2012's My Choice

All of the news, trends and personality this year are equally important and has an impact to the people and the history as well have change it. Before this year closes, let me voice out my opinion as I will choose what are the best and have left a mark among them.

NEWS OF THE YEAR: The Corona Impeachment Trial
An action and tension between the prosecution, the defense panel and senators. Senator Santiago's witty dialogues and Senator Lapid's humbling statement. Corona's challenge against those who signed to impeach him. Many tune in to this impeachment trial that concludes with the 20-3 vote, removing CJ Corona from his position. This impeachment trial have left a mark in the history of the Philippines.

Runaway winner for the NEWS OF THE YEAR: Scarborough Stand Off
The tension that started when the Philippine government seizes a Chinese fishing vessel along the territorial dispute of Scarborough shoal has elevated into a tension between China and the Philippines. This lead to a stand-off between the navy fleets of the two countries. The Philippines made a move to change the name "South China Sea" to "West Philippine Sea".
Other news: Former DILG Sec. Robredo's plane crash, Typhoon Pablo, RH Bill, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

 

TAGLINE OF THE YEAR: Its more fun in the Philippines
Its more fun in the Philippines is the new tourism slogan of the Department of Tourism introduced this year that aims to attract foreigners to come and visit the Philippines and experience more fun than any other. What I like with this campaign is that it swept me with the feeling of its lightness and positiveness and opened up the doors of creativity . Netizens have posted their own "More Fun in the Philippines" and some of those pictures were included in the tourism campaign advertisement that was shown in CNN.
Runaway winner: Amalayer, "Wah"

PINOY YOUTUBE SENSATION OF THE YEAR: Random Girl
Zendee Rose Tenerefe also known as Random Girl became an instant celebrity when a netizen uploaded a video of her, singing "And Am I Telling You" in a mall. She became guest to numerous TV shows, made her own recording album and ultimately, goes to the US to guest in The Ellen deGeneres Show.
Runaway winner: JaMich

TRENDING SONG OF THE YEAR: Gangnam Style
The first Youtube video to achieve 1 billion hits, referred by others as one of Nostradamus' prediction, the dance craze that captured the hearts of not only Kpop fanatics but also the world and used by the Department of Health as a campaign jingle against firecrackers. And more to mention.
Runaway winner: Call Me Maybe

GOOD NEWS OF THE YEAR: Framework Agreement between GPH and MILF 
The framework agreement between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Font have topped the good news of the year. Among the conditions in the agreement is the scrapping of ARMM and the establishment of Bangsamoro autonomous region. This promises to end the conflict in Mindanao and finally bring peace that had displaced people in the region.

Runaway winner: high economic growth rate

(Credits to those who owned the pictures used in this entry. )

El Presidente

Together with my brother, we watched an MMFF-entry movie, El Presidente. This is directed by Mark Meily who brought the 2008 movie Baler and stars E.R. Ejercito playing the Philippine Republic's first president, Emilio Aguinaldo.

Before I go to the cinema, I rushed in line to the ticket counter. As I expected, there is a long queue ahead of me and I have to wait a few minutes to purchase a ticket. When it is finally settled, I waited for a few more minutes for my brother and my parents to come. We are supposed to watch at Ayala Center, however, the movie which we would like to watch in the big screen aren't available in the said mall. So we transferred to the SM. As soon as they came, I give their tickets for the movie they want, Sosy Problems while I held our ticket for El Presidente. We head to Cinema 3, which by the way, is located at the other side of the mall. We passed by on the long queue of movie goers wanting to watch Sisterakas. I heard that some of the movie goers inside the cinema needs to stand while watching the film since there are no seats anymore. So we reached Cinema 3 and go inside the cinema where movie goers going out. The film had already finished. We waited for almost an hour for the movie to start.

Among all the movies  for MMFF this year, I chose El Presidente because first I have affliction to history films. Secondly, I have to break free from watching comedy films. Two consecutive years (Ang Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat and Enteng Ng Ina Mo), I was keen to watch another genre this year. After all, I had grew tired of watching the same faces as much as other people feel about Vic Sotto's yearly Enteng Kabisote movie series that for me, has almost the same villain and stories. I watched the trailer of this film beforehand and I was pretty impress. So why not give it try, right?

Before I post my reviews...if you haven't watched the movie, stop here. If you want to watch the movie, stop here. Spoiling is an immortal sin for movie-goers. What I would say briefly that this movie is interesting that I almost forgot to get the bread that my brother and I had brought into the cinema. Aside that I don't like to spoil, I don't like also to give synopsis. Again, this is about the life of Emilio Aguinaldo and you can read some portions of it in your history book

To begin with, it has story, a substance that it tells to its movie goers. It has direction to where it wants to go by how it narrates the story of Emilio Aguinaldo from the time he had his job as a cabeza de barangay to his death bed. People who are relevant to the revolution and who crosses fate with him are also given life such as Andres Bonifacio and Antonio Luna. There was a scene of an old lady who predicts Emilio's future, I think seems sprays the film with a little fantasy, however, it somehow introduces us with the main story and question that needs to answer for. Fighting scenes and not to mention, sword and gun fighting are good with slow motions along the way. The best scene throughout the film is the one on how Emilio Aguinaldo encounters American troops before his capture at Palanan. Emilio Aguinaldo is portrayed as a protagonist, the hero, who is courageous, witty and demands independence.

There are some low keys in the film. At the first hour of the film, I usually notice that there are a lot of transition from scene to scene. For sometime, I noticed also the voice dubbing of the main actor. Less blood are used throughout the film. Perhaps, because this is rated PG and an entry to MMFF. Though I like how one of the film's principal sponsor, San Miguel Beer, presented in the film, but it seems awkward that there is commercialization.

If I have to rate this film, I would give this one a score of 8.8 over 10. I never heard a movie featuring the life of Emilio Aguinaldo or tackles about the Philippine revolution. If there is a movie for the latter, it merely tells the story of Supremo, Gat Andres Bonifacio. The film is visually appealing by my definition, "the picture is crisp and very clear like I am watching a film made in Hollywood" and acting wise good with star-studded cast leading the way. I placed my bet that this film will bag awards in the festival. The film runs 2 hours and 40 minutes, quite long because of the researches incorporated throughout the film.

Enjoy!

First of all, Merry Christmas to all the readers of my blog. May you have a good holiday together with somebody -  family, friends, best friends or spouse. After all the stress from work, studies etc. throughout the year, everyone deserve something for themselves, a reward perhaps.

Since its Christmas season, family and friends usually go out to bond and go to places. And one of those places that people usually go during Christmas Day is the movie house  One of the highlights, since its Christmas Day, are the Filipino movies that are now showing in cinemas nationwide. These films are entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

El Presidente 

One More Try

Shake, Rattle and Roll XIV

Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Si Ako

Sisterakas

Sosy Problems

The Strangers

Thy Womb

Before I end this post, here is a video I have made. Hope you'll like it. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!!

Pacquiao's Web

Last week, the world had saw the fourth bout of Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez for WBO welterweight champion. The fight that had started great for the People's Champ, folded up with him as he was knock down by a punch led by El Dinamita in the sixth round. Many are shocked with the result. Not to mention, many cannot believe that a single punch thrown out by Marquez could end this boxing match. Many of my friends in Facebook had posted their disbelief with the result more than Pacquaio's last match with Bradley. His latest fight had cleared that that his opponent won than his fight with Bradley where many has perceived that it was already fixed.

Many people have ideas on who and what blame with Pacquaio's defeat. His mother, Mommy D blamed his defeat to the pastors who led Manny to switch of religion from being a Catholic and stealing the time for his training in exchange of bible study. Ever since his son has changed his religion, he lose with his fight, in 2 consecutives. Before his fights, Manny used to do the sign of the cross in the corner and used to carry a rosary with him. But not anymore. Mommy D is not alone with her 'theory'. Some took it that Pacquaio suffers the consequence of religion switching. But before we took it negatively, let us remember the moments before Pacquaio had made the switch. According to reports, he was into vices such as alcohols, going to night clubs and cock fighting. He was linked with girls, famously with Krista Ranillo. One day, he turned back all of them. He have changed to be close to the Lord. He invest his time in bible studying, rather than going to his vices that are proven to be self-destructive. It is a good news!

A friend of mine thinks that Pacquaio's defeat can be attributed to his lack of focus in boxing and the way he handles of his affairs. He is a politician, entertainer and product endorser. He have made boxing his part time job, I say. He was into public service as the congressman of the lone district of Saranggani for three years. He is the richest Congressman but he has one of the most number of absences in the Congress. No bills authored from him became laws. He was against RH Bill and voted NO during the second reading. However, his and the rest of legislators who are against it got knocked down by majority of those who favored. Aside from his political stint, Pacquaio is an entertainer. He has appears in numerous TV shows and got a sitcom and a variety show. He was starred at two movies in 2009 and 2010 which had suffered in the box office. Pacquaio is also a recording artist.

After his defeat, Canadian teen pop sensation Justin Bieber had posted mocked pictures against Pacquaio. One picture with him, lying down in the ring while a Disney character, Simba asked him to wake up. In one picture is a shot of the recent fight between Mayweather and Marquez where the former knock down the latter as if it is meant to say that Pacquaio has no chance against Mayweather. This prompts Filipino netizens anger that some of Justin's Filipino followers have unfollow him in his Twitter account. A hash tag was especially made for him, RespectthePhilippinesBieber. Just a while ago, I read a news that lawmakers had filed a resolution demanding Justin Bieber, an apology and declare him as "persona non-grata", stating that Pacquaio is "the source of our nation's pride". Personally, what the teen pop sensation has done is an insult to Pacquaio. It is like when a man is down, what the other man can do is mock him, instead of lifting him up. Comparing both credentials (Bieber and Pacquaio), there's no need to say that who is better regardless of their age. And even it matters, Bieber has a lot to do and prove more. The resolution filled by lawmakers, though some may like it, is mediocre even if it is to say that he should be taught a lesson for insulting the source of our nation's pride. They would waste time for someone like Justin Bieber that only did a concert once in the Philippines. Get real! There are more things to do than filing a resolution that demands Justin Bieber an apology to the People's Champ and banning him. These are the welfare of our countrymen. Besides, Pacquaio had ignored it. On the other hand, as it is perceivable by some people that Pacquaio is "the source of our nation's pride" proven by his winning streaks and people cheered on him, but the concept of our nation's pride (or source of our nation's pride) should not be rested in one person or handful of people who had made in the international scene. As what someone had said and what I think it is, that, us, ourselves is our nation's pride.

Manny Pacquaio turned 34 this year. His fight with Marquez, I'm sure, it is not the end of his boxing career even of his political and showbiz career. Even the best fall down sometimes. He have time to regain the lost, change what is needed and become victorious again. The real champions are not the ones who gain the title nor never defeated but they are the ones who chose to continue and rise up after they fall down!

The English Fever

My brother came to me and ask me to sign his student's handbook. The reason was that he was "caught" by his fellow classmates uttering some dialect words. He was a given a chip and he needs to caught somebody with the same offense and pass the chip to him or her. If he cannot do so, he will face deduction in his subject. I remember a few years back, in high school, when our school had implement an English-speaking campaign. Students are encourage to speak English while they are in school so that they will get used to speak this foreign language, as well as, improving their vocabulary and grammar.

Private schools and public schools are teaching students to learn English. This foreign language (our national language elaborated in the Constitution) was introduced way back kindergarten years from simple reading and writing alphabets. Elementary until high school, students were taught how to make a sentence, construct a paragraph and many more. As the student goes up the ladder, some lessons are repetitive and at the same time, more are introduced and becoming more ardous.

To encourage students to speak English while in school, teachers implemented ways to visualize that goal. They put up some gimmicks like a game to their students, organize English drives or make some kinds of rules with rewards on one hand but punishments on the other. When I was in elementary, one of the basic few rules inside the classroom and in the campus was to speak English. When one student caught his classmate uttering dialect, he/she reports it immediately to the class treasurer. The student that was caught is tasked to pay an amount of money, in our case, five pesos and he will be 'forgiven'. The money collected will be allotted for Christmas Party by December. Looking back, it was helpful to which I can attest to it. My vocabulary and the way I pronounce words have improved well those days.

The fact that English has becoming the world's second language is adequate to answer why English are taught for students to learn, read and speak well. In college, most textbooks and lessons are written and taught in English. In globally-competitive settings such as corporations and as well as international foreign relations, writing, reading and speaking English is a strict requirement. When applying for work, interviewers communicate with English. Even white collar jobs, it is advantageous. In the government, transactions and laws are written in English. Also, in private companies and banks. Almost everywhere, English language is used to communicate.

As for my brother, I signed his handbook with a note on the bottom, saying, "I will try my best to teach him to speak English."

RH Bill: my sentiments

Yesterday, after all the heated debates in the floors of both House of Representatives and Senate, the second reading for the passage of the much controversial Responsible Parenthood or better known as RH Bill had commenced. Each Congressmen, voted by their constituents, had cast upon their votes and state their own reasons. In the end, early Thursday morning, 113 legislators had voted YES, 104 has voted NO and 3 ABSTAIN.

In relation, here are the reasons of some Congressmen why they vote NO to RH Bill. I chose the worst reasons, as claimed by other people. I'll just give my opinion and try my best not to criticize. It's their reasons anyway, so Respect.

#2: what's the relationship of the recent natural calamities with RH Bill? What's the score?

#3: if that is, why our country only? Why not include Italy, United States who had implemented already their own version of reproductive health bill?

#4: more people in the PH sooner, more OFWs? Is it better that foreign investors should come here in the Philippines rather than Filipinos go to other countries and invest their talents there? 

#5: so therefore, the Church has the right to meddle with the State? 

#7: who really ran and represent your constituents?

#8: if Communists are the ones behind the RH Bill, what do you call for United States and United Nations who endorsed it?

Personally, I am not against RH bill nor agree for it. I was PRO because a subject I  took had introduced me to RH Bill. I was ANTI out of religious reasons. I made a little research about RH Bill and get the opinion of my classmates and a teacher. I was particularly amazed with someone who stood up that he is against it, in a tone that is dominant and dignified. The researches and interviews are for the post that I wrote (this was during Sotto's plagiarism issue) with the introduction like this:

The debate regarding the approval of House Bill 4244, popularly known as RH Bill has reached on a higher scale as the said controversial bill has reached the desks of Senators in the Upper House. The bill aims to curve the population of the country through the introduction of modern family methods as well as integration of sex education in primary and secondary levels. Moreover, the said bill aims to improve the maternal health services in the country and reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate. Since 1998, the bill was revised several times but up to now, it is impending for approval. When Noynoy Aquino sits as the president of the republic, RH Bill was one of his priority bills, taking it as one of his drastic solutions to eradicate poverty in the country. Several sectors supported the bill, however, it has also met oppositions particularly from the Catholic Church. Will the said bill after the longest time gets to be approve? Or another revision is needed?

Sadly, I didn't finished it because I ran out of time, ideas in the least.

So much of this researches and interviews, my conviction for RH Bill as one solid YES or NO is not truly fixed. On one place, I think it is needed for other reasons, not population control alone. Among these are improving maternal health services and sex education. But I don't think it is the real, only and even a solution [to the extent of questioning its implementation as a solution] to poverty.  There are more than an RH Bill like attracting foreign investments so employment will follow and good governance.

Next week, there will be third and final reading for the bill. If it will be approved by majority, it will passed into the Senate and undergone the same legislative process. Still approve by majority, it will be passed to the President for him to sign or not. Once he signed, it will become a law.


Are you PRO or ANTI?
Share what you think!  Drop your comment on the box below.

Earth At Night

In the darkness of the night, we could see the moon like a crystal ball floating in the air along with the hundreds and thousands of stars that shines a little over the dark sky. But have you stopped and wondered, what the earth would look like when its at night from a satellite point of view, thousands of miles away? Well, just imagine that you have a satellite outside Earth. These are the images below:

The whole world

East Asia

Nile River, Suez Canal and Egypt

The United States of America

Atlantic Ocean with the two Americas (left side) and Europe and Africa (right)

(c) National Geographic

From: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/pictures/121205-earth-night-science-space/#/new-view-earth-at-night-globe_62007_600x450.jpg

Here is a video in Youtube video that talks about nightly view of Earth:

Donya Angelica

Her funny, sometimes, sarcastic tweets and a bucket of maldita and taray lines had won the humor of more or less 35,000 users in Facebook and 130,000 Twitter followers.

This internet meme was inspired from the main protagonist of the 1994 series Marimar. If you are lucky to watch that Mexican telenovela, which had gain foothold in the Philippines and undisputed rating-earner in 90's, you may recognize Donya Angelica Santibanez. She made the life of a poor, naive girl Marimar hard by embarrassing her, masterminding evil acts against the lass and ultimately, throws out a bracelet in the mud and orders Marimar to retrieve it with her teeth.

Donya Angelica orders her assistant Facundo, to do some errands like pouring Chanel perfume on a stinky canal or reserve 2000 Smart Iphones to make them as tiles in her mansion. She has tips for her followers who are eager to feel like rich and act as rich.

Here are some of here tweets and posts:

Interested? Follow @DonyaAngelica or Like it on FB at Kontrabida Meme

Life is like a book

Source: The Idealist, Facebook

Crumpled Paper

Source: The Idealist(Facebook)

Someone...

How do I say goodbye to someone I never had.

Why do tears fall for someone who is never been to me

Why is it that I miss someone who I was never with

And I ask myself, "Why do I love someone who's affection was never mine?" 

Everyone's 15 minutes of fame

Andy Warhol, an American artist had once said, “In the future everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes.” True enough, Andy Warhol didn’t get it wrong. Fifteen minutes of fame? What does it mean? Is fame only last for fifteen minutes? Literally, no. According to Wikipedia, 15 minutes of fame is expression that connotes about a short-lived media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. This is often used in reference to figures in the entertainment industry or other areas of popular culture, such as Reality TV or Youtube. In other words, someone become famous but only a short span of time.

Before, being famous doesn’t take only instantly nor it doesn’t take about short time. Some of the famous actors and actresses in the showbiz scene took them sometime to make it big time. For example, Dolphy started in vaudeville before landing in silver screen. Some of them take countless auditions to make it in a role in films and television, eventually getting famous either locally or internationally.

Today, it doesn’t take a much wait to make it on the spotlight. In this generation, where every home can afford TV sets and computers, mobile phones connected to the internet and social networking and video sharing websites such as Facebook and Youtube, it is no wonder that everyone can have access to fame instantly. Famous people like entertainers or politicians can reach the masses through the wanders of television and become a household name, not to mention, influential. With a click of mouse, everyone can express their own personal opinions and criticisms through blogs, Facebook posts and tweets. One can display talents through video sharing websites and gain viewers from different parts of the world, making the world their center stage. Who can forget Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda and Zendee Rose Tenerefe, thanks to Youtube, had become famous and now recording artists.

Anyone can become freely and instantly famous positively or negative, like it or not. Whistleblowers become instant heroes like Jun Lozada who had sparked the television screens when he revealed the anomaly of NBN-ZTE deal with matching crying in front of the camera and an airport suspense upon his arrival at NAIA. Ordinary people like Carabuena who was caught by the camera while assaulting an MMDA officer and recent, the humiliation of a lady guard in an LRT station by Salvosa with her slang accent, “Amalayer” have shine in a bad light. Added to this are tons of videos of aspiring talents, events and weird, funny and awesome videos caught by the lens that are circulating in Youtube, contestants that have joined reality contests and politicians that had made publicity through media. And not to mention, scandals that had rocked the entertainment industry and the world of politics. In just a few matter of hours, people find heroes, talents and entertainment to praise, support and applaud but in a just a few matter of hours, people tags villains to criticize, condemn and cyberbully. But whether, it is a good or bad, it is still publicity and these characters that had graced our television screens, computers and mobile phones have become undeniably famous; the man or woman of the hour.

However, instant popularity is not a sureball nor permanent. Overtime, the general public forgot what these people had done and barely be even recognizing them unless there are people that will remind that they are the ones who had make it in the newspaper, television and becomes talk of the town. In the fast paced changing world where everyone is hungry for something new, there might be no place left for those who have already got their share of limelight. In a few months or even a year later, we might not remember what incident happened on LRT-1 or PNoy had dated a girl named Grace Lee. Luckily, there are people, accidentally or intentionally, becomes the center of attention in the media and the cyber community.

In the end, it boils down that people follow where the wind goes. What is the newsmaker today be talked about. What is vogue for today will be followed. But tomorrow, what is newsmaker today are not be talked about anymore. What is vogue today becomes “has-been”. And the cycle goes on…



This is only an opinion of the author of this blog. 

Rizal in Dapitan

A few weeks ago, I was able to travel to Dapitan together with my mom. Luckily, I don't miss a chance to visit a historical place that makes Dapitan mentioned in the Philippine history, the Rizal Shrine.

As the pages of the Philippine history had mention, Rizal was taken into exile to Dapitan in 1892. A small town, located in Zamboanga del Norte, in the island of Mindanao, Rizal as a deportee had made excellent contributions in Dapitan and not to mention, its people as well with only skills at hand.

A octagonal wooden house (left) and museum (right)

During his stay in Dapitan, Rizal practices medicine. The octagonal wooden that can be seen from the entrance serves as Rizal's clinic. He is a famous ophthalmologist or an eye-specialist. People come over to him, not only from Dapitan but also from some other places such as Luzon and Visayas to treat them.

On the other side, a museum was built where it houses some of Rizal's memorabilias. There are few drawings and paintings of him (like the one below) and some people that are relevant to his life like his parents and even his lovers. Aside from paintings, there are sculptors and even copy of his two books - the Noli and El Fili. An exceptional artist and writer as he is.

The many faces of Rizal

A few walks, the actual house of Rizal can be reached. The Casa Residencia is a square shaped house with only one room inside. It is amazing that it is well maintained through the years. I had chat with a woman who is a member of Knights of Rizal. When Rizal came in Dapitan, he lived in commandant's resident for some months until he had bought a land and start to build houses

Casa Residencia

Rizal's dam

Not too far from the Casa is the dam that Rizal made with the help of his students which was before, of limestones. This is one of his engineering marvels aside from lighting system he worked in the town of Dapitan.

The student's workshop

Aside from being a doctor and as an engineer, Rizal also became educator. He taught 16 boys from different prominent families of Dapitan many things such as swimming, writing, history and some values such as hard work, character building and word of honor. He didn't ask for any fees from them but rather asks them to do community projects for him.

The rock (in the right), the bay and the sea

The last place in the shrine that I like to feature is this rock. This rock is the witness of Rizal as he composed a short poem for a beautiful 18-year old girl named Josephine Bracken. He met her when she accompany her blind adoptive father, who travels all the way to Dapitan to seek medical treatment. The growing intimacy between he and Josephine made him composed a short poem for her entitled, "Josephine, Josephine". 

Some Quotes...

Credits from: FILIPINO COMMUNITY

Say it, Alphabetically

A way to say something with the use of the alphabet. 

Boy: ABC

Girl: Huh.?

Boy: Always Be Careful!

Girl: ahh.. then?

Boy: DEFG...

-Don't Ever Forget Girl! 

Girl: forget that?

Boy: I'm HI!

-Happy Inlove

Girl: So?

Boy: JKLM

-Just Keep Loving Me! 

Girl: so, how about... NOPQRSTUVWXYZ??

Boy: (thinking) 

-No Other Person Quite Reasonable Shall Treat U Very Well Xcept me, You'll Zee 

-End-