The Journey

For many young Filipinos, the journey starts today.





Despite some health issue alerts about the pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus which has finally penetrated the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) pushed thru with the opening of classes for public schools today, June 1, 2009.

Thousands, or even millions of new faces flock to schools today to begin their journey with getting formal education.

Thus, we pin our hopes on them- that they may strive to achieve the best that God has in store for all of them.

Young people, you have your own path of destiny towards greatness.

Claim it.
Sieze it.
It's yours to take.

Hayden Kho - Katrina Halili Scandal: Haven't We Had Enough?

I say we've had enough.

Our evening news for the last two weeks wouldn't be complete without the issue. Showbiz talk shows capitalize on it. At home and in the office, people continue to feast on the latest developments. Pirated CD vendors definitely hit high sales despite the OMB's continuing effort to seize and capture the video scandal.

So much that the penetration of the deadly Influenza A (H1N1) virus in the Philippines, the merger of Kampi and Lakas, and the Villar probe in the Senate were easily overshadowed and put aside.

The then showbiz chismis has now become a national issue that the Senate has summoned Katrina, Hayden, et al, to give their testimonies in aid of legislation.

The probe starts today, and as expected, the Senate conducted the inquiry in public, with the media feasting in for scoops.

I personally believe that the Senate need not require the involved personalities to attend the session, because they only add drama and comedy which transform into lots and lots of more chismis along the way. The issues, the videos, and the news are but enough reference to aid legislation. And in fact, we need not wait for famous personalities to cry foul over illegal video coverings of their private affairs. Our DVD vendors in Quiapo are living proofs that this illegal trade happens in the country.

But then again, I say we've had enough and even more. I believe it is about time we move on and discuss the more important matters that cater to the well-being of the country. Let's leave the issue behind to our Senators and have them do what they are supposed to do-legislate and approve laws against these immoralities.


Life goes on.

Is The Philippines Ready for the Influenza A (H1N1) Virus?

Last week, the DOH has confirmed that they have recorded the first Influenza A (H1N1) case in the Philippines. As of posting, there are already 2 victims in the country, and they are still monitoring more than 10 people.

To spearhead an anti- Influenza A (H1N1) Virus campaign, President Gloria Arroyo visited a public school in Manila yesterday to emphasize the need for proper hygiene and cleanliness even in the schools.

However, the school itself is not ready- at least- for a basic cleanliness material- TRASH CAN.

Philstar reports:

President Arroyo was visibly peeved yesterday after finding no wastebasket in which to throw a piece of tissue she had used to wipe her hands during an anti-Influenza A(H1N1) campaign at a school in Manila.

After rolling up the tissue paper, the President searched her immediate surroundings for a wastebasket, found none, and started telling the officials around her about the need to have wastebaskets around, particularly beside the faucets.

The officials scrambled around and produced a cardboard box for the President’s trash.
Members of the President’s team explained later that the box was originally placed under the faucets but it had to be removed in order to avoid obstructing the movement of the President.

Apparently, Mrs. Arroyo wanted to see actual wastebaskets and not makeshift cardboard boxes

If simple basic necessities like trash can are not available at hand in schools and other public places, how can we be so sure that we are ready, not only for the Influenza Virus, but in any possible virus outbreak in the country?

Cleanliness, folks, is a better way than to scrumble for cure when the disease attacks.

Update: Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Enters Philippines

The Department of Health confirmed Thursday night (May 21, 2009) that a 10-year old Filipina who arrived in the Philippines from the United States has tested positive of the Influenza A H1N1 Virus.

Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III, who is attending a World Health Organization meeting, said via a video conference, " the DoH confirms today the first case of AH1N1 in the Philippines. She is a female traveler who arrived in the country on May 18 from the United States, whose throat specimen tested positive based on results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine".

The DOH calls on all the people to be vigilant in ensuring proper hygiene and being extra health conscious in order to avoid the flu virus.

Even in various private and government offices, people are being advised to practice proper hygiene, such as:

• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
• Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
• Making sure your children follow this advice.

Second In Rank

I believe former President Erap Estrada said it correctly that he and Kabayan Vice President Noli De Castro will be the toughest rivals in the 2010 elections.

That is, of course, supposing the law acknowledges the legality of his being able to run again for the presidency.

Coming from a similar background, with both having the much needed appeal of the masses, the two men are assured of getting a big chunk of support (converted into votes) from the poor, who, as what Erap claims, comprise of about 80 percent of the filipino voters.

Erap, though convicted with plunder but was swiftly granted pardon by Gloria Arroyo, continues to charm the masses during his provincial sorties. It is as if the Filipino has already forgotten that at one point in history, this man has been tried and convicted of stealing money from the people.

And while the so-called opposition leaders, Villar, Roxas, Lacson, et al, continue to do their separate tactics to rank in the surveys, Erap's popularity easily moves his name on top of the list.

Noli, on the other hand, has not dealt to stand on any major issue, nor contradict the unpopular Gloria Arroyo, making him still the Administration's best (and only) choice as the standard-bearer. His "clean image", plus the administration's machinery and power, makes Kabayan Noli a man to beat in the coming election.

If the current situations will continue, we might see a race among Erap, Noli, Villar and Roxas, plus possibly the other hopefuls Villanueva and Panlilio. Logic will cast Villanueva and Panlilio out of contention (unless of course, God Himself performs a miracle and puts any of the two as the ruler). Villar and Roxas, I suppose, are a no-match in terms of masa appeal versus our two main proponents.

So that leaves us to only two individuals fighting for the top post. Will it be the returning Erap, or the popular Noli?

In either way, I believe it's about time we start praying that we will also be able to vote and choose for a very good Vice President.

Oftentimes, the people focus their mind on the presidential hopefuls, disregarding the fact that we also need a very good Vice President in place. A VP position may have been, in the past, easily overshadowed by the President, but unknown to many, the VP post is an equally important position in the land.

After all, if only we chose the best VP in 1998, history must have taken us into a different course after EDSA Dos.

Now, more than ever, let us pray that we will choose a credible and righteous Vice President.

CPA Board Exam Results: May 2009

Congratulations to our New Certified Public Accountants who passed the recent CPA Board Exams.

The results were released today, May 19, 2009 by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

You may view the (alphabetical) results via the : Inquirer.Net.


Again, congratulations to the Board Passers and to your very proud Parents!

Kapitan Sino: A Quick Review

I have just finished reading Bob Ong's latest book, Kapitan Sino, which was released this May 2009 and now available at Powerbooks and Pandayan bookshops at 175.00 php.

Bob Ong (and his artist/s) continue to fascinate me because they have lived to the expectation of having a color code for Bob Ong's books, with the latest, sporting a gray/silver color. Also, book purchasers will have a special edition bookmark (and if ever you weren't able to check where the bookmark is, then you better start looking now).

I give a "two-thumbs" up sign for Kapitan Sino because it goes down deep into the very problem of the society. Bob Ong delivers the serious message in a very light way, a little like how Jesus taught the people using his parables.

Much more, this new book affirms to one of my previous article (posted also on Inquirer blog)- that the call of our times is not so much for us to wait for a hero/heroes to help us and deliver us from this cancer of the society, but for us, in our own, little ways, to do what we can for our country.

(More reviews soon....)

Jojo Binay and Mar Roxas Political Ad

What happens when you combine the Jojo Binay and Mar Roxas Political Advertisements?


(Mar sa loob ng Pedicab)

Mar: Ano'ng pangarap n'yo?

Bata1: Seaman sana...

Bata2: Ako po artista!

Bata1: Pero hindi ko na iniisip. Kanya-kanyang kayod po dito, walang maayos na trabaho, walang pambili ng gamot....

Mar: Anak, itabi mo, pupunta tayo ng MAKATI! Dahil sa MAKATI, libre ang edukasyon...

Todo-todo ang benepisyo!



-pramis, sa kakatawa, lumuwa ang buwa ko!

Grains of Thought-Balut For Foreign Guests

Why do we keep on asking Foreign celebrities who visit the country to try eating Balut?

Take the case of American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook who recently visited Manila for a back to back concert with co-idol David Archuleta.

As Inquirer.net reports:

"The rugged-looking Cook would love to try ‘balut’ (boiled duck embryo), a Filipino delicacy that even reality show Fear Factor used in one of its segments."

Have No Fear, Kapitan Sino Is Here!

The long wait is over.

After 48 years nang paghihintay, lumabas na rin ang nagtatagong superduper hero ng Pelaez.

Si Super Strength!

Este, si KAPITAN SINO pala!

THERE IS SOMETHING STRANGE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Naunahan na naman ang mga pulis sa pagtugis sa mga holdaper ng isang jewelry shop. Bago noon, may iba na ring nakahuli sa isang carnaper; sumaklolo sa mga taong nasa itaas ng nasusunog na building; nagligtas sa sanggol na hinostage ng ama; tumulong para makatawid sa kalsada ang isang matanda; tumiklo sa mga miyembro ng Akyat-Bahay; sumagip sa mag-anak na tinangay ng tubig-baha; nag-landing nang maayos sa isang Boeing 747 na nasiraan ng engine; at nagpasabog sa isang higanteng robot. Pero sino ang taong ‘yon? Maililigtas nya ba sila Aling Baby? At ano nga ba talaga ang sabon ng mga artista?

KAPITAN SINO

Ang pinakabagong superhero noon.

Mas matibay pa sa orig.

Sa mas mahabang panahon.

Basahin at alamin ang maaksiyong pakikipagsapalaran ni Rogelio Manglicmot sa pinakabago at ika-pitong libro ni Bob Ong.

Available na sa Powerbooks! 175.00 pesos lang.

Distortion of the Truth

Relative to a previous post about irresponsible advertisements being shown on National TV, MTRCB Chair Marissa Laguardia has sent a letter to Ruperto Nicdao Jr., chair of Ad Standards Council Inc. and Herman Basbaño, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas concerning complaints on LBC's latest advertisement featuring a child who, when asked to spell remittance, answered, "LBC", and to which the game show host (played by OMB Chair) Edu Manzano, responded, "Tumpak!".

Laguardia describes the advertisement as a "Distortion of the truth".

Furthermore, she stresses out that, “to young minds, without the guidance of an adult, this presents an instructional digression. The average child may not have an adult’s grasp of figures of speech.”

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

How come the advertisement passed the review without this hoopla being noticed by the board?

Why did Edu Manzano, an Optical Media Board Chaiman himself, accepted and played for the advertisement. Isn't he, being the chair, knowledgeable on this matter?

Who is responsible? All the while, we have the MTRCB, and now, we have the ASC operating under the KBP.

And for goodness' sake, please intensify how you regulate any and every tv shows and advertisements being shown on television.

Getting A Filipino Citizenship

The Philippine Constitution of 1987 under Article IV enumerates the provisions in order to get a Filipino Citizenship:

Citizenship

Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines :

(1) Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;

(2) Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines ;

(3) Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and

(4) Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be deemed natural-born citizens.

Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.

Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission they are deemed, under the law, to have renounced it.

Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.



Now, this new House Resolution may outrule the above requirements. :D

Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis has filed House Resolution 1142, which seeks to confer honorary Philippine citizenship on Manny Pacquiao's trainor, Freddie Roach.

San Luis states,

”Behind Manny Pacquiao’s legendary boxing triumphs is his 49-year-old American coach Freddie Roach, who over the years has masterfully sharpened the skills of the Filipino boxing icon to become one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport.”

Roach, who has been Pacquiao’s trainer-coach for years, “has equally shown his deep understanding of our people . . . that he has easily become a part of the local community without as much raising any negative issue.”

Irresponsible Advertisements

The Movie and Television Review Board (MTRCB) ought to intensify their review the advertisements being presented to the audience.

First, a soap commercial suggesting that the equation:

1 > 2

is possible.


And now, we have the Optical Media Board Chairman himself, Mr. Edu Manzano, showing an irresponsible advertisement thru a freight/courier company's newest ad. The commercial shows Manzano, as a game show host, asking the boy to spell the word "remittance", to which, the boy replied, "L-B-C".


Funny as these advertisements may be, however, it creates a negative effect on children who might be watching the television.

Definitely wrong. And there is no scapegoat for that.

Also On Inquirer Blog

My previous post, Heroes Needed? , is also on Inquirer Blog.

It will always be a joy to realize that what you write may make an impact to people who might read your article.

Para Sa Bayan!

Update On H1N1 Virus

The World Health Organization has continued to advice an alert status concerning the H1N1 Virus, as more cases of this flu has been traced in various parts of the world.

For additional reading:

How Deadly is the H1N1 Virus?


Local News Networks in the Philippines report last night that the virus is not transmitted to humans by merely eating swine meat. With this, authorities are asking that the term "Swine Flu" should not be used to refer to the virus, but rather, H1N1 virus is the proper term to use.

So, ano pa'ng hinihintay nating mga Pinoy?

Attack!

Heroes Needed?

The past 2 or 3 years marked an emergence of teleseryes in Philippine television featuring various superheroes. Until today, Richard Guttierez's rendition of Zorro, and the rumored remake of Darna starring Marian Rivera, continue to create a buzz in the television industry.

While the format seems to be almost the same

for all of these shows, people continue to watch with delight at how our superheroes fight the bad guys of the community. Thus, TV networks GMA and ABS-CBN continue to produce such kinds of teleseryes in order to hit the watching populace.

And what does this imply? Does this mean to show that we have so many bad guys roaming around the community, and that the only hope we have are heroes that could save us anytime and any place?

We watch in awe at why and how the country still continue to struggle and fight for progress. We watch with sadness at how our political leaders doesn't seem to perform their duties in our country. We watch clueless as to what the future brings upon us.

And we wait and we wait and still wait and hope to have the right leader who can usher our nation to becoming great once again- but still to no avail. With the 2010 election almost at hand, we raise the question: Do we really need to choose a hero to become the next president?

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

Perhaps the call of the times is not so much that we wait for the hero to come along. Perhaps modern-day heroism is about each one of us doing our own bit, being our own heroes.

-Eirene Aguila, Kaya Natin

Quezon City Hall Is On Fire

Quezon City Hall's Annex building, which is directly behind the Main/Front Building caught fire this Wedenesday morning, May 6, 2009.

The Bureau of Fire Protection still has to determine the cause of the fire which started on the Third Floor of the building.

Fire Marshall are still trying to place things under control as of posting time.

The Mom Song

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.”

May is a special month for Mothers. On this month, we remember the very important role that Mothers do to us, children.

The bible even provides a very endearing tribute. The word of God has this to say about our mothers:

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

May this video bring joy to all, especially to all the mothers out there:

Happy Mother's Day on May 10!

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

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

Buffer Endorses Pacquiao

It may have come unnoticed by many, but legendary Ring Announcer Michael Buffer, who is famous for his phrase "Let's Get Ready To Rumble", seemed to have endorsed Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's second entry into Politics.

During the Fighters' introduction on the Pacquiao-Hatton Match on May 2, Buffer introduced Pacquiao as the fighter "from Sarangani Province in the Philippines", instead of the many previous matches where Buffer refers to Pacquiao as the fighter "from General Santos City in the Philippines".

This added to the speculation that Pacquiao is indeed planning to run for a Congressional Seat or Mayor in the Sarangani Province on 2010. Further, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has received a petition from Pacquiao to accredit his Political Party, the "People's Champ Movement".

We will have to wait and see if and when Pacquiao formally submits his Certificate of Candidacy for the 2010 elections.

Huwag naman sana.

Pacquiao-Hatton Bout: I Lost. And I Won

Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton must have stayed longer lying in the canvass rather than fighting Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on May 2, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, ended abruptly during Round 2 when Pacquiao landed the deadly left hook on Hatton's face, bringing Hatton's body flat to the canvass.


3 days prior to the fight, a colleague suggested that we bet on who's going to win. Just for fun, all of us in the group decided to field in 20 bill each and bet on Pacquiao or Hatton. I placed my name for Pacquiao, however, seeing the list later that only 2 fielded for Hatton, and about 13 going for Pacquiao, I switched to Hatton just to make the betting more interesting. Another one followed on me, thereby sealing the bet at 12-4 for Pacquiao.

And so I lost the fun betting.

But I won as a Filipino.

Stories of triumph such as this should create a positive impact for the Filipino. We, just like Manny Pacquiao, can win battles. We, just like Pacquiao, can turn situations around and change the course of destiny for the Filipino.

Martin Sings The National Anthem: A Review

"Seems so near yet so far"


As if to use a part of his "You Are My Song" hit, the National Historical Institute comments that Martin Nievera sang the Lupang Hinirang wrong during the opening ceremonies of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton's Battle of East and West bout in Las Vegas on May 2, 2009 (May 3 in the Philippines).

The 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, provides that "the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.

Felipe composed in 1898 the anthem's music, which has the tune of a march. It was played during the proclamation of the country's independence from Spain at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.

National Historical Institute Chairman Ambeth Ocampo said that Martin sang it wrong because he sang the first stanza softly and slowly, and he sang the last line with prolonged, high notes.

At any rate, this criticism is easily overshadowed by the sensational knockout win by Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton.


source: Inquirer.net