Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty: Addressing Society's Real Conflicts

Blogging has come a long way now, opening many opportunities to various individuals worldwide by letting them have their own space in this vast universe called the internet. The internet has truly become a society which allows one to voice out his ideas without having regrets or fear of being suppressed and controlled. In an online society, freedom is truly exercised.

We are a witness to concerned journalists and news people getting detained, sewed, or arrested from tackling sensitive issues and cases of greed and corruption of those people in "power". Senators, Congressmen and other politicians waste their whole day of session arguing against each other without even a single work done like passing of laws and addressing the country's real issues. These works which are crucial to the growth of a country and its people are being neglected by the same law makers who promised everyone a better future, but once acquire the seat of power, shows what they really are.



The Philippine People Power back in the 80's proved that when together we stand, we can overcome any threats to our freedom and constitution. It is saddening though, this idea of a united movement for a cause has and still is being used by certain individuals for their own personal gains; and the government twisting and exercising laws which prohibits formation of any movements which will voice out what is the "real" situation of the Philippines.

Thus, the fight is brought online through a united stand, tackling one of the REAL issues that concerns every citizen of this country..."Poverty". A call for a united stand is needed to (in some extent) address and help solve these issues with bright ideas of common people, citizens, and bloggers which the government has overseeing these past few decades. Take a stand and join the cause.

FRANKly Speaking and FRANKly Devastating

The full force of the storm locally known here in the Philippines as "Frank" was experienced by the country yesterday. We were lucky here in Dasmariñas, Cavite for not experiencing any major floods (I don't know in some parts of Cavite though).

Our whole barangay was out of power because of an electrical problem in the town's main connection thus making our day very boring and dark. I simply slept the day away, I woke up around 8:30 in the evening with the glow of the candle the only main source of light in the house, ate m dinner and sit and reflected on my life hahahaha. Well after that pointless yet time wasting thinking I finally decided to call it a day and slept in our long chair. My bed is at the floor and becuase it is so freaking cold I decided to sleep on the long chair for additional warmth.



Energy came back at around 3:00 in the morning and that is the tie to charge up all the cellphones and the laptop to prepare if ever a power shortage occurs again and here I am now posting my aftermath "Frank" experience.

This is also my first aftermath storm blog post... and maybe not the last. Nothing beats storm "Rosing" (in the past, I think around the 1997 onwards) though... and hope a storm like that will not make an appearance again because our ro of almost literally flew off.

The 110th Philippine Independence

Today is June 12, 2008 (Well here in the Philippines, of course) and we are all commemorating the 110th Philippine Independence against the tyranny of the Spaniards (Thanks to America for buying the Philippines hahaha that's another historical issue XD). Well let me say this in my proud language...

Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino. Malaya man tayo ngunit saklaw pa din tayo ng responsibilidad sa ating sarili, sa ating kapwa, sa ating pamilya, sa ating kalikasan, at sa ating bansa kay kilos Pilipino... Makibahagi! magkaisa! Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino... at...



Well, that made me all hyped up!

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Oprah: An Anti-Christ?

Last Night that's June 06, of 2008 after watching my favorite segment on my favorite Filipino Gag Show "Bubble Gang" I browsed the channels and saw "The 700 Club Asia" which discusses about the New Age Belief and its Anti-Christianity Nature. Thus Today, Saturday June 07, 2008 = 06-07-08 (6-7-8) I went out to a friends house to watch more of Oprah's Attack on Christianity. Here are some of the Youtube Videos:


Church of Oprah Exposed
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZnKwnhQFTK4




Dont Drink The Kool-Aid: Oprah, Obama and The Occult
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zf3Gh8dVoBo



OPRAH = GOD:
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFHyd7ijNI

As you've also noticed in the videos above there is some sort of a product endorsement here which is the book "Don't Drink the Kool-Aid...", but if you look carefully one important message can be seen in these videos. Oprah as a non-Christ and God Believer. Yeah she believe in God, She believe in herself for she is God according to their belief.

I am a Christian and am exploring what church to be a part of... but after seeing these videos, my image of Oprah's overwhelming majestic image went tumbling down to a pile of ash... dust.

I understand the diversification of religion on the entire globe but what Oprah is doing is intolerable. She and her "spiritual adviser" doing is preposterous. Because they have these belief that they are God and keep on referring their twisted teachings to the Holy Bible. Everything is all good until Oprah proclaimed her belief and started to spread her belief which is slowly corrupting the mind of her viewers.

Well I am furious!!! I say. I am not that devoted yet but I believe that there is a God and through Christ we can be save. Hope we all can see through the New World's Twisted Teaching...

National Humiliation: Is it worth it?

Television Games shows has been one of the many reasons why we watch television (or for me, that is the one of the many reasons). One thing that I have noticed is this trends specially on some local game shows.

To name one is the hit ABS CBN Kapamilya Noontime/Game Show "Wowowee". Sure the host can joke around with the contestants but not to the point that he humiliates them. I have seen so many of these examples in their episodes... My brother is watching them so it can't be helped to watch it.

One is today's episode on "Couples who is going to be married this June '08", a male contestant whose height is around 5 with a built physique approach the game area (where they answer by pressing the buzzer and name the title of the song and sings some line of it). Mr. Revillame then secretly mocks how this man looks like by joking. Of course the man is laughing with them but I can't help but imagine what might him or others like him feel when they get humiliated on Philippine Television for just a chance of winning a great deal of money.

Of course money is important, but will that mean throwing away one's dignity and honor as a being just to gain money and entertain the television viewers? The most common victims of these game shows are the Filipino mass (who a times belongs below the poverty or middle class society).

Well, I can almost imagine what will fans and the management says on my say. "We only want to give enjoyment and entertainment for the Filipino Viewers, Our management does not intend to do any harm or humiliate any persons in the process. Thank you for understanding" Well that's one load of crap. Well if they are really sorry then they should stop with this degradation and humiliating jokes. The person being humiliated might not mind this but what about viewers that discourage this form of entertainment would say?

Maybe the contestants themselves are to be blame for letting their dignity and honor put to humiliation. If so then I hope the management of all the game shows should come up with other forms of entertainment rather than making fun of the contestants.

Well, guess what. I am not the only one thinking this way. Check out the article by Miss Conniue Veneracion at http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=connieVeneracion_feb07_2006

To Manila: Bus, Van, and Jeep

One week has passed since I last visited Manila (specifically to Carriedo in Sta. Cruz, Metro Manila ~ Hope I got that place right). I renewed my NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Clearance for it is one of the requirements for the job (that i luckily got hired or was it absorbed, ah! I think it is hired!). The one think that I am irritated about is where the heck did all the buses go? The busses that I am talking about are the provincial buses heading back to Cavite.


Before...

Dating back to the year 2002, where Lito Atienza was still the Mayor of Manila, provincial buses go as far as the "Park and Ride"Bus Terminal alongside SM City Manila. The fare would range from 36-40 Php (Philippine Pesos).



Today...

Alfredo Lim is now the Mayor of Metro Manila, Provincial buses are now limited to Vito Cruz and Buendia area only. If a certain individual, let's say a student from Technological university of the Philippines who resides at Cavite wants to go home. He/she must first ride a jeep all the way to Buendia area and then ride the Bus, or he/she will still proceed to "Park and Ride" but will eventually take the Van heading back to Cavite.

What is the big issue here? Hmm let me enlist it here:


Disadvantage...

- Buses going and heading back to Cavite have a fare rate around 46 Php while if one would take a van, the fare would cost 50 Php.
- Student's (though i am no longer one) time will be wasted. Instead of waiting for provincial buses to pass near the road in front of their colleges/universities, they are required to walk all the way to the terminal only to ride a van that has a fare higher than a regular bus ride would normally cost. I know it is the right venue but it is not really efficient.
- If one will not hike towards the terminal he/she would commute from their respected school via jeep going to Buendia to where the provincial buses are now designated to load and unload passengers. Still inefficient, both for the pocket and the health.
- Traffic along Taft area has greatly increased as undisciplined jeepney drivers rampage the area.
- Caviteños are now burdened with the worry of how much money and time they'll waste just to get back home.

Advantage...

- Metro Manila Jeep Drivers has gained more income and the monopoly of the passengers has turned back once again to them.
- Vans also gain more income because individual with no choice (if in a hurry) will eventually afford their services.

Well, guess this will be the problem of the next Caviteño commuters going to and back from Manila. What will happen in the next years? Will Mayor Lim Change this city ordinance? That is for us to find out...

GMA 7 and ABS CBN: Philippine Television Companies, Ingrates?

Here I am again! Back with another personal perspective and review. This time I will tackle about the issue between GMA Kapuso and ABS CBN Kapamilya.

First of all what is an ingrate?
By google definition it is...

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a person who shows no gratitude
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

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Have you in anyway happened to tuned in to ABC 5 before? If yes, then we are on the right track.

Well ABC 5 is a decent Philippine channel with some great titles and yet it is always overshadowed by the popularity (or inferiority) of the two Major Networks... yup! GMA and ABS CBN.

First off, what do you call when a station buys a franchise of an hit American gameshow or talent search and then later, calls it the first in the Philippines even if there was already one before(bought by a not so popular station)? Well the answet is simple check the definition inside the series of dash above.



ABC 5 first bought the franchise of "Wheel of Fortune" back in the 2002 to validate that here is the Wikipedia Link of it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_%28Philippine_game_show%29) . The host then was Rustom Padilla who now as we know it went out of the closet and declared his sexuality; but now a new version of the game emerged and as if like the first game here in the Philippines (in ABC 5) did not exist. Are they taking a fool out of the Philippine TV Viewers?



ABC 5 also bought first the franchise of Pop Idol last year... and yet GMA 7 is calling its new franchise of the Idol as the very first Idol which is a complete hoax. What is striking here is this sentence from the definition of Pinoy Idol in Wikipedia:

"Pinoy Idol is the second franchise of Idol series in the Philippines (the word Pinoy is the colloquial form of the word Filipino). It is set to replace Associated Broadcasting Company's (ABC) Philippine Idol, which was the first and the original franchise, after it was not been awarded by FremantleMedia to ABC for its supposed-to-be second season. GMA Network promoted Pinoy Idol as "the first Idol competition in the Philippines" during its New Year's Eve 2007 Presentation, and therefore will not recognize Philippine Idol and its winner Mau Marcelo. " more of Pinoy Idol here and Philippine Idol here



Guess that is the condition for GMA to have the rights to use the name Idol in the show, even if it means not recognizing a great talent such as the first ever Philippine Idol Mau Marcelo and its fellow Filipino station ABC 5.

Guess both of the two Giants (GMA and Network) have something in common this time, besides their masquerading as a "Stations that unites the Filipino" ... Well call me judgmental but what else would you call them?

Let us not be a slve to these stations by being a loyal viewer? There are a lot of interesting and great series out there! You just have to surf your TV channels, wether you're in cable or not. If I was to choose to what to watch whether Sis, Boy and Kris and RPN 9's 10:00 - 11:00 am reruns of last nights show, I would go with RPN 9! Cold Case, Terminator, Burn Notice, Eureka, Bionic Woman are some great shows which are an escape from the traditional cheap before lunch TV shows of both TV Giants.

Well you can't blame me from hating the two stations, I still watch them every now and then but after their advertisement wars (view my ABS CBN vs GMA Seperating Filipinos post), I've finally see through them... Just plain companies hungry for dominion and power. If I am wrong, then shame on me, If I am right well who is to be ashamed anyway? They have been playing with us for years, what is another decade anyways?

Thesis Defense Day 01: Aftermath

Got early around 5:00 in the morning to make my PowerPoint presentation of my Thesis entitled "Online Writing and Blogging as an Alternative Source of Income for Non-Information Technology Professionals", after an hour I managed to finish the short presentation (Oh do I love to do things on rush...not!) and managed to improve my tribe's level in "Virtual Villager 2"

Some Screen shots of Virtual Villager 2. Learn more about them and more screenshots over at the Virtual Villager Official Site Here @ http://www.virtualvillagers.com/ (and nope! I am not paid for this >.< ). I will be doing a reviw on it later or on my future blog which will be on the really near future... after graduation perhaps? I borrowed a formal red long sleeved polo shirt from my brother who is a Accounting Student (because they told me to dress formal) plus his silvery designed tie (or a black , gray, and blue blended tie), and of course my ever reliable blazer I two year ago when I was working at a fast food restaurant Greenwich. The result? Me looking like a Professor or that is what I thought I look like. Well you can judge me for yourself here:

I got on a jeep and commute to campus. I was surprised that I was the first to present for the Thesis at 8:00 am, and I thought my schedule was from 10-12:00 am. I immediately ran and really panicked. I was afraid that the panels for the defense might be really in a bad mood because of my lateness, and I wasn't wrong. I arrived at campus at around 9:00 in the morning and immediately plugged in my USB Flash Drive on the system unit and told Miss Imee (the HRM program adviser who, I am thankful for helping me with the meal for the panels) that I am good to go. Of course, they told me to relax and tidy up because I look wasted as sweat poured through my face (both literally and figuratively. If there a figurative meaning of that hehehe) ... and finally I went into the executive office to defend my Thesis. There were four panel, the College Dean/Director of Academics, the College Marketing Department Head, a Professor and Statistician, and the Education Department's Program Adviser.

After reading my defense yup that was the Dean remarked after I finished ahem reading. The inevitable revision and recommendation of Thesis title began. They suggested that I change my title to "Online Writing and Blogging for non-Information Technology Professionals: Source of Alternative Income", they doubted if I can be able to pull off and show my respondents credibility to whether they really earn from blogging and they are non-I.T. (Information Technology) Professionals. Well eventually it ended with little revisions on my Thesis, and now comes the hard part... How can I get my said 10-20 Blogger Respondents, who are non-IT Professionals and alternatively earning money from Blogs. Hope you can help me guys with this one. If you have the time please drop by here... and tell me if you can help me out. It would be really of great help.

ABS CBN vs GMA: Separating Filipinos

My perspectives may not agreed with yours, hope you can have an open mind in reading this perspectives of mine.

This past few days and weeks Filipino tv viewers are either getting excited, tire, or bored on what will be the next episode on the lawsuit battle of Kapamilya ABS CBN versus AGB Nielsen Survey Company versus Kapuso GMA. Let me slice it to segments...

The Beginning
(...or part of it...)

This all started on the anomaly that houses in Bacolod where AGB Nielsen gets their survey on what programs are gaining high rates are allegedly been influenced/tampered/won over by people working from GMA 7 in Bacolod. This was supported by a woman who work in that company("the star witness") with interviews and sworn statement seen in news and current affairs shows of ABS CBN. What followed next was a series of continuous repetitious ad campaigns exposing that GMA was behind the said tampering.

The Reason

While we were on Sociology class our discussion unintentionally turned to the bout of the two major Philippine TV companies which was kinda funny and odd for we are discussing the pioneers of Sociology, what you say? Yup you're right we are way ahead of the discussion and maybe the reason is obvious. Mr. de la Cruz, my sociology professor (who if you can remember from my "Fish Bowl Theory...") told us the reasons why even from a small region of Bacolod(in the Philippines) ABS CBN complained and made the anomaly into an awareness ad campaign is because of some factors. (1) First is that the surveys that AGB Nielsen releasing are the basis of the advertising companies on what tv shows are a hit and mostly viewed by the Filipinos. Upon having the data Advertising agencies/companies will then invest on these shows via form of television commercials, which is the main source of income of the television companies. FYI: A 30 second tv commercial ad can cost as much as over millions of pesos. Of course ad companies are not stupid enough to invest on tv shows that are not a hit, that is why surveys like of AGB Nielsen is one of their sources. Millions of investment will eventually return to these ad companies as TV viewers watch and patronize the said products. (2) and the second reason is that television companies could see what tv shows on their time slot are a hit and what stinks. TV Companies upon receiving the said surveys (of what shows are not gaining good/high ratings) can act to fast pace these low rating shows so that it can end quickly for a new and hoping to hit show will replace the previous show and so that Ad companies will invest their millions on their new hit show (gasp! mahn that was tiring hehehe)

The Effect on the Avid or Filipino TV viewers

(get ready...)

After the explanation of my professor, I butt in (hehehe what a term). I mentioned on how these TV Companies always shows off how they "condemn" war and violence and "uniting" the Filipino people, but look at what they're doing now, they are not helping the Filipinos at all. Filipinos have lives of their own like problems and struggles and with these series of "Hate" and "Credibility-destroying" advertisement awareness campaigns against each other isn't doing any good for everyone. This is reflected at how discussions on forum sites, blog sites, that devotes its whole page in what comes next in the fight of ABS CBN and GMA. Kapusos and Kapamilyas are almost killing each other and throwing really nasty remarks at each other, and the reason? Defending their beloved tv stations. Come on! People, don't be used by these war mongering greedy companies, they hide in this illusion of they are serving you but the truth is that you are serving them... Are all their shows enriching?

Lastly will they just stop these ads already, answering each other on air is not healthy for competition, advertisers, and mostly the Filipino TV viewers. Can they just settle it in court and not dividing Filipinos on what to believe. It is like two child fighting over something and then telling their parents. Parents then comes to the aid of his/her son and the elders who knows better meddles with the affair with later the child on the other side telling on his parents how the kid and his parents ganged up on him and then the fight was now between the parents. Filipino Viewers, you have the freedom to choose, but don't let their battle be your battle too, you have your own battle to win. Focus on it, at the end of the day, these companies are not the one you'll depend your life on but to a greater power.

The Quake that was 2 and Beef Order # 1

The Quake

It was yesterday (November 27) where I felt the ground shake a bit, it was around 12:10-12:15 in the afternoon... My professor also felt that wave too, for we are in his internet shop playing "Warcraft III Defense of the Ancients (DOTA)". As I arrived home that day, it was proven, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 that hit the Richter scale started (epicenter) around the Pangasinan coasts while the wave of that was experienced here in Cavite with a magnitude of 2. It is a good thing that only a few incidents and no major damage has occured... and after that around 5:00 - 6:00 a hard rain poured, I think that was the storm who PAG-ASA called "Mina" saying Good Bye Cavite.

Beef Order # 1

Around 5:30 I inquired and started my first day at a local GYM, forgot the name of that gym but I swear there was a big lettering of "GYM" near the door. There was a number of good and heavy equipments... and when I say heavy, I mean really HEAVY! Even though I was just a beginner at that gym I guess the trainer thought I was an iron man or something, what I will not remember is the magical number of 10 and 12. 10 counts, rest, followed by 12 counts of heavy barbell lifting. As I went home my shoulder arms and legs were really sore from the tension... well guess I'll have to cope up with this right? No pain, no gain.

P.S.

By the way if you're asking why am I keep on referring body building as "beef" is because uhm, uh... I think cow meat or beef is lean and meaty which I wanted my body to looked like and not like a thin bamboo trunk.

Philippine Congress Bombed

It was all over the news last night...
Also found a supporting news about this heartless act over the net:

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Bomb blast kills 2 in House, Negros Or. lawmaker critical
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A powerful bomb ripped through a section of the south entrance lobby of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City at about 8:05 last night, killing a congressman and a driver, and injuring at least nine others, including two lawmakers.

Dead were Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and Marcial Talbo, driver of Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, officials said.... More

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I strongly condemn this senseless act of murder as a way to point out to a certain faction what they are fighting for (this includes local or foreign terrorists and murderers).

I despise beings who resolves everything by force and by killing. What has happened to peace and the idealism of what they are fighting for if they willing and are sacrificing lives of their fellowmen. What kind of lazy story for an excuse will they make to their daughters and sons about how they fought their idealism and the human lives they taken? What kind of sick and demented brains do they have for not having mercy, and giving importance to life?

I am really enraged with these acts of this mindless brutes...

But I believe in a greater power that is just and righteous who will bring justice in the end of days to whom they can not escape... Justice will be done.