This is my first article of the year, for it's first week.
Hinati nga ang bansa ng isyung ito, sa mga unang araw nang taong 2024. Ang tinutukoy ko nga ay hindi patungkol, sa biglang bawi ni BBM sa kaniyang stand sa ICC, kundi ang engagement ring na nagkakahalagang 299 pesos.
Ang take ko dito ay ganito. Una, dapat hindi na ito pinost kung sinoman si girl. Ika nga sa narinig ko sa Tiktok, na nagkomentaryo din sa isyung ito. Don't wash your dirty linen in public. Ito ay dapat between you two. Ngayon pinahiya ni girl, kapwa sarili niya pati yung boyfriend niya ng 8 taon.
Hindi ko ganap na ma-condemn si boy. Dahil hindi natin alam ang kwento niya. Pero eto kung mayaman siya, at ganoon lang binili, cheap siya. Pero baka mamaya ay breadwinner, buong angkan ang dinadala, at yung mga kaangkan naman, na hindi naman na tatay, nanay, at kapatid, ay walanghiya at nagpapapasan din. Sana naman ay maging maunawain sa girl, at hindi yung self-importance niya lang ang inisip.
Yung statement niya kasi, puro papunta sa sarili niya. Na tila ba kaapihan yung sinapit niya. Alalahanin natin, mahirap na buhay. Mahal na pamasahe, gasolina, bigas na hindi napababa ni Marcos. At baka magkagera pa, na laban sa atin, o malapit sa atin, either way, parehong hindi maganda iyon. Tapos yun pa ang iniintindi?
Hindi ba sapat na minahal ka ng 8 taon? At nangangako na mamahalin ka pa niya sa mga susunod na taon, bilang kaniyang asawa. Naiirita lang ako, na ginagawang isyu yang singsing. Eto baka ko lang ito. Paano kung inuna niya yung magiging bahay niyo, yung washing machine mo. Wala kasi akong nakitang babae, na may asawa doon sa mga may tamang kinikita lang. Hindi kasali yung mga alta se ciudad, na binigyan ng washing machine, at hindi natuwa. Paaano kung inuna yung ref? To make it short, paano kung may inuna lang na mas mahalaga, kesa doon. But that's only my hypothetical scenarios.
Pag may karelasyon tayo, eto cut both sides to. Hindi na pwedeng si ako, si ako. Dapat si siya, o si tayo. Para sagutin si ate girl. Oo immature ka pa, iignore mo, kung gusto mong magtuloy pa kayo. At bakit ka naninilip ng cellphone? Kahit pa may relasyon kayo, dapat may privacy pa rin. At mag-sorry ka sa boyfriend mo. Ipinahiya mo siya sa buong sangka-Facebookan, buong mundo. Kahit pa hindi ka nagpakilala, makakarating at makakarating to sa kaniya. Mabuti nang ikaw ang magsabi, kesa malaman niya sa iba.
Girl, hindi ko lang maiwasang mairita, naka-eight years kayo, tapos gumawa ka ng isyu, na maari kayong hindi makarating sa nine. Magalit na yung iba, o magalit ka na rin. Singsing lang yan. May ibang bagay na mas mahalaga, within sa relasyon niyo. Sabi nga sa My Little Prince: Here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Ano yung essential na minsan hindi kita ng mata, pero alam mo sa puso na nandoon. Love, Pag-ibig, Amor, Sarang. Alam mo iyon, kung gaano ka niya kamahal. Yun ang pahalagahan mo.
Bilang closing, eto pag-isipan mo ate. Naniniwala ako si Song Joong Ki, binigyan din ng engagement ring si Song Hye-kyo. Naniniwala akong hindi yun 299 pesos. At saka may shipping fee pa yun ate. 130 plus kung shoppee. Balik tayo kay Song Hye Kyo. Nabigyan yun, at pinakasalan. Nasaan na siya ngayon? May career pa rin naman, pero kahit anong ngiti niya, yung aura niya malungkot siya. Hindi singsing ang pinakabatayan. Yun lang.
I thought my last article, was the last to be written this year. But this happens, and I have an urge to write about it.
Hours before he died, I and another commenter, commented about that time, his latest issue, which is the allegations of drug use. For those who don't know, I am talking about Lee Sun Kyun, a South Korean actor, more well-known for his role in the movie Parasite. But as others pointed out, it's not his only movie. I liked his performance in the drama, My Mister, which was a dark drama, about everyday hardships of working people. He also does variety shows as well. He appeared on Running Man, when Song Joong ki left that show. Not many actors go to variety shows, because it ruins image and perception. But he did. And somehow we lost him, thru suicide by briquette poisoning.
Back to my conversation, with this other commenter. We were talking according to her, his argument, not knowing that what he snort, is sleeping pills. But he was with other people. We both said that it doesn't add up. Then we talk about the possibility that he can come back. And I said that it was impossible to comeback, because of the allegations involved alone. Not even conviction. Yet she was positive, because there was no evidence. Then somehow I said: Forgive me by saying this, he might not recover from this. And I'm hoping I'm wrong, on what's come after. I slept that night. By morning she commented, that he passed away. I have to checked it, and it was confirmed.
The question is was he guilty? We'll never know now. He's dead. Drug abuse is never right, don't mistake it. What is wrong is trial by publicity, and cancel culture. And there's a myth in South Korea, that when the government is covering up something, a scandal will broke out, to turn away the eyes from it. I hope it was only a myth.
And the media, cover him too much in his last few days. And when the media covers it, netizens prowl on it. And K-netizens are well known for their brutality and ruthlessness. They want to crucify Chen for having a girlfriend and a baby. And they harass Sulli to death.
I don't read the comments about him, but I can perceive that the comments would be, He's not a good example, cancel him. When nothing is of conviction yet, he's not even on trial, but under investigation.
But if someone may ask, are you sure of his innocence? I have doubts, because of his statements. But my doubt is not important. I'm not a judge in South Korea. And even a judge in South Korea, can be wrong. There's a lot of re-trials recently, in which some convictions are overturn. Then there's the Supreme Court in their country, which is the ultimate court of the land.
A lot of netizens today, is worried about IU. From Jonghyun, to Sulli, to Goo Hara, to Lee Sun Kyun, which are her friends, all committed suicide.
My closing statement, will be. If someone has a case, let's just shut up. Aren't we allowed to have opinions, we are allowed. Let it run it's course. Don't advocate cancellation, especially when a case is on the beginning stages. Good example was Johnny Depp, who was vindicated after the court decide against Amber Heard. But still damage is done. Damages will be done, but sometimes that damage, is someones life. And that blood will be required in our hands, of those who are very quick to condemn.
This is my first article of the year 2023. It might be also the only one, for the year is also at it's end.
A lot has happened this year. The Israel War, Congress bruhaha over confidential funds of VP Sara. Tensions on the South China Sea, CM Punk returns to WWE, with Randy Orton, and Edge goes to AEW. Henry Kissinger passed away. Yet I have to comment on this one. The Kathniel split.
Kathryn Bernardo, put an end to all speculations in an Instagram post, saying it was a Chapter Close.
Even up to this moment, details on how, and what caused the break up, or who, is still murky at best. Although the name of Andrea Brilliantes, keeps popping up at the conversations.
Personally, I don't care about them, on who's got involved, or how they do with their personal lives. What I'm gonna comment is about the system. The Love Team.
Love Teams, shouldn't be imposed on two people, who works in the showbiz industry, whether it's an old or young actors. Especially young actors. One individual, shouldn't be tied with one person, for who knows how long, with the exception of marriage. And even married people, do separate with one another. How much more unmarried ones.
It's just a ridiculous system, one thing that I agree with Liza Soberano. It's not helpful. It will make the involved individual feel shackled to his co actor. And it will not make them grow. And if one of the actor goes rogue, the other is finished too. Just like Sandara Park. Her Philippine Acting Career, plummeted after Hero Angeles, split with her. Luckily she found a new path, thru 2NE1.
And the thing is, if they dated the better for the system. Now work and personal life intertwined with one another. Which is also not for the better, especially if the relationship on the personal level goes sour.
This system, as of what I know, only exist in the Philippine Entertainment Industry. When Liza Soberano told it on Korean podcast, but with English language, as a medium, they were amazed but also found it ridiculous.
We had this system for too long, it's time to end it now. For the betterment at least, of future actors in our country, of their emotional and mental state. Because they are people too.
I don't know the in's and out's of Japanese politics, and what had led the poor guy to assassinate the former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. What I will comment about, is the failure of the security detail to protect the former Prime Minister. Which led to him being killed.
I have seen the video, that NDTV had acquired. As you can see, there was a first shot. And the former PM have even saw his assassin. Then there was the second, as you can see, Abe hold his neck and fell down.
I'm no security expert. I'm a jobless bum. But it is very clear, there is something wrong in the execution of duty, by the security detail. First is, not securing the perimeter. Shinzo Abe is not just a mere politician, he is a former Prime Minister, head of Government of Japan. How can that man, came so close to the former PM. In the US, former presidents are still under the protection of the Secret Service. Again I don't know about Japan, there are bodyguards, but they definitely failed in protecting Abe.
Second, there was a first shot. Abe even looked back to see the commotion. It's right to apprehend the assassin. But shouldn't have they secured Abe? They just let him stood there, until the second shot happened, and Abe fell down. What should have they done, is after that first shot, take Abe away to some secure spot, while it is happening, disarmed that assassin. If they have done that, the former Prime Minister may have been be still with us.
I don't know what will be the implications, of a former politician dying by a gunshot in Japan's politics. Philippines has also it's own episodes of assassinations too. And Filipino's are still polarized if his death, have done good or bad for the country. It had cause a revolution, and toppled Ferdinand Marcos. His wife become President, and also his son 3 decades after that. The only weird thing is, just one full presidential term away. The son of Ferdinand Marcos, became President. They are only separated by Rodrigo Duterte. Yes, if you don't know yet, I am talking about Ninoy Aquino. Whose name might be removed in the airport, in which he was assassinated. Just like Abe, a behind the back shooting.
Again I don't know about the implications, but there will be. In the Philippines, we are feeling the results of the assassination of Ninoy. In the worldwide sense, Gavrilo Princip killing Archduke Francis Ferdinand, launch World War 1, in which leads to the establishment of Communism in Russia, by the help of the Germans. Fascism, because of the unfair treatment of Italy, despite being with Allies. Nazism, because of the unfair and heavy punishment on Germany. And also, Imperial Japan. All of those led us to World War 2, to the Cold War Era, and the wars inside of it, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, African wars. To the Gulf War era, Yugoslav wars, 911, Iraq, Afghanistan, ISIS, to the present Russia-Ukraine conflict. All because a Serbian, assassinated an Austrian Monarch. There will be implications. I just don't how big or small it is.
I have my reservations about the incident, that happened in happened in Mandaluyong last Sunday. It's only supposed to be a shorties. But I think, my thoughts will be too long for that.
I am saying this without knowing all the details. Even though it's already out and completed. I can be corrected by anyone, who fully knows all the details. I am only saying my opinions, based on that short video.
Let's examine the first bump. Again I'm saying without knowing all the details. But I think the first bump, will not be enough, for someone to go down like that. I think the guard acted up, to high up the drama, knowing their is a lot of CCTV and dash cams, around. Maybe has has one with himself too. Little did he know that the SUV driver would ran him over. Unless the guard have past internal injuries for that to happen. But without that, I don't think that's enough to be lay down.
And not to acquit the driver of SUV, but you can't fully condemn him a 100%. Did he ran over him on purpose, with an intention to kill? Only he can say. You don't know how scary to be stopped by on the street, whether you have violations or not. Especially when have hidden bones in the chest. But knowing, unconfirmed, that the driver surrendered. Maybe he just panic, and that's the result of it.
Should the driver be jailed? Absolutely. The guard suffered injuries, because of what he had done. A lot of expenses will come out, that the poor man, may not afford. Hospital fees, lost of day's work, resulting to debt because of daily expenses. If he has family, schooling fees. The man should pay for damages, and be jailed to learn his lesson. But we can't judge him fully, that he ran him over with an evil intention. I think it's a result of panic, that he loses his mind. He needed to tried at court and let the judge examine by evidence, testimonies by witness and experts. Before we can fully judge that he really was trying to killed the man, or otherwise. But the action of him doing that is enough for him to be jailed, at least. And that's my opinion on this matter.
August 2019, James Corden, host of The Late Late Show compiled a video of him consoling his viewers, about different mass shooting. And on that day, another one happened. His first five words are, and here we are again.
And here we are again, now James Corden openly dismayed, and had lost hope, that nothing will ever change. And you can't blame him, they have been apologozing the farthest that I remember, was since Obama. Obama, Trump, Biden. Three presidents has come, and nothing changes. All these presidents are saying, after all has been said and nothing done, was our thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm not discounting the thoughts and prayers. But people expect more than that, since you are the most powerful person in the world.
But you can't fully blame the president, for doing nothing. Even if he pursues, but the Senate blocks, nothing will happen. NRA has them on their pockets, that they will never move a finger, even if something happens. Gun owners and enthusiast, will cite this if you debate them, The Second Amendment:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
But when was this written, 1791. America has just won the American Revolutionary War of Independence, against the British Empire. And by the year 1812, another war happened between them, that have resulted to the burning of the White House. If you are against a military power, like the British Empire. Then it's just right to keep and bear arms, for it's wartime, and you're against a big power. But that was then. Now you are the big daddy of the world. No one had dare to attack US soil, with the exception of Japanese and the Al Qaeda. Even Russia and China, will not dare to do that, despite their powers. No one will touch the US. Times have changed, and I think it's also time to change the Second Amendment.
What I'm trying to say is this. I'm not anti gun. But military grade weapons, should only be handled by the military, not ordinary citizens. Some may argue self-defense. One bullet to the knee, or the hand, is enough to incapacitate one person, from doing more harm. Automatics and semi-automatics, are not for self-defense. That's for mowing down people. It's a good defense for repeling an invasion. But in peace time, it should have no place. Sell it militaries that need them, that will pay you millions and billions for it. Not to your own citizens, that will only pay thousands, and will kill innocents just because he has nothing to do. Before I end I will quote the news about it.
19 children and two adults are killed in a Texas elementary school shooting, the authorities say.
UVALDE, Texas — A gunman killed at least 19 children and two adults on Tuesday in a rural Texas elementary school, a state police official said, in the deadliest American school shooting since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary a decade ago.
The slayings took place just before noon at Robb Elementary School, where second through fourth graders in Uvalde, a small city west of San Antonio, were preparing to start summer break this week. At least one teacher was among the adults killed, and several other children were wounded.
The gunman, whom the authorities identified as an 18-year-old man who had attended a nearby high school, was armed with several weapons, officials said. He also died at the scene, they said.
“He shot and killed horrifically, incomprehensibly,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news conference.
As terrified parents in Uvalde waited for word of their children’s safety and law enforcement officials raced to piece together how the attack had transpired, the mass shooting was deepening a national political debate over gun laws and the prevalence of weapons. Ten days earlier, a gunman fatally shot 10 people inside a Buffalo grocery store.
“This is just evil,” Rey Chapa, an Uvalde resident, said of Tuesday’s killings while using an expletive. Mr. Chapa said his nephew was in the school when the shooting took place but was safe. He was waiting to hear back from relatives and friends on the conditions of other children, scrolling through Facebook for updates. “I’m afraid I’m going to know a lot of these kids that were killed.”
Across the street from the school, state troopers were scattered across the school lawn and an ambulance idled with its lights flashing. Adolfo Hernandez, a longtime Uvalde resident, said his nephew had been in a classroom near where the shooting took place.
“He actually witnessed his little friend get shot in the face,” Mr. Hernandez said. The friend, he said, “got shot in the nose and he just went down, and my nephew was devastated.”
In a brief address from the White House on Tuesday night, President Biden grew emotional as he reflected on the attack and called for action, but did not advocate for a particular policy or vote.
“It’s just sick,” he said of the sorts of weapons that are easily available in the United States and used in mass shootings. “Where in God’s name is our backbone, the courage to do more and then stand up to the lobbies? It’s time to turn this pain into action.”
Mr. Biden later added, “May the Lord be near to the brokenhearted and save those crushed in spirit, because they’re going to need a lot.”
The shooting took place on Election Day in Texas, as voters across the state headed to the polls for primary runoffs that would set the stage for the November election at a time when the state and the nation have been riven by political disagreements over race, immigration and abortion.
As the deadly toll became known, the events at Robb Elementary School immediately brought forth wrenching memories of the devastating 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Conn., that left six staff members and 20 children dead, some as young as 6 years old. Six years later, a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Lydia Martinez Delgado said that her niece Eva Mireles, a teacher of fourth graders at the school, was among those who had died in the rampage. Ms. Mireles had been a teacher for 17 years, her aunt said, and was “very loved,” an avid hiker and took pride in teaching mostly students of Latino heritage. “She was the fun of the party,” Ms. Martinez Delgado said.
For many, the weight of the tragedy appeared to be compounded by its arrival so soon after a deadly mass killing of Black shoppers in a grocery store in Buffalo, in what was one of the deadliest racist massacres in recent American history. It had been the deadliest shooting in the United States this year until Tuesday’s killings in Uvalde.
Mr. Abbott said that the shooter was a resident of the same county where the shooting took place, that he attended high school there and that he had acted alone. He entered the elementary school with a handgun and possibly a rifle, the governor said.
It was not immediately clear whether the shooting took place in one classroom or several and officials did not release the names or ages of the students killed or of the teacher. At least three children — a 9-year-old and two 10-year-olds, one in critical condition — were taken to University Health, a hospital in San Antonio, for treatment.
Officials were looking into whether the gunman, whom they identified as Salvador Ramos, had been targeting the school or whether he ended up there by chance, according to a law enforcement official, who requested anonymity to describe the investigation that he cautioned was still unfolding. The gunman appeared to have crashed a pickup truck through a barrier at the school before heading inside, the official said. At least two law enforcement officials who had tried to engage the gunman were injured in the shooting, neither seriously, the official said.
Marsha Espinosa, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said at least one agent with the U.S. Border Patrol was wounded after responding to the shooting at Robb Elementary School. “Upon entering the building, Agents & other law enforcement officers faced gun fire from the subject, who was barricaded inside,” she wrote on Twitter.
Shortly before the massacre, a 66-year-old woman was shot in her home in Uvalde, the official said, and later airlifted to a San Antonio hospital with gunshot wounds. The official said the woman appeared to have been the gunman’s grandmother and had been shot before the shooting at the school; both shootings, and the connection between them, remained under investigation.
The shooting took place just after 11:30 a.m. For much of the afternoon, as word spread, anguished parents were instructed by the district to stay away from the school. “Please do not pick up students at this time,” the school district instructed parents, directing them to a local civic center. “Students need to be accounted for before they are released to your care.”
Ryan Ramirez told KSAT in San Antonio that he could not find his daughter, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, when he showed up at the school or at a reunification point at a civic center. “Nobody’s telling me anything,” he said, adding, “I’m trying to find out where my baby’s at.”
Even before much was known about the gunman, his motives or details about the weapons he used, the killings thrust the debate over gun control and Second Amendment rights back into the forefront of national attention.
Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut and an advocate for gun control legislation, said, “I think everybody here is going to be shaken to the core by this.” He added: “I have no idea how a community deals with this. There’s no way to do this well. Your community is never ever the same after this.”
The National Rifle Association is set to hold its annual meeting in Houston starting on Friday. Mr. Abbott is among the list of prominent Republicans slated to appear, along with former President Donald J. Trump and Senator Ted Cruz.
“Today is a dark day,” Mr. Cruz said in a statement. In messages posted to Twitter he said the nation had “seen too many of these shootings,” but he did not immediately call for any specific policy proposals to help prevent mass killings.
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat whose effort at legislation on background checks for gun purchases was blocked in 2013, said, “It makes no sense at all why we can’t do common-sense things and try to prevent some of this from happening.”
Joaquin Castro, a U.S. representative for Texas, described Uvalde, which has about 15,000 residents, as a “wonderful, tight-knit community.” In the neighborhood around the school, more than 40 percent of residents have lived in the same house for at least 30 years, census data shows.
Robb Elementary serves more than 500 students, mostly between the ages of 7 and 10. Roughly 90 percent of the students are Hispanic, according to district records, and almost all of the rest are white.
A sign hanging from the brick school building near the edge of the city center reads “Welcome!” and “¡Bienvenidos!” next to the school’s logo, a heart.
When I was a child. There was this ad that tend to look down on the Philippines, from the perspective of a balikbayan that came home to the country from the US. She was criticizing the crooked roads, pollution, beggars, and saying: Walang ganyan sa States. I don't remember what product is it anymore but the point is this. In my 32 years of life. I have yet to see mass shootings here in the Philippines. Yes there are terrorist attacks. But those are terrorist, who have extremist views. I mean we have still to this day, conflict zones, but at least they are combatants to combatants. Incidentally they are victims of crossfires. But again those are conflict zones, to be easily understood warzones. You expect it to happen their. But in an elementary school, of a rich country, and a rich state. And an eighteen year old, has to be the murderer? With the exception of what I have pointed out. I can proudly na walang ganyan sa Philippines.
The opposition has been soundly defeated last election, with both Presumptive President and Vice President, having an overwhelming lead against their co-candidates. And with the Senate composing of 11 pro-administrations candidates winning, and only one from the opposition. Also knowing the trend in the Lower House, most of them, that are not from the ruling party, they will jump ship.
If the trend would continue, will the opposition survive? It will depend on what they will do in the nearest future. And as of how they are acting already, their future is very bleak. And why did I say that giving Marcos a chance, is the only way?
Just look at the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The opposition attack him early on his term. Not giving him a grace period, that he deserved. Investigations started on the alleged extra judicial killings, so on and so forth. How did the voters saw this? They saw the opposition, as an obstructionist, and an usurper opposition. That they will do everything for Duterte to fail, and put Robredo in power. And that became very clear, on the midterm elections, where no candidate from their side won a seat in the Senate. And again this presidential and senatorial elections, only one from them came forth.
But what will be different from the Marcos and Duterte Presidency? Marcos' mandate was much larger, it was double Duterte's numbers. And I don't know if I'm right, please correct me if I'm not. Marcos is the first majority president, or if not, it's years, decades since the Philippines have one. Again I'm not really sure of that. But I voted on two Presidential Elections, PNoy, whom I did not vote, and PRRD. both of them won by plurality, and not majority. It's the first time that I have seen a majority win, with an overwhelming lead.
But what does it mean? It means that Marcos has a larger base of voters. It means that he has endorsing power. If the opposition, will antagonize him too early, repeating the same mistake they did with Duterte, they will be politically eliminated. That's why I am saying that they should give him a chance. A chance for what? Everything, but especially to fail, without opposition's insinuation.
I mean it's like this, if you attacking, hindering him, early on, and he fail. He can now pinpoint the opposition, as the cause of it. And people are inclined to see it that way. However if you don't unnecessarily attack and hinder, then he failed, the blame is on him. Just like Duterte, he wasn't all ups and highs. But he was attacked too early, that the later accusations, didn't matter. Was only seen as useless politicking.
But these strategy has pro's and con's. Pro's if he will fail, the con's if he succeeds, now more people will flock to him. And as of what the opposition is doing lately, they are about to do the same mistakes, they did with Duterte. I'm not saying that there will be no more opposition. That will only happen, if we became a dictatorship, as they feared. I saw the Red Cliff movie, and have come to like this quote, in the context of my blog. From division comes unity, from unity, division. This alliance of the incoming administration, will eventually crumble. But if they will kept it, just a little longer, a certain faction, particularly the Liberal Party, might ceased to exist, or the very least be politically insignificant. That is if they will not heed my advice. But then again, who am I, for them to listen.
Although I promised, that I will post a prediction formula, that will see who will win this Presidential Election. It's too obvious that he will win, and he did by an overwhelming lead. I will post the chart, and we'll see if I have time to post it in the near future. Although it's now a hindsight, and not a prediction anymore.
But could VP Leni, have a chance? I think not. Maybe with a smaller lead, by the frontrunner and not this wide. And why I am blaming the supporter's especially, of the defeat of the VP, against the former senator, whom she defeated when they last face each other on an elections? Let's enumerate.
It's not also, that VP Leni has no faults of her own. Like I've said before, politics is a combination of many things. One of them is being subtle, she directly oppose Duterte from day 1. Not giving Duterte a grace period as a newcomer, that past Presidents enjoyed. In turn, his based harden on their support, and saw the opposition as an obstructionist, and usurper opposition. Even if they throw heavy rounds of accusation as the days revealed, the support didn't wind down. And it became very obvious in the midterm elections, that they have little support, and Duterte has massive one.
Adding to that is the grievance, of the supporters, of the now presumptive-President, Bongbong Marcos. Because of the loss of their bet on the VP race, because of an alleged rigging of the results.
Now at the start of the campaign. Why do I blame the supporters? Because they exalted themselves, as the superior voters, for voting the right candidate as they perceived. Calling the others, that are not with them stupids, enablers, etc. Things that are not pleasant to someone's ears. And phrases like, let me educate you.
First of all, you should exalt your candidate, and not yourselves, meaning the supporters. And second of all, elections is a numbers game. It's not about who has superior voters, in terms of being right, had credentials, knows all, holier than thou, but with the superior number of voters. It's addition, not tribalism. You should have learn your lesson in the midterms, that acting like that, will not win you elections. But you have to repeat the same mistakes of 2019, to this much more crucial 2022 elections.
And that's what you get. Not that VP Leni deserves it. She, as a candidate, in campaign, is just fine. Messaging, planning, all is good. But the supporters, ruined it for her. I don't think that she can win, but the gap will not be that wide. And it's not all of her supporters. But the extremist and the loud ones. They even ask out of nowhere who is your candidate, and if it's not her, they will try to convert you on the spot. Again with a not so good communication. They dissuade, instead of convince.
Again, not that VP Leni deserves to lose. But those loud and extremist supporters, that are holier than thou, may very well deserved this, not really an upset. She was never in the lead, from the beginning. Especially those who disown relatives, cut ties with friends, just because of this election. Especially your parents, who brought raised you to the world, and you will disown just because of politics? It's not worth it. It's just an election, and they are just politicians, who you may have not touch their hands. Again it's not all of you, on the pink side. But some of you, really ruined her.
Learn your lesson. Change your approach. And someday you might comeback into power.
Did everyone saw Spiderman: No way Home? Unless you downloaded it illegally, you already did? But if you want to watch it, on cinemas, you can't. Because of the MMFF. Yet, despite not having such a competition, all of the entries tank in the box-office. Why did it happen?
The elephant in the room is, the COVID situation, that where we still are in. Even though you can watch on cinemas, it is still not on full capacity. Families who might watched the movies, might get separated watching certain movies. So why watch, if you can't bond.
The other thing is, this might be a No Way Home Protest. We are the only country in the world, that can't watch the said movie. And all because of what? Of a certain eight films, that are below of quality?
Then a producer, expressed her frustations, at the awards night. Atty Joji Alonso said: “Para po sa nagsasabi na, "Sana hindi na natuloy ang MMFF at mauna na po si Spider-Man,’ pakihintay na lang po sa January 8, please in the meantime, tangkilikin naman po natin ang pelikulang Pilipino, Sobra-sobra po naming pinaghirapan lahat ang paggawa ng mga pelikulang ito. Sana naman po huwag niyo naman kaming pabayaan kasi this is for everybody. Paano na lang po tayo ‘pag wala nang gagawa ng pelikula? Please support Filipino films.”
Her statements, met a lot of bashings and criticism, like make quality films and don't beg for it. And, not because it is a Filipino film, we will just patronize it. For me the the criticisms was right. For so a long a time, MMFF are producing garbage movies, like the Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda movies. And I'm sure that the consuming public was fed up by the SOS, same old shit. Then the pandemic hit, and people, despite wanting to go out, will still not take the risk. I think the Filipino audience, is getting more intelligent in movies, and demands quality. But the local industry, is not evolving with it. That's why people are not patronizing local movies, and prefers international films. Not because they are not patriotic, but because it's just not quality, and worth the money and time.
But what is quality? Is it only the equipment used? Of course it is, but it's not only that. The most important is, the story. Like I said the stories are SOS. The titles are the only one that is changing, but the stories are the same. I don't like comparing our films to the Korean films, but yes. Koreans makes a lot of movies, that are not the same, there is always new to offer. Us, SOS.
Another thing is the casting. Not because one is famous, he/she or they for the PC's of gender identity, is that they will be the lead to do a movie. I think only those who can really act should do a movie. And most importantly, those who can really direct and write scripts should do a movie, and not everyone. There was a director, in an interview saying that once they made a movie, with no script, and just let the lead do the flow, for he is a comedian. And she's proud saying it. That director should not make movies anymore. Be banned for eternity.
The only good thing about this MMFF is that there is no Vice Ganda, and Vic Sotto movies. But I think, once the restrictions further relaxed. They will come back. The summary is make quality films, and don't begged for sympathy something. That's all.
Recently President Duterte and Secretary Tugade, unveil new wagons for MRT 7. Then I saw on Tiktok, a commentary from Vice Ganda on his show, Showtime. Because we are paying taxes, there is no need to thank officials, if they are erecting infrastracture like bridges, roads etc. Because it is their duty. Is the comment coincident? I think not. It's public knowledge, that there is no love lost, between ABS-CBN and the Dutertes. And Vice Ganda is a voluntary mouthpiece of ABS-CBN.
But is it right to not thank officials? Even President Duterte said. It is your money, don't thank us. Let's put President Duterte, out of the equation for a while. If you don't thank the person, who did you favor, render you services, you're a bad person. When you pay someone for services rendered, it's a form of thanks. If you don't pay someone, for services rendered, you're a bad person. And you might end up in prison. Duterte is not even asking, and he is rejecting the thanks and the praises. But he is the one who did, along with the people he instructed. So he has the right to reject thanks. But if you are in the receiving end of the projects done, and you're not thankful. Then you're an ingrate.
And imagine this. Imagine he had not done it. Which is not very hard to imagine. Some of the plans that they implement are of Marcos era, and is only implemented now. Now 2021. 1989, when he was ousted in power, how many years have passed? 30 plus effing years! And we are only about to connect the whole country by trains and roads, while other countries are destroying and repairing infrastracture, because of old age. Does President Duterte, deserved a little thanks? Of course, yes.
I know what ABS-CBN is doing. You are swaying the public to not support his candidate this election. But your efforts are in vain. He is not perfect. But he has done more, than the most Presidents, post Marcos, on infrastracture. Even in military weapon's upgrade. So a little thanks, he deserved. Not thanking is a deed done, by bad persons.
After the substitutions brouhaha. Now this. Duterte is saying that he will not endorse Marcos' candidacy for the presidency. For he will choose Bong Go. That I understand. But to attack Marcos, with and old song, saying he's this and that. That I don't understand.
Marcos, is not particularly adversarial with Duterte, but very supportive. Even promises to continue, what good Duterte has accomplished. Yet the President, quipped that there is a candidate that who is, or who has used cocaine. The clue was, he has a prominent father. Who among the candidates, has a prominent father, none other than Bongbong Marcos?
I think this is a very bad move. That the administration has split, rather than unite. The trajectory is, if he will not be disqualified, Marcos will assume the presidency. It's not wise to fight him. I am sure there will be vengeance, for those who had put them down through the years. If the situation will not change, Duterte might be included in the list.
I also don't particularly agree, that he is a weak leader. If not, Ilocandia will give up on the Marcoses. But they don't. And he is on every disaster response, at least according to his Youtube channel. In Yolanda, one of the few national and local officials that has come into region was Marcos. And the other was Duterte.
As Robin Padilla has said. This is only politics. BBM's and DDS are supposed to be allies not rivals. And as he said, the only ones that's will be benefiting this, are the enemies of this administrations. I really think this is an unnecessary fighting, and a very bad move. If it's a fake to lure someone, still not good. And I really don't understand this fight.
Was anyone confused as well with the substitutions bruhaha? I think, I am not alone in this one. Last week, Inday Sara finally revealed her bid to the vice presidency of the country. Cementing the BBM-Sara tandem finally. And you think it's over? No. Bong Go, also substitutes to run for President, with the endorsement of President Duterte. Plus their are rumors that the President might run as vice president. Which was finally put to rest this Monday, when it was revealed that he will run in Senate.
Historically speaking, Duterte was not the first to downgrade from the highest position after his term. Not going far, was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Who, the same with Duterte, ran for office as a member of the House of Representatives in her district, immediately after the expiration of her term as President. But the one, with the most synonymous of situations was Jose P. Laurel. Although he didn't run after his term. For after his term, was the end the war. War meaning World War 2. And he was by Americans and some Filipino's alike as a Japanese corraborator. He ran for Presidency against Elpidio Quirino in 1949, and lost. In 1951 he ran, for senate, garnered the biggest vote. Would Duterte outspot the current no. 1 in the survey, Raffy Tulfo? We'll see.
For the longest time, the president warned his daughter, not to gun for the Presidency. Yet in the recent interview, with Banat By, he said that, why ran for VP, when you are no. 1 in the surveys? You said to not run for the presidency, and technically the daughter is just obeying the father. Banat By, worded it wrong, that someone is dictating on him what to do. What Thinking Pinoy is saying, is that there is what they called Cordon sanitaire. Politically it means, non-cooperation, which is not practiced by the Duterte's. Medically, simply means quarantine. Non contact with others. Which I started to believe that there is. I think there are people, within the inner circle of the President that don't want Sara to succeed the Presidency, after her father. That's why, as Thinking Pinoy is implicating, they are preventing the father and daughter to talk, and strategized. And now we had this, Bong Go and Bongbong both running for the presidency. And Inday Sara was for vice presidency.
What was the missed opportunities? History was the missed opportunity. Sara would have been the first elected female President, due to her immense popularity. But what about Cory and Gloria? Cory assumed the Presidency through a revolution. Gloria on the other hand, also through a revolution, and her second term, well. Many believed, she didn't really win that election. And as Susan Roces have said, "you have the stolen the presidency, not once but twice"
Another missed opportunity was, a Duterte after Duterte presidency, had she ran and won. And if she will do well, there would have been another Duterte in the waiting. A Duterte after Duterte, after Duterte. I am not saying that it is for the good, but it was a missed opportunity.
Many are still saying, that the President are still not showing all his cards. Maybe, or maybe not. We'll see. After the COMELEC finalize the list of the presidential candidates. I will put out a prediction, on who will win this Presidential Elections. Basing on a certain formula.
I was just gonna talk about Bongbong Marcos possible and logical retreat. But a development has happened just yesterday. Manny Pacquiao has met with the President. But there are no clear statement, on what they talking about. Then Salceda said that, Let Manny announce himself. What does that mean? No one knows for now. But it looks like that, Manny is going to retreat too.
Chavit Singson predicted that if Manny will fund his own campaign, which is likely, is that he will lose big financially. Just like in the past presidential election. The entire election only revolves around 3-4 candidates. In the past, the predictions only revolves around Duterte, Roxas, Poe, and Binay. Santiago was not even on the equation. Now it only revolves again around 3-4 candidates, Marcos, Robredo and Moreno. And with the recent happenings, Duterte-Carpio. Pacquiao and Lacson is not even on the equation. But unlike Pacquiao, Lacson might have sponsors, or at least use crowd funding. Pacquiao is likely to use his wealth to get his campaign going. And from this point up to the elections, it will be some huge expenditures. And as Chavit pointed out, Pacquaio has no stable source of income, other than boxing. And he retired already. Maybe Pacquiao have heard what Chavit is saying, and talk to the President about possible withdrawal from the race.
Now let's go to Marcos. He has some huge support, yes. Yet he also has huge detractors. And they filed a case for his disqualification. Although his lawyers confidently stated that the case will not push through. His candidacy is walking on a thin ice. If he's really an administration candidate, and a friend of the Duterte's. Why not withdrew, and totally support Inday Sara's bid for Presidency? It's a win-win situation if he do that.
Many things are still to happen from now on. And let's continue watching the development of this election. I hoped they will heed my advice. Or they are already doing it in silence, and I'm just an idiot blabbering things.
Just this afternoon, a series of withdrawals of candidacies happened in Davao City. First was Sebastian Duterte, withdrawing his bid for the election of Vice Mayor of city, as per instruction of Mayor Inday Sara. Later, the mayor withdrew her bid for the election of Mayor of the City. This only means one thing. The eagle will fly, and go national.
But what will happen next? No one knows at the moment. But the path is narrowed. Either it's Vice President or President. The problem will arise if she goes for President. If she chose that, will Marcos give way?
For the administration to win, he has to. But will he? Because here are the dynamics at play. Marcos has a more solid vote territory than Inday Sara. Balwarte, in Tagalog or Spanish. Inday Sara will not enjoy the Solid Mindanao, that her father carried. Just here in the Davao Region, she made political enemies. Remember Pantaleon Alvarez, who was ousted as the Speaker of the House, with her pulling the strings. He will not carry her, that's for sure.
Scandal wise, Marcos has a lot of dirt with him. A lot of people still hate him, for what happened thirty years ago, or more. Inday Sara on the other hand, has less scandals, compared to him. But the same people that hated Marcos, are hating the Dutertes.
Another thing that is on play, Inday Sara has options on substitution. Whether it's Senator Bato or Senator Go. All she need to do is jump to PDP Laban, and that's it. Marcos on the other hand, has no one to substitute if she chose to run for VP again. Technically, he can jump to PDP Laban as well. But PDP-Laban is the also the party, that carried Cory Aquino to run against his father back then. It might be awkward for both PDP-Laban and Marcos to join forces. But again, the probability is low, but not zero.
So what will be the combination? Marcos-Duterte, or Duterte-Marcos? Either way, there is very high chance of victory. The worst case scenario, is they both run and no one give way. Then either Leni Robredo or Isko Moreno, snatch the victory.
For them to win, they need to unite, and need to do it fast. I don't want the other candidates to win, for they are establishment candidates. And others had communist sympathies. So let the North and South unite.
I myself had my second dose of my vaccine, just a week ago. Then IATF announced the lowering of quarantine status to alert level 2. I can't particularly remember what the status was before. But after that announcement, a lot of restriction was downgraded.
Examples are, removing of barriers from public vehicles. Allowing of minors to go with their parents in malls. Face shields are now optional, In my city, liquor ban was lifted. But as a considered fully vaccinated, because of my two doses, and a homebody, I'm still scared of what is going on.
As of my writing this, Philippines is still on the 50-60% vaccination rate, with only 30+ percent being fully vaccinated, meaning those who have the second dose already. Which only means, there is still 70% who doesn't have the full vaccine protection, which is not a 100% immunity against COVID. 95% at best, 60+percent the least in efficacy rates. Which means it prevents you getting severe symptoms, hospitalizations and worst case scenario, death.
And children are out now, most of them are not vaccinated yet, and we are freeing them. Letting them go to malls etc.
Don't get me wrong, I am in favor in some of relaxation of restrictions for the economy, but it should be gradual and not drastic. And I'm thinking it is being done, because of the elephant in the room. The coming elections.
The news is like conditioning the masses, that it okay to go out now. Health officials and personnels are skeptic. And knowing Filipino's as the saying goes, kung makalulusot, lulusot. And it's not even lusot. They are giving a lot of allowance and leeway.
Elections are important, but not as important as health. How can you vote when you're in the hospital, or someone you know is. Remember that vaccines are not 100 immunity, and we are not all vaccinated. As a saying that I saw in memes said. The probability are low, but not zero. I hoped that the lowering of the guard, doesn't result in something bad, and I'm wrong. But most of the time, they do. Again, I'm hoping I'm wrong.
Anyone who had watched Squid Game, may have notice a fellow Filipino, especially on the episode where the players play the deadly tug of war. In the show he was Player 276, but in the real world he was Christian Lagahit.
His interview is trending nowadays, because he revealed a bad experience of racism, of South Koreans, when sometime ago he rode a bus. He was thrown a cabbage by an older lady, because she believes that foreigners are bad people. And other people in the bus are apathetic to him. I'm summarizing his interview. To watch his full interview, check the video of Asian Boss below.
I am not in denial of the racism, existing in South Korea. It always present with nations who achieved progress. Every nation who are rich, most of them have racist feelings with contempt to other races that are not that developed. It's always like that.
But you have to remember also, that the Korean peninsula, suffered brutal invasions and occupations by foreign powers all throughout their history. With the most recent, being Japan. So you have to take into context, that the older generations, will not be too trusting with foreigners.
Are these the majority of their people? Maybe, but still not all of them. Would I stop watching K-drama's/movies/ or stop listening to Kpop because of this? No. Because the alternative is shit, and not even doing anything to improved themselves. In fact, Ang Probinsyano is still airing, with the story that's going merry go round, and eventually to shit, or is shit already. Their thousand episodes, is not even comparable to an episode of Squid Game.
What I just wanted to say is, hating Koreans on social media, would not make them good people. Hating them would just prove them right, from their perspective. And I'm worried, that it will start another social media wars, between Koreans and Filipinos.
So what should we do about it? Prove them wrong. Constantly do good unto them, instead of retaliating with bashing. If we do that, they may have a about face of doing bad to us. Don't resort to cancel culture. Cancellation, begots bigger cancellations. It's a long fight, and with maybe no end, but it's a good just fight. While in this world and alive, it's not worthy to make enemies, especially those that we can be friends with. That's all for today.
Kim Seon Ho is on very hot water, because of the controversy of abortion. He admitted and apologizes to the accusations of his ex girlfriend, that she was forced to abort their baby, at the time. Because of that endorsements were pulled, his castings were cancelled, and he had to leave the show 2 Days and 1 Night.
My short opinion on the matter, even if the accuser was on the right, their will be suspicions of vengeance. I mean why now, when he is riding high? The only good thing is, they let Hometown Cha Cha Cha finished airing first. Else people will have been troubled replacing him. Editors will have a hard time editing the show, and will have trouble reshooting scenes, that were already shot. Just like what happened to Kim Jisoo, not the BLACKPINK member who has the same name, but the male actor.
But did you know that Kim Seon Ho was not the first person to leave the show because of a scandal? In the first place, He and the others were there, because the cast of season 3 left, of some reasons. I will put a list of some former members who left the show because of controversies.
Kang Ho Dong, left the show on September 9, 2011, and temporarily retired from show business due to allegations of tax evasion, leaving the show with five members.
MC Mong, has been put on hiatus and did not take part in the filming on September 17, 2010 due to the investigation of his mandatory military service. The producers had made an official announcement that MC Mong's appearance will be deferred until a final judgment has been made and the rest of the five members will continue filming during his absence. Taking into the account of the viewers' feelings and opinions, the episode set to be aired on September 19, 2010 will edit MC Mong's parts as much as possible. This trip will be broadcast in one episode (instead of the usual two episode). They had already started editing MC Mong's parts since the September 12, 2010 episode. It has been confirmed in December 2010 that he has been banned from KBS.
Jung Joon-young. On March 11, 2019, in the midst of a huge scandal concerning non-consensual filming during sex and covert distribution of said illegal videos (which sprung off in the midst of an earlier ongoing scandal that erupted in January 2019 concerning former Big Bang member Seungri and his Gangnam club Burning Sun), Jung Joon-young was identified as an active participant due to leaked KakaoTalk chatroom messages of which he was part of (speculation is also rife in connection to his earlier October 2016 scandal with an ex-girlfriend). A day later (March 12), the show's production team decided to permanently remove Jung Joon-young as a cast member, with KBS subsequently banning him from all of the station's programming.
Kim Seon Ho. He was removed from the show on October 20, 2021 after admitting to coercing a former girlfriend into an abortion. His remaining episodes will be edited to feature him less, similar to MC Mong in season 1.
Uhm Tae Woong was also involved in a sexual assault scandal in 2016, which was proven false, but still considered immoral, because he was married, and had a sexual relation with his accuser. Although the accusations surfaced, way after he left the show. But because of that his former appearance on the show, even the placards which was captured by cameras, with his face were blurred. Blurring is a practice in shows, especially variety shows, to hide faces of former members or certain celebrities, who had appear on their show or if they want to show a clipping, which that certain celebrities had a ongoing cases in court, or were involved in controversies. Controversies may not be criminal, but considered immoral.
That's why i asked the question, is the show cursed? Are they still among those who are still there, who has a ticking time bomb of controversy waiting to happen? I hope not. I want this season 4 members to grow old with the show. Just like with Running Man, and Infinite Challenge. Many people are watching them, and I hoped that Kim Seon Ho, will be the last to have this kind of controversy.
