FINALLY, THE TRUTH.

This is the letter sent by Mrs. Jonathan Tolentino (first name: Margenia) to Mrs. Herbert Tansiongco (first name: Minerva Angeli) after Mrs. Tansiongco questioned Mr. Jonathan Tolentino's appointment as the head elder of Odiongan Church, supposedly stating reasons of alleged "unhealthy relationships with people from his workplace, that is, with her very own husband, Herbert." All of the supposedly "unhealthy relationships" are stated in the letter below by Mrs. Tolentino, together with witnesses from Romblon National High School - Odiongan.

December 13, 2008

Angeli:

Salamat sa ginawa ninyong pagsabi sa ibat-ibang tao ng mga bagay laban kay Boboy. Matagal kong pinigil ang sarili ko na sulatan kayo mula ng magkasamaan kami ng loob ng asawa mo. Nanalangin kmi na mapapalagpas namin ang mga bagay na nangyari at salamat na nagawa namin yon para makaiwas sa gulo kase hindi kami sanay sa nakasanayan mo e. Ang problema, sa aming pananahimik ay parang sinusubukan ng kaaway ang aming pagtitimpi. Kaninang alas sais ng umaga ay ginising kami ni Mam Febe Fallar at sinabi na nakarating na sa nominating committee ang mga reklamo nyo. Salamat sa lakas ng loob nyo na tingnan ang iba pero pilit tinatakpan at ayaw aminin na may mga pagkukulang din kayo. Marahil, panahon na rin na maipagtaggol namin ang aming sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabi ng totoong pinagmulan ng lahat. Alam namin na hindi mo alam ang tunay na dahilan kaya nagagawa mong magkwento sa mga tao na nakakarating din naman sa amin lahat, pilit nga lang naming pinagpapasensyahan at kinakalimutan. Kaya lang dapat ay malaman mo na rin ngayon.Ang sabi mo noon ay ayaw mong maglingkod sa iglesya kase masama ang ugali mo at ng pamilya mo. Ang pakiusap ko lang sa iyo ay hayaan mo na makapaglingkod ang ibang makasalanan na tulad namin para sa ganun ay makapanumbalik sa Panginoon bilang kristyano at wag manatili sa pagkakasala at gawing sangkalan ang ibang tao sa kanyang mga pagkukulang.Tungkol sa babae na na-tsismis sa asawa mo, kami rin ang huling naka-alam kahit marami na ang nakakaalam sa skul at pinag uusapan na ang asawa mo. Kaya ang ginawa ni Boboy ng marinig ang tsismis ay kinausap nya ng diretso pinagpayuhan si Totong na itigil nya kung ano man yon bago mo pa malaman. Ginawa ni Boboy na sabihan siya bilang pagmamalasakit sa inyo na itinuring na rin namin na pamangkin dahil kay Ate Dina kasi nag aalala kami na kung malaman mo ay kami ang pwede mong sisihin na di siya napag-payuhan e samantalang magkasama kami sa trabaho. Ang tsismis na yon ay hindi namin sinabi kahit kanino pero masama ang loob namin kasi kami pa rin pala ang pinagbibintangan ninyo na nagpalakat noon. Hindi namin maubos maisip kung bakit kami lagi ang napagbibintangan ninyo sa kabila ng pinagsamahan natin. Galing kay Jubilee ang balitang iyon na pinatutuhanan ng mga sinabi ni Robina . Alam yan lahat ni Totong dahil magkaharap-harap kami nuon na nakiki-simpatiya sa kanya. Maliban sa mga balita na yan ay may lumabas na bago at kaklase ni Jeko na si Nelfa Diokno na kamag anak daw ng babae ang may sabi nuon at si Bogang ang nagsabi nyan sa amin. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, HINDI NA AKO NAG-AALALA SA KUNG ANO PA MAN ANG MANGYARI KASI NAUBOS NA RIN ANG PASENSYA KO SA MGA IBINIBINTANG NYO SA AMIN NI BOBOY.

Panahon na kulang ang team namin sa third year kaya sumali si Boboy kahit siya ay naka assign sa first year dahil tapos na ang gawain nya noon. Kahit nagkaganuon ay kulang pa rin kami ng isang tao kaya ang asawa mo ang naisipan namin na tawagin kasi alam namin na siya ay hindi adviser at siya ay regular na member ng reading committee. Sinundo siya ni Boboy ngunit sumagot sya ng ganito “BAKIT AKO NA LANG LAGI?”. Kaya umalis si Boboy ngunit binalikan siya at tinanaong kung hindi talaga siya mag re-read. Sa muli ay sinagot nya si Boboy ng ganito “YONG IBA NAMAN”, siempre ibig sabihin noon ay hindi siya pupunta kase tinuturo nya kay Boboy na iba naman ang tawagin.

Hindi na nagpumilit si Boboy na tawagin sya at bumalik na lang sa aming team at sinabi sa amin na “AYAW SUMAMA E. IBA NA LANG DAW ANG TAWAGIN KASE LAGI NA LANG DAW SIYA “. Doon nagalit si Mrs. Fontamillas kasi hindi makapagsimula ng reading kya pumunta siya sa principal pero hindi namin alam kung ano ang sinabi nya sa principal. Nagulat na lang kami ng maya maya ay tumunog ang motor ng asawa mo at pumasok sa laboratory at ito ang sinabi “BAKIT KAYO GANYAN! NAKAKA BAD TRIP NAMAN KAYO. BAT NAGSUSUMBONG AGAD KAYO SA OFIS. SANA KINAUSAP NYO MUNA AKO. HINDI KO NAMAN SINABI NA HINDI AKO PUPUNTA”.

Ano sa palagay mo Ne, hindi ba siya kinausap ng tinawag siya ni Boboy na tumulong? Alangan namang magpaalam pa si Mrs. Fontamillas sa kanya na magsasabi ito sa principal kasi ayaw nyang tumulong? Kami pa ba ang nakaka-bad trip sa lagay na yon? Sa totoo lang, ang sabi ni Mrs. Fontamillas ay 2 beses pa lang siya na nag assist sa reading at late na siya dumating nung unang reading at nung pangalawa naman ay umalis siya ng maaga pa, kaya nainis si Ate Chit (Mrs. Fontamillas) kase nagsinungalaing si Totong sa pagsasabi na lagi na lang daw na siya ang tinatawag pero tungkulin naman nya talaga lahat un, lalo na siya na hindi adviser.

Si Boboy pa nga ang ginawa nyang sinungaling sa mga sinabi nya pero nagpasensya at tumahimik kami. Inaamin ko na nagalit ako sa kanya sa ginawa nyang yon kasi hindi na nya iginalang ang matatanda naming kasama sa team sa pagtataas nya ng boses sa amin. SIYA ANG UNANG NAGTAAS NG BOSES AT MAPAPATUNAYAN YAN NG MGA KASAMA SA TEAM. Natuklasan ko pa nung huli na kami pala ang pinagbibintanagn ninyo na nagsumbong sa principal at yan ay kaya kong patunayan sa harap ni Bogang na nagsabi sa amin. Sinabi mo pa nga raw na “AH, USA PA KINA SI FONTAMILLAS NAK YAIN IT BATASAN”.

Tahimik ang buhay namin pero nabago ito at nahaluan ng gulo mula ng makilala namin kayo. Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi noon na hindi na kayo sasama sa mga lakad namin kasI lagi kayong nag-aaway at napapahiya tayo sa ibang tao nakakarinig. Alam mo yan kasi paulit ulit mong sinasabi yan mula sa Boracay, Calatrava at Punta na kung saan ay kasama namin ang anak mo at tahimik ang buhay sa camping pero ng dumating ka ay naging maingay na at magulo. Tiniis naming lahat at pilit kayong inuunawa sa mga ginagawa nyo kahit nakakahiya talaga sa mga anak ko na nagbibinata at kana Elma na tahimik din ang buhay. Kaya nga ng hindi na tayo nagsasama ay nawala na ang bigat sa dibdib namin at tahimik na ulit ang buhay namin PERO AYAW NYO KAMING TIGILAN.

WAG NYO NAMAN KAMING IGAYA SA PAMILYA NYO NA HINDI NAUUBUSAN NG BAGAY NA PAG AAWAYAN KASI HINDI KAMI SANAY SA GULO. HINDI KAMI PINALAKI SA AWAYAN NG PAMILYA NAMIN, GANUON DIN ANG PAMILYA NI BOBOY. KAHIT MAKASALANAN KMI AY SINISIKAP NAMIN NA MANALANGIN AT HUMINGI NG TAWAD SA TUWI -TUWINA AT LAKAS NA MAPANAGUMPAYAN ANG MGA KAHINAAN NAMIN BILANG TAO AT HINDI NAMIN KAYA NA MAKIPAG-AWAY SA KA-PAMILYA LALONG LALO NA SA MGA MAGULANG NAMIN DAHIL MATAAS ANG PAGGALANG NAMIN SA MGA MAGULANG NAMIN AT YAN ANG IPINAMULAT SA AMIN NA UGALI. ANG AMING PAGLILINGKOD SA CHURCH AY HINDI DAHIL SA KUNG ANO PA MAN KUNDI ITO LANG ANG MAGPAPANATILI SA AMIN SA PANGINOON KAHIT KAMI AY MAKASALANAN. AT KAHIT ANO ANG SABIHIN NYO LABAN SA AMIN, PATULOY KAMING MANANATILI SA PANANAMPALATAYA NA ITO. HINDI KAMI GUMAGAMIT NG IBANG TAO NA DAHILAN SA PANGHIHINA NAMIN. SALAMAT SA MGA GINAWA NYO SA AMIN NA KAHIT NASAKTAN KAMI AY GINAWA NAMIN ANG MGA ITO NA DAHILAN UPANG LALONG HUMINGI NG LAKAS SA PANGINOON NA TULUNGAN KAMING UMUNAWA SA IBA, PERO HINDI PALA MABUTI NA LAGING NANANAHIMIK KASI NAAABUSO.

Tungkol sa pagsasabi ni Boboy na hindi Adventist ang asawa mo na ikinagalit niya ay ipinagtataka rin namin. Nagkataon noon na nagtanong ang principal sa miting kung sino ang mga Adventist na hindi pwedeng sumama sa parade ng pista at may sumagot na “si Mr. Tansiongco pa” kasi nabanggit na halos lahat ang pangalan naming maliban sa kanya. Nagsalita lang si Boboy na “HINDI PA ADVENTIST YON KASI HINDI PA NAMAN SYA NABIBINYAGAN”, AT YON ANG TOTOO DI BA? Narinig yon ng co-teacher namin at duon nagsimula na nagalit sya kay Boboy. HINDI PINAGSIGAWAN NI BOBOY NA HINDI SYA ADVENTIST. Marahan nyang sinabi yon BILANG IMPORMASYON. Masama na ba ngayon magsabi ng totoo?

Di ba pinagtawanan mo rin ang asawa mo nuong maglagay sya na Adventist sya sa birth certificate ni Eya kasi sabi mo ay nagsisinungaling sya dahil nga hindi sya baptized? Nagsisimba, oo, pero hindi yon sapat na sabihing Adventista sya. At maraming nagsasabi sa amin na yong pangyayaring yon ang ginagamit nyo na dahilan sa hindi nyo pagsisimba. Na hindi na kayo magsisisimba dahil sa amin. Di ba hindi naman talaga kayo nagsisimba ng regular? Bakit kami ang ginagawa ninyong dahilan?Sa totoo lang, ang paniniwala ko ay mabuting tao ang asawa mo kaya lang minsan mainit ang ulo nya kasi parang may problema sya sa iyo at sa pamilya mo. Ang sabi nya nuon sa akin sa burol ni Lola Bating ay kaya daw siya ayaw magpabinyag sa Adventist kahit alam nya na totoo ang paniniwala sa Adventist sapagkat naiugnay nya ito sa mga aklat nya sa History ay dahil masama daw ang ugali ng pamilya mo at yon ang tinitingnan nya…Sabi ko naman ay huwag syang tumingin sa tao kundi sa Panginoon lang.

Minsan pa nung magkatay sila ng kambing sa school kasama si Danny at Boboy ay sinabi nya na kung pwede ka lang nya saktan ay sasaktan ka na nya kasi nahihirapan na sya sa ugali mo. Kesyo hindi ka raw nya kayang supilin.

SANA KUNG MAY PROBLEMA KAYO SA PAMILYA AY IDALANGIN NYO NA LANG NA MAAYOS ITO. WAG NA SANA NINYONG HAWAAN ANG IBANG PAMILYA NG MGA UGALI NYO DAHIL INUULIT KO SA IYO NA HINDI KAMI SANAY SA MGA NAKASANAYAN NYO. SANA MA-REALIZE NYO NA KAHIT SAAN TAYO MAGKASAMA NOON AY KAYO ANG LAGING NAG-AAWAY AT MAGULO SA GRUPO AT HINDI PA NAGYARI NI MINSAN MAN LAMANG NA MAY NAGSIMULANG PROBLEMA SA PAMILYA NAMIN. ITONG SAMAAN NG LOOB NATIN AY KAYO ANG UGAT. HINDI KAMI ANG PINAGMULAN NITO.KAHIT DITO SA SCHOOL, KUNG ANO MAN ANG MGA GAWAIN NG ASAWA MO NA HINDI NYA NAGAGAMPANAN DAHIL SA NAPAKARAMI NYANG DAHILAN AY KAMI NI BOBOY ANG GUMAGAWA PERO WALA SIYANG NARINIG SA AMIN KAHIT ISANG SALITA. MULA SA NAPAKASIMPLENG RESPONSIBILIDAD NA AYUSIN ANG ASSIGNMENT NYA AT I CHECK KUNG WALA NANG KULANG SA MGA VENUE DAHIL SYA ANG CHAIRMAN SA HALL AND BENCH COMMITTEE AY NAPAPABAYAAN NYA MINSAN. KUNG MAY KULANG MAN AY HINDI NYA NALALAMAN KASI HINDI SYA NAGPA-FOLLOW UP GAYA NG KUNG KULANG ANG MGA UPUAN O ELECTRIC FAN…KASI NGA HINDI NYA INAASIKASO NG DIBDIBAN ANG TRABAHO NYA.

KAMI LAHAT ANG SUMASALO NG MGA PAGKUKULANG NYA SA TRABAHO AT YON ANG HINDI NYA ALAM KASI HINDI NAMAN KAMI NAGREREKLAMO PERO ALAM YAN NG KARAMIHAN DITO SA SCHOOL. KUNG HINDI MAN NYA AMININ YAN GAYA NG INAASAHAN NAMIN AY WALA NA KAMING MAGAGAWA. HINDI KO NA KAILANGANG ISA-ISAHIN PA. ULTIMONG SI MADAM LUCS AY NAGSABI SA AMIN NYAN.

GUMISING NAMAN SANA KAYO. WAG NYO NA KAMING IDAMAY SA MGA KAGULUHAN NYO. KUNG NAGREREKLAMO KAYO SA PAGIGING ELDER NI BOBOY AY MAGHARAP- HARAP TAYO SA NOMINATING COMMITTEE AT ISAMA MO ANG ASAWA MO PARA LALONG MALAMAN NG LAHAT ANG TOTOO.

MARGIE

thoughts on CARP

nature of the program

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was designed to return the lands taken from the people by the oppressive tyrant landowners. Parcels of land from the haciendas were distributed to tenants who used to till the haciendas for the landowners to till on their own.

uh, wait - something's funny here.

The implementation posed various problems. Primarily, land alone would be more of a disaster than help to the new landowners without the capital for them to start on their own. Even though the land itself is the resource they need, they are still in need of money for seeds, fertilizers, tools, and other farming concerns.

Aside from that, tenants are incapable of managing the lands. Aside from not having resources to make the land grow, they have not been taught management for the land's productivity.Due to the absence of capital, the starting landowners have to borrow them.

Another negative effect is that lenders tend to abuse the new landowners for the capital lent to them to start on their own in the form of skyrocketing interest rates. Landowners resort to placing their lands on collaterals just to get money, resulting to the formation of workers' unions aiming to return the land to the owners for them to buy from the small landowners again, only to return after the specified period of time given the landowners to collect the finances needed.

Due to the mismanagement of the lands, lesser and lesser rice are being produced, resulting to deficiencies in the staple food product, and unfeasible prices of imported rice.

I say...

The CAR Program, in my opinion should be dismissed, for the reason that the aim of the program does not focus on the farmers but only to the satisfaction of the scrutinizing public to show that the people are sustained by the government in terms of livelihood by the allocation of land, but oblivious to everything else the people are in need of and the problems that come to pass.

If the people need anything, it will be direct help from the authorities, not more work to do with their limbs amputated, having no tools to do the extra jobs. If the government distributes something that requires giving out, it should be for the benefit of everybody and not for their self-image and the extremely precious public opinion.

for RIZAL

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LA SALLE
Bacolod City

Jim Austin M. Tolentino September 22, 2008
AB – 1B

On the Movie “The Count of Monte Cristo”

Characters and their traits

Edmond Dantes - the protagonist who brings a letter from Emperor Bonaparte to an "old friend" in France. A second mate on the ship french trading ship Pharaon.

Fernand Mondego - Edmond's bestfriend, who is also an officer of the same ship Edmond is in.

Napoleon - the emperor of the French Empire. He saves Edmond and Fernand when the British mistake them for french soldiers when they stop by Napoleon's exile island of Elba to seek medical assistance for their captain who falls sick aboard.

Mercedes Iguanada - Edmond's fiancee who becomes Fernand's wife after Edmond's conviction.

Morrell - the boss of their shippig line who is inspired by Edmond's bravery and promotes him to captain after the captain dies.

Danglars - the Pharaon's first mate who hates Edmond for being promoted to captain instead of him. He leaked false information to Mercedes thatEdmond has been executed so she marries Fernand.

Villefort - the deputy public prosecutor and chief magistrate whose father is Bonaparte's "old friend" in France.

Armand Dorleac - the sadistic warden of Chateau d'If whom Edmond kills upon escaping.

Abbe Faria - a priest and a former soldier of the emperor, who is imprisoned for denying to the emperor the knowledge on the location of a treasure. He teaches Edmond language and fighting skills, economics, philiosophy and others.

Jacopo - a member of the group of smugglers Edmond meets after escaping Chateau d'If. He is regarded as a traitor by the group and is intended to be buried alive. Edmond fights him, and upon sparing his life, vows to be "Edmond's man for life."

Luigi Vampa - the smuggler and thief who leads Jacopo's group, whom he hires to kidnap Albert, Fernand's son so Edmond could pretend to have saved him.

Albert Mondego - Mercedes' son by Edmond whom she labels to be Fernand's and he claims to be his own until he finds out.

Theme

The movie primarily talks about injustice and the sufferings endured by the main character, Dantes. He had been unjustly convicted and thrown behind bars with the prosecutor’s and Fernand’s personal charges against him behind him, and he faced the charges he can only see due to his limited education which made him blind to the realities and implications of the actions he took.

We see a variety of concepts encircling the entire storyline that would give us insights that may either aggravate, justify, mitigate, or exempt the actions of the characters that will lead us to conclusions as to whether justice is served or sanctions are made to those who are due them. For example, did Edmond’s incapacity in words serve as an excuse for him to not know that the letter he carries brings about a disaster, something that will be snagged by a falling out between a father and a son for the son’s personal interests? Or are we to condemn Villefort’s unlawful conviction of Dantes because he wanted to look good for the current regime by breaking all his father’s ties with Napoleon?

We see in the end that Fernand had been killed, the family reunited under the real paternity, and everything goes back to normal. Can we say that justice had been delivered to the proper doorstep? I believe so. Edmond had taken back what had been robbed of him and he had been able to put the pieces of his life back together, putting everything behind him, as characterized by his purchase of Chateau d’If where he suffered pain and suffering in the superlatives.

We can now figure out at least three concepts: injustice, revenge, forgiveness – which all led to the administration of justice to those who deserve it. Good for Edmond, he had been given the right tools to do the job properly, as seen in his last words in the film thanking Abbe Faria and finally, leaving all of his undertakings to God in his planned revenge: “God will give me justice.”

for my PIP

University of Saint La Salle

Bacolod City

Religious Studies 3

TOLENTINO, Jim Austin M.

AB1 - B

Parish Involvement Plan Activities (MidTerm)

NARRATION

August 15, 2008 - Friday

The Adventist Youth Society was in charge for all the Sabbath services the following day, and they wanted to present a concert, so I joined the group singing the song "Midnight Cry," which is a Southern favorite and one of my mum and dad's favorites as well. I sang Tenor, and we are supposed to sing it in Sabbath School. I played the piano for the tenors to learn their melody, and later, while the pianist has gone somewhere, I played for the entire chorale to sing to it. I eventually got to play for the official performance, because the pianist still has many other youth choirs to accompany. I also got to accompany one more chorale, on the song "Give Us A Vision." All the others were accompanied by the older pianist.

We started practicing at 2:30. During our practice, we had to evacuate the Grand Piano because it is not supposed to be used for practice pala. We had to settle with an electric organ, since the Upright Piano is being used by Mrs. Jonah Toledo, the older pianist. She was one of my piano and voice teachers, but even she didn't want to practice with the Grand Piano. It is only for the church services and official song performances. We stopped practice to prepare for the Friday night services at 6:00 PM

August 16, 2008 - Saturday

This time, we went to church early to polish the song, and at about 9:15 we sang, we are on the second part of the concert. I was on the Grand Piano all along, so I didn't get to sing with them. It's OK, we had a potluck for lunch after the Divine Hour of Worship (second service after the Sabbath School).

August 17, 2008 - Sunday

The chorale I sang with last Saturday agreed to do a bayanihan for the church. It was so filthy around the church because of the grand social night last night. Litter were everywhere, mostly of candy wrappings, straws, bottles, because we had games in the grand socials. We cleaned the surroundings of the church (the deaconesses cleaned inside) and had lunch together. We arrived there at 10:30, stopped for lunch, and continued cleaning at 1:30. We all went home shortly afterward at 4 o'clock.

REFLECTIONS

Music and singing were and remain to be the most popular and most beautiful form of worship, especially among our denomination. We had been trained in music (including musical instruments for me) while we were growing up. And it is not just for any other purpose, but all to glorify God with it. The reason why I took classical music for my voice lessons while most specialize in pop to sing in varied occassions is that I only wanted it to be used in church. Learning classical music is twice as expensive as pop music, but it's worth it.

I believe that praising God and bringing Him back the glory He shows us should be the best reason for everything we do. And by doing so, we also get to share Him with other people by crwning Him in our lives, and lead beautiful lives while doing it.

Watch Out!

Hello World,

I'll be taking on a brand new target for my fresh and delicious entrees. If you all want to know, just watch out, and tune in to my page...

See you guys...

Don't be so shocked. You might never live to read another entry.

If I ever get blocked, then you know I'm for real.

"It's a queueing that's so totally new"

Rows and rows of banana cue? Is that what it takes to open a new category to beat in the Guiness' Book of World Records?

Preparation of Ingredients

As part of CPAC's Silver Anniversary, everybody worked on establishing the school as a world record holder. How? It took fifty thousand bananas, ten sacks of sugar, forty liters of oil, six-and-a-half hours, the half of the entire Recreation area, everybody's hands, and most importantly, the gleam of excitement and happiness from each pair of hands working. Information on the said activity had been disseminated weeks prior to the Silver Anniversary so everybody is really excited to produce what needs to be seen on TV.

Bananas Fried and Sugar Caramelized

Banana Cue, as we all know, is fried along sugar to coat it with. To fry the bananas, each department brought along with them two big frying pans - that's Business, Nursing, Education, Arts and Sciences and Theology. Some fried the bananas raw, some preferred to boil the bananas before frying them. Whatever technique, Banana Cue never left or forgot its mouth-watering brand of magic which got all the members of the CPAC family wanting to do more. People peeling, frying, transferring bananas, making sticks can be seen everywhere across the Recreation center, all for record.

Bananas get skewered and displayed

Displaying fifty thousand bananas in one area for the world to see on TV is an astonishing feat. To do it, lines were spread across the football field, suspended by crossed sticks. Our four-legged brothers and sisters also had to be tied up for a while, lest they wander across the fields of fried bananas and caramelized sugar. Television people from ABS-CBN covered the unusual sight of what seems thousands of burnt meat for meat barbeque but are actually bananas.

Longest line

The College aims to make five kilometers of banana cue snaking around the football field. But due to irregularities and circumstances way out of our control, this feat had never been the fate everybody expected. But no worries, 1.9 kilometers is good enough for everybody to enjoy what they worked all day for. Imagine fifty thousand bananas stretching to almost two kilometers, that would be good enough to feed as many monkeys a person can meet in his entire lifetime. That's what everybody has to offer after a day of working on a project - all together.

____________________________________________________________________

NEXT PAGE

After a hard days work

The broad grins were undeniable and the thirst for the sweet bananas impaled on the sticks insatiable. Everybody were everywhere, picking as many banana cues as they can, owing to the 2-kilometer length of the queue of banana cue. A fortunate few even got the rare oppportunity of TV exposure, showing off their remarkable happiness due to the accomplishment of the activity.

Much more exhilarating was that the activity was shown in local TV news that night, and later on at midnight into the national TV news "Bandila." What about that? Indeed one of the greatest record breaking attempts ever done in a college campus.

But let's take a look back on the real essence of the activity. It built cooperation, camaraderie, patience, positivity, and hope of success to every participant. And as far as a college campus is concerened, she wouldn't be able to reach twenty-five without these things. And further, she wouldn't be able to go on without them either. That shows happiness and fulfillment in unity and strength to do things in friendship and camaraderie. And it's all here!

What we are trying to achieve

In everything we do, we should always see to it we get what we need, far more than what we want from it. In doing so, we got what we want, which is thousands of bananas coated with caramelized sugar, but did we get what we need? Or as said above, did we achieve what is there to be achieved? As said in "after a hard day's work," values like friendship and patience were instilled in everyone from the activity.

But we have to want to achieve something else. Something personal, not a personal achievement, but something to give back to Whoever it is Who has given the strength and the ideas and Wherever it has come from. In everyhting we do, we should do it all for the glory of the Lord, as said in the Holy Scriptures. By doing what we did, we showcased His majesty in the ideas that come out of us, His creation.

hello:

honestly, I felt a little estrangement from the blogging thing since my last post dated 04/15... I really dont have anything in mind to say but I just wish the Filipino Olympians luck in their particular events. I was never into sports but I might have imagined their training sessions correctly.

Apart from that, it just occured to me that according to 2 news items from my Google Alerts subscription on the keyword "Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Madam Arroyo sat with UNO's Security Council in Beijing recently. What I disliked is that the item focused on Madam Arroyo's position which is I think 5 or 6 seats away from the Chinese representative, and worse, the gems she'll be wearing on the Olympic Ball.

Cool huh? People just keep blinding themselves from the truth and overlook the real essence of the things that transpire in our lives.

Imagine how the showbiz press make stories from an actor tripping on the red carpet instead of how he reacted to the critics' reaction to his performance or even the critics' reaction in itself. I think that's better and more informative news. Stars aren't made for tripping anyway.

Whenever we face anything which may seem to have several faces, let's try to concentrate on what will be worthwhile. Time and effort - not just from the writers but from the readers as well, are things which can be wasted if we focus on relevant, yes, but worthless aspects of a particular issue.

Thanks for your time, have a great day...

Newer, worse stuff...

Hello People:

I already told myself that last time was to be my last blog on dear Jun... The google alerts with his name on it I am subscribed to had been sending lesser and lesser items as time goes. I used to receive four or five of them a day, and I hardly receive one a day these days. This only shows how corrupted the face of the planet is nowadays. Every issue will always be toppled down by a newer, usually worse issue.

We are right now battling the unstoppable rice price hike. A raise of about 26% on the price of grain, or a whopping 6 pesos per kilo proves to be of a disastrous nature. More and more people are being affected. But people from the higher places continue saying that there isn't any problem with rice. Are they really this apathetic of the nation's welfare?

Or could this already be the results of the horrors brought about by the persistent issues estranging the government from the people in the past few months? Could this be the cause of a lower satisfaction rate of people toward the already low present leadership? Times are really bad. And the people usually make it worse. How? Here's how:

When you see the "No Vending" sign on the streets, do you inhibit yourself from selling stuff there? What about "Guinadili-an ang pagpangihi diri?" Does that prevent you from responding to the call of nature in that very instant? Or whenever you see the "No U-Turn" sign, does that prevent you from going a longer way than go against rules seen before your very face, only thinking about the gasoline price rather than your own dignity?

Hey, people: you might be missing something. The government isn't perfect-let's give them that. We all know that. We even call them dirty. But who constitutes the government? Who is it that without its presence, the government would not be called a government? And why is the government called democratic-republican? Why don't you take this literally: "the power is in your hands." Yes it is. It's right there. In your open palm. And it's waiting for utilization. And proper utilization, if you please. It's gonna be taken away from you if left unused.

Hullo... Excuse me, just takin' a break...

Junk Food (are these?):

Some people couldn't do better. Being introduced like a boxer in Bacolod, then booed (not really, maybe a little) in Cebu (is that doing better? I guess not...). Where else do people want to be? What kind of receptions will they still be expecting? Maybe a place in the 2010 elections? Ooh. That's interesting - I like this - hang on. I never liked Chicken Inasal if there ain't unlimited rice promos I can take advantage of anyway...


Some still, never waivers in pretending that everything is lovely while the planet is in total chaos. Seems to be looking at corruption in the face, but running after it in the back. Now that's silly. Real silly. Sorry, G.U. - Walsh, I thought you've produced some good stuff people can brag about.

Some, though practically out of the picture, keep butting in. I don't mean to be harsh, but just because you left your place in favor of your neighbors' demands of your eviction doesn't mean other people should do too. Their house ain't threatened to be burned yet if they dont go out like what happened to yours.

Some, have been certainly important to the rise and fall of the heads' intonations. Be careful you people. Sometimes, or most of the time, you get controlled by the slightest persuasions... A house isn't too bad for me. At least I need not pay for rent and my family's got a place to call their own, even if it means I'm selling my soul to some greedy creature (or should I say force? Take your pick).

After all these indio's sentiments would you carefully look at the inside? See what transpires in your thoughts and pause for a moment and think, "Am I or am I not a part of this? If I see a sign telling me not to throw me refuse, do I follow? That's pretty simple. Take this. If I know I am obliged by my personal conviction to pay my tithe, do I need reminding? What about my taxes? Am I glad to not be a earning from my government so I could at least evade my taxes when the going gets tough for my needs?"

You are the person. You've got the mind. Use it whenever, wherever you can. If you don't, you'll end up like the giraffes whose necks are shorter and died upon consumption of the lower leaves. Get the picture?

Sure hope you do.

Goodnight, Philippines!

130 M USD, Anyone?

What is 65 Billion? What will you do for 65 Billion? Or, what can 65 Billion do for you?

Look in this perspective:

It can buy you Queen of Pop Madonna's gold Shu Uemera eyelash curler, that one she said she will never trade for all the Ferraris in the world. It also can buy you a whole subdivision with house and lot units each amounting to no lower than 500 Million pesos, and imagine how unimaginable a 500 Million-peso house and lot would look like. You can also spend 2-3 summers on Mars and double that if you'd rather spend it on the moon...

Why don't you imagine even just one of these:

Be able to buy every college student a laptop in your city, then expand to the whole National Capital Region.

Or send 5 million out-of-school-youth to 5,000 high schools you can build and pay 250,000 teachers.

Wipe out the entire squatters' areas throughout the Philippines and from those areas afford the rise of decent residence villages.

Turn the country into an economic giant by giving out millions of jobs.

Which of the two groups do you think would the recipients of a commission for an international business deal prefer? If you could be it, what would you choose? The choice gives an extremely rare opportunity of self-service or public service. Which is which, depends on you. Your choices mean a lot.

22:00 at the cafe

From A Simple Life
ZTE National Broadband Network Deal : Unmasking Jun Lozada

Joey (maybe Joey de Venecia): Hey Jun.
Jun (maybe Jun Lozada): Hey Joey.
Joey: Jun, can you hear me?
Jun: Yeah. Go ahead.
Joey: Yeah, where are you to put Chair (Abalos)?
Jun: Ang formula ko doon is kuha ako ng points dun sa 130.
Joey: Uh-huh…
Jun: Di ba? Kasi saan ko pa kukunin di ba? (Laughs) Itong mga :)…
Joey: Kaya lang pare, we need to get some… at least from… something from them, di ba?
Jun: Yeah. From both sides. P*tangina…
Joey: Pare... Start from the thing... Because he’s the gatekeeper of the votes. P*ta. I can understand, but not that amount.
Jun: Oh yeah. That’s too big, right. That’s too big.
Joey: Pare, let’s develop a plan to talk to him.
Jun: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So…
Joey: And you know what he told me, between you and I. When we were in Hong Kong, in Shenzen. Don’t quote me ha. Sabi niya kasi, marami akong… Tinanong ko bakit ba ang laki-laki? Singkwenta.. Sabi niya marami ako kelangan bigyan. Pati yung NEDA. He said the word NEDA ha. P*tangina. For your information pare.
Jun: Information? I would understand that… He’d like to look at…
Joey: Maybe, wait, you can quote me and say, sabi ni Joey meron daw… sabi mo sa kanya may NEDA dun. (Laughs) Di ba? He told me pare. (Laughs)
Jun: Sige, sige…
Joey: P*tangina, baka magwala na naman yung… (Laughs)
Jun: For some reason, I have this chemistry with him. Sabi ko Chair… In fact, sabi niya, Jun, ikaw na mag-referee bukas ha. Sabi niya, I want you to be there. Ikaw na mag-referee, ikaw na magsabi kung papaano. Sige po Sir, ako na ang mag-aano sa ano… (Laughs)
Joey: Well anyway, so that’s where I’m looking at right now. .. ought to get you.. And then, uh, think of a strategy for Ben (Abalos?), and if you need me to back you up, I’ll be there.

Jun: Hey Joey, regarding this Chinese embassy thing. I think I struck a motherload no? I’ll put them in Roxas Boulevard. P*tangina, di ba?
Joey: In the Reformation? (Reclamation)
Jun: No, p*tangina, that’s not prime. We’ll put them in the CCP complex.
Joey: Yup, got it.
Jun: P*tangina. Yeah, that’s, wala.. I can ??? that ??? agreement. (I can swing that gddam deal Pare)
Joey: You mean, owned by the Central Bank?
Jun: Yeah! Can you imagine? P*tangina, same stature as the American embassy, better pa, di ba? The Japanese Embassy is in Roxas Boulevard. The American embassy is there. So p*ta, I just arrived that we put the Chinese embassy right in the midst of it all, di ba?
Joey: Yes, yes, of course. That’s ??? to hear. That’s foresight. (That’s perfect)
Jun: … don’t mention my name. I think he knows me well.
Joey: Gaano kalaki, pare?
Jun: P*tangina, as much as 15 hectares. (Laughs)
Joey: P*tangina. Tapos siguro kumuha rin tayo dun. Pero we need 10 finances. (10 financiers)
Jun: No, no, no, no. P*tangina. I cannot just tell you all the things that I’ve been asked to do. But that one I think, I can ??? for ourselves.
Joey: I’ll talk to the…
Jun: Talk to him right away.

NASASAYO ANG PAGHUSGA, PINOY.

at least I aint...

"Shit...! I'm broke again... Where had all the money gone?!"

Is this a common phrase ringing in your ears? Well, it's time you learn to spare that coin and save.

Common stuff you list to buy on the stores should diminish. Leave only what's extremely needed...

Learn to control those eyes whenever they spot those mouth-watering cakes and ice creams...

List the prices of everything you purchase...

Grab a book whenever the movies strengthens its pull on you...

Sleep whenever you feel like going out...

Try doing something you're supposed to do but isn't very urgent. By the time they are needed, you'll find them done (of course - it certainly does bring loads of relief...)...

Do stuff for the sake of sanitation. Clean your bedroom, the sitting room, and you'll find clean places good spots to think of something to do in...

Now, whenever you would look for something to do and feel like going out and spend, yet again, try to do stuff as listed above. You won't only have something to do, you also saved that cash.