Witness Statement

A Need for Forensic Nurses in the Philippines

2012-03-01T12:34:00.001+08:00

In the Philippines, there is s big problem in gathering reliable evidences in an occurrence of a crime. Forensic evidences are invaluable to the resolution of a crime and the country is in need of professionals who can extract and handle such evidences.

There is an increasing need for forensic nurses in the Philippines. As technology for the extraction and safekeeping of evidence advances, the need for professional medical practitioners that are specifically trained for forensics increases. Forensic nurses will be very crucial in getting evidences for crimes, and effectively identify, collect and document them for the use of investigators.

There are no courses or certifications in the Philippines particular for forensic nurses. However, seminars are regularly held for forensic nursing. Attendees will benefit being introduced to the specialized field of forensics, and may be given updates on the current technologies on the sciences.

As of the moment there are no schools specializing in forensic nurses in the Philippines. However, it would be best to coordinate with the PNP Crime Laboratory and the AFP Military Hospital who may be willing to train clinical nurses in forensics. Taking up a Masteral Degree in Nursing may touch topics on forensic sciences but one may have to inquire from your school of choice.

There is a need for forensic nurses in the country. As crimes take longer to be resolved, it gives an impression of impunity in the country. Forensic nurses in the Philippines may be part of the solution in the fast resolution of cases and delivery of justice.

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Visit Diane's Cluttered Desk for more posts about living in Philippines

Get Your Geek Chic Glasses on the Cheap

2011-07-17T17:33:00.001+08:00

In the past, people wear eyeglasses because it was a necessary health item. Today, the popularity of geek-chic fashion, eyeglasses elevated into a fashion accessory.

Zenni Optical eyeglasses taps into the internet-savvy-hipster market by providing on online store of affordable glasses. There are glasses available for as low as $6.95!+ For such a low price, you could get as many glasses as your budget would permit. You need not worry about the quality of the glasses as Zenni assures durability, safety and comfort of their product.

For those who need affordable prescription glasses, Zenni provides for a fraction of the cost of glasses from an optometrist.All you need to do is to get your prescription from your doctor, enter the details on thr Zenni website with your order.

The online tool for choosing glasses are very helpful.You may upload a photo of your face and virtually try on different frames. How cool is that?

For more reviews of Zenni Optical, you can access their blog where satisfied customers share their experience with Zenni. If you are one of their satisfied customers, they have an activity called Share your Zenni Story at the Zenni blog. You can write your own review and upload photos of yourself wearing your very own pair of Zenni glasses.

Pampanga, Philippines

2011-06-30T18:59:00.000+08:00

Our provinces continuous efforts to improve their respective regions are unmistakably living up to the tag that the Philipines is one Asian country worth visiting due to its countless and varied tourist destinations.

Pampanga is one province in central Luzon which lives up to its name: a river bank. Generally the body of land at the side of a river, wherein it reflects the status of the water- may it be a radiant green carpet of grass means reflecting healthy river or the exact opposite.

The province lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay; bordered by Bataan and Zambales at its west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija at the north, and Bulacan in the northeast. With farming and fishing as the main industry of Pampanga its products revolve around rice, corn, sugar cane, and tilapia.

And may I say that because of its native’s drive to turn it into a metropolitan-like region: from transportation and tourism, water and power, telecommunication, to education systems; they have prospered evidently and now has a wide variety of goods, facilities, and tourist spots.

Pampanga is considered the culinary capital of the Philippines, with well known dishes such as kare-kare (stewed beef and ox tail in peanut sauce usually dipped in shrimp paste), sisig (pork marinated in a sour liquid such vinegar, then seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices), and kinilaw (meat or fish, fruits and vegetables sourly cooked with vinegar or other souring agents flavored with combinations of condiments).

Festivals are held throughout the year, as towns and cities celebrate in honor of their patron saints. Not to mention the prominent events during February and December: Hot Air balloon festival and Giant Lantern Festival respectively.

The city of San Fernando, Pampanga’s capital is the place to be when visiting tourist spots such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, Paskuhan Village, and Benigno Aquino Hall to name a few. Additionally there are several Historical landmarks, museums and monuments, as well as parks to be visited for a truly memorable vacation.

With this we can affirm that the river bank occupied by a rich, diverse flora and fauna reflects how it is presently doing; supporting the ever flowing waters which cater to the needs of its dependants. As well as passively making a name for itself: with its distinctiveness and coping capability.

Scrubs Separates

2011-06-09T20:26:00.000+08:00

I've recently taken up the bad habit of just using scrub pants separately from the top. I wear the pants as lounge pants and pajamas at home. They are so comfortable to wear that I wear them almost everyday.My brother, who works as a care giver, acquired this habit of mine. Alas! The other day, we noticed that the top and the pants are not the same color anymore. The pants looked incredibly faded against the top. As a set, it looked sloppy, which is unacceptable for helth care providers.

My solution, buy new scrub pants to match a relatively new looking top. Bottoms can be bought separately anyway. They would not exactly match but it would look neater than what he has now.

As scrub bottoms are being sold separately, I advised my brother to buy extra bottoms to wear at home as lounge pants. And I also asked him to buy extra pairs for me to use at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ where my aunts and cousins buy their scrubs. I like how their scrubs are specifically designed for women; they produce suits that complement my curves and I look slimmer in them than my normal clothes.

Good thing we learned our lesson with scrub suits. Imagine the cost if my brother wore his pants and coat of his formal suit as separates. The lesson here kids, is to NEVER wear sets of clothes separately.

Gawad Kalinga Will Not Solve Poverty

2011-02-25T19:14:00.000+08:00

Gawad Kalinga is one of the mainstream movements providing housing and livelihood for the poverty stricken communities in our country. That which started from a project of Couples for Christ, it is now a multi-sectoral partnership which now boasts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, 900 communities housing 60 to 100 families each community. The GK projects are examples of the synergistic effect of governance. That is, the government, the business sector and the civil society working together.

The success of GK relies on the scientific management of resources. Materials are duly computed and maximized even to the last can of paint. Most of all, the participation and the cooperation of volunteers, the human resource, made the delivery of the service successful. To subordinate personal interest to the interest of others and to serve the people is at the core of the success of each project. Now, together with the National Housing Authority under Vice-President Jejomar Binay, the Gawad Kalinga Model will be applied under the helm of the government.

No contest that the theory of governance as a partnership of government, business sector and the civil society is exemplified by the Gawad Kalinga communities and projects.

Gawad Kalinga boasts of “eradicating” poverty and claims it as a “solution” to poverty. As much as I would want to think that it does indeed eradicate poverty, I do not agree and I think VP Binay is more clear on that. Poverty is a result of a systemic problem of society. It is not a problem separate from the mode of production of the country. It is actually the picture of the failure of our present mode of production in providing for the needs of the majority. The Vice-President stated that he does not necessarily believe that this will solve the poverty problem but will lessen the burden presented by poverty. Gawad Kalinga (more of the volunteers than the recipients) tend to have an insulated mode of thinking that GK recipients will not be affected by the problems of the system as a whole. There must be recognition that livelihood training does not automatically translate to jobs nor income.

A criticism of the Gawad Kalinga Model is that the government has the tendency to use this type of projects to beg off from its actual responsibility. One must recognize that the Gawad Kalinga projects are limited and it cannot actually replace the resources of the government to deliver its services. (In one debate with a classmate, he uses GK to justify the government’s minimal involvement. “Nandiyan naman ang GK kung wala talaga maitulong ang gobyerno”) Stated above, theoretically, GK is a multisectoral partnership. It must be a social commentary that everyone must be an actor and likewise a stakeholder in each project. Unfortunately, some believe that it actually replaces the role and responsibility of the government to its people. However, expecting the partnership of the NHA and GK, it will hopefully increase the role of the government in the model.

The bourgeois thinking propagates within and outside its ranks especially among the middle class is that if the recipients of the houses continue to be poor after the project, then it is the fault of the recipient because they are indolent. I would like to take off from the belief of Gawad Kalinga that to change the individual, you must change the community; to change the community, we must change the society. The well off are critical of how the urban poor live in poverty, but are we critical of why these people are poor and why there is poverty in the first place? Housing is just one of the problems of the urban poor and is not the root cause of why they are poor.

xxx

This is a short reaction I wrote for a class last semester. It was after a dialogue with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Gawad Kalinga Founder Tony Meloto at the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines Diliman on August 10, 2010.

My Locker Story

2011-02-24T00:57:00.000+08:00

School lockers are a symbol of high school education. It is a student’s personal space away from home. It holds our books and notebooks. It may also contain some self care products and some clothes. Most, if not all students who had their locker decorated that tiny bit of space according to their personality.

In my younger years, I have always dreamed of renting my own locker. My school does not give locker space for free and I wanted one not because I really need it, but because I have watched too many teenage genre movies and a scene beside a locker is a practically obligatory. My square locker was about 12 inches in width and about 15 inches in depth. My school had a 4 tiered row of lockers and each year, I would get a unit on the top row because I was one of the taller students in my class. I loved my locker. My classmates and I would have a friendly competition on whose locker was the coolest: from the padlock, the nameplate on the locker door, to the contents of the locker itself. I used a vintage dial lock for my locker because I had the tendency to forget my keys at home. My name on my locker is a colorful rendering of my name. I (try to) keep the inside of my locker organized as much as possible. I had little cubbies for pens and other little trinkets. I put in decorative paper on the sides of my locker. I even put fragrance in my locker so that every time I open my locker, the scent would waft through the air. As in the movies, inside the door of my locker is a picture (or practically an altar) to my crush (who at that time was Taylor Hanson)

Fast forward to now. I am redecorating our new apartment and we are in need of storage. I am actually considering getting a couple of lockers and am now looking for lockers for sale. On my wish list now is a row of bright red lockers for my home office. I love the vintage feel and look of a vintage locker and it can truly be a decorative piece at home.

Do you remember what your high school locker looked like? Pity, digital cameras were still expensive at that time. I would've loved to take a picture of my locker. Maybe some of you have a picture of your high school locker. Please feel free to share.

Would you consider getting a locker at home? Share pictures if you already have a locker at home.

On Diane's Cluttered Desk: Young Corn and Burgers

2011-02-19T00:47:00.002+08:00

It was one of those lazy weekends when we were bored and absolutely had nothing to do. When you have nothing to do, it means it is the perfect time to fire up that grill to cook some meat.

Who Needs a 6 Pack?

2011-02-18T20:32:00.002+08:00

It’s the time of the year when people are seriously getting ready for beach season. It is time to melt those pounds that we gained over the holidays and get into that smokin’ hot swimsuit. At least half the people will go on crash diets.

However, that’s what people with short term goals do. Serious fitness requires commitment. Commitment means looking beyond wearing a bikini this summer. It means being able to do a 2 mile walk at the beach when you are 50 without huffing and puffing. It means going for those abs to die for. Not just a 6 pack, go a full step further and go for 12 pack abs!

I myself am trying to make a long term commitment to fitness and health. I have only begun little steps but moving forward, nonetheless. I have tried the crash diet and all it gave me is hyperacidity and a bad headache. It’s going to be a tough battle for me (20 pounds in 3 months. Can I do it?) but I will try.

We Wear Scrubs at Home

2011-02-18T12:32:00.018+08:00

A significant number of my relatives and immediate family are health care providers. My late mother was a registered nurse; my father and brother and 3 of my aunts are Care Givers; another aunt is a Dental Assistant. On some days, it feels like a hospital at home with everyone walking around in their cotton nursing scrubs.

Medical scrubs are those lightweight pants and shirts originally worn only by surgeons. It has now found its way out of the surgery room and are now being worn by most of medical practitioners. It was designed to be comfortable, making it easy to move around quickly. Scrub sets are composed of v-neck, short-sleeved shirts, and drawstring pants. The simple design was also for the purpose that they are easy to clean; there is very little space for dirt or grim to hide in these clothes.

With the number of health care practitioners in our family, we are definitely on the look-out and in need of cheap medical uniforms. My aunts buy hospital scrubs for the family by bulk as they get a better deal doing so. My dad’s scrubs are always in the shade of blue. My aunts prefer pastel colors such as lavender and pink. My dental practitioner aunt prefers those scrub tops with cartoon characters on it because she usually works with kids; kids are more relaxed when they see their favorite cartoon character. I have seen a good variety of scrubs. Or so I thought. Just recently, when I was doing the laundry, I saw this ridiculously bright pink scrub suit. It was my brother’s. He and a couple of his friends from the office agreed to get same color scrubs for fun. As his friends at work are mostly female, he was outvoted with the color. Once a week, a 6 foot tall man with broad shoulders walks around the infirmary in a hot pink scrub suit. His female co-workers could not get over it.

Blue Sky Scrubs offer Scrub Suits specifically designed for women. I like their scrubs because they produce suits that complement the curves of a woman. They have the Simple Scrubs for Women, where they make your basic well-made scrub suit. Colors available are . Then they have the Original Scrubs line where more colors such as lavender and carnegie green are available. The contrasting stitching gives a fashionable twist to an otherwise boring uniform. Both lines of scrubs have one pocket on the shirt and two back pockets on the pants.Did you know where you actually look slimmer in them than your normal clothes. Working in scrubs does not mean that one cannot show their eye for fashion nor how they look well groomed and womanly. Monochromatic clothing plus good fitting clothes do wonders with a woman's silhouette, does it not?

A well-fitted scrub suit does not only benefit the looks. It also benefits how a woman performs her duties. Well-fitted clothes help in performing tasks better because you are more comfortable in moving about.An ill-fitting uniform can be a nuisance, especially in the medical field.

Consider Blue Sky Scrubs when you buy hospital scrubs. These are well made products who understand the particular need of women in the medical field. They offer competitive prices for a good selection of scrub suits. You may also buy separate tops or bottoms from them.

Faded old scrubs do not go to waste. I use my aunt’s worn scrubs, those she does not use anymore, at home. I find cotton scrubs comfortable to wear. I lounge at home and do housework in these. I understand now why they wear these. It’s so easy to move about in these clothes. Sometimes, I even sleep in them. They’re so comfy and cool, and easier to wash too. So yes, I repeat, sometimes, the house feels like a hospital with everyone wearing scrubs in different colors. lol.

Do you wear scrubs even if you are not from the medical field?

Talking about scrubs made me remember that one of my favorite shows circa 2002 or so was "Scrubs" with Zach Braff. Hilarious take on the life in the medical field.

Worst Place

2011-02-18T00:42:00.001+08:00

Here I am, eating my salad in the worst place one should be when feeling crappy about yourself: at the ABS-CBN compound. I am eating caesar's salad for dinner when on a normal day I would be eating a steak or some piece of pork chop with 2 cups of rice.

At 26, 3 years into my marriage, I am at my heaviest weight ever in my life. Not that I've ever been model thin. My normal weight range was always in the 125-130 pound range. The lowest weight I've been was 118. I am now huffing and puffing through 2 flights of stairs at 155 pounds.

How the hell did I get here?

Was it the late night dinners of cheeseburgers from McDonald's? Or was it the pizza from Yellow Cab?

Was it the tall white chocolate mocha I get almost 3 times a week when I'm busy writing my papers at Starbucks? Or was it their pastry line?

Was it Nestea Iced Tea during our stay-at-home-movie-nights? Or was it my husband's delicious cup of instant coffee with loads of creamer and sugar?

I could go on and on about the food that we ate, but there is a big issue at hand. I am at least 25 pounds overweight.

It never really bothered me that I was bigger than most girls. I know I have a bigger bone structure than girls my age. I was generally confident with my physical attributes until…

…I could not button my favorite pair of jeans anymore

…I saw my muffin top over my underwear garter

…my brother told me that my backside resembled something like a bell jar.

Now that the comments like this are becoming more frequent, I have decided that I have to take this losing weight business seriously. I have put my body in its worst state ever in my life and it is time to bounce back.

I started not eating rice last Saturday. I also refused to drink iced tea on the same day. My husband serves me black coffee now with less sugar.

I hold on to my brother's weight loss experience as an example. He was morbidly obese at 260 pounds and had diabetes at 15. He started a no rice diet when he was 19, started exercising everyday. Now, at 21, his weight ranges from 165 to 170 pounds. He stands 5 feet 11 inches. He is currently working his abs and starting to get those obliques. What's funny is that I was the one who suggested the "No Rice" to the kid. The joke is on me.

*grunt* Excuse me while I finish this plate of lettuce.

Pet Names, Literally!

2011-02-17T03:50:00.006+08:00

My husband and I have been married for three years and still do not have children. However, we are parents to two lovable dogs: a 3 year old Labrador and a 2 year old terrier mix.

When we got our dogs, the ground for the most serious discussion was the names of our pets. These dogs will be part of our little family for years to come and it is important for us for our fur kids to have dignified names… names that will represent them, as well as our family. We wanted something that would give them more personality when we introduce the to our friends and loved-ones.

Naming your dog can be a challenge because too many ideas come to mind. Do you love movies? Zeus from Zeus and Roxanne is a popular choice. Perhaps Thor from film Bad Moon would be a good choice if you like horror films. Star Wars is my childhood favorite and Star Wars Dog Names may be of assistance. Yoda is a very popular name, of course. Who would not want to name their dog after a Jedi master, after all? An alternative name would be Chewbacca but you might find that too common so consider Wookie. A Wookie is a species in Star Wars and yes, Chewbacca is a Wookie.

Our dog’s names are Monmon and Deeko. Monmon is a play/ contraction of the word monster. I'm a horror film fan and "Monster" is a perfect name to capture that. My fur kid is a ferocious looking dog but very sweet towards us. Deeko, on the other hand, was an anomaly. I just got home one day and he was being called Deeko by my brother. It was just a name my brother thought of. Pretty random but I stuck with it because my brother got tired of me over-thinking about a name and I was seriously out of ideas.

To pet owners out there, how did you come up with your dog’s names?

Snuggies: Blankets You Can Wear!

2011-02-13T19:58:00.002+08:00

It had been unnaturally cold in the last few weeks here and I find myself reaching for blanket while I work on the computer at home. While I love my blanket to bits, it is not the most comfortable thing to use while trying to type or study. My blanket keeps slipping or falling off. Seriously, it can be a nuisance.

Here come the Snuggies. Snuggies are long blankets with sleeves. Yes, you wear your blanket! What a nice idea. I can just imagine myself on a cold night with a Snuggie with my favorite pajamas underneath reading a good book on my couch. I can also imagine bringing this during out of town trips. I would want to have this in my car during a long drive.

For those who would love interesting prints on their Snuggie, they have Designer Snuggies available. I would love a zebra print Snuggie for myself, thank you very much.

Personalized Number Plates

2011-02-13T19:36:00.001+08:00

Many take pride buying their first car. Having your very own car with a personalized number plate is taking it to the next level.

Personalized number plates not only identifies the car but give it personality. It also tells us something about the owner of the car.

Asians especially the Chinese give premium for the numbers 168 or consecutive sevens or eights on their car plate. It is a cultural belief that these numbers bring the owners luck. The younger car owners tend to put representatives of their names numerically or initials on their vanity plate.

Have you seen any interesting number plates in your area?

From Witness Statement to Diane's Cluttered Desk

2011-02-13T12:02:00.000+08:00

I've changed blogs! As much as I loved Witness Statement, I have moved on... to something better.

Diane's Cluttered Desk

I bought my own domain through Blogger. Cost me $10, about a dollar cheaper than what I would get from GoDaddy.com. Getting the domain from Blogger/Google was a quick solution for a non-techie like me.

Again, please do visit my blog on my own domain

www.DianesClutteredDesk.com

Diane's Cluttered Desk

What’s in a Name?

2008-06-19T21:10:00.004+08:00

I had to renew my Drivers’ License yesterday. It will be expiring this weekend *hint hint*. Good thing my dad brought me to LTO Aguinaldo/Cubao where there are significantly less people, cars and fixers. I abhor bureaucracy and its inefficiency and a crowded office makes it worse. I passed time waiting for my turnS (with an S because you have to wait for your turn several times as you have to go through several windows for processing, verification, cashier, 2 pictures and signatures, drug test and medical examinations etc. etc.) watching the Lakers-Celtics game (Go Celtics!).

As I was filling out my forms, the man in the Drug Testing area saw that I indicated that I am married but still use my maiden name. He goes,

LTO guy: Ma’am palitan niyo po to. Sinisita sa LTO ito. Married ka pero hindi ka nagpalit ng apelyido.

Me: Ayoko. It’s in the law.

LTO guy: Kinukwestyon po yan eh. Palitan niyo na lang para hindi magulo.

Me: Mas magulo kung papalitan ko yan. Besides it’s in the law. Pwede kong gamitin ang maiden name ko.

LTO guy: Bahala po kayo. (Sighing)

Me (Annoyed with my maldita tone): Oo, bahala ako. Review kayo ng laws niyo ha.

I hate the fact that a person is making me feel that I am obligated to take the name of my husband. I felt that because it was unusual, it was a nuisance. What a pile of macho shit.

There is a thread at GirlTalk on the topic of carrying the husband’s surname. A significant number of respondents chose to hyphenate their surname with their husband’s name for a feeling of equality. A few kept using their Maiden name. There were experiences that show husbands throwing a hissy fit when their wives chose to hyphenate or use their maiden name, and women are forced to submit and totally change their name. There are also experiences similar to mine, where Government Agencies do not accept hyphenated or maiden names when indicated that a woman is married.

For the benefit of Government Agencies (and other institutions and establishments),

Article 370 of Republic Act 386 reads:

A married woman may use:

(1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname, or

(2) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname or

(3) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his wife, such as "Mrs."

Note: There have been bills in Senate and the Lower House Amending this Article in the Civil Code to add that married woman may use HER MAIDEN FIRST NAME AND SURNAME.

Excerpts from A petition at the Supreme Court

Marriage does not change a woman's name, it merely changes her civil status. Her true and real name is that given to her and entered in the Civil Registry which she may continue to use despite her marriage or cessation of marriage for whatever reason she may have (Herrera, Remedial Law, 1996 Ed. III-A, p. 338, citing Yasin v. Judge, Shari'a District Court, 241 SCRA 606 (1995))._

Under the present article of our Code, however, the word "may" is used, indicating that the use of the husband's surname by the wife is permissive rather than obligatory. We have no law which provides that the wife shall change her name to that of the husband upon marriage. This in is consonance with the principle that surnames indicate descent. It seems, therefore, that a married woman may use only her maiden name and surname. She has an option, but not a duty, to use the surname of the husband in any of the ways provided by this Article." (Tolentino, Civil Code of the Philippines, Commentaries and Jurisprudence, 1990, Vol. I, p. 675.)

Did we not all read these Shakespeare lines:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

What is it with men, then, when their wife uses her maiden name? Is a wife less appealing when she uses the name she was known for throughout her life?We trace this insecurity of males from the feudal view that women are mere materials that are meant for ownership. To carry the family name of the male signifies ownership just as a haciendero brands his cows.

I do not plan to carry the name of my husband (even though he has a relatively common and nice sounding family name). I just prefer my own. The fact of the matter is that he likes my surname more and asked if he can use mine. He likes it so much, one of his favorite shirts is my intramural shirt with my surname printed in its full glory at the back. Like most laws in the country, Article 370 of Republic Act 386 is just rhetoric if institutions, worse, GOVERNMENT Agencies do not comply.

By the way, a change of record (that is, my Civil Status) cost me 30 pesos. The Medical Check up was a sham for P100: Imagine putting 85kg on my record when the nures(?) didn't even look at the scale (That's 185 pounds! I assure you, I am nowhere near that). Worse, they issued me a temporary license as the lone printer bogged down just as it was printing my ID.

Welcome to the Blogosphere, Among Ed!

2008-06-09T21:59:00.003+08:00

Last Saturday, June 7, Among Ed launched his blog at the Executive House in San Fernando Pampanga. Luckily, I was invited by Mong of Blogger's Kapihan to the launch with about 20 other delegates from Manila.

When we arrived there, it was obviously an event directed towards the youth. Almost all of the guests are all under the age of 30, most probably under 25. Aside from Among Ed and the emcees, the invited speakers were also quite young (one of which is Jhay Rocas of the Blogger's Kapihan).

(Manila bloggers brought their artillery of laptops and cameras. I just brought my point and shoot camera. Inggit ako sa mga DSLR! And inggit ako sa ASUS EEE ni Tonyo. Among Ed also liked the EEE. heehee)

Among Ed is such an unassuming man. I hardly noticed that he arrived in the room. He was wearing a simple polo shirt, pants and sandals. He didn’t immediately assume a seat in front. He stood at the registration booth talking to his young Cabalens until he was acknowledged to speak. When he spoke, he had none of those highfaluting speeches on politics. He was direct to his point: his hopes for the country and the youth.

(Pictures will have to follow. I can’t seem to find my camera in my topsy-turvy dwelling. Apparently, I am still adjusting from being the brat to a “housewife”. But that’s a totally a different blog post. )

Just the week before, Jun Lozada also launched his own blog organized by the BK Crew. Apparently, the “elders” (Among Ed’s term, not mine) are learning to explore cyberspace (particularly blogging) as a medium to propagate their opinions, thoughts and experiences. Their primary target audience: the youth. For a media that is dominated by individualist and reactionary thought, it is such a relief for me that the youth has a (growing) source that offers the alternative.

Visit their blogs:
Among Ed
Jun Lozada

Coming soon... our tour at the Center for Kapampangan Studies (which I love!).

Scammer Alert!

2008-04-03T15:34:00.003+08:00

I think it was bound to happen. Yes, we got scammed. Our P2700 went poof yesterday.

See the details. I'm not really hoping to get my P2700 back, but I'm going to make their lives hell as long as they live.

http://www.tipidpc.com/ratings.php?username=lupinsell

Apparently, the Account Owner is an OFW.

Jovelyn Tagulao, if you feel you have been used by one of your "friends" and know nothing about the scam, you better contact us at

jhann8@inbox.com

Otherwise, I will have you blacklisted from every institution and establishment I can pull my strings upon. I will never let you leave this country ever again to help you family from the barrio. Yes, I know your exact address. In fact, I have a house 30 minutes away from your barrio. At this moment, I am processing a blotter on you at the Municipal of Bayambang my cousins.

You better contact us and give us a lead to the scammer Lupinsell. Otherwise, you are an accessory to the crime or an accomplice to estafa. I do believe that Estafa cases can land you in jail a sentence of Reclusion Perpetua or 40 years.

Your choice, dear.

Not so Random Things

2008-03-01T18:48:00.008+08:00

Grr... it's been a long time since I put up a decent post. After the wedding, I had to catch up with my subjects.

Then, this NBN-ZTE thing with Jun Lozada... hay! To make the long story short, my organization joined Youth ACT Now (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now) and all its members have been busy with press conferences, forums, meetings and other activities for the past 2 weeks. To our Youth ACT Now friends, congratulations to all of us. We did well at the interfaith rally yesterday. Sa March 6 naman! ;)

I met Jun Lozada at Baclaran Church. Youth ACT Now went there for the "Misa Para sa Katotohanan" and we gave him a Youth ACT Now shirt. He was supposed to wear it at a forum but the organizers didn't want him to. Boo! What did Jun Lozada tell us?

" Dapat kumilos na kayo (Youth). I believe in the goodness of your hearts."

Thanks, Mr. Lozada. We also believe in you.

Went to the Interfaith Rally yesterday. Ang daming tao! The PNP estimate of 20-000-50,000 was so insulting. I was at the front and center of the stage with the photographers and we were packed like sardines; it's impossible to fall over. It took me about 30 minutes to be able to get out of the crowd. That rally was 80,000 people at the very least.

I took pictures of the rally but I have yet to develop the film. Yes, I use a manual SLR. Sue me. Better yet, click on my ads or donate some money for my DSLR fund so I can buy a second hand Nikon D40 or a Canon 400D. Oh please, please pity us and donate. My husband is desperate for a DSLR that he makes clicking noises with an imaginary camera tooooo often now.

While walking along Ayala Avenue when the rally ended, we saw a black labrador from the Explosives division of the PNP. He looks just like my Bebong, I couldn't resist. Jhann and I played with the dog and asked a few tips from the PNP how to take care of a lab. When I asked what shampoo they use on their dog,

"Palmolive. Yung pink."

How macho. Make the dog muy gwapito! Today I bathed Bebong using 2 sachets of Palmolive.

Sorry, I've Been Busy

2008-02-06T16:01:00.000+08:00

Oh, you know how hard it is to be wed. :)

Calling all Stellans! Help Mang Tero!

2007-12-12T13:15:00.000+08:00

Calling all Stellans past and present! A member of our Stella Maris Family has fallen ill. Manong Tero our beloved (in my time, Cambridge) guard had a stroke and was discovered that he has brain tumor. He is in dire need of our help and we are all in the position to help.

There will be a fund raising gathering/ open mic on December 22, 2008, 6pm at Barko, Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City. It is near the city hall. Tickets are sold at P150 each and all benefits will go to Mang Tero for his treatment. Please pass this on to your batchmates.

See Agnes Fondevilla’s blog for more updates and information.

Mang Tero is one of my favorite people in Stella Maris. I would remember every morning when I am almost always late I’d ask him “Nag-second bell na?” and he would reply “First bell pa lang. Takbo na!” and see me running wa-poise from the Cambridge gate to the high school building. He would also let us buy our afternoon snack of flying saucers in front of the school. He would also sometimes chismis to my Tita all my kalokohan in school that he knows (Tomboy daw ako? Haller? Heehee). Christmas time our family would give him gifts of chocolate. One time my dad gave him shoes. That’s how much we love him. 7 years out of Stella and all of my family still remembers him.

So please, please help our Manong Tero. If you don’t happen to be a Stellan, please still drop by at Barko on December 22. We hope to see a lot of people there!

Gun Show @ Megamall

2007-12-11T14:10:00.000+08:00

These are some pictures from the Gun Show held at the Megatrade Hall last November 19-26. My uncle convinced me to check it out. I went there on the 25th and for 60 pesos as entrance fee, I got to touch and pose with all these guns. I saw some really weird modifications there such as a baby 12 GA with a plastic butt and a baby AK 47. Makes me wonder how stable will those things shoot especially the 12GA shotgun. My favorite guns are the baby M16 and the chromed Uzi. I remember the days when I was in high school and I wanted to enroll at the Philippine Military Academy. Ha ha.

First Try at Rebel 2000

2007-10-23T11:11:00.000+08:00

These are my first attempts of using my brothers SLR. Expect ugly pictures. But I'm reading about photography and yes, I'm practicing my composition. I actually shelled out 2 rolls of 36 shots in Pangasinan last weekend. I'll show some of those in another post. The pictures below were taken last October 19 at the National Peasant Mobilization at CM Recto.

Flags

Speech (That's Lengua speaking actually. I was just too far while taking the shot.)

Youth group discussion

The Women of "Like Water for Chocolate"

2007-10-17T22:39:00.000+08:00

I just want to post this because I'm quite proud of this paper when the rest of my classmates discussed about the romance in the novel. I had to retype this because I only have the original hard copy which I submitted to my professor. This post is slightly altered from the original paper to include my teacher's comments and corrections. Unfortunately, I forgot her name but Ma'am MZM(S?or L?) thank you for your interest in my paper and for the grade. ;)

By the way, 2 days ago was "International Rural Women's Day". This is also dedicated to the women in the countryside.

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An Analysis of the Three Sisters in the novel "Like Water for Chocolate" as Representatives of Women from Different Social Classes
(Written for my Humanities I class in 2004)

The novel "Like Water for Chocolate" has been dubbed as a feminist novel since its first release. Set in the middle of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917 against Diaz and US imperialism) where workers, peasants and natives banded together under the leadership of Villa and Zapata to overthrow the dictator. The author used this setting to explore gender identity, more specifically the females by using the 3 sisters as protagonists, examining how the characters fall into their roles in the revolution, be it in the household (small scale) or in the battlefield (large scale) itself. In this paper, it is the three sisters, Rosaura, Tita and Gertrudis who will represent the women from social classes and how they participated in the small and large scale revolutions.

During the Mexican Revolution, the mode of production was mainly feudalism , thus the main source of income was land or ranches. The workforce was dominantly farmers. In a nutshell, social classes are divided thus: The Bourgeoisie (Compradors, Landlords and Petty), the working class and/or the peasantry. Historically, the Bourgeoisie has always oppressed the working and peasant classes.

A characteristic of landlords and the bourgeoisie is that own more than they consume, doing minimal work yet they have the largest income than the rest of the workforce. Rosaura is the representative of this class. When Mama Elena died, the ranch was left to her name. Nowhere in the book was it mentioned that Rosaura did any heavy work (aside from the preparation of spices for sausages which in fact, as my professor noted, Rosaura does for fun) compared to the other women in the house.

Another characteristic of the bourgeoisie is that they have an affinity for tradition. Tradition and culture is not really a constant object, but is dictated by the mode of production. The upper classes need to maintain the status quo in order to remain in power, thus, the use of tradition. Rosaura has these characteristics. She married his sister's lover because Mama Elena was adamant with the tradition. By allowing herself to be married to Pedro, she was in agreement with Mama Elena and the tradition. She took her sister's right to be with Pedro. She was supposed to apply this tradition even to her daughter Esperanza. The point of this tradition was to make life convenient to the mother at the expense of the daughter.

As a woman, Rosaura was exploiting herself (aside from Tita and Esperanza) subconsciously. Any reason fir marrying aside from love is a union bound to fail. Since Pedro loved Tita, the man she married will never see her as a partner in life. Pedro could never give Rosaura what she wants and deserves in a relationship.

Tita is the perfect example of the oppressed classes of society. Analyzing her situation in the household, she was more of a worker than a member of the family. She seems to do as much work as the servants in the ranch (i.e. Chancha and Nacha) yet not much appreciated (through income or otherwise).

Tradition Dictates that she should not marry because she was to take care of their mother until the day the latter dies. Her right to marry and to have a family is taken away by this tradition. She initially felt helpless against the status quo but she already shown resistance. Overtly, she questions the tradition. When objective and subjective conditions (treatment as a slave, separation from Pedro and the death of her nephew) were enough, she openly waged a revolution on her own by leaving Mama Elena.

The middle sister, Gertrudis, is the epitome of the liberated woman. Initially, she only found sexual liberation (through Tita's dish and being "kidnapped" by the revolutionary soldier). Afterwards she worked at a brothel and admitted that it was to "put out the overwhelming fire" and seems not to be ashamed of it. In the battlefield, true liberation. Women's liberation in the strict sense is the acquisition of equal political, social and economical rights as men.

In Mexican history, women played important roles in the revolution. Mexican women were directly involved and were known as Soldaderas, or the female soldiers and field supporters. It is also often that they engage in combat. There is no room for sexual discrimination in the revolution. The Mexican uprising was a cause of the contradictions between classes, and sexuality and gender cuts through classes. It was a fight of the ruling class and the oppressed. Gertrudis became a general in the revolution, working her way up the ranks as others do notwithstanding the female repression characteristic around the world and mode of production at that time. She may have been from any class but she left that former life to participate in the revolution with a specific goal. She became some source of inspiration and strength for Tita at one time or the other.

These women are not exclusive to Mexico to that era. More so, these kinds of women are more evident at this time when the crisis caused by imperialism affects so many countries. There are Roasauras who stand on a pedestal. There are many Titas who are exploited who are vacillating, often reluctant but still resist. And of course the number of Gertrudises is ever and exponentially rising because of repression, oppression and the chronic crisis imperialism upon us. They are made aware that the only way to free themselves from repression is to participate in the revolution of the classes. Now, the question left to the women of the modern world, are you Rosaura, Tita or Gertrudis?

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I just want to say that attending the Bloggers' Kapihan 2.0 was one of the best decisions I've made. It's so nice to meet the authors of blogs I read. :) Thank you for such a warm welcome from the bloggers. I'm looking forward to another Bloggers' Kapihan and meet more bloggers.

Roel Pulido: A Loose Cannon?

2007-10-11T00:12:00.000+08:00

A lawyer has been gaining a lot media mileage in the past 2 weeks. Roel Pulido has filed a case against JDV and his son. Then he filed a weak and questionable impeachment complaint at the Lower House against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He seems like a loose cannon with his statements and actions. A resounding question is upon us: What happened to Roel Pulido?

The Activist

Roberto Rafael "Roel' Pulido, while taking his undergraduate from UP, was part of the anti-Marcos movement in the early 1980’s as he became a member of Alpha Sigma Fraternity (AS= Alay sa Sambayanan supposedly). Christopher "Kit" Belmonte and Michael "Mike" Defensor were his contemporaries in the Alpha Sigma. He later went on to take his law degree at the Ateneo Law School.

The Gallant Lawyer of the Magdalo

Roel Pulido became prominently known as he became counsel to 290 out of 300 soldiers who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003. Along with his brod, Belmonte, he rendered his service to these men pro bono. The eloquent Pulido spoke for the mutineers especially when the courts limited their access for interviews, drumbeating the young officers’ beliefs on media.

Pasted from Bulatlat.com

“They always say let’s make the military apolitical, let’s make the military apolitical,” Pulido said. “But the military is but a part of society, and when the military man goes home, he faces the same problems we all face: he lacks money for his children’s food and tuition, the Meralco bill is so high, water and fare rates are so high, everything is expensive. So of course it pushes him to question himself: ‘Why am I risking my life every day I go into the field for a government that does not even allow me to feed my family?’ So they may have crushed whatever it is that they say they’ve crushed, but certainly they have not crushed dissent.”

As the legal counsel for the Magdalo, he was accused several times by Malacanang and the AFP of conniving with the illegal acts of the mutineers. General Hermogenes Esperon accused Pulido of facilitated the escape of Capt. Nathaniel Rabonza, and 1Lts. Lawrence San Juan, Patricio Bumindang and Sonny Sarmiento from their detention center in Fort Bonifacio. Later on when Lawrence San Juan was arrested in Batangas and underwent solitary confinement for several weeks, San Juan defected from the Magdalo and tagged Pulido as a “propaganda officer” of the Magdalo group. He denied both allegations.

Falling Out with the Magdalo

On October 2, 2006 Roel Pulido did not attend Trillanes' hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court. MKP decided to drop him as their lawyer. According to him it was a mutual decision between him and the Magdalo members. At that time, the reason for their parting of ways was not revealed although a prevalent speculation was that the Magdalo felt that their case was mishandled by Pulido.

According to Bagong Katipunero

"The word is out that Atty. Pulido had talks with Malacanang before he dropped the Magdalo officers as their counsel. He is currently a staff of Sen Honasan."

The Malacanang Link

Incidentally, Gringo Honasan, also an Alpha Sigman, has been very friendly with the administration especially last elections. Honasan was granted bail for 200,000 by the court to be able to campaign while Antonio Trillanes and Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran remained detained as their move for bail were refused.

With this liaison comes the Malacanang link where he may be used by the administration to forward a weak impeachment complain to impede a stronger complaint to immunize Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for another year. Even his former client, now Senator Trillanes believes that Pulido is indeed part of the Malacanang ploy.

Conclusion

It is so disappointing to see someone whom you thought had enough idealism to fight for and/or together with the Magdalo become a turn-coat. What used to be admiration for this lawyer who offered free services for the genuine patriotic young officers had turned to disgust. How I hope that Roel Pulido is indeed just a loose cannon hungry for media mileage but his relations and actions prove that he is, yes, a cannon, controlled by Malacanang to protect Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s regime.

UP Going Cold Turkey

2007-10-06T22:09:00.000+08:00

Cold Turkey- A smoking cessation strategy that involves abrupt cessation of smoking. Used alone, only 5% to 7% of smokers will remain abstinent long-term.
www.ctri.wisc.edu/Home/Glossary.html

The shock of my life came when I saw the notices posted at Vinzons Hall banning smoking in UP. A no smoking policy inside the building is reasonable enough but every other place I can think of where one can smoke such as parking lots, tambayans, gardens are still off limits to smokers. What the hell? Is this still UP?

From http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?i=497

Drawing from a constitutional mandate to protect and promote people’s right to health and from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, the University of the Philippines has instituted a System-wide ban on smoking and sales and advertising of tobacco.

From http://www.bfad.gov.ph/

Sec. 5. Smoking in Public Places. - Smoking shall be absolutely prohibited in the following public places:
a. Centers of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools,elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for persons under eighteen (18) years old;

I understand that UP is trying to promote good health in its community and follow the law. It is laudable that they are protecting the rights of the non-smokers but at what expense for smokers? Indeed, It is a choice to smoke a cigarette but it is also a choice to STOP smoking.

From http://www.prolife.org.ph/page/teen_touch10

According to the American Pediatrics Society, it takes only a short time to become addicted to nicotine. If you a re a smoker, you will know you are addicted when you find yourself craving cigarettes and feeling nervous without them. You will really know you are addicted when you try to quit smoking and can't.

Quitting can be hard for addicted smokers, and it can take a long time. Often people must try several times before they succeed. The longer you smoke, the harder it is to stop.

In fact it is harder to stop than to start smoking especially for those who have been smoking for years. Studies have shown that going "Cold Turkey" (abrupt cessation) is doomed to fail. Only about 5-7% remain cigarette-free in the long run. To stop smoking is a process where you lessen your consumption in stages until your body can handle itself without the nicotine.

Ateneo de Manila University made a compromise by designating smoking areas probably citing Sec 6 of the same Republic Act

Sec. 6. Designated Smoking And Non-Smoking Areas. - In all enclosed places that are open to the general public, private workplaces, and other places not covered under
the preceding section, where smoking may expose a person to the other than the
smoker to tobacco smoke, the owner, proprietor, possessor, manager or administrator of such places shall establish smoking areas. Such areas may include a designated smoking area within the building, which may be in an open space or separate area with proper ventilation, but shall not be located within the same room that has been designated as a non-smoking area.

All designated smoking areas shall have at least one (1) legible and visible sign posted, namely "SMOKING AREA" for the Information and guidance of all concerned. In addition, the sign posted shall include a warning about the health effects of direct or secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke. Non-smoking areas shall likewise have at least one (1) legible and visible sign, namely: "NO SMOKING AREA" or "NO SMOKING".

Ateneo has a sprinkling of Smockets or Smokers' Pocket Garden or SPGs to give leeway for smokers. You know it is a Pocket Garden because they provide benches and ashtrays and, well, a big warning sign that smoking is dangerous to your health or it contributes to the degradation of nature. A hefty fine of P500 if you light a cigarette in areas not considered a pocket garden. Students, professors and on rare occasions Jesuit priests use these SPGs. As far as I know, pocket gardens were readied before the strict implementation of the regulation.

Comparing it to Ateneo now, UP is looking more unreasonable. The notices contains the list where you CANNOT smoke which basically covers every area, nook and cranny of UP. Where then, are smokers allowed to light a cigarette? As I see it, the UP administration is looking at a utopian image of smoke free campus with a flick of their finger. If they must regulate, why not take the (I can't believe I'm saying this) Ateneo example? Open designated areas for smoking. Along with this, the administration should hold a comprehensive program to educate the students about the ills of smoking. Launch an information drive or campaign in the campus. To implement a total smoking ban without the inculcating the purpose is either just :

A. Plain lip service-- without an intention to take this rule seriously.
B. Authoritarian rule-- where the administration uses its position and power stripping smokers of their right to choose to smoke or not to smoke.

Quitting smoking for a person entails a step by step program sometimes involving withdrawal (syndrome), nicotine patches, audio/visual guides etc. A similar process must occur if the UP admin is serious in implementing the smoking ban. This regulation will only face failure if the UP administration pursues this regulation without proper campaign and consultation with the students and the rest of the UP community.

Oh I can see it now, cranky professors and restless students in a class craving for a stick! *shudder*