Writing, alone
Air harping deeply
Muted gaze reveals
War inside, war outside
All wanting to drop within
Pages of tensed heart
Stirring Oh's and Haha's.
Like blinding stop signs.
Of this. Oh this.
Far land. Near yet far.
Reaching to touch souls.
With stories I dreamed to tell.
Spaced-dived to nowhere.
Like a Martian rearing its head.
Strange dreams, sweet reveries.
When to start, when to end?
At a certain time
At a certain place
The desire is irresistible
Talk of the hidden man
Passion to create
Till this urge break
Like a once a upon a time
News waiting to break.
Mind's both awake and cold.
Lightning's speaking of gems.
Lightning's message is clear.
Rains falling, overflowing
Soundless fury of memories.
Water running to dry tears.
Softly landing in pages.
Still, time's belated break.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
On Writing
Hi!
I want to become a writer.
I would like to know how.
Can you please be kind?
Still there?
Don't hesitate. Help me dear.
It's hard I know. But I will try.
Err, I will write.
Still listening?
Trust me. I am not joking.
With all my best and might
Let's start now.
Wait!
Hard and easy it might come.
Oh, maybe, sometimes not.
Volumes of rejections?
Oh come on, I get that.
P.S.
Make me see the way
Of what writing's about.
Don't break my heart.
Break or make. Still I will.
P.S.S.
With help from God above.
I want to become a writer.
I would like to know how.
Can you please be kind?
Still there?
Don't hesitate. Help me dear.
It's hard I know. But I will try.
Err, I will write.
Still listening?
Trust me. I am not joking.
With all my best and might
Let's start now.
Wait!
Hard and easy it might come.
Oh, maybe, sometimes not.
Volumes of rejections?
Oh come on, I get that.
P.S.
Make me see the way
Of what writing's about.
Don't break my heart.
Break or make. Still I will.
P.S.S.
With help from God above.
6 Nov 2012
3:30 p.m.
Pampanga
Friday, November 2, 2012
For inspiring and transforming lives through the Gospel, Ang Dating Daan Turns 32
The Ang Dating Daan religious program hosted by Bro Eli Soriano is celebrating its broadcast anniversary this month of November. That is a very good news for a program, especially to audiences seeking an informative and intelligent show playing anywhere today be it on radio, television or the Internet. Thirty-two years is no mean feat after all.
According to its website, the show today can be heard at UNTV Radio La Verdad and watched its telecast at UNTV, a UHF channel in the Philippines. Its first public airing was through radio as a 30-minute program managed by three people, including Bro. Eli as the host, Kuya Daniel Razon of UNTV as program director and editor, and Sis Luz Cruz, as the researcher.
Unlike any religious program in the Philippines, Ang Dating Daan is the kind where people flock its studio during its early 90s broadcast to throw their questions live and get answers live from the televangelist who would soon become the most sensible of all the other evangelist with radio and television programming.
To watch the show is like watching a symposium ala-Knowledge Channel or National Geographic Channel docs fest only Bro. Eli as the Bible Scholar is the narrator who reads the script out of the verses and passages from the Bible. You got religion and at the same time science, health, technology and family affairs rolled into one show. The Bible will answer is how Ang Dating Daan is introduced where Bro. Eli is the mouthpiece and reader of the verses as answers to questions of people.
Meanwhile, what is a hero without the antis? As soon as the popularity of the program has become undeniable so are the rise of detractors and enemies who would later fight Bro Eli via a concerted effort through a series of malicious attack to the International Evangelist's person. To the thinking public, the accusations are purely malicious and libelous even suicidal. While many local courts are convinced that there's nothing wrong with Bro Eli to even prove the preacher's innocence and what he's doing on television, still the enemies are desperate to win in this war of public opinion.
Even though the program has been blocked from one station after another to the point of being stopped from airing on television, the program has gained more airing time abroad where Bro. Eli's program is now brought to its Spanish and Portuguese-speaking audience in South America, Europe, and Africa. Ang Dating Daan is also being heard in India.
Now 32 years, this officially makes the program one of the longest-airing radio-television religious program in the Philippines and probably Southeast Asia.
On Sunday, November 4, at around 6 p.m. (PHT time), the program is hosting a special Bible Exposition, see the video below.
My warmest congratulations to an always sensible program and televangelist, Bro. Eli Soriano.
To God be the glory!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
iPad Mini Launch to Climax Year 2012 for Apple ... and what's ahead
The iPad Mini has arrived and as expected it sports a 7-inch frame, and all the features one would expect from this new line of tablet device (expect, which is relative to what's been swirling around the rumour mill). It is also incredibly thin and lightweight that it is also legit it could steal the suffix Air from Macbook.
This medium small device (or its measure that's toss between the iPod Touch and iPad tablet sizes) and now as how Apple has dubbed its new gizmo: "every inch an iPad" because it's like "The whole package. In a smaller package." All the reactions about its beauty and form factors will remain to be just expectations until shipping starts and the new device lands in the hands of early adopters; also when word-of-mouth impressions start to spread.
Further to the long introduction, the iPad Mini launch, alongside many big reveals made recently by Apple including some refresh of its other existing products like the thinner iMac desktop and a Retina display-sporting Macbook Pro could just be the final biggest moment coming from Apple to fittingly end a year by a new Apple with Boss Tim Cook at the helm.
Precisely and in many regards, this can now be claimed to be a whole new Apple event. Also, a year when Apple unveiled so many new devices and product revamps. Could all these be symbolic of what's ahead the Cupertino-based company and among its fandom of where it stands in the heating arena around techville - from smart phones to music players down to tablets and laptops/desktops spaces?
Plus, another glaring omission is the seeming lack of the big, bold claims and words coming from a legendary folk hero like Steve Jobs to echo around a dark, closed theaters. "Magical" and "revolutionary" are nowhere to be heard nor expected come every Apple event. The tides have really changed and we can expect more big moves to unfold and surprise us. And unsurprisingly, it will.
Apple has also become a little bit of everything from the personality standpoint. Both bold and shy, it also has become innovator and follower. And all these and more could be what the iPad Mini launch are what it simply Apple is meaning to impress - to tell the present and future Apple.
While Apple can be perceived of as having or lacking the edge over its other rivals like Google and Samsung, the undeniable truth is that Apple is and remains to be a still-dominant player in the tablet computer sector. It also continues to enjoy a comfortable spot as the preferred product of choice among many consumers in almost all the major product space that it is a part of.
The company's nearest rivals are Android-based products who are making a dent and fast-leading as the preferred new toy because they are cheaper for giving more features and choices.
The gap on what can explain Apple's recent action recently can be divided into whether it is in a defensive or offensive mode or both at the same time. One that's among the most vocal around is Gizmodo, who has already started to air that Apple as a follower.
After all that's been said and done, it is still too early to tell if Apple is redefining its new service philosophy. Is it still quality over quantity? Or more to ride out the competition and play the game squarely? Or it is both? Sure we cannot tell right away.
For the meantime, I will just wait for November 2 and observe how the consumer market will respond and see how the new gizmos will fare come the yearend shopping spree of many consumers around the globe.
How about you?
Ciao.
This medium small device (or its measure that's toss between the iPod Touch and iPad tablet sizes) and now as how Apple has dubbed its new gizmo: "every inch an iPad" because it's like "The whole package. In a smaller package." All the reactions about its beauty and form factors will remain to be just expectations until shipping starts and the new device lands in the hands of early adopters; also when word-of-mouth impressions start to spread.
Further to the long introduction, the iPad Mini launch, alongside many big reveals made recently by Apple including some refresh of its other existing products like the thinner iMac desktop and a Retina display-sporting Macbook Pro could just be the final biggest moment coming from Apple to fittingly end a year by a new Apple with Boss Tim Cook at the helm.
Precisely and in many regards, this can now be claimed to be a whole new Apple event. Also, a year when Apple unveiled so many new devices and product revamps. Could all these be symbolic of what's ahead the Cupertino-based company and among its fandom of where it stands in the heating arena around techville - from smart phones to music players down to tablets and laptops/desktops spaces?
Plus, another glaring omission is the seeming lack of the big, bold claims and words coming from a legendary folk hero like Steve Jobs to echo around a dark, closed theaters. "Magical" and "revolutionary" are nowhere to be heard nor expected come every Apple event. The tides have really changed and we can expect more big moves to unfold and surprise us. And unsurprisingly, it will.
Apple has also become a little bit of everything from the personality standpoint. Both bold and shy, it also has become innovator and follower. And all these and more could be what the iPad Mini launch are what it simply Apple is meaning to impress - to tell the present and future Apple.
While Apple can be perceived of as having or lacking the edge over its other rivals like Google and Samsung, the undeniable truth is that Apple is and remains to be a still-dominant player in the tablet computer sector. It also continues to enjoy a comfortable spot as the preferred product of choice among many consumers in almost all the major product space that it is a part of.
The company's nearest rivals are Android-based products who are making a dent and fast-leading as the preferred new toy because they are cheaper for giving more features and choices.
The gap on what can explain Apple's recent action recently can be divided into whether it is in a defensive or offensive mode or both at the same time. One that's among the most vocal around is Gizmodo, who has already started to air that Apple as a follower.
For the meantime, I will just wait for November 2 and observe how the consumer market will respond and see how the new gizmos will fare come the yearend shopping spree of many consumers around the globe.
How about you?
Ciao.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Start All Over Again
Writing a blog after a very long hiatus is hard. I've regretted the missed opportunities and times that I refused to listen to my heart's dictate to write at least a single post everyday. Writing is still something I will always miss doing.
Anyway, I have a little excuse. I was very busy for the last three months. I was also lazy to blog (which of course is contextual and a handy excuse because I've been juggling multiple projects for a living and for that something that you do to give back to the community).
Now, am at a crossroad where multiple signposts cry: Where to begin? What topic to write? What to talk about? Now walking, walking, walking down the path of no return (with God's help), I hope that I will be writing again for good.
As a bit of an announcement, I would like to start a new baby which was the result of my love for writing and my passion in covering technology. A pet project focused on technology, gears, gadgets, web, and everything in between but mainly its impact to Filipinos. Will give a heads up once everything is settled.
Excited enough?
Anyway, I have a little excuse. I was very busy for the last three months. I was also lazy to blog (which of course is contextual and a handy excuse because I've been juggling multiple projects for a living and for that something that you do to give back to the community).
Now, am at a crossroad where multiple signposts cry: Where to begin? What topic to write? What to talk about? Now walking, walking, walking down the path of no return (with God's help), I hope that I will be writing again for good.
As a bit of an announcement, I would like to start a new baby which was the result of my love for writing and my passion in covering technology. A pet project focused on technology, gears, gadgets, web, and everything in between but mainly its impact to Filipinos. Will give a heads up once everything is settled.
Excited enough?
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Manila flooding: a window to the Filipino soul
Finally this Thursday, the Filipinos very warmly welcomed the sun rising for the first time again after over 12 days of coldness and darkness. It was not that the earth is ending but Manila experienced unstoppable raining that caused flooding and destruction. And Filipinos believe the vacationing sun should now stay.
The weeks-long raining spree followed after Typhoon Saola blanketed the Manila skies dark a few weeks back. Definitely long enough, the incessant raining was enough to paralyze the capital Manila and nearby provinces. News reports even mentioned that the wet spell that Manila experienced easily claimed the record of providing a month's worth of rain in just over two days.
The unrelenting raining caused massive flooding to shoulder-deep levels and landslides. And as if the devastation is not enough, the monsoon rain delivered 300,000 people to emergency evacuation shelters. Over two million Filipinos were affected by the flooding, according to one BBC report.
And yet for another moment, we witnessed the Filipino soul in the works.
The social networking platform have served the Filipinos well in these calamitous times. My Facebook news stream updated me with the goings on from the many different cities around the National Capital Region. Twitter was also helpful for supplying me with hotline numbers of government agencies to contact, relief mission drives, and announcements of classes and office work suspensions.
While social media proved itself relevant for info dissemination and a useful tool in giving me with personalized info about the what's up from families, friends and colleagues, the Web has become a mirror of the Filipinos' resilient spirit. Netizens were witnesses to the birth of a meme called "The Filipino spirit is waterproof."
The Filipinos' resiliency appears the most unique and infectious. Amidst the calamity and storm, we, Filipinos, can still manage a smile and inject some laughs even while walking from waist-deep floods.
The Recto underpass even became an 'Olympic' diving board. Australian and French tourists were also reportedly game with some Filipino kids to swim in the floods. And more TV reports and Internet posts of diverse kinds have more than enough proof of how we can make even the most hostile of calamity into a world of fun.
We also seem to have the most compassionate of heart. Filipinos' merciful spirit was shown the biggest out of the massive charity works and relief missions mounted by Filipinos for fellow Filipinos. This is definitely a clear reflection of just how much we Filipinos love our neighbors as much as we
show that love to our families and friends.
Two example Filipino groups who are very busy helping the depressed are UNTV 37 and the religious group, Ang Dating Daan group being led by Bro Eli Soriano. The major coordinating centers of the Ang Dating Daan were even opened to the public and converted into temporary emergency shelters. Relief operations from the two groups included the giving of food, drinks, clothing, free rides, and more.
More than serving as a window to the positive side of the Filipino soul, the recent Manila calamity must serve also as a mirror to show the other side of that soul. We are sometimes unmindful of preparations. This is not limited to emergency preparedness, but the preparations to ensure that mammoth flooding will never again be experienced.
Usually, when a bad weather or calamity has calmed, we no longer checked back to see what we can do to trace or resolve our problems. Take for instance how some government officials exploit disasters like these for media exposure. These public servants must be guilty of using the social good efforts to project their positive persona in the press for campaign purposes. Responding to crisis situations must not end in doling out relief supplies. As public servants, their true responsibility is to ensure the welfare of their constituents even when the disaster or calamity is away.
Yet the government cannot be blamed for everything. We must be reminded that we are also to blame to the flooding and landslide. We are also a party to the declining health of our environment or why some projects are failing for lack of support and cooperation from people. While another similar devastation might once again happen and prove the positive Filipino character, we must not forget, however, our priorities in ensuring a long-lasting solution to our dilemma.
As a start after the flooding, we must not return to the unbreakable bad habits of throwing away our garbage everywhere or not recycling our wastes. And now that the sun is here, we should start cleaning our drainage or checking roof holes to seal. We can also join tree-planting efforts. We must commit to change for the better and say no to complacency.
But even more important than citizen involvement and being aware of our roles as responsible citizens, we must be mindful of the spiritual. Powerful typhoons or calamities are strong reminders to us that we are helpless and powerless in the sight of God. It is a call for us to be humble and to always remember to pray and seek God's help and mercy in all the waking moments of our lives.
 |
| Photo credit: Rey Tamayo Jr., Photoville International |
The unrelenting raining caused massive flooding to shoulder-deep levels and landslides. And as if the devastation is not enough, the monsoon rain delivered 300,000 people to emergency evacuation shelters. Over two million Filipinos were affected by the flooding, according to one BBC report.
 |
| One of the emergency shelters in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Photo credit: Mark Aiven Antang/Photoville International |
The social networking platform have served the Filipinos well in these calamitous times. My Facebook news stream updated me with the goings on from the many different cities around the National Capital Region. Twitter was also helpful for supplying me with hotline numbers of government agencies to contact, relief mission drives, and announcements of classes and office work suspensions.
While social media proved itself relevant for info dissemination and a useful tool in giving me with personalized info about the what's up from families, friends and colleagues, the Web has become a mirror of the Filipinos' resilient spirit. Netizens were witnesses to the birth of a meme called "The Filipino spirit is waterproof."
 |
| From @coloissu |
The Recto underpass even became an 'Olympic' diving board. Australian and French tourists were also reportedly game with some Filipino kids to swim in the floods. And more TV reports and Internet posts of diverse kinds have more than enough proof of how we can make even the most hostile of calamity into a world of fun.
 |
| Photo credit: PSG (Perfect sa Ganda) |
Two example Filipino groups who are very busy helping the depressed are UNTV 37 and the religious group, Ang Dating Daan group being led by Bro Eli Soriano. The major coordinating centers of the Ang Dating Daan were even opened to the public and converted into temporary emergency shelters. Relief operations from the two groups included the giving of food, drinks, clothing, free rides, and more.
 |
| Photo credit: Mark Aiven Antang/Photoville International |
Usually, when a bad weather or calamity has calmed, we no longer checked back to see what we can do to trace or resolve our problems. Take for instance how some government officials exploit disasters like these for media exposure. These public servants must be guilty of using the social good efforts to project their positive persona in the press for campaign purposes. Responding to crisis situations must not end in doling out relief supplies. As public servants, their true responsibility is to ensure the welfare of their constituents even when the disaster or calamity is away.
Yet the government cannot be blamed for everything. We must be reminded that we are also to blame to the flooding and landslide. We are also a party to the declining health of our environment or why some projects are failing for lack of support and cooperation from people. While another similar devastation might once again happen and prove the positive Filipino character, we must not forget, however, our priorities in ensuring a long-lasting solution to our dilemma.
As a start after the flooding, we must not return to the unbreakable bad habits of throwing away our garbage everywhere or not recycling our wastes. And now that the sun is here, we should start cleaning our drainage or checking roof holes to seal. We can also join tree-planting efforts. We must commit to change for the better and say no to complacency.
But even more important than citizen involvement and being aware of our roles as responsible citizens, we must be mindful of the spiritual. Powerful typhoons or calamities are strong reminders to us that we are helpless and powerless in the sight of God. It is a call for us to be humble and to always remember to pray and seek God's help and mercy in all the waking moments of our lives.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
iPhone 5 debut, Apple rumor mill, and your conscience
It looks like Apple is at it again. It is at the center of the spotlight because of its upcoming release of the new iPhone. The dizzying rumor mill is once again making Apple fans and even skeptics talking about the launch of the new iPhone.
Here are what people in the tech circle are talking about:
- TheVerge has lined-up two sets of photo galleries housing the iPhone and iPad protoypes
- AppleInsider.com gets some photo samples of the engineering of the next-gen iPhone and 'iPad mini'
- TheNextWeb has the Apple's iPhone prototypes and the power of 'no'
- Laptopmag.com mentions a September 12 launch of iPhone 5 and iPad mini
- AllThingsD says prepayment for inventory components at Apple are shooting up, heightening rumors of a September date of release
Credit: Blackpool Creative
On the design side, Eaton thought the next iPhone will delight many and shake the competition and the smartphone industry:
This is important because the next evolution of the iPhone, in a year or so's time, may be into something radically different. It almost has to be--there are few new directions Apple can evolve the phone in that marry to its clean design philosophy of thinner, simpler, smarter. So 2012's iPhone may be the peak of the device that debuted in 2007 and changed how we access the mobile Net and think about touchscreens, photography and casual gaming. It may even be the end of the iPhone's beginning.The money side places Apple the big winner by selling even more iPhone than the predecessor range of iPhones:
Will this be a make or break deal for Apple?It's being guessed that the iPhone for 2012 (iPhone 5? iPhone 6?) will sell so many units globally that it'll achieve 170 million units sold for fiscal year 2013--roughly one new iPhone sold for every two U.S. citizens. The iPhone drives over 50% of Apple's profits. The latest rumors say it'll be revealed September 12, so we don't have long to wait, at least.
Many are optimistic it will. The new iPhone might sell more units and once again transform the smartphone industry like no other tech companies could. And the height of the frenetic excitement will finally reach its crux when that Apple event in September this year comes.
Do you find the rumors believable and convincing? Or are these just part of Apple's hype-making machine? Is the new iPhone making you excited, hot and thrilled? What features do you like seen in the new iPhone?
Afterthought:
Ever heard your conscience talking to you? Read my transcript of my conversation with myself. Please bear that I could not interrupt nor insert my arguments. It's fine, I am getting used to it now ...
Whether you are buying or not, just think of the impact purchasing one will bear to your pocket, savings, and even to the environment.So let us end it this way, if you are super excited to buy the new iPhone, think first, think deeper about its impact. One very good adviser to consult is your conscience.
Basically, whatever the marketing or your friend will tell you, an Apple phone is not really that cheap. Even with subsidies from carriers, a brand new iPhone is usually priced at around $1,000 or P45,000 (with $1=P45). Yes, your one phone is costing P45,000! If you will consider me stating the obvious, $1,000 translates to two laptop notebooks already.
You will say that you will save to buy the upcoming iPhone. Hey, don't convince me that it is just nuts saving your money either. Let me illustrate, if you are a regular employee earning a monthly salary of P15,000 (around $335), you will definitely have to save at least five months worth of your hard-earned money. But that is not all, yes you can save P45,000 in five months but that means you will sacrifice not spending a penny of your salary. How can you live then without spending for food, rent, bills, and transport?
Then it is not the end of the story after you buy this kind of phone. You will also need to purchase accessories, casing, etc to protect your iPhone from bumps and all damages, because to repeat: you are holding in your hand an expensive gadget and you want it to last for long, right? So add accessories to your budget. Not the least, your dry spell will be extended more to another two years. Yes, two long years maintaining and paying your subscription to data plans. Recall that this is a monthly affair with your carrier.
Using your credit card is also not going to be very helpful too. You will just be adding more debts and payables every month. Your ballooning debts will have an absolute impact to your savings and even to your well-being, psychologically in other words. Think of the interest rates and other charges that will mount and haunt you after few months. Credit card usage is also addictive as most who have received one from their banks would testify. So think again.
So if you are jobless or still dependent to your parents, please, don't ever consider buying. Have mercy to your parents (In other words, Maawa ka sa magulang modahil sila ang kukubain mo na magipon para sa iPhone mo!).
Then think also of the environment. When you buy a new phone, what will you do with your old phone? Are you just going to keep it? Make a museum out of it? (Now am talking of not only the iPhone but all the phones that were made and manufactured.) Most definitely many will just throw it away. The components or where your phone is made is not biodegradable. And with higher demand, there will be higher chances Apple will be manufacturing more to meet the orders. More iPhones means more environmental risk because of factories humming.
Ciao!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)