Yearend Report: 2009

Today is December 31, 2009. a few hours away before the year jumps to 2010. 2009 have been a rocky road adventure to all humanity. All aspects in life were shaken up to the limits. There were good times, but most of the times are bad. Fortunately, we're still standing strong and resilient to all tha obstacles we've faced from the past year. Well, let's just refresh our memories what have happened to us from the Year of the Ox, 2009.

JANUARY 2009: I think in my own opinion, this is the month where the world's fall from grace reached it's peak. We welcomed 2009 with a blast, a different blast. A lot of big companies filed for bankruptcy 'cause they were not able to save the company's looming fallout. On the bright side, it's also the month were history was made, when Barack Obama swore as the 44th President on January 20 2009, and the first African-American Head of the State, of the United States of America. A lot of people looked at Barack's induction as the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream. Well, the president has to start his presidency, carrying tons of obstacles ahead from the previous administration. In the field of sports, we say our last goodbyes to one of boxing's pioneers, Swedish-born boxer Ingemar Johansson (January 30, 2009).

FEBRUARY 2009: Let's go to the pacific part of the world. The deadliest Australian bushfire was recorded on February 7, 2009, where it killed 173, injured 500 more and leave 7,500 families homeless. The cause of this wildfire is of the highest temperature ever recorded in any capital city of Australia (46.4 degrees celsius or 115 degrees farenheit). In the northern part of the world, a Russian and an American satellite collide over Siberia, creating a large amount of space debris. They're polluting the space so much, aren't they??

MARCH 2009: Headlines this month are still the same: Collapsing businesses and ventures. This month is the Automotive industry crisis reaches its climax, as the "Big Three" of automakers; General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford, began showing the slide of sales. Mainly because of the high prices of raw materials used in making cars.

APRIL 2009: The month of the Swine Influenza (AH1n1 virus) outbreak. It was first heard in the country of Mexico, were speculations that hundreds of people were contaminated by the said virus. It then spreads to the United States. Later this month, Mexico reported 159 deaths and 2,500 suspected cases. On April 29, The United States declared that day it suffered its first death from the virus. On the lighter side, this day is my birthday.. Hehehehe...

MAY 2009: North Korea conducted it's second nuclear test in the province of North Hamgyong. The United Nations Security Council condemns the test, starting the ongoing dispute between UN and North Korea. This is also the month when former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, under investigation for alleged bribery during his presidential term, commits suicide. In boxing, after dismantling Oscar Dela Hoya last December 2008, Manny Pacquiao devastatingly knocked out Ricky Hatton with a sharp left hook to the chin in the last 10 seconds of the second round, to capture International Boxing Organization (IBO) and RING Magazine Light Welterweight Title.

JUNE 2009: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. In the Middle East, Mahmoud Amadinejad was reelected as President of Iran. During the following weeks, supporters of defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi initiated rallies to protest the results. This culminated to violence that is said to be worst seen in Iran since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. In the same circumstance, a student named Neda Agha-Soltan was shot during the protest, and captured on what soon to be will become a viral video and turn Neda into international symbol of civil unrest following the Iraninan Presidential Elections. On June 25, 2009, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, passed away. June is also a month of independence, where Greenland assumes control on law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources from the Kingdom of Denmark. Air France Flight 447, en route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris, France, crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 aboard the plane. In sports, the Los Angeles Lakers captured their 15th NBA Title, crushing the Orlando Magic in five games, 4-1.

JULY 2009: The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st Century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean. In politics, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, announced her resignation as governor. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt assumes presidency of the European Union.

AUGUST 2009: Typhoon Morakot hits Taiwan, killing 500 and stranding 1,000 in the worst flood in the island. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il pardons two American journalists, who had been arrested and imprisomed early this year, after meeting with former US President Bill Clinton.

SEPTEMBER 2009: On September 26, another typhoon arrived, Typhoon Ketsana, drowning and devastating The Philippines in epic proportions. The Philippine Government declared "state of calamity" on 25 paralyzed provinces. Three days after the typhoon, an 8.3 magnitude earthquake triggers a tsunami in the Samoan Islands. Many communities in the harbor of Samoa and American Samoa were destroyed, and at least 189 are killed. The following day, a 7.6 magnitue earthquake hits just off the coast of Sumatra, leaving on its path, 1,000 casualties, in Indonesia.

OCTOBER 2009: The International Olympics Committee voted Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the hosts of 2016 Olympics. This is the first time the Olympics will be held in South America.

NOVEMBER 2009: NASA announces that it has found a "significant" quantity of water in the Moon's Cabeus crater. In the Philippines, at least 57 are abducted in killed in an election-related massacre in the province of Maguindanao. This event appears to be the deadliest attack in journalists in recent history; Dubai requests a debt deferment following its massive renovation and development projects, as well as the late 2000's economic crisis. The announcement causes global stock markets to drop. In sports, 6 months after his decimation of Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao rewrote history books, as he pummeled Miguel Cotto into submission in the 12th and final round, to capture the World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Welterweight Title in dominating fashion. This is his seventh title in six different divisions.

DECEMBER 2009: The UNFCC's United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 held it's summit in Copenhagen, Denmark (COP15). Everyone expects this summit to have a fruitful meeting, unfortunately, things didn't go the way others looking to, as the summit produced a "weak" pact. They're now looking forward COP16 to be held in Mexico six months from now.

As we all witnessed, things happened for a reason. Maybe all of these events happened to make us stronger. At the same time, it also taught us lessons in life. 2009 may have been rough to mankind, but we have to face the future that's just right in front of us. We all bear witness the worldwide revolution. Well, kudos to all of you. Good Riddance, 2009. Hello and Welcome, 2010.. Happy New Year and may God bless us all. Good day!

Road to Redemption --- God's Way

I just read an article about a man who was imprisoned for 35 grueling years for a crime that he did not commit. I don't think this is anything new to our ears, but the thing that touched me so much about this guy is that after all these years, he never get mad or angry to the people that prosecuted him. He just said:

"No, i am not angry. Because i've got God."

His name is James Bain. I have no further descriptions about him because, of course, i don't know him, and i just read his story on a search engine. He was arrested and accused of kidnapping a 9-year old boy and raping him in a nearby ground. In 1974, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was just 19 years old then.

Then after almost four decades, the decision was reversed, and ol' James Bain, now 54 years of age, is freed. New technologies and sophisticated DNA testing proved that the man is not guilty at all. Years behind cold bars made him look very old and unpleasant, but, not his faith in God. Never his faith to the almighty one deteriorated. It seems like he lost everything, pitted in dark halls of prison cells. God made him stronger, in the years that he needed him the most. To think about that your life is stolen in one stroke of unfortunate luck, and the rest is history. I admire his resiliency through the years of pain being away to the ones he love, years of suffering for no one can comfort him on his struggles, years of sorrow that decades of Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays passed him by. The good thing is, all those agony he felt during those times made him a real man... Because of God. He redeemed his soul by strengthening his relationship with God as a man, as a friend, and as a son. All he wants to do now is to be with his bed-ridden mother, eat good food, and continue his studies. That's what this simple man only wants after all the time lost in an undesirable way. I felt his pain, by just reading the story about him, at the same time, felt humbled and inspired to go on with life whatever the obstacle is. This guy proved that no matter how bad your situation is, you have to keep your faith strong to God, and let him do the rest. Because he'll never, ever let you go down.

He's given another chance to make his life better than before, even though time has already caught on him. He might not be as strong and agile as before, but he doesn't ran out of gas easily, because his inexhaustible source of his energy comes from our mighty father, up there, watching and guiding us. If you need a friend, especially in time of grief and sorrow, call on God. He never fails. He never did.

Good day.

Waiting for the World to Change...

How can we make a change? How accountable and prepared are we to make the world a better place to live in? How much effort do we need to exert to help the ever-changing world? These are just some of the questions that bothered me for a while. Seeking the answer doesn't really come very easy. Maybe it comes with perseverance, faith, sacrifice, resilience or whatever traits that can motivate a person's soul. Being a human, we are all responsible to save our adoptive planet and make some changes that will benefit, not just only us here in the present, but also for the next generation of individuals that will set foot on Mother Earth. So, i'll ask again my first question:

How can we make a change?

Today is the last day of the Climate Change Summit here in Copenhagen. Well, just to give you a short description what was the summit all about: It's about the global leaders acting up in the climate issues that constantly change now, because of carbon emmision. And yeah, also, about planning on using less carbon for the next few years. Of course, i would be lying if i'll tell you that everybody likes the plan. There's still people who are skeptical and wouldn't sacrifice shifting gears on an unpredictable outcome. 'Di mo din kasi masabi kung maganda ba o masama ang kahahantungan ng pagpupulong na ito. Merong mga demonstrations and rallies, showing their outmost resistance to the global leaders's approach on climate change. Well, dahil global ang meeting na ito, global din ang opposition. You'll see different races showing up in the demonstrations. Different races, different points of view. Well, we cannot blame them. I do respect their own view about the climate. If Mother Earth could only talk and tell us what's wrong with her, it'll be much easier to help her. Well, tulad nga ng sabi ko, walang bagay na naa-achieve ng walang sakripisyo. This is one challenge that'll shake the course of human history.

At the course of the summit, i met these two guys, the same race as mine, who showed the world one way how can they make a change. It's through raising their voice to the whole wide world, and let the leaders start acting up. They start acting up, we follow the lead. So, i'm excited to tell you that Mr. Alfonso Orioste, Jr. and Mr. Paul Darwynn Garilao, who made us filipinos once again proud in our own roots, are the voice of the generation. It may sound farfetched to others, but they really ARE the voice. As Ponching (Alfonso's nickname) said in their video, " There's no more time on finger pointing. We should focus now on solution seeking." Blaming each and every one of us doesn't help our world at all. We're just prolonging the effects of climate change. Instead of blabbing and trading jabs, why don't we just held our hands together and fight this seemingly invincible threat of global warming?

As a history and nature-lover, of course i'm very concerned with the happenings around the globe. One event could alter the mankind's approach in every aspects of life. We start change within ourselves. Mas nagiging maayos ang buhay ng mga nasa paligid mo at mismong sarili mo, kung tinitingnan nating pantay-pantay ang isa't-isa. We're facing one the greatest challenge in the history of mankind. Never in our entire lives we've been put in a very serious predicament since World War II. The World is in the hot seat. Our environment needs our help, in any way that we can. As i have said earlier, we need a lot of sacrifices in order to achieve the change that we want to happen. We have to unite and function as one.

It may sound absurd to the skeptics, but there's nothing unachievable in the world. Do we really need to wait for the world to change? The answer is very simple: It wouldn't change on it's own. Mother Earth needs each and every individual to eliminate the threats of global warming. For now, what we can do is to do the simple things. Simple things that drives us to do more bigger things, in able to make the world a really better place to live in.

"Impossible is Nothing."

Feliz Navidad

♪♫ I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, i wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, i wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart... ♫♪

In just 8 days from now, it's Christmas Day once again. Today is the day that the snow fell hard, and the temperature drops to -8 degrees celsius - indication that it really is winter season now.. Hehehe, medyo na-delay na ang bagsak ng snow, kasi supposed to be or let's say normally, bumabagsak ang snow dito from November. Epekto siguro ito ng climate change na sinasabi nila, but, well, why do i have to problem that when its almost Christmas? I should be celebrating.. Hehehe... Well to all the people in the world, where ever you are, whatever problems you have, no matter how big it IS and WAS, let's open a space to ourselves and at least give a chance to enjoy this yuletide season. Every problem has it's own solution. Let's be thankful to the blessings that we've had all year long. Once again, A Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you! Feliz Navidad! Happy Holidays!

♫♪ I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, i wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, i wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart... ♪♫

Dissolution Of Humanity: The Maguindanao Massacre

Trying to accept the fact that your country is in the center of attraction, once again, but, in a terrible manner. How would you like that? Just a couple of weeks ago, my country was celebrating the win of one of the best boxers to ever set foot on earth, then, this news came. From being happy, to being horrified and scared. One question circles my mind all the time --- When will my country, The Philippines, ever change? Just that simple.

I don't want to focus on this blog about the win of Manny Pacquiao in boxing a few weeks ago. It's about the violent killing of civilians and journalists in Maguindanao, that prompted the head of state to declare Martial Law in that province.

November 23, 2009, Town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province, The Philippines.

One of the darkest days in the Philippine History, or worse, One of the darkest days in the world history. (I may sound far fetched, but, I DO MEAN IT.)

The Maguindanao Massacre.

Para sa kapangyarihan, kailangang ang mga sagabal ay patahimikin. Siguro ganyan ang iniisip ng mga nagsagawa ng kawalangyaang ito. Dagdag mantsa na naman 'to sa dati nang namantsahang imahe ng bansang Pilipinas. Hindi pa nalilinis ang isang dumi, nagdagdag pa ng karumal-dumal na basura. Political rivalry is the main problem. Ampatuans ruled Maguindanao since 2001, and ever since then, no one ever dared to challenge for political positions in that area. Parang gusto nilang mangyari, eh, sila na lang ang mamayagpag sa lugar na yun, hanggang sa mga susunod na salinlahi ng kanilang pamilya. But one day, there's this one Esmael "Toto" Mangundadatu, dared to challenge the Ampatuan Clan and tried to file his certificate of candidacy for gubernatorial position, opposing Andal Ampatuan, Jr, son of the imcumbent governor, Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

But one day, all of their fates changed.

Mangundadatu wants to file his candidacy, but the Ampatuans sent him a warning, that if ever he files it, they'll chop him into pieces. So to deter such attack, Toto invited 37 journalists to come with him to COMELEC Office province in Shariff Aguak. But his plan backfired, as their convoys was put to a halt by at least a hundred men, 10 kilometers from the city of Shariff Aguak... And all hell breaks loose. Nalaman ko na lang na umabot sa 60 ang casualties of the massacre, maybe 30 of them journalists. Among that 60 casualties are Toto's younger sister, aunt, and his own wife. They were not just killed, but ridiculed as well. Ridiculed in a way how they were dispatched. And only a soulless person can do things that happened to the victims. They were really out there to punish those person into oblivion. Mutilation is the word that can describe what they did. And there were those civilian casualties, who were just passing by, mistaken to be a convoy as well. Unfortunately for those civilians, everyone that went to that path took all tha havoc of the ignorant peasants.

And the journalists.

Maguindanao Massacre was recorded as the single deadliest attack to the press for a long time. No wonder why Philippines placed second among the most dangerous country for journalists, trailing to Iraq. And it's not funny anymore. We're always on the hot seat in a very undesirable way. But no matter what those low-life people do, no one can stop the power of media to uncover the truth... EVER..

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."

- Jimi Hendrix.

Pinoy Street Foods: Crash Course

"Dig in."

I was surfing through my Facebook account when i noticed groups of the most popular pinoy street foods. Reminds me of my College days in PUP, Sta. Mesa. That place is, for me, The Sanctuary of Street Foods. From the starting point where you went down from the Jeepney and look straight ahead towards the main entrance of the campus, street foods are everywhere. Imagine, ang Teresa St. (lugar ng campus namin), na parang Wall Street Market. Chaos, with style.. Hehehe.. Kahit saan ka lumingon, may street food.

I'll just share some foods that, over the years, have been very, let's say, memorable, to my taste buds. (These are the street foods that they have in our campus/ near the campus.)

Una, Ang walang kamatayan at Hall-Of-Fame-bound na pagkain na Fishballs. For ordinary people like us, this is one of the first street foods you'll learn to eat. First time kong nakatikim nito when i was 5 years old. And from that day on, humaharurot ako ng kana ng fishballs. Hehehe.. If you haven't tried this one, you better should try it now.

Sunod, The Inihaw franchise... (Hehehe, franchise talaga?). May iba't-bang klase ng inihaw na chibog sa kalye. Andyan ang basic Barbeque (pork meat). Magkakaiba nga lang sila ng timpla, so, let your tastebuds decide who's the best barbeque maker in your town. Sama na rin natin yung mga inihaw na Hotdog. Well, that's the common foods that everyone can eat. The next inihaw foods that i'll mention is something the pinoys really dig. Simulan natin sa Betamax (blood cube). Mas masarap to lalo na sa suka. Ang ADIDAS, (chicken feet). Some people said filipinos are eccentric in terms of food. Even chicken feet, we still chow on it. Hehehe.. At meron pang bituka ng baboy, isaw ng manok, bulaklak, ulo ng manok at marami pang iba. Let's just say na mahilig kaming kumain ng lamang-loob, but we're not cannibals.. Hehehe.

Meron pa. Ang Calamares (deep-fried squid). This one is one of my all-time favorites. But among the street foods-on-stick, ito ang sa tingin ko ang the expensive one. Because fishballs only costs .50 centavos/piece, while calamares is 3 pesos/each. The good thing is, you'll never get dissapointed because it's really, really good that you'll crave for more.. Wahehe.. Suka lang din ang sawsawan nito. Nothing special.

Ang Tokneneng at Kwek-kwek. Hindi pwedeng mawala yan sa recipe ng aking pinoy street foods. Minsan kasama itong nakahelera sa mga fishballs at iba pang pagkaing tinutuhog. Masarap tong kinakain nang nakababad sa suka. Pero mas "ultimate" ang kwek-kwek at tokneneng kapag ang suka ay binagsakan pa ng pipino at sibuyas. Astig talaga! Sa PUP, halos pare-pareho ang kwek-kwek, nagkakaroon lang ng variation sa sawsawan. Iba-iba sila ng timpla ng suka. So, again, let your tastebuds judge.

Nung nasa PUP pa ako, meron kaming kinakainan na masasabi kong "trademark" ng lugar na minsan naging tahanan ko. And you know what we eat??! The Mighty Lugaw All-You-Can. Nung first year pa lang ako, eto ang madalas kong kainin. For just 5 pesos/bowl, lunurin mo na ang sarili mo sa lugaw. Mura na, sulit pa. Hehehe.. Siguro, nakaka-walong balik ako para humingi ng lugaw. Hehehe.. Napapailing na lang yung nagtitinda eh. "Sino kaya tong masiba na to??!! Nakakarami na to ah??!!" Hehehe..

Madalas, may ka-jamming ako sa banatan ng street foods. Kaklase ko sya nung high school, and we both went in the same university. Siya rin ang kasama ko nung na-discover namin ang Lucky Me™ Pancit Canton with ketchup, Or Spaghetting Pancit Canton, or sa mas madalas naming tawag --- SPANTON.. Hehehe Ang bantot ng tunog pero ang sarap ng lasa nyan. Others find it weird to put ketchup in that food, but my friend and me dig it so much, that some times, we have to cook three rounds of pancit canton. Grabe! Kakaiba ang epekto sa amin ng spanton. Naging trademark na naming magtropa yun. 'Til now, we still eat that.

Meron akong bago-bago ko lang nakain, before i went here in Denmark. Isaw ng manok na coated by flour, deep-fried. Suka din ang sawsawan. The best din to.. Sumasabay na din to sa level ng calamares at fishballs. It came to a point na eto na inuulam ko sa kanin.. Ehehe..

Ang isa pang pinoy street food that's on his road to Hall Of Fame? Balut (unfetilized duck egg). Ang pamatay sa pagkain na to eh yung soup na nasa loob ng shell, lalo kung hahaluan mo ng maanghang na suka.. Hmmm, i'm craving for one balut now. Hehehe, but be careful when you eat this, 'cause it has a very high cholesterol content. Preferably, you can only eat a maximum of two baluts in one seating. Mahihilo ka kapag sumobrang dami kinana mo. Hehehe... Well, depende pa rin yan sa sistema ng katawan mo kung kayang i-endure ang high cholesterol ng balut. Still, it's one of the best pinoy street foods, ever.

Siguro may mga alam pa kayong pinoy street foods more than what i know. But one thing's for sure, as long as it is "food" we're talking about, and anything edible, game ako dyan. Kakainin ko yan. Hahaha!! Good day..

Winter Rush

Oh well, another day has passed, sa mundong ibabaw. Ewan ko sa mundong ilalim, (hehehe...) Habang nagtatype ako ngayon, eh, ang view sa labas --- the snow is falling. Well, patikim pa lang nama yan, kasi mahina lang eh, pahapyaw kumbaga. Hehe.. These is the season that the sun goes into hiding.. In short, nagdadamot ang araw, Sa summer na daw sya ulit lalabas. Hehehe..

Madalas na ang dilim sa paligid. Bilang din ang mga oras ng labas ng araw, mas madalas pa na hindi ito nagpapakita. 8 na ng umaga, madilim pa rin. Kaya siguro maraming taong nadedepress dito, lalo na sa mga taong galing sa lugar na buhay hanggang alas-4 ng madaling-araw. Yung tipong hindi mabubuhay ng walang ginagawa, kahit yung pagtambay magdamag. Walang ganun dito eh. Mga tao dito, pagdating ng alas-5 o alas-6 (pinakalate na yan), nasa loob na ng bahay yang mga yan, nagbuburo sa harap ng telebisyon. Sabagay, ano bang pwedeng gawin sa labas kung ang panahon eh di naman kaaya-aya?

Lapit na ng pasko. Ilang araw na lang. Pati ang 2009, bilang na din ang mga araw. Panibagong taon na naman. This year, i think, has never been fruitful to any nation, lalo na, sa tingin ko, ang Pilipinas. 2009 is one of the darkest years in Philippine History. Off to a bad start, ends with a rough statement. But the thing is, even though their in these kind of days, Filipinos have this no-surrender-attitude amidst the crisis they're experiencing. Christmas is still a very important holiday for pinoys. No one can deny that. Not even strings of typhoons or massacres can hold back the filipinos to celebrate christmas. Ganyan kaming mga pinoy.

It's 5pm already and im still typing here. Hehehe.. Madilim na sa labas, parabg 8 na ng gabi. Well, sabi ni haring araw eh tapos na ang serbisyo nya at maghintay na lang daw ng susunod na kabanata ng summer season. Napakadilim sa labas. Habang nagtatype ako dito sa kwarto ko, eh, nakatingin ako sa bintana. Wala akong maaninag, kundi maliliit na kislap ng mga ilaw na tila ayaw pa atang isabog ang liwanag... kasi, maliit nga yung ilaw. Hehehe... 'Ni lagaslas ng hangin di ko naririnig, pero umuusok ang aking bibig sa bawat paghinga ko ng malalim. Senyales lang talaga na nandyan na lang sa tabi-tabi ang taglamig. Pero kahit malamig, kumain pa rin kami dito sa bahay ng ice cream. Hehehe.. Walang pinipiling panahon ang ice cream dito, tag-init man o taglamig...

I've been having a movie marathon now for, maybe, a week now. Wala kasing magawa. Hehe. Watching some good ol' movies of the past. Well, not so past, but some... ah... good movies. Sometimes, i try to practice my drawing skills. Just don't want to lose the talent, so i need to sharpen that.. Hehe.. It's drives me crazy when there's nothing to do, expecially in this season.. Winter season.. Parang lahat ng nangyayari eh napakabilis. Kagigising ko lang, ilang oras lang ang nakalipas, tulugan na naman. I never noticed time so much back home, because i don't mind time before so much. But, the day when i arrived here, everything has changed. Everything seems so fast. Or maybe i just worry too much. Haaaay...

Well, just enjoy the winter season and happy holidays to all of you. Godbless.