Go on, jejemon

A man was found inside a sack with a bullet wound on his head, and GMA7 news reported he is a victim of summary execution.
TV5 news, reporting about a raging fire in Pasay, said the fire quickly spread because the houses of the informal settlers were made of light materials.

Summary execution instead of “salvaging.” Informal settlers instead of “squatters.” Very nice, a little political correctness won’t hurt.

Meanwhile, DepEd is waging war against jeje-speak.

“What’s alarming is these misspelled words have found their way into academic requirements like essays,” according to DepEd spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
“We got reports from teachers that even high school students use these spellings in their compositions,” he said.
This has resulted in students getting failing marks in reading, writing and comprehension skills, the DepEd said.

Really? Really really? Wow. I was into the whole “it doesn’t hurt anyone, kids are just creating their own form of expression” argument, but if this is true, IF the report is true, then it changes everything.

I don’t believe it though. If a student indeed used it for a report, I think it was meant as a joke. Malakas lang ang loob siguro talaga nung bata. Which is not entirely a bad thing. Having their own identity is supposed to be a good thing, right?

Hippies had their own thing going in the 60’s. (“Dude,” kung wala masyado “happening” dito, “split” na tayo ha?) Black people speak to each other in ways only they can comprehend. “That was sick!” turned out to be good, and being called “Dog” (or “Dawg”) is “cool” and “chill”, and these expressions have become mainstream and acceptable. Our parents were “jeproks” then, adapting it from the western “projects”, and they inverted syllables (re-pa, erap, to-dits, nosi ba lasi, dehins), and corrupted word meanings (how peeing came to be known as “jingle” or “dyingel” is beyond me), and yet they turned out OK and these words are now part of everyday conversations, we do not even notice it anymore.

I am not saying that “jejespeak” and “jejemons” are here to stay, or will form part of the future of our dialect. What I am putting out is that it is just a fad, another way for our kids to feel they belong to a group or a clique. And fads go either of two routes … it fades away naturally, or it transcends time and goes mainstream. I am betting (and hoping) this will just go away in time. But by giving “jejespeak” the attention we are giving it now, we are just extending its lifespan.

I say let kids be kids. Relax, chill.

Weekly links

A thunderous hail storm hit Oklahoma, and here are a couple of nicely filmed hail pelting a swimming pool, and another video where the owner watches as hail ruins his truck. In the Philippines, recent (and rare) hail storms were in Baguio 2007, and in Batangas just this June 2009. Meanwhile, current times, Metro Manila and the rest of the country is having a fever, with temperatures peaking at 37.3 last week. Nilalagnat ang Pilipinas.

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Have fun trying to find out how to say words the proper way, with HowJSay, and here is another one complete with talking heads . So now I know that affidavit is pronounced with a long ‘A’ (not affidaahvit), respite with long ‘I’ in Europe and short ‘I’ in US, and sonofabitch is best said by an angry congressman.

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For those who travel, here is a luggage that turns into a sturdy chair. Is that Christine Jacob modeling the luggage transformer?

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World’s worst jobs. You think your job sucks? How does smelling armpits or getting infected with malaria appeal to you?

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Thank you Pacman, for 30 years of never-ending fun! Speaking of “pixel” video games, here is a game/video that reflects real life. Dan the Man!

Bull-1 Matador-0

Sucks to be the guy. That is going to leave a mark.
I hate bullfighting, and I feel bad for the guy, but I am happy for the bull. The bull later got killed by the way.

WARNING: not for the faint of heart.

Hi-res image after the jump. Be sure you have an empty stomach.

Gooooaaaaalllllll!!!

I watch soccer once in a while, I enjoy it, but I am not really a fan. However, this 3-minute video ad from Nike for the World Cup makes me want to be a fan. It even has Homer Simpson in it. Epic win.

Move over, Beiber!

He is going to be famous. The girls in the background are in awe, and wants to be his girlfriend.

Villar just sealed his fate

Manny Villar just finished himself off. And showed his true color. After latest poll surveys came out and showed that Erap has overtaken him, he became pious and said he is bowing to the “Lord’s will,” but on the same breath lashed out at Noynoy like a fist of an angry god.

“Ako’y tinatanong, ano raw kaibahan naming halimbawa ni Noynoy? Si Noynoy daw ay maka-Diyos, e alam ko naman ho pinagtatawanan niya ang nanay niya e. Simba ng simba. Sa atin lang ho naman yan

“Ang pagkakaalam ko ang Diyos lang ang walang bahid, and to my surprise, our people are buying that again,” he said.

“Number one, Diyos lang ang walang bahid. Pangalawa, talaga naming malamang konti lang ang bahid mo dahil wala ka ngang nagagawa

“Paano ka naman mababahiran, papaano ka mapuputikan nang hindi ka naman lumulusong sa putik. Hindi ka naman magsasaka, airconditoned ang bahay mo, di natural wala kang putik.”

And then lashed out at the Aquino family (which, last I looked, included Cory, who is adored by the people, and Ninoy, who is a hero):

“Hindi na tinatanong ano na ba ang nagawa noong kandidato? Na parang napakahalaga sa atin ang apelyido. Sino ka ba? Sino ba ang pamilya mo?”

Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. Wait … what?
And then:

“Whatever happens, ako’y naniniwala na mananalo pa rin ako [I still believe that I will win]. I’m very confident,” drawing cheers from the crowd.

Yeah, right.

Villar is done. He will never be the same man again. He might not make it back on top again, not enough to make another run for the presidency. This was his chance, and it is gone … maybe forever.

Why Erap might win

I have a nagging feeling that Erap will win this presidential election. Yes, that is my prediction. I am not rooting for Erap, but I think he will win this whole thing. Here is why:

Gibo has no way of winning. The only way is if they cheat, and even then, the people will not believe he won, and will not accept it.

Villar, despite accusations of “Villaroyo”, is a wildcard for GMA. They are not sure he will be kind to them when he is in power. Besides, he messed up his campaign big time lately, with those fake psychiatric reports, and with that “Mom is crying on TV” thing. I don’t think he will win this too, and as an aside, I think this is Villar’s last hoorah … I believe he is done after this. He cannot make another successful run again after this, even if he wants to.

Erap is the closest one. Latest survey says Noynoy is up 22 points from second placer Erap. I don’t believe it. The survey may be right, but only in the context that it surveyed only 2,400 respondents. But Mindanao is where its at. That is Erap country. And when the vote from there comes in, the ‘gap’ will be a lot closer than that. The gap may even shift in his favor.

Now, stepping into GMA’s miniscule shoes and genius mind, this is how I would think. I will be prosecuted if somebody not friendly to me wins, so I will find a way to “make” the person friendly to me, win. Sige na nga, i will find a way to cheat. And you know she can do it. Based on my above evaluation, Gibo and Villar is, at this point, unacceptable to the people.

If it is Gibo, masyadong obvious na dinaya. If Villar, it is also a possibility, but again, he is a wildcard now. But Erap … he has overtaken Villar on the surveys, and surveys poison the people’s mind so he is more acceptable. And if he wins, I doubt People Power will materialize. I am quite sure there will be no People Power if he does win.

Erap will be kind to GMA. She pardoned him. It was upheld by the Supreme Court (all but two appointed by GMA at that time). The Supreme Court (all but one appointed by GMA at that time) also ruled, with finality, that Erap can still run despite being impeached and jailed. It was GMA who pardoned him, it was GMA’s Supreme Court that allowed him to run again.

So there you go. I predict it is Erap. The way the automation is being handled, which is a disaster waiting to happen, they can make anything happen. Erap wins, GMA wins and becomes House Speaker, they control the numbers in Congress. They impeach him again.

2010 Elections: I will vote for …

This is going to be a long post, and a bit “colorful”, so bear with me. Bold blue gets my vote, Red does not.

I will vote for Neric Acosta (Liberal Party), former 8-yr Congressman of Bukidnon (N.Mindanao), where he was the principal author of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which became model legislations not just in our country but in Asia. Now Associate Prof. at AIM and Ateneo. Platform: decentralization of power to local governments, better fiscal discipline, and improvement of basic services.

I am borderline on some children of former Senators, but I will vote for Ruffy Biazon, Congressman from Muntinlupa, son of retired general and Senator Rodolfo Biazon, author of Tobacco Regulations Act (think “Government Warning: Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health”), and the “Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.”

I will NOT vote Ramon Bong Revilla, and NOT vote for Jinggoy Estrada. If you are wondering why, on an alphabetical listing on the ballot Revilla is at number 8, it is because he legally changed his surname to “Bong Revilla” so he would not be listed at around 49 or 50. So his wife, Lani Mercado, is now probably legally named Lani Mercado-Bong Revilla.

Despite her continued support for Manny Villar, I will vote for Pia Cayetano, daughter of the late ‘compañero’ Sen. Rene Cayetano, youngest woman to be elected as Philippine Senator. A lawyer and a triathlete, she focuses on health, education, environment, youth and women’s empowerment. Authored the Magna Carta for Women, the Cheaper Medicines Law of 2008, and the Hospital Detention Law, which says hospitals cannot refuse discharge of indigent patients with unpaid hospital bills.

I will vote for Martin Bautista, because he gave up a very successful medical career in the US, to give back to the country. I like people who can make sacrifices like this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKGu7dSYT1s). If I am allowed to campaign for only one candidate in this election, this is the guy.

I will NOT vote Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello, GMA’s current Cabinet Secretary, former Justice Secretary during Cory Aquino’s time, and Solicitor General under Fidel Ramos’ administration, where he was also the Chief Negotiator for the NDF peace talks (remember Col. Aguinaldo?). A human rights lawyer, his platform is on peace and justice.

I will not vote Joey De Venecia, son of former Speaker Joe De Venecia, running on anti-corruption campaign (what an irony), creation of millions of IT jobs, and long-term sustainable economic development. Experienced in global business and finance, he was a principal witness against the ZTE Broadband deal. I think he is shady.

I will NOT vote for Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Johnny Enrile, Lito Lapid, Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Kit Tatad. They have been in the Senate for years, I don’t want old-timers in there anymore. For the same reason, even if I like him, i will NOT vote for Frank Drilon. You guys had your chance, and you all made a mess out of it.

I will vote for Alexander Lacson (he is not related to Ping), who wrote the beautiful poem “I Am Filipino”, because his positivism is infectious and he is a genuinely good person. He is a lawyer by profession, has taken post graduate studies at Harvard, and served as legal counsel for the UNDP in the Philippines. Believe me, he will inspire you, and hopefully the chamber of Senate.

I will NOT vote for TG Guingona, Susan Ople, and Gwen Pimentel, because I have such high-respect and admiration for their fathers, and I don’t want them capitalizing on that. But on the same breath I will vote for Mon-mon Mitra, because I would like to see his advocacy of cheaper, cleaner, sustainable, and renewable energy prosper in the Senate floor, and because we need a soldier in the Senate specially now that the great Pong Biazon is not there anymore.

I will NOT vote Danilo Lim, and despite being the most awarded soldier in Philippine history (he has received all medals and awards a soldier can be given, except one: the Wounded Soldier Medal) I will NOT vote for Ariel Querubin. I will NOT vote for Jovito Palparan either.

I will vote for Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel. Representative for the Akbayan party-list and a broadcaster, she authored the Cheaper Medicines Law (counterpart of Mar Roxas’ bill in the Senate), and was responsible for the increase in tax exemptions for minimum wage earners. A bit of trivia: she sings! (you’ll find this video surprising … the 3rd child is Monique Wilson, the 4th is Lea Salonga, the 6th is Risa Hontiveros, and the 7th is Raymond Lauchengco)

I will NOT vote for Kata Inocencio, Rey Langit, Alex Tinsay, Imelda Papin, and I will lump into that Gilbert Remulla.

I will NOT vote for Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, because really, what are you doing dancing on the streets and affiliating with him?

I will vote Serge Osmena, a staunch believer that we should develop our countryside instead, because that is where the real workers are. 80% of his infrastructure projects are at the rural areas. He has funded the most number of classrooms among all Senators, almost a thousand classrooms. He also authored the Absentee Voting Law, which allowed our OFWs to cast their vote.

I will NOT vote for Sonia Roco, I don’t like it when they say that she will “continue the legacy left by her husband,” (Senator and Ex-presidentiable Raul Roco). Sa dinami-dami ng issues that you can tackle, can’t you run on your own platform?

Bongbong Marcos is still a wildcard for me, but I am leaning on NO for now.

I will NOT vote Adel Tamano, because historically, he is not careful who he associates with. I think his principles are based on his own convenience only.

Let us discuss. With a few days left, I still am open to changing my mind.

Bedtime story

In a land not so far, far away, there lived an Ogre. This Ogre lives beyond the mountains that borders the city. Nobody has seen the Ogre, nobody knows what he looks like, the people of the city just knows that it is there. And for generations the residents fear this Ogre, and try to pacify it by offering at the foot of the mountain their harvests, their golds and treasures, their virgins, money, and food. Until today, they fear that if they do not make these offerings, the Ogre will come around and over the mountain and into their city, destroy their farms and houses, and eat their children.

These offerings have left the city impoverished, and its people miserable. So every year or so, a member of the community would have the courage to bring his weapons and try to end the city’s misery by going over the mountain and attempting to kill the Ogre. And through all these years, after all the attempts, men after men, nobody has ever returned.

One night, a father sat his son down and said, “My son, tomorrow before dawn, I will leave you and your Mom, go to the mountains and I will kill the Ogre. But I will be back, and when I do, the city will make me a hero.” But he never did come back. Just like all the other Ogre slayers. And so the son trained, practiced his skills, and built up, and a year after, decided to avenge his father. “It is my turn, and I will come back,” said the boy.

And so the day came, and the son went over the mountain to confront and kill the monster that killed his father, and the other Slayers. But when he got there, he didn’t see the Ogre. He saw the remains and the bones of the other who attempted, but he didn’t see the Ogre. What he saw was his own father(!), sitting on top of the gold and the treasures, bloated and eating the harvests and food.

I will leave you to your own conclusions as to how it ended. But the point is, there was no Ogre, or at least not the type of Ogre everybody imagined it to be. The other Slayers saw who was there, killed it for what it has done, and decided to stay and not return! They were blinded by the gold and treasures, and tempted with the power, and decided they wanted it for themselves.

I believe most elected officials had good intentions why they wanted the positions they were running for. I even believe Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had every good intentions and aspirations for the country when she stepped into the Presidency. But power has a way of corrupting people, and good intentions are laid to ruins to acquire and perpetuate this power.

In an article from The Economist called “The Psychology of Power” (Jan 2010), it maintains that power only corrupts those who think they deserve it.

“… people with power that they think is justified break rules not only because they can get away with it, but also because they feel at some intuitive level that they are entitled to take what they want. This sense of entitlement is crucial to understanding why people misbehave in high office. In its absence, abuses will be less likely. The word “privilege” translates as “private law” … the sense which some powerful people seem to have that different rules apply to them is not just a convenient smoke screen. They genuinely believe it.”

And that is why I will vote for Noynoy Aquino for President, because I believe that among the candidates, he is the only one who does not feel we owe him something. In fact, i genuinely think he believes HE owes US something. And because I believe that among the candidates, he is the least likely to be tempted by power. He doesn’t even want to run in the first place.

The article further said:

“Perhaps the lesson, then, is that corruption and hypocrisy are the price that societies pay for being led by alpha males (and, in some cases, alpha females).

The alternative, though cleaner, is leadership by wimps.”

I believe Noynoy has been called that, too. Between an Ogre and a wimp, the choice is easy.

Natatawa ako …

I don’t watch Pilipinas Got Talent, and I believe I am not missing much. But this surprised me:

I miss Yano. I wonder where they are now?.