Of Everyday Commuting

Commuting in the Philippines hasn't been pleasurable since I don't know when.  For one, we lack wide roads so even major highways are clogged-up by jeepneys & buses which cause endless traffic especially when school year is on-going.  Yes, the traffic these days don't care if it's rush hour or not.  Most of the time, it's heavy traffic the whole freakin' day.  Metro Manila was able to put up three light rail transit lines traversing north to south, then east to west.  But their condition isn't that pleasing either.  Most of the time, if not everytime, commuters of these light rail transits have to endure long lines, delayed trains, and too much crowded coaches.  

Yesterday, I chanced upon a student lying on the platform when I took off at Pureza station.  She must have passed out for maybe one of the following reasons: too much heat, she's not feeling well, or maybe she lack sleep and hasn't taken her breakfast before hitting the road going to school.  For whatever reason, I felt sorry for her condition.  Good thing the security personnel of LRT line 2 were alert so they immediately assisted the poor lady.

The student was immediately assisted by security personnel.

Since the lifts in (almost) ALL of the train stations are not functioning,
they have to carry the patient using the stairs.

Some tips when commuting in Metro Manila:

1) Be ready to go to a "battle."  Especially during rush hours, you will need to fight your way into getting a ride.  Jeepneys are full, buses are standing room only, and train rides are way too crowded that you need to queue for a long time in some stations just to get up the platform.

2) Fill up yourself.  When you feel you are hungry, make sure you eat right before going out.  You will have no idea how long will it take you commuting before you can grab a snack wherever.  If it's not too much for you, always carry a bottle of water.  Fill up you wallet as well if you plan to book Uber or Grab.  Prices are sky rocketing during rush hours, and as they say, when there is "high demand."

3) Bring a towel.  Not only for air pollution to cover your nose but also for the amount of sweat that your body will release when commuting.  It may be good if you can bring an extra shirt which you can change after you reach your destination so you'd remain "fresh."

4) Bring a fan.  Those folding fans or those rechargeable mini fans--- they help a lot.  Especially when you ride LRT 1, (MRT) 2, and 3.

5) Always be on guard.  This is an old but is always a useful tip.  Pickpockets are anywhere.  Guard your things and pockets and stay alert all the time.  They know where you keep those expensive gadgets.

6) Pray.  Always ask for God's guidance whenever you leave home, that He may keep you safe throughout your journey, until you come back home safely to your family.

victim vs suspects vs "authorities"

barely this noontime, the supreme court came up with the most-awaited decision on one of the most controversial cases in Manila for the past decade. the SC has acquitted the suspects of the decade-long unresolved massacre case that happened right inside the house of the victims. the event of the massacre, which was made cinematic into a movie, is more than enough to give me goosebumps. just imagine being unsafe right inside your own home!

fast forward to present... the victims' surviving family member, who patiently hoped for justice, nearly broke down in tears upon hearing the supreme court decision. the (primary) suspects for the murder of his family has been found not guilty!

now this scares me more. can we ever trust our "authorities"? if their primary suspects more than a decade ago, weren't really the culprit, how can this case be unresolved for so long? how could have the "authorities" wasted the lives of the wrong suspects and send them to jail to serve the sentence not intended for them? how can the "authorities" destroy the trust of the surviving victim that justice can be at hand even after patiently waiting ofr so many years? how can the "authorities" not capture the real culprits of this crime?

scary shit.

taym pers!

malapit na ang balentayms day... araw na kinasasabikan ng mga kabataan (at ng matatanda na rin na may nakatakdang "date" sa araw na iyon.) ako ay hindi naman nag-oobserba ng balentayms day dahil para sa akin, araw-araw ako dapat na inlababo sa asawa at anak ko (naks naman, me ganun!) kasabay ng araw na ito ay ang opisyal na pagpasok ng taon ng tigre at dahil nga tsino ang aming bossing sa opisina, maagang iginagayak ang tanggapan para sa pagsalubong ng Chinese new year! at naalala ko, ako nga pala ang naatasan ng admin na mag-email sa lahat ng kawani upang ipaalala na dapat kaming magsuot ng pula sa lunes. malamang ay mayroon uling lion dance ceremony na magaganap at sagana sa pagkain sa opisina sa lunes, yum! yum! gayundin, mamimigay ulit ng kahong-kahong tikoy sina bossing. may ilang taon na rin akong nabibigyan nito pero hindi ko naalala na naubos ko ito. mas malamang na si wifey pa dahil paborito nya ito.

taym out muna... ano itong nangyayari sa bulacan at pampanga na kung saan halos magkasunod na napatalsik sa pwesto ang kani-kaniyang gobernador dahil di umano'y natalo sila ng may ilang boto sa eleksyon noong 2007 ayon sa commission on koleksyon... election? ito ay bunga na rin ng pag-apila ng kani-kanilang katunggali sa politika. ano naman ang magagawa pa ng mga bagong luklok sa pwesto gayung halos tatlong buwan na lang sila uupo sa pinakamataas na luklukan ng lalawigan nila? wow. talaga nga naman, onli in da pilipins!

eh ano naman daw yung bagong palabas ng isang malaking estasyon sa TV na gumaya (na naman) dun sa orihinal na format ng showtaym?! is it dat? dis is it? bagama't humanga ako sa nasabing estasyon sa pagpupursigi nitong mabigyan ng magagandang palabas ang kanilang manonood, hindi ako kumporme sa panggagaya. marami namang ibang ideya na pwedeng maging orihinal ang palabas mo pero ano nga bang pakialam ko dito eh hindi ko naman napapanood ang dalawang nasabing palabas na ito dahil sa oras ng airing nila eh nasa opis ako?

kopi taym! wiling-wili ngayon sa istarbaks si wifey dahil sa hindi ko alam na dahilan. iminulat ko naman sya sa pagmamahal sa figaro. hmm... marahil dala nung pagkakaroon namin ng istarbaks planner. may mga freebies pang naka-insert duon. pero gayunpaman, hindi naman niya lubusang itinatakuwil pa ang figaro at aminado rin sya na mas maganda pa rin ang "ambiance" (may ganun) sa figaro kasya anupamang coffee shops. habang nag-eenjoy siya sa paghigop ng white choco mocha ng istarbaks, lab naman namin ni boneneng ang brewed coffee + warm ambiance ng Figaro :)



taym na. taym na para ako'y maligo at maghanda sa pagpasok sa opis.

lazy long weekend

first long weekend of the month will be over in a few hours and later on, it's workday again. this time, i didn't understand Malacanang's economic holiday as they should have anticipated the fixed holy week date for this year and even the real Araw Ng Kagitingan falls on a Friday this year. maybe, if Malacanang thinks that it isn't advisable to commemorate the Day of Valor on a Good Friday, it should have made the holiday fall on Wednesday - April 8 - instead, making it "more economic". but oh well... 2nd long weekend starts on Thursday. that means employed people who are not on operations work schedule should be reporting to work for only two days after & before two long weekends.

anyway, i had a great joy last saturday when wifey & i went to the hospital to have a 4D scan of our baby. yeah, soon-to-be-fathers, the joy upon seeing your baby for the first time is priceless! i can now imagine how *more* excited i will be when the baby is born for real! i've posted a couple of videos in my Multiply account but they're only viewable by my contacts and so, i also posted a video capture of the baby's movement in here.

today we just rounded 2 malls in order to escape the heat at home (or save on home electricity usage) so we rounded the babies' section, some ladies wear shops, took some snacks and bring it inside the movie house as we watched Knowing. i liked the movies' concept and plot except the "salvation" part of the film where the two lucky kids get to escape the sun's fury over earth. i also took time taking photos of wifey since i find her pretty being pregnant (oh, beh. wag nang mag-comment dito ako na nagbuhat ng bangko mo! di ko ia-approve pag nag-comment ka pa) :P here's three of her photos:



on another story, when i emailed my sister about the 4D capture of our baby, i was caught off-guard with her reply to my email. i thought she'll be complimenting the video of her first ever niece (to our family) but instead, she told me she's pregnant with their fourth child. how about that?

>:(

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[edit] i realized that i got the "copyright" word in my photos misspelled. i'm too lazy to re-edit

"celebrating" EDSA Day

23 years ago, Manila has gained the respect of the world by displaying a peaceful revolution against a government which most people had shown much disliking. 15 years after, there could have been a repeat, but then another one--- turning out into violence has decreased the "power" of this act. others even thought it has become a mockery for the whole country.

personally, i admire and consider only one TRUE people power for my country. and i'm proud to have been a living witness to its happening. as early as my young mind then can recall, every Filipino was proud to be one after peacefully gaining what is due to them--- democracy! after regaining democracy in February 1986, the Philippines has gone a long way. whether good or bad, i'm sure we all learn from our experiences. i'd like to see a progressive country in the future. may the EDSA Revolution inspire every Filipino to continue to strive hard in attaining a better life for every fellow Filipino and live a life that we all deserve! May the road to the EDSA Revolutions silver year help us realize that a generation ahead of us has fought hard for us to enjoy a free life! i remember my grade school teacher saying: "freedom is not doing what you want to do, but doing what you ought to do." may we find the true meaning of democracy. may we live a truly democratic country. may the spirit of the February 1986 EDSA Revolution live!

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i'm not against the celebration/commemoration/observance of EDSA Day, and authorities may close a part of EDSA as they wish, but whoever neglected their assignment in studying the effect of traffic rerouting should be hanged in one of the flyovers in front of the EDSA Shrine! This is the first time i saw public utility buses treading the stretch of E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (Libis) which signboards display trips going to UE Letre, Monumento, Fairview... i don't know where they started re-routing but clogging the already clogged avenue made the traffic in that part of Quezon City from worse to worst:





well... yeah. onli in da pilipins!

pakikipagtagpo kay Claro M. Recto

kahapon ay naka-OB (official business) ako ng buong umaga. mula sa agahang pagpupulong sa may Metrowalk, Pasig City, ay tumuloy ako sa tanggapan ng aming principal company upang iabot ang disket na naglalaman ng bentang ulat ng pinakamalaking botika sa buong bansa na siya naman naming kliyente. pagkatapos ng maikling pag-uusap at pagmamalaki sa bagong server na hahawak sa bagong computer program para sa benta ng mga produkto sa buong bansa, tumulak na ako upang muling bumalik at makipagtagpo kay Ginoong Claro M. Recto. Mabuti-buti naman ang kalagayan ni G. Recto ngayon kumpara noong isang araw na pumunta ako upang maghanap ng pagawaan ng mga ID Laces na gagamitin sa convention ng kumpanya namin sa susunod na linggo. bumuhos kasi ang malakas na ulan noong una at medyo naantala ang lakad ko pero nitong huli ay maaliwalas ang paligid. medyo maaga kase akong nakarating nitong huling punta ko sa lugar at hindi pa gaanong masalimuot sa kalsada. bagama't mas maaliwalas ang paligid, hindi pa rin ako nakaligtas sa pawis. mainit nga kase at nagmamadali akong maglakad patungo sa pinagpagawaan ko ng nasabing bagay. nang makita ko ang yaring gawa, medyo hindi ako natuwa. hindi nakuha ang logo ng kumpanya namin kahit ang kulay nito na kabilin-bilinan ko ay hindi rin nasunod. pero ano pa bang magagawa ko? ayoko nang bumalik doon at kailangan ko nang maibigay sa opisina ang mga ID Laces. kung sabagay, ano ba naman ang aasahan ko sa presyong 12-piso na may libre pang ID case? sige na nga. isang gamitan lang naman yun ng mga kinauukulan.

sa pagsakay kong muli ng LRT 2 pabalik sa opisina, napansin kong ampangit ng tanawin sa kalakhang Maynila. marami namang magaganda sa Pilipinas pero ang makikita mo mula sa mga riles ng tren ng LRT 2 (maging sa LRT 1) ay isang Maynila na napag-iwanan ng kaunlaran at kaginhawahan. mabuti-buti pa sa MRT 3 na ang hindi lang kaaya-ayang pagmasdan sa landasin nito ay ang masikip na trapik sa kahabaan ng Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue at ang maitim na usok ng mga sasakyan. nabaling ang pansin ko sa tatlong estudyante na nagkukwentuhan sa harapan ko. dalawa sa kanila ay Koreano at ang isa ay Filipina. Ingles ang usapan nila. Umikot ang usapan sa project, paghahanda sa dorm, lapis, bolpen, at chocolates. tapos, napag-usapan din ang maraming umuusbong na Koreans sa bansa at ang pagkakaroon na rin ng Korean Community dito. naaaliw ako sa usapan nilang tatlo at yung isang Koreano ay panaka-nakang nagsasabi ng Tagalog na salita. nanlaki ang mata ko ng sabihin ni Filipina sa dalawa niyang kaeskwela na: "(Filipina) you have a house in Baguio?" "(koreana) uh-huh" "(Filipina) oh please, take me there, take me to Baguio, please please please..." sa isip-isip ko, sino kaya ang tagarito sa Pilipinas sa tatlong ito? teka, bumawi naman ang kababayan natin at buong pagmamalaki naman niyang tinanong: "(Filipina) have you been to Cebu?" "(Koreana at Koreano) no..." "(Filipina) well you should go there. it's just like Manila but it's cleaner there. it's very beautiful!" "(Koreana) and where is that... chocolate.. chips place..?" "(Filipina) haha.. it's chocolate hills... chocolate hills. its also beautiful there." tapos, bigla akong naalimpungatan sa pagkakatunganga sa kanila. ako rin pala, hindi pa nakararating sa Cebu o kahit sa Bohol man kung saan matatagpuan ang Chocolate Hills). Bukod sa mga eksenang 'yon, lumipad din ang isip ko sa pagiging swerte ng mga dayuhan sa Pilipinas at sa mga Pilipino. Likas kase sa atin ang kaugalian na maalab sa pagtanggap sa tao, hospitality sa terminong mas kilala. kaya sinumang dayuhan na maliligaw sa bansa natin ay hindi makakaramdam ng kalungkutan dahil sa likas na pagiging maasikaso ng mga kalahi natin. isang ugali pa na negatibo naman na marahil isa ring ikinapagiging mapalad ng mga dayuhan ang ang pagiging makadayuhang pag-iisip natin o pagkakaroon ng colonial mentality. isang pag-iisip na mas mahusay ang dayuhan kaysa atin kaya kailangan silang isaalang-alang nang higit kaysa ating mga sarili. hindi ako sang-ayon sa huli at lalo, hindi ako natutuwa dito. sa ganang akin, sapat na na maging maasikaso tayo sa mga dayuhan pero hindi sa puntong magpapaalipin tayo sa kanila. kaya nga labis akong nabugnot nang malaman ko na lalawigang kinalakihan ko ay umusbong na ang maraming negosyo na pag-aari ng mga Koreano at ang nagtatrabaho para sa kanila ay mga Pilipinong nais magkaroon ng kikitain para sa pamilya. di baleng alipin sa sariling bayan, magkaroon lang ng ikabubuhay. Ok lang naman sana yun. likas tayong masipag pero kapag naiisip ko na dayuhan ang kailangang mamuno sa atin sa sarili nating bayan, ibang usapan na yun. gaano ba kahirap magtayo ng negosyo sa sariling bansa natin? bakit ang mga ito ay nag-usbungan na parang mga kabute lamang? sino ba talaga ang nakikinabang sa mga ito? hindi ba tayo pwedeng maging hari sa sarili nating bayan? o kung hindi man, maramdaman man lang natin na mas pinahahalagahan tayo ng kapwa Pilipino una kaysa sinumang dayuhan na matatas magsalita ng wikang banyaga? naalala ko tuloy ang isang pangyayari nang minsang pumila ako para kumuha ng NBI clearance. sa tagpong iyon, may isang dayuhan na mas matapang pa sa empleyado ng isang sangay ng gobyerno natin at walang pakundangan na pagsabihan ang mga Pilipinong nagtiyaga sa haba ng pila. sabi ko sa yo. kung may batuta lang ako nang mga sandaling yon, pinukpok ko na sa ulo ang mayabang na Amerikanong yun eh!

Sa lugar ni Ginoong Claro M. Recto mababakas ang tipikal na larawan ng Pilipinas. Nagngitngit ang blogosphere nang ma-broadcast sa isang sitcom sa Estados Unidos ang mga litanyang "some med schools in the Philippines" pero nang makita ko ang kahabaan ng Recto, buong kababaang-loob kong tatanggapin ang isang hindi magandang katotohanang iyon. maglakad ka lang sa bangketa ay aalukin ka na ng kung anu-anong uri ng dokumento na hindi naman talaga magbibigay ng anumang pagkilala sa "pinaghirapan at tinapos" mo (kung mayroon man). naglalakihan man ang mga gimikan sa mauunlad na lunsod ng Metro Manila, hindi pa rin maaalis ang katotohanang "hindi pa natin ramdam ang kaunlaran." bilang Pilipino, ayokong masadlak sa bangungot na ito habambuhay pero ang katanungan ay nananatili: sa kabila ng tanyag na mga pangalan ng ating mga lansangan, sino sa panahon natin ang makapagdadala sa buong bansa sa isang estadong tunay nating maipagmamalaki?
(ang larawan sa kanan ay mula sa website ng lrta.gov.ph)

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Claro M. Recto:

"Tatlong bagay ang pinaniniwalaan niyang naging dahilan ng kanyang pagiging matagumpay na abogado: una, ang kanyang kakayahan sa pagsusulat (literary ability); ikalawa, katalinuhan; at ikatlo, ang kanyang pagiging masipag at matiyaga."

(mula sa tl.wikipedia.org)

onli in da pilipins!

Thursday morning has been great, so far. Just arrived from church and it's Ayah's first choir performance today after taking her oath as a choir member last Tuesday, November 18th, at the Angono chapel. Our ninong Eric officiated the worship service and it was a blessed day! I'm now taking my first cup of coffee for the day while wifey just finished preparing my snack & lunch, as well as sorting out the clothes that were washed the other day. thanks, beh! also, the delivery boy from the LPG store arrived a while ago and we now have a brand new tank. lol. just amused about having let go of my last paper bill in my wallet and asking for additional money from wifey to suffice the payment. LPG we got cost P520 (including delivery) not bad since our neighbor from across the street sells LPG tanks but theirs amount to P650. huwaaaatt?? we already had a rollback!

anyhoo, after LOL-ing at President Arroyo's reaction when her Press Secretary blurted out in prayer: "Bless the President so we will have forbearance, good health, the tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010, and perhaps, who knows, even beyond," i blog not to circle around the embarrassment that the President had around the media. Onli in da Pilipins that i can not understand how tolerant Filipinos can be in dealing with their public officials. For one, i've been struggling driving around the busy streets of the metropolis just to take photo of this blog-worthy scenario that i saw a few days back:

first, what caught my interest to take a photo of the vehicle was it's very clean (pun intended) appearance. BJMP it says. So it belongs to the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology. I just didn't catch in photo the side part of it but a pair of feet was relaxingly up out of the van's window. so i wondered, "is that a prisoner being transferred to some cell?" i don't think so. then i looked at the plate number. uh-oh... can't seem to locate it. oh maybe the plate at the back was lost. so i did my best to overtake it (in the midst of traffic) and search for the red plate in front. ta-da!!! no plate even in front. pardon my ignorance but are these government-owned type of vehicle allowed to drive around anywhere without official plates? the officer driving was wearing a dark green uniform and he was talking beside a colleague (i guess) wearing an undershirt. i didn't see what the guy who was lying down the back seat of the van and whose feet were up in the window was wearing but it seems he was just pulled from his home while still sleeping. ok. OK. just let out those tsk, tsk, tsk... while nodding your head in disagreement but it's one thing why public as well as private vehicle drivers do not respect the public officials. isolated case? i don't think so. nah...

and sir, while i boasted your accomplishments in the city you have served for a maximum mayoral term, and while i continue to believe you have done great as the chairman of a department whose aim is to develop the whole Metro Manila, against all odds, i just continue to wonder why you have to break the law and campaign even earlier than today about your intent to run as the highest public official of this country?



isolated case? i don't think so... nah... and sir, i wonder when the MMDA jurisdiction was extended up to the rural places of Rizal province? i see your tarpaulins on every other electric posts along the main streets. isolated case? hmm... let's ask the other people from the other provinces. indeed, onli in da pilipins!

tired

yes i am. just got home from work... well, actually i dropped by Shopwise-Libis to buy some stuffs for our fridge (yes, fridge at hindi ref, hehe) before driving home. i was able to get an expensive 5-kg Thai Jasmine rice (was looking for a philippine-made jasmine rice pero mukhang wala yatang ganun), a pack of choice-cut chicken (syempre pwet part, uhmmm yum yum!) a kilo of small-cut hotdog and a half loaf of bread. and oh, i also got two packs of boneless milkfish, yung isa eh belly part lang. saraaaap! my grocery items cost me a few pesos short of 1,000. wow. it's ok. that's life.

i thought i won't be able to go home again right away tonight as the rain continues to pour since this morning. i was stranded last monday because of heavy downpour that caused flood to our poor low-lying town and made most streets unpassable. on another note, it's nice to have our roofing undergo renovation just in time for this rainy season. downside is, the workers hardly finish the day working due to heavy rain that usually pour on the afternoons. nonetheless, the new roofing should secure us, at least, from rain leaks and from fear of loosing our house top on typhoon season. shifting again to the flood issue, i'm beginning to hate more our place. flood rises faster than before. flood waters get "dirtier" each time. i suspect that the garbage from the balding mountains of Antipolo comes down to its nearby lower towns whenever the rain falls. i really want the people who are responsible for damaging the mountains of Rizal punished. if not by the country's law (since i recently heard from the news that law in the Philippines already has a money value), i hope their conscience pound them to death! just look at what they did to the poor, and helpless mountains ---> picture #1, picture #2, picture #3. if you've noticed, the date of the photos reads 2007. imagine how they look like now. 0_o

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my mom was again acting like a child earlier and it doesn't help me a bit in easing my tiredness from a days work. some petty problems do arise from anywhere and i just wish of not thinking about them. i want my sanity intact as i wake up every morning, report to work five times a day, go to church (at least) four times a week, and call it a day each night. i guess normal married life will start when wifey and i get to "own" the house by ourselves. and that'd be 3 months from now (wow, tagal). *sigh*

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on a completely different note and for the lighter side of (my) life, thanks to google dot com i have come to know that my blog was recognized as Pin@y Blog of the Day by tatang REtong. When? January 20th, 2004! haha! thanks, thanks anyway! :P

Bihasa Sa Pagtitiis Ang Mga Pilipino

Panimula
halos nakakabingi na ang paulit-ulit na isyu ngayon laban sa pamahalaang Arroyo. pero kung gaano itong mga "patalsikin si Gloria" movement ay masigasig sa pagbibigay-pahayag ng kanilang saloobin, kapit-tuko naman ang administrasyon sa pwesto kahit ubod na ng ingay ang taumbayan sa pagkwestiyon sa diumano'y katiwaliang pinapasok ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng bansa at mga kaalyansa nito.

"Hello... hello, Garci?"
nagsimulang mayanig ang administrasyong arroyo nang ipiniyok ng isang dating deputy director ng NBI na may matibay siyang ebidensya (at nasa kanyang pag-iingat) ukol sa usapan ng pangulo at ng dating COMELEC Commissioner. Ang usapang ito ay ukol sa "pagmanipula" diumano ng pangulo sa magiging resulta ng pambansang halalan. dahil dito, pumalag ang sambayanan at nakumbinsing kwestyunin ang pagiging lehitimo ng pagkakaluklok ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng bansa. ito ay agad namang sinakyan ng mga maka-kaliwang grupo, sumuporta sa oposisyon, at hinimok ang pagbibitiw sa pwesto ng pangulo.

bago pa man ito, isang kontrobersyang kinasasangkutan ng unang ginoo ang nagbigay na ng lamat sa administrasyon--- ang isyu ukol kay Jose Pidal. subalit hindi kasing alab ang reaksyon ng sambayanang Pilipino tulad nang lumabas na ang isyu ni "Hello, Garci?" lalong nagwala ang taumbayan nang bitiwan ni Pangulong Arroyo ang maituturing kong pinaka-panalong tatlong-salita ng taon (2005): "I am sorry." guilty na, hindi pa rin?

NBN-ZTE controversy
fast forward to the present... eto ngayon ang masasabi ko, ayon sa aking nakikita, na isyung tila may patutunguhan na wala. mas maraming tao ang nahihimok kumilos kumpara sa iba pang "anomalya" ng administrasyon at mga may kaugnayan dito pero parang hindi rin magkakaroon ng resulta na papabor sa mga taong nais bumitiw sa pwesto ang pangulo. tignan na lang natin ang magiging resulta ng interfaith rally bukas. Bakit may pagtitipong ganito bukas? Paghahanap ng katotohanan. Sumikat na nang husto higit pa sa isang umuusbong na artista ang pangunahing saksi sa pagdinig ng kaso sa NBN-ZTE deal pero mukhang pinipigilan pa rin ang paglabas ng katotohanan sa likod ng isyung ito. pero bakit ganun, sa isang panayam sa radyo ng pangulong arroyo, inamin niyang alam niya ang iregularidad ng nasabing proyekto pero hindi na diumano niya nagawan pang pigilin ito? akala ko ba ayon na rin sa kaniya, "ako ang pangulo ng bansa at walang iba." pero ano yun, guilty na, hindi pa rin?

Sayang, Madame President
sa mga kumandidatong pagka-pangulo ng bansa noong 2004, si pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ang pinaka-kwalipikado kung pag-uusapan ay edukasyon at karanasan sa pagiging opisyal ng pamahalaan. SANA. anong nangyari sa ekonomistang Pangulo? Oo, tumaas ang halaga ng piso. Pero para sa akin, mas tama yatang sabihin na bumaba ang halaga ng dolyar. Isa kase itong indikasyon ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng isang bansa, pero hindi ito lang ang batayan. at yun nga, bumaba ang halaga ng dolyar. alam naman nating lahat na ang pag-unlad ng bayan natin ay hindi makakamit sa isang pagtulog at paggising kinabukasan pero napa-plastikan ako sa patalastas sa TV kapag napapanood ko at naririnig ko ang mga talents na binayaran para magsabing "damang-dama ko ang pag-asenso." huwaaaatt?? inutil nga ang pamahalaan sa pagpapababa lang ng presyo ng gamot sa bansa. nakakapagngitngit pa na ang korupsyon ay hindi naitatago sa publiko--- naisisiwalat at nabubuko ito ng media. nasa pagmumukha na ng taumbayan ang katiwalian, wala pa rin!

"Gloria Resign"?
sa ganang akin, hindi ako sang-ayon sa Gloria Resign na panawagan ng ibang mamamayan. dahil sigurado ako siyento por siyento, ayaw din nila (mga nananawagan sa pagbibitiw ni Arroyo) kay Kabayang Noli De Castro na kung susundin ang saligang batas, siya ang pinakatamang pumalit kay PGMA. babuyan na lang ng Konstitusyon ang tinatahak ng kilusang ito. Marahil kaya hindi mabuo ang pag-aaklas ng bayan laban sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, walang ipapalit sa kaniya sa kasalukuyan. nakikiisa ako sa pananalangin ng mga mamamayan sa paglabas ng katotohanan, ksabay ng pagkakaroon na ng kapayapaan sa bansa. dahil bagama't bihasa sa pagtitiis ang mga Pilipino, napapagod rin ito. nakakapagod na ang EDSA Revolution. Nakakapagod na ang katiwalian. Nakakapagod na ang pagtatago ng katiwalian. Nakakapagod na ang pulitika. Nakakapagod nang malaman na ang buwis na ibinabayad ng maliliit na mamamayan ay winawaldas lang sa walang kabuluhang gastusin ng pamahalaan. Maraming Pilipinong dapat pakainin, bigyan ng edukasyon, tirahan at trabahong makakasapat sa pagtawid sa mahirap na pamumuhay. Nakakasawa na. Malimit kong sabihin, hindi Pangulo lamang ng bansa ang makapagpapaunlad ng isang bansa--- tulong ng BAWAT ISANG mamamayan ang makapangyayari rito. sabi nga ng isang sikat na pangulo ng bansa: "huwag mong itanong kung ano ang magagawa ng gobyerno para sa iyo, itanong mo kung ano ang magagawa mo para sa gobyerno." kung sa bawat pangulo ng bansa ay hahanapan na lang natin ng mali, wala tayong mararating. sige. kaninong administrasyon ng Pilipinas ang hindi nangurakot? . . . . . . . . . ? nakita na ninyo? ngayon, bakit pa tayo mag-eeleksyon kung bawat hindi natin maibigan sa pwesto ay basta na lang natin tatawagan ng pagpapatalsik? hilaw pa tayo sa demokrasya. hindi pa tayo marunong lumasap nito. akala ng marami katumbas ng salitang demokrasya ang pag-abuso. mali e.
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marahil kung alam lang ni PGMA na magsasalita pa ng kung anu-anong laban sa kaniya si Erap, hindi na niya sana ito binigyan ng pardon. isa na namang sayang. ang nakita kase (marahil) ni PGMA sa hakbang na ito, na siya ring basa ng ilang mga senador, magbubuklod ito at maghihilom sa krisis-politikal ng bansa at kahit paano sana ay makausad tayo sa isang tila kumunoy na pumpipigil sa ating umabante patungo sa mga bagay na may mas kabuluhang harapin. yun na lang din ang tinignan kong positibo sa pangyayaring iyon bagama't sa pakiramdam ko ay merong hindi tama sa Erap pardon . at eto na nga yung pakiramdam kong hindi tama... nangyayari na. nawalan rin kase ng kabuluhan ang hakbang na iyon ng Pangulo para sa dating Pangulo. hindi lamang umasim ang reaksyon ng taumbayan na anti-Erap, marahil ngayon ay inuuntog na ni PGMA ang ulo niya sa pader. panawagan kay Erap: tama na po.

Pangwakas
Maganda ang bansang Pilipinas. Mayaman sa likas na yaman. Masayahin at likas na matulungin ang mga Pilipino. Masisipag ang mga mamamayan at kayang mabuhay sa gitna ng matinding kahirapan. Lumalaban. Malakas ang loob. Punung-puno ng pag-asa. Ilang Pilipino ang matatanong mo kahit saan na gusto ng pagbabago. Pagbabago sa alin? Tayo rin ang makasasagot. At ang kasagutan ukol dito ay makakamit lang natin kung sa ating mga sarili sisimulan ang pagbabago.

mga reperensya:
Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo: The story of an eroded alliance
Hello, Garci?
Scandals in the (First) Family
Interfaith rally seen to draw 50,000 shouting for 'change'
Senators laud Erap pardon as 'unifying' act

to the left, to the left...

as i write this post, i'm looking at the calendar on my left to recall the days (and noteworthy things) that have passed by quick. yep, it's the 8th 9th day of the month and don't look now but the first month of the year is almost halfway already.

so right after i finished my first post of the year, i hurriedly fixed myself and prepared for our new year tradition of going home to my dads home town in Minalin, Pampanga. Ayah's family came with us (minus her brother jayson) to our province and it was the first time that they met my dads family. fun fun fun... great first day of the year... families together! so we did the usual stuff: eat, rest, eat... but to break the ice, we're fortunate enough (or so i thought) to have witnessed this years Aguman Sanduk. Some floats that paraded from the different barrios:











and 3 more new years remembrance:


the family :)


three generations: from left to right - me, my dad, my grandpa


ayah and i posing for a shot while i'm on the wheel @ NLEX. yes, kids... don't try that at home. it's dangerous! :P

well, so much for the one day breather. the succeeding days spelled W-O-R-K. people in the office were busy preparing for their (sales team) strat planning which was scheduled from weekend to tuesday (jan. 5 to 8) in Baguio City! that left me and the accounting people (three of them) in the office for two working days, Monday & Tuesday. Tomorrow Later will be an anticipated busy day as GM should want to start his business early, especially that we are having an additional of two principals as new partners. and guess what? i'm still all alone in the customer service / sales support department! i don't know and don't even feel if the management is including its support team to his business expansion. *shrug* and it still owes me 4 days of vacation leave which were not given to me the past year due to the urgency of consolidating (and coordinating) our final "numbers" for our main principal.

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on another note, i can't understand how childish the two giant philippine tv networks can become by fighting over an issue not even worth quarreling about: TV Ratings. the other insists that it's all about integrity but still, it rooted from the the very important issue (pun intended): TV RATINGS. now, wherever you look: television or politics, you just can't be proud of them. tsk, tsk...

last day of 2007

wow. its fast. i mean, time. it seems just like yesterday when i was anticipating the coming of 2007 and now it's on its way to the exit. generally, the year has been good to me. i'll be having a re-cap (year-ender post) on my next entry. meanwhile, i just wanna post some note worthy things i've done for the past days:

first, i was delighted to see the Hernandez family who came home from Mississauga the other day. i met them after they attended the worship service at the central temple. they handed me the photo album i asked my sister to send over and i also handed the siblings some pinoy souvenir.



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one of the things i got myself was this pair of shoes from Beetle Bug courtesy of the gift checks given by our boss, and another 500 worth from Shareena. thanks also for the discounted price so i didn't have to spend a single cent on this:




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since ayah worked in SM, our common time has lessen and most of the time that i have no work schedule, i just can't help gathering myself, thinking on what to do, and spending time anywhere all alone. if my friends are observant enough, i occasionally send SMS to them asking if they are available for a stroll in the mall, or share a short chat time with me, but since everyone seems to have their own busy schedule, i just end up going places alone. suits me. it's like the old days when i am so alone. (haha, nag-emote pa). anyway, so while my dear ayah is busy on her job, i treated myself a cup of coffee. where else?





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last night, after humiliating myself from dancing Grease Lightnin' ala John Travolta, mom, ayah & i proceeded to Marikina to watch the fireworks display. of course, too much expectation resulted to disappointment. fireworks display not very spectacular. what awed me was the bridge along marcos highway being filled-up with parked car in anticipation for the fireworks display. yup, ladies and gentlemen. a public highway turning into a parking area in just a few minutes! onli in da pilipins! more amazing is, there was a firetruck being used for this leisure.





and as i was saying, fireworks display wasn't so spectacular:





but anyway... happy new year!

isang maagang paalala

halos mag-iisang taon na ang nakakalipas nang mabiktima ng "taxi gang" ang aking ina, kasama ang isa niyang kaibigan. tinignan ko sa isang blog ko ang eksaktong petsa, nobyembre 23 nang mangyari ito:

sa mataong lugar sa Greenhills, mula sa pamimili sa pag-iikot sa Virra Mall, si inay at isa pang kaibigan ay pumara ng taxi pauwi dito sa bandang Marikina. may tumigil naman para isakay sila at kataka-taka (subalit nakakatuwa naman), hindi na ito nakipagtalo kung saan sila pupunta tulad ng "naku ma'am matrapik po dun eh susundo po ako sa banda rito..." yun bang mga ganung tipo. sa madaling sabi, umupo na sa likuran ang magkaibigan at medyo natuwa dahil sa karamihan ng tao, madali silang nakasakay ng taxi. mga bandang alas-singko ng hapon, simula na ng rush hour. pagkasakay, nagsalita ang driver (na medyo may katandaan na raw sa gulang) "usog ho kayo banda rito sa kaliwa (driver side) dahil malambot yung gulong ko dyan sa may likod sa kanan." si inay na nasa gawing kanan ay napunta sa gitnang bahagi ng upuan dahil nga sa pakiusap nitong manong tsuper. ang kaibigan ni inay ang nasa gawing kaliwa sa may pintuan. ilang metro lamang, sa hindi malamang pangyayari ay may sumakay na dalawang lalaki sa taxi na kanilang sinasakyan. ang isa ay sa harapan umupo at ang isa ay sa tabi ni inay.

naging mabilis ang mga pangyayari bagama't mabagal ang daloy ng trapiko. kinausap sila nung dalawang lalaki habang ang suspetsa nina inay ay si manong tsuper ang "mastermind" dahil sa siya ang pinaka may gulang sa tatlo at halata namang "sinet-up" silang magkaibigan. mahina lang ang loob nung kasama ni inay dahil ayon kay inay, kung siya ang nasa tabi ng pintuan ay pangangahasan niyang lumabas at gumulong sa kalsada (EDSA kung saan sila idinaan patungong quezon city at mabagal ang daloy ng trapiko) upang makaagaw ng atensyon sa iba pang motorista. pero hindi na nila ito nagawa.

dinala sila sa isang ATM sa mapagbirong pagkakataon, doon mismo sa branch na kinalalagyan ng savings ni inay. pinilit na isama si inay nung isang lalaki at pinag-withdraw ng maximum withdraw-able amount sa kanyang ATM card. pinayuhan nung mga lalaki na huwag na silang manlaban kung ayaw nilang masaktan.

pagkatapos ng pangyayari (makuha ang pera at cell phones) binigyan lamang sila ng pamasahe pauwi at pinakamabuting nangyari ay pinalaya na sila at iniwan nang hindi sinasaktan.

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naulit ang pangyayaring ito. sa ibang tao naman, kamakailan lamang. kinuwento ito ng isang kaibigan ni inay sa kaniya kagabi at nagulat si inay dahil parehong-pareho ang modus operandi ng nasabing taxi. medyo may kamalasan nga lamang, hindi pinakawalan ang biktima ng may ilang araw hangga't hindi nauubos yung laman ng kaniyang ATM card. grabe. tinanong ko si inay kanina "hindi ba nahuli yung driver bakit nakalabas na naman yan?" sabi niya, "hindi naman nahuli yung driver eh. yung kasamahan lang nya. eh yung river ang mastermind nun dahil sya yung nag-uutos dun sa dalawang mas bata sa kaniya."

naalala ko kase, ilang araw matapos ang pangyayari noong nakaraang taon, ini-report nina inay ang naganap na iyon sa pulis at kinumpirma (ibig sabihin, alam) ng mga pulis ang ganoong operasyon ng taxi na iyon. matapos kuhanan ng pahayag, ilang araw pa ay muling ipinatawag si inay at ang kaibigan niya sa isang presinto upang kilalanin ang mga suspek na diuman'y nahuli ng mga pulis.

pagdating sa presinto, may isang babaeng galit na galit na nabiktima rin (subalit nang maganap sa kanya iyon ay nakaranas sya ng kaunting physical abuse mula sa panlalaban sa mga holdaper) kaya marahil sya itong init na init gumanti sa mga nahuli. kinilala nila ang mga suspek at ipinaubaya na sa mga alagad ng batas ang mga sumunod na hakbang.

kanina ko lang napag-alaman na hindi rin daw naikulong ang mga suspek due to lack of evidence huwaaat???

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para sa lahat ng tao na minamahal ko, mapa-kamag-anak, kaibigan, blog reader, at syempre sa kaisa-isa kong beh beh na minsan ay sumasakay rin ng taxi, narito ang ilan sa tips upang maiwasan na mabiktima ng taxi gang na ito:

1. walang malinaw na pangalan ang taxi (bagama't may plate number ito) hindi nakasulat ang pangalan at plate number sa loob ng taxi. dapat ay nakasulat ito, di ba? pati contact number ng may-ari.

2. kapag pina-usog kayo ng upuan at dinahilan ang lambot ng gulong, magduda na kayo.

3. laging mag-lock ng pintuan (subalit gayun pa man, kung power lock ang taxi ay wala ring gaanong maitutulong ito dahil kontrolado ng driver ang locks)

4. ilang metro mula pagsakay ninyo ay tila may hinahanap sa paligid ang driver, at marahan itong magpatakbo ng kaniyang minamaneho.

sa mga nabanggit na tip, dapat ay maging gising tayo sa pakiramdam sa mga palatandaang ito. hindi masamang pumara at lumipat ng sasakyan kung may kakaiba kayong nararamdaman. magdahilan nang maayos at hindi halata, huwag mag panic, dapat ay laging buo ang isipan sa lahat ng pagkakataon, at makabubuti kung uugaliing magbaon ng tear gas lalo na sa panig ng kababaihan bilang self defense sa ganoong mga panahon na ng kagipitan.

malapit na ang bigayan ng "biyaya" mula sa mga employers. mag-ingat at masigla na naman sa pambibiktima ang mga taong ito.

respecting the "public servants"

(this is a TAGLISH entry)

Respect. It is not asked for. It is earned.

In my childhood years, i recall my dad telling me what these public servants do for the people. Kailanman ay hindi niya binanggit sa akin ang mga palpak nitong operasyon, mga corrupt practices o ang pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan. Basta ipinaliwanag niya sa akin kung bakit may pulis, anong ginagawa ng mga bumbero, bakit may Metro Aides, sino ang gumagawa ng mga batas at nagpapatupad nito.. as i grew up, i realized that there were things unrevealed. may mga bagay na hindi nasabi o sadyang hindi sinabi sa akin ng tatay ko.

just recently, we had another weather forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration, more popularly known as PAG-ASA. School kids of today would say, "naku, walang kapag-a-pag-asa yang PAG-ASA. palpak na naman ang forecast. super typhoon eh tirik na tirik ang araw! sayang ang suspension ng klase!"--- na akala mo naman ay talagang gustung-gustong pumasok sa paaralan. tapos, nakikita ko na ang ilan (o karamihan na yata) sa mga pulis ay naging ugali na ang pangongotong. dito lang sa lugar namin, pagpatak ng isang oras ng gabi, nakapwesto na sila sa magkabilang intersection sa kahabaan ng isang kalyeng kapangalan ng dating mayor ng bayan namin. nandun lang sila nagmamasid... police visibility? in a way it is but when you observe closely, nandun sila nakapondo sa kalsada, tanaw na tanaw ang police vehicle, dalawang naka-unipormeng asul at panaka-naka ay umaabot ng kung anong hindi mo mawari mula sa isang cigarette vendor o barker ng mga pampasaherong jeep na nagsasakay sa NO LOADING / NO UNLOADING ZONE. halos magsara ang kalsada sa pila-pilang sasakyan na sakop hanggang lagpas kalahati ng kalye. may pulis. nakatanaw. nakaabang. pagkatapos, ano pa?

may pagkakataon na nag-commute ako sa nasabing lugar pauwi, mga ganung oras din ng gabi. pumunta ako sa loading zone at after ten years, hindi pa rin ako makasakay. the jeepneys are all waiting in the NO LOADING zone. do i have a choice? i went to the NO LOADING zone and right then and there, i saw a blue-uniformed cop reaching out his hand to the jeepney barker who handed out some bills--- out in the open! luminga ako at nasa likod lang namin ang malaking sign board na "BAWAL ANG KOTONG DITO". punyemas! oo. kitang-kita ko yun. sayang nga lamang at wala ako sa medyo kubling lugar at kinuhanan ko sana ng video yung eksenang yun sa pamamagitan ng dati kong Nokia 6610i.

the OP-established MMDA is sadly inheriting some of the bad habit of these cops. meron na ring mga MMDA traffic enforcers na basta ka na lang patatabihin, bibigyan ng kung anu-anong violation at kunwa'y magtitiket pero napakatagal magsulat sa tiket. maybe they're waiting for something. ilang beses na rin akong pinatabi sa kalsada at kinausap at sinabihang nag violate ako sa pagmamaneho. "Swerving" = reckless driving.

sabi ng karamihan, usad-pagong daw ang justice system sa bansa. this may be a graver misfortune for the common citizens. sila na ang naapi at nagpakagastos para ipaglaban ang karapatan, sila pa ang napagkaitan. hindi naman lahat ng hukom ay mabagal magpasya, subalit hindi rin lahat ng hukom ay wasto ang pagpapasya. AT kapag nakikita ko ang pagmumukha ni justice secretary Raul Gonzales, nawawalan ako ng pag-asa. no offense meant to the justices followers pero nakagawa na siya ng impresyon sa publiko na kapag nakita mo siya sa telebisyon, gugustuhin mo na lang patayin ang TV. pwede kayang pag ini-interview ito ng media eh silhouette effect? parang yung mga menor de edad na nabiktima ng panghahalay...

during el nino times, you can purchase water from some firestations. home service pa. oo, onli in da pilipins. tapos makakasabay mo sa kalye ang mga ambulansyang pilit na lumulusot sa trapik, malakas na umaatungal ang sirena pero kapag sinilip mo ang loob, walang pasyente! this brings me back to the police officers. they counterflow a lot with matching sirens whenever the traffic is heavy on their side of the road. could you tailgate them? of course you could but no one would dare. matitikitan ka na naman. anong violation? reckless driving.

nakakalungkot pero ganito ang eksenang anumang pilit mong takasan ay lagi namang nagpapakita sa iyo sa araw-araw. marami pa akong di nabanggit na kung iisa-isahin ko pa eh mahuhuli na ako sa pagpasok sa opisina.

i personally emphatize with the public servants. in fact, given the chance, i would want to fill-in their shoes and i should know that being a Philippine-public servant is not like walking in a park. hindi biro lang ang paglilingkod na iniaalay nila sa sambayanan at ang sweldo nila ay hindi naman kasing laki ng kinikita ni ginoong Henry Sy sa bawat SM mall na ipinatayo niya.

i'd like to get my message across: we individually can take part in the role played by our public servants. in our littlest way, we can help them not to be tempted in doing the improper thing. it sure is not easy but we should be starting somewhere. nakakalungkot nga lang. sa isang pakikipagpalitan ko ng kuro sa isa ring blogger na si gari, binanggit niya ito:

"pero ang mga tao, nanaisin pang mamatay ng nagnanaknak
at nagnanana kaysa makipagsapalaran sa isang major surgery."

After Elections

and i thought i wouldn't write anything in relation to the recently-held Philippine elect-cheats, i mean, elections. oh well, since everybody is getting a clearer view of who's gonna make it and who's NOT gonna make it to the 12 senatorial seats, and while most local officials have been proclaimed in their respective municipalities, let me share to you a very funny (yet still corny) forwarded text joke:

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Matapos ang eleksyon sa Pinas, narito ang mga ulo ng nagbabagang balita:

PICHAY: Pinulot sa kangkungan!
SOTTO: Nabulaga!
CHAVIT: Sumabit!
PACQUIAO: Knocked-out!
ZUBIRI: Na-boom-tarat-tarat!
MONTANO: Na-Out of SHINE!
GOMA: Na-flat!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

hay naku... back to work na nga muna! bwiset.

The Dangerous Bridge

i couldn't have admired more the construction and opening of the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge which is situated along Marikina River, connecting Marcos Highway, and Marikina to C5 where you can easily access Cubao and Bagumbayan, and vice versa. When it has become accessible a few weeks back, our travel going to Bagumbayan has become a breeze whenever the Manggahan/Magsaysay St. is filled with vehicles going to Pasig.

The newly-opened bridge should be well-lit at night as it displays a good number of light posts all throughout its stretch. Generally, lighting the way should provide safety for the passing motorists but observing how these light posts were erected on the bridge might give the motorists something to worry about especially on typhoon season. one can even think if these were properly designed by the city's finest engineers... look closely where the base of the light posts stand:



clever? naahh... i don't think so.

'Iglesia Vote'

wow. i received a text message forwarding the supposed INC Senatorial Line-up. the forwarder confirmed that it has already been broadcasted on TV/radio. The media is way faster than our church administrator on this thing. it is them who's making so much of a BIG deal out of this and it's not very amusing.

why is our vote so freakin' important for them to know anyway? can't people just mind their own businesses?

geez..

so greedy

so much for my delight



> because the executives have their own cars
> because they don't cross the dangerous, busy street by foot
> because we are just commuters

greediness at it's best. i hope chairman Bayani Fernando can do something about this, for the people, for the citizens, for public safety, for the ordinary commuters like the majority that cross Libis road everyday to work for these multi-national companies that deprive them of simple safety measures and yet don't offer much insurance if something bad happens. geez.

"metro gwapo" ...sana.

since i saw the development of Marikina City, i have been a fan of Bayani Fernando, not the personality but the public servant. i do not know him personally. i simply admire his dedication as a public servant. he is a law enforcer (and i don't know if he'd be better as a law maker that is why i frowned when i learned he had plans of running for an elected seat before).

anyway, he has planned a lot for Metro Manila since he was appointed as chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority. he has fearlessly led the campaign for the beautification of the metro:

* covering wall vandals by having the "MMDA Art" paintings
* eradication of side-street vendors on major roads of the metro
* implementing U-turns on most applicable intersections (this i find very helpful)
* construction of footbridges on appropriate and busy places for the pedestrians welfare (and motorists alike)
* continuously "sweeping" the streets of the metropolis and widen the accomplishments of the now-defunct "metro aides"
etc...

what disgusts me is the attitude of some citizens towards the MMDA Chairman's goals. while WE ALL wish for a better (and a higher standard of living in--) Metro Manila, some people can't just get out the mentality of being stubborn--- they choose not to abide by the programs for progress. now, i really can't understand WHY some people are having fun going against the flow. clearly, if we seriously wish for our country to move forward, we must do our part individually as citizens of this country. the government ALONE can not make it happen.

(photo above shows a couple of number coding violators running along E.Rodriguez Jr. Avenue where MMDA Traffic Enforcers are very visible. noticeably, one is a government-owned vehicle. photo was taken today, 13th of April, Friday, a little past 9 AM.)

wtf?

while on my way to the office, i was driving with my gurL and we were tuned in to the FM radio station. a news break was aired and one story was about former senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta (TAO) quoted saying she (TAO) could have set aside her senatorial ambition if her niece, Kris Aquino, was the one who filed candidacy to run for senator instead of the latter's brother, Noynoy. TAO justified her statement in saying that Kris is smart, and that whenever she does something, she puts her whole heart and mind to it so it would be fitting for her to be in the senate.


photo (above) was searched from google.com.ph

on another note, i've seen Kris doing campaign for his brother Noynoy in the latter's political ad on TV. Can't these senatoriables encourage the people to vote for them without using too much personalities? action speaks louder than words. how ever the promises sound so good, in the end you'll never know if they can live up to their promises until they have proven their worth. whose going to be fooled by these ads?

an honest to goodness question

guys, i honestly need to understand this:
Why are so many people disliking Prospero Pichay?



I'm posting this for two reasons: 1) i'm not very familiar with the guy; and, 2) i'd want to know why the guy is being prejudged by most pinoys.