Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Evolve or Die!

Earlier today, a radio program talked about the DSWD's new plan to alleviate the problem of youth pregnancy.

Upon hearing the report, the first thought that popped in my mind was the collective reactions of most adults to the above-mentioned issue.(As with my previous post, I am defending the kids on this issue as I am still a kid myself despite my 20th birthday fast approaching.)

Naturally, most adults would attribute this to the youth's "liberal, rebellious ways".

While this is true on most cases, it isn't the entire story. What the adults don't understand is that they are also partly to blame on whatever bad deeds kids today commit.

As they say, change is inevitable. Change. That's what the youth's culture has undergone. Gone are the days of the Maria Clara stereotype where women wear elbow-length sleeved blouses (or whatever you call them) and ankle-length skirts. Gone are the days where men serenade girls with the harana. This is the age of mini-skirts and sleeveless tank tops. Men today serenade women with a text message and a smile (or a wink or some other douchebag-ish way).

The point here is that whatever technique our grandparents used on our parents two, three decades ago to discipline the latter will most likely fail when used on today's youth. To be clear, the standards of morality should remain the same. Murder should always still be a crime. So should rape, theft, kidnapping, etc. "Minor" offenses such as lying, cheating, promiscuity and the like should still be considered "bad".

What should adapt with the changing times however, is the way we try to prevent and, for lack of better word, punish these offenses. Really, if bashing the heads of two kids together if they talk in class worked during the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, it will be ineffective today no matter how you defend this by claiming that they won't change their ways unless coerced. Kids today tend to become more rebellious when subjected to corporal punishment. That, or you could go to prison due to more active participation of human-rights watch groups.

Let's put it this way. If our forms of "punishment" should stay constant, then we might as well crucify every thief our policemen captures.

So I guess, I'm really in no position to tell adults exactly what changes they should do (as I am still a kid). But you get the gist. Change. Adapt. Evolve. Or die. I'm no psychologist or some sort of specialist when it comes to stuff like this but as far as I know, the most effective way to deal with whatever problem a potential delinquent has is to talk... talk... talk... talk. Communication is key.
No. Seriously.




Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Stupid Things The Older Generation Tell The Younger Generation 1

One thing that destroys relationships between people is generation gap. Obviously, older (I need not sugar coat things in my blog; I am blunt and direct to the point, YOU ARE OLD) people enjoy things that might cause disdain to the younger ones and vice versa.

A major cause of arguments between children and their parents is their choice in music. Parents usually describe their offspring's (especially a teenager) music as "noise" while kiddies describe their parents' choice as "prehistoric".

As you would expect, I'm on the kiddies side here as I firmly believe that OUR music isn't noise (I also believe that THEIR music isn't prehistoric, outdated, etc. Music is timeless). And one thing that the older generation (by "older generation", I mean this generally, older rock-heads are, obviously, not included) keep telling us is that rock music is evil.

"...rock music is evil"

That statement is as racist as saying that all black people are thugs. Okay, so it can't be denied that there are some artists who dedicate their music to the devil. But that's the thing. Just because a particular artist chose to embrace the dark side doesn't mean everyone involved in the genre is a member of the dark side.

Let's go back to that racism analogy I brought up earlier. Just because one black man mugged you doesn't mean every black man is a gangsta thug. Or just because a girl made you a sandwich doesn't mean all women are good at making sandwiches (It's a meme. Look it up).

The point here is, old people, particularly old, conservative Filipinos, that rock music, in general isn't evil the same way people in general aren't evil. One should judge the evilness of rock 'n' roll depending on the individual song's characteristics.

Don't be racist. Even to music.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Good News For The Very Friendly Ogtonganons

According to a Facebook post by our Very Friendly councilor Migs Flores, Oton-based jeepneys have a new route! This is indeed a very good news for the Ogtonganons as this will lessen the hassle brought about by the old route, which requires passengers to ride up to three (3) different jeepneys of different routes for them to arrive at their destination.

Here is the full statement from Hon. Flores:

Dear People of Oton,

As early as 2010, we in the Committee on Public Facilities and Utilities passed a Resolution to the Iloilo City Government to allow Oton Jeepneys to enter the main thoroughfare of Iloilo City once again just like before.

The main issue that we have been prohibited to enter the city was due to traffic problems and the plea of other city jeepneys that they should be the one prioritized.

Plenty of strikes and petitions from our own jeepney owners and drivers were filed, and it was up to the Iloilo City Government to decide on the matter. We in the committee, the presidents of 2 Oton Jeepney routes, SOJODA and JODAI, and Mayor Vicente B. Flores Jr., fought and hoped for the best settlement for an extended route that may best serve our people. Indeed, it was a long and winding road. It was never an easy task.

This March 2012, the new batch of the Iloilo City Council approved the route extension of Oton jeepneys and we in the Sangguniang Bayan of Oton and the rest of the people are very much thankful and relieved.

The new route of Oton Jeepneys is extended in Iloilo City starting Monday, March 26, 2012.

Councilor RLeone Gerochi, City Council Committee on Transport Chairman, said that city loop jeepney associations do not have oppositions for Oton drivers in passing through areas not served by their jeepneys.

THE NEW EXTENDED ROUTE:

We will start from Molo Plaza, turn to Tabucan, Mandurriao and right to Barangay San Rafael along the Glicerio Pison Avenue, Ateneo de Iloilo to the diversion road, right to the diversion bridge and right turn to Gen. Luna until Molo Plaza and to Oton.

In behalf of the Committee on Public Utilities and Facilities (Transport) here in Oton, with all our people clamoring for this event to occur for years, we would like to thank our counterpart in the Iloilo City Council especially to the chairman, Councilor RLeone Gerochi and my good friends, Dave Jamora, Jason Gonzales, Lex Tupas and Tita Perla Zulueta whom I personally know :)

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for all the support!

We hope and pray that after the six months probationary period, tuloy na tuloy na ini!

MADAMO GID NGA SALAMAT!

Juan Miguel M. Flores
Chairman, Committee on Public Utilities and Facilities

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! Yey! That means, this blog will be undergoing some changes. Stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this Rage Comic by yours truly.



Scumbag Water, Boils When You Least Expect

Monday, December 19, 2011

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON "SENDONG"

It doesn't matter how little or how much you give. The victims need all the help they can get.

TV5 KAPATID FOUNDATION
Donate in Cash
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Savings Account No. 1443-05333-2

Donate in Kind
News5 Aksyon Center, TV5 office
San Bartlolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

News5 Aksyon Center hotline - 938-6393

SAGIP KAPAMILYA
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BDO Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39301-14199
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

BDO Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39300-81622
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

PNB Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

BPI Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3051-1127-75
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

BPI Dollar Account
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Donate in Kind
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ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Mother Ignacia cor. Eugenio Lopez St.
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Hotlines
(02) 411-4995
(02) 394-9272
0917-887-4411

THE CIVIL RELATIONS SERVICE, AFP
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CRS AFP, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Landline: 912-6615
CP Nr. (0917)2471252
Focal Person: LTCOL ROLANDO RODIL, Opns Officer

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Basketballogy -- The Science of Basketball (#8): Witness Drama

So, with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement being ratified this week, NBA fever is now in full swing. In the two days since the world's premier basketball league officially got back on track, a lot of drama has already unfolded. Hardcore NBA fans know that the action we see on the court is a culmination of all the action that happens during the offseason, where teams attempt to boost and/or revamp their roster in hopes they'd still be playing come June (the signing of free agents should have started back in July but because of the lockout, teams are allowed to upgrade their squads beginning December 9th).

Ready for the drama? We've seen Chris Paul get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, only to have that same trade get vetoed by Commissioner David Stern for "basketball reasons". And it doesn't stop there (the NBA has more drama than your favorite soap opera). Shane Battier tweets that he'll be joining the Miami Heat. Jason Kapono is going to sign with the Lakers. The Boston Celtics reportedly is going to re-sign Glenn Davis and trade him to Orlando for Brandon Bass. Dwight Howard is reportedly interested to join the Lakers. And probably the biggest news so far (that doesn't Chris Paul or Dwight Howard) is Portland's Brandon Roy announcing his premature retirement.

Ok, seriously. HOW CAN YOU NOT GET EXCITED WITH ALL THIS?

First of all, a true NBA fan should be excited with the very thought that the league is back after the 5-month lockout. Second. All of these developments could reshape the landscape of the league for the next couple of years. Think about it. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard could possibly land in LA, team up with his excellency Kobe Bryant and form the Lakers' version of The Big Three. As if the Lakers aren't already exciting.

Imagine life as a Portland Trailblazers fan without Brandon Roy. He helped make the Blazers relevant again in his five, six-year stay. (God speed in your future endeavors, brother. Hope your knee doesn't bum up again.)

Shane Battier boosting up an already impressive Miami Heat team? Didn't see that one coming. I personally like Shane. His defense is superb. We all know that. I'm sure LeBron is happy he doesn't have to have Shane defend him again.

As for Jason Kapono (sorry for the extensive Lakers coverage; you should know by now I'm a Laker fan), he's the piece the Lake Show badly needs: a GREAT three-point shooter. We (yes, as a fan, I'm entitled to be part of the team, hence the pronoun "we") haven't had a great shooter in the team since Sasha Vujacic became "The Machine" in 2008.

The days leading to the Christmas day opener will be full of DRAMA. The word has been used over and over again in this post because it is the only appropriate word to describe the NBA. People love drama. Especially us Filipinos. Drama is what we eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In that sense, we'll be pretty full of it even before single basketball will be dribbled in two weeks' time.

Plus the No-Brainers: We'll see Dirk Nowitzki and the defending champs Dallas Mavericks defend the title; MVP Derrick Rose looks to continue his rise to superstardom; ditto for scoring champ Kevin Durant; don't forget Blake Griffin's dunks.

NBA fever is on! Let's get this party started! Woooooh.

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Follow the DRAMA with the NBA's 2011 Free Agent Tracker: Click here

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And now here's the Top 10 plays of the previous season (2010 - 2011)



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For up-to-date NBA news, follow NBA TV's David Aldridge on Twitter: @daldridgetnt

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For suggestions/feedback/questions about this blog, e-mail me: x2ndcitysaintx@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: @xKENNANx

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Previous Basketballogy: Basketballogy #7

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Random.

I was going through random stuff over at Tumblr, I stumbled upon this picture:It's a really good reminder to our very creative generation. We are willing to kill whenever we find out somebody ripped us off of our artwork (literary work, paintings, drawings, dance moves, songs, etc.) but we ourselves have violated (over and over again) other artists' intellectual property rights. Let's be really honest. Nowadays, very few people still but music/movie CD's or DVD's. Often, we choose to to download our favorite songs, movies and even books (in electronic form) via torrent. Technically, we are stealing from these artists which make us thieves. As a consequence, that puts us in par with those robbers and thieves that we see on TV.
You kids are smart. You know what to do. Either stop illegally downloading movies/songs or shut up.

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I found something very interesting in the Lapsus Calami (Slip of the Pen) section of the December 3rd (Saturday) issue of Panay News. It's nothing very significant but I personally find it as something of interest. There was piece about the non-participation of Tribu Bola Bola (of Iloilo National High School) in next year's Dinagyang celebration. The piece was concluded with the following lines:
By the way, Dinagyang is a pagan ritual that is now sanctified by Christendom who claims to be true Christians.
Worshiping graven images is also prohibited by the Bible, the book considered as holy by the Catholics.
Funny how PN has had a change of heart with regards to Dinagyang. They usually describe it the way the Department of Tourism wants Dinagyang Festival to be marketed (definitely not with the phrase "Dinagyang is a pagan ritual..."). Maybe this is because Lapsus has multiple writers and one of them isn't really a fan of Dinagyang? I don't really know. I just thought it deserved to be brought up.

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Okay, it's official. I am one of the suckers who like this song.

Hey Daydreamer - Somedaydream


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Everybody Scream Your Heart Out...

Suicide is NEVER the answer to all our problems. When the world seems to be crumbling down on you, remember that you have people who care about you. So when you're deeply burdened, just SCREAM YOUR FREAKING HEART OUT!!!

Rooftops - Lostprophets