Bakit Ba Kasi Hindi Marunong Huminga Sa Ilalim Ng Tubig Ang Mga Pilipino?

Kung ang mga Pilipino ay ipinanganak na may hasang at palikpik, at nakakahinga sa ilalim ng tubig, e 'di sana wala tayong problema. E 'di sana walang nalulunod at namamatay tuwing tatagilid ang mga ferry at mga barko kapag umaambon at umaalon ang dagat.

E 'di sana hindi namatay 'yung higit 6,000 na tao sa sampung pinakamalalang aksidente sa dagat simula sa MV Dona Paz nu'ng 1987(1). E 'di sana hindi tayo nag-aalala na sa halos buwan-buwang paglubog ng mga barko ay may nadadamay tayong mga kamag-anak.

Siguradong dagdag na naman 'to sa sakit ng ulo ni Gloria. Kawawa naman. Hindi pa nga n'ya nalulusutan 'yung P1M dinner n'ya sa Le Cirque - NY, at dumating pa 'yung paglabas ng higit $1M halaga ng bahay nu'ng anaka nya sa US. Tapos sumabay pa 'tong paglubog ng SuperFerry 9. Kaya naman pala nagnanaknak 'yung silicon sa boobs n'ya e.

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman kasi talaga tayo kasama sa mga iniintindi n'ya. Boto at buwis lang naman ang katumbas natin. Para sa kanya, at sa mga tulad n'ya, wala tayong mukha at pangalan. Kung 'yun ngang mga state witness sa mga kontrobersyal na kasong tinututukan ng media, naipapaligpit nang wala-wala lang, tayo pang mga ordinaryong mortal lang?

Pero may pag-asa pa naman. Sabi nga ni Darwin, patuloy naman ang pag-aadapt ng species sa environment. Kung ganito nang ganito ang nangyayari sa atin, hindi na natin kakailanganing maghintay ng ilampung generation para tayo mag-evolve. Baka nga next year lang ipanganak na 'yung New & Improved Pinoy-- nakakahinga sa ilaim ng dagat para kahit ilang beses tumaob ang mga barko, okay lang; pagkapanganak pa lang e alam na ang Theory of Relativity ni Einstein para kahit palpak ang sistema ng edukasyon at kinukurakot ang budget para doon e okay lang; marunong kumain ng bala para kahit ipa-salvage ng mga pulitiko dahil may in-expose o magiging witness e okay lang.

At higit sa lahat, may telekinetic power para tuwing mapipikon sila kay Gloria, at 'di sila makalapit dahil sa damng bantay e makakaganti pa rin sila-- kapag pumutok ang balita tungkol sa pagsusulong nito sa ChaCha, matatampal nila sa pisngi kahit malayuan, o kapag 'di pa rin umalis sa pwesto sa 2010, pwede nilang kurutin sa singit, o kapag 'di n'ya binawi ang National Artist Awards kina Carlo Caparas at Cecile Alvarez e masasabunutan nila ang buhok n'ya sa nunal.

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1. "List of Deadliest Ferry Accidents in RP," Philippine Daily Inquirer. 07 September 2009.

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At Biglang...

...September na agad. Walang kaabug-abog. Walang pasabi. Bigla na lang
paggising mo, September na. At alam na natin ang ibig sabihin nu'n--
ilang tulog na lang Pasko na.

Biglang may iba nang ibig sabihin ang malamig na hangin. 'Di na
simpleng, *may bagyo 'ata e.* 'Di na 'ko magugulat kung mamaya sa taxi
e bigla na ring patugtugin ang mga christmas carol. Biglang kailangan
nang mag-doble tipid. Hindi lang para sa taas-baba-taas na presyo ng
biliin, 'di lang para sa buwanang bills, 'di lang para makasabay ang
ipon sa walang tigil na inflation Kundi para na rin may maitabi para
sa Noche Buena. Para rin may maipambili ng regalo. Para may
maipamasko.

Tapos, 2010.

Buti na lang at may eleksyon sa May. Kahit paano mabi-break ang
monotony at nakakabagot ng siklo ng pagpapalit-palit ng mga araw,
linggo at buwan. Pero 'di rin naman natin alam kung may mababago nga
sa eleksyon, at pagkatapos nu'n.

Pero ganu'n pa rin. Biglang-bigla, paggising mo isang umaga, September na naman.

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Sino Ang Mas Sincere?

Nakuha ko 'to galing sa dalawang magkahiwalay na emails nina Divs at Job.

E, nakakatuwa.

Tsaka ang cute lang ni Gloria.

Original post after the jump.

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Macapagals Throughout History

Apologies sa original na sumulat nito na hindi ko alam kung sino. 'Di ko ma-google. At apologies na rin sa original na nag-repost. Natuwa/nainis/nairita/nabuwisit/na-possess lang ako at gusto kong ikalat. Maraming salamat.

WHAT'S IN THE MACAPAGAL NAME?

What is it in a name that sometimes it provides a consistent measure of character? I am referring to one of the most enduring and ubiquitous names in Philippine history: Macapagal.

One would be amazed at how often some Macapagal from Pampanga would surface periodically at critical points in Philippine history. However, the Macapagal record is not that stellar. For, anywhere and anytime that someone with that name appears, the air would always reek with the stench of treachery.

The first Macapagal in history is a datu from Arayat, Juan Macapagal. A grandson of Lakandula, Don Juan was among the principalia during the early Spanish era. He betrayed his own people by assisting the Spaniards quell the Kapampangan and Pangasinan Revolts of 1660 and Ilocano Revolt of 1661. By his handiwork, many natives died. For his services he was handsomely compensated with an encomienda --- a.k.a. license to steal, cheat and plunder --- and named Maestre Campo General of the natives of Arayat, Candaba and Apalit.

Two centuries later, the murderous tradition lived on to wreak havoc on the Philippine Revolution of 1896. This time, the Macapagal victim was none other than the venerable Supremo of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio. On May 10, 1897, Col. Lazaro Makapagal (Filipino derivative of the name) marched a wounded and hogtied Supremo and his brother, Procopio, up the rugged mountains of Maragondon, Cavite and shot them to death.

Indeed, duplicity is the Macapagal trade that many decades latter, another scion of the clan, Diosdado Macapagal, even managed to double-cross a master schemer, Ferdinand Marcos. In the 1960s, Diosdado promised the young (then) Senator Marcos the Liberal Party presidential nomination. In return for Marcos’ support, Diosdado declared that he would not seek re-election in 1965 in order to give way to Marcos’ candidacy. However, he reneged on such assurances later. The scheme backfired, however, when Marcos bolted the Liberal Party, joined the Nacionalista and soundly defeated Diosdado in the presidential elections.

Meanwhile, another Macapagal would have been in a perfect position to salvage the clan’s honor. Felicisimo Macapagal, unlike the rest of his clan, started out as a socialist revolutionary. He eventually rose to become the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas’ (PKP) Secretary General. However, DNA proved unalterable when this Macapagal ended up as a capitulationist. In 1974 he signed a compromise with Ferdinand Marcos to cooperate with the dictatorial regime.

Then several decades later, the same pattern continued. This time, the country is led by the daughter of Diosdado and a direct descendant of Don Juan. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became President through electoral fraud. Her administration is steeped in scandals involving plunder of the treasury and murder of innocent activists.

Sometimes some things do not change. It is either the Macapagal name is accursed or the country is accursed by having such treacherous brood appearing and re-appearing throughout the pages of its history.

Click the pix for the source.
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Raul Gonzalez Says...

Editorial
Heckler in the Cabinet

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:44:00 10/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who told critics protesting the grant of executive clemency to convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. to plead their case with Jesus Christ, has issued another piece of advice. And this time it is addressed directly to the family of the murdered Maureen Hultman. “If they can’t accept it, they can jump into the lake,” Gonzalez said Thursday. “Very wide naman ang North Sea.”

Gonzalez was reacting to Anders and Vivian Hultman who protested the “sneaky and hasty” way by which their daughter’s killer had regained his freedom. In 1992, Teehankee, son of the late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr. and brother of former justice undersecretary and now Ambassador Manuel Teehankee, was convicted for the 1991 double murder of Maureen Hultman, 17, and Roland John Chapman and the near fatal shooting of Jussi Leino. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and another jail term of eight to 14 years for his crimes. But he walked out a free man before midnight on Friday, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him executive clemency.

The Hultmans, who have since relocated to Sweden, protested the seeming haste and secrecy of the presidential pardon. They said they were not informed beforehand of Teehankee’s release in violation of established procedures.

Administration officials, however, insisted that the Hultmans knew that a presidential pardon was in the works as early as 1999 when they signed a document accepting settlement of civil damages. But the Hultmans said a pardon for Teehankee was not part of the agreement.

To Gonzalez, that made the Hultmans “hypocrites.”

Tactless, tasteless and totally insensitive — that is the justice secretary for you. This is not the first time he has bared his fishwife’s tongue. In 2005 when actress Susan Roces accused Ms Arroyo of stealing the presidency from her husband, Fernando Poe Jr., Gonzalez dismissed her as a “griping widow” and said she was “too beautiful to be sent to jail.” Soon after former President Corazon Aquino called for Ms Arroyo’s resignation, he told her to “first take care of her daughter” Kris Aquino, who was involved in some messy romantic liaisons.

But for sheer boorishness and insensitivity, his remarks against the Hultmans take the cake. Someone ought to tell Gonzalez to go jump into the filthy Pasig River with his foul mouth.

But who will do it? In a more civil and decent administration such coarse remarks would have cost Gonzalez his job. But apparently the President thinks he is just being cute. Or perhaps she believes she needs a resident heckler in her Cabinet to drown out protests against the miscues and blunders of her administration.
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Cute Pix

Gloria "Banak" Macapagal Arroyo: I want to propose a truce. Let's be friends, okay?

I will stop criticizing everything that you do; I will even cease from making fun of your face, your height, and most especially your hairy mole.

In return, you will pretend like you're aware of my existence, and deeply affected by the [cliche, stupid, inane] things I write about you. You will also have to promise to stop stealing our money, insulting our intelligence and eating the newborn babies; and start having a soul.

Deal?!

Good.

Okay, as a symbol of our newly formed friendship, I'm posting here some of your cute pix.

You remember this photo? This is absolutely adorable. Buti hindi ka nakinig sa mga detractors mo na sinasabing ang dapat na ginamit mong surfboard ay platito. See?! You were smart and you had foresight. Kaya ang pinili mo ay steak knife. Tamang-tama lang sa size mo, tapos dahil matalim, pwede mo pang gamitin sa mga lumalaban sa 'yo. See that guy behind you? He was one of the many journalists who pissed you. After mo s'ya madaanan, hindi na s'ya journalist; *head* na lang.

Sabi ni Susan Roces dati, magkapatid daw kayo ni Erap. Sabi n'ya, *Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw!* So heto ang picture n'yo ng kuya mo:

Ang Magnanakaw na kapatid ng...

...Sinungaling.
Sa first communion mo na 'to, parang ambait-bait mo. Parang wala kang gagawing kasalanan. Para kang may konsensya. Parang may pumipintig na puso.

O, ayan, binigyan pa kita ng tribute. Sana kunin ka na ni Lord.
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Because They Can

Bakit pinalabas sa Desperate Housewives na hindi competent ang Filipino medical practitioners?

Bakit sinabi sa isang US sitcom noong late '90s [hindi ko na matandaan kung Seinfeld or Everybody Loves Raymond or Frasier] that for $20, an old American guy can buy a bride from the Philippines?

Bakit pinagmukhang katawa-tawa at parang mindless sex machines ang mga Filipina domestic helper sa Harry & Paul ng UK?

Because they can.

At patuloy nilang gagawin 'yun habang kaya nila.

At patuloy nilang kakayanin 'yun hangga't walang political willpower ang mga namumuno sa Pilipinas. Hangga't hindi nila pinuputol ang mga kataranduhan nila. Ang mga katiwalian nila. Ang pagiging gahaman. Ang kamangmangan sa pamamalakad. Ang apathy sa kahirapan ng mga taong dapat sana'y pinagsisilbihan nila.

Patuloy nila tayong dadautin hangga't si Gloria "Tae" Macapagal Arroyo ay walang ginawa kundi mag-grant ng presidential pardon [pardon?!] sa mga dating pangulo na kabi-kabila ang kabit at bilyun-bilyon ang tahasang ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan, sa mga pumapatay ng mga kabataan nang walang dahilan at walang kalaban-laban, at sa mga lider ng kulto na namumulutan ng utak ng tao.

Hangga't ang [mandarayang] pangulo ay patuloy na humihimod sa pwet ng mga dayuhan, patuloy rin tayong gagaguhin at tatratuhing tae ng buong mundo.

Hindi ito tungkol sa pagiging politically-correct. Usapin ito ng kapangyarihan. Parang panggagahasa.

Actually, ito ay panggagahasa.

At patuloy nila tayong ginagahasa... because they can.
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Ulyanin II: Nakant*t Na Naman Tayo

I remember isang buwan pa lang ako sa UP as an undergrad, and I was still learning the names of the buildings and where everything was, when I heard about the news that Claudio Teehankee, Jr., son of the Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, killed in cold blood, a 16 year old girl, Maureen Hultman and her companions.

Prior to that, I didn't know who either Maureen or Claudio, Jr. was. But I remember it was big news and everybody was talking about it, and it was on TV for weeks.

Buti na lang kahit paano may kaya 'yung family nung victim. Otherwise, paano nila kakalabanin 'yung mga Teehankee? Besides, they were able to mobilize the media and keep the interest of the people for years, until he got convicted.

But of course in the end, kung kelan natutulog na 'yung kaso, 'yung salarin, pinalabas pa rin ng kulungan sa kalagitnaan ng gabi. I'm not saying na nag-magic na naman si Gloria "Aswang" Arroyo. Pero hindi rin ako maniniwala na walang mga political strings na na-pull.

I am 100% against sa death penalty. And I'm not saying na sana chinop-chop na lang itong si Claudio. Pero naniniwala ako sa life sentence, without parole, para 1) hindi na siya maging threat sa ibang tao because obviously he's capable na basta na lang pumatay ng MGA tao nang walang dahilan; and 2) para naman maramdaman nu'ng mga biktima at nu'ng mga naulila 'yung justice.

Hello?! Pumatay ka ng 2 bata, at buti na lang matindi 'yung kapit ng mga bulate nu'ng pangatlo kaya naka-survive, tapos 14 years lang makukulong? Ganu'n lang? Sus!

Ako mismo na walang kinalaman du'n sa kaso, nafu-frustrate, eh 'di lalo na siguro 'yung mga magulang nu'ng mga namatay. And isipin na lang natin 'yung takot nu'ng naka-survive. Eh kung balikan s'ya dahil s'ya 'yung primary witness?

Besides, bakit 'yung pagkakakulong ni Teehankee, Jr. ang pinag-iinitan? Eh 'di naman kaila sa ating lahat kung gaano karami ang nakakulong nang hindi pa nata-try, saka 'yung mga wrongly convicted, saka 'yung mga menor-de-edad na nasa bilibid. Bakit 'di 'yun ang asikasuhin nitong tarantadong si Gloria. Gago talaga 'tong taong 'to.

Kung nangyayari ito sa mga mayayamang gaya ni Maureen Hultman, ha! kumusta na lang ang mga pobreng Juan, Maria, Tonette at Bubbles.

TARANTADO TALAGA SI GLORIA.

Anyway, heto 'yung news na nakita ko sa Inquirer.net this morning.

CHAPMAN-HULTMAN KILLER
Teehankee released in dead of night

By Norman Bordadora, Arlyn dela Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:57:00 10/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The son of a former Supreme Court Chief Justice, sentenced to life in prison for shooting to death a 16-year-old girl despite her pleas for mercy, has been released from jail after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him executive clemency.

Claudio Teehankee Jr., now 62, stepped out a free man from the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City last weekend after serving 14 years for a triple crime—including the gruesome murder of the girl in 1991 that later prompted some lawmakers to demand the restoration of the death penalty.

He was released quietly and literally in the dead of night—before midnight on Friday.

Teehankee is the son of the late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, who opposed Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law and, in 1986, swore in Corazon Aquino as president of the country’s restored democracy after Marcos was ousted in the People Power Revolution.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the President granted Teehankee executive clemency in late September, which paved the way for his release.

“Yes, he is released,” Gonzalez said. “He is considered to have already served his sentence.”

Gonzalez said the executive clemency commuted Teehankee’s sentence, resulting in his release following two reviews by the Board of Pardons and Parole.

“This was reviewed and re-reviewed by the Board of Pardons and Parole, that is as to the time frame,” Gonzalez said in a telephone interview.

“The executive clemency, we cannot question that. That’s a constitutional power vested on the President,” he added.

Bloody night

Teehankee ended up a convicted murderer for the 1991 death of 16-year-old Maureen Hultman. He was also convicted of the shooting death of Hultman’s companion, Roland John Chapman, 21, and the almost fatal shooting of another companion, Jussi Olavi Leino, 24.

The triple shooting occurred in the early morning of July 13, 1991, in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, where the Hultmans lived.

Court records showed Hultman was returning home from a party with her two companions when Teehankee confronted them on Campanilla Street.

When Chapman asked Teehankee why he was bothering them, the latter pushed him, drew out his gun, and shot Chapman in cold blood, according to the records.

“Why did you shoot me?” the staggering Chapman said before crumpling to the ground.

Then, according to the records, Teehankee ordered the now hysterical Hultman and Leino to sit together on the sidewalk. “While seated, unarmed and begging for mercy, the two were gunned down by [Teehankee].”

Teehankee drove away in a car after the shooting.

Leino was one of three witnesses who later identified Teehankee as the gunman.

P15 million in damages

Besides the life imprisonment he drew for the Hultman murder and the two shorter prison sentences he got for the death of Hultman’s companions, Teehankee was ordered by the court to pay damages amounting to about P15 million.

“I would assume that he already paid the civil liabilities,” Gonzalez said.

NBP Supt. Ramon Reyes said in a phone interview that Teehankee was freed based on what is referred to as good conduct time allowance, or GCTA.

“The release of Mr. Teehankee underwent a rigorous review and it was signed by the Secretary of Justice, Raul Gonzalez,” Reyes said.

Every prisoner is qualified to benefit from the GCTA, Reyes said.

Term deductions

Under the GCTA, a prisoner, based on good behavior, may avail of a deduction of five days each month from his term, for the first two years of imprisonment.

From the third to the fifth year of imprisonment, eight days are allowed to be deducted each month; from the sixth to the 10th year, 10 days of deduction; and from the 11th year onward, 15 days of deduction.

Asked why Teehankee was released before midnight of Friday, Reyes said he had no idea why the release took place very late in the night but that he was certain Teehankee should have been released at an earlier date.

“What I know is that based on his records, his sentence has been served,” Reyes said in Filipino. “He should have been released earlier, as early as September.”

Reyes recalled that the original date of recommendation for Teehankee’s release was Sept. 28, 2008.

NBP Executive Director Bartolome Bustamante also confirmed Teehankee’s release.

He is coming back

Bustamante said Teehankee had to call home to tell his relatives about his release.

“He had no one to fetch him,” Bustamante said. “He was allowed to call home because he was about to be released. After that call he made on the landline, his relatives arrived.”

Bustamante said he was around when Teehankee was released and he said that he remembered telling him in Filipino: “You’re a free man, you ought to learn your lesson.”

He said Teehankee simply answered: “Thank you, Sir.”

He said Teehankee promised to return to the NBP.

Bustamante quoted Teehankee as saying: “I will be missing my group and I would like to be of help in the rehabilitation of the prisoners in my own little way and using my connections. I will be back to help.”

A few days before his release, Teehankee donated high breed seeds to the Office of the NBP Superintendent—for prisoners to plant in the allotted and designated lots in the prison compound.

Teehankee even mentioned the date when he would come back, but no longer as a prisoner.

“He said he would return during the National Corrections Consciousness Week on Nov. 3-10 to help and visit his former comrades,” Bustamante said.
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Ulyanin: Bakit Tayo Paulit-ulit Na Nagpapakant*t?

Nagamit ko na 'tong picture na 'to sa isang lumang post. Pero gagamitin ko ulit ngayon. Ganda eh. Hitik sa laman. Daming ibig sabihin. At ang masaya pa ro'n, may kahulugan lang ito sa mga taong involved. Meaning, sa mga taong walang paki, profile pic lang 'to na pang-Friendster.

Bakit nga ba andali nating makalimot? Noong una kong narinig 'yung komentaryo na 'yun, parang malaman. Parang pikon 'yung nagsasalita. Parang mananapak.

Pero ngayon, parang joke na lang.

Lalaki 1: Pare, bakit mo kinuha 'yung wallet ko nu'ng natulog tayong magkatabi? [Nyahahaha! nagkaro'n bigla ng gay undertone. Ayan, d'yan tayo magaling kaya lagi tayong nawawala sa totoong isyu.]
Lalaki 2: Hindi ah.
Lalaki 1: Ah, okay.

Kinabukasan...

Lalaki 1: Pare, bakit mo kinuha 'yung damit ko nu'ng naligo tayo nang sabay?
Lalaki 2: Hindi ah.
Lalaki 1: Ah, okay.

At kinabukasan ulit...

You get the drift.

Anyway, my point is that itong si Gloria "Impakta" Arroyo ay hindi bago. Hindi unique. Walang kakaibang ginawa. Walang bagong teknik sa panliligaw na ipinauso. Eh bakit naitihaya pa rin n'ya tayo sa talahiban?

'Kakainsulto, 'di ba?

Nauto na tayo dati ni Marcos: Tuwad! Tapos, tumuwad nga. Paulit-ulit. Nasaktan. Dinugo. Nagkapilay-pilay. Tapos umalma.

Pero nu'ng wala na 'yung sampamilyang demonyo, biglang nagpahinga! Maski nu'ng may iba namang humiklat sa balakang, 'di na umangal. Binulatlat na kaloob-looban ng singit, ng puson, hanggang bituka, abot hanggang lalamunan, sige pa rin.

Magrereklamo kunwari pero wala rin. Ang ending, pakant*t pa rin.

Hindi naman sa ibinubunton ko lahat ng sisi sa mga taumbayan. Syempre si Gloria "Demonyita" Arroyo 'yung nasa pwesto na anlaki sana ng magagawa para pabutihin ang pamamalakad sa pamahalaan, pero siya pa 'tong pasimuno sa lahat ng katarantaduhan. Tsaka 'yung mga pulitikong puro pa-pogi ang alam, at wala naman talagang matinong nagagawa; karamihan pa eh puro bobo. Tapos nariyan 'yung mga abusadong korporasyon na kino-kontraktwal lahat ng mga empleyadong desperado sa trabaho para walang bayarang benefits gaya ng SSS at Philhealth. Tsaka 'yung mga ipokritong media networks na kung manggising ng mga tiwaling tauhan sa gobyerno at pribadong sektor eh akala mo kung sinong malinis, eh, tingnan mo naman at more than half ng mga tauhan eh ni walang kontrata kahit biglang kontraktwal, at may ilan pang pinapasweldo ng below minimum wag per month, minus pa 'yung 10% na withholding tax.

Pero syempre hindi pwedeng wala tayo--bilang mga ordinaryong Juan at Maria, at Tonette at Bubbles--na tatanggaping kasalanan. Kung hindi tayo aamining pagkukulang, wala tayong babaguhin, at patuloy na lang tayong aasa na may magkukusang-loob na mag-angat sa kinalalagyan natin.

Uhm...

Hay, naku. Nakalimutan ko na 'yung punto ko.

Naging ulyanin na 'ata ako dahil sa tinagal-tagal na panahon eh pinayagan kong maging pakant*t.

Alam Mo Ba Ang Cellphone # Ko?

I lost my cell the other week. Syempre kasama pati 'yung SIM [alangan namang balikan pa 'ko nu'ng mandurukot para lang iabot 'yung SIM: =affecting Camille Pratts's Ang TV-accent= "Esmyuski! Eto nga ho pala 'tong SIM n'yo. Baka 'di n'yo pa naba-backup 'yung contacts n'yo." Surreal naman 'pag ganu'n].

Anyway, right now, I'm trying my best to re-build 'yung mga nawalang relationship, friendship at phone book. If we haven't been in touch in the last couple of weeks, or kung nagte-text kayo at 'di ako nagre-reply, it only means na 'di ko na wala na akong means para kontakin kayo.

So, [at dito na sasabihin ng bida 'yung title ng pelikula] alam mo ba ang cellphone # ko? Paki-text na lang ako sa dati ko pa ring number para ma-include ko aking new & improved, industrial strength phonebook.

Syempre, don't forget to include your name, signature at 3 tansan ng kahit anong Silver Swan products para maging lucky home partner.

'Yun lang at maraming salamat.

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Untold Stories: Ume-MTV Na Feeling May Social Relevance

Habang ngarag-ngaragan sa pagtipa sa keyboard dahil naghahabol ng deadline, may music sa background. Naka-shuffle mode ang media player kaya nakakagulantang ang mga tumutugtog--from Regina Spekpektor to Avenue Q to E-Heads to High School Musical to Andrea Bocelli... Tapos umeepal din 'yung Pussycat Dolls minsan-minsan Basta.

Tapos habang nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagmumuni-muni kung bakit kailangang 2 or more na trabaho ang kailangang karirin ko at ng marami sa mga kaibigan ko para lang mabuhay, biglang umatak sa playlist 'yung Untold Stories. Hala! Ito pala ang soundtrack ng buhay ng mga Pinoy. Hindi ko kinaya.

At na-distract na 'ko. Parang masarap gawan ng MTV. Montage ng pictures ni Gloria, ni Mike Arroyo, nu'ng mga alipores nila, ni Erap, ni Marcos, ni Imelda [grabe, aabutan ako ng Pasko kung ie-enumerate ko lahat. Basta tingnan na lang ang pattern]. Tapos segue sa mga batang kalye, mga matatanda sa kalye, basta lahat ng nasa kalye. Tsaka 'yung mga pila sa NFA rice. Then kailangan 'yung mga batang nagdidilim ang magandang-bukas dahil kung saan-saang trabaho nagbabagsakan. Tapos isali na rin natin 'yung mga contractual employees mula pier, hanggang department stores at fastfood chains, media networks, etc.

Untold Stories

[Download the music after the jump.]

I am living while I am living to the father I will pray

Only he knows how we get through everyday

All the hike in the price

Arm and leg we have to pay

While our leaders play

All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab

Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag

No love for the people who a suffer real bad

Another toll to the poll may God help we soul

What is to stop the youths from get out of control

Full up of education yet no own no payroll

The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.

I could go on and on the full has never been told

I am living while I am living to the father I will pray

Only he knows how we get through everyday

With all the hike in the price

Arm and leg we have to pay

While our leaders play

Who can afford to run will run

But what about those who can't they will have to stay

Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity

In these times I say: When mama spend her last and send you go class

Never you ever play

It's a competitive world for low budget people,

Spending a dime while earning a nickel

With no regards to who it may tickle; My cup is full to the brim

I could go on and on the full has never been told

I am living while I am living to the father I will pray

Only he knows how we get through everyday

With all the hike in the price

Arm and leg we have to pay

While our leaders play

All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab

Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag

No love for the people who a suffer real bad

Another toll to the poll may God help we soul

What is to stop the youths from get out of control

Full up of education yet no own no payroll

The clothes on my back have countless eyehole

Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Punyemas. Ang cliche. Panahon pa ni Marcos, cliche na 'tong sentimiento de bobo na 'to. Kaso until now wala pa ring nagbabago.

[Download the music after the jump.]
[Click photos for the source.]
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Kung Paanong Muntik Na Akong Mag-Pasko sa DBP-Commonwealth

Siempre hindi naman totoong du'n ako nag-Pasko. Malayo pa naman ang Pasko. Hindi totoo 'yung pronouncement ng isang dating colleague ko na, "August na. -Ber na." Ngarag lang s'ya nu'ng nasambit n'ya 'yun.

Idiotic expression lang 'yun, you know "A group of words that have a specific meaning different from the translation of each individual word making up the expression." 'Yung sinabi kong du'n ako nag-Pasko; hindi 'yung adik-adik na sinabi nu'ng dating colleague.

Pakiramdam ko lang, ganu'n. Hindi 'yung adik na dati kong colleague; ang ibig kong sabihin ay 'yung parang du'n na ako nag-Pasko sa Development Bank of the Philippines - Commonwealth.

Kasi naman dumating ako du'n kanina shortly after 1pm. Magkakamal lang ako ng pera by encashing 'yung tseke na sinweldo ko sa pagiging isang public school teacher. Medyo mainit ang sikat ng araw, at medyo bibo si Manong Driver ng UP-Pantranco. Kaya naman 'yung maligamgam kong ulo eh muntik nang umabot sa boiling point [considering na gawa ito sa lead]. Buti na lang at nakarating muna kami ng Philcoa bago ako nagmistulang rebentador.

Tapos pagdating sa DBP-Commonwealth, as usual:

Trivia

Would definitely not make life any better: would neither help us find the cure for AIDS nor make Gloria Liit leave Malacanang. But it's fun to know useless things such as these. Kinda like Algebra and Geometry, you know.

Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

And lollipop is the longest word typed with your right hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

Dreamt is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The words racecar, kayak and level are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).

There are only four words in the English language which end in ~dous: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: abstemious and facetious. Typewiriter is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A jiffy is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history NOT to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
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Ships' 45 accidents listed: Lloyd's details Sulpicio's 28-year history

Sulpicio Lines should apply for a Guinness for having made the most number of people buy tickets for their own death.

I have always preferred traveling by boat. First time I ever got on a boat was in 1989, on my way to Cotabato City. About a year earlier, MV Dona Paz sank, and supposedly, one of my high school classmates's father died in that tragedy.

But that news didn't stop me from going on-board MV Cotabato Princess. My justification for avoiding airplanes as much as possible has always been: If the plane crashed, I'd surely die because I couldn't fly. But if the boat sank, I could at least try to swim.

But apparently that is crap.

Anyway, here's the very first article I saw on Inquirer when I went online this morning.


By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:39:00 07/13/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the MV Princess of the Stars that sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last month at the height of Typhoon "Frank (international code name: Fengshen)," has a disturbing history.

For the past 28 years, its ships have not only sunk but have also collided with other vessels, caught fire, stalled at sea for several days, and run aground.

The maritime information database www.lloydsmiu.com has recorded incidents involving Sulpicio Lines vessels from 1980 to 2008. The record includes the June 21 sinking of the Princess of the Stars--the seventh sinking incident to involve the shipping company.

In all, Sulpicio Lines has had 45 sea accidents since 1980.

Of the Sulpicio Lines vessels, six have collided with other ships, six have caught fire, seven have had engine problems and stalled at sea, and 19 have run aground.

The deadliest incident was the 1987 sinking of the MV Doña Paz after it collided with the MT Vector. As many as 4,300 people are believed to have died in the worst peacetime disaster in history.

Although the Doña Paz was involved in a collision, the incident was classified as a sinking in the data provided by Lloyd's MIU.

The next deadliest incidents were the sinking of the Doña Marilyn in October 1988 and the Princess of the Orient in September 1998 (with 150 fatalities each), and the Princess of the Stars last month.

At present, only 57 of the 864 people on board the Princess of the Stars have been found alive. Hundreds of bodies are believed trapped inside the ill-fated ship that left Manila for Cebu City.

Reached on the phone, Sulpicio Lines lawyer Arthur Lim said he had no comment.

No casualties

Another sinking incident involved the Sulpicio Container I (1980), with no casualties.

There were also no casualties reported in the six collisions involving Sulpicio Lines vessels--the Palawan Princess, which collided with the MV Wilcon VI at the Manila North Harbor (1992); the Filipina Princess, with a Uni-Modest vessel at the entrance of the Manila North Harbor (1993); the Iloilo Princess, with the MV Solid Pearl near the Manila North Harbor (1997); the Sulpicio Container V, with the MV Asia Malaysia at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo (2000); the Princess of Paradise, with the MV LSC Cagayan de Oro off Cebu (2003); and the Sulpicio Express Dos, with the tank barge Golden Arowana 3 off Corregidor (2005).

The six Sulpicio Lines vessels reported to have caught fire were the Philippine Princess (1989); the Princess of the Orient, then refueling at the Manila North Harbor (1997); the Dipolog Princess, then undergoing repair at Pier 7 in Cebu (2000); the Tacloban Princess, then docked in Ormoc, and where two people died (2002); the Iloilo Princess, then docked at Pier 4 in Cebu (2003); and the Princess of the World, then at sea off Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte (2005).

The seven incidents of vessels being stalled at sea involved the Filipina Princess, whose engine broke down twice (in November 1992 and March 1996); the Cotabato Princess, whose engine also broke down twice (July 2002 and March 2004); and the Princess of the Ocean, whose engine encountered problems three times (October 2002, March 2004 and June 2007).

The Sulpicio Lines vessels that ran aground were the Doña Paulina (1980); Don Victoriano I (1982); Sulpicio Container X (1986); Philippine Princess (1990 and 1997); Palawan Princess (1990 and 1995); Cagayan Princess (1990); Surigao Princess (1996); Princess of the Caribbean (1998); Tacloban Princess (1999); Cotabato Princess (2001); Dipolog Princess (2003 and 2007); Cebu Princess (2003); Princess of Paradise (2003); Princess of the Pacific (2004); Filipina Princess (2006); and the Princess of the Universe (2006).

'Correct but incomplete'

According to data earlier provided by Philippine Coast Guard sources, Lloyd's MIU has recorded 33 maritime incidents involving the vessels of Sulpicio Lines from 1980 to 2008. A source said the information came from maritime industry insiders.

When validated by Inquirer Research, Lloyd's MIU investigations/research manager Arne Hanssen said the data were "correct, but incomplete."

With Hanssen's comments, the total number of maritime accidents involving Sulpicio Lines ships rose from 33 to 45.

Lloyd's MIU said that:

The sinking of the MV Doña Paz in December 1987 led to the loss of "more than 2,000 people."

The Princess of the Stars "sank off Sibuyan Island after grounding, following engine trouble, [leaving] 150 dead and 700 missing."

The other ships that sank were the MV Carmen in 1987 and the Boholana Princess in December 1990.

300-year history

According to its website, Lloyd's MIU has "a 300-year-old history in providing information to the maritime world."

It provides data on vessel movement, ownership, characteristics and casualties, as well as port information and in-depth company information.

Lloyd's MIU data are published online, and in books and magazines. The data are compiled from various sources, including Lloyd's Agency Network of 700 agents and sub-agents, leading registries and classification societies and major company registries all over the world.

Its principal offices are located in the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore. It employs its roster of analysts and researchers in Athens, Barcelona, Mumbai and Vancouver.
With a report from Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research

Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

News source after the jump.
Click the pix for their sources.
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Onli In Da Pilipins: The Mysterious [Dis]Appearing Market

Got this from Jke.

It's a very short clip. Finish it and you'll be amazed.

Basta. No more spoilers.

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Starstruck: Dream. Believe. Conspire.

On Friday night, Libay, Beng, Avie and I had a meeting with Cynthia Alexander. Syempre, starstruck ako.

Sobra akong excited to meet Cynthia (yep, first name basis) in person kaya bago kami umalis ng UPFI, nag-rehearse na kami ng blocking para magka-picture kami together.

It worked. Although I'm pretty sure na wala siyang kamalay-malay na 'yung ibang shots, sa aming dalawa lang nakatutok.

*stalker*stalker*stalker*

Hindi, ah. Hindi ako epal na stalker so wala siyang dapat ipag-alala sa kaligtasan niya at ng mga mahal niya sa buhay.

The Libay and the Tarp.

Siyempre, hindi pa nakakapasok ng Conspiracy pero piktyuran na nang piktyuran. Libay, Avie and Beng.

Conspirators: Libay, Beng and Avie.

The Messenger: Me carrying a brown envelop.

Ang Sari-Sari Store ni GMA na bukas sa lahat ng gustong lumamon.

More conspirators: Libay, Beng, Jaja (sp), Bryan (Quebry?!), Cynthia and Avie.

Moment of truth: Libay, Beng, Jaja, Bryan, Cynthia and, ehrm, I.

Same peeps, same place, same pose.

Ayun, nakakahalata na si Cynthia.

And... may pic kaming dalawa.

Me: Okay 'to, p're.
Cynthia: May utak kaya ito?

Ahwrrr! Nakahalata na nga. Napikon. Naging lobo tsaka tumakbo palayo.

Pero hindi du'n nagtatapos ang piktyuran. Si Avie 'to, sumi-silhouette.

Avie's silhouette ulit.

Avie's silhouette... pero may flash. (Anlabo.)

Libay and Beng. Quiet lang si Beng. Si Libay naman bume-blend sa plants.

Dalagang Pilipina.

The Libay and the Pako.

Ewan kung anong ibig sabihin nito.

Ito rin hindi malinaw kung ano ang message na padala ng universe.

GMA Q&A

Nakuha ko 'to sa isang mailing list. Eh ayaw iluwa yung bilyones na nakurakot, tapos ayaw pang bumaba sa pwesto. Kaya laitin na lang natin. Duh?!

1) "Eh di wala na!", ito ang sagot ni Gloria sa tanong na:
a) "Nasan na po ang pera ng bayan?"
b) "May pagtatalik pa bang nagaganap sa inyo ni Mike?"
c) "May pag-asa pa po ba kayong tumangkad?"

2) Sa litratong ito, si Gloria ay:
a) Contestant sa Little Miss Philippines
b) Contestant sa Miss Gay Pampanga
c) Contestant sa Little Miss Gay Pampanga

3) Ang sigaw ni Gloria ay:
a) "Darna!"
b) "Kokey!"
c) "Hindi ako pahuhuli ng buhay! Yessss!"

4) Galit si Gloria dahil:
a) sinasabihan pala siya ng mga alipores niya na "luckiest bitch around"
b) kamukha nya si Candy Pangilinan sa litratong ito
c) hindi sya galit, ino-audition lang nya ng "walaaaang himalaaaa!"

5) Sagot ni Gloria ay ganito nang tanungin sya ng:
a) "Ok ka lang ate?"
b) "Paano kayo nanalo sa election?"
c) "Gaano kalaki ang butas ng puwet ni Mike?"

6) Sa litratong ito, si Gloria ay:
a) nasa prayer meeting
b) bigatin sa Wowowee o tumataktak sa Eat Bulaga
c) gustong sumagot sa tanong ng guro

7) Sa larawang ito, si Gloria ay:
a) nangangati ang leeg dahil sa buni
b) may isinesenyas sa mga militar na kailangang patahimikin
c) pinapaalis 'yung angel sa kanang balikat

8) Nakapikit si Gloria dahil:
a) may na-amoy na mabango
b) may na-amoy na mabaho
c) may na-amoy na pera

9) Ang larawan ito ay kinuha noong:
a) debut nya
b) JS Prom nya
c) sumali sya sa Little Miss Gay Pampanga

10) Ang daliring ito ang kanyang:
a) pinang-kukulangot
b) pinang aaliw sa sarili
c) pandutdot sa puwet ng kanyang asawa

11) Bad trip na naman sya dahil:
a) may nagtanong tungkol sa height nya
b) may nagtanong kung kapatid nya si Nora
c) hindi niya kayang ipaligpit ang lahat ng mga nagtatanong

12) Pinapakita ni Gloria na:
a) nakaboto na sya
b) naipit ang daliri nya sa pinto ng doll house
c) violet ang kulangot nya

13) "Apat" ang sagot ni Gloria ng tanungin sya kung:
a) ilang talampakan sya
b) ilang centimeters ang kay Mike
c) ilang utong meron sya