ang magsabing walang kwenta ang LOVE, susuntukin ko sa leeg!

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines.

Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because the entire country was destroyed completely after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources. Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father's brother also died because of famine. Korean government was awfully corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism. Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mineworkers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through a horrible experience.

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw President Park. They asked to him, "President, when can we be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea. So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help develop the country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in a well off country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for a Catholic church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from the Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighbor. And I have loved my neighbor. Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for the Church. They pray everyday. However, they do not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighbor. The owners of factories and companies distributed their profits to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and save money for the future and their children.

When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith.

I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pagsanjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would be fun. However, they were not happy after taking the boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they sympathized with the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for a Catholic church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are the same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighbor and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off. I am sure that love is the keyword which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from the person. Love must start in everybody in a small scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let's put away our prejudices and look at our worries with new eyes. I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships.

It changes the world. Please love your neighbor and country. Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others, we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighbor and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.

That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.



"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -Anatole France.



Essay entitled "My Short Essay about the Philippines" by Jaeyoun Kim.

the untold story of july 24.

It was one of those tiring days when all you want is a ride home and a welcoming seat. But because life is hard, you have to fight for what you want. And because you’re too tired to fight, you just surrender to the world’s unfair paradigm.

For the second time around, sumabit ako. Translation: I hanged. Second level of translation: I made sabit. Saan pa? Eh di sa jeep. I honestly don’t know what to make out of the experience. One side of me is telling me to be ashamed of it, since it’s the habit of those penniless guys who doesn’t want to pay the fare; since we associate this habit to laborers, carpenters, and the like; since we strip a person off his dignity when one does it. I have to admit, my self-esteem touched the ground a bit. But it was also that time that I felt proud. Not because I was proving machismo, but because I was able to hang on – firm and unmoving. Takot ko lang.

Mama was in her mocking tone when she found out yesterday what I did. I didn’t know how to defend myself aside from arguing that they wanted me to be home ASAP. If she only knew how my bag was cutting off my shoulders’ blood circulation and how I imagined my arm falling off because of my bag’s weight (no exaggerations), then she’ll be able to appreciate the effort.

Today, I once again rode a jeepney with its entrance blocked with three men. All of which were trying hard not to fall off eventually. I felt their starkness towards each other, on how they (unconsciously) tried elbowing the other men to win space. I saw the screaming veins in their hands creeping to their arms because of their heavy packs. I felt the invisible sigh of comfort for every passenger leaving their seats – awarding them their hard-earned comfort. I felt I was sharing their grip with every abrupt breaks. This time I can say, I was able to relate. Mahirap sumabit sa jeep. Accept this fact or dare to prove it yourself.

Photo Source: Sarah Geronimo, sabit sa jeep.

AMBUSH: shot, styled, and synthesized.

One word: SUPPORT.

AMBUSH Screening Highlights

AMBUSH Screening as seen on ETC

AMBUSH Fashion Party

See YOU there.SUPPORT the AMBUSH Fashion Party.

P.S.: Look for someone dorky and familiar. (n_n).v

gender goooooooglionchotomy.

It is amazing to realize how people around (may it be friends or not) are now more open to the idea of gender flexibility. On the one side, you have people who take the role of preachers on the idea of “coming out”. On the other side, you have the “converts” who celebrate the dogma. And there’s the resistance group in the picture also known as the conservatives.

I think labels for gender is a thing of the past. But still we subscribe to them for the sole function of order. For a subject this vast, you can’t trust the idea of personalized order creation (or ethomethodology if you want to be more technical). You just can’t believe how much effort people give just to fit themselves under a certain genus. Well, have you ever heard of straight-acting-power-bottom? (Whatever that means). Scholarly speaking, you can actually write a 10-page paper just enumerating the labels people subscribe to; the description will give you another 5; and the analysis can give you another 5; equals a 20-page exciting paper.

I can still remember when there was a dichotomy – the male and the female. Then there came a point when society reached a trichotomy (plus, homosexual). Then homosexual was divided into sub categories, which I don’t have plans in enumerating at this point. Can you imagine that we now have a thing in this world such as goooooooglionchotomy for gender?! Crazy, huh.

Well in terms of form, it is also now impossible to tell who’s who. Except for certain cases where a guy wears skimpy shorts, a perky tank top, clips, or whatnot while working the street like a catwalk. The alpha-male image is now a mask; the swishy-washy behavior is deceitful; toughness in girls is usually misrepresented; and people are now masters of make-believe.

Perhaps this event is telling us something: the days for external consciousness and inspection are ready to lie low and it’s high time for introspection. Too much time has been given to care about others and what others will think. I say, if you want to do it, do it while you’re young. At least if you realized that you’ve done a mistake, you can always retract or move forward for better things to happen.

Good night.

Photo Source

it is time to ... TAKE A STAND!

Stand out this centennial: attend TAKE A STAND, the UP Debate Society's free debate seminar for college students. Drop by on July 25, from 2:30 to 5:30 PM at SE 125, UP School of Economics to learn the basics of the art of debate.

Text Marc at 09183132806 or email 'updseacom@gmail.com' to get sure seats. Or reply to this post ASAP to make you arrangements.

For more information on UPDS and its other debate education programs, visit http://updebatesociety.org/seminar.html



P.S.: Take A Stand is a program for beginning debaters on the basics of the British and Asian Parliamentary formats. UPDS has brought T.A.S. to Ilocos, Romblon, Banuar, Pamgpanga and Sorsogon. T.A.S. seminars are held for free upon the request of interested institutions/organizations.

The program covers: rules of the British and Asian Parliamentary debate formats, speaker roles, speech types, points of information, rebutting techniques, basic argumentation & adjudication.

today michael turns sixteen.

Not many know that my brother’s birth was the most crucial birth in the family. I think my mom had chicken pox during her pregnancy, endangering my brother to highest level. My mom understood the consequences of what happened and she was prepared to have an abnormal child as a second son. I think prayers really work because she gave birth to healthy baby boy – Michael.

Today, my brother just turned 16 and he had to celebrate it in school with an exam, which sucks because last night he was busting his ass finishing his project and reviewing. I don’t know how he’ll celebrate. Maybe I’ll be welcomed (or not) by a crowd of noisy friends. Maybe he’ll invite his 3-year girlfriend who’ll just sit in the couch and chat with my sister. Maybe he’ll go to sleep and celebrate tomorrow or whatever. I don’t know, lately we haven’t been celebrating birthdays with the family. But I just wish he’ll have a good day today.

We are the not the best brothers in the world. But a quote from Astrid Alauda (whoever s/he is) says, “There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother.” That’s why I am glad that he’s around. Happy Birthday, Michael!

BTW, my brother has a crush on Rachel Anne Daquis. Can you tell her to greet him?

let's talk about the freaking trees.

It is very immature for tree to get mad and involve itself within a conflict, if that tree is out of the conflict to start with. It makes that tree, more than being immature, an irrational tree. Most especially if it is involved based on mere assumptions and personal conclusions. You don’t meddle with the mahogany-pine conflict, if you’re just a banana tree. You are a shrub! Having the “heart” doesn’t make you the superior the tree. You don’t even have a bark!

It is also very brainless for that tree to assume that all trees are behind its back. There are special trees that will always stay neutral. Not because they are all playing safe, but because they think. Unless subjected to extraordinary conditions, trees won’t choose sides. You don’t expect them to swing on your side just on the merits of your superiority complex.

So I am telling you now, back off. This is not about you. Don’t feel you’re so important. You can always be stricken out. Back off.

P.S.: Tree who lurks in the middle of the night, don’t decode and don’t talk. Please. I’ll always know that it’s you. You know who you are. [evil laugh]

*it boils down to my lump, check it out.

For the third consecutive time, I went to hear the Mass alone. The church was so freakin’ crowded and the kids were all over. I won’t complain if the parents were chasing and choking their children to shut up. But, no. They made a playground around the church. So stressful. Plus, they were breathing all the air. I got dizzy towards the end of the Mass. Good thing I didn’t faint (happened way, way back; promised myself not to do it again). Magka-award pa ako ng wala sa oras. The reminders/announcements before the final blessing was so looooong. Parang may instant seminar na naganap (blame the World Youth Day event). AND to top it all, do they really have to perform the official theme song of the WYD? I mean, seriously?! Ang feeling kasi nung mga kids (especially on the repeated ‘hallelujah’ line and the ‘receive the power from the Holy Spirit’ line where they create a dove from their hands). They tempt me to commit sin within the Mass; inside the church.

And oh, World Youth Day 2008 happens on July 15, 2008. Here is the official video of WYD2008 theme song, written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto; sung by Guy Sebastian and Paulini.

P.S.: You have three choices after being informed about this event: A, you can go to your parish and ask how you can be bibo to support the Philippine celebration of WYD; B, fly to Sydney ASAP; or C, move on with your life. Whatever your choice is, I would like to wish you good luck.

P.P.S.: I feel I have a lump in my throat. Sometimes it hurts when I swallow. Just wish that this is not that serious. Ok, I’m going to sleep now.

*the title sucks, I know. you don't have to tell me.

call us geeks (like we care!).

July 8, 2008. The UP Institute of Creative Writing awarded five writers (with one writer nabbing two categories) who won in this year’s UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan. And to grace the event, some of the Philippines’ greatest writers (from malachite to genesis) were there to witness the ceremony. How does F. Sionil Jose, Gemino Abad, Jose “Butch” Dalisay Jr., National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Virgilio Almario, to name a few, sound? Of course, (UP) Epistaxis had to be there! We even had the chance to chat with Senator Edgardo Angara (who was very politician-ish).

(R-L) CAL professors J. Neil Garcia, [guy in blue], Priscelina Pantajo - Legasto, and Anril Tiatco.

(Even if you don't believe it, that's) F. Sionil Jose with Cristina Pantoja - Hidalgo.

and this one (behind the man in pink) is Gemino Abad.

with Alfred Yuson

with Sir Jose "Butch" Dalisay Jr.

and that's us doing the "Sir Dalisay pose" after the event

with National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera (a.k.a. Sir Bien daw).

with with College of Arts and Letters Dean and National Artist Virgilio Almario.

Senator Edgardo Angara (who was like "Cynthia [the BS Biology graduate from UP turned Senator's secretary], bigyan mo sila ng calling card." WAW!)

and the winners of UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan.

loving boyce.

If it weren’t for my brother, I would not be able to discover the wonderful music of Boyce Avenue (BA). I never really liked Usher, Young Jeezy, and Beyonce’s ‘Love In This Club’, but BA’s version changed everything. Can’t help it! I have to be a fan. I'm now loving Boyce.

italian 101* and many more!

Well, I’m speaking and writing in Italian again. Ok, fine. Maybe not really speaking and writing, more of like babbling and oftentimes grunting and doodling in Italian. At least, my professor is back and we can be both productive.

I was about to leave the room so I was really in the state of shock when he arrived. Some of my classmates went before me, so they had to pull their asses back for class. As a result, most of us were sabaw to the ground.

These are some of the exercises where most of my classmates exhibited an out of the body experience (something like when your soul seems lost and your body is left for class participation).


Completa la conversazione tra Stefano e Paul.

(use essere, chiamarsi, and abitare ; conjugate as used with io, tu, and lui/lei)

STEFANO Ciao ! Bella festa, vero?
PAUL Si, la musica _____ bella e la gente divertente.
STEFANO Come ________ ?
PAUL ________ Paul e tu?
STEFANO Io Stefano. Non _____ italiano, vero ? Di dove _____ ?
PAUL _____ inglese e _____ in vacanza, in Italia, per una settimana.
Conosco la festeggiata, _____ ospite a casa sua.
STEFANO Cioè _____ qui, in questa casa?
PAUL No, no, questa _____ la casa di Martina, l’altra festegiatta. Io _____ a
Firenze, a casa di Viola.

Guarda questa carta d’indentità e rispondi alle domande. NOME Magda COGNOME Villareal NATO/A il 19.7.1979 A Città del Messico CITADINANZA messicana RESIDENZA Bolognia, via della Torre, 5 STATO CIVILE nubile PROFESSIONE hostess

1. Come si chiama?
2. Di dove è?
3. Dove abita?
4. Che lavoro fa?

Answers in the exercises above? Click here.

***

There was a booth in ASCAL (read: the part connecting AS and FC, CAL) earlier today. To get the students’ attention, the sign around the table brags, “NUCLEAR ENERGY IS SAFER THAN SEX.” When some of the Epistaxis peeps came back, they created a kinky metaphor out of it.

A: Hindi naman [safe yung nuclear energy] eh! Sasabog ka lang dun!
B: Bakit?! Parehas lang yun no! Parehas yung sumasabog.

Get it? Get it?

***

I was late for my first class today. When I came in, the professor was already telling stories. After 10 minutes or so (or a little over that), she was explaining that the stories were her entry point to a phlegmatic discussion. She said, “Phlegmatic. phlegm.” Then, faces started to crumple. “Parang phlegm. Malapot. Akala n’yo nagkikwento lang ako, noh? Kaya natin kailangan ng kwento kasi ganun ang discussion natin today, malapot.”

Ahhh, okkkk.

***

My professor in my American Literature class was talking about T.S. Eliot’s writing. I got lost in the middle and caught the part when he was saying that Eliot “would write things that would seem like he’s drilling a corkscrew in your head.” I don’t really know what that meant but still wrote it in my notebook. Thanks to Annel, I found out that it just meant that when Eliot writes, he’ll make sure you think.

***

I think I helped Mozilla Firefox 3 set a world record. So as a sign of their gratitude, I got a virtual certificate!



*called Italian 10/11 in real UP life.

what a great day to be pissed.

I am so pissed today. I can’t use was because I’m still pissed. I was trying not to show earlier but I just can’t. Negative vibes are strong.

For one, I slept on the couch (again). Not that my partner is trying to boot me out of the bedroom (because I don’t have a partner), but because my bed is full of clutter, as in full of clutter. I concede that it’s my fault, but can’t your family be at least a little considerate in not waking you up when it’s not your time to wake up?!

Then add a nagging mom who has plans of leaving early but because gas is expensive she forces you to leave the house together and yells at you to hurry up every 2 minutes so she won’t be late. Given the fact that it’s only around 8 a.m. and you have until 9 a.m. to fix yourself for school and eat your breakfast.

Add Patrick who can’t grasp the idea of a “twin” even if you bothered to coordinate. What’s worse is that I ended up being the one to be accused of not understanding the concept.

Include a professor who doesn’t have the decency to tell the class what’s happening in his life. At least give a closure of some sort so we can both move on with our lives! Why did you schedule a quiz that would be suspended for 5 days and counting?! Tell me!

Then you come home, thinking that you can escape from the rage that keeps on haunting you by surfing the net, then suddenly this:

what kind of statement is 'please enter the code shown below to verify your humanity'? proving otherwise makes me 'divine'??

And because the Epistaxis vibe wasn’t really there earlier, the regular GA was suspended until further notice. I promised Joy to perfect David Cook’s version of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; including the part where my vocal cords are supposed to pop because of the notes that I can’t really sing. Teacher Joy, I’ll sing it to you tomorrow!

crazy shopping day.

Me, Issa, Chel, and Joy were in Araneta Center yesterday. Apparently, Joy needed a team to put together a retro outfit for LF’s anniversary photoshoot. As always, guess who’s late? Tada! I texted Joy with my newest excuse: matagal mag-park. As if. But before I can meet them, I had to pass by a group of etchuserang girls. They were walking a bit far from each other, when suddenly the girl from back asked her friends, “Eto! straight or bi?” I was the only one walking towards them so confirmed. Were they...? They were talking about me! I was like, “watdapak?!!” But instead of getting pissed at them I would rather continue sprint walking than have my friends getting pissed at me. Almost panting, I was at our meeting place by 2:30 p.m.. The call time was 1 p.m.. Congratulate me.


We went and checked out Gateway first, entered a shop, and chose clothes for Joy to fit. When all clothes were in, me and Chel waited outside the dressing room. When suddenly, a woman from my back asked, “excuse, magkano ‘to?” I turned back and said in an intimidating tone, “ANO?!” And I got the effect I wanted. She stepped back a little and apologized. Overacting? No. Did I mention that the salespersons were in black and I was wearing a predominantly white shirt? That explains the reaction.

We ate and stayed in Food Express for about an hour or two before picking up our asses to finish Joy’s outfit. We tried looking at the bazaar inside one of the malls. Because Issa was trying to check clothes for herself, she almost turned every folded piece and ended up having the manang angry at her. The manang was like, “ang dami mong tinignan, wala ka man lang nagustuhan!” (Eh paano naman kasi ate, yung t-shirt nyo maganda sana, kaso wrong grammar!) The print at the back of the shirt says: MAKE UP MIND.

It was around 8 p.m. when we realized that the outfit is still missing its accessories. The nearest building that we saw was Isetan. We entered the building with most of the lights out and almost no customers left. We rushed to the accessories department and were assisted by one saleslady who patiently waited for us to finish. She even had the time to tell us what items are on sale. So we were very grateful for her help.

Now, I am thinking if that was coincidence or she really wanted to be the last person to leave. Because while Joy and Issa were scrambling around, I was left standing near her while she whispers, “[mga baby] dito lang kayo ha? Dito lang kayo [shakes the merchandise] kita tayo bukas.”

It was almost 9 (closing time) and Issa was still making hirit to buy her own accessories. The guards were already “coordinating” where to send us to pay all of the stuff we picked. We were at the 5th floor and were sent to the ground floor to pay. When we were happy enough to realize that we were indeed the last customers for the day, a lady came and paid her stuff. Issa jokingly said, “Ay hindi! Hindi pa tayo tapos. Titingin pa ako ng pants!” Syempre, naloka yung staff na nasa counter!

When we exited the building, we remembered one thing – we forgot to think about the shoes. I don’t know if Joy was serious when she said, “magtsitsinelas nalang ako.” But I took her shoe size just in case she shares my mom’s or sister’s size.
We came home just in time to see callboys starting to deploy. Maybe Joy didn’t sense it, but I did. How? You’ll know because when everybody else are looking haggard, they were the ones who smells and looks fresh even from a far.

If there is one thing I discovered today, that would be my difference as a shopper compared to Issa and Joy. I would go for something that can mediate price and style. Issa, though she wouldn’t admit, would go, go, go! Gets? While, Joy lies in between shopper-type Marc and shopper-type Issa.

Pictures coming soon.


P.S.
Joy and Issa bought similar dresses and decided it would be “twin day” tomorrow (I mean, today). Chel would pair with Ara. While, Patrick will be my twin. Interesting? We’ll see.