Monday, February 27, 2006

Yahoo news 02/27/06

  1. This one, I got from my email. Studies have connected eating chicken wings and having cancer, due to steroid injections being given to chicken just to pass food standards in the States. We have no problem in the Philippines. We don't have a standard for food. God, I hate this reaction of mine.
  2. Mosley defeated Vargas. So what?
  3. Hong Kong bans French poultry after bird flu find. I know where they will dump these birds. Here! They view this country as one that feeds on carcasses and garbage. That's a call for change, mind you.
  4. Sex Pistols refused the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a classic poetic angst. Nobody does it better. I remember when we were just starting, I used to play their album "Never Mind the Bollocks" over and over again while I sleep. (It was only now that I confirmed they only made one album.) Johnny Sissy and the rest of side B are the result of my being a Sex Pistol fan. We were just not much into the punk because I was learning the blues then. So we gave up the punk image. Confusion followed.
  5. George Michael was arrested for drugs. So he is still alive. That's good news.
  6. According to a report in New York Times, cyber criminals have upgraded themselves. Instead of phishing information from email, they are now copying silently as we type (keyloggers - so that's why Windows' internet security carried that). I myself have been attacked three times since I installed the McAfee Firewall. I don't know before the installation. Anyway, no money will be gotten from me.
  7. Gold's power against autoimmune disease is now being defined at Harvard Medical School. Its power to cure a lot of disease is unquestionable.

The Marines

Although last night was a close call, I still have high respect for the Marines. I mean, they showed us that no amount of politics and even self-driven (look at the word) emotions can get through their ranks and "chain of command". The relief of Miranda was an imbecile move. Not this time. Of course, it was said that he asked to be relieved. If he really asked to be relieved, then the emotions would not be like that. Anyways, benefit of the doubt. Let us say he really asked to be relieved. Again, this will go slamming against the leadership of GMA. I mean, why would a top ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ask to be relieved at this critical time. A dillemma again for GMA's waning leadership. Miss Goloy, my English teacher would castigate me for this. I should have said "waned". What a grammatical blunder.

Anyway, last night, I also find the presence of Allaga to be so critical. If he wasn't there, a full blown war could have erupted already. How was he able to negotiate? How was he able to calm down emotions at such a critical time?

When they came out to say that the issues were already resolved, it made me sigh with a great relief. I am not for GMA though. I just want this to end without bloodshed. Let's just pray everything turns out alright.

The Marines have taken our hearts with awe and respect. Long live the Marines! We are so proud of you!

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Of Bubbles and State of National Emergency

As I write this web log, the situation in Fort Bonifacio has - well, at least for the moment - normalized. Now, we can sleep a little bit soundly. But not so yet.

The situation has been critical for the past - I don't know, 48hours? - after the proclamation 1017.

I have not left the house for two days. I was glued all over the TV and the internet for the news. On a chat with my cousin Jennifer, she asked me about the happenings here. I told her about the coup attempt and all - that was yesterday - and this is what she had to say:

xxx
Jennifer: So you're used to it. There's always chaos there.

Godfather: That's how people from other countries would view us here. That we are a people without rules and patriotism. That there is much chaos in our land. And they may be speaking the truth. We can't hide our apparent ineptitude, especially in the field of governance, management and even love for our own country and its rules

Jennifer: Wow! you just slap me in the face!

Godfather: what do you mean "slap me in the face"?

... Jennifer: I mean that I made a comment about our country, saying negative comments but I'm also a filipina. U know what I mean.

Godfather: Oh, I am not commenting against you. I was saying that that word "chaos" might be indeed in the mouths of millions around the world - especially the other countries. That's how they view our country.

xxx
What is happening in our country now is a cause for great alarm. Our economy - almost near four year highs considering the peso and stock market strengths - is being rocked again from its lofty position (a position of climbing, anyways). And all because of our poor governance.
If there was really a coup plot, then the government should immediately lay everything in the open. The people are afraid. The foreigners are horrified. Again.
And my daughter....well, she just plays with her bubbles - the last one. I overheard her lola, my mother, saying to her that it was the last one in the store so she has to make it last longer. And Andrea would say, "E di, bili...bili tayo bubbles!" And she would repeat the same over and over. Sometimes to my ears as I surf the inq7.net website (my favorite news site) and listen to my yahoo station (Steve Vai, Satriani, Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton, Tbone Walker, John Lee Hooker etc.)
"Bili tayo bubbles!!!"
How I wish we are like children. I mean, it is so easy to please them. We always try to complicate things with our intelligence. They would look at the clouds and be extremely happy if an airplane shows up. Or if blowing produces many bubbles. "So many!" Gosh, Andrea would even laugh so loud - when her blowing did not produce any bubbles!
And that made me think.
I mean, look at us. With all our intelligence, experience and knowledge. Nothing makes us happy. Nothing ever did. Whoever seats in MalacaƱang will realize it the hard way. No one is a friend to the people forever. St. Thomas warned about this in Summa Contra Gentiles, III. He said, happiness does not lie in fame... since the people's feelings are most susceptible to change - to that effect.
Happiness lies in being... "in Being (God is Supreme Act-of-Being)".
...in being happy with the people you love
...in laughing at your own imperfections
...in blowing bubbles while the Marines are settling a political and administrative issue among them
...and yes, in seeing to it that my future will be a little brighter through the influence I made to people I know...
...and in writing blogs like this one...
while Andrea now lies asleep... holding her bubble maker.
Tomorrow I will find her a bubble...
To forever remind us that life is like a bubble. We don't stay forever. We simply make other people happy for a while.
Yes, while they look at our own bubbles.

Conversions with my student on the nature of God

aileen berco (2/26/2006 4:12:20 PM): hi po sir....

Godfather (2/26/2006 4:12:32 PM): hello...

aileen berco (2/26/2006 4:12:38 PM): Skip Day: stay home from school on March 2, 2006 no matter what school you go to, what state you live in. All kids in the world should have a national skip day. Think about it... teachers show up and no one is in class... then they'll all leave. They cant punish everyone!!! Tell everyone you know and let's see if it makes it on the news. Why March 2 2006...cuz it's a special day!!! Copy this and send it 2 everyone you know. MARCH 2, 2006 NO SCHOOL!!! PASS IT ON!!

aileen berco (2/26/2006 4:13:01 PM): Mustah na po how's life

Godfather (2/26/2006 4:15:31 PM): nge. susundin mo ba yan? nakita ko yan eh. bigay ni abegail.

Godfather (2/26/2006 4:15:34 PM): ok naman

aileen berco: hindi po... may exam po nung araw na yun eh.. hehehe si rhia po ksi ang kulet

Godfather: oo nga. hehe.

aileen berco: ay sir i have a question, napanod nyo na po ba yung Bruce ALmighty?

Godfather: yes, many times. why, may i ask?

aileen berco: ksi po, i have another analysis on philosophy, napanod ko na din po, pede po humungi ng suggestion? hehe sensya napo///

Godfather: ok. what about? nature of God?

Godfather: sometimes, i get disconnected. medyo me problem ang pc ko because of windows update. huwaaa. sorry. you were saying? ano tungkol sa bruce almighty?

aileen berco: opo, owei, lang po if your not busy po0...hehehe

Godfather: what about it nga? philosophy, so the nature of God? providence? human freedom? kung pwede ba mangyari yun sa tunay na buhay? nature of goodness? ang daming philosophical issues dun

Godfather: hey if i get disconnected or would not answer you in 3 minutes ibig sabihin me problem pc ko. you might see me online pero i could not see your msgs and all.

aileen berco: sabi lang po is about the existence of God in the lives of each in everyone of us, at about din daw po kung pede ngang mangyari in real life

Godfather: eh di providence.

aileen berco: yung nga po

Godfather: can you try going to the site of wikipedia. and input bruce almighty. then, also look for God's providence or simply providence. try to find some connections.

Godfather: di kasi ako makapagmultiple iexplorer. naghhung.

aileen berco: ah ok po try ko po thank you po....

Godfather: now, whether it can happen in real life is a question on the intent of God, which we cannot see. the film just simply states na if any person on earth will be taking the job of God even for a day, then there will be chaos. it's hard to maintain that position, i mean nakita mo naman. all the prayers of the all the people of the world are selfish prayers. so they simply cancel one another. i mean, gusto ko ok ako, and another also ganun din. sometimes, the good of one cancels the good of another so we end up in chaos. imagine kung lahat ng tao tatama sa lottery. so there

aileen berco: so, sir that's why there's no equality

aileen berco: i mean there is poor there is rich, ung mga levels po ba like that...

Godfather: i remember the words of my former teacher in literature, mrs. fedeliza noel, God, i love that ol' lady. she taught me literature and made me who i am. anyways, she would always say na "God is in our heaven, everything is right with the world" di ba? that's the statement of trust that we should always say. It's like whenever i travel dati, I could not sleep. But when my father is the one driving, i could. kasi i trust him so much. God i miss him

Godfather: there is equality. kasi equality means a treatment of justice for all. sabi nga ng bible, God makes the sun shines for the good and the bad, without discrimination

Godfather: the levels of society was made by us. interplay of freedom which God cannot mess with. he made us free remember? so we were free to mess up with our brethren. of course in eternity, we believe that God will right all the wrongs.

Godfather: when somebody gets so rich, he makes someone so poor. ewan ko ba that;s how i always feel. kasi the resources are so few. so we are the reason for the inequality, not God

Godfather: Kaya nga di ba the greatest prayer is the Our Father : Thy Will be Done. It gives back to God what He does not have (technically) - our freedom.

Godfather: thanks for my new article in blog. hahaha. me article na ako. pwede ko ba include pangalan mo?

aileen berco: ay grabeh, sir, wla po ako masabi, but then is there really a way of knowing GOd perse? I mean face to face, but then takot din po ako if it would happen to me

Godfather: hey are you sending some messages to me? coz i can't see them

aileen berco: opo,...dami na nga po eh

Godfather: knowing God per se, "as He is", has always been viewed by the ancients (including St Thomas) as the fulfillment of our nature as humans. that is, we will be perfected when one day, we will see God as He is. (it's in 1 John and also in the writings of Paul, "we see in part...etc. - I corinthians 12 or 13)

aileen berco: Eh Sir ano po kayang reason bkit sa Movie eh, nkita si God as human beinmg not as light or burning fire like sa bible?

Godfather: It is not something to be afraid of - facing God. He is our friend. i think that;s what the movie achieved. tingnan mo God was made to appear like a comical character pa nga. He was made to appear an african american - for racial reasons - but i think that's something. God made us who we are. he understands us perfectly. so he converses with us in our language.

Godfather: well, first of all because of cinematic effect. di naman pwede ang burning bush or light dun eh. second, god nga is presented as a real persona, he has feelings too and he cares for us like a friend. that would not be achieved by burning bushes. iba nung ke moses he was presented like someone to be afraid of. kasi nga as faithful, they are like little children pa. they have to be made afraid and all. parang ang mga bata sasabihin mo pa na "hala, me multo diyan. or "me spider o, get up na". pero when they grow up, it won't be necessary. ganon din sa faith. as a people, israelites were like young children. di pa sila mature. as christians, mature na ang faith dapat. so, Christ revealed himself as Love. God is love

aileen berco: So sir, Nag perception po kay God eh nagbago sa panhon natin po today?

Godfather: well, of course. as a people now, i think we are more concerned of being connected. tingnan mo internet, blogs, email, chat. we want to be reassured that we are not alone. so we try to view God as someone who is there, a real person whom we can talk and relate to. that is why madami di na nagdadasal kasi they don't buy the idea of praying/talking to an invisible being.

Godfather: as in the titanic movie, we wanted to be able to hold on to someone when hell breaks loose. so the negative people - like John Lennon - was saying, God is a "concept by which we measure our pain". parang kelangan lang natin ng fallback sa ating mga sufferings and delusions. aileen berco: hay sir, your words of wisdom really works... grabeh, touched nanaman po kayo...Thank you po...

aileen berco: Dami nanamang nabago to me... Thank you po ulit

Godfather: aileen i am trying to find a term na baka mag-come up sa write up mo. i saw it sa history of philo ni will durant, if i am not mistaken dun sa article ke spinoza, voltaire or schopenhauer. kasi you mentioned something about God's image to us. bakit human. kasi human tayo. there was a thing there na sabi, if we are triangles, we would envision God as triangular, and a perfect one. parang me pasaring ano? anyways, i am looking for my book pero di ko makita. teka lang

aileen berco: ok po...thak's po ulit

Godfather: hey di ko na makita. when mo ba kelangan? nagkakagulo na ah. napanood mo ba si col.querubin? nagtatawag na sa bonifacio. sugurin!!! hehehe.

Godfather: have you seen na the article at wikipedia? i think it's enough na for you. you can also click the one at the bottom about bruce almighty. go aileen!aileen berco: ah hindi po eh.... nako.... nanggugulo lang po yun... sir ok lang po... salamat po

aileen berco: nakita ko na nga po ...

Godfather: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOD

Godfather: yun ang address, ay, nakita mo na palaGodfather: siya gtg na. post ko to sa blog ko ha?
aileen berco: opo... ok po...thank you po ulit....for giving me hope... hay

aileen berco: Ingat po lagi ...God bless

Godfather: ok. you din

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

More interesting items Feb 22

It's my birthday! Will I be able to do the poem? Let's see later.

Meanwhile, here are some interesting things today:

  1. Online nursing courses. Nursing is really the profession of the current age. How long this age will be, only time can tell. The problem I see here is the lack of government control on nursing schools and courses. There are serious problems especially for schools who could not produce board passers. Imagine all the other tests our nursing graduates will have to take! If they could not even pass the board, how will they pass the english proficiency test?
  2. In Teacher's InfoLink (Eferza Academic Publications), we read that in the 1970s, we only have 40 nursing schools in the country. Now, we have about 350. Excuse it to the changing needs. But check this out: Out of the 94 that had less than five years of Board performance, 42 (yes that's right!) had ZERO PASSING RATES! 42 schools not producing even a single board passer!
  3. More from Teacher's Infolink - Here is the NAT results for Grade 6 (1.6million students) SY 2004-2005 (Achievement Levels): Only 20% of the students have mastery (75-100% score). Almost 30% (471,624 students) has no mastery (below 50%). Now, let's look at individual schools! Only 12.47% of schools have mastery. Again, 31% of the schools - corresponding to 8,853 schools have "no mastery" levels. Now, while this data is from the public schools, this is still a cause of worry since more (with a capital M, I suppose) students are in the public schools.
  4. According to the Duke University scientists Kelly Jordan and Elizabeth Brannon, babies have abstract numerical sense. It would seem to conclude that before children could even speak, they have an innate sense of numeracy. More from science blog. I am reminded of my innate concepts of unity, relation and causality, etc in my original manuscript of One World - which I am still looking for. It's related to the Categories? described by Kant, although I have not fully read nor understood that. For fear of insanity too? Anyways.
  5. Comparing between Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy - one of the most mind-boggling achievements of humans (measuring fast moving things while himself moving at great speed) - we find that Milky Way is the winner for massiveness. More here.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Jennifer, my cousin

I recently got reconnected to most of my long lost friends, acquaintances, and relatives. No thanks to my PAID SUBSCRIPTION of an otherwise POOR connection with Smart Wifi. Ok, I am not that mad with them. I am just trying to make my point and fight for the right of receiving good service for my PAID SUBSCRIPTION.

Anyways, Jennifer is one of those relatives. She is a second cousin to me - my mother and her father are first cousins. And she is in the States. She is rather new there but she knows around. I believe in her and somehow I know that she will make it through the temporary rain she is experiencing right now. She is bright and bubbly and it's hard to put down someone as cheerful as her. I know that she will make it big and she owes it to her and her deep love for God.

Our family is a small family. We have so few relatives. But one thing is for sure. Our family always pulls through rough times. And we will survive and thrive. We will be able to look through the clouds and be sure that the sun is always there. Even if we have to close our eyes and imagine it from time to time.

Jennifer is like that.

She is strong and she will pull through.

She will make it well in life.

She will make us all proud.

She's already making me proud of her.

February 22, a holiday in San Pedro!

God bless the Mayor of San Pedro! After much negotiation - I mean, of calling the District Office of DepEd, the Barangay Hall of San Vicente, and the Municipal Office (The Treasury - Mrs. Dela Vega, mother of my student), I got the most waited news. February 22, feast of the Chair of St. Peter and my birthday is a non-working holiday!!!!

I am free to be free on my birthday!

Some interesting news - Yahoo 02/21/06

Here are some interesting news in MyYahoo, dtd 02/21/06

  1. In Britain, a study found that with the boom of SMS, there is a corresponding uptrend of thumb and fingers illness. Heard this somewhere. Oh, yes. In the Philippines.
  2. Western diet is the reason for high risk of breast cancer in Korea. I really think that eastern people are healthier in lifestyle. We are only inheriting the trash of the west.
  3. Heavy drinking is tied with worse eating habits.
  4. Stardust mission yields ancient cosmic dust. It's wonderful to be alive at this advanced age.
  5. During the time of the dinosaurs, oceans may have been like steaming tubs, as conjectured by scientists.
  6. Nicholas Wade of New York Times featured some of the latest researches on cancer cells that are linked to stem cells. Studying these stem cells may be able to lead us to greater understanding of cancer and its total cure. More here.
  7. Professor Julian Dowdeswell of the University of Cambridge, states that current evidence suggests sea-level will rise faster than previously predicted. The article predicts of rising sea levels beating estimates of 0.5 m in the next century.

McDonald's and Smart

McDonald's is being sued for "misleading the public about the ingredients in its French fries". Debra Moffatt of Lombard, Ill., seeks unspecified damages for her celiac disease, which causes gastrointestinal symptoms set off by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat. This, they said is traced in McDonald's fries. More story here.

Misleading the public as to ingredients, features, etc. is a violation also found in the Consumer Act of the Philippines RA 7394, particularly in its article 50.

We Filipinos are simply too patient and too kind even to super-earners companies.

Smart Wifi is guilty of this breach of trust, this deceptive sales acts. It is advertising a service that is good on paper but has actually gave me numerous and irreparable damages. For example, for this month, I had barely 36% connection, as per letter of complaint to its customer care that was not challenged. If the 12 days (of 19) of disconnection is not a clear manifestation of poor service and poorer quality of product, I don't know what else will qualify as such.

If this happened in the US, they would be eating lawsuits already.

If this happens again, they would not be eating at all. Anymore.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Sleep at 11 PM!!!

I recently read an article saying that according to a study, those who oversleep tend to live shorter. And Arthur Schopenhauer told us then (in writing of course) - hey, his birthday also is nearing (Andrea excuse again) - that life is a struggle against sleep. Anyways, according to the study, people who sleep from 6-7 hours live the longest. So I must sleep at 11 PM - in order for me to get at least 6 hours sleep.

I intend to live to a hundred.

Para mas mayaman ako. Kasi, it's also a result of a study (Stanley - Millionaire Mind - sheet di ko pa pala nabibili tong book na to) that patient people are more wealthy and live longer. Anyways. Idol ko kasi si Warren Buffett. Dapat maging patient din ako, kumain ng mabagal, wag magmadali. At, katulad ng sabi ni Andy, eat at the same place all the time - our favorite place is at La Salle Second floor nung bookstore. Di ko pa din alam pangalan ng building. Hehe

So dapat matapos ko na tong blogs ko. Dapat din, matapos ko na print mga memo ng dep-ed at ma-update ang \website ko. Gosh, look at that internet explorer. 7 sites waiting for me. Ok got to go.

What's that about patience again?

My birthday is nearing....

Nearing is a word that Andrea would have said. A while ago, she asked me, "Daddy, where's the chairing so small?" She was looking for her small chair. She is 3 1/2 years old. She will attend preschool next year. God I am already getting so old. "So old Daddy?" And so fat too. I must lose some weight. The last time I checked I weigh 155 pounds. I think my erpat died - when his weight was 160 pounds. He used to weigh 135 or so. His physique would make you cower in fear. Sabi nga ni Mang Romano sa bangko, parang si Bruce Lee daw. That was in the 90s, when he was already in his 50s. Anyway, I am just 34 and I am already....

Hey, I am already 35!!! In math, if a number's decimal is above .5, it can be rounded off to the next digit which is.... never mind. In a matter of 2 days I will be 35 na. I wrote then a poem entitled "On His Having Arrived Too The Age of Twenty-Three" - a sort of answer to John Keats. Now, that poem is 12 years old already. Perhaps, come February 22 - if and when I find out the ruling that would make that day a holiday for our school - I will write my "On His Having Arrived The Age of Thirty-Five".

How pathetic.

Who cares?

BIR trips ni Jol

Nakita niyo na ba to? Kahit kanino ko pabasa ang email na to, tawa sila ng tawa. Tapos, lagi ang kasunod, ganyan talaga sa gobyerno. And words like, I have also experienced that. Or, kung ako yan sinunog ko na lang ang BIR. Sheet, and this thing really happened.

I remember tuloy my SSS experience.

But it's not worth recounting. Not in 15 pages. Anyway, I am still trying to find from Jol if I can include the whole text here - as if we are friends. Hehe.

Kung gusto niyo, email niyo ako. Forward ko na lang. dreamshadow91@yahoo.com

Ang ganda. It seems like the whole trip from Santa Rosa to San Pedro is like ten minutes lang. Sobrang saya habang binabasa namin.

Kita niyo the way I write now. Parang ganun na din. Nahawa ako sa UPistang ito. Teka, galit nga pala ako sa mga taga-UP ah. Hehe. Joke lang

Hate Mail against Filipinos

Last Saturday, we went to the mini-me (err..mini-E) classroom. We had consultation with our methods of research professor - while doing our personal stuffs (God, does she know my blog?). We read emails - my classmates - and quizzed ourselves on English words translated to Tagalog. We only got 63/100! And we are like the whole class. Do you know that the Tagalog for cloud is not ulap? It is alapaap. And also, chalk is tisa. Calendar, we still don't know. Kalendaryo is Spanish. So there.

I also chanced upon a hate mail from a radio announcer in the States - whose name we could not pronounce here for fear of the perpetual curse for those who will mention his name - who is very hateful of us Filipinos. I am preparing to answer his accusations one by one. God, this guy doesn't know who he is messing with. He only got words. I have legal backup. Haha. International legal back up, that is. Anyways. Watch out for that in this blog.

I don't want to feature the hate mail. Baka sumikat pa siyang lintek siya.

If you insist in having a copy of the article - so that you will be perked up in nationalism - email me at dreamshadow91@yahoo.com Please, no racists allowed. You guys have already annihilated 20 million people 60 years ago.

Kanina nga, I even lectured on patriotism on my grade 3 and 6 class. They are all wide-eyed on my fiery speech. Parang si Hitler ako. Hehe. Teka nga.... magtayo kaya ako ng nationalist socialist party tutal nazi naman ako. But I don't hate the Jews. Sorry. That's an obstacle. What a word. Obstacle.

Oleanna

This 1994 movie is anything than interesting. I mean, from the point of view of ordinary souls. The whole story revolves on the dialogue between two people on the screen - yes, for the whole 80+ minutes - Carol and her professor John.

This movie was assigned to us for our Legal Principles. It is based on a play - that is why it is theatrical in its make-up. Although it was adapted for movie showing, 90% of the play remained. Actually, I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen and all - like a courtcase in the middle or even the end of the film - but it didn't materialize. Perhaps, for the producers, the original hauntingness of the play should be made in tacked.

The movie features something about a looming court case - similar to what could be sexual harassment today. In the setting - and the genre - of the story, the law on sexual harassment has not been drafted yet.

We have in that film an honest - or so I think - professor, who may be at the brink of failure. All because he cared too much to the point of stupidity. What disturbs me is that I was a lot like this guy - professor John - I mean. I used to tutor my students - and they are mostly girls - who would even go to my house. There was even a time when the student was alone with me in my house. It's just that these students of mine were not Carols. But it's a thought. What if?

I am also a lot like John. I mean in many ways. I would be too poetic at times, and would go down to the level of understanding of the kids to the point of appearing like your average nonconformist rebel-turned-cool-hero. All in the spirit of trying to win them over. But it's dangerous. What you say can be held against you. Whew. At least that did not result into a problem. Not yet.

I will make my reflections on the movie/play in the coming days.

The DVD was courtesy of DLSU - Manila. And Andy's burner. Gosh. I could be sued, right? Just a joke. On the burner.

"Yeah, that's right."

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Ulan Sarmiento's annotated manual of regulations for private schools

It's now officially eight months since I first started looking for a copy of Ulan Sarmiento's annotated Manual of Regulations for Private Schools. Even Dep-Ed. Sta Cruz (Region IV) does not have a copy!!!! Where do I get an original copy???? We have at DLSU Manila, but it's too thick to ..... shall I say photocopy? By God! No! Copying a document like this... it's an outrage!!! Please help me!!!!!!! I HAVE TO GET MY OWN MANUAL ANNOTATED BY ULAN SARMIENTO !!!!

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

My Ninong Vic

I recently exchanged e-mails with my Ninong Vic. This guy shaped me a lot. He was cousin to my mother, and when we were young he stayed with us for some time. He was my first idol. Everything that he does, I imitated. He taught me how to read the time - I can still remember the way he did it. He also taught me how to play chess - but I never really mastered it, I always lose against him and Jomari.

He is now in the US, retired with the US Navy. My lola, and my parents - they all adore Ninong Vic. He is always that person on the pedestal - handsome, witty, kind. He is everything to be proud of. I am so proud of him.

Ninong Vic is now working with the USFDA. He is very hardworking. That's why God blesses him so much.

We love you, Ninong Vic! U d man! Really.

I am about to resign

I would've resigned a while ago. In this blog, I will state the full reasons of the same. It's just the consideration of the 14 + 9 = 23 souls I am teaching (grade 3 and 6) that made me rethink my path. But I think it is inevitable already. It should come to this. I asked my balance in my bank account. Know what? I only have 17 k to live on until June. That's not good. Hence, the only logical solution perhaps is to stay until march 31 or so, and just stay out of legal problems while I am in the school. It's just so annoying that I am concerned about an institution who doesn't care about itself. That school is going down, I tell you. It is a lawsuit waiting to happen. It is a bomb about to explode. Next year, it will still be good - depending on my month of leaving. If I leave now, enrollment will drop by more than 50 I tell you. Especially if they read this. Now, if I leave on March 31, then the parents won't notice and they will have a full two months to prepare for the big battle for survival next year. If they fix their act - by fixing their act, I mean going to graduate school, studying education and management, firing the incompetents (even themselves, I tell you), paying the right things, raising the salaries, really following my manual, really following the manual of Dep.Ed., really following the Labor Code, really ....sheet, this goes on forever - they will be spared. It will drop the year after but it will rise again. Hence, I am giving them a chance to redeem themselves.

I seldom go back to a place I left. I love Prudential Bank. I love my friends there. I moved on. That was 10 years.

I love Dominican College of Sta Rosa. I even made a promise to the batch of Dianne and Katrina that I will stay until they graduate. They messed up, I left them. Look at the pit they are now in.

I love... never mind. I love their students. Especially my grade 3. They have a lot to thank those kids. They are the only ones making me stay there.

Bible Stories

Matthew 21:12-13. Jesus gets angry.

A man overturns tables of moneychangers and those selling doves in the temple. His eyes are furious and words of insults are on his lips. He even chases those people buying and selling there with a whip.

When I told my grade 3 pupils that this man I described was Jesus, they wouldn't believe it. I had to let them see the book where it was taken from. They couldn't imagine Jesus could behave like that.

Jesus' action can never be judged as false, especially on the premise of Christianity. Hence, something must be explained on such an otherwise condemnable act. That is in remembrance to the morality tenet that an intrinsically evil thing could never be made good. Circumstances could only make the individual less culpable, if ever.

An anger can only be just if it is due to a cause higher than one self. The reason for our anger must not only be because we are being provoked, or that we are being unjustly treated. It is alright to be angry in this case but our actions and outbursts - much like Jesus' outbursts - must be commensurated with the cause. Else, we may have legal problems later on.

But what about the anger of Christ? Was he angry by provokation? Was he angry because he was misjudged or mistreated? No. He was angry for a cause higher than himself (in his humanity). He was angry for God's sake. He acted violently because of this anger; but this anger is a holy anger. In fact, in this anger, He was claiming the words of the prophet (Jeremiah 7:11): "My house will be called a house of prayer; but you are turning it into a robbers' den." He was applying the words to himself. Now, these words were the words of the Lord Himself, Who alone is above the law. Indeed, it was he who gave the Law.

Now, can we apply this anger to ourselves? Can we assume the words to ourselves, and perhaps kill one or two people who are unjust and devilish? It is dangerous to do so. Only Jesus has that right to be that angry. Else, we make of ourselves vigilantes who kill people because they want to make a point or statement against the seven capital sins, for example.

Further, let us focus on the reason why trading in the temple caused indignation to Jesus. The reason why people were buying and selling pigeons and doves and coinage in the temple is because of the oblation they need to offer in obedience to the Mosaic Law. Now, tourists and pilgrims are offered these articles so that their obligation may be fulfilled. The trading and selling seems legitimate, but it tends to be abused. Hence, Jesus mentioned about the temple being made a "robber's den". One word against too much profiteering and consumerism.


Mark 12: 28-34. The Greatest Commandment.

In the Bible story, Jesus was asked - er, tested - by a man about the greatest commandment. They were testing him on his preferences of the many laws and statutes under the Mosaic Law. Now, if Jesus won't answer, they will dismiss him for his ignorance. If, however, he chose one such commandment, he will have to answer why another is not as important. This is another one of those dillemmas they want to trap Jesus with.

However, Jesus knew what's on their mind. He said, the first commandment is "Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." The second - and this he added in order to give back the dillemma to them - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." That is, if you love God, you shall love also your neighbor. Hence, a pun was made on their concocted trap of Jesus.

The man who asked Jesus agreed with him, and professed his agreement with Jesus. Indeed, he said, love of God and love of neighbor are the greatest commandments, which are better than all the sacrifices and holocaust. Now, the answer of Jesus was peculiar: "You are not far from the kingdom of God". Why did Jesus say that - instead of the plain "The kingdom has arrived in you", or something of that sort?

I asked the same question to my grade three pupils and there were different answers. These pupils were trained by me to give their thoughts and not be afraid of being "wrong". After some time, someone was able to find the right answer - right after I recounted the story of the two sons.

The story of the two sons is a story of a father who told his two sons to work on the field. The first one said he will go - but didn't. The second one said he won't - but he did. Actually, this story was a pun on the Israelites and the Gentiles. But this may be a solution to the problem above.

Knowing the right thing to do is just half the battle won. It's just being near to the kingdom. It is the actual doing of the right thing that makes you win battle - that makes you arrive to the kingdom.

Wowowee

Deaths in ULTRA. 74 dead 500 injured in ULTRA.

Issue: Whether ABS CBN, Wowowee officials, ULTRA officials are jointly and severally liable for the death and harm afflicted on hundreds of people in ULTRA, February 4, 2006 at its show Wowowee?

Ruling: Art. 2176, Civil Code: Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for the damage done. . .
Art. 2180, Civil Code: The obligation imposed by article 2176 is demandable not only for one's own acts or omission, but also for those of persons for whom one is responsible
GR No. L-29993 – The Supreme Court absolved the municipal councilors in the death of a certain Vicente Fontanilla in Malasiqui, Pangasinan, 1959. In this scenario, Fontanilla died because of the collapse of the stage used in the entertainment show in the town fiesta.
Mitigating/Aggravating Circumstances – There is not a single person dead this time, but 74, with 500 injured. This may be used against ABS.

Other Issues – Tens of thousands came, and it is a situation for accident to happen. Did ABS, ULTRA and Wowowee jointly or severally created an unsafe situation for accident to happen? Further, did ABS, ULTRA and Wowowee jointly and severally exercised the diligence of a good father in order to be exonerated? Was there enough ambulances, first aid personnel and police in case something happens? One report stated that an hour has passed without even a single medical personnel coming at the scene. Several people could have been saved. These are the concerns that the court will scrutinize if ever a court case will prosper against ABS-CBN, Ultra or Wowowee.

Application and Conclusion – Only the court has the right to do this. We only opine. We don’t have all the facts. Even the reports above will classify as hearsay.

Sorry - got so busy

The reason for my absence here is not that I wasn't writing anymore. On the contrary, I was always writing - about everything. I just had to fill the gaps of my new website. It's almost done. Done in the sense that it has some form already. Actually, it has to be updated every week. I have there Gospel notes, stock notes, and education researches. I am also doing summaries on legal notes, legal brief. My proposed thesis is already killing me by now. I always thought I knew what I was doing. The worst problem in thesis writing - now I knew - is putting a decent title on your proposed study. It's really killing me. I know what to do and how to do it. God, I even have 100 pages on my mind already. But the hardest part is giving it a title. Perhaps, that only goes to show that I have no focus. Or that I don't really know what will be the significance of my proposed work.

My new website is http://atentocorp.bravehost.com I will put some things I have there in this site. Perhaps the unscholarly things.

Thanks for the 80 plus people who got interested with my blogs. While I was away. That's already something in this part of my world.

Battle Stations

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