A Wonderful World
Page 4
Time Traveling To The Hippie Sixties
I love the sixties though I was born in a different decade. I would have been in Woodstock, flashing the peace sign. Yeah, that's where it's at: on the road, like Jack Kerouac, on a psychedic colored van, tripping on Dylan and Spiral Staircase. Beatles and Monkees, of course! Hendrix, Marley, Peter, Paul and Mary too! The hippie movement is a revolution of consciousness, the declaration of independence of an entire generation. PEACE!
What Would You Do If You Were Taken Hostage?
I wonder what I would have done if I've been one of those gas plant workers taken hostage by terrorists in Algeria. Ruben Andrada, a Filipino engineer and one of the few survivors, tells his harrowing experience via phone patch to the radio show Ibayong Pinoy as I tuned in, Jan. 20, 2013 (I had just then texted a friend, saying I'm chillaxing for bed, "waiting for my sleepiness to reach a climax."). Andrada and the other hostages had been herded into vans, strapped with bombs, and were driven straight in the crossfire between the government soldiers and the terrorists. I'm not afraid to die, and I think I would have struggled to resist, knowing me. But one of the most important lessons I learned in my life is, in any situation, you really can't be sure of what you will do if it hasn't happened to you. Anything else is wishful thinking.
Witness To Senior Citizen Act Violations
The government-run Philippine National Railways (PNR) apparently spits on the Senior Citizens Act.
A friend of mine, who's in his 60s and hobbling from arthritic knees, was shouted at in public by an arrogant security guard in the PNR station in Bicutan. My friend, who is also diabetic with critically unstable blood-sugar levels and had just undergone a cataract operation, was scolded like a child and was rudely told that they don't honor senior citizen cards: no courtesy lane, no priority, and certainly no discount.
"Walang senior citizen sa akin (There's no senior citizen to me)!" was the guard's exact words. It happened past 1 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 2013. When my friend arrived at the Tutuban station, he reported the incident.
A security official named S. Moreno said my friend does not look like a senior citizen, by implication justifying the guard's power-tripping and utter lack of courtesy and even basic good manners. Or maybe the culture of PNR breeds that.
Senior citizens deserve our highest respect for their lifetime of wisdom and their unparalleled contributions to our society and to our world.
But the Philippine law mandating a 20% discount for senior citizens is being violated everyday, like in Master Siomai and other franchise food carts.
Around the last week of November 2012, I boarded a Green Star bus with an Calamba-Alabang-Lawton via Skyway route. There it was: "No Student ID, No Senior Citizen ID, No 20% Discount." Just in case the passengers can't get the hint, it goes to the point: "No Senior Citizen and Student ID." Under that, to drive it home: "NO 20% DISCOUNT." Will the government sanction the bus owner? It depends on how high his connections are.
Being Young Again At The Luneta
I saw a lot of young students practicing for their stage presentations at the giant Lapu Lapu monument at the Luneta when I passed by on Nov. 22, 2012, circling the park from the National Library to the Instituto Cervantes. I love children, and I got there videos to share the joy of seeing them in action, so full of innocence, enthusiasm and joy for living
On Kawayan Musika:
I saw incredible musical artistry in front of the Manila Yatch Club on Nov. 11, 2012. I just came from the Cultural Center complex and was walking to Baywalk. I'm impressed by the originality: a duo on an improvised bamboo xylophone. I actually enjoyed the performance of the almost non-stop medley of famous pop songs. They are Kawayan Musika and their number is 0932-746-6572. I honestly believe they deserve international exposure, a showcase of world-class Filipino talent. It was one of the many things that made that special morning even more memorable. It's a beautiful Sunday, it's a beautiful day!
Incredible Musical Artistry
I saw incredible musical artistry in front of the Manila Yatch Club on Nov. 11, 2012. I just came from the Cultural Center complex and was walking to Baywalk. I'm impressed by the originality: a duo on an improvised bamboo xylophone. I actually enjoyed the performance of the almost non-stop medley of famous pop songs. They are Kawayan Musika and their number is 0932-746-6572. I honestly believe they deserve international exposure, a showcase of world-class Filipino talent. It was one of the many things that made that special morning even more memorable. It's a beautiful Sunday, it's a beautiful day!
A Tale of Two Saints
I'll share two stories of saints: Peter and Anthony.
I always illustrate the ideas in my magazine articles with anecdotes. But some of the characters I featured on my story on Harry Emerson Fosdick for Manila Bulletin, like the psychics Eileen Garett and Ingo Swann, just might be too scandalous for a conservative publication. Not to mention, of course, the Dutch sculptor Harry Stone, who channed Ra Ho Tep from the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, around 270 BCE.
So that's why I tried to include stories of saints to give it a wholesome sheen. But there's no space anymore, so here they are.
Saint Peter faced Simon Magus, a Samarian magician and a key figure in ancient Masonic lore.
Simon summoned black hounds and Peter made the dogs go away with "holy bread," goes one legend.
In the famous version, Simon flew up and Peter defeated him by praying for him to fall.
"God, please kill him," he probably said.
Saint Anthony of Padua was preaching in Limoges in 1226.
Suddenly, he remembered that he has to be at another service miles away. He paused, knelt and put on his hood.
At that moment, he appeared before the congregation on the other church, read his appointed passage then vanished.
He then got up and continued his sermon.
Chapter IV. 2012
Embracing The Real Me
I read somewhere a long time ago that happiness is measured by how much your life is similar to your ideal life.
There are some things I need for my life to be how I want it. It doesn't mean I'm unhappy. Actually, I am, though some people find it hard to believe, especially those who are, deep down, miserable. One of the many reasons why I'm happy is because I have developed the attitude of gratitude; I'm now more focused on the positive side of things.
On top of which, I am by nature an optimist, so the result is a mindset which makes me realize that everything that happens brings some good, even if the situation seems like a curse. I still don't have the life I want, but I know I will get there, so I can still smile and chillax. As long as I maintain my self-respect, and never lose my freedom and privacy, I'll be fine.
When Mike Arroyo Was A Kid
I met a guy who graduated from Ateneo High School, Batch 1963. He showed me his yearbook as we drank on his chi-chi balcony around the third week of May 2012. One of his batchmates was the former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo who was cute back then. I browse the yearbook as I look at the city lights of Manila and photos of a seemingly innocent bygone era.
Why Do People Join Fraternities?
A law student named Marc Andrei Marcos died from hazing a few weeks ago. His entire body has become a swollen, bluish pulp, left for dead by his fraternity brothers.
Another law student, Marvin Reglos, also died from hazing just a few months earlier.
You would think this country has learned something from that tragedy.
I understand the idea of initiation ceremonies, and I respect it when I think of coming-of-age rites, when a boy becomes a man, among African and Native American tribes. I value brotherhood, but I can't grasp the logic of deliberately inflicting pain on others just so they can belong in a group. We've all heard stories about betrayals among relatives and best friends, so even a deep emotional bond can't guarantee absolute loyalty.
How far can you trust a friend when the only thing you have in common is that you both nearly
died from torture from the hands of power-trippers who command you to call them Masters?
The Slaying of The Spirit of Baguio
The pine tree is the soul of Baguio. It gives that unmistakable sense of place, that character that makes Baguio really special. Now they're being cut down to make a car park for SM Baguio.SM is fast becoming the symbol of environmental and social irresponsibility.
I'm thinking: What if I'm a billionaire owner of mall chains around the country? Will I become greedy enough to make the world an uglier place? Will I even care about the non-income-generating environment? How much will satisfy my greed? Why will I listen to the treehugging "little people" if I can buy government permits?
NLP: Something That Really Works
Richard Bandler, co-founder of the breakthrough behavior transformation technique Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) with John Grinder, once had to deal with an asylum patient who claims he's Jesus Christ.
"Are you Jesus?" he asked.
"Yes, my son," the patient replied benevolently.
"I'll be back in a minute," said Richard.
The patient was confused at the unexpected response.
Richard came back with a tape measurement and took note of the patient's height and arm length. Then he left.
The man who calls himself Christ began to feel nervous.
Richard returned with two long narrow boards, a hammer and a bag of nails. Then he started to build a cross by pounding the two boards together with some large evil-looking spikes.
"What are you doing?" asked the increasingly apprehensive patient.
"Are you Jesus?"
"Yes, my son."
"Then you know why I'm here."
"I'M NOT JESUS! I'M NOT JESUS!!!
The Root of A Dysfunctional Justice System
I sent this story to the op-ed sections of five different national broadsheets on the last week of November 20012. Some things came up and I wasn't able to check if they published it or not
The Philippine justice system still remains dysfunctional at its root, despite motherhood statements for political mileage. I personally witnessed this when I accompanied a friend of mine, victimized by theft and still in shock, to file a complaint. My friend has just put all his life savings for a small Internet shop in Malate, most of the equipments still on loan, and the new houseboy vanished with all 10 computers and that day's earnings. The suspect had applied for the job but he took his documents along with the loot. Following a hunch and armed only with the name, I found a photo of him on Facebook
We went first to the barangay hall at the street at the back of Shoppes@Victoria building around 7 in the evening of Nov. 25, 2012, Sunday. It was empty. We waited for half an hour. Later, the barangay secretary points us to the police outpost in Pedro Gil diagonally across Robinson's Place
An officer named Gacayan refuses to help, saying we had to go to the Theft and Robbery He, like the barangay secretary, keeps asking the wrong questions, like "What are we planning to do?" He refuses to help, saying we had to go to the Theft and Robbery Section in the WPD station on U.N. Ave., because the stolen items are worth more than a hundred thousand Pesos
At the WPD, a tall officer wearing a checkered polo shirt who didn't give out his name, also refuses to help, saying there's a new memo that they would handle only crimes that involve two hundred thousand. He says we had to go, instead, to the precinct at the back of Manila Zoo at the city outskirts
When we got there, a young man in handcuffs is being jailed; an elderly policeman, before pushing him into the cramped cell, delivers such a strong punch into his stomach
The desk officer named Lauriaga, to his credit, actually takes the time to explain where we stand. Since it was the 25th and the crime happened on thd 12th, according to the rules of the Philippine National Police, an arrest warrant cannot be issued anymore. What my friend, the victim, needs to do is to file a case at the city hall, with the suspect's complete name (with middle name) and complete address for a judge to issue a subpoena. If the suspect doesn't appear at the hearing, then the judge may issue a warrant for contempt Apparently, Malate is handled by precints 5 and 9. Lauriaga, who was in 9, is helpful: he calls the precint 5 in Pedro Gil (the one we been to earlier and the nearest precint to the crime scene), and tells them that our case is within their jurisdiction
Back at the Pedro Gil precint 5, Gacayan adamantly still refuses to help, saying we should go instead to the precint in Arquiza street a half dozen blocks away, without even the courtesy of a phone call to them
The police, with their reputation of incompetence and abuse of authority, also has the parochial mentality of refusing to do what they are actually being to paid to do: to serve and protect the people. nstead, they treat civilians like the rotten apples associated with their image, throwing them to their neighbor's yard
In a single crime, a citizen gets victimized twice: by the act itself, and the police's bureaucratic adherence to rules that defy common sense and basic human compassion
I Love Rock & Roll
The (sadly) now-defunct radio station NU 107 had a tagline: "Once a rocker, always a rocker!" I love music and appreciate all kinds of genre but I also dont believe in labels. Then again, like in Rock of Ages, "I love rock and roll!" I super-duper enjoyed the bus DVD during a trip from Manila to Calamba via Skyway on Sept. 15, 2012. It was a collection of live performances, really awesome. First was The Eagles with the accoustic version of Hotel California: "On a dark desert highway...!"
(I like “Desperado”: "It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you...")
Then Scorpion with “Wind of Change”: "Take me, to the magic of the moment...!"
Then Guns 'n' Roses, Slash with his formidable double lead guitar and Axl Rose running all over the stage, "Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door...!"
Next was Bon Jovi with “Always”: "I'll be there, forever and a day...!"
(I like the theme from Young Guns 2, “Blaze of Glory”: "I lived life to the fullest; let this boy die like a man...!"
Next was Queen. Freddie Mercury, fully alive and half naked, on the piano, singing the incredible classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” During the Italian opera acapella part, they played a recording, with deft klieg light magic hiding the stage, but they came for a rousing finale
(My favorite Queen song is “A Kind of Magic,” theme from one of my favorite movies of all time: the original Highlander with Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery).
Next was Dire Straits with “Money For Nothing” featuring Sting: "That's the way you do it: you play the guitar on the MTV...!
(My favorite Dire Straits song is “Walk of Life.” I remember singing that while swimming in a forgotten beach when I was fourteen and I almost drowned.
Next was guitar god Eric Clapton with the theme from Phenomenon starring John Travolta, “Change The World,” featuring Babyface: "I will be the sunlight in your universe...!"
(I also like “Tears in Heaven,” which I first heard in Santa Rosa, Laguna in 1992, where they have the best pork dinuguan in the galaxy)
The DVD then began skipping and pixelizing, obviously pirated. There's supposed to be Phil Collins, Mr. Big and Bryan Adams.
It was about the time we're passing the airport. A plane flew overhead, hopefully an aerodynamic harbinger of good things to come.
Why The Azkals Are Being Kicked
When The Azkals was first formed, a lot of Filipinos was riding on their Pinoy lineage. Now that two members, Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado, are accused of sexual harassment, The Azkals is being demonized. Even their European ancestry is being used against them.
It's one thing to express an opinion, it's another to make self-righteous personal attacks. Some people in this country doesn't seem to know the difference. That's the dark side of the Filipino character.
Corona Impeachment: The First Three Days
The impeachment trial against Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona began January 16. Serafin
Cuevas, lead counsel for defense and former SC Associate Justice, argued a motion for preliminary hearing and dismissal of trial. This was denied by Presiding Officer Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Motions to summon Corona, his relatives, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and other congressmen have also been dismissed. There are 8 articles of impeachment.
The sequence will be 2 (Non-Disclosure of Declaration of Statements of Assets and Liability Net Worth); 1 (Partiality to the Arroyo Administration); and 7 (Improper Issuance of TRO to Allow President Arroyo and Husband To Flee the Country). It's nonlinear, like Pulp Fiction.
Senator Joker Arroyo cautioned: If the Impeachment Court issues a subpoena for Chief Justice Renato Corona's statement of assets and liabilities net worth, then the Supreme Court counteracts with a temporary restraining order, then it could spark a constitutional crisis.
A question from Senator Franklin Drilon delivered a victory to the prosecution. The witness on the stand was SC Clerk of Court Enriquetta Vidal. SC Justices are required to submit their statements of assets and liabilities net worth. Did Vidal bring a copy of Corona's SALN? Apparently she did.
Senator-Judges Edgardo Angara, Jinggoy Estrada, Kiko Pangilinan, Chiz Escudero and Koko Pimentel assured her that she has nothing to fear if she gives it to the impeachment court despite an SC ruling forbidding it.
Senator TG Guingona made clear that the impeachment court is not Congress that's why they took a diffrent oath. Vidal gave the copy.