Rizal Day moved to June 19

I'd like to share this article from Manila Bulletin which was also shared to me by Dean Jorge Bocobo..

By BEN ROSARIO June 19, 2009, 6:24pm. The century old practice of observing Rizal Day on Dr. Jose Rizal’s death anniversary is expected to end soon following the final- reading approval of a bill moving the national holiday to June 19, the national hero’s birth date.Before adjourning its regular session early this month, the Lower House disposed of House Bill 5408, unanimously approving the measure on third and final reading and sending it to the Senate for its action.HB 5408 seeks to amend the Administrative Code of 1987 to move the annual observance of Rizal Day from December 30, the date of his execution, to his birthdate.

Authored by a group of solons led by Reps. Raul T. Gonzales Jr. (Lakas-Kampi, Iloilo) and Jaime Lopez (Lakas-Kampi, Manila), approval of the measure was supported by the National Historical Institute which disclosed that the December 30 observance of Rizal Day traces its historical roots to a decree issued on December 20, 1898 by President Emilio Aguinaldo.

NHI Chairman Ambeth R. Ocampo said the decree actually declared December 30 of each year as a day of national mourning and was intended to honor Rizal and other Filipino patriots during the Spanish period.According to Ocampo, Rizal Day was declared one of the official holidays of the country with the enactment of Act No. 245 of the Philippine Commission. It was signed on February 1, 1902. Ocampo supported Gonzales’ contention that commemorating June 19 as Rizal Day is more appropriate, considering that birth anniversaries are celebrated than the death anniversary of heroes.

“The NHI maintains that the observance of Rizal Day should be done on June 19, his actual date of birth. If Rizal Day is observed on June 19, classes have just started and students would be able to actively participate in the commemorative activities,” said Ocampo.

On the other hand, Lopez noted that the Rizal’s death alone did not trigger the 1896 revolution that Filipinos thought catapulted the country to independence. “It was his life-long accomplishments done during his lifetime that inspired and pushed us Filipinos to fight and work for our greatness as a race,” Lopez said.Other authors of the bill include Reps. Justin Chipeco (NP, Laguna); Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado (Lakas, Bulacan) and Ma. Evita Arago (LP, Laguna).“It is only proper, and it is about time that the country bestows this great man with deference and honor by marking the day of his birth as a National Holiday, and to call it ‘The National Hero Day,” said Chipeco, who represents Calamba City, Dr. Rizal‘s birthplace.

Haberday JP!

Wohooo!! Finally my DSL connection was fixed, one week was a little bit tough for an internet addict like me.. Hay!! I missed you all guys! wahaha!!

Now back to regular programming....



Exactly 148 years ago, an idol was born. Novelist. Doctor. Propagandist. Revolutionalist. Leader. and an ultimate playboy, hehe!! the last one's a joke! :). Seriously, today, June 19 is the Birthday of our National Hero Dr. Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal, (Oha! Memorize ko pa?! Actually mahaba pa yan may kasunod na "y Realonda" something hehe.

He was born and raised in the town and now city of Calamba in Laguna. The same town where I grew up when we left Manila, when I think I was 5. But not until I started school in the elementary that I got the chance to visit the house of Rizal which is so ironic because my grandma's house where we are staying is just a few blocks away. Anyway, when I got the chance to visit the house I kept on coming back. At one point during my college days I even became a tourist guide in the house.




For a Calambeño like me, it's common to brag about the fact that our National Hero was a 'kababayan'. Likewise it's common for us Calambeños to admire and be inspired by what our national hero has done for our country. There are even some who proclaim him as God, which I find a little bit absurd. But I respect their beliefs.

Now, famous in Calamba during Rizal's birthday, which I really miss is the parade which is participated in by different sectors and groups within the City. The parade is held in the afternoon and lasts for 2-3 hours. And even if it's that long you can actually notice how the people of Calamba appreciates the event.

The parade is just a piece of Rizal's birthday celebration. Every year, the local Government of Calamba holds a show at the town plaza (the one which has the huge pot or 'banga') which is actually just a few walks from the Rizals' residential house. I remember myself taking my dinner a few hours early than we are supposed to eat just to be there in the town plaza and get a nice spot where I can see the celebrities who will be performing.

Hay!!.. I miss my hometown, it's like 2 or 3 years since my last visit. (I think I have a post on that visit, try to search for it.. ) I hope I could get back again and visit the wonderful town which has been witness for the birth of a man which has proven that 'the mind is mightier than the sword.'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. J.P RIZAL!!

(Happy birthday also to my friend Madj and to all who are celebrating their birthdays too!!)

Ako Mismo, Nandoon!

FINALLY! I'm done with the upload! Here are the pictures from AKO MISMO DOG TAG DAY yesterday, June 12, 2009 at Bonifacio Global City Open Field Taguig. Good thing I arrived at the venue 2 hours before the gate opens so I was lucky to get the dog earlier than others, but falling in line under the heat of the sun is exhausting! But the dog tags are worth it!

THE TICKET

PHOTO WALL

WALL OF COMMITMENTS

OPEN FIELD- CONCERT GROUNDS

HOSTS RAMON BAUTISTA, MARC ABAYA & NIKKI GIL

JUAN PABLO DREAM

ESCABECHE BAND

HALE

ELY BUENDIA of PUPIL

JETT PANGAN of THE DAWN

BARBIE ALMALBIS

Armi Millare of UP DHARMA DOWN

On Stage with the Hosts and Chris Tiu and Juliana Palermo (before this Victor Basa and Maegan Young shared their pledges..)

Juliana Palermo

Chris Tiu

Kamikazee performed after, but didn't have enough battery to take a picture of them and I decided to go home. Di ko na din nahintay ang performance ni Bamboo sawa na naman ako sa kanya haha!!!

The event was truly awesome, it's not everday that an organization holds an event like this where we get to stand up for what we believe in and participate in different causes which are truly for the benefit of the country. Nakakalungkot lang isipin that I've seen and encountered people at the event who just went there to get the dog tag and did not show any appreciation of what the event really is all about. Anyway, I'm sure the 20,000 plus people who attended enjoyed the activities and the concert! I hope there'd be another event like this next year! Wohoo!!

111th

Tomorrow we will celebrate the 111^th anniversary of our Independence from the Spaniards. If you may have forgotten already it was on June 12, 1898 that our Philippine Independence was declared in Kawit Cavite by General Emilio Aguinaldo. It was also during that time that our Philippine Flag was raised. At that time the Filipino people are so much elated that we are now independent from the Spaniards. But thanks to the Spaniards for introducing to us Christianity. Thanks to them that in every grade level I had go through I have to memorize the prayers and the saints. Thanks for all the priests who made us feel we are third class citizens. And most of all thanks to the Spaniards, we get to have some blood running in our bodies which make most of us Filipinos mestizos.

But just as we thought we are really free, the American troops came in. We only read these from our history books and maybe from the time we have read it we didn’t bother to ask the real story behind our independence. We don’t need to be historians to unravel the mysteries and controversies of the declaration of Independence in 1898. It was a fact that without the Treaty of Paris in which the Philippines have been sold by the Spaniards to the US for 20 Million Dollars we wont have that declaration in Kawit Cavite.


And then came July 6, 1946. The Independence from the Americans was declared. Uncle Sam could have been no happier than to see the Philippines get on its own feet. That’s why they have built a military base in Subic. Of course Uncle Sam is really concerned to our nation that they wanted to assist in the management of the affairs of the government. Too bad because of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 the troops have to leave us. But Uncle Sam’s love to us does not really falter. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed and good heaven’s the American troops are back!

I can seem to find the words to express the gratitude we have to the Americans for the love they really have for the Philippines that they just keep on coming back our land.


On a serious note.

It’s 111 years from 1898 and 63 years from 1946, but are we in fact an independent republic?

I hate to say but my response to this question is in the negative. We cannot discount the fact that our minds are still slaves of colonialism. From the type of movies or TV shows we watch, to the music we hear, to the actors, actresses and musicians we idolize, the books we read, the clothes we wear even the way we speak and all the words we use (i.e. F--k, S--t, Motha-F--) there’s a tinge of colonialism.

Going back to the simple entertainment and recreation we Filipinos have. Try to turn on your local TV and you may even notice that there are shows which imitate some other shows in the US. Yes, there are some legitimate franchises like Big Brother but isn’t it much better that the producers of TV networks and other film outfits to use Filipino talents to create shows which are really Filipino.

I guess the Philippines would continue to be a slave of colonialism if it would continue to create an atmosphere wherein there is a room especially reserved for other countries, more particularly the US. The Philippine government and its policies would always depend on some other policies of the US. It is because with the large deficit we have in the budget we had to depend on debts willingly given by Uncle Sam and his allies to save this country’s sinking ship. And you wont need a Smart Grade 5 student to do the math. More support from the US means more privilege that we must give to them.

I’m starting to get boring so I might as well end this post. Now, ask yourselves again. Are we really an independent nation? Do you sometimes feel that you are a slave to your own country?

I guess it’s time that we really work hard and fight for our Independence. Independence which was once declared in 1898 and 1946 but has yet to be in the hands of this country.



Anyway just for the reason, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to you all!!

____________________________________________
* See you guys later at The FORT AKO MISMO EVENT

Con-Ass-HOLES

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION IS VERY CLEAR

Under Article 17 (Amendments or Revisions)

Sec. 1 Any amendment to or revision of this Constitution may be proposed by:

1. The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of ALL its Members xxx

Simpleng Ingles lang naman diba? Bakit mukhang yung mga tinitingala nating Kongresista ay mali ang interpretasyon sa provision na ito ng ating Saligang Batas.

Ang sinasabi ng Konstitusyon ang KAILANGAN NG ¾ BOTO NG LAHAT NG MIYEMBRO NG KONGRESO.

Article 6, Sec 1 provides: THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which SHALL CONSIST of a SENATE and a HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES xxx

Ang linaw diba? Simpleng Ingles lang din ang sinasabi ng nabanggit na provision. Ang lehislatura ay binubuo ng Senado at House of Representatives. Ibig sabihin ang mga senador at Representatives na binoto natin ay MEMBERS/miyembro ng KONGRESO.

Pakingshet naman tong mga representatives natin oh, kahit highschool student siguro kayang kayang intindihin ang provision e..

Kung i-coconnect the dots natin yan, hindi ba malinaw na dapat ang LAHAT NG MIYEMBRO bumoto sa pag-proposed ng mga amendments or revisions sa ating Saligang Batas. And for the amendment or revision to be valid and effective 3/4 votes of the CONGRESS comprising of the members of the SENATE and House of Representatives must be casted in its favor.

In conclusion, ang HOUSE RESOLUTION 11-09 kung saan isinasaad ang pagbuo ng isang Constitutional Assembly ay hindi ayon sa ating Konstitusyon. Paano maisasagawa ang mga revisions or amendments kung hindi kasali ang SENADO maging sa debate tungkol sa planong pag ameyenda sa ating Konstitusyon.

Nakakainis isipin na kung ang mga panukalang batas na para sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng bansa at ng mga mamamayan nito ay patuloy na nabibinbin sa loob ng madaming buwan at taon, ang HOUSE RESOLUTION 11-09 na ito ay tumagal lamang ng ilang araw para maipasa at ang nakakatuwa pa’y pinaglaanan ng oras ng ating mga kongresista.

Pakingshet naman tong mga kongresistang to eh ginagawa tayong tanga! Hindi kailangan ng mataas na pinagaralan para malamang ang pagmamadali nilang maging pinal ang House Resolution 11-09 ay may nakapaloob na motibong palawigin ang termino ng pakingshet nating presidente!

Pero pasalamat pa din ako sa mga kongresista nating ito, sila ang living testament na nakapagpatunay sa akin na totoo pala ang kasabihang:

KUNG GUSTO MAY PARAAN KUNG AYAW MAY DAHILAN!!

Tsk! Tsk! Godbless The Philippines! and Paksyet to all who voted for the amendment of the Constitution through Con-Ass! Wag niyo na silang iboto ulit ha BLOG KO NALANG IBOTO NYO!

IBOTO ANG "IAMSTAYINGALIVE dito www.salaswildthoughts.blogspot.com

SALAMAT!

AKO MISMO

The video says it all. So, Stop. Look and Listen.