new old News

been news-hopping and its three in the morning already. just some of what i found, mostly editorials

just in, from cnn:
bush announces each household affected by hurricane katrina shall receive $2,000 each plus other longer-term aid through fema. victims need only to register through 1-800-621-fema. more federal aid on the way

maybe you have relatives or something that were affected. better late than never [at least for this very event]

from the philippine star:

While we squabble...
"What a difference just ten years make. In May 1995, I was one of the many speakers at the 44th General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Seoul, South Korea. ...In my speech, ...I was able to quote Time [which] reported that things are "Looking Up" in the Philippines. The magazine’s cover was a happy-looking Fidel Ramos, with all his dentures intact. You have to give it to FVR at that time. He was riding a groundswell of economic upturn after the dreary, brownout-ridden last year and a half of the Cory regime in which she had been dubbed "The Queen of Darkness." (Remember?) In unusually generous fashion for sarcastic Time, the subhead of its cover snappily said: 'The no-nonsense leadership of Fidel Ramos is energizing the Philippines.'"

the article also notes certain facts on the 1992 elections that i did not know. i read sen. salonga was a presidentiable. whoa

i like this, also from the same article: "Who will place any bets on us Filipinos, whether emotional or financial, when we’re perceived – thanks to our own ranting – to be precariously perched on the rim of an erupting volcano?"

it then looks at how the other asian countries [e.g. china and india] are moving forward and why we aren't.

from the manila times:

11-M Filipinos literate
"Hidalgo noted that despite the high literacy rate, functional literacy is at a low 84.1 percent."

i used to be real proud of our country's lit rate, yet i wondered why we ranked so low on science and math and even english. oh what now

my fave for the week, from the inquirer:

The Long View: 'How baboy naman they are'
"High society has a new, favorite and fashionable pastime -- it is poring over the new version of the "Who's Who" or "Manila's 400"
"There's a revolution going on, folks, and its rallying cry is, ­Que asco! How yucky naman the opposition! How desgusto they feel about Cory (why do our maids keep watching that Kris?) and that Susan woman -- a mere actress (can you believe, our maids wanted to vote for that FPJ? So, ha! I didn't give them a day off to vote, humph!). What is happening to this country? It is time to take a stand!

then the author sortof explains why the seemingly exagerrated comments above have a point.
"In a democracy, however, we must respect contending views, and the right to manifest both support and opposition. There are the People Power, Teacup Power, the ati-atihan drums of those marching in the streets, the tinkling of crystal in agitated dinner parties, and the insistent ringing of little bells summoning the servants to pick up the remote control thrown at the image of Chiz Escudero on the TV screen. If the communists can be on the streets, and some (not all) of civil society lighting candles in La Salle, then by all means, the best of us should not be begrudged for deciding it is time to sacrifice."

and to end, the author states that yes, "today, our president is doing better" than joseph estrada.
"And so, for the sake of public debate, let us seriously consider their appeal, "Enough, already!" If this crisis goes on for too long, life will become such a nuisance. And nuisances cause wrinkles."

amen!

from the inquirer:

Happy Filipinos
"The cover reminded me of one of the Mainland Chinese propaganda magazines back in the 1970s. It showed a couple beaming, the woman with a bouquet of flowers and the man wearing heavy-duty gloves, presumably a worker.
But, it turns out, the photograph was of Filipinos. This was the Sept. 4 issue of the Chinese magazine Yazhou Zhoukan (Asiaweek). In large Chinese characters, the magazine announced its theme to go with the photograph: HAPPY FILIPINOS. Inside, there was an editorial, plus nine pages of articles about the Philippines, all more or less revolving around the theme of the happy Filipino.

Yes, it’s that “happiness survey” again

To make sure the message of the happy Filipino got through, the article cited World Health Organization statistics for suicide, with the Philippines having the lowest rate in Asia.

it says its more likely because of our coping mechanisms and the product of a good life. we all agree

lisnin to "it's our time, breathe it in, world to change" -merrily we roll along
sortof readin this korean's essay on the filipino being circulated around the internet. he has a point though, maybe we should start loving our country more, no matter how unlovable the president, the government, the national fish, or the guy who doesn't wait for his turn is. let us start respecting institutions and start forgetting personalities [removing their names from the next waiting shed or the barangay's welcome banner should be a good start]
feelin kinda angst-y. i want another blue revue run, gotta work harder on that show. energy please