Diwata ng Tubig sa Siyudad

Diwata ng Tubig sa Siyudad

Sa bagong paraiso mo sa siyudad
Ay gubat ng mga matatayog na gusali
Usok ng sasakyan iyong nilalanghap
Ang malamyos na huni ng mga ibon at kulisap
Ngayo’y busina at harurot ang kapalit.

Sa saliw ng buga at buhos ng fountain
Ika’y nasilayan…
nagkukubli sa tabing ng tubig.



Urban Water Nymph

Your new paradise is the city
In a forest of tall buildings
Breathing fume of vehicles
Where the harmony of birds and insects
Are now cacophony of beeps and vrooms

In the melody of sputter and pour of the fountain
I beheld…
an apparition, hiding in a curtain of water.

(This photo was originally posted with this link:
http://peterahon.blogspot.com/2008/04/eunjin-urban-fairy.html)

Entrecard's Add a Blog Feature

Updated: 22 May 2008.

On Thu, May 22, 2008 at 3:17 AM, <---@entrecard.com> wrote:

You have been sent 2000 Entrecard credits!

These credits were sent from Entrecard direct to your Entrecard account and have been applied to your balance. The transaction included the following note from the sender:

contest

---
Entrecard.com, linking bloggers together.

I woke up in happiness I told at the comment section of entrecard's blog. I cheked my email upon waking up to see this email in my inbox. So I can now splurge on advertising! Especially,we have to promote the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original post:


One of the internet activities that I usually do aside from checking emails and browsing the net is checking my advertisements at entrecard. Entrecard has been a way for me to create traffic and gain readers and subscribers.

So even before I read the email notice of the changes at entrecard I have seen the feature ahead. This is indeed an interesting time at entrecard. It has been very responsive to the calls, suggestions and ideas of its members. No wonder the membership continues to increase. For that same reason also all the blogs that I created have entrecard widgets in them.

Add a Blog Feature is the newest development at entrecard so it would be easier for me who have several blogs to switch from one blog to another. I don’t have to log-in and out to check on the status of my other blogs with the entrecard widget in them.




What more?

Now newbies will have an easy time to learn about entrecard. Unlike us older members who have to go through its development stage and learn in the process the nitty-gritty. And experience the shock of the sky-rocketting cost of our entrecard, but patiently the members waited for it to normalize and to get back to a more reasonable price.

So for newbies here is ENTRECARD's OFFICIAL EBOOK, gift for you:
http://entrecard.com/static/entrecard_official_ebook.pdf

Folks from entrecard has this to say “Our free ebook has arrived for everyone to download! If you're new to Entrecard, and wondering what to do first, this ebook will guide you along the way. And if you're an intermediate of advanced user, it's packed full of strategies you can use to get the absolute most from our service. Download from the link above.”

It seems for the past months the team is so engaged at updating and developing the site, new look, new features and definitely attracting more new members. So, I have to blog about these things, a personal testimony and appreciation of the good job entrecard folks keep doing.



Related External Post:

OFFICIAL E-Book release,

AWESOME features added,

and two BIG contests!

http://entrecard.com/blog/?p=325

Mabuhay Human Rights!

At blogcatalog today is the day to blog about human rights. I am glad to participate since our office blog is mostly about human rights, peace and democracy. But on a personal basis here on my personal blog I am wondering what to write about. Or should I just link those articles I have written about human rights? Good questions?

This evening at 6:00 PM we will have a reception party for the delegates and guests of the 2008 Gwangju International Peace Forum (2008 GIPF). An annual international event that gathers human rights activists and social development workers to Gwangju to network and exchange, learn about old and new issues, appreciate Gwangju and May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising (518), pay respect to the heroes of 518 and witness the awarding ceremony for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. Particularly for this year it is hoped that a Gwangju network will be created so collaboration will be much easier especially with the perception that most Asian countries are back sliding to authoritarianism and their governments becoming more of an illiberal democracies.

Particularly in the Philippines, Filipinos have been calling for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down. Aside from the corruption her families is embroiled, the unabated extrajudicial killings of journalists and activists are reasons enough for her to give up her position.

Also with the upcoming 30th Anniversary of 518 the international community is being engaged on how it will be celebrated and commemorated.

As a migrant or Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) here in Korea I am aware of the issues of fellow migrant workers since I interact with them at the Catholic Church on Sundays. But personally I have not done much to help address their issues. Anyway migrant workers here in Korea are well taken cared of compared to those who work in Saudi Arabia. In the Middle East aside from their unique culture and religion they do not have a vibrant civil society movement. There are no NGOs and Migrant Workers Centers to go to when you get in trouble. To think that almost half of these countries’ population is composed of migrant workers building their economy. In Saudi Arabia if you are not Muslim you are not allowed to practice your religion openly. So a lot of religious groups congregate in secrecy and privacy of their homes.

I could really say that migrant workers here in Korea for that matter are far better off than their counterparts in most Middle East countries. Here there are migrant workers centers to go to and NGOs to seek help. Catholic, Protestant, and Buddhist groups run programs or ministry for migrants, thus, lucky are the Embassies whose role is reduced to issuing visa and renewing passports and maintaining diplomatic relations since their peoples problems are attended to by the civil society groups in this country.

Although on a personal and official capacity, since the Foundation I work with is providing some financial assistance to a migrant group, and I was asked to work on their issues, I will then be more involved and engaged. This is an opportunity that I have been waiting for and I do hope that I can be of help this time.

But another of those human rights that I would like to look into is the rights of multiethnic or multicultural families. It is amazing to experience a birthday party where you could see a mixture of race and colors. Indeed Korea is turning into heterogeneous society. Statistics shows an upward trend on this situation.

It is now a big challenge for Korea to redefine itself. Institutions are beginning to adjust and wake up to the fact that a new Korea is emerging just decades after its rapid successful economic growth. It is a big pressure to the society and the citizens in particular who are constantly deluge by rapid changes. But the “pali-pali” (rush-rush) culture here I would surmise is capable to adapt to all these present phenomena.

At the Catholic Church also I would encounter Filipino women most of them I suppose are not oriented of their rights and aware of women’s issues. Perhaps “rights” is the least of their concern since productive and hard working as they are, they need to contribute to the families coffer with constant increase cost of living.

At the 2008 GIPF the National Human Rights Commission of Korea will be doing a forum that seeks to address the concern of multiethnic families. They will look and assess the responsiveness of local human rights ordinances to the plight of these multiethnic families. I think this is one the strengths of Korean governance, although cautious they welcome and embrace change easily. There’s even one political party that had a Filipina married to a Korean, in their slate of candidate running as representative to the Korean Assembly. But unfortunately she did not make it.

Indeed it is an exciting times here in Korea. And I do admire and pay respect to the sacrifice of the patriots and heroes of May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. For without them this might not be the Korea of their dreams, free and democratic. Their death was not put into vain after all. For they have paved the way for Korean democratization and for its rapid economic development. Today, both Koreans and migrants alike are reaping the rewards of their sacrifice. Truly, Gwangju should be considered as one of Asia’s sacred places for human rights, peace and democracy.

Long Live,

Mabuhay

Democracy, Peace and Human Rights!

Related Links:

http://518.org

http://518solidarity.blogspot.com/

http://518interns.blogspot.com/

http://518folkschool.blogspot.com/

Umaapoy, nagliliyab... nagliwanag!

nagliwanag...
nagliyab...
tulad ng puno sa gitna ng disyerto 'di masunog
ang pagmamahal ng Inang Birhen
patuloy na mag-aalab, magliliyab...
kasamaan lamang ang matutupok,
sa mga kahinaan ng mga anak na marurupok.

pag-alabin at
pagtibayin ang pananampalataya...
siya nawa.

(Larawan ng Groto ng Mahal na Birhen sa isang kumbento sa Gwangju, ROK. Epekto ng matagal na exposure sa liwanag mula sa malayong posisyon ng camera).

Isabel Allende on Women Empowerment

I was forwarded this link of Isabel Allende speaking at TED - Technology, Entertainment and Design. Although I have not read (blush) any of her novels I have seen one of her works adapted into film. Here is the reason why you should listen and watch her, from TED website:

As a novelist and memoirist, Isabel Allende writes of passionate lives, including her own. Born into a Chilean family with political ties, she went into exile in the United States in the 1970s -- an event that, she believes, created her as a writer. Her voice blends sweeping narrative with touches of magical realism; her stories are romantic, in the very best sense of the word. Her novels include The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna and The Stories of Eva Luna, and her latest, Ines of My Soul and La Suma de los Dias (The Sum of Our Days). And don't forget her adventure trilogy for young readers -- City of the Beasts, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon and Forest of the Pygmies.

As a memoirist, she has written about her vision of her lost Chile, in My Invented Country, and movingly tells the story of her life to her own daughter, in Paula. Her book Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses memorably linked two sections of the bookstore that don't see much crossover: Erotica and Cookbooks. Just as vital is her community work: The Isabel Allende Foundation works with nonprofits in the SF Bay Area and Chile to empower and protect women and girls -- understanding that empowering women is the only true route to social and economic justice.


"Allende can spin a funny, sensual yarn, but she can also use her narrative skills to remind us that parallel to our placid and comfortable existence is another, invisible universe, one where poverty, misery and torture are all too real."
Patricia Hart, The Nation

Today is Buddha's Birthday!

Almost a month ago I posted a blog entry about Buddha's Birthday - since those lanterns hanging on the street marks His Birthday. It is the most commented blog entry because of the cherry blossoms fotos. The link is below:
http://peterahon.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-birthday-buddha.html

But actually today is the real day of Buddha's Birthday here in Korea. I think in other countries his birthday is celebrated in other dates. Perhaps it was the Hallyu (Korean wave) from South Asia (India/Nepal/Tibet?) to China-Korea-Japan or East Asia.

OM MANI PADME HUM

Happy Birthday Buddha!

May peace reign in hearts, mind and soul... Ooooommm... Shanti.....

Below are photos taken at the Buddhist Temple located at the 518 Memorial Park, Sangmu, Gwangju, ROK.

Happy Mother's Day, Nanay! Flowers for you !

(Nanay/Lola with Grace at Quezon City Children's Hospital)

Mothers are like flowers

sweet with their fragrance

beautiful like a bouquet

great with their nature

loved for their nurture

Happy Mother’s Day Nanay

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms!

Link of related post (where this blog entry was mentioned/updated 12May):
http://rivergarth.blogspot.com/2008/05/mothers-day.html

Korea's Beautiful Old Women

This is a report from CSIS: According to the latest government projections, 38 percent of Korea’s population will be elderly by 2050, putting it in contention with Japan, Italy, and Spain for the oldest country on earth.

The photos below are from the on-going exhibit of Kim Tae Sung called "Missing Mother", at the Jang So Mugaksa, Buddhist Temple located at the 518 Memorial Park in Gwangju. It will run until May 19, 2008. The exhibit is part of the celebration of Buddha's Birthday. I have seen the photos last year in May at the Old Provincial Hall of downtown Gwangju.

I took these photos because I like the surrealist effect of black and white with the carnation attached to their portrait. Surrealism - well perhaps most of them were born during its heyday. And last year these photos were exhibited in a dilapidated rooms of the Old Provincial Hall (soon to be renovated as part of the culture complex) a surrealist juxtaposition of aging with the age old building, giving me goose pimples of what it would be like to be their age. The photos shows they are still into hard work even at their age. Although there were photos of them laughing and smiling most of the shots in black and white depicts them with a somber look.

Definitely the rural scene here in Korea belongs to them. They work in the farms and produces those products mostly consumed by us living in the cities. In 2005 I had a chance to stay for a weekend in a farming village and I was so surprised not to see kids or children running around and playing and I was told that some elementary schools had closed down because no more young children goes to school.

Their children, educated prefer to stay and live in the cities. So those Korean men who prefer to stay in the farm have to look for foreign brides among Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipinos and lately Cambodia. Since most Korean women, very educated would prefer to reside in the cities than in the villages where some of them were born and raised, this is the same case with educated men.

However, report shows a steady increase in the birth rate and a large number is contributed by multiethnic families. But projection tells that old age will still catch up with the newborns.

Related links:

http://www.hawaii.edu/aging/Korea1.pdf

http://peterahon.blogspot.com/2006/04/visit-to-nasan-hampyeong-and-some.html

http://kosians.blogspot.com/