Great That PNoy Scolds TV Patrol

It was funny to read today that PNoy, who was invited to speak in ABS-CBNs TV Patrol's anniversary party, instead, criticized his hosts by asking why they don't report the good news and the credibility of some of its top anchors.  

Actually, I love that he did it.  What he did reminded me of that Social Network quote - "I'm CEO....bitch!"  I guess what PNoy really wanted to say to some of the people in ABS-CBN was "I'm President.....bitch" - so don't f**k with me when you report your news about me.  He had a point apparently as in his speech, he cited some instances when he felt slighted.  Sometimes, you just have to put people in their right places - whether you're the president or not.

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Jessie Lacuna's Olympic Campaign

Jessie Lacuna just finished his Olympic campaign today.  He finished fifth and second to the last in Heat 2 with a time of 1minute 52.91 seconds, almost two seconds off his personal best.  If he did swim his personal best, he would've finished second in the heat.  Overall, he ranked 36th out of 41 swimmers in the 200m freestyle.

We shouldn't fret too much since against his Asian counterparts, he ranked an incredible THIRD - which would've been good for a bronze medal in the Asian Games.  He's still young anyway and can improve his time some more.   At his age now, he could be good for one or two more Olympic Games.

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Jasmine Alkhaldi: Pinoy Olympian

The swimming competitions in the 2012 London Olympic Games have started yesterday so it got me thinking how our own athletes would fare when compared to the world's best.

Well, Jasmine Alkhaldi, who qualified in the women's 100m freestyle has a personal best of 58.02.  Timewise, she ranked 45th in the last world swimming championships.

When I checked the times of the 100m freestyle in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, that time, would ALSO place her at 45th place overall.  That just means to say that we won't most likely see Jasmine in the semifinal heats.

The slowest semifinal time in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was 54.70 - that's almost three and a half seconds off!

However, Asia-wise, Jasmine ranks 7th among all the Asian swimmers.  That could put her in the finals of let's say, the Asian Games.  Anyway, Jasmine is only 18 years old and she has a bright future ahead of her.  She can still join maybe 2 more Olympic Games, maybe even three and she can still break her personal records.

Good luck to her!

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Saving PAL Thanks to Ramon Ang

We used to fly Philippine Airlines (PAL) on our domestic flights and certain international flights.  We used to fly their Business Class, mind you - and it was during the time when Lucio Tan still owned it.  Unfortunately, we could really see the difference between the Business Class of PAL and let's say, Cathay Pacific.  The difference is like staying in a Shangri-la hotel and a hostel in Malate.  It's like the sky and the earth.  Super layo!  

Yes, they can argue that PAL's Business Class is cheaper than Cathay Pacific but the truth is, who remembers the price when all we could remember was PAL's lousy Business Class service and lack of entertainment options!

Anyway, I read today that Ramon Ang, the president of San Miguel Corporation, is also, now the president of PAL, and he has a lot of big dreams for our national carrier - which is great - especially that PAL carries our country's name!  Kahiya kung lousy ang service!

I don't know how quick the turnaround of the planned changes will happen but I really hope under Ang's leadership, passengers like me can experience the difference.  Really, I wouldn't mind flying Business Class in PAL again, IF ONLY I get the treatment I'm supposed to get!  They should let their people ride Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines in the Business or First Class - and they will really see the BIG difference, even in terms of service and warmth.  Really, being warm and friendly can only go a certain distance, I prefer service, comfort, leg room, privacy and a lot of entertainment options!

I'm sure Mr. Ang is well-traveled so I hope he can implement those changes in PAL - and definitely, we'll fly PAL again!

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If There's An American Dream, Of Course There is a Filipino Dream

Of course you can be rich in the Philippines without having to immigrate.  It's not going to be easy but who said getting rich in America or anywhere else would be that easy too.  I believe the challenges one faces to amass wealth would be, more or less, the same, wherever that person might be in the world - at least in the free, democratic part of this world.

Now that the Philippine economy is slowly showing some signs of actual growth, is it really time for all of us to finally pursue our Filipino dream?  If most of us have been conditioned early on to follow some sort of 'American dream', maybe we can do the same thing and apply that same template and label it, the 'Filipino dream'.

Of course the reality is that there is still so much, so much to be done before we even approach any level of decent living conditions for everyone but like any other dream, it is a free action that we can do, and something we can quantify after a designated amount of time.

One thing though that makes this Filipino dream achievable is that many Filipinos right now are actually doing something about it.  Many are not only just plain observers, many Filipinos are now trying to lend their own hand into making things change.

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Nuestros Censores De Peliculas: El MTRCB

Estaba un verdadero coñazo cuando vimos la pelicula Magic Mike anoche porque habia muchos cortes!  No sé porque nuestros censores en el MTRCB esta continuando tratandanos como niños!  Estaba obvio que la pelicula Magic Mike estaba verdaderamente para los adultos, entonces, porque ellos lo clasificaron como PG13?!  Porque no lo clasifican como R17 con no cortes?  Porque aún estan tratandanos como somos imbéciles?

Illac Diaz and Social Entrepreneurship

We were fortunate to have bumped into Illac Diaz last Friday during the opera, The Barber of Seville.  Illac, who has been in the forefront of social entrepreneurship in this country was quite gracious and candid.  He has been championing the use of indigenous materials for localized housing, knowing fully well the lack of housing units in our country - especially those available to the poorer classes.  Idol talaga in the truest sense of the word!

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My Own Brush With Dolphy

 

It is not surprising that almost 50% of all major TV news coverage these past few days have been devoted to Dolphy.  He was a legend in the truest sense of the word and I guess the media outlets are just out there to satisfy the public's hunger for more news about his wake and impending burial and to hear more tributes from his peers and from his fans.

I was watching the news coverage today of Channels 2, 5 and 7 and everyone interviewed said that Dolphy was a kind man.  I can also attest to that since I had a very short brush with the King of Comedy a long time ago.

It happened in the Glorietta mall when it was still the place to see and be seen, I think way back in 1998.  I was watching a movie then and while I was in the lobby of the cinema floor, I saw Dolphy with some of his family, wearing an all white ensemble.  I don't know if he was waiting for someone but he was standing in front of the Wendy's restaurant.  

At that time, I was not very starstruck since I was working with several of ABS-CBN's artists but I made an exception to Dolphy because in my book, he was up there with Nora and Vilma as stars I should have a photo wiith.  So I went near him and asked politely if I could have a photo with him.  Medyo nakakahiya lang kasi he was with his family (I didn't recognize anyone famous among them) and it was really a public place - lobby ba naman ng cinema ng Glorietta! But he was very nice and asked one of the young people in his group to take our picture, baka one of his kids.

Yun lang, a very brief one or two minute encounter with him.  I thanked him profusely saying that he was one of my all-time favorite movie idols - and he was really very gracious, walang yabang, walang smirk sa mukha,

Funny thing is, I don't have the picture anymore.  Since nuong panahon kasi, you'd have to develop pictures and since Ondoy destroyed some of my photo albums, ayun, wiz na siya.  Even then, the wonderful memory of how approachable he was considering his stature, was forever enmeshed in my memory.

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US journalist in the Spanish-American war cites Filipinos’ strong sense of justice

This person's book should be required reading for history students and those who love history, comme moi!  Just from the excerpt alone, it paints a very candid picture of what this American thought of us as Filipinos - and strangely, his observations do not differ much from what we were then to who we are now!  Talagang, halos walang nagbago sa kanyang pananaw!

US journalist in the Spanish-American war cites Filipinos’ strong sense of justice

Tulfo: Another Spanish Basher #ramontulfo

I know that Spain was our colonial ruler for 333 years but that was such a long time ago and the world has changed so much since then.  In this article below, Tulfo belittles Angara's appointment into this body of researchers interested in Spanish history and culture - kasi daw inapi tayo ng mga Espanyol nuon.

Whew!  That was hundreds of years ago dear and times have changed.  Everyone in the world is equally regarded already and the concept of colonial master and slave has long been obsolete.  I don't feel that way anymore against any Spanish person I meet, and they too don't see us any less.  As usual, what Tulfo is saying here is quite denigrating not only to us but to the Spanish people.

Voltaire Gazmin sounds like a politician

Why Dolphy can’t be National Artist any time soon

What's the use of giving the award when he's dead?  And why do we have to compare Dolphy's work with the other directors who received the awards earlier?  Each artist is unique in their contributions and I don't think it's his fault that his movies have not been saved.  Frankly, I can't believe that Carlo J. Caparas has this award rather than Dolphy or Nora Aunor.  You can ask any Filipino cinephile and I don't think Caparas' name would be in the top 5 or top 10 list of people from the movie industry who deserves to win the award!  The ugly head of politics.....

Why Dolphy can’t be National Artist any time soon

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A Degree in Agriculture, Anyone?

I've always felt that one had to study for something he is really interested in, and I am surprised that not many young people would want to study agriculture, to think that many of today's youth espouse concepts like saving the environment or saving the world or helping the poor - and what best way to do those by, well, studying what to plant and where and yes, feed the world in the most efficient way!  Glamorous it is not!  It will not make one famous or controversial.  However, I think it can make one rich, very rich, since we are primarily an agricultural nation. And, yeah, people eat!  We have to eat, or we die.  So the market is in a way, bottomless and never-ending in its need!


So if you're going into college and thinking of a course to take, and you love plants and animals and is curious how they grow, why not take Agriculture.  The University of the Philippines in Los Banos is a very competent school.  Also, there are so few of you studying this course, so the demand for your future job will surely be big - and that romantic notion of a gentleman (or lady) farmer would not be impossible!

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Jean Marc Cordero: Premier Filipino Danseur

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