President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay witness the arrival at the Villamor Airbase in Fort Bonifacio of the slain seven Marines. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER

Perhaps the whole country is busy dealing with Juaning and Kabayan. Or about the alleged ballot switching at the Batasang Pambansa. Or too occupied praying for Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (whether they pray for her safety and recovery or the opposite, I don’t know). Or still mourning after the loss of the Azkals for their 2014 world cup bid. Or celebrating Eat Bulaga’s 32nd anniversary. Or just doing some other stuff that we failed to notice this another gruesome event at the southern part of our country.

Our marines had an encounter with the Abu Sayaff last Thursday at the jungles of Sulu and five (5) of them were decapitated.

Beheading is not something new for these bandits. Most of us would still remember how they decapitate their kidnapped victims and how they dehumanize our troops by beheading the soldiers they kill in the battle.

Maybe the Abu Sayyaf is making their presence felt. For the past few months, we barely hear a thing about them (or maybe the news agencies are just too busy covering and showing us the other important issues? I don’t know.). This just shows that the violence in the south is far from over and the government has still a lot of work to do to attain the peace in the south.

I can still remember a Catholic priest who was assigned in Basilan who told us his first-hand experience with these bandits and their victims. He was the guest speaker on the (Lipa) Clergy’s monthly recollection when I was still in the seminary. He told us his story when he was assigned to bless the mutilated corpses of the 10 soldiers who were slain and beheaded in Basilan in an encounter in 2007. He could not believe how barbaric these bandits were by doing this hideous crime.

After hearing his story, I was moved and I felt that I was also in front those slain heroes. But he also left a challenge in me if I have the courage to be assigned in a far-flung place with all the perils and dangers accompanying the mission.

Courage. I admire these courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives by defending the country. It is just sad to hear these sad tales about our soldiers in the field amidst these controversies involving the high-ranking officials of the military. 

To our heroes in the field, to the thousand nameless and ordinary soldiers who fought to defend our country, thank you for a job-well done. You may have gone but your contribution to the country is priceless and may it always be remembered by the generations to come.

I give you my snappy salute.

Mabuhay ang mga sundalong nagtataya ng kanilang buhay para sa bayan. Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere: 5 Marines Beheaded by Abu Sayyaf, Aquino Mad

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

31 July 1553 Permalink

Rizal @ 150 Front Page of the Day

It’s Sunday. It’s Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday. And as usual, I’ll give you a glimpse of the front page, a rundown of the current events, of what’s hot, and what’s not.

I was suppose to buy a copy of today’s issue of PDI but the vendor told me that the copies here in Los Baños lack some parts. Especially the Sunday Inquirer Magazine. So I just decided to look for the digital copy. I already tweeted @inquirerdotnet and they promised me that they will do something about it.

And as usual, here we go with the rundown:

• Palace stands firm on the issue about the Spratly Group of Islands. The BRP Raja Humabon, our country’s only warship, has already been deployed to guard the Scarborough Shoal. Yes kids, it’s true that we have warship. And no, it is not true that our most powerful floating vessel is Willie Revillame’s yacht.
• There’s a looming food crisis and the government secures agriculture for food-secure future. I hope that this (alleged) food crisis is not the same as the past administration when it was allegedly use to divert the attention of the people from the leader’s numerous scandals and controversies. And please burgis capitalists, stop converting agricultural lands to commercial/ real estate lands.
• Jose Rizal lives in Cesar Montano. The latter, just in case the younger generation does not know, portrayed our National Hero in one of the most awarded movies of all-time. Back in the day when movies shown at the MMFF have quality and substance.
• Speaking of MMFF, I read last night that there will be another installment of Shake, Rattle, and Roll series. Crap. Planning to have it until the 150th installment? Hangga’t nabubuhay si Mother Lily at ang Regal Films, may horror kami! (I miss the old MMFF. Seriously.)
• The newly-built 22-feet Jose Rizal statue is now the world’s tallest statue of our National Hero. It was unveiled this morning by President Aquino. I have to visit that monument during one of these days. (22 feet signifying the 22 dialects that Rizal knew. Cool.)

Elsewhere and other personal stuff:

• Thank you to those who read (and who shed a tear) my Father’s Day post. Just in case you miss that one, you can click this link. Happy Father’s day to the one who contributed the sperm cell on your zygote!
• If you want to relive the life of our National Hero, you can watch Jose Rizal (starring Cesar Montano) tonight on GMA News TV. I-cut kaya nila yung scene na may nanggagahasang Prayle?
• If you only remembered our National Hero just because today is his birthday, think again.
• It’s a long weekend. Spend your time wisely.

Maligayang ika-150 kaarawan Gat Jose Rizal. Padayon!

Source: inquirer.net

19 June 221 Permalink

Kolboy: Ang Bagong Pambansang Bayani

Hindi naman siguro kaila sa atin na sandamakmak ang mga call centers ngayon. At mas lalong hindi kaila sa atin na iyong mga ibang mga nagsipagtapos - kahit gaano kalayo sa kurso - ay nagtatrabaho sa mga call centers.

Mga nagpupuyat, nakababad sa harap ng computer, tinitiis ang pagod at hirap at ang pambabalahura ng ilang mga foreigner, gamit ang fake American accent, makapagtrabaho at mabuhay lamang.

Mga makabagong bayani sa modernong mundo ng globalisasyon ika nga.

Pero hindi din naman kaila sa atin ang mga problema na kinahaharap ng ating mga makabagong bayani. Pagkakasakit. Security of tenure. At kung totoong meron ba talagang career dito - o isa lamang panandaliang survival habang naghihiintay ng ibang oportunidad.

Sa tingin ninyo, kung ngayon nabuhay si Jose Rizal, kolboy din kaya siya? Hindi ako sigurado. Nanggaling siya sa may kayang pamilya at hindi na niya siguro kailangang magtrabaho. Siguro, may mga tauhan siya sa nobela na mga call center agents. Pero nakasisiguro akong ipaglalaban niya ang karapatan ng mga kolboy at mga kolgirl nating mga kababayan.

Mabuhay ang mga makabagong bayani!

Mabuhay at maligayang kaarawan Gat Jose Rizal!

Photo taken from a local clothing line which I forgot the name. Please message me if you know the name for me to give proper credits. Thank you.

Source: juanrepublic

19 June 120 Permalink