Read all About It: Pork Barrel Scam

You've got the words to change a nation, but you're biting your tongue
You've spent a life time stuck in silence, afraid you'll say something wrong 

If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song
So come on ,come on...Come on, come on

You've got a heart as loud as lions, So why let your voice be tamed?
Baby we're a little different, there's no need to be ashamed
You've got the light to fight the shadows, so stop hiding it away

Come on, Come on

I wanna sing, I wanna shout. I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers, i'm not afraid. they can read all about it. read all about it oh

Song exercpt from: Read All About It - Emeli Sande

That song is dedicated to all the people who are speaking out about our current SYSTEM.

[ you can listen to it as a background music: Read All About It]

I've read a lot about the PORK BARREL SCAM lately. And from these blogs:  MOMANDPOP and DULZSPEAKS

We all know, that the news is not "NEW". We knew all along our tax are being used that way, but I guess those anonymous comments that gave those mindblowing figures and with rationale made us even go wide-eyed, wide-mouthed, heavens worthy of a shock.

 But here's a view of Social Transformation (which is what I see .... that is happening to our country now).... 

This metamorphosis of the caterpillar or worm to a butterfly is a powerful metaphor for societal transformation.  The people who awake to the new possibilities are like the imaginal cells of their own society. The process of societal transformation starts with the emergence of these individuals who carry with them the seeds of the future. They are "imaginal" in that they carry in their innovation an aspect of the image of the future of their society. These innovative individuals, these bearers of the future become the "deviants" of their own society. They are not recognized as the bringers of good. Rather they are attacked as disturbers of the present, destroyers of self-defeating habits of the old society (the caterpillar) which has been superficially framed as the "good life". In extreme cases, they can be killed. Kennedy, King, Gandhi, Rizal, Bonifacio, Javier, Aquino, and others were killed because they were too dangerous to the system. The auto-immune response of the old society tries to get rid of these visionaries." - Butterfly Effect, Nicanor Perlas

For a background of the "Butterfly Effect" please click on this link --> Butterfly Effect 

My initial reaction to the information given out by them anonymous... was of course.. ANGER.

It made people go screaming mad, some were giving out hopeless comments, that it is the way it is... and all that shizznit... and we cannot do anything about it.

Zilch. Nada. Let's just keep paying our taxes while they go spend the money or sit on it with their stinkin ass and let them go buy that luxury car or that luxury unit next door while the rest of the working class, keep providing for them and while most of our brothers and sisters still live in shantys and we continue to disempower them.

Well, it's a system that has been going on for years.. and if you've read the blog... if we wanna go "due process", our laws were made to protect people just like them.

And we can't possibly do another People Power... because folks.. it's insane to keep and do the same things over and over again and expecting different results.

So too in society at large. We see chaos all around. We can respond in two ways. We can complain and dis-empower ourselves with a sense of hopelessness. Or we can see this as an external symptom that the old order is collapsing and waiting to be transformed into a level of complexity and order. - The Butterfly Effect,  Nicanor Perlas

There are actually two ways to go about it.... (aside from the fact... that we can just sit back and live our own life).
 

FIRST OPTION: The Revolution.
Create different groups.

Ask everyone not to pay taxes. Call on the support of the police officials who are fed up of the system. Military officials who will drop their guns against us and pointed to them corrupt..
One group as mercenaries to assassinate all the corrupt bloodlines and leave no one behind (Wow, just like them dark wars).

Then create a different take over group.  One that carries the voice of the multitude..... now who would that be, would be a whole huge debacle. As we overthrow a system... what would ensure us that the system we place would be the perfect system.... etc.. and many other complications will rise from this. Whuddunit. Bright minds should gather and think about how to go through it seamlessly. And how do you know those underground plans wouldn't be filled with various snakes who can rat against you?

However noble the cause.... revolutions.... that can turn out bloody... cannot be our foundation for a new society that we envision.... for the system that we envision...

SECOND OPTION: Peace is the Way - Butterfly Effect

Well, we have to accept the fact that War cannot drive out War. And that HATE cannot drive out HATE. Only peace is the way.... and only love can drive out hate. only light.. can drive out darkness.

and you can say.. yadda yadda. What is peace to the multitude that is suffering? Yadda Yadda.. how can you say that while the rest of the country are starving? And thats just another bunch of "feel-good" theory.

But, my dear friends.... this is scientifically proven... and in the City that I am living in... we are reaping the results as more and more of us... "USE THIS WAY".

For a background of the "Butterfly Effect" please click on this link --> Butterfly Effect



We can all do this wherever we are..... situated... whether you are a government official genuinely wanting to serve our nation, a student, a mother, a teacher, a farmer, a lover, a healer, a gasoline boy, and insert all kinds of people.....

#1 -  Envision the kind of Philippines you want to live in. How do you see our politicians? How do you see our system? How do you envision the grandest version of Philippines? Do we see ourselves rising and becoming the Tiger of Asia... how do you envision progress? Would you want it sustainable? Go wild. Visualize the kind of Philippines you want to live in..... what are the values that we would carry as a NATION? Are we living up to our PREAMBLE ? (we have one of the best preambles by the way...)

#2 - In your own little way, what can you do ..... that can aid and support this vision? What initiatives will you take on... to address the challenges that we are facing today?

#3 - Connect with individuals who are doing "heart-based" work for our country, for their own city.... and learn from them.. or invite them to work with you....

#4 - Keep in touch with CHANGE AGENTS. People who are willing to go off the beaten path... back to being - what is true in our NATURE. Our Nature as Human Beings on this planet... as caretakers... and a brother's keeper.

#5 - Say these ... 4 positive phrases that work over and over again in your mind like a tape recorder whenever you are not doing anything: I love you, I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank you. :)

There is another aspect of the butterfly that moves us from the realm of metaphor to the realm of science. There is the so-called "butterfly effect" of the new science of complexity. We often hear how the flap of a butterfly's wings can influence weather patterns around the world. Small changes, if properly situated, can cascade and have large scale effects.

In 1969 Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". She never imagined that barely a decade later her historical analysis would receive empirical support from natural studies in the form of the new science of complexity. - The Butterfly Effect, Nicanor Perlas

Doing all these.. is not easy. It takes courage to.... do what WORKS for everybody. It takes courage to deviate from things that are normal... to going back to our natural state.

I tell you this path... Option #2... is the hardest part.  The easiest part is not to care.. and not participate.. it's also very easy to be evil. For people who stick to evil deeds are the ones who aren't courageous enough to answer the call that their hearts are saying....... but the bravest people I know.. are those people who would FIGHT and STICK TO THE VISION OF THE KIND OF PHILIPPINES WE WANT TO HAVE... and the VALUES that we CARRY as FILIPINOS.

I have high hopes. :) Because, everyday, I meet people who are in the realm of bringing in positive changes, and awesome sustainable solutions to the challenges we have today.
And yes, the old worm cells, will try to eat away.... the imaginal cells... but... let's carry on and keep transmuting everyone... and activate their Imaginal Self....

Carry on. Spread the Love... Give the Love around. :)

Knowing zee Candidates

Okay.. so election is coming up...

how many days to go? 11!

I vowed I'm gonna research about each of them.. but I got busy....

good thing I stumbled upon a website... which actually did the whole thing..

researched about most of the candidates and their stands about various...

laws & bills...

so... for the whole lot ..

visit Filipino Free Thinkers. Know your Candidates.

this will be just a quickie update.

I'm taking my pick :)

Vote wisely! Your vote is priceless! Next time ako na tatakbo.. vote nyo ko ha! HAHA! Marami ako plano sa Philippines. ayyy di pala ako... marami akong igather na free thinkers and the bigwigs in various sectors who have the heart for our country.

tsaka... gather ko lahat magaling. syempre.. pag ako tatakbo ... you are not really voting for me... you are voting for the people... whom I will be consulting with. HAHAHA >:)

okay ... echos ko lang yan :)

mag aasawa muna ako.. kasi baka pag ako na elect ... wala na mag di-deyt sa kin.. at wala nang magpapakasal sa kin.. HAHAHA

Who will run for the Senate this 2013?

There are 32 individuals running for Senate:

1.       Ricardo Penson (independent)
2.       Samson Alcantara (Social Justice Society)
3.       Greco Antonious Beda Belgica (Democratic Party of the Philippines)
4.       Baldomero Falcone (Democratic Party of the Philippines)
5.       Christian Señeres(Democratic Party of the Philippines)
6.       Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
7.       Former Las Pinas City Rep. Cynthia Villar
8.       Former Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel 
9.       Former Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal
10.   Former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr
11.   Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara
12.   Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
13.   Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
14.   Senator Aquilino Martin Pimentel 3rd
15.   Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay
16.   Margarita “Tin-Tin” Cojuangco, 
17.   Former Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, 
18.   Former Senator Ernesto Maceda
19.   Former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri
20.   San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito
21.   Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay 
22.   Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr.
23.   Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan,
24.   Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares
25.   Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero
26.   Senator Loren Legarda
27.   John Carlos De Los Reyes
28.   Marwil Llasos 
29.   Rizalito David 
30.   Former Philippine Constabulary chief Ramon Montaño
31.   Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn 
32.   Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño

Gah. What a Long list! Haha. Will try to see what their platforms are, and note their promises. :P  That is if I have the time! HAHA. I should right? Since it is our country? But, well, I just wanna see who we will have. :) So, if you have suggestions feel free to write below :) 

List from Yahoo! Philippines

Save Belo Monte!

I found this over Tumblr. I feel the Chief's heartache because I feel the same way when the government officials of Davao City approved the Aboitiz coal plant here in Davao. It is so sad. :(



The chief Raoni cries when he learns that brazilian president Dilma released the beginning of construction of the hydroelectric plant of Belo Monte, even after tens of thousands of letters and emails addressed to her and which were ignored as the more than 600 000 signatures. That is, the death sentence of the peoples of Great Bend of the Xingu river is enacted. Belo Monte will inundate at least 400,000 hectares of forest, an area bigger than the Panama Canal, thus expelling 40,000 indigenous and local populations and destroying habitat valuable for many species - all to produce electricity at a high social, economic and environmental cost, which could easily be generated with greater investments in energy efficiency.

It was brought to my attention that there is a petition we all can sign to help support these indigenous people and the Amazon. Please take a second to check it out below or comparable petitions that are available. Thank you.

http://amazonwatch.org/take-action/stop-the-belo-monte-monster-dam

Something Political

I don't know anything about politics, I don't know how it works. I don't know the truth from the lies, because I was never there, wasn't in politics and never done any. I always shy away from any conversation related to that unless an election is drawing near.

The only time I get hyped up talking about politics is when people talk about Mayor Duterte. or the Duterte's for that matter.

So, yeah the election is drawing near...

And, I'm surprised when I ask most people I know, they are still at the twilight zone of who their President would be. Or they'd give me: Noynoy, there's a Gibo, there's Gordon, other people would smirk about Villar (but the jingle is really something that could make your eyes roll), there's also a taxi driver who would vote for Erap.

No one in the political world is ever clean. Ever. In politics, you roll up your sleeves to clean up the mess and you get your hands dirty. Others are smart, they make other people do it. They let someone like Jack Bauer to clean up the mess. Ok, that sounds 24-ish na. My point is, everyone in the political world is somewhat marred. If you wanna work with the system, you have to mesh yourself with it... and you uncover a lot of things you'd rather not encounter. But, it's a matter of working yourself in it.... and well yeah, ending up acting: "for the good of the people". I knew of a few good people who ran for the office but ended up quitting because they can't stand the lies. But, it's all a matter of balance. There are well-meaning people in the government, there are those whose principles are firm, and who still keeps their word. And you would see those people bringing about results.

As I've said once at a friendster blogpost that Truth and Politics cannot mix. So, no one would ever know what's the truth or the real deal anyway. Because, if you search for the truth you'd come up with a web of lies. What they do out there is, they lie to the people and if they lie long enough they'd end up believing those lies and it ends up becoming the truth. So, who knows?

I, like everyone else is on a limbo about my President.

I once opted for Noynoy because his running for President wasn't something he planned anyway. There wasn't any strategy involved. It wasn't strategy when President Cory Aquino died. So, i found it was a bit divine. People asked him to run after the late President Cory Aquino died, and it was amazing how Mar Roxas put on hold his eye as being President and settled for Vice President. Although, i'm sure they have things on their sleeves na because they are in it already.

Then, I later found out Noynoy and Gibo were cousins and I got hold of some "80's Conspiracy Theories involving Marcos and the Aquino's".

Then, I saw Gordon... and even wanted him to win until I talked to some political analysts who told me Gordon wasn't "winnable". They say: "If we vote for Gordon, chances are Villar might win... blabber this and blabber that.." and they all opted for Noynoy as the lesser evil.

and there's Nicanor Perlas who is not so publicized but well worth considering. I just browsed his website. He is divorced but so, what the hell? (You'd know below, why those things wouldn't matter.)

I for one, don't want Villar to win. I don't want to add any more fuel to fire because it's already big and everyone knows what a big fat liar dot dot dot dot.....

And then, I said to myself maybe I should wait for whomever Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will endorse.

A few nights before Duterte announced his President, I dreamt he was supporting: Noynoy. And, I was amazed just this week when I learned he was indeed supporting Noynoy.

But, until now... I still don't have a President.

Anyway, here's my list:

President:

Vice President:

Senator:

Risa Hontiveros (Ana Theresia Baraquel)

BongBong Marcos

Bong Revilla

Pia Cayetano

Ralph Recto

Martin Bautista

Gwen Pimentel

(i really haven't researched the Senators... and there's sooo much information. *sigh*)

Davao City:

Mayor: Inday Sara Duterte

Vice Mayor: Rodrigo Duterte

I'm supporting the following councilors, though I can't vote kasi I'm on a different district:

Congresswoman: Mabel Sunga Acosta

1st District Councilor: Lester Avila / Billy Parilla

I'm supporting Kuya LL (Lester Avila), since he was my schoolmate and we have common family friends and of course knew him personally. And I can personally vouch for him. His advocacy is "Youth for Environment". And will be continuing some great projects for the Environment. :)

2nd District: Congresswoman: Mylene Garcia

and im on a limbo sa councilors.

Anyway... I found something online (I actually encountered this questionnaire in a seminar) and I think most of you will recognize this:

ELECTING A WORLD LEADER:

Candidate A was associated with witchdoctors and often consulted astrologists. He had two mistresses. His wife was a Lesbian. He smoked a lot. He drank eight to ten martinis a day.

Candidate B never managed to hold down a job because of his arrogance. He slept the whole morning. He used opium at school, and was always considered a bad student. He drank a glass of brandy every morning.

Candidate C was decorated a hero. A vegetarian, he did not smoke. His discipline was exemplary. He occasionally drank a beer. He stayed with the same woman during his moments of glory and defeat.

And what was the answer?

A] Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

B] Winston Churchill.

C] Adolf Hitler.

Well...

All the best, PHILIPPINES.... in selecting our President.

Dirty Politics.

Since when was it clean? Some may have nice motives but a lot would have hidden agendas. I've heard too many things about their so called anomalies, and some may seem exaggerated or it may not be true but still.... all those FAR-FETCHED ideas could be possible.

Our lawyer *tsar* told us we have the right to vote and not to vote. My parents decided not to.. since they can't find anyone suitable for the position... or even if they voted for someone whom they think is fit to be in the seat the possibility of our votes to be manipulated is high. What with some people inside the COMELEC with a neon-light sign on their forehead that says MONEY MONEY MONEY?

But, of course since it would be my first time, I coerced my parents into voting with me and they were a sport. We visited three different schools because the LIST of VOTERS were shuffled. They were transferred here and there. It would then give you an idea if this was a good way to lose and let some of the voters give up after transferring them to different schools to look for their names. But then, I sticked to my "ALL THINGS ARE PURE" thought and my parents finally found our names at the third school. And, surprisingly all the people in our village were to vote in one precinct only. Cool.

Despite, what Shari advised me to fill up the 12 slots....I did not. I only voted for 5 senators. The rest of the slots, I crashed them out. I only voted for people with less "talk" and more "work". Although, whether they really worked for it.. I don't know. As long as they did not say anything AGAINST their OPPOSITION. I did not vote for all those bad-mouthing politicians because they resemble someone I abhor (but learning to love despite of) in our business (that explains our lawyer nyahaha).

Politicians were just invented to talk about LAWS that are not evident to us. They TALK too much.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy. ~Ernest Benn

Let's compare them to scientists. If a scientist conducts an experiment, and it succeeds, they simply show what they've done. They don't need to talk because the results speak for themselves. So scientists are usually quiet types. They don't need to TALK, it is not NECESSARY. If they tried to conduct an experiment and they fail, they have nothing to say.

But, with politicians? Even if they fail, THEY TALK. In fact, the MORE THEY FAIL..... THE MORE THEY TALK... and THE MORE THEY BAD-MOUTH OTHERS to COVER THEIR WRONGDOINGS. I hope they do more SERVING than TALKING and DEBATING. Sheesh.

I would often complain about how things are in the Philippines specially politics and my mom would butt in and say: "Don't mind them. Mind your own business. Help more people and make more money. That's our job."

Sometimes, I would want to be in a politician's position and imagine doing noble things to serve the rest of the Pinoys. That's in my heart. My mom told me: "There are other ways to serve the Filipino people anak. Not just politics." Which gave me an idea. As to where and how.. I have to find out. Maybe later.

I'm not sure when would politics begin to resemble the word CLEAN. Because, whenever you say politics it usually screams DIRTY. Politics is a mess. In order to clean the mess you roll your sleeves and get your hands dirty while doing the job.

Deception, is part of government. We do not have to wonder why this and that. Governments lie to get the people's loyalty. If they lie big enough, and long enough the lie becomes the "truth". Truth and politics cannot MIX. Never.

Truth is not determined by majority vote.

We don't have to wonder why NATIONS go to WAR. Those major leaders with massive political involvement all want to prove their MANHOOD by beating up THEIR OPPONENTS. Strength is what all those politicians know and understand.

I might as well be frank now. I don't think politics is the future. Or it could help more people. It blurs the mind of people and lures politicians to be more greedy, it blinds you from the truth and it gives you more and more reasons to ruin your opposition to get your own ways.

I can't wait for the vote-counting to end.

{edit: This post is in effect of watching too much NEWS. Hehe. Every thing's hyped up by the media. Remind me... not too watch too much NEWS. Soo many bad news. }

Image from: Emiry,

Ch-Changes

Change.

They say the only constant thing in this world is CHANGE. Life is all about changes. We cannot simply afford to just slack off when we are comfortable with something or a situation. We all need to GROW and in order to grow, we need to CHANGE. If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. It is inevitable.

Growth is the only evidence of life. ~John Henry Newman, Apologia pro vita sua, 1864

I've been hearing complaints about the government, in fact when was the last time people stopped complaining and started changing ? I mean yes, the government may have it's faults, and sure we have every right to complain.. but I hope for a change... those people who got nothing to do with their life would stop blaming the government and start changing for the better.

You see, part of what stops people from growing is "complaining". They see other people's faults without seeing theirs. They prefer to blame other people because they cannot afford to take responsibility for their own life.

Changes comes with responsibility. Your life would be better, if you stop complaining and blaming other people for what is happening in your life and start to accept the responsibilities that goes with "human rights". We should be aware that we are all responsible for our own actions. And whatever that is happening in our life is the result of our actions.

Q: So.. how do we effectively change our circumstances? Given that we cannot complain(oh, which is bliss!) and blame it on other people because we are supposed to be responsible for our own actions and circumstances which are the result....?

I'm not really saying that you cannot complain, I'm just pointing out that it's better to do some changing rather than complaining. Its much more productive... and it helps you grow.

Change starts within. So you will understand clearly why change starts from within.. I will take the example from Bob P. about the mirror images. :)

Take a look at that picture. So, you see a woman with a camera with her reflectionssss. And I mean reflectionssss.

The woman would represent you (never mind that you are a guy, imagine this time you are that woman). The images or the reflections she has has would be the "circumstances" in your life.

Now, you want to change the circumstances, because you are not happy with that result. Where do you think, (in this case the mirror image) would you try to change... "the certain mirror image" or the "woman holding the camera" ?

You see, people are so bent up in trying to change their circumstances, their home, the PEOPLE AROUND THEM, blah and blah except THEMSELVES.... and then when nothing happens they go about complaining nothing is changing.

They want to CHANGE THEIR LIFE... but they do not want to change themselves.

Things do not change, WE CHANGE.

Trying to change the circumstances would be like this "mirror image". You cannot change anything if you try to change the "reflections" of you.

Your circumstances are the reflections of WHO YOU ARE. If you want to change your reflection, do a little shifting of emotions..... listen to your spirit... listen to the voice within.

Before you complain, take a good look at yourself.... and see what needs to be changed inside of you.

Remember:

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ~Author unknown

It's the most unhappy people who most fear change. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

since

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. ~Confucius

but.. also BE WEARY because...

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. ~Ellen Glasgow

Image from: Shanner

Swarmed

The "7oth Araw ng Dabaw" went really well and was practically safe despite the "bomb threats", what with all the 1,500 police and military personnel who were deployed and fielded to various comvergence in Davao City . Surely, it would be another one of those "safe-moments". You would see military/police officials in every corner and certain random check-ups everywhere.

The City Parade was pretty much eventful. The organizers made it like a diorama, they wanted to ensure that the Davaoenos would be educated of the Davao's rich history as well as entertained.

The weather was great(compared to last year's rainy parade), it was gloomy at first but the sky brightened up by 9am.

Since, we are nearing the election .... the organizers have warned that the parade and the rest of the highlights of the Araw ng Dabaw 2007 celebration would not be open for the politicians to campaign.

"What are you really driving at Tina? Enough ad-libs already."

But despite the warning, the festivity was swarmed with politicians and politician-wanna-be's like R.G. who actually wore his campaign red and blue shirt that shouts G_ _ _ . Just fill in the blanks. It was soooo obviousssss!!!! Really. And, there were politicians who never attended previous Davao festivals but they were there just to be seen. Sheeeeeshhhh. -_-

I'm sure Mayor Duterte was not pleased when they showed up. But, he was actually fair when he was interviewed.

"I cannot prevent anybody from greeting us, from greeting the people of Davao City," he said. "This is a free country and this is not an exclusive exercise for the city where we can bar anybody from joining the stage."

But... but... it was sooo obvious. They were there for the campaign... to show-off their faces. They had their own personal agendas as to why they would attend it.

Soo... to the next city who will have their own celebrations/festivals before the elections be prepared for a politician's smiling i-wanna-lure-you-into-voting-me face.

and isn't it quite fitting that my Quote for the Day in my sidebar is:

Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. -Charles de Gaulle

Career?

Yesterday, there was this Career Caravan at UIC Bajada. We thought it was some kind of a seminar or something but when we arrived hosts from "Kuyaw" a local variety show here in Davao were there and it really did look like it was a variety show and not some seminar.

It turned out that those hosts are supposed to entertain the audience while waiting for "Tito Boboy" to arrive. Honestly, I don't know who "Tito Boboy" (Augusto Boboy Syjuco) was until I saw the mini book they were giving away to the people who were there. It was my first time to hear about him. I even thought it was "Buboy" from the APO Hiking Society. Hehe.

The book given away was "Salabat for the Filipino Soul" which is like "Chicken Soup for the Soul" right? But, the content is different since some of them has jokes before moving forward to a much serious story. (Actually, I did not read everything just yet. Just browsed some of them and laughed at the korny jokes inside.)

Deflate - the plates, Defrag - the frog, Devastation - the bus station.. those kind of jokes.

Oh and yeah the funny REAL NAME of SHOPS.. like

• Bote Nga Sa Yo (Used Bottle Shop)
• Candies be Love? (Candy Shop)
• Common Cents Store (Sari-Sari Store)
• CrispyPer Minute (Crispy Pata Eatery)
• Curl up and Dye (Beauty Salon)
• Dear Hunter (Mail Order Brides)
• Goldirocks (Gravel and Sand Shop)
• Juice Co. (Fruit Juice Stand)
• Mane Attraction (Beauty parlor)
• Mat & Jeep (Jeep Accessories Shop)
• Meating Place (Meat Shop)
• Meatropolis (Meat Shop)
• Nacho Fast (Nachos to go)
• Passers Buy (Convenience Store)
• Saudia Hairlines (Beauty Salon)
• Scissors Palace (Barber shop which would sound like Caesar's Palace)
• Susan's Roses (Flower Shop)
• The Way We Wear (Boutique)
• Your Best Vet (Veterinary Clinic)

Which reminds me of a certain Barber Shop here in Davao named "Harry Cutter". Where else can you see these names but here in the Philippines. LOL

Oh well, Tito Boboy arrived like 3 pm and he arrived like a politician campaigning. Shaking hands, Beso Beso here and there. You can't help but think he might go and ran for office... or maybe promote someone's party which I would guess would be Pres. GMA's party. Oh well, whatever... we did not finish it since it's already 4pm and some of us still have the thesis defense the next day. We left early.

It's the thesis defense of my classmates (June, Avy, Renel, Giovanne, Pearl, Red, Bordz, Jhunnel, Cedrick, Franco and the rest of the gang). Be blessed guys!! YOU CAN DO IT. :)

Tres

I was in Pluto's blog awhile ago and he mentioned Manny Pacquiao. I remembered a couple of things. No no no, scratch the thought I won't even mention his running for whatever-position-this-election.

I remembered Manny in my dreams. I don't know why in the world he was in my dream (maybe because yesterday my mom mentioned Manny and was asking if he is really serious about running and all that). I don't remember seeing him in my dream all I remembered was some lines that goes like this..

"Manny died..."
"What, he did? So he won't run after all?"

Stupid question. But it's a dream. I searched the net for it's meaning and here it is...

To see others dying, forebodes general ill luck to you and to your friends.

I'm not sure I saw him die... I forgot. -_- All I know was that he died there.

Next dream:
(Yes, I had a long dream. Three different dreams in one night. Another triple treat.)

All I remember was there's a mouse... a talking one that is. He was brought into a room full with books and it was placed in front of the aircon. It was left there, the mouse was an important rodent there, and we got soo busy (I don't remember who I was with) talking we forgot all about the mouse. Then we realised that we brought the mouse/rat with us and when we tried to take a look... the mouse/rat was freezing. In fact, it freezed to death.

To see lab animals in your dream, suggests that an aspect of yourself is being repressed. You feel that you are not able to fully express your desires and emotions. Alternatively, it suggests that you need to experiment with your fears, choices, and beliefs. Try not to limit yourself.

Another meaning is:

It is an unlucky dream to see domestic animals dying or in agony.

Another one:

A rat is a sign that negative influences are undermining your vitality. Dreams about rats and mice usually reflect the worries which are "gnawing" you. Seeing a rat: you will go through some unpleasant experience with other people.

Third Dream:

We were watching a movie "Annie Hall". (I did not know there was a movie like this until I searched it.) But the movie in my dream is not romantic, it's actually mortifying. It has zombies walking around while I am in the movie (yes, I'm inside the movie as well) the zombies has those stuffs you have on the hospital. I don't know what you call them. They are like from hospitals with tubes walking outside a park, street or something. It was totally freaky.

Dreaming about the living dead may carry a powerful message. If you are "walking around like a zombie," it usually means that you are emotionally disconnected from things going on around you. You may be experiencing unhealthy detachment and are unable to appropriately feel positive or negative emotions. Currently, you may be out of touch and outside of the main flow of life. This dream could positively sever you and help you to become aware of emotional issues and circumstances in daily life that are difficult to face.

Whatever it is.. I don't remember being a zombie.. it was the people around me.

Then I was in a car with my sister. She was playing with the car window attempting to open it. And I was like... "stop playing with it and don't open the window we might get infected". I was really nervous and fidgety by that time. Attempting to close the window (it's automatic so the window go up and down). Then there were soldiers beside with a big missile and they sprayed something through the window and my sister closed the window herself. I told her...

"Look, what you've done... now we are infected and I can't breathe... can you?"
"Yeah, I can.. but it's hard."

The next thing I know we were in a mall. Meeting up with Dra. Beth and the rest of my cooking class classmates. They were all there and we asked Dra. if she has some remedy. She gave us some stones and said to pound and rub it all over our skin and smell it. It felt like it was a soap and we were rubbing it. In my mind I was looking for my parents and brother for other family members, I want them to be with us. I wanted to warn them about the situation.

The whole duration of the dream I was running around the mall looking for the rest of the family members.

Whatever my dream meant it was not good. Pretty bad omen it is. I know that dreams come true when you allow them too... specially the bad ones. They just warn you about what can happen in the next few days whether you are conscious about it or not.

Basically, some of them I am really feeling specially the one about suppressed. Oh well.... We will see. I wanna change it... and I can.

The last dream... I don't know how to search for their meanings.

Farewell 2006

What a year! 2006 is about to end and the whole world’s about to welcome 2007 with a big loud bang. Although there are no loud, sparkling fireworks here in Davao since they are banned, well that gives another New Year minus the fireworks. J

This year made me experience a lot of “firsts” in my life.

Last year was my first time to celebrate the new year out of the house… and into the Nationwide Family Camp we endured for days *from Dec. 25 – Jan. 1* How’s that for a holiday? It was fun anyway… and a whole new experience.

* to sing in public with the family… and followed by a lot of singing presentations.

* to travel out of the country.

* to fly business class and use the business lounge (it’s free… so why not take the chance?)

* road-trip with friends for an hour and a half drive to a wedding and without a chaperone.

* See a panda.

* make a layout all by myself

* manage and edit a mini-video + music video

* take an international exam

* be in an organization. (IIPA and PCAM)

* an official (treasurer) of IIPA Davao Chapter

* to be late in class and it went on till the end of the year

* to make matters worst… I even have a couple of consecutive abscences..

* first time to see a Yellow watermelon.

* to be tagged

* to ride a tram and a double decker bus.

* to ace a math subject. Woohoo!

and a whole lot more of firsts…

I thought the election would be done by the year 2008. Silly me. Not up to date. It’s on 2007 and I was even lazing around not worried about registering in COMELEC. Now, I’m with the “rush-rush” registrants.

My first day was December 30, 2006, when my mom called me 8 in the morning to inform me that it would be the last day of registering and all that. I rounded up a couple of my classmates to join me in COMELEC at Magsaysay Park, only Avy and JV went along with me to register, but JV gave up after a few minutes of trying to get the form. It was not a good sight actually. Sweaty people and bad smell hovering. *Gah*

Me and Avy decided to be early today. We arrived at the park like 5:20. It was drizzling and we waited there patiently. Laughing at some korny jokes or just watching other teenagers. We were just keeping ourselves busy, not minding the negative side. The gates opened 8 am… and everyone rushed out like prisoners released. Shouting, pushing. Avy, Ate Alice and I just slowed down not minding the rushing people.. because it’s still the same.. we will all be inside in a few moments anyway. To make the long story short… we got the forms 11:44 and ate a quick lunch and passed the forms by 2pm. I was asked to go back this January 2 for the picture, and Avy on January 3.

I was quite disappointed with COMELEC (Davao) specially the ones handling District 2. They are not organized. They would tell you there are no more forms and then the people would go away, and in a few minutes they will tell you the forms are available. They are like toying with the people.

The lines in District 2 was not good. Dami sumisingit. Rawr. It was exhausting and suffocating plus with the blaring heat of the sun and the smell. *Gosh* The place smells like dog poop and to make matters worst, someone farted. Sweaty people pushing you around made it even more exasperating. I don’t like to be pushed nor do I like to push other people in front of me. I called my mom that time wanting to cry already and give up because I cannot take it anymore… our line can’t get anywhere with all the people trying to overtake. I told her there are no more forms. My mom told me “How can that be? With all the money we-the people are paying (referring to tax) they would suddenly run out of forms? No… No.. You better get your forms. Don’t go home without getting one. And that’s Philippines. You have to go through that experience… you must understand how our system works.”

Yeah. Crappy system, I must say. I was even asking myself why in the world am I there? I don’t care about the election. It doesn’t matter. Who wins, wins. End of story.

When I arrived home, I was dropping hints to everyone how tired I was, how the people were, how the place smelled. My mom would then reply…

“Oh well, everyone needs to go through with that… Now you know how it is like in the Philippines eh?”

Yeah, and I wish one day it would improve. A better system, one that would benefit everybody even to the ones who serve the people.

I’m not exactly complaining, I’m just observing. Although, yeah awhile ago I was. But, then I must experience this….. and get something from it. A lesson perhaps, one that I could apply to other experiences as well.

It was a good day. All’s well that ends well. No matter what process you’ve gone through.

It’s a nice thing to end the year. This is another first. Going to all the trouble on New Year’s Eve, and helping in the kitchen right away without getting a good rest because our relatives are coming over. A whole lot of them… and so there goes my movie marathon into the bin. I won’t be able to do it then. *sigh*

Oh my cheeks turned pink to red. Nyahaha. Na sunburn pa ako ni 2006. Salamat sa pabaon haaa?

Happy NEW YEAR!!!

Life is Good... if you follow the Universal Rules

I ate a YELLOW WATERMELON yesterday.

I was watching the news awhile ago, and natural calamities are killing a lot of people lately. Not just here in the Philippines but also in a lot of different countries.

I was watching about President GMA's stand about evacuating the OFW's in Lebanon and people against her are again talking about if they have enough budget.. blah blah. What is more important LIVES or MONEY? Before you think about MONEY you think about what you can do FIRST, like SERVING PEOPLE for example. It is the ONLY JUST USE OF POWER, SERVING PEOPLE, and that is what Pres. GMA is trying to do, little by little. And they don't see it, because they always see the BAD instead of the GOOD. That's why they will never be succesfull, NEVER. Why are they so against a president, who did nothing but thought about the lives of the pinoys in Lebanon? If GMA does something, they are always behind her back and they always try to see the bad thing about anything that GMA does that is good.

I am not for her nor against her. She is the president of this country, and she needs respect, just like EVERYONE would want to be respected if they are in her position. Do you think other countries would respect US, if they see we dont respect the PRESIDENT? People always blurb about other countries not respecting them, how can they respect us, if we cant respect our leader ourselves?

And one more thing, those people who are always against her, is NOT DOING ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER!!! At least, even if they said she is being a hypocrite, she is doing something about our country, whereas those people who rally and protest about her IS DOING NOTHING! BUT go OUT IN THE SUN, and protest about this and that, making our country look worse.. instead of going out and making money and being PRODUCTIVE.

And there is nothing wrong with Pres. GMA's SONA. It was a good vision for the future. Why do they always worry about BUDGET?? Who cares about the BUDGET!

Benjamin Diokno, a former budget secretary, said what Ms Arroyo “has failed to address, time and time again, are the issues that block this country’s growth: Corruption, violence, political stability, rule of law and population growth.”

Why should Pres. Arroyo focus on something we all do not want to happen? Yes, it does happen, but why do we have to focus on something that we do not want, when we can focus on something we would WANT. That's why we get more of "what we do not want" because that is what we are focusing. We focus too much on the PROBLEM, that the SOLUTION was not taken care of.

Tobias(bishop), who earlier admitted to providing sanctuary to a troubled military mutineer, cited massive unemployment and underemployment, heavy debt servicing, and the supposed absence of real economic development.

Tobias said the government was again trying to paint a bright picture by claiming that only 11 percent (4 million to 5 million people) of the labor force was unemployed.

In reality, he said the figure was 16 percent of a potential labor force of 40 million Filipinos.

Well, at least PGMA is trying to paint a bright picture, while Bishop Tobias splashes black and white over the scenerio...

I agree with Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Anthony del Rosario (btw, he is a businessman, so he gets the drill).

"Critics are saying that her plans could hardly be achieved until the end of her term on 2010. Of course, all those she planned may not be completed but what is important is that whoever seats as the next leader would know where to start." says del rosario.

He agreed that the president laid on the table a clear and detailed blueprint of nation-building where everyone is given a role to play. Del Rosario expects bitter reaction from the opposition such as the issue on the source of the money to fund those projects. However, he stands by the claim of the president that the effort should come from all sectors of the society including the local government units, the private sector, and funding agencies.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye stated that the government has the funds to jumpstart implementation and continuity will be guaranteed by a balance of domestic resources and prudent loans that will not cause a burden on the rising generations but lift the country from the oppression of abject poverty.

Meanwhile, del Rosario observed along with a number of Mindanaoans that PGMA's SONA mentioned less about her plans for Mindanao as compared with the projects for the other mega regions.

" She might not have mentioned all of her plans for Mindanao. But we'll just see later how PGMA would help this mega region. Let's give her a chance to prove her plans for the country", he explained.

However, he too admitted that it is not just the president's burden but the whole country's responsibility as well.

I sooo agree with del Rosario. At least there are still people who are sane, and concerned about the nation and no personal agendas. THINK POSITIVE, but do not be blinded also by what is happening, and do something about it, instead of ranting and raving. Enough said.

I am sorry.. i really just have to state my opinions. GO PRES. GLORIA! You can do it. Let the DOGS BARK, but the CARAVAN must move on! BE BLESSED!