Here is the link.

And here is a Screenshot:

But we are only halfway done. Within a few weeks time we will be using this fund to set-up a rehabilitation effort. And we still need your help in this.

So please kindly fill out the form:

Again Congratulations and thanks.

Or has he? Let us get to this later

A group of bloggers had a chance to meet Escudero a few months ago at then the NPC House in Manila. And there he talked and was intervewed by more than twenty bloggers. What were my initial impressions meeting with Mr Escudero.

Escudero comes from a family of politicians His father Salvador Escudero was the Minister of Agriculture during the Marcos years and before that a Dean at UP College of Veterinary Medicine. Escudero the Elder never struck me as your typical politician. Dimunitive in heght he was soft spoken and stoic. He did not carry on like a male baboon, unlike other politiciann at that time. When h would go to UPIS, during graduation or meetings he did not come in with a big retinue. He was an unassuming man who it seemed earned great respect. This was Escudero the Elder.

OF ALGEBRA AND EDUCATION

One thing more about the UPIS that made a bit different from other high schools. Instead of the usual 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year high school students passed through grade7,8,9 and 10. And during the third yeats electves were introduced to help students specialize in their chosen field, For example those incliined towards pursuing a degree in science enrolled in science electives while those inclined towards literature or journalism could pursue electives that would prepare them for work and college. Of course the first two years were dedicated to the basics language, science, mathematics, arts & literaure and practical arts Perhaps this was what he pobably had in mind when suggesting to revamp the education process. Although he failed to convey this and probably added more to distantcing of and eventual hatred of a number of peole from local Intelligensia.

The son – Chiz seems more bragadocious. And during the talk with him it seems so. What was revealed during the meet and greet?

Chiz is married and has kids.
Chi lives in a condominum or town house
Chiz is not a bibliophile – he prefers reading business or technical books
Chiz goes to the movie to escape
Chiz drinks light beer
Chiz smokes

During the talk Chiz also revealed his political acumen. Talking, listening and giving points and arguments in the political discussion. It is hard not to see why there are people who like and follow Chiz Escudero and likewise it is hard not to see why there are people who hate and despise Chiz Escudero. From what I see, I do not think he will be the favorite of country’s intellectual caste nor the favorite of the political moral groups. But he has chosen to play to a different crowd. Yu can see it in the way he speaks - preferring the vernacular over english . If this was the Roman he would be aiming for Plebeian Tribune - although he does not come from the plebian class. This is just my opinion anyway. But whatever one says about him nothing will deny the fact that Escudero is poltical animal who knows how the game is played. Escudero will not be the puppet for any political kingmaker or will be drawn into a corner to be and eaten bit by bit - at least not just for nothing.

Escudero might just be the Bart Simpson of Philippine Politics.

Thus it comes as to no surprise his bolting from the PNC.

Whether it be money, belief or circumstances the decison was strategic. If the conditions are favorable he will commit if not then he will not be forced to be the the token Presidential candidate for the benefit of the party or any other candidate.

The Bart Simpson of Philippine Politics. Oh well lets see. Even Bart Simpson has his defeats and losses.

Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

It was said that Prince John was a werewolf a Lycanthrope. In Norse mythology there are said to be men who can turn themselves into bears and go berserk. They were known as berserkers. I nearly all cultures there have been tales of shape shifters, were-beasts who prey on humans at night. For example we in the Philippines have the aswang and one of the types or kind of the aswang is the werebeast the one who turns into a big blackdog or a black boar.

In Europe it has been said that in order to transform into a werewolf a man or woman must first apply a special salve that would turn them into werewolves. In the Philippines, a special type of oil is used to turn a person into a manananggal a type of aswang.

In Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde a near saintly man is turned into a vile and debased excuse for a human. Or was Mr Hyde an excuse of the good doctor to commit things he would not have done , given the personal moral beliefs held by the doctor. In HG Well’s Invisible Man the scientist is slowly turned mad by the same formula that made him invisible.

But in the real world do were-beasts exist?

Perhaps a drug enduce salve or potion one can induce a werebeast in us. But do we need it.

Is the werebeast the beast inside all of us. The ID to our Ego. The beast within.

Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

Perhaps it does not need the blossoms of wolfbae nor a full bight moon. But it just might need something else - opportunity, temptation and an excuse.

And this brings me to tale I heard a long long time ago. What would you do if you possess a ring that could make one invisible? What would you do?

We are Start Here, an online project collecting artwork inspired by Typhoon Ondoy relief efforts that aims, in turn, to inspire others to help in rebuilding affected communities in the Philippines.

Currently, we are organizing the START HERE SKETCH-A-THON, a one-day drawing event that aims to raise funds for the benefit of Ondoy survivors. During the event, artists and artists-at-heart can draw their visions of hope, creation, and rebuilding, or ask professional artists for commissioned artwork in exchange for pledges and donations.

The event will happen on 15 November 2009, Sunday at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street, and we’d like to ask for your help in spreading the word, so that more people could attend. We also hope to see you there!

Let me explain …

The Philippine Blog Awards dinner were supposed to have two after parties sponsored by Globe. Instead of the after parties PBA recommended and which Globe approved of will go to an outreach program and rehabilitation efforts of Globe via Bangon Pinoy:

One way is through a fund raising with the following mechanics:

Use the #BangonPinoy hashtag, Globe and PBA will guarantee P1.00 to be spent for Ondoy and Pepeng victims. After the hashtag, post pictures, videos, quotes and even links to blog posts that will inspire Filipinos around the world to help as well. This happens from Oct 19 to Nov 3, prior the Nov 6 Help day.

The other way is through being part of Bangon Pinoy Help Days:

Marikina, Oct 19 – ISP reconnection and school clean-up

Region 1 / 2, Nov 6 – Replanting

What is Bangon Pinoy?

Bangon Pinoy is Globe’s effort to rebuild and rebalitiate the areas affected by the storm. Globe is doing this by (i) building infrastructures tha hopefully can do better when the next disaster comes along; (ii) Help in starting up business associated with telecoms; (iii)Re-bate on phone bills; (iv) aside from the rehabilitations of the community.

Then there is The SHARE REVOLUTION - A one day seminar conducted by the Institute of Transformative Marketing Communications Inc for the benefit of the Philippine Blog Awards or net proceeds will go to the Philippine Blog Awards. This may seem odd since the core competency or focus of the PBA is to prepare, organize and present the awards but the PBA agreed to this because this was going to be used to raise funds for next year’s awards and psrt of the fund the PBA will be getting will go to charity (Red Cross) - possibly a 30 to 70 divide or even more.

The seminar itself is perfect or suitable for those interested in marketing via or through the online community. Looking at the program, aside from the lone blogger speaking, most of the sessions concentrate on different experiences of companies with the Internet and on-line communities. So it should be worthwhile to take a gander at it if you are into Internet marketing and branding. The fee is five thousand pesos.

The seminar is for the benefit of the PBA. I do hope they changed it because earlier this week we saw a flyer saying it was a partnership.

Here it is.

THE SHARE REVOLUTION: Institute of Transformative Marketing Communications, Inc’s SEMINAR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS

Also the Institute of Transformative Marketing Communications, Inc. for the benefit of the Philippine Blog Awards will be holding a seminar - geared towards Brand/Product Managers, Marketing Strategists, PR Officers, Corporate Communications Executives, or Communications Practitioner who recognize the potential of the online community and hopes to understand its dynamics further - on November 4, 2009 at Hampton Room, 2/F Astoria Plaza from 4 November, 2009, 8am to 5pm. The seminar exclusive of tax will cost around five thousand pesos. Portions of the proceeds will also be contributed to the Red Cross to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Here is the registration pdf:

Nov4_ The Share Revolution (Program+Reservation)(2)

But its more than that by recording and pointing out flood problem spots on can actually be used in the near future to plot out critical and sensitive areas durign a storm.

Here is the actual map:

View Ondoy situation map for Metro Manila in a larger map
Disclaimer: This map was initiated by a group of volunteers not directly connected with Google. We cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of all placemarks. If you are familiar with Google Maps and would like to help the group’s volunteer efforts, please email typhoonondoy@googlegroups.com.

And here is the link to the map.

The rain never did stop. Water is said to be universal solvent. It dissolve everything … everything. And its patient very patient as patient as Father Time. Unlike its more stronger sibling the typhoon that leaves a big mark. Mister Rain is patient and can do more … give it time. And time is what it had this week. Yesterday, It began and it is still raining.

Good Morning! Harvard Street is flooded.

Harvard Street, Cubao, Quezon City.

Considering we live on a hill. This forebodes ill for the rest of Metro Manila. From twitter and plurk you could read messages like:

Fairview Dahlia bridge near Brgy. Hall impassable; tricycle drivers and crowd say water is chest-deep. GoodShepherd church area, knee-deep.

High School in Sta. Lucia Dist. in Northern QC accg to ppl crowded in convenience store where I was 15mins ago is being evacuated of evacuees

QTV11 Raffy Tima reports collapsed perimeter concrete fence in Corinthian Gardens; flood is 6 feet high[!]

Latest satellite image:

- Kaffee on Plurk

This post was interrupted when we lost power. In the absence of the Net and even AM radio a number of people relied on mobile internet to get a semblance of what was happening - twit and plurk. The cellphone was the lifeline for most of us -whether accessing the net or just calling friends or family.

Amidst all that we learned of calamities upon calamities. People were stranded in their own houses. People who fled from their house taking shelter in the neighbors who had two or three storey houses. Friends walking, walking and walking to their home.

Our house itself got flooded. Water rushed in filling the floor with water. It turned out the drainage was clogged almost a sackful of debris was found. A friend’s house suffered the same fate this time it was the neighbor’s house that caused the damaged - It, the neighbor’s house, had no drainage and it just went to the other house.

We were safe.

However, It was a mix and guilty feeling. One felt relieved that the worst did not happen to you but what about to those who did? One cannot help the creeping sorrow that one felt. A few weeeks ago we were in a friend’s house - now it was submerged in water.

The rainfall brought typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana in Metro Manila surpassed the largest amount recorded, 334 millimeters - which was recorded 42 years ago.

It was a day of rain and a day of tears.

But it was also a day of hope for people began to chip and help.

To help the flood victims. Please read this post.

It does it with words, song and dance.

And it so reminds one of what has happened, what is happening and possibly what is happening. Evita is set in Argentina and it tells the tale of Evita Duarte who will rise to power and fame as the political partner and wife of General Juan Peron - the President of Argentina. It is also includes the character of Che Guevara icon of the Cuban Marxist Revolution and an Argentinian. He probably never met the Perons - but his persona was used to act as narrator and counter foil to the Perons.

A New Argentina - This is the final scene in the first part of the Musical. Che is plated by Many Patinkin and Evita is played by Patti Lupone.

In the musical Che eventually leaves Argentina out. And in true musical fashion: Che’s momentary exeunt or exit is done with panache. The breaking of with Evita is done during a waltz - a dance. If you think of it - a dance is a perfect symbol between two opposing forces - in this instance Che the idealist and Evita the Pragmatist.

Waltz scene - depicted in the film adaptation of the musical: Antonio Banderas plays Che and Madonna is Evita.

This so reminds one of the struggle between the idealists/romantics and the pragmatists/Realpolitik. And it exist everywhere. The eternal struggle between the romantics and practitioners of realpolitik.

Waltz for Eva and Che: Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin.

It exists everywhere and even on-line: in blogs, micro blogs and even exchanges using instant messaging.

A debate: A waltz between two opposing views.

Just look at the exchanges of Marocharim, Arpee, Arbet and Sparks in the Web. It is interesting to watch. And like any good debate there is something of value that can be gotten whether it is a fresh insight or a realization.

In the case of Evita and Che. One of the forms of realization it comes to is the refrain:

There is evil, ever around
Fundamental system of government
Quite incidental - Waltz for Eva and Che, Evita - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice

As both continue their Waltz …

Sanctuary

A church is designed like a ship with the altar at the stern. A ship in the sea of humanity. It is a book full of stories and persons all around you in the form of symbols, statues and glass windows.

I like going to Christ the King along E. Rodriguez. It is one of those churches that has not fallen into the trap of beautifying its altar or its inside, It is perfect as it is. The stained glass windows that depict the resurrected Christ with four archangels. The three or four kngs or Magi. The personification of each new testament , The banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden and the Flood all in one Stained Glass Window behind the altar.

The mass itself lends itself to meditation. Contemplating on the words and using prayers to lead oneself into a trance is more than anything else. Occassionally, the mood is destroyed when the priest begins his sermon injecting humor and also politics into the mix., Fortunately, this time it was not so and the sermon empowered with powerpoint was actually excellent.

I like churches in the old days these were places of sanctuary. A ship to seek shelter in against the fiery sea of problems and conflicts.

Being in a church: In this particular church I guess its the same thing when sitting under the bayan tree or viewing a zen garden. A retreat: Sanctuary.

It is said that meditation and prayer can do wonders but eventually you have to leave and do what you have to do.

The story of Good and Evil is a story.Yes good and evil exsist but not distinct in humans, specially when applied to politicians. It is spin. It is myth building. It is cult promotion. It is marketing and PR. It is branding. It is propaganda. Nothing wrong or harmful with it inherently save for two things, lets save that for later. Meanwhile, lets go back to propadanda. Whether this candidate is good or this candidate is evil is not relevant to the propagandists and fellow travellers of any political group. What is important is the building up of the imagae of the paladin of truth. It is image building and it is propaganda.

Personally, I have no problem with what a person does to make a a candidate win.

The problem starts when one starts believing the spin. And when one starts to depart from being a political voter to a political supporter to becoming a political zealot. And that is the time one blindly follows whatever dictate the politician and the political groups around him dictate. And this is also the time when patience is lost for those with opposite or contrary views.

And for what the same set of politicians who have been here for a couple of years or more Just look at them … remember their faces. Now check the news ten or even twenty years ago. Look for the poltical news. Well… Its the same set of people who are doing this for the country. As Mark Anthony said, “All Honorable Men…”

So is it really a tale of good versus evil? The Prince come to slay the Dragon? Well again its a good yarn to tell.

More like knights fighting each other in field of Dragon Teeth. Or different kinghts and warlords fighting it out to be the next King or Queen. A Palladin for each faction. Each with virtue and without stain or a talent to heal the kingdom. But in the truth a Each a Palladin of their interest and more importantly of their own interest group.

Remember the story of the Prince and the Dragon?

It is said that the Dragon killed a dwarf for his gold. And several knights and princes died trying to get the gold. One did succeed and built a kingdom. But one night he could hear armies at his gates with intent to plunder the gold. And that is the curse of the Dragon’s Gold.

Then again the tale of St George and the Dragon is a good romantic tale. Good propaganda for St George bad for the Dragon. Then again this sort of balances out when one reads the Reluctant Dragon.

The Good Kinght and the Evil Dragon, what a wonderful form of creative truth.

All of these are of course good propaganda. A means to an end. The Tudors used Shakespeare to villify Richard III - making a hunch back who killed his nephews at the Tower of London.

Propaganda, propaganda and damn lies!

The problem though with propaganda is when successful it can motivate and move people to do things. And this is perhaps the two things wrong with propaganda it makes you think you are right and it makes you abandon critical thinking. When this happens a person can do almost anything - vote for someone without question; think one is superior over the other without question (Intolerance at its most sublime) and unfortunately at times do evil things to people for the sake of “good”. When one starts to believe the spin that is being weaved around you beware this is where the real evil begin. And it is not a story written by a writer to promote his candidate or the work of a newspaper to lionize someone, it is something real. Something one chooses to do.

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. It also requires you to leave critical thinking at the start of the road.