An Angry God

"Hala ka, magagalit si Papa God niyan!" An elder used to say to make us behave when we were kids. The warning always worked, as it reinforces the belief of a higher being, more supreme than the adults who used to take hold of our lives.It is an instinctive response that never fails to sway blind obedience, as each generation gets to know the Almighty by his wrath. How unfortunate that those more

The Clicktivist

I don't mind the hacktivists taking over government websites. After all, their intentions are clear. They are sending a message the netizens approve. There too, is a pattern to their incursions. They take over websites at past midnight, and the portals they assault - like the Bangko Sentral and the IPO hardly affect the lives of ordinary people. I am so amazed of their advocacy that I "liked"

Anonymous

"The Philippine Government has just passed a bill that effectively ends the Freedom of Expression in the Philippines," the message read."But some parts of the bill basically says it can imprison anyone who commits libel either by written messages, comments, blogs or posts in sites such as Facebook, Twitter or any other comment spaces of other social media in the Internet."To make a stand has yet

Better Than Being Epal

Naisip ko lang, hindi kaya mas magandang political strategy for a government official ang mag-set up ng social media account sa Twitter at Facebook na they themselves manage, sa halip na magkabit ng tarpaulins attaching their name when local government projects are accomplished and yearly events take place? While not everyone has a Social Media account, the trickle down effect seems more evident

Anal-Probing Sotto

"Am I man enough to stand by my principles?" Sotto must have been musing before delivering his speech."Even when the educated middle and liberal upper class, who have access to social media pelt me with criticisms? Tell lies about my family? Write ugly stories for everyone to read? Discredit, not only my character but everything I believe?" The Senator finds himself in very deep shit."Even when

Sottoism

Now I'm thinking, I'm gonna steal someone's blog entry. Yung tinitingala ko, then I won't attribute it to him. Haha.— Mugen JM (@soul_jacker) August 22, 2012There were many bloggers to choose from. There was Kane and his chichi blog, the venerable RedtheMod, whose wellspring of words I scoop with my literary bucket, and even Pilyo's, straight from the gut entries would be a suitable candidate. I

Mariposa

FictionThere was a loud crash, a thud he would hear for the last time. The propeller hurled into the sky, while his body jerked forward, slammed his head into the metallic skin of the ill-fated aircraft. The blow left him unconscious. Unaware that his time had come."No, you will not be consumed by the sea..." A soft, feminine voice had spoken. "You have earned your place not only in the hearts of

Bucolic Days

Know that in a few years, this article will disappear on the online pages of Inquirer. And so is the memory of Malabon and it's fishponds, in the senses and words of Neal Cruz. After reading his column yesterday, I wish a part of me had lived through his childhood.With the great bay spewing trash every time a storm passes, and the silted rivers taking with it remnants of makeshift homes hastily

Drone

Jap Nishi asked why I was so affected when Myrtle, the PBB Teen housemate suddenly became a "princess" on Twitter's trending topic this afternoon. I replied as a jest that I cannot accept Myrtle's mom becoming the "queen" of the Philippines. But his question, like a dagger forced deep into my skin left still unanswered fundamental questions. Do I dislike Myrtle, the PBB Teen housemate because I

From Valenzuela City With Love

May peace and loveabide in your home.Daily blessings of Godare there for us to enjoyMayor Win GatchalianValenzuela CityHow sweet the text message. I was deeply moved even when the greeting came from an unknown number. Imagine, ako na tubong Manila, na ang lingering relation lang sa Valenzuela ay ang ex-boyfriend ko na forgotten na, and here is Mayor Sherwin G greeting me a very impersonal "Good

Cinemalaya 2012

Cinemalaya used to be a by-word for those artsy films you only get to see for that critique in Humanities. To watch it in a leisurely manner and deconstruct its plot without anyone's command tells of one's artistic leanings - a taste that lays dormant in me - until some higher being wakes me up from slumber to see these films in cinema.The first time I get to watch a full-length movie was in 2008

Comedy King

"Ang gusto ko lang na legacy, 'pag naalala yung pangalan ko, may kasamang ngiti, may kasamang tawa."Rodolfo Vera QuizonDolphy The Comedy King(1928 - 2012)

Deterrence

Whoever came up with the idea of putting a school on Pag-Asa has a clever mind. Not only did it strengthen the Philippines' claim to the disputed islets, the publicity it created has won the hearts and minds of those who had read the news. It was an "aaawww" moment to see those kindergarten kids sitting in green monobloc chairs, while their proud parents stood behind for the class picture. The

What It Means To Be Free

Back in the old times, the Philippine Independence Day celebration used to be an event not to be missed. It was a tradition. Though I was not allowed to go to Luneta to see the parade with my own eyes, I was glued to the television to watch it aired live on PTV 4. The afternoon celebration begins with the sound of drums - as the flag is panned on the TV screen while everyone sings the National

Dream Of Stars

"It is their fate to fail." Chan Cho said while sipping a small bowl of omija cha. He was kneeling in front of a small writing desk with his eyes closed when Park Hyeung arrived."How do you know?""A young bird will never fly long without his mother around." The old man said. "Ask where our brothers to the north learned to send firecrackers flying to the moon?""From the west?" Chan Cho smiled."A

The Egalitarian

I wish all our churches and catholic leaders think like this. Last weekend, I visited a church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I used to hear Mass the last time I taught there. I saw these words on the Sunday missal: "No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; No matter what your current … marital situation; No matter what your personal history, age, background, race, etc.; No

The Treehugger

In the pit of the city, I found sentience.Every day, I wake up and open my eyes to the sight of a window shrouded with curtains.A pallid landscape awaits outside.There is not much to see.Corrugated roofs and wooden walls of houses block the view. Sunlight hurts the eyes, as I am more accustomed to the ethereal beauty of darkness.Dust floats in the air, carried over by the toxic wind from the

Homo Politicus

The student council election was just days away, and two Grade Six pupils were wrapping up their campaign to become the next council president. One was a classmate. She was the president of our section. While the other, also a class president, was from a rival section, a room next to ours. Both had track record of being class presidents since Grade Two. There's no doubt, teachers saw their

Insensitive

Most certainly, the mood wouldn't be this festiveif the deluge happened in Imperial Manila.For the first time,I am beginning to question the leaderI voted into office.

BabyTV

I was channel surfing one morning when I came across a featured, free channel on Skycable. There were no syndicated shows like ANTM or Glee, not even grappling documentaries like Mythbusters or Deadliest Catch. Instead, it was playing instrumental music - a lullaby - the ones you hear on mobile cribs (the suspended contraption with revolving toys going around in circles) when someone puts a baby