Below Sea Level

We all know how Venice looks like, right?....Venice is dubbed as a floating city in Europe. Well, it was meant to be like that. Been there when I was younger, and the place is nothing but amazing!

Now, here's a picture of Metro Manila which reminds me of Venice...

Looks similar to Venice isn't it? BUT what you'll see in Venice are boats streaming the alley and not a BUS nor CARS! People in Venice would ride a boat going to one place to another and not walking through the "used to be" highway but now a river! And well obviously, in Venice the "floating city" is one of Europe's tourist attractions. But here in the Philippines this picture which shows Metro Manila's situation right now is one hell of a disaster!

Tropical Storm Ondoy have left Luzon (NCR and Central Luzon to be precise) a very awful story.

Thousands have lost their house(s), hundreds have died, and several are still missing.

The rainfall that Ondoy have given in just a span of 9 hours is as much water Philippines should be getting in ONE MONTH!

It's good to hear that after the storm, relief goods for the victims are over-flowing. And as of writing, goods and cash donations are still coming.

To those of you who have read this, please do your share. Donate and share whatever you have. FOODS, BOTTLED WATER, UNUSED CLOTHES, and CASH DONATIONS ARE ALSO WELCOME.

-tjapz

Trending Yellow

Every 21st of August, the Philippines seems to trend yellow at least for that day.

For some, yellow is for nobility. To others, yellow is for fear. But I want to believe that for the Filipinos, yellow is for democracy, love of country, for CORY and for NINOY.

Yesterday (August 21, 2009) was Ninoy Aquino's 26th death anniversary. He was shot dead as he arrived in the yet Manila International Airport now known as the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport). Leaving her wife, Corazon "Cory" Aquino, his children Balsy, Pinky, Viel, Noynoy, and Kris. He died fighting for the country's democracy and freedom from the ruler/dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

26 years after, what do we have here? Was there a change in our government? Was corruption eliminated from the vocabulary of our government officials? I doubt. Anyway, so much for all those crappy things..ü

I woke up yesterday morning seeing the color yellow around me. I see people wearing yellow shirts with printed Ninoy and Cory images, kids and teens with yellow bands on their wrists, "more" yellow ribbons in the streets of Metro Manila, Q.C., and most specially in Makati where the People Power Monument of Ninoy is (well, most of those ribbons were those placed in since Pres. Cory's last few days before her death up to her burial).

The Aquino family encouraged those who have vehicles who would be on the road from 6 PM to 7 PM to turn their car hazards on at least for an hour. As I've seen it, not all cars on the streets of Metro Manila and Makati have done so, but most of the cars did! This shows that despite of where and what our country is now, Filipinos still has this patriotic spirit in them, their love for our country, their gratitude to the saints of Philippine Democracy Cory and Ninoy. (not to mention myself...ü)

It's been 26 years since Ninoy died. I was not born yet during Ninoy's death. I have not witnessed the EDSA People Power 1. Probably of all the symbolic and unforgettable moments for the Philippines, Pres. Cory's funeral was just it. Well, maybe for now. Cory continued Ninoy's legacy when he was assasinated, now that Cory has joined with her great husband Ninoy, WE NOW ARE OUGHT TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY CORY HAD LEFT US.

Let's pray for them. Let's pray to them. Let us pray for our country. Let us pray for each other. And as Pres. Cory's last few words, LET US TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

"L"

-tjapz ü

One Big Fight or Animo?

Every Blue Eagles vs. Green Archers game is really tough. An Ateneo against La Salle game is the only sports event that could fill the seating capacity of the know BIG DOME.

I have been following Ateneo vs. La Salle games since Wesley Gonzales' and Joseph Yeo's time. But I have never seen such tough and exciting game 'til last week. T'was the first Eagles vs. Archers game since Tiu and Maeirhoffer (have i spelled it right? ü) graduated, I personally thought it's not gonna be the same feud between the two mortal rivals (at least in the basketball court). But on the lighter note Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, Nonoy Baclao, and Nico Salva are still there for the Blue Eagles and Joshua Webb and Bringas are there for the Green Archers, so the excitement is still in the air and the enigma in every match will surely worry every Atenean and La Sallite.

Last weeks game was exciting, fun, and patriotic. Patriotic, in the sense that every one was wearing yellow to honor the demise of the saint of Philippines' democracy, President Cory Aquino. Every Atenean and La Sallite is united, no BLUE nor GREEN. But still, the heat is on.

La Salle showed off their rookies since most of it's MVP's have graduated this year, that made some people (not to mention myself) to wonder if they're gonna make it against Ateneo. Surprisingly they gave Ateneo a good match, and the audience much louder cheers due to excitement.

Ateneo on the other hand still showed their skills and strove hard to take the lead on the game. During the first quarter, hype is most noticable for both teams. Give and Take of scores. In the latter run, pressure is in the air. an average score difference of 3 points in every quarter. Baclao's hand injury, Rabeh's foot injury, and Joshua Webb's kick to Austria have not affected the game thus, it had made the game more much much more exciting. 4th quarter came and ended with a tie score, there can't be two winner's in a basketball game (duh!) and so there came OVERTIME!

In the 5 minute Overtime game extension, Atenee has teken it's lead and finished the game grabbing the win.

Now, who would've thought that there will still be a second match between the two?! It's like a boxing match with Manny Paquiao to a Mexican, where a losing Mexican wanted a rematch. :D

But this time, last nights ADMU vs. DLSU game is neither exciting nor was it thrilling (at least for me). Well,I was not wrong. ADMU did it again. (weeeeee! :D) A least score difference of 10 points in favor of ADMU and a leading difference of 20 points still in favor of ADMU. As I've noticed, La Salle's Joshua Webb wasn't that a performer and not that hot tempered as he was last week (no offense to Joshua Webb! I like the player that he is, excpet for that kicking thing..hehe)

I found the game somewhat boring though coz it seems that Ateneo was the only party who gave the heat. La Salle did great though, but not as much as of last weeks. ü

Buttom point is, I'm still happy that Ateneo won again. I am also happy for the Green Archers. Both team have given their best, showed their best gaming skills, and have given us this adrenaline for UAAP. If only they could both be declared winners, then I'll be in favor for it. :D

I AM A TRUE BLUE EAGLE FAN, but I also have to commend the GREEN ARCHERS.

ONE BIG FIGHT....ANIMO LA SALLE...

ONE BIG ANIMO! :D

-tjapz