Ondoy and Pepeng Changed Me...

While on my Facebook page, I happen to stumble on a video showing how Manila was battered by typhoon Ondoy.

Cars suddenly floating on rushing muddy waters, piling up like toys left unattended, people struggling to free themselves from the rampaging river to safety but to no avail and people walking on neck-deep floodwaters are a few to mention.

It was so terrifying that I wonder if everything happened. What happened and what I saw from the internet is what disaster movies are made of, and the past few weeks seems to be a sequence of non-ending episodes of a destruction movie saga. One may never measure how powerful nature can be with its destructive hand.

Luckily, I wasn't in Pasig when the floods emerged. But a week after Ondoy's wrath, one can still see the marks of the maximum level of the flood inside the home (judging, should be 1 m deep). Every furniture was brought upstairs save for the cabinets. Everyone home was safe.

It was depressing to know that most of our brothers and sisters have suffered and lost a lot that most were not prepared to face the cataclysmic events of the past week. Millions worth of property damaged, thousands were evacuated, lives were lost in the most horrifying fashion imaginable.

Sadly, some are taking the the situation to create further panic and hysteria. Erroneous SMS, multiple relief good gathering, and yes, expired relief goods. (My Gaaaaaad!!)

But then, the spirit of Pinoy humor still emanates despite the calamities. A number of text message made me laugh the whole day (literally!) are as follows...

Wala na si Ondoy... pero umuulan pa rin... dala lang siguro ni Pepeng Basa...

PAGASA states that Pepeng's could area is too large that's why storm was renamed Pepeng Malaki (I SOOO laughed at this!)

But then, the best thing about what happened was that old relationships came to bond again. Lives gapped for years by anger and resentment are finally reinstated. Relatives came calling us thru landline, (yes, after a week!) checking on the status of the Pasig homes.

And with all the horror that I witnessed thru the videos I see, all I can do is pause and say a silent prayer for all who perished and lost. It is as if life somehow was more precious and worthwhile that I submit myself to those who I care and cherish...

Igalang Natin si Manny!!

Marco Antonio Barrera
Héctor Velázquez
Juan Manuel Márquez,
Fahsan Por Thawatchai
Erik Morales
Oscar Larios
Jorge Solis
David Díaz
Oscar dela Hoya

Ilan lang sila sa mga napatumba ni Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao sa banyagang ring.

Kabog!

In fairness naman, malayo na rin ang narating ng ating kababayan sa larangan ng boksing. Mula sa pagiging bagitong manununtok ng Mindanao eh bumubulaga na ang ating bida sa padaigdigang boksing. Ngayon eh alamat na hindi lang ang mga laban nya kundi ang mga katagang binibitiwan nya pagkatapos ng laban ('ya know... ya know...'), na minsan talaga eh may pahangin effect pa. (Aminin, nakarinig kayo nyan!!) At in fairness at in fairview pa rin, hindi lang sya ngayon sikat na boksingero, kundi commercial model, aktor, host at kung anu-ano pa. Balak atang gawing National Artist for Entertainment si Manny.

Ahahaha.

Sa sobrang galing nga ng taong eto eh mukhang nakakasawa nang malaman na panalo sya sa mga laban nya. Parang nasusuya na ang mga Pinoy sa bawat panalo nya. mapapancin natin na hindi na maririnig ang mga kapitbahay mong nagsisisgaw sa kada suntok niya. Pero iba itong kakatapos na match niya with Oscar dela Hoya. Pinagusapan talaga; kesyo mismatch daw, malaki daw masyado ang itinapat kay Manny, mahaba ang braso at kung anek-anek pa. Pero wag ka, walong rounds lang at sumuko na ang kalaban. At ito pa, pati laban ni Manny eh ginawa na ring business. May mga sinehan nang nagpapalabas ng laban nya live via satellite, (shala dbuh?) kaya nawalan ng kwenta ang mga telebisyon, delayed telecast daw kasi. Naalala ko pang nagalit ang tatay ko kasi pagkauwi ko nang Linggo ng umaga eh inunahan ko na sya ng balita, "Pa, panalo na si Pacquiao, ruond 8, plakda si dela Hoya wahahahaha!!" Nasa sixth round pa lang noon sa tv kaya pinaghahahampas ako ni Papa ng dyaryong hawak nya. Nawala daw kasi excitement nya.

Pero ano ito?!

May mga kumakalat nang text kesyo may sumpa daw lahat ng panalo ni Manny. After daw nya manalo, may mga sakunang magaganap. Andyan ang Wowowee stampede, paglubog ng MV Princess of the Stars, at ngayon naman pati pagkamatay ni Marky Cielo eh associated din sa pagkapanalo ni Manny. At ito pa, ang siste pa eh binenta na daw ni Pacman ang kaluluwa nya kaya may kapalit na mga buhay ang bawat tagumpay nya.

Kaloka naman yon...

Sa halip na gumawa ng kung ano anong tsismis at haka-haka eh sana hindi nating nakalimutan pasalamatan si Manny. Aba, hindi madaling tumanggap ng suntok sa ibabaw ng ring ba? At dahil sa mga panalo nya, umaangat ang estado ng atletang pinoy sa loob at labas ng bansa. At hindi ba dapat nating ipasalamat na sa bawat laban ni Manny eh walang trapik sa kalsada, zero ang crime rate, tumataas ang piso sa pandaigdigan pamilihan? At higit sa lahat, marami nang nakakaintindi sa matigas ni Ingles ni Manny, kaya hindi ka kailangang mag-effort magpaka-slang ang mga Pinoy para maintindihan ng mga banyaga.

Ahihihi.

Trigo

This is one of the nicest shot of a stalk of rice about to be harvested... See the golden pieces being adored by the sun's rays... its a farmer's discretion to finally reap the harvest with a sharp scythe and finally be processed to be the edible, carbo-rich rice in our tables...

Pero minsan, may mga pasaway...

May mga hindi nag-uubos ng kanin sa hapag para magmukhang sosyal...
May mga nagpapapanis ng kanin sa kaldero dahil ayaw magsikain...
May mga nagtatapon ng kanin sa basura dahil hindi gusto ang ulam...

Ang kapal nyo!!!

Hindi na kayo nahiya sa mga magsasaka...

...na laging nangangalay ang mga likod,
...nagbababad sa init ng araw,
...naglalakad sa maputik na bukid,
...na hindi kumukita ng sapat para lang makapagproduce ng palay na gagawing bigas na kakainin nating lahat,

At lalong hindi na kayo nahiya...

...sa mga pumipila ng matagal para makakuha ng P25 kada kilo na NFA rice na dating kinaaaayawang kanin na ngayon at hit na hit sa masa dahil ito lang ang pwedeng mabili sa kanilang kakaunting pera.
...sa mga sumusuong sa init ng araw o lamig ng ulan dahil kailangan may maipakain sa pamilya. Keber nang pangit ang kanin, basta may makain.
...sa mga nakikipagaway, nakikipagsigawan para lang makapwesto ng maganda sa pila, dahil may mga sugapang nakikisingit sa pila.

Kaya bago ka magsayang ng kanin... tingnan mong maigi ang mga litratong ito.

Kailangan bang danasin mo pang maging magsasaka o pumila sa NFA para lang mapagtanto mo ang halaga ng bigas??

Vote for the New Seven Wonders!!

Ayan, at makikigulo na rin ako sa Seven Wonders of the world craze!!!

Try natin iboto ang mga sumusunod:

Chocolate Hills

Mayon Volcano

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park


Tubbataha Reef

You are to choose seven nominees, basta kailangan nasa top 4 yang apat na places na yan. Bahala na kayo pumili ng top 5 to 7.

To vote and see the current ranking of our wonders, click on the link below:

LIVERANKING!!!

Let's take pride in sharing the beauty of the Pearl of the Orient!!!
Mabuhay ang angking kagandahan ng Pilipinas!!!

Whoa!!

The date!

February 29, 2008

It's not everyday, I mean every year that this date comes. We'll have to wait for another four years till this date comes our way again.

May nagawa ka na bang kakaiba? Something that is worth remembering this date??

Ako, its my first time to see a big rally in action and in actual. I happen to be at Ayala Avenue earlier this afternoon. The Interfaith Rally (nice name huh?!) has closed the streets of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas. I had a chance to see a few prominent faces like Randy David and Jun Lozada (Pero at a distance lang. Camera shy ako, baka madiscover ng GMA. Ahihihihi). Swarms of activists, students, professionals and personalities flocked to voice out again (and I mean AGAIN) for the President to step down, in the heat of the anomalies and allegations. Another display of People Power versus the alleged corrupt government. We'll see that another page turns to our history books. Ang Pinoy talaga. Ayos sa timing. February 29 nagrally para historic. Hmm...

Ikaw, what made this four-year date a remembrance?! Hindi pa huli. Gumawa ka na ng something something hehehe...

Il Diluvio!

Natural disasters have been part of our lives ever since. It shaped our history, our culture, our persona, our perspectives.

--==o(0)o==--

The century takes its last decade when I first experienced nature's wrath. It was an Independence Day celebration, but it ended up that the Philippines turned out to be a colony... of ash. I was busily toying with the miniature cars that day, when my five or six-year-old eye saw all the furnitures shaking, the family pictures in wall frames swaying, the lights flickering.

"Mama, bakit gumagalaw yung mga frames?"

"Anak, lumilindol. Pumutok na ata ang bulkan."

"Ano yung bulkan, Mama?"

I can hear people rushing towards the clearings outside. Screaming.

"Pumutok na! Pumutok na!"

"Katapusan na ng mundo!"

All I can hear thereafter was my mom praying, clutching my young body into hers. When we came to a clearing, a basketball court some paces away from the house, I can well remember seeing that cylindrical column of gray cloud billowing from the north. It was high it literally touched the heavens.

Days after that Pinatubo explosion, it felt like noontime didn't want to show up. It was always twilight and late afternoon. We come sweeping inches of ash and dust at our roof in the fear of it collapsing should a few more inches of gray material pile up on it.

--==o(0)o==--

The name of the typhoon was irritating, Rosing. Sounds like an old lady in the marketplace shouting at everyone who passes by to catch the attention and take a peek at her veggies. Like the name, the typhoon was really irritating.

Our half-constructed home was the only elevated house among the vicinity. Naturally, our welcoming sanctuary became the shelter of the flooded families. Relatives to be exact.

The windows then were of no glasses but sack, and the rains come splashing through our sleeping faces one morning. There were no doors, but movable pieces of plywood to separate the furnitureless interior spaces from the outside havoc of rain and gusts of winds. The very few pieces of furnishings upstairs came being pushed back and forth due to the ever-changing winds that splashes rain drops inside the deck. There was few food for the multiude that currently resides.

--==o(0)o==--

After Milenyo battered Manila and the classes resumed, the countryside I saw was brutally devastated. It was the first time I saw gigantic signages fall to the ground like soldiers falling back from a war. There was one that fell into a bus along EDSA near MRT Magallanes and worse, one that fell right into a HOUSE! Somewhere in Pasay, it think. It took weeks and even months to restore the havoc, and the sight of the havoc made it hard for some of us to bear, but we have to be stronger for the less fortunate. There may be worse scenarios than these, but these are surely worth remembering and conquering.

--==o(0)o==--

Then again, most of us felt that sudden motion. Yes, that shudder. An earthquake. A big chunk of land mass has been in an unrestful pace that millions felt the tremors. Its was past lunchtime yesterday when a magnitude 3 earthquake struck Manila. I was turning the tv on to watch the boring noontime shows when the floor shook and the house cracked.

Then here comes hysteria; panic; heaven forbid, pandemonium. News flashed people rushing outside buildings. The power of the earth turns out to be so powerful that emotions and minds of the people are sometimes defied in the peak of the events.

The Baguio devastation of 1992 and the tsunami of 2004(?) were among the worst manifestations of an earthshake. Not a very good sight or event to remember, but this became the standard to be the worst to be prepared for. Ever since, everyone came weary when an earthquake strikes, because it is the aftermath that is being prepared for, not the earthquake itself.

--==o(0)o==--

But then, when the worst of the times has come, a few displays extraordinary heroism and courage, that shines even at the most hopeless cases. It is in this times that unity and the will to survive drives us to do something that we never dare doing before. It is as if God strikes us and holds us at the same time.

After the battle for survival has restored us to our normal lives, cherish the plot. Memories of these events and the story of our survival will surely be an inspiration to others, may it be big or small.

Diversions, Exploitations and Analogies!

The Arroyo Administration still embeds itself in hot waters. Numerous allegations, sensationalized intrigues and national issues are inherent in its grasp. The reopening of the "Hello Garci" investigation, the alleged half-a-million publicized bribery and the ZTE broadband deal are the most infamous events. In the heat of the political turmoil, the Administration's patience and strategies are being placed into a test of survival and rigidity.

The impact of the situation has indeed created a two-fold effect on the Motherland. The economy has gone mad playing highs and lows on the stock market. The populace has an unending struggle to place a side on their patriotism, having losing the trust to an unimaginable amount on the system due to the events.

And here comes a blast! A literal blast!

On of Makati's famous malls, Glorietta, was shattered by two explosions over the past weekend. Many were killed and hundreds were left injured.

One may cease to imagine the horror that the blast has made. People going from a gay strolling into pandemonium to find safety for themselves and the ones they cared for. A pleasure-filled trip turned into nightmare. Worst, the loss of lives in the most unprecedented account.

Speculations of a terrorist attack came floating around like juicy gossip. But then, its the diversion that counts. The Administration has made itself a knight-in-shining-armor move by flagging against anti-terrorism. Its a stress-relieving move from verifying accusations, one might say.

Investigation on the explosion concludes that the explosion MAY not be of any human atrocity cause but of negligence on sanitary precautions. It was found out that a sewage system from the mall was left unchecked and the fumes accumulated. Added with the volatile quality of the culinary-used fuel, the gases exploded.

The thought of thinking that methane, released from human waste to be added with our LPG's would be enough to churn our stomachs, apart of course from the accident it caused. Imagine the stench of our feces mixing with our food! Horrible, isn't it?

But it came to me, there seems to be an analogy to these events. The stench of the atrocities of the times, mixed with the aggression of the masses, if not resolved, may spell yet another explosion. And it will be gruesome to think that not just hundreds may be the casualties of this impending disaster.

Let's all pray this may not happen.

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

source: http://www.philstar.com/