Simpleng Pinoy lang si Jarold

I usually trail down the streets of Laray to my place in Tanke, Talisay City as it has became a part of my daily routine. I've learned from numerous exercise advice that a 15 minute brisk walking daily is a great exercise.
Walking down that street would require me to cross the national highway SRP (South Road Project) where all types of private vehicles including trucks of disparate sizes pass.

Last tuesday night, as I was near to crossing the crossroads of the highway going to my place, a titanic truck abruptly crossed the street at the speed of light even when they yellow light already gave the warning. Now this scene shouldn't be new to us Filipinos since we know that we are infamously known to be great traffic violators. However, I've never seen any vehicle ran the red light at a turbulent speed as fast as a light. And it made me recall the ghastly pictures of a smashed body of a motorcycle driver that I had received from my friend through an e-mail way back. The man's body was literally dispersed in the street.

Having described my experience, I am calling the attention of Talisay City and Cebu City government to come up with effective measures regarding this horrifying issue. We may not successfully efface all these incredulously evil truck drivers; but I'm extremely positive there is something that can be done. It's a crossroad for crying out loud! Hundreds of people cross there daily. Thus, we shouldn't wait for a someone's demise to be an eye-opener before action will be taken. And this includes but not limits possible vehicular accidents.

When I first heard that Nina's Album Nina Live turned diamond, I said, "Wow! Someone has finally achieved the feat Jose Mari Chan has achieved." It goes to say that the record industry is not eating dust in the stationery racks of record bars.

However, when I tuned in to SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon) last friday night, I learned from the master ( Jose Mari Chan) that the record standards has been lowered enormously. Gold Record in the not so old times would mean a hundred thousand copies of an album sold; that was ten times more than the current Gold Record standard of ten thousand copies of an album sold.

Just as what the master had said, learning that fact makes me feel bad and sad that it has to be that way. But, agreeing with the master for the second time, I can't blame te record industry for making such decision. Music piracy is adamantly strenuous among music consumers. And with the advent of the P-2-P file sharing softwares in the internet such as limewire and bearshare to name a few, downloading a single that has just been  released an hour ago is as easy as one, two, three. Even with the concept of iTunes, the record market is still creeping in the dark alleys of the dwindling record market.

I personally think that we direly need a scintillating concept and technology to counteract piracy. And the government has to play an incredibly great participation to realize such concept. Albeit, it shouldn't focus on laws alone. The laws we have right now against piracy are obviously not too effective. Perhaps a fusion of the minds of an IT specialist, computer programmer, mechanical engineer, electronics and communications engineer, a psychologist and political scientist can come up with a conclusive solution to counteract piracy. I strongly believe taht there is certainly a permanent way to fight piracy, at least for a decade.

We can't fight Filipinos' idolatry to foreign music which is also one very obvious reason why the Philippine music industry is experiencing extreme jolt. Yet, with the right technology coupled with an effective governance against piracy, the music industry will undoubtedly soar high again.

Today is the deadline for the registration of new voters, as well as the vote transfer and reactivation. Hopefully, many eligible voters will register and have registered so that the rightful electorates will win through representative votes.

I, myself, endured the chaotic registration process after seven years of being a passive voter; so I can cast my vores on next year's national election. The coming decade suggests a very intricate period to all of us Filipinos, taking into account all the catastrophes which hit not just our nation but the world as well. Hence, everyone of us must exercise our right to suffrage and get involve with every important issues and endeavors that my directly or indirectly affect each one of us.

Who you vote shall define how our town/city, province and country will become in the next six years. Therefore, spend an ample time of digging the necessary facts about the running candidates. You have six months and two weeks of decision-making. So VOTE WISELY!

Imagine yourself attending the burial of the departed President Cory Aquino. That's the kind of chaos I'd experienced when I registered to vote today in Talisay City Hall.

Talisay City COMELEC runs a very inorderly system for the process of the registration of votes. There were no priority numbers, no proper lines and baffling set up and delegation of tasks from the distribution of forms to the verification, precinct assignment and photo capturing. Everything were just too unorganized. Not to mention the arrogant disposition the officers were displaying which government employees are infamously noted for.

While I understand and knew beforehand that the last week of voters registration is extremely crowded, I forcefully believe that there is always a proper system for crowd control. And, that should have been planned prior to the last week of registration. I had visited the COMELEC office in Cebu City and the registrants were propery managed. If Cebu City was able to manage the registrants well, why can't Talisay City?

Talisay City COMELEC must come up with a systematic process of voters registration for the next elections because what I had experienced was really discouraging and it diminishes one's patience. They have to remember that they are the ones who need our votes. A lost vote is their lost.

We see them act on movies and TV screens; but this time around, we see how they act and respond in real life drama. Celebrities may be seen in all glitz and glamour everyday of their lives; yet, they prove unafraid of being tainted with mud and flood.

Tropical storm Ondoy (Parma) did not spare some of the celebrities. Among them who became victims of the storm were Christine Reyes, Jean Garcia, Chocolate, K Brosas and Gladys Reyes.

The first to be sensationally reported of being terrorized by Ondoy was Christine Reyes and her family who were stranded on their roof as early as 1PM on saturday. Christine cried for help but were not rescued immediately even after several phone calls and TV announcements due to the many barriers blocking the ways to Provident Village in Marikina. A good samaritan in the person of Richard Gutierrez borrowed a boat from a friend to come to Christine and her family's rescue.
Other celebrities who were trapped on their rooftops and whose houses not spared were Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica Garcia in Commonwealth, Quezon City, Chocolate in Cainta Rizal, K Brosas in Vermont Village, Antipolo, Rizal, talent coordinator Tita Angge and Gladys Reyes in Vista Verde, Cainta, Rizal, Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi in Pasig City, Sylvia Sanchez in Ortigas Extension, Pasig City, and Ogie Diaz in Pampanga. These are just among the ones I have heard of.

Jayson Gainza, on the other hand, had to sleep beside an ATM machine in Marikina realizing that there was no way he could reach his home due to the raging water current and devouring flood. His house was not spared by the flood but was very thankful that his family were all safe.

There were also celebrities like Derek Ramsey who were not affected bu their loved ones were among the victims. Derek had to make a phone to ABS-CBN's telethon to ask rescue for his ill grandmother trapped in ther house in Pasig.

Still other stars were blessed to have been only slightly affected such as Claudine Barreto whose house was only slightly damaged and Kim Chiu whose car was fully submerged into the flood water but was still lucky to have it functioning and running.

And when there are victims, there also are heroes. True to their action star image, a few male celebrities proved that they're not action stars only in front of the cameras; but they are real life action heroes. Richard Gutierrez was already first to be mentioned.

Gerald Anderson and his brother Kenneth swam in the murky flood water as it rose up to an alarming height to rescue neighbors who were extremely devastated by the vicious flood. Working hand-in-hand without noticing were Cesar Montano and Bayani Agbayani who lives in the neighboring place.



Jericho Rosales and Raymart Santiago were also reported and caught on cameras using their skills in surfing to rescue neighbors using their surf boards.

Ryan Agoncillo was also reported to have bravely crossed the shoulder-high flood to bring food and milk to Gladys Reyes and her baby who were also trapped in the second floor of their house. It was proven true when Gladys was interviewed on TV.

Angel Locsin also braved the floodwaters in the riverside of Marikina using her Hummer truck to save flood victims. A fine example of a person who is true to her commitment when she joined Gabriela and Ako Mismo organizations.

Clearly, nature knows no celebrity or person. Everyone's a possible target.

Paghumagupit na ang parusa ng Diyos, walang mayaman o mahirap, sikat o simple, bata o matanda, malusog o may sakit, lahat ay pantay-pantay (When God's punishment strikes, there is no rich or poor, famous or ordinary, young or old, healthy or sick, everyone is equal)

God's punishment these days are different. There are no longer prophets like Moses, Noah or Jeremiah who would warn us of the impeding disaster. God strikes His hands of omnipotent power to punish us anytime He decides to.

I went home last saturday evening hoping to relax and enjoy the saturday night TV. ABS-CBN was airing Maalaala Mo Kaya with a replayed episode when I got home. So I opted to switch to GMA's Bitoy's Funniest Videos. It was when Michael V's show ended that I realized what horrifying event was happening in Metro Manila. Jessica Soho's special edition on tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana) made me glued to the television every hour and minute of the day. Man, I didn't even know there was a storm.

Learning the catastrophe alarmed me overwhelmingly that I had to load up all my sim cards (smart, globe and sun) to be able to contact my relatives and friends in Metro Manila, Rizal and Bulacan. I didn't even have money that time so I had to borrow money from my grahm.

I have been monitoring the updates about the wreaking havoc on TV and the internet. I just can't help but hate the people who are blaming other people on why this grim occurrence happened. There may be people to blame but we've got to think that no single person was really prepared of it. Blaming is no longer the right attitude to show in these times. Reaching out and working hand-in-hand are the only right things to do.



This tragedy brought lessons to each and everyone of us. A lesson to the rich, the students, the business owners, the government, other provinces and places in the world, and every single individuals.

Let it be a lesson to the rich and affluents that they must share what they have and return to the needy what this world has endowed them. Material things may perish in a blink of an eye and may not be brought along in the after life.
Let it be a lesson to the students that they must put into practice the good values and proper etiquette they learned from school and instill them to others.
Let it be a lesson to businessmen that their decisions will not only affect the others but it may get back to them in a catastrophic retaliation. Nature has numerous ways in enacting their vengeance.
Let it be a lesson to the government that using taxpayer's money for frivolous spending and their own selfish desires will always get back to them. They too are not excluded from nature's wrath. And the blame will always be pointed unto them -however they move. Let it be an evocation for them to begin a better governance.
Let it be a lesson to other provinces of the Philippines and places in the world that no matter how powerful and progressive a place is, God knows exactly where their weaknesses are.
And let it be a lesson to every single individual that we have a duty and responsibility to our nature and fellowmen. We are called the STEWARDS of nature but are we living up to the name? We call each other fellowmen but are we being a fine example of a fellow?

Let this unfateful event be a reminder to all of us that God wants us to live up to our life's purpose. That is to do good and to remain doing good until we return our Almighty Father's abode.

Last night, as I reached the crossroads of Osmeña Boulevard adn the National Highway, after trailing down from Crown Regency Hotel, I saw a few number of people crossing the busy street even when the DO NOT WALK signal was imminently conspicuous and the vehicles were brooming left and right.

I couldn't help but think about the grave situation of our country. Just watching that scene made me realize that the root cause of the Philippine's problems is our stubborness -as well as our refusal to exercise self-discipline

Everyday as I walk along the road of Colon, I see pedestrian walking on the green light. And if there are any City Traffice Office Management (CITOM) officers dispersed on the streets, I never fail to see jaywalking violators being fined or worse altercating with the officers. I must admit, I used to be a violator of the rule and was fined twice. But I never let that happen again. Apart from the embarassment and waste of money, violation of the law strongly attracts accident and traffic problems.

I understand that many of us are either on a jiffy or simply too tired to stand in front of the rushing vehicles and wait for the WALK signal. However, traffic rules are there for a reason. If we only follow these traffic rules faithfully, there would be lesser traffic congestion, lesser street accidents, lesser traffic enforcers to be paid for and other people wouldn't have the guts to violate the rule if they see us exercising the discipline ourselves.

LIke the golden rule says Do not do unto others what you dont want others do to you. Similarly, what you don't do, others wouldn't do, too. Therefore, discipline must start from one's self not from others. Do one good thing faithfully and others will follow.


This blog is inspired by AKO MISMO movement. Register now and begin the big change!

Ako mismo ang magpapakita sa mga kabataan na kaya nating iangat ang kanya-kanya nating kakayahan at talento (I, myself, will show to the youngsters that we each can elevate our capabilities and talents).

That is my commitment to my beloved country Philippines as I participate in Ako Mismo movement to start the needful change to a better and wonderful Philippine life.

We each complain about the ugly things that are happening in our country today. But if we all want a better Philippine life, the change must start within us. From a simple garbage disposal to the proper place, that is already a great start to the elimination of dreadful flood and vicious diseases.

So what else can you, yourself, do to improve your life in the simplest action, and eventually the Philippines? Act on what you can do now!

Ako? 'Di na ako maghihintay na ikaw mismo o sila mismo ang may gagawin. AKO na MISMO ang gagawa! IKAW? Ano mismo ang gagawin mo? (Me? I won't wait for you or them to do something. I will do it myself. What about you? What will you, yourself, do?)

Register now at akomismo.org and show your commitment.

Just when you thought the sea is safe because there are no storms, a devastating event might just be creeping along the way. Just as the line says in a Harry Potter soundtrack something wicked this way comes.

Who would have thought a ship as big as Super Ferry 9, famously owned by the Aboitiz Group of Companies per se, would sink in the middle of a calm sea and sky? Lesson from the MV Princess of the Stars tells us not to sail if there's a storm -both to shipping lines and passengers. The Super Ferry 9 tragedy, however, reminds us that accident knows no time and place.


But I just want to address this to all transport operators, be it airline, shipping or land: please do check your vehicles on a timely manner, especially giant companies like Aboitiz. It's not just about saving lives, it also saves your company from unexpected costs and losses due to this type of accident as well as spares you from problems such as guilt and lawsuits.

Let us just thank the Lord that even when there were lives which met their demise many were still spared. Our prayers for the departed and their love ones would greatly help them find peace.

Today, Senator Noynoy Aquino had publicly declared his intention to run for the Presidential slot this 2010 election after a few short weeks of contemplation.

While I strongly believe in his good intentions and steadfast heart, I am yet to be convinced of the development, improvement, and beneficial changes he can contribute to the country. I'm still uninformed about his platforms and totally clueless of the changes he had spearheaded, and on how he was ablt to successfully materialize those changes. Telling people what we want to do and happen is too easy -way to easy as a matter of fact. But having them materialized is not an easy feat. Realizing them entails you to have the combination of kindness, toughness and brilliance. Hence, we should not only look at a single facet of a candidate's personality and capacity but also everything about the candidate. Then we start chooshing who got the best character among the roster.

As for now, my decision to vote Mar Roxas for the Vice President position is intact and definite -no more second thoughts. But for President, give me a few more time to dig more information about Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar and Noli de Castro.

Sikit-sikiti lang palihug (please squeeze closer beside your seatmate ) , dili lang nato bilangkaran palihug ha (please don't sit straddling) kuwang pa na og tulo ang wala (the left side can still accomodate three more passengers)

We hear these words inside a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) every single day of our lives (Lucky for those who have their own wheels); and our ears are beginning to deafen.

While we the commuters understand the current economic status of PUJ drivers, given the current prices of food and commodities today, we still believe that we as their lifeblood deserve a comfortable seating condition each time we ride a PUJ. Sometime I just can't help myself but scold the konduktor (driver's assistant) when they're being so insensitive to the comfort and safety of their passengers.



Just like what happened in the PUJ I rode earlier tonight. An elderly man was sitting on the extension chair back-to-back with a teenage boy. Two passengers went out a little later and the teenager was able to take the vacated seat. The elderly wouldn't fit, so he remained standing with his body curved in the middle of the PUJ. I told the konduktor to let the man sit back to the extension chair because he might get into an accident. But he wouldn't put the extension chair back; and, instead, he insisted that someone's going to leave in just a little while. Now that's one example of the PUJ drivers and konduktors' insensitivity I'm talking about here. They don't even care if their passenger will meet an accident because of their indifference and stubborness.

But that's not it. They also force commuters to ride and sit even if they will just be sitting a few centimeters of space -just because they insist that each benches fits 10, 11, 12, 13, etc passengers. When the truth is the benches fit one or two passengers lesser that what they're saying. And when we complain about this, they discourteously tell us sakay og taxi para makalingkod mo og tarong, jeep mani (ride a taxi if you want to sit comfortably, this is a PUJ). And then we have the kapyot (clinging in the bars at the back of the PUJ). Albeit there's a regulation regarding this, drivers still allow this because it adds up to their income. What's worst is they allow more than two people clinging.

With all these indescretions going on in public transportation these days, the local government must start looking inot the matter seriously and come up with a strict regulation to put these unacceptable behavior into a halt. By coming up with effective regulations, I can forsee that there will then be a better distribution of passengers to all PUJs. Instead of one jeepney getting an overload of passengers because of the sikit-sikit which only allows the passenger to sit one-fourth of the actual seating space, the kapyots and the extension chair while the other jeepney is underloaded, passengers will now be distributed evenly to both jeepneys. Thus, both drivers earn the same level of income. Both drivers then can bring food to their dining table. Thereby having all members of the family eat three meals a day -no one will go hungry.

I can't quite discern whether I should feel happy or disappointed with what I've just seen in the news. My number one Presidentiable, Mar Roxas, had given up his Presidential bid and now settles for the Vice Presidential position inorder to give way to Noynoy Aquino to be their Party's standard bearer for the 2010 election.

He might have saddened his supporters with his unforseen decision but I completely understand his position; and I admire his nobility. What he just did is absolutely not an easy decision. Especially now that he has spent millions of fund for his campaign.

The good thing about this though is that he still has a chance to run for President in the 2010 Presidential election. And I'm definitely looking forward to that year. I am hoping and praying that all candidates' political decisions will yield prosperous results for the country.

When incumbent Senator Mar Roxas first appeared in an infomercial with the monicker Mr.Palengke, I knew right there and then that he would be my future Philippine President. There is too much charm and plausibility that exude from within him. And when he publicly declared that he will be running for the highest government position this 2010 election, I was truly glad and satisfied.

However, recollecting all the past, recent and current economic events, I'm beginning to rethink my position. In these times when economic disasters and uncertainties are stealthily plaguing randomly with political angst on the rise, we need a leader that is a combination of GMA's brilliance, Ramos' toughness and Cory Aquino's good heart. We simply cannot afford to creep into our country's downfall.

So there I have to consider Senator Manny Villar and Vice-President Noli de Castro. I have always believed that successful businessmen of huge corporations can run the country successfully. But then again, people say that politics is bad for business. So what can I do? But now we've got a Presidentiable who is imminently a successful business tycoon and politician at the same time. Now is the opportune time to prove my theory.

But wait! Is what I'm hearing in the news right? People wants Noynoy Aquino to run for President? Just because he is the son of former Senator Ninoy Aquino and President Cory Aquino? Wait! I really need to digest this information. Are these people sure about what they're saying and thinking? Come to think of it. What have Noynoy contributed to the Philippines that was truly beneficial to most, if not all, Filipinos? I'm not a follower of political issues; but if he really is good there must be something that I should have heard he'd done while he is sitting on one of those judicial seats.

Last night, however, I watched SNN in ABS-CBN, Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda's entertainment magazine show; and I've seen the interview of Noynoy Aquino when asked if he is indeed running for President. And you know what my reaction was? Whoa! Splendid! I've never heard any politician answered genuinely as he did. I can't quote Noynoy's word verbatim but his answer meant something like this, "I'm yet to decide whether I will be running running for President because I have to think of whether I can really do something good for the country. I don't want to say after my term ends that I did my best. When I become President and when I step out, I want to be able to say that these are what I've done."

Amazing, isn't it? That is what we call the spirit of LEADERSHIP. We think of how we can serve, not just lead. So there, my perplexity is now building up as the 2010 election is nearing, SO HELP ME GOD!