Today is May 10, 2010. The day my people will elect a new head of state, and in doing so, hopefully end nine years of political, economical, and social rape our incumbent president has so wantonly committed against the country (to the point of capitalizing on social security disability).

Hopefully.

For despite all the promises, the propaganda, the platforms, the plastic smiles and fake hugs; will electing a new leader actually solve the ills besetting my beloved Philippines? Just a little while ago I came across the following thread between several of my Facebook friends.

Friend 1 (status message): Here’s hoping for a peaceful and honest elections and a conscientious electorate! Praying for a new President who will be selfless and will have the will to bring about change back home!

Friend 1 (commenting on his own post): Sana sa next na uwi ko, may trabahong mag aantay sa akin na makakapag taguyod sa pamilya ko para di na ako bumalik! Asa ba? :p (I hope that the next time I come home, I’ll have a job waiting for me that is enough to sustain me and my family so I won’t have to come back here. I wish!)

Friend 2: Malay mo naman! Pag ganun uuwi na rin ako! (You can never tell. If that’s the case, then I’m definitely coming home!)

Friend 3: Meron (there is). but the pay’s not ever gonna be as good as where you are.

Friend 1: Meron nga ano? Sana nga lang, yung trabaho na di lang makakapuno ng pagkain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, kundi yung makakapagbigay ng comftable na bahay, kaunting kasiyahan at may naitatabi para sa bukas. Hayz! (I hope there is. And not just any job that’s enough to feed you three times a day, but a job that could give you a comfortable house, a little entertainment, and savings for the future. Sigh!)

Friend 3: i don’t think whoever’s gonna be the next pres can deliver that. Sadsad sa utang ang Pilipinas (Our country is beset with debts)…it’s only the evat and your remittances that’s keeping it afloat. but it would be a step in the right direction kung ang susunod na pangulo ay sapian talaga ng mabuting espiritu at gawin na finally ang dapat para sa bayan… (I hope the next president will suddenyly have an epiphany and finally do what is right for the country).

Sad but true. I too agree with friend number 3. But still I am hopeful. I am hopeful that whoever sits on the throne after this circus is all over will be someone willing and more importantly- capable of steering my country in the right direction. But in the meantime, I cannot help but relate to a comment I heard one of my profs say during one of our board  review sessions:

“We are the Literati. We don’t really care who
gets to sleep in Malacanang. Those things are beneath us. As long as we
do our bit and make a difference in our communities. Let them picket.
Let them yell themselves hoarse.”

With the national and local elections just around the corner, various candidates running for all sorts of positions from city councilor to city mayor to the top post of President of the Republic are frantically trying to to put in last minute campaigning (becoming living promotional products).

In the Philippines, this usually involves plastering ugly posters featuring the faces of all those candidates in every available space. From walls to light posts and even esteros, these posters stare out at passing motorists with their fake grins promising an end to poverty and a change for the better. In my hometown of Zamboanga, like most of the other cities in the country, these posters are virtually everywhere transforming the city into one endless stream of trash, its roads seemingly paved out of the hollow agendas and empty promises these posters make.

But driving along the roads of my city, these unwanted barrage of garbage is the least of your worries. Since the campaign period officially started, our beloved city officials did what they do best- they started hastily breaking down roads all over the city and repairing them, in an attempt to show the public that “your taxes are working for you”, ergo, we (your government) is working for you. Ha!

I just can’t help but wonder, you, our dearly beloved local government, literally had years to fix and repair our badly potholed streets. Why wait until election time is near, to hastily fix them- all at once?? Don’t you realize that the simultaneous construction that goes on in almost all of our roads are creating a driving hazard that puts lives at risk? To drive down the streets of Zamboanga nowadays is like driving through an obstacle course- one has to constantly switch lanes in order to avoid hitting those unlighted, unreflectorized concrete and wooden barriers that are soo difficult to see especially since constant power outages ensure that the streets are almost always pitch black at night. You also have to navigate your vehicle through streets that are partially destroyed (due to the repairs going on in the other lane) and try to beat the other vehicle to that narrow stretch of passable road (yes, because of these “repairs” two way streets are now suddenly converted to one way streets but with vehicles going both to and fro, still going two-way- thus creating traffic jams which ensnare vehicles for hours).

As if this weren’t enough, the constant mutilation of our roads are creating dust clouds that sticks to your clothing and makes your hair turn white. Finally, to add insult to injury, the “completed and repaired” roads are proving to be more of a burden than a boon. They were cobbled together so hastily that they didn’t even bother to align the new section with the old ones that are still good, creating an uneven surface between sections and between lanes. For those driving motorcycles, these areas are treacherous as they could cause the wheels to slip and the driver to end up on his back in the uneven asphalt.

And they say that “our taxes are working for us”. Yeah, right.

According to this article, women of today now fancy men who are gay. Yes, gay (complete with boots).

The perfect girl- ay este, guy

And apparently, it’s all because of those hormones.

We were taught in behavioral medicine (heck, even in biology class) that natural selection normally chose the sturdiest genes. This of course answers the question why most girls I know (her included) would drool at the mere sight of big, strong muscular arms; simply because big, strong, muscular arms would translate to big, strong, muscular babies.

I can do a hundred on just one finger

However, this article says that women of today have now changed their preferences to clean-cut, effeminate girl- I mean, men. And they say that it’s because of the pill.

Yup, that tiny miracle pill that smoothens skin, relieves the pain of menstruation, and makes you glow inside and out also causes ladies to fall for long-haired, eyeliner wearing guys; because the hormones in the pill tells them to. Something about finding someone who actually cares. I can see the logic of that reasoning. But being the scientist that I am, I just had to put it to the test.

So I conducted an impromptu survey of women on campus. The result? It seems like most Zamboanguenas (at least the ones I talked to) still like their guys as manly as they can get; big strong arms and all.

I guess that’s the reason why she’s still head over heels for me.

Imagine a team of American football players looking all badass in helmet, pads and spikes suddenly start swaying their hips, tapping their feet and pointing to the ring fingers of their left hand to the tune of All the single ladies.

Auditioning for an alternative career in case football doesn't work out

Just click on the picture for the full video.

Now ain’t that a sight! I literally couldn’t stop laughing! It was just pure, unadulterated FUN. Welcome to Glee.

If there’s one word to describe Glee it would be WHOLESOME FUN (elliptical would be another word to describe it). Er, make that two words. When she first introduced Glee to me, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it that much thinking that it would be just another re-make of High school musical. Since it was the middle of the Christmas break, where bumming was the IN thing to do, I decided to go ahead and watch it. And- surprise! Not only did I like it, I was hooked! I couldn’t stop watching episode after episode. And I couldn’t stop laughing! The series is definitely refreshing and the song selection delightful. I found myself humming / singing the songs while doing other stuff. I just love their repertoire. The characters are also easy to like (believe it or not, my fave character is the show’s antagonist Sue Sylvester!).

Scary. But likable.

So for those of you looking for a fun, lighthearted, refreshing break, this show’s for you.

The world is quite literally fucked up. Or at least this part of the world.

It’s a dark, dark day for Philippine politics and journalism.

Once again, certain people who think that they are above the law, nay, that they are the law, have once again succesfully managed to threaten the very core of democracy (blurb: need help with your website? try free directories).

Around noon today, 24 bullet-riddled bodies were found in a shallow grave in Maguindanao province, Southern Philippines. Most of them were women and journalists. Police uncovered more bodies a few hours later in nearby areas bringing the death toll to 46. Some were shot countless times, others were beheaded, others were mutilated their faces all but torn off, and yet others showed signs that they were made to escape and then brutally run over.

The tragedy began Monday morning when a local gubernatorial candidate Ismael Mangudadatu sent his wife and sister together with a large contingent of journalists to file his candidacy in next year’s election. They were siezed en-route to the election office by armed men suspected to be members of a rival poiltical clan. The hostage crisis ended when police found the bodies of the victims early today.

Among the dead are a grandmother who fearlessly fought for peace, and a mother of three young boys who stood for justice despite numerous threats.

A state of emergency was declared in the affected areas while local authorities conduct a manhunt for the suspects.

You can read more here and here.

Ready to vote come 2010? Have you checked that you are, indeed, a registered voter in the Philippines?

I wasn’t sure myself, since I thought that you had to register every single time. I only registered once, when I turned 18. That was… OMG, almost ten years ago!

To check that you’re a registered voter, and to know which precinct you’re registered to vote in, you can click here.

That is the COMELEC Registration Tool. You will be brought to a page with a form that looks like this:

Just enter your name and birthday, and press Find Now. The website will then return your voter details if you are a registered voter. Check out my details! (Erasures are mine. Just playing it safe. )

If you just registered this year, don’t fret if your details don’t come up. I asked a friend of mine who is a new voter, and she says her name doesn’t come up.

They do have a disclaimer. It says: If you applied for registration, transfer, correction of entries/change of name or reactivation starting 01 April 2009, your record is not yet included here.

Perhaps the COMELEC is too busy to add the new voters to the system?

Around lunchtime today, Cory Aquino’s funeral procession slowly passed along Ayala Avenue. My officemates and I went down (from our office up at the 20th floor) to watch the procession.

I took photos, but all I had was my cellphone camera with me, so the following photos aren’t good. But they’re all I have, and it was a significant occasion in Philippine history, and I’m glad I have these snapshots, at least, to remember the day by.

This is around 12:00pm. From the 20th floor, we could already see the hearst nearing Ayala, so my officemate and I went down to watch the procession. We would be waiting quite a while, since the procession was moving very slowly.

Since 11am, people had been throwing confetti from the buildings. It looked like it was raining yellow bits of paper.

People started climbing up the fences and standing there just to get a better glimpse of Cory’s casket.

This man is actually flashing Cory’s symbol, the L sign. Except I didn’t capture his thumb. Fail me.

The confetti at our feet. I feel for those who had to clean up Ayala Avenue afterwards.

The crowd just kept getting bigger every minute.

Hang a yellow ribbon for Cory. Buildings glittered with yellow ribbons as people paid their last respects.

Lots and lots of yellow ribbons.

And even more confetti.

So much confetti!

My hair was all covered in confetti after standing outside for 30 minutes! And I was standing in the building lobby!

People flew flags bearing Ninoy’s face.

People waiting, flags waving…

So much confetti it started to look like ashes from a newly erupted volcano.

People stopped working to watch the procession.

Funny thing. We were so hungry already so we went inside Jollibee to buy food. And right when we were buying, Cory’s casket passes by! Urrgh! So I took this photo from inside Jollibee. Fail fail fail me.

Now from the outside, but there wasn’t much to see. There were too many people blocking the view.

After buying our food and going up the pantry, we could see the procession below. I attempted to take a photo, but it was too much for my cellphone. LOL. This is the best I got.

Rest in peace, Cory Aquino. We love you.

Here is the Inquirer article about the Cory’s funeral procession.

Edsa a stream of yellow; Makati rains confetti

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 7) Former President Corazon Aquino drew tens of thousands to the streets one last time on Monday, amid an outpouring of support reminiscent of the 1986 revolt that she led to restore democracy in the country.
Yellow confetti rained and people flashed the “laban [fight]” hand sign as Aquino’s funeral procession motored from the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium to the Manila Cathedral, passing by Edsa and Ayala Avenue, the main staging points for the bloodless uprising over 20 years ago.
However, there was no “Cory” to wave back at the adoring crowd. Instead it was her flower-adorned casket on top a six-wheeler truck that passed by. Tied to the vehicle was a white tarpaulin with the words “Mahal ka namin [We love you], Cory.”
As Aquino’s cortege passed through Edsa from La Salle Greenhills at 11 a.m., the former leader was greeted by a stream of yellow – from people’s shirts to the balloons they were holding.
In Makati City, thousands more, mostly in yellow shirts flashed the “L” sign as they lined up along Ayala Avenue. Office employees, some perched on building ledges, threw yellow confetti as the funeral convoy passed.
The scenes were reminiscent of 1986 when Aquino, then the opposition’s presidential candidate, led massive protests against dictator Ferdinand Marcos whom she accused of cheating in the snap presidential elections. The protests eventually led to a bloodless people power revolt that ousted Marcos and installed her as the first female president of the Philippines.
When the funeral cortege reached the monument of Mrs. Aquino’s late husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., on the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, the crowd of thousands simultaneously sang “Bayan Ko” (My Country) and again flashed the “Laban” sign.
Instead of stock prices, the Philippine Stock Exchange ticker turned yellow and displayed a message thanking the democracy icon.
Mrs. Aquino’s younger brother, Jose Cojuangco Jr., led his clan from Tarlac in joining the funeral procession to the Manila Cathedral. Cojuangco, overwhelmed by the thousands who lined up Ayala Ave., flashed the “laban” sign to the crowd and reached out to shake the hands of some of the people there, saying thank you.
Police estimated the crowd in Makati at 25,000, while those that lined up along Edsa were estimated at 5,000, said Superintendent Rommel Miranda, spokesman of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
In the area of the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium, where the funeral procession started, the crowd was estimated at 30,000 to 40,000, said Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun, Mandaluyong City police chief.
Four honor guards stood by Aquino’s flower-adorned casket. Around 50 policemen from escorted the procession, which moved slowly because of the huge crowds.
Yellow confetti greeted the funeral procession as it arrived at the Manila Cathedral at around 4 p.m., two hours behind schedule.
The former leader’s children escorted her remains, including her daughter Kris Aquino, who was with her husband, basketball player James Yap and their children Joshua and James Jr. Mrs. Aquino’s son, Senator Benigno Aquino III was at the cathedral ahead of his sisters.
Upon arrival, the former leader was given military honors, followed by prayers from Bishops Socrates Villegas and Broderick Pabillo.
People cheered and raised their hands with the famous “laban” [fight] sign as they saluted the icon of democracy.
“Hindi ka namin malilimutan Madam President [We will never forget you Madam President]!” an elderly woman said as she wiped her tears.
“Maraming salamat po, Tita Cory (Thank you very much, Tita Cory),” a student said as the truck carrying Aquino’s hearse passed by Palacio del Gobernador.
Employees of the Commission on Elections unfurled yellow banners and a large white tarpaulin written with the words “Salamat Pres. Cory.” (Thank you, Pres. Cory)
Aquino’s wake at the Manila Cathedral was opened to the public shortly after the prayers, with the public advised to enter through General Luna Street. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales was scheduled to celebrate mass in the evening.
Among those who were at the Manila Cathedral were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, former Ambassadors Henrietta de Villa and Howard Dee, Black and White Movement convenor Leah Navarro, and political analyst Lito Banayo.
So far, only Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. was the only administration figure spotted at the cathedral.
For the necrological service, vigil, and requiem mass for Aquino at the Manila Cathedral, the following areas are closed to traffic from 9 a.m. Monday until Wednesday:
Stretch of A. Soriano from Arsobispo to Solano;‬
Stretch of Magallanes from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana;‬
Stretch of Cablido from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana;‬
Stretch of Gen Luna from A. Soriano to Sta. Potenciana;‬
Stretch of Sto. Tomas from Gen. Luna to Magallanes;‬
Stretch of Beatro from Gen. Luna to Magallanes;‬
Stretch of Anda from Gen. Luna to Magallanes;‬
Stretch of Real from Gen, Luna to Magallanes.
The Stretch of A. Soriano from Gen. Luna to Cabildo was closed to traffic starting at 6:00 a.m. August 3 until 5.

Updates:
The GRP-MILF draft pact on Bangsamoro Homeland.
A temporary restraining order against the signing of this pact has been issued by the Supreme Court.
A very lawyerly (and astute) take on the shady and unconstitutional GRP-MILF deal.

Today, my city is in uproar. Zamboanga Hermosa, my beloved home. Por que?

The “President” of the Philippines (Our country did not vote for her twice. She rigged the elections the second time around.), Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) has struck a deal with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Group, a Muslim terrorist group linked to Abu Sayyaf and Al-Qaeda). She has agreed to include Zamboanga City as part of the Bangsamoro Homeland. OH. MY. GOD. Que horor!

Facts first. The Philippines is predominantly Christian. But there are many Muslims in the Philippines, and most of them are in southern Mindanao. For decades, they have been clamoring for independence from the country. They want to be their own country. The Philippines does not want to give them this degree of independence but has allowed them at least the ARMM, or the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. In this region, they can make up their own laws and live as they please.

Now let us talk about my ciudad, Zamboanga City. Zamboanga City is predominantly Christian. There is no fixed tally (chalk it up to bogus census information created by the corrupt government to downplay the size and strength of the city), but it is safe to say we are 80% Christian. When the Spaniards tried to conquer Mindanao (one of the three main islands of the Philippines), they made their base in Zamboanga City. This is why our lenguaje is Chavacano (a mixed blend of Spanish plus native tongues). But mainly, this is why we are a predominantly Christian city among predominantly Muslim neighbors.

Back to current events. Ongoing is a series of peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF. (Do not ask my why PGMA even bothers. If I were her, I would totally go with the non-negotiations, let-us-decimate-them road. These people are terrorists, for god’s sake!!!)The really sinister thing here is that these peace talks are NOT BEING MADE TRANSPARENT, and so we do not know exactly what propositions are being made, save that the current ARMM is being expanded. How far is this expansion going? Well as far as Zamboanga City, apparently.

This was disclosed by Zamboanga City’s Mayor Celso Lobregat, who said that he received information saying that parts of Zamboanga City were to be included in the Bangsamoro Homeland and Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. These parts are Zone III, Zone IV, Busay, Landang Gua, Landang Laum, Manalipa, Pasilmanta and Tigtabon. MIGOD, Zone III and IV??? Hello! This is the heart of Zamboanga City, where we have the City Hall, the Fort Pilar and the Immaculate Cathedral!!!

And this agreement is to be signed today. What, no plebiscite this time? We’ve done the voting twice before, back in 1989* and in 2001** and in both times, the people of Zambanga voted a resounding NO. Why is PGMA adamant that we are to be included as part of Bangsamoro when we are NOT Muslim and when we DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF BANGSAMORO?

And what’s more horrible, she is not letting us decide our own fate. PGMA is signing our city away BY HERSELF to the MILF!!! As if she had the right!!! As if she owned us!!! When she knows very well WE HATE HER! (Our city is the capital of our region, but due to her losing our votes in the last election, she decided just that suddenly to move the capital of the region to Pagadian, thereby wasting the money of the taxpayers just to move ALL already erected and functioning government buildings and bodies from our city to Pagadian, a very rural small town with just one main street.)

I can’t believe this is happening again. Thrice in my lifetime, MIGOD! And I’m only 25! It’s not the first time that the predominantly Christian Zamboanga City has been offered up as a sacrificial lamb to appease the MILF terrorists. We have voted NO twice. We DO NOT WANT to be included as part of the ARMM because WE ARE NOT MUSLIMS!!!!!! Can’t she get that through her thick fucking head?!?!?

Okay, simmer down, self. Resullar. This agreement is very wrong, on so many levels. The most obvious wrong thing about this agreement is the secrecy, the lack of consultation. PGMA is playing God here. She does not own the country, she does not own its people. Zamboanga City has a right to decide her own fate, and the President has ignored that completely by offering up our city as part of Bangsamoro, without even telling us (the Mayor found out about this issue last week and they are signing it TODAY).

But the real issue here is the segregation. ARMM should never have been created in the first place. The Muslim rebels should never have been humored in the first place. The plight of Muslim rebels will not be solved by giving them land, or letting them rule themselves. In fact, it will only heighten their troubles.

I speak of Muslim rebels and Muslim moderates as different entities. In Zamboanga City, there are very many Muslim moderates who live among Christians in peace (there are also the few who do not, but let’s not digress). These people are not discriminated against, they are treated equally. I have many Muslim friends, and whatever privileges I have been given, they have been too. I studied in a Catholic university, and in our school, there are Muslim associations, Muslim places for prayer, and everything that is available to a Christian is available to a Muslim. There is no discrimination whatsoever (except of course, there are always personal individuals with prejudices).

And that’s how it should be, Muslims treated equally with Christians. The MILF, this is a rebel group that has for decades used their religion as a reason to ask for higher privileges. Like ancestral domain. Like money from the government to fund their terrorist acts. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget that when they do not get what they want, they kidnap people for ransom, and then torture and kill them if they don’t get the money, or even if they do in some instances.

For Gloria to even give this group the time of day is a horrible disservice to the Filipino people. By negotiating with this group, she is implying that their grievance actually has merit. This is a REBEL group, a TERRORIST group! These people do not have a real grievance, they are fearmongerers whose only grievance is the lack of money and power to further strengthen their evil dominance. By dallying with these rebels, PGMA is actually forsaking the real people in Mindanao who do actually have problems and issues that have be solved.

The real issues that need to be solved in Mindanao are poverty and lack of education. These issues are not religion based, but yes, they are indeed more severe in Muslim areas. But they will not be solved by ceding power to corrupt Muslim rebels, or by segregating Muslim areas from the rest of the Philippines, and especially not by sneakily selling off a Christian city to the Muslim rebels.

Mindanao, despite owning one third of the Philippines, is severely underrepresented in Philippine politics and initiatives. So much more so the Muslim areas. To PGMA, I cannot say what can solve the problems of Mindanao, but a good start would be to stop listening to Muslim terrorists and start listening to the Muslim moderates. Stop playing fire with kidnappers and killers, stop going off to kiss Bush’s ass (she apparently didn’t get the memo that America hates its president, too, or maybe that’s why she likes him so much?) and start coming over more often to Mindanao and try to understand our people. Instead of using tax money to punish the cities that did not vote for you, use it to create jobs and feed people. Mindanao needs that money more than you, Gloria.

Religion is a very sensitive issue. Peace will never be achieved if we spotlight it over and over again. Creating lands and laws based on religion will only further segregate the nation and its people. It will only seed more hatred between Christians and Muslims. Like what’s happening now. There’s no need for Christians to feel ill towards Muslims, or vice versa. But I feel right now the hatred bubbling inside so many of my Christian friends, because it’s inside me too. But I tell myself I should not feel that way. This is not an issue created by the Muslim moderates. This is an issue created by Muslim rebels and a corrupt, evil President. And only they are to blame for the current uproar.

In the end, all I can hope for is that the rest of the moderate-minded Philippines hears our plea. Today, our Mayor Celso Lobregat, our Congressman Erbie Fabian and our Congresswoman Beng Climaco filed a suit against the government in a bid to delay this agreement from taking place, so that perhaps we can remove Zamboanga City from the plebiscite. Let’s not let ARMM expand any more than it has to, and let’s not let religion rule our country.

Links:
Peace Advocacy Forum in Zamboanga City
City Seeks Support for Exclusion from Bangsamoro Juridicial Entity
Zamboanga Opposes Inclusion from Bangsamoro Entity
City Protests Against Government-MILF Deal
3000 Catholics Hold Rally
Celso Opposes Inclusionin Bangsamoro Homeland

*Where NINETY THOUSAND residents voted to be excluded from the ARMM and only five thousand voted otherwise
** Where ONE HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND people voted to be out of the expanded ARMM and only five thousand voted otherwise

Last Sunday, I gave Gimmi a despedida (Chavacano for “going-away party”), consisting of a lunch treat at McDonalds, an afternoon trip to La Vista del Mar (Zamboanga’s prettiest beach resort) and lots of hugging and kissing (and no crying!) afterwards.

While he’s having fun playing doctor in Dapitan for a month, I’m amusing myself by digitally manipulating the photos we took that day. (Poor, poor me. I don’t have the money to go visit him, not like last time. Someone give me money?)

I took this photo lying down with Gimmi looking down upon me. Now, that’s always a bad idea since in daylight the only light source comes from above, which means Gim’s face was bound to be darker than, um, it already is, but Gimmi knows that’s the way I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh. *cheeky grin* So, anyways, to remedy this effect, I used Photoshop to lighten up my sweetie.

First of all, in the Layers toolbar, I duplicated the background layer twice then deleted it. Now I had two layers of the same image. Then I selected the top layer. (I also clicked on the eye icon of the lower layer to hide it so it wouldn’t distract me later.)

In the Channel toolbar in Photoshop, I selected the Blue Channel. That showed the photo in grayscale, with the blue parts of the image showing up lighter than the reds and greens. (Selecting the channel doesn’t alter the image, though. It just shows you which parts of the picture are red, blue or green depending on which channel you select.)

Using the Magic Wand Tool, I was able to smoothly select the entire sky. Then I selected the RGB Channel to revert it to full color again. Then I deleted the sky. Not to worry, I still had the sky in my lower layer. Then I inverted the selection (Shift+Ctrl+I) so now I could digitally edit my Gimmi without affecting the other parts of the layer (since I needed the other parts clear of anything so the sky would show up as is from the lower layer).

There are a number of ways you can lighten up an image. But my favorite is using the Curves tool (Image Menu -> Adjustments -> Curves) since it often gives more natural looking results than other adjustment tools. I especially don’t like Autocolor or Autocontrast, they never do what they’re supposed to.

Having done that, Gimmi was now all lightened up and looking quite handsome. So I clicked again on the eye icon of the lower layer to show the sky. But there were some weird outlines around my Gimmi which I had to do away with. So I gave the top layer a bit of an outer glow (Right Click the Layer -> Blending Options), emphasizing its spread so it blended seamlessly onto the lower layer.

And there you have it. The image looks much better now. The original image is the left one, the modified image is the right one. Like I had to tell you.

I dearly miss Gim. I’m trying my hardest not to cry. So far I’ve only shed tears once, and that was during a phone call to Gim a few hours ago. So far, so good. Right..?

I hope November comes really, really fast. But thank goodness for Globe Unlimitxt.

On the headlines of the Philippine national dailies, there is not much about Zamboanga City. But in the city itself, the people are brimming with passion and vehemence. The President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already mandated the transfer of regional offices to Pagadian, and now she threatens to take away Southcom from our people.

We Zamboangueños are very concerned for our people and our city. Economy and security would be greatly threatened were the Southern Command transferred to Pagadian. Furthermore, the move would require millions of money. Recently, Time Magazine printed an aticle regarding the Philippines’ sorry state of military affairs, saying that the Philippines has virtually no budget allocated for the military that our soldiers have had to buy their own uniforms, go into battle without proper training and recycle guns, weapons and ammunition. So, why move Southcom to Pagadian when there is no money? Pagadian alone has little resources to support Southcom. Zamboanga, on the other hand, has a port, an airport, even a Navy wharf.

We feel that there is no justice in this endeavor. This was a rash decision made by Malacañang without the consultation of Zamboangueños. We *do not* want Southcom to go.

On June 3, 2005, all offices and businesses closed in the afternoon to encourage all Zamboangueños to participate in the rally against the transfer. A congressional hearing went on inside the WMSU (state university) gymnasium, and thousands attended. The building could not contain everybody, and the entire school was swamped with people. The streets around the school were filled with people listening to the hearing through the loudspeakers.

On June 4, 2005, top government officials led city officials in submitting to the House Committee on Defense and Security a manifesto, bearing the signatures of over 179,000 residents in the city, requesting the permanent retention of the Southern Command in Zamboanga City. The manifesto, which was presented by City Mayor Celso Lobregat and Vice Mayor Beng Climaco, was a result of the series of consultations with the multi-sectoral groups that the city government held last month after Malacanang confirmed the issuance of an order relocating Southcom to Pulacan, Zamboanga del Sur. The manifesto, as of Thursday, June 2, has a total of 179,544 residents’ signature collected from the city’s 98 barangays.

I really, really hope that President Arroyo will change her mind on the transfer of Southcom to Pagadian. And also, I hope that this is not simply her way of punishing the residents of Zamboanga for voting for FPJ during the last elections. (That is the prevailing sentiment among Zamboangueños.)

Anyway, I was searching for articles on this issue and found a measly few. A good article is written by Max V. Soliven. But it seems the Philippine Star doesn’t archive its online news, (I am thankful that Google has a cache) so I am posting excerpts from this article by Soliven.

GMA calls for ‘unity,’ but what is she doing to Zamboanga City?
BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven
The Philippine Star 06/02/2005

Thousands of Zamboangueños, I’m told from “Down Under”, no, not Australia but Mindanao, will turn out to attend the hearings today of the House Committee on National Defense to be held in the gym of the Western Mindanao State University.

In short, when the committee chaired by Parañaque Rep. Roilo “Roy” Golez (coincidentally, GMA’s former National Security Adviser) convenes its hearings at 1 p.m., residents from the city’s different sectors will shoehorn themselves into the gymnasium, and spill over into the surrounding campus and streets to demonstrate that they don’t want the Southern Command Headquarters to be transferred from Zamboanga City to Pulacan in Zamboanga del Sur – virtually to Pagadian City.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, when I checked with him by phone, informed me he was installing loudspeakers outside the building so the demonstrators could listen to what is transpiring inside the gymnasium. All businesses as well as the banking community will close shop this afternoon – without a pay cut to their employees – in order to allow them to take part in this “peaceful protest.”

What are they decrying? The order issued in mid-May by President and Commander-in-Chief Macapagal-Arroyo that the SouthCom headquarters, which has been in Zamboanga City for 29 years, be moved to some unknown and illogical place called Pulacan, in the boonies of Zamboanga del Sur. Was this done on a whim? Or was it meant to be another move in a string of “punishments” by which a resentful La Gloria is showing her displeasure over the fact that Zambo was the only Mindanao city in which she was rendered a stinging defeat – with the majority of voters going for FPJ?

In a speech last Monday, GMA declared that “it’s very important to have one Philippines, one united country.”

How can we believe moving the SouthCom out of Zamboanga City, which has all the facilities, including Andrews Air Force Base, the Navy anchorage, and all the surrounding military support units, to a place in which our Southern Command officers will be unprotected by a strong military presence, can unify our country – much less render it safer?

An important caveat is the one delivered recently by General Delfin Castro (ret.), the longest-serving SouthCom commander who retired in 1986. He asserted that the Communist Party’s New People’s Army (NPA), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Abu Sayyaf – and yes, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (even though we’re holding peace talks with the MILF) – would enthusiastically welcome the idea of the SouthCom being plunked down in a vulnerable area like Pulacan near Pagadian City. General Castro pointed out that SouthCom is just a tactical command headquarters, and will be isolated in Pulacan, without enough surrounding military units to defend it.

In that exposed area, it would be tempting the CPP-NPA, MNLF or rogue MILF units, to attack and overrun the SouthCom HQ. How would we enjoy their taking Lt. General Alberto “Boysie” Braganza hostage – and threatening to behead him? Or other officers of the SouthCom high command?

Remember what happened to Ipil some years ago? Of course the rebel forces have the capability of doing that again.

What I noticed is that General Braganza is not raising too much of a howl. Perhaps this is because he’s too close to the President, having served once as her Senior Military Aide, and doesn’t wish to embarrass her. Perhaps he’s still hoping for be named the next Armed Forces Chief of Staff when the incumbent Chief, General Efren L. Abu retires on his next birthday, June 24 – only a bit more than three weeks from now.

But Braganza – who did a crackerjack job directing those military offensives in Sulu against renegade forces – is himself retirable next September 10 this year. Besides, not coming from the elite Philippine Military Academy, but from the ranks of the ROTC, like this writer, Boysie, although very deserving, never had a chance. Oh well. If he’s asked by the defense committee to speak, I trust in his warrior spirit. Speak out, Boysie, and bravely tell them the President’s idea is cock-eyed. (In more polite language, of course).

* * *

With due respect to the people in Pagadian, who’re just as deserving of the government’s attention and support as Zambo, it still doesn’t make sense to transfer SouthCom over there. There are no daily commercial flights to Pagadian, while Zamboanga City has four daily flights between that city and Manila. The Pagadian wharf is small and the seas is shallow there, making it difficult for our Navy vessels to dock there, while the Navy has a well-used official wharf in Zambo. Pagadian City has limited access by air or by sea to any of the major ports in Mindanao, as General Castro has already noted, making it difficult for the major commanders of our Navy, Air Force, Marines and the 1st Army Division, to report for conferences in Manila and other Mindanao capitals. Indeed, the 1st Division is based in Zamboanga City. What unit will “protect” SouthCom in Pagadian?

And what about ranking officials, including our own Cabinet members (the President, of course, has her own aircraft), foreign Ambassadors, or visiting foreign dignitaries, who would wish to meet with or coordinate with the SouthCom. How would they get to Pagadian?

And, finally, how much would it cost the government, specifically the already meager armed forces budget, to underwrite the transfer? We would have to construct a new Philippine Air Force base there, a new Naval station, building, infrastructure, etc. By gosh, what a waste of money which might be spent, instead, for what we really need for defense and our war on terrorism.

* * *

Let’s face it. In the past 29 years, the SouthCom has operated very well in Zamboanga City. Under Commodore Gil Fernandez, it used to be known as the Southwestern Command (SOWESCOM), until Rear Admiral Romulo M. Espaldon became its first commander when the name was amended to SouthCom. I remember the good old days in Indonesia when Romy Espaldon was our military attaché in Jakarta (he spoke fluent Bahasa Indonesia). I used to borrow his car from time to time. You couldn’t miss it. The car was a dazzling white.

Why transfer it now?

The question is” What’s GMA trying to do to Zamboanga? She has already directed that, with a few exceptions, all government “regional center” offices be transferred to Pagadian City. This will naturally displace thousands of government employees and entail millions of pesos to effect the transfer, possibly scores of millions. A transfer of Southcom to Pagadian would already cost P4 billion.

Earlier, she promised the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that it could re-occupy the 84-hectare Cabatangan property right in the heart of the city. From this Cabatangan complex, if you’ll recall Nur Misuari’s “breakaway” MNLF group staged a surprising, violent rebellion, on November 27, 2002, in which they took hostage the residents of surrounding barangays, and paraded them, tied up and terrified, through the city. The rascals finally gave up after being surrounded by troops and PNP units, on condition they would be trucked by our military under safe-conduct to the sea where they could “get away” on a boat. Having to face the prospect of armed Muslims having their headquarters once more right inside their city is alarming to the Zamboangueños, who’ve had to endure a two-day reign of terror before.

Why should the ARMM have a headquarters in Zamboanga City when that city is not even part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao?

Better for GMA to concentrate on fighting jueteng than open up a “second front” in Mindanao, with a sort of Christian “rebellion” on her hands.

By the way, is it true about a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey about her approval rating? Is it -29 or -30 percent? Let’s wait for confirmation of that today.

Links:
Zamboanga City Shuts Down to Protest Zamboanga Transfer
House Panel to Investigate Transfer of Southcom HQ
179T Signatures Push for Zambo Military Base Retention