Monkey speaking

This whole UglyYuBin-Jacque Bermejo scandal is errr, ruthless. We don’t need this in a time when our people is mourning the loss of hundreds.

As much as I want to shovel these ball-less faces to 50-inch thick mud, I feel that I need to redirect my attention to the victims themselves. (I mean, they can’t even admit to who they really are.) So anyway, I urge everyone to help in anyway they can. There are relief operations stationed almost everywhere. I’m sure there’s one near you.

And of course, let us not forget to pray. Pray for those still stuck in floody areas. Pray for the ones still missing. Pray for the families who lost loved ones. Pray for the uncanny heroes. Pray for the rescuers and teams setting out in risky areas. Pray for the countries Ondoy will hit next. Pray for the nations that show compassion to us. Pray for the officials who will handle the millions of pesos of donations from other countries. Pray for the presidentials who plastered their faces on water bottles and stickered their names on styros.

But you know what, I ain’t fooling nobody. I really just can’t let those b*tches go. Whoever they are, whether posers or the real thing, I hope they eat their words. I’m not the kind that wishes other people death, so I only wish they learn a hard lesson – whatever it is.

If there’s one thing I re-learned about us, thanks to Ondoy for this one thing, Filipinos are passionate for each other. We value one another as if we’re one big family. Bayanihan, always has been, still is, and always will be the heart of who we are.

Ondoy hotlines

Cathedral of Praise
For any aid or relief need needed by any COP members coordinate it at the COP designated hot lines: 526-1353 or 5210756

GMA Kapuso
9811950 to 59

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya
No. 13 Examiner St., QC
413-2667 / 416-03
Contact: Ms Girlie Aragon

Bank:
Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111

DSWD
Drop-off points:
1. National Resource Operations Center, Chapel Road, Pasay City
Contact: Mrs. Francon Favian
2. Quezon City Area Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Info Center (DROMIC) DSWD Central Office
Contact Rey Martija or Imee Rose Castillo,
Tel Nos. 951-7119, 951-2435 or
Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera
Tel No. 0918-934-5625

3. Manila Area (DSWD-NCR) San Rafael corner Legarda Streets, Quiapo, Manila
Contact: Dir. Thelsa P. Biolna, Dir. Delia Bauan
Tel Nos. 734-8622, 734-8642

NDCC
911-1873/912-5296/912-2665

PNP
117 Philippine National Red Cross 143/527-000

Bank accounts:
1. Metrobank
Account name: The PNRC
Peso account: 1513041631228
Dollar account: 1512151002182
Type of account : Savings
Swift code: mbtc ph mm

2. Bank of the Philippine Islands
Account name: The PNRC
Peso account: 4991001099
Type of account: Current

3. BPI UN Branch
Account name: The PNRC
Dollar account: 8114003094
Type of account: Savings
Swift code: bopi ph mm

Through SMS and GCASH type redamount then send to 2899 or 4483

Philippine Coast Guard
527-6136

Makati City Rescue
186/895-8243

Marikina City Rescue
161/646-2436

Pasig City Rescue
631-0099

Quezon City Rescue
927-5914/928-4396

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Medical mission and relief operations for Intramuros at 1:00 pm, UAC assembly area.

Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo Task Force Ondoy

Deposit through bank accounts:
SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account Name/Payee)
Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)
BPI Peso Checking Account Number: 3081-111-61
BPI Dollar Savings Account Number: 3084-0420-12

For GCASH users, you may send your donations by typing: DONATE_ _<4-digit pin>_SLB and send to 2992. For inquiries, please contact Gio Tingson at 09178807427 or Kacci Morales at 09279818811.

THE FIVE YEAR LIST

List of things I want/need/desire/have to accomplish within the coming five years:

1. (Re)learn an instrument.
2. Sing in front of a live audience.
3. Study human rights law or international relations.
4. See U2 live in concert.
5. Master photography (or improve at least) and own a Canon DSLR.
6. Build my parents’ dream house.
7. Own a Hummer H3x, in orange.
8. Memorize Jason Mraz’s lyrics.
9. Visit Italy.
10. Work for a magazine.

Mark this day.

Some love sh*t

Romeo’s story will always be different than Juliet’s. Yes, they died at the same death bed. Yes, they were in love. However, I still believe there’s a B-side in the story, just like in everybody else’s stories. F*ck fairy tales and romance literature.

Fashion Piece of the Week: Boyfriend Sweaters

I just bought two grey sweaters from a nearby ukay. One for me, and one for my sister – short sleeves with white buttons on the chest, and long-sleeved babydoll. It’s a STEAL – four items for P100 (along with a bluegreen sweater and white tank).

I finally have a boyfriend sweater, yey!

What’s I love about it is that I can wear it even though it isn’t cold season.

I’ll wear it tomorrow at the photoshoot, paired with white tank top, skinny jeans, and red flats.

1 Adeline R, Paris.

Sweatshops

In the midst of economic threats in the Philippines, do Filipinos ever think about the better picture? And though our country is greatly blessed with earthly resources, there is much more that lies beneath the untilled soil. While the government tries to hide the truth, it can and would not remain so.

Should the Filipinos consider the demands of the situation or ignore it? They say the Philippines is looking towards a bright future, yet numerous families are starving, children are out of school, women are abused, and workers are underemployed. And in light of all this, Filipino officials do less to diminish the problem.

Global Exchange defines sweatshops as “any factory that does not pay workers a living wage – that is, a wage that can support the basic needs of a family.” To keep labor costs low, workers are paid by piece rate, meaning workers are not paid by the hour. Rather, they are paid by the pieces they complete in a shift. If workers wish to earn a decent income, they have to work hard and long. They literally have to sweat. (globalexchange.org)

According to David Vogel’s research, the first sweatshops were established in 1850s as small manufacturing establishments. Sweatshops were originally residential; but later developed into small factories.

As Britain and United States entered into Industrial Revolution, the quality of sweatshop conditions deteriorated. During 1850, more than 200, 000 women worked in factories in the United States specializing in clothing, footwear, cigars, and others. In the 1890’s, sweatshops became pillars of production in the garment industry.

At the expense of corporate globalization, sweatshops have become a major source of human productivity, most especially in third world countries such as the Philippines. The establishment of sweatshops is rampant in Southeast Asian Nations. As logicians would have it: “the poorer a country is, the more exploitable its people are.”

In explanation to the growth of the sweatshop industry, economists Jeffrey Sachs of Harvard and Paul Krugman of the Massachusetts Institute of technology say low-wage plants are essential starting points for developing countries. They explained that this was the industry that acted as a steppingstone for developed countries like Singapore.

According to various reports, most sweatshops in the country are owned by multinational companies. Among the frequently mentioned include Nike, Gap (in Bataan), Panasonic (in Cavite), Reebok, J Crew, and Triumph International (in Taguig).

Consumerism has blinded the eyes of many in the society. The people, even the researchers of this study at one point, are unaware of the depraved system of hard work that goes into the clothes we wear, or the things we buy, in general.

But the world had not completely given up the fight against this social injustice. Organizations all over the world devote time and massive effort to eradicate sweatshops. In the United States and Canada, thousands of students of over 250 colleges and universities formed a student organization called United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS). In April 2000, USAS established the Workers’ Rights Consortium – an independent organization that monitors and investigates labor conditions on apparel factories in the United States.

In the United Kingdom, an anti-sweatshop organization called No Sweat battles against apparel giants through the use of fashion itself. In its online store (nosweatapparel.com), there is an online catalog of 100% sweat-free, union-made apparel. They hold numerous events such as comedy nights and fashion shows to publicize the difficulties of sweatshop workers all around the world.

In the Philippines, the fight against sweatshops is led by the Trade Union of the Philippines (TUCP) or the Katipunang Mangagawang Pilipino. It was founded on December 14, 1975 by labor alliances in the country. With 1.2 million members at present, it is the largest labor group in the country – the numbers including union workers and members, volunteers, youth groups, the urban poor, and other civil society groups.

One of the projects of the TUCP is its Anti-Sweashop Campaign. In its website (tucp.org.ph), TUCP cited several problems on the sweatshop industry in the Philippines. The most prevalent issues concerning sweatshops include: disallowing the formation of unions (violating their right to self-regulation), wages below statutory minimum, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, deprivation of their rights to a maternity leave, unpaid or underpaid overtime, and physical and verbal abuse.

The Anti-Sweatshop Campaign is active year-round. The members research on the compliance of sweatshops/factories to international and national labor standards. They also develop programs and communication materials, and as well as provide legal assistance to activists. They push government agencies to implement codes and standards – using ethical and non-corruption means; and advocate specific reforms in the labor code.

TUCP’s Anti-Sweatshop Campaign has had success in verifying the compliance of 70 enterprises (33, 324 workers) to corporate codes of conduct, industry agreements (such as WRAP — Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), and ILO core standards.

But TUCP’s fight against sweatshops does not end there. Various unions still frequent the Department of Labor and Employment’s office demanding developments for ethical systems and even the organization’s office still receive reports of abuse. A large population of women and children still succumb to harsh realities of forced labor. TUCP has not yet accomplished everything it aims to do.

The Labor Code of the Philippines, in accordance to the 1986 Constitution, purports the State to:
“…afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities to all.

“It shall guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the right to strike in accordance with law. They shall be entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living wage of workers. They shall also participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting their rights and benefits as may be provided by law.

“The State shall promote the principle of shared responsibility between workers and employers and the preferential use of voluntary modes in settling disputes, including conciliation, and shall enforce their mutual compliance therewith to foster industrial peace.

“The State shall regulate the relations between workers and employers, recognizing the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production and the right of enterprises to reasonable returns on investments, and to expansion and growth.”

In addition, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stated on July 11, 2003:

We will not tolerate sweatshops and we will act very strongly against firms employing or abetting the use of illegal drugs to keep their workers awake and alert, to the prejudice of their health. We will treat such employers as drug pushers under the law. The PDEA must work with the DOLE to monitor these unsavory practices and stop them.

These women are not sufficiently educated on their rights as laborers; ergo employers pry on their innocence.

*Originally, our thesis centered on sweatshops, and its women laborers. The original plan was to create a video documentary about it, but since we’re switching our focus to human trafficking, might as well share what we’ve “labored” than trash it unused.
**I had a lot of references for this one; so if you think you’ve read excerpts somewhere, it’s possible I could have taken it there.

Want to model?

I’m looking for a model, male or female, preferrably 16-20 years old. We will have a fashion photoshoot on September 24, at Indios Bravos in Makati, no definite time yet. I’m looking for someone who’s photogenic, easy to work with, and is willing to work for free (I could maybe treat you to dinner instead). This is for our Photojournalism subject.

I will be the one to shoot you. I am, by the way, Dani, 18, 4th year Mass Communication student from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Visit my Multiply site to view my past works.

Please leave a comment or message me at daniaustria@hotmail.com or bibokid@gmail.com. Send a photo of yourself or a link to a web account of yours

Because He saw you.

You need to note that in this final prayer, Jesus prayed for you. You need to underline in red and highlight in yellow his love: “I am also praying for all people who will believe in me because of the teaching.” That is you. As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in His prayers. As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in His vision. As Jesus dreamed of the day when he will be where he is, He saw you there.

His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was you.

…

Did He know the answer before He asked the question? Did His human heart hope His Heavenly Father had found another way? We don’t know. But we do know He asked to get out. We do know He begged for an exit. We do know there was a time when if He could have, he would have turned His back on the whole mess and gone away.

But He couldn’t.

He couldn’t because He saw you. Right there in the middle of a world which isn’t fair. He saw you cast into a river of life you didn’t request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw you with a body which gets sick and a heart which grows weak.

He saw you in your own garden of gnarled trees and sleeping friends. He saw you staring into the pit of your own failures and the mouth of your own grave.

He saw you in your Garden of Gethsemane – and He didn’t want you to be alone.

…

For it was in the garden that He made His decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.

You need to note that in this final prayer, Jesus prayed for you. You need to underline in red and highlight in yellow his love: “I am also praying for all people who will believe in me because of the teaching.”

That is you. As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in His prayers. As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in His vision. As Jesus dreamed of the day when he will be where he is, He saw you there.

His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was you.

…

Did He know the answer before He asked the question? Did His human heart hope His Heavenly Father had found another way? We don’t know. But we do know He asked to get out. We do know He begged for an exit. We do know there was a time when if He could have, he would have turned His back on the whole mess and gone away.

But He couldn’t.

He couldn’t because He saw you. Right there in the middle of a world which isn’t fair. He saw you cast into a river of life you didn’t request. He saw you betrayed by those you love. He saw you with a body which gets sick and a heart which grows weak.

He saw you in your own garden of gnarled trees and sleeping friends. He saw you staring into the pit of your own failures and the mouth of your own grave.

He saw you in your Garden of Gethsemane – and He didn’t want you to be alone.

…

For it was in the garden that He made His decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.

*Excerpts from Max Lucado’s The Final Week of Jesus.

Glorious no more

I had eight (8) glorious hours of sleepage last night. It’s a rarity for graduating students like me – amidst thesis and deadlines.

Morning was awesome. I woke up to an offline message from *bleep. He asked for my number (I swear it’s not a group message – it had my name) because his phone got lost. He’s probably trying to recover all his friends’ numbers; but to reiterate, HIS PM BORE MY NAME. I’m a sucker for making a big deal out of it. He went online an hour or two later and we exchanged a few lines before I jetted off to school. *SIGH* I’m still waiting for a text. I know it’s not coming tonight.

Anyway, Field Reporting was a failure. I dressed for the part (entertainment news), thanks to Bobbhie’s sleeveless semi-bubble dress that I paired with dark skinny jeans and pastel blue pumps (did I really have to describe it in full detail?); but it’s the skills, man – I just don’t have ‘em. The professor said I was eating my words and that I shouldn’t quote too much lines when I’m doing field reports. Bummer.

In other news, my thesismates and I finally agreed on a topic (that our professor would hopefully approve): A Video Production Thesis on the Progress of the Anti-Sweatshop Campaign of TUCP. I finished revising the background of the study in the afternoon, while, I believe, my groupmates are all cramming to finish their parts tonight. GJ, everyone.

I went ukay shopping after to relieve stress. I’m a consumerist – I shop to relax. I finally found The P50-everything ukay near Don Bosco Mandaluyong. OMG, I love it. I bought a gray cardigan – one with frills at the front; and a black cotton sleeveless top. I’m in love.

I got home, cooked dinner – ginisang string beans. Of course it was delicious, LOL. I did my devotions too, and went for a walk around the neighborhood with my brother (James).

And when I got home, what do I see in my messenger? *Bleep’s online again – with a busy mark as usual (it’s either that or he’s invisible); and none of us initiated a convo. I mean, I never intiate, I just ride with it. I didn’t even notice when he went off.

This day is glorious no more. I feel tired.

*I just don’t have the balls to shout out to the whole world who he is. After all, the past is supposed to be, well, the past.

This week’s fashion item: Tank Tops

1 Willabelle O; 2 Holly W; 3 Jo A. All from Lookbook.nu

Tank tops are the most comfortable fashion pieces ever. Perfect for summer yet wearable even on cold season.

I have a particular fetish for grey tank tops – as flexible as black & white and it looks great on my skin tone. What I love most about a tank top is that its very layerable. I can create many outfits with just one piece. I can wear it alone as top and I still won’t look boring.