About James Soriano and Pointing Out the Obvious

English signs in the mountains... hmm

This Manila Bulletin article by James Soriano has created a firestorm. Some say it's arrogant, offensive and not at all appropriate for August, our "Buwan ng Wika". Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with what Mr. Soriano wrote. He's just sharing about his experience and opinion about our two official languages.

We need to accept the fact that if you want to get ahead in this country, you have to at least be able to speak good English. It's the language of higher education, government, business and law. There's no getting away from it and it's counterproductive to yell at anyone who prefers English over Filipino. We can't help how we were raised and educated.

I have to admit I find it easier to read, speak and write in English--not that I'm elitist or anything--but because I grew up speaking Bicolano with English as my second language. Although I speak Tagalog very well,  it's still hard for me to appreciate Tagalog books, teleseryes, movies and sermons (I had to find an English-speaking church). But it doesn't mean I'm not a proud citizen of this country.

I'm sure the Filipino language will be just fine. I have two nieces who didn't learn Tagalog until they were in school (which is strange, sorry ate B) but they learned fast from their classmates. Filipino is here to stay and so is English and we just have to live with that.

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About Miley Cyrus' kiss stunt...

not cool

"Hannah Montana is gross!", spat my horrified 9-year-old goddaughter and avid "Hannah Montana" fan Lizzie after watching Miley Cyrus' performance of her new single on "Britain's Got Talent". Lizzie could not yet separate Miley from Hannah so her shock was understandable.

Stunts like this fake lesbian kiss has become a rite of passage for child stars (hello, Britney and Christina) trying to make the leap into adulthood. I happen to think Miley Cyrus is talented enough that she doesn't need to do this...

I know she's growing up and is eager to leave her wholesome G-rated Hannah Montana character behind but I hope she doesn't go too far too fast. No matter how "edgy" she wants her new grown-up image to be--fact is, she still has impressionable little fans who get confused and weirded out by simulated girl-on-girl action from their favorite Disney Channel star.

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Poor Fergie...

life is not a fairytale

Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson, Duchess of York apologizes for her "serious lapse in judgment" after being caught on film accepting money in exchange for access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew. This latest Fergie scandal is so far removed from the promise of the spectacular "fairytale wedding" I goggled at as a little kid, it's mind-boggling.

Watching this video of the sting taken by the tabloid News of the World just filled me with incredible sadness for her. I know her fairytale didn't work out, but to be so desperate (and drunk!) to do something like this...

She looked so defeated, it's quite tragic. I've long ago outgrown my fascination with royalty, but I can't help but wish that Fergie, one of the princesses of my childhood, could still salvage a future from the wreckage of her not-so-fairytale past.

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Little girls and "Single Ladies"

The girls in this video are exceptionally talented dancers but I don't think 8 and 9-year-olds should bump and grind like this; furthermore, something's really wrong if your little girl is dressed more sexily than Beyonce.

I don't understand how the parents didn't see the inappropriateness of this and would excuse it as being "taken out of context". I mean your kid is gyrating like a stripper for all the world to see and you think it's "very normal"? Nuts!

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Manny Villar's C5 vs. Noynoy Aquino's SCTEX

compare and contrast

The election is just a month away and predictably, accusations and counter-accusations from various politicians running against each other are flying right and left. Philippine politics is crazy and gets even more so come election time, I mean they are even taunting each other to get psychological tests now (maybe to prove who's crazier?)

Politics here is not for the faint of heart. So what's happening now as the election approaches is just the usual. Anyway, my FB friend Caloy shared this video of Winnie Monsod's analysis of Manny Villar's C5 road extension project and Noynoy Aquino's SCTEX.  Watch this and decide for yourself.

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