Ninoy 25th Anniversary

“Ninoy.. Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa” was the battlecry of the Filipinos 25 years ago when Senator Benigno Aquino Jr went back to the Philippines and was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport (now NAIA). His death swayed the 20-year Marcos regime to its downfall.

I was just 6 years old then watching a breaking news about someone who just got shot in the MIA and everyone was saddened about the loss of this man who wore a white dress. I never understood then why this man was heralded as a hero. I kept asking what he did to be claimed as a hero of the nation when all he did was get shot.

Three years later, the whole Filipino nation, rich and poor, left and right, marched down EDSA to overthrow Ferdinand Marcos out of power and dawn a new era of stronger Filipinos led by Corazon Aquino.

We all wore yellow then. Yellow shirts, yellow ribbons, raised yellow banners all in support of the the new found freedom from the tyrany of the Marcoses and their cronies. We gave birth to an era where the voice of the masses is more powerful than the corrupted government.

Truly, of the few Filipinos I admire most, I consider Ninoy Aquino as one of them. For he gave us Filipinos a sense of freedom that we can be proud of.

Twenty five years later, I ask myself, was that freedom worth Ninoy’s life?

For 25 years, the Filipinos enjoyed too much freedom and democracy that people got played for one man’s political greed. For 25 years, the Philippines and the Filipinos never got our act together only to sink further down than what we hoped for.

If Ninoy were alive.. actually, if all our heroes are still alive to sit down and stare at what we’ve done to our country, maybe they’ll be happy to know that they’re no longer alive to see what we’ve done to our country with the freedom that they died for to give us.

Rising oil prices.. corrupt government officials.. terrorism.. rising cost of living.. poverty.. political instability.. diminishing monetary value.. MNLF.. more corrupt government officials. Honestly, would you rather trade your freedom for security?

Now, I may be bumming Ninoy’s 25th death anniversary. But Ninoy, if you are still playing that political chess game with Macoy, why don’t you just put down that board game and the two of you knock some senses out of those who are seated in Philippine power. Because in a year or two, I don’t think there’ll be any more hope for the countrymen you died for.

Family Expectations

Have you ever had expectations from your family that you did not want to even carry at all? Feel like walking away from it? Grover Bradshaw does. Here’s why..

G.I. Joe Resolute

Something’s happening to GI Joe that will make kids (and adults) crap their pants. I’m not talking about the movie. Except that I heard the movie is projected to be a disappointment so I guess it can make you crap your pants too (in a bad way).

So it’s not about the movie. It’s about the new animated micro-series called G.I. Joe Resolute by Warren Ellis.

The PG-13 animated series will be something that will wow Joe fans. Just take a look at this leaked teaser from the recent San Diego Comic-Con.

What’s cool about it? Cobra Troopers shooting live rounds instead of red lasers. Joes taking cover from getting shot (not that friggin brave anymore huh). Snake Eyes slicing and dicing his enemies cold-bloodedly (how cool is it to see him and Storm Shadow fight).

I do hope that this new series will put the Joes back into dominance. I thought the Sigma 6 will help out, but I guess I was wrong. With He-Man and the rest of the Masters of the Universe getting a face lift, it’s just a matter of time that our favorite Joes will have a better toyline soon.

Starbirds

It’s amazing how one of my Singaporean friend don’t know anything about Voltes V. I mean, sure, everyone should have an idea what Star Wars is. But being asian and all, you should know at least about Voltes V, the 70’s Japanese anime part of the Saburo Hatte’s Robot Romance Trilogy.

While growing up, I only got to know of 2 of the 3 Super Robots on TV, Voltes V and Daimos. I like the former because Daimos was just plain irritating whenever the star-crossed lovers Richard and Erika have their moments. The scene would go like this…

Camera 1: Richard running towards Erika yelling “Erika“
Camera 2: Erika running towards Richard yelling “Richard“
Camera 1: Richard running towards Erika yelling “Erika“
Camera 2: Erika running towards Richard yelling “Richard“
Camera 1: Richard running towards Erika yelling “Erika“
Camera 2: Erika running towards Richard yelling “Richard”
Camera 3: Ulrich blasting Richard with his new super robot, fulfilling his full name Ulrich the Brahmin Party Pooper

Well, if you want, you can watch this Daimos movie with its pivotal episodes released in the US entitles Starbirds.

Enjoy, you friggin chicken-winged party poopers.

Download here from veoh.com

Terminator Salvation (T4)

No Linda Hamilton.. no Edward Furlong.. no Robert Patrick.. no Nick Stahl.. no Claire Daines.. no Ah-nuld… no problem. Here’s Christian Bale in T4