BLOG ang MUNDO

February 24. Me and my friends were set to go into the biggest event of
the year. WWE RAW in Manila Tour! We’ve been waiting for years for this
kind of event to happen again (the last one was I think in the late
80’s or early 90’s) and February 24 is THE day. A little commentary
about the schedule of the fight. When we got a wiff on the said event,
the official WWE website announced that it would be a one night event
only (and that is on February 24). So we bought tickets on the day the
started selling one. We actualy though it was the front row tickets
that we bought, but rather it was the Patron side. Talk about
mis-information, huh? A couple of weeks later, it was then announced
that there will be another day added on their tour. So that’s February
24 and 25! And on the 25th, there will be a cage match between John
Cena and Edge! Drat. We can’t refund our tickets now. Anyway, we went
on buying some cardboards and pens and made some placards like the
one’s that you see on TV with slogans like "You Can’t See Me" and
Carlito is Uncool.

So there it is. February 24th. THE day! I got
up and was really excited to go. This is like going to be one of the
most memorable day of my life. Well, as it turned out, it was. When I
got down stairs, my mom and dad were watching news on TV and it’s said
that there was a foiled Coup attempt and a large group of protesters
were heading for the People Power Monument to "comemorate" the 20th
year of the EDSA Revolution. As we all know, the EDSA Revolution is
famous around the world; with the ousting of the Marcos administration
with a peaceful and bloodless revolt. Also, for those who don’t know,
the People Power Monument is near the place where the WWE will be held
(in Araneta center). Oh, man. I was like in a "don’t do this to me!"
phase. So there I was. I went on to go to my work. Now the coup
attempt? Well, if you’ve been living in the Philippines since forever,
well, you can say that we Filipinos are kind used to that sort of
thing. This just wasn’t the first time. Anyway, me and my colleagues
who were going, took a half-day leave from work just to watch the WWE
event. Later that noon, the president announced a State of Emergency.
Now, what is a State of Emergency? Heck. Who knows? From what I’ve been
hearing/reading on the news, it’s more like Martial Law. Sheesh… and
we thought that the coup attempt was foiled. What the heck was the
State of Emergency for??? Afraid of a group of protesters? Man. How
paranoid can you get? Well, come to think of it, President Arroyo
became president by going to the streets and unjudiciarily removed
President Estrada from office. So, a little rally and Malacanang goes
on Red Alert.

Aaaanyway, so there we were. Heading for the "Big
Dome". We were like praying that the show must go on. By hook or by
crook! When we got there, there were still alot of people strolling and
shopping on stores in Cubao. People were like oblivious to what’s been
happening just a couple of kms. away. Actualy, most of us didn’t care.
What’s important is that we got there safe and the show is still on!
Yeeeeehawwww!

Bounce!

Presently,
there are many Koreans studying in the Philippines to take advantage of
its cheap tuition fees. The following is an essay written by a Korean
student.

 
My Short Essay about the Philippines
by Jaeyoun Kim
 

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do
you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do
not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love
for the Philippines.
 

Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand
my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest
countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because the
entire country was destroyed completely after the Korean War, and we
had no natural resources. Koreans used to talk about the Philippines,
for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really
wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My
father’s brother also died because of famine. Korean government was
awfully corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but
Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their
best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.
Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their
neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit
of patriotism.
 

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea.
He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible
to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economic
situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories.
So, President Park sent many mineworkers and nurses to Germany so that
they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go
through a horrible experience.
 

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of
Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there
as they saw President Park. They asked to him, "President, when can we
be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him.
President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be
well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany
got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea. So,
President Park was able to build many factories in Korea. He always
asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many Korean
scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help develop
the country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though
they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea. They
always hoped that their children would live in a well off country.
 

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically
handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and
help them. I also worked for a Catholic church when I was in the army.
The only thing I learned from the Catholic Church was that we have to
love our neighbor. And I have loved my neighbor. Have you cried for the
Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried
for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the
New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners
who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work
for the Church. They pray everyday. However, they do not love the
Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum security
compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines
right after they are released from the prison. They said that they
would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the
Philippines.
 

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share
our wealth with our neighbor. The owners of factories and companies
distributed their profits to their employees fairly so that employees
could buy what they needed and save money for the future and their
children.
 

When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a
priest. However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my
faith.
 

I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the
Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday.
The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too
many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but
nothing has been changed.
 

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation.
They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines
when they were young. They are so sorry that there so many beggars and
street kids. When we went to Pagsanjan, I forced my parents to take a
boat because it would be fun. However, they were not happy after taking
the boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because
they sympathized with the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and
had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But
my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.
 

My mother who has been working for a Catholic church since I was very
young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we
are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that
I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us
are the same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos
to love their neighbor and country as much as they love God so that the
Philippines will be well off. I am sure that love is the keyword which
Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at
once. It should start from the person. Love must start in everybody in
a small scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to
love. Let’s put away our prejudices and look at our worries with new
eyes. I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in
love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It
changes people, contexts and relationships.
 

It changes the world. Please love your neighbor and country. Jesus
Christ said that whatever we do to others, we do to Him. In the
Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned.
There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them
how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their
neighbor and country. You already know that God also will be very happy
if you love others.
 
That’s all I really want to ask you Filipinos.
 
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -Anatole France

   

I
also read something like this a couple of years ago from a Korean too.
The only difference to this e-mail is that this Korean didn’t blame the
corruption in the government for the current situation of the
Philippines. He’s probably true, you know. We Filipinos just lack patriotism.
We cradle the west as if they are our saving grace. Well, if you look
into our past, being colonized by 3 different countries, we actually
don’t have a cultural identity that we can cling on. The Philippines
grew up holding on to the hands of these foreign invaders (most
especially the US) and forgot to let go. Also, the sad truth to all
these, is that WE, as a nation, are not totaly unified. Who says we’re not unified? You mean to tell me that being united when a natural disaster occurs is not unified?
Well, that’s just it, isn’t it. We need to have a natural disaster in
order for us to be one. What happens when there aren’t any? Nothing! We
keep on bickering amongst ourselves, pulling one another down. The term
crab mentality comes into mind. Anyway, the point to all this is that
we must learn to love. We should first learn how to love ourselves; for
who we are and for what we are. Not in a selfish kind. Then, love our
fellowmen/neighbor. Let’s end all this bickering and try to solve
problems instead of making new ones. After that can we only acheive the
love of country.

Gosh. Look at me lecturing about something so
deep a topic. Anyway, Koreans should know, right? Meaning, looking at
their history and all, they probably were the poorest in asia back
then. But look at them now. Who would have thought that these people
were looking up at us in the past. Now, it seems that the tables have
been turned. So sad. This is just something for us to think about. With
the current situation of our country, we need new ideas. Well, come to
think of it, this isn’t exactly new.

Bounce!

This is another SMS from a friend of mine. Lately, good messages comes through my cellphone but can’t share it through SMS because the message is too long. Anyway, here it is:

Interview with God:

Interviewer: What surprises you most about humankind?

God: That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die and die as thought they had never lived.

Bounce!

Has there been a time in your life that all you ever do has been a
cliche? Last weekend, it happened. I was tired of my routine of waking
up, playing my Nintendo DS, watch TV (whether it be DVD or HBO), eat
and sleep again. I really got bored. So after a month of not going to a
mall, I went to Festival Mall. I didn’t buy anything, but roaming
around in the mall is a better alternative than lying around in the
house. I also got to watch a movie. It’s called Close To You starring
John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo (damn, she’s so cute) and newcomer Sam
Milbey. I totally liked this film! Well, I am a sucker for
romantic-comedy films and this one really hit the spot. It’s pretty
awkward though, a lot of eyes were looking at me. Looking around, I
noticed that I was the only one who doesn’t have a partner and
particularly, I’m the only single MALE inside the theater. I really
don’t want to give them ideas, but I really wanted to watch the movie,
so I let them stare. Sheesh… to hell with them. I’m enjoying the
movie, dammit.

Anyway, after watching the movie. I thought
whether I should go home right away or not. But seeing as it was
already late at night, I decided to head back home. When I got back, my
movie craving is far from over. I still watched on DVD a Korean movie
called …ING. I’m not really sure why it’s called …ING, but I liked
it. It stars Kim Rae Won (My Little Bride) and Im Soo Jeong (Tale of
Two Sisters). Now this movie is more of a feel-good movie rather than a
romantic-comedy. I did bring a tear to my eye for it ended tragically.
Sigh… I don’t want to be too emotional that night but I really
couldn’t help it.

Then last sunday, I got up and watched the
boxing match between Brian Viloria and Jose Aguirre. I was expecting a
fast bout, and so did Viloria I guess, but rather, it ended at the 12th
with a decision in favor of Viloria. Huh. It wasn’t as exciting as a
Pacquiao match but still, the kid’s got alot of heart to defeat a
champ. After that boring game, I watched another Korean movie called
Wedding Campaign. At first I thought it was supposed to be a comedy,
but it turned out, it’s more of a drama with some light comedy. The
movie is about a group of single korean men, who can’t find love in
their own country and decided to go to Uzbekistan and find a bride
there instead. This reminds me of the incident last year where a group
of Korean men were caught trying to get Filipina brides here in the
Philippines through agencies that were run by their fellow Koreans.
It’s sad to think that their only chance of marrying is by going
abroad. Anyway, back to the movie. The main character set off to
Uzbekistan with his friend in hoping to find a girl to marry. Through a
Korean connection in Uzbekistan, he was paired off with korean-Uzbekts
(uh… koreans who were born and grew up in Uzbekistan) and a Korean
translator who knows how to speak the language of Uzbekistan. Unknown
to him, his translator happened to be from North Korea. I guess it’s a
big issue if you a south korean falls in love with a north korean. In
the end, he fell in love with his translator. I think it’s one of those
radical korean films. But still, it is a nice movie.

Bounce!

The other day, I received a SMS or text message if you will, from a friend
of mine. And I would like to share it with you just for the heck of it:

I’ve
realized that life is indeed full of contradictions. Sometimes it’s
crazy to be sane, you need to fall to fly, people suffer because you
care… You have to unlearn to know the lesson, you have to give up
because you are strong, you have to be wrong to make things right…
Nonetheless, life’s complexities are also life’s source of beauty. We
should cry to laugh again, fall apart to be whole again and get hurt to
love again.

Bounce!