Choosing the suitable President and Officials of the Philippines

As an OFW, it is but natural for us to be considered as the ambassador of the Filipinos' here in Singapore. I found it to be so shameful as I answer Singaporeans' query regarding President Arroyo's excessive spending. Add to that the poor presentation of her project plans and targets during her recent SONA. As I compare her presentation versus the presentation that was made by Singapore's Prime Minister, her report is a failure. No concrete presentation as regards with the Problems that are to be corrected by the President. No Analysis as to the cause of the Problem. No Planned actions to attack the problem. No time-line on when the problems will be settled either permanently or temporarily..Her presentation solely bears positive figures and yet no visible result can be seen. I do hope that TV Stations in the Philippines will air the SONA that was being given by other well established countries such as Singapore. This is for the Filipinos to know how the Government should be governed.

Itaguyod ang panibagong pananaw ng pagiging isang tunay na Pilipino!!!

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The funeral cortege of former Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally by: Joey de Leon

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.

Ako'y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa 'kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko'y nagpatulo.

Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa 'yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.

Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika'y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa'y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.

Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
"Sandali, meron akong ano... sa'ting ano...
Hindi naman sa ano," nagkaanu-ano!

Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s'yang nasambit,
"Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan sa'ting traffic..."
At 'di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!

At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
"I don't think na dapat n'yong ipakita iyan..."
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa'y pag-ingatan.

At 'di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n'ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig 'di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la'y napa-wow!

"... Pero ako, totoo 'ko eh ... ", sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya't wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

"Kung ganyan, pakita na lang 'yan!", ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-"lang - lang" lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n'ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s'ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
"On camera" baga sa TV ang tawag d'yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa 'yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa — totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart — at 'yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika'y maa-abswelto,
'Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n'yo?

Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan —
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!

O ito kaya ay isa na namang "glitch" lang,
Tulad ng "two-zero" 'di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba — istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba — istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n'ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory —
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s'ya,
Subalit ang nangyari'y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo'y huling paalam na,
'Di mo pa pinagbigyan ... hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s'yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga'y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

p.s.: the above writing was made by Joey de Leon and was forwarded to me by a friend. I share the same opinion and observation with Joey regarding Willie's arrogant and disrespectful tirades both with the Former President's wake and the poor Filipinos' plight to poverty. Being an OFW, I don't find his antics towards the contestants', which mainly came from poor Filipino families, situation as funny. His show glorifies the dumbness and poor decisiveness of the Filipino people on the Television. Imagine what impact this will portray to Foreigners who may think that with 1000 peso bill, the Filipinos (as a whole) will do anything from dancing up to the point of being mock around by the giver ( such as Willie.). I am not a fan of the two noontime shows yet I find Joey to be more opinionated...

Itaguyod ang panibagong pananaw ng pagiging isang tunay na Pilipino.

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Filipinism...

This morning, the spirit of EDSA People Power has been enliven up once again. Throngs and throngs of Filipino people were seen waiting along the road as the truck which bears the body of Former President Cory Aquino passed by. It was a hair raising experience to see Filipino people being united once again. An occurrence that has been becoming rare nowadays. I just hope that what happened this morning will last forever! I do hope that we Filipinos will rise as we wave the Flag high enough with pride! Former President Cory and the EDSA 1986 have led the way, it will be up to us, the next generation, to continue the trail.

Mabuhay!

Gerald F. Eduardo

Ignatiana days...

The month of July reminded me of the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It was during this month when the week-long Pintakasi Festival at the Ateneo was being celebrated. It involved games among the first year up to the senior high school students of the Ateneo. I fondly reminisce those days when we had the campfire during the night till the wee hours of the next day. It was fun specially during the Ateneo's 50th anniversary when some of the famous alumni of the Ateneo de Naga graced the Pintakasi event. I think that was the last time when these alumni: Raul Roco, Luise Villafuerte, and Jessie Robredo came and graced the school's event together (politically free!). After that, they have parted ways with Jessie Robredo joining Raul Roco's party instead of his relative Luise's. Those were the days when the Bikolano's dialect was being greatly promoted by the then President Fr. Raul Bonoan, S.J. It was during those days when the then lanky young Professor Danny Gerona published the book which fully defines the Bikolano's strong spirit, magnificent character, beautiful dialect, and rich culture. I miss the Ignatiana days, I miss the Ateneo's four pillars, I miss the Bikolandia... From Isarog, to Bikol land, to lofty Mayon peak, our flag is carried flying high in victory or defeat! One Big Fight to the never ending economic plight of my fellow Bikolanos back home....Keep up the courage, continue the cause of uplifting further our region!

Kobe's Tour in Singapore...

This coming July 22, Kobe will be visiting Singapore. He is bound to present the new line of Nike Shoes and perform some basketball training clinic. The ticket for this event have been given out as a complimentary. Unfortunately, all of the tickets for this event are already distributed out. But, luckily enough, my cousin was able to grab two complimentary tickets this morning! Hopefully, I will be able to get some clear photos which I aim to post here in this blogpage.

Value Life...

Once I have thought less about the fragility of Life. For me, Life is like to an adventure that you can take on with risk...Yet, last Sunday, I have realized how vulnerable it is from its surroundings. How, in a blink of an eye, one will be gone irreversibly. From this, it is clear that we must be responsible with our decisions.. Decisions whose outcome may materialize some time in the future. We are the master of our own and yet we depend with our surroundings regarding our future. ...

Being a Registered Mechanical Engineer in the Philippines...

It's been quite a long time now since I passed the board exam for the Registered Mechanical Engineers in the Philippines. Quite a long time have passed and yet even now, I still can't find any reason or purpose why the Board exam is needed in the Philippines. As per my experience, the card that comes with being a "Professionally certified" does not differentiate a person from those who do not have one during job searching(both in the Philippines and overseas, except in the Arab nations.). The only thing that I remember about this card is that it needs to be renewed after every three years. Renewed as in paying all the so-called dues... Dues for what? For trying to meet both ends during the board exam preparation? For trying to absorb every possible formulas and theorems that might popped out during the board exam? Or was it for this simple card which bears my name under the logo of the Professional Regulation Commission and a simple note which says Registered Mechanical Engineer. Quite so expensive huh. The only time that I found this card to be useful was during the time when I need to leave an ID at the canteen(of a company where I was applying with...) in exchange for a spoon and fork. Such a pity isn't it?

Imagine those poor students in the Philippines who have spent most of their families' meager properties and wealth just to be able to take this exam. It will be much more better if the students have just allocated the money for their job hunting expense. Afterall, both those with card and no card will just be treated equally during the job interview... The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers(PSME) together with the Professional Regulation Commission(PRC) should convene and discuss the importance of being a board passer with the Companies both in the Philippines and abroad. They should act ASAP! If its purpose is to Regulate the so-called Registered Mechanical Engineers in the Philippines, then, they should impose it! If its purpose is to show that the card bearer is certified, then, they(PSME and PRC) should promote it! Else, this card will lose its essence. Else, more and more new Mechanical Engineering graduates will opt not to take this board exam since this will just be a waste of time...