are we still in the 70s?!?

I usually deviate from political rants, but i can't let this one pass.

One early morning, emphasis on EARLY, on my way to work.
I overheard an interesting exchange over the radio, well, i often keep my opinions mum, especially when i travel early and hitch a ride.

But this day's news was beyond outrageous.
Do they seriously think giving away money would help defeat POVERTY?!?
Say, throw away Php 21 BILLION for a conditional cash transfer. Provide a measly amount per family to help them live the day?

What ever happened to old saying,
"Give man a fish and let him live a day. Teach him HOW TO FISH, and he'll live a lifetime."

Sometimes, I wonder what runs in the heads of the higher ups.
Can someone please tighten the screws in their moronic heads?
Good grief, everyone knows that this specific solution ain't the way to go.
Dole out is a definite no-no. It's never gonna hit the problem, and it ain't sustainable :(

It's been how long since our dear President sat in his post, and what has he been doing?
Misjudgments and whatnot. I wonder what would take place in the coming days.
(Yup, I'm not PRO-PNOY, but I'm trying to think logically and I'm saying these things as a concerned citizen.)


Lord, help us see the light and trust You in this. We love our country.
I love the Philippines, and it pains me to see us looking like this... Please let Your grace be upon us.

this just got in

The proverbial Juan dela Cruz has the Election 2010 cloud looming over his head.
Every Filipino's hopeful of what the 10th of May would bring.
Each one vouching for a different color, based on personal principles.

It pains to see our country's stark reality, as we Pinoys deal with things differently.
But three days from now, we should all make our stand. It's not only about who we'd vote, but who would win in the end, and most importantly, how we'd all stick up as a whole.
(and ultimately, we're all praying for the best 'cos after all, God is top of things:D)



on the same note, our CD sent this mail to everyone.
Just to shake your thoughts, if ever you'd make last minute changes.

On May 10, 2010 we will have the opportunity to choose the next leader of our nation. The Filipinos are always at the short-end of the stick each time a leader comes into power. Personally, I think we deserve it because we have been notorious for having short memories that's why we are allowing convicted felons to run again. We make decisions based on short term gains that's why a lot of people are selling their future by pawning their votes for a thousand pesos. We are so short-sighted that's why we are gulllible enough to believe the promises of politicians that there will be immediate relief when they are voted into power.

Lately, I found out that it is more difficult to hire a staff than to choose a President. We make sure that the person has four C's: A clear calling to be in full-time Christian service, competent and skilled, a character consistent with a disciple of Jesus Christ and may have a good chemistry with the rest of the team. No wonder we are in better shape than the Philippine government. Many of us will base our choices based on surname or family pedigree. I am the son of a Mom who is known as an outstanding school administrator even at 74 while my Dad is known for his integrity and brilliance as an engineer (board topnotcher for ME and EE, PEE and PME). But, I was hired as CD based on my own merits and was never asked how my parents fared in their respective careers. So let your choice of President stand on his or her own merits. As the saying goes, "the best judgment of performance is performance itself." Some will choose based on promises of immediate relief from poverty. If you believe this then you are as short-sighted and (excuse me)as stupid as millions of gullible Filipinos who swallow the promises hook, line and sinker. "The poor will always be with you" (Mark 14:7), the Bible says. So even the richest nations still have poor people with them that's why they are known as welfare states. Some of you will choose based on ethnocentric considerations. I need not explain this further but isn't this bigotry?

Please examine the basis of your choice. Pray about it. Your choice has the potential of bringing God's judgment or blessing on this country. The bottomline is this: Let everyone know who you voted for so that if your candidate wins you should feel responsible if he brings this country to the dogs or feel victorious and proud if he lifts the country out of poverty. Whoever wins, we are supposed to pray for that person (I Tim. 2:1-4) and submit to his authority (Rom. 13:1-7).

Time to pray, seek His will and ask for wisdom and guidance (James 1:5) because you will be held accountable for your choice.

(Lord, be in FULL control. We pray for an honest, open, and peaceful election...)

kwentong komyuter

pasensya na. pero habang ako ay bumabaybay patungo sa opisina.
naisipan kong isiwalat ang aking saloobin bilang isang kawawang komyuter sa kalakhang maynila.

kaya't heto na. sigurado akong marami ang tatango't iiling.
sa mga hindi makakuha ng mensahe, aba'y ang swerto niyo!
dahil marahil, ilan ka sa di nabibilang sa demograpikong ito.

...

sa bawat pagising sa umaga, na pawang napakaaga.
upang maligo at gawin ang iba't-ibang ritwales.
paghahanda sa pagpasok sa opisina.
hahalik sa aking mga magulang, at kami ay babasbasan.

lalabas ng pinto. tutunguhin ang lansangan.
palabas ng aming munting pamayanan. mag-aabang ng unang sasakyan.
traysikel, yan ang tawag sa kanya. pawang mura ang bayad sa umaga.
(pero pag uwian na, ten million times na ang patong sa kanya!)

kapag umuulan. ikaw ay matatalsikan. kapag minalas ka pa, para ka ring pinausukan.
haaaay. ang saya. minsan iniisip ko, para san pa't ako'y naligo pa!
konting tiis lang, ihahatid ka sa terminal ng pangalawa kong sasakyan.
dyip, ang pambansang transportasyon, ika nga ng iba.

mabuti pa sa terminal na ito, pawang may kaayusan.
bayad muna bago sakay, at siyempre lahat ay pumipila - naghihintay na makalarga.
nakakainis lang, ang mga pasahero ay pilit na pinagkakasya. upuang tig-pito, ay tig-walo raw.
feeling pa nila, lahat ng tao ay one-size fits all. goodluck na lang kung may ma-jubis sa hilera!

ito na. biyaheng langit? hindi naman, sa skyway lang ang daan. kaya't kapit na ng mahigpit.
pati ang iyong buhok ay ikipkip. libreng blowdry para kikay. hmmm. ang bango, usok scent ang uso.
ilang saglit lang, babalik na sa lupa. ang init ng polusyon iyong madarama.
sa pagliko ng magallanes, masi-stress ka. mga dyip na nagigitgitan. haayy, ano ba!

hindi lang yan, mga hari ng lansangan pawang nagkakarera. sa kaliwa't sa kanan, asan ba ang daan?
hindi na ako makahinga. ang kapal ng usok na kanilang binubuga, mas masahol pa sa yosi kadiring mama.
konting tiis na lang, bababa ka na. nakikita mo na ang estasyon ng ikatlong sasakyan.
pero bago yan, dito na ba tayo bababa? sa third lane ng kalsada?!? pinapamadali ka pa!!!

ayun na, nakababa na kami isa-isa. kumakaripas ang mga paa. yakap-yakap ang mga dala.
kasi kung tatanga-tanga ka, masasalisihan ka at malas mo na lang kung nadukutan na. (experience?)
haaay. hindi na naman ako makahinga. ang daming tao. umaakyat ng matatarik na hagdan.
sandali lang. hinga ng malalim. hinga. hinga. bukas ng bag. patungo sa himpilan.

may inspeksyon pang nalalaman na sumpungin naman. minsan din hindi naman nila tinitignan.
pero kapag na-bingo ka, si mamang sekyu ikaw ay susungitan!
my goodness. kalahati pa lang to ng biyahe. take note, mahaba ang mrt.
taft avenue station, dito kami sumasakay para naman makaupo kahit sandali lang.

minsan sinubukan kong orasan, mga bente minutos ang biyahe ng tren.
makulay rin ang biyaheng ito. people watching, paboritong pasttime ko, my pren. (jologs?)
inaalam kung sinong taga-UP. nakikinig ng chismis ng iba. nang-ookray ng outfit ni lola.
teka, parang ang sama nun ah. ipipikit ang mata, at magdadasal, hihingi ng tawad muna.

Cubao station. ika nga ng operator. tatayo nako, at dito ay bababa. kasabay ang kalahati ng madla.
sana'y matapos na ang aking biyahe, dahil feeling ko... isa na akong bilasang isda.
bukod sa biyahe, walang humpay rin ang lakaran. kaya lalo kong nararamdaman ang kahinaan.
umaga pa lang, stressed na. oops, teka teka pang-apat ng sakay, ito na.

dyip ulit ang pang-apat na sasakyan. kaya't di ko na kailangan pang isalaysay.
ilang minuto nalang, nandyan na. ako ay papara, at sa tapat ng opisina ay bababa na.
pagsilip ko sa salamin. buhok ay pawang hinangin. bawat paghinga'y malalim.
puting damit halos ay mangutim. huhugasan ang mga kamay, nanlilimahid sa dumi. haaaay.

itutuloy ko pa ba? listahan ng reklamo't problema. tandaan na ito ay biyaheng pang-umaga.
sa oras ng pag-uwi, araw ay kumukubli. ang tanging kaibihan. sasakyang de aircon kapag uwian.
okay sana kung sarili kong kotse. pero van na kolorum aking sinasakyan, shuttle ang tawag dito 'pre.
ipipikit ang aking mga mata. pagod sa buong araw, pilit na itutulog muna.

haaay. kaskaserong mga driver. polusyon na pawang normal na hangin na.
gitgitang nakakairita. kapwa pasaherong minsa'y nagmamaldita.
ilan lamang yan sa makulay na aspeto ng isang komyuter.
salamat na lang, the week's almost over.

weekend car, here we come!
public transpo, na-ah, not this time.
hahahaha. tama na ang pag-aambisyon.
mag-ipon na kayo't tuparin ang inyong misyon.


((i say: my goodness. badtrip talaga mag=commute dito sa pilipinas!!! incovenient to the highest level))

take 2!

rummaging through my archive. i stumbled upon this test i took sometime in 2007.
out of sheer curiosity, i took the test again.

wahahahahah. i guess, i didn't do much progress. my 'grade' got up a notch.
not bad, right?

note to self: make a conscious effort to skim through your country! ang dami pa!!!

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.