So, I went to the Makati COMELEC office last week to get my voter's certificate. I went there at around 10:30 or 11:00 am. I noticed there were only two people (an old lady with glasses and a chubby, dark-brown-skinned guy) attending to the growing number of registrants in the small room. After around 10 minutes, the staff started to trickle in by ones and twos. When there were already seven of them in the cordoned staff area, one of them asked, "Starbucks tayo, ano sa inyo?(Let's go to starbucks, what're your orders?)." Then, three of them began taking the other staffs' orders and went out. Is this how things really work in the COMELEC office in Makati? They come in late, don't even bother to notice the crowded, stuffy room, don't care about the people who have been there since 8am (they said they open at 8am and close at 5pm), people who are angry, hungry, tired and already very, very sweaty. They even have the gall to shout that they're going down to get refreshments. Aren't they supposed to serve people because they get their salaries from those peoples' hard-earned money via their taxes?
I was supposed to register here last 2008 election but, I wasn't able to because of these COMELEC officials in Makati. I was just asking one of them what the requirements are for registration and she very rudely shouted at me to go to the back of the line, which btw, ended on the first floor of the building (the office is on the second floor). I wasn't asking anything inappropriate nor was I trying to sneak into the line. I just asked what I needed to bring for me to be able to register. Do I really need to wait in a very, very long line for that? I recommend that they post the requirements in front of or near the door if they don't want people asking about that. So, in embarrassment, anger and frustration, I just walked away.
Someone should do something about this. The COMELEC office in Makati doesn't have any order (except maybe the grande frappuccino from starbucks).
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Couples For Christ
We've finished our introductory seminar in Couples for Christ last Saturday. Who would ever think we would last this long? We're now official members of Couples for Christ with ID cards and stuff. I haven't seen any changes in me yet. I'm still the hot-headed, impatient, anti-social, homebody, book freak that I am when I first attended. So, what can you expect when you've become a member? Well, more time consuming duties like reading the bible, praying everyday, going to meetings and going to meetings and more going to meetings. We haven't grown tired of it yet, though and we've made some friends, i think that's a good start..
Martin Nievera's Philippine National Anthem
I was browsing the net for the Pacquiao-Hatton match when I came upon articles crucifying Martin Nievera for his rendition of the Philippine National anthem. People were saying mean things about him like he doesn't care about the country, he's not a Filipino anyway, a case should be filed against him, stuff like that so, I ended up searching for the video. Guess what I thought? It really isn't as bad as everyone seems to make it look. I don't think he was making fun of the song I think he was just expressing his feeling with it like what people do to gospel songs or what Americans do when they sing their National Anthem. They change the tune to match their feelings. Why can't people just leave other people's interpretations alone? Is this another proof of the Filipino "crab mentality"? They just can't be happy for their countrymen. They want to drag them down with them so they can use stepping stones to reach the top first. This is why our country is not progressing any further. Everyone wants to be first no matter what or who they squash underneath.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
CLP, CFC
My husband and I just joined a church group. CFC.
Yeah, I know. Sounded like I just dropped a very big bomb. Ask anyone we know, they would laugh if they heard that. It all started last month. We just barely started going to church again for a couple of weeks. The last time I went to church, I almost fainted because there were too many people and the church was poorly ventilated and to top it all off, I was 4 months pregnant with our now 9-year-old son (see? how long ago was that!?). So, as we were coming out of the church after a mass one Sunday, a couple approached us and asked us if we would like to attend a CFC seminar. What the heck is CFC, right? (I wasn't familiar with the term then, either). They told us it would be a great way to meet new people and new friends and be a part of a community. Also, it aims to bring the family closer together and that it is free and there are no obligations to join. Just attend the orientation and if we want to continue the program, we can finish the whole course and if not, we can stop attending anytime we want.
My husband and I then had a "seminar" of our own near the couple's booth at the back of the church (they both looked genuinely friendly to me, btw). He asked me if it was OK if we went. I told him, if he wants to then, go ahead, it's fine by me. Besides, the reason why we started going to church again was so our family would be closer knit. You know what they say, "A family that prays together,... and all that." So, he signed our names. The couple shook our hands enthusiastically, and with the promise to see each other again, we went home.
The orientation was held on a Saturday, 7-10 pm at a room in the church. Being the early birds as we are (ahem!), we were the first couple to arrive. We were then asked to sign a form for their files. Just the basics: name, age, nickname, the usual. Then, we took our seats up front (I have this compulsion to always sit up front, I think because the school system here in the Philippines required students to be seated alphabetically and sadly, I've never sat up front because of my surname). Anyway,.. The first part of the orientation was singing praises. We were given copies of lyrics and they sang the songs and asked us to sing along if we already knew the tunes. Then, of course, the opening prayer. After that, the talk started.
Turned out, CFC is short for Couples For Christ and CLP is for Christian Life Program. These are seminars for people to get to know who or what God is. Couples For Christ is, as the name indicates, for couples to get to know each other better and how you two can serve God together with your family. There are a series of seminars (12 in all, one each week... well, 13, if you include the orientation) where there are speakers (one for each night) talking about being better Christians, telling stories about themselves, about what they have been through like having affairs, having problems like gambling, smoking, drinking, etc and how they were able to overcome those trials. They told us that they talk about those problems to other people so that other people won't make any of the mistakes they've made or won't have such a hard time going through them. It's like marriage counseling, only "religion-oriented". After the speaker's lecture, we are asked to form groups of 4 and discuss our expectations (or lack of them). After that, we pray and talk about anything we want, like old friends who haven't seen each other in years. Then, we pray and are given snacks while talking some more.
We've just finished talk number 3 and this coming Saturday will be #4. We just take the talks one at a time,... just one step at a time. And, as expected, we were laughed at by our families. Still, it's not so bad. It's nice to listen and learn something.
Yeah, I know. Sounded like I just dropped a very big bomb. Ask anyone we know, they would laugh if they heard that. It all started last month. We just barely started going to church again for a couple of weeks. The last time I went to church, I almost fainted because there were too many people and the church was poorly ventilated and to top it all off, I was 4 months pregnant with our now 9-year-old son (see? how long ago was that!?). So, as we were coming out of the church after a mass one Sunday, a couple approached us and asked us if we would like to attend a CFC seminar. What the heck is CFC, right? (I wasn't familiar with the term then, either). They told us it would be a great way to meet new people and new friends and be a part of a community. Also, it aims to bring the family closer together and that it is free and there are no obligations to join. Just attend the orientation and if we want to continue the program, we can finish the whole course and if not, we can stop attending anytime we want.
My husband and I then had a "seminar" of our own near the couple's booth at the back of the church (they both looked genuinely friendly to me, btw). He asked me if it was OK if we went. I told him, if he wants to then, go ahead, it's fine by me. Besides, the reason why we started going to church again was so our family would be closer knit. You know what they say, "A family that prays together,... and all that." So, he signed our names. The couple shook our hands enthusiastically, and with the promise to see each other again, we went home.
The orientation was held on a Saturday, 7-10 pm at a room in the church. Being the early birds as we are (ahem!), we were the first couple to arrive. We were then asked to sign a form for their files. Just the basics: name, age, nickname, the usual. Then, we took our seats up front (I have this compulsion to always sit up front, I think because the school system here in the Philippines required students to be seated alphabetically and sadly, I've never sat up front because of my surname). Anyway,.. The first part of the orientation was singing praises. We were given copies of lyrics and they sang the songs and asked us to sing along if we already knew the tunes. Then, of course, the opening prayer. After that, the talk started.
Turned out, CFC is short for Couples For Christ and CLP is for Christian Life Program. These are seminars for people to get to know who or what God is. Couples For Christ is, as the name indicates, for couples to get to know each other better and how you two can serve God together with your family. There are a series of seminars (12 in all, one each week... well, 13, if you include the orientation) where there are speakers (one for each night) talking about being better Christians, telling stories about themselves, about what they have been through like having affairs, having problems like gambling, smoking, drinking, etc and how they were able to overcome those trials. They told us that they talk about those problems to other people so that other people won't make any of the mistakes they've made or won't have such a hard time going through them. It's like marriage counseling, only "religion-oriented". After the speaker's lecture, we are asked to form groups of 4 and discuss our expectations (or lack of them). After that, we pray and talk about anything we want, like old friends who haven't seen each other in years. Then, we pray and are given snacks while talking some more.
We've just finished talk number 3 and this coming Saturday will be #4. We just take the talks one at a time,... just one step at a time. And, as expected, we were laughed at by our families. Still, it's not so bad. It's nice to listen and learn something.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Twilight: Book vs. Movie
I’ve always been a reader. I remember the first books I always read when I had “free time” in grade school (my mom would probably argue that I was just slacking off). I think those were called “Trixie Belden Series” or something like that. Those were detective stories, much like Nancy Drew Mysteries which were more popular then (and still are and much more costly) but, I couldn’t afford those with my measly allowance. Anyway, I always preferred books to movies so, it’s not surprising that after reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and seeing the movie, of course, I pick the book.
A story about a vampire falling in love with a human and doesn’t want her to get hurt (nor wants to drink her blood) is a very interesting topic. I don’t really think the movie sucks but, I don’t feel that it rightly captured the feelings the book is conveying. There are instances where I don’t know what the scriptwriter is thinking. Edward Cullen is almost a century old vampire and I don’t know why he was jumping playfully on top of Bella Swan’s car from the tree, in full view of all their neighbors. He is always cool and collected in the book even though he always gets angry when he's with Bella, he doesn't show much emotion to other people. And the scene when he was fumbling with Bella’s seat belt while trying to get her away from James (a vampire who wants to kill Bella), ever heard of a clumsy vampire?. Also, there were scenes that were not in the movie that I think would give the movie goers more insight to the minds of the characters. Like the part where, in the book, Bella almost fainted at the sight of blood at a biology class and while Mike is taking her to the infirmary, Edward came and snatched her from him. It would show how concerned he already is for her, how deep his feelings are getting. I know most of the books’ readers would agree that there are many more scenes that should have been there, but aren’t or were changed. Maybe it would have been a better movie if they made it a little bit longer. I felt as though they, the film makers, were compressing something that shouldn’t be compressed and ended up disfiguring it.
Well, maybe the new movie would do better. New Moon. Maybe it’ll be more faithful to the book than the first one and maybe,.. Well, that,.. I think is already a lot of maybes so, I better stop here and just start reading again.
A story about a vampire falling in love with a human and doesn’t want her to get hurt (nor wants to drink her blood) is a very interesting topic. I don’t really think the movie sucks but, I don’t feel that it rightly captured the feelings the book is conveying. There are instances where I don’t know what the scriptwriter is thinking. Edward Cullen is almost a century old vampire and I don’t know why he was jumping playfully on top of Bella Swan’s car from the tree, in full view of all their neighbors. He is always cool and collected in the book even though he always gets angry when he's with Bella, he doesn't show much emotion to other people. And the scene when he was fumbling with Bella’s seat belt while trying to get her away from James (a vampire who wants to kill Bella), ever heard of a clumsy vampire?. Also, there were scenes that were not in the movie that I think would give the movie goers more insight to the minds of the characters. Like the part where, in the book, Bella almost fainted at the sight of blood at a biology class and while Mike is taking her to the infirmary, Edward came and snatched her from him. It would show how concerned he already is for her, how deep his feelings are getting. I know most of the books’ readers would agree that there are many more scenes that should have been there, but aren’t or were changed. Maybe it would have been a better movie if they made it a little bit longer. I felt as though they, the film makers, were compressing something that shouldn’t be compressed and ended up disfiguring it.
Well, maybe the new movie would do better. New Moon. Maybe it’ll be more faithful to the book than the first one and maybe,.. Well, that,.. I think is already a lot of maybes so, I better stop here and just start reading again.
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