UNDERSTANDING THE SABAH PROBLEM

Sharing...

One factor that is essential in the comprehension of the Sabah problem is to understand that Sabah was only officially colonised by the British Crown in 1946 which means that UNTIL THEN, North Borneo (Sabah) WAS PART of the Sultanate of Sulu although leased. 

Despite Britain's colonisation of Sabah from 1946 until 1963, it is my opinion that Sabah's sovereignty, although compromised by the British colonisation, still legally belonged to the Sultanate of Sulu. However, we all know that the Sultanate of Sulu ceded full sovereignty of Sabah to the Philippine Republic on 12 Septemeber 1962 while it was still a colony of Britain.

On 31st August 1963, Britain granted Sabah (whose sovereignty rights had been ceded the year before to the Republic of the Phlippines) its independence

Sixteen days after Britain granted Sabah its independence in 1963, and despite PH protests, it was annexed to a new federation in the making called MALAYSIA instead of returning it either to the Sultanate of Sulu or to the Republic of the Philippines which had already inherited sovereignty rights over Sabah from the Sultanate by virtue of the transfer on 12 September 1962.

In 1968, while Malaysia had taken de facto control of Sabah, the Republic of the Philippines enacted a series of laws related to our baselines and one of these laws is the Republic Act 5446 which acknowledges title and dominion over Sabah, thus by PH law, Sabah is Philippine territory. RA 5446 is still in vigour.

As Law Professor Isagani Cruz says, Isagani Cruz, "President Noynoy faces an insoluble dilemma. If he believes that Sabah is part of the Philippines, he has to defend Sabah because Malaysia is attacking it. If he does not believe that Sabah is part of the Philippines, he opens himself up to impeachment, because Philippine law says that Sabah is part of the Philippines and he is sworn to uphold Philippine law. Talking of a conspiracy does not solve the problem; in fact, it is irrelevant if there is or there is no conspiracy. The dilemma has to do simply with his stand on Sabah itself."

To my mind, the Sultanate of Sulu, and by extension the royal heirs, is irrelevant in the PH claim because Sabah is already PH territory by PH law. The Philippine Republic, however, has contractual obligations which it signed when it accepted from the Sultanate of Sulu the full transfer of sovereignty rights in 1962 and one of these contractual obligations is to prosecute the claim and in so doing, help the Sultante of Sulu's proprietary rights to be recognised. So we cannot actually take it against the Sultanate for feeling doubly rebuffed. It is the Philippine Republic's contractual obligation to do it and the Government has been remiss in its obligations.

~~ By Anne de Bretagne
For the DEFENDERS OF THE PHILIPPINE SABAH & SPRATLY CLAIMS
05 March 2013

"SABAH IS NOT OWNED BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT"

SHARING..

Sabah is NOT OWNED by the Philippine government but the Republic of the Philippines 'possesses' sovereignty rights over Sabah. However, the proprietary rights to the land belong to the Sultanate of Sulu heirs. There is a difference.

The Philippine government has NO ownership claim to Sabah land -- as in proprietary rights claim (in the same manner that Philippine government has NO ownership claim to your private lupa at bahay.)

So, sa madaling sabi, dalawang bagay po ito: SOVEREIGNTY RIGHTS & PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

The sovereignty rights to Sabah belong to the Republic by virtue of an official transfer made by Sultan Esmail Kiram I on 12 Sept 1962 witnessed by President Diosdado Macapagal. But the proprietary rights remain in the hands of the Sultanate of Sulu heirs.

Para po bang iyong sariling lupa at bahay at bahay ninyo maski sa dulo ng Pilipinas: kayo ang may-ari at sa inyo ang titulo ng pag-aari (proprietary rights) pero ang batas na susundin ay sa Republika, ang batas na umiiral ay sa Republika ng Pilipinas (sovereignty rights) pero hindi ibig sabihin na pag-aari ng gobyerno ang lupain.

DAGDAGAN PO NATIN ANG PALIWANAG at sana makatulong ito (pasensya na lang po sa Taglish explanation heheheh)

Tama po ang isang myembro natin na sabi niya na ang transfer ng sovereingty rights galing sa Sultanate ay FULL SOVEREIGNTY...

"Full Sovereignty" means full control but it doesn't signify proprietary rights to the piece of land. With 'full sovereignty', it would mean, the Republic will have full control of defense, police powers, foreign policy, taxation, execution of laws, coinage, education, health etc etc...

Allow us to illustrate what FULL SOVEREIGNTY means by comparing it to the framework agreement being devised between govt and MILF for a Bangsamoro: despite "genuine and full autonomy" proposed to cover the new political entity, sovereignty rights will be shared between the autonomous Bangsamoro govt and the Republic of the Philippines and basing it on the 10-points agreed between the MILF and the Republic, Bangsamoro will have police powers, capability to sign trade agreements with other countries, taxation, but because it is only shared sovereignty with the Republic, the Philippine govt will have control of national defense, foreign policy, coinage (meaning currency) and other aspects of sovereignty rights that usually belong to the STATE (national government), etc.

BUT in the case of Sabah, sultanate indeed transferred FULL sovereignty rights to Republic as in full control of Sabah to take control of all the instruments of governance and does not mean shared sovereignty rights with the Sultanate of Sulu (unlike with the proposed MILF Bangsamoro 'homeland' which is shared sovereignty.)

Life of Pi, Qoutes to Ponder

A friend of mine, Brent invited me to watch this film. When I don't have any idea of the story, we went ahead along with our friend Laila and I never had any regrets. 

Life of Pi is a story of a young boy who is in search of religion, explores spirituality, confused about the concept of God and gods, survived a shipwreck, lost his family and stranded in a boat with Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger.. 

And here are some lessons I learned: 

“Even when God seemed to have abandoned me, He was watching. And when I was beyond all hope of saving, He gave me rest.”

"Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?"

“To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”

"You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.”

"The reason death sticks so closely to life is not biological necessity; it's envy. Life is beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs what it can."

"I lost my family, my everything. What more do you want from me?"

"The lower you are, the higher will want to soar."

"What the island gives them during the day, it takes away at night"

"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is."

"Religion is about our dignity, not our depravity."

"Survival is a state of mind"

"Why tolerate the darkness? Everything else is here and clear, if only we look for it."

"It is important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise, you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."

" It's hard to stay positive when nothing ever goes right."

"Life on a lifeboat isn't much of a life. It is like in an end game in chess, a game with few pieces. The elements couldn't be more simple, nor the stakes higher."

"I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless he is careful. "

" When your own life is threatened, your sense of empathy is blunted by a terrible, selfish hunger for survival."

" Faith is opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, and a free act of love, but sometimes it was so hard to love."

"Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up. "

"I was giving up. I would have given up – if a voice hadn't made itself heard in my heart. The voice said, "I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, so long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen."

"It was Richard Parker who calmed me down. It is the irony of this story that the one who scared me witless to start with was the very same who brought me peace, purpose, I dare say even wholeness."

"I had to stop hoping so much that a ship would rescue me. I should not count on outside help. Survival had to start with me. In my experience, a castaway's worst mistake is to hope too much and do too little. Survival starts by paying attention to what is close at hand and immediate. To look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one's life away."

" Animals have souls, I can see it in their eyes."

" It is strange how easy it is to hate when it's so hard to love."

" I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes a matter of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye."

" Faith is a house of many rooms,... and doubt is on every floor. Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested."

“It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names.”

"Hunger can change everything you thought you knew yourself!"

"I can eat biscuits, but God made tigers carnivorous, so I must learn to catch fish. If don't, I'm afraid his last meal would be a skinny vegetarian boy."

"Gloom is but the passing shadow of a cloud."

"Thank you Lord Vishnu. Thank you for coming in the form of fish and saving our lives."

"Above all... it is important not to lose hope."

"Life is a story. You can choose your story. A story with God is a better story"

Choices

There are times when you are caught between two clashing stones. A time when you would need to choose one and compromise the other. Both will have "something" special at stake. Something that in one way or another would be "something" you need for yourself. Both of which compromises each other. A yes on one will definitely be a big disappointment on the other.

When times like these arises? What would you choose?

I am caught between choosing friendship over something for myself. Something I worked hard for and something I think I deserve. I am caught between giving and taking. I am caught between my own interest or other’s happiness..

Of November 1 and Remembering The Dead

November 1 and November 2 marks the days of remembering people who passed away. It is the time when flowers and candles shoot prices, the time when more men in police uniform are seen, the time when kids and even adults wear their favorite Halloween costumes, and the time when parties and sometimes mishaps are held at the cemeteries.

It is the day I hate the most.

July 22, 1996 was when my father, Benjamin Abuan Mostrales, passed away. He taught me how to be humble and generous at all times no matter who asked for help. He was the one who opened my eyes saying it is not enough to count your blessings, you have to share them. He came from a very poor family. His pants going to school were literally made out of sack of flour but he made it through college with perseverance.  

7 years later, my grandfather, Theodoro Pimentel followed. That was June 24, 2003. He was a teacher. He seldom talks. Very naive. My grandfather taught me patience, patience and patience. He taught me that waiting will bring you the crown. He taught me integrity pays even without shouting it to the world and he taught me how to compose myself even when things go wrong.

Another 7 years past, January 10, 2010, my mom, Bernardina Pimentel Mostrales, left us. My mother, like her father was so naive. I know my mom as the most demure, unpretentious woman. Yes! Exactly my opposite. She can befriend my friends, my brother's friends and even our friends' parents.

Not long after that, June 24, 2012, my grandmother, Eduarda Catalino Pimentel bid goodbye. My grandmother on the other hand is one intelligent and courageous woman. She does not know how to read and write but she's one who took life's teaching and learned from it. My cousin even said and I qoute,

It is not impossible to go wherever you want to be. You just have to befriend courage, will and faith to find the way. A lesson from lola Duarda. -by Racey Arianne Alsaen

These four people are the people who drew and painted the most important canvass of my life. These were the people who left and are remembered not only during November but everyday of my life. These are the people who made me cry, who made me strong and who made me the person I am today. 

These are the people who made me hate November because it's the day when people around remind me that they left me alone to struggle with day to day battles. I should have moved on but every November 1st is a painful reminder.  It is a reminder that I don't have a choice but to accept that they maybe dead but they are forever alive in my heart.

Notification: "YOU ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS"

Republic Act 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act was signed into law last September 12, 2012 and went live October 3,2012. Today, is the first day of Cybercrime Law Act.


Right now, I'm thinking to maybe, just maybe, be careful of what I'm going to write else, NBI, DOJ and PNP will be knocking on my door handling me a warrant of arrest.

Here are the 17 Cybercrimes covered under Cybercrime Prevention Act – Republic Act 10175. Number 13 talks about libel wherein writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party. WOW!

Obviously, government officials are trying to protect themselves with this Bill.

Until now, the senate denies and point fingers to who inserted this part on the said Republic Act.

Let's take a look at

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
Article III
Bill of Rights
Section 4. 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.

What's the punishment for violating this?

There are many laws that needs to be passed. What happened to RHBILL, FOI BILL, and SINTAX BILL?

The country is facing many problems. What are you, government officials, doing? 

Please don't forget, YOU ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS!

We have the right to voice out what we want since we are the one who put you in the office and we are the one paying taxes.

Right now, Sotto and Carabuena maybe laughing hard. I just imagine.. 

Braze yourselves.. 
The search is on for the first person to be jailed from the Cyber Crime Law in the Philippines...

Baguio... SOLD..

While Executive Order 695 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last January 10, 2008, explicitly states “the City Government of Baguio shall not encumber, mortgage or alienate any portion of Burnham Park unless approved by the secretary of the Department of Tourism”, local government officials would still want it privatize more to the point of selling/mortgaging to Korean businessmen.

It was in 2010, Former Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. partnered with a certain An Ho Yul who represented the unknown group of investors, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the development project - GMA News

What's Mayor Mauricio Domogan has to say?

Sunstar dated August 13, 2012 was able to hear out what Baguio City mayor has to say.

Mayor belies anomaly in Athletic Bowl development

There goes the Pontius Pilate washing his hands..

RT: @baguio If Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park must be fixed, but why give a Korean 8 whole hectares for 50 years?

Let's take a look at the second one.

CITY TO LOOK INTO BCC PRIVATIZATION AFTER PURCHASE ‘A DONE DEAL’

Where'd the budget going Honorable Mayor?

In addition to that, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center is also on the verge of being privatized. According to The Department of Health, which supports the moves, said it is part of the current administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) who believed that provision of medical services will be improved and will bring better prospects for health care and medical facilities to public hospitals nationwide.

Whereas to date, BGHMC according to Dr. Manuel Factora is understaffed with incomplete facilities.

But then again, where is the Php 250 million budget going then?

Tomorrow, we wake up with a mark all over Baguio,

Baguio... Sold! 

No to the privatization of the Baguio Athletic Bowl Petition | GoPetition

40 Years Ago.. and 40 Years After..

September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law. The declaration issued under Proclamation 1081.

I was born 1982. Still under the Martial Law. I am a Martial Law baby.

My brother on the other hand is an EDSA 1 baby.

Now, my nephew is an e-martial law baby.

FOI Bill, RH Bill and Sin Tax Bill were not yet signed.

RA 10175 contradicts to our freedom of speech. Any negative post against a person can now be considered as libel. Hello, Online Martial Law! Or I should say E-MARTIAL LAW.

Mathematics, Science, Twilight Saga, Hunger Games Trilogy & Fifty Shades of Grey in TAGALOG??

It was around the year 2007 and 2008 when it was proposed that the subjects Mathematics and Science will be taught in "tagalog". Thereon, debates and negative reactions were unending. A year after that, another proposal surfaced wanting the medium of instruction in all schools be in English. Confusing?? Yes, it is!

In this country, it is assumed that people are more fluent in Filipino rather than English which is not really the case. With lots of dialects that we have, there are people who are not fluent speaking tagalog and/or English. Most of our fellow countrymen are more confident speaking their own dialect.

In the school where I graduated, most of our subjects were taught in English except Filipino and History or Sibika at Kultura as we call it before which I believe it’s just but right to teach such subjects in their own language of distinction.

However in order for us to be competitive enough especially in the global market, being able to speak and write the English language would definitely bring us on a higher level.

Teaching math and science in tagalog would be very difficult since terminologies, formulas and principles of these two subjects would be very difficult to understand once it is translated in other dialect.

Recently, bestselling books such as Twilight Saga, Hunger Games Trilogy & Fifty Shades of Grey were translated in Tagalog by Precious Hearts Romances. When the publisher said that bestselling books have translations in French, German, Chinese and Nihonggo, they thought of translating too in pinoy language. I myself reacted negatively about it. Not because of I don’t want it in Talagog but hey, I hope they did justice through the translation. I think it would do well enough if they decoded the book based on context rather than translating it word per word. Twilight was called TakipSilim. How about Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey, how would you translate these titles in tagalog?


I think I would prefer Pol Medina's Pugad Baboy instead of reading these tagalize versions even if we call them best sellers. The essence would still be the same. They would make me laugh!

An Inspirational Speech from A First Lady

Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention

Full text of First Lady Michelle Obama’s remarks to the Democratic National Convention on Sept. 4 in Charlotte, as prepared for delivery.

Thank you so much, Elaine…we are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice…and we will always have your back.

Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.

And everywhere I’ve gone, in the people I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.

I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.

I’ve seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.

I’ve seen it in people who become heroes at a moment’s notice, diving into harm’s way to save others…flying across the country to put out a fire…driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.

And I’ve seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families…in wounded warriors who tell me they’re not just going to walk again, they’re going to run, and they’re going to run marathons…in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, “…I’d give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.”

Every day, the people I meet inspire me…every day, they make me proud…every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.

Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege…but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we’d begun.

While I believed deeply in my husband’s vision for this country…and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President…like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.

How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they’d ever known?

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys…Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma’s house…and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both.

And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls…I deeply loved the man I had built that life with…and I didn’t want that to change if he became President.

I loved Barack just the way he was.

You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate…to me, he was still the guy who’d picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door…he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.

But when Barack started telling me about his family – that’s when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.

You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable – their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.

My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.

And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain…I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.

But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.

And when he returned home after a long day’s work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him…watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.

But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work…he and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.

And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.

But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.

And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.

He was so proud to be sending his kids to college…and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.

You see, for my dad, that’s what it meant to be a man.

Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life – being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.

And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he’d grown up all the way across the country, he’d been brought up just like me.

Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.

Barack’s grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank…and she moved quickly up the ranks…but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.

And for years, men no more qualified than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack’s family continued to scrape by.

But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus…arriving at work before anyone else…giving her best without complaint or regret.

And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that’s all that really matters.”

Like so many American families, our families weren’t asking for much.

They didn’t begrudge anyone else’s success or care that others had much more than they did…in fact, they admired it.

They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don’t start out with much, if you work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.

That’s how they raised us…that’s what we learned from their example.

We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make…that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.

We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters…that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules…and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.

We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.

That’s who we are. And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn’t want any of that to change if Barack became President.

Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are – it reveals who you are.

You see, I’ve gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.

And I’ve seen how the issues that come across a President’s desk are always the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer…the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.

And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.

But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.

So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.

He’s thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day’s work.

That’s why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.

That’s why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.

That’s how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again – jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.

When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.

He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that’s not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.

He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine…our kids should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick…and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.

And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care…that’s what my husband stands for.

When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could’ve attended college without financial aid.

And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.

We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.

That’s why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.

So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren’t political – they’re personal. Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.

He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.

Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it…and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.

And he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity…you do not slam it shut behind you…you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.

So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.

He’s the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work…because for Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.

He’s the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.

That’s the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.

That’s the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.

The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills…from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care…from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.

I see the concern in his eyes…and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, “You won’t believe what these folks are going through, Michelle…it’s not right.

We’ve got to keep working to fix this. We’ve got so much more to do.”

I see how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that’s what drives Barack Obama every single day.

And I didn’t think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago…even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.

I love that he’s never forgotten how he started. I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he’s going to do, even when it’s hard – especially when it’s hard.

I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as “us” and “them” – he doesn’t care whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above…he knows that we all love our country…and he’s always ready to listen to good ideas…he’s always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we’re all sweating it – when we’re worried that the bill won’t pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.

Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward…with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.

And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here…and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.

But eventually we get there, we always do.

We get there because of folks like my Dad…folks like Barack’s grandmother…men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will…maybe my grandchildren will.”

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love…because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.

So today, when the challenges we face start to seem overwhelming – or even impossible – let us never forget that doing the impossible is the history of this nation…it’s who we are as Americans…it’s how this country was built.

And if our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us…if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button…then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.

And if so many brave men and women could wear our country’s uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights…then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights…surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.

If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire…if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores…if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote…if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time…if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream…and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.

Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.

That is what has made my story, and Barack’s story, and so many other American stories possible.

And I say all of this tonight not just as First Lady…and not just as a wife.

You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still “mom-in-chief.”

My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.

But today, I have none of those worries from four years ago about whether Barack and I were doing what’s best for our girls.

Because today, I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all our sons and daughters…if we want to give all our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise…if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility – that belief that here in America, there is always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it…then we must work like never before…and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward…my husband, our President, President Barack Obama.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

From a Disappointed Citizen

I have been resting for a while and totally missed my blog. Pissed off by Senator Tito Sotto's claim of this and that. Irritated by lies when in fact we know the truth.

Sen. Sotto on DZMM: There was no plagiarism. There was no intention. And I have no intentions of claiming anything.

With these said, I stopped defending Senator Tito Sotto to my co-bloggers. Having issues like his son died because of some "whatchamacallit pills" that existed 3 years after his wife gave birth, his quotes from a blogger who in fact is if you read her background, she's a supporter of what we call RH bill nowadays and his denial to his speeches being "copy-cats"... Totally, sad to say but sorry, I lose respect. 

All the while I though our dear senator will give it a second thought. I thought he maybe clouded by his emotions and end up being humble by admitting one's mistake and straighten things up. I thought wrong.  

When Sotto says population growth is also needed for economic development, I'm not sure if he's talking about population as a business or human welfare.
Sometimes dear senator, what we want is not what we see on TV. There are instances, like your speeches, that needs research. Thorough research. The people you are leading are not stupid. The people under these government are people with brains, with choices..

Now, New York Times didn't even miss to feature our dear Senator entitled A Plagiarist’s Rant Against Birth Control. Locally, same author wrote Walang Sugat, da sequel! Starring Tito Sotto.

I guess I'm loving Miguel Syjuco with these articles.

Well, guess I'm glad I didn't come from Iskul Bukol. 

Isang open letter para kay Sen. Sotto

(*this letter is blogged with Ms. Risa Hontiveros' permission*)


Dear Sen. Sotto,

Bilang magulang, naiintindihan ko na mahirap mawalan ng isang anak. As you said in your speech, every child is a gift of life, and I agree, Sen. Sotto. That's precisely why I know that losing a child must have been very difficult for you and your family.

You'd probably be surprised to learn that it is precisely that value -that deep respect for life - that motivates us, RH advocates, in being persistent in pushing for this bill, even though we face fierce resistance from men like you. Ang panganganak ng RH bill na yata angpinakamahirap at pinakamahaba na paglalabor, Sen. Sotto; pero magpapapatuloy kami. Alam namin na konting ire na lang at mailuluwaldin namin ng matagumpay ang isang programa at policy na kailangan ng mga nanay.

In your speech, you attributed the push for the RH bill to foreign corporate interests. You couldn't be more wrong. The bill may be informed by evidence we gathered from all over the world, but the RHbill is 100% Filipino. All you have to do to realize this, Sen. Sotto,is to fulfill your duty as a representative of Filipinos, an overwhelming majority of which supports the bill. Even the majority of Catholic Filipinos, the faith of whom has been wrongly used to justify opposition to the bill, are in favor of the Bill's passage. Ang tunay na backers ng RH bill ay ang mamamayang Pilipino.

Sinabi mo rin na health hazard ang mga contraceptives. Mawalang galang na, Sen. Sotto, pero hindi na po 1970s ngayon. We are now in possession of a vast array of evidence on both natural and artificial family planning methods. We know that condoms are effective as a contraceptive and as a tool to stop the spread of HIV between sexual partners. We know what pills do - they're not abortifacients as you allege, and yes, they have side-effects - just like aspirin - and that's precisely why programs are needed to ensure that users have the correct information about them.

Pinagpilitan nyo din ang inyong pananaw tungkol sa kung kelan nagsisimula ang buhay. Baka magandang magsimula tayo sa ebidensya. I think it is beyond reason to assert that each ovum, each sperm has life, and while I respect traditional views on this, this is mythical, and more than anything else, it defies common sense. On whether life begins at fertilization or implantation, again, your views are sectarian, thus it will always be debatable, a subject of conversation we should continue to engage in. Pero hindi yata tama na hanggang debate na lang habang may mga namamatay. Right now, can we agree to protect the lives and dignity of the living - the Filipino mothers, whose lives are in danger because of the lack of maternal health programs; our babies and our children, whose health needs must be provided by the state; and our youth, whose lack of awareness on sexual health issues makes them at risk to various sexual health andreproductive health concerns?

Sen. Sotto, please take time to understand what this issue is about. As a legislator, you have to step back from this climate of misunderstanding that has shrouded the issue of RH, and realize what this is all about: the public health needs of Filipinos. As a father, as a Catholic, please find in your heart compassion and empathy -hundreds of Filipino parents like you lose their loved ones, too, precisely because our political leaders refuse to approve the RH bill.

Sincerely,

Risa Hontiveros

Senator Tito Sotto, Parental Grief and The RH Bill

Reblogged from Stories by Kate:

For some strange reason it is a scene straight out of a movie and one that I remember quite well.

The year is 1975, my mother and I had gone to visit her friend who has just given birth at the Makati Medical Center. I am ten years old any my inquisitive nature has me heading for the hospital nursery. I push the steel doors and peep through the glass that houses the large nursery. I smile and look at all the pretty and good-looking babies, wrapped in pink and blue, sleeping soundly all in a row. The long white hallway where I stand is dimly-lit when my gaze falls on a solitary figure at the far end of the hallway.

I immediately recognize her for she is my mother’s friend and we live on the same street. I want to approach her but I take a step back because I see that she is so sad.

I peep into the glass and watch how she longingly looks at her tiny baby inside the incubator, her hand occasionaly touching the glass that separates her from her child. I stand there quietly, and watch her respectfully from a distance.

It is 1975 and the mother by the incubator is Helen Gamboa watching over her baby boy, Vincent Sotto. The scene remained clearly etched in my mind for many years. I remember feeling so bad for her. It was a scene, I would recall again 25 years later, in 1998, as I watched over my 4-year old son, lying in a coma, uncertain as to whether we would ever be able to bring him home again.

Grief can do strange things to you. I will choose to believe this as I read the remarks made by Senator Tito Sotto at the Senate this afternoon. Not coincidentally, August 13, 2012 marks Vincent Sotto’s 37th death anniversary. Any parent who has lost a child will tell you that the day of their child’s passing, no matter how long it has been, is always a day that carries with it the weight of sadness that no words will ever be able to express.

Senator Sotto claims that he is convinced that it was the contraceptives that his wife used that lead to their son’s weak heart condition. I have no idea where the senator got this idea, or whether any of his doctors back in 1975 had ever said anything to him for him to believe that there was some correlation between Vincent’s weak heart and the use of contraceptives. Perhaps his doctor did, as way of giving a grieving father an explanation for his son’s death. There were many things we did not know back in 1975 and we really have no way of verifying whether the doctor did say something to that effect that has lead the senator to believe all these years that Vincent’s passing was in a way, indirectly caused by his parents.

The loss of a child is an event that goes against the natural course of events because after all, parents normally go ahead of their children. I will not dignify the remarks or comments of people who think the senator’s tears were not real. I believe they were. You have to have lost a child to understand the depth of losing one. Today, being his son’s 37th death anniversary was significant to him, a day that once again brought back so many sad and painful memories.

Thus, for the sake of argument, I will assume that the senator does believe in his heart, perhaps due to misinformation given to him in 1975, that he indirectly caused his son’s death.

Parental guilt comes in many forms, every parent who has lost a child knows that so well. You have many “what if’s” and “if only’s” that you carry with you for many years, sometimes even decades. When the loss remains unprocessed and not discussed, the guilt stays with you, and like an unwanted visitor, it comes to live in your heart and mind, every now and then. Thirty-seven years is a lifetime, but the parent who has lost a child never forgets.

Perhaps going against the RH Bill is the senator’s way of purging his guilt over Vincent’s passing, maybe this is the reason why he is very much against it. I want to believe that it was his grief talking today when he said that contraceptives were the reason for his son’s congenital heart defect which eventually lead to his death. After all, what parent in his right mind would use their child’s death to further a cause or an agenda?

To say that I was blown away by this reasoning is an understatement. My initial reaction, like that of everyone else was “Where in heaven’s name did he get his facts!?” Studies have not proven this, and to make such a sweeping statement is highly irresponsible and quite insensitive to all of us who have lost children due to congenital heart disease (CHD). My own son died because of CHD and it had nothing to do with contraception, of that I am sure.

Guilt and regret are two very difficult things to live with. They come and visit you in moments when you are most vulnerable. Perhaps the senator needs to work on those issues separately and in private, not on the senate floor, where his grief overcomes him and he is unable to think straight.

Thich Nacht Hahn wrote “The best that we can do for those who have died is to live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us.” I think the senator needs to resolve his guilt over his son’s death and in the process perhaps, find a better appreciation and understanding for the Bill that he is so rabidly against. Being a bereaved parent himself, he may find a renewed compassion for all the women and children who stand to benefit from being given a better chance at life. In so doing, he not only honors Vincent’s memory, but perhaps, after a long journey, he may finally find an even deeper meaning to his loss, one that in his own words, has eluded him all these years.

The Sad Truth

It was August 5, 2012. I agreed to meet some of my high school friends over Gateway Cubao. Though the weather is not that good, I still, was able to go. For one, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Second, I might as well get away once in a while from the usual routine I have everyday. And thirdly, at least the people I'll be around this time were my friends for a long time.

I was late for about an hour. (same as last year hehehe). Anyway, I saw Lorna and Apple chatting while patiently waiting for others to come. All the while, with our calculation, there should be at least 6 or 7 of us however, others decline the last minute maybe due to the weather or some personal reasons. JP came latter despite the flood building in front of his boarding house.

We had late lunch. Or early dinner. Or whatever you call a meal eaten between 3:40 in the afternoon that lasted until 10 in the evening.

We chatted greeting each other and asking how our other colleagues has been after a long time. We had news for others, unfortunately none for some.

One of our saddest topic was the status of education we witnessed. JP, one our our schoolmate who didn't graduate along with us shared his funny experience with his drafting class in his high school. Apple on the other hand shared a story about what she witnessed while she was taking classes here in Manila.

We laugh while we remember our Home Economics teachers and our projects in Elementary. We were trained how to sew and cook, while the guys were taught how to do basic carpentry and electricity.

In high school, our classes has technical courses such as computer classes automotive, electricity, carpentry, sewing, knitting, cooking and the like. Though you're not going to have all the courses but you've got to choose one that you like.

Out of Philex Mining Corporation is a real "culture shock". There are sights that we never witnessed and experiences that we had never imagined.

In our school, our gates are close at 7:30 in the morning with the start of Pambansang Awit and recitation of Panatang Makabayan and classes end until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Not only that, how can one forget the times you would need to sing the National Anthem 3 or 4 times on the school grounds while the sun is up when our Assistant Principal is not contented.

Elementary classes here in Manila lasted only for 3 hours :( . I can't imagine how 9 subjects in one day would be incorporated in 3 hours. Kids here does not even know how to sing the simple national anthem and how to recite the pledge. But they can recite teach me how to doughie without any ado. Ironic but true.

Whew. I'm still glad I was a part of Philex Mining Elementary School and Saint Louis High Philex. where classrooms are below basketball courts but we enjoyed the air of mother nature.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘HABAGAT’ BREAKS SILENCE

Reblogged from The Professional Heckler:

FOR ALMOST THREE DAYS, the metro and several Luzon provinces reeled from heavy downpour. The flooding submerged 60 percent of Metro Manila. By Friday noon, the death toll would reach 60.

What hit us was not even a typhoon. It didn’t have a name. On Twitter, I wrote:

Weather experts described it as southwest monsoon rains. A monsoon is a wind system that brings heavy rainfall. Locally, we call it ‘habagat.’

Earlier today, ‘Habagat’ chatted with this blogger. Here’s the transcript of that exclusive interview.

Kumusta ka na Habagat?

Ok naman. Medyo nilalamig pa rin. Ikaw, kayo ‘musta?

Ay, salamat naman sa concern. Heto, may mahigit animnapung kababayan ang namatay at 850,000 ang na-displace; may sampung lungsod at munisipalidad sa Metro Manila, at anim na lalawigan ang nasa ilalim ng state of calamity, at more than 150 million pesos ang halaga ng nasirang pananim. Mabuting-mabuti naman!

Hindi ka pa galit n’yan?

Ay hindi. Ang bait-bait nga namin sa ‘yo eh. ‘Kita mo naman, all smiles pa rin kami kahit binugbog na ng dala mong ulan, baha, hangin at kung anu-ano pa. Sino ka ba talaga? Kung nagpapapansin ka, well, congrats! Tagumpay ka. Pero sana, naging ganap na bagyo ka na lang para madaling makilala.

Excuse me, hindi ako nagpapapansin. In fact, malamig ang pakikitungo ko sa inyo. But in fairness to some of your kababayan, sobrang hospitable nila sa akin.

Wehhh? Inis nga sa ‘yo ang marami eh.

I said some, not majority. Why did I say hospitable? Lunes ng hapon, grabe na ang aking ulan. Sinabihan na silang lumikas. Pero anong sagot nila, “Mababa pa naman ang tubig. Baka titila rin.” Boom! Ako naman, hala, sige, ulan. Moment ko ‘to so go lang. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history. ‘Tapos ako pa ang sisisihin ngayon?

Sige, ikaw na ang magaling. Ikaw na ang walang kasalanan.

Thank you. Pero hanga ako sa government n’yo huh. Alerto! Kahit medyo sumablay ang PAGASA sa pagbasa sa galaw ko, naitawid n’yo pa rin ang week na ‘to na walang sinisibak ang inyong Pangulo. At may Project Noah pa kayo. Impressive.

Speaking of Noah, alam mo bang kumalat sa social networking sites na may kuneksyon ka raw sa Genesis? Noong kasagsagan kasi ng ulan mo, ang petsa ay 8/7/2012. Eh ‘yong tungkol sa Noah’s Ark, mababasa raw sa Genesis 8:7-12. Anong masasabi mo?

Hiyang-hiya naman ako sa creativity n’yo… mga ulol! Kung sino mang nagpasimuno n’yan at nag-aksaya ng oras to retweet o repost, I’ll give them an A for effort – na manakot. Pero nililinaw ko, walang kakune-kuneksyon kay Noah ang aking pagdating. Mas may kunek pa ako kay Gener.

Salamat sa paglilinaw. Heto pa: dahil daw sa pending RH Bill kaya bumabaha at umuulan nang walang tigil. Is this true?

Ang tatanga! Naturingang 86.567 percent ang functional literacy rate, ‘tapos ang bobobo. Nakakainis! Ayaw ko nang mag-elaborate. Baka ma-excommunicate ako.

Hanging habagat? Mai-excommunicate? Pa’no kaya ‘yon!?

Hoy! Si Lito Lapid nga naging senador! ‘Tapos si Anne Curtis, nagkaroon ng album at nag-platinum pa! Wala nang imposible sa mundo natin ngayon!

Bahala ka na nga! Anyway, nakita mo ba ang aming Pangulo sa Muntinlupa last Wednesday sa relief operations?

Relief operations ba ‘yon? Akala ko first day ng campaign ng Liberal Party for the midterm elections.

Sobra ka naman. Lahat na lang binigyan mo ng kulay.

So fault ko? Fault kong makitang kumakaway ang napakagandang si Ms Rissa Hontiveros, ang Customs Commissioner na si Ruffy Biazon, ang dashing congressman na si Sonny Angara at ang direktor ng Tesda na si Joel Villanueva? Fault ko?

Sinabi ko bang fault mo?

Para kasing pinapalabas mong ang dumi-dumi ng utak ko. Sige, sige. Ako na ang madumi. Sige. Sabihin na nating nagkataon lang na silang apat ay kasama sa senatorial slate ng Liberal Party. Kunwari, hindi natin alam na eleksyon next year. Ok. Fine. I salute them. I admire their selflessness and their genuine desire to help the downtrodden. They are role models. Humahanga ako sa kanila!

Ang plastic mo!

Ulan, gusto mo?

Gago. Tama na. ‘Kita mo ngang ‘di pa kami nakakabangon.

Eh kasi naman nakakaduda eh. Lubog sa baha ang barangay, kasama mo ang head ng Tesda?!? Ano ‘yon, mamimigay ng scholarship? Magpa-facilitate ng training? May libreng haircut?

Again, huwag tayong manghusga. Ang importante, tumutulong sila sa mga nangangailangan.

Ang plastic mo!

Pakyu ka! Maiba ako, I’m sure nasaksihan mo ang pagbisita ng aming Pangulo sa Valenzuela.

Oo naman. Andun ulit si Joel Villanueva.

Hindi ka pa rin nakaka-move on kay Mr. Tesda?

Hahaha. May bago kasing tawag sa kanya sa Twitter eh. Presidential Shadow. O, hindi ako ang nagsabi n’yan huh. Nabasa ko lang sa Twitter.

Hanging Habagat? May Twitter?!!!??

Bakit? Si Erap nga taga-Maynila na eh. ‘Tapos si GMA, nakalaya. Wala nang imposible ngayon.

Fine! Moving on… kinilig ka ba nang batiin ni President Noy si Councilor Shalani Soledad nang magkita sila sa relief operations the other day?

Hanging habagat kinikilig? Weird.

Tarantado. Kunwari lang! ‘To naman o! Ang hirap kayang tapusin ng blog post na ‘to! Sumagot ka na lang. Please.

Ahm, let’s say, mas na-excite ang mga taong nando’n. Sigawan nga sila eh. Kilig na kilig ang mga pucha. Kakapanood ng PBB Teens, akala yata sixteen years old ang pangulo nila.

Ano sa palagay mo ang naramdaman ng dalawa?

Seriously? Well, parang ako lang. Malamig.

Sanga pala, kasabay ng pananalasa mo sa Luzon at NCR, nagtaas naman ng presyo ng kanilang mga produkto ang mga kompanya ng langis. Sa tingin mo, alin ang mas destructive? Ikaw o sila?

Helllloooo! Minamaliit mo ako?!? Kesyo nameless ako? Kesyo hindi ako naging ganap na bagyo?!? Siyempre, sila!

May mensahe ka ba sa mga biktima mo sa Pilipinas?

Nawalan lang ng tirahan, biktima na agad? ‘Di ba pwedeng ‘they had me coming’ muna? Illegal logging. Clogged drainage. Truck-truck na basurang kung saan-saan ‘tinatapon. Illegal settlers sa mga mapanganib na lugar. Kayo rin ang problema eh. Habagat pa lang ako huh. Just imagine kung naging ganap na bagyo ako.

Nagbabanta ka?

#justsaying.

Wow! Hanging habagat, huma-hashtag??!?

Magtanong ka na lang! Umaaraw na. Paalis na ako.

Ok, last. ‘Yong chopper na sinasakyan ni Pangulong Aquino patungong Central Luzon kanina, nag-emergency landing daw sa SCTEX. Any thoughts?

Alam mo, nasa Bible ’yan eh. Ang mababa ay itataas at ang mataas ay ibababa.

Gano’n? So, may kuneksyon talaga sa Bible ang chopper ng Presidente?!?

Meron.

Owwws?

Oo naman! Bakit? Sino bang kasama ng Pangulo papuntang Central Luzon kanina? ‘Yong head ng Tesda, si Joel Villanueva! May kunek ‘yon sa Bible!

Oo nga ‘noh! Ang utak mo talaga!

Hanging habagat, may utak? Kelan pa?

Ulol!

The Story of ROLDAN JIMENEZ PINEDA

This is a re-post from Facebook coming from a friend.. I didn't edit anything with respect to the original post. Please share..

I am just sharing this picture of a very humble guy named ROLDAN JIMENEZ PINEDA, 63yrs old, from Kawayan, Isabela. You don’t need to read everything if you feel lazy, but all I need to ask you is pray for his safety. I am not a writer, but I will try to tell you the story.




Here's what happened:

Just this windy and rainy morning, I was in my friend's canteen. It is just beside the subdivision where I live. I was chatting with my friend's dad about some business. This humble guy came in front caught my attention. He was not asking for money nor anything. Instead, he ordered P5 worth of rice. He cannot even look directly because he feels so shy.He said, "Maaari po bang bumili ng limang pisong kanin?" His hair is so wet that's why he covered it with a small towel. His clothes are kinda wet too. When I heard his shaking voice, I can feel that he is tired, cold, and starving. He has a green backpack and a sack with old boxes and plastic bottles. I suddenly felt sorry about him, that my heart was telling me that I need to do something. Instead of me just sitting on my chair, I decided to stand up and tried talking to him. I asked him if that small amount of rice would satisfy him. He said that he was planning to eat some of it and save some, then continue walking til he reach Nueva Ecija which is more than a hundred miles I think. His destination would be Kawayan, Isabela, where he lives. He asked if he can fill his bottle with some water. I said, sure. While I was putting water in his used old bottle, I told him to order some more food so he can eat. Told him not to worry because I will pay it for him. Mang Roldan never asks for money. He earns his own by selling bottles at the junk shops. His eyes turned red, while he was trying to hold his tears. He said that he can’t thank me enough.

MANG ROLDAN: Nahihiya po ako kasi ganito lang suot ko.(- I feel shy because of what I am wearing.)

ME: Akong bahala po sa inyo. Ano pong gusto nyong kainin? (- That is ok. Do not worry. What do you wanna eat?)

MANG ROLDAN: Wala po ako sa posisyon para pumili. Kahit gulay lang po o yung pinakamura. (- I am not in the position to choose. I can have vegetables or the cheapest food would be fine.)

ME: Kailangan nyo pong kumain. Order po kayo kahit ano, yung siguradong mabubusog kayo. (- You need to eat, and make sure to satisfy yourself.)

I took his hand so he can walk beside the stand where he can choose. While they were giving him his food, I told him that I need to go home and get some money so I can pay his bill. At home, I grabbed my old camouflage jacket which I gave him.

We talked about his tragic story and his plans. Years ago, he needed to sell their house and lot because his wife had a bone disease. Sadly, everything was spent but his wife didn’t make it. He had 3 children. The first born were twins, died because of bronchopneumonia. While the youngest was ran over by a bus. He tried putting a small business by selling fishballs in Manila, but in the time of Bayani Fernando, MMDA took his carts and destroyed them. Mang Roldan and his family are church people. You can tell with the way he speaks. He visited Pampanga to see his sister/brother. Too bad he wasn’t able to meet the only family that he knows. Hearing his story broke my heart.

I also noticed that he cannot walk straight because of his swollen left leg. “Lumipad yung bato na nadaanan nung gulong ng jeep, tumama sa paa ko” he said. (A rock smaller than my fist was the reason) He thanked me for the food and jacket. I handed him some money so he can ride the bus and buy food. He said that he cannot give me anything in return. Seeing him wipe his tears made me feel super sad that it made me cry too. I was speechless. I shaked his hand and told him that his story was enough for me to learn things, and I was happy that I was able to help him. I gave him my umbrella so he will not get wet on his journey. He didn’t want to take it, but I insisted. (I hope my mom won’t notice that her umbrella is missing)

While Mang Roldan was crossing the street I was looking at him. I noticed that he was walking towards a corner. He saw a beggar on the side. You know what he did? He did not share the food that he had, HE GAVE EVERYTHING! Rice, bread, and water. That’s it! That was priceless! I knew that this man is special. He touched my heart. I realized that what I gave him is not even enough. Salt water fell from my eyes. (even while I’m typing now). I decided to go to him when I noticed that busses and jeepneys were not stopping because of discrimination. So we waited for a bus and I took his picture. He smiled and said, “half-body lang ha, nakakahiya may dala akong sako. Hehehe!” What a guy! He can still smile after all the things that he went through. Finally, a bus stopped. I told him to act as if he is my uncle. Before he stepped on the bus, he thanked me again. I waved goodbye and said “Ingat Tito, text mo ko kaagad.” I said it loud so the conductor will hear me and pretend that Mang Roldan has a cellphone.

I don’t know, but he was like an angel that was sent to teach me and realize lots of things. That is why I decided to put it on FB, hoping that you will learn from it. If only I am wealthy enough, I would love to do more things just to help more needy, homeless, poor, deserving people. I have been planning to create my own Foundation since I was young. Well, God has plans for all of us. Maybe someday I will. I also hope I could meet Mang Roldan again, and give him a fishball business or have him help me helping others.

I remember a book written by Father Jerry Orbos, that we should not be just good Samaritans but we need to be Better Samaritans.

You can share this if you want. If not, just please pray that God bless the people like Mang Roldan. May God Bless you too =)

Defend Life and Sustain It...

This so far is the DUMBEST tarp I've ever seen. When all along we thought the offering you give to the church are meant for the church, it goes beyond that. It is use to pay for tarps like these..

My question now to CBCP is " Why didn't you print something like 

"YES TO AIDS and YES TO STD"

since they are similar. 

The misunderstood concept of RHBILL are driving people confused. RHBILL is never about religion. RHBILL is about health. It is supporting a family not to go hungry, giving the right to proper education, the right of children to play instead of working and the right of parents to provide a good home. 

It is pro-life. It is sustaining a child that was born from birth until future holds. It is giving the kid a right to freedom and not to be a burden.

An indie movie "And babae sa septik tank" talks about poverty, child trafficking, inhumane living conditions of the marginalized sectors in the Philippines and where RHBILL plays a really good picture.

 To CBCP: 
If you say No to RHBILL is defending life, will you be able to sustain it? 
Easy for you to say since you never experienced buying cans of infant milk and tons diapers, right?

Daang Matuwid Daw...

Filipinos elected a happy-go-lucky bachelor as President in 2010 whose interests range from women to guns to cars to video games;

Whose managerial experience is heading a security agency;

Whose legislative record is found wanting;

Whose academic record is far from sterling;

Whose main claim to fame is being son to Cory and Ninoy and brother to Kris;

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

We got it all, a whole bunch of yadda yadda yadda in his SONA.

Sad – we are in deep shit! 5 more years to go? Crap!

Don’t remind me, I wonder how much shit will be piled onto us by then!