Once again, the Filipinos showed optimism and strength of character in a year full of challenges and debacles. No matter how tough life got in 2009 with the economic crisis and the slew of calamities, they have remained hopeful and they continue to fight.

Join Bernadette Sembrano as she looks back on the stories of Filipinos who embodied the never-say-attitude this country is known for this Tuesday (Dec 29) on “The Correspondents.”

After being laid off from work, Domina continues to fight by finding another job despite her old age. Soledad, meanwhile, put up a small eatery to provide for her grandchildren after their home was destroyed by Typhoon Ondoy.

Like them, cancer patient Fe remains hopeful about the future. She is looking forward to getting cured with the help of fellow Filipinos who will support her trip to Fuda Cancer Hospital in China, the so-called “mecca” of cancer patients. On the other hand, working student Carmelo does not mind the stress of juggling his studies and work as he is focused on getting his family out of poverty.

They have proven that Filipinos never back down despite the trials that life bring. They have made 2009 a year to showcase Filipinos’ fighting spirit.

Quezon City, September 11 Rock The Vote sits with students and some youth advocates and bloggers sa Starbucks Dialogue series in Techno Hub at Philcoa near University of the Philippines Diliman.

Umikot ang discussion sa halaga ng participation ng mga tao sa election lalo na ang mga first time voter, Georg Nava of Rock The Vote and Register & Vote mention na importante ang pagpaparegistro sa darating na election para makaboto sa 2010. Georg who is also part of Youth Vote Philippines with Evita Garcia, her team mate sa RV, ikinuwkento nila how the campaign starts and how this project works. They mention na ngayon nagfofocus sila sa pagpapaalaala at pangangampanya na magparehistro ang mga 1st time voter na nasa magiging 18 na bago ang National at Local Election sa 2010 at hinihimok din nilang makiisa rin pati ang mga taong hindi pa nagpaparehistro. Ayon kay Georg ito ang 1st step na kailangan gawin para makasali sa election at ang 2nd step ay ang i-scrutinize ang mga tatakbo sa posisyon bago sila iboto.

Ngayon ang RV ay may project na Register & Vote Bus na kung saan ay pumupunta sila sa mga lugar upang i-remind ang mga tao na magparehistro at ang mismong bus ay nagiging service para dalhin ang mga kabataan sa mga registration area sa mga local government offices. Ayon kay Georg wala nang reason para hindi sila pumunta at makapagparehisto. Simula noong ginawa ang project na ito ay nakapunta na ang RV Bus sa Tatalon, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, at ngayong September 17 ay pupunta sila sa Davao City.

After the last day of registration on October 31, RV is planning to have series of forums to let the youth and other voters to ask questions, scrutinize and learn more of those politicians running for the position. “Ito ang second step after registration ang kilalanin nila ang mga tatakbo sa election bago nila ito iboto” Georg mention where she and Evita tells those who is part of the dialogue na kilalanin mabuti ang mga tatakbo before giving their votes.

Read my opinion on Angsawariko.blogspot.com

Sa nalalapit na 2010 National and Local Election, pinili ng MFM na mas patibayin ang moral values kagaya ng integrity, social responsibility at pagmamahal sa bansa at nakapaloob ito sa programang ilulunsad nila ang Voter’s Education Program. Ang goal ng program na ito hikayatin ang mga botante makiisa sa pagboto sa election at piliin ang nararapat na transformational leader na dapat mamuno sa bansa.

Ang transformational leaders ay ang mga taong naghahangad nang pagbabago sa mga tao, sa mga ahensya at sangay ng lipunan, at sa mismong bansa na kayang itaguyod ito at pamahalaan sa maayos, at demokratikong pamamaraan. Kumpara sa mga tinatawag na transactional leaders na nakikilala natin sa common term na traditional politicians o mga trapo, na ang tanging importante laman sa kanila ay pansariling kapakanan at ng iilang mga kaibigan nila. Nakikilala ang mga transformational leaders sa tatlong bagay they practice eveftive (Kapitan ng Bayan), empowering (Lingkod Bayan) and ethical leadership (Katiwala ng Bayan).

Hopes on Morality and on 2010 Election

Ayon kay Ambassador Henrietta T. De Villa, Chairperson of the National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) na hahanapin ng MFM kasama ang mga bagong bayani o ang mga educated voters ang mga nararapat na kandidato o mga transformational leaders na mamumuno at gagabay sa bansa. Hinikayat ni Ambassador De Villa na simula ngayon hanggang sa darating na election na hikayatin ang bawat botante na maging matalino at mapanuri sa mga kandidato at hanapin ang transformational leaders na nararapat sa posisyon na kung saan ang basehan ng panunuri ay naka-ugat sa totoo, mabuti at tama na siyang core ng MFM.

Ayon sa kanya ay wala nang magagawa ang mga kandidato sa panahong ang mga botante ay maging matalino at seryoso sa responsableng pagboto doon makikita ang simula ng pagbabago ng Pilipinas at makakaahon sa katiwalian, korupsyon at conflict sa gobyerno. Idinadalangin ni Ambassador De Villa na dumating ang araw na ito na kung saan ay mas magiging maganda ang kinabukasan ng bayan kasama ang mga kabataan.

Kasama sa MFM sina Ambassador Henrietta T. De Villa (Chairperson of the National Movement for Free Election or NAMFREL, Chairperson rin ng Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV at dating Ambassador sa Vatican), Dr. Mildwida Guevarra (Former Undersecretary of Finance, Chairperson of Movement for Good Governance and of Synergia (educational reform) Foundation, and 2008 Gawad Haydee Yorac Awardee), Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, Ed. D. (President of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines or CEAP, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines or CBCP, and Episcopal Commision on Cathechesis and Catholic Education), Retired Brigade General Jaime C Echeverria (President of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers), Bishop Ernesto P. Nacpil (Retired Bishop of the United Methodist Church of the Philippines), Ms. Marixi Rufino Prieto (Chairperson of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Trustee of the Metrobank Foundation), Attorney Andres D. Bautista (Chairman of the Philippine Association of Law Schools, Dean of the Far Eastern University Institute of Law, and columnist of the Philippine Star) and Noorian S. Sabdulla (Moslem youth, 2008 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Awardee).

Habang pinuna naman ng Senator Dick Gordon at ang mga kasama niya sa Senado na sina Manny Villar at Mar Roxas.

Read my opinion on this issue on AngSaWariKo.Blogspot.com

The movie is set to launch on December 18, 2009 and like others who has seen the sneak peak I’m sure they are all excited seeing James Cameron’s masterpiece after his huge success on Titanic.

Last August 14 at the special screening of The Last Journey of Ninoy at the Rockwell Cinema at Power Plant Mall, nagkaroon tayo ng maikling conversation with Rafael Lopa the Executive Director of Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation (BSAF) kasama si Cesar Buenaventura ang President ng BSAF para kamustahin ang mga future plans nila sa foundation at paano nila matutulungan ang ating mga kababayan.

Ang isa sa mga ginagawa ng foundation ngayon ay mag-create ng awareness sa mga kabataan ngayon kung sino si Ninoy Aquino, mula sa docu-drama nilang ipinalabas sa tulong ng Unitel Production, inilunsad din nila ang Ako si Ninoy the Musical at ang isang taon na nilang campaign na ang I Am Ninoy na inilunsad nila noong August 21, 2008. Ang main goal nila sa project na ito ay makita ng mga kabataan ang kahalagahan ni Ninoy sa bansa at ang makita nila ang katangian ni Ninoy sa kanilang mga sarili.

Bukod sa scholarship na inilunsad ng foundation simula noong 1986, pinag aaralan ng ng BSAF kung paano gagawin ang implementation ng Micro Finance para sa mga kababaihan lalo na sa mga ina na siyang naging pangunahing advocacy ng yumaong dating Presidente Corazon Aquino. Ang main goal ng project na ito ay para makatulong sa pagresolve ng kahirapan na dinadanas ng mga kababayan natin sa panahong ito. Ngayon ay nakahold muna ang scholarship para sa mga bagong batch ng BSAF para mabigyan ng budget ng micro financing na kung saan ay nakikipag usap na ang BSAF sa mga micro-finance institution that will help them sa livelihood program.

Bukod sa I Am Ninoy (iamninoy.com) website na siyang nagre-reach out sa mga kabataan sa pamamagitan ng mga activities mula sa shirt campaign hanggang sa community involvement na ngayon na kung saan ay part ang I Am Ninoy Runner Project where the funds na makukuha nila rito ay ipantutulong sa 57-75 Movement, isang private sector that leads the initiative to reverse the education crisis through focused interventions and school-community action. Nariyan na rin ang PinoyMe Foundation (PinoyMe.com) ito ay isang social investmentbank for microfinance institutions (MFIs) na tutulong para magkapuhunan ng mga small entrepreneur kagaya ng isang maybahay para matulungan niya ang kanyang sarili at ang kanyang pamilya.

Narito ang kumpletong panayam ko kina Rafael Lopa at Cesar Buenaventura ng Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation.

There are things history books won’t tell you about the last journey of Ninoy…
…And these are things you should know, to continue the legacy of Ninoy.

From the days leading to his decision to return to Manila, backtrack to Ninoy’s roots as a brash
and talented young man, forward to his long and arduous journey as a private family man and
statesman.

Through known and new records, plus valuable memories and insights from wife and ally, Cory,
discover Ninoy’s truest ideals and deepest struggles, his indominatable spirit and faith, as seen
through all his hardships and all hostilities he faced.

Intertwined with revelations of grand conspiracies, secret conversations and clandestine meetings,
know what truly led Ninoy to and what he hoped would come out of his last journey.

Read my blog about the Last Journey of Ninoy here

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has announced the premiere of “Asia’s Titanic,” a one-hour National Geographic Channel exclusive that probes into the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster ever recorded.

This is the first documentary produced by NGCI in collaboration with a Filipino film production group under the NGCI-EDB (Economic Development Board) development fund grant.

“Asia’s Titanic” will premiere exclusively on NGC (Sky Cable Channel 41) on August 25, 2009, Tuesday, at 9 p.m. It will replay on August 26 at 4 am, 9 am, and 1 pm; August 30 at 9 pm; and August 31 at 1 am and 5 am.

“The documentary is a milestone for Filipino filmmakers to celebrate the launch of an exceptionally high quality movie to Filipino and global audiences with a strong admonition about sea safety,” said Jude Turcuato, NGC Philippines territory director.

“We are deeply committed to support the Filipino filmmaking industry with the unique opportunity of showcasing its creative talents to NGC viewers worldwide. The documentary is a powerful and dramatic story made by a Filipino production team that equals the hallmark standards of National Geographic,” Turcuato said.

“Asia’s Titanic” presents the tragic sinking of MV Doña Paz after colliding with an oil tanker off Mindoro Island just five days before Christmas in 1987— about 4,000 passengers died in the tragedy. The disaster is told through dramatic first-hand accounts of survivors and rescuers, actual transcripts from the Philippine congressional inquiry into the tragedy, archival footage and photos, and a re-enactment of the collision.

The documentary is directed by award-winning director Yam Laranas. It is the first for any Filipino filmmaker to direct a full-length documentary for National Geographic. Laranas said making the documentary was exciting. At the same time, he said it was heartbreaking to hear first-hand the horrifying accounts of the few survivors. He said the survivors themselves broke into tears while reliving their tragic ordeal.

In making “Asia’s Titanic”, Laranas and his team were guided by NGC’s supervising producers to meet the high standards of the channel’s documentary filmmaking—compelling storytelling, breathtaking and engaging visuals, and clear and crisp sound.

Read my blog on Asia’s Titanic
Read the schedules of Asia’s Titanic here