True Colors….

It is often said that in politics there are no permanent friends just permanent personal interests… another saying we often hear about politics was the saying “You scratch my back, I scratch yours” but I have never really seen how completely vivid it was until last January 29, 2010 (Friday).

As part of the team that was in charge of the celebration for our organization’s anniversary, I was one of the few people allowed inside the venue who’s was not part of the guest list. We were the office in charge of one of the very few ceremonies that the President of the country regularly attend each year.

We regularly invite guests from the legislative/executive/judicial body as well as diplomats and other foreign attache to attend the ceremony. And in the last several years the place was full packed and always well attended especially by invited government officials…but this year was completely different….

The venue was segregated into seating arrangements made to speak not only of the guest’s importance but also of their affinity to the Guest of Honor and Speaker…so the top government officials were in front (about 80 seats were reserved) then the diplomats from other countries…and so on. But what used to be one of the first sections to become full pack now appeared quite abandoned.

The government officials who used to fight over where and how close to the president they should be seated are surprisingly absent this year. And the area reserved for them which we used to have trouble with due to the large turn-out is now vacant with only about 20 people seated at what was to be reserved for 80. It was pathetic…it was saddening but more importantly it spoke of the kind of people the president surrounded herself with.

For years, these people fed off her…they clung to her when they know they could get something from them and now that she’s exiting and there are talks of filing both administrative and criminal cases against…her hangers on are all gone. That’s politics for you…Back then they were her closest allies but now they can’t get far enough away from her.

I am not a huge supporter of PGMA, I never voted for her, but I do admire her in a way – she had made many tough decisions that are unpopular and had met with many oppositions but she pushed on. Then later on people would find out that it was good call and she was right to push for it. I mean, she had made many radical changes in our tax laws and have gained the disapproval of the business community by declaring far too many holidays…but what people do not see was that it was done with a good purpose. The tax revisions were done to allow the working public to have more money on hand…the holidays gave even enough time to spend it.

But to have to rise above your own small mindedness and personal vengence to see all those. For the economy to continue to move money must be spent, money must rotate through the system, it must move hands; for as long as money is circulating through the system the country will not stagnate too much and thus keeping us afloat through the recession experienced by many countries. Government is spending too and creating jobs as they did so by taking in contractual workers in the offices and by building infrastructures. I don’t know about other people but for me as hard as life is right now, we at least were not hit as hard by the recession as other countries were.

It just saddened me that PGMA had made a lot of good intentioned efforts but no matter what she did…the corruption of those around her and those of her family will be what people will see.

A tribute to the Cebu Dancing Inmates

In July, 2007 something complete unexpected and new made a debut on the internet – the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) Dancing Inmates!

Honestly when I first heard about them from a friend I laughed and got so curious about the rave that I immediately went online and watched their video on Youtube. And they were great!

It all started out as a morning exercise program for the inmates of CPDRC. Byron Garcia, the security advisor to the Cebu government was credited for starting a program of choreographed exercise routines for the inmates. Garcia initially introduced an exercise program where the prisoners marched in unison, starting out with marching to the beat of a drum, but moved on to dancing to pop music.  He started them out with camp music such as In The Navy and Y.M.C.A. by The Village People, so macho prisoners would not be offended at being asked to dance.  Then he started recording their routines which he eventually uploaded on Youtube. The first video he upload was virtually ignored but the 2nd one “Thriller” gathered so many hits that it became an over night success.

Eventually, the Filipinos became used to looking forward to their next performance and the next and the next. Little did we know that our little pleasure was slowly creeping into the consciousness of the worldwideweb.

But in as much as the CPDRC Dancing Inmates are receiving praises, they are also not immune to the criticism of some people. I guess that’s what hurts the most sometimes – its when the people who know so little about them would make the most hurtful comments. I read one comment on Youtube who called them nothing but slaves who’re forced to dance. Allow us to make it clear that the prisoners who perform in these routines are not being forced. They are there because they wanted to be there. They enjoy what they do – it’s a little piece of normalcy for them. It’s the time when they feel not so alienated from the world they left outside, but I guess some people don’t want them to find any happiness..they want these prisoners to suffer. As what Byron Garcia said  “If we make life like a living hell for these fallen angels, then we might just be turning out devils once they are released and re-integrated into society”.

And now, their latest achievement…apparently, Michael Jackson was aware of their performances and so in line with this Travis Payne, Jackson’s long-time choreographer, came to the prison and gave the 1500 dancing inmates of CPDRC a dancing lesson.

The number was called “The Drill,” the last choreography Payne and Jackson collaborated on before the King of Pop died in June 2009. Payne visited the Cebu penitentiary last week to teach the inmates “The Drill,” which would be part of the Blu-Ray and DVD copies of “This Is It.”

The dance was uploaded on YouTube last January 22 and as of today has gained 417,610 views.

And yet for all that…this is still my favorite CPDRC video…imagine they actually danced this before radio stations here in Manila heard about this song! hehehe!

and this..

The Old Lady has a point…..

This was something I over heard while hubby and some friends were talking and relaxing after a long outdoors ride one afternoon.

One of the neighbor’s kids was playing this really loud rock music and one of the guys ( I can’t recall who) commented about the stupidity of the music. Then one of them said that his grandmother used to say that ‘back in their days in grade school the music teacher would separate the class into two groups – the first group would consist of kids who possesses a great voice and can actually sing and who were dubbed as the singers; the other group who loved to sing but can’t carry a note if their life depended on it were called the listeners.’ Thus the music class would continue with the great singers singing and the avid listeners listening. Today, according to grandma those group who’re supposed to be in the listening group are called rappers and rock singers.

This little piece of wisdom made me smile and realized how true grandmother’s observations were. All you have to do is watch Filipino variety shows today and you’ll see artist (actors and actresses) who can’t sing and dance being made to sing and dance and the fans go wild about it. There used to be a time in the Philippine Entertainment Industry when to be able to sing you’ll have to be a really good singer, or dance if you’ve been trained professionally or even act if you undergo acting training. But today, it seems all the criteria you have to pass to become a celebrity is a pretty face and white sparkly teeth.

……or be a part of a damn reality game show on TV!

And they wonder why the movie industry is deteriorating…sheesh!

Not a very nice week….

Been sick since Tuesday last week, and though I’ve tried to go about everything as usual there are days when I just couldn’t make it to work. Last week I spent 3 days staying home because of my illness; today again I was unable to go to work…and it looks like I’ll be staying home again tomorrow.

I hate being so sick, I know everyone has that sentiment but it just gets too much for me that I’ve been like this for two weeks already. I really admire those who can muster their courage against their illness because I don’t know how they do it.

I went to the doctor again this morning and he changed my antibiotics to something stronger…but it also costs more. Hubby was saying it was okay it’ll make me better but I can’t help thinking about the cost and that we could have saved that amount to buy things for when the new house is completed.

Aside from being so weak and constantly cold and having problems with my breathing I think my youngest also caught my cough and cold which is really bad. Though he’s younger and his body resistance seem to b better than mine because his illness only last a few days.

*sigh* I do admit my prolonged illness has something to be with my age, I know I’m only 37 but I’ve been a workaholic most of my life and so I think my body is paying for the abuse I gave it earlier. I hate to sound so pessimistic but I just needed somewhere to vent my frustrations about being coop here at home.

Satomi Hakkenden

English Translation: The Legend of the Eight Dog Warriors

Known as the “greatest samurai novel in Japan”, this drama is based on the novel by Kyokutei Bakin. The novel was actually completed within the span of 30 years; Bakin had already gone blind by then and so the final part of it was dictated to his daughter-in-law Michi.

I haven’t seen the first 2 TV series based on this novel but the last one, I just had to find. And I think people who know me enough already knows why…it stars Tackey! What else!?

The story takes place during the beginning of the Sengoku Jidai in Awa, a tiny province that is currently a part of modern-day Chiba Prefecture.  In the kingdom of Awa, on the southernmost part of Kanto, Sadakane and his wife Tamazusa abused their positions and brought poverty and grief to the people of that region. Eventually the commoners sought help from the great commander Satomi Yoshizane, the hero of the Yuki Battle, to over throw the cruel monarchs.  Satomi took his army and invaded the southern kingdom, killing Sadakane and at the point of killing his wife Tamazusa; the woman begged forgiveness and explained that she had nothing to do with her husband’s cruelty that she was but a mere follower unable to say ‘nay’ to his demands.  Being a compassionate man by nature Satomi took pity on Tamazusa and ordered his men to set her free. But his advisers brought about facts statingthat Tamazusa was actually the driving force behind her husband and she was in fact a willing participant in his cruelty.  At this juncture Yoshizane was left with no choice but to take back his word and asked Tamazusa to do the honorable thing and commit seppuku.

Tamazusa was angered at Yoshizane for taking back his word and promised to extract revenge. She cursed Satomi and his descendants including his kingdom.  Now unknown to those present Tamazusa was a very powerful witch and certainly able to fulfill her curse. Yoshizane’s men killed her then and at the moment of her dead lightning struck her and Tamazusa disappeared leaving behind nothing but a huge imprint of a giant spider on her place.  Tamazusa’s curse said that she would change men’s desire into dogs. By this she meant everything that was reprehensible about man.

From that day forward Awa was shrouded in clouds, the crops would not grow due to lack of sunlight and the weather was always cold. Years later the Satomi clan was attacked by neighboring kingdoms and in order to save the family line. Yoshizane implored the remaining princess to flee together with her fiance Daisuke, she was to be the last of their line; the younger princess had been taken by an eagle and was lost many years back.

On their way from the castle, they encountered some of the attacking soldiers and Daisuke asked the princess to escape through the woods. There the princess encountered Tamazusa, and she reminded her of the curse. Tamazusa informed Hime (princess) that she was pregnant with the curse children that will sow – strife, jealousy, betrayal, murder….

Hime refused this fate. It was then that Daisuke came looking for her and at the sight of Tamazusa he loose an arrow to kill the witch but Tamazusa disappeared and Hime was struck with the arrow through the heart. With her dying strength Hime took her knife and stabbed herself, giving her life in exchange for the children in her womb. With her sacrifice she changed the fate of the children in her womb to the good virtues of men. The spirit of these children was scattered throughout the land at her death and landed on 8 male children who were to become the 8 dog warriors of Satomi who will someday destroy the curse on the land.

What followed was the adventure of the eight dog warriors. Throughout the series, each dog warrior recognizes the other through three distinguishing features: a last name starting with the word “inu” (meaning dog), a birthmark in the shape of a peony (the emblem of the Satomi clan) and a bead containing a kanji character that reflects eight of the fundamental virtues of Confucianism. They are:

• kō (孝) – filial piety; devotion
• gi (義) – duty and obligation, but it can also be translated as righteousness
• chū (忠) – loyalty
• shin (信) – faith
• tei (悌) – brotherhood; brotherly affection
• jin (仁) – sympathy and benevolence, but note that, according to Confucianism, “jin” is also the greatest and most perfect virtue of all. It should come as no surprise that the bearer of this bead also happens to be the most powerful warrior of the eight.
• chi (知) – wisdom
• rei (礼) – courtesy, but this can also be translated as proper form, i.e. an extensive knowledge and proper observation of tradition and manners.

The adventure of the eight dog warriors started with Inuzuka Shino-Moritaka (Tackey) as he was the first to find another man with the same birthmark as his and has a crystal bead with a virtue written in kanji inside it. From Shino the story moved forward as he proceeded to carry our his father’s dying wish but along the way meets other dog warriors. They eventually found Daisuke who had by then become a travelling monk seeking out the dog warriors and he explained to them he significance of their mark and their role in Satomi.

As for the rest you’ll just have to watch this movie to find out…sorry but I think I would not be able to do justice to the series so you’ll have to see it for yourself.

Marriage Contract Expiry Date Slammed by Congress

A party list aspiring for the national elections proposed the bill before Congress and was slammed down even before it reached the first reading. The proposed marriage contract with expiry day was put forward by partylist aspirant1-ABAA (Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso).  It is said that the group’s main advocacy is “to help women become economically empowered by helping them become entrepreneurs, giving them better employment, providing sources of livelihood, access to capital, and other ways to make women financially independent.”

Now please, would somebody tell me where in this supposed advocacy would that proposed bill come into play? How would putting expiration dates on marriages be beneficial to women of this country?

When a friend told me about this proposed bill I didn’t take her seriously, I mean who would? Then I finally saw it in the news and I was…well, to say I was surprised was lying really…I thought it was hilarious! I mean, this is one of only two predominantly Christian country in Asia with about 85% of its Congressmen being Catholics how could they ever hope to pass that bill through Congress?

Okay, so if you don’t like the man you married you only have until the 10th year of your marriage then you can dispose of him? You’re free! But that’s 10 years of your life wasted, ain’t it? With or without expiration date on the marriage it only works if you are willing to make it work. It does not rely on whether there’s a way out or not. We have enough broken families in this country we don’t need more! Shessh! People use what’s between your ears sometime!!

Philippine Government Websites….HACKED!!!

Honestly, I was not even surprised when I heard about this on the news. Our government agencies had been overly confident about their websites – how  these websites are supposed to be well encrypted and how these sites are immune from hacking. I remember one officer from our agency saying that their site is impossible to hack…hah! I wonder what that officer is thinking right now.

As bad as this issue may seem now, considering that the country is very near it’s first ever electronic election process, it’s also a good wake up call to everyone concerned how easy it can be for these talented hackers to break their website defenses.

I still remember COMELEC officials keep on insisting that their PICOs machines are impossible to tamper with, well this new development isn’t exactly building any confidence on the ability and capability of the government to protect the electoral process against tampering if they can’t even defend their own backyard.

The websites that were reported hacked are: Department of Justice; Department of Health; Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council; Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; Department of Labor and Employment; and Technical Education and Skills Development Administration.

I was amazed and at the same time appalled when I heard that the PNP-CIDG was included in those websites that was hacked! I mean, aren’t there sensitive data that could be had from that site??? Just asking.

Looking back…..

As always I was the last to go to sleep last night…I have turned off the TV and was getting ready to go to bed when I happen to glance towards the twin beds at the other side of the room. My two young sons slept peacefully, and I looked at them a deep sense of longing stole over me…what would I give to be able to carry them in arms again; to be able to rock them to sleep while I sing lullabys for them.

Hubby for his part often comments on how just a few years ago he could still lift both of them on either arm and how he used to enjoy carrying them on his shoulders, those days were gone but they’re some of the sweetest, happiest memories we have of the boys.

I guess, I only now understand why parents are always being accused by their children as treating them like kids, because in our hearts, in the deepest recesses of our hearts we will always look at them as our babies. That feeling of protectiveness, of concern and of needing to take care of them will never go away I guess. Yes, as a responsible parent I must learn to let go to, to let them spread their wings and try things on their own no matter how hard it is for us to see them go.

Someday they’ll fall in love and there will be times when they might get hurt, and I know that all I can do is let them know that I will always be there for them no matter what. There will also be times when they may hurt someone, and I will have to be the one strong enough to tell them they’re wrong and to set them straight.

They’re growing up so fast, sometimes I feel like I’m not yet ready to let them go. In my heart of hearts they’ll always be my babies, even if they want to recognize that or not.

The Secret of Staying Young: My Tackey Obsession and Being an Otaku!

I can still remember the first time I saw Tackey on TV, I was rummaging through my things then trying to sort out my room before dinner while half watching, half listening to Music Station on cable. The maid had come up to my room to inform me that dinner was served and as I was about to turn off the TV and go downstairs I looked up and saw this devastatingly handsome man on the screen getting ready to sing. I didn’t catch his name earlier since I wasn’t really paying that much attention to the TV. The face on the screen stopped me dead on my tracks and I started listening to his song, I waited till the screen showed the title of the song and the name of the singer – SAMURAI – Takizawa Hideaki; I waited until the end of the song and the singer exited before I finally turn off the TV and went down to dinner but I was hooked. I was in love by then; it was love at first sight!

That was several years ago, and my obsession with Tackey had not stopped or even dimmed. I was as infatuated with this wonderful man as I was that first time I saw him on TV. Since then I’ve collected all his CDs, anime that he did voice acting for (seiyuu), and scoured the internet for news, magazine and pictures of Tackey. I’ve always loved anime themes but up until I knew of Tackey I wasn’t all that addicted to J-music. Even my love for Jdorama started with Tackey; the first dorama I ever watched was First Love and from that I started watching every Jdorama Tackey’s in and even started watching other Jdoramas as well. I have always been fascinated with everything Japanese but it was only after getting hooked with dorama that I started learning about the language in order to basically understand what was going on. I still need the English sub-title up to this point but at least I can now watch a jdorama without an English sub-title and understand a little of what was being said and what was going on.

One thing I found about being an otaku (fanatic) of both anime and Tackey; by the way my favorite anime is Yuyu Hakusho and I’m positively loyal to Kurama there, is that it is fun and wonderful but it’s EXPENSIVE! My hubby, wonderful man that he is, respected my Tackey obsession short of my creating a shrine for Tackey at home…hehehe! He’s wonderful man and he’s known even when we first met that I am enamored with this hunk of a man with a lethal smile. As for my anime addiction? Well, hubby tolerates it because he’s an anime otaku himself though his preference leans towards mecha type anime.

So till when will I have this fanaticism towards Tackey…I really don’t know, I’ve been idolizing the man for years now and as of yet this adoration had not faltered or even dimmed. Well, anyways I love being in love with Tackey…it’s fun and it keeps be fun. I would even recommend it to anyone! Not idolizing Tackey of course as everyone has their own set of preferences but I believe that to stay young is to feel happy and have fun. One should have a hobby, something that occupies one’s time and a diversion from the hub dub and pressures of everyday life. Being an anime otaku keeps my social life active, being Tackey’s fan makes me happy and collecting my numerous novels gives me satisfaction and stimulates my intellect.

I’m a contented person………..

Kimi ga Kureta Natsu

Minna, gomen nasai. I am editting this now because I just saw a lot of grammatical mistakes…I wrote this right after watching the film and it was already two in the morning and I was puffy eyed by then…hehehe!

English Translation: The Summer You Gave Me                                    The 730 days of my son who fought cancer

Casts: Takizawa Hideaki, Kyoko Fukada and Takei Akashi

Summary:

Tackey (Kizaki Masato) and Kyoko Fukada (Kizaki Tokiko) play a young couple, who had to get married early because the girl got pregnant. He was 17 and she was 16 at the time. They lived comfortably if not an affluent life but they were happy; they had two sons. 

Early on in the story it is easily recognizable that Masato was very close to his first born son Naoya, the two were often seen sharing interests and enjoying each other’s company. Nao was a vibrant boy, happy, smart and active; a loving brother and an ideal son. Masato doted on his first born, playing video games with him and buying him books he loves. Nao was especially interested in bugs like most young boys his age..but he especially loved butterflies.

Then when Nao was about 5 years old he complained of chest pains and they rushed him to the hospital. It is then that they found out that the boy has a tumor on his left lung and had to undergo surgery. After the surgery it was found out that Nao had a very rare disease called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Thus started the numerous radiation and chemotherapy sessions that the boy had to undergo but even through these painful treatments Nao maintained his happy demeanor always friendly with the nurses and developing friendships with other children in the hospital. It was also during this first stay at the hospital that his mother, with the doctor’s advice, told Nao about his illness, honestly telling the boy that if he does not receive treatment for his illness he may die.

After sometime Nao was allowed to go home and he was even able to attend school, he was excited to go to school; he wanted to be an expert on bugs be often told his friends. Then his pains attacked again and he was again confined at the hospital. It was at this time that the doctor informed the couple that another tumor had appeared on his other lung. Again, Nao under goes  surgery. His mother Tokiko stayed with him all this time, caring for him and assisting him through the painful aftermath of the chemotherapy. Once his mother suggested that they just go home because she couldn’t bare anymore the pain that he had to go through but Nao refused saying that he didn’t want to die and that his father’s son was not afraid of anything.

During his hospital stay Nao always look forward to rainy days, because those were the days when his father could get off work early and spend time with him. Unknown to him his father was also battling his own demons, unable to accept his son’s illness and unprepared to cope with the possibility of losing his first born.

On Nao’s third confinement in the hospital the doctor informed his parents that this cancer had metastasized and that they should ready themselves for the inevitable. The couple was devastated but more so Masato. It was also during this time that Masato was reconciled with his father whom he had been estranged for sometime since he got married. Unknown to him his father had been spending time with his grandson and it was also through him that Masato learned that Nao had known for a long time that he would not make it but he kept on fighting because he didn’t want his parents to quarrel and separate.

When Nao was strong enough to be taken out of the hospital the couple pleaded with the doctor to let him go temporarily, Masato wanted to give his son what he had promised him – that come summer time they would go up to the mountains and catch butterflies. It wasn’t even summer yet but the doctor had only given Nao one month to live and the couple wanted to make sure that they give Nao the best of what they can give him.

They wanted Nao to spend as much time with his family, building  memories with them. Once his father asked him why he loved butterflies so much Nao answered that it’s because they’re reborn from the chrysalis, that they live on.

Masato took Nao camping and butterfly catching as he promised. I guess it is true what they say that the dying knew that their time is near, because during one evening while father and son was sitting around the camp fire, Nao started talking about his illness, he said he would keep on fighting no matter how painful because he didn’t want to die yet.

Unable to bear the conversation any longer Masato made the excuse that he was going to pee but instead made his way toward the river there started crying.

Everything was fine for a while Nao was back at home and spending time with his parents and teaching his little brother. He even gave his younger Ryu his favorite butterfly book. Then tragedy struck once again and Nao was again back the hospital. Masato who was at work at the time left immediately to be with his son, knowing that this attack may be fatal and may be his last chance to be with him.

As he was being rushed to the emergency room Nao refused to put on the gas mask and instead started talking to his mother, he asked where his father was. Masato arrived at the emergency room just then and there with his dying breath Nao kept keeping that he would keep fighting – that Kizaki Naoya would keep on fighting and his parents repeating the same mantra with him and holding his hand Nao took his last breath and went to his rest.

Review:

This is probably one of the most touching and heartrending story I had ever watched. May be it was my being a mother and thus have a very soft spot for anything that has to do with losing a child. I remember admiring the mother for her strength and courage in dealing with her son’s illness. I guess being there during her son’s pain treatments and being the one who always has to care for him after his chemotherapy and seeing his pains, she was more accepting of his death than the father was. I guess she loved her son with all her heart but it was also very painful for her to see him in so much pain that she actually felt that he would at least be at peace and at rest finally. True she went hysterical and questioned why this had to happen to her sweet Nao but in the end she was more emotionally ready.

Understandably, Masato, the father was slower accepting the situation. The one time he was shown to have been there during Nao’s treatments; he was unable to cope with it and left. Most fathers are like that, when it comes to seeing their own child in pain very few father can actually just stand there and allow it to happen. I remember even simple vaccinations when the kids were little can cause their father to want to knock the doctor out…just because their baby was crying irregardless of the fact that they were actually doing something beneficial to the baby. But that’s how fathers are; they’re instinct is always to protect their child.

It was also timely that the movie should tackle the painful subject of cancer; it and for sometime will be one of the most dreaded and painful disease of our time. One very notable action of the parents here was that they’re always honest about the illness with their son, and during his last operation Masato, the father, took his son alone and the two of them talked about the operation and he gave Nao the decision whether to undergo the surgery or not. I especially love that the film focused on the relationship between father and son; it is very rare that we see that in any movie. But then again, leave it to the Japanese writers and movie makers to always be the pioneer in putting forward an original story.

For an avid Takizawa Hideaki fan like myself, it is really something new to see Tackey playing the role of a father, and he did it so magnificently. Goodness, he sent me bawling like a baby when he cried so piteously after Masato and Nao’s conversation by the camp fire. It was also wonderful to see Kyoko Fukada and Tackey working together again, they make a real cute couple. I loved them on Strawberry on the Shortcake and I adore them in his dorama. They look good as teenage lovers and they work well as a married couple. I wonder if there was ever some truth to the rumors that they used to go out together?

Oh and I especially would like to put 1001 kudos to Takei Akashi who played Kisaki Naoya; this boy is just the greatest! I am a bonafide fan from this day onward! I cannot even begin to say how great his acting was, you just have to see it for yourself. This boy is a genius!

Now, my only regret on this film is that I can only understand half of what was being said, my Nihongo just isn’t that good yet to allow me to understand all the nuisances of the language. I have to settle for watching the RAW or non-subtitled version of the film as I cannot find an English subtitled version but even then I shed buckets upon buckets of tears while watching this movie. Imagine how much more  would have cried if I can understand everything Nao was saying to his parents during their last time together. Perhaps I wouldn’t have stopped crying from beginning to end if I were able to understand everything. I really wish someone, some good-hearted fansub group would actually take the time to work on this film.

Onegai.