REALITY BITES....

Yahoo Movies Discloses Top 10 Box Office Movies of 2009

2010-04-28T00:48:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Movies has just disclosed the top 10 Box Office Movies of 2009. Was your favorite movie included in the list? Find out which one occupies the number slot! As expected, the top ten movies were ranked according to their top gross income. So, find out if your favorite one is included in the list.

With a total gross of $402, 111, 870, Transformers: Revenge of Fallen gets the number one spot for 2009 Box Office Movies. This movie also occupies the number 9 slot for the top ten highest domestic grossing films of all time.

Second to Transformers was Avatar that earned a total gross of #367, 536, 685. Arguably one of the most anticipated movies of the decade, director James Cameron's visionary sci-fi epic leaped into the top ten during the final weeks of the year, on a pace that could make it one of the biggest of all time. Click for more….

Double-digit lead for Aquino

2010-04-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

With the race to Malacañang nearing the homestretch, presidential bet Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III has gained a double-digit lead over his colleague and main rival, Sen. Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr., in the latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) Pre-Election Survey. More...

Personal Survey: Who is your next President?

2010-04-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hello! Since the national election is fast approaching, I wish to know your presidential bet in this coming election.

Noynoy, Mar top latest Pulse Asia survey

2010-04-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

Aquino obtained 37 percent voter preference compared to Villar’s 25 percent, while Roxas got 43 percent voter preference as opposed to the 23 percent and 19 percent obtained by NP vice presidential bet Sen. Loren Legarda and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino candidate Jejomar Binay, respectively. more....

REALITY BITES......: VOTE WISELY: KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL BET!

2010-04-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

REALITY BITES......: VOTE WISELY: KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL BET!

VOTE WISELY: KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL BET!

2010-04-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Few days from now, another milestone in the Philippine government will take place; the nation will undergo another government transition. While most of us are anticipating a peaceful election as they are all set to cast their votes, others are still undecided of their presidential bet! Since election plays a pivotal role in the development our country, we must in turn, be aware of the capacities and capabilities of our presidential candidates. More....

The World Where Human Rights Are Taken out

2009-04-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

First, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my deepest and sincerest condolences to the bereaved family of Mr. Ted Failon. As an ordinary citizen, the only thing I can offer for them is my prayers that they would find strength in such time of their struggles.

I have been following the tragic case of Mr. Failon’s wife Trina, since the day it became the talk of the nation. Personally, I cannot conclude whether Mr. Failon was behind the crime or not, because I am not the right person to say so. We have our justice system to look into this case. However, my concern was focused on how the circumstance being treated, how the law enforcers of QCPD reacted over the alleged suicide of Mr. Failon’s wife and how they treated those not-yet-proven-guilty kin of Mr. Failon. The whole nation, including those that have the access over Philippine media, have witnessed how our law enforcers treated the ordinary people such as the kin of Mr. Ted Failon. We have witnessed how they violated their individual human rights. We have seen over national television how these people were being scolded and berated without having been reading of their Miranda rights. Yes, I personally condemned the inhumane practices of our law enforcers. How can they win back the trust of the general public, if from time to time, they would use their powers against our defenseless people?

Though I am not well-versed in understanding the laws that explain such wrongdoings of the law enforcers who made the arrest of the family members of Mr. Failon, but it is still clearly undeniable that such actions are inhumane, because we felt the oppression, we felt the discrimination. Yes, even a grade school would feel the same, because we are human beings and our feelings towards what we see usher us to understand things around us. It was a tragedy that personally saddened me, because it could happen to anyone, especially to the ordinary citizens. I am now contemplating on the possibility that what if it would happen to my family. Will they do the same thing to us? Or, the more that they would persecute and maltreat us because we’re just ordinary people? Tell me, how can we be free from such kind of inhumane practices from the supposed-to-be protectors of the people if what we perceive and experience from them are all coercion and injustice?? I personally am looking forward for any action against those arresting team from our concerned government officials to please look into this matter and react accordingly. Please show to us that our justice system is not imbalance, that we can still trust our government officials, that the bill of rights in our Philippine constitution is not just mere words.

Cheap Chip Tsao!

2009-03-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

Philippine local television, in its usual six o’clock news brought out a news regarding an online column of a certain Chip Tsao of Hong Kong which we believe a very degrading and discriminatory remarks against the Filipino race. Since I was not able to see the whole news, I hurriedly searched for it in the internet and found the controversial column of Tsao. Although, I did not find it anymore at Hong Kong Magazine (online magazine), I still got a screenshot of a portion of his article. The article is titled “The War At Home” – is actually a commentary made by Tsao over the Philippine policy on Spratly Islands issue.

Here’s what he wrote and I quote:
“The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen onboard. We can live with that that's no big problem-—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons.

But hold on-—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as US$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, YOU DON'T FLEX YOUR MUSCLES AT YOUR MASTER, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a Chinese man, my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell EVERYONE of her compatriots that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to WASH MY TOILET and clean my windows 16 hours a day.

Oh yes. The Government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a HOSTAGE in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids HAVE BEEN MADE TO SHOUT 'China, Madam/Sir' loudly whenever they hear the word "Spratly". They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, "Long Chairman Mao!" at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution.” (: http://houseonahill.net/chip-tsao-on-spratly-islands-issue/)

I became interested about the issue as it created varied reactions on the net. However, my interest over the writer is more than that of the issue. I want to learn more about him before punching back at his face with my still carefully done reactions. Mr. Tsao, according to my own internet research is a famous broadcast journalist in Hong Kong, a columnist, an author of a book(s), and a former BBC reporter. With his commendable journalistic qualifications, if what I read in the net is all true, we can say that he has already mastered the art of journalism. What I mean of the Art of Journalism is that, he should be very well versed in watching his own responsibilities as a writer and he should master the code of ethics of journalism.

Now, let us focus on the facts of what he has written. He said: “But hold on-—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach.” As far as I know, the Spratly Island issue has been an issue raised by our government long time ago. And our government will not waste time on it if we do not have sufficient evidences over our claim.

“There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as US$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong.” The figures on Filipina maids might be true, although, I do not exactly know the figures. But I do have reaction on the salaries received by Filipino maids in Hong Kong. US$3, 580 per month? If this salary is based on reality, I might send all my family members in Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers, because we can have millions after a span of years. Come to think of it, $3,580 is equivalent to more than 160,000 at an exchange rate of 45 per dollar.

“As a nation of servants, YOU DON'T FLEX YOUR MUSCLES AT YOUR MASTER, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.” Yes, we are a nation of servants and we are proud of it! We are proud that millions of Filipinos are able to serve the world. But not all Filipinos working aboard are domestic helpers; we have professionals, medical practitioners, engineers, caregivers, etc. We are not ashamed of who we are as long as we are earning every single cent from a decent living. We are able to survive from poverty without risking the lives of others. We are still God-fearing fellows who are not into creating poisonous stuffs just to earn a living, even if it would mean risking the lives of others, especially the innocent ones.

The issue has created reactions from some of our top government officials. Yes, we do not want to be called as a nation of servants. Our government has been denouncing Mr. Tsao’s racial and political intolerance, even demanding him for a public apology. But whether he does it or not, the damaged has been already done. We are again at the hot seat of controversial issue. Of course, we all condemn Mr. Tsao’s “racist” article, because we as human beings, deserve an equal treatment. But, in my own opinion, sometimes we have to be treated like this, so that our government will do something to combat poverty. These “servants” would surely prefer to stay with their families if they have jobs here in our country, enough to support their needs, enough to feed their children.

Anyway, let’s not just be too sensitive. Mr. Chip Tsao is I guess a cheap one. We can still do something to prove that we do not deserve such degrading remarks and I believe we are more blessed and gifted than he is. At least, we are teaching them how practice proper hygiene so that they would not be infected again with SARS!
Just beware Mr. Cheap Chip Tsao, that domestic assistant of yours whom you require to clean you toilet and windows for 16 hours might attack you by giving you a daily cup of melamine-contained milk!

American Idol Season 8 - Top 13

2009-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

These are the lucky 13 who made up to the next level of American Idol competition.

Adam Lambert
Alexis Grace
Allison Iharta
Anoop
Danny Gokey
Jasmine Murray
Jorge Nunez
Kris Allen
Lil Rounds
Matt Giraud
Megan Corkey
Michael Sarver
Scott

Philippine Showbiz is mourning over Francism death

2009-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Multi-awarded Filipino rap icon Francis Magalona passed away at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City around noon today. He was 44.

“I don't want a media circus. I want privacy with my family,” Francis said in a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, after reports of his illness broke out.

“What I'd rather talk about is how we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital,” said Magalona, the father of eight children.

Francis' wife, Pia Arroyo-Magalona, said her husband started exhibiting symptoms in March this year. “It was very gradual, hindi siya biglaang lumabas [it didn't manifest right away].”

more...

20 million jobless?

2008-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

A United Nations agency has warned that the global financial crisis could leave 20 million more people without jobs around the world by the end of 2009, with the working poor being hit the hardest.

more...

A typical life of a dreamer

2008-10-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

In my day to day routine, of course to include my online part time job as a blogger, I get to know all the current issues, especially on global economy. That is because I am assigned to write about the world economy, stock markets and energy markets. At first, it excites me everyday, being one of the many internet surfers who get to immediately know what's happening around the globe.

Now that the global economy is almost at Great Depression that hit the global economy many decades ago, writing blogs about the assigned topics does not anymore excite me, instead, it gives me worries and worries and never ending worries. Now, I started to hate my job!

UK is known for its economic stability... before. But today, UK started to feel the financial crisis that all started from United States of America. Australia is likewise known for its established and dependable economy but now, Australia is also in the brink of economic turmoil. Its weak economy is again due to the financial crisis in US.

The Gulf countries which are known for its oil assets, are now crawling to survive, or to at least maintain its economic status.

Major international banking system and other financial institutions are taking steps to survive. Those multi-billion companies in the US and other nearby powerful countries are already losing their capitals and assets.

Thousands of contract workers abroad prefers to go home instead according to television daily newscasts because their employers cannot anymore pay for their services. These thousands of workers abroad are the breadwinners of their families.

Millions of filipinos are unemployed plus those nearly millions of contract workers who would surely an additional burden to the government due to employment problem, what will happen to us now?

I blame no one! I don't even blame the government. Sana lang , ipinanganak akong mayaman o mayaman ang naging magulang ko. So, I would never worry about my future and my children's future.

Olympics ceremony at Bird's nest

2008-08-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some guide to the opening ceremony which will commence at Beijing's "Bird's Nest"

Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the stadium has a revolutionary design, which was chosen at the end of a six month long international competition.

Itcomprises an outer skeleton of 42,000 tons of steel, making it three times as heavy as the proposed London 2012 stadium, and an inner 'skin’ of double-layered plastic which keeps out wind and rain and filters out UVA light.

more....

Beijing olympics: Games of unity

2008-08-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

August 8,2008!, that is tommorrow! The worldwide games shall commence! the world will be watching its respective hopefuls to bag the gloden beacon for its country. Every athletes is now determine that he/she could emerge victorius in every games. All is ready to face its opponents. All is ready to make friends withg the citizens of the world through this friendly competition. Let's just pray that tommorrow they will start to compete for unity. Its a timely competition for unity. We salute to all athletes! Our heroes of hopes! Our heroes for unity!

Thousands of excited Chinese on Wednesday celebrated the arrival of the Olympic torch in Beijing. The vice president of China's Olympic Committee, Li Furong, was the last one to carry the torch as it arrived at a lighting ceremony in the historic Forbidden City.

The opening ceremony will be held Friday in Beijing's "Bird Nest" national stadium. The games are set to open at 8:08 p.m. local time (1208 UTC). The event will be broadcast to an estimated one billion television viewers around the world.

more on beijing olympic...

A Common Word Between Us and You

2008-07-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

questions of faiths, foundational principles and ideals between Muslims and Christians will be discussed in Yale University. Envisioning a common understanding about religious faiths,the Yale University hosted said first of the four conference which will be attended by prominent muslim and Christian leaders across the universe. Lets just all hope that the two religions be united even in the word "respect', which is for me, the humblest word to understand each other.

The Christian response was positive, leading to planning for four conferences: Muslims with Protestant leaders in New Haven, Conn., this week; with Anglicans at Cambridge University in October; with Catholics at the Vatican in November; and finally, at Georgetown University in Washington next spring, where the social and political implications of the dialogues will come to the fore.

"Common Word has taken on an active life with a lot of potential impact ... which should lead eventually to joint projects in several areas," says John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown.

more...

Olympic Bans Iraq; asks IOC for inclusion

2008-07-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

Olympic means sports! But recently, International Olympic committee has banned Iraq in joining the Olympic. Why? It is because of its war-related activities? Personally, I see the IOC's decision as unfair and blatant descrimination. If it isn't descrimination, is there anybody who can tell me what is it?

"Our expectation -- and this has been mad is that they come to Lausanne to confirm this pledge in person," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said late Monday.

The talks will come 24 hours before a Wednesday deadline to submit competitors' names for the athletics events and 10 days before the opening ceremony in Beijing.

more...

The Philippine Sea Tragedy

2008-07-12T02:25:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of lives were claimed again by the forces of nature! Some were still missing, while some were drifted anywhere. The decomposing lifeless bodies of the victims are now threatening the health of some filipinos, especially those who are just after what the sea can give to them for a living.....

Let us help the victims.... through our prayers....

more....

Exchanging Vows with The Same Sex

2008-05-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

In California, exchanging " I do's" is not anymore limited to opposite sex lovers, this time, the vows can also be enjoyed by the same sex lovers, after the Supreme Court of California had finally quashed a ban on same sex marriage.

The ruling, making it a historical law in California State, will freely and legally allow same sex marriage as the California Supreme Court added in its ruling that to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation is a "basic civil rights", while California Chief Justice opined that " limiting the designation of marriage to a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute."

How would the religious sectors react on this? Would this mean a sign of deteriorating morals in this country? But how would you define one's human rights which can be perceived as equal definition among humans?

Yes, there is an opposing, a conflicting realities between the Laws of God and the Laws of people. For some people, its a mortal sin in accordance with what is being written in the bible. But for some who know what a human rights are, could probably explain intellegently the occurence of such ruling. But it takes no intellegent people to understand what a human rights are, because it comes from within ourselves.

Human rights is RESPECT. If you know how to respect your family, your friend, the people around you, you are respecting one's human rights. Of course, gays and lesbians also deserve to be respected because they are also human beings.

Well, we cannot really say that all people can understand everything in this world. But, for those who claim the issue as unlawful, as against the law of God, as irrelevant, and as inhumane act.... Can you please come to the open and let the whole Universe know that you do not commit sins!

Finally, I want to share with you passages from the bible, which says:

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? (Proverbs 20:9)

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

Chinese Struggles!

2008-05-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to China!

Everybody knows China. It's a history! It's a country of some origins, beliefs, nature, languages, people, economy, government....a totally different country! Its name has been built by its own
endeavor.

Today, China is one of the top performers among other nations when it comes to economic developments. No one for sure will argue that China has reached the summit of its development, through its own initiative and perseverance.

Comes August Next year, the world will be watching China's capacity to host the World's Olympic games. But, just recently, there were reports that some Chinese children were victimized by a virus. Some were dead while some are until now critical in some Chinese hospitals. This has a great impact on the next year's big event in China.

While still minding victims of the virus, another disastrous natural calamity struck China. And until now, China is struggling to reach the victims.

China is in great depression. Its people are suffering from natural calamities. Will its economic remain strong?

Let us pray for China!

When Hunger Strikes!

2008-05-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Poverty is a real threat to the world's economy!

One time, when I was on my way home from an old friend visit, I bumped up a little greasy boy carrying a plastic bag loaded with days old food stuffs. He was actually begging for alms as he said he has not yet eat for three days. He uttered those words with sincerity as it was reflected in his face. He was totally starving!

At a distance, a woman was screaming for help! I paused and curiously checked what happened to the woman. Her bag was snatched!

Well, those street scenes are not anymore new to me!. Its almost part of the daily life of one who is living in a rural areas or cities. I did not anymore ask myself about the root cause of this kind of problems in our society, because I know its real cause.... its all because of poverty.... of food shortage!

As 30 percent of the world's population are eating lavishly, there are 70 percent of people who are starving from hunger. Some of them are already dying!

It is very much alarming! Its my burden! And of course, its your too!

related topic...

The World Is Watching America!

2008-05-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, the world is watching America.

Global economic turmoil is undeniably covered with the much anticipated presidential poll in the United States of America. Most of the top newspapers worldwide have coverage of the president-wanna-bee's campaign.

now that the primaries have ended, some analysts claimed that the most awaited fight for presidency in America is divided by class, gender and race. By gender because, naturally, most of the women (I am not so sure) will favor Hilary Clinton to become the new head of the states, while, of course men will still favor the power of a man as a leader. By class because, Clinton is reportedly the choice of white-working class and the old voters while the young citizens of America is reportedly opted Obama for the presidential set. And lastly by race, because, evidently, Clinton's supporters are mostly white while Obama's are mostly black.

Both have tough and impressive records. Yet, the voters will have the final say! Who will make a change in America? Who will favor the poor? And who will change the economic situation of America?

There are dozens of questions in our minds that need to be answered. It might be a successful story of political survival. Yes, it can be! But we should never forget our own story survival!

Ringback Tones Brighten up mobile Market

2008-04-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Have you experience calling someone and hear a danceable music or melodramatic sound from the person you are calling to? Well, that's ringback tones, an old (since it had been in the mobile market years ago) mobile market strategy to win the attentions of the subscribers.

"The growth of ringbacks is among the fastest trajectory for growth of any services we're tracking," M:Metrics analyst Mark Donovan says.

For a music industry that has long relied on ringtones to pad its digital revenue pie, this has several implications, both financial and promotional.

more...