Fiesta Fever

It's Fiesta in Tacloban today and as per tradition, the day will be celebrated with parades, food and entertainment of all sorts. And for the first time, I will be going to a friend's house to engage in "pamatron." Well as they say, enjoy the day while it lasts.

From Pilipinas to Filipinas: The Senseless Mockery of History and Prudence

The Komisyong ng Wikang Filipino recently released a memo in which the name Pilipinas will be replaced with Filipinas. According to the commission, the change is in line with the changing dynamics of the Filipino language. I DISAGREE.

While indeed the Filipino language is an evolving language, the name "Filipinas" is just too Spanish, too foreign, and too inappropriate for the way Filipino languages are actually spoken! First of all, the national language of the Philippines is rightly called and spelled "Filipino" to reflect its goal of assimilating all the Philippine languages into its fold as well as adopting many words of foreign origin, particularly English and Spanish. However, the name of the country in Filipino should not be changed to "Filipinas" for the following reasons:

1. Keeping "Pilipinas" is keeping our original pronunciation of the country as it is comfortably spoken by Filipinos. Keeping "Pilipinas" is keeping one of the last vestiges of our history intact. "Filipinas" was never and will never be comfortably spoken by the "masang Filipino."

2. The culture, language, history of the Philippines can properly be called "Filipino" to reflect the dynamism and living nature of our collective past, present and future.

3. The name of the country however, should remain "Pilipinas" to preserve a delicate vestige of ourselves, that is, we really do not have an "F" in any Philippine language. Keeping the "P" is keeping true to our way of pronouncing things, at least on the aspect of our country's name.

4. Finally, I do not believe in the KWF rationale that changing the name of "Pilipinas" to "Filipinas" is in keeping with the dynamics of modern Philippines, indeed, we already did that by calling our language, our culture, our way of life "Filipino." Let us keep that one last vestige of our original speaking nature - that is crucial to provide an anchor for moving on with the dizzying pace of modern life.

The KWF's reasoning on the matter is poorly thought of, lamelessly expressed and frankly, intellectually absurd, not to mention bankrupt.

LET US KEEP "PILIPINAS" but move on with "FILIPINO," our language, our culture, our people, our life.

Tinkering Chimes

chimes dancing
tingling in the air
swaying with the wind
chirping with the birds
yawny afternoon
days slowly folding
quiet broken
tinkering chimes

Secrets to Happiness

I think it is fair to say that everyone seeks to be happy. Indeed, human beings do the things they do to achieve, at least in their views, what for them constitutes happiness. Self-disciplined people are viewed more often with disdain and pity, the average person will consider a disciplined person as lackluster, boring and plain to say the least.

A recent study however revealed that disciplined people are happier than most perceive. The secret lies in not only sense of self-control and the ability to delay gratification, but  most of all, it is in their ability to avoid situations that would put temptations up front in the first place. Since disciplined people, according to the study, avoid situations in which conflicting interests, like say, eating sugary foods and the risk for developing diabetes, they are more at peace and in peace about their lives. By avoiding situations that could create unpleasantnees in the first place, disciplined people have already a happy situation.

This is clearly an eye-opener for me, for indeed, it confirms the age old saying, especially propounded by the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, that life is what we make of it. The philosophers of long ago are indeed right, life is the choices we make.

Four Day Workweek Anyone?

I first started working as a 17 year old college kid. Work, as Marx would put it, is what makes man reach his potentials and enables him to develop himself creatively in the process, not only earning for himself money but most of all, a way for him to create his meaning and his purpose.

A recent article published on CNN.com explored the benefits of a four-day workweek. A company that employs such method reported better productivity, higher output, lesser sick leaves and most importantly, helps retain the best and most committed of employees, male and female.

However, it has its caveats, a four-day work week works best only if it is implemented on a company wide basis, as it leaves others feeling left out and neglected if implemented on a selective basis only.

I could not agree with the findings of the study. I think a four-day work week makes employees prioritize work, improves focus and most of all, ensures a well-rested, highly motivated work force. Why? Simply because employees know that they are given priority and that therefore they are expected to do their best for the time they are at work. Since they work only four days, they can always do personal business on a weekday, say a Friday, leaving them confident and therefore less prone to file false sick leaves just to make that appointment to the dentist for example, or mail that important package to an aunt - especially when post offices are closed on Saturdays.

In other works, a four day work week gives plenty of time for employees to do their personal stuff, attend to family and engage in a longer weekends, crucial for employees with growing families. Such scenarios leave employees therefore with a sense that they are not neglecting other aspects of their lives without sacrificing their professional careers. This in turn makes them more focused at work and less prone to absences.

I just hope that in the Philippines, proactive and dynamic companies will recognize the pros of a four day work week, and how such format can improve company productivity, employee morale and loyalty and most of all, retain quality employees. A boon for both business and workers alike.

Let Me

Let me be
let me crawl like a snake
run like a cheetah
fly like an eagle

Let me be
the thing I love to do
the work I have to do
the adventure I have to have

Let me be
the one that makes you see
the one that makes you laugh
the one that makes your day

Let me be
that thing you want to have
that toy you want to buy
that one you love to be with.

Fiesta Fever in Tacloban City!!!

With the approaching annual fiesta of Tacloban City fast approaching, a lot of activities are causing traffic to crawl to a snail's pace lately. The air is abuzz with fiesta fever as the people and the city government prepare to celebrate this year's city fiesta with shows, parades, bazaars and the like.

I actually can't wait for the Festival of Lights to happen. Unfortunately, last year was not a good year for me as I was not able to witness said event. It was supposed to be its debut appearance. This year though I am determined not to miss the event and will definitely take some pictures to immortalize the moments.

Truly excited!

A Primer on the Theory of Evolution

If there is one video about evolution that captures the gist, essence, message, and relevance of the theory of evolution none is more succinct, factual, creative, lively and interactive than this Youtube video made by a certain Qualiasoup and is simply titled "Evolution."

Hopefully, this video is passed on from person to person so as to clear misconceptions and distorted views on the theory.

Blue Night

Crumpled clouds
in gloomy night
Squinting moon
shivering chill
clanking trees
swaying grass
Silhouette of sparking white
bluish canopy
swooshing branches
Standing still
looking on
horizon of a blue night.

Fetal Masturbation?

Republican Rep. Michael Burgess, a OB-GYNE by training, recently pushed the idea that fetuses as young as 15 weeks old masturbate, hence, the move to push the ban on abortions up to 15 weeks old. The CNN article however cautioned that the science regarding such notion has yet to be comprehensively studied.

This is a very interesting field of study as it will show whether fetuses do indeed feel pain, and corollary, feel pleasure. The findings of the research on the said topic would open new avenues on our understanding of intra-fetal life and although I personally favor abortion, regardless of the reason the woman chooses, further studies and research on the premise would help us understand the dynamics of human fetal development which has implications for healthcare and ethics.

Piracy of Law Books

In as much as intellectual property should be respected and protected to the fullest extent of the law, law students across the Philippines are forced to turn to photocopied versions as publishing companies of law books are not able to adequately stock and supply the needed volume of copies.

To remedy the situation, publishing companies must be aggressive, proactive, and alert in ensuring that supplies of its most popular products are always at hand, when students, especially law students need them. They should coordinate with schools, send teams and communicate with students in order to have a comprehensive grasp of the books that are most in demand and in need. If they are able to do this, then law students will not be thinking about buying from unscrupulous individuals pirated copies of their books.

Unless publishing companies act with prudence and diligence, then they will naturally loose a lot of their business.

A Grave Social Injustice Committed by the SSS

I recently saw in the news a very disgusting and disappointing news, the SSS has just implemented a rule wherein those who would turn 65 need to complete at least 120 months of contributions in order to avail of lifetime pension, otherwise, such retirees will have to content themselves with a lumpsum payment. What is tragic about this story is that this is obviously unfair, unjust and plain insult to the thousands of Filipino prospective retirees who have to find ways to complete the required number of months in order to avail of their duly receivable pension.

This is plain travesty of social justice and common sense. You don't just change the rules in the middle of the game! This is something little children learn from the beginning. Aside from the fact that a multitude of SSS pensioners receive meager monthly pension as it is, implementing this 120 month rule is just adding insult to injury.

Millions of Filipino who will turn 65 this 2013 will be affected by such rule and will certainly add to their already bleak twilight years. The SSS should be reminded that there is enough funds from younger contributors, and that SSS contributions should have been used judiciously and creatively to bolster its finances and clamp down on erring officials who use SSS contributions, 98% of which are borne by minimum wage earners and salary persons, to enrich their personal pockets by depositing such money in seedy institutions that reward huge interests but leave nothing else for the future Filipino retiree.

The immorality of such policy should be pointed out and cause oriented groups should vehemently oppose such abusive, unfair and practically unjust ruling. Where is the Catholic Church on this issue? Can we expect it to push the issue in the same way its pushing against the implementation of the R.A. 10354?

Back to the Studies!!!

Yesterday we finally started with the new school year. A new day has again dawned on my educational career, hehe and I have to work my ass of as this is the most challenging semester by far in my law studies. The best wishes for me I confer!

Jibjab: Superstore for E-greetings

The dawn of the information revolution has seen a radical shift in the way people do things and none more so than the way we communicate with those dear to our lives than electronic cards. E-cards as they are so commonly known, have virtually eclipsed snail mail as the primary means we send our felicitations and wishes, sympathies and hopes to those that matter to us and none has made the experience exciting and fun as Jibjab.com

I have actually subscribed to Jibjab.com since a close family friend sent as an e-card and I have been hooked to the site ever since. It makes e-greetings fun, personalized and dynamic, not to mention convenient and speedy as well as cheap and readily available.

The site also offers periodic updates on its retinue of e-cards that are designed for various occasions in all age groups except of course the very young. It's a fun experience I will probably use for the rest of my life.

Syria Getting Hotter

The recent conclusion of the U.S. and Israel that al-Assad's Syria has finally used chemical weapons has resulted in the U.S. making commitments to send small arms to select rebel factions and groups.

Such event will certainly up the ante between the U.S. and its allies on one side and Russia and Iran on the other, a recipe that could drag the entire middle east into a prolonged overt and covert war that could last a few more years, even if the current Syrian regime actually collapses.

The brewing turmoil in the Middle East will not only affect world dynamics, it will also inflame simmering tensions already existing in various middle eastern countries. War is on the horizon then for quite a long time, a scenario that is always open to many horrifying possibilities, possibilities the world may not quite handle well.

Feline Candidate

Morris, a Mexican feline from the city of Xalapa catches the attention of local media and the world for his bold move to bring attention to the proliferation of corrupt officials in the city by running for mayor of said city!

Now what a way to import such idea on a massive, national scale here in the Philippines, were corruption is not just a profession, but a way of life, a cultural relic of centuries of Spanish and American patronizing culture that has irreparably corrupted Filipino culture beyond gruesome proportions.

Then again, corruption, after everything has been said and done, is a mindset. Only by changing perceptions and attitudes can radical change truly happen for the better, and as of now, the Philippines can use the inspiration of a Filipino Morris, maybe named Mario - the cat anti-corruption crusader.

The Wave

Nibbled by the lofty wind
Caressed to shore by the whispering sky
Lilting in graceful daintiness
Amid blue waters and scorching sun
Amid cool and moonless nights
Comes a creeping embrace
To the shore of waiting longing
And sleether to caress
Touching hearts of restless beings
Comes a wave to soothe us so.

Another School Year Begins

With the orientation for all law students being conducted this afternoon, it finally dawned on me that a new school year has begun, vacation has ended, time to set my thinking to study mode - big time study mode, and prepare for another challenging year ahead.

To the next school year, looking forward to new experiences, meeting new people, finding new avenues of creative expression and learning to be an ever better, astute, sharp and wholistic student, now let's cheer to that.

iOS 7 is Coming!!!

iOS 7 will be out into the market before the last quarter of 2013 and I cannot wait for it. The software will be more sleek, more simple, more functional and more user friendly.

This video and article will more than show everything there is to know about iOS 7's remarkable features.

Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?

Former contractor Edward Snowden has left the U.S. after revealing secretive information gathering techniques were used by the U.S. government through electronic means without judicial permission.

The question now remains, as with previous "leakers", is whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor. To answer the question, care must be exercised and context must be understood as to the circumstances of the information and its implications in a democratic society. The question then becomes: To what extent should democratic societies surrender privacy in order to serve the demands of public safety?

Without doubt, the post 9/11 world is fraught with suspicion, doubt and fear. Democratic societies are faced with the challenge of striking a balance between public security and personal privacy. In the quest to root out the offspring of racial hatred, religious bigotry and cultural misunderstandings, democratic governments has to have access to a great deal of information, information that is in our milieu stored in electronic format mostly through the internet in such popular media as Facebook, Yahoo, Google, Microsoft among others. The monitoring of such systems inevitably exposes personal information of a great many law abiding and functional members of society to abuse, exploitation and persecution.

"Leakers" such as Snowden reveal the covert extent of any democratic societies' government's activities against its own citizens, something anathema to civil libertarians who fear that such unrestricted programs could lead to the extinguishment of a free society.

On the other hand, democratic government's would insist that such moves are crucial and critical in order to save lives and maintain peace and order. Without which governments would be at the mercy and hostage of violent extremists who are wont to impose their own rigid ideologies or exact revenge on perceived sleights and sufferings.

In the Snowden case, the revelation of such program poses no direct threat against democratic institutions or endangers any lives. Neither does the content of the revelations, at this moment at least, adds advantage to terrorists nor does it imperil govenment initiatives in combating the same. Furthermore, in a democratic society, control of such information if left secret can embolden the government to engage in even more unpalatable acts that can ultimately undermine the very foundations of liberal democracy.

Snowden's acts is a reminder to all that covert acts are indeed needed to defeat and arrest violent elements that threaten the existence of liberal democratic societies, but in so doing, the government must be able to access information, a lot of it, from its citizenry, however, it cannot be kept secret as otherwise, it could undermine the very goal it is trying to achieve.

Full Fledged Bartender

Blue Lagoon, Pink Panther (left), and Margarita Lights (right)

I have been bartending since 2009, although I started out with friends and only during our gimmick outings, it became for me a passion and a hobby. Last June 7, 2013, I finally bartended a company party in honor of the wife of the owner of the company.

What really excited me to the June 7 event is that it was for me a first in so far as bartending to a group of professionals is concerned. Indeed, I was mixing drinks for 100 employees, including the officers of the company. Gaining such experience boosted my confidence and organizational skills as well as my creativity and decision making skills. I never thought bartending actually is more than just having fun, it's a way of life, a discipline to be mastered and a skill to be nurtured. Towards the end of the party, the Executive Secretary, who is a good friend of mine, gave me and my assigned assistant a cake-let, a fitting tribute to my first foray into the art and science that is bartending - my calling indeed.

COMELEC's Inconsistent Rulings

The COMELEC is reportedly trying to remove one seat each from Buhay and An Waray party lists. In the case of Buhay, which was previously declared by the COMELEC itself to be the highest vote getter for partlists and hence awarded three (3) seats, is now being demoted to just two (2) seats so as to give the same to Senior Citizens partylist. An Waray, which was previously declared by the COMELEC to be qualified to receive two (2) seats, is now being deprived of its second seat.

The current COMELEC seems to be indecisive, inefficient and practically lacks insight and prudence. It seems it is being run by people who are amateurs and buffoons, incapable of profound thinking and plain common sense. This can be evidenced by the early proclamation of the top five senators even though less than 30% of the votes has been tallied.

By planning rescind the one seat each for said parties when previous COMELEC acts deemed them to be due and proper only shows that the COMELEC is inefficient and incapable of meaningful reflection as to the consequences of their acts and decisions. No wonder the May 2013 elections were more of the same with regards to the quality of conducting elections, only that this time, the inefficiency is done through computers!

iOS 6.1.3 Dark Side

iOS 6.1.3 update is said to disable Wifi and Bluetooth capabilities of your iPhone so beware. I always get miffed at Apple's incessant prodding for endless periodic updates that are essentially minute twicks that could wait, say, a month or so unless such update will significantly improve the phones functionality and security. My fears about updating to a higher version of iOS from my dedicated version 5.1.1.

So to all iPhone users, beware and be warned of iOS 6.1.3's potential to wreck havoc on your phones very important fuctionality - Wifi and Bluetooth.

Cultural Schizophrenia: The Filipino Experience

I recently read an FB post complaining about how Google is more interested in one's language than one's country. The poster seems to imply that this is rediculus and superfluous. This is in response to Google adding Cebuano as a language beside Filipino in its search bar.

Threads spoke Filipino and Tagalog being essentially the same, another poster added, isn't this stupid? The FB complainer also compared Filipino and Tagalog as like renaming English to British. I was aghast, and all these coming from Filipinos!

First things first, Filipino is Tagalog, Tagalog is Filipino - at least for now. That is true! Without a doubt. However, Filipino and Tagalog are more than just verbal jousting, it is the story of the Filipino people's arduous struggle to conceive of a comprehensive and inclusive national identity in order to build a working democracy, a democracy that is still in need of a lot of working and a national identity that is anything but comprehensive and inclusive - precisely because the Filipino historical drama is filled with the rape and systematic bastardization of our consciousness as a nation, ensuring that external powers will be able to throw its weight around like a rampaging bull African elephant! Furthermore, the Filipino language is the struggle to incarnate a modern, flexible, and dynamic language that will shape a modern, flexible and dynamic people. Filipino is that desire, is that goal, is that longing to go beyond the cultural depravity that befell on the early Filipino people.

Second of all, Filipino and Tagalog cannot be compared to renaming English as British. Geez! Without being too pedantic, and at the risk of sounding brusque and callous, English lexicographically refers to the people, language, and culture of the inhabitants of England. British refers to a the people who inhabit Great Britain, an island composed of the nations of England, Wales and Scotland. British then is exclusively descriptive of a people, not a language, indeed, Wales have Welsh language and Scotland have Scottish Gaelic language. To equate Filipino and Tagalog as like renaming English as British smacks of intellectual laziness. At an age of technological proliferation, a modicum of academic credulity is but fitting and proper if one does not truly understand the implications of, not to mention the meaning of certain concepts. Plainly, such thinking is pure casuistry and sophistry masquerading as a legitimate intellectual certitude and is a clear manifestation that the very non-existence of a coherent national language as exemplified in Filipino and the so-called "Filipino youths" apparent aversion to such is an indication that the cultural hangover we had during three centuries of Spanish monastic rule and fifty years of American pop culture and pedantic brainwashing has ensured that we most likely will be a people hopelessly unsure of its essence, its direction, its goals and its dreams. Sad indeed and tragic at worst.

Syria's Crawling Violence

As of date, the violence in Syria shows no signs of ending. In fact, it is slowly creeping to its neighbors, with Lebanon clearly its next destination. The palpable presence of Hezbollah in the Syrian battleground is a virtual give-away in this increasingly violent and vicious civil war. In the last few days, bullets and bombs from both the Syrian Army and Hezbollah have been exchanged in Lebanon, and there is no sign that such will not be exported to other parts of Lebanon.

Once Lebanon is fully engulfed, the inevitable next target is Israel, although Hezbollah might not actually fire the first shot. However, the next Israeli airstrike into Syrian airspace might prompt a response from al-Assad, for to do so would mean kowtowing to the Zionist entity, something Bashar will suffer among the Arab world. But then again, the Arab world is divided between the Alawites and it's Arab brethren, with the FSA and other rebel factions being supported by Sunni Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while the Shiite Alawite ruling elite of Syria is backed by Shiite Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.

As long as Russia continues to supply top grade military arsenal to the Syrian regime, and so long as Europe is fragmented in its Syria policy and that it actually does not send arms to the rebels, despite its lifting after two years, will ensure that a stalemate will be maintained in the foreseeable future. In this regard, a stalemate will guarantee that Damascus will remain with al-Assad. Which also means that the civil war will drag on for the next year or two, until something radically different occurs - such as U.S. active military involvement, dim at best under the Obama administration.

If the war escalates to other countries, Jordan could be the next party after Lebanon and Israel. The U.S. has recently sent military paraphernalia to Jordan, a sign that once Jordan is dragged to the melee, the U.S. will too. Certainly, such event will prompt Russia to extend ever more military assistance to Bashar, and finally, a new front will open for American military intervention, unless Obama does not use his assets in Jordan. Which I doubt he won't, since such act would certainly cost the American president political points and haunt the Democratic party in the 2016 presidential elections.

Obama's paralytic response to Bashar's limited use of chemical weapons will only embolden the dictator to up the ante, and Obama will increasingly be shoved to a corner he might not be able to recover from politically. By then, he will have lost credibility among his allies and contempt among his enemies, by that I mean Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. This will fuel another round of brutality and violence the world will have to stomach in the foreseeable future.

Turkey Convulses: Istanbul's Taksim Square Protests

The buzz break in the news nowadays, a respite from a daily dose of Syrian orgy of violence, but no less heartwarming, is the protests rocking Istanbul. Youths from a largely secular side of the Turkish nation protested a few days ago against a plan by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's AKP party to build a mall, actually an Ottoman military barracks that doubles as a mall, on a park.

FP.com has a smorgasbord of articles written about the issues wringing Turkey at  this time, and how Erdogan is slowly undemocratizing Turkey over the years using of course the pretext that since he was elected with a strong majority, then he can do practically whatever the hell he thinks he wants.

Over the last decade, Erdogan without a doubt transformed Turkey into a shining, economically dynamic majority Muslim nation in a sea of autocratic Arab neighborhood. However, Erdogan also effectively stifled and emasculated Turkey's media, ensuring that the press only reports on the things he wants. In addition, he has used the state machinery to harass everyone and anyone who does not agree with him, ensuring a moribund opposition. Clearly electoral success has blinded Erdogan to the essence of democracy. He has slowly become a leader who only represents the religious Islamist side of Turkey.

Unless the Istanbul protests, which has spread to thirty other Turkish cities, somehow induces a much needed bout of self-reflection and analysis in Erdogan, Turkey will sink in into further protests and further chances of violent outbursts, which will in turn incite the government to apply even more harsher methods, which will then embolden the Turkish opposition as represented by the secular youths of Taksim, to mass around Taksim and the potential for a cycle of violence looms ever more clearly.

I am in solidarity with the secular protesters of Taksim Square. Only a secular environment can ensure that all ideologies gets to play in the democratic chessboard - a fundamental quality of any democratic nation.

The World's 100 Best Beaches (according to CNN)

Whereas North America has just ended the current school year and summer is now on the go, we in the Philippines has just about wrapped the summer season and will now begin school year 2013-2014. In view of the summer season in the U.S., CNN released the World's 100 Best Beaches as ranked by its staff. So there, we will know the preferred beaches of CNN staff, and there's nothing wrong with that, besides, its their "news" station.

Rounding up the top 25 beaches are two from the Philippines, El Nido in Palawan comes at No. 14 and Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley comes around at No. 10. While there are many unspoilt, unexplored and basically unmolested beaches in the Philippines, El Nido and Palaui Island comes across as the more popular. Based on the CNN rankings, it can be said without a doubt that the best beaches in Asia are indeed found in the Philippines!

Will arming the Syrian opposition be Good?

In a piece written for CNN, Anna Macdonald reports that the EU, effective June 1, will suspend the arms embargo against the transport of military weapons to any party in Syria that has been in place for the last two years. Russia responded by affirming its desire to send anti-aircraft missiles.

I agree with the spirit of Macdonald's assertion, that sending weapons to the Syrian opposition will not only prevent bloodshed, it will actually prolong the war in Syria and inflict even more hardships to the civilian population. I also agree that only a diplomatic solution will provide the best prospects for ending the war.

Arming the Syrian opposition, who are not immune to committing atrocious human rights violations against civilians, will only afford them and not to mention provide them, with the means to further inflict indiscriminate human rights violations against the populace. Besides, the Syrian opposition is not really a united and coherent force, which means that the weapons will not be used for its intended purpose, ending the violence, in the most effective and efficient manner. Instead, arming the Syrian opposition will provide various opposition players more ammunition to basically do what they want. The opposition is ruled by various leaders who have their own vested interests at heart, and such interests are not always carried out with due respect to civilian lives. The only uniting force that holds the Syrian opposition is their mutual hatred of al-Assad and desire to topple his government.

The frayed opposition receiving European arms, or any arms of international origin, will only mean that even if they are somehow able to topple the regime, the resulting power vacuum will ensure another bout of civil war in the quest to grab power. The variegated opposition in this nightmarish scenario will now use their foreign supplied guns to eliminate each other, all in the mad rush to hold Damascus in its clasp, with the end in view of ruling Syria.

Providing arms at the current state of  the Syrian opposition is simply counterproductive and unreasonable,  in large part because the EU would find it difficult to whom to give the arms to, the so-called Free Syrian Army is actually an umbrella organization for all opposition groups, and is not a monolithic group one would like to think. Indeed, the act of giving arms to the FSA will in itself cause friction in that groups will be vying to get the most number of weapons they could possibly grab. Infighting will only add more cracks to an already weak arrangement among its various sub-groups.

The diplomatic solution therefore is the very important and very reasonable alternative. Although it will be exhausting, as fighting would inevitably go on during the duration of its undertakings, at least it will provide a more stable platform in which all parties can have a voice, especially the opposition, which is made up of many mini-leaders, all with their own strategies and even interests.

In addition, as soon as EU weapons gets into the arms of the FSA, Russia and Iran will be even more motivated to supply a greater amount of weapons to the regime, only enflaming the war and ensuring that more civilian deaths and more refugees will pour in to neighboring countries. The drawing possibility of Lebanon being dragged into the war will become even more of a possibility. The Syrian Civil War therefore could open itself another front in which more and more foreign nations will become increasingly sucked in.

The EU should consider that its weapons could only incite further hardships, further suffering and further civilian deaths to an already suffering populace.

Sustainable Economic Growth for the Philippines

A recent report reported that the Philippines grew 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013, the fastest in Asia. Taken at face value, it was good news indeed. However, careful analysis will reveal that such growth has been achieved before, only to fizzle out for the next few years or so.

The Philippine economic growth has been Asia's least dynamic, in fact, the most sluggish in the last 50 years. For one, China had GDP of 10 percent of higher for more than 30 years straight, India grew at 7 percent or more for than 8 years straight. Closer to its neighborhood, the major economies of Southeast Asia like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had GDP levels of more than 7 percent for at least 10 years straight. The Philippines has never grown for higher than 7 percent for even 3 years straight!

The recent GDP numbers for the Philippines is not really surprising, and you need not even be an economist to figure it out. The recent May 13 elections would have been the power behind the surge. In fact, without election related spending, the economy would have barely breached 5%.  Although the aforesaid article mentioned growth levels of the different sectors of the Philippine economy, this does not in any way lend profound insights on the real cause of the stellar numbers (at least for the Philippines) for the first quarter GDP.

Even if it is true, and I really, really want to believe that election related spending was not even a factor (which is already a stretch of the imagination as by tradition and experience, the economy always surges during election time, the growth at best would have been another once in a year phenomenon. Come the second quarter, such feat would most likely not be repeated. Indeed, maintaining a growth level at 7 or higher for at least ten years is like praying for a miracle, this has always eluded the Philippines for the better part of the last 30 years.

A personality based political system, a culture of patronage and corruption, a rote and essentially an American based educational system not adapted, fit and relevant to Philippine conditions and poor infrastructure will ensure that such growth will at best be a spark in dark superstructure. Unless the country can sustain a GDP of at least 7 percent or more for at least 10 years that is inclusive and diversified, the Philippines will remain a wasted potential.

Much has to be done, much has to be changed, and much still seems to be the same repeating again. So again, the first quarter GDP is not much of a surprise - the Philippines has been there, done that - many times before.

MOVIE REVIEW: Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)

Oz (James Franco) is a stage magician and con artist who escapes on a hot air ballon after being pursued by a circus muscle head and after being carried away by a tornado lands on the magical land of Oz where he is seen as the long lost Wizard of Oz prophesied to unite the land and bring peace and prosperity. Oz meets Theodora (Mila Kunis) who brings him to her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz), the Wicked Witch of the East who now rules over the Emerald City. Theodora is smitten by Oz and believes him to be the real wizard. When Oz is sent by Evanora to kill the supposed evil witch Glinda (Michelle Williams) unbeknownst to Theodora, a tinge of jealousy brews which was exacerbated when Theodora sees Oz and Glinda getting along.

Oz realizes that Glinda is not the evil witch, and is in fact the Good Witch of the South and sets to help her retake the Emerald City, which was once ruled by a just and benevolent king until poisoned by Evanora, his own daughter. With the help of Quadlings, tinkers and Munchkins Oz sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he is indeed the long awaited Wizard of Oz. Using his skills as a magician and con man, he sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he will unite the land of Oz and expels Evanora and Theodora from the throne.

All throughout, Oz is helped by Finley, a flying monkey rescued by Oz from a lion and china girl, fixed by Oz after her village is destroyed by Evanora.

A remake of the earlier 1939 version, this 2013 issue is replete with moral and social insights that can enlighten and inspire, move and embolden and most of all, entertain and mesmerize. It speaks of the power of friendship, none other exemplified than that built by Oz and Finley and Oz and china girl. Indeed, the journey through life can best be endured and experienced I should say, when we have at least a few trusted and reliable friends, friends who will stick with us through thick and thin. And that friends, the true ones, come our way as we journey through life and we will find them in the most unexpected of circumstances in the most unusual of moments.

Another theme of the movie is the power of messianic myths. The people of Oz where told that a powerful and great wizard will one day arrive to unite and bring peace and prosperity to the land of Oz, when Oz arrives at the most opportune of times, the people of Oz believed that he really was the long awaited wizard. Sometimes such beliefs are exploited by selfish and egotistical persons, as Oz initially did, to enrich and empower themselves and their kin, all to the detriment of the societies in which the rule. Sometimes people are lulled into stupor to believe that only a certain person, only a certain type of person, can save them from their lot, but although Oz never was the great and powerful he is reputed to be, much less a wizard, he saved and united the land of Oz and liberated Emerald City - not because he was great or powerful, but because he made the people believed he was great and powerful, and such belief emboldened the people of Oz to make change itself happen.

Sometimes the people rely on external forces to create change, when in fact, the real power and the real force for societal change is the power of the mind of the people, their own views of themselves and their collective dreams and hopes for a better future is one that really, really has the power to change. Then again, maybe people like Oz are sometimes needed, if only to harness the peoples hopes into a force for change. I have not seen a movie in a long time which somehow externalizes the power of charismatic personalities - people who simply unite the people to bring change that the people can really do by themselves, if only they had the confidence and the wisdom to realize it.

This movie is one for the kids and the family, a great entertainment piece that provides joy as much as it teaches the viewers about the power of the mind to make things happen, and that the rapacious grab for power can and will destroy the humanity of each of us, and tear any family to pieces.

it is also rare for a movie nowadays to eschew sex and violence in its repertoire, and Oz the movie exquisitely does this with aplomb without diminishing its commercial value, not suprising since it earned more than USD 400 million in the box office, almost twice its USD 215 million budget. Kudos to the movie and the people who made it happen!