We must never forget the Marcos years

Journalist Veronica Pedrosa explores her personal history and how it intertwines with Imelda Marcos and the history of the Philippines.

It's a good refresher for those who 'miss' martial law  and who have forgotten what it really meant, as well as an essential video for the young ones who were born after Edsa.

Once you get past the laughable, pitiable figure that Imelda now cuts, remember that she is one half of the conjugal dictatorship, the dictatorship that brought the Philippines deep into a hole out of which it still has not extricated itself.

No one from the Marcos years has ever been punished. Most of what has been plundered has never been returned to the Filipino people. Nor have any apologies ever been made.

Cut to several decades after the fall of the dictatorship and you have the Ampatuans massacring the Mangudadatus and their protective cover of journalists in the worst politically-motivated crime in Philippine history and you'll see that not much has changed: people in power still do what they can to maintain it -- and while justice grinds inexorably slowly, no one has been convicted two years after the deed.

Now the Marcoses are back in Ilocos, Leyte and the Senate. They are on  a slow but sure ascent up the halls of power, all the way to the presidency perhaps. If it happens, it will be because our collective memory has failed us and because our tendency to forgive has outweighed our desire to punish those who have done wrong.

Let us never forget.

Charice sings All by Myself on Glee

I don't have a better video yet -- so just close your eyes.(All the better to appreciate Charice's version of this Celine Dion hit song.)




Somehow though, while her singing is, as always, great -- I can't help feeling that this is no big deal.

Yes, she's the only Filipino to make it onto a current hit TV show ever (correct me if I'm wrong).

Yes, she's probably the biggest news coming out of the Philippines after Manny Pacquiao.

But really, "All by Myself" is the kind of song that EVERY Filipina diva sings. For us Filipinos, that song is normal. Heck, that kind of belting is normal too. Just watch any singing contest whether it's on TV or in a Sunday fiesta in the boondocks and you'll see what I mean.

This is not to put Charice down but rather to emphasize that there is no dearth of singing talent in this country. We have many more like her waiting to be discovered, polished and projected onto the world stage, if only we had enough Oprahs and Ellens to thrust them to.

For now though, we have but one: Charice Pempengco. Great work, Charice! You make us proud. May we have many more like you.

RPG Metanoia : A Must Watch Movie

Just came from the movies with my 8 year old daughter and I must say that RPG Metanoia is quite possibly one of the best Pinoy animated films ever made. (That's an exaggeration, I know.)

Plot-wise, it's your classic "kids saving the world" story. But the way it's put together is quite fun. Since I don't want to spoil it for you, you'll need to watch it to see what actually happens.

What I'll do share is how I enjoyed seeing Pinoy life captured on film and immortalized for this generation's kids who need to see things such as the protagonist doing his household chores (seriously, how many kids nowadays still have these?) and Pinoy games like patintero, sipa, tumbang preso, piko, taguan, agawan base (do YOU remember them?). An aside: it was also amusing to see the hero ride a tricycle and to have daing na bangus for dinner! Oh, and I almost forgot, his weapon of choice is a -- get this -- a yoyo (which depending on who you believe, is an ancient Filipino weapon.)

The animation is quite good -- which is to be expected since a lot of foreign companies actually outsource their animation to the Philippines and have been doing so since the 80's. What I didn't expect is the sheer number of scenes in the movie -- that was a lot to animate, and they didn't scrimp or cheat their way out of it. (They took four years to do it, incidentally.)

So having said that, my point is: watch RPG Metanoia with your kids. Buy the merchandise when it comes out. These kinds of efforts have to be supported.  (If you need more convincing, read this review   and this one as well.)

With a film of this level and quality coming from Ambient Media and Thaumatrope Animation, it's safe to say that I wait with bated breath for their next outing. Hopefully, it doesn't have to take another four years.

What do you want to thank Cory for?

Rest in Peace, Cory Aquino. 1933 - 2009

We have much to thank Cory for. The obvious one and the one which will be spoken and repeated over and over in the next few days will be for her role in the restoration of democracy.

But that, while important and central to the story of Cory's legacy, is meaningless to a generation of youngsters for whom Cory was just another president.

So, let's fix that.

Help me list down the things that Cory did for you and me in the comments section below:

1. She made me believe in the power of people to decide on their destinies.
2. She showed that it is important to stand up and fight for your beliefs.
3. She showed me that it is important to follow the Constitution.
4. She showed that it is possible for a leader to give up power with grace and with humility.
5. She showed the army and the police that it is possible to gain credibility and the people's respect.
6. She showed that a woman can be a leader -- and a good leader -- of this country.
7. She broke up the country's monopolies and allowed free market competition.
8. She made the Philippines a country that we were proud of.
9. She showed that while everyone around you could be corrupt, you could still maintain your political purity.
10. She showed that the presidency is just a position -- and that leadership and the people's respect is not dependent on your having it.

What do you want to add to the list?