Yellow Ribbon for Peace and Self-reformation

I was only 5 years old when María Corazón “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was installed as the first female Philippine president because of the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution. I definitely had no idea about the series of events which started from the autocratic rule of the greedy president Ferdinand Marcos. I didn’t even have a chance to understand Philippine history because my teachers did not emphasize its significance or perhaps I wasn’t interested at all. I never understood how special she was until I watched news about Cory’s illness up to her interment, listened to and read people’s testimonials, messages, and prayers, and saw the people ’s love, concern, grief, admiration, attention and participation at her journey to her body’s final resting place.

Aside from the fact that Cory, the mother of democracy has inspired and reminded me about selfless love, honesty and integrity, I feel like I want to not my observations during the live coverage of “Salamat Cory” by the ABS-CBN news and current affairs staff:

1) If there’s one political or social event I’d attend, that would be yesterday’s upshot. I felt sympathy, great loss, and much hopefulness that her spirit and advocacy would remain forever in our heart and mind.

2) Kris made it clear that political victory requires financial resources. But I still hope that deserving political aspirants would win in the 2011 election. People should really vote wisely.

3) It would have been better if Imelda Marcos went with Imee and Bongbong to attended the necrology rite for Cory. I just think Imelda does not want to make peace the Aquino family but to keep her pride

4) The presence of millions of people during the last  three days of Cory’s public appearance implies people’s assertion of her life’s worth and willingness to revolt when one abuses power and until we find a leader as great as Cory.

5) It was my first time to appreciate the voice and talent of Eric Santos. He was the perfect choice to sing the Our Father. He delivered and interpreted it well with good enunciation and appropriateness.

6) All the singers (Lea Salonga, Dulce, ABS-CBN assets, as well as Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid of GMA7) made an outstanding performance except Piolo Pascual whose voice didn’t impress but bored me to death. Without looking at those performers, I could identify who’s who but not Piolo. He doesn’t have the X-factor but a handsome face I wouldn’t want to see when I’m melancholic because I’d feel more distressed.

7) Jim Paredes’ composition struck me the most because its message addresses the whole world that miracles do happen and change or improvement can achieved through peaceful revolution or nonviolent ways.

Below are the song lyrics of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution:

Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo
Words and Music by Jim Paredes
Performer: Various artists

‘Di na ‘ko papayag mawala ka muli.
‘Di na ‘ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
‘Di na papayagang mabawi muli.

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain.
Kelan man ‘di na paalipin.

Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo,
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta’t magkaisa tayong lahat.

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan.
Nagkasama ng mahirap at mayaman.
Kapit-bisig madre, pari, at sundalo.
Naging Langit itong bahagi ng mundo.

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim.
Tinig ng bawat tao’y bigyan ng pansin.
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon.
Ito’y lagi nating tatandaan.

Magkaisa
Words and Music by Tito Sotto & Homer Flores
Performer: Virna Lisa

Noon, ganap ang hirap sa mundo
Unawa ang kailangan ng tao
Ang pagmamahal sa kapwa ilaan

Isa lang ang ugat na ating pinagmulan
Tayong lahat ay magkakalahi
Sa unos at agos ay huwag padadala

Chorus 1:
Panahon na ng pagkakaisa
Kahit ito ay hirap at dusa

Chorus 2:
Magkaisa (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
At magsama (bagong umaga’t bagong araw)
Kapit-kamay (sa atin s’ya’y nagmamahal)
Sa bagong pag-asa

Ngayon, may pag-asang natatanaw
May bagong araw, bagong umaga
Pagmamahal ng Diyos isipin mo tuwina

(Repeat Chorus 1 & 2)

Chorus 3:
(Magkaisa) May pag-asa kang matatanaw
(At magsama) Bagong umaga’t bagong araw
(Kapit-kamay) Sa atin s’ya’y nagmamahal
(Sa bagong pag-asa)

Chorus 4:
Panahon na (may pag-asa kang matatanaw)
Ng pagkakaisa (may bagong araw, bagong umaga)
Kahit ito (pagmamahal ng Diyos isipin mo tuwina)
Ay hirap at dusa

Coda:
Magkaisa at magsama
Kapit-kamay sa bagong pag-asa

Magkaisa…

How to activate SMART MMS/GPRS

Do you want to send or receive multimedia messaging service (MMS) or General packet radio service (GPRS)? use your mobile phone as an internet modem? plan to buy or have a new Smart subscriber identity module (SIM)? or have you got a new mobile phone model? If your answer is yes, activate MMS/GPRS now!

I tried another SIM brand but Smart seems to be the best choice because it has the most number of subscribers, offers reasonable price, has more perks and new exciting features, and is more convenient to use. To fully benefit from its functions, I had to activate MMS and GPRS.

Type SET <handset model> and send to 211 (e.g. SET W995). Wait for a confirmation message or further instruction.

To learn more about SMART features and rates, click here.

The end doesn’t justify the means

Would you rather buy something if you can have it for free? Would you rather produce something to earn money or share it to the public? It’s really hard to resolve issues like these so let’s leave it to the laws. All I know is that sharing is an act kindness but sharing by seeding is illegal because it promotes piracy.

Bittorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) communications protocol, is one of the things that makes me (busy or rather) overuse my laptop. It’s good because it’s free and it promotes the value of sharing but it’s bad because it’s pro-piracy.

Becoming a leecher doesn’t make one a theft because seeders openly and generously share whatever and whenever they want to. It’s up to the users to protect their identity or IP address from possible lawsuits. Some torrent sites were blocked but they keep on coming back and this system, like open source (education), seems to be unstoppable. Computer users will continue to share through the Internet unless products which can be converted as torrent files are marketed with extremely cheap prices.

I am a torrent lover because, as a minimalist and environmentalist, I just store hundreds or thousands of music, videos, e-books, games, and applications in my external HDD. Now, I wouldn’t have to buy DVD’s, go to the movies or hire a computer technician. I can have most of my computer, education, and entertainments needs right at home. I may be guilty of being a liability to the industry and financial matter may not be a good reason to justify this advocacy but I won’t stop from seeding and leeching until torrents are available and peers continue to be active. Who would spend $100++ for a software if it can be downloaded for a few minutes (or even up to a couple of days) for free?

For those who are interested, follow these simple steps for free and unlimited downloading:

1) Download µTorrent (It’s user-friendly, lightweight, and more powerful than other torrent clients such as Bitcomet, Vuze, and Bittorrent).

2) Search for a torrent file by typing your chosen keyword/s from any of your search engines and the word “torrent” (e.g., Slumdog Millionaire torrent). You may download Torrent Finder then type the keyword/s for faster and easier searching.

3) Open the torrent file to start downloading. If the file is not automatically recognized, right click it with your mouse for the Open with option then choose the µTorrentapplication.

Spread this info, enjoy, and do not overexploit.

Goodbye Michael Jackson

My condolences to the family of Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009).  May he rest in peace.

I will always remember him for his ingenious craft, remarkable achievement, and great songs.

Things I’ve learned from his life:

1) It doesn’t matter if you’re black of white. Therefore, you don’t have to look beautiful to be accepted or loved by many people. Just be true to yourself and others.

2) It really doesn’t matter if you look ugly as long as you don’t look like a corpse. I believe MJ could have had a chance to live longer if he didn’t undergo a significant number of plastic surgeries. I hope that people will learn to take care of their inner system, including soul, rather than their appearance to live a happy life.

3) Anyone can turn fantasies into reality. MJ was so rich, powerful and influencial that he was able to possess or do everything he wanted. All it takes is hard work with diligence but make sure you are not violating any human and divine law.

4) We can heal the world and make it a better place.

http://www.cnn.com /2009/HEALTH/06/25/michaeljackson. heart.health/index.html

http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml

http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html

http://www.michaeljackson.com/