JOURNEYIST

5 QUAKES IN 2 DAYS

2012-01-02T11:07:00.002+08:00

In no particular order, here are five significant earthquakes that went off the last two days.

Tokyo, Japan - Magnitude 7.0
Tuva (in Siberia) - Magnitude 9.0

Christchurch, New Zealand - Magnitude 5.5
Youngstown, Ohio (USA) - Magnitude 4.0
Sumatra, Indonesia - Magnitude 5.3

Geologists say strong quakes has been at a record high since 2004 but attribute such to random chance more than anything else. Yes, random chance.

What's wrong with saying, "we don't know what's happening.." instead they have to invent a mathematically cute excuse and say, "its random chance at work!"

RIZAL TWICE MURDERED

2011-12-30T13:12:00.001+08:00

The worst violation you can do to a murdered man is to murder his memory in the minds of those he died for.

And that's just what they did to Jose Rizal beginning right after his martyrdom on December 30, 1896, by announcing the supposed retraction of his anti-Catholic ideas. The announcement was published in Madrid the following day without proof, only saying that the "document" of his retraction was given to Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda of Manila for his keeping. That "document' only surfaced for public viewing on May 13, 1935. A veritable forgery, says Peter Jaynul Uckung of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

It's been 115 years and the bigger tragedy is that some Filipinos still choose to believe the people whose very hands are stained with Rizal's blood.

For more on the supposed retraction, read this.
For a blow by blow tweet of his martyrdom follow tweetnirizal

For your delectation, here's one of Rizal's telling lines in Mi Ultimo Adios..

"I go where... faith does not kill."
-Dr. Jose P. Rizal

A VULTURE CALLED DEMOCRACY

2011-12-29T01:20:00.016+08:00

Karen Heagle Vulture with Carcass 2008

We have all been brainwashed to blindly accept "democracy" as the best of all possible human governments, ever. I for one have recently decided to jump boat and become a full-time contrarian. This is upon understanding how sickly nations become, in direct proportion to the democratic "reforms" they institute.

I'm speaking strictly in terms of geo-politics here, so let's not drag morality into the issue by citing the Hitlers of this world. If every nation were ruled by a perfectly benevolent dictator or monarch, I would prefer that to a world where every nation is naively hostage to the trappings of democracy and global capitalism, where the end result is global POWER getting more and more concentrated in the hands of THE FEW.

Democracy, you may say, is akin to a pack of wolves in sheep's clothing tricking the flock into murdering the shepherd. When the shepherd is dead and gone, the sheep are slaughtered one at a time. But the flock, by then is too busy indulging in procreation and recreation that they don't realize this soon enough...

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TRADITIONS: A HARMLESS BIT OF FUN?

2011-12-28T15:44:00.006+08:00

Evil Grin Santa Claus

The last time I heard Santa Claus is possibly real was in kindergarten, upon seeing my Christmas eve stockings filled with shiny coins, with gifts to boot just a foot beneath.

I must have been quite pragmatic even then but this physical "evidence" was all I needed to restore my swiveling faith to steadfast stillness. At least for another year.

Reality have a way of catching up, thank goodness, and soon enough you slowly grow apart from every white lie people told you in the name of fun and games...

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VACATION, OVER

2011-12-26T09:18:00.002+08:00

Today actually marks the beginning of a rather snappy real-world vacation for me but very very recent events in my life inspired me to resume this rather poor excuse for a blog. I know i'm posting this simply as a marker as whatever little traffic i may have gained has by now evaporated into thin cyber space air.

Oh, well. Time to start again.

THE UNBEARABLE SMALLNESS OF BEING

2011-03-21T15:32:00.014+08:00

In a world filled with big problems, people feel small, insignificant, helpless.

To break away from the gravity of anxiety and powerlessness, many have gone into escapism --- which, today is more than socially acceptable, it's fashionable and therefore, empowering! The meaning of life is hardly relevant. What's crucial is a solid sense of identity with which to conquer the world or toy with the world how ever which way one fancies.

“Living in the present” has also become the conventional wisdom to allay “needless” worries of what the future might bring --- which is beyond our control anyway --- and which, scientists contend, does not even really exist yet. To live in the present is to control the future and correct the past. That's power! By fashioning our beliefs, we became giants of existence, and nothing, not even life itself could bully us anymore.

But like a bad recurring dream, the phantom of our smallness brutally confronts us in times of wars, calamities and tragedies of biblical proportions.
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THE PROPHECY ACCORDING TO HOLLYWOOD

2011-03-12T18:06:00.006+08:00

No. It's not the end of the world. It’s only 2011 anyways!

Watching this video of the deadly tsunami spawned by a magnitude-9.0 quake in Japan yesterday.. I just can’t help but remember 2012 -- the movie.

Maybe the world won’t end exactly like Hollywood say but seems like the world will indeed end anyway with epic special effects to boot except that you know it’s not just effects and you don’t feel it as anything special.

While searching fresh videos at Youtube, I happen to come across interesting comments ranging from “what does this make of God?”... to “real life sucks, I’m going back to playing games at Facebook..”

Frankly I kinda “like” the former comment than the latter (even if it implies God is a murderer -- an idea I find disgusting, to say the least). At least it’s better than sinking your head in the sand and cling harder to deeply cherished fantasies.

But back to the question... “Is the world coming to an end?”

SOMETHING'S COMING... WATCH OUT!!!

2010-07-14T17:35:00.001+08:00

I used to view life, and its many facets, as a journey with a beginning, middle and end – which, is the destination. In a way, this metaphor remains unspoiled, except that my view about “arriving” at the destination may have suffered a long and painful complication.

It’s but natural to feel a ‘sense of arriving’ at an end, such as after we finished a job, project, resolved a problem or achieved a milestone. Indeed it’s nice and even healthy to end something on a celebratory note or at least on a restful, insightful note when we find it pleasing to look back and remember the pains, laugh at our mistakes and even imagine the “what could have beens” had we done things differently..

But wait. It’s not finished yet. In fact, it’s never finished at all. There’s always a next page, a next chapter, a next volume. There’s even a ‘remake’, when we do something totally new yet ineptly repeat many of our classic mistakes.

With experience comes the suspicion that in the grand scale of things, the journey never really ends...

Being not the suspicious type, I took the next step and just make it a point to live by this constant spoiler warning in my head: something’s coming…look out!

..and I mean that with a mixed sense of anxiety and excitement.

IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT THINKS

2010-07-09T19:09:00.001+08:00

Sometimes we get lost in the inner ramblings of our minds... just so much thoughts all "thinking" at once.

The worse part is, they're mostly other people's thoughts, "thinking in us"... like work deadlines, grocery list, career goals and other such useless details... that we lose touch with what we really want our life to be.

So, what do you think You think?

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

2010-04-23T17:00:00.000+08:00

You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Counter Melody To Above Verse:
Can you hear and do you care and
Cant you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in.

Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

ARE YOU WARM ABOUT THE NINTH RAY?

2009-09-26T01:08:00.003+08:00

Like most every lay newspaper reader, I had my gum slightly burned upon reading that Senator Richard Gordon's proposed Ninth-ray to the Philippine flag has passed the bicameral body (that shadowy legislative backroom). My initial reaction was not about whether I agree or not to the proposal, but whether I should shudder in disbelief or quiver in disbelief. Yes I was surprised that there was even such a proposal and no, I don't blame Gordon's staff for my own failure to imagine that the Senator would gun for it.

Okay, simply put, our much cherished 8-ray sun Philippine flag will now sport a ninth ray. Such additional ray, according to Gordon, is “to acknowledge the courage, bravery and integrity of Muslim Filipinos who fought for the nation’s independence.”

If I remember my high school history right, the eight rays were supposed to represent the four Tagalog provinces and the four Kapampangan provinces which first rose in arms against colonial Spain.
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HELP ME OUT, PLEASE!!!

2009-09-19T14:14:00.003+08:00

I have been wanting to use Facebook Connect on this blog only to discover that, I can only do that if I were a Facebook Developer. To my surprise, it was a walk in the park and this f Connect gizmo here below is proof enough that this little blog is joining the facebook bandwagon.

But it's not 100% functional yet, without your help.

If you believe this blog deserves your support, then I say simply click the link below because it's the right way to go. Log in to fb via the pop out box, click connect and then that's it!

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? =) See yah on Facebook!

SENATOR AQUINO DECLARES PRESIDENTIAL BID

2009-09-09T13:11:00.017+08:00

Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has declared he is running for president of the Philippines next year.

Speaking at the historic Kalayaan Hall in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City, on the 40^th day of the death of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, the 49 year old senator made the much awaited announcement, which he said was in answer to people's plea for him to join the 2010 presidential race.

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MY ONE REQUEST TO NOYNOY AQUINO

2009-09-06T03:58:00.006+08:00

Since first reading Conrado de Quiros' excellently written Noynoy for President column (and his "Two More"), I became excited over the possibility of renewing my voter's credentials just so I can vote for Noynoy Aquino. I even immediately campaigned for him with my facebook friends, especially former high school classmates, whom I realized share my enthusiasm.

Doing my own discernment over the weekend, however, I asked myself, "what would make me NOT vote for Noynoy?"

Given the excellent arguments of de Quiros, I could think of no reason, except this one:

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ERAÑO MANALO AND FERDINAND MARCOS

2009-09-05T13:34:00.012+08:00

While I may condole with Iglesia ni Cristo friends and foes who mourn the loss of a man they deeply respect, I just can't get my mind off the faces of politicians who just can't miss being where the action is.

Damning their best to become the epitome of grief, the rest of the Filipino nation knows all to well why they are there. While them politicians grieve the passing of Eraño, they feel they should grieve more if Eraño's successor would count them among the politically dead. It's a political imperative that they should be there.

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CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO'S MORAL FORCE MOVEMENT AND THE ISANG ARAW LANG CAMPAIGN

2009-09-04T11:21:00.018+08:00

The Moral Force Movement launched last Monday by Chief Justice Reynato Puno has caught the attention of the Filipino public hungering for moral renewal.

Highlighting the Moral Force Movement’s avowed mission, Puno called on the people “not to elect anyone who bribes, cheats, lies nor [to tolerate] anyone who does.” Volunteerism was his battle cry and thus enjoined every concernmed citizen to “..not just stay neutral in this fight, for the surest way to lose a fight against evil is through the conspiracy of silence.”

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ROXAS ABANDONS PRESIDENTIAL BID, THROWS SUPPORT FOR AQUINO!!!

2009-09-02T03:26:00.011+08:00

Philippine Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas is no longer seeking the presidency in 2010.

In a packed press conference at Club Filipino yesterday, Senator Manuel Roxas announced he was giving way to the candidacy of Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Roxas admit it was the “most difficult” decision he had to make in his entire life and noted he did it to preserve unity of the Liberal Party and the country.

"I choose to lead the unity, not division,” he said. “As party president, I made the decision. I love the Liberal Party. My father founded it,” Roxas said.

On Monday, Senator Francis Pangilinan had appealed to Roxas to give way to Aquino should the latter decide to run for president. Pangilinan was also willing to abandon his own plan to run for vice president for the sake of party unity.

Calls for Aquino to run for president or vice president started mounting a few days after the funeral of his mother former President Corazon Aquino. Having no previous plan to seek higher office, Senator Aquino was understandably hesitant to accept the challenge, especially since the candidacy of Roxas and Pangilinan was already months in advanced preparations.

Up until yesterday, Aquino has never given any definitive indication of his political plans. Today, however, he is expected to make that announcement, fueling anticipation by his supporters, especially on facebook, that this would be IT.

Roxas made up his mind after long talks with Aquino over the weekend. "We agreed: ‘Let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us. This is about our people and our country. This is about our common dream, the dream of our parents’,” he said. And quickly added, "but let us not remain a country of dreamers. Let’s act now.”

Following their gesture, I must admit Roxas and Pangilinan has just earned my respect. If more Filipino politicians could follow their lead, then there may be hope for the country yet. =)

Below is a Youtube video of Roxas' announcement.

Related Post:
MY ONE REQUEST TO NOYNOY

IS RELIGION NOTHING MORE THAN VIRTUAL REALITY?

2009-08-25T16:46:00.009+08:00

If you were hypnotized into believing and experiencing "God", or if you were given a pill that induces mystical feelings of intimacy with a supreme being, could such experience or feeling be equated with God? Most probably your answer would be a resounding 'NO!'

But what if it's our own human brain that makes us naturally prone into believing in the existence of a supreme being and "tricks" us into experiencing "God"? Would religion, in this case, be valid?

This question would have been preposterous if not for the findings of brain scientists who can now probe the links of the brain with religious experiences using brain imaging technology and other advanced bio-feedback machines.

For instance scientists now have a catalogue of brain regions that turn 'on' or 'off' during people's religious experiences such as feelings of being outside time and space, blurring of boundaries between self and others, as well as neural condition seems to trigger vivid, Joan of Arc-type religious visions and voices. The findings had some believers and atheists alike exclaim humans are 'hardwired into believing in God!'

The nagging thought that neurotheology offers is that religious experience is nothing more than virtual reality, making it a repeatable, controllable mental activity that someone with sufficiently advanced know-how could reproduce it synthetically for recreation and entertainment purposes (in lieu of hallucigenic drugs). Indeed, scientists already have a prototype device like this called the God Helmet. And you thought technology was getting smarter?

Needless to say, this technology would work wonders in the hands of evil dictators. Actually, forget evil dictators for now, professional religious cultists and sales evangelists would definitely say 'amen!' to this.

On the other hand, the prospect of the human brain being 'hardwired' to believe in God, could be offered as a kind of proof that God himself did the hardwiring.

This God's-fingerprint-in-the-brain argument is especially attractive because the apparent hardwiring is incomplete leaving enough space for free will and the existence of atheists.

Things like these give me sleepless nights.

Being open minded, I personally regard scientific probes on religion a great service to truth. I specifically would recommend neurotheology to open-minded people, especially the religious ones.

Neurotheological arguments could potentially invalidate, if not cheapen, religion and our idea of God (i.e., did God create us or did we create the illusion of God as an evolutionary tactic for survival?). On the other hand it could challenge us to elevate our religious standards.

Personally I believe religious experiences should never be the basis for considering the validity and purity of a religion.

For me, in so far as something amounts to a bio-chemical processes in the brain, that something is strictly physical and not spiritual.

Incidentally, the religion I adhere to today in the Church of God does not at all give any emphasis on religious experiences. Unlike preachers who induce their members to conjure feel-good religious sensations through hypnotic music and repetitive voice intonations, brother Eli Soriano perpetually point to doctrine found in the biblical texts, tediously read aloud for open analysis. Curiously, I heard Soriano once talk about how saint Paul specifically asks christians during his time to refrain from practicing speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, and others like it which I would presume produce significant amounts of religious sensations.

Does this mean we should distrust religious experiences?

SOLITUDE IS A WOMAN NAMED BARBARA

2009-08-20T15:16:00.000+08:00

Barbra Streisand via last.fm

When I was younger, solitude was a dear and trusted friend. Today, she’s an uninvited guest who kills me softly with nagging thoughts…

We all know what to do with such a guest. Avoid them. Or if they finally caught up with us, get them to leave us be as fast as possible. Sometimes, however, it’s best to just embrace this old friend and even spend an entire evening catching up.

I just did so one evening last week, and was the wiser for it… I guess.

(Instead of turning up the volume on my Samba collection, I explicitly switched to Streisand, as corny as it may sound.)

I did not know it at the time but I realized that Barbara’s songs are quite therapeutic especially if you need a head start verbalizing your emotions.

It was then that a flood of memories came rushing in. Good and bad ones, mostly painful ones and a few smile-inducing ones, stupid mistakes really that now seem funny. I wish I could say it did felt like traveling forward in time and meeting your older self admonishing you to avoid things you would regret later.. but looking back, it did felt like that except that you see things from a woman’s point of view, which is kinda refreshing actually.

One true thing I’ve learned though: I might not ever survive another evening alone with Streisand.

REVENGE OF THE MAMA'S BOYS!!!

2009-08-16T04:05:00.009+08:00

I was sure he was clueless at the time but my high school best friend Moses (not his real name!) taught me a great lesson in coolness when he kissed his mom in public one fateful afternoon. He was so casual about it and couldn’t care less who was looking that I actually felt embarrassed to be even there.

Minutes later, after we board the vehicle en route back to school, I asked him what has just happened in front of mine eyes hoping I could endlessly tease him about it. I was dumbstruck when he flashed a big smile and with a solemn masculine confidence confessed, “I’m a mama’s boy”. I tell you, that simple declaration created a minuscule crack in my juvenile universe that triggered an infinite crisis.

Who says it’s unmanly to express affection for your mom in the first place? And why deny mothers everywhere the affection they deserve from their male children just because of their gender? How on earth can boys develop a healthy respect for women if they can’t even appreciate their mothers who truly love them on a deeper, spiritual level?

I was thinking, “here, before me is a rare creature.. a mama’s boy with an attitude!” A rebel of sorts in fact against all the cheesy put downs by social conspirators who can’t stand anyone violating the feisty protocols of manliness.

I realized too that only a stupid stupid girl would find it uncool to love a warm-blooded real mama’s boy who’s capacity for love transcends his erotic, nature.

With my new-found political cause, I dared go radical and started kissing my mommy on the cheeks publicly… for all her friends and my friends to see. It works like a charm. Everyone blushed every time but me. Pure magic.

Unconvinced still?

Try it with your mom today and be part of a revolution!

LIFE IS A DECISION

2009-08-14T13:25:00.008+08:00

Image by * Photos by Chris M * via Flickr

Would you trade a life of security for a life of adventure?

DB's Adventuresome Advice had me painfully reminded about my own dilemma of the last few years. He narrated

"...how I left a secure and lucrative job as a radio announcer, which I had held for a couple of years, to go back into theatre. The life of an actor, for most of us, is about as secure as being out on the ocean in a row boat with no compass or chart and not knowing where the nearest land is. Nevertheless, that lack of security is the price paid for doing the work we love."

His actor friend on the other hand, took the road more traveled by of full-time job in a law firm and pursuing theatre only part-time, thereby missing a lifelong chance of building his dream career.

I thought its easy enough, to intellectualize this insight.. but I wonder what keeps people from jumping off into the unknown.. when that unknown represents the possibility of soaring beyond the clouds.

Is it lack of belief in the promises of life? Lack of self confidence? That all-too-human inertia? Lack of passion? Inhibition?

Or is it simply a value judgment, one that gives more weight to security than to possibility.

If this were so, then clearly no one choice is better than another. I can choose a secured life while you pursue an exciting life, and we'd both be equally right, so long as we are happy with our respective choices.

But then again, i would only be rationalizing. Deep inside, i still want to live my adventure. Deep inside i want to live beyond the limits of my own preconceived notions about life and about myself. I tell myself, I'm getting there but not yet.

In the meantime, I comfort myself in the thought that life is a question each of us struggle with. By living the question one day at a time, we journey towards an answer. An answer that makes sense to us. An answer that we ourselves distilled from the wine press of our personal doubts, dilemmas and experiences.

We may be influenced by society, religion, philosophy, and our own personal defects and weaknesses. In the end, however, the answer is ours to make or to choose. In this sense, I guess, life is a decision. A decision subject to revision as we go along but a decision nonetheless, out of our inviolable free will.

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I REMEMBER CORY AND NINOY

2009-08-07T18:44:00.017+08:00

Cory Aquino's Funaral, August 2009. By Voltaire F. Domingo
of NPPA Images

I was twelve years old when the People Power revolution happened in 1986 and distinctly remember how it felt to hear on TV that, at last, the impossible was happening. Ferdinand Marcos has left Malacañang!

It was way past my bedtime when I heard a teary-eyed Orly Punzalan announced on TV, "umalis na ang demonyo!", translated as "Marcos has left the palace!". I was twelve years old when Marcos left Malacañang during the 1986 People Power Revolution. Everyone else at home was asleep but I knew I was not alone flashing the Laban sign that very moment, with dancing and jubilation!

My early political awakening, happened three years earlier. We were traveling from Valenzuela to visit relatives in Manila on the day Ninoy's remains was to be transferred from Tarlac to Sto. Domingo Church. Everywhere we go, I saw crowds of people waiting for a glimpse of his casket bearing placards that say "Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa!" I didn't know what it meant and my dad tried to explain but still it didn't make sense to me. "Who is Ninoy Aquino, in the first place?" There began my quest to understand the concept of injustice.

I was still figuring out how to fly a kite at age nine when politics became the dominant topic of conversation in our homestreet. I began hearing people mention the Visayan word "pusila", (meaning "to shoot"), which completely eluded me so I didn't bother to ask what it meant. The word "assassination," however, caught my attention and it's always tragic when used in a sentence: "The Aquino assassination," I wrote beneath a cigarette foil etching I made of Ninoy's fallen body, which I copied from an oppositionist Komiks distributed at the time.

Two years later, the Snap Presidential Elections had everyone engaged in the epic battle between a vicious dictator and a widowed housewife clad in a simple yellow dress. Cory Aquino became the living symbol of the Filipino's struggle against oppression, greed and injustice.

After the downfall of Marcos, it felt like everything would be alright. It didn't. The reality of the Aquino Presidency slowly dawned on the masses. Eventually it toned-down people's expectations. Nonetheless, people still believed in her.

Back then, people at least knew they can trust their President even if they may find it hard to trust other people in government. Back then, decency was the norm, honesty was standard. For this, Cory enjoyed universal respect and admiration down to her last day in office and even beyond.

There have been three presidents since Cory stepped out of Malacañang. And each successor degrades the office (and the citizen's dignity along with it) down to the ditches where it is now.

Cory's death on Saturday morning was sad news for all.

It was to be a reminder that the Filipino deserves no less than honorable leaders.

In these poisoned times when we are made to accept mediocrity, apathy and impunity in public office, Cory's death reminds us in vivid colors, we need never put up with crap.

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Short Film : The End of Civilization

2009-08-03T21:26:00.001+08:00

Depicts a possible World War 3 scenario. Very chilling.

DOES SCIENCE MAKE BELIEF IN GOD OBSOLETE?

2009-07-29T19:29:00.003+08:00

Image by Stijn Vogels via Flickr

Someone somewhere once said that Science is a record of dead religions.

The point being that religion is a haphazard attempt to explain away something (or everything) like the Alchemy and Astrology of old replaced by modern Chemistry and Astrology.

Will the science of a Unified Physics someday replace Religion altogether (thereby fulfilling John Lennon's wish of a "religionless" world where there's nothing to kill or die for)?
On the other hand, someone somewhere said that Science is but a brief history of human ignorance. The point being is that the more we know, the more we know do not know. That Science actually serves to prove humanity's wealth of stupidity... that today's respectable theories will someday be called superstitions...

Oh well, what's say you?

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THE COLOR OF LAMEDUCK POLITICS

2009-07-28T14:40:00.009+08:00

Image by alexander yee via Flickr

Depending on who you ask, the color of Gloria’s SONA attire yesterday was either fuschia , lavander or violet. And depending on who you ask, Gloria either did clearly say goodbye or else just mentioned the fact that her term expires in 2010.

Judging from the stockmarket barometer, I knew nothing sinister was about to happen yesterday at the Batasan (although yesterday was admittedly a sinister holiday). So what was the rumor of coups and self-coups was all about then?

I asked my barber this and he said maybe Gloria was just playing “hard to forget”. I blurted “there’s no such thing!” but he ignored me and continued anyway. He said it’s the last game in town for lameducks and most most outgoing presidents are not daring enough to pretend setting the country on fire.

There’s the insight. In effect, Gloria’s just yelling (as in, “hey! Don’t count me out yet! I could be president-for-life, you know?”) On the other hand, what would happen if the lameduck did actually “accidentally” set the country on fire? Especially when everyone got used to her pretensions?

After pausing for a while, he said, “we’d either all burn our butts or we’ll have roasted lameduck for dinner”. I know it’s supposed to sound delicious but … don’t know it doesn’t seem very appetizing to me. I could use the cooking lesson though. It’s not everyday that I see a lameduck roasted.

DISABILITIES MAKE US STRONGER

2009-07-25T13:08:00.000+08:00

Ever noticed how life is wasted on those who have so much to live for but are afraid to try reaching for their heart’s desires?

Then consider how the blind struggle to see the world with their hands. Or how the deaf-mute struggle to speak through an elaborate system of gestures. Or how some amputees struggle to write and paint with their toes.

We all heard of stories of how otherwise lowly folks like Hellen Keller inspired the world to see beyond their self-limiting prejudices and embrace hope as a way of life…

Then we look back at our sad, little, pathetic, so-called normal lives of good health, strong body with solid education to boot.. and for what? Little by way of real accomplishments… A few useless trophies every now and then in honor of our vanity and self-serving ambitions. Then we reward our efforts with expensive indulgences, self-inflicted vices mostly, of various sorts, all in the name of fun… oh well.

When I see people with disabilities mustering herioc efforts just to survive a normal day I just can’t help but think that perhaps.. its us “normal” types who really are disabled.

Oh well. Maybe I’m just being cynical again.

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IS THE REALITY WE EXPERIENCE NOT JUST A FIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION?

2009-07-20T22:57:00.001+08:00

Have you ever wondered whether this thing we call physical reality is not actually nothing more than just a dream or in today's parlance, virtual?

Young kids supposedly have this illusion that the universe revolves around them... until they realize that no, they are not that lucky. As they grow older and become more pessimists and isolated they began to entertain a similar thought... what if the the reality they experience is essentially illusory? --- what if the whole universe conspired to confine their consciousness in a prison of mental contexts and sub-contexts we call human existence...!

Okay, think of Matrix and you get the point.

Are we prisoners of our own little world, inside our own little mind? If so, then an outsider, a messiah figure, becomes our only way of escape?

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If history truly repeats itself, then where is the new Ninoy?

2009-07-16T18:57:00.000+08:00

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THE STATE OF BEASTS

2009-07-15T17:55:00.012+08:00

Man is basically a good and noble being generally, at least in my opinion and only under agreeable circumstances. Under extreme pressures, however, most people will crack, if not go temporarily insane, for such is the frailty that is human nature.

In the context of comfortable offices, lovely homes, promising careers and hilarious parties… talks about man’s innate goodness or tendency for evil is brushed aside as a mood spoiler. If I could have my way, I’d place this famous etching where the in-crowd can always see them…

Mealtime in the trenches In this ultra realistic etching by German artist Otto Dix, a lone soldier gulps down a hasty meal apparently indifferent to the human skeleton trapped in the frozen landscape beside him.

The work portrays not only the suffering that soldiers had to endure but also the ominous effect such conditions could have on a person's dignity. It springs from Dix’s intimate, if not carnal, knowledge of war and its dehumanizing effects.

In the 1960s Dix said, 'War reduces mankind to the state of beasts, with its hunger, vermin, mud and insane noises'. Who can argue with experience?

In his book “The Tipping Point”, Malcolm Gladwell explores how this human frailty operates even in less extreme situations. Calling it “the power of context”, Gladwell depicts how human behavior is strongly influenced by environment. How even little things, like the prevalence of broken windows in New York, could rouse an epidemic of petty crimes and general disorder.

In a world going crazier by the day, how humanity will fare?

The Bible speaks of darker times ahead; “tribulation such as has not been nor ever shall be” . Scientists likewise warn us that, one way or another, the world will someday end; i.e, through a lethal flu pandemic, global warming, a comet hitting Earth, the big crunch, black hole, or the explosion of our own sun. The possibilities for the end, it seems, are endless!

Now would you rather forget all these and party while you still can? Or would you rather search life’s meaning and make peace with God while you still have your dignity intact?

Short Film : Frat

2009-07-08T03:00:00.001+08:00

"In a world where stone slowly overruns people and transforms them into statues, Sai, a twelve years old little boy, has the power to cure this disease with his blood..."

Short Film: ARK (Humanity's Last Hope...)

2009-07-03T21:19:00.003+08:00

My Adsense Excuse

2009-06-27T17:02:00.000+08:00

Please be clear that in no way do I endorse or vouch for any site provided in my Google Adsense ads, which helps bring in some income to the site. This most especially apply to those links or sites that are religious in nature.

I used to belong to a religious group that discouraged its members from studying other people's beliefs. We were made to be afraid to investigate about what other churches and religious organizations have to say on matters of faith and questions about the bible.

I realized now that investigating these ideas cannot hurt a true seeker of truth. On the contrary, it can exercise our minds and improve our discernment.

I strongly advise my dear readers to read all linked content with discernment. This advise applies to my own writing as well.

I hope this explanation suffices to help you understand and decide to continue supporting my site.

Paid Post Disclosure

2009-06-08T14:41:00.000+08:00

This policy is valid from 8 July 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Journeyist At Gmail Dot Com.
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The owner of this blog occasionally provides opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics for which he receives compensation. The blog owner, however, only provides such service on the condition that he can give honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on said topics or products.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified.

Short Film : World War

2009-06-03T02:41:00.000+08:00

Just Funny: How Superman Should Have Ended

2009-05-09T02:05:00.002+08:00

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

2009-05-07T14:59:00.000+08:00

I was told there is a variety of versions to this question depending on the perspective of the one asking the question, so feel free to take your pick...

What is life all about?
Why are we here? What are we here for?
What is the origin of life?
What is the nature of life? What is the nature of reality?
What is the purpose of life? What is one's purpose in life?
What is the significance of life?
What is meaningful and valuable in life?
What is the value of life?
What is the reason to live? What are we living for?

In short... WHAT IS THE POINT IN LIVING?

Just Funny: How Spiderman Should Have Ended

2009-05-01T01:41:00.001+08:00

Funny Animation: Tadeo Jones

2009-04-13T01:22:00.001+08:00

Short Film : RAM

2009-03-08T00:53:00.001+08:00

Think that a personal robot assistant is awesome? Think again. I just love animation, entertains on many levels =)

Short Film : Stilt Walkers

2009-03-03T15:30:00.001+08:00

Short Film : The Piano

2009-02-23T00:24:00.001+08:00

Simply touching.

Do you want to make money online? Why not get a freelance job earning easy money writing for others or in your own blog? Be a successful work-from-home blogger and start your own business today. I'll show you the secret.

Short Film: Old Man

2009-01-30T22:32:00.008+08:00

This is one sad animation but very well made and quite touching.

THERE'S NO COFFEE LIKE ECCLESIASTES

2009-01-16T10:02:00.000+08:00

'
I'm a coffee lover and Ecclesiastes is my favorite blend.

Freshly brewed from on high Ecclesiastes perks me up when I'm feeling low and wakes me up when I'm backsliding.

Personally, I love Ecclessiastes' bitter taste, its downright cynicism, its in your face pessimism. It is guaranteed to make your mood gloomy or at least introspective with its harsh overdose of brutal honesty served hot straight from old Solomon's kettle.

I'm sure other Christians could relate to this special book in this way, even if they literally hate coffee. Realty bites and this book serves no lesser purpose than to serve reality as it is.

A TIME TO THANK GOD

2008-12-24T12:00:00.000+08:00

It's that time of the year again when we at the Church of God offers our sacrifice of thanksgiving to our Father in heaven. For three glorious days on December 27, 28 and 29, we shall again be awed witnesses to his righteousness and words of wisdom.

Personally I thank the Father for taking good care of my family, especially of my wife who went through two surgical operations this year.. I thank God all the more, however, for keeping me and my wife in the faith in spite of all our shortcomings. I thank God most of all, that He continuously bestowing me, as with the rest of the congregation, the gift of understanding His divine words of Truth!

Thanks be to God for keeping brother Eli Soriano and brother Daniel Razon safe amid all the threats to their lives.

Thanks be to God for the trials and tribulations He allow, especially those instigated by our Church's enemies. Because of such trials and tribulations, several hundreds of new members in the Church of God can now be found in Africa, the Americas, East and South East Asia, Europe and in practically all parts of the globe, in fulfillment of the biblical prophecies!!

Indeed, there's just so much to thank God for that words simply don't suffice...

To God be the Glory!

DO THEY KNOW WHAT'S CHRISTMASTIME, AT ALL?

2008-12-24T10:23:00.000+08:00

Prior to being in the Church about four years ago, I was a Catholic and looked forward to Christmastime just as much as many Filipino Catholics are. I know the excitement the christmas season brings... the cultural message quite literally runs in your veins and your senses gets intoxicated in the hype of it all... and people casually calls it "the spirit of Christmas" as spooky as that may sound to the uninitiated... ;-)

Much as I know what Christmas means to a Catholic (and all the rest of them supposed Christians who should really admit to being pseudo-Catholics) I find it hard to explain to Catholic friends and family why such celebrations are not just un-biblical but actually anti-biblical. The biggest reason for this of course is that they are in no mood to listen. For one, it spoils the holiday fever they are so into.

Put it another way, it simply spoils "everything". Everything as in this whole illussion of peace, happiness and abundance. Being quite reasonable folks, however, they'll admit to it anyway and say its all in the name of indulgence to merry-making... and "hey, why so serious.. don't you guys celebrate Christmas too?!"

At that I just have to smile and say "it's complicated"... or else explain "of course we celebrate "Christmas" too but not in the same way as you do. We celebrate the birth of Christ in our lives everyday... we celebrate it the way He want it celebrated..."

SO, YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER... BUT WHY?

2008-12-09T14:51:00.016+08:00

Who wants to live forever? Raise your hands! I say that’s a perfectly sensible goal… but what will you do with all that time tucked under your belt?

Isn’t a lifetime of problems and difficulties enough for any one man or woman? Would you rather wish for an eternity of struggle?

On a lighter note, have you asked yourself whether you have done a good enough job on your present mortal existence that makes you deserving of an eternal bonus?

The worship of LIFE, it seems, is a human instinct (how else explain our all-consuming tendency for self-preservation, to cling to life no matter what, sometimes in defiance of logic, nature and science).

But the excuse that INSTINCT offers is not enough to extinguish the discontent of those who say that life is overrated? There has to be more to an immortal life than mere instinct.

What Say You?

WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO QUESTION LIFE?

2008-12-04T15:53:00.015+08:00

Perhaps no subject has undergone more scientific, philosophical and theological speculation than life itself.

A handful lay people develop a philosophical interest in the meaning of life but the great majority often ask the same questions for very personal reason… and that’s what makes their answers infinitely more interesting than those of philosophers, scientists and theologians. The way I see it, there are at least...

3 Reasons That Drive People to Seek Meaning

1. MALCONTENT Among the many “ordinary” folks who dare question the meaning of life are those under the influence, of depression that is. Well some have taken to alcohol but that’s not the point. They are driven by “unhappiness” in the first place and in the second place, some are even feeling downright useless or worthless (I don’t know which is worse, this is the worst identity crisis I’ve heard of..)

2. TORMENT Sometimes something awful just happened to them or one of their loved ones despite their being basically 'good people'. “This can’t happen to me,” they cry as if life now owes them an apology, “...I mean… it just doesn’t make sense!” From then on, life has become a struggle for meaning, or a vengeance (if they're insane) against everyone else who seems to be enjoying life.

3. CONCERN / BOREDOM Then there are those blessed with a relatively calm existence but are privy to all the bad things happening to good people. They wonder why there is so much hatred in the world, which itself is a by-product of another question: why is there so much violence in the world (or is it the other way around)?

Well some people (like a few I know whose company I enjoy so much) , actually don't care at all about the meaning of life. In their infinite wisdom, I guess, they either conclude that life has no specific meaning or that life's meaning is just too grand it can’t be understood by mere mortals, how cool! They're like walking blank walls, open to graffiti poets of all sort.

SO, WHAT DRIVES YOUR PERSONAL SEARCH FOR MEANING?

THE ELUSIVE MOMENT

2008-11-14T14:23:00.015+08:00

At the end of the day, we all just want to be real but no, the world just won't let us...

There's the boss at the office to impress, or at least to play pretend to... the fellow white-collar jerks in the lounge to try make laugh by poking fun on the stupid boss... those pesky underlings who you need to show to who's the boss... and back at home there's the real boss, I mean the wife, to boss you around... the kids to gang up on you... and of course the dog, don't forget the dog, whom you need to take outside for a pee or worse... life is full of sh.. demands by other people (and dogs) who want a piece of you, that, often, there's nothing left of you, for you.

As with anything in life that really matters, it takes courage to be true to oneself. Can you imagine the cinematic drama there! Here you are, you just want a few extra minutes all to yourself, say to enjoy your extra rich and classy, aromatic, pure, instant coffee... while the whole world screams back at you in a demanding tone saying "What about your Obligations!?"...

You shrugged off your shoulders and take your fist sip... "The traffic be damned!..." you snorted back "I want my moment..!" You take another sip. Coffee never tasted this good..."the boss and her client waiting for me be damned!... I won't give up this coffee for the world..." It was then that the dog barked at you, gently at first, then awkwardly... threatening to poop on the floor...!"The dog be damned!... I won't be intimidated by no barking beast who happen to share my carpet..."

It was then that the wife looks at you coyly, at first, then looks at the wall clock... and then gazed back at you, slightly disappointed.. you said to yourself "the wife be...!" ...then she said "shouldn't you be going by now... dear?", with emphasis on the dear.

Okay, the wife won this time... again.

Waking Life - The Holy Moment

2008-11-04T20:50:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Mystery of Free Will

2008-11-04T20:39:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Life is Not a Dream

2008-11-04T20:38:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Evolution of Consciousness

2008-11-04T20:34:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Human Potential

2008-11-04T20:30:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Like My Waking Life is Her Memories

2008-11-04T20:24:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - Language

2008-11-04T20:23:00.000+08:00

Waking Life - The Aging Paradox

2008-11-04T12:06:00.002+08:00

Waking Life - ANTS

2008-11-04T12:05:00.002+08:00

Waking Life - BEFORE NOW

2008-11-04T12:01:00.002+08:00

Waking Life - Lack of a Voice

2008-11-04T12:00:00.003+08:00

Waking Life - Alex Jones

2008-11-04T11:58:00.002+08:00

Waking Life - On Existentialism

2008-11-04T11:50:00.002+08:00

SITE UPDATES

2008-10-31T04:43:00.002+08:00

Weeks ago, I've decided that this blog deserves some serious hacking... Today it remains under a state of hack but I'm happy to report that the overall look became a little better. Just my opinion though...

My profound apologies to people I've dragged here to critique the changes I've implemented. I hope to recompense your annoyance someday, somehow... but I was in dire need of inputs you see and it's hard to see with my own eyes blinded by hours of hunting for dangling html To those who took the time off to click and critique, my sincerest thanxx!

What Is Life? Really?

2008-10-22T16:59:00.000+08:00

That yellow shirt you're wearing, it's actually anything but yellow. Yes it absorbs all colors of the spectrum except yellow. And so it bounces off of yellow light, the color it refuses to be, and instantly, you see a yellow shirt. It's just an illusion.

That beautiful sunset you're looking at, it's not really the Sun that's setting but the horizon that's rising. This is so because it's the earth that's moving on its axis and not the Sun. It's all a matter of perspective.

That life you're living, along with millions of other wonderful human beings, that's actually not life in the strictests sense but slow death. You see it everyday before the mirror. You grow older a bit by the minute, you know pretty soon you'll be limping on your side with age. You die a little with each breathe you take. Each moment we strive to live is a striving after the wind, we all know it, death shall eventually do us in.

We wage a hopeless battle against death yet we all know no human has ever got out of life alive. It's quite tragic really.

And so dear friends I beg the question once again, what is life that I should be mindful of it?

TAGALOGS ARE NO RACISTS

2008-10-16T17:34:00.000+08:00

The Manilan's general tendency mimicry other people’s accent (when they try to speak Tagalog) could not be called racism. Believe me it's just a a form of humor, albeit a lame one, and those whose feelings get offended don’t find it funny.

If it were pure and simple racism, then they would not mimic the accent of their own kind, the provincial Tagalogs but they do. Batanguenos have more of their share of this "abuse" than their Bisayan kababayan. Batanguenos, however, don’t get offended and indeed, when sensing that their Manileño cousins make fun of their accents, they all the more showcase their delectable solid Batangueño accent!

The thought that perpetrators of this form of linguistic “racism” are always Tagalogs themselves is in itself nearer to the essence of racism by lumping all Tagalog people as insensitive idiots with a bloated superiority complex.

Truth to tell, this tendency to mimic other people’s accent is shared more or less equally by many Manileños whether they themselves are actually Ilokanos, Kapampangan, Bikolanos etc. Cebuanos are equally guilty of laughing at non-Bisyas who err when speaking Binisaya. So instead of blaming one linguistic group of people for this crime, let's just blame human nature.

Some of the more hilarious Tagalog variations are not those spoken by Bisayas or Batanguenos but by Americans, Chinese and Japanese. (I once heard the Russian ambassador in Manila spoke in Tagalog, and it was so close to Manila accent that it almost felt frightening).

My wife laughs at me a lot whenever I try to speak or write in Bikol, her native tongue. She's usually amused or flattered but yes, I sometimes detect a faint sense of pride or even superiority on her part but it is no way near that ugly word, racism.

I myself always get caught in perpetual awe upon hearing the Illongo language. I don't understand it nor have a desire to learn it anywhere in the near future, but I consider it music to my ear. Some of my Ilonggo friends may have sometimes get offended when I try to mimic the way they speak Tagalog, but what they don't realize was that I secretly lust after their mother tongue.

Yes, Manileños need a lot of growing up to do when it comes to being sensitive with their fellow Filipinos, especially towards non-Tagalogs. This, however, is a case of immaturity or at least insensitivity, not racism.

----------

If I could have my way, I'd prefer that Manileño kids be obliged to have at least a working knowledge of all the 12 major languages of the Philippines, and perhaps proficiency in at least 2 other languages (namely Ilokano and Cebuano) aside from Tagalog-Filipino and English.

What do you think?

THE SKY IS FALLING. OR HAS IT ALREADY?

2008-10-10T17:40:00.000+08:00

Hard times in the Manila for the past several months have finally convinced me that I should open up to the possibility of working abroad. I need a fresh start and maybe I should fly overseas fast.

I was thinking of Canada of course or at the very least, Singapore.

I used to think that I have a bad sense of timing but never have I thought that I was that bad. On the eve of US-led global meltdown, Singapore got to become one of the earliest hit; yesterday Singapore was said to have slipped into a recession.

This just in from the China Daily.

SINGAPORE-- Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Friday that Asian countries cannot avoid the impact of weakening US, European and Japanese economies, and Singapore must prepare for a rough ride at least over the next year, possibly longer.

Canada too is close to a recession but its government is determined to cross its fingers! Here's the view from The Guardian.

TORONTO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Canada's government said on Monday the economy can still avoid a recession even as the global financial crisis battered the Toronto stock market and economists warned of little growth until late next year.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada was not immune to the impact of a global economic slowdown, but it was not in a recession yet. Harper's aides said there were no plans for a special bailout for the country's banks.

Wait, there's more. Experts believe this is just the beginning of a possibly unprecedented global economic storm that could last one and a half to two years.

Oh well, this only means I should... well I really don't know. Is there any economy in the world safe from this perfect storm? Maybe I'd be better off planting kamote in the backyard instead of searching for luck in an uncertain world.

ATTACK OF THE SUPER-TUBERCULOSIS

2008-10-10T08:09:00.003+08:00

Russia is on the verge of a super tuberculosis outbreak.

Pravda Online says experts have discovered a new deadly culture of tuberculosis, which cannot be treated with existing medications;

“high death-rate among people with tuberculoses from the former Soviet Union has to do with people’s weak immune systems. Also, we noticed that such widespread of tuberculosis coincides with the overall rise of AIDS, which has already turned into a real epidemic in Russia.”

They explain the correlation this way: once an organism's immune system has already been weakened by AIDS, "it becomes susceptible to tuberculosis in general and to the new culture in particular"...

THE SKY IS & ISN'T FALLING

2008-09-30T17:39:00.005+08:00

The global meltdown, or rumors of a US-triggered global economic meltdown, is easily the hottest selling item these days. Some, like George W. Bush, peddle the notion as if he's proud it happened during his watch. Some well meaninged contrarians equally profit by peddling optimism down people's throat saying, hey, the sky is not falling.

Having lived long enough to know that reality is often more than meets the eye, I would venture to suggest that most probably the sky is and isn't falling. I mean it's all a matter of perspective, really. For the likes of the average Joe, yes, the sky is falling. For the average multi-billionaire George, no, its not the sky that's falling, but prices of assets, which by now are at incredibly low low prices... up for grabs by the super rich. When things cool down, the boy with the most toys win.

Guess its still an old-fashioned world after all where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer still. As the song goes... what a wonderful world.

BLACK HOLE AND THE DESTITUTE FILIPINA

2008-09-09T17:37:00.001+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Will the CERN Complex in Geneva help scientist probe the universe's "dark matter" will it instead trigger a man-made "black hole" that will swallow the Earth. Tomorrow we'll begin to know...

The experiment is set to put the Big Bang Theory to the test. This alone should be enough to get everyone's attention since the Big Bang is the default theory being wagged by anti-creationist establishment propagandist as the working idea for a universe devoid of the Creator God.

Their line of thinking was like "Nobody created the universe, things just exploded and suddenly, everything came into existence". Since the "everything" cannot explode out of nothing, they have to posit a go-between, a dark matter, and dark energy that must precipitate the big bang.

But not everyone has the luxury of delving into cosmology and physics. There are some, like this penniless Filipino woman , who must deal with a tougher dilemma; how to hold on to a life of poverty when all hope is gone? Before committing suicide, she killed her three children...And to think that several countries chipped in $9.2 Billion on the CERN... to prove, albeit indirectly, that God does not exist, makes you wonder... what can we do to arrest the black hole that form in people’s hearts?

My New Logo

2008-09-01T23:47:00.001+08:00

THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER IS NOW A PARTY TO HARASSMENT OF BRO. SORIANO?

2008-09-01T05:14:00.001+08:00

I was saddened yesterday upon reading this article posted on Inquirer.net, this despicable excuse for journalism:

"Ely Soriano charged with falsification of public document"
By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:57:00 08/29/2008

The title alone is a dead giveaway hint to the writer's incompetence at gathering information; he misspelled the nickname of a very popular personality in his own native land, a man who goes by the name of Bro. Eli Soriano. Philippine News Tabloids, which are known for their thoroughly irresponsible journalism, fared better than than the PDI if only for the fact that they got Soriano's nickname right. The daily toilet paper known as "Bulgar", for instance, spelled it "Eli" and not "Ely" as Lopez wrote.

Interestingly Lopez knew Soriano's full name well, its just the correct nickname that proved to be too challenging to write, it reads...

MANILA, Philippines—The head of Ang Dating Daan evangelist group Eliseo "Ely" Soriano and two others were charged with falsification of public document at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office for allegedly faking the certificate of detention in order to post bail for his rape charges.

I suppose Lopez has confused Bro. Eli , the very popular televangelist with Ely Buendia, the equally very popular soloist of Eraserheads. The fact that the title has passed the supposedly meticulous watch of the PDI editors also shows that the article was written under the influence of either gross institutional incompetence or stupidity or both.

The article goes on to say that Soriano was "indicted for the rape of his male follower at the regional trial court of Macabebe, Pampanga," but the writer conveniently forgot to mention that the case has been dismissed on January 26, 2006 as penned by Alexandro Lopez, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Region III, San Fernando, Pampanga and as approved by Jesus Y. Manarang, the Provincial Prosecutor. To quote an excellent account written by Jane Abao the document says:

"The foregoing facts, together with the rift going on between the INC and the ADD, which we cannot deny, only show that the complainant was indisputably ill-motivated from the inception, and these necessarily, without any scintilla of doubt, substantially affect, if not lessen, his credibility as an unperjured affiant. Wherefore, premises having been considered, the undersigned recommends the DISMISSAL, as he hereby DISMISSES, the complaint for rape filed by Daniel Veridiano against Eliseo Soriano docketed herein as I.S. N0. 05-I-2459 and 2460."

It would have been in keeping with PDI's credo of "Fearless Views, Balanced News" had Lopez also mentioned that on on March 21, 2006, months following the dismissal of the case, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales directed Regional State Prosecutor Jesus Simbulan to elevate the records of the rape case to his office. The letter said:

"Department of Justice. Memorandum to RSP Jesus Simbulan, ORSP, Region III, Subject: Daniel Veridiano vs. Eliseo Soriano for Rape. Date: March 21, 2006. In the interest of justice, you are directed to elevate the records of above-captioned case to my office. For immediate compliance. Raul Gonzalez. Secretary."

(to read the rest of Jane Abao's article, heres the link)

Without details like these to balance Lopez's article, the general reading public can't help but form an impression that Eli Soriano is already guilty as charged and a bona fide fugitive from the law. A fugitive from an unfair government, perhaps but but not a fugitive from the laws of the land.

Head of a minority religious group in the Philippines, Soriano's reputation has suffered a steady barrage of legal harassment... from being tagged as a land grabber, opportunist, libelous, a sex crime offender and finally a fugitive from the law.

How could the Philippine Daily Inquirer been party to this legal harassment and public humiliation of an old man, I just can't stomach. As a loyal reader of the newspaper, I feel betrayed...

HOW TO BEAT THE OIL CARTEL?

2008-07-21T13:29:00.005+08:00

Where in the world is Filipino inventor Daniel Dingel and his hydro-powered car? As early as 1968 he started a revolution against the Oil Cartel in his garage by converting his car to run on ordinary tap water. Years later, the Manila news media warmed up to him until he was virtually declared a hoax after the Department of Science and Technology reportedly found traces of carbon dioxide in Dingel's car emissions. Skeptics then concluded that the inventor was still secretly using hydrogen produced from his electrolysis machine. Or was he?

In one interview Dingel alleged that agents of the IMF and World Bank have prevented him from marketing his invention citing an agreement with the Philippine government that it "may not not to produce anything that would compete with their (petrol) product".

Thirty years later, (surprise, surprise) Reuters News gives us this preview of a near future when car owners need only stop by the nearest water faucet when refueling.

Japanese company Genepax says its car runs on water, that it uses an energy generator that extracts hydrogen from water which was then injected into the car’s tank. The generator then releases electrons that produce electric power to run the car.

An American inventor, meanwhile, claims to have tinkered with his motorcycle to run, not on water-derived hydrogen, but on "water-based" fuel.

It doesn't end there. In Sri Lanka, a 25-year-old Thushara Priyamal Edirisinghe claimed to have done a similar feat. There are many others.

A confirmation from establishment giant Honda of course couldn't have driven home the point more conclusively with its HONDA FCX WATER CAR available for lease only to HOLLYWOOD ELITE!

So, again, where in the world is Daniel Dingel? He's still in fighting form and this time he has partnered with ETHOS, a Swiss-based company racing to commercially produce the world's first water powered car. They have also set up a foundation to help bring his products to the world while helping Mr. Dingel to raise money "to help his fellow Filipino people". Here is Dingel's old video demo.

BEING JOSEPH VIZCARRA

2008-07-08T15:32:00.001+08:00

An ordinary guy who loves to move around a lot Joseph Vizcarra, (that's me), is at home practically anywhere (well except for a few hell holes I happen to find myself once in a while in quest of coffee money).

Currently based in Manila as a knowledge worker, Joseph successfully crashed his way through the fields of news media, marketing communication and institutional advocacy. These days he work as a senior technical expert in a government corporation but remains true to his freelance work ethic, (at least just to keep me from getting burned out again and again..).

Offline, he dabbles in everything that deals with entrepreneurship, management, corporate planning and human development. (Online, however, sky's the limit!)

He lives a quiet life (well, almost) somewhere in the Metro with his wife, three lovely kids (ooopps! make that four..), two pensive cats and a big, all-black and all-clumsy Dalmatian. And yes, Joseph's a regular weekender at Apalit town in Pampanga, where he finds nourishment for his soul listening to his all-time favorite bible preacher in the whole world.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

2008-07-04T16:51:00.001+08:00

The 2^nd Quarterly Thanksgiving in the Church of God International of 2008 is expected to be one of the most well attended events in the church’s history. This as the brethren eagerly anticipate the doctrinal topics to be discussed by brother Eli Soriano, which in recent months, have gone more and more in-depth proving again and again the biblical promise that the understanding of God’s revealed knowledge in the bible are an exclusive claim of his chosen people.

An even greater source of the brethren’s boundless sense of gratitude to the Almighty springs from the awe-inspiring growth the Church has undergone the last three months. The members have witnessed the humble beginnings of brother Eli’s international mission when he first set foot outside the Philippines.

Today the first fruits of this international mission are getting more and more visible with new members coming from various parts of the globe from non-Filipinos, especially from Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and even in some of the world’s most remote regions. They come in droves and no one really expected the growth to be fast.

Thanks be to God, this extraordinary development was made possible when pastors from various denominations around the world started leading their respective flocks to listen to the one sent to preach the word of God in these last days.

To God be the Glory!!! Happy Pasalamat to All!!!

FILIPINO ECONOMY AT THE MERCY OF PREDATORY POLITICIANS

2008-06-25T17:47:00.002+08:00

The PDI’s Second Front Page today has got me excited. It reads: “RP Corruption Worst in East Asia”. Of course the news was upsetting but it was no news at all to millions of Filipinos, it’s common knowledge. What got me excited was upon reading the line that says the Philippines is at the “bottom of East Asia’s ten largest economies”. I say that is news. Yes, this labor exporting country is among the region’s ten largest economies. It is a monumental triumph of the Filipino and one achieved in spite of the burden posed by a chronically corrupt and inept government.

Just imagine what economic dreams may come when the Filipino people finally rid their government of crocodiles masquerading as politicians. I still look forward to a day when the people shall drive all the crocodiles off from Malacanang Palace and down back to Pasig River where they belong. It has been their home anyway prior to the sacking of Manila by the conquistadores.

FILIPINO AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN NEW ZEALAND

2008-06-23T13:23:00.003+08:00

I’ve just got wind from the blog mills of this truly unprecedented development: New Zealand is set to prescribe Filipino as a required study in its schools, making it the country’s second language after English. Being a Filipino I couldn’t help but say Great! They couldn’t have made a better choice! Then, quickly, the question, arises: why?? But then my even quicker answer would be why not poknat?

Anong mapapala nila dun? (What benefit would they get from it?) Oh, so much, actually. New Zealand is home to a highly valued crowd of professional Filipinos (13,000 at least while some estimates place them at more than 16,000). Bridging the language barrier between locals and the Filipino foreigners would certainly make their working relationship more friendly, efficient and productive. Indeed it would make New Zealand a little bit more like home for Filipinos, making them a less foreign to their employers. By mastering their language we derived so much from New Zealanders aside from financial rewards; they must figure it’s high time they derive as much from us.

The same, however, can be said of studying any language be it as prestigious as English or French or as obscure as any of the world’s minority languages. For as they say, the biggest gap between peoples is not distance but culture: and language is the bridge that connects that gap. In this light, maybe it’s high time too that Philippine educators begin teaching studes in Metro Manila some of the regional languages. That way they’ll derive as much cultural learning as their peers from the countryside who just moved in. Additionally it would enrich the national language further and faster, making it more facilitative of nation building in these globalized times.

MY NEWFOUND SPANISH SELF-STUDY REGIME

2008-06-19T08:35:00.000+08:00

My experience in self-studying English (back in first year high school) serves as a mental yardstick today in studying Spanish. I was then able to break the barrier from functional illiteracy to active comprehension by a mere three months or so of intensive immersion. (Of course my exposure to Sesame Street English was a plus factor). What worked especially well for me was my translating English articles into Tagalog, and my maniacal deciphering of English text (of science-related reading materials) into an even more basic English.

Tagalog constructions can generally be made to follow English syntax. With a minimum of conjugational intricacies, the mystery of the English language soon enough was made plain to me. I was not sure if the same is true for me with Spanish. But with plenty of materials at the bookstore and over the Internet for my Spanish studies, I am now realizing that the language is just as easy if not easier.

My mother tongue, Tagalog, has been steadily hispanized for more than three centuries of Castilian conquest of the Philippines. Although it remains most distinctly Autronesian in sound and grammar, modern Tagalog’s lexicon has become latinized with about fifty percent direct borrowings from Castilian and a steady stream of indirect contemporary Latin borrowings through English. This means that, para mi, a study of Spanish lexicon is not a big burden.

Additionally Spanish pronunciation is so much easier than English because it almost feels like Tagalog. Now I understand why Spanish is not at all considered as a foreign language by Filipino academics.

Now my bigger struggle is retaining what I’ve learned. With my memory gap growing strong by the day, I might actually forget English after mastering Spanish. But that may not necessarily be too bad. Who knows it just night permanently cure me of mental fatigue and memory loss all in one sway.

HOW TO CURE WRITING FATIGUE, ANYONE?

2008-06-17T06:26:00.000+08:00

For the last several months I was busy battling my writing fatigue, which has grown to fester me like the plague. In my unrelenting resolve to kill the inner beast I’ve fortuitously discovered a
“cure” that, well, seems to work for me. I’ve realized that my “writing fatigue” was really “language fatigue” in thin disguise, I was literally sick with the English language! I was so sick of it I couldn’t get myself to write any English prose except at work, and even then it always leaves me feeling exhausted.

I’ve made this discovery this after chancing upon an old copy of Balagtas’ Florante at Laura in my in-laws’ bookshelves, and upon reading it sporadically realizing how truly beautiful language could be. This inspired me to read on and read more Tagalog classics condensed in old textbooks, which heretofore serve nothing more than crude dust holders.

With my appetite whetted, I’ve come to a momentous decision, why not revive my study of the Spanish language? I was among the last few students who took 9 units of Spanish in college after the government decided to scrap it as a required subject. Of course I have nothing to show for it apart from the “tres” in my school records. I’ve decided that if I can learn English, I can learn any language I choose. I’m prone to making wrong decisions of course.

As for new language study as cure for my writing fatigue, well I theorized that perhaps, the part of my brain responsible for processing language has become too hardwired to English that it starts to “short-circuit” or “overheat”. By thinking in Tagalog and by learning to think in a totally different language maybe, just maybe, my language processor gets to relax, cool down and regains strength.

tags: writing, blogging, publishing, money, earning, part-time, telecommuting, money, online job,

FALSE RELIGION IS BULLSHIT !!!

2008-02-07T08:46:00.001+08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

A friend of mine has asked me recently what I can say about George Carlin's views on religion.

I said its Very Funny!!! And Very True!!!

George Carlin is very correct (but I don't necesarily share his faith 100%). Actually what Carlin says pretty much is a digest of what the Vatican has been telling people the world over. I say the Vatican gave religion a bad name, a very bad name. The worse part is that the protestants have picked up many of the same lies perpetrated by the Vaticanists... thus we have a very "fucked up" view of religion, even of the bible.

I've walked through George Carlin's road of atheism before. I symphatize with him. I think his views and comments are fair and sincere and logical. I would even recommend his views as an intellectual challenge to all Catholics and Protestants. Having said that, however, let me just state my take; Carlin's conclusions are based on erroneous beliefs.

With his characteristic open-mindedness, I believe Carlin still gives the Bible the benefit of the doubt. I say he hasn't heard the last word on religion until he hears what brother Eli Soriano has to say on the matter. Everything Carlin was ever fed about religion are lies. Jesus has warned us about this as much when he said many will claim to speak on his behalf... Carlin's incisive views is just one more confirmation of Jesus' prophecy. Indeed, what Carlin is attacking, essentially, is not religion per se but false religion.

You see, God's message in the bible is not necessarily what the Pope says it is.

THE SOUND OF LIGHT SABER PIERCING THE DARKNESS

2008-02-04T16:46:00.002+08:00

It has been ages since I last posted anything here… and I have tons of exciting excuses to show for it… but I won’t tell it straight out.

Suffice it to say for now that I spent the last few months searching myself in relation to my journey as a person and as a Christian.

It has not been an uneasy search mentally and spiritually. I was seeking for answers to questions for which I already know the answers… but it’s not the answers per se that I was looking for. I was looking for my self… for my heart’s sincerest ponderings, to see whether I, in the filthy recesses of my poor soul, I truly consent with the Bible’s answers to life’s deepest questions.

It was a necessary journey for me for I cannot continue to live, much less write, based on second-hand truths; I have to see Truth from my own soul’s window instead of from borrowed set of eyes. I have to experience knowledge out of my own humble existence, through my own lonely perspective, as would a worm on the ground.

Thanks to God that I found myself by grappling with the answers to some of the most intimate answers provided in the bible. I believe they are the kind of answers that can’t be truly arrived at except by honestly living through with the tough personal questions.

In facing life’s dark dangerous challenges squarely in the eye, it’s exhilarating to realize that a believer can actually fight back armed with no less than the light saber of God! Take heart, believe... and hear darkness ripped apart from the very depths of your soul.

THE DEATH OF BLOGGING?

2007-08-24T16:09:00.000+08:00

Internet giants Yahoo and MSN have bowed to the wishes of China's censors lords. They are now party to a "self-discipline pact" designed to silence Chinese bloggers from speaking their mind.

I hope Google will not stoop so low. I hope Google would remain on the side of bloggers on this, then there would be a tidal wave of bloggers from Yahoo and MSN migrating to Blogspot!. Otherwise it would be the beginning of the death of blogging, and who knows even of bloggers themselves.

If Google would start down the way of Yahoo and MSN, there would just be no telling where it would end. Google will simply be no longer like Google and that would be the end of blogging as we know it. More to the point, the entire World Wide Web would be like China, huge, bothersome, and potentially deadly marketplace of consumer goods and nothing more.

If people are not free to blog what's on their mind, to express dissent without fear of government repression, then there's just no use in blogging.

ELISEO SORIANO ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIAN MORIORI

2007-08-22T15:30:00.004+08:00

That's the title I proposed for Brother Eliseo Soriano's biography article in Wikipedia. The page is jealously guarded by Wiki Administrator Moriori, my newfound online buddy. I have nothing personal against Moriori. In the course of my discourse with him, however, I have developed an acute disgust of Wikipedia, here's why.

The whole Wikipedia concept is supposed to be built on the idea of collaboration. Specifically collaboration of knowledge owners to build an opensource base of shared information. My determined and reasoned attempt to delete the word "controversial" from the lead paragraph on Bro. Eli's biography, however, has earned me a warning from Moriori that he will block me from further editing Wikipedia. That's not very collaborative of him. Not very Wikipedian...

My stand is simple. A subjective adjective has no place in a sentence describing a person, especially in his biography page. The word "controversial", after all, is not exactly descriptive of the person of Brother Eli. that word only describes other people's opinion of him.

I'm not disputing that some people consider Brother Eli as "controversial". I will, however, vouch that many people also consider him "phenomenal", "inspiring", "exceptional" to name a few choice adjectives. To his enemies I'm sure they would use all degrading adjectives in the dictionary to describe him. All these words, however, are a judgment by people on the character of Brother Eli based on their unique and personal appraisal of his person.

A website purporting to be an encyclopedia, meanwhile, must refrain from using such words. Interestingly, Wikipedia does not use the word "controversial" to describe people of proven "controversialness" like Jimmy Swaggart, Bill Clinton, Evita Peron or even the self-proclaimed antichrist José Luis de Jesús Miranda. They were all described casually on the basis of their nationality and profession or avocation. Why on earth then is Wikipedia allowing one Moriori to insert the word "controversial" on the biography of Brother Eli Soriano?

The inescapable conclusion is that he has a bias against Brother Eliseo Soriano. He denied this allegation twice. I doubt his denial very much. I am now calling the attention of Wikipedia to Moriori's bias. That's very unbecoming of a Wikipedia administrator.

Still I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps Moriori is just trying to be controversial himself, hmmm.

TRUE LEADERS SPEAK THE TRUTH

2007-08-14T22:36:00.002+08:00

Some people reminisce with pride that they lived in a time of hard won fights and impossible dreams. They say they fought side by side Che Guevara, marched in the streets with Malcolm X, and struggled for peace with Mahatma Gandhi. They lived in exciting times alongside troublemakers who stood for something true. Imperfect leaders who fought for something they know to be right.

Today, many say true leaders are a thing of the past. That they are an extinct breed. I say they are wrong. I say true leaders still exist but people just don't know where to look or else they are just unwilling to look anymore. Some, you see, just cannot commit to anything anymore beyond their personal world. Their battle cry is, Convenience! And they dare tell you "you will not insult me by telling the truth!"

I know a simple man who boldly speaks the truth. He holds a bible by his right hand and a microphone by his left. Yet he is looked upon as a troublemaker by many in the Philippines, his own land. His people love him so, however, for they know something many don't. They know Truth and yes, it had set them free.

He now lives far away from his loved ones to preach the the Truth to a world in dire need of it. Unlike Guevara, Malcolm X and Gandhi, however, this man will most probably never become a cultural icon. Unlike them, however, his message will never be lost in the hearts of people who heard him in earnest.

To anyone who would dare know the meaning of Life, let him listen to my Brother Eli Soriano.

DISSENT IN THE CHURCH OF GOD

2007-08-12T01:43:00.003+08:00

How open is your church to dissent? Especially open dissent. One that is done for all members to see, hear and examine? I am asking this because, frankly, I think there is no other religious organization that practices this aside from our church. You see, in our congregation, Brother Eli Soriano not only tolerates or entertains dissent. He encourages it. God gave men free will so why deny open dissent?

Non-members know that Brother Eli openly entertains all kinds of questions concerning faith and matters biblical. The public is also familiar with his open challenge to priests, pastors and ministers of other Christian denominations to a debate. What non-members know, however, is that Brother Soriano is also open to dissent among church members. Be it dissent as regards biblical issues or church policy, he is game so long as the dissent concerns issues or principles and that the dissenters come out in the open.

Yesterday, the brethren witnessed such a sensitive dispute openly discussed and resolved through biblical inspiration. And I thank God that I witnessed such a beautiful day, for it strengthened my faith all the more that ours is not a church of men but a true and living Church of God.

It all really started last Saturday (August 4), when Bro. Willy Santiago (a respected worker in the church and a long time panelist and bible reader in Bro. Eli's TV shows in the Philippines) openly told the congregation that he will follow Bro. Daniel Razon as Church Presiding Minister if and when the day comes that he should carry that burden. This, however, he said is on the condition that he would see with his own eyes God’s imprimatur on Bro. Daniel’s leadership when he actually takes over as presiding Minister.

Bro. Willy made it clear that his loyalty is with Brother Eli, and as such he is ready and willing to be reprimanded. Brother Eli, however, just tolerated him that day and did not correct him at once. (Bro. Eli would later explain that he would rather let Bro. Willy see the light on his own through the biblical topics he would discuss instead of directly reprimanding him.)

I really feel very sad to hear that Brother Willy feels that way about Brother Daniel. Its nice to know, however, that he has at least the basic decency to speak his mind openly. At any rate, I understand him because I have similar reservations about Bro. Daniel when I was just a few months old as a church member. I never doubted Brother Daniel’s sincerity or sense of commitment and perseverance or even his leadership skills. I was not sure, however, if he has the spiritual stamina and wisdom to preach the bible and lead the church, especially as it is now in the midst of a discreet persecution by its enemies.

Through the years, however, I am glad to have witnessed Bro. Daniel’s inspired and humble leadership. It was a sigh of relief to realize I was wrong in ever doubting him. Slowly it dawned on me why Bro. Eli trusted him so much. He saw something in him that no one else has seen.

It’s true, Brother Daniel is no clone of Bro. Eli in terms of preaching the word but no one in the church can claim that unique status, anyway. I have no trouble believing, however, that God, in due time, would grant wisdom to any rightful successor to Bro. Eli. Brother Daniel Razon is that rightful successor since Bro. Eli elected him in 1991. I have always suspected, however, that Bro. Daniel was a reluctant leader. Perhaps it was this reluctance that I picked up on that made me doubt him. It was only much, much later, however, that I learned that such reluctance is classic. No less than the prophets of old like Moses, Jonah and Elijah did try to resist God’s leadership plans for them. The work of God, after all, is grand and holy. It is only human to feel unworthy in the face of such a responsibility. To feel humbled in the face of so great a task.

I believe too that it was this reluctance that made Bro. Daniel came off as a less than effective leader in the eyes of some brethren in the last few years. When he came back to the Philippines recently after accompanying Brother Eli in his international ministering, I believe many in the church sense a change in him. There was something different about him. It's like he has gained greater conviction, I don't know. He was a different man. Indeed he declared to the congregation that he no longer fears physical death should it come suddenly upon him. But that's just the surface of it. His later actions would prove the real extent of his reinvigorated dedication. Slowly the last shred of my doubts disappeared.

Yesterday, he confirmed his reluctance at the Thanksgiving Service.

In the morning session, a teary eyed Bro. Daniel admitted in front of the brethren that, in the span of a few years, he twice attempted to persuade Brother Eli to get another successor in his stead but he never got around to talk to him one on one. Somehow, situations prevented him from confiding his plans.

The Lord has so prospered Bro. Daniel’s many projects and initiatives within the church. If these were not direct signs from heaven, I don’t know what is. By this I also became personally convinced that Bro Daniel is the fulfillment of a prophecy described in the Book of Jeremiah…

Instead of proceeding with the actual thanksgiving day topic yesterday, Sister Luz Cruz pressed Brother Eli to directly express his position regarding Brother Willy's concern, at least in this instance. From then on the discussion proceeded to a candid yet beautifully enlightening exchange. Brother Willy gave his biblical basis for dissenting and Brother Eli explained his side with full scriptural support. By the day’s end Bro. Willy is thankful to God for erasing his doubts and for understanding the bible more fully. He again apologized for any inconvenience he may have caused Brother Eli and Brother Daniel.

I can never narrate here the fullness of the rich biblical discourse Brother Eli gave that Saturday afternoon so I will not try. Suffice it to say that it was beautiful! Oh it was more than beautiful. It was fantastic!

Now, if these were not a scene in your Sunday service, I believe you are attending the wrong church. Just my opinion though.

THE PENTAGON PLANS TO PROMOTE LEFT BEHIND VIDEO GAMES TO TROOPS IN IRAQ?

2007-08-09T16:57:00.002+08:00

This piece from liberal/left political commentary site BTCNews should not really come as a surprise in the government of George W. Bush but really, this is just too much. Then again, I though it must be a sick joke, yet The Nation has a similar story in its blog.

The Nation says…

As an official arm of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, Operation Straight Up (OSU) plans to mail copies of the controversial apocalyptic video game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces to soldiers serving in Iraq. OSU is also scheduled to embark on a "Military Crusade in Iraq" in the near future.

First off, just what is the Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game about? Based on the equally controversial, no-brainer, Left Behind fiction series, the video game takes for the worse…

Newsweek once described the game this way:

“The game revolves around New Yorkers who are “left behind” after the rapture. Players scour the streets for converts, training them into a work force to feed, shelter and join a paramilitary resistance against the growing forces of the Antichrist.

Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon, whose company went public in February, says the game’s Christian themes will grab the audience that didn’t mind gore in the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ.’…”

Radical Congruency, however, puts it more succinctly in describing the scenario of the game…

-The rapture has happened, so all the Christians are gone
-A bunch of people realize the error of their ways, and immediately become Christians after the rapture
-For some reason, it becomes necessary to blast the unrepentant to bits and hasten the destruction of the world
-Guns. Lots of guns.

The site further says …

The idea of religious video games that celebrate the death and eternal destruction of non-adherents - worse yet, that makes their annhiliation the primary task of the Christian community - raises my abhorrence for the Left Behind phenomenon to a level of utter disgust that I previously reserved only for racism and genocide.”

I say, Amen to that!

ATHEISTS NOW BELIEVE IN IMMORTALITY!

2007-07-31T10:43:00.002+08:00

In the recent past, the religion of atheism was so convenient for its faithful believers in at least one respect—they do not have to worry about the afterlife. Recently, however, some of their leading “pastors” are entertaining the plausibility of the soul’s immortality. And yes, of course they remain unshaken in their core belief that God is dead. They just now say God does not need to exist in order for the soul to survive. Oh well, whatever pleases them.

In the article Eternity for Atheists see how Jim Holt of the New York Times considers the possibility. He quotes speculations by one philosopher after another, considers the theories of one scientist after another, try to blend them well together with orthodox atheism and, voila! You have an upgraded version of atheism for the Web 2.0 generation!

Really, I was trying to be open-minded about the ideas proposed in the article. They sounded somewhat profound after all and well within the tradition of scientific guesswork. I must confess, though, it was a nice read and made me laugh a bit. Oh, I am so glad I do not share their passionate denial of God’s existence.

All their speculations really sounded like philosophical delusions than anything else. But the sad thing is, they are not joking. They seriously believe they can understand the great beyond through speculation. Have they really lost all respect for epistemology?

At any rate, this development is something to celebrate. Theists and atheists no have a little bit more in common than at any other time in the past!!! If atheists will consider every other speculation about the afterlife, it would be the height of scientific dishonesty to relegate to the trash bin the tons of ideas about the afterlife written in the bible!

Come on atheist friend, read the bible.

ANG DATING DAAN EXPOSED!!!

2007-07-30T20:14:00.004+08:00

I studied all the televangelists in town but this Brother Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) is one huge anomaly. He’s the only preacher who is not afraid of displeasing the crowd. He is the only one who is not worried about appearing the fool, uneducated and unwashed. He’s got a message to tell the world and everything, including himself, cannot get in his way.

Like prophet Elija of old, Bro. Eli appealed to me as one who can and will go it alone even should his flock desert him and veer away from the narrow path of Christ. Well I could be wrong of course so I set out to know more about this guy and possibly join his group, if need be, just so I can understand the guy firsthand, minus the negative publicity by his detractors and minus the positive testimonies of his adherents. It all sounded like a perfect plan but first I must confront one small personal problem.

You see, like the Batman, I’m not much of a joiner. I could stand before a crowd and deliver a speech with just a little prodding and an initial minor discomfort but no one could ever compel me to join a crowd of religionists and mingle. Like most everyone else I know, I was allergic mingling anyone who claim to be religious and do their damnedest best to coax you into joining them. Besides, I had always maintained a healthy distance against anything resembling a groupthink. One thing more, I had a reputation of being a loner to worry about, you know. In the name of science, however, I acted against my nature. And yeah, to my delight, I did found the juicy truth about this guy and his religion!

Unfortunately, (and this is where you say ahhhhhhhh!! what a letdown!) what I’ve seen and heard inside Ang Dating Daan is hard to explain to non-members, especially in a such a way as to fully grasp the group’s essential beliefs and practices. I tried to do this several times with close friends and in frustration I ended up saying, “you really must hear it for yourself to fully appreaciate.”

Following my personal investigation, however, I can say this much is true; Ang Dating Daan is not a religious cult (in the way that voodoo is a cult), nor is it a business scheme nor a front for any illegal stuff as Bro. Eli’s legion of enemies would have the public believe.

Simply put, the church of Ang Dating Daan is a misunderstood minority, which so happens to quell people’s thirst for biblical answers to life’s questions. Hundreds of thousands of people have found in Bro. Eli’s group their spiritual family. Including old-fashioned loners like me.

Nobody forced me to join. They welcome you when you show up for the indoctrination. They encourage you to listen attentively and then leave you alone. Nobody even tried to convince me. Indeed, they even dissuaded me a little, saying its okay not to join unless I am really convinced. Up until the very last moment before baptism, the baptizer would tell you its not too late to back out, then he asked if I wanted to proceed. I said yes. And its the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

This all happened three years and three months ago. I wouldn't censure those who would now tell me I’m saying this only because I am now biased in favor of my religious affiliation. To them, however, I would quickly reply like my journalism professor in college, "but I have always been biased in favor of truth, beybeh."

To all doubters, disbelievers and believers out there, let me ask you…

DO YOU JUST EMBRACE OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS WITHOUT QUESTION? OR DO YOU THINK MATTERS THROUGH AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF?

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MY BLOG CONVICTION

2007-07-30T11:46:00.003+08:00

Image by bichxa via Flickr

Journeyist is a chronicle of my inner life seen through the curious, and sometimes inane, episodes of daily living. It is at once an attempt to retrace my steps on the quest for the proverbial one true path, as it is an affirmation of my resolve to walk the narrow path that leads to truth. Why, on earth, are we journeying from the cradle to the grave and on to the great unknown? This I ask myself daily… and everyday I get more convinced there is more to life than we could ever hope to see even with an open mind. Just imagine how much more helplessly ignorant are we in the face of inevitable death!

My little “crusade” is to get people to consider Faith as the only real and viable, albeit invisible, alternative to a lifestyle of doubts, fears and endless speculations. I do discuss politics, money, news and a host of other useless stuff but I try to write from the “invisible” point of view. It’s no surprise I don’t always succeed but I shall keep trying. Failure and folly are as much part of my journey too.

I Write, Therefore I am

2007-07-28T10:29:00.000+08:00

A curious thing about life, from a fiction point of view, is that the main actor is also the number one audience. Incidentally, this is how blogging works, on the surface at least, as I see it.

I, the blogger, write stuffs and then read them once, twice, over and over again, that's my choice and my curse. Then people come in to my blog, just as they do in my life. Some stay for a while or for good. Others just pass by, or get out at once and swore never to be back. That's just how lives and blogs are.

Unlike blogging, however, you cannot edit your life. The least you can do is write about it, in your blog or private journal... write often, read often. Learn from yourself. Learn from that inner man, who tells you just what is it like to be you then, as Michael Jackson would say, make that change.

I'm a writer by profession, by choice, by accident, and most of all, by compulsion.

Just between you and me, writing is simply my way of life. No I'm not saying I'm a great writer, nor even a good one. Just ask the poor guys who have to endure editing my poor excuse for a draft. What I simply mean is, it's just me really. I write, because, I am. I offer no further excuse than that.

ONCE WHEN MY CHILD NEARLY DIED

2007-07-28T07:06:00.002+08:00

It's been more than three years this month since I cried out loud to God to beg for the life of my second child. She was five years old then.

The night before was uneventful except, that is, for the unusually loud and sudden cry my child blurted out while fast asleep. When I and my wife came by the bedroom to check, my child was perfectly normal. Having bad dreams perhaps and nothing more... but boy was I so wrong...

By morning it became evident she has diarreah. Still nothing atypical for any child her age. Trouble is she had fever and we didn't have a thermometer at home...
so it came without warning... febrile convulsion!

Before I know it I was desperately trying to insert medicine through my child's mouth but it kept on closing anyway. Good thing I failed at this or else she would just have choked.Then I found myself desperately trying to open her mouth... then I opted desperately to remove my fingers... Her eyes tell me she do not recognize me nor hear me shouting in panic.
Just then my wife arrived home and good thing she knows what to do.

It was almost too late, my wife tried to insert her fingers into my child's nearly closed mouth. She said the tongue must be pushed down to prevent it from blocking air into the lungs.

I hailed a tricycle outside to take us to the community clinic. When I got back home streaks of blood from my wife's fingers were all over my child's mouth... we were on the road when I cried out aloud to God in prayer. In Christ's name I did ask for child's safety. Just then my wife finally made it through pushing down my child's tounge to start breathing again... thanks to God she started breathing again!

I was medically unprepared to deal with the crisis. Being a parent I should have known better. Spiritually, however, I had all the help I could need. We were new members in the church of God then and we were never lacking in biblical teachings on the mysterious ways of the almighty...

To God be the glory...!

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SAVE MONEY, TRADE YOUR OLD STUFF!

2007-07-26T00:19:00.000+08:00

(I'm not fond of making a sponsored post here, except when I found a really neat idea such as this one…)

So, how would you like to enjoy DVD movies, books or audio CDs, for the cost of postage? Well I’ll definitely say yes to that especially if I actually have cash for the postage!

At SwitchPlanet.com, they offer members a free and easy way to switch their DVDs, CDs, Video Games, and Books. That’s right. Instead of letting your old media gather dust in the shelf, swap it with somebody else’s awesome collections.

Social tools such as groups and forums are available to help members communicate between trades. In such a set up, not only will you save money and enjoy new stuff, you also get to meet new people who share your tastes and interests. Indeed trading your old stuffs with friends is fun in itself. Imagine doing that with an entire community, where your chances of finding that thing you want in exchange shoots up tremendously!

...read more

In addition to all these, your membership also gives you some bragging rights (to yourself at least) that you’re doing this for a good cause… for the environment that is. As the they say in the site…"Help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using what you already have to get what you want." See, that’s why they call it SwitchPlanet!

The fun never stops there, though. As a member you may also opt for an all out support for their non-profit & charity initiatives called SwitchFunds, especially since you save money by switching the things you no longer need to get the things you want for free. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? And you must agree, this company has a cool business model. “Use more… waste less!” is the company’s slogan.

Do check out their website today and start making a good deal.

Link: http://www.switchplanet.com/

IF ONLY GLORIA COULD HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART

2007-07-24T10:54:00.002+08:00

In her State of the Nation Address President Arroyo said, “..from where I sit, I can tell you, a President is always as strong as she wants to be.” I believe she knows what it means. After all, she has been through political hell, right? With so many of her friends turned enemies and with public opinion rallying against her at every turn… with the ghost of Garci hounding her very mandate, she has managed to retain her seat, up to now. And that, is almost like a commendable accomplishment, that is if we are to judge it in amoral terms.

Image by gmaresign via Flickr

If she were fighting for a good cause all these years instead of merely fighting to preserve her power, if only her battle cry was justice instead of vindictiveness and if only her name was synonymous with clean elections instead of electoral voodoo, then, she could have earned the respect of Filipinos for generations to come. Her political cunning, however, has only earned for her a respect by her political adversaries. That, perhaps, is heaven enough for a shortsighted political animal. But this is hell for Filipinos, for the last thing we need is another Gloria.

I tell you however, my ideal president is an immaculate version of Gloria. Someone who can go against popular will for goodness’ sake, (instead of her own honestly selfish intentions), and win against all odds. If only Gloria could have a change-of-heart even this late, then she could still be my candidate for the best president the Philippines ever had. I doubt this very much of course but then again, I am a hopeless optimist…

This Card of Integrity, if she would take it, is her second to the last ticket to historical vindication. And her first step in this direction is to do away with political accommodation. Indeed her political accommodations would be an accurate barometer to measure her political plans beyond 2010.

Her last ticket of course is to do a Marcos (as the Inquirer editorial puts it) and remain in power beyond 2010 in whatever form, shape or color. But that is a long-term gambit only someone with Gollum’s stamina can withstand.

Remember Gollum, taking the ring of power for himself even if it means losing his very soul? My fear is that Gloria may end up like that. Blind to anything but power. For who could refuse power when it is within thy grasp to grab? Politicians who wished not to be consumed by power must heed xKingxSolomon’s words…

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was xvanity and vexation ofxspirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”

- xEcclesiastesx2:11

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- Good Morning Kuya!

GOOD MORNING KUYA!

2007-07-23T14:33:00.001+08:00

Kuya Daniel Razon has just launched this morning his new morning TV show, still at UNTV37, entiled "Good Morning Kuya!" Still reeling from yesterday's successful 3G event, Razon was in a great mood showing around the TV audience inside the studio. Although the show was obviously still in its infancy stage you could see Razon's innovative blueprint already at work and I wouldn't be surprised if the bigger networks once again borrow some of his ideas and claim it as their own...(like what they did to early weekend morning day-starter "Kami Naman!" which boast of a first-in-its-class format called Live Magazine Sitcom!)

Razon describes the show as "unconventional", saying he is not one to put a noontime show early in the morning (as what the leading TV stations in the Philippines are currently doing). He believes public service is the stuff that a good morning show should be made of.

The show features a solid hour of public affairs-oriented discussion. It also boasts of providing daily free clinic, legal assistance, and jobs fair plus of course the UNTV Libreng Sakay Bus!

Do catch Daniel Razon and the rest of the UNTV early morning gang at GOOD MORNING KUYA! airing everyday from 4:45 to 9 am, Monday to Friday!

Previous Post:
- Happy 3G To UNTV!

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HAPPY 3G TO UNTV!

2007-07-23T12:51:00.001+08:00

If you haven't been to World Trade Center in Pasay yesterday for UNTV's anniversary celebration, well don't despair because you may well have ended up among the hundreds of people who were not able to sneak in due to the mammoth crowd! (these initial photos courtesy of Tolits!)

As of 1 pm yesterday, crowd estimates at the WTC vicinity were at 30,000+ with several more people outside still trying to get in. For this alone, 3G is easily one of the most successful events ever to be held at Pasay City's WTC.
(Look at the size of that crowd!) ========>>>

Kuya Daniel Razon took note of the overwhelming crowd response and hinted that next years anniversary celebrations must definitely be held in a much bigger venue! That is, of course, if the UHF station's viewers remained ardent supporters, to which the crowd readily cheered in approbation(!)

Countless guests showed up to give support and greet UNTV's audience. These include some of the country's best and hottest bands who provided the live and TV audience with endless rounds of musical entertainment.

Later in the day Bro. Eli Soriano's message was aired and, boy, for church members like me, it sounded and felt every bit much like a state of the nation address except that the message was so much more important. Brother Eli briefly told of the church's efforts at going on air since the early 1980's. On just a shoestring budget and with just three people manning the production (himself, kuya Daniel and Sis. Luz) working 8 hours to produce a 1-hour bible program, which aired over government-controlled TV station IBC channel 13 (until a number of influential religious groups petitioned the government to have the program removed.)

Nonetheless, the church continued in propagating the Word hopping from one TV station to another until it found its present home at UNTV (which is owned by Atom Henares). The dedication of those early years remained intact today at UNTV with the church proudly airing the Word of God, as it is written in bible, as the core of its prime time shows... a feat no other religious group in the Philippines has done. Bro. Eli attributed all these achievements to the Almighty. "To God be the Glory!", he said.

RELATED POSTS:
- The Best Things In Life Are Free!
- UNTV37 Celebrates 3rd Aniversary!

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MY FAVORITE LINKS THE WORLD WIDE WEB!

2007-07-21T15:10:00.002+08:00

I read and admire several blogs so I need to keep tabs of them all. I have my all time favorites, and some I closely watch on occasions to get insider knowledge, update my calendar of blogging events, spot internet trends, learn good design sense, great humor and information and a lot more.

Even newbie blogs don't escape mine eyes. You just know it when some new kid in blogtown show up and you wait for them to make the right moves, procrastinate or in rare cases, blow it up altogether... much as I want to my sidebar just couldn't hold them all especially so that my watchlist keeps getting longer.

So I decided to put up this blogroll where I will give back all the linklove that came my way.

I have a daily need to check out on them anyway so why not put them all in one place, click them all together and surf my own little merry way? There's also the need to refresh my accounts with various vendors, which frankly, I can't all remember.

Enough said, here goes my favorite links in all the world wide web!

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

2007-07-20T22:38:00.001+08:00

The excitement is just building up for the UNTV 3G event! I feel compelled to post the large picture below (posted at Photobucket by Kenji) because it says everything there is to say about the event. Do browse it please.

And in case you missed my briefer on the event here's a quick link to my previous post... "UNTV CELEBRATES ITS 3RD ANNIVERSARY"

And here's a preview of the UNTV FREE BUS (expected to be launched in the event) as posted by Balad3v. The bus is set to ply the entire stretch of EDSA from Caloocan to Pasay, free for the riding public courtesy of the one and only Kasambahay TV Channel.

For a look at the bigger pictures, click here, here and here.

BTW, Caranijuan has also some interesting side musings on the event in his post You 'n TV ...3G. Meanwhile, Elman The Man has this to say.

UNTV37 CELEBRATES 3RD ANNIVERSARY!

2007-07-16T21:48:00.001+08:00

My favorite TV station, UNTV37, is set to celebrate its 3^rd year of Service to Humanity worldwide this coming Sunday July 22, 2007 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, from 8 am to 11pm. Dubbed as 3G, everyone is invited to come and take part in the very special family day event!

Yes, the entrance is FREE, along with other FREE FREE FREE goodies to boot like FREE medical services, FREE legal consultations, FREE school supplies, FREE overseas kumustahan, FREE Concert, and most of all FREE Bibles!

Lest you think of a different 3G, UNTV37’s 3G actually stands for, Genuine, Godly, and Global. That is, Genuine, Godly and Global Service to Humanity!

If its 3G telephony that’s on your mind, well UNTV also has something along those lines! Indeed it is one of the most exciting highlight to the event! Can you imagine wathcing UNTV37 shows on your cellphone, wherever you are, whenever you want to? I heard from UNTV officials that they have teamed up with a giant telecom provider in the country to make this great thing possible!

I suppose I’ll wait for the anticipated launching of this tie-up on Sunday to confirm the details. And before I forget, let me say that there’s this wild rumor going around among the loyal adherents of Ang-Dating-Daan (the group I recently exposed)... I heard they are itching to make The Great SIM-Switch in Town beginning this Sunday. Knowing them all too well, I know they are really serious, and very excited too! If I were an executive of the rival phone network I wouldn’t be able to bear to watch this thing from happenning... :-)

I know there are more surprises in store at the 3G this sunday so hope to see you all there!

IKAW SAMA KA BA?? SIGE NAAHH!

GRAB THIS BANNER

2007-07-02T15:44:00.000+08:00

If you are a big fan of Brother Eliseo Soriano and you have a website of your own, you might want to put a banner on the sidebar expressing your support! Just copy the code below and have it pasted on your blog template.

<center><br /><div style="border: 1px solid #ccc; background-position: center; background-image: url(); background-repeat: no-repeat; width: 152px; text-align: center; padding: 10px 5 2px 5;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: times;"><br />  <center> <a style="color: #666;">THIS SITE SUPPORTS</a><br><br /><br /><a style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">Bro</a><a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">.</a><br /><a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">Eli Soriano</a><br />(<a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/" style="color: gray;">esoriano.wordpress.com</a>)<br /></center><br />     <br /><a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/2007/07/grab-this-banner.html" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: small; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">grab this banner</a></div><br /></center>

If you want Bro. Eli's 5 Latest Posts, use the code below instead courtesy of RSS-toJavascript.Com.

<center><br /><center><br /><div style="border: 1px dotted #ccc; background-position: center; background-image: url(); background-repeat: no-repeat; width: 152px; text-align: center; padding: 10px 5 2px 5;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: times;"><br />  <center> <a style="color: #666;">RECENTLY ON </a><br><br /><br /><a style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">Bro</a><a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">.</a><br /><a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">Eli Soriano</a><a style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: medium; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">'s Blog</a><br />(<a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/" style="color: gray;">esoriano.wordpress.com</a>)<br /></center><br />     <br /><script language="JavaScript" src="http://convert.rss-to-javascript.com/?num=5&font=Arial&src=http%3A%2F%2Fesoriano.wordpress.com%2Ffeed%2F"><br /></script><noscript>Your browser does not support JavaScript. <a title='' href=http://www.rss-to-javascript.com/?p=151,381&num=5&font=Arial&src=http%3A%2F%2Fesoriano.wordpress.com%2Ffeed%2F&as_html=1></a>.</noscript><br /> <a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/2007/07/grab-this-banner.html" style="color: green; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic; font-size: small; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none">grab this banner</a></div><br /></center><br />

If you want them combined, use the code below. And yes, feel free to tweak.

<center><br /><div style="border: 1px dotted #ccc; background-position: center; background-image: url(); background-repeat: no-repeat; width: 152px; text-align: center; padding: 10px 5 2px 5;"><span style=" "><br />  <center> <a>THIS SITE SUPPORTS</a><br /><br /><br /><a style=" font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;   text-decoration: none">Bro</a><a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/" style=" font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;   text-decoration: none">.</a><br /><a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/" style=" font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;   text-decoration: none">Eli Soriano</a><br />(<a href="http://esoriano.wordpress.com/">esoriano.wordpress.com</a>)<br /></center><br />     <br /><script language="JavaScript" src="http://convert.rss-to-javascript.com/?num=5&font=Arial&src=http%3A%2F%2Fesoriano.wordpress.com%2Ffeed%2F"><br /></script><noscript>Your browser does not support JavaScript. <a title="''" href="http://www.rss-to-javascript.com/?p=" num="5&font=" src="http%3A%2F%2Fesoriano.wordpress.com%2Ffeed%2F&as_html="></a>.</noscript><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://journeyist.blogspot.com/2007/07/grab-this-banner.html" style=" font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;   text-decoration: none">grab this banner</a></div><br /></center>

JOURNEYIST ON A CROSSROAD

2007-06-05T10:41:00.000+08:00

I have been busy the past several days working on a new blogger template to replace this one. Now that I am through with trying to beat my self-imposed 2-week deadline, I’m settled on just making do with whatever I can with this one, tweaking it here and there until I’m satisfied or until I’ve messed it up so much I will have to replace it with a brand new one.

In the last two weeks, however, I stumbled on some little precious blogger secrets that would, at last, prove my “absolute-freedom-with-blogspot” theory. God willing, I shall implement them here one by one beginning with my little footprint favicon.

Former blogspot dweller Attorney Erwin James (a.k.a The Bystander) has recently migrated to wordpress and is now happy in his new hangout. He has been having posting problems with blogspot he said, so he moved. I like his new, clean look. I’ve tinkered with wordpress myself some time ago but it did not gave me the same freedom as blogspot (and Google) has given me here, so I guess I’ll stay. Had I the chance, I could have asked The Bystander to stay a while longer and give blogspot a chance… guess I'll just have to try my luck with Caranijuan and convince him to make the big switch to blogspot!

Die Auslander would be the newest addition to my Peculiar People blogroll. A fellow journeyer close to my heart, I hope she keep it up and fully enjoy her newfound blog life.

Speaking of journeys and migrations, I have recently moved my family to ADD Compound, Apalit, Pampanga. It was a dream come true and thank God, it did come true after months of elaborate wishful thinking. In the end, my wife and I just have to go on impulse, acting on faith without so much planning. Now, I never have to miss Brother Eli’s talks and my kids never have to be maleducated with unbiblical notions at school. I have enrolled them at La Verdad Christian School, another dream come true, after years of frustration with different schools in Taguig City including two alleged Montessori schools.

I don’t know about you but I’m closely watching the PageRank of Brother Eli Soriano’s blog. From a PR of zero, I believe it has the potential of leapfrogging to PR4 or more! He updates it several times a week and the torrent of visitors just keep on coming in from the day he started his relentless blog evangelization. If you haven't done so yet, do drop by and witness blogging history in the making!

BRO SORIANO GOES LIVE, WORLDWIDE!

2007-05-25T01:43:00.001+08:00

Two recent news inside the Church of God International these days have been generating a lot of excitement among brethrens and followers of brother Eli Soriano. First was his blog on WordPress, which has created a lot of buzz among bible lovers in the internet. And then there's the mass indoctrination for would-be Church members, live worldwide via satellite and the Internet...

The indoctrination started on Monday and is being conducted in Tagalog and English on separate dates and timezones. This means brother Eli would be working round the clock (from his overseas base) on weekdays and over the weekends to reach out to as

many people as possible.

Those in the Philippines who want to take advantage of this rare opportunity may contact the nearest Ang Dating Daan Coordinating Center in their area or call +63.45.8790522 and +63.917.5112052. The indoctrination sessions resume on Monday.

It is expected that the last three sessions will be capped with live question and answer segments with brother Eli. Take note that brother Eli only speaks the deeper things of the scriptures during exclusive events and gathering such as this, that even old time members are eager to listen, and listen closely.

Brother Eli's blog has inspired every kaanib blogger (me included) in more ways than one. It has been a fulfillment of the collective wishful thinking of all kaanib bloggers, especially Yirm. :-)

A friend of mine has long been asking me for reading materials regarding brother Eli's teachings. I gave him copies of the magazine but he wanted something more in depth. When brother Eli's blog came up, I emailed my friend the link. The very next morning he confessed to getting so hooked-up on it in an instant, telling me "this is what I've been looking for"!

The blog is as hot as the Itanong Mo Kay Soriano TV program and as exciting as the Eli Soriano Debates. Imagine, all pastors who were afraid to debate with brother Eli face-to-face may now do so anonymously in the discomfort of their own privacy!

In a related development kaanib bloggers are now "plotting" to hold the first ever bible-believing bloggers summit. Now, that's something great to thank God for!

(View this related post in Newsdrive)

BATAS IN THE WINNING ZONE

2007-05-24T11:00:00.001+08:00

BATAS Party-list has consistently remained in the winning zone based on the Comelec's count.

In the Partial and Unofficial tally of ABS-CBN as of 5:23 p.m. May 23, 2007, BATAS is 13th in ranking with a total of 258,804 votes. This gives it over 2.5% of the votes based on the running total of the party-list votes...

Below is a breakdown of the Top 20 Party-list Contenders: