Nick Joaquin, 86
Nick Joaquin died yesterday morning--in his sleep, some reports say.
I have never met Nick Joaquin, but one friend, a townmate from Bicol did. She was then rehearsing for a play, whose title I no longer remember, when a drunk old man came and started commenting on the performances. My friend was so vexed and aghast that all the other people do not seem to mind the presence of the rowdy man. She was just about to ask the old man to leave the premises when a friend told her it was the great Nick Joaquin she was about to shoo.
We all had a good laugh when she told the story, almost as good a laugh as that story of a high school student asking to see the playwright for an interview after a viewing of Oedipus Rex.
My literature humanities teacher, who had such an exacting standard in literature she thought the Filipino literary voice in English is serviceable at its best, has the highest praise for Joaquin's The woman who had two navels, which she said eerily reminded her of James Joyce (our class was then discussing Joyce's much-anthologized short story Araby).
Friday, April 30, 2004
Will Raul Roco win through?
The news reports today confirm that Raul Roco's prostate cancer has metastasized, which means that the cancer cells have spread to the bones. The proper medical name is bone metastasis, which most people with cancer develop at some point.
Roco was upbeat when he gave an interview with Mel Tiangco on GMA yesterday. He said that an intelligent medicine has already taken care of his cancer cells and that he can proceed with his normal lifestyle unencumbered. In today's Inquirer report, he is quoted as saying, "I will have no further treatment for now."
Has Roco won his fight against cancer ? I think there is serious reason to believe the contrary. ( One caveat: the following is nothing more but medical speculation by one who once hypochondriacally diagnosed himself with tuberculosis and psoriasis and was proven wrong to the amusement/vexation of the doctors.)
The so-called intelligent medicine that Roco got in Texas, as Dr. Jaime Galvex-Tan said, was zoledronic acid or Zolendronate, a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat solid tumors that have spread to the bones.
How does zoledronic acid work? Zoledronic acid, which was approved for cancer treatment by the American FDA in 2002, stops cancer cells from breaking down bone, thus stopping the calcium in the bone from going into the blood. The main goal of the drug is to stabilize the bone and decrease pain. It is a treatment, NOT a cure.
The condition of Roco is, I think, not as rosy as he paints it on TV. I gather that bone tumors spread quite rapidly and zoledronic acid is not 100% effective ( in fact some 30 % reduction only in one French experiment in 2002 ) in reducing skeletal-related events (SREs). Roco also must be feeling some pain even now because zoledronic acid's effect in reducing pain is not instantaneous. Somne patients even experience heightened pain after the initial dosage.
What worries me though is this transcript of a cancersourceRN interview I found:
SPEAKER_Rebecca_Hawkins: Once patients have developed bone metastasis, a variety of problems may arise. We know that these patients have a shortened survival. Other possible problems may include bone pain, pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcemia. Unfortunately, once patients have developed bone metastasis their survival time is limited. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer have a median survival of 3 to 6 months. A breast cancer patient's median survival is 20 months while a prostate cancer patient's mean survival is 53 months. Thankfully we are seeing some of these statistics change with newer treatments, but it is readily accepted that the patient's life is shortened after the diagnosis of bone metastasis.
Will Raul Roco survive? Only his doctors know the actual prognosis. We can only hope and pray that he does.
The news reports today confirm that Raul Roco's prostate cancer has metastasized, which means that the cancer cells have spread to the bones. The proper medical name is bone metastasis, which most people with cancer develop at some point.
Roco was upbeat when he gave an interview with Mel Tiangco on GMA yesterday. He said that an intelligent medicine has already taken care of his cancer cells and that he can proceed with his normal lifestyle unencumbered. In today's Inquirer report, he is quoted as saying, "I will have no further treatment for now."
Has Roco won his fight against cancer ? I think there is serious reason to believe the contrary. ( One caveat: the following is nothing more but medical speculation by one who once hypochondriacally diagnosed himself with tuberculosis and psoriasis and was proven wrong to the amusement/vexation of the doctors.)
The so-called intelligent medicine that Roco got in Texas, as Dr. Jaime Galvex-Tan said, was zoledronic acid or Zolendronate, a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat solid tumors that have spread to the bones.
How does zoledronic acid work? Zoledronic acid, which was approved for cancer treatment by the American FDA in 2002, stops cancer cells from breaking down bone, thus stopping the calcium in the bone from going into the blood. The main goal of the drug is to stabilize the bone and decrease pain. It is a treatment, NOT a cure.
The condition of Roco is, I think, not as rosy as he paints it on TV. I gather that bone tumors spread quite rapidly and zoledronic acid is not 100% effective ( in fact some 30 % reduction only in one French experiment in 2002 ) in reducing skeletal-related events (SREs). Roco also must be feeling some pain even now because zoledronic acid's effect in reducing pain is not instantaneous. Somne patients even experience heightened pain after the initial dosage.
What worries me though is this transcript of a cancersourceRN interview I found:
SPEAKER_Rebecca_Hawkins: Once patients have developed bone metastasis, a variety of problems may arise. We know that these patients have a shortened survival. Other possible problems may include bone pain, pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcemia. Unfortunately, once patients have developed bone metastasis their survival time is limited. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer have a median survival of 3 to 6 months. A breast cancer patient's median survival is 20 months while a prostate cancer patient's mean survival is 53 months. Thankfully we are seeing some of these statistics change with newer treatments, but it is readily accepted that the patient's life is shortened after the diagnosis of bone metastasis.
Will Raul Roco survive? Only his doctors know the actual prognosis. We can only hope and pray that he does.
Call for volunteers
THE ELECTION CALL CENTER 10-149 WILL BE UP ON MAY 1 and we are still in need of tele-educators who can volunteer for at least 1 day between May 1 to May 10 for just 4 hours/day. Tele-educators will take calls and answer election-related queries from all over the Philippines using a database.
ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE THEIR BREIFING ON APRIL 30, 2004, Friday, 7:30PM AT THE CALL CENTER VENUE, CLC Center, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Hts, Q.C. It's a new building near LST (loyola School of Theology).
We need 7-10 people per shift. New shift schedule is: 9am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm, 5pm to 9pm. You have to be there 30 minutes before your shift.
Please email back or call 0919-6046967 for questions or any concerns. YOU MAY VOLUNTEER AS A BARKADA
From:
Professionals Actively Responding TOday
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
THE ELECTION CALL CENTER 10-149 WILL BE UP ON MAY 1 and we are still in need of tele-educators who can volunteer for at least 1 day between May 1 to May 10 for just 4 hours/day. Tele-educators will take calls and answer election-related queries from all over the Philippines using a database.
ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE THEIR BREIFING ON APRIL 30, 2004, Friday, 7:30PM AT THE CALL CENTER VENUE, CLC Center, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Hts, Q.C. It's a new building near LST (loyola School of Theology).
We need 7-10 people per shift. New shift schedule is: 9am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm, 5pm to 9pm. You have to be there 30 minutes before your shift.
Please email back or call 0919-6046967 for questions or any concerns. YOU MAY VOLUNTEER AS A BARKADA
From:
Professionals Actively Responding TOday
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
Thursday, April 29, 2004
The remains of the campaign
Raul Roco has returned. The question though is whether Roco has returned just as Gandalf did -- at the turning of the tide, that is.
Most believe that Roco is destined for Loserville come May 10. Why then should we still vote for him? Because Roco is still the most qualified among the candidates, notwithstanding his sickness. (Manuel Quezon III in his Inquirer column today also obliquely argues that life-threatening sicknesses spur men into great action.)
Captious critics say Roco has a pathetic political network as revealed by his patched senatorial slate devoid of established names. Really, you cannot help but feel for Roco. He has occupied many important government positions and yet he has miserably failed to strike political friendships along the way. He remains an outsider to the political Establishment. All the incumbent governors in Bicol, for example, are campaigning against him.
While some voters were disheartened by Roco's lack of popularity among Establishment circles, I instead was spurred by the fact. Roco's lackluster senatorial slate is a proof that he has not invested much in our current political system. He therefore could change it without upsetting too many friends and too much capital.
Detractors also claim that Roco has a bad temper. What they don't know however is that it is often the trait of great men that they have short patience and bad temper. Even the saintly Mother Teresa, few people know and the Catholic Church's canonical committee wished to suppress, was known to burst into impatient tirades against her Sisters of Charity.
For symbolic reasons and more, I also think it is about time that the country should elect a president from Bicol, the country's poorest region.
The presidency should also be the time for Roco to cleanse himself once and for all of the ACCRA sins he committed lawyering for Danding Cojuangco, doing the legal paper for the latter's robbing of coconut farmers, most of whom are in Bicol. This is a political sin that cries for restitution. (Roco at one point offered the PCGG to tell all, but this was preempted by the Supreme Court which ruled that such action would violate the confidence of lawyer-client relationship.)
Roco should take care of his health. We pray that in the event that he lose this election, he would have the heart--- and the health--- to run again in the next elections, six years from now. Because after FPJ, there is no other threatening showbiz presidentiable in the political horizon. Roco supporters, from Batanes to Sulu, should be glad and bring good tidings: Piolo Pascual is still too young to run for president.
Raul Roco has returned. The question though is whether Roco has returned just as Gandalf did -- at the turning of the tide, that is.
Most believe that Roco is destined for Loserville come May 10. Why then should we still vote for him? Because Roco is still the most qualified among the candidates, notwithstanding his sickness. (Manuel Quezon III in his Inquirer column today also obliquely argues that life-threatening sicknesses spur men into great action.)
Captious critics say Roco has a pathetic political network as revealed by his patched senatorial slate devoid of established names. Really, you cannot help but feel for Roco. He has occupied many important government positions and yet he has miserably failed to strike political friendships along the way. He remains an outsider to the political Establishment. All the incumbent governors in Bicol, for example, are campaigning against him.
While some voters were disheartened by Roco's lack of popularity among Establishment circles, I instead was spurred by the fact. Roco's lackluster senatorial slate is a proof that he has not invested much in our current political system. He therefore could change it without upsetting too many friends and too much capital.
Detractors also claim that Roco has a bad temper. What they don't know however is that it is often the trait of great men that they have short patience and bad temper. Even the saintly Mother Teresa, few people know and the Catholic Church's canonical committee wished to suppress, was known to burst into impatient tirades against her Sisters of Charity.
For symbolic reasons and more, I also think it is about time that the country should elect a president from Bicol, the country's poorest region.
The presidency should also be the time for Roco to cleanse himself once and for all of the ACCRA sins he committed lawyering for Danding Cojuangco, doing the legal paper for the latter's robbing of coconut farmers, most of whom are in Bicol. This is a political sin that cries for restitution. (Roco at one point offered the PCGG to tell all, but this was preempted by the Supreme Court which ruled that such action would violate the confidence of lawyer-client relationship.)
Roco should take care of his health. We pray that in the event that he lose this election, he would have the heart--- and the health--- to run again in the next elections, six years from now. Because after FPJ, there is no other threatening showbiz presidentiable in the political horizon. Roco supporters, from Batanes to Sulu, should be glad and bring good tidings: Piolo Pascual is still too young to run for president.
The short but happy political life of Mr. Eddie Gil
The Manila Times reports that the Supreme Court has terminated the presidential aspirations of self-proclaimed billionaire Eddie Gil, the presidential candidate with the concrete platform of paying off the national debt out of his own pocket. The SC cited Gil's incapacity to wage a nationwide campaign.
Informed of the adverse decision of the SC, the irrepressible Eddie Gil, whom I know many people have come to love, promptly called for the justices to be hanged.
We will sorely miss Eddie Gil, whose wry humor was so effortless it would have been a travesty for Malacanang to have him as the resident jester. Now that the presidency has been cruelly denied him by the snooty justices, Eddie Gil should probably scout for vacancies in any of the ABS-CBN's sitcoms. Who knows, time may come when he too would win the favor of the Lopezes, and follow in the path trailblazed by Loren Legarda and Noli de Castro.
The Manila Times reports that the Supreme Court has terminated the presidential aspirations of self-proclaimed billionaire Eddie Gil, the presidential candidate with the concrete platform of paying off the national debt out of his own pocket. The SC cited Gil's incapacity to wage a nationwide campaign.
Informed of the adverse decision of the SC, the irrepressible Eddie Gil, whom I know many people have come to love, promptly called for the justices to be hanged.
We will sorely miss Eddie Gil, whose wry humor was so effortless it would have been a travesty for Malacanang to have him as the resident jester. Now that the presidency has been cruelly denied him by the snooty justices, Eddie Gil should probably scout for vacancies in any of the ABS-CBN's sitcoms. Who knows, time may come when he too would win the favor of the Lopezes, and follow in the path trailblazed by Loren Legarda and Noli de Castro.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Homeless at NYU
Read this intriguing story of Steve Stanzak who spent "eight months as a homeless sophomore at New York University, sleeping six hours a night in the subbasement of the Bobst Library, showering in the gym or at friends' apartments, doing his homework at a nearby McDonald's and subsisting mostly on bagels and orange juice."
The New York Times report says that:
"Unlike the majority of students at N.Y.U," he wrote on hisWeb site, "I don't get an ounce of money from mommy or daddy and can't afford to live the lavish life here. If it sounds like I'm bitter, it's because I am."
Read this intriguing story of Steve Stanzak who spent "eight months as a homeless sophomore at New York University, sleeping six hours a night in the subbasement of the Bobst Library, showering in the gym or at friends' apartments, doing his homework at a nearby McDonald's and subsisting mostly on bagels and orange juice."
The New York Times report says that:
"Unlike the majority of students at N.Y.U," he wrote on his
Love means never having to say you’ve lost an election
GMA’s I-Witness last night reported on the curious trend of politicians marrying wives from showbiz-- Jules Ledesma and Assunta de Rossi, Ralph Recto and Vilma santos, Sharon Cuneta and Francis Panglinan, Dudut Jaworski and Mikee Cojuangco, etc. The increasing practice, in the opinion of some, reeks of political opportunism.
Why does there seem to be a trend toward marrying showbiz celebrities? That they are more pulchritudinous is surely a factor in the attraction, but there is more to the story than pheromones doing their job. Showbiz spouses pluck aspiring politicians from humdrum obscurity and give them instant name recognition. There is no doubt, for example, that Recto could never have won a Senate seat had he not picked Vilma Santos to be his bride.
The scions of traditional political families in the country are feeling the effect of their weakened alliance with the poor based on previous paternalistic relationships. Their political clans' clients can no longer be counted on to deliver the votes to secure a majority come election time. Hence, the resort to showbiz wives to enthrall and catch the attention of the straying poor.
Are these mariagges despicable? Surely no. People fall in love when they fall in love. It is just that for some people marital happiness is best secured by a public office. People have varying definitions of love and for some, public office is a necessary predicate to theirs.
These marriages, while arguably debasing the romantic idea of true love, are, in fact, good for the society. They diversify the moribund gene pool of the country's elite. Without showbiz stars to catch their interest, these politicos would be marrying one of their ilk of the same economic background. Their marrying showbiz stars spread old money more evenly, their marriages having the unintended felicitous effect of what in this benighted country of ours could pass for economic redistribution. Just think of Assunta and Jules and you will understand.
GMA’s I-Witness last night reported on the curious trend of politicians marrying wives from showbiz-- Jules Ledesma and Assunta de Rossi, Ralph Recto and Vilma santos, Sharon Cuneta and Francis Panglinan, Dudut Jaworski and Mikee Cojuangco, etc. The increasing practice, in the opinion of some, reeks of political opportunism.
Why does there seem to be a trend toward marrying showbiz celebrities? That they are more pulchritudinous is surely a factor in the attraction, but there is more to the story than pheromones doing their job. Showbiz spouses pluck aspiring politicians from humdrum obscurity and give them instant name recognition. There is no doubt, for example, that Recto could never have won a Senate seat had he not picked Vilma Santos to be his bride.
The scions of traditional political families in the country are feeling the effect of their weakened alliance with the poor based on previous paternalistic relationships. Their political clans' clients can no longer be counted on to deliver the votes to secure a majority come election time. Hence, the resort to showbiz wives to enthrall and catch the attention of the straying poor.
Are these mariagges despicable? Surely no. People fall in love when they fall in love. It is just that for some people marital happiness is best secured by a public office. People have varying definitions of love and for some, public office is a necessary predicate to theirs.
These marriages, while arguably debasing the romantic idea of true love, are, in fact, good for the society. They diversify the moribund gene pool of the country's elite. Without showbiz stars to catch their interest, these politicos would be marrying one of their ilk of the same economic background. Their marrying showbiz stars spread old money more evenly, their marriages having the unintended felicitous effect of what in this benighted country of ours could pass for economic redistribution. Just think of Assunta and Jules and you will understand.
Cashing in on Iraq
Halliburton already did big time. Isn't it about time our Filipino businessmen and professionals do?
Rebuilding Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Business
Iraqi Minister of Public Works to be the speaker at AIM Policy Center Globalization Lecture Policy Center
What is the role of the private sector in rebuilding Iraq? How will the security environment affect the delivery of goods and services? What are the major challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities available for Filipino and international businesses in stepping up efforts to rebuild institutions and modernize infrastructure in this war-torn land?
These are some of the questions to be asked in the 32nd installment of the AIM Policy Center’s Globalization Lecture Series entitled Rebuilding Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Business at the Quezon Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on May 3, 2004, Monday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights on the likely security and political challenges companies will encounter in doing business in Iraq, as well as valuable information on the commercial developments and potential business and networking opportunities in the country.
Her Excellency Nesreen M. Sideek-Barwari, Minister of Municipalities and Public Works of the Iraqi Governing Council, shall be the distinguished speaker for this timely and vital subject matter.
The event is being sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. It is FREE of charge.
To inquire or confirm attendance, please email mledesma@mail.aim.edu.ph or jqueddeng@mail.aim.edu.ph, or call the AIM Policy Center at (632) 750-1010 ext 2108, 2113 and 2112.
Halliburton already did big time. Isn't it about time our Filipino businessmen and professionals do?
Rebuilding Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Business
Iraqi Minister of Public Works to be the speaker at AIM Policy Center Globalization Lecture Policy Center
What is the role of the private sector in rebuilding Iraq? How will the security environment affect the delivery of goods and services? What are the major challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities available for Filipino and international businesses in stepping up efforts to rebuild institutions and modernize infrastructure in this war-torn land?
These are some of the questions to be asked in the 32nd installment of the AIM Policy Center’s Globalization Lecture Series entitled Rebuilding Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Business at the Quezon Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on May 3, 2004, Monday, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights on the likely security and political challenges companies will encounter in doing business in Iraq, as well as valuable information on the commercial developments and potential business and networking opportunities in the country.
Her Excellency Nesreen M. Sideek-Barwari, Minister of Municipalities and Public Works of the Iraqi Governing Council, shall be the distinguished speaker for this timely and vital subject matter.
The event is being sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. It is FREE of charge.
To inquire or confirm attendance, please email mledesma@mail.aim.edu.ph or jqueddeng@mail.aim.edu.ph, or call the AIM Policy Center at (632) 750-1010 ext 2108, 2113 and 2112.
Invitation to a book launching
HOMEBOUND: Women Visual Artists in 19th century Philippines
PROF. ELOISA MAY P. HERNANDEZ
Department of Art Studies
University of the Philippines in Diliman
MAY 6, 2004, Thursday, 5:00 p.m., U.P. Faculty Center Conference Hall.
The book is published by the UP Press and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
HOMEBOUND: Women Visual Artists in 19th century Philippines
PROF. ELOISA MAY P. HERNANDEZ
Department of Art Studies
University of the Philippines in Diliman
MAY 6, 2004, Thursday, 5:00 p.m., U.P. Faculty Center Conference Hall.
The book is published by the UP Press and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Nerds as a US marginalized sector
Below is the description of "qualifications" for applicants to be interns at March for Women's Lives, the group that organized a large rally for legal abortion in Washington yesterday:
Undergraduate and graduate feminist women and men in all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be passionate about a woman's right to choose and will have some experience in activism. The March for Women's Lives is committed to diversity and encourages applications from people of color, people from the GLBT community, people with disabilities, and math/science majors.
Below is the description of "qualifications" for applicants to be interns at March for Women's Lives, the group that organized a large rally for legal abortion in Washington yesterday:
Undergraduate and graduate feminist women and men in all majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be passionate about a woman's right to choose and will have some experience in activism. The March for Women's Lives is committed to diversity and encourages applications from people of color, people from the GLBT community, people with disabilities, and math/science majors.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Good sign
Time Magazine has a travel essay on Burma on its latest issue. The writer Andrew Marshall, author of The Trouser People: A Story of Burma in the Shadow of the Empire , finds a positive sign: Aung San Suu Kyi's home number now rings when dialled. She is still under house arrest though but people believe she would once again be released in another drive by the Burmese military junta to gain international pogi points.
Time Magazine has a travel essay on Burma on its latest issue. The writer Andrew Marshall, author of The Trouser People: A Story of Burma in the Shadow of the Empire , finds a positive sign: Aung San Suu Kyi's home number now rings when dialled. She is still under house arrest though but people believe she would once again be released in another drive by the Burmese military junta to gain international pogi points.
Sunday, April 25, 2004
How to tell kung kayo na
Via Psychicpants, I got the link to Hickypox's funny blog entry on How to tell kung kayo na:
Dalawa kasi yan, either yung a) mag-on by mutual declaration, or b) mag-on by mutual non-declaration (mag-un or MU).
A. Mag-on by mutual declaration. Also has two variants.
1. Spontaneous mutual declaration.
Ex. A and B have knows each other for years. A and B might someday mutually decide to take their friendship a notch higher by entering into a romantic relationship, despite the fact that A and B are, respectively, a Catholic priest and an 11-year old boy.
2. Courtship - involves wooing young, parasol twirling, frilly fan fanning lasses through song and poetry, usually, with the end view of marrying said lass.
Ex. C has been courting D for several years now. One day, C threatens to explode his own head should D continue to act coolly indifferent to his advances. C acquiesces begrudgingly, faints.
B. Spontaneous mutual non-declaration
Consists of vague bilateral signals culminating in ambiguous non-promise of mutual fidelity. Set-up attractive to trendy couples keeping in step with the modern "American" style of dating. Also attractive to people not particularly demonstrative about their feelings, and to limbless mutes.
Via Psychicpants, I got the link to Hickypox's funny blog entry on How to tell kung kayo na:
Dalawa kasi yan, either yung a) mag-on by mutual declaration, or b) mag-on by mutual non-declaration (mag-un or MU).
A. Mag-on by mutual declaration. Also has two variants.
1. Spontaneous mutual declaration.
Ex. A and B have knows each other for years. A and B might someday mutually decide to take their friendship a notch higher by entering into a romantic relationship, despite the fact that A and B are, respectively, a Catholic priest and an 11-year old boy.
2. Courtship - involves wooing young, parasol twirling, frilly fan fanning lasses through song and poetry, usually, with the end view of marrying said lass.
Ex. C has been courting D for several years now. One day, C threatens to explode his own head should D continue to act coolly indifferent to his advances. C acquiesces begrudgingly, faints.
B. Spontaneous mutual non-declaration
Consists of vague bilateral signals culminating in ambiguous non-promise of mutual fidelity. Set-up attractive to trendy couples keeping in step with the modern "American" style of dating. Also attractive to people not particularly demonstrative about their feelings, and to limbless mutes.
Brother Eddie
The Sunday Times has an article on Brother Eddie and his decision to run for president. With Roco sick, Brother Eddie, in the opinion of many people, is the country's best choice for president.
The Sunday Times has an article on Brother Eddie and his decision to run for president. With Roco sick, Brother Eddie, in the opinion of many people, is the country's best choice for president.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Songs people sing when they are sad
I once heard from a friend that whenever she gets exhausted in the office, she gets this intense desire to sing Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire at the end of the day. I remember the song distinctly because I first heard it from a bar when a coed in the audience took to the stage, and sang Through the Fire with such intensity that I knew not a few people were infinitely curious exactly what she had been through. It was such an intense performance that whenever I hear the song today I remember that girl onstage singing it, microphone on her hand and tears welling from her eyes. And even up to this time I often wonder what was the sad story behind that girl singing Chaka Khan in 1999.
One person I know said that whenever he gets sad, all he needs to hear is the Beachboys’ Kokomo and he would forget all his troubles in an instant. This song must really be beloved because another friend told me that he imagines heaven with flying angels, white cirrus clouds and stereo playing Kokomo. The flying angels, my friend told me, he got from his catechism, the cirrus clouds he got from his fourth grade science teacher and Kokomo he got in 1993 when a distant radio was playing it on the beach on a full moon.
I took a survey of some people and I’ve come up with this list of songs people hum when they are feeling a bit blue:
1. Seasons in the Sun by Westlife.
2. Honesty by Billy Joel.
3. Please Release Me (Let me Go) by Tom Jones.
4. Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel.
5. Take Me (I’ll Follow You) by Bobby Caldwell.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
7. Tomorrow from the musical Annie.
8. It’s a Beautiful Life by Ace of Base.
My friend, who is apparently of the Roberto Benini weltanschauung, told me that the best way to cope with dejection is to deny its existence. Blast It’s A Beautiful Life to full volume, he said, and you are on your way to bliss—or Gollum’s schizophrenia, I added.
Songs or without songs, the wonderful thing about melancholy, my way of putting it, is that you always have the ultimate power to end it. If you really can take it no longer, you can always fling yourself down a precipice and be over it. Smells like teen spirit, wouldn’t you say?
I once heard from a friend that whenever she gets exhausted in the office, she gets this intense desire to sing Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire at the end of the day. I remember the song distinctly because I first heard it from a bar when a coed in the audience took to the stage, and sang Through the Fire with such intensity that I knew not a few people were infinitely curious exactly what she had been through. It was such an intense performance that whenever I hear the song today I remember that girl onstage singing it, microphone on her hand and tears welling from her eyes. And even up to this time I often wonder what was the sad story behind that girl singing Chaka Khan in 1999.
One person I know said that whenever he gets sad, all he needs to hear is the Beachboys’ Kokomo and he would forget all his troubles in an instant. This song must really be beloved because another friend told me that he imagines heaven with flying angels, white cirrus clouds and stereo playing Kokomo. The flying angels, my friend told me, he got from his catechism, the cirrus clouds he got from his fourth grade science teacher and Kokomo he got in 1993 when a distant radio was playing it on the beach on a full moon.
I took a survey of some people and I’ve come up with this list of songs people hum when they are feeling a bit blue:
1. Seasons in the Sun by Westlife.
2. Honesty by Billy Joel.
3. Please Release Me (Let me Go) by Tom Jones.
4. Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel.
5. Take Me (I’ll Follow You) by Bobby Caldwell.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
7. Tomorrow from the musical Annie.
8. It’s a Beautiful Life by Ace of Base.
My friend, who is apparently of the Roberto Benini weltanschauung, told me that the best way to cope with dejection is to deny its existence. Blast It’s A Beautiful Life to full volume, he said, and you are on your way to bliss—or Gollum’s schizophrenia, I added.
Songs or without songs, the wonderful thing about melancholy, my way of putting it, is that you always have the ultimate power to end it. If you really can take it no longer, you can always fling yourself down a precipice and be over it. Smells like teen spirit, wouldn’t you say?
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Summer of our discontent
Professor Felipe Miranda ponders the desolateness of the country's political condition in his Philippine Star column today:
The poor survive unaccountably. The powerful shun accountability in the course of their "democratic" rule. Plunderers rob their hapless constituencies blind; the latter quietly suffer their victimization and paradoxically even take pity on their merciless predators.
Private sector "entrepreneurs" concoct and get away with risk-free ventures, each venture enjoying a "sovereign" guarantee awarded by extremely accomodating political administrations. When these ill-inspired ventures fail as may be expected, the preferred solution by cavalier authorities is to unload losses on the country’s born losers – the general public.
Miranda adds that the miracle of it all is "that this nation of over 40 million registered voters generally reflect no revulsion...."
This too has been the greatest mystery to me. Why do the people keep electing rotten officials, humbly accepting their lot without a single thought that things can and should get decidedly better? Surely the lower classes cannot be rationally considered as being contented with their lot, but why do they not protest?
One friend told me that the explanation is simple: feudalism. The people think that they can change their lot only through the mediation of our feudal politicians, dispensing large amounts of stolen money during elections. The democratic idea of a citizen paddling his own course, determing the course of the nation-state by his individual vote, has not yet sunk in our political consciousness. A genuine democracy is a polity of citizens who naively believe in the power of one.
Our people do not exercise their power of one. They prefer to surrender it to some trapo politicians, who, little did our people know, are, in fact, just as ignorant as they are, albeit arguably with better clothes. In A Bend in the River by VS Naipaul, the protagonist Salim has a contempt for the Third World. For Salim, citizens of the Third World all too readily surrender their masculinities to great men. They say to a Mahatma Gandhi or a Mao ZeDong, "Here is our masculinity, we surrender it, please invest it for us." Nobody feels responsible and all the burden falls on the shoulders of the great man appointed by history.
I think a similar thing is operative in our total dependence on the country's rotten political ruling class, except that nobody among it has managed to become a great man in the style of Gandhi. (President Arroyo was even at pains to point out that she has no desire whatsoever to be great.) We have surrendered our masculinities to our politicians and they have squandered the capital. Unfortunately, there is no reason to suppose that the coming elections in May would be different from our prior investments. Oh well, caveat emptor.
Professor Felipe Miranda ponders the desolateness of the country's political condition in his Philippine Star column today:
The poor survive unaccountably. The powerful shun accountability in the course of their "democratic" rule. Plunderers rob their hapless constituencies blind; the latter quietly suffer their victimization and paradoxically even take pity on their merciless predators.
Private sector "entrepreneurs" concoct and get away with risk-free ventures, each venture enjoying a "sovereign" guarantee awarded by extremely accomodating political administrations. When these ill-inspired ventures fail as may be expected, the preferred solution by cavalier authorities is to unload losses on the country’s born losers – the general public.
Miranda adds that the miracle of it all is "that this nation of over 40 million registered voters generally reflect no revulsion...."
This too has been the greatest mystery to me. Why do the people keep electing rotten officials, humbly accepting their lot without a single thought that things can and should get decidedly better? Surely the lower classes cannot be rationally considered as being contented with their lot, but why do they not protest?
One friend told me that the explanation is simple: feudalism. The people think that they can change their lot only through the mediation of our feudal politicians, dispensing large amounts of stolen money during elections. The democratic idea of a citizen paddling his own course, determing the course of the nation-state by his individual vote, has not yet sunk in our political consciousness. A genuine democracy is a polity of citizens who naively believe in the power of one.
Our people do not exercise their power of one. They prefer to surrender it to some trapo politicians, who, little did our people know, are, in fact, just as ignorant as they are, albeit arguably with better clothes. In A Bend in the River by VS Naipaul, the protagonist Salim has a contempt for the Third World. For Salim, citizens of the Third World all too readily surrender their masculinities to great men. They say to a Mahatma Gandhi or a Mao ZeDong, "Here is our masculinity, we surrender it, please invest it for us." Nobody feels responsible and all the burden falls on the shoulders of the great man appointed by history.
I think a similar thing is operative in our total dependence on the country's rotten political ruling class, except that nobody among it has managed to become a great man in the style of Gandhi. (President Arroyo was even at pains to point out that she has no desire whatsoever to be great.) We have surrendered our masculinities to our politicians and they have squandered the capital. Unfortunately, there is no reason to suppose that the coming elections in May would be different from our prior investments. Oh well, caveat emptor.
Incunabula online
The British Library is offering incunabula for everybody to browse-- online. They wouldn't let anyone touch the actual books, of course, but through the web, you get the virtual experience of browsing the books, including the Diamond Sutra, the Chinese Buddhist scroll printed in 868 and considered the world's oldest, dated, printed book. Browse your incunabula here.
The British Library is offering incunabula for everybody to browse-- online. They wouldn't let anyone touch the actual books, of course, but through the web, you get the virtual experience of browsing the books, including the Diamond Sutra, the Chinese Buddhist scroll printed in 868 and considered the world's oldest, dated, printed book. Browse your incunabula here.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Erap sweet lover
The Manila Times reports that former President Estrada is hoping his sex life would improve once he is transferred to his private resort across Camp Capinpin where he is detained. The Manila Times reports that:
The detention quarters are also “not conducive [to sex],” Estrada said. “The room should be sweet-smelling, have a huge bed and a bathtub.”
Asked if his rest house, which is across the road from the camp, has all the amenities to spice up his humdrum sex life, he said with a grin: “Puwede na din iyon [It will do].”
After the ailing knees, is Estrada now pleading debilitating non-sex life? A novel legal question.
The Manila Times reports that former President Estrada is hoping his sex life would improve once he is transferred to his private resort across Camp Capinpin where he is detained. The Manila Times reports that:
The detention quarters are also “not conducive [to sex],” Estrada said. “The room should be sweet-smelling, have a huge bed and a bathtub.”
Asked if his rest house, which is across the road from the camp, has all the amenities to spice up his humdrum sex life, he said with a grin: “Puwede na din iyon [It will do].”
After the ailing knees, is Estrada now pleading debilitating non-sex life? A novel legal question.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
VOLUNTEER WORK for CINEMANILA
If you want to meet interesting people, see award-winning foreign films and get your adrenaline pumping from working at a crazy festival pace, volunteer for the 6th Cinemanila International Film Festival, to be held this year from June 24 – July 5, 2004. We are looking for bright and mature individuals who don’t require a lot of hand-holding to join this year’s team.
We are looking for full time volunteers and interns.
Interns are responsible for a wide range of clerical/administrative assisting duties, in addition to a bit of fact checking, on-line research, and occasional writing. Because we are a relatively small organization, interns have the opportunity to get to know all of our staff, and to really see how a film festival is put together. You will also get the chance to meet filmmakers from all over Asia and Europe and see Cinemanila movies for free. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay our interns for their time.
Full time summer interns are required to put in at least 35 hours per week (some weekends included). We can offer students at any stage of their college experience academic credit for their internship. We also accept recent graduates.
Qualifications: Writing, editing, research, interviewing and phone skills relevant. Basic computer proficiency important.
Internships are available in the following departments: Marketing, Film Traffic, Guest Services, Theater Coordination, Promotions and Publicity, Editorial, Creative, Photography and Administration.
Requirements:
To apply please send your resume with a cover letter specifying which department you are interested in interning / volunteering for. PLEASE SEND ALL RESUMES DIRECTLY TO ciffsecretariat@yahoo.com.
NOTES: This internship may qualify for academic credit. Please check with your school. This is a non-paying internship. Small stipends are available under certain circumstances and for published work. Inquire for details (email only, no phone calls please).
DEADLINE TO APPLY:
Summer (May-June) April 30, 2004 (Friday)
If you want to meet interesting people, see award-winning foreign films and get your adrenaline pumping from working at a crazy festival pace, volunteer for the 6th Cinemanila International Film Festival, to be held this year from June 24 – July 5, 2004. We are looking for bright and mature individuals who don’t require a lot of hand-holding to join this year’s team.
We are looking for full time volunteers and interns.
Interns are responsible for a wide range of clerical/administrative assisting duties, in addition to a bit of fact checking, on-line research, and occasional writing. Because we are a relatively small organization, interns have the opportunity to get to know all of our staff, and to really see how a film festival is put together. You will also get the chance to meet filmmakers from all over Asia and Europe and see Cinemanila movies for free. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay our interns for their time.
Full time summer interns are required to put in at least 35 hours per week (some weekends included). We can offer students at any stage of their college experience academic credit for their internship. We also accept recent graduates.
Qualifications: Writing, editing, research, interviewing and phone skills relevant. Basic computer proficiency important.
Internships are available in the following departments: Marketing, Film Traffic, Guest Services, Theater Coordination, Promotions and Publicity, Editorial, Creative, Photography and Administration.
Requirements:
To apply please send your resume with a cover letter specifying which department you are interested in interning / volunteering for. PLEASE SEND ALL RESUMES DIRECTLY TO ciffsecretariat@yahoo.com.
NOTES: This internship may qualify for academic credit. Please check with your school. This is a non-paying internship. Small stipends are available under certain circumstances and for published work. Inquire for details (email only, no phone calls please).
DEADLINE TO APPLY:
Summer (May-June) April 30, 2004 (Friday)
Monday, April 19, 2004
Getting the hots for Susan Roces
Roxas City vice-mayoral candidate Allan Celino must have a taste for older women, because he reportedly fondled Susan Roces in some delicate parts, prompting the latter to take a swing at him.
If the above incident is true, the question is: Is there such a dearth of local talents in Roxas City that maniacs get a chance to run for the recspectable office of the vice mayor? If a candidate cannot control his enthusiasm for Susan Roces and limit it within the bounds of propriety, how can the people expect him to control his appetite for other things like power and public money? I wonder what Celino's wife had to say about the incident.
Roxas City vice-mayoral candidate Allan Celino must have a taste for older women, because he reportedly fondled Susan Roces in some delicate parts, prompting the latter to take a swing at him.
If the above incident is true, the question is: Is there such a dearth of local talents in Roxas City that maniacs get a chance to run for the recspectable office of the vice mayor? If a candidate cannot control his enthusiasm for Susan Roces and limit it within the bounds of propriety, how can the people expect him to control his appetite for other things like power and public money? I wonder what Celino's wife had to say about the incident.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Sororities exposed
This is one expose Manong Maceda would have loved investigating in the Senate. A writer went undercover in an American state university and she discovered plenty, among others: boob ranking, naked parties and girls hooking up with each other. Read Newsweek's interview with the author of Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities for more salacious details.
This is one expose Manong Maceda would have loved investigating in the Senate. A writer went undercover in an American state university and she discovered plenty, among others: boob ranking, naked parties and girls hooking up with each other. Read Newsweek's interview with the author of Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities for more salacious details.
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