L'AMOUR

On May 28, 2012, Chief Justice Renato Corona had been impeached with 20 votes from the senator judges, having him as the first officer to be convicted in an impeachment trial.  This impeachment trial has allowed the most secretive branch of the Philippine government to be penetrated by the media and has become exposed in a level that has never been possible before.  The public has been very familiar with the Executive and Legislative branches with the aid of the media, but it is only with the recent impeachment trial that the people have become more knowledgeable about the Judiciary, and how it should fulfill its role of interpreting laws.

However, this was not the first impeachment trial that has occurred in the country. Back in 2002, former President Estrada was also faced with articles of impeachment, but the end of the trial was imprecise. It was said during that time that he was already impeached, while the rumors of his resignation also circulated around. How he got house arrest and how Arroyo was legible to take the Presidential position can be presumed to have transpired only in the state of political anarchy and conspiracy. The legitimacy of the trial of 2012 is commendable as it has undergone the entire process that it ought to.

In the beginning, the Chief Justice was filled for impeachment because it seemed like he decided unfavorably for the current administration.  When Corona gave a temporary restraining order that would let Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo out of the country that served as the first domino to his downfall. Although they thought that his “incapability to perform his duties as a Chief Justice” and the fact that he was a “Midnight Appointee” can be the primary reasons why he could be impeached, he was convicted on his erroneous declarations in his SALN.  And so the reason of the filing of the impeachment was not the same reason of his impeachment. This is not at all surprising because the articles of impeachment were only built up after impeachment was already filed.

Apart from being labeled as an “Arroyo ally,” the administration may not be in favor of the Chief Justice after he has decided and signed the documents concerning Hacienda Luisita. All Filipinos know that the President’s family owns the said Hacienda, and the president may have given up his part on the said property, but would he risk a family feud? Maybe not. Or if they already did lose it, would this clan go down without a fight? Clearly, it may not have.

The conviction of the Chief Justice has given the President an opportunity to choose a new person to “man the job” in 90 days. This could mean that the Executive branch would be over empowered, with the possibility of the non-independence of the Judiciary.  Just like it always have been. The Supreme Court, in the public’s eyes, give “biased” jurisdiction to the current administration.

Filipinos are not blind to the fact that some politicians do not declare all their properties in their SALN annually. The Chief Justice is only unfortunate that he was caught and condemned. The government is rejoicing with this “triumph” of theirs that they find as an event further accentuating the country’s democracy. But the removal of one corrupt official does not uproot corruption in the system; neither can one President who claims to uphold accountability against corruption do the same. Of course the eradication of this so-called “cancer of the nation” will not happen in a snap, but its citizens do believe corruption is getting lesser. But the thing is: people tend to focus more on the minor decrease that other aspects are not taken note of.

This public trial was also utilized by some government officials who had political agendas. Most senator judges that had convicted Corona were re-electionists for 2013. They condemned him for being corrupt while it is an unspoken fact that in Philippine politics, most officials are corrupt in their own special and creative ways. The “national drama” ended with an overdose of government hypocrisy that Senator Miriam Defensor definitely wanted to be stricked dead.

Social media also played a huge role in this trial, as it is currently changing the waves of communication. Back in 2002, during Erap’s impeachment, the audience was not so big and consisted mostly of adults. Now, with Twitter, Facebook, and all the online news outlets, Filipinos have become more engaged in this particular political affair. Without being in front of the television, people are updated about almost everything that has transpired in the trial. This quick relaying of news enables people to respond quickly to it as well. With several responses in social media, it has opened up intellectual interactions between strangers, sharing thoughts and reinforcing opinions.

The social media and its impact on citizens concerning knowledge about the government and critical opinions are not disclosed in the Philippines alone. In Australia, as Craig Thomson faces charges about usage of government funds for prostitution, social media has given the opportunity for normal people to be heard. Former federal treasurer, Peter Costello, said that “But the media coverage is more pervasive. Hughes and Lang didn’t have talkback radio, television and 24-hour news programs. And blog sites and Twitter accounts - where anyone can make any allegation or post an insult about anyone - did not exist” This only goes to show that those in position consider the innovation social media has brought in the new decade. The other point to be raised in this parallelism is that corruption exists even in the most progressive countries, and corrupt officials do get caught, one by one, with the hope of a long term deterrent effect.

From first world to third world, the realization here is that all belong to only one world. One world built up by several societies that consist of the same humanity. The same world with the same trend of innovations. Same world, same flaws; but living in similarity may mean you lurk in the shadows. Be different, be bright, and sign that waiver.

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Had a late Saturday lunch at 91 Kingsway, Glen Waverley in Melbourne, Australia. We ate at Traditional Fish and Chips by Hook, Line, & Sinker for the first time yesterday, and the restaurant was just so exemplary that I thought it deserved to be my first food review entry.

While most of the fish fillets in the Philippines only have Cream Dory, Hook, Line, & Sinker offers a variety of fish, giving you the liberty to choose which distinct and authentic fish flavor or fish meat it is that you desire. Their fish fillets are about 8 inches long, battered in just the right amount, giving each bite a light and crisp texture. It was also seasoned with salt mixed with chopped dried vegetables and herbs; I believe their unique seasoning is what made the fish more superb. With a little squeeze of lemon here and there, the meal was just perfect.

Hook, Line, & Sinker also has some favorite appetizers in their menu. We got to try potato cakes, fried dim sums, Calamari rings, and battered Sea Sticks (or called Crab Sticks in my country). Here’s the thing: I loved all of them! How I wish I had more of each one if I wasn’t so full already.

The batter of the Calamari rings and Sea Sticks were the same one for the fish. It was well cooked without loosing that “elastic” texture when you bite it off. The potato cakes were lovely too, it tasted like hash brown but with a hint of sweetness to it. The fried dim sums were bigger than usual, but two bites would do the trick. Also, the wrapper if the dim sums were also thicker, allowing you to taste more of it with the filling. It was definitely crispy, and surprisingly not oily!

For the ambience of this restaurant, it was very laid back with its simple brick walls and jazz music playing. Definitely a relaxing place to be, with a whole new food experience. Come here for the weekend with your family and friends and watch Footy as you enjoy eating Fish and Chips!

If you’re interested, their menu is available online too! :) http://www.hlsfishandchips.com.au/

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Steps away from the threshold
Past separated from the present
Life opened a new chapter:
One filled with strange places,
And people of slight significance

And there he stands still
He seems unburdened by time
Change is surrounding him unnoticed
Passive look in his eyes,
Thoughts begin to sink in

In silence she watches him
Seeing the pain nobody does
Conscious that his apathy facades:
Fear which has consumed him
That mystifies falling in love

Post created by Vinz Lamorena

(Source: heyitsvinz)

If you’d scroll down your Twitter timeline, you’re most likely to find a tweet or two indicating a user’s craving for Magnum, either that, or a twitpic showcasing one’s current Magnum moment. MAGNUM – it’s the most current fad. While most boys would fool around by saying that it’s a type of gun (well in terms of equivocation it is), what I’m referring to is Selecta’s newly launched ice cream.

This approximately 4 inch Belgian chocolate coated ice cream is originally from Europe. With a 50-peso suggested retail price, it is currently Selecta’s most expensive mass-produced product according to Business World. Most people would describe it as “similar to Pinipig (another ice cream product), except it has no pinipig (rice crispies).” I would like to argue with this. The chocolate coating of the other ice cream product tastes more of sugar than of cacao, whereas the coating of Magnum has a richer flavor, and a texture that is quite similar to Nutella. The inside is considered as “premium ice cream,” signifying that it must be creamier and thicker, and it actually is. It’s an equally satisfying substitute to Gelatissimo’s Chocolate Truffle and Häagen-Dazs’ chocolate flavored creations, and the good news is: its available at a cheaper price.

But what you are reading is more than a food review.

The huge demand for this product lies in its timely launch and effective advertisement. It was launched last February; the time of deadlines for major requirements and the start of unbearable heat. If you think about it, an ice cream during the said times would be very enticing: a stress reliever and something to cool yourself up simultaneously.

The advertisement’s effectiveness lies in its endorsers. Selecta was able to get personalities that the public was relatively interested in. The patronage of consumers to the products promulgated by these personalities exist because the consumers would want a certain relation or commonality established with these known people. The common denominator that can be observed among these said endorsers is that they are all part of the dominant elite in the media. This may be because the product is to be viewed as something of quality good enough for the elite, but not exclusive to the class stratification. I believe that it is not intended to be correlated as a symbol for social struggle, but rather something that portrays the value of positive self-worth. Judging from its tagline which goes: “enjoy the royal treatment,” the value attached to this product is “feeling special,” and the assurance that you do deserve it. After all, as we have discussed in our Journalism class, products are bought not primarily and only because of its purpose, but also of the value that can be instilled in the buyer.

Of course, there are some negative comments about the price of this product. Comparisons with products worth the same price are being made, and its consumers are being criticized as well. But you have to realize that each person’s satisfaction differ; its congruence is also not viable. Under the law of marginal utility, it is explained that one is more willing to spend more on a certain product than another based on the satisfaction that the person is able to attain. This applies to consumers of Magnum, they choose to spend their 50 pesos on this product than spend it on other things that are or in summation equivalent in value. They choose to do so, and have the liberty to do so.

I think it’s easier for people to generalize in their opinions rather than observe the concepts behind certain realities. I hope that after some of you have read this, some sort of consideration was created within.

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(Source: heyitsvinz)

Recently in our English class, we were tasked to do documentaries regarding issues about Reading, scaling from vital statistics, development, and preferences. One group tackled the preference of Filipinos between books written by Filipino writers and Foreign writers. The aim of their documentary was to obtain the choice of the majority about the authorship of the books Filipinos are most likely to read.

With colonial mentality very much instilled in our culture, one can conclude first hand that the answer to the group’s methodological question would be leaning towards Filipinos selecting books written by Foreign authors. There may be many reasons behind this, and I believe my observations are among these.

First, almost all mainstream books are by foreign authors, therefore these are the same books that get widespread publicity in the Filipino nation.

Second, most Filipinos single out Philippine Literature as those written by Filipino authors in the vernacular language. The idea of books written by Filipinos are confined in the genre of “pocketbooks” or love stories consisting of only a few pages. This is often viewed as something “cheap” and “uneducational,” which discourages preference for Filipino books in general. Not being aware that most stories by Filipino writers are published in English, and most books written by Filipinos are as just good as those by Foreign authors.

Third, Filipinos are deep thinkers, but enjoy shallow entertainment. Most of the best sellers in the country are fictitious books by foreign authors that often feature worlds that are parallel to reality, but can never exist in reality. Books written by Filipino authors, on the other hand, may be fictional in category, but still deal with serious matters ranging from the subsistence of the Filipino family, political systems, agricultural unrest; all of which have a hint of societal issues prevailing in our country. Perhaps when it is weighed down, foreign authors offer Filipinos a much “lighter reading” that they could appreciate.

It is therefore not an argument of which has a much complex plot structure nor is it the lay outing of interesting topics. Rather, the underlying concept here is of awareness and culture.

We must all read and learn to appreciate our own literature, for it reflects the genuineness of our citizenship.

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(Source: heyitsvinz)

A year ago, no one knew who he was, but now even a world renowned broadcasting channel reports about the puns associated with his name. Jeremy Lin: jersey number 17, playing the position of point guard for the New York Knicks. His fame went viral, as fast as he could execute those fast breaks, and as fast as he could shoot that buzzer beater. He’s definitely one of the reasons why most of us are glad the NBA is back.

His first loss back at his home court did not devour what the fans coined as “Linsanity.” Other defeats were faced by the Knicks, but more people hungered for more Linsanity to happen. Each defeat did not trounce the spark Lin possessed, as each defeat did not go to waste. Lin is knowledgeable of the continual learning that is confined within the court; and the audience witness that each time his game shows significant improvement.

According to the “Utilization of Mass Communication by the Individual,” people are more interested in things that they are most likely to identify themselves in. Lin’s Asian roots make it easier for Filipinos to establish a certain familiarity with him. We also add the nation’s passion for Basketball, and we come up with a fan base for Lin in the country.

The fondness of people, more specifically the Filipinos, towards Lin is more than his skills and more than how he plays. It lies more on how he actually got to play. Hearing that Lin was unrecuited in high school, was not drafted out of college when he was playing ball for Harvard, and that he was considered as a benchwarmer in the NBA before he attained his Basketball stardom made Filipinos love him more. Filipinos are enthusiastic towards the “underdog plot,” pretty much because Filipinos are underdogs themselves. In the Philippine society, everyone dreams to make it big, but the wealth, power, and success seems not only to be concentrated in the minority of the population, but circulates in it as well. That’s why most Filipinos, root for a story that entails a “rags-to-riches” account, since it is most likely to reflect what they would like to happen to their own.

The most admirable about Lin is how he showcased resilience and hope in the sport he is engaged in. The lack of support and opportunity did not hinder him from working his way to the NBA. I think that’s what ignited the spark that Linsanity possessed. That is also the same thing that Filipino athletes, who are against the odds, are holding onto: resilience and hope.

The skills, the values, the status, are big factors why Filipinos may admire Jeremy Lin. But there’s one more thing that connects us to him. His faith in the same God we worship. I think that’s our strongest connection, because beneath the same race and the same passion for the sport, is the same Being that keeps us alive. His life is more than a testimony of basketball star, but a testimony of a witness of and for Christ. He’s an inspiration for both athletes and Christians out there. He remains humble despite of what he has already achieved, and gives all the credit of his accomplishments to the One who makes it all possible — God. An inspiring life for humanity, and a life committed to Christ.

There may be a couple more of victories and defeats for Lin, but he’s not here to represent the Asian race and carry all its dreams on his shoulders. Neither is he here to satisfy the entertainment the human race is craving for. Jeremy Lin: jersey number 17, playing the position of point guard for the New York Knicks, who plays for the pleasure, honor, and glory of the One above; for he once said, “My audience is God.”

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(Source: heyitsvinz)

Our country has three divisions of main islands: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These divisions symbolize the separation and distinction of language and culture inherent to the citizens of a collective nation. Amidst the multitude of diversity, we are labeled as one, as Filipinos claiming the race and citizenry of the Philippine islands.

The fragmentation of Filipino culture makes it difficult to establish an explicit definition of the Filipino identity. Other than the local languages and cultures, there are other reasons that complicate the construction of what characterizes the Filipino identity.

The documentation of Philippine history is one of these. The periods are classified by the colonizers who hampered the liberty of the country. It narrates the transition of governments that were built and administered by these foreigners. Filipino students have studied textbooks that show how these colonizers viewed the country and the achievements they have attained for their respective Motherland. It is seldom that the country’s history is said in a manner that highlights the progression made by Filipinos. It is seldom that books, that are widely promulgated in schools, state accounts which were written by the Filipinos who were at the front row of history. It is recurrent to find, though, that Filipino-centered accounts of history marginalized. Left to be silenced and forgotten, long after independence was pursued. This leaves all the subsequent generations of Filipinos to identify themselves in a fashion that connects them to the prior inhabitants that once controlled the power within the Philippine nation.

Numerous people say that the Filipinos are suffering from severe colonial mentality. But tracing its roots, was it really the Filipinos who inflicted this disease amongst themselves? No. Filipinos back then were pacified and were lured by the idea that people, products, ideologies, and everything else made by the colonizers were better and good for them. Filipinos identified themselves to be an extension of the personalities their colonizers embodied. Today, colonial mentality still persists within the government, as it is being indirectly manipulated with the unwritten agreement and uncertain notion that the United States is the country’s ally. On the other hand, colonial mentality that was infused in our culture is now gradually transforming into global competitiveness. Colonial mentality may no longer be viewed negatively, once it is used as an edge to standardize global competitiveness in the country. What better way to compete with advanced nations but to think like they do, live like they do, create like they do? With this, we visualize the Filipino to have an inner struggle between the preservation of his native roots and the adaptation of modern innovation. It is the predicament of the Filipino to be identified by what he is leaving behind without being left behind.

Filipinos tend to immerse themselves in other cultures which they find “more superior.” They embrace a culture different to their own because they find it more appealing, or more widely accepted by the world. Take for example the “Hallyu” or Korean wave that has taken over the country for the past few years. With the in flux of Korean migrates, they have taken their media art and media culture along. Endorphin levels of Filipinos over Korean music and dramas are soaring. This may be because of Korean talent is viral globally, and has reached and satisfied the standards of global viewership. Adapting so much to this culture may have an inclination towards the transformation of lifestyle and preference, on a whole new level. The ability of Filipinos to adapt intensely and genuinely to other cultures has made it harder to have a more transparent idea of the Filipino identity.

The Filipino identity is a hybrid of cultures and ideologies. It is made individualistic by the pace in which it has transformed dichotomies into a single entity. The Filipino identity is hard to decipher, it cannot be contained in words formulated by observations for it is dynamic, just like any other existing identities out there. It changes in time, but the constant thing about it, as Nick Joaquin said, is this: “the true identity of a Filipino is a Filipino searching for his identity,” Now, go ask yourself, how do you identify Filipinos? How do youidentify yourself as a Filipino?

Post created by Vinz Lamorena, dedicated to Cara Encabo

(Source: heyitsvinz)