Of Hypocrites, False Prophets, and Apologists.

Friends, please indulge me, but I really had to write something about this.

Of course, we all know how the "People's Champ" (ironic, isn't it?) has single-handedly gave his Senatorial bid a major blow that I wish he could really recover from. Mas nakaka-knock-out pa ito sa lakas ng sapak ng naka-drugs na Juan Manuel Marquez. Yung "masahol pa sa hayop" comment niya about LGBT.

"Bakla ka ba? Bakit ka affected na affected?"

Someone actually asked me, bakla ba ako? Bakit ang passionate ko sa LGBT issues? Why am I so riled with Manny?

The answer is no. I am not gay. In fact, I am completely straight. But I am not numb either. I have a heart for people regardless of what their sexual orientation is. I love my friends who are from the LGBT community. Bilang Katoliko, naniniwala akong hindi maaaring ipilit ang Same Sex Marriage sa simbahan, pero sa pamahalaan, para magkabatas na magsasaligal ng kanilang pagsasama, why not? If the country is indeed matured to accept such things, eh di go. Di ba? Simple.

Hindi mo naman kasi kailangang maging bakla, tomboy, bisexual, o transgender para maintindiihan na sila din ay nagmamahal. Naglalayong magkaroon ng kasama sa habambuhay. Humahanap ng magiging katuwang sa pagtanda. Kahit sabihin pang "hindi dapat" ang pakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalake o babae, hindi naman umiikot ang pagsasama, ang commitment, ang kasal sa sex. Hindi ito ganung kababaw. Ang katunayan, napakaliit na pursyento nga lang ng pagsasama ito dahil andyan ang pera, ugali, pamilya, at marami pang bagay ang involved sa pagmamahal.

While I welcome opposition to same-sex unions, I won't and will never tolerate bigotry. Especially, from popular people who aspires public office. Also, me really being riled up against Pacquiao is not just about his same-sex comments alone. It is more than that.

"Bakit nga ba ako burat na burat kay Pacquiao?"

While his latest comments really got me all-fired up, it is not that alone. Kahit nung pagpasok niya nga sa PBA, okay lang eh. Okay lang sa akin na 11th overall pick siya sa 2014 PBA Draft kahit napakadaming ibang players na mas deserving sa kanya sa posisyon na iyan. Okay lang din kahit na mabibilang mo sa daliri ang mga larong ni-coach at pinaglaruan niya. Kahit pa mas maganda pa ang averages ng mga bangko at banban na PBA players sa kanya. May nag-pick naman sa kanya eh. Tapos, yung Mahindra (sayang Mahindra Enforcers na sila ngayon. Mas bagay talaga kasi sa prangkisa yung "Kia Carnival" eh, kasi mukhang karnabal naman talaga yung prankisang yan) naman ang mukhang tanga sa pagpick sa kanya bilang playing coach di ba? Pera ba natin yung ginagastos nila? So okay lang yun. Okay lang kahit na may iba pa ngang mas deserving na hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon kasi, naareglo na lahat.

Okay na yung naka-ilang albums siya na isinulat ni Lito Camo eh. Kahit mag-Diamond record pa yung mga yun, matatanggap ko eh. Kinakanta ko din naman yung "Para sa 'yo, ang laban na 'to", "Laban ng bawat Pilipino" at tuwang-tuwa ako dun sa pagkanta niya ng "Sometimes When We Touch" sa International TV. Aba, #PinoyPride pa din yun.

Pero lahat ng mga ginagawa niya sa labas ng boksing eh karima-rimarim.

Political Butterfly/Trapo from the beginning

It is about him flip-flopping to the most influential political party in a given time (KAMPI in 2007, Nationalista Party in 2010, Liberal Party after winning the election, and now, under UNA). Di siya political butterfly eh. Mas bagay ang Political Fly. Tama, Fly as in Langaw. Kasi ang dinadapuan niyang partido at ang nililipatan niya ay puro taeng partido. Partido ng mga trapo na nagkukuntyabahan lahat para nakawan tayo. Nagki-cringe pa din ako pag naaalala ko kung paano niya ipagtanggol sila ex-PGMA, Si Manny Villar, Si Noynoy Aquino, at ngayon, si Binay. O di ba, karimarimarim?

It is about him attending only 4 of the many total sessions the 16th Congress had. Pucha, ang dami-daming sessions nun tapos buo sweldo niya? E ilan na ba ang naipasa niyang batas? Sabagay, si Chiongbian naman yung tinalo niya. Isa pa atang kurap yun. Pero kahit na. Sana man lang, inaral niya muna ang pagiging mambabatas. Pero pucha, English at voice lang talaga ang napagyaman niya. Di mo naman kailangan ng talino para maging mambabatas eh. Ang kailangan po at kaalaman at tunay na puso sa mamamayang pinaglilingkuran mo. Pero si Manny Pacquiao lang yata ang pulitikong unang takbo pa lang, trapo na.

O tapos ngayon, tumatakbo siyang Senador? Dyusme, eh wala din naman siyang alam doon. Sana man lang yung staff niya madaming nagagawa para at least, may accomplishments siya. E kaso, nganga. Tapos gusto niya maging Senador pa?

Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo. Ipokritong Totoo

And then this "masahol pa sa aso" issue popped out. In the very same verse he used to slam the LGBT community, 1 Cortinthians 6:9, it said "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men" malinaw na malinaw ang sinabi. Hindi lang ang mga lalaking nakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalaki ang "hindi magmamana ng kaharian ng Diyos". Hindi lang sila. Kasama dun yung mga "sexually immoral and 'aduterers'. Teka, ilang beses nga bang nahuli itong si Manny na nambababae? Saka kung literal ang pagtanggap natin sa bersong ito sa Bibliya, eh di yung mga babaeng nakikipagtalik sa kapwa babae e okay lang? So yung mga bakla lang talaga ang problema? E bakit idinadamay mo yung mga lesbians? Sabi mo kasi yung mga lalaki sa lalaki at babae sa babae e masahol pa sa hayop; e lalaki sa lalaki lang naman ang binanggit ah?

The "wise man" also claimed that there is no homosexual activity in animals. Pero madami nang nabanggit na sources that it does exist. So, si Manny ang tama pero yung syensya hindi?

Tapos, tutal moralidad lang naman ang usapan, yung nanay ni Manny, di ba hindi naman hiwalay yun? Eh bakit may boyfriend na bata? Di ba adultery din yun? Sabagay, dun nga pala nagmana ng ka-ipokritohan si Manny. Remember the bakla-pills statement ni Mommy D?

Separation of the Church and the State

O, hindi ito yung issue ng INC ah? Ang tunay na ibig sabihin nito ay hindi dapat nakikielam ang simbahan sa mga bagay tungkol sa pamahalaan. Sabi nga sa Mark 12:17 that "Then Jesus said to them, 'Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.' And they were amazed at him."? The laws of the land, and the state itself should never be controlled or influenced by a particular faith. 

Sabi nga sa 1987 Constitution, the highest law of the land, "Article 2, Section 6; The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable." Moreover, "Aritcle 3, Section 5, "No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights."

Malinaw naman. Hiwalay ang estado at relehiyon. Bilang public servant, dapat ihiwalay ng mga pinuno natin ang personal at pangrelehiyon na opinyon nila sa paggawa ng batas at pagtupad ng tungkulin. Tama na ang mga bulaang propeta sa Senado. Andun na nga si Tito Sotto di ba? Masyado naman sila dadami doon.

Tama na ang ka-ipokritohan. Dapat magmahalan.

Yun ang simpleng bagay na dapat maintindihan ng mga apologists ni Pacman. At ng mga ipokritong kung maka-invoke ng Bible verses eh di naman maisabuhay ang natatanging aral na iniwan sa atin ni Hesukristo: Ang mahalin ang kapwa gaya ng pagmamahal natin sa sarili, lalo't higit sa Diyos. HIndi kasi natin dapat hinuhusgahan ang kapwa natin. Dapat tinatanggap natin sila. Di man tayo pare-pareho ng paniniwala, pare-pareho naman tayong haharap sa iisang Diyos.

Manny is our country's gem. A National Treasure. That is why it pains me so much to see him destroy and take away every reason to revere him. To look up to him. Sana malinawan na itong mamang ito.

A "Media" Sticker Isn't and Will Never Be a License for One's Douchebaggery on the Road

Earlier, a Corolla Altis almost hit me as he was trying on the blind side (right side) of the road as it narrowed for there was a truck in front of him that obviously, he didn't see.

I honked my horn on him as he almost hit me. I honked my horn not because I didn't want to be overtaken. I mean, can a jurrasic, 2.5-liter, non-turbocharged, 4D56 engine win over a car with Dual VVTi?

And so he stopped and we went on with driving, thinking that was the end of it. What happened next surprised me. He overtook (on the right side of the road again) aggressively and went in front of us. I knew then that he was up to something. But whenever I changed lanes to avoid him, he would follow me and even brake checked me a couple of times.

I know Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek when somebody slaps us. But I was not ready to let this pass. You may condemn me for what I did next but I felt that I had to.

I patiently waited for an opening to overtake him. And then, I sideswiped him, as if to show that "you're messing with the wrong dude". What he did was try to overtake us again. I did take his lane and brake checked him a couple of times. That was when he probably realized that this is not a battle he'd win.

What I did was wrong, moronic even, as I knew I never had to stoop down to his level. But I just felt the need to put this "media person" in his place. That there is someone madder, with more douchebaggery in him that could take him on, any day. I was secretly waiting for him to hit our van so I could report him to the authorities.

I am not recommending for anybody to do what I did. I am not even proud of what happened. But if that puts some sense to a douche who thinks he can bully his way on the road to lowly, old vans, or any other vehicle for that matter, he is wrong. It is about time that we send stupid and super arrogant drivers like this out of our roads.

P.S. I was not able to get the license plate of the Silver Corolla as I was driving. And I am not proud of what I did. I am just sharing as stories on the road like these should be shared. And something that you guys should avoid.

Epekto ng eskandalo

Kaninang umaga, shocked pa ako e. Ang unang naisip ko, "Bakit naman kasi hindi nag-iingat e!" at "Ayan kasi, pamilyadong tao, gumaganun pa!" 

Pero habang umuusad ang araw naisip ko ang mas malalaking issue. Anung mangyayari sa pamilyadong taong sumusuporta sa kanyang pamilya? Ano na ang mangyayari sa pamilya nila? Paano na kaya yung mga batang sasalo sa sakit ng galit at puot sa pagitan ng ina't ama nila? 

Paano na kaya yung pobreng babae? Ano na ang kinabukasan niya at ng pamilyang pinapakain niya? Hindi na ba siya maaaring maging katanggap-tanggap dahil sa iisang (kahit mabigat pang) pagkakamali niya?

Sa bandang huli, hindi naman kasi ito tungkol sa mga magkakamali. Tungkol ito sa kahihinatnan ng lahat. Madaling manghusga. Pero di ba lahat tayo pag nagkamali ang unang linya e "hindi na ba ako mapapatawad sa pagkakamali ko?" at "Wala na bang tyansang maitama ko ang mga pagkakamali ko?"

Di ba't malaking kaipokritohan kung itatakwil natin ang mga tao dahil sa mga pagkakamaling maaaring minsan ay nagawa rin natin? (o kahit ibang maaaring kasing bigat na pagkakamali pa)

Sa mga nanghuhusga, sana maisip natin na ang kapatawaran at pag-intindi na maibibigay natin ay yung kapatawaran at pag intindi ring ibibigay sa atin.

Pinipili kong mas umintindi. Ang maawa. Ang maging taong tumatanggap ng pagkakamali. At taong papatawarin kung sakaling magkamali.

Sige na

Siguro nga ay mali

Na ako'y mawili

Dapat nga siguro'y nakita na dati

Na hindi ako ganun ka-lucky.

Pero hindi dapat, walang dapat sisihin

Dahil sa totoo lang, kung tutuusin

Ako mismo, ang aking sarili

Ang responsable't nagdala sa alanganin.

Kaya't ngayong gabi'y ibigay niyo na sa akin

Balikan ang lahat ng mga desisyong ginawa dati

Napakaraming palpak at mga pagkakamali

Hayaan niyo munang ako'y maglunod sa luha't magpakasenti.

Kaya samahan niyo na lang ako

Na maniwalang sa lalo't madaling panahon ay wala na ito

Sakit, kirot, at puot na dala-dala sa akinh puso

Upang ang lahat ng ito'y hindi ako magupo.

Sandali lang po, sige na please

Dahil pagtapos po nito, ako sa inyo'y babawi.

Iyong ala-ala sa aking kama

Heto na naman akong tulala, habang nakahiga sa kama,

Hindi na naman makatulog at iniisip ka.

Binabalikan ang mga oras na kapiling at kayakap ka,

Sinasariwa ang ilang hiram na oras ng saya.

Naghihintay ng mensaheng alam namang di na darating pa,

Sapagka't ikaw ngayo'y nahihimlay sa yakap ng iba.

Iniisip, hinihiling na sana ako na lang,

Ngayong gabi'y malamig, sana'y kayakap ka.

Ngunit ganun nga yata talaga,

Sa sitwasyon nati'y di talaga ako lubusang magiging maligaya.

Kaya eto ngayon ako, ipinagdarasal ka,

Na kung nasaa't sino man ang kasama ay tunay na maging masaya ka.

Ako ngayo'y napapaisip at magdududa,

Ako nga ba'y tunay na magiging maligaya pa?

Pano nga ba mahahanap ang saya,

Kung kaligayahan ko'y ikaw at wala nang iba.

Tayo ay parehong biniro ng tadhana,

Ngayo'y nagsisisi sa mga desisyon at bagay na ginawa.

Mga bagay na kahit anung gawin pa,

Hindi na maibabalik at maitatama pa.

Kaya eto na naman akong, tulala't nakatihaya,

Sa aking kamang malamig at walang kasama.

Iniiisip ng maigi kung paano nga ba,

Hahanapi't masusunpungan tunay na ligaya?

Magpapatuloy bang sa mga hiram at lihim na sandali ay magkakasya?

Hanggang kailan kaya itong puso'y patuloy na mapasasakitan pa?

Kaya ngayon, dito sa aking kama,

Aakapin ko ang unan at iisiping kapiling ka.

Kaniig sa gabing malamig, tunay na nakakapgpasaya,

Kahit alam kong ito'y hindi na ata magiging totoo pa.

Binabalikan na lamang ang saya na kasama ng iyong ala-ala.

Pangarap

Ngayong ako'y hihimlay, papangarapin kita. Iisiping hindi imposibleng maging akin ka. Dun sa pangarap ay tayo ang para sa isa't isa.

At kahit muling magising pa, sa mundong wala ka. Sapat na ang lahat para ako'y sumaya. Sapagkat kahit sandali, sa kasuluk-sulukan ng aking diwa, ika'y inibig at nakaniig. Habambuhay dadalhin, matatamis na ala-ala nung ika'y nasa aking piling.

The First-Generation Mazda 3 1.6S: 10 Years After It's Debut, Is It Still Relevant?

(I am writing another review for our 1^st generation Mazda 3 1.6 as I cringe every time I get to read my older review. Here’s to a hopefully better review.)

The first-generation Mazda 3 was a revelation for Mazda. Unless you’re a car nut, you would’ve probably not known that Mazda produces some of the best-handling Japanese cars in history. However, their rather expensive servicing, unimpressive engine performance and dismal fuel consumption has left the brand way behind Japanese powerhouses Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. The Mazda 3 has brought back the Japanese carmaker to relevance. 10 years after its unveiling, is the first-generation Mazda 3 still relevant?

Interiors

The Mazda 3’s looks, despite its age, still kicks ass. The interior may be simple but its one of the classiest during its time. It is a great place to be in where everything that you need is within reach. Let us not forget that it had great features like a multi-information display, three-cluster instrumentation, rheostat, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls that were only present in more expensive midsize sedans. I even dare say that the car can still hold its ground when placed beside newer car models. Yes, there's cheap plastics all around but it has one of the best laid out instrumentation and interiors in the compact car segment.

The only downside of this car's interior is it's rear legroom. At 5'6", I am not exactly tall. But I feel a bit cramped inside it. People who suffer from claustrophobia will definitely feel a bit ill in the rear seats. Plus, the thud that comes from the closing of the rear doors aren't that reassuring. But you're not supposed to enjoy the car from the backseat anyways because the driver seat is where you should be.

Ride

The 3 still gives its driver a great drive. In fact, it is one of the most, if not the most, fun-to-drive cars in its class. With its 4-wheel completely independent suspension, it absorbs almost all bumps just fine and it grips the road well, making it a joy to throw in corners. The car handles too well that it boosts your confidence while behind its wheel, making you want to drive faster while attacking corners; and that is where the car doesn’t shine well.

The downside? There is too much noise, vibrations, and harshness. While on the road and driving at speed, you'd hear the noise the tires makes as it seem to effortlessly enter the cabin. Mazda could've utilized better use of insulation for the car but that would make the car even heavier. Why do I have an issue of it's weight? I will get to that later.

Performance, or the lack of it

The 1.6 liter 16-valve twin-cam engine with Mazda’s Sequential Valve Timing, or S-VT in Mazda speak, has been and will always be underpowered by its contemporaries' standards. While Hondas, Hyundais, and Toyotas’ 1.6 engines produce a little over 128 horses, the Mazda L6 engine only manages to produce 103. That’s almost 25 horses less against the competition. With a stone-age 4-speed automatic transmission, the car feels heavier and more underpowered. So don’t expect the 3 to win drag races. Sure, powerful engines tend to consume more fuel, but fuel efficiency has not been, and never will be one of this car’s strengths. 

There are other problems with the car too. The base model Mazda does not have ABS, EBD, and it only has a driver-side airbag. Seeing car crashes left and right, you might want to feel safer with your car and you might want to have more safety features built in standard. But if you dig a safer car, then you should have gotten your hands on the pricier 1.6V or the range-topping 2.0R.

There are times when you want to drive and feel the road literally. You want to feel the car take on the road (and the bumps on it), and hear the car go faster. However, the suspension can be a bit on the stiff side for daily use. Plus, the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels of the 3 can be a little too high, making it uncomfortable to drive on the highway. Unless of course, you're a real car nut and you do appreciate these little issues with the car.

Relevant?

Yes the 3 is a very old car, hence its shortcomings by today's standards. Its looks may be a bit outdated, it doesn’t have much toys, it may not win drag races, and it may not be as frugal as its competitors. But if you have a limited budget and you are looking for a nice-looking car that does the job well and brings joy to your face whenever you take on corners, then the first-generation Mazda 3 1.6 is still a good choice for you. And a great car like the Mazda 3 will always be relevant for you.