bagong taon o bagong tao?

do the years change or do the people change?

Happy New Year!

sad christmas...

It seems that I am not the only person in this world that is unhappy with their Christmas...
This year is exceptionally challenging for me and my family. The business going under debt to the point of bankruptcy. My grades in school going down the drain (hehe). Losing some friends. My brothers still being dependent to my mom and dad. Being swamp with things to handle - 2 yearbooks, a committee, a pol'l org, etc. and whatever happened this year is just utterly discouraging and problematic.

Xish..

siege at the manila peninsula: noise? revolution? or just plain BS?

hmmm whatever the answer be, it always end up with a surrender.

Anyway, just to be clear I am not against reforms and the change in the ways of the government. I just do not agree with people having to march along Makati or EDSA for that matter... it is the way they do their ways.

WE must admit that People Power has lost it's steam and (ironically) power. Just look at what happened last Thursday... Sen. Trillanes called for another mass action but not even a hundred showed up!!

After seven hours of standoff... what happened again (which happened in 2003's Oakwood)? a dumb surrender... (Trillanes has something that PMA has not taught, surrender in times of government pressure, zish.)

Why the hell do a takeover of Man. Pen. when you could not even hold yourself up till the end?

I would want to propose something that Sen. Trillanes would be able to use...
Think, strategize well, and go at the right timing. (Senator, didn't PMA teach you that? or were you obsessed on your big allowance while UP students take the brunt of a TOFI)

What's next? plain noise once more? an earth shaking revolt? or another BS act? Ill leave to the people in imperial Manila.

It was a fateful day that ended peacefully. Just a say to those who acted upon our desires for freedom and prosperity.
"Think, Think twice, Think thrice, and go..."

School realy haunts us 2

UP Baguio, classic 100-steps to bureaucracy.

- ID sticker processing:
= make a line at the back door of the registrar's office.
= pay an outrageous 8.00 for just a millimeter of sticker.
= take the line of long proportions at the main library for a stupid signature which could be easily done at the reg office.
= wait until the fat, impatient, inconsiderate, snobbish, bitch librarian to finish her net surfing and extra long coffee or pizza breaks.
= you are fortunate if you reach the insane signing period - 9:00 to 11:30 then 2:00 to 4:30. you are very unfortunate if you dont reach it. get back the next day have the same routine at the library.
= as the sem goes by, the OPAC may get in trouble again and you go back to the
stone age - borrower's card (that's BS!!!)



- BREAK

= whole day. expect extar long hours of break - coffee, pizza, lunch, yosi, and other breaks a UPan could think.

= Excellent EXAMPLE
Enrollment
= Lunch break for enrollment staff from table 1 to 10 - 11:30 to 1:30 What the hell!!! Are these people so lazy that those enrolling students who have to endure hours of standing and waiting in line need to suffer for their self-imposed long lunch breaks?
Most of the time they do not follow this. They have a break when they want to. Most of the time they take the break by 11:15 and come back 2:00. How @*$%&! is that!!!

= STUDENT Break- 1 week or barely 2 weeks for sem breaks. 2 weeks for xmas. nothing for comfort. 7 to 7 classes, etc.


More frustrations to come....

darn school days are back to haunt us all!

it is not that i hate goin to school but it is effin tiring already...
same instructors, same classmates(often irritating), same hypocritic school.

things that makes me shit in my own pants..

- heavy laptop (i regretted buying a 15")

- bureaucratic backlog at enrollments.

- crazy classmates who do not anything but say they are scholars of the land but do not even do a enough effort just to pass. bwisit!

- people who say only their side and forget about what others say about an issue.. they shut down their detractors. /(you know what i mean)

- professors who do see themselves as so superior that their students are a bunch of pea brains. (CAC pipol, you know once more what i mean)

- canteen that serves oily and fatty foods which are deemed cheaper than the good old veggies (ironic though, i.e. 30 - 1 rice + meat; 45 - 1 rice + 1 veggie)

- a school so oppressive that even power outlets for those needing power for laptops (in times of dire need), especially at the library, are turned off deliberately. guards would even scold you... what the? we paid expensive nowadays and you deprive us of the basics? - electricity, h2o, affordable and "worth-it" foods, efficient bureaucracy.

more to come from a frustrated iskolar...

wierd day!

well, it is the day before Halloween and i feel a bit uneasy and at times sleazy.
i just dont know.
here i am on a 2-week sem break and still restless, i just dont know.

the things i have done this day:

- I woke up late and started my day in loose manner.

- I thought the rain would heavily pour down so i brought a black jacket but the
sun shined like hell (you know what i mean).

- I went to my grandparents' and relatives' grave at the forgotten Everlasting
Memorial Park. (pics below)


- I lit candles at the cemetery and i just hated it. not that i hated going there
but the wind tries to give me a headache. As soon as i leave the candles out of
my sight, the would light up but when i look back, they die as if taunting me.

- By the way, the cemetery is down the hill (somewhat) and unfortunately i do not
have the fortunes to have the comforts of a car so i had to go down walking.
And when i was done, i had to walk up till the gate and it is extremely
exhausting.

- I took the jeepney that made my butt say "i want some rocky road..."

- I took the walk up to SM and made my foot sore like it never walked before.

- Im in an internet shop that charged me high (you know what the net shop would
be, the yellow and blue signature?)

- I wanna have some time for fun but i do not have the means to do it. (hmm, need
the following: CASH, a hungry tummy which is not acidic, a wifi connection
thats cheap enough - 100????, lastly, the barkada that always want some free
anythings from my pocket, argh)

- I sent a message to my dad that i wanna go to the hotel but never replied...
a lot of girls there at the moment hmhmhm.


- i dunno what to do today, so thats it at my end....

congrats to my tita cathy!!

sorry tita ngaun lang hehe. dont worry.
no need for words, the pics say it all.

We are very proud of you tita! Another Vistro in the history books.
CATHY VISTRO - YU - 2007 Towns Awardee for Education



ANC interview with my proud tita!
How i'd wished she became my instructor in Math. hehe.
to late for that. I flunked my math subjects before. heh. By the way she has a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Ateneo de Manila University. wow na wow!

Thanks tita for giving the Vistros another reason to celebrate!
God Bless!

PARDON??????!!!

another "what-the-hell" issue.

PGMA is kidding right? Uh, nope.
Im very disappointed with what has happened to our justice system.
You convict a person (regardless of status or history) and later pardon?
Is this political maneuvering? Is this politically motivated? or is this what the President saw "rightful" for the time?

Such questions unanswered. Just the person who pardonned that darn fat-ass "president".
OK sure, he was a former president, 70 + yrs old (Palace policy), extremely rich, and here is a bomb shell - CORRUPT ever since he entered the Palace.

Is it just that easy? for a lot of people, nope it doesnt.
Pardoning a convict would be alright given the right circumstances.
But big time corruption where millions (if not billions) of pesos wasted just for the pocket of this man who has made our country miserable - so so with his platforms. argh!!!!!!!

darn, another mistake.

We never learn.

heat or hit wave?

It is not common place for people to still sweat in a place that is cool and have a rainy "attitude". Well guess what, I sweat alot.
It is heat that makes me hit the ice cold drinks. heh.
Though I love jogging in the morning, I do not normally feel the cool breeze in the morning. Just a few steps on the run and my back is already fu llof sweat, the cool wind has failed my sweaty back again, argh.

Hmmmm, Camp John Hay is good but there seem to be a lack of jogging routes already since they closed off the main entrance near Nevada Square (btw, there is an eco trail at that entrance but it is not advisable for a run because it gets swampy or slippery when it rains or when there are moist mornings). The long stretch from the former main entrance shortened into just less than a couple of kilometers, special mention to the golfers who lazily stroll their greens what kind of sport is that!!! Lastly, Scout Hill is intimidatingly very unfriendly for joggers- houses and log cabins that have made the place like suburban shit.

I have taken a different route. I start off from the military cut-off circle, pass along the south drive, take john hay's 3rd gate, get into loakan road then to leonard wood via north drive (whew), then head towards mines view, exit into camp john hay, lastly take a breather at burnham park or in a coffee shop at session road. hehe just by reading (or in my case, typing) that makes one sweat (as in case of my point).
Whew is whew. (wipe on the face with a hankie)

Anyway, im frustrated. need cool weather or else, im goin to Hobart, Australia. (the land down under's equivalent to baguio but with a bay and beautiful scenery)

chao!!! mother nature please spare us.

segue: sem break excapade to palm grove

Wow, only two weeks of sem break? What the hell? Humph. Take advantage of the disadvantageous sem break.

So together with my peers, we decided to have a party at the Palm Grove Mountain Resort at nangalisan, tuba, benguet. (i suggest have your own ride... you know what i mean.) It is about 40 mins away from Baguio City.

There are four types of pools that you could choose from - some heated some are not, so choose what would be comfortable for you in a warm environment. (It is remarkably hot at that area). The resort's facilities include picnic sheds / tables, gazebos, cottages, rooms, etc. Coffee shop, a refreshment store...

They are quite strict with their swimming policies, so better equip yourself with proper swimming attire (for the fellows, you know what I mean hehe.)


Overall the place is clean and the staff is very attentive to our needs. Btw, laptop pipz, there is a wifi connection at the resort but it is locked. You could also plug in for charging at the coffee shop just ask for permission.

One thing to remember, do all your texting where there is still signal on your way to the resort coz phone carriers' signal comes and goes or most of the time, absent.

Here are their prices: P100 entrance for adults (50 for kids below 4 feet). P200 for a picnic shed (not that comfy i should say). P2800 overnight for a room/gazebo. P1800 just for day use.

Better have a vehicle rented coz transportation is limited, especially at around 5pm when you almost have the guts to take the road by foot. hehe. we learned the hard way before.

clearer skies... ??

The weather here at the City has been generally good especially in the morning. Sunrises have been very beautiful as if there would not be any hint of a downpour later through the day.

But as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end...." Around 2 or 3 pm, the sky would just turn against the people. Dark clouds immediately form and in about an hour or so, rain comes down as if it is angry to mankind. argh.
And at night, with the rain's help, the city is as cold as ice.
However, its good to have this cool weather than a hot humid one. hehe.

Clear skies

what a beautiful day!!!
I love the view at our house here in Baguio City.
I just regret that the city is getting hotter. (i dont blame anyone except the US and China - biggest contributors of greenhouse gases) so those who said that we, the residents, did not do our job, ask yourselves first... Manila is not as clean as can it be and you say we are dirty. shut up...

"Nature-al" Euphoria

View from my backyard
I just signed up for the blog action day for nature.

I am glad that people have gathered up and have taken their keyboards for a ride to environment advocacy.

There has been ever a time in history but now, that human civilization became worse on treating mother nature. Nature sacrificed for what we call extractive and "dispensive" development.
Development has it's good and bad face. We must have sustainable development. Replanting trees, making environment-friendly measures on factories and other industries, conserving energy (electricity, oil, water, etc.), many more.

If only we would open our eyes and see what would happen in the future........
(GLOBAL Warming out of hand)
- Manila, Laguna, Cebu, New York, Sydney, Beijing, and many more coastal cities submerged or experience constant flooding.
- Temperatures hotter than what has been already hot today (1 degree increments every 10 years).
- The Weather will be freaking out... stronger and more frequent typhoons and hurricanes, increased tornadoes, weird rain patterns.
- Seasons will be erratic. Late winters, early

(HEALTH and LIFESTYLE)
- "heat-borne" diseases increase (skin cancer, sun burns, etc.)
- Water will be as expensive as our oil prices today (imagine from 10 to 50? yuy.)
- Air-con will be the "it" thing. (funny at first but what if?)
- Staying at the beach (if there will) will be like walking on the surface of the sun.
- Water will also be like the need for clothes, you cant go out the house without a bottle or liter of H20.
- Food and water shortages will be rampant all over the world.
-

sleepy, tired but restless

Wow, the sem. break has swept all over the UP system. yey!
But unfortunately, our thesis has to be finished before the break ends.
argh. I still hope to get a cum laude even if delayed. har. I just need it for my masters. hmm.

I lack sleep, so I'm sleepy.
I'm so tired but more to come.
I need rest but I am restless...

Here are my worries:
- THESIS
- organizations
- 2 full-blown yearbooks (high school and college lay-out artist)
- video editing stuff
- cum laude
- parents
- friends
- job seeking
- 10 tons of fat tissue on my belly
- many more.

By the way, I might include environmental journalism on my blogs in the future entries.

chao!!! save trees, save lives.

Kickbacks (as inspired from Miriam's walkout)

No one could not help but laugh whenever "nagtataray ang lola niyo".

Whenever Miriam gets into her head and triggers the nuclear power plant, she blows out the whole session hall of the Senate or the whole building for that matter.

The subject that made her ballistic was her frustration that the executive is throwing balls against each other - ballot boxes and bribes vs. truth and allegations aside.

What the hell... Abalos seem not to be affected ...


BREAKING NEWS... ABALOS RESIGNS. hwat!!!

Now that's a bummer. He escapes without Gloria. hehe. just kiddin.

Back to the kickbacks.
Every time we have a government project... There are always kickbacks...
I just want to relate this to one of our flyovers here in Baguio.

There is this eye-sore flyover being built at the intersection of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway, just beside the Baguio General Hospital.

The project has been disputed for almost 5 years. Now, it leaks soil, gravel, twisted metal and every dirt you could get form a construction site.

What the hell, people behind the project asserted that there is enough money. This was before they started to build the damn flyover. Ask city hall why construction stopped... No more money.

What the hell!!! The flyover is ironically not helping anybody except the personal pockets of DPWH, City Hall. The motorists are passing through the supposedly 200 meter-long flyover but they just pass by a stupid work of installation art of the government.

By the way, one of the reasons why the had to build it is because there perennial traffic due to the rotunda. what?????
If that's the reason, then build flyovers where a rotunda is located... then you will see how traffic and the sight of flying roads make our government happy. Here are the rotundas I have seen that you could place a flyover - Vergara's pine tree, UP rotunda, PRC rotunda, John Hay rotunda. Want more?? Construct flyovers at SM (coz they have the Sy-factor to entice you with venalities), Vergara's mansion in QM (coz he has the money), Cathedral (the church loves another landscape project hmmm), Session road (I would concede to the idea of a traffic-easing project but put a flyover and I'll sleep under it), Harrison, Abanao, UB (coz its fun to see how poor people walk on the congested streets full of aka businessmen) many more.

I might be bitter this time but these bribe-hungry politicians can't stop the kleptomaniac minds of money. damn. How i wished to get into office and get rich just signing contracts with envelopes filled with millions.

Kick your own backs and see how you do injustice to the people who elected you...


Now im doin a Miriam. hehe. chill out. peace to all.

GUILTY... (2)

I hate it when our politicians use the word "bayan" for their own selfish causes.
It really pisses me off whenever the media interviews a member of the Congress or the Senate and that TRAPO say, "......... ay para sa bayan at para sa mga mahihirap..."

Yeah right. As if you really work for the real people of the Philippines, us... the people who have been tired of listening to your endless promises that end up ended by red tape and endless blabbering.


Just like the game of basketball, every team has to make defense and offense whenever needed.
In the trial of Estrada, the people seem to have a conflict of defense or offense... defense for the mandate of the unpopular "lola".... offense for the stupidly popular "massed out" former president.

Better pick one or you won't survive in a war of words...

** A war of words - favorite words uttered by our preasumably industrious politicians:::
BAYAN - for those who mean "the elite"
AGREEMENT - corruption par se
ZTE - Abalos pet project for the country (i hoped the broadband would also modernize the elections but no no... it was the modernization of his pockets)
POVERTY - synonymous to MONEY WELL SPENT
JOBS - unemployment
RICE - U.S. or the poor farmer in the fields
SCANDALS - PGMA or FG
MEDIA - destabilizers
WORDS - meant to be half meant
PROMISES - what word is that?
PHILIPPINES - who cares??????


ANYONE GUILTY?

** more to come.

GUILTY....

Former President Joseph "Erap" Ejecito Estrada has been found to be guilty of plunder after six years of argeuos hearings.

It finally ended on September 12, 2007 at the Sandiganbayan Offices at Commonwealth Avenue. The expected hours of promulgation just happened in less than an hour. The clerk of court just read the decision and the whole six years or so of trials ended with a 10 sentenced-speech.

Though there is a "virtual" sympathetic mood in the media, the street protests showed the contrary. The usual protests have been made but they were considerably small in number.

Because it was quite a media frenzy, some reporters resorted to doing different angled stories.

One report made by an ABS-CBN reporter on the scene intrigued me.

The report showed that a lot of those in the streets did not have any clue on why they were there in Commonwealth Ave., much less on why they were waving banners in which they are not member in. Somewhat there was a "hakot" system... you know what I mean.

The anticipated thousands of sympathizers caused suspension of classes to some 23 public schools around the Sandigan. However, only a small portion of the Commonwealth was occupied, not even filling the whole 5 lanes of the road.

Anyway, the crowd is just one thing. How about Erap???

Hmm... Early on, when the court gave the date of the decision, the Estradas were very confident of the notion or even prediction that the former President will be acquited. In addition, they said that whatever the decision might be, win or lose, they would accept it.
Nevertheless, those predictions almost never happened, almost. He got acquited of perjury or telling lies in court. He was guilty of plunder, a much graver offense.

A "benign" SONA

Hmmm... I just hated watcing boring speeches and speakers alike. It makes me sleepy (except when the topic is exciting, hehe.). I had the unfortunate task to watch President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) for my Journ 102 class. Yes I know it is a journalism class and it is essential to be on alert with the news, however things do last long and make people bored and miserable.

"From where I sit, I can tell you, a President is always as strong as she wants to be" This is a statement from the sauna, oh i mean, SONA. It could be ironic in a sense that she was standing in the course of her almost an hour speech. Anyway, the SONA started with the usual greeting and remarkably it was short - may be the speech writer do not remember the names of her cohorts.

The speech went in a smooth pace however, I just noticed some awkwardness through the speech. In the past years, applause would be instant but yesterday, she seems to be waiting for the applause, somewhat forcing the issue to engage the audience for a clap in the face.

It was essentially an itemized list of projects which are either accomplished or still ongoing. She also asked Congress to pass laws in relation to human rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, bureaucratic reforms, and who knows what... I just hated that she has to mention politicians who have those projects asked for money.

I would commend the focus on the regions but it is quite a bit of achievement considering that the government has enough money (with the exception of the budget deficit) and their claim that the economy is getting better. I would want to emphasize, "a bit..."

more to come...

the human insecurity axe....

IN July 15, 2007, the government has implemented the Human Security Act also known as the Anti-terror Law.

Filipinos have the tendency to resist too much of the concept of change - even though it would really help the ailing motherland. The first reaction is too say "boo" and "NO!" That is understandably natural for any human being - try being subjected to jacked up tuition fees just like in my school where it jumped up to 300%, heh, the boo will really fit.
My question is the law has not really been in its prime... meaning, let the law have the chance to prove itself worthy to be trusted... this comes with the government's assurance of enough protection on the basic rights of every citizen.

To cut the story short, Ill just paste my reaction from my online journalism class:
The Human Security Act could prevent or curtail terrorism especially in Mindanao where violence has been wreaking havoc for decades.
However, with government’s inaction on human rights violations, abuse of power, and the HSA’s “loose teeth”, the law’s promised protection would be a big irony – no security at all.

Law abiding citizens need not worry because there are safeguards but there is still the "but". I am not being pessimistic but it is better to be vigilant of the affairs in government rather than being tagged a "terrorist".

Nevertheless, I am hoping the country will be much safer with the HSA in place... I just hope so...

online journalism

this new field of journalism has intrigued me since I took the J113 class in school (a journ elective).
my instructor is ms. marifi jara-villegas. she has a comprehensive background in online journ. (check j113-onlinejournalism.blogspot.com)
anyway, i am considering this as an alternative job if ever i dont get a job soon enough after grad.
it is as interesting as the new iPhone (damn, i want that darn phone, though it is just a hyped cellphone and damn expensive!).

back to online journ, it is interesting to know that it is not copy paste... as i thought would have been but im totally wrong... so even if you copy and pasted material for your blogs or articles, one way or another, plagiarism will hunt you because of Google (just think of it...).

....

Tiring school stuff and me

What the hell! I'm starting a bit to feel the hardships of academic life once again!
argh. Classrooms that look like the rooms at a dungeon, classmates who never get the stuff that the instructor says, and professors who only want to listen to the voices of their students' cries and pleads to be humane - I am not generalizing, only a few.

I had this wierd elective of mine, Geology 11 - simply the study about the wretched Earth. I do not know why the hell did I enroll in it. It is such ironic that I really need the Social Sciences electives but much of my electives are at the Natural Sciences. By the way, Im a Journalism major. Im getting tired of knowing how the Earth spins or how it spurns out life and death everywhere, literally. Well, I hope these subjects will help me in the future. But as of this time, I am concentrating on graduating with grades worthy for a Cum Laude (hehe) - though I may not get the honor because of my transferring from UPLB to UPB. No regrets on my part.

My schedule this semester is intriguing. I always have a 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM break everyday. It may look nice to have a 4 and half hours of gapping damn schedule.

It is a very dragging sched. because what if our 4 PM class instructer suddenly say that there will be no class... you know what your reaction would be but it varies. However, it is very tiring to either be from home or from the library just to learn that the time that you waited for did not even materialize.

Nevertheless, it is a blessing when it's crunch time for exams, papers, and the dreaded thesis.

PINTIG: my docu wins a school award

BEST DOCUMENTARY!! PINTIG!

PINTIG: Totoong buhay... E.R.
Lente: BC130 Digital Shorts <2nd>

Nominated for:
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Production Team
Best Director

Winner:
BEST DOCUMENTARY

Salamat sa lahat ng nanood at sumuporta sa aming maikling produksyon.... kung ala po kau sa prodxn nmn, hindi po magiging successful ang dokyu....
Abangan po sa Sky Community Channel 12 ang mga produksyon mula sa Lente... lalo naman ang best dokyu (PINTIG).
God Bless us all!

mula sa gREEnLight Productions:

Executive Producer
Aziel Cherreguine

Associate Producer
Cessarylle Mandapat

Director / Head Editor
JERMAINE BELTRAN

Scriptwriters
Christmas Aldave
Gesell Capua

Art Director
Corie Corpuz

Sponsored by:
Ridgewood Residence Hotel and Apartelle
17 J. Felipe St., Brgy. Lualhati, Baguio City (near The Mansion)

Kusina de Baguio
Food Court, Porta Vaga Commercial Center, Baguio City

Baguio Music Studio
2nd Flr., Maharlika Livelihood Complex, Baguio City

Salamat na rin sa Cosmic Euphoria sa astig at walang kapantay na pagtugtog ng aming OST na Hilom...

im back to blogging!

hehe. its been months since i posted here.
anyway, some of my posts are at my friendster blog.
i deleted some of my old posts hehe. coz people get crazy when the blog is as long as the Great Wall of China (whew!)

ill be doing much of a travelogue and lifestyle blog in the future.

anyway, if anyone wants to contact me, you could do it either through the net via email and friendster or through my new fone number 09277663421.

ill be quite busy so i myt post every week.

chao!

sleepy

damn im a bit sleepy since finals have been over...
just waiting for the next best thing, graduation...