PGMA’s SONA 2007

Leading the nation’s thrust to economic progress and political stability truly requires herculean effort and strength of character worthy of the Biblical patriarchs. In a country battered by divisiveness and turmoil in all sectors, is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo standing up to the challenges of being Philippines’ “mother”?

Do I hear a resounding “no” somewhere? Hold your horses, people. Let’s not throw in our towels yet and declare enough is enough. Fellow countrymen, let’s review the points of contention.

10-point agenda:

1. The creation of six million jobs in six years via more opportunities given to entrepreneurs, tripling of the amount of loans for lending to small and medium enterprises and the development of one to two million hectares of land for agricultural business.

2. The construction of new buildings, classrooms, provision of desks and chairs and books for students and scholarships to poor families,

3. The balancing of the budget,

4. The “decentralization” of progress around the nation through the use of transportation networks like the roll-on, roll-off and the digital infrastructure,

5. The provision of electricity and water supply to barangays nationwide,

6. The decongestion of Metro Manila by forming new cores of government and housing centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,

7. The development of Clark and Subic as the best international service and logistic centers in the region,

8. The automation of the electoral process,

9. A just end to the peace process, and

10. A fair closure to the divisiveness among the Edsa 1, 2 and 3 forces.

Well, as of 2006 SONA, some milestones were definitely achieved. Moreover, from a PhP50+ dollar rate exchange, we’re now down to PhP45. Sign of a strong peso, noh? However, progress can’t be merely measured by such (albeit it’s a strong indicator). Details of goals achieved and targets met - not to mention those still unachieved, unmet, and ignored - will be unfolded in the SONA 2007. So, do you have a verdict yet? Will PGMA’s 10-point agenda propel us to the much lauded goal of being a first-world country in two decades?

That we shall know in the upcoming State of the Nation Address this July 23, 2007. So, brace yourself kababayans!

HP5 Post-mortem

And so the long wait is over. I finally saw the latest installment of the Harry Potter series. My comments? Here goes:

Umbridge: Absolutely annoying! Just what I expected her to be..hehe

Weasley twins: Hilariously wicked! I enjoyed their departure scene from Hogwarts. There are some omissions (compared to the book) but that’s ok. The look on Umbridge was priceless. Flitwick’s jubilant reaction was also great!

Malfoy: Huh? Didn’t even register enough screen presence - to think he’s Harry’s antagonist.

DA meetings: Nicely done…where are the pillows, though? Bodies flung back by spells must have hurt, noh?

Bellatrix: Hehe…Helena Bonham Carter sure did deliver the goods! As witchy as a witch can be!

and my biggest disappointment….

Death Eaters - DA showdown: What a HUGE letdown! I was actually bracing myself for a major showdown between the good and the bad guys - and what did I get? An anemic version of the book depiction. Sheesh! I know it’s difficult to jam pack all the book’s elements into a two-hour feature but hey, this part was the crux of the movie! It should have showcased the fruits of labor of all that DA meetings. Too much of Expeliarmus and Stupefy - good thing they remembered to use Totalus Petrificus. It should have shown all the magical thingamajigs of the ministry. Was there? None! You only get an eyeful of the numerous orbs of the Hall of Prophecy. The unity statue - depicting the 4 major races of the wizarding world: witches, wizards, elves, goblins and centaurs - at the entrance of the ministry was supposed to have played a significant part. They didn’t even move. One was even supposed to hold and shield Harry from the Voldemort-Dumbledore clash. And I could go on….

Oh well, now that’s said and done. Bash me! lol!

forgetful me

“bawal ang pork, ang hipon, ang beans…” waaahh! it’s true! i don’t eat those stuff! is that the reason i’m so forgetful??? i was only able to link up my friends’ blogs awhile ago when they’ve already linked me up ages ago. u know why? because i forgot. i was supposed to bring my shoes to the repairman last week but i could only do so now. u know why? because i just remembered to bring the other pair. who in their right senses would have half the pair repaired while the other one’s left at home (also in need of repair, by the way)??? only me!!! ugh! the list could go on, you know. this is so embarrassing…i wonder if my vegan diet’s the culprit behind this. hmm…maybe this is a new discovery. i could now see the headline - “vegan diet wreaks havoc on memory retention” mwahaha!