Father Blogger Needs Help

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I just came from Western Union to send a little something to Angel Cuala (FatherBlogger.com) . Angel is asking for financial help—his wife, Mylene is currently confined at CP Reyes Hospital in Tanauan City, Batangas. She has been diagnosed for dengue, and is in immediate need of blood transfusion: 4 packs of fresh frozen plasma which costs P9,700. (16,000 pesos more). The Father blogger is a regular reader of this blog.

Dengue is a serious illness. I have parent-members in my support group who have lost a loved one because of Dengue Fever complications.

On details on how to help the Father Blogger, there are 3 ways:

1. Western Union. Read Dine’s post HELP Needed by Father Blogger–blood transfusion urgently needed for his wife, diagnosed with dengue fever.

2. Bank Deposit. Please email me if you want to deposit through his friend’s BPI account. I will send you the account name and number.

3. Via paypal through my account at noemidado@gmail.com. I will advance proceeds, transaction fee and deposit it to the the BPI account in number 3. I will also furnish copy of your paypal donation to Angel.

Sending via paypal maybe the most convenient option but it’s your choice.

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Bloggers’ Rights

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I told myself that I should take a break from blogging. Just when I thought the waters are calm, Mike Abundo reveals that a hearing on a proposal by the Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission that will require licenses for online content developers will be held today. The public hearing is set at 2pm Thursay GMT+8 (meeting got cancelled) at the NTC Executive Conference Room, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

The proposal is called the GUIDELINES ON THE PROVISION OF CONTENTS, INFORMATION, APPLICATIONS, AND ELECTRONIC GAMES. Content definition is not quite clear but I hope that can get threshed out. Is the memo applicable to commercial sites? And are personal sites exempted from this definition? Imagine paying 6,000 pesos annually for licenses when people create and post content online. Just the same, I asked my husband to read the memorandum so I don’t miss any fine print.

(edit -updated at 7:00 PM: My husband’s opinion below and read this Business Mirror article that explains the memorandum. Thanks Scrufus for the link. )

The definition of Content Developer is too vague and broad although it would appear to regulate content provided ““for compensation”. It could be dangerous as it could be used to stifle the blogosphere…

Bloggers should question this measure.

It’s not the money, although 6k is a lot. It’s using government policy to control and regulate content online. It’s a freedom of expression issue. It infringes on the constitutional right of free speech and expression.

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Justice in His Time

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Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe. It is not enough that a thing be possible for it to be believed. ~Voltaire

Justice over my son’s death has not been realized yet. In time, God will reveal his plan. In HIS time. We have adequate resources to file a case in court but we have yet to see the justice system move to the next step. Can you imagine what it must be like to other families whose kids died from violent deaths and don’t have the energy or resources to fight for justice? I know there are far more important cases pending in court far more important than our own that deserves the judges’ attention. I will be patient.

When my brother died from complications of Hepatitis A due to contaminated water supply that affected our neighborhood, our family sued the Cebu Water District, a semi-government agency for damages. It took 12 years for the court’s decision and fortunately it was mostly in our favor. The family members that survived the Hepatitis A contamination (including my daughter, Lauren) were awarded damages but none for my brother because he was dead and in effect, not a customer anymore. Did my 27 year old brother get the justice he deserved? Yes and No. No, because there was no monetary compensation awarded to his wife and children. Yes, because the water supply in Cebu is now cleaner and safer than it was in 1990.

Maybe I will not get the justice here on Earth. I have faith that justice will be served in HIS time. Faith is all I need.

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Media in Focus on De la Paz & Blogging

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(thank you Adrian Jeric for the video)

Continuation…Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Media in Focus feature on the Valley Golf Brawl and blogging had guests Carlos Conde, Danilo Araña Arao (Assistant Professor of Journalism in UP), Atty JJ Disini, Councilor JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran Party) and myself.

Questions revolved along bloggers vs journalists, legal issues like libel, blog ethics and Credibility in blogging.

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A Soiree with Mar Roxas

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Disclosure on Political Affiliations: I do not work for Mar Roxas or any other politician. Neither am I affiliated with a political party. I am close to Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator Alan Cayetano . Our relationship ties date back even before they became senators. Former President Fidel V. Ramos is a family friend due to ties from my father-in-law. I used to be a student activist in my UP Diliman days. My political views range from conservative to liberal. I don’t have plans to run for public office.

Thought I’d write a disclosure before you read the entry below.

What happened to my blog? I am not a political blogger. I hate politics. My blog’s advocacy focuses on parenting, wellness and recovery. Look at the events that have transpired towards the end of 2008 and early weeks of January 2009? I cannot help but blog on these current events especially since they create an impact in the future of my children and the Philippines.

Making a stand also opens door to criticisms and the usual ad hominem from the same old, same old critics who jump on any news about me. I do not lose focus on my blog’s goal and I continue to achieve all of these goals and gain social impact by writing about it in my blog and participating in events and activities relevant to this blog’s advocacy.

So why did I find myself once again with Mar Roxas and other political bloggers last friday night at the Balai Ni Mar in Cubao’s Araneta Center? Certainly not to make idle chat. Like I told you, I hate politics yet I can’t remain apathetic.

It’s so easy to rant and rave about politicians from the comfort of home. It’s easy to plop down on our computer chair, blog away and idealize what the Philippines need. I feel quite helpless really, just typing away my thoughts in this blog when I know I can do more. I care about my children who will inherit the country’s future. One way to understand the future of our country is to talk up close and personal to the 2010 Presidentiables. It is almost common knowledge that Mar Roxas will run in 2010. He said he will announce it eventually.

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Credibility in Blogging and the Libel Suit Against Blogger, Bambee de la Paz

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Credibility in Blogging

Edit- Added January 14
If you came here because of an entry written by Manuel Viloria in “Credibility in Blogging”, let me make it clear. I don’t give a hoot if I have credibility or not. You can have it, Manuel Viloria. I can stop blogging today and still continue on with my goals in life. (edit on January 16, 2009 – Watch the Media in Focus episode on de la paz and Blogging, as I talk more about Credibility in Blogging.)

Manuel Viloria, author of that entry, Obliterated and “Credibility in Blogging” should offer a disclosure as well. (edit- January 17, 2009- Manuel Viloria and I discussed things personally and I felt he need not disclose anything if there is nothing to disclose. There is no feud. We agree to disagree. )

And now the main entry….

If I am not mistaken, I believe this is the first libel case filed against a blogger because of their blog entry. Another blogger survived a libel case but it was not about an entry he wrote but as the webhost of a libelous entry. The latter case was dismissed.

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Missy in Real Life and in Pet Society

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My usual break at home consists of watching TV and multi-tasking with my macbook . Things have changed a bit the past month.

Meet Missy, my real live pet kitty and her online equivalent in Pet Society in Facebook. If you don’t know what pet society means, well it’s just a major distraction and a mindless activity but it helps me zone out when I am stressed or just want to be still.

In the world of Pet Society, you can play games, decorate your house and even bring gifts for your Face Book friends when you visit them. Now, I didn’t know that my adorable little Siamese kitty would enjoy it as much as I do.

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The Alabang Bribery Scandal and Drug Addiction in the Philippines

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The case of the Alabang Boys (Brodett, Joseph, & Tecson) & the bribery scandal is confusing. Bribery? What’s new? After the early release of Claudio Teehankee Jr. last October, it does not surprise me that strings are being pulled once again.

Maybe that’s why I wasn’t too keen in figuring out the intricacies of the Alabang Bribery Scandal. You know, he said, she said. Who is telling the truth? My attitude took a positive turn when I tuned in to ANC News Channel this afternoon and heard the Congressional hearing of the Alabang Bribery Scandal. Two things caught my attention:

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War in Gaza Brings Children Casualties

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Photo Credits to Yahoo News

“My children are dead, why am I alive?, a mother wailed in the funeral of her children.

I have lost count of the children casualties in war-torn Gaza. Is it 100 deaths so far? As I glanced at a newspaper’s photo of a father reaching out to his dead child, his companion was trying to hold him back. If I were there, I won’t hold back the father. I will allow him to wrap his arms around his child and cry all he wants. I have been there. A dead child looks like they are sleeping but just not moving. The reality of death is just too much to comprehend at that point. Let him wail. Let him hold his child. Let his tears flow. When death comes without warning, the shock and disbelief can be overwhelming. It is never in the natural order of things for a child to die before his or her parents, and this can be especially intense when the death is sudden and/or violent.


Photo Credits to Yahoo News

My heart reaches out to these children. Why do they have to die? I cannot fathom the pain of the parents even if I have been there. War is just senseless to me. A child’s death does not make sense. A parent should not have to bury their child.

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