Bolpen at Penpen de Sarapen

FILIPINOS ' USE OF TECHNOLOGY = FIRST WORLD COUNTRY

2009-06-22T00:06:00.000-07:00

Can the power of technology lift the Philippines up from being third world?

If technology is used in its broadest term aside from being material objects of use to man which is "systems, methods of organization and, techniques", according to wikipedia, then Filipinos' increasing use of it will eventually lead to a future where a small or zero percentage of the population would still be living below the poverty line.

What is being third world? In terms of how progressive a country is, being classified as such means that we are falling behind compared to our wealthier neighbors like Singapore.

Is the use of technology the only solution in order for the Filipino to be First World? There may be other solutions but so far technology has brought advancement in our history as a people.

My own experience alone would be sufficient to assume that other Filipinos who were not computer-savvy before but who have learned to use the computer as a means of communications, learning, and of transacting business. I can say that I am financially more independent now that I am working for a call center than I had been seven years ago. Because of my computer knowledge, I am able to discharge duties and do multi-tasking, things that were not possible to do before the age of computer.

If more Filipinos would learn to adapt to our changing world that involves more advances in technology, then no alien nation would be dare say that the word Filipino
means a maid or a househelper.

I can see progress happening before my eyes in that people who had no previous experience with computers are now opening accounts in Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Plurk and blogging their way just like any experienced journalist.

How to get to First World?

First, frequent use of social networking sites like Facebook and Friendster.
Second, getting more people to be involved in meaningful concerns other than just playing Texas poker or Yoville. I am not saying that people should not indulge in recreation when they are away from their jobs but whenever we can we must always think of ways of bettering ourselves and what better way that to create more friends and have an impact on them.
Third, write more uplifting stories, motivational pieces that people can use to empower them.
Fourth, be empowered yourself.
Fifth, don't forget family and above all, God.

POSTER OF " CON ASS" CONGRESS MEMBERS IS TRAMPLED UPON IN MAKATI RALLY

2009-06-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

At the corner of Paseo De Roxas and Ayala Avenue in Makati City not far from the stage, a large poster that shows the faces of the members of Congress who voted for the passage of HR 1109 is laid down on the ground. There are all sorts of vandal writings on it and rallyists are trampling upon it, showing their indignation at the faces plastered on it.

At the stage, a program is in progress. There are Filipino songs, dances, poems, and skits mocking the Arroyo administration. Rousing speeches are rendered by Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr. who ran for president against Gloria Arroyo in 2004, and by Teofisto Guingona, a former vice president of the republic.

The litany of various sectors of the society present in the rally continues: Alliance for Concerned Teachers, Kabataan Partylist, left wing groups like Bayan, Bayan Muna, Sanlakas, Migrante International, overseas workers groups, jeepney drivers groups, cause oriented groups like Akbayan, Gabriela, Selda, August Twenty One Movement, labor organizations, farmers' groups, Black & White Movement, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Selda, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, student groups, Kaya Natin, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, YouthVote Philippines, Green Families and Communities Network and more...

Josefina Lichauco, a former government official denounces the administration of Arroyo as evil. Former president Cory Aquino is feeling weak and cannot attend the rally but her resolve to condemn the passage of HR 1109 is as strong as ever as she indicates in her letter that is read by her grandson Kiko Dy. JV Ejercito reads his father Joseph Estrada's letter of support for the anti- con ass rallyists. The former president is in the Middle East extending help to our countrymen working in Kuwait. Most of the senators who are against the passage of the resolution go up the stage to make a vow that they will fight its passage in the Senate.

Senators Biazon, Aquino, Cayetano, Lacson and those who expressed their intention to run in the 2010 elections - Escudero, Roxas and Legarda - call on the people to take a stand.

The members of Congress who did not vote for the passage of the bill and were in fact not allowed to protest against HR 1109, are called upon the stage. Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo makes an impassioned speech where he accuses the whole rigmarole of the passing of HR 1109 as having been planned by the president herself and executed by her allies in Congress. He avers that there was no public hearing and those who protested against the resolution were not allowed to speak at all.

The New Panatang Makabayan written by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera is recited by everyone.It was patterned after the vow recited by every Filipino school child during flag ceremony but many of the words were replaced by Lumbera as a sign of protest against the Arroyo administration.

Joe de Venecia, who used to be an ally of Gloria Arroyo when he was still Speaker of the House of Representatives, reveals that it was Arroyo's intention to remain in power for a long time and a constituent assembly will help bring that goal of hers to fruition.

Rallyists who cannot go near the stage watch from two giant screens set up at strategic locations. As the gathering of protesters goes on into the night, the chant reverberates all throughout the central business district, "Con Ass at Gloria!" "Ibasura!" ("Con Ass and Gloria!" "Throw them out!").

Thousands show their disgust at the passage of HR 1109. Just across the street from the stage, the statue of fallen statesman Ninoy Aquino remains a symbol of protest against the current political status quo just as he had been when he was alive.

AVES DE RAPINA

2009-06-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

This past week saw Philippine politics at at an all-time low. The Lower House of Congress' members loyal to the administration passed House Resolution No.1109 - A resolution calling upon the members of Congress to convene for the purpose of considering proposals to amend or revise the Constitution, upon a vote of three-fourths of all members of Congress - on the Second Regular Session of the Fourteenth Congress.

What is the significance of this event to me, a Filipino mother of five children who are all of school age? How does this affect me? The legislators do their job, I do mine. They pass bills that become laws that affect the lives of every Filipino and that is where our paths cross. There is a saying that the biggest room in the world is the room for change. But changes to the Charter is not the change Filipinos are hoping for, it is real change in how our leaders govern our land. For if truth be told, it is badly governed. Power and wealth is in the hands of a 'privileged few'. 'The rich is becoming richer and the poor poorer' has become cliche.

After the conquistadores, the Americans, the Japanese and the Americans again, we now come face to face with ourselves and our own demons. We have much to learn from our past as a people. If we have the courage to look deep into our roots and learn, then history may be kind and not repeat itself like a recurring horrific nightmare.

This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of publication of the novel Mga Ibong Mandaragit(Aves De Rapina). National Artist Amado V. Hernandez started to write portions of this story while he was serving time in prison for trumped up charges of sedition. Feudalism made it possible for large tracts of land to be owned by one family alone. Traces of feudalism remain in the Philippines today. I have read the book in my second year high school class. The country was under oppression then and our teacher found it very apt to the situation even for a fourteen-year-old. It was a story of one very ordinary boy in a feudalistic society who stopped from being ordinary and later helped save his country from tyranny.

Perhaps I will start reading it again before I go to bed tonight.

This is in response to the call from the blog 2010 Presidentiables to link with other blogs/bloggers discussing about the issue of HR 1109.

VISIT OTHER BLOGS AND BE INFORMED.

1. http://notoconass.com/
2. http://conass.wordpress.com/
3. http://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/
4. http://kritikoradikalestudyante.wordpress.com/
5. http://thechinadoll.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/con-ask/
6. http://daretospeakout.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/traitors-and-backstabbers-in-the-congress/
7. http://lupitnicabring.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/the-ayes-have-it/
8. http://wexistence.wordpress.com/
9. http://scarletbroomstick.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/inglorious-bastards/
10. http://blogbreak.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/hr-1109/#comments
11. http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/twin-evils-resolution-1109-and-the-9-11-terror-attack/
12. http://chuvachienes.com/2009/06/05/15182/
13. http://cathcath.com/?p=6137
14. http://filipinovoices.com/con-ass-where-would-this-nightmare-lead-us-to
15. http://rhyan.net/2009/06/05/spread-the-badge-no-to-conass/
16. http://politics.alleba.com/2009/06/03/no-to-conass-badges/
17. http://thepinoy.net/?p=3548
18. http://mav-equalizer.blogspot.com/2009/06/congressmen-assholes-who-voted-for.html
19. http://thewutzup.com/2009/06/05/bro-eddie-plans-huge-rally-to-stop-con-ass/
20. http://blogs.inquirer.net/blogaddicts/2009/06/05/filipinos-take-con-ass-fight-online/
21. http://marichulambino.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/a-piece-of-your-mind-on-the-planned-con-ass-to-change-the-charter/
22. http://makuhari.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/terrorist-act-on-our-constitution/
23. http://boymejorada.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/have-we-lost-our-ability-to-get-angry/
24. http://wakeuphils.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/bernas-they-announced-they%e2%80%99ll-commit-a-crime/
25. http://tatayk.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/indignation-vs-con-ass/
26. http://quierosaber.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/house-resolution-1109/
27. http://pinaynews.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/top-10-reasons-filipinos-in-the-us-should-say-no-to-arroyos-cha-cha/
28. http://pinaynews.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/con-ass-a-path-to-dictatorship-martial-law-bayan-usa/
29. http://kablog2.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/three-days/
30. http://dominoeffect2009.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/will-there-be-a-third-time/
31. http://eriktenedero.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/con-ass-failed-before-session-adjourns/#comment-35
32. http://dominoeffect2009.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/the-chacha-express-has-arrived/
33. http://kapirasongkritika.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/mga-plakard-sa-panahon-ng-con-ass/
34. http://tatayk.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/damn-you-con-ass/
35. http://nochain.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/kick-con-ass-student-councils-denounce-hor%e2%80%99s-move-to-railroad-chacha/
36. http://arnoldpadilla.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/railroading-hr-1109-con-ass-a-scandal-far-worse-than-haydens-sex-videos/
37. http://carlcala.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/charter-change-is-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/
38. http://cocoy826.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/lets-hope-our-people-have-a-better-understanding-of-democracy-by-the-time-we-go-to-the-polls-again-in-2010/
39. http://danabatnag.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/the-up-college-of-law-facultys-statement-on-the-charter-change/
40. http://firsttimevotersproject.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/first-time-voters-register-protest-against-gma%e2%80%99s-charter-change/

photo courtesy of tinig.com

ANG KLASIKONG KUWENTO NI DAVID AT GOLIATH

2009-05-29T03:04:00.000-07:00

(Ilang buwan ding hindi ako nakapagsulat. Trabaho at marahil ang mahabang pagluluksa para sa isang napakahalagang tao sa buhay ko ang dahilan. Hayaan ninyong ibahagi ko ang isang sanaysay sa panulat kong arosebyanyanothername sa FilipinoWriter.com. Gawa ito noong kainitan ng Pangandaman isyu subali't ang tema nito ay nangyayari at patuloy na mangyayari kung hindi tayo kikilos. Kailangang gumawa ng ingay para maiparating sa kinauukulan ang tunay na saloobin ng sambayanang Pilipino.)

Kamakailan lang ay inapi si David ni Goliath. Paanong nangyari iyon? Naglalaro lamang siya ng golf. Masayang nagpapalipas ng maghapon na tangan ang kanyang club. Hindi tirador noon ang hawak ni David kung di golf club at kasama niya ang kanyang ama. Nguni't naroon din pala si Goliath at naisip na pagtripan siya kahit naroon din ang ama nito o sa kabila nang presensiya rin ng ama nito.

Si David ngayon ang sugatan pati na ang kanyang ama. Papayagan ba nating manalo sa laban si Goliath gayong si David at tayo ay iisa? Ikaw na nasa bukid o sa gitna ng dagat. Ikaw na naglalako sa kalye. Ikaw na mas mababa pa ang posisyon sa opisina kaysa sa pinag-aralan. Ikaw na binubuwisan. Ikaw na nagkakasya na lamang sa pagngiti at pagpapatawa upang maibsan ang lungkot at kasalatan ng buhay. Ikaw na nasa gitna ng digmaan sa Mindanao o nakikipaglaban para sa lupang matagal nang dapat ay iyo. Ikaw na nasa ibang bansa - nagsisilbi sa bahay o sa maysakit, o sa mga opisina o pagawaan, o sa barko. Ikaw na walang hanapbuhay at madalas na gutom. Ikaw na naghahangad ng kapayapaan at katotohanan. Ikaw na may pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa bayan. Ikaw si David.

Kailan dadamputin ni David ang tirador at pababagsakin si Goliath?

Kilala ninyo si Goliath. Walang maipagmalaki kung di ang kanyang laki at yaman ng kanyang lahing Filisteo. Nguni't nagapi siya noon ni David.

David, hindi pa huli. Huwag ka nang pumayag na pagtripan kang muli ni Goliath. Sipatin mo na ang noo ng higante at pawalan na ang batong makapagpapabagsak sa kanya.

Photo by brad_bechtel on Flickr

MAMIMILI O MABIBILI BA TAYO?

2009-02-21T00:46:00.000-08:00

Ilang buwan na lang, eleksyon na naman. Boboto na naman tayo, mga kapwa ko Pilipino. Mamimili tayo ng gusto nating kandidato. Mamimili na naman ng boto ang madayang kandidato.

Nakakalito ano? Himayin natin ang mga salita. Ang mamimili sa naunang pangungusap na ang bigkas ay malumi ay galing sa salitang pili samantalang ang mamimili sa huling pangungusap ay galing sa mabilis na bili.

Pili at bili. Malumi ang pili. Mahinahon at maingat nguni't may determinasyon ang dapat gawing pagpili sa mga kandidato sa halalan sa 2010. Mabilis ang bili, nag-aapura, gustong makaungos ng kandidatong mamimili ng boto natin.

Pipili tayo. Sasayangin ba natin ang karapatang ipinagkaloob sa atin simula pa noong lalangin ang mundo?

Alam kaya ito ng mga kandidatong bumibili ng boto? Kung talagang mahal nila tayo, hindi tayo dapat pilitin sa pamamagitan ng pagbili ng ating boto, panloloko at pananakot.

Kung ang Diyos na dapat nating pag-alayan ng buong pagkatao natin at pagmamahal ay nakapagbigay sa atin ng free will o malayang kaloobang pumili ng ating nais, bakit hindi tayo bigyan ng kandidatong trapo ng kalayaang pumili kung sino ang gusto nating iboto?

Sa darating na eleksyon, makinig naman kayo sa tunay naming saloobin, mga pinagpipitaganang kandidato. Huwag ninyo na kaming takutin, pangakuan ng kahit ano, lokohin, o sumbatan sa utang na loob namin sa inyo dahil kung tinulungan ninyo man kami habang kayo ay nakapuwesto, bahagi iyon ng inyong sinumpaang tungkulin sa bayan.

Pipili tayo, mga kababayan ko. HINDI!!!, ang sagot natin sa bibili.

photo by jeriel022 in photobucket

If God Is With Us , Who Can Be Against Us?

2009-01-24T12:51:00.001-08:00

I belong to many or am affiliated to many groups apart from Ang Kapatiran. Two of them are in church and of course I belong to the company where I work. I am part of a team. I have also tried to get the pulse of the people by creating a poll, albeit an unsuccessful one, gauging from the number of respondents. I asked them if they thought that their vote still made a difference. Only two responded. One replied affirmatively, the other believed that there was no sense in exercising her right to vote because the elections would be rigged anyway.

With my other groups, I would like to think that my acquaintance, if not my friendship, would make the subject of elections and voting or even politics a palatable topic. But no, they shun away from talking about it as if it was something taboo. I have heard them groaning aloud their discontent with Gloria though.

They have closed their eyes to the truth. The truth is, the fate of this country lies not in the hands of the elitist few but in the hands of the many.

If we are united in our goals for our country, we can make our aspirations happen. Why keep on bawling, ranting and raving when we can still do things.

I believe that most of us have been subliminally seduced by mass media into thinking that to save our country, we would need Gagambino, Asero, Joaquin Bordado, Diosa and Darna. Most of us are hoping for a miracle to happen like what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus.

Perhaps we don't need another EDSA. I am not a political analyst and I cannot say if an EDSA is needed again right now. But there is one thing I am certain of.

My fate is in my hands. God has given me free will because He loves me. But that does not mean that I should abuse that trust.

Perhaps we do not need to march again or to rally. But there is one thing that I am certain of. If we are united and come together in God's name, affirming and thanking Him for the trust He has bestowed on us, He will be in our midst. Who can be victorious against us?

Let us remain in God's peace and remember that if God so wills it, many of our countrymen will join Ang Kapatiran.

I will not pressure my friends and acquaintances lest I turn them off. I will lift them up to God in prayer and then explain to them about Ang Kapatiran and everything it stands for.

Abuse of Power and the Alliance for the Common Good

2009-01-01T03:40:00.000-08:00

You, who feel outrage for the abuse of power displayed by the Pangandamans, enough for you to want their resignation, may log on at http://angkapatiranparty.org under Petitions and add your signature to the growing list there.

I first heard of the party AngKapatiran (Alliance for the Common Good) in February 2007. I was in between jobs then and all I could do when I joined the party was to add my two-cents worth to the forums. I had applied online after reading the party platform and principles. When the party campaigned in Sampaloc, Manila, the nearest venue to me, I had just been hired by a company and would only be able to go after office hours. I hurried from UN Ave. to Sampaloc near UST. But the party procession had passed and the affair was over by the time I found their last destination.I went home depressed. I had missed my chance of meeting the other party members face-to-face.

In May 2007, I voted straight and only for the three AngKapatiran senatoriables - Adrian Sison, Martin Bautista and Jess Paredes even if the odds were against them. I had not planned on blockvoting but I really believed that it was the time for a breath of fresh air where politics in the Philippines was concerned and I don't mean neophytes. There were actor never-rans who were running, too.

My three candidates lost the elections but they were not the least of the pack and that fact gave me hope. For when I gave them my vote, I had felt that I was voting not for myself or my family alone but for every unsung Filipino.

Somehow I got too busy with my new job but I visited http://angkapatiran.org and http://kpkcommongood.blogspot.com for some news time and again.

Recently, I joined the e-group ang_kapatiran and registered with the group's new website not because I was planning to run for public office but because I was willing to work with other people, who would be mere nobodys in the eyes of the powers-that-be, to regain our chances for an egalitarian way of life.

Please join AngKapatiran Party and stop the abuse of power. It is not about some bigtime artista or trapo. It is about common people with common dreams. It is about you and me.