Pity for the Unsuspecting Drug Mules

I've been watching the National Geographic program Locked Up Abroad for several months now and I have realized that drug organizations have been preying on unsuspecting 'tourists' - those who look like they're going to a country to look for work, instead of being a real tourist. Since these people are running low on money and still desperately want to stay in that country, they do illegal things like transport drugs and become drug mules.  They are not bad people.  Just people na kumakapit sa patalim.  In the chain of the drug trade - they are the most vulnerable - and are judged harshly too, with death!  I mean, why not charge those who lead these drug trade organizations?  Why prey on the weakest when they need the most compassion?

Malaysia lowers sentences of 3 death throw Pinoys » Pinoy Worldwide » Article | philstar.com

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Corona, family remain in good spirits: Of course, they still have their millions!

It's quite ironic that even after the impeachment trial, the Coronas will still have their millions while 98% of Filipinos can only dream of having the money they have in their lifetimes.  The truth is, I'm sure what the Coronas have is just the tip of the iceberg.  I'm sure they have millions more stashed in some bank accounts somewhere in the world.  Corona is not a professor of business for nothing.  And I'm sure he couldn't care less about losing the position.  Deep inside, I'm sure he and his wife are just saying, "Kiber, mayaman pa rin naman tayo!"

Corona, family remain in good spirits » Nation » News | Philippine News | philstar.com

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Next Task: Dismantling These Corrupt Family Oligarchies

Family oligarchies like the Dys in Isabela and the Ampatuans in Maguindanao have made a semblance of a fiefdom here in the Philippines.  Political families where everyone runs from father, mother, daughter, son, brother-in-law, son-in-law, etc etc is common here in the Philippines.  Para bagang sila lang ang marunong magpatakbo ng gobyerno.  Of course, it's a good source of corruption.  See how the Dys are harassing Padaca.  We must be watchful that good people like Padaca don't buck down under the pressure of these corrupt families. 

Grace under pressure

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Spreading music education in the Philippines

I know that for a poor country like us, music education is considered a luxury, since an education bureaucrat would think that money spent on teaching a child how to play an instrument would be better used for other pressing needs like classrooms or textbooks.  So it's great to see that a center teaching music in Cebu has gained foothold among the locals there since it shows that being musically-inclined people, learning to play an instrument not only enriches our souls but also allows us to express ourselves.

Piano teacher plays right notes to make business fly

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Marikina to soon ban plastic bags, packages

Muntinlupa and Las Pinas set the trend more than a year ago.  This year, Marikina joins the bandwagon.  Uy, Quezon City, wake up!!  I know it's going to be difficult to implement this since sanay na tayo sa plastic, but it's not impossible to implement.  In due time, people will just adjust to it and that would be better for our environment. Alam naman nating lahat kung gaano karaming plastic ang nagkakaclog sa mga estero natin.  Pag mabawasan yan, baka humupa ng mabilis ang flash floods.  Basta on days na nag-iinarte ka sa plastic - think of the day Ondoy came to town - para matauhan ka!

Marikina to soon ban plastic bags, packages

Corona to testify today: About Freakin' Time!

Oh well, I know I haven't stayed too objective throughout his impeachment trial, so today, along with millions of other Filipinos, we wait for bated breath for the Chief Justice's version of his bank accounts.  Well, I'm sure he'll do well during the grilling, since he's a lawyer, for Christ sake, so I'm sure, he has mapped out all the possible questions in his brain already to prepare for it.  Let's just hope it brings out the truth so this thing can be resolved, once and for all. Anyway, whichever the decision of the Senator-judges goes, at least the process of impeachment was respected and that alone, are plus points for our fragile democracy.

Corona: I have no fear

Bumped off? Airlines now have to pay you more: About time!

Mercifully, I haven't been bumped off in a local flight, but once in an international flight.  However, the compensation was much more than what this article says, maybe because it was not in my home country - and of course, the hassles we had to experience because of their fault.  Anyway, it's about time, we, the harassed passengers get a little bit of respect from the airlines, whether they be the budget kind or just the normal one.

Bumped off? Airlines now have to pay you more

A Heroine in Conchita Carpio Morales

I don't actually watch much of the impeachment trial but I did see snippets of it when the Ombudsman - former justice Conchita Carpio Morales testified a few days ago.  What I saw impressed me!  I realized later on she was actually testififying FOR THE DEFENSE - because looking at it - it seemed like she was testifying FOR THE PROSECUTION.  Not even the loudmouth Senator Santiago or the erudite Cuevas could fluster her!  Finally these two have found their match - which is great TV for all of us.  It is a perfect set-up to Corona's testimony next week.

Just tell me what happens though since Lady Gaga is coming to town that day!

Thank God for Conchita Carpio Morales

Gold and Our Ancestors: An Exhibit at the Ayala Museum

I haven't been to the Ayala Museum for ages so I'm a bit curious to see this particular exhibit since I too am a lover of anything golden!  I didn't know that our ninuno had lots of gold at their disposal - and wore it prominently too!  Anyway, I will visit this exhibit the same time as Mama and I will watch the play next weekend!

If you want to know more about the exhibit, just click on the link below - an article by the esteemed Ambeth Ocampo -

Living in a golden age

From Illegal Fishing to Seaweed Farming

When I was still in grade school in the 80s, our Social Studies teacher would tell us about the evils of dynamite fishing, so I am surprised that even with that awareness, fishermen continue to do such method of fishing!  It's a good thing though that with the help of NGOs and government agencies, our local fishermen are taught about the dire consequences of continued dynamite fishing and how it depletes the number of fish in the sea.

This article below is good news since it teaches fishermen how to do seaweed farming - an alternative source of income for them!

From illegal fishing to seaweed farming

Bringing the Affluent Art Buyers Closer to Home: HK Art Fair

Last year, a painting by a Filipino sold for over forty million pesos more or less!  Not bad for a payday check!  So it's great that the HK Art Fair is continuously expanding every year since it brings the affluent art buyers closer to home. HK is just a two hour flight away from Manila, and the curators there know very well that there is a market for Filipino art, knowing fully well how talented our local artists are!

It also gives the opportunity for our local art dealers to bring the work of our top local artists from both past and present and showcase them to a world market.  I would love to attend one of these fairs in the future.  I am definitely marking it on my calendar in the future!


Hong Kong fair showcases booming Asian art market

Great to See Atlas Mining Finally Out of the Red!

I am a beneficiary of the mining industry and so is my family and most of the friends I grew up with.  So I read with great gladness today that Atlas Mining, the company that has nurtured our family when I was growing up, is out of the red - finally posting incomes after being shut down for so long.  I do hope they continue what they are doing since I'm sure, the community around them will again be re-invigorated by their continued rise. 

If only mining is given a chance in this country, I'm sure many rural communities will benefit from it.  And we do need these minerals.  Pano na lang yang Ipod and Ipad and Iphone mo?  Galing sa lupa din ang components niyan noh!

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Filipinos in Andorra

An enlargeable map of the Principality of Andorra (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was with great interest that I read in a mini-newspaper magazine today that there are many Filipinos in the tiny country of Andorra!  Imagine how interesting our diaspora has become!  When I was growing up, I've always wanted to go to that tiny country and to find out now that there are many Filipinos there - and that we would really be welcome there - is such good news!

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An Homage to Anita Magsaysay-Ho

We bid goodbye to one of our national treasures - artist, Anita Magsaysay-Ho - often known for her portrayal of Filipina women in the rural setting, depicting them in action.  I will not talk much as I am not an art historian but just an avid collector of local Filipino art.  I will let her paintings do the talking about the great things she has done to our country's art scene.

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The Stock Market is Really Booming!

When I read the newsbit in the papers about Pnoy bragging about how our stock market is booming and doing really well during the ADB Conference, so I became curious and I checked our puny portfolio.  I was surprised with what I saw. He was saying the truth!  The worth of our portfolio grew by 39% in 12 months time!  Imagine that!  That was very exciting news!  And we also got some dividends, measly as it is, but still - extra money!  I don't know how big the stock prices are still going to be but it was just great to know that Pnoy has really gotten the confidence vote of international stock traders.

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The Need for Mass Market Housing in Big Cities Like Metro Manila

Watching squatter demolitions on TV is always heartbreaking to see, but a house is such a basic human need that we all understand why emotions become so high-pitched when these demolitions happen.  Understandably, these have to be done - if we want the rule of law to rule in our land - since these squatters don't really own these properties they are squatting on - and they really have to be returned to their rightful owners.  But on the other hand - this points to the fact that there is really a huge housing shortage in a crowded city like Metro Manila. 

That's why I think it's very important that the local governments take it upon themselves to find a solution to this - to institute some sort of mass housing system for the poor.  Gawad Kalinga has slowly been doing what it can to remedy the situation - but it hasn't really reached the crucial areas in the metropolis where many of these squatter communities are located.

I remember going to a Bliss in UP when I still had a friend who lived there.  It's a feasible solution since it's a building and it can house many families.  Land is very expensive in Metro Manila - so I think owning a house on land here will just be reserved for those who really have the cash for it.  I am not an economist so I wouldn't really know how to compute the expenses needed to house the poor in Metro Manila and still come out with a viable payment program so that the government is not burdened too much.

Still, it is a problem that begs for a solution - and I'm sure an enterprising businessman out there can come out a winner - if he finds the right balance between profit and social welfare.

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