Trackback to May 29, 2008. To read about it, go to this link: http://xn3cts.com/one-sorry-horse/
One Sorry Horse, a.k.a. Balinguyngoy
Posts Tagged ‘Filipinos’
A Year Without Facebook
2012
01.10
01.10
Can I do it? Can I spend a year without Facebook?
My cousin Aeon influnced me to deactivate my Facebook account. I knocked on her door. Asked her to drink with me. I felt depressed. I needed some drinking buddies. Nica also joined us.
I deactivated my Facebook account on January 9, 2012. I hope to reactivate it on January 9, 2013.
I need to take back my life from Facebook.
I’m gonna miss facebook. I’m gonna miss the news updates from friends near and far. I’m gonna miss “stalking” some friends. I’m gonna miss the information that’s readily available. I’m gonna miss the audition notices.
But I need to take stock of my life. I need to write. I need to edit. I need to write a Fucking Novel.
It’s long overdue.
Bye, Facebook.
Till we meet again. Hasta la vista.
Those Were the Days of Black and White Protests
2010
10.25
10.25
Mga kababayan at kapuso(d),
>
This is one of the messages that I’ve forwarded that has generated some “piping-hot” (like some coffee) reactions.
>
from jun s., something like this: “ang labo! ba’t hindi na lang ipunin ang perang gagastusin dito at gamitin sa mas makabuluhang paraan?”
from lena c., something like this: “why starbucks, of all places? your protest action is so cono…”
from ogie b., something like this: “marketing director siguro to ng starbucks…”
from allan m., see end of my message.
from ate lea: “puede ba sa starbox?”
>
I forwarded the message because I thought some people would be interested in finding out one of the hundred ways of skinning a cat, or, in this case, ousting GMA from her stolen office.
>
Personally, I don’t like Starbucks. In the first place, I’d rather drink beer. Or, if we’re talking about something hot like coffee, I’d rather have tea, my dear. Pero puede rin naman coffee. Paminsan-minsan, pag me mga kaibigan akong gustong mag-Starbucks at outvoted ako, napapa-Starbucks din. (Eto, e pag may pera ako…)
>
A cup of starbucks coffee would probably get me 3 bottles of beer during happy hour in most bars… or two red horse grande… pero no, I’m not an alcoholic. (Stage 1: Denial… or is it, stage 2?).
>
My proposed mass action: Taho! Maglilibre ako ng taho (yung tiglilimang pisong cup lang, ha? That’s around 20 cups of taho for a cup of Starbucks coffee), tapos pag ubos na, we’ll all say “Gloria, all the way down!”
>
best regards,
ian
—
From: “Allan S. Manalo”
Subject: Re: Black Friday Bulletin #1 – Details of Flash Protest for March 3
I admire the organization of this and I really love the flash mob concept, but this particular task has got to me the lamest I’ve ever heard of. Are you sure that Starbucks is not up to this? I mean, really. You are actually instructing people to “buy a drink.” If you read up on flash mobs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_mob) no one goes to a place and spends money.
===
— “Vicente R. Romano III” <enteng@HealOurLand.ph>
wrote:
> To: <elagda-forum@yahoogroups.com>,
> <elagda-makati@yahoogroups.com>,
> <elagda-ortigas@yahoogroups.com>,
> <moral-majority@yahoogroups.com>,
> <Moral-Majority-Forum@yahoogroups.com>
> From: “Vicente R. Romano III”
> <enteng@HealOurLand.ph>
> Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 20:47:38 +0800
> Subject: [Moral-Majority] Fw: Black Friday Bulletin
> #1 – Details of Flash Protest for March 3
>
>
>
>
> Designated time and place of flash protest for March 3:
> Any Starbucks Cafe, 6 to 7 PM
>
> Plan of action:
> 1) Wear black
> 2) You and your friends proceed to any Starbucks Cafe near you anytime between 6 to 7 pm
> 3) Buy a drink. Each person should queue up at the counter, instead of just one ordering for the group.
> 4) After getting your drink, take a seat or just stand up outside the cafe and hang out for about 30 mins.
> 5) When your group decides it’s time to leave, someone should give the cue and everybody should do the “thumbs down” sign
> 6) Disperse as peacefully as you came in
>
> Suggested preparations:
> 1) Invite as many friends, or officemates, as you can
> 2) If you’re an employer or a manager, invite all your subordinates to join you. Offer to “treat” them, if you can afford it.
> 3) Agree to meet in a place (not Starbucks), or if you’re from the same office, arrange for carpooling
> 4) From the meeting place, proceed to Starbucks as a group. This will have more impact than just agreeing to meet at Starbucks individually
5) If you’re staying in a city where there is no Starbucks, any other “cafe” or restaurant will do.
>
> Forward this message to as many friends, relatives, colleagues, and egroups. I’ve also included below a brief description of the Black Friday Protest Movement, so those receiving your forwarded mail and hearing this for the first time will understand what we’re trying to accomplish.
>
> Let’s paint Starbucks BLACK on Friday.
>
> God bless,
>
> enteng
>
——————————————————————————–\
——————————-
> BLACK FRIDAY – A NEW FORM OF PROTEST
>
>
> The Black Friday Protest Movement was launched by eLagda on March 1 to give professionals, students, businessmen, and other sectors a venue to express their protest against the continuing and escalating acts of repression of the GMA administration as manifested in its series of proclamations – CPR, EO464, and PP 1017 – all designed to curtail basic rights and oppress the people.
>
>
> Patterned after the flash mob concept, the Black Friday Protest calls on people to gather at a designated time and place every Friday wearing a black attire as a symbol of protest. There will be no programs or speeches. Instead, people will be given specific instructions on what to do, and the whole exercise should last about 30 minutes at most. It’s safe, non-confrontational, and within the bounds of the law, even under a repressive one like PP 1017. The mere “flash” gathering of the people is the expression of protest.
>
>
>
> Where will people get instructions?
>
>
>
> Details of the Black Friday Protest action for the week will be published at its blogsite -> www.BlackFridayProtest.blogspot.com every Wednesday evening. Those who would like to receive instructions directly can also subscribe to the movement’s bulletin service by sending a blank email to BlackFridayProtest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
>
>
A Letter to Sands
2010
10.17
10.17
jan. 11, 2006
>
hi sands,
>
that was macbeth himself who said that (“out, out brief candle…”) in his monologue, after learning of lady macbeth’s death (“tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow/ creeps in this petty pace from day to day…”). you were thinking about lady macbeth’s other monologue with the “out, out damned spot” (or something like that) when she tries to wash out the imagined stains of blood from the killing of duncan.
>
yeah, it’s that time of year when thinking about death and life, and its meaning and worth becomes heightened. finally read marquez’s “a hundred years of solitude” and jeanette winterson’s “the powerbook” and “the world and other places” during the holidays and alternated between joy and depression.
>
i told someone that i’ve been in a depressive state for about two years now… that may not be entirely true. it’s probably more of frequently alternating between states of joy and sadness/depression.
>
yes, all human creation could be seen as an attempt to overcome the destruction of death. we will all die and be forgotten anyway. so why bother at all?
>
“ars longa, vita brevis.” so they say. “art is long, life is short.”
but even works of art, no matter how monumental, no matter how seemingly eternal, will suffer the ravages of time.
>
time devours all his children.
>
why bother at all?
>
because……………………………..
>
best regards,
ian
tula, sabon, at bula
2010
10.05
10.05
tula, sabon, at bula
(para kay marielle)
>
salamat sa sabon
binalot sa kahon
regalong akma
sa anumang panahon.
>
wala akong sabon
na maikakahon
meron namang tula
kinatha, ginawa.
>
mabisa ang sabon
pamatay ng mikrobyon
mabisa ang tula
pampasigla ng diwa.
>
ang sabon, tulad ng tula
naglalaho, nawawala
ang tula, tulad ng bula
naglalaho, nawawala.
>
salamat sa sabon
salamat sa kahon
salamat sa tula
salamat sa bula
>
salamat sa dula
salamat sa diwa
salamat sa panahon
salamat, ngayon!
>
ang sabon, tulad ng tula
naglalaho, nawawala.
ang tula, tulad ng bula
naglalaho, nawawala.
>
- ian lomongo, nov. 8, 2005
That Time When I lost My Phone While Playing the Guitar
2010
06.08
06.08
August 21, 2005. Early morning, Ninoy’s 22nd death anniversary, the moon’s on the wane after reaching its peak fullness the day before…
With Susan (my trusty old guitar now lost to typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana), I jammed with the street children who usually loiter at the corner street in front of Angono public market, where this Moslem guy cells CD’s and DVD’s. (From time to time, this guy would have free movie screenings, for the folks who happen to be loitering there in the wee hours of the morning.) I sang Yano’s “Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo.” The kids responded with Parokya ni Edgar’s “Chikinini.” One even rapped a few (I’m thinking, improvised) bawdy verses…
I had fun. I think the kids did too. Checked the time on my cellphone. 4:00 am. Or thereabouts… Put it on the sidewalk where I was sitting. And forgot all about it. Somebody must have taken it while we were having a blast.
Oh well.
best regards,
ian
“The Filipino’s worth dying for.” – Ninoy Aquino
Made in Vietnam, Born in the Philippines
2010
04.02
04.02
(old letters: May 7, 2000)
Kathleen, Michaell, Jan, Leanne, Carl, and Dante,
Still trying to catch up reading your letters. Congratulations! to Carl, for making it to Steppenwolf and to Jan, for completing your doctorate…
Am annotating a six-week workshop for basic acting (adults), am learning a lot in the process…
Cameron Macintosh’s “Miss Saigon” is going to be staged here… not too happy about that… they are spending a lot of money to do that, money which could have been used to produce shows which are more relevant and “Filipino.” As some have remarked, it’s a western play with a western viewpoint, conceptualized and directed by westerners, utilizing asian talents.
No doubt, because of it, Filipinos came to be recognized as more than mere “domestic helpers.”
And it would certainly be a rare treat for Filipinos to watch big mechanized, revolving stages and helicopters descending on the stage… but the thing is, it won’t help much in the development of Philippine theater. In the process, they’re also displacing the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet Philippines, and Tanghalang Pilipino (where I am a scholar-member of its Actors’ Company) from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (where Miss Saigon’s gonna be staged). Of the eight to ten plays mounted by TP per season, only four would be at the CCP (because of Miss Saigon). The CCP conference room, which has been the regular rehearsal room of TP’s plays, would be transformed into an office of the Miss Saigon guys.
I don’t know, even though I was made in Vietnam (really! my parents met there.), I’ve never really liked Miss Saigon… (I’ve never seen it… but I’ve never seen “Les Miserables,” too, and I like it.)
Am intending to become a freelance writer, while also auditioning for plays, etc.
Salamat.
ian
What Does It Matter! (On the Da Vinci Code, Foucault’s Pendulum & Other Matters)
2009
08.13
08.13
Read “The Da Vinci Code” in 2005, after deliberately ignoring it for quite some time because of the hype. And then saw the movie later.
Well, the wealth of information (esp. regarding symbols) is generally sound. But it doesn’t hold a candle to the erudition of Umberto Eco’s “Foucalt’s Pendulum.” (I have yet to understand the elaborate explanation of how Foucault’s Pendulum works…)
One thing I liked in the novel is the rather sympathetic portrayal of the head of the Opus Dei, Bishop Aringarosa. (Not so in the movie.) I’ve heard a lot of negative publicity regarding the Opus Dei and their founder Jose Ma. Escriva. (From the late Larry Henares, in his TV show and Philippine Daily Inquirer column, as well as from a Filipino priest who studied in a university run by the Opus Dei…) Bishop Aringarosa may be ultra-conservative in his theology but in the end, when the time came for his faith to be tested, his heart proved to be ultimately in the right place.
Also, it had a more hopeful, happy ending than “Foucault’s Pendulum,” which was darker and more poignant. Eco’s novel bewails the lack of understanding that so-called believers/enlightened ones have. Parang si Elsa sa Himala: “Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao!”
The Resurrection of the Body Too: The Misunderstanding of Christianity
2009
06.05
06.05
Some people say that Christianity has been misunderstood. It looks to me more like it is Christianity which has misunderstood! The world, perhaps even Christ!
I’m not associating Christ with Christianity. When Nietzsche wrote “Der Anti-Christ” (usually translated as “The Anti-Christ”), his polemics was directed more to Paul and Christendom/Christianity, (a note in the translation says that it is probably more fitting to translate it as “The Anti-Christian.”) The same with Kierkegaard, his beef was with Christendom (the bureaucracy of Christianity). Christianity, as we know it today, is according to biblical scholarship, largely the work of Paul the Apostle.
Personalism vis-a-vis Parochialism (A Reaction to a Piece on Personalism by Verdman)
2009
05.01
05.01
Personalism vis-a-vis Parochialism
(A Reaction to a Piece on Personalism by Verdman)
—
(an old piece written in June 2004)
—
“Walang personalan. Trabaho lang.”
- a line from a movie about a cop (played by Rudy Fernandez) who summarily executes a criminal (“Markang Bungo” yata… not sure though…)
—
“i think (i could be wrong, most of the time i am), that the root of our problem is our personalistic approach to life. we easily sacrifice objectivity in order to accomodate our personal affiliations, thus negating our chance to cultivate values that are necessary to achieve real progress. personalism is in every fabric of pinoylife. from the moment of birth (kung sino ang magiging ninong), up to the time of death (kung sinong asawa ang may karapatan sa bangkay). whether business, sports, politics, gov’t, etc…. personalism always plays a part. nothing wrong with cultivating personal ties per se, we are a social animal afterall, it’s when personalism is accomodated at the expense of objectivity, this is where corruption starts, first morally, then leading up to plunder.”
- Verdman (a nom de plume), On Personalism
—
What’s the problem with personalism?
The way I see it, there’s nothing wrong with personalism per se. In fact, it is precisely this personalism that makes Noypis so lovable, and as Ninoy put it, “worth dying for.”
It is when personalism clashes with “objectivity” that the problem arises. It thus degenerates to parochialism. Parochialism, i.e., my interests over your interests, my family over your family, my clan over your clan, my my hey hey!… Parochialism, narrow-mindedness, “subjectivism,” bigotry…
The Philippines is relatively a young country. We’ve only started to think of ourselves as one nation during the 19th century, the credit mainly to the ilustrados (which include Rizal). (See Leon Ma. Guerrero’s “The First Filipino.”) Probably no small wonder that we’re still trying to find our bearings… still trying to get our act together.