Archive for December, 2006
Rizal publishes new book
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JOSE Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” has been published in a new English translation and released worldwide by Penguin Books, one of the major publishing houses of the English-speaking world, under the Penguin Classics imprint. The publication effectively canonizes the novel as one of the classics of world literature.
It is the first time that a Southeast Asian title has been included in the Penguin Classics, which was started in 1946 with the publication of E.V. Rieu’s translation of Homer’s “Odyssey.”
In the book’s blurb, Penguin bills the “Noli” as “the book that sparked the Philippine revolution” and “the great novel of the Philippines.”
“[Rizal] is a prisoner of his own legend… Whoever he was in life has become irrelevant. He’s probably closer to Joan of Arc or St. George than he is to Jose Marti,” he said.
“[It] was the first major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European colonialism, and Rizal became a guiding conscience—and martyr—for the revolution that would subsequently rise up in the Spanish province,” Penguin said.
The new translation of the “Noli” was done by an American writer, Harold Augenbraum, a scholar of Hispanic-American letters and the executive director of the National Book Foundation and the National Book Awards.
“[Rizal] is a prisoner of his own legend… Whoever he was in life has become irrelevant. He’s probably closer to Joan of Arc or St. George than he is to Jose Marti,” he said.
Defying No Permit, No Rally
Comments(0)From Inq7.net
AROUND 150 lawyers and law students reached the foot of historic Mendiola Bridge around 2:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon in defiance of a government no permit-no rally policy that designates the area a no-rally zone.
The protesters, led by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), were joined by former vice president Teofisto Guingona as they assembled near the University of the East on Recto Avenue before kicking off their march around 2 p.m.
“I came here to support the lawyers,” said Guingona, a staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The lawyers had vowed to hold a peaceful mass action at Mendiola, with or without a permit, to assert their right to freedom of expression and to peaceably assemble.
IBP president Jose Anselmo Cadiz said their protest is also to condemn the administration’s attempt to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative, which critics assert is illegal.
Lawyer Neri Colmenares of the Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL) also said they were protesting to “uphold civil liberties and condemn political killings.”
Cadiz said the permit granted by Manila City Hall was only for Plaza Miranda.
But he said there was “no basis for not issuing a permit for Mendiola.”
In Malacañang, Solicitor General Eduardo Antonio Nachura advised his fellow lawyers to bring their protest to a venue allowed by law.
“Whatever message it is they want to convey, they can do it without using Mendiola,” Nachura told reporters. “The purpose will be achieved in the same manner.”
Nachura said Mendiola has been a no-rally area for a long time, thus there was no “real question on whether or not it was fair not to give a permit for a rally.”
Bishop Rosales Swipes Cha-Cha
Comments(0)Excerpt from Inq7.net article.
TAKING another swipe at Charter change, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales warned Filipinos in his New Year’s message that “new laws may not shape us into what we want.”
Calling for unity and sacrifice to lift the nation out of poverty, the 74-year-old Catholic leader said that what the public desired could be “put into life” better than what a new law could do.
Rosales earlier led a prayer rally at Manila’s Rizal Park to denounce the Arroyo administration’s attempt to hastily overhaul the Constitution. What the country needed was “character change,” not Charter change, he said.
Worst year for human rights in RP since Marcos
Here is an excerpt from Inq7.net
POLITICAL murders in the Philippines reached their highest level in 2006 since the toppling of dictator Ferdinand Marcos more than 20 years ago, human rights activists say.More than 180 activists — including journalists, human rights workers, left-wing politicians, trade unionists and lawyers — were assassinated this year for their criticism of those in power, they say.”An average of three extra-judicial killings is occurring every week in the country,” a Canadian human rights team concluded recently after a fact-finding mission to the Southeast Asian nation.
“A clear pattern of state-perpetrated politically motivated extrajudicial killings” was occurring in the country, the team said.
Laughing Kid
Reminds me of the kids i took care of… my siblings… my cousins. They are all cute!
Fees That Need To Be Paid or Else
Cedula - Php 7.00 for students 
Police Clearance - Php 100.00 (in the official receipt) + Php 5.00 (pamunas after fingerprint) + Php 50.00 (ID pictures)
the Php 100 fee is ok. the Php 5.00 pamunas can be tolerated but still, it needs looking into. The ID pictures, highly irregular. The digital ID should already be covered with the Php 100 fee and the ID prints are already irrelevant. If everyone is paying Php 50, the QCPD is one rich cophouse which have an unaccountable source of revenue. a highly suspicious practice.
NBI Clearance - Php 115.00 (in the official receipt) + Php 5.00 (pamunas after fingerprint)
The fee is ok however, the waiting area is not. you have to spend upwards of 30 minutes under the sun (i did almost 2 hours). The NBI can be sued for causing skin cancer!!!
All in all, these fees is a reflection of the Philippine government’s entrepreneurial character. As a veteran told me earlier, “nung una, ITR lang kailangan. ngayon, ang dami pa kailangang bayaran.” It is sad that the government seems to be out for the workers instead of looking out for them.
I think that we are better off with these things. A single security check is the only thing that we need, not two. and fees should already be covered by taxes. It is public SERVICE and not public MILKING.
Citizens deserve better accommodations with all the fees they are paying.
SSS Registration
Required to bring:
Birth Certificate (NSO authenticated)
Registration Stations:
Info Booth, Counter 44 and Counter 46 (for E-1 registrants)
Registration Walk-through:
I went to the SSS Members Assistance Center (MAC) which holds office at East Avenue, Quezon City. At the gate, the security guard will already tell you to get an authenticated birth certificate from the NSO (which also happen to be conveniently located just in front of the MAC). Since i already have the original birth certificate, i just disregarded the guard and went inside.
Inside the MAC is a spacious facility for members. I was quite astounded on the whole facility because it really is quite comfortable. It is spacious and have many counters that service the needs of the members.
My processing started on a long line for the information booth. The lady there seems to be quite irritated with the long queue and motions atras-abante towards the poor queue. Public servants should really take a course on service dedication. A simple smile and some empathy would do.
After the info booth, the E-1 counter. There, i confronted the authenticated question. i am aghast on how the SSS still want me to get an authenticated birth certificate when i already have the original. It simply doesn’t add up when an authenticated copy will suffice while an original copy won’t do. Authenticated = ok, Original = not ok. Such a stupid policy deserves no room in public service.
Also, the queuing needs a tweak. A counter just check documents while another one gives you your SSS number. One still needs to fall in line again after having their documents checked while the same can be done with the other. Precious time is lost with their way of doing it and as they say. “time is gold.”
All in all, i finished the process in roughly 30 minutes. Not bad considering i didn’t have to flash some cash.
For Mama
here is the letter you requested me to draft.
just click on the link and download the word file.
the mailing address is on the second page. please mail it before the year ends!
also, just check the zip code. it is supposed to be allied bank’s own zip code.
A Stark Difference in the Politics of Pork
This is in response to the news article Pork No Longer Paves The Road to Re-election by the The New York Times (December 25, 2006).
The article which points out how boasting earmarks for incumbent Republican legislators has done harm for their re-election bids. “A timeworn bit of political wisdom has been that larding one’s district with pork projects can act as an incumbency protection program.” Unfortunately for these guys, the voters did saw through their ploy and much of these incumbents, failed in trying to re-acquire their seats.
This, however is not true in the Philippines. The Philippines’ has a more complicated political system. Political dynasties abound and as political analysts point out, protecting incumbency is a must. “Usapan ito ng karangalan, pamilya at hanap-buhay“. (It is a matter of pride, family and livelihood.) Magkakamatayan. (It would mean death.)
If the news article describes a discerning American voting population, Filipinos can be described as hapless bystanders. Yes, Filipinos do exercise their rights to vote. Filipinos do go through the motions of holding an election, the way democracies are supposed to do. However, this same institution that democracies pride themselves with is glaringly weak in the Philippines.
You may ask, why? Well, as we have experienced in the past, Filipino elections are not won in the voting booths but in the counting sheets. Whole ballot boxes get lost on their way to the counting centers. They can also be swapped with forged ones and yes, mistakes in counting and tallying abound. You have COMELEC commissioners running as a go-fer for incumbents and now, they are seriously contemplating running for office! Yes, elections is still practiced in the Philippines and incumbents also practices pork allocation.
The difference now is here. While Americans do spend on things that will make them vote-able, Filipinos are already readying the ballots with their names written on them. While Americans allocate budgets for specific expenditures, Filipinos legislate ambiguous items which can be spent for almost anything. And lastly, while Americans can hold their officials accountable (most of the time), Filipinos have no recourse but to go to the streets. And sad to say, people are getting tired of taking to the streets. Too many “People Powers” have come and gone, and still, there has been no change. None.
News for Friends Old and New
i just came from home where coffee beans are toasted and stirred by balisongs and i’m quite anxious of starting my clearance hunt. for those not up to date with whatever i am doing, i got a job. a real job that is. with an 8 hour requirement and a boss i have to report to and a “measly” salary to go along with it. yeah i now have a job. :)prior to my getting a regular job, i’m doing part-time work as a computer specialist/system administrator for dormitories and small-medium businesses. funny though that dormitories want to call me as the “technician” or simply “kuya internet” while businesses refer to me as “technical consultant”. whew!
I am doing this racket for quite sometime now. i earn around 2500 a month on my lowest point to about 9000 a month on the highest. one shot projects give me around 8000 on the average. its not a bad living provided i’m still an undergraduate student but it simply isn’t regualr for comfort’s sake. there were times i also go broke and its such a distraction so i looked for a job a found one.
however, i’m still saddled with a literally crippling injury. an ACL injury i sustained while playing for professional basketball… i play for myself so naturally, i’m not covered by insurance policies and stuff. i was aghast to find out about it afterwards. i fired my staff and changed offices. what a bother…
so there my friends, i need money as much as your love and compassion. i will greatly appreciate it if you’ll send me groceries and used clothes but more so if you’ll send me cash.
Equitable PCI Bank
Account Name: Heherson Pagcaliwagan
Account number: 0280-14197-6
just indicate your name so i can thank you properly:)
