Jin Akanishi-Eternal

Jin Akanishi sings Eternal.

Perlas ng Silangan Festival March 5-6 at Bantayog ng mga Bayani Q.C.

The Partido ng Marangal na Sambayan (PangMasa) will be holding the Perlas ng Silangan Festival on March 5 and 6, 2010 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Memorial Center, Quezon City.  This is the opening salvo for a series of events that will culminate on Earth Month 2010. 

The Perlas ng Silangan Festival's primary objective is to consolidate and solidify:

1. Like-minded Filipinos who are yearning for genuine change, and moving towards the vision of a New Philippines;
2. Artists, musicians, performers who would like to sing, dance, and perform for New Politics and the New Philippines;
3. Products and services that are aligned with the vision of a New Philippines, highlighting ecologically-sound businesses as well as indigenous and cultural arts and crafts among others;
4. Initiatives that are currently doing the work within PANGMASA’s 6 Pillars of GINHAWA (Integral Sustainable Development) –

• Eradicate Poverty and Enhance Quality of Life
• Advance Moral and Effective Governance
• Uphold the Integrity of Creation
• Build Partnerships for Social Justice (Societal Threefolding)
• Promote Holistic Education and Inner Change
• Mainstream Visionary Initiatives;
  

5. This venue would also present the life and works of Nicanor Perlas, presidential candidate and bearer of New Politics, and especially how he can fuse all the initiatives to bring it all together in the context of a New Philippines.

The VISION of PERLAS NG SILANGAN is to  raise the Filipino identity and well-being. 

By celebrating our inherent talents, art, culture and land with its abundance we make more Filipinos aware that there is great pride in being Filipino! And more importantly, we do have the will and the capability to make our nation new and whole again.

There will be a bazaar and exhibit, forum, performances, "jam sessions", healing/ health activities, film showing, picnic and a Perlas Concert Jam. 

Exhibit
1. Sagip Pasig
2. Partido Kalikasan
3. WWF 
4. Peta 
5. Waldorf 

Bazaar
1. Reading room
2. Gold in Grass
3. Luntian Bags  / Indigo Baby
4. Flower Depot
5. Green Care
6. Baybayin Crafts

Talks 
Ka Leon Peralta - Anti-trapo Movement
Sagip Pasig
Bonifacio Comandante - Inventor of Sleeping Fish
Roy Cabonegro - Partido Kalikasan
Leonarda Camacho - Linis Ganda

There will also be yoga sessions by Ananda Marga and "Sa Bai," Baybayin ng Silangan (local taichi).

Bands/Performers
Joey Ayala
Sidhi (reggae band)
and many more.

Please see the general program below:

Day 1, March 5

8:00 – 9:00                 Registration (Exhibitors/ Bazaars)

9:00 – 10:00               Opening program of Perlas ng Silangan Festival & Opening of Exhibit and Bazaars

10:00 – 12:00nn         Yoga

1:00 – 2:00pm            Lecture: Wellness/ Health

2:00 – 4:00                 Dance Jam

4:00 – 6:00                 Drum Circle and Earth Dance

6:00pm                       Forum: 6 Pillars of GINHAWA

9:00pm                       Closing program for Day 1

 

Day 2, March 6

8:00 – 10:00am          "Sa Bai" / Chanting / Tai Chi 

10:00 – 12:00nn         Word Jam (Rap, Spoken Word, Poetry Reading)

1:00 – 3:00pm            Film Showing: Perlas Documentary

3:00 – 6:00pm            Forum: 6 Pillars of GINHAWA

7:00pm                        PERLAS JAM 2010: A Concert-Jam for New Politics           

Ticket price is Php10 for students, and Php20 for professionals, to cover for venue expenses.
 
This is a consciousness project of PANGMASA, and it is also a fund-raising project to help PANGMASA and the general public to support Nicanor Perlas' bid for the presidency in May 2010.   
 
To participate in any of the activities,please get in touch with Nick Perlas Volunteers:
 

Janneke “Nex” Agustin
Head, Events & Education
PANGMASA VP for Operations
CP# 09162486592 / 09202654130
nexagustin@gmail.com
 
Shiela Castillo
In-Charge of Special Events
CP#09228248482
shiela_rc@yahoo.com
 
PANGMASA Headquarters
Unit 4, the Merchant Square Bldg.
1386 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave, corner
Mabolo St., Quezon City
Tel.No: (632) 4669520
Telefax: (632) 7229524

Celebration: Canada snags gold for men's hockey at Winter Olympics

The one event I waited for during the almost three week Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010- Men's hockey! Sunday,February 28,2010, Jin Akanishi was singing in Tokyo at the last show of his 21 days 32 shows Star Live You&Jin solo con. In Taiwan, Autumn Concerto's last episode with VanNess Wu and Ady Ad in a passionate kiss got televiewers glued to their sets. And over at Vancouver, Team Canada and Team USA battled it out for the gold in men's hockey.! Canada scored 3-2 over USA in Overtime with Sidney Crosby delivering the winning puck in the goal score. O Canada! eh!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/ice_hockey/news;_ylt=Ap0TcRxvKj7yy5GaP6N2Aputcrl_?slug=ap-hko-canada-us&prov=ap&type=lgns

Why Team Canada won!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/ice_hockey/news?slug=jp-hockey022810&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-closing_pix_tv_graphics&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Nicanor Perlas- Global Online Protest to reinstate Perlas as Presidential Candidate

 

22 December 2009

Press release from Team Perlas 2010

HISTORICAL GLOBAL PROTEST LAUNCHED URGING COMELEC TO REINSTATE PERLAS AS

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

1290 Individuals from 44 Countries Respond to Support “World’s Most Promising Green Candidate”

Compares Perlas with Nelson Mandela and Al Gore and Claims Perlas Presidency Will Benefit the World

The efforts of Nicanor Perlas received a tremendous boost today as 1,290 individuals from 44 countries, urged, in a rapidly growing global campaign, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to reinstate Perlas as one of the official presidential candidates in the 2010 national elections.

This marks the first time in the history of Philippine politics that the world has taken up a protest action against COMELEC even before the start of the country’s presidential elections.

On December 19, 2009 six individuals from Germany and the United States of America sent out an “Acion Call: “Nick Perlas, world's most promising green candidate, blocked!”at http://apeopleforperlas.ning.com/profiles/blogs/action-call-nick-perlas-worlds. In just three days, 1290 individuals, responded with strong messages of support for Perlas. A significant number of the signatories had known Perlas in one of the latter’s keynotes, seminars and workshops given in over 26 countries around the world.

The petition appealed to the world: “Perlas is the winner of the Right Livelihood Award, often called the “alternative Nobel Prize,” and is one of the best qualified candidates to lead a nation since Nelson Mandela or Vaclav Havel. An environmentalist and sustainability leader in politics, he is certainly the equal of Al Gore.”

Reacting on the disqualification of Perlas by COMELEC, the petitioners promised to make COMELEC know that “the world is watching”.

“THIS IS A REAL BLOW TO ONE OF THE MOST HOPEFUL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PLANET TODAY. A world-class social visionary who has devoted his life to understanding and furthering the path of healthy social development in his country, often at risk to his own life, is being removed from consideration because he is supposedly not serious. In fact, he is too serious. PLEASE READ FURTHER AND THEN TAKE ACTION TO LET PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS KNOW THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING!!” [Emphasis in the original.]

Many of the signatories reacted saying they were “shocked”, “appalled” and “horrorified” to the news that COMELEC had disqualified Perlas. For example, Francq Mariam, France, wrote:“I am shocked to hear about opposition to such an indispensable and urgent project as is Nicanor's! More people like him and the world would be a very different place to be living in with more respect for fellow human beings and for the environment!”

They affirmed the outstanding and “extraordinary” qualifications of Perlas as a presidential candidate, as “serious player in the world stage”, and even compared him with the early Barack Obama. Geseko Von Luepke of Germany wrote: “Nicanor Perlas - as Barack Obama - shows that the future leaders will not come from wealthy classes but from civil society. Let Nicanor run!”

Similarly, Wilfried Bohm of South Africa, appealed to COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo to restore Perlas in the list of candidates for the 2010 election and compared Perlas with Nelson Mandela, global icon of democracy and former President of South Africa. Bohm argued that he had heard Perlas speak in South Africa and had been following the work of Perlas ever since. To his “mind there can hardly be a more suitable candidate for the highest office in your land. We have been blessed by Nelson Mandela; the Philippines also deserves a leader of the highest moral standing and vision.”

Martin Silvan of New York even wished Perlas, because of his “high moral standards” and global reputation . . . “could run for President of the USA and be our leader”. Daniela Masaro, Canada, added: “Any country in the world would be fortunate to have Nicanor Perlas as president.” Esther Tamm of Germany echoed the sentiment of Masaro: “Mr. Perlas is a person of high character . . . . I am very impressed by looking at the accomplishments of this candidate! My country would be happy to have such a candidate.”

Signatories also pointed out to COMELEC that a Perlas presidency would have beneficial impacts in the world. Frances Tagg of the United Kingdom wrote: “I urge [the COMELEC] to reconsider your intention regarding . . . Perlas whose integrity and earnest political will promises to inspire the world well beyond the Philippines”.

Many others echoed this sentiment. An anonymous signatory from New York wrote: “I have met and listened to Nicanor. He is internationally recognized as someone highly qualified to meet the challenges of today's global issues. He speaks to the minds and hearts of many and spans the generation gaps. There are few who have this kind of leadership ability. Please approve the candidacy of Nicanor Perlas, for the Philippines, for the world. . . . “

In addition, his participation would enhance the reputation of the Philippines in the world. Christian Egge of Sweden elaborated: “I know Nicanor Perlas. Not only the Philippines - the world needs people like him. It will be an honor for the Philippines to have him running for presidency . . . . “.Michael Schreyer, Germany, warned what would happen to the country’s reputation if Perlas is disqualified. “The COMELEC decision is for people in democratic countries totally not understandable. COMELEC should change their decision as soon as possible otherwise I can not see Philippines as a democracy.”

They also urged COMELEC not to interfere with the people’s rights to choose their own candidate. Thomas Autenrieth of Germany encouraged COMELEC not to “de-democratize” the Philippines. “Let the people decide and don’t decide for them.”

Some used stronger words: Laura Langford Schnur of the US slammed the disqualification of Perlas by COMELEC as “a blatant announcement to the world of corruption in the existing traditional political establishment!”

“This is a very welcome and totally unexpected development. The reputation of Comelec is rapidly deteriorating once more, this time at the court of world opinion,” remarked Perlas. “They can reverse this and support the yearning of Filipinos and the world for new politics by restoring my rightful place among presidential candidates in the 2010 national elections. Then we can usher in a new country and help create a better world.”

Perlas encouraged Filipinos to read details of the thousands of supportive comments in the website of the global campaign at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/let-nick-run.

Yesterday, Perlas filed his 48-page legal motion, backed by over 120 pages of supporting facts. Perlas demonstrated in great detail why he should not be disqualified. Among others, Perlas showed to COMELEC that he had a real, tangible and factual capacity to wage a national campaign.

Bon anniversaire mon chou chou Kimura Takuya

November 13,2000 Friday

木村拓哉 Takuya Kimura

誕生日おめでとうTakuya Kimura Otanjyoubi Omedetou or Happy Birthday in kanji

Otanjyoubi Omedetou Takuya Kimura. Happy 37th birthday to the sexiest man in Japan for 14 consecutive years. Says who? Who says that Takuya is Japan's sexiest man? Only Anan magazine the prestigious widely and wildly circulated magzine that surveys its readers and non - readers both men and women everywhere to find out who among Japan's male idols is the sexiest, most huggable, most wanted to be boyfriend , most popular and every other imaginable catergory.Watch him in this video http://kenshingurl.multiply.com/video/item/10

Takuya must have been first in line when God gave out sex appeal. I love this guy. I love his voice, his face, the way he moves, everything about him. Takuya Kimura was the one who drew me into the blackhole of japanese entertainment  first as an actor and then as a singer with the jpop group SMAP.He is truly the king of japanese drama or jdorama, his dramas getting a high viewership and rating every time they air. He has won countless times as best actor for  drama. His agency, Johnny Jimusho also known as Johnny Entertaiment or JE ran by the formidable Johnny Kitagawa, refused Takuya's nomination for best actor for the movie Love and Honor in 2007. The very first drama I saw of Takuya's was Good Luck about pilots and service crew of an airline in Japan. Takuya in a pilot's uniform with aviator sunglasses is a knock out. His acting was perfect, very natural. This was followed by Engine  where he was paired with the beautiful actress Koyuki of The Last Samurai fame. He was a race car driver with a heart of gold who helped orphans. Meltdown. I have to thank my very young friend and mentor Dra. Kristine Tan who was an intern at that time as she held my hand as I gingerly stepped into this fascinating alternative universe called fandom. My mom and I were confirmed korean drama addicts then, but I temporarily said good-bye to kdrama and hello to jdorama.

Then there was this 2004 HK movie of Wong Kar Wai that premiered at the Cannes filmfest, where Takuya had a double role as the Japanese boyfriend of Faye Wong (another actress I love) and as Tak the passenger on the train to 2046 and back. He hardly had any speaking lines in the movie but his subtle acting mostly with his eyes and those kissing scenes got me hooked. And so I found myself watching as many of his dramas and he has loads and getting into the world of SMAP.

Before he became an actor he was a singer and still is with SMAP, the creation of boy band impressario Johnny Kitagawa. Takuya entered Johnny's Entertainment (Johnny Jimusho) at 12 and last year was the group's 20th anniversary. they celebrated with a concert for six days at Tokyo Dome and concerts at other venues across Japan.

Takuya 's acting and singing and dancing is always intense and passionate. He was a low level samurai in the 2007 movie Love and Honor, one of the 47 loyal ronins or masterless samurai in Chuushingura , a young Oda Nobunaga the 16th century warlord, Japan's youngest Prime Minister in the political romance drama Change. That is one political drama I wish our politicians would watch, it pits the traditional politicians against the idealistic young leaders of Japan. and I love this hosto turned genius role in Mr. Brain where he solved seemingly unsolvable crimes.

Bon anniversaire mon premier chou chou sur l'agence Johnny Entertainment. Vous cette trop smexy et sympa et tres joli. Bonne sante et gros bisoux. Alors, c'est tout et merci bcp.

Stalking Mr. Socrates

Stalking Mr. Socrates

On the summer before my 12^th birthday, we got shipped off to San Jose for our annual summer vacation. That was the summer that Tito Nap passed away and we had to attend his funeral. Right after that, Mama and Papa were off to some conference in Geneva. That was the summer I had the mumps. I walked around the house with some dreadful violet pigmented medicine below my jaw line. All the boys avoided me for two weeks. They told me they wanted to have children when they reach adulthood. I was a complete pariah for a couple of weeks of my 2 month summer vacation. To make matters worst, my hair caught fire from some candle during the funeral procession .

That was also the summer I woke up in the room of my Mamang Jo and Papa Ling, where I slept and saw this horrible headless apparition coming towards me. I screamed but no sound came out and the next day I completely lost my voice. I tried to make Manny, my favorite cousin, and Raffy admit that it was just a trick but to no avail. That was the summer I was on the verge of teen hood. That was the summer I fell in love at first sight with my second cousin Dave.

I was already a budding stalker at 11. Early in the morning I would take the tricycle to Tito Angeling’s house and they would feed me breakfast or give me some powdered orange juice to drink. I would leaf through Dave’s yearbook , look at his medals for academic excellence or just hang on to every word my uncle and aunt would tell me about what a great son and student he was. Sometimes, Boy his younger brother who was about my age would take pity on me and actually come out and talk to me. I would go through some of Dave's more erudite term papers with high scores in red that his parents kept. There was a thesis on Socrates which I devoured in its entirety when deep in side me I asked who the heck is Mr.Socrates.

In the meantime, Dave would take his time waking up and grooming, after all it was summer vacation. When he finally emerged from his room, there was only enough time for him to practically gobble up his breakfast, and wave a good bye as he headed off to the plaza to meet his barkada. I didn’t know any better I was still a child after all and I was more than thrilled when he just said hello to me. I didn’t know then that love was returned by the object of one’s affection.

I would then go off to the beach with my cousins , ate halo halo with ube ice cream and corn flakes at Cindy’s or just hang around the gasoline station or ice plant that various aunts and uncles owned. In the afternoon, I would pester Manang Cora to take me to the basketball court near the church to watch the older boys including Dave show off their dexterity shooting hoops to the delight of girls their age. I would take Gani my youngest brother and Jay my cousin who were toddlers and the same age. They were so cute that the girls would come to us and actually pinch their cheeks. I was such a pest I had to admit. And Dave completely ignored my existence. Well not really, when Manang Cora was around he would sort of wave his hand to acknowledge our presence.

Summer ended and we went back to Manila, sunburned and brown from days spent at the beach, chubbier from all the good food served by indulgent relatives and filled with happy childhood memories. And I thought, so much for unrequited love, although I didn’t know then it was that.

Years later when I was about to enter college, Manang Cora and I went to Quiapo on an errand and I saw Dave. He looked very bohemian, like any college student activist of his age and time,with longish wavy hair . He was even more handsome than I remembered. We exchanged shy greetings and all I could do was sigh. By then, I already knew that love was more often than not returned by the object of one’s affection. And I already read up on Mr. Socrates who told his chelas centuries ago, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Good Evening Mr. Samurai

KONBANWA SAMURAI SAN (GOOD EVENING MR. SAMURAI)

I saw it the moment I entered the living room, proudly displayed where you can’t miss it, above the western style sofa which was oddly out of place in the Japanese setting. Nicely framed, its lavish hilt reflecting the light, was a katana, a magnificent samurai sword, in its scabbard. I dared touch it. I felt it was calling my name.

No one minded as I gazed at it imagining swordfights in the moon light. I imagined talented actor Hiroyuki Sanada in Twilight Samurai as Sebei Iguchi preparing his short sword for his task to kill a fellow samurai who refused to commit seppuku. The western sofa, the samurai sword, the Japanese décor gave the room a surrealistic atmosphere. “Ikea meets Takashimaya”, I said to myself.

It was my first night at my Japanese foster family’s home in Moka City. I left my dusty shoes in the getabako, the shoe cupboard at the entrance neatly aligned facing inwards. Entering a Japanese home, I learned was literally like stepping up and leaving the shoes was symbolic of casting off the worries and troubles.

“Douzo kudasai” I was ushered in. My otosan (father) and okaasan (mother) introduced me to an assortment of relatives and neighbors who waited for us to finish our orientation at the community gymnasium.

”Minna san kon banwa”- Good evening everyone. “Ogenki desu ka?” How are you? “Hajimemashite” –Nice to meet you, I managed in Japanese. I’ve picked up the tradition of bowing in greeting and Ioved it.

Already my foster mother was pointing out to all and sundry how long my legs were compared to my torso. I could hear tsk tsking and mmm,mmming all around and saw nodding of the heads. I heard kirei desu – very pretty, and fancied it was me they were talking about. Then they were gone.

“Tabemashou”, Let’s eat! We sat down on tatami lined floor facing a low table for a typical Japanese dinner. “Itadakimasu”, we said to ourselves before eating. My foster mother served me first, then her husband and kids before she ate. It was pleasant. Conversation was a lot of one syllable Japanese words mostly oiishi desu (delicious), arigato gosaimasu (thank you), hai (yes), iiee (no), nani desu ka (what) and aa sou desu ka? (Is that right?) on my side and bowing of heads.

Thank goodness I had the foresight to go all the way to JICA, the Japan Information and Cultural Agency to attend Japanese language classes for a semester. Of course, it helped that Japanese exchange students from Sophia University frequented our college and the university across the creek.

Moka City was in a rural prefecture outside of Tokyo, far from the Keio, Waseda, Sophia and Tokyo University crowd we have been hanging out with for the past three weeks. Our group of exchange students took the Shinkasen Super Express, a bullet train with a maximum speed of 285 km/hr.early in the morning. At the city’s gymnasium earlier that day, we laughed when someone asked if we lived in trees back home. Toshi-chan, Maryjoy’s totemo kawaii (a real cutie) foster brother said the chap was just kidding and asked the question for some laughs.

Terri told me later that my 8 year old foster sister spoke like a yakuza. Maybe she meant it wasn’t polite language but yakuza seemed more exotic. Hahaha. I am still wondering how she figured that out. Was it because the little girl said baka baka ne (stupid or fool) repeatedly?

Anyway, after dinner my foster mother led me to the bathroom and gave me a good scrubbing then told me to soak myself in the wooden hot tub. I obliged, soaking away the tiredness of the day. Tomorrow, we were going to go strawberry picking at a nearby farm. I immersed myself in the hot tub, not knowing that I had the privilege of first dip. The rest of the family will soak in the tub later when I had finished.

My mind drifted off to the events of a week ago when Marissa and I were at the ryokan, a typical Japanese inn near Kyoto. We decided for the heck of it, to do what the natives did. Adventures in the Japanese bath, we called it. We went to the communal hot tub, but no one was there. There were loads of people in Tokyo when we decided to soak in the hot tub at Nihon Shinpan.

We washed ourselves very well then soaked in the tub, watching a few pubic hair floating in the murky water. We laughed knowing the high temperature killed any germs around. We heard the rustling of leaves outside the room. Through the open window we glimpsed the shocked face of a Japanese guest in a yukata, peeping with great curiosity into the room. He hurries away. We relaxed. Then,we went back to our room where everyone else was either playing mahjong or sitting together for warmth keeping out the nippy spring night air. Soothed by the warm bath, Marissa and I drifted off to sleep earlier than everyone else.

But now I’m in Moka City in Tochigi Prefecture, the cotton gin of Japan. I entered my room which was sparsely decorated with a futon and a thick coverlet which I embraced like a love sick lover and swiftly dozed off. I lost track of time until I woke up with a start. I sensed a presence, an undeniable energy lurking in the dark room.

I looked around me and saw in one corner of the room directly across me someone sitting quietly staring at me. I thought I saw the devil, the chap had horns! I closed my eyes again and felt myself starting to hyperventilate, I was trembling. “Oh my God”, I prayed ,”please make this vision that of Shinichi Tsutsumi is one of my favorite Japanese actors, otoko mae ( handsome man) to the max, intense, award winning, brilliant and a serial dater of young women.

I took another peek and this time, I could make out a man in a shadowy costume with what looked liked a scaly armor and something on his head resembling horns. “Ok God”, I bargained “I will make do with an apparition of actor Joe Odagiri and his quirky hair styles in his various films. No, make that Satoshi Tsumabuki, the cho kakkoii (handsome) Jdorama and film actor and one of the handsomest men in my universe.” OMG, did this vision have long hair too? Then, I clearly heard the vision telling me…”Why did you touch my sword?” And pouf, he was gone.

“Was he ninja or samurai? Mmmm,” I thought,” ninjas were cool and supernatural to boot, especially if they look like Joe Odagiri sporting a modified mohawk hairdo as Gennosuke in the movie Shinobi.” But this one looked definitely like a samurai warrior. I drifted back to sleep, safe in my alternate universe, dreaming of Satoshi –kun and oddly enough of angels in kimonos. Next morning I was in the strawberry field picking the largest most luscious strawberries I will ever see in my life.

Sword in the moon and

Samurai warriors dancing.

In my dream,

Angels in kimonos prancing.