tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181147872024-03-14T21:23:11.971+08:00Twisted-SunshineRockin and Rollin in the surreal complexities of the land called Philippinestwistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-78174095294763937692022-02-20T13:21:00.001+08:002022-02-20T13:21:15.109+08:00What is your diastolic reading for today?<p>Had a big scare early this morning. I could almost feel my blood rushing through the top of my head. I was sure that if measured, my diastolic reading had reached new heights! Perhaps higher than the record set by EJ Obiena in his pole vaulting career. Ganun kalala. </p><p>Here’s what happened.</p><p>I usually pay my bills on weekends when I also balance my accounts. When I saw that my home internet account issued a new bill I decided to pay it at once using my GCASH account. While GCASH immediately issued a receipt after I processed the payment, I didn’t receive a confirmation text message on my phone. I waited for a few seconds. Nada. A few minutes passed and still no text message. I thought that was weird and stared at my phone blankly and then it hit me. I had NO SIGNAL bars. AT ALL. </p><p>I panicked. </p><p>I am pretty sure you’ve read horror stories about bank accounts being hacked by first hijacking the phone numbers tied to the online accounts. Remember that post of one family last December who lost money when they lost access to their Globe numbers? The hackers were able to steal money from their victims by gaining control of the postpaid numbers. The owners only realized their accounts were emptied when they found out that they didn’t have network signals.</p><p>I quickly signed in to one of my online accounts where my emergency funds are and heaved a sigh of relief. My login credentials were accepted and no funny transactions. But what if the would be hackers were trying to change the number registered to my bank account by contacting the bank and presenting fraudulent documents pretending they were me? Baka ma-Marcos ako!</p><p>My bank has a branch inside a mall and it is open on Saturdays. I just woke up 30 minutes before all this happened and I have yet to brush my teeth or comb my hair. To say that I look like the giant sand gobbler or Argus Filch in the morning is an understatement. Nevermind, I said to myself. I have to go the bank and deal with this.</p><p>While grabbing my keys I thought of checking my phone again. Still no signal. I thought of other reasons why this would happen and several TS steps came to my mind. First, I removed the SIM and put it back in. No luck. My heart was still racing. I checked my emails and there was no mail from the bank. Good sign. I decided to remove the SIM again and put it in the SIM slot in the SD card tray, inhaled and closed my eyes for two seconds. I slowly looked at the upper right side of my phone screen and there it is! SIGNAL. FOUR BARS. </p><p>I let out a deep sigh. </p>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-77291295255698974472022-02-06T10:48:00.001+08:002022-02-06T10:48:54.673+08:00Wordle<p>For the past week or so I have been hooked on <a href="https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/">Wordle</a>. I am pretty sure that you have heard about it. Simple game, really. You just have to guess the five-letter word of the day, and you have six attempts. </p><p>So far, I have been able to guess the word on my 4th try. It was the 226th word that I had my best performance. I got it right at my second attempt and I was so pumped that I started singing a song by THE SMITHS:</p><p>🎶… And if a double-decker bus</p><p>Crashes into us</p><p>To die by your side</p><p>Is such a heavenly way to die…🎶</p><p>If you know the title of this song then you’ll know what the 226 word of the day is. That song was the first thing that came to my mind when I guessed the word right. </p><p>What I love about the game is that it is not complex, and doesn’t take too much of my time. I play it first thing in the morning, around 4-ish in the morning and it helps set the tone for the day. Also, as JDLCB puts it: “ The beauty of Wordle is that it is a soothing, if temporary, salve against the inequities of the world. You know that even Elon Musk has to wait 24 hours to play again, you can’t whip out your credit card to buy clues, and there is literally just one word every day (for the entire human race lolz).”</p>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-8947886353689315832022-01-30T14:14:00.002+08:002022-01-30T14:14:31.694+08:00The Two HundredSo here we are then. Ten years after my last post, I am struggling to put my thoughts in words. Phew, is blogging still relevant in today's world? As they all say, if it is not on Tiktok then it did not happen. BUT, I would rather die suffering from watching BBM spew lies and disinformation than do Tiktok. You and everyone else do not give a fuck. I know. <div><br /></div><div>Why am I here then?<div><br /></div><div>I have nothing better to do really. Weekends are like deadzone in this pandemic. When one lives and works at home in a tiny townhouse whatelse is there to do? Back to netflix surfing where you spend hours searching for something good to watch? What about books then? I TRIED. Really. I have shelves of old books I want to revisit and a couple of new titles to read but nowadays I find it a bit difficult to focus on reading after more than two hours. It hurts my eyes and the back. Reminds me to visit my eye doctor soon. Ano nga tawag doon in English? Optometrist or Opthalmologist? I am now only reading one book every two months. I am currently enjoying Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa.</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRsuNkj2aFzbaDgx9Ojcf5nparVrm7f2drgHC7Ndlt66fRcupiW68a81c3lwYZRnVg1LMwUINSkztYvLFAIsIGLb6ORY9QbEVB6kBkyA5pse2U67DTL-b6334bQXPnTeK0OJi05LtFbqB52_C1erYKJaf8HfgtvcGMfYphnaC15lPF7_pnHM=s859" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRsuNkj2aFzbaDgx9Ojcf5nparVrm7f2drgHC7Ndlt66fRcupiW68a81c3lwYZRnVg1LMwUINSkztYvLFAIsIGLb6ORY9QbEVB6kBkyA5pse2U67DTL-b6334bQXPnTeK0OJi05LtFbqB52_C1erYKJaf8HfgtvcGMfYphnaC15lPF7_pnHM=s859" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="859" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRsuNkj2aFzbaDgx9Ojcf5nparVrm7f2drgHC7Ndlt66fRcupiW68a81c3lwYZRnVg1LMwUINSkztYvLFAIsIGLb6ORY9QbEVB6kBkyA5pse2U67DTL-b6334bQXPnTeK0OJi05LtFbqB52_C1erYKJaf8HfgtvcGMfYphnaC15lPF7_pnHM=s320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRsuNkj2aFzbaDgx9Ojcf5nparVrm7f2drgHC7Ndlt66fRcupiW68a81c3lwYZRnVg1LMwUINSkztYvLFAIsIGLb6ORY9QbEVB6kBkyA5pse2U67DTL-b6334bQXPnTeK0OJi05LtFbqB52_C1erYKJaf8HfgtvcGMfYphnaC15lPF7_pnHM=s859" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div>
But I digress. </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess I just miss this. I miss expressing myself through this blog and not caring about what people think. I am now also weaning myself away from Facebook. That place is a hellhole. Here I can post anything and have the luxury of not seeing irrelevant and inane feeds from people whom I have been friends with OR NOT at one point in time. I just wish I could “unfriend” them all at once. Wait, no. I want to remain FB friends with about two hundred people who I really want to be in contact with, for professional and/or personal reasons. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>OR should I just ask those two hundred people their numbers and just get out of Facebook while I am still sane enough to do so. The question is, if you were one of those two hundred people would you give me your number then? If I were in your two-hundred list would I give you mine? Probably not. </div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-69204344244371627342022-01-18T16:42:00.002+08:002022-01-30T14:15:58.535+08:00return of the comeback<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBBfANAKd_33dzqXb54YgxRA5jdbidBXGsQUoTcGi6_UlJ3Xgtl_e140Opxj_2cTcY-bd8khThCS2i1W5P6eHkDASaXOUxmmZcFCHfduYVDxN-ON1_UyiIIWyBv3KwnvgscxhrovYRYOQUPek2kXozxggKW65n5XaqgKkHFobYmiM5po4dbQs=s640" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBBfANAKd_33dzqXb54YgxRA5jdbidBXGsQUoTcGi6_UlJ3Xgtl_e140Opxj_2cTcY-bd8khThCS2i1W5P6eHkDASaXOUxmmZcFCHfduYVDxN-ON1_UyiIIWyBv3KwnvgscxhrovYRYOQUPek2kXozxggKW65n5XaqgKkHFobYmiM5po4dbQs=s320"/></a></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-57262572177427805332012-01-17T13:53:00.001+08:002012-01-17T13:55:42.090+08:00Atin ang Korte Suprema. Hindi kay Corona, hindi kay Gloria!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqGHahv9TWCbtRj-4Pf3oY1VC08RvDZt5My7ZQIq1OEIphoN_KgoybBTKUKGeK_aXxtmyRW0jMo8GFE_Lcs_NGae8nYaeW-F3w8PKX-Y8FAA_vLrONjQ3ykIycFKPUN_GUTx_xQ/s1600/crown.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqGHahv9TWCbtRj-4Pf3oY1VC08RvDZt5My7ZQIq1OEIphoN_KgoybBTKUKGeK_aXxtmyRW0jMo8GFE_Lcs_NGae8nYaeW-F3w8PKX-Y8FAA_vLrONjQ3ykIycFKPUN_GUTx_xQ/s320/crown.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698475404501057570" /></a><br /><br />Image courtesy of <a href="http://politicallyintoxicated.blogspot.com/2012/01/ayoko-ng-corona-sa-korte-ko.html">Politically Intoxicated</a>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-717215266738429402011-11-28T12:10:00.005+08:002011-11-28T12:21:08.930+08:00Indigenous communities and civil society groups challenge big business and ASEAN on CSR Framework<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left; ">Indigenous communities and civil societ</b><b style="text-align: left; ">y groups challenge big business and ASEAN on CSR Framework; calls for greater corporate accountability</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG8gyYYZKx3PqMHwTA9DO0tJqFRQV7kBJzejDq0OOEgvFVvzjtCkxmtVwHVu_UdBd7dnCjBSF7BxlfnAyOPgoKthVcgBHhUlu8SJ0N5C320uncrcSMQxnpu3NTyZf_mDedcHyMA/s320/388505_10150398871446794_743326793_8538134_1805756508_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679895631335746354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Bali, Indonesia-Amidst the current worldwide economic crisis and the growing resentment against the so-called corporate greed, representatives of civil society groups and indigenous communities from <st1:place st="on">Southeast Asia</st1:place> expressed their concerns over the wanton disregard by big businesses of the human rights of indigenous peoples, migrant workers and other marginalized groups.</div> <p class="MsoNormal">In a public forum on corporate social responsibility (CSR) held in Bali, Indonesia on 25 November 2011 the participants said they were disappointed with how the multinational corporations were given almost free access by ASEAN member governments to take over their ancestral lands.<br /><br />“Being highly dependent on resource extraction and exploitation for its economic development, majority of the ASEAN countries have directly taken over lands and resources of indigenous peoples and local communities or handed these over to corporations as concessions for mining, plantations, hydropower plants, and resorts,” said Bernice See of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and Indigenous Peoples Task Force on ASEAN.<br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil8A4typw6eu6GEyFUCtJBN4xnirLXXcF55Ehsc_Th-8sdop0pUMjkt_2aQzR2NVBAv4bGoB_MLsNFWkiAWejNT2Qnf0lFWt5xDR2leuj2K39OkqlAaEaoTcsaSIphPJOzXp1-g/s320/310327_10150398865166794_743326793_8538079_1761134658_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679895895893002178" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></p><div><br />The participants also disparaged ASEAN’s vision of a Caring and Sharing Community by 2015 when they said this community seems to exclude the people whose lives, livelihoods, homelands, jobs and futures are being sacrificed for this vision.<br /><br />“The plethora of cases of human rights violations against the collective rights of indigenous and the human rights of workers, local communities, farmers/peasant, and other marginalized sectors of society does not speak well of a caring and sharing community. Large sections of the ASEAN community bear the burden while the benefits are being enjoyed by a few big corporations,” Ms. See added.<br /><br />It was agreed in the forum that the present CSR framework espoused and supported by ASEAN should be challenged. “It is of great concern to us that, based on the record of businesses and governments in the South East Asian region, CSR is being used to mask the ill effects of existing business practices in the region. Furthermore, it is also used to hide the collusion of private business interests and governments in the pursuit of profit and economic development,” stressed Corinna Lopa, Regional Coordinator of the South East Asian Committee for Advocacy and Co-Convener of the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy Working Group on ASEAN.<br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4OGPH1ispYTo4-PxE6tp-mEfS3iRcGSvDyg4kzGwc8-aynd1M1gaVVIIWEkGqaldIxc6dDP6pueuqgEMDvkM9ArSPUD3U6FgDUpVSxalCYyNelntJyegZw_DgVeTp7PgUTVhUQ/s320/302066_10150398869101794_743326793_8538101_1478850657_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679896093029506658" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><br />In her opening speech at the forum, Ms. Lopa also said that they want to see increased corporate accountability in the region, by both domestic and multi-national corporations. She said that greater regulation of the corporate sector by ASEAN member governments should be implemented in order to safeguard the rights of the peoples and communities. “We would like to see enhanced corporate regulatory frameworks in the ASEAN region to ensure the protection of the South East Asian peoples, communities and environment,” she said.<br /><br /><br /><b>With the take over of their land come the abuses and sufferings</b></div> <p class="MsoNormal">Some of the witnesses, who came from the affected communities in <st1:country-region st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>, Lao PDR, <st1:country-region st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Indonesia</st1:country-region></st1:place>, detailed the effects of development projects and abuses committed by the corporations against their peoples and communities.<br /><br />The Xayabouri Dam Project in the <st1:place st="on">Mekong</st1:place> region:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span><!--[endif]-->Will inundate approximately 2,130 people from 10 villages. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span><!--[endif]-->Loss of agricultural and riverbank gardens, </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span><!--[endif]-->Changes to aquatic habitat and ecosystem of the river by blocking fish migration route to upper reaches.Up to 41 fish species would be at risk of extinction, including the critically endangered Giant Mekong Catfish. Impact to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s great lake</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span><!--[endif]-->Impacts on agriculture resource and saline intrusion in <st1:place st="on">Mekong</st1:place> delta </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The PT Freeport Mining Operation in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Papua</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Indonesia</st1:country-region></st1:place></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal">Mine tailings containing dangerous chemicals caused various health problems to the people living near the area</li> <li class="MsoNormal">Several people who opposed the mining operation were beaten and killed. In October 2011, three people were shot dead in the Tanggul Timur Navaro area. The community believes that <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Freeport</st1:city></st1:place> security personnel were responsible</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Socfin-KCD Economic Land Concession in Bousra Commune, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Mondulkiri</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region></st1:place></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->2 economic land concessions (ELCs) over 7,000 hectares of indigenous territory in Bousra Commune have been granted to Socfin-KCD for 70 years</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Over 850 families, 90% of them belonging to the Bunong indigenous people face displacement </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The Bunong practice an animist religious belief system that involves the protection of spirit forests and burial grounds of their ancestors</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Destruction of these sacred sites impacts on their freedom to practice their religion which is part of their identity</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The Bunong people’ collective right to free prior and informed consent was not respected by the Government of Indonesia when it granted the ELC as inadequate information was shared, information was not shared in a language fully understood by the affected Bunong communities, and it did not follow the decision-making processes of the Bunong. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Nickel Mines of Vale Inco in Karonsi’e Dongi in Sorowako, <st1:place st="on">South Sulawesi</st1:place></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The Vale Inco succeeded the mining concession of PT Inco which has taken over the settlement of the Karonsi’e Dongi of Sorowako, <st1:place st="on">South Sulawesi</st1:place></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->More than 38 years of struggling to take back their land has not produced any sustainable solution to their problem</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The Suharto regime turned over their land to PT Inco without their free prior and informed consent</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The occupation of their ancestral land by PT Inco denies them the right as a people to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There were other reported cases of violations of the collective rights and customary laws of indigenous peoples in the mining projects in the <st1:placename st="on">Zamboanga</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Peninsula</st1:placetype> in the <st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region> and in North Maluku in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Indonesia.<br /></st1:country-region></st1:place><br />Towards the end of the forum, the participants said that they will not let ASEAN and the multinational corporations treat them as victims as they will continue to organize, cooperate and build their own capacities to push for the recognition of their rights and for ASEAN and big business to respect these rights.<br /><br />“<span lang="EN-PH">There is something that we can do. It is us who will change the situation. It is in our power to change the tide against the exploitation of our resources in our territories,” said Joan Carling, Secretary General of the AIPP.<br /></span><br />The forum was organized by the South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA), the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) for the Solidarity for Asian Peoples’ Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN, the SAPA Task Force on ASEAN and the Extractive Industries, and the Indigenous Peoples’ ASEAN Task Force.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"># # #</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">November 25, 2011<br />For more information please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="SV" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language: SV">Corinna Lopa, </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:clopa@seaca.net"><span lang="SV">clopa@seaca.net</span></a></span><span lang="SV" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-language:SV">, +639088649695<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; ">Bernice See, </span><span lang="SV" style="font-size: 11pt; "><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:bernice@aippnet.org">bernice@aippnet.org</a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; ">Fabby Tumiwa, </span><span lang="PL" style="font-size: 11pt; "><a href="mailto:fabby@iesr-indonesia.org"><span lang="EN-US">fabby@iesr-indonesia.org</span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-81902783896916288962011-02-16T20:30:00.002+08:002011-02-16T20:33:24.034+08:00Feeling artista<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysL8OOWpO3rYrASstuFh2W3VdSMZtgUGX1LBE2oGFKjjIq8XxqRUKLOjiv1Ja6ClpPmKbwp5L0x0PqaMsPhLJsBkWZD7-eoPJU8Vro1GdiFEVnPpCPwAOb9q6QEdqADzia6w61A/s1600/DSCI0499.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysL8OOWpO3rYrASstuFh2W3VdSMZtgUGX1LBE2oGFKjjIq8XxqRUKLOjiv1Ja6ClpPmKbwp5L0x0PqaMsPhLJsBkWZD7-eoPJU8Vro1GdiFEVnPpCPwAOb9q6QEdqADzia6w61A/s320/DSCI0499.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574264267562063106" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">While walking inside the Prambanan complex I bumped into a bunch of grade schoolers from Jakarta.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Indonesian schoolboy: "Mister, can I ask you a question?"</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Me: "Sure, go a ahead."</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Indonesian schoolboy: "Where are you from?"</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">An Indonesian schoolgirl cut in and cheerfully said: "He's Korean!"</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Me: "Nope, I'm Filipino."</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Upon seeing how disappointed she was with my reply I immediately uttered: "Aku cinta Yogyakarta! Aku cinta Indonesia!" Her eyes lit up and the other kids started bombarding me with questions: "What's your favorite Indonesian food? What's your favorite color?" They then took turns getting pictures with me.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Wow. I felt like a movie star. I was so happy I started singing a song and saw all of them slowly backed away from me and then they scampered in different directions. </p></span>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-27457113418925136232011-01-18T12:46:00.004+08:002011-01-18T13:01:09.369+08:00Happy Birthday A!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYMJdH2WgeKKwXfbLp_T1HEcaoeJ93FPY8ztJMaFm5JCyrC-LbKK4nLyc3QArJ6GB3WZKNf-gwowwwlaSHMIYsE2N00QifwHG-vbNGCpFAMCg1qq5cpZMSxEdCi3WqSfUhKGK-w/s1600/AKBAYAN_logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYMJdH2WgeKKwXfbLp_T1HEcaoeJ93FPY8ztJMaFm5JCyrC-LbKK4nLyc3QArJ6GB3WZKNf-gwowwwlaSHMIYsE2N00QifwHG-vbNGCpFAMCg1qq5cpZMSxEdCi3WqSfUhKGK-w/s320/AKBAYAN_logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563383584912903714" /></a><br /><div>Dear A!: </div><div><br /></div><div>Congratulations! You are now a tween! Time really flies no? </div><div><br /></div><div>I remember when you were just an idea. It was a very exciting time for me, for a lot of people. There were tons of meetings and equal number of misunderstanding and 'tampuhan' among your moms and dads. Yes, you were conceived not just by one set of parents but hundreds of brave women and men who fought real hard to have you. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do you even know that Akbayan was not your original name? hahaha </div><div><br /></div><div>You have grown and developed so much for the past 13 years that it is no wonder that you gained so many friends. I heard that you are now in the company of very important people. My only hope is that you will not go astray. Never lose focus. I believe you. We believe in you. You have grown up consistently on the straight path that we know you are less likely to succumb to a friend's bad influence.</div><div><br /></div><div>People say that the teenage years are difficult. Be strong and continue to ask for discernment from the people whom you trust. One other thing, do not forget the men and women who reared you. They may not be with you now but they still love you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!</div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-22720038556086617692010-04-07T22:11:00.006+08:002010-04-07T22:26:04.835+08:002010 election ‘will make or break' Philippines<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">2010 election ‘will make or break' Philippines</div>Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas<br />Chairperson: Boy Nuera<br />April 6, 2010<br /><br />In less than five weeks more than fifty million Filipinos will be electing new leaders who will steer the Philippines in the next six years with hope that they will deliver us from the political and economic rut that exacerbate corruption and poverty.<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLWicJJUP52GyTLY9xtuZdZOnwB-mVHUfllBheHR5NXF7cuEJ1Yb5eZJqy33YBcM-RxtPBHlhyphenhyphenbgBptvdU6xTh1CubFmrVnxdkG1gNNfdT_4TMUp8l_q03S4AwJ0RiogeT8zThA/s1600/DSCI0566.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLWicJJUP52GyTLY9xtuZdZOnwB-mVHUfllBheHR5NXF7cuEJ1Yb5eZJqy33YBcM-RxtPBHlhyphenhyphenbgBptvdU6xTh1CubFmrVnxdkG1gNNfdT_4TMUp8l_q03S4AwJ0RiogeT8zThA/s320/DSCI0566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457398885382728482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLWicJJUP52GyTLY9xtuZdZOnwB-mVHUfllBheHR5NXF7cuEJ1Yb5eZJqy33YBcM-RxtPBHlhyphenhyphenbgBptvdU6xTh1CubFmrVnxdkG1gNNfdT_4TMUp8l_q03S4AwJ0RiogeT8zThA/s1600/DSCI0566.JPG"></a><div><br />Thus, the May 2010 Elections is a crucial time in our country’s convoluted political history. On June 30, 2010, we expect to see the much awaited departure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who has reigned for over nine years with her gang; and the proclamation and swearing in of the new leaders. Hence, we must ensure that this first automated election shall be handled in an honest and credible way by the Commission on Elections.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PdsWu4HqBAG65GbYmBNf5NySg-6hkFuNX7F2aRRmYf_WrhGnmHOPPuo8_Sbn4lURlRlASoiotJOH3wlbRU18pxsNfy9Iufe4jbEbkCo_vjVnCRQVzX1o3yfprJOvQ6Wn2qRUJw/s1600/DSCI0565.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PdsWu4HqBAG65GbYmBNf5NySg-6hkFuNX7F2aRRmYf_WrhGnmHOPPuo8_Sbn4lURlRlASoiotJOH3wlbRU18pxsNfy9Iufe4jbEbkCo_vjVnCRQVzX1o3yfprJOvQ6Wn2qRUJw/s320/DSCI0565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457401059702813186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br />This is a make or break time for the Philippines. This election, if done successfully, represents a clean break from the corrupt and morally bankrupt administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her gang of greedy cronies; a break that will hopefully lead to a positive and new beginning.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lW_3gdOw-qpupxu0CmtoQLvJigHZMKx3Y5YPat8ifar2kHel8ShQueWXT_anbzx1m8v8fA2zVMx2QOETtK4WHM8MQKgpKoj08No_ZiPbDqwUd7bXixoQ1mPcAUXgjhOHXzs_NA/s1600/DSCI0580.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lW_3gdOw-qpupxu0CmtoQLvJigHZMKx3Y5YPat8ifar2kHel8ShQueWXT_anbzx1m8v8fA2zVMx2QOETtK4WHM8MQKgpKoj08No_ZiPbDqwUd7bXixoQ1mPcAUXgjhOHXzs_NA/s320/DSCI0580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457401057730000306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Reports have been circulating of a ‘non-proclamation scenario’ due to a general failure of election or a selective failure of election due to the malfunction of precinct counting optical scan (PCOS) and other issues related to automation. We are worried that these machines will fail or will not read or count our votes accurately; some softwares are not reliable; some processes were done in non transparent way; and thousands of extra memory cards for the PCOS machines will be used to load up fake election results. These are serious allegations that the COMELEC should address. A faster way of counting our votes will be meaningless if the processes are under clouds of suspicion. A vote cast but not honestly counted is surely a waste.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvJq3Mh7sJx8JVFk6_KjpWszUOCcHDpnOnYASlZqD9IaGFJbpvg9D3ZAQVK9fqY2HNlxQ5DErk95C4upOYPfiJ1IZtAhVF8LBPlI3xg-jlpKO0x4p2qf0_dxKEkrk2wDiuEeVlw/s1600/DSCI0538.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvJq3Mh7sJx8JVFk6_KjpWszUOCcHDpnOnYASlZqD9IaGFJbpvg9D3ZAQVK9fqY2HNlxQ5DErk95C4upOYPfiJ1IZtAhVF8LBPlI3xg-jlpKO0x4p2qf0_dxKEkrk2wDiuEeVlw/s320/DSCI0538.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457401047362323426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Alarming is that we are being conditioned of a military takeover in case of a failure of election. Worst of all, they will install Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the interim head of a transition government. If these things happen, it is the end of the line for our country. We will surely be in an endless cycle of poverty, moral degradation and political mayhem.<br /><br />We strongly believe that our democracy, with all its imperfection, is now under attack and Filipinos must fight tooth and nail against these evil plots. We believe that another uprising of the people is not far-fetched should they try these things.<br /><br />We are urging the Filipino people to guard against any effort to rob us out of our votes through massive cheating or a naked grab of power that will perpetuate GMA and her gang to stay in power. We must show the international community that notwithstanding the election circus that we are in, we, as a nation, can collectively stand up and choose our leaders in a smooth and honest way.</div></div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-49085540898118049652010-01-29T16:55:00.004+08:002010-01-29T17:04:41.090+08:00muzzling of the media in South KoreaThe democratic gains South Korea has achieved in the past years have slowly eroded under the Lee Myung-bak's regime. Recent efforts by this administration to control broadcast media has been widely <a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGPRE200903249920&lang=e">criticized</a> by human rights organizations. <br /><br />The recent attacks on freedom of expression and communication in South Korea took for the worst when the Korean Film Council, under the pretense of budget cuts, decided to shut down the operations of Mediact, the first public media center in South Korea. If things go as planned, Mediact will cease to operate on February 1. <br /><br />Advocates of free expression and communications rights have circulated a <a href="http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-mediact.html">petition</a> to oppose this attack on media freedom in South Korea. Please read, sign and forward the petition.twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-3235604558740040102010-01-21T10:21:00.005+08:002010-01-21T14:20:26.560+08:00Cybercrime Bill threatens freedom of expression online, encroaches on our privacyI am extremely concerned with the passage of HB 6794 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009. This bill is a serious threat to our fundamental right to privacy as well as the freedom of expression online. <br /><br />Many of us do not realize that this bill does not only affect the estimated 24 million internet users in the country but also the more than 70 million mobile phone subscribers. This bill not only penalizes cybercrimes committed using computers but also those acts using mobile phones as defined in Section 3 of the bill. <br /><br />While I agree with the critique on the vague definition of some of the terms of the bill (i.e., computer data', 'recording of private acts'), I am more worried on the provisions of the bill on data collection and retention. Under Section 10, law enforcement agencies are authorized to collect or record 'traffic data.' Meanwhile, Section 11 states that services providers are ordered to preserve data for six months or up to 1 year if so ordered by law enforcement authorities.<br /><br />This is dangerous and unacceptable. I believe that the collection and preservation of what this bill calls as traffic or computer data will pave the way for the government to do mass surveillance. It gives the government the power to not only monitor alleged cybercrime perpetrators but also political opponents such as the opposition and political and human rights activists. <br /><br />Retaining data creates risk of abuse by the State and law enforcement agencies. These data will be a very powerful tool to intimidate and silence critics and activists. We all know how skilled some of our security agencies and other government organizations in manipulating and twisting information. Just remember martial law.<br /><br />Data retention prevents open communication and the free flow of information as it creates an atmosphere of fear and put pressure on the users to 'behave' as exchanging critical information might incriminate them later. Some will even resort to not communicating at all as it puts them at risk. It is like being under the martial law regime where one needs to be careful about what he says or expresses. This is not good for a democracy like ours which encourages active participation of citizens in every aspect of the society.<br /><br />Collecting and storing of data for a certain period of time also encourage identity thefts. How can we be sure that our most private data are secured from hackers and identity thieves. And who will pay for data storage? Is it the service provider or the government? If it is the latter then it is another unnecessary burden to us, the taxpayers, considering the potentially high cost of data storage given the narrow definition of traffic data in the bill.<br /><br />I urge the lawmakers to pause and carefully consider the issues raised against the bill.twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-91126437338133983982009-11-27T13:26:00.025+08:002009-11-27T15:45:55.379+08:00Bawiin ang Teknolohiya. Now na!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdSW0l7Y3vp0fNSmWX28PmEK-pzNywBUerBl1FgQ4EuAw6ZH_oArwBViUK8LlMjjXEl6Kez3pY-4BNenCwTKvT-3T0c2tDJtsrY1HitVkr-n3oIRe6lFJby-nB1Z-IFn0IVyxJQ/s1600/Al+ICT+VAW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdSW0l7Y3vp0fNSmWX28PmEK-pzNywBUerBl1FgQ4EuAw6ZH_oArwBViUK8LlMjjXEl6Kez3pY-4BNenCwTKvT-3T0c2tDJtsrY1HitVkr-n3oIRe6lFJby-nB1Z-IFn0IVyxJQ/s320/Al+ICT+VAW.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408677017700309234" /></a><br />Last Wednesday, November 25, 2009 was the start of TAKE BACK THE TECH (TBTT). It is a 16-Day campaign of online activism against gender-based violence. <br /><br />A collaborative campaign to reclaim information and communications technology (ICT) to end violence against women, TBTT is a call to everyone, especially women & girls, to take control of the ICT tools (Internet, email, chat, web, social networking sites) and consciously use these to change power relations between men and women.<br /><br />The campaign ends on the International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2009. It is spearheaded worldwide by the Association for Progressive Communications-Women's Networking Support Programme (APC-WNSP). For more information on the Take Back The Tech please click <a href="http://www.takebackthetech.net">here</a>.<br /><br />Here in the Philippines, the campaign is being organized by the APC-WNSP Philippines and the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA). On the very first day of the campaign, APC-WNSP and FMA gathered feminists and communication rights advocates in the second round of discussions on VAW & ICTs: Gender, Technology and Public Policy. It was held at the Function Room of the Sweet Inspirations Cafe along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, Philippines.<br /><br />Inivited organizations include WeDpro Inc., Women's Legal Bureau, Philippine Alternative Study Center for Research and Education in Social Development, Institute for Social Studies and Action, Alliance for Progressive Labor - Women, AKBAYAN, Philippine Internet Commerce Society, Women's Feature Service and Duetscher Entwicklungsdienst, among others. Although some organizations were not able to send their representatives due to numerous events focusing on women and gender that day, the discussions were substantive and insightful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wXwRV-Od_iXUdhm62FK0eEvqIGMD56S5VisfLQ9d-m_tzR-TMBQ7NORuLCkF2VZEDXj6ddVEdWSZdymvXO4LWhFZw6HkZMboFxhb00n9wsqhgDqA_51wZf0TwmM3cD1T08BSUw/s1600/SANY0233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wXwRV-Od_iXUdhm62FK0eEvqIGMD56S5VisfLQ9d-m_tzR-TMBQ7NORuLCkF2VZEDXj6ddVEdWSZdymvXO4LWhFZw6HkZMboFxhb00n9wsqhgDqA_51wZf0TwmM3cD1T08BSUw/s320/SANY0233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408677642234094946" /></a><br />Jessica Soto, Philippine Coordinator for the MDG3 project of the APC-WNSP discussed the highlights of her research paper on VAW and ICTs in the Philippines. Among the major points she stressed during her presentation are as follows:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><blockquote>The Philippine Government has ratified all international instruments that aim to promote and protect women’s and girls’ rights . <br /><br />It has also enacted laws that aim to protect women from various forms of violence. These are: Anti-Mail Order Bride Act of 1990 (RA 6955), Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (RA 7877), Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (RA 8353), Rape Victims’ Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (RA 8505), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208), Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262). <br /><br />The latest legislation which dealt with women’s and girls’ rights was the Magna Carta of Filipino Women ratified last August 2009. It aims to institutionalize the protection and fulfillment of all Filipino women’s human rights. <br /><br />Yet in spite of the existence of these laws, a wide gap between practice and customary laws remain, resulting in discrimination against women, a violation of their human rights. <br /> <br />This is the backdrop of the development of information and communication technology (ICT) in the country and around the world. Unlike other countries, the policies surrounding ICTs in the Philippines lean to e-commerce and e-governance objectives. <br /><br />Specific laws have yet to be defined in order to prosecute perpetrators of violence against women (VAW) through the use of ICTs or cyberspace.</blockquote></span><br />Jessica Soto added that there is a lot of work to be done in developing a national policy advocacy that would eradicate VAW through the use of ICTs. She added that a collaborative effort of ICTs and anti-VAW organizations is not impossible. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCuWgAzcC17rp-ByEYmQVRszYIqb_NQucV2HEPNlaNq9Xvhs-vqYgntpPAq2W6WfMAVV7ff2k1ALXyE-KtjNbO7DMIii3ijt7h9gn_CSgWgihX3U1qEg2Zy-QW9E4y-18NDnWJA/s1600/SANY0237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCuWgAzcC17rp-ByEYmQVRszYIqb_NQucV2HEPNlaNq9Xvhs-vqYgntpPAq2W6WfMAVV7ff2k1ALXyE-KtjNbO7DMIii3ijt7h9gn_CSgWgihX3U1qEg2Zy-QW9E4y-18NDnWJA/s320/SANY0237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408678229304668242" /></a>Al Alegre of FMA, meanwhile, said that there is a noticeable rise of reported incidents of sexual harassment of women on SMS, email and social networking sites such as Facebook. Most of the participants agreed with Al's observation. <br /><br />Al Alegre also mentioned a case of rape in Second Life, a virtual reality site. "From the 'low-tech' SMS to the 'high-tech' virtual reality space Second Life, there are new arenas that we have to look into," Al Alegre said.<br /><br />One participant narrated her own experience of sexual harassment through the use of ICT. She said that an admirer of hers was sending threatening and sexually explicit messages and images to her mobile phone and email address. She, however, also used ICT tool to fight back and end her ordeal. Her weapon of choice is her blog; her ammunition is her words. She said ICT is a powerful medium and potent enough to combat violence against women.<br /><br /><!-- technorati tags begin --><p style="font-size: 10px;" ds_newline="" align="right">technorati tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/takebackthetech" rel="tag" ds_newline="directory">takebackthetech</a></p><!-- technorati tags end -->twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-67234814853370530952009-11-26T16:51:00.014+08:002009-11-26T17:42:04.802+08:00We will never forget November 23. We will never forget the women victims of the Maguindanao massacreI am reposting the statement of PANDAYAN, a a democratic socialist political organization in the Philippines, on the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre. They say that we, filipinos, forget easily but this time I don't think we will. This is too much. What happened last November 23 was beyond comprehension. It numbs my mind. For a few seconds last Monday I was just staring at the screen of my laptop when I chanced upon the news on the Inquirer website.<br /><br />The whole world was shocked and appalled by the barbaric killings. Once again, the Philippines is back on the world stage of notoriety and shame. CNN said that the country topples Iraq as the world's most dangerous place for journalists. How could this happen? The administration of Gloria Arroyo should answer to the Filipino people for this. For it is her administration which allows this to go on. <br /><br />As a Filipino, it pains me to hear the word 'Philippines' mixed with killings, impunity, lawlessness, massacre. It is even sadder to note that as of yesterday there were 21 women who were among the victims of the atrocious crime committed in Maguindanao last Monday. These were wives, mothers, daughters, and aunts who showed courage and bravery even if they knew the risks that they were taking when they accompanied they male relatives in filing their certificates of candidacies. <br /><br />Another deplorable thing was the news report that some of these women were sexually assaulted before they were killed and others were mutilated. This is simply abominable. Esmael Mangudadatu was right. We should not call the killers 'animals' for they are monsters. Evil. I have seen a lot of injustices and evil things in my life but this one takes the cake. <br /><br />To the victims of November 23, we will never forget you. To the women who suffered and were killed just because they wanted to show their support to the people whom they believed in, we honor you.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl22OhBs2qBWFSsLCmE3oj3PKF4qYjHiQqRm-XxIf7n5eF3v_NVIRReZF9K7PtVURxMe4QRXZ_VFa0OQCVhi8eUyyhKowRbGdO_L8kj2T58OznsZFITJ-7-mpCV9PT1reJS6d7g/s1600/maguindanao.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl22OhBs2qBWFSsLCmE3oj3PKF4qYjHiQqRm-XxIf7n5eF3v_NVIRReZF9K7PtVURxMe4QRXZ_VFa0OQCVhi8eUyyhKowRbGdO_L8kj2T58OznsZFITJ-7-mpCV9PT1reJS6d7g/s320/maguindanao.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408343045719618914" /></a><br /><br />===============================================<br /><br />The Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN) condemns in the strongest terms the brutal politically-motivated massacre in Maguindanao of women, lawyers, civilians and journalists.<br /><br />Under the current administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippines has become the most dangerous place in the world for media workers. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least 74 journalists have been killed during its eight-year reign, yet this regime's response to end this culture of impunity is barbarically inept and ineffectual. This is unacceptable. <br /><br />Forming a 14-member legal team to handle the Maguindanao massacre case is not enough. The regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should take firm and decisive actions and ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. <br /><br />We also call upon the PNP to completely revamp their ranks in the province to ensure that their people are non-partisan. Once perpetrators are positively identified, we urge that they be immediately arrested and put to jail.<br /><br />Pandayan appeals to all parties concerned to restrain themselves from retributive acts of justice, and we condemn the pervading climate of impunity, coercion and terror to maintain or secure elective positions, that give rise to warlordism and further violence.<br /><br />We urge the dismantling of all private armies and the confiscation of their firearms, starting with known warring factions not only in Maguindanao but also in places that historically are considered hot spots every election.<br /><br />We call upon the COMELEC to impose the total gun ban now and not wait until January 2010. We call upon the PNP to strictly implement the ban to prevent further violence as we approach the 2010 elections.<br /><br />We call upon the PNP to expedite the investigations and resolution of past incidences of violence against elected officials and political rivals, to have the will to prosecute the perpetrators of the crime regardless of political positions and connections. We urge both the AFP and the PNP to ensure their non-partisanship especially on the ground.<br /><br />Pandayan also calls upon the Filipino people and on its volunteers nationwide to strengthen their ranks, exercise vigilance, and in their own respective areas lead in identifying and monitoring potential threat to the security situation.<br /><br />Pandayan supports the COMELEC and encourages the PNP to fulfill their tasks to ensure the holding of a truly credible and peaceful elections in May 2010.<br /><br />The Filipino people and the whole world are watching and will continue to watch this case. Pandayan will make sure that we will never forget November 23. Finally, we extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and colleagues of all those killed in Maguindanao.<br /><br /><!-- technorati tags begin --><p style="font-size: 10px;" ds_newline="" align="right">technorati tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/takebackthetech" rel="tag" ds_newline="directory">takebackthetech</a></p><!-- technorati tags end -->twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-7324637451767962042009-11-17T16:07:00.005+08:002009-11-17T16:41:27.397+08:00Setting the record straight<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The United Nations Security office is now on the offensive. There is an Associated Press story that says UN has a policy against commercial sponsorship and has a no poster policy. Duh. The ONI / opennet.asia book reception is not for commercial purposes. We were not even selling the book then as the book is yet to be published.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If the UN really has a no poster policy then what the hell was this banners doing there at the main hall. This was taken Tuesday morning by one of the </span></span><a href="http://twitpic.com/puh5o"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">IGF delegates</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QqaxJ3WloWowwq7QXhc3RrP_74OPf-XkeD2a1m59k-ZIZfTsOzoBOMV4fbs1zU7Hrj0-T6zx0cJY3Gz0MX_GzmxoycJmhM0sx44wBpBxJ69xd_fu24aK53fwJxdAh1kvkhn6JA/s1600/noposter.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QqaxJ3WloWowwq7QXhc3RrP_74OPf-XkeD2a1m59k-ZIZfTsOzoBOMV4fbs1zU7Hrj0-T6zx0cJY3Gz0MX_GzmxoycJmhM0sx44wBpBxJ69xd_fu24aK53fwJxdAh1kvkhn6JA/s320/noposter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404983913975339794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am cross-posting Ron Deibert's <a href="http://deibert.citizenlab.org/blog/_archives/2009/11/16/4382066.html">points of clarification</a> on the ONI poster confiscation <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8361849.stm">incident</a> that happened last Sunday. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. We were told that the banner had to be removed because of the reference to China. This was repeated on several occasions, in front of about two dozen witnesses and officials, including the UN Special Rapporteur For Human Rights, who asked that I send in a formal letter of complaint.<br /><br />2. Earlier, the same officials asked us to stop circulating a small invite to the event because it contained a mention of Tibet. They even underlined it in showing it to me. Because the event was just about to start, we said that we would not be distributing any more of these invitations so it was a moot point.<br /><br />3. We asked repeatedly to see any rules or regulations governing this act. They did not give us any, only referring to the "objections of a member state."<br /><br />4. There were in fact many posters and banners in many of the rooms that I attended, including others in our own. The video itself shows us, at one point, taking one of the other posters we have and offering to cover up the original one. They objected to that and told us this banner must be removed.<br /><br />On another matter of clarification:<br /><br />The UN officials did not throw the banner on the ground. They asked us to remove it and one of our staff placed it on the ground for us to consider what to do. That's where we had the discussion. When we refused to remove it, their security guards bundled it up and took it away.</span></span></span></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-86642616712595639992009-11-15T22:40:00.005+08:002009-11-16T00:10:58.183+08:00Controlled: Anti-censorship and surveillance group censored at the Internet forum in Egypt<div style="text-align: left;">November 15, 2009</div><div><div>Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt </div><div>See video of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-kxYt2LwKc"><b>incident</b></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The opennet.asia, a research and advocacy network which monitors cyberspace practices in Asia, and fosters respect for human rights online, deplored the 'censorship' act committed by the United Nations Security Office during its book reception event at the 4th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlsdFNzIkrhKIa1kprhViUb6SXT3SQbnETeQMYOy2VfK-ZyNnUa3eHU0pOfKqn2WJbWwd-xEQ4NM5Ex9WuZb71ZZpQjGfYAgiJrpv-l7Zofn9yFnGn_b78w92-uwRURb1pUpofg/s320/IMG_0172%5B1%5D" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404341848316911810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Members of the group, who come from the academia and non-governmental organizations all over Asia, were shocked when a United Nations security officer confiscated the opennet.asia poster at the entrance of the venue for the opennet.asia's reception event for its forthcoming book, Access Controlled. The group tried to reason out with the officer but were unsuccessful in convincing him in allowing them to display the poster which shows a sentence allegedly in violation of a United Nation's policy. The sentence in question reads, “The first generation of Internet controls consisted largely of building firewalls at key Internet gateways; China’s famous “Great Firewall of China” is one of the first national Internet filtering systems.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UsoPFtZutCu22A9Kw5K568tK90RnOwJbWNW8cznk424WQF0oNE9QysWbmRCujvrkwiDKKH2gWRkXtK7zULvnz0eGJN9xs4Rk-S7qvy9EOoyMFi-1O8xfxXe569-N9Cl0DLlnwQ/s320/censored!.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404363410601076178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently, the reason for the disapproval of the United Nations Security office is that it might displease the Chinese government officials who are attending the IGF meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>“We condemn this undemocratic act of censoring our event just because someone is trying to impress or be in the good graces of the Chinese government. It is ironic that while people are allowed to gather here to discuss freedom of expression online, censorship and surveillance practices on the Internet we are being restricted and controlled in expressing our views,” said Al Alegre of the Philippine-based Foundation for Media Alternatives, a member of the opennet.asia network and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).</div><div><br /></div><div>According to Ron Deibert of The Citizen Lab and Open Net Initiatives (ONI) Principal, one of the organizers of the book reception, he will file a complaint against the 'censorship' of their event and send it to the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights.</div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-15629744270586069482009-01-29T02:05:00.002+08:002009-01-29T02:10:16.746+08:00astrofood<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eHjDRdzJF8Q1OBZnZA7XUUM-_9PLCsyt2_2bJdpppUI3G_gyOlV-vEVIpc_n3zbN1im6SQXzpCySqgfRu3uhDMLfxcAserblq26EL1T2dgQrPTohMcwMIhktzZ6Aw64IiRSjxQ/s1600-h/astronaut-ice-cream.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296408382964604194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eHjDRdzJF8Q1OBZnZA7XUUM-_9PLCsyt2_2bJdpppUI3G_gyOlV-vEVIpc_n3zbN1im6SQXzpCySqgfRu3uhDMLfxcAserblq26EL1T2dgQrPTohMcwMIhktzZ6Aw64IiRSjxQ/s320/astronaut-ice-cream.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lulubog, lilitaw </div><div>ang iyong ngiting parang talang </div><div>sa kislap ay walang katulad.</div><div>Para itong bulalakaw sa bilis, </div><div>pilit ko mang habulin ay hindi ko maabutan.</div><div>Marahil ito'y dahill alam kong ang iyong labi'y hindi magiging akin.<br /></div><br /><div>Aalis, babalik</div><div>ang pagtatangi ko sa iyo. </div><div>Kahit ilang boteng beer di ito kayang lunurin.</div><div>Kapag nakikita kita simbilis ng bullet train</div><div>ang pagpapalit-palit ko ng emosyon.</div><div>Nariyan ang pag-ibig, galit, pagnanasa, at pangungulila.</div><br /><div>Darating, lilisan</div><div>ang pag-asang balang araw ako'y mapapansin mo rin.</div><div>Basta nandito lang ang puso kong umaandap-andap </div><div>sa saliw ng iyong matang mapanglaw. </div><div>Patuloy na mangangarap na minsan </div><div>baka masagi sa iyong isipan</div><div>na ako ang iyong natatanging astrofood.</div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-81064877232085583532008-11-18T00:16:00.001+08:002008-11-18T00:19:01.019+08:00Gaiman kills BatmanI'm not a big fan of comics but this story will surely give nightmares to some of my friends, especially Helter Celtser and Jason Biggs. Here are snippets from the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-11-17-batman-gaiman_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip"><strong>USA Today article</strong></a>:<br /><br /><em>"Just as The Dark Knight closes in on $1 billion worldwide gross, DC Comics is ready to have Bruce Wayne "die" — or at least give up the cape — in his monthly comic.<br /></em><br /><em>Batman #681, due Nov. 26, wraps up writer Grant Morrison's Batman R.I.P. story line, in which the crimefighter is so shaken by a secret from his past that a new Batman must be found.<br />What makes this "death" go beyond the usual circulation booster is the talent involved. Helping to bury Batman will be best-selling novelist Neil Gaiman, who created the goth-cult Sandman comic 20 years ago.</em><br /><br /><em>Gaiman is writing a two-issue tribute to the character, starting with Batman #686 and tentatively titled Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, due in February."</em>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-81196891565402945252008-10-14T19:45:00.002+08:002008-10-14T19:55:50.698+08:00San Miguel: The Exorcist<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>“Niyaya mo akong mamasyal sa zoo.<br />Ang sabi mo kasi kailangan mo ng kasama.<br />Sumama naman ako kasi crush kita noon pa.<br />Kung sabagay gusto ko na ring magka…alam mo na.”</em></span><br /><br />I don’t know if you know that song but since you asked me to join you that day several months ago my dreary life becomes even bleaker. Oh you do not know how you made me miserable. It’s like I was suddenly thrown into the eternal fires of Sheol.<br /><br />Good thing I met San Miguel. Suddenly, I have someone to dance with, although, it is a very slow and shitty death waltz.<br /><br />It is not that I blame you for this jam I’m in. No, no, no. It is not your fault. I guess, I was just too naïve in spite of the fact that I’ve been walking this savage garden for three decades now. I just thought you were the one. But I was mortally wrong<br /><br />I never knew I would fall for this crap again. Caesar, my best friend, said it was a good thing: that I am still capable of that dreadful thing called love. But how can it be good when it brings so much pain?<br /><br />Loving you is lethal. It’s madness. Was it the Dominatrix of the Universe who said we all go a bit cuckoo when we fall in love? The worst part is listening to Frank Sinatra’s “In the wee small hours of the morning.”<br /><br />Who would want to drown in sorrow when one could seek comfort from San Miguel? So, I did the one thing that I know would help me: to drink my anguish and swallow the bitter taste of my grief. Dionysus tried to stop me. She said it would not help me at all but I ignored her.<br /><br />So, everyday, I dance. Hidden from the prying eyes of everyone I reach for San Miguel and we dance! I would embrace his slender and bluish body and grip him so tight so he would not escape from me. We would sway to the music of Smashing Pumpkin’s <em>Landslide</em> or to Supercar’s <em>Wonder Word</em>. We would stomp our feet, pluck the strings of our air guitars and scream out the lyrics until I would lose consciousness.<br /><br />I know I have to stop mooning for you. So, I am exorcising you out my system. I am casting you out. Now.<br /><br />By the power of San Miguel, I compel you! <em>Swig</em>.<br /><br />By the power of San Miguel, I compel you! <em>Gulp</em>.<br /><br />By the power of San Miguel, I compel you out of my life. <em>Belch.<br /></em><br /><em>Salud!</em>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-85601176724247740092008-10-05T01:19:00.039+08:002009-12-27T19:46:55.357+08:00Bite me, Meyer, bite me.<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was a dreary afternoon at the office when I saw Rain poring over a book the size of a hollow block. Yes, it was that big. And he was a bit fidgety at his station while reading that monster of a book.<br /><br />I was thinking it must be that good for that to have an effect on Rain or it must be the freaking weight of the book because he could not sit still. One moment he was holding it while sitting cross legged on his stool and then another moment he was putting it on his desk then on his lap while wriggling his enormous derriere.<br /><br />I think that it must be one of the reasons why he lost so much weight. Boy, if you would be carrying that stuff everyday to work then I guess you would lose 5 kilos a week! Hey Rain, why not use that monster to work on your biceps next time eh?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p>He was really into it so I guess it might be a very interesting read. So I went over to his station and asked him what was the book all about. He said it was by this relatively new writer named Stephanie Meyer and that it was about vampires.<br /><br />"Whoa! Wait a minute. Did you say bloodsuckers?" I asked a bit too loud I guess because I noticed everyone was looking at me like I was about to pounce on Rain and throw him across the floor.<br /><br />He looked at me, his mouth agape and said. "Yes, so?"<br /><br />My head started to spin and suddenly I heard music by Cocteau Twins, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Dominion, Prominence of Cathedral and The Mission. It was a mishmash of different songs actually but what stood out was Bela Lugosi's dead by Bauhaus.<o:p></o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"White on white translucent black capes,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Back on the rack,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bela Lugosi's dead,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The bats have left the bell tower,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The victims have been bled,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Red velvet lines the black box,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bela Lugosi's dead,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Undead undead undead."</span><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I thought I was going to faint so I hold on to the post near his station and licked my hundred-year-old denture. I know it is absolutely hideous but hey it is still working. Anyways, I did that because I was trying to feel for my fangs. I thought those choppers suddenly grew long but then it was just my overactive imagination.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">You see, I am a huge Anne Rice freak. Back in the 1990s when I was working for FDA/FMA and earning a paltry sum of four digits for a salary I was throwing away money on anything Anne Rice or Poppy Z. Brite. I started with Vampire Lestat then Queen of the Damned and Tale of the Body Thief then worked my way back to Interview with the Vampire before the movie which starred Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was shown in theatres. I wanted to read the first book in the series (Interview) first before I would watch the movie. We all know that most films could not hold a candle to their original book versions.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Who could forget the saga of Lestat De Lioncourt, a truly immortal character? He is a legend among Anne Rice's preternatural monsters. From the moment I touched the first pages of Vampire Lestat, I was mesmerized by this bloodsucking fiend who was inducted to the dark world by Magnus. Anne Rice made this exquisite and prancing devil into a 'hero' for many lost souls in the 1970s up to the 1990s. How many of us can relate to his existential drama, his questions about life: "Am I in His plans?", "Are my actions good or bad?", "What happens after death?" What about the other unforgettable demons in the Vampire Chronicles: Armand, Louis, Marius, Akasha. Didn't you feel the pain of Louis when Claudia died?<o:p></o:p><br /><br />Anyways, I am ranting. This is not about Anne Rice. This is about that other author, that Meyer girl. So I used all my persuasive powers and asked Rain if he could lend me his copy of Twilight, supposedly, the first installment in Meyer's trilogy about her bloodthirsty fiends. For about two weeks, while Rain was carrying that adobe of a book to work I was salivating like a rabid bulldog. I kept on pestering him to finish the book so I could lay my hands on it. I even restrained myself from googling the darn book.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Finally last Monday, Rain approached me and said he was done with the book. As he was handing the book to me I quickly snatched it off his hand and snarled. A low growling sound escaped my mouth. I made darting glances around me as I knew that Amazon also wanted the book for herself. Quickly, I shoved the book into my backpack and murmured my thanks to Rain who was slowly backing away from me.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Five minutes before clock out I was already itching to go home. When the clock struck 2:00 I rushed to the door and pushed my way into the elevator full of blundering humans. I did not even bother to say goodbye to my friends as I dashed my way out of the building. It didn't even bother me that my back was aching due to the monstrous weight of the book.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>I was ecstatic. Alas, the book is with me. I primed myself to enjoy this experience. Hell, this might be the start of a new gothic romance between me and this Meyer girl. But I was wrong, dreadfully wrong. But more on that later.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When I reached home I opened the kitchen cabinet where I keep my stash of gin and some chips. I went to my CD rack and pulled out Four-Calendar Cafe by Cocteau Twins and then lugged the DVD/CD player and two speakers to my dungeon upstairs. I turned on the music, lighted some incense on the altar, jumped on my mattress, put some gin on my glass (no ice! btw), chugged my first shot and slowly opened the book. <o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTi6s4aJLnysszuypZTtyyKCv_e96FIjW9TkdZExjNUBbfMQEBmZmreX2HMYZQoVsGbdKng7iagXsmxN3VFGbZ9A0-8KfySLL8zdD0dbZw-qEFzUOekiJQKnLLthV0FjRTAo-og/s1600-h/vampires.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTi6s4aJLnysszuypZTtyyKCv_e96FIjW9TkdZExjNUBbfMQEBmZmreX2HMYZQoVsGbdKng7iagXsmxN3VFGbZ9A0-8KfySLL8zdD0dbZw-qEFzUOekiJQKnLLthV0FjRTAo-og/s320/vampires.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253437789447663650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Twenty pages into the book and the unthinkable happened, I was dozing off! No it was not the gin. I can drink ten shots of that poison and I can still sing "I see you, You see me" by The Magic Numbers without slurring. Hell, I can even recite lines from The Breakfast Club. Besides, I only had three shots of gin at that time. I was thinking that I was distracted by Elizabeth Fraser who by that time was wailing "Are you the right man for me, Are you safe, Are you my friend, Or are you toxic for me" so I turned the CD off and resumed reading the book.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I was reading the part where Bella, the human girl, was being chased by lowlifes near the mall when he was grabbed by Edward and shoved into the car and then he attacked her! He had slit her throat open and drank her blood.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wait! "This can't be real," I said to myself. Rain told me she wasn't made into a vampire in this first book but then why did he bite her?<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I turned the page to find out and the next scenes were too graphic. After drinking all her blood, Edward smashed Bella's head on the dashboard which had cracked her skull open. Then, he twisted her neck, pulled off the whole head from her body and threw it outside the window.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> "Jeez, this guy is a maniac alright," I whispered. Damn, this is twisted stuff but then I realized that I am on the last page of the book.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"What the..? What happened to the other pages?” I said.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I was supposed to be just halfway into the book. But this last page was a real shocker. After throwing Bella's head out of the window, Edward reached into the glove box of his car and pulled out a silver dagger and plunged it into his heart! While the blood was oozing out, he cupped some and smeared it on the windshield. Because he could not see anything the car slammed into an electric post. Edward, weakened and with the dagger still lodged in his chest, tried to get out of the car but it was too late. The car by then was engulfed by fire and the freaking fiend was roasted.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Suddenly, a kick landed swiftly on my butt and I saw my sister glaring at me. She looked absolutely frightening! Her eyes were burning and her mouth was twitching. Her long hair covered most of her face except those two malevolent eyes! She looked like she was possessed by daemons from the deepest pit of hell!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Slowly, she reached for my shoulders with her claws and I screamed my lungs out! Then two slaps landed on my face and I awakened. She looked at me, smirked and said: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Yung incense mo nalaglag sa unan ayan nasusunog na!"<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Ha, alin?"</span> I muttered.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I then realized that I dozed off again. I reached for the book and saw that I was still on the part where Bella was trying to get away from the horny toads from the mall. Damn. It was just a dream then. A pity really since the dream was more exciting than this frightful bore of a book.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />So how did the book fare you might ask. Well, it is a freaking waste of pulp. While I was still reading it, I was hoping that Meyer would give me something to look forward to but alas, I was disappointed. I was waiting for the punch but it never happened. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city> "Twilight" is just like watching an afternoon soap. Hell, there is even more action in those Latin American soaps.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For me, a good book is like a portal to another world. It should allow us to wander into the other realms; it should take us into a parallel dimension where we can pretend to live the lives of the various protagonists. But this one, this book just opens the door to Disneyland; wait no, to your local 'perya' where the major characters seem to be in perpetual state of inanimation. Nothing seems to happen in this cursed book.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Edward is a wimp. He is Louis in a straitjacket. Why can't he just pounce on the girl and get it done and over with? And Bella? Well, I want to shake and slap her until she realizes that this vampire whom she loves so much might be gay! I freaking loath the book so much that I was hoping that Meyer would just kill the two main characters so I could close the book and chop it into pieces. Now I know why I had that dream. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><span style="font-size:100%;">I know a lot of tween girls and other fans of Meyer will hate me but hey, your idol is a fake. If you're writing about vampires you should write with more blood and gore. And what's with the anonymous CD, you freak! And you're supposed to be a fan of Muse?!! To Meyer, why don't you just bite me, eh?</span></p><span style="font-size:85%;">Image from <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w139/mistress_of_sorrows/">Mistress of Sorrows</a>.</span>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-34712566732486324152007-10-07T22:33:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:26:41.109+08:00Support the Sumilao lumad-farmers' March for Land, Dignity and Justice<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d9QEji1CKfAcMOFS1Zgr4CGP6fvotMPHelIe5cQ-KSfiysJ_4Ejv9jXPw9CjKX4Ozh7-Iup-UUL1NH6aUpOt5ic4uDx-LlcCIFklszd5pC578m8zn28ZU9YsdhbERpy0QTH2gQ/s1600-h/sumilaokids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118604411839161234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d9QEji1CKfAcMOFS1Zgr4CGP6fvotMPHelIe5cQ-KSfiysJ_4Ejv9jXPw9CjKX4Ozh7-Iup-UUL1NH6aUpOt5ic4uDx-LlcCIFklszd5pC578m8zn28ZU9YsdhbERpy0QTH2gQ/s320/sumilaokids.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">The children of the Sumilao farmers. They are now continuing the struggle of their parents. Some of them will be joining the March on October 10.<br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtGAaO4ZZ2HzOsZtbSltK160CGMXKS5jZfexrj-39Bq-EyLBQaJOQAIgmS24YFW1uxdYwB5HgN-gn48cs32YFbtye5e49IR6JIkp9sTydJWhMkhyphenhyphen41DozCLdnY_mT4vWqLdYhPQ/s1600-h/map_mass1.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118604154141123458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtGAaO4ZZ2HzOsZtbSltK160CGMXKS5jZfexrj-39Bq-EyLBQaJOQAIgmS24YFW1uxdYwB5HgN-gn48cs32YFbtye5e49IR6JIkp9sTydJWhMkhyphenhyphen41DozCLdnY_mT4vWqLdYhPQ/s320/map_mass1.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> The original hunger strikers back in 1997.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAjASSlaLzfTamDbU7enPmkasLrnUgDLE0P_wHL0cgNBHObsiot9dZ6hnyBlbN8eHB_YPa6d2Fx3P_WhVYr-b4a4ZuMfS3s6hiyLtP5x3nVInpJwb5Xi7SnYF3njc2xNZ5qHP9g/s1600-h/erap_4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118603780478968690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAjASSlaLzfTamDbU7enPmkasLrnUgDLE0P_wHL0cgNBHObsiot9dZ6hnyBlbN8eHB_YPa6d2Fx3P_WhVYr-b4a4ZuMfS3s6hiyLtP5x3nVInpJwb5Xi7SnYF3njc2xNZ5qHP9g/s320/erap_4.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ka Peter Tuminhay with Erap Estrada and Etta Rosales.<br /></span><br /><div align="left">Ten years ago this month, 17 lumad-farmers from Sumilao, Bukidon staged a hunger strike in front of the office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City. Their call then was and still is the redistribution of the 144 hectares of their ancestral land. Many things have happened since their 28-day hunger strike in 1997. Former President Ramos’ much vaunted Win-Win formula came to naught when the Supreme Court decided to uphold the conversion order of then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres. Meanwhile, the Norberto Quisumbing Sr Management and Development Corporation sold the land to the San Miguel Food which is now putting up a piggery farm. In spite of these setbacks, the Sumilao farmers remain steadfast and still believe that one day they will be able to reclaim their ancestral land. They have now filed a petition for the cancellation of the conversion order before the Office of the DAR Secretary.They are also asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to use her powers to give them back their ancestral land.<br /><br />On October 10, 2007, fifty of the more than 150 claimant farmers will walk on foot from Bukidnon to Manila. They are expected to arrive in Manila on December 10 to press the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Office of the President to act on their case. This walk is their non-violent way of protesting the more than ten years of injustice they have gone through in trying to reclaim their ancestral land. Their story is a sad reflection of the state of agrarian reform in our country. It demonstrates how little our commitment is to agrarian reform justice. It is the lumad-farmers' hope that through this walk they will be able to re-ignite our awareness on the situation of agrarian reform in the country and create a groundswell of support for the acceleration of distribution of lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.<br /><br />The lumad-farmers of Sumilao need your help. The students of the AB Development Studies of the Ateneo de Manila University (Kristine Basa, Aya Mamaril, Ivygail Ong, Audris Umel, and Kristine Wee) have started a fund-raising drive to help the Sumilao farmers. As of October 6, 2007 they have raised P2027. However, the Sumilao farmers need more. All throughout the 60-day walk they need food, water, raincoats, slippers, tent, medicines and first aid kits. You may send your donations to PAKISAMA’s bank account:<br /><br />Bank Account Name: Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA)</div><div align="left">SavingsAccount Number: 0280-14200-0Equitable PCI Bank, Katipunan Branch<br />Please e-mail the details of your donation (amount, time and date of deposit, etc.) at <a href="mailto:sumilaomarch@gmail.com">Sumilao march</a> email or to <a href="mailto:pakisama_pilipinas@yahoo.com">PAKISAMA</a> to check if your donation has been received and to receive updates on the march.<br /><br />PAKISAMA is a national confederation of farmers association in the Philippines. Its National Coordinator is Raul Socrates Banzuela. Its office is located at Rm 207 Partnership Center , 59 Salavador St. Loyola Heights, Quezon City. </div><div align="center"><br /><strong>Revoke the Conversion Order! Redistribute the Land under CARP!<br />Reform and Extend the Agrarian Reform Program! Rationalize Land Use!</strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left">For updates please visit <a href="http://sumilaomarch.multiply.com/">this site</a>. Please download the <a href="http://sumilaomarch.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/4/1?xurl=%2Fphotos%2Fphoto%2F4%2F1"><strong>flyer</strong></a> and distribute to your friends, organizations and networks. </div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">All photos by JMOD.</span></div></div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-9822785270966153532007-10-03T19:11:00.001+08:002008-12-10T20:26:41.449+08:00Red shirt day for Burma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtffaBy86ozCydLmNkLm1IKeWByHNavaVMTpqKUnVUJRN2fAxJBwdYShlmVp14JCI_9iboo62M2nVITIO83Zxgys_muCUrMDKTjLTlTzT3xXYK_deXpXeU9RHa2n2wcWfAEf7-tg/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117066646043468562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtffaBy86ozCydLmNkLm1IKeWByHNavaVMTpqKUnVUJRN2fAxJBwdYShlmVp14JCI_9iboo62M2nVITIO83Zxgys_muCUrMDKTjLTlTzT3xXYK_deXpXeU9RHa2n2wcWfAEf7-tg/s320/2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-86082388652877536652007-10-03T18:47:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:26:41.779+08:00FREE BURMA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZjZX6225qcBucJMlTOQTF1bk4FS8oerBlDCa1lJyXBahVuhp0rkRghtGwWnLeuhrz41ype2Tnx2X5rJ6kBaZHFE32-82pdZtgX3hnFQMBSaWUqXjxSoI1wAib9pXapU4IjMM_g/s1600-h/200611301221071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117061118420558594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZjZX6225qcBucJMlTOQTF1bk4FS8oerBlDCa1lJyXBahVuhp0rkRghtGwWnLeuhrz41ype2Tnx2X5rJ6kBaZHFE32-82pdZtgX3hnFQMBSaWUqXjxSoI1wAib9pXapU4IjMM_g/s320/200611301221071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36Mmz2gvIzSFYmbVgdTIcggN9q94KNfxnvpN5mhmeReMHDj2n7UEpLSk_C1gAiIkMf-6bUrotMxhKK5Hg6OkUwOCP8YuCjyzid-6LTQIfcV6dawdPTfPPPRmrgAdnAWNf5CYZZA/s1600-h/1451938504_ce2ae60285_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117061041111147250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36Mmz2gvIzSFYmbVgdTIcggN9q94KNfxnvpN5mhmeReMHDj2n7UEpLSk_C1gAiIkMf-6bUrotMxhKK5Hg6OkUwOCP8YuCjyzid-6LTQIfcV6dawdPTfPPPRmrgAdnAWNf5CYZZA/s320/1451938504_ce2ae60285_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HJInRtaWHruNBs94APLORclTPsjYKgNCY4tfqROmLbT8ONXHlP_2yns_zCiausUALIwCGdoaSBEVu0G2wYz6sGQptlpyUUO__c1Nsu8YxBFoPVFUqoViWlPF9TNV6hnzoOytbg/s1600-h/1449111055_f7c0cd32f8_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117060693218796258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HJInRtaWHruNBs94APLORclTPsjYKgNCY4tfqROmLbT8ONXHlP_2yns_zCiausUALIwCGdoaSBEVu0G2wYz6sGQptlpyUUO__c1Nsu8YxBFoPVFUqoViWlPF9TNV6hnzoOytbg/s320/1449111055_f7c0cd32f8_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Photos from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51408633@N00/1449111055/in/pool-479791@N25/">Freedom for Burma</a>. Stand up with the people of Burma, sign the <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/"><strong>petition</strong></a>.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-88969568604598407342007-08-20T12:27:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:26:41.886+08:00ang pagbabalik ng show na may tama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqNhn-cZnu27xHIPP4eIFkcHCMxqc9aIePqa1YtaTPNZ6GgsGAZ7j_P5iPmEOLiAbnTI36gg0UKn74CaBevwm_TNWfYBklb8BGu-4JLKgPhDpQjMoJ19UQRgs1W3EnEo6ChJmQ/s1600-h/ad0820.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqNhn-cZnu27xHIPP4eIFkcHCMxqc9aIePqa1YtaTPNZ6GgsGAZ7j_P5iPmEOLiAbnTI36gg0UKn74CaBevwm_TNWfYBklb8BGu-4JLKgPhDpQjMoJ19UQRgs1W3EnEo6ChJmQ/s320/ad0820.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100649432819148514" border="0" /></a><br /><div>strangebrew: ang show na may tama...remember that kids? </div><br /><div> </div>Launched in 2001 on UNTV, strangebrew became a cult favorite. It's like a pinoy Beavis and Butthead. The show introduced us to Tado and Erning. After a brief stint on UNTV 37 it went on to Studio 23 but was eventually axed as well. Tado became a household name and Erning or Angel had done hosting job for Breakfast.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>DokAris, a cousin of mine who played with Tado in a band called Live Tilapia, emailed me this gif file on the return of strangebrew. Joining Tado and Erning is Direk Ramon Bautista who played oddball characters in the original run of the show. strangebrew airs on 99.5 RT. Tama? Tama!<br /><br /><br /></div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-48387896497788728132007-08-12T22:54:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:26:42.127+08:00huh?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv5d7k3OJZwq16LH-_KL3rOWxKWIZ9DSWTy-oYZDLanzb_1-ZLkejv_OB-aV-GbXQJ0-Q5yaqDV7Wfqd581cYdXod2it98PEhydNu3NS0gYaELf0RWnd99KbGHhcS12k5zjcoaw/s1600-h/whatthefuck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097828515019381986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRv5d7k3OJZwq16LH-_KL3rOWxKWIZ9DSWTy-oYZDLanzb_1-ZLkejv_OB-aV-GbXQJ0-Q5yaqDV7Wfqd581cYdXod2it98PEhydNu3NS0gYaELf0RWnd99KbGHhcS12k5zjcoaw/s320/whatthefuck.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>This was posted outside the clinic of a large business organization. It's absolutely daft, isn't it? The bulletin board was posted with reminders on how to live a healthy lifestyle. The number ten was so hilariously stupid that I could not help but to take a picture of it. I was always laughing my head off everytime I passed by that moronic sign. They took it off after a week.</div>twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18114787.post-79794951825025939162007-08-08T15:30:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:26:42.393+08:00are you ready for the future?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtztSQl3jSfeDi4u8g_QR0mec_YPvFl55C1vPHLe6GUVi4RU16efN1_ECf3mTZ_RQIfIasM_Qjgg_qTLLgTtlaOteVr8o7EGz6Tn25L-bqtE_vljxffmvycVyUB_u6ruHXQTHdQ/s1600-h/The_4400_-_intro.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096231482969971922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtztSQl3jSfeDi4u8g_QR0mec_YPvFl55C1vPHLe6GUVi4RU16efN1_ECf3mTZ_RQIfIasM_Qjgg_qTLLgTtlaOteVr8o7EGz6Tn25L-bqtE_vljxffmvycVyUB_u6ruHXQTHdQ/s320/The_4400_-_intro.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We were discussing the fantastic TV series Heroes at the HQ when Sheila mentioned that she is going to lend me her copy of this sci-fi thriller called The 4400. I’ve been bugging her for some time now to let me borrow some titles from her enormous collection of Quiapo finds and I thanked her for this.<br /><br />The 4400 is an excellent mix of fantasy and science fiction! It is a cross between X-files and Heroes. If X-files had Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, 4400 has Tom Baldwin and Diana Scouris. Set in Seattle, the series focuses on a group of people who mysteriously vanished at different times in a span of 60 years. Then one day these people suddenly reappeared unharmed, not a day older and most of all gifted with paranormal abilities.<br /><br />We have heard several theories about abduction but this show reveals that the 4400 were abducted not by little green men but by humans, albeit from the future. They were sent back and given powers to avert a major catastrophe that will destroy the human race. Would they use their newfound powers to heal the world or would they use it for themselves? If you have a supernatural ability would you use it to enrich yourself or would you rather use it on the Marcoses and have them imprisoned till they rot? If Imelda had the power of Isabelle, let’s say materialization, would she summon for the body of Macoy and bring him to life and sing Dahil sa Iyo? If Ate Glo had the power of precognition, would she still call Garci? Well, if I have the power of telepathic suggestion, I would use it on Cueshe and make them jump off a cliff so that we will not hear their shrieking voices again.<br /><br />The series opened in July of 2004 on USA network and is now on its 4th season. Ian said that it is being shown on AXN. If you don’t have AXN on your cable network (Damn you Global Destiny!) then ask your suking DVD pirate.twistedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564725326736009348noreply@blogger.com8