The ActiveTalker

Recently, a tragedy (typhoon Pablo) struck the Philippines that left a lot of people dead and destroyed billions worth of properties and livelihood. A leader of the influential Catholic Church linked the catastrophic event to the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill as the tragedy happened at the same time when Congress was deliberating the bill’s fate.

The bill, according to some “experts” will just legalize abortion and contraception. Huh? “Porke ba RH Bill e contraception agad? Hindi ba pwedeng women’s health/advancement of reproductive health facilities muna?” [If it’s RH Bill, it’s always about contraception? Why not think of it as women’s health/advancement of reproductive health facilities?] (in a Vice Ganda-ish tone)

Why do they always link the Bill to contraception? Have they read the bill’s content before making a comment? Have they been keen on understanding what the bill says before jumping into conclusions?

We are now in a modern society with a high cost of living. You can’t support a family if you’re just relying on the crops you grow in your backyard or the farm. Before, a Filipino family can afford to eat three times a day and even send their children to school, even if they are large in terms of number of offsprings. But gone were the days…

Today, a liter if petrol is about 5times more than the price when I was in high school, and that was just 20years ago. When I was a kid, a tricycle ride was just 2Php, now it is 10Php. My daily allowance before was just about 2Php/day. If that is still the case today, you can just buy 2pieces of candy.

Going back, we need long-term solutions to long-term problems. Aside from providing facilities that specifically cater to women’s health, this bill can also provide options and educate couples by providing them access to family planning facilities. Nowadays, it is quite impossible to manage a large family. Educating poor families the value of family planning is not really about limiting the number of children but providing them quality life.

The church official’s comment was highly uncalled for. It is very unbecoming of a man who is called to lead the people to salvation by setting an example, not only through the sermons they deliver from the pulpit but also how they behave in front of the public’s scrutinizing eyes.

Pinoy Sounding Board said that his God is not a cruel God. I do agree. I highly agree. Who can forget when God made a wonderful covenant with Noah: Genesis 9:11 “I
establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Has he forgotten to read the bible? Will God break this covenant he had not only with Noah but also with all generations to come? Well, let’s leave it to them, we are entitled to our opinions.

That disaster is an sign, a sign for us to slow down and not a sign to kill the bill. This is just another consequence of climate change and rampant mining and illegal logging (which is not in the case of some towns affected by the flash flood brought by the typhoon, because according to some experts, the forest there are now denuded). And also, the place is a hazardous zone for habitation according to the Mines and Geoscience Bureau.

As for my personal opinion, it is our fault. It is not made by God for us to kill RH Bill, but for us to learn that we must learn to slow down and start caring for the environment. The typhoon is NOT in any way related to the RH Bill.

I support RH Bill because I love my family. I love my wife and my daughter. I support RH Bill because I support life. Period.

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Today is the birthday of one of the greatest heroes of the 1896 Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifacio. He is truly and world-class hero. He was one of the original members of the “underground” organization formed in Azcarraga St. aimed to overthrow the abusive Spanish conquistadores.

His death is still one of the longest unsloved cases in the Philippine annals. Records have it that he was killed by a fellow Filipino under the order of no other than Emilio Aguinaldo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-BUiO6gPV4

Love live the spirit of your courage Gat Andres Bonifacio! Happy birthday!

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November 23 was the third anniversary of one of the most heinous crime committed on the face of the Earth, the event infamously known as the Maguindanao/Ampatuan Massacre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNWKq9gPSrM

The massacre of around 58 individuals, 34 of them were journalists, happened in broad daylight. It was when the group were covering the filing of then vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu to run for governor in the upcoming 2010 National elections. It was done by his wife accompanied by a number of supporters. They were all murdered and up to now, many of the suspects have not been arraigned.

A lot of innocent people died here under the most powerful clan, the clan that practically runs everything in the poor province of Maguindanao (as most evidence point to them).

Another year has passed and still, justice looms far from the horizon. Impunity sees to be part of our culture nowadays. Justice delayed is justice denied. Here are some suggestions by prosecution lawyer Atty. Harry Roque on how to hasten the “Trial of the Century”.

Today, I’m grateful for my 31 years of existence.

I am grateful for having been blessed with two splendid individuals, a wonderful and loving mother and an understanding father who never gave up on me. I miss them both though, because I now have my own family.

I am also grateful for having a sister who is an all-around type who is now married to a great husband and blessed with three wonderful children. I got to live with them when I was still studying.

I am likewise grateful for having two wonderful girl in my life, my wife and daughter. I got to spend the day with them not mindful of the world. We had fun and went to places we’ve never been before as a family.

And of course, I’m grateful for this life that the Lord gave me. For without him, all what I have is not possible.

Lastly, to my friends who greeted me via SMS and Facebook. Thank you all guys, you’re wonderful and I could not ask for more.

When I was still a kid, I grew up watching Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr.’s (fondly called Dolphy). His TV sitcom called “Home Along Da Riles” was also a part of my childhood. I wouldn’t let a week pass without watching the sitcom.

His movies’ theme are mostly about a typical Filipino family and his role is almost always a loving father. What I remember about him is when he sings, along with the casts, the theme song of the movie. His movies teach a lot about values, valuing your family and friends.

He recently passed away after leaving a mark, not just in the movie and TV industry, but also in the hearts of millions of Filipino people. Unfortunately, he was not given the distinction he deserve when he was still alive. He should have been given the National Artist award, the award a director named Carlo J. Caparas was given a few years back. That event triggered protests from different sectors of society. I personally believe that Mang Dolphy deserve to be awarded the National Artist award more that anyone else. He was a big part of my childhood, not just me, but also millions of other Filipino people. He was denied the award when he was still alive. Hopefully, the award will finally be given to him this year. His family will not be the only ones who will celebrate it, but also Filipinos around the globe will.

Mang Dolphy, you will greatly be missed. You are not just a National Artist for me, but also a National Treasure.

‘I want people to remember me as a simple person, a good person whom people will talk about nicely — walang masasabing masama. That’s the best legacy I can leave for my children and grandchildren… a good name. And also, I want people to remember me with a smile.’ (Aug. 10, 2008)

I grew up practically under my mom’s care. From infancy until I became a toddler, she used to bring me with her to the store. We have a small store (until now) in our province that she and my dad manage.

She was an all around mom. She juggled being a business woman, a wife and a mother. She always had time for everything. At the store, she can deal with the patrons and the delivery guys in the morning, and take care of my needs (help me with my assignments, cook our dinner, watch TV–family stuff you do at night) while waiting for my dad to come home from work.

I remember when she cleans my ears, it was so fun and relaxing that I close my eyes every time an feel great after she’s done with my ears. She never left me alone when I was a kid. Even though she never did really accompany me in going to school, because it was just a block away from our place, I know for sure she loves me because she’s teaching me independence.

I had an accident when I was a kid. It was in pre-school during the afternoon break and just when I got back from our store after getting my snacks, I trip and slammed my forehead on the pavement. It was bleeding bad and I needed to medical attention. Without second thoughts, she left our store just to accompany me and Kuya Ling (who’s carrying me) to the hospital.

That’s my mom, a supermom! She’s a person who exhibits faith, hardwork and patience in her daily life. I love you ma! You’re the best! Happy Mother’s Day!

Earlier this morning, I rode the MRT to avoid the EDSA traffic. Normally, it takes a couple of hours to go to go to EDSA-Taft Ave. from EDSA-North Ave. But with the MRT, it will take you less than an hour.

Good to hear? Definitely! But the problem is, when you reach the end of the line and need to pee, you’ll find this in the men’s room:

Wow, this is supposed to be a restroom/comfort room. But wait, what this on the right side of the door? Oh, I see a hand sanitizer dispenser. Yay!

But the point is, what if you really need to go? The restroom cubicle has a sign saying that it is NOT IN ORDER. What happened to the money we commuters pay as fare? Is that what you call public service?

Anyway, last year (October 2011), I saw this sign on the same spot:

Wala Po Tubig (No Water).

If you’re recently hired in a company located or registered in a different Regional District Office, you need to update your registration information.

I recently updated my RDO code from CUBAO (40) to Makati (50). To do this, I have to go to my old RDO (Cubao) located in Quezon Ave. corner Scout Santiago. I filled up 2 copies of Application for Registration Information Update (BIR Form 1905)

Fill-up the appropriate fields and mark appropriate boxes with an X. (its better if you have a pre-filled for to avoid the hassle of filling it up while waiting for your number to be called). Before getting a priority number, don’t forget to tell your purpose to the receptionist. When I got mine, it only took me 15-20 minutes to be called because the number being served was 69 and mine was 80.

For verification purposes, the officer of the day will ask you a question regarding your personal information just to make sure you are the one changing the information registration. The process (along with the waiting took some 20 minuntes). After having your form 1905 stamped, you have to present a copy of the form to the Human Resource office of the company you are currently employed in.

The San Sebastian Church is located in one of the older districts of Manila, Quiapo. The church was originally made of wood but was burned by the Chinese in 1651. It was later rebuilt with brick but was destroyed by earthquake in 1859, 1863 and 1880. It was Spanish friar Esteban Martinez who commissioned Genaro Palacios, a Spanish architect to design it.

A lot of people say the church’s steel structure was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, the person responsible for the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and Statue of Liberty in Liberty Island, New York. Some say it’s just a legend but looking on the church’s structure, one can say that it is really Eiffel’s work. The church is the only all-steel church in Asia that was made from pre-fabricated steel imported from Belgium. It was enormous that it had to shipped here in 8 instalments.
It was constructed like making a structure from Lego.

Unknown to many, the church today is suffering from decay, considering its steel structure and old age. Some people are raising awareness on the current situation of the church to save it. I hope the government can do something to save one of the historical structures in the country that is currently in dire need of help.

Just last weekend I went to a clinic in Quezon Ave. to have the routine medical checkup that is required for new employees. We had a hard time finding the clinic because we were avoiding the Gregorio Araneta-Quezon Avenue intersection.

My wife and I finally found a parking space in Sto. Domingo Ave., a canteen adjacent to the Sto. Domingo Church. My wife and daughter waited for me there until I was done with my checkup. It was lunchtime when I came back so we decided to eat on the canteen.

I was supposed to order braised beef but it was not available so we decided to go for the Porksilog (liempo).

The crew was very friendly (even if they were eating their lunch when we ordered) and even gamely posed for a photograph before we left.

Super Sinangag is located at Sto. Domingo Ave., Quezon City.