Ano ang silbi sa pagkanta ng Lupang Hinirang at Panunumpa sa Watawat? Abkors alam na natin yan simula nang tayo’y tumuntong sa paaralan. Pero sa mga nangyayari ngayon sa bansang Pilipinas, natutuwa pa ba tayo na ganito ang kinahihinatnan ng ating mga kapwa Filipino? Nararamdaman ba natin kung paano tayo lokohin ng mga taong itinalaga sa pwesto para pamunuan ang ating Inang Bayan? Maniwala man tayo o hindi, pinipilit natin ibangon ang ating bayan sa kahirapan na dulot ng mga taong may katiwalian sa panunungkulan. Pinipilit natin pagandahin ang ating bansa sa kapangitan na dulot ng polusyon ng mga taong may pagkukulang sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan. Masaya pa ba tayo na bawat laman ng pahayagan at iba pang babasahin, bawat balita sa telebisyon at radyo ay mga hindi kanais-nais na krimen, awayan ng mga may iba’t ibang ipinaglalaban, korapsiyon ng mga nanunungkulan, karahasan ng mga walang pinagaralan, mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin sa kabila ng maliit na sahod, patayan, huldapan at nakawan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bayang sinilangan, at marami pang iba? Maligaya pa ba tayo o napipilitan lang tayo na itaguyod itong ating pamamalagi sa bansa subalit alam natin na wala ng magandang pagbabago? Masasabi ba natin na maunlad na tayo pero ito parin ang ating nadarama – ang walang pagbabagong sistema sa lipunan, hilaw na bunga ng demokrasya, ang hindi pagkakapantay-pantay sa isa’t isa, ang hindi pagkakaunawaan sa mga adhikain at pagasa? Bawat henerasyon na isinisilang, ito ang kanilang kamumulatan – ang Pilipinas nating mahal ay isang kawawang nilalang sa kabila ng natamong kasarinlan. Bawat pahina ng ating kasaysayan na nailalathala, kasabay nito ang pagluha na dulot ng sakit na nadarama ng ating bansa. (ALEX C. BADION 09/27/13)
What’s the use of singing the Lupang Hinirang and Panunumpa sa Watawat? Of course, we knew them from the very start when we stepped in school. But what’s happening in the Philippines right now? Are we glad that we came at this point for our fellow Filipinos? Can we feel how we are cheated by the people whom we voted to lead our Mother Philippines? Believe it or not, we are trying to uplift our nation out of poverty due to graft and corruption of some government leaders. We are trying to beautify our polluted country due to the negligence of our leaders and the result of poor stewardship in our environment. Are we still happy whenever we read headlines of leading newspapers, news on different radios and televisions and other brutal crimes, arguments due to different ideologies, corruption, social problems due to lack pf education, increasing prices of basic commodities despite of a very low salary, killings, holdups and stealing in different places and many others. Are we still happy or are we just forced to stay in our country despite we know for a fact that no changes happened at all. Can we say that our country is progressive but we still feel the same way – no changes in the system of our society, unripe fruit of democracy, inequality, different viewpoints about hopes and aspirations? Every generation coming will see the Philippines in her pitiful aura despite she gained her independence way back hundred years ago. Each written page of our history goes with our tears due to the excruciating pain of our country. (ALEX C. BADION 10/03/13)
For the 9th time, Brazil has taken the gold medal for the FIVB World Grand Prix.
It was the sweetest victory for the Brazilians against all the strong teams in the 2013 edition of grand prix. They were so determined and remained tough until the end of the final match with the Chinese national team.
Brazil did not lose any matches during the Final Round. Here are the results of their five matches against the other teams:
Brazil versus USA – (3-0) – 25-19,25-12,25-10
Brazil versus Japan – (3-0) – 25-21,25-22,25-17
Brazil versus Italy – (3-0) – 25-16,26-24,25-11
Brazil versus Serbia – (3-0) – 27-25, 25-21,25-22
Brazil versus China – (3-0) – 25-15,25-14,25-20
Brazil was too difficult to handle by the other squads. They haven’t stolen any single set but almost for Serbia and Italy (26-24/27-25).
Danielle Lins did a very well setting job for the entire grand prix. It was so amazing. Her attackers were also in good shape to spike above the net.
Brazil’s biggest weapon was massive blocks above the net. The Brazilians were really tough above the net to block every time the Mikasa ball was hit by their opponents. The Americans and the Italians suffered much to let the ball pass.
Photo Credit : FIVB Photo Gallery
JAPCHAE writes and blogs ... 