Musings of an Eccentric Male Specimen

LifestyleBohol * Ug Matam-is nga Kinampay

2012-01-15T23:59:00.001+08:00

It's time to paint the town purple again! It's Bohol's 12th annual UbiFest on Wednesday and it's gonna be bloody awesome--purply bloody, that is.

Enjoy reading!

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It’s a formidable task for a Bol-anon writer to figure out where to begin writing about ubi. It has always been part of my life and upbringing and I feel like there’s so much to talk about.

As far as I could remember, kinampay has always been a word regularly used by everyone around me. It was 17 years ago, as a kindergartener, that I was taught, word-for-word, how to sing the Bohol Hymn. The nuns at my preschool explained, by way of showing us a piece of ubi, that the word Kinampay from “lungsod sa bungtod nga matunhay ug matam-is nga kinampay,” which we sang every Monday before the beginning of class, represents a big root that revealed a silky and sticky purple flesh when cracked open, and of the fact that it makes a favorite Bol-anon holiday delicacy when mashed and folded in with other tasty ingredients.

Of course, since this is Ludwig writing, I’m not going to leave you without dishing out a couple of facts. This article will not dwell merely on my personal encounters with ubi, but on its relationship with our province and people as a whole. This’ll be another history lesson and you better pay attention because this is important stuff. This is about our beloved province. People shouldn’t proudly call themselves Bol-anons and take the subject of ubi lightly. Bail yourselves out of living as ignoramuses to your own culture and read on.

In the olden days—as in way, way back before the Spanish decided to colonize Bohol and proselytize everyone into adopting their belief system—ubi, particularly Kinampay, was regarded as the island’s most sacred crop. It was treated with more care than gold and precious stones. The method of sowing was ceremonious and intricate. It was a source of pride for those who participated in it. With the full moon soaring in the night sky, a line of non-menstruating virgins would march naked in ploughed land and plant ubi while uttering blessings and seeking the aid of Ay Sono, the Anito of the Island. Surely enough, with proper care, the crops would grow and flourish as vines with leaves the shape of a heart.

Such a pagan tradition has been carried into Christianity particularly in the areas of the province where agriculture remains as the primary source of income for the people. Bohol’s women are resilient, no doubt. Traditions have lived through their persistence in preserving Bol-anon culture and that’s what puts a smile of awe on my face. Although the original method of carrying out the planting may have been tweaked a little, to this day, there are those who—despite their Catholic beliefs—remain faithful to the way things were done before.

In the year 2000, having noticed the significance of ubi to Bohol, then Governor Rene L. Relampagos and Vice-governor Edgardo M. Chatto took a leap forward and launched the first Ubifest with the help of Mr. Lutgardo Labad. The festival prototype was made open to all farmers, scientists, researchers, stakeholders, and businessmen from all organizations and universities all over the country. As expected, it turned out to be an enormous success and has since then been held every year as an avenue for the promotion of ubi.

It has been nearly twelve years since the tradition of holding the Ubifest was started and I must say it has only gotten better.

This Wednesday, January 18th, the color purple will rule the island again. The year 2012 marks the 12th Ubifest which will be opened at the Acacia Garden of the Bohol Provincial Capitol. And as a tri-annual tradition, another Miss Ubifest will be crowned on January 19th, at Island City Mall.

Plenty of you may wonder what the essence of the Miss Ubifest pageant is. Well, my answer has already been given. Remember the women—the women of ubi! She may not necessarily prace nude and barefoot under the full moon while planting ubi, but she represents the great part of history that women have played.

And how significant is all this to Bohol? Observe the way the root looks on the outside. Doesn’t it remind you of the shape of the land that grows it? Moreover, it has been scientifically proven that ubi kinampay planted outside Bohol doesn’t grow the same way no matter how fertile the soil is. It represents the inimitability of a Bol-anon.

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Seen on Print:

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Self-Introduction Write-Up for the T.S.P.B.S.G.

2012-01-05T02:24:00.002+08:00

I wrote this introduction article for the national lecturers' study group of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines.

There are no pieces of sensitive information contained in it, so I figured it'd do no harm to post it here.

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Namaste!

I'm Ludwig Bon Mirgiño Quirog, a 22-year-old Boholano. I've been an official member of the T.S. since 2008, but I've been attending meetings since as early as 7-years-old. My parents, Boni and Liza, are both Theosophists themselves so I was introduced to Theosophical ideas and literature early.

As a child, I grew up picking up all sorts of information from my environment and learning from them instead of following a funnel with a single view. I was taught that everything, including chairs and pillows, had life. I was also trained never to hate anything or anyone for any reason.

I had a fascination for comparative religion when I was little. I studied Eastern spiritualities with my parents and I even went through a phase where I declared myself a Buddhist with a dream of becoming a monk one day—which caused me to be ridiculed by everyone who didn’t understand.

In 2007, with the inspiration of my father and the world’s need for peace, I started to get involved with the interfaith dialog efforts of the United Religions Initiative. I fell in love with the organization because its cause is centered on ending religiously-motivated violence and promoting peace among the world’s different religions and spiritual traditions through dialog in grassroots communities—similar to the Theosophical principle of Universal Brotherhood. For the U.R.I., I co-founded a Cooperation Circle called Trust, Understanding, and Learning Among Youth—T.U.L.A.Y. C.C., for short. Its aim is to build trust and understanding by learning from each other. Moreover, it is primarily a circle that promotes environmental awareness, so its activities mostly have to do with Earth care endeavors such as coastal clean-ups, tree planting, awareness seminars, and nature appreciation trips.

In 2010, I turned my post as coordinator of T.U.L.A.Y. C.C. over to a co-founder of mine and I became the primary coordinator of Bohol Goodwill Volunteers Inc., the organization that my father had founded in 1996, which is also a cooperation circle of the U.R.I. Its advocacy is mainly social issue awareness and personal outlook transformation. We promote peace through spreading information on acceptance of human differences in race and gender orientation, and proliferation of a positive attitude towards gender equality among many things.

Last November, I was elected president of the Bohol Theosophical Lodge. I accepted it as a big challenge and with great honor. Yes, it entails a lot of responsibilities, but it is absolutely not a burden. As much as I will be able to help lots of people, I will also be helping myself in the process. And joining the B.S.G. is an awesome way to kick start things.

Not of the Dragon Yet

2012-01-03T02:53:00.004+08:00

Just so you all know, the Year of the Water Dragon doesn't begin until January 23rd!

So, yeah. Don't go around greeting Chinese people "happy Year of the Dragon," because it's still the Year of the Hare until then.

This article is about cultural awareness, okay?

I'm not scolding anyone. I'm just writing this so you'd all be made aware.

Have you ever taken a long placement exam with multiple sub-section tests in a single session? I bet you have. You know... tests like NCAE, NMAT, LSAT, NEAT, NSAT, UPCAT, USTET, IQAT and other pretentious acronyms ending with E's or T's. Yes, I'm talking about those. They're pretty annoying, right? And I'll be damned if a huge chunk of you reading this don't think the annoyance largely stems from the time limits. I know you feel me here.

Take this situation: You're working on a test that you know is supposed to be good for one whole hour. However, lo and behold, a seatmate of yours pokes your shoulder on the 52nd minute to tell you that your next test has begun. Even though you know he/she is wrong, you still get pretty annoyed, don't you?

Well, for Chinese people and pedantic people with Chinese descent, that's kind of how it feels when you greet them "Happy Year of the Whatever-Zodiac-Animal-Comes-Next" before the Chinese New Year actually comes.

Also, when you try to make representations of the Water Dragon, please don't give them bat-like wings and arrow tip tails. Those are European dragons. Do a little research on the appearance of Asian Dragons before you try to draw anything. And, much like the image above, the term Water Dragon doesn't refer to a dragon that dwells on water. Rather, it refers to a dragon that's actually made of water. However you draw the wateriness doesn't matter much, though. Just please make sure it's not a creature that looks like it's been pulled right out of the Welsh National Flag and recoloured blue.

Anyway, until January 23rd comes around, Happy Last Days of the Year of the Metal Hare, everyone!

LifestyleBohol * More Than Loud Noises and Fireworks

2012-01-02T00:26:00.002+08:00

I wrote this for the New Year's Day issue of LifestyleBohol.

It's already 17 minutes past January 1st in the Philippines as I'm posting this, but for the rest of the countries in the world where it's still New Year's Day, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Enjoy reading!

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This day marks the beginning of 2012 CE for those of us who use the Gregorian calendar. On my part, it’s very tempting to write a long did-you-know essay, but don’t be discouraged early because I won’t be doing that. Sadly, I only have a couple of pages, so I’ll just leave the research work to LifestyleBohol’s readers as homework. Well, that’s if they even care to know. For now, let’s just stick to the New Year’s Day that we’re celebrating.

You may not be aware of it but January 1st is the closest thing the world has to a global public holiday, being that most countries use the same official calendar. On that note, it’s important that we honor the tradition of creating positive changes in ourselves to live by throughout the rest of our lives. It is on this day that most sensible people reminisce the year that just passed and contemplate on making themselves better.

What have you done in 2011? What are the things that need to be changed? What should you choose to keep doing this year? Are there habits that need to be killed? What can you do to help your children thrive on Earth after you’re gone? The questions come pouring endlessly, but they need to be addressed the right way.

I know this all sounds cliché, but you have to admit that I’m making sense. While each day of a person’s life is a chance to do good, the worldwide tradition of declaring resolutions for self-renewal on New Year’s Day is the perfect opportunity for those celebrating to make the world a better place. The ancients have always regarded the month of January to be one of fresh starts. It is, in fact, named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. See? This is something that’s been going on since Julius Caesar instituted the Julian calendar in 46 BCE. Why don’t we translate this tradition into a global peace-building endeavor?

Last Friday was José Rizal Memorial day for us Filipinos. It was preceded by Christmas Day—the day celebrating the birth of Jesus. Those were two men whose lives—as indubitable rationality posits—we should emulate. They both lived to benefit humanity in so many ways. They both defied tyrannical authorities that held their beloved people captive. Among several other things, Jesus taught his people to break away from their enslavement to irrational customs and to search for the Kingdom of heaven within, while Rizal helped us Filipinos muster the strength to destroy the fetters that caused us to continually permit others to enslave us. It is absolutely fitting that those dates come days before the dawn of the new year. I don’t believe I need to explain further.

If 30% of all Boholanos abide by the selfless positive resolutions they create today, imagine what the province would be like at the end of the year. On a global perspective, even if only 3% of the world’s population chooses to make lasting changes in themselves, the world will definitely see much better days. Let me put an emphasis on the word “selfless.” For instance, instead of simply saying “my resolution for this year is to lose weight,” give it a noble cause by adding “so I’ll be more physically capable of helping others,” or “so I’ll be healthy enough to raise my daughter and see to it that she grows up to be a happy and good woman,” or something like that. You don’t necessarily have to give your aesthetic and livelihood-related goals up; just add something fruitful to it and it’s sure to make a difference.

Don’t ever throw the idea off as nonsense. I know the feeling of having had so many unfulfilled aspirations, but it’s never too late to add them to next year’s list. And like I said, put something related to character-improvement and you’ll be surprised at how quickly other things will fall into place. This is because transformation begins within. In 2013, you’ll be a better person without even knowing it—whether or not you have done every material-related thing on your year’s to-do list. It only takes a willing and active consciousness and you’ll be an instrument of good, whether you’re poor as a mouse or richer than King Midas.

I acknowledge that this is harder for some than others. It’s an especially gargantuan quandary for people who live selfish lives. I wouldn’t disagree that the world’s socio-politico-legal culture is wretched and stained with a deep shade of wickedness, but are we going to allow ourselves to remain slaves to it forever? We can make a choice anytime we want. We could choose to tread the positive path tomorrow, next month, or four years later. However, the best time to do it is now. That’s an incontestable fact. Yesterday has passed and tomorrow is covered by a cloud of uncertainty, so why not choose to make good today? I don’t believe there’s anything bad about being good.

Moreover, what’s extra special about today is the fact that you’d be joining many others who have come across a life-changing spark and are wise enough to tag themselves as part of the worldwide movement of life improvement on New Year’s Day. Don’t toy with second thoughts; just do it because you know it’s the right thing.

Beyond fireworks, loud noises and religious celebrations with mass services and bonfires of burning straw statues, today, we have a genuine opportunity en masse to make the world a better place for the ones to come after us. Sure, we may party and jump and sing and dance and eat good food and drive all over Bohol screaming “Happy New Year,” but we must remember that behind the merriment, this day is celebrated to bring about new beginnings—positive ones, of course.

So forget the brouhaha about the alleged global annihilation on December 21st. Yes, there will be storms and earthquakes and tornados and other devastating catastrophes all over the world this year. You know what climate change does, don’t you? Let’s deal with it rationally instead of jumping to conclusions based on misconceptions. Concentrate on doing things that will work to make the world a better place to live in rather than biting your nails while waiting for a doomsday event that isn’t going to happen anyway.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!

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Seen on Print:

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Hillary Clinton's Historic Speech

2011-12-30T20:07:00.000+08:00

On December 6th of 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke before the United Nations Human Rights Council, speaking of her advocacy for gay rights abroad. Her words: "Gay rights are human rights" and that "It should never be a crime to be gay."

Here is the full speech:

I salute you, Hillary! You have, by your words and actions, created a lasting mark on the right side of the canvas of world history. I have proven time and time again that choosing you as someone to emulate is a good decision.

Here is a music video of the speech's most striking points:

LifestyleBohol * Your Bol-anon Christmas is Mine, Too

2011-12-26T21:55:00.008+08:00

My cousin Jepoy and my aunt Joyce
with my mum, Liza, in the background

Most of us in Bohol celebrate Christmas... But HOW?

Enjoy reading!

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Christmas is a time of genuine love—of perpetual hope—of giving—of honoring our family and friends. That list could go on forever. This season is a time to celebrate all good things in life and to make efforts to put a smile on the face of every human being on Earth. But, while we all know that, different people have different names for Christmas and different ways of celebrating the calendar year’s coldest months.

Let’s keep our minds fixed on our beloved province’s traditions. It isn’t a secret that Bohol is predominantly Roman Catholic, so most of us who were raised “the Catholic way” are familiar with the yearly routine of the nine dawns of Simbang Gabi, culminating with the Misa de Gallo that begins on the final hour of Christmas Eve and crosses over to 12 midnight of Christmas Day. For the fortunate, a lavish Noche Buena feast follows, where Lolos and Lolas sneakily carve the fattiest parts of the inasal and run to their bedrooms to indulge in the high-cholesterol goodness even though they know it’s bad for them. Our mamas, papas, aunties, and uncles, on the other hand, laugh ‘till 4:00AM with three or so bottles of French wine and whisky on the table. We—20-somethings and teenagers—lock ourselves in the biggest room of the house to munch on desserts and drink beer, leaving the househelp wondering where that big platter of mango float went, while the kids watch cartoons and play until they pass out.

For people with vegan or vegetarian food choices, a rainbow of fruits is a more common sight. Fruit-based desserts on children's hands could be seen in place of ice cream sundaes and dairy.

Good times, yes? With that said, however, it must be noted that not every family in the province celebrates it like that, it’s either they’re incapable or they just do things differently. I’ll lay out a sequence of “not everyone is…” statements. Let’s begin with this:

Not every family is fortunate

Not everyone could afford such a feast. The less-fortunate Catholics and Christians make do with whatever they could serve. The “inasal na baboy,” in poorer homes, is more often than not omitted and replaced with simpler dishes. For people in charity-built villages such as Habitat for Humanity and resettlement communities like the ones in Danao, Ubay, and Carmen, French wine is absent while tuba, bahalina, and local rum come pouring at seemingly limitless supplies.

The question here is: are they less happy than their wealthy fellow Bol-anons? I don’t think so. Some in those communities even prove to be much, much happier than the rich ones. Little money doesn’t equate to misery all the time. Of course, at times it does, but for Christmas, some poor folks have a knack for making the most of it. Bless them.

Not everyone is free

Thousands and thousands of star lanterns are hung around the province during Christmas time. It helps brighten people’s spirits. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but there’s just something about colorful lights that somehow repels misery and helps put smiles on our faces. Some people make their own stars, some buy from department stores, while the more charitable few flock to the jails to buy from the prisoners. You read me right. If you don’t already know this, read and learn.

Each year, prisoners make Christmas lanterns as a self-sustaining project. And while it’s true that the incarcerated ones are serving time for breaking the law, Christmas is a season when things like that aren’t supposed to be considered when doing good deeds. Prison is a horrible place where toilet paper, shampoo, soap and toothbrushes are scarce. When you buy lanterns from prisoners, you’re helping them buy these things so they could live humanely inside the place. You’re helping them contemplate on their mistakes minus the foul smell of unwashed underarms and unbrushed teeth.

Not every family is Catholic or Christian

You might think I’m solely referring to Islam as a religion in the province that isn’t Christian, but you’re wrong there. Let me give you a little history lesson.

Before the Spanish came to Christianize Bohol in 1565, Christmas time wasn’t called “Christmas time.” The indigenous tradition called the celebration, “Pasko sa Tingtugnaw,” which, in essence, means “Feast of the Cold Days.” In each community, during the day of the Winter Solstice (December 22 in 2011), a Tumanan (priest) would head the fire circles and prayers during the feasts. In the capital, the Babaylan (high priestess of the land) headed the rites. Mind you, such ceremonies stretched to variants of the celebration in indigenous spiritual traditions all over the archipelago. It wasn’t just Bohol. Cebu, before 1521, had a similar tradition as well.

In 2007, I met a Jewish woman who happened to be living in Bohol. Not just that, she was herself a Boholana, so I believe it’s in order to give recognition to the Jewish community here. Judaism’s counterpart for Christmas is called Hanukkah, or “Festival of Lights.” It is an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This year, it began on the sunset of the 20th of December and will end on the sunset of the 28th of the same month.

For religions that don’t celebrate the season, what’s not to be happy about? There are always month-long sales in malls and department stores. Add that to the fact that most people usually become a bit more kind, joyous, and generous during the cold days. What sensible person would want to maintain a frown with the happy air engulfing Bohol? A family of Jehovah ’s Witnesses may choose to stay home and watch television, but when you enter their house, even if they consider it an ordinary day, you’ll find them a bit more joyful than usual.

Hindus celebrate it as Pancha Ganapati while Taoists call the day of the Winter solstice the Precious Purity Festival. I even have Buddhist and Muslim friends who celebrate Christmas for the happy season that it is and because they resonate with the joy that most of their fellow human beings feel. See?

Remove tradition from the equation and you’ll see that Christmas is still Christmas. Notice how a lot of artists make everything shine during the season despite not professing any religion? Of course, a good Christian would say that Christ is at the heart of Christmas. I have no arguments to say in contrast. I do maintain that a Divine being is indeed causing all this love and happiness to flow and I’m thankful for it. So even if your only source of smiles during the holidays is looking for Santa Claus/Father Christmas, you’re still blessed. We all are. Such a concept doesn’t only scope material gifts. Santa Claus’ gift giving, according to the original stories, encompasses the gift of joy, hope, love, and charity. And speaking of the latter, not everyone has their loved ones around. Kudos to those who have helped relieve the typhoon victims' predicaments and props to those who are moved enough to do the same. You are the true Santas.

The essence of the season will live on as long as every sensible person agrees that it's a time for all things good! Your Christmas is my Pasko sa Tingtugnaw, their Hanukkah, and everyone’s time to smile.

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Seen on Print:

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2011-12-21T08:02:00.001+08:00

The worst sin you could commit against yourself is to sell yourself short.

REMEMBER:
Telling people what you're really good for is not pride; it's honesty.
On the other hand, admitting to be lower than your true worth is false humility... and that's synonymous to lying.

. . . . . . . . .

The Epic Elaine Paige Being Epic (Bohemian Rhapsody)

2011-12-14T16:19:00.054+08:00

Earlier today, I found myself singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody after one of my best friends, Cristyl, posted a graphic sequence of line visualisations of the song using internet meme drawings.

Yeah. That's the one on the right. Just view it in a new tab for a full view, otherwise, don't even bother trying to read it because it's futile. Some of the text is way too small.

Anyway, following about ten minutes of singing "Galileo, Galileo..." in a high-pitched countertenor, I decided to Wiki it up to read about the song. It's fascinating to note that it actually doesn't have a chorus and that, as a whole, the lyrics tells a story. It's one of the few non-theatrical story-telling songs that have survived time even in its original version.

So, back to Wiki, I clicked on the link that said Cover versions and found out that the epic Elaine Paige actually performed the song. Where did I jump to next? You guessed it! The mother of all video sites: YouTube! I was literally stomping my feet, clasping the edge of my chair, and doing fist pumps while watching this video. Yes, all by myself! Isn't that just crazy?

Elaine is one of a few artists who have such an effect on me. I couldn't get over how utterly amazing this woman is. From musical theatre to opera to pop to hard rock, she can do everything! Despite her short stature, she oozes in epic awesomeness each time she's on stage opening her mouth to sing.

2011-12-13T01:35:00.002+08:00

A statement by a hero of mine which I live by...

LifestyleBohol * Reading Takes You Away to the Farthest Reaches of the Universe

2011-12-02T00:41:00.006+08:00

Finally, after a million years! It's been well over a month since I've last written for LifestyleBohol. After Losing Jobs, I went on hiatus from the paper. Don't ask me why because there's really no acceptable reason.

I'm posting this here for those who didn't get to buy a copy of last Sunday's issue. Of course, that includes those who are out of our delivery range.

Anyhow, this one is dedicated to reading. Yes, like what you're doing right now--except that it advocates printed books over any other type of reading material. No, not eBooks; books on actual paper. Let's face it: Print media is dying and I don't want it to. I have sentiments to match my advocacy, so just read on.

Enjoy!

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Do people still read books these days?

When was the last time you took a stroll along Plaza Rizal and caught someone reading a book? Could you even recall an instance when your seat neighbor at your favorite coffee shop had a book in her hand rather than a lit cigarette? I know I could—once. Yes, just once for the 22 years I’ve been living in Bohol. People don’t seem to want to be caught dead reading a book. Why is that? Is it something they’re ashamed of? And, no, laptops don’t qualify as books in this case—not even tablets. Call me an old man; I couldn’t care less. I know you could read eBooks with those devices and that’s well and good. It’s a giant tech company’s noble way to funnel book junkies into the digital world. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with joining that bandwagon. All I’m saying is no matter how much you argue that you’re technically reading books minus the weight, if it isn’t on paper, it’s not a book.

Nothing compares to the feeling of turning real pages, one after another, as you read John Grisham or Jane Austen under a huge acacia tree on a quiet Sunday afternoon while the soft breezes tickle your neck and exposed ankle hairs. And am I the only one who loves the smell paper gives off when you run your thumb through all the pages from cover-to-cover creating a short, refreshing rush of air on the face? Better yet, the smell of old books when you enter a public library and the haunting feeling of privilege when your thumbs produce sweat that dries up on a page of a browning book, knowing that your print is now in the league of everyone else who may have held it—living or dead. I certainly hope others share these feelings, too.

It’s indubitable that some may regard me as weird for having said those things. However, book reading is a dying fancy and that’s another indubitable matter. Even high school students at Holy Name University said that last Friday when I came over to judge a reader’s theater competition. A lot of people, especially young ones, now regard books as a waste of time and money. They’re much better off spending entire weeks playing video games with their cousins or drinking beer somewhere. It’s a sad reality and I wish the sensible few who still do it “old school” could help others see how wonderful it is to be able to finish a thick book knowing you’ve created your own movie inside your head.

Yesterday was celebrated by sensible schools all over the country as the “National Day for Reading.” The whole of last week was called “National Book Week.” November is “National Reading Month.” Back in elementary and high school, I used to love Novembers particularly because of the things done in my school to celebrate the existence of books. There would be public readings at the library, essay contests that gave us opportunities to talk about our favorite books, drawing contests to visually portray what we imagined story settings to look like, and many more. I won a couple of competitions here and there, but that wasn’t the source of my joy. I was happy because of the fact that books, as long-lasting sources of knowledge, insights, and ideas were being honored. Nowadays, we have internet videos for virtually all our information needs and books are largely ignored. From cooking lessons to instruction manuals to steps on how to kiss your girlfriend, YouTube has it all! I’m not against it, though. I even have a channel of my own. However, in this digital age we’re in, let’s bring the reading culture back. Help me bring it back before it dies completely. Help yourselves by helping me.

FINE! I’ll give leeway to tablet people even if they don’t share the kind of passion I have. I’m willing to allow any sensible reader to hop in on this cause since I’ll need all the help I can get to convey my message. You see: reading doesn’t just have an informative effect; it takes you to places and allows you to meet different people. It can take you to India, America, China, the moon, Mars, some obscure star, or even inside the human body—as in the case of Gray’s Anatomy. And I’m talking about the medical book, not the television series.

Reading affords you an opportunity to converse with Marilyn Monroe and remain, for days, haunted by the quandaries that beleaguered her celebrity life—her love affairs, her passionate encounters, and her thoughts while in the ladies’ room. Can video games do that? Maybe movies can do similar things, but the difference with books is that you’re able to visualize a place, a person, or a situation your way. You wouldn’t have to complain of any actor’s poor portrayal because it’s basically all up to you. You could even turn the story into a cartoon mind movie. Nobody’s going to keep you from seeing things the way you want. Whether it’s putting your own face in a character or imagining the setting of “Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp” to be in India even if the book explicitly expresses that it happens in China, no one can hold you back. Only bad text and bad stories could ever be disappointing, but then again if you’re a seasoned reader, you can even work around those things. The possibilities are limitless. You just need to kick the ground hard and you’ll find yourself flying in no time. I’m not really sure about that metaphor, but I think you know what I mean.

Last Thursday, a Bangladeshi friend of mine gave me a book called “Hope for the Flowers,” a picture book by Trina Paulus described as “a tale—partly about life, partly about revolution, and lots about hope.” It’s a beautiful childish-looking novel full of drawings but intended “for adults and others (including caterpillars who can read),” which means children can read it, too. Upon picking it up, I knew I already had a copy of it somewhere on my shelf and that I’ve read it once before, but I also knew I loved it so much, so I gladly took the new copy. Who could refuse such a masterpiece?

Upon returning home I browsed my shelf and found the old copy there which was given to my mother by an old flame of hers in 1988—a year before I was born. I showed her my copy and we read it together. It’s relatively brief and very easy to understand. It delivers a powerful message about refusing to conform to conventions that don’t amount to anything. It encourages its readers to break away from useless old habits and dedicate life to productive goals. It’s second only to Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince” on my list of all-time favorites.

Reading broadens horizons and exposes you to a lot of new ideas. Some ideas are easy to agree with, some may require further journeys to grasp, while some are just plain wrong. It doesn’t matter if you pass through some sort of struggle stage. They’re not uncommon in the world of readership. If you continue to read after breaking away from an intellectual skirmish with yourself, you’ll find that there will be more of the sort and you will literally find people all over the world to share such predicaments with. You’ll even make new friends because of the same book. And, who knows? You may even end up tying the knot with someone from across the world who shares a favorite book with you. The possibilities shoot as far from the pages as they could and most of them occur in real life.

Whether you read to learn, to think, to search for truth, to dream, or to live in other people’s lives and get away from your own, it doesn’t matter. You can do what you want and you’ll find that your desires are no more than a page turn away from coming true. Of course, you can always choose to remain sane. I know I am. So go ahead and pick that book up! Read and feel the words. Allow yourself to be lifted from the ground and taken through the pages. Allow yourself to be free!

______________________________

Seen on Print:

Click to SEE FULL DIGITAL COPY

World Aids Day 2011

2011-12-01T15:29:00.000+08:00

AIDS is all around us.

Don't contract it, but respect those who have it.

Make Me A Sandwich

2011-11-27T23:55:00.002+08:00

2011-11-25T12:37:00.003+08:00

It doesn't matter whether or not tradition and collective thinking approve of it.

If it's something sensible and, by intelligent judgement, you believe it's the right thing to do, DO IT!

. . . . . . . . .

They Mustn't Run Free

2011-11-24T09:51:00.009+08:00

Once upon a time in a (not so faraway) public high school...

A 16-year-old girl approached her teacher and burst into tears.

Girl: I was raped.

Teacher: By whom?

Girl: By someone whom I thought was my friend!

Teacher: Where is he now? Have you reported this to the police? Has there been any action taken already?

Girl: Yes, I have. We learned it isn't possible to charge a minor with a crime.

Teacher: Oh, he's a minor?

Girl: He's only 17 and that's why he's walking free instead of suffering behind bars for what he did to me! This nation has such stupid laws!

Teacher: Amen!

Girl: Why can a minor not be charged with a crime? Isn't it possible for someone below 18 to commit the same things their environment influences them to?

Teacher: It is. It really is.

Girl: Is crime exclusive to those of legal age?

Teacher: No, it's not. You're...

Girl: Damn it! Rape isn't some small, ignorable thing! Rape is rape! Be the perpetrators 15, 16, 17, or freaking 88-years-old, the law should do something to serve justice for its victims!

Teacher: You're right.

Girl: They should be able to do something about situations like mine!

Teacher: Stop talking.

They both went silent for about a minute.

Teacher: He raped you. Yes, he raped you and the government doesn't seem like it could do something about it. Well, STAB HIM! Don't kill him, though. Just stab him and make him bleed. Make it hurt. If they couldn't do anything about your rape case, who's to say they could do anything if you resort to physical retribution? So, yes. Go ahead. STAB HIM!

I'm not, in any way, advocating the teacher's suggestion. Violence is never a solution to anything.

The message I want to convey here is one that encourages SENSIBLE legal reforms.

2011-11-22T20:12:00.002+08:00

Life's gold nuggets are found while walking on rocky terrain. They stick to your boots and stay there forever.

Don't waste your life brushing your nose against the ground, trying to look for them in the wrong places.

. . . . . . . . .

2011-11-22T19:34:00.002+08:00

If your aspiration is karmically meant to conclude positively, you need not compromise. It will happen. If it doesn't, however, let it not discourage you.

Plenty of dreams will come true and plenty won't. That's just how it is with life. Just smile and prance through it. Be happy!

. . . . . . . . .

2011-11-22T19:29:00.001+08:00

"Love your enemies" is a good cliché.

However, I say the best akin statement is
"Don't have any enemies."

. . . . . . . . .

2011-11-22T19:21:00.008+08:00

Put great emphasis in honour rather than in pride. Doing so will enable you to see the world very differently.

You will see the world with a much better view.

. . . . . . . . .

Bayot Pero Engineer Pod

2011-11-16T22:09:00.013+08:00

Tibuok buntag ganina, gabasa ko bahi'g mga engineer. Naa ma'y page sa Facebook nga gitawag og "Trust Me, I'm an Engineer!" Gikan sa pag-bakod nako hangtod sa ting-paniudto, gasige ra ko'g agik-ik sa ilang mga letrato. Nabuang jud ko'g kinatawa! Ambot na lang. Lingaw kaayo ko nila kay ila ra bitaw'ng kilaw-kilawon nang math og yaga-yagaan abi kay sayon ra kaayo para nila. LOL!

Nakahinumdom nuon ko'g kalit adtong nahitabo sa ni-aging tuig sa akong gitrabahoan sa-una didto's Cebu.

Di jud ko makalimot ani!

Sa usa ka math skills contest...

___________________________________________________________________________

GIRL 1:

"Lupig mo namo kay naa mi'y ENGINEER sa among grupo!"

GIRL 2:

"Waaaaa! Kami jud! Naa mi BAYOT sa among grupo!"

BAYOT:

"ENGINEER ko, day!"

___________________________________________________________________________

Unsaon pod og masmilungtad ang iyang pagkabayot kaysa sa iyang pagka-engineer?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Red Elves and Green Elves

2011-11-15T17:59:00.007+08:00

This post is addressed to Sister Fatima Mante, DML, my kindergarten school teacher...

YOU LIED TO ME!

In fact, you lied to all of us in your class.

You told us it was okay to befriend red elves because they were genuinely good-natured, kind, harmless, and that they would play with us and give us candy...

...while we should steer clear of green elves because they were vile, corrupt, ill-tempered, hideous, and that they ate people when they got angry.

You lied! You lied! You lied!

Elves are flesh-coloured!
And they're vegetarians!

Nyahahahahahahahahahaha!

Random Thoughts at 4 in the Morning

2011-11-14T04:18:00.000+08:00

I don't know why I'm writing right now. I've been on my books for way too long. I don't feel well. I've been sneezing all night and my head hurts. I guess this is what one gets for slacking off.

I feel a fever coming on. Should I get some sleep? I have something to do early this morning. If I sleep now, I might not be able to wake up. Oh, I'm such a bloody plonker!

Me and my bald... Wait, no. My hair has already grown a little. Wow! Did my hair grow that fast? I only had it shaved last Wednesday. Five days ago, my head was completely hairless and now, well, it's not.

Should I take a photo for my readers to see? Naaah! I'm way too tired to do that. I don't even want to wash my face before hitting the hay, but, alas, I need to. Getting zits is the worst thing in the world. Well, maybe not THE worst thing--just one of the worst things.

What in the world am I talking about? What should I talk about next?

Oh, yes! Manny Pacquiao! His fight yesterday was a complete... I don't even know what adjective to use for it. It was a complete *insert a negative adjective used to describe crappy boxing matches where the apparent loser wins and receives a hero's welcome from his home country*! Screw it! Juan Manuel Marquez should have won that match.

I said on Facebook, several hours ago, that I was over the whole thing. Well, I lied. I'm not over the whole damn thing! While it's true that my opinion doesn't matter as far as expert analysis on boxing matches is concerned, I still take pride in being able to speak my mind when I want to.

Okay, I should just stop putting the P-man down. Maybe he doesn't deserve it. Wait, yes he does! He deserves every single one of my words of dismay! He has immersed himself in politics--an arena that he knows absolutely nothing about. He stands in opposition to a bill that would provide education to people and help even out the lopsidedness of rich-poor opportunity distribution simply because of his religion! Screw that! When you're a representative, you should listen to your constituents, not create stances based on the twisted views of the hierarchy of your religion!

Oh, it doesn't end there. Pacquiao has the nerve to tell the nation that he has plans to run for vice-president! And later the presidential seat! What? I'm flying away if that ever happens. I love the Philippines and all, but if he (or someone such as him) ever sits on top, no freaking way am I sticking around to watch the sparks fly!

Do I sound drunk? I do, don't I? I'm not drunk, though. I'm totally not drunk. I'm completely sober. I'm just literally sick and groggy and angry.

Lea Salonga - Send in the Clowns

2011-11-13T23:09:00.000+08:00

Here we see the great Lea Salonga sing-speak a very emotional song from Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music."

What choice does an artist have? Everyone knows it's very hard to maintain composure when you're crying that hard and the difficulty is magnified for her because she has to sing.

Watch this video. Listen to the song and allow every single repression you have to flow away with her voice. Allow your emotions to soar. When your chest starts to hurt and your eyes start to moisten, don't hold back. Just let it go. Let it all go!

They Had Sex

2011-11-12T15:47:00.003+08:00

My folks were honest to me about how I came to be. The moment I asked them how babies were made, they sat me down and dutifully explained how it all happens. I think I was around 6 or 7, then. I couldn't remember exactly how old. However, I never forgot that they took time to painstakingly lay it all down in a way a child could comprehend.

For me, there were no tales of storks delivering babies on doorsteps. For that matter, even Santa Claus, closet monsters, or the Bogeyman weren't spoke of in our household.

Some parents purposely scare their children into thinking that mysterious human-devouring creatures rest under their beds and in their closets at 9PM just so they wouldn't jump off after bedtime strikes. And it doesn't stop there. The list goes on.

I'm thankful my parents never used any of those scare tactics on me. I wasn't necessarily an obedient child. I've always had a mind of my own, but they still chose to take the parenting route of awesomeness. Yep! I have cool parents. They may not have the style that Morticia and Gomez Addams have, but they're as awesome as parents could ever get!

Deal With It!

2011-11-12T04:09:00.001+08:00

I am bald.

I am short.

I am a Filipino.

I am part European.

I am dominantly Asian.

I am a human being.

I am everything I am.

Deal with it.

From LONG to "SO LONG!"

2011-11-09T20:30:00.002+08:00

The world has long been divided about my hair.

TEAM LONG had its stint of worshipping my long brunette strands from the moment my hair touched my cheek up to yesterday.

TEAM SHORT has, all the while, been egging me to get it trimmed.

But, well, I'm a pacifist and I don't like wars. So I did this!

Do you like it? Nyahahahahaha!

Here's another one!

Theosophical Society in the Philippines National Convention 2011 - Programme of Activities

2011-11-07T18:45:00.002+08:00

Certified What?

2011-11-07T17:45:00.001+08:00

On social networks and forums, have you ever come across people who brand themselves with statements such as:

Certified Hunk? Did the gym tell you that?

Certified Straight? So did you go to a 1970's psychiatrist for that certificate?

Certified Virgin? Even monasteries these days don't check nuns anymore. Who checked you? And if you're a guy, how can anyone tell?

Certified Gwapo & Certified Gwapa? Says who? Your partner? People Magazine?

Certified Good Kisser? I... How? I mean... Prove it!

Certified Awesome Lover? Would your exes agree? What kind of love are you talking about, anyway?

Certified Macho? Do you even know what "macho" means in real English? Apart from displaying manly characteristics, the word refers to someone who is excessively and aggressively masculine or misogynistic--a chauvinist, if you will. One who treats women as the weaker sex. One who sees females to be innately lower than males. Do you really want to go by that word? I personally hate that word and I hate people who are defined by that word.

Here's a word of advice from a sensible person (me), stop saying you're certified this and certified that.

If you're a UP graduate/student, go ahead and call yourself Certified Iskolar ng Bayan. If you're a lawyer, call yourself a Certified Arguer; and if you're a medical doctor, call yourself a Certified Healer. That way, you're really certified and nobody can dis you for wearing it proudly.

BUUUUT if you really want to proclaim yourself certified as something sexy (kay baga man jud ka'g leps), make sure you have the juice to prove it to everybody who doubts. Chances are: not everyone you attempt to prove it to would agree with you.

There Is No Such Thing As An Insignificant Life

2011-10-25T10:16:00.006+08:00

Who are you?

How are you?

What are you?

Are you a Sunni Muslim?

Are you a mother?

Are you materially poor but happy and wealthy with friends?

Are you a Sikh?

Are you being abused?

Are you a Sufi Muslim?

Are you a blind albino?

Are you hungry?

Are you African?

Are you an American Soldier?

Are you a bee?

Are you one who fights for a living?

Are you a Buddhist monk?

Are you a Buddhist nun?

Are you a butterfly?

Are you a cactus in a hot desert?

Are you a cat?

Are you a Roman Catholic nun?

Are you a Chicken?

Are you a baby girl born in China?

Are you an old Chinese man?

Are you a snake?

Are you a crab?

Are you a happy white woman?

Are you a figure respected by the world?

Are you a dog?

Are you a dolphin?

Are you an Episcopal bishop?

Are you a woman struggling and doing what you can to earn a living?

Are you a small Filipino man?

Are you a Filipino student?

Are you being educated in a peaceful and loving way?

Are you a Freemason?

Are you a poisonous frog?

Are you gay?

Are you a ginger?

Are you a Greek Orthodox priest?

Are you an Indian military man?

Are you a small Irish man?

Are you a Jew?

Are you an orca?

Are you a krill?

Are you a lesbian?

Are you a louse?

Are you a symbol of beauty?

Are you a lizard?

Are you a man with good karma?

Are you someone who has done something to shake the world?

Are you a mosquito?

Are you someone whose heart is filled with love?

Are you a narwhal?

Are you a lone plant in a stretch of sand?

Are you a prawn?

Are you a powerful monarch?

Are you a rabbit?

Are you a raccoon?

Are you a rat, petted by some and hated by many?

Are you a shark, feared and misunderstood?

Are you a shrub among many just like you?

Are you a child with an aim to protect those you love?

Are you Asian?

Are you a spider?

Are you a squirrel, considered a pest by so many?

Are you a tick?

Are you a beautiful old tree in a rainforest?

Are you a tree living in a desert?

Are you someone who has so much hate in your heart?

Are you a whale?

Are you a Witch?

Are you a Worm?

Are you dying?

Whoever you are...
.

Whatever you are...
.

However you are doing...
.

...YOU MATTER.

...YOU ARE IMPORTANT.

...YOU HAVE A ROLE IN THIS WORLD.

Guess What They're For

2011-10-25T07:12:00.001+08:00

Aida
My Strongest Suit

Hairspray
You Can't Stop the Beat

The Rocky Horror Show
Sweet Transvestite

I've been stressing so much these past several days, swimming through dozens and dozens of musical theatre songs. Finally, the deputy producer has decided to use these three. The latter two are my suggestions.

I love these songs! Upbeat and danceable!

Intact Egg + Microwave Oven = BAD IDEA!

2011-10-23T05:36:00.005+08:00

I had a very bad case of momentary stupidity today.

I took a saucepan, filled it with water, and dropped two intact eggs in it. I was so ready to mount it on top of the stove, when all of a sudden, I thought to myself, "screw it! It's gonna take way too long. I'll microwave one to boil and scramble the other one instead." So I placed one in a microwavable thing-a-ma-jig half-filled with water, popped it in the microwave oven, set the timer to two minutes, and waited.

One minute into it and I found myself in the middle of a much-needed yawn when the egg literally exploded inside the oven! It gave off a loud thud like someone's head was being bashed against a concrete wall.

Just an inch away from freaking out, I quickly unplugged the device and opened it and, well, I don't think I need to explain how it looked.

So, yeah, take it from me. Intact raw eggs inside a microwave oven? NO! BiiiG NO!

To any family members of mine reading this... No worries. I cleaned it up right after taking a photo of it. I also did a little research and found out that exploding eggs aren't detrimental to microwave ovens--just to the eggs and the emotional well-being of the stupid person/people in front of it. In the latter case: me! But I'm alright. No therapy needed. LMAO!

Kristina Farrah on Steve Jobs

2011-10-12T04:20:00.002+08:00

Writer and technology blogger for SiliconANGLE.com, Kristina Farrah, talks about her hero, Steve Jobs, in this eye-irritating multi-coloured video.

LifestyleBohol * Losing Jobs

2011-10-09T21:56:00.009+08:00

This is my second article about Steve. I didn't know I'd end up writing about him for LifestyleBohol, so I wrote one on the day he died--the entry posted right before this. If you haven't read that one, don't bother. This one is inarguably much, much better. The content is essentially the same except that this has a more human tone and it gives a few details about Mr. Jobs' life rather than the sarcasm that the previous one has.

This one appears almost exactly as it was just published in the magazine. The difference is that the one in print has errors and one missing word. I've corrected this for my blog readers. Forgive me, I'm a human being and I do commit mistakes--more than most, in fact.

Enjoy!

______________________________

It came as almost no surprise when everyone on Twitter started screaming iCry, and iSad last Thursday morning. It was kind of obvious to me and I didn’t need to jump to Google and Wikipedia to verify information. What was expected many years ago finally happened. The great Steve Jobs had left the physical plane.

It’s interesting to note, though, that on repeated occasions after Steve’s resignation as CEO of Apple Inc., several hoaxes “informing” the world of his supposed death circulated rapidly throughout the internet. They were, of course, most likely initiated by Mac haters, but the reason those false rumors managed to spread quite broadly despite the lack of verification was the fact that most people who knew who Steve was knew that he was greatly suffering and that it was only a matter of time before he left the Earth. It was almost as if the tech world had already braced itself for his imminent demise.

I am personally not a huge fan of Apple Inc. I don’t use Mac computers; I don’t have an iPhone; and I’ve made a decision to steer clear of the iPad. I’m not going to explain why, though. This article isn’t about me; it’s about Steve. After all, the title does bear his name.

Despite not being a fan of Apple products, I do know a significant deal about Steve. One of my best friends, Kristina Farrah, a writer and Tech Blogger for SiliconAngle.com, considers him to be her greatest inspiration and each Saturday evening when we go out for a cup of coffee, she never fails to drill a bit about Mr. Jobs in my head. At first, I took very little interest and I thought the only thing I needed to know was the fact that he was one of Apple Inc’s founders. However, I realized that the mountain I had to climb to make my best friend shut up about him was as lofty and perilous as the one that she faced each time I talked about Lea Salonga and musical theater. And with that in mind, I knew I had to start doing my homework so I dove into cyberspace and began reading to keep myself from going blank each time Farrah would start ranting.

In summary, this is what I learned about Steve: He was born out of wedlock to a Syrian father and a Swiss-German mother on February 24^th, 1955. He was put up for adoption and was taken in by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, California. In 1972, he enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon and dropped out soon after, but continued auditing classes while sleeping on the floors of friends’ rooms and surviving by selling scrap bottles and getting free meals at the local Hare Krishna temple.

In mid 1974, Steve traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. Such endeavor made him decide to convert to Buddhism. He went back to the states and, in 1976, founded Apple computer together with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. In 1985, after an internal struggle within Apple, Steve Jobs was fired by his own protégé. Following that, he went on to establish NeXt Computer and Pixar Studios, which we now know to be Disney Pixar, famous for films such as the “Toy Story” series. In 1996, Apple bought NeXT, which marked Steve’s return to the company. For you, he produced the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and several Mac computers. In such process, he became one of the world’s biggest moguls. And more than that, he was also a visionary, a passionate artist, and an engineer like no other.

Things took an unexpected pivot in 2004 when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The illness then became the cause of his eventual resignation from Apple in August 24^th, 2011. Following the release of the iPhone 4s, he died in the morning of October 5^th, which was Thursday of our timezone.

One particularly peculiar thing that happened a few hours prior to the announcement of Steve’s death was when Farrah and I had a conversation about getting our heroes’ autographs. I let her take the stage since I already had Lea Salonga’s. Farrah said no matter how much Steve would brush her off, she would persist in making him sign her iPhone. Somehow, however, I had a strong gut feeling that it was never going to happen. The next morning, it was announced that Steve had gone away. Imagine my feeling! I wasn’t surprised, but because of the memory of the previous night’s conversation, I was left dumbfounded and I didn’t take any measures to see how true it was. Deep inside, I knew.

I felt a bit sad, but my biggest worry was how devastated Farrah would be. As it turned out, the piece of news was the very thing that woke her up. She called in a fit of aggravated grief and my heart sank as she unloaded her sentiments. It was then that I realized how much Steve truly meant to her. It made me ponder on the amount of anguish I’d be in if I were ever to lose a living hero of my own—even if he/she lives across the world.

Steve, you may not have been on my list of personal heroes, but I feel for the millions all over the world who mourn your passing. So, to all those grieving, this goes out to you: iLove, iMourn, iWeep.

______________________________

Seen on Print:

Part 1
CLICK to ENLARGE

Part 2
CLICK to ENLARGE

Steve Jobs Has Gone Away

2011-10-06T22:40:00.076+08:00

I know people all over the world are talking about Steve! Well, I wanna talk about him, too!

Don't worry, though. This isn't gonna be one of the many, many articles currently circulating all over the internet detailing Steve Jobs' childhood in foster care, blah-blah-blah, adolescence, blah-blah-blah, how he didn't finish college, adulthood, blah-blah-blah, disease, blah-blah-blah, up to the tiny piece of breadcrumb that fell on his left big toe four seconds before he breathed his last breath. No. This isn't even going to discuss how big of a visionary he was. Most of us know these things already and if you don't, I'm not going to be the one to fill you in. That's what Wikipedia is for!

Okay, before I go on, I need to tell you that the part about the breadcrumb-on-left-toe-before-death wasn't real. It's just something sarcastic I came up with while typing. Well, you get why I said that, right? Also, before you get turned off, I'm gonna tell you ahead that I will NOT, in any way whatsoever, say anything negative about Steve. Nada! Read on.

Now, the reason why I opted not to talk about Steve's life and career is because I'm not a credible source of information when it comes to things concerning Apple--including the technological visionaries that founded it. That said, Mr. Jobs himself isn't spared from my severe lack of information. But, yeah, this article still revolves around him because his name appears on the title.

The only time I ever really got significant information on how big Steve Jobs was as a visionary over simply being among the world's most powerful moguls was when my best friend funnelled it all in my head. We were bored one day at a coffee shop and we had nothing productive to talk about, so she started mumbling things about Steve and how much of a hero he is in the tech industry. I took very little interest at first, on account of my bias against Apple, but over a few weeks, I took the liberty of doing my own research about him to be able to contribute to a future conversation regarding him. So, yes, we had more of those until I genuinely gained interest.

I managed to develop a sense of appreciation for Steve even though I'm not an Apple user myself. He did, through the ways he knew, leave the world a better place than when he had first set foot on it. For that, I salute him and send good energy to his mourners all over the world.

Anyway, here's something rather peculiar. The last time my best friend and I had a conversation about Steve was early this morning. It was 2AM (that means October 5 2PM, EST) and we were at the front porch talking about getting autographs from our biggest living heroes. She's a techy geek while I'm more of an artsy type of geek and I already have an autograph from Lea Salonga, so I let her have the fantasy stage.

My best friend was toying with the idea of getting Steve to sign her iPhone if the opportunity ever arose. She said no matter how much Steve would brush her off, she'd persist. For some reason, however, I had a strong gut feeling that it would never happen. No, I did not foresee his death or anything. I hadn't the slightest clue why I had a strong "not gonna happen" feeling, but I'm sure it wasn't anything akin to saying "whatever." It was a weird sensation in my stomach--the kind most of us experience when on airtime in a roller-coaster that's matched with goosebumps. I had no sign to tell me that death was involved. Nothing at all. It was just that my best friend, a huge Steve Jobs fan, would never ever get to meet her idol personally.

A few hours later, the news popped up on Twitter. Imagine my feeling.

So, yes, Steve Jobs has gone away for now. But he's gonna come back to Earth just like most of us will after we go. It's a process of which death is a recurring part. It's called life and, in essence, it doesn't ever end.

Blessed be.

LifestyleBohol * This PLANKING Madness

2011-10-02T10:01:00.015+08:00

The text is exactly as it appears on LifestyleBohol. The photos are also on the magazine, except for the last three (Teapotting, Batmanning, Horsemanning), which aren't mine.

______________________________

Planking

If you’re over 35-years-old and you’re reading this, do not put it down. Read through and do your best to pretend to understand. This is about a very youthful fad and you might want to update yourself a little bit. After all, no self-respecting middle-aged person likes to be identified as an “outdated oldie.” Besides, you'll find that there's a short part that talks about bureaucratic hullabaloo down below so you might as well read all of it.

Now, picture yourself in this situation: You’re walking alone peacefully in a crowded public park and then someone in your way suddenly lies down face-on-ground as if an attack drill is going on. Adding to that, a guy with a camera then starts a photo shoot session which seems to take forever to finish and you’re left stupefied, asking, “What in the world are they doing?” You look around and everyone else appears too amused to actually notice how stupid it is. You find that you’re the only one with a sour expression and then you start to worry why you’re the only one who doesn’t seem to know what’s going on.

You brush the incident off as nonsense and continue your peaceful stroll. You walk into a mall where the soothing rush of cool air causes you to completely forget what had just happened. Craving for some Italian cuisine, you make your way to the nearest pizzeria where, by the doorframe, someone else is doing the exact same thing you saw at the park. You’re appalled by the situation and your hunger vanishes in an instant. Part of you has an urge to run. The rational side of you is itching to ask questions, but your know-it-all persona holds you back for fear of being branded “outdated.”

Okay, stop picturing now. You may return to your own world. If you read through the paragraphs above with full visualization, then congratulations! You have successfully put yourself in my shoes. That was exactly what happened to me several months ago. I didn’t know what it was back then and I nearly abandoned all thoughts about it until last June when I saw a YouTube video featuring the exact same act performed in front of the Eiffel Tower. As an added French touch, it even had an Edith Piaf song playing in the background. As it turns out, the activity in question is called PLANKING, otherwise called “the lying down game.” I took time to look it up and I realized it was all over the internet. Other than YouTube, people have featured it on Facebook, blog sites, and what have you. I leaned on my chair for a moment to ask, “Whoever came up with such an utterly ludicrous fad?”

Truth be told, I never really did any research until two days ago when I decided to feature planking on LifestyleBohol. Wikipedia cites claimants to the invention of this phenomenon. American comedian Tom Green says he invented it in 1994, while two Europeans, Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon, say they invented it in 2000. Now, let me say this out in the open: Nobody freaking invented planking! It's a load of crap to claim they invented it. They may have started the trend, but they most certainly didn't invent it. I've been planking on my bed since I can remember. Most of us do it almost every night. Heck, some of us even wake up planking. They may not have invented it, but they certainly found a way to make it look fun by making a fool out of themselves in public. Am I right or am I right?

The mechanism of planking is, in a sense, quite artistic, you know. It's essentially a game that nobody wins. The idea is to plank in very usual places where doing so would otherwise constitute embarrassment for non-players. This phenomenon leads me to believe that planking builds self-confidence because if you plank in front of Luneta's Rizal Monument, the Taj Mahal, or the World Trade Center Memorial, what could you possibly be ashamed of?

Oh, wait, if you think the madness stops there, you're dead wrong. There are variations to this public stupidity. I'll give you a pretty good idea of what human beings could come up with given merely a public place, sheer boredom, and a camera to work with. So, anyway, there's owling—squatting on an elevated place and acting like an owl, deading—lying on your back and pretending you're dead, koalaing—hugging a post or tree and pretending you're a koala, toweling—hanging yourself like a towel, fetussing—curling yourself in a fetal position, teapotting, horsemanning, batmanning, and the list goes on forever. Crazy, isn’t it?

Deading

Towelling & Fetussing

Koalaing

Owling

Teapotting
Image Source: http://www.perthstreetbikes.com/

Batmanning
Image Source: http://www.forevergeek.com/

Horsemanning
Image Source: http://www.horsmanings.com/

Now, let's talk about the bureaucratic part I promised. Young people, you need to concern yourselves with this, too. It's about freedom. Your planking days could very well be numbered. A little over a week ago, Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo authored a bill proposing to ban planking as a means to express grievance against government after activists disrupted traffic in Metro Manila by mass planking in the streets. I, for one, am not a big fan of such kinds of protests, but it's their right. You can't create a law that mars other people's ability to freely express their grievances just because some people choose to endanger themselves doing it. If they disrupt traffic, arrest them. Otherwise, leave them alone. If you ban planking, protesters could simply flip over and it’s not planking anymore. The bill is stupid and poorly written. This is not the People's Republic of China, so don't act like it is. Let's digress from all this stressful talk of bureaucracy.

I really don't know where all this artistic madness is going. Some people are annoyed by it; some are amused; while some just don't care. A lot of folks say it's stupid, but hey, it's still art. If you don't get it, then your sense of creativity needs some tuning up. I'm pretty sure people will find more ways to combine stupidity and art in the future. Until then, let's go planking!

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Old Entry #18: Jeepney (A Commuter's Life)

2011-09-30T23:23:00.001+08:00

Time for another old entry!

Oh, this one's a good oldie. I wrote this over two years ago when I ran away from home and was living in Cebu on my own. It summarises the things I've observed in some Cebuanos when taking public transportation.

Enjoy reading!

This was originally posted on Jul 14, '09 9:06 PM on Multiply.com.

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On the way home from work this afternoon, I took a jeepney like I always do. On it, as my fellow Filipinos are aware of, you come across different sorts of people from different walks of life with different stories to tell and different treasures to boast.

Two women near the edge, seated opposite each other, were making a raucous conversation laughing at a topic only they could both relate to. Another woman was coughing like she was about to regurgitate a fist she had just swallowed, while two others seated beside each other on the front bench were exchanging quasi-intelligent remarks, trying to outdo each other, talking about how young people today have lost the so-called traditional Christian values.

And you think only women make noise? No! Direly mistaken, are you! Three young men who looked quite educated were making a fuss exchanging stories of their sexual escapades with their girlfriends as if they wanted to tell the people on the other road vehicles. Another one, who was obviously suffering from a runny nose, was making hyper-inhales as if trying to keep his nose from falling off his face and two other elderly men were addressing each other with military titles while talking about their wives' ability to bear children without observance of health precautions such as birth spacing. Wow!

One could learn a lot from a single jeepney ride. I find them rather enjoyable, actually, despite the risks. Yes, there are risks -- a lot of them, in fact. For example: there's always a risk of catching some life-ending disease (like EVD) from your fellow commuters. You never really know what the person next to you is carrying.

Another risk is getting robbed by people pretending to be passengers. True, true! There are a lot of instances when a band of men who look like innocent carpenters turn out to be robbers in disguise. They occupy all corners of the vehicle at once. One in the front seat, four on each edge of the benches, and two wind-surfers outside. Now, that's a recipe for lots and lots of torn ears, lacerated fingers, and bleeding wrists. Yes! So, do be careful! And once something like this happens, there's no way out since the jeepney will have been congested beyond substantial individual physical movement. Bingo! Jeepney drivers always ensure their passengers' comfort by overwhelmingly congesting each ride -- making it a literally "warm" experience.

Wait, wait! There's more! Besides the risk of getting robbed and catching EVD, jeepney rides don't come without live entertainment and unsolicited solicitations! Whenever the red light turns on, the drums of the destitute street kids will roll and their dirty little fingers will start forcing themselves on you relentlessly until you give in and hand over some coins.

Yes, that's how a commuter's life is here in Cebu City! That's how it is here in the Queen City of The South! Amazing, isn't it?

Photo Borrowed from: http://swdupont.com/

Featuring My Hair

2011-09-26T12:13:00.002+08:00

Some people love it,

Some people don't care.

Some people envy it,

Well get your own hair!

Some people dislike it,

I couldn't care less.

Some people hate it,

How I feel, you guess!

Jes' 12th Birthday - Me, My Mom, and Padre Jonas
My Mom looks weird in this one.
She kinda looks like a wicked Witch about to turn someone into a toad!
She's among those who dislike my hair and keeps futilely egging me to have it cut.

Jes' 12th Birthday - Bilu, Me, and Stephie
blurred photo, but I like it anyway

Reviewing Bohol Coco Farm - Me and a goat

Dad Manuel and Mommy Ver's 50th - Mamalol and I
before the food was served

Dad Manuel and Mommy Ver's 50th - Just me
And the photographer really caught me right when I turned my head. No, I wasn't purposely flipping my hair!

LifestyleBohol * Loboc River Resort: A Secret No More

2011-09-25T21:02:00.008+08:00

If you've read this article of mine on the September 25, 2011 issue of LifestyleBohol, majority of it may already be familiar to you but the editors took the liberty of omitting a few parts on account of Nadia's article preceding this one on the same page.

This is the full version with the omitted parts restored.

Enjoy reading!

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On the day that followed our organic farm adventure, my friend, L, took the exact same company of people to Loboc to review another new resort. She said it was in barangay Camayaan, on the bank of the famous Loboc River. I wasn’t expecting any sort of big surprise, to be honest. At most, what I had in mind on the way there was a concrete building by the river with a restaurant and a few rooms to crash in should anyone wish to take a nap.

Upon arrival, however, I was bowled over. It was completely different from the sorry little picture I had painted in my mind. It didn’t only exceed my expectation; it ran over it, ripped it to pieces, and burned it with a torch of silent self-humiliation. The Loboc River Resort is definitely a marvel.

The moment we stepped out of the pick-up truck that got us there, we were greeted by the owner herself together with a lady who brought us welcome refreshments. They certainly knew how to make an excellent first impression. I felt like some sort of foreign diplomat on a midday arrival at the Ritz Carlton. “So this is how it feels to be a resort critic,” I thought to myself while acting like Anthony Bourdain. We were led through the pebble-studded front yard to the riverside restaurant, passing two huge, imposing trees. I felt the welcoming vibrations of its dwellers and at that instant, I was able to tell why the place bore such an exquisite aura. The nature spirits that live there are benevolent and peaceful ones.

The place is a sole proprietary venture by Ms. Zenaida Teresita G. Varquez, RN, a Lobocanon nurse who has returned home from the US to bring a dream to life. The place, as she related to us during our brief tour, simply used to have a single structure—the family rest house—which still presently stands as a shabby hut that they fondly refer to as “the mansion.” Now, however, it has 14 ready-for-use fully air-conditioned guest cottages plus two groovy suites that are simply perfect for those seeking a place for their second honeymoon. An amazing fact about these two suites is that Ms. Zenaida designed them herself, utilizing indigenous materials. Whether you run your fingers through the walls or stare at the awesomely customized bathroom doors, you can bet that she had something to do with the way it turned out. It even has a mini balcony with a river view that’s perfect for melting an afternoon away on your Jane Austen novel. And if the water proves too tempting, just visit the reception area and they’ll have boats ready for you to hop in on. Whether you yearn for an evening cruise with your partner—complete with a background of fireflies on dark nipa silhouettes—or an early morning workout with the paddle, you’re going to get it. Trust me on this one because we got to experience it first-hand.

Now, we may not have had the ideal romantic ride you envision right now since, well, we rode with our review teammates, but it was a peaceful experience at the very least. If you go on a cruise on one of those floating restaurants near the church, you’re going to be sitting on a chair, but with the resort’s small boats, the water is in arm’s reach and nothing is going to stop you from sticking your hand in and feeling the cool sensation on your fingers. If you want to jump in, by all means do so. However, a logical option for a tourist would be to wait for the infinity pool they currently have under construction. They said it’s going to be up and running by the beginning of 2012. What more could you ask for?

Are you itching to know about the food now? Well, itch no more ‘cause here it comes! In the middle of all that beauty sits the resort’s centerpiece dubbed Vania’s Restaurant. Tall columns made purely of hardwood logs support the restaurant’s nipa roof. There, the four of us sat ourselves on fine-looking wooden tables and customized chairs—the work of, you guessed it, Ms. Zenaida’s creative imagination. Our dinner that evening began with an hors d'oeuvre of camaron ribosado (breaded shrimp) with cheese and mustard dip. Next, we had chicken cream soup, followed by a trio of main course dishes that consisted of roasted manok bisaya (native chicken), sweet-and-sour blue marlin, and adobong kabaw (buffalo steak), sealed with a dessert course of mocha ice cream and turon (fried banana-jackfruit spring rolls). I was left nearly out of breath after such a meal. I couldn’t help but gorge on everything that was put in front of me, so I did. In addition to all that, we were even served a post-dessert dessert—meaning a dessert after dessert. It was an amazingly mouth-watering chocolate chip cookie. The experience of having it melt in our mouths was almost orgasmic. Ms. Zenaida said it was a favorite of one of her sons—a personal recipe of their private chef. It’s such a selfless act, you know. I love the fact that they want the rest of the world to experience their own simple joys.

Here are some facts to note: the menu items taste superb, judging by the ones that passed through my palate; the presentation is practically immaculate; and the price is a single flick out of your wallet. It’s very affordable! It’s something worth calling sulit over and over and over again because it takes more than just once to make yourself believe your own word!

Trust me, folks, you’re really not going to regret it! You’ll find yourself in love with the place very quickly. The Loboc River Resort is a first-rate innovation amid a stagnating industry of river gimmicks. Bring everyone you know and you’re sure to get a lot of smiles. But remember, you read it from me first!

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LifestyleBohol * Going Loco Over Coco

2011-09-18T18:31:00.011+08:00

I don't particularly like this article. I wrote it, but I don't like it. I'm not going to explain. I think you get the gist.

Just click on the photos to enlarge them. Read the non-dimmed parts pointed by the arrows.

________________________________

Old Entry #17: Whose Ideas I Would Employ for Teaching

2011-09-17T08:15:00.002+08:00

Remember the previous entry that was part of the "Old Entries Series"? The one about counselling and stuff? This particular article I'm featuring was written four days after that.

It's quite long. Read only if it interests you. If not, I don't really mind. I'm simply posting this for educational purposes. However, please don't copy-paste it and tell your professor you wrote it. Aside from the fact that you're gonna get into serious trouble with him/her, I will personally hunt you down and amputate your middle finger if you do.

Naaah... Of course, I won't do that. I'll just hex you. Seriously, I will hex you if you plagiarize this!

Enjoy reading!

This was written on June 18, 2008 as a college essay in psychology.

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B.F. Skinner

Erik Erikson

Ivan Pavlov

Jean Piaget

John B. Watson

Lawrence Kohlberg

Sigmund Freud

Whose Ideas I Would Employ for Teaching

by Ludwig Bon Quirog

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

As much as the psychologists in our discipline are counselors, they are also teachers. They are among the most influential forefront innovators in the art and science of academic teaching. Now, let us suppose that I am a university teacher handling a class of 30 students. Three-quarters of the said group seems to be a bunch of incorrigible ne’er-do-wells. As a psychology teacher, I know it would be very unbecoming for me to just give up on my students. Thus, I now find myself in a situation that has me looking for a viable course of action – with regard to teaching, of course. I am looking into the styles and track records of the psychologists in subject so that I may derive a teaching strategy that I could credit to them.

Let us consider the fact that these people on the fore are not your average educators. They are world-renowned scientists who have molded the way modern people think today. These men are the blacksmiths who have forged casts in the field of psychology. So it would do me good to approach this endeavor with extra care, lest be down-casted in the mold of confusion. That would not be good for me as a teacher and it would certainly not be good for my students.

Basically here, all we could do is make suppositions as to how their profiles could be interpreted into possible teaching schemes. To kick off, let us all go to

Switzerland

and explore the possibility of deriving something nifty from the bricks with which Jean Piaget had built his tower of legacy. This developmental psychologist had conceived what has come to be known as practically the most well-defined chart on keeping track of a child’s growth. And based on that, we could infer that this fiasco of boisterousness is caused by the students’ difficulty in transiting between the concrete operational to the formal operational stage, and then being shoved hastily into adulthood by a demanding cultural environment.

With that having been established, I would say the best Piagetan way to deal with this predicament is by making subtle efforts to rouse awareness of their problem without having to subject them to embarrassment. And then, when progress is observed in this regard, I should, in a subliminal way, cater to these gaps in effort to fill them up with what they lack. For example, if most of my students are observed to have the problem of ensuing utter chaos due to simple arguments, I would simply devise strategies that would allow each one to present his/her opinion to the fore and I would teach them how to have a civilized debate over it without any chaotic fallouts.

Moving on, let us take a look at what Lawrence Kohlberg has to offer us. This American Harvard professor, influenced by Immanuel Kant and Piaget, tells us that moral reasoning, which is the basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable developmental constructive stages—each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the last. This basically adopts the same line of thinking that Piaget proliferates. The notable difference is that Kohlberg stresses more on morality as the core—the main drive. And since my students are particularly restless in terms of defending their personal opinions, I would presume they have had an inconsistency in developing pre-conventional morality during such stage. They have not been able to transcend its second sub-stage which is self-interest orientation; fearing the loss of voice when they do not feel that they have vindicated themselves. Moreover, they have also possibly undergone an exposure to the conventional stage’s authority and social-order maintaining orientation sub-stage. Thus, they feel the need to exert effort in insistence in order to “straighten things out”.

A tactical solution based on my interpretation of Kohlberg’s definitions would go this way: I would delicately introduce them to their problem. Following my success of doing so, I would initiate a conformist attitude in them. I see that as a formidable task since they already display an obviously rebellious mind-set. Nevertheless, I would try my best in the event that I do decide to use my interpretation of Kohlberg’s technique.

Next we have Erik Erikson and his theories on ego-founded psychosocial development. We best know this psychologist for his notable use of the word versus in pitting what he believed to be positive courses against what was otherwise not. According to his written theories, there are eight stages in this overall development process. Let us now analyze what dilemma our student dud might fall under. I would say that it is stagnation on the stage of what Erikson calls the school age, which is from ages seven through ten years. Here, the unresolved psychosocial crisis is “industry vs. inferiority” wherein our subjects constantly ask themselves if they are worth something brought about by what they do. That is the reason why they very rowdily riot over simple disputes. They want to preserve their personal sense of being worth something. The feeling of inferiority kicks in when they feel that they have not done their part adequately. That it most likely the reason why they could not care less how much brouhaha ensues just as long as they try to make their stand win.

I shall now devise a probable scheme out of this analysis. Indeed, it is quite disconcerting, at this point, what method to employ. The problem still has a vague aspect to it and may need further looking into. Even so, here is an idea that I would have to bend for: I would have to teach them how to accept mistakes and treat them as learning experiences rather than causes for depression. Each sensible opinion is never completely wrong. So, if it is found to be ultimately far-fetched, I should highlight the good points in them to avoid making them feel ignored. I have to be fair and apply this tactic to the rest of the class. I should make them learn to avoid reviling themselves when they commit mistakes. Additionally, I should also teach them the value of submission. When something is right, the others have to give in to it. And if opinions are the issue, everyone deserves to be heard. Everyone’s opinion matters.

As for Sigmund Freud’s theory on the human psyche’s sexual basis of action and living, I would be using a very arousing and very mentally stimulating scheme. That is: to constantly tackle on adolescent issues to catch their attention and keep them from falling out into unnecessary outbursts. Subject such as teenage relationships, sexuality and contemporary interests would fuel an active discussion when inserted randomly into topics. Most likely, the students would feel more inclined to participate since these are matters that they could relate to. If I teach theories, I should visualize its application to any of the issues that would catch their collective interest.

The Freudan perspective presents a broad list of choices regarding what modus operandi to make use of in different dire situations. They all have one thing in common. That is to ensure a stimulating effect on a subject. In addition to more brain activity, lively discussions about things students could relate to would mean that such things would easily be imprinted in their minds. They would begin to see things in a different light. Things would shape up around them and they would be viewing things from a first-hand perspective. Rather than adopt textbook-based ideas, they would be more apt at drawing their own line of thinking since they now have something more viable to work with. They develop their own space and that is what matters in learning.

Let us now continue with Ivan Pavlov, this time. As we all know, he defined classical conditioning. Essentially, his philosophy bears the same gist are Frederic Skinner’s and John Watson’s. The only difference is that his ideas are more sophisticated than his predecessors’. Behaviorism and radical behaviorism have evolved into a more concrete manifestation.

This theory of Pavlov is the most comprehensible among all those I’ve mentioned earlier. It requires lesser analysis. It has become a very popular training method all over the world. It is very widely used in all seven continents. It is regarded as the most successful method of teaching. That’s only the pro part. The con here is that the scheme is most widely used for training show dogs. However, let us not condemn his method. Surprisingly, it is also humanely applicable to humans—especially for cases like ours here. In a class overrun by human beings with demeanor akin to that of marsupials, desperate measures could be considered. Since we human beings all have reflexes, the reflexes of our subjects could be studied collectively. Once determined, I will then posit various stimuli until I get the desired positive response. If I encourage them all to speak out whenever matters seem vague, they would obviously be elated. However, if I force them to say something about things that are of no interest to them, that is another story.

Here is the scheme. I will present standards for them to abide by. I shall establish signals as to when and when not they are permitted to argue. Ones who present good arguments to the fore will be rewarded accordingly. Others will receive their deserved merits. On the other hand, if I have disallowed them from doing so at a certain moment and they violate the rule, they shall be given sanction. They will have to endure a well-deserved consequence. I see this as a very viable scheme for straightening out students. It’s not that I am going to regard them inhumanly. This would be akin to toilet training for babies. If they use the toilet, they would be rewarded the comfort of “letting go”. In addition, they get a complementary cone of ice cream. Otherwise, they would have to suffer the discomfort of having saggy, squishy, smelly stuff in their rear ends.

As for the answer to the question on whose derived technique I would pick, I would choose three. I would use a combination of Pavlov’s, Freud’s and Erikson’s. As much as I would employ technical strategies like setting rules and dishing out punishment to violators, I would also like to make them feel the essence of the things they are being made to do. At the same time, I would like my students to enjoy what they are doing to ensure that they learn something and that they not only perform well at my class but in other endeavors as well.

This is more of a “conditioning with guidance and fun” approach. It is more fulfilling for me and at the same time beneficial to my students. This is my ideal teacher and I would like to become my ideal teacher. Would you not? My principle is that one should make an effort to achieve the best. Getting there is the fun part.

On Miss Universe and Being a True Filipino

2011-09-14T16:23:00.019+08:00

If you're a world-renowned cultural and artistic connoisseur tasked to judge a huge international beauty pageant where your own country is represented, giving an unfounded and undeserved edge to a particular contender just because you share a demonym doesn't define your spirit as that of a true Filipino's. Manang is a true Filipino and she did NOT do that.

Shamcey Supsup, the Republic of the Philippines' contestant in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant bagged not the crown itself, but the 3rd runner-up's spot. At the outset, an average Juan would think that Lea Salonga's presence in the panel of judges might give Supsup some sort of advantage over the others. However, it just doesn't work that way with her. Do you think the Chinese-blooded judge Connie Chung voted China for the crown? No! As a matter of fact, she didn't. Those nine judges were among the world's most trusted and respected public figures and they were selected to sit there for very good reasons.

Lea was given the privilege to ask Miss Angola's final question -- one that was given to her. Contrary to popular belief, Lea did not formulate that question on her own. None of them did.

This piece of fact particularly goes to all those who, for some reason, think she purposely made it easy on her. She did not. As a matter of fact, that question was just as simple as the ones the four other ladies were given. Her answer just happened to be sensible. It was not particularly worthy of a kiss from Josh Groban (and I'm using his name because he's both gorgeous and intelligent and I know he's capable of gauging other peoples answers to such questions), but it wasn't bad either. She's not a genius, but she most certainly isn't obtuse! Above all, it was her rich scorecard throughout the rest of the pageant that caused her to leave Credicard Hall with the Miss Universe crown on her head. It's as simple as that.

Leila Lopes (Miss Angola) graced the stage with her knock-out smile and exquisite physique, oozing with charisma. She had obvious self-possession. Plus, she has a strong track record of active advocacy. Now, if you're a sensible judge in a beauty pageant whose winner is supposed to help spread social causes all over the world, wouldn't you choose her? Wouldn't your loftiest score go to the one who has exactly what you're looking for?

In my opinion, whether or not she had answered that question the way she did, she would still have won.

And here's another interesting thing to note:
All of the judges UNANIMOUSLY voted that Miss Angola should wear that crown - including Lea herself.

This is why Lea Salonga is a true Filipino. She persisted in doing what was right based on an intellectual decision rather than giving in to the emotional temptation of letting her country's representative have her top vote.

There are a lot of defining factors.

What makes us true Filipinos is not simply our blood. Among many things: it is our ability to uphold impartiality as a basic principle; it is our ability to make respect and rationality reign over fanaticism; it is our ability to hold true to our values.

The last time I checked, I didn't see "irrational hating" on the list of such ideal values. The people hating on Lea because she didn't capitalise on the opportunity to make Shamcey Supsup win the pageant are the ones who aren't true Filipinos. They're just Filipinos by blood, but their sets of values are akin to traditional corrupt politicians'!

I'm a proud Filipino and I'm proud of my country, but that doesn't mean I slurp up everything offered to me in the name of the nation. Shamcey was very good, but I never really rooted for her. My top vote went to Miss Ukraine whose answer to the question thrown at her was really, really good. Miss Angola was second in line for the precious gem that she was, while Miss Philippines came as a close third choice. I couldn't help it. Those two were really just so much better than her.

In the end, though, my bet didn't bag the crown, but who am I to argue with nine people who are obviously superior to me in this arena of decision-making? The public's opinions will remain opinions, while the judges' decisions are decisions. End of debate.

Dumb people would never understand.

September 11th from 2001 Through Last Year

2011-09-11T21:31:00.092+08:00

In 2001, THOSE attacks took place.

According to publicised reports: Religious extremists hijacked commercial aeroplanes and purposely crashed them onto specific targets, destroying the World Trade Centre in New York City and severely damaging The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. A third hijacked jet on its way to Washington DC botched its operation due to civilian resistance and ended up crashing into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, more than 6,000 got injured, and over 18,000 acquired toxic dust-related illnesses.

Another infamous event that was less published was the assassination of Antonio da Costa Santos, mayor of Campinas, Brazil.

Three years later, in 2004, a helicopter crashed in the Aegean Sea, claiming the lives of 17 people including Patriarch Peter VII, then Pope of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Another three years later, Russia tested a new conventional weapon nicknamed, the Father of all Bombs.

Those sounded quite interesting to you, didn't they?

Exactly one year ago, several people died of accidents; protests were carried out; people were condemned; doctors went to jail; somebody threw something at a prime minister; there was an earthquake; there was a hurricane; blah-blah-blah; bad stuff, bad stuff and more bad stuff. I'm not even going to specify them any more. Why should I?

There are way too many negative things happening in the world for me to fuss about them and dwell on them.

Ten years ago, you know what happened.

For that, I send out positive energy to those in any way associated with anyone who lost his/her life during that incident -- most especially the rescuers who responded and lost their own lives in the process of helping others keep theirs.

Likewise, I send positive energy to those who have survived and continue to live today with indelible scars in their hearts and minds.

But all those things happened. I'm over it already

We're bombarded with way too many negative things every single day. Occasionally, an Earth-shaking incident would take place (both literally and figuratively) and several people die. As a result, some are moved to fearful prayer; some stay apathetic; some take it upon themselves to investigate; some climb mountains of quasi-research to generate conspiracy theories; some accept whatever they hear; while some shrink in utter panic and end up doing extreme things.

I salute those who channel the idea of tragedies into constructive learning experiences and reasons to ponder on their own lives. I salute those who regard every experience, be it negative or positive, as an inspiring cause to change for the better.

Look, there is nothing wrong with wanting to know about the things happening in our world. In fact, it's important that we develop such yearning. However, I hope the world develops a neutral yearning and takes good and bad things with an equal level of interest -- if a positive inclination is too difficult. It is important that we focus not merely on the bad things because by doing so, we are subconsciously and collectively encouraging them to happen. Most people almost never care to learn positive events. It's a sad reality.

Let me tell you something else related to this: I don't really believe everything the media lets out. I purposely stated "According to publicised reports" about the September 11, 2001 attacks above because I'm not completely won over by such reports. However, whoever initiated those attacks, I'm not interested in knowing unless a major breakthrough comes out and greets me. It's not something positive, so whatever! I'd rather read about developments in ways we could help end hunger and how peace is being promoted amongst different countries and different religions. Don't you?

Think about it.

Mo Bheannacht ort!

National Heroes Day

2011-08-29T16:31:00.007+08:00

Andrés Bonifacio

José Rizal

Lea Salonga

Vicenté Hao Chin, Jr

Karyapa

Carlos P. Garcia

I'm not sure whether or not "Heroes" actually has an apostrophe (') after it. As far as the title of this entry goes, there isn't one because I want to write it parallel to how Rizal Day and Bonifacio Day are written. I mean, we don't say Rizal's Day or Bonifacio's Day, do we?

Wikipedia says:

National Heroes Day

This holiday is dedicated to the memory of all the nation's heroes throughout history. Observed yearly on last Monday of August, it is a regular holiday marking the Cry of Pugad Lawin by the Katipunan, led by its Supremo, Andres Bonifacio, which began the Philippine Revolution.

Iilan kaya sa ating mga Pilipino ang nakakaalam nito?

(How many of us Filipinos actually know this?)

I had a conversation with a friend a couple of years ago during this exact holiday. He actually thought it's written with a possessive form of Hero, as in Hero's. I was, like, "What?" He thought it's just another holiday made for Jose Rizal, who is recognised as the greatest national hero of the Philippines. That, of course, I do recognise, but for the sake of education, I'm calling on every single citizen of this country to be informed!

This holiday marks the day in August of 1896 when Andres Bonifacio led the beginning of the revolution against the Spanish hegemony. It was then that members of the secret society called Katipunan ripped their tax certificates to pieces, ceremoniously separating themselves from Spain, and the skirmish between the revolutionaries and the colonial civil guards began.

However, this day doesn't just mark that instance. This day commemorates ALL the national heroes of the Philippines -- meaning every single one that contributed to this nation's growth from the accounted time before March 16, 1521 up to yesterday.

So, yes, this day commemorates people such as the famed Lapu-Lapu, Jose Rizal himself, Benigno Aquino Jr, Francisco Dagohoy, Biki'ng Tamblot, Babaylang Karyapa and all your personal heroes who have helped this nation grow -- including Lea Salonga herself.

As for the now-dead heroes, we take the few hours this day allots to collectively remember their stories, their lives, and their invaluable contribution to the Philippines. Not just that, let us also consider how hard they would weep if they were to rise from the ashes and see how the motherland is now being raped and robbed and tortured by inscrutable human greed and lust for power.

Alam kong maraming mga di-kanais-nais na bagay na nangyayari ngayon ay mahirap itigil. Isa dito ay ang mabilis na pag-halo sa wikang Ingles sa mga wika ng Pilipinas, na kung saa'y nawawala na ang kaalaman sa karamihan ng mga tunay na salitang likas sa atin at napapalitan na ng mga hiram na salitang binago lang ang pagbaybay. Kung ipagpatuloy ng kaunti ang pagbilang, kasali na rin ang napakalaking suliranin ng katiwalian sa pamahalaan, ang walang humpay na mga madugong digmaan maging laban sa mga naghihimagsikang puwersa ng komunismo o sa timog ng ating kapuluan, at ang pagharang ng pag-unlad gawa ng mga pagtatatag na sinasaisip pa rin ang panlabing-siyam na siglo.

(I know most of these less-than-desirable things happening at present are hard to press the break on. One noteworthy problem for me is the fast integration of English into the Filipino languages, where a lot of the original words are now being forgotten and replaced by English words conveniently spelled in a Filipino manner. To mention a few more, major problems include the despicable corruption in the government, the endless bloody battles we have -- be it the ones against the communist revolutionaries or what's happening south in the archipelago, and the quandaries that keep progressive ideas from transforming into actual solutions, caused by institutions who do everything to keep progress at bay simply because they're stuck in the 19th century.)

Gayahin natin ang halimbawa ng ating mga bayani. Kung tayong lahat ay kikilos ayon sa mga kanais-nais na tuntuning ating nakikitang isinabuhay ng mga taong nagbibigay-sigya sa atin, maging buhay pa o hindi na, makakakita rin ng bago at mas mabuting umaga ang Pilipinas nating mahal.

(Let us emulate the examples our heroes have set for us. If we all live according to the positive principles that we have seen the people who inspire us live by, whether or not they are still alive today, we will all see a new and better day dawn on our beloved Philippines.)

What if these THINGS ever manage to make their way inside of you?

2011-08-26T19:31:00.004+08:00

Can you blame me for having weird interests? I'm eccentric, so deal with it.

I just finished reading Cracked.com's article on the 5 most horrifying bugs in the world, which I'm going to share with you after I finish typing this entry to prevent your attention from getting diverted. It's interesting. Really!

The last bug they featured was the botfly.

It may look like your everyday housefly, but there is more to it than meets the eye. There are several species - each named after a specific animal. The one above is a rabbit botfly. There are horse botflies and rat botflies among approximately 150 species worldwide.

So if you ask why they are named as such, I'm about to give you the answer so brace yourselves. This one pictured above, for instance, isn't called a rabbit botfly because it looks like a rabbit. No. In fact, it doesn't even come close to looking like a rabbit. It has its name because its larvae are physically designed to burrow inside living, breathing rabbits. Each species is designated to be parasite to specific organisms.

This is where it gets gross and scary for us. There are such things as HUMAN BOTFLIES. Yes. Living around the Americas -- from Mexico to Northern Argentina to Chile -- are these skin-burrowing, flesh-eating creepy crawlies. How it goes is like this: Female human botflies lay their eggs onto mosquitoes and other insects that are known to land on human skin. When they do land on us, the eggs will hatch by our body temperature and the larvae will immediately burrow their way into our skins.

Like this:

No, that's not an oversized acne. That's a human botfly maggot thriving underneath a living, breathing human being's skin. And just to make it absolutely clear to everyone: THAT's NOT ME! I just borrowed this photo from someone else's website. Credits below.

Here's an HD YouTube video by AB93552 of three of those things being removed from a man's elbow. ENJOY!

Photos borrowed from:

http://beetlesinthebush.wordpress.com

http://connect.in.com

And here's that Cracked.com article I was talking about:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15816_the-5-most-horrifying-bugs-in-world.html

Old Entry #16: Who I Would Go To for Counseling

2011-08-24T17:19:00.010+08:00

I went over some old folders in my hard drive looking to delete unnecessary files and I came across some of the essays I had written in college.

OH MY GOODNESS! Pretty good insights, this one has -- even for me. It answers the title question when given seven pioneering scientists in the field of psychology as choices.

Enjoy reading!

This was written on June 14, 2008 as a college essay in psychology.

__________________________________________________

B.F. Skinner

Erik Erikson

Ivan Pavlov

Jean Piaget

John B. Watson

Lawrence Kohlberg

Sigmund Freud

Who I Would Go To for Counseling

by Ludwig Bon Quirog

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Having read the profound leaps in the field of psychology initiated by the seven pioneer psychologists, I would say they are all more than qualified to give me pieces of advice in case I run to them for counseling. They have quite reputable track records that anyone, whether or not in his/her right mind, would find more than competent enough to trust. However, the question here is not whether they are capable “enough”. Rather, the basic shell that needs to be filled is who I would seek first for counseling and why.

The best way to resolve my query is to get counseling from them first hand. But since time travel is not yet possible, let us just take a less technologically implausible scheme. A background check of each candidate would fit very much in the category that negates science fiction ideas.

Let us make a series of assessments, then. To kick things of, let us start with Burrhus Frederic Skinner. His theory on radical behaviorism is what he would most likely employ to gauge my psychological innards. Although he has built up quite a reputation during his time of existence and has contributed a lot to modern psychology, I would rather not choose him for counseling and neither would I choose his forerunner, John Broadus Watson. Since their theories suggest that all organismic action is predetermined and not done out of free will, they are therefore heavily anti-theoretical. They neglect the role of theory in radically inductive scientific positions, which reject hypothetic-deductive methods and theory construction about things in unobservable, immeasurable places such as the human mind. With this line of thinking, I do not think I would be having a very healthy counseling session with people who would treat me like an animal whose reactions are all instinctively predetermined by a catalog of “possible” organic brainwave movements.

The basic principle that both scientists in subject abide by, maintain, and I quote, “That behaviors as such can be described scientifically without recourse either to internal physiological events or to hypothetical constructs such as the mind.” Quoting further, it suggests that, “all theories should have observational correlates but that there are no philosophical differences between publicly observable processes such as actions and privately observable processes such as thinking and feeling.” Now, I, as a living, breathing, thinking human being cannot scarf up an idea that my mind does not exist. If I were to ask them about a predicament regarding violent dreams, the explanation they would likely give me is a bogus statement like “they are mere pigments of the fragmented visual interpretations of your surroundings.” I am an esoterically inclined person and I would not submit myself to a scheme that is structure-centered and that is apathetic of the faculty of the mind.

Moving on, Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory on the stages of moral development as an explanation of the overall development of the human psyche is a viable solution to problems that I may be having. His likely interpretations of my statements—which he might find problematic—would be inconsistencies in my moral development like an unfulfilled crucial stage or a stage that I may have completely skipped. Let us use an example for analysis. Now, I have given dreams as a viable quandary so let us stick with the idea, then. Suppose I am having disturbing dreams. What would Dr. Kohlberg likely give me as an explanation? Now, since the statement “having bad dreams” is quite vague, he would probably ask me to elaborate. Maybe he would ask me what sort of dreams I was having. So, for the grace of an example’s sake, let us say I have repeatedly been having dreams about a shooting incident inside one of the bathrooms in the school where I study at. Now, with the act of open gun firing in public being an example of social divergence, my problem would fall under stage four of his categorized stages. This stage deals with law abidance and conformity to social expectations. The question that would likely follow is one that asks for certain recent occurrences in my life I could possibly associate with the images that I saw in my nightmare.

In response to that, I would say that I have constantly been exposed to the sight of a person carrying a gun throughout the duration of my first year in college since a classmate and close friend of mine in the last period of my Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes would be carrying a rifle in preparation for her drills on the hour that followed. That was because she was an officer of the ROTC. And on one occasion when I was in the dressing area of a washroom inside the gymnasium, some of the officers in the same room were arguing and yelling at each other while holding their wooden rifles. A regular person would say that my witnessing of that particular incident was what had triggered the scenario in my dream. However, Kohlberg could have a more elaborate explanation. Since his theory is not value-neutral, it starts with a stake in certain perspectives that includes a view of human nature and a certain understanding of the form and content of moral reasoning. Furthermore it includes the relationship between morality and the world, between morality and logical expression, and the role of reason in morality. Therefore, a lot more than a memory of an argument inside a dressing room had triggered my dreams to occur—not to mention repeatedly. He would probably tell me that my innate ability to connect images with each other was one factor. Additionally, my propensity to exaggerate occurrences, leave out details to protect myself, or my tendency to change the story entirely to fit my interest would have something to do with it. There are a lot of possibilities as to the explanation of my therapist but these are the most plausible ones that I envisage.

So much for him. Let us go on. It is Erik Erikson’s turn to give me counseling. Given that the problem has been opened up and is no longer vague, I do not feel the need to reiterate it. Now, since Dr. Erikson’s core theory revolves around psychosocial development, I would surmise that he would use its principles in getting to the crux of my problem. With the dream at hand, he would probably ask me another question pertaining to the incident in the dream. It would probably be whether or not in my dream I had the initiative to do something about it or remain merely as a spectator. If my answer is no, he would tell me that the dream keeps repeating itself because I bore the guilt of not having resolved it in the previous instance when I dreamed of it. It would be an obvious case of an ambiguity in the stage of “initiative vs. guilt” wherein such is not fulfilled, and therefore creates confusion with regard to reaction to a similar incident. Going back to the episode that had happened in the physical world where I was trapped in a dressing room where people with rifles were arguing, he would, next, ask me if I wanted to do anything about it. Did I have any purpose, whatsoever, in being there? Did my presence serve any positive or negative effect as compared to what would have been the case if I had not been around? He would most probably diagnose my case as a lack of a feeling of purpose or usefulness.

As for Ivan Pavlov, who pioneered the definition of classical conditioning and the reflex system research, his diagnosis would be a more sophisticated version of Skinner’s and Watson’s. However, it would make more sense since his psychological constituents are described very well. Being another “instinctive” approach, I would say that it is a rather traditional and less analytical way of determining a problem. It would entail another locked theory system, which, we now know very well, is not applicable in all psychological cases. A mere study of a salivating dog does not, to any degree, justify violent human dreams—or give a viable abstract explanation of it. You simply cannot pair a scheme used on animals to that of people who have advanced and more erudite way of approaching the world. I do not know with other people. But, I would rather not gamble my sanity on Pavlov. It has been said, once, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery that, “pure logic is the ruin of spirit.” I choose to believe this statement.

Jean Piaget, the Swiss philosopher, natural scientist, and developmental theorist who defined the stages of cognitive development, would probably have a more satisfying explanation compared to that of our previous doctor. He would perhaps tell me that what I am experiencing is a compensative defense mechanism developed by my psyche to fulfill my transition between the concrete operational and the formal operational stage of development. He would say that I am struggling inside to make a practical decision, thus abandoning egocentrism and at the same time developing an abstract “what if” idea as to what could happen if nothing is done otherwise. Thus, the violent dream materializes.

Piaget’s may be quite a good way of looking at it. But what of the last psychologist on my list? Let us now step inside the office of Dr. Shlomo Sigismund Freud, simply known as Sigmund Freud. He was the psychosexual scientist who pioneered the definition of the unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, and psychoanalysis. He is most renowned for his redefinition of sexual desire as the primary motivational energy of human life which is directed towards a wide variety of objects, as well as his therapeutic techniques, including the use of free association, his theory of transference in the therapeutic relationship, and the interpretation of dreams as sources of insight into unconscious desires. Is that not quite a charm for the tormented patient?

After going over the entire problem of mine, he would most probably ask me questions and give me the treatment of free association. He would let me divulge whatever there is inside my head. That way, he could best interpret my dream as to his elucidation of how my mind operates on a normal conversational basis. He would tell me that my dream is a psychological reaction to internal energy that has not been properly channeled into something productive. It may have little to do with the prior incident in the gymnasium despite the fact that the images I saw were very similar. It was an overflow of sexual energy that needed re-channeling or a viable outlet. My mind just needed something aesthetic to associate active emotion with—something to play with visually and to exaggerate. He would then ask me if these dreams ever result in abrupt waking, to which the answer is “yes”. And then he would infer that, indeed, I need an outlet for my excess energy. He would tell me to channel it into something productive like sports or writing, or what not for as long as it gets used.

Of all seven psychologists I’ve gotten therapy from, who would I choose? Skinner, Watson, and Pavlov are most definitely slashed off. Kohlberg’s was okay but still a little vague for me to gain useful information from so it is a “no” for him. Erikson’s [supposed] analysis of purpose based on the situation and imagery would be viable; and Piaget’s theory of compensation is also a good possibility to ponder on. But the explanation that really satisfied me was Freud’s. His rationalization to my dream quandary was exceptional and truly different from the others’. Not that I am just too sexually inclined or anything. But only my therapy session with him had really given me something to sink my thoughts on. It was a deep idea for me to brood over— fulfilling, nonetheless.

The Addams Family Mansion

2011-08-18T15:07:00.003+08:00

This is a photograph of the Addams Family estate.

This is my dream house.

I'm going to build a slightly bigger version of this in a couple of years or so.

See You There?

2011-08-17T06:50:00.003+08:00

A lot of people have this broad propensity to keep returning to the places that have contributed epic paragraphs to their lives' stories and helped make them who they are.

I'm not talking about hometowns and families because that's generally a given no matter how much of a ne'er-do-well you are. I'm talking about alma maters and boarding schools. For instance, every year, thousands and thousands of alumni and alumnae flock to Silliman University for the Founders' Week.

Some jump over ridiculous obstacles and are probably willing to walk through a hedge of thorny bushes just to make it in time. I think I know why. There's so much emotional attachment between the school, the person, and other persons from the school. And, of course, they expect a lot of their kind to be there during such time.

I'm not shunning the practice or anything. In fact, I'm about to do the exact same thing in over a week.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

See you there?

August Full Moon Fire Ritual

2011-08-15T03:28:00.018+08:00

The August full moon was the perfect evening to hold a fire ritual to bless the farm's new goat shelter and hut. Mama requested that I officiate it. It was a great honor.

Photos, anyone?

The full moon rises.

She hides behind the clouds.

The full moon shows herself.

The goat shelter to be blessed

Mama Lol (Grandma) lights the ritual fire.

Being the elder, it is her task to mark the beginning of the ceremony.

The goatherd boy burns the incense.

He will guard the flock, so he, too, must be armed with the moon's special blessing.

Mother.

Pouring a blessing potion onto burning charcoal in a broken cauldron.

The broken cauldron symbolizes imperfection. Yes, it was broken on purpose. The potion is called Gealach Fola, which means Blood of the Moon. And, no, it does NOT actually contain any blood.

Taming the flames - joined by Janggo.

Yes, Janggo is my familiar.

Guests in the circle.

Inside the goat shelter to bless it

A guest burning the incense

Consecrated incense drives away negative elements and creates a peaceful atmosphere.

Chanting Gaelic incantations to bless the shelter

Walking towards the sleeping hut

Burning incense inside the hut - ready for the blessings

Five of us returned to the ritual fire after blessing the hut.

Me, Mama Lol (grandma), Mama (my moms), Joanne (a cousin), and Rodmark (the goatherd boy) returned to the circle to stand on the pentagram's points to finish the blessing ritual.

Look at her burn!

Ceremoniously feeding consecrated wax to the flames

Ceremoniously dancing with the flames

It was literally very hot, but no pain was felt at all.

Channeling energy for the land

Invoking the sacred forces of the corners

"Guard this land, oh spirits. Let malevolence never touch it. Let harm never come upon it."

Thanking the spirits.

Rodmark, myself, Mama, and Mama Lol

Me, Joanne, Mama, and Mama Lol

Janggo, Me, Mama, and Mama Lol

After the ceremony, we had a party, of course.

_____________________________________________

The next day...

Me and Mom carrying a brown kid

Black kid this time

Me and Mom

Do we look alike?

Of Tips and Bargaining

2011-08-09T22:26:00.006+08:00

Comic art by Iris Yan, one of my favorite Blogger bloggers - girlfriend to Alex Noriega, another favorite Blogger blogger.

I know this sounds quite familiar to you, reader.

Why do we tip bigtime at posh restaurants when we know they obviously make tons more money than cheap cafés?

For Filipinos:

Why do we tip big at fancy restaurants and not leave any at the local karinderia (quick-serve restaurant)?

Then again, why don't we mind paying a full price at the department store while we argue our asses off to bargain for the lowest possible price at the palengke (locality market)?

Hmmmmmmmmm...

This culture is a little confusing, don't you think?

Of course, about the latter, merchants normally have higher-than-normal price-labels at the outset. This is clearly because they expect customers to bargain. You can't help but bargain, anyway, if you really want to buy something. It's a culturally defined system of purchasing and you can't beat it.

Photo borrowed from: http://www.harajukucafe.com

Old Entry #15: Allow Me To Express a Sentiment about Sandugo Festival '08

2011-08-03T06:05:00.009+08:00

Okay, don't tell me I'm going overboard with the old entries series. I'm not. And even then it wouldn't matter because this is my blog and I will write what I want to write about. You can't do anything about it! **insert diabolical laugh here**

Give me leeway. It's not like I post the old entries barely. I do write knick-knacks before presenting the old article. Well, who's complaining, anyway?

Anyway, this isn't anything fresh. I just thought of posting this since the Sandugo Festival 2011 just culminated three days ago. The article below is something I posted at an old forum site, which I'm still subscribed to (albeit apathetically so), and it's about how frustrated I was with the 2008 version of the festivities and the administration/committee that handled it back then. Things have changed for the better during this year's run, though.

The original post was written bilingually in English and Binol-ano'ng Bisaya (Bohol's local dialect). I initially intended to just write bracketed translations beside the Bisaya statements, but found it to be a rather cumbersome task. I ultimately decided to present it in full English to avoid confusion and what not.

And, yes, it's another rant.

Enjoy reading!

This was originally posted on Jul 05, '08 2:05 AM on Tubagbohol.com.

__________________________________________________

Are our standards as Boholano people deteriorating?

Has Tagbilaran City's brand of friendliness gone completely down the drain?

Why is the celebration this bad?

Why are all the stalls in front of the city hall? Why not at the wharf where it used to be? For goodness' sake, that place looks like a freaking carnival casino already! The city hall looks very degraded with all the hung trimmings and what not.

Moreover, about the Miss Bohol Sandugo pageant - what has happened to it? It has almost completely lost its symbolism. I'm not going to say why anymore. It's hard to explain and painful to think about. I think you all get the point.

PLUS, LET ME POINT OUT A HUGE IRONY: Why are there stalls selling pirated DVDs there? In front of the city hall! In front! Why did they allow that? You know what? Some people are really stupid! They're very stern about implementing their quasi-draconian policies and yet they have the nerve to simply (and probably deliberately) neglect the oh-so-simple-to-comprehend international anti-piracy law. They are setting a terrible example to the public! It's justifiable if they turn a blind eye on it provided that such business goes on in an inconspicuous location that isn't easily spotted, but come on! In front of the city hall? They should be slapped like crazy! It would be stupid to reason that they haven't noticed it. Of course they have! It's the first thing people see when they pass by.

Gosh! This celebration has lost all sense of culture and heritage. It's supposed to be the commemoration of an earth-shaking milestone that took place in our province centuries ago. The blood compact! 'San Dugo! (One Blood) But look at the festival blurb in the website. http://sandugo.tagbilaran.gov.ph/2008/bsfi.php (This link is dead already, by the way.) There is nothing there that speaks in line with what's supposedly being celebrated. It's a pure blabber concerning tourism. Well, there's nothing wrong with tourism, but there should at least be some historical points included. Even if they know that most people are aware of what the Sandugo Festival is for, the statement that says it still should not be left out! If it hadn't happened, we wouldn't have something this big to be festive about in the first place.

Let's make an analogy in that line of thinking. When a celebrity travels to another country, should he not bring his passport anymore, assuming that everyone knows him already? Think about it. It seems that this celebration is happening just for the sake of petty festivities. See! This is just a plain soulless festival now and no longer celebration. We should just change its name if we're going to do it like that!

Goodness gracious! What's happening to us? What's happening to Tagbilaran City? Do you remember the time of Gardy Labad and such people? Although he wasn't perfect, he did something great to Bohol that would never be forgotten. He helped put Bohol on the global scene. But where is this kind of spirit now? The tradition has largely disappeared except for a surviving few. What ever happened to all the cultural fuss I used to enjoy as a little kid? I remember the Loboc Children's Choir concerts at The Metro Centre, the golden singing voice of Da Maris Taldo singing Bisaya songs, musicals such as Dagon sa Hoyohoy, The Oracle, El Indio Bravo. Are there no more of things like those? Are those impossible feats nowadays? What's the excuse? Affected too much by the global financial crisis? Hah! Lame!

To all those affected by my statements, I apologize. Nothing personal. Don't get angry 'cause this is all true! The veracity of this is indubitable! I don't like what's happening!

To say that I'm appalled right now is a sheer understatement! Ugh! I don't know!

Titli's Busy Kitchen

2011-08-01T16:14:00.001+08:00

"As-Salāmu `Alaykum and welcome to Titli's Busy Kitchen with me, Titli Nihaan."

To the fun-loving foodies out there, the line above might be quite familiar. If you're one and you haven't heard of her, well, you haven't lived yet. You will hear it uttered in every episode of Titli's Busy Kitchen, a cooking channel on YouTube hosted by one Titli Nihaan, a Muslim British foodie who has, in my opinion, revolutionized simple Halal cooking. You don't even need to be Muslim to enjoy viewing her channel and trying her recipes out.

I discovered her about a month ago while browsing YouTube for simple hamburger recipes. I've grown tired of eating fast food burgers. Really! Yes, I recognize the fact that they taste good, but they're not good for you at all. Most people know this yet we still conveniently flock to the store under the big yellow M for an after-shift snack of genetically-modified potatoes, monosodium glutamate (C₅H₈NNaO₄), and mechanically-reclaimed meat!

Anyway, in abidance with the Food Revolution movement initiated by Jamie Oliver, MBE, I took the liberty of finding a convenient way to make my own burgers using lean meat. It was then that I had stumbled upon this amazing woman's channel.

This was the first Titli Nihaan video I got to see:

I was so amazed by this that I ended up watching all her food videos in one sitting. I'm talking about hours and hours from midnight to beyond sunrise of watching Titli-Titli-Titli. What can I say? I'm not Muslim, but I found another role model in her.

She's amazing, isn't she? She's got her own brand of humor and "on-purpose" sarcasm that gets you laughing your head off. If you're not one for the laughs, you may get the gist by playing a video only once. However, if you're like me, you'd be needing two or three runs--or until you manage to compose yourself to stop laughing. I don't know about you, but as much as I admire her sheer sensibility, I also find her utterly hilarious.

If you want to know what I mean, here's a video she made that parodies many celebrity chefs. This was inspired by comments made by YouTube users saying that she should become a TV Megachef. In this, she shows us how to soft-boil an egg.

Well, that's about it for now. I've tried some of her recipes. They're awesome! You should try them, too. They're all Halal, which means there's no alcohol, pork, scaleless fish, or anything Haraam. Of course, you can opt to use these ingredients if you like.

"So, join me next time in Titli's Busy Kitchen with me, Titli Nihaan. Until next time, Khuda Hafiz!"

Old Entry #14: Last Weekend's (May 9, 2009) Journal Entry

2011-07-31T20:06:00.007+08:00

Another old entry here.

And, no, I don't think it's too early for another one. Why would it be too early for anything written about? Besides, this was written over two years ago, anyhow.

Do you know how to connect dots? As early as two years ago, I've been an advocate of the RH Bill. Well, the entry isn't really about the bill. It's just mentioned in the course of it. This does, however, speak of dictatorship defiance and the reality of economic and religious hierarchical influence.

Read all the way through.

This was originally posted on May 15, '09 8:18 PM on Multiply.com.

__________________________________________________

William Ramsey Clark, M.A., J.D. - 66th Attorney General of the U.S.A.

Photo source: media2work.net

May 9, 2009

I just turned my TV off from watching an episode of Inside Iraq on Al Jazeera, my new favorite news channel.

I didn't really plan on watching today’s episode. I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep the entire afternoon away. My dad was the one holding the remote control and I feared a sequel to last night’s incident. Yes, we had a quarrel the previous evening over the television volume while watching the film Incendiary—unreasonable to say the least. However, we were already fine last night. I just did not want to take chances.

Our cable provider apparently did not consider Al Jazeera to be a must-watch channel since they placed it on 65, among the free Indian and Middle-Eastern channels where almost no one could care less about.

So, there I was lying down in bed and recklessly allowing my thoughts to wander about. And while at that, my ears caught the voice of “Inside Iraq’s” host. (I forgot his name.) I thought to myself: “Interesting, I’ll listen to this.” The episode featured Ramsey Clark, former U.S. attorney general. Initially, I thought it was just gonna be the usual my-opinion-on-the-war interview but I was in for quite a surprise. Towards the end of the show, I was struck by a question that went something like, “What was the primary motive for the Iraq war?” Now this was something that warranted an effort to get out of bed. But just when I was about to stand up, the commercial break came on and I didn't want to sit on a smelly couch while waiting for it to go on again. So, I remained the way I was: lazily reclining on two huge pillows.

When the show went on again, I had lost all motivation to get up and watch. I had almost conclusively decided that listening to the conversation would be enough. The question was reiterated and Clark answered with something like, “the purpose of the war was for dominion and power over the region.” Wow! This was one honest man. The host then retorted, asking why this was Clark’s answer when the US record was not generally colonialist over the past few scores. “You had the Philippines but then you let it go,” he said. For that, I knew I had to get up. Clark stated that the U.S. had invaded more than 70 times over the last century. Moreover, he said that the reason why the U.S. had let go of our country was because they had no use for us anymore. Our country’s income was less than 10% of what they needed from us and they just stopped caring.

He went on to say that the war was a human catastrophe of the highest order. For this, they had spent more on arms than all of the other countries combined—simply because Saddam Hussain did not agree for the U.S. to assume control over them and their oil.

And here we keep asking what the cause of the global economic recession is while conservative Christians repeatedly stab President Obama for his support on Reproductive Health programs.

The Philippines has numerous businesses. Billion-dollar corporations here stand controlling the nation’s politics with rich people—the nation’s economically powerful minority—competing for the last say. However, with that said, the most lucrative of these businesses is the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, you read me right. Ayala, San Miguel and such other may have the backing of the privileged few, but this corporation, masked behind a façade of religion, controls the meager majority. The difference is this: Superpower corporations give money to the Philippine government so that they (the companies) get what they want. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic church in the Philippines receives money (bribe) to tell the poor masses what the government wants done.

The RC church achieves their end simply by telling everyone that it's in conformity with what God tells us to do. A load of holy crap! They do this while telling the masses that the reward would be eternal salvation. Bloody hell! They make me laugh!

A couple of months back, people from the congress introduced a Reproductive Health bill to counter overpopulation and the rapid depletion of resources. However, the church saw this as a threat. For them, absence of population control means more poor people will be born; and with more poor people, there will be more church-goers praying for economic aleviation. Smart move, eh? And where would that put the intelligent few who know what’s good for them?

Thank you for reading. And likewise, thank you for not reading.

Of Generation Gaps and Wisdom

2011-07-30T02:50:00.003+08:00

Chronological advancement advantage only presupposes possession of greater wisdom.

However, members of a particular generation have a great deal of things to learn from members of another generation--from the older to the younger and, in turn, from the younger to the older.

Listening and Understanding, employing genuine Love and Compassion are the basic keys to achieving Harmonious and Peaceful coexistence.

It is true that the perennial philosophies are matters of broad discussion, which great minds who have existed longer in the present consciousness usually bear more profound credibility to give insight on.

Keep in mind, however, that everything is dynamic and subject to the laws of evolution--most especially when dealing with the subject of knowledge.

In the end, a give-and-take process of insight exchange among various generations will always work best. No one holds the absolute truth. Likewise, no one is inherently and absolutely incorrect, either.

Old Entry #13: I Idolize John Gokongwei, Jr (But...)

2011-07-21T04:45:00.001+08:00

Time for another old entry. Well, I don't know exactly what makes it "time" for one. I just feel like posting one so that means it's time!

Not much blabber needed for this one. It has to do with John Gokongwei, Jr as my role model in the field of business and entrepreneurship (although I'm not as hardcore as he is... yet). It also talks about a very sweet bottled juice drink that his company produces, which, for that matter, I haven't seen in quite a while.

I wonder... Maybe I was right after all. Where'd it go? Wanna know what I'm talking about? Go ahead and read!

This was originally posted on Apr 6, '09 3:00 AM on Multiply.com.

__________________________________________________

If nonsensical blogs annoy you, then stop reading and leave now.

Well, don't say I didn't warn you...

Anyway...

Two years ago, when I was still in Silliman University business school, my dad gave me this book called The Path To Entrepreneurship. It told the story of how John Gokongwei, Jr constructed his massive business empire. It divulged how he went from riches-to-rags-to-riches -- how he managed to carve his name in the list of the world's most respected business personalities.

[Note: Such list excludes Donald Trump]

I read the book from cover to cover between breakfast and lunch one nothing-else-to-do Saturday morning. And believe me, it was inspiring. You need not be business-minded to appreciate it. You don't have to take it in as some sort of business scheme textbook. Let it inspire you the way it should. The way it did me.

Yes, John Gokongwei, Jr is a well-renown man in business. Yes, he is a good man. Yes, he has helped a lot of people. Yes, he gives job opportunities to thousands and thousands of Filipinos who would otherwise add to NSO's figure of native mendicants. Yes, he is a role model for all of us who wish to take a similar path in carving our names somewhere. Yes, yes, yes.

HOWEVER...

I personally do not believe that the bottled juice drink his company sells actually aids in making a person slim down -- or even lose weight at the very least. It's just way too sweet. Universal Robina's TV commercial says Fab has some sort of substance that burns fats. If all those substances that allegedly help burn fats could actually work their way into doing what they could supposedly do, then where does all that sugar go? It would probably just compensate for the burned fat and nullify the effect. Or, or all it probably does is add to our body fat substance.

I don't know what the truth is but that's what I think. I'm not a chemist. I don't really know. Who am I to make such judgment. This is just an opinion, okay? Don't diss me for this. It's just that I haven't blogged in a long time and I felt the need to post something. My apologies. But, anyway, I still drink it. I drink it a lot. It tastes good. It just seems preposterous to me that something that sweet could actually aid me in slimming down.

I believe in C2's antioxidant content, though. At least, I'd like to believe -- since I drink it ever so often. It has a very refreshing tinge to it. Moreover, it has that reassuring bittersweet taste of green tea leaves that tells me every time I drink it that: "I'm not just drinking some bottle of concoction made from sugar and whatever else. I'm actually protecting myself from cancer."

[LMAO!]

So, yes, I idolize John Gokongwei, Jr. However, the idea of Fab doing what the ads say it could do is just plain ridiculous.

Of Generation Gaps and Social Outlooks

2011-07-19T14:19:00.009+08:00

Each new generation rejects a chunk of their predecessors' attitudes as being out of date for modern society.

When will people finally realize that the generational drift extends all the way back to the ancestors who wrote the Bible?

Can you see the transition of it? From the jealous, repentant, and murderous god of the Old Testament emerges the compassionate and loving god of Christianity in the New Testament. Take note of how the violence and coercive prohibition mellows down as the Bible progresses from one era of writers to another. It actually all depends on who's writing the particular book and what the culture is during the time it is written. Everyone should at least use their brains and consider that fact.

Look, don't get me wrong here. I'm not out to debunk faith and belief in the Bible. I'm here to to point out usage of the brain in addressing modern society. Let the Bible be the Bible. If you live by its teachings, by all means do what you will. Just don't impose on others. And you aren't seriously going to do everything it says, are you? You can't kill people for working on your holy day. You can't smite people who eat crustaceans. You can't subjugate women. No way!

Some actually see what I see and people like us don't enjoy stuff being forcibly and repeatedly hammered on our heads simply because some book says so. The same goes with concepts regarding race, sexuality, and caste systems.

Generational attitude differences don't only apply to Biblical things; they apply to most everything. For example:

About RACE and SEXUALITY in relation to marriage

About TECHNOLOGY

I'm not saying we should all just sit back and watch culture get annihilated before our very eyes. What I'm saying is that we should be open-minded and allow ourselves (outlook and all) to progress with time despite what our traditions have set for us in the last millennium.

It is vital to keep in mind that morality is always subjective. However, at the core, it is how we address others -- whether beneficial or detrimental to the well-being -- that truly matters. As for everything else, we should let them be - whether personal judgment is present or absent - unless the particular activity causes harm to the well-being of the greater majority.

It is not for us to intervene on same-sex couples getting married. It is not for us to dictate what kind of music people must listen to, what books to read, or what things to buy. Sure, we might not bear appreciation for some things and that's our right. It is another's right, as well, to hold to his/her own principles.

Of course, for activities that cause global warming and obviously damaging things like collective bigotry and death, it's a different story. For counter-harmonious mentalities that are injurious to the well-being of peaceful and loving movements and the people involved, we should put up a fight if, upon intelligent scrutiny, we feel that we need to.

Then again, keep your cool. Let others be if no real harm is done - even if they do things contrary to the faith you profess or the principles that you hold. Be intelligent about life. Communicate and move to inform, but never coerce and never employ violence of any kind. Like Alex Noriega said, "Stay open to new things."