Artagonist's

Continuous rains displace 100 families in South Cotabato

2011-01-21T04:03:00.000-08:00

Posted on January 21, 2011 06:54:00 PM

KORONADAL CITY -- Continuing heavy rains in South Cotabato resulted in landslides in four villages this week displacing 100 families. The situation has prompted the provincial government to provide permanent resettlement sites for their safety.

The four villages, all on the list of landslide-prone areas prepared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region are: Barangay El Nonok in Banga; Canahay in Surallah; and Linan and Palkan in Tupi.

Nelida N. Pereira, provincial disaster risk reduction management council action officer, said "a one hectare lot has already been acquired by the provincial government to ensure safety of affected families." Another two one-hectare lots would be divided into the families affected in Barangays Palkan and Canuhay.

Mines bureau’s geologist Jaime G. Flores said "the villages are located in topographically unsound areas in danger of landslides in times of heavy and continuous rains." Besides being located in mountainous and steep areas, these barangays are also surrounded by plantations, or are near the Allah and Banga river tributaries.

The Allah and Banga rivers connect 341 barangays in South Cotabato to Maguindanao and Cotabato City. Adjacency areas to the rivers are prone to flooding and land slide. Mr. Flores said that plantations reduce the vegetation in the affected areas and heavy rains may loosen the soil, thus landslides could happen.

Meanwhile, a plan to purchase more lots for relocation has been drafted to ensure the safety of families living in low-lying areas in the town of Tupi. Linan’s barangay captain Reynaldo C. Alburo said on Friday that more families in his village would be affected if heavy rains continue.

Linan was affected by flooding, which has damaged infrastructures, fishponds and vegetable farms in the area. The provincial social welfare development office has already distributed relief goods in the form of rice, canned goods and noodles to the affected families.
L.O. Pacardo, SQM, JBE

Read full article from BusinessWorld online.

Open-pit mining supporters fail to sway S. Cotabato board

2011-01-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

Posted on 10:13 PM, January 13, 2011, BusinessWorld News

BY LOUIE O. PACARDO, Correspondent

KORONADAL CITY -- Groups calling for a review of South Cotabato’s environment code failed to provide provincial board members in a public hearing last Wednesday "strong and convincing arguments" that amendments -- particularly the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining -- are necessary.

The hearing conducted by the board allowed five stakeholder groups to present their arguments.

But Jose M. Madanguit, vice-chairman of the two committees of the board that conducted the hearing -- those of environment protection and of justice and legal matters -- said in a phone interview yesterday that the arguments presented were not convincing enough.

No choice

The fate of Sagittarius Mines, Inc.’s (SMI) $5.9-billion copper-gold Tampakan project hangs in balance, since the code bans open-pit mining.

Sagittarius had argued that it does not have any choice when it comes to mining method, which is dictated by the kinds of minerals being extracted -- an argument backed by both the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and officials of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

"The majority of the members of the board are saying that many questions we raised were not answered (by the five groups)," Mr. Madanguit said.

The groups that submitted a petition to the board, after the code’s signing into law at the end of June last year, to review Section 22 that bans open-pit mining were: the Regional Mines Development Council (RMDC), Municipal Tribal Council of Tampakan; Provincial Tribal Council; the mayors of Kiblawan (Davao del Sur), Tampakan (South Cotabato) and Columbio (Sultan Kudarat) towns covered by Sagittarius Mines’ project; and South Cotabato’s quarry operators.

Quarrying not covered

Mr. Madanguit said only quarry operators went home happy after the hearing. This sector had been worried by the code, since a quarry is sometimes described as a type of open-pit mine.

"The implementing rules and regulations are clear that quarrying operations will not be banned, except if quarrying is done in danger zones, as defined in the code," he said.

But Mr. Madanguit noted a review is still possible even when the code is already in effect.

"(The) board believes there is no law that is not amendable after all. All possibilities are open," he reiterated.

The board had earlier said it will conduct another hearing in the next two weeks to listen to the arguments of supporters of the ban.

Against national policy

MGB Regional Director Constancio A. Paye, Jr., who also heads the RMDC secretariat, argued that the code contradicts national policy that does not specifically ban any mining method.

"Open pit is only a mining method; thus, it is allowed by national law," he said referring to Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo had ordered the South Cotabato government in November last year to suspend the enforcement of the ban, pending results of a review.

The government has argued that while local governments have the power to make laws that govern their constituents, these cannot contradict national laws.

Kiblawan Mayor Marivic C. Diamante, a lawyer, also argued during the hearing that the issue on the ban is within the ambit of national law.

Ms. Diamante has previously warned that the ban will affect poor municipalities that receive small internal revenue allotment, which constitute local governments’ share in national taxes.

The Tampakan project is located within the ancestral domain of the Blaan indigenous groups found on the borders of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat.

Still committed

In a press statement, Sagittarius Mines said it remains optimistic that the issue would be resolved before it starts mineral extraction in five years. The project is still in exploration stage, hence, unaffected by the ban for now.

Mark Williams, Sagittarius Mines general manager, said in the statement that a continuing dialogue with all parties involved is key to solving the dispute.

"While the Tampakan project is not immediately impacted [sic] by the ban on open-pit mining, given it is still in the exploration phase, we continue to monitor this issue closely and engage with all stakeholders regarding the proposed development of the project," Mr. Williams said.

"SMI appreciated the significant show of support by host tribal communities and local government units for the Tampakan project during the hearing. We share their belief that a project of this magnitude undertaken by a company that is committed to the highest standards of sustainable development offers unprecedented opportunities for the region," he said.

http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=24484

Open Pit Mining will be banned in South Cotabato!

2010-06-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Earth Warriors of South Cotabato!

With 9 votes for the big Yes, 2 for Abstention and 1 No, the Provincial Environment Code is Finally Approved!

Open Pit Mining will be banned in South Cotabato!
This is one big kick in the ass of SMI!

Kudos to all the warriors!

(in photo: the wife of late anti-mining advocate Boy Billanes, almost into tears after the code was declared approved)

one fact

2010-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

In my continuing search for the footprints that connects the earth and the ethereal i realized one very important fact: i am human.

Say, ahhhh or uhh!

2009-10-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Should I be glad that she's gone to the church to pray? I think the feeling is more of a disgust, and there's a suppressed laughter.

There's this familiar slithering specie that reminds me of her tongue.

Youth Power?

2009-10-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have always believed in the power of my generation in shaping up the future. I see the youth as a sector that has always been a great potential energy waiting to light a spark and make change in a very dynamic and controversy-soaked society. But how do we harness this power to really work?

Good idea. Let me write more about it...or you can share your ideas. :)

in photo: Olongapo's PREDA org logo

So little time...

2009-09-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

So much to do!

Im lost in the universe of filthy complexities and disorganized thoughts!

Good thing the cosmos has the way out of this..but that i have yet to find out in the days/weeks/months/years to come.

GMA can't be Cory

2009-08-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

For the 5th time this morning within less than 24 hours, i was asked the same question by 5 different people: "What if it was Gloria who died, would the people care this much and consider her a loss?"

I bet you know what i answered.

GMA cant be Cory

2009-08-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

I bet you know what i answered.

Wowowalanghiya!

2009-07-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

I think Wowowee is an indication of how bastardized and stupid noontime entertainment has become!

"Cats Do Control Humans"

2009-07-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

A new study explains how cats control their humans. Would you believe the idea that you are being controlled by your pet? Accept it, we may not be aware but we're being manipulated.

Read the article Here.

Rest in Peace, Fok

2009-07-13T00:01:00.001-07:00

Death is an intruder that takes away a piece of you every time it succeeds with its designs.

Even with readiness to accept the worst this universe can offer and can take away, it’s still hard to dictate emotions not to succumb to sorrow.

Rest in Peace

Foktillus Amaru Shakur

Wowowapaaak!

2009-07-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

I think Wowowee is an indication of how bastardized and stupid noontime entertainment has become!

An activist-environmentalist for president?

2009-06-18T03:22:00.000-07:00

Tired of the dirty traditional politicians without the "real qualifications"? Confused in choosing for the least evil of all? Why not look into this Green activist's website. Nicanor Perlas, a genius activist-environmentalist i should say, is ready to take on the 2010 presidential elections. Read more here about his decision.

“There are many Filipinos who have grown tired of elections where there are no real choices. We are tired of always having to choose the lesser evil. This is why I am announcing my intention to run in the 2010 elections.” “No one really steps up to challenge the system the way I can challenge it,” he said. Now, that's faith and a manifestation of immense love for the country.

Meanwhile, im going to start reflecting about his decision to run. I think he's very serious about this so i'm going to take things about 2010 elections seriously as well.

thanks to http://nicanorperlas.com for the photo.

battle of the instant coffee brands!

2009-06-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Of course, we cannot have a cup of frap or brewed with swiss miss in an instant, let's say in the office or when we're somewhere in a busy mode. When your caffeine addiction attacts, which of instant coffees would you love to be on your desk?

Vs.

I'll go for the stronger and less sweet Kopiko brand!

Jack it!

2009-06-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

It was one cloudy afternoon when i decided to go window shopping in an ukay-ukay gallery while thinking of what to do with my life being into a sea of confusion. A signage in one of the booths suggested an answer...

Yeah, great! good omen!

T'nalak Festival: a showcase of cultural vibrance!

2009-06-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

The 18th of July will be the crowning event of the year for the province of south cotabato. The kaleidoscopic south cotabateno life and the elements of richness of its cultures will once again be showcased to the world. The province will celebrate its 43rd anniversary and the T'nalak festival.

Click here for the Festival Teaser and the List of Events.

Be enthralled by the Vibrant Culture!

Kick their con-ASS!

2009-06-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Are you happy with what your Tong-gress men and women did to railroad the process of the devil's dance, the cha-cha through their Con-Ass? Yes, Ass, ASS, Ass! Sure not. Let them know what you feel. Let them know that what they did is tantamount to betrayal of public trust. Let them feel our anger and disapproval of this Ass! Let them feel the wrath of the angered masses! Click here to find your representative's email/mail addresses .

Here's the complete list of the Tong-ressmen and women who voted for House Resolution 1109 convening Congress into a Constituent Assembly. If you feel like i do, then do your part.

Rhanks to Stella arnaldo and j.zafra for the links.

My Cat Absorbs Negativity

2009-06-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why cats love to be cuddled or to stay on your lap? It's not that they are lazy and finds your lap a good place to rest or asking for something from you. This means they are just doing their job to protect you from unseen harm, remove accumulated negative energy from your body and maybe just showing love. I think it's best to observe your pet when they behave this way. I didnt know about this before but it just feels good whenever my favorite black cat Fok climbs on my lap everytime im at the veranda to study or for a cup of coffee. Now i'm more convinced to have more "black" cats in my home. Now i have a pair of black cats and a black terrier-spitz dog

Caroline Connor, a nun, ghost buster and with extensive studies including, preventative medicine, aetheric disorders, astro-mental disorders, suicidal tendencies, multiple personalities, said that cats "are empowered to remove accumulated negative energy from your body on a daily basis. While you are sleeping, they absorb it from your body. If there is more than one person in the family, and only one cat, it may accumulate an overload of negativity from absorbing energy from so many people. When they sleep, a cat's body releases the negativity that it removed from you. If you are extremely stressed out, they may not have had enough time to release this negative energy, therefore it is stored as fat until they can. Therefore, they will become overweight — and you thought it was the food that you were feeding them!"

Amazing? There's more. whenever a stray cat comes to your home, it maybe that it intends to be with you because maybe "there is a karmic debt it must pay back to you. It may have eaten you in another lifetime and must make it up to you by protecting you in this lifetime. So, don't be so quick to shoo them away. They will have to come back one way or another to fulfill this obligation."

I'm going to keep my black pets for life.

Lame-ass trick!

2009-06-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

The young rocker-wannabe-fake-ass band Jonas brothers has done it again...acting weirdly lame! Stupidity, in my opinion. One of the brothers danced to Beyonce's Single Ladies thinking this could help promote their new CD to be released in two weeks. Why the hell do i care? Because they're one of the many "pop" and crappy artists to date that tops the chart by luring the audiences with their good looks, stupid moves and cheesy lyrics. I find that an insult to real artists!

After selling thousands of albums and topping the charts, I dont know why im still not convinced that they are indeed a rock band, or are entertainers. Thousand or even millions of records have been sold? So what? Its what the Immortal Technique said in their song Industrial Revolution: "f**k the records you sold, cuz if you go platinum, it's got nothing to do with luck. It just means that a million people are stupid as f**k."
Real artist are "stuck in the underground in general and rose to the limit, without distribution managers, a deal, or a gimmick."

want to see the jonas bro's lame-ass gimmick? click here, and feel the curse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkV3iBW0HtM

Thanks to sodahead.com for the b.e.a.u.tiful photo of the sistahs.

Know Your Enemy!

2009-05-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

They speak of the " the loss of innocence and confusion in today's society" using kind of harsh words. The Biggest retailer in the US asked them to "censor" themselves so the store would sell heir CDs but the Greenday band (one of my favorite band since high school) said NO! The Greenday lashes out at Walmart policy! Billy Joe, the lead vocalist, insists there is nothing wrong about their record and censorship of their own work would be an insult on thier part. Who gives a damn, the record still tops the chart despite it all.

That's faith is standing for the "correct art".

greenday.com

Writer's block, queer writer

2009-05-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

I think i'm having a writer's block...a permanent writer's block, that is. Each time i attempt to scribble a word from my malfunctioning brain, i cant seem to proceed more. So, i'm ending up erasing the unfinished lines and start again. So I asked my friend, a retired anthropology professor from UP Diliman, to write me an editorial for a regular journal i was suppose to finish early this month. Hell, i'm freaking late! Luckily, she gave it a go and promised to try to finish the article the next day.

Later that afternoon i saw her at a kiosk nearby with a pen and scratch papers. With her in the kiosk were children with their teacher reciting song lyrics for their Flores de Mayo classes.

Artagonist: Maam, What are you doing?

Maam MC: Ow, i'm about to finish the second paragraph. I think we have to heighten the level of thinking of our readers. So, I'm going to take off from the point of view of greek philosophers and touch mythologies that tell of the drastic effect to mankind and the environment of hailing technology.

Artagonist: I see, that's great. But can you write here, this way? Let's go to the computer room to get a better place.

MMC: It's ok. Dont you know i have this queer attitude in writing? There were times when thoughts come in even in the weirdest times and places, so i take the time to write down my thoughts. I can write even inside the jeepney, in the middle of a forum, while im lying down or even in a noisy and crowded place like this one.

Artagonist: ......(sigh!) I just wish i can be like you...so i wont have to wait for what-seems-like-infinity to finish till i overcome this permanent writer's block.

Meanwhile, im gonna have my 2nd cup of coffee. Hopefully this cup will act like its suppose to - stimulate.

No Nukes for Pinoys!

2009-05-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

The next few weeks will spell the difference between a nuclear disaster and a clean renewable energy future for Filipinos.

The pushers of nuclear energy in congress want to vote on moving forward with the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) before congress closes in the first week of June, with the foolish argument that the outdated and unsafe facility can address both climate change and energy security.

Do your part, now!
Read more, and sign up. Make your voices heard.

Off World, Panahon Na!

2009-05-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

Screen shot from youtube.com

I'm a fan of indie films. I'd even dare break my piggy bank of coins to watch a ten-hour gorey indie film than spend an hour-and-a-half of free ticket and popcorns over some star cinema teeny bopper flicks. I just think indie films are more of a product of art than of a consumeristic brilliance.

An old friend of mine emailed the group this week to spread a good news (at least for an indie film lover like moi). He's part of this film directed by Mateo Guez and starring Marc Abaya and a good flock of actors and actresses. Off World, that is...and the other one is Panahon na starring Joseph Bitangcol Joem Bascon and directed by Sean Lim.

Here's the link of the film trailers from Yancy's email (nevermind asking who he is,you'll know when he becomes the lead star in the next films):

"Please watch trailers of my films, full lenght indie films (drama)

"off world" directed my mateo guez, its a french production, presented in telefilms canada and in people of cannes. here's the link, enjoy.

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=L3uNuaPYt50

here's another one, "panahon na" directed by sean lim, will be shown first in boston and new york. another drama. here's the link,

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=FWkHojqm2Dc

forgotten souls of davao

2009-05-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Davao has been my temporary shelter for several times already, may it be a business trip or simply picking up litters of fun and nature trips (Davao city is just minutes away to Samal Island). It’s always the usual thing when I get there: attend forums, brushing elbows with the materminds of developmental work “mindanaoan-style”, talks with local artists and foretaste of great local artworks. To add more flavor - white sand beaches of Samal, packs of tipsy teeners in hip bars or a noisy crowd of yuppies in a more relaxing ambiance of selected places.

My recent trip there for a documentary film shoot as part of a training exposed me to a place and an experience I never thought did not exist in my déjà vu archive – the depressed condition of Mini Forest and Isla Verde in Davao City. I call the place the forgotten lairs of diversity.

Don’t be deceived by the names of the places. I’ve neither been to a forest nor a green island as their names suggest. The march to the hearts of the villages was kind of an unappealing experience for me at first. It was to me a total irony of the fast-pacing industrialization and development of the acclaimed biggest and one of the most promising cities in the country. Consider also Davao as an active host to political bigsh0ts.

People of different cultures (Christians, Muslims, Badjao’s, and other Indigenous Tribes) live there together in harmony with each other. Although there are high incidences of gang wars and other petty crimes there, inter-cultural conflicts are a no-no. Some of the main problems of the “forgotten lairs” is sanitation and waste management and poverty.

Hear-breaking. Maybe because I did not expect to see such things at that time. I’ve been to many depressed areas in the different spots of the country before but my emotions did not prepare me to see Isla Verde and Mini forest.

Even it was heartbreak for me in the beginning, I appreciated the positive side of the “depression”: the inter-cultural harmony among the people and the animated dynamics of living in places like the IV and the MF.

The five video productions of the group will be posted in the HUB and WITNESS websites soon.

Feed the who?

2009-04-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Her daily struggle

and as I see it

A good Earth Day to cry

2009-04-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day to cry.

Why? Why not? It's not a sign of desperation or an outcry of a hopeless turd. I mean, look around us. Evaluate the amount of sh*t we've given to steal the breath of the living earth - wasteful lifestyle, indifference, greed, and more. Today is a good day to cry for forgiveness of all the craps we've done to add up to the destruction of Mama Terra.

Can you not feel, see, hear, taste the whining of the bleeding earth? Well, weird as i might sound, but i can...so as the very few of the people i know, and dont know (loud sigh!). We may feel so righteous about ourselves, but we are not. In fact one of us may become just another stranger to the earth's call tomorrow. That may be me, or the one sitting next to me drafting the earth day celebration programme.

My point is, i am pointless...but not until you know the crap I'm talking about here. If you really don't, then i am really pointless...and will always be.

Maybe this michael jackson video can help. I've never seen this for a while and i think it's a timely vid for the pop-junk generation of mostly indifferent souls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM&feature=related

...and maybe this texts can help too: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/this-earth-day-22042009

or you may join these activities: http://www.earthdayphils.org/Content.html

...or just sit there and browse the social network profiles of strangers and check out their sexy pics.

Happy Earth day!

Maam Marissa: teacher, 2nd mother, friend

2009-04-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the loads of patience while walking with us for years as carefree and childish teenagers

Thank you for the untiring will to guide a flock of black sheeps to an oasis of righteousness

Thank you for being a good teacher, a second mother and a friend

You will always be remembered

Rest in Peace Maam Marissa Subaldo

Today I Died with the Greatest Lie

2009-04-16T20:54:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning with a pinch of energy to kick-start a gloomy day with a gloomy weather. I enjoyed the art of brewing a native davao coffee and had a cup of it's bitterness. My black cat, Foktillus, sat on my lap and stared at my face. I didn't mind him. My eyes wandered by the sight of a not-so-lush surrounding. I love to sit by the veranda and observe the coming and going of birds, the sight of my black dog wrestling with the white husky, and sigh by the sway of the greens around. But things were different. This view in front of me used to be so green, i thought. How long was i gone? i was here yesterday, wasn't i? Why do i feel so strange? Who are these people around me? My sister, my mother. Why do i feel like they're staring at me like I'm a criminal, a stranger?

I sipped the last drop of the bitter brew. As i put down the strange looking beige mug, i felt a warm liquid dripping out of my nose. I got inside for the mirror. The mirror reflected dark red blood and a few drops stained my white shirt. And few drops more. I didn't call anybody, I just stared at the mirror. Then it's over.

Fine, i said to myself or whoever was listening. Strangely Foktillus followed me and kept staring at my face. I put on my MP3 phone and connected it to a sub-woofer. Keith Flint and the rest of the Prodigy set the tone. Upbeat, electric and loud but it was only for a few seconds. The world turned black.

I woke up with my body and face flat on the floor. Headache. There was no one to pick me up or even ask what happened. It was only Coelho's The Alchemist and Zafra's Twisted V beside me. Both blood-stained. A stack of scratch papers covered half of my body. Then i got up.

I checked the mirror and found out i was already wearing a gray polo shirt and a loose jeans. I can smell the piercing scent of my cologne. I felt fresh.

What happened?

I got out to the veranda for fresh air. I can't find my beige mug or any trace of brewed indulgence. Then i saw Foktillus sitting by the baluster. He stared at me with dilated eyes and angrily hissed as if i am an enemy. I tried to get near him but he ran like crazy. Then i saw drops of blood on the floor and a broken mirror.

Emo Rai

2009-03-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is real Emo without falling into the genre. The following piece is from the blog of my former student, Rai. She is a bright girl and very much unorthodoxy in many ways. She is usually alone, probably mentally collecting words to paint out her emotions and wringing out "bloody" thoughts from her solitude. But the last time I saw her, she has changed a lot. I can see flickers of hope and bliss in her eyes. She’s smarter than ever. I think she can read life now without the thoughts of bloods and tears and condemnation.

Should I Stay?

No one’s telling me to stay. I can smell the funeral scent of goodbye…but perhaps i am just infected with the virus of my own invention. Can i take chances with these scraps of reality? It promises so much but I believe have done enough… trusting…

But have I really?

nobody’s telling me to go. how can i listen to what they do not say? my feelings always come as surprise–more for me than them. I can betray even myself but, so sorry, pain has integrity. dammit.

it is easier to close my eyes and just say—–alright, stay as long as you want. as long as you still believe in the reason why you’re here in the first place. how you do it does not matter more than who you are why you do it. something must come like dawn.

i am good in puzzles. in creating them. perhaps no one really knows and i get the blame. it all starts here however, the need for puzzles really is:

the confession that a truth has a life of its own. That life is for its sake.

i stay.

Visit Rai's blog: http://ryuuwen.blog.friendster.com/2008/10/should-i-stay/

His Generation, His Father's Legacy

2009-03-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

He is the youngest of three children of Boy Billanes. His father is now one with the earth, silenced because of his advocacies that threatened the evils of God’s creation. The legacy of Sir Boy’s advocacies here on earth will be passed on and will continue up to the generation of his youngest child or until the evils of development aggression continue to bully the fragile Earth and oppress her citizens.

click here for Sir Boy's profile and more info on his killing:
http://www.kalikasan.org/cms/files/massdi-boy%20billanes.pdf
http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=9106

Fok Tale

2009-03-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

Here's my piece about my Pet that won the Pets Make Us Human contest on Jessica Zafra's Blog.
I first saw Foktillus two years ago while doing research in the mountains of Kiamba, Sarangani Province. Fok’s former master was a three year-old boy who loved to cuddle him and choke him to invite out his claws. Fok was around two months old at the time. Fok had scars, was so thin and I thought he was not well cared for. When he moved around he would get kicked by the children and he’d just reply with a gentle meow. I did not find that adorable. So I thought I had to rescue the cat.

I find beauty in the deep blackness of his furs. I am a fan of black and I thought a black cat would be a perfect pair for my black terrier-spitz doggy-dog. My colleagues were not amused at the color of the cat. The hell I care. I don’t believe in superstition and I love to disprove them anyway. The next day I befriended the parents of the boy and convinced them that the cat would live a better life with me in Marbel. I guess they understood. That same day I went home with my three colleagues with the black cat lap-hopping inside the car. Fok is now my study-mate, writing buddy, and the best friend of my black doggy Maximus.

Check out J. Zafra's blog with my Fok, here http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/

Justice for Sir Boy Billanes

2009-03-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

Sir Boy lived as a friend, a teacher, a father

He lived to uphold the rights, especially of the weak, corrupted by the abusive rule

He lived to opposed oppression as caused by development aggression

He lived as an intelligent critic to all wicked

He lived to protect the environment

He lived to stand for what is right

He lived to value life

He lived

He was killed

He was killed because of living for all of these

He was killed because the enemy believed so

He was killed but the spirit of his cause will remain alive in a society hungry of justice and constantly dreaming of regaining the corrupted peace!

Rest in Peace Francism

2009-03-05T23:30:00.001-08:00

Every color and every hue

is represented by your ingenuity, your pinoy heart, your artistry.You're well celebrated here in the kaleidoscope world.

See you at the other Kaleidoscope world...of the Kings.
Rest in Peace Francism.

I love the indians, i hate that indian!

2009-03-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

Moments before the encounter

I mean it, I love curry, the art and history of Mumbai, Mahatma Ghandi and other Indian traditions. But this Indian that I had an encounter with tested my long-practiced suppression of my racist syndrome. He did not succeed and I think I scored against him!
This is the city of Marbel, my beloved in the Philippines. Should there be any one who would beat the local's ass, he should not be a foreigner, lest an Indian.

It was around 3:30 one Saturday morning when the four of us (Me, Lai, Ebb and Mike) were about to conclude our "gimik" with a cup of coffee along Alunan Avenue. It was a typical late night until we saw this Indian man carrying a baby in his arms, walking fast and after him was a slender Filipina, crying. It was like a scene from a movie where a police chases an ugly alien about to abduct an innocent tot. I did not give crap, it wasn’t my business anyway, and I’m used to seeing people chasing one another. So, we paid our bills after finishing the coffee and decided to head home.

On our way home, we saw the police and some bystanders already dealing with that Indian to let go of the baby. A perfect scene for a corny action-drama series: a police car with flashing lights, armed police people negotiating with the “perpetrator”, a crying mother, onlookers/spectators, cheering crowd and a cursing Indian. Again, we did not give a crap. But not until I heard that Indian cursing the police like a dirty-mouthed rapper, as if he’s got all the aces to kill the police people with a single swing of his dark, hairy arms. The funny and upsetting thing was the police did not do anything to stop that Indian from cursing them. All because they did not understand what that injudicious Indian was talking about. Mike told me that one policeman even asked him what the Indian was shouting about. Were those police people too dim-witted to understand simple and cursive English? Or were they too scared to touch a foreigner?

I heard that Indian cuss: “don’t touch me you f**ing a$**oles, I am the father of this baby. No, get off, you cant have my baby, stupid a$**oles!” Upon hearing this, the large veins in my head popped off like the Incredible Hulk being injected with methamphetamine and morphine all at the same time. At that very moment, I remembered the statements of righteous Filipinos against the VFA and the Americans on the newspaper that day. I love Marbel and I cannot take seeing foreigners undermining, or worse, cursing the people in my place. So, I got off from my bike, pointed my helmet to him, and shouted at him in an angry but (say) “poetic” manner: “Hey, a$**ole! You better respect the police or we’ll kick your ass out of here! You’re in the Philippines, in case you don’t know! Let go of the baby!” He cursed me back and explained he’s the father of the baby. He even shouted “I know Americans here, you cannot touch me!” That added salt to an open wound, and I replied “go to hell with your American friends!” So, what? Are you Daniel Smith in an Indian’s body?, I should have added. The cursing continued and we were like Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG in a freestyle rap battle. Only that, he’s just too ugly to look like and too Indian to sound like any of the rappers.

Worried to see him juggle or do something dreadful to the baby, I just went away as advised by the police and the bystanders. Witnesses told me he juggled the baby in the air before the police intervened.

We got back to the scene after a few minutes when the Indian had already let go of the baby. The poor crying mother held her baby. The police were still “scared” to apprehend the Indian - no handcuffs, not much confrontations, the police even begged for him to get into the police car. He saw me again and called me for a fight. Nah, I didn’t want to land my fist or let my skin touch his stinky body, plus all the bystanders might have wanted to take a piece of him, literally. Besides, I am a peace lover and I’m not into fist-fighting. So, I just laughed at him the Jack Nicholson way and gave him my signature sign.

We followed him to the police station and there we had another argument with the police, the one who asked my friend what the Indian was shouting about.

No, I’m not proud with what I did. I don’t even like to curse. Forgive me if I did. I just hated that Indian cursing the police and his Filipina “wife” in the very concrete roads of my city. I just didn’t like that alien boasting his connections with Americans. I just hated the way the police reacted (or did not react) to a foreigner’s abusive attitude. I just hated to have discovered that some of our officers can not understand simple English, not even knowing they were being cursed. I love Indians and all other citizens of this holy earth, I just didn’t like the attitude of that alien in my beloved place, in my country.

slumdogs all around

2009-02-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Filipino Slum children (REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo)
Indian Slum children (Foxsearch/everettrex features, www.annoyatorium.com)
"Visually dazzling and emotionally resonant, Slumdog Millionaire is a film that's both entertaining and powerful," that's a Rottentomatoes.com consensus about the movie.
I've seen just part of the movie from this local channel that shows pirated new movies . What the movie depicts isn't dazzling but the images are indeed emotionally resonant- it's the underbelly of a world where the poorest of the poor struggles amongst the filthiest of the societal dirts. The movie does not only represent India's "dirty underbelly" but the whole of the third worlds' including Philippines.
It's a good thing that the production dared to expose the infamous side of India, it's just like telling the bitter truth by narrating a story with a happy ending. But in the end it's only the lead characters who are happy - the rest of the slumdogs remain in their daily struggle for a meal in their tables everyday. Dev Patel's character represents the millions who dare to push their luck out of poverty. If the movie had starred Filipinos and the setting was in the Philippines, it would portray an equally similar or maybe worse picture of the slumdogs and slumlandia.

Here's India's REAL Slumdog (non)Millionaires

The regal shocker

2009-02-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

A good dish from Aristocrat, Laing!
I'm trying so hard to maintain my pescatarian (vegetables and seafoods) diet and i've been consistent for three years so far. There are non-believers and those who'd just raise their eye brows. Well, who cares. I dont want to eat meat of a two or four-legged shitter or a meat with a shit. I am an animal lover and i love these shitters. In fact i have my own pets who love to shit around too. Living with them is just like living with other creatures like humans (the mother-shitters) thus eating their meat would be like eating human meat too. Gross!
The non-believers can eat as much meat as they want and i can munch leaves-n-stems as much as i want too.
A non-believer and a mother-shitter who loves to eat shit of other species got in my way just this noon. i call her the regal shitter... i mean regal shocker. I went to gensan to meet with a colleague. I arrived at around 12 noon and immediately proceeded to our satellite office. To save time and hide away from the scorching sun, i decided to have my lunch in a carenderia nearby. Of course, fish-n-veggie for lunch! I asked the attending lady, perhaps the owner, what's with the mongo beans and camote tops in cocomilk. "Shrimp", she said. So i ordered one plus escabeche in carrots to come with 2 cups of rice. I could not believe what i saw halfway to finishing my first cup - thick, gross pork meat!
I called up the lady and told her the chunk of filth that i saw. She acted shocked also! Damn, the lady must have been drugged! The worst of all that crap that happened to me? After i showed her the pork meat from the bowl with my spoon and after she acted shocked and not even saying "sorry", she got the porkin' mongo viand and put it back to the serving caserole! Hell!
Instead of complaining, i was lost for words. My jaw dropped for few seconds, i cant believe what i saw.
I rushed to finish my meal though i felt like throwing up.
As i walk out a group of students came in and ordered the porkin' mongo deli that came from my bowl. Holy pork!
Now, i'm more determined to continue my pescatarian diet and eventually become pure vegan.
I hate that lady!

trying hard for veganism

2009-02-12T02:25:00.000-08:00

As i romanticize my quest for pure vegetarianism, let me start off with a few leaves and raw veggies. Maybe after a couple of years or so i'll be able to give up my pescatarian diet and eventually become a pure vegan. With my snail-paced dealings and search for answers to all my skepticisms and questions in life (which includes religions and dietary practices among others) maybe it'll take me 3 to five years more to perfect veganism.

vodka misadventurtes

2009-01-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

What happens when 3 crazy dudes on the same radical wavelengths get together and dip their brains into a basin of vodka? A misadventure that leads to big shits (literally), ricefield dives and just pure barrio fun.

It was debbie's last night in marbel so we made sure to take in all the alcohol we can while experiencing the visual superbness of the cold coutryside at night - attempting to be verbally poetic while not sounding drunk and stupid. We invited everybody and fortunately they didn't come.

The culmination was a cool dive into a ricefield. Imagine diving with your bike into a muddy ricefield with two drunk and giggling clowns behind you. After the 3:30am incident we still managed to stroll around the city with just my right foot with a sandal on, half-soaked in mud and still giggling. Everything else (cellphones and other gadgets) was saved except for the other pair of my leather sandal.

Blame maximus, the dog who kept on following us, the spirit of vodka and the absence of fireflies we waited the whole night. The disappointment of not seeing a firefly might have affected our sanity and allowed alcohol take control. (laughs)

The bid for peace continues

2009-01-21T03:13:00.000-08:00

The closing of the year 2008 marked the closing of yet another year of political controversies and un-peaceful events in the life of the Filipino people. The public was flooded with issues and controversies involving the government, threats to peace and order especially in Mindanao, greedy ventures to further exploit the environment for profit and the many plights of the poor and the oppressed that remain unheard. Mind you, we survived that year! However, we have just passed by the end of the beginning.

One of the biggest issues that rocked the year, which is now "silent," but remains in discussions, is the issue of peace and order since the derailed signing of MOA-AD between the government and the MILF. The government has proclaimed to have done its part rightly. This declaration however was deemed as a lie by majority of the public as surveys showed and as first-hand sentiments of people from the south implied. We have been witnesses to the events that followed the failed signing – heated discussions in the arena of self-righteous politicians and leaders, the fear it caused to the public, hostilities, skirmishes and bombings that killed mostly civilians, women and children. We don’t point fingers on who’s to blame. But we need to take notice of the losing end at all times – the innocent civilians. The discussions, debates and all kinds of proceedings may continue but the violence of war will only ravage properties and lives.

This is however just the tip of the iceberg. What really is the cause of un-peace among the people? If we look closer, what is ravaging the properties and lives of the Filipino people is the overall injustice and corruption in our society. We have defeated colonizers in the past, ousted a dictator and impeached a president but our political condition gets worse in time. We see how rich are the natural resources of the country are, and this is the irony of the worsening poverty. We have different terms for politicians’ funds intended to alleviate the condition and welfare of their constituents, especially the poor, but only the green-eyed money and power gluttons get the gain. The poor becomes poorer and the rich becomes filthier and richer.

Said Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in his new year message entitled Agents of Hope and Poverty Alleviation , “God’s blessings are unlimited and countless. What is unfortunate is that they become limited through selfishness, injustice and corruption. Pope Benedict XVI said on Christmas Day that it is GREED that destroys the world and its peace, unbridled and criminal greed of individuals and institutions. The evil effects of greed are worse and more widespread than the evils of war.”

The XIVth Dalai Lama see it this way: peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.

The roots of corruption, injustice and violence are too deep that digging it out to gradually enliven peace in the society is considered by others as a utopian dream. But I, and may we all, stand by our faith that peace is always at hand. May we all continue to listen to the cries of the oppressed and the poor and do our part until the next years to come, or even decades, or until there is no clear end to the injustices against the poor and the oppressed. As advocates of justice and peace and integrity of creation, the efforts for peace will continue until the deserving people of God get the peace that is due them.

Music is my tranquilizer

2009-01-14T01:47:00.000-08:00

Music is my tranquilizer, my pacifier, my stress reliever, my sleeping pills, my stimulant and my intoxicating agent. I would say: if it isn’t for my love for music I’d probably be another dick-swinging naked boy strolling around the city by now. It’s all because my love for music maintains my sanity.

I am a sucker for almost every type of music as long as it does not come with lousy arrangement and mushy lyrics. I don’t sing, I don’t play instruments, I don’t rap. I’m just into listening. I listen to songs objectively regardless of the genre but mostly a good one to me has to come with sensible lyrics and reasonable noise. A disturbing strings exhibition or a loud bass perhaps. However, a vast number of songs in my playlist are of rap genre. The lyrical blows and the pulsating beats pinch my youthful passion and send me to a certain high. Modern rock sub-genres, house and techno, and late 90s alternatives (OPM and foreign) are my cravings too. I don’t tolerate offensive and explicit lyrics of these types though – or maybe sometimes I do.

I remember years ago during one of the lowest days of my life when children younger than me would call me sir. Teaching mostly stubborn high school students the subject I never studied formally is a bit stressful. I barely do the things that I like in a strange place an hour away from home. That was also the period I was into the long struggling stage of accepting having a broken family. I was sick then, having discovered an ailment (most-probably) caused by my indifference of life. A week is like answering consecutive physics exams while finishing a week’s death march - physically, emotionally, and mentally draining.

What did I do to survive those long weeks? When I get home, I turn my mp3s on and lay flat to sleep beside my assembled speaker boxes. High volume, full bass just inches from my ears. The feeling is indescribable. It was like floating into a tub of ice-cubes with your hands behind your back, singing along with the lovely noise. The high of being there drowning in the blare of my favorite music is always an epiphany. When I close my eyes and fall asleep, the heart-pounding beats still get into my system and send me to places of kaleidoscopic equal.

The high each time is higher.

I seldom do that now but I maintain the noise whenever I keep my intoxicating beats playing. Time has taken me to other means of spending my down moments like writing and reading as my new passions but part of my system is my maintained love for music. I still experience death marches and self-inflicted mental tortures once in a while but the high of indulging into my passions keeps me afloat but enduring life whenever I get tired.

assasinate me now before the year progresses

2009-01-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

It’s been a year of sweet tragedies and bitter delights. What’s up for the next year? The hell I care but I am hoping for the best. The political situation will get worse I know and the blurred minds of the silent majority will continue to get blurry. I am no fortune teller but it’s clear as the cumulonimbus clouds that the year ahead is going to experience thunderstorms of controversies and hills of nasty social dung. Trust me. The world is not going to change that easy. It’s going to be a roller-coaster ride for sure but again, the hell I care.

For now, I have to start on my own. What have I got for myself this year? Another set of resolutions. Maybe another set to break or just for the sake of having a list. But I’m serious this time. Bear with me. Here’s my list and you don’t have say a thing after reading or you’ll find your upper lip sautéed for your next meal.

1. Seafoods, vegetable and fruit diet from now on! Go vegefishian!

I’ve removed meat from my diet for more than 3 years now but not totally. I’ve reconsidered chicken later on bearing in mind I still live with my family who can’t fully get along with my diet plans, my mother take charge of the cooking, and my girlfriend loves chicken barbeque.

2. Jog at least once or twice a week. Exercise!

I paid my dues from the party-packed holidays season – gained weight and bigger beer belly. What else is best to do to reduce’em besides from a green diet?

3. Read and study and write more

I’ve read a lot this past year but finished a few. I’ve prepared study materials for work and just for self-enrichment and also finished a few. I’ve written many articles but finished a few. What else have I started that I haven’t finished?

I’ve got to find guide books that will teach me how to topple bad-ass politicos from their pimped thrones and how to make them drink their piss every morning.

4. Pay dues/debts!

…before they accumulate and leave me in deeper shit

5. Go to church more often

My office is just a spit away from the tall doors of the cathedral but a friend of mine who lives miles away from the city goes to church more often than I do.

6. Be organized!

Yes, because clutter is my best friend. Leaving him would be tragedy. But I’ll try.

7. Plan ahead financial moves

As if I’ve got the benjamins to spend. Anyway, it’ll help me gain cents once in a while.

8. Save!

I’m not getting any younger anymore and I’ve got to spend li’l cash to save more green pads and benjamins! When I have enough I will buy the world so I’ll have all the rights to poke the nose-holes of the a-holes, self-righteous personas, baloney artistas and the dirty-ass social pimps.

9. Be more sensitive to family’s needs

More? Okay.

10. Get into or revive small businesses

Redundant? A few bucks gained help a lot, especially when you’ve got much to watch over – like 6 planets, one universe, and a galaxy of socio-political shits.

ode to my copycat

2008-11-25T17:13:00.000-08:00

Cheers to the good life

My friend Sheng asked me to make her a poem about her copycat colleagues and those who hate her being unique, those who talk behind her back just becasue she's different and those who tend to copy her styles. The poem isn't that good but composing it felt nice as I can relate to sheng being an outcast sometimes because of being different from the rest. Just like her I hate being part of the trend.

Ode to my copycat

You bleed with the mere sight of my demeanor
My stunning appeal
My outstanding esteem
The bearing I consistently maintain in my game

You carry the theme I armed myself, shame on you!
My kept oddities
My unconventional fads
The innovations of mine won’t keep your odds

The genre of your gear you are not fit to flaunt
Because it is mine
Because you are fake
Take pleasure in gold but my style you can not take

Your delight of imitative observance is mocking me
I despise you
My wrath against your idiocy
Pretense be over, uncover your extreme folly

Dim-witted as you may sound, I pity you
A lunatic begotten
A false trend setter
To erase your phony existence will leave a better air

Consumeresque you and me

2008-11-04T17:47:00.000-08:00

The Lourd: frontman of Radioactive Sago Project
After searching for Lourd De Veyra's selections on hunger and poverty, here's what i found. A rather blunt but open blow against consumerism.

CONSUMERESQUE

"If Christ lived in our time, everyone would be hanging a chair from their necks."
—Serge Gainsbourg

This poem gets published let’s say
In a broadsheet or a weekly mag,
The author gets only around P500,
Or P1,000 if he’s lucky.
That’s what you get for writing poetry.
But when I was writing press releases
I got paid P2,000 and more for less than ten
Dumb, lousy, brainless, inane paragraphs
That takes me less than 15 minutes to write.
That’s why this one isn’t a poem.
It’s a press release– an announcement,
For what, it’s really up to you,
The reader, for you are purportedly
The ultimate audience of all writing,
You, the dear consumer with a capital C,
Body curved like a small squirming worm–
Living breathing consumer of hamburgers,
Pizza, fried chicken, engineered denims,
MMS mobile phones, multi-colored basketball shoes,
40-inch flat screen TV sets, DVD players,
Pirated Harry Potter VCDs, slimming tablets,
Light beer, blue cola, bottled water, oversized shirts,
Digital video cameras, shampoos, skin whitening lotions,
Instant cup noodles, hairspray, deodorant,
Laundry soap, cigarettes, gin cocktails,
And all other things with a price tag
And all other things even without a price tag
And all other things and all other things
And things and things and things and things and things

click here for the complete text.

Ouch! I belong to the consumeristic world too, only that i've not become as stupid and as idiotic as the many who hails the idea of consumerism, those who believe that the only thing beautiful are those projected by the paid media and the ones defined by the western market.

Mumay

2008-11-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

Meet Mumay, the green-eyed mother of 4 adorable kittens. Mumay was an adopted cat of the Kleitz’ who usually showed up when I’m around visiting Kai and the family. Mumay is comparable to a poor Filipina single mother - she reared for her four kittens on her own despite her seemingly weak body. She was later found dead inside a concrete culvert suspected to have been tortured by neighboring stupid humanoids while looking for food to sustain her body so she can feed her little angels.

Body of lies

2008-10-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

After reading positive reviews of the movie Body of Lies, an action thriller film by director Ridley Scott, I finally had the chance to watch it and have my own critique. It was a lazy sunday in SM megamall after 6 straight days of strolling the polluted metro and other historical parts of the national capital region. The movie proved the celebrated acting craftmanship of Leonardo di Caprio acting as Roger Ferris, a covert CIA operative searching for the terrorists bombing first worlds countries. What's not usual was the seemingly boring (and bored?) character of Russel Crow as Ed Hoffman, Ferris' boss giving him orders all the way from Langley.
I believed the movie was going to highlight deception games and all before it ends. However, before i was to find out if it's true, i passed out- three times bofore the credits crawled up!
It was nearly 15 minutes after the movie started when i realized it was me who's the actual body of lies. I lied to myself i can make it to the end of the movie. I lied that i had enough energy to go through despite going home 5 in the morning from a square harbor and malate strip revelry (see photo.)
I wonder if i snored. If I did, I wish it was loud enough to have disturbed others in the back rows. At least I didn't have to lie to them I was taking advantage of the cold room and the soft spot I paid for.

the apathetic, the dirty-ass politicians and the call

2008-10-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

In a country shattered by hard blows of controversies of corruption and questions of integrity, the low-life citizens are the ones who suffer most. While most of the dirty-ass politicians bag away the people's hope, the poor becomes poorer while these fat-bellied gluttons become richer and more powerful. The biggest culprit: graft and corruption!

Where do we go from here?

In the latest statement by the CBCP, it quoted a research by the IBON Foundation which speaks of the lowly voices of the poor simply slamming the big "BOOs" to the proclaimed "Kaunlaran" by the government. "Twenty million hungry Filipinos will disagree with the proclaimed "Ramdam ang Kaunlaran" with their own experience: "Ramdam ang Kahirapan. Ramdam ang gutom." According to an executive director of IBON, nearly 72% of Filipinos surveyed last year consider themselves poor. According to June 2008 Social Weather Survey, 59% of Filipino Families (10.6 million) rate themselves as mahirap or poor, 24% rate themselves on borderline poor and only 17% as hindi mahirap, not poor. By poverty it means basically among other things food-poverty or food-borderline. The benefits of the much proclaimed economic growth are not felt by the masses."

"Is it any wonder that our country is tagged as the most corrupt country in Asia, and the 11th most corrupt among 102 countries in the world? (cf. Transparency International) . If we are not horrified, disgusted, exasperated and enraged by these realities, can we still say we love our country?"

When we had the chance to meet ZTE witness Jun Lozada last week, I get to ask him how far will he go for what he believes in," he answered "It is not simply a campaign for truth, it is already a way of living, fighting for what you believe in till your last breath (not really the exact words I can remember.)"

I pity the man. I pity him for up to now he is slowly becoming just another dust in the wind. We don’t want that to happen along with the truth, do we? Many, if not all, believe in him. But even those who do remain indifferent and continue on with their lives.

We can not deny that many are apathetic to the call for change. We've heard so much of the prophesies of the future of this country. Be it worse or better, there is still a need for each one to change and it has to start from within. May be a radical change is a better term. As the CBCP statement quotes Apo Mabini "Upang maitindig natin ang bantayog ng ating lipunan, kailangang radikal nating baguhin hindi lamang ang ating mga institusyon, kundi maging ang ating pag-iisip at pamumuhay."

Easier said than done? Naahh!

full text of cbcp statement here http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/5483

death in the workplace

2008-10-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

If in everyday basis of your life you get to deal with stupids, bigots and self-righteous people in the workplace, believe me your health is in danger and it could be fatal. That's one thing i worry about. Says Kate McClare of World Weekly, "Idiots in the office are just as hazardous to your health as cigarettes, caffeine or greasy food, an eye-opening new study reveals. In fact, those dopes can kill you!"

"You can cut back on smoking or improve your diet," Dr. Dagmar Andersson says, "but most people have very poor coping skills when it comes to stupidity -- they feel there's nothing they can do about it, so they just internalize their frustration until they finally explode." Stupid co-workers can also double or triple someone's work load, she explains. "Many of our subjects feel sorry for the drooling idiots they work with, so they try to cover for them by fixing their mistakes."

In my case, my days are not only limited to dealing with idiots, but also to bigots, talkative (but nonsense) pundits, emotionally draining dutiful and insecure people as well. And oh, there's this mildly psychotic old-maid i have to deal with in almost every beautiful day of my life!

That's why every morning i wake up and see the sun, i thank the Creator for giving me another day and pray for more strength to get hold of my emotions and deliver me from thoughts of committing a misconduct. No matter how straight i would want to become as a vegan and keep a healthy lifestyle, their presence would still haunt my days like the dementors from Harry Potter - Prisoner of Azkaban movie, sucking out my goodness, my energies!

Good that i have fair coping skills. And very good that i always have a cup of coffee to sip and drown away unnecessary emotions and cover me from the lethal auras of these stupids, bigots and emotionally-draining living organisms.

Read the full text of the "Working With Idiots Can Kill You" news article here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1683103/posts

30 things before 30

2008-09-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

I used not to worry about time and aging. I used to be confident enough to lie about my age and tell my friends how worrying about the future would only add up to stresses in life and wouldn’t do any good to health. But anxiety of the future slowly creeps into my systems as I age, especially that I’m about to turn 26 this month. I don’t know about this weird presentiment of mine that I feel older at ages of even numbers. I never worried much when I was 25 for to me the number sounds young while 22, 24, and 26 really sounds odd and old. Perhaps it was this oddity that recalled my anxiety of tomorrow.
I tried to bring to mind the previous list I have in my 2005-2006 black book, a journal of my good and mostly bad deeds back then. I found my unfinished list of “30 things I wish to accomplish.” Two years passed and I have only 11 on the list. Recently, I decided to update my list and change some of it. Awkwardly, the list of 11 was even reduced to 9! Am I not sure of what I really want in life or am I just too lazy or forgetful to finish the list that I have started? So, pardon me if im going to post this unfinished. Life is short but surely won’t be short enough for me to finish at least half of the list.

Here's the unfinished list:
1. remain single
2. have my 4 siblings graduated from college
3. finish a masteral course in political or environmental anthropology
4. finish 3 "good" short stories (at least based on my standards)
5. collected my poems and compositions in a book
6. have an article published in a national newspaper or any publication
7. own a house and lot (or at least start paying for it)
8. completed a thousand entries in my blog
9. become a pure vegan
10 - 30. (still to come)