I hate being in a bubble.
Basically, I hate being under "mandatory self-quarantine". The Ateneo de Manila University has ordered all its students who come from countries with confirmed cases of A(H1N1) to not go to school for ten days. In my case, I can't go to the campus until June 20 (to get my ID and to pay).
If you're a freshie Atenean and you're reading this, and you happen to be reading this blog, please tell me what I will be missing. I feel like I will suffer the rest of this semester. Shit indeed.
If you're here to help, thanks a million.
If not, get someone to help. But if you're not interested in helping, then please, either do, or I will force you to (joke).
Anyway, until this bubble bursts on Saturday, I'll be on hiatus. I'll check on anything left here so I have an idea of what I missed. But until then, all I can do is hope.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Replying to rights of reply
Yesterday happened to be summer accreditation (or re-accreditation) for the Ateneo Debate Society, and although we finished late (I went home around midnight) and I didn't get in (which means I have to wait another three months for regular tryouts), it proved to be a very pleasant, if not culturally shocking, experience. Congratulations though to my friend Ray Pine for getting in (I know you would), and I hope that in thanking Patrick Cocabo for bringing me to Ortigas and getting a taxi for me, he will realize that I accidentally left my umbrella in the back of his car.
Of course, that presumes the people concerned are reading.
I can attest though that it has been three months since I last debated at that event, whether in training or in a competition. My mind still feels very off, sort of on summer mode, so I think the inherent laziness that defines summer has melted my debate brain somewhat. Hopefully I can get into better shape by August.
Anyway, onto more pressing issues, a.k.a. the one that deserves the attention of the unusually-crafted title.
As I was reading the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I ran into two articles that actually caught my attention. The first was an Inquirer blog entry on a blog urging people to give Hayden Kho a chance. In summary form, what both entries (at the Inquirer and the "Give Hayden a Chance" blog) try to convey is that the issue has been blown out of proportion, and that we should be focusing on more pressing issues. The doctor has already confessed, so we shouldn't berate him any further. If I were to take this into context, it would mean two things:
As to whether or not Hayden Kho should be given a second chance (the second question), I really think he should.
The second article that I ran into on the Inquirer is about how the controversial right-of-reply bill (which for some reason can't be downloaded from the website of the Congress) also covers bloggers and texters. Apparently, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (sponsor of the bill) has revealed that even blogs and (gasp!) e-mail correspondence will be covered by the bill when passed into law. Inasmuch as I want to burn a copy of the bill and throw its ashes into a never-ending abyss, as long as I have no copy of the bill, don't expect it anytime soon.
The Filipino netizenry is an example of how vibrant our free-speech culture is. It gives us room to express ourselves and gives us the leeway to (quoting my blog's tagline) try to make sense of the world. However, should politicians who feel that their egos were injured due to a slight on the part of an indiscriminate blogger be immediately given the liberty (at their demand) to respond? I certainly hope that right of reply won't be misconstrued as "subdued libel" anytime soon.
Likewise, it would be very unreasonable for politicians to keep an iron grip on sixty million mobile phone users, five million bloggers and millions of traded e-mails. If and when it becomes technologically feasible to cover that many people, we would be lightyears ahead.
I hope we can find sense against the muzzling of free speech. Opposing this ridiculous bill (where in blog parlance you are given the right to reply anyway through the handy, dandy comment feature) certainly makes a lot of sense.
Of course, that presumes the people concerned are reading.
I can attest though that it has been three months since I last debated at that event, whether in training or in a competition. My mind still feels very off, sort of on summer mode, so I think the inherent laziness that defines summer has melted my debate brain somewhat. Hopefully I can get into better shape by August.
Anyway, onto more pressing issues, a.k.a. the one that deserves the attention of the unusually-crafted title.
As I was reading the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I ran into two articles that actually caught my attention. The first was an Inquirer blog entry on a blog urging people to give Hayden Kho a chance. In summary form, what both entries (at the Inquirer and the "Give Hayden a Chance" blog) try to convey is that the issue has been blown out of proportion, and that we should be focusing on more pressing issues. The doctor has already confessed, so we shouldn't berate him any further. If I were to take this into context, it would mean two things:
- First, Katrina Halili should at least be considerate of what she has done. If it was revenge she wanted, the media field day being thrown at Hayden is enough revenge to warrant her redemption (if there was any)
- Second, everyone, especially the Senate, should press towards more important issues. The Senate is notorious for inquiries in aid of legislation which easily flame in ningas cogon fashion: we produce a lot of rhetoric (pronunciation lesson: it's pronounced "RE-torik", not "re-TO-rik") but no tangible legislation as a result of that rhetoric.
As to whether or not Hayden Kho should be given a second chance (the second question), I really think he should.
The second article that I ran into on the Inquirer is about how the controversial right-of-reply bill (which for some reason can't be downloaded from the website of the Congress) also covers bloggers and texters. Apparently, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (sponsor of the bill) has revealed that even blogs and (gasp!) e-mail correspondence will be covered by the bill when passed into law. Inasmuch as I want to burn a copy of the bill and throw its ashes into a never-ending abyss, as long as I have no copy of the bill, don't expect it anytime soon.
The Filipino netizenry is an example of how vibrant our free-speech culture is. It gives us room to express ourselves and gives us the leeway to (quoting my blog's tagline) try to make sense of the world. However, should politicians who feel that their egos were injured due to a slight on the part of an indiscriminate blogger be immediately given the liberty (at their demand) to respond? I certainly hope that right of reply won't be misconstrued as "subdued libel" anytime soon.
Likewise, it would be very unreasonable for politicians to keep an iron grip on sixty million mobile phone users, five million bloggers and millions of traded e-mails. If and when it becomes technologically feasible to cover that many people, we would be lightyears ahead.
I hope we can find sense against the muzzling of free speech. Opposing this ridiculous bill (where in blog parlance you are given the right to reply anyway through the handy, dandy comment feature) certainly makes a lot of sense.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Frustrations (part 2): halo-halo, hysteria and Hayden Kho
Finally, I got my long-awaited Chowking halo-halo: a big blue glass full of ingredients that make the Halo-Halo Fiesta of the veritable Chinese fastfood chain. I actually wanted to blog while eating it, but since it started dripping all over the place, I decided not to instead. As they say: "Onli in da Pilipins" (SkyscraperCity spelling makes me laugh).
Anyway, the three H's have struck again. The first one made me full, the second one crazy and the third one irate. But when you jumble that all together, it all seems like good, clean fun! Or does it?
I was on my way home from the Rockwell Club from a fairly intense workout (treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical and weight machines) when I overheard on the radio that Hayden Kho (yes, the doctor in those sex videos who happens to also be from my home province, Marinduque, and whose name is more properly pronounced "HEY-den" than "HAI-den") was declared persona non grata in Bohol. Given the big field day the media had been given over the scandal, I tried to forsee what could be the headline in the Bohol Chronicle.
This is what I came up with: "KHO DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA". Then again, the doctor was also declared persona non grata in Palawan. I wonder what the headline will be there too.
(Everything after the previous statement was written not yesterday, but today)
Anyway, Hayden Kho admitted his guilt to making the said sex videos. It seems that Bong Revilla finally had his field day. The problem here though is that does it count as a proper field day?
What seems to escape my mind is why everyone is focusing on the video being produced, when the issue at hand is the video being distributed. Although the doctor admitted to producing the video, he didn't even know that it was released into the hands of the Philippine viewing public. The media frenzy over the video's contents seems to have everyone in arms: Ramon Tulfo seems to want his head on a silver platter. Everyone from the congressional zoo to Malacañang to the Catholic Church wants in on the take, so much so that Aquilino Pimentel himself declared the Senate inquiry a "distraction". I, for one, think its pointless.
I used to think that Katrina Halili consented to making those videos, which still sounds like she did. In that case, she is equally culpable as Hayden in sharing the blame. If you are aware that you are being videotaped, you should be equally aware of the ramifications of your actions. I don't see blaming the other person when you are equally as liable as he is.
However, that's no longer the case. He did admit, but that still does not justify the media field day over the issue. Plenty of sex scandals, it seems, are made in the Philippines every single day, and although it is supposedly illegal to produce sex videos and distribute them, why do we not prosecute all those other voyeurs? I don't think we have a successful deterrent here for future violations just by crucifying him in front of the Philippine viewing public. I, for one, will continue to forsee numerous other sex videos being filmed in inconspicuous places: in houses, condos, apartments, dark places, secluded places, faraway places, you name it. If I were to be a fair barometer of what this brouhaha is about: it's all about Katrina Halili being shamed rather than the issue of a sex video being made. It's all about salvaging one without any consideration for everyone else.
It is safe to assume that had the brouhaha between Halili and Kho had been between two regular people, the media and everyone else who ended up going on the bandwagon because of it would probably care less. This is not an issue about sex videos per se. This, sadly, became an issue over a celebrity playing tattle-tale with an influential political figure who happens to do nothing but sit on his pretty little chair, model his barong and do nothing. I'm sorry, but I've begun to lose even more respect for the Senate (especially for one of my most adored senators, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago) than before. What a shame indeed.
Sometimes, I wish the media can just take a breather and shut up. I pity everyone who has to suffer through this media madness: a highlight that the most powerful institutions our country has at its disposal, which so happen to be the media and the legislature, have nothing better to do.
Anyway, the three H's have struck again. The first one made me full, the second one crazy and the third one irate. But when you jumble that all together, it all seems like good, clean fun! Or does it?
I was on my way home from the Rockwell Club from a fairly intense workout (treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical and weight machines) when I overheard on the radio that Hayden Kho (yes, the doctor in those sex videos who happens to also be from my home province, Marinduque, and whose name is more properly pronounced "HEY-den" than "HAI-den") was declared persona non grata in Bohol. Given the big field day the media had been given over the scandal, I tried to forsee what could be the headline in the Bohol Chronicle.
This is what I came up with: "KHO DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA". Then again, the doctor was also declared persona non grata in Palawan. I wonder what the headline will be there too.
(Everything after the previous statement was written not yesterday, but today)
Anyway, Hayden Kho admitted his guilt to making the said sex videos. It seems that Bong Revilla finally had his field day. The problem here though is that does it count as a proper field day?
What seems to escape my mind is why everyone is focusing on the video being produced, when the issue at hand is the video being distributed. Although the doctor admitted to producing the video, he didn't even know that it was released into the hands of the Philippine viewing public. The media frenzy over the video's contents seems to have everyone in arms: Ramon Tulfo seems to want his head on a silver platter. Everyone from the congressional zoo to Malacañang to the Catholic Church wants in on the take, so much so that Aquilino Pimentel himself declared the Senate inquiry a "distraction". I, for one, think its pointless.
I used to think that Katrina Halili consented to making those videos, which still sounds like she did. In that case, she is equally culpable as Hayden in sharing the blame. If you are aware that you are being videotaped, you should be equally aware of the ramifications of your actions. I don't see blaming the other person when you are equally as liable as he is.
However, that's no longer the case. He did admit, but that still does not justify the media field day over the issue. Plenty of sex scandals, it seems, are made in the Philippines every single day, and although it is supposedly illegal to produce sex videos and distribute them, why do we not prosecute all those other voyeurs? I don't think we have a successful deterrent here for future violations just by crucifying him in front of the Philippine viewing public. I, for one, will continue to forsee numerous other sex videos being filmed in inconspicuous places: in houses, condos, apartments, dark places, secluded places, faraway places, you name it. If I were to be a fair barometer of what this brouhaha is about: it's all about Katrina Halili being shamed rather than the issue of a sex video being made. It's all about salvaging one without any consideration for everyone else.
It is safe to assume that had the brouhaha between Halili and Kho had been between two regular people, the media and everyone else who ended up going on the bandwagon because of it would probably care less. This is not an issue about sex videos per se. This, sadly, became an issue over a celebrity playing tattle-tale with an influential political figure who happens to do nothing but sit on his pretty little chair, model his barong and do nothing. I'm sorry, but I've begun to lose even more respect for the Senate (especially for one of my most adored senators, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago) than before. What a shame indeed.
Sometimes, I wish the media can just take a breather and shut up. I pity everyone who has to suffer through this media madness: a highlight that the most powerful institutions our country has at its disposal, which so happen to be the media and the legislature, have nothing better to do.
Frustrations (part 1)
Well, I officially introduced AdSense into the blog. Now I can (hopefully) make money towards getting that Airliners.net account, and perhaps for a bunch of other stuff.
But anyway, there are a lot of reasons why sleep has been elusive to me for the past few days.
My dad really wanted to buy halo-halo at Chowking. He sent me (dragging the maid along) to go and buy three large halo-halos, with his having no beans. My sister, on the other hand, didn't want beans, pinipig or mung beans. When we arrived at Chowking, the cashier told me that since they are closing, they cannot serve my order anymore. We ended up going home, wasting P50 on transportation in the process.
I really wanted to write this while eating some halo-halo. Oh well. That's only part of the story.
My stepmom has an unusual fascination with the Hayden Kho sex scandal: she went so far as to watch a purported video, only with her telling me that it wasn't really it. I tried to block out any mention of the scandal either on the TV, the computer or from her. Then they (my parents) shooed me off to bed. bag of Lay's (barbecue flavor) in tow.
I finally finished the bag of chips. Attempting to beautify the blog from the depths of default templatedom, I experimented with different templates, none of which really blended with the intentions of the blog. I'm no expert in CSS and I'm still learning the ropes of Photoshop, so don't expect changes in the template for a while. However, that frustration's minor.
Since it's late, I'll leave part 2 as a surprise for tomorrow. Just so you have a clue: it is one of the two posts that I intend to write. Anyway, good night!
(P.S.: If you have the time, do take an interest in the ads by clicking on them!)
But anyway, there are a lot of reasons why sleep has been elusive to me for the past few days.
My dad really wanted to buy halo-halo at Chowking. He sent me (dragging the maid along) to go and buy three large halo-halos, with his having no beans. My sister, on the other hand, didn't want beans, pinipig or mung beans. When we arrived at Chowking, the cashier told me that since they are closing, they cannot serve my order anymore. We ended up going home, wasting P50 on transportation in the process.
I really wanted to write this while eating some halo-halo. Oh well. That's only part of the story.
My stepmom has an unusual fascination with the Hayden Kho sex scandal: she went so far as to watch a purported video, only with her telling me that it wasn't really it. I tried to block out any mention of the scandal either on the TV, the computer or from her. Then they (my parents) shooed me off to bed. bag of Lay's (barbecue flavor) in tow.
I finally finished the bag of chips. Attempting to beautify the blog from the depths of default templatedom, I experimented with different templates, none of which really blended with the intentions of the blog. I'm no expert in CSS and I'm still learning the ropes of Photoshop, so don't expect changes in the template for a while. However, that frustration's minor.
Since it's late, I'll leave part 2 as a surprise for tomorrow. Just so you have a clue: it is one of the two posts that I intend to write. Anyway, good night!
(P.S.: If you have the time, do take an interest in the ads by clicking on them!)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Breaking the ice
Once again, I'm off to break the ice. Welcome back, old friend.
Okay, that may have just sounded weird, but it makes perfect sense. For those who read my LiveJournal (which I haven't been keen on posting for a while), welcome to Sky Harbor beyond the walls. For those who just happened to run into this blog out of sheer coincidence, welcome. This is my second Blogger account: I let the first one rot into Internet oblivion since I stopped writing about the musings of the Philippine music scene. I intend to take that part of my life into this one: a freer medium where I can just blab (a liberty which I do not have in my LJ).
This blog came to be out of three events which seemingly coalesced into a catalyst for making a new account: the Hayden Kho sex scandal (which I will blog about later), my friends discovering the income-generating capability of AdSense (which I hope to add on later so that I can buy an Airliners.net membership in the future) and the Department of Finance-sanctioned book blockade (which I will also blog about later). Sometimes, in order to make sense out of the world around you, you have to write your own sense. Or, if your musings are complete nonsense, a monkey wrench will do perfectly and my ramblings will jump to life. I may tell stories, but it is the reader who tries to make sense (or nonsense) of the letters generated on the digital screen.
Anyway, this marks a new beginning for both me and my small (but hopefully growing) Internet presence. I know that with good care, I'll surely let this baby grow. Someday, this will grow beyond the "tidbits" it was once based upon.
(P.S.: If any of you know a place where I can get a nice theme for this blog, please do comment. Thanks!)
Okay, that may have just sounded weird, but it makes perfect sense. For those who read my LiveJournal (which I haven't been keen on posting for a while), welcome to Sky Harbor beyond the walls. For those who just happened to run into this blog out of sheer coincidence, welcome. This is my second Blogger account: I let the first one rot into Internet oblivion since I stopped writing about the musings of the Philippine music scene. I intend to take that part of my life into this one: a freer medium where I can just blab (a liberty which I do not have in my LJ).
This blog came to be out of three events which seemingly coalesced into a catalyst for making a new account: the Hayden Kho sex scandal (which I will blog about later), my friends discovering the income-generating capability of AdSense (which I hope to add on later so that I can buy an Airliners.net membership in the future) and the Department of Finance-sanctioned book blockade (which I will also blog about later). Sometimes, in order to make sense out of the world around you, you have to write your own sense. Or, if your musings are complete nonsense, a monkey wrench will do perfectly and my ramblings will jump to life. I may tell stories, but it is the reader who tries to make sense (or nonsense) of the letters generated on the digital screen.
Anyway, this marks a new beginning for both me and my small (but hopefully growing) Internet presence. I know that with good care, I'll surely let this baby grow. Someday, this will grow beyond the "tidbits" it was once based upon.
(P.S.: If any of you know a place where I can get a nice theme for this blog, please do comment. Thanks!)
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