Living Decisions

In life, choices always have to be made. We make so many crucial decisions that change the course of our lives. Where to study college, whether to join this organization or not, what career you want to have, or doing the right or wrong thing; these are just some of the choices we make. I myself had these mind-breaking times in my life.
In all the choices I've made, I've always thought of the "what if's" that went with it but regrets were never stronger that the commitments I have made. I actually realized why I never regretted that much about my decisions to the point of going back to another choice. I thought maybe it really didn't matter that much where you sided or what you chose; what mattered most was being united with your decision. It is like you and your decision are two separate things and then after choosing it, you merge into one and your movements and the consequences you take become the same.
I actually dreamt about this kind of thing. In my dream was a river. I was at the other side of the river already and in front was a forest that had so much chaos in it. Opposite that side was paradise. The beauty of the area was just so magnificent and it was so bright. After a few days of having this dream, I thought of what the dream was telling me. I actually thought maybe I should have gone back to the paradise side. But then, it came to me that I should not anymore. I had crossed already and that I had to stick to. I guess some decisions make us better people not just because of the decisions but of the process of sticking it out with our decision. The ugly forest was a challenge for me to form into something better than the paradise on the other side or even make it the best. Since I had crossed it already, there was no turning back. The best thing to do for me was live and love what I had. I had to improve what I thought was not the best yet.
Those are the insights my decisions have given to me; not by making it but living the decision and experiencing and learning from it. Everyday, I cherish the decisions I have made in the past whether it has given me blessings or problems because I learn from them whether positive or negative. The experience I go through everyday always overpowers the "what ifs" in my mind. I just live each day of my life trying to make the right decisions but making sure of committing with what I have decided on.

Step Up

Director: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Channing Tatum, Damaine Radcliff, De'Shawn Wasington
Genre: Romance/Drama
Rating: 2.0

Looking for a different movie experience? You need not search anymore. Step Up is a movie filled with dance moves bursting with energy and just the right pizzazz.
Choreographer-turned-director Anne Fletcher made this movie possible with a little help of the one thing that she knows best: dancing. It all begins with the seditious Tyler Gage(Channing Tatum) together with his gang Mac(Damaine Radcliff) and Skinny(De'Shawn Washington) living the very life of a bum. Growing up in the gritty streets of Baltimore has been a harsh experience for Tyler. Once the trio barged in the Maryland School of Arts and trashed the place, but unfortunately, the gang was busted, and Tyler ends up working as a janitor in the school as punisment. There he met Nora Clark (Jenna Dewan), a dancer left in frustration after her partner broke into an ankle sprain. Here is where Tyler moves into the scene to replace Nora's partner. As soon as the two begins their training together, sparks flew in all direction and before they knew it, they are already into something more than just being dance partners.
Although the movie has that follow-you-dream undertone, Step Up misses on some points on being a two-thumbs up kind of movie. It has the best dancers, but just mediocre actors. Both Tatum and Dewan revealed signs of stiffness and awkwardness towards their own role. Other noticeable flaws of the movie are the sudden changes of heart and shifting of scenes, which left so many sub-stories hanging and the audience wondering. Because of this, viewers might have tendencies of being bored and confused as the film progresses on. Fletcher could have done a better job by polishing the filmsy storyline of Step Up for it to be a decent dance movie. It's not just the flashy productions that make such kind of movie striking to the viewers. Rather, it must be a combination of a sensible plot and, of course, showy numbers so as to keep the attention of the audience from floating away. The movie focused too much on the dance aspect that Fletcher overlooked the lacking of substance in the film's story.

Astig ka pala eh!

Teka, ano nga ba naman ang astig? Parang salitang kalye lang na nasama sa karaniwang bokabularyo ng mga Pilipino. Siguro naman halatang-halata sa salita na nanggaling ito sa salitang tigas. Tama. Matigas nga ang mga Pilipino, mula ulo hanggang talampakan. Kaya nga hanggang ngayon manhid pa rin ang lahat sa mga pahiwatig ng panahon. Sa sobrang papuri na tinatanggap ng ating bansa, may lugar pa ba sa isip ng mga Pilipino ang pagsusuri sa kaniyang paligid at sarili? Hindi masama ang pansariling gratipikasyon paminsan-minsan. Kaso bigyan-daan naman natin ang pangkalahatang ebalwasyon ng bansa at lahat ng nasasakupan nito. Hindi lahat ay puro papuri. Matuto naman tayong tumingin sa ating pansariling kahinaan.

Relihiyon atbp.

'Banal na aso, santong kabayo, natatawa ako, hi... hi... hi... sa'yo.'
Nanggaling ang linyang ito sa awi na 'Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo' na pinasikat ng bandang Yano noong dekada 90. Nananatili itong isa sa mga paborito kong awitin hindi dahil sa ritmo at makatawag-pansin na korus kundi dahil sa payak na pagsasalarawan ng awit sa ka-ipokrituhan ng mga Kristyano.
Hindi ko na mabilang ang taong aking nakilala na tumatawag at binabansagan ang kanilang sarili na maka-Diyos at relihiyoso. Maaaring siya ang kasosyo ng iyong ama sa negosyong linggu-linggo dumadalo sa bible study pero sa huli madidiskubre mo na niloko at ninakawan ang iyong ama ng pera. Maaari siya ang kaibigan mong walang mintis kung dumalo ng lingguhang misa ngunit pagkatapos sumamba ay kasintalas ng espada ang dila. Maaari na siya rin ang maka-Diyos na politikong iyong binoto noong nakaraang halalan ngunit sa totoo ay garapalang ninanakaw ang buwis na iyong binabayad. Hindi ko nilalahat ang mga Kristiyano pero huwag tayong magpaka-plastik, aminin na natin, karamihan sa atin ay malayo sa pagiging Kristiyano ang pag-uugali.

Demokrasyang Pinoy

Noong nakaraang Setyembre 21, ilang libong katao ang nagsikapit-bisig at nagsipag-aklas upang gunitain ang ika-34 anibersaryo ng deklarasyon ng martial law - matatandaan na ito ang panahon kung saan napasailalim tayo sa pamumuno ng dating diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos, panahon din sa pagsuspinde ng karapatang pantao. At dahil dito, sa pagtutulungan ng samabayanang Pilipino, sumiklab ang People Power Revolution o mas kilala bilang EDSA Revolution upang magbigay-daan sa demokrasya.
Kinikilala ang demokrasya bilang uri ng gobyerno na kung saan lahat ng mamamayan ay may karapatan sa pamumuno ng bansa. Ito ang hakbang ng mga Pilipino matapos ang sinapit na mga panahon sa kamay na bakal ng martial law. Ito rin ang istrukturang pinaniniwalaan ng nakakarami, at istrukturang perpekto sa ilan. Subalit, masasabi mo pa rin bang matatag ang demokrasyang bumabalot sa ating bansa? Sa kasalukuyan, sang-ayon ka ba sa sistema?
Sa akin lang, hindi naman ako lubusang taliwas dito ngunit may mga pagkakataon din talagang masasabi natin na mahina ang pundasyon ng demokrasya sa lipunang ginagalawan. Mga atras-abanteng polisiya, mga problemang internal na hindi matapus-tapos, ang walang tigil na korupsyon, ang pang-aabuso sa dignidad ng ilan sa mga tapat na kawani ng gobyerno - ilan lamang ang mga ito.
Kung gusto nating makamit ang maayos na pamumuhay, dapat pagtibayin ang totoong layunin ng demokrasya. Minsan kasi, nagiging panakip-butas na lamang ito sa ilan. Minsan pa, nagiging baluktot na ang pagsasakatuparan ng mga batas na nais maimplementa. At minsan, kung sino pa ang tapat sa serbisyo, iyon ang nais patumbahin ng ilan. Hindi ba't isa na lamang ang Pilipinas sa kakaunting bansang may istrukturang taglay ang ganitong klaseng pamahalaan? Sana'y huwag nating hayaang tuluyang masira ang demokrasya ng bansa. Naniniwala ako na kaya naman natin ito, basta mayroon lang iisang direksyon, iisang paningin, at iisang pangarap.

MOTORKR E2

RATING: 3.0
Fusion of music and mobility as it is equipped with full stereo audio, .35M
Motorola once again introduced to the market another advancement in wireless digital technology; the MOTORKR phone for music enthusiasts, the MOTORKR E2 is the ultimate fusion of music and mobility as it is equipped with stereo audio, .35mm headset jack. 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and a high resolution (2 inch, 240 x 320 TFT, 262 colors) making it advanced compared with other Motorola phones. If you're still not convinced yet with its features, you may start to question what its edge among other mobile phones is. Simple, phone promotes an advanced feature in wireless technology. Who would believe you could just leave you phone inside you pocket or anywhere within 30 feet radius while using embedded Bluetooth headphones and listen to music?
If you are conscious about the physical specifications, 115 gram phone would definitely be an addition to your techie gadget collection as seen from Marc Abaya and the Itchyworms during their gigs. Determine style as this has brilliant screen, built-in camera to take snapshots or video and play MPEG4 format. A phone slash music player it is, because it functions also as an MP3 player where it can play up to 500 songs with 4 MB each.
Organize a special music library. Simply download your favorite music saved in you desktop computer or the internet via the 2.0 connection USB and save them on 2 GB swappable memory card.
The unique design of the MOTORKR E2 allows an easy access to your downloaded music because of the built-in sound buttons wherein you can play, stop or move to next track. If you got bored listening to saved songs, just switch to the FM radio and groove with the DJ's at the local radio station. Get connected to the internet and be uploaded with news, biz bits and sports with the SCREEN3 technology.
What I like about this mobile phone is that these practically organize your songs into a music library and easily access it through the built-in buttons. It doesn't only function as a mobile phone but it is also an electronic notebook and MP3 player in one. Plus, it is marked fairly at a window price of Php18,000.00
Catered mostly to the music enthusiasts, MOTORKR E2 proves an advancement in wireless Bluetooth technology. Convenience and phone efficiency could be a deciding factor. But with all summed up, MOTORKR E2 owners may I ROCK!

My Own

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Billy Rainey
GENRE: Reality Show
RATING: 3.0

What more can an avid fan possibly ask for aside from meeting his/her most wanted celebrity up-close and live in the flesh? Music Television (MTV) offers another dating game, as My Own, plus a certain twist. The fan does not get as lucky as securing a date with his/her favorite star. As a delightful alternative, can date someone whom he/she perceives to be exactly like the icon, may it be in terms of the chosen one's appearance or sheer qualities.
Sets of evaluations staged by the searcher along with his or her two other buddies cut the initially six contestants to a victorious one. My Own edges over other reality dating shows due to the required skill that goes hand in hand with the aspiring searchee. He or she must first brush up on the featured star's biography since that could take him/her a notch higher. It also serves an an "X factor" if the contender can sing or rap their idol's chart-topping songs, groove to the beat, dress with the attitude, or simply exude the charm akin to the celebrity's. Albeit projecting the celeb's trademark style is an eye-catcher, it is a common ground for the chosen ones that they manage to pull the Hollywood aura off with a balance of own identity. Hence, the maxim:"Always be yourself" still works magic.
Viewers shall certainly be amused with the guts that surround the competing teens with how close they can look like their idol. The presence of the challenger's friends can be quite influential though, that one is left baffled whether his/her choice for date was of own taste or to impress the other two. Also, My Own's well-crafted and highly embellished setting analogous to the real shooting-the-video scenario is hard to ignore. The crew undeniably plans matters up to its finest details (e.g. things present in the real video are also included in the video remake round) and the impeccability of the final three's impersonation after undergoing the scrunity of a guru. But on top of that, the show's main theme, which is to link two people with passions entwined serves as the breakthrough.

Prep

AUTHOR: Curtis Sittenfeld
RATING: 3.0

Ever wondered what life would be like when you're bound for boarding school? Infinite freedom as you party till you drop a thousand miles away from the "parentals!" Curtis Sittenfeld's debut novel, Prep, writes about a mid-western teenager's experience with boarding school and the inner world of what a young girl goes through in ruthless teen hierarchy. This delightfully novel has become a National Bestseller and was chosen as one of the Ten Best Books of 2005 by the New York Times and will be translated into 22 languages. At 16, Sittenfeld won a fiction writing contest in Seventeen Magazine and has continued to write ever since.
Sittenfeld writes about Lee Fiora who leaves her home of South Bend, Indiana bound for Boston to attend the prestigious Ault School. Once in Ault, Lee quickly realizes how different she is with the likes of the uber-popular Aspeth Montgomery, the kind of girl about whom rock songs were written. A chance encounter with the enigmatic Cross Sugarman, who is less than a boyfriend and more than a crush, opens her world of infatuation and sexual curiosity. Excessively insecure, Lee spends her long weekends in her dorm and sits out in school dances. Parents' weekend, school-wide game called Assassin and a suicide attempt by a former roommate are just some of the events she encounters in Ault.
Despite the dragging beginning, the novel is enjoyable and thought-provoking, it makes you laugh and smile and reflect on your own emotions and experiences. However, the novel has an overwhelming amount of details, which causes a lack of plot, as heavy emotions are involved. Nevertheless, the author does an unbelievable job in rekindling memories during one's high school days, making you wish you could return to those days again and at the same time grateful that you never had to relive it. Not a typical chick lit book, the author gives a genuine truth adolescence, depression and alienation.
An awe-inspiring and insightful read, surely readers won't resist looking back at what high school life really is.

America's Next Top Model Cycle 5

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Anthony Dominici
Tyra Banks
Ken Mok

HOST
Tyra Banks

GENRE
Reality Show

RATING
3.0


Do you have what it takes to be the next catwalk superstar? This is the question 13 model-wannabes hope to answer as they endure unconventional challenges and photo shoots with hopes of winning a fashion spread in Elle Girl magazine, a management opportunity courtest of Ford Models, a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl cosmetics, and bagging the coveted title of America's next top model.
Extreme makeovers and momentary modeling stints at high-profile fashion shows are just some of the trials the contestants undergo before venturing into a creative pictorial officiated by a guest photographer. Like the modeling industry, a contestant's fate in the competition greatly relies on the ability to produce striking photographs that are subject for intense critiquing from a panel of judges composed of supermodel Tyra Banks, acclaimed photographer Nigel Barker, runway expert J. Alexander, and fashion icon Twiggy. During elimination, the contestant who fails to meet the standards set by the judges is immediately sent packing.
Each episode delves a little deeper into the lives of the contestants as they pursue their dreams of becoming a runway model. However, antics of the contestants tend to become overly dramatic once they realize cameras documenting their every move. It gets frustrating to see girls break down every now and then due to the extreme stress they are facing in the competition. More tension ensues when contestants go through immense backstabbing and cat fighting when they all realize the deep-seated competition existing among them. When it comes to the photo shoots, some are artistically themed while others are just too eccentric to appreciate as "art". Banks and Alexander tend to deliver witty remarks in an attempt to give the show a little humor, but simply fail miserably doing so.
This show is for anyone fascinated with the ins and outs of the fashion and modeling industry, specifically for anyone who has dreams of strutting the catwalk very soon. It serves as a crash course for those engrossed in the fast-paced world of supermodels and the media glitz and glamour that spice it all up. Amidst all the drama that transpires, anticipating the outcome of the competition already proves to be an exhilarating show.

Lumalalang korupsyon, sinisira ang Pilipinas

Kamakailan ay nagsagawa ang World Bank ng ulat tungkol sa pagganap ng mga namumuno sa pamahalaan upang supilin ang korupsyon at lumabas sa ulat na sa loob ng walong taon ay hindi naging epektibo ang pamahalaang pigilan ang korupsyon sa gobyerno. Matatandaan ding kamakailan lamang ay nahirang muli ang Pilipinas bilang isa sa mga pinakakorap na bansa sa mundo. Hindi na bago ang ganitong balita. Sa nagdaang mga taon ay ilang dayuhang ahensya na ang nakapuna sa malawakang katiwalian sa bansa at ang masama pa roon ay alam ng pamahalaan ang problema ngunit hindi nagiging maagap ang pagtugon nito sa suliraning ito.
Sa isa pang riserts na ginawa noong 2001, mula 1965-2001, tinatayang umabot na sa $208 bilyon ang nawala mula sa kaban ng gobyerno dahul sa korupsyon. Sadyang nakakalarma ang halagang nawala dahil napupunta lamang sa mga bulsa ng ilang tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno ang binabayad na buwis ng mga Pilipino.
tsk tsk tsk. . .

Panahon ang kalaban mo

Sa isang iglap, mas nanaisin mong sana ay hawak mo ang takbo ng panahon, na nasa palad mo sana ang bawat panahon na nasayang dahil nanindigan kang kaya mo ang sarili mo. Kahit ano pang gawin o sabihin, sadyang may mga bagay dito sa mundo na walang kasiguraduhan kapag iyo nang binalikan. Marami mang sagot sa ganitong klase ng katanungan sa isip mo, hindi naman lahat ay nakakatanggap ng magandang kasagutan, o kaya ang nais nilang kasagutan. Kahit alam nilang may mga balakid, hindi dapat ito maging hadlang upang ipagpatuloy ang nais gawin o simulan. Dapat kang magsikap, magtrabaho, at maging masigasig sa paggawa ng nais mong gawin.
Minsan, ang pagkakaroon ng prinsipyo ang isa sa nangungunang dahilan kung bakit marami sa atin ang ayaw magpakumbaba. Hindi lahat nagkakaroon ng tapang na aminin ang mali na kanilang ginawa. Maraming oportunidad ang sinasayang dahil hinahayaan lamang itong lumipas hanggang sa ito'y magsawa at kumupas. Mga pagkakataon na ibinigay na sana'y nagamit nang maayos nang sa gayon ay hindi umabot sa puntong pinagsisisihan ang mga ito.

Kulang pa rin yan. . .

Iligaw mo ang iyong sarili sa kawalan. Doon mo lang maiisip na ang sapat ay kulang na, ang marami ay kakaunti na lamang at ikaw ay sinusukat sa pamantayang walang katapusan. Maraming tao ang hindi nakakapansin sa konseptong ito. Masyado na kasing binago ng mentalidad na ito ang kaisipan ng mga tao. Ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay may kasukatan. Ang mayaman ay nasusukat sa dami ng ari-arian. Ang matalino ay nasusukat batay sa taas ng kanyang nakukuhang marka sa pag-aaral. Ang maganda ay nakakahon na lamang sa mga numerong 36-24-36.
Masyadong marami kung iisa-isahin ang mga pamantayang sumusukat sa kung ano ang nararapat at alin ang hindi. Minsan nakakapagod isiping dapat maabot mo ang mga pamantayang ito para lang maging masaya. Ito'y nilikha ng lipunan upang iparamdam sa iyo na hindi ka perpekto. Kung sa bagay totoo nga namang hindi tayo perpekto. Pero mas maganda sigurong malaman mo iyon mula sa iyong sarili at hindi dahil iyon ang dinidikta at ipinapahatid ng lipunang iyong ginagalawan. Sayang naman kung hindi mo gagamiting ang kaisipang ibinigay sa iyo. Sayang naman kung mananatili kang isang katauhang walang pag-iisip at pagpapahalaga sa sariling kakayahan.
Ang lahat ng tao raw ay may walang katapusang pangangailangan at kagustuhan. Sakim din daw ang mga tao sapagkat mas nanaisin nito ang mas marami kaysa sa kakaunti. Ang konseptong ito ay pinag-aaralan sa Economics. Kung totoo man ang mga ito, marahil ito nga ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nakukuntento ang mga tao sa mga bagay na mayroon sila.

Usapang Tao

"Mas mapagkakatiwalaan mo ang hayop kaysa tao. Dahil ang hayop, kailanman ay hindi magtataksil, hindi katulad ng tao."
Ang linyang ito ay nagmula sa isang "anime" na aking napanood. Tinanong ng bida sa kanyang kaibigan kung bakit mahilig siya sa hayop at ang naturang linya ang kanyang naging tugon.
Totoo ngang may kakayanang mag-isip ang tao ay iyon ang dahilan kung bakit tayo angat sa lahat ng nabubuhay dito sa daigdig. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit ang mga tao ang pinagkatiwalaan ng Diyos upang pangalagaan ang mundo. Ngunit ang tanong: "Ginagamit ba natin ang ating pag-iisip sa tamang paraan?" Sa tuwing manonood at magbabasa ng balita, hindi na nawawala ang masasamang balita tulad ng korupsyon, pandaraya, paninira, rape, pagnanakaw, giyera at marami pang iba na may kaukulan sa masamang ginawa ng tao sa kanyang kapwa. Kalunus-lunos talaga!
Parang kumikilos tayong taliwas sa ibinigay sa ating ng Diyos. Nararapat bang tawagin talaga tayong may isip kung hindi naman natin ginagamit sa tama ang ating isip? Masakit isipin pero baka dumating ang araw na maging mas masahol pa tayo sa hayop. Kaya gamitin ng tama ang iyong isip at patunayang angat nga tayo sa mga dalisay ng hayop.

Usapang Hayop

"Hayop ka!" Ito ang isa sa mga ekspresyong ginagamit ng nakararaming mga Pilipino sa tuwing siya'y nagagalit sa isang tao. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ginagamit ang naturang salita dahil inihahantulad sa hayop ang masamang ugali ng tao sapagkat ang hayop ay walang kakayahang mag-isip hindi tulad ng tao. Ngunit, tama ba talagang gamiting ang salitang iyon sa tuwing nagagalit ka sa iyong kapwa? Para sa akin, dalisay ang mga hayop. Isipin mo na lamang, kahit na ang pinakamabangis na hayop, hindi ka naman sasaktan kung hindi mo sila sinaktan. Kahit na wala silang kakayang mag-isip, may kakayanan naman silang makiramdam tulad ng tao. Mamahalin ka ng hayop at ipagtatanggol ka niya sa abot ng kanilang makakaya kung ipinadama mo sa kanya ang iyong pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal. At higit sa lahat, hindi natin maikakailang napakahalaga ng mga hayop sa ating buhay. Isipin mo na lang saan nanggagaling ang kinakain mo sa araw-araw? Sinu-sino ang tumutulong sa mga magsasakang magtanim ng palay sa bukid? Ngayon, nararapat pa bang gamitin ang ekspresyong "hayop ka" sa tuwing may atraso sa iyo ang iyong kapwa?

Damit na Nagbabalik

Tila may hawig ang mga pananamit ng ilang kabataan ngayon sa mga porma ng mga tao noong dekada otsenta. Maraming nagsimulang maghalungkat ng mga lumang damit sa mga baul ng kanilang mga magulang at sa likod ng kanilang mga aparador upang hiramin ang mga inaalikabok na malalaking shades, makakapal na sinturon, mahahabang mga blusa at mga palamuting tulad ng 'hoop earrings', mahahabang kwintas, makakapal at malalaking mga singsing upang makamit ang nauusong 80's look. Isama pa ang 'Victorian style'(ruffles) inspired na pang-itaas sa mga kababaihan. Isa pa ang skinny jeans o mga pantalong tinatawag ding baston, idagdag na rin ang ubod na ikling mga shorts. Halina't ating buhaying muli ang mga istilo ng kasuotang akala nating permanente nang nabaon sa limot.
Mas mabuting manamit sa pamamaraang magiging komportable ka sa iyong kasuotan kaysa sumunod sa bawat dikta ng usong maaaring hindi laging komportable at minsang hindi laging bagay sa iyo.
Paano kung mapuno ang Greenbelt, Rockwell, Glorietta, Podium o iba pang malalaki at sikat na establisamiyento o mga paaralang pinamumugaran ng mga fashionista? Kung nagkataon mang hindi ka kabilang sa kanila, hindi ito nangangahulugang huli ka na talaga sa uso at isa na itong kakulangan sa iyong parte. May kanya-kanyang istilo ang lahat sa pagpapahayag ng kanilang mga sarili, maaaring iba-iba lang ng mga paraan at panlasa sa pananamit at pagdadala nito. Maaaring naghahandog ang mundo ng fashion ng pagbabagu-bagong mga uso, ngunit asahan mong babalik din ang iba sa mga ito. At sa kanilang pagbabalik, may mga kaunting pagbabago sa bawat piraso ng damit at palamuting aagaw ng atensyon ng mga tao. Nasa sa iyo na kung paano ihahayag ang iyong sarili sa pamamagitan ng fashion.

LIGAYANG HATID NG MGA Palabas ng Kahapon

Malayo na ang narating ng mga TV shows sa kasalukuyan. Hindi na ito tulad ng dating iisang studio lamang ang ginagamitang lugar ng palabas. Nagkakaroon na ng mga palabas na ipinapakita ang mga nangyayari sa ating pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay. Ang mga reality shows, soap opera, fantaserye at Asian novelas- ito ang iilan sa mga palabas na madalas makita kapag nanonood tayo ngayon ng telebisyon. Sa dami ng mga palabas, nakakagulat malamang mapapanood nating muli ang mga lumang palabas na minsan na nating sinubaybayan.
Ang panonood ng telebisyon ang isa sa mga naging libangan na nating mga Pilipino. Hindi maikakailang marami na ngang palabas ang ineere sa telebisyon. Mapakomedya man o drama, sadyang patok ito sa manonood kaya naman napadadalas ang pag-ulit ng programa o palabas ng midya.
Samu't saring reaksyon ang binibigay ng sambayanan ukol sa pag-uulit ng mga palabas. May mga taong nasisiyahan at mayroon ding gustung-gustong ulit-ulitin ang panonood ng telenovelas.
Kung minsan nakatutuwang malamang bumabalik ang mga nakaraang TV show. Ngunit minsan din naman dumarating sa puntong nakakasawa na. Iba-iba man ang reaksyon ng taumbayan, hindi na nating maikakailang naging parte na ng buhay nating ang ganitong tradisyon na inuulit o dinudugtungan ang isang palabas sa telebisyon. Mga palabas na sadyang minsang nakaaagaw pansin natin bilang manonood.

Harried, hurried Lasallians

De La Salle is too prestigious that for its name for students to have actually based their choice on the educational system. How many Lasallians could say that they preferred De La Salle because that student believes that studying and learning is at its best in a trimestral system? How many can assert that transformative learning can improve a student's life when we know for a fact that only a few have a full grasp of the whole framework?
In casting the university's net, it can perhaps do away with explaining how the trimestral system functions or what the current Lasallian Core Curriculum invokes the students. A level 4 accreditation, a list of successful alumni, and a high tuition fee can always prove the university's worth and enough to bring in a good number of applicants. De La Salle has either earned that or sugarcoat is too well.
Students in getting their college applications are driven by the image universities project. However, the good image of De La Salle today may no longer have been given justice by our generation's performance. Each generation has a different standard for excellence and mediocrity. But it is also important to note that while Lasallians of today are often criticized by its creeping mediocrity, the administration together with the Brothers, as educators, should cease the alarm.
It would be ideal for students to have made their picking after a clear understanding of the university's structural features. But when you are 17 or 18 years old what is in it for you who only know that the next step is college and the basis of your perception is coming from what you see or what you hear. After a year or two it is when you testify that only an experience, the actual Lasallian college life that will allow you to understand how the structures work here. What it takes to be in a trimestral system and what requires of you in the transformative learning framework. The problem is, of the thirteen thousand students of this university, how long does it take for each one of us to understand and be conscious of our growth? For students that are too varied, for achievers and non-achievers, and for fast learners and slow learners, the answer would be relative. The big question is: How is our generation coping with trimetral system in this university?

Filipino time

Typical scenario: intended meeting time is scheduled 9 o'clock but people arrive minutes, if not hours late. Organized events would say that the planned actual time (wise move); yet people will still trickle in behind schedule. This chronic habit is what we call Filipino Time, the thwarting tardiness amongst Filipinos, which entails unnecessary waiting - something I am, as well as other people, (I suppose) are impatient for.
Why is this phenomenon pervasive? Is this a trend or an obvious indication of complacency? Considering the two concepts of time, the Eastern notion of time is circular or spiral - implying continuity and 'second chances', that we incessantly commit slip-ups until we learn. On the other hand, the Western concept of time is linear - 'once time passed, it is gone forever', it visions life as a succession of quandaries and also involves overlooked opportunities, errors, etc. We are geographically located at the east, yet we are heavily westernized due to Spanish occupation and strong American influence. Plus consider our laid-back passive-aggression culture due to colonialism. And since traffic is notorious over the years, we have imbibed and translated this Bahala Na attitude and 'we'll-get-there-when-we-get-there' mentality on a daily basis action. Problematic.
Being "Fashionably Late" and pa-importante. I do not know why people are into this. Is it because they feel that if they are strictly needed/wanted, they would be found; that people are greatly preoccupied with something (chitchatting, IM, texting, etc), or for the reason of that they want a 'dramatic entrance'? The answer I do not know, but these prove thoughtlessness and inconsideration to others. Normally, when one comes late, most of us would just shrug it off. Talk about seeing a problem but not having it addressed.
The key to this is simple - Awareness. Being aware that the time we have is God's gift, it is our task to demonstrate our gratitude for this endowment by making the most of our time, being on time, and valuing or respecting the time of others. As what Cesar Montufar, an Ecuadorian Colonel said, "He who is late steals time from another."
My message is purely simple: Be on time and do not waste your time and anyone's time. Promptness is an indicator of soaring ambition and driven aspiration. Attest that we Filipinos are not flagrantly inconsiderate. It's now time for setting Filipino time right on the exact dot.

The Filipino habit

Prayer is defined by Merriam-Webster as an earnest wish or request which is addressed to God or a god.
The Philippines, being one of the most Christian populated nations in Asia, never miss to pray when they need something from God. Moreover, they thank God for all the blessing He has given. They also ask God's forgiveness for the mistakes they may have committed. Praying is actually one of the best traits Filipino have.
In the course of Philippine historty, we could trace how much prayer has affected revolutions or changes. Vital to the success of the EDSA I was the withdrawal of the support of the military to former President Ferdinand Marcos. I firmly believe that what moved the military to do so was the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit which was prayed over by the millions of people who stayed in EDSA to pray together in unity. EDSA I was followed by EDSA II which still proved to be successful with the Filipinos' prayers. Even in our everyday lives, our prayers have always guided us in the things we do. It has moved us to change and be guided in making our decisions. It has been our time to talk to God. When we are alone, we never loose a friend since we know God is always there to talk to us.
It's sad to see that nowadays people do not anymore see prayer as a priority in their everyday lives. Prayer has become an occasion to them that they only pray when they need something from God. Some people in EDSA might have only prayed at that time since they were starting to seek peace. But I doubt if everyone who prayed there prays at least once a day thanking God for answering that one request they asked for. We have to realize that prayer as defined by the dictionary is not only a request but it should be a communication with the Lord. It should be a regular practice for us to pray because we have a lot to thank God for. Just the fact that we know He is always there for us is already something to thank for.
I have realized these things in the course of my search of true meaning in life. Before, I also do not prioritize prayer in my life. Like most people, I think more of how I could attain the material things I want in life but just like what they say, "Pag namatay ka na, hindi mo naman madadala ang kayamanan mo." This is very true. And what you could only bring with you in death is your faith.
Our country offers us so many means to pray and practice our faith compared to other countries. There are so many churches everywhere. But not having churches is not a hindrance since we could always pray at home. God is everywhere and He listens wherever we may be.
At the current turmoil we are facing, with wars erupting in different countries, disunity, and poverty; the more we should be praying. Far more than that, we should be thanking the Lord that despite the uproar, we still have our families and friends that partially blind us with the harsh realities of life.
Always believe in the power of prayer.

The War of Profits

March 20, 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom kicks off in the Middle East and barely two months later, US President Bush victoriously declared that major combat operations have ended. Today, as a consequence of the US invasion, Iraq is on the brink of civil war, but it's all part of the Bush doctrine's War on Terrorism. Truly, 9/11 was the largest foreign attack on American soil and the US government responded by waging war against Afghanistan and Iraq, places they classified as havens of terrorism. On the surface it is a war of retribution but critics speculate bacause it was also a war of many rewards.
Behind the smoke and the bloodshed, there was money - lots of it. The Middle East is notoriously rich in black gold and invading it would be a way to cash in. American firm giants Unocal, Enron and Halliburton were companies with stakes in Afghan oil and incidentally, had excellent relationships with the US President and Vice President. When Afghanistan was invaded and a new president was installed, it wasn't surprising that pipeline agreements were signed between Middle Eastern countries with these companies as contractors.
Oil wasn't the only cash cow here. With Iraq in tatters, rebuilding is a must and who better to do that than American companies? Not just any companies, Halliburton and the Carlyle group did it. Estimates from Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments pegged the non-military costs to rebuild Iraq at $500billion. The US Council on Foreign Relations pegs rebuilding costs at $100billion. A lot of money there and they might've been lucky but close ties with the Bush family helps.
And what of Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban? President Bush's utterance of, I don't know where he is. . . I don't just spend that much time on him, should be telling enough.

Playing those mind games

December 8, 1980 - 25years past and it's still intensely disturbing how Mark David Chapman and a 0.38 revolver extinguished John Lennon - musical demigod, unabashed social activist. With a copy of The Catcher In The Rye and and unflinching countenance, Chapman casually walked away from the hemorrhaging rock star and became either the most deranged or misunderstood man in the world of conspiracy theories. For certain, Chapman was the murderer, but the motive is shaky at best. Insanity was ruled out since legally administered tests conclusively paint the picture of a sane man. The motive then became Chapman shot Lennon because he wanted his fifteen minutes of fame. But many didn't buy this theory, like British journalist Fenton Bresler who asked, (Was Chapman) as much the victim of those who wanted to kill John Lennon as Lennon himself?
Unknown to most, FBI policy is that ALL EXTREMISTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. Hence the FBI watched him constantly as he fit the bill as a bold, undeterred spokesman against the Vietnam War in the late 60s and 70s. At Lennon's behest thousands upon thousand of adoring youth would furnish roses, bolstering his message of a pacifist revolution. In 1980, the cold war was in full swing and President Reagan and the government had plans that'd draw Lennon's opposition. Lennon was not to be trifled with given his unfettered public influence and successful comeback album. His activist involvements could be a threat and he was young and still active. For the government, problems need to be solved and getting rid of him wouldn't have been a bad solution.

Who done it?

August 21, 1983 - Hundreds crammed into the arrival terminal of NAIA as Ninoy Aquino emerged, home from his self-imposed 3-year exile in the US. Seconds later, the staunchest Marcos critic was killed by a bullet to the head. The assassination was allegedly the deed of Rolando Galman who was shot dead by the military moments after Ninoy in the same tarmac. As Ninoy planned his homecoming, he allegedly received death threats from Marcos to dissuade him from returning.
Marcos' motive was clear but he was recovering from a kidnet transplant when the shots rang. This could be a cover-up but giving the benefit of the doubt to Marcos, who orchestrated the assassination? Notorious Gen. Fabian Ver was a candidate. With Marcos ailing, Ver would be poised to take power in the country's Martial Law. In a government commissioned investigation, Ver was tagged as the mastermind but in the end these findings were thrown out by the Sandiganbayan. The First Lady has also been accused because Imelda would lose it all should Ninoy topple Marcos. Rumors say that Marcos pleaded Ninoy not to return, saying it would not be his hand that would stop him but Imelda's. Unlikely mastermind as well was Juan Ponce Enrile, spearhead of the People Power Revolution that ended the dictatorship. His secret motive: Ninoy would be the catalyst to spark the revolution he needed to overthrow Marcos and put him in power.
Despite this, 16 soldiers were charged with perpetrating the crime. Some say that Gen.Fabian Ver confessed what happened behind the assassination of Ninoy at his deathbed but until now, the truth remains hidden.

How to kill a president

November 22, 1963 - The motorcade snaked its way through downtown Dallas and, unbeknownst to all, into the 26 most controversial seconds on film. As admirers crowded to catch a glimpse of America's most iconic First couple, shots rang through Dealey Plaza and within 30 minutes, President John F. Kennedy was declared dead. Police arrested 24-year old Lee Harvey Oswald and tagged him as the lone gunman with a telescope rifle at the Texas Book Depository overlooking the scene of the crime. The police had their man, but America would never witness its legal circus. Two days later, on national TV, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fired a fatal bullet into the suspect. Ruby himself died of cancer 4 years later. No trials took place.
While Oswald is said to be the shooter, footage argue otherwise. The fatal shots rang out when the motorcade was close to the grassy knoll where a shooter could have hidden. Roughly 75 photographers filmed the assassination but of the film collected, none captured the shady grassy knoll. Curiously enough, photographs show a scarf-clad woman filming the motorcade from a vantage point that could have captured the grassy knoll. Unfortunately, the world would never view those crucial moments because she was never identified or tracked down. Now she is known as the babushka lady and a lingering question remains: could she have captured an incriminating visual of the 'real' assassin, the face lurking behind the grassy knoll?
If it was Oswald, did he act alone? JFK had powerful enemies, in particular, Fidel Castro. The US's CIA admits to have engaged in covert operations to murderer El Presidente. The Cuban missile crises and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion also draw the wrath of the Cubans. Coincidentally Oswald idolized Castro and was recently denied entry into Cuba, while Ruby spent some time in the island before. Could they have been Cuban instruments?

Conspiracy Conundrum

Common knowledge is that iodized salt is crucial to physical growth, metabolism and prevention of illnesses like goiter. This is why in 1995, R.A. 8172 or the Act for Salt Iodization (ASIN) was passed to promote its use and distribution. Soon, the governement campaign had iodized salt in everyone's house. Behind praises sung for iodized salt, some whisper it significantly lowers fertility and it's a government address to overpopulation.
Is this true? Who's doing it? What's in it for them? Questions follow situations like this and oftentimes answers are found. Unfortunately, there are some scandalous and controversial cases with no answers. Answers are not lost but have been hidden by people pulling the strings for their own ends. Something scandalous, secret groups and selfish motives are the ingredients of a conspiracy much like this one. Whether people know it or not, conspiracies have shaped the world and spawned moments that have left only shock and loss.

A matter of personal choice

Even if the media is said to portray the beauty trends of society, it is the viewers, listeners, and readers, who are left to judge the real measure of one's appearance. For Ms.Alvarez, Filipinos would most likely react in three ways: copy the trend, disagree with it, or act indifferently. Some would try to imitate what is attainable in the magazines, others would go against the conventional, and several would simply see it as entertainment or leisure, without having to copy what they see in the pages. Although there are constant factors that dictate the ideals of beauty, such as colonialism and the media, it will always be left to the person to decide.
According to DOVE, women in the Philippines send a mixed message. Although more women in the country than anywhere else in Asia think showbiz personalities and models are good role models, more women feel inadequate looking at the "beautiful" women in magazines. Filipinas wish that media would do a better job in portraying the diverse physical characteristics found among the country's people.
The method of finding closure in a world filled with twisted ideals of beauty should not come from following the standards set by the majority. There should never come a time when one lets the outside factors determine what is appropriate. In the end, it all boils down to the peson. There is no point in using so many products to erase one's personal identity. Beauty ideals are set for everyone to fit in, and creating your own is the only way to move past these set standards. The question is: why conform to them when you can stand out?

Beauty diversified

Kate Alvarez, assistant fashion and beauty editor of OK! Magazine Philippines, says that the problem of westernization can be attributed to the Philippines' being a Third world country. There is a tendency to look up to First world countries for cultural influences. The gurus, from fashion designers to makeup artists, are found mostly in western countries, and the magazine industry looks up to them for the latest trends.
Although others view the media as a means for setting stereotypical looks, she says that today, the concept has become broader. She argues that the local society has evolved from the dilemma of the westernization of beauty ideals. "If you browse through some of today's magazines, both foreign and local, you'll notice that there are some models who don't fit the standard tall and slender", says Ms.Alvarez. She calls these the "anti-it" models, and in fact, in booking their models for the magazine, they look for those that fit their theme, and not necessarily because of an acceptable look.
The west in itself is synthesizing Asian Hollywood icon Gwen Stefani as an example, who launched a fashion line, inspired by the Harajaku girls of Japan. Artists like The Black Eyed Peas, The Pussycat Dolls and Cassie, among others, are penetrating the foreign industry, while proudly declaring their heritage. The beauty icons seen today are no longer limited to the usual blonde-haired, blue-eyed Americans.

Forgetting the Filipino

The local beauty industry caters to this unrealistic prototype. The availability of skin whitening products today is enought to show the deviance of beauty standards from the natural morena skin of most Filipinos. Skin whiteners are said to be the fuel of the industry, with a 17 percent increase in sales in 2001. 86 percent of the Filipino population, or 66 million Filipinos, are said to be cosmetic buyers. The influx of commercials in the Philippines that promote the concept of westernized beauty are extremely diverse. There are lotions, moisturizers, and soaps that claim to either whiten or improve skin. There are also hair products that promise the silky straight or buhaghag-free hair.
The strong influence of colonial mentality is greatly evident in the beauty standards popularized by media. Colonialism, a forced change in which one culture, society, or nation dominates another, affects the identity development of countries through this indirect act of oppression. Franz Fannon, a French psychiatrist who tackled the effects of colonialism in his book Black Skin White Masks, said that colonialized people's inferiority complex has been created by the death and burial of its local cultural originality. Coming face to face with the culture of the mother country, the colonized is elevated above his jungle status in proportion to his adoption of the mother country's cultural standards. With the influence of the Spaniards, the Americans and the Japanese in the Philippine culture, the standards of beauty have continuously evolved until how it is perceived in presentday scenarios.

Setting the Superficial Standard

Beauty is what gives pleasure to both the mind and senses. However, the pursuit of this quality comes with a great price. Extreme measures have been taken, with women putting themselves through eating disorders, plastic surgery and risky fad diets. Actors and actresses must keep their youthful looks and fight aging in order to stay longer in the entertainment industry. Have people's popular beliefs for beauty become reduced to merely straight hair, Barbie-like measurements, and unblemished skin?
Print advertising, television commercials, and other forms of mass media are efficient tools for setting the standard of physical appearance. The common unrealistic prototype for women - skinny, tall, young, straight haired and fair-skinned, compose the bulk of today's advertisements. Dr. Liz Dittrich, director of research and outreach for AboutFace - A San Francisco group that promotes a realistic body image, said that an average person sees between 400 to 600 advertisements per day and that one out of every 11 commercials contain a direct message about beauty.
The DOVE Campaign for Real Beauty, launched August of last year, initiated a widespread consciousness on the actual effects of these forms of media. The research done involved over 2,100 women in 10 Asian countries, 58 percent of Filpinas concluded that the media sets impossible beauty standards, and 55 percent felt inadequate when looking at women in magazines. These statistics show the increasingly crucial consequence of the media's portrayal of beauty. Contradictory to the promise of a positive self-image, the end result is low self-esteem, with 84 percent wishing the media would give more confidence to women with their looks.

Fairest of them all

Many are unaware of the fact that indigenous groups of pre-colinial Philippines had their own sense of style. The book Panapanahon shows the simplicity Filipinos achieved in their appearances. Female Itas were fond of jewelry while males only wore a loin cloth between their thighs. The people from Luzon were fond of matching clothes, particularly the barong tagalog for males and baro't saya on females. The Malays wore dresses of woven fabrics and adorned themselves with gold jewels, pearls, beads, glass and colored stones. The sarong, potong, and embroidered shawls of Muslim women today are from the cultural influence of India on pre-Spanish Filipinos.

Havaianas lovers, read this (especially made for BENG)

There seems to be no difference between this over claimed rubber slippers and the average ordinary one. They both bend as it rubber's nature to do so. It is durable and delivers the same kind of treatment to our soles. The only difference is that one has a tiny 9 letter name on the lift thong, other than that all its "incredible" qualities are all media hyped.
Fashionistas have nothing but praises for these otherwise lowly slippers. Havaianas have also raised the acceptance for slippers in places where they are usually considered taboo. Havaianas are flexible enought to blend from good old pambahay to beachwear to killer party attires. In extreme cases, some would even claim to have worn the dark-hued versions of these to black-tie affairs with their cocktail dresses. All that, with just a common tsinelas.
VIT: Very-Important-Tsinelas
So just how special have Havaianas become? For one, gone are the days when wearing slippers would merit no entrance in bars. Well provided they are Havaianas of course. A story goes about a girl who was stopped outside a club for wearing slippers, but when reasoned out that these slippers were Havaianas, she was granted instant access into the club.
Status Symbols
It's no secret that Havaianas have subtly replaced the status symbol throne once ruled by cellular phones and other gadgets. After all, these slippers have cushioned the feet of no less than the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Sting, to name a few. But then again, the ground these celebrities walk on don't have any bearing. It is incredible indeed to imagine a person who can afford to buy slippers, regular slippers presumably for indoor use, which cost 600 pesos at the very least. Proof of the iconic status of Havaianas is the proliferation of rip-offs and imitations like Havanas and Hawaianas which can be bought for the minimum of 50 pesos to a maximum of 200 pesos. It's funny how their official website stated that "top athletes, rock stars and celebrities demanded the butter-soft comfort of these inexpensive flip flops" considering how pricey these things can get for monetarily-challenged Filipinos. But it's also easy to understand why we still buy and don them.
Overrated slippers or shallow consumers?
This hoopla surrounding Havaianas is very peculiar considering the fact that slippers have been in the Philippines time immemorial. These slippers were clothing staples and there were definitely no magazines that featured it or people who collect it in every color or style. But suddenly, everyone from the President to office workers to students began paying attention to these slippers. Is this boiling down to those flip-flops or to what Filpinos have become? I'd say the latter. Havaianas are mere symptoms of a social malady that plagues this nation, perhaps not a single disease but rather an accumulation of several ailments. Would these "click" if they weren't made by foreigners? Would fashionistas still hail them to the high heavens if international celebrities didn't wear them? Would people still insist on donning them in their workplaces or classrooms if they weren't the "in" accessories? Fascination for this footwear could possibly be vestiges of colonial mentality and herd mentality. Filipinos are after all often touted as "Brown Americans" and appreciation of products that aren't ours is not new. It is sad that such still occurs indicating how Filipinos, instead of emulating patriotism, turn their backs on their country by making such a big fuss over rubber slippers.
Best Foot Forward
Buying or wearing Havaianas is not wrong nor is it condemnable. Regardless of the reasons for buying or owning a pair, be it for comfort, for fashion or simply for being "in", it is imperative that people employ critical thinking. It is one thing to compromise values for fashion and another to sacrifice virtues for bigotry. So remember, they're not just slippers.

Metamorphosis

Why do people put up with these self inflicted punishments just for beauty? Author John Dewey suggested the answer in his book The Live Creature. He proposed that pain and suffering are necessary for a beautiful world because complacement pleasure is not satisfying.
Culture has always made a strong link between physical appearance and moral worth. In fairy tales are beautiful princesses and ugly witches whose appearance show their inner kindness or wretchedness. Beauty and happiness are ideas that are so tangled together that most people misinterpret one from the other. Most women place themselves in Cinderella's shoes thinking, "Would the prince pick me?" Thus, women go to further lengths just to achieve beauty believing it would end in happily ever after thinking, "If I am beautiful, then maybe he would."

Perhaps it would also make sense if it were put in the context of heaven itself. The thought of heaven is only pleasurable because it is placed in the context of an imperfect and hurtful world. Following this train of thought, would the idea of heaven in a perfect world still be as appealing? The same goes for beauty. There will always be a need for people to be in pain in order to achieve it. Otherwise, the beauty and pride of life will be something more trivial than striking.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging pain as a requisite to the beauty, or all things favorable for that matter. After all, what would life be if man didn't toil for his/her rewards? But one must remember that the concept of perfection is abstract, much more subjective. In the end, the state of satisfaction ultimately rests on the interpretation of the individual.