Philippine politics is, simply put, a joke. These so-called statesmen/women have turned the Philippine politcal arena into nothing but an air-conditioned marketplace.

I am not particularly a fan of Gloria Arroyo’s. Neither am I a follower/advocate of the opposition, whom I believe are more interested in a witchhunt rather than actually doing the country some good. Nothing in their actions or motives moves me to march in the streets to demand for the resignation of so-and-so. Because any self-respecting Filipino who is actually employing some cognitive thinking regarding this mess KNOWS that they are just angling to be next most powerful person in the country.

Cory Aquino and Erap Estrada are now on the same side. The fact that this has happened is so ludicrous it’s beyond comical. Cory, are you seriously aligning yourself with this crook???? Seriously???? Now that you’ve identified a common enemy, has everything been forgiven and forgotten? Is Erap any less guilty of corruption now that you both want Gloria out???

ARE YOU BLOODY KIDDING ME?

A friend of mine asked me why I seem apathetic to all the recent goings-on in the country. While a few years ago I was marching with friends, co-teachers, students to protest the obviously shady developments in Erap’s trial (i.e. the envelope-opening controversy) that led to EDSA II, lately I haven’t so much as lifted a toenail to follow the opposition.

Why is that?

Events in the past few years have reduced the patriotic fire in my soul into a mere flicker. Loren Legarda, who famously cried during the Erap-envelope controversy suddenly turned to the opposition when Arroyo did not draft her as the latter’s running mate in the last Presidential elections.

Reeked of political prostitution, if you ask me. Selling out because you wanted to make sure you’d win. De Venecia skeddadled to the other side when he realized his time was up. Did his beliefs/principles suddenly mirror those of the opposition? If he had spoken against the present administration without resorting to lifting somebody else’s banner I would have found more respect for him.   There’s no rulebook that says you have to join Erap & Co if you find yourself disagreeing with Arroyo. You can just stand your ground and disagree. Do you have to sell out?

Or are you just making sure you get a piece of the power pie in the event that Arroyo is ousted?

The reason why I don’t listen to these politicians anymore is because I don’t trust them.Whatever credibility Lozada had has, for me, been cancelled out by his eagerness/willingness to be used. Whatever truth there is in his statements, I’m not buying it now because of the lack of dignity in how the case has been handled. His own motives seem questionable. The senators, far from being the dignified, intelligent statesmen/women they purport themselves to be, have behaved with no objectivity, have resorted to underhanded questioning and evidence, entrapment, and lies. It’s pathetic.

There is no integrity. How can they expect people to follow them when they themselves are not trustworthy? 

People from otherwise solid backgrounds of education, skilled discernment, spiritual firmness have been swept up in all the noise that they haven’t approached the matter with the sobriety it needs.

Are we really a histrionic nation?

it took 17 days to film with 2 handycams, at the cost of $160,000 (about 130,000 euros). neither of the stars are trained actors, they didn’t even have names in the film. they were simply referred to as “the boy” and “the girl”.

this little irish musical is one of the most memorable films of 2007, in my opinion. and judging from the recognition and praise it has received — from the oscars, sundance and independent spirit awards to (more importantly, i think) the comments posted on youtube and blogs everywhere — it seems countless others feel the same way.

the film itself is brilliant in its quietness and simplicity, the characters are likable and you find yourself immediately rooting for them as they fumble their way into helping each other navigate through rough times. by the end of the film you understand as well as they do that despite the deep attachment that has grown between them, they cannot be together. but both are profoundly changed by their altogether too brief ‘encounter’. sigh.

the songs are raw, poignant, and they you in the gut. ‘falling slowly’ just won the 2008 oscar for best song and it is a well-deserved award.

i could go on and on about how much i love this film but i have to get back to work. i guess i just couldn’t pass up this opportunity to send out into cyberspace my congratulations to glen, marketa, john and everyone involved in the film. good on you, guys!!! so many people have been rooting for you, and from our hearts to yours — congratulations on a job excellently done!