Showing posts with label pinoys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pinoys. Show all posts

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Why I Love Manila



Nabasa ko sa Philstar. At gagayahin ko


Top 5 reasons why I love Manila:

1. Its an urban jungle. There's always an adventure waiting to be discovered. Everyday is a journey worth taking.

2. Food, food, food. You can never go hungry here. There's always a food stall near where you are. Mura na masarap pa!

3. Mass transportation. Tricycle, pedicab, padyak, kuliglig, MRT, LRT, FX, taxi and the world famous jeepney. So many options when you wanted to go anywhere and everywhere.

4. Night life. Albeit, I'm not really into it. Literal na gising ang Manila 24 hours a day, seven days a week, non-stop!

5. The people. The variety and vitality of people living here. Mix of idealism and realism.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Edsa People Power @ 25







Huwag natin kalimutan kung ano ang ipanaglaban nila at kung papaano sila nakipag laban. 
God bless the Philippines and the Filipino people.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Hooray!

Hooray to the 4 honor guards at Cory Aquino's funeral cortage for enduring more than 8 hours atop Cory's hearse:

Pfc. Antonio Cadiente
Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindam
Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez
Police Officer 1 Danilo Maalab


Sana lahat ng kabaro nyo ay maging katulad nyo, mas masarap maging Pilipino!

At sa libo-libong tao na hindi ininda ang ulan, pagod at tagal ng libing, mabuhay din kayo! Nawa'y bumalik ang pagmamahal natin sa Pilipinas at sa kapwa Pilipino! Ibangon natin ng sabay-sabay at kapit kamay ang Pilipinas!

I lab u ol!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

I-Witness' "Isang paid, Isang Tuka"


Napanood ko yung latest episode ng I-witness entitled “Isang Paid, Isang Tuka”, reported by Jay Taruc.

Kwento ng isang pamilya na umaasa lang sa pagkuha ng lamang dagat na tinatawag na “paid”. Nakaka awa yung bata kasi ramdam at alam nya yung bigat ng problema ng pamilya nila. Sobrang dishearting to see a child crying dahil sa pagka awa sa magulang nya and na forced cya to stop schooling and work so she could help her family.

Instead na naglalaro cya, nagtitinda cya nung laman dagat, masakit pa nun, nakakatanggap pa cya ng mga tukso sa ibang kapwa bata. I found courage in her nung sinabi nya na pinapabayaan na lang niya yung mga nanunukso sa kanila.Yung pag endure ng hirap at panunukso para kumita ng pera is so noble.

The family wanted to go back to Arayat, Pampanga kung saan talaga sila nakatira. They moved barely 4 months ago sa Bataan para magbakasakali. Para humanap ng mas mabuting pamumuhay. Nakikitira lang sila dun sa kapatid ni misis. Walang nakitang trabaho kaya nauwi sila sa pagkuha ng paid sa kalapit dagat para kahit papano ay kumita at hind imaging pabigat.

Dahil nga walang perang pamasahe pabalik ng Pampanga, I-witness helped them go back. They wanted to go back to pampanga since life is easier there and they wouldn’t have to be pabigat to anybody.Akala ko mas magandang bumalik nga sila sa Pampanga.

Nakatira sila sa bundok.Nanlumo ako when I saw their house. Sobrang dilapidated, parang bahay-bahayang gawa lang ng mga bata. Walang ding-ding, walang sahig, isang maliit na dampa lang na ni ulan hindi sila kayang ipagsanggalang.Kailangan pa nilang makitulog sa ibang bahay kapag umuulan.

Yung panganay nilang anak ay medyo blessed. Sa lola nila sya nakatira at nakakapag aral cya. Bukod tanging cya lang ang nakakapag aral sa mga anak ng mag asawa. Sabi nga ng nanay nung bata, ayaw na ayaw pumunta nung panganay na anak dun sa bundok dahil sa sitwasyon nila. Syempre nga naman, mas mahirap ang buhay sa bundok and I guess natatakot cyan a once na pumunta cya dun andun yung possibility na hindi na cya makabalik sa lola nya at mahinto din sa pag aaral and be forced as well do work at an early age.

Napa isip ako, sobrang simple lang ng gusto nilang buhay, unlike us na sobrang naimpluwensiyahan na ng makabagong pamumuhay. All they want is a home and food to eat. Simple things to survive.Ang bigat din ng pakiramdam kasi alam ko yung sitwasyon nila pero wala akong magawa.

Life is really unfair, but then I cannot question God for the kind of life we all have because I know there’s a purpose for that. I can only pray that someday, somehow, the sun will shine fairly to them, I hope.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Ang Inlove na Pinoy!


The cheesy and mushy lines direct from a loving pinoy’s heart. In one way or another, I’m sure makakarelate kayo dito, because I did. Feel free to listen to what your heart says. Baduy but its classic. Who knows may bumenta sa inyo or sa minamahal nyo.


Tanga daw ako kapag pinakawalan pa kita. Gago ako kapag sinaktan kita. Baliw daw ako kapag pinagpalit kita. E sira-ulo pala sila! Paano ko gagawin yun? Akin ka ba?

Isang araw, may magtatapat sayo. Sasabihin niya, "Alam mo, mahal kita." At kapag dumating yung araw na yun na magtapat sha sayo, promise mo sa akin na di mo ako pagtatawanan ha?

Kung noon pa sinabi ko na, sana kasama na kita. Kung noon pa sinabi ko na, sana tayo na talaga. Ngayon alam mo gusto kita, pwede pa ba? Hindi na siguro dahil sabi mo, "Noon sana…"

Diba ang hirap kapag nami-miss mo yung isang tao, gusto mo shang makasama pero wala kang magawa? Yung tipong gusto mong sabihin kung gaano sha kahalaga sayo pero maiisip mo na lang bigla, "Pwede pa kaya?"

Masakit masaktan at alam mo yun. Pero bakit ganon? Habang tumatagal, kapag naiisip kita, lahat nag-iiba. Ayos lang na humanap ka ng iba. Wag mo lang sasabihin sa akin na mas mahal mo sha.

Dati masaya kahit malungkot mag-isa. Sumaya ako ng dumating ka, pero iniwan mo ko. Mas masaya pala yun, malungkot na nag-iisa kaysa malungkot ako na iniisip ka.

Kapag namatay ako, isa lang ang hiling ko, sana nandoon ka at umiiyak. Pero wag na lang siguro. Bakit? Nandoon ka nga at umiiyak, kasama at kayakap mo naman sha.

Nung dumating ka sa buhay ko, akala ko ikaw na. Kaya iningatan at minahal kita ng sobra. Nawala ka pa rin. Akala ko bigay ka na sa akin ng Diyos. Di pala. Pahiram ka lang pala niya.

Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, lilimutin na kita. Pinilit ko, masakit. Ginawa ko, mahirap. Anong gagawin ko? Tumakbo? Magtago? Saan? Maliit lang mundo ko. Umiikot lang sayo.

Minsan nakakasawa kapag lagi shang nandiyan. Minsan nakakasakal kapag lagi shang concerned. Minsan nagsasawa at nasasakal ka na sa kanya. Pero paano kapag minsan wala na sha? Magiging masaya ka ba?

Bakit ka ganyan? Minahal kita pero mahal mo sha. Mahal mo sha pero ginago ka niya. Sana pala, ginago na rin kita. Baka sakaling mahalin mo rin ako diba?

Alam mo kahit hindi ka akin, ayoko pa ring mawala ka, kasi mahal kita. Kaya nga minsan natatakot ako kapag may kasama kang iba. Pakiramdam ko kasi parang napaka-imposibleng di ka rin nila mahalin.

Sabi nila di natin alam kung kailan tayo mamamatay pero sabi ko, ako alam ko kung kailan ako mawawala sa mundong ito. Kapag wala na ang mahal ko sa buhay ko.

Di ko alam kung kailan mo ako kayang mahalin. Baka di ko mahintay, baka di ko maabutan. Pero ngayong minamahal kita, isa lang lagi ang tanong ko, mahirap ba talaga kong mahalin?

Bakit ba napakasakit magmahal? Dahil ba nagpapakatanga ka na nga't lahat, wala pa rin? Nagpapakagago ka na nga, ganon pa rin? Nagpapakamartyr ka na nga, di ka pa rin pinapansin? O yung nasasaktan ka na nga pero mahal mo pa rin?

I often wonder why things didn't work for the both of us. Patience? Super haba! Time? Di nagkulang! Trust? Oo naman! Love? Sobra-sobra! Pero teka, was there a both of us o ako lang?

If you find someone else, just go on and be happy. You don't need to think about me and worry. You'll never hear anything from me. I'll never say anything. I'll just whisper to myself, "Ang sakit!"

Sometimes I feel bad, I feel sad and even feel mad. But when I realize that I have you in my life, wala lang! I just smile and say, "Grabe, ang sarap mabuhay."

Never say wala kang kwenta, kasi para sa akin, special ka. Never say I don't care, kasi I'm always wondering if you're ok. And never say di kita naalala, kasi sa mga oras na 'to, iniisip kita.

I really want to be close to you. Close enough that in time, I'll just look into your eyes and without saying anything, you know I'm saying something like: "Dito ka lang, ayokong mawala ka."

When you feel tired and down and there's no one you can turn to, turn to God. But I know he'll just tell you, "Bakit ka sa akin lumalapit? Kaya ko nga binigay sayo si __________."

Bakit kung kailan gusto mong sabihin, kung kailan gusto mo nang iparamdam at ipakita na mahal na mahal mo sha, tsaka sha aalis at sasabihing, "Sorry ayoko na. May iba na ako."

Nanaginip ako kagabi, naluha nga ako kasi sabi sa panaginip ko di mo raw ako mahal. Tapos nagising ako at natawa. Naalala ko kahit nga pala sa totoong buhay, di mo pa rin naman pala ako mahal.

Minsan may nagtanong sa akin, "Nagmahal ka na ba?" Sabi ko, "Shempre naman, maraming beses." Nagtanong ulit sha, "Nasaktan ka na ba?" Naisip kita tapos sabi ko, "Oo, sobra."

Sabi ko nung umalis ka, "Matibay ako." Sinabi ko din, "Ok lang yun! Paki ko ba?" Pero isa lang ang problema ko, sabi kasi ng puso ko, "Uy gago! Kahit anong gawin mo, talagang mahal mo yun!"

Sometimes I wonder what might have been if we're not together. I might be just alone, but free to be with anyone. No rules, no do's and don'ts. But you know what? Mas gugustuhin kong maraming hirap basta nandiyan ka.

Nakakapagod noh? Lalo na kapag ginawa mo ang lahat para sa taong mahal mo, pero di ka pa rin niya mahal. Pero mas nakakapagod kung di ka na nga niya mahal, e sinasaktan ka pa niya.

Bakit ang tao…kapag love mo, iiwan ka. Kapag naman iniwan mo, mamahalin ka. Kapag love mo shang talaga, may love namang iba. Bakit ganon ang tao? Ang gulo noh?

Mas masarap ang umasa na isang araw, mamahalin ka rin ng mahal mo. Dahil sa bawat pagkakataon na nalalaman mong may mahal shang iba at di ikaw, diba sagad hanggang buto ang sakit?

Masama ang loob mo ng naging sila. Pakiramdam mo niloko ka niya. Wala ka namang karapatan diba? Sa totoo lang kasalanan mo lahat kasi torpe ka! Itanong mo sa sarili mo, "Nasabi ko ba sa kanya?"

Ano ba 'to? Ikaw na naman iniisip ko! Kaya ang hirap makatulog sa gabi e! Di kita makalimutan. Pero nakakatulog din ako. Alam mo kung paano? Sinasabi ko, "Tanga! May mahal na yun! Tulog ka na!"

Sabi ko noon, buti na lang di ko sinabi sayo na mahal din kita at least lumayo ka man, I still have my pride with me. Pero mali pala ako. Sana pala inamin ko na sayo ang tunay kong nararamdaman. Baka sakali hanggang ngayon mahal mo pa ako at nandito ka sa piling ko.

Gusto kita, alam mo ba? Hindi? Tanga! Miss kita, pansin mo? Hindi? Tanga! Love kita, halata ba? Hindi? Tanga! May mahal ka kasing iba. Ay! Ako pala tanga!

Kahit ano palang gawin ko, baliwala na, kasi nandiyan na sha. Kahit ano palang sabihin ko, walang kwenta, kasi meron ka nang iba. Pero alam mo, kahit ganon kasakit, nandito pa rin ako para patunayang dapat ako ang pinili mo.

Diba masakit kapag inagawan ka? Diba masakit kapag niloko ka? Diba masakit kapag pinaasa ka? Pero mas masakit kung umiwas sha kahit na ramdam na ramdam mong mahal ninyo ang isa't isa.

I saw you one day, you were crying. I came up to you and asked why tears fell on your face. You said, "Walang nagmamahal sa akin." Ump! Inumbagan nga kita! I said, "Anong tawag mo sa akin?"

Bakit ganon? Alam mong mali pero di mo magawang itama. Alam mong bawal pero andyan ka pa rin. Nakadapa ka na ayaw mo pa ring bumangon. Kailan nga ba magiging tama ang mali sa pag-ibig?

· Alam mo, mahal kita. Gulat ko noh? Matagal na yun. Manhid mo kasi e! Ay, di pala! Busy ka lang sa kanya. Ok lang, I understand. Friend mo naman ako e, friend mo lang.

I don't want to see you happy for a moment, but always. I never want to see you crying even for just a second. But if it's the only way to ease the pain in your heart, wag ka pa rin iiyak, ako na lang.

Sabi nila kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, matututo kang pakawalan sha. Kung sayo, sayo. Kung hindi, hindi. E paano ko iisiping pakawalan ka? E ikaw nga yung dahilan kung bakit ako nagmamahal.

Kahit anong tindi ko magdasal, isa lang akong sirang nangangarap sayo. Alam ko na di mo ko mahal at di ka magiging akin. Isa kang panaginip na di ko maabot kasi lahat ng pinapangarap mo, kahit kailan, di magiging ako.

Akala ko kaibigan ka lang talaga. Hindi ko napansin unti-unti na akong napamahal sayo. Tanga ko! E may mahal ka namang iba! Hindi bale, habang buhay na lang akong magpapakatanga.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Philippine All Stars Wins Gold in 2008 World Hip Hop Championships


Philippine All Stars bested more than 1,000 dancers from 33 countries by winning the title in the 2008 World Hip-Hop Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday, August 3, 2008.


Three judges gave the Philippine All Stars an aggregate score of 8.94. A large part of the score (5.35) was earned by way of the group’s infusion of artistic steps in their choreography.


And to that, competition judge and multi-Gramy awardee MC Hammer said: “The Filipino artists…they continue to evolve in a global basis. They take art and dance seriously.I am very proud of the level that the Philippines over all have developed into.”


Judge Shane Sparks of the hit tv show So You Think You Can Dance also had high praises for the group.


Source: Starmometer.com


Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNRR9rdIcag (semi-final round)

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Catherine Loria is Grand Winner in the 2008 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA)


The Philippines is on top of the world of performing arts for the third time! Our very own Catherine Loria was declared Grand Champion Performer of the World in the recently concluded “Talent Olympics” in Hollywood.

13-year-old Catherine Loria, from Tiaong, Quezon Province, was proclaimed Grand Champion Performer of the World, a major feat which was won by Jed Madela in 2005 and Aria Clemente in 2007. She sang Yolanda Adam’s version of “I Believe I Can Fly” at the finals. She bested fellow junior contestants Tippy dos Santos and Rachel Razon, junior vocalists also from the Philippines, Courtney Mary Janssen from New Zealand, and Oleksandr Chernenko from Ukraine.

On the other hand, Andrew Clarke from Jamaica was proclaimed Grand Champion Performer of the World in the senior edition beating our very own Marielle Corpuz.

More than 40 countries participated in the annual event which is patterned after the Olympics.
The national directors for Team Philippines this year are Carlo Orosa and Oliver Oliveros.

Source: Starmometer.com
Photo Credits: Oliver Oliveros via PEP
Video Link:
Catherine Loria - When You Believe - WCOPA 2008

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Keeping the Pinoy Spirit Alive, Always!


Laman ng balita si Pacman kagabi with his recent win and history made. I was never a boxing fan but I always look forward sa lahat ng laban ng mga pinoy boxers.

I was watching TV Patrol Linggo last night, and again medyo naluha ako. Saan? Well, sa response ng mga pinoy sa pagkakapanalo ni Pacman.

Natuwa ako with matching luha sa pinakita ng mga Pinoy. Despite what is happening sa bansa natin with the recent tragedy and the never ending price hikes, Pinoys are still proud to be Pinoy. Na sa kabila ng pahirap na pahirap na pamumuhay ng mga Pinoy, mayroon paring puwang sa puso natin ang pagiging Pilipino. Na sa kabila ng mga problema, may baon paring ngiti na mula sa puso ng isang Juan Dela Cruz. Iba talaga ang Pinoy, bilib na bilib ako! Mga taong may simpleng pangarap sa buhay na hinahaluan ng sipag, tiyaga, determinasyon at pananalig sa Maykapal at pinatitibay ng mga pagsubok at dagok sa buhay. Dahil dito, taas noo at ipinagmamalaki ko na ako ay may lahing kayumanggi. Pilipino sa lahat ng panahon at pagkakataon!

Sa pinakita nating pagkakaisa sa pagkapanalo ni Pacman, naway ipakita natin parati. Ito marahil ang kailangan natin tungo sa pag papaunlad ng buhay! Sana.

Gaya nga ng slogan ng ABS-CBN – WALANG IWANAN SA BAYAN NI JUAN! Yey!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The PACMAN Fever!


History made again! Pacquio won! Yehey!

My so excited dad called me (I was in the middle of a worth dreaming dream!) to tell Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao won! Dad is a boxing fan along with my late grandfather.

Congrats Manny!

Mabuhay ang lahing kayumanggi!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Imagine a world without Filipinos


Got this from a local Arab newspaper. Filipinos will be always be the best worker anywhere, indeed!

Proud to be Filipino
!

Imagine a world without Filipinos


Abdullah Al-Maghlooth Al-Watan, almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”


Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.


Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.


Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.


So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.


What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.


When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.


Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.


This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.


The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.


We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.


We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.


We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Araw ng Kalayaan



Isang mapagpalayang araw ng kalayaan sa ating lahat!

Nawa’y maging tunay na tayong maging malaya sa hinaharap.

Maging malaya sa kahirapan, karahasan, katiwalian at kawalang paki-alam sa bayan at sa kapwa.

Huwag sana natin sayangin ang mga pakikipag laban na ginawa ng ating mga bayani at ninuno upang makamit ang minimithing kasarinlan.

At sana ay isabuhay natin ang pagiging Pilipino nasaan man tayo, sa lahat ng oras at pagkakataon, sa isip, sa salita at lalong lalo na sa gawa!

Ipinagmamalaki ko na ako’y Pilipino!


Ang bayan ko'y tanging ikaw

Pilipinas kong mahal

Ang puso ko at buhay man

Sa iyo'y ibibigay
Tungkulin kong gagampananna lagi kang paglingkuran

Ang laya mo'y babantayan

Pilipinas kong hirang...

Monday, June 9, 2008

Youngblood - Race and destination


Youngblood
Race and destination
By Betheena C. Dizon
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 00:57:00 06/05/2008


I am hardly moved by what I see on television.


But there was this particular scene that really touched me to the core: Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez running toward the final pit stop in “The Amazing Race Asia Season 2,” carrying the Philippine flag. What struck me about this scene was that these guys made it a point to show the world that as they competed, they were thinking not only of themselves but of this country as well. And to think that Nelson does not even have a drop of Filipino blood in his veins! It seemed to me that he was also running the race for the country that he had adopted as his own. These guys have not forgotten the Philippines at all. But the realization also made me sad because, today, there are quite a lot of Filipinos who have forgotten their own country.


In this age of Filipino diaspora, there are quite a number of our countrymen who seem to be intent on forgetting not only their land of birth but also their nation’s heritage. I know this for a fact because my mother was at the receiving end of a diatribe from an acerbic “ex-Filipino.” She slammed my mom for choosing to live in the Philippines, trying to make it better. The woman is now a naturalized American citizen; and by her looks, my mother said, she had exhausted every opportunity to make herself look like an American. I am saddened by the fact that there are people like her who have chosen to forget their origins. Upon arriving in a prosperous and ultra-modern city, usually in the United States or in some European country, they begin to erase from their minds their Filipino heritage. They work hard to imitate the accent of the people living there; they have their noses “re-done” just to remove what is more often than not a “trademark” of Filipinos; and do other stuff that would make them look more and more fair-skinned. Basically, they begin to systematically change their outward appearance, thinking that their Filipino identity will vanish along with it. But what they do not realize is that no matter how hard they change their appearance, it stays—and will stay—with them until the day they die.


Where we come from defines who we are and what we will become. Our present selves are the results of all that we have been through. We are products of our heritage, the hardships, the trials, and all that we have grown accustomed to. If we are strong now, it is because the storms of life that buffeted us have made us sturdier to withstand anything that may come our way. If we are weak, it may be because we have chosen not to fight life’s vicissitudes or to learn the lessons that life has been teaching us.


And we are the people that what we are now because we have been raised in a culture that is full of incredible contradictions. We are God-fearing but we tolerate corruption because it has already become an accepted part of the bureaucracy. We are a kind people but have grown apathetic to the plight of poor kids living in the streets. We profess to be poor but we have unashamedly wasted—and continue to waste—our natural resources which take a long time for Mother Earth to replenish. But despite these contradictions, it is a fact that we Filipinos are among the nicest, most polite and most caring people in Asia and, possibly, in the world.


This is what has been forgotten by our countrymen who are now on a mission to eradicate their Filipino identity. They have forgotten that what they are now is the result of living in this Third World country. They have become what they are because of the culture and heritage that they were raised in. They are struggling to make their lives better because they have lived through difficult circumstances. This has made them determined, persevering and hardworking. Incidentally, these traits are the identifying qualities of Filipinos.


This striking reality brings back to my mind a Filipino saying: “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan.” [“He who does not know how to look back to where he came from will not get to where he’s going.”] Indeed, where we came from and what we have been through are mere stages or pit stops in our journey through life. These are sort of clues that lead us to the finish line. And that finish line is the better life that we are all dreaming of.


Now, these people may argue that they have already reached the finish line, that they are now living prosperously, which has always been their dream. But to me, having a better life is not all about living in comfort and security. To my mind, having a better life is the actualization and acknowledgment of who you are. And it is this actualization and acknowledgment that will drive us to strive for better lives. If we realize and acknowledge where we come from and what we have been through, we will feel at ease with who we really are.


People who have chosen to forget where they come from may live better lives, but they will never be at peace with themselves because they have chosen to forget who they really are. And it is in this sense that they will never reach their destinations. They will never have that sense of fulfillment of having accepted every facet of their identity. They will never completely know themselves because they have chosen to forget their beginnings.


In times like these, when accusations of cheating, greed and lies can be heard at every corner, the temptation to forget our identity as Filipinos becomes more and more alluring. Who wants to be part of a nation where leaders profess to be working hard for the good of the people, when in truth and in fact, they are working hard just to satisfy their selfish interests? Who wants to be a member of a race that has become apathetic to dirty politics even though it greatly affects the future and their children? However, we should not forget that God has a purpose in creating us to be Filipinos. We may not see the good behind it yet, but let us trust that God has a perfectly good reason why He made us to be citizens of this country. If we truly learn to accept who we are and embrace our identity willingly, we will not only reach our destinations, we will also become better persons living better lives in this challenging world. It is then that we will become proud of what we are and where we come from and in everything we do.


Then, we just might be able to carry the Philippine “flag” with pride and fervor in our hearts as we run in this amazing race called life.


Betheena C. Dizon, 23, is a third year student at the San Beda College of Law.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

www.new7wonders.com


Guys, please vote for Philippines' entries to the new 7 wonders of the world. Let us help create history! Let us, for once do something good to our country. And let us bring back Philippines' glory!

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Tubbataha Reef
Chocolate Hills
Mayon Volcano

Monday, May 19, 2008

2008 ESU International Public Speaking Champion's Speech


Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus
By Gian Karlo Dapul

When I was in 6th grade, I hated mathematics. You would have, too, if you had my teacher. He would drop huge workbooks on our tables and croak, “30 problems, 50 minutes.” A lot of these problems seemed unsolvable, so we complained: “Sir, there are no answers to these!” But then he’d reply, “To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution.”
Although I’m only 16 years old and an incoming 4th year high school student, I know that my country has more problems than any mathematics book. Strangely enough, the answers to some of our problems are fish mucus and foot fungus. These seemingly improbable items are products of what we call scientific research.

Research turns our guesses into real knowledge, serving as the sifting pan of our hypotheses. It challenges what we assume, because, as they say, if you only learn from what you ASS-UME, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.”

In the early 1800s, someone warned that the streets of London would be filled with horse manure due to the uncontrolled use of horse-drawn carriages. Of course, that never happened. Combustion engines, products of research and invention, replaced horses, and the manure piled up in Parliament instead.

While on the subject, few people know that the most expensive coffee in the world is taken from the droppings of the Asian Palm Civet found in the Philippines and Indonesia. The small mammal excretes the coffee berries it eats, and forest trackers recycle the fruity feces to create what is known as Kopi Luwak in Indonesia or Kape Alamid in our country. Research has led to a synthetic process that simulates the droppings’ exotic flavor and quality.

So, who’s had coffee with their breakfast? Well, soon nobody will have had coffee and breakfast if the looming global food crisis worsens. Are you all feeling fine? Well, nobody might be fine for long if some new disease creeps up on us.

Health can be enhanced and life can be extended. The nudibranch, a beautiful, soft-bodied creature unfairly called a “sea slug” — a favorite among underwater photographers for its marvelous colors and shapes — has actually been used in tumor research. Samples of fish mucus have also displayed certain antibacterial properties.

And as the Home Shopping Network would say, “Wait! There’s more.”

Certain types of infectious fungi that coat some of your toes form beneficial relationships that support plant growth. The International Rice Research Institute based in the Philippines continues to develop ways to improve rice growth and help alleviate the current food crisis.
New challenges are coming, and they will always confront us. What we need is an army of scientific researchers that will help find the solutions in advance. I want to be part of that army that would cross the new frontiers first.

If only we could make science fairs and contests as popular as the thriving “Idol” franchise — although I’m not sure if Simon Cowell’s sardonic comments will sit well with my peers. But we need the same hard-hitting passion in research and invention.

To conduct research is to be innovative, avant-garde. Researchers are like artists with test tubes and lab gowns instead of paintbrushes and smocks. When I graduate from the Philippine Science High School next year, I want to begin my “masterpiece” and apply for a university degree in biochemistry.

Sometimes I am discouraged by those who say that a researcher from a Third-World nation is like a Jesuit adhering to a vow of poverty, or worse, like a Benedictine monk observing the vow of chastity. It is indeed a challenge, but it’s also another frontier to cross, for me and many young people like me.

We Filipinos are well known for our dedication to service, in foreign homes, hospitals and hotels. (In our hotel, I found three Filipinos working at the front desk.) I want to be one of the pioneers that will make the Philippines known for its excellence in scientific research, as part of the driving force that will expand our horizons towards tomorrow. And I intend to have a lot of fun while doing it.

Going back to my math teacher, I eventually realized that, well, he was right. As he said, “To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution.” We just have to go looking for the right ones. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be answering the questions that haven’t been asked yet.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Kung bakit mas gusto kong ang tagalog movies


Bata pa lang ako mahilig na ako tagalong movies kesa sa English. Lagi nga ako mag isa nanonood ng sine kasi walang gusto sumama sakin kasi nga tagalog ( so baduy, sabi ng pinsan kong pinaglihi kay Kris Aquino). Pero ewan ko, hanggang ngayun mas na a appreciate ko ang tagalog over English movies. Bakit nga ba?

Una,kasi mas madaling intindihin, alam mo na, tagalog ang salita. Hindi na kailangan magdala ng mga dictionary pag may na encounter ka na kakaibang words. O di kaya lagyan ng caption pag nanonood sa DVD.

Pangalawa, dahil gawang pinoy, mas madaling maka relate. Pinoy ang istorya at pinoy ang setting. Baduy man pero mas naiintindihan natin dahil mas kabisado natin ang kulturang pinoy.

Pangatlo, jologs pero mas may dating ang mga linya. Mas may kurot sa puso, mas nakakaantig damdamin. May mensaheng galing sa pusong pinoy.

Pang-apat, Filipino first. Hehe.Patriotic? Oo.Unahin ang sariling atin.

Pang-lima, yung aral ng bawat kwento.Tungkol man sa pamilya, pag ibig o pagkakaibigan. Pinoy values showcased at its best and finest!