Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Pagpupugay kay The Guy
Kagabi, habang nagmumuni-muni kung ano na naman kaya ang kahihinatnan ko sa disyertong ito, biglang sumingit sa aking kamuwangan ang kantang "Mambo Magsaysay".
Una ko itong narining noong kampanyahan para sa 1986 snap presidential elections kung saan muling ginamit ang naturang jingle na katha ni dating senador Raul Manglapus para sa kandidatura ni Cory Aquino. Isyu rin daw kasi ang dayaan sa halalan noong panahong naglaban sina Pangulong Quirino at Magsaysay.
Nang aking tingnan sa Wikipedia kung ano ang nasusulat sa site tungkol kay Magsaysay, laking gulat ko na lang na ipinanganak pala ang The Guy noong Agosto 31.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A look back at the time the Philippine Air Force had "force" and not just "air"
Ang larawang ito ay mula sa Facebook photo album ng isang dating kasamahan sa pamamahayag na kasalukuyang nakatalaga sa defence beat.
Sa tinagal-tagal ko nang pagsunod sa mga kaganapan sa ating Hukbong Himpapawid, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng larawang ganito kung saan mistulang ipinapamukha ng ating mga piloto na kaya nilang makipagbaragan kung kinakailangan.
Wala akong alam na kuwento kung bakit napili ng PAF ang F-8H Crusader kung kaya't nagtanong ako sa mga eksperto. Sundan na lamang ang baliktaktakan sa pamamagitan nang pag-click sa link.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Brief message to the People Power Class of 1986
23 years ago …we were bumbling 15-16-17-year-olds…. looking forward to either our prom, entry to senior high or HS graduation.
Proud member, People Power Class of 1986
Every generation needs a new revolution. — Thomas Jefferson
Revolution is not a dinner party, not an essay, nor a painting, nor a piece of embroidery; it cannot be advanced softly, gradually, carefully, considerately, respectfully, politely, plainly and modestly. — Mao Zedong
A generation after the 1986 EDSA uprising — 23 years to be exact — known in history books as the “People Power Revolution,” the biggest excitement this year on Feb. 25 is not that it’s a non-working holiday or the planned formal commemorations, but the anticipated sequel to Sarah Geronimo’s hit movie A Very Special Love, entitled You Changed My Life.
Is this a sign of the times?
I hesitate to call EDSA 1986 a revolution because I’m honestly disappointed by what has happened since to Philippine society.
2. Subvert ignorance by lobbying for and demanding higher standards in public and private education nationwide as a basic human right. We should demand the most severe punishments for politicians, bureaucrats and their cohorts in educational scams involving bloated construction budgets for shoddy public schoolhouses, lousy textbooks with erroneous information, and victimizing public school teachers by usurious credit schemes.
3. Honor, support and uplift the socio-economic status of all teachers. How can a society truly progress if most of our teachers are grossly underpaid, under-trained and overworked? How can a society prosper when politicos, showbiz starlets or basketball athletes are more idolized and given more economic remunerations than those toiling in the most noblest profession of teaching?
4. Crush the age-old and negative attitude of puwede na yan and aspire only for excellence. In fact, we should settle for nothing but world-class excellence! How can we be better if we accept mediocrity as okay?
5. Lead a non-violent uprising against the age-old misnomer and bad Latin habit of so-called “Filipino time.” We should, in our own capacities and small circles of influence, promote the decent, revolutionary and nation-building concept of “New Filipino Time” of being always punctual.
6. Do not meekly accept trash in local movies, mass media or from our politicos. Dump their trash back on them. We can make higher-quality movies that are at the same time entertaining and good if we the audience demand it from our producers. It’s not true that only the esoteric art films or indie can be good. Let us also tell the major TV stations to elevate standards in newscasts, not go down to gutter-level sensationalism on violence and negative news only. We taxpayers should also demand higher quality debate and discussions in our legislature, not the garbage talk spewed out endlessly by our many trashy and obnoxious politicos! We should reject junk in all forms!
7. Follow traffic rules, regulations and basic etiquette to defy the seemingly natural tendency of wallowing in self-destructive chaos. What can be more revolutionary, earth-shaking and liberating to Philippine society as a whole than orderly traffic in Metro Manila, which can and should be achieved?
8. Encourage the liberating habit of reading books, newspapers or magazines, because it is sad that we have fewer readers than in other Asian societies. I have this theory that our many corrupt politicos and their private sector cohorts would be happiest if they could dumb down the public with less reading and just more TV or radio bombast, because reading is truly subversive — it encourages critical thinking, analysis and the questioning of our existing despicable moral, political and social order!
9. Promote English language proficiency everywhere. Pro-English advocacy is a pro-poor, pro-masses advocacy because English is a competitive advantage and will help millions of talented but otherwise jobless people become overseas Filipino workers or call center agents or BPO personnel.
10. Volunteer for legitimate, noble causes that push societal or moral reforms, such as religious, cultural, medical, gender rights, educational, environmental, disaster relief and other non-government organizations or groups. Better yet, why don’t you start your own?
11. Pray to God to change our hearts, minds and our leaders.
12. Teach, whether as a teacher, as a good parent, as an elder sister or brother or uncle, or as a mentor Be an exemplary role model to the youth.
13. Uphold and defend the truth. Assist or support those who stand up for the truth; reject any half-truths and outright lies.
14. Promote the culture of positive thinking. Do not glorify or romanticize suffering, martyrdom, or meekly accept poverty or defeat as heroic, noble or normal fate. Reject negative thinking and this culture of defeatism. All of us human beings on earth are destined for success — it is our birthright, it is our destiny!
15. Instead of nonstop complaining, bellyaching and finger-pointing, move to uphold sweeping societal, attitudinal, moral, political, cultural and economic reforms. Generations of past and even present politicians have mostly failed the nation with so many of the poor increasing in number and in suffering while the small middle-class sector is endangered and migrating. It is only the blind that cannot see the urgent need for radical changes. Instead of just revulsion, let’s ignite a non-violent revolution!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Ka Andy is the "Filipino Marat"
JeanPaul Marat was one of the leaders of the French Revolution (1789-1799).
Eto pic ni JP
Spanish historian Wenceslao Retana called Andres Bonifacio the "Filipino Marat’’ because, like Jean Paul Marat, Bonifacio was an uncompromising foe of despotism, defender of the sovereignty of the people, and supporter of the poor and the downtrodden.
Eto naman si Andy
Born in Tondo, Manila, on November 30, 1863, Bonifacio witnessed the struggles of the masses and vowed to do something about their misery. His association with many patriots nourished his desire to fight for his people’s freedom. Like Dr. Jose P. Rizal, he first tried to pursue his goal through peaceful means but Dr. Rizal’s arrest and exile to Dapitan led him to abandon peaceful means.
He co-founded the Katipunan on the night of July 7, 1892. The Katipunan became the instrument that ended colonial dominance in the country.
In May, 1896, Bonifacio and several Katipuneros trekked to Montalban to establish a headquarters for the revolution.
At Pamitinan Cave, he wrote on its walls: "Mabuhay ang Kalayaan ng Pilipinas!’’ And at nearby Makarok Cave, he wrote: "Naparito ang mga Anak ng Bayan. Humahanap ng Kalayaan!’’
After the discovery of the Katipunan by the colonial authorities on August 19, 1896, Bonifacio and his fellow Katipuneros launched the revolution.
In the yard of Apolonio Samson in Kangkong, Balintawak, Bonifacio shouted at his comrades: "Kalayaan o Kamatayan? Mga Kapatid, ang Kalayaan ay inaagaw sa dulo ng patalim!’’
In battle, Bonifacio’s words animated his comrades to fight on: "Mga Kapatid! Mapalad ang bayang linitawan ng mga bayani, sapagka’t ang bayang iya’y walang kamatayan!’’
A sincere man, faithful to his land of birth, Andres Bonifacio met a tragic death but history vindicated him.
Historians have called him the "Father of the Philippine Revolution.’’
The historian and revolutionary hero Isabelo de los Reyes called Bonifacio the "Arm of Divine Providence’’ for he transformed the lowly Katipunan into a powerful "weapon of the weak.’’
Andres Bonifacio was one of those who kept the flame of freedom alive through the dark years of foreign dominance.
The Filipino race is fortunate for having had a son like Andres Bonifacio.
May our observance of this true patriot make our people emulate his faithfulness to the land of his birth.
My take:
As I was reading that piece from the Bulletin website, I couldn't help but chuckle as I recall an on-air debate sometime in the mid-90s between then Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo and former mayor Boy Asistio on whether the city should be spelt with a "C" or with a "K".
Asistio argued that the "K" was patriotically correct as there was no "C" in the Filipino alphabet ( Abakada) ..... yada ... yada ...
An obviously incensed Malonzo fired back that if we go by Asistio's argument, then Andres Bonifacio's name would've been spelt Bonifakio and the resulting soundbite was enough to silence his arch rival.
A rare master stroke indeed from the karate kid!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Remembering Ninoy
He's Kris Aquino's dad -- whether it's a Deal or No Deal.
He "owns" the airport. (I heard this once)
(this is the actual gate where Ninoy was gunned down. Picture posted in flickr by brownpau)
Officially, he's the country's first First Gentleman -- his wife, of course, being the country's first woman President.
"Wala kaming pasok kasi Ninoy Day" -- is the expected quip of today's student or yuppie (do they still use this term?) when asked why they had a long weekend.
To the "oldies" like us, we remember Ninoy as the "subversive" who dared run -- and expectedly "lost" - against Imelda Marcos in the Interim Batasang Pambansa elections. I remembered that I was hushed with a collective and quick "shhhhhhhhhhhhh" when I asked my elders who this "Ninoy" is.
We were then in Grade 2 (San Beda was still fresh from successfully defending its NCAA basketball crown) and a "subversive" classmate secretly gave us "Laban" stickers, which we proudly displayed on our "Six Million Dollar Man" lunch boxes.
At that time, Manila stood still and all tellys were tuned in to Channel 4 to watch a rare live interview of Ninoy, who singlehandedly matched wits and openly traded barbs with Marcos propagandists like JV Cruz and Ronnie Nathanielsz (yup, the Sri Lankan smart aleck you see calling basketball games and boxing matches and writing sports columns for the Manila Standard Today). Laban's iconic 1978 campaign was capped with a Metro-wide "noise barrage" where everyone came out banging pots and pans in symbolic defiance of Marcos' strong-arm rule.
My generation was already in high school when the gunshot that reverberated around the world and changed the nation's history was fired on Aug 21, 1983 (a time when most b.com members were not yet even part of their parents' consciousness).
Lagi rin kaming walang pasok noon because Mendiola became a battleground immediately after Ninoy was buried and rallies became an "in" thing before the bridge over the estero was named after Don Chino Roces.
When I was active with the CAS-SC, Mike Abasolo (of inboundpass fame) and I initiated an annual memorial week for Ninoy Aquino - the Great Bedan. We held the first one in November 1986 in time for Ninoy's birth anniversary and the following year -- the SC under now Atty Boks Lauron -- we did it in August.
Fr. Tarsi (then HS principal) and Fr Paul de Vera allowed us to take Ninoy's bronze bust from the HS library and put it on display at the mini memorial set up at the main driveway. We were told it was the first time that the bust was allowed out of the library named after the hero who is a member of HS Class 1948.
The late Atty Juan Cabrieto, then registrar, opened San Beda's archives and allowed us to reproduce Ninoy's school records. We invited Ninoy's siblings -- Butz Aquino and Mila Aquino Albert -- to come over and meet Ninoy's "present" generation of Bedan brothers. We held extemporaneous speaking and art contests, and a host of other activities.
The black spot then was somebody stole the yellow "Ninoy" banner which our predecessors in the SC had used during the pre-EDSA 86 anti-Marcos demonstrations.
I wonder if San Beda continues to have Ninoy-related activities. After all, we're the only school that could rightfully claim him as a full-fledged alumnus.
***
The Ninoy Aquino Foundation is launching an "I Am Ninoy" campaign...addressed to the youth... here's Ichu Villanueva account on how the project goes.
For this alone, there is a reason for me to sometimes drop red and turn yellow.
I am Ninoy
COMMONSENSE
By Marichu A. Villanueva
Monday, August 18, 2008 (Philippine Star)
She may be in the thick of battling the most serious threat to her life but former President Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino has not allowed it to slow her down from her latest pet project for the Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. Foundation.
Currently undergoing chemotherapy for her colon cancer, Mrs.Aquino has actively kept running the affairs of the Foundation as its founding chairperson.
The Foundation, named after her slain husband, is in the middle of preparations for the 25th death anniversary of the late Senator who was assassinated on Aug.21,1983.
The slay of the late Sen.Aquino is considered as the turning point in the hard-fought battle of Filipino leaders like him to regain our country?s democracy from the shackles of two decade-long of martial rule imposed by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
Aquino's widow subsequently became the country's first woman President after the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. And as they say, the rest is history.
But 25 years later, the sacrifice of the slain Senator to restore our country's democratic institutions seemed to have been relegated to annual commemoration of his death anniversary as Ninoy Aquino Day officially declared as a national holiday.
In line, though, with the "holiday economics" policy of the government, we just had a long weekend because this nationwide holiday was moved today.
Mrs.Aquino, now 75, in one of her rare media interviews, expressed her sentiments about how she would like the country's younger generation to remember the heroism of Ninoy.
"I hope our fellow Filipinos, especially the young, will continue to appreciate how much Ninoy suffered for our country. I hope they will ask themselves what they offer, too, to help this country move forward. Ninoy showed the way. I hope they will be inspired by him," Mrs.Aquino was quoted as saying in People Asia Magazine in its July 2008 edition.
It is in this light that the prime movers behind the latest project of the Foundation apparently came up with such a catchy slogan "I am Ninoy."
This project is spearheaded by businessman, Rafael "Rafa" C. Lopa. The 45-year old nephew of Mrs.Aquino is the executive director of the Foundation.
The Foundation will formally launch the "I am Ninoy" campaign this Thursday in a press conference after the Holy Mass for the 25th death anniversary of the late Senator to be held at the Don Bosco Chapel in Makati City.
"My auntie Cory will just attend the Mass but she will not join us in the press conference," Rafa told me over the weekend.
At the launching of the "I am Ninoy" campaign, Rafa disclosed the Foundation will present the "brand partners" that will carry this slogan and the figure of eyeglasses of Ninoy in their signature T-shirt and other apparel products.
Of course, most of these apparels would come in yellow color associated with Mrs.Aquino.
The "brand partners" include such popular youth-oriented apparel-makers like Bench, Penshoppe, Team Manila, and Analog Soul. Under their partnership agreement with the Foundation, a certain percentage of every product of "I am Ninoy" sold will be donated to their chosen charitable institution.
The "I am Ninoy" campaign is actually geared to re-introduce to the young generation of Filipinos the ideals of democracy that the late Senator stood for and died for.
"The Filipinos are worth dying for," was the blurb made famous by Ninoy in the face of death.
The idea of this national campaign is to impress upon the Filipino youth his heroism. But they need not die, too, to become heroes in their own rights.
"We?re talking about a kind of dying of our old selves, our old habits and find a new and better way of doing things that will improve our country for the better," Rafa pointed out.
"We bring Ninoy into the picture and hopefully other people will be inspired to do what he has done for our country without really having to die like him," he quipped.
Another version of the "I am Ninoy" project will be launched in November on the birth anniversary of the late Senator when he would have turned 76 years old. Rafa said he is still working out the details of this project with PLDT, Smart and Globe Telecom as sponsors.
Picture credits: wikimedia, inquirer.net. flickr, beda7882.com
Monday, July 7, 2008
Mabuhay ang Katipunan!
116th anniversary of the founding of the KKK
Manila Bulletin editorial, 07 July 2008
THE Philippine Revolution was the handiwork of several Filipino patriots. And the KKK (Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangan na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) was the instrument they forged to liberate the country from foreign dominance.
Marcelo H. del Pilar and Dr. Jose P. Rizal conceived the idea of establishing two parallel organizations in Manila – one to be composed of the educated and well-to-do persons who would operate openly and legally, the other to be composed of the masses, was to be organized secretly and with radical aims in the event that the overt organization would fall. Both had the same goal – to emancipate the country from foreign rule.
Del Pilar tried to establish the Katipunan as early as 1888 but succeeded only in 1892 through the help of brother-in-law Deodato Arellano and other colleagues.
Dr. Rizal established the La Liga Filipina in July, 1892, but this organization was aborted when he was arrested and exiled to Dapitan.
Del Pilar prepared to return to the Philippines to lead the revolution himself. He secretly disseminated his political works La Patria and Ministerio de la Republica Filipina to inform the people about his plans. Death on July 4, 1896, prevented him from realizing his plans.
The radical solution was left to Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto to implement. Under Bonifacio’s energetic leadership and Jacinto’s untiring intellectual activities, the Katipunan was transformed into a "powerful weapon of the weak."
The KKK ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood of Men magnetized the unlettered masses who flocked to the Katipunan fold by the thousands.
Emilio Jacinto was the "Soul and Brains of the Katipunan." He wrote most of the Katipunan teachings, hymn, Kartilya, constitution and bylaws, rules, rites and ceremonies, etc. The Katipunan newspaper, the Kalayaan, was his brainchild. Ably aided by equally indefatigable Katipuneros like Aurelio Tolentino, Makario Sakay, and Aguedo del Rosario,
Jacinto and Bonifacio spread the Katipunan from Manila to Southern and Central Luzon. When the colonial authorities discovered the existence of the society on August 19, 1896, they were shocked to know how widespread it had become.
The KKK symbolized the unified energies of the Filipino people.
Today, our country and people are beset by numerous ills that once again calls on all of us to unite our disparate energies and goals in order to overcome these ills and move the country forward.
Ill-educated and ill-equipped, our forefathers succeeded in attaining their freedom and founded a republic – the first republic in Asia.
The KKK ideals live in each one of us.
As we observe the 116th anniversary of the KKK founding, let us rekindle these ideals and, like our forefathers, when they freed themselves from foreign bondage, free ourselves, too, from the clutches of poverty, disunity, and ill-will.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
We Remember - April 9, 1942
The world will long remember the epic struggle.
Besieged on land and blockaded by sea,
We have done all that human endurance could bear.
It was the force of an unconquerable faith,
Something in the soul that is immortal!
It is the thought of native land.
Men fighting with an unshakable faith,
Are made of something more than flesh.
But we are not made of impervious steel.
The flesh must yield at last,
Endurance melts away,
And the end of the battle must come.
A Beacon to all the world,
Cannot fall...
Our defeat is our victory...
Pictures: Wikipedia and Wikimedia images
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Discovery of the Philippines
TACLOBAN CITY -- The province of Eastern Samar commemorated the 487th anniversary of Magellan landing in the Philippines, particularly at the island of Humumu (as mentioned by Pigafetta in his chronicle), now called the island of Homonhon in the municipality of Guiuan.
Yet throughout the years no grand and nationwide celebration has been observed to commemorate the date, except that which is celebrated in the province of Eastern Samar. But the event has great significance and must therefore be given more importance and attention, according to the Philippine Information Agency here.
