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.

Weekend with my pops and the kids

Yesterday we went to Rizal Memorial to watch my nephew compete in Tae Kwon Do. I was with my dad, my kids, my brother and his kids. We got up real early. We had fun and the usual experience during outdoor activities. Needless to say, we were not disappointed with my nephew's performance since he bagged gold.
Even if it was really tiring because of the weather. Too hot again. It took about the whole day to watch and then had pizza afterwards. All in all, the bonding was a nice change of phase in this fast times.

Walang Pagbabago

Lumuwas na naman ako as I do weekly now. I've been to Quezon City and then to Manila. Sabi sa inyo, I thought I've forgotten how to get there. Manila is still the same 20 years ago. Yung mga building parang yun pa rin. Yung kalat, yung traffic. Parehong pareho. It's like going back in time.
The only difference I saw was this new terminal near the old Metropolitan theatre. Wala pa yun nung nasa Manila ako.
Escolta's basically the same. Although yung entrance sa Letran is different from when I was there.
Anyway.....What a day it was....tired...

Hawkman - Katar Hol

Katar Hol is a DC Comics superhero, the Silver Age Hawkman. Created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold # 34 (Feb-Mar 1961).

History
Silver Age version

Katar Hol was an honored police officer on his homeworld of Thanagar. His father was Paran Katar, renowned ornithologist and inventor. Among Paran Katar's various creations are the antigravity Nth Metal and their wings.

When Katar Hol was eighteen, an alien race called the Manhawks invaded Thanagar and began looting the planet. Paran sent young Katar Hol to infiltrate their nest dressed as a bird and bring back information on the aliens. Using this information, Paran created a hawk-like battle suit containing advanced technology like his "Nth Metal". Katar used this hawk-suit and Paran's advanced weaponry to drive the Manhawks away from Thanagar.

That, however, was not the end of the problem. Some Thanagarians had learned the concept of stealing from the Manhawks. Due to the amount of crime, the Thanagarian government created a police force. In honor of Paran Katar and his achievements, the new police force began using his hawk-suit and equipment. Paran headed this new police force, named the Hawk-Police (or Wingmen), and his son became one of the first recruits.

Katar soon became one of the most skilled of the Hawk-Police. When a group called the Rainbow Raiders began committing crimes, Katar was teamed up with rookie Shayera Thal to track and apprehend the criminals. During the case, Shayera saved Katar's life, and the two soon fell in love. A few weeks later, Katar proposed to Shayera and the two got married, working together as partners-for-life in the Hawk-Police.

After ten years of marriage and in the force, the pair were sent to Earth in 1959 to capture the shape-shifting Thanagarian criminal Byth. During their mission, they meet George Emmett, commissioner of the Midway City Police Department, and told him their alien origin. With Emmett's help, the pair took over his retiring brother Ed's place as museum curators. They adopt the identities as Carter and Shiera Hall. After capturing him and sent him back to Thanagar, they elected to remain on Earth to work with authorities to learn human police methods. The two acted publicly as the heroes Hawkman II and Hawkgirl II (later Hawkwoman).

The rest of Hawkman's supporting cast consist of Mavis Trent, museum naturalist and diorama artist who flirts with Katar; Joe Tracy, the museum's publicist; his commanding officer Andar Pul; a large red hawk named Big Red who lives nearby Hawk Valley; and teenage orphan Charley Parker, Golden Eagle. Katar gained a variety of unique villainous opponents such as the Shadow Thief, Matter Master, Ira Quimby (I.Q.), Konrad Kaslak, the Criminal Alliance of the World (or C.A.W.), Lion-Mane, Kanjar Ro, Hyathis, the Fadeaway Man, and the Gentleman Ghost.
The Silver Age Katar Hol in Hawkman # 12 (Feb-Mar 1966). Art by Murphy Anderson.

Katar joined the Justice League of America in the early 1960s, where he befriended the Atom and frequently sparred with Green Arrow with whose "question authority" outlook the lawman frequently disagreed.

Hol left the Justice League for a time when Thanagar was hit by the Equalizer Plague, which caused all Thanagarians to change so that their physical and mental talents, and even their heights, became the same. With the help of the JLA, he was eventually able to reverse the effects of the plague.

However, in the wake of the plague, Thanagar adopted an expansionist outlook, and went to war with the planet Rann, which orbits Alpha Centauri. This forced Katar and Shayera to choose to fight for or against their own planet, and they elected to oppose Thanagar, becoming exiles on Earth. Around this time, Shayera herself joined the JLA, and took the name Hawkwoman.

Following the truce between Thanagar and Rann, Thanagar began to secretly try to take over the Earth. Hol opposed their efforts in a furtive "secret war" for several years.

Following the events of DC's miniseries, Crisis on Infinite Earths, the histories of Earth-One and Earth-Two are merged together. As a result, both Golden Age and Silver Age versions of Hawkman and Hawkgirl/Hawkwoman live on the same Earth. Initially, the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkwoman were kept in continuity unchanged. They took Superman to Krypton (now a gas planet),[1] briefly joined Justice League International, teamed-up with Atom,[2] and helped Animal Man defuse a Thanagarian bomb during Invasion. However, DC reversed this decision and rebooted Hawkman continuity after the 1989 Hawkworld miniseries. Originally, Hawkworld retold the origins of Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkwoman, but following its success, DC Comics launched a Hawkworld ongoing series set in the present, resulting in a complete reboot of Hawkman continuity. By doing so, several continuity errors regarding Hawkman and Hawkwoman's Justice League appearances needed to be fixed.





Post-Hawkworld version


Katar Hol was rebooted in the prestige format miniseries Hawkworld by Timothy Truman. A regular ongoing series of the same name followed.
Katar Hol and Shayera Thal. Art by Graham Nolan.

In this new version Katar Hol was a young police officer on the planet Thanagar, and a child of a privileged family being the son of Paran Katar. But Thanagar was a planet which conquered and mined other worlds for their resources to maintain its high standard of living, and Hol realized that this was wrong. He rebelled against the system and favored the old days of Thanagar. He became a student of history and archaeology, and admired Thanagar's legendary hero Kalmoran. Hol became addicted to a recreational drug, and was manipulated by the renegade police captain Byth into killing his own father, and was sent into exile in the Isle of Chance.

During that time, he found one of the island residents in robes fashioned a pair of wings. Katar, disillusioned, killed him and took his wings. He learned the wings were meant for Hol and that the robed man had natural wings on his back. Horrified on what he's done, the brother of the man he killed help him deal with withdrawal symptoms from his drug addictions and made peace with himself.

When his sentence was up, Hol was sent to Downside. However, he managed to escape and uncover and defeat Byth, who had gained shape-shifting abilities. As a result, he was reinstated in the force and given a new partner, Shayera Thal - a young woman from a lower class of society.

Just after Fel Andar left Earth, Katar and Shayera were sent to Earth, where they served as goodwill ambassadors for their homeplanet and remained for some time fighting both human and alien criminals in places like Chicago's Netherworld. Dubbed by the press as Hawkman III, Katar and Shayera, Hawkwoman II, had a tempestuous working relationship, and eventually Shayera broke away from Katar, who continued alone.

Katar met Carter Hall and Shiera Sanders who returned from Asgard with the rest of the Justice Society. He learns that his father came to Earth during World War II, under the alias "Perry Carter". They were friends with Paran, and were the inspiration of the Wingmen. In one adventure, Carter took an injured Katar to be healed by an old friend, a Cherokee shaman named Naomi ("Faraway Woman"). Katar discovers that she had known Paran. She and Paran fell in love, and the two eloped with the Halls serving as witnesses. Thus Naomi is his birth mother and Katar is a hybrid Human-Thanagarian.

During the Zero Hour event, Katar Hol was merged with Carter, Shiera, and a "hawk god" creature in a new Hawkman version—a living avatar of the hawk god who adventured for a brief time, continued to prey on criminals and deal out his own brand of fierce justice. He later went insane (tormented by the voices of all previous hawk avatars in his head), until he was eventually banished to limbo by the combined skills of Arion and the Martian Manhunter.

Because of Carter Hall's return from the dead prior to Infinite Crisis, it has been stated that Katar Hol's soul dissipated from the Limbo/Realm of the Hawk God and is now deceased. Carter Hall currently inhabits a reconstructed version of Katar Hol's post-Zero Hour body.