Puerto Princesa Needs Your Help

THE RACE IS ON to declare the next Seven Wonders of Nature where one billion people are expected to take part in this rare event. Our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River is one of the twenty-seven finalists included in the competition. 

I shamefully haven't gone to the Underground River but for now I'll contend myself to promote and push for the distinct recognition where the Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, and the Galapagos Islands are among included in this prestigious list.

I'm voting non-stop until September 25. Will you do it too? Globe, Smart or Sun users can text “PPUR 15” to 2861 to vote.

(Note: Nugglepurl said the Puerto Princesa Underground River topped the list in the preliminary voting held last in 2009. Thank you for the image above too.) 

If you want to get more updates with posts like these, follow me in Twitter @mabuhay1521. I regularly post personal and profound topics of my people, my heritage, my nation in this blog. If you like more of these stories please don't forget to comment and/or suggest topics we can feature. I am also regularly looking for other Filipino bloggers from other places to post here. If you're interested, I want to know you more. Let's work together to bring out the best of The Philippines. Mabuhay!

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Jan-Jan's Culture reflects our nation's culture: Trash in, trash out

I REMEMBER seeing this dance called, "Otso Otso," which was popularized by Bayani Agbayani and Vhong Navarro back in 2004.Kids started to dance the routine. Mommies started to dance it, cousins started to teach their nephews - it was the craze.

It was the same dance I saw in the clubs in California, USA. It's called a 'Booty Dance' (Butt Dance) where men can pair up behind women if you know what I mean (see picture above). "Why are people dancing this?" I asked.

Years past and more dances came up, "Spaghetti", "Bulaklak", "Hotdog" dance and the likes came out. Children start dancing it more with their parents, uncles, aunts and neighbors. People started dancing it in birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, and in television shows. It's the "in" thing. 

In retrospect, I wouldn't be surprised if Jan-Jan Estrada's parents (Willing Willie fame) didn't think it was bad because we've tolerated it. We've allowed it. It was the culture and it was FUN. With the entry of pornographic indie films in 2008, the balance between right and wrong was now blurred. Strip club dancing has become the norm.

That blurring caused all these confusion and people can't now know the difference between 'lewd' and appropriate dance. Willie Revillame didn't think it was wrong. How can he discern?

To those who understands, I'm not about to go Taliban on this topic but our culture needs to be more discerning. Not every thing that we see is right and I hope we can teach our children values so they'll grow up right.

You probably heard the term trash in, trash out. It simply means if you let trash in your life you will definitely stink. What happened to the March 12 incident in the Willing Willie show was a stench that the public couldn't bare any longer. It's good that we're cleaning up.

If you want to get more updates with posts like these, follow me @mabuhay1521. I post my personal views on politics and those who are in power here in Bad Politics. I hope my views contribute to the protection and maturity of the our leaders, the people, and my nation.

Posted via email from Bad Politics

There's Power in Numbers

I'M PROUD of what we were able to do. The ideals, the values, the integrity, and the persistence made for a perfect ingredient to a age-old question of Filipino island-mentality. Bloggers and the online community, the consumer advocates, those who have love for values united to take one stand pouring out our effort in the social media tool Facebook. An environmentalist, volunteer, and blogger, Froilan Grate opened up a page and immediately people poured into this page. Thank you Kuya Froi. Bloggers used their respective blogs as platforms to voice their strong opinion against the show, Willing Willie. This became the catalyst for change. Who would've thought that our voice could put a powerful television producer like Willie Revillame go off the air. 

Our cause has life. Our cause transcends boundaries. Our cause is God-fearing because we cannot allow individuals trample on what's dear to our hearts. ". . . a move whose impact is unprecedented in the country’s history of consumer activism." was how the Philippine Daily Inquirer described the phenomenon. 

THANKS

Thank you God for teaching us the value of working together and helping one another.

Thank you media for hurling the message further up the stratosphere. 

Thank you Jollibee for your courage. Thank you Del Monte and P&G for making the difference. Thanks to the rest of advertisers like Unilever, Cebuana Lhuillier, and CDO for respecting the voice of the online community. I hope Suyen Corporation (Bench), Liwayway Marketing (Oishi), SMART Communications, Technomarine, Belo, and the others understands that marketing is not all about money and "positioning." It's branding. By not acting fast enough you will realize that branding is not just about logos. It's what you stand for. 

Thank you Jim Paredes, Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Leah Navarro, Bianca Gonzalez, K Brosas, Agot Isidro and Tuesday Vargas for making a stand. 

Thank you bloggers and Facebook peeps. I hope we enjoyed this power called unity. I hope we can do this again for matters that's important in nation building and instilling family values. Banding together makes a huge difference. It propels our nation to greatness. There's power in numbers. 

Thank you MTRCB, DSWD, CBCP, UNICEF and other civic, government, and NGOs who have thrown their support to this cause.

Thanks to my wife who has given growth to my love for family and love for our son, Isaiah.

 Mabuhay to all bloggers who participated in this effort to put Child Exploitation and Child Abuse in the limelight. 

Our cause is not yet over because two weeks after, TV5 will decide if it will revive Willing Willie in the face of these situation.

Posted via email from Mabuhay

The challenge Monique called on artists

"They hired him for ratings and money at the expense of the integrity, dignity and self-respect of the most vulnerable in our society."

via tonyocruz.com

I APPLAUD Monique Wilson's stand on Jan-Jan Estrada's issue, the 6-year-old traumatized boy on TV5's Willing Willie show. She called on fellow actors to draw the line and make a stand against shows (taped or live) that exploit and abuse children.

Her stand - and the likes of Lea Salonga - gives a tinge of hope that, no matter how influential Willie Revillame is with his wealth, there are artists who will stand up to fight children's rights. Where is Piolo, Sharon, Regine, John, Kris, Sarah, Bea, Ruffa, DingDong, Marian, Sam, and the rest of the television and movie actors? What's their stand? Where do they stand? Are they allowing this to happen? I challenge them to do what Lea and Monique did.

I know it's difficult - given their relationship to Willie - but why not issue a press release supporting respect for children? They don't have to mention Willie but they should support children who are being abused blatantly in society. This matter happened in their own backyard and they should keep the trash out of their community.

Posted via email from Mabuhay

Why boycott CDO?

In an official statement, CDO Foodsphere, Incorporated would rather continue their business with Willing Willie out of good faith. In contrast, Jollibee Food Corporation, pulled the plug from Willing Willie taking a chunk of advertising money from the embattled prime time show.

With CDO it's business as usual taking TV5's good faith promise. They took TV5's word that the show will not be the same again. Who are they fooling? Would Willie Revillame become squeaky clean like Piolo Pascual overnight? We know Willie. We know that advertisers make its research before they decided to buy commercial and promo spots in the show. We know CDO's market relies heavily on the popularity of Willing Willie's format. 

So for CDO to say, ". . . TV5’s WillingWillie has, no doubt, jolted us out of our comfort  zones as an advertiser in the top-rating show," is not true. Child exploitation shown on national television should've angered the executives of CDO but it would rather continue to fund this show out of "good faith" because they "are not in the position to pass judgment on the incident."  

CDO saw Jan-Jan's tears and dance, got jolted but they cannot pass judgment on the show. What values does CDO speak of now?

I am boycotting CDO products because I am against child exploitation and abuse and they continue to turn a blind eye on 6-year-old Jan-Jan Estrada's situation.

Posted via email from Bad Media

Why boycott CDO?

In an official statement, CDO Foodsphere, Incorporated would rather continue their business with Willing Willie out of good faith. In contrast, Jollibee Food Corporation, pulled the plug from Willing Willie taking a chunk of advertising money from the embattled prime time show.

With CDO it's business as usual taking TV5's good faith promise. They took TV5's word that the show will not be the same again. Who are they fooling? Would Willie Revillame become squeaky clean like Piolo Pascual overnight? We know Willie. We know that advertisers make its research before they decided to buy commercial and promo spots in the show. We know CDO's market relies heavily on the popularity of Willing Willie's format. 

So for CDO to say, ". . . TV5’s WillingWillie has, no doubt, jolted us out of our comfort  zones as an advertiser in the top-rating show," is not true. Child exploitation shown on national television should've angered the executives of CDO but it would rather continue to fund this show out of "good faith" because they "are not in the position to pass judgment on the incident."  

CDO saw Jan-Jan's tears and dance, got jolted but they cannot pass judgment on the show. What values does CDO speak of now?

I am boycotting CDO products because I am against child exploitation and abuse and they continue to turn a blind eye on 6-year-old Jan-Jan Estrada's situation.

Posted via email from Bad Politics

Fergie: 'Lego of my dress!'

After Lady Gaga's shocked the MTV crowd with her block of meat haute couture, Fergie made heads turn when she came out to play at the Kids' Choice Awards wearing a dress made out of Lego Blocks. Hey, I think I see the price tag from Toys R' Us. Hahaha. Just kiddin' Fergie. Honestly, Michael Schmidt did a great job piecing this together. 

Posted via email from Born 1973