The Things I DiD LaST SummeR

The rainy season has started to make its presence known and we officially bid good bye to summer and the scorching heat of sun. We now welcome the rain and often wish it were summer again..hehe. And so before we start to bring out those jackets and coats, I'd like to take a look at what i did last summer..

Well for starters, i was legal panel for a candidate whose passion to serve the 6th District of Cebu has beyond reproach.. and the people know it, that's why Gabriel Luis "LUIGI" Quisumbing won by an overwhelming margin. Worked with equally passionate lawyers, now friends in the profession.. can't wait for 2013!

Became a big sister to PUNLA Scholars of Norkis who were assigned at the Legal Office. A bunch of young kids all too excited to go to college at the same time enjoying a lawyers work.. if only they knew about the real deal..they'd think twice of becoming one someday..but i would not mind calling them panyeros. Oh and we went to the beach to celebrate the win for Luigi..they shared mine and Weng's sleepless nights.. and so I hope to see them kids back next summer..

Went to the beach with D and his family.. our first summer outing this year.. love love love :)

Island Hopping with my SJA grade School Batch 1990 classmates... fun and sun

Went to Balamban and dared to try the Zipline at K33.. this was exactly a week before the sad tragedy of the Iranians.. glad we all came back safely and in one piece..never mind the fact that my face turned pale as they put on the harness and that my knees were wobbly after crossing and my lungs were about to pop from the climb back... didnt know which one actually made me feel like dying.. the zipline or steep climb up.. Had the best buddies in tow and it was a different experience..now that i've tried it once..im ok already.. :)

finally, finally as in finally went to the sand bar in Negros with my family and had a mini Tantengco Reunion. We drove all the way to Bais for the weekend and just simply enjoyed a simple time with my simple family and had the BESt time ever!

And so that was my summer.. now that it has officially ended, I can't wait for summer again but for now, I'd like to savor some cool and refreshing moments with the rain.. :)

CHURCH vs. STATE

In as much as I am a devout Catholic, meaning, I have my faith in tact, I still maintain that as an individual and a human being, God has given me the gift to be rational and to choose.

I have always believed that the Church (any church) should never meddle with the affairs of the state. Neither should they use the methods available in the church or disguise their meddling through religious exercises by justifying it through claims of moral issues contrary to religious doctrines and compel the devotees to join in their cause.

I had the shock of my life when I heard mass last Sunday and we were asked to pray the Oratio Imperata. I had to listen to its words and read the screen in front to know that the mandated prayer was an Oratio Imperata against the Reproductive Health Bill. I stood up and sat down and waited until the rest of the attendees were done with the mandated prayer. Truth be told, I did not say the prayer.

I am for the Reproductive Health Bill. With all due respect to the Catholic Church and its leaders, i believe the act of the church in having an Oratio Imperata has encroached the borders of church towards the state. I thought this mandated prayer is only for calamities where everyone should be one in their faith so they can be spared from a disaster ( famine, typhoon, viral disease, epidemic) I did not know this too can be used to address political matters the church leaders are strongly opposing but to which a certain number of its devotees are in favor of, me included. I have my reasons why i am for the bill, but it doesn't mean my faith and devotion has wavered simply because i favor a legislation which merely gives an individual a choice, a bill which protects and educates the women and the young, a bill which can nip in the bud the never ending problem of poverty and overpopulation.

Just as the bill still gives the individual a choice, i believe the church can only preach and enlighten its devotees. It can not mandate them to pray for something they are in favor of.

What is LEGAL may not always be right and MORAL

Much to my dismay as a constituent of this beloved Republic and shame as a Filipino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had the gall to file her certificate of candidacy as member of Congress. I have resigned to the idea that I will have to bear with a President who is as heartless as she is greedy for power, as corrupt as she commits all forms of blunder. I figured it will only be six months more until I will see the dawn of the new day for this country. But lo and behold! She clings like monkey to her post! Now wasn't that part of her SONA?

Whether or not she can run can be addressed in two ways. First, in accordance to the laws of man and Second, based on the ordinance of reason compounded from moral values in recognizance to a higher form of being.

The laws of man is not perfect and yet this is the instrument by which every sovereign is assured of a just and orderly government. Reigning supreme in the Philippines is our 1987 Constitution under which law, the President is disqualified from seeking any reelection which by definition clearly means running for the same office. Obviously, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not seeking for reelection but as member of Congress. Absent any of the disqualifications for one to become congressman, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may thus, run for Congress.

Looking at this issue on a more wider perspective and taking into consideration the wisdom of the law as well the moral, ethical and Filipino traditional values, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can not and should not run for any other office after her term as President of the Republic. To be President of the Republic is a position that requires utmost dignity which must be wielded by someone with probity at all times even after serving his/her term of office. Upon assumption of office, the Chief Executive has six (6) years to serve the Filipino people and realize his/her vision for the country after which she should pass it on to another person who so rightfully deserves to serve as well. In the case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo she had nine (9) years. Nine (9) years to prove her worth but patently failed. Nine (9) years of growing a deaf ear from all the clamor and protest from an obviously dismayed constituent. And despite serving for a long period of time, she still had the nerve to say she is not ready to step down from public office. She was supposed to have reached her peak, the twilight years of her public service after achieving the highest position of the land and yet she is willing to sell herself low and short if only to stick like glue to fame and power. If that is not lack of self worth and delicadeza then I do not know what else to call it.

We do not need a law in order to know that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could not and should not run for reelection or any other elective position. For just as man is an imperfect being creating an imperfect law, there is a higher form of law which although unwritten exists right within in the confines of natural law and the dictates of our conscience. For what is legal may not always be right and moral.
Man being a rational being is given a wide latitude of knowing what is right from wrong, and clearly Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo either refuses to see what is right or is just too desperate to cover up her wrong.

Breaking Dawn for the PiNOYs

I have recently posted a blog criticizing presidential wannabees for their advertisements that seem to account their achievements in public service while shouting to the whole world that they are as poor as the poorest "Juan". These ads somehow try so hard to convince that they love the country so much by mingling with the poor whose names i bet they don't actually know.

However, yesterday I saw an advertisement that caught my attention. Not only because it was star studded but because unlike the brouhaha-ish ads i have grown so tired of watching (it makes me want to puke already) this advertisement has somehow made me want to take part in making this country better and that WE can make it better. The song actually speaks about telling a potential leader that this election, the presidency and running this country is not his feat but the entire country's and that this time, he will not be alone because the Filipino has now awaken to the stark reality that this country, the Philippines is still worth it.

The video symbolically showed that in this dark days, we are all the torch bearers. As bearers, we carry the light by standing up, moving forward and passing it on to others so that they may become bearers of the light like us. And that as we move forward in unity, soon we shall see the light. In time this nation's dark days will be over, the dawn has broken for us PiNOYs and soon we shall see the light just as the sun will rise again.

Oh, you may catch the link at this site- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W16OSkUNNd8

The WOLRD needs A LEADER like HIM, read on

Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!





Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..


Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'


'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'


Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

LEts RoCK the VOTE

The TV Commercials these days is like a war between the Pinoy Politicos who seem to parade their achievements, showing to poor Juan that they are the popular choice of their paid extras. That they are the answer to the 90 million Filipinos who are growing by the dozen and by the day and they smile to every crowd, hugging even the most insignificant person on screen. But i bet you if i ask them right now the names of those persons, they do not even know them. Pity that the ever hungry Pinoy would readily accept a measly sum just to get a moment of fame in the silver screen with their benefactor who could care less about their names much more their plight, all because the money they get can feed their empty stomachs. Funny how our Politicians whose statement of assets and liabilities do not seem to coincide with their lifestyle are racing and screaming on television that they too were as poor as a rat, that at some point like them, they too have nothing to eat. Amazing how they claim to be the answer to this country's poverty and that they bring solution as to how we can pay our debts when they are already wasting millions from these advertisements while the money could have been used to help poor Juan.

This is Philippine Politics ladies and gentlemen..I say IS because this does not necessarily have to be the Philippine Politics tomorrow. Something must and can be done. It is time we take a stand on national issues. A good politician does not have to rant about what he has done, his deeds will echo it for him.. It time to vote..not just vote but LET'S ROCK THE VOTE!

Souls and Sirens

Don't you hate it when you hear a siren from behind the back of your car and then you panic to switch lane so the vehicle can pass only to know it's just one those "eyebrow-raising so-called who are you VIP" passing through.. and there you are all caught in the traffic..

Well, there is actually a law as to who can use these sirens.. and the rest are supposed to be ordinary souls like us... Reading Sassy Lawyer's Blog, someone tipped her off about this video and this is so true here in the islands..