Live Life! Love Life!

No to CONASS Noise Barrage June 19, 2009 Gate 2.5 Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Heights, QC

The PAGASA Youth have partnered with Baybayin Craft and the University Student Council (USC) of UP Diliman to launch the first ever Dance Forum on June 14, from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the UP Sunken Garden. Walang usapan -- sayawan lang! The Dance forum hopes to start the process of re-enlivening the dancing spirit of the Filipino people...thus, expect a series of dance fora in different spaces and venues happening soon! What's more exciting is that during the event, the Liping Baybayin rhythm -- an original dance movement inspired by the ancient Filipino syllabary was also launched. Known as Sulat Baybayin and mistakenly called alibata, its roots can be traced to Pinoy consciousness. A group of 8 children from the foothills of Mt. Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon started to learn the dance last April 11, 2009 and shared their skill and knowledge during the dance forum. Dance your heart out and connect to the Filipino dancing spirit!

What is the Con Ass and What Can We do About It Young Public Servants Our Constitution, the fundamental law of the land, can be changed in three ways. One is through a Constitutional Convention where delegates are elected by the people. This is how our 1987 constitution was drafted. Second is through an initiative where twelve percent (12%) of the total registered voters can sign a petition for charter change. Each legislative district must be represented by at least three percent (3%) of its registered voters. And finally, through a Constituent Assembly where Congress (House of Representative and the Senate) transforms itself into a body that changes or amends the constitution. This is more popularly referred to today as the Con Ass. The debate today is not whether Con Ass is a valid way to change the constitution. It is. Rather, it is the way the House of Representatives formed the Constituent Assembly. In our current constitution it simply states that the Constituent Assembly is for...

Mula sa aking email: Gari Lazaro posted an announcement to the cause Justice to Ka Rene Peñas, Justice to All Farmers!. ---------------- Magandang Gabi sa Lahat! Habang sinusulat ko ito ay patuloy pa rin ang pagdagsa ng mga solidarity statements para kundenahin ang brutal na pagpaslang kay Ka Rene Peñas. Kanina ay nagpahayag na ng pormal sa kanilang kundemnasyon ang lider ng Kaya Natin!, Bro. Eddie Villanueva ng Bagong Pilipinas Movement, Sen. Mar Roxas ng Liberal Party at Bishop Broderick Pabillo ng CBCP-NASSA/Archdiocese of Manila. Natapos na rin ang sinasagawang Factfinding ng Balaod Mindanaw hinggil sa pagkamatay ni Ka Rene at para sa kabuuan ng report ay maaring basahin rito: http://landwatch.i.ph/blogs/landwatch/2009/06/07/balaod-mindanaw-fact-finding-team-on-the-death-of-ka-rene-penas/ . Gayundin, bukas ng umaga (Hunyo 8) ay magsasagawa ng PRESS CONFERENCE upang ibahagi ang resulta ng Fact Finding at ang planong dalhin sa Maynila ang katawan ni Ka Rene para sa apat na araw na lu...

CODE-NGO Statement on HR 1109 on Con-Ass Stop Con-Ass, Defend Democracy The railroading of HR 1109 again shows that the Administration and its congresspersons cannot be trusted to keep their word - not now and not when they convene as a Con-ass to decide on changes to the 1987 Constitution. We call on all citizens and civil society organizations to express their condemnation of the midnight approval of HR 1109 and the planned Con-ass. Let us fight the relentless attempts of this Administration to perpetuate its hold on power! Let us defend democracy! Read more here : http://changepolitics.ning.com/

Syndicating my blog post from another blog. I have no time to blog these days so I will do an excerpt of blog post from another blog: http://ofwbagongbayani.blogspot.com/2009/05/peba-and-abused-ofws.html So here's an excerpt of another source of inspiration for which I am willing to multi-task, but good thing colleagues are so diligent enough to put into action decisions from online-discussions: Definitely it is not a perfect world. So PEBA believes that there is HOPE, that OFW can still be gift to the world for his/her diligence and world class skills. I really look forward to that day that aside from awarding bloggers, Expats and OFW bloggers are united in addressing and helping prevent OFWs being abused and taken advantage. And also NGOs and other civil society groups and mostly the government, assist and provide the necessary services OFW truly they truly deserve. After all they remain pillars for the Philippine economy to survive. PEBA will then award not only bloggers but als...

(foto source - http://www.filipinobooks.com/copy1roa/_borders/folkdance_poster.JPG) Mga Ka-Sayawan at Ka-Tugtugan! Ito po ang pinakahuling balita patungkol sa ating proyekto: Itutuloy po natin ang ating napagusapang gawain, ang sayawan at tugtugan para muling buhayin ang dancing spirit nating mga Pinoy... Aliw-iw Dance Forum 2009 Ito ay gaganapin sa: Hunyo 14, 2009 (Linggo) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM UP Sunken Garden Sa bawat grupong "co-conspirator" UP Street Dance Club, LaSalle FROLIC, UP Indak Oryantal, BANGSI, UP Kontragapi, Sanghabi at mga inaasahan pang maging "co-conspirators" Filipiniana Dance Troupe, UP Anido, Dance Sport, Brigada, at Spring of Harmony Internal Arts maaari po lamang maghanda ng 5-sentence write-up patungkol sa inyong grupo, at mp3 file ng 3 tugtog na maaaring gamitin para sa inyong mga sayaw. Gayundin po ang listahan ng mga kasapi na makakasama (buong pangalan/ kasarian) at food preference (vegetarian, allergies, etc). Ang nakatakda po nating rehe...

Imbistasyon mula sa email box dito sa blog: Samahan po natin siya! --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Mae Paner wrote: Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 7:27 AM mahal kong mga KAIBIGAN! i juana change ! ayaw kong maging pabigat sa bayan! sa may 24, linggo, ay birthday ko! meron akong birthday wish... na sana may 200 na mga kaibigan ang sumama sa aking paglalakad sa araw na ito! 6:30am-7:30am sa giant snail ang mtg place sa san miguel by the bay (across moa) kung kaya kong gumising, kaya mo rin! maglakad tayo ng sama-sama! please! please! please! salubungin natin ang bagong araw! let us party! salamat in advance! labyu, mae paner aka juana change ! RSVP at paki pasa na rin! maepaner@gmail.com

Demanding an end to Filipino politics-as-usual, citizens raised their voices yesterday in unprecedented internet-linked simultaneous assemblies in ten (10) areas across the country. One year before the May 2010 elections, core members of the newly formed Change Politics Movement (CPM) from more than 38 provinces and cities converged in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Ormoc, Borongan, Mandaue, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Naga and Quezon City, and were linked by live video-streaming and cellular phone calls into one concerted clamor for change politics. The assemblies also served to launch CPM, which now has 2,000 core members. “We need to take back politics from corrupt politicians and make it the sacred covenant it is meant to be, between leaders and their constituencies,” declared Dinky Soliman, one of the interim national convenors of CPM. “Civil society has long participated in politics from the periphery --- remaining non-partisan, watching and waiting for reform as winning candidates take...

by unknown Author A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said: For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: $.50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 Taking out the garbage: $1.00 For getting a good report card: $5.00 For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 Total owed: $14.75 Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote: For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the year...

MEDIA ADVISORY Nationwide Launching of Change Politics Movement Exactly one year before the national elections on May 10, 2010, a citizen led movement to take back politics from the hands of politicians who betray the public trust will be launched on Sunday of May 10, 2009 at the Institute of Social Order (ISO), Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. The program will begin at 8:30 and the press coverage is open from 11:00 a.m. The Press Conference will be at 12:30 noon. The Change Politics Movement has a core group of community organizers and development workers who recognized the need to change politics to have positive change that we all yearn and aspire for the Philippines. The movement will undergo a selection process and will choose a set of candidates that will be endorsed by the movement. Former DSWD Secretary and Hyatt 10 member Corazon ‘Dinky' Soliman is part of this movement and will be facilitating the program and the press conference. The launch will ...

(foto courtesy of - http://www.thebestfriend.org/cont/hero.htm) Congratulations to Min Ko Naing, the NLDA and the rest of the Burmese Freedom Fighters! Min Ko Naing is the recipient of the prestigious 2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights! This is the link to Korean website of The May 18 Memorial Foundation's announcement of Min Ko Naing for his achievement: http://tinyurl.com/cyk6zq ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Text of the announcement of the of The May 18 Memorial Foundation, sent via email. 2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Announcement The situation regarding democracy and human rights in Myanmar/Burma remains dire. At this very moment, many pro-democracy activists are locked up in freezing cold cells. The international community has put pressure on Burma’s military junta, taking consistent interest in the nation’s pro-democracy movement. Despite its efforts, some countries around the world have turned a deaf ear t...

Below is an excerpt of the launching of the 2009 Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Award PEBA: In its second year, PEBA will recognize Pinoy Expats and OFWs bloggers making a difference in their lives, workplace, community, the Philippines and the world in general. This year, the theme is: “Filipinos Abroad – Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World”. Cognizant and directly affected by the brunt of global financial crisis, Filipinos continue to anchor their hope and trust to their family members abroad as herald of better news and good tidings. Thus, reinforcing the OFWs and Filipino expats role and image as new heroes and saviors. PEBA also recognizes that Filipinos wherever they are, be it land-based, sea-based or air-based as the case maybe, are shining examples of dedication, diligence, and excellence in almost anything they do. It is not uncommon for them to be praised as assets to companies and organizations contributing to the social and economic well being of their host country. PEBA considers...

Below is an excerpt of the launching of the 2009 Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Award PEBA: In its second year, PEBA will recognize Pinoy Expats and OFWs bloggers making a difference in their lives, workplace, community, the Philippines and the world in general. This year, the theme is: “Filipinos Abroad – Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World”. Cognizant and directly affected by the brunt of global financial crisis, Filipinos continue to anchor their hope and trust to their family members abroad as herald of better news and good tidings. Thus, reinforcing the OFWs and Filipino expats role and image as new heroes and saviors. PEBA also recognizes that Filipinos wherever they are, be it land-based, sea-based or air-based as the case maybe, are shining examples of dedication, diligence, and excellence in almost anything they do. It is not uncommon for them to be praised as assets to companies and organizations contributing to the social and economic well being of their host country. PEBA considers...

From joy roxas 12 pairs of rubber shoes ready for use 120 days allotted to complete the run 100 days for running 20 days allotted for rest 5,000 kilometers to complete the trans-American run 50 kilometers to cover per day 6-7 hours to run a day 8 minutes to run each kilometer 1 woman, a Filipina named Joy Rojas to prove that there’s no limit to the Filipino Spirit! Takbong Pangarap is Joy’s dream run, the ultimate (but perhaps not the penultimate) run of her life after proving herself that she can reach Pagudpud from Davao on foot. Covering a distance of 2,000 km South to North of the Philippines. Why run, like Forrest Gump? Joy derives happiness in running. It is also her goal to inspire people to live longer with a healthier lifestyle and raise funds for the two beneficiaries of the run. Both the Social Services Division of the Philippine Heart Center and the Anti-TB Program of the Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City District 378 will benefit from this project. She thanked and encourage...

A website grade of 96.5/100 for peterahon.blogspot.com means that of the hundreds of thousands of websites that have previously been evaluated, our algorithm has calculated that this site scores higher than 96.5% of them in terms of its marketing effectiveness. The algorithm uses a proprietary blend of over 50 different variables, including search engine data, website structure, approximate traffic, site performance, and others. The website peterahon.blogspot.com ranks 31,163 of the 906,057 websites that have been ranked so far. The software is constantly being upgraded and the algorithm enhanced. The number of potential recommendations provided by the tool is also increasing frequently. Website is assessed according to ON/OFF page SEO using: metadata, images, interior page analysis, readability level, google page rank, google indexed pages, traffic rank, in bound links, blog analysis by way of technorati and alexa, social bookmarks like diggs and delicious. Details of their assessme...

Once again, thanks to azrael for the invite to join bloggers at AIM (Asian Institue of Management). The invite was posted at plurk , and since it is a bloggers gathering, and I’ve been wanting to get immersed with the bloggers activities here in the country, I requested to be invited. But what I thought as a listening event turned out as a talking event for me. The veritable Pinoy adage “Nautusan lang bumili ng suka” (asked to buy vinegar) applied to me this afternoon. I signed up to listen and lo, I was invited by Regnard to be in front and join the rest of Pinoy bloggers who have made and continue to carve their names in Pinoy blogosphere. AIM offered the course Winning Internet Marketing Strategies & Tactics for the first time to marketing & media executives. The sharing of bloggers and interaction with the course participants were very informative for me. I gained new insight and learning on blogger’s credibility and maintaining loyal readers through blog conten...

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime . When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.. a REASON When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. a SEASON Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They...

Domingo Kinnit – Ilocano’s way of breaking fast and abstinence from meat eating Growing up in Ilocos in the 80’s and 90’s during Lent, Domingo Kinnit is Easter or the Sunday of Christ Resurrection is a looking forward day for us kids. Domingo Kinnit (Sunday Bite), the word “kinnit” is an Ilocano word for bite. Children are encouraged by adults to fast. Since adults fast, rarely would you find meat to bite during lent. For Ilocanos it is easy since vegetable dishes cooked in bagoong (inabraw or dinengdeng) and grilled fish (tinuno nga ikan) is a common fare. So it is natural that during Easter Sunday families would butcher animals that were fattened for the occasion of Domingo Kinnit. Be it chicken or goat. Or when an affluent family feels blessed enough to share their blessings they have a pig butchered and shared to the rest of their relatives. Some practical families would also have the pig sold por kilo on an “utang” or loaned basis. And the rest of the meat or bony parts wou...