Hip Old Man Dances to Aborigine Dance "High Green Mountain"

Here's a video of an old man dancing to the Taiwanese folk song "High Green Mountain". This is one of my favorite versions. The song ends with an aboriginal chant--something that sounds like an Ifugao beat from Nueva Ecija.

Are People Who Say Systems Don't Matter Be Willing to Prove Their Claims for a Million Pesos?

People often argue that it's not the system but the people who run it. Some people have their examples like the late former Philippine president Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III and former Philippine vice president Atty. Maria Leonor "Leni" S. Gerona-Robredo. They would say that both Noynoy and Leni are "prime examples" why charter change isn't needed, just a change of people in power. Some people even say that the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines is "inviolate". If that's so then what happened to Article XVII that makes it open to amendments? Why wasn't that even used? That means even making a new constitution isn't illegal per se--unless one did what Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. did during the martial law era! However, if we understand simple psychological science, we need to look at basic psychology. Please, I don't need a doctorate in certain degrees, in the Greenbelt Universities, to understand that there are mist

Is the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, the Only Constitution That Institutionalizes, "Public Office is a Public Trust"?

It's time to revisit one of the favorite people for people against constitutional amendments or reforms, namely Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. (read here ). Yes, the same guy who was also related by marriage to Mrs. Thelma Jimenea-Chiong. Davide's school of thought is in the "uniqueness" of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines as if it's the "best constitution in the world". Davide would mention that the 1987 Constitution is the only one he knows would be the best. A shame really that Davide himself, like Kishore Mahbubani, was once a United Nations representative, and he's saying such stuff. Article XI of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines writes this in Section 1: Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives. Okay, I get it. However

Got Interested in Mexico, Pampanga, after Eating at La Salsa Fil-Mex Cantina

After eating at La Salsa Fil-Mex Cantina (the restaurant is from Zamboanga), I suddenly became interested in Mexico, Pampanga. I find the food delicious and I want to eat more of their dishes. Someone cooks sisig and I would think of chimichanga or burrito. Sisig is a pork dish made from the muscles of the pig's head. I looked into a Mexican menu and found the word barbacoa, which sounds like balbacua . I got into a conversation with a Mexican tourist. The Philippines was a Spanish colony. Spanish influence would be more prevalent in Luzon and Visayas than in Mindanao. Not all of Mindanao was conquered by Spain. I looked into the history of Mexico, Pampanga, from the official website : That the town of Mexico was said to have been founded in the year 1581. In the book of a certain Fr. Buzeta, conquerors arrived in this town in small boats coming from the south landing in a bushy place now called San Jose Matulid. But according to Augustininan records, the town was probably founded

The Unknown Mastermind Behind Ninoy Aquino's Death

Today is Ninoy Aquino Day though the holiday has been moved to Friday. It's to promote the long weekend . I'm ashamed as some people continue to promote the idea that it's a "revisionist thing". Unlike Christmas, Ramadan, New Year, Chinese New Year, etc.--commemorating the death of the late Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" A. Aquino Jr. might be best called a political holiday . I would like to discuss what might remain as a mysterious murder case. There are times when crimes happen and the wrong person is caught. A crime can occur and most people will never know who masterminded it. It may be the case of Ninoy. Some day it was the late Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and others say it was the late Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco. However, there hasn't been any empirical evidence to justify the claims. I wouldn't claim to now who committed the murder. I remember growing up believing that Marcos Sr. was the one who ordered the assassination. Another person s

A Certain MARITES Vandalized Wikipedia to "Prove" that the Chiong Sisters Are "Still Alive"

Christmas can bring me some memories. One of them was having a Christmas vacation with the Chiong Sisters Case in mind back in high school. Above is a vandalism I found on Wikipedia (which I take with a grain of salt). Please be reminded Wikipedia is where anyone can edit therefore it's a spurious source. Without her permission, the 2023 photo was most likely taken from Mrs. Thelma Jimenea-Chiong's Facebook. I agree with Marty Syjuco that Mrs. Chiong was the victim of the crime. However, seven innocent people were wrongly tagged as the public demanded answers. There can only be justice for either side once the real culprits are discovered. Some cases happen and the real perpetrators have not yet been found. I'd like to really point out some simple facts. Let me remind people of the following facts: Amelie Arquilliano-Chiong was born as Amelie R. Arquilliano. She is the wife of the late Marijoy Jimenea Chiong's brother Bruce. She's in Canada. The three Chiong siste

I Watched the "Case Unclosed" Episode on the Chiong Sisters

It would be Halloween tomorrow. Sorry in advance for non-Tagalog speakers if you can't understand. It's too bad I have no transcript from which to translate to English. Instead of wasting time on Noli de Castro's "Aswang" videos--it would be best to rewatch this documentary. I wish I had seen it back when it was first aired. A lot of inconsistencies are pointed out in this documentary. Apparently, it was aired on October 16, 2008. The video doesn't deny Francisco Juan "Paco" G. Larrañaga's previous case of attempted kidnapping, the Uy brothers' mother revealing that her sons weren't friends with Paco during that time, and the fact that there's a lot of inconsistencies . How can I honor the Supreme Court decision after realizing that Davidson Rusia wasn't even cross-examined, where was all the evidence, and blind faith in the judiciary that it will never convict an innocent person? I encourage people to watch this episode and see

What's the Use of Complaining About Celebrities and Political Dynasties Running for Politics While DEFENDING Presidential and Rejecting Parliamentary?

2025 is just around the corner for the midterm elections . People keep emphasizing the need to "defend the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines" for any amendments whatsoever. If that were true then we really need to remove Article XVII entirely if the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was meant to be set in stone (read here ). Several camps whether it's PDP-Laban supporters, Liberal Party of the Philippines supporters, Uniteam supporters, etc.--I can expect social media mudslinging at its finest . I keep talking about the need to amend or even replace the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. However, they keep acting like it's the best constitution in the world, they cite Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. (and others like the Monsods) to idolatrous levels , and when I talk about the parliamentary system--I can expect the whole, "Boohoo! It will never work because we already tried it under Marcos! The proof was Cesar Virata!" However, I wrote a refute on that

A Parliamentary Philippines for Better Competitive Relations Between the Government and the Opposition

GMA News There was a handshake between former vice president Atty. Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona-Robredo and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. in Sorsorgon . The two shook hands despite the rivalry they had in 2016 and 2022 for two positions. Recently, Kristine PH has caused damage in certain areas of Luzon. Marcos has shown a sign of courtesy to Mrs. Robredo by sending rubber boats to Naga, Camarines Sur . It can be said, "See, we don't need a parliamentary system! Marcos and Robredo are now on good terms!" However, we can't always guarantee that the Government and the Opposition will always be on good terms. Some people still assume that systems don't matter. I even remember passing on someone on Facebook who said, "Why don't you give me a study that will prove the parliamentary system will work in the Philippines?" I fired a rebuttal and said, "Where's your study that the parliamentary system will make it worse

REAL TALK: The Liberal Party of the Philippines Can ONLY Become The Genuine Opposition Under A Genuine Parliamentary Constitution

PhilStar It's difficult to talk with people who are still comfortable with what they already know, right? However, the term Dilawan need not be drowned in negativity, but it can be drowned in negativity if the brand gets marred in a popularity-based political system. The Philippines currently uses the presidential system. If we were in a parliamentary system right now--chances are Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. wouldn't be prime minister due to the difficulty involved as explained in " How to Become Singapore's Prime Minister, Explained in 7 Steps ". That means all candidates would need to do the following: Study and specialize Wait for the call Tea sessions and panels Take a test Perform well as an MP Win the trust of your peers Prepare for office The Dilawans can call themselves the genuine opposition, march in their proud yellow t-shirts, and more. However, under a presidential system, there's no real opposition, and the platform of any party

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