The Philippines again, has made another world record but not for heroic acts nor Athletic supremacy but in an act so unforgivable, so gruesome, and so barbaric. The massacre that happened in Maguindanao province threatens the ever weakening democracy in this country.

A supposedly peaceful filing of Certificate of Candidacy by the rival family of the Ampatuans, the Mangudadatus ended up in a brutal killing by 100 armed men. 47 people were mercilessly taken their lives away; including local people, lawyers, and members of the media. Political rivalry is strongly believed as the cause of this ruthless act. The pointing hands are now then at the family of Ampatuans, whose power will be challenged by the Mangudadatus at the Gubernatorial race. The Ampatuans are also said to be allies with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The NUJP or The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines decalared a National day of Indignation as a response to the said ordeal. Obviously, everyone in the world condemns such act.



It is said that Philippines is now next to Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists and has the record for the most number of Journalists killed in just a single day.

As I join the people in condemning this act on Facebook, I saw this girl who commented that his uncle was one of the people who got killed. I did not ask for more information but I extended my deepest condolences instead.



It is now up to Malacañang to act on this case. It is now up to the President, who declared a state of emergency to this province to weigh her decisions and set aside her partiality. Whether an ally or not, the rule of law and justice must prevail.

It was a usual morning where I go to the rest room to unload my stuff and the radio was on, tuned to my mom's favorite Christian radio AM station. I remembered the past week when she was bugging me to vote for Efren Peñaflorida as the CNN hero of the year. I knew Efren, though not personally but I have seen his story on TV and wished for him to win such a prestigious competition. Much to my surprise as it was a coincidence and delight, that time the news anchors from the said radio station were reporting that HE did win! I hurried right away to a nearby computer shop and checked it myself. It is indeed true. The competition was stiff but he bested everyone on the scene. It really wasn't much of a competition though, what matters is that we make a difference and the difference that he made was through helping others in need. His road to success is glorious as the success he was able to achieve and will still try to improve is not only for personal gain but for the betterment of his countrymen. Manny Pacquiao (though currently involved in a love affair controversy), Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, Apl D Ap form Blackeyed Peas, Efren and the countless others make Filipinos known all over the world and I am sure every Filipino, not only in the Philippines but around the world are really proud. Mabuhay tayo! :P

Here is the video of Efren's speech and its transcript.

It is official, New moon is now at the cinemas!!! I am very sure a lot of folks will gather at this spectacular day, especially of course for all the Twilight enthusiasts. I just finished the book a few months ago and though I am not that much of a fan, I can't wait to watch this. However, I also don't want to join the stampede at the cinemas so I'd just let it pass for quite some time. Maybe for a week or two, i'll hit the cinemas. :P (I'll just wait for the next pay day too. hehe)

Spoiler alert:

The story doesn't involve Edward Cullen that much as she left Bella out of the open as he thought that leaving her would be much safer. Bella suffers from the "hole" inflicted by Edward's absence and as time passes the more she realizes that she can't live without him. Jacob, the werewolf comes to rescue her as he tries to be her sunlight and somehow the one to fill in the gaps of her life.

It was a bright afternoon and my mom actually told me to give it a rest first. However, I was so stubborn as I was so excited to watch the movie 2012. It has already been shown for two days and I thought that since it is on a Monday, there wouldn't be so much people in the cinemas. I went to the mall despite of the scorching heat of the sun with my handkerchief lying in my closet which I forgot to bring (so you can't just imagine what I looked like after the jeepney trip). By the way, I checked the Mall's website first for screening schedule so I was confident that I will be securing a comfortable seat inside the cinema. After the crazy and oven toaster like trip from the jeepney, I went straight to the Mall's cinema to purchase a ticket. It was 3:30 PM Manila time then. To my surprise the lady asked me if I still want to buy the ticket as the cinema is in "standing" status already. I was wrong, the mall's full of people even on a Monday. I don't want to reschedule my cinema escapade so I bought that tiny piece of ticket anyway.

At around 5:15 PM, I was lucky to spot a vacant seat. Lucky that it wasn't really that near from the screen but to by dismay, I have not started the movie!!! I was falling on the wrong line before entering the cinema doors! Anyway, what can I do? I just did try to enjoy myself as much as I can and thought that I can still watch a portion of it at the last full show.

The whole thing was a total experience. I never had that kind of thrill and excitement on a cinema setting for quite a while (maybe perhaps after sukob :P). As what my friend had noted on her facebook status message, every scene is a climax! The audience were so engrossed with the movie. Their gasps, shouts, and laughters were very contagious. I even caught my butt displaced at an awkward angle from the couch especially on the suspense scenes of the movie.

This might be a spoiler but I just want to name a few scenes that I loved the most.




1st: the start of the mayhem, where LA begins to be swallowed by the Pacific Ocean. Everyone in the movie did not blink their eyes as Jackson's (John Cusack) family were running for dear life. the whole place collapses, buildings crash, cars explode, trains fly from the rails-Now I regret I haven't watched it on a 3D mode.




2nd: The plane and volcano adventure. This one is a breath holder as the family escapes the destruction of LA due to the Park now turned out as a very massive volcano. Now I regret I haven't watched this at IMAX.. I was really thinking of watching this again..







3rd: The prayer at the Vatican. I am not anti -Christian and I see that this movie doesn't really have any relevance on what the Bible describes as the end of the world. However, the crack that started from the inside of the Sistine Chapel that eventually turned into the total collapse of the St. Peter's Basilica was so significant for me.


Many were asking me if I got terrified with the rumor that the world will end in 2012. I said, No. I used to have this kind of depression from existentialism so I just told them that the Universe wouldn't really care. Like what the crazy conspiracy theorist guy from the movie said, the earth's destruction is just a puff of smoke in the Milky Way. Also, God solely knows when he will decide to cease the world's operations so better enjoy life as much as you can. :P So, for all those who haven't watched yet, better hurry to the cinemas! It's totally worth it!

The Philippines had undergone a terrible Ordeal as typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng swept the country, claiming innocent lives and destroying everything that crosses it's path. Everyone's trying to recuperate, though the damage has been somewhat hard to recover. Christmas is approaching, and it's difficult to accept that the upcoming holiday would not be as joyful compared to the last years. The ABS-CBN, a premier television station in the Philippines (Channel 2), has made an effort though to encourage us that no matter how many tragedies we might experience we can still rise up and move on.

Their featured Station ID for Christmas, " bro, ikaw ang star ng Pasko (bro, you are the star of Christmas)" reminds us that the real meaning of the season is Jesus Christ (the term bro was taken from the popular drama series on prime time "May Bukas Pa" -a modified edition of Marcelino Pan Y Vino. The miraculous child Santino refers the Lord Jesus as "bro"). The station ID features the Station's most popular stars, joined with the people from broadcast media and local actors.

I was talking to a cousin last night at another cousin's debut party. There was nothing really to talk about but this was a cousin whom I haven't had the chance to mingle with for quite some time. I guess it was the appropriate venue to do some chit chats with her to make up for the long time we hadn't seen each other. She's gotten a bit of weight, compared to last time I saw her. Oh, I also noticed the glistening braces that she has and that completes the comparison scheme on her "before and after". She was inviting me to her condo... what? A condominium??? She gotta be kidding me. She was just a year older from me but now she has a property? I, too had a property that was just acquired this year. However, it was just a humble townhouse at an area not so far away from the apartment we were renting-and it will take me 30 years to pay. I don't mean to say that she doesn't deserve it... but I was just simply amazed and quite envious of what she had acquired. A plush condo... a dream property everyone wants to have. How did she get it? She wasn't a part of any syndicate or mafia or what not. She was a member of Multi-Level Marketing business, something that she has been inviting me for a year but I always turned her offers down. Now, with the braces, the financial resources, and a property, she really is talking.

I always admit that I am "mukhang pera". I am open and honest with my friends and family about wanting to have lots of money. I would venture any opportunity to create money..from networking to real estate. However, with things going on-from rejections to inadequacies; the dream of prosperous life in financial terms is starting to become as just a dream. I do wish every effort that I make translates into monetary success. I even created this blog to monetize. Thanks to my friend who happens to be my boss at work for helping me. I earned cool cash but when recession took place, all opportunities lost.

They say that being rich starts with the mind. You should be the one to convince yourself that you are rich, no matter what status are you in right now. I remember watching a TV program were the speakers encourage people to dream of wealth. They say that money really is not the root of all evil. Everyone wants money. With money, we can visualize things that we want that someday will be on our possession. I remembered one speaker where she overuses her gestures and facial expressions over the money matter saying: "ay, gusto ko ng pera, maraming maraming pera! (I want money, lots and lots of money!). I welcome wealth into my life!" Funny but it's true. It will just depend however on how we manage money.

Another point though, we want money and we find ways on how to have one. We apply for jobs, venture any available and possible opportunities. But, are we doing these things just for the sake of having one? There was a hard hitting lesson on me about all the things I had experienced. We've got to love first the things that we are doing AND THE MONEY WILL JUST FOLLOW. We have to put interest on it, we have to enjoy it. We have to search on what's available in us and not on the things that we are not capable of.

Now, I am starting to love blogging (after a year or so..). Will more money follow? Haha, I really do hope so.