Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2012
Kung talagang magugunaw ang mundo ngayong 2012, gusto kong ma-confirm at maipaalam kaagad ito sa lahat. Inaasahan kong du’n lamang natin maa-approximate ang isang global utopia. Ang pinakamalaking motivation natin kung bakit ginagawa natin ang mga ginagawa natin, kahit ‘yung mga hindi natin gustong gawin, will suddenly lose their grip on how we lead our lives. Hindi mo naman kelangang ma-stuck sa trabahong hindi mo gusto para lang may maipon ka. Hindi mo na kailangang i-shortchange ang mga empleyado mo para lang malaki ang maipatayo mong bahay kesa sa mga kaibigan mo. Hindi mo na ipagdidiinan na mas tama ang relihiyon mo (o ang pananaw mong walang relihiyon o walang Diyos) dahil ang iyong spiritual efforts ay matutuon na lamang sa pinakahuling pakikipag-usap sa anumang sinasamba mo. Kung sigurado na nga ang sabay-sabay nating pagpanaw, maging siguro ang Santo Papa magdududa kung tamang diyos nga ba ang kanyang pinagdarasalan. Pero dahil wala namang sure na sure, eh, ‘di sama-samang dasal na lang ng mga pare-pareho ng dinarasalan nang may kakaibang taimtim, habang may mas malalim na ring pag-unawa at pagrespeto sa pagdarasal ng iba na maaaring mapatunayan in a short while na sa kanila pala ang tamang daan.
Wala nang visa-visa dahil manghihinayang ang mga tao na hindi man lang nabisita ang kanilang lugar kaya’t magtutulungan ang lahat upang makapaglakbay tayo sa huling mga buwan natin dito sa mundo. Paris, New York, London, Brazil, Israel, Tokyo, Beijing, Barcelona ang mga sasadyain ko sa isang travel system na mas bukas at hospitable, bungad ng desperasyon ng mga taong ma-enjoy ang mundong hindi talaga nila na-explore noong may panahon pa.
Karamihan ng mga nakausap ko about my pre-apocalyptic vision are not convinced. Parang hindi nila ma-grasp ang pagka-optimistic ko raw. Ako naman, in turn, ay surprised na surprised that not many people agree with me. Naintindihan ko na lang kanina when I was putting my head around it, para nga namang ang hirap i-imagine ang mundo running on a system apart from what it uses now. Paano nga kung lahat ng bagot na sa trabaho nila ang nag-resign para mag-travel, nag-withdraw ng kani-kanilang pera, hindi ba magkakaroon ng financial crisis? So paano na nga? Instead of finding a solution, inisip ko na lang na kaya hirap tayong isipin eh kasi theoretical lang lahat (and even at that level hindi naman talaga natin siniseryosong theory ang end of the world by 2012). But I still assert na kung i-announce nga ng magugunaw ang mundo by the end of the 2012, magkakaroon ng drastic changes in each one of us that we cannot just fathom. I’d like to believe it will be for the better. The current system nga naman based on toiling, saving, fighting for what you think is right, delaying gratification are all founded on an uncertain future. We have to survive now and make steps that we survive whatever it is that might happen in the future. We’ve accepted and even practice some evils in the name of survival. But that need is gone when we have a definite deadline. Pull out all your money to spend on anything. Or better, money wouldn’t be an object. What use would anyone have for it in the long run?
Why would anyone put up with a stupid boss? Or would the boss still have a reason to be take credit for other’s work? Why would you put up with an abusive relationship, or why wouldn’t you take steps to make things a little better between you and that person who’ve loved you all along even when everything he does drives you crazy? What’s the point of keeping sane prisoners away from their loved ones before rapture? Indeed even if I end up sitting right next to Imelda Marcos on my way to Barcelona, why would I further jeopardize my Catholic-bashing soul from more punishment in the afterlife by punching her in the face? Wouldn’t the thought that it won’t be long before she faces God put a satisfied grin on my face? Oh, her cooky, greedy mind would shudder from the thought! I’d love to see that fear on her face, and on the faces of the countless others in government who screwed us up. Or maybe eternal damnation might be worth it if I just go right ahead and punch her in the face. What’s the worst that could happen? Her bodyguards shoot me? I’m due to the die by the end of the year anyway.
Wala nang visa-visa dahil manghihinayang ang mga tao na hindi man lang nabisita ang kanilang lugar kaya’t magtutulungan ang lahat upang makapaglakbay tayo sa huling mga buwan natin dito sa mundo. Paris, New York, London, Brazil, Israel, Tokyo, Beijing, Barcelona ang mga sasadyain ko sa isang travel system na mas bukas at hospitable, bungad ng desperasyon ng mga taong ma-enjoy ang mundong hindi talaga nila na-explore noong may panahon pa.
Karamihan ng mga nakausap ko about my pre-apocalyptic vision are not convinced. Parang hindi nila ma-grasp ang pagka-optimistic ko raw. Ako naman, in turn, ay surprised na surprised that not many people agree with me. Naintindihan ko na lang kanina when I was putting my head around it, para nga namang ang hirap i-imagine ang mundo running on a system apart from what it uses now. Paano nga kung lahat ng bagot na sa trabaho nila ang nag-resign para mag-travel, nag-withdraw ng kani-kanilang pera, hindi ba magkakaroon ng financial crisis? So paano na nga? Instead of finding a solution, inisip ko na lang na kaya hirap tayong isipin eh kasi theoretical lang lahat (and even at that level hindi naman talaga natin siniseryosong theory ang end of the world by 2012). But I still assert na kung i-announce nga ng magugunaw ang mundo by the end of the 2012, magkakaroon ng drastic changes in each one of us that we cannot just fathom. I’d like to believe it will be for the better. The current system nga naman based on toiling, saving, fighting for what you think is right, delaying gratification are all founded on an uncertain future. We have to survive now and make steps that we survive whatever it is that might happen in the future. We’ve accepted and even practice some evils in the name of survival. But that need is gone when we have a definite deadline. Pull out all your money to spend on anything. Or better, money wouldn’t be an object. What use would anyone have for it in the long run?
Why would anyone put up with a stupid boss? Or would the boss still have a reason to be take credit for other’s work? Why would you put up with an abusive relationship, or why wouldn’t you take steps to make things a little better between you and that person who’ve loved you all along even when everything he does drives you crazy? What’s the point of keeping sane prisoners away from their loved ones before rapture? Indeed even if I end up sitting right next to Imelda Marcos on my way to Barcelona, why would I further jeopardize my Catholic-bashing soul from more punishment in the afterlife by punching her in the face? Wouldn’t the thought that it won’t be long before she faces God put a satisfied grin on my face? Oh, her cooky, greedy mind would shudder from the thought! I’d love to see that fear on her face, and on the faces of the countless others in government who screwed us up. Or maybe eternal damnation might be worth it if I just go right ahead and punch her in the face. What’s the worst that could happen? Her bodyguards shoot me? I’m due to the die by the end of the year anyway.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sa mga Nagka-Quarter Life Crisis, It Gets Better
It’s really like when an aunt you only see during Christmas family reunions exclaim na “Ang lak-laki mo na!” and you don’t know exactly how to respond because you are always you, you think, so you never really notice that some considerable time has passed and you have indeed grown astoundingly. You never notice time passing until it is joltingly noticeable like 1999 changing to 2000 compared to the coming of this second year of the second decade of the millennium. You never notice until your usually inactive high school batch Facebook group suddenly comes to life through a flood of open-ended posts soliciting memories about the goings-on after lights out during retreats, the brawls on and off campus, the teachers you crushed on and the ones you cursed, and suddenly, the online merriment when a long-lost classmate you never really bothered with during high school is suddenly part of the fb group probably feels like the party to welcome back the prodigal son. You never notice Time until He suddenly slaps you with a photo taken in 1995. Scanned! Tagged! Shared! SHET!
Just like what Michelle tells her best friend and fellow batch outcast, Romy, “I thought high school was blast!” It didn’t matter what you did and who you hang out with, even to the people you thought must have had a difficult high school life would probably say that high school was fun! Hollywood and Viva Films got it all wrong! There really are no outcasts because in every high school guy's head, he is THAT cool guy unlike that UN-COOL guy! We also fussed over our hair, clothes, and "image" like any of the TGIS cast. In life, as in showbiz, when you're young you're the star. The year I turned 20 I was so sad with the fact that all of a sudden, those beautiful, pained characters in top-rating “youth-oriented programs” were no longer me.
By the time you're 25, this negative energy combusts and consumes you! My generation calls this the “Quarter-Life Crisis.” But just like the high school problems that was supposed to kill us, this existential angst only needs to be ridden out, an illusion of a problem brought about any teenager’s incompetence in accurately predicting what life would be like by the time he reaches the ripe-old age of 25.
Recovery comes after accepting that our pathetic excuses on why you’re stuck in your thankless job, why you’re not earning as much, AND why you’re still single actually just describe the typical quarter-lifer. “Marami pala tayong mababa ang suweldo at walang lovelife! Cheers!” That’s why turning 30 was a blast! It’s the time when you’re much closer to that 25-year old image that your teenaged self hoped for. Suddenly we’re all getting married, starting a family, migrating to greener pastures, getting promoted, finally turning in a profit! We realize that the past's red-number riddled transcript of records and wrong career moves did not kill us, and we're stronger for it. Sheeeet! We are living inspirations quotes!
My most optimistic and patriotic self can be still be skeptical about the very bright prospect recently pegged by HSBC in a CNN report (that the Philippines will leapfrog to be the world’s 16th largest community by 2050). Or maybe that's this nation's quarter-life crisis talking. In any case, I won’t allow any crisis to kill my spirit, I’ll keep on working hard, and will keep on loving even when it hurts, dahil kahit hindi ka sigurado kung may mapapala nga ba, mas mabuti na ‘yun kesa sumuko na lang. It worked in our individual lives, 'di ba? So this might be the time when we think about what we can actually do for others. Let me quote another inspiring movie: “You don’t have to believe in your government. You just have to believe in your country” – Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
Just like what Michelle tells her best friend and fellow batch outcast, Romy, “I thought high school was blast!” It didn’t matter what you did and who you hang out with, even to the people you thought must have had a difficult high school life would probably say that high school was fun! Hollywood and Viva Films got it all wrong! There really are no outcasts because in every high school guy's head, he is THAT cool guy unlike that UN-COOL guy! We also fussed over our hair, clothes, and "image" like any of the TGIS cast. In life, as in showbiz, when you're young you're the star. The year I turned 20 I was so sad with the fact that all of a sudden, those beautiful, pained characters in top-rating “youth-oriented programs” were no longer me.
By the time you're 25, this negative energy combusts and consumes you! My generation calls this the “Quarter-Life Crisis.” But just like the high school problems that was supposed to kill us, this existential angst only needs to be ridden out, an illusion of a problem brought about any teenager’s incompetence in accurately predicting what life would be like by the time he reaches the ripe-old age of 25.
Recovery comes after accepting that our pathetic excuses on why you’re stuck in your thankless job, why you’re not earning as much, AND why you’re still single actually just describe the typical quarter-lifer. “Marami pala tayong mababa ang suweldo at walang lovelife! Cheers!” That’s why turning 30 was a blast! It’s the time when you’re much closer to that 25-year old image that your teenaged self hoped for. Suddenly we’re all getting married, starting a family, migrating to greener pastures, getting promoted, finally turning in a profit! We realize that the past's red-number riddled transcript of records and wrong career moves did not kill us, and we're stronger for it. Sheeeet! We are living inspirations quotes!
My most optimistic and patriotic self can be still be skeptical about the very bright prospect recently pegged by HSBC in a CNN report (that the Philippines will leapfrog to be the world’s 16th largest community by 2050). Or maybe that's this nation's quarter-life crisis talking. In any case, I won’t allow any crisis to kill my spirit, I’ll keep on working hard, and will keep on loving even when it hurts, dahil kahit hindi ka sigurado kung may mapapala nga ba, mas mabuti na ‘yun kesa sumuko na lang. It worked in our individual lives, 'di ba? So this might be the time when we think about what we can actually do for others. Let me quote another inspiring movie: “You don’t have to believe in your government. You just have to believe in your country” – Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Catholic Iskul
Trinay ko talagang maniwala kahit konti pero simula pa lang nadurog na ang puso ko nang sa halip na ibili ako ng hearing aid ay inabot sa’kin ni mommy ang bote ng milagrosong tubig ng Manaog at ang maliit na booklet ng nobena. Bago raw ako matulog ay dasalin ko ang nobena sa harap ng makulay na rebulto ng Kristo Rey sa kuwarto namin ng kapatid kong si Tin-Tin, tapos ay ipahid ko raw sa aking binging kanang tenga ang ilang patak ng milagrosong tubig. Matapos ang ilang linggo, iniyakan ko si Tin-Tin, sumabog ang galit ko hindi sa Diyos, kundi sa nanay kong pumipilit sa’king maniwala sa hindi naman totoo.
Hanggang ngayon, bingi pa rin ako dahil pinayo ng isang doktor na huwag na lang ako mag-hearing aid tutal ay nakapag-adapt na raw ako sa aking munting kapansanan. O puwede mo ring sabihing dahil nagkulang ako sa pananampalataya?
Siyam na milyong deboto ang tinatantiyang nakiisa sa Pista ng Black Nazarene sa Quiapo nu’ng isang linggo. Mahigit 11 million ang populasyon ng Metro Manila. Ano kaya’ng ipinagdasal nila sa prosisyong tumagal nang halos 22 oras? Nitong linggo naman ay nagsimula na ang fiesta season sa pagdaraos ng Sinulog Festival. Halos 500 taon na ang Kristiyanismo sa Pilipinas, ang natatanging baluwarte ng Santo Papa sa Asya, naririnig na kaya ng Diyos ang ating mga panalangin? O baka naman mali lang ang ipinagdarasal natin? Wala nga naman sa mundong ito ang tunay na kaligayahan at kaginhawaan, kaya tiis-tiis lang. God will provide kaya ‘wag mong iinda kung ilan ang magiging anak mo, blessing ‘yan. Nariyan naman ang kawang-gawa ng iba’t ibang mga simbahan para tumulong, lalo sa mga panahon ng sakuna. Blessings ang mga anak kaya walang-saysay ang pagmamahalan ng dalawang taong hindi naman magkakaanak sa natural na pamamaraan. ‘Wag nang ipilit ang mga bagay na hindi natural dahil “nakakadiri” kumpara sa paghingi ng mga obispo ng luxury suv kay Gloria, at sa paglalaan ng misa ng pasasalamat sa pagbabalik-bansa ni ex-Cong. Ronald Singson via private jet matapos makulong nang sampung buwan sa Hong Kong matapos mahulihan ng ilang gramo ng cocaine. At hindi sa cocaine ako nao-offend, sa totoo lang.
Matanda pa sa panahon nina Rizal itong ating pamomroblema sa simbahan - hindi sa Diyos, hindi sa pananampalataya ng mga taong nanalig sa isang kapangyarihang higit pa sa anumang kapangyarihan dito sa mundo, dahil ano nga ba ang Simbahan kundi ang komunidad ng mga nanampalataya? Problema pa rin natin itong simbahang libug na libog sa kapangyarihan. Limang daang taon ay higit pang sa sapat na panahon upang mapabuti ang buhay ng mga taong iyong ginagabayan kung iyon talaga ang iyong pakay. O, baka nga naman masyadong minamaliit ng isang tulad kong kulang (ubos?) na ang pananampalataya sa mga nagawang paggabay nila tutal poverty of the soul ang kanilang concern, at hindi ang literal na poverty na kitang-kita saanman lalo’t sa mga dikit-dikit na mga barung-barong na nakapaligid sa nag-iisang kunkretong istraktura, ang chapel-cum-multi-purpose hall. Ang iba pang konkretong istraktura ng simbahan ay pawang mamahaling ospital na may token charity wards, at ang kanilang exclusive schools, at elitistang mga unibersidad na may mga token night schools at scholarships. All that resources to give the poorest of the poor a chance at a better life, wasted at the rich to become even richer!
At ngayon, maging ang UP nai-invade na ng mga batang hindi na kailangang tustusan ng buwis ang matrikula dahil ‘di hamak nga namang mas mahusay na ang pagtuturo sa mga exclusive schools kesa doon sa mga libreng public schools. Wala pang utang na loob akong matuturing dahil ang de-kalidad na edukasyong nakuha ko sa isa sa mga exclusive school na ito ang nakatulong sa’king makapasok sa UP. At dahil du’n, lagi kong ipagpapasalamat sa Kalangitan ang grasyang napagtanto na wala sa simbahan ang Diyos. Amen.
Hanggang ngayon, bingi pa rin ako dahil pinayo ng isang doktor na huwag na lang ako mag-hearing aid tutal ay nakapag-adapt na raw ako sa aking munting kapansanan. O puwede mo ring sabihing dahil nagkulang ako sa pananampalataya?
Siyam na milyong deboto ang tinatantiyang nakiisa sa Pista ng Black Nazarene sa Quiapo nu’ng isang linggo. Mahigit 11 million ang populasyon ng Metro Manila. Ano kaya’ng ipinagdasal nila sa prosisyong tumagal nang halos 22 oras? Nitong linggo naman ay nagsimula na ang fiesta season sa pagdaraos ng Sinulog Festival. Halos 500 taon na ang Kristiyanismo sa Pilipinas, ang natatanging baluwarte ng Santo Papa sa Asya, naririnig na kaya ng Diyos ang ating mga panalangin? O baka naman mali lang ang ipinagdarasal natin? Wala nga naman sa mundong ito ang tunay na kaligayahan at kaginhawaan, kaya tiis-tiis lang. God will provide kaya ‘wag mong iinda kung ilan ang magiging anak mo, blessing ‘yan. Nariyan naman ang kawang-gawa ng iba’t ibang mga simbahan para tumulong, lalo sa mga panahon ng sakuna. Blessings ang mga anak kaya walang-saysay ang pagmamahalan ng dalawang taong hindi naman magkakaanak sa natural na pamamaraan. ‘Wag nang ipilit ang mga bagay na hindi natural dahil “nakakadiri” kumpara sa paghingi ng mga obispo ng luxury suv kay Gloria, at sa paglalaan ng misa ng pasasalamat sa pagbabalik-bansa ni ex-Cong. Ronald Singson via private jet matapos makulong nang sampung buwan sa Hong Kong matapos mahulihan ng ilang gramo ng cocaine. At hindi sa cocaine ako nao-offend, sa totoo lang.
Matanda pa sa panahon nina Rizal itong ating pamomroblema sa simbahan - hindi sa Diyos, hindi sa pananampalataya ng mga taong nanalig sa isang kapangyarihang higit pa sa anumang kapangyarihan dito sa mundo, dahil ano nga ba ang Simbahan kundi ang komunidad ng mga nanampalataya? Problema pa rin natin itong simbahang libug na libog sa kapangyarihan. Limang daang taon ay higit pang sa sapat na panahon upang mapabuti ang buhay ng mga taong iyong ginagabayan kung iyon talaga ang iyong pakay. O, baka nga naman masyadong minamaliit ng isang tulad kong kulang (ubos?) na ang pananampalataya sa mga nagawang paggabay nila tutal poverty of the soul ang kanilang concern, at hindi ang literal na poverty na kitang-kita saanman lalo’t sa mga dikit-dikit na mga barung-barong na nakapaligid sa nag-iisang kunkretong istraktura, ang chapel-cum-multi-purpose hall. Ang iba pang konkretong istraktura ng simbahan ay pawang mamahaling ospital na may token charity wards, at ang kanilang exclusive schools, at elitistang mga unibersidad na may mga token night schools at scholarships. All that resources to give the poorest of the poor a chance at a better life, wasted at the rich to become even richer!
At ngayon, maging ang UP nai-invade na ng mga batang hindi na kailangang tustusan ng buwis ang matrikula dahil ‘di hamak nga namang mas mahusay na ang pagtuturo sa mga exclusive schools kesa doon sa mga libreng public schools. Wala pang utang na loob akong matuturing dahil ang de-kalidad na edukasyong nakuha ko sa isa sa mga exclusive school na ito ang nakatulong sa’king makapasok sa UP. At dahil du’n, lagi kong ipagpapasalamat sa Kalangitan ang grasyang napagtanto na wala sa simbahan ang Diyos. Amen.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Re: Naughty or Nice - Powerbarkada
guys, forwarding you Tito Santa's email just now.
"If you can't handle me at my worst,
then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
— Marilyn Monroe
From: "Santa Claus"
To: ray_agapie@yahoo.co.uk
Sent: Saturday, 26 November 2011, 8:29
Subject: Naughty or Nice - Powerbarkada
ho, rey! pakisabihan na ang lang powerfriends mo na gumawa na'ko ng list. before i check it twice, warningan mo muna sila! ka-birthday ni jesus, rey. kaya mo 'yan.
ho ho ho less than a month na lang! see my list below:
PowerBarkada Naughty or Nice?
7 - Carlo - laging nega on a beauiful lazy saturday morning; parang walang lovelife! no gift! NAUGHTIEST!
6 - Roy - nang-agaw ng jowa; still deserves a gift, though. like a toy snake! NAUGHTY! NAUGHTY!
5 - Sheila - awww broken family this powerbarkada get-together! paano kaya kung si rey ang absent sa kasal nila ni euven? NAUGHTY!
4 - Cindy - NICE! c'mon, nanganak siya this year. by default, nasa Nice siya kahit ano pang sama niya; bawi na lang next year!
3 - Thea - Apologetic sa pag-e-explain sa jowang tanders! NICE
2 - Val - dadalhin ako sa party! pinagtatanggol pa ang nicests! NICE! NICE!
1 ( It's a liver... it's atay! ) - Rey and Celery - kayo ang relaxed na relaxed at mapagkatiwalaang mga kaibigang lovingly working your assess off to pull of the very first out-of-town Powerbarkada Christmas Party since it started in 1996! bonggang-bongga ang gifts ko sa inyo! money, love, that will last you for a thousand Christmases! NICEST!
Santa Claus
Judge(mental) (Guilt-trip) Gift-Giver
Address: North Pole
Office. (02) 4152272 loc 0001
Mobile. (0918)9172373, (0990)8201022
E-mail. mr.santa@gmail.com
"If you can't handle me at my worst,
then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
— Marilyn Monroe
From: "Santa Claus"
To: ray_agapie@yahoo.co.uk
Sent: Saturday, 26 November 2011, 8:29
Subject: Naughty or Nice - Powerbarkada
ho, rey! pakisabihan na ang lang powerfriends mo na gumawa na'ko ng list. before i check it twice, warningan mo muna sila! ka-birthday ni jesus, rey. kaya mo 'yan.
ho ho ho less than a month na lang! see my list below:
PowerBarkada Naughty or Nice?
7 - Carlo - laging nega on a beauiful lazy saturday morning; parang walang lovelife! no gift! NAUGHTIEST!
6 - Roy - nang-agaw ng jowa; still deserves a gift, though. like a toy snake! NAUGHTY! NAUGHTY!
5 - Sheila - awww broken family this powerbarkada get-together! paano kaya kung si rey ang absent sa kasal nila ni euven? NAUGHTY!
4 - Cindy - NICE! c'mon, nanganak siya this year. by default, nasa Nice siya kahit ano pang sama niya; bawi na lang next year!
3 - Thea - Apologetic sa pag-e-explain sa jowang tanders! NICE
2 - Val - dadalhin ako sa party! pinagtatanggol pa ang nicests! NICE! NICE!
1 ( It's a liver... it's atay! ) - Rey and Celery - kayo ang relaxed na relaxed at mapagkatiwalaang mga kaibigang lovingly working your assess off to pull of the very first out-of-town Powerbarkada Christmas Party since it started in 1996! bonggang-bongga ang gifts ko sa inyo! money, love, that will last you for a thousand Christmases! NICEST!
Santa Claus
Judge(mental) (Guilt-trip) Gift-Giver
Address: North Pole
Office. (02) 4152272 loc 0001
Mobile. (0918)9172373, (0990)8201022
E-mail. mr.santa@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Scientists Discover Beach Bum - PINOYS DAW!
Scientists Discover Beach Bum Gene
by Larry Jamesson
Washington, DC - You’re slacking off at work and still feel like hitting the beach. If you’re Filipino, you may just be exhibiting behavioral traits inherited from your beach bum ancestors.
The study released by the University of North Washington’s Anthropological Laboratories of America, the recognized leader in cultural anthropology, reports that “The markedly different cultural aspects of Archipelagic Southeast Asian (Filipino) culture today, like the “beach lifestyle,” is a result of a prehistoric cultural clash among early Southeast Asians, as evident in each culture’s ancient history.
“It’s like they all just decided they don’t want to be royal subjects of any king, so they headed to the beach and partied for the rest of their days,” says Dr. Kenneth Battachara, who headed the study. Anthropologists call this “antecultural migration,” when an ethnic group splits due to differences in culture.
According to the study, just when the great Southeast Asian kingdom civilizations were being established in Vietnam, Khmer, Burma, Siam, and Java – heavily influenced by south migration and trade with the Indian and Chinese Empires (after whom Indochina was named) - the Filipino ancestors may not have appreciated the peace and security in living a kingdom because of the rigid social hierarchy, strict laws, patriotic servitude, forced labor, and wars. This group of defectors included artists, musicians, actors, and singers who reject the repetitive and meticulous practice of the arts in the royal courts; as well as jesters and orators, storytellers and satirists, who may have yearned to crack a joke about the king without risk of punishment; and the nature-worshippers who believe in the supernatural rather than in the divinity of a human god. They preferred a simpler lifestyle, lacked political or military ambitions, had difficulty taking orders, but were probably bad self-regulators. If you look at chaotic Philippines now, where showbiz and politics meet, where the press lacks self-control, and where the clout of the Catholic Church is so tragic, it’s funny, it is not hard to give credence to the study.
The ancient group of free-spirited sailors, eventually formed a leadership structure called balangay, named after the boats they used in search of the perfect beach. The balangay government consolidate food-sourcing efforts and maintain peace and order, and seldom exhibit empire-building ambitions. Food self-sufficiency de-necessitated this, as well as a formal trade system. Abundance of natural resources and warm climate meant sophisticated technology need not be invented.
The lack of a strong imperial culture made for a weak sense of history and continuity as a disciplined system of record-keeping is the hallmark of empires. No one formal religion can also dominate without a strong kingdom patronizing it. This, along with the welcoming, laid-back attitude of the Archipelagic Southeast Asians made European colonization easier.
That Age of Exploration and Imperialism then brought to the Philippines the country’s first elites. Like the elites of Latin America, the vast Spanish colony on the other side of the Pacific, the first Philippine elites were Spanish-Europeans who came to the colonies who knew nothing but a feudal culture. They know no other way of managing property except through amassing land, having slaves till them while keeping their loyalty in check. The landed, rich immediately distinguished themselves from the natives, and that attitude exists today still, long after intermarriage and patriotic movements have technically consolidated the elits and natives into a nation. Today, the socio-cultural divide, and mutual distrust persist. The culture lives on. AP
by Larry Jamesson
Washington, DC - You’re slacking off at work and still feel like hitting the beach. If you’re Filipino, you may just be exhibiting behavioral traits inherited from your beach bum ancestors.
The study released by the University of North Washington’s Anthropological Laboratories of America, the recognized leader in cultural anthropology, reports that “The markedly different cultural aspects of Archipelagic Southeast Asian (Filipino) culture today, like the “beach lifestyle,” is a result of a prehistoric cultural clash among early Southeast Asians, as evident in each culture’s ancient history.
“It’s like they all just decided they don’t want to be royal subjects of any king, so they headed to the beach and partied for the rest of their days,” says Dr. Kenneth Battachara, who headed the study. Anthropologists call this “antecultural migration,” when an ethnic group splits due to differences in culture.
According to the study, just when the great Southeast Asian kingdom civilizations were being established in Vietnam, Khmer, Burma, Siam, and Java – heavily influenced by south migration and trade with the Indian and Chinese Empires (after whom Indochina was named) - the Filipino ancestors may not have appreciated the peace and security in living a kingdom because of the rigid social hierarchy, strict laws, patriotic servitude, forced labor, and wars. This group of defectors included artists, musicians, actors, and singers who reject the repetitive and meticulous practice of the arts in the royal courts; as well as jesters and orators, storytellers and satirists, who may have yearned to crack a joke about the king without risk of punishment; and the nature-worshippers who believe in the supernatural rather than in the divinity of a human god. They preferred a simpler lifestyle, lacked political or military ambitions, had difficulty taking orders, but were probably bad self-regulators. If you look at chaotic Philippines now, where showbiz and politics meet, where the press lacks self-control, and where the clout of the Catholic Church is so tragic, it’s funny, it is not hard to give credence to the study.
The ancient group of free-spirited sailors, eventually formed a leadership structure called balangay, named after the boats they used in search of the perfect beach. The balangay government consolidate food-sourcing efforts and maintain peace and order, and seldom exhibit empire-building ambitions. Food self-sufficiency de-necessitated this, as well as a formal trade system. Abundance of natural resources and warm climate meant sophisticated technology need not be invented.
The lack of a strong imperial culture made for a weak sense of history and continuity as a disciplined system of record-keeping is the hallmark of empires. No one formal religion can also dominate without a strong kingdom patronizing it. This, along with the welcoming, laid-back attitude of the Archipelagic Southeast Asians made European colonization easier.
That Age of Exploration and Imperialism then brought to the Philippines the country’s first elites. Like the elites of Latin America, the vast Spanish colony on the other side of the Pacific, the first Philippine elites were Spanish-Europeans who came to the colonies who knew nothing but a feudal culture. They know no other way of managing property except through amassing land, having slaves till them while keeping their loyalty in check. The landed, rich immediately distinguished themselves from the natives, and that attitude exists today still, long after intermarriage and patriotic movements have technically consolidated the elits and natives into a nation. Today, the socio-cultural divide, and mutual distrust persist. The culture lives on. AP
Friday, September 23, 2011
Intro Loren Legarda Award
Dahil alam kong mae-edit-out lang ang part na'to sa sinulat kong continuity script para sa Grand Alumni Homecoming ng UP College of Mass Communication mamayang gabi, ise-share ko na lang sa inyo.
(INTRO AWARD FOR LOREN LEGARD AWARD)
HOST:
MARAMI PA PO TAYONG PARARANGALAN PERO ANG NAKAKATAAS NG KILAY AY ANG SUSUNOD. DATING BROADCAST JOURNALIST NA MEDYO TRAPO NA ANG DATING. SINO SIYA? KILALANIN NATIN KAY PRESENTOR, _____.
PRESENTOR:
POLITICAL ICON ANG ITATAWAG NATIN SA BABAENG ITO FOR, AND I MERELY QUOTE, “FROM MEDIA TO POLITICS, FROM ALUMNUS TOTHE HALLS OF POWER - A DEDICATED ALLY OF THE COLLEGE, A DONOR FOR ALL SEASONS, AN OUTSTANDING SUPPORTER OF WORTHY CAUSES. THIS MEANS, ANG BAHAGI PO NG KANYANG PORK BARREL BILANG SENADORA AY NAPUNTA RAW SA PAGPAPATAYO NG BAGONG MEDIA CENTER. THE REST WAS SPENT ON HER ELECTORAL PROTESTS SA KANYANG SUNUD-SUNOD NA PAGKATALO SA ELEKSYON. KAYA NAMAN THE “IKAW NA!” AWARD IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO SEN. LOREN LEGARDA!
RECEIVE AWARD. ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. PHOTO OP.
full script here https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bxqh25exq-CVZjgzYTA5NGYtMGQ5Yy00N2NkLWIyZTUtMzIyNTMzYjU0ZmZk&hl=en_US
(INTRO AWARD FOR LOREN LEGARD AWARD)
HOST:
MARAMI PA PO TAYONG PARARANGALAN PERO ANG NAKAKATAAS NG KILAY AY ANG SUSUNOD. DATING BROADCAST JOURNALIST NA MEDYO TRAPO NA ANG DATING. SINO SIYA? KILALANIN NATIN KAY PRESENTOR, _____.
PRESENTOR:
POLITICAL ICON ANG ITATAWAG NATIN SA BABAENG ITO FOR, AND I MERELY QUOTE, “FROM MEDIA TO POLITICS, FROM ALUMNUS TOTHE HALLS OF POWER - A DEDICATED ALLY OF THE COLLEGE, A DONOR FOR ALL SEASONS, AN OUTSTANDING SUPPORTER OF WORTHY CAUSES. THIS MEANS, ANG BAHAGI PO NG KANYANG PORK BARREL BILANG SENADORA AY NAPUNTA RAW SA PAGPAPATAYO NG BAGONG MEDIA CENTER. THE REST WAS SPENT ON HER ELECTORAL PROTESTS SA KANYANG SUNUD-SUNOD NA PAGKATALO SA ELEKSYON. KAYA NAMAN THE “IKAW NA!” AWARD IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO SEN. LOREN LEGARDA!
RECEIVE AWARD. ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. PHOTO OP.
full script here https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bxqh25exq-CVZjgzYTA5NGYtMGQ5Yy00N2NkLWIyZTUtMzIyNTMzYjU0ZmZk&hl=en_US
Monday, August 22, 2011
Para sa mga Facebook Friends kong may Baby
Ang blog na ito ay para sa mga Facebook friends kong may baby:
Ilang taon na ba ang Facebook? ‘Yun ang bilang ng taon na na-bombard ako ng regular and persistent statuses at wall photos tungkol sa mga baby n’yo! Statuses puwedeng i-ignore pero every 5 statuses about the baby dapat i-Like mo na, and the five-status intervals happen, like everyday! Mas mahirap ang wall post. ‘Yun wala kang dapat palampasin i-Like. Dapat kung ilan ang tao na naka-tag du’n sa nag-iisang mukha na’yun, dapat ganu’n din ang dami ng nag-Like. Dapat sumobra pa ang Like kung artistic, studio shot, o candid funny/cute moment photo daw as perceived by the parents ng baby. Mahirap ‘to for me kasi may mga photos na scary, like ultrasound photos (nagsisimula ang kalbaryo ko bago pa magkaroon ng tangible na baby!) Siyempre may mga albums pa, at videos!
So bilang ganti, magkukuwento ako at REQUIRED KAYONG BASAHIN, I-LIKE AT KUMENTAN kundi mapapahamak ang mga baby ninyo!
Alam n’yo kasi, meron akong tatlong cute and smart na pamangkin. Binalak kong gumanti with my impressions of all of them pero pati ako na-bore, so ang ikukuwento ko lang sa inyo ay ‘yung sa eldest and only niece. I love her, so you must, too!
DARYN DARIAN AGAPAY. Buntis ngayon ang wife ng panganay naming Kuya, at nagpustahan ang buong pamilya kung lalake o babae. Isa ako sa majority na nagwi-wish ng babae. Sunud-sunod kasing ipinanganak ‘yung tatlong lalakeng pamangkin na sina Dave-Dave, DJ at Justin. Na ang ate ay si Daryn. Ang ganda at talino ng batang ‘to. Waif-waifan ang drama! Matangkad kasi matangkad ang ina na kamukha ni Michelle Aldna! At artistic pa. Bata pa lang, nagdo-drawing na siya ng sarili niyang comic strips. Mala-Cathy ang style - at ang humor, English! Ngayon heavily inspired ng anime ang drawings niya. My mom made her repaint a couple of clay vases and Daryn drew beautiful faces of young ladies with exaggeratedly big, bright eyes, small noses ang lips, and very long windblown straight hair. In three years she may follow my footsteps to UP. I think she wants to take up Communications like I did. At kapag nangyari ‘to…
Magkakaroon ng isang bonggang-bonggang climax ang mala-deboto kong pagsubaybay sa taunang Miss Universe live telecast sa umaga mula nu’ng 1987 – pamangkin ko ang mananalong Miss Universe! Seriouly, beauty queen o supermodel talaga ang dating niya at mamaniin lang niya ang Q&A! “And the new Miss Universe – Miss Philippines! Darian (pronounced Dar-YAN para Latina ang dating) Agapay!” Pero realistic akong tao, kaya alam kong ang realistic na magiging reaksyon ko kapag nangyari ‘to ay STROKE. Isipin mo, mula 1987 ay taun-taon akong umaasa at nabibigo na Pilipina ang mananalong Miss Universe ‘yun pala pamangkin ko lang pala ang hinihintay ko! Tiyak sa gitla may mapapatid akong artery du’n mismo sa audience area at uuwi akong baldado’t nasa wheelchair… na tulak-tulak ng pamangkin kong Miss Universe!
Ilang taon na ba ang Facebook? ‘Yun ang bilang ng taon na na-bombard ako ng regular and persistent statuses at wall photos tungkol sa mga baby n’yo! Statuses puwedeng i-ignore pero every 5 statuses about the baby dapat i-Like mo na, and the five-status intervals happen, like everyday! Mas mahirap ang wall post. ‘Yun wala kang dapat palampasin i-Like. Dapat kung ilan ang tao na naka-tag du’n sa nag-iisang mukha na’yun, dapat ganu’n din ang dami ng nag-Like. Dapat sumobra pa ang Like kung artistic, studio shot, o candid funny/cute moment photo daw as perceived by the parents ng baby. Mahirap ‘to for me kasi may mga photos na scary, like ultrasound photos (nagsisimula ang kalbaryo ko bago pa magkaroon ng tangible na baby!) Siyempre may mga albums pa, at videos!
So bilang ganti, magkukuwento ako at REQUIRED KAYONG BASAHIN, I-LIKE AT KUMENTAN kundi mapapahamak ang mga baby ninyo!
Alam n’yo kasi, meron akong tatlong cute and smart na pamangkin. Binalak kong gumanti with my impressions of all of them pero pati ako na-bore, so ang ikukuwento ko lang sa inyo ay ‘yung sa eldest and only niece. I love her, so you must, too!
DARYN DARIAN AGAPAY. Buntis ngayon ang wife ng panganay naming Kuya, at nagpustahan ang buong pamilya kung lalake o babae. Isa ako sa majority na nagwi-wish ng babae. Sunud-sunod kasing ipinanganak ‘yung tatlong lalakeng pamangkin na sina Dave-Dave, DJ at Justin. Na ang ate ay si Daryn. Ang ganda at talino ng batang ‘to. Waif-waifan ang drama! Matangkad kasi matangkad ang ina na kamukha ni Michelle Aldna! At artistic pa. Bata pa lang, nagdo-drawing na siya ng sarili niyang comic strips. Mala-Cathy ang style - at ang humor, English! Ngayon heavily inspired ng anime ang drawings niya. My mom made her repaint a couple of clay vases and Daryn drew beautiful faces of young ladies with exaggeratedly big, bright eyes, small noses ang lips, and very long windblown straight hair. In three years she may follow my footsteps to UP. I think she wants to take up Communications like I did. At kapag nangyari ‘to…
Magkakaroon ng isang bonggang-bonggang climax ang mala-deboto kong pagsubaybay sa taunang Miss Universe live telecast sa umaga mula nu’ng 1987 – pamangkin ko ang mananalong Miss Universe! Seriouly, beauty queen o supermodel talaga ang dating niya at mamaniin lang niya ang Q&A! “And the new Miss Universe – Miss Philippines! Darian (pronounced Dar-YAN para Latina ang dating) Agapay!” Pero realistic akong tao, kaya alam kong ang realistic na magiging reaksyon ko kapag nangyari ‘to ay STROKE. Isipin mo, mula 1987 ay taun-taon akong umaasa at nabibigo na Pilipina ang mananalong Miss Universe ‘yun pala pamangkin ko lang pala ang hinihintay ko! Tiyak sa gitla may mapapatid akong artery du’n mismo sa audience area at uuwi akong baldado’t nasa wheelchair… na tulak-tulak ng pamangkin kong Miss Universe!
