Just last month, one of my high school CLE teachers/ first high school Jesuit teacher, Bro Robbie Sian, SJ (back then) was ordained (so he's Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ now) to be a priest. He was one of the first few Jesuit scholars (if not the first) that I looked up to. After he taught in Xavier, he went to Cambodia. Funny, before he left for Cambodia, I met him the last time when he was with his sister in SM Megamall. Call it chance, or God's plan, I met him a couple of times after he returned back to the Philippines, and got back in touch with recently.
Xavier School Director Fr. Johnny Go wrote in his Facebook:
Newly ordained priest, Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ, taught religion for two years to high school students in Xavier School. Here he talks about how he feels about being a new priest.
Father Robbie will be presiding at the annual Missioning Mass this June 5th at 2 pm at the Angelo King Multi-Purpose Center in Xavier School for all our Faculty and Staff. His friends and former students are all invited. After the Mass, he will give the traditional new priest's blessing to the guests.
Congratulations on your ordination, Father Robbie! We are proud of you and pray for you as you go to your new mission in Sta. Maria Parish, Iloilo. Luceat Lux!
Back when Fr. Robbie was my CLE teacher, he touched our lives and taught us religion well. He was no boring teacher, but instead, he made the subject really interesting for his students with his stories and life experiences. He is a man of faith and someone who I think will do just great wherever he is sent. I'm praying for you Father! :)
Ready to feast your eyes on more things Harry Potter? Wait no more as Warner Bros. Pictures unveils the arrival or the much-awaited main poster of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. Along with the poster, is the unspooling of the second featurette, which highlights Harry Potter and Dumbledore's relationship in this exciting sixth installment in the Harry Potter movie series.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE will open in conventional theaters and IMAX on July 16th by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
A search for the happiest Pinoy was launched by Cebuana Lhuillier which will run from May 5 to September 15 of this year (see mechanics below). "Don't worry; be happy. And maybe you can win P200,000. No kidding." says Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) in their advocacy to find the happiest Filipino and to recognize and celebrate "the Filipino's innate spirit of optimism, resilience and hope."
According to general manager Jonathan Batangan, the nationwide search seeks to "honor the most cheerful and optimistic Filipino who has remarkably exhibited resilience amid life's challenges."
Of the total 88 million Filipinos, only five will be chosen as finalists, but only one would be selected the happiest Pinoy by October. The four finalists will each receive P25,000 each. The amount is no laughing matter because CLIS promised the cash is free of tax.
The finalists will be chosen based on their life story and their exemplary traits and character. The nominator must also describe in writing the elements that make the nominee constantly cheerful and optimistic. The nominator must also cite events in the nominee's life that demonstrated his/her resilience and inner strength.
The nominee must also "positively impact the lives of those around him/her."
The UP Diliman University Student Council is launching OPLAN TULONG to aid to the needs of our brothers and sisters in the northern part of the Philippines who have been hit worst by the recent Typhoon Emong. We call for the UP community, faculty, and its students to spare some of their blessings to these people. Listed above are things you may donate. Contact Jose Alinea (contact details above) for more information. Thank you very much! University Student Council 2009-2010 University of the Philippines, Diliman
Last Sunday was mothers day. We ate out at Causeway Banawe in Quezon City at around 8pm. To our surprise, and the surprise of other more customers, a big rat showed up on the ledge surrounding the ceiling. Luckily it wasn't any near above our table. Luckily the customers directly underneath the ceiling where the rat was didn't complain. But end all, it was freaky and really really unacceptable of Causeway Banawe to house pests in their restaurant. You can only imagine where the rat had been all day before that?
On other news, the conductor of the JAYROSS BUS with license plate number TXU 790 north bound from Pasay-Makati area to Fairview-Tungko area didn't give me a student price despite showing him my OJT identification card issued by the Board of Investments and my University of the Philippines school identification card at around 7pm yesterday. He was asking for my receipt of enrollment (in my case, my Form5); but who brings their receipt of enrollment everyday? In my longest time commuting, especially on JAYROSS LUCKY 7 buses (most of the time), it was my first time treated this way. It was company policy according to the conductor. Remind me to inquire on the matter to the appropriate government office. For now, I am BOYCOTTING JAYROSS BUSES.
My uncle Martin recently came home from Vietnam with a surprise for me - an autographed Bobby Chinn's Wild, Wild East: Recipes & Stories from Vietnam and a pack of Vietnamese coffee. He was telling me that he ate at the famous Restaurant Bobby Chinn and got to meet and chat the celebrity chef personally. How often can you do that? I didn't know that he will be bringing home something for me. Aw, thanks a lot!
I haven't opened the coffee yet, because it looks too complicated to brew, and I recently don't have time anymore to cook and do stuff. But right now, I was researching on how to do it, and I find it quite easy and fun to do.
Wings N' Things in Ortigas Home Depot is the home of the best buffalo wings in town. A lot of people can attest to the exquisite taste of the wings. They say it's just like how they make it in Buffalo New York, where the Buffalo Wings started -- covered in cayenne based pepper hot sauce (with varying degrees of hotness) and butter.
If you like 'em hot, crispy and really tasty, I'm sure this is for you. As an aside, I challenge you to take the Nuclear sauce. It's for the chili-lovers and adventurous types. Good luck! I salute Chef Sonny Ong for one great comfort food I'll definitely look forward and come back for :)
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signs Tuesday (May 12) the Tourism Act of 2009 in Cebu City, the country’s tourism capital. The signing into law of the tourism bill will coincide with the opening of the newest and one of the biggest hotels in the southern island province.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President will sign the law “in a very special ceremony at the tourism capital of the country, which is my home city, at 12 noon in conjunction with the inauguration of the new Imperial Hotel in Cebu.”
The President will also hold the Cabinet meeting in Cebu City on Tuesday.
Cheche Lazaro’s Statement on the wire-tapping case filed by the GSIS against her May 8, 2009
"It is mind-boggling why I am being singled out for prosecution for following the tenets of responsible journalism. If raising the concerns of underpaid public school teachers deprived of their benefits by a publicly accountable government institution and giving my accuser the airtime to explain her boss’s side of the story are now considered crimes under our laws, then I plead guilty.
This is a small price to pay for bringing a perfectly legitimate public interest issue out in the open. Probe will not be intimidated into submission. I just wish my accuser will play fair and hire private lawyers instead of using government lawyers (from the GSIS), whose salaries are incidentally paid for by, among others, the teachers shortchanged by the questionable policy of the GSIS and private citizens like me who pay taxes.
In the last 22 years, Probe has carved a niche in the industry and won recognition here and abroad for consistently adhering to time-honored journalistic values of accuracy, fairness and objectivity. My team and I have no plans of changing the way we work just to accommodate the personal agenda of people in power."
* Ms. Lazaro will post bail tomorrow and appear today before Judge Josephine Vitocruz of the Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 47, before 1:30 p.m.
"Cheche has been charged for wiretapping by GSIS, when her Probe Team tried to do a story on unfair compensation practices. Cheche had explicitly told GSIS that she was recording their conversation beforehand. She had offered them all the airtime to present their side of the story. In the end, because the story was negative, GSIS is now charging her with criminal offenss." - Noemi Dado.
Here's a copy of the PROBE Memorandum regarding the alleged violation of the Anti-wiretapping Act (RA 4200).
Expect heavy traffic on May 8-10, 2009 (Friday to Sunday) in celebration of Araw ng Makati.
Please take note of the road closures on the following dates:
FROM 12:00 noon to finish (May 8 to 10) 1.Ayala Avenue- from Makati Ave. to Herrera St. (Both Lanes) 2.Paseo de Roxas- from Sedeño St. to Dela Rosa St. (Both Lanes) 3. Rufino St. - from Valero St. to Dela Rosa St.
From 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM (May 8 only) 1. Malugay St.- From Pasong Tamo to Ayala Avenue - From Ayala Ave. to Gil Puyat Avenue (Both Lanes)
2. Ayala Avenue - From Gil Puyat to Metropolitan St. - From Kamagong to Gil PuyatAvenue
Please avoid the activity area and take alternate routes.
Alternative Routes
Public Utility Buses(PUBs)
From EDSA, right to Sen. Gil Puyat toward destination.
Coming from SLEX, Buendia, Pasay City take Gil Puyat Ave. left EDSA toward destination.
Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs)/Light Vehicles
From J.P. Rizal, right turn Makati Ave., right turn Paseo De Roxas, right turn Villar St., left turn E.P. Leviste, left turn V.A. Rufino, right turn Ayala Ave. toward destination.
From Washington St., right turn Gil Puyat, right turn Ayala Ave., right turn Salcedo, left turn Benavidez toward Esperanza, right turn Makati Ave., right turn Arnaiz Ave., right turn Paseo De Roxas, turn left Dela Rosa, right turn Salcedo, left turn Ayala Ave. toward destination.
"Judge Emmanuel Jorge Lorredo refuses former cabinet man Michael Defensor's request to arraign Jun Lozada for perjury. Lloredo had originally thrown out the case entirely but was overruled by a superior court. This remarkable document is a rare example of a judge venting his spleen, and is perhaps an effort to get himself recused from the case." - Manolo Quezon
Now, I am not sure if Judge Jorge Lorredo can lawfully do that in his capacity as a presiding judge, but heck, only in the Philippines; and oh, I love every word of it! He was legally pwned! What do you think?
Apple Cheesecake, one sweet and very filling treat from Krispy Kreme for this year's Mothers Day celebration. This box arrived at my doorstep this evening. Thanks to the person who sent it. ^^ I enjoyed a piece with my freshly brewed Monk's Blend coffee. What a perfect way to start the week, and to get over some stuff that has been happening.
I was away during the weekend for the committee deliberations of the University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council. Now we're back in Manila. While I was catching up with news, reading the Sunday papers, one whole spread advertisement caught my attention -- Ako Mismo! And so, being very curious about what it is and why Ely Buendia, Edu Manzano, Maxene Magalona and Chris Tiu among others are there, I registered to find out. After I registered, I saw from a friend's post that she saw this TV ad while watching the delayed telecast of the Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton bout.
The main point of the site is to make a stand and to take "real action for the causes you believe in, causes that you yourself can truly pursue to make a real, positive difference to your fellow countryman and to your country", for me, this is really good. No doubt about that. I believe that this heck-of-a-site (no pun intended) would make Filipino people aware and join in. With about 30,000 pledges, and a lot more to come, this is a great vehicle to raise consciousness of the inequalities, irregularities, and problems individuals have and see right now in society, and among our midst. This is a sample of the pledges people committed in the website:
Now, yes that this is a good site, but more than that, I have qualms regarding my full support to it. More than knowing what Ako Mismo really is (who is behind it, is it a political ploy for 2010, and all our other questions), I am more particular in pointing out that although as I have said that this raises people's awareness, this also creates pop-culture social activism or worse, an illusion of actually doing something, for change, for the nation. What do I mean by that?
This campaign only gives the Filipino people an excuse to feel-good, and feel that they are actually doing something by joining the bandwagon for social activism and change. Yes, you can easily register and pledge something. Not doubting one's capability to actualize the pledge, but I find it too superficial and hiding behind the curtains.
Bikoy clearly gives an example of my point saying, "Sure, by all means, let us pay our taxes, register to vote, obey traffic rules, sweep the floor, pray, smile at others, be nice, be proud to be pinoy! Aba, dapat lang. Isn’t that what one is supposed to do regardless of any campaign for social change? Isn’t that what we are already doing? Let’s not stop doing it, fine. But please, it reeks of great naivete to think that doing things we are already doing will change Philippine society." He adds that "let us not justify the laziness or the inability of the [people] to get out of their comfort zone to change society."
But for me, I still believe in the "I", the "ako", the individual aspirations, dreams, hopes, and actions that create a whole, that move the I to become the "we" or the "tayo". As Fritz say, We cannot engage collectively without the I. It is important for everyone to believe that he or she is the change, thus "I am Change!" Once the people or majority of the people are aware, then the collective action can take place; it enjoins more people, thus making the action bigger, louder, and maybe can actually see change systemically.
Edit:
As I was browsing through other bloggers' sites, I found reason to speculate against or doubt about this as blogged about by Carlo Ople, but I leave these to the political analysts and technical specialists like Manolo Quezon, "who thinks that this might be the program that will launch the candidacy of Manny Pangilinan", and others who are questioning why the site is requesting a lot -- from your full name, contact details, email, among others.
P.S. I'm sure those Dog Tags would sell like hotcakes (a really nice way to market something, don't you think?)
And so, it is confirmed! American Idol's David Archuleta and David Cook are flying to Manila for their concert on May 16, Saturday, 8pm at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.
In line with this, you can get a chance to meet Skechers' latest global endorser, David Cook, and watch his concert on May 16, 2009. See details and mechanics in the print ad below.
