Category Archive for: pangyayari

kultura

Game over

To the Ateneo student who continues to harass me about the P50-peso class fund from seven years ago.

I’ve already explained to the best of my recollection where that class fund goes. If you tell me who you are maybe I can explain better what your class required as far as funds are concerned. But now that I know that your classroom allowed me to do powerpoint presentations, then do find out how much it cost to do those presentations, inclusive of internet fees, electrical bills, and use of my personal computer for those lectures. Contrary to what you might think, Ateneo does not pay for any of that, nor do our salaries cover those additional expenses to be a teacher.

That class fund of P50 pesos for the semester, which would mean P100 pesos for a whole school year of Literature classes, covers all that plus readings, worksheets, handouts, collaterals. If you don’t remember getting enough, then do put together that computation and tell me what you’d like to do then.

Know that if I was made aware of any discrepancies at that time, if anyone had complained about any irregularities, that it would have been dealt with accordingly. I’d really rather not blame anyone at this point for what you feel is an injustice. But that injustice would’ve been better raised and dealt with then, not seven years hence when there is no way of figuring out what went wrong with the system.

You could’ve emailed me privately, but you’ve chosen to do this publicly, making accusations that are slanderous. I had hoped you would realize that my not publishing your comments protected you from lawyers who will tell you that this is criminal.

I’ve engaged and taken the time to respond to this because I could. That’s no longer the case. Do what you feel you must, but not on this blog.

radikalchick.lit

motherhood in a time of war* #SAF44 #WomensMonth2015 #IAmNotMyShoes

… mourn a woman’s
bitter lot: to give birth to men
who kill and are killed.
                              Grace Monte de Ramos

                                              That morning alone
he had sunk ten warships, downed four planes,
marched countless armies across unseen
territories, borders mapped only in his mind.
Gunpowder and ash stained his arms and shirt,
across one chubby cheek, a brave streak of red. (more…)

komentaryo

#IAmNotMyShoes Redux #WomensMonth2015

shoes

I am in awe of this National Youth Commission campaign In Her Shoes because it is so wrong, so offensive, so sexist, and is being sold to us by the male commissioners, including actor Dingdong Dantes in bright red high heels.

Oh yes, at 1;27AM on March 12, I have the privilege of seeing him on 9News, in a replay of Pia Hontiveros’s News.Ph show. He and NYC commissioner Perci Cendaña have brought the heels they’ve been wearing for this campaign; Hontiveros has them put it on the table (lest we don’t believe these shoes to exist?), and even has the two guests put a shoe on. She then asks them: so how does it feel?

I’d like to give Hontiveros the benefit of the doubt and imagine that I heard some sarcasm in her voice. I could of course be mistaken.

This campaign though, this campaign that imagines that the valid symbol for woman power is a high-heeled shoe — this is absolutely a mistake. (more…)

komentaryo

the President’s confidence level: the Mamasapano clash

sometimes one becomes unclear about whether or not the presidential spokespersons are actually on the President’s side, painting as they do some of the more unstable images of PNoy.

with regard the question of the President seeking and listening to advice of a suspended official like ex-PNP Chief Alan Purisima, for something as critical as the Mamasapano operation at a time of peace negotiations with the MILF, Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda is quoted to have said:

“No law prohibits the President from exercising his discretion to get the views of a suspended official on a particular matter, if this would raise the confidence level of the President’s executive decision-making,” Lacierda told reporters. 

(more…)

komentaryo

the tale of the absent President: the Mamasapano clash (updated)

today, the nation watched and cried and grieved as the 42 slain police commandos of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police arrived in Manila in coffins.

the members of the cabinet were present, as were Senators Bongbong Marcos and Nancy Binay, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, former President Fidel Ramos, and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

President Noynoy Aquino was nowhere in sight. there was no member of the Aquino family representing him. there is no valid reason for this absence.

(more…)