STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER
December 23, 2012, I really have to wake up at 8am because it usually takes two hours before I finish fixing myself. The plan was simple. Meet this tumblr fameux and get this photoshoot done, then head off to ATC for the year-ender meet up. But then i realized, you can’t just put an icon on a specific time frame. I was left with no options but to fall under the satisfaction of meeting “juanrepublic” in person for the second time around and clear my schedule that day.
I was waiting for him at a shopping mall in Lipa Batangas. He was right inside the video store looking for that Ely Buendia album. At the back of my mind, i was practicing how to approach this guy. He was of course, older than me, yet he’s very energetic and jolly. The plan was to have the cover photo taken at a photo studio inside the mall, for a change. And in a montage of four photos with Bro. John posing in 4 awkward expressions, the photographer asking if the shots were okay, and me, looking at these Angel Locsin photographs posted on the wall, trying to figure out what Bro. John’s pose will be. The guy was very cooperative, just having fun.
Right after the digital encounter at Tronix, we went straight to grab a lunch at BeeGees, one of the famous Lomi House in Lipa Batangas. Juanrepublic, or Bro. John as we call him, was never a stranger in Lipa batangas. Especially in our barangay. The seminary where he studied for years was just right on the opposite street to where i live. That brings me to my grade school and highschool years where we attend our afternoon religion classes. I know for sure, that Juanrepublic was one of those ‘Seminaristas’ that will go room to room to teach us.
This January 2013, we bring back the issue that features the icons on top of their game. For this annual issue, from last year’s cover @amateurdreamer Rain Malicsi, we give the spotlight to John Emmanuel Leviste-Ebora, or as we all know him, @juanrepublic. The man behind those in depth blog entries. Religion, Media, Politics, Pop cult, Beatles, and everything under the sun.
In this issue, we go back to where Juanrepublic learned the meaning of life, the life inside and outside the seminary, the days when he was an active tumblogger, the glorious days of the crazy dashboard we all miss. Before every bullsh*t you guys pasted on that tumblr dash, he was here. He was here before tumblr tweens dominated tumblr. Juanrepublic was here. Respected, and still rightful to the fictional term, tumblr fameux.
I was about to go to ATC that fine afternoon, after dropping Bro. John to Robinsons Place Lipa. But assuming that i won’t be able to be there on time, i just savored the fun we had, me, my bestfriend James Makalintal, who was our photographer that day, and Juanrepublic himself. We were driving with empty gasoline, decisions hanging, and ended up post processing the photos. There are a lot more meet up coming, but the chance to see a tumblr icon like Bro. John, two words. Halley’s comet.
For our maiden issue this 2013, we give you a roster list of things, icons, the cream of the crop, the honchos, the ones on top. We hope you enjoy this month’s issue. To our supportive followers, readers, contributors and everyone that keeps the fire burning for Tumblr Mag, our sincerest thank you, and may we embrace this year with high hopes, great expectations and a better and more powerful version of ourselves.
tumblrmagphJAN2013
Tumblr friends,
I know, most of us have ‘outgrown’ this platform but thank you for sharing a part of yourself here before.
The advent of a new year signifies a new beginning, a new hope, and a new opportunity for us to share stories.
We may not be as ‘active’ as before but let us continue to share and exchange thoughts. stories, and lessons.
Brace yourselves, 2013 is gonna be a fun ride.
Happy new year!
- John
I decided to watch ‘El Presidente’ yesterday and here are my few thoughts:
On the plus side:
1. Excellent cinematography. Mostly. Except for a couple of ‘babad ang camera sa mukha’ on ER Ejercito.
2. The musical score sends shivers to my spine (nuks). Hands down to the evil genius, Jessie Lasaten.
3. I commend some of the actors who showed an exceptional performance - Baron Geisler, John Regala, Cesar Montano, and Boyet De Leon.
On the minus side:
1. The poor, if not “mag-workshop ka pa”, performance by the lead star. ‘Nuff said. (And why does Emilio Aguinaldo speak with an American accent in the Hong Kong Junta scene? Ano ka? Call center agent?). And the poor performance of some extras. I noticed some are laughing and/or awkwardly smiling during their scene.
2. Poor development of the story. It turned out to be just a pure re-enactment of the events of General Miong’s life. And oh, did I say POOR EDITING? I was expecting more from a particular scene and boom! Next scene please. Ananyare? And it failed to show the “human” side of Miong. Naging romanticized, if not fantasized.
3. The anti-climactic climax. Just pure montage shots with some goodie-dramatic musical score. It could have been better, in my opinion.
All in all, the film was good. The film was okay for an epic biopic. Though, it could have been better.
Source: juanrepublic
I Just Shot John Lennon - The Cranberries
32 years ago today, John Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman outside his New York apartment. This is one of the songs created to commemorate that horrible night of December 8, 1980.
It was the fearful night of December 8th. He was returning home from the studio late. He had perceptively known that it wouldn’t be nice. Because in 1980, he paid the price.
John Lennon died.
With a Smith & Wesson 38, John Lennon’s life was no longer a debate. He should have stayed at home, He should have never cared, And the man who took his life declared,
He said I just shot John Lennon. He said I just shot John Lennon.What a sad and sorry and sickening sight. What a sad and sorry and sickening night.
This is a song from The Cranberries’ album To the Faithful Departed. It is a narrative of the events of the night of December 8, 1980, the night that musician John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City. It is one of many tributes to Lennon, and also one of many other songs to recall the events of the night. After the narrative, there is commentary: “What a sad, and sorry and sickening sight”.
John’s Last Photograph. Chapman silently handed Lennon a copy of Double Fantasy, and Lennon obliged with an autograph. After signing the album, Lennon asked him, “Is this all you want?” Chapman smiled and nodded in agreement. Photographer and Lennon fan Paul Goresh took a photo of the encounter six hours before John’s death.
The title of the song comes from the words said by Chapman that evening. After being asked, “Do you know what you’ve done?” Chapman calmly replied, “I just shot John Lennon”.
What an asshole, eh?
You may have gone but your music and your legacy will live forever. Thank you John Winston Lennon. I will always be a fan.
Source: juanrepublic
When I was a little kid, there were two things that come to my mind whenever I hear the words AIDS and HIV. The first was Sarah Jane Salazar. Second, that it was a contagious, incurable, fatal disease, a death sentence of sort, and is something to be feared of.
Sarah Jane Salazar was a prominent figure during the late nineties. She was a Filipino AIDS activist and educator and the second Filipino with HIV to go public. She stirred controversy in 1997 when she was charged with child abuse for having sex with 16-year old Ritchie Atezado without protection. She later bore two children who were both tested negative for HIV. Her partner Rithchie, on the other hand, was later tested positive.
I was raised watching the evening news and current affairs programs (like Brigada Siyete and Magandang Gabi Bayan) and the story of Sarah Jane was like a serye that was being followed during those years. I can still recall the story of a young Arnold Clavio on Brigada Siete that documented Sarah Jane’s life, health, and advocacy. (Arnold Clavio would later become her kumpare when she asked the latter to be her child’s godfather.) In June 11, 2000, Sarah Jane died of AIDS complications.
Watching the stories of Sarah Jane and other victims, I saw AIDS then as something to be feared of. Seeing the images of victims from Africa and Cambodia, who have lost their appetite, thin, very sick, and abandoned by their loved ones added my fright to the disease.
Because of my fear of HIV/AIDS, I developed these beliefs. It has no cure. If you contacted it, then you must count your remaining days on this planet. You will be abandoned. You will be hated. You will be feared. It’s the modern-day leprosy wherein the victims must be isolated from the public.
But that was before I was educated on the disease. That was before I see things differently. That was before I expose myself to different stories of hope, survival, compassion, and love.
My first experience of awakening was when I watched one episode of Hirayamanawari (I’m not sure if it is that program or some other educational program during the last glorious days of quality local television programs). There was this boy (played by child actor Eman Abelada) who accidentally contacted HIV after undergoing a blood transfusion while undergoing an appendectomy. After being tested positive for HIV (and later, AIDS), his friends, due to their ignorance of the disease, started to isolate him for fear of contacting the same disease for they thought that mere physical contact can bring AIDS. The young boy died at the end of the story but thanks to the doctors and his parents’ help, his friends understand more what HIV and AIDS are.
With that simple presentation, the way I view the disease changed. It also thought me the importance of the support of the patient’s family and friends.
Fast forward to year 2000, I was in Grade 6 when we discussed HIV and AIDS in school. If my memory serves me right, it was included in our Science and Health subject. Our teacher, who happened to be one of my favorites, tackled the basics of the disease and on how it would be prevented. She even let us do a skit on how to avoid contacting the disease (infected needles, blood transfusion, etc.). Though included in our school textbook, for obvious reasons, we did not demonstrate how to practice safe sex then.
It has been more than a decade since I stopped fearing the disease. And in those years, I have encountered numerous movements, groups, and advocacy to raise the awareness to the disease.
In today’s world where sex can be as casual as a fist bump, various ways and movements to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS have sprung up. Safe sex, condom, protection, you name it.
Safety. It’s as if it is stupid to go on a joust with another knight without your armor, it is also stupid to have sex without, er, protection.
Though some of the ways, beliefs and advocacy challenge my personal beliefs (and faith, if you may permit), I believe that we can all agree on a common ground wherein our similarities will help us fight together for a good cause:
Awareness. Education. Understanding. Empathy.
Awareness. In the course of history, battles are won primarily by acknowledging the peril, danger, and the possible aftermath of attacking the enemy. Before all the planning of military tactics and possibleattack, one must first acknowledge that there is an imminent threat or danger. The same thing goes with HIV and AIDS. they do exist. We may not have a cure yet for it but that doesn’t mean that we cannot do something about it.
Education. In my opinion, if there is one thing more fatal than the disease itself, it would be ignorance. HIV and AIDS have been here for quite sometime now and there are a lot of people who are willing to shed light on this feared disease. Know the disease. Know its symptoms. Know its cause. Know how to possibly avoid it. Your paranoia over the disease might be the cause of your early demise. Be educated. Call it a cliche but still, prevention is better than cure.
Understanding. Being aware and educated of the disease is not enough. There are HIV positive patients whose sufferings are doubled because of discrimination and the wrong and lack of understanding of the disease. I believe that there are bad things in this world which are brought primarily by misunderstanding. And we can be a part of changing these things.
Empathy. It is the capacity to recognize and share feelings that are being experienced by others. Unlike sympathy, empathy is like putting ourselves in the place of others. It is more personal. By putting ourselves into the mental shoes of another person, especially the victims of HIV and AIDS, we will know them better. It is only then that we can show wholeheartedly our love, support, and compassion.
I will not preach here about the different ways to prevent HIV and AIDS. I will just leave it to the experts. And I know that you are educated with the basic knowledge about the disease.
It doesn’t matter to me if you are a supporter or a critic of safe sex, condoms, and other protection. I believe that no matter how HIV and AIDS volunteers/counselors or your religious institutions teach you about how you use your personal and sexual freedom, the decision is still up to you.
An international group of scientists has traced the ancestry of the virus that caused AIDS back to strains found in African monkeys. If we will believe Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, we humans are descendants of the earlier species of monkeys. But there are two things that differentiates us from these creatures aside from appendix - freedom and intellect.
We are creatures endowed with freedom and intellect. We are the ones who drive our own life. We have the control of our body. We are free to choose an option. We are intelligent creatures.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections, zero deaths from AIDS-related illnesses, zero discrimination. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is praising the drop in new HIV cases throughout the world. Unfortunately, it is the opposite for the Philippines. You may have seen or read it on the news over the past weeks and months that the Philippines is one of the countries where the number of new HIV infections has increased by over 25%. While the threat of HIV and AIDS has been decreasing on the other parts of the globe, our country (together with 2 others in the SEA region) is now being categorized by UNAIDS and UNICEF as “having an expanding epidemic.” Isn’t it ironic?
Now what? Are we just letting the percentage of new infections increase? Of course not. We can all be a part of information dissemination and education about HIV and AIDS. What’s the use of our country being a social media capital of the world if we don’t use our power for a good cause? And with a beacon of hope manifested by the decrease of new infections in other parts of the globe, I think it’s a huge step to finally reverse the rate of new infections if not totally wipe out HIV and AIDS on the face of this planet. Just like small pox. eh?
As we commemorate today’s World AIDS Day, let us be aware of the disease, be educated on how to prevent it, understand the victims, and empathize to help them fight the disease. Together, we can defeat this. I hope this year’s celebration is one of the last ones.
Spread the love. Spread the word. Spread the knowledge. Not the virus.
Elsewhere:
Source: juanrepublic
Yes, this is the Front Page of the Inquirer Today
Let me get straight to the point. Today’s issue of The Philippine Daily Inquirer features a whooping photo of the posterior of Jennifer Lopez taken during her Manila concert. Alongside with it is the news article about Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s disappointment over the said concert.
Now what?
First, I was surprised to know that Senator Miriam Santiago watched the concert alongside with other politicians and Showbiz personalities. Second, I was surprised to see the story of the concert landing on the front page. I expected it to be at the entertainment section. And third, with the photo of that well-chiseled posterior gracing the front page of the Inquirer, the broadsheet, in my opinion, has been transformed into a tabloid for a day.
It has been a part of my daily routine to check the news every morning - from the websites of the news agencies of different TV networks to the different websites of broadsheets and web-based news agencies (like Rappler.com). I have also been fascinated by the different front pages and covers of newspapers, tabloids, broadsheets,and magazines. As a matter of fact, I have repeatedly blogged about some of the most memorable front pages showcasing historical and important events over the past 3 years of this blog’s existence.
But what I saw on the Inquirer earlier this morning came to me as a surprise. The posterior of a Hollywood A-Lister gracing the country’s, ehem, number one broadsheet in the country (based on its readership), wow. Personally, I don’t think putting up JLo’s precious possession is a good move for a respected broadsheet. The Inquirer is my personal favorite among the country’s top broadsheets and I felt a little disgust, if not disrespect, on this move.
This is not an issue of me being a killjoy conservative. Who doesn’t love well-chiseled ass anyway? But, in my opinion, there’s a special place in the broadsheet to enthrone that photo. and the front page is definitely not that place.
This is not the first incident that I find the front page of the Inquirer amusing, if not entertaining. Back in May 7, 2012, the Inquirer featured the Mon Tulfo-Raymart Santiago brawl as their banner story. and back in January 7, 2012 an error in juxtaposition almost put the Department of Tourism’s It’s More Fun in the Philippines into an epic failure (as seen on the newspaper, at least).
Well, as cliche as it may sound, the ‘damage’ has already been made. Let’s just admire Jennifer Lopez’s 27-Million-Dollar buttocks and hope that one day, we bumped into Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago in the concert of another foreign artist. How about Sting’s concert this December? Or Coldplay? Or GreenDay? Or at the Pulp Summer Slam? Impossible? Nah. Who would have thought that she would watch JLo’s concert as part of her ‘immersion’ so, who knows?
Source: juanrepublic
This day marks the 3rd year, the 1,096th day of the gruesome Ampatuan Massacre, a horrible event in our history where 58 people were killed, 34 of whom were journalists or working for the broadcast industry. Justice is yet to be served, but do you still care?
It seems like the attention of the public on this issue is slowly going to the depths of the abyss of the forgotten. It’s in one of the infamous characteristics of the Filipinos. We have a short attention span. We tend to forget our past easily. Mabilis makalimot. Mabilis magpatawad. Or it is being overshadowed by other news and events.
I partly blame this mentality in our Teleserye culture. For years, or for decades, we have been fed by these drama series shown every weeknights. The stories, though made of recycled plots and formulas, are fast-paced. We are not given an ample time to process what we have seen. We are bombarded every night by the same stories to the point that most of us hardly remember the development of the story, the plot, and the characters. Most TV series abroad are shown on a weekly basis. After each episode - with a definite plot and development - viewers are given an ample time to think, to scrutinize, to discuss, and to process what happened. That ample time, in my opinion, is the way people remember what they have received. And in a larger view, I view this as the way of constantly remembering events that affect our lives in general.
Or perhaps we no longer care about the issue anymore? As I write this piece, the local Twitter trending topics are filled with obscure statements of support for these pseudo-reality love teams and famewhores and other unimportant, self-gratifying topics that would make oneself ‘known’ on the cyber universe. I have always believed that the trending topics on Twitter in a particular country reflects its people’s priority, interest, and views. It’s a tragedy that these fantards behind the so-called ‘famewhore trends’ on Twitter seem to be more influential than the people behind the voices of reform, vital information, advocacy, and policy making. What a shame!
Whenever there is a viral sensation sweeping online, most of the Filipinos (or those with access on the internet which, I think, is a substantial number) rally behind that thing - giving opinions, fumed reactions, and emotional outbursts. Like an angry mob during the medieval era holding torches and pitchforks, storming the house of an alleged witch or heretic. Take for example the Amalayer brouhaha last week. Almost every Filipinos with social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter expressed their two cents on the issue. It even caught a national attention when the news programs and news portals made a story out of the Amalayer incident.
If we can stand, forgive me for the term, united on this Amalayer thing with lesser significance, then why can’t we do the same with the issues of health, education, poverty alleviation, information, and social reform? Why can’t we do the same thing to rattle the authorities, the justice system, to call for justice for the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre and other extrajudicial killings?
By letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, it would appear that we are condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or killing the fifty-eight (58) victims repeatedly. The victims’ death will not be given justice if the perpetrators of the crime are not prosecuted and punished.
The victims of this gruesome massacre died doing what is right - the victims, in the sense of a change of leadership by means of a lawful and honest election and the mediamen, by telling their (victims’) story and by acting as our eyes, ears, and mouthpiece of that event.
This massacre is caused by the warlord’s struggle to keep their power and to protect their self-interest against any possible threats. Bad politics, bad leadership, and people continuously feeding these beasts by means of the culture of tolerance, impunity, and patronage politics. But we have seen that it is not impossible to have a good, efficient, and selfless leader to rule among us.
One of the factors why these horrible events happen is because nobody seems to be punished. People choose to be silent for fear of retribution. People choose not to speak out to avoid trouble for them and their family. We are allowing the culture of impunity in our country
Impunity. Kawalang pakundangan. It’s like saying “Go ahead, kill everyone who are against your plans! Shoot the story tellers! We allow murder in our country! No one is punished by the way.”
And we don’t want it that way, right? So what can we do as an ordinary citizen?
Earlier this morning, I watched the first part of Patricia Evangelista’s documentary ‘58’. Word cannot describe how I felt after seeing those mutilated bodies of the victims. Yes, I used to see gruesome scenes on the movies and TV shows that I watch but this one’s different. It’s real. Nakakapanlumo. Nakakapanghina.
It is painful to admit that the wheels of justice in our country are not well-oiled, causing it to roll slowly. And it is more heart-wrenching to know that the witnesses of this massacre are either being killed one-by-one or being abducted never to be seen again.
But let us not give up, let us not lose hope. As cliche as it may sound, the only way for evil people to triumph - or the culture of impunity to prevail in this country - is for good and responsible people to do nothing.
Let us chase Lady Justice no matter how exhausting, no matter how it seems to be hopeless, and no matter how long it takes.
Justice for the Victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Never Forget. Never again.
Photos courtesy of Union Journalists of the Philippines - UP Diliman and John Silva’s Facebook post and Inquirer.net, the website of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Elsewhere:
Source: juanrepublic
“What are your hobbies?”, the interviewer asked me.
“I write”, I told him with my signature smirk, “I watch movies and TV series, I play the piano, guitar, and drums. But I write most of the time”
“I would be happy to read some of your works one of these days.” He smiled as he continued to browse and read my curriculum vitae.
______
Yes, I write. Or I used to. It has been months now since I last wrote a decent entry on this blog. I may have some articles written and saved on MS Word but most of them are unfinished and I can’t seem to find my mojo to finish them.
Until one rainy afternoon, out of boredom, I grabbed my copy of Gerry Alanguilan’s critically-acclaimed graphic novel Elmer. Even though I have repeatedly read and finished that comic book, I still browse and admire its way of telling a story. Perhaps to get an inspiration from chickens.
And then it came to me. On one part of the story, Elmer Gallo wrote in his diary that one should write because it is important not to forget. That message inspired his son, Jake Gallo, to write a book about the story of his father and the story of how chickens fought for their rights and equality.
It is important not to forget. Back when I was still in School, I used to keep a journal. I wrote there my reflections, dreams, and even those one-paragraph ideas that would eventually be the basis of my full-length article, short story, and other things that are worth writing and publishing (for our school publication, at least).
I had ideas, great ideas. Or to borrow Jake Gallo’s lines, “great ideas that would make great movies.” But they eventually lost just because I forgot it. Because I did not write it. Because I just let them slip past my consciousness.
Sayang naman.
I don’t want to make a promise to myself, or to this blog, or to you, whoever you are who stumbled upon this page, that I would start writing more regularly. I believe that is is a slow process of recovery, of getting used to it, of making it a habit.
But for now, write. Write even the smallest things. Write even the craziest one-liners. Write on any medium - on a piece of paper, at the back of the receipt, or at the calendar hanging on your wall.
Write as if no one will read your work. Write for yourself. Write for the universe. Screw your readers. You don’t owe them anything yet.
Write.
Because it is important not to forget.
Source: juanrepublic
For twenty pesos, you can take a peek at a different world filled with colors, shapes, and patterns. Spin it, twirl it, shake it, and let the beautiful world unfold before your eyes.
It was the kaleidoscope. It was the twenty-peso kaleidoscope that my father gave me when I was about six years old. It was about six inches long whose tube has a green color with drops and sprays of other different colors that looks like the psychedelic variant of jawbreaker candies. Back in the days of my childhood, of simplicity, of actually exploring on real things, I considered my kaleidoscope as something of great value. I brought it to school, brag it among my friends, and played with it whenever I got bored with my action figures.
As I grew up, I shifted my focus on other things. From the small peephole of the kaleidoscope, I focused on other bright, moving, and colorful things of the real world. I got engrossed with other things that are “in” during my growing up years - action figures of Gundam robots, computer games, and mini 4WD race cars among others. I totally forgot about my kaleidoscope.
Sadly, I can no longer find that kaleidoscope that my father gave me when I was a little boy. Maybe it got lost in our old house. Or maybe my parents gave it away, together with my other childhood stuff, during the time when I was away for eight years, studying. Odd as it may sound, I felt that something was also taken from me with the loss of that kaleidoscope. You may argue that why whine on that cheap toy when I can always buy a new one. But there is something on that green, psychedelic-looking, six-inch tube. It has a sentimental value. It has good memories with it. It reminds me of the days of me being innocent and carefree. It reminds me of the good old days of my childhood.
Then, there is this anthem by Francis Magalona called Kaleidoscope World. It was a song included in his 1995 album Freeman and later included in the compilation album, Best of FrancisM. Though I admit that it was already a bit late when I discovered this song (I think I was already in High School or about six years after it was originally released), I immediately fell in love its subtlety, catchy chorus, poetry, and its message.
The chorus, with its utmost simplicity, speaks of the vibrant and colorful message. Who would not love the lines “Every color, every hue is represented by me and you. Take a slide in the slope. Take a look in the kaleidoscope. Spinnin’ round, make it twirl in this kaleidoscope world..” ?
We all have different interpretations of songs. My understanding may be different from you or the composer. I saw Kaleidoscope World as a song of harmony and unity. It is the perfect example of “unity in diversity”. We may be different by race, color, social status, age, gender, intelligence, and power but we all form the beautiful and colorful shapes and patterns in the kaleidoscope. Together, just like the pebbles, papers, and other stuff inside the kaleidoscope we can form a beautiful world, a harmonious dimension, and a colorful humanity.
Perhaps, this is Kiko’s legacy not only to the Filipino people but to the whole world. This song, if only its spirit is lived and understood by most people, can be an anthem of change. This song can be a catalyst to inspire more people to accept each other despite of our differences. By this song, together with other great songs that speaks of peace, unity, and harmony, the world will know peace.
I first met Francis when I was about four years old. My kuya, an artist, was busy then painting a portrait of Francis Magalona in a one-eighth illustration board at our old kubo. The face was familiar. He’s the man behind the infectious patriotic song Mga Kababayan Ko. And I have watched him on the movie Mama’s Boys with Ogie Alcasid, Michael V., and Anjo Yllana.
I saw Francis as a revolutionary young face that will achieve great heights. He challenged the conventional music style of his age. His music paved way for the unification of the then-opposing sides of Pinoy hip-hop and rock by experimenting on the merging of rap with rock music. After all, music is the language that should unite us, not divide us.
But more importantly, I saw Francis as a young man, whose heart is united with his beloved land. He redefined patriotism. He made it easier for the youth of this generation to appreciate and understand. And he showed us how great a race and nation we are.
Pride. Identity. Meaning. Perhaps, he saw that before we can shout to the world that we love our country, we must first know what it really means to be a Filipino.
I saw Mga Kababayan Ko then as an anthem which promotes Pinoy pride and identity along with the songs Ako’y Isang Pinoy by Florante and Tayo’y mga Pinoy by Heber Bartolome (and later recorded and reinvented by the Man from Manila himself). These three songs, together with our regular Monday school anthem Ako ay Pilipino, were my first inspirations to love my country, to appreciate my Pinoy identity, and to be proud of my ancestry. And this was long before Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons and Noypi by Bamboo.
He may have gone at a young age but what is more important is that he had lived his life with meaning. He has influenced a whole generation. He has inspired many with his music. And with that, he is already immortal.
For the past months, I have always been stuck in front of a clean paper, staring at it for hours, unable to write. Maybe it’s writer’s block or lack of creative juices. Or maybe I fear that my readers would not appreciate my work. That is the reason why this blog has been “dead” for a long period of time.
As I have mentioned above, it was only during High School when I discovered Kaleidoscope World. the funny thing is, during the time when this song was originally released, it was also the time when I have been so engrossed with my kaleidoscope. I came up with this article earlier this morning when I tweeted about kaleidoscope and whether the kids of today know what this is. It is inspired, of course, by Francis Magalona’s song. I asked myself, when was the last time when I actually held and peeked at a kaleidoscope? What happened to my old kaleidoscope?
And then it came to me. I suddenly remembered the happy memories associated with my kaleidoscope. I felt young again, energetic, and full of dreams. That nostalgia brought me inspiration. And I didn’t realize, I was already writing this piece.
Perhaps, all I need is a little push from Kiko. Or his song for an inspiration. And just like a kaleidoscope, all I have to do is to spin it round, make a twirl, to see different patterns, colors, and shape.
I now see things from a different perspective.
Mabuhay ka at maraming salamat Kiko! Maligayang kaarawan!
Kickass photo courtesy of scarypet.deviantart.com
Source: juanrepublic
Two Years after the Bloodbath
Exactly two years ago, on the day after the bloodbath at the Quirino Grandstand, this was the headline of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Yesterday marked the second year of the infamous Manila Hostage Tragedy where 8 Hong Kong tourists died when dismissed police officer Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus carrying 25 people in an attempt to get his job back.
Yesterday’s commemoration may have been overshadowed by other issues and events (Sen. Tito Sotto’s alleged plagiarism and his staff’s moronic defense and the sudden death of DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, to name some) but this tragic event in our history is still fresh in my mind, as if it happened just recently.
I was then in between doing my editing works and procrastinating on Tumblr when the news broke out the morning of August 23, 2010. Having seen a similar situation years before when Jun Ducat held hostage preschool students in a bus, I told myself that this will also come to a peaceful end. I even exchanged some good laughs and ideas with an online buddy, Tita Marj, about the possibility of creating a biopic for Captain Mendoza and guessing who would be the best actor to portray him (I personally chose Efren Reyes Jr. and Spanky Manikan for the role).
The whole afternoon and early evening went by with me tweeting and posting some stuff on Tumblr about the hostage crisis, my opinion, my rant against Captain Mendoza, on how would it affect our image to the international community, and being glued on the evening news on television, monitoring the events.
And then the unexpected came. The whole country - and perhaps the whole world - was in shock.
Most of us, I think, were glued then on the television and have watched the events that lead to a bloodbath. Those who have no television during that time resorted to social media, blogging site Tumblr included, for updates. My dashboard became a news feed of sort, thanks to the Tumblristas who posted the events (and opinion) on the blogging platform. (There was even a pun created during that time on David Karp’s cyber empire. Tumblr became ‘Tumblr Patrol’ in reference to the blow by blow posting of events just like in the news program ‘TV Patrol’.)
After the tragic event, the eyes of the whole world were glued to our country and the then two-month old Aquino administration was put under the spotlight of local and international ridicule. The Pinoy culture of ‘mas magaling ang miron’, ‘sisihan’ and ‘turuan’ were seen days after the event. Memes about how pulpol our policemen were spread on various social media. Angry Facebook users stormed the Facebook page of President Aquino (that lead to its early demise and reconstruction). And to make things worse, photos of policemen and students who were taking pictures with the ill-fated bus spread on the internet (that added to the anger of the citizens of Hong Kong.)
It has been repeatedly said that no one wanted this to happen. Our country has repeatedly apologized to the victims. But is an apology enough? No. Is justice served to the victims? Apparently, even after two years, not yet.
Yesterday, the families of eight Hong Kong victims who were killed in the hostage crisis stormed our consulate in Hong Kong as they demand for an apology from our Government. And two years after the tragedy, Hong Kong has not lifted its ‘black’ travel warning that discourages its residents from travelling to the Philippines. (It was originally issued on the day of the hostage taking.)
I understand the grief of the victims’ kin. Two years after the event, only one among those who were recommended to be accountable was punished and sacked from office (the alleged extortionist ex-Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III who is one of the causes of captain Mendoza’s outrage). I personally read the recommendation of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) soon after the document was made public and I was disappointed to learn that some of their recommendations were not followed by the Palace. For instance, they did not follow the recommendation of the IIRC to sanction PNP Chief director General Jesus Versoza, Manila City Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno (the latter, allegedly, was saved because he was the President’s shooting buddy).
But to be fair, I commend the current administration in their efforts in their drive against corruption. We do not want to make another Captain Mendoza among the civilians and our servicemen. It will be remembered that one of the reasons why Captain Mendoza hijacked the bus was the alleged corruption (and bribery for his pending case) on the Office of the Ombudsman.
Two years have passed and although justice is yet to be fully served on the victims, we can see some changes on the system. There’s already a new Ombudsman in the person of Conchita Carpio-Morales. With the sudden death of Sec. Jesse Robredo, the clamor of the public for a clean and honest governance has increased. With the appointment of the new Chief Justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno, hopefully, there is a drastic change in our judiciary. And with the active participation of the people through social media, I think, we are getting closer to the dream of having a clean system.
But before all of these good things to materialize, let us not forget that there are grieving relatives of the victims, there are accountable persons who are yet to be sanctioned, and there is still an elusive justice that is yet to be served.
And I hope this would never happen again. Never again.
Elsewhere:
Source: juanrepublic
This day marks the 33rd month, the 1,004th day of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre, a horrible event in our history where 58 people were killed, 34 of whom were journalists or working for the broadcast industry. Justice is yet to be served, but do you still care?
It seems like the attention of the public on this issue is slowly going to the depths of the abyss of the forgotten. It’s in one of the infamous characteristics of the Filipinos. We have a short attention span. We tend to forget our past easily. Mabilis makalimot. Mabilis magpatawad. Or it is being overshadowed by other news and events.
As of writing, the nation is in grief with the sudden demise of a great man, a great leader, and a great family man, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo (together with two pilots Jessup Bahinting and Kshitz Chand). He was known to be one of, if not the best Secretary the DILG has ever had. His programs and reforms, most notably the Seal of Good Housekeeping, kept the municipalities and cities striving to perform better.
Or perhaps we no longer care about the issue anymore? As I write this piece, the local Twitter trending topics are filled with obscure statements of support for these pseudo-reality love teams and famewhores. I have always believed that the trending topics on Twitter in a particular country reflects its people’s priority, interest, and views. It’s a tragedy that these fantards behind the so-called ‘jeje trends’ on Twitter seem to be more influential than the people behind the voices of reform, vital information, advocacy, and policy making. What a shame!
By letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, it would appear that we are condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or killing the fifty-eight victims repeatedly.
The victims’ death will not be given justice if the perpetrators of the crime are not prosecuted and punished. A great man’s death would be in vain if his good works, programs, and legacy are not carried forward.
The victims of this gruesome massacre died doing what is right - the victims, in the sense of a change of leadership by means of a lawful and honest election and the mediamen, by telling their (victims’) story and by acting as our eyes, ears, and mouthpiece of that event.
Personally, I think Sec. Jesse Robredo gave as an example of what it takes to be a leader - that you can lead and uplift people’s way of lives without the use of violence and intimidation; that you can be a great and beloved leader despite of the the notion of the general public in politics as dirty; that you can lead a city for a long time and still be loved and trusted by the people; and that you can be a leader in its truest essence - a servant-leader.
This massacre is caused by the warlord’s struggle to keep their power and to protect their self-interest against any possible threats. Bad politics, bad leadership, and people continuously feeding these beasts by means of the culture of tolerance, impunity, and patronage politics. But we have seen that it is not impossible to have a good, efficient, and selfless leader to rule among us.
One of the factors why these horrible events happen is because nobody seems to be punished. People choose to be silent for fear of retribution. People choose not to speak out to avoid trouble for them and their family. We are allowing the culture of impunity in our country
Impunity. Kawalang pakundangan. It’s like saying “Go ahead, kill everyone who are against your plans! Shoot the story tellers! We allow murder in our country! No one is punished by the way.”
And we don’t want it that way, right? So what can we do as an ordinary citizen?
It is painful to admit that the wheels of justice in our country are not well-oiled, causing it to roll slowly. And it is more heart-wrenching to know that the witnesses of this massacre are either being killed one-by-one or being abducted never to be seen again.
But let us not give up, let us not lose hope. As cliche as it may sound, the only way for evil people to triumph - or the culture of impunity to prevail in this country - is for good and responsible people to do nothing.
Let us chase Lady Justice no matter how exhausting, no matter how it seems to be hopeless, and no matter how long it takes.
Justice for the Victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Never Forget. Never again.
Elsewhere:
Photo courtesy of Philstar.com’s editorial cartoon.
Source: juanrepublic
Source: juanrepublic
“Makating Talampakan”
Isang mahanging hapon, ako’y sumakay
Sa jeep dito sa eLBi, habang clutch bag aking akay
Ako’y may kasabay, dalagang naka-blue
At nang makita ang ginagawa niya’y, ako’y napa-Boo!
Halos limang minuto, siya’y hindi tumitigil
Pagkamot sa talampakan, para bang nanggigigil
Hindi maiwasang, pamasahe ko’y ibinayad
At nakakadiri talaga, nahawakan ko ang kaniyang palad!
Anak ng alipunga naman! Pakiusap po naman.
Kung magkakamot sa publiko’y magdahan-dahan
Konting manners naman, masyado kang nakakadiri
Ang jeep nating sinasakyan, hindi mo pag-aari
Kaya’t sa susunod, kung ang inyong paa’y makati
Konting tiis lang, magpigil sa sarili
Sapagkat hindi magandang tingnan, magkamot ng talampakan
Kapag hindi ako nakapagpigil, baka ika’y aking upakan
Source: juanrepublic
This day marks the 32nd month of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre, a horrible event in our history where 58 people were killed, 34 of whom were journalists or working for the broadcast industry. But do you still care?
It seems like the attention of the public on this issue is slowly going to the depths of the abyss of the forgotten. It’s in one of the infamous characteristics of the Filipinos. We have a short attention span. We tend to forget our past easily. Mabilis makalimot. Mabilis magpatawad.
Perhaps the media outlets and the Filipinos who care are too focused on the State of the Nation Adress (SONA) of President Noynoy Aquino this afternoon. Or we are too busy defending our sovereignty and territory against our bullying neighbor countries. Or maybe because of the slow progress of the case (if there is one), we have lost hope.
Or perhaps we no longer care anymore? As I write this piece, the local Twitter trending topics are filled with obscure statements of support for these pseudo-reality love teams and famewhores. It’s a tragedy that these fantards behind the so-called ‘jeje trends’ on Twitter seem to be more influential than the people behind the voices of reform, vital information, advocacy, and policy making. What a shame!
But by letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, it will appear that we are condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or killing the fifty-eight victims repeatedly. Or allowing the culture of impunity in our country.
Impunity. Kawalang pakundangan. It’s like saying “Go ahead, kill everyone who are against your plans! Shoot the story tellers! We allow murder in our country! No one is punished by the way.”
And we don’t want it that way, right? So what can we do as an ordinary citizen?
Let us offer a minute of silence to remember the victims of the massacre. And ask God - or the Cosmos or some Force, depending on your belief - that this would never happen again.
Justice for the Victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Never Forget. Never again.
Source: juanrepublic
22 Years Ago Today: 1990 Luzon Earthquake
This is not my story to tell.I was barely a year old when this tragedy struck. The only story I had (as told by my parents) about a national calamity when I was a baby was a year later, during the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. Supposedly, I repeatedly told them the lines ‘Tot ako mawnteyn tubot’ (“Takot ako sa Mountain Pinatubo” or “I’m afraid of Mt. Pinatubo”). And based on the age of my usual readers/followers and most of the Filipino Tumblr users, I think only a few could tell his/her story of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.
But I do have an a posteriori experience of the tragedy. During the glorious age of educational shows on Philippine TV, we had this program Bayani. It was a show on ABS-CBN that features the lives of our national heroes during the Spanish, American, and Japanese colonization periods. But during the later years of the program, they also featured contemporary and ordinary heroes such as Macliing Dulag (a tribal chieftain in Cordillera who led a protest during the Marcos regime), Sajid Bulig (a hero of the Bocaue. Bulacan pagoda tragedy of 1993), and Roselle Ambubuyog (the visually-impaired Filipina who became a Summa Cum Laude at the Ateneo De Manila University).
I remember one Bayani episode when they featured the story of the miners of Benguet who became a rescuer at the collapsed Hyatt Terraces Hotel. It was a memorable experience for me since it showed the resilience and heroism of those miners who did that noble and courageous act voluntarily. The story even became more dramatic when they were asked to stop their rescuing mission because they were accused of plundering what was left at the hotel. Their hard work paid off when they managed to pull out a survivor days after being trapped from the rubble.
If there’s one thing I can be proud of, that would be the spirit of bayanihan among us, Filipinos. Though we may be criticized as a nation who only become united during the time of tragedy, that is some trait that can’t be easily removed from us. But do we really have to wait for a tragedy just to knock some wisdom in our heads?
A few days ago, I was browsing a published journal about the frequency of earthquakes in the whole world. It includes an X-ray-esque map that shows what countries experience more earthquakes. And being an archipelago lying at the Pacific Ring of Fire, I wasn’t surprised to see a bright, white line that stretches across the whole country. It is said that this year (or the next years to come) is the time in the earthquake cycle when the big one is expected to strike. But are we prepared? Are the foundations of our buildings intact? Have we inspected the weak spots in our infrastructures? Are the people residing near the fault lines advised to relocate? do we have a concrete, emergency plan just in case the big one strike? As cliche as it may sound, it is better to be prepared than sorry.
For those who are old enough to remember: Where were you during the 1990 Luzon earthquake?
Source: I saw this photo on my Twitter timeline. This was the front page of The Philippine Star on the 17th of July 1990, a day after the tragedy.
Source: twitter.com
This is a personal blog where rants, raves, and everything in between is written and posted.
About the Blogger: His name is Juan, a frustrated writer who hails from a sauna town at the foot of Mount Makiling. He spends his being an overworked and underpaid High School teacher and being a self-proclaimed superhero who is dreaming and trying to make a difference, one post at a time.
For correspondence, please email me at juanrepublica@gmail.com
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