When April Ends

Yeay, I have long neglected this blog, same with visiting the posts of those bloggers I follow here.  Eight blog posts for the month of April, make it nine including this one.  Though I haven’t been active here this month and even set aside my reading challenge, April is a good month. I’ve been actively campaigning the last few days  on Facebook. It’s my only way of helping Roxas and Robredo team win without taxing my health.  I have just posted  and shared this at The Silent Majority page and I was surprised of the more than 200 likes an hour after I posted it and tremendous response praying for me and my health.  I felt I really have an online family in their midst.  I was teary-eyed to see and read their comments. Allow me to share it with you too (it’s my last political blog  post maybe until election day which is  nine days from now).  The future of the Philippines is in our hands now.

I have long wanted to go out and campaign for RORO but since I have low immunity (I am a cancer survivor), I try to avoid crowds. This is actually my first time to be actively campaigning for a vice-presidential and a presidential candidate online. I posted some political blogs on my WordPress site since the first political debate was held. This morning, my daughter and her family came over to join us for lunch and they brought with them campaign materials for RORO. Yehey, I finally have my baller. We touched on politics (what else) and we are happy that all of us will be voting for Mar and Leni. I am concerned about the future of my four-year old grandson and the future of my kids and we just can’t ignore what is happening right now in our country. From the start, I have decided to vote for RORO. They are the epitome of good governance and I am sure they have nothing but a sincere desire to truly serve and help in making the Philippines something we could all be proud of.

A happy retired BPI unibanker here. I am proud to have worked in an institution with 165 years of banking leadership.

I am happy to see that I have finally reached more than 401,735 hits as of this writing. This is when blogging gives that kind of happiness  and sense of fulfillment.

April is about to end.  I am very optimistic that the rule of law and the choice of the majority will win.  Come what May (pun intended) I look forward to celebrating with the Filipino people when we finally cast our votes on May  09.  Maybe after  May 09, I could happily go back to reading again and enjoy reading blog entries here and hopefully add more posts.

I always smile every time I hear the song First of  May. It brings back memories. Happy first of May everyone.

 

 

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Odds And Ends

How are you guys, it’s been a while since my last post. Busy, busy, busy! The truth is, since I started my blog here and after several elections in our country, this is the only time that I feel a strong need to share and to rant a little. I haven’t done this before, sharing thoughts online particularly at a  more public social media site  like Facebook but I just can’t keep quiet  about it all.  Bear with me, I promise my next post would be something positive.

The debate is over. Last night was the last presidential debate that we watched on television for three hours.   It was  in a town hall format so the voting public had the chance to ask questions.  All of them are hopeful that they would win of course. It made me smile that they seemed to be behaved, not much of the usual ugly exchange of words that you usually see during a heated political debate except that instance wherein  the mayor from Davao openly told Mar  Roxas that there is no  Philhealth in their place. (Philhealth is the government’s answer to the medical needs of all accredited Filipinos. We pay monthly contributions but for the identified poorest of the poor, they enjoy  the benefit of free hospitalization  when they are confined in a government hospital.) Mar Roxas challenged the mayor from Davao if he is willing to give up his candidacy if the former could prove that there are lots of beneficiaries in that place. The latter shrugged it off  and accused Roxas instead of lying. True enough, this morning at 8am Roxas made true of his word sending his opponent the official report that proves that indeed Davao is part of the Philhealth program.

I recently read this article  of a well-respected writer. The political spin doctors are doing overtime  work just to post something to destroy the credibility of a good man. How they twist and turn  everything into ugly memes and false accusations.  I say, you can never put a good man down. The man from Davao is slowly but surely about to self-destruct.  I wonder though why so many people follows him like a cult.  You can’t reason with them because  they would just say they want change.  I am for  it too but I am  for continuity on what this administration has started over unpredictable change.   Asked what he will do with the problem with China on the West Philippine Sea, he said he will wait for the result of the arbitrations committee and if things are not favorable, he would jet ski to China and plant the Philippine flag on their shores. never mind if he die in the process.  A friend who hates his guts wrote on her wall:

“The weather’s really nice today for a jet ski trip to Spratley. Suggestion lang naman.

Why wait when you can do it now? Carpe diem!”

Oh my gosh, the things people do in the name of politics.  Given the choice between a man who has done much for the country in various capacities under three presidents, a man whose values and principles I admire, I would always prefer him over someone who curses,  put the law into his hands, have no respect for women,  and with a foul mouth and  language that other people think (his followers) is cute. There is really something wrong and I am getting scared.

For the win – Mar Roxas and Leni  Robredo.  You have my YES!

 

 

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Life With Mom (Part 9)

Feeling amused 🙂

This is funny. My mom has been hard of hearing for several years now. She didn’t get used to the hearing aid we bought for her years ago. I told her that she has several birthday greetings on my wall. She just smiled. A while ago, she came back to me and asked:

“Saan kamo yung maraming bulate, sa Pangasinan?” (Where are those worms that you are talking about, in Pangasinan?)

I laughed, she smiled.

Then I whispered to her ear (her right ear can still pick up sounds), “maraming bumati sa birthday niyo”.  (Several friends wished you happy birthday.)

She understood then she smiled. Nagkaintindihan din kami sa wakas.
(We understood each other finally).

 

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Random Thoughts On A Wednesday Morning

I’ve been awake since 2:30am.

I wanted to catch a few more winks but I can’t bring myself back  to sleep  so I  am  drinking a hot cup of coffee while in front of my PC.  When your thoughts wander and your mind is full of things, sometimes negative ones too, you want to shout out and say,  “Where is this world coming to? Stop the madness please and let’s unite for a common cause”.

My last two blogs were all about observations  on  what is happening around. I know, politics is really dirty. I learned that from my father since I was old enough to vote and we would all go home to the province to support a local candidate. That has changed over the years of course.  My father taught me to scrutinize the platform of each candidate we considered voting.  He would show me some clips from the national dailies and keep tabs on radio  and TV reports. I was in high school when martial law was declared under the Marcos regime.  I watched how frustrated  people were to fight something which curtailed their freedom so now we always say, “never again”.  The martial law years were dark  years  in history,  the lessons learned were lost along the way.  Sadly, our millennials  today,  the what we call Net Generation and Generation Y don’t even know how to react when we mention martial law because the martial law years or what we call the Marcos era were treated in their history books as one paragraph. The significance of how it ended  during the People Power Revolution  back in 1986 is lost to them. Another  Marcos (the son) is vying for the vice-presidential position   and based on surveys he is on the top slot.  I don’t believe in surveys by the way, they are paid ads meant to condition the minds of those who haven’t chosen who to vote for.  The real survey is on May 09, 2016.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs, the divisiveness of the Filipino people is there glaring at us. Perhaps you’ve heard  of Rodrigo Duterte too, a presidential aspirant from Davao. I don’t really know how to describe him but  lately he caught international news because of that rape issue that happened several years ago and lately  in one interview he said, the mayor should have been first (to rape the victim) because she was so beautiful. Gosh, everything that comes out of his mouth is foul. The victim was an Australian. He was the mayor back then when it happened.   He earned the ire of Filipino women except  those who still believe that he could effectively run the government. True, our people need change but it is anathema to me to vote for a man who does not respect women, who kills people at a whim, who curses every time he opens his mouth and even cursed the pope in one of his previous interviews.  There was this other video where he said he would make Leni Robredo as his assistant president if he wins adding that  Leni is really beautiful at the same time showing his tongue like a   dog. This guy is a narcissistic idiot.

I care for the future of my kids, more for the future of my grandson that is why in my own little way, I am campaigning for Leni Robredo and Mar Roxas. I am sad for what is happening now.  I care for my country and its people. May I ask you a favor? Could you spare a thought or a simple prayer for the Philippines? Thank you.

I digress.

I’ve finally reached  the 400,000 plus hits yesterday, another milestone in  my blogging journey and for this  I thank you, my dear readers, followers and online friends for the support. I wouldn’t  have lasted in the blogging world this long if not for you.Here’s a toast to finding more blogger friends and appreciating what you share.

And yes, it is my mom’s 87th birthday today. Happy birthday mom.  I am so glad that you are with us to celebrate it.

 

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It’s Been A While

There is no valid reason actually except that the past several days, I was busy campaigning on my FB wall which  I  think is more  relevant than a quick post here. Since I can’t join the others in  their sorties because of my health, I’ve been actively sharing thoughts with them since a friend invited me and added me up to a closed group we call The  Silent Majority. Three days ago, some  voters supporting Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo tandem were afraid to even post something on their wall for fear of being bashed and bullied. Yes, the back-stubbing and mud-slinging from other camps are just so disgusting.  At least now, they freely express their disgust and disappointments that the man who they  considered before to  lead the country  is  someone who does not deserve their  votes.  Bishop Soc Villegas couldn’t have expressed it any  better when he said and I quote:

“The usual face of corruption that we recognize easily is stealing from public funds. Corruption, like a monster, is a devil with many faces. Killing people is corruption. Killing is a crime and a sin whether it is done by criminals or public officials no matter what the intention.

Adultery is corruption. It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure.  Adultery corrupts the family; it destroys children and victimizes the weak.  Vulgarity is corruption. When we find vulgarity funny, we have really become beastly and barbaric as a people.

What the world desperately needs now is leadership by example. We have so many leaders in office and many more aspiring to sit in office but are they examples of good citizenship? If the leaders we choose are to be leaders for national progress they must be visionaries and exemplary.”

And I posted these words on my wall:

Be a discerning voter, focus on the platform, not on empty promises.

The presidency is a serious responsibility. I am concerned about the future of my kids and grandson that is why I am voting for this team. Mar and Leni – for the win!

 

 

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Life With Mom (Part 8)

I was about to call my brother to ask about Mom’s plan for her 87th birthday when  a familiar car stopped near our gate and our three dogs got crazy barking when they saw it.

They’re here. I mean mom is here. I haven’t seen her since her last birthday.  She’s  a bit thin compared to last year and she said that every day, she is busy raking  leaves in our garden at home.  They brought a big box of assorted veggies and I was delighted to see sweet potatoes.  It’s her birthday next week but she wants to hold a simple celebration on a weekend  so she could see Nate and her other grandchildren.  Yesterday, Nissa  gave her phone to Nate so she could hear his  voice. Since she is hard of hearing you could hear her voice load and clear  and she smiled when Nate shouted “hello Nanay, I love you”.   I could hear Nate’s voice shouting at the other end. My kids and my nephews and nieces call her Nanay.

Early this morning, I asked her if she wants something lukewarm for her bath.  She thought for a moment then blurted out, “Martes ngayon” (it’s Tuesday) at the same time shaking her head.  I wonder what being a Tuesday got to do with taking a bath.  Ah, the old times and fallacies that they cling to until now. It suddenly dawned on me that my grandmother didn’t like taking a bath too  on Tuesdays and Fridays nor cutting her nails on the same days.

You can’t argue with an 87-year old right? I love her just the same.

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May The Best Woman Win

This is it.

If there is one thing that really clinched and sealed who I will be voting for Vice-President  come May 9, 2016, the first and only debate for Vice-Presidential  candidates sponsored by the Commission on Election, Business Mirror and CNN Philippines  did it. It was held at University of Santo Tomas (my alma mater) Quadricentennial Pavilion yesterday from 5pm to 8pm, a three-hour stay in front of the TV but it was all worth it. And this is way, way better than the first two Presidential debates sponsored by two local TV stations. Give it to CNN Philippines.

Five men and a lady.

Yes, five of them are senators and a lone  congresswoman from Bicol  – Sen.  Cayetano, Sen. Honasan, Sen.  Escudero, Sen.  Marcos, Sen. Trillanes and Cong. Leni Robredo.   I need not describe how they presented themselves to the public and how they courted voters to mark them on their ballots  next month. Some have the usual charm  but their words are without “meat” if you know what I mean.  Some are big in words backed by experience  but not everyone of them deserves to be vice-president.

Sen.  Cayetano – I like him as a Senator, the fighting-outspoken-and so in touch with issues senator  when there are Senate hearings but listening to him parrot his partner’s words (Duterte’s dream of eradicating crime after 3 to 6 months), I don’t know if he is in touch with what is happening around.  How would you eradicate crime in that short span when you’re just comparing it with just one place in the whole archipelago? And it makes me laugh when he said that they would step down if they can’t do it in 6 months.  Tell us how you’ll do it and I’ll probably believe you. Do you have concrete plans or you just have to count bodies in the street and say, “they are criminals and they deserve to die”.  Is that how it should be?

Sen. Honasan – the renegade soldier at the time when Cory Aquino was president. He was one of those coup plotters in the Aquino government. I don’t understand where he is coming from and I won’t even consider him. Issues on corruption which were frequently asked reminds me of his partner  VP Binay who is running for president.

Sen. Bongbong Marcos –  He is a Marcos, what more can I say. Those who don’t know history and how it was during the martial law years would admire or even vote for this guy. He was bombarded with questions about their hidden wealth, atrocities done during his father’s reign etc. He said he won’t apologize for something he didn’t do and he could not give back (meaning the money for martial law victims) something which he does not have.  It makes me puke just imagining another  Marcos in Malacañan. I remember the day they fled the country  last 1986, he was in full battle gear, ready to fight. Never again.

Sen. Escudero – he was one of the dullest speakers in the debate, next to Honasan.  I could not understand the way he talks. As we say in Tagalog “sobrang palabok” meaning, he has gone and travelled a thousand miles before he gets to the point  of what he is trying to say. He is so confident that he and his partner Grace Poe would be able to pull it off. No way baby.

Sen. Trillanes – this guy has promise but he has no political machinery to speak of. I think he is the most hard-working guy in the Senate. A brave soul who thinks that Binay is guilty of corruption and doesn’t deserve to be president of our country. He clearly know what he is talking about. I like him, maybe it is not yet time for him to run but he should  concentrate more on exposing anomalies in the government.

Cong. Leni Robredo – now we are speaking of someone who I think is the best among them all. She is a lawyer and wife to the former DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo who died in a plane crash a few years ago.   Over the years she gave her time and effort  to the poor.  If there is someone who can honestly say that she knows the pulse of the lowest rank in society, she is the one. She started virtually unknown to the public but she is slowly and surely getting to the top slot.  A very intelligent woman, can stand on her own even without mentioning the name of her late husband.  She commutes to and from Bicol just to be with her constituents.  You know, I have this dream of someday visiting  Bicol riding in a bus with her  and talking about not politics but about those people who she  freely shares  her  time with.  My opinion actually won’t do justice to what she has done.

May the best woman win, Cong. Leni. My family and I are voting for you. I think it’s time we deserve to have an honest Vice-President.

For the win!

 

 

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On Growing Old

I woke up early this morning with a hoarse voice, a frog croaking sound that is so unpleasant to listen to.  After breakfast, there went  the gargantuan headache that lasted until late this afternoon.  It must be the weather prevailing this summer. Or maybe, it was the exhaustion of tending the garden for almost three straight hours yesterday.  I was able to trim the grass though. I attempted to trim our Fukien tea plants and  dwarf Pandakaki into perfect round shapes. At least they’re not as dense as they were before. My goodness, it’s hot, hot, hot in Metro Manila.

Just got hold of a book  called  The Measure Of My Days by playwright and Jungian analyst  Florida Scott-Maxwell. To quote the book’s brief summary,  it “explores the unique predicament of one’s later years: when one feels both cut off from the past and out of step with the present; when the body rebels at activity but the mind becomes more passionate than ever.”  She wrote it when she was eighty. I haven’t finished the book yet, so far it’s a joy to know than even if you reach that age,  you can  still do something like writing a book.  I’m thinking, could I still write or blog when I reach the ripe old age of seventy?

I have blogged about growing old gracefully. And do you know the subtle difference between growing old and aging? Aging is when you add years to your life but growing old makes you wiser through the years (just my thoughts actually).  Five years ago, a friend who came home from Rome gifted me with a copy of Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck and I had a good laugh reading it. I even blogged about it  here.  Some people I know are afraid to grow old but it’s something inevitable just like seeing white hairs on your head  creeping one by one.  Sometimes  one’s immunity goes haywire and you feel the aches and pains.  There’s an adage that says health is wealth.  May we still be healthy in our old age.

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Hello April

And here I thought of welcoming  April with a bang but it’s not to be. I was just not that inspired to write because there are other priorities.  I do remember the times when saying goodbye to a previous month and welcoming a new one were  my regular posts. March is gone too soon, April though is one of my favorite months.  Summer is here to stay. Despite  the heat, summer is something I look forward to.  I love all fruits in season during summer. Just the other day, I saw  star apples in one of the fruit stands here in our place but since we were on our way to do some groceries, buying some would have to wait.

It’s barely a month before Election day and it is so disappointing to see postings on Facebook with accompanying memes.   Some people are out to do (and been doing it for the past several months) demolition jobs on worthy candidates, doing dirty tricks while promoting candidates of their own.  Have we become a nation of insensitive people? Have we become a nation of people who harbor hatred just because we are free to air what we feel?  Social media have done a good job of this, such petty political squabbles bringing all their dirt in the open. I dread to think that in a month we may have a president who is believed to be corrupt and amassed wealth illegally, or a president who has previously denounced  her allegiance to the Philippines  and came back with her American family in tow, or a president  who is a loud mouth  and who cursed the Pope and is so proud now that he has received a letter from the Vatican  stating that they appreciate his apology. It is a bit scary how he show respect for women and how he values life.

It pains me to see the so obvious divisiveness in all of us.  It pains me that every election time, we have to go through the motion of destroying  each other just because of politics.  Who to vote for is a favorite topic now on the dining table.  I am still looking forward to the presidential and vice-presidential debates lined up this month and I am praying that the electorate would be discerning enough to choose the best, one who will put the nation on the right path to progress, one who would put in mind that he will be there to serve the Filipino people  and not his own selfish needs.  We are so blessed and lucky that here in our town, the government is very visible. You can approach our town mayor even through texts and one good thing is he listens and responds to our  complaints.  We are lucky that so many worthy projects were done the last three years for the town’s improvement.

I pray for a clean and honest election.  Fight for your right  and vote!

 

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