I got an email from my causin working in an airline company based in Canada. It has an amazing video attached to it and I want to share it with all of you.
Everything in yellow is an aircraft.
It's a 24 hour observation of all of the large aircraft flights in the world, condensed down to about 2 minutes.
From space we look like a bee hive of activity!
You can tell it was summer time in the north, by the sun's footprint over the planet. You can see that it didn't quite set in the extreme north, and it didn't quite rise in the extreme south.
At the beginning of the clip watch all of the traffic from the US heading for Europe over night and then all of the traffic coming back to the US during the day.
Note: You can see a larger screen for the video in my Multiply page.
Just go to:http://lemueljon.multiply.com/video/item/50/World_Air_Traffic_For_24-Hr_Period
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Furious And Helpless
When my workweek was slowing down, I was excited and looking forward for the next three days that I will be off from work. During this time I already heard initial reports about typhoon Ondoy hitting my country, The Philippines. Everything settled in when my best friend in the Philippines sent a text message to me from a borrowed cellphone, apologizing that he could not go online and chat with me (as we normally do) because of some major emergency. I immediately suspected that this emergency was related to the typhoon. His next message caught me off guard and shocked me. His family was affected by the flash floods brought about by the typhoon and that they were not able to save anything from their home. That was his last message to me and up to this writing I still don't have any idea how to get in touch with him. Our common friend already sent a message through my Facebook account confirming what my friend just told me in his text messages. Early that evening, I went to watch a movie, ate in a fast food chain, went to a piano bar and ended up in a McDonald's branch where a friend was working. At this point, I received the alarming news and after my midnight snacks, I immediately went home to check online about the devastation left by typhoon Ondoy. Pictures and news updates blew my mind away. I felt furious and at the same time helpless. Furious, because of what happened. Furious, because of the fact that when nature unleash her wrath, nobody can stop and prevent its aftermath. Helplessness immediately overcame me because I had no idea how to reach for my friend. I wanted to know how his family is coping with this unfortunate tragedy. I sent some text messages to him and to his wife's cellphone but I did not get any reply. I just hope and pray that they are alright.
For those who want to help with the relief efforts currently undergoing for the victims of typhoon Ondoy, you can start here: http://www.google.com/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Cruising Along The Strip One Sunday Evening
Last Sunday, my plan of attending the Greek Food Festival screwed up because I overslept. By the evening, I suddenly got bored and since I was not yet feeling sleepy, I took my Creative VadoHD videocam, mounted it on the dashboard of my car and off I went to the Las Vegas Boulevard otherwise called The Strip. I cruised along the length of the Strip and kept the video recording running. The result is this 5.5 minute video where I spliced bits and pieces of the clips or footages that I took.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Why I Am Thankful
I got this email again from my causin. After reading, it touched a chord that's why I want to share this to all of you. You may have read this email before but serve this as a reminder to be thankful every minute of the day.
======================
I AM THANKFUL :
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND
NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY
FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORKBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH
TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEYBECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MANY E-MAILS BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE
THINKING OF ME.
========================
Nice one huh! So stop complaining people and start being thankful for all the things that you have right now.
And by the way, let me add something to the list:
I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE COMMENTS ON MY BLOGS BE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE BECAUSE IT MEANS THERE ARE FRIENDS OUT THERE WHO READ MY ENTRIES, SHARED MY IDEAS AND PREDICAMENTS IN LIFE OR JUST SIMPLY LOVES ME......
======================
I AM THANKFUL :
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND
NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY
FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORKBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH
TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEYBECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MANY E-MAILS BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE
THINKING OF ME.
========================
Nice one huh! So stop complaining people and start being thankful for all the things that you have right now.
And by the way, let me add something to the list:
I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE COMMENTS ON MY BLOGS BE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE BECAUSE IT MEANS THERE ARE FRIENDS OUT THERE WHO READ MY ENTRIES, SHARED MY IDEAS AND PREDICAMENTS IN LIFE OR JUST SIMPLY LOVES ME......
Sunday, September 20, 2009
San Gennaro Feast
Since I have talked about food in my last post (check out my post titled Fortune Cookies), I might as well continue my little gastronomic journey this week. Last Sept 17Th, I went to San Gennaro Festival, an Italian festival held annually here in Las Vegas. The event was spearheaded by the Society of San Gennaro Feast. San Gennaro was a bishop of Benevento, Italy who died a martyr in 305 AD.
This festival is one of the big annual festivals being held here in Las Vegas. There were carnival rides, arts and crafts, performers and most importantly, FOOD!....Italian food. Talk about Philly cheese steak, Italian sausages and peppers, spaghetti, lasagna, meat balls, calzone, baked zita, fried calamari, shrimp campi, beer, beer and more beer. Aside from mainly Italian food stands, there were also food vendors selling Mexican and Mediterranean food items.
When I was roaming around the festival grounds, absorbing the aroma of food, feasting my eyes on the various arts and crafts being sold, and appreciating the sea of people attending the festivities, I took some video footages using my Creative VadoHD compact video camera. The resulting crude video is a good representation of the fun one could experience at San Gennaro festival.
This festival is one of the big annual festivals being held here in Las Vegas. There were carnival rides, arts and crafts, performers and most importantly, FOOD!....Italian food. Talk about Philly cheese steak, Italian sausages and peppers, spaghetti, lasagna, meat balls, calzone, baked zita, fried calamari, shrimp campi, beer, beer and more beer. Aside from mainly Italian food stands, there were also food vendors selling Mexican and Mediterranean food items.
When I was roaming around the festival grounds, absorbing the aroma of food, feasting my eyes on the various arts and crafts being sold, and appreciating the sea of people attending the festivities, I took some video footages using my Creative VadoHD compact video camera. The resulting crude video is a good representation of the fun one could experience at San Gennaro festival.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Fortune Cookies
Pretend that you've just finished dining on a sumptuous feast of Chinese food. Now, choose your cookie carefully, crack it open and find your fortune. Fortune cookies are popular with Chinese fast-food restaurants. After a Chinese meal, a plateful of these sweet little things, usually one cookie for each diner, is being served as desserts with good luck wishes. Excitement builds up when you crack open this cookie to find your fortune. The fortune is in the form of a small piece of paper inserted inside the hallow portion of the cookie with quotes and inspiring messages written on it. Sometimes you can find some number combinations which you can take them as your lucky numbers. I always look forward to opening my own fortune cookie whenever we eat in a Chinese restaurant or have Chinese take-outs.
According to Wikipedia.com: “There are approximately 3 billion fortune cookies made each year around the world, the vast majority of them used for consumption in the United States. The largest manufacturer of the cookies is Wonton Food, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. They make over 4.5 million fortune cookies per year. Another large manufacturer is Peking Noodle in the Los Angeles area. There are other smaller, local manufacturers including Tsue Chong Co. in Seattle and Sunrise Fortune Cookie in Philadelphia.”
There are many other smaller companies that make and sell fortune cookies even over the Internet. You can even customize the “fortune” found inside these cookies when you order them to suit your needs.
In popular culture, there is a common joke involving fortune cookies that involves appending "between the sheets" or "in bed" to the end of the fortune, usually creating a sexual innuendo or other bizarre messages, for example: “ Get away from home awhile to restore your energy (in bed).” We usually read these quotes aloud while comparing our fortunes inside the restaurant and it would start up intense laughter among us.
Here are some more examples:
YOU WILL HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHEN YOU NEED THEM. 9 12 19 32 41 44
YOU WILL SOON BE RECEIVING SOME GOOD WRITTEN NEWS. 14 35 37 40 44 46
A REFRESHING CHANGE IS IN YOUR FUTURE
RESIST A TEMPTATION TO TAKE SHORTCUTS OF ANY KIND.
GENEROSITY AND PERFECTION ARE YOUR ASSETS – AND THEY SHOW
A WISH WILL BE GRANTED AFTER A LONG DELAY. 09 18 27 33 42 47
YOU ARE VERY EXPRESSIVE AND POSITIVE IN WORD, ACT AND FEELING.
BE PREPARED TO RECEIVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. 17 23 33 38 45 47
PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS MAY LEAD YOU TO A LUCRATIVE CAREER.
You can find some more quotes, messages or “fortunes” online, just Google them.
Is there a need for you to take these messages seriously? You may or you may not, just like how you take your daily Horoscope?
The Truth Hurts
I came across an email forwarded to me by a cousin. I love the Philippines, my country first and foremost even if I own an American passport. But sometimes or most of the time, we(that includes me)need to be jolted to awakening. I hate this guy who sent out this email...I hate him for telling the truth.
DISCLAIMER: The information rendered in the following article is not mine or my cousin's opinion. I am merely sharing this to everyone and anyone who can see the positive points beyond the negative inputs in the following article.
============================
THE TRUTH HURTS. A MUST READ FOR ALL FILIPINOS
'The Philippines is a nation of starstruck ignoramuses'
by Dero Pedero Of Philippine Star
Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles , who, while vacationing in Manila , had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.
For me, he was the classic epitome of the 'crow perched on a carabao,' thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive 'know it all' attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.
Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle_. The article is entitled 'Little Brown Americans.'
As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:
The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar ).
'God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!' screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, 'At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)! * * *
All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers 'drove like they were late for their funerals'; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose. He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ('God, how do you people do it?' he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking wet in the rain ('Where are the parents of these kids?' he nagged).
He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ('There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians! ' he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!
Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.
Nasty's E-Mail :
Dear Dero,
My Zen master says, 'Never fight fire with fire.' So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.
I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like. I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines !
If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a 'Little Brown American.' I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!
What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!) , the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the 'devoid of conscience' graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid 'Juetengate' and juicy but enraging 'Boracay' mansion gossips. With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are passe and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart.
No Apology
If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do anything about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America , you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to drop my 'Pinoy sugarcoating' because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!
When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums, potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation. My Zen master says, 'One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye.'
I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manileños have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation!
Suffering A National Karma?
Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?
What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal...
Stonehill... the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies..those cheap, appalling _title_s of your movies...those staged 'religious miracles' that your naive masses believed.....family men with pushy queridas (mistresses) ...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors.. .your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)
What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years!
Your Biggest Fault
If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. 'Ako muna!' seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable 'to each his own kurakot' festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.
Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.
Star-Struck Nation
You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline-nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.
Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best 'racket'-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them, politics will just be an 'act'. No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original _script_s to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star-struck nation right!
My Zen master says, 'Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh.' To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the onl y country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)
For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called Political Science,' hello?!
Educate Your Masses
Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in Cebu City , founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila , established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia , and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia . Education, education, education - that' s what you need in this age of information, information, information.
If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way , the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial. Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.
The Ideal President
I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know...) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J.E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable 'Sa amin na 'to!' hullabaloo all over again.
Take an advice from Aling Epang: 'Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay.' Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!
Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation.
Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call - it is the final alarm!
Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat, farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?
I Have Made My Decision; So Should You.
My Zen master says, 'Life is all about decisions, not choices.' I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, 'You have to fall to learn to rise again.'
How much lower do you want to go?
Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)
Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)
My Zen master says, 'Vox populi is not always the voice of God.'
Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!
Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.
The 2001 Miss America , Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful). Wait for the girl to say it, don't put words in her mouth!
Mabuhay kayo ( SANA )!
Sa totoo lang, MAGDUSA KAYONG LAHAT!
(Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!
I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, 'I told you so!' Good luck! (You need it.)
An ex-Filipino
J. Anastasio
'Nasty'
My Short Reply :
Dear Nasty,
Thanks for your e-mail. I swear you sort of stole the words from right under my tongue. Now, I am utterly speechless.
Send my regards to Randy. Wishing you the best!
God Bless
DISCLAIMER: The information rendered in the following article is not mine or my cousin's opinion. I am merely sharing this to everyone and anyone who can see the positive points beyond the negative inputs in the following article.
============================
THE TRUTH HURTS. A MUST READ FOR ALL FILIPINOS
'The Philippines is a nation of starstruck ignoramuses'
by Dero Pedero Of Philippine Star
Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles , who, while vacationing in Manila , had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.
For me, he was the classic epitome of the 'crow perched on a carabao,' thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive 'know it all' attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.
Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle_. The article is entitled 'Little Brown Americans.'
As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:
The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar ).
'God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!' screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, 'At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)! * * *
All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers 'drove like they were late for their funerals'; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose. He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ('God, how do you people do it?' he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking wet in the rain ('Where are the parents of these kids?' he nagged).
He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ('There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians! ' he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!
Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.
Nasty's E-Mail :
Dear Dero,
My Zen master says, 'Never fight fire with fire.' So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.
I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like. I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines !
If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a 'Little Brown American.' I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!
What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!) , the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the 'devoid of conscience' graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid 'Juetengate' and juicy but enraging 'Boracay' mansion gossips. With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are passe and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart.
No Apology
If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do anything about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America , you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to drop my 'Pinoy sugarcoating' because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!
When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums, potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation. My Zen master says, 'One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye.'
I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manileños have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation!
Suffering A National Karma?
Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?
What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal...
Stonehill... the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies..those cheap, appalling _title_s of your movies...those staged 'religious miracles' that your naive masses believed.....family men with pushy queridas (mistresses) ...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors.. .your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)
What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years!
Your Biggest Fault
If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. 'Ako muna!' seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable 'to each his own kurakot' festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.
Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.
Star-Struck Nation
You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline-nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.
Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best 'racket'-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them, politics will just be an 'act'. No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original _script_s to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star-struck nation right!
My Zen master says, 'Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh.' To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the onl y country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)
For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called Political Science,' hello?!
Educate Your Masses
Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in Cebu City , founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila , established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia , and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia . Education, education, education - that' s what you need in this age of information, information, information.
If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way , the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial. Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.
The Ideal President
I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know...) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J.E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable 'Sa amin na 'to!' hullabaloo all over again.
Take an advice from Aling Epang: 'Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay.' Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!
Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation.
Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call - it is the final alarm!
Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat, farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?
I Have Made My Decision; So Should You.
My Zen master says, 'Life is all about decisions, not choices.' I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, 'You have to fall to learn to rise again.'
How much lower do you want to go?
Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)
Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)
My Zen master says, 'Vox populi is not always the voice of God.'
Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!
Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.
The 2001 Miss America , Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful). Wait for the girl to say it, don't put words in her mouth!
Mabuhay kayo ( SANA )!
Sa totoo lang, MAGDUSA KAYONG LAHAT!
(Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!
I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, 'I told you so!' Good luck! (You need it.)
An ex-Filipino
J. Anastasio
'Nasty'
My Short Reply :
Dear Nasty,
Thanks for your e-mail. I swear you sort of stole the words from right under my tongue. Now, I am utterly speechless.
Send my regards to Randy. Wishing you the best!
God Bless
First Friday - Again
I went to Las Vegas' First Friday Arts Festival last Sept 4, 2009. This time I have brought my Creative VadoHD video cam and got some footages of the event. I tried to splice them into one "nasty" video with a heavy metal soundtrack. How's that for a little wild thing.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Broken Dream
Have you ever planned of something important to do and yet end up with failure? I bet you do. The worst thing so far happened to me and currently I would say I am suffering inside. I've been planning this for almost a year and as the day gets closer the excitement built up. It's already less than two months away and when I'm about to do the final preparations, here comes the most dreadful news that basically affected and ruined everything.
The plan was for me to go for a trip to the Philippines, my home country. I purposely planned on this since there are some people that I have to visit, people that I loved so much. I missed them since my last trip back home last year. Final plans and itineraries were almost done. The problem that came up was the medical condition of my mom. She has been complaining about the pain on her right knee since last year and this time around it's getting worse. She already reduced her working days from fulltime 5 days to 3 days a week only. Even with extra days for her to rest, she still have difficulty walking and most of the time the pain becomes unbearable for her when it involves long standing and walking in her job. Consulting her doctors, she was advised to have a knee replacement surgery as soon as possible if she wanted back her lifestyle. The surgery itself would take about 5 hours and the physical rehabilitation would take about 6 months on the average. The decision was made to have the surgery not later than October because considering the length of time for the rehabilitation; we can still go home to the Philippines by July of next year for their 50th wedding anniversary. I strongly felt that I need to be with them all throughout the process throughout the duration of the rehabilitation. My mom won't be able to walk normally by then and my dad is still working full time so they actually need an extra hand. The surgery would occur before my scheduled trip which will be on the last week of October so I decided, hurtful it maybe, to cancel my trip to the Philippines.
Right now, I'm in a huge dilemma how to tell the sad news to the people who are already expecting me. They also made their own plans to fit with my itinerary and with so much excitement, this sudden blow of sad news would definitely crush them. I felt guilty because I will cause sadness with the decision that I have to make. The only consolation that I could have is the understanding of these people. I love them so much and deciding to cancel the trip and ruin everything is equally painful for me. I just hope that they can forgive me and understand me. Priorities and decisions have to be made no matter how painful it is.
Monday, September 7, 2009
My Recent Road Trip
Yeah, yeah…it has been awhile since my last update on my blog. I really wanted to post something over the weekend but I was kind of busy due to my mini vacation/road trip to California. Definitely, I will talk about this little adventure that happened on my last days off.
On a Sunday morning, a little bit sleepy since I just came from my work overnight, I embarked on a road trip to California. Armed with my GPS (as usual) mounted on MacLeod (the name I granted to my ever reliable Toyota Highlander SUV), I pointed my direction towards the beaches of Southern California facing the Pacific Ocean. To cope up with the sleepiness, I downed a dose of 5Hr Energy Drink and blasted my car speakers with the soundtrack I specially prepared in my iPod Touch.
I actually got three (3) choices of destination; Long Beach, Venice Beach and Santa Monica and I ended up in Santa Monica. Santa Monica is the home of the world famous Santa Monica Pier. The pier offers a variety of entertainment, dining and shopping possibilities including the thrill rides of the Pacific Park, a historic carousel built in 1922 and an interactive aquarium. Along the planks of the pier, there were musicians and artists performing to the public for free. They said that this is one spot where you can enjoy a beautiful California sunset but I never had the chance to witness this since I was already busy looking for a hotel where I could stay for the night. Nevertheless I still enjoyed my short stay in this beautiful Californian beach, just think Baywatch.
More pictures: http://lemueljon.multiply.com/photos/album/65/Mini_Adventure_to_Santa_Monica_Los_Angeles
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