Full transcript of President Aquino's inaugural speech

The following is the full transcript of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's inaugural speech delivered after taking his oath as the 15th Philippine president at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

I hope I won't get in trouble for posting this. I think this is a great reminder for us Filipinos that there is hope.

"His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, members of the diplomatic corps, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, former President Fidel V. Ramos, former President Joseph E. Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and other members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and other members of the House of Representatives, members of the Supreme Court, local government officials, distinguished guests, mga minamahal kong kababayan. Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan. Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan. Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kakailanganin. Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol. Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin. Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa – nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din – talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino? Ngayon, sa araw na ito, dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat. Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon. Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago—isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan. Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago—isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan. Sigaw natin noong kampanya: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap." Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster—ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon. Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan. Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan. Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya. Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga “midnight appointments." Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami. Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon. Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan. Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang “puwede na" pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila. Bubuhayin natin ang programang “emergency employment" ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga lokal na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating buong ekonomiya. Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng: · dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo; · serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng PhilHealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon; · tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad. Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nananatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa. Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga na tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari. Inaatasan natin ang papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan na natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili. Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan. Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA, OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers. Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana. Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili. Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan. To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all. Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay-linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon. Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi. My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all—may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian. We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi? Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan. Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito. Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan. Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli. To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities. We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works." Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, walang maiiwan. Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon. Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa. Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa. The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong—kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko? Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations. Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito—ang ating mga volunteers—matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa—nasa inyo ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat. Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito. My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward. Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!"

Eraserheads to reunite!

For one night only, the Eraserheads will come together on August 30, 2008, and perform at the CCP.  It's the UltraElectroMagneticReunion!

Yes, it’s confirmed: The Eraserheads are reuniting after many years of being apart, not for good but only for one show slated for Aug. 30 at the CCP Open Grounds.

According to the STAR source, all the original members (photo) are performing — Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan.

This piece of good news should make the Eraserheads fans very happy.

Said to be the ‘greatest Pinoy band,’ the Eraserheads will sing all their hit songs, including Alapaap, Toyang and Ang Huling El Bimbo.

So much water, so to speak, has flowed under the bridge since the band broke up years ago.

Ely, who survived a heart attack two years ago, has formed two bands, Mongol (which didn’t last long) and Pupil (still playing).

‘It took one big company to bring the former band members together,’ said the source who is keeping the company’s identity ‘confidential’ for the time being.

Really now, don’t the Eraserheads fans wish that the band would stay together not just for a one-night-only concert but for good...for old time’s sake?— Ricky Lo

Why can't they just stay together?  Tama na ang away...

July 11, 2008

I got me an iPhone 3G!!!

What Happened?!?!?!?!?

LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2008 -- Once upon a Thursday night, somewhere on the East Coast, there lived a hypothetical transplanted Lakers fan who was exhausted from a long day of work and felt safe going to sleep at 9:31 p.m. ET with his team up 21 points at the end of the first quarter.

Who could blame him? After all, L.A. was running a clinic. The Lakers shot 11-for-17 in the quarter and picked up 10 assists on those 10 baskets en route to an all-time Finals record 21-point advantage after the first 12 minutes.

It wasn’t quite Kobe Bryant 62, Dallas Mavericks 61 after three quarters, but Lamar Odom 13, Boston Celtics 12 after the first 10 minutes of Game 4 set the tone for L.A. to even The Finals 2-2 in a romp, he probably thought.

Sure Kobe hadn’t scored a field goal yet, but he was in facilitator mode with four assists and three steals. This one was in the bag. “Why not catch a few extra winks?” he probably rationalized.

Somewhere on the East Coast on Friday morning, that same hypothetical transplanted Lakers fan will wake up feeling well rested and fire up his computer, eagerly anticipating reading about Game 4. He might even play U2’s “It’s A Beautiful Day” as he waits for page to load. And then he’ll stare blankly at the monitor when he sees Celtics 97, Lakers 91.

It will seem wrong to him on a ”DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN” level.

“That can’t be right,” he’ll dismiss.

He’ll flip on the TV to make sure it corroborates. Maybe his PC was having a cache issue. “Damn it, I knew I should have gotten a Mac,” he’ll think.

But he’ll find the same score on NBA TV. Rick Kamla will tell him that Eddie House hit a go-ahead jumper with 4:07 left in the fourth quarter to give Boston a lead that they never relinquished the rest of the way.

He’ll look puzzled.

“Eddie House? Am I still dreaming?” he’ll question.

The newspaper will be at his front door. He’ll rifle to the sports page. He’ll read again, “Celtics 97, Lakers 91 – Boston leads the best of seven series 3-1.”

Then a second dash to the computer, followed by some channel surfing to a few other sports stations … then the shuffle on his iTunes cues up the Psychotheme song.

Reek! Reek! Reek! Reek! Reek!

Wait, what happened?!?!?!?!?I’ll tell our imaginary friend what happened: The Lakers offense transformed from a smooth sailing Ferrari to a herky jerky jalopy.

The Celtics outscored the Lakers by three in the second, 16 in the third and eight in the fourth. Odom’s 13 and five rebounds after one only swelled to 19 and 10 by the end of the game. After only taking two shots in the first quarter, Kobe took 17 the rest of the way and only made six, finishing with 17 points and 10 assists.

But, how did it happen?!?!?!?!?

“We got away from the things that we were doing well in the first half,” Pau Gasol said after his 17-point, 10-rebound outing.

“We started settling, and then they started making shots,” Gasol added. “They started taking advantage of those long shots and those turnovers we had in the third quarter, and then it put a lot of pressure on us.”

Settling never sounds good. Why settle all of the sudden?

Phil Jackson said the C’s made defensive adjustments, “[Boston] reacted to passing situations [and] destroyed passing lanes.”

Oh, so it was the Celtics’ defense, not the Lakers’ fault. Boston was the No. 1 defensive team in the league. That makes sense.

But, what were the adjustments?

Paul Pierce (20 points, seven assists) volunteered to guard Kobe at halftime.

OK, Kobe was already in facilitator mode with six assists against just four field goal attempts in the first half. What could Pierce guarding him do?

“Well, this team is -- if you watch them, if you've paid attention to them all year, usually the first half is team ball, second half is usually Kobe takes over the games,” Kevin Garnett said. “It just looks like they wanted to get the ball to Kobe and him sort of finish it off. That's what it looked like to me. It didn't really look cohesive like they did in the first half.”

Hmm.

“One of the things I was concerned about was that Kobe hadn't scored a field goal in the first half, and that puts some then they knew, hey, he's going to come out and try to get some scores so we're going to have to commit as a team,” Jackson said.

So Garnett and the Celtics knew Kobe was going to shoot more and Jackson and the Lakers knew Kobe was going to shoot more …

And what happened next? Kobe shot more.

“I think we got stagnant offensively on how we wanted to attack them,” Lakers captain Derek Fisher (13 points) said. “I think we did too much through Kobe’s hands in terms of screen and rolls and they were able to really load their defense up.

“What allowed us to build the lead was ball movement and I think we got very one-sided in terms of doing a lot of stuff off the dribble as opposed to really passing that ball,” Fisher added.

Bryant started the second half by making his first two shots. The Lakers were up by 18 with 8:36 left in the third. A 2-2 series was inevitable.

But Bryant finished the quarter by going 0-for-5 (including getting blocked on a jump shot by Pierce), the rest of the Lakers finished the quarter by going 1-for-8 and by the time Bryant next made a field goal it was to break a tied ballgame with 9:32 left in the fourth.

Boston battled to take the lead on the aforementioned House jumper and kept it thanks to key buckets by James Posey, Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen down the stretch.

Of all the people in the game, Kobe can surely explain to the hypothetical Lakers fan what happened.

“I think they did a good job forcing us to take difficult shots,” Bryant said.

Gotcha. It was their defense.

“We did a much better job in the first half getting back on defense,” Bryant continued. “We've got to do a better job of cutting back on those easy opportunities and not putting them to the free throw line and giving them timely three point opportunities.”

Wait, it was the Lakers' defense?

“I think it's a combination of both, always,” Bryant said. “It's a combination of their defense, a combination of our poor execution.”

Sorry, I can’t help you understand it any better, hypothetical transplanted Lakers fan.

Had you stayed up and saw the second half with your own eyes, it wouldn’t have made any more sense to you anyway.

I know it didn’t for me, and I was awake for it.

iPhone News!!!

Softbank and Apple to Bring iPhone 3G to Japan on July 11

TOKYO and SAN FRANCISCO—June 9, 2008—Softbank (SBM) and Apple® today announced that the highly anticipated iPhone™ 3G will be available in Japan on July 11. iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast* as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

“I am delighted at this opportunity to partner with Apple,” said Masayoshi Son, SBM chairman and CEO. “SBM’s and Apple’s shared vision of promoting the innovative integration of the Internet and mobile phone through the distribution of iPhone is exciting. iPhone has been enthusiastically received around the world, and we think it will be popular in Japan as well.”

“Japan is one of the world’s most advanced mobile markets and we are thrilled to partner with SoftBank to launch iPhone 3G there next month, “ said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPhone 3G is an amazing product and we think customers in Japan will love it as much as we do.”

*Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.

The Softbank Group has upheld its corporate policy, “Endeavoring to benefit society and the economy and maximize enterprise value by fostering the sharing of wisdom and knowledge gained through the IT revolution” since the foundation in 1981. Subsequently it was successful in the publishing business and the distribution of packaged software for PCs. In 2001, the Group entered into the broadband business, “Yahoo! BB”, very early and brought dramatic innovation to the Internet environment in Japan, encouraged by overwhelming support from customers. The Group entered into the fixed-line telecommunications business in 2004 and into the mobile communications business as SBM in 2006. Through innovative pricing and attractive product strategies it achieved the No. 1 position in net additions for FY 2007 in the Japanese market (number of subscribers 18,952,800 as of end of May 2008).

As a corporate group based on Internet-related businesses, the Group will not limit itself to its existing role of telecommunications carrier. Rather, by providing both information infrastructure and content as a comprehensive digital information company, the Group aims to make people’s lifestyles and business styles more affluent and enjoyable, and to be the global No. 1 corporate group in the broadband era.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Globe Telecom and Apple Bring iPhone 3G to Philippines

MANILA and SAN FRANCISCO—June 9, 2008—Globe Telecom and Apple® today announced that they will be bringing the highly anticipated iPhone™ 3G to the Philippines later this year. iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast* as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

“We are very excited to be working with Apple to bring Filipino consumers iPhone 3G later this year,” said Gerardo C. Ablaza, Jr. president and CEO of Globe Telecom. “Our customers are our greatest passion and we’re constantly striving to offer them the most innovative products such as the revolutionary iPhone 3G.”

“We are thrilled to bring iPhone 3G to millions of mobile customers in the Philippines,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “We can’t wait to get this revolutionary mobile device in the hands of even more people around the world.”

iPhone 3G will be available to Globe’s postpaid and prepaid subscribers in the Philippines later this year.

*Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.

Globe Telecom is a leading telecommunications company in the Philippines with more than 21 million mobile subscribers. As a pioneer, Globe Telecom continues to be a part of the revolution that’s connecting millions of people across the Philippines and around the world. Beyond technology, Globe Telecom’s business is truly shaped by the bonds that tie Filipinos together. Communications is ultimately about relationships, and this drives the company to innovate and constantly find easy and relevant ways to enrich people’s lives.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Cross My Heart

Now and then 

Do you wash your hands of me again 

Wish me anywhere but home 

Drunk and on the end of your phone 

 

From time to time 

Do you guess what’s really on my mind 

Guess that ‘How you’re keeping now’ 

Means ‘Where are you sleeping now’ 

 

CHORUS 1 

But, of course, it’s not polite to ask you where you spent last night 

And if I did, you might reply that I have no right 

And anyway, I’m fine, glad that you’re no longer mine 

If I should tell a lie, cross my heart and hope to die 

 

You’d be appalled 

If you knew what I was doing when you called 

Yes, I can see I’m blundering 

And I always end up wondering 

 

CHORUS 2 

Will it ever be all right to ask you where you spent last night?

And can it be polite the way we never write 

‘Cause I don’t have the time and anyway, I’m fine 

If I should tell a lie, cross my heart and hope to die 

 

AD LIB 

 

Ooh yeah 

 

[Repeat CHORUS 1] 

 

I hope we never die [3x], yeah 

Cross my heart [8x till fade] 

HOW TO WRITE GOOD

Here's a little joke for y'all

HOW TO WRITE GOOD

My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:

1. Avoid alliteration. Always.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.)

4. Employ the vernacular.

5. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

6. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.

7. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

8. Contractions aren't necessary

9. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

10. One should never generalize.

11. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:
   "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."

12. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

13. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

14. Profanity sucks.

15. Be more or less specific.

16. Understatement is always best.

17. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20. The passive voice is to be avoided.

21. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

22. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

23. Who needs rhetorical questions?

Lakers-Celtics: a lot of love and a lot more hate

If, as Jerry West says, the NBA's greatest rivalry wasn't a rivalry at first since the Lakers never won in the '60s and the Boston Celtics never lost, it already seemed bigger than mere life or death, at least in West's life.

Nor did the zeal diminish in their '80s rematches when the Showtime Lakers and the Larry Bird Celtics battled on even terms.

 

Related Content

• 
  Showtime once again
• 
  Photos: Lakers-Celtics matchups

• Photos: Lakers / Celtics 2007-08

It was the alpha and omega of rivalries, encompassing all human emotions, starting, of course, with hate.

The Lakers hated the Celtics and their blustering leader, Red Auerbach, but then who didn't?

No one hated Auerbach more than Lakers Coach Pat Riley, whose movie star looks masked his knife-between-the-teeth drive. Riley believed every horror story about Red, once ordering his team's water barrel emptied in Boston Garden.

LAKERS-CELTICS NBA FINALS THROUGH THE YEARS
1984	1985	1987	1960s

Riley wanted his players to hate everything about the Celtics, gathering his players to ask if they knew what a Celtic was.

"Finally, Kareem raised his hand," Riley wrote. "He said the Celtics were a warring race of Danes.

"I had to explain that they were also a cunning, secretive race."

Of course, Riley was Irish but he was a Laker first.

Not that you had to be paranoid since the teams were messing with each other.

Fans besieged the Lakers' hotel in Boston with phone calls, waking up sleeping players -- which Riley blamed on the Celtics for giving out their location. Lakers officials were delegated to wake up Boston players in their hotel here.

Happily, the fear and loathing ran second to respect that grew into reverence among the participants, or at least some of them.

After the Celtics' Game 7 victory in 1969, John Havlicek hugged West, who played for the Lakers with a sore hamstring wrapped like the leg of a mummy, telling him, "I love you."

Bill Russell flew out for West's farewell ceremony, announcing, "If I could have one wish in life granted, it would be that you would always be happy."

By the '80s, the two teams needed each other as they needed air and water.

Bird and Magic Johnson lived to beat the other from the start when they were bitter rivals to the finish when they were close friends.

When Bird retired, Johnson flew East and donned a Celtics jersey for his retirement ceremony, whereupon Bird told him, "Magic, get out of my dreams!"

Bird presented Johnson at his Hall of Fame induction, noting, "I was going to speak from my heart but, man, he broke my heart so many times, do I have anything left?"

Sentiment ended at the tipoff. After the Celtics' Game 4 win in the Forum in the 1984 Finals, Bird, on the bus, saw Johnson slouch past, looking devastated. Said Bird later: "I thought, 'Suffer.' "

One time or another, they all did.

1959: Celtics 4, Minneapolis Lakers 0

Rookie of the year Elgin Baylor leads the remnants of the old dynasty in scoring, rebounds and assists but the Lakers are overmatched.

1962: Celtics 4, Los Angeles Lakers 3

The relocated young Lakers jolt the Celtics, winning Game 5 in Boston to go up, 3-2, as Baylor scores 61 points, still the Finals record.

The Celtics force a Game 7 in Boston Garden and win, 110-107, in overtime.

With the game tied and time running out in regulation, the Lakers' Frank Selvy, a two-time All-Star, misses a wide-open eight-foot baseline jumper.

Says West: "I've always wondered if Frank Selvy had made that shot -- and he'd made a couple of big shots right before that -- would that have helped change the course of history of this thing?"

Couldn't have hurt.

1963: Celtics 4, Lakers 2

With Bob Cousy in his last season, Sports Illustrated says of the Celtics, "Tired blood courses through their varicose veins." That must be where the SI jinx starts with the Celtics about to romp in the Finals and go on to win in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969.

"Please," Auerbach says, "tell me some of these stories about Los Angeles being the basketball capital of the world."

1965: Celtics 4, Lakers 1

The Celtics win 62 games to the Lakers' 49. That's how close the Finals are.

1966: Celtics 4, Lakers 3

The West is now a sideshow. The new marquee matchup is between Wilt Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers and the Celtics, who finish No. 2 in the East.

Nothing can match the resolve of the old Celtics when they're cornered. In what will become a pattern, they win when it counts, upending the 76ers, 4-1, in the playoffs.

The Lakers come back from a 3-1 deficit to force another Game 7 in Boston Garden but the Celtics win, 95-93, for Auerbach's ninth and last title.

Of course, if Red knew Phil Jackson would one day get nine, too, he might have kept coaching.

1968: Celtics 4, Lakers 2

Dethroned in 1967, the Celtics see the defending champion 76ers win the East for the third season in a row and take a 3-1 lead in their playoff series.

The Celtics then stage their most improbable comeback yet, winning 4-3.

The Lakers have been rooting for Boston, fearing the awesome 76ers, only to find they can't beat the sly old foxes, either.

If the entire league is flummoxed, the Lakers, who won't win their first title until 1972 -- over the New York Knicks -- are really getting a complex.

"People ask what it was like to finally win," says West. "I didn't know.

"I was so used to being on the other team where regardless of how you played or how your team played, it was almost like fate wasn't going to let you win."

1969: Celtics 4, Lakers 3

This is the Lakers' year -- they think -- as they acquire Chamberlain to go with Baylor and West in the, quote, greatest collection of stars the game has ever seen, unquote.

Unfortunately, they're all in their 30s and don't fit. Wilt and Lakers Coach Butch van Breda Kolff have so many exchanges in the media, The Times becomes known as "Butch's paper" and the Los Angeles Examiner as "Wilt's paper."

The Celtics are really old now, falling to No. 4 in the East but arising yet again.

It comes down to another Game 7 but this one is in the Forum where owner Jack Kent Cooke has balloons penned up for the victory celebration.

With 5:45 left and Boston up, 103-94, Chamberlain, the iron man, hurts his knee and goes out. With the lead down to 103-101, Wilt asks to go back in but van Breda Kolff turns him down.

Boston wins, 108-106.

1984: Celtics 4, Lakers 3

There really is a Celtics Hex, a new generation of Lakers learn.

Fifteen years later, five years after Johnson and Bird's duel in the 1979 NCAA Finals, the highest-rated basketball game of all time, they all meet again.

The Lakers lead in the last minute of Games 1-4 but the Celtics steal Games 2 and 4, starting with Gerald Henderson's Game 2 interception of James Worthy's pass.

Says West, noting the Lakers' subsequent victories in 1985 and 1987, "And frankly if someone had called timeout, they might have won a third time."

McHale clotheslines Kurt Rambis in Game 4. The Celtics have never been thugs but they've never been this desperate. "We had to do what we could because we couldn't keep up with them," says Bird. "They were running us out of the building."

The Celtics go up, 3-2, in Game 5 as the Lakers wilt in Boston Garden, which turns into a sauna on a hot Friday night.

By now the Lakers are wondering if Auerbach can control the weather as easily as turning off their hot water.

It comes down to another Game 7, the fourth between these two teams. It's a balmy 91 degrees in Boston Garden as the Celtics win again.

1985: Lakers 4, Celtics 2

Lakers history turns completely around in four days, starting when the Celtics bury them, 148-114, in the "Memorial Day Massacre" in Boston Garden.

Riley, written off as the lucky guy who inherited his job, scorches his players in a film session, starting with Abdul-Jabbar, whom he has always tread softly around but who has just been embarrassed by Robert Parish in Game 1.

After two days of Riley's cold fury in practices, the Lakers win Game 2 as Abdul-Jabbar gets 30 points and 17 rebounds.

The Lakers close it out in Boston Garden, the franchise's Hell throughout its history. Game 6 is so decisive, even Boston fans applaud politely.

1987: Lakers 4, Celtics 2

Old Celtics do fall, just not easily.

The 65-17 Lakers glide to the Finals. The 59-23 Celtics are hobbled after seven games against Detroit's young Bad Boys in a classic that turns on Bird's steal of Isiah Thomas' inbounds pass.

The Lakers batter the Celtics in Games 1 and 2, 126-113 and 141-122.

In Boston Garden, the Celtics take Game 3 but Johnson's "junior, junior sky hook" wins Game 4.

In the last exchange of shots in this great duel, Johnson's shot drops with two seconds left.

The Celtics call time and inbound the ball to Bird, whose three-pointer is dead on but bounces off the back of the rim.

"In '85, they were good," says Bird after the series. "In '84 I really thought they should have beaten us. I don't know if this team's better than they were but I guess they are."

It's all over, at least for 21 years.

Fried Rice

I LOVE fried rice! 

I am the only one in my family who could eat it everyday.  I could eat it for breakfast, lunch or supper.  I especially like it with pork barbecue, inihaw (grilled meat), binagoongan (pork bits in shrimp paste), spare ribs, tocino (caramel-cured meat) and beef tapa (dried or cured beef). 

Garlic fried rice is the most popular in the Philippines and easiest to prepare.  I learned to cook this when I was 7 or 8, basically, when I was tall enough to see the pan on our stove.  Then, I used to eat it with octopus-shaped hotdogs! =D

When I was assigned in Japan, I came across their version of the Chinese fried rice, the Chahan.  This version of the fried rice adds meat bits, carrots, onion shoots, egg (and sometimes shrimp) to the cold rice.  The restaurant near our flat served the best!  I usually eat it with yakiniku or moyashi - sometimes just as is! 

I was exposed to Nasi Goreng or Indonesian Fried Rice when I was assigned in Saudi Arabia.  Our chief cooks were from Indonesia, and they usually serve it once a week.  It tastes a little sweeter with a hint of soy sauce, together with chicken, peas.  Since it is from our neighbor, Indonesia, the taste suited us Filipinos.

Due to my new-found appreciation for the fried rice, I came across the different versions.  Read on for more details!

Bai cha - A Khmer variation of fried rice which includes Chinese sausages, garlic, shoyu, and herbs usually eaten with pork.
Canton (or Mui Fan) fried rice - a Cantonese dish of fried rice typically served "wet", with sauce or gravy on top.
Cha Han (チャーハン）- is Chinese fried rice suited to Japanese tastes, sometimes adding katsuobushi for flavor.　
Yangchow (or Yangzhou) fried rice - A fried rice dish consisting of generous portions of shrimp, scrambled egg, along with barbecued pork. This is the most popular fried rice served in Chinese restaurants, commonly referred to simply as "special fried rice" or "house fried rice."
Yuan yang fried rice - Fried rice dish topped with two different types of sauce, typically a savory white sauce on one half, and a red tomato-based sauce on the other half. Elaborated versions use the sauce to make a taichi ("yin-yang") symbol.
Thai fried rice (ข้าวผัด, Khao Pad or Khao Phad) - The flavor of this version is radically different from that of common fried rice, and comes from various additions not found in Chinese fried rice.
American Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดอเมริกัน, Khao pad Amerigan) - Bizarre as it sounds, this style of fried rice is actually a Thai invention of hot dogs, fried chicken, eggs as side dishes or mixed in with rice fried with ketchup. Apparently, this was served to G.I.'s during the Vietnam war,^{[citation needed]} but now has become very popular and commonplace all throughout Thailand.
Nasi goreng - a Malay and Indonesian version of fried rice. The main difference compared to fried rice is that it is cooked with sweet soy sauce (kecap manis). It is often accompanied by additional items such as a fried egg, fried chicken, satay, or keropok. Served in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the southern Philippines, and most of the neighboring countries. Also very popular in the Netherlands.
Chaufa - A popular version of fried rice in Peru and Ecuador. Brought by Asian immigrants, it combines the traditional Chinese recipe with a distinct touch of South American flavor.
Kimchi bokkeumbap or kimchi fried rice - A popular variety of fried rice prepared with Korean pickled cabbage, kimchi, and a variable list of other ingredients. Although a wide range of fried rice dishes are frequently prepared in Korean cuisine, often with whichever ingredients are handy, Kimchi Fried Rice is a popular variety.
Garlic fried rice - Also known as sinangag, this Filipino version only contains garlic and is often a breakfast fixture. Sinangag can be combined with other foods to create a new food like "Tapsilog" (a blended word incorporating Tapa [Meat],Sinangag, and Itlog [Egg])
Hawaiian fried rice – A common style of fried rice in Hawaii. Usually contains egg, green onions, peas, cubed carrots, and one or both of Portuguese sausage and Spam. Also sometimes available with kimchi added. Normally cooked in sesame oil with shoyu.

Writing this is making me hungry!  Chahan futatsu, yakiniku tampin hitotsu kudasai!