Phenom/Greatness

AFTER STOPPING Miguel Cotto in the 12th round of their welterweight bout, Manny Pacquiao has established one thing that no pundit can perhaps argue about – that he is a boxing phenom.

It is no mean feat to move up in weight after every fight and beat every opponent convincingly. Every time, Pacquiao would prove wrong the so-called Nostradamuses of boxing who give excuses for his opponents and doubt his ability to box with the best fighters in the ring.

Angelo Dundee, who sided with Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto against the Pacman, can now keep his mouth shut. The old man of Ali is maybe just jealous of what a Pacquiao victory would give to Freddie Roach’s reputation as a trainer. Roach has solidified himself as the best boxing trainer of this era after what Pacquiao had accomplished, while Dundee is now just part of history.

Bernard Hopkins could not have been more correct in saying that Pacquiao “is the Bruce Lee of boxing.” Cotto confirmed this statement after the fight.

“I didn't know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto said. Exactly the same thing said by David Diaz when he was knocked out by the Pacman. Like how Bruce Lee can strike the bad guys anywhere and from nowhere, so did Pacman when he is at the ring.

Speed was a factor in Pacquiao winning the Cotto bout. Indeed, it was. But we cannot discount the fact that Pacquiao’s power is also very potent. How else could Cotto, a man of stamina and sturdy build, be knocked down as early as the 3rd round and again in the 4th?

Pacquiao is no methodical fighter that is why he is not earning that much respect from guys like Dundee. Pacquiao fights with his instinct and natural skills (speed and power). Combined with Roach’s discipline and tactic, however, Pacquiao turns into a different breed of boxer –unpredictable yet efficient, unconventional yet effective.

Short of saying that Pacquiao is a big surprise in boxing and a big success at that.

He has become a phenom.

***

AN INTRIGUING point was said by Michael Rosenthal of Ring Magazine about the Pacman after his recent victory. He said: “Pacquiao is truly great. We should enjoy this while it lasts because one day soon he will be gone.”

This was said in the afterthought of Pacquiao being considered as the all-time best boxer or where he will land in the all-time best list. Not yet said Rosenthal because while Pacquiao may be great at the moment, he said that “greatness is fleeting.”

I tell you Mr. Rosenthal, what Pacquiao has achieved, how he did it, and from where he came from before that, would not be matched or even be experienced by any boxer from now and for the rest of your life.

And every time a boxer would accomplish something unexpected and extraordinary, people will remember Pacquiao even after he is long gone.

That is the true meaning of greatness.

***

QUESTION: What makes a Pacquiao fight a thrill to watch regardless of one’s nationality?

The answer is the anticipation of a surprising outcome. We never know when a Pacman opponent would be sent down to the canvass and so we relish every second of the exchanges on the ring. It would also be interesting to see if Pacquiao would get tagged hard and be knocked down. How he would react thereafter would be a thrill to watch.

Of course, we cannot discount Pacquiao’s unique charm. The guy is a natural for showbiz. Anyone disagree? Go argue with Mommy Dionisia.

Fool us twice

Estrada stars in Palace rerun

Poor folk hail bid of their idol

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A funny thing happened last night.

Deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada proclaimed his intention to join the Presidential race in the 2010 elections before thousands of his hordes in Tondo, Manila. Believing he is still qualified to run, Erap again exhorted his usual rhetoric about being the poor man’s leader and this nation’s savior.

The Constitution says “the President shall not be eligible for any re-election.” Nobody could sanely argue that this provision would not apply to an ex-President. If Erap insists otherwise, on the prodding of his advisers, then he is also constitutionally prohibited from running as President because he can’t “read.” Erap can’t understand what the Constitution says. Well, he can’t even comprehend the terms of a contract. His pardon contained a whereas clause that he would not seek any public office as one of the conditions for his release and yet here he goes trying to vie for his old post.

The funny thing is Erap is disillusioned by his own make-believe world that he uses to fool the Masa into thrusting him again to public office.

You know what would be even funnier than this? If people would still want to vote for Erap.

The Errors of Comedy

Movie Review: Kimmy Dora: Ang Kambal sa Kiyeme

I hate to be a Grinch but there is something about Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme that leaves me grumbling despite somehow enjoying the movie.

First, my observations:

• The comedic prowess of lead star Eugene Domingo is undeniable.
• The plot is quite interesting.
• The funny scenes make the audience laugh out loud on their seats.
• Everyone exits the cinema happy.
• The film board and media reviews gave the movie a positive rating.
• 
  

What could possibly be wrong then?

The thing is: Kimmy Dora employs the same comic formula that time and again has been the trademark of Filipino movies – full of slapsticks, spoofs, and unintelligent humor. The film offered nothing really new and yet was successful in eliciting guffaws among the audience.

What could be funny, for instance, about reciting “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pekpek” or the mannerisms of a mentally-challenged adult? Sadly, a lot of people enjoyed those scenes in the movie. No wonder the Filipinos are top in the list of happiest people in the planet – because we laugh at the most shallow display of humor.

While this kind of movie is beneficial to the industry because of its commercial success, its negative impact is that it contributes to the degradation of the Filipino’s understanding and appreciation of film as an art and media form. Fact is most Filipinos only see film for its entertainment value. Proof is that the top-grossing Filipino film of all time is Ang Tanging Ina Nyo and not Rizal or any of the Lino Brocka masterpieces.

There is a lot that a movie can actually offer. It can educate. It can inspire. It can be critical. It can be smart. It can be deceiving. A comedy should not just be comic, just like dramas need not always be a love story.

The challenge is for the creative segment of the local film industry to offer something that tickles not just our funny bones but also our curiosity; something that would make us laugh and think at the same time; something not insulting to our intelligence.

It is about time we upgrade our humor and take comedy seriously. And I mean seriously.

Who's afraid of Ate Koring?

Korina Sanchez rails at Roxas’ detractor

This lady should not tell the news.

Being a wife-to-be of a politician, she cannot help but show her bias. More so, she lets her emotion affect her expressions. Whether she speaks as a commentator or a guest, she should be extra cautious in her remarks as she is perceived by the public more as a news personality than anything else.

As the "bearer of news," she should be impartial and impervious to the point of being stoic so as to lend credibility to her reports. This is the Walter Cronkite standard that news anchors should strive hard to practice. If she cannot try to do this, she should rather resign as TV Patrol/Bandila anchor in order to protect the news program's integrity.

She should also respect the views of her colleagues in the media. Conrado de Quiros certainly did not need to apologize for whatever he has written about Mar Roxas just because it has offended someone. Ate Koring knows this all too well as she herself has pehaps offended many individuals with her fiery brand of broadcast journalism.

There is truth to the saying that whatever you throw comes right back at you.

"Ang pikon ay laging talo." Hindi po ba Ate Koring.

Winnability does not make a "winner"

Roxas gives way to Aquino

No, it's not good prevailing over evil.

No, it's not country before self.

No, it's not leading to unity, rather than division.

It's plain and simple the oldest and cheapest trick in politics - fielding a "winnable" candidate.

All the pseudo drama and proclaimed self-sacrifice will not reap the Liberal Party any pogi points at all to win the 2010 elections - that is if everyone would just look above and beyond the surface of this event. LP is just riding on the Aquino legacy and feeding the Filipinos with false hopes.

What makes Noynoy Aquino a Presidentiable is a question begging for serious answers. He has been a politician all his life, but he has yet to prove himself worthy of a public office. He has displayed none of his father's eloquence and intellectual brilliance. He has barely the shadow of his mother's sense of leadership and charisma. His surname surely cannot be his only passport to greatness.

The Liberal Party, for the sake of its glorious leaders in the past, should not have succumbed to popular politics. A party standard bearer should be a tested character with unquestionable qualifications, not one who can only serve to tickle the public's fancy.

Noynoy Aquino may be a winnable candidate now, but he can never be a winner in every sense of the word.

The Filipinos’ unbearable quest

Every August of every year since more than two and a half decades ago, we are reminded of a grim moment in our history when our only hope for freedom from fear and bondage banished before our blindfolded eyes. The image of the man bloodied and lying face down in what seemed to be a kiss of death to his motherland is seen over and over again yet never ever made sense to anyone. Even those whom we depend on to give us answers remain entrapped in the question: Who killed Ninoy Aquino?

The rational Filipinos would probably smirk at the question and ask back: Would the answer still be relevant today?

The cynical Filipinos would surrender all hopes of finding the answer and just go on with their lives. After all, 25 years have produced nothing but 16 jailed suspects who kept mum about everything except to say they maintain their innocence.

The curious Filipinos would seek their own answers but end up asking more questions instead.

The sentimental Filipinos, who wear Ninoy in their hearts, would be roused by the question and take every opportunity to blame someone for what happened but their cries would always fall on deaf ears and numb membranes.

The forgetful Filipinos, remembering Ninoy only as the face on the money and because his death anniversary is a special non-working holiday, would need to be reminded every so often that the sword of justice has yet to fall on the real culprit behind our hero’s assassination.

The young Filipinos, meanwhile, wonder what the fuss is all about, google Ninoy on the internet, buy a Ninoy shirt to look cool, and then go on listening to their iPods, texting their friends, and updating their social network site.

No matter who we are as a Filipino, it is our quest to find out the truth behind this most daring murder and attack on the symbol of our hope and freedom that is now an infamous part of our history. We owe it to Ninoy and to each of our fellows for the sake of our nation’s depleting moral fibre.

If we cannot cure our past, then we cannot care for our future. And while we still look for answers at the present – not only about Ninoy’s death, but also on the NBN-ZTE deal, the Jonas Burgos case, the contents of the “second envelope,” and many other shameful, unsolved mysteries before them – we continue to bear the most unbearable feeling: that is the pain of not knowing.

If I were Joe Dumars…

If I were Joe Dumars I would not have let go of Chauncey Billups. A point guard, I believe, is the most important player in basketball. Without a good point guard, a team will not be able to execute plays to perfection or create offensive opportunities. A team may have the best Forward and Center to pile up points, but the ball will not even reach them without the point guard orchestrating movement. Billups proved himself an able point guard and team leader, helping Detroit to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances. That leadership was taken away when Billups was traded and see what happened to the Pistons.

If I were Joe Dumars I would have signed Andre Miller as the team’s key point guard next season. With the said departure of Billups, the Pistons need a formidable presence in the back court to team-up with Rip Hamilton. Rodney Stuckey has the size of Billups but as he had shown the past seasons, he ain’t tough and consistent enough to deliver the goods for Detroit in the PG slot. Miller would have been the perfect guy to fill up the void because of his skills and experience. His passing ability and shooting touch are akin to Billups’ and he still has room for growth. Unfortunately, Miller is already hooked up by another team.

If I were Joe Dumars I would not have let go of Rasheed Wallace. Sheed creates a lot of mismatches in the Forward-Center positions. He is quick despite his size and age and he has unlimited shooting range (remember that 3/4 –court heave against Denver last year). His antics on and off the court may be a bit of a problem, but it adds to his character and grit at play to his advantage. Without Sheed (who is now with the Celtics), a huge void in the middle is created at Detroit.

If I were Joe Dumars I would have signed Carlos Boozer. He ain’t as lanky and fancy as Sheed, but Boozer definitely has the talent and work ethics to give the Pistons some edge in the Forward department. Boozer has awesome power to control the boards and keen offensive sense to score when needed. His perimeter shooting also poses a threat, making him a solid factor in the frontcourt. Unfortunately again, Boozer is not likely to suit up for Detroit with less-heralded Charlie Villanueva already occupying the spot.

If I were Joe Dumars I would have indeed let go of Michael Curry. The neophyte coach just ain’t ripe yet for the role. Coaches cannot afford to learn on the job in the NBA, especially so if the lessons are not right away converted to knowledge. The other teams will show no mercy for every error. The players’ morale will be affected after every defeat. Detroit is not a young team (last season and this coming season) and so it needs the guidance of a veteran coach to complement the players.

If I were Joe Dumars, would I have hired John Kuester as Detroit’s new coach? Kuester is not at all new in the coaching business. He was, in fact, with the Pistons as assistant coach when they tripped the Shaq-Kobe-Malone-Payton-backed Lakers to win the '04 Championship. Kuester has good credentials working on the side of several coaches but can he prove he is worthy of being at the helm of the Pistons’ rebuilding process? With new players (including former sixth man awardee Ben Gordon) most probably filling up Detroit’s starting line up , I doubt if he can really make that felt right at the early part of next season.

If I were Joe Dumars I would pray harder than I prayed the last season.

Vignettes from the Cory Funeral

I woke up on Wednesday, August 5 – a non-working holiday - just in time to catch on TV the Requiem Mass for Cory at the Manila Cathedral. Right after the Mass, I washed up, donned a yellow shirt (and pants of course, but not yellow), then proceeded to the corner of Quirino Avenue and Osmena Highway where Cory’s funeral cortege would pass through. I took a spot on the center island of the highway for a better view. I stayed there for more than two hours and got a perfect view of Cory’s casket (see pictures) when it finally passed by.

The effort was all worth it. I then went home to see on TV the final rites marking the end of Cory’s meaningful and heroic life here with us.

Here are some random observations of the historic day that was:

ENEMIES BECOMING INSTANT FRIENDS. Senator Loren Legarda sat behind Vice President Noli de Castro during the Requiem Mass that they could not help but greet each other come “peace be with you” time. Wonder if their gestures were really heartfelt.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON. Looking at Jinggoy and Erap sitting beside each other makes one think that Jinggoy will be Erap in no time – figure, moustache, shades, and all.

CONTEMPLATING PRESIDENTS. Ramos and Erap seemed in deep thoughts throughout the Mass – wondering if they would ever receive the same “reception” given to Cory when they die. They wish.

FAVORITE DAUGHTER. Kris again made that self-proclamation that she’s Mommy’s favorite among her siblings. Well, the prodigal child always gets the most attention.

HONORABLE MENTION. Kris acknowledged the members of the Aquino family and her loved ones in her message. I thought Philip Salvador and Joey Marquez would even be mentioned. Heaven intervened.

REAL SONGBIRD. Dulce’s song was very touching and splendidly performed. No amount of Regine Velasquez can top that.

SHOWBIZ TOUCH. I cringed upon seeing Piolo Pascual sing at the church. The man has talent, but I think he’s not a good choice for the occasion – too showbizy. The likes of Cocoy Laurel, Nolyn Cabahug, or Robert Sena should be the ones singing for a statesman. Okay girls, crucify me for making this comment.

MARRED MOMENT. Presidentiable, rather President wannabe Mar Roxas could not help but took opportunity of the gathering crowd to display his supposed “masa” image. He trooped the line and shook hands with people from inside his vehicle like he was campaigning. The man would really do everything at the expense of decency just to get votes, err attention. Warning: classic trapo.

PEOPLE’S HEROINE. The crowd waiting for Cory’s funeral cortege was a mix of classes who stayed in line despite being rained on. There were interspersed comic moments and TV camera-induced euphoria typical of Filipinos while people patiently awaited the convoy. But when the truck carrying Cory’s casket finally made its way in front of us, it was greeted by applause and then silence as a show of respect to the great mother of our nation. I was surprised by the crowd reaction because I thought they would be frantic and would turn everything into a circus. They, however, proved that they were sincere in their expression of grief and love and adulation for Cory.

I am proud to be out in the street to witness history being unfolded once again and it made me even prouder to be a Filipino. A countless many times, thanks to you President Cory.

Corific

Corific \ko-ri-fic\, noun: - selflessness for nation; personal sacrifice for common good.

--
Mentions of Cory bring us back to a proud moment in Philippine history when our grand hopes and intentions for the country were at its purest - epitomizing the humble and benevolent persona of the housewife-turned-president.

Cory's birth in our consciousness was sudden and surprising. From a weeping widow of a slain hero, she became the solitary moving force behind the embattled Filipino. She was thrust into the political limelight unprepared, but she showed up to the public ever determined. She seemed naive but she was passionately learned. She looked meek but she came out fighting.

People from all walks of life and corners of the world celebrated with Cory as she assumed leadership of a nation reborn. We stuck with her through her presidency - coups and all. We marched with her on the streets thereafter, protesting threats to freedom and morality. No one has lifted up our downtrodden spirit as a nation like Cory did.

A woman, a wife, a mother, a religious, a servant, a leader, and a Filipino for Filipinos. No words can ever define her legacy, except to say... it is Corific.

Maraming salamat Cory.

It ain't tweet

It is one thing to tell the world you have an upset stomach and another to actually say you are spending almost the entire morning in the john unloading multiple slabs of you-know-what.

That's my analogy on tweeting. That's how I find it pointless to announce what you are exactly doing or thinking every day of your life for the sake of your supposed "followers."

People who rely on Twitter, I guess, either have no actual friends or have friends but they do not see each other. If you really know and communicate with your friend, you do not need Twitter to know where they are or what they are doing at the moment.

I am not waging war against Twitter. I just want to emphasize that tweeting is overrated and that it is just a publicity hype.

But I believe it has some use. Twitter is made for the fans of celebrities. The followers, on the one hand, are those who spend so much time minding other people's lives and get some thrill out of it. Those who tweet, on the other hand, are somewhat self-indulgent, seeking pleasure out of revealing something about their personal lives.

For this reason, celebrities using Twitter are estopped from suing someone for stalking or invasion of privacy because they asked for it. The paparazzi are in brisk business. I can hear Tweety Bird complaining from inside his (or her) cage.

Tweeting is fun, yes. For some. But it is not my kind of fun.

Now let me get myself out of the toilet so I can change my Facebook status.

Poll scare

Automation firms may face legal action for contract breach

If the hullabaloos in the preparation for the country's first-ever automated election are any indication, these simply tell that we are NOT YET ready to implement it.

The bidding process alone almost failed because of lack of qualified bidders. Then when the contract was finally awarded, another hitch happens - this time a squabble among the partners of the chosen supplier. With this trend of events, we can expect more problems to surface as the election period approaches.

Poll automation is not a simple process and we cannot risk a national election in order to get it going. At the least and if ever we are fully ready, we should try it first in a local election (a barangay election for instance) to determine its effectiveness. We cannot afford to rush and just cross our fingers that not a major glitch would happen - especially in a national election.

Consider the consequences if the system would fail and render the national election invalid or highly questionable. The fears of many will happen - the incumbent president will have an extended stay in power.

The readiness of our people to vote in a computerized election is also suspect. It will require a thorough orientation for the voters to understand how the system works. Many Filipinos, particularly old folks and those from the rural areas, still have not acquainted themselves with the computer. More than having the necessary equipment, it is important to make the people comfortable and trusting in using a system.

Ideally, we should be able to conduct an automated election by now. We have the capacity. But the fact remains that we are not prepared enough to realize this.

Transform me (if you can)

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is a quintessential entertainment movie.

It has everything reel life can offer: action, romance, comedy, thriller, and fantasy.

It has all the ingredients of a blockbuster movie: an uncanny hero, pesky supporting cast, eye-popping special effects, formidable villains, sex appeal (thanks Megan), and... ahh love.

A bit of everything, however, actually creates nothing. Having all ingredients mixed in one bowl is oftentimes a recipe for disaster.

Here are some sour moments that ruined an otherwise cool movie:

The Witwicky parents are cute when they stay at home, but not when they are thrust in the thick of robot battle. Their scenes have also become too slapstick.

Mikaela is a sight to behold, but does nothing more than being that. Oh, she gets humped by a pet Decepticon.

Then the ultimate mood swinger and climax-pooper, Mikaela saying the L-word to Sam in the middle of Armageddon. Really now?

All these are cliche scenes that make a film a sure box-office hit, but only to be forgotten soon after another big movie comes in.

Await the next installment of this franchise: Transformers 3: Prime meets Barbie

Gone too soon...

Michael Jackson dies

The King is dead. Or so they say.

Michael Jackson, the crowned King of Pop, was gone without giving an encore. Abrupt as his success was, his death was sudden and unexpected.

Jackson was a charmer and the perfect entertainer as a child prodigy. He became bigger than life before he even actually grew up. His songs were the universal language of pop. People of different races adored him like, indeed, he was King.

Then as his skin color and face faded, his persona gradually suffered. Intrigues and scandals battered him to showbiz oblivion. Come to think of it, Michael Jackson died a long time ago.

But his music will live forever.

We all, at least once in our lives, belted a Jackson tune in falsetto and laughed ourselves off trying his patented Moonwalker on the dance floor. No matter how weird this person may be, we owe him a great deal of entertainment.

So long, Mr. Jackson. Enjoy your peace.

Cha-Cha is not the enemy

Thousands march in Makati vs. Charter change

Question: What's wrong with amending the Constitution?

Answer: Nada, Nothing, Wala

The public ought to be educated that amending the charter is not evil per se as what is portrayed in the media and is protested in the streets. People should just hold a printed copy of the Constitution and judging by its thickness determine that it needs revising. Looking into the details of its provisions, many will be lost in the meaning. The thing is, we have yet to draft a Constitution that is not in any way influenced by intense political pressure or made under a stable government. In other words, we need a Constitution that is really "well-prepared and well-thought of."

We cannot acomplish this, however, if we bombard every attempt to amend the charter with a huge wave of antagonism characterized by irrelevant pessimism. The right to amend the Constitution is as basic as any human rights. It is even the most important because upon which, the very existence of our nation depends. So we must amend the Constitution if our country is not efficiently functioning under its current framework. We must amend the Constitution if we want to cure our political and social illnesses right at their very roots.

While it is perhaps true that the people initiating the move towards charter change have vested interests, their evil intents cannot just easily prevail as we have a very strict process of amendment. Every word changed or inserted will be scrutinized to the letter. Every motion must undergo approval process. In the end, the amendment will be ratified by the people as the final judge.

What's really the fuss over this current issue is the desperation on the part of our lawmakers to quickly jumpstart the process. And this we must specifically protest if done with utter disregard of rules and procedures. But we should not totally defeat the ultimate purpose - that is making for ourselves a Constitution that can move us forward with the changing times yet still provide every Filipino the basic rights to life, liberty, and property.

Judgment Call

Implied consent

The anti-wire tapping case filed by a GSIS official against TV producer/host Che Che Lazaro is an interesting topic of debate. The subject of the case was a telephone conversation with the official that Lazaro aired in her TV show. Lazaro, apparently after futile attempts to seek an interview appointment with the official, called up the latter on the phone and instantly recorded the conversation and there and then told the official that they are on record.

It was a scheming tactic employed by Lazaro to get GSIS to "talk." The purpose was valid as it was her duty as a journalist to present both sides of a story, but was the means employed justifiable, or to a larger extent lawful?

The alleged law violated states that: "It shall be unlawful for any person, not being authorized by all the parties to any private communication or spoken word, to tap any wire or cable, or by using any other device or arrangement, to secretly overhear, intercept, or record such communication or spoken word by using a device commonly known as a dictaphone or dictagraph or detectaphone or walkie-talkie or tape recorder, or however otherwise described." (emphasis supplied)

The main point of debate in this case is whether the recording was authorized. Was the fact that the GSIS official continued talking despite Lazaro's pronouncement that the conversation is being recorded enough to justify that there is implied consent to record the same? Should the party explicitly utter his or her objection to the recording so it can qualify as not authorized?

Consent can be implied based on the action or omission of a person. It cannot be presumed by the person asking for it based on his or her own set of criteria. Anyone caught off-guard in a conversation, like the situation the GSIS official caught herself in, would still talk rather than instantly play dead, especially if the other party is a member of the media. Continuously engaging in the conversation cannot be automatically implied as consent to recording, more apparently if the words of the other party mean otherwise.

Another peculiarity of this case is that the recording of the conversation happened simultaneously with the asking of permission. An important related question is: Does saying "this is being recorded" already asking permission?

There is, indeed, probable cause to file a case against Lazaro. This, I believe, is certainly not plain media harassment, but merely applying the law. Whether she will be found guilty is up to the court to decide.

Eventually, this could be a classic case of "the ends do not justify the means" for the media. It could also serve as another reminder that freedom of the press is not absolute - the media's rights end where the rights of individuals (be them private persons or public officials) begin.

More than a lesson on law, this is an issue of media ethics. Discretion should be practiced by the media in their reporting. If it would cause greater harm than good to apply the principles of journalism, it would not be a crime to temporarily set them aside.

It would have sufficed to just say that GSIS officials refused to air their side on the alleged anomalies in the institution despite several requests for interview. After all, people already know how "aloof" these officials are. There is no need to exert more effort to prove this, especially if the means is not at all acceptable.

There is always a better way of doing things.

Bad Season

The Detroit Pistons died with its owner this year.

After winning the championship in '04 and appearing in the Conference Finals since then until 2008, the Pistons finally lost steam. It was a disappointing 08-09 season for Detroit. The team was winning at the start of the season but everything fell apart after the Iverson-Billups trade. All downhill from there, as the younger and stronger competitors made Detroit's vaunted defense look clumsy and silly.

Chauncey's leadership was missed yeah, but the trade was a risk to get into a better position in the future. I hope Joe D has it all mapped out perfectly considering the free-agent market this year. The team also needs a better coach to shape its future. Probably not one to make them win a championship again soon, but just one who can bring back that old, legendary Pistons swagger.

This year, however, it's over for the Pistons. I won't talk NBA for the meantime. I died with my team. Await our resurrection.

Stricken with Obama fever

Panlilio run worries two Catholic bishops

Blame it on Obama. Now everyone with "clean hands" and gift of rhetoric claims he or she can be Malacañan's messiah.

I have nothing personal against priests or Among Ed in particular, but I simply don't see him capable enough to lead the country towards "Change" as what Obama promises to do in the US. In fact, I see him as someone who can bring so much more divide in our already tormented political and social environment. The fact that he failed to sway the "hostile" Mayors in his province into his fold is enough evidence of his weak leadership. It just goes to show that being good alone does not make a fit leader. It's a combination of many things; no particular formula but just the right mix of skills, personality, and intellect.

Most importantly, great leaders do not seek office; it is the office that seeks them. Among Ed may have all the good intentions in making known his great political ambition, but it just ain't right and he simply ain't fit.

This I confess.

Raped (she was) / Rapped (we were)

'Nicole' leaves for US, settles for P100,000

After all the drama, it all boiled down to zero - or zeros actually.

Nicole rattled two nations, caused a media circus, and fueled feminist passion. She was the modern Mary Magdalene who people sympathize with and fight for. Until she recanted her cries of rape and abandoned the quest for justice. By doing so, she did not only shame herself, but shred the Filipina pride to pieces beyond compare. There's no doubt she was influenced and "bribed." She now even possesses an American visa and is trying to seek new life in a country where a million Smiths live. How ironic can that be? It's a smack on the face of every Filipina.

I can't wait to see Jay Leno and David Letterman pick this up in their show's opening salvo. The joke was on us, and the Americans have the last laugh.

Here Today, Where Tomorrow

Austrian newspaper cites resilience of RP economy

Yes indeed. Our economy seems strong enough to survive the crisis that plagued the United States and Europe and other strong economies in Asia. Some say the tidal wave of that economic recession has yet to reach the Philippines and may be felt only later this year or in 2010. Me thinks that gives us time to prepare for a possible crisis and minimize its impact if ever it finally hits us, unlike during the 1997 Asian financial crisis when our economy was caught by surprise and hence suffered.

What keeps our economy afloat is the people's willingness to spend. Even if most Filipinos have limited capacity for earnings, we still spend so much because it is not in our culture to sacrifice present needs and wants for future stability. We don't mind if we spend our last centavo for a party today even if there is no guaranteed meal for the next day. We don't mind borrowing money to spend on a luxury now even if we pay for it dearly in the future. While this does not make good economic sense, at least we do not sleep on our money. This attitude is most favorable to business.

While we can brag about the state of our economy right now, still we can't compare our economy with that of our rich and better neighbors. Japan or Singapore deep in recession is probably a version of the Philippines with average economic growth. Our economy may not be suffering, but it's not gaining much either. It is mediocre, to say the least. Of course we know why our economy cannot really take off - poor governance, political and social instability, lack of discipline, backward mentality, etc.

Our attitude reflects what kind of future we will have. We are happy to survive today. We'll just keep our fingers crossed for what tomorrow will bring.

Dogged

I was awakened by the blaring siren of fire trucks around 3 am today. Alarmed but not panicking, I got up, observed the neighborhood, and judging from where the fire trucks were heading, surmised that fire probably struck the slum area several blocks away from where I live. Not sensing any potential danger, I went back to bed and tried to sleep again but was frustrated by the loud sirens that broke out every so often.

So I decided to just let the time pass by watching a movie in bed from a portable player. What movies do I have? Ahh, Slumdog Millionaire – the recent Oscar Best Picture. I wanted to see this film before it even won an award. Of course, everyone knows what the film’s story is all about. It is one thing, however, to read it from the newspapers or the internet, and another to actually see the film. The latter is obviously more captivating.

In summary, Slumdog Millionaire is real life becoming reel because of the sudden fame and fortune the young slumdog amassed after answering correctly the questions in a television game show, deriving clues from his life experiences. The depictions of every clue are comically and cleverly presented and are used to gradually build up the film plot. Among the funny and memorable scenes are the young Jamal diving into a puddle of human excrement just to get an autograph of his movie idol and Jamal and Salim escaping the syndicate but leaving behind young lass Latika.

Throughout the movie, though, the slumdog didn’t seem to care much about what he can achieve and achieved eventually, but only longed for the love that was written by destiny - humanizing an otherwise incredulous story.

Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy did a splendid job weaving the story originally written by Vikas Swarup into a film material. Director Danny Boyle was beyond impressive in turning the story into an artistic, cunning, and emotional imagery, truly worthy of an Oscar. Boyle avoided the sacrilegious yet treaded dangerously by inserting the typical Bollywood song-and-dance sequence before the credits, but it escaped as charming anyway.

I was so engrossed in the movie from start to finish that I forgot to give the slightest care what happened in the incident that kept me awake in the first place. If the fire hit the slum area, indeed, a lot of families would have been affected and probably some lives were lost. Then I realized… it was the place of slumdogs. It is possible that a Jamal could be living there. A Jamal whose hopes of survival cling to a thin thread. A Jamal trying hard to be good amid all the evils. A Jamal who patiently perseveres for love.

I hope not. I fervently hope not.

We need a winner.

Dying Young

Rapper Francis Magalona passes away

We can't help but feel deeply sad every time someone who is young and so full of life suddenly dies. It reminds us how fragile life can be and that we should be grateful for every day that we live healthy and out of danger.

It also stresses the need for us to be more conscious of our body as we grow older. We may appear to be fit, but we don't really know what's going on inside our body. With regard our health, it is always safer to be concerned than to just assume we are okay.

Death is certain to happen, but we owe it to those people who love and depend on us for whatever reason to make sure it does not come to us at the time least expected.

Legal Gobbledygook

I am a student of law.

I actually first studied law in 2001 for just a year and continued only in 2008. Now I felt like a freshman all over again, though not the type who is taking studies too seriously. Not to say that I find studying law quite easy that I do not see the need to be serious in my studies. In fact, I find it really hard. It's just that studying frustrates me a bit because law books are so difficult to read and digest.

Mind you I love reading. It's my most favorite past-time next to writing and singing (hehe). I read newspapers, magazine, novels, non-fiction, trivia bits, even product labels and billboard signs. But law books, I have to force myself to read them. I usually feel the urge only when I'm due for recitation or it's near the exam period.

I tried to find a good reason why I am not very much interested in reading law books. They are too text-heavy. They are voluminous. They are monotonous. These reasons simply won't stand as arguments in the classroom, much more in court.

Then I realized what makes reading law books unappealing for me is the syntax - particularly on sentence structure. The law has its own language and it is not plain English. Strunk & White surely will have a hell of a time editing codal provisions, jurisprudence, and legal textbooks if they try to make them as reader-friendly as any mainstream publications. Legal speak ignores rules on the use of a comma or simple sentence construction or sometimes grammar. That is also why it is open to so many interpretations.

Should I blame the authors then if I mess up during recitation or if I fail my exams? Or should I call for a reform in the way legal resources are written. (Maybe a good proposition.)

Nah, am just trying to justify my laziness here. I should know I'm in for difficult times when I decided to enrol in law school.

Excuses denied.

Heads No More

Final Set is E-Heads’ last performance?

I used to drown in Ligaya and hum With a Smile with my Pare Koys as we listen to Ang Huling El Bimbo of the Eraserheads Minsan in a Fine Time during Sembreak some years ago. The band was a phenomenon, paving the way for OPM renaissance that gained further momentum when new bands inspired by the E’heads emerged and infused equally catchy, witty, and poetic songs into the local music scene.

The E’heads, however, got tired too soon; probably thinking they had already reached elite status and had nothing more to prove together. So they went their separate ways and formed bands of their own. And the E’heads was no more.

After a successful tribute album of their hit songs by various artists, the E’heads is now busy regrouping at least for one-night concerts to delight fans. The first attempt was almost completely successful had not Ely stressed himself much preparing for the reunion concert that led to his collapse in the middle of the performance due to fatigue. It being an unfinished business, another one is set to happen soon.

Though I’m a certified E’heads fan, I’m not that excited, say uninterested, about this reunion gig. For me, the band is already done. Their songs are just happy tunes of yesteryears. I can listen to E’heads songs in my MP3 player and it’s the same as seeing them in reunion concerts. There is nothing new about them.

In a way, I felt cheated as a fan when the E’heads suddenly broke up. They had more productive years ahead of them, yet they chose to put to waste their combined talents. They allowed their personality clashes to kill the band. Or was it personal ambitions?

Legends in the music industry are so-called because of their continued success despite their longevity in the business – think of the Rolling Stones or Journey. The E’heads was probably barely halfway through its expected career-span when the band members decided to split and left their fans hanging (translation: naiwan sa ere).

I’m still a fan though.

Lift your head, baby don’t be scared…(humming)

Lost in Revolution

23 YEARS AGO
‘A people crucified, risen, empowered’

I was only seven when the so-called EDSA revolution happened. I didn’t exactly know what was happening then, but I felt the jubilation of many. It was years later when I began to understand the significance of the event. By that time, however, all its meaning was lost... because the system hardly changed under the regime of democracy.

In EDSA II, I was there right at the heart of the action – fully knowing what’s at stake. I wanted to be part of a repeat of history. Indeed, it was a repeat. The government never gained back any respect. The same old political battle cry persists.

So.

We do not need to be always reminded of EDSA. We are aware of it.

We do not need another revolution. We are tired of it.

We just need to come to our senses and become responsible citizens. Because our country will not change if we ourselves will not change.

Take a Nuke

Protest vs BNPP evokes EDSA scenes

I do not consider myself an environmentalist, though I am conscious about the pernicious effects of wanton disregard for the environment. For instance, I dispose waste properly and recycle as much as possible. I also believe Al Gore’s theory of global warming. I do because it’s both logical and practical to believe in these things and act on them.

However, I do not agree that just because a thing has a potential to destroy the environment, it should be totally banned even if there is a greater chance that it will give us considerable benefit. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant – and all its controversy – is one fine example. The government loaned an enormous amount to build the plant that we are still paying for it up to now. It has been mothballed for the longest time and every attempt to even just contemplate turning its doorknob, so to speak, will incite fumes of protest. It being a legacy of a hated president and its construction alleged to be riddled with corruption should not lead us to conclude that this project is a bane and a danger to the environment.

Safety concerns are at the core of many arguments against the plant’s operation. That it is a threat to health and life per se sends fear among people, especially those within its vicinity. Images of the Chernobyl disaster blanket their minds. While these are extremely valid points, these are foreseeable harms that can be avoided with strict and proper cautionary measures.

There are many successful nuclear power plant operations around the world. Ours should not be a story of failed attempt and what could or might have been. A nuclear plant is an alternative source of energy that can help not only in augmenting our power supply, but also in preserving our natural resources. And though it is not the only choice, it can be the most practical solution to our energy problems.

We already have it so let us not waste it.