It's Rizal's Day!

When I was in college, I encountered this question that gives me enough reason that I burned so much time thinking of a good answer for my essay exam.

"Why we celebrate December 30, as Rizal's Day, the date he died and not his birth which is June 19?"

I spent almost 10 minutes writing my essay, in a one-hour examination and the rest of the hour - just mumbling the thoughts in my head. I know I was able to deliver my ideas in a way that venerating it for 5 minutes is well spent.

Here is how it goes. . .

Rizal's death was celebrated by most of the Filipinos during December 30 as a medal sponsored by the Americans, just for the Indios to have someone to look upon to as a hero! Somehow relinquishing our desire for revolt, or just to satisfy our desire for a national hero. That's one way or the other, or both. . .just to suppress us Indios and conquering us inaudibly as the main goal. Rizal an American Sponsored Hero.

Celebrating his death rather than his birth is indeed a topic quite obscured for every Filipinos of today who now wears the western fashion or quite close, -the Korean hairstyle, and speak the Harry Potter English. As Rizal to them is the hero in the One Peso coin, or the statue guarded in the Luneta Park, giving us a long holiday at the close of the year.

I celebrate his death in a more compassionate sense than that of his birth, as the same lost Filipinos of today who measures the bar table when they get drunk is the same race of Indios who awoke and revolted as one against the conquistadors friars when his body fell and symbolically, for the first time and will be the last, when his blood was spilled in the dried Philippine soil by the haughty foreigners. If it's not for his writings that ultimately leads to his death, his birth would entirely mean nothing.

¡Adiós, Patria adorada. . .
¡Adiós Doktor del José Rizal

Pasko at Paksiw!

Pasko Pasko!

Pasko na namang muli. . .

. . .parang di na natapos ang pasko.

First Floor Elevator!

I had this cute story to share tonight. A small talk in a coffee shop about elevators.

A friend of mine going up the office, while inside the elevator she had this experience that catches my funny bones and caught my eyebrows!

She was about go up the elevator full of people, in a hurry catching up the morning time-in. Well, the characters, for the benefit of the story, were: my friend, two foreigners (probably Bolivians, as they have an embassy in our building), and 2ladies, lets call them lady 1 and lady 2. (others are not that significant, so etcetera). . .

As everyone press the floor of their destination, and the elevator's engines hum and starts to lift from the ground floor, then. . . ding!

It opens in 1st floor. . .

lady 1 exits, sipping her coffee. . .

Then the foreigner groans, and expresses his disbelief.

Foreigner 1: "why not used the stairs if your just a floor away and save time for others? it's just a floor away?"

Foreigner 2: "well, your in the Philippines, people are in laissez faire mood, and can't expect much, they are ladies which are treated with all gentleness."

Then the door closes and the elevator lifts up again. . .

Foreigner 1: "Errrr. . .but it must not supposed to be that way, we should do. . . "

. . . Ding! the elevator stops at the 2nd floor.

Foreigner 2: "I told you mate. . ."

then lady 2 exits. . .

then my friend smiles, she's next.


. . . ding!

New Face for my Blog!

My new blog background was taken by Andrea Marie P. Francisco, this picture was actually taken before sunset in Quezon Province.

I want to also thank her for inspiring me into photography and to continue to appreciate and share the beauty of nature, one of the best gifts of God. Hoping that someday I can also have the chance to capture the beauty of the stars.

"Some men see things and asks why, I dream things that never were and asks, why not?"
-Robert F. Kennedy

Pac-Ryt!

I want to share this article I just read. From Philstar.com written by Angelo Guitierrez.

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Ring Magazine: Pacquiao barely keeps pound-for-pound crown
By Angelo Guitierrez (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao remains The Ring Magazine’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king despite his controversial win over Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas this Sunday.

"Pacquiao survives as the RING's No. fighter by a hair," Ring Magazine's Michael Rosenthal said in a statement posted on The Ring's website.

Rosenthal said that the magazine's editorial board nearly declared the No. 1 pound-for-pound position vacant after Pacquiao’s "sub-par performance" during his fight with Marquez last Sunday.

"In the end, though, we decided to leave the pound-for-pound rankings as is for one simple reason: All but one member of the Ratings Advisory Panel who provided input and the entire RING Editorial Board believed it was the right thing to do," he said.

The No. 2 position is being held by Floyd Mayweather Jr. followed by Sergio Martinez and Nonito Donaire. Marquez is at No. 5.

Rosenthal said that they will consider putting Mayweather ahead of Pacquiao if he turns in an outstanding performance or if Pacquiao "stumbles again" in his next fight.

He said that they also considered moving Marquez up the rankings, but they could not because Mayweather, Martinez and Donaire "don't deserve to be demoted."

Meanwhile, Rosenthal said that The Ring hopes that Pacquiao and Mayweather will agree once and for all to a faceoff.

There are reports that the camps of Mayweather and Pacquiao are working for a May 2012 fight. Top Rank's Bob Arum, meanwhile, said that they are also working for a fourth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez on the same date.

Rosenthal also enumerated several considerations that The Ring's editorial team considered in keeping Pacquiao's pound-for-pound king title.

• Pacquiao wasn’t fighting a chump. Marquez is the No. 5 fighter in the world pound for pound. And Pacquiao beat him, at least officially.- A great fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because another great fighter has his number. We didn’t think less of Muhammad Ali because he had trouble with Ken Norton three times. The same with Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler in their series.
• A fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because he has an off night, if that’s what it was on Saturday. Sergio Martinez didn’t look great against Darren Barker but no one clamored for him to be demoted.
• Pacquiao has accomplished more than Mayweather in recent years. The Filipino is 9-0 against big-name opponents since the beginning of 2008; Mayweather is 3-0 in that time.
• Mayweather isn’t exactly coming off a sterling performance. He looked good against Victor Ortiz for three-plus rounds but scored a knockout when Ortiz wasn’t looking.
• And you can’t say that Mayweather should supplant Pacquiao because hedefeated Marquez more easily. That doesn’t take into account styles and strengths. Plus, Pacquiao beat Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya more easily than Mayweather did.

Lolong . . . from the land of the greedy!

They said that Lolong was the biggest crocodile in the world and that we are very proud of it, as we are again recognized in the Guinness World Record.

I don't know how to consider these kind of things. . .

When the time comes that a new record for the biggest croc's was overcome by other countries, definitely, Philippines will lost the records.

So I think it's not really that big deal.

We Filipinos cheered every time we set a record or we become renown even from these petty things that happened around us. Maybe that is the reason why we are called as the most happiest people in the world, we always smile, do parties and laugh even on small things. . .

So I think it's not really that big deal.

We Filipino's laugh on small things because we think small. . .
We party too much because we are one day millionaires. . .
We are called the happiest people in the world, because we don't face and solve our problems. . .

So I think it's not really that big deal.

Well, I think we only used this as a defense mechanism, to avoid the pain brought about by worst scenarios and tragedy from our Country. Maybe because of the corrupt and greedy politicians and the disparity of the poor and the rich is getting wider. Philippines are, for decades are always in depression in the economic cycle.

So I think it's not really that big deal - That Lolong was the biggest crocodile in the world, because he was only a product of the worst crocodile in the Philippines - the last administration. A family of crocodiles.

Only in the Philippines that a former President is being convicted by graft and corruption because of Jueteng, and almost again won for presidency.

Here is the best part. . .A former president, being investigated for tons of corruption charges, get sick suddenly, and being allowed to go abroad. . . (& possibly not comeback again and seek political asylum to countries with no extradition law).

So I think it's not really that big deal that we are recognized for having the biggest crocodile, because what the Guinness records can't see are the crocodiles here in the Philippines bigger and more greedy that Lolong.

I already saw other of my fellowmen who are now trying to recoup from our lost. Marami narin ang nagigising, sa mga nangyayari satin, pero matagal din ang panahon na kelangan para magamot ang sugat, matagal, dahil malalim na ang sugat.

This is not actually a political propaganda against GMA. . . ang hirap na kasi magtiwala sa isang tao na marami ng nagawang mali at kasakiman.

I can now clearly remember the story of the boy who cried wolf!

Pacquiao the Filipinos' Dark Knight!

During my college days, my professors in Sociology and in Rizal, described Manny Pacquiao as the common-day hero of the Filipinos, because every time that he fights inside the ring, the Filipino people stops and everybody's eyes are with Pacman! With Zero-crime rate and streets are almost deafening for its peacefulness.

The Pinoy's unites, not because we are totally separated as a country, but for one goal and one heart - to have Pacman win and give glory to our mother nation.

Manny even said: If I have to fight everyday, for the unity of our people as one nation, I will Fight!

But yesterday, November 13, 2011 PH time, the Philippine Nation was divided in their opinion who won match in the third installment of the Pacquiao-Marquez Trilogy.

Most of the analyst told that Marquez won, because he controls the game, he beats Pacquaio; Even various commentators and sports analyst in the US commented on their tweeter accounts that they felt that Pacquiao won. Well, even their main profile pictures are with Manny posing with them.

I don't know, but it's a majority decision by the judges, it could have been more controversial if it were a split decision. The world see's a different side, each one of us is entitled to our own opinion. Well I guess, We Filipino's already saw the greatness of Pacquiao that a win for Manny Pacquaio is having an English knocked-out in the middle of the ring, a Mexican with a blown face, and bloodshot eyes, an American boxer who jogs away from him, or a Malaysian knocked down within minutes, without us even feeling the tense.

Yet, speaking of being unfair and injustice as a line of the box yesterday, I will still stand with Manny, never had I become that well-versed with boxing nor had a chance to study the in's and out's of the sport. I will stand with Manny, because I am still a Filipino, Proud Pinoy ika nga. Let me reiterate to my fellowmen that this is not crab mentality which we Pinoy's are famous for, this more of us being a nation for a warrior who fought for us to keep us united.

What the hell if he didn't box at his best yesterday? What the hell if he doesn't know-out Juan Manuel Marquez yesterday? What the hell IF HE DIDN'T BOX THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO?

One of my friend even posted on her facebook account before the Manny-Marquez bout: I hope matalo naman si Pacquaio, para malaman natin if he is man enough to accept defeat.

Natawa nalang ako, ang babaw naman nya. Hindi naman to laban ni Pacquiao lang eh, laban natin to bilang isang nation, diba lalo na kapag nanalo siya? e, kapag talo, are we man enough as a nation to accept defeat? laban natin to Pinas!

We don't have to be separated again because of the performance he showed yesterday, let's keep united, protect the dark knight as one nation, the Mexicans will not take refuge for Pacman, nor other nation, only us na pango ang mga ilong at kayumanggi ang kulay. Si Pacman lang ang sumuntok at namaga ang mukha, pero satin parin ang karangalan dahil naukit tayo sa boksing dahil sa kanya ('di lang dahil sa Joe Frazier and Mohammad Ali Fight).

Pacquiao - Marquez 4? Why not. . .walang problema sakin. . .hindi dahil controversial talaga. . .gusto ko lang matahimik ang karamihan sa inyo, mawala ang mga agam-agam niyo sa Pinoy's Champ!

Para sayu ang laban na tu!

Nakakahiya naman para sa isang boksingero na nakipaglaban para sayo, tapos, pagdududhan mo pagkatapos ng laban. Tama naman na hindi maganda ang nilaro ni Pacman. Pero lumabas naman ang resulta, panalo talaga siya. Maybe most of us are perplexed with the outcome, maybe Manny himself too.

"All I know, plainly and straight, Pacquiao won because he showed the heart and performance of a Champion, He remains aggressive when Marquez should be as JMM is the challenger."

The Apple of my Eyes

Its very unusual that looking back when I was in 1st year high school, I was involved in a scandal of cell phone stealing of a classmate of mine. A Nokia 3310 phone which at that time considered as the trend! The Hip! The In! Well it turned out later on that the person who accused me was the one who actually stole the 3310. 10Years later, who would have known it that I will be publishing my blog using a phone? yeah! while lying on the bed. the apol of my eyes! My Samsung s3850. Hope it will be posted, just keep up with it. Who knows that I might be posting my next kwento using this. ang ganda talaga ng Filipina, parang mansanas na nakakatibok ng puso! one. . . two. . . three. . .

Few of the Best Lines

I sit and wait. . .
Does an angel contemplate my fate. . .

(Angels by Robbie Williams)

It changes his singing career from that point, popularity increasing dramatically from being part of the boyband "Take that." Which until now releasing his own albums.

I wanna know
whoever told you I was letting go
the only joy I have ever known
Girl that lyin. . .

(Swear it Again by Westlife)

These boys who started in 1998, conquered the record of being the longest boy band who sang for 14 years before splitting in the year 2012 in the hype of their success.

Got to start your own lines, no one can tell you what will happen next, until you can say to your self. . ."Looking back, I really didn't know where I begin."

Kaibigan O' Ka-i-bigan?

I once had a lunch party in Glorietta 5 with friends and colleagues to celebrate a birthday. We had a lot of fun of course, sharing sumptuous meals and endearing stories to one another.

Well, mostly when it comes to "Kwentuhan" you can almost bet that I am one of the talkative whatever topic it may be, well save for girlie talks, of which I do not really that participative as girls are usually hesitant to converse with the presence of a guy.

Obviously, as man would be on their case, well except those men that really demeans the meaning of self-respect.

Well, for our kwentuhan on this article, I would like to share this topic about self respect boys and girls, which for me seems quite unfair. Really. Two ways that is, the 1st way is like this:

I was talking to a dear friend with her friend beside her (who-is quite a nuisance by her inexplicable actions, which seems unnecessary sometimes, hihihi???). And this friend of mine approached me with the statement: "Ward, sana di ka sweet pagdating sa mga girls, kasi baka ma-misinterpret nila and may chance na ma-fall in-love sila sayo agad, without you knowing it"

...and her friend just agreed on her statement, yeah of course, giggling again...hihihi...

That was a statement that left me blushing, not because of shame or due to shyness, but of course hearing that statement, is totally one-sided, and from a dear friend of mine. It was quite difficult for me accept the fact the it came from her.

Well, if you were on my shoes? what will you answer? seriously?

...and that giggle again...

Practically, when I am approach stupidly, I answer stupidly. But this is something quite cute. So I tell my friend: "I think it's unfair, being committed someone because you thought that he cares and loves you just because he is sweet and extraordinary with the other guys in treating you. You can't just tell yourself that I am in Love with you because of my traits towards women and towards you.

You can't just manufacture a relationship with him just being malambing. You-have-to-wait-for-the-man-to-tell-you-he-loves-you! (Pls pls, never presumed!)

You got to respect him and respect yourself with it, wait for him to propose, and that's the right time you can say to yourself that he is in love with you. Respect him and you will see every men will respect you.

...and that giggle again...(You see, I really like this part! She keeps doing it, I'm dead serious!)

The Luncheon was finished and we are all full, but the topic was not settled, the girls keep pressing that women are really like that, fell in-love with a man so easily without a decent proposal and devastatingly cries when it turns out the other way. (I used "girls" 'coz it is really immature to think that way, even when I used the term "immature", that girl giggles, again!)

Ooops! By the Way, the 2nd way is: It was unfair, as it directly referred to me. Being sweet and malimbang is a unique personality of Ilonggo's (this statement is not to demean others, I appreciate them too). We often joke that, Ilonggo's sweetness remains even if on the verge of threatening someone of death!

Yeah, Patyon! kita diyan eh! (Pataytin kita diyan eh!) well, smiling, soft voice, and holding a knife.

Hihihihi (Darn?!?!?)

New Page Background!

Old Binondo, Background of my new blog courtesy of Donald Lamsen.

Thanks to Don for emailing me pictures of the old Manila. I love fondling the key of my laptop giving the picture the best possible tiling to make sure the it will fit as my new blog background.

Ipagtibay ang kulturang Pinoy!

Anong Klaseng Magulang Ka?

Mas pinili kong magkwento sa tagalog ngayon dahil sa inis ko!!!

Nang mapanuod ko sa youtube ang video footage ng isang suicide incident sa Pampanga nung Setyembre 20, 2011. Sobra ang inis ko sa mga tao, guwardiya at namamahala ng tanyag na mall na yan.

Bakit kayo nagpalakad lakad at pa-picutre picture lang diyan? mga anak kayo ng nanay at tatay niyo! mga wala kayong &%$(&^&!!!

Gumagalaw pa yung bata, hindi niyo tinakbo sa hospital?

- - -

Tama na yan! marami akong gusto sabihin, pero tama na. Di na mababago ang lahat, sana hindi kayo maging magulang ng mga batang naging "bakla" at magbarilan sa mall, at ang anak mo ay nakahandusay, duguan, at naghihingalo habang tinitigan, pinipicturan ng mga guwardiya at management ng mall!

Ika nga ni Lourd Dey Vera: Kung mas malakas pa ang impluwensiya ng mga pelikula, babasahin at websites sa anak mo, anong klaseng magulang ka?

Tapos!

Dallas Mavericks (Champions!!!)

Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks for winning their first NBA Championship!

For all the years that I have been their avid fan, I never see them straying away from each other. Every team has the desire to have that Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, but only Dallas showed us the heart and the teamwork needed to win a Championship.

They all worked for this so hard, they endure all the criticisms, they all take the challenge to lead the team for a Championship, They all stick together and humble themselves, they played as a team and never played just for themselves...They are ALL Champions!

Congratulations to Dallas Mavericks! Congratulations Mavs' Nation.

The Culprit is dead?

The latest headline airing the televisions and the net is that Osama bin Laden is dead.

Is there a way for us to know that these things are true?

Post Tax Season?

After the hype of the tax season, we are now on the pre-archiving era.

They are supposed to be simultaneously going after each other, but, tentative clients are making our life hard!

Hehehe.

Let me rephrase my opening sentence:

Tax season - "post tax season" archiving era!

Si Lalabs at ako.

Mga Kwento sa Coffee Stand. . .

It's my second day here in Baguio, the city of Pines. Doing my out of town engagement of auditing three foundations of one of the biggest University here.

During merienda, I had these amusing experience ordering hot coffee and bread when other people beside me call for their orders. heheheh here how it goes:

1st day: Baguio is known for the climate here, the wind is cold as the city is located in high places and it is enclosed by Mountains. So typographically, the cold wind from the north is trapped and it was raining around 3pm. During merienda, I go to the canteen and ordered cappuccino and slice of bread. that's enough for me. then there is this lady, a college student perhaps, she stand beside me. and when she calls her order, it amazed me.

"Kuya isang coffee pls! yung malaki na"
"anung klaseng coffee Ma'am" sabi ni Kuya.
"Ice po!"

then I was like...what? Ice coffee? "Yung malaki?" then I was left there asking myself a question. adik lang?

"sir ok ka lang po? may order pa?"
"aaah? ok na tong hot coffee. hehehe, paki charge sa Accounting, thanks"
"ok sir thank you!"

Then I left. smiling.

2nd day: I was again on the coffee stand, still thinking of what happened yesterday and I am expecting to have another student ordering beside me an "Ice Cold Coffee." well it turn very dramatic today! hehehe. I ordered Sweet brewed Coffee. I was the one who is at the end of the queue with three students in front me. they all ordered "hot" coffee. so, it is declared, no ice coffee experience. sad...

But here is the catch.

"Sir anong order nyo" sabi ni ate.
"Sweet brewed coffee po ate." tapos tingin ako sa studyante sa harap ko.

huminto kasi cya nilapag yung hot coffee nya...

"Mainit cguro, sabi ko sa sarili..."

kumuha cya ng brown sugar, at nag stir...

"ah ok kaya pala..."

tapos, kumuha cya ng straw...

"Huh?..."

nagstir ulit...

"astig, hindi kuntento sa stirrer..."

at hinigop ang kapeng mainit...

"...adik lang?..."

amazing! hahaha kakaiba talaga ang mga taga-Baguio! hehehe. tapos napatingin ako kay Ate.

'Ahhh.. paki charge ulit sa Accounting." tapos kumuha ako ng cinnamon roll at alis.

hahaha lupet naman nila, sila ang kapeng mahirap timplahin! hehehe.

Cravings!

People crave for a lot of things, most of them are sweets!

I don't know that for the most part of my daily life, I always crave for bread! and looking in my ascendants, I guess it was marked first by Lola in the Mother's side - the Callanga Clan, of which they always tell me that a clan originally came from Spaniards who in the history of this country, did a big influence.

Nakakatuwang isipin na dahil sa mga espanol maraming bagay ang nabago sa kultura natin at hindi rin natin tiyak na yung kultura natin ngayon ay atin talaga o sa banyga.

My cravings for bread really hit me, like eating them while served with hot coffee. Oh! really awesome!

Pinoy Disiplina

Ano na nga ba ulit ang kahalagahan ng disiplina?

Nakalimutan na ata ni Juan dela Cruz na turuan ang sarili ng disiplina.

Budget Variances. . .

Talking about variances... these are things shown in the management reports at year end.

Reports that will reflect Management's performance for a given period and your boss may give you a handshake and a thumbs-up saying: Congratulations! You made it for a higher post next year!

or, just close your reports and ask you: anong nangyari?

Plain tagalog, just for you to understand clearly. looking at you straight to the eyes, trying to squeeze out from you a miracle that somehow, will change those variances in the report.

This will determine how good a manager you are, and during the year, before reports are constructed and validated, you and your team should be working on these stuffs.

Quote: "Show me a man who is a good loser and I'll show you a man who is playing golf with his boss" - Jim Murray.

Remember using two applications at the same time, having audit of all accounts (not doing your risk based approach), is not only time consuming, inefficient, will give you budget variances, and will give you a ---- appreciation from your boss and tell you: anong nangyari?

As well from your staff. think about it.

Palabs palabas!

Watching Television right now at night is often to be observed mostly during tax and school season.

These are the things that I accept the way reality hits me. Acceptance is somehow a defense mechanism that allows you to lessen the pain in something that you do not want to admit.

"sirang sira na talaga ang KULTURANG PILIPINO"

As we can now watch in the televisions are korean novellas and fanta-serye which nothing give our children of today much values that the Filipino Society needs.

I repeat Filipino Society.

Tinatamad na ba tayo gumawa ng mga palabas na pinoy kasi tinatamad na ang mga pinoy tangkilikin ito?
bakit ang mga kilos at salita ng mga artista sa telibisyon ay kilos ng dayuhan narin, kasi nababaduyan at nandidiri tayo sa mga salita at kilos natin?

wala naman talaga magmamahal sa Pinoy kundi ang kapwa nya kayumanggi at pango ang ilong.

baduy ba?