Online diet

A few weeks ago, I had the desire to stop being “everywhere.” By this I meant I wanted to be unreachable for a few days — no internet, no phone, no nothing. But I couldn’t really do that. No, not with all that needs to be done. Maybe when I’m older, wiser and retired I would, but not now — not when I’m about to graduate from college bombarded with requirements left and right.

But I really feel the need to do this — for no philosophical reasons or what-have-you’s. So yesterday I decided to go on a partial online fast. By partial I meant no social networking interaction for three days. Yessir, no Plurk, no Facebook, no Tumblr, no Multiply, no Friendster (excluding WordPress since I’m pretty sure none of my friends knows about this blog).

I’m challenged to not even open any of it until tomorrow night. I’ve got a mental list of things I could do to pass time. For one, we’ve got a Thesis to finish. I could also start reading more books (I just finished two in four days, FormSpring me if you have suggestions); and start cleaning my room. Nuninu.

Respect and protect

While the mere thought of death scares most people, there are approximately 33.4 million worldwide who are probably numb to its everyday threat. This is the statistical number of the HIV-infected population; of which 2.1 million are children under 15.

In 2008 alone, about two million people surrendered to the disease. To this day, there is no cure for HIV. Treatment and medications are available and expensive; and even if one can afford it, well, let’s just say pain and uncertainty comes with the package.

Unfortunately, there are bigger issues than cost and death.

I would like to believe that the world is well-educated about AIDS. We know how one gets it, its signs and symptoms, and preventive measures – and the concern stops there.

I was once a contemptuous young girl. I thought AIDS was the result of reckless decision-making therefore whoever is infected with it deserves so. I certainly did not want to belong to that population (and still don’t) nor did I want anything to do with anyone who does. And I am pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who felt and thought so.

We do so well at “protecting” yet we fail (major) at “respecting.”

Children do not deserve this disease. No one deserves this disease.

Contempt and ignorance are bigger issues than death (to me, at least). Contempt and ignorance kill. These kill hope and opportunities for the world to finally see the end of HIV/AIDS – opportunities that require global unity. Global unity begins with a desire from every single one of us to end the problem.

The task is great especially since few take the responsibility. But imagine how small it might seem once the world decides to do something about it. Do something about it. We are all capable of doing something about it. Cliché, yes; but true.

Be educated, inform others. Donate or lend your time. Rid yourselves of contempt and discrimination. Rock love this World AIDS’ day.

References:

http://worldaidsday.org

http://unaids.org

http://un.org

Hey there Superman!

by Rose Danielle Austria
for Special Topics (MCM 190)

“Heartbreaking” would probably be the perfect way to describe the realities shown in the film Minsan Lang Sila Bata. I am not ignorant; in fact I am well aware, of the worsening conditions of poverty in the Philippines. I see it every time I step out the door. The news is bombarded daily with evidences and while the media is known for sensationalizing virtually everything, one cannot deny the distressing feeling that it inculcates.

I’ve watched countless videos, seen hundreds of photographs, and listened to a number of talks on poverty and child labor yet I’m stunned every time. I encounter street kids on a daily basis and feel the lack of hope in them. I’ve heard of children in sweat shops and for a while it was unimaginable what they go through. It was until we saw the footages of the kids in the slaughter house, the port area, and the hacienda.

Then I look back at my own childhood – including the times I complained to my parents for not buying me things I don’t really need – and realized how blessed I’ve been for the past eighteen years. Guilt clouds my heart as I look around and find that all my needs and wants are provided for – and I didn’t even have to work for any of it; while the kids in the film had to struggle every day for food that would not even satisfy anyone’s appetite.

American author Tom Robbins wrote in one of his books that “it is never too late to have a happy childhood.” But my heart breaks even more as I realize that there might not be a better future for most of these children. As the documentary puts it: once a “hornal,” always a “hornal.”

The story of the children in the port area and how that one boy collapsed in exhaustion; the young “hornals” who battle forces of nature and human injustice every day; and the children of the slaughter house as they are likened to dead meat replay in my head like scenes from a horror movie.

At this, I feel remorse for them and anger towards people who have the power to make life a little easier for them. Everyone has the power to make life livable for them. These kids have dreams – they want to study, play, and have fun – but somehow they feel helpless.

Children do not deserve to be treated like slaves. None of them did, no child does or will ever deserve such treatment. Their young minds warrant care, attention, education, nourishment and freedom. These kids need to know that they’re God’s little angels and they should not let anyone or anything to hinder them from living.

We would all agree that child labor is a social problem; but in reality you’d see the burden is not shared at all – some reason ignorance, others the lack of power to help, and disinterest for a few.

There’s a reason why humanity’s battle against such issue never ends: humanity, in its entirety, remains unmoved and indifferent. Sure, everyone desires to change the world but few are the ones who walk the talk. We cannot reason that we are powerless to do so because we are not. Wise men say to change the world, we need to start change within ourselves. We don’t have to be Superman to save lives. If there is a will, there is always a way.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to act.”
Proverbs 3: 27

Congrats to Manny for the nth time

I’m not really a fan of boxing or Manny Pacquiao; but wth, Philippine pride, congratulations to him for winning the fight against Cotto. Everyone expected an easy fight and that’s exactly what it was.

I just wish Pacman wasn’t too hard on Cotto’s face, like seriously, looking at Cotto’s face now…thy hotness is hotness no more. LOL.

Kidding aside, I hope Manny kicks Mayweather’s ass if ever they do get to an agreement. Normally, I’d root for whoever Manny’s against (except for Cotto) but I hate jerks. Jerks need to experience serious ass-kicking.

Jinkee Pacquiao also needs serious bitch-slapping. See, I don’t hate Manny Pacquiao, I hate the people that surround him. I always tell my friends that Manny’s downfall would be his wife. It’s a personal opinion but, I really stand by it. It’s not normal, even for natural-born Filipino elitists, to wear million-peso worth jewelry on a daily basis, or retouch make-up during your husband’s fight but apparently for Jinkee, it is. Just a little modesty won’t hurt. I can take Aling Dionisia but Jinkee, no. I mean, Aling Dionisia’s just enjoying privileges she never had before and still manages to remain humble (and slightly amusing). Jinkee, uh, no.

Anyway, I only have one concern though, I hope radio stations would stop playing Manny’s H&S advertisement. Please.

2010 Got Heart Planner

To all the OC’s and those who simply love to keep your schedule organized, here’s a fun and inexpensive treat for you: the 2010 Got Heart Planner!

Featuring at least twelve indigenous communities in the Philippines, the paintings of an Obo Manobo, Retchor “Ettok” Umpan, and passages written by young indigenous peoples themselves, the GOT HEART 2010 PLANNER is both interactive and youthful with its numerous activities and amazing information. The Planner also has different activities that will allow you to discover more about our IPs in fun and light ways. Aside from promoting love of culture, the GOT HEART PLANNER proceeds will help fund the foundation’s projects for the indigenous peoples, specially a T’boli School in Cotabato. (via Multiply)

PLANNER COST:
489php for pick-up at Green Meadows Subd. or Ateneo de Manila University.
500php inclusive of shipping for addresses within Metro Manila

SPECIFICS:
Dimensions (in inches): 6.5 width x 8.86 length x 0.6 thickness
Binding: Smythe Sewn, Hardbound
Cover Material: Arlin Bookcloth- Black; Arlin Bookcloth- Red Outer Wrapping
Debossed 2×2 in. ornamental Got Heart logo on Cover
Inside: Full color printing on Matte paper

For further details, please click here.

RIP Dr Ben Rodriguez

Our Media Laws/Media Management professor Dr. Ben Rodriguez passed away yesterday, Friday at 1pm. It came as a shock to everyone at the college, especially to the faculty, staff, and students who established a personal connection with him.

We were yet to meet him for our Media Management class this semester. This Monday, November 9, would have been our class’ first meeting; but for some reason, he was not able to make it to class.

I had good memories of Dr Ben. Well, maybe it’s not too good of memories, mistake on our end, of course. I remember treating his class as a siesta class. It was boring and we do try to listen, but uh, you know, teenagers. Don’t get me wrong, he had the goods. He was good he was great at his profession. It was just he was too old and weak to always catch everyone’s attention, but he was a very kind man.

Anyway, he was the type of old man that you would want as a grandfather; that’s why to us, he’s Lolo Ben. He was very considerate and gentle. He was a great man. To me, he is a legend.

I will miss you Lolo Ben, for reals. *sniff *sniff

It was a great experience to be taught by a great teacher like you.

Read this

Friendster, Facebook, and prejudices

I’ve been seeing a lot of prejudices here in the World Wide Web. It’s especially prevalent in networking sites like Facebook and Tumblr.

In a not so distant past, we all shared one common past time in the internet – Friendster. I remember in high school, I used to hassle my classmates for testimonials (or ‘testi’ as they were called). ‘Testi’ boxes later became freedom walls, but they were once considered “windows” to the users’ souls. Testimonials used to describe the person from the point of view of the other user; and admit it or not, we used to force our friends to describe us in certain ways.

Friendster was the sign of cooldom – was.

In mid-summer this year, Facebook became the talk of the town (or, well, the teens). With it’s offerings of flash games and applications, would you not trade Friendster for it?

Facebook isn’t really fresh or new. It’s been around for a couple of years already. I started using it last year to reconnect with relatives and friends who now live in other countries. Facebook was the “Friendster” of countries like US and Canada. Here in the Philippines, celebrities and the elite who wanted to get away from hassling fans from Friendster were the first to use it.

Early this year, a few of my friends started using Facebook. Prejudice came when almost everybody began “moving in.”

There’s a certain type of people that my friends call “phylum prolifera.” I don’t know what it means exactly but this mostly refers to those in late high school – early college age. These are people who look a little clueless and inexperienced; who dress like their parents dressed them; and those who unsuccessfully try so hard to fit in. In short, jologs.

In the internet (also applicable to text messaging), these refer to people who tYpe liKe tHis, and whose profile pictures involve stiff-necking hip-hop and trying-hard-to-be-cute poses. Yes, they all belong to a phylum and they proliferate fast.

Honestly, of course they are sores to my eyes. I want to sit down with them one by one and give them lessons on letters and capitalization. You, who are just so prejudiced with them, want to kick them out of Facebook (and Tumblr).

Well let me give you a personal lesson on history. You and I were once losers too. We once dressed like our parents dressed us. Look at your grade school and high school photos and you’ll see that 90s fashion and haircut aren’t exactly the best things that happened in your lives. Try to re-open your Friendster accounts and look back at the things you posted in your friends’ boxes when you were in your “prolifera” age. You wouldn’t really call yourselves “cool” then, or would you? Your seniors might have bitched about you and desired to slap your faces straight then as you would these “p. prolifera” kids now. Because admit it or not, once in your life, you were also a loser.

I used to tyPe like thIs too. I thought it was cute. No regrets here, though. I did enjoy it, believe it or not. And for me, there shouldn’t be any form of regret for something you enjoyed doing.
So for all the cool cats out there, give these kids a break. Give them a year or two and maybe they’ll remember all that they learned in grade school English and Writing, or maybe they won’t. Nevertheless, keep your prejudices to yourselves and try not to hurt their feelings. They’re happy with themselves, let them be. And try to remember that Facebook and Tumblr were created for everyone.

Yuletide Souk 2009

Hey guys and girls, Christmas is coming soon! To be exact, there’s 61 days before we celebrate again the birth of Jesus!

If you’re looking for gifts – for your family, relatives, friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, “special friend,” monito-monita, and whatnot – then check out Yuletide Souk 09!

Now on it’s second year, Yuletide Souk, or The Big Red Bazaar, will be held for the benefit of Got Heart Foundation. Got Heart Foundation supports marginalized Filipino communities through social entrepreneurship, rather than dole-outs.

The bazaar will feature up and coming entrepreneurs Olivia and Fifth, Smitten Accessories, Bejeweled, BC Manila, and Moonlight Garb to name a few. Social entrepreneurs like Chains for Change (in support of Bilibid prisoners) will be there too!

Now that’s shopping for a change!

For more information on the bazaar, please visit: thebigredbazaar.multiply.com.

For more information on Got Heart, please visist:
gotheartfoundation.org
gotheart.multiply.com

GH is also on Facebook.

Break

Morning music madness. Sandwich and Up Dharma Down in the house y’all!

Sembreak officially started this Tuesday. I can finally waste my time on the most worthless, unproductive activities that one can discover when dying of boredom. Booyah. And since I’ve spent most of my money on buying a second-hand version of my old snatched phone (SE W880i) from Greenhills yesterday, I can’t do gimmicks no more. I’m left to rot and dust in this almost-dead-in-silence neighborhood with only a desktop computer + DSL to amuse me. Kill. Me. Now.

Then again, it’s not all bad. At least I have a 3G phone again (10 pogi points for me). And if that’s not enough to keep me alive, there’s tons of laundry to wash and a bedroom to clean. No, wait, that’s productive.

Isn’t there a list of “Dorky, Awkward Things to Do When Bored” here somewhere?

Are you in love?

The danger of believing that you “fall in love” is that it also means you can “fall out of love” just as unexpectedly. Aren’t you glad that God’s love for us isn’t as unpredictable? Aren’t you thankful that God’s love is under His control and not based on whim? We need to throw out the misconception that love is some strange “force” that tosses us around against our will like leaves in the wind. We cannot justify doing what we know is wrong by saying that love grabbed a hold of us and “made” us behave irresponsibly. That’s not love. Instead, it’s what the Bible calls in 1 Thesalonians 4: 5 “passionate lust.” We express true love in obedience to God and service to others – not reckless or selfish behaviors – and we choose these behaviors.

-I Kissed Dating Goodbye (Joshua Harris), p.68