Who did start the fire?

Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex 
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say. >BJoel

 

Naiwan ko ang cell phone ko sa office last Friday kaya inihanda ko ang sarili not to reach or be reached thru cell phone for the weekend.

Lunes na feel ko lang bumili ng dyaryo para lang  ma update sa NBA play off results. Isang deviation dahil Sunday  Inquirer lang ang regular kong binibili at tabloid lang ang binili ko ngayon para hindi bulky reading habang nasa byahe.

Pagkabayad ko sa dyaryo, punta kaagad ako sa Sports section, pabalik ang pasulyap kong basa hanggang makarating ako sa Front page.

Dahil nga wala akong cell phone, pagdating ko pa lang sa trabaho nalaman na may nag text nga sa akin noon pa lang linggo ukol dito.

At sa dyaryo ko na nga nalaman ang detalye ng balitang pinagbabaril siya ng mga anim na ulit, kalibre 38,

sa toll gate ng San Simon, Pampanga kaha­pon alas 10 y medya ng umaga  habang nag-a­abang ng pampasaherong bus patungong Maynila ng dalawang ‘di-pa kila­lang lalaki na sakay ng motor­siklong Ya­maha (DY 4524).

 

Itinuro mo kasi, “ang tao’y tao”!

 

What else do I have to say.

 

Some evil that some "humans" do

Check out the links

BEWARE_of_fraud_seller_JAINE_DE_GUZMAN_RIEGEL_NERVIZA

This_is_NOT_Art

The Pursuit Of Happyness

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

This is the last movie on my Will Smith dvd movie collection of which I have all finished watching a week ago. Notables among the line up, in no particular order was Hitch, Enemy of the State, Men In Black I and II and this one.

Will Smith plays the lead role of the rags to riches story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman trying to a medical equipment that unfortunately have become outdated and most doctors at that time have found no need for the product so his source of income got bleak support himself and his son Christopher (his son in real life).

The obstacles that Chris faces are likely familiar to many or most people who watch, father and son are scrounging for food and living in homeless shelters and train-station toilets. The movie is about the achievement of one man who overcame the many obstacles that could have easily surrendered to. It also strain free that the movie is told without creating racial obstacles, because it was never an issue that Chris is black or nobody looks down on him even if his appearance at some instances do not fit that part of the corporate world.

I can say that Smith gave a great performance and this movie and this earned him an Oscar nomination and a number of acting recognitions. After viewing all the movies in that collection, I was curious how his career have been going so I read about the man and found out that ……..
• He is also one of only three actors in the history of film to have seven consecutive US$100 million blockbusters, the two other being Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks.
• Smith was nearly bankrupt in 1990 when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him. The show was successful and launched his acting career.
• 1996, Smith began a successful solo music career while simultaneously starring in a series of films. The first two films were hugely successful summer blockbusters: Independence Day (1996), in which he played a fearless and confident fighter pilot, and Men in Black (1997),
• Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West. After the failure of Wild Wild West and watching Keanu Reeves' performance, he believed that Keanu was "born" to play the part, but admits not regretting turning down the role[11].
• He then gained lead roles in several box office successes including Men in Black II, Bad Boys II, Hitch, and I, Robot.
• Smith was considered for the role of John Smith in the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith; Brad Pitt eventually received the role
• He was also considered for the role of Willy Wonka in the remake of the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

On a more personal side
Smith has admitted to studying Scientology and he has said many complimentary things about the controversial religion. He and his wife are close friends of prominent Scientologists Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, which has led to rumors that Smith is also a Scientologist. Although Smith has said, "I just think a lot of the ideas in Scientology are brilliant and revolutionary and non-religious." and, "Ninety-eight percent of the principles in Scientology are identical to the principles of the Bible.... I don't think that because the word someone uses for spirit is 'thetan' that the definition becomes any different", he has denied having joined the Scientology Church, saying "I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions, and I respect all people and all paths." After Jada made the film Collateral with Cruise in 2004, the couple donated USD$20,000 to Scientology's literacy campaign, called HELP, The Hollywood Education and Literacy Program, which is the basis for Scientology's home-schooling system. (Wiki)

Scientology, let me see…..hmmmmmm.

MQ Test

The Black and White Movement have presented this MQ Test way back October 2007.

This could still be useful at the present so here it is in part……

 

Our national conscience has been desensitized irreparably and we have lost the capacity for outrage. We have become an indifferent, if not a cynical people. And the few who are incensed by the unfolding events feel helpless, not knowing how or where to vent their anger.

Is there hope? It really depends on each one of us. By now, I hope, we must have realized that the impunity we see today is a direct consequence of our apathy and inaction in the past. If we sit idly by and do nothing, it will only get worse.

First, let’s take stock of how we view things from a moral standpoint, before we even think of what we can and should do. I invite you to take the Morality Quotient Test (MQ test) below.

What is your reaction in each of the situation described below? (Choose one that approximates your attitude).....and see how you scored after 5 questions.


1. Fr. Ed Panlilio accepts the P500,000 given out after a meeting with GMA by mayors and governors at Malacanang. He said the money did not come from jueteng or from any illegal source, so he decided to accept it. He intends to use it for projects that will benefit his constituents. How do you feel about this?

a. It was naïve of him to accept it. Understandable. He is, after all, a rookie politician. But now that he knows more about the circumstances of the payoff, he should just return the money.

b. I agree with Fr. Ed. Nothing wrong with using “clean” money to help the poor folks of Pampanga.

c. Father Ed, welcome to the world of politics. You should get used to this kind of wheeling and dealing.

d. He should not have received it in the first place. But since he did, then he should shut up. He’s only giving the opposition fodder for their destabilization efforts.



2. Rep. Cuenca admits in a radio interview that he received a P200T “Christmas gift” after the Malacanang meeting. Other congressmen present in the meeting denied there were “gifts” given out. Cuenca later recants and says it was just a joke. How could he receive a “Christmas gift” when it’s not yet Christmas, he argues. Cong. Defensor says, even if it were true, there’s nothing wrong with it. And Sec. Lito Atienza says, that it’s really standard practice for the President to give her allies gifts of up to P200K after such meetings. It was so in the 9 years that he was mayor. How do you feel about this?

a. I am outraged not only by the brazenness of the payoff and how our elected officials are trivializing it, but also by the blatant lying. The mere fact that this happened in Malacanang should compel the President to resign.

b. This should be investigated by the proper agencies (PAGC or Ombudsman or even the Senate) to determine culpability, punish the guilty, and clear the names of Congressmen who did not receive any amount.

c. What else is new? As Atienza says, this has been going on for the longest time. No matter who the president is, this practice will continue.

d. Elected and appointed officials should be more circumspect in their public pronouncements. Reckless statements like these are tainting our image and might scare investors away.



3. Joey de Venecia vividly describes how the First Gentleman points a menacing finger to his face asking him to “Back Off!” The First Gentleman vehemently denies it and says he could not possibly have done it since he didn’t know Joey personally. But he did advice Joey that he could be violating the law which prohibits relatives of the Speaker from entering into a transaction with government. Obviously, one or both of them are lying. What’s your take?

a. I believe Joey. I can’t imagine him having the audacity to invent such a fantastic story. The Senate should compel, if necessary, the First Gentleman to explain his side.

b. It’s really Joey’s word against the First Gentleman’s. Let the investigation take its full course and let the people decide for themselves.

c. It doesn’t really matter who’s lying. They probably both are. As some senators have said, it’s just a quarrel for kickbacks.

d. It’s probably part of a PR demolition job against FG to discredit and embarrass the GMA government.



4. Palace officials and pro-admin senators are saying that the Senate ZTE hearings should now be terminated, having been rendered moot by the resignation of Comelec Chairman Abalos. The Senate should instead focus on legislating priority bills to alleviate the condition of our people. Besides, they argue, Sec. Neri has already said everything he is willing to reveal and will only invoke executive privilege if pressed by the Senators. What do you think?

a. The hearings should continue to ferret out the truth and determine culpability of all officials involved, possibly including GMA. The Senate should challenge executive privilege at the Supreme Court if Neri invokes it. As for Abalos, a criminal case should be filed against him.

b. The Senate should continue the hearings. However, if there are no new witnesses or information, then they should stop and instead legislate laws as they were mandated to do.

c. Nothing good ever comes out of Senate investigations. Senators, especially those with presidential ambitions, are just showboating.

d. The hearings should stop. People are not interested in scandals. They’re more interested in improving the economy. This will give them jobs and food on the table. Senators should instead work double time to pass bills that will improve the economy.



5. PERC – a risk consultancy firm, released its report on corruption among Asian countries. The Philippines garnered the highest index (8.6 on a scale of 10) making it the most corrupt country in Asia. Opposition groups cited this in their information campaign. Malacanang countered with a media blitz saying that PERC never said the Philippines is the most corrupt, and that this was merely the perception of company executives surveyed. It accused the opposition groups of distorting the survey for their own political ends, and that this has set back the economic gains that the administration has worked so hard to achieve. What’s your take?

a. The fact remains that the Philippines is now the most corrupt Asian country. All corruption reports, including those prepared by Transparency International, are based on perceptions. Rather than worry about tainting our image, we should instead work on reducing the incidents and magnitude of corruption. And it should start from the very top.

b. Even if it’s true that we have become the most corrupt, harping on it does not help much. We should instead work together to improve the situation.

c. What’s all the fuss? We don’t need a foreign agency to tell us what we already know.

d. Let’s not nitpick on the issue of corruption. Other countries as corrupt, if not more, than us are prosperous. Let’s focus on improving our economy.


How to score: add 20 points for every (a) answer, 15 points for every (b) answer, 10 points for every (c) answer and 5 points for every (d) answer.

Interpreting your total score:
THE IDEALIST. If you scored a perfect 100, you’re a hopeless idealist. To a lot of people, you’re a self-righteous moralist, out of touch with realpolitik, and uncompromising. While it seems you’re on the extreme, you may just be the right person to countervail what the CBCP now sees as the moral bankruptcy of our leaders. You must be fuming mad by now with the unraveling of one scandal after the other.
THE CONSCIENTIOUS. If you scored between 90 to 95, you have a fairly decent sense of right and wrong, perhaps tempered only by a healthy fear of instability. With the brazenness and impunity you see today, you are probably ready to act on the dictates of your conscience.
THE PRAGMATIC. If you scored between 65 to 85, you consider yourself a well-balanced person, looking at the big picture rather than just the moral dimension of an issue. When scandals first hounded GMA, you’re probably one of those who kept asking, “But who will replace her?” With the magnitude of bribery you now see, you’re probably close to saying, “I don’t care who replaces her. Just get her out!”
THE CYNIC. If you scored between 30 to 60, you are probably snickering and saying, “I told you so.” You are unfazed by current events, and are determined to continue doing what you do best – nothing. Well… you deserve the country we have today.
THE RUTHLESS If you scored between 20 to 25, you have a single-minded tunnel vision towards economic prosperity. Your philosophy in life could be – “Screw morality. You can’t eat morality. ” To you, the end justifies the means.

 

Read in full.... MQ Test

Karaniwang Tao

“Ako po’y karaniwang tao lamang, kayod kabayo yan ang alam.

Karaniwan ang problema, pagkain, damit, at tirahan.”>JAyala

 

Ang simple kong mundo, nagiging kumplikado.

Yung pandesal ko sa umaga, kaawa ng kagatin yung tig- pipiso.

Yung bigas na isasaing, kailangan pang pumila para makabili ng 2 kilo ang 30 pesos ko.

Ang dating 26 pesos kong gasoline, ngayon ay 48 pesos na.

Ang 3 - dalawang piso kong kendi, mamiso na ang isa ngayon.

Tiis tiis na lang. Makakaraos din.

Ang mahalaga alam natin piliin ang tama kaysa mali.

 

Some great reward.

The time I spend alone has nothing to give.
The life I lead alone has nowhere to live. >K. Harland

I was feeling low these past couple of weeks, about the  day to day concern that I felt I have not dealt with  as I thought I could have.

But yesterday, I was lifted up.

Instead of riding the jeep through the hi-way, I chose to pass by the Town proper and walk. On the way up the bridge, a tricycle had difficulty getting past the bridge that it needed a push that I incidentally could provide because I was the one nearest the vehicle.

So, push I did. The driver said thanks and I hitch a ride with it up to the corner of the street. Some great reward.

At the store by the corner of the street, I bought one big banana for seven pesos. So the fare that I was to pay the jeepney driver was used to buy a banana that as I later realized became a proof that shows my belief in the recent scientific finding that fruits are best eaten on an empty stomach.

As simple as that, I was lifted up and all those troubles and feeling low were all gone.

And as simple as that, we got to realized not to take things for granted and to give thanks to Whom thanksgiving is due.

Life Holds On

“Through the window in the kitchen I can see outside
My kids taking turns coming down the slide
I try not to worry as they grow a little every day
I've just got believe they're gonna find their way” >BNChapman

Over the afternoon weekend, my two boys won me over to accompany them to the new residential subdivision nearby our house to play basketball and to teach them to ride the bicycle.

Roland was more adept playing ball while Michael on biking.

Both have been practicing riding the bike but it is the three wheeled type, so this experience with the two wheeled type is new to them.

Roland I suppose will need a lot more sessions. Michael will learn ahead of Roland and after a few rounds, he is proudly saying that he can ride the bicycle on his own and wanted me to let go of the rider’s seat as he rode the bike.

I can see that Michael can control the bike when it is already running at a moderate speed. He only has difficulty at start up, turning, and stopping.

And that he painfully realized when I did let him ride on his own and in the process, he first hit a lady passing by when he tried to maneuver the bicycle to turn back.

I rushed to their area and checked on them if anybody was hurt. Good thing nobody was hurt or injured. Michael quickly got away from the area when I arrived and after I have checked on them. I can see that he is afraid and embarrassed about the incident.

I thought it was the end of learning to ride for the day, but after getting away from the collision area, he is trying again to ride the bicycle. I let him and after getting a little further, he got out balanced and bumped the rear end of a parked tricycle.

He suffered a scratch wound on his left leg and after picking himself up, walks straight towards our house.

Two collision for the day but I knew that the eagerness to learn will still be there given the time, healed wound or not.

And I look forward to reading on this experience of his, in his diary.