To those who may not be aware of it, our groceries in Metro Manila have started to become overcrowded. Yes, it’s that time of year when people have started to stock up on their Ham, Fruit Salad, Pasta ingredients that the mere Maria and Jose do not have any ingredients left to buy.

It is also the time when falling in line to pay for your purchases will take you about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on which grocery line you have decided to kill– the Senior Citizen/Prestige counter or the Single Basket [despite the fact that you have a heaping shopping cart].

If you haven’t been anywhere near the malls or even the streets, then lucky you. You have never experienced the traffic during Christmas time. And yes, while Christmas draws closer, the streets are only getting more crowded and the malls are impossible to thread through.

Call me unlucky, but for two straight Wednesdays, I have been stuck in the terrible traffic of the Christmas rush. Just last week, I spent an hour in traffic just in Baclaran [I was going to turn left to NAIA road]. But nothing beats today!

As a radio DJ called it, the traffic in EDSA Southbound was a “massive parking lot.” And indeed, he was right. I was just in the area he was referring to a few minutes earlier. I later found out this was caused by a huge fire in EDSA-Pasay. I have to confirm this though.

It was terrible. Traffic made me lose a day’s worth of work and I have to catch up. Needless to say I have to make another batch of Black Sambo and tomorrow’s Kratong Thong.

But for now, rest I must. My eyelids are getting droopy and as I leave, good luck to all you guys who are still stuck in traffic. Happy Holidays!

DentalStudents.eu & DentalNetworkOnline.eu is an online meeting place for all the students & professionnals of Oral Health. This site is initiated by a dentistry student in the Netherlands but it is going to operate at international level. Since there are almost no borders between the European countries, the borders between this online social community site should also disappear. The goal of this online social community site for the dental students & professionals is that there should be enough exchange of knowledge and expertise within the mentioned field.

Aim
The name says enough already. This site should bring all the students & professionals within Oral Health and Hygiene to one online virtual place. Internet has played an important role in the field of networking and communication. Schools and Universities use internet especially to spread the educative materials among the students. Nothing more happens. The results of recent research show that networking plays a key role to a successful job life. DentalStudents.eu & DentalNetworkOnline.eu is going to form the base for this networking.

No borders, Social & Educative
This site is going to play a major role in the exchange of educative materials between the students & professionals either. Every member gets enough space to put documents and assignments on the website which will be useful to  their other colleagues. In this way a member from the Netherlands can share his/her work with somebody from another country in Europe and therefore our slogan will be “No borders, Social & Educative”

Some are rude, some are angry and rude, some are funny, while some just the generic face you easily will forget. These are the faces of people I see everytime I travel back home. Back in high school, it just took a few minutes to reach home from school. With two or three ways to get home, I just don’t feel the trouble of public transportation. All of it changed when I reached college. I really didn’t enjoy it considering the U-belt muger infestation and shit plus the long way home. I used to shut down in the middle of the way while being on the jeep. But nowadays I prefer outmuscling my way in the packed transit systems of EDSA and Taft.   But there are some memorable things on the way home. From the faces of the people with you , to the street food that made you binge. Its a fine road after all

With all the hoopla going on about our presidential elections and the visit of Sec. Clinton, I wanted to revisit my thoughts on our former president, Cory Aquino. She was a heroic and admirable woman, who showed Filipinos the true meaning of strength, love of country and God-fearing values. Even in her last days, Cory Aquino brought Filipinos together, to celebrate & uplift our Motherland and to rally the masses into action. On her deathbed, she still thought of us and still had this magnetism that stirs the consciousness of our minds.

Cory Aquino believed we could truly change our situation and make our country great again. Now, we are in the midst of an impending change, the elections are less than a year away and I am inclined to think that May 2010 is the perfect opportunity for Filipinos to seize the day. We wanted change, here it is. We wanted new leadership, let’s choose a candidate with only the nation’s interest at heart. We demand a better future, then vote for a person who will LEAD with honor and accountability and true democracy in mind, leader who will not only make milestones in his administration but will pave the way for the next generation of leaders to follow in his patriotic steps. I won’t tell people who to vote  for, not yet anyway, but I hope that whoever they choose next year it is an individual very much like this woman, whom I will write about. A mother, a widow, a president, a friend, a spokeswoman, a patriot, a hero. Corazon Aquino are all these and more.

“Remembering Cory”

August 5, 2009

I mourn her passing not only because she gave our nation back its long lost freedom, but also because I have realized that more than an icon for democracy, Pres. Corazon Aquino was a good person. And the passing of a any good spirit from this Earth should be given due respect and grieved.

I am an admirer of the former president, but I am also a realist. I am sure that she had her fair share of mistakes in governing our nation. No one is faultless, even the heroine of Edsa I. But her love for our country and the sacrifices she had made for our people more than made up for whatever her critics come up with. Her sincerity to change this nation and her dedication to the task that the Filipino people thrust upon her that made her a leader of admirable and inspiring quality. Anything they claim will only pale in comparison to the gift she given to us – our democracy.

No Filipino can ever question or must never forget Cory’s actions, her role in our history. In one act of selflessness she showed us her love for the Philippines. She stood by the people in 1986. She chose to accept the hand dealt to her by God. Despite adversity she became more than the widow of Ninoy, she became the face of the Filipino revolution – faithful to God, nationalistic, brave and determined to find justice.

Cory could have declined despite being presented by Don Chino Roces one million signatures urging her to run against Marcos. She could have chosen to leave to protect her children from the possible wrath of the regime. Yet she stayed. She remained by us. Even in the years after her presidency, Cory was still there to fight whatever new foe came to threaten our democracy, our people. She is a shining beacon of inspiration. Advocating for the greater good, she made us want to be better Filipinos. She never lost faith in us or in God’s plan for this nation.

We lost a great hero last August 1, 2009, but we cannot lose the legacy she gave us. We cannot forget what one woman and the Filipinos who suffered at the hands of martial law had to go through to take back our nation. We must remember what those at Edsa, and the millions of others around the country rallied for. We have to keep fighting, because Cory believed that we can overcome anything. In her own words, she believed in the “inexhaustible giftedness of the Filipino people.” That alone is enough to remind me not to lose hope for the Philippines.

EDSA is inviting dental students from all over Europe to develop their practical skills in restorative dentistry field at the GC campus in Leuven, Belgium on the 4th and 5th of December 2009. You will have the chance to expand your knowledge on class II and class IV dental restorations, find out more information about the glassionomer cements and also make new friendships with other dental students’ from Europe.

The participation fee is 100 Euro and includes: transport from and to airport/railway station to GC and transport to hotel, 2 days course, one night at the Holiday Inn Garden Court hotel (shared twin bedded rooms) in Leuven, lunches, a guided tour through the university city of Leuven and a GC dinner.

To find out more about the Training, please visit http://www.facebook .com/l/f5db7; www.gceurope .com/toplevels/ campus/education /edsa.php

Don’t forget there are limited places and the deadline is 20th of November!

Looking forward to seeing you in Leuven, Belgium!

In the meantime, check out the new ezine series on Minimum Intervention Dentistry, MID on the link at the end of the text.

ABS-CBNNews.com Headline: “Palace: There’s clamor for PGMA to run in Pampanga”

Si Arroyo, hindi lang ek-ek-konomista kung di “event planner” at “organizer” din pala! Talaga naman plantsado na nya lahat para sa darating na halalan!

Meron akong poorcast — akala nyo si Kuya Kim lang ang marunong nyan:

1. Si Gibo ay mananalo sa May 2010 selections (sure elections) — by hook or by crook! Syempre, pagaganahin ni Arroyo ang kanyang e-cheating machinery (nung 2004, manual cheating machinery pa lang yun kaya mejo nagkaproblema sya nun)! At hindi lang si Gibo ang mananalo, kung di pati na ang mga asungot sa Kongreso na kaalyado ni Arroyo! Syempre, tatakbo si Arroyo bilang kongresista sa Pampanga. Salamat sa Smartmatic — silang lahat ay “smart” choice and auto-”matic” winners sa daring nga May 2010 fools!

2. Isusulong ni Gibo at ng mayoriya sa Kongreso (House of Repress-SIN-ta-THIEVES at SIN-nate) ang Charter Change upang amyendahan ang Konstitusyon para sa kanilang sariling kapakanan! Palalawigin ang termino ng Pangulong Gibo at i-adopt ang parliamentary form of government. Bubuwagin ang senado kasi maraming taga-oposisyon ang nandun. Si Arroyo ang i-elect ng mga kaalyado nya sa Kongreso, ung mga repress-SIN-ta-THIEVES, bilang maging Prime Minister. Ang galing no? So, nasa poder pa rin si Arroyo, plus Gibo! Ika nga, it takes two to tango (taenang gago) — hindi lang cha-cha! O di ba, both of them are winners at may powers!

3. Sa bagong Konstitusyon, bibigyan ng immunity from suit ang Prime Minister. Ayon, abswelto si Arroyo sa mga krimen na ginawa nya nung siya ang Pang-ulol pa ng Pilipinas!

4. Magpoprotesta ang mga talunan na kandidato. Pupunta sila sa Korte Suprema (Supreme Cohort) upang mag-file ng kaso. Pero mabagal ang usad ng kanilang kaso — parang dun sa nangyari kay Zubiri at Pimentel. Aabutin ng isa, dalawa… hindi… aabutan ito ng “siyam-siyam” na taon (eternity). Syempre naman, mga appointed justices ni Arroyo kaya ang nandun. Ops, “independent” kuno sila, pero ganun pa rin ang mangyayari. Idederail lang ang pagreresolba ng kaso.

5. Magkakaroon na naman ng malawakang protesta, pag-aalsa laban sa rehimeng Gibo at Arroyo — EDSA na naman ba? Magkakagulo ang Pilipinas. At dahil dyan, magdedeklara si Gibo ng “martial law”! Ayun, back to square one ulit tayo!

Yan ang poorcast ko sa bayang tinubuan ko!

My work location entails me to travel for 30-45 minutes if traffic is fast-moving and around 60-75 minutes if it’s very slow-moving.  That’s going to work.  Going home is another thing (depending on time and routing).

Last Tuesday morning, traffic was unusually heavy.  It took me a good 30 minutes just to reach Buendia from Magallanes area.  With my car stereo busted, it was quite silent inside the car with my occasional ranting whenever another vehicle would cut me or something.  If you happen to be stuck in that kind of traffic, I think the usual course would be that your mind would be wandering around some stuff that you wouldn’t usually think of had the traffic been fast-moving.  Here are some of my thoughts then:

• Macy, my car, badly needs tint.  So that I wouldn’t get bullied by other drivers a lot (I get that whenever some of them see that it’s a ‘young-looking’ girl on the driver’s seat).  So that it won’t be as hot inside whenever I drive during noontime.  Brilliant thought: I can ask my dad to pay for my car’s tint as birthday present.  He’s supposed to get me the netbook, but since I already got that myself, he can pay for the tint for me.  Man, that’s a way lot cheaper!
• MMDA peeps have bionic eyes.  They could see that small registration stickers from afar and would know if 2009 sticker is not yet on.
• How come PUBs can stray to private vehicles’ lanes and we couldn’t?  Unfair.
• It has been a long time since I was last on the beach.  I miss the beach.
• I think the sign should read ‘Stay IN your lane.’ and not ‘Stay ON your lane.’
• Bicycle on Edsa? C’mon!
• I’m hungry.  Pandesal and cheesewiz still top my favorite breakfast foodies.
• I have 3 packs of Quaker oatmeal drink in my bag.  I should have dilluted one in a traveller’s mug before leaving the house.  Ready to drink na sana o.
• EDSA’s like a rollercoaster ride.  You go up and down, up and down, with occasional bumps here and there.
• Atty. Adel Tamano’s posing for Belo Med?  Interesting.
• Maybe I could use a date for these friends’ wedding.  Seems like all my friends have assignment for service and reception.  Hala.
• When can younger sister and I transfer to a QC house kaya?  I’m quite looking forward to longer sleep and less driving.
• (not bloggables.)

If I wasn’t driving and taking the MRT instead, I could be reading or catching up on people’s texts and not thinking about these things.  But since I was behind the wheel, what else could I do but let the mind wander a bit?  As it is, medyo madami na kaming pinagsamahan ng EDSA.

OCTOBER 25, 2009 ~ gumala kami sa manila. Sino kami?? Ako, Kate, Anna, Zyra, Akira tapos sumingit si Alvin.

DLSU-CET namen kasi. Suppose to be, October 4 ang test namen. Kaso, dahil kay Ondoy, postpone din ang test so change date. Hinatid kami ng mother ko papunta. Buti talaga at maliit si Kate at Akira at nagkasya silang dalawa sa harap. Hahaha. Lahat kami gate B except kay Akira so bye. Sama-sama pa nga kaming apat sa iisang room, at nandun pa si KERR. Hahaha.

PINAKA MAHIRAP SA LAHAT NG ENTRANCE TEST NA TINAKE KO ‘UNG SA DLSU. GRABE. Hindi ko nakayanan ang trigo nila. Hahaha. Pero nasagutan ko ‘ung Law of Cosines. Hahahaha. [thanks kyle] Tapos nakakatense ‘ung atmosphere. Bigla na lang may pagsabog na naganap. Mejo matagal like 30-40 seconds. Akala nga namin bomba at inaatake na ang Pilipinas dahil super lakas talaga at palapit sa amin ‘yung sounds. Mejo nanginig at kinabahan ako. Hahaha.[paputok lang daw 'yun sabi ng nanay ko kasi nakita niya. may mga balloons pa nga ee.] So basta ayun. Natapos ‘yung test mga quarter to 12.

Next stop, MCDO sa tabi ng DLSU. Nakita namin dun ang sangkaterbang taga SSI. Nandun si Mia A., Dianne C., Kenneth M., Kristine S., at kung sinu-sino pang kilala ko lamang sa pagmumukha. Hahaha.Wala kaming uupuan so umalis kami. Kasabay na namin si Alvin by this time. Sumakay kami ng LRT. YEHEY!! Si Alvin parang ewan, tanung nang tanong about LRT’s processes. Hinihiwalay pala ang girls sa boys. Haha. Nung first time ko kasi hindi ko napansin. Hahaha. Mejo masikip. Mejo Mainit. Mejo mabaho ‘yung katabi ko. Hahaha.

Baclaran kami bumaba. Humanap ng tshirt na puti si Zyra para sa MelManRene. Mejo natagalan kami dun. Nilakad namin mula dun hanggang palabas ng EDSA. 2PM na. Hahaha. Tumawid kami sa pink and blue over pass ng MMDA. FIRST TIME!! Yeah!! Tapos sumakay ng jeep papuntang moa. That’s it.

Konting kain sa greenwich tapos umalis na sila except for me and Anna. Mejo tinatamad pa kami so gala muna. Department store at Fully Booked lang ang kinareer namin. Bukod pa dun ‘yung mga pinasukan at nilabasn din namin agad. Hahaha. So AYUN lang.

DARKCHEDDAR || CARLOS.

Kindly note, the following entry is of the author’s personal opinion.

On the way home tonight, I heard Erap on the radio acknowledging his candidacy for the 2010 presidential elections. (FYI for those from abroad, Joseph “Erap” Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines who was ousted a couple of years back because of a corruption case. He was replaced by the current president – Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [GMA] – who was his Vice-President then and who ran for re-election and won after Erap’s term ended) Basically, he was saying a lot of what I believed to be jibberish. He was stating in Tagalog (if I had understood correctly), how he was deprived of his family, friends and the people while he was imprisoned. I mean, come on, you don’t expect to be in the luxury of all your friends and family if you’re accused of a crime and deemed guilty for it. And it was not only the Court of Law who had deemed him guilty, the people went against him during the Second People Power Revolution as well. Erap was lucky enough that due to health conditions, he was under house arrest and not rotting in some crummy jail cell somewhere in Muntinlupa. If someone else had been guilty of his crime, they’d be in Muntinlupa or worse, but him being the former president, he was given special treatment.

What got me thinking was how come this former president, who was ousted from his position because of a serious crime, is deciding to run again for the same position – the highest position in the land. I understand how a lot of people “change” after they realize their mistake, or if we give him the benefit of the doubt, he wants to redeem himself – who was wronged in the eyes of the people. But come on, common sense dictates that you don’t run for the same position from which you were ousted, or more logically speaking, the highest position in the land. No offense, but it’s just plain wrong. If you want to redeem yourself, you run for a different position, not for presidency. Maybe a smaller position, like Mayor or something like that, but not ruler of the friggin country.

What aggravates me even more is how a lot of people are being supportive. I read a few weeks back somewhere that a lot of people are voting for him due to pity. That’s plain wrong. You vote for your president out of pity?! What kind of sick world would that be based on? Even if you feel pity for someone, think logically! In the end, if you vote for the wrong person, the one who should be pitied is the entire country which will suffer from the mistake of the people.

I don’t know if Erap is allowed to run, though he says that people from legal fields have said he’s allowed to do so. More so, is he allowed to take the position?! Shouldn’t there be a law in the constitution that dictates that if you oust someone because of a serious crime, said person should not be allowed to run for any position, and in our case, not the presidency.

Where is the world coming to?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The country should learn from its mistake and not go wasting good votes on people who have already had their chance in the past.

Plus, the whole reason Erap is probably running is because he was pardoned by GMA. It’s kind of ironic really. Erap gets ousted and during the 2nd People Power Revolution, he gets replaced by GMA. GMA finishes Erap’s term and runs for re-election and wins. Nearing the end of her term (more or less), she decides to pardon the former president for his crime.

I wonder where the heck the Philippines is heading for.

Sleeping soon, I need to go to COMELEC tomorrow to register for Voters Registration. I know, I’ve put it off this long. I hope I wake up and get to City Hall early enough. Please, don’t let there be long lines tomorrow~

My first ever street photography. This is the first time I got the courage to use my dawdang(Canon 1000D) on the street. Why? The reason was I am scared that someone might snatch it from me, but that day, Bert was with me so I’m less frightened. This pic was taken last May 11,2009, our monthsary and the day when Bert went back to Singapore.

Edsa Shrine is along Intersection of Ortigas Ave., and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City in front of the shrine is a familiar building the Blas Ople bldg which is the main office of POEA, at back of the shrine is the popular mall the Robinsons Galleria. Edsa shrine is accessible by bus if you take an MRT drop by at Ortigas Ave., station, if your from pasay taft its the 8th stop station right after Shaw Boulevard. Ortigas station is nearer to SM Megamall so going to Edsa Shrine take a walk maybe 300 to 400 meters ahead.

Edsa Shrine

 A little history, EDSA Shrine was built to mark the birthplace of People Power, the 1986 spontaneous uprising that put an end to the Marcos dictatorship. EDSA is short for Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, and it was here that millions converged and toppled the totalitarian Marcos regime without bloodshed. The shrine, topped by a mammoth bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, is regularly used for religious services. In 2001, it became the scene of another popular uprising (People Power II), which ousted Joseph Estrada from the presidency.

I woke up in a room
with rose-colored walls
and a padded headboard
wrapped in yellow silk.
There’s a one-liter bottle of Evian
on a coffee table topped in marble
and an electronic key card
that said 4002 Royal Bellagio Hotel.

I parted the immaculate white curtains
and looked down at the street below
four scantily-clad girls,
one drunked patron dressed in mock dignity
and a bouncer in a dark jacket
stood arguing
and breaking beer glasses
on the sidewalk
in the 7 a.m. sunlight.
This is the red light district
of Burgos, Makati.

I stared a while
trying to figure out
what I was doing there.
Images of standing for hours on the terminal in EDSA
with a mob of other stranded passengers
and all the buses that ever passed
were so jampacked
limbs were sticking out the windows.
My unbrella was broken
and the water was still rising.

I thought the worst was over
four storeys off the ground
and I’ve slept away the horror.
But when I turned on the TV
the nightmare spilled out of the screen
spewing poison toads and blood
and sharpened knives
and broken hearts

Who is Cory Aquino? Cory Aquino, otherwise known as Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, a good wife and a mother of 5, but other than that, she is the Former President of the Republic of the Philippines. She was one, if not the best, of the greatest presidents our dearest country has ever had and her death had not only stimulated our nationalism but also made many want to pursue her canonization as a saint. How much has she done for us to consider her a saint of our nation? Countless.

Who says a woman can’t rule a country? Women have always been subjected to degrading due to the unjust realities of a patriarchal society but our nation’s Cory Aquino, proved this wrong. Yes, a woman can rule a country. It only takes courage to do so. Did you know that President Cory was not only the first female president of the Philippines but also the first female president in Asia? Cory Aquino is indeed a legend.

A woman of great courage, she is. Have we ever seen her shivering with fear? No and that’s because she has a great faith in God who has always been beside her every time she needs him. All throughout, she has been an ideal model for her people. A woman of great courage and a woman of prayer. A saying that connotes this attitude of our dearest president was ‘Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa‘.

Yellow. Isn’t that President Cory’s favorite color and her symbol? Yellow denotes happiness, energy and sunlight. It depicts a warming effect – just like Cory Aquino. She was our nation’s ray of sunlight at the time when we were tormented. She opened the way to democracy which made all of us happy, evoking cheerful and carefree feelings from the people. Cory’s love for yellow isn’t just because of the color itself but for it’s meaning. She lives with a meaning and that is to be an apostle of God and be a light to her neighbor.

After the EDSA Revolution, she assumed the presidency and was internationally acclaimed as the ‘icon of democracy’. At 1986, she was awarded by TIME Magazine as the Woman of the Year. Not only that but she was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize award, the very same award that Mother Teresa of Calcutta received. Being nominated alone was already such a big honor.

During her presidency, a new constitution, the 1987 Constitution, was formed. This sought and achieved the restoration of democratic institutions of the Philippines.

She had several programs that really gave benefit to the people and one of this was the R.A. 6657 a.k.a. Constitutional Agrarian Reform Law. The ‘CARP’ authorized the redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant-farmers from landowners, who were paid in exchange by the government just compensation and allowed to retain not more than five hectares of land.

At the end of her 6-year term as President, she rejected re-election and stepped down from the presidency when her first term ended despite the majority’s opposition to this decision. Nevertheless, her stepping down from her presidency didn’t mean that she had stopped from serving her country and her people. She joined several institutions, programs and movements. She was always an active participant in revolts and for fighting for what she believes is right. A good example of this attitude of hers was during EDSA II (2001) when the people cooperated to overthrow Former President Joseph Estrada from his position and the mass demonstrations against the Arroyo government, calling for her resignation.

She freed us Filipinos from the wrath of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship and let us experience democracy. A savoring freedom. What awed us about her is that she was only a housewife until she became the president; if not for her husband’s death, she wouldn’t have become president. But her husband did die and she did become president. However, having little knowledge of politics, she was still able to run a country like a loving mother. She was indeed a blessing in disguise for us Filipinos, guiding over us through her life and even in the afterlife.

Cory Aquino didn’t do everything that she did just so she could gain recognition; all she wanted was for our country to unite as one and prosper as a country. She need not be a saint just so we could praise her undying love for her country and people. All she wanted was to be able to help and do good. Sure we weren’t even born yet during her presidency but isn’t seeing how people appreciate her doings and thinking about the difference it would bring if Marcos wasn’t overthrown from his position enough for us youngsters to say that she is truly our icon of democracy? Think about it.

If it wasn’t for President Cory, would our lives today be the same? We think not. That is why, Cory Aquino is truly one shining jewel.

Salamat Tita Cory!

Apalit, Pampanga Philippines – Typhoon “Ondoy” has ravaged the majority of Luzon Island with its strong winds and heavy rains. The downpour continuously started last Friday, September 25, until early Sunday in Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines and caused bottlenecks and heavy traffic jams on major expressways in Luzon.

However, this did not stop the Members of the Church of God International, popularly known to the public as the Ang Dating Daan, to head to the Ang Dating Daan International Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga to hear the pure and untarnished words of GOD in the Bible through His chosen messenger in this present dispensation, Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano or Bro. Eli for short.

Bro. Daniel S. Razon, the Vice-Presiding Minister of the Congregation (also popularly known as Mr. Public Service, who heads the UNTV 37 station) delivered the first part of the texto (topic) for that day. It was also unexpected that Bro. Daniel Razon would be gracing the thanksgiving since it was known that he was abroad to help Bro. Eli spread the Words of God in the Bible and that many shall be baptized to the folds of the truth, of God.

The second part of the topic was preached by Bro. Eli, giving deeper details to the texto. As expected, the whole congregation once again felt so much happiness to see unfold before their eyes the new aspects of truth of God in the Bible which were never or shall never be heard from any pastors.

The brethren who were celebrators for the thanksgiving offered songs of praises to God whom the congregation is worshipping.  Celebrators in the said thanksgiving include the West and North districts of Metro Manila, local and international thanks-givers and the newly baptized brethren both here and abroad.

Immediately after the celebration of thanksgiving, the presiding minister of MCGI Bro. Eli Soriano had given instructions to prepare food, clothing, blankets and bedsheets for the brethren. Songs of praises were given by the members who stayed for the night. That instance was as if the International Thanksgiving to our God had already commenced. The singing and dancing were led by the Teatro Kristiano and the Music Ministry Core. Though in the midst of calamity, the Church of God International (even after the regular celebration of Thanksgivings) were not stopped in singing songs of praises and dancing dances of joys for the Lord God whom we adore and worship.

THERE WERE SINGING OF SONGS OF PRAISES AND WORDS OF THANKS TO GOD – EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE EYE OF THE STORM.

The Members of the Church of God International shall always be giving thanks and praises to the One whom praises and thanks should be rightfully and spiritually rendered. The members shall always be hopeful and thankful, RAIN OR SHINE. And nothing shall stop them from doing so, till the day of redemption comes, and even beyond it.

Sunday morning around 5:30am, the Sun made its presence felt for a couple of minutes. The floods in some parts of the region have  subsided, and rain has stopped for the meantime. This picture was taken in Apalit Pampanga, Philippines.

Panawagan para sa Pagsusulong ng Ebolusyunistang Kilusang Pangkalinangan

Naniwala ang taumbayan na naibalik ng People Power sa EDSA ang demokrasya noong 1986 na matagal sinupil ng Batas Militar ni Marcos.

Naluklok sa Malacanang si Cory Aquino,  ngunit nasalin lang ang kapangyarihan sa gobyerno sa mga bagong mapanghuthot at mapagsamantalang pamilya dayukdok na negosyante’t dayukdok na pulitiko. Nakisakay sa “kapayapaang Edsa” ang iba’t ibang sekta ng pananampalataya  – ang mga makakapal ang mukha – mga impokritong lider-simbahan. Nangunguna dito ang patrong simbahang mga nagbasbas kay Marcos; nagbasbas kay Cory; at patuloy na nagbabasbas ng mga dayukdok na lider habang sila’y hindi nagbubuwis.

Sa panahon ni Ramos at Estrada, nalubos ang pagbabalik ng sistema ng korupsiyon sa pulitika at pamamahala ng mga Pambansang Kawatan ng bansa. Nabalik ang mga beteranong kawatan sa Kongreso,  mga beteranong kawatan sa Senado at ngayo’y  nakasampung taon na sa trono ang Reynang Gorilya.   Anupa’t ang gulo sa  EDSA ay nagproseso lamang ng mas mahigpit na pagsasanib  ng mga naghaharing partido ng mga dayukdok na pulitiko upang paghahati-hatian nilang sipsipin ang pawis at dugo ng mahihirap na mamamayan. Nadagdagan lanag sila ng mga baliw na mga artista at baliw na mga broadkaster.  Kasapakat ng mga dayukdok at baliw na nagrerenda sa mga institusyon ng gobyerno, Upang masuhayan ang status qou, sarap na sarap namang paupo upo lang at sumusuweldo at naninindikato ang mga tamad at suwapang na mahistrado sa Korte Supremo.

Nabaon sa utang ang Pilipinas; eleksyon man o hindi, patuloy na nababaon sa krisis sa pananalapi ang gobyerno. Dahil sa patakarang deregulasyon, pinatindi ng Philippine 2000 ni Ramos ang pamumulubi ng bansa.  Naging kontrobersiyal ang Pea-Amare deal at iba pang mga kompanya ng pamahalaang dapat sana’y magsilbi sa kapakanang pampubliko. Nabili ni Lucio Tan ang Philippine Airlines at iba pang establisemento publiko at naging pribadong negosyong sakmal sakmal ng mga ganid-dayukdok na negosyante. Karamihan sa mga kroni ni Marcos na tumalilis sa ibang bansa. Nakabalik na ngayon at nanakmal at nagkakamal ng kayamanang pinagdudugo naman ng mamamayan.

Ano ang puwedeng gawin ng Pilipino upang makaahon sa kawalang pag-asa? Sino ang may kasalanan? Mga dayukdok na pulitiko? Mga ipokritong manghuthot na lider-relihiyon? Mga sakim-ganid na kongresman at senador? Ang Gorilya? Lahat sila ang mga kriminal. Lahat sila berdugo ng masang Pinoy.

Kahit  ang mga social scientist ay nawalan ng silbi. Kumita ng milyon-milyon ang mga surveyor . Naging malaking nesosyo ang mga institusyong walang ginawa sa buhay kundi magsurvey nang magsurvey kung sino ang popwede pang makapanloloko sa tao. Ang paulit-ulit na survey ay naging bisyo ng ng mga partido

Napakalalim na kapahamakan ang kinasadlakan ng taumbayan. Maraming nawalan na ng kakayahang mag-isip nang matino. Namulubi ang marami. Namamatay sa gutom at sakit samantalang lalong naging pabaya ang gobyerno.  At ang mga iresponsableng negosyante sa massmedia, ang pwedeng sisihin sa panlalason sa utak at gawi ng masa. Nariyan ang kulturang spagheting pababa at spagheting pataas. Ang Eat Bulaga na garapal na gumagamit sa masa para lalong ibaon sa kawalang muwang. Nadadamay ang masa sa katangahan dahil sa mga tangang host at mananayaw sa telebisyon. Lalong lalona si Kris Aquino.

Ang mga komunista na huling tinayaan ng suporta at pag-asa ng malawak na masa ng sambayanan  ay di nakahabol nang biglang pumutok na tila bulkang Pinatubo ang galit ng mamamayan laban sa diktadura. Naisahan ang mga komunista ni Cardinal Sin nang  maging bida ito sa pananawagang bakuran ng tao ang mga nagrebeldeng sina Enrile na dating hatchet man ni Marcos sa pagpapataw ng Batas Militar. Nang di makatugon ang komunista sa pamamahala ng bansa, naitsa-pwera ang kaliwa sa muling pagbubuo ng mga baong batas at patakaran ng Administrasyong Cory Aquino.

Naiwan sa pansitan ang mga NPA nang magkaroon ng internal na krisis ang mga komunista; humantong sa pagdidebate at nauwi sa pagpapatayan ng magkakasama na dapat sana’y natuto sa krimen ng rebolusyon laban kay Supremo Andres Bonifacio. Ito ang “internal bleeding”  Ang unang Krimen ng mga traidor sa KKK.

Sa gitna ng kawalang-pag-asa, at malalim na pagkalito, lahat  na lamang ay naging manghuhula kung sino ang sisisihin at kung paano paniniwalain ang ating mga sari-sarili na makakalas pa natin ang buhol ng lubid na waring nakasilo sa ating mga leeg.  Ang maaari lang matukoy na makalulutas nito ay ang panawagan para sa isang pambansang ebolusyong pangkultura. Ngunit may ilang sektor sa lipunang Pilipino tahimik na tahimik at hindi pa nariringgan ng inisyatiba kung paano haharapin ang pag-iral ng dominanteng interes na salungat sa kapakanan ng mamamayan.

Ang panawagang ito ay para sa kanila:  sa mga guro at mag-aaral,  mga manunulat at artista at sa mga scientist sa loob at labas ng akademya. Hinihingi ng katwiran na magsama-sama sila bilang isang puwersang magtataguyod ng transpormasyon para sa pagbabago at pag-unlad. Kailangang nilang umaksiyon, makisangkot at pamunuan ang mga kilusan ng mamamayan laban sa katiwalian at para sa pagbubuo ng isang ebolusyunistang kilusang pangkalinangan.
Napakahalaga ng papel ng sektor na ito para makahubog tayo ng isang kalinangan o bagong kulturang makatao syentipiko at produktibo .  Isang kulturang ebolusyunista na makagagamot sa ating sakit bilang isang bansa. Isang ebolusyunistang kalinangan na magbabalik sa ating puso at kaluluwa ng nawaglit na pag-ibig sa kapatid at pagdakila sa ating Inang Bayan.

Itatakwil ng ebolusyunistang kilusang ito ang makakanibal na rebolusyong laging nagpapadanak ng dugo. Napatunayan na natin sa kasaysayan, ang madudugong rebolusyon ay pagpapalit-palit lamang kung sino ang mas malakas at mas dayukdok sa kapangyarihan. Ang kailangan natin ay Ebolusyong Pangkalinangan, hindi rebolusyon. Ang Kilusang Ebolusyunista ang makapagbibigkis sa ating mga kababayan tungo sa pagbabago at kaunlaran.

Ebolusyong Pangkalinangan ang iminumungkahi kong intellectual apparatus para mapayabong natin ang isang kulturang maglilinis sa ating mga puso, magtatanggal ng poot sa atin sa bawat isa. Isang makasining, makaagham na kulturang magpapabulas sa tao para siya maging mapanlikha at kapaki-pakinabang sa lipunan, sa bansa at pakikisalamuha sa sibilisasyon ng buong mundo.

Nananawagan po ako sa mga organisasyong masa, sa mga pribadong organisasyong pangkaunlaran, pagyamanin natin ang mungkahing ito para pagkaisahin ang mga artista’t manunulat sa massmedia, ang mga scientists, ang mga guru na pamunuan ang isang kilusang ebolusyunista para sa hinahangad nating pambansang pagbabago.

EBOLUSYON hindi REBOLUSYON!

What’s with September 9, 2009?

Its 40^th day of Cory Aquino death and it’s Sen. Benigno Aquino III announced his presidential bid at Club Filipino, Greenhills San Juan.  He finally decides to run for candidacy after his spiritual retreat over the weekend at the Carmelite Monastery in Zamboanga City, and after consulting various sectors.  He said he will continue the work of his mother, Tita Cory Laban Noynoy! [Fight Noynoy].

Noynoy for 2010 President!

Words from Noynoy on his announcement:

“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko rin po ang bilin at habilin, tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamong mamuno sa labang ito. Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan,” [I accept the call of the people and the advice of my parents, and the responsibility to continue the fight for our nation. I accept the challenge to lead this fight. I will run for president in the coming elections.]

This one I liked the most, he said, he wants to be a president “that will be missed when I step down.”

Present on the event were Noynoy’s uncle and former Makati Rep. Agapito “Bam” Aquino, and Sisters Ma. Elena “Ballsy” Cruz, Pinky Abellada, Viel Dee, and Kris who arrived with her basketball star husband James Yap and their son Baby James.

I recorded pretty much everything worth recording during our visit to the Philippines. Re: tallies,  the number ones (1) indicate one tick, hence, for example, 1111 means I’ve done/visited that item four times.

Restaurants Visited:

Chowking (11)
Jollibee (111111111)
Omakase
Sbarro’s
Gerry’s Grill (Tagaytay)
Rastro
Cuzina (Dampa)
KFC
TopGrill
Hen-Lin
Aristocrat
Razon’s of Gua Gua
Max’s
Tempura
Grace, Sister of Rose
Iceberg
Mangkok
Muang Thai
Red Ribbon
Kenny Roger’s Roasters
Kimono

Malls Visited:

Mall of Asia
SM City North Edsa
Festival Supermall
Greenhills
Trinoma
168
Tutuban Center Mall
SM San Lazaro

Tallies:

Shower:1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 (average of twice a day)

Street Food: 1111111111111111 (fish balls, taho and the like)

Highlights:

Taal Volcano (Tagaytay)
Manila Bay
Cory Aquino’s Funeral March
San Pablo, Laguna
Pansol, Laguna (Hot Springs)

Synergy’s staff does undergo training, you know. Here, they are in a session to improve theirs skills on Pipenet, supplied by EDSA.