Sweet ( a 4 Romance segment)

SWEET, a story about a middle-aged couple, Shane & Waan. Shane is a hard-working architect, he is about to go a business trip which his wife, did not want him to attend. He told Shane he better not come back if he still go to the business trip, yet Shane still go, leaving Waan alone. Gradually it becomes clear that all is not well with Waan. When Shane returns home, he finds Waan is not the same anymore. The story shows stories from their teenage years that made Waan so upset.

Manny Villar and his delusions

On the most recent surveys, Money, ooppsss, Manny Villar rather is still soaring way up high among the ranks of Presidentiables. I am just glad that election is not yet held when those surveys were conducted.

The Manny Villar for President ads which are played over and over again in the television and radio stations are all product of a traditional political campaigning: playing it over and over again that even your 2 year old sibling would soon memorize and endlessly sing.

For heaven’s sake let us try to unravel the truth that is being buried.

Senator Villar is not the messiah of the OFWs. As far as I know he started his political career long before he even tried to fly to other countries and brought in troubled OFWs with all the ducumentation and media frenzy around. And he started his advocacy for this so-called new generation of heroes when he was already setting his eyes up for the Presidential race. That is what you call riding on the trend. I bet he used google trends for this quick advocacy!

Nor is he man that could understand very truly the poor for he has made the dreams of many poor families to own their homes. Hello?! Trickery. What you had was basically all business. Business = profit. You already had the cash right at your book of assets from your real estate ventures even before these people could truly call their homes their own. If you were not a cold-blooded capitalist you could have not become a billionaire. And you owe your billions from these people who are still paying their mortgages.

And who will ever forget the C-5 road controversy? Double entry. Road projects leading to your properties. Overpriced selling of properties to the government. Instant big time cash. If you could not even speak for yourself and defend yourself from all these very clear graft and corrupt practices but by asking your lapdogs to speak for you and do some nasty unbecoming remarks and attitude when cornered, then you certainly do not deserve to become the next president on 2010 or even till the end of time; for you are just obviously as on the same mold with the traditional politicians this country has had.

Nanggaling ba kamo sa mahirap? Eh hindi ba yung mga galing sa mahirap ang sabik sa pera at kapangyarihan?

ST = Sipa at Tadyak! Wataaaahhhh!!! That is more realistic. So better think twice of flashing that “V” sign again Bro.

Fooling once shame on you, fooling us twice shame on us Filipinos

It was my younger years when Erap ousted from Malacanang with full shame on him. I was high school student back then but I clearly understood what was happening. I might have been too young for political issues but I was matured enough to get involved. I even fought against my dumb-butt classmate in behalf of him through a debate during my English class discussing this not-so-glamorous issue that humiliated the entire archipelago before the rest of the world. It was eight years ago. Now that I have a fortunate job, I fully understand the impact of political instability in the country to our everyday’s lives.

Eight years after, Erap is now back on the scene creating heroic deeds for Filipino in purpose of popularity, courting every Filipino for his political comeback in 2010. He even has commercial ad for a supplement. I don’t know what it is but the ad sucks. After his pardon granted, he’s been very busy visiting cities and provinces in the Philippines. His demographic target/market are those who are in class D and E – mostly illiterate and uneducated people.

What’s the problem with us during election aside from fraudulent activity is the bigger population of poor than middle and rich people. Correct me if I’m wrong but poor has more tendency to vote depending on self-gratification and popularity without considering the nation’s benefits when voting wisely. Their illiteracy is an inhibition to choose a better leader over the nuisances. Majority of numbers making Erap as their president will come from class D and E while A, B, and C will play between Nonoy, Villar and Gibo.

We became a victim once of an abusive leader together with his family and allies. It’s time to heal what has been damaged. All in all, whatever is the state of Philippine economy and politics are just domino effect or consequence of what it brought to people. So learn from our history of putting someone in position because of popularity.

This is the scenario that in the beginning, someone trying to be a hero or someone who can help or save. But in the end, it will be totally backfired. It will happen to you Mr. Former President!

I recommend: The Love of Siam

It is always a pleasant feeling whenever i find a great and meaningful movie. But sometimes, the opposite happens: this great and meaningful movie finds you, speaks to you; and you are overwhelmed, affected, changed.

I did not plan to watch the Thai film The Love of Siam. I thought it was just another gay-themed film where the highlight would be that one hot love scene between the two male protagonist. I did not even think its worthwhile to watch; thus, for the first 30 mins of the film, i did not focus and went on to do my usual computer work.

Until it caught me.

The movie caught me because it was simple. It was honest. It was real. And it is a multi-layered family drama.

It caught me not because it is about love; or about a budding teen gay romance. It caught me because of how innocently and without too much put-on it has conveyed love and its many meanings. It caught me because it hit something soft and tender and lonely in me.


The movie tells the story of two young male best friends who fell in love and witnessed how love became this singular moving force that affected everybody around them – their families, their friends. It is about how love changes a person, makes him better, makes him do things, positive things, that he thought is so beyond his capacity. The movie speaks of love as pure and beautiful no matter who you are or who you are offering it to. Because it is, really. It reminds one that love really is uncomplicated and true. That it is we, the persons who feel it, who makes it into something that is messy and selfish and deceiving.

The Love of Siam ends without any of its characters fulfilling the traditional conclusions of a love story. There are no happily-ever-afters or expected closures. Instead, the film ends with a mere spark of hope. That hope that closes the film actually opens up million of possibilities for its characters, as numerous as the countless fortuitous encounters in Siam Square that initiate relationships between strangers or abruptly conclude long-standing affairs all within the fateful movement of time. The director of the movie drafts a bittersweet ode to the complexities of loving, which commercial cinema has tended to avoid throughout the years.

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Part 2


Part 3


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Part 5


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Part 9


Part 10


Part 11


Part 12


Part 13


Part 14


Part 15


Part 16

Why I want Richard Gordon to be the President

Sen. Richard J. Gordon is not just running to be President, he is running to CHANGE the country for the BETTER, for EVERYONE, and for GENERATIONS to come.

For what can be a better indication of one's willingness and desire to lead the country other than the solid work he has already done.

His years as Mayor of Olongapo City showed that he can turn a city plagued by crime and corruption into a city that would be hailed as a model city for urban development?

His years as Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) showed he can turn a barren wasteland into an investment and tourism destination.

His years as Tourism Secretary showed that he can promote our country to the world as the best TOURISM DESTINATION bar none, despite SARS, coups, and conflict in Mindanao.

His years as chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross showed that he knows how to end the cycle of disaster and poverty.

He intends to win the 2010 elections as President, not through self-serving advertisements or popularity surveys or the promise of money for political support. Gordon intends to win the 2010 elections through the merit of his work and through proving that he can indeed lead.

If you want to change our country, you have to choose a leader not based on the promises he makes but on the basis of the PROMISES HE HAS ALREADY FULFILLED.

RICHARD GORDON FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO RAISE UP THE PEOPLE OF OLONGAPO...

HE FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO TURN SUBIC INTO AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE...

HE FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO MAKE THE PHILIPPINES INTO A TOURISM DESTINATION...

HE FULFILLED HIS PROMISE AS SENATOR TO AUTOMATE THE 2010 ELECTIONS AND TO MAKE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY A MAJOR ENGINE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH...

ABAP Team Building @ Paul Calvin's

These are the photos of the ABAP team when we decided to spend our team building at Paul Calvin's in The Fort. The food in this resto is good for only P275! I can't wait in our team building part two in Tagaytay.







Cheers!

On good terms? After handshake, Gordon vows to campaign vs Erap

The long-standing rift between Sen. Richard Gordon and former President Joseph Estrada seemed to have finally dissipated last week through a simple gesture – a handshake at a forum in Makati City.
Political observers concluded that was the end of it. Or so they thought. Despite offering the conspicuous handshake, Gordon could not seem to keep himself from issuing tirades against the former president.
“You botched it. Binigyan ka ng pinakamalaking regalo ng tao. Anong ginawa mo? Wala kang ginawa. Nagwala ka doon sa Malacanang," Gordon said about Estrada.
After Estrada's fall from power in 2001, he was convicted of plunder but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Last Wednesday, he announced that he will run again for the same post despite what many see as an insurmountable Constitutional ban on former presidents running again.

Gordon said that he would not allow Estrada to get away with it. “I will campaign against him," vowed Gordon.

In response, Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo said: “The accusations of Sen. Gordon are probably personal attacks because of his experience during the Estrada administration."

The decade-long rift between the two politicians dates back to 1998, when Estrada was still president and Gordon was chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), considered one of the premiere economic centers in the Philippines.

When Estrada assumed the highest post in the land, the very first administrative order he signed led to the removal of Gordon as SBMA chairman.

The fissure in their relationship would drag on for years, and would span two national elections. Less than a year before the 2010 presidential elections, the feud between Gordon and Estrada does not seem to have abated.

Stupid" electorate

While Estrada has already announced his plan to embark on a second attempt to seek the presidency, Gordon still considers himself a “presumptive candidate."

This early, however, his remarks will probably not endear him to the electorate, which he criticizes for allegedly not taking a more informed stand on their leaders and issues.

"You don’t want to scrutinize. You don’t want to analyze," he scolded voters during the taped interview, which will soon be uploaded on this site. "You don’t want to hear the things that I am saying because we want to be comfortable. We want to be amused. Wow-wow-wee…"

“I’m here to condemn the electorate right now. Why? The electorate complains. They know what they do not want but they do not know what they want. We fix the blame but we do not want to fix the problem. Sorry, you do not have to vote for me. It’s okay. Magalit kayo," Gordon said.

He said people should not always point their fingers at individuals in office and instead start fulfilling their obligations as citizens.

“We always demand things… You cannot put the blame on leadership all the time. Leadership will always tell you to get ahead… but if you don’t do that, you’ll fail," he said.

“We already have a Bill of Rights. Now I’m pushing that we also have a Bill of Duties and Obligations," Gordon said.

He said if ever he decides to join the presidential race and win, one of his priorities would be to cure the electorate of its “stupidity" and indifference.

“Maybe our leaders have been stupid and we were stupid... Ang problema natin we just don’t care. Kung ano ang instant gratification iyon ang gusto natin… Nabobola tayo," he said.

Gordon said he was not worried about voters who find him “too frank" and refuse to vote for him, saying he only wants Filipinos to replicate what he did in Subic and Olongapo, where he served as mayor.

“Sa Subic, bawal ang tamad at bawal din ang tanga (In Subic, laziness and stupidity are forbidden)," Gordon said.