Juana Change wants change

Juana Change, that yellow-haired character that was prominent in many of Noynoy Aquino's campaign sorties has been seen on television recently, saying that some Noynoy insiders really don't want change.

A disappointed Mae Paner, Juana Change's real-life persona, went on television to say that she felt betrayed because she really thought that the Aquino campaign could bring about real change-- only to see traditional politicians fighting out for juicy positions in government.

According to Paner in an interview with gmanews.tv, "I did not invest my blood, sweat and tears para trapo ang ma-appoint. Those surrounding Noynoy, most of them are sipsip".

Paner resigned from the Aquino campaign mid-March, after realizing that the people surrounding Aquino are exactly the people she was advocating against. Paner realized she was sadly mistaken in believing that the Aquino campaign was treading the moral high ground.

From this blogger's standpoint, it seems that Paner might not be the only person who seems disappointed with the lackluster performance of the daang matuwid campaign. Many, however, choose to remain silent and remain in the sidelines as more and more trapos make their way towards the Aquino anthill.

Recently in the news, Aquino supporters are openly claiming their rightful positions in government, saying that it was only right for them to get positions in government for supporting Aquino. Also recently, Tthe Aquino camp is getting flack over the president-apparent's sister's offer to make actor Joey de Leon an appointee to the Optical Media Board. Kris, in her non-chalant manner, claimed it was a non-issue and that it is only right to offer de Leon the job since he openly supported Noynoy throughout the campaign.

These actions are precisely what Juana change and her group are against. Sadly, it seems that Juana Change's voice will be drowned out by the louder voices that are singing the new administration praises.

The Kris Appointment

in what can only be described as inappropriate and downright 'Imeldific', Kris Aquino proudly defended her offer to Joey de Leon to become the head of the optical media board. The blogsphere is abuzz with rumors that Kris Aquino went and offered the position of OMB head as reward for his support for President-apparent Noynoy Aquino.

In an interview with Pillar Mateo of Pinoy-Parazzi, Kris defended her offer to Joey de Leon to head the OMB. “Yes, Tita Pilar, it’s true! I asked him if he wanted OMB since he was openly supportive of Noy (Benigno Aquino III). When I called to say thank you for our family, I asked if he was interested in an appointed position like OMB", Kris was quoted as saying.

Kris, known for her tactless persona, was further quoted in the interview as saying "Matters relating to government appointments are always sensitive and of course when related to our industry, my opinion is asked.”

It seems to this blogger that it's payback time for those who openly supported the Aquino campaign. Juicy government positions are being given left and right to those who showed 'extreme loyalty' to the president-apparent. In this particular issue, Kris did not deny that she made the offer herself, a move many are questioning.

In the Facebook Page "Kris Aquino's Despedida", many are aghast.

-Who is Kris to offer Joey de Leon that position? She has gone mad! Who the f**k does she think she is?!?

-Is it not "corruption" that we are all against? If this woman can offer sensitive positions in gov't to those who "openly" supported his kuya noy..then we are all fucked! the Filipinos are really.. really fucked!

-Kris did that? She has no business meddling with her brother's job! Somebody, please ... put some sense into this woman's head!

These are just some of the reactions that may vary in tone but not in message: They are not happy. And they have every right to be. Many people are asking what authority she has to make the offer in the first place. And still many are fearful that if this is how things will be in an Aquino administration, then we are seeing a glimpse of what to expect in the next 6 years, and it does not look good.

A Poem from my Upcoming Collection

Ako at aking awit

Tama na ang masulyapan ka lamang

Higit na ligaya ang siya nitong katumbas

Makita man lang ang ngiti sa iyong mga labi

Langit na ang aking madarama

Kahit man lang sa malayo’y mamasdan
ang buong halina ng iyong kagandahan
ito lamang ang aking tanging kaligayahan
masulyapan ka, kahit sa malayo man lang

Hindi ko man makayang magtapat sayo

Ng nilalaman nitong aking abang puso

Dadaanin ko na lang sa awitin kong ito

At sa pasulyap-sulyap kahit malay

o

Ito ang aking natatanging paraan

upang mapunan ang pagibig na nararamdaman

Ako ma’y torpe sa paninigin ng mga iba
Sa aki’y labis na ang dulot na saya

Naghihintay ako ng pagkakataong magka-lakas loob
upang sabihin sa iyo ang aking sinasaloob
na pagibig na tanging alay lamang ay para sa’yo
ito at ang aking awit nilalaan sa iyo

Glimpse in Zen

The next Glimpse into Zen is scheduled on May 30, 2010. Please invite your loved ones, relatives, friends and colleagues who want to know more about Zen. This will be from 1:30 to 3:30 pm to be held at the Zen Center for Oriental Spirituality, 31 St. Claire corner St. Catherine, Provident Village, Marikina, Metro Manila. For further details, visit our website: www.zencenterphil.org and go to the Learning Zen page.

The Glimpse is an introductory which precedes a six - session orientation workshop. It includes a question and answer forum and actual practice periods.

Wear comfortable sitting clothes. Admission is free, although donation is welcomed which go to the upkeep and maintenance of the zen center.

For more information, please contact Lisa M. Pilapil – Facilitator at Mobile No. 0920.570.9709 or email: lisa_pilapil@yahoo.com

A Changing of the Guards

Meralco CEO Manuel "Manolo" Lopez, fondly called MML by company insiders, officially stepped down as the power distribution company's Chief Executive Officer after 24 years. To replace him as CEO will be business mogul Manny V. Pangilinan. Lopez will remain as chairman of the board of Meralco, and Jose "Ping" de Jesus also retains his position as Chief Operations Officer. The changing of the guards, as it is so called, happened yesterday, May 25, 2010, at the annual Meralco stockholders Meeting which was held at the Meralco Theater.

To Manny Pangilinan, congratulations. May you continue to preserve the ideals of corporate leadership and integrity Meralco is known for.

Zambales -- a food Trip

I spent Saturday and Sunday in Candelaria, Zambales, with my siblings and their families, just soaking up the sun (just the heat, really), swimming and trying out the different delicacies. Candelaria is popular not just for its sweet mangoes but also for its pastillas which is made from carabao's milk and sugar. The one made in Candelaria is a bit more white in color than the ones sold in Iba. I was told it is because some use brown sugar and condensed milk, unlike the ones sold in Candelaria which is made only with pure carabao's milk and white sugar.

When we arrived, i took the time to visit their public market, since i am a fan of Frank's Burgers. I got distracted and got a chance to try some of their fish balls instead. Unlike the ones sold in Manila, their fish balls are made from real fish and carrots in batter, scooped and deep fried to crunchy perfection. It was so good i ate 30 pieces! I also got to try their melon milk which was a good way to wash down the fish balls.

Since my family loves to eat, my sister's expert cook Manang Gaya prepared some belly busters when we arrived in time for lunch. Steaming hot sinigang na baboy and grilled Bangus with fresh seaweeds on the side for lunch on our first day and homemade fried chicken and gravy, picadillo and enseladang talon on our first night. (ooops, i forgot to mention the fresh mangoes!)

Breakfast was no exception-- tortang talong, garlic sausage na hubad, english breakfast sausages with cheese, fresh oranges, daing na bangus and sinangag were served, and for lunch we were served by my sister Ruby and brother-in-law Mario with the freshest and sweetest giant prawns and crabs. We had such a good time eating that it took us a good 2 hours to finally put down our plates and end our lunch.

Another sea food i love in Candelaria is the Barellete (which looks a lot like yellow fin tuna). Whenever i am in Candelaria, i make it a point to request some grilled barellete (if it is available -- i was told it is hard to come by). Luckily for us, my sister and the cook Manang Gaya managed to buy some in Santa Cruz' public market.

On our way home from our weekend getaway, my sister Ruth said we would have dinner at Xtremely Xpresso. We ordered their big pesto chicken pizza (and another pizza flavor which i don't remember), some spicy oriental shrimp pasta and an order of Ben's Burger -- a tasty hamburger grilled to perfection the size of a dinner plate. I washed the food down with some ice cold coffee (and a stick of Marlboro Ultra-Menthol). I wanted to order one for take out but decided against it in the end. Big mistake on my part. Tsk. Tsk.

I guess every time we go on a weekend getaway, it turns into a food trip -- but hey, who's complaining?

musings

i apologize for the structure of this blog. i am merely rambling... i ask for your indulgence...

Not very often do i encounter people online who not only share a common belief such as mine, but also enjoy a certain rapport reserved only to the most intimate of acquaintances. I have encountered such people online and it is something i would cherish not because we share one belief, but because even if we do not agree on issues, we can engage the issues with civility and respect. The past few days, i have involved myself in a cause that may seem insignificant to many, but to my mind reflects all that is wrong with our society today.

I will not discuss the issue in particular, mainly because i want to keep that part of my participation limited only to the people i trust, which is to say my college friends, a handful of relatives, and my most trusted online friends. It is enough to say, however, that this particular cause has given me the chance to know many people, their opinions and their passion.

In this particular cause, i have witnessed individuals who possess the literary prowess to engage you in a battle of wits, some who resort to name-calling to weaken your resolve -- and then there are others who talk just for the sake of being able to talk. I have learned to respect them all -- but i must admit that in many instances i find it difficult and a true test of my zen practice to be able to just sit and listen to attacks on my persona. In many instances, i have been called a dumbass, an idiot and a paid hack. But such is life.

Suffice to say, it is my belief that you can find friends everywhere if you look hard enough, and my recent experience has strengthened that belief. I have come to know at least 4 people who have shown me that there is hope for the Philippines, and that hope lies within the passion of these individuals. I am proud to know them, and to be known by them. They are not mere acquiantances, but friends.

BOYCOTT OF ABS-CBN ON SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010

I join the call for a nationwide boycott of ABS-CBN shows on May 23, Sunday. The boycott, initiated by K.A.D. is to show the network that the people have the right to demand intelligent, unbiased programming.

Here is the K.A.D. Message now spreading like wildfire on Facebook:

On May 23, 2010. we enjoin everyone to boycott ABS-CBN shows from sign on to sign off. We demand intelligent, balanced and unbiased programming, a station free from political agenda and irresponsible artists (the likes of Kris Aquino). Please urge everyone to join our cause.

Will Kris leave?

A facebook group called the Kris Aquino's Despedida party is now the talk, if not the toast, of the town. The group has about 22,690 members, and it is growing exponentially day by day. The group's aim is to collect on a promise made by celebrity Kris Aquino to leave the country if Noynoy wins and she becomes the cause of stress for him.

The promise has been the cause of much heated debate between Kris fans and members of the group. The fans of Kris insist that Kris made the promise with a condition, i.e. "if she becomes a source of stress for Noy". Group members, however, that Kris has been the cause of stress not just of Noynoy but of her entire family and that the stipulated "if" condition is no longer valid.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: The right to expression and to air grievances is alive and well. But for many group members, the only happy ending would be a Kris-less Philippines.

Another M.O. similar to Homesonic -- in Baguio!

I recently received an email from a resident of Baguio City regarding a Modus Operandi similar to Homersonic, this time in Baguio City. The "establishment" is called Arysta. Baguio residents should be careful when receiving a call from them. ---------------- Dear Mr. Bañares, On March 5, 2010, I have had the misfortune of falling for Arysta's marketing scheme and until now, am still waiting for the call from their customer service in order to reach an agreement regarding a settlement. It all started with a phone call to my PLDT landline telling me that due to a random selection, I am one of the fortunate few to receive a free gift from their company. They gave me a code so I could claim the gift at their location at the 3rd Floor of Abanao Square, Baguio City. They asked me if I received a phone call yesterday telling me about this prize, when I told them no, they said that I only have three days to claim the prize, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., that since this is the second day, I have only until tomorrow to claim it and to claim it as soon as possible since they would have to generate another code by tomorrow. Since I was swamped with work until that evening, I was not able to go there and claim my prize. The next day, at around the same time of 2 p.m. or so, I received another call from them telling me that I only have today to claim my prize. I told them that I wasn't able to go the other day because of work and that today, I was waiting for them to call to present me with a new daily code. They assured me that the code remains the same and I could claim it until 7 p.m. So, later on in the afternoon, I went ahead and hied myself there to claim my prize. After giving me the gift of an eye massager, a sales representative came forward and presented me with enveloped coupons to choose from that I would be eligible with more prizes depending on the coupon I selected. Lo and behold, I got one with a gift certificate worth P 2,000.00 and it didn't end with just that, the other side of the coupon qualifies me to receive more gifts if I were to purchase one of their items. They asked me which I liked and I told them I was interested in the water purifier. They told me I was lucky since they can deduct the gift certificate from the original price and came up with P 51,900.00. They also went on to tell me that if I am subscribed to one of their tie-in partners as they called it, I would be gaining more points. Among their partners, PDT, Smart, Globe, VISA, and others I can't recall were also mentioned. Since I got those points, I'm qualified to receive more. By that time, I was surrounded by their agents with one using a hand-held massager on me and also letting me sit on the chair massager. They showed me the fax that qualifies me to all those items and handing me a cell phone with a lady on the other end congratulating me and that all I had to do was follow the guidelines on the other side of the coupon so I could start claiming the items. It was annoying at some point because at the time when I was on the phone talking to the lady, the agents around me kept on talking to me, heaping compliments on compliments, congratulating me, so on and so forth, it came to the point that I was straining to hear what was being said on the other side of the line and I wanted to tell them to keep quiet so I could hear what she was trying to say. It all boiled down to me not having the money to provide to pay for the P51,900 (due to priorities such as the payment of the majority of the bills at home) and since I don't issue checks and don't own a credit card (thank God), they would be willing to accept whatever amount I can offer them as down payment. I should have known by then that it was too good to be true. I told them as of that moment, I am only able to give them a deposit of P2, 500 in cash and I was thus duly escorted to the ATM machine to withdraw. Dear Mr. Bañares, This is a continuation of my previous email regarding the Arysta Scam. I inadvertently pressed the sent button instead of the save draft on my email. After handing over the cash of P 2,500.00 as down payment, I was made to sign two documents. One is a deposit slip with the items I will be receiving listed on it with the remaining amount left to be paid (P 49,400.00) and the second document is an agreement (which they did NOT give me a copy of) stating that if due to priorities, I decided not to push through with the agreement, I will not be entitled to a cash refund but instead will be compensated with offset of an item equivalent to the deposited amount. (part 2l) When I got home, that was the only time I got to think clearly without their constant sales talk and platitudes. Not only do I get to come home with lesser money in my account but I get to come home with nothing...not even the so called give-away small ticket items. Oh, but I did get to come home with the gift item of they eye massager. Doubts as to the legitimacy of their actions started to assail me and I was only able to search about Arysta after I finished work for that day. What I found out literally chilled me to the bone. 1. Most of the people they scammed received a phone call via random selection. I'm basically a new subscriber to PLDT, so how come they were able to acquire my number? They did claim at first they PLDT was their partner, but from what I know, PLDT isn't allowed to divulge that unless it's listed in the phone book. 2. No matter which item you choose, they always end up with the amount of P 51,900.00. Check Google search with Arysta and it will autopopulate with arysta scam. You might be asking by now why I didn't check that before. Of course I checked it right after the first call, but the weird thing is, it did not give me anything. Either I left out a letter or something else so it didn't autopopulate. But after I got home after the scam and tried to search for the specs and amount of the item I chose and typed in Aysta, that's when it came out. 3. A part of their scheme is that they won't let you think long enough to doubt their claims. They constantly distract you with their sales talk by making you feel like you're the luckiest person in the world and that by letting it go, it's akin to letting go of a million dollars (you get my drift). They'll drown you with their sales talk, compliments, and platitudes. 4. Misrepresentation. Remember the part where they told me that PLDT is their partner? It lulled me into thinking that it was safe for me to trust them. Why would PLDT ally themselves with a company that was scum of the earth, right? That was one of the questions I posed to them when I came back two days later, March 7, 2010. I will be discussing what happened later on. I was told that I could settle the remaining amount of P 49, 400.00 over the next months or years for that matter and that the amount that I give each month would depend entirely up to me, even if it is just a thousand pesos. But if I were to pay at least P5,000.00 next month, I would be able to at least take home some of the give away items. At this point in time, you've already become a 'Yes Man' to whatever they say to you. After I got home and finally free of distractions, I was like, what the heck was I thinking agreeing to that? If I'm only able to give P2,500.00 each month, it would take me almost TWO years to pay it off before I could get the item i paid for. Then it got me thinking, wait a minute, if those were give-away items, how come, they didn't give even just one to me? That it would have to reach an amount of P7,500 before I could take home a single give-away item? Then it hit me, the P51,900.00 practically paid for all the items! Give-away items my foot. After finding out their scheme and reading the testimonials on the net, I went back there on March 7, 2010 asking them to give me back my deposit. I didn't come alone though, I brought along a no-nonsense, level-headed friend of mine to keep an eye on things and to avoid any more scheming. I told them that I didn't want to have anything to do with them or their products and that I didn't want to offset the amount by them giving me an item of equivalent value or me giving them any more money. They immediately brought out the agreement that I didn't have a copy of and reminded me that I signed an agreement that should a change of mind on my part occur, an offset of an item of equivalent amount will be given and not a cash refund. They told me that the item closes to the deposited amount was a multicooker worth P2,999.00. They assured me that I didn't have to pay the remaining P499.00. Come on, a multicooker worth P2,999.00?! A little overpriced, don't you think? But for me, that wasn't the point. I wasn't going to let them get away with scheming people out of their hard-earned money. To confirm the prices, we asked the representative for a price list and sure enough, the prices of the give-away, so-called small ticket items were listed there. They retrieved the price list telling us that we weren't allowed to get it out because it was company property. Now, why would they keep their prices to themselves when there's such a thing as transparency in the market? Speaking further with the agent, I told her that it wasn't practical to make a monthly payment for an item that I will only be receiving after two years and for something that I didn't really need. She said that aside from the main item, I will be receiving the give-away items and that by making an initial deposit, I will be able to take home a give-away item. So, I asked the representative, how come I gave an initial payment of P2,500.00 already and yet I didn't get to take home a give-away item? What she told me blew my mind away, "Ma'am, it's because you didn't ask." That's because that wasn't what your representative told me before and that your representative didn't tell me that all I had to do was ask. I was even told that I had to give at least P5,000.00 next month before I could take home a give-away item. I told them that what they were doing was wrong because their statements were misleading. And I asked her how I was selected randomly and that when I asked them the last time, their answer was evasive. How were you able to select me randomly when my number isn't even listed in the phonebook since I am a relatively new subscriber to PLDT and from what I know, PLDT is not obligated to divulge subscribers' phone numbers unless it's already published in the phonebook. The representative went on to tell me that PLDT used to be one of their partners. If that's the case, why are you still telling your customers that you're still partners with them and even printed it on their catalog? That's when my friend dropped a bomb by saying that they're committing misrepresentation by luring the customers into a false sense of security. That immediately shut up the representative and promptly told us that she had a lot to do (we were the only customers there) and that no more could be done until either I accept the rice cooker as an offset item or file a customer complaint. Since I wasn't willing to accept the cooker, they suggested that I file a complaint to their customer service and will be receiving a call from them in three days. When I told the representative that I wanted to get this over and done with, she told me that all I had to do was accept the multicooker and it will be over. No way am I going to let them get away with just that. It's already the third day and still no call. Tomorrow, I'll be going to DTI to file a complaint and even make an ABS-CBN Citizen patrol to stop this scheme. The point for me is not because the multicooker is overpriced, it's because they lured me and countless others into parting with our hard-earned money by using their slick charm, platitudes, misleading statements, and evencommitting misrepresentation to buy and obtain items that are not really needed. I wrote you an email in the hopes of facilitating an action that will put a stop to their devious ways. Will you, and other people, please help me stop them from scamming more people in the future? If you know people who could make this happen, please contact them and let them know of this company's scheme. This is a link to a well-documented account from a person who had a similar experience to mine: http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=204472

Blood Donors Needed

From Tom Sepulveda: I need blood donors Type
O bec. my son's platelet is very very low. He is bleeding. Pls send
donor to UERM blood bank and tell them for Julio Alfonso Sepulveda. I
badly need your help. (Tom is the father of Huey Sepulveda, a
grade 4 Ateneo student and a leukemia patient). or at least forward this message to your friends>

Are We at the Height of Stupidity?

I was watching ABS-CBN's self-proclaimed top-rating show TV Patrol World's report on the Comelec Road Show where some seemingly intelligent people tried out the new automated TCOS Machines which will be used in the upcoming May elections.

Everyone was shown voting and then after the votes were counted, the much-awaited interview. I asked myself what spin Channel 2 will put into this report. I soon found out, to my detriment.

People who have voted more than 3 times know by now that you only vote for 12 senators. Count 'em, twelve. Not 11, not 13. Twelve. Her comes stupid, who complains on television how he made a mistake and voted for 13 senators. He was so agitated that his vote won't be counted, saying further that he found it unfair that he was not allowed to vote again to correct his mistake in voting for 13 senators. aba'y isang lintik at kalahati rin naman pala ang anak ng tipaklong! Watching television, we are reminded time and time again to take our time to vote to ensure that no mistakes are made so that our votes will be counted. Kasalanan ba ng gobyerno na bobo ka't hindi nakakaintindi sa numerong dose? .

The problem is that this media network actually makes it sound like it was a legitimate concern. It is not a legitimate concern. What is a legitimate concern is how and why people like mister stupid could be allowed to vote in the first place. Simpleng pag-shade sa bilog na hugis itlog hindi pa magawa!

This, plus the discussion opened up by my friend Bheejay in his FB account has gotten me to thinking that we pinoys, through the aid of these media networks, are at the height of stupidity. We are at a point where we no longer take cognizance of our actions and instead look for someone to blame it on. This is how that particular media network works. They make their viewers examine their lot in life and then point at the government as the root of all their problems. We are, in effect, like the man who prays daily to win the lottery but never buys a ticket.

Sad truth is, we are being kept stupid by media because it is easy to manipulate stupid people. When they say jump, we jump. They can tell us who should be our president (which is the agenda of one network who is obviously indebted to the family of one candidate for returning the network to them). Sad truth, media doesn't want us to be an intelligent viewer because intelligent viewers ask intelligent questions... questions which these networks, especially this one network, might not be able to answer.

Ondoy Heroes

The past weekend, as Typhoon Ondoy ravaged Metro Manila and nearby provinces ,stories of heroism, courage, hope and faith circulated through the grapevine. These stories may seem too incredible to be true, but the fact remains that true heroism arise in times of crises.

In Provident Village alone, i personally witnessed the courage and bravery of many men, average by social standards, destitute by others, putting the safety of others before themselves.

When we opened the gates of the zendo to our neighbours, i saw from my vantage point in waist-high water our village sweepers helping families with their things, escorting them to areas of safety. I saw feuding neighbors assist each other. I saw mansions opening up their homes to poor families seeking higher ground.

Shortly before water engulfed the zen center's second floor, our next door neighbors who sought refuge in the zendo came to us like long lost relatives. The warmth that this group exuded made me believe that we will get through this disaster in one piece.

Young men i never knew before that day consulted with us regarding the best strategy to get to higher ground. Maybe it was divine providence or sheer luck, but our little clique, at least to my mind, was the best equipped to face the challenges of Ondoy. The De Guzman family brought thermal foam and a ladder, the Pinedas brought food. It was as if the universe was consipring to help us get through this experience.

When we were in need of drinking water, rain poured. When we were cold, the rains stopped. Even the little toddler who was with us showed no signs of being affected by nature's wrath. He was laughing and smiling through most of the ordeal. I think that the only time i heard him cry was in the morning when they were minutes away from being resuced by his grandfather.

This experience made me believe that the flood was an equalizer. Rich and poor huddled together on rooftops sharing whatever they had, or braving hunger together. If there was one thing Ondoy taught me, it is that the human spirit is hard to kill, and that filipinos, if they really really set their minds and hearts to it, can break ranks and work hand in hand with one another.

Everyone on the rooftops that day was not a victim: they were - still are - heroes. Their rescillience and resolve to survive made them their own saviors.

Yesterday when i met with the officers of the Zen Center in Katipunan, one of them remarked that i was a hero who saved 21 souls. I don't believe that. There were 21 heroes on our roof alone, and countless others on distant rooftops.

Heroism is just another word to describe a survivor. We managed to survive because we knew that death, a least for that particular moment, was not an option. That is not to say that those who perished are not heroes too. In their effort to fight for their survival, they tried their best, and though they perished as a result, they too are heroes.

Heores abound in times of adversity, trials and tribulations. We are all heroes.

Death of a Friend

For the past couple of months, i have been searching Multiply and Facebook for my childhood friend and neighbor. She was one of my close friends when we were still in Project 4. We last saw each other when i was in first year high school when we were still residing in Cubao. We lost contact after that. Today i received a message on Facebook from our other Project 4 neighbor and family friend who told me that my firend Maricar Alcala passed away recently. I did some investigating and confirmed that that she indeed passed away.

Maricar was born in 1975, the year i was born. Her death made me think of my own mortality. It seems i've been losing friends and family members who are younger and healthier than me. But the more i think about it, a circle has no beginning or end. She, and the rest of my loved ones who have gone to their rest will always remain in my heart of hearts.

The Homesonic M.O.

I have been receiving many messages on my Multiply account regarding the Modus Operandi of Homesonic. They have elevated their operations from rigged scratch cards to telephone campaigns. Months back, i got a call from INEX Corporation, supposedly a call center for Homesonic, informing me that i was selected by computer raffle to qualify for a free gift and that i have to visit Homesonic in Robinsons East Mall to claim my prize. Little did these idiots know that my father, the late Atty. Onesimo Banares told me of thier M.O. before he died. This company would lure you in with their rigged scratch cards and enticing you to purchase items you don't really need. My mother was almost duped into buying 40k pesos worth of items had my father not intervened and nerely caused a scene.

Now i've been receiving messages of people getting phone calls from made-up companies supposedly representing Homesonic. If you receive a call like this, ignore it. This is a scheme designed to lure you into spending money on items you don't need. Add to that the fact that the items they sell can be bought elsewhere for less price.

I call on all victims of Homesonic to email me at rodel.banares@gmail.com. This kind of modus operandi should be put to a halt. I encourage all to step up shame campaigns versus this company. LET THE BUYER BEWARE OF HOMESONIC!!

lacson drops presidential bid

It's about time! I'm sure by mow Ping knows he has no chance of winning the presidential race. His announcement came a day after former police officer Mancao said he will re-affirm the contents of his affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice earlier this year. Ping has been linked by Mancao to the twin murders of PR Man Bubby Dacer and his driver Manuel Corbito,

Lacson is not the type to give up his ambitions just like that. Ny take is that Lacson is spooked out of his wits with the reopening of the Dacer-Corbito double murders. After all, Glen Dumlao will soon be returning home, presumably to do another Mancao. And he has reason to be nervous. Mancao and Dumlao where once members of Lacson's inner circle.

So that's one down, many more to go in the bid for the presidency in 2010. God help us all.

Tamano's move to Villar camp a welcome development

The move of Atty. Adel Tamano from Erap to Villar's camp is indeed a welcome development. Tamano's wit and intelligence is wasted with the opposition. Erap himself said that Tamano was not with the executive committee of the opposition and is "no loss" to their camp. This shows wishful thinking on Erap's part. Tamano is a big loss to the opposition. They have lost not just a spokesperson but great legal mind. I doubt if Erap can find a suitable replacement.

It seems that many people are jumping from Erap's jeep and jumping onto Villar's horse, which has a better-than-average chance of snagging the top post. Erap is hell bent on returning to Malacanang, although many are saying that he no longer has the power or even the clout to do so.

Tamano will be an asset to Villar's camp, if only the good senator has the foresight to put Tamano to good use. Kudos Villar, Sorry na lang Erap.

A Filipino 'foreigner' in Manila

My Dear Friend Jake Aguilar's Article on Philstar.com
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Outside Looking In By Jerick Aguilar Updated March 25, 2009 12:12 AM

When I called one of my closest friends upon arrival in the Philippines last month, he suggested -- soon after we scheduled a rendezvous to catch up on each other's lives-- that I sign up for one of Carlos Celdran’s “Walk This Way” tours. He said he has joined the “If These Walls Could Talk” tour (a walking tour of historic Intramuros) and he just loved it. Carlos, he said, is an animated tour guide with an unconventional and, oftentimes, comical way of narrating historical and other anecdotal information.

My friend’s father is a Professor of History at the University of the Philippines and he is into history himself, yet he also mentioned to me how he learned new things from Carlos during the tour (and enjoyed other things as well).

At first, I wasn’t interested at all. Whenever I travel outside the Philippines, I am usually on a budget and would rather spend the money on souvenirs and postcards. I oftentimes bring good guidebooks as well as bits and pieces of tourist information printed from websites.

Sometimes, I pretend to be part of a tour group and listen in to what the tour guide is saying. So I don’t normally want to spend money on something that I can avoid paying or things I can have for free. Also, I have been to Intramuros a couple of times already (to watch a play and attend a friends’ wedding).

But a week before leaving the Philippines for Egypt, the same friend called again to ask me if I'd like to join him in Carlos’ “Downtown Express” tour (a stroll through Binondo and Quiapo). Choosing between saving money and spending more time with him, I chose the latter. Before this tour, I believe I had only been to Binondo twice or thrice as a child, so I surmised it would be good to see our Chinatown again at the age of 33.

As for Quiapo, it induces childhood memories of going to Quiapo Church with my parents (with me standing on top of the pew during the Mass). So I told myself why not visit this place once more. Given my initial refusal (or make that, stinginess), these three reasons justified my signing up for the tour.

The walking tour started at exactly 3 p.m. and, as usual, I was late. For some reason, I thought it was “Filipino time” that is always at work anywhere (i.e. an extra 30 minutes or more) but I realized this is not true. While in a taxi going to the meeting place, I saw a group of tourists pass by with my friend among them. I immediately asked the driver to drop me right there and then, paid my exact fare (I said I am stingy), and tried to catch up with them. They just came from Plaza Ruiz, and sure enough, they were following Carlos inside an old building. Here, Carlos recounted how some of the Chinese people at that time “hispanized” themselves to become integrated in the Spanish-colonized Manila.

True enough again, my friend was right about Carlos. He is not your typical tour guide. Maybe it's because of his theater background, but I think it was his enthusiasm, sense of humor, and pizzazz when talking about our history that really attracted me to his tour and gave my full attention to it. He even had props to add more authenticity to his words -- a plate of china hidden in his sling bag that he showed us during his pitch on Chinese merchandise and trade, as well as old photos and various illustrations in a binder that he flipped back and forth during the course of the tour.

Not to give the whole tour away, I found myself taking a lot of pictures in every corner that we visited (which I didn’t realize until I started uploading the photos the day after). This is actually what I always do whenever I'm on vacation – in a new country, that is. I remember how travel mates would just leave me behind because I stay in a place longer than usual – a third of the time enjoying the sights and two-thirds of it using up my digital camera’s memory and battery. And so my friend and I were left behind by the group but Carlos patiently waited for us to catch up with them before he started his next spiel.

If I'm traveling, I usually spend a significant amount of time in local shops, splurging money I saved up by not paying for an organized tour. Since I already paid for the "Downtown Express" tour, I told myself that I should not go shopping instead. That's what I thought because I wasn't able to resist buying several flavors of “hopia” (Chinese pastry) in Ongpin Street; sampaguita essence at the Evangelista Herbalist Market to use as massage oil in lieu of the usual lotion or powder (and I was even thinking of buying “gayuma” or love potion); and candles of different colors representing different wishes beside Quiapo Church. I even spent some money to have my tarot read! (And one of the cards said I'm going to find true love soon – so there's really no need to buy that potion!) In short, I never expected do the "touristy" stuff in my own country.

Overall, I really enjoyed the tour. I had three reasons signing up, and another three for appreciating it – my friend, Carlos, and a new appreciation for Manila. At the end of the tour, Carlos said, “If you cannot change the way Manila looks, you can always change the way you look at Manila.” And of course I did.

I used to hate Manila, especially after coming home to the Philippines after my first overseas trip to Australia when I was 19. I didn’t like the chaos, the noise, and the pollution. But after this tour, I see “life” instead of chaos and hear “survival” instead of noise. (Sorry but I still see the city as very polluted.) By life, I refer to the busy activity in Manila’s streets where it is never boring as there is always something happening; and by survival, I mean jeepney drivers beeping their horns and vendors shouting their wares to passersby struggling to make a living.

My only concern is that my friend and I were the only Filipinos in the group. The rest of them were of other nationalities. Our Social Science teachers have always told us in grade school: “Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan (Don’t be a foreigner in your own country).” I guess, on one hand, most of us are since we don’t know a lot about our history, culture, and heritage. On the other hand, most of us should be "foreigners" in our own country, joining tours, being curious about people and places, and changing our view of a city and gaining a better perspective of the place and of life than the last time we visited it.

Paranoia

This word would make a great title for a movie (meron na ba?). Just a few days ago i was reading in gmanews.tv the news report that Mancao is willing to be extradited back to the Philippines to shed light on the death of PR Man Bubby Dacer. Mancao, mind you, has not mentioned any name yet when lo and behold, Panfilo Lacson called a press conference saying he is afraid that the present government will use Mancao to pin him as the mastermind in the
Dacer-Corbito double slay. Wow! Talk about paranoia! Ping, who was mum about the entire slay case for so many years suddenly speaks his mind. Could it be that there is another reason why he is suddenly reacting to Mancao's exteadition? Could there be a deeper reason behind this paranoia OTHER THAN an allevged plot by the GMA government to pin him to the crime? Hmmm.... fishy-fishy.... I am suddenly reminded of Bart Simpson: "I didn't do it... nobody saw me do it.. you can't prove anything". The last sentence and the rest of the bolg are not necesarily related ha. :D

Farewell, Francis M.

An inspiration to many, Francis M. bade his fans goodbye around twelve noon today. Francis led a very colorful life and he will sorely be missed by the many people who have been inspired by him. I usually watch Eat Bulaga every day with my sister but i failed to watch it today for some reason. When i got the text message that he passed away, i thought it was just a hoax but it was confirmed by a radio report over DZBB this afternoon. Goodbye, Francis. Though your passing will surely leave many with cold summer nights, we will never forget you as a true blue Pinoy who has served the Filipino people well through your music.

Lakas ng kabataan
inspirasyon sa karamihan
pumanaw man ang katawan
di ka mawawala sa aming isipan.
Paalam.