I Celebrate the Obama Era

It’s everywhere.. the Obama madness I mean. History is being made and it’s happening not only in America but also in every part of the globe. I want to do my part by sharing with you the videos that has moved me in one way or another.

Almost all big stars from movie and music industry gathered at We Are One Concert at the Lincoln's Memorial to celebrate history and the future. You’ll Never Walk Alone sang by Renee Fleming with US Naval Academy Glee Club made me cry. It stroke deep chords of my emotions and it made me missed my great grandmother so much.

The sensational Charice Pempengco graced at various Obama Pre-inauguration Balls in Washington, DC. She made every Filipino proud when she brought the house down with her world-class performances. She was also dubbed by Oprah as The Most Talented Girl in the World. Mabuhay ka Charice!

And now, the turning point of our history – the swearing in of President Obama. I want the video to say it all..

Lastly, the first dance of President Obama and First Lady Michelle with Beyonce singing "At Last". (What a fitting song for the first couple! After all their struggles, they finally made it to the White House!) I could only describe it with one word - overwhelming!

Witnessing a Political Milestone: The Barack Obama Inauguration

Barack Obama will finally swear in as the first African-American President of the United States of America! As expected, all news networks around the world are beholding at this paramount political event as it is happening in Washington, DC today.

Not only it is a celebration of a significant history of our time but also it gives triumphant finale to the struggles of the personified men and women in Amistad, Glory, Men of Honor, and my other favorite movies that depicted discrimination to minorities. In addition, it smashes the record held by Armstrong’s walk on the moon in 1969 and Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 in terms of viewership. Millions of people around the globe are waiting for this great political milestone.

I am watching CNN right now and I'm so overwhelmed with the intensity of President-elect Obama’s journey to the White House. Commencing from Barack’s travel by train from Philadelphia to Washington that retraced Abraham Lincoln’s route taken hundred years ago, to the star-studded inauguration party at the Lincoln’s Memorial, to the big gathering of people of all colors and races at National Mall, to the preparation of Secret Service Counter-snipers on top of the buildings, to the testimonies that Barack has indeed made Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream come true, and so on. I can’t wait to see him on stage. I’m sure I will shed tears of joy.

Let’s join hands in celebrating this meaningful moment of our history. It will be streamed live on CNN, ANC, Channel News Asia, BBC, Bloomberg, ABS-CBN, Studio 23, and GMA Network at 11.30pm Manila time. The replay of Yes We Can: The Obama Inauguration Celebration at the Lincoln's Park will be aired on HBO at 7pm Manila time.

Long live President Barack Obama!

A Crisp Salute to a Maverick Marine

One can never get enough of the many principled men in this world. Lately, we just have been introduced to one of them. We have been introduced to one honest man and dedicated officer who courageously busted high society drug dealers infamously known as Alabang Boys.

Major Ferdinand Marcelino is a young marine from a modest family in Hagonoy, Bulacan. His humble beginnings included toiling as a construction worker, striving as a working student, and knuckling down as a police beat reporter. Eventually, his destiny brought him to the doors of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and became part of PMA Bantay-Laya Class of 1994.

He was commissioned as a Marine officer in the war-torn Mindanao during the early years of his military career. He waged war against the hostile group Abu Sayyaf. He was cited for his intelligence undertakings in capturing Abu Sayyaf Commander Abu Sabaya who staged the unforgettable Dos Palmas kidnapping in 2001. He also met head-on death threats from refusing bribes to rig the elections in Basilan.

In 2003, he turned down the recruitment from the core group of Magdalo officers who launched a mutiny against the Arroyo Administration. He said and I quote, “people did not send us to the PMA so that we would have nice combats or clothes or a nice life. We are trained to endure all kinds of hardships.”

At present, Marine Major Ferdinand Marcelino is the special unit head of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Few days ago, he and his team conducted the buy-bust operation in Ayala Alabang which led to the arrest of young elite scions, namely: Richard Brodett, Joseph Ramirez Tecson, and Jorge Jordana.

The PDEA conducted a pre-arrest investigation. They cased the suspects. In the end, they were able to entrap them thru a tactical operation in which they seized ecstacy tablets and considerable grams of cocaine. They followed procedures.

And so they thought.

Surprisingly (and irritatingly) though, the prosecutors trashed the legitimate arrest and even made an order (with the approval of no less Secretary Raul Gonzales of DOJ) to release the drug pushers on the ground of technicalities.

As of this moment, this case is still undergoing probe at House Committee on Drugs and pending on review by Department of Justice. If you happen to watch its live coverage on ANC, you will surely admire the courage Maj. Marcelino has mustered. He made Sec. Gonzalez turned red as tomato!

I am so disgusted to these scoundrels – families of the peddlers as well as some persons holding high government positions – who tried to bribe the agents to kill this case. Shame on you bad people!

On the other hand, I highly commend Major Macelino for living up to the maxim of his Alma Mater - Courage, Integrity, and Loyalty. It is nice to know that there are still people in the ranks that can keep their honor to serve God, Country and People. I am indeed proud of you, Sir. Please continue to do the good work for and on behalf of the Filipino People. Let the revolution continue and fight these evil menaces that inflict our nation.

Kudos and carry on!

(Reference & Reference)

What's Going On in Gaza Strip?

For straight four days, my husband and I pay attention to CNN’s latest updates on the Gaza conflict. He has already shed light on me about Gaza’s geography, present political state, and military organization. So more or less, I can assess the ongoing war that has killed, at last count, 550 people; half of those were women and children.

Yet, after dinner, my sister nonchalantly asked, “Is Gaza in Saudi Arabia?”

This makes me wonder how many are not yet aware of what’s going on in our neighborhood, more so where the conflict is happening.

To those who are oblivious of the crisis, this post is for you. I will try to reiterate what my husband has informed me about Gaza. And for those who keep abreast with the news, please help me pray for the innocent children and women who are being made as pawns in the damaging war.

During the reign of Hitler, he killed millions of Jews. Most leaders around the world were helpless, if not indifferent, during that time. So when the United Nations was born, they tried to make amends to the Jews by bringing them back to Israel, their homeland. But Israel was already occupied by immigrants (non-Jews, mostly Palestinians) when they were resettled there. I guess (as my little brain could digest) that’s when the conflict began.

The UN supported the Israelis on their quest. And they slowly painfully thrived. They occupied and progressed all around the Land of Jesus EXCEPT the 41 kilometers long coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea that is now popularly known as the Gaza Strip.

Gaza’s residents are mostly Palestinian Arabs, 100 or more of them are Filipino women married to their men. They are controlled by a de facto government called Hamas.

From 1967 up to now (roughly 41 years), Hamas strongly opposes the Israel’s control over their airspace, territorial waters, offshore maritime access, the Gaza-Israel border and most of all, the Israel’s control over the inflow and outflow of Gaza’s essential resources, including food. Whenever food is in short supply, Gazans have had little choice but to take in food supplied by World Food Programme workers in the area.

The Hamas wants independence. But Israel and other powerful nations (including US) are reluctant to give it to them because they think Hamas might make Gaza another Afghanistan, another would-be training ground to suicidal terrorists.

The name Gaza comes from the Arabic verb ‘azaz meaning to be strong. How strong could it stand the war? Only heaven knows.

I’m more concerned of the children (on both sides) who are caught in the middle of it all. They are innocents! They are acquainted to violence at a very young age. Aren’t they the future of our generation? What future are they molded to? A future of war and chaos? Those children deserve to live not to die. They deserve better.

PEACE!

A Pen versus A Bolo

If you are planning to bring your child to go for a leisure walk in Luneta Park today, you may take him first to the regal monument of our great national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and tell him, “Son, this is a very brave man who sacrificed his own life for a good cause. He wrote the revolutionary novels – El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) and Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) – that opened up the minds of the Filipino people about the cruel practices of the colonist Spaniards. He was shot by a firing squad and he died as a patriot of our nation on December 30, 1896.”

Probably your child would be influenced to think that the best weapon to be a hero is a mighty pen.

Afterward, if you happen to pass across Manila City Hall then he points the shrine of Gat. Andres Bonifacio and asks, “Mom, is he also a great hero?”

Naturally you would also like to account to him the legacy of Bonifacio, the Father of Philippine Revolution. You'd emphasize that Bonifacio was a hero with an uncompromising stance in leading his countrymen to the path of freedom. And as the supremo of Kataastaasan Kagalanggalangan Katipunan (KKK), he led his men in performing a blood compact by using their blood to sign their names as new warriors for the Filipinos. Eventually, Bonifacio and his brothers were shot and buried in a shallow grave marked only by a few twigs and leaves.

Probably (again) your son would wonder who did better – Rizal or Bonifacio? A pen or a bolo?

Hitherto, the debate about Rizal versus Bonifacio has remained unabated. Mercilessly pitting the qualities of one against the other: the ilustrado class versus the proletariat, the sophisticated European education versus the self-schooled one, the privileged situation of one versus the plebeian beginnings of the other, Rizal's mastery of Spanish versus Bonifacio's Tagalog background, and the list goes on and on.

For me, both Rizal and Bonifacio bequeathed our race the imperative freedom that we are so entitled to. I strongly believe that these two great heroes should be honored equally, regardless if one used a pen or the other used a bolo.

What Now, Barack?

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the 44th President of the United States of America.. Barack Hussein Obama!

The dusts have settled, the Americans have decided to go with Barack Obama’s route to change. Likewise, the headlines are singing one theme: Barack, the first black US President, makes history on the world stage.

Indeed, it has been proven that Obama’s victory certainly says a great deal about how the right person with the right message at the right time can move very far and very fast, no matter what it takes.

But my question is… what now, Barack?

What are your detailed strategy in resolving the current global economic meltdown? When are you going to push through the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act that would benefit the Filipino war veterans who risked their lives six decades ago? Are you going to give more opportunities to the overflowing supply of nurses and other skilled workers from the Philippines? How can you get to the bottom of the black and white paradox?

By the way, I want to commend you for thanking Michelle, your kids, your grandmother who just passed away, and the people who supported you all the way, during your victory speech in Chicago. That was very sweet of you.

At this time, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, deliver the great expectations, and be the best Commander-in-Chief that the Americans could ever have.

Break a leg, President Obama!

Welcome Back, Jocjoc!

It's another evening on my favorite yellow chair, in front of the computer, with the tv on my left. Ordinarily, my husband and I would watch the news and discuss significant points together, but right now, he is busy fixing his mobile phone using my hair dryer upstairs. Thus, I am updating my blog at this moment while watching TV Patrol alone.

Today’s top story is the comeback of the infamous Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante who was the former Dept. of Agriculture Undersecretary and alleged moneybag in the fertilizer scam that vexed Juan dela Cruz in 2004. He sought political asylum in the US but was denied and eventually deported.

He arrived at the NAIA on board Northwest Airlines Flight 71 around 11pm last night. After he was turned over by the US agents to NBI, he immediately boarded an airport ambulance that took him to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City due to an “ailment.” Hmm.. seems like a déjà vu. It happened many times before that believed witnesses to a probe would either go missing or confined to a hospital by reason of a strange disease.

I was working in Thailand when I learned about the anomaly through philstar.com. According to the Commission on Audit, P728 million was robbed from the Filipino people. The fund for the fertilizer program was supposedly distributed to the indigent farmers in the countryside but it was pocketed by some gluttonous individuals instead.

I’m hoping against hope that a small step into redefining our nation is made by resolving this corruption issue once and for all. If only Jocjoc would come out from holing up and spill the beans on the real fertilizer scam masterminds. C’mon mister, be a real man, be a hero, and give a legacy to our race!

I'm For Barack!

Why talk politics today?

Well, if you watch CNN religiously like me, you surely get bombarded with US political broadcasts nowadays especially that the 44th Presidential Election is just around the corner. I'm interested in its progress and of how the candidates uproot each other. Really, it's more thespian than reality tv!

At first, i liked John McCain because he is fatherly, soft-spoken and yeah, a Republican. I thought Americans should choose a leader that embodies the true image of its country. Moreover, he is with the present administration so he's in the loop of the real situation (especially intelligence feeds) in America, in particular, and in the world, in general.

BUT McCain is so lousy during debates. Like when it's his turn to speak, i could easily drowse off. He speaks monotonously. He also keeps on attacking his opponent and fails to highlight his qualifications. In other words, he's a loser.

This leads me to listen Barrack Obama more. I realized that Barack is not too corrupted by the politics of Washington. He is fresh, dynamic, and a family man. Most of all, he's black (an immigrant from Kenya) that means he definitely has the non-white people (like you and me) close to his heart.

My two younger sisters are registered nurses and they want to work abroad. I think if Obama wins in November, he will give them (and all OFW's, for that matter) more respect they deserve. He will efface the archaic white western supremacy through all its incarnations. Hopefully, a black US President will put an end to racism.

That said, i'm all for Barack Hussein Obama! I wish i could cast a vote in the US though. Tsk tsk.