Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Zune.net 's response re: Z2K (microsoft new years prank)

i tried it and THANK GOD it worked! *whew!* Microsoft should create a newer software that is "bug free".

My Zune 30 is frozen. What should I do?

Follow these steps:

  1. Disconnect your Zune from USB and AC power sources.
  2. Because the player is frozen, its battery will drain—this is good. Wait until the battery is empty and the screen goes black. If the battery was fully charged, this might take a couple of hours.
  3. Wait until after noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (that's 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).
  4. Connect your Zune to either a USB port on the back or your computer or to AC power using the Zune AC Adapter and let it charge.

Once the battery has sufficient power, the player should start normally. No other action is required—you can go back to using your Zune!

My Zune 30 has been working fine today. Should I be worried?

Nope, your Zune is fine and will continue to work as long as you do not connect it to your computer before noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).

Note: If you connect your player to a computer before noon GMT on January 1, 2009, you'll experience the freeze mentioned above—even if that computer does not have the Zune software installed. If this happens, follow the above steps.

What if I have rights-managed (DRM) content on my Zune?

Most likely, rights-managed content will not be affected by this issue. However, it's a good idea to sync your Zune with your computer once the freeze has been resolved, just to make sure your usage rights are up to date.

What if I took advice from the forums and reset my Zune by disconnecting the battery?

This is a bad idea and we do not recommend opening your Zune by yourself (for one thing, doing so will void your warranty). However, if you've already opened it, do one of the following:

  • Wait 24 hours from the time that you reset the Zune and then sync with your computer to refresh the usage rights; or
  • Delete the player's content using the Zune software (go to Settings, Device, Sync Options, Erase All Content), then re-sync it from your collection.

my ZUNE has "Z2K" problem....

kahapon, biglang nag freeze yung zune ko. tinry kong i-reset pero ayaw gumana. sobrang NAKAKADISMAYA kasi sumakto pa sa new year! wala tuloy akong pang soundtrip....

'Zune 30 Midnight Meltdown' Angers Music Lovers (NewsFactor)

While the rumor mill is focused on Apple developing a larger-screen iPod touch, the blogosphere is churning with angry reports about frozen 30GB Microsoft Zunes.

Discussions board like ZuneUser.com, ZuneScene.com and Zune.net offer first-hand accounts of the problems with Microsoft's music player. It seems the Zunes reboot, then freeze once the status bar reaches 100 percent.

Some are calling it the "Z2K" problem, playing off the infamous Y2K bug that many thought would throw the computing industry in chaos at the beginning of the century when dates changed from 1999 to 2000. That's because the problem seems to have started at exactly midnight PST Wednesday -- the first moments of the last day of 2008.

A Fix That Fails

Microsoft wasn't immediately available for comment on what observers are calling the Zune 30 Midnight Meltdown. But the forums are ablaze with complaints and demands for updates from Microsoft.

"I had my Zune docked on its iHome ZN9, charging, and all the sudden I hear it start whirring as I'm sitting here at the laptop. I looked up just in time to see it restarting itself at exactly 12:00 midnight, watched the loading bar, and then the freeze. Great. WHAT is going on!?" VS Venom Shot wrote on the Zune.net forum.

Meanwhile, a Zune.net user named Dmodegirl claims to have solved the problem. She said the Zune needs a "hard reset" and suggested using a small screwdriver to pop off the plastic shielding where the Zune cable plugs in and remove the two screws on either side of the plug.

"Pop the cover off and locate the battery plug at the top left corner of the Zune. Using your screwdriver, pop the cable connection halfway off, and do this to the other plug on the right side," she wrote. "Wait three seconds, then push down the right connector and then the left battery connector. Your Zune should start up immediately. Press the backing of the Zune down (make sure headphone jack is aligned) and put the screws and cover back in place."

Some users reported success with this method, but when they plugged their Zune back in to charge, it froze again. Others were concerned with trying the hard reset for fear of turning the Zune into a fancy paperweight. Still others are hinting that Microsoft should compensate Zune users with a free Zune Pass.

A Black Eye for Zune

"This problem is something that never should have made it out of testing. I've been with the Zune Pass since day one and I'm seriously looking into other devices and services due to this. We at least need some kind of acknowledgment or statement from MS that clarifies the issue and puts in place a plan of action," a user named Furious Mittens wrote on the Zune.net forum.

Those comments aren't something Microsoft wants to hear. Indeed, frozen Zunes after the holiday shopping season is not welcome news, according to Phil Leigh, a senior analyst at Inside Digital Media.

"Microsoft has got to close the ground on the iPod, and the only way to do that is with a superior product," Leigh said. "It takes time to recover from something like this. First impressions are important for new buyers, and this is a bad first impression."

Friday, November 28, 2008

My ColorGenics profile

i can't believe this. haha! ang galing!! thanks Ben for sharing =)

Name: KC Co
Date: 11/28/2008
Colorgenics Number: 37512064

You feel as if you have missed out on a great deal that life had to offer and you go about trying to make up for past failures. Naturally at times you get depressed and you try to compensate for your 'missed opportunities' by living your life to the full. This is what, perhaps, may be described as 'living with exaggerated intensity'. In this way you feel you can break the chains of the past and start again - and it could be that you are right.

You need an atmosphere of peace and quiet and you would like to share a bond of understanding with the 'right person' - you have the belief that with the right person, your stress and anxiety could be minimised.

You lack confidence and that is a great pity because deep down you are indeed a warm caring person. This lack of confidence is making you wary of being drawn into any open discussion or conflict and so you feel as if you should let matters lie and leave well alone. But there may be a pleasant surprise in store for you. You are beginning to grow and very soon - sooner than you believed possible - this warm loving new you will be available for all to see and to appreciate.

You pretend that you are a carefree individual and that nothing really bothers you - that you are so self-sufficient that whatever problems beset you they simply flow off you as water flows off a ducks back. You are experiencing considerable stress, trying to conceal yourself from the rest of the world. In actual fact - deep down, you are not at all happy. You feel lonely and you need someone with whom you can 'Let your hair down' and share your hopes, dreams and high standards. You are imposing unnecessary self restraint on yourself. You would like to demonstrate the unique quality of your character to all and sundry.

Whatever you have tried to do seems to have gone wrong and you are now quite convinced that there is little point of formulating new objectives and it is this belief that has resulted in the stress and anxiety. You would like to be able to communicate with other people who think as you do. At this time there seems to be no-one on the horizon nor is there any prospect of meeting anyone in the immediate future. But it must be said that you are really a 'trier' and indications are that you will, as indeed you have in the past, 'bounce back'.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

naniniwala ka ba sa SIGN?

Sabado ng gabi, nasa Antipolo.. Dasal ako ng dasal habang umiiyak. Sabi ko sa Kanya, bakit hindi niya mabigay sa akin ang matagal ko nang hinihingi? Bakit lahat ata ng bagay na gusto ko mangyari hindi natutupad? Simula nung birthday ko, tuloy-tuloy lang ang pagka dismaya ko. Nagalit ako, sobra. At bago ko tapusin ang dasal ko, sabi ko… gusto ko Siya makausap. Pero Siya na bahala kung paano.

Linggo ng umaga, nakatanggap ako ng text galing sa kaibigan. Nakalagay doon na bakit hindi ka tumigil sa kakaisip ng kung ano ang gusto mo.. bakit hindi mo na lang isipin kung ano ang nararapat sayo….

Miyerkules ng gabi, nakasakay ako sa kotse.. naglalakbay papuntang Southwoods, nang maisipan kong sumilip sa labas. Bumulaga sa akin ang isang billboard. Ang nakasulat?

“We need to talk.” – God

WOW grabe! Nakakakilabot.

Monday, November 10, 2008

user-friendSTER.com

Kung tatanungin ka kung ano ang isa sa pinaka ayaw mong ugali ng tao, ano kaya ang isasagot mo?

Malamang ako, isa sa mga pinaka ayaw kong ugali ng tao ay yung “user-friendly.” Hindi siya basta-basta lang na manggagamit pero siya yung tipo ng tao na magpaparamdam lang sayo pag may kailangan siya. Para sa akin, maraming klase ang pagiging user-friendly. At nais kong ipamahagi sa inyo ang aking sariling klasipikasyon.


User-friendly #1

And taong ito ay matagal mo nang nakakasama. Sa madaling salita, siya ay isa sa mga kabarkada mo. Pero hindi porket kabarkada mo siya ay lagi siyang nagpaparamdam sa iyo. Ang taong ito ay hindi laman ng gimikan o simpleng tambayan ninyo. Siya ay bigla na lang magtetext o tatawag sayo para magpahiwatig ng kanyang “pangangailangan.” At dahil matagal mo na siyan kilala, alam na alam mo na ang pakay niya pag biglang nagtext siya sayo ng “kamusta?”


User-friendly #2

Ito ang taong hindi naman kabilang sa ‘circle of friends’ mo pero siya ay may kakaibang taglay ng lakas ng loob o kakapalan ng mukha sa paghingi sayo ng pabor. Ang masama pa dun, kung sino pa ang hindi mo naman kadikit, siya pa ang may pinaka mahirap na pabor na hihingin sa iyo. Naalala ko dati noong baguhan pa ako sa una kong trabaho… Biglang may lumapit sa akin na babae, at siya ang isa sa mga nagtataray sa akin tuwing magkakasalubong kami. Pero dahil siya ay may kapangyarihan na pinamana sa kanya ng mga kawatan, bigla niya ko hiniritan kung pwede ba daw siya mangutang sa akin ng limang libo.. huwaaaaaaaaaaat?


User-friendly #3

Medyo nakakalito ang uri ng pagka user-friendly nito. Hindi siya pasulpot-sulpot, isa siya sa mga malalapit sayo. Hindi mo agad mapapansin ang iyong katangahan sa pakikipag kaibigan mo sa kanya. Maguguluhan ka sa mga reaksyon ng mga kaibigan mo dahil kitang-kita nila ang pagiging abusado niya sa iyo. Pero dahil mabait naman siya sayo at malinis siya gumalaw, ikaw na ang mahihiyang tumanggi sa kanya dahil pakiramdam mo, isa siya sa mga TUNAY mong kaibigan. Nice noh?


User-friendly #4

Ang pagiging user-friendly ng taong ito ay pwede mo ring tawaging “user-BOYfriendly”. Usong-uso ito sa mga bading dahil naniniwala sila na “walang bading na PANGIT, sa lalaking GIPIT…” haha balaka! Dito pumapasok ang sikat na hiritang “pang load, pang tuition, o pang-gamot ni inay…” Pero syempre, madami ding sitwasyon na ganito para sa mga totoong babae. Sila ang mga boyfriend na mahilig magpa-libre sayo. Ikaw ang sumasagot sa mga dates niyo, at ikaw na rin ang bumibili ng regalo mo sa sarili mo. Akala ata niya, tumatae ka ng pera. Pwes, hindi tinatae ang pera… Ikaw subukan mong umire, baka may lumabas na pera sa butas ng wetpaks mo! Siguradong maghihirap ka sa user-boyfriendly na ito dahil siya naman ay yayaman sayooooo!! Ahahahaha! Sa kasawiang palad, kapag kayo ay naghiwalay dahil linoko ka niya…. Maiiwan kang luhaan dahil may naiwan pa siya sayo na tumataginting na utang. LAKAS non!


* kung sino man ang natamaan sa mga klasipikasyon ko, hindi ko sinasadyang masaktan ang iyong damdamin. Dahil alam ko naman na hindi mo din sinasadyang maging ganyang klaseng tao! Bwaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Kanta ko na walang tono

Ayoko na makipaglaban sa gera.
Ayoko na sumugal pa ng pusta.
Ayoko na magbaka sakali.
Wala naman akong magagawa,
Naghihintay lang ako sa wala.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako papunta,
Madilim, madilim sa tinatahak kong walang kasiguraduhan.
Ayoko na, ayoko na mangarap.

Para saan pa ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko
Wala din palang gatimpala
Para saan pa ang lahat ng ito
Wala namang napala.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako papunta,
Madilim, madilim sa tinatahak kong walang kasiguraduhan.
Ayoko na, ayoko na mangarap.

Gusto ko nang sumuko
Sa laban ko na akala ko’y may pag-asa
Hinintay ko ang sagot Mo pero nagmukha lang akong tanga
Ayoko magalit, hindi tama.

Ang hiling kong namarka lang sa hangin
Lumipad nang hindi ko man lang namalayan
Akala ko lahat possible Sayo
Pasensya, tao lang ako.

Iparamdam mo sa akin ngayon na mali ako
Iparamdam mo sa akin na sasaya pa ako
Ngayon, hindi bukas
Dahil parang ayoko na

Ayoko na, ayoko na mangarap.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Komedi: Titles of Sexy Pinoy Films

*nabasa ko lang ulit somewhere..


“Ang Kati ng Higad Mo!”

“Bubudburan Ko ng Niyog ang Mainit Mong Pichi-Pichi!”

“Kapag Gumabi, Bumubuka ang Kabibi!”

“Huwag Mong Ibabad, Isawsaw Mo Lang!”

“Napagod ang Bunganga sa Laki ng Tilapia!”

“Pasalat ng Peklat!”

“Huwag Mo Kamayin Please, Baka Mapanis!”

“Paltos na nung Hinugot!”

Komedi: Grammar

*nabasa ko lang toh somewhere. laftrip! ahahaha!

The following is a letter found at a certain bar in
Manila and has been preserved in its original,unedited form.
Enjoy reading and you may try direct translation in Tagalog.

Pls read with feelings…

To Marjie,

I am not surprise or wander why Dennis leave you. Why? What reason you can think about but you’re very fat body. I thought before that Dennis only use me to his toy but sooner and later I’m realize that he really can’t not beared or stomached to be with you anymore because at first, Dennis say he could not stand you’re habit of making pakialam all his walks [lakad] and always calling to their house what he go home or this or that.

And then he say he get ashame to met iether in school or in his family and then asking you to exercise you’re very very, very fat body. But you hate it. Thoughth your the most preetiest girls he knows about. What do you think you are “Beautiful Girl” of Jose Marie Chan?

Even you are beautiful face (to your think) you do not have the right to called me whatsoever or else different name one time or the other for the real purposed to insults my personality because I’m never call you names ether in the front of Dennis or in the backs of Dennis, but if you start already to calling me different name, I don’t have any other choice but to call you other different name to. Like you are a PIG, FAT, OBESSED, OVERWIGHT, AND UGLY SHAPE girl. Shame to you’re body that is to a BUDING.

You can’t not blame Dennis for exchanging you to me because I am the more sexier than you when you look to us in the mirror.

I’m repeat again that you are like Ike Lozada when she is a girl.

Love,
The Sexiest Girl of D.M.

P.S. You say that I’m the bad breathe but who is Dennis want to kissed. Me or you? You or me? And the final is me. There you go.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Heart ispokening

Thursday, August 9th, 2007
We’ ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it’s only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me. He said, “I hope you don’t mine. Can I get your number?” Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn’t give it back? He explained naman na it’s so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect me if i’m wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya, The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we’ll go ouch na rin. Now, we’re so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I’m 33 na and I’m running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. “Will you marriage me?” I’m in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it’s four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, “Well, well, well. Look do we hav e here.” What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn’t want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don’t want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, “please, mine you own business!” Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it’s not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I’m so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He’s so supportive. Sabi niya, “Look at is this way. She’s our of our lives.”

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we’ll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.


HEADLINE bukas, NGAYON ang broadcast: Global slump to have 'very severe' impact on Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines - Economists warned of a "very severe" impact of the global economic slowdown and the US financial crisis on Filipinos, 27 percent of whom are living below the Asian poverty line and at least 40 million of whom are dependent on remittances from overseas workers.

Still, the economists assured that the Philippines will not fall into a recession, which is technically defined as a negative economic growth posted by an economy for two consecutive quarters.

University of the Philippines economist Raul V Fabella said the country's gross domestic product (GDP) will likely expand within the three-percent level as growth of about four to 4.5 percent "is a hurdle." He added that as a pessimist, he sees the economy growing by only 3.5 percent next year.

With growth still possible, albeit at a much slower pace, Fabella said a depression is also unlikely.

"But it doesn't mean the suffering will be less steep. The pain will probably be, especially because of income distribution, very severe," Fabella said during a forum organized by the Action for Economic Reforms and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a non-profit German group which promotes social democracy.

Fabella said the impact of the crisis would be more felt by the Philippines' 25.4 million population living below poverty line, as well as the families of overseas Filipinos who are dependent on remittances. According to central bank estimates, almost half of the country's 90 million population benefit from remittances sent by over eight million Filipinos working abroad.

Filomeno Sta. Ana, coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms, said the global economic slowdown may result in a drop in exports which could lead in company shutdowns and the loss of jobs here.

"It will be severe for families with low income and the poor because jobs are being destroyed and families are receiving less income," Sta. Ana said.

Former Finance Secretary Ernest Leung said the slowdown could also lead to job cuts abroad.Leung, who used to be president of the Philippine Stock Exchange and executive director of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., is now with the Foundation for Economic Freedom.

"We may see the dislocation of our Filipino expatriates. Some may be laid off and some of these are sources of remittances," Leung said. - GMANews.TV

Monday, September 29, 2008

Ako.

Sa tinagal-tagal mo nang nabubuhay sa mundo, naitanong mo na ba sa sarili mo o sa Diyos kung ano ang silbi mo dito? O di kaya’y unti-unti mo na bang nararamdaman ang dahilan kung bakit ka andito? Pwes, eto ang kwento ko…

Nagsimula ako magpasaya ng ibang tao nung ako’y tumapak ng elementarya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sila natutuwa sa akin pero patuloy ko pa ring ginagawa ito. Kumanta, sumayaw, magtula, umarte.. lahat yon kaya ko gawin! Hanggang sa tumanda na ko’t lahat. Nagkaisip, nagka wisdom tooth, nag higshchool, nag college.. hanggang ngayon. Wala pa din akong sawa sa ginagawa ko.

Hindi madali ang maging ganitong klaseng tao. Hindi ako madalas sineseryoso ng karamihan hanggang sa na-uso sa akin ang salitang “moody”. (ahahahaha!) Mahirap, oo shempre. Para sa iba na nahahalintulad ang sarili nila sa akin, mahirap magtago ng problema at maging malungkot lalo na’t pagpapasaya ang trabaho mo sa iba. Ni hindi nga pwede patagalin ang problema dahil madaming tao ang umaasa sa enerhiya mo. Kahit ang umiyak sa harap ng madla mahirap din. Dahil sino ba namang kumedyante ang iyakin? Wala.

Pero alam niyo, masarap naman ang pakiramdam tuwing may napapasayang ibang tao. Konting biro, kalokohan, tapos ang usapan. Tawa ka lang diyan, ako nang bahala sayo.

Wala akong ka muwang-muwang sa ginagawa ko hanggang sa mapaisip ako bigla… Ito ba talaga ang misyon ko? Ambabaw naman ata, pero hindi din. Kung sa pelikula pa, mas mahirap gumawa ng joke na kakagatin ng masa kesa ang magpaiyak ng iba.

Kung may bayad lang ag bawat taong napapatawa ko.. kung may halaga lang ang bawat tawa na naidudulot ko, SHET! Ang yaman ko na talaga. Diba?

Para sa mga taong kaparehas ko ng misyon sa mundo, para sa mga mahilig magpatawa, magpakaloko at lahat na.. Para sa mga nagpipigil ng damdamin para lang mapagpatuloy ang comedy show na handog natin, para sa lahat ng tumatawa (kahit walang dahilan) hanggang ngayon (easy lang tsong..), para sa inyo ang tanong ko….

Kaya mo pa ba tsong?

Sunday, September 28, 2008

cotton candy with nido

Para sa mga ka –edaran ko, masarap ihalo sa kung ano-ano ang powdered milk (masarap pa rin ang NIDO). Pampatamis ito na hindi naman gaano katamis. Gets mo? At sigurado akong alam niyo ang kombinasyon ng cotton candy na may nido…

Nauso yon dati sa Bene nung elementary ako. Limang piso ang bayad, may manamis-namis na pang dyabetis ka nang cotton candy with milk. Hilig ko ito lalo pag pauwi ako ng bahay galing school. Ganon din tuwing Linggo. Papasok pa lang ako ng simabahn noon, ngingitian ko na si Manong na nagtitinda ng cotton candy sa labas, at paniguradong kikita na naman siya sa akin maya-maya.

Naaalala ko pa dati, naiinggit ako sa mga batang kumakain ng cotton candy sa loob ng simbahan. Di mo kasi naitatanong, hindi pwede sa amin ang kakain ng kung ano-ano sa loob ng simbahan. Hindi rin pwede ang umiinom at naglalaro habang misa, dahil paniguradong, kurot sa singit ang aabutin ko. Ahahahaha! Pero kung ako din ang nasa kalagayan ng nanay ko.. kunwari may anak na din ako tapos magiinarte na gusto kumain sa loob ng simbahan… naku! Hindi rin pwede sakin yun noh! (yessssss naman!)

Mabalik tayo sa cotton candy with milk… Nagsimba kasi ako kanina at nakita ko na naman si cottan candy Man. Siya pa rin ang nagbebenta doon, malamang hindi na niya ako maaalala pero siya, alalang-alala ko pa rin. Buong panahon tuloy ng misa, walang ibang tumatakbo sa isip ko kundi ang pagbabalik tanaw ko sa cotton candy ko nung bata ako. Di ko tuloy napakinggan yung sermon ni father.

Pero ok lang..

Para sa mga bata sa bagong henerasyon, subukan niyo ang cotton candy with nido. Masarap.. matamis.. at pang dyabetis! =)

Sunday, September 14, 2008

9.15.08

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito mga pangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon. Walang trabaho, at puro sa pagsali sa mga religious groups ang inaatupag ko lately. Antagal sumagot ni Superfriend sa hiling ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung talagang pinapatagal lang niya o talagang hindi yon para sa akin. Kung anuman ang rason NIYA kung bakit ganito ang napapala ko, sana ipakita na niya sa akin ang sagot para maintindihan ko na ang lahat.

Ayoko siya "questionin"... dahil alam kong mabuti ang paglalagyan ko matapos ng lahat ng ito. Kung nagaalala ako sa kalagayan ko, alam kong triple ang pag-aalala NIYA para sa akin.

Patuloy na akong napapalayo sa mga taong nakakasama ko madalas. Unti-unti naman akong bumabalik sa dati kong "gawi". Hindi ko alam kung tama ang lahat ng ito dahil naghahalo ang emosyon ko. Ilang beses na akong gumawa ng mabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko at ito pa naman ang pinaka ayokong gawin sa lahat.

Napili kong manahimik muna. Manahimik mula sa mga bagay at taong nakasanayan ko ng matagal na panahon. Gusto ko sanang ipihit pakabila ang ikot ng mundo ko at subukan kung ano ang meron dito.

Pagbigyan niyo na ako.

Salamat sa mga taong patuloy na umiintindi sa akin. Kung sino ka man, hindi ako sigurado.. Pero salamat pa rin. At para sa mga taong mahilig maghusga, kung sino ka man, sigurado ako... Pero salamat pa rin.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

penge ng TRABAHO!

Pagkatapos ng halos dalawang taon na paghihikahos sa pag-aaral, sa pag-pasok sa school galing sa trabaho, pag gawa ng term papers at pag report ng presentation sa harap ng mga taong mas matalino pa sa akin... TAPOS NA KO! sa wakas! [parang gusto ko mag mura!!! (&$%!*@)]]

Hindi biro ang mag masters sa eskwelahang pinapasukan ko. Hindi uubra ang pambobola sa professor para pumasa. Hindi rin magtatagal ang walang kagana-gana mag aral. Hindi porket nakatapos ka na sa kolehiyo, wala ka nang takas sa pagiging iskul bukol sa Masters. Nahirapan talaga ako, mahirap.. oo, sobra!

At ngayon, ngayon na ang panahon na matagal ko nang iniiwasan. Ang panahong WALA NA AKONG MA RASON para hindi magtrabaho. Ngayon ang panahon para magsimula na akong maghanap ng trabahong "para sa akin."

Inupdate ko na ang resume ko sa jobstreet, at hindi ako makahinga dahil bumulabog na naman ang salitang "pressure" sa daluyan ng dugo ko sa utak. Hindi basta-bastang trabaho ang kailangan kong mapasukan. Hindi pwede!! HINDI KO YON DINEDESERVE! (basta...)

Para sa mga taong empleyado ng isang multinational company o para sa mga pumapasok sa United Nations diyan sa RCBC plaza sa Makati, WAG KAYONG MADAMOT! ahahahaha! isama niyo ako sa pangarap ninyo. Sigurado akong.. AKO ang kailangan niyo sa kumpanya niyo. Bakit? (wala kang pakealam!) ahahahaha!


Monday, July 28, 2008

ARROYO'S STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS (Transcript)


State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
2nd Regular Session of the 14th Congress
Republic of the Philippines
28 July 2008


Thank you, Speaker Nograles. Senate President Villar. Senators and Representatives. Vice President de Castro, President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen:

I address you today at a crucial moment in world history.

Just a few months ago, we ended 2007 with the strongest economic growth in a generation. Inflation was low, the peso strong and a million new jobs were created. We were all looking to a better, brighter future.

Because tough choices were made, kumikilos na ang bayan sa wakas. Malapit na sana tayo sa pagbalanse ng budget. We were retiring debts in great amounts, reducing the drag on our country’s development, habang namumuhunan sa taong bayan.

Biglang-bigla, nabaligtad ang ekonomiya ng mundo. Ang pagtalon ng presyo ng langis at pagkain ay nagbunsod ng pandaigdigan krisis, the worst since the Great Depression and the end of World War II. Some blame speculators moving billions of dollars from subprime mortgages to commodities like fuel and food. Others point of the very real surge in demand as millions of Chinese and Indians move up to the middle class.

Whatever the reasons, we are on a roller coaster ride of oil price hikes, high food prices and looming economic recession in the US and other markets. Uncertainty has moved like a terrible tsunami around the globe, wiping away gains, erasing progress.

This is a complex time that defies simple and easy solutions. For starters, it is hard to identify villains, unlike in the 1997 financial crisis. Everyone seems to be a victim, rich countries and poor, though certainly some can take more punishment than others.

To address these global challenges, we must go on building and buttressing bridges to allies around the world: to bring in the rice to feed our people, investments to create jobs; and to keep the peace and maintain stability in our country and the rest of the world. Yet even as we reach out to those who need, and who may need us, we strive for greater self-reliance.

Because tough choices were made, the global crisis did not catch us helpless and unprepared. Through foresight, grit and political will, we built a shield around our country that has slowed down and somewhat softened the worst effects of the global crisis. We have the money to care for our people and pay for food when there are shortages; for fuel despite price spikes.

Neither we nor anyone else in the world expected this day to come so soon but we prepared for it. For the guts not to flinch in the face of tough choices, I thank God. For the wisdom to recognize how needed you are, I thank, you Congress. For footing the bill, I thank the taxpayers.

The result has been, on the one hand, ito ang nakasalba sa bayan; and, on the other, more unpopularity for myself in the opinion polls. Yet, even unfriendly polls show self-rated poverty down to its 20-year low in 2007.

My responsibility as President is to take care to solve the problems we are facing now and to provide a vision and direction for how our nation should advance in the future.

Many in this great hall live privileged lives and exert great influence in public affairs. I am accessible to you, but I spend time every day with the underprivileged and under represented who cannot get a grip on their lives in the daily, all-consuming struggle to make ends meet.

Nag-aalala ako para sa naka-aawang maybahay na pasan ang pananagutan para sa buong pamilya. Nag-aalala ako para sa magsasakang nasa unang hanay ng pambansang produksyon ng pagkain ngunit nagsisikap pakanin ang pamilya. I care for hardworking students soon to graduate and wanting to see hope of good job and a career prospect here at home.

Nag-aalala ako para sa 41-year old na padre de pamilya na di araw-araw ang trabaho, at nag-aabala sa asawa at tatlong anak, at dapat bigyan ng higit pang pagkakakitaan at dangal. I care for our teachers who gave the greatest gift we ever received – a good education – still trying to pass on the same gift to succeeding generations. I care for our OFWs, famed for their skill, integrity and untiring labor, who send home their pay as the only way to touch loved ones so far away. Nagpupugay ako ngayon sa kanilang mga karaniwang Pilipino.

My critics say this is fiction, along with other facts and figures I cite today. I call it heroism though they don’t need our praise. Each is already a hero to those who matter most, their families.

I said this is a global crisis where everyone is a victim. But only few can afford to avoid, or pay to delay, the worst effects.

Many more have nothing to protect them from the immediate blunt force trauma of the global crisis. Tulad ninyo, nag-aalala ako para sa kanila. Ito ang mga taong bayan na dapat samahan natin. Not only because of their sacrifices for our country but because they are our countrymen.

How do we solve these many complex challenges?

Sa kanilang kalagayan, the answer must be special care and attention in this great hour of need.

First, we must have a targeted strategy with set of precise prescriptions to ease the price challenges we are facing.

Second, food self-sufficiency; less energy dependence; greater self-reliance in our attitude as a people and in our posture as a nation.

Third, short-term relief cannot be at the expense of long term reforms. These reforms will benefit not just the next generation of Filipinos, but the next President as well.

Napakahalaga ang Value Added Tax sa pagharap sa mga hamong ito.

Itong programa ang sagot sa mga problemang namana natin.

Una, mabawasan ang ating mga utang and shore up our fiscal independence.

Pangalawa, higit na pamumuhunan para mamamayan at imprastraktura.

Pangatlo, sapat na pondo para sa mga programang pangmasa.

Thus, the infrastructure links programmed for the our poorest provinces like Northern Samar: Lao-ang-Lapinig-Arteche, right now ay maputik, San Isidro-Lope de Vega; the rehabilitation of Maharlika in Samar.

Take VAT away and you and I abdicate our responsibility as leaders and pull the rug from under our present and future progress, which may be compromised by the global crisis.

Lalong lumakas ang tiwala ng mga investor dahil sa VAT. Mula P56.50 kada dolyar, lumakas ang piso hanggang P40.20 bago bumalik sa P44 dahil sa mga pabigat ng pangdaigdigang ekonomiya. Kung alisin ang VAT, hihina ang kumpiyansa ng negosyo, lalong tataas ang interes, lalong bababa ang piso, lalong mamahal ang bilihin.

Kapag ibinasura ang VAT sa langis at kuryente, ang mas makikinabang ay ang mga may kaya na kumukonsumo ng 84% ng langis at 90% ng kuryente habang mas masasaktan ang mahihirap na mawawalan ng P80 billion para sa mga programang pinopondohan ngayon ng VAT. Take away VAT and we strip our people of the means to ride out the world food and energy crisis.

We have come too far and made too many sacrifices to turn back now on fiscal reforms. Leadership is not about doing the first easy thing that comes to mind; it is about doing what is necessary, however hard.

The government has persevered, without flip-flops, in its much-criticized but irreplaceable policies, including oil and power VAT and oil deregulation.

Patuloy na gagamitin ng pamahalaan ang lumalago nating yaman upang tulungan ang mga pamilyang naghihirap sa taas ng bilihin at hampas ng bagyo, habang nagpupundar upang sanggahan ang bayan sa mga krisis sa hinaharap.

Para sa mga namamasada at namamasahe sa dyip, sinusugpo natin ang kotong at colorum upang mapataas ang kita ng mga tsuper. Si Federico Alvarez kumikita ng P200 a day sa kaniyang rutang Cubao-Rosario. Tinaas ito ng anti-kotong, anti-colorum ngayon P500 na ang kita niya. Iyan ang paraan kung paano napananatili ang dagdag-pasahe sa piso lamang. Halaga lang ng isang text.

Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecoms to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos.

Noong Hunyo, nagpalabas tayo ng apat na bilyong piso mula sa VAT sa langis—dalawang bilyong pambayad ng koryente ng apat na milyong mahihirap, isang bilyon para college scholarship o pautang sa 70,000 na estudyanteng maralita; kalahating bilyong pautang upang palitan ng mas matipid na LPG, CNG o biofuel ang motor ng libu-libong jeepney; at kalahating bilyong pampalit sa fluorescent sa mga pampublikong lugar.

Kung mapapalitan ng fluorescent ang lahat ng bumbilya, makatitipid tayo ng lampas P2 billion.

Sa sunod na katas ng VAT, may P1 billion na pambayad ng kuryente ng mahihirap; kalahating bilyon para sa matatandang di sakop ng SSS o GSIS; kalahating bilyong kapital para sa pamilya ng mga namamasada; kalahating bilyon upang mapataas ang kakayahan at equipment ng mga munting ospital sa mga lalawigan. At para sa mga kalamidad, angkop na halaga.

We released P1 billion for the victims of typhoon Frank. We support a supplemental Western Visayas calamity budget from VAT proceeds, as a tribute to the likes of Rodney Berdin, age 13, of Barangay Rombang, Belison, Antique, who saved his mother, brother and sister from the raging waters of Sibalom River.

Mula sa buwang ito, wala nang income tax ang sumusweldo ng P200,000 o mas mababa sa isang taon – P12 billion na bawas-buwis para sa maralita at middle class. Maraming salamat, Congress.

Ngayong may P32 na commercial rice, natugunan na natin ang problema sa pagkain sa kasalukuyan. Nagtagumpay tayo dahil sa pagtutulungan ng buong bayan sa pagsasaka, bantay-presyo at paghihigpit sa price manipulation, sa masipag na pamumuno ni Artie Yap.

Sa mga LGU at religious groups na tumutulong dalhin ang NFA rice sa mahihirap, maraming salamat sa inyo.

Dahil sa subsidy, NFA rice is among the region’s cheapest. While we can take some comfort that our situation is better than many other nations, there is no substitute for solving the problem of rice and fuel here at home. In doing so, let us be honest and clear eyed – there has been a fundamental shift in global economics. The price of food and fuel will likely remain high. Nothing will be easy; the government cannot solve these problems over night. But, we can work to ease the near-term pain while investing in long-term solutions.

Since 2001, new irrigation systems for 146,000 hectares, including Malmar in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, Lower Agusan, Casecnan and Aulo in Nueva Ecija, Abulog-Apayao in Cagayan and Apayao, Addalam in Quirino and Isabela, among others, and the restoration of old systems on another 980,000 hectares have increased our nation’s irrigated land to a historic 1.5 million hectares.

Edwin Bandila, 48 years old, of Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, cultivated one hectare and harvested 35 cavans. Thirteen years na ginawa iyong Malmar. In my first State of the Nation Address, sabi ko kung hindi matapos iyon sa Setyembre ay kakanselahin ko ang kontrata, papapasukin ko ang engineering brigade, natapos nila. With Malamar, now he cultivates five hectares and produces 97 cavans per hectare. Mabuhay, Edwin! VAT will complete the San Roque-Agno River project.

The Land Bank has quadrupled loans for farmers and fisherfolk. That is fact not fiction. Check it. For more effective credit utilization, I instructed DA to revitalize farmers cooperatives.

We are providing seeds at subsidized prices to help our farmers.

Incremental Malampaya national revenues of P4 billion will go to our rice self-sufficiency program.

Rice production since 2000 increased an average of 4.07% a year, twice the population growth rate. By promoting natural planning and female education, we have curbed population growth to 2.04% during our administration, down from the 2.36 in the 1990’s, when artificial birth control was pushed. Our campaign spreads awareness of responsible parenthood regarding birth spacing. Long years of pushing contraceptives made it synonymous to family planning. Therefore informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning.

From 1978 to 1981, nag-export tayo ng bigas. Hindi tumagal. But let’s not be too hard on ourselves. Panahon pa ng Kastila bumibili na tayo ng bigas sa labas. While we may know how to grow rice well, topography doesn’t always cooperate.

Nature did not gift us with a mighty Mekong like Thailand and Vietnam, with their vast and naturally fertile plains. Nature instead put our islands ahead of our neighbours in the path of typhoons from the Pacific. So, we import 10% of the rice we consume.

To meet the challenge of today, we will feed our people now, not later, and help them get through these hard times. To meet the challenges of tomorrow, we must become more self-reliant, self-sufficient and independent, relying on ourselves more than on the world.

Now we come to the future of agrarian reform.

There are those who say it is a failure, that our rice importations prove it. There are those who say it is a success—if only because anything is better than nothing. Indeed, people are happier owning the land they work, no matter what the difficulties.

Sa SONA noong 2001, sinabi ko, bawat taon, mamamahagi tayo ng dalawang daang libong ektarya sa reporma sa lupa: 100,000 hectares of private farmland and 100,000 of public farmland, including ancestral domains. Di hamak mahigit sa target ang naipamahagi natin sa nakaraang pitong taon: 854,000 hectares of private farmland, 797,000 of public farmland, and Certificates of Ancestral Domain for 525,000 hectares. Including, over a 100,000 hectares for Bugkalots in Quirino, Aurora, and Nueva Vizcaya. After the release of their CADT, Rosario Camma, Bugkalot chieftain, and now mayor of Nagtipunan, helped his 15,000-member tribe develop irrigation, plant vegetables and corn and achieve food sufficiency. Mabuhay, Chief!

Agrarian reform should not merely subdivide misery, it must raise living standards. Ownership raises the farmer from his but productivity will keep him on his feet.

Sinimula ng aking ama ang land reform noong 1963. Upang mabuo ito, the extension of CARP with reforms is top priority. I will continue to do all I can for the rural as well as urban poor. Ayaw natin na paglaya ng tenant sa landlord, mapapasa-ilalim naman sa usurero. Former tenants must be empowered to become agribusinessmen by allowing their land to be used as collateral.

Dapat mapalaya ng reporma sa lupa ang magsasaka sa pagiging alipin sa iba. Dapat bigyan ang magsasaka ng dangal bilang taong malaya at di hawak ninuman. We must curb the recklessness that gives land without the means to make it productive and bites off more than beneficiaries can chew.

At the same time, I want the rackets out of agrarian reform: the threats to take and therefore undervalue land, the conspiracies to overvalue it.

Be with me on this. There must be a path where justice and progress converge. Let us find it before Christmas. Dapat nating linisin ang landas para sa mga ibig magpursige sa pagsasaka, taglay ang pananalig na ang lupa ay sasagip sa atin sa huli kung gamitin natin ito nang maayos.

Along with massive rice production, we are cutting costs through more efficient transport. For our farm-to-market roads, we released P6 billion in 2007.

On our nautical highways. RORO boats carried 33 million metric tons of cargo and 31 million passengers in 2007. We have built 39 RORO ports during our administration, 12 more are slated to start within the next two years. In 2003, we inaugurated the Western Nautical Highway from Batangas through Mindoro, Panay and Negros to Mindanao. This year we launched the Central Nautical Highway from Bicol mainland, through Masbate, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin to Mindanao mainland. These developments strengthen our competitiveness.

Leading multinational company Nestle cut transport costs and offset higher milk prices abroad. Salamat, RORO. Transport costs have become so reasonable for bakeries like Gardenia, a loaf of its bread in Iloilo is priced the same as in Laguna and Manila. Salamat muli sa RORO.

To the many LGUs who have stopped collecting fees from cargo vehicles, maraming, maraming salamat.

We are repaving airports that are useful for agriculture, like Zamboanga City Airport.

Producing rice and moving it cheaper addresses the supply side of our rice needs. On the demand side, we are boosting the people’s buying power.

Ginagawa nating labor-intensive ang paggawa at pag-ayos ng kalsada at patubig. Noong SONA ng 2001, naglunsad tayo sa NCR ng patrabaho para sa 20,000 na out of school youth, na tinawag OYSTER. Ngayon, mahigit 20,000 ang ineempleyo ng OYSTER sa buong bansa. In disaster-stricken areas, we have a cash-for-work program.

In training, 7.74 million took technical and vocational courses over the last seven years, double the number in the previous 14 years. In 2007 alone, 1.7 million graduated. Among them are Jessica Barlomento now in Hanjin as supply officer, Shenve Catana, Marie Grace Comendador, and Marlyn Tusi, lady welders, congratulations.

In microfinance, loans have reached P102 billion or 30 times more than the P3 billion we started with in 2001, with a 98% repayment record, congratulations! Major lenders include the Land Bank with P69 billion, the Peoples’ Credit and Finance Corporation P8 billion, the National Livelihood Support Fund P3 billion, DBP P1 billion and the DSWD’s SEA-K P800 million. For partnering with us to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit, thank you, Go Negosyo and Joey Concepcion.

Upland development benefits farmers through agro-forestry initiatives. Rubber is especially strong in Zamboanga Sibugay and North Cotabato. Victoria Mindoro, 56 years old, used to earn P5,000 a month as farmer and factory worker. Now she owns 10 hectares in the Goodyear Agrarian Reform Community in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, she earns P10,000 a week. With one hectare, Pedro and Concordia Faviolas of Makilala, North Cotabato, they sent their six children to college, bought two more hectares, and earn P15,000 a month. Congratulations!

Jatropha estates are starting in 900 hectares in and around Tamlang Valley in Negros Oriental; 200 in CamSur; 300 in GenSan, 500 in Fort Magsaysay near the Cordero Dam and 700 in Samar, among others.

In our 2006 SONA, our food baskets were identified as North Luzon and Mindanao.

The sad irony of Mindanao as food basket is that it has some of the highest hunger in our nation. It has large fields of high productivity, yet also six of our ten poorest provinces.

The prime reason is the endless Mindanao conflict. A comprehensive peace has eluded us for half a century. But last night, differences on the tough issue of ancestral domain were resolved. Yes, there are political dynamics among the people of Mindanao. Let us sort them out with the utmost sobriety, patience and restraint. I ask Congress to act on the legislative and political reforms that will lead to a just and lasting peace during our term of office.

The demands of decency and compassion urge dialogue. Better talk than fight, if nothing of sovereign value is anyway lost. Dialogue has achieved more than confrontation in many parts of the world. This was the message of the recent World Conference in Madrid organized by the King of Saudi Arabia, and the universal message of the Pope in Sydney.

Pope Benedict’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est reminds us: “There will always be situations of material need where help in the form of concrete love for neighbour is indispensable."

Pinagsasama-sama natin ang mga programa ng DSWD, DOH, GSIS, SSS at iba pang lumalaban sa kahirapan sa isang National Social Welfare Program para proteksyonan ang pinaka-mahihirap mula sa pandaigdigang krisis, and to help those whose earnings are limited by illness, disability, loss of job, age and so on—through livelihood projects, microfinance, skills and technology transfer, emergency and temporary employment, pension funds, food aid and cash subsidies, child nutrition and adult health care, medical missions, salary loans, insurance, housing programs, educational and other savings schemes, and now cheaper medicine—Thanks to Congress.

The World Bank says that in Brazil, the income of the poorest 10% has grown 9% per year versus the 3% for the higher income levels due in large part to their family stipend program linking welfare checks to school attendance. We have introduced a similar program, Pantawid Pamilya.

Employers have funded the two increases in SSS benefits since 2005. Thank you, employers for paying the premiums.

GSIS pensions have been indexed to inflation and have increased every year since 2001. Its salary loan availments have increased from two months equivalent to 10 months, the highest of any system public or private—while repayments have been stretched out.

Pag-Ibig housing loans increased from P3.82 billion in 2001 to P22.6 billion in 2007. This year it experienced an 84% increase in the first four months alone. Super heating na. Dapat dagdagan ng GSIS at buksan muli ng SSS ang pautang sa pabahay. I ask Congress to pass a bill allowing SSS to do housing loans beyond the present 10% limitation.

Bago ako naging Pangulo, isa’t kalahating milyong maralita lamang ang may health insurance. Noong 2001, sabi natin, dadagdagan pa ng kalahating milyon. Sa taong iyon, mahigit isang milyon ang nabigyan natin. Ngayon, 65 milyong Pilipino na ang may health insurance, mahigit doble ng 2000, kasama ang labinlimang milyong maralita. Philhealth has paid P100 billion for hospitalization. The indigent beneficiaries largely come from West and Central Visayas, Central Luzon, and Ilocos. Patuloy nating palalawakin itong napaka-importanted programa, lalo na sa Tawi-Tawi, Zambo Norte, Maguindanao, Apayao, Dinagat, Lanao Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate, Abra and Misamis Occidental. Lalo na sa kanilang mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

In these provinces and in Agusan Sur, Kalinga, Surigao Sur and calamity-stricken areas, we will launch a massive school feeding program at P10 per child every school day.

Bukod sa libreng edukasyon sa elementarya at high school, nadoble ang pondo para sa mga college scholarships, while private high school scholarship funds from the government have quadrupled.

I have started reforming and clustering the programs of the DepEd, CHED and TESDA.

As with fiscal and food challenges, the global energy crunch demands better and more focused resource mobilization, conservation and management.

Government agencies are reducing their energy and fuel bills by 10%, emulating Texas Instruments and Philippine Stock Exchange who did it last year. Congratulations, Justice Vitug and Francis Lim.

To reduce power system losses, we count on government regulators and also on EPIRA amendments.

We are successful in increasing energy self-sufficiency—56%, the highest in our history. We promote natural gas and biofuel; geothermal fields, among the world’s largest; windmills like those in Ilocos and Batanes; and the solar cells lighting many communities in Mindanao. The new Galoc oil field can produce 17,000-22,000 barrels per day, 1/12 of our crude consumption.

The Renewable Energy Bill has passed the House. Thank you, Congressmen.

Our costly commodity imports like oil and rice should be offset by hard commodities exports like primary products, and soft ones like tourism and cyberservices, at which only India beats us.

Our P 350 million training partnership with the private sector should qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010.

International finance agrees with our progress. Credit rating agencies have kept their positive or stable outlook on the country. Our world competitiveness ranking rose five notches. Congratulations to us.

We are sticking to, and widening, the fiscal reforms that have earned us their respect.

To our investors, thank you for your valuable role in our development. I invite you to invest not only in factories and services, but in profitable infrastructure, following the formula for the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

I ask business and civil society to continue to work for a socially equitable, economically viable balance of interests. Mining companies should ensure that host communities benefit substantively from their investments, and with no environmental damage from operations.

Our administration enacted the Solid Waste Management Act, Wildlife Act, Protection of Plant Varieties, Clean Water Act, Biofuels Act and various laws declaring protected areas.

For reforestation, for next year we have budgeted P2 billion. Not only do forests enhance the beauty of the land, they mitigate climate change, a key factor in increasing the frequency and intensity of typhoons and costing the country 0.5% of the GDP.

We have set up over 100 marine and fish sanctuaries since 2001. In the whaleshark sanctuary of Donsol, Sorsogon, Alan Amanse, 40-year-old college undergraduate and father of two, was earning P100 a day from fishing and driving a tricycle. Now as whaleshark-watching officer, he is earns P1,000 a day, ten times his former income.

For clean water, so important to health, there is P500 million this year and P1.5 billion for next year.

From just one sanitary landfill in 2001, we now have 21, with another 18 in the works.

We launched the Zero Basura Olympics to clear our communities of trash. Rather than more money, all that is needed is for each citizen to keep home and workplace clean, and for garbage officials to stop squabbling.

Our investments also include essential ways to strengthen our institutions of governance in order to fight the decades-old scourge of corruption. I will continue to fight this battle every single day. While others are happy with headlines through accusation without evidence and privilege speeches without accountability, we have allocated more than P3 billion – the largest anti-graft fund in our history – for real evidence gathering and vigorous prosecution.

From its dismal past record, the Ombudsman’s conviction rate has increased 500%. Lifestyle checks, never seriously implemented before our time, have led to the dismissal and/or criminal prosecution of dozens of corrupt officials.

I recently met with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US agency that provides grants to countries based on governance. They have commended our gains, contributed P1 billion to our fight against graft, and declared us eligible for more grants. Thank you!

Last September, we created the Procurement Transparency Group in the DBM and linked it with business, academe, and the Church, to deter or catch anomalies in government contracts.

On my instruction, the BIR and Customs established similar government-civil society tie-ups for information gathering and tax evasion and smuggling monitoring.

More advanced corruption practices require a commensurate advances in legislative responses. Colleagues in Congress, we need a more stringent Anti-Graft Act.

Sa pagmahal ng bilihin, hirap na ang mamimili – tapos, dadayain pa. Dapat itong mahinto. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na magpasa ng Consumer Bill of Rights laban sa price gouging, false advertising at iba pang gawain kontra sa mamimili.

I call on all our government workers at the national and local levels to be more responsive and accountable to the people. Panahon ito ng pagsubok. Kung saan kayang tumulong at dapat tumulong ang pamahalaan, we must be there with a helping hand. Where government can contribute nothing useful, stay away. Let’s be more helpful, more courteous, more quick.

Kaakibat ng ating mga adhikain ang tuloy na pagkalinga sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino. Iisa ang ating pangarap – maunlad at mapayapang lipunan, kung saan ang magandang kinabukasan ay hindi pangarap lamang, bagkus natutupad.

Sama-sama tayo sa tungkuling ito. May papel na gagampanan ang bawat mamamayan, negosyante, pinunong bayan at simbahan, sampu ng mga nasa lalawigan.

We are three branches but one government. We have our disagreements; we each have hopes, and ambitions that drive and divide us, be they personal, ethnic, religious and cultural. But we are one nation with one fate.

As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people’s wellbeing. Hindi ko papayagang humadlang ang sinuman sa pag-unlad at pagsagana ng taong bayan. I will let no one – and no one’s political plans – threaten our nation’s survival.

Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now.

Maraming salamat. Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Reaction: New Philippines law gives half a million people income tax relief

New Philippines law gives half a million people income tax relief

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday signed a law exempting more than half a million Filipinos from paying income tax, as part of efforts to help the poor weather rising food and energy prices.

"This is part of our immediate and temporary help to Filipino families squeezed by the global surge in oil and rice prices," AFP quoted Arroyo as saying in a speech after signing the bill into law.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves told reporters the move -- raising the minimum taxable income of people in the lower-earning bracket -- would mean the government is giving up about 14 billion pesos ($315 million).

Replacing the lost revenues is "not going to be easy so we just have to work very hard on it and we have to convince our individual taxpayers and corporations to assist us," Teves said.

Oil-dependent Philippines, which is also one of the world's largest rice importers, has cut its economic growth projections for the next three years and postponed its 2008 target to balance its budget by three years due to the adverse international economic environment.

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Nabalitaan ko na “proposed bill” ang pag lilibre ng TAX sa mga taong kumikita ng minimum wage sa ating bansa. Hindi ko agad nagustuhan ang balitang ito pero hindi ko na ito pinag aksayahan ng panahon. Ngayon, balitang-balita na sa internet na isa na itong “signed law”. Ang galing-galing mo talaga Gloria! Ang bait mo sa mahihirap.. bakit hindi ka nagiisip?!?!?!

“I have nothing against the less fortunate people” (paano ba sabihin yun sa tagalog?), pero ako ay matindihang HINDI sumasang-ayon sa batas na ito.

Unang-una sa lahat, sobrang bigat ng epekto ng income tax sa ating mga Pilipino lalo na sa mga hindi masyado magara ang kabuhayan. Pero wala kang magagawa kasi kailangan mong magbayad ng tax gaya ng iba. Mataas man ang sinusweldo mo o gapiranggot, kailangan mo pa ring sundin ang patakaran (si Judy-Ann Santos nga, hindi nakaligtas..). Sa madaling salita, lahat ng nagtatrabaho.. MAGBABAYAD! Bakit biglang may hindi na magbabayad?

Ang mga mahilig mag welga, ang mga mahihilig mag reklamo, ang mga madalas nakikitang nagmamaka-awa sa telebisyon, ang madalas sumisira ng overpass, ang nagvavandal sa kalye, ang mga madalas magiimbak ng basura sa ilog, ang mga nagbabaklas ng bakod na gawa sa yero, ang mga atat na atat pababain si Gloria sa pagkapangulo, ang mga nakikigamit ng kuryente “jumper”, sila, sila ang mga malilibre sa income tax.

Hindi ko sila minamata, pero hindi ko rin sila kinakaawaan. Dahil kung awa lang ang sagot sa kahirapan, edi sana nag basurero na lang ako.

Replacing the lost revenues is "not going to be easy so we just have to work very hard on it and we have to convince our individual taxpayers and corporations to assist us," Teves said. – Sige, goodluck!

Ang kabilang sa “middle class society”, ang mga empleyado ng kumpanya, sila… tayo, ang madalas natatamaan ng lahat ng pagbabago ng ekonomiya. Bakit? Dahil tumaas man o bumaba ang pera ng bansa, ang “middle class” ay kailangan pa din magbayad ng pamasahe, ng gas, ng tuition fee, ng grocery, ng kuryente, ng tubig, ng telepono, ng tirahan at ng INCOME TAX. Dahil, walang karapatan ang mga hindi kasama sa poverty line na ILIBRE SA KUNG ANUMANG GASTUSIN.

Hindi pagmamalupit ng tadhana ang katayuan sa buhay ng isang tao. Pinipili ng tao ang kanyang kinabukasan, ang kanyang uri ng kabuhayan. Walang swerte, walang malas. Lahat ng bagay na nangyayari, lahat ng iyon ay epekto ng mga nagawa mo. Walang aksidente, walang chamba.. dahil lahat ng napala mo, ay dahil din sa iyo!

PASENSYA na sa mga hindi sumasang-ayon, gusto ko lang sanang malabas ang saloobin ko. Hindi ako mata-pobre dahil hindi ako mayaman. Hindi pantay-pantay ang katayuan natin sa buhay, oo alam ko, pero sana man lang magpatupad SILA ng batas na makatarungan.

“Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman” ang sabi ni Bamboo sa kanta nilang TATSULOK. Ngayon, sabihin mong para lang sa mayaman ang hustisya?! Hindi rin.

Para ito sa mayaman at mahirap. Ang nasa gitna ang wala….

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Bibo Day

Papasok pa lang ako sa school kanina, iniisip ko na kung paano ako lalabas ng klasrum para tumakas at hindi tapusin ang class. Dahil panigurado, wala na naman akong gana pumasok dahil puro henyo na naman ang nakapaligid sakin at pakiramdam ko, ako na ang pinaka bobo sa lahat. Dahil sa buhay estudyante ko sa Masters, kung hindi apat ang mata ng kaklase ko, senior citizen naman ang karamihan. Tapos samahan mo pa ng professor na pag-aaral ang buhay, kinakain, iniinom at hinihinga niya. Sa makatuwid, ako lang ang “cool” sa klase ahahahaha!

Sa elevator pa lang ng Yuchengco ini-imagine ko na ang itsura ng professor at mga kaklase ko. Ambilis ng elevator, ayan na 5th floor na… Sumilip muna ako sa pintuan at nakita kong madami akong kaklase. Mabuting pangitain yun para sakin dahil mas madali makatas dahil hindi ako mapapansin ng professor sa dami ng kanyang estudyante. Nandun na din ang titser namin, at nagsimula na siyang dumakdak bago pa ako dumating. Oo na, late na naman ako!! ano namang bago don?

Inubos ng titser namin ang 1 oras sa pag didiscuss ng syllabus at kung pano ang palakaran ng graduate school sa La Salle. Aba, mukhang tamad si Miss dahil hindi pa siya nagsisimulang mag lecture. Hanggang sa may humirit sa klase tungkol sa isang topic namin sa syllabus.. Ito na ata ang hudyat na kailangan na naming mag-lecture. Unang tanong ng titser, ano ang pagkakaiba ng “development” at “change”.. Nasapian ata ako ng kung sinong espiritu at bigla kong tinaas ang kamay ko. Sinagot ko ang tanong niya, at nagulat ako sa kabibuhan ko. Lumipas ang pangalawa, pangatlo, pang-apat at marami pang tanong ni Miss at hindi ko alam kung bakit ako sumasagot sa kanya. “Bibo day” ko ba ngayon at panay ako sa pag taas ng kamay? Ahahahaha!

Tumagal ng 2 oras ang lecture na hindi pa nagbibigay ng break ang professor namin. Nagsimula nang sumama ang mukha ko dahil pati ako hindi ko napansin ang oras. Buti na lang, naisipan ng titser na agahan na lang ang tapos ng klase dahil napagod daw siya sa kadadakdak. At para sa akin, korny man pero natuwa ako sa sarili ko ngayong gabi dahil nakuha kong magpaka bibo sa klase. Para sa hindi nakaka alam, huling term ko na ito sa academics at ngayon ko lang naipamahagi ang talento ko sa pagkabibo. Sana hindi pa huli ang lahat at malay mo, mawili ako sa ganito…..

Baka di ko pa tapusin ang term na ito.

JOKE.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Robin Thicke ft. Vanessa Marquez

Perdida sin ti
no me puedo ayudar
como se siente
sabiendo que te amo amor

perdida sin ti
no me puedo ayudar
como se siente
sabiendo que te amo amor

you make my waking up everyday that much brighter
knowing that im next to you
i'm so drawn to you
it's in your eyes
it's in your sweet face
just being in the same space
i couldn't ask for more
tu eres el amor
that may be the only one to make my life complete

perdida sin ti
no me puedo ayudar
como se siente
sabiendo que te amo amor

perdida sin ti
no me puedo ayudar
como se siente
sabiendo que te amo amor

Baby your the perfect shape
Baby your the perfect weight
Treat me like my birthday
I want it this way
I want it that way
I want it
Tell me you don't want to stop
Tell me it would break your heart
But you love me and all my dirty
You wanna roll with me
You wanna to hold with me
You want to make fries and get norwegian world with me
I just love to hear you say it
It make a man feel good baby

I'm lost without you
Can't help myself
How does it feel?
To know that I love ya baby
I'm lost without you
Can't help myself
How does it feel?
To know that I love ya baby

Cause you will tell me every morning

oooh alright baby ahhh yea
aww baby aww darling alright ma

I'm lost without you
Can't help myself
How does it feel?
To know that I love ya baby
I'm lost without you
Can't help myself
How does it feel?
To know that I love ya baby

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Lakbayan


My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

wasap KINABUKASAN?!

Tumatakbo at lumilipas na ang oras, edad at panahon sa buhay ko at unti-unti ko na ding nararamdaman ang lahat ng epekto nito sa akin. Mag tatatlong taon na akong nagtatrabaho simula nang pagtapos ko ng kolehiyo. Mag tatatlong taon na din ako sa kumpanyang pinapasukan ko ngayon. Marami akong napagdaanan, nakilala at natutunan sa dalawa kong magkaibang trabaho dito. Hindi rin mapapantayan sa kasalukuyan ang mga kakaiba kong karanasan doon. Magulo, mahirap, nakakatamad pero masaya.

Madami ang mga empleyado na talaga namang napamahal na sa kumpanya kaya naman minabuti nilang manatili ng matagal doon. Mga loyalista ang tawag sa kanila. Madami ding mga ahente na kahit naghihikahos na sa pagbebenta ng lupa, wala pa rin silang balak iwanan ang ganitong trabaho. Kaya naman, isa ako sa mga taong natali na rin sa kumpanya, dito ako masaya, at dito ako komportable, bakit pa ako aalis diba?

Sa tatlong taon ko, hindi ko rin namang maiwasang magisip-isip sa araw-araw kong ginagawa, pinupuntahan at nakakasama. Wala na bang bago diyan? Ganito na lang ba ako habang buhay, ang maging kumportable? Nung isang araw, hindi ako makatulog sa kakaisip sa nangyari sa akin sa opisina. Hindi ako natuwa, hindi rin ako natawa. Wala akong magawa kundi tanggapin at sumunod sa mga bagay na hindi ko naman sinasang ayunan. Parang nakaka bobo lang lagi dahil wala din naman akong mapaglaban sa kung anuman ang gusto kong ipaglaban. Wala din akong maipagmalaki dahil wala rin naman akong dapat ipagmalaki. Bad trip……

Ginapang ko ang sarili ko sa pag-aaral para matupad ang pangarap ko. Hindi basta-basta ang mga sinubukan kong gawin para lang makadagdag sa aking kaalaman. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman talaga pinag aralan ang ganitong trabaho, at lalong hindi ito ang trabahong nararapat sa akin. Walang kasiguraduhan, hindi ito stable at wala rin daw akong patutunguhan ika nga ng mga taong kala mo kung sinong magaling! Sa madaling salita… mahirap. Pero para sa akin, di hamak na mas mahirap umalis sa lugar o trabaho na iyong nakasanayan. Hindi madali magpaalam sa mga taong anim na araw sa isang linggo mong nakakasama at nakakasalamuha. Ang mga taong pinalit mo na sa pamilya, sa barkada, sa asawa, sa boyfriend/girlfriend mo. Iniisip ko pa lang nalulungkot na ako. Pero minsan kailangan ko din yata talaga tumahak ng ibang landas para din ito sa ikabubuti ko. Hindi pwede na lagi na lang masaya at kumportable. Ganon talaga e diba?

Bakit kasi kailangan ko ‘tong maramdaman e. Dati, wala akong ka amor-amor sa mga tao doon. Wala akong pakealam sa buhay nila at kung ano mang klaseng tao sila. Hindi ko rin binibigyan halaga sa kung anuman ang pwede nilang magawa sa buhay ko. Pero ngayon…. Sila na ang mga taong gusto ko laging makasama. Dati, sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko papasukin ang buhay ahente… pero ngayon, mag-iisang taon na ako sa ganitong trabaho. Nagiba lang lahat ng pananaw ko e. Kinain ko lang lahat ng pinagsasasabi ko noon.

Ngayon, hirap na hirap tuloy akong ipasok sa kukote ko ang realidad na kailangan kong gumalaw at magisip para sa kinabukasan ko. Hindi madali ang ganitong sitwasyon dahil padagdag ng padagdag ang edad ko, padagdag din ng padagdag ang mga bagay na gumugulo sa utak ko. Kung dati, group project sa science lang ang pinoproblema ko, ngayon mga bagay na sa totoong buhay ang bumubulabog sa akin. Haaaay… ewan ko na!

Basta, kung anuman ang nararapat sa akin… sana lang hindi ko ito makaligtaan. Magkaroon na sana ako ng lakas ng loob para makipagsapalaran. Dahil wala na naman akong dapat gawin kundi ang hanapin ang tunay kong paglalagyan……….

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Pana-panahon

Panahon, panahon ang tawag sa iba’t-ibang punto na napagdadaanan nating lahat. Panahon ang binbigay sa atin ng Diyos na kailangan nating namnamin dahil ito ang nagbibigay kulay sa buhay natin. Panahon, na hindi kailangang madaliin dahil hindi ito natutulak basta-basta. Panahon, oras, na ika nga ng iba, kung oras mo na… oras mo na. Kung balak mong planuhin ang buhay mo, hindi mo naitatanong, matagal nang naka plano ito sa mahiwagang libro.

Para sa mga taong mahilig magmadali sa buhay, huwag mo mashado takbuhin ang storya ng buhay dahil kailangan mo minsang maniwala sa salitang “pana-panahon.”

Marami akong kaibigan na mahilig makipag talastasan sa takbo ng kanilang buhay. Maraming mahilig magmadali, may mga hindi mapakali sa kanilang katayuan at may mga iba namang unti-unti nang nakukuntento sa kung anong meron sila.

Hindi ko sinabing dapat kang magbagal, pero hindi ko din sinabing kailangan kang magmadali. Bakit…. May lakad ka ba? (ahahahahaha!)

Para sa mga nagmamadali, hindi naiiwasan na minsan ay nagsisimula ka nang malungkot dahil anong petsa na, hindi mo pa nararating ang punto na matagal mo nang pinapangarap. Hinay-hinay lang kapatid dahil kahit anong gawin mo, tumambling ka man, hindi ito mapapasaiyo dahil hindi pa ito panahon.

Kung mapapansin mo, may punto sa buhay mo na hindi mo nagugustuhan dahil ito ang panahon na kailangan mong maguluhan para mahanap mo sa bandang huli ang mga kasagutan sa iyong mga katanungan. May panahon na inis na inis ka na dahil walang magandang nangyayari sa iyo. Walang nangyayari, ambagal ng lahat bakit ganon? Na kung tutuusin, hindi naman talaga mabagal, kundi, hindi pa talaga oras para ikaw ay umasenso. Nagsisimula ka nang ikumpara ang sarili mo sa iba dahil p*tang*na! ang yayaman na nilang lahat, may mga pamilya na sila o di kaya’y maganda na ang takbo ng buhay nila pero ikaw HINDI PA RIN! Relaks ka lang kapatid dahil dadating ang panahon na nasaiyo naman ang ilaw ng tadhana. “It’s your time to shine” ika nga.

May iba nga diyan, antanda-tanda na pero hindi pa din nakukuntento sa kanilang katayuan. May iba naman na ang bata-bata pa pero kala mo naman wala nang bukas dahil saksakan na siya ng yabang sa kung ano mang pwede niyang ipag yabang.

Kung ano man yan, kailangan mo lang talagang intindihin ang lahat ng nangyayari sa iyo. Hindi porket umuunlad na si Pedro e kailangan na ding umunlad si Juan. Hindi kailangan ng inggit. Basta nagagawa lang ng tama ang lahat, dadating din ang panahon ng iyong kasikatan.

*apir!*

Monday, January 21, 2008

being Twenty something......

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."
It is when you
stop going along with the crowd and
start realizing
that there are many things about
yourself that you
didn't know and may not like.

You start feeling insecure and wonder
where you will
be in a year or two, but then get
scared because you
barely know where you are now. You
start realizing
that people are selfish and that,
maybe, those
friends that you thought you were so
close to aren't
exactly the greatest people you have
ever met, and the
people you have lost touch with are
some of the most
important ones.

What you don't recognize is that they
are realizing
that too, and aren't really cold,
catty, mean or
insincere, but that they are as
confused as you. You
look at your job... and it is not even
close to what
you thought you would be doing, or
maybe you are
looking for a job and realizing that
you are going to
have to start at the bottom and that
scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You
see what
others are doing and find yourself
judging more than
usual because suddenly you realize that
you have
certain boundaries in your life and are
constantly
adding things to your list of what is
acceptable and
what isn't. One minute, you are
insecure and then the
next, secure. You laugh and cry with
the greatest
force of your life. You feel alone and
scared and
confused.

Suddenly, change is the enemy and you
try and cling on
to the past with dear life, but soon
realize that the
past is drifting further and further
away, and there
is nothing to do but stay where you are
or move
forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder
how someone you
loved could do such damage to you. Or
you lie in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone
decent enough
that you want to get to know better. Or
maybe you love
someone but love someone else too and
cannot figure
out why you are doing this because you
know that you
aren't a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups
start to look
cheap. Getting wasted and acting like
an idiot starts
to look pathetic. You go through the
same emotions and
questions over and over, and talk with
your friends
about the same topics because you
cannot seem to make
a decision.

You worry about loans, money, the
future and making a
life for yourself... and while winning
the race would
be great, right now you'd just like to
be a contender!

What you may not realize is that
everyone reading this
relates to it. We are in our best of
times and our
worst of times, trying as hard as we
can to figure
this whole thing out.

If COVID-19 Didn't Happen

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