Amis Courtship Dance

Here's another of the Amis culture in Taiwan. This is almost a sight that one can behold among the aborigines in Nueva Ecija or Baguio. Just looking at the resemblance between the Taiwanese natives and Filipino natives makes me think, "Filipino culture isn't too unique."

With my stand that the Taiwanese natives are actually of Malay origin - I'm not surprised at the similarity here and there.

Ghosts or Money: the Witnesses of the Chiong Sisters' Case

As it's July and it's been raining hard , it's hard for me not to think of the Chiong Sisters case. It's because the two sisters disappeared during a rainy evening . Sure, it's already been more than 20 years. However, an injustice for one is an injustice for all. In this case, it's not just injustice for the #Chiong7, the families of the #Chiong7--but also for the Chiong family. There's really no real justice when the wrong people are convicted. As I watched Jacqueline Comes Home --I can't help but comment where God supposedly spoke to Thelma Jimenea-Chiong, where Mrs. Chiong went to a group of seances (which may have never happened and Mrs. Chiong stormed out of the theater, crying, during the rape scenes), and a scene where Marijoy's ghost was at the ravine at Tan-awan, Carcar. Now, it's time to look at another angle of the witnesses that came forward to incriminate Paco. Were there ghosts or money? This would be an interesting question to as...

[OPINION] Why Do Some Filipino Boomers Insist that the Marcos Years Were Under a "Parliamentary System"

This is a screenshot I got on Facebook. The Tweet is courtesy of Raissa Espinosa-Robles, who I hear is a marites or a gossiper. I'm not denying that there are some truths in what she said. It's true that the Marcos Years have their well-documented human rights abuses. However, Mrs. Robles still continues to insist in the myth of a parliamentary system under Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.'s regime. It's not just Mrs. Robles but also some Filipino boomers who keep saying, "Are you crazy? We had a parliamentary system under Marcos." I could show them some evidence like Marcos' severe lack of legitimacy to disprove the parliamentary systme. I even wrote about the snap elections because Marcos was a president with powers (read here ). Under a parliamentary system, the president is purely ceremonial. The president is just a door opener and credentials receiver! Benigno Simeon A. Aquino Jr. and Salvador "Doy" Laurel both challenged the legitimacy of Marcos...

Pol Pot's Brutal Regime May Be Summarized by "Hating Everyone Better Than Him"

Documentation Center of Cambodia Archives Two days ago, on April 17, 1975, marked the 50th year since Pol Pot (real name, Saloth Sar) rose to power. The Khmer Rouge only ruled for four years, but it showed one thing--a reign of less than six years isn't necessarily benevolent (read here ). A look at Pol Pot's past may show that he was the typical inggitero--the Filipino word for someone who's easily jealous of others! The History website reveals this brutal detail on Pol Pot's regime, which was most likely fueled by jealousy : Pol Pot was a political leader whose communist Khmer Rouge government led Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. During that time, an estimated 1.5 to 2 million Cambodians died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork. One detention center, S-21, was so notorious that only seven of the roughly 20,000 people imprisoned there are known to have survived. The Khmer Rouge, in their attempt to socially engineer a classless communist society, took particular ...

Martial Law Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines

September 21 paints a grim picture, especially for what's often called the martial law victims. I remember panicking back when I was 11 years old. It was possible that the late Fidel V. Ramos may declare martial law at any time. However, researching the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines can help. It can help Filipinos determine what needs to be revised to fit the current times. Article VII Section 18 says the following about martial law: SECTION 18. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the p...

"Give Up Tomorrow" Deleted Scene: The Safehouse Where the Crime Supposedly Took Place

Give Up Tomorrow has been an interesting documentary. Why I was fascinated by it because of how it shook my mind. It turned out that it was a trial by publicity . It was also at that time when The Calvento Files aired a dramatization of Davidson Rusia's testimony. As Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said, it was a very unpopular move. People already thought Juan Francisco G. Larrañaga aka Paco (and the seven others) were guilty. People thought Davidson's story was worth believing. Some deleted scenes never made it into the final cut This deleted scene talks about the owner of the place where the crime allegedly happened. David Gurkan now recalls his experience. According to Davidson, this was the story as recorded by the Supreme Court of the Philippines: From the evidence of the prosecution, there is no doubt that all the appellants conspired in the commission of the crimes charged. Their concerted actions point to their joint purpose and community of intent. Well s...

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