To give more purpose to this blog than perpetual home for whinings, I'll write a short list of my opinions about the said event of

Nov 29.

First thing, I believe that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is an illegitimate president of the Philippines, being one of those people who

rallied against former President Estrada on EDSA 2 of 2000 which eventually paved the way for GMA to grab the highest position of

power in the country. But I think that her rise to presidency is unconstitutional. Moreover, I also believe that there is

sufficient evidence that proved how she manipulated the results of the 2004 national elections which gave her another 6-year term

for presidency. Besides that, I'm agree with GMA's involvement on so many controversies like plunder, extra-judicial killings, and

a conspicious abused of power.

Nevertheless, in spite of all of these things, I still wouldn't take on Senator Antonio Trillanes side. First and foremost, I will

never take the word of a person in the military ranks. This thing could be considered as my shortcoming, but I strongly believe

that the military will match any level of immorality the administration has. I wouldn't swallow the sugarcoatings on reform for a

new governance, because I believe that this is still about their own vested interests. Besides, Trillanes rogue ways on the Oakwood

Mutiny and now on the Manila Pen, is definitely intolerable.

Of course there are still some people who buy that crap about "People Power," but now, there is an increasing number of Filipinos

who just want to be apathetic with these issues. They just want to work hard, earn little money for their everyday needs, send

their children to school, save some, spend some on luxuries once-in-a-while, and they'll be happy. Perhaps, they'll complain on the

skyrocketing prices of petroleum but then the whole world does (and maybe we can blame the US for this and their intervention in

the Middle East!). But what I'm trying to say is that we had had so many "People Power," we had had so many change of governance,

we had has so much obsessing on politics and elections, but at the end of the day, it's still the ordinary people who suffers,

right?

I'm really disappointed that intellectuals like former UP Pres Dodong Nemenzo would be part of this incident. For his part, I think

he doesn't have personal interests on this issue, and I would even deem his principles to be purely altruistic (since the man is

over 70, and instead of spending his retirement years in bliss, he still opted to be part of this), but then his mere presence will

justify to some the perverse actions of Trillanes  and company. My only question is this; are there any significant gains of this

rebellion that would counter the losses? For instance, who will be held liable for the losses of Manila Peninsula? As a person

who's been tuning in on this news on more than 8 time zones away, my utmost concern is the drastic effect on the business sector

and on investments.

I was talking to my parents earlier and I asked a rather naive question why Trillanes chose Manila Peninsula (and Oakwood on 2003)

of all places? I guess being away from the country for a long time made me forget the geography of Manila. The answer is obvious,

these places are in the heart of Makati, the primary business district of the country. This is where wealthy foreign businessmen

are staying and this is the place that will businesses the most.

So, that's why they didn't do it in "Kabayan Hotel" or "Sogo Hotel," cause that may have also caused unrest on the people (and

administration) because what they really want is to shake the foundations of Arroyo's government which is "high value of peso" and

"numerous call centers and job positions for the people." If this happens then they are hoping that more people would join their

causes. But then come to think of it, any impending result of their actions has nothing to do with the administration's policies.

Well, it's a good thing the Filipino people is already too fed up with such crap! So, as a conclusion, I wish Trillanes and company

would just f**k off and let the Filipino people decide for themselves.

Currently reading: The Afghan
Currently watching: A Cinderella Story
Currently feeling: relaxed

Talaga ba? Hindi ko alam. Parang hindi, parang oo. Sobrang masakit eh, pero walang sense na palakihin ang isyu hangga't wala ka namang magagawang paraan. For the meantime, kailangan munang maghintay. Ilang araw na lang naman, malalaman rin natin ang totoo and makakapag-decide para sa ikakabuti ng lahat ng parties involved.

Sa kahit anong relasyon, dumarating sa puntong negative kayo pareho. Ganon naman siguro lahat. So instead na ibunyag natin sa blog na ito ang mga pangyayari sa kasalukuyan eh mas maganda siguro na isikreto muna. Mahirap kase ang may mga negative vibes, lalo kayong nada-down, lalo kayong nawawalan ng pag-asa.

Pero kapag nasa panahon na talaga, dapat harapin ang katotohan gaano mang kasakit. Ngunit umaasa pa rin ako na mare-resolba ito.
 

Currently listening to: Spitz - Cherry
Currently reading: Geometry of Banach Spaces
Currently feeling: pensive

i was just reading my friend's blog about the eve before his flight to Japan in April 2004. it's making me nostalgic and how young and innocent we were then not knowing what's in store for us in the future. in my case i went to Japan on October 1, 2004, a half-year after him. I was full of hopes and dreams but as I said I was very young at that time. a million of things have changed and are still changing. sometimes, i feel that in spite of the hurly burly way our lives are evolving, it is still worthwhile to look back the memory lane.

perhaps, it's also a way to re-assure ourselves that something good is always happening simultaneous with the changes. I really don't know what I meant by that.

anyway, the eve of my flight to Japan is as distressing as his. I left all my packing at the last day but my mother helped me with everything. So, by midnight I'm carefully tucked in to bed and hopelessly hoping for a couple of hours shut eye. I can't remember if ever I managed at least two.

I was constantly checking my cellphone, a Nokia 6210, for last minute well-wishers from friends. Around 2:30, a message arrived from an anonymous number. I scrolled immediately to the bottom and I saw who it's from. He is just using a different cellphone. My heart leapt at that moment, perhaps forming more illusions which I would harbor for the next year and a half. And then the loneliness sank in, I guess I was pitiful then.

Going to Japan has always been my dream for the longest time but several hours before the flight, it hit me that I would really be on my own from that time. I would be going to a foreign land and the uncertainty looms in quicky. Too many what if's, I supposed.

Only my father and my late grandmother (may her soul rest in peace, sorry I can't help the sarcasm, I was also just reading Ahmadinejad's blog) sent me off to the airport. My mother said she's going to be busy that day at work so there is no point of torturing herself with the 2 hour drive to NAIA. (I guess, she had would that decision a couple of months after)

By the time I reached the boarding gate, I was already choking in tears. I left my cellphone to my father, and I have no way of contacting anyone. I saw some public phones nearby but I guess there's no sense in making a stupid phone call at 8:30am. But somehow, the feeling of not having closure weighed me down.

What is really in store for me in Japan, I thought while shaking in anxiety. And then the much-awaited 4 1/2  hour flight. I didn't have the appetite to touch my food. (Now, I regret that since that would probably been the only time I can afford to use JAL--after all it's been paid by Monbusho)

My first impression of Japan is not impressive. I don't know, maybe I'm just not in the mood and my body is pretty tired. I'm also a bit irritated with the congested train and the seemingly unending commute from Narita to Minami Ohsawa. Typically, Monbusho students get the almost-red carpet treatment upon arrival to Japan, getting a free-taxi ride to their place of residence. But just my luck, some internal corruption probably happened and instead I have to pay for my own train ticket and pull my heavy baggages for 3 hours.

It was indeed a very tiring day, but suprisingly my tears faded as I held my breath waiting inside the train. Curiously enough, that scene would repeat for the next 3 years of my life.

But looking back, I would say that my life really changed the moment I board that flight. From then, the adventure began and is still continuing 9 times zones away at present in Ireland. Oh, well, that deserves another story.  

 

Currently listening to: Upside down by 6 cycle mind
Currently reading: Summary of CM method genus 2
Currently feeling: nostalgic