Elections 2010

Sen. Chiz Escudero said earlier (or rather, yesterday, as it’s already 3 a.m.) that he and his political party will NOT be announcing his plans to run for presidency because they want the country to focus first on the current state of calamity and on the relief and rehab operations. Ergo, they will formally announce it on some other day. Sheesh! Be a man. If you want it, declare it. Quoting our “esteemed” President, “Don’t pussyfoot.”

If someone sincerely wants to run, I’d have to tell him OR her — Just state that you’re running. One sentence, “I will run for President in 2010.” You don’t need a ceremony for that. Nor a “party”. You really want to help? Spend the money that you’ll use for your campaign to fund rehab projects. But please keep in mind that putting stickers and your name all over the relief goods bags are in bad taste. Promise.

I used to have great faith in Sen. Escudero. His openness and innovative ideas as well as his spirit and charisma would be great for our country.

But with the past few months… Hmmmm… His PR people’s touch sure is slipping little by little.

Another thing… Why can’t the opposition agree on just one candidate? And is there really a viable candidate from both opposition and admin??

Just a recap -
We have a grandfather wanting to run (most probably to shield his wealth and family)…
We have someone seemingly forced by his party to run (‘coz his running mate had very slim chances of winning)…
We also have an academician who doesn’t really know how to run things (sir, with all due respect, you are intelligent but this country needs a leader)…
We also have a spiritual leader (but he really doesn’t stand a chance against anyone)…
Oh! Then there’s that person who, after charges against him have been drawn up, hid behind the principle that everyone’s “innocent until proven guilty.” Ugh!! Akala mo iniisip ng mga tao na hindi ka trapo?? Wrong.

As of the moment, I may be biased, but the person who finds himself “burdened” by the responsibility to run, and yet gets the b@lls to stand up and face the challenge (though he knows the chances of losing are big) — maybe he’s what this country needs.

We need hope.

We Filipinos are more emotional and instinctive creatures rather than rational. I don’t see this as a fault. Our faith is what pulls us through rough times, such as what we’re currently facing. That faith makes us fight for what we believe in.

Right now, the damage of corruption is at its peak. Someone who is not corrupt is in that list of candidates. Yes, his friends may be corrupt. His party-mates, his colleagues, his relatives… BUT he’s more than forty years of age and he’s still not corrupt (relatively). Doesn’t that count for something? And if he pulls it through 6 years as a president who is not corrupt — think of how much boost that will be for our nation’s ego. He may be able to prove to Filipinos whose hopes are slowly eroding and who are ready to take the next plane out of the country that the fight is not yet over. We may yet win the battle.

Can you, just because of your own selfish dream, take this “hope” away from our people?

Yuchengco v. Estrada

‘Estrada men’ kidnapped the wrong Yuchengco

by Alfonso Yuchengco Jr.

Manila Standard Today

02 October 2009

Editor’s Note: This first-person account was taken from an e-mail message that Alfonso Yuchengco Jr. had circulated to friends. Standard Today confirmed its authenticity. To preserve its flavor, we have left the Filipino phrases unchanged.

MY name is Boyu, short for Boy Yuchengco, a.k.a. Alfonso SyCip Yuchengco Jr.

A couple of days after Senator [Panfilo] Lacson’s privilege [speech], I was contacted by one of our security people who had spoken with a former [Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force] member. This [task force] agent confirmed basically what we knew even then—it was me Estrada had ordered kidnapped. Yes, kidnapped, not just arrested. And yes, me, not my brother Tito.

Due to their low intel, they mistook my brother for me, primarily due to the fact that my brother Tito and I have the same first name—Alfonso. I, the Junior, and he, the Third.

The nickname “Boy” is given to the juniors in the family. My brother… worked at the bank at the time…[and] they simply assumed [he] was the “Boy,” the Junior. They could not imagine that there was another Alfonso son lurking around in the vault.

As a result, when these men came to the bank looking for “Boy Yuchengco,” all they got was “Boy Yuchengco? There’s no Boy Yuchengco here.” Wish someone in RCBC had also asked them, “You sure you have the right bank?” Ha!

Media in general, and Inquirer in particular, have this thing where they just can’t understand why my father never went after Estrada “long after the intimidation factor disappeared following Estrada’s ouster from the presidency.” (Quote from Inquirer editorial)

Well, why do you think the Chinese are favorite victims of KFR [kidnap-for-ransom] gangs and government crooks? One, we will do anything for our children, especially when our sons are threatened, especially when the son involved is the favorite son.

Two, even if Estrada had been ousted from the presidency, who says the “intimidation factor had disappeared”? Remember, you guys set your criminals free! Free to commit more crimes, more intimidation. Free to send their goons after us.

Three, We Chinese are not Ninoy. We have learned that in the Philippines, kami ay laging nag-iisa! We cannot expect help or protection from the authorities seeing as how it is the authorities who tend to come after us.

Can you all not see the fear factor involved? If you still cannot, then I doubt very much you guys will ever be able to reform anything in this country.

The next curiosity noted—”But, they were paid!” Forgetting that this is very much beside the point when the person didn’t want to sell to begin with.

I have told some in media that they should look into the history of PLDT. This is because once people know the history, know how tied to my father PLDT was from the time the Americans owned it, they might just understand why my father would never have wanted to let go of any of it.

It’s as if GSIS paid the Lopezes for Meralco, even though the Lopezes never wanted to sell to GSIS and GSIS sent people to threaten the life of one of the Lopez scions to force the sale anyway.

Speaking of the Lopezes, when the Tita [President Cory Aquino] took over, they got everything back that Marcos took from them. No questions asked, no red tape. However, the shares of PLDT taken from my father by Marcos (Yes, this happened once before!) and given to Cojuangco to hold in his (Marcos’) name, is now even part of what was sold to First (Metro) Pacific by TbC [Antonio “Tony Boy” Cojuangco].

“Tita, Tita! Bakit kami, hindi?” Was it because it involved a Cojuangco? Why the “Kamag-Anak Shuffle”? This is one reason I cannot kowtow to the Tita. Not that I blame her. She definitely was “Good People,” no doubt about it. However, she was too naive. And she allowed a lot of people, relatives and others, to ruin what could have been a real honest-to-goodness bloodless revolution. One that could have finally changed Flip Society for the better and “for good.”

As for the rest of the story, I do not have first-hand knowledge as to what did or did not happen. I only know of the threat to me because I had been warned by one of my sisters then to lay low.

Another thing that showed their low intel: pretending to arrest me on trumped-up drug charges wouldn’t have worked. I was in rehab then, had been for some time. In fact, I was already in the Halfway House of New Beginnings when all that was happening. So, how does one arrest someone for drugs when the person is already inside the rehab center?

I am passing this information around for no other reason than to draw some of the flak from my father who is now quite old and a bit frail. I also want “them” to leave my brother alone. I also pass this around to remind people that it’s easy for actors to pretend, to fool people, even the Santa Tita. But please don’t forget that the guy was, and is, a Gangster. Just look at his friends and “barkada”… You are who you hang out with.

Please pass this around. Are we all going to finally take a stand against the crooks in government and the private sector? Or, Nag-iisa lang ba kami ulit?

This missive in no way defends or sides with Senator Lacson. As far as I’m concerned, they’re all crooks and should be locked up in the same cell. Isama na rin ninyo si GrandMA.

But, when are the Filipino people ever going to do this? When are we going to start sincerely helping one another rather than claw and rip off one another?

When are we all ever going to learn and live the real meaning of “Maka-Tao” (‘Maki-Tao’)? When are we ever going to relearn the true sense of “utang na loob,” wherein we live for, and assist, one another because we care and not because we are being paid for it?

Mabuhay Mabuhay “>ang ang “>Pinoy! Mabuhay rin sana ang Tsinoy!

Sad News

Tara Santelices was taken by an angel this morning.

Rest in peace Tara…

Ilocos Norte, 03-06 April 2009, Part I

So much memories in just 3 days!!

This was one of them – the famous Ilocos Empanadas from Batac, Ilocos Sur Norte.

First, they make the dough… The orange color is just food coloring…

They then add the sliced “ubod” and raw papaya…

Plus egg…

Plus the even more famous Longganiza…

They fold it and cut the edges to make it round…

Deep fried to perfection!!

P.S. The locals say that the oil used to fry the empanadas contribute much to the great flavor, as even the “isaw” and all the other goodies are cooked in that “kawa” (kawa = a huge frying pan).

Blast Across the Seas 2009 – Let’s Help Bring Tara HOME!

From: Pol Calinawan <polcalinawan@yahoo.com>
Subject: [bandscapes] Blast Across The Seas 2009 – Let’s Help bring TARA Home!!!!!
To: bandscapes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 11:09 AM

…Nananawagan po sa mga dakila at mapanggawa para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan!=) Mangyari lang pong kumontak kayo para makipagugnayan dito sa ating Benefit Concert, kung nais ninyong mag-donate ng Performance, Sponsorship, mag-Exhibit, mag-Tiangge, o kaya’y Attendance at Suporta sa Tickets. Confirmed na yung venue atsaka yung date: Brgy.Pineda Covered Amphitheater (bleachers capacity: 1500 people, plus a full-size basketball court on the ground floor in front of the elevated stage, for booths & bazaars, exhibits, and some dance floor). April 4, 2009 – Gate opens at 3pm for program activities. Live music starts 5pm. Event closes at 11pm. P150 includes welcome drink. Exhibits & Booth spaces at P600 includes monoblock chairs for two persons only, and 2 free tickets w/ welcome drink (please bring your own stall/display paraphernalia/table/streamer). Maraming Salamat. Mabuhay Kayo! –pol calinawan…

BLAST ACROSS THE SEAS 2009

presents
Blast Across The Seas 2009
Let’s Help bring TARA Home!!!!!

Benefit Concert, Exhibits, Booths and Bazaars
on Saturday April 4, 2009 at the
Brgy.Pineda Covered Amphitheater, Pasig City
–x–
* stage sounds @ club/cafe atmosphere level
w/ audio visual recording coverage *
–x–
EXHIBITORS:
Agimat.net, LomoManila, RockED, DAKILA, MagnaKultura / AsianCenter, AlsaKultura, and more!
–x–
DONORS – Artists for Performances &/or Appearances:
Saffron Speedway, Scarlet Tears, Skies of Ember, Aurora Borealis, I-EXIST for Tara, 524 Band, Redslim08, Tether, Duelist, Placid, The Dorques, MaHaSa, Sisig, FMD, SucketSeven, Descant Gott, Oremuz, E.S.R., E.R.F., Miko Pepito, Nityalila, Hija, Fancycakes, FilipinoMetal.com bands, BrgyTibay bands, PinoySoulMovement bands, Pinoy R&B Hiphop Community bands, Rakista.com bands, TernoRecordings.com bands, Queso Pilipinas, Indiemand Events Artists, Headstock Music Artists, Project Fusion, Monks’Hood, Pinas, Enemies of Saturn, Intolerant, Tower of Doom, DRT, Wolfgang, PULP Community, Sonic Boom Philippines, Johnny Alegre AFFINITY, Pentaspiral, TangerineSkies, Valley of Chrome, Greyhoundz
–x–
SPONSORS: To Be Confirmed!
–x–
For the benefit of Tara Santelices
and the Anti-Drugs Campaign of Bangon Pineda Movement
–x–
Also featuring:
Website Launch of ‘Our Market’ at
DVDNATION, FilipinoSound, Metalisland, BANDSCAPES
–x–
THIS EVENT IS NOW OPEN FOR SPONSORSHIPS, DONATIONS, EXHIBITS & BOOTHS
Tumawag o magtext lamang sa Globe: 0927-4149986 ; Smart landline plus: 02-9863299
Pol C. Home/Office: (632) 6715289 ; or mag email sa BANDSTAND.ph@gmail.com

Tara! Let’s Rock!

TARA! LET’S ROCK!

A Benefit Show for Tara Santelices

March 18, 2009

8:00 PM onwards

Puti Bar and Grill, Timog Avenue , Q.C.

Featuring:

Empty Siren Boulevard
Twitch
Ephesus
Astrojuan
Boy Elroy
Miguel Escueta
and The Out of Body Special

Hosted by Pat Jamlang and Lia Cruz
Tickets at PhP200.00, inclusive of one free beer!

Last August 6, 2008, on her 23rd birthday, Antonia Marina Bosch Santelices or “Tara”, was shot in the head during a hold-up while riding a jeepney along Imelda Avenue , in Cainta, Rizal. Now, seven months later, she has awakened from a comatose state and is now recovering from the wounds incurred from the gunshot. To date, the medical expenses have amounted to more than 2.6 Million Pesos. Proceeds of the show will go to the payment of the said medical bills.

TARA NA!

Blu Fish and Flying Pig

Thank you so much to my lovable sister and K for taking me with them as a “P.G.”, ergo “pataygutom”. Hahahahaha!!!

One of the new restaurants which opened up in Eastwood, the Blu Fish and Flying Pig is a crazy but definitely successful hybrid which makes it easier for a barkada of carnivores and classified dieticians to compromise. (I am a carnivore.)

I kept asking the waiter if there’s anything for free, except for tap water. He kept saying there’s none. I suggested that they should give bread… and voila! (P.S. There should be more bread here… but we ate most of it before we thought about clicking the camera.)

Then came the appetizer:

Prawns Thermidore (Php 325.00) – Bitin!! It was good. A bit salty, but the seasoning and all those other toppings did not overpower the taste of the shrimp.

The main dishes:

All Meat Paella (Php 395.00) – I’m not sure if it was just the meat overload, but this dish was normal for me. Great on the wallet though as the serving was good for 5 people!!

Cubana Baby Back (Half Slab – Php 355.00; Full Slab – Php 585.00)

Comes with two side dishes. We got ratatouille, and ummm the potato gratin? I forgot what it was called, but those potatoes were divine!! Potato slivers in between rich gooey cheese… Mmmmm….

Moroccan Sea Bass (Php 95.00/100 grams)

This big fish was worth Php 1,300.00, but every morsel was damn worth it. My sister said the grainy stuff strewn all over it was couscous. I have no idea what it was (maybe I’ll google it up), but it tasted great. Thinking about this fish makes my mouth water and my stomach gurgle.

All in all, eating at Blu Fish and Flying Pig was a nice experience. There are some items on their menu that I’m still curious about – like the Kurobota Ribs and the Lager Braised Kurobota Pig Cheek… When will my sister and K get their quarter year bonuses? Hmmm…

Berklee College of Music

Reposting for all musically inclined (or just interested) Pinoys!!!
—————————————————-

14 Feb 2009

Hi everyone!!!

As some of you know, I am currently in Boston studying at Berklee
College of Music. For the past couple of weeks i have been working on
getting a meeting with the International Programs office and
Scholarships office to discuss the possibility of making Manila, our
hometown and audition site for their World Scholarship Tour.

For those who don’t know, Berklee has this program called the World
Scholarship tour where they go to cities around the world and audition
people who are intersted to study in the college. (isnt that cool at
how the college actually goes out to audition people) The nearest
audition site to Manila is Kuala Lumpur which is where i auditioned
back in 2007.

Now of course running at the back of mind mind eversince was. “I wish
they would come here to Manila because i know that they will be
surprised at the amount of talent that the country and city has”

So anyway fast forward. I just spoke with the Director for
International Programs and it seems feasible for now because turns out
theyre prospecting for new audiition sites. Seems like i came in a
good time. Perfect.

So this is where i need you guys to help me out.

One of the factors that they will probably decide on would be how much
people are going to audition. So i need you guys to ask around for me
who is interested to audition for the school. Do not think about the
application process first. I just need to know a general number on how
many people want to audition if there will be one in Manila.

There have been no details yet on how were going to go about this. But
i have some time to spare so i want to know a general figure that i
could give them when we meet again. I will be speaking with the
director again tonight to get more information and get details on what
i need to research in Manila. So for now all i need is the number of
people who POSSIBLY want to audition.

For those who dont know. Berklee College of Music is an awesome
forward thinking music school thats located in Boston. Its been my
dream school since High School and im just fortunate enough to be able
to come here even for a couple of sems. The school has people from all
around the world (LITERALLY!) Zimbabwe, Korea, Mozambique, Brazil,
Argentina, Mexico, Slovenia, UK, Hong Kong, China, Kenya, Japan,
Australia basta you get the picture! It hosts people who have very
dynamic musical backgrounds from traditional to DJ-ing to hiphop,
breakbeats, jazz cats, drum and bass, christian, samba, rock, choral,
novelty, merengue BASTA ANDAMI YOU NAME IT LAHAT YATA NG GENRE SA
ITUNES MERON DITO!!! It has alumni na sobrang diverse who have won
grammy’s and who have very successful musical careers around the
world. Some of these people are Quincy Jones and John Mayer.

If you want to learn music and make it relevant to your career and the
current music scene. I believe this is the place to go to. Some people
might say otherwise but thats their call. Im only talking to the
people who wanna go and are interested kung ayaw mo eh di wag mo na
tong basahin HAHA.

Going to this school is not the be all and end all of your career but
it will surely help you and give you all the information you need to
make great music and songs to inspire a generation!

SO HELP ME OUT AND LETS GIVE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF PEOPLE THE
CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THEIR CRAFT TO BREAK OUT OF THE
MOLD! Please ask around for me and pass this onto your friends.

Leave a comment here to let me know if you know people who are
interested. Let me know.

1. How Many
2. Gender
3. Age
4. Musical Background

so i have something to throw when i meet again with the director.
Thanks people. PLEASE REPOST THIS IN YOUR BLOGS, ONLINE PROFILES, ETC.

I CREATED A MAILINGLIST IN YAHOOGROUPS TO FACILITATE THIS DISCUSSION.
PLEASE JOIN IT IF YOU’RE REALLY INTERESTED OR PLEASE DIRECT PEOPLE WHO
ARE INTERESTED THERE. THANKS

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/BERKLEEINMANILA

THIS WILL BE REALLY A LANDMARK OCCASION IF THIS PUSHES THROUGH!
YEAHHHHHHH!!!

Let me leave you with something that really encouraged me this week
from scripture.

“Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please
don’t squander one bit of this marvelous God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 6:1 MSG

ALL THE BEST PEOPLE! HOPE TO HEAR FROM Y’ALL SOON!!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/BERKLEEINMANILA

JOREL CORPUS

http://yahihu.com

jcayabyabcorpus@berklee.net
+1 617 8005370

M.A. (Monthly Assessment)

L and I have now been together for a month. It’s been fun for the most part.

But, of course, there are always hicks in any relationship.

I noticed that he has yet to be uber comfortable with sharing any thoughts that cross his mind. He has a weird philosophy that if a topic is not good, it would be better to not talk about it altogether. On the other hand, I believe in free flowing manic conversations over subjects which may range from the mundane to the extreme. Examples of topics that we cannot converse on: our past lovelifes (I really don’t get this. For me, my past is part of who I am today. So why not talk about it?) and sex (I don’t get this either. The subject is not taboo nowadays right?).

Another thing that bothers me… He wishes that I’m mahinhin. I don’t know how to phrase mahinhin in English. I guess it implies being meek. Chaste. Modest. Refined. Poised may be a good translation, but that’s not always the case for mahinhin girls. Well, in any case, I am not mahinhin when I’m with friends. Heller! Why have friends if I am not allowed to be myself when I’m with them?! Why be with people if I cannot live?

In fairness, he does not expressly disallow me to be my usual boisterous self. I just see him cringing when I say something that for him is a bit out of tact. He literally closes his eyes and takes a deep breath! Then he smiles back at me again. Hahaha! :p

And in fairness again, I’ve already told him a couple of times that I wish he’d speak better English. Sorry. One of my pet peeves is wrong pronunciation. Don’t speak in English if you cannot speak it right, unless you’re talking to someone who cannot understand your native tongue. As a compromise, I will not swear especially when I am talking to him. He made me agree to a deal… 3 curses a day would entitle him to a free dinner. 4 curses = (I forgot what this is!! Hahaha!). 5 curses = I’d be his slave for the next day. LOL!

We’ve fought a few times already. But the fights were just plain silly. Except for one instance, when I really pursued the topic about the exes and he just clammed up and brooded and became sullen. I like telling him stories about my past. He keeps saying we don’t need to discuss those things anymore. Past is past. For him, it signifies that I have not let go of the people I’ve been with before. But as I’ve said, this discussion is important as my past helped mold me. I will not be me if I did not go through the rollercoaster nightmares I’ve thrown myself into before. Shying away from this facet of my life somehow signals to me that he has not completely embraced who I am.

It brings me to the question, “When do you know you love someone?” How can I say that I love him? I honestly do not have a clue. Love for me is both a feeling and a state of mind. Much like happiness. It cannot be forced. But when it’s there, it becomes a choice whether to hold on to it or not. As to how I get to feel it, I leave that to God and fate. I know that I love him because I feel it. I cannot explain why or how. But I can choose to stay in this state, no matter what anyone says. That, I guess, is not love, but is just a manifestation of loving.

Both of us agreed that when we encounter problems, leaving is not an option. Psychologically, this agreement is doing me good. I’m more patient, as in the back of my head I realize I’d be spending the rest of my life with him. I don’t lash out when I get mad. I take time to think, and I actually can tell him to back off for a moment and let me breathe. He understands. In turn, I give him space as well when he needs it. Of course, I cannot say until when I’d feel this need or urge to be understanding and mature. I cannot declare that I know myself fully to predict what I would do. But I know enough to accept that I will always be a kid at heart, immersed in the wonders and stupidity of childhood. And I’m hoping I’d have enough willpower to stay.

madness

i’m not entirely sure if i’m happy… i know i’m ecstatic. i know i feel like i’m way up high drifting amongst fluffy cottony soft clouds.

but am i truly happy?

i look at him and i can’t help but smile. he does not have the face of an angel. nor does he have the greek god features i so adore in my men.

his exudes a quiet and yet palpable dominating aura of what a man should be. masculine – strong jaw, square chin, thin lips (which become full and red and yummy when we kiss). and his eyes… a rich shade of honey which beckons me to stay and be still and be calm.

when he smiles at me, my heart does double back flips before diving and transforming into several butterflies which sometimes upset my stomach and give me hiccups.

he makes me laugh when he scowls! he tries to be aloof to the people around him, acting all quiet and sullen. his acts betray him though. the way he talks to his friends. his gestures. surprising opinions. his concern. little things really. but sweet enough for me to notice.

but what drew me to him big time was his honesty. it was refreshing. surprising. unexpected from a man who wanted to court me. he’d tell me that the clothes i’m wearing are flattering or atrocious. that i smell good. that my skin looks soft. that he loves seeing me smile. that my hair needed combing. that i need to lose weight. that i shouldn’t tie my hair up coz i look like Caridad Sanchez when i do that. (Ms. Sanchez is a great actress and is beautiful in her own right. But i’m 25. I don’t want to be compared to someone who looks like my lola, even if she is beautiful.)

i cannot say whether we’d last a lifetime. but after several catastrophic relationships, i want this to just be.