My grueling experience yesterday is incomparable with what’s happening with our fellow Filipinos still waiting to be rescued right now. And I’m praying for my friends and family who are still stuck in their homes and on their roofs.

I know most of us lived through our worries yesterday by texting and calling our loved ones. What I have here is a very small part of the millions of text messages sent on September 26, 2009 that clogged even the biggest communication networks in the country. These messages don’t account the whole riot I (and my office mates) experienced. It’s actually just the tip of the iceberg.

Though my phone got soaking wet, fortunately it did not die on me. Here are the messages in my Sent Items texted to different contacts:

1:07 PM Ma tapos na kmi [sa meeting in front of Harrison Plaza]. Pwd pasundo? Coy

1:54 PM Grbe bha.

2:37 PM Stranded kami omg. Taft at roxas hanggang bewang

2:54 PM Stranded kami. Walanp mpuntahan

3:06 PM Yup. Nagtricycle na kmi papntang edsa [galing Harrison Plaza].

3:17 PM This is the worst ive seen manila. Epic

3:27 PM Imposible dumaan sa edsa. Counterflow. Naglalakad kmi papnta macapagal

3:33 PM Sobrang basang basa na kami.

4:01 PM Dito ako mcdo bclaran.

4:04 PM Never kayo dumaan ng edsa.

4:13 PM Nakasakay na kmi ng jip sa bclaran.

4:16 PM Wla nang mblhan [ng extra shirt]. No choice na.

4:19 PM Counter flow. Both side sinakop na ng galing bclaran. Ung parang experience natin dati sa sm molino checkpoint.

4:26 PM Binalot ko sa plastic [ang laptop]. Stuck pa rin kmi bclaran. Pero pauwi na.

4:37 PM Txt me agad kung lapit na kayo.

4:38 PM Onga. Pero di gumagalaw ung jip. Andito parin kmi tapat ng mcdo bclaran. Di kmi mkalabas.

4:41 PM Sa pasay rotonda. Wlang dumadaan dhl baha rin. Parang sinara nga e.

4:44 PM Di kc gumagalaw edsa dito sa may heritage. Gumagalaw roxas papuntang cavite.

4:46 PM Ok na pauwi na kmi. Andar na.

4:59 PM Grbe pati dito sa may uniwide ang lalim ng baha! Mga bus nagbabalikan ndi makadaan.

5:03 PM Ok na. Coastal na kami.

5:14 PM Frozen ang coastal road. hay ang trapik.

5:27 PM Parang walang pagasa dito. Ayaw nyo magcheck in na lang?

5:38 PM Yez. Anubang nasa news. Naglalakad na mga tao dito sa coastal road. F*%k.

5:40 PM Malapit sa baclaran. Mataas tubig sa cavite.

5:43 PM Lola magcheck in na tayo. Tigil lahat ng sasakyan sa coastal dahil sobrang lalim ng tubig sa zapote. Malayo pa ako sa toll gate. San tayo pwd kita.

5:49 PM Ok na. Umaandar na coastak.

5:51 PM Saan. Sa qc raw lampas kotse ang baha.

5:54 PM Grabe ang oa naman. Sbi ko sayo e. Worst in 10 years lol.

6:22 PM Stranded ako manila.

6:53 PM Omg. Still stuck.

7:19 PM Coastal rd. Naglalakad frm paranaque to cavite

7:21 PM Mga kadiwa, linalakad ko ngayun ang coastal road mula toll gate dahl sa trapik. Inapanalangin nyoko.

7:31 PM Pa, bka magcheck in na kmi sa sogo zapote

7:32 PM Lapit na aq talaba

8:29 PM Kaya b kmi sunduin?

8:32 PM Pasundo jolibi molino.

8:38 PM Ngayun na!

9:08 PM Kakarating ko lang. Grabe lampas bewang sa st. Dominic.

9:41 PM The worst day ive had ever. Hands down

A Problem that Stretches Across Waters

We’ve seen how our countrymen suffer each day here in the cities of Manila because of unemployment, overpopulation and poverty. And we can see Manila Bay as one of the cites where the poor wander to find food, pity, or just plain luck on the sidewalks. As these people watch the sunset, another cold night awaits to resurface and you find them wishing they’re on the other side of the waters. But reality is, what lies beyond the stretches of Manila Bay is not that different. Residents of Bacoor Bay, a small barangay here in Cavite, are working day ang night to make ends meet. And I know some of these great people. I’ve seen how they lived. Or survived. Now, it’s up to me and to everyone else who sees injustice, pain, and suffering, to make the whole world aware that Filipinos are one with the world, the human race, in fighting against poverty.

Let’s start with words. And dare turn it into action.

Checkpoint? Or Something Else?

Last March 14, 2008, in an unsuspecting afternoon, Ma and I decided to go shopping for groceries at SM Molino – which is just 10 minutes away. But these minutes turned into hours, at least for most people along Molino road, as the PNP put up a “checkpoint” for vehicles on their way to Manila or Alabang. This was the same day as the Anti-Arroyo Youth Rally held by different universities at Liwasang Bonifacio at the height of the ZTE Deal Scandal.  What a (non)coincidence.

Watch as one supposed-to-be-usual checkpoint turn into something else.

POSTER BEFORE THE RALLY:

WHAT CAVITENOS MISSED THAT DAY:

Thanks Bikoy for the pics!

Along with a group of UP bloggers, we have come up with a special project for the UP Centennial Month this coming June. It’s called “UP@100: Capturing 100 UP Moments“ – It is a Music Video Project which will compile 100 photos and videos from participants consisting UP alumni and students. It aims to capture 100 unique UP moments from 100 different points of view in the past 100 years of the University’s existence.

We are inviting YOU to join us in this endeavor.

Mechanics: Here’s how to submit an entry

I. Who can participate:

1. Any University of the Philippines Alumni.
2. Any University of the Philippines student.

II. How to submit your photo or video:

1. A participant can submit at most two pictures of himself/herself (alone or otherwise) taken in UP or during a UP event OR a 15-sec video of the participant taken in UP or during a UP event.
2. Each entry should have the the following information:
   • Name
   • Student Number
   • Degree and Course
   • Two to five words describing the event (include the year the photo/video was taken)
   • If it’s a group photo, please indicate your position in the picture.
3. Entries could be submitted by doing at least one of the following:
   • Sending them with file (photo/video) attachments to up100@googlegroups.com or coy.caballes@gmail.com.
   • Posting the photos on their blogs and leaving the URL as a comment on this official UP@100 post.
   • Uploading the video on a file sharing site and leaving the download link as a comment on this official UP@100 post.
4. Only ONE of the entries submitted per participant will be selected.
5. The deadline for submissions is on June 19, 2008. A day after the UP Centennial Anniversary (so that photos from the centennial celebration could be included).
6. The launch of the video will be on June 26, 2008 on all the organizers’ blogs.
7. A microsite will be created for the project where all (part of the 100 or not) the submitted photos & videos will be posted in sync with the video launch.

IMPORTANT: Remember that we are including 100 UNIQUE UP moments in the video. So rare finds will be the most likely to be chosen. (But I’m sure all our UP experiences are different so send lang ng send. Hehe.)

Here are more UP@100 coordinators: Juned, Benj, Fritz, Ederic, Poyt, Gino, Karla, Kevin and AJ.

We are very excited in this project and I hope many of you can join! Looking forward to your great UP moments!

DISCLAIMER: The UP@100 Project is in no way related or connected to the official Centennial Activities of the University of the Philippines.

Vlogging can be fun and expensive! Looking to buy some new games? If you’re considering enrolling in payday loans but need to learn about cash advances before diving in then you may want to go on the web and look for some more information. You could decide that a payday loan is your answer.

CokskiBlue on TV Patrol World!

NOT. Haha. I’m still in a “recycling” mode because of my uber-heavy workload. So for now, let me show you guys our class report on “Problems in Facilities of Different Colleges in UP Diliman” in my Science, Technology and Society class. My task was to make a video report out of my groupmates’ research and pictures. So by the virtue of cramming, I came up with THIS final product. Hey. They enjoyed it! Methinks.

Now what is a news program without sponsors right? Check this out: Honda launches VCM 643

Photos by: STS groupmates and Bikoy Villanueva

Reminiscence or Warning?

February 25, 2008 – This day is not just another People Power I anniversary. Today, we will witness how the events of 1986 will converge with the present times and how it will influence the people on whether or not to take ‘communal’ action.

I agree with Benj that bloggers can be a strong force. Expressing our views on Jun Lozada and the current political crisis in our own way will possibly help and enlighten lots of netizens with the controversial issue.

We should speak up while we still can.

Let us all answer the question: What is your stand?

Quoting the group of girls beside me when I was covering the event: “May Oblation Run?!?” LOL. More like the “Oblation Dance”. I wonder why the women are wearing shirts? Pffft.

Watch out for the complete happenings next week. SUBSCRIBE TO MY FEEDS TO BE UPDATED! Happy Centennial Year, UP! Ang Galing Mo!

Someone had asked me this week if my english-dominant script on my last vidcast, The Hit List, was intentional. Well, yeah, kinda. Because I’m about to drown you in serious Tagalog this week. Haha.Ehem.

Ayan. Narinig niyo na ba ang balita tungkol kay Malu Fernandez – ang manunulat mula sa Manila Standard Today at People Asia Magazine na sumulat ng mga pagmamatang salita laban sa ating mga OFWs? Alay ko sa kanya ang bidyo na inyong mapapanood sa ibaba. At sapagkat hindi ko pa kayang gumawa ng sanaysay ukol sa Wika at Sex dahil sa aking inaalagaang imahe (ano kamo?), narito muna ang aking inihandang talumpati para sa Wika 2007 ng PinoyBlogosphere.com. At hulaan ninyo kung anong taon ko ito sinimulan (Clue: Hindi 2007) :

Akin itong isinulat ilang taon na ang nakalipas. May pinagbago ba?Pilipinas…Philippines — ano ang pagkakaiba? Ano ang mas kaaya-aya sa ating pandinig? Katulad nga ng nakasaad sa kasabihan, “Ang rosas sa kahit anong pangalan ay patuloy pa ring hahalimuyak.” Iyan din ang ating bayan. Iyan ang tinaguriang Perlas ng Silanganan. Bawat Pilipino’y taas-noo sa harap ng mga dayuhan…

Ngunit bakit? Bakit parang ang laki na ng pinagbago? Ating pagsasalita’y linigaw na ng ating dila. Parang nawala na sa ating mga puso ang ating pagka-Pilipino. Ang iba diyan ay pasosyal-sosyal pa. Halatang ikinahihiya ang kayumangging balat sa iba. Minsan ay hindi ka na talaga makapaniwala sa mga naririnig. Wala nang paggalang ang lumalabas sa kanilang mga bibig. Mapapatanong ka na lamang: Ano na nga ba ang mga nangyayari? Wala na ba tayong ibang maisip kung hindi ang sarili? Paano na ang bansa nagluwal sa atin? Huwag ninyong sabihing ang Pilipinas ay palubog na kasama natin.

Oo nga’t may mga wikang banyaga na lubos nating kailangan. Para sa kaunlaran ng bansa, ito’y dapat ring matutunan. Ngunit kung ito’y lubusan nang ipapalit sa ating maraming wika, mas maganda nang maghirap kaysa dangal ang mawala. Ipakita naman natin ang ating pagpapahalaga… upang ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas ay tingalain ng ibang bansa.

EDITED! Thanks for the correction Benj!

Concept inspired by “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”. Senatoriables in the spotlight.

Music by: Zsazsa Padilla
Photos from: Yahoo!

If this doesn’t work, just go straight to this link: YouTube