Thy Womb

To film addicts, have you seen Thy Womb? A film about a Badjao midwife’s quest to find her husband a second wife who can bear him a child. Nora Aunor and Brillante Mendoza were named MMFF Best Actress and Best Director, respectively But their film was inexplicably snubbed for the Best Picture prize despite winning five other awards perhaps due to poor boxoffice tickets sales. Well, art is obviously different from profits.

New Year countdown 3 days to go!

New Year countdown 3 days toi go! "Be at war with your vices; at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man."  Benjamin Franklin

Panagbenga 2013 Schedule

Panagbenga 2013 Schedule

 

 

Niños Inocentes

  Niños Inocentes is celebrated by some people in the Philippines like April Fools' Day ("inocente" has the connotation of gullibility). Pranksters play tricks like borrowing money without the intention of paying back.

Niños Inocentes is a Christmas tradition celebrated every 28th of December in the Philippines, and celebrated in other countries as the Holy Innocents' Day or Childermas. It commemorates the innocent male infants and boys under two years of age who were killed by order of King Herod of Judea, seeking Jesus Christ's death. This horrible occurrence took place two years following the Magi's sighting of the Star of Bethlehem. King Herod made this order as soon as he realized that he was deceived by the Three Kings whom he asked to lead him to the Messiah. He wanted to kill the Infant Jesus, whom he considered a threat to his throne (Matthew 2:16-18). Not knowing where to find Jesus, he ordered the killing of all boys under two years old. Jesus was spared because the Holy Family had fled to Egypt before the massacre was carried out.

New Year countdown: 7 days to go!

New Year countdown: 7 days to go! "Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man. " Benjamin Franklin's 1755 Poor Richard's Almanac, December

MMFF topgrosser loophole

FYI MMFF data: in metro manila 300 plus theaters were raffled equals to 44 theaters each for the 8 official movie entries to balance the combination of theaters but free booking for additional theaters (palakasan system) in the provinces which is not officially included but 8 movie entries have a nationwide simultaneous showing to avoid piracy. take note of this unfair total breakdown of theaters for each film entry: agimat- 130, sisteraka-130, shake-70, one more try-60, el pres-51, thy womb-43, saucy p-40, strangers-40. the top grosser movie announcement on december 26 will be an unfair judgement for the six other movies who got only less than 80 theaters each. mmff should change this unfair system. please pass to concerned media groups. (Posted in Cinephiles)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas ! "Let us ask the Lord that we may become vigilant for his presence, that we may hear how softly yet insistently he knocks at the door of our being and willing." Pope Benedict

Christmas countdown: 1 day to go!

Christmas countdown: 1 day to go! The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. May all these be yours at Christmas.

Christmas Countdown: 2 days to go!

Christmas Countdown: 2 days to go! May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Christmas countdown: 3 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 3 days to go! The gift of love, the gift of peace The gift of happiness... May these be yours at Christmas

Tree-toads and Frogs In Ancient Maya Art

Tree-toads and Frogs In Ancient Maya Art

Some glyphs from "Animal Figures in the Maya Codices", by Alfred M. Tozzer and Glover M. Allen.
A frog: (his necklace of circles indicates water drops)

and the tree-toad-style god:


Tozzer and Glover point out that Uo means frog in the Mayan language and Uo is a month on the Maya calendar that comes at the rainy season. The tree-toad finds pools of water at the beginning of the rainy season, breeds, and makes a loud racket. For that reason, this god is associated with bringing rain and with agriculture. It's easy for us in 2009 to chalk this 'god' stuff up to silly superstition - we would feel differently though, if we lived in Mexico in 200 AD. If it had been dry for months, the food was running out, the children were hungry, the ground was parched. We'd be doing rituals for the tree-frog god. What can we do for you, tree-frog god?!

12-21-12 : a day to remember

Whether or not the Mayans are correct, 12-21-12 is a very significant day. Of all the numbers available, they chose a date when i first saw the light more than four decades ago and made many people smile . My wish: i can still feel my family's and friends' presence via FB the day after, Dec.22. Before we all disappear, let me greet you with a hug and say " WORLD PEACE" Let us leap together for a blissful future- As Oprah Winfrey would say: "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough". To those who became part of my more than four decades of wonderful existence, the frog prince gives homage to you.http://kapitankokak.blogspot.com/2010/12/life-starts-at-forty.html

Christmas countdown: 5 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 5 days to go! "The holidays stress people out so much. I suggest you keep it simple and try to have as much fun as you can."Giada De Laurentiis

Christmas Countdown: 6 days to go!

Christmas Countdown: 6 days to go! "Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."  Dale Evans

Christmas countdown: 7 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 7 days to go! "The only blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart."- Helen Keller

Christmas Countdown: 8 days to go !

Christmas Countdown: 8 days to go ! “Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.”― Mary Ellen Chase

Christmas Countdown: 9 days to go!

Christmas Countdown: 9 days to go! "Joy resounds in the hearts of those who believe in the miracle of Christmas!Wishing you all the peace, joy, and love of the season! Season's Greetings!"

Christmas countdown: 11 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 11 days to go! “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”― Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas countdown: 12 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 12 days to go!
"Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day ".Helen Steiner Rice

12-12-12: a date to remember

Today's date, 12/12/12, is considered auspicious by some, doomed by others, and just plain easy to remember by many.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 - 12/12/12 - is the last triple-digit date alignment until Jan. 1, 2101. There will be other interesting dates, of course, but none quite as aesthetically pleasing as 12/12/12, at least not for the next century or so.

The number certainly holds significance in human existence through the millennia: 

12 hours of day and night, 

12 months in the year in the Roman calendar, 

12 signs of the Zodiac, 

12 Apostles hand-picked by Jesus to spread his word. , 

12 days of Christmas, 

12 tribes of Israel  named for the sons of Jacob.

12 gods of Olympus,

12 old testament prophets... you get the idea.

12 people in a jury

12 labors or tasks must be completed by Hercules

12 hours how the Egyptians divided the day: 10 for daylight and one each for dawn and dusk.

12 considered a "three" number because the digits add up to three — corresponds with the largest planet, Jupiter (to the sun's No. 1 and the moon's No. 2), which means wealth.

 Mathematics fanatics are excited by the sheer number of ways the number 12 can be divided: halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and twelfths.The number 12 is easily divided by 2, 3, 4, and 6  making it one of the easiest low numbers to work with and separate into groups,

 The number 12 brings harmony to the yin and yang of Chinese numerology: The number 1 is a yang number ruled by the sun, while 2 is a yin number ruled by the moon

 We group many things - baked goods, cans of beer, roses, the hours of the day - into sets of 12.

 In the Judeo-Christian tradition, it represents the product of three - symbolizing divinity (Holy Trinity, three classes of ancient Jews) - and four - symbolizing the earth (four directions, four seasons).

Doomsday diehards

However, many doomsdayers believe the date 12/12/12 heralds the end of the world, mainly owing to an interpretation of the Mayan calendar.

More pedantic believers in the end-of-the-world, meantime, are convinced that the actual doomsday is on 12/21/12, when the Mayan calendar is set to end.

Christmas countdown: 14 days to go!

Christmas countdown: 14 days to go! “Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree.”― Charlotte Carpenter

Christmas Countdown: December 10, 15 days to go!

Christmas Countdown: 15 days to go! “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."― Bob Hope

Happy birthday, december

Happy birthday to all December birthday celebrants. Ophiuchus: Dec1- Dec. 17 .. Sagittarius: Dec. 17 - Dec31. One of seven months with the length of 31 days. It starts on the same day of the week as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year. birthstones are the blue turquoise or zircon, and tanzanite. birth flower is the holly or poinsettia.Please indicate your birthdate

kasagutan sa mga bumabagabag sa iyong isipan

kasagutan sa mga bumabagabag sa iyong isipan - sana
makatulong
    ito...
   
    Tama ka sa iyong paglapit sa akin ukol sa iyong mga
katanungan....dapatwat
    hindi
    ako nakakasiguro sa lahat ng aking sagot, susubukan kong bigyang
liwanag ang
    lahat ng iyong katanungan...
   
    Ang aking kaibigan ay mayroon lang mga ilang katanungan na matagal
nang
    bumabagabag sa kanyang araw-araw na pamumuhay. maaaring ang iba rito
ay alam
    na
    rin ito ngunit walang makapagbigay ng akmang kasagutan o
pagpapaliwanag.
    ito ay
    ang mga sumusunod:
   
    1. ang squidballs ba ay bayag ng pusit?
    >>Ang squidballs ay hindi bayag ng pusit ngunit bayag ni Tiya Pusit.

   
    2. pwede bang uminom ng softdrink kapag coffee break?
    >>Pwedeng uminom ng softdrink kung coffebreak ngunit kailangan itong

    lagyan ng asukal at kopimeyt. kopimeyt dapat at huwag gatas. (milk
in
    my cereal, kopimeyt in my pepsi. sounds good to me!)
   
    ! 3. pwede bang gamitin ang a.m. radio pag gabi na?
    >>Maari lamang gamitin ang a.m. radio kapag gabi kung ang iyong
    pakikinggan ay f.m.
   
    4. ang fire exit ba ay labasan ng apoy?
    >>Ang fire exit ay ginagamit lamang bilang labasan ng apoy kapag may

    sunog.  Ito ang kanilang daan upang sila'y makatakas o ang tinatawag

    na "fire escape".
   
    5. ang uod ba pag namatay ay inuuod din?
    >>Ang tao kapag namatay ay hindi tinatao. Malamang ang uod ay hindi
rin
    inuuod. Kung ang tao ay inuuod kapag nalaguatan ng hininga, siguro
ang
    uod kapag namatay ay tinatao.
   
    6. totoo bang ang mga manok na pinatay sa jolibee ay masasaya kaya
sila
    tinawag na chicken joy?
    >>Ang mga manok na pinatay sa Jolibee ay masaya kung kaya't sila'y
    tinawag na chicken joy. Ngunit hindi kinakailangang sa jolibee
patayin
    ang manok upang maging ito ay maging masaya...ang mga manok ay
    nagiging masaya kapag sila ay may kasama sa b! uhay. Kapag ito ay
    nag-iisa lamang, ito ay hindi chicken joy kundi...mcchicken singles.

    (Ang pinakamasayang manok sa lahat ay iyong 6-pc. chicken mcnuggets
o
    tinatawag na "orgy" sa inggles)
   
    7. mayroon bang kahit isang langgam na mahilig sa maalat?
    >>Alam na ba ninyo iyong patawa na "itlog maalat"? Nakagat ako
    minsan ng langgam.......
   
    8. kung ang 7-11 store ay bukas 24 hrs a day , 7 days a week , at
365 days
    a year. bakit may lock pa ang pinto nila? bakit ? bakit?
    >>Dalawa ang dahilan. Una, may coffee break (tingnan ang katanungan
    bilang 2 hinggil sa maaaring inumin kapag coffe break) din naman ang

    mga nagtatrabaho sa 7-11. Pangalawa, mayroon tayong tinatawag na
leap
    year.
   
    9. bakit di mataas ang highway?
    >>Dahil kung mataas ang hiway, walang paglalagyan ng skyway.
   
    10. ba't alang lumilipad na sasakyan sa flyover?
    >>Hindi lang natin nakikita ang mga nagliliparang sasakyan sapag!
kat
    hindi tayo tumitingala kapag tayo ay nasa flyover. Ang pagsalin ng
    dayuhang salita na flyover sa katutubong wika ay "fly"-lipad,
"over"-
    sa ibabaw. Ibig sabihin nito na ang mga kotse ay hindi lumilipad sa
    flyover ngunit sa ibabaw ng flyover. Ngayon kung titingala ka naman
    kapag ikaw ay nasa flyover ang tangi mong makikita ay ang kisame ng
    iyong sasakyan. Alam kong wala sa inyong mayroong sasakyan na Miata,

    Boxster, Kompressor, Z3, Z8 at kung ano-ano pang kotseng pangmayaman

    kaya't huwag na kayong magpumilit mamilosopo...ako lang ang may
    karapatan. Kung idadahilan niyo naman na mayroon kayong sunroof,
    hanapin ninyo ang inyong tinatawag na "sense of humor". namamatay ng

    maaga ang palaging seryoso.
   
    sana ay nasagot ko ang iyong mga tanong at kung mayroon pang ibang
bagay  na
    bumabagabag sa iyong isipan huwag kang mag-alinlangang magpadala sa
akin
    ng e-mail.  at lagi rin natin sana tandaan ang dayuhang salawi! kain
na "ask a
    dumb question and you'll get a dumb answer."
   

Seafafers' rights: Dismissal and Due process

(Know your Rights Under the POEA Standard Employment Contract)

HOW does due process apply to the employment relationship of Filipino seafarers with their employers?
The POEA Standard Employment Contract and Implementing Rules of Book V of the Labor Code prescribe the standards of due process that must be substantially observed in cases of termination of employment on just causes, i.e., the serving of the first written notice on the employee, which states the ground(s) for termination and which gives the employee the opportunity to explain, the holding of a hearing where the employee may present his evidence, and the serving of the notice of termination, indicating the grounds established to justify the dismissal.

In the case of Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. vs. Felicisimo Carilla (G.R. No. 157975, June 26, 2007), the seafarer filed a complaint for illegal dismissal after he was summarily repatriated to the Philippines while the vessel he embarked on was in India. His employer presented mere unauthenticated and unsigned papers and reports to enumerate his alleged acts of incompetence. The Supreme Court found that the said documents have no probative value and that the seafarer was dismissed without due process hence, his claim for the unexpired portion of his contract partially granted.
 
In the case of Joel B. de Jesus vs. NLRC (G.R. No. 151158, Aug. 17, 2007), just barely 3 months from the day he departed from the Philippines and embarked on his vessel, the seafarer was repatriated after he was diagnosed to be suffering from gastric ulcer. After his request for financial assistance and medical treatment was disallowed, he filed a claim for payment of his unpaid salary, sickness allowance, and reimbursement of medical expenses against his employer before the National Labor Relations Commission on the ground that he was illegally discharged.

The Court observed that since the employer did not present proof that: (a) the seafarer breached his employment contract and (b) that the prescribed disciplinary procedures on notice and hearing provided under Section 17 of the POEA SEC were followed, the employer failed to establish its defense of the seafarer’s valid dismissal. As such, the seafarer’s claims for payment were accordingly granted.

San Pedro Calungsod, Pinoy Seafarers, and the path to sainthood.

The Filipino seafarers are not only major contributors to the country’s economic growth, they are also ‘saint potentials’, thus said  Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle during the 17th National Seafarers' Day (NSD) last  September 30, 2012 .   

 The archbishop was referring to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the soon-to-be second Filipino saint as he noted that  these Philippine Catholic Church’s two martyrs were seafarers and missionaries at the same time before they became saints. He added that Ruiz and Calungsod sailed to other countries and died for a mission: “to teach the Good News.”

 “You should be instruments for what is good work and not of temptations,” he added. “The Filipinos today are sailing everywhere. Bring with you the best of the Filipinos.”

President Benigno Aquino III  approved Proclamation 481 declaring October 21 as the   national day of celebration on the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod to honor his “life and martyrdom”.  “The life and martyrdom of Blessed Calungsod shall serve as an inspiration to Filipinos, particularly the youth to live a life anchored on values and principles,” part of the proclamation reads.

Calungsod was a teenage catechist from Visayas who accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tumhon village in Guan, Marianas, where they were killed on April 2, 1672. Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified him in March 2000.

The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that the deployed Filipino seafarers in 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553), 2008 (261,614), 2009 (330,424),  2010 (347,150),  and  2011 (400,000) brought in  the dollar remittances that have also  been constantly increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009, US$3.8B in 2010 to S$4.3B in 2011. On the other hand, the Philippines as a flag State has a registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage.

Given the vast Philippine coast line (twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China), Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry, flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.

National Seafarers' Day 2012

The Filipino seafarers are not only major contributors to the country’s economic growth, they are also ‘saint potentials’, thus said  Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle during the 17th National Seafarers' Day (NSD) last  September 30, 2012 .  

 The archbishop was referring to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the soon-to-be second Filipino saint as he noted that  these Philippine Catholic Church’s two martyrs were seafarers and missionaries at the same time before they became saints. He added that Ruiz and Calungsod sailed to other countries and died for a mission: “to teach the Good News.”

 “You should be instruments for what is good work and not of temptations,” he added. “The Filipinos today are sailing everywhere. Bring with you the best of the Filipinos.”

The Philippines is celebrating this week NSD carrying the theme "MARINONG PILIPINO: DAKILA PA RIN ANG KAGITINGAN; One hundred years after the Titanic”. One of the consequences of the sinking, in 1912, of the Titanic, in which 1,503 people lost their lives,  was the adoption, two years later, of the first International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS Convention). The convention  is still in force today, amended and updated many times.

 The NSD theme was patterned after the 2012 Maritime Week theme selected by the of International Maritime Organization (IMO) to pay tribute to all those who, in the course of the 100 years, have contributed to improvements in maritime safety. The celebration also aimed to examine whether the lessons drawn from amongst the most costly (in human lives lost) accidents of the last 100 years have been learnt to the full.

  Under Proclamation No.1049 issued in 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos,  the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in   activities related to the National Seafarers’ Day during the last Sunday of September every year. The purpose of the Proclamation is to give due recognition to the vital role of Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the other hand, in its Circular No. 1884 dated July 11, 1996, requested all member nations to “celebrate’ World Maritime Day (WMD)during the last week of every September (maritime week) of each year. Consequently, Presidential Proclamation No. 866 dated Sept. 6, 1996 declared Sept. 27, 1996 and the last Friday of September every year, as National Maritime Day (NMD) spearheaded alternatively by the government agencies , to wit Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and  Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that the deployed Filipino seafarers in 2006 (274,497), 2007 (266,553), 2008 (261,614), 2009 (330,424),  2010 (347,150),  and  2011 (400,000) brought in  the dollar remittances that have also  been constantly increasing from US$1.9B in 2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009, US$3.8B in 2010 to S$4.3B in 2011. On the other hand, the Philippines as a flag State has a registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage.

Given the vast Philippine coast line (twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China), Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry, flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.

For his part, Vice President Jejomar Binay said the government is ensuring that the rights of the Filipino seafarers are protected. He mentioned the recent ratification in the Senate of the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 being pushed by different maritime labor institutions, organizations and even the Church.

 Ironically, the Philippines almost lost its slot on the historical first thirty ratifying countries of the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006 It took the philippines six years to ratify MLC2006 on August 13, 2012 after it became a signatory of the so called international magna carta for seafarers rights..The convention sets out minimum standards and fair working conditions for seafarers worldwide. Philippines is the thirtieth country to ratify MLC 2006 out of the 314 signatories and one of the of the first thirty ratifying countries required for the convention to take effect. 

 Activities nationwide include the Memorial at Sea, High Mass, Grand Parade, Oratorical/ Art/ Photo Contest, Karaoke challenge, and the Search for Top Ten Outstanding Maritime Students. The Grand Parade from LUSWELF Kalaw to the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) gym  was participated in by more than 4000 stakeholders from maritime schools, government agencies, manning agencies, training centers, maritime organizations, unions, families and private institutions.

See me at 2:30 of this Balitanghali coverage by GMA of the Mass during the offertory in front of VP Binay.

Congratulations to the Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines during this year's National Seafarers' Day celebration. I was one of the judges who interviewed the short-listed 34 students from the original 70 plus hopefuls nationwide. After the 10-hour interview with each student giving their best within 15 minutes each, these top ten students were chosen. Some of the questions we asked them:    a) if your boat had an accident and only two are left (you and one of the other hopefuls) will you give him the remaining salbabida? (b) how will you deal with discrimination on board? (c) due to high income, will the "expected compulsory" monetary support to family members cultivate a culture of mendicancy (d) the "utility boy" phenomenom; and (d) sell yourself to a manning agency as a promising future Filipino seafarer. The search was sponsored by Western Union.

Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines

Four of the Top Ten Maritime Students of the Philippines during this year's National Seafarers' Day celebration being interviewed live over our radio program Bantay OCW Kabalikat ng Marino last September 27, 2012 . It is aired every thursday. 1230:00 p.m. to 2:00pm Radio Inquirer DZIQ 990AM. Then at 8:00p.m. Friday NBN channel4