(re)writing

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

December 11, 11:30pm

Just how hard is it to start writing again? I asked this a few minutes ago while in the shower, which by the way I took after forcing myself to wake up from a brief nap. You see, for the past few weeks, I haven't had more than five hours of sleep max, sometimes even on weekends. I've been forcing myself to look busy while actually getting things done to avoid going out and risk bumping into two people I wouldn't want to be around for fear I might snap. That's as far I would go on that subject for now.

Now back to writing. I write for a living kuno, but I'm not a born writer nor do I wish to have a career as one. I am what you call an accidental writer -- a technical writer at the moment, an editor in my previous life, and before that a reporter for a local newspaper. All of them I got into accidentally.

I don't usually write down my thoughts and I have not religiously maintained a journal, although like most people I know, have started many at several points in the past. Thus, the question I asked at the beginning of this piece. How hard is it to write?

A few months ago, I was asked by my officemates to conduct a writing workshop, believing I am the best person to teach them the art. I know my grammar, sure, and on every stop in my young professional life, many would come to ask me the correct usage of certain words, phrases, etc. But God knows I am not the best writer out there. Even I struggle to fill pages from time to time.

In my opinion, there's no right way to write. You can never say one is bad writing, the other not. Have you ever seen the work of ee cummings? His poems contain some of the most absurd construction of the English language, which really makes his work hard to decipher, but he is known as one of the best poets in recent memory.

Writing then is any attempt to put words on paper. Some do a good job at it, while others suck. The trick is getting the attention of the reader and holding it for as long as you can. Which brings me to this little piece: Did I succeed in getting you this far? If you’re reading this now, then I know I have.

Gotcha!

A Tale of Two Expatriates

Saturday, May 19, 2007

The following are two stories of Filipinos who had been living the good life in the U.S. until one day they realized their chase for the "American Dream" is pointless.

I am posting their tales because, while they have different motivations for coming back, they share a common denominator: They came back while everybody is leaving.

In my mind, this has always been an anomaly of sort. Filipinos abroad seem to love their country more than most of us back here. These videos drive home this point.

Dr. Bautista said it right. All of us -- Americans, Europeans, Filipinos -- we are born to only one country. If we don't love ours, who will?

Enjoy!

Finding Home: Dr. Martin Bautista


The Coconuter David Poarch at Nagmamahal, Kapamilya [1/2]


The Coconuter David Poarch at Nagmamahal, Kapamilya [2/2]


For more on Dr. Bautista and David, visit their blogs:
On My Way Home
Adventures of the Coconuter

A Message of Hope from Dr. Martin Bautista

Reprinting Doc Martin's post on his blog. He was Numero Uno on my ballot last Monday. What a guy!

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"The election is over. It is time to examine, and to both skeptics and sympathizers alike, explain my participation in it.

"I gave up a flourishing medical practice in America, joined Kapatiran and ran for the Senate because I wanted not merely to prove a point, but to live by it.

"And the point is this: we can change our country, help our people, not by talking or theorizing but by actually doing something about it. One cannot simply make a statement. He must apply it in his life, by example, by involvement, by action. Our political campaign was such a statement.

"Did we succeed? We did not get enough votes for a seat in the senate. But we did get the attention of the electorate and, more importantly, we made people aware of alternative solutions, better political options.

"We demonstrated that it is possible to conduct an open, honest, vigorous campaign on programs, not personalities.

"We showed that there is no need for false promises, political gimmickry, immoderate spending; but that there is a need for continuing communication, defending and justifying our positions and priorities.

"Our fundamental premise is this: Politics is not a means of livelihood. It is not an economic investment that will pay off in future material gain. Politics is a way of giving, of sharing, of helping. It is not soliciting support but providing it. It is not about rendering service in the senate when elected, but rendering service now, in the present, in this time and place, in one's capacity as a candidate, a citizen, a Filipino of compassion.

"If we have, even in a small, tentative way, we have redefined politics in the Philippines, then we have been fully recompensed for our efforts. The accomplishments of our greatest heroes cannot be judged in the simplistic terms of triumph or defeat. Like Burgos, Gomez and Zamora, the Kapatiran candidates won no instant victory. But they achieved a beginning, advanced the cause for reform, and awakened a hope that such reform is possible.

"A personal note of accountability. We received donations from many sectors of society. Added to our own private contribution to the campaign, the total amount exceeded our modest campaign expenses. The balance we shall turn over to Gawad Kalinga in accordance with our conviction that politics is not an enterprise for profit.

"Finally I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to all the men and women of goodwill who stand with us in the common belief in a Filipino future.

"Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat."

-- Martin D. Bautista, MD

Gwapo + Suave = Principle. How's that again?

Friday, May 18, 2007

It is now clear that Chiz Escudero is on his way to the Senate. I never said he will not win; I only said he was not getting my vote.

Sure enough, he wowed his way to the upper chamber and it helped that he had the looks of Bamboo and the gift of gab to boot. While surfing the blogosphere this past few days, the three most popular reasons given by those who voted for him are the following:

(1) He talks well;

(2) He looks good on TV;

(3) He is principled.

The guy came at the right time and capitalized on it. I don't blame him. It was not a long time ago that Senator Pimentel, the father, had said he will let his bar-topnotcher son go into show business first before running for the Senate. The wily politician, who exposed and popularized the term "dagdag-bawas" when he did not benefit from it three elections ago, knew the importance of popularity in making it to any elective post in this country.

And sure enough, Koko, who is about to join his father in the Senate, married a starlet, whose name I cannot recall. Here's a guy who topped the bar in 1990 but could not define "political dynasty" when asked by Korina on ANC. But that's another story.

Now back to Chiz. If the answers of most netizens is any gauge, we have indeed mature -- at least, in choosing good-looking politicians!

Today, talking well + appearing good on TV = PRINCIPLE. Listen (err read) what belle_anne, a Candy Magazine reader, had to say:

"Ang galing niya sobrang magsalita."

Or this Atenean after voting for Chiz:

"He LOOKS promising (or did you mean good-looking?). He has a good track record, and he's a man of principle."

I respect their opinion, but allow me to give mine. When a guy indulges in expensive hobbies while his home province remains one of the poorest in the country, I cannot conclude he's got good, if at all, a track record.

When a guy chases a corrupt President out of Malacanang but reconciles with the latter so he could win a Senate seat, I cannot accept he's got principles.

When a guy subserves himself and becomes a mere barker for an actor who wanted to be President without the qualification for such office, I cannot accept he is intelligent.

When there's such a guy, I can only make one conclusion: HE IS AN OPPORTUNIST!

Chiz is on his way to the Senate and there's no stopping him. Let's see what he can do there. Six years should be enough to bear out what I have been saying here all along.

Why I'm not voting for Chiz on May 14

Friday, May 11, 2007

I've got nothing against the guy. He's smart, witty, and talks darn good but, perhaps, that is the problem. He is all talk and no substance.

Chiz has been in Congress for 9 years, but has nothing substantial to show for it. The glib talker that he is has a ready excuse for this. He says PGMA's allies in Congress make it hard to pass laws sponsored by opposition lawmakers. I don't believe that crap.

If Joe de V. can build consensus across party lines and shepherd bills of national importance, why can't you, Chiz? Because you're busy throwing mud at PGMA and not doing the job your constituents elected you for -- to write laws NOT appear in talk shows to impress the public of your gift of gab.

There are many laws awaiting amendments and even repeal. The Revised Penal Code for one could use another revision from a bright lawyer like Chiz, who has a Master of Laws from Georgetown University. Believe it or not this law, "revised" in the 1930s yet, only provides "a penalty not exceeding 1,000 pesos" (yes only P1,000 folks!) upon any public officer or employee who procures a search warrant without just cause.

A story is told that Chiz, during his time at U.P. Diliman, never won a debate against Mike Defensor. I don't know if this is true, but I'm not surprise if it is. That's because Chiz is all glib; his ideas never measure up to the quotable sound bites he dishes out.

Mike, for all his faults and his inauspicious association with an administration hounded by scandals lately, has shown results at every post he has held. And he is consistent. He and Chiz were among the young Turks in Congress who chased Erap out of Malacanang. But look where the two are right now.

Chiz has reconciled with Erap as has Manny Villar, who was instrumental for sending the impeachment complaint straight to the Senate. And Mike? He is running for the Senate precisely because it's the only way he can check a President fast-becoming her predecessor. I will not be surprised if Mike impeaches PGMA if it comes to that!

On Monday, I will vote for young politicians and neophytes like Dr. Martin Bautista of Ang Kapatiran, but not for Chiz. He epitomizes a young politician who's beginning to act and sound like a trapo -- if not one already. His political benefactors are the Eraps and the Dandings of this country.

This election is about me, my generation and our chance to shape the political landscape and rid it with trapos. Chiz will win a Senate seat, that's for sure, as will the Sottos and the Villars, but not with my vote.
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Quick Facts

* Chiz represents Sorsogon, one of the 44 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

* His hobby is restoring classic and vintage cars, a very expensive pastime. Here's a quote from his very own website:

"Outside the halls of Congress, he does have a life. His main hobby is restoring classic or vintage cars, and he can be seen around driving his favorite 20-year-old Range Rover."

And this guy promises to lead us out of the rut? What does he know about abject poverty when he can afford to "drive" around Manila in his vintage Range Rover? Heck, if he can't even take Sorsogon out of the list of the poorest provinces, how much more the rest of the country?

Gosh, I can't believe many are easily fooled!