Pinoy kids win Las Vegas Chess & Math titles

Stephen Rome happens to be a student of my sister. I get to see this kid every time I visit their school which is just 3 blocks away from our house. Congratulations, Stephen! I still hope that in the future, if you decide to continue playing Chess professionally, our government will still have enough sanity to support you in your tournaments. If not, then you might want to start using that piggybank of yours to save for your travel expenses.

Stephen Rome Pangilinan
[Malibay Chess Club]

Filipino kids triumphed in various competitions overseas. Stephen Rome Pangilinan emerged as the Overall Champion in his division at the Las Vegas International Chess Festival.

Zheng Rong Wu, A fourth year high school student from Zamboanga was awarded the gold medal for being the top scorer of the Philippine team in the International Regions Mathematics League (Iontest held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Philippine delegation finished third overall.

At age six, Stephen bested 36 other competitors in the Susan Polgar under eight-year-old division. He won first place after garnering a total of 5 points.

When asked why he became triumphant, he said: “Kasi po ginamit ko yung pamatay kong opening.” Pangilinan’s coach Milagros Emparado said that while the prize money his ward won was not that much, the honor given by the young chess player to the Philippines is enough.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, said the Philippine team’s score was better than last year’s performance, and the Filipino gold medalist is a student of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, a Chinese school.

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/wp/?p=5733
Posted on June 11th, 2009 under We are Pinoys!

"Ako Mismo Campaign" - Another Idiotic Idealism

Ano na naman to? Another pesudo-political Ad-Campaign that blindly aims to reform our society through "small steps" like wearing red dog tags and putting up a website where Pinoy visitors are asked to log-in and pledge to become better citizens?

www.akomismo.org --- magfe-facebook na lang ako no.

I hate to sound too pessimistic, but I really find this movement too idealistically unfeasible.

The TV ad got my attention and led me to the site, which says:

AKO MISMO is a movement to energize and rejuvenate young Filipinos and move them to action.

As an advocacy, it is anchored on the following fundamental beliefs:

1) There is an inherent desire in every Filipino to effect positive change in the country. This is a tremendous force for change.

2) Social Change is possible when individuals commit to a concrete actionable behavior that results to positive change

3) The power of the collective force of individuals who believe in making a difference will be the driving force for a sustainable transformation of Philippine society.

Unang una... Filipinos MAY have the "inherent desire" to bring about positive change, but do not have the desire and motivation to actually act on it. MOST Filipinos are driven to get a good job abroad, earn money and dream of a better lifestyle. Nothing more, nothing less. Kanya-kanya na, kung baga. That inherent desire will only come with a change of cultural mindset.

Pangalawa... Social Change is possible ONLY (at least in the Philippines) when individuals are educated enough to know that Social Change IS important. Otherwise, individuals will only mind how to survive sa hirap ng buhay ngayon.

Pangatlo..."The power of the collective force of individuals?" Now, if that collective force of individuals amounts to, let's say, the population of Luzon and Visayas combined, ay maniniwala na ako. Let's face it, the last collective force that made significally beneficial change to this country was the Katipunan. Even the three Edsa Revolutions were not enough to change our cultural mindset.

www.akomismo.org --- parang wowowee lang... just another
vehicle for publicity ng mga artista.

Sex Scandals - Definitely 'Da Latest Trend!

I must admit... yummy itong si Hayden Kho. Gwapo, macho at... mukang masarap!

Pero isa s'ya sa mga nagsusulputang personalities na gumagawa ng kung anu-anong kalokohan para sumikat. At kating-kati naman ang madla sa intrigang dulot ng mga sex scandals na lumabas.

Siguro nga, kung isa ka nang artista, you acquire the right to discount your family's honor. Itong sina Katrina, Maricar at iba pang mga gagang nagpagamit kay Dr. Kho, naku, nauto naman kayo!

Well... congratulations at effective. Keywords as short as "hayden scandal" on Google alone is enough to call up hundreds of links to sites related to the scandal. Try that with your own name! (Google up  "your name" + "scandal" sige lang!) galing, diba?! Hah-hah...duh?!

Gone are the days when celebrities strive to become role models. Kung sabagay, people from media and the press would rather make big news about these scandals kay sa mga mabubuting nagagawa ng mga tao, particularly mga artista. Well... 'yan ang uso ngayon eh. May magagawa ba tayo? Wala.