Filipino Irredentist

Pacman Destroys Ricky Hatton

2009-05-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Boxing is one of those sports that leaves its' true fans awed and horrified at the same time. This was another one of those occasions, while you appreciate the skill and the bravery shown in the ring, you're also mortified after seeing the fighters take such savage beatings, and all you can say is for God's sake someone stop the fight. Shocked and awed; those are the only words that I can come up with to describe what I saw last night, as Manny Pacquiao absolutely obliterated Manchester's Great, Ricky the Hitman Hatton. Thousands of wildly chanting english fans who came all the way from the pubs of Manchester to cheer for their hero, were silenced almost as the fight began. The way each fighter entered the ring, foreshadowed what was to come. Ricky came in serious, tense, and rearing to throw leather. Manny Pacquiao entered the ring with his entourage that included Wrestling Superstar Batista, Pacman's face was lit up ear to ear with a huge relaxed grin that hid the ferocity within. Manny seemed like a schoolboy who already had all the answers to a final exam.

Ricky Hatton came out fired up, throwing jabs and digging punches from the clinch. Pacqauiao started out slowly, boxing and evading while sniping a rapier like jab of his own. The thousands of Mancunians in attendance drowned out their Filipino counter parts as Hatton seemed to push Manny into the ropes. Their joy was short lived; as Pacquiao snapped out lightning fast punches that seemed to shock Hatton. Oscar De La Hoya had told Hatton before the fight, that Pacquiao does not hit that hard, (probably the stupidest piece of advise ever given. A clearly fazed Hatton, got caught with a wicked right hook with a minute left in the first round, as he fell face first unto the canvas. The brave English brawler, got to his feet and fought back, only to be caught in an avalanche of punches coming from every direction. Hatton tried desperately to get away, but was knocked to the canvas again by a powerful straight left that actually came through his upraised glove. The bell ending the round, saved Hatton.

Floyd Mayweather Sr, Hatton's idiotic trainer blabbered incomprehensibly in his corner. Floyd Sr, for all his smarts, talks like an urban kid stricken with down syndrome, to which Hatton only nodded his head. I don't think he understood a single word he was saying at that point. Hatton came out for the second round, in much better shaped than I thought, and weathered Manny Pacquiao's whirlwind assault even getting in a shot or two to stave off the inevitable. Still, brave Ricky was rocked several times and the end seemed apparent. When it looked like Hatton would escape the second round by a hairsbreadth, Manny drew Ricky in with a feint right jab before unloading what only be described as a Left Cross from Hell. The monstrous blow, hammered into Hatton's chin snapping his locked neck to the left before whiplashing back to the right. The english warrior was out cold before he even hit the canvas. He did not even have enough consciousness to brace his fall to the canvas.

Frighteningly, Hatton lay unconscious for several minutes on the canvas, his eyes were glazed and his breathing was shallow. In the front rows, Hatton's beautiful fiance was mortified and shaking as tears ran down her face. HBO were being assholes as they panned to where she sat as Hatton was knocked cold.

Javelin Olympian Wins Gold Metal in Hotness

2008-08-19T17:51:00.001-07:00

Like many other red blooded males watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony I also noticed a particularly striking Olympian from Paraguay. Up until now I did not know her name or even in what competition she belonged to. I figured maybe she was a gymnasts or a swimmer, certainly not a marathon runner or a heaven forbid a woman weight lifter. Still when I found out she was a javelin thrower, I was a little surprised. Her name is Leryn Franco, long lost cousin of General Francisco Franco, okay I don't think they are related, but she is an aspiring model and apparently has her own calendar. All I know about this javelin thrower, is that I sure would like to spear her...

Ever wonder why the Hall of Justice was kept so clean?

2008-08-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

An illegal alien is brought to the Hall of Justice to work as a domestic helper, rofl. Maybe some of you are too young to remember the Hall of Justice; but it was the Headquarters of the Super Friends when the show was being run in the early 80s.

Skin Whitening Products According to me.

2008-08-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Davy's Guide to Skin-Whitening Products..

All is fair in love and skin.

Before and After Skin Whitening Product Whitening

Fair skin is often associated with health, class, wealth, and beauty in many backwards ass countries. Here in the U.S we don't care about that stuff and get drunk and pass out at the beach without worrying getting dark, however..

The skin-whitening market is gigantic in scale, encompassing such diverse locales as Manila, Kuala Lampur, New Delhi, even reaching its pale tentacles to Big Ben in London. Traditionally skin-whitening products have been geared towards women, but recently men have begun purchasing these products too. Apparently not a single man in India will admit to being dark skinned and handsome, they all say they are "Wheatish Complexioned and handsome" I guess if you go there you won't find a single dark skinned man, they're all rolling wheat fields of masculinity.. I swear that Likas soap in the bathroom is not mine!! I think its my brother's... Some dismiss this preference as some lingering ethos of a Colonial past. However, I question the veracity of this widely held truth. If you read Ancient Hindu poetry the aesthetic aspirations of idealized Hindu Beauty was always fair-skin. Same as in China and Kazahkstan (#1 exporter of potassium)

I don't disagree that colonialism only reinforced this notion, but I think it is something ingrained within the human psyche, for even the colonial masters themselves held remarkably similar beliefs.

I think it stems from two things. The first lies within the differences betwen the Aristocracy and the working class. In many cultures, 'fair-complexion' was a sign of Nobility and elitism as it denoted the line between someone who sits in a Castle all day being pampered and one who works the fields performing back crushing labor under the oppressive sun. The Filipino notion of working in "ofis" vs working in "field" describes this perfectly.

Second is the natural tendency for a woman to be always fairer in skin than her racial male counterpart. White females tend to be lighter than white males, black females lighter than black males unless of course your name is Michael Jackson, and ect..

So with that slightly long footnote and psychobabble, here's my list of top skin-lightening products.

1) Bleach: Clorox Bleach is the best, not only will it clean your sox and underpants it will also strip your skin bare plus it is remarkably cheap, I'm sure those rashes and burns are only temporary. My mom works at a hospital so I know these things......

2) Mercury: some people have made unfounded claims that mercury is a "neurotoxin" I think this is just hearsay from people who are jealous of your lighter skin. Some alleged scientists claim that elevated Mercury levels could cause retardation in children.. But who cares, remember if you are a dark skinned girl in a backwards third world country your chances of marriage and consequently having children are slim anyways, and who cares if your children suffer from retardation at least they will have lighter skin.

3) Likas Papaya, a little bit of false advertisement because this didn't taste like Papaya at all,.. However it is the most prefered brand in the Philippines. I asked my white friend which product he used to keep his white skin white while in the Philippines and he prefers this above any other product. Obviously this product works, because he stayed out in the sun a lot and stayed Whiter than rice.

4) Emami Industries "Fair and Handsome" with the tag line "Be Fair or remain in Dark Oblivion".. This product is popular amongst Metro Sexual Indian men. Promising that if you use this, College Girls will swoon all over you. I ordered 25 bottles of this stuff, I'll tell you later how much swooning goes on.

5) Whatever skin lightening my aunt modeled for, obviously this stuff is great, she has radiant skin. I can't remember what it is, it might be Likas, don't quote me on that.

In closing we humans always have this wish to ameliorate our skin condition, and will probably continue to do so, I just hope my Boss doesn't assign me to the "field" *gasp* or I will need more Likas Papaya and Bleach....

Criss Angel: Exposed by Fox 13

2008-08-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

A good illusion is one that suspends our minds from disbelief, despite knowing that it is ultimately fake. Criss Angel's "stunt" never elicited such a response, he failed to suspend our disbelief and bordered on the absurd. A common analysis of the Spy Glass Tower Implosion is that the Video Feeds of Angel desperately racing against the powder keg clock was not live. Fox 13, provides some compelling evidence to support this observation. They also captured some rather interesting footage with their Fox 13 helicopter. If you don't want spoilers do not click on this link, to Fox 13.

Criss Angel Exposed.

Ras Tafari Filipinos; WTF???

2008-08-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

Meet Budoy, Pinoy Big Brother reject and a self confessed Rastafari. I think it's fitting that when I googled the keywords "Pinoy Rastafari" Budoy's face pops up. Budoy is a local celebrity in Cebu and according to my aunt Margie some sort of comic genius. I saw him quite a lot of him sitting in the starbucks near Ayala, that stupid towel on his head and sipping on some soul devouring Corporate Coffee. Starbucks Ayala has the only decent bathroom in the Cebu Metropolitan Area, and that would be the only reason why I would be hanging out at Starbucks.

Anyways apparently Budoy is a Rastafari, and a local purveyor of "reggae" music. I know people say that the Philippines is 20 years behind America, but for God's sake Bob Marley died in 1981, but don't tell the Cebuano Rastafaris that, they might go into mourning for their favorite star. I'm not joking, some of these people think I shot the Sherif is a contemporary number one hit. You leave the Philippines for a few years, and the next time you come back you see Pinoys wearing Ethiopian colors and sporting dreadlocks. I wonder what in the world Bob Marley would think about a bunch of midgets in dreadlocks worshiping Haile Selassie I.

So I guess the question is how did a Black Liberation theology begin to influence the underground movement of an Asian Nation nearly 30 years after one of it's most famous proponent dies? I don't have a clue either.

Well Criss Angel Didn't Die Today:

2008-07-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

I feel sort of cheated; I made my way down to Clearwater Beach and counted down the minutes as the Spy Glass Hotel came crashing down. There was element of danger, I mean the building was about to explode yet I had nagging suspicion than the stunt wasn't going to pulled off the way Criss Angel advertised it would be. First he was supposed to pick the "Police Handcuffs" that held him to the balcony, then he was to lock pick the balcony door. Once inside the room he was to make a wild dash to another locked door, once in the hallway he was to lockpick another door leading the staircase where he would run upstairs to the roof, where it was sealed by double locks. Once on the roof he was to rendezvous with a waiting helicopter holding out a rope ladder like the old Batman and Robin T.V show.

I suspected that Criss would try to throw the audience into a loop, by not making the rendezvous on time and letting the building implode with him struggling frantically against the locks, then once dramatic tension build up and a suitable time had elapsed, that magically coincided with his Live show ending, he would pop out shaken but otherwise unharmed. Of course I was right, Criss breezed through the first cuffs, then "seemed" to struggle with the balcony door and had to destroy the windows to gain entrance into the room. Then you seem progressing though live cameras placed within the building as he made his escape against time. You see him reaching the roof locks, and struggling to get them open as the Helicopter flies to safety. As the clock runs down to zero, the camera goes static and the building implodes.

Criss's family runs to the wreckage, (not the first responders) standing by and on the very first try they and the camera man see Criss emerging from the destruction with one of his Mindfreak screams!! Wow, that really got my adrenaline pumping!! NOT!!! I mean do respect the guy for some of the interesting tricks he pulls off, I mean those take skills, some of the illusions that he does is very entertaining but this stunt was really lame.

First I don't think the Cameras were Live, the footage of him escaping was probably taped earlier. That balcony door was suspicious also, why did he op to break the window instead of picking the door? This is probably when he made his real escape from the building. The window he "shattered" probably led to an escape route where he could move unseen.

Oh well my hats off to him anyways, it still takes some balls to try to pull a stunt like that, since it was a real demolition.

Criss Angel: In Clearwater, Fl Today

2008-07-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

Criss Angel is here, in Clearwater, Florida to perform one of his escape acts, which I hear is "life-threatening". I don't know about that, riding my bicycle through Coachman Park or anywhere in downtown is probably more dangerous than Criss Angel's stunt. If one of our muggers don't get you, one of our elderly drivers surely will. Dark clouds have hovered over Clearwater Beach all day, drenching the pristine sands and dilapidated downtown streets with a steady torrent of cold misty rain. I've been debating with myself whether or not I want to ride my bike across the bridge and to the beach to watch Criss Angel implode with the building.

In case most people aren't familiar with Clearwater, Florida, we are located forty minutes West of Tampa. Several decades ago, some guy named L. Ron Hubbard decided to make Clearwater, Florida the headquarters of his nascent religion. That's right we are the World Spiritual Headquarters for the Church of Scientology, and rumor has it that Zeno's actual spaceship is buried inside one of our many sinkholes. According to some estimates 25,000 out of Clearwater's 108,000 residents are Scientologists. If you walk around downtown Clearwater you get to see thousands of blue shirt wearing cultists walking around in whatever errand little cultists run for their sector commanders.

So it's not surprising that this is the only City stupid enough to grant Criss Angel the privilege of pretending he's inside an exploding building. Still, I'll probably be there tonight, one of an estimated 10,000 voyeurs wondering if the budding emo magician will be crushed to a pulp.

SBC Packers World Wide

2008-07-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

I don't think most Americans are aware of how funny Filipino Accents can really be; it's quite different from Chinese or Vietnamese accents to English. This is a funny video from a comic who pokes fun at the idiosyncrasies of Filipino speech.

Cherryblossoms

2008-07-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been thinking about renewing my subscription to CherryBlossoms; it's this site where old men can meet young, mostly Filipina women from the Philippines. I'm not an old man; but it is a good place to visit if you're in the market for that sort of thing. Cherryblossoms is not for everyone though; you can meet someone, fall in love, get accused of cheating on her, get into fun arguments about which girl you're secretly sending instant messages to and finally you break up and have her say I hate your guts newbie, all without ever laying eyes on her in person. If you view these kind of online relationships as ultimately pointless, then it's probably better you spend your $24.00 a month on more important things like gas and beer.

I really don't know, why I even bothered to engage in such fickle self deception in the first place.

Ask the Chinese Guy:

2008-07-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Fridays; are supposed to be days of joy, where we can look forward to having an Ice Cold In Bev beverage and parking our rears on a lawn chair for the upcoming weekend. Well not if you're in the Mortgage Industry, now every Friday I log on to my peoplesoft account and cross my fingers hoping I'm still actually employed! If you get an error when you enter in your I.D and Password, be afraid, be very very afraid. All the life from this industry has been sucked out and I wouldn't be surprised if our own office space is put into foreclosure. I was spared the hangman's noose this Friday, but I wasn't spared the Corporate Manager Birthday Party were we clap our hands and try to sound sincere when we sing Happy Birthday. I don't wish anybody ill will or anything, but I mean I'm so unmotivated to celebrate anything anymore.

The cake was delicious and since there are so few of us left; I actually got a big slice of the German Chocolate Cake, slathered with the thickest swath of rich brown chocolate I have ever seen. So we're eating this cake, chatting on about something, I dunno I wasn't really paying attention. Then for some reason the table conversation turned to China, and about how many kids the Chinese are allowed to have, some said two, some said as many as you want, others piped in about what they do with the girls because apparently nobody wants to give birth to girls in China. That's when everybody turns to look at me! Like I'm some expert on freaking China or something, "I'm like I don't fucking know!" well that's what I wanted to say, unfortunately I am knowledgeable in general. Like people ask me to pronounce Asian names all the time, because I'm Filipino! Don't they know, Filipinos are like freaking Mexicans, might as well ask Pedro Sanchez over at the laundry mat to pronounce the name Xiang Li Wang for you. But again, I'm cursed with just knowing useless bits of information and I am aware of China's One Child Policy; including how much of it just mythology but at the same time true.

I just know shit, ok, it actually doesn't have anything to do with me being Asian.... grrr... Well that's my rant for today and have a good weekend.

De La Hoya vs Pacman; Say it ain't so.

2008-07-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

Normally, if someone said Manny Pacquiao would be fighting a man who likes to wear wigs to go along with his fish net stalkings and high heel shoes, I'd say Pacman would have a really good shot at clobbering the guy to kingdom come. However; when that man is Boxing Legend Oscar De La Hoya..... all bets are off.

At glance this fight is a total mismatch, De La Hoya has been campaigning at Junior Middle Weight for a very long time, whereas Pacman just reached the Lightweight plateau, and it's difficult for me to see him fighting in a higher weight class. De La Hoya hovers somewhere close to 5'11 while Pacquiao is only 5'6". Pacquiao's conundrum is a tough one, there is only one other marquee name that matches the recognition of his in the Boxing World and is relatively close to his size and that's Ricky Hatton. Unfortunately for fight fans the Hitman is fighting an inconsequential fight with the Magicman.

Pacquiao seems doomed to face no names such as Edwin Valero, or Humberto Soto, good fighters but with little followings, at this stage in his mercurial career the Pacman really deserves only the best fighters. So in comes Oscar De La Hoya, he's been looking for some fireworks to end his tele friendly career, and a fight with Pacquiao would certainly be that.

I think, Pacman is severely disadvantaged here, while he has the punching power to hurt De La Hoya the real question is can he take a Junior Middle Weight's punches? I really can't imagine him taking Oscar's huge Left Hooks without getting knocked out. Oscar still has a killer instinct, just as Ricardo Mallorga. Still the purse he would for such a mega fight is incredibly enticing, some in his camp have asked for as much as 20 million dollars! An unbelievable sum for a fighter in the lower weight classes.

Flickr belated spring cleaning

2008-07-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Flickr is one of the best photo hosting sites in the internet, unfortunately due to some shortsightedness on my part I've cluttered mine with same rather useless digital photographs. You do a brief search on Flickr and you can find some breathtaking photography. Feeling a little embarrassed at the clutter of junk; I decided to do away with most of the pictures stored on my site and kept the ones that I thought were halfway decent. Like this one, taken with a crappy ole digital camera, though I thought the picture came out nice. From now on, I'm going to try to keep my Flickr from turning into a bad old scrap photo album that you tossed somewhere into your closet.

Dark Knight: Heath Ledger's requiem mass.

2008-07-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Since the early release, the media and critics have been buzzing and raving about The Dark Knight. Undeniably, Heath Ledger's death and his portrayal of the Joker, much more grim than Jack Nicholson's Joker, has lead droves of movie watchers to the box office. I was worried if this was going to be marketed as the role that "killed Heath Ledger", at least that seems to be the suggestion though I don't think it came from Warner Brothers. The first day release numbers where $66.4 million dollars, easily surpassing the snore inducing Spider Man 3. This is a little surprising considering that movies cost more than nine dollars now, I don't know what the rationale is, rising cost of fuel? global warming? I really enjoy this particular Batman series, it's so much more gritty and darker, more realistic than the Tim Burton hatchet jobs of the past. They were all bad movies, despite the star power behind those movies, such as Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Danny De Vito, George Clooney, Uma Thurman, The Governator, etc.

Pirate Pinoy

2008-07-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

I spent yet another Friday night at Regina's Filipino Restaurant., I keep hoping to run into the pinay of my dream wailing away at the restaurant karaoke microphone, yet sadly this has not come to past. I opted not to drink tonight, having drunk myself to a stupor the last couple of days, instead I ordered bottled water before digging into the menu. I ordered pork kabobs, calamari, and my favorite at Regina's, Hot Spicy Sisig. I don't know if Fil-Am sisig is the same as RP sisig, I can't visualize the restaurants here actually cooking the face of a pig, yet there's that distinctive tangy taste to the meat to suggest that it might just be made from the face. Some of the usual Friday Nighters weren't there, like the women who danced in front of the mirror so they could look at themselves gyrating while their old sexpat husbands snored blissfully on their stools. This guy, I can only refer to as the "Pinoy Pirate" was there again. First time I saw him, I thought Pirate! He has a skull bandana on, striped sleeveless shirt, hoop ear rings, and a bushy black beard. I mean how could you not notice that you're dressed exactly like an extra on the Black Pearl. If it weren't for the prison style tattoos on his bare arms, I'd run over them and tell him that "You're not a Pirate!!!" and maybe nail him with a dodge ball.

Flying Cathay

2008-07-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

I've always had a fascination with Cathay Pacific; I realize it's just an airline but there is a subtle grace that stands her apart from many of the clumsy airliners that take to the sky like chickens imitating the long flight of a crane. I laugh at myself sometimes because I watched this program called The Persuaders where a Marketing Firm tried to entice people to fly Song Airlines. The marketing campaign was supposed to convince the audience that flying Song Airlines was a way of life, rather than just a mode of transportation. I don't know if I was a victim of a shrewd marketing strategist from Cathay or the airlines is really just that good.

The food is more robust, and full of flavor especially on board those agonizing cross pacific flights that leave a traveler drained. A bevy of statuesque beauties cater to your needs during the half day journey, a ready smile on their faces even as the strain of the flight begins to wear them down. I really can't imagine traveling back to Asia, on another carrier, I've tried Philippine Airlines but I never feel that same amount of ease.

Tennis in Fading Light

2008-07-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well it wasn't exactly Wimbledon 2008, but I love this picture. The afternoon sun fades to dusk mirroring the gloom of this year's SW19 tournament finals, and the expression on the subject's face as she "attempts", keyword being attempt, to strike the ball with a forehand, is priceless. Every single subject always shows a different visage as the racket makes contact with the ball, I seem to have a childish grin on my face, other's a look of serenity or ferocious concentration, she looks she's swatting a giant bug that she doesn't want to look at to closely.

Whenever I want to buy an item, that I probably don't need, I always have something stupid in mind that I want to do with it above anything else. When I was thinking about purchasing a Canon DSLR, I thought about taking pictures while playing tennis, don't ask me why, I guess I was always fascinated by those photos of pro tennis players, their enormous racket speeds stopped in time by a well taken photo.

Fighting Deportation

2008-07-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

A long time friend of mine sits forlornly inside a cell at some Miami detention center, awaiting the verdict of the Board of Immigration Appeals, though deep within his heart he no longer has hope. The expensive lawyer that was supposed to provide counsel in front of the Board has decided to drop his case after the Judge denied his asylum request. The U.S Government often decides to attempt the deportation of non-citizens, especially if they were involved in a crime. In the case of legal aliens, I think sometimes this is a waste of time and money. If it can be determined that the person in question is not a danger to society, and has already paid the piper by serving his time in jail and going through the counseling and probation process why file for deportation? I strongly suspect that at the time when my friend accepted a plead proposal by the prosecutors, he was not really aware that he could possibly be deported though I've mentioned this possibility to him in private over a couple of beers.

What bothers me is that my friend has spent his entire life in the United States and knows nothing about the Philippines, and doesn't even know the language. He has no family there, and will be pretty much at the mercy of a foreign country. He will be leaving behind his fiancee and two younger siblings who basically have to fend for themselves because of their absent parents. When the Feds decided to pick him up, the guy was working two jobs trying to make right, attempting to set right everything that had gone awry.

The U.S Government does not provide Legal Counsel for the poor who are tried for deportation, and many bungle their cases by representing themselves in front of the Board of Immigration Appeals. It is estimated that 34% of cases are granted asylum when there is a counsel present to plead your case.

Catastrophe in Burma

2008-05-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

My eyes have been glued to the news lately, both internet and television. The scope of the disaster is starting to become more and more apparent as the days go by. I thought they were mad when they estimated that 100,000 people might have perished in Yangon, yet with the discovery of all the deceased and the thousands more missing it the reality is starting to sink in. They say that a wall of water 25 feet in height washed ashore along with the devastating 120 Miles per hour winds, obliterating everything in it's path. I remembered hurricane Andrew when I was younger, and the destruction it caused to South Florida, imagine a hurricane more powerful than Andrew striking poor unprepared people living in shanties. This disaster is almost as great as the Tsunami, in terms of lives lost, but concentrated in one heavily populated province of Myanmar.

Entire villages have been shredded, and entire families lost. The survivors are living with little food and fetid water, barely better than mud.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/05/cyclone-nargis.html

A new low for Juan Manual Marquez

2008-04-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Barely two weeks after his close DEFEAT at the hands of Pinoy pugilists Manny Pacquiao, Marquez recently flew to Manila to appear at ringside on the Invasion Card promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Though Marquez was received with enthusiasm and friendship from the filipinos and even Pacquiao himself, Marquez proceeded to insists that he won the fight and pressed for a rematch on National Television. This little bit of gamesmanship was nothing but a cheap shot by Marquez and Golden Boy Promotions, there is already a clamor amongst fight fans for a rematch, and all Marquez accomplished was make himself out to be a whiner and an extremely sore loser. It's like Oscar De la Hoya showing up at dancing with the stars and demanding that Floyd Mayweather rematch him, or Ricky Hatton showing up at Wrestlemania to do the same. Marquez, have some class, Marco and Erik would have never acted like this.

The Guns of General Santos

2008-04-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

The 13th Round was heralded by the rabid chants of thousands of Filipino and Mexican fans as the two wary protagonists met in the center of the ring. Juan Manuel Marquez gracefully held stance, like the bull fighter from A Sun Also Rises, while Manny Pacquiao played the bull to Marquez's matador. This fight is brilliant because of the stark contrast in styles, unless you're a boxing purest it would be difficult for you to enjoy some of Marquez's other bouts due to his counter punching nature. However, when he gets in the Ring with Manny Pacquiao, he meets a fighter who is unafraid of Marquez's snapping counters, who believes that his power will blast through Marquez's defenses.

It's a pleasure to watch both men succeed in their particular styles, Marquez often had Pacquiao baffled and hesitant, yet Marquez would hit the canvas hard, clutch at the ropes desperately and buckle several times from the force of Pacman's blows. At the end of the night, after 24 hellish rounds, only a mere point separated these two great super featherweights. Clearly Marquez won most of those rounds, but the picture of him picking himself off of the floor time and time again eventually decided this rivalry.

Gone Fishing

2008-04-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Had a great weekend, Jimmy, Pao and I went to a Hmong Youth Group Picnic at Fort De Soto Park. We showed up kind of late; either because we were deathly afraid of meeting a fiery and violent death at the hands of Jimmy's rotor warping brakes, or because of the weekend traffic. Luckily there was still some food left, and we had two or three pieces of Hmong chicken, just like Brenda Song would cook. After that we took our fishing poles and went over to the pier and promptly hooked a few pelicans and some species of aquatic birds, we also caught a mussel and a strange looking crab. With our bait shrimp quickly vanishing and the sun beginning to dip in the horizon, little 4,'9" Pao managed to muscle in a blue runner. After making our lone catch, we called it a day and downed the few beers we had left before going home.

Canon S3 IS

2008-03-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

I couldn't abide simply buying a mere point and click camera; so the first ever Digital Camera that I gave in and purchased, was the Canon S3 IS. Not a bad offering from Canon, though I think the mega pixels aren't enough to handle the 12X Optical Zoom of this sweet little camera. This is a picture of my niece playing with some bubbles =).

Life of the Spirit

2008-03-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

Sparked by an odd request from an online buddy, I recently put pen to paper writing a short essay about my personal philosophy. This is not as easy as it sounds, for we don't often dwell on what lenses we see the world through, more difficult still is crafting the right words to describe these thoughts. As I speak today, I feel it more as a yearning, a calling, a gentle whisper upon my ears, a place where I would someday like to be. The Philosophy that calls to me, is that of living a life of the spirit, an existence dedicated to learning, devoted to compassion, and of deep spiritual growth. In a way, I've always known I was like though it was never as clear to me then as it is now. Always I've thought, why does evil exist, who or what is God, and what is my place in the world? When I could not find the answers, I railed against the fleetingness of life, it's almost purposeless rhythm.

The void it left in my soul almost dragged me under, until I realized that the only thing that can really fill this restlessness is spirituality, gained through living a life of the spirit. This is not me yet, it may not ever be me, our material world shackles me with its' trappings of wealth, it's temporary allure beckoning to my eyes. Yet I know where I should be, though I know not what bends in the river my journey will take.

Pacquiao Looking Fit for Marquez showdown.

2008-03-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

With just twelve short days to go before Manny Pacquiao steps into the ring to settle some unfinished business with Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny is a trim 133 pounds and looks sharp as he hits the mitts. There doesn't seem to be any weight issues for the Gensan bomber unlike his previous preparations against Marco Antonio Barrera.

The past Saturday, saw a magnificent battle between former Pacquiao stable mate and sparring partner Israel Vasquez winning a brutal war against Rafael Marquez, the younger brother of Juan Manuel Marquez. The Marquez brothers have switched up their usually defensive counter-punching styles resulting in some spectacular bouts. If Pacquiao vs Marquez turns out to be half as entertaining as that fight, then it will be well worth the Payperview buys or a at least a trip to the local watering hole showing the fight.

Youtube vid of the Pacman in Training.

Steamy Bowl of Pho

2008-03-02T12:58:00.001-08:00

Went to Pho Quyen last night, and ordered some beef spring rolls and of course a steaming bowl of Pho. The rolls are amazing, they serve the wrap on top of plastic dishes stacked on top of each other, meanwhile the meat and the vegetables come in this huge dish. You take a one of the wet rice paper wraps and fill it with beef, noodles, vegetables and top it with some fish sauce and viola. Pho, as always, was excellent, although I thought this particular Pho Quyen had a limited menu of Pho. This soup is one of those food that is rather complicated to make, but it's so affordable at the restaurant that I'd rather not be bothered trying to make it at home. Anyways when the food arrived I whipped out my big fatty Rebel Xti camera and took a nice blurry picture of it! LoLs I'm not sure, but the autofocus on the 18-55mm lens is a little off. Either that, or I don't know what I'm doing, probably, I don't know what I'm doing. Anyways, hopefully I'll get better, and I can take better pictures the foods I stuff myself.

Filipinos Protests GMA, again.....

2008-03-01T14:40:00.000-08:00

Braving a slight drizzle and hapless embarrassment, a 15,000 strong coalition of angry Catholics, miffed Evangelicals, and unemployed leftists, marched towards the President's palace demanding that GMA tar and feather herself. Surprisingly, the leaders of this rather pathetic protest were Joseph Estrada, a prominent actor, and Corazon Aquino a cousin of that guy who owned San Miguel Beer Corporation. Other than that, I don't know what their claim to fame is. Filipinos have it in their head, that as soon as the next GMA scandal makes front page news, they are going to protest and demand her resignation.

I'm not a big fan of GMA, I think she's too short to be a real President, plus she has a thing against Rice Smugglers, ( I wrote a famous article about it) but isn't this a bit silly? You have Catholics standing next to Evangelicals, holding "Luckiest Bitch" protest signs. Jerry Falwell is probably tossing and turning in his grave, Evangelicals, and what would Cardinal Sin say Catholics?

Then apparently in Iligan, you have Muslim Guerrillas protesting Arroyo also. This is like Al Qaeda protesting George Bush in Dearborn Michigan. I don't know what all the fuss is about, let's say GMA does step down, who would take over? Estrada? Homeboi?

Filipinos need a real leader, a man who can lead the proud Pinoy people to the promised land, Filipinos need Freddie Roach!!! Cmon Freddie, run for president, nobody has lead more Filipinos to success as Freddie Roach!

Mula Sa 'Puso'

2008-02-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

Puso or "hanging rice" is a staple of Cebu's vibrant barbecue culture. It's easy to find this prefabricated boiled rice all along Cebu's towns, where there are barbecue stands. I didn't realize this before, but apparently puso has a Malay equivalent, packaged in the same palm leaves and served in the same manner.

The rice has a distinct taste, apart from regular boiled rice, probably a product of the colorful eco friendly wrapping. Puso, tastes heavenly with some soy sauce and chili, grab a stick of barbecued pork or chicken, wash it down with some Red Horse and you're all set.

Working out the kinks on my new DSLR

2008-02-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

Just bought a new lens for my Canon Digital Rebel Xti, and tested it out on one of my favorite photo subjects, my cute mestiza niece. Hailey's not at all camera shy, and loves to pose for pictures, like a true Filipino lol.

This Picture is taken with a Quantaray 55-200mm Autofocus Telephoto Lens, at maximum Aperture setting. I'm just learning to take shots like this, hopefully I can figure out how to work the kinks out.

Looking ahead to Pacquiao vs Marquez II

2008-02-23T18:45:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for this fight since 2004, Marquez is the last of Mexico's three-headed monster who hasn't been taken down by the Pacman whirlwind. The last time around, Pacquiao knocked down Marquez three times in the first round, but with a lot of heart and skill Marquez managed to convince the Judges, though not this blogger, that it was a draw. Marquez is older now, but doesn't have that much "ring" age, it should still be a great fight and I can hardly wait till the middle of March for the fight! Go pac!

Check out the Honey Pot

2008-02-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

A nice new club just opened up in Ybor City, it has a burlesque theme, which sets it apart from many of the other night spots in the historic Ybor District. Tonight, was an 18 and up night, and honestly the place was kind of empty, though with my clubber's eyes I can tell that this place has potential to more.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T17:08:00.001-08:00

Apparently tonight is the last chance to catch a glimpse of a Full Lunar Eclipse, 7:00 P.M Pacific Time and 10:00 Atlantic Time. Because of how the Earth bends the reflected light, the Moon will not appear black, but rather Orange! Amazing, I've seen these once or twice in my life, and it's an eerie feeling staring at the glowing red/orange moon.

Its serene after the storm

2006-11-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

Its Serene after the Storm:

I’ve met nights’ acquaintance; and like Frost I too know the feeling of being lost.

Your voice, like so much incandescent noise, cries in a song for Lithium to cure your incessant delirium.

Up and down, in your roller coaster view where thoughts of darkness and light accrue, you tried to weave your life anew.

You long to be reborn in Dawn’s fiery sunrise, yet a phoenix can only arise, until after it dies,

I’ve been where you’ve been; I’ve seen what you’ve seen.

A peaceful calm the storm can allude, yet this is but a teasing prelude to the force of the coming delude,

Even amidst the worse of the maelstroms wrecking bloody havoc within my mind’s sea, I had my Island of Serenity, a sunlit haven from the insanity.

Into the tempests’ grim obsidian skies, your life has gone terribly awry, and we who love you are left painfully asking, why?

Through this late introspection and though they wrapped themselves in many layers of deception, I saw your inner-demons from their very first inception.

I should have stepped-in, and fought them from within,

I should have broken down your crenellated defensive walls, and then maybe I would not have to sit idly by as a star falls.

Now you founder at the mercy of a pagan God’s turbulent sea, the waves battering your sanity, the anger of the wind snuffing out your vitality.

Leaving me at a lost and unable to inform; that it truly is serene after the storm.

Lithium Dreams

2006-10-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

I hear light footfalls coming from the hall and cruel sibilant indecipherable words bringing the promise to consume all.

These night wraiths have shaken my faith, for beyond white washed door hanging from only its hinges my death awaits.

The frosted windows foretold, of a witching hour of bitter cold, derelict remnants of a grim winter’s harsh foothold

A thing borne of nightmares most black, reared up on shapely legs to a most unusual method of attack, a rake of a sanguine painted finger nail across my bare back.

A voice full of pleasure and soft as velvet, purred bidding me sweetly not yet, for we are just but recently met.

I dared gaze into those beautiful expectant eyes, but her heart was as chill as winter's ice, sweet lethal allure that was the device.

Stabbing tendrils of pain meshed with ecstasy came from a touch of those full silk lips, only to dance away with a mere sway of those curvaceous hips, a flick of a wrist produced an assorted coterie of wicked whips.

A lusty smile served to hide bared ivory fangs, I wailed both from horror and from my uncontrollable angst, induced with pleasure my head rang.

I felt like Lu Bu staring at beautiful Diao Chan, as she revealed wings like that of a swan, Zeus came to Leda in this form and so I rose and ran.

No seraphim was she, but a stalker of the night that must be, the embodiment of unabridged ecstatic joy with your soul currency as a fee.

A mocking avarice grin framed by a shock of perfumed raven hair, did nothing to dispel her face so fair, but I was reminded of the caveat telling me to beware.

Her hazel eyes burned with unearthly anger, as her body quivered with terrible hunger, demonic and full of lust she came at me with talon fingers froth with danger.

Her upswept nephilim wings shattered the night’s oppressive silence, beating the air with a maelstrom of lurid violence.

I ran on filled with dark primal fears, as her anguished tortured voice filled my riveted ears, as the nightmare drew ever near.

You never hear the sound that wakes you, but with heart fluttering and careening I awoke from Midnight’s Lithium dreaming.

Japanese Create "female" android..

2006-10-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

The Apocalypse is here, didn't these Jap proffessors watch Terminator? and DARYL?? and BattleStar Galactica?? It's the end of the World; I just don't understand the Japanese fixation on robots, last year they built a mech that looked like a walker from Star Wars, now they are attempting to build a robot that mimicks human behavior... She has soft silicone, for skin instead of hard plastic and a number of motors that allow "her" to mimick human gestures. Proffessor Ishiguro the creator of Android 18 says that one day humans will be fooled by these androids into believeing that they are human beings rather than machines...

"Android 18 can interact with people, it can respond to people touching it,. It's very satisfying.." I bet it is you perv Japanese professor..

Hmm Silicone? Mimicking Human movements??OMG!!! I think I've been fooled by an Android Before... I was on a date once, and I swear this girl was dumb as a box of rocks and she definately had silicone, in fact she had alot of silicone... and silly simplistic gestures.. I can't believe I was fooled!!! I've been had!! I was really on a date with an android..

As a matter of fact there's a lot of female androids walking around Cebu City... I mean they look like girls, "chest, butt" and long hair, however there was always something awry with how they looked and honestly they kind of freaked me out... Either they were too tall to be real human females, or their voice recorder servos inside their necks were too prominent for them to be real women, but from a cursory glance they looked like real women.. The androids are so real looking that they even fooled a lot of the sexpats walking around Cebu into believing they were seeing real humans.. I'm too smart for that though; I always use the patented "android" test on each woman I talk to there..

It takes a lonely, lonely, lonely man to create a female android.. Why would you want to sit around making a female android...?? There's only one answer to that, a normal human being would make Astroboy or something, not a strangely attractive looking female android. Might as well hold a press conference about how perverted you are. I think Sam Milby is an android, I think some perverted Japanese Proffessor created him in a lab so he could have a little filipino boi to play with.. but Sam Milby the android escaped and secretly became a T.V Star.. An actor with such wooden talents, and plastic skills, has to be an android..

I Hate Sam Milby!!

2006-10-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know Sam Milby is a famous Hot Dog Vendor in the Philippines, girls swoon and certain guys walking around Ayala salivate at the thought of biting into a Sam Milby Hot Dog.. This is a prime example of 15 mins of fame being extrapolated into a quasi career that somehow manages to malignantly insinuate itself into every fiber of existence.. Everywhere you look this Zolander, can't turn left, Blue Steel nitwit is prominently displayed on Bill Boards, T. V shows, Movies, and coming soon Cereal Boxes.. Is there anything he doesn't endorse? Does he endorse Ichiban Japanese Condoms sold at Watson's?? Look I'm sure he's a nice guy in person blah blah, but do we have to saturate him all over Filipino Culture? The guy can't even speak any Filipino Dialects, and when he does scenes on "Homeboi" he just sits there and looks like a goofy idiot while the Actors and Actresses are speaking Tagalog.. They just picked scenes where he doesn't say anything because he's a moron..

I bet every Balikbayan probably comes home and says to themselves, WTF?????? I'm sorry, but him peddling Bench Clothing does not in any way make me want to go purchase clothes at Bench, eventhough I actually like Bench.. In fact, I'm boycotting Bench and refuse to buy anything from Bench untill I return to the Phils.........I'm also not consuming whatever bottled water or hotdog he is endorsing. For the love of God, I just want to eat a hotdog, drink some water, shop at Bench, get some load without having to look at Sam Milby's Idiotic Mug... I mean the guy has two looks, he has that plastic smile which he probably sits around and practices everyday, then he has that "Hey I'm Sam Milby, I don't understand a word that's coming out of your mouth because my dad was a fat old sexpat," look.

I just don't understand Filipinos sometimes, is it truly necessary to over expose these glorified reality T.V show stars to the point where they have their own Albums, their faces are on Hotdog Wrappers, and they are on T.V variety and gameshows EVERY FREAKING DAY??? It's like we take, the worse of Western Comercialism and Materialism and multiply it by 10; eventhough most Filipinos aren't even like this.. Sam Milby is the epitome of Filipinos mimicking Annoying American Pop, Fast Food Culture ,which is awful on its' own, and somehow managing to make it even more awful. This kind of shameless marketing ticks me off in the States but drives me nuts in the Phils, somehow I thought I was getting a break from "The Real World, Laguna Beach" mentality only to have it Highlighted in the Philippines. The Phils can be such a beautiful place sometimes, free from this choking cancer of postmodernism and relativism, but then Sam Milby a.k.a The Son of Sam, Jezebel, and Judas all rolled into one comes along and ruins your rosy picture, not to mention your hotdog....

The Flight Back:

2006-10-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Well my flight back home was boring and uneventful, just the way I like it! One way I can tell I'm in America; other than the hordes of "foreigners" walking around; is by how ugly the flight attendants become.. One moment I'm in blissful heaven being catered to by tall, nice complexioned young sirens working for that Airlines of Airlines Cathay Pacific, the next I'm being handed crappy peanuts by some old behemoth on American Airlines.. I mean "Ngheee", the "women" and I use the term loosely working for American Airlines had manish haircuts and build, and reminded me of Roz from Nightcourt, its like any bum off the street can just stroll up and become a flight attendant in this country! It's a bit of a shock to go from Statuesque Idealized looking oriental women to Ross from Nightcourt.. Just another example of Unions run amok.. Please DeUnionize the United States Flight Attendants, for the love of God., go Cathay and Eva Airlines! I mean, seriously would you rather fly Northwest or Cathay? or Eva?? It's a no brainer.

No Erik Estradas on my plane this time! Well Im in Dallas Fort Worth Airport, using a comp at the Gate, I'm very bored and paying .25 cents a min to blog, which is like 13.2 pesos per min, that sux this is no Netopia that's for sure I miss Netopia I pay like two dollars and hang out for 2 hours. Yes Im still converting dollars to pesos, I just spent 300 psos for a mcgriddle and a cup of coffee! That's bs, I could have gotten a burger and spaghetti meal with unlimited Iced Tea at Jolibee! Then I spent 200 Pesos on a coin operated massager, which is painful, especially since I could have gotten a full body massage at that Thai place in SM! Urggh reality is hitting me here, and I can't convince some person to give me a massage for 10 bucks I have to settle for coin operated ones.

I feel weird being almost home, I was starting to enjoy my vac and coming around from the culture shock when suddenly I have to jump on some plane and get my ass home, my karaoke voice was starting to come around too! I spent my precious last few hours in Cebu delivering pizza and chocolate to an office building near Ayala, lol, not what I imagined I'd be doing but I'm not a total sap, there was at least some good looking girls there, my perpetually hungry pregnant cousin and one old lady, I think she's a nurse, I wonder if she's single??? Probably not perish the thought, its surprising that with the two million tranvestites frolicking around Cebu City that there aren't any single girls in Cebu! I've only met a few, but they have "textmates" which apparently is some person you send barely sensible messages to like "Vre, cst 25 to Mol," "Tre r no tlt ppr n da CR" My Text Messaging skills are slightly below my Badminton skills which is to say not very good, the TextWizzes in Cebu can sing Karaoke, and Txt somebody at the same time while not even breaking tune and being completely understandble to their txtmates! I've seen in happen! Even the Vhire Drivers Txts and deftly avoids pedecabs and jeepneys with ease.

I think one month is not enough in the Phils, just when ur bisaya accent becomes less alien enough to the point where Taxi Drivers and Pedecab drivers aren't trying to rip u off every time you ride, you have to head back home. I was genuinely sad, leaving Cebu on Friday, I think another 3 weeks would have been close to perfect. Anyways, this comp port is eating up my bills, lol, I have two more hours in this stupid airport, which is cold as hell by the way....

Well, no more Orange Brutus, no more cheap Karaoke, cheap internet access, and roadside barbeques, I'm going to miss that cute Teddy Bear Vendor in Ayala, I won't miss the Koreans though, good God the Koreans in the US are cool what's up with the ones in Cebu.. but at least I have my car to look forward too, I'm going to drive the hell out of my car this weekend and drink a 12% belgian beer!

Dog Whisperer Mauled to Death by a Chihuahua

2006-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

On the heels of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter's untimely death, the Animal Loving World is once again shocked by the death of another of their T.V personalities. Caesar Milan also known as "The Dog Whisperer", died on Wednesday September 6, 2006 while filming an episode of his hit T.V series now available on the National Geographic Channel. Caesar is world reknowned for his uncanny ability to understand Dog Psychology and focuses skills and talents on "rehabbing" problematic canines into docile pets, as well teaching Dog Owners to become pack leaders.

Accounts of Caesar's death are still sketchy, and under investigation however Caesar's long time friend and colleague Sebastien Keyes captured footage of the tragic event while in the process of filming a new episode. Caesar was in Beveryly Hills attending to his client, Charo Velazquez a widowed woman with several unruly Chihuahuas, when apparently one of the small canines suddenly reared up and attacked Caesar.

The distraught Sebastien had this say about the death of his long time friend, "I was shocked, I've seen Caesar tame Pittbulls and Dobermans, I never would have expected him to be killed by a Chihuahua,"

Both Sebastien and Charo testified to what occured in that posh Beverly Hills Home. Caesar arrived and began in his usual manner, interviewing the Pet Owner and discussing the problems the dysfunctional canine is displaying. Mrs. Velazquez mentioned that her pet Chihuhua "Fluffy" did not like to be left alone and often cried when she left the home, another problem was "Fluffy's" fright of strangers. Next, Caesar asked to be taken to the Dog, who meakly quivered in fear in the corner of Charo's bedroom. Caesar approached the Dog in quickly attempts to assert himself using positive energy and that fansy noise he makes with his mouth, "shhhhhh". The chihuhua at first tries to flee from Caesar, but the Dog Whisper squats down next to her. What happened next, shocked everyone in the room.

The Cameraman, Sebastien attested that perhaps "fluffy" felt boxed in and threatened as he positioned himself for a shot in front of the discordant little chihuahua, but for what ever reason "fluffy" reared up and bit with her deceptively small razor sharp teeth. The first bite, on Caesar's nose, didn't seem to be fatal but Caesar emmidiately rocked upwards and started to cry like a little sissy. Caesar tried to "shhhhhhh" the angry Chihuahua, to no avail as the dog continued its' vicious attack. The famed dog whisperer ran outside of Charo's room, with "fluffy" in hot pursuit, fiery teeths of rage snapping at Caesar's Dulce Y Gabbana shoes.

Eventually "fluffy" caught and dragged down Caesar by the arm, inside Charo's posh living room where the horrified crew watched mutely and impotently as the vicious chihuaha mauled Caesar. The T.V star attempted to fend off the tiny dog with a few ineffectual slaps of his girly hands, but it only served to enrage the canine more. The crew heard Caesar crying out "Ohh Dios Mio" as 'fluffy' sank her teeth into his neck.

World reknowned chihuahua expert Don Oscar "Poncho" Villa, commented on the tragic event, " Chihuahuas are not known for their viciousness, but when they are frightened by fancy dog whisperers and his entourage of cameramen they can act out defensively"... Up untill today there has never been a recorded incident of a chihuahua mauling a human being to death.

The National Geographic Channel has expressed their sadness at Caesar's Death, yet are perflexed by the circumstances of it. National Geographic President Thomas Silas lamented on a press conference, "Caesar was loved by all, not just dogs, and his death is a grave blow to our bottom line, however I can't help but feel disgusted that he was mauled to death by a chihuahua! A chihuahua, how do you get killed by a chihuahua?"

A tribute for Caesar Milan, will be on National Geographic tommorrow night, followed by a marathon of his hit show. Caesar is survived by his friend Sebastien, his dogs , cookie, okie, doc, razor, buck, bendi, spikie, and julius..

Velifying so-called "Rice Smugglers" in the Philippines.

2006-04-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

From the Manila Standard http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news01_mar17_2006 "Rice Smuggler Haven Raided,"

In the positively Orwellian world we call the Philippines, the highly publicized seizure of a boat load of smuggled rice contraband is the moral equivalent of let’s say an intercepted shipment of Columbian cocaine on America’s shores. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo President of the Republic of the Philippines even commented on the smuggling bust, saying “I am very proud to have received [a report] that today, even as we speak, we are conducting the biggest raid against smugglers in the history of the Philippines,” Judging by the hoopla surrounding the bust, you’d think Filipino Law Enforcement seized containers full of weapons, barges full of drugs, and other serious contraband. Amidst all this bluster and pomp, hardly a voice dares to speak out the obvious. The contraband in question here, is not drugs, trafficked humans, or guns, but rice. In a nation suffering from poverty and its’ agonizing effects why is the Government actively trying to suppress cheaper rice from being imported into the country?

Arroyo also had this to say “This is going to fight corruption. This is going to raise revenues. This is going to protect the businessmen who are doing legitimate production, and this is the kind of reform that we will continue to do alongside our constitutional reform to make our process of lawmaking more attuned to the new flat economy,”

On the contrary Madame President, this will not fight corruption but create it. The Government in the Philippines has monopolized the rice trade, hence the necessity of an illegal black market for rice. The very same Government officials who accuse smugglers of corruption are put in ideal conditions to receive bribes and kickbacks for looking the other way. It makes a crime of an honest profession, trading rice, and yet another generation of corrupt politicians. Sadly, the journalists in the Philippines are out of touch with such thinking, and they continue to rail against the corruption without knowing its’ true source. The barriers should be removed and the Government’s corrupt monopoly on rice stricken from the law.