Miss Universe Fever!

For those not in the know, The 2006 Miss Universe Pageant would be held here in LA and Asian Journal is one of the few media outfits accredited to cover the event.

It is very rare that I have my photo taken with celebrities but due to the rareness of the event I conceded to "magpaka-jologs."

Niways the final event would be held this Sunday but unfortunately we can't cover it due to restrictions but would be covering the coronation ball right afterwards.



(Momar Visaya, EIC Asian Journal, Miss Indonesia, special child)


(Momar Visaya, Lian Ramos - Miss Phils., dakilang alalay)

Pix from the Edge of Boredom

Heya all, due to an extreme sense of boredom, I have embarked on a journey to take a photo of myself whenever I can.

Initially what I envisioned was to take a pix of me and as many Starbucks Coffeeshop that I can. I was planning on calling it "I, Starbucks."

Nutters on that.

New project, "I, America."

Watchatink?


Atlantic City!!! Slotmachine cravefest


Monkey See, Monkey Do

Atlantic City Urbanite

Hello from the US

This is going to be my first blog entry since arriving in the US last April 23.

What can I say, I am in America right now and pursuing the American dream.

NOT!!!

But really, the US provides a whole lot of opportunities normally not open or available in the home country. Like, I have a new skill right now and have evolved from being a photographer to a videographer and am liking it a whole lot.

You could check out some of my work at www.la18.tv and click on Kababayan LA, a show hosted by Jannelle So one of our officemates here in Asian Journal. If you can do try to leave a feedback at her site. Her show is one of the first wholly Filipino produced show in LA and she needs all the support she can get.

In a few days I will be trying my luck to get a US driver's license. I have not been driving for around 5 years now and would need to hone my skills again and learn about the rules and regulations here.

Finally, perhaps I can purchase a big bike which I have been wanting for a some while now. Cars and motorcycles are relatively cheap and easier to acquire here than in the Philippines.

Do miss all you guys back there in RP . . .

Pics of my PSP

Consular Interview

I have just finished with my consular interview this morning and thankfully I passed. The visa would be mailed to me later this week.

It was quite a near thing and I was almost not granted a visa by the consul since he could not find a premise or the logic of why Asian Journal would need me in the US on a part-time basis knowing that the job seems to be suited for a full-time position and that I could very well do the job here in the Philippines.

I countered that it was what AJ's need at this point in time and I had a set of unique skills and knowledge (in tune with the socio-political situation in RP) suited to the thrust of the company to provide Fil-Am centric original content to their readers as opposed to that culled from local dailies.

In order to fulfill those duties there is a need for me to research on what Fil-Ams want and to spin the articles to suit their tastes. A job which can only be done if I am in the US.

On the part-time part, I just quickly made a story that the work load and time is suited for me since it would give me time to concentrate and research on my planned coffee table book, "The Filipino Experience in America" which hopefully would be picked up and published by the Asian Journal Group.

The turning point in the interview surprisingly was my knowledge about cameras and digital imaging. The topic came up when he questioned me if I had the sufficient skill set and experience needed for the job and I answered my first job was as a photojournalist for Manila Times way back in 1994. It luckily turned out that the consul was an avid photographer and we had a lively discussion about camera gear and photography in general. He was quite impressed with my knowledge and skills and eventually released the visa with a stern warning that the purpose of AJ in requiring me to be in the US is quite thin and to him holds no merit or justification.

PSP, Luv ko to!

Due to pressing circumstances, I had to sell my gamecube but fortunately it was not long before another took its place.

I recently had a chance to exchange some of my unused stuff for a Sony PSP and this gadget is simply amazing!!!

Crammed to its sleek black body is one hell of a gaming machine. Roughly it has the same capacity as a Playstation 1 and some even say as high as a PS2. It can not only play graphically amazing games but can also be used as a MP3/MP4 player and as a web browser.

Sad to say the games are quite expensive for this machine, ranging from P2500 to P4k for brand new ones but there is an active second hand market where you can trade your finished games or buy from P1k to P1500. Great deals.

You can also download MP4 content from the net or rip DVDs and watch it in the widescreen format display.

Did I say web browser? Yup thru its built-in wi-fi you could surf the internet and visit all the porn sites that you want =)

PSP! Luv ko to! (syempre wala papalit kay Chinggay!)

Your Hidden Talent

You have the natural talent of rocking the boat, thwarting the system. And while this may not seem big, it can be. It's people like you who serve as the catalysts to major cultural changes. You're just a bit behind the scenes, so no one really notices.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Gaming Heaven

Recently bought a Nintendo Gamecube from one of our acquaintances from the US embassy and the unit rocks! It came with LOTR: Return of the King and PN03, a first person shooter.

First off, the unit itself is kinda cute and quite portable. Compared with the geenormous Xbox and the anorexic PS2, the gamecube really looks like a cube. The controller is also more comfortable to hold than the controllers of its competitors.

Unfortunately the unit is a US version and cannot play pirated games unless I have it modifed for a modest fee at Greenhills where the games would cost from P150-P250 but mostly japanese version games.

Fortunately I have discovered the local nintendo fanboys site at www.pinoy-n.com , where all things nintendo are being actively sold and traded.

Currently I have six games: LOTR: ROTK, PN03, Robotech:Battlecry, Rogue Squadron: Rebel Strike, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, and Metroid Prime.

Of all the games that I have, I really enjoy LOTR:ROTK and Robotech. I already have finished LOTR, unlocked all the characters and still am playing it again and again.

LOTR:ROTK is a classic beat-em up, rpg like, action-adventure game wherein you closely follow the events highlighted by the movie while playing a variety of characters from Legolas, the Hobbits, and even Faramir. Legolas rocks but is fairly fragile while the hobbits are a very energetic bunch. Needless to say, Gandalf is one of the most balanced characters of the game with a strong melee and ranged combat stats.

Would have loved to spend more time playing the gamecube but I havn't converted Ching to a gaming grrl yet, and of course the ungodly hours that we have at AJ is excruciating to say the least.

There is also the pressing matter of my impending expatriation to the US sometime in March or April. Could bring the unit to the US but if anybody is interested in buying the Gamecube package do email or give me a ring and will see if I would change my mind.

Niways, am looking forward to slice and dice some Uruk-hais, and kick Zentraedi butt this weekend . . . . .

Hippy Happy Beng-Beng

Somehow spending New Year's Eve alone will kinda skew your perspective on things. Or perhaps it might have been something I ate . . . .

Niways, NYE started off slowly with me spending it in our office in Makati waiting for incoming faxes and preparing my gear to shoot the fireworks over the Makati Skyline. Good plan but wrong gear though. I overestimated my capabilities and physical condition and somehow used the wrong gear with the fireworks. Should have used a tripod and not a monopod, totally forgot how heavy an 80-200/2.8 lens feels. Factor in also that I was way out of practice with photo skills and getting a bit on the "oinky" side. Will post some pix If I remember how . . . .

This year's beng-beng was somewhat bland but it was a new experience seeing all the way to Cavite (our office is on the 32nd floor). Somehow it looked like a very light version of what war correspondents might have experienced in Baghdad during 1991.

The skyline was aglow with twinkling lights (prolly "kwitis or kwitons") while nearby a 1,000 or more piece "sawa" was being ignited adding a staccato accompaniment to the pseudo-war scene. A metallic flower blooms followed by a gut crushing explosion. Gahh, neighbors next building using a geenormous mortar-like tube. In fairness, it was a thing of beauty that lasted mere seconds. Yup there goes your 5k. Poof!! But hey, is it even legal to launch that thing so close to the rooftops?

Hits and Misses

It hsa been a long time since I really updated my blog. As you can see in my past postings, it was very much a cut and paste affair.

Work has dominated my life for the moment and the very being that I had tried to avoid in the past has catched up. *shudder* I hate to think that I am now responsible for the success of our operations here in RP and of course the well-being of my staff.

Power I hold and covet and I like it alot.

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

How You Life Your Life

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

How Do You Live Your Life?

You fit in with: Humanism Your ideals mostly resemble that of a Humanist. Although you do not have a lot of faith, you are devoted to making this world better, in the short time that you have to live. Humanists do not generally believe in an afterlife, and therefore, are committed to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations. 20% spiritual. 40% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Missing your Passion

For the past few months, I have not gone out and covered the big rallies plaguing the city. Believe me if I say that I miss the whole frakkin' deal sooo much.

I long to be there with my fellow journalists braving the raving mob and short-fused riot cops. I long to feel the adrenaline rush of scampering and elbowing your way to a good position to take the perfect shot. I long to fear again for the safety of my equipment before caring if it is my blood that stains my shirt or that of an unlucky cop or protester.

I have missed so much since i have to take the mantle of responsibility. I have to now delegate this extremely fun endeavour to our pool and concentrate on tasking the right people for the right task.

Sigh, command responsibility . . . .

You Are Balanced - Realist - Powerful

You feel your life is controlled both externally and internally. You have a good sense of what you can control and what you should let go. Depending on the situation, you sometimes try to exert more control. Other times, you accept things for what they are and go with the flow. You are a realist when it comes to luck. You don't attribute everything to luck, but you do know some things are random. You don't beat yourself up when bad things happen to you... But you do your best to try to make your own luck. When it comes to who's in charge, it's you. Life is a kingdom, and you're the grand ruler. You don't care much about what others think. But they better care what you think!

The Three Dimension Luck and Power Test

Pinoy Big Bother

No matter how much I want to hate the latest reality show in ABS-CBN, I can't help but be drawn to this voyeuristic show. I mean this is a psycho and behavioral scientists' wet dream.

Think about it, 12 different personalities locked in a relatively small house for 100 days. No TV, radio, cell phone, in short no contact with the outside world. 100 days of seeing the same people everyday. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them ended up going postal and killing the cast and crew.

One thing that kills the concept though, is that ABS got predominantly pretty boys and girls for the show. I understand that this is to boost ratings but it does skew things up a bit in terms of a scientific viewpoint.

Niways, have been following the show religiously since the show began and even went so far as to follow the events not covered in tv in their website.

As early as now, one can "guesstimate" who would be the crowd favorite and who would survive the ordeal. Pity thought that the most mature of the group, Raquel, and in essence the one with most brains would most likely be voted off first. The pretty boys and girls would most likely last since viewers would like to ogle their skimpily clad bodies.

Still it is interesting to see how the housemates would react to each other when day 50 comes by.

Changes

Just got my office issue Ibook and am quite impressed. It weighs a whole lot less than my old laptop and extremely fast. But this may very well be in the maxing out of the specs for my photo and layout needs (1gig ram, 80gb HD).

Its kinda cute but it has a small screen, just 12" but its super bright. I just need an appletech to colorsynch it.

The first time I used it, I was looking for the right-click of the mouse but soon acclimatized myself with the one button mouse and extremely swell trackpad.

Its kinda hard though to find programs for the mac and I can't synch my PDA just yet for lack of compatible software. I can't use the bluetooth option also since I don't have a single bluetooth device. Having fun though with the built-in airport express (wifi for PC).

All the computers in the office are Imac G5's and its kinda nice looking at all that snowy white hardware specially when we configured everything to run on wifi.

BTW Edy was chosen to be our graphic/layout artist and we would be working together once again.

Yipee ginpo days are here again!!!

Your Patronus is the Badger! The badger is a symbol
of aggressiveness, passion and drive. He is
also the mascot for Hufflepuff. As your
Patronus, the Badger will bite and claw to
protect you. Congratulations!

That your Patronus is a badger says that you are
very driven in whatever you do. When you enjoy
something, you go at it with all of your heart.
Unfortunately, you also tend to be aggressive,
and this can lead to a bossy attitude. Try to
keep that aggression in check, and you'll be a
wonderful witch or wizard!


What is Your Patronus? Version 1
brought to you by Quizilla

"Frak Me"

I have the new Battlestar Galactica Season 1 DVD and believe me when I say that the series is really, really good. Much much better than SG-1 which was my oh so current fave sci-fi series.

I doubt if anyone in our group even remembers the original BSG with Lorne Greene as Adama and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. I remember watching this when I was around 9 or 10 at channel 9 or 13 with Moonbase 2010 and Sealab.

The new series is a far better adaptation with gritty characters and antiquated futuristic look and feel.

Must watch!!

A tale of two men . . .


One was this small . . .


The other was this gee-normous . . .

"Wannabe super-model niece"


Meet my soon to be super-model 4-month old American niece, Bianca Shanelle


Wannabe

Meet my four-month old niece, Bianca Shanelle. Bya is her nick. She is the daughter of my sister and get this . . . a bonafide American Citizen.

Yup, she was born in the USA and if everything goes to plan, might be able to visit them by October or by early next year.

My sister is now living in San Francisco with my Mom and have sucessfully undergone an operation to remove her cervical cancer. However, she would have to undergo chemo and radiology treatments in the coming months to ensure that her cancer won't recur.
Sadly the procedure would also ensure that Bya would be their only child.

Truly, my niece's name fits her for she is the "Biyaya" of her mom.

I am not known to be a religious person, but I know many of you are. Hopefully you could include her in your prayers or rituals.

"Losing Focus"


Trying to be cute . . .

President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo is facing an exceptionally complex set of scandals and accusations and, as usual in the Philippines, nothing is clear.

Mrs. Arroyo's perfect storm of crises has probably put her close to lame-duck territory one year into her six-year term, and may have paralyzed her administration for years. This can only exacerbate the profound, long-term crisis of capacity that is crippling the state.

Even before the latest Comelec scandals, Arroyo had recorded the lowest presidential approval ratings in the history of opinion polls in The Philippines. It took her three weeks to respond to the telephone call revelations, and that response only came after a dozen of her cabinet secretaries reportedly threatened to resign.

But that reality came into effect on Mrs. Arroyo’s most trying day as 8 cabinet secretaries and two senior executives led by her economic team resigned en masse and asked for her to step down as well. On that same day her staunchest allies led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and former President Corazon Aquino joined the call for her to step down.

Rally after rally followed with each side gunning for the most number of warm bodies to give credence to their case. At its prime, the opposition claimed 40,000 flocked to Ayala to call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo. But most probably the masses went to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors and actresses in the seemingly variety show bandwagon. The Arroyo supporters countered with a prayer rally held last Saturday at the Quirino Grandstand saying that at least 100,000 supporters called for stability and the end of the political turmoil.

In the end, these rallies do not only worsen the economic instability of the nation, they also generate divisive sentiments among the people and draw away focus from the nagging problems that need our leaders’ full attention.

In the course of the political turmoil brewing in the Philippines, many politicians and civil leaders have lost sight of the true problem hitting not only the home country but the whole International community as well.

A pending oil crisis is looming in the near future as the price of oil in the world market has breached the $70 per barrel ceiling. In addition the Philippines desperately need economic reform and to strengthen its effort in the fight against terrorism.

It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is dead set in addressing them but she is hugely damaged, and intensely vulnerable should just one more crisis break out.

But whether things would grow better or worse from here on, would all depend on what the Mrs. Arroyo would do to ease the pressure on her to vacate the presidency. For as long as she would not do anything to worsen the prevailing national condition, the easier it will be for the armed forces and the national police to remain neutral as it has been doing in the past weeks.

Which is why it is important to settle the issue through constitutional process rather than allow violence and divisiveness to continue.

It is really just a matter of letting our legal processes take their course, and for results to come out with objectivity.

"Enter the Sandman"


British author Neil Gaiman


I must say, the level of geekiness was quite high at the Music Museum where Sandman author Neil Gaiman was to hold a Q&A sponsored by the ever dapper British Council. Even before the 1:30pm call time, the theatre was already bursting with fan boys and a large contingent of fan girls. Looking back it does seem that the girls outnumber the guys in this event.

Originally, I was about to pass this assignment to our newly hired reporter, which incidentally is an active Cosplayer (think Elektra and slave girl Leia and some other anime characters which I conveniently forgot. . . ), but due to a misunderstanding had to schlep my way to Greenhills and miss a more important coverage of Cory Aquino again asking GMA to step down at DLSU, Taft.

American Gods is the only work of Gaiman that I am familiar with. Although, I do recall that in college almost every artist was a-gaga over his works especially Sandman and some other titles in the DC Vertigo line.

See, this is the limit of my comic/graphic novel knowledge. Pathetic. . .

I was prepared to be bored with the whole she-bang and just shoot and scoot but somehow I got enraptured with the witty Brit and stayed for almost an hour. Albeit I could not relate much with the comic genre, it was interesting to note that Gaiman was a journalist first before becoming a graphic novel author. That is why, according to him, his novels are more gritty and some would say a different level then the usual hero fantasy that comics are generally known for.

That got me intrigued and am looking forward to read more of his work especially the graphic novels. Wonder if they are still available, cheaply of course.

Niways, this was a good break from covering the seemingly confusing political bruhaha that is plaguing our country.

Who's next?


Now former President Cory Aquino calls for GMA to do the "supreme sacrifice" and step down for the good of the country.



Influential Makati Business Club comprising of the Philippines' business elite calls for PGMA to step down.



Civil society groups reads a statement calling for PGMA to step down.

Mackenzie Calhoun- You are the wild man of
Starfleet. You love outwitting oponents by
doing the one thing they wouldn't expect from a
Starfleet ship... fighting dirty. Of course
to get away with your craftiness, you only
exist in books. Doesn't matter, you're much
cooler than Archer. Some people say you're a
self righteous SOB. They might be right, but
you don't give a damn.


Which Star Trek Captain are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

B'Elanna Torres! Congratulations! What does this
mean? It means you have some serious issues...
At least that is what some may think. You are
very confused. You don't like who you are and
to you the grass is always greener on the other
side. You struggle with two very different
sides, each one wanting to get the better of
the other. What you must realize is that both
of these sides are what make you who you are.
Don't fight it, unite it! You'll be able to
work twice as well if you aren't constantly
fighting with...yourself...
You are very good with technical things and with
running a room full of people. You can think
off the top of your head and get things done.
You prefer to work alone for the most part as
you can't really trust anyone else to do it
right.
If you have a fault, it is anger and mistrust.
Don't lash out at people because you are angry
with yourself. Try meditating, controling your
emotions. And every here and there, give
someone the benefit of the doubt. They may
surprise you.


So Which Star Trek Voyager Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

And the people has spoken . . .


Thumbs down for Mrs. Arroyo


A protester kicks a poster of Mrs.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showing the contempt the Filipino people has for its bogus president

Transcript of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on the issue of the tape recordings
(from www.ops.gov.ph), June 27, 2005)


Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan,

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.

That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

God Bless the Philippines.

"Surviving GMA"

Unbelievable!!!

Looks like Madam Gloria might, MIGHT, survive the series of crisis that is hounding her administration.

The opposition and cause-oriented groups has already struck three times and she is still standing. Unfuckingbelievable!

Jueteng, came and gone, but still breathing . . .

Atty. Ong and San Carlos Seminary, a footnote to history . . .

Independence Day protests, fizzled like day old coke . . .

Last week's mega march, not Welcome in Manila . . .

Abat's planned march to Malacanang, Abat who? oh the "atras-abante" retired general . . . BADINGARZEE . . .

Sheesh, looks like the old adage stands true. "Matagal mamatay ang masamang damo"

But then again, I think it is high time to end this rigamorole and concentrate on what really is important.

Legacy of Sin


Catholic devotees sign the guestbook at Jaime Cardinal Sin's wake held at the Manila Cathedral

Early Tuesday morning a dearly loved Philippine icon passed away. Jaime Cardinal Sin, 76, succumbed to a long time kidney ailment and suffered sepsis shock much like the one which claimed the life of his dear friend Pope John Paul II.

When Cardinal Sin spoke presidents, listened. When he summoned, people flocked. He was crucial to the Filipino's freedom and was central to the toppling of two presidents.

The Philippine political scene would not be the same without the firebrand known as Sin . . . .

"For the one who led me from darkness . . . "


my light 

All I Want is You
by U2

You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.

You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.

You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.

You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.

You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.

"Hello Garci . . ."


GMA "Liar and Cheat" 

All over the metro, protests are mounting as Mrs. Arroyo kept her silence regarding the alleged wiretapped conversation between her and Comelec commissioner Virgilo Garcilliano to rig the 2004 elections.

It seems that Mrs. Arroyo is trapped in a damn if you, damn if you don't situation. If she admits that she was the person in the tapes then her presidency is a farce since it was begat by fraudulent means. If she denies that she was in the taped conversation, the masses won't believe her and most probably will mount more protests against her.

What to do, what to do? . . . .

Oust Gloria now! 

"Stalemate"

Malacanang may have been given a breather over the long weekend since the Samuel Ong affair has not generated the kind of people power response that followed the decision of the Senate not to open the second envelope during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada.

No throngs flocked to San Carlos Seminary where Ong sought refuge nor was there strong support from opposition figurehead Susan Roces whose husband was the direct victim of the alleged election fraud. At best, Roces was lukewarm to the whole affair and for that many Filipinos were grateful. Roces has in her power to appeal to the masses and inflame them to another popular uprising. At least one figure chose to remain level headed thru this sordid affair.

But as many well know, we are just in the opening moves of a very elaborate chess game with the future of the Republic of the Philippines as the stake.

At present the political situation is at a stalemate, with both sides waiting for the next big move.

Many expected Mrs. Arroyo to make a stand on the wiretapping issue during Independence Day but instead, she called for an end to "dirty politics".

Mrs. Arroyo should realize that the more that she evades the issue, the more she fans suspicions that it was she indeed in the tapes presented by Ong.

Already, two independent foreign voice analyzing companies have confirmed not only the authenticity of the tape, in that the conversations have not been edited or altered in any way, but also that the voices have been identified as belonging to Mrs. Arroyo and COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Garcillano’s continued disappearance adds to speculations that Malacañang does not want the conversation confirmed because that would further pin down Arroyo. Attempts to arrest Ong bolster his claim that Malacañang wants to silence him because he has more explosive evidence incriminating Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo has to handle the volatile issue very carefully lest it blows up in her face and she incurs the wrath of the people. As it is, the Philippines is quite near the boiling point.

The scandal over the so-called "Mother of all tapes" will continue to hound her unless she comes forward and honestly answers it. She owes it to the people who voted her into office, first and foremost, to explain about it.

At the end of the day, the political battle between the opposition and the administration would likely result with one side winning, and another side living to fight another day.

If Malacanang plays their cards right, Mrs. Arroyo might survive this latest assault to her presidency but the confidence of the people and perhaps the world community would be seriously compromised.

The losses in the local currency and the stock market would be difficult to recover and the confidence of the international investment community would again be nearly impossible to regain.

A strong republic is what Mrs. Arroyo wanted, but a stong republic requires an equally strong leader which sadly she is proving to be wanting.

Huli ka na!


"Buking" 


Buking ka na Gloria kaya baba na.

A caricature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo depicts her alleged wiretapped phone call to COMELEC commissioner Virgilio Garcillano implicating them in election fraud last May. Opposition members, militant groups and the clergy staged a prayer rally on Saturday at Liwasang Bonifacio to signinify a "national day of mourning" due to massive corruption in the government and the alleged vote padding that happened last elections.

Tsk, tsk, seems GMA is hanging by her very fingernails in this latest controversy.

One saving grace she has right now is that no identifiable figure has emerged which the people can rally behind.

Noli de Castro. . . he does not have the confidence of the people much more the politicians and in any case I don't think anybody would want the country ruled by ABS-CBN.

FPJ . . . he's dead, dipshit.

Susan Roces . . . hmm, nah, don't think she has the force of will to rally the politicians behind her. darling of the people, yes at the moment, untested definitely.

Erap . . . kill me now why don't you.

Senate President Franklin Drilon . . . only logical choice as of the moment, but he must concede the position by calling a snap election as soon as possible lest he incur the wrath of the people.

So there "Gloria-gate" is just entering its first phase and definitely more will break in the following weeks.

Interesting, these times are . . .

"Jueteng"-gate

Self-confessed jueteng operators Wilfredo “Boy Bicol” Mayor, Richard “RJ” Garcia, and Demosthenes “Abe” Riva dropped a veritable time bomb when they testified in a joint hearing by two Senate committees looking into the illegal numbers game.

They implicated legislators, top police officials, Manila and provincial based journalists and some members of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s family.

High on the list was her son Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, whom they called the “Lion King”. Also mentioned were First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his brother Representative Iggy “Jose Pidal” Arroyo. They said that jueteng operators need the “attorney from Malacañang’s” blessing.

As expected, the personalities named by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s witness strongly denied the accusations. So, what else is new?

Of course they will deny ever dipping their hands in illegal gambling, but the word is out and here in the Philippines rumors and scandals do spread very fast.

The witnesses admitted that they did not see the big fishes themselves receive the money. They said it was their bagmen that they dealt with. Legally speaking,
their statements are pure hearsay...for now.

And seemingly to get the people’s mind off the jueteng controversy, a new bombshell has been released by Malacañang.

Malacañang says that it has intercepted an alleged tape of a telephone conversation or series of conversations between President Arroyo and her husband, on one end, and an election operative named Gary on the other. The conversations are said to
broadly hint at the massaging of the election returns from areas where Fernando Poe Jr. gave Gloria a drubbing.

Malacañang said the tape was faked and even provided copies to the media. It added the spliced tape signals the shift to high gear of the opposition campaign to
drive President Arroyo out of office. Strangely, opposition leaders said they had never heard about the tape until Malacañang itself announced its existence.

President Arroyo’s administration is indeed in very rocky grounds as evidenced by the recent opinion poll on which she received a -33% rating, the lowest a president has received since 1986. And we all know what happened during that year.

The people will always believe the worst about President Arroyo. And it’s not that the accusations of cheating are something new or the fact that her immediate family has been implicated in juicy scandals before.

It is ironic that jueteng toppled the Erap administration and put President Arroyo into power and now it seems that jueteng has come back in a big way to haunt her.

The Philippines and perhaps the world community now wait with bated breath the next sordid tale of our President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s telenovela.

What’s so bad about “jueteng” anyway?

“Jueteng” for the uninformed is a grassroots numbers game being played almost all over the Philippines. The bank pays out 80 centavos for every peso that is bet. Pagcor's roulette, which is also stacked against the player with its zero and double zero, offers better odds, but only a tad better.

“Jueteng” gained infamy when it toppled the Estrada administration. “Jueteng” payola is once again in the limelight, dragging with it the names of members of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s family.

Some say that it is a boon for the Filipino poor while others say that it is a social evil, the root of corruption in the Philippines.

For the poor a peso can buy dreams of winning Php800 which can go a long way to supplement a family’s meager income. Critics, however, condemn “jueteng” as nothing but a criminal racket that victimizes the poor, co-opts police, bribes officials, perverts elections and threatens or kills those who oppose it.

Plunking a peso or two certainly won't rend the moral fabric of a bettor, after all for many “jueteng” is just a diversion, a means to easy money. But it is the web of corruption that the illegal numbers game spawns that is the problem. And we are seeing it now.

The police are corrupted. Local officials are corrupted. Even national officials, if we are to believe Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, are on the take. Come to think of it, even the Catholic church admits to receiving donations from any source, even “jueteng” lords.

The Philippines has been a buzz with the constant rumors that the President’s family are on the take from the illegal gambling racket and that Pres. Arroyo herself received campaign contributions from known big time “jueteng” operators.

From a different viewpoint, it is quite easy for the government to stop “jueteng,” after all the big time operators are well known and one even resides in Arroyo’s hometown in Pampanga. But it is the big and relatively easy money that is earned from illegal gambling that is too hard to resist. “Jueteng” payolas are much larger than a civil servants pitiful salary and all they have to do is turn a blind eye to the illegal gambling racket. So the better approach should be obvious: remove the corrupting aspect of "jueteng" and the problem will solve itself.

There had been many attempts to legalize the numbers game in the past but all ultimately failed, probably due to the fact that the payolas would certainly be cut. But it can be done and legalization can be a means to an end to stem corruption.

Moral pundits say that gambling is a sin. So be it. It remains a sin whether it's legal or illegal. It's the corruption spawned by illegal gambling that worries us. After all Lotto and the sweepstakes are legal and it is a form of gambling, so why not “jueteng?”

Pres. Arroyo's ratings plunges to record low


Lowest ratings ever? Keber! 

Amid allegations of massive goverment corruption, rising prices, high taxes, and ties linking her immediate family to "jueteng," Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low.

According to a recent SWS opinion poll, Pres. Arroyo's ratings have plunged to a record low of -33%. The lowest ever since 1986 . . and we all know what happened durng that year.

And take this, GMA wants to hold a constitutional convention by next year in order to put into motion the change to a parliamentary government. Afraid, this one is . . .

Yup, keep it up GMA. Interesting times are surely ahead.

You Are a Snarky Blogger!

You've got a razor sharp wit that bloggers are secretly scared of. And that's why they read your posts as often as they can!

What kind of blogger are you?

teehee . . . Snarky!

WAGE HIKE?!?


A P25.00 (US$0.50) wage hike? Get real Pres. Arroyo! 

I don't know who Pres. Arroyo is kidding, but a P25 wage hike is just insulting. I mean what would P25 buy at present prices. It's barely enough for transport fare for most workers.

No wonder the cream of our talents are contemplating on migrating or at least working in another country.

Sigh . . . . .

WOL-PUWIT!


Kiss our collective butts, World Bank! 

Dumb, dumber, dumbest is the best way to describe US Pres. George Bush's decisions.

Take for instance the recent appointment of Dr. Paul Wolfowitz as the president of the world's most influential financial institution, the World Bank.

For those not in the know, Wolfwowitz was one of the primary planners for the US led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wolfowitz also served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was crucial to the escape of Pres. Marcos during the 1986.

As it stands, Wolfowitz is very close to the family of Bushy-bushbush.

I mean, the guy is primarily a military planner and not a financial person. Giving the reigns of the World Bank would only give Bush a means to wage another kind of warfare on those he deems are against him. Financialy breaking a nation is deemed more disastrous then physically destroying it.

Gives whole new meaning to Papa Bush's "If you are not with me, then you are against me."

Sheesh . .

Your Birthdate: October 31

Your birthday suggests that you are a good organizer and manager, an energetic and dependable worker; attributes often showing success in the business world. Serious and sincere, you have the patience and determination necessary to accomplish a great deal. Your approach can be original, but often rigid and stubborn. Sensitivity may be present, but feeling are likely to be repressed. You are good with detail and insist on accuracy, but at times scatter energies. You're a practical thinker, but not without imagination. You love travel and don't like to live alone. You should probably marry early, for responsibility is necessary for your stability.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

FISHERMAN'S RALLY


A protestor tries to fight his way past the police blockade at Mendiola 


Policeman grabs a protestors neck as he tries to stop them from marching into Malacanang Palace 


Another day, another rally.

Once again some hot-heads tried to force their way into the Malacanang Palace Grounds and once again they were foiled by riot police at Mendiola.

But somehow they managed to trick the police into thinking that the main group was in the vicinity of Morayta and they managed to outrun the blockade before finally being stopped near CEU, that is after a lot of pushing and manhandling.

Must remember not to stay in the middle of the mob lest I be mistaken for one of the protestors or worse the police. . . . Oh well, another lesson learned.

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . . . .


The force is strong in this one . . 

Fans spurned the first two installations of George Lucas' Star Wars prequels but the final part of the intergalactic saga would make the fans drool for more.

Although the same wooden dialogue and dry acting still permeates much of the movie, the lightsaber battles and the overall dark feel of the movie more than makes up for it.

Spoilers aside, although we do have a general idea of how Anakin became Darth Vader, the real story lies on the path that led to the ominous black mask and the harsh decisions he had to do.

Its a classic case of doing all the wrong moves to do greater good or how blind a person can become when he believes he is on the righteous path.

Ultimately we do have a little of Anakin in us and in someway, somehow we would be facing the same dilemnas that he faced.

If you are looking for great acting, look elsewhere. If you are looking for great battle scenes and intense sword fights, bingo! Good storyline . . . definitely.

The Heat is ON


To catch a fountain . .  

It' so friggin hot in the Metro!

As in so scrochingly hot.

Sometimes I do envy all you peeps working in your air-conditioned rooms, sitting on your chair, facing your computer terminal, and waiting for the fiver to arrive.

For us others, there is daily sunbathing and occasional steam baths from the ever elusive rain. Then you come home to a virutal oven of a room.

Touch the walls and they are hot. Turn on your fan and a hot steamy stream of air would assault you. A cool shower might stave off the encroaching heat, but unfortunately water pressure is depressingly low. A personal air-conditioner is a luxury often dreamt of, but so frustratingly unattainable.

The answer to the heat? Hit the malls and join the masses enjoying free air-conditioning.

Sometimes I wonder if it is a good idea to set up a mini-dorm in the malls. Like rent a good enough space and put in some double-bunk beds for economy class and perhaps partitioned off spaces for single or twin sized beds for people who would prefer more privacy. Charge by the hour and wait for the money to roll in.

Crude but effective I guess. I mean I would certainly go for it just to escape from this frigging heat.

Just my one cent. . . .

rally 

Hazardous Life

Recently, we were covering a rally near the Malate Church when things started to get ugly.

Nobody really knows how it started but apparently somebody agitated the riot police holding the protesters back and they started to retaliate with their sticks and shields.

As usual, I had to be in the middle of it to capture the best image possible. Somewhen during the fracas a Carmelite priest got hit by a cop and was soon squealing for his mommy right beside me with a bloody head to boot.

Me? I got hit in the back with the edge of a police shield and a close encounter of the precious jewels kind from a bamboo stick wielded by one of the protesters.

Fun, fun, fun.

Evil as it might seem, I just can't stop laughing about the whole incident. One moment the priest was all fire and brimstone and the next a helpless, squealing baby with blood streaming from a nasty cut in the head.

May the Blessed Kitty Watch Over Thee

I believe in dreams, I believe in miracles, I believe that toy ballons could touch the moon.

Lo and behold, from the land of Sanrio comes forth the messiah of kyutishness, Blessed Hello Kitty.

Bless us Hello Kitty, guide us to the path of cute and cuddly. Swatch our dreams, empty our pockets, show me the money.

From the heavens above came Little Twin Stars, from the pond of dreams came Kerokeroppi, I dont know what to do whenever you are near, I think of you every second of the day, You give me hope, the strength, the will to carry on.

Kitty oh Kitty save us from ourselves.

GOODBYE JP2

Karol Wojtyla, the Polish priest who became Pope John Paul II and led the Catholic Church for almost 27 years, was an extraordinary man. His death Saturday at age 84 is a loss that, like his impact, will be felt far beyond his 1.1-billion member flock.

Pope John Paul II traveled the world more than any pontiff in history and spoke in person to more people than any individual in history. He toured extensively in the developing world, drawing enormous crowds of the faithful and demonstrating a spiritual power that made some political leaders nervous.

Filipinos will always have a special place for the much loved Pope.In his first visit to the Philippines in 1981, JP2 planted the seeds of a nation free from oppression which ultimately led to the “People Power” revolution which toppled the Marcos regime.

With shouts of “Viva il Papa“, Filipinos and youths around the world once again welcomed him in 1995 for the World Youth Day.

It was also under his term that the first Filipino saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz, had been canonized.

Known as the “Great Communicator,” the pontiff was fluent in English, French, German, Polish and Spanish. But ultimately, he was fluent in people.

He has preached the Gospel with clarity and extraordinary insight. He has guided the Church wisely and touched the hearts of millions outside the fold. He has faced up to any and all expressions of racism and totalitarianism. He has fought for peace and justice with equal vigor. He has been a missionary traveling the world as no one ever before him, and this he has continued even in the face of extraordinary physical infirmities.

Pope John Paul II made "the worth of the human person" his grand project. Not only did John Paul plead for the lives of the unborn, but also for human rights and social justice for those outside the womb. He deplored the Iraq war, saying that "violence and weapons can never resolve the problems of man."

He was a religious leader who labored tirelessly to be so much more -- peacemaker, bridge builder, healer, even conscience to the world.

Pope John Paul II is by any measure one of the most celebrated and inspiring leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries. He has championed the law of God when others have lost hope and given in to the demands of a fickle world.

His, indeed, was a dignified and full life. Through example, in extraordinary travels, in a pontificate defined by courage, leadership and forgiveness, the Pope has reached to the hearts of his flock. Even for nonbelievers, his certainty in his faith could never be doubted, his place in history forever fixed.

Bad as I Wanna Be


Ok, so I borrowed the line from Dennis Rodman, so sue me! Dont you get it? There is a certain mystique surrounding mischief, rebellion, going against the tide, and that sort of stuff.

For many a life carbon copied from a multitude of others is fine, dah?! Boring. But who am I to preach, right?

Individuality as we know it is slowly becoming an endangered attribute. I can't blame them, can I.

To be secure is one of the tenets of life, one so religiously pursued by many. What are we searching for, what are we striving for? Is it not life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Oops, too imperialistic, lets try it again shall we. A stable high paying job, a domicile worth calling home, good healthy food to sustain us, clothing to impress others with, an understanding & patient wife/husband/lover/whatever, well rounded kids, and finally self-esteem to feed our ego. In the end we delude ourself thinking, hey I got it all. For some perhaps, for all I fervently hope so.

How many times have we faced a fork in our life? Decisions wherein there is no turning back and might as well dictate the rest of our life. You could do this and be that or maintain the status quo. Take the plunge, I say.

Failure is not an option, or is it? Life aint easy. Failure is an option. You have to be wrong to know what is right, diba?

Many times we fail, but what matters is how we bounce back. How we recompose ourself and face the jeers of others, is it not what failure teaches us?

Strength, perseverance, passion are what counts the most.

Be that as it may, we are what we mold ourselves to be. Enough crap about how we are the products of our society. Dont delude yourself thinking we had no choice.

Forks, dear people, forks in our life. Always, every minute, every breath we take. A multitude of paths are available. Some dark, some light, but always there.

There was once a person I knew who said I can change the world. Where is that person now?

Me? I'll be as bad as I wanna be. Got a problem with that bub?

Playing with your minds. . . . . .

He who must not be named

Do try to track down a copy of the japanese film Battle Royale II "Requiem."

Its a story of Japan's wetdream of solving their juvenile delinquents by using them as a pseudo-strike team to take down terrorists.

See the teenyboppers moronic attempt to storm a beach and charge a fortified stronghold without any sense of tactics.

Watch as they stand and wail idiotically while waiting for their heads to be blown up.

Be prepared to writhe and squirm and your seat for an hour and a half of overacting and mindless bloodfest.

Of course their are guns galore and and mil-wear to be seen. To name a few, FAMAS, MP-5s, AK-47s, M-16A2s, JGSDF battle gear, swat getup and what not.

If you are lucky enough do try to secure a copy of Battle Royale I also. More mindless fun with angst ridden teens battling it out with whatever item they can get hold of . . . .

It's a brand new year and sadly this is my first blog entry in so many months.

I had a chance to read my past emails and pseudo-articles and I was surprised to see how angst and loneliness brings out the creativity in you.

Somehow being happy and content tends to smother this trait.

This is not to say that I regret my situation right now, but I do miss lashing out with raw emotions and just letting it all out.

The passion is still there but got kinda lost or is it perhaps diverted to someone else whom I dearly love?

Niways, I do hope to get back the same zeal as before but without losing Ching.

Trala . . . . .

Alexander the Gay

Due to boredom and perhaps intrinsic curiosity, I decided to watch Alexander the Great yesternight at G4. Was planning on watching The Incredibles but I do so wanted to watch that one with Ching.

Niways, the movie was a great surprise in the sense that it was one of the few blatantly homosexual movie that I have ever seen.

However, the homosexuality exhibited in the movie was far far different from any other. It was more of a "Band of Brothers" type of sexuality, and not the screaming faggot type we usually associate with today.

Although I did find myself cringing in the kooky scenes with Alexander and Haephestion plus with his other love affairs, I kinda realize that it was the tradition of the Greeks (Macedonian for that matter) to engage in such sexual activities.

I was not alone in the shocked, aww shucks, giggly state regarding the gayness of Alexandra. I was seated next to a gaggle of college girls and it was really funny how they reacted to the kooky scenes interspersed with the gory and very vivid battle scenes. I do love to see them squirm.

Niways, I think modern common people cannot readily accept that one of the most famous generals of ancient times was openly homosexual (the pare pa kiss nga type).

Certainly, Alexander was not alone in this. Historical accounts say that Richard the Lion Heart and somebody or the other were also gay.

Niways, it was a very good movie with very gory battle scenes which I loved (so very reminiscent with Braveheart and The Last Samurai). The movie however barely showed the enormous military conquests of Alexander. It also failed to show the Gordian knot in which he was famous for.

Watch it and be ready to cringe and be thrilled.

Ha, after five long years I just discovered that my old website at geocities still exists.

Niways, here is an oldie from yesteryear . . .


Halika na, pumikit limutin ang problema. Hihintayin ang umaga.

Wish it was that damned easy. Better days are definitely ahead you just have to survive the night. Its the problem aint it, if you still have the guts and the willpower to carry on. My nights have steadily become a nightmare, a slow death of sorts. Wish that I could just lie down, close my eyes, and wake up to a new dawn. Unfortunately, I just cant do that for I’m not living in some fairy land. Reality bites, as they say, and it bites damnably hard.

Demons of my own making abound and have slowly crept into my psyche. Carry a honkingly big stick and beat the hell out of these demons seems the best course of action, but in a sense i dont want to. Somehow I thrive on the adrenaline rush, that all out emotional lashing out. Raw, intense emotions. Love, hate, despair, anger. I live for those. Somehow i might bitch about my life, but in the end this is what I love the most. An unbalanced existence, verging on insanity and self-destruction. A life so fuckingly unpredictable that every day is a gamble. If u see me now, my scars are increasing rapidly. Aye, symbols of stupidity and at the same time badges of honor for a life I have chosen to live.

Strength, passion, perseverance. What counts the most. Passion I definitely have, the other two would need some work. Passion wold someday be the death of me, but its a long ways from now. Without passion what is man? Perhaps this is my way of expressing a cry for help, perhaps not. The life i have right now, leaves me quite unbalanced most of the time. I still havnt found what im looking for. Bike for life has been moved to the 21st of May but my training continues on. I need this project so much to gain a foothold back to sense and sensibility, least i totally implode.

Hope might be fleeting for some of us, but ever there is something for us to hold on to. Children with cancer are out there dying, slowly losing the lifeblood of hope. Bike for Life. www.bike4life.org . Let us give hope to those who have so little of. Let us give life to those who have given up. Perhaps in the end, we will be saving ourselves.

Gumising na. Araw ng pag-asa'y narito na. Dumating din, haharapin natin. . .

Pocket PC rocks!!

I was just issued a Toshiba E740 pocket PC by the office and I must say the unit rocks. It has two, yup thats right, TWO expansion slots Compact Flash and MMC/SD plus it has wi-fi and 64mb of onboard memory.

Now I can view my pix taken from my DSLR in the PDA and can send it via wifi to our site. Now if I can only find a program like a photoshop lite to accompany the PDA it would be perfect for me and can virtually send from anywhere with a bluetooth SD card and a gprs cell phone.

Did I mention the games? Galeeeng. Meron ako nabilihan na pocketpc games at parang mini-pc na sya. There is a game called snails that is similar to worms armaggedon or to gunbound. Meron din mga rpg stuff like eye of the beholder type games pero di ko pa nainstall.

I also bought an IR keyboard for the PDA but havn't used it much since I found out that I can write directly to my PDA and have my handwriting by recognized and converted to a word format file.

Still longing for a proper laptop though.... but for the moment I am quite satisfied with this little gem

Ragnarok

It all started with that stupid review. Now I am hopelessly addicted to Ragnarok and I don't even know what the goal of my character is other than to kill more monsters to level-up.

I am currently in Baguio with my boss and luckily (or rather unluckily) there was a 24 hour bet cafe near the hotel where I was staying and I gravitated to the place searching for a terminal to play online.

Woe is me, the boss is giving me a DSL connection at home and it seems the ragnarok bug would even get worse.

It has been a long time since I blogged. Why I really don't care. Niways, I just watched a DVD titled "War Stories" and it tells the stories of war correspondents covering the civil war in Uzbekiztan, somewhere in former USSR. It tells of the hardships and the risks that we journalists take in order to produce our stories and photos. It made me wonder why I chose my current profession, photojournalist, as compared to a relatively easy and higher paying job as a corporate slave. I mean I do have all the credentials and experience plus a few units of Masteral subjects and a diploma in retail management. The truth of the matter is I love what I am doing, no matter how difficult or insane it might be. I mean nobody in his right mind would eagerly look forward to a confrontation or exhaust all his resources trying to be assigned to the frontline. I do not mind working under the hot sun and patienly waiting for something to break nor do I complain being soaked in torrential rain and risking life, limb, and property just to take a photo. Sure I do voice out my feelings, but in the end like a moth to a flame, I am drawn to the adrenaline busting world of media. As a journalist, I give voice to suffering, a window to adversity, and a road to recovery for the masses. On the other hand I am also there to share in their joy and in ther sorrow. I know what it is like out there because I am out there with them. Would I ever consider another career, probably. But in the end, I would always keep coming back to where my heart is. "There is no truth, only stories...."

THANK YOU TEARGAS!

I have been tear gassed maybe around three or so times before but I can say that the worst teargas experience I have ever gone through was the FPJ dispersal of last week.

Maybe they were using new stock or something but man oh man did that gas hurt and irritate our eyes and lungs.

How do I explain it . . first you feel an irresistable urge to cry very much akin I guess to having salt and pepper rubbed into your eyes, your lungs seem to be on fire and every breath seems to burn, finally if you can't hold it, an urge to vomit.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the water cannons and the very big stones and bottles thrown our way.

Needless to say went through that ordeal teary eyed and drippingly wet.

Another day.

LIKE HELL NO . . . .


There are many reasons why People adopt a vegetarian diet. With the growing awareness of the importance of healthy food, many people are becoming vegetarian because it matches the kind of low fat, high fibre diet recommended by dieticians and doctors. Concern about the environment is another factor as people become more aware of the effect raising animals for their meat is having on the environment. Or you may be concerned about wasting world food resources by using land to raise animals for meat instead of growing crops that can feed more people directly.

Health benefits for a vegetarian diet are numerous. According to a report from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) eating food containing substantial and varied amounts of vegetables and fruit will prevent 20 percent or more of all types of cancer. Recommended consumption is 5 to 10 servings daily, which means a substantial amount of fruit or vegetables for the day.

In numerous studies it has been shown that following a plant-based diet is associated with lower cholesterol levels, less heart disease, lower risk of many cancers, lower blood pressure, decreased weight and even stronger bones.

The greater consumption of fruit and vegetables usually associated with a vegetarian diet represents a major health benefit because of the vitamins, minerals, cancer-fighting phytochemicals and dietary fibre they supply.

A vegetarian diet can include dairy products, eggs, butter, margarine, nuts, seeds, salad oils, vegetable shortening and cooking oils for fat sources.

There are four levels of vegetarian diets: Vegan; only consume food of vegetable origin. Lacto-vegetarian; includes cheese and dairy products. Ovo-lactovegetarian; includes eggs. And Semi-vegetarian; no red meat, but open to chicken and fish.

Vegetarian diets are basically healthy and far superior to the low-carb revolution, but many would argue that perhaps a more balanced diet would be better. The real issue that lumps vegetarian diets in with all the others that fail so miserably in the long-term is sustainability. One must always ask themselves: can I follow this diet regimen for the rest of my life?

Most say that a non-vegetarian diet is harmful to health, anti-economic, dangerous for the environment, contrary to ethics, inauspicious and incomplete.

The meat diet makes one insensitive to the suffering of others and indifferent to the exploitation of weaker elements of human society. Once these unethical values are accepted, they can be applied to children, women, sick, economically or socially disadvantaged, handicapped people, minorities, etc. A society based on such negative values cannot attain peace and receive properly the message of God.

Health is everybody's business and over 90% of health problems are due to wrong diet and lifestyle. So, this is a good starting point.

SPAM

Like yuck! I am so baboy na. . . .

So they say..

Niways, I miss the crimsom, sodium laden, slabs of meat that was served most days during my childhood.

Fortunately, I just found out that there is a specialty resto at Glori that specilizes in this artery blocking treat.

Have not eaten there yet but would like to soon.

Miko

Hells Bells ... Harry Potter 3 sucked big time!!

I think it was the most boring and uninspired movie I have ever watched.

I really don't get what the hype is all about this fledgeling snotty wizard and his equally inept friends.

Heck the only thing I loved about the movie is the tomboyish Hermione Granger.

But hey don't get all hyped up and hyperventilating about my comments.. fanboys and girls .. its just me.

Miko

Shut up Mr. Speaker!!

Digs Dilangalen, my new hero after Eddie "Pilukang Itim" Gil..

Miko