An Appeal to the Filipino Voter

As elections grow nearer, the fate of the nation again is at hand. I may be a drop in the vast ocean, but I quote from the movie "Cloud Atlas" that "An ocean is a multitude of drops". I may not be famous, rather my nickname is, but I am entitled to speak my mind in this democratic country. It's my right, it is why I am here. And I do send out this simple appeal to the Filipino Voter, like me, that will elect the future administration leaders and legislators of the country.

First is the never ending slogan of VOTE WISELY. The term itself is what we wanted for a long time, and that is CHANGE. It is simple as choosing the candidate because you know that he/she is indeed qualified for that position and can deliver public service without smothering his name across town. Its as simple as choosing them with at least some background check and personal deliberation that he is the right and good person for the position. Never should you vote because your favorite artista says so, nor your parents dictates because you have this "utang na loob".

DALAWANG PISO: Interview Went "Les Miserables"

For the first time, since the internet was conceived, veteran showbiz writer/reporter Ricky Lo is now the talk of the cyberworld today with the video of the exclusive interview with Les Miserables star Anne Hathaway. The video was originally from PhilStar's (The Philippine Star) official Youtube account, however within the day it was deleted but several accounts have surfaced and uploaded the video.

In the video, Anne was asked several questions about losing weight, comparison of playing a poor woman although she lived in luxury, and also if she knows Lea Salonga who played Fantine and Eponine in the Les Miserables broadway. The most awkward moment in the video for me was when asked to invite people to watch Les Miserables, she replied that he should do it himself since he knows the people more.

#VivaHesusNazareno! Isang Dekada ng Pamamanata

Special ang taonng 2013, dahil ito ang ika-10 taon ko bilang deboto ng mahal na poong Nazareno. Actually started back in high school, and every year, I made sure to go there   as a thanksgiving to all the things I have today. Pero hindi po ako pumupunta ng nakapaa o humihila ng lubid. I go there to attend mass and offer prayers and thanksgiving. Minsan, sumasagi din sa isip ko kung subukan ko, pero kapag nakikita ko ng malapitan at maipit sa magulong naguunahan sa lubid, na-aasses ko na hindi ko nature yun at mukhang kailangan ng matinidng training yun. Gusto ko pang mabuhay ng mahaba-haba.

Actually, hindi naman patayan talaga ang labanan sa pagsampa sa poon, nagkataon na sa sobrang dami ng deboto ng Nazareno, parang warzone na ang makasampa at mahawakan ang Nazareno. Well, dahil dito nacricriticize ang mga deboto sa fanaticism sa rebulto ni Jesus. Pero narealize ko na ang FAITH ng tao sa Diyos ang nagdadala sa kanila upang ipakita nila ang kanilang nararamdaman. Malungkot lang na mayroong mga "deboto" na sumasama sa ganitong gawain nguit hindi tumaalikod sa kanilang masamang gawain sa buhay na nagpapawala ng halaga sa pamamanata sa Nazareno

I am an end of the world survivor... so are you!

After years of paranoia of the the dreaded date of December 21, 2012. We actually passed the date without any major catastrphe that changed the world as we know it. We are still here, alive and kicking and nothing has changed but are still busy in preparation for the coming Christmas day. Actually one can notice the gravity of the traffic in all major roads. Even in the trains which have a relaxed hours in the afternoon is now at rush hour capacity. And since i is christmas, expect that many will have something in their hands like shopping bags, appliances,  and things that they cannot afford in the past months. It seems that the workforce became one month richer because of the 13th month pay given by companies which is mandated by law. 

When I used to work in the office, I did somehow enjoyed that kind of benefit. The question now for the people blessed with this addiional income is how they would spend it. Probably also consider saving it, but what the heck, its the end of the world (every year). Many will use it to reward themselves with their hard earned cash. 

Going back to the end of the world, it is a scenario that everyone fears of seing even myself, as you can feel chaos, fear, and the other factors depending on the type of "end" that will happen. survival would mean to be resiurceful with the scarcity of materials and the destruction of most of the sources.  This would also mean that the human society will also fall with ethics and morals suspended. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

But we're still here, and its actually December 24th. I am very thankful that there was nothing that can trigger the predicted scenario. Thus, we are all survivors of the "end of the world." I just wondered if some people did something stupid or incredible on that day, which I have to check if there was.  But again, it also have its lessons of the value of life, of spending it wisely and living it with a purpose. We are more than just the apocalypse survivors but life survivors that still continue life  to now and beyond. 

Now, we focus con Christmas which teaches us many life lessons and bring happiness to most of us. For those people who does not celebrate the occasion, its okay, you can still be happy with the possitivity around. As much as possible, keep everthing in balance, and everthing will go great.

So fellow survivors, again will might face another doomsday date in the future. Just keep yourself ready and make sure that  "just in case" that happens, we will be satisfied that we did lived meaningful lives.

DALAWANG PISO: #AMABITCH #AMALAYER

Here's another one just fresh out of facebook and twitter. And indeed from the moment I saw the video yesterday, it is a guaranteed trending topic. And it was as #AMALAYER just trended on the top spot (and some say, it went also to global trends).  With just over a minute of raw video of a girl in her uniform making a scene at the LRT 2 Station with the lady guard on duty. Though the video did not cover the whole scene, it caught the part where the student, known to be Paula Jaime Salvosa, was confronting the lady bag which she says was rude to her.

The video was uploaded in facebook and was shared thousands to times. The hashtag #AMALAYER still trends twitter in the Philippines and also worldwide. Like other internet stars of this year like the one who assulted the MMDA officer and Sen. Sotto and his "highest form of flattery", they got a lash from angry, sympathetic, and parody-loving netizens. And as of this writing, it is still trending.

Just coming from the advanced screening of Breaking Dawn, which I think would have trended, was overshadowed by the hot issue of the #Amalayer Girl. If one would look at the video, it was more of Paula's ranting in front of the lady guard. With the quotable AMALAYER (I'm a liar) part which made it into the trending topics. Some of the quotes also got are ("may pinag aralan ako, i'm returning the favor")

As most of us do not tolerate these kind of behavior against a fellow Filipino, it would really spark a hate sentiment all over the net. Knowing that there are millions who owe their lives to workers like the security guard. Let's say that the guard did made also a mistake with an unfriendly and rude, it would have been in favor if she did not fight back with attention grabbing reaction, and indeed with her english background makes her a target of grammar nazis. And the reactions goes as fast as having hate and parody pages and even a fake twitter which many though was really her and made haters hating her more.

First for the uploader, yes it was something fast yet lifechaning moment that was posted however, I hope that you first forsee the consequences for both parties of the viral video. To the lady guard, that it may also be a wake up call that even it may be a routine job, one false move could snap on a very rowdy customer, and also keep calm at all times. And finally to Paula, is to takes this as a serious life lesson, first is public exhibition of anger is never a good idea. If one was wrong against you, you have the option to shrug it off or try  filing a formal complaint (tough not be practical, but  really addresses the issue better. And finally, when you see someone filming you, stop.

That is my dalawang piso, take it or leave it. .