I got tired of blogging after running out of motivation and ideas. On top of that, a lot of other stuff have taken up my time.

I still miss the glory days of this blog when it won an award and topped rankings. But, there’s always a time to enjoy as well as a time to let go.

So, to those who walked with me on the road of blogging, thank you. For those who followed the blog faithfully, a bigger thank you. I may (or may not) be back. I leave you all with this:

Bye!

BTW, you can catch me on Facebook, Plurk, Twitter, Friendster. But, rarely do I update Plurk and Twitter. Goodbye.

What is the difference between unethical and ethical advertising?  Unethical advertising uses falsehoods to deceive the public; ethical advertising uses truth to deceive the public.

~Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 1964

You can compare them to prawn shells. To bag checks before entering a mall. To a celeb’s bodyguard. They get in the way of what we really want. I’m talking about TV ads.

Television, after all, isn’t as much about entertainment as it is about making money. To bring in revenues to fund shows we watch, a network sells airtime to companies where they can market their product. Basically, it sounds like a good deal for the viewer. Brain-mushing, attention span-cutting programs for the rock bottom price of watching commercials from people who want to make money out of their customers.

But, the multi-million enterprise of advertising and marketing has grown into something we hate and use as time for potty breaks in between that show where Simon Cowell eats buffalo testicles while dancing with Jay Leno who designs clothes with Heidi Klum. Not to mention the fact that commercials are either stupid or manipulative.

Take for example the MyJuiz and Champion Detergent stuff. The content of the ad itself has little, if any, relevance to the product it sells. Notwithstanding the dorkiness of the commercials themselves. (I wouldn’t buy anything a rock band promotes. Let alone an amateur kid band.)

There are also those which capitalize on beliefs/ideas/memes to create a half-truth dogma to sell thier products. Like the Ceelin and Bioflu  commercials which scare people using the Influenza A H1N1 virus. Filipino people, there’s a slim chance of it getting here. And its distasteful for people to make such a big fuzz about it just to get people into buying their products.

Last, but not the least, are those ads which put up some sort of image/facade which, they say, the target should imitate. (It requires buying their product) I’m referring to the Colt45 skits. They lead men into thinking that drinking strong beer makes you a real man. Well, I think real men shouldn’t think that being tipsy makes you masculine. Go ask The Little Prince.

Though, these advertisers may be losers for misleading us into products which are, most of the time, worse than they seem; we would be suckers to fall for them. You’re not shallow to fall for some stupid jingle about juice or misinformed to be tricked by those losers.

Contestant #1-  This presidentiable wants to turn this messy country into something like the perfect, little utopia called Itchytown. Turns out, his constituents are itching to brag how much better Itchytown is than the capital.

Contestant #2- He has a lot of love for homeless people. And this time, he doesn’t want to be PGMA’s briefcase-boy.

Contestant #3- His sexuality’s been questioned for his love of pink. But, don’t dare cross that line, or else, you’ll get wet.

Contestant #4- I associate this hopeful with red. Why? Because the blood of a publicist and his driver are on his hands. Plus, he’s been butchering a contender very bad lately.

Contestant #5- An odd one out. She’s the only woman in the group.

Contestant #6- My grandma loves this one. He made the market a better place for her. Plus, he seems willing to ride her home in a pedicab.

Contestant #7- But, if grandma should love someone better, this is the one! Sagot niya pamasahe ng lola! And its for an airplane ride, not a sidecar through the slums.

Contestant #8- Mahal na mahal nitong kandidatong ito ang wika natin. Kahit pa cheesey ang Filipino. Mahilig siya sa balls, rings at curls. Kasi lahat yun meron nung pangalan niya!

Contestant #9- He might be inexperienced, but, he’s certainly holy. If ever he’s disqualified, its because the other candidates can’t stand next to him and not melt out of sin.

Contestant #10- He’s been in the closet for too long and he wants to take over for outgoing owner of the said closet. Maybe he can defend the country even more as a prez.

Contestant #11- I haven’t heard that much of his platforms as a candidate. Maybe he can go head-to-head with #1 and make The Philippines a freeport/beach haven instead of Itchytown.

So, who do you think are these people? Go on, Google’s you’re friend. It won’t tell me if you searched. Though, at any rate, you can post your answer by dropping a comment conveniently there, just a few scrolls below. Let’s help Chairman Melo. Hope you have fun.

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

One should be worried about our, “Pambansang Kamao” and his interest in dipping into the dangerous waters of public office. He was tore in half and went into depression at the time when the nation’s two major networks were arguing over him. From there, we can only guess what kind of emotional whirlpool and distress would sweep Manny if ever he gets into a realm driven by manipulative and educated people we call politics.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. is most likely right when he said that Sec. Raul Gonzales is only sucking up to Pacquiao for endorsement and association. And it probably goes beyond Gonzales. The likes of Environment Secretary Atienza and President Arroyo come to mind.

You’re better of  clean without the dirt of political affiliation written all over you. And like the Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Any person wouldn’t want to be linked to those who are “corrupt” and be identified as one of them himself. Pacman, you’re doing a bang-up job as ambassador of peace and understanding. Let’s keep it at that.

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

-Proverbs 31:29, NIV

That exactly describes what a mother is. If ever the Labor Department should consider mandating wage increases, their first priority should be the mothers. They don’t even get paid for watching the kids, cleaning the house, maintaining the items at home and the most horrid job on earth, changing the baby’s diapers! Not to mention the fact that they do it 24/7.

All the love starts from the womb. She took up the burden of bearing a child mightily all because of love. And she never stopped there. When her offspring was conceived, she didn’t take her eyes off her child. As the child grew older she gave him the guidance that no one can give him. When the child slipped, she picked him up. In light of the child’s mistakes, she knew how to forgive.

She works her tail off to feed the family. If not, she’s the house’s all-around fixer/cleaner/*insert job here* of the home.

After a day’s work (which seems to never end), she sits down with her family. She provides wisdom to the son, how only a mom can. She becomes the best friend her daughter can ever have. She makes her man feel incredibly special. Though, she can’t replace anybody, she is definitely irreplaceable.

She’s the under-appreciated, taken-for-granted, but, very much deserving mother. And we love her just the way she is.

This post is for the BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD, my mom, ELYNN S. AMPOL! I want the whole world (or my readers) to know how great you are! Of course the best mom for you is your mom, please excuse me for this.

Ikaw yung nasa cartoon. Ma, hindi ka pwedeng pantayan o palitan!

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

There have been rumors that certain stars have plans to participate in the 2010. Take Kris Aquino for example. She was interviewing Willie Revillame in her show, Showbiz News Ngayon, and asked him if he was planning to run for office in the 2010 elections. Willie replied with a sharp “no,” and posed the same question on Kris. Surprisingly, she said yes and even specified that she’s aiming for Vice President. But, after the show, Kris said it was a joke. But hearsay continues to circulate about Willie, Kris and even Edu Manzano considering positions in various elected offices.

So, should celebs stop converting themselves to public servants? Well, we can’t generalize that. Some have turned out to be fit for politics. Like, say, Loren Legarda. But there are also those disappointing wallflowers who do nothing but flash their expensive teeth. Although, they do, like any other citizen, have the right to run for senator, president or whatever.

The question lies in each of us. Do we vote them because they have a name? Or is it because we know we’re capable? You see, an election is just the votes of the citizens. What the choice defines, the polls churn out. And the same goes not just for star candidates, but, also those who really align their work with politics. So, its not a question of whether or not they should run. Its a matter of whether or not we’ll be responsible voters.

Note: I’m 14 and not yet a registered voter. This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

“The situation can be reversed if, through education, people can be taught once again to love their neighbors and commit themselves to promote justice, peace, human rights, and the common good and allow themselves to become a vehicle for social transformation.”

-Nandy Pacheco
Founder, Ang Kapatiran

A silent but beckoning force for the 2010 elections is a party-list named Ang Kapitaran or Kapatiran sa Pangkalahatang Kabutihan (Alliance for the Common Good). Founded on August 19, 2002 upon the belief that politics and government in the Philippines needs tidying up. They were accredited by COMELEC as a political party in 2004 and they intend to present a list of candidates from President down to the lowest post.

It seems like they’re eating more than what they can chew, being a relatively new party with no conspicuous source of funds. But, their objective for the country is a noble and impressive one. They plan to empower the underprivileged, the elderly and the young. Some of it’s platforms are as follows:

1. To dismantle the social structures that glorify materialism, hedonism, vice, sex, violence and corruption and replace them with structures that encourage and recognize virtue, responsibility and achievement.
2. To accord the highest priority to programs and projects for the underprivileged, the elderly, the prisoners, disabled veterans, and the youth.
3. To revive public confidence in government and its officials by personal example.
4. To promote transparency and public accountability in government activities and transactions, reinforce vigilance, against graft and corruption, abuse of authority, and waste in all the three branches and at all levels of bureaucracy, professionalize the criteria and processes of appointment, performance, evaluation, and promotion in the civil service system.
5. To enforce the liquidation of cash advances to public officials within the fiscal year that they were received.
6. To disallow elected as well as appointed public officials from writing regular columns, from acting in movies and television shows, from acting as commentators or anchor persons on radio and television, and from appearing on radio and TV commercials and print advertisements.
7. To put an end to the unwholesome practice of setting up billboards or similar media in public places naming the public official responsible for the project described in the billboards.
8. To abolish the “pork barrel” system in any form and regardless of its name.
9. To put an end to the practice of providing armed bodyguards to candidates for public office and to elected as well as appointed public officials except the President of the Philippines.
10. To abolish the death penalty.
11. To put an end to the use of force or violence to extract confessions from an accused or suspect.
12. To enforce the Constitutional ban on relatives of incumbent public officials up to the third degree from seeking public office simultaneously or succeeding the former.

Again, its a commendable, but, formidable goal to achieve. Because, they are yet to gain public trust and votes. But, if ever they succeed in gaining public trust and successfully pursuing those goals in office, it would a better country for Juan dela Cruz.

And, they shouldn’t be the only ones aiming to achieve the said goals. All officials, elected and appointed, should push for the welfare of the public that they serve and the cleanliness of the system they run.

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

“Arbitrary detention is a possible charge against the complainants but we are still studying that.”

-Alfred Molo, Legal Counsel to Failon

First off, this post will be short and sweet. I’ll be preparing the next posts to compensate for my indefinite absence (maybe until Monday) for the an eye operation to remove my cataract. If you’re new here, please excuse me.

Moving on, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the obstruction of justice cases against Failon and five othersin regards to the Trina Etong death. After so, his camp is contemplating the possibility of pressing charges against the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit for their unlawful arrests and detention.

Now, what do we get from this? Its just a simple call to everyone, especially those who enforce the law, to be cautious in all their actions. When people,  let alone those wrongfully arrested, are maltreated by the guardians of order, who would we now trust in maintaining peace?

Ted says that he hopes the National Bureau of Investigation will find out the truth on what really transpired between his wife and a gun.

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

The Philippines today practices a judicial system where courts are controlled and verdicts are handed down by judges. Judges appointed by officials. That causes a compromise for the fulfillment of constitutional provisions.

One such way is how the sovereignty and power of the people should be what illuminates the authority bestowed on public servants as provided by the Article II, Section I of the Constitution. Bench trials, most importantly, are prone to the vicious fangs of influence and bribery. A judge can be easily coerced into decisions by higher-ups who assign them into the courtroom. Or by rich defendants using cold, hard cash. Or by cold-blooded killers who can threaten them and their families’ lives.

Now, how can we remedy this? How do we empower the ordinary, but sovereign, people to be able to hand down decisions of grave importance? How do we avoid the intimidation of those who handle our cases? How do we serve justice equally for men of influence and men of slums? How do we put the judicial system back into perspective?

By adapting the Trial By Jury System.

In using this, a panel of registered voters, people of the private sector, are convened into two major types of juries. The Grand Jury, which decides whether or not there is enough evidence to indict a defendant and try him in court. And the Trial Jury, which decides on cases which are, under the privilege of law, triable by jury.

That implementation “is the only anchor yet imagined by man that can hold a government to the principles of its constitution” in Thomas Jefferson’s words. When you think about its merits, you will realize how it could be the next best thing to happen to the Philippines since independence.

Since these juries work independently and may not be influenced by people in power like judges or public officials, they have the total confidence and ability to indict or convict anyone from the lowliest of hobos, to the highest of authorities. This ensures the principle of justice being blind. Power-blind, money-blind and color-blind.

The jury system itself is independence. It breaks courts from the bondage of corruption. It frees the people, allowing them to use the power their Constitution has given them. After all, bullying a 12-man jury would be more of a longshot compared to paying one judge for a verdict in your favor.

A big plus is that this raises civic participation in the legal system. When people decide trials, they get involved. And involvement is what uplifts people to a level where people in the seat of power are aware of the capability of the masses. This is real democracy.

A body in our country is currently lobbying for an initiative by the people to implement a Grand Jury System here called the “People’s Jury Initiative.” They are preparing a national election/plebiscite, targeted for 2010, to put the system into action.

Of course, jury trials, like any other method created by man, would never be flawless. As former US President Jimmy Carter says,

“The law is not the private property of lawyers, nor is justice the exclusive province of judges and juries. In the final analysis, true justice is not a matter of courts and law books, but of a commitment in each of us to liberty and mutual respect.”

Justice starts with our own works, and how we treat other people. But, in the end, we can likely put our faith more confidently in a system presided over by our peers rather than bureaucratic puppets. Would you agree?

Note: This blog has been nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week. Your votes would be deeply appreciated. You may do so by going here and tick “foolishsociety” in the poll found at the sidebar. You can vote once daily. Thank you so much, dear deader!

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