A Question and an FYI

When you view your blog, do you see this HTML tag added after each (or most) paragraph?



I see these added strings in some of the blogs I visit.

I learned that this is due to proprietary HTML tags created by Microsoft word or other MS applications.

Also learned that there are ways to strip your blog entry of these unintended and unnecessary additions. One way is to try exporting one’s draft entry to Blogger as a filtered HTML.

Or, I am made to believe that there are programs out there that can perform the stripping for exported messages or entries. Will try to research.

Hope this helps.

BTW, tried broadcasting this “error” to friends, quoting the exact same tag and Blogger’s comment box will not allow it as acceptable HTML.

Any ideas?

Toiling For Dual Citizenship

Somehow I knew that the inevitable would come. And inexorably, it did last May 25th.

When it first became a real option backed by law in 2004, I recall I had summarily dismissed it and relegated it to some dusty corner of my memory bank, a mental vault where one is said to keep one’s list of procrastinated chores or low-priority issues that could be revisited in the future.

But markedly bothered by my growing need for it, I had finally decided to opt in its favor. Electing dual citizenship, that is. And mind you, it is for no deep-seated patriotic or wrenching nationalistic longing for a country already ceremoniously set aside in favor of another through a formal oath-taking. But essentially emanating from some lower gut level, more along the economic and self-serving sphere. After all, it should also be noted that its eventual passing and promulgation as a law was manifestly as an accommodation and/or an almost Faustian bargain between the ex-nationals and the old homeland. It passed essentially because the prevailing sentiment of both government and business was that this process would allow former citizens to partake of rights and privileges bestowed only on current citizens, but most especially the rights to own real estate, and engage in business and most other essential economic endeavors typically closed to foreigners. And thrown in for good measure, the rights of suffrage.

So on the morning of May 25th which was a Thursday, with heavy heart and equally laden steps, we drove the almost 70 miles that separated us from the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco. Deep in the tony downtown area in San Francisco along Sutter Street is where the consular offices are ensconced in a building that also accommodates the Philippine AirLines, and a bunch of FilAm-owned travel-related small businesses. Somehow clustered around due to some strong symbiotic dependencies. Some kind of a one-stop shop, or more like a tiangge, which is now quite popular in the old homeland. Thus, you go see any one of several travel agencies housed in the same building for your planned vacation trip back to the old homeland, then pass by PAL to get your tickets. A stop at the 6th floor lobby of the Consulate maybe for updating or renewing your travel papers. And oh, should you need new photos or copies of documents of your updated travel documents, no need to leave the building. These services are also available there.

I had the necessary documentation neatly stapled and filed in my black leather folder and further secured inside my black leather carry-on bag with strap slung through one shoulder. And additionally prepared for the always-chilly weather of downtown San Francisco with warm clothing, we negotiated in quick cadenced steps the almost mile-long distance from parking lot to the Sutter location.

Though we spent almost the entire morning for our business, service was definitely better than those one would typically find in the old homeland. And though I tried diligently to comply and complete requirements, my preparation was eventually found embarrassingly wanting.

To apply for dual citizenship, one had to first fill up the form, Petition for Dual Citizenship and Issuance of Identification Certificate (IC) with the now reduced supporting document requirements. For my case, all that was needed as supporting documents were a valid or expired Philippine passport and a copy of the naturalization certificate.

Sounds quite easy, right? Not for poor klutz me. The two photos required for the application did not pass muster with the requirements. The form itself which I filled up at home, twice, printed from the Internet, was judged old and obsolete. Though a cursory check did not reveal any substantial differences. And though, a COPY of the naturalization certificate is submitted, one still had to bring the originals for verification. (The word, copy, is capitalized because if one reads the certificate, it boldly states in red letters: It is punishable by U.S. law to copy, print or photograph this certificate, without lawful authority. So I assumed this was required under lawful authority.)

But like I said, this being a one-stop shop, all the pesky kinks were rectified in no time. Except that during the oath-taking scheduled a week later, I still have to show the original of the naturalization certificate.

And thus, before the clock struck one, we were back out in the cold streets of San Francisco, a bit wiser (to the requirements, at least) and almost $100 poorer for parking fee, new photos and copies, and application filing fee.

Then, already settled in and feeling warm and secure inside the car on the long drive back home, it stealthily dawned on me.

Man is almost always driven by impulses, rather than by deliberate, well-formed, and well-reasoned plans of action. We tend to do things at the spur of the moment, at the crack of the whip, normally with insufficient thought and diligence. I should have known better, I exclaimed.

Anyway, cultivating and nurturing hindsight has its redeeming values. Hopefully, the next time around one becomes more deliberate and purposeful.

So here’s an initial stream of hindsight knowledge that could shed some light on whether the decision made overall was a positive experience or not.

There are larger and graver ramifications of dual citizenship, larger and bigger than one’s puny self-interests, if we are to rely on certain studies made.

However, at the present time 93 countries around the world allow dual citizenship in some form or other; (though from that same number, some could be said to instead just “tolerate” it). The US is one such country which allows it, together with France and Switzerland, and yes, even Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent (huh?).

These gnawing concerns will be addressed sometime in the near future, as soon as I am done with the oath-taking scheduled at the end of this current month.

Till then.

Memorial Day 2007

Commemorating Memorial Day today, May 28, 2007.

Do you know the difference between Veterans Day (November 11) and Memorial Day? From the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs:

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. A complete history of Veterans Day, and why it is observed on November 11, can be found on the Veterans Day History Web page.

But beyond the fact that the people who serve in the armed services are either dead or still alive, the two holidays are one in reminding us that liberties and freedoms enjoyed are bought and paid for by the selfless services of those who took arms.

Getting Acquainted With Tracy

We have now completely settled in and ready to call ourselves residents of Tracy. But unfortunately beyond our immediate surroundings and the few places we have visited, such as the church, the malls, the grandkids’ schools, and our daughter’s house along those gated developments hemmed in between Tracy Boulevard and Corral Hollow Road, we have not really gotten acquainted with the city. In things both tangible and intangible.

Our life experiences have shown us different ways to get acquainted both with people and with things. Typically one could approach it with serious purpose and design, or simply allow one’s many unplanned and spontaneous interaction with it to develop into some form of bond of acquaintance and familiarity over time.

I did begin to approach this “task” with some basic purpose and design at the very beginning. First, securing a street map of the city, allocating time to peruse its main community paper, Tracy Press, and of course, driving and asking around whenever possible. But then again, this process could easily get stunted or onerous as to be too mechanical and maybe, devoid of emotional and purposeful content.

Why not allow the local sights, color, history, and its people to simply be slowly soaked in as one is being exposed to them and to allow these to seek their own levels of ease and comfort, before unerringly and automatically being translated into some kind of amiable acquaintance with and understanding of the entire city?

This process can be so effortless, so natural and uncontrived. And so smooth as to make one totally unaware of and unburdened by the many little changes that will take over one’s life.

Thus, the decision was made and today, a Sunday, was to be the first sortie. Much like beginning to know a person, any person, one can begin to notice and make judgments of the physical characteristics of the place. Its terrain, its geographic orientation, its infrastructures, etc.

Man is funny in a way. Any analysis he makes about most things is usually couched around comparing that thing with other similar things he has known or experienced. Any judgment made is typically based on an analogy. Thus, we say this is good because compared to this it is… Or, this is a good thing to do because it is authoritatively written that given these, this is the right and properly thing to do. Etc.

Having lived in a San Mateo County city, Daly City, for many years, the unveiling comparison will hinge on that experience.

When one catches sight of Tracy coming from that milieu, one is immediately taken aback by the flatness of Tracy’s terrain. One taking a 360 degree look around can only notice the Altamont to the west as a clear and unmistakable gradation of its flatness. Everywhere else is flat terrain as far as the eye can see. Minus the many undulating hills that pock the areas to the west and into the ocean. Clearly without much serious research, Tracy was or is a farming town, complete with grid-iron cuts of land all around.

Given that it now counts about 80,000 as among its residents, many of these new houses must have sprung from old farmlands converted into tract subdivisions.

Today, we took a leisurely drive from home to church and back to the house, on a calm sunny morning before eight. This took us through Byron Road going east, which road is cut close to the railroad tracks. Then through Lowell Street passing through the now storied high school (Remember the reported fatal accident of car-riding students some weeks ago?) before turning right on Parker St. Stopped at its intersection with Eaton St. for church service.

After church, continued on through Parker St to its intersection with 11th St, which dissects through the city and could arguably now be considered its main street. Given that it is also I-205’s business route. And its multi-laned wideness defined by an ample median island gives it the feel and look of a real highway. Taking a westerly direction we ended at its intersection with Lammers Road, the last intersection prior to the on-ramp that takes one to I-205 going west.

We made our right turn and back to the bosom of our gated community.

The following pictures trace graphically the same route described above. And one cannot help but notice how wide the streets were. No such luxury in many neighborhoods of “old” Daly City where we came from. How few the cars parked curbside overnight. How empty the streets of people were, though granting that it was a Sunday morning. Truly for us, these were novel experiences.

It was overall, a nice leisurely and mute ride for us. An enlightening experience.








(View pictures from bottom up) Click on individual pictures for larger and clearer view.

The experience continues. . . .

Philippine Politics

Idealism without action is simply that, idealism, however cogently, articulately, and lucidly explained and proposed.

On the other hand, idealism, however compromised, dented, battered and watered down by realities, translated into action transcends from the abstract to the value-adding real and now.

Said differently, a million words thrown into the air cannot begin to compare to any one micro-ounce of sweat equity expended. Weighing more, the latter infinitesimally should be valued and desired more.

Thus, the following comments articulated in one of the arguably most revered political blogs in the old homeland, best expressed my own insipient attitudes about politics and political punditry.

A commenter carrying the handle of devilsadvc8 had the following to say initially and following further are his replies to rebuttal issues brought against his initial statements, in the blog of Mr. Manuel L. Quezon III.
(Quoted verbatim, except for some cosmetic edits):

I am assuming that devilsadvc8 authors this blog.

The biggest thing this election has proven is this:

You can’t save a nation who doesn’t want or isn’t yet ready to be saved, and that people like Dr. Martin Bautista are more of a hero and a person to be idolized than intellectuals and “talkers” like MLQ3.

Don’t get me wrong, Manolo. I idolize you. From the way you present your views, to how erudite you seem to be. But “genius” talk with no action is shown up to be just lame when people like Martin and Fr. Ed (who are nowhere near Manolo’s intellectual capacity) show and step up to the plate with nothing more than the genuine desire to “take action” and bet on the people.

We have multitudes spewing rhetoric, only a genuine few taking the hard path. The hardest thing of all is to “walk the talk.”

We have no shortage of honest people with good intentions. Only a shortage of them wanting to sacrifice their private lives to serve the public.

The real problem is that the Filipino people are not given many “good” options. If they are, we see them proving that they are more than up to the task of being “wise” voters.

“How can a Christian fundamentalist who spent 20 years abroad be a hero?”

The same way Rizal did. It isn’t the spending abroad that defines a person’s “unhero-ability” (as Rizal proved when the larger part of his life was spent abroad) but the coming back and offering oneself to his nation that proves his heroism (as Rizal proved when he decided to come back, even though he knew he’d be prosecuted and probably killed for his “advocacies”)

“Bautista has disillusioned a lot of people.”

I don’t know where you got that “lot of people,” but if I and the others I read about are any indication, then Bautista inspired more than he disillusioned. In fact, Bautista’s action got me into thinking: reklamo tayo ng reklamo sa masamang pagpapalakad sa atin, pero wala naman tayong ginagawa. (we whine constantly about the bad things happening, yet we do nothing.) Why don’t we start by involving ourselves actively? Perhaps come next elections, we’ll see less of those “unopposed candidacies” and see more “ordinary individuals” challenging the trapos running for office.

“I’m not sure if guilt-tripping Manolo into running for public office will be more effective than Edwin Lacierda’s proposed guerilla campaign the other day. Mlq3’s entry into the Senate (or any political office) would be a great boon for representative democracy but will also be a loss for direct democracy (i.e. his blogging and other advocacies) so I’m not sure if it would be a net gain or loss.”

I’m not guilt-tripping Manolo. I’m guilt-tripping everyone. And I don’t think his entry into public office would signal the demise of his advocacies. It doesn’t follow that if you become a public official, you have to give up your advocacy. You are even more in a position to strengthen it, and spread the word when you are elected into office.

And btw, I don’t think Manolo would be sufficiently effective in the Senate (or the House). The framework of our government is such that collective idiocies (like the senate and the house) do little to make an impact in the everyday life of Filipinos. After all, what is there to lawmaking if the laws aren’t being enforced? The power, as always, resides in the local gov’t. A good and honest politician who is determined to improve his city will be able to (as proven by Robredo), regardless of who sits in Malacanang. In fact, the focus of the “other” opposition (those outside Erap’s circle) should’ve been to field local candidates to all cities nationwide, and I’m sure we would’ve seen the people vote them all into office. That would’ve rendered GMA a sure lame duck. As she and her cohorts would then have lost that vaunted “grass-roots” they keep talking about.

If even just enough cities start having politicians like Robredo, then the people would slowly realize that their dream of being lifted out of poverty lies in public officials who don’t only patronize through money, but in public officials who will be exemplary ones, in thought, action, and example. There would be a domino effect, as people in neighboring cities would see the good things happening near their fence, and envy that city for having that kind of mayor. They would then aspire to have the same kind of thing, and sooner than you know, would demand the same thing from their leaders.

“That was Civil Society’s first attempt at taking power and governing and see where that has led us. The entry of civil society members into the State has had a double negative effect in that it has led to loss in momentum in the advocacies of those on the outside and has corrupted a lot of those remained on the inside. The people in government whom we are fighting now are the same ones who had high ideals back then.”

No. The people we are fighting now have always been the same people back then. They only shed their sheep’s clothing. If you review the actions of Arroyo et al, you would see the pattern, and would surmise they never had the same ideals as the civil society that catapulted them into power.

“Civil Society has a finite amount of energy and I believe that we were more effective in the public sphere rather than within the institutions of the State.”

This is where we disagree of course. If in fact CS has a finite amount of energy, then it seems more logical to concentrate that energy into where it won’t be wasted. GK is the perfect example. One whack of the demented Arroyo regime and everything it accomplished will be in ashes. You should read Randy David’s discourse on Volunteerism. It’s an excellent primer on why Politics and NGO/GK-like orgs can never be separated. The action of one affects the other.

“Let’s concentrate on improving our ability to discipline those who are on the inside before we dream of taking over wholesale.”

And how can we discipline them if they are the ones in power? Short of another People Power?

“Hindi ka makakapagpapasa ng bill kung walang approval ang iba. Kaya kahit sabihin mo pang independiente ka, kailangang isusuko mo pa rin ang iyong idealismo para maipapasa mo ang isang batas.” (One cannot pass laws without the cooperation of the others. Thus, even if one is very independently minded, one has to surrender one’s idealism in order to pass laws.)

Which is why I think going into Congress to effect change is senseless. Congress has morphed into a collective idiocy. It has become a herd of mindless people following the call of the pork barrel. Idealism indeed has been lost in the number of people you need to please in order to pass that law you wanted so that you could “help” the people.