Monthly Archives: September 2007

22
Sep

Finally

Posted by | Categories Journal

It was over even before it really began.

Sometimes, hope is such an evil word. It forces you to anticipate, to build castles in the air, only to see all of your expectations crumble as the waves crash into the shore. All remains in the scene are dejection, sadness, disappointment, heartaches, depression.

I think hoping for something that is clearly not for you is useless; you are just deluding yourself. Sometimes one must learn to accept that some force (fate, whatever you call it) will thwart your will. Sometimes, however steadfast your dreams and aspirations are, it will not happen. These things you have to accept.

Happiness is just an illusion. Like hope. Sometimes.

22
Sep

MyBlogLog integrates with Yahoo!

Posted by | Categories Byte

Yahoo has acquired MyBlogLog aeons ago (for around US$12 million, as rumored). Several months later, MyBlogLog has been integrated to Yahoo via the Yahoo ID system.

Earlier today, as I signed in to MyBlogLog, I was asked for my Yahoo ID and password, then the system discovered through my Yahoo email address that I already have a MyBlogLog account, and so the system merged my Yahoo and MyBlogLog info seamlessly.

Note that during the merging, your avatar will be changed to that of your Yahoo profile.

What changes have you noticed after the integration? Post your impressions on the comments.

21
Sep

Batas Militar: Pag-alala ng isang walang alaala

Posted by | Categories Ink

Ipinanganak ako noong 1978, anim na taon simula nang ideklara ni Ferdinand Marcos ang pagsasailalim sa buong bansa sa batas militar; at tatlong taon pagkalipas ng aking kapanganakan, inialis ni Marcos sa ilalim ng batas militar ang Pilipinas. Nakakalungkot isipin na wala akong matandaan simula 1983 hanggang 1990, bagamat natatandaan ko ang tangkang pag-agaw ng kapangyarihan ng grupo ni Gregorio Honasan nung 1989. Papasok ako noon sa mababang paaralan nang sabihan ako ng kapitbahay na umuwi dahil wala raw pasok. Nakakita nga ako ng ilang mga tora-tora na umaaligid sa Maynila.

Isang black and white TV lang ang gamit namin noon. Hindi nagbabasa ng pahayagan ang aking mga magulang. Hindi itinuturo sa paaralan ang mga nangyayari sa paligid. Wala akong muwang sa mga nangyari na at sa mga nangyayari noong panahon na iyon. Katatapos lamang ng EDSA Revolution, at hindi pa natatapos baguhin ang mga aklat na gamit sa paaralan. May mga bakas pa rin ng panunungkulan ni Marcos noon. Naalala ko pa kapag flag ceremony namin tuwing umaga. Pagkatapos ng flag ceremony, pabalik na kami sa aming mga silid-aralan, tumutugtog ang awitin na may ganitong titik: “Lakad — kabataan/Na magiting, at —-“. Paumanhin. Hindi ako sigurado sa mga salita. Basta kapag narinig ko siya, alam ko na ang awiting iyan. Basta tunog batas militar siya.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari. May mga nakakaalala ng mga pangyayari noong 1970 hanggang 1986, pero bakit parang hindi yata naibabahagi sa ibang henerasyon ang kaalamang ito. Nabalitaan ninyo ba ang mga aklat na kasalukuyang ginagamit sa mga pampublikong paaralan? Hindi lang tadtad ng mali, mas mahaba pa ang diskusyon tungkol sa mga nagawa ni Marcos kaysa sa buhay ni Jose Rizal! Hindi ba nakakapanlumo? Buti pa noon, medyo mahaba ang talakayan tungkol sa batas militar, bagamat wala akong matandaan maliban sa mga halo-halong mga titik tulad ng NAWASA, NACIDA, at BiBa. Sabagay, noong mga panahong iyon, mas pinapahalagahan kung alam mo ang ibig sabihin ng NACIDA.

Ngayon, tatlumpu’t limang taon ang nakalipas. Mayroon tayong isang arsobispo na nagsasabing ang mga kalunos-lunos na pangyayari sa ating panahon (iyung mga pagpatay sa mga aktibista, pagkawala ng ilan) ay ga-patak lamang ng mga nangyari noong panahon ng batas militar. Nakakalungkot sapagkat buhay siya noong panahon na iyon, pero parang nakalimutan na rin niya ang nakaraan. Mas nakakalungkot dahil paniniwalaan siya ng bagong henerasyon. Salat sila sa kaalaman, salamat sa walang silbing mga aklat sa paaralan, sa hindi pagbabahagi ng mga nakakatanda ng kanilang karanasan, sa kakulangan ng impormasyon sa Internet – isa sa pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kaalaman ng mga kabataan ngayon.

Isa lamang ang aking hiling: sana ay marami pang magsulat tungkol sa mga nangyari noong panahon ng batas militar – mga karanasan, mga alaala – upang mabasa ng mga kabataan at mga susunod pang henerasyon.

Kaya, ako ay nagpapasalamat sa mga sumusunod na nagsulat ukol sa isang madilim na bahagi ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa:

A Teen During the Martial Law Era
Never Again! The 35th Martial Law Commemoration
Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism
Mazinger Z!
Paggunita sa ika-35 taon anibersaryo ng Martial Law
Bedridden on Martial Law commemoration day
From the diaries of Ferdinand E. Marcos
I declare marshmallow!
From Hell And Back
When was Martial Law “Declared”?

Sana ay matuto tayo sa mga aral na dala ng kasaysayan. Sana ay huwag nating kalimutan ang aral na dala ng nakaraan.

20
Sep

A Windows Mobile-powered Sony Ericsson phone?

Posted by | Categories Byte


This CNN news report is a puzzler:

High Tech Computer Corp has secured a contract from Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB to design and assemble the latter’s first smartphone running Microsoft Corp’s Windows Mobile platform, the Commercial Times reported, without citing sources.

The order is estimated to exceed 1 mln units, and the smartphone is due to hit the market in the second half of 2008, it said.

The Taiwan company currently ships some 10 mln smartphones per year, and the Sony Ericsson contract is expected to expand shipments by 10-20 pct, it added.


A Windows Mobile-powered smart phone from Sony Ericsson?

As Ubergizmo opines, SE owns a part of Symbian (it owns UIQ too). What is happening here? Is SE getting ready to drop UIQ and Symbian? With the current reputation of SE UIQ 3 phones (not good), this is an option for SE.

Current SE UIQ phones are: P990, W950, M600, P1, W960.

No, I don’t think SE is going to abandon Symbian and UIQ at this point (they might at a later date); it is just too stupid to abandon such investment in capital and technology. Symbian and UIQ are not in the red; SE UIQ3 phones are selling well, despite the not-so-good reviews. SE is probably going to introduce a new line of handsets (the word for this move is diversification), labeled the M series. Yes, there is an M600, but that is just the first in that line. Maybe we will see Sony Ericsson M1 soon enough.

20
Sep

An open letter to Representative Cajayon

Posted by | Categories Ink

September 20, 2007

Hon. Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon
Representative, Second District
Caloocan City

Dear Representative Cajayon:

I was disappointed when I found out that you are one of the co-authors of the stupid House Bill 2417, the bill that would have postponed for the third time the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. And I am aghast when 149 of you voted to approve this bill on the third reading, and in the fastest time possible. Now if only you and your colleagues work that fast everytime. But I disgress.

By passing that said bill, you and the other 148 are denying us our right to elect and select our barangay officials. Not only that, you and the other 148 are denying us our right to hold our barangay officials accountable by voting them out of office if they have not done their duty. By passing that law, you and the other 148 are violating the Constitution by denying our right of suffrage.

I will tell you why your bill is stupid. This incident happened around 2:30AM today in a barangay in your district. I and other tax-paying citizens residing at your district were sleeping the sleep of the just when a woman began shouting. Then, more shouting from more people, and we got up from our beds thinking if there was trouble afoot. Me and my mother look outside and saw a clearly drunk woman shouting and cursing, while her friends and/or relatives were trying to restrain her. Some of them had to shout back just to restrain her, to no avail. Almost every home within 50 meters were affected by the ruckus.

No barangay official came to restore the peace. And the fact that the barangay captain is your compadre is just salt in the wounds. And don’t ask me for other instances where barangay officials were needed but were scant.

You see, Ms. Cajayon, it is precisely for this reason we need to elect new barangay officials. They had grown so comfortable being power that they had already forgotten their duties. For dereliction of duty, they should be voted out of office. But, no, you and the other 148 want to deny us this right.

During the last campaign period, you walked in our streets, shook our hands, promised to serve us. Now, can you come to our barangay and look straight in our eyes and say, “I am here to serve?” By denying us our right to vote, you do not serve us.

And a good thing, too, that I am a registered voter in Manila. Otherwise, you would have lost my vote. Anyway, see you in three years, when and if I decide to register in Caloocan, one of the worst cities in Metro Manila, because of short-sighted officials like you.

Respectfully yours,

Arbet Bernardo

PS:

The same goes to Representative Jaime Lopez, Second District, Manila, for co-authoring the same stupid bill.

PPS:

Want to know why they want to postpone the elections? Clue: networking.

19
Sep

Cris Anthony Mendez: The Search for Justice

Posted by | Categories Ink | Tagged ,

(This blog post continues the roundup entitled The true barbarians of UP. Check back on this page for news updates.)

Almost a month since the death of Cris Anthony Mendez, the case is far from being solved. But there are small breaks, which is good.

—
11/23/2207 News Update
Sigma Rhoan loses TRO case vs UP in hazing controversy Belat! Buti nga! Seriously, the fact that he is still in hiding speaks loudly about his innocence, no?

11/20/2007 News Update
Doctor faces civil case filed by Mendez family The Mendez family should get a new lawyer. They should file a medical malpractice case against that doctor. They should also ask the Professional Regulation Commission to strip the doctor of his license. I would have asked for more than Php 8 million. And yeah, almost two months after, still no criminal case filed against anyone. It seems that Sigma Rho has done its coverup job well.

11/08/2007 News Update
4 face obstruction raps in Mendez case Funny, they should charge Santos himself. And that Miko Cruz, too. It has been a month, and these two have been invisible since day 1, isn’t that enough ground to charge them with obstruction of justice?

10/31/2007 News Update
UP studes light candles for dead frat neophytes Two months after, no break in CA’s case.

10/26/2007 News Update
Fratman’s lawyer says UP on ‘a fishing expedition’ Yeah, right. Where’s your client, BTW?

10/24/2007 News Updates
UP fraternity man seeks stop to hearings on Mendez death
Sigma Rho member seeks TRO vs UP
It has been quite awhile since the last update to this post. One Sigma Rho member wants the court to stop the UP Student Disciplinary Tribunal hearings. Remember that the QC Police District is waiting for the results of the SDT hearings before it files a case against Sigma Rho members (see 10/24 update, below).

10/13/2007 Update
Frat violence rears its ugly head not just in UP That is not the point, and the letter writer don’t get it. The point is that a UP student was murdered, and Sigma Rho is likely culprit.

10/10/2007 News Update
Doctor’s son a no show in NBI hazing death inquiry This time, NBI should charge Mico with obstruction of justice. They should not wait any longer.

10/07/2007 News Update
Fraternity men wheel in hope to people with disabilities A UP fraternity tries to find relevance in this time where almost everyone is hostile against fraternities.

10/05/2007 News Updates
Doctor allegedly prevented autopsy on Cris Mendez
Witness says no autopsy done on UP hazing victim
Another witness claims that the doctor immediately had the body released without the benefit of an autopsy. That’s obstruction of justice, plain, clear, and simple.

10/04/2007 News Updates
Decision on case vs UP frat members vital to cops’ probe I get the feeling that QCPD is bluffing. If you have an airtight case, you file it, you arrest the suspects.
NBI gives doc’s son one week to show up Sabi nga sa Filipino, baka ginagapang na ng Sigma Rho para manahimik yung anak ng doktor.

10/03/2007 News Update
NBI to seek UP stude’s help on Mendez slay Icasiano’s mother appeals to Sigma Rho. I think it was useless. There’s no use appealing to murderers.

10/02/2007 News Updates
Doctor in Mendez slay shows up at NBI
Doctor in UP hazing shows up at NBI
Crucial updates, folks. Ties up several loose ends. The most surprising (and wicked) news: the doctor’s first lawyer was supposedly supplied by Sigma Rho. The rogues! They wanted the doctor to stonewall for them! They are really desperate to cover their asses.

10/01/2007 Update
Saguisag on Sigma Rogues and the new writ of amparo Rene Saguisag called Sigma Rho as Sigma Rogues. Heh.

9/29/2007 News Updates
UP files raps vs 12 Sigma Rhoans Note that the complaint is an internal one. Also, a rumor of another hazing death is circulating, and if true, it means that the concerned fraternity has learned from Cris’ death. They have employed calibrated, pre-emptive response (CPR). Shame on you, Gloria Arroyo.
Obstruction of justice charge awaits doctor in Mendez case They should have done this aeons ago. NBI should now check with Immigration, and I would not be surprised if the coward is gone.
Don’t forgo due process in Cris Mendez’s case WTF. Due process? Want due process, mister? How about this? A month after Cris’ death, no one has been charged? The fools who were suspended are all missing in action. You want due process, mister? What you need is a slap in the butt and a brain transplant. Your own needs to be discarded. Fast. Inquirer should have not published such a useless rant. (If you notice, this letter uses a variation of the usual Gloria Arroyo apologists. Go to MLQ3‘s blog and read comments made by Bencard and rego.)

9/28/2007 News Update
Fraternities ‘surprised’ by UP president’s directive Not really related to Cris’ case, but it seems fraternities are having a hard time justifying their existence, even concocting reasons for failure to comply with the UP president’s directive.

9/26/2007 News Updates
NBI says doctor in Mendez slay case could face charges and Last chance for doctor linked to UP hazing – NBI They should have charged him aeons ago. Who knows, the doctor might have fled the country already.

9/25/2007 News Update
Cris Mendez’s ma gets offer to settle case Whether the stranger who made the offer is connected with Sigma Rho or not, I just shake my head in disgust. As if money can buy you a life. Don’t these people get it? They murdered someone, and they should face the law.

9/24/2007 In a letter to Newsbreak, Fulgencio Factoran Jr. explains why he does not intend to resign from Sigma Rho. He went on great lengths to explain his decision. And yes, like Villafuerte, he does not condemn his own fraternity for killing Cris Mendez. Boo.

“By far, the biggest lesson I have learned from the Sigma Rho fraternity is the value of friendship. A sub lesson is that I should not desert a friend when he is in crisis, no matter how badly he has behaved.” At least for us, we support our friends BUT WE DO NOT CONDONE THEIR WRONG ACTIONS. That’s our difference, Mr. Factoran. Also: now that Mendez is dead, where are your brods? Sigma Rho might have been good to you, but from the rate things are going, the current members and alumni of your fraternity has not been good on Mendez – that includes you, Mr. Factoran. How do you reconcile that, Mr. Factoran?

9/21/2007 News Update
UP president orders fraternities: Justify your existence I hope this is not just tough talk.

9/20/2007 News Updates
‘Violent frats accept only neophytes who submit to hazing’ “He told the Inquirer that based on a 1996 study conducted by Sociology professor Ricardo Zarco, the Sigma Rho fraternity had the most number of involvement in violent incidents in the university.” Heh. How I wished numbers were quoted.
NBI to quiz funeral parlor exec It seems that the funeral parlor has a lot of questions to answer. Is there a Sigma Rhoan in that business?
A code of secrecy and silence Someone wrote a letter to the editor, wondering about Sigma Rho’s silence. Why even ask?

9/19/2007 News Updates
UP frat violence forum seeks justice for Mendez That’s the ticket. Bring it on, indeed.
UP to Sigma Rho: Go ahead, sue us Kapal talaga ng mukha. Magpakita muna kayo bago kayo manakot, mga duwag.

9/19/2007 Blog Posts
Mafia Culture “I weep for the wasted life of Cris, so young and with a bright future. Now he is but another statistic in this barbaric crime whose perpetrators are being cuddled by their influential criminal brothers. To these criminals, justice may not be served in this life but who knows in the next? Pray too that your sons will not face animals like you when their turn comes. Justice can come from the most unlikely places and a crime cannot be hidden for eternity.

So no matter how Sigma Rho tries to justify/glorify its organization, its nothing but a gang that revolves around the culture of the Mafia.”

One of Their Own “At dinner a few nights ago, some brods and I talked about possible ways of helping to ensure that something like the Mendez case should never happen to our residents, and of more sharply focusing the fraternity’s energies on academics and public service. I know that to many, that’ll be like teaching a dinosaur to dance, but I’d like to be more hopeful—while bearing in mind that the bottomline for fraternities is, if they can’t guarantee the safety and well-being of their members and recruits, then they’re better off dissolved. Worse than becoming irrelevant, they can be dangerous. If the alumni brods want whatever glorious traditions they may have begun to carry on to this new century, then they should take the lead in reshaping the mindsets of the young, and not condone any act of violence—even and especially if it’s perpetrated by one of their own.”

9/18/2007 News Updates
Witness confirms Mendez joined frat initiation rites Finally, someone connects CA’s murder with Sigma Rho.
UP Diliman campus blooms with ‘justice’ posters Well, I hope this is not just a prank. And oh, former Senator Jovito Salonga resigns from Sigma Rho. Hurrah!
Sigma Rho alumni chief wants Salonga apology I think Filipino words can best sum this news up: ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA. What gall. I can only shake my head in disgust.

9/18/2007 Blog Posts
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness. . .” (Matthew 3:3) “The newspapers today speak of a real man standing for his principles and standing by his word, even when it is unpopular, even when it goes against the grain, even when it is not expedient, for so long as it is the right thing to do.”

Of Justice and Teardrops (in memory of Cris Anthony Mendez, 1987-2007) “See, I may not have actively intended to take a life. That said, the moment that I lacked the foresight to see the consequences of my actions, then I have lost all exoneration from blame. I have to suffer the consequences of my actions, because I am a man who was taught by both of my parents that you have to live this life with as clean a conscience as you can possibly get. If I go to jail, fine. At least I can do my time and get the chance to mend my ways. The person whose death I caused accidentally? He’s not going anywhere. And he never will. I would rather have a clean conscience behind bars than to live my life as a “free” man outside jail, always longing for the voices in my head to keep quiet. Sooner or later, the voices will take over.”

19
Sep

AMA v. La Salle

Posted by | Categories Journal

Whoever did this, he/she was one naughty boy/girl: (click on the image to view full size)

19
Sep

Goodbye, Asus eee PC?

Posted by | Categories Byte

Well, AllAsus.com now has a definitive price for Asus eee PC 700. Look at this search query to view their catalog entries for the eee PC 700.

AllAsus’s description:

* Units should start shipping in early October ’07.
* $150 non-refundable deposit required.
The Eee PC 700 $259.99 (2Gb) version is black only. The Eee PC 700 $299.99 (2Gb) version is in black or white and adds a webcam and carry bag. The Eee PC 701 $399.99 version is black or white with 4Gb storage, webcam and carry bag.

Remember when Asus announced that the eee pc would only cost US$200 (the lowest model, at least)? I was even hopeful back then, only to get disappointed by price changes and delays. And now, the promise is all but a lie, taken over by economic realities. So this means goodbye, Asus eee PC. Maybe when you get more decent specs at a more decent price, I’d reconsider.

18
Sep

Microsoft sneaks in updates while no one’s looking

Posted by | Categories Byte

Before, I called Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage Tool as spyware. Now, another suspicious activity regarding Windows XP and Vista has been reported.

InformationWeek reports on Microsoft secretly updating Windows Update, the tool used by Windows for checking and installing patches to the operating system, even if the Windows Update is turned off by the user. In short, the operating system is being updated without the user’s permission.

Microsoft’s stance was understandable but quite risky. As Bruce Schneier opines:

Note that Microsoft can do this; that’s just stupid company stuff. But what’s to stop anyone else from using Microsoft’s stealth remote install capability to put anything onto anyone’s computer? How long before some smart hacker exploits this, and then writes a program that will allow all the dumb hackers to do it?

When you build a capability like this into your system, you decrease your overall security.

For Windows users: have you turned off Automatic Updates? Why?

18
Sep

Death and Tuesday

Posted by | Categories Journal

Tuesday has never been my favorite day. When bad things happen in my life, they usually happen on a Tuesday. I’d rather not recount all of them.

In my experience, there are more people out on the streets on a Tuesday, much more than Monday.

There’s that scene of death early today. Have you stared death in its face?

The last time I encountered death in a personal level, it was when my paternal grandmother died in 2003. It was after the New Year festivities. As we were about to get some sleep, a cousin sent a text message, informing us about her death. To be honest, I felt nothing. I was ashamed of it, but on hindsight, I understand the feeling of nothingness.

My grandmother was in the hospital for four months till she passed away. Death stared me in the face in those months. It had prepared me to accept the inevitable – I knew she would die, the question was when. Everyday, you would ask the question, was today the day? Sadness enveloped the heart, yet she was still alive, leaving the heart calloused, till the fated day arrived. The heart was already numb by that time to even react.

The heart then went on a healing phase, regaining the feelings it had lost when sadness reigned supreme. It took me two years to realize the impact of her death. It was several days before All Saints Day of 2005. We were painting her tomb, when things came to a stand still. There I was, standing, looking at the grave. I was teary-eyed all of a sudden.

There are times when death’s impact is so sudden and jarring. The suddenness shocks the heart, triggering a wave of emotions, from denial, to anger, to despair, to depression. This is the kind of death that brings raw emotions, like how a tidal wave crashes to the shore.

I saw someone die. I can’t remember when it was exactly; I think I was in university at that time, so that would be around 1994-1997. We were living along Rizal Avenue Extension, on the southbound side, which is west. On the other side is the main gate of the Chinese Cemetery. Directly infront was an estero. An old man (around 50s) was sitting at a wide ledge before the estero, looking very sick. Suddenly, he vomited blood, lots of it. Then he collapsed. He was dead.

Then early today. I did not see the child die. I only saw signs of his death – the tattered clothes, blood marks in the pedestrian lane, the pool of crimson under the trailer. When that old man passed away, I felt nothing. People in the neighboorhood were even joking that we were lucky dinuguan (blood stew) was not the meal of the day. But today, upon seeing those tattered clothes, I felt my blood run cold. I almost had nausea. I felt despair.

Just how bad Tuesdays are? Right now, I am not feeling well. There was this sudden negative emotional outburst that was luckily contained within. I cannot explain at this moment why it happened. Maybe because it was Tuesday. Not my day, no sir.