new skin

Because my blog is officially three years old today, I've decided to get a new skin.

For sometime now, I've been searching for a template to replace the old one. I found this here and liked the clean and fresh albeit cold look. So much different from the one before which had some strong and warm colors. So please bear with me as I try to iron out the kinks, links and what-have-yous in the coming days.

bolt

How is that even possible?!? I can come up with a thousand and one things a man can do under 10 seconds but I wouldn't even think of this.

Living up to his name, Usain Bolt shatters the world record with a new personal best time of a mind blowing 9.58 seconds!

Carlo J. Caparas is Not Qualified to be National Artist

If you agree, sign up and be counted here.

And by the way, Ricky Lo, you're an idiot.

faux pas?

Freudan slips, a cruel joke or wishful thinking?

If anything, GMA should feel grateful for these blunders. For these booboos might be the only chance she'll ever come close to being accorded such honor, albeit, imagined.

And who can forget Lala Rimando's "guilty" confession?

Gotta love the Pinoy humour, eh?

requiem

Kris Aquino summed it up beautifully, "How do I find the words to say goodbye? Paano bang magpaalam na alam ng puso mo na hindi pa rin sapat ang panahong ibinahagi sa 'yo ng Diyos?"

Filipinos from the world over mourned the loss of our beloved president. And the whole world felt our grief. They offered kind words to honor Corazon Aquino's memory. These tributes have been a source of comfort and acceptance in times of our sorrow. This is specially true for me. Reading their recognition and appreciation for our Mother made me very proud I am a Filipino.

Here are a few of them:

"... she was quiet but articulate; committed to non-violence; insistent that dictatorship should be replaced by democracy." -- the UK Times

" ... the first female holder of the post in the Philippines – Aquino can best be remembered for her noble fight to restore democracy and the systematic dismantling of the worst abuses of dictatorship." -- The Guardian

" ... she left a mark on the history of her troubled country, so deep and so lasting that her death will bring a surge of emotion as the heady days of the short but memorable Aquino era are reassessed." -- the Independent

" The quietly spoken lady in yellow, later described in an official biography as “homemaker, widow, reluctant candidate and elected leader of the Philippines” had come to represent oppressed people's aspirations for freedom across the globe..." -- The Financial Times

" ... went on to gain a worldwide reputation as a fighter for peace and democracy" -- BBC

" It was a fairy-tale revolution that gripped the world and Aquino was hailed as a modern-day Joan of Arc." -- Sky

" Cory Aquino rose above the bureaucratic procrastination that had always bogged it down, reminding her people that they once astonished the world with their bravery — and that they could do it again." -- Time

amazing

I'm easily pleased. And it's not because I'm mababaw. I just know what I want. And when these things are achieved, I'm always impressed.

The great iconic music + the amazing voice and an ingenious production and musical arrangement; this video knocks my socks off. I can't believe that even after numerous views, I'm still blown away.

Enjoy.

Corazon C. Aquino (1933-2009)

The news of her death, although expected, still brought a shock. Former president of my beloved country, Corazon C. Aquino, passed away early this morning.

A couple of my working hours were spent on the internet reading obituaries from different international news websites. I felt a deep sadness and great loss as I read tributes from around the world. To them, she was an icon. To the Filipinos, she was the symbol of hope. Her quiet grace and extraordinary courage was an inspiration for most of us.

I was too young to understand what was happening in 1986; the People Power revolution that led to the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos and the end of his authoritarian rule. At 6 years old, I asked my tatay who the lady in yellow was when I saw a poster outside my lolo's house. Tatay replied, "she is the face of Good".

From then on, for me, Cory Aquino represented everything that is good, honest and decent in the Filipino people. Her term as president may not have lived up to the promise of her bloodless revolution but she made numerous sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and unending fight against tyranny.

Maraming salamat sa biyaya ng Kalayaan.