of Dr. Aguas.

Dr. Aguas's phone rang.

*kim possible theme*

Dr Aguas: Yes, Wade. What's the sitch?

--------------
Eco prof to senior student: What year are you?
student: what?
Eco prof: What year?
student: Dragon sir...?

---------------- And my personal favorite-------------------

student 1(thru text): gawa ka ng ppt para sa group report natin bukas.
groupmate: k

next day, at an AVR with lapto and projector and 40 students, groupmate shows up with anime cutout taped to barbecue sticks...

takteng puppet ang ginawa.

we presented under the teacher's table.

-----------------------

there's also an overheard for U.P. students: Narinig ko sa U.P.

My Pilipinas Moleskine

Today marks the launch of the collaboration between Collezione-C2 Creative Director Rhett Eala, and the famed Moleskine brand.

The Limited Edition MyPilipinas Moleskine features the iconic Philippine archipelago design emblazoned on the cover of the globally-recognized Moleskine notebook’s oilcloth-covered cardboard binding.

Historical figures such as Hemingway and Picasso have famously used these notebooks to jot down and record their thoughts. It’s a very well-known fact that Moleskine notebooks have been the companion of choice for many an artist and intellectual. Now that it’s come to our shores bearing our proud islands on the cover, it’s become the perfect journal for capturing thoughts and ideas uniquely and proudly Pinoy.

The notebooks will be available in large and pocket size and will only be available in soft cover. The MyPilipinas Moleskine will be exclusively distributed at Collezione-C2 branches and selected National Bookstore outlets. - from here.

Oh my gulay!! I want one!

Good job Cebu Pacific!

Several weeks ago, Cebu Pacific received a lot of flak after one of its flight attendants made kid and his mom get off the plane because they could only accommodate one kid with a mental illness. What did the airline expect? And to add to their embarrassment, it seemed that the kid was not really mentally ill.

I've always said that customer service was never Cebu Pacific's strength. Some of their staff are snobbish and downright disrespectful. Is it because we're paying cheaper to fly? Customer service is customer service, no matter what, no matter what the cost. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

BUT I must give credit where credit is due. In my line of work I get to take around 8 flights a month and go around the country. And these past several months, Cebu Pacific has NEVER been late. Amazing no? In fact we get to our destination several minutes earlier than the expected time of arrival.  So, good job Cebu Pacific.

Movie Review: Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog is Disney's first foray into 2D animation since 3D animation took over several years ago. I don't know how kid's of today will receive this movie, but back then every 2d animated flick released by Disney was a major event. And I think this is exactly why I enjoyed the Princess and the Frog, it reminded me so much of my childhood.

That is not to take any merit away from the movie. On its own it stands as one of Disney's best. As with previous Disney creations, this one tries to update a classic story and is a brave entrance into untested waters. It features Disney's first black princess, Tihanna who is strong and independent and is unlikely to wait for any Prince Charming to save her from poverty. She dreams of having her own restaurant in New Orleans and she does everything she can to own one. But soon she discovers something more important in life that's been there all along - love and family.

Princess also features great music which shows what we already know from past Disney movies - they make movies not just for kids but also for adults to enjoy. The jazz tunes and performances is reminiscent of classic Disney fares such as Beauty's Be Our Guest filled with fireworks and amazing over the top animation.

Princess proves that Disney still has got it and I give it a B.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Taken from Aids's fb. 

PICC visit

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) for the arrival of Emmaus, the head of the Focolare Movement. Here she is, third from the right:

And here are some members of the movement performing for her and the audience. they worked really hard to make everything perfect.
During breaks, I had the chance to go around the venue and enjoy the amazing art works and architecture. I especially love this piece because it reminds of the JVP/Jerusalem cross from certain angles. 
It's the centerpiece for the the main lobby and the grand staircase.
Another striking feature of the grand lobby are the chandeliers made of metal pipes with light bulbs at the end. The varying lengths of the pipes gives the lobby ceiling depth and character.

There were also numerous paintings spread across hallways. But you must forgive me, I wasn't able to jot down the names of the paintings and artists. I know how important it is to give credit where credit is due. So if you can tell me the name of any of the paintings and their artists, you win a prize!
This one, I immediately recognized as an Ang Kiuko painting. I used to spend hours in front of his works at the Ateneo Art Gallery.



Here I am pretending to be a presidentiable. haha.
And here are 2 of our boys from hillcrest!
If you love great art and architectural design then you must visit PICC at once!

Movie Review: Percy Jacskson and the Lightning Thief

I used to spend hours in the library reading books about Greek and Roman mythology. It was like a soap opera about tall, magical creatures.  I'd still spend hours in Ateneo's library if I had a student i.d. but that's another story. My love for the gods and their wacky, overl-dramatic stories may be why I enjoyed Percy Jackson and the Lightning thief, given its many flaws.

The movie, based on the book by Rick Riordan, does not waste any time. The adventure immediately rolls out in front of us as a giant Poseidon rises from the ocean to meet with Zeus. Zeus's most powerful weapon, a lightning bolt has been stolen. And he thinks it's Poseidon's demigod son, Percy, who stole the lightning. Why he thinks this is so, I have no idea. Then we're off to an adventure within an adventure within an adventure. 

Percy has to go to Olympus and convince Zeus that he didn't steal the bolt.To do that, he must first train in Camp Half Blood, sort of like Harry Potter's Hogwarts, but with swords. After a half-day of training, he defeats the daughter of Athena, who's been training all her life. It defies logic but another adventure is soon upon us. His mother gets kidnapped by Hades so he has to go to hell and bring her back. But now, our Percy needs to collect 3 pearls which would help them get away from Hades once they're in hell. And so he meets Medusa, the hydra and visits the land of the lotus people. And Percy is so busy he doesn't even have time to grieve for his mother whom he thought was dead. (Maybe he got a peek at the script and knew she was alive anyway.) We don't even have enough time to really get to know Percy or his other friends and they end up flat.

And soon we reach the end and the movie feels less epic than its trailer. This could be because of their attempt to give the characters, the gods in particular, a modern twist, perhaps to make them more relatable, or to help kids easily identify ancient greek mythological creatures. The movie has literally shrunk the gods and thus made them a tad mediocre.

But still I enjoyed watching Percy, it's like playing a video game.

I give Percy a C+

Movie Review:Valentine's Day

The huge cast alone was enough to draw me into the movie house and force me to overcome my dislike for valentine's day - the holiday, not the movie . Valentine's Day, a movie about different people's experience of love stars Julia Roberts, Eric Dane, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Roberts, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez and Jessica Biel. The fun is in spotting the stars. Oh look there's the cute country singer with the buff wolf in that vampire movie. Oooohhh Pretty Woman. But that's where the fun ends for me.

Valentine's Day reminds me of Love Actually, actually. Both movies show how people experience holidays in different ways and how our lives are interconnected. In Valentine's Day the central figure that frames and holds this movie together is a flower shop. Here we see the staff with their own love stories to tell and how they are inevitably involved in the lives of their customers. We get to see love in varying degrees - romantic, maternal, homosexual, puppy, teenage. And of course there are the bitter stories of love, those that speak of being alone on the day of hearts, those that end in, well, endings. But somehow everything turns out all right for most of the characters. 

My problem with this movie though, besides the cliched montage of stories and characters, is the lack of oomph, of pizzaz, of thrill. Sure the movie tries to surprise us with several ooohh-I-didn't-see-that-coming endings, but there's really nothing original about the stories or the characters. They're mostly caricatures of valentine stereotypes. And because we know them so well already, we know where their stories end. The difference between  Love Actually and Valentines Day is that I still remember the former, years after and I'm sure to forget the latter like some dust-covered valentine gift that's not even good enough to be recycled.

As for performances, Anne Hathaway shines best here for me. 

I give Valentines Day a C+

Hearts all over the world

HEARTS ALL OVER THE WORLD! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Write a message of inspiration, hope and concern to children who have been victims of abuse. In this season of love, BE A KID'S SPECIAL VALENTINE and make them feel lalalaLOVE!

Visit Tugon at SEC-C FOYER ALL WEEK!!

Also, be sure to watch our benefit play, Blue Rep's BREAKUPS & BREAKDOWNS this THURSDAY, FEB 11, 2010. :) All proceeds will go to the benefit of Tugon's partner institutions. Tickets priced at Php 150 :) Drop by at our booth for tickets. :)\

See you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love you

Taken a couple of years back, these are kids from welcome home foundation, school for the deaf, in bukidnon. Here they're doing the i love you sign, if i'm not wrong.

uy

i miss you. .gd

Anne Hathaway on GQ

Actress Anne Hathaway is on the cover of British GQ. Haaaaay.

Conflict of interest

Last week Winnie Monsod wrote a brief but fact-based analysis of the C-5 issue. Manny, along with his hordes, defended himself by saying that the C5 extension was not redundant but necessary. I'm not going to go into the nitty-gritty of the issue. 2 facts stand high-lighted before me:

1. The C-5 project, according to DPWH reports, was conceptualized and initially funded by Manny Villar.

2. The C-5 project dubiously benefits the properties of Villar. 

Conflict of interest, plain and simple. If you use government money and power for personal gain, then you are corrupt. Plain and simple.  Should we ask, who is the main beneficiary of teh c-5 project? Plain and simple. Again, this is why Manny Villar is not my president.

Oh and here is Winnie Monsod's follow up to her previous article.

Refuting Manny’s defenders 

By Solita Collas-Monsod
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:33:00 02/05/2010

Filed Under: Elections, Graft & Corruption, Manny Villar

IN RESPONSE TO LAST WEEK’S COLUMN where I presented some incontrovertible facts regarding the ethics case against Sen. Manny Villar, I received an e-mail from one Danilo Suarez of Quezon City. He wrote: “Read your column re your take on C5 and Sen. Villar’s ‘involvement.’ In the interest of fairness, I exhort you, as a supporter of Sen. Villar, to also check his official website and his side on the matter. I trust you would put this out as you search for the truth …. Looking forward to reading about it in your column.”

My reply: “Dear Mr. Suarez, If there is anything erroneous in any of the statements of fact that were published in my column, please feel free to point them out, together with the documents you have that will allow me to verify that they are indeed erroneous. As you may have noticed, the A’s in my column can be verified by documents and uncontroverted statements from official sources, which I was very careful to cite, precisely so that readers like you can check them. I am certainly glad that Mr. Villar has aired his side on his website. That is his choice. It is mine to look at the government documents and the sworn testimony that are part of the Senate record. I look forward to Mr. Villar’s defending himself in a venue that allows for clarificatory questions and refutations. That is, after all, part and parcel of transparency and accountability that are so necessary for good governance. Regards.”

The Inquirer also forwarded me an e-mail from Ma. Nalen Rosero-Galang, who identifies herself as legal counsel for Senator Villar. I also received a paper titled “C-5 sound and fury: Is Monsod painting the full picture? Student rebukes professor” by Ricardo G. Barcelona of Spain, who identifies himself firstly as “a former student of Prof. Monsod,” before going on to reciting the rest of his impressive curriculum vitae. I am honored that he considers his being my former student (albeit a rebuking one) more important than the rest of his professional achievements.

For the most part, both Galang and Barcelona do not contest the facts presented in last week’s column. An exception is when Galang asserts that “There is no evidence whatsoever that the alignment of the C5 Road Extension was determined by Senator Villar, or that its alignment was changed in order that it should pass through the real estate properties of Senator Villar’s companies.” Excuse me, Ms Galang: May I remind you that per the Department of Public Works and Highways, Senator Villar conceptualized and initially funded both the CX-5 and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road project. That is in black and white in the DPWH project feasibility studies.

Both do contest what I considered a reasonable conclusion: that since there was already an ongoing (MCTEP) linking C-5 to the Coastal Road, it was unnecessary (and therefore wasteful) to build a second one. Galang argues that both were necessary, given the “worsening traffic condition (sic) in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite.” Barcelona argues that it was not a case of wastefulness, but rather of creating choices for motorists.

To Ms Galang: where in urban Philippines are traffic conditions not worsening? To Mr. Barcelona: MCTEP was conceived precisely to create choices for motorists. There already exists a current road network, toll-free, that will allow motorists to move from SLEX to the Coastal Road. MCTEP would give them the choice of going from point A to Point B more quickly—as long as they are willing to pay for the convenience. Giving motorists a third choice, in the context of competing demands on scarce resources, cannot be—never mind, should not be—defended. Giving motorists a third choice, while at the same time ensuring that the third-choice road passes through Villar-owned properties (I notice neither Galang nor Barcelona refuted the 50-52 hectare area involved), is even less defensible.

Then there is the matter of zonal valuation. Barcelona is correct to point out a seemingly inconsistent set of estimates: In my column, I stated (not suggested—it is a matter of arithmetic), that the Villar lots were acquired at an average price of P7,168/sq m while non-Villar properties went for P1,880/sq m. In my analysis for News on Q, which was earlier taped, the figures I gave were P11,520 and P2,922 respectively (not the P11,000 and P4,500 that Barcelona cites. Tsk.). Inconsistent? No. The P11,520 figure refers only to the properties that are directly Villar-owned. The P7,168 figure refers to direct properties and those in joint-venture with Villar companies. Please note that I used the lower figures in my column.

To Barcelona: Do not put words in my mouth. I was not suggesting that capital gains linked to proximity to public works should accrue to government. And there is a world of difference between the Hacienda Luisita issue and the Villar properties issue: (1) Noynoy Aquino probably owns less than 2 percent of Luisita, Villar owns 100 percent of his properties; and (2) Villar conceived and initially funded CX-5/LPPLP; Aquino had zilch to do with SCTEX. Tsk.

Moral of the story: Do not rebuke your teacher using insinuations and without full knowledge of the facts. My fault is that I didn’t teach him any better.

Finally, I cannot resist quoting Joker Arroyo, circa 1998: “So in the case of Speaker Villar, it is simple. If he wants to go/continue in business and deal with government financial institutions, he can do so but he cannot also be a congressman. If he wants to be a congressman, then he must not be in business which deals with the government. We have to pay a price.” Amen.

"All is fair in love and politics."

Not so if you spend so much more than you can actually afford that you bury yourself in politcal debt, a debt which you'll have to pay later on with the people's money. 

One of the many reasons why I am NOT voting for the guy in orange is because of his utter aggressiveness in campaigning. How much has he spent? Experts estimate he has spent around 3 billion pesos on ads alone. I've visited several municipalities in the past few months and Villar has his face plastered everywhere, months before the actual campaign period. 

He has such hunger for the presidency that it frightens me. It frightens me because it reminds me of a certain president. The one who promised on Rizal's shrine that she won't run for another term and 6 years later is still president. The one who will run for congress to stay in power. I can't help but imagine what anyone with such hunger for power would do to remain in power, regardless if everyone else swims in their own garbage.

From here:

Villar money rules noontime TV shows 

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:21:00 02/06/2010

Filed Under: Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010

AS EARLY AS 3 A.M. last Thursday, 46-year-old balut vendor Josie Magtangub and her daughter were lining up for the popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga” at Broadway Centrum in Quezon City.

Magtangub said she wanted to win P25,000 in cash given in the segment “Stop My Hirap” to help her sustain her small business and send her 8-year-old child to school.

“I was told the lines were long so I came early,” she told the Inquirer in Filipino.

The 10-hour wait was worth it. Shortly past noon, Magtangub and her daughter were on stage with hosts Michael V. and Ruby Rodriguez, jumping up and down while orange and white confetti rained on them.

Magtangub won P25,000 and P10,000 worth of groceries courtesy of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer, Sen. Manuel Villar, who sponsors “Stop My Hirap.”

While signing up celebrity endorsers has always been a norm in election campaigns, a game show segment—never mind if it’s aired for less than 5 minutes—is a trailblazing campaign strategy.

As if his television and radio advertisements were not enough, Villar has conquered the popular Filipino noontime shows aired on the two biggest networks, winning the hearts and minds of voters. He has maximized all possible campaign platforms, which reflects Villar’s marketing genius that has made him one of the richest Filipinos in the country.

The strategy must have helped Villar’s latest surge in the presidential surveys, putting him neck and neck with Liberal Party standard-bearer and perennial front-runner, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Willie and Michael V

Among Villar’s celebrity endorsers are hosts of noontime shows—Michael V. from “Eat Bulaga” aired on GMA 7 and Willie Revillame of ABS-CBN’s “Wowowee.” The senator was a guest on “Wowowee” when Revillame celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago.

For political analyst Ramon Casiple, Villar’s pre-election campaign spending, was “scandalous” by democratic terms.

Hinged on Villar’s antipoverty advocacy, “Stop My Hirap” aimed right at the gut of the hungry masses as well as the middle class, he said.

Why they joined

For instance, Wilson Ng, 25, and Drid de Castro, 24, who were not exactly poor as they were working in their families’ respective businesses also joined “Stop My Hirap.”

Ng said he wanted to win the cash money so he could share it with his family and friends.

De Castro, for his part, said he would use the money to treat his youngest sister who celebrated her birthday Friday.

Since it started last Jan. 19, some 14 studio contestants have each won the jackpot consisting of P25,000 in cash and P10,000 worth of grocery items. Two others—including an Army private who said she needed money to pay for the medicines of her mother and sibling—won P10,000 each.

The winners were either teachers, overseas Filipino workers, househelp or laborers.

Mechanics

The mechanics of the contest, which ends its two-and-a-half-week run today, or two days before the formal election campaign begins, are simple: Audience members write on orange sheets of paper what they would do if they win P25,000. The pieces of paper go into a fish bowl where the hosts, who are dressed in orange, pick one lucky contestant—but not before egging the audience to dance to an upbeat jingle composed by Michael V. The dance ends with Villar’s signature hand sign where the thumb and forefinger form a check sign just under the chin.

The lucky contestant gets to spin an orange electronic wheel and depending on where the needle stops, the contestant could win P10,000, P15,000 cash, groceries, or the jackpot.

At the end of the segment, the story of a poor, struggling citizen is aired, recalling Villar’s own rags-to-riches tale. The candidate’s image and slogan, “Sipag at Tiyaga” is flashed on screen.

Secret

Malou Choa-Fagar, senior vice president and chief operations officer of TAPE Inc. and producer of “Eat Bulaga” told the Inquirer that “Stop My Hirap” was a “portion buy” on the noontime show by the Villar campaign team.

Fagar, however, declined to say how much the segment cost, saying the information was confidential.

An industry insider told the Inquirer that depending on a segment’s concept, a portion buy such as “Stop My Hirap” could cost from P700,000 to P1 million per episode. The amount did not include the prizes given away and the talent fees of hosts.

A show producer like TAPE could also offer package deals to its clients to lower costs, the source added.

Fagar clarified that TAPE did not look at “Stop My Hirap” as a campaign vehicle.

“To us, [the Villar team] is a client coming into our show,” she said.

First time

Asked if this was a brilliant strategy on Villar’s part, Fagar replied: “I think so; it is the first time something like this was placed within a show. Usually, spots [or political advertisements] are aired outside the shows.”

Casiple, executive director of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform (IPER), said Villar’s “Stop My Hirap” was an interesting “development” in campaign strategy.

Villar, whose net worth reportedly totals P25 billion according to Forbes Magazine, had changed the political landscape with “that level of spending.”

“He’s spending around ten times as much as his nearest rival,” Casiple said, referring to Aquino.

Casiple described Villar’s campaign expenses as nearly “scandalous.”

“By democratic rules, everybody but everybody is qualified to run but with Villar’s spending, it shows that only those with money can run. But should we allow money to rule?” he said.

“All is fair in love and politics,” Casiple concluded.

Santino dies

And lives again. 

May Bukas Pa, which is loosely based on the Italian movie, Marcelino Pan Y Vino, ended its one-year run tonight. May Bukas Pa isn't exactly the best series there is but you have to give credit where credit is due: it has moved and inspired thousands of Filipinos. It has been a while since we've sin a Jesus-centered series on television. 

May Bukas Pa will be remembered for a long time, especially because of the kid that plays Santino. He's just too cute.

So apparently in the series finale, Santino dies and then lives again because he's mission is not yet finished. How...happy? So what did you think of the ending? Here's an article about the ending:

MANILA, Philippines - It was indeed a time for miracles in ABS-CBN's top-rating teleserye "May Bukas Pa" and its child star Zaijan Jaranilla.

Confirming weeks of speculation, Jaranilla's character "Santino" died in the last episode of the show after bleeding out during a kidnapping attempt by his dad's former girlfriend.

Santino then met his parents in heaven but was told by Jesus and Mary (played by ABS-CBN President Charo Santos Concio) that he had to go back to earth to spread hope to the residents of the fictional town of Bagong Pag-asa.

It was a "bittersweet" ending for the show which launched last February 2, 2009 and made "Santino" a household name.

Reactions

Fans and critics reacted to the show's ending through micro-blogging site Twitter, where the show's title "May Bukas Pa" became the top 2 trending topic a few hours after the show ended.

"May Bukas Pa deserves to get the highest rating especially the finale! You're the best," said Twitter user ariannemedes.

"May Bukas Pa may not be the most beautiful TV series, yet it made a big mark to our Filipino soap industry," said user johnchrisma.

Actress Anne Curtis Smith wrote on her Twitter account: "Congratulations to the whole cast, directors, staff & crew of May Bukas Pa. Ang ganda ng last episode nyo! For sure you made BRO proud."

Bro is the ABS-CBN Network's moniker for God or Jesus.

Many more users said they will miss the show and its lead character Santino, while others clamored for replays of the entire series.

Others were dissatisfied with the ending, saying Santino's death and subsequent resurrection "stretched the plot too far" and was "unrealistic."

Others joked that Santino could already appear on ABS-CBN's documentary series "I Survived", which features people who lived through life-threatening situations.

Users on Twitter from countries abroad, meanwhile, wondered what "May Bukas Pa" meant and why it was trending on Twitter.

Top-rated

"May Bukas Pa" tells the story of Santino, an orphaned boy who wrought miracles because of his relationship with Jesus, whom he affectionately calls "Bro."

The show was a ratings juggernaut for the Kapamilya Network, with audience share of as high as 38.7%.

Because of its popularity, the show's run was extended several times as different ABS-CBN talents graced the show each week.

During the finale, a plethora of Kapamilya stars made cameo appearances including Anne Curtis, Shaina Magdayao, Christopher de Leon, Gabby Concepcion, Gloria Romero, Krista Ranillo, Lorna Tolentino, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Judy Ann Santos and Comedy King Dolphy.

A special rendition of the show's theme song was also sung by ABS-CBN stars such as Erik Santos, Toni Gonzaga, Arnel Pineda, Sam Milby, Aiza Seguerra, Nikki Gil, Vina Morales, Christian Bautista, Duncan, Piolo Pascual, Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Charice and Jed Madela.

The final episode also featured bonus footage like bloopers by the cast during filming.

Lacson is missing

A warrant of arrest for Senator Panfilo Lacson on 2 counts of murder have been officially released. The problem is, the good Senator is missing.

A couple of days before the release of the warrant, Lacson admitted to be vacationing in the States. He also said that he didn't leave because he was guilty. He left because we wanted to protect himself from the evil plans of GMA and the DOJ. Given GMA's track record for justice and upholding basic human rights, I get that Lacson wants to be as far away as possible from this country.

But if you have nothing to hide, if you really are nothing like Jose Pidal, then why not face the charges and be done with it. 

Lacson, if not Interpol, someone else will get to you. Come out, come out wherever you are,it's time to face the music.

photo of the day 9 : Masbate sunset

Silahis

Gelai, a JVP friend of mine from Naga wanted to tour Manila. Unfortunately for me, they scheduled it on the same day as the arrival of Emmaus in PICC where I had to usher and wear Barong Tagalog. So I wasn't able to join them in the morning. But I caught up with the rest of the gang in the afternoon. Since it was a sort of historical tour, I didn't bother changing. 

So here I am in my Barong Tagalog care of Myke.

And here's the rest of the gang doing a jump shot in front of the Rizal Shrine in Luneta Park. I love this place. There are so many different people from all walks of life and countries. I could sit here and observe them the whole day.
We then went to Intramuros were we had ice cream. I fit in perfectly with my Barong. Then we went to this shop, Silahis, which sold Filipino arts and crafts. I never got around to asking why the name of the place. It must mean something else other than bisexual. 

I like these masks outside the doorway. My mom has a fondness for masks so she'll probably enjoy these.

They had everything inside. This intricately carved miror reminds me of home in the province where 90% of our furniture is wooden antique. Fire hazzard, in other words. There's Jet stealing my thunder.
I love this seashell curtains. When I was assigned in South Cotabato for a year, a friend of mine sent me seashell chimes that looked like this.
This Pinoy version of the Nativity scene is cute and colorful. Instead of sheep, which we rarely see in this humid country of ours, we have carabaos and pigs. The characters are all dressed in native Filipino clothes.
There's the carabao. I can already here my facebook friends screaming Farmville.
There's just too much stuff to take pictures of. They have cabinets, jewelry, furniture, baskets, paintings, old books, posters, you name it they've got it.
Here's cherie and me enjoying the great city light afterwards. 

Visit Silahis and the rest of Intramuros!

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

The newest version of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law is kick-ass. Sure a couple of us actually yiheeed at the closeness of Holmes and Watson, but this detective can kick Bond's ass.

Downey's Holmes is exactly like him: brilliant but wasted. This guy has issues. But he's a genius and he can't help it. He goes around analyzing people, their behavior, their physical appearance. He's a smug, arrogant jerk. But he gets the job done. 

I really could care less about the mystery that this Holmes is trying to solve. I am too much in awe at his utter coolness. The way he explains and analyzes what he's going to do to the bad guy, in slow motion of course. And he's always right.

I've always thought of Holmes as very cerebral and refined. So it's a surprise to see this new Holmes with muscles, wrestling with a monster in a ring. But according to PJ, who's read all the books, and reread them again after watching the movie (yeah, she's a nerd that way) the movie version of the detective is actually faithful to the books. So there.

And Law's Watson is the perfect foil and partner to Holmes. He wants stability and is about to get married but he simply can't rid himself of Holmes. 

This update on Sherlock Holmes is relentlessly fun and fast paced. 

I give it a B.

Inmates

There's so much to talk about - movies I've seen, places and people I've recently visited but something important caught my attention while surfing uselessly through various blogs.

Last week the spotlight was once again on the Cebu inmates when Michael Jackson's choreographer visited and even made a dance video with them. Then the other day, Mo Twister, posted this on his blog:

I've had several opportunities to interact with prisoners from the maximum prison in Muntinlupa. I've also done research on them and Philippine Government's rehabilitation program. I am honestly disappointed by Mo's entry. His blog gets over 100,000 readers a day. His opinion matters. And his opinion on this issue has put us several decades back into the days when criminals are discriminated and boxed out of society. 

We have prisons not just to punish them but more importantly to rehabilitate them, to give them another chance at becoming productive citizens. 

Mo does have a point, it must be very difficult for victims of these rapists, murderers, thieves to see them dancing. Forgiveness does not come easily when one is in such terrible pain. And everyone symphatizes with the victims. 

But like the victims, like us, prisoners are humans too. They made mistakes, they committed sins and crimes. Yes they should be punished, but they should be given a chance to change too, to hope. I will never know how  it feels for the victims to see the inmates dancing and becoming all of a sudden liked by all. It must be very difficult.

But see it this way: I think the dancing, all the attention has given these prisoners a spark of hope, that hey, I can be productive again, maybe I can change. In fact they even donated the proceeds of the video to the victims of Ondoy. 

These acts of kindness  do not change the fact of our sins. But our sins should not be the be-all and end-all of our person. 

I don’t want to offend anyone here who enjoys watching these Cebu dancing inmates videos, but quite honestly, they’re stupid.  I’m sick and tired of them being featured on the news, newspapers, blogs, etc.  I don’t find them the least bit entertaining and the main reason I don’t is because these criminals are in fact that—criminals.  And bear in mind, this is a goddamn maximum security prison, meaning the place houses the most heinous of criminals.  And yet, the world gets a kick out of watching them dancing to Michael Jackson songs?  Well, let me tell you who else is not amused by all the attention these criminals are getting; you guessed it right, the victims and their families.

Imagine you or a close family member was a rape or murder victim.  After the investigation, arrest, and verdict, you feel like some sort of justice was served and you hope the punishment is severe. They have definitely earned it.  They have stripped so much from you—parts of your life that you likely will never see or experience again.  Cut to a few months or years, you’ve begun to try to piece back your life together, and then all of a sudden you turn on the TV and on the news is that familiar face, the face you know you’d never forget and yet would never want to be reminded of.  What is he doing? Dancing to fuckin’ Thriller while the newscasters seem to think it’s cute and amazing.  Next thing you know, it’s on CNN and on TMZ.com.  It’s the headline on Yahoo! and one of the more viewed videos on YouTube.  Great, these menaces to society have become celebrities, heralded as five minutes of great entertainment.

Some of you will disagree with me and think this is a good thing because it’s teaching them to stay away from their violent ways and it gives an opportunity to rehabilitate them.  Okay, fine.  Perhaps you believe in the rehabilitation of our prison or maybe you likely feel that way because you’re not a victim scarred by the hands of one of these criminals--and neither am I.  But I think I have enough sensitivity toward the victims to not support this kind of bullshit.  If my child was victimized by one of these guys, I’ll tell you right now, there ain’t gonna be any fuckin’ dancing. 

I've had several opportunities to interact with prisoners from the maximum prison in Muntinlupa. I've also done research on them and Philippine Government's rehabilitation program. 

I get where Mo is coming from. He feels that it is an upfront to the victims of crimes to see these criminals dancing and having fun. In fact, if you read the comments section, people who claim to be victims themselves agrees with Mo. An I do not blame the victims for feeling that way, for calling criminals demons. And though I believe in forgiveness and unconditional love, one cannot be blamed for feeling hatred towards someone who has caused you unjust pain and harm. Healing takes time.

But still, I am honestly disappointed by Mo's entry. His blog gets over 100,000 readers a day. His opinion matters. And his opinion on this issue has put us several decades back into the days when criminals are discriminated and boxed out of society. If you read the comments section you'll read how a lot of the commentors have found strength in Mo's blog to curse and damn to hell the inmates. 

We have prisons not just to punish them but more importantly to rehabilitate them, to give them another chance at becoming productive citizens. 

Mo does have a point, it must be very difficult for victims of these rapists, murderers, thieves to see them dancing. Forgiveness does not come easily when one is in such terrible pain. And everyone symphatizes with the victims. 

But for us who have been fortunate enought to not have been victimized, who can think more logically, more rationally, without the hindrance of pain, something more is expected of us in dealing with prisoners. Like the victims, like us, prisoners are humans too. They made mistakes, they committed sins and crimes. Yes they should be punished, but they should be given a chance to change too, to hope. I will never know how  it feels for the victims to see the inmates dancing and becoming all of a sudden liked by all. It must be very difficult.

But see it this way: I think the dancing, all the attention has given these prisoners a spark of hope, that hey, I can be productive again, maybe I can change. In fact they even donated the proceeds of the video to the victims of Ondoy. 

These acts of kindness  do not change the fact of our sins. But our sins should not be the be-all and end-all of our person.