PARENTHESES

For the past weeks hindi ko na nabibigyang pansin ang pagba-blog. Medyo hindi maganda ang pagtatapos ng 2005 para sa akin. First, my Dad had a near fatal heart attack a day after Christmas in San Fernando, La Union where he and my mom spent their Christmas. Buti na lang naagapan at nadala siya kaagad sa hospital. And during those period, post-Xmas and New Year, pabalik-balik ako to and fro La Union and Manila. My Dad survived and he’s now back in Manila. But with his age at 81, medyo kumplikado at critical na health condition nya. Secondly, wala na akong trabaho ngayon, huhuhu. The project I am working with as Project Manager in an International Humanitarian NGO has already ended. Now am just finishing the project’s terminal report at sa muli I’m back to being enlisted in the army of the unemployed. On top of my priority to-do list sa pagpasok ng bagong taon ay maghanap muna ng trabaho at iba pang mararaket.

Kaya pansamantalang pasilip-silip na lang muna ako sa blogosphere at kung may chance at magkaroon ng gana magpopost din nang mga panakanakang entries sa aking blog. Medyo maraming kaganapang bumulaga sa atin sa pagpasok ng bagong taon na nakakaenganyong i-blog. Mukhang magiging exciting sa larangan ng pulitka ng bansa ang first quarter ng bagong taon. Parang nagbabadya ang isang panibagong unos. Meanwhile, tataya muna ako sa lotto at sa laban ni Pacman hehehe.

Got this touching Cancer Advert from the YouTube website.

This video clip is linked to the site so it may take a while to load. If it stops try playing it again and watch it in its entirety.

It breaks my heart everytime I see a child suffering. It breaks my heart more to see a child pained by another child’s suffering. Why do children have to suffer?

Took this “What Matrix Persona Are You?” quiz and this is what I got:

You are The Merovingian, from “The
Matrix.” Wit and danger, with a French
twist. You are adamant about the slightly
materialistic things- power, wealth, posession.
Dominating, aren’t we?

What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

“I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man”. These were probably the last words uttered by Comandante Ernesto “Che” Guevara before he was shot in Bolivia 38 years ago this month.

Thirty-eight years later after his death, Che Guevara became one of the most popular figures and icons of the century. His image, noble and defiant, from the famous picture taken by Alberto Korda, with tilted beret and flowing locks, now adorns almost everything from key chains, caps, mobile phone wallpapers to the omnipresent T-shirts. Che’s image has now rivalled the Mona Lisa as perhaps the most replicated image ever. The Churches Advertising Network had even utilized his image in an advert to protray a modern Christ.

Ironically, Che Guevara, who struggled against capitalism, is now a quintessential capitalist brand. Capitalism banks on his popularity as a revolutionary leader to entice and profit from the rebellious spirit of the youth. His image is now being used as a fashion statement a la revolutionary chic. Many of those who wears his image simply puts on a Che because it’s a fad. Even most young Argentines have come up with an expression that rhymes perfectly in Spanish: “Tengo una remera del Che y no se por que,” or “I have a Che T-shirt and I don’t know why.”

Thirty-eight years after his death people from diverse political persuasions continue to idolize or vilify him all together. For the left Che remains a symbol of protest and revolution. An undying symbol of self-sacrifice and the spirit of revolutionary internationalism. His image is the Left’s ubiquitous banner in all protest actions and demonstrations against war and imperialism all over the world. While on the other hand, iconoclasts wanted to demystify him as a bloodthirsty “killing machine” responsible for the murder of hundreds of people during Cuba’s post-revolution era.

Whatever perception one might have towards Che, whether hero or villain, one cannot deny the fact that Che lived and died for his ideals. His feat immortalizes his own words “Many will call me an adventurer – and that I am, only one of a different sort: one of those who risks his skin to prove his platitudes.” History has yet to pass judgement on Che and to the correctness of his ideals. In the meantime, as Jorge Castañeda puts it ‘What he shows us is that myths are bigger than mere politics or ideology, are bigger even than the cruel drift of history.’

Some people would contend that had he lived, the myth of Che would have long since died. But after thirty-eight years, Che is Alive as they never wanted him to be!

Hasta La Victoria Siempre!

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain taqwaa (to cleanse or purify the heart and the soul).” Surah al-Baqarah 2:183

Tomorrow begins the Holy Month of Ramadan for the Islamic year Hijrah 1426. The Islamic world will observe this religious obligation by cleansing and purifying the heart and soul through fasting from sunrise to sunset and the exercise of strict control over ones tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds. Fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam prescribed and obligatory to all Muslims.

To all my Brothers and Sisters in Islam, Ramadan Mubarak!!

After buying some groceries at SM Sucat, I took a cab going home. The cab driver was listening to a radio broadcast of someone delivering a real fiery speech. At first I thought it was another blabbering politician so I asked him who was speaking and what was he talking about. Before answering me the driver turned the volume higher, perhaps thinking that I was interested to hear it. With a silly grin on his face, he said, “Pastor namin yan, nagpi-prayer-sermon”. The volume was turned up obviously as a subtle invitation for me to listen.

I sighed silently while asking him to turn the radio volume down. “Pakihina-an mo lang konti ang volume baka di na natin marinig ang bumubusina sa atin, mamaya baka kunin pa tayo ni Lord”, I said while beaming a silly grin too and added with an obvious jest, “o di kaya palitan mo na lang ng station, kahit dun sa “dapat pa bang i-memorize yan” na FM”. The bastard just smirked and murmured “marami na talagang demonyo sa panahon ngayon”, while turning the volume down but still staying tuned. I remained silent and just kept my piece. Arguing with the one holding the steering wheel can be dangerous to your health.

I attempted to bring up a conversation just to offset the mumbo jumbo blaring from the radio. I asked the driver, “Brod. anong tingin mo sa sitwasyon ng Pilipinas ngayon? tumitindi na talaga kahirapan ano?”. My questioning fell into a real bad timing. At that very instance the Pastor in the radio was just blurting “walang dukha sa atin, walang mahihirap, dahil hinanda na nang Diyos ang katiwasayan at kasaganaan para sa ating lahat na nananampalataya sa kanya. hindi na natin kelangan pang magtrabaho…kailangang ilaan natin ang ating buong panahon bilang lingkod ng Panginoon…Amen?…Amen!”. The driver just found the correct timing to badger me by re-echoing his Pastor’s holier-than-thou discourse about God and poverty.

I felt relieved when we reached the gates of our house. The cab meter read 85.00 pesos. My usual cab fare from SM Sucat to our house costs me only around 70.00 pesos. I asked him if he has a change for a 100 peso bill and he readily replied “naku wala akong barya brod. yan na lang 100 ibigay mo para naman may extra. sobra nang hirap ng buhay ngayon. ma-traffic din kanina”. I handed to him the 100 peso bill and said, “marami na talagang demonyo sa panahon ngayon, no?”.

I never thought that crisis or depression only happens in, or are brought about by, real life situations. I was wrong. What seemed to be a harmless activity, an alternative outlet for creativity and diversion, can become a source of depression. I am talking about Blog Depression. And yes, Blog depression had become a growing epidemic in the cyberworld. It has affected bloggers to be disillusioned, taking long breaks, and in many cases simply closing up shop.

This growing problem somehow finds it way to the psyche of most of us bloggers whether we admit it or not. What is important is at least we know why and how it affects us. You might not know what hit you when depression suddenly sets in.

But hey, you have a real life to live, blogging depression finds its way easily to those who don’t have one. As a rule of thumb, just blog on and don’t let blogging bog your life. Take blogging as a therapeutic activity than the other way around.

Here’s a site that had come up with a pamphlet meant as a public service to help educate bloggers about this growing problem. You can download the complete blog depression pdf file from this site.