So the rumors are afloat.

"At $100, they would make excellent penetration into the flash market," said Ross Rubin, an analyst with eMarketer in New York City. "If the rumors are true about mini-iPods, it's a great opportunity for them to extend their brand toward a more-affordable player. Apple hasn't been the value leader in digital music. They've been the high-end. But they have stolen the category away from the Rio brand."

Or, what about this?

The authors begin by describing what patterns are and how they can help you design object-oriented software. They then go on to systematically name, explain, evaluate, and catalog recurring designs in object-oriented systems. With Design Patterns as your guide, you will learn how these important patterns fit into the software development process, and how you can leverage them to solve your own design problems most efficiently.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Willie R gets a red card and is sent packing by ABS-CBN officials: known for his potty mouth and classless jokes, Willie wished a co-host to "finally lose her virginity" on her birthday. End of the line apparently, and now the rest of us await if the suddenly unemployed Revillame, also popular for giving away millions of pesos in Pera o Bayong, will run for office next year.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:16 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Aaah, the year that was: Kris and Joey, Ruffa gets hitched and the New Golden Age of the Filipino Bold Star. Dolly Carvajal has some quotes (not all funny, most interesting) that helps you look back at the year that was. This year promises to be a good one, what with Lito Lapid running for Senator and FPJ becoming the next Philippine president.

Maui Taylor: "I feel like I've exposed every part of my body already, and yet I still don't have enough money. Something's gotta give."

Alma Moreno: (On Kris Aquino and Alma's ex-husband, Joey Marquez): "Why drag me into their mess? Isn't it enough that they're together?"

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:10 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

From the CNN interview last night.

As you know, this country is a Third World and it's a very poor country. It has no economy whatsoever. And what little bit of economy it does have is based upon working in the Middle East and in other countries. So you're talking about a country here that's suffering. People are starving, homeless people, overpopulated, you name it. And corruption is at its highest level.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 09:43 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

While a weblog discussion goes on about the movie, I wanted to put in my two cents worth. Actually, two degrees worth is more accurate. As it turns out, a friend of mine worked with a photographer who worked as a photographer for Coppola during the filming of the movie. Apparently, he looked so much like Martin Sheen that at one point he was asked to double for him.

That's about as much as I have on this matter. Back with regularly blogging soon.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 06:21 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Staying over in VA and tagging along in shopping trips upon shopping trips. Did a LOTR marathon on Christmas Day. Wondered how friends and family -- and people whose lives I feel I've touched, and those who have moved mine -- are doing and celebrating their holidays. I remember seeing tailights fade off US 28 and wondered how many people who have moved on from where I am can still turn around and see me over their shoulder.

Best to everyone!

P.S. Yes, Ruffa, that goes for you too.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Ohmygod-ohmygod-ohmygod.

The movie is expected to be the first of five films based on Lewis' seven Chronicles of Narnia books, to which Walden holds the film rights.

And I was just getting really sad that LOTR was now over. Could be I now have reason to continue living.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 10:24 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

What's the point of writing something about ROTK? Everyone knows it's a great one, without even having seen it. But, it's too good to not blog about. And what's the point of seeing ROTK without getting the chance to say: so I just saw the best movie ever made?

Okay: I just saw the best movie ever made. No acting awards here, but if you think the Battle at Helm's Deep was aweso-spectacular, then wait til you see the Battle for Middle Earth. Helm's Deep was but a skirmish.

Of course, everyone awaits this great final Battle, and Jackson does not disappoint, almost to the extent that Frodo and Sam's journey is but a distraction, a necessary intermission, because otherwise it would all be just one glorious battle scene after another.

Indeed, the battle for Minas Tirith and across Pelennor Fields (where I was nearly brought to tears seeing Faromir lead his small army to certain death) was to me the single most breathtaking sequence of fictional events committed to film. With armies of Orcs, Haradrim and Easterlings clashing with the forces of Gondor and Rohan (the blonde muscular riders of Rohirrim), the King of Gondor's mighty Ghost Army ala Pirates of the Carribean, Legolas' single-handedly taking down a Mumakil (reminiscent, albeit, of Luke Skywalker taking down an AT-AT Walker) and Eowyn's dont-even-flinch duel with the Witch King (the movie's single most memorable moment -- cheers and applause all around the theater), amidst trolls with large hammers, trebuchets and catapults, horses, axes, arrows, Gandalf working his staff -- I am at a loss for words. This movie is amazing.

There are, fortunately, other memorable moments in the film. Fortunately, I say, because the thing lasts for more than three hours. Like the first two movies, these three hours go by really fast. When Aragorn first unsheaths the sword that would make him King, Eowyn getting busted, lighting the Beacons of Gondor, the Steward of Gondor's chin at the business end of Gandalf's staff, and, perhaps most memorable, Frodo becomes Little Miss Muffet, Sam the man, Merry and Pippin busting the line ahead of everyone else to lead the charge against thousands of orcs.

I was kinda surprised with the giant eagles bit, but, that's in keeping with the book. And Faromir's near-early death was really twisted, almost necrophilia. I'd like to read that part of the book to understand it better.

And, Jackson delivers an ending well worth it, again keeping with the trilogy. Remember, he is ending three movies, so I disagree with those critics who said the epilogue (or epilogues?) was/were too long. These were necessary, but maybe the fades to black throws you off a bit. One more worthy note: never mind the breathtaking scenery and Minas Tirith, the music was splendid!

Having saved a bundle (cheap lotteried tickets from the Graduate Council) we can actually see it again. Jackson has delivered, and he is money in the bank from hereon in.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Lorin Gutierrez-Bektas' dedication's invitation here re-published via Philippine Star.

Included in the article is the complete list of 46, yes 46, Ninongs and Ninangs. There are more stars here than in a Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night.

Among them, luminaries such as Bong Bong Marcos, Nikki Coseteng, Cebu heavyweight Mariquita Yeung, Richard and Lucy Gomez, Alfie Lorenzo, Jinggoy Estrada, Donita Rose, Publisher Aster Amoyo, interior designer Geena Llamanzares, Christopher de Leon, William Gatchalian, and Charlene (sans Aga) Gonzalez-Mulach.

Read Ruffa's interview about her pregnancy and motherhood, among others, here.

Ricky Lo, who writes the column for the Star, reminds us that guests are requested to come in semi-formal attire. I guess I can come in my jeans.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 03:33 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

So, is it true that LOTR ROTK is going to screen January in the Philippines instead of on the worldwide release this December 17? Is the Metro Film Festival pulling this stunt off again, like last time?

If that is true, then to all my peeps in the Philippines: choke on my December 17 7:00 PM tickets to the best movie ever made. (Do that right after I've used them. Word.)

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

When Terminator can be California governor (I read somewhere that California is technically the 6th largest economy in the world), then all these people wanting to be President of the Philippines doesn't look too wacko anymore.

Emphasis on the "doesn't look too" part. There's a man who describes himself as a "messiah" and a "six-star general". He says he's "Ace Diamond Commander Chief on Earth". Big deal, bro, I'm Daddy Divine!

Another more interesting bet says that he would legalize jueteng because it creates jobs, and he would also tax the Catholic Church. Nice idea.

There's a woman on the ballot that claims to be Dubya's fiancee and she wants Loren to be her running mate. Big up girl.

I invite any one of you to share your platform right here at BV. Many of the country's decision-makers and a small but very powerful section of the electorate (namely the apologetic left) read this blog as well.

So, here are the names:

Leopoldo Salud, 47, independent. He is a businessman from Parañaque;

Eddie Gil, 59, Partido Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa, from North Fairview, Quezon City;

Ricardo Tañac, 59, independent from Malate;

Antolin Garcia, 74, independent from Sto. Domingo, Albay;

Luisito Bacani, 72, independent from Angeles City;

Naha Nan, independent from Bohol;

Victor Paul Monteverde, 71 from Marikina;

German Valladares, 61, independent from Silay City;

Salve Ruiz-Bush, "United Opposition," from Negros Occidental;

Bartolome Padilla, 70, "Politics Party" from Pangasinan;

Alfonso Selmar, 36, independent from Davao;

Daniel Magtira of the Partido ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

Florian Alvarez from Zamboanga City; and

Beatriz Rama-Bellarosa.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Saddam is found, Ople is lost. But Nino's suspected killers still untried.

A very good friend of mine was right next to Nino when he was shot and killed. The perpetrators, as she said, can only be called "hard goons" -- men who are armed AND dangerous. The notion that these are for-hire henchmen sent out by a rival fraternity has been bounced around time and again. I don't know where that has gone, but what we do know was that they meant not just to ruffle his feathers, but to kill him.

In sworn statements made by witnesses, it was disclosed that prior to the incident, some people actually talked to the three suspected assailants.

According to Rina Sartin, a photocopier operator at the AS 101 Palma Hall, she noticed three men who appeared to be looking for someone. They were Resurreccion Ranin Jr. and Besmar Al-Baddah Lauppah, bodyguards of Yasser Abbas, another UP student. Sartin knew Abbas and had chatted with him. In fact he had introduced the two as his bodyguards some weeks before the attack.

Yasser Abbas, a member of Sigma Rho fraternity, was allegedly mauled by members of the Scintilla Juris. The killers, it was said, were after Bryan Balogin of the Scintilla Juris, whom Abbas had marked as a “hit." Calinao was simply mistaken for Bryan Balogin.

I hope there will be justice soon.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Tis the season to be nice. So, after countless weeks, Dave's going on Oprah.

"What we're hearing now is that Oprah no longer hates me," Letterman said on Friday's episode of Late Night . "And what we're hearing now and while I'm gratified on the one hand, I'm a little concerned about this--we're hearing that Oprah is actually inviting me to appear on her show."

For her part, Winfrey has insisted that she never hated Letterman, and has always had "a great deal of respect for his talent."

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

While he was sleeping... Ouch. How many people do I know have gotten into trouble with these text messages?!? Just please remember, don't be sentimental: delete them. :-D

She did bring him to the hospital, but she forgot to bring the rest of him!

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Since we're about to have one next year (or are we?), I'm borrowing a few links from Slashdot's discussion on the recently-flaring issue of voting and the computer.

Here are the promises:

Voters will still have to show up to cast their ballots at polling precincts on May 10. But by doing away with the cumbersome manual count, the new system is expected to name the winning president within 30 hours instead of after several days or weeks as before. 

The government has awarded contracts worth three billion pesos for hardware, software and satellite links to register voters, count ballots and bounce official returns to the national canvassing centre, election officials said. 

Using computers reduces opportunities to commit fraud although it cannot prevent "the problem of coercion, terrorism and vote-buying," said Benjamin Abalos, head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the official polls watchdog. 

"For the first time only real people can vote. No more birds, no more bees, no more turtles," he said, alluding to previous problems in the rebellion-torn southern Philippines where ballots have been cast by corrupt officials in the name of non-existent voters. 

1. E-voting companies form a trade group to counteract, among other things, possible adverse security in their machines.
2. A blog about electronic election.
3. And, tossing around the idea that the creation of a database can invite others to invade your privacy.
Have the elections ever been this crazy?

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 06:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

I am a closet fashion cop: I like looking at what people are wearing and Joan Rivers them. I can tell you what Nicole Kidman wore last year, and the two years before that. Same goes for Renee Zelwegger and those years when Calista Flockhart was famous. Normally, I reserve these for the Emmys or the Oscars, but last night, I just had to look at this one. WHERE DID HER DRESS (NOT TO MENTION HER DIGNITY) GO?

Place your comments in below.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Swiss lawyer working with the PCGG (which is chaired by Ruben Carranza, former Collegian editor and, oh boy, a toughie at the UAAP debates).

Dr. Sergio Salvioni, who assisted in the recovery of the $683 million, said despite that recovery, the Marcoses remain among the richest people in the world.

“Imelda Marcos remains very, very rich because she can manage to travel around the world and stay in luxury hotels. She cries very easily and painfully but she is only interested in money and power,” said Salvioni in a press conference Wednesday at the PCGG office in Ortigas Center, Pasig.

“It is just the tip of the iceberg [the $683 million]. We are now discussing with Dr. Salvioni how we can recover the remaining Marcos deposits in Switzerland,” said PCGG commissioner Vyva Aguirre.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:05 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Raising Php 45 million, an ABS-CBN telethon gets a call from Yoko Ono, who pledges Php 5.4 million (U$10,000). That's great stuff.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

The snow has turned to ice. It's treacherous walking outside. That day, I ended up staying inside and cleaning our bathroom and vacuuming the apartment. And learning how to use Bit Torrent with my PB.

I haven't been up-to-blog lately, as we've been busy turning the tables on leaving for Manila. We decided to stay and have Christmas here, due to unexpected circumstances. I had to cancel my ticket, and lose a good amount of money for it. So, all you people out there who are expecting nice Christmas gifts this year, well, you'll each get a nice card.

That said, the season is also flu-bogged. After walking around downtown yesterday, I felt weak and fatigued. I was running a slight fever, and I had to lie down. Woke up this morning feeling a bit blah, but emails from my editor meant I had to start working on the next issue pronto. So I filled my mouth with chocolate-covered gummie bears and powered up. I guess I won't be making adobo today.

To ramble on: last week, I had the best cup of cappucino I have ever had: the milk bubbles were the right size and consistency (like warm, underwatered Cerelac), the espresso had the right aroma and, with a touch of hazelnut, the right bittersweetness. The cup was warm, tall and the ear was heavy to the hand. But, what made it perfect was that I made it. Moi. Fo shizzle. I've been neglecting our other, fully-programmable, burr-grinding, multi-featured drip coffeemaker since (that's not easy to do). Now, I can see how being a barista can be so much fun. Anyone coming to Philly, drop by and I'll make you some.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

As twisted as this may sound, this is discrimination. The death row inmates convicted of kidnapping have as much a right to die as the next person, and should not have been prejudiced to die first.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer. But I do know incarcerated people still have rights.

Furthermore, isn't it unconstitutional to say this (or flaky to say the least)?

According to Bunye, the President "agonized for weeks" over her decision because she is "a devout Catholic who is personally against the death penalty on moral grounds."

Needless to say, we should wait to here what the Chinese-Filipino community has to say.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 05:00 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Via GA: this stuff rocks.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

In the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

POLICE rescued businessman Jose Naga from suspected members of the notorious Waray kidnap group in a bloody encounter Friday afternoon.

But despite the string of recent victories, the government is still stepping up its anti-kidnapping campaign by literally calling in the Marines.

Beginning Monday, at least 260 military officers will support regular police units in patrolling and manning checkpoints in crime-prone areas in Metro Manila, the chief of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) told reporters.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:50 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

There's a snow storm coming through Philly today. It's the kind that melts on the ground, which means it won't pile up and keep people from moving around. The whole sight of snowfall brings back memories of upstate New York, where I once stood up to a 15" storm that just kept coming. It made you think what the first settlers up there in Syracuse were thinking. Just walking to the ATM took half an hour, including the time it took to put on and talke off all your winter clothes.

I remember sharing a cig under -12 degree wind chill with two good buddies, long dropped out of my contact list. As the snow kept putting the light out, us out-of-towners soon figured out why they called it Siberia-cuse. Nothing a good cup of Barney's German Dark won't cure. Despite all the snow, that was a good winter.

Stuff's still coming down.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 10:30 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

GMA lifts moratorium on executions.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 06:56 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

This is an open letter to Richard Gordon, who is playing up ideas on how to put the Philippines back on the tourism map.

As far as I know, this is half my original idea (based on this one): every year, around December, we close out Ayala and Makati Avenue (like we did during the Millenium Eve) fill the streets with benches and chairs and have local brewers serve coffee to thousands for free setting the record for the World's Largest Coffee Break.

The World's Larges Coffee Break. Mmmm...

If not Makati, then Baguio. But that's going to take more work. Anyway, sponsors like Nescafe and Figaro can get in part of the action, and so can Coffeemate. Milk producers too. In about an hour, so many cups of coffee (and countless crumpets, rolls and doughnuts) will be served (the pastries aren't free) in front of the media and a rep from the Guiness Book of World Records that people will be shaking on their way back to their cubicles. Even bigger: get Martin Nievera to sing a few tunes while we sip. CNN will cover too.

This will also singlehandedly put the Philippines back on the map as a coffee-producing country. We once were, back in the 1800's, until a blight wiped out entire crops, and we haven't recovered since. Though over-produced, coffee beans is a high-value commodity, with major producers attaining profit margins of up to 26%, and such an event will help us get up a notch or two on this list.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Carrying on with my brother's observations, I agree that there was a conscious effort to portray Jollibee as Filipino: that was obviously what spurred interest in it in the first place.

(First of all, both businesses operating in the Philippines are owned by Filipino-Chinese businessmen.)

Remember, Pinoys don't eat fries and hamburgers, but McDonalds', spending oodles in advertising and building stores on every commercial block helped stoke the interest of Filipinos in fast food. Around this time, most shopping malls were just barely the size of a basketball courts.

Enter Jollibee, which, admits one of their pioneers, "piggybacked" on the growth of the market, but accidentally stumbled on a two key discriminating factors that spurred it's success, and sustains it to its day: one is that it is Filipino, and was conspicuously so. While the McDonald's folk took your order in complete English, Jollibee greeted customers with a "Magandang Umaga!". The folks at Jollibee figured out what McDonald's should have known from the start: fries and hamburgers, just like anywhere, is a mass sell. So appeal to that taste. Which segues nicely to the taste factor: more sugar, more Filipino. Outside of signature items like Pancit Palabok, and today's absurdly popular Shanghai Rolls, Jollibee puts the Filipino pallette on the griddle. A McDonald's executive back in 1995 went so far as to say that if they (McDonald's) added one tablespoon of sugar to every burger they make, they'd be just as popular as the Bee. With Jollibee's size, they can all but make a few cents on a some of their items (like Wal-Mart), and still make a profit, consequently drawing their competitor into a price war that Jollibee seldom loses. All things equal, which is just about where it is now, taste is what makes Jollibee number one.

How bad is the "trouncing"? By 2001, Jollibee was outselling McDonald's 4:1. A friend who works as an area manager for Jollibee (no not Ziegler) says that the busiest store (Guadalupe) grosses nearly half a million pesos a day. At an average of receipt of 42 that's more than 11,000 visitors. She says on any given time of the day, no seat is vacant.

Not so fast. There are two more things that boosted Jollibee sales. This is pure conjecture on my part, btw. One is that during the time Jollibee and McDonald's were neck to neck, we were kicking the U.S. bases out of Clark and Subic. There is an unmeasured backlash on the Big Mac, beginning with the fact that they even recycled advertisements from the U.S. to show on local media (the nerve!). A colleague who used to work at McDonald's (head office, not the kitchen) said that it was unremarkable for McDonald's to portray themselves as a popular U.S. import. Colonial mentality, as they say back then, was waning. Soon, McDonald's took in Dolphy and Richard Gomez (who used to work at McDo, stressing that McDonald's was cleaner), but all was too late.

At that time, there was another key ingredient (again pure conjecture). Purposely hiring students from Maryknoll, La Salle, Assumption, Ateneo and St. Scholastica as parttime cashiers did a few things to McDonalds: it prettied up their store, and it did nothing for sales except alienate the average Pinoy who just wants a hamburger. That said, I really didn't mind, but I could clearly see why others would.

All told, time and again, Jollibee has innovated and set the standards for fastfood excellence in the Philippines. When they started losing ground to KFC (Filipinos love their fried chicken), they offered their own (Chickenjoy), and it was a hit. (They tried boneless bangus, but I heard the demand for it was so high, they had to kill the product because they were always out of stock!) What McDonald's in the Philippines learned is that they need to adapt themselves to the local culture, and more importantly, never market themselves as a U.S. product (unfortunately, despite all their efforts, they are often seen as THE American icon and are made targets of anti-anything american almost anywhere). Thus, McPao and McSushi. I heard there was a McSamosa but that would be a lie now would it?

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Yes, Orlando Bloom is prettier than the average woman as Legolas. Here's a real unflattering view, with knickers, of the man we dare say is one blonde bombshell.

(Note that I have something against women liking Legolas too much. Eww, eww, eww,)

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

This is just me needing some anger management: what part of "separation" did you not understand? I have to be cynical about this, but it is precisely why it's called Divine Intervention: it is unwarranted, certainly unanticipated, but most often welcome.

If it wasn't for Namfrel, they say, Marcos would have remained president. I agree. But isn't it time we realize that WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER is a better option? For such a small country, why do we belligerently seek out each other's faults and sins, only to stall governance, in the guise of a holy crusade.

Okay, I'm getting carried away here. My point, albeit unsubstantiated, is this: the Philippines is helpless as a nation. It will never become developed without some unhappy perversion of democracy, freedom and prosperity. There is no Great Philippine Dream. There is no hope. Our children know it.

For this generation, there will be no freedom from poverty, crime, pollution, graft, illiteracy or oppression. The reason why is that we do not know how to go about the business of our nation and of surviving in our country without these evils. Simply put: we've forgotten how to be good people.

No God, working in mysterious ways or otherwise, can undo what centuries of intolerance, infighting, marginalism, greed and snobbery has done to our national psyche, our values, our discipline, our self-worth. I believe that with my whole heart. We have never been united under one nation, unlike Japan, Malaysia Thailand or China. We're like Indonesia -- ethnicities and ideals strung together by duct tape. We act like immigrants to our own country. The fact that several people, from actors to news anchors, believe that they "have heard the people" and can run the country is a shameless admission that we as a nation do not know what the hell we are doing. There are things to be proud of, only if we compare ourselves to countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan or Cambodia. We do not have a sworn enemy: not terrorists, not kidnappers, not criminals. Our greatest enemy is our own poor often wicked governance, and we only have ourselves to blame. Our chief export is our people: people who can stay and make a difference in the country, but instead leave. If they could take their family with them, then they would, and they're lost forever. We don't even have heroes. I think it's because we don't like others being better than us.

When you fly into NAIA, you realize how small our country is. It's a few islands, collectively the size of Nevada. Yet somehow we managed to mess it up. In my lifetime, I will do what I will can to show my children and others that hope never fades. I have to make them believe that some day we will make it.

But until then, let me take my first point back: our last hope IS divine intervention. Keep praying, dear bishops. Otherwise, us voters are all alone.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Via Memepool: The Programmer versus Serial Killer Quiz. (requires Flash)

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 10:41 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Some few line reviews:

The Mission: Saw it years ago, and now it's still as moving, with Ennio Morricone's undying compositions painting the background. The "battle scene" at the end seems thin and wanting in the age of Helm's Deep, Gladiator and even The Last of the Mohicans, but this isn't a sci-fi action fantasy. While the bodycount may be low and the action simplistic, the sum of all that was lost rang truly tremendous: the mission was not meant to be.

Terminator 3: The Governator's campaign movie might have bombed at the box office and put critics to sleep, but I kinda liked it, especially the ending: I'm a big fan of depressing endings (see above). Claire Danes deserves the two-bit part, which she plays so two-bit well.

Bend It Like Beckham: Ahh, football. Ahh, Kiera Knightley. Ahh, girls in sports bras. This is movie has lots of laughs, with the poignant, almost silly, British humor tap-dancing across the dialogue. Straddling the ropes of The Karate Kid and Four Wedding and a Funeral (I was waiting for Mr. Bean's cameo) Bend It gets you liking the leads and egging them on, and includes a male romantic lead who is too pretty for either one of them. "There's a reason why Sporty Spice is the only one without a fellow."

Pirates of the Carribean, Curse of the Black Pearl: Ahh, pirates. Ahh, Kiera Knightley. Best movie I saw this year, although that will be undone when The Return of the King comes in. Who knew that the Amidala decoy could take the lead?

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 09:39 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

My grandfather, who dedicated a big chunk of his life to social welfare, taught us not to give to people begging on the streets. It only encourages them to stay and ask for more. And they never find their way to centers setup by the DSWD to help them.

Recently, we've been handing off leftovers -- better than money I guess.

This year, the DSWD is asking folks not to give for fear that the roads will be crammed with streetchildren who risk their lives on the roads of Metro Manila.

If you're thinking of giving, give to Caritas or the Red Cross. Better there than while you wait for the light to turn green.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 11:28 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

Well, they seem to be leaning towards that, at least.

Loste added that all signs indicate that Poe, whom he described as the perfect choice of the common tao, is running for the highest position in the land.

“Besides, FPJ was never involved in anomalies, which have political colors even he is the best friend of deposed President Joseph Estrada,” he said.

Bayan Muna played critical role in the EDSA 2, a popular military-backed people’s uprising that toppled the Estrada administration and paved the way for the assumption in Malacañang of President Arroyo.

Last week, Loste said that the 2.9 million BayanMuna members nationwide would dismiss Mrs. Arroyo in next year’s polls.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 02:21 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are interesting to me, because as we know, there are known unknowns; there things we know we know," Rumsfeld told the briefing.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 02:04 PM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon

I'm not about to blog about Thanksgiving, and about how much food was going around. But I will say this: There was a truckload of food, and I tried my best not to binge, but the cranberry cheesecake (from Costco, where else?) was too good not to have seconds on.

While I was away from my blogsphere, the Presidential race heated up, 7 Foot Junior won for Best Video, Ruffa is back in town, GMA wants to move the entire Department of Agriculture to Mindanao (where, who knows), bullets are fired at 6750, Mark did something to his blog, and the peso hit an all time low. And every now and then, I try to think about how much FPJ knows about running a country, sending shivers up my spine.

I did learn a few things over the weekend: I learned how to make cappucino, which means I can do espresso too. I learned the way to the nearest outlet malls and that, at the end of the day, Ross has better prices hands down, but you won't find a merino wool sweater there. And, while I'm a proud passenger of the Dragon bus from NYC to DC (at 21 bucks a pop), Andrea showed everyone the way to bus to Boston: the 69 buck LimoLiner. (Nice PB, Andrea!)

Also, something I have known for a while was also impressed upon me once again over the weekend: women believe that they have enough closet space for 80 pairs of shoes.

Posted by Bulletproofvest at 10:17 AM | Permalink
del.icio.us Digg it Furl ma.gnolia Newsvine reddit Google StumbleUpon