Anime in the Philippines

When did it start? I remember as a boy we used to watch Gigantor or Tetsujin-28 on TV before martial law.

After that, we had Speed Racer and Marine Boy.

But this was pale in comparison came 1978. That year the anime phenomenon really hit the Philippines. Chodenji Machine Voltes V was the 1st of a wave of animation from Japan that really made an impact to our culture


The 1st superrobot series which aired at GMA 7, it started a whole slew of other feature animes including Mazinger Z, Mekander Robot, Daimos, UFO Grendizer, Steel Jeeg, Balatak, Getter Robo, Danguard Ace and others.

A year later, then president Marcos for reasons that we cannot fathom during those times, declared these series unfit for air play. Then started other genres for anime to be aired here. Titles like Candy Candy, Ron Ron, Nobody's Child, Alakazam, Paul in Wonderland replaced the superrobots with fantasy and drama stories.

What started as stories cattered to male audiences began to include the female audience showing how broad anime really is.

Presently there are hundreds of anime features TV series and movies that are show here. Familiar titles as Yuyu Hakusho (Ghost Fighter) and the Gundam series



and others like Dragon Ball, Naruto and others.

After a bit more that 30 years, anime is still going strong in our country as adult and kids alike watch gleefully. Now we have tagalog versions of said animes making it more accessible to the masses.

Here's to another 30 years or more.....

Like Mecha? Try Innocent Venus

Innocent Venus (イノセント・ヴィーナス, Inosento Vīnasu?) is a post-apocalyptic science fiction anime TV series which began broadcasting on the WOWOW network in Japan on July 26, 2006 at midnight. The series makes use of some 3D cel-shaded animation, which achieves a more "hand drawn" look than traditional 3D animation. At Anime Boston 2007, ADV Films had announced they have licensed for the show.[1] On July 11, 2008 ADV Announced that it was discontinuing print of the DVDs.[2]

Plot

After the world population and economy is devastated by simultaneous hyper-hurricanes, many different factions and fledgling nations appear. In Japan, an elite class called Logos appears, controlling special zones in the country which have most of the wealth and resources. The Logos exercise control over the Levinas, the lower class which struggles day to day in order to stay alive. The Levinas are restricted from entering the special zones, causing tension which creates a resistance group which fights back against the Logos.

With the tagline "A Near Future Late-Shogunate Action Animation", the story draws analogies with 19th Century Japan at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate period, just before the Boshin War.

Jō and Jin escape from Phantom, an elite military group which is used to control the Levinas. When they escape, they take a young girl named Sana with them. The series follows them as they work to avoid being caught by Phantom and the regular military forces of the Logos.



This is one of those series that you'll be surprised on who the villain really is.
Always a good mental exercise to watch these kinds of stories. Plus the animation is top class.

Mendicants and the Filipino People

I've been musing over the anti-mendicancy law that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared. It's still in effect by the way.

Stated as follows:

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1563 June 11, 1978

MALACAÑANG
M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1563

ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF MENDICANCY, PROVIDING PENALTIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the promotion of social justice and protection of life, property and dignity of the citizenry in endangered by rampant mendicancy;

WHEREAS, mendicancy breeds crime, creates traffic hazards, endangers health, and exposes mendicants to indignities and degradation; and

WHEREAS, there is an immediate need to provide appropriate services to enable mendicants to meet their basic needs and develop self-reliance;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:

Section 1. Title And Scope Of The Decree. This Decree shall be known as the Mendicancy Law of 1978. It shall apply to all mendicants, and exploited infants or children who are 8 years old and below, minors found begging and covered by Presidential Decree No. 603 and parents of exploited infants and children criminally liable under Article 59 and 60 of Presidential Decree No. 603.

Section 2. Purpose. This Decree shall be interpreted so as to, among others:

a. Prevent the commission of mendicancy;

b. Prevent the exploitation of infants and children through mendicancy and provide habilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of exploitation; and

c. Promote the rehabilitation of minors found begging and mendicants by providing an integrated developmental package of preventive, habilitative interceptive, remedial, and/or rehabilitative services.

Section 3. Definition Of Terms. As used in this Decree, the following shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed thus:

a. "Mendicant" refers to any person, except those enumerated in Section 4 of this Decree, who has no visible and legal means of support, or lawful employment and who is physically able to work but neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living.

b. "Exploited Infant" or "Child" refers to an infant or child 8 years and below who is used in begging or one who accompanies a habitual vagrant or beggar.

c "Habitual Mendicant" refers to one who has been convicted of mendicancy under this Decree two or more times.

d. "Duly Licensed Child Placement Agency" or "Individual" is an institution or person licensed by the Department of Social Services and Development to assume the care, custody, protection and maintenance of children for placement in any child-caring institution or home under the care and custody of any person for purposes of adoption, guardianship or foster care.

e. Integrated Developmental Package of Services include the following:

1. Preventive services to measures that forestall the occurrence of situations identified as contributory to mendicancy;

2. Habilitative services refer to measures which provide environmental or socio-economic conditions for the exploited infant or child which maximize possibilities and opportunities for the enjoyment of satisfactory equality of life before the formation of undesirable attitudes and values or the onset of conditions most conducive to mendicancy;

3. Interceptive services are measures which channel or direct the growth potential and productive energy of the mendicant infant, child, youth or adult to offset the effect of factors contributing to mendicancy;

4. Remedial services refer to measures intended to meet the basic needs and improve living condition of the mendicant; and

5. Rehabilitative services refer to medical, social, educational, psychological and vocational measures to develop and/or restore the mendicant to the fullest state of well-being or economic usefulness of which he is capable, and to engage in a gainful occupation.

Section 4. Apprehension Of And Services For Persons Found Begging. Any infants or child 8 years old and below who is found begging or is being utilized by a mendicant for purposes of begging shall be apprehended as a neglected child under Article 141 of PD 603 and shall be committed to the custody and care of the Department of Social Services and Development or to any duly licensed child placement agency or individual.

Any minor over 9 years of age under 15 found begging or is being utilized for purposes of begging and who acted without discernment shall be apprehended as a neglected child under Article 141 of Presidential Decree No. 603 and shall be committed to the custody and care of the Department of Social Services and Development or to any duly licensed placement agency or individual.

Any minor over 9 years of age and under 15 who is found begging or is being utilized for the purpose of begging and who acted with discernment shall be proceeded against in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3, Title VIII of Presidential Decree No. 603.

Any person not otherwise covered in the preceding paragraph of this Section who is found begging and who is physically or mentally incapable of gainful occupation shall be provided the integrated package of services by the Department of Social Services and Development, the Welfare units of local governments and other cooperating agencies.

Section 5. Criminal Liability. A mendicant as defined in Paragraph (a) Section 3 hereof, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding P500.00 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years or both at the discretion of the court.

A habitual mendicant shall be punished by a fine not exceeding P1,000.00 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 4 years or both at the discretion of the court.

Parents of exploited infants or minors under Section 4 of this Decree shall be proceeded against in accordance with Articles 59 and 60 of Presidential Decree No. 603, unless they are themselves mendicants.

Any person who abets mendicancy by giving alms directly to mendicants, exploited infants and minors on public roads, sidewalks, parks and bridges shall be punished by a fine nor exceeding P20.00.

Section 6. Information Program. The Department of Public Information shall conduct a nationwide educational and information program on the Mendicancy Law and educate the public to contribute only to lawful fund raising projects and prevent the community in giving alms except through organized agencies, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Public Information may promulgate.

Section 7. Local Programs And Facilities. Local governments shall provide socio-economic programs and establish operating units including reception and action centers, sheltered workshops, constitute homes and other facilities for mendicants, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Local Government and Community Development may promulgate.

Section 8. Health Needs. The Department of Health shall provide the necessary measures in meeting the health needs of mendicants, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Health may promulgate.

Section 9. Law Enforcement. The Department of National Defense shall provide the necessary law enforcement and other related services for the implementation of this Decree, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of National Defense may promulgate.

Section 10. Integrated Network Of Services. The Department of Social Services and Development shall provide an integrated network of appropriate services to exploited infants and children 8 years old and below as well as mendicant minors and adult mendicants and shall coordinate the services related to the implementation of this Decree, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Department of Social Services and Development may promulgate.

Section 11. Appropriations. The sum of two million pesos (P2,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury that are not otherwise appropriated, in order to support the activities under this Decree.

Section 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 13. Separability Of Provisions. If for any reason any section of provision of this Decree is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 14. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.



An observation of Filipino culture sees us as a people who dislikes being poor, but we sell a national image of poverty so that foreign investors might take notice.
Another observation is that those who begs seem to have letters with seals from either the local government or the DSWD. Whichever agency has allowed these people to roam the streets should think twice.

In the bible, Jesus told us it is blessed to be poor. And that being poor doesn't really mean indignity.
Beggars come to people for alms. The law said that it is illegal to give alms which seem to contradict the command in the New Testament.
I hope the Philippine government acts to help these people. Homeless, displaced or simply victims of circumstances.

Help the poor. Feed the poor. Give to the poor.

Damn Marcos for giving this kind of law.

The Badjau

Many will see them in the various streets of Manila and nearby provinces, begging, passing envelopes and drumming their self-made drums.
The Badjau-(badjao) are sea faring people who's prime source of income and livelyhood is fishing. A peaceloving people who were relocated to other places and are now like gypsy nomads. Who's to blame for their plight? Various NGO's and the DSWD seems to be ignoring them.

Here are some data from wiki:

The Bajau, (also written as Badjao, Badjaw or Badjau) are an indigenous ethnic group of Malaysia and the southern Philippines. Although native to the southern Philippines, due to escalated conflicts in the Sulu Archipelago in the southern part of the country, many of the Bajau had migrated to neighboring Malaysia over the course of 50 years, where currently they are the second largest ethnic group in the state of Sabah, making up 13.4%[1] of the total population. Groups of Bajau had also migrated to Sulawesi and Kalimantan in Indonesia, although figures of their exact population are unknown. They were sometimes referred to as the Sea Gypsies, although the term has been used to encompass a number of non-related ethnic groups with similar traditional lifestyles, such as the Moken of the Burmese-Thai Mergui Archipelago and the Orang Laut of southeastern Sumatra and the Riau Islands of Indonesia. The modern outward spread of the Bajau from older inhabited areas seems to have been associated with the development of sea trade in trepang.

History

The origin of the word Bajau is not clear cut. Although it is generally accepted that these groups of people can be termed Bajau, these groups never call themselves Bajau. They call themselves with the names of their tribes that are mostly the names of the places of where they live. They accept the term because they realise that they share some vocabulary and general genetic characteristic such as in having darker skin, although the Simunuls appear to be an exception in having fairer skin.

British administrators in Sabah, labelled the Samah as Bajau and put Bajau in their birth certificates as their race. During Malaysia, some have started labelling their races as their ancestors call themselves, such as Simunul. For political reasons and to ensure easy access to the Malaysian special privileges granted to Malays, many have started calling themselves Malay. This is especially true for recent Filipino migrants.

For most of their history, the Bajau have been a nomadic, seafaring people, living off the sea by trading and subsistence fishing. The boat dwelling Bajau see themselves as non-aggressive people. They kept close to shore by erecting houses on stilts, and traveled using lepa-lepa, handmade boats which many lived in. Although historically originating from the southern Philippine coasts, Sabahan Sama legend narrates that they had originated from members of the royal guard of the Sultan of Johor, after the fall of the Malay Malacca empire, who settled along the east coast of Borneo after being driven there by storms. Another version narrates that they were escorting the Sultan's bride, but the bride was later kidnapped by the Sultan of Brunei. The fact that the Bajau-Sama languages belong to the Philippine branch of Malayo-Polynesian languages would substantiate the anthropological origins of the Bajau groups to be from the Philippines, and put the origin legends down to the historic Malay-centric influence of Bajau culture.

However, there are traces of trails that Samah people was came from Riau Archipelago especially Lingga Island more than 300 years ago. It was believes that migration process of Samah to North West Borneo took place more than 100 years timeliness, starting from normal trading exchange with the Empire of Brunei, part of bride sent from Johor to Sulu was kidnapped by Prince of Brunei then the fall of legitimate Sultan of Johor after overthrown by Bugis immigrant(Samah people fled to west coast of North Borneo where they feel save to live under the protection of Brunei Sultanate). That's why native Kadazan-Dusun call Samah people as "tuhun(people of) Samah" or "tulun(people of) Samah" in their dialects, the form of recognition before western civilisation found Borneo. It was believed Samah people was not from royal member of Sultan, but a loyal workers, craftsmen, boat builders and farmers that fled from cruelty of ethnic cleansing in chaotic Johor during aggression of Bugis taking over the thrown of Johor.

Currently, there exists a huge settlement of Filipino Bajau in Pulau Gaya, off the Sabah coast. Many of them are illegal immigrants on the Malaysian island. With the island as a base, they frequently enter Sabah and find jobs as manual labourers.

Demographics and religion

The many Bajau sub-groups vary culturally and linguistically, but are unified through their adherence to Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i school.
[edit] Sub-groups

Commonly, many sub-groups of Bajau are named after the place or island they live-in for many years. Even though they are called Bajau, each sub-groups has their own unique language, cultures and tradition. However, certain sub-groups are able to understand the languages of other sub-groups and races. For example, some Bajau understand the Bajau Ubian language, and the Bajau Ubian and Simunul in Sabah are able to understand and speak the Tausug language called the Suluk language in Sabah.

Lists of Bajau sub-groups:

1. Ubian (The largest group of Bajau. They reside on many islands of the Philippines and its seas, as well as sizable minorities living around the towns of Kudat and Semporna in Sabah, Malaysia)
2. Samah (or Commonly known as Bajau Kota Belud, because most of them live in or near area of Kota Belud, Sabah, i.e. the whole of the West Coast of Sabah). They call themselves Samah, not Bajau and their neighbours, the Dusuns also call them Samah, not Bajau. It must have been the British administrators that define them as Bajau.
3. Samah/Sama Sulawesi Selatan[3]
4. Simunul (They can be found at Kampung Bokara, Sandakan, Semporna and Lahad Datu Towns. Simunuls in Sabah originate from Tawi-tawi, where they are still mostly found and is the majority there, and the only Bajau group that mostly has fair skin.)
5. Samal (A group native to the Philippines.)
6. Bajau Banadan (This sub-group, live mostly in Kudat, and have origins in the Philippines, hence although living among Malay peoples for a substantial part of their history, are also able to converse in the Philippine Tausug and Samal languages.)
7. Tando' Bas (This sub-group is rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Tandobas in the Philippines)
8. Ungus Matata (This sub-group is rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Ungus Matata in the Philippine.)
9. Tolen (This sub-group is found only at Bum-bum island, in Semporna, Sabah. No trace of them anywhere else even in the Philippines)
10. Palao (This sub-group originally live on boats all the time but recently in Sabah, some have settled on land.)
11. Tabawan (This sub-group is rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Tabawan, Tawi-tawi, Philippines)
12. Banguingui (Native to the Philippines, where the majority still live. This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. Some had recently migrated to Sabah)
13. Sikubung (This sub-group is rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah)

For more lists, refer to native languages is Вahasa Вajau,Bahasa Sama-Bajau or BahasaSama
[edit] Religion

Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige among the coastal Bajau, and the title of salip/sarip (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) are shown special honour in the local community. Some of the Bajau lack mosques and must rely on the shore-based communities such as those of the more Islamized Аrabic or Malay peoples. The Ubian Bajau, due to their nomadic marine lifestyle, are much less adherent to orthodox Islam, and practice more of a syncrtic folk hybrid, revering local sea spirits, known in Islamic terminology as Jinn.
[edit] Culture
The rehabilitation of a traditional Bajau house in the Heritage Village of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Bajau headgear, worn while riding a horse.

Bajaus are expert horsemen - this is their main claim to fame in Malaysia, where horse riding has never been widespread anywhere else. The Bajau people are also well known for weaving and needlework skills.

In Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia, the Bajau groups perform the likely Tausug's dance, Pangalay.'Daling-Daling like the performance dance from Вajaus dance like Іgal-igal and their ,Вajau and Тausug or Ѕuluk are different native languages. They also invented their own dance called Igal-igal in Вajau languages, based on the Daling-daling moves and costumes. In fact it has become the dance of choice for wedding ceremonies for native communities in Semporna and has spread to Sandakan. By the year 2000, among the Sama Bajau communities, this dance, also simply called Daling-daling, tend to be included with the Joget dances at wedding ceremonies at night. This is helped by the production of Music Videos of the Daling-daling songs and dances.

In Sarawak there are a number of Iban named Bajau (Beransah Bajau, Hillary Bajau)

Mythology

Many Bajaus of the east coast retain their seaborne lifestyle, together with remnants of traditional pre-Islamic beliefs. An example of this is the offering of thanks to the Omboh Dilaut, the God of the Sea, whenever a particularly large catch is brought in. The east coast Sabah Bajau are also famous for the annual Semporna Regatta.

Among the boat-dwellers in particular, community spirit mediums are consulted at least once a year for a public séance and nightly trance dancing. In times of epidemics, the mediums are also called upon to remove illness causing spirits from the community. They do this by setting a "spirit boat" adrift in the open sea beyond the village or anchorage.
[edit] Maritime technology and fishing

Bajau fishers make use of wooden sailing vessels known as perahu lambo for voyages to the Timor and Arafura seas.[4] The construction and launch of these craft are ritualized, and the vessels are believe to have a spirit (Sumangaq).[4] Under a 1974 Memorandum of Understanding, "Indonesian traditional fishermen" are allowed to fish within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Australia, which includes traditional fishing grounds of Bajau fishers. However, fishing in these areas has led to concern about overfishing[5] and destruction of Bajau vessels.[4]

Many of these people look to others for help and alms. Government and the private sector must help them. Their lands has been stripped from them that's why they're currently like nomads.
People often mock them and treat them differently because of the way they dress and talk. We must not let a culture just die out or become like beggars.
Lets show a little compassion for these people.

Sunday Morning - kotong na naman

Every Sunday ay namimili kami ni Joyce sa palengke sa Binan, Laguna dahil ito ang katumbas ng Divisoria dito sa aming lugar. Murang bilihin at pwede pang tumawad.
Pauwi namin, we were stopped by this fucking traffic aide. Shithead said that the driver was in violation of the new terminal they made, wala namang kaming alam. Shithead ay nangongotong lang. Pang almusal. Ano tawag sa mga taong ganito?
Hindi lang dito sa amin ganito kundi sa lahat ng sulok ng buong Pilipinas.

So why the hell are pinoys up in arms when we're labelled as the 4th most corrupt in the south east asian region?

Ramdam na ramdam ang El Nino

Grabeng init ang nararamdaman ko. Kalahati pa lang ng Marso at sobrang init na talaga ng summer. Nawawalan kami ng tubig sa deepwell namin. Pawis na pawis ako sa opisina. Balita ko tataas na naman ang singil sa kuryente para hindi lang mag-brownout.
Ano na ang gagawin natin. Ang mga pananim natutuyo. Hindi natin nagamit ang talino ng pinoy dun sa dami ng tubig na dala ni Ondoy.
Sana matuto tayo.

What's going on?

Ever wonder why the earth is so restless now of all times? We're experiencing global upheaval not seen since well, eons.
People should realize the signs of the times. Maybe it's getting near that day where all those religious fanatics would celebrate their being "the true followers" or what other doomsayers keep on talking about.
I don't really know. I'm just your average joe minding his own business. Trying to earn a living.
Wish it would rain though.