Pilipinas Kong Mahal (My Beloved Philippines)

When the Philippines doesn't have an official national anthem during the time of the american occupation in the Philippine Archipelago, children used to sang"Philippines, My Philippines". It is based on "Maryland, My Maryland" and written by an American Thomasite P.F. Jernegan on 1907. Later on, its hymn was change into a Kundiman composition, the C major, in 3-4 by Maestro Francisco Santiago. It was later on translated to Filipino by Ildefonso Santos, a Filipino Poet, with a title "Pilipinas Kong Mahal".  - Project Saysay

Finding f(x): Why I teach for the Philippines

This morning, I saw this video on Youtube that asks the question, "Why I teach for the Philippines?". This video talks about the struggles, the dedication of the students as well as the teachers that are trying their best to help one anther.

Synopsis from TEDx Talks:

After almost two years of teaching, Delfin simply wants to share with us how he discovered his passion for teaching, and why he chooses to teach for the Philippines. He talks about his touching experiences with his students and how they have truly inspired Delfin to teach for the Philippines.

During his high school and college days, Delfin was known to be the ideal student and an overachiever in a variety of aspects. He graduated class valedictorian in both his high school (La Salle Greenhills) and his college (Ateneo De Manila University), where he finished a double-degree in BS Management Engineering and AB Economics-Honors. He also held a number of different leadership positions during his stay at the Ateneo, including being president of the Ateneo Management Engineering Association. However, outside of academics, he also enjoys singing, dancing, and acting. After graduation, Delfin chose to become a Fellow with Teach for the Philippines, making him a full-time public school teacher. He is also a part-time lecturer at the Ateneo’s John Gokongwei School of Management, teaching business statistics. 

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more athttp://ted.com/tedx

Change The Way You See, The Hidden Paradise of Calatrava, Romblon

When we say nature adventure, most of us would say, Baler, Mt. Pulag, Siargao, Cagayan de Oro, and Boracay. There is a province on the center of the archipelago that is home to beautiful landscapes that are yet to be discovered by most of us.
It is Romblon,  a province where our purest marbles came from and also a home of many hidden paradises.

Going there is not that hard as it is only 1 and a half hour road trip from the Municipality of Odiongan and 30 mins boat ride from the principal port of Calatrava to Paksi Cove, Lapos-lapos and Tinagong Dagat. While having a road trip, you may also enjoy the beautiful scenic views of Tablas Island and its surrounding waters.

These photos were taken in Calatrava, Romblon using a smartphone camera, but having a smartphone that is more advanced than your typical smartphone camera is a great advantage that you may not bring your heavy and bulky DSLR cameras.

Huawei P9’s camera is co-engineered with Leica. It has dual lenses that produce high-quality photos and allows users to take amazing monochrome, slo-mo, colored, light painting photos among others.

Five Basic Rights of a State

The right of existence and self-defense

A right of a state to be recognized by other states and a right to protect itself from the aggressors.

The right of sovereignty and independence

A right wherein a state could practice its power to rule its own independent government.

The right of equality

A right to that acknowledges that every state is equal and no one is superior to the other. 

The right of property and jurisdiction

A right of the state to own a property inside and outside the states’ territory and exercise its power within its properties.

The right of legation or diplomatic intercourse

A right of every state to send and appoint a diplomatic personnel to other states that would ensure the diplomatic ties through agreements and treaties. 

13 Points of SONA 2016

July 25, 2016 | Manila – President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address also known as SONA in Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City. His first SONA marks as the first unorthodox address that does not dwell on the past as what the known commentators said.

Here are the thirteen important highlights of his address consolidated by ABS-CBN News.

1. The War on Drugs

“We will not stop, until the last drug lord, the last financer, and the last pusher, have surrendered and put behind bars… or below the ground, they so wish. Do not do drugs."

2. Human Rights

“Human Rights… must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as an excuse or shield to destroy the country.

3. West Philippine Sea Disputes

“We strongly affirm and respect the outcome of the case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration as an important on the ongoing efforts to pursue the peaceful resolution and management of our disputes.”

4. Ceasefire with the Rebels

“I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CCP, NPA, NBF.”

5. Taxation Reform

“We will lower personal and corporate income tax...”

6. Reproductive Health

“The implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law must be put into full force and in effect.”

7. Traffic in Metro Manila

“The revival of the Pasig River Ferry Service System is a viable option… For the LRT, the operating hours shall be extended from 9:30PM to 10:30PM… So marami pang mga batang uuwi n’yan (Because many students are still going home at that time).”

8. Airport Decongestion

“Different approaches are being considered to decongest NAIA including the possible transfer of the general aviation… I’m offering Sangley Point… kasi kaiihihan ko ang isang runway (because I can’t hold my pee on a traffic runway), I can make a brand new runway there. I assure you.”

9. THIS WILL BE A CLEAN GOVERNMENT

10. Cutting the Red Tape

“Processing time in issuing permits and licenses shall be reduced to the barest minimum. In my City (Davao City), it is only three days for the local government.”

11. Media Killings

“This government does not condone violence and repression of media…”

12. Improve Internet Speed

“I have also ordered the newly created DICT, Information and Communication Technology to develop National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of the fiber optics, cables and wires and other technologies to improve internet speed…”

13. Free Wi-Fi Access

"Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and seaports. ‘Di ba (isn’t it)?"

10 Pieces of Wisdom from Confucius - Explained

1. It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop.

When you like someone, you should be patient enough to wait until the right moment that come. There are no such thing as “fast track” when you what to deal in a serious relationship with someone else. Patience is really a virtue, but if you quit before you succeed you will lose the battle of your life.

2. Never establish friendship who is not more virtuous than you.

Always go with the person who has higher visions and aspirations than you. They could help you to become more successful in life.

3. When you are angry, think about the consequences.

Do not let your emotions overpower you. Let your anger subside and clear-up your mind before you confront what made you angry.

4. If it is clear you can’t achieve your goals, do not change your goal - change your actions.

When you can’t achieve your goals, don’t quit. Think, what made you not accomplishing anything. Ask yourself, “Am I doing it right? What are the things that I can do to make things right?” – Just never give up.

5. If you hate, then you’ve been defeated.

Do not let your angry emotion consumes you. Learn to forgive but never forget, by that, you will learn how to deal with the person who made you angry so you could still live in peace. Remember, there are always someone around you who always want you to see down.

6. Noble person makes demands on themselves, lesser people make demands on others.

Intelligent person always seek answers to the questions by himself as he is capable enough to look for it. Do not be dependent to others in solving your own problems, or to do things that you can really do. Be considerate, people around you have other matters that they need to deal with.

7. Whatever you do in life, do it with all your heart.

Love what you are doing. If you can’t be happy on the things that you are working with, leave it. You can’t be a progressive and punctual for your job. You should consider changing your career look for something that will you love.

8. Give guidance only to those who have acknowledged their ignorance and seek knowledge.

On one of Jason Mraz songs, Mr. Curiosity said “… to think there is nothing wrong is the problem…” Some people are just thinking that they know everything which in reality they don’t know any.

Person who doesn’t acknowledge their weakness can’t accept help from others. They were swallowed by their pride thus making them can’t accept their mistakes. Don’t waste your time to the person who doesn’t listen to your guidance. Just make them feel that they need one by doing your things better than them.

9. Extravagance in small things will bring a great cause to ruin.

Live in a simple and modest life even you have anything that most people doesn’t have. Do not show to everyone your golden chest that might bring you in danger. (ikaw din, sa kakalabas mo ng cellphone mo sa jeep baka mahold-up ka pa)

10. If people spit at your back, it means you’re ahead.

Do not listen to the negative words that people around you may say. They are just some jealous folks who wanted the things that you have. Just don’t mind them.

PH Education System Towards Better Tomorrow

Philippine Education system has been gone to various paradigm shift and developments, from informal to formal system. We could see that there are huge differences among the education system that the country have used since then.

It is almost Five years since the first implementation of the enhanced basic education program. We saw changes of the curriculum and the grading system that the teachers are using. BEC to RBEC and now the K12 Curriculum. Grading system also undergone into various transformation, since then, teachers used numeric grades to assess the learners’ progress until the KPUP grading system was introduced on academic year 2014-2015 with letter grade used as the final rating of the students’ progress until discontinued a year later and replaced with WWPTQA grading system. (READ: New system; is this the key to a quality education?)

Changes are foreseeable and unstoppable, so teachers are continuously undergo trainings, workshops and seminars keep them competent to handle the changes on the system.

PH Wins Arbitration Case Against China

A map showing the maritime disputes over West Philippine Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in favor to the Philippines over the maritime disputes in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) versus Peoples Republic of China (China), Tuesday July 12, 2016. The Court also concluded that the claim of China over the contested body of waters and its islets, islands and shoals through the Nine-Dashed Line and through historic rights has no legal basis.  

“The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line,” 

“Having found that none of the features claimed by China was capable of generating an exclusive economic zone, the Tribunal found that it could—without delimiting a boundary—declare that certain sea areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, because those areas are not overlapped by any possible entitlement of China,” 

From the statement released to the media

The Tribunal also stated that China violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines.

“Having found that certain areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the Tribunal found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone,”

“The Tribunal further held that Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels,”

The President of China, Xi Jinping rejected the decision of PCA which will lead to a lasting implications over the region. 

The Philippines filed its case in Permanent Court of Arbitration on January 2013 after a stiff standoff on Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough shoal) in April 2012 between Chinese and Philippines ships.

15 Points Why PH Won the Case

GMA News Online - MICHAELA DEL CALLAR, GMA News

The Philippines made 15 Submissions in these proceedings, requesting the Tribunal to find that:

(1) China’s maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, like those of the Philippines, may not extend beyond those expressly permitted by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;

(2) China’s claims to sovereign rights jurisdiction, and to “historic rights”, with respect to the maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the so-called “nine-dash line” are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements expressly permitted by UNCLOS;

(3) Scarborough Shoal generates no entitlement to an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf;

(4) Mischief Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, and Subi Reef are low-tide elevations that do not generate entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf, and are not features that are capable of appropriation by occupation or otherwise;

(5) Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal are part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines;

(6) Gaven Reef and McKennan Reef (including Hughes Reef) are low-tide elevations that do not generate entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf, but their low-water line may be used to determine the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea of Namyit and Sin Cowe, respectively, is measured;

(7) Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Fiery Cross Reef generate no entitlement to an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf;

(8) China has unlawfully interfered with the enjoyment and exercise of the sovereign rights of the Philippines with respect to the living and non-living resources of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf;

(9) China has unlawfully failed to prevent its nationals and vessels from exploiting the living resources in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines;

(10) China has unlawfully prevented Philippine fishermen from pursuing their livelihoods by interfering with traditional fishing activities at Scarborough Shoal;

(11) China has violated its obligations under the Convention to protect and preserve the marine environment at Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, Cuarteron Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Gaven Reef, Johnson Reef, Hughes Reef and Subi Reef;

(12) China’s occupation of and construction activities on Mischief Reef:

(a) violate the provisions of the Convention concerning artificial islands, installations and structures;

(b) violate China’s duties to protect and preserve the marine environment under the Convention; and

(c) constitute unlawful acts of attempted appropriation in violation of the Convention;

(13) China has breached its obligations under the Convention by operating its law enforcement vessels in a dangerous manner, causing serious risk of collision to Philippine vessels navigating in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal;

(14) Since the commencement of this arbitration in January 2013, China has unlawfully aggravated and extended the dispute by, among other things:

(a) interfering with the Philippines’ rights of navigation in the waters at, and adjacent to, Second Thomas Shoal;

(b) preventing the rotation and resupply of Philippine personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal;

(c) endangering the health and well-being of Philippine personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal; and (d) conducting dredging, artificial island-building and construction activities at Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Gaven Reef, Johnson Reef, Hughes Reef and Subi Reef; and

(15) China shall respect the rights and freedoms of the Philippines under the Convention, shall comply with its duties under the Convention, including those relevant to the protection and preservation of the marine environment in the South China Sea, and shall exercise its rights and freedoms in the South China Sea with due regard to those of the Philippines under the Convention.

Pag-alala sa EDSA People Power, Ikatlong Dekada

Ika- 25 ng Pebrero, 1986, tatlong dekada na ang nakararaan nang magtipon-tipon ang maraming Pilipino sa Epifaño de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) upang patalsikin ang noo’y naghaharing diktador, pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na nakilala bilang EDSA People Power Revolution. Sa pangyayaring ito, nangibabaw ang kulay dilaw sa bawat lansangan ng kapuluang nagkakaisa upang wakasan ang diktadoryang naghasik ng karahasan, pangaabuso, at paglalapastangan lalo na sa mga taong lumalaban sa kanyang pamunuan.

Photo by www.inquirer.net

 Ang mga bagay na ito ang ating parating nariring sa bawat telebisyon at radio tuwing sasapit ang anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power. Sa detalyeng ito ang patuloy na tumatatak sa isip ng sambayanang Pilipino lalo na sa mga bagong henerasyon. May mga bagay na hindi nabibigyang pansin tulad ng “ano nga ba ang mga layunin ng pag-aalsa?” Marami ang magsasabi, “para patalsikin sa pwesto si Marcos”. Ngunit, ito nga lang ba ang tunay na hangarin ng rebolusyon o mas may malalim pa itong mga hangarin?

Sa mga nag-aaral ng kasaysayan, kasama sa mga hangarin ng rebolusyon ay mapaalis ang mga “TRAPO” (traditional politicians) sa pwesto, mapaunlad ang ekonomiya ng bansa, maghari muli ang demokrasya, at matigil ang kaguluhan sa bansa. Ang EDSA People Power ay hindi lamang nangyari para patalsikin ang diktador ng bansa, kundi upang baguhin mismo ang bansa.

Hindi natin maikakaila na tunay ngang nabalot ng kaguluhan ang bayan natin nang pamasailalim tayo sa Batas Militar nang siyam na taon sa pamumuno ni dating Pangulong Marcos. Naghatid ito ng takot sa bawat isa, at libo-libong tao ang nakulong, naparusahan at napatay nang walang kongkretong dahilan. Hindi ito maitatanggi, dahil ito ang tunay na nangyari.

Tatlong dekada na ang nakalilipas, balikan natin ang mga pangako ng rebolusyon, ilan nga ba rito ang naisakatuparan? Ikaw na ang bahalang sumagot.

Salaming Walang Mukha

Ang aking isip ay lumilipad sa kalawakang puno ng mga katanungang mahirap hanapan ng kasagutan. Ang aking damdamin ay pawang lumalangoy taliwas sa agos ng daluyong ng karagatan. Ang diwa ko nama'y sumusunod lamang sa ilawód ng mga pangyayari sa kapaligiran habang ang puso ko ay parang bangkang papel na nakikipagbuno laban sa agos ng ilog tungong irayà. 

Hindi ko alam kung saan na nga ba ako patungo. Subalit, patuloy pa rin akong naglalakad sa madilim na daan tangan lamang ang sulô na nagbibigay liwanag sa madilim na kagubatan ng aking magulong kaisipan. 

Minsan, naisip kong tumingin sa salamin upang tanungin ang aking sarili. Ako'y nabigo, dahil pawang anino lamang ng kahapon ang aking nasulyapan at hindi ang aking sarili. Pagtanggap ang sumampal sa mukhang manhid sa katotohanang ayaw kong paniwalaan.

Ako'y nagising sa sakit na nadama nang katotohanan. Bumuhos sa katawan ko ang tubig na puno ng yelo na mas lalong pumukaw na nanaginip kong pagkatao. Pagtanggap ng sarili ang bumalot sa katawan ko na gumabay sa naliligaw kong pagkatao. 

MIDNIGHT REFLECTION PAPER

by Jerome Benedict

In fairness to Ms. Sy, she just spoke out what is stipulated in the DepEd order regarding suspension of classes, which clearly states that “when signal no. 2 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels shall be automatically suspended….(D.O. No. 28,s. 2005)” The said DepEd policy does not encompass other levels of study such as the tertiary, graduate and post graduate programs, for as per CHED M.O. No. 19 s. 2005, “In case PAGASA raises Typhoon Signal No. 1 or No. 2 only in a particular locality within our PAR, classes (in the tertiary and higher levels) … shall not be suspended as a matter of policy.”

It was the Governor who first invoked the said DepEd guidelines and what was asked by Ms. Sy was just a validation of his reference for what has been announced is not in accord with what has been written. That is nothing different in asking a store keeper why does he/she sells Ariel detergent for 9 pesos even if the packaging label and advertisements implies that it is just 7.50Php. Or it is like picking a certain passage from the constitution or sacred scriptures, infusing your personal sentiments into it, and then vastly proclaiming it like it is still the same content without prior notice that you have injected your own ideas into it. In research studies, researchers are always warned to make sure that you do not alter nor twist the real thought or idea of the person/s that you are quoting in your research or else he/she might have turned in his/her grave (in case he/she is already resting in peace) for they did not really mean what you are now presenting yet you are still attributing it to them.

In the latter response, the governor has said that he makes no distinction across different levels of studies when it comes to their safety and security, which I personally think, that what the governor personally thought (no distinction) is something that is very venerable as far as his concern to his “constituents” is involved but at the same time conflicting at first, for it is not only that the government itself have set different institutions (DepEd and CHED) in order to address these distinctions, but also the reference (DepEd guidelines) pointed out confused those who are really aware with it especially with the ethics of referencing.

In this light, I therefore conclude that:

1) the comment of Ms. Sy is indeed a good starting point to raise awareness when it comes to such rules but she was heavily bashed and “burned” by the netizens probably due to the tone of her comment that seemed arrogant and sarcastic at times. Indeed, negative thoughts and acts attract negative feedback in return.

2) I do not contest the governor’s decision when it comes to class suspensions, knowing most especially that these decisions are results of his pure compassion to the Cavitenos supported by the different governing policies, weather forecast/data provided by different agencies and consultations with the municipal governments who are definitely not disregarded for they are the ones who are really experiencing the status of the vicinity. But I think the governor must not have pointed the said guideline anymore or at least have emphasized in advance that this is not his pure reference for the reason which I have already presented above. And lastly

3) ASKING QUESTIONS, RAISING INQUIRIES, RECITATION or SPEAKING OUT YOUR MIND is the beginning of learning. I should know for I am an educator and the said acts manifest the kind of learners who are eager to learn. That is why we, teachers, are very appreciative to learners who participates and interacts with the discussion regardless of the substance for we know that it is a spark plug already for deeper intellection. But if we suppress, make fun and humiliate those who stand up, those who let their voices be heard, those who expresses what is in their mind, most especially if it is an out of the box idea or is unorthodox to your stand. This society is bound to be doomed, for Charles Bukowski’s fear would come into full actualization: the intelligent people would be filled with doubt while the stupid ones will have their confidence oozing. I should know for I always shut my mouth off believing that less talk, less mistake, less harm, but later on I got challenged by Einstein’s premonition that “the world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

With this post I might be suppressed, made fun of, humiliated and most probably be ignored due to its length (LOL) but hopefully not assassinated (LOL again). But as I end, “come at me with your garbage, I will retaliate with my recycle bin and together let’s save mother earth.” 

After Heneral Luna, Goyong's Story Is Next

photo from geoffreview.com

After the success of the historical biopic film "Heneral Luna", a film that tells the life of one of the greatest general of the 1st Philippine Republic Antonio Luna, a sequel is set to be filmed for the next couple of months that will showcase the heroism a the youngest general in the country. 

Yes, its true, according to Heneral Luna's Offical Facebook page "Bago niyo pa marinig sa iba: ‪#‎GOYONG‬, tuloy na tuloy na. ‪#‎HeneralLuna‬" that was posted on October 30 at 1:07am. 

Beforehand, the persons behind the said film already asked the people to support Heneral Luna to reach the breakeven box office sales of 200M in order to have resources to produce the next film.

According to them, Heneral Luna is the first part of a plot trilogy that will tell the story of how the revolution continued after the Americans took over the power over Spain. The sequel as I already mentioned, is about the life of Gregorio del Pilar and the third film will focus on the life of former President Manuel L Quezon.

Bago niyo pa marinig sa iba: #GOYONG, tuloy na tuloy na. #HeneralLuna
Posted by HENERAL LUNA on Thursday, October 29, 2015

Reasons Why Teachers (in the Philippines) Demands For Higher Salary: Non-DepEd Teachers

photo by Patrick Familara

Many people ask why do teachers are asking for a higher salary. A lot of them think that teaching is an easy job that is meant to be paid less than those who work in the field of business, medicine, and judiciary. But, they are wrong. To teach is not as easy as peeling a banana. The future relies on the people who teach. Teachers are what we called them. They are the one who trains the mind, the heart and the skills of each individual in our society. Our future is on their hand.

Salary of the teachers here in the country is very low. Many Non-DepEd schools pay the basic salary of 6,500 a month for newly hired teachers. How far thus 6,500 pesos can go? This makes the purchasing power of them low. Many can’t afford to buy new sets of dresses and even to live in a decent house for those teachers came from another province.

 Having low salary doesn’t pay the hardship and dedication of the teachers who extend their work at home.

Teachers don't have an overtime pay. So every time you see teachers staying in school late, always think that they stay for their students. Because they care for them.

I think that it is the time to increase the salary of a teacher and to give them an overtime pay not just for the public school teachers but as well as to the teachers of the private schools. Teachers are not different from others. They have bills to pay, family to feed and a health to take care of.