DILIMAN DIARY

An Open Letter to U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual

2013-04-27T09:25:00.000+08:00

An open letter to UP President Alfredo E. Pascual

Dear Sir:

The baybayin characters on the Sablay of our graduates read as “upa”. This would connote that the iskolars ng bayan are for HIRE upon their graduation, when they are suppose to prioritize service to the nation. Baybayan characters are not the same as our Abakada alphabet where each letter is a basic sound or phoneme, either a vowel or a consonant. In baybayin, which is a syllabic writing system, each character is already a syllable. It seems that there was no in-depth study in using baybayin characters on emblems. Somebody just thought to translate the English letters “U” and “P” to the Pilipino abakada “U” and “Pa” and then to the baybayin characters of syllables “U” and “Pa”. This was reverse engineering at its worst and without any historical basis whatsoever, most definitely not worthy of a UP scholar.

In the military, we revere symbols, especially those made with the blood of our heroes. A well-known usage of the baybayin characters is that found in the flags and emblems of the Katipunan in the 1890s, which bear the baybayin script Ka Ka Ka the acronym for Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang Katipunan. They DO NOT stand for the first letter “K” but for the first Syllable “Ka” of the three words. We are often confused into thinking that the symbol is the same as the letter “Ka” in our Abakada. The Abakada is an indigenized Latin alphabet of the Tagalog language, created by Lope K. Santos in 1940. During the Philippine Revolution against Spain, THERE WAS NO Pilipino alphabet then and the baybayin character “Ka” stands for the FIRST SYLLABLE of Katipunan. Therefore, to “abbreviate” words using baybayin, the character of the first syllable of the word is used.

The baybayin characters on the Sablay are the acronym for Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. The first syllable of “Unibersidad’ and the baybayin script for “U” on the Sablay is correct. The first syllable for “Pilipinas” is “pi” but in the Sablay the character there is for “pa”. A tuldik must be placed on the “pa” character to change it to “pi”.

Since 1990, when the Sablay was first used, we have been parading our graduates for the world to see, carrying the word “UPa”, a tagalog word for “Hire”. Sadly, this does not speak well of UP.

Eliseo M. Rio Jr. (UP Vanguard ’65)

On Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former army comptroller Carlos Garcia

2013-04-11T08:59:00.003+08:00

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales
Source: http://tinyurl.com/ckomqqd

By Lorenzo Ed Valenciano

BAD BAD BAD............HAS SHE GONE BONKERS? OR EXPERIENCING THE ONSET OF DEMENTIA? The ombudsman, Conchita C Morales, affirms the former army comptroller, Carlos Garcia, is not deserving of a jail sentence due to procedural flaws, despite the following voluntary information the latter had offered: a) he is willing to give back 1/2 of the loot b) his wife herself admitted [in court] the corrupt practices of her husband; and c) acknowledged that he fled the country with the loot.

My simple logic along with possibly 99% of those who followed the case are wringing our heads and gnashing our teeth in disbelief, to say the least. Does this mean that the neatly-coiffed ombudsman is favoring the argument re procedural flaws over outright admission of guilt? Can somebody please explain to me in simple language why the neatly-coiffed and well dressed lady justice is thinking this way? What is the message behind this guffaw? Could it be: SIGUE LANG SIGUE LANG. MAGNAKAW ng MAGNAKAW. MAG AMIN SA BANDANG HULI. ISAULI ANG KALAHATI NG NINAKAW MO. UNG KALAHATI, I-INVEST MO SA BANGKO AT MAG INTEREST NG SOBRA SOBRA. [wag mong kalimutan ang commission ko, ha].


Former Philippine Army General Carlos Garcia

BUT HAVING SAID THE FOREGOING, if there is a legal issue behind the well-coiffed/dressed justice's decision, I guess I will have no choice but to kowtow to that]. PS: I wish the CJ would look as presentable as Ms Morales. CJ needs a consultant. Calling the stylist friend of Kris, and ex of PNoy (her name escapes me now). The CJ needs help - your help! LOL

(Source for photo of former Philippine Army General Carlos Garcia: http://tinyurl.com/d9yrot8)

Diliman Diary's 2013 heartthrobs (First of a series)

2013-04-08T20:43:00.003+08:00

With summer temperatures reaching a blistering 39 degrees Celsius in the Diliman area alone; the Diliman Diary decided to look around the metropolis and find good examples of how to dress to beat the summer heat. We decided to marry fashionability with appeal, and came up with the start of a new series: Diliman Diary's 2013 hearthrobs.

Patricia Buhat: An everyday sensibility with extraordinary appeal.

Luis Hontiveros: Charisma personified. Luis is the nephew of Risa Hontiveros whos running for senator and like her is photogenic and reached out to viewers and readers beyond the camera lens.

Jaimie Barameda: Coolness on a hot summer's day. Jaimie shows how to keep one's equanimity despite soaring temperatures. with The secret? A detached good humor coupled a sexy attitude.

A Dying Way of Life

2013-03-29T11:23:00.001+08:00

By Anatoly P. Agapito

Photos by Jai Murcillo

The bus sped past the seemingly unending line of houses fronting the vast expanse rice fields that extended to the horizon. He couldn't see where these fields ended and where the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains began but the warm air from the fields gave him a nostalgic feeling. It is for this reason that he chose to ride in an ordinary bus going home just to feel this air - the warm air that reminded him so much of home - the home that exists only in memory for everything has changed. Slowly albeit so surely... nothing has stayed the same.

The houses the lined the highway were denser now. Here and there there were the unmistakeable marks of "progress." What once were green ricefields were now houses.. if not rice mills.. if not feeds factories. Everywhere... everything reminded him that "coming home" can never be coming home to what it once was before. "Sentiments of an old fool" he said to himself.

His eyes fell upon the carabaos that hauled the heavy rice harvested from the rice fields. They still used the Maharlika highway to haul their loads but they too have changed. What was once wooden carts made from "kawayan" were now intricate contraptions of wood, rubber, some parts metal, and the innovation of adding wheels. "At least that made it a lot easier for the lowly carabao" he murmured to himself.

"Still," he said to himself, "this is a dying way of life." It was undeniable. He sees it. The wheels of progress are moving too fast for the farmer and the beast of the fields to catch up. Along the same highway rice fields were being converted to subdivisions in anticipation of man's growing need for shelter. Somewhere along the superhighway where his bus exited was huge coloseum being erected for cockfighting complete with parking space and lights. He asked himself "As our populations grow... as we convert these vast lands to commercial and residential spaces do we not decrease the amount of palay that we can harvest for food? If then, what will feed the Filipinos of tomorrow? As we choose the concrete parking spaces of tommorrow.. without really having guarrantees if our means of livelihood can one day afford a car or even the food we're going to eat as food prices are set to rise as supplies ran out, are we not starving ourselves later? Have we not read the signs of progress wrongly? Has everyone so hastily jumped into the bandwagon of commerce without regard to what the future may hold?

His heart ached. The wheels of progress are opressing the way of life that he grew up with. The glitter and glamour of the shining lights... the false promise of comfort of city life... were all enticing farmers away from farming. And the lack of certainty of a life firmly planted on the soil had robbed them of their sons and daughters who fled the provinces to take their chances in the city. He can't blame them. Everyone deserves a chance to progress. Everyone except the farmer and the carabao who are forever cursed to serve the land they were born to and they were fated to die under. That way of life is dying. Everyone now thinks that if you are a farmer... then you are poor. You cannot afford the comforts of life. You wouldn't have enough money to send your children to school.. buy their books... even provide for their everyday allowance. Much less let them set their foot in college. This way of life is dying.. he said to himself and he wept bitterly.

And the more bitter part of it is it didn't have to be that way. If only industries would give due importance to the agriculture that feeds them. If only they would recognize that the Filipinos that drove the wheels of industry are being fed by rice fields that they so blindly destroy to profit. But no one would want to see it. The promise of large sums of return is too attractive to stay in agriculture. A farmer who once had 3 hectares of land would rather sell this land to the developer.. who would invest on average investments in gravel to cover it up and concrete to erect townhouses. It is not an easy task and looking for money to fund such a transition also has its commensurate amount of difficulty. But there are more of those who have that kind of money and are more willing to spend on this than those who would stay in farming. In a few years these units would be priced 1.3 Million a piece - a "better" valued investment.

One day when even with the amount of investment we've accumulated we can't afford to put food on the table would we realize that this is the "fork" in road - when we could have made a difference but we did not. When we could have avoided widespread starvation and we did not. It is the simple mathematics of supply and demand really. The more lands we convert to residential and commercial areas the less we have for agriculture. The less land for agriculture, the less rice we harvest. The less rice we harvest the less supply of rice in the market. The less supply the more demand. The more demand the higher the price. And for those who have barely enough to supply for three meals a day. What will happen if the price of rice would increase by 20 pesos more. 5 years ago we still could afford to buy rice for 21 pesos per kilo. Now it has risen to 34 pesos. And no one seems to care or notice. And as population increases the demand only grows. That is a factor of millions his mind could calculate. He wept. "What will happen to my children?" Suddenly he found himself not weeping for the past but weeping for the future? If we do not stop this now... what will happen then?

Pasang Awa

2013-03-25T08:01:00.001+08:00

(Source: http://tinyurl.com/atgpx6y)

By Lorenzo Ed Valenciano

PASANG AWA ( as in the last bar exams): is this not one of the greatest reasons/obstacles why the PH, our dear PH, is finding it rather difficult to earn a decent place under the sun? AWA is treated in our parts as a commandment from God that should be extended to all without qualification as to reason or logic. This predominantly Catholic country of ours which we love so dearly, has succeeded, over the years, to twist, give a new meaning to, and culturalize [if there is such a word] it. Unfortunately, our distorted interpretation of AWA is proving/has proven that it does not do us good: we make ourselves non-competitive in a highly competitive world. We must stop the abuse of the word AWA because if we do not, we are pulling ourselves deeper and deeper into the pit of the non-entities. If you think on the word longer and internalize it you might get the sense that it really deters growth..........our propensity to accommodate is so ill-placed, many times we get into trouble being that way. Did you notice how reluctant the attorney who, on TV, tried to explain why the passing mark of the last bar had to be lowered, because he himself could not agree with the decision of the SC to compromise, and allowed a lower passing grade? What is worse, the person said, the compromise was done in deference to the coming holy week. Ngek!

U.P. Manila Dramatista presents We Tell the Story: A Musical

2013-03-08T10:51:00.001+08:00

This March, let UP Manila Dramatista tell you a story of two different worlds that were never meant to meet, and in the end conquered fate with love, hope and faith. It will also take you to a journey of unity and harmony within different races and societal status.

For ticket inquiries and reservations contact Janel Mamorno at 09357425860.

The show will run from March 15 until March 23 at the CAS Little Theater, UP Manila.

Like the pages,
http://facebook.com/WeTellTheStoryDRAMATISTA
http://facebook.com/UPMDramatista

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Ladies of the UP Corps, to unite alumnae group on March 16, 2013, International Women’s Month

2013-03-06T00:35:00.000+08:00

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago as head of the
UP ROTC Corps of Sponsors in the late ’60s.

Corps Sponsor ’97 Joyce Marie Rose Cuaycong during the

traditional Presentation of Sponsors at the UP Sunken Garden,

on board the “white carabao” while trooping the line of cadets.

UP Diliman, QC - “We are calling on our co-alumnae to join us in addressing contemporary challenges of the ROTC and the UP Corps of Sponsors, as well as relive our distinct culture of relevant and altruistic service,” the UPCOS Alumnae Assembly Organizing Group proposes.

The UP Corps of Sponsors alumnae will conduct their initial lunch workshop at the Bahay ng Alumni on March 16, 2013 from 11am to 3pm. Ladies who served as mediators between the cadets and cadet officers of their battalions in the ROTC during their college years, from all over the UP System shall meet to relive their glorious years in the Corps, relish friendships, and discuss the organizations’ contemporary social relevance.

The UP Corps of Sponsors is the socio-civic arm of the UP Department of Military Science and Tactics. It is an organization known to select the beautiful and bright young women leaders in the University of the Philippines, and offers a distinct paramilitary training for its members preparing them to be graceful and empowered women leaders under its shibboleths of Honor, Excellence, and Service.

Among its notable alumnae are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Prof. Solita ‘Winnie’ Monsod, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Coco Quisumbing, Philippine Information Agency NCR Director Riza Baldoria, and former Congresswoman Lorna Verano, who will be keynote speaker during the event.

The corps ladies will also grace the Parade and Review of troops at the UP Sunken Garden organized by the UP Vanguard Inc. The parade and review shall be in celebration of UPROTC’s 52nd anniversary. No less than the Philippines Vice President Honorable Jejomar Binay shall grace the said event.

The workshop will be facilitated by Dominique Monera-Tabora, another distinguished alumna from UP Baguio and the current World Vision Asia-Pacific Communications Specialist. Discussions will cover the formalization of the organization’s objectives and next steps.

Former UPCOS members can reach the Organizing Committee of the UP Corps of Sponsors Alumnae Assembly through email at upcosalumnae@gmail.com or access their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UPCOS for related information and updates.

Hungry for hummus

2013-03-03T14:54:00.000+08:00

(Source: http://tinyurl.com/bjwuyvb)

By AS Bonifacio

Whenever I have a craving for Middle Eastern food beyond shawarma, I hie off to Kazam in Maginhawa Street in Diliman. My previous go-to haven, Al-Fakr, had long been gone from this foodie stretch, so I was happy to find another similar restaurant likewise serving falafel. This dish is popular that even in Al-Fakr back then, it was hard to come by. I’ve been twice to Kazam where they ran out of falafel, which is simply fried chickpeas (garbanzos). Fortunately, as a healthy alternative, Kazam has rather decent hummus, the non-fried version of falafel, basically, just mashed garbanzos with olive oil etc. thrown in.

I have always been disappointed with the hummus served in Metro Manila restaurants, even at the expensive Cyma, which otherwise has delicious offerings. The best hummus I’ve tasted was homemade, and I was even taught how to make it, but it takes a lot of effort. First you boil the garbanzos, and then you mash them in a blender. Well, they can be mashed by hand too. I’ve tried precooked hummus, sold in dried, powdered form, and it was plain yucky.

Thus I was happy to find Kazam set up space sometime in 2012 at the Sikatuna Village side of Maginhawa Street, no. 162, although they were rudely interrupted by street diggings that required closing down for weeks. Finally late last year, they were back, with their sidewalk trimmed down and now sharing a nice balcony space with their neighboring foodspots. Kazam not only offers hummus but other Middle Eastern delights, particularly Persian food, such as keema (ground beef) and kebabs. I especially love their chelo kebabs, grilled meats with a generous serving of buttered rice, grilled tomatoes and onions. They have a protein-rich chelo combination of tenderloin with either beef or chicken. No pork at all.

Their motabal (mashed eggplant) is a bit too salty for me. The hummus, however, puts the expensive Middle Eastern restaurants to shame, and the added olive oil is not at all stingy. Sometimes I go there just for the hummus alone, with one order needing two orders of pita bread. They have a shawarma variant with falafel and hummus, which I find too rich, carb-wise, but it’s actually a good deal for the price. Last I went, Kazam had a promo of unli shawarma from noon to 3 p.m. daily, but it’s a shame, since I’m not impressed with their beef version.

U.P. Board of Regents denies Posadas extension

2013-03-01T19:00:00.000+08:00

Source: Technology Management Center

Statement of former College of Science Dean Roger Posadas:

To all my fellow faculty members, my students, UP alumni here and abroad, old and new friends, and all others who supported me in my appeal to the UP Board of Regents (BOR) for the extension of my full-time faculty appointment, I am very sad to inform you that the BOR today (February 28, 2013 - ed) denied my appeal with finality and decided to downgrade my faculty status to Professorial Lecturer, a part-time faculty position with a salary that is about 50% of my last full-time salary. This setback for me and other professors who are older than 65 (Jun Cruz Reyes, Naida Rivera, Daisy Carlota, Claro Llaguno, et al.) is a triumph for UP President Pascual's, UP Diliman Chancellor Saloma's, and the All UP Workers Union's new policy of regarding senior professors as unwanted costs and unneeded old fogeys that have to be discarded.

The principal thrust of the incumbent UP administration is not to achieve world-class academic excellence nor to produce UP graduates that embody expertise coupled with virtues but rather to achieve operational excellence by reducing faculty costs and computerizing UP operations. I am very sad not so much for myself -- because my family and I will find ways of surviving somehow -- but for the future of our UP beloved which is now going to the dogs and becoming UP benighted as we keep losing our excellent faculty members to other local universities and to other countries.

I wish to thank all of you sincerely from the bottom of my heart, especially those who have not met me in person, for all your expressions of support and for signing the petitions to the BOR. I am also very grateful to all those who extended their support, comfort, and love to my son, Gregor Ethan. We may have lost this particular battle, but we have won many new genuine friends. My family and I will never forget your help and support. Maraming salamat. Tuloy ang laban. Ipaglaban ang UP.

Retiring in the Philippines with a Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)

2013-02-16T11:56:00.001+08:00

“Smile at Life in the Philippines.” This is our invitation to our former Filipino citizens and foreign nationals to choose the Philippines as their second home. Famous for our vibrant culture, hospitality, friendly English-speaking population, natural attractions, and tropical climate, retirees can expect the good life in the Philippines at an affordable cost.

GEOGRAPHY
The Philippines is an archipelagic nation made up of 7,107 islands spanning 1,840 kilometers north to south. It is part of the Southeast Asian region, and is bordered by Taiwan to the north, Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo to the south, the South China Sea to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Three main Philippine Island groups are Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. The Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT +8 hours.

CLIMATE
Generally, Philippines has a tropical climate. March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78F/25C to 90F/32C; humidity is 77%.

LANGUAGE
Understanding each other will not be a problem between the retirees and our people. Almost every Filipino can understand and speak some English. In fact, we are the third largest English-speaking nation in terms of population.

Two official languages are Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog is the national language. English is widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education. Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog; Cebuano; Ilocano; Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

RELIGIONS
Some 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Muslim. The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist.

COST OF LIVING
The principal appeal for retirement in the Philippines is the lower cost of living. Housing, food, and labor costs are quite reasonable. Global Filipinos and foreign retirees can retire in the Philippines and enjoy not only the lower cost of living but also the very favorable currency exchange rate.

The Philippines’ monetary unit is the Peso. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
In terms of medical services, our facilities are comparable to the best anywhere else. Our highly trained medical personnel and caregivers are in demand all over the world not only for their competence and expertise but most especially for the care and compassion they show to their wards. Healthcare, a top priority of the senior market, is an expertise of the Filipino who is world-renowned for his excellent healthcare practitioners.

FILIPINO HOSPITALITY
Filipinos are naturally warm, friendly and hospitable. We have a ready smile for everybody and our religious background that is predominantly Catholic makes service to others an innate trait.

TELECOMMUNICATION EDGE
Every retiree can avail of the country’s continuously improving telecommunication facilities. They can keep abreast of what is happening around the world and keep in touch with their relatives and friends back home.

ECO-TOURISM DESTINATION
Philippines can provide the retirees endless choices of world-class destinations that will bring them closer to Mother Nature with clean air and beautiful sceneries. The white sand beaches of Boracay and Panglao and the virgin islands of Palawan often referred to as “the last frontier” are truly unforgettable places that entice the visitors to come back in the Philippines.

To learn how to avail of the Department of Tourism's Special Resident Retiree's Visa program, read the rest here: http://www.internationalmedicalvacations.com/2013/02/retire-in-philippines-with-special.html

Eng Ho bakery goes beyond Binondo, Banawe

2013-02-05T22:20:00.000+08:00

(Source: http://blauearth.com/2010/11/06/eng-hos-classic-cakes/)

By AS Bonifacio

There's a new-old kid in the block, for foodies who love baked goodies and Chinese delicacies. Eng Ho gone beyond Chinatown and its Banawe branch, setting up space some months ago on Magiting Street, near CP Garcia Avenue and UP campus. This might be due to the ever-growing Korean presence in the neighborhood.

I came upon this happy and delicious find one afternoon after strolling from CHED (corner University and CP Garcia), heading for Teachers' Village. I turned right at the intersection near the stud farm. I hadn't been in the area since October last year, and as I turned to Magiting going toward Maginhawa Street, I was amazed to see new foodie spots to my right. Impulsively I went into the first one, looking forward to a refreshing snack.

I immediately saw a huge mocha chiffon cake, no icing, wrapped in plastic and encased in a box, with smaller versions nearby, all displayed on the middle shelf. There were also vanilla chiffon cakes, mocha rolls, butter cupcakes, muffins of various flavors, and boxes of tikoy. On the top were loaf breads, carrot bread, and cheese rolls. Beside the cashier stood an upright cake display fridge, showing fancy cakes with icing, and brazo de Mercedes. They accept advance orders for specially designed cakes for birthdays etc. The store itself has no actual bakery in the premises, just a few tables and chairs for dine-in snacking, but they have regular deliveries.

On the other wall were more shelves with more baked goodies such as pandesal with fillings such as tuna, corned beef and asado, not bad for 15 pesos each, student-friendly prices. The asado and bola-bola siopao were available not just steamed and ready-to-eat (P35 each), but also in take-home plastic bags for freezing and steaming later. There were lots of other Chinese goodies, assuring signs that a Binondo landmark was finally in Diliman.

I haven't tried all their offerings, but I have enjoyed, and will continue to do so, their mocha cake and filled pandesal. The mocha cake is yummy even without icing, a boon for those watching their calories and cholesterol. The same goes for their butter bread, soft sweet rolls that can be eaten on their own. The puto pao didn't have much asado inside, but the siopao and asado rolls were decent. The hopia mongo was OK, but not a match for Ho-land's version, still the best.

U.P. Diliman opens New Acquisitions exhibit on February 7, 2013.

2013-02-05T20:25:00.000+08:00

The University of the Philippines Diliman, in commemoration of the UP Diliman Month and in celebration of the National Arts Month this February, proudly presents New Acquisitions, an exhibition presenting for the first time new works endowed by artists and friends to the University Art Collection (UAC).

The exhiibit opens Thursday, February 7, at 6 in the evening at the Bulwagan ng Dangal, the University Heritage Museum. Prof. Ruben D.F. Defeo curates the exhibit.

National Artists Napoleon V. Abueva and Abdulmari Asia Imao lead the artists who generously donated their works to the University Art Collectioon. The Joya family gave one work and Senator Edgardo J. Angara donated a sculptural bust done by Imao.

Forty nine artists complete the list, namely: Leo Antonio Abaya, Augusto Albor, Nunelucio Alvarado, Marcel Antonio, Jerusalino Araos, Armand Bacaltos, Pablo Baen-Santos, Grandier Bella, Jeho Bitancor, Benjamin Cabangis, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Tomás Javier Calvillo Unna, Norberto Carating, Reynaldo Concepción, Daniel Coquilla, Araceli Dans, Denes Dasco, Dulce Dee, Anton Del Castillo, Norman Dreo, Jes Evangelista, Dakila Fernando, Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi, Juan Sajid Imao, Toym Imao, Pete Jimenez, Junyee, Lenore RS Lim, Alfredo Liongoren, Julie Lluch, Jesus RW Lozada, Dennis Montera, John Olivares, Mario Parial, Mikel Parial, Gregory Pototsky, Alfredo Roces, Jonahmar Salvosa, Rodolfo Samonte, Jerson Samson, Julius Samson, Popo San Pascual, John Santos, José Danilo Silvestre, Soler, Nestor O. Vinluan, Edwin Wilwayco and Janice Young.

The idea of beefing up the UAC was a brainchild of Professor Defeo who posted in April 2012 on Facebook a clarion call to his artist friends to endow the University Art Collection with landmark works the artists themselves would select. The response was overwhelming.

The works now belong to the University Art Collection. Big or small, they reflect the diverse persuasions of the artistsócelebrating the nobility of the human figure in their constant search for beauty, justice and truth, configuring and distilling from natural forms and occurrences emblems, signs and symbols to concretize imaging as well as other imaginings, or elevating even the most banal to provide fitting platforms for art's often incisive and revelatory commentaries.

The French philosopher and art critic Denis Diderot states: "Happiest are the people who give most happiness to others." This statement is most true and palpable in this exhibition. All the artists included in this collection have generously given more than a fair share of what they do best: their art. In turn, the University of the Philippines proudly presents their works in an exhibition of this scale, affording the artists the opportunity to genuinely share their artistic gifts and ideas with the viewing public at large. They at once become "portraits of philanthropy" as consummate idea whisperer Valaida Fullwood calls them.

In bequeathing to the University of the Philippines works they themselves selected to mark individual milestones in their artistic and professional careers, they have made the institution academically richer in terms of the vivacity of spirit the works construe, the vitality of sensibilities they confront and the vibrancy of styles they celebrate.

Art as donation, performed by the artists themselves and especially endowed to an institution like a university teaching museum, constitutes the highest form of altruism. For indeed, the best way to find oneself, to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, is to lose oneself "in the service of others." The very act of donation is a compelling reflection of the artistsí magnanimity to commit their works to deepen and embolden the academic mission of the University as a cultural and heritage repository. That, to say the least, is most rewarding for the institution.

Many of these artists are alumni of this University, who endearingly call UP Naming Mahal their Alma Mater. A few had taught or still continue to teach in the College of Fine Arts. Their coming back to the institution that shaped them to become the celebrated artists they now are is but an endearing gesture and succinct recognition of gratitude. They therefore flesh out what Albert Einstein once pointed out: "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."

Works that accrue to a museum collection may be assured of exhibition or "display" possibilities at one point in time, one way or the other, notwithstanding the problematic limited space that beleaguers most museums in the world today. The assurance may somehow satisfy the artists' native craving for exposure, secure in the knowledge that several hundreds of pairs of eyes shall behold their works to give them lasting artistic value.

But more than that, these same works may reference landmarks of thoughts and processes that scholars and academics may point out vis-a-vis specific contexts in the intersticing dialogue of art, life and mind.

With these new acquisitions endowed to the University Art Collection, the University of the Philippines Diliman stands proud to carry on its eminent role as an art patron, with all its attendant privileges, if not awesome responsibilities.

The oil magnate and himself a philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. believes "that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession a duty."

The University can do no less to permanently preserve all donations in its collection. Aesthetic standards may change over time. Museum caretakers may come and go. Curatorial management of collections may vary. But the University of the Philippines Diliman stands pat to dispatch its role as steward and custodian of the works entrusted her, not to cite the awesome material value they collectively carry. The University commits itself to provide and jostle the aesthetic pleasure of the viewing public, and which the works inherently possess, and thereby ensure that these works are constantly viewed, reviewed and re-reviewed in systematic exhibitions and scholarly discourses to address the changing polemics of Philippine Art History.

I REFUSE

2013-02-04T00:04:00.001+08:00

by Sherry Ann Bautista-Crisostomo

I refuse to be a follower of my fate

I am a master of it.

I refuse to get affected when things go wrong

But I let the tears flow.

It will make me feel better afterwards.

I refuse to accept that things just happen for a reason so let it be.

I am a living magnet

Everything happens for a reason. There are no accidents.

But I should do something to make things in favor of me no matter how

Hard the scenario seems to be.

I refuse to believe that old dogs can’t learn new tricks.

As long as one still has the thirst for learning, one can still make new adventures no matter how old he is.

I don’t believe in pure luck

But I am a believer of blessings and positive thinking.

I value hard work and determination but I am a dreamer as well.

I weave dreams and visualize them into reality.

I value the harsh realities of life but I am a faithful believer who stand by my faith.

I refuse to let fear stand on my way as I get a glimpse of darkness and chaos in this world.

But I pray and pour my concerns to my Master just like a child hold on to his parents’ hands to feel protected.

I am consoled.

I have faith.

I am protected.

I refuse to doubt

I expect miracles to happen everyday, and I can be that miracle too.

I refuse to believe that winning the lottery is like finding a needle in a haystack.

I get excited when good things happen to other people.

I learned to value my hatchets. I learned to throw my ego called Self

And embrace the reality that I am not the best or the prettiest

There will always be better than me, younger than me, more good looking than me, and smarter than me.

But I refuse to be inferior to them.

I am special and I deserve what I have today.

I am not ashamed of who I am.

I am grateful for whatever blessings my Master has given me.

I never forget to share

Nor be greedy to keep and store them.

I am frank.

I share my thoughts, my views, and my beliefs anytime I have the chance.

I am misunderstood most of the time

Including the people I call my family.

I am blessed to find a prince in the form of Mark

We are always in the same wavelength

But we still disagree,

Yet we agree in most of the things in this journey called life.

I follow the norms

But I am deviant in certain rules as well.

I refuse to follow the standards of society because it is the “right” thing to do even if it does not make any sense anymore.

I am Spiritual.

But I refuse to be a fanatic.

I only have my one true God

But I respect other religions.

I am fascinated with the evolution of faith, unseen forces, the spirituality of other cultures and religions.

But I do not embrace all of them.

It is my choice.

I am a firm believer of faith and goodness of one’s heart no matter how

Evil may loom in Gaia or Mother Earth.

I know that the Church does not tell everything.

Many secrets. Truth distorted.

I listen. I grasp. I do not believe everything She says.

I am an advocate of life.

But I don’t agree with the Church in their stand against birth control

I value true love, intimacy, and life long commitments.

I don’t have qualms in expressing my sexuality and sensuality

I am a faithful soul who will only love one man until eternity.

Our body is His temple.

Good things await those who wait.

I am a living proof of that.

I wait for my one true love

I am a romantic

I am blessed to find him in the name of Mark.

Married life is not easy but it is not hard as well

People ask why I chose him,

I did not choose him

My Master chose Him for me!

He loves me

He respects me

He trusts me

He cherishes me

He takes very good care of me.

I love him

I respect him

I trust him

I cherish him

I take good care of him.

We are both Gifts to each other

And we will always be thankful to Him for that.

I get bored easily

But I refuse to complain the humdrum of my life.

I want change.

I get impatient when things seem slow

So I weave dreams once more

And I believe them to happen.

My heart beats with excitement when I read the line from the book: The Alchemist

Where it quoted as saying: “When you want something,

The universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

My friend Kyla said, the book changed her life.

It inspired me and gave me new image of the world I live in.

It gave me a different kind of will power and energy.

I hope

I trust

I believe

That everything is interconnected, yes it is.

That there is a Supreme Being looking upon us

But it is still up to us to be the persons we want us to be.

I refuse to be sad and sensitive anymore

In spite of crazy situations,

It won’t do my family and me any good

I’ll just waste my energy

I’ll make my older one upset whenever my

Temper looms.

I refuse to worry and think about tomorrow.

Or worry about my past to haunt me.

Today is a Gift

I should live life to the fullest

Appreciate what I have

Yet Aspire for a better life.

I am ambitious

But I always keep myself grounded

I want to make a difference

I want change.

I try my best to educate people

No matter who they are

Even if they listen or they don’t

Be patient in explaining things

Even if I have a bad temper

I use my anger or my irritation as a fuel

To be an agent of change

Even if I am just explaining to the gardener not to burn plastics

Or rubbish in our area.

I refuse to flow with the current

Or fear of failure

It is the greatest obstacle to happiness.

I refuse not to be happy

Whatever my situation is

For every happy person carries God with Him.

I refuse to die and never achieve the dreams I weave

They will happen.

I put my energy and focus in believing

In Faith

Everything is possible as long as you want it to happen

No matter what others may say.

I am a gift

I am special

I am beautiful

I am a princess

I am a royalty

I am pampered

I am an old soul

I am a giver

I am smart

I am frank

I am a poet

I am a writer

I am a fashion model

I am a reader

I am well versed

I am witty

I am misunderstood

I am loved

I am a lover

I am a faithful wife

I am a devoted mother of two

I am an advocate

I am a dreamer

I am a positive thinker

I am sweet and thoughtful

I am temperamental

I am emotional

I am a listener

I am a lover of beautiful things

I am a daughter

I am a sister

I am a friend

I am the ME who I choose to be!

Food Review: Café Quezon

2013-01-25T20:15:00.000+08:00

By A.S. Bonifacio

This has become an enduring haunt in Sikatuna Village, ever since it opened several years back and many other food joints in the area came and went. Maybe part of its success is its location. It’s a bit far from the foodie spots gathered at certain parts along Maginhawa Street, which spans three barangays—UP Village, Teachers’ Village, and Sikatuna. The easy-to-find café doesn’t have to compete for attention unlike the busy portion near Magiting Street that leads toward UP campus. Instead, it bookends the other side of Maginhawa, lording it over at Sikatuna, a corner down from Bayantel, and a corner away from Camp Karingal. The location gives you an idea of the usual patrons that fills it especially at lunch, aside from the academic crowd, attracted not only by the free wi-fi (minimum order) but also by the wallet-friendly menu.

As indicated by its name, the café specializes in dishes and ingredients connected to the province of Quezon, and then some. There’s the urbanized version of Quezon’s popular street food, pansit habhab, on a plate and with a fork. The habhab I’ve had at Lucban, freshly-made miki with vegetables, was served on a banana leaf without any utensils, since the pansit is to be slurped straight unto one’s mouth.

You’ll also find Lucban longganisa served for breakfast, with egg and fried rice. It’s not sweet, but garlicky and full of flavor. My favorites are the crispy tapa, deep-fried beef jerky that one drenches with vinegar, as well as the spicy chicken, simply fried with something peppery added, no need to add catsup. Another secret to the cafe’s success is its sweet offerings, such as its unforgettable lemon-lime chiffon cake and its bestseller, peanut butter cheesecake. Some people drop by just to buy them by the slice or whole. Aside from brewed coffee, one can pair the cake slices with salabat, as well as flavored teas by the teapot. It also sells delicacies from Quezon such as puto seko, meringue, uraro biscuits, and even kiping, usually seen adorning Lucban homes during the Pahiyas fiesta.

What I like most about this spot is that it’s a decent, cosy, and affordable refuge, especially in the slow café hours (early afternoons and after-dinner hours, until ten p.m.). It’s an ideal go-to place for a relaxing time with friends, a surprise birthday treat, or a pick-me-up snack all alone.

UPAA opens nominations for Distinguished Alumni Awards 2013

2013-01-17T08:44:00.000+08:00

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) has announced the search for nominees for the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards 2013.

The awards are conferred on alumni who have demonstrated in their chosen field of endeavor, exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. Recognition is given to achievements and contributions that impact the community in which the alumni are or have been active, whether this is at the local, national or international level.

Nominations for the awards will be accepted from any U.P. alumnus or alumni chapter until January 31, 2013. The award ceremonies will be held during the U.P. General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming & Reunion on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Luciano E. Salazar Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, U.P. Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

Each year, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) gives recognition to alumni achievers, as follows: UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award, UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awards, UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards, UPAA Distinguished Service Awards and UPAA Multi-Generation U.P. Alumni Family Awards.

Award nominations will be considered in such thematic categories as public service and good governance, poverty alleviation and human development, peace and social cohesion, gender equality and women empowerment, community empowerment, environmental conservation and sustainable development, entrepreneurship and employment creation, institutional or corporate social responsibility, culture and the arts, science and technology, education and health, or as defined by the achievements of a deserving nominee.

For the past few years, UPAA makes special effort to identify for nomination, unsung alumni achievers -- those whose achievements in little-known corners of the country are exceptional but have remained unheralded and unrecognized.

For inquiries, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at 632-9206868, 632-9206871, 632-9206875 or email upalum.awards2013@yahoo.com. Visit the UPAA website http://www.upalumni.ph for complete details.

Rushing to Diliman in a taxi cab

2013-01-10T00:46:00.000+08:00

Here is a youtube video which symbolizes the zeal and selflessness practiced by the writers of the Diliman Diary as they seek to provide timely content for its readers. In 2013, our motto is as always, Padayon! (Let's move forward).

Vladimir Putin welcomes Depardieu

2013-01-09T14:52:00.001+08:00

French actor Gerard Depardieu bid France adieu to avoid the tax rates imposed by Hollande. France’s loss is Russia’s gain this time as Vladimir Putin welcomes the film star Saturday night.

A representative of Mr. Putin said the French star flew to Moscow on a private visit and “being in the country, he was presented with a Russian passport.”

High taxes for the rich are sickening according to Depardieu who said that it’s France spitting on success. He reportedly got very annoyed by this development but he said in an interview that he will remain French by heart. (Photo via AP)

Run 2 Feed on February 17

2013-01-08T13:34:00.003+08:00

The Ateneo Center for Educational Development is hosting a fun run on February 17^th, 2013. The fun run dubbed as Run 2 Feed is ACED’s fundraiser and awareness campaign for feeding programs in public elementary schools in Quezon City and other areas of Luzon.

Feeding programs in the public school system were done decades ago but were stopped due to lack of funds.

Click here to register.

Wanted: A New Co-Editor for the Diliman Diary

2013-01-08T01:07:00.003+08:00

An announcement from your friendly Co-Editor of the Diliman Diary: Chanda R. Shahani.

Wanted: A replacement for my voluntary position as Co-Editor of the Diliman Diary (http://www.dilimandiary.com/) and Diliman Diary on Facebook. The Diliman Diary has a solid following of readers inside and outside of the Diliman area, and has developed a good reputation for solid journalism. Interested parties will please email me at: dilimandiary@yahoo.com Attention: CRS and indicate your qualifications, and your vision for helping the Diary progress further. Thank you everybody. =)

5 Most Inspiring Filipino Stories For 2012

2013-01-07T22:58:00.003+08:00

No. 1 Jess Espanola: The Simpsons Assistant Director and Emmy Awardee

Photo by Matthew Imaging

The story of Jess Espanola is definitely something one can draw inspiration from. In his account written by Jeremy Rosenberg Jess Espanola: Hungry in the Philippines, He Drew for Food; Now He Has a Simpsons Emmy, Jess said he was born a poor boy. His mother, who was raped when she was working as a maid in one of Metropolitan Manila’s cities took odd jobs just to raise little Jesus -a name given to her by a friend of her mother's because the little boy was born on the 23rd of December.

Jess Espanola worked as a dishwasher when he was in high school to help make ends eet. Life was difficult for him and his mother but after graduating with a Fine Arts degree from the University of the Philippines, he finally got a job from an Australian animation studio based in Manila. The rest of course is history and Jess won an Emmy last year.

No. 2 Rania Reeda Bahjin: A Princess with a Cause

The doctor (right) with her mother.

Medical doctor Rania Reeda Bahjin has been serving as a medical officer in a remote district hospital in Sulu since her move back to Zamboanga --away from the bright lights of the capital where she lived for years.

To be able to get to the Pangutaran District Hospital, the Sulu princess endures an 8-hour boat ride going to Jolo and then another 5-hour boat ride going to Pangutaran, a 4th class municipality in Mindanao.

Patients in the remote hospital are usually already in line just to see the doctor. While there are many critical patients and no proper equipment, Bahjin makes do with what the hospital has. She said it gets worse when the power is out.

Here is the doctor’s account of one of her travels to Pangutaran:

"Just the other night, a 6-year old came in with severe dehydration. I have already pushed 3L of fluid but still his BP won’t budge. When I asked for inotropes, they didn’t have any. Had I not kept my cool, I may have gone crazy. Just thinking about transporting him to a tertiary hospital on a boat for 3-5 hours in the middle of the night is enough to push me over the edge. Complicated of course by the fact that the mere transport could also kill him. Thankfully, with the grace of ALLAH, the child survived."

"Another patient came in with difficulty of breathing for 2 days and I was already contemplating of intubating him. When I asked if he smoked, he vehemently denied and said that he quit. When I asked when – “Dalawang araw na ako hindi naninigarilyo!” Alhamdulillah, frequent nebulization and steroids did the trick."

"It takes much dedication and genuine willingness to go there because aside from the tedious travel, the reputation of Sulu precedes the place. This is the reason why for many years, there was only one doctor in Pangutaran."

"Someone asked what possessed me to go to such a place. The dean of our college then offered “Nah. You’re just lost. I know.” Well, there may be some truth in that. But while searching, I’ll just “lose” myself in the service of my people and hope that I’ll never tire of it."

"I came back to Zamboanga just in time to celebrate my birthday and I thank the almighty ALLAH for giving me another year to accomplish this deed. ALLAHUAKBAR!"

No. 3 Rio De La Cruz, A Runaway Success

Photo via Runner’s World

The Bato, Camarines Sur native Rio De La Cruz was only 9 months old when his mother left him and his 14 siblings. Life in the countryside was difficult and at a young age, Rio learned to exchange menial work for nilagang saba or kamote among other things. Rio started early with his entrepreneurial skills but his business sense did not define his success. His potential as a runner was seen in Grade 5 when the family was already living in the capital.

No. 4 Angelo Valencia: Lawyer, Construction Worker

Angelo Valencia with one of the kids from Mt. Pulag.

Photos via Yahoo! News

When one thinks about Mt. Pulag, one would think of a nice place to go to for mountaineers but the highest peak of Luzon is not just a mountain to climb for lawyer Angelo Valencia, it’s a community that needs schools. The lawyer who refers to himself as a social climber said, “It was not an overnight thing, the plan to create a school.” Now there’s a primary school on Mt. Pulag and Valencia, after successfully building a school on the said mountain, said he has plans to build schools in other far-flung towns of the Philippines.

No. 5 Josepine Erece: Savior of Sultan Kudarat’s Prostitutes

Photo via Yahoo! News

For many young girls living in Sultan Kudarat, the conflict in the south is not only a part of life but has also caused many of them to lose their parents at a very young age –leaving these girls to fend for themselves just to survive. Josephine Erece is tired of this sorry situation so she took matters in her own hands –she took these young girls home. That wasn’t all though, even though Erece got harassed by the bar owners, she continued providing a home to the girls while she looked for jobs for those who could already work. Later on, Erece set up a mission home and linked the home to a charity organization in the United States.

House-to-house shootout in Philippine town, 9 dead

2013-01-05T22:12:00.004+08:00

Nine people were killed in a door-to-door shootout in a town 20 kilometers away from Manila. The gunman, Ronald Bae, reportedly injured several others during his rampage. Bae was later killed by Kawit police officers who tried their best to make Bae surrender.

Before the said attack, Filipinos in the capital were in a heated debate about a gun ban during the holidays due to the death of a7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy –in separate gunfire incidents.

The Firearms and Explosives Office told the media that there are probably around 600, 000 unlicensed firearms in the country.

Photo via Turner.com

Death caused by celebratory gunfire sparks gun debate in Manila

2013-01-05T11:48:00.000+08:00

Seven-year-old Stephanie Ella passed away Wednesday after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Stephanie and her father were out in their Manila suburb yard to watch a fireworks display nearby when Stephanie was struck by a bullet.

It is not just the 7-year-old girl who died from celebratory gunfire though, sources say. A 4-year-old boy also died from a similar incident while a 16-year-old who suffered the same fate is now in a coma.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said in his statement, “This incident should not be allowed to become just another statistic” –referring to Ella's death.

Anti-crime crusader Dante Jimenez is now pushing for a total gun ban during the holidays. (Photo Paladin Planet)

The New Year: History, Hope, and New Beginnings

2013-01-05T11:29:00.003+08:00

Our sentiments for the New Year have always been the same since mankind started celebrating it –people strive to stick to their New Year’s resolutions and then stop doing so by February or right after the spirit of the holidays dissipate.

In 1729, Bach called for protection from plague through one of his compositions, he called for joy and good health too among other things but thousands of years before that, New Year’s Day was never celebrated at all not until the Mesopotamians in 2000 BC started celebrating it during the vernal equinox. This celebration was in mid-March and not January. Various ancient cultures also celebrated something similar to that of the March New Year of the Mesopotamians. The Egyptians and Persians for example, celebrated New Year during fall while their Greek counterparts had feasts during the winter solstice.

In the early Roman Calendar, March 1^st is the New Year since it was the first month of the year. One has to note that in Latin, the word decem means ten, novem is nine, octo of course as one would surmise means eight while septem is seven. It was only in 153 BC when Romans started celebrating New Year’s Day on January 1^st with January and February added to the calendar hundreds of years before. It was only during Julius Caesar’s time that January 1^st was officially installed as New Year’s Day though.

It is interesting to note however that in the Middle Ages, this celebration was abolished because it is unchristian. Various times, various places, different celebrations -it all became confusing after that until of course the appearance of the Gregorian Calendar and January 1^st was restored as New Year’s Day. Enough with the trivia.

So here we are, another new year, another new beginning. Why is the New Year so important? The New Year or New Year’s Day at the very least is the mark of new beginnings - the very reason why different cultures seem to practice listing New Year’s resolutions. This doesn’t mean though that one should forget years past as Auld Lang Syne brought to our attention or brings to our attention each time it is sang.

While some cultures celebrate the New Year without having to subject their ears to any type of hearing loss, in the Philippines, it seems to be a requirement along of course with bloodshed and a tinge of gore –in various Philippine hospitals at least.

While New Year’s Day is a mark of a new page, new chapter, new beginning whatever one would prefer to call it, it is impossible to welcome the New Year without a hint of doubt and fear. The awful truth is that we are afraid of change –at least according to a number of experts.

Change however can be wonderful but still, all we can do is hope for the best while doing our best to make 2013 a better year for all of us.

Happy New Year from the Diliman Diary!

Will the world end before Christmas?

2012-12-18T03:44:00.000+08:00

The Mayans say that the world will end on the 21^st of December this year. There have been a number of failed predictions about the end of the world though which makes the Mayan doomsday schedule just one of those things that some people like to talk about.

Montanus, who claimed he is the embodiment of the Holy Spirit said that the end of times were near. The word “near” is relative of course.

Before year 1000, many went out of their way to go to Jerusalem hoping to be saved because a rumormonger –a good one at that- said the world will end in the year 1000. The world didn’t end in 1000 of course –we are still here.

Charles Wesley of the Methodist Church

Methodist church founder Charles Wesley believed that the world was to end in 1794 while his brother claimed that the Great Beast would arrive in 1836 and that this event will cause the world to end. The brothers Wesley were wrong.

Jehovah’s Witness and The End of Days

Jehovah’s Witness –a religion, is probably the biggest fan of the end of the world because they predicted that the world will come to an end in 1914 and when it didn’t they said it would be in 1915. They released the same prediction three years later then the same prediction for 1920, and yet another in 1925. They also predicted that the world will end in 1941 –it did not of course but the group did not stop –they said the world will end in 1975 and when that didn’t happen, they waited for almost two decades to release the same prediction. Old habits never die it seems.

Joanna Southcott, Servant Woman’s Box

Joanna Southcott, a self-proclaimed mystic believed that she will give birth to the Messiah and when she does, the world will end. Southcott said at the time of her prediction that she’s due on October 19, 1814 –she was 64. While this would have been a milestone in medical history in terms of pregnancies in old women, historians believe that Joanna was never pregnant.

So the day came and went and the world did not end. Two months later however, it did end –for Joanna at least. When she died two months after October of 1814, Joanna’s followers said that the mystic left a sealed box that should only be opened when 24 Anglican Bishops gather together to open it.

William Miller and the Great Disappointment

William Miller founded the Millerite movement which later on became known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. According to Miller, Jesus Christ was scheduled to come to earth between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. The schedule was not followed by Jesus Christ though and Miller died waiting.

What do the Seventh-day Adventist Church say about this? They say that Miller’s prediction was correct but the event did not happen on earth but in heaven.

Haley’s Comet, Planetary Conjunction, The Jupiter Effect, Hale-Bopp, and Y2K

Science made a grave mistake in 1910 when they thought that Haley’s comet will come with a poisonous gas that year. Nine years later, a respected meteorologist named Albert Porta said that the conjunction of six planets will puncture the sun which would then lead to a series of explosions. When Porta released this information to the public, mob violence followed while some committed suicide. Porta lost his job. Thankfully he got another job later on. Porta became a weather columnist.

The Jupiter Effect was a theory written by two astrophysicists –Stephen Plagemann and John Gribben. They said that the aligning of the planets in our solar system will cause major natural disasters. No major catastrophe happened but the tide was 0.04 mm higher than normal. The tide was high but we held on.

Hale-Bopp, a comet, dreamt of being the “star” when it appeared visible to the naked eye for 18 months. An amateur astronomer stole the show though and said that he saw another object following the comet.

Chuck Shramek, the astronomer, promptly called a radio show to release his “findings”.

Although Shramek’s intention was not to cause any type of commotion, the Heaven’s Gate cult believed that the object following the comet was the spaceship that would pick them up from earth so that they could go back to their original home. The cult committed mass suicide in early 1997. No one knows where their supposed home is since mankind has been looking for an alien race for decades. A Facebook post has confirmed though that aliens do exist [see below].

By the year 1999, many feared that Nostradamus’ end of days prediction would happen. Many read into Nostradamus’ words and assumed that the King of Terror will descend on the earth killing everything and everyone in it –the King of Terror being the Cassini probe as interpreted by Nostradamus fans.

Photo via Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred

Nostradamus, a pharmacist, probably inhaled a few things to see the future. Nostradamus’ drug use aside, many say that some of his predictions were quite accurate but the one in 1999 was definitely just something he dreamt up. The year came and went and the probe did not descend.

Doomsayers never tire of this end of the world issue though and just a year later, some people were scrambling to prepare for Y2K.

The whole hoopla about the Mayan prediction was incensed when documentaries about it were shown on television and many a gurus from the world over started writing guidelines on how to perform an out-of-body experience to remove oneself from all the destruction that will happen to the whole of the earth when D-Day comes.

A few years back, stories about the Planet Nibiru came about even if the story of Nibiru is more like another installation of the movie Alien Vs. Predator. But because this is such an interesting subject I started digging –not literally of course because a lot of resources are needed in such an activity. I chanced upon a book called Hercolubus/Nibiru written by Zecharia Sitchin. Sitchin, who passed away in 2010, said in many of his works that human origins involved ancient astronauts –specifically ancient astronauts from the Anunnaki alien race. The Anunnaki come from the planet Nibiru – a planet which Sitchin believes is a part of our solar system but traverses elliptically –the very reason why we’ve never seen it.

He associates what happened to Noah, his ark, and the pairs of animals that surprisingly entered the ark without hesitation to a close encounter of the planet Nibiru. Sitchin said that Nibiru will come near Earth again.

I got to have a copy of the book in 2009, a year before Sitchin’s death and I remember reading a note by Sitchin himself that the book will be sent to anywhere in the world –to anyone who wants to learn more about Nibiru for free because his wish is for all of us to survive the destruction that Nibiru will cause.

Curious, I gave his office my home address and a week later, I got mail straight from Spain. The book is interesting but as one would expect, the ideas of the Azerbaijani-born author were rejected by the academe; describing his work as a mishmash of pseudoscience and pseudohistory.

Just the other day, some people on the social networking site Facebook started posting about the end of the world. No one really knows when the world will end though but if scientists are right this time, there might be major changes –so major these changes can include obliterating you or me or the person you do not like or the person you really like from the face of the earth.

Whichever the case, you can choose your plan of action –prepare your bucket list and do all that before the 21^st of December or prepare a doomsday survival kit or just go on with your life.

One last note though, the Mayans predicted the end of the world but never saw the Spanish coming.

Article written by: Sigrid Salucop

Philippines won't stamp Chinese passports

2012-11-30T19:09:00.003+08:00

Sino-Filipino territorial dispute ensues as China puts a new map of the country that includes islands that are part of the Philippines as well as other places being claimed by India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam.

The Department of Foreign Affairs told the media that personnel from the Bureau of Immigration will only stamp a visa application form from Chinese nationals and not their passports.

This is a form of protest from the Republic of the Philippines because stamping the new Chinese passport might be misconstrued as the country’s agreement to the Chinese claim over parts of the South China Sea.

A formal protest letter was already sent by Albert del Rosario, the Philippines’ Foreign Secretary to address the issue.

Photo via Associated Press