Once upon a time in the Philippines a trade boomed. It was the Nata d Coco. Ut was a prime export to Japan. People attended seminars and set-up Nata De Coco factories all over the country. Business was good. Then some got greedy a d started to short cut the process of culturing Nata and began using formaldehyde. In short time the industry began to collapse. And the promised boom never came to be.

The other day I came across these two artiles from the BBC how companies were wasting money on Like campaigns because of fake profiles – Facebook ‘likes’ and adverts’ value doubted by BBC Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones

Furthermore, the BBC tried a Like Campaign with a bogus product and got results that pointed out that a number fake profiles and profiles not targeted by the Like campaign produced false positives or bloated figures. The countries where these Facebook profiles came from Egypt and the Philippines none of them were the target markets of the Like campaigns.

Here is the post from the BBC about the Visual Bagel Experiment by BBC Technology Correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones

Bad news for Marketers and Brands

Considering the millions of money spent on Facebook and other Social Media Channels it really seems that a person, brand, company or organization must be careful and wary in relying to much on Like or even trending campaigns. For one the numbers can be deceiving. And another such campaigns could be staged managed for the customer and the agency or who ever is running a campaign look great. Really it would not be hard to imagine the implementor or manager of such a campaign fudging or even astroturfing the numbers to serve his own interest … Leaving the company stranded on a boosted ego of a shrimp made to believe it was a whale.

It might be time to implement an independent audit of such campaigns. Even better test the skill of agencies and the implementors and set goals & objectives beyond likes and trending. Perhaps, Ultimately question whether the campaign go beyond the digital world?

Nothing New For Readers

Fake profiles and astroturfing on-line is nothing new . It is something the Internet is made up of – information, opinion, knowledge, belief and propaganda. And the BBC posts just proves this. Unlike Brands, Readers in general do not lose large amount of monies because of like and trending campaigns. There is a possibility, however that we may be duped by such campaigns into believing them In the end it is still best to question any claim and be wary of digital appearances. As a Buddhist once advised,”If you meet Buddha on the road shoot him for that is not Buddha.

   

I have never knew him but I knew of him. He came to be known to me through the television and silver screen. He was Glory; He was Tansan; He was John Puruntong; He was Kevin Cosme; He was a Tikbalang; and he was even Darna … Kuno. He was Dolphy.

Growing up I got to know him because of his movies and television shows. His body of work is extensive and diverse. Most people would remember him for playing two types of roles the underdog representation of the common man and a homosexual. But his roles were much more. Perhaps because I have watched a number of old films I was made aware of this and I guess it also helped that our yaya introduced to a number of his movies it was several, and although I have not seen all of them i have seen enough to know that Dolphy’s characters are more than just stereotypes.

John Puruntong and Kevin Cosme

John & Marsha to Home Along Da Riles
Source: Video48 Blog

The family man who tries to make ends meet in order for his family to survive. And every week for several years the audience has witnessed the misadventures of the Purontong and later the Cosme family as they try to forge a decent life despite problems and contravidas – a monster in -law and her toady: Dona Delilah Vda d Jones and Matutina – or terror officemates – Steve. It makes us laugh because we are familiar with it. Like John Puruntong we have our problems and monsters … And humor has a way of reliving the stress; distancing the problem; giving the tyrants what they deserve … Comeuppance and ridicule ; and perhaps even a way to solve our problems.

Perhaps this is why John and Marsha seems to be etched on our soul: our psyche. Of course when I say us and our those of us who have been touched by the comedy of Dolphy. Perhaps this is why Puruntong Shorts came to be known as Puruntong shorts.

Comedy Skills

Spoofs: Barilan sa Baboy Kural to Darna
Source: Video48 Blog

Of course none of this would not have been possible unless there had been a correct mixing of talents, skills and circumstances. Dolphy would not be be Dolphy without the help of other people and favorable circumstances but the skilland talent of Dolphy made it possible to became a perfect pearl. If you were to see his early films , you would see Dolphy mixed a subtle wit, grace of a dancer, which he was when he started n bodabil, and a perfec sense of timing. In Jack en Jill he was able to make his scenes with Martin Marfil, who was trying to “straighten” look ridiculously funny with a mixture of subtle and overt actions. These three things served him well through the years. In Buhay Marinero he sang with Timi Yuro a pig-latin version Sitsiritsit Salagubang – Ritsisitsi bangsalagu or when along with Panchito Alba he would translate a song.

Gay Roles

Dolphy’s role included homosexuals and would-be politicians
Source: Video48 Blog

Dolphy also became famous for playing homosexuals from Facifica Falayfay to Walter Dempster Jr in Markova. In fact you could group of his films in this niche. For me one of the two standout his role as Gregory/Goryo/Glory in Jack n Jill and as Coring in Ang Tatay Kong Nanay. In both films his character throygh humor and quick-wittedness his characters perserves and survives in Jack en Jill for a time and in Ang ztunay Kng Nanay proves the triumph of nurture over nature … Evn over stereotypes.

A Sense of Humor and Resiliency

The Panchito and Dolphy Duo
Source: Video48 Blog

Maybe the best legacy one got from watching nearly all Dolphynalia woild be the lesson from another great Comedian and his alter-ego: Charlie Chaplin and the Tramp. And the lesson would be that resiliency and humor go hand in hand. In order cope, survive and succeed we all hqve to try, try and try but not lose our sense of humor.

So to all of us John Purunton’s out there: Tayo ay magsumikap at wag lumimot na tumuwa orthe John Purontong Principle: Magsumikap Ka at tumawa or Work Hard and Persevere but do not lose your sense of humor)

DOLPHY On YouTube
Some of Dolphy’s films: Dolphy has been in the Filipno Film Industry for years and because of this has a large body of work. Some like Jack En Jill,are available on DVD; some are still shown on television and cable from time to time. While others can be seen online.

Mga Kandidatong Pulpol
Comedy film poking fun at politics and elections. This has not lost its edge.

Dolphy and Panchito n Buhay Bombero
Dolphy becomes a fireman. H becomes the bane of his immediate superior Panchito. In this clip you will see Dely Atay-Atayan play the mother of Dolphy’s girl friend. Mch later on Atay-Atayan becomes Dona Delilah. Vda, de Jones in John and Marsha.

Lucio at Miguel
Another film from the comedyteam of Dolphy and Panchito. The film rvolves around the mission of an angel and a devil on Earh. Includes mash-up song between Lucio and Miguel.

Silveria
Dolphy and a talking horse called Silveria. Looking at tht films one notices are more active rebooting of themes and films in the industry. Some just as good but in my opiniom in general not as good as the films they were based on for example Jack en Jill or even Bondying.

Bayan Ko
Dolphy and Panchito sing Bayan Ko. The duo actually has a compilation of novelty songs. One even promoting Birth Control and so e commenting on the problems faced on a daily basis.

   

Something, I wrote after our walk the other day. It was written in Taglish and English. The English translation follows immediately after.

Hunyo 12, 2012- Ngayon araw na ito naglakad kami ng pamangkin ko sa Intramuros. Imbis na pumunta kami sa mga ibat-ibang museo at lumang simbahan. Naglakad lang kami at nag-usap. Walang tao masyado ngayon – kasi nga Araw ng Kalayaan. Karamihan nasa mall o sa kanya-kanyang bahay at napapahinga.

Mahangin sa loob ng Intramuros. Hangin mula sa dagat pumapasok-labos. Kaya siguro yung mga nakatira dito noong panahon ng mga Kastila mahilig maglakad pag hapon upang masigip ang hangin mula sa dalampasigan. Habang nagkalakad kami napunta yung usaspan namin sa kasaysayang ng bansa. Araw ng Kalayaan kasi at siguro kasi nasa Intramuros kami kaya nakaka enganyo. Nakakagulat marinig sa kanya ang mga iba at ibang istorya ng mga bayani ng Pilipinas. Sabagay hindi nakakagulat ito dahil tinuturo naman ito sa mga iskwelahan. Napa-isip tuloy ako, siguro …. Panahon na ibigay ko sa kanya ang libro kung A QUESTION OF HEROES ni Nick Joaquin.

Ito yung libro na isa sa mga bagay na dagdag na aking pagkaintnidi at nagturo kung ano pa ang puwedeng basahin ukol sa Kasaysayan at Kalayaan ng ating Inang Bayan. Dito ko nakilala si Padre Pedro Pelaez. Na naging tagapagtaguyod o tagapagsanggalang ng mga Pilipinong Paring noong mga panahon ng mga Kastila. Kakabalik pa noon ng mga itinakwil na Jesuits at ibinigay sa kanilaang ang mga simbahan at parokya ng mga Recollects. At dahil diyan nais ng mga Recollects at ibang mga Religious Orders na makuha ang mga simbahan at parokya na hawak ng mga Filipino Secular Priests or Clergy. Kinalaban ito ni Padre Pelaez – at isang paraan na ginamit niya ay ang pagpapadala ng sulat sa Espanya dinedepensa ang karapatang ng mga Pinoy na pari na manatili sa kanilang puwesto at atokya. Nakatulong din na si Padre Pelaez noong panahon na iyon ay administrador at defacto na Arsobispo ng Maynila. Subalit bago maka gawa ng hakbang ang mga Prayle kay Padre Pelaez- siya ay namatay ng maguno ang isang parte ng Cathedral nang lumindol.

Kahit namatay na si Padre Peleaz, ang kanyang mga kaaway ay tuloy pa ang paninira kay Pelaez at sa mga Pilipinong Pari. Dahil dito lumabas ang isang pamphlet na Manfesto at kinalaban nito ang mga paratang ng mga Prayle laban kay Padre Pelaez at mga Pilipinong Pari.

Maramng ang naniniwala na si Padre Jose Burgos ay isa sa may akda ng Manifesto. Si Padre Burgos ay isang liberal at isa ring tagapagtangol ng mga Pilipinong Pari. Estudiyante si Burgos ni Pelaez at si Burgos naman ang guro Paciano Mercado.

Noong 1872 nangyari ang Cavite Mutiny, Ginamit ang Cavite Mutiny para makulong, matapon, mapatay, at mapatahimik sina Padre Burgos at mga kakampi nito. Si Padre Jose Burgos, Padre Jacinto Zamora at Padre Mariano Gomez ay na sintensiyahan ng kamatayaan – ginarote sila sa Bagumbayan. Ang mga kapanalug nila itinakwil sa ibang bansa. Nakuha ng mga Prayle ang kinakamkam nilang mga parokya mula sa mga Pilipinong Pari.

Noong pinatay sina Padre Burgos, Padre Gomez at Padre Zamora naging martir sila sa mga sumunod na Pinoy ang Mga Reformista at Propagandista na naghangad ng reporma at atonomya mula sa Espanya. Isa na dito si Paciano Mercado nakatatandang kapatid ni Jose Rizal. Hindi makakaila ang impluensiya ng mga Pinoy na Pari kay Rizal, ang El Filibusterismo ay inihandog niya sa tatlong pari na mas kilala ngayon sa acronym na Gomburza.

Pero hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang isyorya. Ang hiling para sa reporma at atonomiya ay hindi dininiig at pagkalipas ng ilang tao nagbago ang sigaw naging revolusyon na at kalayaan . Pero ang rebolusyon na ito ay hindi nangyari bigla-biglaan. Ang isa sa mga ugat nito ay nagsimula kay Padre Pedro Pelaez tuloy kay Padre Jose Burgos at ang kanyang Manifesto tuloy kay Paciano Mercado at Jose Rizal – sa kanyang mga sinulat. Nagpapatunay lamang na ang punla ng pagbabago at kalayaan ay nasa ideya at pag-iisip.

Siguro panahon na nga na ibigay ang libro nii Nick Joaquin – A Question of Heroes – sa pamangkn ko.

Isang pag-iisip mula kay Ariel at Will Durant inakma sa paksa na ito. Sana magsilbing paalals at aral sa lahat.

Ang tunay na Rebolusyon ay pagyaman ng isip at mabuting pagbabago ng ugali
. Ang tunay na Kalayaan ay nagsisumula sa sarili. At ang totoong Rebolusyonayo ay ang nag-aayuda, nag-aaral, at mga nagtuturo.

The English Version

June 12, 2012 – Today I took a walk with my nephew around Intramuros. Instead of going to the museums and old churches we just took a walk along the old walls. There was hardly anyone about – It was Independence Day. I guess most people were at the malls ir just staying at home resting.

It was winday that day. The Sea Breeze was coming i n and out. Perhaps this is why in the old old days the Spaniards were fond of strolling around this part of Intramuros. As we were walking our talk meandered towards the history of the Philippines. It was Independnce Day and we were inside Intramuros:the time and place making such talks inevitable. It was surprising though to hear such things from my nephew, but then again such things are taught in school. Such things made me think that .. Perhaps it was time to give my nephew my much read Nick Joaquin book – A QUESTION OF HEROES.

This was the book that allowed me to understand and expand my understanding of the history and freedom of our Motherland. This is where I met Father Pedro Pelaez. The advocate and champion of the Filipino Secular Clergy. During that particular part of our Spanish Colonial past, the Jesuits had returned from exile and were given the church and the parishes of the Recollects. And because of this the Recollects and the other orders wanted to get the churches and parishes managed by the Filipino clergy. This was opposed by Fr. Pelaez – and one way he countered this was by writing a letter to Spain defending the right and competence of the Filipino Clergy. Being the defacto Archbishop of Manila also strengthened his position. However, before Fr Pelaez could do anthing else his life was cut short when part of the Manls Cathedral collapsed during an earthquake. The Filipino Clergy and Reformers were now alone to face wrath of the friars.

Even though Fr. Pelaez was dead, his enemies persisted in besmirching his reputation and scuppering his cause – the Filipino Secular Clergy. And because of these attacks a pamphlet titled Manifesto came out and it set out to debunk the accusations of the Friars against the Filipino Secular Clergy and Fr Pelaez.

Many believed that Fr Jose Burgos was one of the authors of the Manifesto. Fr. Burgos was liberal priest who also championed the cause of the Filipino Secular Clergy. He was a student of Fr.mPedro Pelaez and He was the teacher of Paciano Mercado.

In 1872 the Cavite Mutiny happened and this was used to imprison, exile, execute and silence Fr. Burgos and his allies. Fr. Jose Burgos; Fr. Jacinto Zamora; and Fr. Mariano Gomez were sentenced to death by garrote in Bagumbayan. Some of their allies were exiled. The Friars got the churches and parishes from Filipino Secular Clergy.

Upon their deaths, Burgos, Gomez and Zamora became martyrs to the next generation of Filipino who desired reforms and autonomy from Spain. The three became known as Gomburza.

But the story does not end there. When the demand of the Filipino Reformists and Propagandists for reforms and autonomy fell on deaf ears the call then change to revolution and freedom. This of course has one of its roots from Pelaez to Burgos and his Manifesto to Paciano to his Brother Jose Rizal and his writings. Proving that one of the seeds of change and freedom can be found n ideas and thoughts.

Perhaps it is time to give Joaquin’s A QUESTION OF HEROES to my nephew.
.
A set if ideas adapted Ariel and Will Durant adapted for this post. Hopefully this may serve as a reminder and a lesson of sort to all.

The True Revolution is enlightenment of the mind and improvement of character
True Freedom is Individual
True Revolutionaries are those who help, learn and guide

   

Fellow film lovers it is June again and it is time for the French Film Festival or the Citi-Rustan ‘s French Film Festival. This is the 17th French Film Festival and will start with a special screening ( by invite only) today, Thursday June 7, with – Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist”. The film received numerous awards in international festivals and it recently won five Oscars, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin. One of the guest who will be part of the festival is Notable French Director Olivier Assayas. He will also be interacting with several Filipino film directors and students.

One of France’s most respected directors, Olivier Assayas, will honor the festival with his presence to accompany a selection of his films, a retrospective compiled by the Institut Français, an agency of the French Ministry of Culture. The UP Film Institute and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will provide an opportunity for Mr. Assayas to share his passion for cinema by providing a venue for him to interact with Filipino film directors and students upon his arrival in Manila – Source

Below you will find the screening schedules from June 8 to 17 – both in images and text. Feel free to copy and pass the word on. For inquiries, please call 0915-313-5891 or send us an e-mail at frenchfilmfest@gmail.com

Tentative Schedule of Citi-Rustan’s French Film Festival

June 8-
1:00 pm- All That Glitters (Tout ce qui brille)
3:30 pm- Hideaway (Le Refuge)
5:30 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois) 8:00 PM- Roses A Credit

June 9 -
12;30 pm- Clean
3:15 pm- Deep in the Woods (Au Fond Des Bois)
5:30 pm- Irma Vep

June 10-
12;00 pm-Roses A Credit
2:30 pm-Sentimental Destinies
6:00 pm-Cold Water (L’eau Froide)
8:00 pm-Demon lover

June 11
12:30 pm-Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)
3:00 pm-Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale) 6:00 pm-The Art of Love (L’art d’aimer) 8:00 pm- Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)

June 12-
1:30 pm-Bakal Boys 4:00 pm- Short films
8:00 pm-Busong

June 13-
12:30 pm-Demon Lover
3:30 pm-Irma Vep
5:30 pm-Summer Hours 8:00-Sentimental Destinies

June 14-
12:00 pm- Rebellion (L’ordre et la morale)
3:00 pm- The Art of Love (L’art d’aimer)
5:00 pm- Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)
7:30 pm-The Artist

June 15-
12:00 pm- Cold Water (L’eau Froide)
2:30 pm-Demon Lover
5:30 pm- All That Glitters (Tout ce qui brille)
8:00 pm-Clean

June 16-
12:00 pm- Hideaway (Le Refuge)
3:00 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois)
5:30 pm-Sentimental Destinies
8:00 pm-Summer Hours

June 17-
12:30 pm-Clean
3:00 pm- Roses A Credit
5:30 pm- Deep in the Woods (Au Fond Des Bois)
8:00 pm- The 3-Way Wedding (L’ Mariage a Trois)

   

Our lakes and rivers are being invaded. This time the invader is the Chitala chitala or more commonly known as the Knife Fish Most people will be familiar with or would have probably seen it inside an aquarium. Now it is at the latest poster boy of Invasive Species in the Philippines. As can be seen in a sample of headlines from media.

Alarm raised over knife fish invasion in Laguna de Bay

Pamalakaya blames LLDA for spread of knife fish

Knife Fish invades Laguna Lake

Philippine seeks to blunt knife fish invasion

DENR studying use of turtles vs Knife fish

For the moment the Knifefish has been branded as the latest invader to our local lakes and rivers replacing the Janitor fish or an armored catfish or a suckermouth sailfin catfish from South America known before as the Plecostomus but now is Pterygoplichthys. A reading of the news reports reveal some inaccuracies – like stating that the Janitor fish is a an African catfish not South American, although I think we have been invaded by an African Catfish as well – and possible recommendations that maybe worsening the problem rather than solving – like introducing soft shell turtles Pelodiscus sinensis to kill the knife fish population – thereby just replacing the problem species with another one in our lakes and rivers.

Is this a new phenomenon or have we been through this before? Do we really have to formulate new policies and plans or do we just have to re-tool and implement plans formulated before?

In May 21 to 22, 2001, a Seminar workshop was held to discuss, strategize and recommend measures to be taken to tackle Invasive species. An article written by Rexie Jane Parreño entitled,
THEIR BIODIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: Tackling the Issue on Invasive Species can be found online here.

The seminar-workshop was organized by the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation or ARCBC http://www.arcbc.org.ph/ in collaboration with the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity. The workshop recommended the following:

Conduct pilot test before introducing alien species to determine their beneficial and invasive attributes.

Enforce rigid inspection and quarantine regulations to prevent uncontrolled transfer of pests when importing logs and reforestation species.

Monitor identified alien species invasive to indigenous and endemic species.

Monitor developments relevant to altered species (genetically modified organ- isms or GMOs).

Use of invasive alien species instead of alien invasive species.

Mobilize interagency effort through task forces involving the DENR, Department of Agriculture, NGOs, other government agencies, communities, private entities and other related agencies.

Improve existing policies and other regulations related to invasive alien species and formulate new policies.

Enhance public awareness and encourage advocacy campaigns by making people understand the impact of such species and involving them in action plans.

Conduct more researches on invasive alien species and dis- seminate results to the public and other appropriate bod- ies.

Establish a baseline data on endemic/indigenous and alien species

The participants were told that the recommendations and agreements will be forwarded to the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development through the relevant sub-committee, the House of Representatives through the Committee on Biodiversity and to the Office of the DENR Secretary through Undersecretary Ignacio.

The workshop – seminar discussed different types of Alien invaders. For Aquatic invaders the following were listed – these were Alien Aquatic species introduced into the Philippines (Most of these were mentioned by Dr Rafael Guerrero and Ravindra C. Joshi in their respective papers on invasive species- Invasive Aquatic Animals and Invasive Alien Species: Concerns and status in the Philippines

THE INVADERS
The Thai catfish or Clarias batrachus,
The Golden Apple Snail or Pomacea canaliculata;
The African catfish or Clarias gariepinus;
The White Goby or Glossogobius giurus;
The Eleotrid or Hypseleotris agilis;
The Mosquito Fish or Gambusia affinis;
The Jaguar Guapote or Parachrmis managuensis (?)
And the Janitor Fish or Pterygoplichthys pardalis and P. disjunctivus

I wonder why the Tilapia was not include? Clearly this was an introduced alien species. Like the Golden Apple Snail and its pink eggs it was brought in as a food source from the United States in the 1980s and it displaced the native kuhol or Pila Luzonica. The Thai catfish was also introduced for food and displaced the native Clarias macrocephalus. Other species that maybe but hopefully not included in the list would be the Mekong Kanduli or the Pangasius hypopthalamus; the Giant Snakehead or the Channa micropeltes ; and even the Fortune Lobster also known as the Procambarus clarkii.

Incidentally, study was recently releases showing that the species of Janitor fish have been cross-breeding,

DNA barcodes of the suckermouth sailfin catfish Pterygoplichthys (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in the Marikina River system, Philippines: Molecular perspective of an invasive alien fish species Joycelyn C. Jumawan1,3*, Benjamin M. Vallejo2, Annabelle A. Herrera3, Corazon C. Buerano3 and Ian Kendrich C. Fontanil

Of course, we, Man introduced them to our waters. The more popular belief is that these were introduced by aquarium hobbyists who grew tired of them or could not support these pets as they outgrew their tank. Another possibility and less popular is that these organisms could have been bred near the lakes and rivers – in fish farms and fish ponds. They may have escaped during a storm or when water was changed. What I fear and is a possibility is that they were cultured in fish cages or fish pens -even for grow-out purposes.

In the workshop one of the things discussed was the need to create public awareness the ecological, economical and social impact of invasive species. It and their recommendation of that workshop more than a decade ago is still valid, very much so.

So how do you stop the invasion of the Knife Fish? One can hunt them down and eat them . It is considered a delicacy. You could introduce another predator but done without a study is haphazard and could lead to bigger problems. Another suggestion would be to put limits and impose inspection on fish farms and ponds near the rivers and lakes but then again this particular solution is something that should have been before,a long long long time ago.