rebelpixel productions

NIPS Crispies

Published in the wee hours of February 28, 2006

· 2006.02.28

Markup tuneup

Published in the wee hours of February 27, 2006

There’s a markup tuneup ongoing here on rebelpixel.com, I’m “realigning.” I’m taking bits and pieces from my old works, and learning a thing or two from current designs and ideas. Finally, I’m using icons for comments and permalinks, currently from the excellent “Almost Spring” theme by Becca Wei. For sure, there will be more changes in the next few days. Hopefully, I can finally move up to WP2 soon.

· 2006.02.27

11 Years of Pop Ratio

Published late at night of February 25, 2006

Salamat, at tayo’y nagkasamang muli.

11 Replies· 2006.02.25

State of Emergency

Published mid-afternoon of February 24, 2006

A day before the 20th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution, the Philippines appears headed for another democratic crisis. Unfortunately this time, the need for the declared “State of Emergency” is highly debatable, just as the need for mass rallies. Everyone is fighting for something, yet our actions can only lead us to harder times. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

The working class certainly has nothing to smile about. Unless you’ve got a fat dollar savings account, you know that the recent economic growth is only one political stumble away from reversing. And now it’s here. Making the frontpage of CNN International doesn’t help either.

A prayer isn’t too much too ask; twenty years ago we had one answered in a grand way. Right now, it seems finding the right path for our country is pretty similar to the last presidential elections: it could go either way. But whatever happens, stay vigilant and keep the fight. More importantly, keep the faith.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

2 Replies· 2006.02.24

Leyte Landslide

Published in the wee hours of February 23, 2006

Why do we Filipinos choose to help only when it seems a bit too late? Like in the ultra stampede, why do we show concern only when lives are lost, mostly when our help can no longer turn back tragedy? Couldn’t we have made their lives better when they were still alive to benefit from our charity? Why can’t we make a positive difference when it matters most?

2 Replies· 2006.02.23

The Beatles

Published in the wee hours of February 18, 2006

Look at what Anne got me for Valentine’s Day, a very nice framed Beatles poster. Patrick was more than ready to join in and pose.

Thanks Anne, happy hearts day. I love you. I hope you like this song.

5 Replies· 2006.02.18

wp-recent-links update

Published in the wee hours of February 7, 2006

Yes, there is an update for wp-recent-links, version 2.02. Bug reports and fixes from Arthur Hoogervorst and Kelson Vibber. Thank you guys!

· 2006.02.07

Ultra Stampede

Published in the wee hours of February 5, 2006

By now, you probably have gone through hours of ABS–CBN coverage of the unfortunate ULTRA stampede caused by thousands of Filipinos trying to join the anniversary of the gameshow “Wowowee,” also from the same station. The chance of winning was too enticing, with most of the crowd coming from the less privileged parts of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

The temptation to start pointing fingers is too strong, but this really isn’t the time nor place for such an action. It was a perfectly simple plan, an honest celebration for the show and its regular viewers. But for some unexplainable twist of fate, it all went wrong. 79 deaths as of writing, and most likely hundreds of injuries. There were reports of mass panic caused by shouting of false bomb threats, but many others insist it was a simple accident — an oversized restless mob trying to pass through a constricted entrance. Not that there are “simple accidents,” they’re all the same, lives are lost and forever changed.

For the show’s host Willie Revillame, everything has been too haunting to be real. The man has gone through numerous ups and downs throughout his career, and now that he has found a job close to his heart and somehow cleaned up his act, a storm comes raining down on him, on the day he’s supposed to touch even more lives of the poorest of Filipinos.

We actually passed by the ULTRA area last night on our way home, after Anne surprised me with tickets to the MYMP concert at the Big Dome. We were wondering if it was a big religious gathering, because it was a sizable crowd, and that was just before midnight. Traffic was really bad, with people waiting on both sides of the road, even on the road itself.

I woke up in the morning with the answers, suddenly feeling it all happened too fast. Too tragic to be true. Lives lost almost in the blink of an eye.

Pray for the souls of those who perished, and God bless us all.

12 Replies· 2006.02.05