Philippines's topics - tribe.net

Return to the Motherland

sobey — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:11:10 GMT

In February I will be making a return to the land of my mother. My mother and father are retiring in the Philippines permanantly after having been in North America for more than my lifetime. They are inviting me there this winter and I am eager to see what it holds for me now and what I can give to the Philippines. I feel a very special connection to the land and waters there and to my tribal ancestors. I am also very interested in sustainable practices and forming alternative economics. I want to see the Phiippines outwit privatization of its natural resources and reverse the negative trends that have been occuring under colonial rulership since the Spaniards. The future of the Philippines is something I believe could be of great benefit to the global village. I have already voyaged amongst some of its islands and met some indigenous peoples, many artists, musicians, activists and spiritual communities. I have great hope for this nation to fulfil its mystical destiny.
I hope to connect with more people in the Philippines and who retain their connection with the Philippines to advance this. I feel it is part of what i am here to do.

posted in Philippines - 7 replies

Earth Hour Philippines Official Celebration

medge — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:13:54 GMT

What: Earth Hour Philippines Official Celebration
When: March 29, 2008 from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.
Where: Cultural Center of the Philippines - Front Lawn

On March 29, 2008, from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, the entire stretch of Roxas Boulevard which spans three (3) cities will join the rest of the world for Earth Hour-- an event that will create awareness on climate change and prove that people around the world working together can make a difference in the growing fight against global warming.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' fountain area will provide the backdrop for a countdown event where Philippine Earth Hour Ambassadors will come together with local and international media for a symbolic "switch off". Even SM Mall of Asia, the world's third largest mall, will shut down their lights for Earth Hour. In fact, all of the SM Supermalls nationwide will be participating in Earth Hour. Ayala malls and all Ayala owned and maintained buildings will be shutting down their lights too. Makati will be participating as well and lights will go down in the metro's Central Business District and all Barangays. Likewise, expect hundreds of advertising billboards in Metro Manila to be switched off. (More details on participating establishments below)

Earth Hour in the Philippines is an initiative of WWF-Philippines, the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC), Green Army and Philips. This program is fully supported by the Pasay City Government through the auspices of Hon. Atty. Wenceslao B. Trinidad, City Government of Manila through Hon. Alfredo S. Lim, City Government of Paranaque through Hon. Florencio M. Bernabe, Jr., and the Makati City Governement through Hon. Jejomar Binay.

The Earth Hour (Metro) Manila team is working hard to encourage the rest of the metro to pitch in and switch off their lights. If you happen to be in the area of Roxas Boulevard on Saturday, please join us at the CCP front lawn for a special program during Earth Hour.

Earth Hour will take place throughout the Philippines from 8 to 9 in the evening on Saturday, 29 March 2008. WWF invites you to participate by shutting off lights for 60 minutes, organizing your own "lights-out" event or by forwarding this mail to your friends, workmates and family. Don't forget to SIGN UP at www.earthhour.org

How It Will Work

Currently, hundreds of cities in 130 countries have committed to 2008 Earth Hour. In each city, WWF will work with local officials, partners and sponsors to mobilize businesses, individuals and communities to demonstrate commitment to the health of our planet by turning off lights for one hour — from 8 to 9PM local time. To encourage longer term benefits, participants will be asked to replace older light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescents.

In the Philippines, Earth Hour is being implemented through the Task Force Earth Hour composed of WWF-Philippines, The Presidential Task Force on Climate Change, Department of Energy, and the Green Army. It is officially being implemented by the Cities of Pasay, Manila, Paranaque, and Makati.

What Will Happen

Roxas Boulevard – The flagship area for Earth Hour Philippines is Roxas Boulevard, and the local government units of Pasay, Manila, and Paranaque are working to ensure the successful switch-off of lights along the boulevard. At exactly 8:00pm on March 29, Saturday, all lights (both street lamps and business establishment lights) along the boulevard shall be switched off.

Cultural Center of the Philippines – The Earth Hour Countdown and Lights-Out Program will be held at the CCP front lawn, where the ceremonial switch-off will take place, led by Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad, Mayor Florencio Bernabe, and Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Street Lights: Street lights along the following major thoroughfares are expected to be switched off during Earth Hour:

· Roxas Boulevard

· Quirino Highway

· EDSA

· Ayala Avenue

· Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia)

· Kalayaan Avenue (Makati)

· J.P. Rizal (Makati)

· Makati Avenue

Corporate Participation: To date, many corporations have pledged their support for Earth Hour:

· Philips Lighting Systems is the official sponsor for the Countdown Event and Lights-Out Program at the CCP

· Ayala Corporation is switching off all lights in all Ayala Malls and Ayala Properties

· Coca-Cola is turning off all its billboards in Metro Manila and providing drinks at the CCP event

· SM will turn off lights of Mall of Asia and all SM branches nationwide

· Starbucks is turning off its business signages and lights in all of its branches around Metro Manila and providing drinks at CCP event

· Jollibee, Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, and Delifrance will turn off lights in their branches in Metro Manila

· HSBC will turn off lights in all its buildings and billboards all over Metro Manila

· Canon will turn off lights in all its buildings and billboards all over Metro Manila

· Makati Shangri-La will turn off the hotel's exterior and non-essential lights

· EDSA Shangri-La will turn off the hotel's exterior and non-essential lights

· The Peninsula Manila will turn off its exterior and non-essential lights

· Manila Ocean Park will turn off all its exterior lights

· Colliers will turn off all lights in all its buildings and has provided 60 volunteers

· Intel will turn off all lights in its buildings and has provided 40 volunteers

And daily more and more companies are joining.

Other participating cities: To date, the list of participating cities include: Pasay, Manila, Paranaque, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan, Marikina City, Gen. Trias, Bais City, Dumaguete City, Dipolog City, Zamboanga City, Iligan City, Talisay City, Escalante, Baguio City, Iloilo City, Puerto Princesa City, Tarlac, Laoag City, San Fernando City and Bauang (La Union), San Fernando City (Pampanga), Santiago City, San Jose City (N. Ecija), Naga City, Legazpi City, Iriga City, Calbayog City, Ormoc City, and Tangub City.

Launched in Australia on the 31st of March 2007, Earth Hour moved 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced the city's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour. With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

YOUR participation will go a long way in spreading the message that we, as individual droplets working collectively – can create an impetus far more powerful than the mightiest of rivers. For more information, log on to the WWF Earth Hour page at: www.earthhour.org.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Earthdance Manila

sobey — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:41:26 GMT

Did anyone go to the Earthdance in Manila or know of the organizers?

www.earthdance.org

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

hey everyone

will — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:15:42 GMT

Seeking friends into the cuckold lifestyle would love to chat and to get to know you.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

hi pips! join naman kayo!

SilverthornS — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:20:33 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/galingngpinoy thanks. see yah!

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Mabuhay Tropang Maninisid

ScubaMagazine.net — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:37:24 GMT

Mabuhay Friends,

Philippines Dive Tourism gets almost no mention at all in U.S. scuba diving publications. Our publisher has been 3 times now to the Philippines diving and has fallen in love with the diving and the people. He will be in the Anilao/Batangas area next month.

Because of the warmth, friendlyness and hospitality he has been shown by Pilipinos, and the fact that PI diving gets so little press coverage in the US, he has made it his mission to promote Philippines Dive tourism in the US and Europe by doing as many resort reviews he can travel to and positively promoting PI diving.

So within our ScubaMagazine.net Forum we have created a Philippines Shangri-La Divers Forum designed to have Pinoys and Pinays interact with Westerners so they can see Pilipino English is often better than many who live in the US, and can ask questions about PI diving and get advice.

We've also created the Tropang Maninisid Forum for Pinoys & Pinays to have fun in Tagalog.

We'd love for you divers to join, its free. Plus you can see lots of videos, like the crazy divers who swims without a cage right up to a huge great white shark, rides the shark, then the shark attacks him.

Anyway, we'd love to see you there, and please get the word out that they have a friend in the U.S. that wants to return the favor for your hospitality, and tell them about the ScubaMagazine Shangri-La Divderrs Forum on our www.Scubamagazine.net Forum.

Salamat!

:) Sarah, www.ScubaMagazine.net

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Looking for Employment in Manila

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:19:22 GMT

I'm busting my ass to try and get out of the US to Manila, Philippines sometime around July 15. I've got a Bachelor's Degree and I'm working on an ESL Certificate that I should have nailed down by the end of March. Any recommendations be it teaching English, training English at call centers or a general job opening for someone moving from the US would be much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

Paul

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

ilocanos

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:53:53 GMT

Any ilocano or who has roots in Ilocos? I've created a tribe for us.
http://tribes.tribe.net/ilocano

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Filipino Eats in Toronto?

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:07:32 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I have a real hankering for Filipino food in the Toronto area. Does anyone know of any establishments that I can try? Don't get me wrong...mom's cooking is great, but, it's just for a change.

Thanks a million!

posted in Philippines - 3 replies

Kare kare

mskayasattva — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 06:25:26 GMT

I had kare kare today and thought that I had just died and gone to Heaven.

Where else in the Bay Area, besides Goldilocks, is a person with a deep hankering for Filipino food to go?

posted in Philippines - 20 replies

Badjao

medge — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:17:58 GMT

Sharing here my experience with the Badjao tribe of Zamboanga.
A worthwhile journey it was.

Badjao
www.whyspeak.blogspot.com

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

New member here

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:57:35 GMT

I just want to say hi and get to know everyone better.

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Showbiz Intriga? Get it from Boy!

gen — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:53:52 GMT

pls. visit it at http://getitfromboy.blogspot.com

thanks

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

La Paz Batchoy

noel — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 05:22:36 GMT

Is there a La Paz batchoy place in Daly City or any place in San Francisco?

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

employment for an american?

mari — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 06:09:18 GMT

if an american moves to the philippines, would they have a good chance at finding employment?

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Pinoy podcasters

digitalfilipino — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 03:00:10 GMT

Hello. Are there Filipino podcasters in this community? If there are, kindly post your podcast.

Mine is the DigitalFilipino.com Podcast. You can check it out at http://digitalfilipino.podomatic.com

Hope you can post yours too.

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

got itchy feet..

PeN — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 07:33:06 GMT

so yeah. got itchy feet. where the heck does a person go to dance to some really good house, or techno or electronica for that matter in manila?

got any suggestions? clubs, websites to visit for some info?

thanks for your help!

p

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Greeting cards in tagalog

FreedomStylez — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:52:33 GMT

Looking for greeting cards in tagalog? Those are so rare and hard to find...even on the internet.

Here's the Web site:
www.AdlihcerCreation.com

There are cards in both english and tagalog.

Non-tagalog speakers and use these cards to impress their Filipino loved ones.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Directory?

FreedomStylez — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:47:45 GMT

I haven't seen my father since I was 3 years old and have looked over the internet to try to track him down.

I'm not sure if what my relatives have told me is 100% true, but by going off of their word I would think it would be easy to find him. They told me that he married a daughter of one of the former presidents... Ramos. They said that he was a congressman there, but I'm not sure what province he would have been a congressman for.

I heard there is no such thing as a directory in the Philippines. If that's the case... what are my other options besides paying an "investigator" to find him?

posted in Philippines - 2 replies

Hello!

FreedomStylez — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 03:09:56 GMT

...just wanted to say Hello! This tribe is so quiet.

posted in Philippines - 11 replies

Maligayang Pasko

mskayasattva — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 16:21:59 GMT

sa inyong lahat!!

posted in Philippines - 3 replies

world pyro olympics

.zegnatronicalled — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 12:48:07 GMT

in manila right now and i missed it! well not if i drive 20 min. but i'll wait for NYE which should be just as insane.

http://www.worldpyroolympics.com/info/

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

April tour

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 23:33:48 GMT

I will be there in April. Manilla, Cebu, and some surrounding islands.

I am interested in meeting an attractive woman to consider marriage. Any help will be most appraciated...

I am tired of American women and thier attitudes... I am looking for someone a little more "old fassioned" like SWEET NATURED!!! Not hostile!

Thanks, and Bless all of you.
-Sean

posted in Philippines - 18 replies

Anyone returning to the Philippines after Christmas?

xander — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 18:36:23 GMT

Hi -

I've just come back from a three week stay in Manila. My friend and I are setting up a small consulting business in Las Pinas. Now I need to send her a Vonage adapter so that she can set up a voice over internet service. The only problem is that Fedex charges $350 just to ship it over.

Does anyone know of anyone who is returning to Manila in the next few weeks? I'd be willing to pay them $100 to bring the adapter. The adapter is small, and it weighs maybe about 5-10 lbs. If there are any tariffs, we'll of course pay this as well.

If you can help, please write me back here at tribe, or you can call or email me.

Alex
415-240-1153
aaxander@yahoo.com

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Where to go for a vacation

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:28:33 GMT

Hi there, I am looking into a three week vacation to the Philippines next year and could use some travel tips. Basically I am interested in anything outdoors: Diving, hiking, kayaking, National Parks and the likes. I travel alone and with a backpack, very low key but with a good budget.
Any help greatly appreciated.
cheers
Axel

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Mail order African American Groom

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 01:32:42 GMT

Any takers for a sexy soul brother from america looking for a gentle lady that knows how to cook lumpia. good dancer is a plus. He is educated, He can clean, and He is romantic. Ladies dont let this wonderful offer pass you by.....This man comes with a satisfaction guarantee.

All he is asking is a stable and secure villa in the Philippines and a plane ticket to bring him there.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Mail order brides

FreedomStylez — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:20:57 GMT

Why is it that when you use the search term "Filipina" the marjority of the results relate to mail order brides. Is that all our homeland's women represent?

posted in Philippines - 10 replies

Coconets

James — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 18:48:18 GMT

Did you know that the Philippines' Coconut for Soil
Erosion Control has been chosen as one of the 12
Finalists in Newsweek and BBC's World Challenge?

The world challenge is a competition aimed at finding
individuals or groups from around the world who have
shown enterprise and innovation at the grass roots
level and is about finding projects who are making a
difference to their communities.

"The World Challenge" already offers a tremedous
exposure and publicity to our flourishing
coconut industry and Filipino entrepreneurs by
being 1 of just 12 finalists from all over the world.

So if the Philippines' entry is to go on and win
the challenge it will be a much needed boost for our
country and for the image of the Filipino people.
Which we all know is very much needed at this time,
for we really are a people known for our
innovativeness, resourcefulness and resilience.

To check out the Coconet project and the other 11
world finalists visit www.theworldchallenge.co.uk

Don't forget to cast your vote.

posted in Philippines - 2 replies

PEOPLE OF THE FAITH..Simply, Bishop Ochie (Part 1)

dops — Mon, 23 Aug 2004 09:46:00 GMT

PEOPLE OF THE FAITH
Simply, Bishop Ochie (Part 1)

Updated 12:41pm (Mla time) Aug 22, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page Q4 of the August 22, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

TALL, lanky and with an elongated face, the seminarian Oscar Solis was nicknamed "Tirso Cruz III" by his classmates at the University of Sto. Tomas Central Seminary.

"Ah, but when I was on the basketball court, they called me Ramon Fernandez!" he recalls with a laugh today. So avid a basketball player was he that the Seminary Rector, calling him to his office because his grades started slipping, chided the young Solis for his misplaced priorities. "I hear that you've been studying basketball and playing theology!" he was told.

These days, with knee trouble putting an end to his days on the court, Solis might prefer being dubbed "Tiger Woods"-he wishes-since he has taken up golf for recreation. Told that he should try the local golf courses during his visit, Solis admits that he is "dying to play golf," though he very much doubted if his tight schedule would allow a game or two. "I haven't had much time for relaxing, I feel like I came here for Lent!" he mock-complains.

There
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is a good reason for the packed agenda, the warm welcome and his newfound celebrity status. With his ordination as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles last February 10, Oscar Azarcon Solis became the first Philippine-born bishop in the United States. Many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have taken his ordination to the episcopacy as a sign of the growing importance of Filipinos in the life of the Catholic Church in the US. Bishop Solis himself prefers to downplay his Filipino identity, preferring to see his appointment as recognition by the hierarchy of the increasing role of Asian-Americans in the Catholic community.

A newfound status

To his family, the new appointment means adjusting to his newfound status and celebrity, though it doesn't seem to have altered in any way their own relationship to him. Requested by photographers at the airport to kiss the bishop's hand upon his arrival, his sister Celia Tapia, the eldest in the family, replied indignantly: "I'm older than him, I shouldn't be kissing his hand!"

The biggest adjustment for his family has been one of terminology, shifting from "Father Ochie," which has been his nickname from childhood, to "Bishop Ochie."

Born in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Solis is the fourth of seven children of Anselmo and Antonia Solis, both of whom are deceased. Celia, the eldest sibling, is a nutritionist married to retired banker Antonio Tapia with whom she has two children. The second sister, Helen, an accountant, is single and lives with Celia. The oldest boy, Willie, was stabbed to death at the age of 18. Another boy, Honey, who was born after Bishop Ochie, drowned when he was only five years old. The youngest sister, Angie Pacubas, is a dentist and lives in San Jose, California, while the youngest boy, Ronald is also a priest who heeded a late vocation and now serves with the Opus Dei in Hong Kong.

Though he was an altar server in his boyhood and had many "good role models" among the priests in town, Solis doesn't remember feeling any strong call to the priesthood. "My mother was the one who really had the vocation," he jokes. He entered the Minor Seminary when he was only 11, and remembers only that "life inside with friends my age was a lot of fun," even if he confesses that all through his adolescence "I didn't really know the meaning of priesthood."

After graduation from the Maria Assumpta Seminary in Cabanatuan, Ochie was sent by the local bishop to study at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay under the SVD Fathers where he obtained his philosophy degree, and was then sent to the UST Central Seminary to study under the Dominicans. Despite his obsession with basketball, Solis managed to obtain his theology degree, cum laude, and in 1979 was ordained a priest in his hometown of San Jose.

It was a seemingly easy path to the priesthood, as his scholarships to prestigious institutions prove that Solis's superiors, especially his bishop, had confidence in his academic abilities and belief in his promise. In fact, soon after his ordination, he was allowed to return to Manila to pursue post-graduate studies in oriental religions and cultures.

A messianic complex

Upon his return to Nueva Ecija, Solis was set on a path that seemed clearly marked for the academic and administrative track. Instead of being assigned to a parish, he was assigned as dean of students and later Rector of his alma mater, Maria Assumpta Seminary, while serving as chaplain and teaching philosophy at the Araullo Lyceum University.

In 1984, as a 30-year-old priest with "a messianic complex," Solis says he was "burnt out and feeling frustrated and no longer seeing eye-to-eye" with his bishop. ("He's passed away, so let's not mention his name anymore," he pleads.) To get away from an increasingly untenable situation, Solis sought and was given permission to take up further studies in Canon Law in Rome. But before reaching the Eternal City, he decided to pass by the US and, without knowing it, set off on the path that led to his becoming an auxiliary bishop of perhaps the largest archdiocese in the United States.

Shortly after his arrival in the US, Solis took up an offer to serve as associate pastor in St. Rocco's Parish in Union City, New Jersey, in the Archdiocese of Newark. The parish was "60 percent Italian and 40 percent Hispanic," Solis recalls of his four years in New Jersey. "They had a wonderful Italian-American pastor and it was while I was serving under him that I fell in love with pastoral work." Abandoning his scholastic ambitions, Solis decided that his true calling was as a parish priest.

Opportunity comes

The opportunity came in 1988 when Fr. Caesar Silva, a Filipino priest serving in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Southern Louisiana, invited Fr. Solis to lunch with Msgr. Francis Amedee, pastor of St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral. Seeing the need for more priests in the diocese, Msgr. Amedee had convinced Bishop Warren Boudreaux to allow him to actively recruit possible pastors, including foreigners. Impressed with Solis, Amedee paved the way for his transfer to Louisiana.

"I love them!" is Solis' unabashed declaration when asked his feelings for the people of Louisiana. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux lies in Cajun country, a string of "bedroom communities" for workers who commute to and from the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Louisiana State University is also located there.

"It's a relatively prosperous area but quite rural in its values," Solis describes his place of assignment. "It's still very peaceful there, people don't lock their doors at night. They have strong family values and the Church plays an important role in the community. The people still look up to the priests. It felt so much like home. Why, they even eat rice!"

Solis describes himself as "basically a friendly person" and "blessed in my ability to integrate myself" even among strangers. This may be the reason he never felt discriminated against, he says, though "out of a deep respect for the native clergy," he declares that he "never asked for any position or promotion." When he expressed this sentiment to other priests, he recalls, they exclaimed: "Why, Oscar, you are one of us, you shouldn't see yourself as being different!" So at home did Solis feel in Louisiana that in 1999 he finally obtained American citizenship.

Center of lives

In all, Solis would serve 15 years in Houma-Thibodaux, as associate pastor in St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, then pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Golden Meadow, then back to St. Joseph as pastor.

As a parish priest, Solis found himself smack in the center of people's lives, presiding over milestones like baptism and confirmation, first communion, weddings and funerals. "What I really enjoyed about my assignment was that the area was full of families with very young children, giving me a chance to watch them grow up and start families of their own. What could be more flattering to a priest, but to be asked to preside over the weddings of children whom you have baptized?" These days, even as he finds himself re-assigned to Los Angeles, Solis finds his desk filled with letters from Louisiana asking him to go back there and preside over weddings of former parishioners, accompanied by staples like jambalaya or "dirty rice" sent by express delivery.

During
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his early years as associate pastor at St. Joseph's, Solis became the moderator of over 90 altar boys, an unusually large number even for Houma-Thibodaux. "Some parents asked me why I didn't have any altar girls, but I had to explain that I already had a hard time accommodating the boys, we were using as many as nine servers for each Sunday Mass!" Seven years later, returning to St. Joseph as pastor, Solis found that some of his original altar boys had made the trip from their college campuses just to serve at his installation. "I called them my altar goons, because they had all become so big!"

The love that Solis felt for the people and church of Louisiana did not go unreciprocated. A wealthy parishioner of St. Joseph's had included in her will a bequest to the diocese and the Cathedral to use as they wished. With the bishop's permission, it was decided that part of the money would be sent to each diocese where the five Filipino priests serving in Houma-Thibodaux had come from. Each diocese was given $50,000, for a total of $250,000, with the Filipino bishops promising that they would use the money for priestly vocations.

As Msgr. Amedee told the "Bayou Catholic": "I felt an obligation because they were coming to us. By giving their former dioceses money we were helping the missions."

Solis's Louisiana idyll would be broken last December when he received a phone call from Los Angeles informing him that the Vatican had approved his appointment as auxiliary bishop. "I had no idea I was even being considered!" he recalls. "It was a tremendous shock," he describes his feelings at the time. "My staff tells me that when I stepped out of my office, I was pale and trembling and at first they worried that someone in my family had died."

Immensity

He had reason for his fears. "What frightened me most about serving in L.A. was its immensity," he confides. The total number of Catholics in his old diocese, he says, stands at around 175,000, while there are no fewer than 12 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles which covers three counties-Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara-the last considered one of the most prosperous counties in the US.

During his ordination as bishop, Bishop Ochie's brother, Fr. Ronald, and Msgr. Amedee served as his chaplains, walking alongside him and presenting him to Cardinal Roger Mahoney. "I always knew he was very special and destined for leadership in the church," Msgr. Amedee would later say.

Bishop Solis takes his place as one of five auxiliary bishops in Los Angeles, charged with coordinating pastoral efforts to integrate all ethnic groups within the Archdiocese while recognizing and respecting their unique traditions and customs. Asked to give an example of how various ethnic groups celebrate the Liturgy, he notes: "Among African-Americans, you gotta have soul! There must be lively music and even dancing. Korean-Americans are more formal and ritualistic. While among Filipino-Americans, there must always be lots of food!"

Another special charge that Solis has received from Cardinal Mahoney is the generation of new vocations, especially among the Filipino-American community. "We need to work with families," Solis notes, "because it is only the parents who can plant the idea of a priestly or religious vocation in the minds of their sons or daughters." An "optimist by nature," Solis believes that after years of seeming decline, the Catholic Church is "entering a new age of hope." Far from mistrusting the new information technology, he is inclined to embrace it, fascinated by "its potential for evangelization."

Play a part

In his new posting, Solis will undoubtedly play a large part in bringing the American Church -and the church as a whole-up to speed not just with technology but with a rapidly changing society. "It's all Divine Providence," he says of his historic appointment. "I haven't done anything special, and there are holier, more intelligent priests. I don't try to second guess God. My attitude is, 'Thy will be done.'"

During his ordination, Solis recalls, all his male relatives including his father were placing bets on how long he would last in the priesthood. "I heard that the longest anyone was willing to bet on was five years," he says with a laugh. Well, he just celebrated his 25th year as a priest last April, back in Louisiana, surrounded by his siblings and relatives, and the huge "family" he has gathered around him over the past two decades. He may downgrade his own qualifications for his present responsibilities, but he certainly doesn't mind being known, simply, as "Bishop Ochie."

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Pinoy N.Y. cabbie feted at DOT

dops — Thu, 19 Aug 2004 01:45:02 GMT

Pinoy N.Y. cabbie feted at DOT

The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauded Wednesday Nelson Sulpico, a Filipino taxi driver in New York, for his honesty.

The DOT paid for Sulpico's homecoming to the Philippines and will give him a free tour of Corregidor, Pagsanjan, Tagaytay and Intramuros as recognition for giving honor and pride to Filipinos around the world.

Sulpico was hailed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission in New York City for returning a bag containing black pearls worth $70,000 or approximately P4 million last August 4. He was also given a symbolic key to the city for his honesty.

Lawrence Policastro, the bag's owner, has put up an education fund to allow Sulpico to finish nursing.

Sulpico said he hopes that his action will be a "catalyst for change, especially for Filipinos who has been drawing flak from over the world [for being] the most corrupt people... which I blatantly and negatively deny."

"The Filipino is number one in the world. We are hardworking and honorable," he added.

**********
From ABS-CBN online news article Aug. 19, 2004

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Cal student to represent Philippines in Olympics

Tina — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 07:17:31 GMT

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2004/08/09_molina.shtml

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

bArio fiEsta in LondOn..

AnjeLo — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 10:49:35 GMT

cOuld any1 in hErE tell me whEn & wHerE the bariO fiEsta woulD tAke plAcE in LondOn?

tNx.....
anjeLo

posted in Philippines - 2 replies

Angara is stupid!

dops — Fri, 25 Jun 2004 00:10:00 GMT

Angara predicted that Ms Macapagal's new presidency would be a struggle.

"She will struggle through because the treasury is bankrupt. There is no money for social programs, no money for any other initiatives. The fat cats in this country remain indifferent to the poverty rampant in this country, and are not about to volunteer their money in the form of taxes."
*****************
This is an excerpt from a news article in PDI online 04/06/25. i cant believe this Angara, he knew the situation of the country, bankrupt and all and yet he was and is (maybe) moving heaven and earth to put FPJ as the president? whatever happened to his sanity? to his intellectual brilliance as he claimed to have? grrrrr....

dops

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

A matter of time???!!!!!!!!

dops — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 11:16:16 GMT

This is a very concerning issue. The rebels are outrightly admitting that they are already taking dominion over a large portion of our country. Soon, if not now, we will be under their communistic rule. Will the filipino people take this sitting down? will we just allow ourselves to be ruled/dragged into a rather much darker kind of governance?

what do you think about this? please give ur reactions.

dops

*****************

For Reds, takeover in RP
'just a question of time'
Posted: 10:37 AM (Manila Time) | Apr. 27, 2004
By Karl Wilson
Agence France-Presse

BISLIG--For Ka Oris, it is not a case of whether there will be a
people's revolution in the Philippines, but when.

The 55-year-old is spokesman for the National Democratic Front for
Mindanao (NDF), an umbrella organization for the Communist Party of the
Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).

"We are gaining strength every day," he told Agence France-Presse in an
interview from an outpost in the hills above Bislig on Mindanao island.

A revolutionary all his life, Oris, who was born George Madlos,
maintains an unwavering belief in a new order. "It may not happen in my life time but it will happen. All revolutions take time," he said.

Celebrating the 31st anniversary of the NDF's founding, he surveys the
camp and the platoon of young NPA guerrillas carrying arms and equipment
taken from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"They are the future of the revolution," he said, dismissing the
oft-quoted government figure of 8,000 armed NPA fighters throughout the country.

"No matter what the government says we are gaining strength day by day.
Our involvement with the people living in the countryside is solid."

Oris claims that in Mindanao alone the NPA is operating on 38 fronts
with control of over 2,000 villages or districts in cities and
municipalities.

In Bislig there is no sign of a military, other than weapons stolen
from the army and equipment used by the NPA guerillas.

But with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the dramatic
changes that have taken place in China, does he not think he is
fighting a lost cause?

On the contrary, he says, socialism is not dead, "it's just sleeping".

"The masses realize this is a protracted people's war. In the last 35
years the combined forces of the imperialists, the landed classes, business class,and successive puppet governments in the Philippines have not destroyed the revolution. If anything they have only prolonged it. The point is that time is on our side."

On Friday the chairman for the Commission on Elections, Benjamin
Abalos,said the NPA rebels had "become our biggest problem" ahead of the May 10 elections.

Philippines army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero, said
recently that the communist guerrillas had cost the Philippines more than a million dollars this year through sabotage and extortion.

He claimed that in the three months to March, the rebels "exacted" six
million pesos (107,600 dollars) in "permit to campaign fees" from
politicians alone, compared with the 12 million dollars they earned
from such fees in the 2001 mid-term elections.

A further 20 million pesos were "exacted" from business establishments
in rural areas, he said.

According to Lucero, for those who refused their demands the NPA
destroyed infrastructure and other equipment such as buses and mobile telephone broadcast sites worth 32 million pesos (574,000 dollars).

But Oris dismisses the claims. "The revolution does not condone
kidnapping,extortion, or drug dealing. That is syndicated banditry.

"You have to understand that the NPA is the armed wing of our
revolutionary government. We have our own system of justice, land reform program, social services and other strengths.

"It is an inherent responsibility of any revolutionary government to
implement its own program of taxation.

"Yes, we tax businessmen and people doing business within areas
controlled by the revolutionary movement. And the same goes for politicians. This is not extortion.

"No one will admit it in Manila but there are two governments working
in this country. One that exploits the masses and the revolutionary
movement that is working for the masses.

"There are many politicians in Mindanao who are seeking our support in
the forthcoming election because they know we can deliver the votes. All we ask of them is how they intend to help the people."

On a final note, the born revolutionary adds: "This is not an armed
struggle, it's a struggle for the hearts and minds of the people. And
in that we are winning and our strength is gaining every day.

"Just look around the camp at all these ordinary villagers and tribal
people. They know we are here to help them.

"I may not live to see the day when victory is ours but this I am
certain the people's revolution will triumph."

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Canvassed! (Or A Short Comedy About Leaving the Country)

dops — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 02:52:05 GMT

Canvassed! (Or A Short Comedy About Leaving the Country)
Senate President: On the part of the Senate, the Joint Session for the canvassing is resumed.

Speaker of the House: On the part of the House of Representatives, the Joint Session for the canvassing is resumed.

Senate President: This is the fifteenth day of the canvassing for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. May we request all parties to declare their appearances.

Atty. Dimetriou: Your honors, Atty. Dimetriou, legal counsel for KNP, appearing before this body in a formal attire chosen by my mother. I also wish to inform your Honors that I am wearing bangles from the South to signify my protest over the massive cheating that took place in Mindanao.

Senate President: So noted.

Atty. Macalintal: Atty. Macalintal, legal counsel of K4. Your honors, Iíve been wearing the same outfit since Day 1 and I refuse to make the same declaration again and again. I am what I am, your honors.

Atty. Dimetriou: (Raises her fist and shakes her bangles) Your honors! The declaration of the legal counsel of K4 is yet another evidence of fraud! He failed to declare that he is wearing a wig, your Honors! I know that toupee, your honors, because I was supposed to buy that for myself from candidate Eddie Gilís store in Alabang!

Speaker: Please submit your manifestation in writing. Are there other appearances before we open the next ballot box?

Ate Shawie: Hello po, your honors. Sharon Cuneta po, replacing Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. Si Senator po ay may meeting. Suot ko po ay ang aking bagong maternity dress.

Senate President. Welcome, Ms. Cuneta. We shall now proceed to open the next ballot box.

Rep. Dilangalen: Procedural inquiry, your honors, before we open the ballot box. It seems that one of the ballot boxes, your Honors, is moving. Wait a minute, your Honors, it now appears to be walking! It is walking in the direction of the ladies CR!

Speaker: (Bangs the gavel 3x) The chair orders Rep. Etta Rosales of Akbayan to stop moving around, or at least to take off her yellow blazer. The chair once again orders all representatives and senators to refrain from wearing anything yellow, otherwise youíll be mistaken as one of the ballot boxes and face the risk of being detained. So ordered!

Senate President: Let us now commence the opening of ballot box no. 78 from the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. May we request all interested parties to approach the bench to witness the opening of the ballot box.

Speaker: I am now opening the ballot box, with serial number ocho-ocho and sealed with a paper seal and colorful rubber bands. Any observation?

Rep. Andaya: I observe three envelopes containing the COCs, SOVs, and another COC of Zamboanga Sibugay, your honors.

Rep. Escudero: Your honors! The ballot box also contains a pack of instant coffee and a plastic bag that contains a BigMac meal, your honors!

Ate Shawie: Daya, daya, daya! Your honors, ginalaw ang laman ng ballot box! Pano magkakaroon ng BigMac ang ballot box e wala pang MacDo sa Zamboanga Sibugay!

Sen. Pimentel: We move that the ballot box be set aside, your honors.

Senate President: Motion denied.

Sen. Pimentel: Then may I be recognized so that I can speak for approximately 4 hours, your honors.

Senate President: Denied!

Sen. Pimentel: Can we break for lunch then?

Senate President: Denied!

Sen. Pimentel: At least let me have the BigMac meal, your honors

Senate President: Motion granted. Please hand over the BigMac meal to Senator Pimentel.

Sen. Pimentel: Thank you your honors.

Speaker: This leaves us with the anomalous presence of a pack of instant coffee inside the ballot box. The chair summons the Provincial superintendent from Zamboanga Sibugay. Maíam Mila, please come forward.

Maíam Mila: Hello, your honors.

Speaker: Maíam Mila, you are hereby ordered to explain the presence of a pack of instant coffee inside the ballot box.

Maíam Mila: Your honors, you know of course that we are always underpaid and overworked during elections. I swear before this body that no fraudulent acts were involved in tabulation of votes in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, your honors. Pagod at antok lang po ang aming mga guro, kaya may naipasok na instant coffee sa balota.

Atty. Dimetriou: May I be recognized, your honors.

Senate President: The legal counsel of KNP is recognized.

Atty. Dimetriou: Thank you, your honors. (to Maíam Mila) Maíam Mila, please state your full name.

Maíam Mila: Milagros Cabigting, your honor.

Atty. Dimetriou: Aling Mila, tutuo ba na itong pakete ng kape ay donasyon ni Jose Concepcion para sa mga watchers ng kabilang partido?!

Maíam Mila: hindi po tutuo yun, your honor. Mr. Concepcion donated corned beef, your honor, and not instant coffee.

Atty. Dimetriou: e bakit may kape sa ballot box?!

Maíam Mila: As I have said, antok lang po ang aming mga guro. We did not commit dagdag bawas, your honors. Our teachers were supposed to put the pack of instant coffee in another box. If this pack of instant coffee proves anything, it is not fraud, your honors, but the entrepreneurial spirit of our teachers. Your honors, I am proud to say that our teacher do not only sell instant coffee, they also sell school items like notepads, ballpens, pencils, puto, instant mami and floor wax. We also sell items developed from resources indigenous to our province, like kitchen wares made from talaba shells and clothes made from pina. I also have here an icebox that contains ice candy, munggo and buko flavored ice drop, and blood plasma for our science classes.

Speaker: The chair commends the candor of our teacher-entrepreneurs from Zamboanga Sibugay. You may now leave, Maíam Mila.

Maíam Mila: Thank you, your honors. You all have a free taste of our ice candy, your honors.

Senate President: Thank you. The joint session is suspended for now. Session shall resume at 10 Am tomorrow.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Hey, that roleÅfs taken

dops — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 07:23:14 GMT

People, this is a nice letter sent by Ed Dames criticising the filibustering performance of Pimentel. He does have a good point and i was really amused by his last last paragraph. please read on.

dops

****************

Hey, that roleÅfs taken
by Ed Dames
cemg@pacific.net.ph
Unit 7B Vernida 1 Building
120 Amorsolo Street
Legaspi Village, Makati City

I can't believe how low Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has fallen. From the man regarded by the martyred Ninoy Aquino to be the Ågnext presidentÅh who fought valiantly against the Marcos dictatorship, to one of the magnificent heroes of the Erap impeachment trial, but now to a pitbull of the opposition.

ThereÅfs need for a strong opposition to keep the administration honest, but PimentelÅfs marathon filibustering did not serve the interest of the people at all. It only demonstrated how congressional immunity is misused for character assassination (when he accused Joe Concepcion of betraying NamfrelÅfs principles by being biased in favor of GMA, and Bill Luz for being an alien).

Unfortunately, PimentelÅfs performance was not even original. He has become Ågnothing but a second-rate, trying-hard copycatÅh of Sen. John Osmeña, who has become legendary for using his parliamentary privilege to harass people he personally dislikes.

I hope Senator Pimentel will wake up soon and go back to his roots as a principled lawmaker. For in the words of the Donkey in Shrek 2, the role of the annoying talking animal has already been taken by Didagen Dilangalen.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Jasmine Trias & Camille Velasco on "American Idol 3"

Riacarmala — Thu, 27 May 2004 05:18:17 GMT

I wasn't a fan of both former contestants of "American Idol 3"
& I never liked their voices & was kinda intrigued/surprised that Jasmine got into the final three.Still,I'm sorta proud
that 2 Filipinas got into this contest!

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Pinay wins it big in London

Tina — Tue, 25 May 2004 16:31:43 GMT

Pinay wins it big in London

By Alfred Yuson
The Philippine Star 05/16/2004

Patricia Evangelista, a 19-year-old, Mass Communications
sophomore of University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, did the
country proud Friday night by besting 59 other student contestants from 37 countries in the 2004 International Public Speaking
competition conducted by the English Speaking Union (ESU)
in London.

She triumphed over a field of exactly 60 speakers from all
over the English-speaking world, including the United States,
United Kingdom and Australia, reported Maranan.

The board of judges' decision was unanimous, according to
contest chairman Brian Hanharan of the British Broadcasting Corp.
(BBC).

PATRICIA'S SHORT SPEECH WORTH READING....
========================================

BLONDE AND BLUE EYES

"When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all
over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good
enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window
and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination does
that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will
just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have
gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an
anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino diaspora. Today, about eight
million
Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to
leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who
was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with
each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a
land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our
heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish,
the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that
identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is
no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once
the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away.
But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim
to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent,
my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino-a
hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of
people of different ethnicities, with national identities and
individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is
already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot
that is England is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home.

Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of
dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must
be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that
Is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years
of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time.
Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young
minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills.
They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one
that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity.
Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses
who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the
quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the
world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in
Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors
and caregivers in North America, and, your musical artists in
London's West End. Nationalism isn't bound by time or place.

People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still
remain
essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a
multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and
cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming
back that is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over
Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of
the
word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' --
those
who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share
their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever
opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless
world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll
always
be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's
about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing
snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

"Mabuhay and Thank you."

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Eddie Villanueva for President

netgirl16 — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 01:41:49 GMT

Personal Information

Birthdate: October 6, 1946
Birthplace: Bunlo, Bocaue, Bulacan

Son of former Olympic sprinter Joaquin T. Villanueva and Maria Cruz Villanueva (both deceased)
Married to Adoracion Jose Villanueva with whom he has four children, namely Bocaue Mayor Eduardo J. Villanueva Jr., Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Congressional Rep. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Eleanor Villanueva-Tugna and Edelisha J. Villanueva

Education

Manager’s Course under the University of the Philippines (UP
Institute for Small Scale Industries, July 6 – Sept. 30, 1977
College of Law (under bar), UP Diliman, Quezon City
Bachelor of Science in Commerce, 1969
Major in Economics and Minor in Finance
Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), now known as
Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
High School, Meycauayan Institute (now known as Meycauayan College), Meycauayan, Bulacan (3rd-4th year); St. Mary’s Academy (now known as St. Mary’s College), Meycauayan, Bulacan (1st-2nd year)
Elementary, Bambang Elementary School, Bocaue, Bulacan

Special Courses

Integrated Bible Course
Harvestime International Institute, 1987-88
Morris Cerullo School of Evangelism
Philippine International Convention Center, 1984
Special Course at the Rhema Correspondence Bible Training Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1983
The Basic and Advanced Bible Courses
Under Dr. E. W. Kenyon, 1970-80
The Complete Bible Course
Daoud Correspondence School, 1978
Dr. Billy Graham School of Evangelism
Philippine International Convention Center, 1977
Regular and Advanced Speech Courses
Speech Training Center (with Scholarship), 1970

Bro. Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva is a spiritual leader, a model family man and a respected founder of the Jesus Is Lord Movement, the world’s fourth biggest independent Church.

He was born in Bocaue, Bulacan on Oct. 6, 1946.

He spent his elementary days in Bambang Elementary School in Bocaue, had his 1st 2years of high school in St. Mary’s Academy (now St. Mary’s College) in Meycauayan and finished it in Meycauayan Institute (now Meycauayan College).

In 1969, he graduated with a degree in Commerce, major in Economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), now known as Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He was an active student leader and a consistent scholar in college. He took up law at the University of the Philippines but was sidelined by his activism and never had the time to take the bar.

His career began shortly after obtaining his college diploma. He worked as a full-time faculty member of the Economics and Finance Department of his alma mater until 1972. He then worked as the general manager of the Agape Trading Company. He returned to PUP in 1978 as part-time professor as he could not resist the lure of teaching.

But 1978 was an auspicious year for Bro. Eddie. It was when he put up the Jesus Is Lord Fellowship – which started with just fifteen student-members 25 years ago. In a quarter of a decade, the membership grew to some three million members nationwide, as well as those scattered in 33 countries abroad, and is now considered the largest evangelical church in the Philippines.

For his incessant efforts to spread the message of truth, justice and righteousness, Bro. Eddie has received a number of accolades from prestigious organizations and even his peers.

Among the citations he has thus far received, Bro. Eddie values his Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-civic/Religious Sector given by the Golden Mother and Father Foundation in June 1996 and his being voted as the Pastor of the Year in a 1988 worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis’ High Adventure Ministries. The Ministries broadcasts its Voice of Hope Program in 72 countries.

He was ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church and International Ministries, was conferred the Office of Episcopacy by the sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in April 1996.

In February 2001, Bro. Eddie also received the prestigious EDSA People Power Freedom Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power 2.

In his career as spiritual leader and evangelist, Bro. Eddie has founded many entities that he uses to spread the word of God.

Aside from the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, where he sits as spiritual director and international president, he also put up ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc., the owner and operator of channel 11.

Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, namely Diyos at Bayan, PJM (Philippines for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer. He also writes regular columns, God and Nation for People’s Tonight and Diyos at Bayan for People’s Taliba. Straight from the Word, his column at the Philippine Star, ran for nine years.

He is also the President of the Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation, Inc. which provides education to deserving students; national chairman of the Philippines for Jesus Movement and president of the Council of Christian Bishops of the Philippines.

A pacifist and an advocate of unity, he chairs the God’s People Coalition for Righteousness, a coalition of Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, Evangelical and Born Again Christians.

He likewise serves as a trustee of the International Bible Society and vice-chair of the Christ For Asia.

Bro. Eddie lives in Bocaue, Bulacan with his wife Adoracion Jose Villanueva.

posted in Philippines - 2 replies

Why teaching?

dops — Sun, 25 Apr 2004 16:42:09 GMT

Why teaching?
By Marie Grace A. Gomez
YOU contributor

I'M a teacher. Sometimes, I ask myself why I joined this profession.

I have nothing personal against teachers. I respect them for the human beings they are. As I have done research in schools here and in the provinces, I have come to regard most of them in the likeness of market vendors.

Since then, an enduring image of a teacher in my head has been that of a woman selling longganiza and tocino or an insurance agent with a big portfolio. I dislike the way they talk and chat at every chance they get. Being a product of public schools, I have encountered teachers who simply do not know what they are teaching. I have encountered several English teachers who teach phonetics yet at the same time, have speech defects. I have encountered a math teacher in a class I observed saying, "positive one plus negative one equals two." My goodness. And they wonder why we scored second to the lowest in the Third International Math and Science Survey (TIMSS).

Whenever I accompany my students to interschool competitions, I would hear a lot of them talk about their lousy spouses; where to get loans with the lowest interest rates; what credit card to get and what new sideline they could take on. I feel left out most of the time because I dislike pointless chitchat. After the contests, they wonder why they lost.

My undergrad classmates would cajole and persuade me to go to law school or to take a master's degree in international relations. They even ask me, "Why are you teaching? Why did you go to education? You are wasting your PolSci degree." Whenever I get into arguments with teachers or administrators who seem envious of my credentials, they would tell me, "Why don't you work for an office? There's more money and less politics there." When I didn't have the license to teach (I had to take education credits before I could take the Licensure Examination for Teachers), some of the veteran teachers would come and ask me, "Ano ang natapos mo? Balita ko taga-UP ka at malapit nang matapos ng MA. May lisensya ka ba?" I tell them that a license is not needed for private school teachers. Whenever I would not pass a student, the parents would argue, "Wala kang karapatang ibagsak ang anak ko kasi wala kang lisensya at bata ka pang teacher. Isusumbong kita sa Department of Education." Go ahead, sue me. As though age and a teaching license were qualifications one must have to fail students. Furthermore, I was even accused of being an airhead by the people who I barely know and talk with, because of my UP degrees. Here comes the funny part: although many of them accuse and gossip about me, they ask for my technical advice when it comes to writing reports and memos or even in lesson planning and test construction. Again and again my undergrad classmates would prod me to get out of the business of teaching because I was always a victim of school politics. Whenever I hear this, I would just smile and say, "Aristotle said that man is a political animal. Teachers are men; ergo, teachers are political animals." I would joke and add that, at least, they would be participating in the political arena.

Perhaps, I entered the teaching profession because I wanted to improve the standards of education of this country in a micro way. At first, I wanted to teach in a public school but when I attempted to apply, the first thing that the clerk asked was, "Sino ang kakilala mo dito?" As though saying I did not have the right to apply because I did not know anyone from the freaking system. They didn't even ask me about my MA or where I graduated from. During that time, I already had my license and had attended a lot of seminars but I still lacked one qualification: I had no backer. And that made a big difference whether I applied in the public or private schools. My mother would often tell me that it's not what you know but who you know.

Despite all the hullabaloo I had gone through (and still am going through), I want to teach. I want to teach my students critical thinking skills through reading books and analyzing various scenarios. I want them to go to the best schools, best universities and land the best jobs so that one day, they would be able to help the country. I want to help change people's perceptions on who teachers are. I want to influence the new breed of teachers to improve themselves and not rest on the laurels of their BSEs. I want to have a culture of excellence and help get rid of the lousy mediocrities that have long plagued our educational system.

Whether the top honchos at the DepEd admit it or not, the education system has a lot of incompetent teachers be it in public or private schools because of the test results in national and international achievement tests. Take a look at most of our graduates who can barely speak in
English and solve simple algebraic expressions. This has to change.

At present, I feel like I am talking to a wall. I also do not know how long I will keep on teaching. The salary that I have is not that good considering my qualifications. I have been ostracized by people. Some of my students dislike the way I give my difficult tests and homework but that's the way to get ahead in life. The only thing that keeps me going now is the knowledge that I have helped a lot of students improve their lives. I know that I am investing well in the lives of my students. And teaching them is a worthwhile investment.

*************
Marie Grace A. Gomez, 27, is working on a Ph.D. in Education, major in Guidance at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She also teaches Social Studies to high school students.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Sacrifices by Conrado de Quiros -PDI April 21, 2004

dops — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 02:58:05 GMT

Sacrifices

IBARRA Gutierrez has written a very inspiring piece that surprisingly hasn't yet found its way in print. So I have the honor of doing it for him.

Gutierrez says he's finishing his master's degree in New York, where he's lived the past year, and is all set to come home soon. Not just to revisit for a while but to reoccupy his teaching post in the University of the Philippines (UP). This has raised no small amount of eyebrows from Filipinos and Americans alike. He is graduating this May, and it's all his friends can do to understand why on earth he doesn't just stay put and get a job there. But Gutierrez hasn't just defied convention in not opting to remain in New York, he has defied reason in having no reluctance to go back to Manila. I reproduce his piece in its near entirety, it's worth every column inch of it:

"It is this lack of regret, no, this utter joy, at leaving the supposed center of the universe for a backwater Third World country that has baffled so many of the people I have met here. Many of them -- a few Americans but mostly Filipinos (or former Filipinos) -- seemed to assume that since I was fortunate enough to make it to the States, I would want to stay here permanently. So many times in the past months, I have found myself in the awkward position of having to actually justify why I intended to go back to the Philippines as soon as my studies concluded. I just found it inordinately difficult to come up with reasons for wanting to go home, when this was a decision that seemed so fundamental, so natural, so obvious, that I never really thought I would ever have to defend it before anyone, least of all other Filipinos.

"But explain it I had to do, over and over-to relatives, to friends, to classmates and acquaintances. 'I just feel that I would be happier, and be more useful, working back home,' I would say, somewhat apologetically, as if by expressing a desire to stay in the Philippines I was somehow giving offense in some peculiar way. This rather weak response would usually be met with tolerant, half-embarrassed smiles and comments on how much of a sacrifice I was making. What I have never figured out is whether they thought I was a hero or a fool for choosing to make that 'sacrifice.'

"Personally, I do not think of myself as either. What is more, I do not even believe that I am making a sacrifice at all.

"By choosing to go home, what am I giving up, really? It is not as if by working in Manila I am choosing a life of starvation, deprivation, and abject poverty as compared to the life of wealth and comfort I will supposedly have working in the United States. Certainly on my modest salary from UP -- where I work as a member of the junior faculty -- I will never grow rich, and (thanks to John Osmeña), I will probably never be able to rise above the poverty line by any appreciable margin either. But, with a little extra effort, I will be able to maintain an acceptable level of dignity for myself and my family. Is giving up what amounts to a few extra perks then such a noteworthy sacrifice?

"Unlike so many of our OFWs who are forced to go overseas to work for a few years as manual laborers and domestic helpers, my situation, like the situation of so many other university-educated, middle-class Filipinos, does not involve a choice between starvation and survival. Rather, it involves the less spectacular and more prosaic choice of renting a two-bedroom apartment in Quezon City or owning a sprawling house in a New Jersey suburb; of commuting on a UP-Pantranco jeepney or driving the latest model SUV; of making do with a Third World salary or insisting on being paid in the Almighty Dollar.

"Neither do I believe that the United States is such a wonderful place to live and raise a family in. This is a country that spends billions on law enforcement and "homeland security," but where almost no one feels safe in their own home. This is a nation with the best medical facilities in the world, but where without health insurance you cannot even get a splinter removed. This is the land of the free, at least until the government starts suspecting you are a terrorist.

"And among the Filipinos I have met in the United States, one thing has been nearly as consistent as the surprise that has met my intention to go home. That is if they could keep their higher salaries, if subways could be built in Manila, if the PNP [Philippine National Police] could become less corrupt, if FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr.] could be stopped from becoming president, then they would want to live in the Philippines.

"I am glad that I do not have to worry about having any of these conditions met. This May, no matter what happens, I will be flying home.

"And it will be the easiest 'sacrifice' I ever had to make."

It's a beautiful piece, and a particularly timely one. Notwithstanding the elections, pieces like this will always be timely anytime. But it is particularly welcome these days in the light of Elmer Jacinto almost becoming the rallying cry of the frustrated youth in this benighted country. Jacinto is the young man from the southern province of Basilan (he's in his late 20s but anyone who is not 40 is young to me now) who topped the medical board exams but is going to work in New York as a caregiver. That too he says -- like Gutierrez -- without reluctance, without regret, and probably with much thankfulness, if not joy. I did say I did not blame Jacinto for choosing a life of exile abroad after the life of exile he's lived within in his own country, courtesy of presidents like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who have made Basilan synonymous with terrorism. But I did not say he is worth emulating.

As Gutierrez shows, there is another choice, one some others have taken. It requires neither heroism nor sacrifice, though it helps to have idealism and loftiness of mind. But for the most part, it requires only seeing the things that really matter in life.

(To be concluded)

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Joke time!!!!!!!!

dops — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 00:40:08 GMT

“One survey says FPJ on top of GMA. The other says GMA on FPJ. Noli on top of Loren. Ikaw behind Maceda or Osmeña?”

“FPJ speaking thru fone: Hello, is this U.P. Diliman? Man at other end: No, this is U.P. Padre Faura. FPJ: Ha? Good morning, Father!”

“If FPJ, Jinggoy, Maceda, Enrile, Angara and Sotto were in the SuperFerry and it turned over, who would be saved? Answer: Republic of the Philippines.”

“Say aloud: I like FPJ! I love FPJ! I will support FPJ! Send this to nine friends and you will lose nine friends in three days. Do NOT ignore this! This is true!”

“Si FPJ daw natural born. Si Roco cesarean, si Ed Villanueva born again, si GMA premature.”

“Disqualified na si EDDIE GIL. Comelec has discovered buhok niya hindi natural-born!”

“Di na raw pinapalo sa puwet para umiyak ang mga sanggol na ipinanganganak. Binubulungan na lang ng doktor ng: ‘P65,000 ang share mo sa pambansang utang!’”

“When you hear Dolphy say FPJ will make a great president, try to remember that the man is a professional comedian!”

“A vote for FPJ wud be a Bargain 4 d country. U vote One you get 4 = Pres Angara, Pres Sotto, Pres Erap & Pres FPJ. At may bonus na 1st Lady, c Mother Maceda!”

“Last night i had a dream i was walking along d beach with d Lord & He was carrying FPJ. I asked Him, ‘Why do U carry FPJ?’ He said, ‘my child, lasing na naman.’”

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

sa tingin mo?

jan — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 04:36:54 GMT

may pag asa pa kayang umunlad ang pilipinas?

eat me. eat me raw.

posted in Philippines - 3 replies

FPJ's Inaugural Speech

dops — Mon, 05 Apr 2004 11:17:24 GMT

FPJ's Inaugural Speech

Ako'y nagpapasalamat sa bumubuo ng bansang Pilipinas at ako'y binigyan ng ganitong karangalan.

Sa mahigit dalawang daang pelikulang aking
nagampanan, ito ang pinaka mahalagang papel sa aking buhay. Ang aking karanasan bilang isang artista at isang producer ang siyang magaahon sa kahirapan ng ating mga mamamayan.

Kayong mga naghihirap at nangangailangan ng trabahong marangal, gagawin ko kayong mga extra. Bilang isang producer, napakaraming Pilipino ang nabigyan ko ng trabaho dahil sa pag eextra sa aking mga pelikula. Matanda man o bata, babae o lalake, may papel kayong pwedeng gampanan. Ang iba'y maglalakad sa likod, yung iba nama'y mababaril kunyari. Ngunit di ko mapapangako na lahat kayo'y may speaking part.

Sa mga timigil ng pag aaral, nakuha ko na ang pangako ng ABS-CBN na magbigay ng libreng pag aaral sa Star Circle. Dito, matututo kayong umiyak, tumawa, magdrama, mag comedy, umawit. Ito'y makakatulong sa inyo upang matupad ang inyong mga pangarap na maging konsehal o kongresista ng inyong mga distrito.

At huwag kayong mawalan ng lakas ng loob kapag di kayo nakapag aral. Hindi importante ang may tinapos. Hindi din importante na makapagtapos kayo ng high school. Ang kailangan lang ay ang sinseridad.

At ang sinseridad na ito ang nagbigay sa akin ng
kompiyansa upang suriing mabuti at piliin ang aking mga kasapi sa kabinete.

Si Edong Angara ang aking Executive Secretary. Napaka importante ng papel ng isang Executive Secretary kaya ito tinaguriang little President. Bilang Executive Secretary, pwede niyang palitan ang mga desisyon ng mga ibang kalihim kung sa tingin niya'y ito ay mali. Maari niyang iatras or isulong ang mga appointments ng iba't ibang empleyado ng gobyerno. Maari din niyang itulak or ipitin ang mga papeles na kailangan kong pirmihan. Pwede din siyang pumirma sa mga kontrata. Buo ang tiwala ko kay Edong.

Si Tito Sotto ang ating magiging DILG Secretary.
Siya ang mamumuno sa lahat ng mga alkalde at pulis sa buong bansa. Ang una niyang prioridad ay sugpuin ang drug menace na umiiral sa ating mga kabataan ngayon.

Isang drug intervention program nag pina ngalanang Laban o Bawi ay ipatutupad ni Sec. Sotto. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, ang mga pushers ay lalabanan at babawiin natin sa kanila mga kabataan. Sa ilalim ng programang ito, ang sinumang mag soli ng sampung gramo ng shabu ay bibigyan ng entrance ticket upang manood ng Eat Bulaga at magkaroon ng pagkakataong manalo ng isang milyon piso.

Ipinangako din ni Tito na isosoli na niya ang kandila sa kanyang mga kumpareng drug lords. Buo ang tiwala ko kay Tito.

Si Francis Escudero ang mamahala sa agrikultura.
Anak siya ni Sonny, na dating Kalihim ng Agrikultura. Like father like son. Buo ang tiwala ko kay Francis.

Alam ninyo mga kaibigan, ako'y pinagtawan ng mga
mayayaman nang ipinakilala ko si Sonny bilang
expertise in agriculture. Alam ko na ngayon
na mali yon. Hindi lang pala siya expertise in
agriculture, expertise din siya sa education. Tignan natin kung sino ang tumatawa ngayon.

Sa Kagawaran ng Turismo, si Armida Siguion-Reyna ang ating ilalagay. Sa kanyang dating TV show na Aawitan Kita, madalas silang mag shooting sa mga ibat ibang tourist spots sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa Intramuros. Ang karanasang ito ay sapat para siya'y maging Kalihim. Buo ang tiwala ko kay Armida.

Si Danding Conjuanco ang nararapat sa Agrarian
Reform. Siya ay may mga malalaking lupain at siya ang tanging nakakaalam kung paano pagkakitaan ng maliliit na magsasaka ang mga lupa ng ibang hacendero. Buo ang tiwala ko kay Danding.

Kung baga sa pelikula, ito'y isang sneak preview ika nga ng aking administrasyon. Ito binubuo ng mga taong may natatanging katangian upang mapaglingkuran ang sambayanang manonood.

Ako'y muling nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng bumubuo ng cast at crew ng kampanya. Kay Direk Edong at sa
executive producer na si Danding. Sa aking
spokeman na si Francis. Sa PR na pinamumunuan ni Tito at ni Armida. Ang timpalak na ito'y sa ating lahat.

At sa lahat sa mga mamamayang nag tiwala at bumoto sa akin, ipinapangako ko na ibubuhos ko lahat ng galing ko sa pag arte bilang ika-labing limang Pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Mabuhay kayong lahat.

FERNANDO POE JR.

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Eddie Gil

dops — Sat, 20 Mar 2004 14:58:40 GMT

PROBE TEAM - "Lente" featuring Eddie Gil

Cheche: Pasensiya na po, pero marami po kasi ang di nakakakilala sa
inyo... Sino po ba si Eddie Gil?
Eddie Gil: Ako, ako si Eddie Gil.
C: Oo nga po. Pero, paano ninyo po ide-describe si eddie gil? sino po
siya?
EG: Ako... ako nga si eddie gil.

*******
PROBE: Kamustsa po ang organization ninyo na isang Bansa Isang Diwa
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Kame ang number 2 organization in the whole world!
PROBE: In the world?
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: YES. In the whole world!
PROBE: Sino po iyong number 1 sa whole world?
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: hmmm..[ after a while].. I can't remember.
PROBE: Is it in the magazine?
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: YES
PROBE: Could you give us a copy?
CAMPAIGN MANAGER: YES, we can give you a copy.. I've forgotten the
magazine but we will give you a copy. I've only seen it in the flyer at
dinaan lang sa opisina. I've seen it and marami sa aking mga kakilala ang
nagsabing nabasa na nila iyon kaya I know it's true!

*******
Cheche was trying to confirm if he did lived in Masbate and where in
masbate.
C: Natira po ba kayo sa masbate?
EG: oo.
C: saan po sa masbate?
EG: lahat sa masbate.
C: saan nga po? saang barangay?
EG: sa lahat nga. natira ako sa lahat ng masbate at sa lahat ng regions ng
pilipinas. international filipino nga ako eh.

*******
EDDIE GIL: Ayaw ko na i-open ang pilipinas sa ibang negosyo. Dapat we must
protect our products. Pwede lang tayo mag export.
PROBE: Sir pano naman po ang open skies?
EDDIE GIL: Open skies? Ano ang open skies?
PROBE: iyon po ang papayagan niyo po ung mga airlines na magkaroon ng
routes over the philippine skies?
EDDIE GIL: Ah pwede iyon. Basta hinde pwede ang foreign products pero
foreign investors pwede.
PROBE: Pero sabi niyo po bawal ang foreign products?
EDDIE GIL: OO nga bawal ang foreign products.
PROBE: Product po iyong airline
EDDIE GIL: Ah ibang usapan na yan.. airline na yan e!

*******
PROBE: Ano ang position niyo sa case ni erap?
EDDIE GIL: Hindi ako politico e. wala akong position sa government

*******
PROBE: Ano naman po ang papel ng asawa niyo?
EDDIE GIL: eh d asawa. Asawa ko sya!
PROBE: Pano naman po pag nanalo kayo ano naman po ang papel na gagawen
niya?
EDDIE GIL: eh di kung ano iyong tawag mo sa asawa ng presidente. Eh d
Asawa pa den. Ayun. ASAWA ko sya.

*******
PROBE: Mrs. Gil do you support your Husband?
MRS. GIL: Why Of course! He does the household chores and sometimes is the
one who goes to the market, I have nothing else to do that's why I support
him.

*******
Said by elizabeth the right hand of Eddie Gil and all around Helper.. make
up artist, spokesperson, comapanion..
ELIZABETH: We have many companies all over the philippines and all over
the world if I tell u it will take 24 hours..

*******
PROBE: What is the business of eddie gil?
ELIZABETH: Nagpapautang sya sa mga countries na may kailangan. For example
Korea, nung kelangan nila ng funding nagpautang kame sa kanila.....
PROBE: Saan kinukuha ni Eddie Gil iyong pondo niya? [capital]
ELIZABETH: As I said, DUN NGA SA PAGPAPAUTANG

******* AT ANG DAHILAN PARA IBOTO NATIN SIYA :
ELIZABETH : Sa first 100 days ni Eddie Gil, babayaran nya ang utang ng
bansa! mga 3 trillion dollars yun, galing yan sa sariling pera niya.

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Paalam Pilipinas!

dops — Sun, 11 Apr 2004 10:58:01 GMT

Paalam Pilipinas!
By Signorelli Ricci Santiago
YOU contributor

Nakahanda na ang mga maleta ko
isip ko di na magbabago
doon sa ibang bansa
buhay ay isasakripisyo

Ang buhay nga naman talaga
Education graduate na, board passer pa!
ang bagsak ko sa Saudi lang pala
tagapihit ng turnilyo sa isang malaking planta

Siyempre naman ito'y may kapalit
halos 25 mil, wow napaka-sulit!
kesa dito ka, magturo ay napaka-lupit,
mababa at delay pa ang sweldo, mata'y titirik!

Ganito na ngayon sa bansang Pilipinas.
puno ng paninira at mga alingasngas,
Korupsyon, pultika, parang sinumpa tayo ni Hudas
Sa ating paghihirap, wala nang makakatakas

Ngayong eleksyon, tayo'y may pag-asa
Kandidato'y kilatising mabuti, para sa naghihirap na masa
Kinabukasan ng bansa, sa atin ay nakasampa
Sabayan pa natin ng dasal, para ang Diyos ay maawa.

**********
Tula ni Signorelli Ricci Santiago, isang teacher na nag-aaplay pa rin sa mga eskwelahan. Saka na lang daw siya mag-aabroad.

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Intellectual snobbery?

dops — Sat, 03 Apr 2004 19:37:48 GMT

Intellectual snobbery? by Isagani Cruz (PDI April4, 2004)

FOLLOWING are excerpts from a speech I delivered the other Thursday, March 25, before the Rotary Club of Manila, where I discussed the qualifications for election to public office. We had a lively open forum afterwards and I immensely enjoyed the exchange of not totally concurrent ideas.

"And then there is the question of competence. This has been brashly dismissed as an undemocratic criterion for public office.

"By and large, the persons who have served as President of the Philippines have received adequate education, some even post-graduate studies in reputable universities abroad. The supposed front-runner in the present campaign, however, cannot claim a similar endowment.

"It was bad enough that Erap mangled the English language although he was already in college when he stopped formal studies; it is worse that Fernando Poe Jr. dropped out as early as when he was only a high school sophomore and can hardly speak that widely used language except with grammatical lapses.

"(And why not, for God's sake, when my 9-year-old granddaughter, Cara, can even write poems in English? And my grandson Bala, who is only 8 years old, even uses idiomatic expressions.)

"Poe's apologists dismiss his language deficiency and say that, after all, leaders in other governments, as in China and Japan, do not speak English either. True, but it is not provided in their constitutions, as it is in ours, that 'for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.' (Art. XIV, Sec. 7)

"'English is in fact understood throughout the country and is more often used than Filipino in official publications. Most of our statutes and local ordinances, executive proclamations and orders, and judicial decisions are in English. The President's State of the Nation Address is in English. Even the credits in Filipino movies are, oddly enough, also in English, or hasn't Da King of Philippine Movies noticed?

"It is an inexplicable curiosity in our Constitution that all appointive government personnel except those performing manual work are required to possess a modicum of educational eligibility to qualify for public employment. Even ordinary clerks must pass civil service examinations in English as minimum proof of their competence.

"Yet, although even the Chief Justice must be a lawyer (after passing the bar examinations in English), with at least 15 years experience as a judge or as a practitioner, no educational qualification is required of the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. They could be plain ignoramuses as long as they have the support of their also illiterate colleagues.

"The President if the Philippines may never have been inside a classroom and cannot even write his own name to sign a bill into a law, but he may validly sit in Malacañang as the highest official in the government.

"Requiring educational credentials for elective office may seem like intellectual snobbery, but it is a prudent requirement for the proper performance of important official duties. We can reasonably expect that the functions of the presidency can be better discharged by an educated person than by one who is academically deficient.

"The narrow-minded view has been advanced that many of our be-degreed leaders have disproved the promise of their credentials, so it is time to try someone who may be limited in learning but sincere in his desire to serve the people.

"Sincerity alone is no guaranty of dedicated service. It must be backed with the ability to carry into effect one's vision of a better government for all the people. It cannot be pursued by one whose intelligence, though presumably innate, is limited to the pupil's basic 3 Rs and probably does not include reading the 'Noli Me Tangere.'

"When one is afflicted with a serious heart disease, he does not go to an arbularyo for relief. He chooses a competent cardiologist. The expert cannot ensure total recovery, but the patient is in safer hands than when he consults a witch doctor...

"I dread the thought that by June 30 this year, we shall be living under a government headed by President Fernando Poe Jr. with Loren Legarda or Noli de Castro as vice president, Tito Sotto as executive secretary if not, God forbid, secretary of foreign affairs, and a Senate further cheapened by such B-picture actors as Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid and Jinggoy Estrada. In Parañaque City where I live, the mayor may be Alma Moreno, the estranged wife of Joey Marquez, who may be the next congressman of our district. These characters are all from the land of make-believe.

"Our history is being vulgarized by histrionics. Presumptuous candidates are trading on the mindless adulation of their fans to elevate them to elective positions, where they cannot function without director's cues to teach them how to act or idiot boards to tell them what to say.

"This is not mere paranoia but an actual threat to our Republic. If this happens-and it will if we take no action to prevent it-we will have only ourselves to blame for our failure, as responsible citizens, to rescue our misguided countrymen from the illusions of the tinsel world."

posted in Philippines - 1 reply

Edsa Revolution!!!

netgirl16 — Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:30:33 GMT

HAPPY EDSA REVOLUTION....Let us take a moment and pray...God bless you all...

posted in Philippines - 0 replies

Hello's

Jhing — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 08:22:03 GMT

Hello everyone. From where in the Philippines are you from?

posted in Philippines - 2 replies