Into this BLACK PARADE

Article III Section 4 states: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” (memorized ko to dati)

I may have forgotten the lessons we had during Sir Viduya’s Press Freedom class, but there is one lesson I will never forget from this old man: ABSOLUTE FREEDOM MAY LEAD TO CHAOS. BUT on the contrary, no freedom at all will bring bigger chaos and despair in a generation that has been mold during the rise of the digital age.

This generation breathes and craves the wonder that is the web. It may have been a bad thing, but that’s beside the point. With the demassification (coined from Sir Bernabe, COC-PUP) of communication, opinions are creeping to be heard. The social media has been a tool to create a wider viewpoint for other people who seem not to care at all. If not for the Facebook blackout, would teens and other uninterested people be interested to even look up what the Cybercrime Law stands for?

 The bloggers, with even little information they may produce, also create an alternative learning grounds for the youth. Little information that breeds and snowballs into greater idea and sensible points that may later on serve us best in the future. We must move forward. Embrace the digital age. Redefine social media as a tool for development. Hindi ganito.

So with this law, does it mean that citizen journalism should be abolished entirely? Let us not forget that during the last election, frauds and misgivings were reported urgently through social media. And seriously, libel? Everyone could be filed with libel, given that the law states that anything you say REAL or IMAGINARY can be used against you.

Whatever happened to being able to express your despair for undeserving politicians or people in power? Whatever happened to what our people fought for during the EDSA Revolution?

 I know that somehow, this law can do something good for the country and I respect that. But it is necessary that they amend it to become more suitable for this generation. Fight for the real “crimes”. Fight for what’s worth fighting for, just like how Ninoy died for something worth dying for. I am not 100% against it. Rules and limitations should be set, that is true. But please set the records straight.

Criticisms are hard. Bullying is unforgivable. But being shutdown is insane. The problem is not the freedom to express opinion; the problem is how you handle the fact thrown in your face. That is your problem. Now you fix that and stay away from us.

I am no expert. I did not even take my Press Freedom class seriously, but given the situation, the lessons that were instilled to us make sense. Journalism or Communication students will sound off because this is the foundation of our education: that we are given the freedom to say what we want to say and create ideas that would express what the society should embrace. It creates a tug in our hearts not to react.

ABSOLUTE FREEDOM MAY LEAD TO CHAOS. True. But our country does not practice absolute freedom would you believe? Because there are still certain rules and ethics given to media. With the surge of social media and citizen journalism, these rules are not followed and that’s what we should all put in consideration. Do not take away our right to agree and disagree on issues, like or unlike, or whatever gives.

Cybercrime Law is forgivable if you know who the real enemy is.

Basta, yan ang stand ko. Nothing follows.

SALAMAT Tita!

For some years, I was associated with a community-based foundation that organizes charitable works every once in a while, medical missions and even gift-givings every Christmas.

It has been two years now and I almost forgot how it felt to give back. Not just the usual giving through donations, but being actually in the forefront, extending warm hellos and exchanging stories with the direct beneficiaries.

It's a good thing that the company where I work brought me back to that old feeling -  of the overwhelming outpour of gratitude from once lesser lonely individuals. We are ardent supporters of Bantay Bata 163, where every department and branches of our office nationwide have atleast a can to fill with 5-peso coins. (we try to stick to that)

After collecting and filling up 45 cans full to the brim, our boss decided to hold a turnover activity for the kids. Aside from actually giving our donations through the coinbanks, we prepared a little "party" for the kids at the Children's Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Over 50 kids were in attendance that ranges from different ages and different stories. Regardless of it all, happy faces welcomed us and warmed our hearts as they endlessly say "Salamat Tita!" everytime we give them something, from little candy bags to the bags of school supplies and food items we prepared for them.

These kids, with their sweet smiles and hearty laughs will surely melt any rock-solid heart. It almost brought tears to some of us who joined the activity. Truly satisfying.

The kids weren't allowed to be photographed on close range. Most of our photos have kids with blurred faces (as per Bantay Bata).

Now my head is in circles and is asking my self why have I abandoned the foundation that helped me throughout my college years. I'm afraid of changes, but change has to start within me. I needed to straighten things out and with that, I'm opening my heart to those that needs a helping hand.

It's always nice to give back. And so I will. AGAIN.
And this time, I hope to keep this promise. PROMISE. :)

Melted MARCH-mallows

I have just opened this account since February 22 and gahd, am I disappointed!

I don't have any blog post for March! After all those that it has thrown at me, I haven't got a say the whole month? Or maybe I'm just too busy with my Tumblr account.

And I even professed my dismay of being unable to write these past few days in Tumblr. Yes, I vowed to "blog more", but guess what, didn't happen!

Now that is SUPER FAIL!

Confuse-you's

How do you know what's best for you?
Is it better to settle on what's only good for you?

It's a constant battle between gut-feel and paranoia. It's hard to decide on what you should do and have in life.

I had a little conversation with friends some days ago. As the "grown ups" that we are, we talked about our jobs. The other feels contented on the laid back atmosphere of his job, where he can freely do whatever he wants on certain days. The other, feels contented on what she's experiencing at her current workplace as well. As she puts it, it's a great balance of work and play. Both seemed content and happy on where they are, but admits that there will be a time that all the happiness and contentment will fade too.

I agree. Life isn't always about apples. Life can be about lemons too. Or life can be about red, shiny apples on the outside, but bland and dry on the inside. Life can be about lemons, but given the right mixture becomes sweet and refreshing.

I think a huge part of these still goes on the person's wants and needs. Some people finds stress and challenges an ideal situation, while others prefer to have time on their hands. Some would want to be somewhere in between. Someone like me.

Life has a lot to offer. All we have to do is choose. It's the deciding part that's hard. Especially when you don't know what or who gives you happiness and contentment.

And that's me. Confused as always.

Owl my love for earrings.

I want these on my birthday:

Any OWL accessory

Or

Funky/Weird/Cute earrings (to add to my huge collection)

Happy Birthday to me!
:D

Yeah write!

While in Vietnam, one of Tita’s friends, Tita Lee, asked me why I chose to take Journalism in college. Without even thinking about it, I blurted out that “I’ve always wanted to become a writer.” It came out of my mouth unintentionally. Maybe it was because we were trying to brave the cold rainy night in our swimming attire. (We planned to swim that night, and it rained. More on that on my next blog.)

Going back, I was shocked with what I said. Well, partly shocked. Way back in highschool, I was pretty confident that I write well and I could take up Journalism with the little prodding from a former English teacher, Ms. Santos. The first time I told her I wanted to take up Journalism in college, she was ecstatic about it. She said I could really do great there, which of course is very flattering to hear from a very able English mentor.

But then things got a little shaky, when I passed UPCAT. I was on my way to UP Los Baños to take up Chemical Engineering instead. It was what I considered my greatest achievement. Prior to that, I also found out that I passed the entrance exam in PUP, where I intend to take up Journalism.  I don’t know if it’s a stroke of destiny, but mama just grabbed me one day to enroll in PUP instead of UP. I was hesitant because I had my mind set to go to UP and study chemicals and stuff. And honestly, when you think of it (and to what I did think before), the only thing that PUP has against UP is that extra letter “P”.

My first year in college was a so-so. I hated everything about writing, some professors and the deadlines. It was the time when I was introduced to terms like “stress” and “haggard”. Still, I was able to maintain my scholarship grant from a community foundation in Taguig. On my second year, I was able to join a media study tour in Singapore, where we visited different media-related institutions, from Reuters to MTV, as well as universities that puts a great deal in mass communication and journalism. It sparked an interest within me to pursue journalism. I was excited to go back to school and give it my best.

News journalism in the country was very terrifying. Journalistic killings were rampant and every news beat is a challenge. And then it hit me; maybe I don’t want to be a news writer. I opted to become a lifestyle writer, a creative writer. My love for sports took over as I applied for Solar Entertainment Corp. for my internship. I was designated at the Marketing Department of Solar Sports and was tasked to write newsletters and press releases on a specific channel, Basketball TV.

I grew a certain liking to this department, Marketing. The events, press releases and conferences seemed like fun assignments for a job. I then pursued this path until I got the same job in a different company. I am currently the Junior Writer of the Marketing Department of E. Excel Int’l.

So, why did I choose to take up Journalism? I still don’t know. Maybe it’s because writing is the only thing that I’m confident that I could do quite well. I was literally dragged into this whole thing and soon after, I followed its flow and flaws until I just let myself float and let the waves bring me where I am headed. I’m still not so sure if I made the right decision of choosing Journalism over Engineering, PUP over UP. But does it matter now? I actually like what I do. As described by a good friend in a conversation, writing is such a weird job, because really, most people know how to write. It’s one of the basic foundations of literacy. As a writer, it is our task to inform, entertain and educate through our choice of words, idea and emotions. It’s actually draining, but once you get that byline or a mention at the editorials, you’re made. It’s a grave task, but I chose to take it because I can do it. Everyone can write, but not everyone can be a writer.

Do I even make a sense here?

Screw it.

This is personal

There is just so much one person can take.

I know, in plain view, you can call me “pikon”.

Yes, I do catcalls and sometimes-insensitive remarks, but I don’t know.

Call me crazy as hell, paranoid even, but this is bullish.

I don’t mind being laughed at or called such names believe me. You can ask my friends about it.


 The thing is, we’re not friends.

Eat Pray Love...and eat some more

I can’t even remember how we started to get crazy over the movie Eat Pray Love. My best friend Mia and I have waited at least 2 months before the film hit the Philippines.

It was well worth the wait. The movie ended with us envying Julia Roberts, or more appropriately mentioned, Liz Gilbert. The aftermath of that movie date had us eating ice cream at DQ. As if getting the idea out of nowhere, I blurted out that if ever we reach our 40’s still single, we will pull a “Liz Gilbert”. Meaning, we will visit three countries just to eat, pray and love…to eat some more.  Well, if one of us gets lucky to find a man in our forties, then that’s great!

But if ever we get luckier, whoever gets married last between us will receive a trip to Bali honeymoon gift from the other. Insane deals make a great friendship, believe me. Haha!

Blog-ag!

I haven't blogged in a while. 

A lot of things have  happened  and  a lot of things have been said. Oh the pressure looms in. 

I promise to update soon. It's just that, I couldn't handle the pressure now. Shiiiiiiii...t

:P

What the Philippines.

It was just later this afternoon that I first heard of the hostage crisis involving Ronaldo Mendoza, a former police officer, and a couple of foreigners inside a tourist bus. The way the story was handed out to the press, it seemed like everything was harmless and calm, maybe because of the fact that the hostage taker is a comrade.

At first everything seemed to be flowing smoothly. In fact, the hostages were given food and the bus was supplied with fuel just so the air conditioning of the bus would not be disrupted.  Kids and some of the elder hostages were also freed not later this morning.

Things started to get complicated for as I got home, some of Mendoza’s relatives were being seized by the police, I think in the efforts of getting the hostage taker’s attention. It was believed that he is watching the news on TV while inside the bus.

True to that, just a few moments later, there were gunshots heard from the inside of the bus. And then the camera was focused to the driver of the bus who was handcuffed into the steering wheel. A few more moments later, the driver miraculously got out of the window and ran hysterically shouting that everyone else inside is dead.

That’s when the “mighty” law enforcers surrounded the bus and “tried” to get Mendoza in “every way possible”. Just like that, the hostage drama became a hostage comedy. Some of the police tried to shatter the glass door and windows of the bus and candidly, one of them threw the axe inside the bus not just once, but twice. It really looked stupid.

After a gazillion hours later, they have smashed the door down and a sniper FINALLY got Mendoza down. When it was confirmed that Mendoza is dead, some of the hostages that were still alive inside went out shaking, crying and traumatized by the situation. I feel sad for them. It almost made me cry. Later on, a report was released saying that at least eight hostages held for 10 hours appear to have survived the incident.

PERSONALLY...

Now, there are a lot of major concerns constituted at the course of this unfortunate event. First is the lack of a strategic plan coming from the police force. WHOEVER is in charge in this incident should be sacked. The police force, our police force, looked downright stupid and unprepared as they set off to try to put Mendoza down. The fact that it took them ten whopping hours to get this job done is already a manifestation of how disorganized they were.

They have strategized of getting the attention of the hostage taker by publicly assaulting his relatives without even realizing that it could result an adverse effect to the inconvenience of the hostages. And yes it did.

MEDIA. I think the best way that the media should have contributed is by shutting their selves out of the situation. What the situation calls for is a news blackout. Being a Journalism graduate myself, I know how important it is to get the facts straight ahead, plus the raging competition that looms between new agencies. But this is a different situation. There was a time that Mendoza aimed a series of gunshots at the media men, which I think is a way for him to cause a diversion. He wanted the police to split their attention as we all know that media men are hard to shoo away from a high profile case like this.

As I’ve said, there were gunshots aimed at the media men present within the vicinity of the hostage area, and it is said that a civilian was hit by one of these gunshots. These bystanders never learn. I think it is really in our nature to pry on every controversy even if it can put us into harm. Just like what happened when Mendoza was confirmed dead. A swarm of “usiseros” rushed into the scene and blocked the way of the hostages getting out of the bus. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it is a form of obstruction of justice, when someone else just comes into the middle of a police operation. The rescue of the hostages is still considered as a part of the police operation, so everyone, including the media men who rushed into the bus, should have been arrested. The scene of the crime has not been cleared yet, what if a grenade was set somewhere there and someone accidentally kicked it. It will become a greater threat to MORE lives.

In line with that, I was intrigued by the fact that none of the local officials of Manila were there to assist the police of securing the vicinity of the crime scene against bystanders, because as I’ve said, it is a great threat to them. I don’t know about all of these, and these are just my opinion.

LASTLY...

That being said, I know that the Philippines is now in the brink of a tourism breakdown. But I hope that everyone will understand that this incident is in the discretion of just one man. Overall judgment of how Filipinos are should not be reflected on one man’s act. It is unacceptable that he has claimed the lives of innocent people just for his personal claims, but this is life. It just happened that bad decisions were made this day. It was a bad decision that he went aboard the bus and took everyone hostage. It was a bad decision that the police weren’t able to shut down the situation earlier as possible without having anyone get hurt in the process.

Let us not let this situation bring us down. I suggest that we better take this opportunity to make out a better citizen in us who would wisely make better decisions in the future.

Heads up, Philippines!
 
*DISCLAIMER: This is my personal account on the hostage crisis. Get the facts straight here.

Cam on!

Have you ever had the best vacation ever?

I did.

Last year, as a graduation gift from my ever-loving Tita, she booked me a trip to Vietnam. She has been working there for almost eight years now. It wasn’t my first time abroad, but it was the first time that I flew on my own.

So, Vietnam

Vietnam is not as progressive as Singapore neither it is underdeveloped. Their city is a fusion of trees and concrete buildings. In the Philippines, I would probably compare it to the likes of Manila and Pasay City. But the outpour of foreigners is really impressive. You can almost see one wherever you go. Later on, I found out that it’s because foreigners feel safe there. The country is under a strict compliance of gun ban and the residents give high regards to the law enforcers. One more thing that I was so shocked to witness is the ratio of cars to motorcycles in their main streets, or even on the alleys.  I may sound exaggerating but the ratio, I think, is in every 2 cars, there are 8 motorcycles.

My Tita lives on the 10^th floor of an apartment building and every time the rush hour comes, it is a funny sight seeing the streets of Vietnam clogged with motorcycles like ants crawling in a traffic jam.

I was there for over a month and it has been a place that I can call home. It is safe to say that I fell in love with the place, the ambiance, almost everything about it. But just like my trip to Singapore, I have listed down the top 5 reasons why you should visit Vietnam.

5. Pho, Banh Mi and more!

I have blogged about my food tripping in Vietnam and it is plain to see that I am a huge fan of their food palate.

4. Wi-fi access everywhere

Since arriving there, my Tita has given me her Blackberry phone with a Vietnam accessible SIM card. I was shocked upon learning that almost every establishment around the city has a wi-fi access even at the cinema! And it’s for FREE!

3. City Tour, Damsen, Vung Tao

What’s a vacation without sight seeing? Aside from the busy alleys and Tita’s workplace, I was able to tour the city and Cu Chi tunnels through a package tour at Sinh Tourist. Their historical story is actually interesting and inspirational. I’ve also visited Damsen, the city’s version of Enchanted Kingdom. I wasn’t able to try some of the rides because Tita feels that they’re not that safe. So we just tried to tour the whole theme park by foot and via the monorail train. The only ride I was able to try is that log jam-slash-horror-house-with-dinosaurs-instead-of-monsters nightmare on wheels. OK, I am exaggerating. But really, I was spooked and was just screaming all throughout the ride. Dinosaurs keep popping in and out the way trying (and really did to me) to scare those at the ride.

Lastly, if Brazil has a Christ the Redeemer statue, Vietnam has it’s own mini-Redemption statue at Vung Tao. It takes a ferry ride of 30mins to get to Vung Tao. You can compare it to a fishing village, like in Quezon Province. It was a long and steep walk going to the top of the statue but it was worth it. The view of the shoreline was beautiful, and it was a bit cloudy that day. Imagine if you get to witness a clear blue sky along the shoreline.

2. Ben Than Market/Saigon Square

For someone like me who has a lot of people to give pasalubong for (family, cousins, high school friends, college friends), looking for the right thing to give them is such a task. I went to Saigon Square with a ready list on my mind of what I should buy. But it was just so distracting seeing a lot of things that you would want to buy for yourself! I mean, everything is just so cheap and nice. Shoes, bags, shirts, DVDs, accessories and even shades are so tempting there.

The same thing happened to me when I went to Ben Than Market, the place where you can buy authentic souvenirs from Vietnam like embroidered wallets, figurines and other native products like spicy dried squid, candied fruits and several nuts.

1. Coffee

This is hands down my favorite part of being in Vietnam. From their instant coffees (Nescafe, G7) to their Café Sua Da (iced coffee with condensed milk), their coffee never failed to perk me up and brighten my mood. Their premier coffee house, Highlands Coffee has a lot more than coffee as well. Their cakes, pastries, teas and Nasi Goreng is the best! I hope they’ll franchise a branch here in the Philippines soon. : D