Category: Blogging

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I’m a Sucker for Underdogs!

Yes, I am a sucker for underdogs. It’s just me.

Of course, the underdog has to be one of decent stock and integrity. Someone credible. Someone vulnerable. Someone unable to fight on his/her own. And recently, another such person has caught everyone in the throes of controversy that has gotten incredible media mileage.

Brian Gorrell has captured the hearts and minds of bloggers and web surfers globally, including Pinoys (one of whom he accuses of having allegedly scammed him of his life savings of 70,000 dollars). Brian could not get it back and resorted to blogging in an attempt to force this Pinoy to hand his money back — money he desperately needs for his medicines. Brian has HIV.

I won’t go into detailed comments about what Brian claims he knows or what he blogged about. You can go to Brian’s blog and read all about it there.

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But what is really core to all these is his exposure of what we already have a glimpse of — the huge abyss between the rich and the poor of our country and what perks it gives to the high and mighty, to the detriment of those who merely survive from day to day and learn to go without.

If, through Brian’s blog, we Filipinos can see the real view of our country (its good side as well as its sickening ills), maybe we can now be stirred to move towards changing society, help in whatever way we can to make life better for millions of our own, bring back honesty, integrity, good governance at every level of society, and give back the dignity of the Pinoy that has been stripped bare by countless scandals not just in government but also, apparently, in our high society circles.

Kitty Go’s amazingly candid interview was so refreshing. While being herself a socialite now based in HK, she shows the better side of what real high society should be made of — finesse, social concern, clean living, honest profession, etc. There are still many of those in this country. Those who use their money to engage in housing projects, set up foundations for education, for better provincial infrastructure, and so forth. It is the few who live like there was no tomorrow, indulging in wild lifestyles, liquor and drugs, living in their intoxicated world, engaging in corruption to continue building up their empire, who bring a bad image to high society (and government, as well).

Some creative person came up with an image which Brian posted on his blog. It does not look like it is copyrighted as it has “Team Brian” on it. So I am putting it up here as well.

Good luck to you, Brian. Many people are praying you stay healthy. Many are hoping you get back your money. Thank you for exposing what many in this country have known for some time now but never dared talk (or write) about.

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iblog4: The Bloggers’ Summit

Are you an active blogger? Then come join the Manila bloggers’ summit on April 26!

Last year, about this time, I came across an announcement about iblog3. Imagine, it was already the 3rd year running and I never even heard of such a summit. So, curious me decided to go attend even if I knew absolutely no one in the crowd. My first blog was just weeks old then and I knew next to nothing about stuff they talked about (problogging, Google Adsense, SEO, podcasting — DUHHHH!!!)

By the end of the 2-day conference, I had a pile of business cards from bloggers: probloggers, media bloggers, personal bloggers, and even vloggers. Not only that, I came to know the faces behind the more famous blogs you come across, got more-than-I-could-digest blogging information and even won a raffle prize.

This year, it will just be a 1-day event but still packed with very useful topics you could bring back home for your own blogs. Best of all, it is FREE!!!

Date: April 26, 2008 (Saturday)
Time: 9am – 5pm thereabouts
Place: Malcolm Theater, College of Law, UP Diliman

It’s better to reserve early so that you are sure to get a kit with handouts and be enrolled in their mailing list.

Here are some useful links:

iblog4 homepage

Register for iblog4

List of iblog4 registrants

Since joining iblog3 laslt year, my blogging life has never been the same. I now have thispublic blog as well as a yoga blog, The Yogini from Manila (chronicles of my life as a budding yogini). I  joined several blogger events and now count some of these long-time bloggers as my good friends.

Hope to see you there!

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Fire! Fire! Fire??????

Something today almost freaked me out.

I left my office on one of the top floors of the Enterprise Center with plans just to buy lunch and eat it on my desk while continuing to work. 15 minutes tops was all I needed.

I went to the Food Park, bought a burger and dessert, then entered the elevator. It was one of those few times when I had the elevator to myself. Great, I thought to myself. It was an express ride to my floor!

As the elevator reached my floor, I suddenly heard the building’s alarm go off. And worse, the elevator’s arrow suddenly began to point down. I was being brought down against my will by the elevator! And I did not have the faintest idea what was going on outside as I heard the alarms all the way down. During what seemed like eternity, I remember thinking of the movie I had just watched on HBO the other night. It was about the policemen who were trapped when the World Trade Center collapsed. And they were caught where else? The elevator shaft!!!!! Chills ran down my spine!!!

At the mezzanine level, a security man all dressed in neon orange overalls met me and gestured to quickly get out of the building. I followed the growing crowd of employees outside. As we stepped out into the bright noon sunlight, I saw some smoke billowing out of what looked like the Food Park. Did someone’s kitchen catch fire after I left there? Then I saw what seemed like water bursting out of a hose alongside the smoke. Geeeezzzz!

I walked to an outdoor parking lot and looked towards the direction of the smoke and water.

A huge tarpaulin was hung outside the mezzanine level of the building. I missed it on my way to work as it was not facing the area where I was usually dropped off.

What did the tarpaulin say?

My 15-minute lunch became almost an hour-long one. But on the flip side of it all, I got to witness our building’s security people coordinate with the Makati firemen and emergency crew. We were treated to a demo of rescue drills that included rappeling down the building’s side and practicing putting out a raging fire with extinguishers. As I went back to my office, I felt that in a real emergency situation, I was probably safer in this building as everyone seemed well coordinated and safety was a paramount concern.

And, as my desk neighbor kidded later, “You were meant to blog about it!” 🙂

Here are some photos I took with my trusty camera phone:

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Holy Divos!!!

When I was growing up, the priests, as I knew them, conformed to what I always expected of the religious. They said Mass, heard Confession, officiated during weddings, baptisms, and wakes. They were retreat masters, theology teachers, frequent lecturers (with me falling asleep half of the time). You know what I mean…

Lately, a new breed of priests capture the attention of ordinary folks like us and bring us closer to the Lord in a different and personal way primarily because they do things we ordinarily do and share the Word of God in the ordinary-ness of life. They are bloggers and gym rats, composers of songs, lyricists, creative writers, artists. And on my last visit to Dumaguete over the holidays, I met a group of priests who did something else which Filipinos love to do a lot — SING!

Fr. Ray Victor Pascual used to be the chaplain at SM Megamall and some of you may have attended his Masses there. He was also concurrently the Orientation Year and Vocation Director at the San Lorenzo Mission Institute. Several years ago, he was assigned as parish priest of Mary Immaculate Parish in Dumaguete after its parish priest passed away. Since then, that parish has flourished and grown into a dynamic one with an active and vibrant choir and involved parishioners. Fr. Ray also happens to be a relative of my hubby (their ancestors came from the same small Chinese village).

What many probably did not know was that while still in Manila, Fr. Ray was part of a group of singing priests. He had a good singing voice and was just as good with the guitar. Their concerts were always packed. So when he assumed his new post in Dumaguete, it was no longer a surprise that eventually, he and 3 other priests (Fr. Ramonito “Ram” Maata, Fr. Carmelito “Junjun” Limbaga, and Fr. Felino “Linlin” Jumawan) would find each other and put up their own singing group, known as the “Priests in Music”.

The Priests in Music have performed in several concerts and private functions in metro Dumaguete. At my in-laws’ Diamond Anniversary celebration last December, they performed to the delight of the crowd.

When priests like these are able to break into the circle of the youth, they show the young that the priesthood is a vocation which need not be boring, staid or outdated. They are able to share God’s Word without “lecturing” — a big turn-off many times for kids who are used to fast-paced multimedia. The blogger priests I know communicate in the medium best known by the youth. They are able to REACH OUT, then REACH IN.

Who knows….maybe down the road we will see a priest who can breakdance and hiphop alongside the kids. Now that I am looking forward to!

Here is a YouTube video showing the Priests in Music in one of their Dumaguete concerts (Fr. Ray is the one in the opening video, in a purple shirt):

….and “BARKADA” sung in a Visayan upbeat way…

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Our Youth Are the Hope of This Land

I have tried to make this blog as apolitical as possible as my theme is about LIFE and all its many facets as it affects me. But I cannot help but blog about the impact of our youth on me, especially during this time when we are once again faced by a scandal of humongous proportions. This post is not a political one. Rather, I believe that this represents our HOPE for a BETTER LIFE.

In my younger days, I was no activist. I was never in political rallies during martial law days. I chose to just focus on my studies and I must say I was a pretty good student and made good grades. But when I went for graduate studies to the States, I became aware of many things. My loneliness, being away from family, made me keenly appreciate my country even more (this is really cheesy but I would get teary-eyed whenever I would hear Lupang Hinirang). I realized I was part of a few who were given a chance for a better life when many back home could not even get to eat 3x a day. I was there when Ninoy Aquino was exiled, got invited along with some friends to a party hosted in NY for the Marcoses during their state visit (we were appalled by the excessive show of opulence that we left soon after dinner and chose to walk around NY for a change), was among Filipino students who met similarly-exiled Charito Planas during her school visit and got a personal view of what the country was facing then. I was absorbing all these, and without realizing it, this was to be my big step to a more active participation ahead.

When Operation Quick Count of NAMFREL was set up, I got involved. Without going into more details, suffice it to say that my love of the Philippines was heightened all the more during those days. We worked long, long hours in LSGH in the aftermath of the presidential snap elections of ’86. I was there when Card. Sin and Senator Lugar of the US, among other dignitaries, paid a visit to the LSGH gym where we were based. I was one of those who broke out cheering and applauding when they announced that the PICC tabulators had walked out. And during EDSA 1, I was one of the millions who found ourselves in EDSA. My heart was bursting with love for my country and hopes for the future.

But with scandal after scandal coming out, I fear for my kids and what future they will have in this country. There is so much for them to be proud of. The countryside is beautiful. Whatever is left of our rich, natural resources (depleted by greedy moneymakers) is still a sight to behold. The simple folks in the provinces show us what the real heart of Pinoys are. Opportunities abound to give and to receive — within moral and economic boundaries.

But what values are my kids picking up? Will they continue to be principled, fight for what is good and right, put country over personal interest? Will they want to stay in this country and put their talents and skills to use here rather than dream of working abroad? How do I teach them that money in itself is not bad if they can put it to use to make lives better? When they look at TV, hear the Senate investigations, and study current events in school, how do these scandals impress their young hearts?

I worry.

These days, I am just an ordinary wife and mother. My days are humdrum, revolving around planning the kids’ schedules, trying to earn a decent living, and enjoying yoga with friends.

But last night, my good friend Dine told me about her son Vince who, at the Ateneo mass at Gesu for Jun Lozada, gave up his St. Ignatius pin (which was given to him just a week ago) in order to fulfill the wish of Lozada to come out of Ateneo with a blue pin.

Vince earned that blue pin. It was a pin given in recognition of his school leadership. But in giving that pin to Lozada, Vince symbolized all the youth behind him who were in effect entrusting their future in the hands of the likes of Lozada. Here was a youth leader telling an adult that there was hope for our land and this was an encouragement for Lozada and others to likewise stay the course and let the TRUTH come out.

If our youth, like Vince, continue to love this country and feel deeply for it like I remember feeling years ago, there is hope for this country. If they can discern what is NOT right in the actions of my generation, there is a chance for them to rectify these in their generation. They are the hope of this land.

(Vince with Sumilao farmers at the Gesu Mass for Lozada — photo courtesy of Dine)

Vince, you do your family proud and I am happy to have met you through your mommy. Be assured that we are all behind you and your generation and will always pray that you all stay in the light. As for me, I continue to be a proud Filipina.

To view a short video of Vince (also taken by Dine) giving his pin to Lozada, click HERE and HERE.

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My Day with Happy Slip

Feb. 7, 2008, Mag:net Cafe Bonifacio High Street, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

I was not familiar with the place and had to ask some security guards where Mag:net Cafe was. It was just a little before 11:00 and thankfully, the place was not yet full. After registering at the entrance, I made my way into the cafe and reserved the nearest table I could get. Dine and Noemi were still at Krispy Kreme and they soon arrived together with Tin Mandigma of WikiPilipinas and that made up our table of 4.

Christine arrived promptly but to the disappointment of many of us bloggers, she was immediately whisked to an open area of the cafe for media interviews. Thankfully, lunch (FREE!!!!) was served so we had time to socialize and catch up among bloggers. I went around meeting those I knew virtually but was seeing in the flesh for the first time (people like Manuel and Angel Viloria, Anton, Jayvee, Juned and Ivan Henares).

After the media interviews, Christine’s also famous cousin, Josh Verdes, who composed many of the songs featured in her videos, sang 3 of the more popular ones on YouTube (Save Me, Home, and Love At First Sight). Then Christine gave her opening remarks, gamefully answered some questions (sometimes acting out her other family members — to everyone’s delight), and spent time with each and every one of us for a short chitchat, autograph signing, and pictures.

When I got to the front of the line, I told Christine that my 2 girls felt bad that they had to be in school and could not come with me. But she accommodated my request to personally write to them (and a niece) using stationery that I had brought along with me. She also autographed a picture of herself in Luneta which Yehey.com provided all of us.

Towards the end, as everyone got their moment with her, I was able to go back to her with my videocam to get a personal message for my girls (and she cheerfully did, to the delight of my girls). Josh was also able to give them his own message so I think my mission was more than accomplished that day.

We were one of the last to leave Mag:net. We watched from the 2nd floor as Christine was mobbed by adoring fans while she was in her coaster. This is what is amazing about this bubbly girl. She was all heart for everyone she met. Even while inside her vehicle, she went all the way to the back and continued smiling for the small crowd that had patiently waited for her on the street since they could not enter the venue. Waving, smiling, pretending to cry (to show them how she wished she had more time to meet them). And when her coaster sped away, she continued waving from the rear window of the coaster. Such a wonderful, beautiful person inside and out….

Now that she is back in the States, we sit back to wait eagerly for her to edit what must be volumes and volumes of footage from her trip to the Philippines. I am sure what will come out of that will be hilarious at times; but more than just funny, it will be videos filled with love, warmth and sunshine….because that is what we saw from the real Happy Slip.

Christine, no doubt about it…you are one heck of a Philippine Ambassadress. We hope you can come visit more often to get to know your heritage. You bring Philippine sunshine and warmth with you wherever you go and likewise, we will always carry you with us in our hearts.

I will upload YouTube videos of her opening remarks and Q & A portion soon. Watch out for it here.