KOMIKSTRIP 2010

Hey, hey, hey!

Komiks event sa UPLB, punta kayo!

Siguradong mag-e-enjoy kayo rito!

KOMIKSTRIP: The First UPLB Comic Book Convention is presented by the UP BUGKOS and JONASDIEGO.COM in cooperation with the Graphic Literature Guild.

Click here for more information! Click here to sign up at our Facebook event page!

Art Contest for the Year of the Metal Tiger

Isa pa na medyo lokal naman....

Philippine Star and Swatch launch Year of the Tiger Art Contest
(The Philippine Star) Updated January 04, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - As the Chinese communities all over the world welcome the Year of the Tiger on Feb. 14, Swatch and The Philippine STAR prepare for the celebration starting today. It is the year of the metal tiger and the qualities associated with metal tiger are persistence, strength and determination. It’s a time for inspiration with joyful colors and an eye for family get-togethers, parades and colorful events.

Tiger Art is the theme for this year’s contest. Participants are eligible to win any of the prizes. The criteria for judging are 25 percent for originality, 50 percent for creativity, and 25 percent for composition. First prize winner will win P100,000 cash and the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”; second prize is P50,000 cash and the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”; third prize is P30,000 cash and the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”; and fourth prize is P20,000 cash and the Swatch “The Blessing Sign.” There will be 10 honorable mentions of the Swatch “The Blessing Sign.”

The contest period starts today and runs until Feb.17.

MECHANICS:

The contest is open to all.

To best inspire everyone’s creativity, the contest is open to all mediums of art — painting, photography, sculpture, graphic design, arts and crafts, including but not limited to paper maché, pottery, paper tole, etc.

The theme of the art competition is Swatch “Tiger Art.”

Entry forms will be printed on The Philippine STAR during the duration of the promo.

Entries can be submitted starting today. Each entry must be accompanied with a completed entry form and contest guidelines acceptance form available at any Swatch Store, Swatch Kiosk, or Hole in the Wall Shop, which are owned and operated by Gift Gate, Inc. Gift Gate must receive all entries by 8 p.m. of February 17.

Entries may be brought personally to any Swatch Store, Swatch Kiosk or Hole in the Wall Shop, and will be received by the Store OIC for proper documentation and storage. These entries will be sent to the Gift Gate, Inc. Home Office at 17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109, Quezon City every day for safekeeping.

All entries will automatically become the exclusive property of Gift Gate, Inc. and may be used, copied, reproduced and/or reprinted by Gift Gate, Inc. into any size or medium for exhibition, advertising, promotion or whatever purpose. Contest participant further allows Gift Gate, Inc. to use his/her name and/or image/picture/likeness without limit in conjunction with his winning entry.

Gift Gate, Inc. reserves and maintains all intellectual property rights over its name and logo and all names, likeness and logos of its represented brands including but not limited to Swatch. Contest participants may only use the above in conjunction with his entry into this contest and for no other purpose.

Final judging will be on Feb. 27, 2 p.m. at the Gift Gate, Inc. Home Office, at 17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109, Quezon City.

Participants are eligible to win any of the prizes. However, a participant can only win once, and the higher prize prevails.

Criteria for judging shall be:

Originality: 25%

Creativity: 50%

Composition: 25%

Total: 100%

Prizes shall be as follows:

1st prize – P100,000 Cash & the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”

2nd prize – P50,000 Cash & the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”

3rd prize – P30,000 Cash & the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”

4th prize – P20,000 Cash & the Swatch “The Blessing Sign”

10 honorable mentions – Swatch “The Blessing Sign”

All winners will be notified by registered mail.

Winners shall also be announced in The Philippine STAR Pet Life special on March 6.

Awarding of prizes shall be at the Swatch Store, SM Megamall on March 5. All prizes not claimed after 60 days from receipt of notification letter shall be forfeited in favor of Gift Gate, Inc. with prior approval from DTI.

Prizes not claimed at the awarding may be claimed at the Swatch Store, SM Megamall during store hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Winners must present all of the following proofs of identification to claim their prize:

a. Valid original ID (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license or SSS ID)

b. Claim stub

c. Notification letter

The 20 percent tax for all prizes exceeding P10,000 shall be paid by the winner. All prizes are non-transferable and non-cash prizes are non-convertible to cash. The decision of the board of judges of the art contest is final and cannot be appealed with the concurrence of the DTI.

All employees of Gift Gate, Inc., The Philippine STAR, the judging committee and their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity are not allowed to join this promotion.

Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 6432 Series of 2009.

Painting Competition of Lithuanian Art Week

Sa simula ng taon...international na competition...




Painting Competition of Lithuanian Art Week: International Painting Competition

Dates: International Painting Competition will be held: from 26 January to 1 February 2010 in Vilnius.

Registration deadline:

1) INTERNAL (personally visit the Lithuanian Republic) – 14 January, 2010
2) INTERNAL (without visiting of the Lithuanian Republic) – 20 January, 2010
3) IN ABSENTIA – 22 January, 2010

All works declared on competition (correspondence and internal) take places in showrooms and exhibition works.

There are two ways to participate for the competition – online (in absentia) and in person (internal way).

Participation in absentia: Author or impresario should send copies or photos of art works by email: info@artweek.lt or post (Calvariy str., 125, Vilnius, The International Center of Culture and Arts, to Lithuanian Art Week)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Internal participation: The author brings the artworks in Vilnius: exhibition hall “Museum of the Modern Art”, 25th January, 2010 (Vokieciu str. 2, Vilnius, Lithuania)

All artworks will be published in the yearly international issue – official catalog “New Faces in Arts”.

RULES

Categories and Nominations

Category "Classic Arts"

1) landscapes
2) portraits
3) still Lifes
4) genre painting
5) religious paintings and biblical stories
6) animalistic paintings
7) watercolor

The category "Avant-garde and experimental arts"
1) abstraction
2) naive art
3) fantasy
4) experimental art (a mixture of styles and directions)

Technical requirements:

1) There are two ways to participate in contest: in presence or in absentia. The artworks of “in absentia” entrants are printed and enframed by Org. Committee and arranged as joint exposition. The contest rules accept original artworks and copies (for ‘in presence” entrants) and digital photographs in printed form or file (”in absentia”).

2) Technical characteristics for artworks:
а) IN PRESENCE: the canvas size– no more than up to 120 cm. of the maximum side;
b) IN ABSENTIA: file no less than 200 dpi, up to 15 Mb

3) The author (group of co-authors) may present any number of artworks in any nomination choosed, but each artwork (single canvas or diptych/triptych) is estimated as separate object;

4) the layout:
a) all the artworks must be labeled (label of 7x3 cm. size, right lower corner). Label must contain: a) full
author/group of co-authors name; b) city c) title; d) nomination; e) creation technique; f) size; g) year of creation.
b) “in presence” entrants: each artwork must be furnished with tabs/hooks (to hang on vertical panel) or some
support to avoid the object fall.
c) “in absentia” entrants: the artworks might be presented to Org. Committee as JPEG/TIFF format files no less
than 200 dpi, up to 15 Mb.

Materials which are necessary for the participation:

1. The questionnaire of the participant;
2. Labels (for each competitive work);
3. Photo of the author and the facsimile of competitive works (not less than 200 dpi, no more than 15 Mb);
4. Copy of payment of an entrance fee (go to devision "Participation Fee").

The important additions:
For EU citizens a visa to Lithuania does not need.

Where to send the registration materials:

The registration materials should be sent to info@artweek.lt or to the postal address of the Organizing Committee: Calvariy str., 125, Vilnius, The International Center of Culture and Arts

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pay attention: the materials may also be sent to the Moscow Organizing Committee: Moscow Museum of National Graphics – 1070456, Moscow, 10/9 1 bldn. Maliy Golovin per.(Deadline – 20 January, 2010)

Prutas muna!

Nakuha ko ito sa kaibigan ko, matagal na ito pero para naman sa kalusugan kaya bagay na ilagay dito....


EATING FRUITS

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not so easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?
* IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!
* FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.
Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits like orange and lemon are acidic because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did a research on this matter.

If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat Cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.

Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body.

Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessels-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 -4 oranges a day may help keep colds
away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest. Thirst Quencher Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is Also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after meal = Cancer!
Can u believe this??

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to Drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!)

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this...It could save your life!!

Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're driving home. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home.

Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

'HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE':

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm.

In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

Tell as many Other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!!

A New Year Message from Archangel Michael

Buwenamanino sa bagong taon, isang mensahe mula kay Miguel Arkanghel, konting Anthroposophy muna....


Message from Archangel Michael
by Doreen Virtue, www.spiritlibrary. com

Central Theme - involves taking personal risks which lead to spiritual growth and increased well-being and happiness as you practice: to thine own self be true.

2010 continues the steady upward progress that you've been feeling in recent years. You may feel tired from the climb and the vast changes of recent years and while you may feel in need of a rest, there's still more climbing to be done. There will be a time to rest and recuperate soon, we promise. Your feelings of spiritual progress are grounded in reality, as you are now much more sensitive to the subtle energies which have always surrounded you and which you can now feel. Your next step will be in managing these energies so that you can now entrust the benevolence of the universe instead of feeling victimized by outside circumstances.

The energies swirling around you are part of the realignment and adjustments that always occur during shifts and changes. You experience this phenomenon yourself whenever you make a change in your personal life such as moving, changing jobs or a change in relationships. The shifts are similar to the the earth-plate movements of an earthquake and although it can feel sudden or even harsh, the movement is simply an adjustment to prior activities and nothing more. You've endured many shifts and adjustments since 1995, and although you'd like to take some time to rest, it's still an upward journey for you for the next two years. By upward, we mean that you'll feel that you're climbing and making progress however there will be a sense often of being a solo climber who is upon cliffs and overhangs.

You will take emotional and intellectual risks and some may even take physical risks. Yet inside you, you'll always be safe, protected and guided. To feel that sense of safety will require quieting your mind with meditations. Too much noise from overactivity and sensory overload will disconnect you from feeling the presence of your guardians and protectors. Meditate frequently to feel safer and more peaceful.

In 2010 you will find your self taking these risks toward the freedom of being totally authentic with others. This means revealing your self in new, previously undreamed of ways. You will step forward immensely along the path of spiritual growth by revealing your true thoughts and feelings to your self first and to others secondly. We will of course help you to bathe your communications with love so they're truthful and yet kind. Blurting out angry feelings is not the sort of truth-telling which will make you feel good about your self. You will instead prefer the well-being and closeness that occurs when you share your feelings gently and respectfully with others.

In your professional life you'll also take risks. You have found your self increasingly disconnected with work and craving meaningful activities instead. Many have had the opportunity to put these desires and intentions into action, often out of necessity. The core universal energies are encoded to love, joy, peace and happiness. They support any activities immersed in these activities. So, any project in which you are happily humming along because you absolutely love what you're doing will be successful for you. Conversely, any project purely for money without a love for the activity will not last, and nor will the money which is gained from the loveless project. Therefore, immediately cease all activities which are engaged in purely for money, either leave the situation or bring some love into the activities, this is a necessity.

Taking risks to reveal your authentic self is part of the total alignment that earth is experiencing. You are a reflection of the path that earth has taken wherein she allowed her self to be abused and used without protest. She tried to pretend that she was strong and can take the abuse without protest. But now she's reached her limit and so have you. Taking abuse from others is a lethal form of self-abuse because ultimately you are allowing it to happen when you don't tell others about your authentic feelings. Saying NO to all forms of abuse is an essential part of spiritual growth for you and for earth. You don't need to be strong in the sense of stuffing down feelings and pretending everything is ok, when it isn't. You need to be strong only in the sense of speaking honestly about your true feelings. Take the risk to tell others how you feel. Take the risk to realign every part of your life so that it mirrors your true likes, passions and interests.

As you and earth align yourselves with your inner truth so do the swirling energies begin to calm and slow down, right now. In the center core of the swirling energies the slower and more peaceful energy already exist. You tap into this inner core energy every time that you are true to your self. And I will help you with this mission in every way.

Pahabol sa taong 2009

Hey, medyo napatagal ang pagpo-post ko rito, masyado kasing naging abala masyado at kasalanan ng FACEBOOK! Heheheh....

Anyways, sa susunod na taon, which is mga ilang sandali na lang ngayon, babalik na uli ako rito at aayusin ko na ito.

At sa tradisyon ng mga bagong taon, eto ang aking TOP 10 New Year's Resolution (kinopya ko lang ito sa Facebook ko - kitams, Facebook na naman!):

1. Yayaman na ako next year!
2. PIPILITIN ko ng HINDI na MANGUTANG!
3. Magbabayad na ng mga kautangan (yayaman na kasi eko eh, hehehe....)
4. Tatapusin ang mga sinimulan...seryoso na talaga ito!
5. Inner dance pa, marami pa dapat...medyo humina eh at naging busy - sinisingil na ako ng katawan ko....
6. Inner dance pa, DAPAT makapag-exhibit na ako ngayong taon!
7. Mag-work out na talaga aketch! John Lloyd help meeeeehhh!
8. Inner dance pa uli - dapat sasali na uli ako sa mga painting competition!
9. Magpaparami pa ng mga kaibigan at tunay na kaibigan!
10. Ipapakitang mahal rin ang mga nagmamahal at minamahal - oooh, say!

Oh, 'di ba? Bonggah!

MANIGONG BAGONG TAON SA LAHAT!!!!

Swine flu - Hoax gyud!

Nakuha ko sa e-mail...para sa mga takot sa swine flu...

Len Horowitz Releases Legal Affidavit - Private Global Biotechnology TRUST is Behind Pandemic from Origin to Vaccines (http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=155911)

BREAKING NEWS!

Release: No. H1N1-15
Date Mailed: Sept. 15, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rob Potter--(959) 715-1520 or 310-877-5002

WARNING: Drug Cartel Exposed Creating, Releasing, Injecting, Infecting and
Depopulating Planet with Pandemic H1N1/H5N1 Viruses and Vaccines

Los Angeles , CA --World leading drug-industry investigators have uncovered stunning documents proving an international drug ring, operating from New York City, is behind the H1N1 swine flu fright and vaccination preparations.

Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz, America 's leading consumer health expert, and Sherri Kane, an investigative journalist, have released shocking proof in legal affidavits that leaders of a private global biotechnology "trust" are behind everything you ever heard about pandemic flu, including its origin and alleged prevention via vaccinations. Their documents, being sent by attorneys to the FBI this week, evidence powerful industrialists are operating a crime ring within the "Partnership for New York City " (PNYC), and are behind the pandemic's creation, media persuasions, vaccination preparations, and health official promotions seen everywhere from supermarkets to health clinics.

"David Rockefeller's trust, that engages several powerful partners on Wall Street, including media moguls Ruppert Murdock, Morton Zuckerman, Thomas Glocer, and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Jerry Speyer, are implicated in advancing global genocide," Dr. Horowitz wrote to FBI directors.

"This 'partnership' controls biotechnology research and development globally. Health commerce internationally is also controlled virtually entirely by this trust that exercises near complete control over mainstream media to promote/propagandize its products and services for the drug cartel's organized crime. This trust, in essence, makes or breaks medical and natural healing markets, primarily through the mass media companies and propaganda it wields for social engineering and market building," Dr. Horowitz wrote.

Among the most stunning revelations from the Horowitz-Kane research are those linking Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties, Inc., and the 9-11 terrorist attacks, to the drug cartel's geopolitical, economic, and population reduction activities. Mr. Silverstein, leaser of the World Trade Center who authorized to have Building-7 "pulled," meaning detonated, is a chief suspect in the "9-11 truth" investigation. Silverstein is currently landlord and co-partner in the biotechnology trust founded by David Rockefeller and implicated by these new discoveries.

"If these people can get away with killing more than 3,000 people in 8 seconds on 9-11, they are completely capable of murdering millions, even billions, of people worldwide this flu season," Dr. Horowitz commented. "I pray these revelations will save millions of lives and help activists call upon President Barack Obama to demand legitimate inquiries into these genocidal atrocities."

Given the unprecedented nature and urgency of these findings, Dr. Horowitz has posted his affidavit for public review on FLUscam.com, praying other activist will spread the information in order to prompt governments worldwide to cease mass vaccination preparations to avoid becoming accessories to the crime of genocide.

"The last time I contacted the FBI I warned them about the impending anthrax attacks one week before the first mailings were announced in the press," Dr. Horowitz recalled. "It took them 6 months to respond. When they did, they made me a suspect in the mailings. This time I am warning the Justice Department a month before the deadliest genocide in history. I'm praying they'll take kindly to my appeal for a PNYC investigation, and Court-ordered injunction, to stop the vaccinations for public protection."

Para kay Noynoy

Nakuha ko ito sa e-mail...magandang i-share sa maliligaw dito...medyo politika nga lang ang tema...


NOYNOY: ENABLER OR SUPPRESSOR OF THE NEW POLITICS?

By Nicanor Perlas

05 September 2009

In the past few days, I have been bombarded with text messages from friends as well as interviews with the media on what I think of the Mar-Noynoy announcements. Will I, like Senator Mar Roxas, also renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the 2010 national elections and support the presidential candidacy of Senator Noynoy Aquino?

The short answer is “No”. I will not renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate. And “Yes”, I will encourage Noynoy to resign from the Liberal Party, run as an independent presidential candidate, and join the on-going conversation and unification efforts among non-traditional political parties and movements.

Noynoy can stifle the growth of new politics. Or he can enable the new politics that is emerging all throughout the country. Allow me to elaborate.

Introductory Remarks

My comments to follow will only make sense if people understand that 2010 is not an ordinary election. It will be the venue for an epochal battle between traditional politics and the new politics. What is branded often as “opposition” is not really opposition in the true sense. The current opposition is also part of traditional politics, albeit a different version of traditional politics. What I mean by traditional and new politics will become clear in the paragraphs to follow.

Noynoy Can Weaken New Politics

There are eight reasons why Noynoy can weaken new politics if he misunderstands the meaning of the “signs of the time”, succumbs to the “destiny” that others want to impose on him, and makes a wrong decision.

Reinforce short-lived, non-strategic unification

We successful united against and toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. But in a few years, the luster and the euphoria of People Power 1 dissipated. In 2001, we again united against and ousted the corrupt administration of Joseph Estrada. But this time, the unity of People Power II disappeared in only a few months and inaugurated the worst political regime in the past 50 years.

Why? We united against something (an “enemy”) instead for something. With the “enemy” gone, our unity shattered. And we went our separate ways. Yes, we restored democracy. That is important. But we had no common vision of what we wanted to do with that democracy after Marcos or after Estrada. We just wanted to get Marcos and Estrada out of the way. That was the point of unity. And, by its very nature, unity against something cannot last after the common objective of rejecting something is achieved. The very specter of an Estrada presidency in 2010 is a powerful reminder of what uniting against something can ultimately lead to: more of the same, and the resurgence of the old, of traditional politics.

From this perspective, asking all non-traditional and even opposition forces from traditional politics to unite behind Noynoy is repeating the same historical mistake. We are again being asked to unite against the abuses of the Arroyo administration and remove it in 2010. But it is not clear what we will be installing after the Arroyo regime is gone. We are being rushed to unify without a clear idea of what vision and strategic agenda we will pursue together and what process we will undertake to arrive at that common vision and agenda.

We are driven by our hunger to “win” in 2010. But we must have a different notion of winnability. (See below.) For we may “win” the battle but lose the war, as has already happened twice. Instead of a new lease on life, we will plunge deeper into political oppression and chaos, led by our naïve notion of unity against something instead of for something.

Suppress the emergence of a peoples agenda and selection process

A powerful antidote against this one-sided form of unification is to engage the country in a participatory process of setting up a people’s vision and strategic agenda. We hear this longing is from all over the country, not only as an answer to the corruption and decadence of the Arroyo administration. It is the peoples attempt to correct the historical shortcomings of People Power I and II.

Before the recent call for Senator Noynoy Aquino to take up the challenge to run for president in 2010, many concerned citizens were saying: “Bago sino, ano”? Before we decide on “who”, we must first answer “what” is our vision and agenda? Only after we determine our vision and strategic agenda do we then look for the leaders who will best embody our vision and agenda for a better Philippines.

This is a step in the right direction. But now the rush to have a bandwagon with Noynoy in front weakens this process. Instead of “ano” or “what”, “sino” takes prominence.

Even some proponents of peoples’ primaries (to flesh out a peoples agenda and a more participatory selection process) are blinded by the glare of a Noynoy presidency. Some have rallied behind Noynoy, betraying their own principles and aspirations.

Strengthen personality- based politics

The old traditional politics is a politics of personality. And the politics of personality is a part of the larger traditional politics of “winnability”. The old politics believes that one of the key ingredients of winnability, is to have a personality with name recall and national exposure. That is why traditional politics is filled with candidates who have lots of money to spend on advertising in TV, radio, and newspapers. That is why, until recently, traditional politics was littered with show biz and media personalities.

In contrast, the new politics selects qualified and proven leadership willing to advance the vision and strategic agenda co-created together with the people. In this consideration, winnability is not the primary consideration in the beginning. Instead, once the proper platform is crafted and qualified leadership found that would advance that visionary platform, then proponents of the new politics organize to make sure that their candidates win. If the candidate does not have a strong national name recall, the new politics will find ways and means to ensure that their candidate gets the necessary national exposure, among others, to win in the national elections.

Asking people to rush behind Noynoy is asking Filipinos to enshrine the old politics of personality at the expense of the new politics of participation, vision and strategic agenda and a qualified proven leadership willing to advance that common vision. With Noynoy, are we asking the personality cult of traditional politics to rear its ugly head again?

Send mixed signals regarding political dynasties

We rail against political dynasties. We celebrate victories of candidates who triumph against political dynasties. What are we doing now with our clamor for Noynoy Aquino? Are we not advancing traditional politics of dynasties?

True, Noynoy does not come from a corrupt political dynasty. Nor is there any technical, legal violation of the anti-dynasty provisions of the Constitution. But are we not close to violating the spirit of that constitutional provision when we get excited about Noynoy simply because he carries the name of martial law hero, Ninoy Aquino, and the late former president of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino? Does Noynoy have the necessary track record, leadership qualities, vision, strategic agenda to renew this nation?

Break the Link Between Inner and Societal Change

The new politics requires inner change as the foundation for political and societal change. New politics rests on the hard work of enabling new mindsets and habits to emerge. Only with inner change will it be possible to co-create with others new ways of viewing and doing politics, governance, policies, platforms, processes, winnability, volunteerism, and other important matters.

Traditional politics does not expect inner change. In fact, it wants old mindsets and habits to prevail. Otherwise traditional politics will not be able to function. The appearance of a political leader who can win enough votes is all that is necessary for success as far as traditional politics is concerned.

The unthinking acceptance of a Noynoy “bandwagon” destroys the important link between inner change and political/societal change. We can all remain who we are. There is no need for us to change to create a new country. Noynoy will do it all for us. We will be spared from all the hard inner and outer work necessary to renew the country.. This is an illusion, one destined to break into pieces in the hard rock of political reality.

Remove the Necessity of a Cultural Revolution

Change of hearts, will, and minds are the foundations of authentic democracy and the new politics. People run institutions. If people are corrupt, institutions will be corrupt. If citizens remain the same, they will continue to vote and empower corrupt traditional politicians and, in the process, victimize themselves.

To change the inner disposition of the voting public, a cultural revolution is essential. Widespread consultations and education are necessary. Citizens need access to information of all kinds, especially detailed background information on the track record, capabilities, integrity, and agenda of candidates for political office. They need to be able to have the chance to work through difficult questions of distinguishing between old and new approaches to winnability, assessing proposed platforms, and other areas of discernment and reflection.

A Noynoy bandwagon marginalizes the importance of an educated citizenry and a cultural revolution in the mainstreaming of the new politics. A Noynoy bandwagon, in effect, sends the message that Noynoy is good enough because he is the son of two well-known and well-respected parents. There is no need to examine his background and his qualifications for the Office of the President.

The unquestioning wholesale acceptance of Noynoy on the basis on nothing else except his biological relationship with Ninoy and Cory Aquino is tantamount to strengthening traditional politics. It cheapens the notion that new politics can only arise because a new and very different generation of citizens are prepared for it and demand it. The old politics views the national education of the citizenry as unnecessary for wining the 2010 elections. A Noynoy bandwagon that is not based on a simultaneous cultural revolution will prevent the inauguration of a new, principled, honest and service-oriented politics. It will be a recipe for disillusionment in and after 2010.

Favor winnability over character, track record, and vision

What is driving the old politics of unity against something not for something, top-down agenda setting, personalities, political dynasties, neglect of inner change, and dismissal of a necessity of a cultural revolution? The answer is as simple as it is profoundly pervasive. The driving force is the imperative to win at all costs.

Traditional notions of winnability is the political virus that infects political parties, personalities, media, Church leaders, businessmen, and many others, including, yes, even advocates of the new politics. It is a virus so deep in all of us that we cannot even recognize it when we are totally under its control.

Traditional politics is littered with the spoils of political marriage built on the manipulative foundations of “winnability”. Even reform parties and change movements cannot resist the lure and siren call of winnability. By going for a coalition with traditional parties to increase their chances of winnability, reform political movements and parties endanger and ultimately sacrifice their principles. By putting a strong emphasis on traditional notions of winnability above character, tract record, integrity, and strategic agenda, change movements unwittingly infect their followers with the trapo winnability virus and undermine their pursuit of change.

I have written two long articles on traditional notions of winnability versus the new politics approach to winnability. I will not repeat the arguments here. I encourage friends and readers to take a look at these articles in www.nicanorperlas. com.

Misinterpret the Meaning of the Ninoy/Cory Heritage

Connected with all the above dangers is the deeper question of how we should understand the national events following the death of former President Corazon Aquino.

We are dealing with a spiritual legacy. We are dealing with a longing for a form of governance that is honest and clean. We are dealing with a search for a new politics where politicians are statesmen and women who, when they time for service is finished, are ready to let go of political power. At this point, we will not discuss whether honesty and integrity are sufficient to transform the institutions of government, not to speak of the institutions of society.

A spiritual legacy is not the same as a hereditary legacy. History is full of examples of how successor generations squandered the gains of the previous generations. The outpouring in Cory’s funeral meant the expression of longing for honesty, decency, and democracy. It does not mean that this automatically transfers to a son or a daughter by means of heredity.

What it does mean is that the nation is longing for a leader that had the traits of Cory PLUS the capacity to transform institutions and systems. The “PLUS” comes from the historical experience that good will and honesty are not enough to change a country. Therefore additional societal capacities are needed to supplement moral qualities. And these spiritual/moral and societal capacities cannot be transferred by simply having the same bloodline. These capacities are gained instead by means of hard work and a life-long experience of transforming challenges into initiatives that benefit the country as a whole.

Noynoy Can Enable the New Politics

Noynoy can do one thing that will dramatically reduce the dangers enumerated above. Noynoy can refuse the temptation of accepting his “destiny” of being the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party and, by wishful thinking, the candidate of all opposition to the current administration in an epochal battle of good and evil in 2010.

For one thing, the Liberal Party of Noynoy is NOT the only opposition party. Second, the Liberal Party, with its mixed track record, cannot re-brand itself, even with Noynoy’s blessing, as a non-traditional party. Thus the Liberal Party is a part of the spectrum of traditional parties even if there are individuals within the party who are non-traditional. The party as a whole is not the bearer of new politics. Will Noynoy survive the intramurals within the Liberal Party and present a vision and strategic agenda that transcends the Liberal Party?

And third, will Noynoy be able to unify the dozens of non-traditional movements and parties when, by a wrong decision, Noynoy will destroy the very foundation upon which these movements and parties of new politics are built?

Prominent members of the Liberal Party share some of these thoughts. Senator Francis Pangilinan recently begged to differ that the Liberal Party is the opposition party. He said that the opposition is more than the Liberal Party, more than other traditional parties opposed to Arroyo, and includes non-traditional parties and movements.

In addition, Senator Franklin Drilon, said that Noynoy “is not prepared for it” (the presidency). And Noynoy himself is not clear whether he himself is qualified or not. He is also not clear on how he would go about systemically changing the landscape of traditional politics and transforming Philippine society. Can his lack of clarity be the beacon for the new Philippines around which all kinds of forces arrayed against the Arroyo regime will unite?

There is one thing, though, that Noynoy can do to help enhance the longing and hunger of the majority of Filipinos for a new kind of politics. He can announce that he will resign from the Liberal Party and participate in a unification process with non-traditional political and social movements for new politics. He can lend his newly minted national stature to advance the cause of the new politics, both in terms of substance and process.

Concretely, this would mean that Noynoy will announce that he is willing to be part of an open process of determining who would be the best new politics candidate for president in the national 2010 elections. It is open in the sense that, at the end of the day, Noynoy himself may or may not be that presidential candidate. Yet he would still be able to bring energy to the pursuit of the new politics by supporting whoever will emerge as the presidential candidate of a unified movement for a new politics.

This is the real challenge facing Noynoy Aquino. Will he be an enhancer of the new politics? Or will he be the instrument for marginalizing the new politics?

Overcoming the Deadly Virus of Traditional Notions of Winnability

While Noynoy Aquino undergoes a spiritual retreat to finalize his decision, we should all reflect on the ultimate meaning on the current events surrounding Noynoy. It is difficult to discern what wants to come from the future. And it would even be more difficult to discern if we are infected with the virus of traditional notions of winnability.

The Noynoy event provides us with one of the most potent challenge to discern what real new politics really means in theory and practice. We can only hope that Noynoy becomes an enabler of the new politics. And I hope that all those truly seeking a better country, are able to truly discern the profound conceptual and behavioral requirements of the new politics, one that we are all hoping to begin today and realize in 2010 and beyond. Our future as a nation will depend on it.

konting inarte lang...

Medyo matagal na pala akong hindi nakakapag-post ng mga gawa ko dito. Sa totoo lang, marami akong naiguhit na, kaso nga lang, nalilimutang ipakita rito, hassle kasi kapag wala kang sariling digital camera o scanner...

...pero ngayon, sige lang, may scanner na malapit eh, hehehe, salamat Jonas!

Sinimulan ko ito ng nasa isang resort ako sa Irosin, Sorsogon...mainit sa kwarto, mag-isa lang ako, hindi makatulog, kaya heto....

Kaya nga pala ito ang mga karakter sa ginawa ko, kasi ito 'yung baon kong komiks nang panahon na 'yun eh ang "After Eden" ni Arnold Arre - da best lab stori eber!


After Eden ni Arnold Arre...medyo mahirap na siyang hanapin ngayon, out of print na kasi yata, pero kung may makukuhanan pa kayo, kuhanin nyo na at sabihan nyo 'ko, kasi gusto ko pa ng isang kopya eh!

Anyways, eto po ang nakatihan kong iguhit...eto ang rendition ko sa mga karakter, ika nga eh, naisayaw ko na sila sa aking mga kamay, hehehe...


Si Celine...ewan ko, ito ang naiguhit ko eh...eksena ng pagpapakilala sa kanya...

... tapos, eto naman...


...si Jon!

Tapos, medyo hindi pa ako inaantok n'un, kahit basang-basa na sa pawis (ang init eh,maalinsangan!), kaya humirit ako ng isa pa. Ang nasa isip ko n'un, karakter naman ng isa sa mga kaibigan ko, naisip ko bigla si Geoff, kaya eto lumabas...


...si Servant!

Well, sana magustuhan nyo!

Sa susunod, dadalasan ko na pagpaskil ng mga gawa ko uli dito....

Queso anyone?

Ang CHEEZY!


Ako at si Chiz!

Da hel! kasama ko si Chiz?

Well, naimbitahan lang po, hehehe....

Nagkaroon kasi ng "meet and greet event" ng mga blogger kasama si Chiz, naimbitahan ako, kaya go lang...

Ay'un, pagkakataong makita, makausap at makapagtanong sa kanya...first time ko sa ganito, kaya medyo kabado, hehehe...pinigilan pa nga ako ng kaibigan kong magsuot ng cocktail dress eh, suya! I hate you Jonas, you MANSTER!

Nasa isip ko n'un, kamukha nya ba talaga si Bamboo? matangkad ba siya? Maputi? Mga gan'ung non-sense...pero n'ung naroon na, okay naman pala, hehehe. Okay naman siyang kausap, ika nga eh, hindi na mukha lang sa telebisyon o dyaryo na nagsasalita, ngayon eh, siya na talaga!

Okay din naman naging takbo ng usapan, more on the personal side nya...paano nya nakuha palayaw nya - Chiz Curls... gusto nya pala costume ni Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)...at mega-crush nya pala si Kristine Hermosa, hahaha, ooops!

Heps, 'yun na lang, hehehe, magiging Chizmax na 'to 'pag nadagdagan pa, wehehehe...basta enjoy!

ALAGAD NG SINGIT, KASINGIT-SINGITAN NGA NAMAN!

Wahahaha, Caparas!



...habang pinapanood ko ito, nakipanood din 'yung officemate ko na lawyer, sabi nya, 'yung pagkaka-issue daw ng TRO ng Supreme Court, "GOOD SIGN" daw 'yun...kasi kung totoo daw sa tungkulin ang Supreme Court, ang babasehan daw nila d'yan eh 'yung batas o guidelines sa pagpili ng National Artist. Hindi daw magde-deliberate ang Supreme Court kung art nga ba ang mga gawa ni Caparas o kung visual artist mismo si Caparas...

...'yun eh kung "totoo" nga ang Supreme Court...abangan!

Pero tandaan mo Caparas, 'di pa tapos ang laban!

MADE Art Exploration Series

...i-click nyo na lang po para makapunta sa website nila para sa detalye...

PICCA, narito na!