My Daemon, Olyandra

Fruits of being delinquent at work (Sorry, CSO)

WHY I LONG FOR DISMISSAL

I wish I could
bridge this infinite gap
between our worlds,
extend my longing hands
to stroke your very soul,
or distill a thousand memories
from the daydreams in your eyes.

The prison of these humdrum
platitudes would shatter,
if only my voice would carry
across oceans of desire,
and no more will I count
the constellations on your cheeks
in the spaces between breaths,
no more will I love you
from the silence
between sighs.

But the oppressive cadence
of this draconian day
arrests me from whispering
even the phantom of your name,
and the emancipating ring
of the final bell alone can thaw
this glacial oblivion, and span
the universe of eternity
between your seat
and mine.

103009

An Attempt at a New Poem :)

Still up for revision. Here's the first draft.
=========================

A COFFEE POEM
For you, who would never let me drink from your cup,
but who keeps me up nonetheless.

If you must know,
I like drinking my coffee
the way I like loving you.

The very scent of you
wafts like gossamer clouds
charioting the promise
of daylight from a thousand
exotic lands, or the pale
persistence of the languid
morning sun.

My pliant fingers long
to plumb the darkness of
your velvet warmth,
to coax with covetous lips
this Promethean fire
from the underbelly
of your cup.

You rouse me
from this dreamless
sleep with the dark
vigor of your essence,
and I, inundated
by cesspools of obsidian
desire, open my mouth
and imagine how
the inky rivulets of
burning liquid
scald.

If you must know,
I like drinking my coffee
the way I like loving you:

The bittersweet taste
keeps me wide-eyed and
awake, my heart pounding
well into the night,
like cupfuls of you;
like unrequited love.

101409

Random thoughts (no title yet)

Just some random thoughts I put down on paper today; it doesn't have a title yet. Feel free to comment on this latest "experiment".

===
What do you say when a good thing ends,
like the movies we used to watch that
would always make you laugh no matter

how cheesy they were or even when
the main characters would break out
into off-key song,

or a nighttime stroll on a moonlit
night that ends with me tenderly
kissing you on the front porch

of your house while a chorus of crickets
obscures the cacophony of my
wildly thumping heart,

or when the first rays of sunlight filter through
the tiny cracks between the satin curtains
and illuminates your enigmatic face, the part

that you turn to that other man, the one
who screws you from behind and makes you
squeal in that strangely foreign, guttural voice

that obscures the chorus of crickets
around and the cacophony of your
wildly thumping heart,

as he ravages you violently from behind
in grand imitation of movies he likes to watch
that would always make him hard

because the woman in them was a
beguiling bitch who broke the
wildly thumping heart

of this gullible fellow who thought
she would love him if he could just
capture the magic of her laugh,

or bottle the moment when time
stood still for a gentle kiss, or gift her
with the memory of serenity in sleep,

but alas, those things were just
so banal and mundane and crass
for a lady as lovely and foxy as her.

So if you ask me how I am, I really
wouldn't know; I could say I'm fine
but fine is a word I use to lie

when people ask me how my day was, or
how I did in school today, or how I've been
doing since you fed my wildly thumping heart

to the monster of disillusionment. So yes,
I'm doing good and everything is a-okay
and fucking fine now that all I can think about

is if the movie of my life will end with another
nighttime stroll alone or another door shut
to my face, or another morning when

the first rays of sunlight filter through
the tiny cracks between the grimy curtains
to illuminate my sleepless and weeping face,

because all that's left to see in mornings
as beautiful as this is the unfathomable
oppression in picking up the pieces

of your broken promises.



19 July 2009

MY LAST DAY AS CSO MODERATOR (Or: An Epic Tribute!)

Yes, you read that right.

Today, 31 March 2009, is my last official day as moderator of the Council of Student Organizations. As many of you know, my term as CSO Moderator is effective only for one school year, and that school year officially ends today. While I would still want to come back next school year as moderator of this council and part of the OSA, that is a decision that is no longer up to me, but is in the hands of the administration. Thus, I want to spend this blog entry as a tribute of sorts to the people and groups from school who have made this year such an incredible blessing.

1. The OSA TEAM (Sorry Sir JM! I dont have a pic of you T_T)

Sir John: Thank you so much for your unwavering enthusiasm and generosity for the Student Activities Program. I don't think I would have been able to do half of the things that I did this year without your support and constant presence. The conversations we've had and the dreams you've shared with me about our Sanggu boys have inspired me to do my best in my own council. JJ is right--"[the incoming people] don't know what they would be missing". You're one of a kind sir, and I wish you all the best in all your plans for the coming year.

Melvin: For someone who provides all the comic relief during our meetings and night-outs, you definitely helped me keep my sanity this school year. I know we both experienced A LOT of hardships this year, but you continue to amaze me with your steadfastness and determination. Idol kita! At di lang dahil mas gwapo ka sa akin! :))

Sir JM: Super steady ka sir! Thank you for taking time out for the team whenever you can. :)

Ma'am Jenny: I think people will agree with me that you really were everybody's lifesaver this school year. Without you, we would all be lost. Without your help, the OSA would not run as smoothly as it did. I can't imagine the OSA without you and your extreme patience and generosity. Kung wala ka sa OSA, walang secretary na efficient na, maganda pa! I cannot thank you enough!

2. CSO X

You guys served as my family this year, and I don't think one can ask for a more loving, supportive, and funny set of brothers. We were together through high times and during those times when the shit hit the fan, and it's an experience that I would not have traded with anything else. Words fail me in expressing my gratitude to you all.

Ger: Thank you for picking up the slack when I'm not around, and for lending your cool and confident brand of leadership to the Core Group. You handled the council very well this year, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Macky: I would remember you for all the hilarious conversations we've had, as well as for your passion and genuine love for the CSO and the orgs. Thank you so much for spending your last year with us despite your initial misgivings. Thank you for being our culture-bearer.

Wacky: Your efficiency--and your encyclopedic knowledge of movies--never cease to amaze me. I'm looking forward to the coming school year, because I know that under your leadership, CSO will soar to even greater heights. I know you're often hard on yourself, but trust me when I tell you that you are just AMAZING!

Barce: I am so happy that you decided to stay in CSO for the coming school year. You started a good thing this year, and I really hope you'll continue doing good things for the CSO. Thank you for taking initiative and for sticking with us through everything!

R.A.: I know you had so many things going on for you, and I am glad that you were still able to fulfill your role very well despite all these. I appreciate how you tried to do your best for your cluster, and I know you'll continue to be amazing even after HS!

Bien: You never failed to make me laugh in the conversations we've had throughout the year. Thank you so much for trying so hard and for doing such a good job for the Comm Cluster this year. You were a silent worker, but under your care I was confident that things would get done--and you were able to pull everything off!

Quinto: Whatever you say, you were and will always be my own personal Buddha! :P I know you beat yourself up for the things you weren't able to do, but I know how much effort and love and warm fuzzy things you put in your cluster, and for me that's enough. If indeed it is your business to make others happy (as John said), then you should be a bajillionaire by now for all those times when you've made CSO X happy. :)

Mirick: You don't need breeding, contrary to popular belief. That's because you're already excellent just the way you are. Thank you so much for putting in the magis work this year; you truly, truly deserve that award. Coming from the PubCluster myself, I can honestly say that your work and love for the cluster made it such a great year for your cluster members.

Lanz: Thank you so much for always being dependable and present. I really enjoyed our conversations, even if they were not about CSO-related matters. Your presence is so constant that it's become comforting. Come back to the OSA and let's talk about politics and all that jazz!

Mico: I know it's been a rollercoaster ride for you, but I'm happy that you stuck with the job and that you kept at it even during the most difficult and trying times. Your passion, initiative and overall generosity will be sorely missed!

Kage: I know you struggled a lot during the year, but Kage, believe me when I tell you that all your efforts paid off and were not in vain, because I know that you laid such a good foundation for your cluster. Thanks to your quiet intensity and temperance, the cluster was able to execute most of its plans well.

EmJ: What can I say? You provided a refreshing contrast to all the seriousness of the council! Thank you so much for keeping us all sane with your chill attitude, and for working so hard to bringing the cluster closer to living out the CSO thrusts.

Ian: Your work ethic and attitude are so admirable that you put a lot of us to shame. Thank you so much for your willingness, openness, and hard work. Your work made it so much easier for the rest of us to do ours. You still have to teach me how to work my camera when I get it! :))


3. Sanggu 7

Guys of the Eboard, ACO, AthC, FairComm, COMELEC, FreshComm, SophComm, PromComm, BallComm, and Makibaka, YOU ROCK! Thank you for making the Sanggu-HS a well-oiled machine! I'll definitely treasure all the memories we shared this year in all our activities. Special shoutout to all the non-CSO Sanggu guys I've gotten to know and talk to in a special way: John V., Gio, JJ, Sammy, Gab, Dom, John L., Ryan, Kfern, Martin, Sean VDD, Jake, Idem, Adel and Robin. :) Thank you for being one, gigantic, extended family!

4. The AHS English Subject Area



You guys have been SO supportive of me ever since the beginning. I think I had it so much easier this year compared to the other members of the OSA team, because you guys definitely spoiled me with your unfailing support! Thank you for being there for me during those times when I'm frazzled by activities, when I needed someone to talk to, when I wanted someone to eat with, or even when I just needed a quiet place away from the buzz of the world of student activities. I DEFINITELY have NO REGRETS that I chose to be with you guys. A special shoutout to Karen for being my constant cheerleader, for Yey & Ma'am Carol for being my emotional punching bags, for Tine & Jill for all their help, and for Mrs. Chee Kee for always keeping me on my toes (hehehe).


5. CSO 11

I know we've only been together for a few weeks, but seeing your enthusiasm and passion reminds me of all the reasons why I took this job in the first place, and all the great things that students can do for the school. You guys are 13 reasons why I still have hope in the world. I'm looking forward to a great year ahead, whether I'm still part of the CSO or not. :)

6. 4B and 4N
Thank you for bearing with a man's mistakes, and for believing you can learn something from me. You make me remember the reasons why I started teaching in the first place.



So there you have it, boys and girls: six reasons why SY 2008-2009 was such an incredible year. Accepting the position of CSO Moderator was a lot like taking the Red Pill (that's a Matrix reference for those who are uninitiated). Remember Morpheus' line? "You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." In a lot of ways, being CSO Moderator was taking the Red Pill: your eyes open to numerous truths that can only be found in the deepest of rabbit-holes. Many are good and awe-some (in the truest sense of the word), some are bad, institutional, and downright disillusioning, but all of them real. All of them real.

In the end, I realized that this choice that I have made has changed me in ways that are too great for words, equally through the good and the not-so-good experiences. Was it a perfect year? FAR from it. There were times when I wanted to scream, rip out my sideburns, just quit altogether, and tell people to shove their big heads up their asses. However, it is also through these experiences that I realized all the more the values of patience, passion, hard work and generosity. In the end, I'm reminded of these beautiful lines from one of my favorite movies, American Beauty:

"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much; my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry. You will someday."


At the end of the day, it is the beauty of the world, found in the generosity, passion and dedication of students, that restore my hope and faith in the world. Thank you to all who have made one year as CSO Moderator such an amazing experience. Here's to an equally great 2009!

In My Pants (Stolen from Ger since I couldn't resist)

1. Put your music player on "random". Skip songs with not-very interesting titles (such as "Concerto #4 in E minor")

2. List the titles of the first 25 songs to come up.

3. Put "in my pants" after each title.

4. Bold the ones that actually made you laugh.

--------------

1. How To Save A Life in my pants (The Fray) - that would be very interesting!
2. Never Let Her Slip Away in my pants (Bloomfields) - yeah, because that would be uncomfortable lol
3. Manila Girl in my pants (Put3ska) - well, well, well! lol
4. Thunder in my pants (Boys Like Girls) - uhm? haha.
5. Tuloy Pa Rin in my pants (Neocolors)
6. Hips Don't Lie in my pants (Shakira) - malamang! :))
7. Get Dirty in my pants (R. Kelly) - WELL, WELL, WELL haha.
8. I Like It Rough in my pants (Lady Gaga) - ahem lol
9. Kill The Messenger in my pants (Jack's Mannequin)
10. Quit Playin Games in my pants (Backstreet Boys) - see number 2 lol
11. Beloved in my pants (The Working Title) - see Manila Girl lol
12. Always in my pants (Erasure) - doesnt this contradict #13?
13. Nothing Lasts Forever in my pants (Maroon 5) - doesnt this contradict #12?
14. Dirty Little Secret in my pants (All-American Rejects) - hey, there's really none! lol
15. Viva! in my pants (Bond) - hehehe
16. Wish You Were Here in my pants (Incubus) - WELL! haha.
17. Honey in my pants (Mariah Carey) - ahem haha.
18. Dem Jeans in my pants (Chingy) - isnt this redundant?
19. Satisfaction in my pants (Benny Benassi) - woot!
20. With or Without You in my pants (U2)
21. Hinahanap-Hanap Kita in my pants (Rivermaya) - who could be there? lol
22. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For in my pants (U2) - continuation of #21
23. One More Time in my pants (Daft Punk)
24. Counting Blue Cars in my pants (Dishwalla)
25. It's Like That in my pants (Run DMC) - lol yeah.

Supervillain Quiz (from EmJ)

Okay, I answered it because I was procrastinating. So sue me.


Your results:
You are Apocalypse

Apocalypse 83% Dr. Doom 82% Magneto 74% Juggernaut 69% Lex Luthor 67% Catwoman 64% Poison Ivy 63% Riddler 61% Dark Phoenix 60% The Joker 57% Mystique 57% Two-Face 57% Kingpin 57% Green Goblin 53% Mr. Freeze 51% Venom 49%

You believe in survival of the fittest and you believe that you are the fittest.

Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test

A MAGNETIC POEM

I asked my students to come up with a list of words that bring to mind vivid imagery (this is on a lesson on poetry), and they were supposed to write a poem that uses at least seven of these words and which focuses on evoking an image more than anything else. The task is called a "magnetic poem" because just one needs to write a poem using (mostly) the words given, just like how one would form words from magnetic letters stuck on the fridge. This is my take on 4N's list of words (the one for 4B to come in a bit! sorry 4B--your words are just too difficult :P) -- not my best work, but oh well. :|

=============
4N's Word Bank: pink, wet, warm, moist, throbbing, hirsute, slippery, tight, dog, penetrate, thrust, spasm, gyration, squirt, relieve, utopia, come, walrus, Kenyan, blueberry, cheesecake (where they got these words I dont even want to know :\ )

A MAGNETIC POEM
This is what utopia must feel like:
my strong, hirsute arms aching
as this piece of wood penetrates through
this slippery wetness in search of release.

The dog at my feet whimpers dumbly
as my body gyrates in innocent spasms
throbbing for relief, but is imprisoned
in this chore to push and mash and knead.

I hold in my hands this warm, moist something,
sniffing it with the air of a Kenyan inhaling,
for the first time, the curious scent
of a beached walrus.

And with a suddent savage thrust
I packed it into the tightest of spaces,
paying no heed to the clanging protests
of the pots and pans on the kitchentop
where I had been standing by.

I lay down my handiwork
into the raging embrace of the fire,
and I step back, spent but proud at
having completed these sacred rituals
even as waves of salty sweat
cascade down my smooth back,
because nothing, not even sex,
can be better than the forgotten art
of baking cheesecake dough.

HAMSFIL at NADSFIL?

Aminado ako: hindi ako magaling sa Filipino. Pero sadya siguro akong naburyong sa klase ko kaninang hapon kaya napasulat ako ng mga tula. Tuwing sabado ang klase kong ito, mula alas tres hanggang alas sais ng hapon. Habang dumadakdak ang mga kaklase kong hindi naman yata naintidihan ang pinabasa ng guro naming hindi naman yata nabasa ang mga pinabasa niya sa amin, lumilipad ang utak ko sa lugar na walang contrastive rhetoric, field-dependent approach, at cross-cultural communication.Pagpasensyahan nyo na ang aking mga subok sa paggawa ng tanaga--hindi ako makata!


HABANG NAKABILANGGO SA KLASE NI GNG. _____
(Tatlong tanaga)

1.
Nasa'n ang talinghaga
sa pang-aalipusta
ng alibughang dala
ng kulungan ng wika?

2.
Salitang bumubuhos
'di makatagos-tagos
sa damdaming ginapos
nitong hanging malamyos.

3.
Mabuti pa ang ipis
na walis ang lumitis
'di kailangang magtiis
sa gurong walang bangis.

New Year Greetings!

A little nugget of wisdom paraphrased from Bob Ong, which I think is quite fitting for the New Year's celebration:

"Ang buhay ay hindi multiple choice, identification, o true or false na sinasagutan, kundi essay na isinusulat araw araw. Huhusgahan ito hindi kung tama o mali ang sagot, kundi kung may kabuluhan ang isinulat o wala. Allowed ang erasures!"

And this is what 2008 comes down to, and what 2009 awaits us: sana'y gawin niyong makabuluhan ang sagot niyo sa essay mo ngayong 2009! Happy new year everyone! :)

Out with the Old, In with 2009! (Or: A 2008 Meme!)

In the spirit of the imminent new year, let me ride on the 2008 bandwagon! I encourage everyone to try and answer the same survey because I'm such a gossipy bastard I sincerely want to know how your 2008 went, hehe. Bear with the questions and my responses; there will be shout-outs along the way!

1. Was 2008 good for you? Yes, yes, yes! This year has been so full of blessings and I'm really grateful for all of them!

2. What was your favorite moment of the year? It's hard to choose just one. It's not technically a "moment", but I'd have to say the times I spent with CSO would be the best :D

3. What was your worst moment of the year? Hmm, again, still not a moment. It's actually currently ongoing: agonizing over "that" decision that I will eventually have to make.

4. Where were you when 2008 began? At home. Being vain with family. Oh, and stuffing my mouth full of food and beer.

5. Who were you with? My siblings, titas, and cousins. My parents were out of the country at the time.

6. Where will you be when 2008 ends? See #5. I'm a creature of habit.

7. Did you keep your New Year's resolution of 2008? You mean "to continue being the hot sexy beast that I am"? Of course I did.

8. Do you have a New Year's resolution for 2009? Yes, a few actually: Be open, fall in love (not necessarily romantically), and save some freakin' money! I want to learn to say St. Francis de Sales' prayer: "Yes, Father! Yes, and always, Yes!"

9. Did you fall in love in 2008? With CSO, 4B, and 4N, yes. :P

10. If yes, with who? With 92 of the most fascinating people you'll ever get to meet. Does that make me a slut? Haha.

11. Are you still in love? You mean do I have that warm, fuzzy feeling inside? :P

12. Did you breakup with anyone in 2008? With McDonalds Katipunan, yes. I broke up with her to start a steamy, clandestine, strictly after work-only affair with Jollibee. McDo closed herself off from the world, got a total makeover like any scorned woman would, and now that she's sexy again, I want her back like any stupid bastard would. Alas, now I have to fall in line.

13. Did you make any new friends in 2008? Yes: Sanggu guys and the OSA Team! Special shoutout to Sir John Lauron, Melvin Apo, Sir JM Pilares, and of course, Ma'am Jenny!

14. Did you travel outside your home country in 2008? Nope.

15. Did you miss anybody this year? A lot of people! My parents, who have yet to come home, and my Pol Sci friends, many of whom I haven't seen in a VERY long time. (Yes, that's you, Dang and Pia!)

16. What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2008? Sadly, I didn't get to watch a lot of movies this year, mostly because of my uber-hectic schedule. Of those that came out in 2008 that I saw, I liked Kung Fu Panda the best, I guess. Simple pero profound! Haha. I also saw some old movies for the first time this year, and I'd like to thank Reggie Perez for introducing me to View Askewniverse! Chasing Amy and Mallrats are <3!

17. What was your favorite song from 2008? 

This is tough! I'd say Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours"---"And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved!" Gotta love that line!

18. How many concerts or plays did you see in 2008? I've been to a few TA, Sibol and TBT plays, and a couple of Big Fish events (Chicane and Armin van Buuren). That's about it.

19. Did you have a favorite concert in 2008? Armin's was FUN! Right, Trix and Iz? :P

20. What was your favorite book in 2008? I read "Twilight" but didn't really like it. I read J.D. Salinger's "Franny and Zooey" for the first time this year, and needless to say, I loved it!

22. How many people did you sleep with in 2008? Wouldn't you want to know?

23. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Not that I can think of.

24. What was the biggest lie you told in 2008? Can't think of one. Not that I'd tell you anyway.

25. Did you treat somebody badly in 2008? Not intentionally, if ever it happened.

26. Did somebody treat you badly in 2008? Nothing big that I can think of.

27. What was your proudest moment of 2008? Any Sanggu (and especially CSO!) activity is a moment of pride! I'd say the one that stands out the most would be the Org Fair: Armed and R.E.A.D.Y.!

28. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008? Something that involves THAT cellphone video featuring me doing the nasty with..... Oh wait, that wasn't me. Haha.

29. If you could go back to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be? No regrets here. Everything is (should be?) a learning experience.

30. Where did you work in 2008? Same place I've worked since 2005: Ateneo High! And hopefully (crossing my fingers and praying to the high heavens), I'll still be here next school year.

31. Favorite TV shows(s) of 2008? I'm not really a big TV person, but I guess Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl and Ellen make the cut.

32. Favorite Band(s) of 2008? I don't know. I'm pretty out of touch with the more mainstream stuff.

33. Favorite Food in 2008? Aling Lourdes'? HAHA.

34. Favorite Drink in 2008? Good ol' Starbucks Americano, with no hint of sugar or cream.

35. Favorite Place in 2008?

 Uhm, OSA? Haha.

36. Favorite person(s) to be with in 2008 aside from family? CSO and Sanggu, 4B, 4N, OSA Team!

37. Favorite person(s) to talk to in 2008? A lot! Sir John and Melvin for sure! CSO guys, especially those who are sukis in my cubicle, namely Mico Ignacio, Kage Ednalino, and Ger Villanueva. Non-CSO people who are also sukis in my cubicle, especially John Valdes for our heart to hearts, Third Fernandez and the Blue Book guys for my weekly dose of AHS chismis news, late night OSA and Azul buddies Lanz Paningbatan and Ryan Madrid, Ma'am Sylvs for all those Starbucks checking marathons, Karen and Yey of the English Dep't for being my emotional punching bags (hehe).

38. Hardest thing you had to go through in 2008? I'm still doing it, actually. Waiting, and trying to find peace of mind about this thing concerning my family.

39. Most exciting moment(s) in 2008? CSO and Sanggu Activities, especially Org Fair, the Cluster Nights, Cluster projects like Serye Kabataan, Kids@Work, the Sanggu Christmas dance. :)

40. Funniest moment(s) in 2008? Basta nandun si Sir John at tumatawa sya, funny na rin yun. Haha.

41. A valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Choose Saying "Yes!" is very difficult, but many times, that's all it takes for one to experience a world of reward, beauty, and love.

Em-J's Retarded Test :P (i'm 43% retarded lol)

Got this from emj. lol. sabaw.

[x] You have yelled at an inanimate object for 'hurting' you.

[x ] You have ran into a glass/screen door.

[x ] You have jumped out of a moving vehicle.

[x] You have thought of something funny and laughed, then people gave you weird looks.

[ ] You have run into a tree/bush.

[ ] You have been called a blond.

[ ] You know that it IS possible to lick your elbow.

[ ] You just tried to lick your elbow.

[ ] You never knew that the Alphabet and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same rhythm.

[ ] You sang them to make sure.

[x] You have tripped on your own feet and fallen.

[ ] You have choked on your own spit.

So far: 5

[ ] You have seen the Matrix/Star Wars and still don't get it.

[ ] You type with three fingers or less.

[ ] You have accidentally caught something on fire.

[ x ] You have caught yourself drooling.

So far: 6

[x] You have fallen asleep in class.

[ ] Sometimes you just stop thinking.

[x] Sometimes when you are telling a story you forget what you were talking about.

[ ] People often shake their heads and walk away from you.

[ ] You are often told to use your "inside voice."

So far: 8

[ ] You use your fingers to do simple math.

[x] You have eaten a bug by accident.

[x] You are taking this test when you should be doing something more important.

[x] You have put your clothes on backwards or inside out, and didn't realize it.

[x] You've looked all over for something and realized it was in your hand/pocket the whole time.

So far: 12

[ ] You re-post bulletins because you are scared that what they say will happen to you if you don't.

[x] You break/lose a lot of things.

[x] You tilt you're head when you're confused.

[ ] You have fallen out of your chair before.

[x] When you're lying in bed, you try to find pictures in the texture on the ceiling.

[ ] The word "um" is used many times a day.

[ ] You don't know what "um" means.

[ ] You say "what" and "huh" a lot.

[ ] You used a calculator to multiply your score for this bulletin.

So far: 15

[ ] Stole this but didn't leave a comment.

Never walk alone on the sidewalks of Fr. Masterson drive.

Never walk alone on the sidewalks of Fr. Masterson drive, when the chilly December zephyr is blowing against your flushed cheeks and the remaining leaves of the fire trees, now dormant and waiting for the next radiant summer morning before they burn again, are being buffeted to and fro by the biting wind.

Never walk alone on the sidewalks of Fr. Masterson drive, when the dying rays of this too-long day are filtering through the spidery branches of the somber, secretive trees, and the promise of a new dawn is withheld by the cruel hand of a moonless night.

Never walk alone on the sidewalks of Fr. Masterson drive, when the only thing that illuminates your darkest night is the resplendent fluoresence of a thousand artifical lights, casting shadows on people walking hand in hand, whose every happy squeak and twitter is a vulgar travesty that mocks your own silent little world.

Never walk alone on the sidewalks of Fr. Masterson drive, period. It's emotional suicide.

Trust me. I died a little today.

BAD FILIPINO TRANSLATIONS OF FOREIGN MOVIE TITLES

Sorry, can't resist reposting this. :))

====================================================================

Contributor: Jun Anteola
Website/Blog: http://junanteola.wordpress.com

Black Hawk Down	Ibong Maitim sa Ibaba
Dead Man’s Chest	Dodo Ng Patay
I Know What You Did Last Summer	Uyy…! Aminin!
Love, Actually	Sa Totoo Lang, Pag-Ibig
Million Dollar Baby	50 Million Pisong Sanggol (depende sa current exchange rate ng Pilipinas)
The Blair Witch Project	Ang Proyekto ng Bruhang Si Blair
Mary Poppins	Si Mariang May Putok
Snakes On A Plane	Nag-Ahasan Sa Ere
The Postman Always Rings Twice	Ang Kartero Kapag Dumutdot Laging Dalawang Beses
Sum of All Fears	Takot Mo, Takot Ko, Takot Nating Lahat
Swordfish	Talakitok
Pretty Woman	Ganda Ng Lola Mo
Robin Hood, Men In Tights	Si Robin Hood at ang mga Felix Bakat
Four Weddings and A Funeral	Kahit Apat na Beses Ka Pang Magpakasal, Mamamatay Ka Rin
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly	Ako, Ikaw, Kayong Lahat
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone	Adik Si Harry, Tumira ng Shabu
Click	Isang Pindot Ka Lang
Brokeback Mountain	May Nawasak Sa Likod ng Bundok ng Tralala
The Day of the Death	Ayaw Tumayo (Ng Mga Patay)
Waterworld	Basang-Basa
There’s Something About Mary	May Kwan Sa Ano Ni Maria
Employee of the Month	Ang Sipsip
Resident Evil	Ang Biyenan
Kill Bill	Kilitiin sa Bilbil
The Grudge	Lintik Lang Ang Walang Ganti
Nightmare Before Christmas	Binangungot Sa Noche Buena
Annie Hall	Ang Butas Ni Annie
Never Been Kissed	Pangit Kasi
Gone In 60 Seconds	1 Round, Tulog
The Fast and the Furious	Ang Bitin, Galit
Too Fast, Too Furious	Kapag Sobrang Bitin, Sobrang Galit
Dude, Where’s My Car?	Dong, Anong Level Ulit Tayo Nag-Park?
Beauty and the Beast	Ang Asawa Ko at Ang Nanay Niya
The Lord of the Rings	Ang Alahero

IS MAGNANIMITY DEAD, AND WITH IT THE ATENEAN?

Hi guys! This is a rather long rant that I wrote after yesterday's Military Mass at the Ateneo High School. As you know, our patron saint is Ignatius of Loyola, who was a soldier prior to being the first Jesuit. Incidentally, he is also the patron saint of soldiers. Every year, we celebrate his feast day with a Military Mass, complete with a silent drill from the AHS Honor Guards, and with the rest of the AHS Senior Cadets standing at attention for the duration of the mass. This is in response to an incident I observed during the mass about the students who are deferred from CAT, either because they are varsity athletes or student leaders. Read on, and forgive me for the length of the post.

========================
IS MAGNANIMITY DEAD, AND WITH IT THE ATENEAN?

In the homily for today’s Military Mass, Fr. Nono Alfonso talked about how Jesus asks the question “Who do you think I am?”, but not in a vain attempt to know what his apostles thought of him. With that brief yet profound question Jesus sought to confront his apostles with the most important issue that they would ever face in their service to Him, and how they respond would determine not only what their values and lifestyle would be, but also their destiny as followers in Christ’s service.

Everyday and in various ways, we too are asked the same question. The question “Who do we say Jesus is?” may perhaps be (rightly or wrongly) transposed with the question “Who do we say Ignatius is?”—Ignatius being a man who strove with all his heart and soul to be like Christ—and in turn may consequently be transposed (again, rightly or wrongly) to the question “Who do we say an Atenean is?”, the Atenean being the beneficiary of the Ignatian tradition of education and spirituality.

I would imagine that the Atenean and consequently the Ignatian answer, wrought in fancy sticker paper and splashed across the front side of the podium in each classroom, is not just to live like a man who exemplifies the 5Cs—Christ-centeredness, commitment, compassion, character, and conscience—but precisely to be a man who exemplifies all these with magnanimity. The word magnanimity comes from two Latin roots: magna, which means great, and animo, which means spirit. Thus, coupled with Ignatius’ fiery passion to serve, as well as his chivalry of character brought about by his experience as a steadfast soldier, the Atenean has much to live up to in terms of greatness of spirit, in serving others humbly inasmuch as in serving God faithfully.

Thus, it was to my utter dismay that during the Military Mass, I saw these ideals crumble before my very eyes. As you know, we celebrate the Military Mass with pomp and flourish reminiscent of Ignatius’ soldierly life, not least his gallant act of wanting to keep on fighting despite being hit with a cannonball that crushed his leg, of being generous enough to want to fight and not heed the wounds. Today however, in the faces of those students who were deferred from CAT and who were thus comfortably seated during the whole affair, enjoying the cool morning breeze while they were slouched in their chairs, I saw neither gallantry nor generosity.

Instead, I saw malice as I saw them make fun of their classmates and batch mates who had to endure more than two hours of standing upright just because they had to. I saw insensitivity as they doubled over in their seats at the numerous students who had to fall out of their flights, buoyed with simultaneous fits of nausea and dehydration. I saw arrogance as they act conceitedly towards the persons in authority, knowing that whatever CAT training they will have they will only have to undergo for one week during their summer vacation—and with Airsoft sessions to boot. And then I saw hypocrisy as they stood up and sang their Hallelujahs at the top of their lungs. They were, after all, still in mass.

Whatever happened to conscience? To character? To compassion? Where is the greatness of spirit that Ignatius and the Atenean are supposed to be known for? And perhaps the most disturbing question of all: why does it have to be the athletes and the student-leaders?

When Ignatius’ leg was broken, the pain must have been excruciating. However, it was through this haze of excruciating pain that Ignatius underwent his conversion from being a vainglorious courtier to a deeply spiritual person. I’m afraid I’m not quite as holy as Ignatius. I caught myself mid-thought wondering how these students would feel if instead of slouching on their chairs, they were the ones who had to stand up for two hours. I caught myself thinking how they would feel if they fell on the ground, overpowered by fits of fatigue and nausea. Pardon my morbidity, but would they still be laughing, if like Ignatius, it was their legs which were shattered beyond repair, along with a lifetime’s worth of dreams for the normalcy of a healthy life?

And yet it is true that God works in mysterious ways, and He does meet us where we are. In my moment of anguished disorbitation, God reminded me why I took the position of being CSO Moderator, and why after four years, I am still here teaching Hamlet and Catcher in the Rye in the Ateneo. They showed a video clip of two Sanggu-related events during the mass, the first one being the voluntary immersion in the Aeta community in Tarlac, followed by the human chain for the Typhoon Frank relief operations. Here I saw the true Atenean and the fulfillment of Ignatius’ conversion and mission, which is to have a great desire to help others not for glory or honor, and not even because it will lead him to God, but because at the end of the day, it is the right thing to do. And when I see how these student-leaders embody this compassionate commitment to their fellowmen, I see the true Atenean: humble in labor, hard at work, generous in love, great in spirit.

How does one then begin to answer the question “Who do you think Jesus is?” Perhaps Hoot from the movie Black Hawk Down puts it best when he says, “They won’t understand why we do it. They won’t understand that it’s about the man next to you, and that’s it. That’s all it is.” I’d like to think that Ignatius the soldier would understand these words perfectly, perhaps to an even deeper degree than any of us could, precisely because in war, the only person one can turn to is a comrade. Perhaps that is the mystery of being a man-for-others: that above all, Ignatian spirituality is about service to others inasmuch as it is about service to God, because if you think about it, God and the Other are inseparable. If we can live to be comrades-for-others in the magnanimous way that Ignatius did, then maybe we can also begin to understand veteran soldier Mark Ranney’s response to his grandson’s question “Grandpa, were you a hero in the war”. His reply? “No, but I served in a company of heroes”.

8 Questions I Answered Out of Boredom - Tagged by John Cruz :P

THE RULES

People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves. Tag 8 people. Those who are tagged cannot refuse.These 8 people must state who they were tagged by. You cannot tag the person who tagged you. Continue this game by sending this to 8 other people.

Questions:

1. If you could meet someone in person who would it be?

off the top of my head, i'd say Gabriel Marcel OR Paul Ricoeur for making a profound influence on my personal philosophy in life. Oh, and Chicane too, if I can :))

2. Have you ever fallen in love?

Yes, and had my fishbowl broken too. :|


3. Are you inlove right now?

With life, I guess. And my profession. :)


4. How does it feel to be in love?

I dont think it can be captured more poignantly than my Philo teacher's words:

Awit Kay Ana
Eduardo Jose E. Calasanz

Walang ginagawa ang mga bituin
Kundi pagmasdan ang mga mangingibig.

Isang gabi, kapag ikaw ay umiibig,
Tumingala ka sa mga bituin.
Malasin mo ang kanilang ningning,
Ligaya mo’y sinasalamin.

Mabait ang mga bituin.
Sa mga mangingibig
Isa lamang ang hiling:
Umibig, umibig at umibig
Nang may magawa ang mga bituin.

Walang ginagawa ang mga bituin
Kundi pagmasdan ang mga mangingibig.

Isang gabi, kung masawi ka sa pag-ibig
Tumingala kang muli sa sa mga bituin;
Pati liwanag, nagiging dilim
At tamis ng puso’y dahan-dahang umaasim.

Malupit ang mga bituin.
Sa mga bigo sa pag-ibig
Labis ang hinihiling:
Umibig, umibig at umibig pa rin,
Nang may magawa ang mga bituin.

5. Had any chocolates today?

Nope. Less calories, hooray!


6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Anywhere which is not as humid as Manila!


7. What is the best thing that happened to you today?

I finished checking 4 sets of seatwork, homework and quizzes :P

8. What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Pogi! Or at least, pa-cute! Haha. He's talented to boot. I actually miss john and his ever pun-ny sentences that use the Words of the Day :)). Gawd, those were the days.


I tag the following people:

Gerard, Ma'am Carol, Quinto, Mik, Trixie, PJ Padilla, Katz, and Barnie :P

What My Name Means

Got this from Mel and Yuri. It's actually quite interesting! My comments on the points to follow :P

====================
SOURCE: http://www.paulsadowski.com/NameData.asp

You entered: Christian Jay Tabaosares Ylagan

There are 28 letters in your name.
Those 28 letters total to 109
There are 11 vowels and 17 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:

Latin	Male	From Christianus meaning Christian. Famous bearer: Christian was the hero of John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress'.
Latin	Female	From 'Christianus' meaning Christian. Variant of Christiana, meaning Follower of Christ.
Irish	Female	Servant of Christ.
Greek	Male	Christian.
Greek	Female	Christian. Follower of Christ.
English	Male	Follower of Christ.
English	Female	Variant of Christiana. Follower of Christ.
Danish	Male	Believes in Christ.

Your number is: 1

The characteristics of #1 are: Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.

The expression or destiny for #1:
A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.

Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.

The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 9

A Soul Urge number of 9 means:
With a 9 Soul Urge, you want to give to others, usually in a humanitarian or philanthropic manner. You are highly motivated to give friendship, affection and love. And you are generous in giving of your knowledge and experience. You have very sharing urges, and you are likely to have a great deal to share. Your concern for others makes you a very sympathetic and generous person with a sensitive and compassionate nature.

You are able to view life in very broad and intuitive terms. You often express high ideals and an inspirational approach to life. If you are able to fully realize the potential of your motivation, you will be a very self-sacrificing person who is able to give freely without being concerned about any return or reward.

As with all human beings, you are prone to sometimes express the negative attitudes inherent to your Soul Urges. You may become too sensitive and tend to express emotions strongly at times. There can be significant conflict between higher aims and personal ambitions. You may resent the idea of giving all of the time and, in fact, if there is too much 9 energy in your nature you may reject the idea. You may often be disappointed in the lack of perfection in yourself and others.

Your Inner Dream number is: 1

An Inner Dream number of 1 means:
You dream of being a leader and one who is in charge. You want to be known for your courage, daring, and original ideas. You seek unconquered heights. People may get a first impression that you are very aggressive and sure of yourself.

The Perils of the PBB Phenomenon (Or: The Exhibitionism of Our Age)

In light of the recent turn of events wherein yet another Atenean (gasp!) has been asked to stay in Kuya's house, I am reposting this article that I wrote some while back about the first PBB Teen Edition. I decided not to make any revisions because I believe it's more or less the same banana all over again--albeit with the inclusion of a differently-abled girl, an uncircumcised Italian (?), and the playing up of the Ateneo-La Salle "rivalry" (another gasp!). Let it be known that I do not know Robi; he has never been my student, and it is not my intention to judge him or any of the other contestants in the competition. In this article, my primary contention is about the greater implication that a show like PBB: Teen Edition has on society. If you have had the patience to read through the article, please feel free to leave any comments about what I have said. I will try to respond to thought-provoking insights, rather than quell petty diatribes from fanatical supporters of the contestants. My purpose is to inspire discussion, nothing more. So, without further ado, let me repost this article:

============================
The Perils of the PBB Phenomenon

The crowd gives a deafening cheer and a rousing standing ovation as six pairs of young men and women come out from the back part of a platform illuminated by a thousand glittering lights, clad in matching biker outfits of mauve, cerulean and gold—all bright colors that signify youth and vitality—each one ready to claim all the glory in the world from the center of the stage, as it were. Undulating awkwardly to the beat of a popular melody which has become the cultural catchphrase of an entire generation, the twelve wear smiles worthy of toothpaste endorsements as they bask in the adulation of people who unwittingly feed their egos. Riding in brand-new, gleaming motorcycles, the twelve part the motley sea of curious onlookers, supporters and followers as they travel to the place they will call home for the next forty-two days, in hopes of forging new friendships, finding true love, and (if they're lucky) winning one million pesos.

Such was the scene in the opening of ABS-CBN's latest installment of the (debatably) popular TV franchise, Pinoy Big Brother. Now sporting "Teen Edition" as its oh-so-creative kicker, the show intends to pit twelve (wonder of wonders) teenage boys and girls in dangerously close quarters for a prize package worth at least one million pesos, sans all the fringe benefits of appearing on such a show (read: endorsements, TV hosting gigs, modeling stints, having your own love team, you name it). And while I have never been a big fan of the series ever since it was adapted to suit the Filipino palate, I can say in my own humble opinion as an average member of the viewing public that I have had enough, and that this particular incarnation of the show flat-out stinks.

First of all, let me concede that it is hard to be objective while watching a reality TV series as Pinoy Big Brother. The temptation of seeing images of our own repressed, savage psyche subjected to cleverly concocted and well-executed dilemmas captured on camera is just so terrible that it's become fascinating. I know we sometimes catch ourselves doing a reflexive uptake as we see ourselves in the entangled lives of Zanjo, Bianca, Sam and Rustom, and we sometimes even feel self-righteous over these characters in some kind of bizarre, vindictive Schadenfraude. That being said, however, I feel that shows like PBB perpetuate the voyeuristic tendencies of the Filipino culture; an acculturation that has somehow justified (and indeed, validated!) our "need" to fork over each other's dirty laundry. In short, it breeds a culture of chismis, an act that the average Filipino has gotten around to accepting so long as it's not being done to him. Political Science professors would tell you that politics exists anywhere there is human interaction, but Kuya's household, being a "carefully controlled" environment where majority of external stimuli is eradicated, seems more like a cruel, if accurate, Pavlovian experiment. The reality factor of PBB is different from the reality factor of say, the Amazing Race, because while both provide contrived situations that "test" each contestant, the manner by which the Amazing Race elicits our empathy and attention is on how each pair overcomes such contrivances. PBB does just the opposite, capturing our attention by tastelessly focusing on how people get stuck in their respective ruts and spiraling down towards depression or self-destruction, as was the case with certain PBB contestants. If the Amazing Race is a display of humans' triumph against adversity, PBB glories in the wallowing of people in the said adversities. Some people may argue that PBB eventually seeks the same ideal as displaying man's glory in the face of adversity since it offers a prize at the end, but such a justification overlooks the fact that the means to get to the prize is by playing up the wrenching human (more often "romantic") problems while inside the house to elicit viewer sympathy, and consequently, gather enough votes to muscle your way to the prize money.

Unfortunately, PBB: Teen Edition is no different from the previous installments of the show in this aspect. The concept is actually identical to the first two shows, with the only difference being that the players this time around are teenagers. I find trouble with this particular incarnation of the show on two counts.

First, I find it particularly disturbing that the portrayal of the youth in the show is highly one-dimensional and stylized. The show claims to gather together contestants from all walks of life, when in reality the difference among the contestants is largely geographical -- and even that doesn't count for much because some of the contestants live within one hour of each other. You may claim to have individuals of "unique and explosive personalities", but in truth, PBB is a show about the bourgeois by the bourgeois. PBB glosses over the other 95% of the teenage population who do not fit into the show's neat little categorizations as "the Teenage Mother from Laguna" or "the AmBoy from GenSan" or (gasp!) "the Atenean Scholar from Quezon City." Why don't we have "the Out of School Youth from Tondo" or "the Juvenile Delinquent from Subic" or "the Child Laborer from Payatas"? While I have nothing against people from the middle- to the upper-class, it is a crime for PBB: Teen Edition to consciously skim over these kinds of people in favor of those who are exponentially beautiful or glamorous. At least PBB: Celebrity Edition gave a fighting chance to the physically challenged and the virtual unknowns—the Teen Edition doesn't seem to be so inclusive. Maybe it is not so much the fault of the contestants as it is the network's, which as a primarily profit-oriented company needs to turn a blind eye to the less appealing but admittedly more real fringes of society in order to justify its capitalist roots, where the marginalized people are reduced to voting fanatically for the person that they want to win. Also to blame is the screwed-up portrayal by media of what is acceptable or not. In an age where myths and fallacies of beauty and fame and wealth are so prevalent, we become nothing but passive receptors of manufactured principles. It becomes doubly aggravating to watch the show and its contestants perpetuate its own feeble version of reality in such precocious and cutesy tasks as looking for a Miniature Schnauzer named "Disney" in a pile of exotic canines amid screams of "It's gonna make kagat na!" or "Paano ko siya iki-carry?" And what's next? Do we also expect the teens to flirt, fall in love, engage in catfights ("I don't like Back Fighters na tao…"), and the like? Even worse, do we expect to derive amusement from such instances?

Second and picking off from the first point, the show undoubtedly plays with the volatility of teenage emotions. While it is true (and some WILL claim this) that a lot of our teenagers today are mature and independent for their age, still a great number of them have yet to fully form a well-developed sense of self and being. Many teenagers still have difficulty reining in their feelings, thoughts and emotions in a manner that will withstand the strong pressure of a society that dictates what they should and should not do or be. This is not to say that the youth are gullible—far from it—but my fear is that with the way media plays up the ideals of our age, their convictions may not develop in a positive way, or at least not in a way that will be beneficial in the long run. As some internet forums have noted, these teenagers will not do anything except magpa-cute, amid a context of sustained societal pressure in terms of how they should look, how they should act, and what they should do. These teenagers will begin to realize (if they haven't already) that in order to win, one must play it cool or go with what the public wants. The consequence of not doing so would, of course, mean only one thing: eviction. If we continually foster this culture of voyeuristic familiarity and contrived socialization, what kind of future are we building for ourselves and for the next generation? The concept is made more terrifying when we realize that it is not just our own dirty laundry that we are airing out in public, but our children's. In a way, we have prostituted the youth when we find a perverse sense of entertainment in watching how they operate in a Trumanesque setting, especially if we expect the same things to happen as did in the previous PBB shows.

As a teacher of teenagers, I take particular offense at the gross oversimplification of the adolescent life depicted in PBB: Teen Edition. If I have learned anything as a teacher, it is to believe unconditionally in the great potential of each student, and to actively refuse to box them under convenient but imprecise labels. Society should know better than to try to have an assimilated understanding of adolescents, much more impose its own pre-conceived yet faulty notions of what reality should be. We continually whine about our frustrated efforts of searching for the leaders of tomorrow, but who should we blame for a culture of mediocrity, elitism and immaturity but ourselves? If it is true that we can't teach old dogs new tricks, then let our generation perish in our self-induced spiraling towards self-destruction. But for the love of God, spare the youth from this madness. Instead, if we want to see how savage human nature can be, I'm all for putting politicians—Administration, Opposition, their puppets, and everything else in between—inside Kuya's house. That should prove to be an interesting sleaze fest if I ever see one. Just don’t make the winner the next President.

7 Things You May Or May Not Know About Me PART II

I got tagged by Vira, the birthday girl! Because I've answered a similar survey before, I'll give you 7 other things you may or may not know about me :P

1. I was a Political Science major in college. I initially applied to teach AP in the AHS, but since there was no opening then in the department, I was recommended to talk to the English Chairperson (Carol, back then) and apply there. And here I am, happy with that serendipitous event :P

2. I have a Philosophy Minor from college. This means that on top of my Pol Sci classes, I took additional classes to earn a minor degree. I took 6 different Philo classes, and 5 of them were taught and tested in straight Filipino. I actually enjoyed these classes better than many of my majors, and I got considerably higher grades in them.

3. According to an astrologer friend of mine, I actually have 2 zodiac signs: Pisces and Aries. This is because my time of birth falls within what she calls an "astrological cusp"--the transition period from Pisces (March 20) and Aries (March 21). Is the reason why I seem schizophrenic? :))

4. I can tie cherry stems with my tongue. 'Nuff said haha.

5. I was extremely overweight when I was young, hehe. You wont find a picture of me before 12--unless you raid my parent's super duper secret stash. Haha.

6. I only spent around ten/eleven hours each in finishing Harry Potters 5, 6, and 7.

7. I read the dictionary for fun.

Tags: i'll tag the last few people whom I spoke with or whose Multiply accounts I viewed: Vince R., PJ P., Jeric T., Allan A., Philip L., and Andro U.

Finally, someone who has some sense!

Just had to post this, if only to reiterate my annoyance at frustration at the whole  hero-fication of Lozada, as well as the glorification of the Senate-instituted telenovela-slash-circus that is the ZTE investigation. 

========

WHY I WILL NOT SUPPORT CALLS FOR RESIGNATION

By Fr. Ranhilio Callangan Aquino, Dean, Graduate School of Law, San Beda College (Mendiola)

I AM not an apologist for President Arroyo. I have received no favors from her. I believe that she is a competent president and I also believe in the Rule of Law, no matter that the law may, in several respects, be infirm. And by the precepts of the Rule of Law to which I adhere, pressuring the President into resigning by swaying public opinion away from her and alienating the allegiance of the military is anathema. My own reflections on the moral dimensions of the problems confirm me in the legal position I have so far taken.

1. I have followed with keen attention the proceedings in the Senate. Joey de Venecia’s testimony clearly implicates the First Gentleman. Under the current legal doctrine of individual responsibility, there is no justification to impute to the President whatever wrong-doings the First Gentleman may be guilty of. I am not yet conceding that he is guilty.

2. The testimony of Lozada, while rich in many details, contains not a single incriminatory statement against the President. There are innuendos that the deal was known to , if not brokered, by some Malacañang personalities, but innuendo is never evidence, and when we take so a serious move as urging the people to press for the resignation of the President, such a call must, by all moral precepts, rest on moral certitude!

3. Much of the testimony of Lozada in the Senate would fail the test of judicial admissibility. The Senate does not adhere to the Rules of Evidence. It is not required to because its task is not judicial.

4. The Senators are not the impartial investigators and judges that judicial proceedings call for. Most of the Senators are  political adversaries of PGMA. The witness answers as he is led by the questions. In court, most o these questions are characterized as “leading,”  and are disallowed in direct examinations because they lead the witness to the kind of answer the proponent of the question—in this case, the senators—wish to elicit from the witness.

5. Section 15 (1) of Republic Act 6770 vests in the Ombudsman the power to investigate “any public officer of employee, office or agency” when an act or omission  complained of appears to be illegal or even merely improper. I do not read, nor is there reason to read, the exclusion of the President from the power of the Ombudsman to investigate. Section 22 is in fact express about its power to investigate impeachable officials. I would like to hear the Ombudsman tell us whether or not there is probable cause in the first place because this, the Senate of its own cannot determine, nor does it possess the power to do so!

6. What shocks me is the irresponsibility with which a lawyer and a Senator of the Republic should prejudice the Ombudsman and dissuade the public from lending credence to the Ombudsman. Why should he? The reason is not too difficult to fathom: Since this particular senator has always wanted the President ousted, he wants public attention focused on the Senate, majority of whose members are having a heyday with the investigations at which they get the chance to bash the President. Proceedings before the Ombudsman should be more sedate, more orderly, more rational.

7. The contention that the Ombudsman and the DOJ Secretary cannot conduct credible investigations because they are presidential appointees is specious! Were that so, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the associate justices of the High Court, the justices of all superior courts, judges of courts, members of the Constitutional Commissions—all would lack credibility because all are presidential appointees. Is it then our sad fate in this blighted Republic that only the Senators are to be trusted? All the clowning that has taken place in the Senate thus far convinces me otherwise: That it is one of the least credible institutions in this country.

8. Is it really the truth we seek? I have the sickening feeling that the President’s foes have already decided what the “truth” is—that she is guilty. If the Ombudsman were to find no probable cause against the President nor reason to indict the President in the Lower House (that is tasked with filing the articles of impeachment) after a thorough investigation, would the members of the opposition and the media be willing to accept this as “true”? I have my serious doubts. But that is exactly the trouble: If they have decided before hand what “true” is, then all investigations are unavailing.

9. When one protests his earnestness in search of the truth and at the same time presses for the resignation of the President, one is guilty of a “performative contradiction.” If you search for the truth, you do not yet know whether or not she is guilty. But if you do not know this yet, what reason is there to ask her to resign?

10. Asking for the President’s resignation gives now the military the signal to shift allegiances: From following the chain of command to breaking it. I find pathetic and ludicrous Jose Ma. Sison’s call to the military to shift allegiances.

11. When did all these coup attempts disruptive of civil government start? They all started with the politicization of the military. While we lauded their role in the first EDSA People Power revolution, we also opened a Pandora’s Box—the ugly prospect of the military dictating upon civilian government and making the latter hostage to it. How shall we ever have a government that truly subjects military authority to civilian rule if we court military support for the ouster of civilian government?

11. The two EDSA People Power exercises we have gone through got us the results we wanted THEN—the ouster of Marcos, the ouster of Erap. But have these resulted in the strengthening of democratic institutions? They definitely have not. And when the institutions of democracy and justice are weakened by extra-systemic measures like people power, snap elections, pre-mature departures from office of duly constituted  authorities we deter the maturing of our democracy.

12. It has been repeatedly argued that the President’s resignation is not unconstitutional. But forcing her to by inviting the military for example to disavow obedience to their Commander-in-Chief and the civilian population not to submit to authority is certainly unconstitutional.

Finally, someone who has some sense!

Just had to post this, if only to reiterate my annoyance at frustration at the whole  hero-fication of Lozada, as well as the glorification of the Senate-instituted telenovela-slash-circus that is the ZTE investigation. 

========