CARLOS RECOMMENDS!!

MANILA TRANSITIO 1945

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

In February of 1945, the City of Manila was completely destroyed in a battle between the United States Armed Forces and the Japanese Imperial Army. An estimated 120,000 people were lost and our beloved City of Manila was never the same again.

Join Intramuros Administration, Carlos Celdran and multi media artists Tad Ermitano, Donna Miranda, Mabi David, Kawayan de Guia, Malek Lopez, Caliph8, Ringo Bunoan, and several other artists as they celebrate Manila - the city that was and the Manila that will be.

It will be an evening of performances, music, vintage photographs and films, video art, installations, open mic, food, drink, poetry and dance within different sections of The Fort Santiago. Guest readings will be performed by Roselyn Perez, Peter Serrano, Jake Macapagal, Jamie Wilson, Aida Santos, Bambi Diaz, Janna Abrera and Mrs. Lourdes Montinola.

Flamenco music provided by Yerbaguena. Murals and visuals at the corner of Anda Street and Arzobispo provided by Pilipinas Street Project.  Thank you Filipinas Heritage Library for access to the Memorare 1945 Photo archives.

The symbolic release of 120 illuminated spirit lanterns into the night sky by the gates of Fort Santiago will cap the evening.

Reasonably priced Food and Drink (a lovely buffet and beer) will be sold in Fort Santiago before the event. Or bring your own bottle of wine/picnic and BANIGS/Floor mats. It will be lovely night to enjoy the gardens of Fort Santiago with friends and reaquaint ourselves with the ever loyal and noble city of Manila.

Be sure to clean up any mess you may leave behind and BRING FLASHLIGHTS!

This multi-media event is FREE!

Keep posted to this page for updates on this event.

WHEE! WHEE! AND UGH! UGH!

Today, while on my way to the shooting of an-as-of-now-undisclosed product endorsement in the Batangas area, I received a really great text from one of my peeps over at the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network. Apparently, this March 3, Tuesday, at 3:00PM, Reproductive Health Bill HB5043 will be introduced to Philippine Senate for the first time ever! And with the backing of Senator Biazon no less. Things are moving really fast. Let's hope the momentum keeps! Happy Advanced International Women's Day, everyone!

But on a more somber note. Au Revoir! to the location of many happy 1970's memories with my grandfather and cousins. The chunky Locsin Magnolia Dairy plant (now Nestle), where I once scarfed down Merry Widows and Strawberry Parfaits, is going to be torn down by Robinson's Land Corporation for a - gasp! Gated Community. Jeez, Really, like Manila needs another one. I can only hope that the Gokongwei family does a good job in making the architecture of this new development enhance or improve the area. But judging by the "designed-by-a-team-of-chimpanzees" monstrosities that are Robinson's Galleria, Robinson's Place Malate, and Robinson's Pioneer/Cybergate, I wouldn't place good money on it.

UGH. UGH. UGH.

This was sent to me in the mail. Gosh. If there was just a way that I could sabotage this. If I was really evil, I would pelt these asses with eggs and throw wet towels from windows as they FRICKING CREATE TRAFFIC ON A FRIDAY MORNING ON PAYDAY IN ORTIGAS!!! Gee. Blocking roads is not a good way to get supporters, guys. Really, God save these retards from being run over by the 70% of the nation who disagree with them.

Subject: JERICHO MARCH FOR LIFE - Friday, February 27, 2009, Ortigas

Greetings of Christ's love and peace!

February is Pro-life Month. In connection with this, Pro-life Philippines will celebrate Respect and Care for Life Week by holding a series of activities for the whole month. In our effort to continue saving lives and the family from the evils of contraception and abortion, we will conduct an activity called "Jericho March for Life" on February 27, 2009 at 8:00 am. We shall go on a prayer rally to manifest our love for a truly pro-life and pro-family society, and as a peaceful way to appeal for a stop to the promotion and distribution of contraceptives. We know the physical, social and moral ills that contraception brings to any society – hence, this will be one of our efforts to keep the same ills from destroying our society.

I am inviting you, your families and other loved ones to join us at the Jericho March for Life. Assembly is at St. Francis Church beside Shangri-la Plaza mall at 8:00am, with a short message at 9:00 to send us off on the prayer rally at 9:15. Holy Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Church after the event at 11:00.

I look forward to your presence as we all stand up for life and the family!

Respectfully yours,

MS. MARITA WASAN

Exec. Director, Pro-Life Philippines

JERICHO MARCH FOR LIFE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2009

Program of Activities - Assembly: St. Francis Church, Mandaluyong

8:00 am Registration of participants

9:00 am Short talk about the activity

9:15 am Start of March for Life

10:00 am End destination: Millennium Place, Meralco Ave. near Julia Vargas, then back to St. Francis Church

11:00 am Eucharistic Celebration – St. Francis Church

Route:

From St. Francis Church, right on Lourdes St., then left on San Miguel Ave. then straight along ADB Ave.

Turn to Opal Rd. Make a left U-turn from Ruby to Garnet Rd., then left on Onyx Rd., right on Meralco Ave, stop at Millennium Place.

Afterwards, turn right on along Julia Vargas Ave., walk straight along bank drive. From Bank Drive make left turn going back to St. Francis Church. You can park your car or vehicle at Megamall or Shangri-la mall parking lot/parking bldg.

Participants are urged to bring:

Candles and Rosary

Banners of Schools/Parishes/ Organizations

Placards bearing pro-life slogans. Make them big enough to be seen. Make sure that placards will not use offensive words.

In the spirit of solidarity, bring your own baon ( including water ). And please bring extra snacks and water for anybody who needs. Most especially for our brothers and sisters from the poor pro-life communities who expressed their commitment to join and will send big delegations.

Who are invited:

Young people, families, urban poor groups, parish organizations, ordinary parishioners, teachers, lawyers, doctors, clergy, religious and all well-meaning citizens who are committed to the promotion and defense of human life. Make them first be aware of the significance of what we will be doing. Thank you!

OH WOW...

Coolness! I just read the headlines of the Inquirer today. It seems that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines "walked" out of Philippine Senate and REFUSE to take part in any further talks regarding Reproductive Health Bill 5043. They say that the lawmakers had no intentions of ever taking into account what they had to say, so why should they even bother participating. Oh my gosh. What a bunch of brats.

Well. GOOD! The CBCP is finally learning it's place. They never should have had a say regarding this issue to begin with!

So all I can say here is this: "Yo! Bishops. Don't let the door hit your asses on the way out, Ok?You should really start concentrating on other more important things like saving souls, teaching morals, feeding people, weaning yourselves off allowances made through gambling (PAGCOR), and restoring your crumbling heritage churches. Those issues alone should keep you busy for years.  You priests should really stop meddling in things you know nothing about: Like SEX."

Sound bite by Senator Biazon:

“This is an affair of the State. The State must respond to the needs of the people,” he said. “If the teachings of the Church are against the use of modern artificial contraception, the Church should touch base with their flock. They should go to the pulpit, and teach. I hope they’re fair when they do this.”

Fair? Ha. I doubt it. So let's stay vigilant, y'all. We are one step closer to having the bill passed. 

It's been a good weekend.

WHEE! WHEE! WHEE!

Well, whaddaya know?  I am on BBC.  They just aired "Sex and Religion in Manila" on their show, "Explore" and it seems that I am the opening act. Cool. It was done a few months ago. I think it's cool how their host, Seyi Rhodes, pronounces my name as "Keldran" instead of "Seldran" and it seems that I had a bit of a pot belly back then. Hmm. Note to self. More sit-ups. Part one above.

But I digress. Anyhoo, I'm really thrilled that RH Bill 5043 is finally reaching international attention. I was afraid that our campaign might lose steam but this feature has given our movement confidence and the strength to forge on until EVENTUAL victory. But even if we are making leeway, on a personal level, I'm totally frustrated about the many delays hindering the bill's immediate passage. Hmph! It seems that BBC thinks our population explosion and lack of women's health services are reaching catastrophic proportions, but Philippine Congress does not. It's really enough to make you heave. Part two above.

So watch this special, get angry and prepare to spit on the face of any politician who is stupid, myopic, and selfish enough to oppose the RH Bill. Part three above.

That's all for now. See you all at Transitio Manila 1945 on March 7 at 9:00pm. Cheers.

WALA LANG...

Oh my god. Moymoypalaboy, the same guys who brought us the brilliant Volare, now bring us the theme song from the hit Mexican Telenovela, "Marimar". I almost snorted my morning coffee out through my nose. Move over Charice Pepengco, Ellen and Oprah should have these guys as guests. Please note mother figure in the rear cooking dinner.

And while we are on the topic of Filipino dinners, apparently, male model, adobo lover and Filipino enthusiast Travis Kraft has a new DVD out.  Check out his hilarious "American Adobow" video here.

SEE YOU ALL AT ANABEL'S ON WEDNESDAY...

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted a study on December 27-28, 2009 among 600 men and women of reproductive age in six Districts of Manila. The study entitled "SWS December 2008 Special Omnibus Survey on General Health in Manila (MLA 12-08)" sighted that the top 10 major problems in Manila are unemployment, illegal drugs, robbery/hold-ups, poverty, garbage disposal, corruption/public morality, high prices of things to buy, transportation/traffic, housing problems, and disasters, whereas 50% of the respondents considered their state of health as fair. But majority of Manila residents (95%) say that the City of Manila health centers should further improve its services. The survey also revealed that 88% agree that Manila should have a policy on reproductive health (RH) while 86% say that there should be a national law on RH.

To find out more about this latest survey by SWS, the Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc., (The FORUM) invites you to join us for a PRESS CONFERENCE on February 18, 2009 at Annabel's Restaurant, Tomas Morato in Quezon City from 10am to 12 noon.

Hope to see you there.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

Let me introduce the new advertising campaign to push the passing of The Reproductive Health Bill (HB5043). This ad, full of statistics and real testimonials is our "pambato" against all the lies and pseudo science that the Couples for Christ folk et al have been stuffing down our throats.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!!

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MAN...
1 Giant Leap Project:
"What About Me?" - Exclusive Screening
Feb 13, '09 7:00PM
Mogawai Cinematheque
Unit 62&63 Cubao Expo, Gen Romulo Ave.
Ticketprice: 150 pesos (drinks and snacks included)

Following the success of their first double Grammy nominated film & album, "What About Me?" is the latest offering from 1 Giant Leap. This visionary project took Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman to over 50 locations as they explore through music, the complexities of human nature on a global scale, and aims to reveal how we are all connected through our creativity and beliefs, but most of all through our madness. Covering universal topics such as God, Sex, Death and Money, What About Me? features an incredibly diverse collection of collaborators from Noam Chomsky to Will Young, Maxi Jazz to Tim Robbins, Billy Connolly to Michael Stipe, Eckhart Tolle to Baaba Mal, among many others. So head on out to Cubao Expo, take your friends, have a drink, throw yourself on the cushions, relax and enjoy 90 minutes of amazing images, music and thought provoking revelations.

WALA LANG...

IS IT JUST ME?
It looks like the lunar year of the Earth Ox going up in flames and it hasn't even begun yet. A fire in China, a fire in Korea, and a fire in Australia. All in the same week. I see a trend. Wonder if this is an omen for something... Photo above: North Tower of CCTV (The unopened Mandarin Oriental Beijing). Thank you Ai De Ke for the photo.