Reposting Ed Canela's Message

Ed wrote this message sometime in May.

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"Wow...you really have started a blog...wonderful. Ok yan Toti...Maybe when I retire I will help you write our small but nonetheless interesting "saga". Our e-group is still at its "Happiness" period, e.g., sharing of the happy moments we have in the past...but the real story of our saga will consist of Happiness and Sadness...Success and Failures. I do not believe that our group suffered the same stereotypical sadness that the babyboomers in the US had...I am sure we are very different! Let us wait till the happiness moment is over and then we will see the darker side...and if we get over this hump, then our group is on forever. I am with you all the way for the blogs, tell me if I could be of help (albeit from a distance). HUgssssss for now."
Ed Canela

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I hope we, or rather "I" have gotten over the hump!

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I'm in Biliran now attending an assessment workshop of a local NGO-member of our network. The local NGO members are having a workshop now, so I had the chance to post this. I was surprised to find my wireless broadband working here. I may not have the time though to work on something to post tonight.

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NINGAS COGON

Ningas cogon - a Filipino idiomatic expression which literally means “grass flash fire”, referring to cogon grass that when set afire blaze furiously only to die down quickly .

It is also a term used to refer to a Filipino trait characterized by "starting out projects with full vigor and interest only to abruptly die down, leaving things unfinished."

Is this what is happening to our group? Right before and immediately after the 40th Year Reunion, there was so much eagerness to find where the others are, how they look, and what they have been doing. There was so much enthusiasm to maintain communications or to regularly see each other. The inbox was filled with many messages, pictures, jokes, inspirational messages, etc. There was a suggestion to put up a blogsite, and so we did. Messages and postings were eagerly awaited. This was so for several weeks, and then ......

Just like in many other projects, sustainability is a problem.

Perhaps, in our case, we have outgrown each other. It's been so many years since we were all together in school. Many things have changed. Maybe we don't share the same interests, the same values, the same convictions or advocacies now? Hence, the flurry of communications has already addressed our desire to know how each has been doing. So, what else is there to relate? Maybe, there are developments in one's family or career that need our time and attention and we're not really that close to each other to feel the need to share this with the rest. Maybe the present work load is too much. Maybe, but we don't really know because majority have chosen to remain silent.

Socialists say that Filipinos are generally passive and lacking in initiative. One waits to be told what has to be done. There is a strong reliance on others. Is this also the reason why we do not know what to do with the small amount of money that was left from the contributions given for the reunion? Bahala na sina Mendy, Yoly, Susan, Remo, and the rest of the Daet group to decide. Because we don't really know what each one wants. Is there any advocacy, or a cause that we want to push or at least to contribute a little, a very tiny part of our resources? ...... Wala lang. Long live the Society of the Causeless* Ones!

* may ganon bang term?

Sori po but a blog is a venue for expressing one's opinion, isn't it? So you're free to react! Sige maturog nguna ako, baka pag-mata ko after one week, ogwa ng sarong reaction ano?

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What's New Today - July 7, 2007

Iloilo Basilan Biliran

Today is said to be the luckiest day of the millenium 07/07/07. Magdilang angel sana sila! Do tell us, what events would happen to you to prove that today is indeed the luckiest.

I've been waiting for new pictures from you. Alot said she has new pictures of her family but hasn't uploaded them yet. Same is true with 'Ate' Marynat. So, while waiting for them, I decided to post pictures I took in my travels (except those with me in the pictures, dahil siyempre, pinakuha ko iyon sa iba). Most of the pictures were taken in the Visayas and Mindanao. Thank God, I've been spared from troubles in my trips. I've been to Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Cotabato, etc. without encountering untoward incidents. Thank you Lord!
For the complete set of pictures, go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/TotiSPhotoAlbum

Now that I'm going to Tacloban, I recall that when I was monitoring a project in Sulat, Eastern Samar, I used to either ride an FX or rent a vehicle from Tacloban to Samar. Travelers usually stop at the Junction where the road branches out to Eastern Samar and another to Northern Samar. Nandito iyong mga carenderia, so hintuan ito ng mga sasakyan. Do you know the name of the Junction? It's Buray! Kaya, hirap akong sumagot when those in Sulat, Eastern Samar ask me - o kumain ka na ba? A sa Buray kayo kumain? Masarap dun! Pag kumakain ka naman sa carenderia, don't ask the waitress kung may sili sila o kaya ay humingi ka ng sili. Sili is their term for the male organ!

O walang bastusan iyan ha. Iyan talaga ang local dialects natin. Lastly try the computer game below para malaman nyo kung hindi pa pasmado ang kamay nyo.



July 5, 2007

My new posting today is quite late, it's already evening here. I've got a news round up at the national scene taken from today's broad sheets. I hope to be able to post news updates from Bicol too, particularly Camarines Norte. There are also recycled jokes, old and may be corny jokes, but since many of you are corny, anyway, so I still hope some of these can still make you laugh. I'm also posting the Milk Code of 1986 and I have added pictures of Mikaela Fudolig, the genius UP summa cum laude, Oscar Tan, the Filipino who was the Harvard University commencement speaker, and Alan Pineda, Apl d'Ap of the Black eyed peas. These are for the benefit of some visitors who happened to visit the blogsite looking for these items.

Next week will be a busy one for me. I have two trips to make, to Biliran via Tacloban City on Tuesday and Bacolod City either on Thursday or Friday. I'll try to line up postings over the weekend, so I'll have something ready for posting daily. As Ed says, Hugs and kisses!

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News Round Up

It costs P148Million on the average to pass a law. With a budget of P12.5Billion over a period of 3 years, the 13th Congress passed only 83 laws. Mura ano?

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RP needs $16M more for Bicol typhoon rehab – particularly Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, which were badly hit by last year's typhoons. Such amount is needed for health, food and shelter, and early recovery needs such as livelihood programs, nutrition and education.

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Teofisto Guingona: "Free Estrada, he’s now a new man." Remember Guingona as the Senator who gave a privilege speech entitled "I accuse (Erap!)" which started the moves to impeach Erap. Just because Gloria has turned out to be worse than Erap in terms of corruption doesn't make Erap less guilty (my personal view).

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Sexy actor Jay Manalo was taken into police custody for his bomb joke while on board PAL flight bound for Puerto Princesa. "I didn’t know that making such a joke would land me into trouble." Ulol! Sinong lokohin mo? Dapat ikulong na iyan, pero dapat kasama si John Estrada, who did the same thing in General Santos City.

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Still no proof of life of Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, who was abducted in Zamboanga Sibugay on June 10.



July 5, 2007

Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales says nobody is immune from wiretapping once the Human Securities Act (Anti-Terrorism Law) takes effect this month.
Booo!

Taxes for 7 Marcos Baguio mansions unpaid these past 20 years. (Bureau of Internal Revenue unable to meet its tax collection target).
Booo!

Supreme Court upholds 20% discount on the price of medicines for the senior citizens.
Yehey! Meron na bang eligible to become beneficiary sa atin?

E-jeepney (earth-friendly) electrifies Makati folk –– costs P500,000 each; runs by batteries charged via electrical sockets overnight; 12-seater; does not puff smoke
Yehey!

Imelda Marcos’s birthday bash held in Canlubang Mansion, a sequestered asset under the care of the Department of Tourism.
Booo!

UN seeks stricter measures to ensure safer milk formula
Yehey!

RP ranks 17th among 191 nations in UN’s survey on e-governance
Yehey! But I really don’t know what e-governance is. I have yet to read the news article.

Jaworski returning to PBA – Philippine Basketball Association next season as coach of Air21
Yehey or Booo depending on whether you are a Lolo Jawo fanatic or not.

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A Test Given by the Air Force to Fighter Pilots

The object of the game is to move the red block around without getting hit by the blue blocks or touching the black walls.If you can go longer than 18 seconds you are phenomenal.


The US Air Force uses this for fighter pilots. They are expected to go for at least 2 minutes. Give it a try but be careful...it is addictive!!

CLICK ON THIS WEBSITE: http://tinyurl.com/56t9u

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