tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50750062009-12-18T10:11:10.346+08:00sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.comBlogger860125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-39252251720887779092009-12-18T06:34:00.005+08:002009-12-18T10:11:10.359+08:00

In the year 2009, the peoples of the Earth convened in a country called Denmark. Over one hundred world leaders met to save the world's atmosphere from man-made pollutants. Due to much dickering, short-sightedness, pride and old-fashioned greed, the climate summit failed. Peoples of Earth carry on as they have for over a hundred years. They continue to reproduce their ways of living on

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-86462968099921591542009-12-16T16:16:00.005+08:002009-12-16T16:39:08.480+08:00

When I was in sixth grade, I remember students from UP coming to speak with us on the issue of the Philippine debt. At the time, they said the sum was one trillion pesos. To a twelve year-old, that amount was unimaginable.This last quarter, Philippine debt hit P4.338 trillion. This is an all-time high. The number is expected to increase next year. Each Filipino owes about P47,000+ to creditors.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-20733762627994454172009-11-26T14:37:00.002+08:002009-11-26T14:37:51.798+08:00

Cynicism is a function of alienation. When one no longer considers oneself part of a something, when one no longer has or no longer cares to have a stake in a system, then one can afford to be cynical. In the cold embrace of cynicism one is insulated from dashed hopes and impossible expectations. Cynicism is the complete and utter destruction of hope. Viewed this way, it is frightfully easy to

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-15543314536151305272009-11-24T15:08:00.002+08:002009-11-24T15:15:02.103+08:00

This veil of civilityA masqueradeGrand displays of lawMorals in tomes of booksA collection of dustBorrowed traditionsAlien yearningsDiscordant ambitionsLay dreams to endRound, roundGo the wrap, trappingsOf civility intactYet a single scratchRevealThe seething morassOf yet bleeding entrailsA pound of bloodMakes just.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-87733875506850784392009-10-04T13:23:00.004+08:002009-10-04T13:35:43.634+08:00

This is a map showing areas in Southeast Asia most vulnerable to climate change. The mapping study was commissioned by a Canadian research center and was published last January.Surprise surprise the whole country is in the red. Click the image to enlarge.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-60976166070187495832009-10-02T12:48:00.004+08:002009-10-02T13:21:58.377+08:00

Ideological blinders lead one to strange conclusions. If we were the rational automatons my ol' pal Luis would have us be, then we would find sense in his call for developers such as himself devoting time instead to doing their work and making more money than volunteering.Instead of under-utilizing himself at the cost of US$125 per session, the developer should just donate that US$125 to the

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-7622803447499904492009-09-28T23:07:00.006+08:002009-09-28T23:43:30.981+08:00

It is perhaps part of our culture to have blind faith in many things, not least faith in two social forces that most shape our collective lives – god and government. This weekend has clearly demonstrated that our faith can only take us so far. God only helps those who help themselves. And government will only help itself unless pressured to do otherwise. We should perhaps take stock of what

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-89909370074060379902009-09-28T20:45:00.001+08:002009-09-28T20:47:00.659+08:00

This is to inform everyone that the Loyola Schools, headed by the Office of Administrative Services (OAS), will go on its first trip tomorrow, 29 September, to help clean-up the houses of those who have been affected by the flood. There will be two volunteer groups, one will proceed to Dela Costa 5 in Montalban and the other in Ateneoville. The groups will meet at Xavier Hall for their expected

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-33359786595389356832009-09-28T17:07:00.001+08:002009-09-28T17:09:07.233+08:00

The Ateneo is accepting donations, both in kind or in cash/check. The centerof relief operations is the Ateneo College Covered Courts. Most needed areready-to-eat food, canned goods, drinking water, clothes, mats, and blankets.Those who wish to donate or volunteer for Ateneo Task Force Ondoy are welcometo go to the College Covered Courts, where they will be directed, assisted,and briefed.For cash

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-70387642195009399692009-09-20T10:28:00.002+08:002009-09-20T10:32:30.037+08:00

Humidity never goes well with smoking. I glance over my shoulder at the other smokers, taking a break from their commute to and from somewhere. I take a quick puff and exhale. The smoke disappears in front of my face. I wonder why I bother, as I inhale the smoke of the passing cars below anyway. The volume on EDSA says it is a busy Saturday.I take a look at the little girl from whom I bought

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-85867650605747695762009-09-18T17:10:00.001+08:002009-09-18T17:14:21.467+08:00

We had agreed to break it off, if only to keep our sanity. We scared each other shitless, so that morning we'd decided to scurry back behind the line separating friends from lovers. He pushed all the wrong buttons. I made him think, he made me laugh. Suddenly he had an Asian fetish and suddenly I didn’t think Spanish was so harsh and noisy. But the power of self-preservation is a foolish a

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-41872660975912434212009-09-16T20:14:00.005+08:002009-09-16T21:52:48.620+08:00

Now that Speaker Nograles has signaled a call for a debate and a vote, the CBCP has called on its legion of rabid fanatics to punish members of Congress who are supportive of the Reproductive Health Bill. This is to be expected of course, given that our sainted frailes have closed their eyes and ears to the plight of the common tao.What I do not understand is why they are singling out Noynoy

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-60774707117988915702009-09-15T22:10:00.003+08:002009-09-15T22:21:39.103+08:00

Cardinal Vidal threatens to wage war on Noynoy's campaign based on his RH support. In that case, they should wage war on pretty much all the presidentiables. Really, what douchebags are our church leaders? I'll write a proper blog post once I've calmed down some. I'm just mighty pissed off right today.From the Bandila newscast last night.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-72944223856996411802009-09-14T22:58:00.006+08:002009-09-15T08:31:03.243+08:00

This podcast has me reading some salient points from Walden Bello's 2009 edition of The Anti-Development State: The Political Economy of Permanent Crisis in the Philippines.From Chapter Seven entitled Corruption and Poverty: Barking Up the Wrong Tree?:Corruption discourse becomes very handy for elite factions wishing to discredit the ruling faction and to present themselves as the alternative.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-45729707929941872002009-09-14T10:14:00.003+08:002009-09-14T11:36:13.811+08:00

I am squeamish any time somebody brings up "good" versus "evil" in politics because in this context, the Church pretty much has a monopoly on ascribing what either one is. In the classic binary of black-white, devil-satan, there is little acknowledgment of the gray in between. Randy David rightly cautions Noynoy Aquino's camp from overtly framing his candidacy along these lines:For, such

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-6101332289789109802009-09-02T07:14:00.005+08:002009-09-02T19:13:17.956+08:00

Winnie Monsod skewers Mikey Arroyo on his US properties.This page requires a higher version browserFor the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TVETA:In case GMANews takes down their video clip, here is the same interview on Youtube.Oh...I love this. Thanks E.P.!!

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-21654565231226132642009-09-01T20:18:00.006+08:002009-09-02T06:29:13.089+08:00

The thought has been percolating in this writer’s mind since that first column by Conrado de Quiros on Noynoy. For the past three weeks we saw how the idea has simmered, and today has culminated in an announcement by Sen. Mar Roxas that he is giving way to Cory and Ninoy’s only son.Skepticism has come from all quarters. They question Sen. Aquino’s competence and record as a public servant. They

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-77920719084267245312009-08-29T09:50:00.002+08:002009-08-29T10:08:19.889+08:00

The window is getting narrower and we have until October to have the bill passed before Congress adjourns. In this TV spot are:Dr. Junice Melgar of LikhaanFormer Pres. Fidel V. RamosBeth Angsioco of the Reproductive Health NetworkAlberto Romualdez, Former Health SecretaryDr. Grace Cruz, UP Population InstituteLea Salonga-Chien, ArtistAmina Rasul, Muslim Women LeaderDr. Jondi Flavier, C-MenBen de

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-53879386843313687302009-08-18T19:08:00.003+08:002009-08-20T08:51:07.085+08:00

The prince saysHis mother's dignity restsOn dining at our expenseI say, neither positionNor birth conferDignity, its dearthRather liesIn simple transgressionsCommitted nonethelessIn such grand scale.The poodles sayThere are thingsMore importantThan dinner tabs or jet planesI say, what is ever moreImportant than queryingThe whereabouts of an hour's worthOf my labor, I profferTo state coffers?In

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-47654621010056457672009-08-17T17:12:00.006+08:002009-08-17T17:32:14.182+08:00

Bad behavior inspires bad poetry. What can I say?Oh you troublesome middle classesWhy must you always raise hellOver every little thing?Know your place, like the massesHere it is, the order of thingsWhen the boom comes a-swingin'They know to duck and huddleWaddle, roll over and play for deadIt is wisdom to know aheadThe rulemaker will not sway.Oh you troublesome middle classesWhy must you

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-13567503637869000042009-08-16T13:37:00.004+08:002009-08-16T13:44:20.740+08:00

Tinay likes to get drunk on strange things. My shoe...Brandy...and little sis Molly!

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-61024084393485009572009-08-13T09:01:00.003+08:002009-08-13T09:34:55.813+08:00

Along with the quaint idea of delicadeza, this country is now in dangerously short supply of honor and shame. Palace apologists are turning the tables on the media, with GMA lawyer Romulo Macalintal claiming the media is just as immoral as his boss.What the fucking hell is going on? In a nutshell Macalintal is arguing - yeah, well everybody's morally bankrupt anyway, so sod off?On Filipino Voices

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-28872791534328313662009-08-13T07:00:00.003+08:002009-08-13T07:05:10.416+08:00

Upon learning of yet another thousand-dollar meal, my friend was so pissed off last night he made this:

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-43947744437886928922009-08-11T15:48:00.007+08:002009-08-12T19:41:40.860+08:00

Cerge Remonde can't seem to keep his story straight on the details of President Arroyo's New Yawk dinnah. Others who have spoken up to ostensibly aid the press secretary are in fact giving information that do not coincide with his narrative.On August 7, Saturday Remonde confirmed the dinner did in fact take place. He said it was Rep. Romualdez who paid for dinner and denied knowing how much it

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075006.post-90545725316187433752009-08-11T09:34:00.003+08:002009-08-11T09:41:27.620+08:00

The PCIJ reports Gloria Arroyo's wealth increased by the 2,000 percent in her incumbency from Senator in 1992 to President.

sparkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14176802456964956777noreply@blogger.com0