bookREview: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Rating:	5 Stars

If you had ridden a motorcycle running at about 120 mph in a road so wide without any other vehicles around while on both sides is a majestic scenery of nature, then you'd have felt the same feeling I've felt while reading Lois Lowry's "Number the Stars."

The novel may have in no way certain relations to the aforementioned experience but "Number the Stars" is such a fast-read, a worthy one to spend the most solemn hours of the day to turn its illustrious pages and one that possess a satisfying plot that may leave you hanging for a while chapter after chapter but does not leave you waiting for a century to unfold what is supposed to be hidden. Yes, each chapter is built on a climax where readers might find it a great loss to leave it for a while.

The compelling and tear-jerking nature of this novel structured to highlight the deeper meaning of friendship, love to one's neighbor and courage at the middle of danger made me admire Lowry even more as she did in her other novel, "The Giver."

Written in a somewhat shifting first person to third person participant-observer point of view, "Number the Stars" has for its background the Nazi occupation in Denmark, during the holocaust, tackling particularly the arrest of the German soldiers of Jewish families for "relocation" in concentration camps.

The Rosens, who are Jews and who are friends with the Johansens, decided to flee from their apartment in Copenhagen because the rabbi in the morning of the Jewish New Year, announced that there will be a widespread search for Jews in Denmark to detain them in concentration camps.

Knowing this plight of the Jews, Annemarie felt that all of the Danes should guard the Jews, the same way as they guard their King, Christian X. The Rosens, that night, left Ellen, their daughter with the Johansen since it would be dangerous for the Johansens to keep and hide the three of them from the Nazis though they are willing to do so if it isn't that dangerous.

Ellen was told to pretend as one of the Johansen girls which is not that hard since she and Annemarie seem more like sisters than friends. She was told to take Annemarie's sister's name, Lise who Annemarie later found died because she was also a member of the resistance group in Denmark.

The German soldiers did sought after Jews that night and both Ellen and Annemarie felt frightened when the soldiers noticed the difference of Ellen's hair from the two other Johansen girls. Thanks to Annemarie's father's quick thinking, he took his daughter's childhood pictures and showed it to the officer. The officer tore the pictures and disappointed, left the Johansens without another word.

Inge, Annemarie's mother brought Ellen the next day to his brother's house in Gillilije together with Annemarie and Kirsti, the youngest Johansen. In Uncle Henrik's house one night, there arrived a hearse with a coffin which the girls were convinced to be Great Aunt Birte's remains. But no dead body is inside the coffin but things to keep those gathered warm for the winter. The coffin was almost opened by the questioning Nazi officer but Inge gave him a sarcastic explanation.

In the same night, the Rosens were reunited all thanks to Peter Nielsen's ingenious tactics. Peter is supposed to be wed to Lise died two weeks before the wedding.

In the same night, the Rosens as well as the other people gathered that night were secretly hidden in the boats of the fishermen for them to be smuggled to Sweden as it was free from the hands of the Germans. They were to sail the moment the sun had risen.

But there's one thing that Mr. Rosen accidentally left in Uncle Henrik's house - an important package entrusted to him by Peter to be given to Uncle Henrik. It was Annemarie who brought the package to Uncle Henrik but she stumbled upon Nazi officers with trained dogs. They managed to see the package though it was hidden in the basket Annemarie's mother prepared for her for the package to be kept in secret. But when the officers tore it open, they only saw handkerchiefs and so they allowed Annemarie to pass, already crying. The officers were unaware that the handkerchiefs have a specially-formulated powder that numbs the dog's sense of smell for a short time. And so, if Annemarie failed to give the handkerchiefs to his Uncle in time, the Rosens would have been found by the Nazis hidden in Uncle Henrik's boat during their inspection.

Two years later, the Germans retreated and the war ended. Peter was executed by the Germans after being arrested in a mission and the Jewish families returned back to their own homes. Annemarie asked her father to fix Ellen's necklace, the star of David, which was broken when Annemarie forced it off Ellen's neck during the German's search and decided to wear it until they return.

Lowry also included an after word detailing the factual basis of her novel. The title itself was taken from Psalm 147 which goes:

O praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing psalms to our God.
How pleasant to praise him.
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem;
he gathers in the scattered sons of Israel,
It is he who heals the broken in spirit
and binds up their wounds,
he who number the stars one by one...

iThink: a christmas of lasts

There are so many things I have to bid farewell this Christmas. To wit, this is my last christmas as a

• student as I'll be graduating come April 09;
• boy as I think I'm about to turn into a man upon graduation;
• bum because I will need to look for a job that could make me well off
• stick because I'll force my body to gain more mass as fast as possible
• killjoy since I need to mingle with any kind of person for me to personally launch myself to the adult world

It's hard to say goodbye to things you've been used to especially when such things have personal attachments to yourself. For about twenty years, I have gone through the same cycle in life but next year, it's gonna be different no matter how refuse to accept the reality of the situation.

My Close-to-Worse Christmas

Speaking about this christmas season, I hate to mention that there's nothing really memorable I could sketch in my head to ponder with in my older years. Christmas season in the Philippines, as has been true and as has been attested by many Filipino expatriates, is considerably the most worth-keeping and most worth-waiting holiday in the year compared to some other race's celebration around the world.

But reminiscing my previous christmases, I'm afraid I'm quite disappointed to reveal how much of my expectations have failed to happen.

First thing, the weather hasn't been a friendly sunshine but it has been a gloomy downpour of rainshowers and a cold breeze of northeasterly wind. I wouldn't really mind the wind had the rains spared the day.

Second, Filipinos are accustomed to receiving aguinaldos [christmas gift in the form of a present or money] from their ninogs and ninangs [godparents] if not during Christmas but at least anytime around the season [from September to January 6]. Sadly, given the long Christmas celebration in the country, I haven't even heard a word of greeting from my godparents save my god mother in Alaminos Batangas who is a dear friend of my mother.

In addition, we have the tradition of doing house-to-house asking for aguinaldos on Christmas day much like trick or treating in the west. But then, only children not older than 12 or 13 have the liberty to do so as it is dauntingly embarassing for a teenager or older to be seen roaming around the neighborhood because it would look much like asking for alms unless you have a small kid you're accompanying as an excuse. Probably that's how it is for a boy who is about to embark officially in the adult world.

And so, instead of brooding over aguinaldos which might never come to my pockets, my siblings and I decided to spend Christmas by watching one of the featured movies in the Metro Manila Film Festival [MMFF], entitled "Ang Tanging Ina nyong Lahat" [roughly translated as Your Only Dear Mother], a film of "dramedy" [comedy + drama] in nature after beginning the day with a mass at our cathedral. It's quite a relief, though because I was able to let out a hearty laugh, at the same time freely allow a tear to fall from my sleep-deprived eyes. 

Going back home, as it has also been a custom, as far as I can recall, a relative or somebody close to the family is expected to come and visit us every 25th of December. Guess what? Not a single one came. Well, probably there might have been someone who came in the morning, but still if somewhat did, they would have informed me through text.

As a result, we are the ones who consumed all the food which were initially intended for visitors. You see, it's in the tradition of the Filipino race to be a lot merrier if somebody came to eat up what the host prepared even if it would mean that the family of the host would be deprived to have a taste of the best food they prepared. That is because it's a sign that somebody remembers you and came all the way from their place just to share the joy of the occasion with you. But then again, in our case, I felt nobody ever remembered to share their blessings with us by just coming to our place.

A Present for Myself

Thinking about this day worth-forgetting, I just bought myself presents which I always do every christmas. I bought two books entitled "madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert and "In the Presence of my Enemies" by Gracia Burnham as well as this years "Person of the Year" issue of TIME magazine.

I guess, these will only be the things memorable for this year's christmas day because I always make sure to write a simple history which gives me the idea when and where I purchased my books as well as how much it costed.

Now, I'm quite uncertain about how things will go in the coming new year. Still, my hopes are high for something memorable to come until this holiday season signal another year.

How about you? How did your Christmas go?

movieREview: Hansel and Gretel [Korean]

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Horror

Rating:           5 Stars

I have always been so amazed at how Koreans as well as other East Asians could think of stories that is beyond the scope of your imagination. This movie just attested such notion of mine because of the excitement it brought me to wait for the next scenes to unfold.

Stories with twists at the end are my favorite and in this film, I just felt like I was lost in a maze in the beginning parts but as the story went half-way through its end, it ushered me to proceed to the right alleys to escape from the perplexing labyrinth.

In the end, I've felt the overwhelming satisfaction of escaping from such maze because everything went the way I least expected though in a manner which is better than what I thought should, could or might have happened.

The movie tells about a man who was caught in an accident while passing through a certain road notorious for being prone to vehicular accidents. It was already dark when he woke up and a little lady appeared in front of him offering to treat his wounds. Since it was already dark, he was left with no other choice but to go.

Unsure of where the little lady might bring him, he was astounded to see a house so grand in the middle of the forest as they went deeper into the woods. In the house are a couple, a boy and a little girl, as if already expecting for their arrival. At that instant, he seemed to notice the unusual acts of the couple, apart from the bizarre location of such a magnificent house.

For five days, Eun Soo, the lead character, stayed at the house because he can't seem to find the way out of the thick forest. And for five days, he discovered a lot of secrets hidden inside the house as well as the uncommon behavior of the children. He found out that the eldest of the children, Ma-bok, the boy, has some powers to control and do whatever he wishes, including slaying the couple who once introduced themselves as the children's parents as well as other more who went lost in the forest.

In his last day, he learned that the children were born in the 50's and should have been older than what their appearance show - this he discovered in a certain room deep in the forest after following Man-Bok in his last day. Apparently, these children were longing for someone to take care of them because they had been victims of murder in their younger days. They all look at adults as bad people except for Eun Soo who earned their affection.

In his last day, after attempting to save the children from a murderer, Eun Soo declared that he truly could not stay to take care of them because of his newly-born schild, his wife and his ill mother. Beforehand, the children gave him a story book the same which he saw in the secret room in the forest where the death of other people were illustrated. The children asked why he still wants to leave when they already made him the hero in their story.

But the little lady felt how much Eun Soo wanted to leave for his family after she was hugged by him, while proclaiming that she truly like him as their uncle. In that point, the little lady gave in and told Eun Soo how he could escape from the house - that is, by burning the storybook they gave which contained all their memories of him.

Man-Bok tried to stop him but it was useless. He then woke up in the same area where the little lady found him, with tears in his eyes and still with the wound caused by the accident as if he was never lost for five days.

A few time passed, on a christmas, when he was about to go out to buy some milk for his daughter, he saw the same storybook given to him by the children, only it's beginning pages are blank. When he opened the final page, he saw an illustration of a boy, a little lady and a little girl, holding their hands together with smiles on their faces. Tears instantly fell in his eyes because he know that what happened was not a dream and that the children has visited him to tell him that they are now happy...

If you are interested to watch the movie, here's the URL: http://www.mysoju.com/hansel-and-gretel/

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Stars: 5

"...what is good in one place is bad in another place."

For quite some time now, no book that passed in my hands has once again defined the reason why I continue to grip for more pages despite my worsening eyesight. Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" reminded me why I kept on purchasing more and more books, not that it's stated literally or imperatively in the novel, but that it gave me certain clarifications on African culture for matters obscured by western influence. 

The very thought of the novel recaptured my interest in learning the cultures of different races and being aware of the fact that the world not only revolves around me but that it's the conglomeration of our different ideals brought about by cultural diversity that makes this world go round.

Written in the third person, omniscient point of view, "Things Fall Apart" is an eye-opener and a genuine reminder that civilization does not only center on the terms decided upon by the western world, but that it is dependent on the context where it is to be used.

Achebe, being one of the foremost African literary pundit, revealed to the world the rich culture the African people have which was once believed to be characterized by savagery and barbarism. They have village leaders, annual festivities, means of living and strong religion, enough to support their claim of being civilized.

Africans, in the novel are very devoted to their religion where their lives richly revolves around. They have so many beliefs including the birth of a twin being a bad omen or rather bad luck to the family causing them to send them away to the evil forest to let the bad spirits devour the newly-borns and the bad luck that comes wit them.

*** SPOILER STARTS HERE ***

The novel is centered in the life of Okonkwo, a man who is famous in the nine villages of Umoufia for at a tender age, he already had defeated the strongest man in them. Okonkwo is known to be fierce not only in battle but also in his family because he adheres to the principle that showing affection is a clear demonstration of weakness.

Okonkwo disliked his father so much because the old man never strove to win some village titles given only to the bravest and most strong-willed man in the clan. His farm never even prospered much unlike his friends'. And so, Okonkwo felt it a need to win the things his father never did mind to grab because he wanted to leave this legacy not only to the village but to his children.

Consequently, Okonkwo, with his four wives, did become one of the most revered member of his clan but his fierceness sometimes causes him troubles that required him to accept predetermined consequences.

The novel is divided into three parts. The first chronicles how Okonkwo became one of the most looked-up to member of the clan, how he killed Ikemefuna, a boy who was brought to the village in exchange of the wrongdoings of another village to avoid war and who have learned to call him father in his three years of stay with Okonkwo, how he almost killed one of his wives just because he has no other outlet of his anger, how he wished Ezinma, his daughter with Ekwefi, was born a boy because she, among any other of his children, understands him without even having a conversation, how they thought Ezinma was an "ogbanje" [a child who was born and died several months or a few years later then returns to do the cycle of being born and dying], and how Okonkwo accidentally killed the child of one of his clansmen, forcing him in exile for seven years.

The second part relates Okonkwo's life in his motherland for seven years as well as how much he thought about so many things he has missed in Umoufia if he had been there, including earning all the village titles which seldom could do. In his exile, he learned much from his uncle's wisdom, most especially why they name their daughters "Nneka" or "Mother is Supreme." This is what Uchendu, his uncle explained: A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland.

The last part storied about Okonkwo's return to Umoufia, about how much has changed since he left including the coming of a new faith brought by evangelists of Great Britain, about how it caused so much pain for him not only due to the fact that his eldest son Nwoye had went with these white men but also due to Umuofia's acceptance and submission to the new faith and government. 

In the end, Okonkwo never fulfilled his wish of earning back the respect of his clansmen including his wish of earning all the titles of the village because things have rapidly changed in his absence. He committed suicide after killing a white man because probably, he thought it best to kill himself than let the white man kill him in front of the public. Besides, he lost all hopes for his village to return to its previous state because things have already fallen apart by then.

*** SPOILER ENDS HERE ***

I must admit that before I read this novel, I have the idea of Africa as a land bereft of civilization before but thanks to Achebe's masterpiece, I was informed that it's the otherwise - that they are truly civilized people, only that they have different beliefs which others might think as barbaric.

The simple words that formed the story and supporting details that continued to plant excitement would bring the reader a clear picture of the plot that could eventually keep you glued to the book for hours and hours until you reach its very end, thus admitting it was a good read after finally releasing it from your tight hold.

Indeed, I must confess, Chinua Achebe has earned my admiration for raising the status of his people from the eyes of the critical public and bravely displaying a talent which other literary pundits from the west could boast no more.. If there are novels which I will never tire to read two or more times in the course of my life, this definitely is one of them...


*** MEMORABLE LINES ***

"Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered."

"A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string."

"... a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness." - Nwakibie

"A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride." - Unoka

"To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength."

"A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches. - Obierika

"A child's fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm." - Okonkwo

"When mother cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth." - Maduka's eldest brother

"A man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors."

"If one finger brought oil it soiled the others."

"A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi."

"There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts." - Uchendu

"There is no story that is not true. The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others." - Uchendu

"Never make an early morning appointment with a man who has just married a new wife." - Obeirika

"From the very beginning, religion and education went hand in hand."

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

CATEGORY: Children's Book

RATING: 4 Stars

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change." - Ebenezer Scrooge  

When we speak of Christmas, we become reminded of our joyful memories of this festive occasion awaited not only by Christians but possibly anyone of any religion you might think of from every part of the globe.Every Christmas day has indeed a great story to tell in each of the hearts of those who long for the day year long..  

But Charles Dickens, in "A Christmas Carol" has yet again defended his title as one of the greatest story teller the world has ever conceived after he diverted and redefined the very thought of the holiday which should have been characterized by festivities into another milieu which you would least associate with christmas.  

Yes, he made Christmas seem like a Halloween for Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character, in the beginning part of "A Christmas Carol." However, such drastic move of the author was done for a purpose - solely to teach a moral lesson. 

*** SPOILER ALERT ***  

This Ebenezer Scrooge is a man who hated Christmas so much that he loathed those people who merry for the sake of the celebration. The death of Jacob Marley, his friend and business partner stirred this disgust for the day even more because Marley died at Christmas eve.  

Seven years after Marley's death, half-expecting such thing to happen and half-believing that it's not a dream, his ghost appeared in front of Scrooge to remind him of the dreadful future he might have if he continued his hate not only for Christmas but also with the people around him. Marley's ghosts also warned him to be prepared of the three spirits that would visit him in the next three days as the church bells toll one.  

Indeed, at one the next day, the ghost of the past appeared before him which brought him to his past when he was a boy. The sight of his past Christmases made him reminisce his childlike longing for the holiday, which he already has forgotten in his present age.  

The next day, already believing that these apparitions truly are happening, he expected the succeeding ghost to arrive at one. It did arrive and the Ghost of the Present brought him to places where the celebration brings friends and families together even in the far-flung land and seas, and dwellings regardless of the weight they have to bear for their work or their financial affairs. The same ghost brought him to the house of his nephew, Fred where he found how much he has missed in turning down the offer of a dinner. It also took him to the house of his clerk, Bob Cratchit where he saw a poor kid, Tiny Tim, struggling to live from the meager salary Bob brings home. Their food may not be as grand as the well-off families might have but their happiness of being together is enough to celebrate the essence of the occasion.  

The last ghost, the Ghost of the Future, is the most frightening ghost among the three for it wears a black tunic with only its hands visible in its body. This ghost never spoke to him but only pointed to places he desired Scrooge to see, making it more frightening to be with. But it showed Scrooge how he would end up like if he never made amends in his life.  

In the end, Scrooge, after such a frightening journey in the future, was delighted to be back in his own room on Christmas day. The same spirit he once had during Christmas as a child returned to him and he did his best to catch up with what he missed to do in the previous Christmases, including going to his nephew's house for the dinner, raising the salary of his clerk, Bob, and getting rid of the disgust he once have with Christmas and with people around him.  

*** SPOILER ENDS HERE ***

Only one thing is for sure that Dickens wants his young readers to realize - that Christmas is a day of bliss, giving and most importantly, love.

*** MEMORABLE LINES ***

"...there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."

"... it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child himself."

"Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change." - Ebenezer Scrooge

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

You wouldn't probably say no if you were asked by someone whether for at least once in your life, you've disagreed, much more, disobeyed your mother's orders all because of the idea that she is a firm threat to your liberty and enjoyment. I mostly assume that you'd not.  

If there are people who are worthy of being labelled as unsung heroes, our mothers have already earned the top all due to their unheard of sacrifices they do just to build another generation who, needless to say kept on insisting that they could stand on their own but later finds their way to their mother's sweet and comforting embrace once they can't boast their strengths no more.  

This idea is the core of Amy Tan's richly woven narrative, chronicling mother-daughter relationships made distant by the inevitable cultural gap. The mothers once imagined a better life for their daughters away from the depressing condition brought about by World War II to a land which perhaps everybody looks upon as the best place to start a good and insured life. Ignorant as they were of the cultural differences China and the United States has, they lost the hope of instilling unto their daughters the very essence of being Chinese, let alone the Chinese culture. 

These mothers all have a story to tell about the rich culture of their native land and how much they wanted to be freed from the bondage of the life they already have in the US. The daughters, being honed under the American customs and norms thought about their mothers as a hindrance to their personal and professional growth because they believe that their mother's stereotyped beliefs and traditions are unfriendly and irrelevant to those of today's. But these daughters are ignorant of how much they could learn from the stories of the life of their mothers and from the pieces of advice they give, which were all fished out from a bitter past.  

The mothers wanted the best for their daughters but the problem is, the daughters try to move away from their mother's hold because they think they know already how to swim in the wilderness of the world they deal with. However, it is not the case, though. The daughters, when they could no longer hold on to the strength they try to muster, though sometimes unwilling, strive to seek for wisdom in their mother's guidance.  

But what is saddening is when you can no longer seek for such guidance because it's already too late for your mother has already passed away. This was what Jing Mae Woo felt. She later found how much she had missed the times when she is at her best in telling you her utmost desires but turned a deaf ear to hear them.  

The novel is entitled that way because after the mothers in the story met in the US, they decided to create a club called "Joy Luck Club" characterized by playing mahjong and eating sumptuous food prepared by the host, which gathers periodically. It is included in the first chapter the very reason why the Joy Luck Club came to arise. I guess, it's better that you read it yourself.  

Written with a true heart and presented devoid of any vocabulary hindrances, The Joy Luck Club will surely make it to the classics.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

All of you have probably read the book as well as other reviews about it, especially the Potter enthusiasts, so it would be worthless to give more details about it. And so, I'd rather give my perceptions about the contents of the book.  

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, for me, is not something comparable with the Harry Potter series, as it is certainly not made to be so and which the author has clearly disclosed in public. At first, Rowling did not really intend to publish the book for her billions of fans but only as a token for the people who made the fame the Potter series is currently enjoying.  

But as our favorite author saw it unfair for the people who placed her at the pinnacle of fame to be deprived of the chance of having the book, and as she intends to extend her hand to needy children through a charity which she herself co-founded, the book was decided to be published worldwide.

Content-wise, the stories, in my opinion, could not truly level with fairy tale stories we, the supposed muggles have met as a kid. But then, it is indeed a good supplement to hungry Potter fans who crave for more details related to the series. Furthermore, it is a genius step of Rowling to include commentaries made by Albus Dumbledore for it created a more vivid picture of the magical world already known to the public.  

I already have dropped the idea of looking for moral lessons in Rowling's stories ever since she stressed in an interview that she never intended to teach morality in her writings but to present the story at her will. Nonetheless, I felt the need to seek for moral lessons the stories in the book could be teaching as it is supposed to be a book read by young wizards. 

In a wizard's point of view, I believe, each stories have a lesson to tell not only for the wizards but also for us who read them. In "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot," it teaches us not to refuse to lend a hand to somebody who is needy if we have the power to do so. In "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," it tells us that sometimes, what we need can be found among ourselves, among our friends and colleagues, not in some wish-granting fountain of luck. In "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," it shows us that man can never keep himself away from the warmth of ones love because next to it is savagery and ill-will. In "Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump," it presented the fact that fooling someone will only bring bad luck twice to the person who is fooling around. "The Tale of the Three Brothers" is also the same as the tale storied by Hermione Granger in the eventh installment which, I guess, teaches us to be more logical in thinking what something can bring us in the future that at present.

Apart from these, I must say there is nothing more.

why vote NO TO QUEZON DEL NORTE and QUEZON DEL SUR

TOGETHER WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL...

Now that Quezon Province is to be divided upon the ratification of Republic Act 9495, otherwise known as "An Act Creating the Province of Quezon Del Sur" , through a plebiscite to be held on December 13, you should be wise enough to consider that this division will do no good to the de facto Quezon del Sur as has been thought of by many and will only be another burden for the mother province which will be called Quezon Del Norte upon the law's approval.

Here are some points I have gathered in my thorough search for the benefits and disadvantages to the concerned municipalities and cities if the law is approved or nullified:

PRO's

1. People from the south could benefit by "bringing the government" closer to the people, thus, making transactions in the far-flung areas of the south faster and more convinient for the persons concerned.

2. The municipalities in the south will be given the chance to progress as funds will be allocated equally among them.

3. The south will not be burdened for paying the debts made by the province for projects which the north is enjoying. [Equitable division]

4. A corrupt government official will not be enjoying more money from the funds alloted for a BIG province. This somewhat makes corruption untraceable. But if the division would be ratified, people from each province would expect to see projects from the provincial government minimizing, if not eradicating corruption.

CONS

1. Quezon Del Sur will share a percentage of the taxes gained from the two major powerplants located in the north, when in fact, it is stated in the Local Government Code of the Philippines that the rightful beneficiaries of the real property tax are the people who live in the locality where the firm is located. Much more, the law does not make it clear how this "sharing" would happen and who would facilitate such sharing.This only means that the south will become dependent of the resources the north should have been fully enjoying if the law is ratified.

2. The percentage of share that Sur will gain is unfit for the pollution the powerplants in the north is creating. The adverse ecological effects of these powerplants in the north is being felt by the south. So, it would be unfair if the south would receive only a percentage for the volume of pollution that exploits their resources. However, as I've said in number one, if the province would be divided, this "sharing" is against the local government code of the Philippines.

3. Competition in terms of foreign investors and other developmental resources would inevitably be the outcome of this division. Investors would prefer to put their money somewhere where their growth of wealth is certain. In this case, if I am an investor, I would prefer investing my money to highly urbnized places where opportunities for more profits balloon. Majority of the highly urbanized places in the province are in the north. The south would eventually be the loser in the competition. If we go against the division of the province, the taxes and other benefits that can be gained from these foreign investments can also be shared to other places hassle-free.

4. 50% of the funds that will be allocated to the south will only go to the pockets of the government officials duly appointed or elected in their seats as their salary. Half will only go to the said development plans for the municipalities of the south. If the province would remain as it is, that 50% percent of the funds wouldn't just be wasted for officials whom we're unsure whether they really perform the duties entrusted to them.

5. Billions of pesos will have to be spent for the construction of a new Capitol Building and other provincial offices which could have been spent to projects similar to the purpose the law is suggesting.

6. Gumaca, a municipality in the south suggested to be the capital of the proposed province, is not very far from the City of Lucena, the capital of the mother province. Lucena City's location is much more ideal for the whole province as it is at the center of Quezon. The same municipality, as mentioned by Sonny Pulgar in his blog posted below, which have been governed by the same influential family, haven't even improved much in the last decade.

7. Taxes would have to be raised higher than normal in the south to support their new government. What would you expect from a poverty-stricken province? It would only make lives drastically miserable for the poor.

8. The proposed Quezon Del Sur have no medical, scientific, educational and entrepreneural establishments which could support the development they aim. All of which are in the north, which, therefore would only intensify the fact of the proposed province's dependence in the north. It would, however count years for such to rise and what would happen is that people will only suffer until such time that these necessities are provided.

9. The law is misleading as it only states the creation of Quezon Del Sur in it's title when in fact, guidelines in the creation of laws in the Philippines state that one law should only have one intent. In the case of RA 9495, it not only would create Quezon Del Sur but it would also create Quezon Del Norte which is entirely different from the name of the mother province which is Quezon. This is the reason why a number of petitions have been forwarded to the Supreme Court pleading for the declaration of RA 9495 unconstitutional. [see http://www.scribd.com/doc/8015688/Supreme-Court-Petition-versus-RA-9495?autodown=doc]

I WONDER WHY they only sought for the division as the main solution to the poverty felt in the south.

I WONDER WHY the south is at the verge of poverty when there are duly elected officials who should have been looking after the development of their area.

I WONDER WHY they say that communication and technological facilities are very scarce in the south that's why it's difficult to transact problems that need to be brought up to the capital when the duly elected officials should have set these to their primary agenda if they see them as the main problem why it's difficult to contact the capital to stage their requests.

I WONDER WHY there had been no developments, as they claim, has happened in the south when some of the provincial government officials came from the south. Would there be any difference if we divide the province into two?

I WONDER WHY duly elected government officials in the provincial down to the lowest political unit hold caucuses and meetings to discuss about their view on the matter then afterwards ask for someone who is strong enough to oppose him to come on the stage because he would slap him on the face.

I WONDER WHY duly elected government officials in the provincial down to the lowest political unit hold caucuses and meetings to discuss about their view on the matter then afterwards give them "an early christmas aguinaldo" if they vow to vote for the same side such official is campaigning.

Well, as for me, these are my opinions taken from facts I have gathered so far from the two opposing views. A YES or a NO could make a large difference not only for the province but for your future children as well. Make sure to weigh both sides before you decide.

Below is a blogpost of Sonny Pulgar discussing why you should vote no in the plebicite. In the same way, here is a link discussing the necesity of creating Quezon del Sur: http://erintanada.wordpress.com/quezon-del-sur-ra-9495-mga-tanong-at-sagot/

IMPLICATION OF DIVISION

 

Now that the bill cutting Quezon has finally become a law (GMA failed to sign it within the reglamentary period), we are now faced with the last hurdle of its implementation: the plebiscite. Once the people blindly vote for the division, we perpetually lose the physical, cultural, and psychological connect with the rest of Quezon. We lose the crown jewels including the head that adorns them.

 

Truth to tell, the proponents of this law failed to exert the minimum effort of notifying the sizeable sectors of the province. What was heard for the most part was the upside for the division. Nothing was heard for the downside. The proponent, while the bill was being railroaded in the Committee, was busy imagining the short haul political benefit for him and his family. What was heard was the litany of motherhood exhortations that the South must stand by its own feet, rely and develop its own resources, and enjoy the magnanimity of the Central government by way of the Internal Revenue Allotment. How about the local sources of revenue?

 

What can we boast in the South as its crown jewels?

 

Gumaca, with its century old water problem, is a transient town. It is the site of commercial banks and government agencies in the area. Despite the reign of an old political family there, nothing was done in the development of Gumaca, touted to be the Capital of Quezon del Sur. Its water system is the worst in the province. There was even an ordinance that proscribes taking care of pigeons. The reason is obvious. Doves with their droppings dirty the roofs that collect rain water! While Hondagua in Lopez is host to the Puyat Philippine Flour Mills, it has for the last twenty years operating in reduced capacity. PFM pays minuscule property tax to Lopez and provides employment to about 200 natives of the town. Catanauan in the Bondoc remains sleepy thanks to its sleepy and corrupt leadership.

 

Moreover, the proponent failed to see that the half of the IRA is for salaries and wages of a new bureaucracy for the new province. Assuming that one half of the P900M IRA goes to the South, or P450M, P225M of it goes to employees’ pay. Its 20% development fund is pegged at P90M or P45M for each district. We lose our availments from the RPT from the crown jewels, estimated at P1.25B annually, not to mention priority in landing a job where employment opportunities loom in the North. Why should we rely on the palliative Countrywide Development Fund of the Congressmen when we know that 50% of it goes where it shouldn’t go? Someone is looking at the multimillion peso budget for the construction of the new South Capitol Complex housing the new center for the newly minted province.

 

Most of us found ourselves holding a fait accompli for a law.

 

The act of division shall do injustice to South Quezon. There was no clinical or scientific neither an academic study made prior to floating the proposal. South Quezon needs North Quezon for unity of purpose. The North nourishes the South.South Quezon loses its physical and psychological connection with the North. By legislating territorial division it spells the economic petrifaction of its half.[1]

---

[1] katataspulong ng Quezon Province, http://www.sonnypulgar.com/no-to-quezon-division/

OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens

CATEGORY: Books

GENRE: Children's Books

RATING: 4 Stars

When I was in High School, I can freshly remember that we were obliged to read any of the titles my English teacher wrote on the board and eventually write a book review following a given format. 

It was a long list of classical novels of English and American authorship and, as we were informed, they were the best of their time. I never really gave any effort at selecting which among them would trully fit my interest unlike my classmates, who at once know what they would read. I knew nobody from those authors back then because our English class isn't really similar compared to those in other schools. Long story.  

Instead, when I paid a visit to our local bookstore, I picked up the first title that I saw which is included in the list. And guess what, I purchased Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. I wasn't really a book enthusiast that time and my bank of english words is so pitiful to brag about. That's particularly the reason why by the time I took a peek at the first page of the novel, I eventually gave up the hope of submitting a good review. I hardly understood anything Dickens have written. I felt so dumb in English that I lost the confidence in the subject. 

It was not until two years later that I learned to polish my English by reading basically anything that would quench my thirst for more English terms and ideas. Three years later, after losing the first Charles Dickens book I bought for that project in High School, I gave it another shot through Oliver Twist. 

Only then did I discover why Charles Dickens is revered to be the best story teller in literary history. Oliver Twist is a subtle reminder of Dickens' lasting legacy as he presented the plot in a way where you'll be mesmerized by its unfolding.  

**SPOILER ALERT**  

It's true that it contained scenes, sometime irrelevant and could have otherwise been deleted without affecting the flow, but more than anything else is how you could vividly picture the whole scenario he's talking about through his long narratives chronicling to the reader the life of an orphan who, at a premature age, experienced the cruelty of a society characterized by inequality and rampant criminal acts.  

Oliver is a boy who was housed together with other orphans in a parochial house after his poor mother died after giving him birth. Deprived of the food little boys needed to grow up healthy, he was tasked one day to ask for more helpings of the same food given to them every day.  

"Please sir, I want more," begged poor Oliver. But this did not lead to anything good as he was dispatched to become a servant-apprentice to a funeral parlor at a meager price.  

Due to their heartlessness, he escaped to London by foot for several days amidst the cruel roads and weather. 

In London, he was offered a place to stay by a bunch of robbers who trained him to be like them but never thought that the innocence and goodwill of the boy could never be bent.  

As the story progressed, the curious reader becomes aware that Oliver's plight as a robber was all plotted by a half-brother unknown to him. This, however, was not shown in the movie and the musical.  

When Oliver was finally saved after an unsuccessful robbery lead by the notorious Bill Sikes from these disdainful people by another orphaned girl who was adopted by a rich family and who later discovered that they were family, they soon learned the reason behind Oliver's mishaps - his brother, Edward Leeford who fashioned himself another name - Monks, as he hated his name which was the same with his father.  

It turned out that his father left both of them a considerable amount of money which they should both share unless Oliver was found to be an insolent young man. He and his mother, when the old lady was alive, planned to destroy every possible evidence that would lead to make Oliver 3000 pounds richer or even those which could show his attachment to the old Edward Leeford. 

Thanks to Nancy, the live-in partner of Bill Sikes who could never bear to see Fagin and his gang cut loose the bright future of another person, which, in this case is Oliver, and which these people have already done to her life. Unluckily, because of the kindness she never admitted, she was inhumanely killed by Sikes.  

The story ended with Fagin being sentenced to death, with Bill accidentally killing himself and with Oliver, becoming relieved of a kind of life and family he never once imagined he has.  

Anyone would probably feel sorry if he sees someone, especially a child already deprived of a better life at a very young age and worse planted in a soil that hardly grows healthy crops. Take this as a background and stuff it with ingenuity through words and expressions of unparalleled depth and wit and you would end up with a literary classic anyone would find completely wonderful to read at any given time. That's what true literary genius is, already exemplified by Charles Dickens in a novel I would never forget, Oliver Twist.

SEE ALSO the movie version of Oliver Twist and it's musical version.