2009 vs 1983

Had Ninoy not taken the risk of returning to our country to fight for freedom, had he not been willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice, who knows? Maybe we'd still be under a more oppressive, more abusive dictatorial regime. Or under communists. Maybe our national debt will be even bigger, HP and P&G probably won't bring it's IT business here, the economy will be even worse, maybe the concept of human rights wouldn't even exist. Maybe we won't be able to travel around and enjoy the beauty of the Philippines, and see great Pixar movies in cinemas, or enjoy Parmesan-crusted white fish, juicy steaks and lamb chops in nice restaurants. Maybe internet and news sources will be censored and blocked. Maybe we won't be able to earn our own money and enjoy a good life, buy nice clothes and cool gadgets.

Maybe we won't even be able to have a comfortable life.

I know life is still far from perfect here in the Philippines. But if not for Ninoy and what he stood for, it'll probably be worse. And that's what we should appreciate. Not the holiday, or the long weekend. He is an honorable man who held our country and its people in the highest honor that he was willing to give up his freedom and his life for ours. That's what we should remember.

Here's a good read for today: The Conscience of the Filipino: The Sacrifice (1986)


----------------
Now playing: Cold War Kids: Hospital Beds
via FoxyTunes

Ninoy Aquino Monument photo by Jon Voltaire B. Aquino

Hate the Player, Hate the Game.

It's easy, no instructions necessary...

In a voluntary gesture of fair play, De La Salle University is surrendering last year's University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men's senior basketball trophy and forfeiting its second place finish this season after confirming the ineligibility of a player who joined the varsity in 2003.

It's all over the sports news these past few days... Apparently, one of our Green Archers was admitted to La Salle under false pretenses, submitting fake papers to gain admission (whether he was alone in this action or was coerced or worse, backed up, is another matter.)

Uncovering the player's ineligibility came by accident, said La Salle representative to the UAAP Board Lito Tanjuatco. Tanjuatco said La Salle conducted its own investigation of students whose DECS certificates were hand-carried and found the player's papers to be spurious. The player is in his third year on the varsity team. "It is a painful admission," said Tanjuatco. "But the school has chosen to take the high moral ground on the issue."

Damn... Right now, all I hope for is that this really is a gesture of fairplay, and not a bad cover up of something filthier inside the system. Because that? Is just downright shameful. And wrong. I wouldn't want to find out that the institution where I learned my x,y,z's operates on such low levels of integrity (and extremely high levels of hypocrisy.)

-----------------------------------------------------------

For the moment, I'm really enjoying Death Cab For Cutie's Transatlanticism.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Fernando Alonso wins this year's F1 Driver's Championship, while his team Renault wins the Constructor's Championship after they comfortably out-pounted McLaren Mercedes in the season's last race in China. McLaren could've still won the championship since Renault only held a two-point lead coming in to the China Grand Prix. However, McLaren has this knack for screwing up in the most inopportune time, and screw up they did. (Note: Being a McLaren fan myself, when I say they have a knack for screwing up, I do mean this in the most endearingly jaded way.)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Almost a month now as a member of the "Employed" column. Enjoying it so far, although this enjoyment is not stopping me from plotting my career path using a hyperbolic formula.

-----------------------------------------------------------