[	Current Location	|	bahay	]
[	mood	|	hopeful	]
[	music	|	The Beatles - Mr. Moonlight.	]

I just came from the wake of former President Cory Aquino. I was with my high school classmates and we were lucky enough to have been permitted to an easier access in the De La Salle gym in Mandaluyong. Thanks to the late president's grandson Jiggy, who was also our classmate in high school.

When we got there, throngs of people gathered around the gym, which was wrapped in bright lights and yellow banners. It was a spectacle sight. You would easily think that a basketball championship takes place inside. But the atmosphere was just too quiet and solemn that you would feel guilty about using your digital SLR, unless you’re one of the media.

It was cold when we got inside. The air was floral because of the numerous funeral wreaths that circled the gym. Pictures of President Cory were also placed around the walkways, each displaying different smiles she flashed throughout her life. Looking at those pictures made me feel as if President Cory herself welcomed me to her own funeral.

My classmates and I finally got in line to have a glimpse of the former president in her casket. Albeit the effects of embalming, she has a peaceful look on her face. A rosary nestles between her fingers. But what caught my attention was her dress.

Of all the yellow objects I saw in the wake: the banners, the ribbons given to us after we signed the funeral logbook, the dresses donned by the people around and the flowers on the wreaths, the late president’s yellow funeral dress was the brightest. Pardon me for a cheesy description, but it was the kind of yellow that will make you feel happy when you’re sad. In fact, I left her casket feeling better than I expected.

It’s not weird or anything but I guess that’s what she wanted everyone to feel anyway. As I left the gym, I thought to myself that President Cory wouldn’t want us to feel sad for her. For a pious woman like her, she’s already with God anyway. We sure did lose an inspiring person but her memories will always be there, ready to make us realize that we are still alive and capable of making changes, just like what she did years back in a tormented country we now consider democratic.

Perhaps President Cory really welcomed me to her own funeral when I got there. But I guess what’s more important is that she said goodbye with a peaceful look on her face that etched a smile on my own.

RIP Tita Cory.

[	Current Location	|	on the chair	]
[	mood	|	sleepy	]
[	music	|	Coldplay - Viva La Vida	]

Wow, nag update si Arets.

**************

Yes we’ve heard (or watched?) it all by now. A celebrity doctor known as Hayden Kho unintentionally made himself the most famous pornstar in the country by using the dignity of his former lovers as stepping-stones. One of them, celebrity Katrina Halili chose to face the stinging feeling of humiliation by filing a complaint against Mr. Peter North Wannabe; shocking the public and further increasing the hits of file-hosting websites like RapidShare.

Indeed, what’s funny is that the more the issue is discussed, the faster the sex video spreads. A truly tormenting phase for Katrina Halili. But what’s funnier is that a senator is currently flexing his muscle in an effort to resolve the issue.

A gallant move? Of course.

But why (the fuck) only now?

Sex scandals are not new things. Rumors indicate that even Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe herself had one that involved JFK. But that’s a different story. Then came the time when virtually anyone can record videos in the smallest of gadgets and have them distributed at light speed through the net. And it sure didn’t take long for people to realize that they can use this technology to satisfy the bizarre side of their carnal appetite.

It may be intended for your viewing pleasure but some of these videos may have been used for blackmail by sex-crazed idiots to extort money or even more sexual dignity from their victims. Just read old newspaper issues or past episodes of TV shows like Imbestigador and you will discover that there are already numerous victims of these scandals who have knocked on the doors of authorities to beg for justice.

Sex scandals are certainly not new things to us and so does the situation where Katrina Halili is. But thanks to an emotional Senator Bong Revilla who made a bold statement by calling Mr. Pornstar a “pervert of a highest kind” in his privilege speech in the Senate chamber, it seems that it wouldn’t take long before GMA decides to watch the video herself.

So I ask again.  Why only now Senator Revilla?

Where were you when the nursing student who was gang raped on video last year was about to commit suicide for the shame she continues to bear? Where were you when minors (yes, minors) were involved in a sex scandal last year in Argao, Southern Cebu? Where were you when a professor of a certain college threatened his student that he will spread copies of their sex video if she refused to sleep with him whenever he wants to?

Geez, Wally was easier to locate than you in those times.

Is it because of his showbiz background that compelled him to take the cudgels for the young actress? I don’t think so. He didn’t even expressed sympathy with sexy starlet Criselda Volks when she dealt with the issues caused by a sex scandal of her own (I think no lawmaker ever did).

Oh, now I get it.

Senator Bong Revilla was elected in 2004.

Do the math.

[	Tags	|	boxing, children's boxing	]
[	Current Location	|	office	]
[	mood	|	busy	]
[	music	|	Tool - H.	]

THE STARTING BLOKE

CHILDREN’S BOXING IS CHILD ABUSE AND IMMORAL

Secretary Lapus, will you allow your 12-year old son to take up boxing and compete in the Palarong Pambansa?”

This was the opening line of an e-mail I sent Secretary of Education, Jesli Lapus, last year when the DepEd Task Force on School Sports, headed by Feliciano “Len” Toledo, in a planning session held on June 15-17, 2008 in Los Banos, Laguna, included children’s boxing (2 for elementary and 5 for secondary pupils) as a demonstration sport in the 2009 Palarong Pambansa which opened last Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Tacloban, Leyte. In next year’s Palaro, boxing will be a regular event.

The rationale behind this policy prescribed by school sports officials is that “elementary boxing will serve as a venue for the identification of potential gold medalists in the Olympic Games.” Such an opinion coming from our supposedly enlightened educators in our public schools is difficult to accept when considered in the light of statements made by medical and pediatrics experts, and the Vatican, regarding boxing risks to children. Thus, I call the attention of our local superintendents, Dr. Milagros Velez and Dr. Profetiza Lim, to bring to the attention of their colleagues in the PASS (Philippine Association of School Superintendents), the potential harm and danger that children’s boxing can inflict on the health and welfare of our young children.

What are the bases for my assertion? From medical and moral viewpoints expressed in the following:

1.      On Dec 5, 1984, the American Medical Association “overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for the abolition of professional boxing—and amateur boxing as well. It marked the first such formal action taken by the AMA’s 365-member House of Delegates (against boxing)…Dr. George Lundberg, editor of the JAMA wrote: ‘The scientific journal, plus those in other journals, have become general medical knowledge now, and these articles indicate that chronic brain damage is very frequent occurrence among fighters who’ve had a significant number of fights…” Dr. Lundberg is also one of physicians, lawyers, sociologists and other experts who contend that “younger boxers face greater risks –and this might regally constitute child abuse…It is abuse, pure and simple. It is predictable damage, and it involves children. And if adults promote, for their own pleasure, children bashing each other, hurting each other, then this makes a pretty good case of child abuse.” (Bold prints provided).

2.     In January 1997, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a Policy Statement, approved likewise by the Council on Child and Adolescent Health, declared:

·        The AAP opposes boxing as a sport for any child, adolescent, or young adult;

·        Educate “at risk” patients about the medical risks of boxing and provide information that support the Academy’s opposition to the sport; and

·        Encourage young athletes to participate in sports in which intentional head injury is not the primary objective.

3.     In January 1999, the British Medical Association distributed thousands of leaflets to schools and sports clubs…warning that “boxing causes brain damage by causing the brain to knock against the skull, harming blood vessels, nerves and brain tissue…can lead to brain hemorrhage, the leading cause of boxing death, was well as permanent sight and hearing loss…head protectors may not protect against injury…We don't believe that children can make an informed decision about the dangers of boxing and we hope that local authorities will respond to our plea that boxing is a totally unsuitable activity for children."

Boxing proponents argue that current rules and protective gears protect children from “physical injury.” Protection from physical injury, is doubtful as the BMA experts pointed out. What the proponents fail to understand is the potential “psychological and moral” damages that could be sustained by the young boxers. Consider this viewpoint published in an editorial of the Vatican’s I’Osservatore Romano: “Is it legitimate to continue to accept a ‘sport’ whose fundamental aim is to ‘inflict corporal damage to the adversary,’ as the World Medical Assembly held in Venice some months ago defined it? Physicians are in their majority of one mind in responding that it is neither legitimate nor moral…boxing remains a violent sport, if not in the intentions of the contestant, at least in its form of expression…No sporting discipline nor any kind of ‘show’ can be accepted by a civic conscience if it endangers human life. Much worthier causes call for putting lives at stake.” (Bold prints provided).

In the opening ceremonies of the National PRISAA Meet held in Naga City last April 19, 2009, CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles also proudly announced that boxing will be part of the private schools athletic competitions this coming academic year.

Thus, both our children and youth in the public and private schools will be given the opportunity to have their brains busted in boxing competitions in our two premier national schools athletic meets. This reminds me of an article I wrote in the Feb 3-9, 1999 issue of the Bandera Sports Weekly Magazine, entitled: Brain-damaged youth for an Olympic gold?

I am sure there are people in our University Town who share my personal concern and crusade against boxing for our children and youth. Thus, I call on the members of ONCAN (Oriental Negros Children’s Advocate Network), and other organizations involved with children’s welfare, that if this piece convinces them of the legitimacy of my concern to please help me. They can start by contacting schools superintendents Velez and Lim and tell them to bring up this issue with their colleagues in the Department of Education. And for the school divisions in Negros Oriental and the City of Dumaguete to ban boxing from their school activities, and not to field any boxing team in the Palarong Pambansa next year. We must make a strong stand against children and youth boxing.

And to our local officials who are prone to adopt a similar attitude that their counterparts in other places are doing by actively promoting children’s boxing, I address the same question I asked Secretary Lapus: “Will you allow your son to take up boxing?”

Even Manny Pacquiao, when asked if he will allow his sons to follow after him, answered with a resounding “No!”

[	Current Location	|	silent hill	]
[	mood	|	drunk	]
[	music	|	Queen - Another One Bites the Dust	]

Where were we? Let’s continue.

4. Only You by Sam Milby - What else can I say? It’s fucking Sam Milby! Do I have to explain why I can barely feel my legs every time he sings?

Ok, in honor of factual and reasonable criticism, here it goes.

We all know the song “Only You” right? You may have first heard this one Sunday morning in your mom and dad’s favorite radio station or in that funny scene in the movie Hot Shots. But no matter when and how it was introduced to you, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that “Only You” is simply one of the best and the most romantic love songs ever written. Hands down.

For the ladies, just check the way The Platters sang the first stanza. Listen to the lead tenor’s voice (Tony Williams, if I’m not mistaken) and the way his falsetto blends with the backup voices. Listen closely how these voices tell you that you’re the most important girl in the world because “only you can make this world seem right” and that “only you can make the darkness bright.” Don’t you just want to melt?

But here comes Sam Milby.  Listen to the parts where he belts out, ONLEY YEW! and it’s enough to give us STD. Compare it with the original version. Doesn’t he sound angry? Uh, Sam, are you scolding someone? Did you dedicate this to a girl who dumped you after realizing that your voice just gave her AIDS?

What made this rendition horrendous is simple: Sam Milby’s low and clichéd voice. “Only You” is a song with one purpose, and that is turning the knees of any girl into gelatin. If he had a soothing and gentle voice, then we could let fucking Sam Milby have it his way with the song.

5. Tag Ulan by Karel Marquez - I originally have another song in mind but my sister asked me to check out this rendition. She said that it must be included in the list. And boy, she was damn right.

I really don’t like this song by 90s band Afterimage that much but when Karel Marquez sang it, I would have asked her to leave the song alone for the sake of respecting the band’s contribution to OPM and everyone else who gets to listen to her voice.

At this point, most of you probably can’t recall Karel’s rendition. Good for you. Because listening to it will only bring us back to the Halloween season. I’m not kidding! I dare you to search for it in IMEEM (it’s there) and check out the verses. Listen to the part where she sustains the notes and my god; it will make your hair stand and give you goosebumps! Sadako herself will rush her ass back to the well if she hears this.

Of course, the notes get higher as the song continues but the music drowns Karel’s voice. And the more you listen to it; you’ll simply be reminded of her “white lady” voice over and over again.

Let me end this critique by reminding you of that caveat posted outside the horror ride in the now defunct carnival: Kung ikaw ay matatakutin, buntis, may hika o sakit sa puso, pinapayuhan namin kayo na wag pakinggan ang kantang ito.

What else?

I’m not a record producer or a professional musician. I just love listening to different kinds of music and try the best I can to be analytical about it. As for these revivals, just because you can get a 100 score when singing it in the videoke, it doesn’t mean that you should already release your own version and make profit out of it.

The key in coming up with a good rendition for me is to respect the original. Aside from singing it well, know the story behind it and keep that in your rendition. If you’re going to tweak it, then use the elements that suit your voice and your performances. Remember that you’re just borrowing the song so make it sound better at least.

Don’t murder the song! Kaya nga revive eh.