196B

Last Monday, two gold (good, old) friends of mine chanced upon a new possible hang-out spot along Katipunan Extension. We originally planned to try out Schizo Café since we read good reviews about it, but when we went down the cab, we found out that the cafe was closed every Monday.

We then thought of going to Kopi Roti instead, so we crossed the six lanes of Katipunan Extension (God knows how scared I was while my friends where pulling me to cross the streetssssssss!)

When we reached the other end SAFELY (thank God!), we noticed a small place with some people inside. The sign outside spelled out: "Art. Café. Bar." So, we decided to try the new place out and went inside.

Apparently, the place was not yet officially open and the people inside are the owners of the café! They mentioned that the café is at it's very, very, very, very, very soft opening (which I think means that they're not yet ready to accept customers. Hahaha). But, they accepted us warmly and offered us drinks and foodsssss (at discounted prices or for free!) :)

We also had the chance to talk to the owners. Well, I think we both have no choice, they need to entertain us since we're their customers, and we have no choice because, well, they treated us pizza. The owner mentioned that the place was actually an art gallery plus a bar café. He shared that he and his business partner are very fond of jazz music (he's a jazz musician himself and he began enumerating good jazz bands whom I forgot right after he left our table. *shrugs*) and love appreciating art, thus the "Art. Café. Bar." was realized. When asked what the place is called, he just simply said, "196B" -- the exact address of the place. Well, either he just wanted his place to be remembered by his customers quickly or they're just lazy to think of other possible names for the café.

Well, I expected that Mark, Osep, and I will cap our days with a good sip of coffee at Schizo Café. But, it turned out that we ended our days with a good bottle of beer, a bowl of Chippy, a few slices of pizza, new acquaintances, and a fairly good memorable adventure. :)

P.S.

They only sell foreign beers for reasonable prices and wines (and cheese! The culture, baby!) but with cheaper rates. :)

Bridges

Let's build bridges;

   My heart to yours

   Your soul to mine

Heart and soul, together.

To others, build bridges.

(Some of the) Minutes of the Impeachment

As a young, Filipino citizen, it was a privilege for me to witness a historic event in the history of Philippine politics. Well, I was already born when the Edsa II Revolution happened, but I wasn't yet very aware how big it's impact is to society.

So, while I was listening early on to the Impeachment Trial last May 29, 2012 where the Senator Judges will be giving their vote whether or not to convict or acquit Chief Justice Renato Corona, I tried my best to put down in this entry the Senator's points about the reason why they casted their votes.

____________

Basis of Impeachment: Articles of Impeachment Nos. 2, 3, and 7

Angara:

• GUILTY

Arroyo:

• Impeachment is a political process not a political assassination.
• Impeachment must forever uphold due process.
• What started in the house was not an impeachment…
• I cannot imagine removing a Chief Justice on account of a SALN.
• ACQUIT

Cayetano, Alan:

• Sino ba ang nagsasabi ng katotohonan? Ano ba ang katotohonan, base sa ebidensiyang ipinresenta sa korteng ito?
• Wag nating komplikado ang simpleng-simple.
• Pati ba naman sa pera, may diskriminasyon?
• GUILTY

Cayetano, Pia:

• The failure to declare something pesos/dollars is not minor.
• Private interest over public interest
• Public office is a public trust. Pag nawala na ang tiwala ng taong-bayan, dapat po bumaba na sa pwesto.
• Those in public service should not hide behind our titles.
• GUILTY

Defensor-Santiago

• There is no conflict between the constitution and the foreign currency act.
• Misinterpreting the constitution!
• Anong susunod sa ating desisyon?
• ACQUITAL

Drilon

• Respond admits that he did not declare the 2.4M dollars and 180M pesos
• GUILTY

Escudero

• While I do not approve of the manner how the House of Representatives in filing the impeachment,
• Ang pinagbabawalan ng FCDU law na hindi magrelease ng bank deposit accounts ay ang banko at hindi ang depositor.
• Si CJ ang kauna-unahang opisyal na nag-execute na pumirma ng waiver para buksan ang kanyang bank accounts.
• Panahon na para itaas natin ang antas ng  pamantayan sa mga namamahala ng ating bayan.
• Hinahamon ko ang lahat ng ating kasamahan sa Senado, gayundin sa Kongreso, na gawin din ang (pagpirma ng waiver  para pahintulutang buksan ang bank accounts).
• GUILTY

Ejercito-Estrada

• Opening is about Former Estrada's Impeachment Trial.
• The CJ did not include in his SALN, 2.4M dollars and 80M pesos.
• The CJ is a learned man of law.
• Bilang CJ, sya dapat ang may higit na alam at pag-unawa sa batas na walang bahid na pagtatakip o interes.
• GUILTY

Guingona

• Ang aking boto ay para sa kasagraduhan ng Saligang Batas.
• Idedelara lang ba ito kung kelan gugustuhin ng opisyal?
• How could one man use the very same constitution which mandates full disclosure
• GUILTY

Honasan

• GUILTY
• I wish you strenght and honor, Mr. CJ

Lacson

• GUILTY

Lapid

• GUILTY

Legarda

• On betraying public trust
• Wala po akong nakikitang dahilan para po hindi ipatupad ang parehong batas na ito sa isang punong mahistrado. We are guided by a basic principle of equal representation of the law.
• GUILTY

Marcos

• Predisposing the public minds against the Chief Justice
• ACQUIT

Osmena

• But nowhere in the FCDU not allows the depositor to disclose his deposits.
• Cites different court cases regarding undeclaration of assets in SALN in which all respondents were found guilty.
• Higher level of moral standard in government!
• GUILTY

Pangilinan

• Inconsistency of SALN Report and CJ's testimony on stand
• Anong masama kung ideklara niya lahat kung wala naman siyang itinatago?
• Base sa ebidensya, maliwanag na may sistematikong pagtatago ng ari-arian.
• Sa paglilitis na ito, nakita din natin ang pagkatao ni Chief Justice.
• Kayang pagiging sakim ng kanyang mga kamag-anak
• Ang pag-walk-out sa court room mismo
• Siya ba ay pagkakatiwalaan pa ba na rumespeto sa ating mga kababayan sa loob ng anim na taon?

• Impeachable case ba ang pagsisinungaling?
• GUILTY

Pimentel

• There is no law on exclusion of co-mingled funds in declaration in the SALN.
• Converted to Philippine Peso!
• GUILTY

Recto

• Logic dictates that we have sensed the slight inaccuracies…
• Let's go back to our programming where hard, unheralded work is done behind the camera lights. Let's set our priorities back again.
• GUILTY

Revilla

• To be an epitome of a public servant with the highest ethical standards.
• The CJ failed to properly disclose all of his assets in the SALN.
• GUILTY

Sotto

• GUILTY

Trillanes

• From now on, no one is untouchable.
• GUILTY

Villar

• Naawa din ako kay Corona.
• GUILTY

Enrile

• This trial began in insolvent behind a backdrop of a highly emotional atmosphere.
• The culmination of this national drama is at hang. And the time has come for me to render judgment from me.
• As I lawyer, I must confess that I was really frustrated by the hasty crafting that characterized the presentation which contained the articles of impeachment… it was built up only after the charges have been filed.
• This court means serious business to allow any undertactics and mimicry to deter this court to our task.
• Even if the respondent has full access in his bank accounts, the defense didn't present any evidence regarding bank accounts in this court.
• 2 reasons why CJ did not declare the P80M and $2.4M bank accounts:  That his peso accounts represented co-mingled funds and that he was not required to report or declare his foreign currency deposits of his SALN because they were confidential under the FCDA law.
• The oath required him to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help him God.
• GUILTY

Final Tally: CONVICT-20; ACQUIT-3

____________

Now that the Impeachment is over, I hope that public officials in power now realize that not every time they can get away with their thirst of power and greed. I hope that the citizens now realize that there is still a part in the government which still give decisions in favor for the betterment of its people.

In the commencement of the Impeachment, I share the same sentiment as others, that this is just the start of a revolution to make the Philippines and the Philippine government a better place to be in. 

Anyway

I fortunately came across this poem while I was in line waiting for my turn to send a package to a work counterpart in Cebu. 

This poem was titled "Anyway" by Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Apparently, it was originally written by Dr. Kent M. Keith and titled "The Paradoxical Commandments".

This is for the people who continue to stand by their advocacies to help make the world a better place to live in. 

I hope we continue to fight, whatever it takes, however hard it gets, because in the end, we know that there will be victory. 

For all the things we do, the words we say, the emotions we feel, may it be for the greater glory of the Almighty.

-----

Anyway

by Mother Theresa of Calcutta

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

-----

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

Binastos Lang Naman Si Anonymous

Kahapon, ako, kasama ng mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho, ay nagpunta sa Senado upang maranasan kung paano manood ng Impeachment Trial ni Chief Justice Corona ng live.

Katulad ng panonood ko ng UAAP Basketball Championship Season 74 sa pagitan ng Ateneo at La Salle, mas nadama ko ang emosyon ng mga tao, ang tensyon sa pagitan ng prosecution at defense, ng mga senador at ng mga witness kesa kung pinapanood lang ang trial sa telebisyon.

Ang pagkakaiba lamang sa panonood ng UAAP Basketball Championship at ng Impeachment Trial ay ang ilang mga pinagbabawal na gawin -- bawal sumigaw o gumawa o magpakita ng anumang violent reactions, bawal kumuha ng litrato o video habang may session (kaya sayang dahil gusto ko pa sanang kuhanan ng picture si Santiago sa tuwing magsasalita siya sa podium), at ang pinakamasakit na naging bawal para sa akin, ang paggamit ng cellphone (ibig sabihin, hindi ako maka-update sa facebook at twitter o makapagkwento man lang sa mga kaibigan ko).

At nagsimula na nga ang session. Tumayo na ang lahat. Ready na ang lahat sa magiging bakbakan sa araw na iyon.

Ang pinakainabangan ko nung session na yun ay ang paglabas ni Harvey Keh sa witness stand. Isa sya sa mga nagfile ng complaint sa Ombudsman kasama ni Risa Hontiveros at tatlo pang mamamayan para imbestigahan pa lalo ang mga alleged dollar acounts ni CJ Corona.

Itong post na ito ay ilan lamang sa mga reaksyon at realisasyon na naganap sa akin habang nagwawala nanaman si Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago na parang siya nanaman ang diyos ng Senado *Paumanhin sa mga salitang ginagamit ko at ako'y talagang nababagabag talaga sa karakter na ipinakita niya*

Bisitang Binastos Basta-basta

Kung maaalala natin, si Keh ay inihiling lamang na imbitahin sa Senado ng Depensa dahil nga isa siya sa mga nagfile ng complaint sa Ombudsman.  Ang hiling na ito naman ay ibinigay ni Enrile at si Keh nga ay kusang nagpakita.

Ngunit pinaunlakan niya ang imbitasyon ng Depensa at nagpakita siya para lang pala bastusin at maliitin sa harap ng sambayanang Pilipino. Hindi ba nakakainis isipin na, ikaw na nga ang dapat ituring na bisita dahil ikaw ang inimbita, ikaw pa ang sisirain at babastusin.

Sino ba naman ang may matinong pag-iisip na magtawag at magpatuloy ng bisita sa bahay para lang paglinisin, paghugasin ng plato, at magpatapon ng basura?

Kung mas lalong iisipin din, si Keh ay isang pribadong mamamayan lamang na ginagawa ang kanyang makakaya para makatulong na unti-unting ibangon ang Pilipinas. Siya ay walang kapangyarihan katulad ng ating mga abogado, congressmen, at senador.

At dahil nga wala siyang kapangyarihan, pansinin nalang kung paano siya tinrato ng Depensa (at ng ilang Senador) -- siniraan ng kredibilidad at binaon lang ng binaon, dahil hindi nila kayang tumanggap ng batikos (siguro dahil the truth hurts so much para sa kanila). Kung kayang gawin ang degredasyon na ito ng mga may kapangyarihan sa isang iisang pribadong mamamayan lamang sa harap pa ng national television, ano pa kaya ang kaya nilang gawin sa milyun-milyong ordinaryong Pilipino kapag wala na ang mga kamera at mga reporter? NAKAKATAKOT ISIPIN!

Hanggang saan kaya ang kayang gawin ng mga may makakapangyarihang siba at matakaw sa pera at atensiyon? NAKAKAKILABOT!

The Anonymous Man in this Universe

Natanong ko din sa sarili ko kung bakit Anonymous nanaman ang nagbigay ng dokumentong ibinigay ni Keh kay Enrile.

Kung ako ang ilalagay sa posisyon ng pinakaunang may hawak ng dokumento, at isa lamang akong ordinaryong mamamayan na gustong makatulong itama ang mali, itatago ko nalang din siguro ang sarili bilang "Mr. Anonymous". Sa kung anong kayang gawin ng mga may kapangyarihan, na halos lahat ata pwede na nilang gawin para lang umayon sa gusto nila ang mga resulta ng bawat bagay, hindi ko nga din ata kayang magbigay ng tiwala sa mga ganitong mga opisyal.

Sana makita ng ibang mga tao ang ganitong anggulo kung baket posibleng meron talagang mga Mr. and Ms. Anonymous in this universe. Dahil takot ang mga ordinaryong taong lumabas at magpakilala dahil alam nilang may mga tigre at buwayang handang-handang dumakma sa kanila sa sandaling naisipan nilang tumaliwas sa kagustuhan ng mga sakim na makapangyarihan (ayon nga kay Gov. Grace, sinong magtitiwala sa bulok na sistema ng hudikatura?)

Sa mga Mr. and Ms. Anonymous dyan, ipagdadasal ko na dumating ang araw na may-lakas ng loob na tayong lumabas at magpakilala kapag gusto natin ng malaking pagbabago at para maituwid ang mga maling nagagawa ng ilan sa atin.

Non-existent Pala!

Ay, teka, nabanggit ko ba na ako ay nagtatrabaho para sa Kaya Natin! Movement? Ang Movement na sinabihan ni Sen. Santiago na may non-existent members? Eto po ako, totoong tao at hindi robot sa internet. Humihinga at nag-iisip.

Sa totoo lang, may mga utak talaga kaming nandito sa Kaya Natin! Hindi lang utak, pero utak at pusong nakalaan para isulong ang maayos na pamamahala na nararapat lamang para sa mga Pilipino -- isang pamahalaan matapat at inuuna ang kapakanan ng sambayanan imbis na sarili.

Kaya may mga taong sadyang hindi namin isinasali sa grupo dahil taliwas ang kanilang karakter at pag-iisip sa amin. Sorry nalang sa kanila.

Para malaman na we exist, ito po ang aming:

-website: www.kayanatin.org

-email: knmovement@gmail.com

-facebook: www.facebook.com/kayanatin

-twitter: www.twitter.com/kayanatin

Kita kits!

It's Not Always About Perfection, Little Shakespeare

"Don't aim for perfection."

At least if you're trying to write a blog. This was an advice given by a friend while I was ranting about trying my best to write a blog post for a website at work

It struck me.

You see, when you think about perfection in writing a post, you unconsciously put barriers around your mind, your feelings, yourself; trying your hardest to comply and restrict yourself with the technical guidelines of writing that you learned back in English class in high school. All this for one, at least the major, reason: Impressing your readers.

"Maybe the readers will say that I don't know how to use the correct grammar, the correct punctuation."

But when you think and reflect more about it, you begin to realize that you forgot the main reason why you were writing in the first place.  You tend to forget that the reason why you're writing that  blog is to express yourself rather than to impress other people.

And when you're expressing yourself, the only audience that you have is yourself (and God, if I may incorporate my being Christian in this post). And when you start thinking that the means and ends of your post is to express yourself, you tend to break away the barriers of impressing and adhering to the guidelines.

One point of clarification though, before you throw your eggs and tomatoes at me: the law-less way of writing I'm talking about is only for the sole purpose of expressing yourself and your ideas in an informal way AND NOT TO BE USED IN SUBMITTING FORMAL LETTERS AND ARTICLES. Unless you want your boss, or your readers, to throw eggs and tomatoes at you , too.

One benefit of only impressing yourself is the free flow of ideas you have in your mind be put into words and phrases without caring if anyone would judge you. Actually, as I write this post, I just let the words and the ideas flow freely (but also putting a little care about my spelling). And I don't care if you judge me. :P I just let myself, and my words and phrases, be.

So, go on, write yourself a piece of free and imperfect post. Your self would thank you for that (especially if your post wasn't really made to be read by the public). :)


And to you, dear friend, thank you. :)

"Artistic licence (also known as dramatic license, historical license, poetic license, narrative license, licentia poetica, or simplylicense) is a colloquial term, sometimes euphemism, used to denote the distortion of fact, alteration of the conventions of grammar or language, or rewording of pre-existing text made by an artist to improve a piece of art. "

(Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artistic_license> )

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 

Within his bending sickle's compass come: 

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

   If this be error and upon me proved,

   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

-William Shakespeare

Source: http://alexhasathought.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-love-old-people-i-do-not-know-why.html

I can't wait to experience my own Sonnet 116. 
I hope you keep on believing in love, too. 
:)