Congratulations to All

Its graduation season once again, and may I indulge to congratulate those who are now moving on from one level of education to higher level of education and for some, from being student into a member of the sector of the unemployed.

I am congratulating in particular my dear brother and sister. My brother, will now be moving on from the world of UP studentry to the wonderful world of the Philippine media. Well, I hope that you continue your excellent job that you are doing in your college days. I do hope to read your name in print in one of the newspapers in the country or be a reporter in one of the media outfits in the Philippines.

For my sister, who will now be moving form being a high school student to a college student, I congratulate you. Just be stronger and focus more in your college days. And do not forget to enjoy while studying. We are here to support you.

May I also greet my friend, megumi, who had just graduated last Saturday. May you pass your exams and be a registered nurse. Make your Momma and Poppa proud.

Basta, congratulations to all of you graduates. To my friends here in the blogosphere who happen to be graduating this month or in the next month, CONGRATULATIONS! May GOD be with you in all your endeavors.

Diyus-Diyosan ang Sarili

There are those kinds of people. Those people who became so vain and so addicted with themselves that they thought they are gods whom their every whims and wishes should be followed by other people. This kind people just tasted a little wealth, a sprinkle of fame, and a thread of connection (as paraphrased from my other blog) and became an overwhelming self-centered brats.

Boyet Fajardo is guilty of this. His “creative outburst”; his demands to a fellow Filipino, who did nothing but do his work; the way he wanted to satisfy himself by making a fellow human being to kneel in front of him are evidence of this. Like all the bloggers all over the 7,100 islands of the Philippines and all over the world, I call on all Filipino to stop buying his RTWs. Do not let your skin touch any of his clothing line. He must seek forgiveness by doing a genuine apology. His apology infront of the media is not acceptable because he is not truly remorseful, which means that he still have some belief that what he did what right.

So, my fellow Filipino (and yes, Filipina too) let’s boycott Boyet Fajardo’s RTW. Never ever buy the products like Substance in SM Malls, Boyet Fajardo and Initials in Landmark and Robinson’s department stores.

His “creative outburst” against the Duty Free cashier is his “creative rantings” against all Filipino workers. Mabuhay ang mangagawang Pinoy at Pinay!

Operation Valkyrie

-->During the Second World War, before Hitler’s Germany bowed down to the allied forces, a group of military officers and politicians sought to end the war by assassinating Hitler and placing all Nazis under their control. Operation Valkyrie is the code name of the operation that will mobilize the reserve forces of the Wermacht or the German army in case of dissolution of peace and order inside Germany and all the occupied nations. This is just a front for a deeper plan concocted by the top coup plotters.

The plan to assassinate Hitler was lead by Claus von Stauffenberg. Stauffenberg is the one who formulated the operation, which was unwittingly approved by Hitler. The coup plotters created the plan to show the whole world that not all people in Germany are Nazis, and thus save Germany from being punished due to the crime perpetrated by the SS and the Nazis. Phase one of plan is the assassination of Hitler. This was done by bombing the meeting attended by Hitler. The second phase is the mobilization of the reserve forces and by deceiving the army into a belief that it was the SS who assassinated Hitler and sought to take over the government. The third phase is the arrest of all SS commanders and soldiers and all the top members of the Nazi party. This will ensure that the new government will not fall to the hands of the SS or the Nazis. All this operation hinges on one element --- the death of Herr Fuehrer.

The death of Adolf Hitler is necessary in this plan since he is the big boss of both Nazi and SS. Another thing is that he is the chief mastermind of all the crimes perpetrated by all his underlings. Hitler would rather die than accept the fact that Germany will be defeated in the war and negotiate with the Allies (he did kill himself when the truth of his defeat dawned on him). Hitler’s death should be done to remove this hardheaded leader and create a leadership gap. Another thing is that Hitler is the revered leader of Germany, and his death will flare the anger of the people against their killers.

Operation Valkyrie failed. History confirmed it. Hitler escaped the bombing with no major injury. In the end, the reserve forces realized that they had been tricked and stopped the operation and released all those people that they arrested. In the aftermath of Operation Valkyrie, 5,000 people were arrested, including the families of coup plotters and many of those arrested have no connection whatsoever to the plot. 200 of those were executed. Stauffenberg and other top plotters were luckily killed through musketry. Others died by hanging because Hitler wants them to suffer a painful and slow death. Those who were not executed were imprisoned or sent to concentration camps.

Operation Valkyrie is a good movie to watch. Even though the fact that many people knew that Hitler escaped the assassination, this did not dampen the atmosphere of excitement. This is a movie that captured those hard times experienced by the plotters. Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Knighty, and others did well on portraying their characters.

So, if you are on those who are interested in the Second World War or just want to see a cloak-and-dagger type of story, then Operation Valkyrie is recommended for you.

Witch Hunter Robin

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In the beginning, the witches serve as God’s servants and emissary to the world. Ordinary humans, jealous and scared of their power destroyed them ---- thus initiating the many and widespread witch hunts in the world’s history. Central of these witch-hunts is Solomon, an organization within the Church that seeks to stamp out witchery and witches. That is the “idea” being perpetrated by the anime “Witch Hunter Robin,” which will make the new age believers and fans of books like the “Da Vinci Code” happy.

The anime revolves around Robin, a fifteen-year old professional witch hunter. Though she is a witch hunter, she is a Craft user herself and had a power of fire. Witch hunters endowed with the craft was not peculiar to Robin since most witch hunters in this anime were also witches being used by Solomon. She was sent by Solomon to Japan to aid its Japanese branch (STNJ) in its witch hunting activities. Apparently, that is only a front since her real mission is to investigate about the Ultimate Craft or the so-called “Piece of Knowledge.” In the middle of the story, she met Methuselah, the immortal witch that survived the Salem witch trial. The old witch wakened up Robin’s power before Robin consumed her with fire.

The witches in this anime are different from the witches in the Harry Potter series and other TV shows that say incantations and brew potions to make their power work. They are much more like the characters in the TV series “Heroes,” which could use their powers at will. The main difference with Heroes is the concept of Craft is still central in the story.

After discovering her power, her trainer and grandfather, the priest Julianno sent well-renowned witch hunters to kill her. Her witch-hunt culminated into a revelation from the priest that she was a product of an experiment of creating an ultimate witch.

This anime ended in a showdown between Robin and the director of the STNJ. The director seeks the total annihilation of witches, including those who are craft using witch hunters. Solomon disapproved of such thing and removed the director from his post.

Witch Hunter Robin is a good anime. The story is somewhat realistic as if it is happening enigmatically in our neighborhood. This anime played upon the world’s fascination with the Catholic Church and used it in creating a secret organization of witch hunters. A well researched anime though with misleading ideas. Anyone who want to watch this anime should be cautious and do not take the story seriously.

Ash Wednesday Prayer

Dear Lord,

I pray that this mark upon my forehead be branded upon my soul as a reminder that I am made to be your servant.

Let this cross always remind me of Your sacrifice up there on the cross to save us from death due to sin. Likewise, may this remind me of Your humility by suffering for our sake so that we will be humble in our life.

May this mark the new chapter of my better and wonderful relationship with You. Lord help me to conquer all temptations and heal my brokenness. Do not leave me and be my guide through this uncertain life.

O Lord please forgive my sins and bring me to your light. May I see Your face in the new heaven and the new earth.

I pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Before I end this post, may I include this SMS message from my good friend Grace:

“God deals with us uniquely. He draws upon our experiences to teach us about Himself. God will forgive us our sin, but He may provide stark reminders of the ugliness of sin. Let us thank God that He loves us enough to remind us of the destructive consequences of sin in our lives.”

How touching and how humbling to be reminded of my sinfulness. God is good and works in many ways to save His loved ones. Thanks Grace, Thanks Lord. I pray that I continue to repent and clean my life so that it will be worthy enough to be an offering as a sweet smelling oblation to the Lord.
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