The Million People March.

     Philippines was previously known as "The Sick Man of Asia." Different presidencies have come and go and still graft and corruption is present. All throughout the past years, I have seen how Filipinos became hopeless and eventually apathetic to the endless bad news we hear from our crooked government officials. Then came 2010, Benigno Aquino III's timely candidacy gave hope that maybe, just maybe, our government has chance to redeem itself. I had my doubts with how he will handle the biggest responsibility one could carry in his entire life. So I did not took the risk, instead I campaigned for Sen. Richard Gordon's candidacy for President. Several candidates lost ergo PNoy won and took his oath office on June 30, 2010, at the Quirino Grandstand, the rest was history.


     The biggest challenge PNoy's administration was facing upon vowing to clean up the government with its unscrupulous ways is fixing up everything from top to bottom to achieve "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" theme. Different anomalies, scandals, and issues started to arise. Little by little, different departments are being revamped to fully utilized the public funds used. PNoy proved me wrong and exceeded my expectations. Filipinos gradually started to care again on the essential events affecting the government directly. We give our opinions regarding this and that, Malacañang including some of the legislative and judiciary listens because "Tayo ang Boss ni PNoy." I remember my Dad crying when he watched the fourth SONA of PNoy last July 2013. He said to us "Tignan mo, ang dami niyang nagawang mabuti para sa bayan, kung ganyan lang sana lahat ng politicians ay matagal ng umunlad ang Pilipinas. Thank you Lord dahil may tao pang katulad ni Noynoy." Please always pray for the health and well-being of our honest public servants for only a few good men like PNoy are left in this world.

THE LAST STRAW

     Inquirer posted a series of reports from a several whistleblowers about the P10B pork barrel scam. Sen. Revilla, Enrile, Estrada, Marcos, and 23 other lawmakers were involved in donating funds to questionable NGOs under Janet Lim-Napoles (JLN), both parties get a sizable commission once approved by the DBM. The fund they poketed are basically our taxes which the government requires us to deduct from our salary every 15th of the month. Those were hard-earned money by regular employees. The lavish lifestyle displayed by Jeane Napoles, the daughter of JLN, was the turning point for me and I knew that all of those involved needs to be held accountable and we, the Filipino people, have to speak up. JLN's scam is only the tip of the iceberg. Other senators and congressmen are doing the same thing for the past ten years under our noses without ever thinking that this large amount of money could help a lot of people in need, those who cannot go to school because they have to work and help their parents, those who cannot eat three times a day, those who sleep on the road with only a piece of carton to keep them warm. These are the people in need. They are the ones who should be given money, jobs, free education, scholarships, medical treatment, and housing. PDAFs main purpose is for the people's benefit, not them. Do they even still have conscience and think about these poor people trying to survive the hell-hole they live in everyday? They are the shitty kind of public servant. They are the chronic disease our Inang-Bayan's suffering from. Gahasang-gahasa na si Inang-Bayan, tama na.

"Maswerte na nga yung nakakain sa Vikings eh, sila nagbre-breakfast sa Hongkong, sa ibang bansa."
- Random Netizen

The Million People March slogan that went viral in the Internet.

     The social media is an answered prayer to all our problems. One concerned netizen, Ito Rapadas, vocalist of Neocolours, posted about the call for Million People March. Several friends of Mr. Rapadas reposted the Facebook status eventually it went viral on Facebook and Twitter. Now, 75,000 of our countrymen participated in the said protest in abolishing the pork barrel at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila. The chant of every Filipino is stop the corruption, hold those persons involved accountable, and abolish the pork barrel.

Pictures from the Million People March held earlier.

A protester wearing the famous V costume.

Face of a real slaughtered pig worn as a mask.

Tribal and religious groups joined the protest.

A game featuring alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Napoles.

Several well-known individuals also joined the protest.

Shamaine and Noni Buencamino

Comedian Tado with some bikers

Bianca Gonzales

Robin Padilla and Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla

Pen Medina

Corona was boo'ed while walking along Quirino Grandstand.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle

Ms. Mae Paner aka Juana Change as Pork Barrel "literally."

Our fellow Filipinos from other countries and regions also joined the protest.

OFWs from Taiwan.

Filipino students from Melbourne, Australia

Protesters from Baguio City

Million People March in Tacloban City

Davao City protesters joins the cause.

Bacolod City

Gathering from Dagupan City

Zamboanga marches against corruption.



We did not reached the million mark but it's worth something more than that.

Bird's eye view of Luneta during the Million People March

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My unconditional love for Ron Weasley and its famous actor.

     

    It was around 2004 when I first discovered the book Harry Potter (yep, I was a late bloomer when it came to books). I fell in love and was fascinated immediately with all of its characters, the complexity of the story, and their different struggles as they journeyed through the life of war and death. What I most see myself upon is that ginger kid, Professor Slughorn always forgets the name as well as being more known as the best friend of the Chosen One.

     I guess being a middle child in the family has its pros and cons just like what Ron was going through, trying to step up his game to the spotlight, in a way matching what his brothers did upon leaving Hogwarts. I can see and feel where his insecurities and immaturity are coming from and that's what made Ronald Bilius Weasley so lovable because of his imperfection and always trying to be a better brother, friend, sidekick than the one we all read from the past books.

     The movies was a bit lacking to me when it comes to justifying who Ron Weasley is. Not to blame the screenwriters but the film subject revolves around Harry Potter and they have to put in all the significant details within those two hours of screening. One thing though is that they could have made Ron someone Harry would definitely miss the most as what the book Goblet of fire stated it (I need to stop my ranting here, this is an appreciation post, let's not open a can full of worms, the series ended for Pete's sake). 

     Still I am thankful that Rupert Grint was able to portray my favorite fictional character of all time. Never had I thought that loving Ron will lead me to become a fan of Rupert also. He's a great (and truly humble, charitable, funny, and all sorts of great adjectives to describe him) actor. His acting skills in his movies are really something. I know that he does not star in mainstream films which soars in the box office such as what Emma and Daniel are doing presently. Hopefully, the film industry and audience will a give a chance for an actor like him.

     Right now, he is about to star in a major theatrical play called Mojo in where he'll portray a character named as Sweets, a junior gangster with amphetamine addiction. The performances set to begin at the Harold Pinter theatre in late October (London based fans out there, please do support him in his new project). I pray and continue to wish that Rupert Grint will flourish just like Ron Weasley did by the time the last page of the famous series Harry Potter was written.

Happy 25th birthday Rupert Grint!

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The 30th Death Anniversary of Ninoy Aquino.

I will never be able to forgive myself if I will have to live with the knowledge that I could have done something and I did not do anything. 

- Thoughts of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

(1932-1983)

Somebody died to restore democracy. Together with his death is the death of Dictatorship. Let’s not waste this heroism, let’s be more of a DISCIPLINED CITIZEN OF THIS FREE COUNTRY. 

For more information, on who Ninoy Aquino is, visit Malacañang's designated page on his 30th Death Anniversary today.

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Typhoon Maring intensifies Habagat.

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