Jose Carillo's English Forum
General Category => Lounge => Topic started by: hill roberts on March 27, 2010, 06:09:57 PM
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On Corruption: "Expense scandal is a byword for a laboured trial and error blunder."
On hardship: "Politics dominating generational conflict would be a bygone era if mankind stopped devouring it...more so, with false teeth."
On The Last Supper: " A big cause of family spats, arguments, revelation, anger, hatred at the dining table. I dread sitting at the dining table confronted with the truth...and I thought I was invited to a sumptuous meal."
On Climate Change: " I'll buy the biggest parasol."
On IQ: " I used to be a pretentious intellectual myself...until I was told I had an IQ of nought."
On Martial Law: "Declare Martial Law and I'll force everyone to wear a deodorant."
On Political Commentators: " They love themselves more than they love talking about the nature of politics."
On a State of Mind: "A state of mind depends on the quality of your Bank Account."
On Choice: You have no right to be choosy, not even in national elections."
;D 8) ??? ::)Cheers!
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Hello Hill ! I'm glad you are back to having high spirits. I love your jokes. Just to let you know that I was so worried when I read about your "sad family memories". Hope to read more posts from you here.Catch you later... ;)
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Hello, Madgirl, Thank you for your warm message and welcome. No, I haven't been away, but yes, I am back, and my spirits are high again, thank goodness. Glad you liked the silly quotes, hahaha. Yes, I'm trying to collate all those other "quotes" so I can post them here in the "Lounge". This is a great place to just type out your thoughts, Madgirl. I hope to see your thoughts here, too, someday, when you're not too busy. Are you still in Japan? I'm sure you now speak fluent Nipongo.See you later, take care and warm wishes to Joe and co-members here. :-* ;)
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On Facebook: It overrides belief that you're judged first before you're seen and when intelligence comes second to popularity. ::) :-X
On USA: A land of dreams, dullards and dollars. :o ;D
On Commitment: It's like an obscure prison house. Once you're in it, your movement is limited to a few walks a day, albeit with a dog or not. :-\ :-X
On Idle Gossip: A cluster of lips, bounded by disguised camaraderie,yet unassuming in its recklessness. ;)
On Being Childless: A reality borne out of fear of natural birth, notwithstanding excruciating pain for others. :D
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On Clocks: I wish I could turn the clock back--I could have kept all my teeth intact. ;D
On ageism: Separating those who had cosmetic surgery and botox, and those who couldn't afford both. :o :o
On Rules: Advicing people to pay attention only to rule themselves out for the entire period. ???
On Debates: A fine detail ony when you win it, where an uncontrollable environment embraces aggression, not assertiveness. ::)
On the Internet: Engaging and getting to the primary cause of not having saliva wasted, just fingers re-inforcing one's ideas and thoughts. :-\
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On Payback: It doesn't come back quickly enough. :D ;D
On Political Campaigns: An erstwhile effort to get things on the hoof, warm seats and a stiff drink, forgetting the ultimate round of winning in the process. ??? ;D
On Being Superb: When we have to pose, pause, be praised and prick ourselves into believing that our own fineries become rudimentary in the face of awesome retribution and failure. >:( ;D :D
On The Holy Week: A week of blood-letting, cumbersome costumes and false piousness in the guise of boredom, reckless intuition and onion-assisted crododile tears. ::) ;D ;)
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On Thinking: Increasing it ten-fold, you can still instigate a think-tank of empty-headed gender-bender accuracy either by necessity or choice. ::)
On Truth: If it remains forever, the vastness of lies could well be described as bloody horrible. :D
On Being Profound: If it's utterly empty, its' because the vessel taken was rusty. 8)
On Security: Those gates are too high to climb and social climbers will fall flat, adding elegance to their sense of fear. ;D ;)
On Sentimental Value: When all else fails, get rid of it, otherwise, you devalue your own sentiments. ;D
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On the Academe: Somehow, this is a place where too much reading of famous people's works becomes a sore point and when counting grades, accidental bias, favouritism and significant rubbing of elbows come to the fray. ;D :D
On Being Tidy: Such a simple task, just leave it for another day, when visitors come, sweep the dirt under the carpet. ;D :-\
On Sexual Experiment: Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Nationalist Leader and a Holy Man didn't pray for women and children, but who preyed on them, practiced paedophilia, incest and harem--was a famous practicioner of this ??? ::).With this in mind, what are we to do when his like didn't even see jail term? >:(
On Soundbites: Politicians are known to wise-crack all the time, when the bite happens, the sound reverberates like a sling shot to their insensitive ways. ;D :P ;D
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On Rude TV/Radio Presenters: Hell, politicians aren't my cup of tea anymore than having rude presenters overplay their mission to deafen the interviewee and the listeners. >:( ???
On Footballers: Highly-paid, basically semi-illiterate whose wealth will never exceed the number of cells in their tiny brain--unless they give some of that money to us, respectability will always be a sporting mission. ;D ::)
On Celebrities: If they are celebrating in a normal way, then it's up to us to tone down their exhuberance. It is an effective treatment for their unnecessary pursuit of bad behaviour--off and on. :-X :-\
On Mobile Phones: A gadget attached permanently to the ears of a stubborn person whose idea of danger and non-chalance conflicts with nature as we know it. :'( :(
On Getting To Know Each Other: Not in our lifetime. ;D ;)
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On Liars: They are aware they are lying to their teeth, and if that's anything to go by, go check them...no, not the teeth. ;D 8)
On Products/Brands: If Tiger Woods begin selling soup, half of mankind would either eat it or spit it out. The Nike ball will do the talking just the same. :o :P
On Arguments: Too noisy to share, too violent to show, too frank to accept but endearing in its concept. ;) :D ;D
On the Rosetta Stone of Humanity: I'm quite certain I came from the skies above, but hey, I wouldn't mind being a part of the DNA process too....at least I know which standpoint to believe. ??? ::) :-*
On Being Corny: Don't you just hate it when men kneel down to propose, only to see them part ways after a day in court? If the courting is corny, wait until you see the judge in court. ::) ;D :'(
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Oops...
"...If Tiger Woods begins..."
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Second Oops!
It should have read:
On Courting: Don't you just hate it when men kneel down to propose, only to see them part ways after a day in court? If the courting is corny, wait until you see the judge (in court). :D ;D 8)
Note: It seems I'm the only one using The Lounge. I know that members are busy in their chosen profession, but it would really be nice to see you, co-members, having a go at this wonderful, relaxing site. :) :-*
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Good morning Joe and everyone!
I was just reading about a British woman who dined in a posh restaurant. She asked for a glass of water and the waiter refused. She called the manager and asked why they didn't serve tap water. The manager replied haughtily that their resto did not serve tap water, only bottled water. What? ::)Anyway, she carried on dining with her friend and the bill was a hefty sum of £178.00 :o ??? Rules can be silly. What should you have done if it happened to you? Would you walk out? Argue with the management? Make a scene in front of other diners? Or enjoy the meal in quiet bliss despite being refused tap water? But why did she ask for tap water when she knew that the rule in many restaurants, posh or not, is to serve only bottled water? ??? Of course we all know that bottled water costs a fortune and when we add up the bill, it's usually the drinks and bottled water that take up the overall cost of the meal. Anyway, since dining is such a social thing world wide, just make sure that when you go to a particular/posh restaurant, prepare for the inevitable and never lose your poise. Just lump it in and carry on with pleasant conversation with family or friends. This way, no one feels embarrassed. After all, it's our decision to have a meal out. ;D ;) :-*
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Hi Hill,
Perhaps that British woman should learn from the French who have a saying "live within your means". This simply means people should live a sustainable lifestyle considering one's finances.
Since she intended to dine in a "posh" restaurant then she should expect a huge bill to go with the experience. Moreover, she shouldn't expect to order inexpensive beverage as well. If she wants to go on the cheap then she should have dined in the nearest McDonald's.
Moreover, I believe the "posh" restaurant is just trying to be on the safe side. Of course, tap in the UK might be more suitable for drinking than in the Philippines; however, perhaps the restaurant finds it safer to serve bottled water.
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Hello, Renz,
So good to hear from you again. I guess I needed to call the attention of some of the regulars here for not using this great section, The Lounge. ;D Well, in Britain, they do live above their means. The British people now are one of the top two debt-ridden people on earth. Yet, the way it goes, they aren't bothered. Why? The State is always there to provide them with a safety net. Still, this British woman of course was trying to make a point, but failed. ??? When dining in Britain, especially in London where prices are sky-high, one expects management to behave in that manner. ::) In her case, I reckon she knew she shouldn't ask for tap water since it isn't the norm anyway. :-\ Renz, by the way, until the 80's London's tap water wasn't potable.They had signs in all hotel bathrooms not to drink the water. Of course,it's not the case anymore. Still, Europeans are crazy spending all that money for bottled water to stock at home. My husband simply boils our drinking water--huge savings over the years. The only time we drink bottled water is in cafes or restaurants. :(Unlike the Scandinavians who, in general, aren't showy, the British spend and show off at every opportunity in their own country and abroad. Many a time, it's their bad behaviour that seems to catch the attention of the foreign media---all for the wrong reasons. :D ;)
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Hi Hill,
Actually, the tap water quality (and even the water pressure) in Metro Manila has greatly improved after the water utility (NAWASA/MWSS) was privatized back in the 90's.
The old leaking iron pipes were replaced by PVC plastic pipes and the overall water quality has improved along with it. As the cost of cooking gas kept increasing and consumers became more health conscious bottled water became a necessity.
And yet, to cut the costs further water filtering stations proliferated. The filtration is done in the store and consumers could see the large filtration devices. These stations also have large stainless tanks that hold filtered water. This way consumers could bring their water containers for a refill at a substantially low price.
When you say the Brits are in the habit of over spending to show off, would you say that this is true for all generations or only the younger ones? Maybe there has been some consumer attitude shift over generations, what do you think?
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Hi Renz. It's good to know that drinking/potable water in Manila has since improved over the years. It's about time, too. :)I've noticed that even my own nieces are bottled water fanatics. Here, women seem to lug their bottled water with them especially in the summer as scorching heat reaches 40 degrees especially in August. It is a fact that the new generation of British people have become very open/tacky and showy. While we don't hear of wealthy Scandinavians flaunting their wealth here, the Brits, on the other hand, make sure they get noticed. Marbella , although bankrupt these last five years because of rampant graft and corruption, still hosts a huge number of different nationalities from Europe. The first thing you'd notice would be the bad behaviour of the British young adults. This is not to demean them in any way, but to enlighten others that, indeed, they are the most misbehaved nationality in the EU: drunk and disorderly, sex on the streets in the summer, street brawls, hooliganism, foul language even in posh restaurants, throwing verbal abuse at others on the streets, showing their most private parts--drunk or not--when they are challenged--or not--just doing it for the sake of it...a sad reflection of materialistic Britain. :o ???In the case of the British woman protesting about not being served tap water, I'm quite sure she was yearning for attention--which she got as she landed in the pages of all British papers. ;D ::)
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Mental Illness: It's like listening to our gut explaining the rudiments of how the vital organs sound and work. ;D
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Here's a poem, "Revolutionary Changes", which I wrote in the late 80's. The National Elections begin in earnest on 10th May 2010. I suppose, this poem would, in some way, be related to what's going on in the Philippines: 8) ::) :-*
Banners and flags waving, expressing messages,
Loudhailers deafening the sound of changes,
Those unknown reasons, peaceful and unpredictable,
What makes it awesome can be added to scruples.
Leaders plead for people to be patient,
reforms and changes are difficult to achieve,
no first timers can ever conceive
ideas of old tricks, changes unfit.
Cries of dismay and cries of anger,
a bloody revolution can provoke too much danger,
but people brave and people determined
others secrets exposed, conclusions begin.
Dictators and dictatorships fall over silently,
from disgrace to oblivion they're handed quietly
to authorities and soldiers, policemen and judges
a shade of their links to them may or may not matter.
Authoritarians and autocrats enjoy a lifestyle,
where many can only smirk and smile,
what they really know to be deceit and lies
ordinary folks could only cling to unwanted spies.
What an extraordinary thought it is, when
powerful people get together in tens,
no matter what the political ambience may bring,
justifying the dialogue will never be a sting.
The passage of time would soon be realised,
as day-to-day changes are routinely scrutinised,
People from the top and people from the bottom
war and suppression could, once again, drop like an atom.
You're there to watch as time take its toll.
Environment and pollution, to hell with it all,
high-tech and computers immensely diverse,
yuppies and the phoney will share the universe.
Business, as usual, they begin changing tactics,
ideals and dogma flaunting their antics,
roundtable conferences signifying a vacuum,
of earth-bound cronyism, formalising the dictum.
"Revolt!" they shout, they take to the streets,
"People Power" it is, stamped on the sheets,
of newspapers and magazines, TV screens and films,
joyous faces crowding, chanting in the realm.
Revolution can be sweet as well as romantic,
flowers and prayers and burning candlesticks,
dissidents and church-goers are dragged and ruthlessly kicked,
as believers of truth they gather on the streets.
Bloodless it may be, bloody it can be,
peaceful the revolt, or fleeing on to the sea,
of dead mangled bodies being carried away,
what must be the end, revolutions can still sway.
Revolution, revolution, let it be said,
believers of this are reminded in bed,
before getting up, or looking in the mirror,
leaders of true revolts shouldn't blur people's vision.
Vision for the future after revolutions,
could hurt the population as well as institutions,
casual changes, believing them to be harmless,
the real crunch lies, when they start to hamper.
Reforms there will be, changes and scrutiny,
a piece of paper promises no bounty,
of fate and freedom,liberty and honour,
the willof the people overtakes all horrors. 8) ;)
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Democratic countries: All democratic countries have their own torture chambers. Let's stop pretending they only run sweet shops. ;D 8) ::)
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Friendship and Trust: I don't impose loyalty in friendship, only frankness and sincerity. Above all, acceptance of who I am, without the baggage. 8) ::)
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Trust: Trust is relative. We can be trusting to the point of stupidity and trustworthy to the point of desperation. :D ;D 8)
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Democracy: That's another paper trail and an odd sip of brandy and Cuban cigars. ;D ::)
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Writing History: Another waste of ungodly hours, embellished lies and wild imagination adorned with fancy semantics. >:( ::)
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Vulgarity: It's not an open suggestion, rather an action that's easy to emote. :-[
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Third World: A piece of this, and a piece of that, their lips hardly get dry. ;D ;)
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Norms of Diplomacy: The country they serve aiming for higher gloss, refuge as duplicity encountering all its flaws. >:( (From, a poem, "Norms of Diplomacy", 18 stanzas, written in 1989, Hill Roberts)
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Emigrating: Cultural differences slam the distinction and done at random and where entry of the moneyed legals clearly pleases authorities' faces. :o ;D
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Thoughts of Dying: It's when you lie in bed imagining it as a rebuff. ::)
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Nobody: The feeling, really, is like a piece of remnant. ;)
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Social Friends: Watch their usual smile and pretence, while you watch them sit and get intense. ;D 8)
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Big Minds: Demand no shallow reason; often, they're ahead of what's affirmation. :D ;)
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Small Minds: Starkly ignorant of a puzzled exchange. :D ;)
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Fine Mess: The deeper you get it worsens; acknowledge that rotten mound instead. 8) ;)
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Husbands: Happily around when things go right, sending the mood makes a quiet rebound. :D ;)
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Growing Old: Declining years oversee the pensioners' queue. :D
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Third World: Noodles and French fries not easy to get hold of, while those in power share nothing but cold and cough. >:( ;D
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A Flirt: an outcome so delicious, magnifying sensation. ::)
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Diplomacy: The veracity of bad news imposed by its wake, handling warfare and welfare can be a grave mistake. :D ;)
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Poetry-writing: Chastened by wit, poets subject us to dramatic tears. :D
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Hatred: It's like gossip and juicy stories you share with two ales. ;D
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Abortion: It lingers in females' minds, ready to jump at what chances could buy. :-X
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Abortion: What must be glee cannot be condoned. :D
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Gun Control: Outrageous silly buggers only aim to offend. :(
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Jealousy: People's confused thinking detest their kind. ;D
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Coining a phrase: timmy, dicky and hairy--aww! ;D ::)
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Jealousy: an attribute so lonesome that throws no light into objectivity. ???
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Flirting: men and women can't go far with such tepid incentive. :D
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Poetry-writing: it's sharpened intellect outsmarting all nonsensical marketing. ??? ;D
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Emotion: you are an object of some low esteem. :D ;D
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Retirement: you gaze at nowhere mindful of the task. 8)
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Falling on Hard Times>> Oh! for heaven's sakes, it's real! >:( :o
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Third World>> Countries impound corporations and sealing them with chrome. ;D
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Time Out>> For reasons unknown, it becomes deplorable. ???
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Peace >>it can only be achieved piece by piece. ;D
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Poverty>> The inside dealings and handshakes between the poor and the powerful nicely co-exist. :D
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Population explosion>>"God will provide," they sigh, and multiply overboard. ;)
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Family Planning>> it's no more than an extra pep talk. ;D :o
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Wall Street>> where indifference and expediency clash with so much pity. ::)
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Hunger>>people expect everything to be handed in a Chinese wok. ;D
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Religion>> its true meaning needs no room for predilection. ???
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Thoughts>> All thoughts are recycled. ;D
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Knowledge>>sometimes, people's knowledge is limited to a scream and head-shaking becomes a ritual. ;)
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Opposing view>> your better judgement will be stuck in the midst of heavy breathing. ;D
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@ >>This symbol is impersonal, impestuous, ignorant--sums up half of Facebook users...need we laugh? ??? ::) ;D
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Failure>> it's a feared slogan and we're afraid to embrace it for fear of the same. ;)
(Parts 2, 3 & 4 will be published soon at my site: http://iftruthbetold.posterous.com
All Forum members can still enjoy, as always, my Quotable (?) Quotes here..hope you guys are enjoying this tongue-in-cheek/satire with serious undertones.)
Thank you, Forum members!
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Greed>> Relatives are the worst people to inhabit this trait. :D >:(
(Part 2 - A Collection of Quotable (?) Quotes, 2010)
Dear co-Forum Members,
You are always the first to see and read the quotes right here. I hope to see some comments, too, someday! The two quotes above are already part of Part 2... Thanks, guys!
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Religion: just the thing that wreaks havoc in the eyes of growing evil deeds shaped like hearts and folded hands. :D
(From, Part 4 - A Collection of Quotable (?) Quotes, will be out in August)
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The Catholic Church/The Vatican: they hinder prosperity and economic development in poorer countries that donate money in good faith to this biggest business enterprise known to man. :o ;D
(Part 4, A Collection of Quotable (?) Quotes--out in August 2010)
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This new quote is from a very good fb friend, Ka Tony Donato, who is also a historian, musician, events organiser, guitarist. Today, while having a chat, he wrote this and and I thought this line was apt, to make it into a "Quotable Quote". Here is his wonderful, off-the-cuff line:
"They think they can be somebody in a simple fb world!! These people are insecure, petit people bragging they are tall!!" - Ka Tony
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Betrayal: the squeamishness is registered into disks without your knowledge of course. ;)
Part 2 - A Collection of Quotable (?) Quotes can now be read in full at my site:
http://iftruthbetold.posterous.com
Enjoy! Thank you for taking the time. ;D
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Here's a new word I coined today. I guess I'm being naughty but yes, I enjoy quips, coining words, making acronyms.
Coryption - it is a blend of corruption and religious beliefs,coupled with media samplings of puppetry and stage -managed collection of phoney mass hysteria. :D ???
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Here now is the proper meaning of my acronym:
SVM (Sidewalk Vendor Mentality) - cheap thinking coming from those born in wealth, without realising that their own attitude is sullied with spite and shallowness. :D
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Conscience>> a gnawing element that requires you and I to recant, when we can, without the guilt that hammers the mind. :D 8)
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Yearning>> it's a steady retrenchment of aimless flight without which, the earnings fall short of the outcome. ;) (sorry, totally misread while typing it.)
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Friendship >> it's really genuine rivalry coupled with close encounters with fact and fiction thrown in to prolong the agony of pretense. - Part 4, A Collection of Quotable (?) Quotes, out in August 2010 ;D ;)
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On CNN>>What went wrong? They got too big for their boots? Or the boots don't fit anymore?
Just my thought for today having realised that CNN has become too boring, redundant, subjective and tiring. I haven't watched CNN on a regular basis but somehow, this American network should now shut down for good. ;D >:(
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Ignorance - you pretend to be in a trance wondering if there's an ending to it. ;D
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Concern >> some kind of unwanted sympathy that helps explain the lack of sincerity. :D 8) Part 4, Quotable (?) Quotes, out in September-October
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Facebook Profile>>It's a photoshop directed at those who fancy themselves to be ahead of themselves, only to make shallow comments with a good dose of insincere words. ;D ::)
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Coffee>> it's a wonder drug in the nicest possible way. ;) ;D
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This is the 21st century and people forget that it is a new century! Why? The new millennium was celebrated with pomp and ceremony--but that was all. Nothing much has happened since then. Sooner or later, what we will see would be more troubled countries harking for a different system of government, other than the overrated democracy. -- Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4 this is a non-profit (new) community page I opened just over a month ago and everybody is welcome! Cheers! :) ;D
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
The desire to put someone who doesn't have a clue even how to run a local council, and catapult the same person because they value his "simplicity" and good-natured camaraderie, also perverts the real objective to have a ruler who can boast of more than enough dynamism and drive to push initiatives for the benefit of all. :)
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
The split of idealism, the lack of drastic changes after the turn of the century, the wasted promises, the elected representatives and leaders who have squandered the first decade of the 21st century--these are largely more obvious than what's deeper: cultures haven't evolved. They remain contemptuous of and to the environment, and their dismissal to change their attitude is nonetheless rooted in their lack of objectivity. >:(
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
It will be a wasted democracy if the elected leaders do not follow through their aims and promises to make a nation worthy. A nation must have promise, and if this is absent, then democracy's failings would be all the more questionable. >:(
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
If they, indeed, manage to convince their constituents that the "bread they have earned" is not taken away from them by hook or by crook, and play up to the affability of their smiles, then it's only fair that these elected leaders become more aware of the basic needs of their people. :(
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
The backbone of each country, the industry, is sometimes overlooked, yet with each industry that comes along, the economy improves and employs, as one would expect supply and demand as a barometer for measuring the economic scale. ???
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Democracy is a sham in the 21st century -- true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
Who breeds these tyrants? Tyrants usually start off as simply elected leaders whose constituents put them there, waiting for them --to serve them, since that's what their job entails and requires of them. Yet, as they warm their seats, their power grows like a bad bacteria and converts that power into something more sinister. >:( :o
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"Years teach us more than books." - Berthold Auerbech, German-Jewish Poet
We know that no amount of books can replace our day-to-day experience. Books are there to enrich us, to educate us, to guide us, to add to our sense of culture and well-being, to teach and tell us more about the intricacies of philosophy, science, maths, languages. Experience is a totally different kettle of fish. In reality, no one dictates to us what to do in life--that's our prerogative. We are the book ourselves--the book is in us. ;) 8)
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"Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government." Thomas Jefferson
Oh, really? Now the Americans are planning to wage a war against Iran, which they consider a rogue state. Another "conquering moment" for the CIA, who knows, because of Iran's stubbornness in developing nuclear weapons. They are considered "dangerous". But who dropped the first Atomic bombs? Who have been dropping "dirty bombs" in Iraq and Afghanistan? Who dropped napalm in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos? No, the Americans aren't into conquering another country--only by way of wanton destruction to make them tow the American line. ??? :o
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"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allan Poe
Sometimes, the things around us, while they overwhelm us, can make a sane person insane, under the best of circumstances. Why? Too much of everything spoils what's left of the simple things. ::) ;D
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"All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry." - Edgar Allan Poe
Each person has a right to pray and be a part of a religion since religion will never go away. It forms part of mankind and that's the way it's going to be--whether we like it or not. On the other hand, I firmly believe that fanaticism to a particular religion is utterly wrong. No one religion is better than the other; no one religion is superior than the other; no one religion should insult another. It is fanaticism that breeds hatred, and I have no wish to be a part of it. :(
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This is still in response to Edgar Allan Poe's quote:
Religion--any religion--is good for most people. It is when a handful of people begin to distort it when they think it can be used improperly as a tool to get their way, or when they think that religion is a weapon to destroy another--this is where religion becomes its sorry self. Fanaticism to religious beliefs is distasteful and plain wrong. And who are destroying their particular religion? Those who profess to love it. :( ::)
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On Emotion:
When it comes to emotion, no one can solve it but yourself. People may be able to help, give their personal take on the matter, but only you can clear up the clutter in your mind. ;D :D
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"Democracy is based upon conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people." - Harry Emerson Fosdick
There is so much untapped talent in every country of the world. Somehow, those seemingly "ordinary people" are overlooked for the simple reason that they are the silent majority. This oversight stems from the usual attitude of governments, which, while concerned with their citizens' plight, forget they also need to dig deeper in what's available in their respective constituencies that they can take advantage of: home grown talent. :) Those "extraordinary possibilities" are either ignored or forgotten because they lack some of the most basic form of human observation. ;D :(
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The Pope's forthcoming State Visit to the UK
One cannot set aside his own importance, as leader of the whole Catholic kingdom. He is still going to be the pope for as long as he lives. He is and will still be revered by all Catholics and those from other religions, despite the recent bad publicity that has put the Vatican and himself in a shameful embrace with unresolved embarrassments. :( :-[
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Nurture can be a torture when that person is only forced to do it. ;D ;)
(From, Part 3, Quotable (?) Quotes. Parts 1 & 2 can be read at http://iftruthbetold.posterous.com
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Rights, privileges and democracy.
Privileges come with influence-peddling. There are different ways of doing it but privileges abound when these are handed to them by their elected friends in government. While the government does the business of running the administration, friends and relations are waiting in the wings to take advantage of what they can have--especially when availability finds its way to accessibility. Such a mixture of course destroys whatever is left of democracy as we know it. Who knows? Perhaps, that's what democracy is about after all. :D ???
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The most effective comeback to an insult is silence. - Anonymous
But sometimes, can we really hold our tongue? ;)
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"Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She has no need to procure entrance in the minds of men." Thomas Jefferson
When truth is sullied with half-lies, then truth itself is nothing but additional idle tripe. For democracy to work, respect for truth and the way it is conveyed must be done openly to ensure the public good is preserved. :) 8)
From, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
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On the UK Criminal Justice System
In reply to the BBC Radio 4 The Today Programme today--
I think that justice has also become a dirty word. Somehow, it begrudges us of our own well-being, let alone our sense of delight to see someone justifiably sent to jail for wrong-doing. If, for some reason that justice is truly served, I'd like to try climbing the Everest and telling all the judges to quit. Now, that would really be justice. ;D ;)
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Democracy means every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. - H L Mencken
From, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
This is exactly how we feel, those living in so-called democratic countries. What is there to be proud of when many governments are either complacent, indifferent, don't care, and of course, the usual business of greed and power-grabbing. Heck, that is a shameful recourse to have. On the other hand, decent people should not allow rogue politicians to lord over a country whose main agenda is to take advantage of resources that will only go to a few, or for that matter, only a small section of society. ??? ::)
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A brief reply to one of the commenters defending the new president on his trip to the US:
Hmm. Defending the indefensible is something too desperate to even reply to this. I guess we all just have to pretend that this new prez is truly smart and wise that he can be up there, with the rest of the smart arses, anytime, anywhere, including eating raw hotdog. ;D ;D
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In reply to a link, Miracle of Life, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
Symbols make a strong persuasion to control people. Impartiality is thrown out of the window when it comes to dominance over human beings 8). There must be another way to stop this kind of emotional survival--even promotional upheaval--for that matter. Symbols are electrifying ways to convince them to be non-thinkers. ;) :D
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"A perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world. - Edmund Burke
We do not want a perfect democracy. We want a working democracy that repairs, heals, creates, manages well, speaks for the citizens, cares for them, and allows them to enjoy their self-worth and well-being. :) :)
( Admin/Moderator's Reply>>Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4)
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From the community page, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4 - everybody is welcome to join!!
The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference and undernourishment." - Robert MAynard Hutchins
There are two replies to this quote. Here's reply #2
Apathy, on the other hand, can be reversed for as long as indolence is extracted from democratic principles that has become a disease created by elected representatives who think they are already doing enough to make their citizens satisfied. To overlook their citizens is a sad commentary of the rotten attitude that makes democracy look dastardly even in the best of times. :D :o :-\
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From, "The Ballad of the Third World", written in 1989, 41 stanzas, by yours truly. Here are the last two stanzas.
Look around and there's no tinge of improvement,
Why is it that politicians don't make up an effective movement?
The vacuum they leave is degrading and appalling,
Yet whenever they need people's vote, they're around,
constantly smiling; >:(
"One for you and two for me," a statement full of irony and pain,
Repulsive it may sound penetrating closely into their brain,
Systematically inconsiderate they wallow like corporate creeps,
While ordinary folk gather, once more, a few lousy tips. :D ???
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From A Collection of Contemporary Poems, by Hill Roberts, 1990
Revolutionary Changes - 20 stanzas. Here are the last two stanzas.
Vision for the future after a revolution,
could hurt the population as well as institutions
casual changes, believing them to be harmless
the real crunch lies, when they start to hamper;
Reforms there will be, changes and scrutiny,
a piece of paper promises no bounty
of fate and freedom, liberty and honour
the will of the people overtakes all horrors. :D 8)
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Hello, forum members:
Before anything else, I would like to inform you that I have opened/founded three new Facebook comunity pages:
1. Save Our Sharks in Philippine Waters Now (S.O.S.) (Admin - Les Lesaca, Makati)
2. Breast Cancer Awareness in Filipino Women (Admin - Marissa Torres Langseth (New York)
3. Lyricist would like to collaborate with Composer (Admin- Hill Roberts (Spain/UK)
The fourth one, which I have already mentioned earlier here, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? There are now over 20 participating countries in just two months, which is wonderful.
You are all welcome to join! Thank you! ;) :)
Hill Roberts
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Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. - James Madison
But, what are the rights of the minor party? What exactly are the rules of justice and who measures them? What exactly is an "overbearing majority" and how superior is it when the elite dictate to a silent majority? :D ???
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BBC 4 Radio programme asks, What is fairness? My reply below:
Fairness doesn't mean anything if interpreted in a hundred ways. What exactly is fairness but an adorable word that cannot be proven to be helpful when you need it? What is fairness but a nice-sounding word that well-meaning politicians use but not able to transmit or relate to anyway? What is fairness but something we already know but do not really understand in this day and age? Fairness is nothing if it's not implemented. Implementing it is not part of exercising fairness. Fairness can at best be described as a haphazard attempt at pleasing a minority, whose romantic idea is littered with pretentions and pessimism. Don't expect fairness to come like a gust of wind. ;) ;) ;D
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Every person is a new door to a different world. - Six Degrees of Separation
I made the flea market an example of a different world. :D :)
Here's my personal opinion:
It is indeed another window into a different lifestyle. Just so many different worlds in one small setting. To each his/her own when they relate to a vendor or a customer. This is where a different world becomes an aspect and not just a spectacle of a day's flea market shopping. That "new door", i.e., person, has many rooms that open to everyone, but people are afraid or hesitant to use them. "Imagined" fears overtake their otherwise good sense, to pry through their own misgivings about welcoming others into their life. :-[ :-X
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"By a lie, a man....annihilates his dignity as a man." - Immanuel Kant ::)
Any which way for people whose attempts at salvaging their reputation is impossible, and when making up stories becomes their superficial protection from being further ripped to pieces would be a lost cause indeed. Some people are unwilling to yield to the truth put before them. But why do people who feel guilty resort to fabricating stories albeit deplorable? I suppose shame and perceived grievances have to to be covered up. They have been shown to trick the minds of those gullible acquaintances and friends, who believe them out of blind loyalty. It's the only thing they could cling to for support, with negative results. :D :(
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I have opened a new community page last week:
"Levi Celerio: A Tribute to a Great Filipino Artist"--this gentleman had written over 4,000 songs, but the country must remember a prolific, genuinely talented man. Please join this community page and if you knew Levi, please include all your knowledge, info about him whether good, bad, indifferent, silly, funny, serious, who he was, what he did, where he wrote his songs, did he play instruments, etc. What a shame that the Philippines doesn't have this tradition of honouring homegrown talent. I am trying to change that. Somehow, government politicians do not have a clue how to honour them, especially when these talented people are not in their social circle, or the person is poor. Wrong! This attitude must change. Levi had written more than the combined efforts of Lennon, McCartney, Simon and Garfunkel. Clearly, these men are honoured and remembered in their home countries--it is part of tradition to give them a high profile. Sadly, the Philippines doesn't have a clue how to go about it, or even think of remembering their homegrown talent. :'( >:(
See you there and please add your insights about this forgotten talent. Thank you. Just type out the first word and you're there. Cheers! :)
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Dear Joe and forum friends,
Greetings from coolish Spain. I will be in Paris for a week (from tomorrow) so I will not be able to post anything here. Take care! See you all next week. :)
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Enjoy Paris while it sizzles, Hill! ;)
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Hello Joe and forum friends!
Thank you Joe for the warm words. Just got back. Paris, the second time around is indeed sweeter. Ten years ago, we took the Eurostar but with a big coach group of tourists with us. We were beholden to our guide and had to follow a strict itinerary. That was the first and last time. It's good to be independent. I enjoyed this beautiful city so much. What a shame that many local government politicians in the Philippines do not have a clue how to zone, plan and make their towns and villages smart, sensible, practical and well laid-out.
More on Paris later. Thank you and all best wishes! :) ;D
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Welcome back, Hill! I'm glad to know that you enjoyed your Paris trip immensely. Let's hope that your wishes for a better-zoned Philippines will come true. Who knows what nice things the future can bring to the country?
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Good morning Joe from Spain!
Thank you for the warm greetings. Apologies for not replying--the usual problem of lose connection, with Norton warning me of many viruses. My email box is also having problems. Facebook was OK when I got back, then I'd lose connection every now and then.
Indeed. Let's hope that city planners in the Philippines get serious about zoning plans. Many parts of that country just look shabby, unfortunately.
All best wishes!
Hill
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BBC 4 The Today Programme, asking why a job of a Funeral Photographer can be a challenge?
I gave two replies, but I will post only the second comment.
Death should not be feared. It is a natural thing. We all die eventually and there's nothing we can do to stop it. It's just the way it is. Death need not be morbid if total acceptance of it is manifested. As for suicide, it is also a decision by some people. If people want to self-inflict death, then what can we do? :( It's time to accept death as just a normal process of daily life. Fearing it is pointless. ;)
How we see it in the Philippines>> :D
(In Britain, taking photographs of wakes, funeral services, and other forms of activity is not part of their culture, unlike in the Philippines. This is the first time that England has a funeral photographer hired to take photos during those sad times. In the Philippines, it is common, and treated like a circus, in the worst of times.) ??? ::)
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From Part 3, Hill Roberts's Quotable Quotes(?):
Originality - it's what many people lack :D. In the face of it, you're welcome to quote dead folk but don't expect them to say thank you. ;D
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Part 3, Hill Roberts's Quotable (?) Quotes
Praise - it's an entrapment to lure you into their circle of friendship whether it's questionable or not. ;)
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Part 3, Quotable (?) Quotes
Dynamism - If you lack it, it's because you think it's like some kind of chemical implosion. :o 8)
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Part 3
Praise >> when a person keeps showering praise on others, it speaks more about his/her inability to relate, when face-to-face eventually takes place. 8) ::)
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Part 3
Guts>>You can have the guts to shame others, but make sure you're spotless yourself. :-\ ??? :o
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From, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false?
A state arises, as I conceive, out of the need of mankind; no one is self-sufficing, but all of us have many wants. - Plato
We can never be satisfied. There will always be that "something" we yearn for, or await. Sure, we may have many "wants", but we also would like those "wants" to be made available without having to struggle to attain them. No obstacle is bigger than governments. To provide real opportunities and jobs for citizens spring to mind. But who will monitor such schemes if elected politicians ignore their own responsibilities?
Mankind deserve better but mankind alone cannot be the be-all and end-all of this earth. Mankind have a lot to answer for, as well as, responsibilities for the abuses, anomalies, wanton destruction and survival of all living things. Indeed, we can all be self-sufficient, rather than self-sufficing or self-effacing: gratitude must be observed and demonstrated, too. ;) ;D 8)
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Dignity doesn't consist in possessing honours but in deriving them. - Aristotle
Some people seek dignity for the sake of validation and approval. A person can be dignified for a short time, depending on the circumstances. His/her true colour will show anyhow when it's just an act to save face. Dignity comes with grace. With natural grace comes good character. ;D :-*
(From, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4)
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Do you sometimes get addicted to something?
Well, strangely enough, I have become addicted to not drugs, alcohol, drink--I have opened two new community pages. It may sound silly but community pages have become my full time addiction. The two new ones are:
1. Getting Ready for the Philippine Elections in 2016--a community page that is apolitical. It will not endorse or promote the candidacy of a person, or people running for public/political office, or any party/parties for that matter. The main aim/objective is to change the voters' basic view on voting, specifically, voting for voting's sake, without giving it enough thought. >:( :( :o ??? ::)
2. Name and Shame the War Criminals
You are all invited to visit these two pages. I hope to get back to normal and post my usual quotes and other light-hearted stuff soon. Meanwhile, keep writing, dear forum members!
:) ;) :-*
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Senator Enrile said that Many Pacquiao would make a good bodyguard, rather than a peace negotiator, from one of my fb friends' wall. Here's my reply:
A below-the-belt comment indeed. Poor judgement from Sen Enrile. For starters, Manny is very intelligent. it is that fact that attracted me to him. I find him thoughtful, funny, forward-looking and responsible. Yes, a highly-intelligent individual. To insult him because being a boxer is not a noble profession--in the eyes of Enrile--reflects back on his own fear of moving forward in the 21st century. >:(
So what if he lived in a cardboard box in the past? Doesn't Sen Enrile realise there is such a thing as rising to the top in a clean, non-political way? This is just the kind of mentality that those silly oligarchs and the elite have, when they see people become rich--outside of politics! ;D :o
I think I can put my hand on my heart and say, I have lost that last ounce of respect for Enrile. Sorry, but once again, politicians self-inflict, always a dangerous moment when they do that. It is permanent. 8) ::)
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Ballad of the Third World, tenth stanza: :'(
Authoritarians and autocrats enjoy a lifestyle, ;)
where many can only smirk and smile :) :-X
what they really know to be deceit and lies :o 8)
ordinary folk could only cling to unwanted spies. ;D ::)
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Falling on Hard Times, third stanza, From, A Collection of Contemporary Poems
Our actions are basically our own. Hence,
we put those matters behind, though regrettable.
Enormous self-pity makes us vulnerable.
Beyond our knowledge we are not able
to sort out what is wrong, or why.
Oh, for heaven's sake, it's real! :( :o
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I am a Democrat only on principle, not by instinct. Nobody is that. Doubtless, some people say they are, but the world is grievously given to lying. - Mark Twain
It's quite clear also that liars make wonderful politicians. Voters love listening to flowery words, where they play a big part in putting these politicians in power. :D Do Democrats have principles? Or, are they born liars in the sense of luring their followers into a trap of eventual misery, after they have officially ascended as the powers of the land? ???
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All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership. - John Kenneth Galbraith
What exactly is the "major anxiety" of a leader's country's people? Why should there be excuses when leadership goes haywire? Why should a leader think that even the least significant could hamper the road to prosperity? Ideological approach is good only in small doses. 8) ::)
Good leadership is vital to a country's prosperity and economic growth, health and well-being. However, if leadership means nothing more than leading his/her own party, because leaders need to please each of them, and not brave enough to make unilateral decisions, then what is the point of it all? :o :-\
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This is my reply to the status of my facebook friend, Richard James Mendoza, "Even Cory's so-called "restoration of democracy..." today, 26th November 2010 8)
I've always believed that the voters should not change the politicians, but change the politics in politicians. Otherwise, like in the case of Cory, she exacted the same personal thoughts on how to subscribe to the kind of government she wanted to have, believing that religious beliefs were vital to the moral being of her country. The result? Pig's den. ;D
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The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. This and no other root is the root from which a tyrant springs. When he first appears, he is a protector. - Plato
There are many tyrants in our midst. When a tyrant forgets how he/she started, i.e., as a protector, then goes into oblivion, comes back, says outlandish things how he/she saved a person, a village, a country, and then the world--my goodness, don't you just want to scream and tell him/her to go to hell? ::) >:( ???
From Democracy is a sham in the 21st century - true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
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Julian Assange, Wikileaks Website Founder
Several months ago, I began featuring him on my facebook wall. I know now that the American authorities knew about this Australian, but the American media were too slow to give publicity to this website until the so-called severity of the boldness of this website came to light. The question is, why are the American journalists afraid to speak up and defend their co-journalist? If the US professes to be the top guard in this world, and behind the scenes, they--the four organisations, the Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI and Homeland Security would like to arrest Assange, what last remaining respect should we have for the US? They dictate to other lesser countries to follow their form of government: Democracy. But who is the first to violate this "beautiful democracy" that they want others to espouse? :D
We know that the Americans dropped the first A-bombs; they dropped the first cluster bombs in many parts of the world including Iraq, Afghanistan, parts of the Far East; they dropped napalm in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos. They are destabilising Mindanao because of their presence there. They have recently destabilised Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia by paying goons to stage coups.
Now that the US has been caught in an uncompromising situation, its politicians are back to their old ways: we are the beacon of the world; we only want stability in this world; we only want peace and harmony in this world; we only want....we only wa.....What?
;D 8) ::)
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Facebook>> Human Rights Watch
A Vote To Help Women Around The World
My reply:
It's such a disgrace indeed to overlook this heinous crime against women and girls in Haiti and when other countries look the other way as if things were normal. Let's hope that the politicians in the US see this as some kind of barometer for other countries whose citizens have no respect for women and children. :o ::)
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Facebook>> The Independent (British paper) on Wikileaks Derailed and why the US forced embassies around the world to be on alert.
My reply:
It's easy to moralise when the horse has already bolted, so to speak. In the first place, had the US just assigned all those top secret/classified documents to someone more senior, and not to a 23-year old junior level staff who was also a disgruntled soldier of British and American dual nationality, all this wouldn't have blown in the faces of the Americans. ;) Blaming Wikileaks website would be futile if not dismissive of their attempts to tell the US that it has been lukewarm in their desire to keep Top Secrets secret. ;D :o What is not a secret is their usual utter arrogance to drop their guard thinking that the whole world is on the US's side. ;D 8)
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My # 2 reply:
I neither condone nor defend the Wikileaks website at all. The US Government has dropped their guard, and not for the first time, nor would it be the last. Now they want worldwide sympathy, which the Americans think is their birthright. ;D :D It was sheer carelessness on their part to assign all Top Secret/Classified Documents to a disgruntled junior staff, which means that they never cared much about the consequences. Blaming the Wikileaks website is a quick way to cleanse themselves of any guilt. As if the world owes them a living! :o :'( ::)
Today, they arrested Julian Assange, the founder, for "rape" charges against two Swedish women in England. Of course we know the British have to tow the American line. It would be folly to believe that Assange raped those two women when charges against him were dropped a couple of months ago and nothing was heard of since then. Who else would revive the rape charges but the US Government? I am against US Government's Foreign Policies only. ;) :)
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From, Getting Ready For The Philippine Elections in 2016:
The most telling is when Aides and minions gather together to assist in the wholesale manipulation of the levels of corruption they have participated in--past and present. :D ??? ::)
Do join us at this new Facebook community page. :) It will not mention/promote the candidacy of people running for public office. See you there and participate. Vote wisely, with conviction. Planning ahead is better than not planning at all. ;D ;)
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Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. Pete F Drucker
Leadership must not only lift themselves to higher sights, but also their people's. Performing a job for the sake of it is not the same as performance with good results. Going through the rigmarole of doing a job is not the same as having the foresight and keenness to show a personality in a leader, and qualities in leadership.
;) :( ::)
We need dynamism in leadership. Without it, the determination to push through reforms would be futile, too. ;D :-[
From, Democracy is a Sham in the 21st Century--true or false? http://fb.me/DCcWGNs4
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In reply to the BBC4 question on islamisation:
So-called radical islamisation is not a thought process: it is something that developed over a generation due to propaganda, internet, access to state-of-the-art technology, media co-operation and distortion, as well as the usual bickering in political circles to help destabilise the world in what is supposed to be their deliverance on the matter to a higher level. ;D 8)
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I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self. - Aristotle
If this quote does not make men who lead cringe, then there's something terribly wrong with them. The essence of desires, conquering over others and being victorious are virtues that could, in all probability, strengthen a man's crude and tactical behaviour or simply doing the right thing in a particular context, other than conquering his own enemies, perceived or imagined. For a man who is brave does not have to prove anything, least of all, to his enemies. ;) :P :-\
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Sounding delusional is the last resort of a holy man. ;) ::) - Hill Roberts, Quotable (?) Quotes
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Spare me the pontification and I will spare you the rod. ;D 8)- Hill Roberts (Quotable (?) Quotes
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Success must be relative to a person's bank account and that person's bank account must be relative to mafia-style endorsement of new business. ;) ;D ::)
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We respect the sanctity of the ballot. - Comelec :o >:(
Fact:1) established in 1940
2) Administrative entity although it has judicial powers
3) Comelec officials serve seven years; they cannot be sacked, only impeached! :o ::) :'(
Corruption breeds poverty and political chaos. :( We see it in many parts of the world. Still, our educated politicians and appointed officials would need to look closely in the mirror and ask themselves why they have become callous and greedy as they continue to serve as government public/civil servants. 8) Maybe, just maybe, the whys and wherefores would be better understood.
Meanwhile, majority of the citizens end up giving up, which is no excuse to be indifferent. The more reason that voters would need to be more discerning and vigilant in choosing their local and national representatives and leaders. :'(
From, Getting Ready for the Philippine Elections in 2016 ;D
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This is in response to the link in one of my facebook friends' walls, re President Aquino in permanent Blunderland.
It seems that meddling is becoming the norm in this new administration. The bad thing is, they meddle for the heck of it. Why? They don't know where the dirty end of the stick is, but sticking to their stick--clean or not--would make them look competent. The biggest question now is, who keeps giving this new prez the dirty stick for him to clean? :D ;D ::) :'(
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"We preserve the sanctity of the ballot. " - Comelec
Oh, really? Then why haven't these people done the right thing and answer to the simple question as to why there was fraudulence during the May elections? This is one slogan too many in the Philippines where slogan after slogan is a way of life. Yet, when it comes to doing their jobs, it's either they aren't up to the job, they lack the ability to do it, or they are simply inept. Many unelected officials have the gall to get huge salaries. It boggles the mind that these people are allowed to work in government at all, despite common knowledge that they are there because those in power have made it their business to install their people. >:( The sad thing is, Comelec officials cannot be sacked--only impeached. They serve a year more than the elected politicians, including the president. :oA joke? Or a disease that has been going on since 1940? Time to abolish this quango. This is one thing that EU countries do not have. This is why corruption continues to be the biggest problem in the Philippines. When Comelec officials are beholden to the powers running the country, their independence isn't what it seems. Somehow, they answer to the politicians, instead of to the citizens and voters. ::) >:(
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A very very Happy New Year to Joe and Forum Members! :-* May 2011 bring lots of better opportunities, good health and peace in the Philippines. All the best for the coming weeks, months and year. :)
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I used to go away for weeks in a state of confusion. - Albert Einstein
The absence of cash, hangover and short temper: just three of many reasons why people, after the Christmas holidays, become edgy. Thank goodness I wasn't surrounded by a whole bunch of relatives, otherwise, I'd also be suffering from the three I mentioned. Why do Filipinos lavish themselves with all kinds of food at Christmas? Does the emphasis really have to be on food and food only? A marathon of eating fiesta ham, Dutch cheese, lechon, chicken, and all those delicacies seem to be the thing for at least a month. Endless grocery shopping, endless gift-buying, endless text messages--I can imagine these were the things people did in the Philippines in 2010. I rang up twice, on Christmas Day and New Year's Day--which I do every year, and follow ups every month or so. Believe me, those relatives speak in slow motion, as if I had all the cash and time in the world to speak to them! There are times when I could scream since they do not realise the cost per minute from Europe to the Philippines. Taking their sweet time to speak or lift the phone is one of the things that I usually anticipate. ::) >:(Am I moaning? sure I am! Still, I will have to go through the same process over and over again this year, and the coming years. ;D ;)
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Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein
Unfortunately, there are too many mediocre minds in the political world and in politicians worldwide. Somehow, these mediocre minds are voted in--hands down--for the simple reason that they are able to tell a lie or two with a straight face undetected. With great spirits on the wane in that particular world, those mediocre minds are able to take advantage of the ever-growing ignorance or indifference of others or their constituents. >:( ::)As their constituents become economically well-off, great spirits are transferred quietly elsewhere, with less meaningful impact and without being noticed, while the continued resurgence of mediocre minds are flowing endlessly into the mainstream of politics. :o :D :-[
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From, The Ballad of the Third World, 14th stanza of a 40-stanza poem
Posturing politicians conglomerate in coffee shops,
smoking their heads off, discussing the country's policies and cops,
those lingering doubts of concern are no subject of worry,
while the homeless go around begging for mercy and money. ??? ::)
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Hunger is created by people who don't work,
expecting everything to be handed in a Chinese wok,
noodles and French fries not easy to get hold of,
while those in power share nothing but cold and cough.
From, The Ballad of the Third World, 11th stanza of a 40-stanza poem ;D :( :'(
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A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful in life than spent doing nothing. - George Bernard Shaw
Indeed. We should never be afraid to make mistakes--or admit that we have made one big mistake. :D This idea that mistakes are bad for image is wrong. Nothing is done and dusted for as long as mistakes are covered up: they will all come out in the wash. ;D 8)
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Population explosion, graft and corruption,
this Third World scenario can have another option:
if together they vote without the usual money-in-the-palm,
so endemic in rural areas it's difficult to calm. ::) >:( :-[
From, Ballad of the Third World, 12th stanza (unpublished)
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Complacency is the untold enemy of swift economic progress. ???
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Humanity hasn't grown up in ways that it needs to grow up with spontaneous positive results. It has evolved but to this day, still enjoys violence, trickery, deceit and misunderstood idealism.
(My reply from one of the BBC's discussion covering this theme.)
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What are the legal and moral dilemmas in Libya? Asks BBC4, facebook group page
"Legal and moral dilemmas" ? You mean to tell me, despite the fiasco in Iraq and Afghanistan, Libya is their (the West's) first eye-opener? What is this question--truth or consequence? :o The West haven't been facing up to their moral obligation and the legalities of war. They've put themselves in a quandary because of their desire to put the world right, to no avail of course. :D No one can put
the world right. The world goes through the motions of control and diplomacy. That's about as good as it gets. ;) :-\
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If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost. - Aristotle
Equality doesn't exist when it comes to classification. To a large extent, equality is only a footnote in a citizen's daily life, albeit ordinary. While other politicians succeed in fooling their constituents and saying the same repetitious things, liberty is compromised to another level. :D ???
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On Filipino leaders' morals--or the lack of it.
Should morals be redundant? Morals are supposed to be the backbone of elected leaders, not their hang-up. ;) :D ;D
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Money/ Economic Stability:
Should it be controled by representatives especially in well-off nations or should they allow those countries trying to prosper and make things happen for their citizens because they have the power to dictate, being much more powerful? ;) :o
8) Barter trade was the equivalent of money in real terms in ancient times. If money is indeed the real representation in the world today, it's because prosperity and progress rely on it, to spread its use. ;D The very core of corruption is because and not in spite of money. ;D ::)
(From a discussion, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false? Facebook personal website)
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From one of my Facebook websites, Getting Ready for the Philippine Elections in 2016
One vote matters; two votes matter more; three votes could change the direction of the Philippines. Do we know where it's heading? We, the voters, would be able to decide and change, once and for all that , yes, voting for the right people next time would be the answer to our woes and prayers. We and we alone, are responsible for putting those people in public office and power. 8) :P :-\ ;D. So, let's stop blaming others since the voters have a lot to answer for. :D :) >:( :o
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What men value in the world is not rights, but privileges. - H L Mencken
We can reverse the situation. Like-minded Filipinos in general do acknowledge weakness and mistakes. They just need some encouragement to be reassured that their privileges shouldn't be considered a raincheck, rather a genuine oath to uphold their rights. ;) ;D To have allowed their own natural privileges to be trampled on by past and present politicians was and is not to be considered the answer to keep the same disenchantment to benefit the oligarchs and the passive rich. :o :P :-\
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Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. - H L Mencken
Indeed. Individual ignorance can be deadly, not in the literal sense, but in the confines of a person's conscious mind. ;) ::)
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It's not what you hear, it's what you imagine. - Hill Roberts (posted in Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are)
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People may be altruistic, generally speaking, but when they have to fight their corner, selfishness becomes a natural prerogative. ;)
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Dignity comes in many forms. I believe that there is dignity in keeping silent when a person is suffering from chronic poverty. Why flaunt it just because you're poor? Filipinos just love to make a big deal how impoverished they are. Frankly, I am sick and tired of that boring attitude. This is another enlightenment of infinite self-pity. ??? ::) Time to talk about being well-off. It is nice to be well-off, too. What's there to stop people from saying it? Time to shift things around. 8) ;)Who wants to romanticise poverty anyway? ::) ;D
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The measure of a man is what he does with his power. - Plato
What does he do with his power? He abuses it. >:(
With power, he is enslaved by it. ;) :-X
...and without power, he becomes vile and violent, prepared to do and protect, well, his power. ::) ???
(From, Democracy is a sham in the 21st century--true or false?)
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Years teach us more than books. - Berthold Auerbach
While Filipinos in general gravitate towards the activity on terciary education, and losing cash in the process, learning how to make money becomes a difficult task. ;)Spare cash or the lack of it adds to the economic poverty of a student, but of course, his/her mind isn't impoverished by lack of learning. :D But, is it time to shut the books that educate us, and sacrifice reading for practical reasons, like earning a proper living, rather than just going through the motions of studying and learning, minus the skills required and so necessary in the 21st century? :( ::) :'(
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On sex, Philippine setting: why we still hesitate to talk about sex
In my time, my parents never talked about this issue, nor were we daring enough to talk about it, in front of them ;), until we were much older. They didn't mind us being liberal and open with our observation and views, but they always felt rather embarrassed. ;D 8) ::)
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On locking up a 20-year old Arab girl in Bahrain for reading a poem
It's the overall disrespect for human dignity towards women in the Arab World that makes it sadder. :( In retrospect, what is even more baffling is when we begin to get "shocked" at the enormity of this kind of totalitarian behaviour when we know for a fact they do it without trepidation anyway. >:( ??? ::)
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Why are Filipinos a self-defeating people? :(
It could be because they still live in the 19th century, where age-old values, many of which are outdated, backward, phoney, lack the basic yearning to catch up with other forward-looking, forward-thinking races.
Filipinos love to be stuck in the rut they created for themselves---and they are happy to stay there and that way. One cannot even present simple proposals without quick resistance from others who think and judge right away that it would be impossible to do such a thing. :o ??? This is the reason why the Philippines is not known for its good, exemplary points, rather for being a harbinger of more sad, pathetic self-pitying home-grown telenovela stories. The tear-jerking day-to-day activities of these people while being interviewed by silly, shallow, ignorant reporters adds to the growing misery of miserly attitude towards themselves. The fear of being afraid, the fear of fearing fear itself, and the fear that they create for themselves, as well as imagined fear makes me tremble with unnecessary fear. :-[ ::)Shouldn't we now ask ourselves, "Why were we born Filipinos?" Get me out of here! ;D :P
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Part 2--Why are Filipinos a self-defeating people?
It's rather tempting to say, "I'm ashamed to be a Filipino/a." If Filipinos keep asking themselves and banging their heads on the wall each breathing moment of their lives by asking, "Who am I? Why was I born a Filipino? Why am I ashamed to be a Filipino?" By gum, we Filipinos are truly hopeless! In short, while Filipinos keep asking the same darn, boring stupid question, doesn't it make you think how egoistic Filipinos are, after all? :D ??? ::)It is a mouldy assessment of what we have become, too, right? Isn't it time to look forward instead of harping on the so-called "glorious past" that the world doesn't really know about, or worse, even aware of? That we keep self-flaggelating that ancient "inferiority complex" problem as if it was biologically attached to the dirtiest and biggest toenail in the world? ::) ::) ;)
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The meaning of life is not to be discovered only after death in some hidden mysterious realm. - Paul Kurtz
The truth is, the meaning of life is not correctly dissected untill we are at the mercy of nearing death itself--then we all start to philosophise. After philosophising, regrets come. Too late because we have squandered what was supposedly the most important thing to us: how to live. :( ::) ;)
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A question from a facebook friend: Is China a Socialist country? :-\ ???
My answer: I'd say China is the biggest capitalist country in the world pretending to be the biggest communist country mankind has ever known. (From new group page, opened three days ago) "Buy Chinese Last" ::) ;D ::)
Everybody is welcome to join. This new group page is about telling Filipinos to buy Chinese goods/products only as a last resort/alternative. It would be impossible to stop buying Chinese goods altogether since China is a world factory and where practically everything is manufactured there. This new group page was originally created by me in response to the growing aggression of mainland China to bully its neighbouring countries as well as their encroachment into Philippine Waters and territories. China's bullying tactics must be controled.
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Do you easily break into tears? My post, Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are
I care a lot about others but caring is different from showing too much emotion. 8) ;)
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The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. - Pierre de Courbertin
Indeed, the challenge is fighting well , despite losing in the process. But losing is neither here nor there: one can think of having "lost" but the other would also claim defeat. ;) :)To conquer is not about winning rather an attempt to impose his will for being unable to fight fairly.
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Hello to dear Joe and forum members here,
My husband and I will be in the UK soon so I wouldn't be able to post anything here for the time being. I hope to be back in August. See you all when I get back. All the best! :) ;)
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Hello everybody!
Just got back from a long journey to England and Scotland. Drove 3,450 miles and now feeling physical tiredness. Hope to be back as soon as I can. Take care and see you all soon.
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Welcome back from your long, long journey and hiatus from the Forum, Hill! I hope everything's well with you and your husband after vacationing in dear old England. Oh and I dare not ask if you were able to find time to visit the Queen! ::)
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Thank you Joe for the warm welcome and good morning from hot Spain! Yes, it was a long, memorable holiday and I miss driving the British motorways. I drove to Edinburgh and visited the Queen's palace-- Hollyrood Palace---something of a poor copy of the Versailles Palace in Paris--and this is the first time that I was indeed disappointed to see a palace that's not of the same grandeur (Buckingham) and magnificence of the Vatican. No recommendation here save for the fact that Pope Benedict went there to deliver the other half of the "magna carta", if I remember correctly. Anyway, I will now return to normal service and thank you once again for all the notifications of your latest blogs. I appreciate it.
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Failures give us more reasons to change the course of our lives to make us better. Failures shouldn't be considered the end of life as we know it. (From Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are, my reply
to another member who is feeling the economic pinch.)
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On divorce: Yes, that's the bottom line for couples whose relationship went from grace to spade. :( ::)
(In reply to a post today, Strictly Filipina. I had no idea that in the Philippines, where annulment proceedings take an awful long time, the fees are also exorbitant--somewhere upwards to 200,000 pesos. That's a lot of money!) >:(
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Bureaucracy in the Philippines:
It is time-wasting, expensive, useless, creates mayhem and arguments, above all, citizens lose lots of
money with bureaucracy breathing down their necks and ruining their day, each time they do business
with government agencies. >:( ::)
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If democratic countries were to infringe on the basic rights of their citizens, what is left is another hollow reminder of what democracy isn't. ;D ??? ::)
(also posted at the Democracy is a Sham in the 21st century page)
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"I bribe, he takes the money, we're both corrupt."
;D :o -- my reply to a commenter who believes that corruption requires a huge amount of money or something tangible like accepting land or property, be part of a business to consider it corruption. I told her that it's not the amount. Bribing functionaries at the airport to expedite matters quickly is corruption, too. It seems that at airports, many Filipinos bribe those Customs officials to get their papers done in order. :P :-[ Filipinos can't have it both ways. When they cry for change and want to get rid of corruption, and at the same time, they participate in perpetuating bribery, on a daily basis, then how can they possibly have peace of mind? ??? :o
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Christianity in the Philippines has been re-translated, re-interpreted and re-invented and all that's left now is nothing but rosary-toting people who think that by carrying it in their pocket or handbag, some kind of miracle will make them worthwhile again. ;D ::) I've seen many internet users quoting from the Bible and yet, just look at how they react when they're cornered, or being shown the real heaven's door. 8) ??? :'(
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On the resiliency of Filipinos :D ;)
People are resilient and not exclusive to Filipinos although Filipinos have more than enough reason because of having given up their own expectations of their country and people. Resiliency, for them, is the easy way out of smiling off poverty and grave problems resulting in self-inflicted misery. :( ::) ???
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On legalising prostitution in the Philippines
Prostitution has been going on for thousands of years. To squirm about this issue will confirm ignorance on the part of mankind. ;) ??? 8)
(Pinas: let's make a wishlist for the 21st century forum, today)
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On Manila Bulletin's decision to remove the article of Atenean, James Soriano, on Tagalog ;D
This young man inadvertently said something he wished he didn't say, but hey, he is giving everybody food for thought, as well as resentment in many quarters. It'd die down and no doubt, James will be vindicated. :( ::)
(From, Pinas: let's make a wish list forum)
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On Philippine relations with Saudi Arabia
The Philippine leaders are probably aware that dealing with a country like Saudi Arabia is like dealing with football hooligans on a good day when they aren't drunk yet.
(From, Pinas: Let's make a wish list for the 21st century) ;) ::)
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How bad or good is idealism in a pragmatic world? How idealistic are you compared to twenty years ago?
Misplaced idealism can be annoying, that's for sure. We need to learn to take the rough with the smooth. When things go wrong and idealism becomes a weapon of logic, then I'm afraid it's adios to the conversation. Pragmatism matters to me in today's harsh world and when people allow themselves to be hooked on gibberish, it can be truly a pain in the neck. ;) 8)
(From, Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are, today's discussion)
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What's your barometer to measure your own self-worth?
The mere fact that we are aware of our own self-worth and not putting a benchmark of some sort, yet having the possibility that it can be very high indeed, would depend entirely on us. Self-worth is never about materialism, economic success and privileged background, rather the amount of time we had invested in making ourselves worthwhile. :D 8) :)
(From, Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are, Saturday's discussion)
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On the demise of Greece as an influencial country
Greece has already plunged to new heights. :( ::) See the irony of my statement.)
From, Pinas: let's make a wish list for the 21st century, yesterday)
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Time-wasting is an inglorious trait. - HR
(From, Pinas: Let's make a wish list for the 21st century, yesterday) ;) ???
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Complicity >> All countries are complicit to good and bad activities. - HR
(From, Democracy is a sham fb page, yesterday) ;D :-[
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Success, for me, also means overcoming failures. :)
(From, Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are)
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singuardiansioso - pertains to a corrupt journalist who pretends to be a guardian (of country and people) to implicitly deceive his/her readers and usually finds a way to make his/her story believable ;D ???
(I coined this word yesterday after reading links of the many corrupt activities of members of the print and broadcast media)
The root word is of course "guardian" while "sin", a Spanish word, means "without" in English. :)
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On the misdeeds, mischievous acts and criminal activities of congressmen/women:
Sorting out the good and bad congressmen/women would be like sorting out the smelliest fish in a wet market
where the slogan, "Boto mo ipatrol mo" continues, with those scruffy-looking toothless men and women smiling for the cameras and shaking hands with "singuardiansiosos". ::)
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On the suggestion by a forum member to use gutter language when addressing the marginalised Filipinos ::)
The proper use of language is important. It can make or break a friendship. It can create pockets of war . The language of diplomacy has been used to quell rebellion and improve relations. Diplomatic language is, in many respects, a good way to gage an individual's personality. When people start using gutter language, it not only sours the discussion but decreases the quality of engagement between those who are for, and those who are against. :)
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I try to be a good person, not a godly person. - HR 8) :)
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My reply to a forum member who is rather delusional about democracy :D
You love democracy as if it was an umbilical cord attached to your mobile phone. 8) ::)
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On transparency of politicians ;)
Responsible people know what transparency entails. It is when they participate in questionable behaviour that they begin to doubt the kind of transparency they must show to inquisitive people. If they can be transparent to their children, then why does it have to be any different? Double standards are duly exercised even by the most educated, well-off and civilised people, and they themselves will have to guard against the legitimacy of transparency per se. A futile exercise? Maybe...maybe not. :)
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When powerful men talk, authorities bow to authority.
;D ??? ::)
In reply to a link about Lucio Tan's capability of winning all his legal cases) :-X :-X :-X
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On Feudalism:
I don't think any country would be able to get rid of feudalism. There's no such thing as an equal society. One must live to accept this imposed incongruity in mankind. :) ::)
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The very essence of bribery doesn't have to be quantified. It's the act of bribing another that is immoral. HR ;) :(
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How can we separate politics and church? Easy. Let's post issues on politics at the political page and religious issues at the religious page--and there are numerous group pages dealing with them. ??? ::)
(My status today when, once again, a forum member posted a full prayer)
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I have now opened/created a new group page, "Our Daily Prayer" and everyone is welcome to join. This is to separate politics and church/religion in discussions where, at times, some members fall out because of including God in a political discussion and vice versa. Today, I found no prayer inserted in the Wishlist forum page, which is a relief. (update only) :)
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We are here to vindicate a nation, not to vilify it. - Hill Roberts
"Philippines>> The Original Pearl"--- I opened this group page since the Dept of Tourism to this day hasn't even bothered opening a facebook account. They are talking millions of pesos to spend just to promote it. Facebook is free, with 750 million users, and counting. Do they see the far end of their noses? My goodness, these people at the DOT have already wasted millions of pesos, while still pondering on a darn slogan. Well, here's the slogan and I hope that they get to read it at the group pages and other online papers where I advertised it.
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Indeed, it takes courage to stop playing politics. - Hill Roberts
In reply to a link where a politician has banned shark fin soup in restaurants in Hawaii. Here's the group page,
Save Our Sharks (SOS) Now! and everyone is welcome.
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What the nation needs is to repeal some of the laws that are now either obsolete, archaic or unsuitable to 21st century thinking and concept. The Philippines must be always one step ahead of the laws they put into practice. Otherwise, those laws are just there to dangle on empty walls, staring in the abyss--helpless, incoherent, insignificant. ;) :(
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When democracy falters, I blame the citizens. - Hill Roberts ;)
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Democracy in the Philippines is a mining industry>> that is mine; you are mine; everything is mine. - Hill Roberts ;)
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There's no such thing as a failed state, only failed public officials. ;D - Hill Roberts
(In reply to a post on Philippines as a "failed state", today)
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It is the manner in which people impart their views that has the biggest impact. ;) - Hill Roberts
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Schools must leap-frog in order to gain a better foothold in this world of fast moving digital age. ;) - Hill Roberts
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Self-esteem can be developed over a period. There are many people who have low self-esteem and recover once they realise it can be symptomatic of many negative aspects or even bad experiences. Self-esteem is not necessarily borne in a person, rather a step-by-step development in a person's life. ;)
(in reply to a post on self-esteem, Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are, yesterday.)
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Self-reliance is one thing, but self-esteem is more than just that: in the same manner that being independent means not relying on others financially. Self-esteem has more to do with having a strong character. It is not a perceived mission like yearning or craving independence just to prove her self-worth. :)
(Strictly Filipina forum, today)
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Having skills means giving you utmost pleasure in not relying on others. :)- Hill Roberts
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Hello Joe and members!
I will be driving to a neighbouring country from the 19th October--max 8-10 days to celebrate my birthday. Usually I fly, but I thought it would be a change to drive and enjoy the countryside, too. See you all later.
All the best! Hill :) :) :)
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Hello, Joe and members!
I just got back a few days' ago from Portugal and since then, I've been having internet connection problems.My pc was down for three days and to this day, it is not quite right. I am not a technician so having clicked sometimes the wrong buttons has made it worse, hahaha. I may laugh but I am truly annoyed. I feel as though I'll never get the original format right. Also, when I lost total connection, I had to re-boot and I cannot retrieve all my photos and videos I posted over a three-year period.
I'd like to thank Joe for sending the latest English Media. I managed to open it today but it keeps going off! Even my yahoo account is disabled. Anyway, I am sorry if this has happened. I hope to get back to customary service but can't promise when.
See you all later!
Hill
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Welcome back, Hill! I hope that your trip to Portugal has been an enjoyable and pleasant one--except for your bad Internet connection, of course! Once you get settled down, perhaps you can share with us here in the Forum some of your memorable experiences during that trip. ;)
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Political reforms come out of politicians' lips but never done by the same people whose lack of passion to apply these much-needed reforms are dictated by political parties' incessant demand for loyalty and blind acceptance, as well as, obedience. ;D- Hill Roberts
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The very people who add to the country's overall misery are the voters themselves. - Hill Roberts
(When no one bothered to reply to my community page, Getting Ready for the Philippine Elections in 2016 ;)
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The value of one vote must be looked upon as a worthy one vote. The problem lies not in the activities before it, rather the consequences after the elections. - Hill Roberts ;)
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Rewinding the clock of time would be just another expression of hopelessness and needless indulgence. - Hill Roberts ;)
(In reply to a member, 'Is Democracy A Sham in Pinas?' where he insists on looking back all the time, to solve the ills of the country) :D
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Pity is not something I'd give freely. If we keep pitying others, there won't be solutions that would clarify the reasons for what life has become for them. If they cannot even put their own lives in order, what's left is just another inescapable wall. - Hill Roberts :D
(In reply to a member whose idea of helping is one of pity, in one of my political group pages)
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The test for a mature society comes with only one condition: that no one lives in sub-human conditions. - Hill Roberts ;D
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An inquiring mind is always helpful when unraveling outlandish claims. ;) - Hill Roberts
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Misconstrued feelings are often the cause of a basic misunderstanding. :) - Hill Roberts
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Empowerment doesn't mean being brash, rude and disrespectful. - Hill Roberts :)
(In reply to a member who thinks that that Filipino person I blocked was exercising his powers just because he happens to be a radio announcer in the US. By using foul language, I blocked him. I have also tolerated him for two weeks. However, today, I reminded him to stop using full caps since it means shouting at other members. He lashed out and said unpleasant things. Just the kind of member who doesn't deserve to have his voice heard.) ;D
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On Family Dynasties:
The root of the problem doesn't mainly lie in those already in power, influence or position. The citizens, too, will have to answer for what they have inadvertently or otherwise helped create this monster of a problem. Family dynasties are fine for as long as they don't actually meddle/interfere in the laws, rules and regulations of the land they are supposed to serve. Once these dynastic families abuse them, then we are nowhere near a solution. :)
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The moral impasse from the American foreign policy-makers remains a mesmerising option. ;)
(Part of a very long thread about communism, capitalism and its defence by an American member of democracy, Is Democracy a Sham in Pinas? group page
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Optimism itself has its ups and downs. It's not something we should be doing all the time. For example, I don't believe that next week, I should be optimistic about visiting the Philippines. I know it will not happen. Being optimistic is renewable--in the real sense of the word. :)
(In reply to a link on "optimism being a strategy for a good future")
P.S. I switched from Telefonica/Movistar to Vodafone and lost connection for nearly a week. I now regret switching to Vodafone ADSL. What a caper!
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On grief:
I grieve silently. Somehow, it's my chosen option. :)- Hill Roberts
(From one of my sites, Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are, where one lady member gives her own opinion on grief where she is prepared to share it with others.)
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In reply to a post on Parenting an inner child ;)
It's our frame of mind that alters each situation we are faced with, from day one until our dying day. - Hill Roberts :)
(Strictly Filipina: the embodiment of who we are)
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On petitioning the Chief Justice Corona to save him from impeachment (proceedings):
This may be an easy task for those with little understanding of the law, but let's face it: one must also know something before jumping in a pool of infinite lies.
(A thread from, Is Democracy a Sham in Pinas? Open group) :)
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On politicians and people's reaction to the impeachment trial of the Chief Justice, Renato Corona
Everybody just wallows in senseless, windless, mindless manoeuvres without a clear direction where this darn thing is heading. :D ;D
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Conjecture is the middle name of many Filipinos. ;) - Hill Roberts
(After reading so many "truths" and innuendoes, facebook commenters have been having a frantic time giving their personal opinion on the matter of the Chief Justice Renato Corona's impeachment complaint proceedings next year and why too many are putting words into people's mouths.)
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Hello Joe and forum members! Have a very good year 2012! See you on a regular basis after the 2nd January 2012! Thank you everyone for the great essays, questions, articles, comments, links. :)
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Immaturity of democracy is based on the overall immaturity of the Filipinos. ;) Hill Roberts
(In reply to a link on democracy , Education in the Philippines: Facing up to the challenges)
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There are times when I'm overwhelmed by my own cynism. ;) Hill Roberts
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American kids aren't taught Communism but are well-indoctrinated to loathe it. - ;) Hill Roberts
(In reply to my own question, Should we encourage our students to study Marxism or Communism? , at the
sister site, Eduphil (Education in the Philippines: Facing up to the challenges) where one member replies no to teaching them.) :)
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At the cost of being stupid or clever, these Congressmen have only to think of their own expediencies in the light of these impeachment complaint proceedings. the matter lies not in their hands but in the subjective analysis of those harbingers of pretentious, sanctimonious well-studied proceedings of phoney camaraderie. Being a Filipino has its merits especially when it comes to political deals and that's good enough for any average Filipino to be a politician. There's plenty to be had while they're at it. ;)
(In reply to a post on the Chief Justice Corona's impeachment proceedings, Is Democracy a Sham in Pinas?)
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Mistakes are acknowledged and stories of human dignity, dishonesty, deceit and other revelations also come out for a better assessment in bed when we're about to say adios to loved ones and friends. It's this true confession, a la Oprah, that underlines the poignancy of those expressing their twilight years or final hours. ;)
(In reply to a post on the regets people make on their deathbed, Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are)
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Hope is subjective. There's no precise answer to a general question. ;)
My reply to a question on the Filipino way of articulating "hope". (Abridged reply to a long thread in my reply to that post)
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We don't need idealism to pull through in a complex country like the Philippines. We don't even need public officials with an IQ of 150. What we need are people who can exact the right changes at the right time, the right alternatives at the right moment, and the right plans to carry them on, long-term.
In reply to a member on Change. (Is Democracy a Sham in Pinas?)
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My reply to a prediction by a Filipino-Indian who claimed that Kris Aquino will surely become the next president of the Philippines:
It's the majarajah kind of idiocy and where we can find solace in his dirty toes. ;)
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We're not stopping Joan Rivers, 77 years old, American TV personality, actress and businesswoman, who has had another facelift, to continue her desire to look young by going under the knife, rather to find out from her why growing old is now a crime against humanity. ;)
My reply to my link where comments came thick and fast especially where photos of her in bandages were too gruesome to look at. From, Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are
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I suppose it's a question of money, management and miracle, in that order, to put a school right. >:(
(In reply to a question: If a school fails, whose fault is it?, Education in the Philippines: Facing up to the Challenges)
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The US continues to breast-feed the Philippines because we Filipinos are too weak to look after our nation. :o ??? Hill Roberts
From a new facebook site recently opened, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, which I created.
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The only invasion the Chinese have done is economic invasion. ;D- Hill Roberts
(In reply to a member who believes that China is evil)
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The next best thing for the American foreign policy-makers is to put Filipino lives at the forefront of their tactical operations as collateral damage. Something akin to looking at Filipinos like guinea pigs where scientists experiment first on animals before they finalise their findings for human beings to be safe. ;) (Part of a long thread in the on-going discussion whether to ban or not American military presence in the Philippines)
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It makes people think just how far China has gone in terms of catching up despite having been isolated for the most part of the 20th century. This is the crux of the matter that the Americans are unable to comprehend. It's because the Chinese worked hard to reach their ambition and goal that there is less of a need to impress others--unlike the US. :D ;D
(On-going lively discussion at the new sister site, Ban Military Presence in the Philippines)
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The American foreign policy-makers think they are about to become God, or perhaps, they are really the God of all Gods." ;) ;D Hill Roberts
(From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines)
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This isn't anymore an impeachment trial but a trail of pro-administration politicians behaving like hooligans. :( ??? ::)- Hill Roberts
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In the Philippines, we can only wish; we can only make a list, but we can never change the perception of our public servants. They will continually fail us. There is no last resort because we have already used up all the last resorts. There is only a bad omen which is available and waiting, gnawing the minds of citizens and politicians alike. HR :D ;D ::)
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Israel is indeed a mad dog, rushing to bite the top end of a tall tree. ::) :-\ ::) - HR
(In an ongoing discussion of banning US military presence in the Philippines)
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I very much hope that President Obama doesn't fall into the trap of Bush gung-hoism. - ;D >:( 8)HR
(Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines)
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Mr President is mentally unfit even to run a sari-sari store. >:( :o ??? - Hill Roberts
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Health comes first; work comes second; Facebook comes only when there's nothing better to do. ;D ;D ;D ;)- Hill Roberts
(On the demands of facebook that take a lot of the users' time and effort while enjoying the laughs, nonsense and interaction.)
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He is the master of comedy where he writes the script himself and the editor keeps deleting and changing the words :D ::)
On President Aquino's paranoia ;D ;D
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Mr President has now made it his business that he is, in fact, owner and commander of Filipino feelings. 8) ::) :D- Hill Roberts
(On-going discussion on the president's personal agenda against his perceived enemies)
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The ease with which the Yoke Media played up his mother's phoney saintly ways has become the fulcrum of disasters to come, in the form of her son. >:( :o ::)-Hill Roberts
(On the continuing support by the press and other news media outlets for this president whose vengeful manner in getting rid of his perceived enemies is becoming a serious matter.)
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Who helps build the oligarchy? The weaker people in society. >:( :o Hill Roberts
(Pinas: Let's make a wish list for the 21st century)
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It is of course the children, who didn't ask to be born, who suffer. More to the point, it is also the parents' lack of planning by having numerous children that makes it worse for the children in a society already callous to the sight of streetchildren or beggarly doses of the poor asking for pity. One can't imagine the suffering of these children whose own parents think that society owes them a living. >:( :o
(In reply to a photo of tatty-looking children, "Pinas: let's make a wish for the 21st century"
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It's not the fancy education that is important, rather it's when a student is out of it and into the world of the unknown, where his/her mettle is tested in practice. ;D :D - HR
From, Pinas: let's make a wishlist for the 21st century, where education is discussed.
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Sadly, we can't get rid of corruption but we can get rid of the many corrupt public servants. >:( ??? Hill Roberts
Still on the topic of corruption, impeachment trial and banning American soldiers now in Mindanao, bombing the muslim community.
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Where there are rogue states, there will always be rogue suppliers. ;D :o ::) -Hill Roberts
Ongoing discussion on why the Americans, in my eyes, are rogue suppliers, raking in billions of US dollars a year supplying rogue states or enemies with weaponry, aircraft and other sophisticated hardware.
"Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines
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It shows that the US knows no bounds in injecting their kind of putrid concerns for poor Ugandans. :o ??? ::) - Hill Roberts
Why the Americans, all of a sudden, are showing "concern" for the Ugandans because three years ago, that African country discovered oil---billions of oil reserves are now the subject of the Americans' interest in this once-forgotten backwater.
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Conoynism - the act of conning the citizens when a president pretends to work purely for photo opportunity purposes. :D ;D - Hill Roberts
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The US is aware of what they do to other countries and what they don't actually do for them. - :D ;D >:( :o - HR
From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, the newest sister site, now with 930 members and counting. Many Filipinos are beginning to realise that the American foreign policy-makers aren't what they seem.)It would be nice if the whole of Mindanao joined our pressure group since it's the place where the Americans have been bombing civilians and the mainstream media aren't reporting their activities with interest.
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Sometimes, hypocrisy keeps the world from turmoil; diplomacy and hypocrisy share the same strange idealism to maintain the peace and prolong mutual understanding. ;) ;) - HR
(Pinas: Let's make a wish list for the 21st century)
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Dear Joe and fellow members,
I will be in Madrid for a week on the 27th March. We are taking the AVE (Spain's bullet train and the best in Europe). We've never tried it since the connection between Malaga and Madrid has been realised a few years' ago. See you all later! Hill :) :-*
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Kris Aquino can run for president for as long as her tongue is tied to her navel. ;D ;D ;D- HR
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Dear Wellchecked,
I don't know what to say with what you posted. First of all, Quotable (?) Quotes are all my work. Now, if you are quoting someone's work, then you will have to find another place for it. Mine is a collection which has been going on for over three years here and other sites. What is published here in my space are all mine, meaning, your quote, because it's not even yours, is not quotable. Besides, I don't particularly like that quote you posted since I truly hate the F word. Kindly take it down or the moderator will have to do it. Find your own space please but not where my collection is found. Thank you. Hill Roberts :( ::) :o
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Greed is the very emblem of America's thirst for world domination, absolute power and integrated imperialism. America is now open to criticism now that we know better. - HR >:( ::)
From the on-going discussion, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines
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So it's not anymore electric grid but electric greed. - HR ;D 8)
(On the ongoing power crisis in Mindanao where Pres Aquino promised to do it in two years. I ask, two years? My goodness, the Japanese had tsunami, earthquake, floods, nuclear power leaks, houses flattened, roads disappeared, yet they managed to do many things in 12 months!)
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What are the chances of political reforms when corruption is heaving like Manila's heavy traffic?
(On-going discussion on the lack of reforms in the country, Pinas: Let's make a wishlist for the 21st century) >:( :o
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Nationalism, for lack of a better word, must be ingrained but not literally forced into the young and younger Filipinos. Our fervent wish is to have a sound, reasonable, logical kind of nationalism where everyone enjoys to be enjoined, not forcibly accosted to join in the marathon of closeted nationalism. - HR ;) 8)
(From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines)
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Hello Hill ! I'm happy you will be in return to having high spirits. I really love the jokes. Just to allow you to understand that I was actually so nervous when I study about your own "sad family memories". Hope to read more articles from you here.Catch you later on... :)
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Hi and thank you, Isabel! Glad you like all the jokes (but with underlining seriousness), hahaha. I need to refresh my memory on "sad family memories" though since I actually don't remember ever writing something of this nature. You can of course check my writings in "My Thoughts Exactly" re Afghanistan, A Christmas Sense and of course, my Lisbon travels. Thanks, dear. Hope to see you again. Hill :) :-*
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The most difficult things in life is when we think that things are difficult to solve--and do nothing. ;D ::) - HR
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These public servants will never realise their own inaction for as long as they are reassured by their American masters that they will do the dog tricks in an ever-increasing cycle of a cuckold relationship. :D 8) ::) - HR
(From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, and why the country's leaders, past and present, will always rely on the US to do the dirty job for them, compromising our sovereignty, national pride and the prospect of needless deaths when a full scale battle ensues in Mindanao, where the Americans are settled in nicely, without Senate or House or Representatives' approval.) After 100 years, Filipino politicians remain the same in their approach to peace and security.) >:( >:(
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Kris Aquino will rename herself Krisanta once her mother becomes a saint. - ;D ;D ::)
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Corporations, like terrorists, hide behind opaque screens and never come out until collection time. - HR :D ;D :o ???
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While the Americans talk about the axis of evil, they are, at the same time, constantly indoctrinating American children to prepare them for another generation of big lies, legends and myths about their fabulous adventures that only the Americans can narrate well. - :D ;D :o HR
(From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, older post)
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Perceived fear is worse than fear itself because it lingers for a long time in the mind. ;) 8) ::) - HR
(Filipinos would rather suffer in silence, rather than go to their local authorities to complain about the filthy surroundings, dirty MRT,LRT, noise, the illegal cutting of trees and the general situation in their individual constituency. They think that they'd be killed once they made complaints when the Filipinos have the power to put and remove them in government positions.) :o :P
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Cyberbullies are salivating for attention. :D 8) ;D
(Those foot soldiers who go around facebook sites to make personal attacks for instant recognition)
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Democracy is nothing but a ceptic tank. ;D 8) HR
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Hello, forum members, Isabelbrown and davidflower77821.
Thank you for your posts. I'm afraid I will have to ask the moderator to transfer your comments to a more appropriate section, or where that brief article was posted which I've completely forgotten. ;D
This "Quotable (?) Quotes section is all about my own observations and converting them into quotable "quotes". That's how I look at the world of politics and people in a funny way, but with serious undertones. :o 8) ::)
Hope that's OK with you. Cheers!
Hill Roberts :)
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A malicious mind has no borders. - HR ;D ::) :-\
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Communism began with Jesus Christ. ;D ;) :D- HR
(Why do Filipinos have a wrong idea about it? I guess it has to do with American indoctrination and hatred for it.)
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Teamwork is a dirty word for many Filipinos. :D ;D :o - HR
Why prosperity won't come easy since teamwork is sadly lacking in Filipino culture.
Education in the Philippines: Facing up to the challenges
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There are no solutions to the sadness of the past. - ::) :-[ :-\ - HR
(Filipinos like to dwell on the past when there's a world out there to relish)
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Diplomacy is such that pretending to be angry or in agreement comes at a cost. - ;) >:( ;D - HR
(Why diplomacy is a joke in reality)
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It's nonsense to keep saying, "I'm pro-poor," or, I'll serve the poor," when the need is not to address poverty but to create a blueprint to eradicate it, each year. - :( :o ??? - HR
Reply, Is Democracy a sham in the 21st century?
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It's because of feudalism that Philippine politics is principally based. This is the engine of all engines of Filipino politics. :D ;D 8) - HR
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Freedom of expression is usually to express something that conforms to society's demands. ;) ::) :-[- HR
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Many Filipinos aren't just fooled by the Yanks but foolish enough to believe them. ;D :o :-[HR
(Still on the subject of Fil-Am Relationship, Ban American Military Presence) Yanks, in this case,
pertains to the CIA, FBI, the Pentagon, the US politicians, and foreign policy-makers and nothing
to do with ordinary Americans)
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The West uses money to implicitly impose their will, influence and power on people whose worldly possessions just can't compare with theirs. ;) :)
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A woman wants a million things but three would do, for now: good health, good looks and a good bank account. - ;) ;D - HR
One of the members asks, "What does a woman really want?
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Many Filipinos aren't just fooled by the Yanks but foolish enough to believe them. ;D :o :-[HR
(Still on the subject of Fil-Am Relationship, Ban American Military Presence) Yanks,fios new york (http://www.fiberinternetprovider.com/verizon-fios-brooklyn-ny) in this case,
pertains to the CIA, FBI, the Pentagon, the US politicians, and foreign policy-makers and nothing
to do with ordinary Americans)
well that's politics..they just make the fool out of you..and your too foolish to believe them too..
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I don't think the Aquino administration understands the word "transparency" although the public servants seem to use it willy-nilly to encapsulate their own manner of non-existence. ;D ;) - HR
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Both China and the US are interdependent, economically speaking, and there's no way it could easily break that trunk of modern economic tandem. - HR ;) ;D
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The US-led idea of a green summit is nothing but a listerine bottle--a mouthwash that hurts the tongues of those helpless countries whose own beliefs are drowned by the Yanks' dictatorial ideals. >:( :o ::)
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Peace is subjective. - HR ;)
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Learning is a daily task until we die--and it's an alternative to breathing fresh air! - HR :D ;D :)
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Democracy keeps poverty alive. It's a source of immense tyranny. ;D 8) - HR
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Misinformation is the best form of deceit. The corrupt and easily-bought journalists will remain what they are: accessories to the world's problems which they have helped create. - :D >:( :o 8) HR
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The Yanks fail to see their own monumental hooliganism. ;D :o ???- HR
(Yanks - US foreign policy-makers, public servants, soldiers, CIA FBI, Pentagon. This is how Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines describes the US Gov't. to avoid slighting the average American)
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The Philippines has become a "used product" --devoid of versatility for the good of country and people. - ;) ;D :o ::) - HR
(From, Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines)
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COMELEC - "Come and collect" - :o ::) :o 8)-HR
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We are all learning wherever we are: be it in the bathroom, a classroom, a courtroom or a living room, not to mention a hotel room. - ;) :D ;D - HR
(Education in the Philippines, Facing up to the Challenges, on quality education , or the lack of it.)
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There's nothing worse than having an ad hoc policeman of the world policing our own breathing space. - :D ;D :o ??? - HR
(Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, and Mindanao as their base to inflict collateral damage )
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War isn't easy. It is nothing but another round of misery and bloodshed to which the world is not prepared to accept. - :( ??? ::) - HR
(Ban American Military Presence, where the US is preparing to attack Iran)
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Hillary Clinton is a mouthful. That said, she will swallow what she pontificates about. ;D :o 8) - HR
(Why she doesn't believe what she says)
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Pride isn't considered a virtue, nor valued to the highest degree. :D ;D :(
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On brand names:
Starbucks coffee is overrated, watery ugly coffee. I have drunk it only once, when I was in Washington DC, served in a big, stupid styrofoam cup and it tasted like hell. :o :P :-\
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The US has a Jekyll and Hyde personality. :D ;D ::) HR
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The Americans are now fearing for their own lives. Even their own shadows are culprits. ;) :D ;D 8) HR
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This current government will need to shape up or shut up. - HR >:( :( :o :-\
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To ask whether or not this incumbent president is fit or unfit would be like asking the moon for much-need water. - HR :D ;D >:( :o ::) ???
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On the "fans" of Kris Aquino
An indication of masterful idiocy by her more masterful idiots. - HR ;D :( 8) ::)
Why a website was newly created to boost her chances of running for the senate which is the height of stupidity and irresponsibility)
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President BS Aquino has been treading on dangerous ground since he took office. For once, can he think of something else to unlock himself from demoralising his country and people?" HR >:( :( :o :-[
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War is ingratiating. - HR ??? ::) :P :'(
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What a waste of time to go to PMA and West Point only to end up a common thief. >:( :( :o ???
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This is a typical scenario where the rich can turn drizzle into a tsunami. - HR >:( >:( :o ::)
(In reply to a plea and post by one facebook friend who wrote a book taking on Lucio Tan. Lately, he received threats from some of Mr Tan's men. His family is now in danger; he has lost friends, his job, his material possessions, his life is in tatters. The author is desperate to fight it out in court. He was a successful accountant who uncovered the illegal activities of Mr Tan and his companies. This is a David and Goliath story that may or may not come to fruition, in Philippine setting.)
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It's ignorance that prevents people from being themselves. - HR ;) :D ;D :-*
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The UN is run by the US: both intermingle with each other and not accountable for the mistakes made in other countries where the presence of the US is of paramount importance to them...but not to us. - HR :D ;D :o 8)
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One must have slept-walked into this bomb, not realising that it would have a tsunami response. - HR ;) ;D :( :P :-[
(My reply to those reacting hysterically to the new cyberlaws signed recently by the president, Is Democracy a sham in Pinas?)
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Yearning for popularity is the only basis of facebook betrayal. - HR >:( :( :o ::)
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Social networking doesn't mean herd mentality, which is quite annoying in people. - HR :D ;D >:( :o ::)
(The whole day yesterday, comments were blackened in protest about the new cyberlaw, RA10175, where majority of them haven't even read it.)
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Gossip is not a bad thing. Social networking is open gossip. It's when gossip turns vicious, vacuous and unpleasant that gossip is given a bad name. :D ;D >:( :o ::) Positive gossip is healthy. Negative gossip can turn into something unpalatable between friends, especially when they begin to fall out. - HR >:( :-[ ::)
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This is what I call panicking without knowing where the bomb is aimed at. - HR :D ;D ::)
(Too many haven't read the RA10175, yet the herd mentality keeps re-surfacing in the Philippines. Save for that Libel Clause insertion, many of the articles and sections are similar to those of the EU. ;D ;D
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It'd be insulting to call the US the new Banana Republic. It should be called the Bombing Republic. - HR
;D ;D ;D
(In reply to a post that says the US is now poor it can start calling itself a Banana Republic)
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Every other Filipino politician owns a firearm; every other wealthy Filipino owns a firearm; every other insane Filipino owns a firearm. - HR >:( :( :o ::)
(In response to a post saying that the MILF wil not disarm. How can they when this sitting president, BS Aquino, owns a collection of firearms? When these politicians own private armies that are armed to the hilt?)
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A dignified silence is the best weapon to fend off miscreant facebook users and detractors. >:( ::) :-[
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It is needless tolerance that has put the country into a quagmire of deceit, abandonment and plain neglect. - HR :D ;D :o
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The truth may wander for a while, but it comes around once all the facts are revealed to the world: this is a fine example of how we can expose the US as a fraudulent back-up in the SEAsian region. >:( :o ::)
(Ban the American Military Presence in the Philippines--a reply)
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Filipinos must inspire Filipinos. ;) :-[ :-*
(Education in the Philippines or Eduphil, where not many members obey simple rules)
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Who can blame the Chinese for their zeal and eagerness to leapfrog the US and EU countries in terms of economy? The fear of the West to be overtaken by this ancient civilisation is nothing but pure jealousy. ;D :D :)
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Hello, Joe and forum members! I'm off to Geneva soon and will be back before the month is over, to spend my belated birthday. See you all soon and thank you for this wonderful site! Joe, kudos to you! :) :-*
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I dislike democracy in its present form, especially in countries where they extol the new virtues of corruption, bribery and influence-peddling. >:( :o ::)
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It is needless tolerance that has put the Philippines into a quagmire of deceit, abandonment and plain neglect. :D
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President Obama is told to act like a president, sound like a preacher and strike like a terrorist, in that order. ;) ;D :(
(Ban American Military Presence in the Philippines, my reply to a post, a week or so ago)
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Hypocrisy is the downside of immorality. Too bad, both are now the norm of mankind. - HR ;D 8) ::)
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I don't believe there's such a thing as "organic" farming. It's nothing but a connivance between politicians and businesses. :D >:( :o
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First of all, sorry for the 24-hour delay in greeting Professor Joe and members a very Happy New Year. May it be equally good, or better. Hope you all had a lovely time! :)
Being a warmonger has its privileges, power, profits and paid-up members. :D :o ::)
(reply, Ban American Military....)
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Selling their soul to the first devil is what counts, depending of course who bids the highest. ;D ::) ???
Comelec's insatiable appetite to con, manipulate, rig, cheat, violate and tamper the ballots, each election time)
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Freedom has a lot to do with what you think, deep in the recesses of your brain. No one can tell you whether or not you're free. The mind can only dictate whether you believe it or not. It's up to you to realise that you are, in fact, a free spirit, but limited in many ways, too. ;)
( My reply, Strictly Filipina: The embodiment of who we are" --when asked what freedom means, in the context of being a Filipina woman, today)
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Stopping political dynasties would be like stopping a runaway train hitting their mansions.
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One Vote means the making or breaking of an ambitious leech called the "politician".
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Hello,Joe and members/visitors! I lost connection by accidentally logging off and couldn't remember my password, until now. I'm so sorry for the lack of communication. Please accept my apologies. Thanks!
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We are all victims of a flawed system, one way or another. The system has been accepted without question and this is where problems unravel: when it finally breaks down and no one is morally rsponsible; no one is capable of owning up to the faults, flaws and disadvantages of a system that have been silently embedding the soul of the nation and its citizens.
(In response to the suicide of a young UP-Manila student recently)
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The Japanese are a very proud people but they don't plaster the word "proud" on their foreheads like some cheap advert for a third rate lambanog.
(Why Filipinos must stop beating their chests shouting how proud they are to be Filipinos)
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Fear can make us afraid of perceived fear. - HR
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Still on why the recent May Elections failed again:
Those citizens who accepted bribes, or who broke the law to please their candidates and re-elected politicians must also be morally accountable. It takes two to tango no matter how it's danced.
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Why Mar Roxas can never be the president-in-waiting:
Mar Roxas isn't cut out to be anything but a rich man,whose talent for foot-dragging is becoming legendary.
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On US Foreign Policy:
Washington DC's insanity is mankind's deadly virus. - HR
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The Philippines isn't short of cash rather short of honest politicians.
(Why it's so frustrating to find politicians in the country without having to label them "honest")
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Edward Snowden, 29-year old former CIA analyst, is a walking treasure trove.
(The most wanted man in the world , but will the Americans catch him? Or will the Russians, the Venezuelans, the Ecuadorians shield, protect, hide and give him sanctuary?)
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"The Filipino Problem" isn't beyond repair rather the Filipinos need to repair themselves. It's their last call of duty, and time is running out.
(My response to an article written by a foreign analyst where he chronicles all the negative things about the Philippines.- Pinas Wishlist)
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Bureaucracy is making Filipinos poorer. HR
(My reply to another member who said that when submitting a birth certificate in a government agency in the Philippines, it only lasts for a few months, and Filipinos will have to produce another one!)
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What's the point of democracy when people can't have it, in real time?
(Democracy works only for those in power in the Philippines since they can do as they please, like thieving, cheating, abusing and ignoring summary killings. Justice is non-existent. Those public officials who are guilty don't go to jail.)
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Politicians sleep on their jobs and wake up to money - HR
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Hypocrisy is the Philippines' coat of arms. - HR
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The Land of the Free isn't about people landing there to be free after all. - HR
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We cannot stop greed, but we can stop greedy people from getting more of the country's wealth and cash. - HR
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Knee-deep in floods, knee-deep in shame, knee-deep in scandals, knee-deep in debts. That about sums up the Philippines in a nutshell.
Correction: Neck-deep in floods, neck-deep in shame, neck-deep in scandals, neck-deep in debts. That about sums up the Philippines in a nutshell ;)
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The shortage of rice is due to the shortage of honest government officials. - HR
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On Pork Barrel Scam/Scandal
Having tolerated them for so long has put the citizens in a position of wretched compromise with the political devils in government.
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On Pres Obama and John Kerry's decision to go it alone in attacking Syria (with Israel's yearning to assist)
They are just fooling themselves but with a deadly outcome for the rest of humanity. - HR
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The Philippine government is neck-deep in kleptomania activity. It has been for generations. - HR
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Poverty controls the mind. - HR
(In reply to a post on poverty and how it affects a person's IQ, "Education in the Philippines: Facing up to the
challenges", today.
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BS Aquino III is Asia's watchdog for the Americans. - HR
(Why this president is not just a weak leader, but a reckless, nonchalant, indifferent leader whose people are
demoralised already. Mindanao is now in turmoil, no thanks to his lack of diplomacy, leadership, common sense
and dislike for the people of Mindanao.)
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BS Aquino III is a man of treason---not reason. - HR
(Why he disregards the Constitution, the laws of the land, rules and regulations when it suits him. that is not leadership. That is abuse of power!)
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The Philippine education system continues to drag its feet by believing in tracing its footsteps back. - HR
Why the K+12 requirement is impractical, not forward looking, expensive for many millions of poor Filipinos,
Eduphil.
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The nature itself of this Inquiry must show no favouritism, or half-hearted arguments to suit this present government. - HR
(Why the Blue Ribbon Committee "investigators" must also investigate themselves since many of them are guilty of accepting kickbacks anyway)
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Corruption in the Philippines is akin to a flesh-eating bacteria: unstoppable
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Congress in the Philippines is very much like a Cabaret: they all hum to the tune of , "Money! "Money! Money!" - HR
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Educational infrastructure can only come about when our public officials behave like public officials, not thieves and con-artists. - HR
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The Philippines is starved of moral oxygen. - HR
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Precisely why BS Aquino had to buy Congress lock, stock and pork barrel. - HR
(In reply to another member about the breakdown of the nation's reputation, integrity, as well as the tampered Constitution by the president himself.)
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We've seen the Cold War wherein Russia and the US traded word blows---but it never came to war blows. - HR
(In reply to a post that China and the USA will start WWIII soon, Is Democracy a Sham in Pinas? FB forum
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When people have malicious minds, the concept of fairness disappears - HR
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Wisdom comes from an accumulation of ordinary mistakes. - HR
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Filipino politicians only like to chew the tail end of the West's discarded idea and introduce it to their people regardless of cost and inconvenience. -Hill Roberts on K12
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Listening to Kris Aquino is like watching a skunk pleading to be washed. --HR
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In a nation devoid of serious reflection, there's no such thing as The Serious Factor.--HR
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Democracy is a corrupt entity in itself--HR
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The Philippines is a Crookstian country, not a Christian country, a fact that Filipinos cannot deny or must deny--HR
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On PH polítics: We have poor leadership in a country awash with corrupt politicians and civil servants. No one is afraid to steal, but everyone is afraid to speak up re the most basic aspects of poor governance.--HR
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The only time people will stop saying, "It's none of my business" is when they run out of money. :)-HR
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Jealousy will never be on your side. -HR
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Constructive criticism is good; malicious criticism is unacceptable. That's the difference. -HR
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The Philippines is a very ugly Roman Catholic country run by thieving and corrupt Roman Catholic public officials -HR