Apparently, you can't please everybody

March 2006:

Senator Pimentel calls for Opposition figure to be nominated as COMELEC commissioner.


October 2007:

Malacanang entertains the Opposition's request and:

On Monday, acting poll chief Resurreccion Borra revealed the Palace’s list of possible nominees as: former senators Wigberto Tañada and Rene Saguisag; Congressman Rufus Rodriguez; Dean Amado Valdez, former executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement; Comelec chief lawyer Alioden Dalaig; Howard Calleja of the lawyers’ group Lente; and Severo Maluenda.

But a watchdog group demands that Malacanang ‘Reveal process in choosing Comelec nominees’.

PGMA pardons Erap

Hilarity ensues.

Nice move Mrs. President! Bravo!

Longest Living Animal Found In Icelandic Waters

A clam dredged from Icelandic waters had lived for 400 years - is this the longest-lived animal known to science?

I don't know if it is but I'm sure it would've lived longer if they didn't dredge it off the ocean's bottom in the first place.


Hat tip: American Papist

I bet Mel will enjoy this

Too bad the Pinoys were beaten in the popularity poll though.

Some pointers, Manny

I heard rumors that Manny Pacquiao has been asking the management of ABS-CBN to finally sack Korina Sanchez. Not surprisingly, the former however has refused Pacquiao's demands and has retained Ms. Sanchez.

Manny, Manny, Manny, I think the manner in which you're going at this will lead you nowhere. First off, this request should be backed up by something serious such as a threat from the advertisers themselves to withdraw their accounts if the request goes unheeded. You need to speak using the proper language. It goes something like this:

P£€a$€ ₣1R€ h€R ₦ØW ØR ₦Ø ¢a$h

Now that's language mediamen understand.

From my inbox:

Learn Chinese in 5 minutes

(YOU MUST read them out loud)

1) That's not right ......... Sum Ting Wong
2) Are you harbouring a fugitive?..... Hu Yu Hai Ding
3) See me ASAP..........Kum Hia Nao
4) Stupid Man ..............Dum Gai
5) Small Horse ...........Tai Ni Po Ni
6) Did you go to the beach? ........Wai Yu So Tan
7) I bumped into a coffee table ........Ai Bang Mai Ni
8) I think you need a face lift .......Chin Tu Fat
9) It's very dark in here .....Wao So Dim
10) I thought you were on a diet ......Wai Yu Mun Ching?
11) This is a tow away zone .......No Pah King
12) Our meeting is scheduled for next week ........Wai Yu Kum Nao?
13) Staying out of sight .........Lei Ying Lo
14) He's cleaning his automobile ..... Wa Shing Ka
15) Your body odor is offensive .......Yu Stin Ki Pu
16) Great ....... Fuh Kin Su Pah

Hat tip: Mel

Gotta be the first to post this:

Last August, the Whapsters posted a splendid picture of the lighting of this fiery globe. Here we see it in action.

This is a fantastic media hitpiece

It exemplifies how edited and well placed comments from "experts", no matter how stupid or ignorant they are or their comments are, reduces anyone to an evil entity. I mean watching the film makes you feel like you could almost grasp hold of the evil that is Mel Gibson.

This reminds me of a parody of the media in the Simpsons episode Homer Badman.

And speaking of Homer:

I'm awfully tempted:

to join the part at Estrada's house. Free food. Lots of drinks. Hey, I can pardon him too you know.

I'm in love:

Peugeot concept car Allscape

I hope this ends the Pope=Antichrist routine

Well he ain't that bad

The priest in my previous post, Fr. Bob McGuire, apparently had his own TV show



Blogger John Heard reports that this same priest who allowed John Safron to stand on what appeared to be a church's original (probably still consecrated) high altar to light the candles, actually stated that he wouldn't give gay activists communion. Interesting.

Shit! I wanna invest in this:

Prisoners' feces is converted into combustible "biogas," or methane gas that can be used for cooking. It has reduced by 60 percent the annual wood-fuel costs which would otherwise reach near $1 million

Perhaps the positive effect of the Glorietta gas explosion is the renewed awareness of the feasibility and power of biogas. I mean it has demonstrated that every building that has a septic tank underneath is veritably sitting on an oil well. Now if a greated effort is exterted in the collection of human waste in sewers to process and extract methane from it, perhaps we can actually blow away our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Hopefully.

This just in:

In regards to the Glorietta explosion, NCRPO Chief General Gerry Barias says in effect that the bomb theory is difficult to sustain due to the absence of indicators of a bombing like bomb fragments and a blast crater. All evidence points to a gas explosion.

Hold on a sec. Didn't Trillanes, yeah that guy elected by 11 million Filipinos, say that he had evidence placing the blame for the explosion in PGMA's hands? Oh, I see, the PNP is under orders to hide the truth and protect PGMA. Right, gotcha. After all, any guy elected by 11 million Filipinos couldn't be psycho right? Right!

I'll get the text of his interview later.

Is this real?

I just got this from my inbox:



[click the picture to make it work]

If you see this lady turning in clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see it the other way, you are using left brain. Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way. If you try to see it the other way and if you do see, your IQ is above 160 which is almost a genius. THIS IS NOT A JOKE. BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.

So which direction is the lady turning?

Trillanes is confident

and apparently quite sure that the administration is responsible the Glorietta explosion. In fact, he says he has undeniable, damning evidence.

But he adds that if it is proven that the explosion was caused by some structural defect in the mall's fuel storage facilities, he's willing to retract his accusation.

Wait, didn't you say you have evidence that the Administration was behind it? So what's this crap about retractions? Labo mo pre!

'Running priest’ performs ‘exorcism’ rites at Comelec

Sounds like the best time to [mis]quote Kathy Shaidle:

...self-aggrandizing, no-risk stunts, mounted by aging hippie leftists, make a mockery of the real discipline...

I knew it would come in handy someday.

The cops are not ruling out a gas/fuel explosion at G2

For those who doubt how LPG [propane]can be destructive, have a look at this:

Something to piss Gillibrand

Gee, I've been pissing off so many people today. Must be my lucky day. Here's the money quote though:

"I'm very unhappy for Mr. Gibson for dragging me back to the hill of Golgotha..."

Err... Where do you think you are when you're saying Mass?

The blogpost below reminded me

of something Congressman Teddy Boy Locsin mentioned in his program "Karambola" [DWIZ 882 kHz, 8 - 10 am, hosts: Teddy Boy Locsin, Boying Remulla, Alvin Capino, Sonny Escudero, Jonathan dela Cruz] about why Filipino clerics have little chance of moving upward in the ecclesiastical ladder.

In that program's 16 August 2007 episode, Locsin says in effect that Rome was aware of Filipino bishops' liberal policies that were more contraceptive-friendly so Rome usually decides against putting them into positions of influence. That's news to me actually.

I wanted to transcribe and post the program but my schedule, being full these days, has kept me from finishing it. So here's the audio instead [.wav file, 14 Mb]:

<bgsound src="http://www.freewebs.com/frdb96/16August2007Karambola.wav" loop="1">




Check it out. It was a very informative episode. I was surprised to find out that one of them was alive and listening (!!!) when Pope John XXII (died at Avignon, 4 December 1334) made a "liberal" speech which the Vatican suppressed. Of course, there's much discussion there about the Church's dirty secrets like the fact that contraceptive was "debated" in the 7th century for its efficacy in better Christian parenthood.

In this regard, do check out that very enlightening episode from "The View" which has been the focus of discussion in St. Blog's Parish last month.

Here's something to upset Senator Arroyo more

American cardinals boast growing influence (Analysis)

When Archbishops John Foley and Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston receive their red hats from Pope Benedict XVI on November 24, the US will boast 17 natives in the College of Cardinals: the largest representation for any country other than Italy.

Last year Senator Joker was lamenting on the dearth of Filipino Cardinals. I dunno if the Pope ever considered his plea for more Pinoy Cardinals but his observation is quite revealing of the stature of Filipino clergy is in the eyes of Rome. The fact is that although Rome recognizes that some good men are in the Pinoy clergy, and sees it fit to elevate them to cardilatial sees, Rome doesn't find enough of them in the Philippines.

Americans are rising in the College of Cardinals because they've been contributing heavily to the universal Church in terms of wealth, talent, academics, etc. I mean when have you heard lately of a Filipino cleric that did something that visibly benefited the universal Church? Instead, the trends that affect the US Church are usually enthusiastically imported by Pinoy priests to the Philippine Church. Of course the choice of fads has been selective, usually of the progressive type that makes my stomach sick.

In short, there's really no strong reason to reward the Philippines with another cardinal.

The best exorcism movie so far

Not a bombing?

DZMM reports that the explosion at Glorietta could be a result of methane gas leaking from the building's septic tank. If this is proven, I'd like to see Trillanes' reaction. Will he apologize to PGMA?

As we end this tragic day,

let's pause for a prayer for the victims of the Glorietta bombing.

I don't suppose one of the Ayala guards...

happens to be one who believes in that peaceful internal struggle crap.

I mean if American airports, supposedly heavy in security, can be penetrated by undercover agents carrying hidden bombs, then less at-risk facilities like Glorietta would be a walk in the park for terrorists.

In fact, in my estimation, the only reason Glorietta has security guards around is for protection from legal action in case something like what happened today took place. Well the bombing did take place this afternoon and it would be highly unlikely that the mall would be successfully sued since it can make a convincing defense that it did everything in its power to secure the place from any attack. In short, the guards are really for legal protection rather than real security.

In fact, had I been a real terrorist, I would've found it so easy to sneak in a small bomb. I've always mentioned this, though not in this blog. And I think I've been, unfortunately, proven correct today.

Pretty pictures!

I'd die and go to Heaven if I ever see this in Sto. Domingo.

Geez

Just saw those MMS pics from inside the mall. From what I saw, the inside of the mall seems to have gotten the bigger share of the impact of the blast. I think there's a huge hole in one of the upper floors and a portion of the roof seems to be missing as sunlight is visible. The cops could be right. A bomber might've penetrated mall security.

Some cops are saying that it could've been a bomb

But this video tells me not to discount the LPG angle entirely:

You know what?

That explosion at Glorietta, if it was indeed a case of a bombing, reminded me of how porous security is in malls, train terminals and other public areas. I mean your friendly neighborhood ROPer or his any of his lefty fans could easily smuggle explosives in those places. They don't need to penetrate the heavy security. They just need to be close enough to set off their wares and voila! Instant chaos, panic and death. The number of people trying to get into those facilities is enough to make themselves an attractive target for jihadists (or in our Lefty friends' minds, the military).

An explosion in Glorietta

Early reports say it was an LPG tank.

Hmmm...

Update: The explosion took place somewhere near Landmark and Glorietta, near the Luk Yuen and Red Ribbon area. An accident or is someone trying to escalate things?

Update: A certain Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement seems to have been in the area. The conspirialist in me wants to believe that the movement is behind the explosion somehow. I mean you're telling me that Ms. Navarro just happened to be at that place coincidentally and got hold of ANC for no reason and blame you-know-who for the explosion? Oh well. Perhaps it was just coincidence.

Update: If I recall correctly, Luk Yuen has lots of glass windows. You know the type that becomes a wave of shrapnel when something explodes nearby.

Update: On the other hand, I can't discount ROPers waging their peaceful internal struggle again. Who knows how much gas they kept in their tummies since Eid exactly last week? It's been proven that farts do make a hell of an explosion. They might've postponed their little celebration because of last week's tight security.

Update: It seems Mel and her officemate were at Greenbelt when the explosion took place. They heard nothing. Good to know that they were far from danger.

Update: Makati. Can't wait for the lameness meter to hit high again when Mayor Binay blames the President for this. I'm sure he'll find some sort of reason to do this. Everything's PGMA's fault after all. No need to think you lowly peasant!

Update: Senators are fighting the temptation to get involved in the Glorietta explosion. Oh my. Expect more exlosions coming from their butts.

The Philippines:

where bishops usurp the laity's job

the media (read big business) usurp the government's job.

and lame activists usurp the idiot's job.

I can feel his pain:

Can you feel the bass of the timpani? The exultant melody of the oboe and French horns? The majesty of the trombones? The purity of the voices? This should be the ideal music to be played in churches, but because of post-"Vatican 2", I have to suffer with dirge-like Tagalog drivel like "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" or the Ilonggo mass songs penned by a deaf-mute vagrant from the Plaza that are being sung on off-key notes at the Cathedral.

But that part blaming the Council got me. Fr. Fox should've posted this earlier:

In the century or so leading up to Vatican II, it was becoming routine to use hymns, in the vernacular, at Mass, instead of some of the sung prayers called for at Mass—which were in Latin.

You see, when you have Mass, in Latin, English or whatever, many people don’t realize that the music for Mass is not something “added” by the musician, chosen by a liturgy committee.

Rather, the Mass itself—I mean, the Missal, the book of all the prayers and readings to be used—already gives us the text of the music to use! Not many people know that—I bet not many here, knew that.

But what happens at most Masses is that we don’t use all that music; instead, we use hymns, such as “All Creatures of our God and King” or “On Eagles Wings” or what have you. This trend, however, did not begin with Vatican II—as I say, it goes back about a century before.

Are you curious why? Of course you are!

The reason is that the music that was being substituted for is Gregorian chant, in Latin. Why it happened we could talk about, but that’s more than we have time for. It started in Germany and happened in a lot of the Church—including in this country! It had become widespread into the 1800s, and various folks tried to respond to this.

This is when the “Liturgical Movement” got started, in the mid-1800s! This led to Pope Pius X calling for a restoration of Gregorian chant in 1903! And this “new” movement in the liturgy continued to work itself out, playing a major role in the work of the Second Vatican Council!

My point is, right or wrong, the goal of all this wasn’t to be rid of all that musty old chant, but to restore it! That is surprising, if you view the Council from too narrow a point of view. When you view the Council, instead, from the larger “zoom out,” then what the Council said takes on a very different meaning: In Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Council Fathers called for Gregorian chant to be given “pride of place” (Paragraph 112).

What’s funny is that if you go to a parish, and they sing the opening Introit, in Latin chant, they are fulfilling Vatican II; but if you go to a parish—most parishes in this country—and you hear, “Glory and Praise to our God,” they are actually being “pre-Vatican II”!

Destiny Cable and Perpetual Blogging

don't mix! So don't even bother with Destiny Cable if you're lookinig for an dependable internet connection.

The Traveller's Lounge

One of best surprises I had in Iloilo was the Traveller's Lounge located at SM City, Iloilo.

If ever you find yourself in Iloilo needing a place to rest, have your bags kept for a minimal fee, use the bathroom or get tickets, then this is the place. I just wish they had more of that around, it was a God-send when we were running around Iloilo City at a time when it was too early for the malls to open.

While reading this thread...

I can't help imagine a certain angry parishoner writing to his bishop:

Dear Bishop,

Help us quick! Our parish priest, Fr. XXX is going nuts. Since last month, Fr. has decided to use horror movie music to entertain us instead of the traditional hymns like "On Eagle's Wings". He's been insisting that the choir sing creepy songs in a strange language we don't understand during Mass. And instead of the traditional two candles with the flower pot combo, he's also placed so many candles on the altar that we can't see anything behind it.

And he's been so rude to us lately. He'd rather face and talk to the wall than us during the Mass and sometimes he seems to be singing to himself, again in that strange loony language nobody understands.

I'm a progressive and open-minded person, I know I mustn't judge Fr. XXX for his really progressive ideas. But some of us, especially the kids, have been having nightmares!

Help us quick Bishop. Fr. XXX must be stopped from abusing our community worship.

So Irony is something Christian?

Thus proves my point earlier:

Muslims are bronze-age thugs. They haven't discovered iron[y].

Some people deserve to be mocked mercilessly

Especially people like this guy.

So. Do. Your. Part. Now.

She reminds me of some liberal priests

Now this is a gem

a bit harsh but still honest.

Which reminds me of Pinoy lefties who tend to mirror their Western counterparts. They try to eliminate poverty by protesting in the streets, intimidating and forcing companies to close down and getting themselves elected in Congress. But never once will you find them actually helping the poor the way the Church does, I mean helping them without expecting the poor to advocate a certain political ideology and overthrow the government.

The Battle of Lepanto

St. Crispin's day is on the 25th

And it struck me...

you know... About all the recent papal appointments to the Curia and Papal Master of Ceremonies... They all seem to be connected to one man... Cardinal Bertone.

Pope Bertone perhaps?

Lepanto, in mp3!

What people called Taboos

Actually meant "this won't look sexy if you did it".

Errrr...

When the League of Filipino Students call PGMA "Tuta/Kapal-muks", nobody reacted negatively. In fact, the League is cheered on by those who believe in something called "freedom of expression".



But when Cory Aquino's picture appears with the word "slut" in Jon Stewart's show, the ex-president suddenly becomes an aggrieved victim.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

And now they're talking about filing a diplomatic protest againts Jon Stewart and his staff, who by their own Constitution, are enjoying something called "freedom of expression", to get them off the habit of parodying political figures who happen to be, eerr, not American.

On the other hand, I'd like to see Deo Macalma's face if somebody actually took him seriously and filed a diplomatic protest against him for repeatedly calling President Bush "Terroristang Bush". Or is he exempt because he managed to fool a large number of Fililpinos to believe that he's a serious journalist?

Ahh more reason to bully people. Thanks Karen!

In her interview with Senator Panfilo Lacson, Karen Davila proposes a rule should be created that will prohibit resource persons or witnesses from bringing or using cellphones in Senate hearings. She argues that this move will force such persons or witnesses to act on their conscience rather than be "coached" by outsiders.

Good thinking Karen! While you're at, have the presumption of innocence and access to lawyers thrown out as well. We all know that everyone being grilled at the Senate is guilty of whatever pathetic little crimes you can dream of and doesn't deserve something as fundamental as protection from bullies.

Senator Lacson thinks it's a good idea! Imagine that! Senators can badger people and abuse them with impunity since little people have no access to lawyers who can remind them that Senators have no right to bully people.

Imagine that, Karen Davila thinking like your average Bolshevik and Maoist. Whodatunk?

I love it!

Such self-aggrandizing, no-risk stunts, mounted by aging hippie leftists, make a mockery of the real discipline, courage and suffering displayed by 21-year-old grunts in the field, not to mention their Iraqi compatriots.

I should remember that whenever some wide-eyed delusional bishop who heads a diocese in Metro Manila decides to do something similar in the guise of a prayer rally.

Caveman thus spake

about the growing risk of the adherents of the Religion of Peace (tm) attacking schools and school children.

Well history does point to the fact that Jihadists are more than capable and willing to do the vilest things. The massacre of children at Beslan and the kidnapping of students and teacher from Basilan should remind us of that fact.

A simple advice to celebrants:

Shut up and get on with it!

Why do they always have to treat each ceremony as if it was a catechetical class? Let the liturgy speak for itself!

Will Angelo Palmones make a retraction?

Several months ago, at the height of the controversies regarding the axing of former BIR Comissioner Jose Mario Bunag from the said agency and the transferral of Romulo Neri from NEDA, a Cabinet-level position, to a lower position as head of Commission on Higher Education, DZMM station manager Angelo Palmones kept insisting on air that Finance Secretary Margarito Teves was behind Neri's removal from the NEDA because of his opposition to Teves' economic policies and projections. Palmones, I think, devoted a month repeating this allegation.

He kept saying that people in Malacanang should be wary about "saying the truth" because they might end up like Neri or Bunag, demoted or fired.

When the ZTE/NBN thing came into play, journalists went on to claim that Neri was forced out of the NEDA in order to make the ZTE/NBN deal work without any glitches from people like Neri.

As I asked previously, which is it? Was it Teves' economic policies or the ZTE/NBN deal which led to Neri's dismissal from the NEDA?

At any rate, Palmones has been silent lately regarding the issue. Has he realized that his previous allegations didn't match the prevailing belief that Neri was actually moved due to ZTE/NBN?

If such is the case, how about a retraction Mr. Palmones?

I bought a bag from Bench

four months ago. It was made in China. It didn't last long.

Opposition supporters massacred

It must be PGMA's new program of purging her "critics".

I know it's Burma. But I'm sure you know PGMA; her evil cannot be contained by mere national boundaries. The media and her "critics" say so.

Time for a laugh

Childish

On a related note:

I will stand with my Muslim brothers

whether they are oppressor or oppressed.



No wonder...