Psyched 100 Days Before the Philippine Elections, May 10

I'm totally psyched this week because of my social media class at Georgetown. I'm ready to learn from my professors and begin hands-on application of the various social media platforms online. We're required to write 18 blog posts and I'll be posting my blog assignments on the The Living Rice in the next three months or so - please pardon me if you see entries that are not related to what I usually post on this site (requirement lang po sa eskwela).

Would You Allow a Bronze Statue of Barrack Obama in the Philippines?

I posted a question on Facebook that I want to publish here on the blog. Apparently, our neighbors in Indonesia are debating if a bronze statue of a young President Barrack Obama should remain displayed on Jakarta’s Menteng Park. Obama was known to live in Jakarta when his mother married an Indonesian man in the late 60’s. The statue was unveiled near the elementary school Obama went to and was intended to inspire young Indonesians to dream big. Opponents of the statue which are mostly organized through social media argue that a statue of a native Indonesian should be honored instead of Barrack Obama who is an American. They also claim that Obama has not yet played a significant role in helping Indonesians nor has any important connection to the country except for knowing a few Indonesian words.

Epigenetics and Sin

TIME magazine's cover story on the new science of epigenetics examines evidence that environmental factors like diet and stress can make an imprint on ones gene's without changing the DNA, and can be passed down from one generation to the next.

I still can't wrap my mind around the possible implications of epigenetics on the "I was born this way" argument, commonly heard from many claiming genetic predisposition for behaviors such as homosexuality and sexual infidelity. But the article reminded me of the numerous Biblical warnings about sin and its consequences passed down from fathers and succeeding generations.

Are You Smarter than Flipper?

If tuna is the “chicken of the sea,” dolphins may soon be labeled the “non-human person of the sea.” According to this report, scientists are suggesting that because dolphins are so bright, they should be treated as “non-human persons" and qualify for "moral standing as individuals."

Sex DOESN'T Sell

I found an interesting article from the American Psychological Association's (APA) journal, released late last year, that proves sex in the movies doesn’t sell. According to their research:

Pray for Haiti

Raw footage of the earthquake that hit Haiti found on Youtube recently reminds me of the 7.7 Richter scale earthquake that devastated the northern Philippines in 1990 that killed more than 5000 people.

Marriage Contract Expiration Date: Deal or No Deal?

GMA 7 news reported that Filipino feminist group, 1-ABAAM were proposing a 10-year expiration date on marriage contracts and failure to extend the contract automatically makes the marriage null and void (click here to see video report). Though I know the effort is a long shot from ever happening, the subject can still be considered alarming since proponents and their liberal agenda made it to prime time local news.

Adapting from an article I read, the assault on marriage  "uses the rhetoric and language" of choice and the marketplace to make it sound attractive and convenient to everyone. The market rhetoric is a subtle disguise on a group's extreme liberal agenda and their goal to create the perfect independent woman. This worldview is deceptive and dangerous to Filipino families.

What do you think will happen if marriage simply become a "contract" and stopped being a holy matrimony? Its anything goes! Both parties are free to negotiate and demand terms of their contract. Instead of the solemn vow made before God and the community, it becomes a "business deal" where the main rule is to get what I want and get the best end of the deal. It will weaken important values such as generosity and self-sacrifice essential to a healthy family. Because it will encourage selfish actions and destroy families, expiration dates on marriage contracts is a "NO DEAL!"

Lessons from Kimmy Dora

The last few days of my recent Christmas vacation was spent catching up on the Filipino movies I missed in 2009 with my wife. One flick that I made sure I get a glimpse of was the Kimmy Dora. An indepedently produced comedy which stars Eugene Domingo, Ariel Ureta, Dingdong Dantes, et al. The positive reviews the film got commending the lead actor, script writers and director were well deserved. The film was well done and was truly entertaining.

"Superstition on the Richter scale"

Thanks to my friend Vicki, I stumbled upon this article from Cito Beltran. As I mentioned on my previous blog post, popular ang mga psychic at manghuhula ngayong bagaong taon and Beltran shares what to him really brings true fortune to his family. His suggestion number 4 is really the key and meat of the entire article. Gusto ko yung commentary nya about the Filipinos at ang sinabi nya na true source of good fortune:

What the Future Holds

In demand na naman ang mga psychic at manhuhula tuwing new year. Sa hirap ng buhay, madami ang handang gumastos kapalit ng assurance na madaming swerte ang dadatuing sa buhay nila. Very comforting malaman ang future but dangerous din.