My Mulberry (tea) Nights

UP Naming Mahal

2008 marks the centennial anniversary of the University of the Philippines. This was where it all began for me. This was where I turned into who I am. The site that determined the path of my life. For many UP students this is where their eyes were opened to many realities, and many never looked back.

One of the earliest education in the university is about the UP Oblation, the statue which symbolizes selfless dedication to the people, without need for anything else but the search for knowledge in order to "serve the people". More than fifteen years since I finished my university studies I still strive to remain faithful to the ideals of the Oblation. It remains as my guide and my beacon.

The UP Hymn is memorized by every "iskolar ng bayan" but the meaning is only taken to heart by a few. It is the song that binds me to the reasons I am here.

UP Naming Mahal

U.P. naming mahal, pamantasang hirang

Ang tinig namin, sana'y iyong dinggin

Malayong lupain, amin mang marating

Di rin magbabago ang damdamin

Di rin magbabago ang damdamin

Luntian at pula, sagisag magpakailanman

Ating ipagdiwang, bulwagan ng dangal

Humayo't itanghal, giting at tapang

Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan

Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan.

Incredible India

From the food, the saris, transportation, music, and shopping. Whether it was 40+ degrees or not, the people and the places felt very warm and exciting.

Incredible indeed!

Read the Book before watching the Film!

"I had a wife. Her name is Hailey. She's gone. And so am I."

I enjoyed reading this book: laughing at the life that the main character is forced to lead after such a horrible loss, identifying with some of the torturous emotions that tore the man to pieces, understanding the viscious need to be left alone and knowing the difficulties of "getting back out there".

It's an explanation of how men generally deal with misery. It's something I'm sure none of my male friends would have shared with me. So it's good to know how they feel and the tendencies they take when they are in this phase. It's a great eye opener about real men also needing to cry.

I recommend it to my dearest friends.

Where are they now, the brave monks of Burma?

In the case of the recent crackdown of the peaceful protests in Burma, its military junta could be liable for investigation by the International Criminal Court under allegations of " attack directed against any civilian population", "extermination", "torture", "enforced disappearance" and "persecution" of the monks by the Bumese army. As of today more than 600 monks and 2,000 others are unaccounted for, mostly considered by the Asian Human Rights Commission as disappeared with serious possibilities that they are being tortured.

Buddhist monks are revered as the highest moral authority in Burma. They gave courage to Burmese people to come out in the streets again after more than a decade of silence and tolerance. Reports cite the skyrocketing cost of living as the main reason for the protests but the monks also wanted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi freed. The leader of the party overwhelmingly voted in Burma's only democratic elections in 1990 had been prevented from taking office together with elected parliamentarians from the National League for Democracy.

To put pressure on China, Burma's only supporter, to force it to end martial law and free Suu Kyi, there are calls from the west for a boycott of the 2008 Olympics. Petitions to this effect are circulating. Many believe it is now or never for Burmese democracy, with the last vestige of tolerance in protest over the military junta and therefore being exterminated themselves, who else would stand up to the junta?

But people say there is too much hardship to sustain any action, and people are starving so much that protesting with the monks meant that they had nothing left to lose but their very lives. This makes me very sad to the point of restless sleep. Surely people from around the world must help! We must stand up for them if they are crippled with hunger already. I've seen it done before, I believe it can be done again.

And so the struggle continues....

Have cause, will persevere

Quote for the day:

"It is the plan of the institution which asks (non-staff) members to partake in. It would be nice to have the members participate in the planning too"-- Manny Guzman

Martial Law 35 years ago

Manila, Philippines-Last Sept 21 as the world celebrated the International Day of Peace, human rights advocates here remembered the declaration of martial law 35 years ago by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), one of the oldest human rights groups in the country commemmorated the lives of martyrs and heroes of that period by inaugurating a Martial Law Memorial Wall. It was a solemn and quiet event, but it brought together some of the human rights advocates we thought would never meet again. It really reminded me that we may have our differences and our lives could branch apart, but we will always have those memories of the dark past and our common love for those who sacrificed themselves, to bind us together.
The Martial Law Memorial Wall can be seen at 45 Saint Mary Street Cubao Quezon City, Philippines. TFDP's telephone numbers are +632 437-8054