Answering machine of some Aussie High School

It might be fake but it is hilarious. And it is not only funny, it has a point... Maybe it will help some parents reconsider the way they educate their kids....

Salamat Cory

 The Filipino democracy was orphaned last August 1st, 2009, with the death of former President and National Hero Cory Aquino, the first woman president of any country in Asia and a worldwide icon of Democracy.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos of all age came out to the streets of Manila to say goodbye to their beloved and admired Cory, with tears in their eyes, likewise they had run to the streets of Manila in the early 80s to mourn her husband Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., and again in 1986 during the People Power Revolution to peacefully install her as President. The country united and appeared as a one big family mourning its mother.

Born to a wealthy family in Tarlac, Maria Corazon “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was raised in religious schools in Manila and later sent to the US where she studied Liberal Arts. At the age of 20 she graduated with a Bachelor of Art in French, and a minor in Mathematics and she returned to Manila to pursue her studies in Law, which she abandoned a year later when she married Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.

This probably became the first turning point in Cory’s life. Aquino was a well educated and wise young man, who became mayor at 22, and eventually governor. At 34 he was the youngest member of the Filipino Senate ever.

Meanwhile, she self-proclaimed herself a “plain housewife” and she took care of their 5 children. Despite being one of the most trusted advisors of Ninoy, she would only do so in private while in public she preferred to stay out of the stage, quietly in the background.

Ninoy Aquino soon became a lead critic of then president Ferdinand Marcos, and was regarded as a clear and serious opponent in the upcoming presidential election of 1973. However, the election never took place because Marcos declared martial law in September 1972 and then abolished the Constitution, which allowed him to remain in office. Ninoy Aquino was arrested along with other critics and opponents of the Government. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death. He spent seven years in prison until a key intervention from then US President Jimmy Carter led to Marcos authorizing Ninoy Aquino to leave for exile to the US.

This was clearly turning point number two for Cory, who often defined the next 3 years of her life as “the happiest”. She lived in peace, close to her husband and kids. What more could she have asked for? However it was a life Ninoy felt he needed to abandon to come back to the Philippines and fight for his people. He often said that “the Filipino is worth dying for”, like a prophecy of his own destiny, of his fate.

He returned without his family, who was to follow later, only to be murdered in the Manila airport.

As Cory saw yet again her life drastically change, she led the funerals for her husband with the support of millions of fellow Filipinos. Cory showed an incredible emotional and physical strength, and fought to keep your family together. For the next couple years she was never abandoned by the people, who mourned Ninoy by her side. The anger towards the Marcos regime became so intense that people lost their fear and started going out into the streets in such massive number that they couldn’t be stopped any longer. Ninoy had become a National Hero and she was the only hope for the Filipinos to regain freedom.

Late November 1985 Marcos announced a snap presidential election to be held just three months later, in February’86. Right then business tycoon Joaquin “Chino” Roces realized Cory would be the only person with a real chance to unite the different branches of the opposition against Marcos. Knowing Cory wouldn’t easily accept such a responsibility, he initiated the Cory Aquino for President Movement to gather one million signatures in one week for Aquino to run as president.

As expected Cory was reluctant at first, after all she was not a politician, and never meant to be one. But after locking herself in a convent for a ten-hour session of meditation, she accepted the immense challenge. Cory felt it was a continuation of Ninoy’s dream, and this gave her the strength and the courage to keep fighting.

The following months became tense and difficult, with an aggressive campaign from the Marcos side. The election was rigged and Marcos was soon proclaimed the winner. Violence broke out in the streets and Aquino called for a general strike, while the Catholic Church as well as the US Senate condemned the election.

 Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos jumped to the streets of Manila once again and they peacefully claimed Cory’s victory and demanded Marcos’ resignation, in a movement internationally known as the People Power Revolution. Worldwide known pictures of nuns on their knees praying in front of military tanks illustrate what the Revolution was. Eventually Marcos did indeed realize his fate and conceded the Presidency to Cory.

The success of the People Power Revolution was so unique that Cory Aquino was immediately recognized and acclaimed worldwide as an icon of democracy. It was then said that the Americans taught the Filipinos democracy but through the Revolution the Filipinos taught the world.

In three years Cory went from being a housewife and mother to a worldwide icon. She was suddenly on front covers of magazines and newspapers all over the world, and she knew she couldn’t have done it without the Filipino people, same as they couldn’t have done it without her. And that is how they all became one big family.

As President she faced many difficulties, such as an extremely weak and damaged economy, several coups d’état, and natural disasters. When her term came to an end Cory retired to private life, making a few come backs to the limelight when she felt her people and her country needed her most.

Overall Cory will be remembered as the person who fought and stood up for Democracy, the one who re-established a Constitution with important legal and land reforms, and guaranteed the social and human rights of her people. And above all, Cory will be remembered as the Mother of the modern Filipino Nation and an example of integrity, decency and selflessness.

Today Filipinos can only say Kindi ka nagiisa, Cory. Salamat. You are not alone, Cory. Thank you.

 

A day to remember

I bought the paper in the morning and once in the elevator I started reading the headlines. None made sense, none. It was dated March the 18^th, 2009… March? It is August people… so I went back to the shop and I got a new one. Now things were making sense again, or so I thought.

My morning meeting is in a nearby city, which used to be a village, if that makes any sense. The mayor is meeting with me again to discuss some business, but when I get there she is all excited about something else. First thing she says is I have a present for you and while I think Oh yeah, I love presents I actually say Mayor a present for me? No, you shouldn’t have… and I stop there because I realize her present is a magazine. She carefully opens it and hands it to me with pride. It is her. I mean, in the magazine. There is an article about her under the section Power and style, and next to it a full-page picture of her wearing a pinkish gown, and plenty of make up.

 Come on say something, whatever, but say something is what I think while I look at it, and before I get a chance to do so I hear her voice asking would you like me to sign it for you?. She grabs the magazine back and writes a couple of lines before signing it and all I can do is smile.

Back in my city I meet this really nice fellow who happens to speak perfect Spanish as he spent 6 years in Madrid, my home city. At some point he mentions he has some friends here who are also from Madrid, and offers to organize a dinner so that we can all meet. I think it is a fantastic idea until he actually says it will be great, we are all the same age, 37-38. But hey, I am under 30, mate. I say nothing; I just smile, because once again I don’t know what to say.

Then I make a quick stop by my office in between meetings. When I am ready to leave I do as usual, walk to the parking, open the door of the seat behind the driver, drop my bags and laptop, close the door, walk to the other side of the car and when I am about to open the back door, Lawrence drives away. At first I assume he thought I couldn’t comfortably open the door and he is going to move the car a few feet, but no, he keeps driving and goes through the gate. At this point I still think he is just going to stop by the gate but he keeps driving while everybody around –all drivers and security guys- start yelling Hey! Hey! But he cant hear them and I cant but laugh out loud. The security guys run behind the car while the other drivers look at me surprised by my laugh.

Meanwhile in the car Lawrence is talking to me and when I don’t answer one of his questions he turns around and realizes I am not in the car. I can imagine his heart speeding up, and some sweat breaking out of his forehead. He stops in the middle of the street, gets out of the car and walks back towards me while cars are stuck behind, honking and annoyed. Lawrence looks embarrassed while I have tears of laugh in my eyes. He knows the rest of the staff will make fun at him for the next few weeks. We both smile and say nothing.


To finish the day I meet with this very high up guy and his team. He introduces me as one of the leading economic analysts and consultants in town…. Really? Well.. after such a day I guess I can take this one with another big smile, and say nothing.

There are days all you can do is smile, and say nothing.

Life in the island

Next week June will die and half of the year will be gone. Time goes by and while days seem to never finish, weeks pass so quickly that sometimes I am surprised it is almost July.

Life is good, we have traveled, we have received visits from family and friends, and more are to come. The island treats us well and diving has opened our eyes to a new and fascinating world.

I thought I would feel uncomfortable under water and that is why despite the fact that I wanted to experience the high of diving, I had never considered the idea seriously. Then we got here, my birthday came and Mr. A made plans; suddenly we were in a pool dressed with this funny and heavy equipment, and then in a boat doing a back jump into the ocean. That moment always surprises me.

You see, I always feel kind of lazy and anxious before diving. I’m on the boat, the sun is warm, and then I have to put on the suit, the equipment, booties, gloves, and the heavy tank! While I sit on the side of the boat ready to jump out I always feel the pain of the weight on my back, then I jump and as soon as I touch the water I feel free, weightless, relaxed.

Underwater I literally feel like a fish in the water. It will never stop surprising me how despite you being there fishes seem to keep going with their lives. You are no more as a human the center of the universe; you suddenly become a mere spectator of a world that you don’t rule. You have a limited time to do so, and that is part of the game. If you could stay for ever it might get old, but this way you never have enough.

Underwater life is quiet and slower, your movements adapt to that rhythm and the tiniest little thing becomes the most fascinating you can possible imagine. What a contrast with normal life where nothing surprises us any more, where movement, speed, violence, stress, surround us.

If I could choose I would probably be a fish in my next life, normal with only one condition: a guarantee that I would live in a reef in the Philippines. I don’t want to be one of those sad little goldfishes trapped in a round tank looking at life without really living it, just like I don’t want to become a person trapped in a cubicle in some office, while the world is out there.

Charleston, 21st century style

I love this video, it makes me laugh and feel happy...!

When I am alone

I just found this, it must be 3 years old or so... anyways I have no time, no inspiration, these days, so here it is.

Now that you are gone,
Now that I am close to Rome,
Now that we are home,

Now,
we realize we are alone

I need you in my life
(but I’m scared to be your wife)
I need your lack of words
(you remind me of old lords)
I need you messing with my hair
(not with the one of her)
I need to feel you close
(I need my dose)

I miss our complicity,
I miss our felicity.

Couples in the street, I envy
Everybody around me, I envy
Paulo & Lindsay,
Loren & Leti,
Carlos & Sophie,
Simon & Ruthie
Meredith & Be
Why not you and me?

I see couples, I see happiness, I see kisses,
I see what I wish I had,
I see what I wish I had closer.

Not easy to be far away,
Not a second time, not even the first one.
Worth it? I guess, I hope, I believe, I fear

Don’t wanna wait,
I want you right now, right here.
In the elevator, in the gas station, in the kitchen, on the stage…..
  

If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it

This video has left me speechless. We should listen more often to kids, as they have amazing things to say, and very good viewpoints.

The New Year must re-start tomorrow

I was sure that 2009 would be a fantastic year. I was so certain about it that i tried to convince everybody around me. Economic crisis, unemployment, recession.... every one could see signs for a black year, except me. Today I find myself writing this quite scarred.... could it be that 2009 is going to be a terrible year? so far so bad. It hasn't been one month and already most of the people I love have suffered a death or a bad illness or an accident in their families. However, I cannot say I have been directly touched by any of this miseries. Could it be that 2009 is going to be bad for everyone but me? or is the year going to surprise me soon with something painful?

My little me inside myself refuses to believe that I am wrong. This year is supposed to be a good one, for me and for all around me, otherwise, how could I be happy if the ones I love are not? Then... have we made a mistake in our calendar? could it be that the New Year hasn't started yet? Maybe we should follow the Chinese calendar, which states that the New Year doesnt start until January 26th, which is tomorrow.

If your year hasn't started as good as you wish it had, why don't you celebrate tomorrow (even if just very privately) the beginning of the New Year, the one which is going to bring all those good things you want? Give it a try, you never know! It cant really get any worse, I guess....

So Happy New Year's Eve!!

Back to the Island

It has been two years, and here I am again. Manila, the Philippines. A country that has seen me cry and laugh, work and travel, hate and love. Some of the toughest moments of my professional life have happened here, but also some of the happiest times of my life. It is such a bittersweet taste when I remember those times. But now it is different. It is a new chapter in my life, just like it was a new stage then.

And he is with me this time. We are going to make the best out of our time here, both personally and professionally. So many plans, so many dreams. It is also a New Year, and new times bring new things. 2009, such a beautiful number! It is odd, adds up odd and if you add it up again you get 2. The 2 of us.