Insensitive President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

I thought I will write about Tita Cory's death just once here in my blog. I've already said my goodbye to her. Not until I read a news related to that in Yahoo! It's about this little president of ours having dinner with her entourage at Le Cirque in New York and lavishly spending a whooping US$20,000! after their meeting with US Pres. Barack Obama. My, oh my... when most of my countrymen are within or below poverty line? And when the whole nation is mourning at the passing of Tita Cory? When the people are patiently lining at the street to get just get a glimpse of Tita Cory's body for hours without breakfast or lunch or dinner yet? There they are... feasting themselves at a posh New York restaurant. What a nice way to symphatize with the dead. Even if the Philippine government is not footing the bill, still, the picture it paints in the minds of the Filipinos is really ugly. Excessive and insensitive...

Goodbye, Tita Cory!

For most Filipinos, ex-President Maria Corazon Cojuanco Aquino will be fondly remembered as "Tita Cory". I will also remember her as a simple housewife in yellow, who was thrusted into the world of politics as the unifying figure for the opposition against ex-President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. She continued the fight of his late husband Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino who was assasinated during the Marcos years. It's a sea of yellow during her presidential campaign.

Her reign as President of the Philippines is not that smooth sailing because a faction of the military is being used to snatch power in favor of the coup d' etat mastermind, whoever he is.

Tita Cory died at the age of 76 after a yearlong battle of colon cancer. Her youngest daughter, Kris Aquino-Yap, a popular TV and movie personality narrates in between sobs and tears their family's last few days with Tita Cory. Even some closest friends and allies are invited to be with Tita Cory during those days, including the former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada whom Tita Cory helped to oust due to rumors of corruption. In that emotional interview, Kris said the family forgave and thanked the Marcoses for the prayers. On the otherhand, she rebuff the Arroyos for their lukewarm approach with regards to Malacanang's giving of state honors for Tita Cory. Added to this is the incident last July which Kris thought that the security blanket of Tita Cory is being taken away. She said further " it hurt me because I understand politics and I understand that if you have influence, you inconvenience your enemies. It's my mom's right to have security. We just wanted the respect due my mom, a former President. Don't take away my mom's security blanket." Arroyo apologized and made the military explain about the incident. General Victor Ibrado denied the pull-out and said that it is just a bureaucratic slip-up. Noynoy, the son of Tita Cory didn't buy that alibi but said he doesn't blame the military for they are just following the President. Ahhh... this present administration really has sincerity issues. Saying one thing and doing another. Oh, well...

As of this moment, her remains lies in state at Manila Cathedral. People are still trooping hoping to pay their last respect to Tita Cory regardless of the heavy rains. Her burial will be on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at Manila Memorial besides his husband, ex-Senator Ninoy Aquino.

Merrell Waterpro Maipo Rubber Shoes

I truly like my Merrell rubber shoes because it is the most comfortable multi-sport shoes that I bought so far. Actually, it's a gift from my friend Maurie who promised to keep my feet in tip-top shape. I got it at one of the big malls in the Philippines - the SM Shoemart in Glorietta, Makati. So comfortable that when I wore it for the first time for long hours of walking , I did not have blisters, sore feet nor leg pain. The shoe hugs my foot in the right places to create the best support. It's very lightweight and the design is pretty good. I can wear this thing all-year-round. During hot days, I don't feel my feet perspiring and it is surprisingly cooler compared to the ones I had before. I can wear this thing in rainy days, too. The upper of this shoes is made from mesh so the water drains out automatically and in anti-microbial footbed for odor control. I just hate walking with water in my shoes and I don't want to have to take my shoes off to drain the water out.

Anyways, below is the product info that I got in their official website from which I based my purchase:

• Slip Lasted Construction
• Synthetic Leather / Ventilated Mesh Upper
• Micro Mesh Free Flowing Drainage Ports
• Lycra® /Neoprene Padded Tongue and Collar
• Injection Molded TPU Rear Foot Stabilizer
• Free Floating Heel/ Dynamic Lacing System
• Synthetic Leather Toe Bumper protection/ Integrated Drainage Ports
• Hydro Drainage / Ventilated Footbed Ortholite™ with Etc® Anti-Friction Lining
• Nylon 6.6 Injection Molded Arch Shank
• Q-Form™ Triple Density Compression Molded EVA Footframe (Women) http://techcentre.fitnessfootwear.com/manufacturer/merrell/q-form
• Air Cushion® Midsole
• Water Friendly Non-Marking/Razor-Cut Sipped sole
• 3.5 mm Sole Lug Depth
• Vibram® Waterpro Plus™ Sole/TC5+ Rubber
• Vegan Friendly Footwear

Considering buying your next multi-sports rubber shoes? I suggest you try Merrell Waterpro Maipo.

28 Finalists for the New7Wonders of Nature Named

It's out now. Our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River made it to the second phase of the selection by the New7Wonders Panel of Experts. From the first phase selection of 77 sites from more than 440 locations in various countries, it comes down to 28 for the second phase. The third and last phase of the selection for the New7 Wonders of Nature will be chosen by an estimated 1 billion votes.

Voting resumes now after the announcement of the 28 candidates and will continue until 2011. Visit the official site of the New7Wonders at http://www.new7wonders.com/ to cast your vote via internet and to see also the mechanics on how to vote via telephone. The official announcement of the final 7 will be on 2011. Here is the complete list of the 28 candidates:

Name Country

1. Amazon - Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia

2. Angel Falls - Venezuela

3. Bay of Fundy - Canada

4. Black Forest - Germany

5. Bu Tinah Shoals - United Arab Emirates

6. Cliffs of Moher - Ireland

7. Dead Sea - Palestine, Israel, Jordan

8. El Yunque - Puerto Rico

9. Galapagos - Ecuador

10. Grand Canyon - United States of America

11. Great Barrier Reef - Papua New Guinea, Australia

12. Halong Bay - Vietnam

13. Iguazu Falls - Brazil, Argentina

14. Jeita Grotto - Lebanon

15. Jeju Island - South Korea

16. Kilimanjaro - Tanzania

17. Komodo - Indonesia

18. Maldives - Maldives

19. Masurian Lake District - Poland

20. Matterhorn/Cervino - Switzerland, Italy

21. Milford Sound - New Zealand

22. Mud Volcanoes - Azerbaijan

23. Puerto Princesa Underground River - Philippines

24. Sundarbans - India, Bangladesh

25. Table Mountain - South Africa

26. Uluru - Australia

27. Vesuvius - Italy

28. Yushan - Chinese Taipei

Please vote for our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River and help it make through in the finals of the New7Wonders of Nature in 2011. Go, Philippines!

Philippines New7Wonders campaign is on!

Hey, guys! Just three (3) days to go and the 28 Official Finalist Candidates for the seven (7) New Wonders of Nature will be out. The announcement on July 21, 2009 will be made by the New7Wonders Panel of Experts at Zurich Headquarter. Let's hope that most, if not all of these wonders will be amongst the chosen lot.

1. Chocolate Hills - Landscapes, Ice Formations

2. Taal Volcano - Mountains, Volcanoes

3. Mount Pinatubo - Mountains, Volcanoes

4. Mayon Volcano - Mountains, Volcanoes

5. Hundred Islands - National Park Forests, National Parks, Nature Reserves

6. Underground River - National Park Forests, National Parks, Nature Reserves

7. Tubbataha Reef - Seascape

8. Coral Triangle - Seascape

Philippines, truly the Pearl of the Orient!

New Blogger

On this date, July 15, 2009, sees the birth of my first ever blog here at Blogger. I simply named this baby iJudz! And this is about me. This is about people. The things around me. The things that I do and won't do. What I feel and think. But hey, it can be about you, too. So let's share each other's thoughts in the upcoming posts.

Welcome baby iJudz! to the bloggers' world!