My Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs (Partial List)

This is my first time to nominate for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2010. It is "a writing project that seeks in identifying new and emerging blogs who are making an impact to its readers in 2010." For the rules on how you can participate, check it out here. I felt compelled to nominate these blogs which made a lot of difference in my life these past few months so here they are. (I'm becoming emotional again. Lol.)

Ang Lungga ng Babaeng Otes

With over a thousand posts in her blog, Pia Montalban is a really passionate writer. She can write well-versed poems and thought-provoking essays. She talks about from the most personal to the most pressing social issues of our country. Blogging since 2007, she is but one of the few who remains firm and fervent in her desire to speak out her mind and share the lessons of her life.

Kapirasong Kritika

Teo Marasigan's long posts in his blog would bore any typical web user whose attention span is short and prefers seeing more images than text. But I tell you once you get hooked, you'll surely ask for more. More than his progressive views on politics and society, he doesn't claim to be self-righteous but he is firm on his principles and what he is fighting for. Progressives should read his blog often as well as those people who often criticize the Left for Teo's posts clearly explains things which are often misrepresented on mainstream media.

Rafael Anton Dulce

Currently ANAKBAYAN's National Vice Chairperson, I won't forget that day when this guy suddenly placed harsh comments on my previous blog. But I must admit, he made me realize later that what I wrote is simply baseless and full of crap. Eventually, I end up joining ANAKBAYAN back in UP.

Now, Anton, as everyone calls him, continues to write hard-hitting and sharp political commentary on his blog without apologies. You may decry him for being so rude in his posts and becoming too personal sometimes but in a crisis-ridden society that we are all into, we need to get real, straight to the point and give concrete solutions to the most pressing problems that majority of Filipinos are facing.

REKLAMOTION

For the first time, we now have drinking buddies sealing their friendship with a blog. Kidding aside, this blog contains contains the musings, commentaries and opinions of four friends sharing the same interests though they have differing views. This is quite unusual for a collaborative but that's what makes this blog a must-read for years to come. I must admit that this blog inspired me to push through with a project that I've been dreaming of eversince. Coming soon! Thanks to Reklamotion. :D

Secret Garden

Who would've expect that 'an average girl with a broken camera' (as she says so) can come up with nicely taken pictures that would surely captivate you. She's also awesome at creating vector images (which I hope she'll teach me how to do it) which are really nice, cute and girly. :D

The Barefoot Scientist

We may have disagreed on some things but I really admire how intellectual and progressive this man is. But what him different from other intellects is that he never fails to reach out and connect well with his audience. He's a geek who supports Free and Open Source Software but he never loses sight on the different social issues that are hounding our country today.

The Red Diary

She's annoyed with me because I keep on asking why she has the same profile pictures for all her online accounts - Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, etc. But you won't be annoyed with her (even if she has the same profile pic all over) as chronicles her life in this blog as a student leader and an ordinary teenager who lives out her life while serving for the greater good of her fellow students.

We Sell Martians

From drinking buddies (just kidding) now we have lovers. Lovers often seal their unending love with a kiss. But Lara and BB chose to seal it with a blog. These two lovers came into prominence when they published their widely circulated post about a senatoriable who ran last elections and almost won Gladly that senatoriable didn't won (sorry no clues for you. :P).

Pedestrian Observer

I may not always agree with what they say but this collaborative blog helps me think and rethink my stand on issues. Many will find it hard to understand some of their posts but you will surely appreciate how they give time and effort to give a deeper look on today's pressing issues.

One more to go. :) If you want your blog to occupy the last spot and you think you are worthy of it, leave your creative comments and responses below and tell me why should I include you on my list.

Thank you for these sponsors who made this project possible: Events and Corporate Video, Budget hotel in Makati, Pinoy Party Food, Copyediting Services, PR Agency Philippines, Budget Travel Philippines, Send Gifts to the Philippines, Roomrent - units for rent, Search Profile Index, and Corporate Events Organizer.

Digmaan (War)

(Note: This post was originally intended to be published on September 1, the day of commemoration for the outbreak of the Second World War.)

Most of us weren't born yet when it happened. It is said to be one of the most 'destructive war of all time' that it had been able to surpass all the previous wars in terms of cost, people killed, nations involved and the havoc it did. Mankind had witnessed the most 'inhumane acts' committed by heartless and merciless people. It was a war borne out of man's lust for power and selfish aims to rule the world. It is the most tragic and horrible chapter of human history.

It was the Second World War (World War II).

---

Last September 1, a few countries in Europe 'commemorated' the 70th year anniversary of the outbreak of World War II that began with the invasion of Poland by then Nazi Germany. I would like to emphasize that: 'a few countries..'

From out of the more than 100 nations that had been involved in the most deadliest war, only a few had remembered.

It seems that everyone else had simply chosen to forget a war that had almost annihilated the entire human race.

---

Maybe, we cannot blame some people to simply put the war as part of history books and erase it from collective memory because of the tremendous sorrow, pain, grief and sufferings the have experienced. Kumbaga sa pag-ibig, para naman maka-move on ang lahat.

Yet, there is a danger when everyone else chose not to even remember it. Because the next generation would have little knowledge about that war and would not be able to learn some lessons from it. Thus, there is a big possibility that it could occur again.

Even now, we are quite seeing some danger signs that could possibly lead to escalation of violence and would most likely lead to another war that almost all nations would be involved.

What would be the reasons for the possible escalation of another war? The same reason that have caused World War 2: greed.

Take the case of the Philippines.

---

Our capital (Manila) is said to be the 2nd most destroyed city in the world after the war. It is also said that almost a third of our population had been either killed in action or had been victims of the war. Others who had survived had barely crossed the line to insanity. Our women had been raped and this barbaric act had been forever etched in their minds. We had also seen how Imperial Japan then used the most excessive and brutal torture methods. We had seen how each Filipino had suffered so much that they've got no other choice but to either fight or die.

And yet, we do not even remember much of it. It had been downgraded to a mere chapter on our history books - just like other important historical events that made us truly Filipino. It had become a mere campaign for more compensation for the service our veterans had rendered during the war. It had almost been removed in the Filipino's collective memory.

And because of that, we are seeing a resemblance of the previous war we had been - this time in its much worse form.

---

Filipinos fighting against each other. Filipinos silencing those who disagree with them.; some would experience the same torture that Imperial Japan did. Filipinos who still see that only an all-out war can put an end to our insurgency and terrorism problems. Fellow Filipinos who sees dissenters as traitors of the 'state' and destabilizers out there to disrupt the prevailing oppressive social order.

The aggressors had long been gone. But what made it worse is that our fellow Filipinos had replaced them. In fact, as soon as war ended, the previous governments of Roxas, Quirino and Magsaysay worked for the annihilation of the Huks simply because they fought against the feudal lords and fought for their right to have their own land to till.

From then on, the government who supposedly should be protecting the true interests of its people had become the oppressor. The entity who used its 'legitimate use of force' to silence the people's genuine concerns. The traitors who are out there to sell out our country and its people in exchange for dollars to fill in their pockets.

But why? They had simply forgotten to learn their lessons from the past.

And I won't be surprised if in the near future, no matter how peace-loving Filipinos are, we would be divided by civil strife because of their frustration and hopelessness that they are seeing in our current plight.

---

But then again, no one wins in a war. Not even the victor who had been able to wipe out its 'enemy.' Even the oppressed who suddenly took up the arms to fight the oppressor. We would always end up in a vicious cycle of violence and hatred that would make it happen all over again.

So what do we need to do?

Learn our lessons from history.

My Emotional Outrage

I am supposed to sleep early today. I had nothing to do except to wait for emails that would be coming in from the clients that I had been wooing to get my services. I got one telling me that they are going to review my proposal and wait for a week for their response. I just hope that would be a positive news a week from now.

Balik sa topic. I was reading some posts from blogs that I had placed on my Google Reader when I stumbled upon this blog post here. I have nothing personal against her but I had a sudden emotional outrage upon reading her post. Again, I have nothing personal against her. I am only reacting here based on her post. What was it all about? It's about our 'dear President.'

Let me elaborate my short reply to her post. I do hope na babasahin mo, hanggang sa katapusan dahil naiyak ako habang ginagawa ang post na ito - na maaaring huli na naman dahil sa pagkakataon..

---

I'm a PRO-GLORIA too but that was ten years ago. I had been defending her from 'attacks' made by other people especially my relatives. They keep on telling me that nothing will change. But I insist on my belief then that she would be different and would make a difference.

But just a few months after, she disappointed me and that was the end of my disillusionment.

I'd like to highlight what she said in her last SONA:

"However much a President wishes it, a national problem cannot be knocked out with a single punch…"

She could be referring to Pacquiao (since he was around the Congress at that time) but of course it was about solving our perennial problems.

Believe it or not but yes I believe that she cannot solve all of our problems. She cannot do it all with a snap of a finger. She give us all the solutions in all of our problems. After all, she's not a that lady who would swallow a piece of rock and turn into a superhero. She's just a human being.

Enough of that, let's go straight to the facts.

---

Since 1986, she had been the ONLY PRESIDENT in this forsaken land that was given the chance to be in office for almost a decade - the second longest term ever served by a Philippine president. A decade of chance to do something for this country.

Before anything us, let us set aside what her critics are saying which I also believe are no different to her (like Erap) and stick to reality.

---

Look around you.

Maybe, you haven't been to a squatters area. You may say that they are too lazy to work and they just wait for manna to come down from heaven. But try to talk to them. Know why are they still in that condition. And you'll be surprised to find out that they had been working hard all their life so that they would be uplifted from poverty - not waiting for dole outs from the government.

There may be few of them who are really 'palamunin' or are indulged in deadly and unproductive vices like drinking beer almost everyday, smoking, drugs, gambling and sabong. But majority of these people are striving hard everyday to the point of doing something unlawful just to make both ends meet.

In short, para may makain man lang sila kahit isang beses sa isang araw.

Oh yes she is very hardworking. She does not spend too much time talking. She let her spokespersons do the talking for her. But the problem is we don't know for whom she is working for. Is she really doing her work for us? Or for the 'chosen' few? How are we going to know the answers to these queries?

I know the answer. I'll give them to you based on my personal story.

Still, even if I won't tell you my story, you just need to look around.

Classrooms.
Salary of Public School Teachers, Gov't Workers and Private Employees.
Land Reform.

What happened to these things? Think about it.

---

Pasensya na. Medyo nasaktan lang ako sa mga sinabi mo na isa siyang magaling na Pangulo. At hindi talaga ako sumasang-ayon sa mga sinabi mo dahil sa ilalim ng pangulo na ito naranasan ng aming pamilya ang matinding hirap.

Maswerte pa din kaming maituturing kasi nakakakain pa kami ng tatlong beses sa isang araw. May cellphone. May pampaload. May TV. May internet. Nakakapag-aral. Pero sa lahat ng ito, hindi biro ang pinagdaanan namin para magkaron nito.

Sa ilalim ni Gloria, halos tatlong taon nawalan ng trabaho ang tatay ko. Hindi siya makahanap ng trabaho. Isipin mo na lang ang pakiramdam ng isang ama na tingin niya'y wala na na siyang silbi dahil di siya makahanap ng maayos na trabaho.

Pero hanga ako sa kanya dahil iginapang niya ang pag-aaral namin. Namasada siya ng FX. Nagsumikap makabenta ng insurance sa panahon na marami ang di na nagtitiwala dito. At sa awa ng Diyos, nakaraos kami sa yugtong iyon.

Pero ngayon, di pa natatapos ang termino ni Gloria mawawalan na naman siya ng trabaho - wala pa din kasiguraduhan at malamang kung matatanggal siya hindi na siya makakakita pa.

---

Guro sa pampublikong paaralan sa hayskul ang nanay ko. Kita ko ang hirap niya sa pagtuturo. Isipin mo, sa isang silid-aralan, 60 ang estudyante. Ang tinuturuan ng nanay ko sa isang araw ay apat na seksyon katumbas ng 240 estudyante - halos kasingdami na ng buong batch namin ng 4th year nung hayskul.

Sa ilalim ni Gloria, inabot pa ng anim na taon bago sila magkaron ng dagdag sa sahod - na wala ring silbi dahil sa kataku-takot na mga deductions nila. Bakit? Baon sa utang ang mga guro. Utang sa mga loans na kinailangan nilang kunin para lang may panggastos sa kanilang pamilya.

Miyembro ang nanay ko ng GSIS. Naging saksi ako sa ilang beses naming pagpunta doon sa tila kawalang pakialam ng ahensiyang ito sa mga manggagawa ng pamahalaan.

Isipin mo na lang, may isang guro doon na dinala na nakastretcher. Bakit? Dahil kailangan daw ng lintek na GSIS ang 'personal appearance' upang maaprubahan ang retirement benefit na kakarampot.

At kami ng nanay ko? Inabot ng higit sa tatlong oras sa pila para lang sabihan na anatayin na lang daw ang tawag o sulat para sa pagkuha ng educational benefit sa GSIS. At inabot pa ng ilang buwan bago namin nakuha.

Tatlumpung taon nang nagtuturo ang nanay ko. Dalaga pa siya noong nagsimula siya. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring nagbago.

---

Ngayon. Tamad ba ang tatay ko? Tamad ba ang nanay ko? Hindi. Nagsumikap sila para sa amin. Pero kulang pa din.

Si Gloria ba ang may kasalanan? Malamang.

Madaming Pangulo na ang nagdaan. Oo at lahat sila ay may kasalanan. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, isang dekada ang ibinigay kay Gloria - kung naibigay nga talaga o inangkin lang niya. Pero di niya nilubos ang panahon na ito para magkaron ng 'makabuluhang pagbabago' sa bayang ito.

Gaya ng pag-alis ng diskriminasyon sa mga kumukuha ng trabaho.

Gaya ng pagtigil sa biglang pagtatanggal ng mga empleyado.

Gaya ng karapatan ng mga guro, empleyado sa gobyerno at pribado na makakuha ng mas mataas na sahod - na disente at kayang bumuhay ng pamilya.

Kung iyun sana nagawa niya, malamang PRO-GLORIA pa din ako. Pero hindi. At hindi ako magpapakatanga para sabihin na siya ang pinakamagaling na Pangulo o kung sino pang galing sa Tondo o nakakaramdam ng mga bagay-bagay.

Dahil hangga't puro lang sila salita at walang gawa, fahil kung puro trabaho nga pero wala namang nangyayari, wala silang karapatang mag-angkin o bigyang titulo ninuman na siya ang pinakamagaling na Pangulo.

Dahil kung magaling nga talaga siya, kusa itong igagawad sa kanya ng LAHAT - hindi ng kung sinong Hudas na kakampi niya.

Ang nakakalungkot: isa siyang ina. Alam niya dapat ang gagawin niya para sa kanyang mga anak.

Ngayon, saka mo sabihin na si Gloria ay isang magaling na pangulo.

Pasensya na, sariling opinyon lamang po. Dahil sa tinamaan mo ang aming kalalagayan ngayon. Hindi mo man ito sadya ngunit nais ko lamang malaman mo ang panig ng mga taong ayaw na sa kanya. Mga taong hindi bulag, tanga at manhid para ipagsigawan na siya ay magaling na Pangulo.

At oo nga pala, nainis din ako sa pagpapamili mo dito: "She may be a thief. All presidents were and will be thieves in people's eyes, true or not. But would you rather have a corrupt yet effective president or a corrupt yet stupid president? "

Tang ina. Patawad sa pagmumura.

Habang naluluha..

---

Phtoto credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and others have been credited in my previous post here.

So What Does It All Mean?

So this is my second time to feature a YouTube video. The first one was about that old swine flue warning commercial in the 1970s. But for today, this is one of my favorite videos in YouTube that I keep on watching every time. It is really my favorite vid that I even used it for a class report just last week. But sadly, my fellow classmates did not appreciate it that much because the laptop my groupmate brought has some problems with its 'sound system.' They missed the very catchy and 'groovy' background music. But why? Well, please watch the video below:

The presentation is quite nice right? This YouTube video had already been viewed more than 5 million times and still counting (I think I had contributed 100 views to it, haha..). It had already undergone three revisions. It was originally intended for a school presentation in America to pose a challenge to its teachers to become effective in teaching their students so that these kids would be prepared for the real world. But it was too good to be just kept as a school presentation.

So here it is now on its third edition wherein this latest version was said to be used for a presentation at the meeting of Sony BMG executives (That explains that last part added which was not in its original version, the number of illegal downloads, the music industry's greatest arch-nemesis).

I bet you were quite impressed at some of the facts presented on the video. Or maybe you got quite dizzy after you have been bombarded with all those numbers. You may be quite amazed on how fast our times are really changing, how fast our time is moving.

But what really caught my attention is the question at the end of it all: so what does it all mean?

---

We are undeniably living in 'exponential times' as the video says so. Tingnan niyo na lang ang Facebook. In just two years, umabot na sa halos 50 million ang users at balita ko mahigit 100 million na ata ngayon. We should not be surprised if a new innovation sprouts out of the net that would also receive the same reception that Facebook had. That is why it had been always a must to constantly improve their system to catch up with our ever changing world.

The video had also mentioned that scientists are fast approaching on the creation of a supercomputer that would surpass the computational capabilities of man and before this century ends, they would be able to create a simple desktop PC that would exceed mankind's computational capabilities.

Another one is that the amount of unique information that we would be creating this year would exceed all of the information that we had been able to produce in the past 5,000 years!

Quite impressive. But again the question is "so what does it all mean?"

---

If I am going to roughly translate it into Filipino I would get this: 'Eh ano ngayon?'

The creators might have a different message to convey but for me, that last question was the most important part of the video. It means so much especially to our present regime.

---

Our dear President keeps on bragging about the number of BPOs and call center companies that have been investing in our country these past few years. She is even very proud to say that these companies had not been gravely affected by the global economic downturn because the "industry" still needs more than a hundred thousand people to work for them. That would be great indeed since a lot needs a job nowadays.

She even goes far by saying that the "industry" is contributing a lot to our economy.

So what does it all mean?

Our dear President has completely lost her mind. I lament the fact that she is an economist yet she cannot understand the basics.

---

BPOs and call centers are not the type of 'industry' that we should help flourish in this country. Yes they provide jobs for the unemployed. Their mere presence in some areas helps to get some extra economic activity during the wee hours of the morning. Thus, providing jobs too.

But let's get real. How many call centers do we have here? Maybe a hundred. How much is the industry worth? If my memory serves me right, it is at about $10 billion. That's a lot of money. But is it worth it? Are these call centers for good? Or this is just another industry that would bring our country into another 'boom and bust cycle' - just like what happen in the late 70s?

Well, I do hope it's not. But surely because of our dear President's failure to prioritize developing and investing in our much important industries like our agricultural sector. Well, we have seen some people investing in our agricultural sector but who are they? Foreigners.

---

There's nothing bad about these dollar-rich people investing in our land. But what is wrong is the mentality of this regime and the past regimes that the number priority is to attract foreign investors.

..not to encourage its own citizens to invest.

..not to develop our countryside in which more than 70% of our population lives.

..not to develop our own 'industries' which would create goods that are genuinely Filipino.'

..not to have an economy 'effectively controlled by Filipinos.'

..not to have 'genuine progress and industrialization.'

If this regime thinks that BPOs, call centers and sending millions of OFWs every year can uplift every Filipino from poverty, then they really had lost their mind. These dollars would just simply come and go. Because there's nothing of real interest here. No basic industries. A backward agricultural system. Rampant corruption.

---

They must have forgotten that ours is an largely agricultural country. We have a large portion of our population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. And most of poor Filipinos come from this sector. Why? Because the government has neglected their plight which in the past 50 years had been the main cause for the Huk uprising in the 1960s and one of the reasons why the CPP-NPA still exists upon to this day.

Instead of helping them improve their conditions, they only make their lives worst. Land reform still needs to be 'reformed.' Support for those who had been able to benefit from the land reform needs more. These two are very basic. But the government fails to give them.

That's why I have decided long time ago that I won't vote for that orange colored presidential aspirant. I dread to see him turn the whole countryside into subdivisions so that it won't be 'masikip.'

Hindi nga masikip, wala naman makain.

---

And so what does it all really mean?

Simple. The last SONA that our dear President would deliver tomorrow means nothing. Just like the YouTube video that I shared with you, the presentation is very impressive. Catchy music, colorful graphic, nicely created Powerpoint presentation but it means nothing to the Filipino masses who cannot even eat once a day.

We may be living in exponential times. But we are leaving behind those who cannot go with it. We leave them in their sorry state.

---

Our dear President have lived an exponential term of office. The longest term under our present Constitution.

But she would be leaving all of us in the same state that we had since she took office almost a decade ago.

If she would really be leaving.

---

Credits: Gloria Photo, Farmers, Bloggers Kapihan

State of Philippine Education - Part 4

Coinciding with the opening of classes this month, I'm coming up with a series of articles that would talk about the current state of Philippine education. When I say here the 'state of Philippine education' it encompasses all issues related to it: from the conditions of our classrooms to the attitude of today's youth and the view of Philippine society today towards getting 'an education.'

Ito ang aking maliit na kontribusyon upang i-angat ang kalagayan at siguro panibaguhin kahit papaano ng sistemang pangedukasyon sa Pilipinas.

---

For this post, let us take a break from taking a look at the dismal state of our educational system here in the Philippines. We will instead take our focus on the students - the products of our very own educational system. This time, I won't be delivering a 'sermon' on the 'state' of our students like me today. I would like to sum it up in what I call as the 'Panata ng Estudyanteng Pilipino' or roughly translated in English as 'The Filipino Student's Pledge.'

And so, without further ado, here is my own pledge that I would like fellow students like me to adopt as well.

---

Unang Panata: Ako ay mag-aaral ng mabuti. Iisipin ko lagi na isa akong maswerteng bata na may mga magulang na may kakayahang paaralin ako sa mga eksklusibong paaralan na umaabot sa halos ilang milyong piso ang matrikula kapag ako ay gumradweyt na. Hindi ko iwawaglit sa aking puso't isip na kung magloloko lang ako, mas mabuti pa na ibigay ang pang-tuition ko para maipang-paaral sa iba.

At kung hindi na ako mag-aaral kahit na may pagkakataon pa ako, wala akong karapatang kumain at humingi ng load sa mga magulang ko.

(1st Pledge: I will study hard. I will never forget that I'm very lucky to have parents that can afford to send me to exclusive schools wherein the tuition fees would sum up in millions of pesos when I graduate. I will never forget with all of my heart and mind that if I would not study well, then it would be better if my tuition fees are given to those who deserve to study.

And if I won't study even if I had the chance to, I don't have the right to eat and ask for load from my parents.)

---

Ikalawang Panata: Ako ay hindi mangongopya sa mga pagsusulit at takdang aralin. Estudyante ako at dapat na gawin ko ang aking responsibilidad. Tatandaan kong lagi ang sinabi ng aking propesor sa Filipino (actually, ang aking propesor. :D): ang mga nangongopya ay walang pinagkaiba sa mga rapist at magnanakaw. *evil laugh*

Hindi ko kakalimutan na nagsisimula ang pagiging kurakot, kriminal at rapist sa simpleng pagsulyap sa sagot ng aking katabi. Mabubuhay ako sa paniniwalang hindi ko ipagpapalit ang aking kaluluwa sa demonyo para lamang malaman kung true or false ba ang sagot sa number 2 at 7.

Hindi rin ako magpapadala sa 'peer pressure.' Wala akong pakialam kahit na sabihin nila na wala akong pakisama, na hindi ako marunong makiisa - na parang ganun lang eh ipagdadamot ko pa. Mas mabuti nang maging iba sa lahat kaysa sumama sa liga ng mga mandaraya. Mas mabuti nang libakin nila ako, hindi pa rin ako magpapadala sa kanila - dahil alam ko na nasa tama ako.

(2nd Pledge: I will never cheat in any examination or copy my classmate's homework. I am a student and I should know my responsibilities. I would always remember what my professor in Filipino told us (actually, my professor in Filipino. :D): cheaters are no different from rapists and theives. *evil laugh*

I will never forget that being corrupt, a criminal and a rapist begins with the simple peek on my seatmate's answer. I will live on this principle that I won't exchange my soul to the demon just to know if the answer in number 2 and 7 is true or false.

I will never give in to peer pressure. I don't care if they see me as an outcast, someone who is not part of the crowd, someone who is going against the flow and someone who does not want to 'share his part'. I would be better off to be not with them than join a band of cheaters. I would just accept their jeers than give in to them - because I know I'm doing the right thing.)

---

Ikatlong Panata: Aral muna bago pag-ibig. Hindi ko maaaring pagsabayin ang dalawang bagay na humihingi ng malaking bahagi ng aking panahon. Kailangan kong mamili. Ngunit kung darating ito sa aking buhay at ako'y 'nahulog' sa patibong na ito, akin itong tatanggapin at gagawing inspirasyon sa pag-aaral. Dapat na malinaw sa akin ang mga limitasyon. Dapat kong paganahin ang aking utak at hindi ang bugso ng damdamin.

Pero kung wala pa, hindi na ako magbabalak pa na maghanap o 'magpabiktima' dahil madalas, nauuwi ang lahat sa pagkawala ng pag-ibig at pagkasira ng aking kinabukasan.

(3rd Pledge: Study first, love later. I cannot do two things at the same time that would require me to give almost all of my time to it. I need to choose. But if ever it comes into my life and I would 'fall for it', I would wholeheartedly accept it and use it to further inspire me to finish my studies. I should also be clear to me that I have limitations. I should always use my brain and not give in to sudden outbursts of emotions.

But if I still not into it, I should never have any intentions to 'find love' or become a willing victim to it because if not everytime, it all ends up with the loss of my love and my future.)

---

Ikaapat na Panata: Hindi ako magiging linta. Hindi ako ang uubos ng isang pad paper ng aking kaklase dahil lagi na lang ako nanghihingi. Estudyante ako at hindi ako dapat pumapasok sa eskwela nang walang armas. Para na rin akong pumunta sa eskwela ng walang salawal. Isusuksok ko sa aking kokote na ang palagiang paghingi ay walang pinagkaiba sa mga kongresista na hingi ng hingi ng bagong buwis pero wala namang napapala at pinaghingian nila.

(Fourth Pledge: I will not become a leech. I will never devour my classmate's pad paper because I would ask for it every time we need it. I'm a student and I should not go to school without my 'weapons.' It would be like going to school without my pants on. I would not forget that devouring my classmates pad paper does not have any difference to our 'honorable representatives' who keeps on asking for new taxes but the people doesn't get anything from it.)

---

Ikalimang Panata: Ako ay makikinig ng mabuti at irerespeto ang aking guro. Sila ang mga dakilang tao na pinili na maging isang guro kaysa maging domestic helper sa Hong Kong para kumita ng malaki. Sila ay mga dakilang tao na kasiyahan na ang may matutunan ako kahit kaunti.

Gagalangin ko ang aking guro kahit na siya pa ang pinaka-terror at kinamumuhian ko dahil sa lagi na lang akong pinapalabas ng classroom, pinapatayo sa upuan at binibigyan ng singko sa recitation. Hindi ko sila babansagan ng anuman. Hindi ako gagawa ng anumang tsismis na makakapanira sa kanila. Sila ay guro pa din at malalaman ko na lang balang araw na ang mga guro pala na ito ang nagtulak sa aking sarili upang magbago at magtagumpay sa larangan na aking pipiliin.

(Fifth Pledge: I will listen to my teacher. The great people who chose to become a teacher rather than become a domestic helper in Hong Kong just to earn more. They are great people whose happiness is just for me learn even a bit of it.

I will respect my teacher no matter how strict and how much I hate him/her because I am always 'sent out' of the room, stand on my chair or gives me a five in our recitation. I will not call them by any other name. I will not create any rumors that would damage their reputation. They are still my teachers and I would find out later in life that these teachers are the ones who had pushed me to the limit so that I can change myself and become a successful person in my field.)

---

Ikaanim na Panata: Ako ay magiging mag-aaral na hindi lamang nakapako sa apat na sulok ng silid-aralan. Lalahok ako sa mga aktibidad na magdudulot ng panibagong kaalaman at karanasan sa akin na hindi ko matututunan habang nakaupo sa classroom. Hindi ako mangingimi na maging aktibo sa pagtulong sa kapwa, sa larangan ng palakasan o kahit pa ang maging 'aktibista.'

Naniniwala ako na higit akong maraming matututunan sa leksyon ng buhay at sa silid-aralan ng malawak na mundong aking haharapin, oras na ako'y magtapos sa huling yugto ng aking pag-aaral. Ang pagiging estudyante ay hindi hadlang upang ihawalay ko ang aking sarili sa realidad ng mundo. Bahagi ako nito. Dito ako gumagalaw. Ako ay isa sa bunga nito. Ito rin ang aking kakaharapin paglabas sa apat na sulok ng teorya at paraiso.

(Sixth Pledge: I will be a student that would not limit myself to the four corners of the classroom. I will join in activities that would let me learn new things and experiences which I would never learn while sitting down inside the classroom. I will not be meek and reluctant in being active in helping others, in sports or even becoming an 'activist' myself.

I believe that I would learn more from the lessons of life and the classroom of this wide world that I'd be facing once I got that diploma. Being a student is not the reason for me to detach myself from the realities of life. I'm a part of it. I move within it. I'm one of its products. This would also be the same world that I'd be facing once I leave the four corners of theory and paradise.)

---

Pardon me for the poorly translated words and seemingly exaggerated prose in Filipino. But here it is, the pledge that I myself is trying to follow but unfortunately, I had not been able to faithfully 'comply' with it. I may have not been able to compile all that students need to do but these six pledges are merely symbolic for all of these things should be innate once a person becomes a student.

Pero sa hinaba-haba ng pagngawa ko dito eto lang naman ang gusto ko: I do hope that students like me would study hard and be a good student so that I can be a productive citizen of this nation.

---

Bilang pangwakas, narito ang isang quote mula sa librong 'Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage' ni Jose F. Lacaba:

"The beautiful thing is that the students can learn from their mistakes, can learn more through practice than through classroom theory. They have learned, for one thing, they do not even constitute a class in society and their existence as students is transitory."

---

Photo credits: 1, 2 and 3.

The 'Bob Ong Effect'

I have learned from my journalism GE class then in UP that we have something called as the 'CNN effect.' This refers to the impact of that popular 24 hours news channel in decision making of different countries (especially the US) during the final days of the Cold War. Aside from that, the popularity of the 24 hour news channel eventually paved the way for more 24 hours news channels all over the world. (Here in the Philippines, we have the ANC.)

So how is it related to Bob Ong? The oh-so great Filipino author that is now revered by mostly teenage readers.

This is because the country is currently feeling the wave of the 'Bob Ong effect.'

---

Ever since I got hold of his first book, I was simply mesmerized on the way he wrote. He spoke directly to the point. He had freely expressed his thoughts, views and feelings without any inhibitions (except that he has yet to reveal his true identity).

From that day on, I instantly became his follower. Which did not just happen to me but to millions of other teenagers out there who do not really read books but because of their 'love' for Bob Ong, they were more than willing to be his 'followers.'

---

Aside from making the 'Internet generation' to sit down on a corner and read his books, Bob Ong also opened up lots of opportunities for aspiring and deserving Filipino writers. Like what he said in 'Stainless Longganisa', the book industry is quite skeptical and conservative before when it comes to publishing 'out-of-the-box' books that are 'yet to be tried and tested' for 'commercial viability.'

But he was not discouraged. He had instead seen it as an opportunity. That single bold step he took forever changed the way books are being published here in the Philippines and paved the way for some sort of a 'renaissance' in contemporary Philippine literature.

---

The first seeds were planted on the web through his now defunct website Bobong Pinoy. And so, after it had bore fruit on the 'mainstream publishing platform', its effects had went back to its roots: the internet.

The 'internet generation' that had been affected by the 'Bob Ong effect' is now ruling the web by their websites, blogs and profiles that somehow mimicks Bob Ong's way of expressing his thoughts, feelings and views. Oh yes, they are copycats. But mind you, very beautiful copycats. Some of them had even improved Bob Ong's style of delivering direct to the point, satirical and funny lines.

Some of their posts had elicited so much discussion and reactions from its visitors because of its ticklish, controversial and juicy topics. Some of which had even their blogs published into a book that contains some of their best posts - which I'm eying on in the not so distant future.

---

But some would say that he was not the first one to do so. That this 'Bob Ong effect' is nothing but the true Filipino 'expressionism' lying under our skins. Yes, but we were too timid to show it off. We are afraid of what other people would think of us. Yet all these years, we were all thinking about the same thing.

Maybe Bob Ong saw this. That's why he took the risk and the rest is history.

---

I guess, he would be far from the so-called 'standards' when it comes to being a great literary person. But I think that would be too unfair. He do deserve to be placed in the roster of great Filipino authors like Nick Joaquin, Jose Villa Panganiban and F. Sionil Jose. Maybe even with Francisco Balagtas.

Why?

Simply because Bob Ong made a nation of non-readers into a book loving nation. He had been able to reach out to all strata of our society. He made a CEO and a tinapa vendor laugh and cry over the same lines in his book.

---

I believe what makes him different from other authors is that he does not want to be placed in a pedestal. He is very humble and does not take all the credit for what he had done. He also does not want to monopolize his niche but instead encourages more gifted writers to come out in the open and write good books. He may be an 'established name' but he is not afraid that other authors would someday 'get away his crown.'

He may not know it but definitely, the 'Bob Ong effect' is on.

---

Photo source here.