when the lights conked out (again)

The lights conked out earlier tonight. Needless to say, nag serirum an ciudad. I thought I'd like to share with you some pix I managed to take as we drove around the city for some cool air. In a few days time, the NGCP will be issuing an announcement explaining what wrong in which place and thus the brownout. Oops, just curious, why do we pinoys not refer to it as blackout?

The rotonda in Barangay Obrero

Chowking

Jollibee

Magsaysay Boulevard

The Rueda walkway as seen from Mercury area

suplada in the city

Anonymous (or bitching 101)

Hoy, biased ka! Fuck you! Who do you think you are!

These are but some of the comments I got recently. At first I was shocked, then I was amused that I pissed someone off with my blog. And let's not even start discussing some of the messages in the chatbox.

So, my initial reaction? Change the blog setting which explains why this blog cannot be accessed for the past few days. But then, a good number of friends texted and emailed me, and then it occurred to me there are more Calbayognons who want nothing but some updates from the only home we have got.

So let us make things clear. Just a reminder, especially for those who recently discovered this blog, as my blog header say it: THIS IS A PERSONAL BLOG. If it's news about the LGU that you want, check my Calbayog City blog, the header of which says: Welcome to the temporary home of the LGU News section of the Calbayog website. If I may repeat what I stated in my earlier rant, that blog came to be because the website broke down.

I can never claim that my blog is the best there is, it's crude, it's simplistic, boring (that's how some rated my blogposts). On the other hand, I am thankful and inspired by the emails and text messages appreciating that one way or the other they (Calbayogonons out of Calbayog) are able to connect to their home.

I guess removing the chatbox and the comments section would be a better solution. If only to do away with those anonymous blog "viewers". Yup I also call anonymous those who use bogus names in giving comments. AND, to change my blog title so as to once again emphasize that THIS IS A PERSONAL BLOG.

Talking about the anonymous. I would like to borrow what a fellow blogger had to those nasty beings out there:

"While blogging and writing can receive both good and bad comments, reactions like these only show how immature the responses of some readers are."

"Of course I do not expect good reviews. The blog is opinionated and every reader in entitled to his or her own opinion, much in the same way that the blogging is opinion-based as well. But that is what writing is all about. It expresses that freedom which many of us dish out so freely, because it is what it is. And you can counter argue that the comment left by the reader is his/her opinion as well."

"I will not argue with whoever commented in the above manner. However, anyone who curses and uses such vile language and writes down his pseudonym as Anonymous is humor to me. They actually have no balls nor brain to make a constructive criticism as well. But thank you Anonymous for visiting my blogsite. And to give you credit, I have dedicated one blog article just for you. Imagine that! You should be proud I even took the time to give you space when no space is needed for ghosts like you."

"People like 'Anonymous' should and will remain as such. They have no contribution to society, except to stay as anonymous. Their opinions don't matter. And anonymity is tantamount to non-existence in this world."

I rest my case

. . . or is it may araw din kayo?

Baga nauuso na liwat an mga graffiti. Hmm, seems like they wanna compete with the official campaign season which starts this Friday, you know with all those posters and what have you.

Do we call it art? Self-expression perhaps? or plain and simple parayaw? Anyway, to save my sanity I ended reading what's written and in a way it made me smile.

Ahh, I think this is more about L'amore! :-)

Maybe the person who painted this meant the POPE? or is it the POOR?

Maybe EPHEMERAL is more like it?

Cebu Pacific sucks

At around 12:00 noon today I got a text message from a friend who works at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. She took Cebu Pacific Calbayog - Manila flight earlier today. The text said, "Haay Cebu Pacific did not fly my bag from CALBAYOG. I really had a feeling that they would miss it when I checked in this morning. Great Service"

I believe that situation is not an exclusive domain of Calbayog, Cebu Pacific or any airline and any airport for that matter. Years ago an article ridiculed the lousy service that airlines do in handling baggage. And then I remember something which I was supposed to give you many days ago. And this is it:

Cebu Pacific's daily Manila-Calbayog-Manila flights commenced yesterday. This is a nice development. On my own little way, I would like to welcome this service of Cebu Pacific with this rant!

Just when I thought I was no longer doing my earlier intention to do a blog post about how Cebu Pacific sucks. That's until I booked a ticket for my aunt and opted to pay via megalink or ATM - something novel for me after paying my earlier internet bookings via credit card. So, in case you intend to book your Cebu Pacific tickets online and pay via ATM, think again.

I did my booking a week ago yesterday. It was for two tickets for a flight from Tacloban to Cebu on August 12, 2009 (Wednesday). I was pleased to find low-fare tickets available considering the time between booking and the flight itself. I was also pleased to find out about payments via ATM. After entering the necessary booking details, I got the instructions which stated, "You have until tonight (August 9), 23:59H PH Time to pay for your booking through various payment centers. Please see complete list of payment centers by visiting our website at http://www.cebupacificair.com/." After the payment has been made, the passenger will receive a text message from Cebu Pacific confirming the reservation, something which the passenger has to present at the airport together with the e-ticket (or so the instruction said). I did the booking at around 10:00 am, and went to the local UCPB ATM to pay in less than 30 minutes. And in an hour's time, I received the e-ticket via email with the reservation noted: on hold.

So, end of story and welcome to a smooth flight? Nope, it took me four phone calls and a 3-day waiting period before I got the booking confirmation. And yes, we never received a text confirmation from Cebu Pacific.

Let's do some math here. The ticket price was 1,888.32 pesos. Since I opted for ATM payment, 15 pesos was added making the total amount due at 1,903.32 pesos. Still a small amount to pay for the mode of payment. Or so I thought.

24 hours after payment was made, still no text confirmation and no e-ticket with the confirmed reservation. I had to call the airline. I thought it was only one phone call, I ended up doing three more phone calls after being promised that something will be done about it. Yes, they promised to do something about it 4 times (yup, when I called them 4 times) in three days. Finally, on Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 pm, about 13 hours away from the scheduled flight, only then did we receive the email with the e-ticket and the confirmed reservation; and yes, still no confirmation via text message.

Let's do the math again. My phone calls totalled approximately 25 minutes, give or take a few seconds. And that will cost me approximately 200 pesos in my phone bill next month ('coz suncellular charges 8 pesos/ minute for landline calls). I ended up shelling approximately 2,100 pesos plus for a supposedly low-fare ticket. And yes, what's the amount one had to add for the worry or anxiety about being denied boarding or entrance at the airport? And the waiting one had to do before receiving a final booking confirmation?

Have I told you about their refund procedure? Don't ever contemplate on having to apply for one, saying that the experience is unpleasant is an understatement.

Will I still take Cebu Pacific? Of course I will. It's not that I don't have a choice. It's my way of thanking Mr. Gokongwei for giving every ordinary Juan (like me) the chance to fly, you know with their "Every Juan Must Fly" credo. Sadly for some of their ground crew and flight attendants, with their non-smiling faces (or blank stares) and the manner they give instruction or reminders to some passengers checking in, it seems like the Cebu Pacific credo has been changed to "Every Ordinary Juan Must Stop Flying".

Ah, if only PAL does not live up to what it's name stands for: Plane Always Late. The same thing with Zest Air and its erratic flight schedule. Thanks goodness they did away with their old name. I took a good number of their flights, I mean Asian Spirit, I can't help but worry about landing as spirit each time my flight took off.

Father

(A friend of mine who writes for the Samar Sunday Star, a weekly newspaper in Calbayog came up with an article in time for the Fathers' Day edition of the said paper. I thought it was just another piece about fathers, until I realized that it also had to do with fathers of a different kind - the ones who are supposed to care for our souls. Let me share with you that article.)

FATHER (by Eunice Ji*)

The month of June is here again. It is with great excitement that I enter into my world of grateful reminiscence once again every time we celebrate Father’s Day. Fond memories with the “great men of my life” always make me wish I am a little girl once more. As I wrote this I felt very emotional in praising God for giving me them. Ain’t I lucky?

It is very ironic though that at the very same time I also felt immeasurable sadness for the youth of today. Leo J. Trese, in his book MANY ARE ONE, exposed that “…in the primitive times, the father of the family was also the priest”. Eureka! I finally found the final piece to complete the puzzle I was so long trying to piece together to somehow find the answers to my innumerable whys – the causes of our ever increasing number of lost souls, both of this world and those in the other locations.

Like St. Thomas Moore, I think the most of us are also dreaming his dream for utopia. For who wouldn’t be? The killings that happened for the past few weeks are very disconcerting. It is a glaring truth that we have totally lost our reverence for life. I cry inside for every un-fateful eventuality, look up to the heavens and offer prayer, for that is all I can do. Literally, I sigh, where have all our fathers gone? What have they done when their kids were young? Where were they when their children needed them? What are they doing now? And I cry some more. Every time I feel the frustration I still shed tears of pain and loneliness maybe in realization that the dream will remain but a dream. What with the way things are.

As if this is not enough yet. The not-so-recent reshuffling of assignments (please correct me if I’m wrong) of our beloved priests in our most loved Diocese – in the words of Bishop Singzon, “the religiosity of the Calbayognon is second to none” – has stirred up and effected malicious controversy upon its flock and parishioners, as if adding insult to injury. Figuratively then, I ask, what happened to you “Fathers”? What is it in Theology that made you Theomaniacs? What exactly are you doing that for? Satisfy your hunger for money which you did not have, or had not enough of, when you were growing up because you associated it with power? How on earth can you make me believe what you preach when your actions do not make me? Aren’t you a little too confused maybe about service and income? In the words of my good friend: income in the guise of service? You are supposed to have stipend la because your chosen field is for the betterment and most especially salvation of the people’s soul – because it is what is eternal – you are not there for profit. Kaya nga po tinawag kayong Vicars for Christ, e.

Two (2) weeks ago, my dearest friend – a nun – sent me this text message: “it is not what we have but what we give; not what we say but how we live.” That is what service is all about, dear “Fathers”! “Without love, everything that we say is but an empty sound” (maski nano niyo pa kaupay magyinakan), according to Leo J. Trese, to which I add, and everything that we do is but a mere action. Only Love gives meaning to everything.

This nun-friend of mine, by the way, did not even finish college because when she was barely there, her heart was achingly longing to serve God through His people. So, off she went inside a nunnery despite objections from her father, since she is his only daughter.

What about you? What were your motives when you to entered priesthood? With all due respect, I need to ask you that because if I won’t, who will? Isn’t it about time you pay close and very serious attention to the thoughts of Carl Jung which said: “it is indeed high time for the clergy and the psychotherapists to join forces.”? Everybody needs to heal. No one is exempted. Nga sa akon personal la nga opinyon, ILABI NA GUD KAMO, ‘DRE!

The author of the book INTIMACY WITH GOD said, “we are culpable for every soul that we bring to hell.” At madaming-madami pong souls ‘yang nakaatang sa mga balikat ninyo. I’m sorry, I know I really don’t need to remind you that. Pero kasi, because “Wisdom comes only from God”, di natin namamalayan na iba na pala ang god na sinasamba natin kaya nawawala na tayo sa tamang landas. At pabobo na tayo nang pabobo, simply because we believed and were carried away by the lies and promises of the devil hidden in the materialism of this world. (see: Romans 1:21-25 and John 8:44)

I appeal to your heart and senses that if you must sell your soul, by all means, do that your self/selves. Kayo na lang po. Wag n’yo na pong dalhin at idamay pa ang ibang mga pobre at inosenteng kaluluwa. Excuse me for saying this, but I don’t believe na sa hell, the more the merrier pa rin. Lord, have mercy on Your people!

The very moment I realized that we are all brothers and sisters in one big family of God, I told my kids to call me the way they want to. In fact I had always laughed heartily every time my eldest son addressed me by my first name – because he knows I dreaded to be called so then (another reason perhaps I adopted a pen name? Maybe). It is my youngest son who’d gracefully call me by my nickname na pinapaganda pa n’ya lalo by pronouncing it sweetly in one syllable. (I especially came to like, and eventually loved, my nickname since my third child informed me what it stands for: consecrated to God, daw. Kaya I’m trying very hard to live up to it. And I always need God’s power to be able to.) Their calling me those did not last long though. They went back to calling me nanay. But I really believe in my heart it was not a case of “the tradition lived on” but a case of “respect begets respect”.

Again I say, people of God are people of courage. I wrote this not for the intention of hurting but for the purpose of awakening. True love must impose discipline through honesty. Jesus said, the Truth shall set you free. Catherine Booth’s words are inspiring to aspire: “if we are to better the future, we must disturb the present.” Here’s one more interesting quote I always read in a paper na matagal ko nang pinanggigigilang mag-react to: “evil triumphs because good men do nothing.” And I ask: “in that case, are they really good?” I really honestly think they are cowards yet. Sorry po…! To quote Leo J. Trese again: “It is easier to die for Christ than live for Him.”

As I say goodbye for now, may I leave you with what the Holy Bible said in Matthew 23:8-11 as follows: “but you, do not be called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teacher; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your SERVANT.”

My evolution tells me that “Love is beyond religion.” That our choice of religion is our personal decision based on whatever reasons we have for choosing it, and for which nobody has the right to question. My opposition to what is currently happening is not at all indicative of any intent to leave (I am a self-declared Franciscan forever). For how are we to help if we are not there anymore?

Kaakibat ng desisyon ko to tread the narrow path ay ang desisyong wag bumitaw, even when I am confronted by the harsh realities of life. Byron MacDonald said: “it is difficult to live in a culture and not be a part of the culture”(THE MORNING COMES, AND ALSO THE NIGHT). Kaya palaging the correct path is “the road less traveled” (M. Scott Peck). I must stay the course, no matter! Keep my Faith, and adopt the principle to “hate the sin, not the sinner/s.”

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Ciao, dearest friends, ciao!

(*Eunice Ji is a pen name. Check her blog: www.euniceji.blogspot.com)

Cebu Pacific sucks!

Cebu Pacific sucks! (abangan...)

An Easter Vigil postscript

Hi there! It's been weeks since we witnessed the Easter Vigil. But there is one thing that I have always wanted to share with you, an experience I always have each time that celebration comes around. And this year I managed to take some pictures of it.

For the average church-goer, the images of Easter vigil would be the lighted candles while the Church lights are off, the covered niches of saints and of course the Paschal candle. For me (for the past so many years), in addition to the usual sight on Easter vigil, this has always been the view from my area (where I sit as the commentator): water in various containers - plastic gallons, mineral water containers, bottles and what have you - placed on the area where the Paschal candle stands with the container for the baptismal water (pix below).

You might want to ask, why should the faithful bring in water of their own to join the blessing of the water which (many years ago a priest told me) is the water of baptism. Are the faithful into the rites of baptism of their own? I heard somebody say (a few years back) that it was for the reason of driving bad spirits away. With baptismal water?

Nope, there's no distribution of relief good or prizes. This is always the scene at the altar after the final blessing when the faithful scramble to get hold of their containers of baptismal water.

We failed to catechize them properly, or so said a priest speaking for the CBCP regarding the issue on the faithful using the palaspas (blessed on Palm Sunday) to ward off evil. Can the same thing be said about this bringing of water on Easter vigil? Well, what can we expect with some priests getting busy about everything else except caring for the soul of the faithful? What with some priest, or at least one I've heard who have made it on top of his agenda to raise the arancel in the parish. Oops, me and my mouth! And yes, what with the "I don't care" pronouncements of (again) a priest I know? Oops, me and my mouth again!

We've heard about priests with kids, with kabit and what have you; and yes, now and then we hear about the priestesses. A few year back, some friends and I discussed about the assignment of a bishop we know to another diocese. We were kinda bothered about it 'coz according to one friend it meant great challenges ahead for the said bishop - the number of the faithful who will be under his care will be really BIG; another said that he had to deal with priests who have good attitude and those with "attitude" brought about by their being holders of masteral and doctorate degrees; and another was quick to (jokingly) say that yes, those are indeed challenges, and that's not even including the priestesses, yet (oops, smile don't take it seriously. This is another story and I don't think we have this case in the parish, for now anyway). Seriously, (and generally) speaking, there must be something about our Catholic faith (surely it's not synonymous with fanaticism, is it?) which makes us such forgiving creatures.

Back to the Parish and the Easter vigil. And yes, among the highlights of the Easter vigil is the sugat. I made a blog post about it last year (please check this link) when the sugat was given a new twist. Don't ask me about this year - it was a dud. Let's not even start discussing on the decor which included crepe paper hanging like there's a barangay dance; and the finger of the resureccion which was cut off it appeared like Christ was making a dirty finger sign; and the angel on a sack (?) to make it appear she was flying? Nice try, but please do try harder the next time!

googling Calbayog (part 2)

My apologies to my regular blog visitor, but let me give you some rant with this blog update.

Do you remember my previous post entitled "googling Calbayog"? I got a comment from an anonymous blog visitor. Let me rephrase that, somebody named "anonymous". I would have wanted to just publish the said comment in comments section of that blog post, but I understand not so many visitors are into it, so I decided to feature it as a blog update. Here's the comment:

"What was the something NOT RIGHT in the feature about the article? Obviously, you have not read it between the lines properly because you are missing the points. Do you want something more flamboyant or embellishing remarks about the city? That featured article is about the summarization of the city itself.And by the way, the word "google" has been around for quite sometimes. It just now being ubiquitous due to the advent of internet." Anonymous 11/6/08

So, what do I say?

When I posted that blog update, (which was labeled "wala lang") it was all in the name of fun and/or amusement about how PAL could miss the fact the Calbayog City is not the capital of Catbalogan. That simple. For sure, if I may take Mr/Ms Anonymous comment, PAL does not have an issue about Calbayog being the worst city there is and thus dowgrade Calbayog to being the capital of Catbalogan. I was not expecting any (if I may borrow Mr. / Ms. Anonymous terms) flamboyant or embellishing remarks about Calbayog. I have heard more than enough of my share about Calbayog being criticized for being just that - MARAUT NGA CIUDAD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME!

Now, about googling which I wrote as "googling". I may not be familiar with the workings of a real webmaster - which explains why I settled for blogspot, kay masayun - I am FULLY AWARE that the term google has been around for sometime and it's more than just a search engine, and that I am aware that microsoft has been after it, and that google was founded by two men (now-billionaires) who are below 40 years old. I TAKE OFFENSE IN YOUR STATEMENT about me not knowing about google. Why do I have to say "what a term"? I just am not totally at ease with the term in the same way that I am at ease in saying that my name can be googled. Try typing my full name and my blog will appear and I'm proud of it. By the way, when I came up with this blog, it was for the simple reason of being able to reach out to a good number of Calbayognons. And mind you, I am not earning anything from it. Not even when I had some google ADs all over the blog.

I don't know what is your issue with Calbayog, her officials and her people. And yes, do we include her church officials and the investors? Okey, granting for the sake of argument nga puro magraut an mga opisyales san ciudad; nga maraut an ciudad san Calbayog. An kuri sa iyo san sobra niyo kagdati, an iyo la nakikit-an an maraut sa ciudad sa Calbayog ug an maraut nga ciudad san Calbayog. No need to enumerate the citations that credible institutions gave Calbayog. For people like you, bisan pa an Nobel Committee an maghatag citation, maraut la guihapun an Calbayog. Kamo man ada an mga dati, pero puro la kam yakan, wara kam guin bubuhat or at least guin yayakan nga iyo mga ideya agud sundun san taga-Calbayog pagpakaupay san ciudad! (oops, I dunnow if you speak waray, but I believe the preceding paragraph is best said in binisaya)

By the way, Mr/Ms Anonymous thanks for visiting my blog. And yes, this blog update is categorized under the "wala lang" label. This time the "wala lang" label does not equate with "in the name of fun"