All begins with three principles: Control, Passion and Diligence. From Control springs Direction. From Passion springs Feeling. From Diligence springs Persistence. But these virtues are no more important than the other five: Continue reading here….

Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) whose sole mission is to provide direction, policies, programs and standards towards quality technical education and skills development here in the Philippines, has been approached by the FPPP (Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation) and some of Manila’s old time bigwigs in the professional photography community to develop a certification and qualification standards for all Filipino photographers.

What brought this about was supposedly the emergence of cheaper, better, and easier to use digital cameras, which is now breeding a new generation of wannabe photographers. I think this certification business fine and dandy, BUT I wonder, does this certification apply to everyone, or only to those who had purchased a high-priced dSLR from the past year or so ago and now becoming so good with it that he is fast becoming a threat to the revenue stream of professionals currently doing advertising and wedding shoots?

If certification becomes a requirement to newbies only, won’t this propagate the so-called ol’ boys network and keep the new talents outside hanging by the fringe; forever dependent upon the blessings of the old timers? Hence, hinder inchoate trailblazing perspectives associated with the young.

Will Tesda someday require our composers to take certification tests as well? Come to think of it, with the proliferation of affordable synthesizers, sequencers, drum machines and Mac laptops, anyone can write music as accompanying soundtrack to those TV ads. I’m not sure about the local music business, but in the States, I know of young people making substantial income from royalties derived from writing music for TV commercials and video games. None of these kids went to music school; they’re simply driven by an intense desire to make music and now making incredible money from it.

How about our writers and poets? There are now computer programs available to make writing novels and poetry easier. Shouldn’t these people be subjected to certification as well?

Read the rest of entry… 

The ultimate Harry Potter boxed set, containing all 7 HP books, will apparate in U.S. bookstores starting October 1st.

The list price for the set is $195. Amazon is selling it for $116.99, and Barnes and Noble is selling it for $136.50 for non-members.

[More info here]

Greetings, peons! I, Victor Von Doom, welcome you to this first installment of this grand series Doom would like to call “Know Your Comic Book Characters with Dr. Doom”. Although Doom finds this thing you call “blogging” pitiful, Doom sees that it is essential for you lowlifes to be acquainted with your comic book characters. Why? Because Doom decrees it to be essential, that’s why! For this inaugural edition of this wondrous series, Doom shall talk about that pesky wall-crawler, the so-called “amazing” Spider-Man.

Witness more of Doom’s brilliance here.

The blogosphere is discussing about creating a guidelines for bloggers, it’s great and all, but let us not forget that there are laws that governs blogging and laws that covers blogging. This site lists 12 Laws that is applicable to all bloggers (primarily to the US bloggers).

Here are what may or can apply to Philippine-based bloggers: CLICK HERE.

Dean Alfar, apparently one of the most respected Pinoy bloggers and whose presentation – based on most accounts – was the most applauded during IBlog3, has announced in his blog, Notes from the Peanut Gallery, that the Eastwood City branch of A Different Bookstore will be conducting a 2-hour writing workshop on Speculative Fiction. Read more at Pinoy Seminars.

Or, earning corporate-level salary working at home, while producing art. Reason? Following one’s bliss.

Don’t rush headlong into a world already painted by others. There is another world which you can paint yourself.

Read more at Slip of the Pen.

Another initiative to publish rare and out-of-print materials on the net will soon be available for the public to read.
The Philippine Revolutionary records will soon be available through Filipiniana.net, a portal on Philippine studies. It will give us the original proof of our fight for sovereignity against Spain in 1896 and the United States during the Filipino-American War.

These records has been stolen from us for many years and was just returned to the Philippine government in 1957. Learn how our Filipino patriots fight for our freedom…read more

Ever since I became a work-from-home problogger and freelance writer, I’ve rarely endured weeks that totally sap the life-force out of my sickness-prone body. Those weeks were the fare in UP, where I was continually battered by exams, extra-curricular responsibilities, and part-time work (not to mention the arduous commute!).

This blog post is my way of paying homage to that tortuous week. Itinerary in a nutshell: got the prize for the Philippine Star/National Book Store essay contest (see previous post), dealt with crap – literally, and went to the Phil. Blog Awards Night.

Read the full post at Slip of the Pen.

Today, Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize winner in Literature 1991, offered me her hand and I shook it. The occasion was the reception held after a discussion on “The Book As Prize.” The “prize” was the Man Booker International Prize, and the “speakers” were the judges for 2007: Gordimer, Colm Tóibín, and Elaine Showalter. Earlier in the day, they had announced the names of 15 authors who made it to the Judges’ List of Contenders. More…

Isang pagbati mula sa madilim na lagusan. Nawa’y makita nating sabay ang liwanag sa dulo ng ating nilalakaran.

Click here for more cover art for the US and UK adult and children’s editions of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

Ang pangalan ko ay hindi na mahalaga. Hindi ako ang pumili nito. Ang mahalaga ay ngayon ay nababasa ninyo ito, sapagkat ito ang laman ng aking isipan.

Ako ay labingwalong taong gulang at kasalukuyang nag-aaral sa Pamantasan. Tinatapos ko ang kung anong kursong wala naman akong pakialam. Alamin na sa aking palagay ay ako lamang ang mayroong mga ideyang ganito. Alamin na nabubuhay akong walang pag-asa, pananampalataya at paniniwala. Hindi ako namamalimos ng inyong awa, pag-unawa, o anuman. Huwag magbigay-payo.

Kailangan ko lang na mailabas ang mga sama ng loob ko. Kung baga, isa itong therapy. Alamin na hanggang 20 lang ako. Ayoko nang magtagal sa lugar na ito. Sa aking palagay naman ay naging mabuting tao naman ako. Ni kailanman ay hindi ako nanuntok o nanakit ng kapwa. Hindi ako naninigarilyo, umiinom o ano pa mang bisyo. Kaya kung may langit man at mapupunta ako roon, ayos. Kung sa impiyerno naman, ayos rin. Kung wala naman pala talagang langit o impiyerno o ano mang buhay pagkatapos nito, okey lang din sa akin yun. Basta alam kung kahit papano ay nakapag-iwan
ako ng anumang anuman sa mundong ito.

Magsisilbi itong aking liham pamamaalam. Huwag nyo na akong intindihin. Sasama lang loob nyo. Okey din lang naman kung hindi. Maraming salamat. Taong 2007, Marso 24, sabado, sa isang internet cafe, Shopping center.

Pamagat:

PATAGIN ANG MAYNILA

Bulok na palabas sa TV.

Bulok na produkto sa merkado.

Bulok na mayayamang pulitiko.

Bulok na sistema ng edukasyon.

Bulok na pulisya.

Bulok na burukrasya.

Bulok na paniniwalang Kristiyanismo.

Bulok na mga artistang sinasambang tila mga diyos, binubuhusan ng pera, iniidolo ng mga bulok na masang winawaldas ang buhay sa panonood ng mga walang kuwentang palabas, mga tsismis tungkol sa kanilang mga paboritong mga artista, mga Koreanovela, mga Tsinovela, mga panandaliang-aliw samantalang ang kanilang mga anak ay walang suot, walang makain, walang edukasyon

Bulok na mediang nagsusubo ng samu’t-saring kabulukan sa mga isip ng mga bulok na kabataang ginagaya naman kung ano ang uso, na nawalan na ng kakayahang mag-isip dahil sa paglilibang sa mga videogames – sa CounterStrike, sa Ragnarok, sa FreeStyle, sa mga walang kabuluhang bagay, sa pagsusugal, sa bilyar, sa sigarilyo, sa droga, sa mga maiingay na scooter, sa mga fraternities, sororities, mga gangs na walang saysay.

Bulok na mga paaralang walang mga libro, walang maupuan, walang guro, butas ang kisame, sira ang pinto, basag ang bintana, may daga, may ipis, may estudyanteng walang alam, walang natututunan.

Bulok na kapaligirang pinagtatapunan ng mga gamit nang injection, mga sanitary napkin, mga diaper ng mga sanggol, ng mga sanggol, mga plastic na balat ng kendi, tsitsirya, ng Moby, ng Richee, ng Tortillas, ng Piattos, ng Nova, ng Crispy Patata, mga bulok na panlamang-tiyang pumapatay sa isip

Bulok na mga librong napag-iwanan na ng panahon, mga librong naninilaw, naaagnas,
mga nobelang Pilipinong walang bumabasa, mga magasing walang lamang makabuluhan.

Bulok at walang disiplinang mamamayang hinahangaan ang mga dapat pandirihan, sinasamba ang mga dapat sunugin, nagdarasal sa kanilang Diyos na sila ay yumaman, gumaling, magkaroon ng makakain, buhay ay ginugugol sa isang paniniwalang tulad din ng drogang nagbibigay pag-asa gayong ang katawa’y unti-unting nabubulok na, isipang kinakain
ng antigong bulok na pananampalataya.

Bulok na mga religious leaders na singyaman ng mga druglord at jueteng lords na ginagamit ang katangahan ng karamihan upang magkaroon ng impluwensiyang pulitikal, mga religious leaders na ginagamit ang pangalan ni HesuKristo para makalikom ng maraming salapi, gayong si Kristo, sa kanyang buhay ay itinaguyod ang karukhaan, ang simpleng pamumuhay, mga matatabang paring de-kotse, naka-Volvo, naka-Highlander, mga arsobispong nakatira sa mga malalaking kumbento, di kailanman ginugutom, di kailanman naiinitan sa kanilang mga de-aircong silid, mga paring sinasamba na tila kung anong tagapagligtas na bumagsak sa lupa, mga katumbas ng prayle sa nakaraan, mga
nakasutanang palamunin.

Bulok at maruruming kalyeng napupuno ng dumi ng mga Rottweiler, ng mga Doberman, ng mga Pitbull, ng mga Dalmatian, ng mga askal, ng mga pusa, mga daanang ginagawang parking space, mga kalyeng tinitirhan ng mga taong-grasa, mga baliw, na kung sa gabi’y nagiging pugad ng mga mamamatay-tao, mga rapist, mga halang ang bituka’t kaluluwa, mga taong mas masahol pa sa asong kinakain ang sariling dumi.

Bulok na mga pulitikong wala nang ginawa kundi ang magpakayaman at sa kung minsa’y sinusundot ng konsensya’y nagdodonate ng ilang kwarta sa isang bahay-ampunan o foundation o anuman, mga pulitikong nagmamay-ari sa halos lahat ng lupain ng bansa, mga pulitikong nagmula sa mga bulok na mga mayayamang pamilyang kunwa’y mahabagin, mapagbigay, mapagkumbaba, gayong sila-sila rin naman ang pinagsisilbihan, yinuyukuran, pinupuri.

At sa mga kabulukang ito ay nagagawa pa ring magpista, magkaroon ng sagala, ng mga pagdiriwang.

Nagagawa pa ring magbiruan ng mga politiko sa Senado at Kongreso.

Nagagawa pa ring magdasal at umasa sa isang di-nakikitang nilalang.

Nagagawa pa ring ngumiti at tumawa ng mga masang nakatutok ang mga mata sa Eat Bulaga.

Nagagawa pa ring sikmurain ang mga kalapastanganang ginagawa sa mga kababaihang OFW, mga babaeng ginagahasa ng mga
sundalong Kano, mga inaalila ng mga Arabo, mga Pilipinang binibitay, sinasampal, hinahampas, na napipilitang tumalon mula sa kung anong palapag ng building, nilulunod, pinipira-piraso, pinapatay.

At ang solusyong aking naiisip ay:

Pasabugin ang mga building sa Ayala.

Wasakin ang Malacañang.

Ang Senado at Kongreso.

Paguhuin ang mga antigong simbahan.

Patayin ang mga pari, jueteng lords, druglords, religious leaders, mga pulitiko

Imasaker ang mga maimpluwensiyang mapilya, pasabugin ang kanilang mga mansyon sa kung saang subdibisyon.

Gusto kong makakita ng ilog ng luha at dugo.

Patagin ang Maynila.

Abangan pa ang mga susunod na kabanata sa karaangtawo.multiply.com

I have always liked amazon.com but have always found the prices and shipping costs way beyond me. Until I discovered nationalbookstore.com.ph.  I said to myself, this is more like it.  Did a quick search for books priced at P1 to P200 and was delighted to find some interesting reads, at least for me.  Go on, read more at http://www.pinoyseminars.blogspot.com.

Just as I was looking for something to blog about this weekend…! My piece, “Learning Early”, won this week’s If My Life Were a Book essay writing contest held by National Book Store, The Philippine Star, and Globe Telecom. You can read it at yesterday’s Sunday Lifestyle section (1st of 6 sections, page 2), or at the PhilStar website.

Read more at Slip of the Pen (http://blog.corsarius.net/2007/03/11/published-in-the-philippine-star)

1.

i only know
your name

yet here you are
breathing

upon my sweat
drenched skin

while we both lay
across the dry

straw matted
earth

dusk blowing a
powder orange

candle lit
sky

Read the whole poem!

Cold beer. That’s what it was. Nothing like a cold beer to end a long day. Back in the old days, he was a record holder for downing the most bottles of beer in 10 minutes! When it came to drinking marathons, he was always the last man standing. When they went out clubbing, his tab always had the most number of digits because he drank too much. It was just his fourth bottle and he was starting to feel a bit full.

He started drinking when he was sixteen. By the time he turned nineteen, he was a Beer Drinking Title Holder. He found it weird that at 26, he was having difficulty handling his drink. He laughed. Maybe I peaked to early, he thought as he drank the entire contents of the bottle in just one swig. He signalled the bartender for another bottle while chewing thoughtfully on some peanuts. read more…

Mayroon ka bang kuwento? Isa ka bang manunulat? At pakiramdam mo ay nag-iisa ka at wala kang karamay sa tuwing nakararamdam ka ng panghihina ng loob at pagdududa sa iyong talento? O ikaw ba ay isang henyo, isang mahusay na manunulat na bukas ang palad na tumulongo magbahagi ng iyong karunungan at kaalaman sa sining ng malikhaing pagsulat. Puwes, may kalalagyan ka sa katinigwriters yahoogroup!!! Mag-email sa katinig_online@yahoo.com o bumisita sa www.katinig.com.ph. para sa ibang katanungan.

Ang Katinig ay isang samahan ng mga manunulat sa wikang sarili na kinabibilangan ng mga mahuhusay namanunulat gaya nina Domingo G. Landicho, Rey A. Duque, Francisco Sigua, Lamberto Antonio, Danilo Meneses, Ireneo P. Catilo, Remi Alva, Ruel Garcia Enoya, Purple C. Romero, Gexter Lacambra, Billy Antonio, Lamberto Cabual, Rose Flores Martinez, at marami pang ibang pawang mga nagwagi ng mga gantimpala sa pagsusulat ng maikling kuwento.

One of my earliest memories was my that of my sister teaching me how to read.

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.

A memoir, travelogue and cookbook by Frances Mayes. About buying, renovating, and living in a villa in the spectacular countryside of Tuscany in Italy.
Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.