So I went to Intramuros, Manila last May 25...

Yesterday (25 May 2013) I went to Intramuros, Manila. I came here to see the walled city which served as the seat of the Spanish colonial government in the East Indies during the Spanish Colonial Era (1521 - 1898). This city is aptly named Intramuros, which is Latin for Within the Walls. Here are some pictures taken during the trip:

Me at the Baluarte. I like the "konduktor" apperance.

Fort Nuestra Señora de Guia, now integrated into the 
ace-shaped Baluarte de San Diego 

Baluarte de San Diego Gardens (Ground Level)

Me at the Garden

Golf course in Extramuros (Outside the Walls)

Fort Santiago Moat

Fort Santiago Moat

Philippine Flag inside Fort Santiago Gardens

Me at the Rizal Park

Rizal Shrine (photographed against the light)

Darvinos approves the segregation of garbage inside
Rizal Park.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva Gets Support from Diverse Religious Groups

MANILA, Philippines - Senatorial candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva expressed confidence that he will make it to the top 12 in the senatorial race in the 2013 Philippine midterm elections.

The Bangon Pilipinas candidate, who founded the Christian sect Jesus is Lord Church in 1978, received support from various religious and socio-political organizations. He expressed his earnest gratitude to those who supports his candidacy during his miting de avance which was held at the Quezon City Circle last Saturday, May 11. 

The Journal Online reports that Villanueva's advocacy of pushing for righteous governance topped by eradicating corruption along with policies to make the poor benefit from sustained economic growth are the common goals that unite all sectors that are behind him. “There is unity in diversity,” he said.

Many religious groups showed their support to the Bangon Pilipinas senatorial candidate’s bid. These religious groups who endorsed him yesterday include Members Church of God International, colloquially known as "Ang Dating Daan", and Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ or "Fourth Watch". The leaders of these two Christian sects, namely Bro. Eli Soriano and Arsenio Ferriol, respectively, claim that they believe in the advocacy of the senatorial candidate. Soriano, who leads the independent Dating Daan sect, was reported to have said that he is willing to set aside religious differences in order to promote a peaceful country.

The Catholic Church, whose prelates and other clergymen are allowed to voice out their political preferences, has some clergymen who support Villanueva. "Catholic prelate Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also encouraged Villanueva to pursue his advocacy in the Senate when the two met earlier this year." the Journal Online reports.

Secular associations and groups that endorsed him include the Philippine Hospital Association and the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines and the senior citizens’ group led by former Sen. Eddie Ilarde.

- PNK (Pluma ng Kalikasan), Uploaded May 12, 2013 5:11PM (GMT+8)

A Response to a Malaysian Blogger

Below is my response to a blog article titled "So, Who’s Really Behind the Sabah Invasion?" written by a Malaysian blogger by the pen name of "DM" or "Dakwat Merah".


Interesting read. However, I noticed the following error:
 ---The current incumbent Philippine President is Pres. AQUINO III not "Aroyo" (Arroyo was Aquino's predecessor.)

Also, I would like to humbly state that not all of the Sulu Intruders (Filipinos and the foreign press [or at least, the articles I've read] don't call them terrorists, but this is most likely due to partisan bias) are/were armed. Only some (1) of the "gunmen" were armed with high-calibre guns; the rest were simple armed with bladed weapons. Many Filipinos, I included, were outraged as how the Malaysian press called the group "Sulu gunmen" or "300 armed intruders", which made it appear that all 234 intruders are armed and dangerous.

The second insult to injury was how the Malaysian government forbid Filipino journalists from entering Sabah (2), so our government had to rely on the reports of Najib's government. Kiram III's spokesperson Abraham Idirjani that most (75%) of the intruders/invaders survived the initial airstrike, making it appear that the number of casualties may have been caused by Malaysian friendly fire. Sure, why should we listen to the intruders' spokesperson? But why should Putrajaya ban Filipino journalists from witnessing what's really going on?

The third and latest issue is the alleged "human rights" violations of Malaysian forces against Filipino (or Suluks) living in Sabah. There had been reports of police brutality.
"On March 10, 2013, there have been reports of police brutality committed by Malaysian police officials as part of a crackdown on suspected Kiram supporters, causing mass migration of Malaysian-born Filipinos from Sabah to Sulu.(3) According to a refugee, Malaysian police officials have shot and killed a large number of Filipino civilians regardless of having MyKad and detained many others. Also, it was alleged that those detained were not given proper treatment (4)"

--
Of course, in the spirit of peace and goodwill among my Malay fellowmen, I am declaring that I am not, in any way, a supporter of Kiram III's invasion of Lahad Datu. I truly believe that what he did only angered the Malaysian people especially the Sabahans, making it LESS likely that they will allow the Suluks/Sulu people/Tausugs to rule over them in the unlikely event that Sabah is returned to the Sulu Sultanate (which has yet to fix their succession disupte).

I hope I presented my case clearly. I rest my case.

==
Reference(s):

(1) "Philippines' Aquino calls for talks on Sabah". Agence France Presse. Retrieved 18 March 2013. [URL: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=70352:philippines-aquino-calls-for-talks-on-sabah&Itemid=2] [URL 2 http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-aquino-calls-talks-sabah-080626445.html]

(2) http://globalnation.inquirer.net/68755/ph-journalists-banned-in-sabah-for-misreporting-situation

(3) ph.news.yahoo.com/400-filipinos-flee-sabah-190655550.html

(4) http://ph.news.yahoo.com/were-treated-animals-filipinos-sabah-070003929.html

Arguments in my Mind

My mind is very mysterious. You may look at me, observe my speech and behaviour but in reality, there is a me, an ideal me, hidden beneath my mind. It supports me, gives me good advice ("Do not be anxious about little things...") and is the most rational me you will ever see. Unfortunately, it is hidden beneath the ruling emotional king. The rational me is humble, caring and loving. It would give me good arguments, but since it is hidden deep, it would give me the right thing to say or the right idea too late. It can act perfectly, as if I have no problems, but my emotions overrule it's edicts.

Sometimes I act without thinking, and this rational me would try to stop me from doing something foolish but alas, too late. In my literary works, this Rational Me, cunning but sometimes cold, is Darvinos de Mariquina. Learn more by entering my mind repository, so that even in my death I will never be misjudged. Here it is: darvinos.weebly.com

Climate Justice - an Excellent Idea but Hard to Achieve (Part 1)

As elections in the Philippines draws closer, many candidates are now busy presenting their respective platform to the voting populace. I said "many" because not all politicians or would-be politicians are presenting their platforms. Sometimes their "platforms" are not even platforms at all but merely "dreams" about a better nation.

While I was sitting around in our ancestral house located in the Paliparan suburb of Marikina City, supporters of a candidate for city councilor handed out flyers listing his platforms. This candidate, a local celebrity named Arvin "Tado" Jimenez, is a member of the Sanlakas (lit. "One strength") progressive political bloc and of the Partido Lakas ng Masa (Filipino for "Party of the Laboring Masses"). Here are some of their platforms:

"The party aims to mobilize and lead the masses in their protest against the capitalist system and present the socialist solution against it. It campaigns for immediate economic and political reforms including the:

• Nationalization of the basic industries and services (electricity, oil and water)

• Provision of basic needs of the masses (land, decent housing, education, jobs, and health)

• Establishment of a genuine government of the masses"

Its candidates can also add some of their agendas as long as it doesn't run contrary to the general platform of the party, or at least, that's how I assume it after reading Tado's platform regarding "Climate Justice". This platform aims to extract justice, climate justice, against those who contributed to the disastrous Climate Change. It seeks to attain justice for the victims of Climate Change.

TO BE CONTINUED...