Command and Conquer

I Have Eyes Everywhere

2010-04-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

"Attorney, game face na ko sa third year onwards. Promise!"

- Monic del Rosario, 2010

Timeless

2009-12-31T09:22:00.000-08:00

"Love knows no reason but Ienne only knows reason.

Thus, love is not for you."

- Duquiatan, 2009

I cannot agree more. Hahaha.

Pledge

2008-12-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

"Hindi ako mangangaliwa EVER."

- Paulo Javier

Crime

2008-11-21T06:25:00.001-08:00

The need to survive is a part of a man's system. It just so happens that some people opt to steal from random people to accomplish the said need.

Which is wrong.

We can't really say that it's wrong. This world has been so harsh on them. They could not think straight and clearly. Animal instincts take over just to survive.

Crime is simply an adaptation to a capitalist society.

Bliss

2008-11-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

Observation:
When you find yourself in bliss, you will get depressed afterwards.

Explanation:
When you're so happy, you're vulnerable to misfortune since you think the whole wide universe is conspiring with you. But that's just what you think. You think you're invincible when in fact you are always susceptible to sadness or misfortune.

We should always be mindful of this.

Ibalik Mo Na*

2008-07-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Kalikasa'y kay gandang tingnan
Hayop, hangin, tubig at halaman
Diba't kay sarap nitong tingnan
Sana nga lang ay 'wag mong pabayaan

Kung si Lito ay parating makakalbo
Kawawa ang dumarapo rito
At kung patuloy na bubuga ang tambutso
Si Amihan magkukulay-abo

Ang hangin, ang hangin
Paano? Saan? Ano?
Ang hangin, ang hangin
Paano nga? Saan? Ano nga?
Bigyan ng pansin

Kapag si Tubig ay mas lalong dudumi
Paano na tayo magiging happy?
Kung pati si Hangin ay mawawala na rin
Tao ay tiyak na magiging gutumin

Kung si Lito ay parating makakalbo
Kawawa ang dumarapo rito
At kung patuloy na bubuga ang tambutso
Si Amihan magkukulay-abo

Itapon, itapon
Ano? Bakit? Saan?
Itapon, itapon
Ano nga? Bakit? Saan nga?
Sa basurahan

Ang mga ibon, nasaan na?
Ang paraiso, ibalik mo na

Itapon
Saan?
Pare, sa basurahan

*a music video in fulfillment of our requirements in our Health subject at SHSQC; LOTUS (4th year patrol)

The Finish Line Begins*

2008-07-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Lyrics by: Ma. Lina S. Eguico
Musical arrangement by: Ma. Lina S. Eguico and Maria Fatima G. Sablan

A-E-F#m-D (4x)

A-E-F#m-D-A-E-D-D (2x)
As we run towards the finish line,
We go back to the best of times.
Different people making a scene,
Endless smiles saying you can win.

A-E-F#m-D-A-E-D-D (2x)
Checkpoints showing we're on the right path,
We'd pass by them and say thanks a lot.
At the checkpoints we might have fallen,
But we stood up and got hope from them.

F#m-D-F#m-E-D-E
Hey, this is not the end.
Listen to me, my friend.

A-E-F#m-D (3x) Bm-C#m-D-E
A-E-F#m-D (2x)
From here, the starting line ends
But the finish line begins
What we have right now won't end
We'll keep on dreaming, my friend.

A-E-F#m-D-A-E-D-D (2x)
Searching one's worth was never easy
Until you came to run with me.
Giving up was my first option then
But you tapped me all over again.

F#m-D-F#m-E-D-E
Hey, this is not the end.
Listen to me, my friend.

A-E-F#m-D (3x) Bm-C#m-D-E
A-E-F#m-D (2x)
From here, the starting line ends
But the finish line begins
What we have right now won't end
We'll keep on dreaming, my friend.

F#m-D-E-D (3x) Bm-C#m-D-E
Flashback of moments (with you I've seen)
Portraits of places (where I might have been)
Run through my head (as I run in this race)
I know that with you everything's in place.

A-E-F#m-D (3x) Bm-C#m-D-E
A-E-F#m-D (2x)
From here, the starting line ends
But the finish line begins
What we have right now won't end
We'll keep on dreaming, my friend.

A-E-F#m-D-A-E-D
From here, the starting line ends
But the finish line begins.

*Graduation song of SHSQC's High School graduates '06

EcoSong

2008-07-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Dasal ng Kalikasan*
Lyrics and musical arrangement by Ma. Lina S. Eguico

E-F#m-G#m-A (2x)
Sa pagpikit ng inyong mga mata
Luha ko'y dumadaloy, puso'y kumakanta

Malungkot na tinig na tila'y nagdurusa
Lugami at takot ay bakas sa'king mukha

F#m-G#m-A-G#m-C#m-B-G#m-A
Makinig (tumingin) damahin
Pagluha kong hindi napapansin
Panalangin ko'y dinggin
Tawag ko ay pansinin

E-F#m-G#m-A (4x)
Sino ang sagot sa dasal kong 'di tinutugon?
Sino ang papawi ng luhang tumutulo?
Sino ang sagot?
Sino ang sagot?

E-F#m-G#m-A (2x)
Liwanag ng araw tila'y nawawala
Puro hinagpis ang aking nakikita
Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis?
Hanggang kailan ako tatangis?

F#m-G#m-A-G#m-C#m-B-G#m-A
Makinig (tumingin) damahin
Pagluha mong hindi napapansin
Panalangin mo'y dinggin
Tawag mo ay napansin

E-F#m-G#m-A (4x)
Sino ang sagot sa dasal mong 'di tinutugon?
Sino ang papawi ng luhang tumutulo?
Sino ang sagot?
Sino ang sagot?

F#m-G#m-A-G#m (2x)

C#m-B-G#m-A-E-F#m-G#m-A
Tayo ay gumising (tayo ang sagot)
Tayo ay tumulong (tayo ang sagot)
Tayo ang sagot sa dasal niyang 'di tinutugon
Tayo ang papawi ng luhang tumutulo

E-F#m-G#m-A (2x)
Kay lungkot isipin na tayo ang sanhi
Kung ba't di makamit
Kaayusang minimithi
Magsama tayo at magkaisa
Ibalik ang liwanag na nawawala

C#m-E-B-A (3x) C#m-E-A-B
Ibalik ang luntiang kalikasan
Simoy ng hangin na nagbibigay ginhawa
Mga ilog ng ating kasaysayan
Linangin ang buhay ng paraisong taglay

F#m-G#m-A-G#m-C#m-B-G#m-A
Makinig (tumingin) damahin
Pagluha niyang ngayon ay napansin
Panalangi'y dininig
Tawag niya ay napansin

E-F#m-G#m-A (3x) F#m-G#m-A-B
Tayo ang sagot sa dasal niyang 'di tinutugon
Tayo ang papawi ng luhang tumutulo
Tayo ang sagot
Tayo ang sagot sa dasal ng kalikasan

E-F#m-G#m-A (2x) E
Tayo ang sagot
Tayo ang sagot
Tayo ang sagot

The song is shallow, now that I look back.
Truly, one's horizons broaden as he/she educates himself/herself more.

*The School of the Holy Spirit of Quezon City's representative piece for the Ecosong Interschool Competition '06.

Thank You

2008-07-16T03:13:00.000-07:00

When you ask for directions and you get them,
Say thank you.

When you're given a seat by an acquaintance or a stranger,
Say thank you.

When a public utility transport driver gives you the right change,
Say thank you.

When you're done a favor, whether you asked for it or not,
Say thank you.

When someone's able to make you smile during a gloomy day,
Say thank you.

You'll never know how much one "thank you" is worth to a certain person.

No Eating Inside the Train

2008-07-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

Setting:
Inside the train
July 14, 2008, 8:19 PM
A rainy night

Scene:
Two women in their 30s eating Clover chips inside the train

The monologue boggling in my head:
How annoying. I know that eating is not allowed inside the train. I want to tell them about it. But I might put them in shame if I tell them about it while they're eating and while we're in the midst of many people. Besides, won't it be rude if I do it considering their age? Hell, they're older. They should know the rules more than I do.

What I did:
I composed a message in my phone, and I showed it to them while smiling:
Excuse me po, bawal po atang kumain sa train :)

*I really didn't want to smile. I didn't even want to put a smiley at the end of the message. But for courtesy purposes, I did.

The result:
One of them asked, "Ay bawal ba?"
I nodded while smiling.
Then, they stopped eating.
They got tissue to clean their feet which were covered with a little mud - and then they threw it just anywhere onthe train.

I thought to myself, how civilized could these people get?

Homicidal

2008-07-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Professor: According to the NBI, there are four possible manners of death - natural, accidental, suicidal and homicidal. You, Ms. Eguico, which do you prefer?

Ms. Eguico: Sir, homicidal.

You, what kind of death would you like to have?

Humpty Dumpty

2008-07-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Where in this nursery rhyme does it say that Humpty Dumpty is an egg?

The Scream

2008-07-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

by Edvard Munch

Who is screaming?
You scream, but you hear nothing.
You shut your ears, and then you hear everything.

Biyaya, Sala at Ganti

2008-07-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ni Bb. Sarah Lara

Tao...
Yaman at uri...
Kulay at dugo...
Ang mga pinakamagandang batayan!
Ngunit ng ano? Para saan?

Oo, batayan!
Basehan kung saan makikita ang tila langit na mundo
At batayan kung saan nakatindig tapunan ng dumi ng tao

Pabrikang bumubuga ng kamatayan
Oo, kamatayan!
Pagkamatay naming mga kumakalam ang sikmura, tinatapakang-uri
Pula lamang ang dugo

Katabi ng aking munting dampa, tapunan ng mga latang may tatak na bungo
Bakit dito?
Pinakikita niyo ba kahihinatnan ng aking katawang-lupa?
Ako ba ang bungong iyon?
Bakit dito?
Dahil ba balat ko’y sunog sa araw? Kapitan man ng dumi’y di maaaninag?
Dahil ba dugo ko’y pula lamang?
Na para sa inyo’y walang kwentang ipandilig at ipambinyag sa katitirikan ng magsisilbing inyong mina ng luntiang pera?
Dahil ba ako'y walang makapal na pitaka?
Walang kakayahang lumaban at tanggihan, paghahain niyo ng aming paglilibingan?

Oo nga naman…
Bakit ititindig pabrika’t tapunan sa tila langit na mundo?
Naroon ang inyong bahay na bato
Na kahit masilip, ‘di ko magawa

Biyaya ng kalikasan, wala kaming bahagi
Luntiang kalikasan, inyong mina ng luntiang perang papel

Bakit magiging bunga nito’y kami ang papasan?
Walang pagkakapantay-pantay!

Kaloob ng ina nating tanan,kayo ang nakikinabang, subalit,
Sala ng unti-unting pagkitil sa kanyang buhay, inyong naatim

Ngunit paulit-ulit kong tanong,
Bakit ganti ng langit sa amin bumabagsak
Sa amin bumabaling?

Inconvenience Stores

2008-07-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

September 2007

The day before the meeting

Jo: Where are we going to meet?
Ienne: Mini Stop, P. Noval.
Jo: Okay!
Ienne: See ya!

Meeting proper

Ienne: I'm already here. Where are you?
Jo: Where? I'm also here!
Ienne: Are you kidding? P. Noval along España?
Jo: Oh no! Not that Mini Stop!

July 2008

The day before the meeting

Jo: Let's meet at 711, Taft avenue.
Ienne: You mean the one in front of PGH?
Jo: Yep!

Meeting proper

Ienne: I'm here, I'm here!
Jo: Me too, where are you?
Ienne: 711, the one in front of PGH.
Jo: Me too! In front of the College of Nursing.
Ienne: Oh, damn it!

Recipe for Green Tax

2008-07-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

External costs: Air, water, soil, future generations, workers' health

Number of servings: A very small fraction of the world population

Serves whom: Whoever can afford it; industrialized countries

Ingredients:

Non-renewable and renewable natural resources

Energy- & resource-intensive and polluting industries and their activities: Coal-fired power stations; Oil refineries; Agribusiness; Road transport

Different types of waste

Fossil fuels

Fertilizer, pesticides, soil-destroying machinery

Common global resources: Land, Radio frequencies, Oceans

Taxes on: Fossil fuel, Nuclear energy at source, Household energy, Nation’s chemical emissions

Procedure:

1. Use the resources intensively.

2. Make the energy- & resource-intensive and polluting industries pay taxes for their activities.

3. Dump the wastes in landfill sites.

4. Burn fossil fuels in power stations to produce acid rain.

5. Use fertilizer, pesticides and soil-destroying machinery in energy-intensive farms.

6. Use common global resources to finance “common global purposes” and to create a tax base adequate for “future needs.”

7. Impose taxes on the burning of fossil fuels and for the use of nuclear energy at source.

8. Impose tax on household energy to hit poorer people relatively harder than the rich.

9. Impose a global tax on each nation’s chemical emissions (i.e., carbon credits in carbon trading)

10. At every stage of production, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal, create damage to the environment and to human health.

VOILA!

Recipe completed.

Environment exploited.

Public Transportation Encounters

2008-07-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

Ride #1
(Jeepney in the middle of EDSA intersections)

Passenger: Para po!
Jeepney driver: (drives towards the unloading area which is not very near)
Passenger: Para! (knocks on the jeepney's ceiling) Para! (continuously knocks) Para! Tss!
Jeepney driver: (stops at the unloading area)
Passenger: (steps down the vehicle in an annoyed manner)

Ride #2
(A public utility Tamaraw FX along Taft avenue)

Passenger: Ma, yung sukli ho ng 50.
FX driver: (Does not hear; probably has hearing deficiency)
Passenger: Yung sukli po ng 50? Sa Kalaw lang ho yun.
FX driver: 50? Saan bababa?
Passenger: Sa Kalaw ho.
FX driver: (Gives the passenger's change)
Passenger: (The FX passes by Kalaw avenue) Para!
FX driver: May Kalaw?
Passenger: Oho.
FX driver: Wala?
Passenger: PARA!!!

Ride #3
(Jeepney unloading in front of Raon, Quiapo)

Jeepney driver: Lahat ng Quiapo dito na! Bawal na dun sa harap!
Passenger 1: Dito na lang ho!
Jeepney driver: (drives a block away from the unloading area) Wala ng Quiapo diyan a?
Passengers: (No one replies)
Jeepney driver: Bawal na dun sa simbahan! (drives from Quiapo church towards Quezon bridge)
Passenger 2: Para ho!
Jeepney driver: Kanina pinabababa na e! Para namang tanga e!
Passenger 3: Wala na! Wala na! (Laughs)
Jeepney driver: Ang hina naman ng utak e! (Stops before mounting the bridge to drop off passenger 2)

For commuters who travel through jeepneys and megataxis, these must have been commonplace occurrences. Indeed, such encounters are somewhat stressful.

What to do?
Learn to adapt to different kinds of people you interact with. This holds true for both PUV passengers and drivers. After all, you can't change people at your first meeting with them. Instead of allowing yourself to be stressed, make the most out of the situation by making things better for the majority, if not for everyone.

Do not make small things big if they're not worthy of a commotion.

Female Area

2008-07-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

Trains are discriminatory. This is opposed to what some social scientists argue. Yes, class stratification does not exist in such type of PUV. But gender stratification does.

Aboard the train's female area, no grown-up man can be found except for some who need to assist a female companion and, of course, senior citizens.

As for the rest of the train, both men and women can be found. Men who don't give up their seats for standing women are thought to be ungentlemanly by some.
Take note: Women have their own area in the train.

If the persons in charge of the segregation scheme are truly looking forward to the welfare of every passenger, a male area should also be provided. How can a segregation scheme be called as such when only women get its benefits? They are the only ones being "segregated". As for the male passengers, what benefits do they get from this scheme?

I say, they should either install a male area or abolish the entire female-biased segregation scheme.

I must say that it is unjust.
Not only is a stereotype of the male gender founded,
but gender inequality is also being demonstrated --
in this case, it is the men who are facing gender prejudice.

A Wife's Obligation

2008-07-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Male professor: Yeah, my wife and I do it all the time. In the first place, why would one decide to marry? It's sex. You become more intimate and connected to each other. The wife should satisfy the sexual needs of her partner. That is her obligation.

I wanted to hear the husband's obligation. But I was not able to.

Imagine

2008-07-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

by John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one