Keeping his feet on the ground when his head is in the clouds



   “Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him”, - Mel Brooks[1]

     Dean Francis Alfar is a Filipino playwright, novelist, and a writer of speculative fiction. His plays have been performed in places across the country, while his articles and fictions have been published both in the Philippines and abroad, such as in Strange Horizons, Rabid Transit and The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror and the Exotic Gothic series.[2]

     He is an advocate of the "literature of the fantastic", editing the Philippine Speculative Fiction anthology series. He is an avid blogger, and founder of LitCritters, a group of writers, mostly from his circle of friends, who hold regular discussion groups and critiques.

     Dean Francis Alfar was born in 1969 in Mandaluyong, though he, together with his family, lived in the United States for a number of years until they decided to come back to the Philippines. He currently lives in Manila with his wife, who is also a fictionist, Nikki Alfar, and their daughters Sage and Rowan, ages 9 and 3 years old.

     He said that when he was a little boy, he was introduced to the world of reading by his mother at a very young age. It was because of her that he entered the world of books and grew to love them so much. He said that it has provided him the means of exploring other places and being able to travel to different locales and locations around the world or even beyond. He read all the books his mother has until he run out of it. He then went to the bookstores (he said there were no big bookstores yet at that time) to read and it also run out of books for him to read. He then decided that he would write books that he wanted to read and he was sure that there were many who also wanted to read those kinds of books specifically fictions. And most especially, he noticed that there were no Filipino writers who write fictions at that time, only foreign writers.

     For him, Filipinos are more creative when it comes to writing than foreign ones but the problem is that mostly of Filipino books is a bit boring and poorly made, from the papers being used down to the production of the book. He said that we Filipinos have many stories to tell especially the imaginary tales from Mindanao. The only problem is that nobody wants to write it and make it a book. So then he started writing fictions and short stories and he was the first to write those kinds of books here in the Philippines.

     His literary awards include ten Don Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) including One-Act Play (Fragments of Memory) on 1990, One-Act Play (Short Time) on 1991, Full-Length Play (Island) and One-Act Play (Loving Toto) on 1994, One-Act Play (The Onan Circle) on 2003, One-Act Play (The Kite of Stars) and Futuristic Fiction (Hollow Girl: A Romance) on 2004, Novel (Salamanca) on 2005 that won the Grand Prize for Novel for that year which was published on Ateneo Press on 2006, Short Story for Children (How Rosang Taba Won the Race) on 2006, Short Story for Children (Poor, poor Luisa) on 2007; the Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Awards for the graphic novels (comic books) Siglo: Freedom on 2004 and Siglo: Passion on 2006; the Philippine Free Press Literary Awards for Short Story (Six From Downtown); the Gintong Aklat Awards for Literature for the novel Salamanca on 2008; and the Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards for the prose Remembrance on 2010.

     Dean Francis Alfar is the first Filipino fictionist who won an award abroad over Stephen King’s work and of the other writers. When asked about how it feels to be a multi-awarded writer, he said that it had made him proud but kept his toes on the ground and inspired him to write more and more. It did not make him to stop writing because for him, an award for that year for instance will only be that good on that time but not for the next point in time. Artist for him doesn’t need an inspiration to write; artists write whenever they feel about writing and definitely have to finish it. According to him, there were many talented persons out there but cannot finish writing what they have started. Being a writer, one should also learn to accept negative comments or feedbacks over their works. You are not a good writer if you are not open to critique and criticisms and be too defensive over your works. In writing, one should learn that people have different preferences and you cannot please everybody all the time and as a writer, if you try to please everybody, you will fail. Part of being a writer is being courageous. Stand for something and what you are trying to say. A writer is an emotion-based and you need to manage your emotions. If your goal as a writer is to be loved by everybody, then you are not a writer.

     To be a good writer, he said, one should first read. Reading any kind of books from different authors would gain someone different perspectives from writers and then practice writing even if it would not be a good one. For him, a writer must be productive; otherwise you cannot call yourself a writer. A writer should always seek to improve and know that you are only as good as the last thing you did. And if the last thing you did was 5 or 10 years ago, you are no longer a writer. You have to be relevant; not necessarily be politically relevant but certainly, culturally relevant, pop relevant. For him, if you are no longer read, you are already dead as an author.

   When asked if he has not considered writing in news papers or be a media journalist, he retorted that he actually thought about it before and he thinks that if opportunity opens, he would like to try his hand at it. He does not think that he is too old learn the practice of journalism. It would be something different for him because it is an unusual switch and he cannot simply create something. It would be how to create a fact in a straightforward yet engaging manner. Fact is fiction and then fiction is fact. He said that he would really like to try it.

     And when he was also asked that if after 10 or 20 years from now, does he still see his self writing and he answered with a big “YES”. He said that he intend to write for as long as he can. And when his hand become arthritic and he cannot write or hold a pen, he will dictate. And if his voice is lost, he is hoping that by that time there would be a technology man that would be able to track the letters from his eyes and it would write for him. For as long as he can, he want to tell stories. He would still want to write. He feels that there are many stories within him that he can tell, stories he can tell to his kids and stories that can inspire others to write their own stories. And he also feels that if every writer felt that way, then we would not just have more stories but we will be encouraging each other to write more. For as long as he can he will write until people tell him to stop because his stories are not good anymore. He even said that he feels happy whenever young ones win in Palanca Awards because they look at them as their future.

     He shared that his parents wanted him to become a doctor, but he wished to pursue his dreams of being a writer. He switched courses, against the will of his parents and made peace with them later on. But he said that that was not a good example. He admitted that he was being disrespectful to his parents that time and did not even think of the consequences. He said that it is okay to do what you want and pursue your dream but be aware of the people you hurt along the way, be aware of the consequences that your actions take and be ready to stand for your convictions, good or bad. He honestly said that he is not a college graduate because he walked out of school when he decided to go against his parents will, but several academes such as University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University and also abroad were offering him to teach but he refused them all telling them he does not have a diploma. But they told him that he does not need a diploma to teach with all his awards, but still, he declined the entire offer.

    Dean Francis Alfar is a writer that has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. He has the ability to give them their separate identities and personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him. Yes, he regrets not having a diploma but he never permitted his lack of a degree to stop doing what he wants. He is not only a writer but also an entrepreneur who runs some businesses, such as a marketing company Kestrel IMC, pet store Petty Pets, digital center, taxi and food catering franchise. He has stated that being a writer in the Philippines, even an award-winning one, is not a stable career; it must be motivated by passion and desire for self-expression rather than fortune or fame. With everything he has and everything he attained, he remains to be a low-profile writer who lives his life like an ordinary person.

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[1] Melvin “Mel” Kaminsky (b. 1926) is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer.

[2] Dean Francis Alfar (Anon., n.d.), viewed 23 March 2011, <http://dean-francis-alfar.co.tv/>

Roots of college students’ academic failure

     Beverly Sills (b. 1929) said that "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."
     A lot of students in college these days actually fail roughly on all of their subjects especially now that the grading system of the school is by performance based. They fail because of their poor performance. The problem is until at the present unidentified because we can never really know which is which is the problem, if it is of the students or of the professors.

     Lack of motivation or determination is one of the reasons or causes why most college students fail. Some students honestly do not want to be in their college or major only because their mom and dad made them go and they are the ones who choose the course. Another one is misplaced priorities where students put work, social life, athletics, hobbies, etc. above class work and tend to be awful in their class work. Inability to perform in class since each really does have an academic limit in ability and it would be hypocritical to think that all people in the world are able to do college level work because in reality some simply are not. Failure to deal with their weaknesses for a lot of students comes to college without the proficiency that college professors expect of their students. Furthermore, a bad advice roughly can break a student. This is particularly true in writing and math skills. There are far too many friends and parents that do not have a college degree themselves and yet suggesting young students how to go about getting a degree.  Unrealistic expectations where a lot of students think "I tried hard..." is sufficient for a college grade or that "pay your fee - get 3" is the typical rule. Personal problems can also affect their performance in class because most students now are into intimate relationships and they take it very seriously. But the very reason that makes the students fail is when they are not attending classes.

     Students have always had the attitude of taking things for granted. They do not realize that the more interference there is, the greater the academic damage. Students that refuse to learn to write or do math would suffer from those weaknesses in classes that rely on the skill. Some of the advice, no matter how good it is, can be academically, mentally and emotionally fatal. They should learn how to get a degree from people that actually have one - if at all possible people that have one in what you are studying. Professors almost universally grade on performance and not on effort. They should learn to realize that College and High school are not the same deal. The High school has to let you stay (in most cases) but a college does not. A professor will definitely fail you if your performance is poor.

     The most efficient way to avoid failing a subject is to attend the class and participate. A professor does not need a right answer every time but what is important is that you show that you have interest in his lessons and try your best to participate with them.

     Even if a student is not the brainiest but is always present and participates in the class, he/she has a greater chance of passing the subject. Not skipping classes shows the professor that you do not take his subject for granted and you are showing that you have learned somehow would be a great deal to your professor. Even if you are not in your most chosen field because your parents wanted that for you, you can avoid failing by trying everything you can and by learning to love what you are doing. A huge part of what college is all about is learning to balance your responsibilities.

People’s satisfaction with the former and present president

President Benigno Aquino or PNoy was elected in a landslide victory of a border of more than 3 Million votes versus his nearest rival in 2010 as compared to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo or PGMA who won in an alleged vote-rigged election in 2004, which elected her to a full term in 2004. PNoy was an exceptionally popular candidate during the election, but prior to that he was a Senator still entitled to the 3 remaining years of his term. He run as President because of the Public clamor- after his mother, the former President Corazon Aquino died of Cancer the past.

     His predecessor was also a child of a former president, Diosdado Macapagal. PGMA, on the other hand was already serving the unexpired term of President Joseph Estrada, who was ousted by a Supreme Court ruling after days of public outcry for his resignation and Impeachment. Prior to that, she was the Vice President and DSWD Secretary.

     Conde (2001) said ironic is too tame a word to describe the events that transpired in the week just past, especially on Sunday, the 100th day of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration. On that day, there were indications that Malacanang had finally admitted to itself that the crisis initiated by the arrest of former President Joseph Estrada on April 26 was much more serious than initially thought. Amid denials of rumors that some generals had defected to the Estrada camp, the Armed Forces high command held a closed-door meeting for hours.

    The compromise that emerged, at least among leaders of the Left interviewed by CyberDyaryo, is that first, there was a failure during the anti-Estrada struggle to win over and enlighten the Filipinos who idolize Estrada; next, it was the result of the decades-old neglect of the poor so that they are now finding a venue in the so-called Edsa III to air their grievances, no    matter how misguided, and; lastly, the three-month old Arroyo administration failed in many respects to deal with the potential problems Estrada would pose.

     Satur Ocampo, a nominee of the party-list group Bayan Muna, says the Arroyo administration was not brave enough to grab on the opportunities presented by People Power II. “Instead of immediately addressing the concerns of the poor, the Arroyo administration busied itself with solidifying its hold over the armed forces and the police,” Ocampo says.

     Fr. Joe Dizon of the Estrada Resign Movement says that instead of implementing whatever practical initiatives to address the needs of the poor, which comprise most of Estrada’s supporters, Arroyo busied herself imitating the publicity stunts of Estrada. “She was preoccupied with photo-ops,” the priest says.

     More importantly, the failure of the new administration to immediately go after Estrada and his allies, possibly by freezing their accounts, allowed the Estrada camp to contrive “Edsa III.” “Unlike the Marcoses, whose ill-gotten assets were frozen, the ill-gotten wealth of Estrada and his allies are liquid and could easily be used to finance the rallies at Edsa. Worse, the administration has even accommodated the likes of Estrada buddy Danding Cojuangco,” Ocampo says.

     “It was a grievous mistake on the part of the government that it did nothing to break up Estrada’s power base. Neither did the government sustain and maximize the democratic impetus created by People Power II,” Beltran said.[1]

     It is +23 in Metro Pres. Arroyo's net satisfaction rating vary by areas.  Manila (43% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied), +25 in Balance Luzon (42% satisfied, 39% dissatisfied), -28 in the Visayas (42% satisfied, 34% dissatisfied), and +17 Net satisfaction with Pres.Òin Mindanao (39% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied).  Arroyo is +24in urban areas (44% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied) and +23 in rural areas (40% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied).

     Rated for the first time as President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had 42% satisfied and 18% dissatisfied with his performance, for a moderate net satisfaction rating of +24%, according to the Social Weather Survey, conducted from September 15-18,2001.

     The 1st Quarter National Survey of the Social Weather Station conducted from March 5-18, 2001, found 42 percent of the 1,500 respondents satisfied and 18 percent dissatisfied with the performance of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,  This implies that 4 out ofÒfor a net satisfaction rating of +24 or “moderate.”  10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

     While on the other hand, Pres. Aquino's net satisfaction rating is very good in all areas.  In Metro Manila (76% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied), +65 in Balance Luzon (73% satisfied, 8% dissatisfied), +54 in the Visayas (68% satisfied, 14% Net dissatisfied), and +52 in Mindanao (67% satisfied, 15% dissatisfied).  Satisfaction with Pres. Aquino is +62 in urban areas (72% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied) and +58 in rural areas (70% satisfied, 12% dissatisfied).

     Rated for the first time as President, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III had 71% satisfied and 11% dissatisfied with his performance, for a very good net satisfaction rating of +60%, according to the Third Quarter 2010 Social Weather Survey, conducted from September 24-27, 2010.[2]

     Both presidents are Economists; the present President was even a student of the Dr. Arroyo in the Ateneo de Manila. Aquino is seen as a popular president or so-called as a Majority President, while Arroyo was seen as unpopular, election-cheater and a usurper in the Presidency.

     Aquino’s +60 are higher than the +24 rating of his predecessor President Arroyo ion March 2001.

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[1] Conde, Carlos H. 2001, Cyberdyaryo: The Left asseses GMA’s first 100 days, viewed 13 March 2011, < http://carlosconde.com/2001/05/01/the-left-assesses-gmas-first-100-days/>

[2] Abalos, Lance n.d., A comparison of Noy and GMA, viewed 13March 2011, < http://www.slideshare.net/lanceabalos/a-comparison-of-noy-and-gma>

How to make a rice wine

     Rice wine is a somewhat deceptive name, since instead of using fruit, which is the usually ingredient for wines, a grain (rice) is fermented to produce the wine. Some say rice wine processes are really rice beer processes, yet the end result generally is similar in taste to wines made from grapes rather than most beers. However the taste is not really like fermented grape wine or beer, and the alcohol content, which can vary from about 18-25%, is stronger than wine produced from grapes.[1]

     According to history for kids, rice was the first grain that was farmed in China. Rice wine has been popular in China since prehistory.

     If you want to make a rice wine for your own use or thinking of making it a business, it is that easy like baking. You will only need glutinous rice, rice which has been bred to be particularly sticky and dense. It is cultivated in Thailand, Laos, and China, and it is used in the cuisine of many Asian nations[2] (e.g. Improved Malagkit Sungsong, Buenkitan or similar varieties), bubod, a concoction prepared from rice flour, ginger extract and a sprinkling of an older preparation of bubod and contains the microorganisms responsible for the conversion of starch to sugar (saccharification) and sugar to alcohol (fermentation)[3], water, and fermentation jar.

     To start making the rice wine, first thing to do is to weigh the glutinous rice and wash with water three times. Second, heat in rice cooker or saucepan until well done. Third, spread the cooked rice on a tray or similar container. Fifth, cover the tray with Manila paper and cool at room temperature for 2 days. Fourth, immunize rice with powdered bubod. Sixth, transfer the pre-fermented rice into a fermentation jar and cover with cheesecloth and allow fermenting for at least 2 weeks to convert sugar to alcohol. Next, before harvesting, place gubo inside the jar to smooth the progress of collection of wine. Eighth, collect the wine and filter through cheesecloth. Then, press out the remaining juice using cheesecloth. And afterwards, transfer the wine to a colored bottle and pasteurize. Then, allow standing for at least a month in a dark, cool place. Then afterwards, siphon the clear wine and clarify the wine with activated carbon and filter. Then lastly, bottle the wine and pasteurize (approximately 1 liter of clear wine can be produced from 1 kg glutinous rice), then let it cool.[4] And you can now package the wine.

     Robert Mondavi wrote, "Making good wine is a skill; making fine wine is an art." Successfully making rice wine will make you feel better more so when you perfect it by constant practice. Rice wines and can be served an hour or two after it is prepared. It may be taken as part of a meal, or might be served as dessert. Some cultures serve certain types heated. It is usually noted for a mild taste that may be partly sweet, though not all variants are.

[1] Ellis-Christensen, Tricia n.d., wiseGEEK, What is rice wine?, 2^nd edn., O. Wallace, viewed 10 March 2011, <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rice-wine.htm>

[2] Smith, SE 2010, wiseGEEK, What is glutinous rice?, 2^nd edn, Bronwyn Harris, viewed 10 March 2011, <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-glutinous-rice.htm>

[3] Roque, Anselmo 2007, Inquirer Money/Top Stories: PhilRice perfects ‘tapuy’; red rice wine to be offered soon, viewed 10 March 2011, <http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20070610-70519>

[4] Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division 2007, How to make rice wine, viewed 11 March 2011, < http://www.openacademy.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=877&Itemid=463>

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Photo from Google.

Sneaker-princess fashionistas



     Jean Paul Gaultier[1] said, “It is always the badly dressed people who are the most interesting”.

     Nowadays, girls are more into fashion that makes them more lady like and sexy chic. They wear pretty little dresses, mini-skirts and high-heeled shoes. You can see girls that wear their high-heeled shoes roughly everyday; when office girls go to work and students to school. When  girls were asked why they wear  high-heeled shoes, they would say that they wear it to make them look taller, to make their legs look longer because flat shoes makes legs stubby, high-heels looks pretty on any dresses and add more sophisticated look on it and moreover, wearing high-heels make them feel bold, confident and strong. Some say that they wear it because they just want to and some to attract men although they struggle very much and cannot walk properly upon wearing them. They are also into dresses, mini-skirts and short shorts. The shorter it is, the more they like to wear it, and of course high-heels are always the right shoe that looks prettier with it. Even when it is painful especially climbing up and down the stairs.

     Women wear short dresses and high-heels because men say that it is feminine. So women who do not wear short dresses and high-heels do not look feminine? How about those who wear sneakers? Those who do not like wearing high-heeled shoes but do wear dresses?

     I can say there are hardly as many women who wear sneakers up until now. Mainly because the idea of sneakers is for men only are still there. And when girls wear sneakers, they would match it up with jeans and baby tees. It sure is a little awkward to wear a dress and sneakers at the same, isn’t it? But guess what? There are indeed girls who have that kind of style. I call them sneaker-princess girls.

     They are the ones who wear dress but wear sneakers at the same time. Yes, sneakers. Not high-heels, flats nor doll shoes. “Kikay” girls would regard them as badly dressed and not in style but they could only care less. They wear what is comfortable to them and are a sexy chic at the same time. You may say that they have gone out of their mind because dresses are not matched up with sneakers because it is sort of sporty and dresses are kind of formal. I call them sneaker-princess because they wear dress that like real ladies like princesses do but wear sneakers like men or sporty women do. They wear that kind of clothing anytime and everywhere. They do not care if they look pretty or people would tell them that they look weird and out of style, they do not care, because they do not want to attract any attention to anyone but what is comfortable that matters to them. They even wear long dresses and of course sneakers to sum up their fashion style.

     People would always regard those whose fashion styles do not conform to the fashion trend nowadays as badly dressed and out of style. Indeed, Jean Paul Gaultier was right those who are badly dressed are the ones who are most interesting. Sneakers are not only for men and high-heels are not always a women thing. Those girls who always follow the trend even if they are not comfortable with it are fake people. They really do not have their own fashion style or identity but only mimic those of others and their fashion icons.

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[1] French fashion designer and grand couturier born on April 24, 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France.

What is corruption?



     “Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; and the end of the world is evidently approaching.”[1]

     The word corruption has only been attached to politics. Corruption for us is only about the money that politicians get from the government revenue. We have always believed that when a person wants to be a politician or is a politician, that person is a corrupt one. But there are many classifications and forms of corruption that we might not know, that not only revolves about money, about politicians and in the government.

     According to lawyers, there are some broad classifications of corruption. Among these is petty corruption that is practiced only on a smaller scale. It is the use of public office for private benefit in the course of delivering a public service. It usually involves relatively small amounts of money. Another one is grand corruption which is the most dangerous and underground type of corruption. An instance is policy making where its proposal and implementation are compromised by corrupt practices. It is usually practiced by public officers in high positions such as councilors where they get kickbacks for ensuring contracts that are granted to specific contractors. It usually occurs at financial, political and administrative centers of authority.

     A political corruption is usually associated with electoral procedure which includes voting irregularities; nepotism and cronyism, the former means appointing friends to positions of authority regardless of their qualifications, and the latter on the other hand means favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit. Another form of corruption is on business. It is often not regarded as a crime, rather as a means to accelerate business progression but still, it is regarded as corruption.

    Under these classifications and forms of corruptions are bribery, inside trading, money laundering, embezzlement which is the act of dishonestly taking or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted, tax evasion and accounting irregularities.

    Corruption is also being practiced by everyone roughly everyday. When somebody offers you a woman and you do the work because of that offer, you are indulging in corruption. When you are just delaying the matter and are not doing the work as per norms prescribed, the man is suffering, though you did not take money, yet it is one item of corruption. When the people connected with you entertains you, though you are not receiving any money from them, but they are spending money on the occasion, that is regarded as a corruption. If you are not doing any work and are receiving monthly pay without any break, this amount to corruption because your pay and wages are coming out of the public revenues or out of the balances of your employer, you are indulging in corruption. When you are not taking care of your children and spending that amount on other ladies who have got no connection with the family, such expenses are regarded as corruption. When you work like a call girl, dancing girls and a prostitute and are selling your body to others against money, you are violating the norms of the society and all these items come within the scope of corruption. When you are deceiving the people and pretending that you are a godly man and collecting money from them by misleading them, you are indulging in corruption. All those who are living on charity, those who are not earning their own livelihood and are dependant upon others without any cause and all those who are showing wrongly that they are poor people and are taking something on concession rates from the state or from some social welfare organizations are corrupt people. All those who are bringing children on this earth but are not bringing them up properly and not giving them proper education, all those who are crossing matrimonial bonds and are having extra matrimonial relations, and all those who are not taking care of their parents are corrupt people.

     Corruption in the government has always been there but the Filipinos are more stunned by the extent of corruption in the military. Corruption among these people in authority is only known when some brave hearted persons come out to speak the truth for all the people to know about their practices. People would always say that public officials who have stolen from government treasury must be punished with severely. But so much has been lost to unpunished theft. The case of Maj. Gen. Garcia is obviously a test to the Filipino people to wipe out this dirt in its society.  This is a test of the government’s determination to walk on President Aquino’s “the straight and narrow path”.

     The testimony of Heidi Mendoza, who sacrificed her job, her individual security and that of her family, has brought to light the extent of corruption committed by Maj. Gen. Garcia and the powerful generals. The nation is horrified by the extent of the greed and corruption that have been institutionalized in the Philippine military. It is sickened at the difference between the badly equipped foot soldiers who brave the war zones for the meager amount they receive for their families and the generals laze around in their mansions and enjoying multiple-millions for their families.

     On March 1, Heidi Mendoza and Retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa went to Adamson University to give a speech on their involvement on AFP corruption cases and on the forum about speaking the truth. She shared stories on how she teaches her children at least once every day by telling them what was right and wrong, what cheating truly meant, at weekends they would help their maid in the smallest ways like doing their own laundry. She said “by doing this she believes that she has at least molded her children to be a good citizen”, she then added “you are the next generation who will continue for the people and the country; I hope that you will never be the next corrupted people.”

     Heidi’s words reflected on the Adamson’s Prayer especially on the line of “Just in the face of unfair circumstances, true when the world's values contradict my own”. These lines tell about speaking the truth and being not a corrupt which is what the institution is teaching their students.

     Indeed, the world is worsening these days. Corruption does not only revolve in money, politics, business and government but also among people and how we live our lives roughly everyday. Corruption is everywhere and is now considered as a way of living not only of those who are in authority but also of the ordinary people. Corruption nowadays has been part of our daily lives.

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[1] Assyrian clay tablet 2800 B.C., http://thinkexist.com/quotation/our-earth-is-degenerate-in-these-latter-days/762218.html

The silver anniversarry of Bloodless Revolution



    

     The late and first woman President of the Philippines, Cory Aquino once said, “The entire world wondered as they witnessed... a people lift themselves from humiliation to the greatest pride.”

     A long time ago maybe, but for those who were a part of that history, the memories are vivid. The People power Revolution of 1986 is not something one forgets. It changed not only our country but also the world.

     In 1986, the Philippines was admired when the so-called bloodless revolution exploded, labeled as EDSA People Power’s Revolution. This marked a historic event that has been carved in the hearts and minds of every Filipino. This part of Philippine history has given us a strong sense of pride especially that other nations had followed what we have shown the world the true power of democracy. The true empowerment of democracy was demonstrated in EDSA by its thriving efforts to oust a tyrant without violence and bloodshed. Prayers and rosaries were the only weapons Filipinos used to recover their freedom from President Ferdinand Marcos’s iron hands.

     For us, who were not born yet at that time, we really do not know what happened during EDSA Revolution but only some random events through our Philippine History subject. We really do not appreciate its value and we really do not have this strong emotional involvement with this historical event. We only know some facts that the revolution was an effect of the exploitation of freedom and the life threatening violence executed by the Marcos’ government which is the Martial Law; that over 2,000,000 Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and religious figures were involved during that event; and that the protests, fueled by a struggle of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, took place from February 22–25, 1986, when Marcos fled to Hawaii and had made Corazon Aquino as the lawful President of the Philippines.

     As the nation celebrates People Power every year, the stories of those four days in February 1986 has always been retold, some stories perhaps blurry, but the feeling of pride, of nationhood, of bravery even just on a small extent, of making a stand, of fighting for something that was sure would be worthy and righteous would always come flooding back.

     Imagining that historical event is indeed amazing because people went to EDSA not thinking of the consequences or the possible circumstances, because probably if they did, very few would have gone. On these four days, the pinoy sense of pakikisama was empowered. My mom said that people who were there on that historical event said that newspapers was the people’s bed for the night and the pan de sal that was offered by the vendor for free was the best breakfast they have ever had.  They also cannot but believe that it was not a purely human endeavor, that a divine hand had guided the people and planned that historical event to save the Filipinos from agony

     Some call it “Revolution with a smile” because it was an opposite from a bloodshed revolution. By day and night, for four days of twenty five years ago, the people stood on their belief, demanding change, and defending freedom. With People Power, the military and civilian who was opponent were reconciled as one people- one Filipino to fight for freedom and change.

     Through People Power, the world was amazed, surprised how it all happened. In 1986, there was no example, nothing like People Power had ever been witnessed anyplace in the world. People Power and the Filipinos became the model for other nation to oust their corrupt leaders. And now, as we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of People Power on 1986, a nation far away changed its leadership in much the same way- without violence and with people crying out for change.

     Even though we were not there twenty five years ago, and whether or not we join the annual day celebrations at EDSA and somewhere else, let us share in the joy of those days and try to envision what it means to be a Filipino, to have fought for and won our freedom and regained our dignity. People Power had not happened only because of one person but because thousands upon thousands of Filipino moved as one to show the true power of people and the real sense of democracy to fight for what they believe is just and for the equality of everyone.