Search and You Shall Find in My World

31 March 2009

The alleged article describing Filipinos as a country of servants and why

This is allegedly (allegedly because the text could no longer be traced) the column from Hongkong Magazine belittling the Filipinos but was later pulled out. I copied it from http://www.umleo23.com/2009/03/30/country-of-servants/

Hongkong Magazine already issued an apology after some quarters opposed to the column written by a Cheap Tsao.

The full text (emphasis mine):

The War At Home
http://hk-magazine.com/feature/war-home (Note: This link no longer be found at the address)
March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that
if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes.
The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being. 


Chip Tsao is a best-selling author and columnist. A former reporter for the BBC, his columns have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others. 

Sunset in Carcar


30 March 2009

To the South

Nothing to do is just a boring and life-threatening moment for me. When you are alone and emotionally wreaked and wallowing in that frustration, nothing to do or bumming or just plain laziness could get me somewhere I don't want to go.

So my former housemate and a friend decided unexpectedly, to go south of Cebu, and just do explorations to places we heard about but not too familiar with, last weekend.

First stop- Carcar, the shoe(s) capital of Cebu (or in the country?). There was a big shoe displayed in their shoecase area perhaps to gain attention out of Guiness World Records. We didn't know if the shoe got recognized. But one thing I am sure is, the shoes in Carcar are not something to be proud of. In fact, the ones displayed in their showrooms were out of style, of low quality leather, hard to the sole and not wearable. At least for me.

Seeing that, we went to their downtown area which I believed has more interesting things to see. And indeed I was more than impressed. The old houses, the architectural grandeur of Carcar long time ago still preserved to this day (although some are really deteriorating), the chicharon and some delicacies worth buying, these made up over my frustration with the Carcar shoes, slippers, whatever you may call them.

After some touristic activities, taking photos to be specific, we decided to stay longer in the area and asked directions towards the beaches, instead of our plan to proceed to some towns after Carcar. The people in Carcar seemed not interested to promote their beaches and instead gave us names of famous resorts frequented by tourists. Not in Carcar of course, mind you, but somewhere far from their town. Talking about Pride of Place huh!

I asked where Valladolid or Villadolid is. They said the place is not okay but a tricycle driver offered to take us there for a fee of P20 per person and promised to wait for us. We hitched his ride.

Indeed the place he brought us was not the best. The resort (I even forgot the name of the place) was covered in concrete and looking like a fortress rather than a resort. Everywhere we saw rocks. Good heavens, the sea is even way way far and maybe was in its lowest tide. The food they could offer were some junkfoods (tsitserya as we call them) and soda. Ewwww. And it was a resort. I resorted to smoking instead.

Anyways, the sunset was fantastic and the place really was silent and remote. Truly worth a break from the city life.

We went home reminiscing Carcar. And maybe next time proceed to some towns far far south.

It was just the beginning.

26 March 2009

Special Offer

As thousands graduate this month, some brain-drained people are eager to show their offer. Just show them your DEPLOMA.

(Seen at a stall at E-Mall in Cebu City. Sony Ericsson W810i mobile phone cam was used.)

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Revisited

   
I am using my Sony Ericsson W810i mobile phone for these shots.

Boyet Fajardo Who?

“Mga leche kayo! Hindi n’yo ako kilala? Ako si Boyet Fajardo! At itong putang-inang babaeng ito at ang baklang ito ay mga walang kuwentang tao! I want them fired!” ~ Fashion designer Boyet Fajardo’s reaction when, - after presenting an unsigned credit card at the cashier - two Duty Free employees asked for another ID (grabbed from The Professional Heckler's Fashion Victim)

Eh sino nga ba yang Fajardo na yan? Abu Sayyaf? Politiko? Mga bakla talaga o...


And MORE SAUCY DETAILS can be read at Sasha Says or by clicking on this link.

BUT SERIOUSLY- WHO IS THIS BOYET FAJARDO?

24 March 2009

Sulivan


We left everything behind
As is the case of love
Like a hearse on its final journey we travel
From home to where we bury ourselves
Flowery but sad, a reunion
Of warm hands and restrained sighs
It was a lovely day despite the rain.
We wander and wondering we were
Into that unknown destination you said you knew
Only you know, and I, like a child
Bewitched with your words
Words of comfort and assurance
You said you know the way.
I believed. Because of love.

I didn’t see the hollow of your words.

The New Face of Manny Pacquiao


And the 5 peso bill is just a kind description of what Manny Pacquiao really is and what he wants.

**********************************************************************************

Dollywood says- When Manny Pacquiao unceremoniously bolted GMA 7 and went back to ABS-CBN, it hit me that, although the “Pambansang Kamao” unites the country during his boxing fights, he divides the networks all the more.

Shouldn’t a national icon like himself give access and rights to air his matches in all networks? Or does it all boil down to money for Manny?


**********************************************************************************

Pacquiao cornered by ABS-CBN, GMA 7, Solar

Then he changed his mind.

**********************************************************************************

Tommy Manotoc says- I’d like to look at Pacquiao’s actions in a different context, in a different light. He was inclined to do such things because circumstances forced him to do so.

I’m not apologizing for him, but in trying to understand his actions, I have come to one conclusion: Even for a fighter of his caliber, he cannot win everything.

Pacquiao has become a victim of his own selfishness, his own greed. Not for money, mind you, but for power and attention—things that some people simply cannot live without.

22 March 2009

Blue over green project

"All I have been trying to do is remind people that we have to live and work in harmony with nature if we are to have any chance of surviving on this planet," Prince Charles told the Sunday Telegraph in the Galapagos Islands at the end of a 10-day tour of South America.


Quoted from INQUIRER.net news

21 March 2009

Oh women, I'm sure you would agree

According to Useless Knowledge, the largest cell in the human body is the female ovum, or egg cell. It is about 1/180 inch in diameter. The smallest cell in the human body is the male sperm. It takes about 175,000 sperm cells to weigh as much as a single egg cell. Hence, even in the beginning, women have more substance than men.



Pic from mrothery.co.uk

Uh oh!

Host: If you had a foreign guest, where in the Philippines would you take him?

Guest: I would take him to see the Chocolate Hills in Bicol.

(Uh, those are the Sapin-sapin Mountains. The famous Chocolate Hills are in Bohol.)


Pic from mediabistro.com

Disoriented

I woke up at 7 this morning and did some pushups to get the sleep still clinging on my eyelids. I slept at 2am by the way because I did a movie marathon. Some heavy stuff. Milk. The Reader (again). Body of Lies. Marley&Me. Bolt (yeah, heavy right?).

After some updating on Facebook and Blogspot, I did pushups again and while heaving my heavy body, I thought of breakfast at Jollibee. The usual stuff. Longganisa and two cups of hot chocolate! I didn't push through with the pushups and rushed to take a bath. All the while the hot choco boiled in my mind.

When I arrived at Jollibee I ordered what was on my mind. Sorry sir it's already 11.30 and we only serve breakfasts until 10 in the morning. I was devastated!

I am disoriented for the past few weeks now.

20 March 2009

Deadly Beauty


An underwater volcano near Tonga erupted furiously last Wednesday, March 18. How marvelous it looked! No reported damages after the eruption. All photos from Reuters.

19 March 2009

Pineapple Express

SAUL (James Franco): No, no! What do you mean, the battery's dead?

DALE DENTON (Seth Rogan): How can I explain this to you differently? The battery is dead. It ceased to live. It's deceased now. The car needs a battery to start, Saul.

O tiera, esperame

Return me, oh sun,
to my country destiny,
rain of the ancient woods.
Bring me back its aroma, and the swords
falling from the sky,
the solitary peace of pasture and rock,
the damp at the river margins,
the smell of the larch tree,
the wind alive like a heart
beating in the crowded remoteness
of the towering araucaria.

Earth, give me back your pristine gifts,
towers of silence which rose from
the solemnity of their roots.
I want to go back to being what I haven’t been,
to learn to return from such depths
that among all natural things
I may live or not live.  I don’t mind
being one stone more, the dark stone,
the pure stone that the river bears away.

Pablo Neruda

Bragging and Neruda

I bragged about my Paypal account. 

I am earning some mighty dollars from blogging unknown products I haven’t had the chance to use. 

To put this bragging more of use, I decided to purchase something online. Now that’s cool, isn’t it?

I’ve wanted to own a Neruda book. Now this could do a lot of bragging.

Neruda search online.

There you go.

Basic Anthology of Pablo Neruda.

Only a few dollars. Cool.

I ordered. They don’t do deliveries in the Philippines.

Damn!

I tried another site.

The manager emailed me that they could deliver in the Philippines! I thanked God. He gave me a quotation. I was aghast! My Paypal could not pay the total amount!

I sulked. Sour grapes.

I will just go to Fully Booked and read Neruda from there.

Sweet lemons.

Nicole might have enjoyed it after all

CHANGE? YES I CAN!

Nicole aka Suzette Nicolas from Zamboanga City recanted her testimony against Corporal Daniel Smith who was supposed to have raped her. She might have enjoyed it after all. Gabriela and other "cause" oriented groups were not there during the "rape" so they have nothing to oppose to especially the VFA.

Nicolas said in her affidavit- My conscience continues to bother me realizing that I may have in fact been so friendly and intimate with Daniel Smith at the Neptune Club that he was led to believe that I was amenable to having sex or that we simply just got carried away. I would rather risk public outrage than do nothing to help the court in ensuring that justice is served.

Picture from daylife.com

17 March 2009

Sun and Moon

ImageChef Word Mosaic - ImageChef.com

Stupid Drivers

I did not know there was a jeepney strike in Cebu yesterday until someone told me about it.

The reason? The drivers were protesting the almost 500-percent increase in fines and penalties of traffic violations!

I was shocked. I know they are just drivers. And drivers rule the streets. But protesting heavy fines and penalties for their violations just proved that they would want to violate traffic rules. And such a stupid action! These simple-minded entities showed how moronic their minds are.

No wonder Mayor Osmeña said- I don’t know what they are talking about? We have drivers who want fines to be affordable. What's wrong with them? If they want it to be affordable, they should follow the rules. I don't think that the rules are so strict that it cannot be complied with. What's the whole point of enforcing traffic if we give them a situation for them to continue to violate? (Quoted from Cebu Daily News)

What is happening to the world?


Picture grabbed from Christian Jorg's Picase Web Albums

16 March 2009

Just Another Sunset at the House of the Fly





A beautiful sunset taken a few minutes ago using a Canon EOS Rebel XSi.

Crowning Glory

This is a papaya plant near the compound. I am using a long range Canon lens and Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera under natural lights. I'm trying my photography skills using a real camera.

The Reader: A viewer's dilemma

We went to Colon yesterday and tried to explore the area when we saw this building full of pirated DVDs. We went in and bought The Reader. I am guilty of piracy, so sue me.

Anyways, before I get sued, I have to see this one. But I could never be a movie critic! Defining a movie by its elements like theme, narrative structure, cinematography, etc. is a very complicated job for me. So this is not a movie review!

The movie showed our biases and how cruel it could get. That's the case with The Reader.

Everyone of the accused guards pointed out Hanna Schmitz as the main culprit in the killing of 300 Jews and including documenting about what happened in Auschwitz. Hanna, maybe ashamed to admit of the fact that she could neither read nor write, admitted she did the writing. Michael Berg, Hanna's lover, not telling the court Hannah could not read and write. Berg, despite having a guilty conscience, could not even comfort Hanna who is supposed to be given freedom after years of penitentiary service. The child of the lone survivor during Hanna's term as SS guard still understandably bitter despite Hanna's act of reconciliation but kept the tea tin for herself (forgiving Hanna in a way?). All these made the movie truly remarkable and a must-see.

I was truly aghast at the scene when Hanna was told she was promoted from being a ticket inspector to an administrative job in the office. Being an illiterate, the chaotic trains added to her rather shocked face upon knowing the promotion. Damn! The director was genius. 

Aside from the fact that this is a good story (the film was based on a novel by some Schlink or something), one can adore the excellent shots of naked women making love. Just lovely.

According to one friend, this is a movie about the Holocaust but without the Holocaust.

Go and see why Kate Winslet deserved the Oscars.


Picture from ew.com

14 March 2009

Family affairs

I am still drunk and could not think of other things except smoke and caffeine overload when I received an SMS from my sis telling me she just had a baby boy! And with an additional text that I have his eyes. Isn't that cool? Welcome to the family baby Liam Lorenzo Barol! I gave him his name by the way.

Meanwhile my elder sister sent me a text message asking me if she could borrow some money.

13 March 2009

Drunk

Don't know why but so many people come to me and share their life experiences with me tonight. Koreans. Japanese. Muslims. I had a hard time talking to an Arab tonight because I could not understand him!

Damn alcohol!

Bats and Tequila Always Mix

Plants that are dependent on bats for pollination include bananas, dates, figs, cashews, avocados, saguaros, organ pipes, century plants, cloves, mangoes, breadfruit, carob, kapok, and almost every tropical night-blooming species, including the mescal plant. That’s right—without bats, there would be no tequila!


from Useless Knowledge
Poster from ianchadwick.com