I Raise My Fist and Join One Billion Rising

"No uprising fails. Each one is a step in the right direction"
Salud Algabre (Generalla, Sakdalista Movement), 1970

Let us join the global movement to end violence against women.
One Billion Rising calls on all women (and the men who love them) from all over to world, to come together on February 14, 2013, to rise, raise their fist in one voice, and dance...until the violence stops.

Boring day at the office

Created by Oatmeal

Changing Times

The internet has made the world such a small place that I am somehow struck dumb by the seemingly simultaneous events happening all over the world -- from Egypt's turmoil and bloodshed to Chicago's blankets of snow. For one who grew up getting stale news over RPN9 (way back when the Marcoses were 'omniscient'), it is at once novel and exhilarating. Yes, in many ways, the times have changed...although there are many things that have remained entrenched in Philippine society (just like the institutionalized corruption that has been hogging local news lately). I do hope that because it has been getting harder and harder to keep 'things' under wraps, more and more of relevant truths will find their way into the ears and eyes of more people. As they say, the truth shall set us free.

Wedding Videos and Pre-Nuptial Photoshoots

Regine and Ogie Alcasid's wedding vid has been going around Facebook and all those other social networking sites that Filipinos have been frequenting. I finally got around to looking at it today (after trying to ignore it for weeks since their wedding).

Well. That's how expensive weddings can get these days. Prenup photoshoots, On-the-day MTV of the wedding --- add all that to the usual expenses of dress, rings, food, vehicle...

Got only a few words to say then.

Here's to simple weddings.

HR 1109 belongs to the dung heap

Like a horde of mountain trolls wielding a battering ram through the locked gates of Minas Tirith, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives rammed and crushed all objections to House Resolution 1109. In a nightmare that started as the setting sun was about to rest beneath the dark clouds and ended just before midnight and the country was shrouded in darkness, the resolution setting up a constituent assembly was passed.

The country needs change. The constitution needs change. But definitely not at this time. And not from the hands of a group of trolls with thick hides masquerading as congressmen from the majority who think nothing of using their money, power and influence for their selfish interests. And who else but GMA herself will benefit the most from this.Now anything is possible for her.

Who can still believe in democracy at this display of willful railroading by so-called representatives of the people?

HR1109 belongs to the dung heap, together with all those ugly mountain trolls.

Hi-tech Crime via Your Home PC

Recently, BBC showed just how at risk PCs are of being taken over by hackers. Hijacked home PCs are being used by hackers to send out millions of spam e-mails. In a special broadcast last March 14, BBC demonstrated how this is done.

Hackers use slave home PCs to bombard its target website with requests for access to make it inaccessible.High-traffic websites with big revenues are a "massive target" for this. Hackers can 'disable' a website and cause it to exceed its bandwith. According to the BBC, these high-trafic websites end up paying "ransom" money to hackers so that they would stop their attacks.

We have to make necessary steps to ensure that our home PCs don't become hackers' "toys". There are no visible signs that our PC is being controlled by someone else, we really can't tell. Our PCs can be compromised by visiting an infected web page or by opening an e-mail containing a virus as an attachment. Protection systems really need to be switched on and kept updated all the time to prevent being taken over by these cyber-criminals.

Tribute to women

International Women's Day, celebrated during March 8, is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday.

When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

This is a day when ordinary women are remembered as part of those who made history. It is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.

As a tribute to all the women in my life, I will share this poem written by Lilia Quindoza Santiago (with my own translation in English --I hope it suffices):

Isang Tugon kay Elynia: Ang Pagiging Babae [In Response to Elynia: On Being a Woman

Ayaw kong isumpa ang pagiging babae I don't want to curse my being a woman
Sa panahong ito, kabarong makata, during these times, co-poetess
Kahit pa sugatan ang lahat ng sulok though wounds scar each and every corner
Ng puso ko't kaluluwa. of my heart and soul.
Ayaw kong isuko ang kayariang I don't want to give-up the identity
Ako rin ang bumubuo. that I myself carved.
Di ko ipamimigay I will not give away
Ang mumunting butil ng diwang even a small grain of consciousness
Ako rin ang bumubuhay. that I myself gave birth to.

Totoong "kasumpa-sumpa True, "to be a woman in this time of war is
ang maging babae sa panahong ito" to be cursed"
Kung panatag nating aakuin If we peacefully accept
Ang hinulmang pagkatao the image that was carved for us
Sa mga nagdaang siglo through the past centuries
Nang walang pagtangi sa sarili without arguing for our own identity
O walang pagsalungat sa pang-aapi. or without fighting against oppression.

Ngunit sa ganang akin But in my opinion,
Ang pagkababae'y marami pang kahulugan being a woman has many more meanings
Bukod sa pagtutol sa kostumbre't kaugalian than contradicting norms and customs
Ang pagiging babae'y pagkatha being a woman is creating
Ng mga tulang di pa nalilikha; poetry that has never been created;
Ang pagiging babae'y pag-awit being a woman means singing
Ng di pa naririnig songs that have never been heard
Ang pagiging babae'y pagtuklas being a woman means discovering
Ng daigdig na di pa natutuklasan, a world undiscovered as yet,
Ang pagiging babae'y paghubog being a woman means molding
Ng mundong di pa nabubuo a world not yet fully formed
Ang pagiging babae'y pagluwal being a woman means giving forth
Ng buhay na di pa nararanasan. a life that has not yet been experienced.

Ngunit higit sa lahat, ang pagiging babae'y But most of all, being a woman is
Higit pa sa lahat ng ito more than all of these
Na tayong kababaihan lamang bilang tao That only us women as people
Ang tanging makakatanto. can truly understand. ]

Questions on the Safety of the BNPP

This is the final portion of Rey Azurin's article, "Misrepresenting Science." I really hope we move from being mere readers and onlookers to being part of history - making a stand and choosing to be decent human beings who know when to say "stop!".

Support the campaign in opposing the recommissioning and operation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Sign the online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/no2bnppr/petition.html and join the Network Opposed to the BNPP by emailing notobnpprevival@gmail.com.


(last part of "Misrepresenting Science")

Dr. Rodolfo further stresses that none of the "top geologists" with an intimate knowledge of Bataan has called Napot Point "safe." As an example, he cites Dr. Ronnie Torres, formerly with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and now at the University of Hawaii, who warned of volcanism and faulting at the site in 1992: "Natib volcano does not erupt very often but could still erupt." Says Dr. Rodolfo, "as a rough rule of thumb, the longer a volcano is in repose, the more time it has to store eruptive energy".

"In short," charges Dr. Rodolfo, "our science is being abused by a person in governmental authority, either deliberately or out of sheer geological ignorance." That's heavy.

Beyond geological considerations, there are other issues related to nuclear power in general and the BNPP in particular. These include the risks of operational accidents, the high toxicity of materials handled, the stringent measures required to avoid radiation contamination of surrounding communities, the danger of radioactive material being stolen and used by terrorist elements, and the lack of a satisfactory solution for the final disposal of the tons of radioactive waste created. All these are compounded by the absence of a safety culture and the presence of a corruption culture in the country.

Obviously, serious questions on this matter need to be considered. But for us the public, the question we must first answer is, whose answers should we listen to? Those who represent science, or those who misrepresent it? Scientists or politicians? Well, what do we want the answer to 2 plus 2 to be?

Plans to revive the BNPP are on a roll!

Earlier, I posted part of the article "Misrepresenting Science" that was emailed to me by my friend, Natalie. Rep. Mark Cojuangco's plans for reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Powered Plant are clearly on a roll - such that he feted his fellow Representatives on a grand tour of the mammoth building (and did such a good job 'selling' the revival plans that he reportedly got their support!). Today, I am posting the continuation of the article. Read the real scientific analysis from senior geologists and scientists who are against the revival of the BNPP.

(continuation of the article "Misrepresenting Science" by Rene B. Azurin)

For now, let's focus on the science. Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo, professor emeritus of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Illinois at Chicago and a balik-scientist who now teaches at the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, says that those who are trying to justify the activation of the BNPP have been guilty of "abusing scientific data." In particular, he says that Mr. Cojuangco is "dangerously misrepresenting" the scientific data contained in a paper authored by Dr. Joan Cabato, Dr. Fernando Siringan, and himself and in another written by Dr. Ernesto Sonido and Mr. Jesse Umbal, both on the geology of the BNPP site.

Dr. Rodolfo says that they were "dismayed to find that the explanatory note to the bill cites our work as certifying the safety of the Bataan nuclear plant site." He quotes from said note: "Top geologists have evaluated Bataan and, with the exception of Mt. Natib which is a dormant volcano whose last eruption was estimated to have been between 11.3 [and] 18 thousand years ago (Cabato et al. 2005) and which is ten kilometers (10 km) from the BNPP, could find no anomalies in locating the plant there."

Dr. Rodolfo takes vigorous issue with Mr. Cojuangco's statements and says, first, that "the BNPP is not 10 kilometers away from Natib, it is on Natib, which constitutes the entire northern half of the Bataan peninsula." Next, he says that they did not estimate the age of Mt. Natib's last eruption in their paper. What he says they actually wrote was:

"A breach in the caldera of Mt. Natib is the most likely source of a presumed pyroclastic deposit in the eastern bay that is associated with sediments about 11,300 to 18,000 years ago, indicating that a Natib eruption occurred much more recently than previously documented for this volcano." Finally, further quoting from their paper, he says that ".the youngest [faults] show that movements occurred about every 2,000 years, most recently about 3,000 years ago." Thus, concludes Dr. Rodolfo, "judging from the geologic evidence, Subic Bay is well overdue for an episode of faulting and earthquakes."

As pointed out by Dr. Rodolfo, an exhaustive analysis of the geology and geohazards of the Subic Bay area was made by Dr. Ernesto Sonido, formerly geophysics professor of the National Institute of Geological Sciences at UP, and Mr. Jesse Umbal, who obtained his masters' degree at the University of Illinois and worked with Dr. Rodolfo during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. In their paper, Dr. Sonido and Mr. Umbal adjudged Natib as "potentially active." They found Mt. Natib, like Mt. Pinatubo, to be a "caldera-forming" volcano, a type which (Dr. Rodolfo says), "characteristically, have very powerful eruptions separated by long repose periods." The Sonido-Umbal study "documented two Natib eruptions that formed large calderas and estimated the recurrence period for earthquakes of Magnitude 6.4 to 7.0 at 22 years; of Magnitude 7.0 to 7.3 at 59 years; and of Magnitude 7.3 to 8.2 at 157 years."

(to be continued on the next post...)

Revive the BNPP? Scary foolishness...

I am reprinting here an article emailed to me by my friend, Natalie, regarding the BNPP (Bataan Nuclear Powered Plant). The plans to revive this mothballed, ghastly expensive, potentially destructive power plant are clear machinations of people who think they can hoodwink the whole country into calmly accepting their plans. I hope this article will enlighten those who are unfamiliar with the issue and will help explain what will happen if we just stand by and do not take sides.

Strategic Perspective

By Rene B. Azurin
Misrepresenting science

Know the difference between a scientist and a politician? Ask a scientist "what is 2 plus 2?" and the scientist unhesitatingly answers "4." Ask a politician "what is 2 plus 2?" and the politician furtively looks around, leans closer conspiratorially, then whispers out of the side of his mouth, "what do you want it to be?" OK, OK, that's an old joke, but maybe we should keep it in mind when we hear a politician assuring one and all that the operation of the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is perfectly safe.

The proponent of House Bill 4631 ("Mandating the immediate re-commissioning and commercial operation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant") in the House of Representatives, Rep. Mark Cojuangco, has been assuring all and sundry that the operation of the mothballed nuclear plant is completely safe, saying that he "would even take up residence in Morong (the town near where the plant is located) to prove that there was no danger in operating the facility." He did not say how this could constitute such proof.

Anyway, last week, Mr. Cojuangco was reported to have taken a group of his House colleagues on an inspection tour of the Westinghouse-built 619 MW plant "to show that it was still in good condition." Apparently, Mr. Cojuangco also served his colleagues some "scientific data" on the geology of the location plus a lecture on radiation levels and nuclear technology. Reportedly, 190 of his colleagues have already agreed to support his bill.

Let us set aside — for now — the fact that Mr. Cojuangco is the son of the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, a conglomerate that has expressed interest in taking over the BNPP as part of its strategic diversification into the power business. San Miguel, it will be recalled, has also recently acquired major shares in electric power distribution giant Meralco and oil refiner Petron. A big power generation firm fits nicely in the apparent strategic scheme.

(to be continued in my next post)...

A video of Nina Simone

Nina Simone was a gifted singer who wrote poetry and songs, composed music ang played the piano. She sang this song - "Young, Gifted and Black" - which became the 'national anthem' of the blacks during the time of Martin Luther King. I can't help but be amazed at her talent and of how her audience reacts to her singing - simply awesome.

Cold mornings...Warmer days

Cold mornings remind me
of those days from long ago
when cares were free
and life was complicated

when isaw cost 2 pesos
and rice servings were heaping
when blue books were at 1 peso
and the SU was filled with students
when songs were sung till morning
and jeep fare cost 1 peso
when students joined rallies en masse
and filled 70 jeeps to go to Diliman
when flags waved high and red
and "Serve The People" was held with conviction

when hearts burned warm with nationalist fervor
and fists were held up high

The mornings are cold today
and pockets are burned
hearts are fierce
as more knees are weak from hunger
emotions are burning
as a few wallets are burgeoning with wealth

"..with fervor burning..."
fists are held up high.

one more year, one more chance

2009 is here. It's as if time is running at mach speed these days. I feel like I haven't accomplished as much as I wanted to and yet I finished a lot of stuff already..

So the new year is here. One more chance at life. Time to assess, discover and plan what I want to accomplish for 2009.

And to everyone else out there - I wish your 2009 will be filled with life, laughter and lotsa love to pass around and share.

Happy New Year!

5 Reasons why I want to have the New Fujitsu Lifebook T5010 Tablet PC

Here are my top 5 reasons of why I want this Tablet PC...

1. It has a beautiful display. Its screen display, for a Tablet PC, is exceptionally good (just like a real high-definition screen).
2. Its bi-directional hinge. The hinge allows you to turn the screen in either direction (it turns easily, even with just one hand).
3. The spill-resistant keyboard. Yes! I can drink my coffee with no fear!
4. It weighs 4.9 lbs. This means I can match my clothes to my handbag. Yup. Because it can easily fit in any of my handbags and I don't need to worry if the bag can handle it's weight, darling, because it can!
5. I've always been a Fujitsu notebook fan. So...of course I want to have this!!!!

I could stretch this list to reach 10 reasons but - the best reasons are these 5 ones so... 'nuff said.

Lingering Thoughts

Pause a moment
Take some time off and stop awhile
Languidly listen to
The effervescent whisperings of Lady Wind
Chronicles of the years
Vanished and seemingly forgotten
Of boundless terrains and open seas
Nothing and no one owned and everything free
“Forgotten times…” she whispers

Now she knows no boundless space
Foreign and massive bulks have arisen
Hampering Lady Wind’s passage
Strewing waste in her path
“Will no one weep with me?”, wails the sweet lady
Her countenance marred and ashen.

From the depths, several voices rise
Howling and wailing
“What has happened to us?”
Cousin Water blankly stares in murky stillness
Aunt Soil, stark and pale
“Where are the others?”
Cried out young saplings
Missing the stories of long-ago
Looking for Grandpa and Grandma
“Where has everyone gone to run, to crawl, to swim, to fly..?”

She circles round
Heavy…burdened
Listen
Hear her urgent whisper
“Let it not be too late…”
Feel
Her breath hot on your face
“Away with indolence…”
Then
Caressing your hair
Gently murmuring
“Together, we can do much…”


October 15, 2007

ramblings 1

the sun's rays can't get through
to warm my chilled mind.

i am numb.
and almost all will has left me.

when do all the troubles end?

i know.
they do not.

and so i fear.
i fear what may come today. tomorrow.

...we can be happy?
...we can strive and achieve the goals we set?
...there are no bounds to what we can reach?

but happiness is so arbitrary and relative
and so fleeting.
and striving towards goals is not a certainty
that those goals will be achieved.
and possibilities are not limitless
but hampered by who you know and what you know.

and if more troubles come
what then?

tomorrow is a question no one can answer.

a good evening

Last week i watched "Ang Aksidenteng Kamatayan ng Isang Anarkista". It was the Filipino translation of the play written by Dario Fo.

The actors were really great, although the best one was the one who played the part of The Maniac. He certainly got (and kept) my attention. The other actors, although possessing the confidence and talent for stage, in truth, paled before the mastery of the craft that was displayed by this actor.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening. Only two things marred my enjoyment. The first one was having had to watch the play with an audience of college freshmen who hardly understood the Filipino language (I spyed one student who was stealthily peering at her english-tagalog dictionary!). Could they have understood the essence of the play? Anyway that was the second thing that bothered me. The message, like an aftertaste, did not go down pleasantly. The fact that this play, written based on events in Milan in 1969, was translated (and fitted so snugly) into the Philippine language and culture certainly implies that cover-ups, scandals and the like existed and still exists. No amount of grandiose projects, altered economic indicators and high-paid PR agencies can belie the sad and sorry state we are in.

As the Maniac said, "We are already buried neck-deep in garbage. That is why we walk with head held high."

procrastination

oh no!!!
i really should focus on work today.
deadlines!deadlines!deadlines!
..i have to finish everything!!!
today!!!

argghh...
somebody should remind me not to procrastinate..

no.
i should have reminded myself not to procrastinate.
do the tasks at once.

do it now.


i should have those words printed in size 66, times new roman and hung in front of the computer.

patience

the kid has really been teaching me the real meaning of the word patience.
arrgghh...
the "look" has lost its effect.
the kid just smiles at me or just doesn't mind me.
grrr...
hmmm...when this kid gets a little bit older...
hah!
my time will come...doo-bi-doobi-doo-hmmmm

gloomy day

raining again.
why is it that when i plan on posting a few words it turns out to be a rainy day?
hah! does this mean that writing for me is sad and gloomy?
typhoon glenda has really been full of wind and rain, classes have been suspended. again.
so for two days now, the kid here has been running around, giving me a non-stop commentary on what pinky said (her toy bear) and what cuddly is doing (her toy poodle). the kid's supply in the imagination department doesn't seem to be depleted, no matter how much stories she dishes out.
hmm..to be kid once more. bah.
well, just one retort to that.
gloom on.