The Guardian
Iloilo City

OFTENTIMES DISTURBING
Write-ups from the column of Reymundo Salao
MAY, JUNE, JULY, 2002

MESSAGE FAILED
(May 23, 2002)

        It's on TV, on radio, on the newspaper, and even on the movies, there's no escaping the dominance of celfone fever. Celfones have become the main icon of this generation and of this era. Around ten years ago, celfones was just a status symbol. We used to believe that it wasn't a necessity since there were phone booths anyway, and vhf radio for those who want to communicate with mobility. Now celfones has becomea part of our culture to the point that if you do not have one, you may lag far behind everybody's brand new way of living a new millennium life. Celfones is not a status symbol anymore, now it's the model of your phone that counts. It's obvious how many people (da jologs en coños ) would always "wave around" their celfones as if bragging about it just as often as when they go to malls or bars. 
        But indeed, celfones are quite useful. Communication has never been this much comforting and efficient. On the other hand, comfort has a price. There was a time ago when text messaging or SMS messaging was free. Now, we would have to decrease 1 peso from our credits just to send a text message. That's why we should always decrease the number of our letters and the length of proper grammar to fit all those greetings into one 1-peso message. The celfone communication business is hitting an all-time high with the Filipino society, which is making the celfone now an essential appliance. We have even indebted the existence of the Edsa 2 to the celfone, which has played a key role in information dissemination. 
        But are we addicted to celfones? Long ago, we were happy with analog phones, but all of the sudden SMS or text messaging was created and it made us upgrade by buying new-model phones which enable us "to text". Then, we began wanting smaller phones, OK, another upgrade, another money spent to buy a new phone, and WHOA! HEY! This other new model have better ringtones! OK, another money blurted off the pockets to buy a new model. Soon, we have picture messaging, HEY! You want THAT too? OK, so go buy ANOTHER phone. Up until HEY…It's WAP!!! I don't know what the HECK that is…But we all want THAT TOO, don't we? So another handful of thousands blurted off. Now, we have MP3 Phones, AM/FM Phones, colored-LCD phones….AYZOOS! Waay na gid lang katapusan! Until we realize that we have just been feeding a social pride that is, of the celfone fever. In the long run, the only reason why we buy celfones, is because of communication. Not just because this little phone has a better brick game than this other little phone. 

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THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
The SPIDER-MAN film review
(May 6, 2002)

        In this day and age, superhero movies are no longer mere children's entertainment. This is proved true by the latest superhero, Marvel comic book adaptation movie SPIDERMAN. I was actually excited to watch it when it opened last Friday. May 3 was the date scheduled for the film to be released worldwide. It was such a delight that we'd be having the opportunity of watching it along with the other nations. (We even get to see it first because Asian time is advance. By the time, we'd have finished watching the evening show; people from Europe and the U.S. would have just got out of bed). The crowd gathering outside the ticket line of the theater was eager to see their favorite web-slinging superhero. 
        Spiderman is Marvel Comic's most famous superhero. Marvel Comics is the comic company, which popularized comicbooks such as Iron Man, X-men (which will soon have another new movie, sequel to the first one), Capt. America, Punisher, and the Incredible Hulk, which will also be made into a major motion picture under the helm of director Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and "Sense and Sensibility"). The film adaptation was more or less true to the comic book. It never strayed from the original story of Spiderman. Peter Parker (which was played by Tobey Maguire) was a geeky kid who was always laughed at and bullied around, until one day; a genetically enhanced laboratory spider bit him. This caused changes in his body, his strength has been enhanced, his senses magnified, he began to adopt the characteristics of the mutant laboratory spider. Meanwhile, his uncle, was killed during a carjacking incident, and since that time, he vowed to fight crime and a servant of the community, keeping in mind the last words his uncle told him; With great power comes great responsibility. He has become Spiderman. 
        There is actually more to the movie than a mere synopsis. All the actors and actresses involved in the film did an excellent job in bringing to life the adventure of Spiderman. Tobey Maguire's acting perfectly depicted the geeky character of Peter Parker, up from his school-nerd days up to his becoming the amazing superhero. The villain Norman Osborn was also impressively depicted by Willem Dafoe, a character whose schizophrenic, "Jekyll and Hyde" psyche transforms him into the twisted Green Goblin. Also starring was the spunky Kristen Dunst who played Mary Jane Watson, Spidey's love interest, and ####### who played a minor but unforgettable role as Jonas Jameson, the loud-mouth, double-talking, ruthless-but-wacky editor of the Daily Bugle where Peter Parker was working as a photographer. 
        No wonder Spiderman was a flawlessly done superhero movie; it was because the director Sam Raimi was a Spiderman fanatic himself. It was reported the Sam still even has his old Spiderman poster from his childhood, in his bedroom. Raimi has become a cult-hero director with his previous cult masterpieces. He directed the classic Evil Dead (which is at many times dubbed "the most terrorizing horror film ever"), Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness. He also directed "Darkman" with Liam Neeson, this perhaps, was one basis which proved Raimi fit for directing "Spiderman". Raimi is one of those directors which can balance the edges of sanity and a serious film, into a finished film which is pure entertainment, that you wont ever get tired of. He is capable of injecting a story with enough color and life, without making it too cheesy or corny. Add it up with visual effects which is capable of fully depicting the astounding stunts and wallcrawling of Spiderman and the gliding terror that the Green Goblin creates, it would definitely make for a perfect superhero movie. 
        SPIDERMAN is so wholesome that it does not alienate adults and skeptics from being sincerely entertained by the movie. 

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STAR WARS: REJUVENATING THE SAGA
The STAR WARS Episode II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES film review
(May 21, 2002)

        The first STAR WARS trilogy were monumental movies, which stands in film history alongside films like The Ten Commandments, The Godfather, and Gone with the Wind. If you had these films made and revolutionized the filmmaking industry and the film franchise industry as well, how do you make a new set of prequels for Star Wars now? George Lucas, the genius behind the Star Wars universe, had one heck of a responsibility on his hands. And he did fail miserably with "Star Wars episode 1, The Phantom Menace", disappointing long-time fans of the saga, as well as subtly tainting Star Wars with a bad name. By the time Episode 2's trailers were heralding the release of the new Star Wars movie, the fever had been not that hot at all compared to the hype it used to have. (Warning: my review may contain spoilers that you may not want to know before you watch the film). 
        It was smart move for Lucasfilms to release the film almost worldwide simultaneously in order to beat the piracy, which let's us watch the film far earlier than the film could be released locally. But nevertheless, there I was taking my half-day off from office just to watch Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones". And fevers run boiling with the new film. It was far more impressive, about a thousand times better than Episode 1. The film was about the second chapter of an entire saga which is about a galactic war, how it began and how it ended. Episode 2 is set on a period when the Republic was losing its balance and its control over the planets under its rule (The republic is kind of like our UN, and the planets are the nations). The Republic and the leaders of the planets represented in the Republic have become more corrupt, and separatist groups have announced their defiance against the Republic. Little do they realize that the leaders of both the Republic and the Separatists have suspicious plans of their own. Since it used to be a time of peace, the Republic had no standing army, except for Jedi Knights, which were more of keepers of the peace rather than an army, which was designed for all-out war. In the center point of the story is Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi pupil who has fallen in love with a galactic senator, Padme Amidala. One who belongs to the order of the Jedi is forbidden from having romantic attachments, not only is he bending this creed, he has also fallen into hatred and arrogance, most especially when at one point, he has massacred an entire village just to satisfy his crave for vengeance. This Anakin Skywalker is to be the main character of the story because he is destined to be the warlord who will soon bring the Republic to its knees. 
        Indeed, the film has a dark tone, and its theme is even that of the adult tone rather than what many perceive it to be a child's cartoon. One friend of mine who is a mother even confessed that she surprisingly enjoyed the movie than expected. But the film is also more than a war movie, it is also had a light atmosphere and very romantic aspect to it. The love story between Anakin and Padme has been beautifully done, to match with the scenes and the settings they shot in where everything looked like a classic painting. One romantic scene in particular that was indeed quite romantic was their conversation about politics while they were sitting on grassland with a wonderful waterfall scene in the background. The humor of the film was also smart and witty, with punch lines that catch us giggling all of the sudden. Like that when one villain (Nute Gunray) was disappointed that Padme was able to elude the attack of a monster, going "She can't do that! Shoot her, or something!" or the scene where one character C3PO, who was a droid (a robot), had his head attached to that of a battle droid and he goes shooting around and shouts "I'm programmed for etiquette, not fighting!". And, of course, the action was magnificent, with the mech battles and the lightsaber duels, and the scene where Yoda, one of the main characters present in almost all Star Wars movies, had a chance to show us how he fights. 
        Although it may be confusing to some first-time watchers, it must be taken note that it is part of an entire saga. And to appreciate it, one must understand what has happened in Episode 1 and what will happen, and what is to come in Episodes 4, 5, 6. The plot of the film may be a bit difficult to understand, but it never drags. All in all, Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones could be considered one of the classics that could stand among the classics, which were Star Wars (episode 4, which was shown 1977 and began the fever), Empire Strikes Back (episode 5, 1980), and Return of the Jedi (episode 6, 1983). Episode II is a mature sci-fi war picture which contains underlying spiritual meaning and romantic value, it never fails to thrill and keeps our eyes plugged on the screen. 

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NATIONAL PRIDE
(May 27, 2002)

        Ever since the American colonial era, parts of our cultural behavior have been indoctrinated by the notion that the westerners or the Americans are a greater, more superior race. This is part of the whole "colonial mentality" among many of us Filipinos. We see an American and a Filipino, and by comparison, the American is always instantly concluded as the smarter one, the stronger one, and the physically potential one, and the Filipino would always come the second. But the truth is, the average Filipino is always smarter than the average American. Exposed to many levels of life, from hardships, to cultural exposure, and to knowledge of basic living, the Filipino has a far superior wit to survive physically and psychologically compared to the average American who is helplessly reliant upon the industrially-user-friendly lifestyle of the West, as if everything in the life of an American comes with a remote control. Such comparison is the reason why the Vietcong guerillas laugh at the helplessness of an average American soldier during the Vietnam War decades ago. This was the same comparison why I was laughing at the idea that the Americans were going to "help" us catch the Abu Sayyaf via "Balikatan". 
        Our culture of over-hailing America and other countries oftentimes leads to cursing and degrading our nation. How many times have we heard "smart-kuno" people who blabber about how bad our socio-political system and then announce that other nations are heavenly-clean from corruption and crooked leaders. Okay, so it is undeniable proof that our political system is far too tarnished by loopholes, inconsistencies, and the mud of graft and corruption. But they are indeed wrong that other nations are as clean as they conceive to be. They always love to tell people how wonderful the American democratic system, when it is also actually burdened by the same sense of corruption that we have. And at many times, the American system is as crooked and as inconsistent as many third world nations. We just cannot simply compare America and the Philippines, since ours is a really small archipelago while the US consists of almost an entire continent. 
        Many of us move to countries like in the U.S. and Europe because of work. Overseas workers are even branded as heroic laborers because it is they who venture to another land to bring revenues, and dollars to our country. Overseas work is one of the solutions to our nation's employment crisis. Other nations are even grateful because many smart Filipinos are employed in overseas jobs where they are needed. Other reasons why many leave the country is because they study in prominently distinguished universities, and then there are some of us who wish to be united with relatives, while some are simply just out for a vacation. On the other hand, a Filipino who has a fetish for moving to another country like the U.S. or Europe without any justifiable reason are oftentimes the kind of people who may be branded as the "traidors" of the state. It is because one unreasonably transfers his patriotic love, faith, and devotion to a foreign land. Just like many ignorant kababayans of ours who try so desperately to act, feel, and claim that they are no longer Filipino citizens, to the point of never ever speaking the native tongue, never ever respecting the Filipino traditions and practices, and even denying their Filipino blood. 
        If I was to be asked what is the main problem why the Philippines is now in a situation of great poverty, political instability, and social disunity, my answer would be because our national pride is either asleep or dead. How can we further our nation if we still continue to believe that we are an inferior race? How can we have the will to survive the trials of a struggling nation if we pointlessly wish we belonged to another culture or country? We must learn to appreciate our being a Filipino. We must begin by building our national pride. At an early time, we must condition our mind with the idea that the Filipino is never below any race. The Filipino can someday be higher than the white men. And some day, we may even dare to look down upon them. Never must we just satisfy our ambitions with just reforms and with just becoming a race of people who will stand along the other races. We must dare to ambition to be higher than any race on the globe. If only this nationalistic belief may be instilled upon every Filipino, only then can we begin our first stages of being a race or a nation highly respected by the world. 

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ARE YOU A VIRGIN?
(June 4, 2002)

        It is sometimes a surprise to find that there are still fat-headed men who hold prejudices upon non-virgin females. There still exist men who reject certain women from marriage or even just to be girlfriends, just because these women aren't virgins anymore. Is it a big deal, really? Or are just men full of that much pride? (I'm a man and UH-OH! I'm gonna be mocking my kind!) If it is a big deal for men, the next question would obviously be "WHY? " Our conservative, Spanish-era-bred culture suggests that unmarried women who are virgins are indecent. Well, although it is an ancient cultural norm, it is rather RUDE and OFFENSIVE to believe so, isn't it? It must've felt like being branded a heretic or a witch if you were to be found a single, non-virgin female during the olden days. Makes many of us realize as to why they had awfully long skirts and contour covering garments for ladies back then (They didn't have global warming and El Niño in those era, so it's still cool to dress a lot). 
        It must be remembered that sex is not only a synonym for "evening-wedding-reception", it also is an expression of love, we must not condemn a person for having express herself. Just because she had sex, doesn't make her a "female dog". And besides, some couples get bored of the same romantic routines of watching the movies, and then go the park, then, etc… Some of them get drunk and whisk away to cupid's cloud. While some opt NOT to get drunk at all. I mean, if you're both drunk, how can you two accurately get in and out the right places? Not only is sex an expression of Love, it is also a biological process. Many medical experts even encourage sex before one may reach a certain age when he or she may not enjoy it as much anymore. On the other hand, having had experienced sex before marriage may biologically add to the stability of ones' marriage. 
        Take for example Girl A is so old-fashioned that she saves her virginity for the man she marries. They get married. But then, Girl A, becomes immensely sexually curious about a guy at work. At an office party, the guy makes his naughty move and tries to hit a sinister "diskarte" upon Girl A. Since Girl A is so curious and vulnerable at the same time, she then engages into cheating by sleeping with the guy at work. 
        On the other hand, Girl B is liberated and has had experience in her single life. The same case happens that the handsome guy from work hits a "diskarte". Girl B becomes curious but it would be easy for her to ignore the charms of the handsome guy, and even gives him a grinning glance before she leaves as if it said, "Been there, done that". 
        The two examples may not always hold generally true though, only upon a case-to case basis. It is because everybody knows that there could have been a Girl C who did have experiences in her early life, but as a result, accidentally became a young mother. But that is another story. 
        Back to the point of prejudice of virginity, the only reason why men act this way with women and their virginity is that men is that many men are insecure of their own virginity. Some men are actually insulted that they don't get to have had as much experience as the women they've been. There are men who often have the tendency to count how many women they've slept with. And then, there are men who brag how many they've devirginized. The LAMEST and oftentimes, the ONLY reason why men are particular about virgins is that they just want to be the ones who were "there first". Some men always demand their ladies as virgins, but if the ladies ask "why? Are YOU a virgin?" it would really make a chain reaction, wouldn't you think? It's funny how many people (even our culture, for that matter) look down upon women who have sex a lot, while it considers men who do the same, as "cool". Ladies want to have their share of fun too, don't they? 

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DID YOU SAY INDEPENDENCE?
(June 13, 2002) 

        Yesterday, I ironically spent my Independence Day stuck at home as I was ordered to be the house's watchdog. Of course, this never is an absolute downer since I am indeed a home-buddy who enjoys tinkering with the PC all day and fondle the remote control of the television, searching for meaningful shows on daytime cable. I was free to do anything within the bounds of my own house anyway. And I was bound, not only for one particular reason, but also for the several other assignments and obligations that was embedded in my imaginary, chaotic non-existent planner book. Basically, my parents do not put a leash around my head, for God's sake; I am too old enough for that! I'm 26, of course I have my independence! (Although I'm already making a fool of myself by putting my wussy, not to mention nerdy social and parental status in print) But we all do have obligations that limit us from acting so freely with just anything we feel like doing. Instead of going out in the malls and watch at girls on skimpy modern fashion, I would rather first get over with my obligations, most especially my column. 
        Only then did I instantly see the comparison of the Independence Day of the Philippines to my own situation at the moment. Independence does not exactly mean we do not have limitations and obligations anymore. Yes, we may be a free country, but we have so many unfinished works on our desks. The Abu Sayyaf-Burnhams crisis may be over, but the terrorist bandits are still out there. With a military promising to put the vast lands of Mindanao under their scopes, seeking the ASG, many sensible critics still cast shadows of doubt. Even the technology of the Americans are never a reliable factor, we must take note that the U.S. has never won a guerilla war before. And on the other hand, we have squabbling senators; their disputes get all too chaotic to comprehend by each passing day. With senators like this, we may sadly conclude that we have a nation, a government for that matter that has reached its most unstable moment in history. And of course, there is the miserably unquestionable issue of poverty. 
        With varied, numerous crises like this, many of us Filipinos could not find the voice to even whisper that we are an independent nation. Just this year, we have become America's tool for their expansion of power. Many Filipinos thirst for freedom; their parched throats are sometimes satisfied by the wrong factors such as bribery and the trickery of foreign powers. The worst part of it is that many other Filipinos who are drunk with greed hoard the blessings that are supposed to be free for everybody. We have politicians and leaders who take government funds and use it for their own personal benefit. Funds for facilities such as medicines, school supplies, and food, end up as a politicians brand new van or sleek car. Where is your freedom there? It becomes their freedom. I guess they made a mistake in making our laws; they should have put lethal injection as the death penalty for politicians who are found guilty of bastardizing their own jobs. "Servant of the people" has now become far from the definition of a government leader. Only a few remain true to their jobs. I salute them, if they do exist. 
        I would not be surprised if a coup d' etat would erupt anytime, today, tomorrow, or next week. Revolution may be defined as change. We need that revolution. We need a change. But who has the right to lead that change? Who has the right to make that change? We all thought Edsa would have made a change. Look at where we are now. We even have some people who are disrespectful to our own national anthem, I say they should be beat up and incarcerated. Maybe some of them should be tortured just for wearing T-shirts with American flags. But that's just a personal opinion. Thank God, I'm not the president. 
        I would have wanted to attend some parade today. But I guess it would not excite me as much. Especially if I take a closer look at where we are, as a nation. I would rather stay home finish my assignments, and watch another lousy, unfunny cartoon. 

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MURKY WATERS / WHITE MONKEYS WITH GUNS
(June 27, 2002)

        With the eruption of high seas encounter between the Abu Sayyaf and government troops last June 21, everything must've happened so quickly. All of a sudden, the most wanted bandit in the land, Abu Sabaya, is missing, presumed by many experts as to have died in battle. Now, government forces are scouring the seas for his dead body, in order to truly prove to the skeptics that he is indeed dead. And of course, they should make sure he's dead, otherwise, justice may not fully be satisfied. There is always the possibility of him devising a seemingly impossible "Houdini-like" escape technique. This most possible, knowing that he has a large bounty on his head, and both the AFP and U.S. forces looking for him. Sure, he might take the risk of attempting the most impossible stunt, just to escape captivity or even death. The seas are murky. Never trust these deep seas, they're too vast to comprehend. With all the trouble and the loss Sabaya has caused, he must be found in order to fully suffer and pay for his crimes. I know what the many skeptics feel about this "missing-Sabaya" issue, they all voice out the same sentiment:" We don't want a paper report…we want Sabaya's head on our desk before the day is done!"
        But on seeing things on the other side of the story, aren't we wasting too much time on looking for Sabaya anyway? If the reports of the military are accurate, there indeed is no logic for Sabaya to have survived. What the military should focus upon anyway is that the Abu Sayyaf should never make a comeback. Granting Sabaya is dead, there could always be a junior version of Sabaya on the works, trying to revive the bandit group using their remaining money to revive their banditry. Dead or alive, with or without him, Sabaya comes only secondary compared to what must be done: Making sure Abu Sayyaf does not exist ever again. The Abu Sayyaf is not only one man, it is a group, a name, a faction. Killing off Sabaya may not be the absolute solution to end the terrorist activities of the ASG. Yes, for the sake of justice, find Sabaya. But for the country's sake, the first priority should always be preventing the bandit organization from having a life of its own. 

x-x-x-x-x-x

        I was greatly disturbed last week about what I saw on a GMA News footage. As GMA news crew were traveling somewhere in Mindanao, they were stopped by a roadblock manned by american troops, not a single pinoy troop seemed to be on sight, neither a Filipino officer maintaining balanced "US-Pinoy" command. The main media man talked to the U.S. troops which seemed to be adamant on keeping up with their orders not to let anybody through the roadblock without proper permit. But the media man reasoned that it was one of the main roads and that they pass by that area all the time, and he requested if he could talk to a Filipino officer. The G.I.s refused, with one of them uttering the words "You do not belong here". And all of the sudden, this bragging "putot" american soldier pulls his handgun and cocks it in front of the camera and the unarmed media men, raising his voice in a threatening manner. 
        Wow! Look at your idolized american soldiers! How they truly love their Filipino brothers! Why was there no Filipino officers overseeing american operations in that certain area? In previous interviews and press conferences, the U.S. troops always tried to tell us how they're just here to help and the Filipinos are still the "bosses" (of course we should be! It's OUR country and THEIR commandos were talking about here!), but now, here we see that they just treat the Filipino people like children, and actually abusing us behind our backs. This is just another reason why many nations do not trust the american government. You cannot easily disregard their tendency to bully third world countries. I cannot understand till now why many people are still happy of their presence here. After all, they're NOT the soldiers who fought for the Burnham's freedom, they're NOT the soldiers who fought Sabaya at Sulu sea, they're the soldiers who caused controversy when they were caught by Philippine Star's cameras modeling their high-powered firearms in front of a civilian crowd in a bank somewhere in Mindanao just weeks after their arrival, they're the soldiers who cock their guns in front of unarmed Filipino media men. 
        Pardon my stupidity, I do not recognize the "good things" the U.S. troops have done here since their arrival early this year. If these "good things" ever existed that I don't know of, they're still a small price compared to what we just put at stake: our sovereignty. 

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MINORITY REPORT
film review
(July 1, 2002)

        An event unfolds before your eyes. It could be a significant event such as a tragedy, an accident, or it could be just a simple event such as a glass jar falling and breaking into pieces. All of a sudden, a thought rushes in your head. A feeling that you already saw the event that just transpired seconds ago. Then, you realize that the events a second ago was your dream from last night, last week, or last month. Déjà vu. A feeling of familiarity. A prophetic dream, foreseeing the future? We may not be psychics or oracles, but we cannot deny that sometimes, we dream things that happen in the future. No science can explain this factual phenomenon. This belongs to the category of the paranormal studies. 
        This phenomenon may have been one of the concepts behind the new sci-fi blockbuster movie MINORITY REPORT. The film is set in the future, when law enforcement is upgraded via the "Pre-Crime Division" where policemen, headed by John Anderton (played by actor Tom Cruise) are aided by "gifted" individuals known as the "Precogs", who are always on "subconscious unconscious, 'dreamlike' state" because they predict when a crime (specifically murder) is taking place. These dreams are monitored by computers, enable the policemen to analyze the events in the dream. If, for instance, Mr. A kills Ms. B tonight at 7 p.m., the Precogs would have dreamt or predicted the event, alarming the policemen. After analysis, where they would properly have established the identity of the killer, Mr. A, the policemen would now go out and have the authority to arrest Mr. A even before 7 p.m. when the crime is about to take place. In the story, a skeptic government inspector was sent to investigate the reliability of Pre-Crime. And just about at the same time, John Anderton finds himself the subject of a murder incident, which was predicted by the Precogs, and the Pre-Crime policemen are now after Anderton who goes in a thrilling rogue. Anderton thinks he was set-up, for he knows that he would never commit such a murder. And so, in order to survive and to prove himself innocent, he must run. 
        At one glance upon the movie, a typical Hollywood enthusiast may dismiss MINORITY REPORT to be just another futuristic sci-fi. But when you sit through the movie till the end, you might realize that this one is better than what many expected. In the first place, it was directed by Steven Spielberg, and I assume I need not elaborate on the credentials of Spielberg (don't tell me he doesn't sound familiar to you. Hello? E.T.? Indiana Jones? Schindler's List?). But I do want to get my spotlight focused, though, upon the author of the book from which the film was based; Philip K. Dick. He was also the author of the novel "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep", which was the book from which the film BLADE RUNNER (Directed by "Gladiator" and "Black Hawk Down" director Ridley Scott, starred Harrison Ford, it's about a group of human-like robots who malfunction and become renegades because they craved for "human life") was based. 
        What I liked about this story from Dick (Minority Report) is that it opens our minds to many questions. "Can we really have the right to punish crimes which have not happened yet?" "What if the crime is going to be very certain to happen?" "Can our dreams be reliable enough to the point that we may use it as a tool for foreseeing the future?". What also makes Dick's stories appealing is the honest approach of characters. Characters or heroes which do not come in standards of the typical "hero". Everyone has a flaw. In the story, Anderton (Cruise) may be the hero, but he is a user of some futuristic illegal drug. This is caused by the dark moods which create the sense of struggle in his character. The struggle with a dark tragic past. And in the end, that struggle comes full circle, all his questions are answered, and maybe yours. 

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THE AMERICAN RAPE
(July 4, 2002-part 1, July 5, 2002 -part 2)

        There is no such thing as a national historical day of commemoration known as "The Philippine-American friendship day". I spit on such farce of a celebration, if there is any. The americans are fine actors, unfortunately, this craft is also used by their government to further fool us. They have fooled us for so long, ever since the day they set foot on our soil. 
        Review your history books, historians rightly point out that the U.S. "gift" of independence in 1946 came with numerous strings attached. The U.S. retained sovereignty over dozens of military bases, and that independence was linked to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress which was designed to insure that the Philippines would remain a virtual economic ward of the United States.
        The Bell Trade Act prohibited the Philippines from manufacturing or selling any products that might "come into substantial competition" with U.S.-made goods and required that the Philippine constitution be revised to grant U.S. citizens and corporations equal access to Philippine minerals, forests and other natural resources. 
The terms of the Bell Act were so onerous that even the U.S. State Department opposed them. One official described the law as "clearly inconsistent with the basic foreign economic policy of this country" and a betrayal of "our promise to grant the Philippines genuine independence." But the incipient island republic had little choice but to accept the extortionist terms of its sovereignty. The war had left Manila in ruins and much of the countryside laid to waste. Federal coffers were empty, people were starving, and the U.S. Congress was threatening to withhold rehabilitation relief unless the Bell Act was ratified. The Philippine Congress grudgingly obliged on July 2, 1946.
        Historians generally agree that the Philippine revolution, the first Asian uprising against a foreign imperial power, would have eventually triumphed over Spain had it not been for the short-lived Spanish-American War, which saw the Americans elbow aside the Filipino revolutionaries. Once victorious, the Americans purchased the islands for $20 million and set about colonizing them. 
Memories of the American usurpation of their revolution and of the events that immediately followed made the idea of a July 4 national holiday particularly distasteful to Filipino nationalists. In 1898 President William McKinley had declared the U.S. mission in the Philippines one of "benevolent assimilation." But within weeks of McKinley's remarks, American troops embarked on a bloody campaign to stamp out an indigenous independence movement that would ultimately cost somewhere between 200,000 and a half-million Filipino lives. Mark Twain called the Philippine-American War (known by the Americans as the "Philippine Insurrection"), "a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater."
        On July 4, 1901, the U.S. established a civilian colonial government in Manila and made advocacy of independence a crime punishable by a year in prison. The following year, also on July 4, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Philippine-American War ended, even though freedom fighters, referred to as "bandits" and "outlaws" by the Americans, continued fighting in the countryside for several more years.
        Filipino historians like Agoncillo and Constantino have estimated that more than 300,000 Filipinos, mostly civilians perished as a result of the American onslaught against our newborn Philippine Republic. The most barbaric forms of torture and interrogation such as "water cure" as well as scorched earth military tactics and the brutal "reconcentration" of civilians were applied against the Filipino people. The most inhuman and brutal tactics experimented earlier against American Indian tribes in the American frontier were again applied and practiced by U.S. military veterans of the Indian campaigns. Worse, all of these are treated in all official U.S. documents and history books as part of "the Philippine Insurrection" to disguise the nature of the Filipino people's heroic resistance. The term "Philippine Insurrection" implies an uprising against an already established American regime in the Philippines where for the most part, the conflict was objectively an American War of conquest, invasion and forcible occupation.

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How can we celebrate a day which reminds us of how we were used as fools, slaves, tools of the American colonizers? It reminds us how we are continually being undermined by a more powerful country. When was there ever a "Fil-Am friendship" worth celebrating? World War 2? Yes, many americans did love the Filipino people, sincerely at that. I would even have to say that Gen. Douglas Macarthur was one American whose love for the Filipino people was sincere. But the American government? The American national interest? I doubt it. For the struggle to liberate the Filipinos from the Japanese was an interest that is defined by the fact that Japan should not hold a strong foothold in the Philippines, for it could make Japan stronger. By this time, though, the Filipinos were desperate enough that there honestly wasn't any choice but to welcome Americans with open arms. The Filipinos have already gotten used to the way of life the americans forced use to live since back in the 1800s. Ever since that time, we are still under the direct and indirect leash of the United States, doing their bidding as some form of needy henchman in Asia. Our relationship with America may be put in the following perspective: The Philippines was once a pure, innocent virgin, it was then raped by Spain, later, America went in the picture and drove off Spain. Just when we thought we were aided by the white man for the heroic intentions of setting us free, they raped us, in turn. They made us junkies too, making us addicts to their brand of influences. When Japan went in the picture, the U.S. just couldn't stand seeing their "baby" taken away from them, so they helped us fight the Japs off. Now, with a campaign drive that makes the Filipino think we "need them so that we can have progress", the U.S. are back in the picture. Fine if they help us fight terrorists, but we just cannot trust a foreign government who used to fool us, leaving millions dead. 
        Come to think of it, it was only on September 16, 1991 that the Philippines truly made a prominent stand to drive out americans from the country, it was during the closure of the U.S. bases. If that were so, Salonga, Estrada, and others who made this possible should be considered as National Heroes…? Why not REMEMBER SEPT. 16, 1991, instead? 
        I think it was Manuel Quezon who once said "I would rather see a Philippines run like hell by the Filipinos, than run like heaven by americans." This may be a relevant quote. Because, as we can see, the Philippines is indeed being in a situation much like hell. We may sit comfortably in our seats living a quiet life, but if we put it in a nationalistic point-of-view, many Filipinos are suffering as a result of the current almost-chaotic state of the nation. Maybe if I did not think much deeper, maybe I would just have to answer that I would opt for the American-run heaven. But to have America run our nation is an admission that we are a weaker race. It is like selling our soul. It is indeed a fast solution for the ails of the nation. But the point is, we did not do our own responsibility, our own right to face our own problems. We all know that what the country really needs is a serious internal reform. A reform which should start from us, Filipinos, and not let Americans do our work for us, spank us, tell us what is right and wrong. The problems of the nation is like a child; If we have a child, and this child is getting out of hand, the fastest solution is to let somebody take care of the child for you, it is much like disowning him. The child may improve, but he loses his respect for you as a parent. Why? You did not face the responsibility of correcting his faults yourself. And why should you trust somebody else with the care of your child? This child is yours. Should you trust a pimp with the care of your child? The american government has been viewed by many critics as a pimp. July 4. The day america made an excuse to make Filipinos cheer and celebrate THEIR independence. The day america made us think they've had granted us independence. The day we remember how America has truly raped the Philippines time and again. 

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BONG AND ASSUNTA 
HATES PIRATED CDS, HOW ABOUT YOU?
(July 16, 2002)

        A very wealthy actor-turned politician, who was once considered by many pro-Erap factions to be "the treacherous friend", now heads a crusade against a crime, which is considered "pro-poor" by many. I was laughing out loud when I saw a picture of Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. on the newspaper, which announces him to have become the new Videogram Regulatory Board, and is said to start a crusade against Pirated CDs, because of the awful ironies. Okay, so they all claim that Piracy is destroying the movie business, but didn't. Maybe that's true. Or is it maybe that Mr. Revilla's movies are so awful indeed, that with or without piracy, they still leave the tagalog movie industry at ill. After all, The industry of movies should be all about art, and profit comes only second. You see all these art films, they don't even get healthy financial aides from the rich producers, yet, they are made. This is because of the love towards the art of film. Maybe what Piracy has done is indeed good. It destroys the rotten profit-minded Tagalog movie business, and have it replaced by producers and filmmakers who are indeed striving in the art because they understand the love of film. After all, film is art, art is passion. It is difficult to admit that only Imelda Marcos, in her time, led a remarkable drive to enhance the quality of the local movie industry (it's not easy for me putting a Marcos in a positive light, but in this subject matter, Marcos comes better than Revilla) In the long run, who cares if Assunta De Rossi doesn't get a fat paycheck for some typical tagalog movie, as compared to the comfort of paying affordable prices for Video CDs. I should point out that if not for Piracy, film producers abroad wouldn't have forced themselves to release movies in the Philippines in simultaneous release dates as to the film releases in the U.S. and Europe. Likely, if not for Piracy, Film corporations wouldn't have lowered their prices to 150 pesos so that they could compete with the pirate market. 
        Generally, it may not be a good thing to take sides with what is against the law, but I am merely expressing my views and scratching my head why the government is so hot in its ass to fight a crime which would only result in the distaste of the masses, especially when we are in a time when there are bundles, nay, multitudes of crises to resolve which are far more worthwhile. Anti-piracy laws are generally capitalist laws. The Philippines is a relatively poor country, and not everybody here can afford a 21st Century standard of living. The entertainment industry has evolved into the CD age. Audio and video are now into the CD technology. Initially, the prices of CD have been very expensive. Your standard audio CD costs not less than 250 pesos and video CD, not less than 300 pesos. All of a sudden, living in a standard modern way has become a status symbol. Not until the introduction of pirated CDs. With pirated CDs, people from all walks of life can now, more or less, be able to afford audio and video CDs for as low as half the original price. This also means that your average Filipino can now be exposed to a wider, better selection of brands of music and movies. You'd be surprised how a common tambay could actually be a fan for Enya and the movies of Francis Ford Copolla.
        In a different atmosphere, in a different state-of-the-nation, in a different time, CD Piracy is indeed bad. But for now, the government indeed has bigger fish to fry, other than the CD pirates, which is patronized by a mass number of Filipinos. What would happen here is that this war on piracy is waged not only unto the sellers but it affects the buyers who will definitely be disappointed too. Maybe Mr. Revilla and Miss De Rossi (with all their wealth) should go back to college, get a degree and find a better job if what they want in their life is an abundance of wealth. Come to think of it, the people who say they're against Pirated products are the only ones who can afford to buy 300 pesos per CD. If the "aggrieved" film industry wants us to stop buying pirated products I think I should make "AYO" 100 pesos per CD. Hehehehe! 

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RANDOM, IRRELEVANT MUMBLINGS 
FROM THE OFTENTIMES DISTURBING
(July 17, 2002)

        Let me take this moment to mumble. Mumble with an inexplicable emptiness. An emptiness which is supposed to make me sad and depressed, because of the mere reason of being, that is, in a state of emptiness. 12:57 am and I'm still wide awake, there is even freshly boiled water outside waiting for me to turn into coffee. Yes, coffee at this time of night. While I am writing my write-ups for my column, the MP3 player in my PC is playing music from Hooverphonic, Lamb, and Bjork. Many of you do not know these bands, I do not blame you or what you think is stupidity. But what I do blame is the moronic FM radio DJ who has been feeding you the same ANNOYING and DISGUSTING Air Supply songs ever since you were an infant. And every afternoon, on the dot, they'd repetitiously play the awful songs of the Scorpions, The Eagles, and Kenny Rogers. Roasted Chicken! Yes, Kenny Rogers has a restaurant but I don't think he is a cook, nor a chef. Maybe its because "THE COWARD OF THE COUNTY" made him so rich that he bought an entire poultry farm of chickens to roast. He couldn't eat it all, that's maybe how he figured he'd make a restaurant. If he were Pinoy, he'd be cockfighting with our local tycoons. And speaking of Cock-fighting, do you like basketball? NBA? PBA? I don't. 
        Maybe I'm the only straight male person who hates basketball. I don't understand why many Pinoys put so much money on a sport, which cannot bring us to the Olympics. Which reminds me, I also do not understand basketball. But boxing..! That's one sport I can clearly understand! AND…it is the only sport, which can bring us nationalistic pride in the arena of sports. If we focused on sports like boxing, billiards, bowling, and chess, maybe we'd be making Olympic bets in the process. MBA???!!! (Hahaha!) who watches THAT?!!! (Is it still on TV, anyway?) Hehehe! I'm sorry, maybe I'm just saying that because my choices for favorite TV shows include cartoons. And I'd prefer watching Wolverine rather than watching some dumb basketball player. Many basketball players are pretty stupid. But everybody knows that I hate them just because they get all the chicks. Many times, in my high school days did I just sit back, with my X-men comic books, pick my nose, and helplessly watch my crushes being taken over by basketball varsities who are stupid enough to think that Mozart was a philosopher who invented PIZZA. 
        I still couldn't get over the fact that I've been on extremely odd moods lately. I haven't shaved my facial hair for days and neither have I had my head shaven (which I usually do) . It's like some kind of bizarre sublime phase of being single and not having the care to look for a partner. Other people have that romantic quest to find the right one, to do everything in order to capture the heart of that special someone. I've been there, done that. Romance is okay. But based on my experience, you shouldn't make a big deal out of it unless it truly is the right one. Right now, I'm just sick and tired, and LAZY enough to go impress some chick with some flowers and hallmark text messages. I am, however, so much in the mood for playing Sim City and Star Wars Battlegrounds in my PC. 
        Meanwhile, I am attending this Gothic Party, (on the 26th) which a friend of mine is organizing. After all, basing from my many nihilistic outlooks and "sob story" experiences, I may be as gothic as anybody else. Even though many people misinterpreted one of my early write-ups as "anti-gothic", which was actually PRO-gothic. Sometimes, I wish I was a vampire. 
        Okay, so far, my write-up for today is going weirder and weirder. If I continue this, it may destroy my reputation, that is, if I do have one. [FYI, if I have ever offended you in any of my writings, gladly E-mail me at tripxyde@hotmail.com I will happily send you a ready-made letter of apology]

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