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.

Photo credit: Rey Tamayo Jr., Photoville International

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.

One of the emergency shelters in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Photo credit: Mark Aiven Antang/Photoville International

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."

From @coloissu

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.

Photo credit: PSG (Perfect sa Ganda)

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.

 

Photo credit: Mark Aiven Antang/Photoville International

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.

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

Whether it is called iPhone 5 or iPhone 6, nobody seems to really care that much. Fast Company's Kit Eaton suggests that the next iPhone will be as important as the first one in 2007. Eaton said it can be divided into two general reasons: design and money.

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:

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.

Will this be a make or break deal for Apple?

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.

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 mo dahil 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.

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. Ask yourself if you really need one. Let us ask ourselves, do I need one?

Ciao!

Who are you as a photographer? A person or a professional?

While looking for a new topic to blog about, I found a recent The Guardian article that talks about whether or not it is ethical to take a photograph of people in the brink of violence or death.

It's a debatable issue for journalists and photojournalists for many years. Are we supposed to help the victim or do what our conscience tells us - that is, to help and give emergency relief?

It isn't simply a moral issue because people have divergent definition of what is moral or not. Also, it is not an easy ethical question that can only be responded to with a simple yes or no answer. And just by looking at the photographers' responses that The Guardian gathered, the war between the personal and the professional is clearly reflected.

1. Greg Marinovich:

It was my first exposure to such a thing. And although, as a journalist, my reaction was fine, as a human being I felt I'd really let myself down. It wasn't how I'd expected I'd react – I thought I'd try to intervene, or do something more noble. Yet I hadn't. I was really quite torn up about that. I was gutted that I'd been such a coward. From that moment, I was determined that, no matter what, I'd try to intervene and save someone if I could.

2. Donna Ferrato:

When I was taking other photographs for I Am Unbeatable, my book on domestic violence, I was there first as a photographer, not as a social worker. Yes, I would always be divided about whether to take a picture or defend the victim, but if I chose to put down my camera and stop one man from hitting one woman, I'd be helping just one woman. However, if I got the picture, I could help countless more.

3. Graeme Robertson:

The first time I experienced it, it actually stopped me taking images I really wanted to take or should have taken, because I was so mixed up and thinking, "Should I be doing this or not? I found it very difficult. But through experience, it's sad to say, you get immune to it. And then you can concentrate on your photography, and you feel that is your power.

4. Ian Berry:

When you're working with a camera, you tend to disassociate yourself from what's going on. You're just an observer. We were there to record the facts. But there are moments when the facts are less important than somebody's life.

5. Oli Scarff:

To be honest, even if I had been aware of what was going on, I don't know if I would have had the bottle to put myself in mortal danger. It's hard to know, though: those decisions come down to a spur-of-the-moment instinct. But, fundamentally, my role on that day was to document what was happening. In the corner of the picture is someone else taking a photograph. I think, perhaps, there is an innate human desire to record these kind of things. And the facility to do so has now been put in everyone's pockets.

6. Hampus Lundgren:

I became a photographer and not a person. It didn't cross my mind to talk to them. The man was being held up by his wife. He was badly injured, and getting help from other people nearby, including an off-duty policeman.

7. Kerim Okten:

I feel bad about it. I was frightened, so I just stuck to my professional duty. But life as a photojournalist teaches you that during this kind of violence, getting involved won't end it; it will just lead to more people getting hurt. 

8. Rhadhika Chalasani

I do believe that our main contribution is trying to get the story understood. And sometimes, when you think you're helping, you're actually making a situation worse. But, for me, you try to do what you can live with.

Around the world, this sensitive issue has been debated on for as long as maybe since journalism was born. Some say there is no right or wrong answer. But journalists or photojournalists must choose a side. Not even a neutral side.

One that is definitely not an easy stand was taken by UNTV's Daniel Razon who introduced his "Tulong Muna Bago Balita" (Rescue First Before Reporting) to make a statement about the network's stand in the form of an advocacy. 

Journalism is public service but it is also a business. As a business, the media sages say reports or photographs must sometimes be delivered to please and meet what the audience wants. That may be an explanation why we have many negative reports in the media because these are what the people want, as most news media producers would defend. I am not sure what the basis for this is, but I am not one of the "people" who are asking for these negatives to populate my viewing hours or the pages of the newspapers that I am reading. Are you?

Rescue and mission trainings conducted by UNTV for UP Manila students

In a way, Razon's stance could also be an indirect answer to President P.Noy's call to focus on the good news "kesa puro bad news ang hapunan ni Juan dela Cruz."

UNTV's advocacy stands up to offer a break and it is rooted from the station's tagline: "Ang paggawa ng mabuti ay hindi magbubunga ng masama (Doing good deeds will not reap evil). If its business is money-making, it would have been a lot easier for UNTV to just report all the negatives, the figures of casualties, and injured folks right away. It can even earn some Pulitzer Prize at that.

To choose the other side reaps a much different result - only sacrifices. Because after all, it is expensive to mount trainings and buy rescue-and-mission vehicles to maintain such undertaking. An even bigger challenge comes when the commitment is to do a regular operation because UNTV does not even have big advertisers or investors supporting its missions.

Saving the lives and helping fellowmen may be an antithesis to the practice of journalism, yet it is an antidote best served to the audience whose daily plates are filled with the often brutal, depressing and sensationalistic news.

Indeed, it is a serious and brave act to follow. The payoff from Razon's advocacy is not tangible. Such reward comes only in soothing the heart for responding to the call of the conscience to be humane, to be a person.

UNTV celebrates 8th year with Manibela Academy, Infant Care for Abandoned Babies

The Philippine television channel, UNTV 37, has celebrated its eight year this month. But who would have thought this little station with no big celebrities, no big advertisers, no imported shows or stars, and no big investors will reach this far? I myself could not believe this channel just did and looks headed to introducing more innovative projects in the future!

 

The impossible dream? Starting a TV station in the Philippines eight years ago is not a joke (because even back then, it's already a suicide to operate a television network even for just a day in terms of cash needed!). With the so-called network brawls, many Filipinos only knew of the two giant networks then.  It's either you are a 2 or 7 viewer, or you are swimming in the hundreds of available cable channels. The rest of other Philippine local channels were just virtually non-existent. But it obviously looks like UNTV is blessed, like the David in the midst of many Goliaths. Since then, UNTV started making a name for itself as the little man that could.

And when UNTV was re-launched in 2004 by veteran broadcast journalist, Daniel Razon whose early resume includes working with almost all the local television networks, I believe that many Filipinos may not even be aware of the new kid in the block whose humble proposal is a brand new way of television programming.

For the first time, Filipinos experienced an intelligent alternative where the shows are centered on providing informative, educational, inspirational, and intelligent resources via TV viewing. It may be quite late in the race but UNTV seems not interested in competition but only wants to deliver the goods, with emphasis on "not to insult the intelligence of the thinking Filipinos."

But aside from the many reasons that makes the station stand out (obviously not in terms of ratings to which the station is honest to not claim the No. 1 position), there is the daily public service programs for the marginalized. These are people who are living in the margins or who may be earning only as little as P50 a day.

Public service at UNTV was a commitment initiated by Razon, who later earned the title of Mr. Public Service because of his numerous public charity programs. There are medical and dental assistance legal support assistance, livelihood programs, Transient home, free bus rides, and more. All these are given for free. So if you are wondering where the long queues of people every morning that you see along EDSA Ave., near the North Avenue station of the MRT are headed, these people are not out to join a contest to win million peso or house and lot prizes.

In the fields of education and journalism, meanwhile, UNTV has introduced two landmark projects in the Philippines, the brainchild of Razon.

One is the the mobile school project through the Department of Education's Alternative Learning System (ALS) called Dunong-Gulong. The multimillion buses are packed with high-tech facilities, books, and educational resources and materials for students in remote areas.

UNTV-DepEd Dunong-Gulong project. Photo credit: UNTVweb.com

Then there is the News-and-Rescue project under the news advocacy slogan "Tulong Muna, Bago Balita" (Rescue First Before Reporting), whereby UNTV's working journalists and media people are trained to conduct rescue missions during crisis and calamity situations. Reports can come later just so we can save lives first, is what the advocacy means. For this project, UNTV deployed several rescue-and-mission vehicles around the country.

One of the UNTV mobile rescue vans used by the network's reporters.

One of the station's latest projects is the Manibela Academy, another first in the Philippines whose aim is to provide mechanical and livelihood training for drivers around the country. TESDA was key partner for this mobile driving school project. The bus will make rounds in barangays to teach drivers the proper and responsible way to drive.  

Manibela Academy bus, the mobile driving project launched by UNTV this month. Photo credit: UNTVweb.com.

Then, UNTV also launched the Infant Care Program for Abandoned Babies project. This charitable project is aimed at providing shelter and care for abandoned and neglected babies. This may also be another helpful advocacy to prevent cases of abortion.

These notable projects by the station are being conducted in partnership with key government offices and non-profit organizations that include the Philippine National Red Cross, Ang Dating Daan's Bro. Eli Soriano, Kamanggagawa Foundation, and more.

UNTV-BMPI CEO and Chairman, Dr. Daniel Razon delivers his S.O.N.A. or State of the Network Address during the anniversary event at One Esplanade in the Mall of Asia grounds. Photo credit: UNTVweb.com/Photoville International

To that and the bigger public service help to our fellowmen, to the leaders, staff and crews, mabuhay po kayo!

Happy anniversary to UNTV and more power to our "Tahanan Mo, Tahanan Natin!"

P.Noy and TV Patrol

The first time I saw this Youtube video clip of President Benigno Aquino III being shared on Facebook, I did not give attention because of the length and the notion that it may just be like any other tribute speeches given by a special guest.  But when I checked back again my account, the shared clip was gaining more and more likes and love from people. There are praises and boos.

But please hold back your assumptions and please watch the video first.

Although I admire the current Philippine administration, but I have a few reservations. But I will not talk lengthily about those in this blog because we will focus on the President's speech and TV Patrol. I just would like to stress some important observations that I gathered after watching the above video.

• The Filipinos finally got their voice back. The incumbent President is the new voice of the masses.
• Transparent leadership. Maybe not 100%, but the honesty of the incumbent leadership is holding up strongly. 
• P.Noy will say whatever, whenever, that he feels is right to say. Even if this means straining some chords.
• The media is not very supportive of the government. Even unfairly critical at times, according to the President.
• Speeches can be biting. Who says anniversary speeches must be pure tributes and praises? Criticisms and rebukes can be part of the mix to fight hypocrisy and abuses of media power.
• No. 6 is secret.

TV Patrol is already considered an institution in media reporting and what best to prove that but its 25th year in the business of broadcasting. Their reporters and their hugely-paid commentators all speak in the vernacular to quickly connect to the masses. And the presentation is tabloid-y.

Everything seems normal until the speech of President P.Noy was delivered. Without doubt, the talk was not many may have expected coming from the President, but should already be not surprising in terms of the Law of Consistency. The Law states that the President is frank and can have a laser-sharp focus in terms of his agenda in public affairs.  The TV Patrol event is no exemption for rebuking, perhaps to teach an important lesson about reforming a bad, dark habit of the press.

Some sectors celebrated the brutally frank assessment of the President about the ways one of TV Patrol's main host may have deliberately and intentionally delivered his or her commentaries of the general affairs of the present government. I am among the thousands who shouted 'that is right, Mr. President! Talk in our behalf!"

P.Noy's speech mirrored the way the media perform its role and the manner the public may have grown weak or have retired entirely to care what the media is reporting about our affairs in this land.

I agree with the President in many of his observations that media responsibility must be observed at all cost and the media platform should never, ever be used by anyone for any vested interest to leave negative impressions or lingering thoughts in the people's minds (But curiously, why does management allowed or tolerated these for so long?).

The role of the media encompasses reporting the society's ills and its many highs. There are freedoms and privileges that a media person enjoys but there are also limitations to that freedom. The media plays a vital role in shaping the society's and the people's behaviors and attitudes towards fellowmen, the government and the world in general. Above all, there are responsibilities attached to that role, namely: that of being sincere, logical, rational and advocate of fairness and justice.

The President has admitted that there are flaws and misgivings that his current administration and the media can talk about. But these are not enough reasons why the media shouldn't be reporting also the positives. And the Filipinos, who are by nature truth lovers, must be proud of its new leader who have taken the bold step to fight, with a biting fang the hypocrisy in the media.

And I am optimistic that the President will live up to his commitment to be not influenced by anyone, even if they threaten PR disaster of the highest kind or votes being allocated to his opponents when election comes.

Ciao.

#Aurora, Colorado mass murder: more to come?

The news of the mass shooting-murder last July 20, 2012 that happened during a late-night Batman (a.k.a. "The Dark Night Rises") movie premiere in a theater in Aurora, Colorado may have resounded deeply into American consciousness up to this hour.

But as the Law of Proximity in Journalism may have put it, this fateful event may not dug deeply to create a national discussion among Filipinos the same way that the Americans are having right now in their soil.

With the Internet, the news reached us in the Philippines and may have saddened many of us who learned of the horrifying, senseless and premeditated tragedy that brought to 12 the numbers of people killed and dozens wounded.

Immediately after the news of the Colorado massacre have spread, commentaries about gun control, the Columbine mass shooting incident, imitation, and certainty of more shootings where brought up. 

Ang Dating Daan's Bro Eli Soriano have already discussed a similar beastly act after the April 17, 2007 mass murder committed by a South Korean student from the Virginia Tech which cost the lives of 32 and injured another 29 people before killing himself. Meanwhile, the suspect in the Aurora, Colorado killing named James Holmes is still alive and currently facing court hearings.

From Columbine incident to the Colorado shooting, it seems logical to ask why? What could be the motive driving these people to kill people? In the end it falls into a general question of why would some people resort to mass killing of their fellowmen?

James Holmes, the suspect in the Colorado mass shooting.

I also would like to find the answer so I have conducted my own research. During my search, something noticeable strike me: people asking for the whys may have dwindled.

Are we bored to death to seeing or hearing news of mass murder being committed one after another that our feelings of shock have been anesthetized? Or are we ignoring these realities because we want a break from the deluge of negative news circulating not only in the press but now being shared on our social networking timelines? Or that some are distancing already from the realities to live in a dream-like, illusory realities of their own making, just like Holmes' 'temporal illusion'? I may be thinking too much on this, but somehow I am sure some still care.

One thing is certain, this will not be the last and more of the same may resurface anywhere, even just around our neighborhood. What is our hope that we will soon see an end to this? For the Bible-believing among us, we would most certainly agree that a better world is coming soon - the only hope for humanity. Bro Eli has said it best in his blog, to which I quote an excerpt:

All evil will be ended; and evildoers will be paid what is due them, when the Lord of Glory comes in power in that blessed day. After the storm, there is a bright day ahead; and I believe, if you will believe in the Bible, we will all see that day.

Ciao!

Countdown to earth's last gasp for life?

I really planned for this. To wait a few more days before writing about my take on the end-of-world prophecy of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda.

Earth in our hands for the future / Credit: Royalty-free image from Corbis

Not that blogging about Miranda's failed prophecy is obligatory, but among the headliners that emerged in recent memory, his failed declaration of the end of the world should serve as a warning to many people, especially to those who are still a member of this group.

Miranda's doomsday prediction was not in my radar early June until I found a new blog article shared by Bro Eli Soriano's Facebook fan page. Dated June 3, which is 27 days shy of the June 30 countdown of Miranda, the article discussed why Miranda is an undeniable liar. Only then I realized the relative importance of why blogging about this obvious blunder mattered.

Many may not be fully aware of Miranda's presence in the Philippines because that preacher, who was born a Puerto Rican and had been in Mississippi in recent years, have concentrated to grow his international ministry in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

This Puerto Rican preacher seems to love shuffling different titles. He is "Daddy" most of the time to his followers, but there came a time that he assumed the position of the "Anti-Christ." The most recent title he stole is Jesus Christ's. He's earned a rock star-like fame in the United States courtesy of CNN and Fox News, not because he is cool or revolutionary but because the source of his personal wealth is utterly questionable.

According to CNN, Miranda was former "petty-thief" and a heroin addict who had a vision of two angels coming down from up high. The mission of these angels were divine, to tell Miranda: you are the Jesus reincarnate! So the story goes. Miranda's followers even have 666 symbols tattooed on their bodies as well.

Fox News traces the origin of Miranda's flock. Twenty years ago, there were merely a few hundred members of the Growing in Grace under this sect leader. Today, Miranda boasts of radio and television presence with 287 radio programs and a 24-hour Spanish-language TV network that reportedly reaches two million homes.

Then last April 25, 2012, Miranda, leader of the Growing in Grace International ("Creciendo en Gracia"), predicted that divine justice will arrive on June 30, 2012 to fulfill a prophecy of the coming end. His ominous vision included strong earthquakes, Armageddon, and the destruction of the rest of the earthlings who will not believe Miranda. The privilege of the believers include getting the ability to cross walls!

Billboards bearing Miranda's countdown to transformation campaign were seen plastered in buildings and walls in the United States, Brazil, and other countries. You can just imagine how much the campaign may have cost to mount, with the burden of paying off the expenses shouldered by the ministry's hapless members.

Then June 30 arrived, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and now 6. The world is still breathing and the humans in it, with God's help. Just what Bro Eli said that such doomed prophecy is the mark of false prophets that the Bible says will emerge in the last days.

That is why we should really care because it is all worth our time to talk about these realities. With open mind and deep thinking, it pays to be vigilant more than ever before.

Remember that there is no immediate assurance that Miranda's doomed proclamation will be the last. Because another countdown immediately takes the place of this June 30 prophecy. This time, it is December 23, 2012! The end of the Mayan calendar spells the end of the world it is claimed.

Historically and similarly with other doomed end-of-world prophecies, there are victims and losers. Often, the aftermath is terrible. Just recall what had happened to the members of the Jehovah's Witnesses who sold their properties and gave the proceeds to their preachers when the Watchtower Society predicted that the world will end on 1914. Then in 1925 and finally in 1975. All of these predictions failed. The members suffered grave financial loss and many were reduced to rat-poor conditions.

For some members of these religions, especially the fanatics even of Miranda's, these people will stay and forgive their fallen preachers even after all that had happened. But to those who learned their lessons the hard way, they will surely leave, promise not to be fooled again, and search for the truth.

As a starter, it will not hurt marking out in the calendar the date when the next Bible Exposition of the phenomenal preacher who is the lone crusader against these false preachers will be held in July, 2012, God willing.

Fin