Archive for May, 2009

Alec Baldwin Getting A Filipina Mail Order Bride?

I’m quite busy preparing for the new school year when I saw the flash news about actor Alec Baldwin and about mail order bride, a filipina in specific. So I search for the video in youtube, its an episode of David Letterman shown last May 12, 2009. I don’t usually watch David Letterman show but the episode seems like they are old time buddies and joking to each other.

Regardless that they’re old time friends and teasing with one another casually, Alec Baldwin’s joke is in bad taste. He shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure he wasn’t aware of the Republic Act 6955 or the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law in the Philippines.

“I love to have more kids. I think about getting a Filipina mail-order bride… or a Russian one. I’m 51,” Baldwin said in video. Alec Baldwin was so insensitive for striking a joke like that, an insult to Filipina. He doesn’t know how Filipina are as wives. The issue irritated Senator Ramon Revilla and Representative Risa Hontiveros.

“Being a celebrity, Baldwin should be more prudent in issuing statements. And he must know what he is talking about. Apparently, he is not aware that here in the Philippines we don’t tolerate mail order bride schemes.” – Sen. Ramon Revilla

“He totally doesn’t deserve a Filipina wife. He meant that as a joke but it was totally foul.” – Rep. Risa Hontiveros

Do I need say more? Its insulting. Respect is not self impose, I don’t respect him now even if I watched his movies in the past. Now, I consider him as “persona non grata”, I will never watch again movies from a racist. This is me, my opinion, a filipina.

Update (May 22, 2009): Alec Baldwin says sorry for his bad joke.

Brigada Balik Eskwela

Last night, we went to see Angels and Demons, guaranteed seat movie starts with a Philippines national anthem Lupang Hinirang. It was familiar because there was a time that ABS CBN was airing that featuring their contract artists singing Lupang Hinirang. After that, a warning about movie piracy. And followed by schedule of Brigada Balik Eskwela or Oplan Balik Eskwela. I can’t remember if it will start two weeks before school opening. Sorry, I can’t post the date here, you could contact your local officials for schedules. (It starts today on most schools.)

Most of the public and private school will start on June 1. Parents and other concerned citizens flock to public schools to help repair the tables, chairs, shelves, fans etc. If they received paint donation, they will also paint classrooms. Bayanihan is still alive these days, usually this was held in behalf of public schools for the benefit of the students in the community. I’m sure they will also handle stagnant waters within the campus, rainy season means possible dengue.

I never participated in this kind of activity since I didn’t know if it exist in our community, I could say our barangay is big for having 3 public schools. Bayanihan for a cause, it doesn’t matter if my children doesn’t study there, we could help by donating small things that could help the students of the community. A support for students in our community.

AH1N1 Is Good For Philippines Tourism?

World Health Organization (WHO) had received reports that there are 33 countries have officially reported 5728 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 46 cases, which 39 have negative results while 7 have still pending results.

Given the figures of WHO’s reported confirmed countries and patients around the world, Philippines is still blessed for having zero AN1H1 patient as of this writing. Remember that DOH is still monitoring 7 possible patients, we are not totally free.

Some countries have warned their citizens from going to AN1H1 infected countries, we do. And since we do not belong to infected countries, tourism is still ok. Filipinos prefer to travel within our country instead of going to our countries for fear of virus infection. A friend of mine who’s family spent their summer vacation in US yearly but change their plan this year. She could be one of other pinoys who thinks the same way. And their major reason is AH1N1 virus.

Come to think of it, if Philippines is still AN1H1-free country, we became one of the tourist destination of other countries. That’s good to our economy. What if they came from infected countries? Some of the 46 cases reported by DOH were admitted by private hospitals and not by DOH hospitals. Does it mean that they were negative when they passed through thermal scanners?

I still hope that the remaining 7 patients’ results will turn out negative.

Ako Ang Simula

This is the additional tagline of ABS CBN’s awareness campaign “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo” in TV Patrol that was launched yesterday. There were many activities yesterday to mark the countdown for 2010 National Election.

The success of Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo was during 2007 Election wherein the public reported the anomalies they encountered related to election. Concerned filipino voters participated by sending SMS and MMS their complaints. After verifying the received report, it will be aired and necessary actions were made.

I can’t remember when was “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo” launched, if it was also launched a year before 2007 Election. Since the campaign is reborn, now tagged as “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo: Ako Ang Simula”, a campaign for public awareness, a campaign to guard our votes.

The first campaign was a success based on the numbers of complaints received but still cheating happened. Remember, Hello Garci? Although it happened in 2004 when there was no “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo”, the same idea of “dagdag bawas” happened in local government election.

I have high hopes for a better nation, for change. I even setup 2010 Election blog.

Weepy On Mother's Day

When the clock struck midnight, I was online but I can’t think of anything to write. Sort of I’m not in the mood to write, to research or to do anything in the net. At first, I was thinking of writing about my Tatay, my fingers started typing but eventually stopped because I was thinking what to do today, on this very day that mothers in the world are acknowledge for being a mom to their children.

Since yesterday, I already received SMS, YM messages, emails greeting me for this “special” day. Their mom could be special because they spread the love by greeting other mothers aside from their mom. Am I not that good enough?

I sacrificed everything for my kids and made them feel that they are loved as much as I could. I, as well as my hubby being part of broken family (both our parents are separated) and so are my children now, its hard to break the so called “chain” from generation to generation. As much as possible, I don’t want them to have their broken family of their own when time comes.

Their dad stopped celebrating Mother’s Day at an early age. His hatred to his mom somehow made me feel that I did the same thing his mom did to them. Its unfair. I am affected, my kids are affected as well because he never taught our children “love for mother”. I know that we cannot imposed that to anybody but my children didn’t see a model from him.

The result, Mother’s Day is just one ordinary day when this is supposed to be a special day for me. He fetched my kids last Friday to stay with him during the weekend and my kids are supposed to be home this afternoon. I spent the whole day yesterday in cleaning the house, my kids’ clothes and planning for a special dinner tonight and some malling afterwards. My son called me up this morning to greet me and told me that their dad told them that they will be home by Wednesday. What the @!3Qkl!!!

Of course, no mother would allow that. I’m terribly upset. I’m still weeping in tears when I’m writing this post. All I want is to be acknowledge by my own children… to be with them and not feel the way I feel right now. Mother’s Day is for children and mother. I am a Mom. Someday, they will have their own family, I want them to acknowledge their wife as the mother of their children and not the way their dad is doing.

I’m avoiding conflicts to spare my children on negative feelings. I could let career and opportunities pass by but my priority will always be my kids. I maybe emotional, upset and hurt but I have to let it all out here. Happy Mother’s Day to me.