today is like doomsday in Metro Manila.

we get a Php 2.60/liter increase on vehicle fuel — MY GAWD!!!

we get a Php 4.00/kg increase on liquefied fuel.

we get a 10% increase on toll way fees (although kanina held in abeyance ang implementation).

we have the new VAT rates na.

home and sky cables changed their channeling (naku, hindi na "3 and 6" ang sigaw ng mga pamangkin ko for disney channel).

we are expected to have more rallies and political squabbles.

*sigh.

kris and i thought of three new causes we wanna propagate:

1. "Filipinos, fly our flag!"  we started displaying the Philippine flag outside our respective homes.  yes, our independence day celebration was almost a month ago already; but the Philippine flag should not just be in style during the 12th of June every year. we are not hard core nationalistic individuals.  but seeing our flag raised freely is one step in being reminded of our national heroes’ love and sacrifices for our country — a love which we hope to rekindle within us despite the seemingly hopeless state of the Philippines and acceptance of future sacrifice to fight for justice in the profession we are vying for.

2. "Ipagtanggol ang Middle-class — ang mga tunay na api!" We believe that the middle class is the real group that is oppressed and silently bearing the heavy load in this country.  the middle class is the most affected with upcoming increase in VAT because it is the people comprising this group who are the real taxpayers (mga hindi exempted at mga hindi malalakas at may kakilala para makalusot).  in addition, it is the middleclass people who truly feel the pain of fuel price increases as they, on the average, have vehicles used for daily transport (the upper class might not feel as bad because they have more money to burn and have hoardes of luxury vehicles that they should have known earlier on that maintaining so would be really expensive anyway).  moreover, our present Constitution and prevailing laws/legal procedure give great protection/exemptions to the allegedly oppressed lower classes; not so much for the real oppressed middle class. furthermore, the allegedly oppressed lower classes are very much represented by various people’s organizations; the middle class hardly have such loud groups. 

3. Hasten alleviating traffic jams in the metropolis!  we have a few suggestions to do so:

   a.

replace the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with a Special Metropolitan Political Subdivision that conforms to the one mentioned in the 1987 Constitution.  The extent of the latter’s authority should be similar to that of the MMDA’s — coordination of basic services — but with the additional power of enacting ordinances. Most importantly, the provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code of the  Philippines should govern this Special Metropolitan Political Subdivision to prevent the conflicts presently experienced by the MMDA.  We believe that the MMDA is truly needed in coordinating traffic in Metro Manila; but it cannot properly do the job if it is subordinate to the local autonomy principle of LGUs.

   b. review and republish as a comprehensive code all the traffic laws and traffic-related rules we have.  many people are ignorant of traffic laws/rules.  those who aren’t may nevertheless be under the belief that since most of the said laws/rules are old, they are no longer applicable (yes, we hatransportationve some Presidential Decrees still in effect because they were not repealed by any subsequent laws).  or some may beleive that since they are not technically driving a car, they are exempted to follow traffic laws/rules.  thus, with the new code, we can all be oriented of the discipline we should observe when using the highways/roads/streets/alleys for  purposes.  the orientation should include public utility vehicle drivers, private vehicle drivers, motorcycle drivers, tricycle drivers, pedicab drivers, and kariton-pushers!

all local government units should cooperate in this endeavor, rather than individually publishing their own traffic codes and confuse motorists who will be plying along highways encompassing about three to four cities/municipalities.

   c. the land transportation office (LTO), LTFRB, and traffic management group (TMG), should overhaul themselves — ditch the corrupt people and infuse real public servants who would see to it that  driver’s license should be issued only to competent individuals, clearances should be issued to real owners of vehicles that are actually capable of travelling the Metro Manila highways, and traffic violators are aptly punished.

with all these political bickering happening in our country right now, i idolize press secretary ignacio bunye even more (no sarcasm intended at all)!   his poker face and serene demeanor is just outstanding.  despite the irritating questions thrown at him (in malacañang and in congress) and despite the lies he has to deliver for the executive branch, he maintain s his cool and professional attitude/aura.  what a class!

quite recently, i have the same idolatry with congressman escudero.  i didn’t like him before due to his alliance with FPJ and the showbiz gang; but atleast he is an oppositionist who THINKS and lays BASIS for his statements —  now, that’s how an oppositionist should be.  i commend him for his initial reaction over PGMA’s public apology for the tape-scandal.  atleast he had the mind and decency to say that he has to think over what PGMA just said and plan the opposition’s next move; rather than jumping to non sequitur conclusions and immediately calling the president to vacate office.

i truly wanna emulate these two ‘coz i’m almost always emotional and transparent in my dealings. 

mabuhay si bunye at escudero!

yahoo:

1.  dean clv offered ticot and i access to the APS library.  we are now enrolled for pre-week (despite so commencing in August pa) and have our respective IDs so we can enter the library whenever we want. yahoo.

2. it’s my birthday soon (this saturday already) and some friends are gonna visit!!!

3. i went to Cash and Carry for groceries (hahaha, weird but i love buying groceries/supplies. i must have inherited this knack from my dad — he used to go to Cash and Carry almost everyday!).  i also went to SM to buy some needed home stuff and the hardware for some needed car stuff (ooohh, i love any hardware stores — totally weird but i love checking out tools, cleaning items, carpentry items, and other knick knacks!)

4. i just had a day away from my books.

boohoo:

1. price of fuel went up again and will soon go up once more. shucks, the price of an oil barrel is so high already kasi.  let’s all start walking and biking!

2. whoa! i’m gonna be 26 years old na!

3. all these comments of the opposition (especially lacson’s, legarda’s and most alleged people’s organizations) regarding the gloria tape issue are so non sequitur and irritating already (except escudero).  she had spoken about the matter, apologized, and appealed for unity.  so, either use the proper legal processes to oppose her or simply shut up if you’re just gonna spout more words of destabilization without any substantial basis (your own political ambitions, personal battle against the president, and illogical premises and conclusions are worthless!).   gawd, don’t let our economy suffer further.

4. i’m gonna go back to my books now.

arg. i’m so pikon for being accused of/blamed for something i wasn’t informed and actually left hanging about.

but then again, i calm myself ‘coz, i do live in berby’s world, don’t i? such happens!  haha.

speaking on being alone…figuratively.

we (ticot and i) recently spoke with CLV (our dean) on how we’ve been doing in our reviews and all.  in our discussion, we told him how we feel alone ‘coz our batchmates and friends are now living their respective legal professions; that it is tough to go through everything all over again but we have to set our minds that this September 2005 is a whole new ball game all together; that the stigma of failing is such a living nightmare.

what he told us kinda struck me:  that it is good that we feel alone.  we should embrace it and draw strength from it and from God.  pushed towards such feeling and recognizing it and being strong with it would drive us to study with so much focus and vigor.

i told him, yes, we might be nodding our heads while he spoke; but the doubts will definitely set in to what he said once we step out of his office. 

but thinking about it now, yes, what he said made sense. kasi wala nang iba pa akong magagawa pag-nag-iisa kung hindi mag-aral at isiping last na ‘to talaga.

…and i think that is how i’ve been coping so far (minus the religious aspect). 

although sometimes i think it is the dark side that is propelling me to move on — the hatred for what has happened (and the other stuff that had recently occured in my life) fuels me to redeem myself (and the principles i’m fighting others with). 

*sigh. what a battle within.

i filled up an personal information form two days ago. i was stumped with who to write opposite the number which asked for the name to contact (locally) in case of an emergency that would have involved me. 

so alone…

I am definitely a “Papa’s girl” and I am not embarassed to admit so J.  In fact, I loved it when my dad referred to me as his “junior”. 

During my younger years, I used to tag along with my dad wherever he goes.  I shined his shoes, ran errands for him, and did all what we both jokingly refer to as pang-si-sipsip, that I can think of.  He, on the other hand, was just as dotting…and more.  He raised my brother and I single-handedly, made sure we had everything we need (even if that meant he has to sacrifice his).  He read/told me afternoon nap stories (he must have recited “Jack and the Beanstalk” a hundred times over). He painstakingly brought me to all my ballet, kung-fu, and swimming lessons wherever/whenever they were.  He iced my physical and ego bruises everytime I got beaten up in Tae-Kwondo competitions.  He cheered me up whenever I tell him personal problems, academic woes, and petty girl-depressing matters. 

            However, come 2001, I was the one doing the cheering… I was cheering him to hang on as he faced another bout with the big “C”.

My father was diagnosed with cancer of the colon when I was in third grade.  I hardly understood then what the long hospitalization, the operation, and the term “chemoteraphy” meant.  All I knew was, my Tita Madre (the sister of my dad who is a nun) told me that I should pray very, very hard to God to make my papa get better.   After some time, we joke amongst our family that “nakulitan na siguro si God sa atin” because He miraculously cured my dad.  Instead of succumbing to the said terminal disease within the period estimated by his doctors, my dad was cancer-free for thirteen whole years! Until that severe tummy ache struck him almost four years ago. 

Initially, we thought it was just gas or indigestion.  However, several antacids and hot water bags later, his condition just worsened that he had to be rushed to the hospital.  After a few tests, his doctors gathered us to explain that his cancer recurred. Worse, the deadly cells already scattered and affected his stomach, his intestines, and other vital organs.  Moreover, he has a ruptured tumor that he would internally bleed to death if they don’t operate on him immediately.  The operation, though, is no guarantee for his survival. 

My world really crumbled that particular time!  I just can’t believe the situation.  It was so unreal.  What I could not understand 13 years ago is so painful to comprehend that moment. 

Acting on the urgency of the situation, we all decided to proceed with the operation.  My family and relatives waited outside the opeation room for an eternity because the surgeons had a hard time reaching the tumor as it was lodged at his back.  During the whole process, I could not stop crying.  I could not accept what was happening.  I don’t want to believe the terminal condition of my dad… 

The hospital discharged my dad on the 24^th of December 2001, just in time for Christmas — my family’s happiest and most truly blessed Christmas to date.

However, the year that followed was filled with numerous trips to the hospital, hundreds of chemoteraphy IV/capsules, millions of prayers to God, and unquantifiable last happy memories with my dad. On his side, he kept on trying to do his usual matters. He never complained of the pains he felt and braved all medical treatments that could be done on him.

Unfortunately, in the wee hours of the 29^th of August 2003, with me in-charge of the overnight shift at the hospital (my brother, aunt and some relatives take turns), my dad fell into a coma. Some hours later, he finally went back in the Kingdom of God.

It’s nearing his second year death anniversary.  To date, I still can’t believe he is no longer with us in this earth because despite his physical absence, he continues to let me feel his support and love. 

We, his children, are truly blessed to have had him as our dad.

the yellow band i wear on my left wrist is a LIVESTRONG band. others call such as "baller" bands; however, i like calling mine simply as it is — a LIVESTRONG band. i wear so not because i’m faddish nor am i telling the world i am sporty (i am definitely not).  my LIVESTRONG band is to show my support to the cancer foundation popularized by Lance Armstrong.

i support the said cancer foundation because the big C claimed the life of my dad in 2003. he had cancer of the colon in 1988, and after years of relapse, the same tormented him again in 2001.  the second bout was obviously not as kind as the first one. 

cancer is such a treacherous disease.  can really be painful.  and is quite expensive to battle.

my yellow band — my simple contribution in the fight against the big C.

UFO BABY:

Miyu is an 8th grade girl, whose parents have been hired by NASA. They take off to America leaving Miyu with Mr. Saionji. Later, Mr. Saionji decides to go on a 1 year long trip to India leaving Miyu alone with his son, Kanata. More complications rise when an Alien baby and his babysitter pet crashes/lands in their house. To make things worse, alien baby starts calling Miyu and Kanata Mom and Dad, also showing ESP power and floating around. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1290 CARD

CAPTOR SAKURA:

Sakura Kinomoto was an ordinary 4th grader until the day she opened a strange book and let dozens of powerful magic cards loose on the world. Keroberos, the Guardian of the Clow Cards, informs Sakura that it is now her responsibility to find and capture the freed cards. However, much to the reluctant Sakura’s dismay, things aren’t going to be easy for her. Simply saying magic words and waving her wand around isn’t good enough. Each card is a living, thinking, extremely powerful being. With the support of her friend Tomoyo and a young boy with powers of his own, she must learn how to use her newly awakened magical abilities to collect each card and prevent the disaster that will befall the world if she doesn’t. Sakura Kinomoto was an ordinary 4th grader until the day she opened a strange book and let dozens of powerful magic cards loose on the world. Keroberos, the Guardian of the Clow Cards, informs Sakura that it is now her responsibility to find and capture the freed cards. However, much to the reluctant Sakura’s dismay, things aren’t going to be easy for her. Simply saying magic words and waving her wand around isn’t good enough. Each card is a living, thinking, extremely powerful being. With the support of her friend Tomoyo and a young boy with powers of his own, she must learn how to use her newly awakened magical abilities to collect each card and prevent the disaster that will befall the world if she doesn’t. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=126