Rough Groove

Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents - Reporters sans frontieres

From today’s article at the Philippine Daily Inquirer website, INQ7, Reporters sans frontiers just released the Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissedents. Published with the assistance of the French Governement, its a guide and how-to of blogging anonymously, especially for those in countries that are under repression and press curtailment where one post of criticism against the governement/regime can land one in jail.

Reading through the contents, its also a good guide for bloggers, both aspiring and regular, to improve their blogs, content, and how to get noticed even though if this is leaning to journalistic blogging.

Disappointing

DISAPPOINTING!

That’s how best to describe the crowds that gathered at the opposition organized, much ballyhoed, rally. Of the expected 40,000, only less than 2,000 came. That was a far cry from the 40,000 (expected 80,000) that went in the last Makati rally. The usual suspects were still there: Anak Pawis, Gabriela, KMU, Bayan and their left leaning cohorts.

Tsk, tsk, tsk… they are not really gaining any support from the majority. And that is good.

What I do like about these rallies are the creativity that these people pour into slogans and illustrations.

The view of the crowd from the Enterprise building.

Left leaning groups prominently led by Satur Ocampo (leftmost) with a saling pusa Rep. Cayetano (rightmost). I guess he was bored stiff with the usual skits and rants at stage.

Another opposition rally

The Ayala Ave. stretch from Makati Ave. - Rufino St. including the underpasses is already closed for the opposition rally. Whew! Not again. Besides being a great inconvenience to Makati based workers and commuters, I really don’t see any benefit of this organized event. Its the usual ragtag bunch, strange bedfellows, of the opposition, civil society, clergy and leftist groups, all wanting to have the president removed from office, never mind if these are through unconstitutional means.

But the problem with these groups is that they don’t have a credible alternative. They have no program to show the nation. That’s why, the majority of the masses as well as the middle class are apathetic to their sentiments. As always, varied there groups maybe, but there intentions are always suspect.

And what about the mayor of Makati, Jejomar Binay? He doesn’t really mind that the country’s financial center be used for these rallies. For him, the more disruptions, the better.

Bibingka

While we did a drivetest along the SLEX last week, we were fortunate to pass by the Southwoods Exit and lo, stands of bibingka (rice cake) stalls lined one portion of the street going to San Pedro, Laguna. Piqued with curiosity, I bought one, hot, and fresh from the charcoal stove.

“Nels” bibingka, is delicious, hot, fresh and the saltiness of salted duck’s eggs slices (itlog maalat - literrally, salted egg) jived well with the semisweetness of coconut slices and shavings. At just P30 a piece, it is really cheap and comparable to that of Cafe Via Mare!

The vendor and her stall. Note the charcoal fired clay stoves. Cooked bibingka is placed inside the ice box layered with cloth to maintain its heat (yea, an ice box)

She also sells puto bumbong, a native delicacy that is popular during the misa de gallo in December. It is made of sticky rice, colored, smothered with margarine and finally topped with grated coconut and sugar with toasted sesame seeds. Another delicious treat at only P15.

This odd looking stove is used to cook the puto bumbong.

“O” Baby

Last Thursday night I was able to catch an episode of Oprah at Studio 23 (well, not sure if this is upated but anyhow…) and, as always, its unbelievable. Just imagine:

- shown at Fort Campbell, the show gathered 640 pregnant women wives of military personnel who are mostly stationed in Iraq
- with a direct feed of a mother, another militaryman’s wife delivering their baby with Cindy Crawford reporting
- celebrity guests like Ben Affleck (via satellite feed), Sharon Stone and a host of other big name stars sharing their best baby gift
- giving each of the 640 pregnant women the celebrities’ best baby gift
- $1,000 for each woman

Its just fantastic what the richest celebrity in the world can do. And oh, the episode also was the launch of Oprah’s own babyline, “O” Baby.