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Posted on
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 was a year of big decisions and risks that worked out well.
2013 will be an even better year for me and my family.
With plenty of big projects in the works, a couple of job offers in consideration and business ventures in it's planning stages, 2013 is sure to be a year like no other.
Thank you Lord God for all the wonderful things you gave me. But most of all, thank you for the bad ones as it helped open my eyes to better myself and appreciate more the good things I am about to receive.
Thank you to my family, my wife, child, folks, bros (both adoptive and blood related) and my closest friends who were there to love, believe and support me through the good times and the bad ones.
Thank you to everyone else who are there to attempt to destroy me. Without you, victory will just be stale and pale.
To health, wealth and happiness, cheers everyone! Thank you 2012, welcome 2013. Happy New Year to all!
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2012 was a year of big decisions and risks that worked out well. 2013 will be an even better year for me and my family.
With plenty of big projects in the works, a couple of job offers in consideration and business ventures in it's planning stages, 2013 is sure to be a year like no other.
Thank you Lord God for all the wonderful things you gave me. But most of all, thank you for the bad ones as it helped open my eyes to better myself and appreciate more the good things I am about to receive.
Thank you to my family, my wife, child, folks, bros (both adoptive and blood related) and my closest friends who were there to love, believe and support me through the good times and the bad ones.
Thank you to everyone else who are there to attempt to destroy me. Without you, victory will just be stale and pale.
To health, wealth and happiness, cheers everyone! Thank you 2012, welcome 2013. Happy New Year to all!
About The Author
Victor Dela Casa is a Filipino-Canadian who spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
Posted on
Sunday, December 30, 2012
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As we celebrate Rizal's martyrdom today, I'm sharing this very interesting find. This is an hour-by-hour account of Rizal's final hours and the controversy surrounding his retraction (for allegedly attacking the Catholic Church through his writings).
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Introduction
This section presents contrasting views on the retraction by biographers of Rizal.The team deemed it proper to present the views in the exact words of the scholars so as to avoid misinterpretations.
Jose Rizal is the Philippines' national hero and patriot. He is a writer, a doctor, a scientist, a man on many talents and preoccupations. He is also an Insular (Spaniards born in the colonies) who fought for equality for his fellow insulares. He would later become a quiet supporter of Philippine independence. Through his novels ("Touch Me Not" and "The Filibustering"), Rizal described the corruption of the church that stirred feelings of patriotism and inspired the national revolutionary movement. He was martyred on 30 December, 1896.
Rizal's Last Hours
(Source: http://www.joserizal.ph)
(Source: http://www.joserizal.ph)
Dec. 29, 1896. 6:00 – 7:00 a.m.
Sr. S. Mataix asks Rizal’s permission to interview him. Capt.
Dominguez reads death sentence to Rizal. Source of information: cablegram of Mataix to EL Heraldo
De Madrid, "Notes" of Capt. Dominguez and Testimony of Lt. Gallegos.
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Rizal is transferred to his death cell. Fr. Saderra talks briefly with Rizal. Fr. Viza
presents statue of the Sacred hearth of Jesus and medal of Mary. Rizal rejects the letter, saying , "Im little of a Marian, Father." Source: Fr. Viza.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Rizal is shares his milk and coffee with Fr. Rosell. Lt. Andrade and chief of Artillery come to visit Rizal who thanks each of them. Rizal scribbles a note inviting his family it visit him. Sources: Fr. Rosell and letter of Invitation.
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Sr. Mataix, defying stringent regulation, enters death cell and interviews Rizal in the presence of Fr. Rosell. Later, Gov. Luengo drops in to join the conversation. Sources: Letter of Mataix ti Retana Testimony of Fr. Rosell.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Fr. Faura persuades Rizal to put down his rancours and order to marry josephine canonically. a heated discussion on religion occurs between them ion the hearing of Fr. Rosell. Sources: El Imparcial and Fr. Rosell .
11:00 – 12:00 noon.
Rizal talks on "various topics" in a long conversation with Fr. Vilaclara who will later conclude (with Fr. Balaguer, who is not allowed to enter the death cell) that Rizal is either to Prostestant or rationalist who speaks in "a very cold and calculated manner" with a mixture of a "strange piety." No debate or discussion on religion is recorded to have taken place between the Fathers mentioned and Rizal. Sources: El Imarcial and Rizal y su Obra.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Rizal reads Bible and Imitation of Christ by Kempis, then meditates. Fr. Balaguer reports to the Archbishop that only a little hope remains that Rizal is going to retract for Rizal was heard saying that he is going to appear tranquilly before God. Sources: Rizal’s habits and Rizal y su Obra.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Rizal denies (probably, he is allowed to attend to his personal necessities). Source: "Notes" of Capt. Dominguez.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Rizal confers with Fr. March and Fr. Vilaclara. Sources: "Notes" of Capt. Dominguez in conjunction with the testimonies of Fr. Pi and Fr. Balaguer.
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Rizal reads verses which he had underlined in Eggers german Reader, a book which he is going to hand over to his sisters to be sent to Dr. Blumentritt through F. Stahl. He "writes several letters . . . ,with his last dedications," then he "rest for a short." Sources: F. Stahl and F. Blumentritt, Cavana (1956) – Appendix 13, and the "Notes" of Capt. Dominguez.
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Capt. Dominguez is moved with compassion at the sight of Rizal’s kneeling before his mother and asking pardon. Fr. Rosell hears Rizal’s farewell to his sister and his address to those presents eulogizing the cleverness of his nephew. The other sisters come in one by one after the other and to each Rizal’s gives promises to give a book, an alcohol burner, his pair of shoes, an instruction, something to remember. Sources "notes" of Capt. Dominguez and Fr. Rosell, Diaro de Manila.
5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
The Dean of the Cathedral, admitted on account of his dignity, comes to exchange views with Rizal. Fr. Rosell hears an order given to certain "gentlemen" and "two friars" to leave the chapel at once. Fr. Balaguer leaves Fort Santiago. Sources: Rev. Silvino Lopez-Tuñon, Fr. Rosell, Fr. Serapio Tamayo, and Sworn Statement of Fr. Balaguer.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Fr. Rosell leaves Fort Santiago and sees Josephine Bracken. Rizal calls for Josephine and then they speak to each for the last time. Sources: Fr. Rosell, El Imparcial, and Testimony of Josephine to R. Wildman in 1899.
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Fr. Faura returns to console Rizal and persuades him once more to trust him and the other professors at the Ateneo. Rizal is emotion-filled and, after remaining some moments in silence, confesses to Fr. Faura. Sources: El Imparcial.
8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Rizal rakes supper (and, most probably, attends to his personal needs). Then, he receives Bro. Titllot with whom he had a very "tender" (Fr. Balaguer) or "useful" (Fr. Pi) interview. Sources: Separate testimonies of Fr. Balaguer and Fr. Pi on the report of Bro. Titllot; Fisal Castaño.
9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Fiscal Castaño exchanges views with Rizal regarding their respective professors. Sources: Fiscal Castaño.
10:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Rizal manifests strange reaction, asks guards for paper and pen. From rough drafts and copies of his poem recovered in his shoes, the Spaniards come to know that Rizal is writing a poem. Sources: El Imparcial and Ultimo Adios; probably, Fiscal Castaño.
11:00 – 12:00 midnight
Rizal takes time to hide his poem inside the alcohol burner. It has to be done during night rather than during daytime because he is watched very carefully. He then writes his last letter to brother Paciano. Sources: Testimonies and circumstantial evidence.
12:00 – 4:00 a.m.
Rizal sleeps restfully because his confidence in the goodness of God and the justness of his cause gives him astounding serenity and unusual calmness.
Dec. 30, 1986. 4:00 – 5:00 a.m.
Rizal picks up Imitation of Christ, reads, meditates and then writes in Kempis’ book a delectation to his wife Josephine and by this very act in itself he gives to her their only certificate of marriage.
5:00 – 6:15 a.m.
Rizal washes up, takes breakfast, attends to his personal needs. Writes a letter to his parents. Reads Bible and meditates. Josephine is prohibited by the Spanish officers from seeing Rizal, according to Josephine’s testimony to R. Wildman in 1899.
6:15 – 7:00 a.m.
Rizal walks to the place of execution between Fr. March and Fr. Vilaclara with whom he converses. Keeps looking around as if seeking or expecting to see someone. His last word, said in a loud voice: "It is finished"
7:00 – 7:03 a.m.
Sounds of guns. Rizal vacillates, turns halfway around, falls down backwards and lies on the ground facing the sun. Silence. Shouts of vivas for Spain.
Rizal's Retraction
(Source: http://www.joserizal.ph)
(Source: http://www.joserizal.ph)
Introduction
Read on and judge for yourself whether Rizal retracted or not.
Texts of Rizal's Retraction
The "original" discovered by Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. on May 18, 1935
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vivir y morir.
Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y conducta ha habido contrario a mi cualidad de hijo de la Iglesia Catolica. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto ella manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y como Sociedad prohibida por la Iglesia. Puede el Prelado Diocesano, como Autoridad Superior Eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifastacion espontanea mia para reparar el escandalo que mis actos hayan podido causar y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.
Manila 29 de Deciembre de 1896
Jose Rizal
Jefe del Piquete
Juan del Fresno
Ayudante de Plaza
Eloy Moure
Translation (English)
I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in which I was born and educated I wish to live and die.
I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever she teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate Masonry, as the enemy which is of the Church, and as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in order to repair the scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and people may pardon me.
Manila 29 of December of 1896
Jose Rizal
La Voz Española, December 30, 1896
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vivir y morir.
Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y conducta ha habido contrario a mis cualidades de hijo de la Iglesia Catolica. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto ella manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia y como sociedad prohibida por la Iglesia. Puede el Prelado Diocesano, como autoridad superior eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifastacion espontanea para reparar el escandalo que mis actos hayan podido causar y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.
Manila, 29 de Diciembre de
1896-Jose Rizal
Jefe del Piquete
Juan del Fresno
Ayudante de Plaza
Eloy Moure
Fr. Balaguer's text, January 1897
Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vivir y morir. Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y conducta ha habido contrario a mi calidad de hijo de la Iglesia. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto Ella manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y como Sociedad prohibida por la misma Iglesia.
Puede el Prelado diocesano, como Autoridad superior eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifastacion espontanea mia, para reparar el escandalo que mis actos hayan podido causar, y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.
Manila, 29 de Diciembre de
1896-Jose Rizal
Analysis Rizal's Retraction
At least four texts of Rizal’s retraction have surfaced. The fourth text appeared in El Imparcial on the day after Rizal’s execution; it is the short formula of the retraction.
The first text was published in La Voz Española and Diaro de Manila on the very day of Rizal’s execution, Dec. 30, 1896. The second text appeared in Barcelona, Spain, on February 14, 1897, in the fortnightly magazine in La Juventud; it came from an anonymous writer who revealed himself fourteen years later as Fr. Balaguer. The "original" text was discovered in the archdiocesan archives on May 18, 1935, after it disappeared for thirty-nine years from the afternoon of the day when Rizal was shot.
We know not that reproductions of the lost original had been made by a copyist who could imitate Rizal’s handwriting. This fact is revealed by Fr. Balaguer himself who, in his letter to his former superior Fr. Pio Pi in 1910, said that he had received "an exact copy of the retraction written and signed by Rizal. The handwriting of this copy I don’t know nor do I remember whose it is. . ." He proceeded: "I even suspect that it might have been written by Rizal himself. I am sending it to you that you may . . . verify whether it might be of Rizal himself . . . ." Fr. Pi was not able to verify it in his sworn statement.
This "exact" copy had been received by Fr. Balaguer in the evening immediately preceding Rizal’s execution, Rizal y su Obra, and was followed by Sr. W. Retana in his biography of Rizal, Vida y Escritos del Jose Rizal with the addition of the names of the witnesses taken from the texts of the retraction in the Manila newspapers. Fr. Pi’s copy of Rizal’s retraction has the same text as that of Fr. Balaguer’s "exact" copy but follows the paragraphing of the texts of Rizal’s retraction in the Manila newspapers.
Regarding the "original" text, no one claimed to have seen it, except the publishers of La Voz Espanola. That newspaper reported: "Still more; we have seen and read his (Rizal’s) own hand-written retraction which he sent to our dear and venerable Archbishop…" On the other hand, Manila pharmacist F. Stahl wrote in a letter: "besides, nobody has seen this written declaration, in spite of the fact that quite a number of people would want to see it. "For example, not only Rizal’s family but also the correspondents in Manila of the newspapers in Madrid, Don Manuel Alhama of El Imparcial and Sr. Santiago Mataix of El Heraldo, were not able to see the hand-written retraction.
Neither Fr. Pi nor His Grace the Archbishop ascertained whether Rizal himself was the one who wrote and signed the retraction. (Ascertaining the document was necessary because it was possible for one who could imitate Rizal’s handwriting aforesaid holograph; and keeping a copy of the same for our archives, I myself delivered it personally that the same morning to His Grace Archbishop… His Grace testified: At once the undersigned entrusted this holograph to Rev. Thomas Gonzales Feijoo, secretary of the Chancery." After that, the documents could not be seen by those who wanted to examine it and was finally considered lost after efforts to look for it proved futile.
On May 18, 1935, the lost "original" document of Rizal’s retraction was discovered by the archdeocean archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. The discovery, instead of ending doubts about Rizal’s retraction, has in fact encouraged it because the newly discovered text retraction differs significantly from the text found in the Jesuits’ and the Archbishop’s copies. And, the fact that the texts of the retraction which appeared in the Manila newspapers could be shown to be the exact copies of the "original" but only imitations of it. This means that the friars who controlled the press in Manila (for example, La Voz Española) had the "original" while the Jesuits had only the imitations.
We now proceed to show the significant differences between the "original" and the Manila newspapers texts of the retraction on the one hand and the text s of the copies of Fr. Balaguer and F5r. Pio Pi on the other hand.
First, instead of the words "mi cualidad" (with "u") which appear in the original and the newspaper texts, the Jesuits’ copies have "mi calidad" (with "u").
Second, the Jesuits’ copies of the retraction omit the word "Catolica" after the first "Iglesias" which are found in the original and the newspaper texts.
Third, the Jesuits’ copies of the retraction add before the third "Iglesias" the word "misma" which is not found in the original and the newspaper texts of the retraction.
Fourth, with regards to paragraphing which immediately strikes the eye of the critical reader, Fr. Balaguer’s text does not begin the second paragraph until the fifth sentences while the original and the newspaper copies start the second paragraph immediately with the second sentences.
Fifth, whereas the texts of the retraction in the original and in the manila newspapers have only four commas, the text of Fr. Balaguer’s copy has eleven commas.
Sixth, the most important of all, Fr. Balaguer’s copy did not have the names of the witnesses from the texts of the newspapers in Manila.
In his notarized testimony twenty years later, Fr. Balaguer finally named the witnesses. He said "This . . .retraction was signed together with Dr. Rizal by Señor Fresno, Chief of the Picket, and Señor Moure, Adjutant of the Plaza." However, the proceeding quotation only proves itself to be an addition to the original. Moreover, in his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910, Fr. Balaguer said that he had the "exact" copy of the retraction, which was signed by Rizal, but her made no mention of the witnesses. In his accounts too, no witnesses signed the retraction.
How did Fr. Balaguer obtain his copy of Rizal’s retraction? Fr. Balaguer never alluded to having himself made a copy of the retraction although he claimed that the Archbishop prepared a long formula of the retraction and Fr. Pi a short formula. In Fr. Balaguer’s earliest account, it is not yet clear whether Fr. Balaguer was using the long formula of nor no formula in dictating to Rizal what to write. According to Fr. Pi, in his own account of Rizal’s conversion in 1909, Fr. Balaguer dictated from Fr. Pi’s short formula previously approved by the Archbishop. In his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910, Fr. Balaguer admitted that he dictated to Rizal the short formula prepared by Fr. Pi; however; he contradicts himself when he revealed that the "exact" copy came from the Archbishop. The only copy, which Fr. Balaguer wrote, is the one that appeared ion his earliest account of Rizal’s retraction.
Where did Fr. Balaguer’s "exact" copy come from? We do not need long arguments to answer this question, because Fr. Balaguer himself has unwittingly answered this question. He said in his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910:
"…I preserved in my keeping and am sending to you the original texts of the two formulas of retraction, which they (You) gave me; that from you and that of the Archbishop, and the first with the changes which they (that is, you) made; and the other the exact copy of the retraction written and signed by Rizal. The handwriting of this copy I don’t know nor do I remember whose it is, and I even suspect that it might have been written by Rizal himself."
In his own word quoted above, Fr. Balaguer said that he received two original texts of the retraction. The first, which came from Fr. Pi, contained "the changes which You (Fr. Pi) made"; the other, which is "that of the Archbishop" was "the exact copy of the retraction written and signed by Rizal" (underscoring supplied). Fr. Balaguer said that the "exact copy" was "written and signed by Rizal" but he did not say "written and signed by Rizal and himself" (the absence of the reflexive pronoun "himself" could mean that another person-the copyist-did not). He only "suspected" that "Rizal himself" much as Fr. Balaguer did "not know nor ... remember" whose handwriting it was.
Thus, according to Fr. Balaguer, the "exact copy" came from the Archbishop! He called it "exact" because, not having seen the original himself, he was made to believe that it was the one that faithfully reproduced the original in comparison to that of Fr. Pi in which "changes" (that is, where deviated from the "exact" copy) had been made. Actually, the difference between that of the Archbishop (the "exact" copy) and that of Fr. Pi (with "changes") is that the latter was "shorter" be cause it omitted certain phrases found in the former so that, as Fr. Pi had fervently hoped, Rizal would sign it.
According to Fr. Pi, Rizal rejected the long formula so that Fr. Balaguer had to dictate from the short formula of Fr. Pi. Allegedly, Rizal wrote down what was dictated to him but he insisted on adding the phrases "in which I was born and educated" and "[Masonary]" as the enemy that is of the Church" – the first of which Rizal would have regarded as unnecessary and the second as downright contrary to his spirit. However, what actually would have happened, if we are to believe the fictitious account, was that Rizal’s addition of the phrases was the retoration of the phrases found in the original which had been omitted in Fr. Pi’s short formula.
The "exact" copy was shown to the military men guarding in Fort Santiago to convince them that Rizal had retracted. Someone read it aloud in the hearing of Capt. Dominguez, who claimed in his "Notes’ that Rizal read aloud his retraction. However, his copy of the retraction proved him wrong because its text (with "u") and omits the word "Catolica" as in Fr. Balaguer’s copy but which are not the case in the original. Capt. Dominguez never claimed to have seen the retraction: he only "heard".
The truth is that, almost two years before his execution, Rizal had written a retraction in Dapitan. Very early in 1895, Josephine Bracken came to Dapitan with her adopted father who wanted to be cured of his blindness by Dr. Rizal; their guide was Manuela Orlac, who was agent and a mistress of a friar. Rizal fell in love with Josephine and wanted to marry her canonically but he was required to sign a profession of faith and to write retraction, which had to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu. "Spanish law had established civil marriage in the Philippines," Prof. Craig wrote, but the local government had not provided any way for people to avail themselves of the right..."
In order to marry Josephine, Rizal wrote with the help of a priest a form of retraction to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu. This incident was revealed by Fr. Antonio Obach to his friend Prof. Austin Craig who wrote down in 1912 what the priest had told him; "The document (the retraction), inclosed with the priest’s letter, was ready for the mail when Rizal came hurrying I to reclaim it." Rizal realized (perhaps, rather late) that he had written and given to a priest what the friars had been trying by all means to get from him.
Neither the Archbishop nor Fr. Pi saw the original document of retraction. What they was saw a copy done by one who could imitate Rizal’s handwriting while the original (almost eaten by termites) was kept by some friars. Both the Archbishop and Fr. Pi acted innocently because they did not distinguish between the genuine and the imitation of Rizal’s handwriting.
Posted on
Sunday, December 23, 2012
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Dearest Family and Friends,
The Christmas holidays are finally upon us again. As I enjoy fair weather here in my tiny urban paradise in the Philippines, my thoughts travel to Christmases past.
I recall friends, family and loved ones whose love and sincerity during troubled times and whose presence and company, near or far, brought warmth to otherwise very cold holidays. They are a testament to the power of humanity -- that it is greater than any boundaries, whether it is religion, race or geography. As such, they will forever remain entrenched in my memory.
Of course, Christmas is, as always, the most wonderful time of the year. Apart from the carolers, the food, the hustle and bustle, the shopping sprees and midnight masses, there is something about christmas that brings out the best in everyone. This is also the season to reflect, share and receive. A time to recall past trespasses and misgivings and a time to reflect on lessons learned. A time to recall those who was there to love us and those who caused us misery. Finally, this is a time to extend our human-side and our humanity to those in dire need of it, friend or foe.
Christmas is what we make of it and no matter what angle, it is a beautiful time that evokes beautiful feelings. I wish Christmas lasts for a year. Wishful thinking aside, I'm just happy that there is a Christmas. Whichever religion you belong and whatever you call it, let's thank God for this wonderful time.
From myself and my family to you and yours, have a wonderful merry Christmas. Open your heart and let in the blessings that the holiday season may and will bring. With all my love, it is my hope that humanity reigns in you and that you receive health, prosperity and so much happiness in the new year.
Sincerely,
Victor Dela Casa
About The Author
Victor Dela Casa is a Filipino-Canadian who spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
The Christmas holidays are finally upon us again. As I enjoy fair weather here in my tiny urban paradise in the Philippines, my thoughts travel to Christmases past. I recall friends, family and loved ones whose love and sincerity during troubled times and whose presence and company, near or far, brought warmth to otherwise very cold holidays. They are a testament to the power of humanity -- that it is greater than any boundaries, whether it is religion, race or geography. As such, they will forever remain entrenched in my memory.
Of course, Christmas is, as always, the most wonderful time of the year. Apart from the carolers, the food, the hustle and bustle, the shopping sprees and midnight masses, there is something about christmas that brings out the best in everyone. This is also the season to reflect, share and receive. A time to recall past trespasses and misgivings and a time to reflect on lessons learned. A time to recall those who was there to love us and those who caused us misery. Finally, this is a time to extend our human-side and our humanity to those in dire need of it, friend or foe.
Christmas is what we make of it and no matter what angle, it is a beautiful time that evokes beautiful feelings. I wish Christmas lasts for a year. Wishful thinking aside, I'm just happy that there is a Christmas. Whichever religion you belong and whatever you call it, let's thank God for this wonderful time.
From myself and my family to you and yours, have a wonderful merry Christmas. Open your heart and let in the blessings that the holiday season may and will bring. With all my love, it is my hope that humanity reigns in you and that you receive health, prosperity and so much happiness in the new year.
Sincerely,
Victor Dela Casa
Victor Dela Casa is a Filipino-Canadian who spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
Posted on
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Disclaimer: I'm no expert on this December 21, 2012 doomsday prophecy. I just read enough materials on it to come up with my conclusions.
About The Author
Victor Dela Casa spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
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What Might Happen On December 21, 2012
And Why You May Want To Put Lots Of Sunscreen On
Here comes the sun and I say it's alright. That's a line from The Beatles / George Harrison song Here Comes The Sun which I think, could very well be the appropriate theme song for December 21, 2012.
All around the world, people are bracing themselves for what could be the end of the world come this Friday. For sure, 21 Decemeber 2012 is going to be a busy day for astronomers and doomsday believers alike.
Scientists are assuring everyone that it's going to be just another day. I'm hoping they are right. My best bet is that they are right.
But if they are wrong, I have a possible scenario based on events that we know will happen on either 20 or 21 of December (depends how you interpret the Mayan Long Count Calendar) and other ancient, historical facts available on the Internet.
1. The Mayans are genius mathematicians and their calculations of time and astronomy are quite accurate and intricate (for their time and technology).
2. The Mayans are huge Sun worshippers.
3. The Mayans do human sacrifices as part of their sun worship.
4. There's going to be a shift in our planet's axis, the precession of the equinoxes on 21 December 2012. This will change our perspective of the night sky including common navigational references such as our North Star.
5. The Earth and the Sun will align directly with the Milky Way's Nuclear Bulge (center) on 21 December 2012. This is a very rare event which happenes once every 25,000 or so years.
6. The Sun will bulge horizontally by half a degree (or so, due to the magnetic tug and pull) making it appear larger on 21 December 2012.
7. The Mayan long count calendar is a 5,124 year cyclic calendar. How they came about this number is anyone's guess but for a civilization that's only been around for 5000 years (including modern age), it's a mystery how they calculated this and proved it's accuracy to actually use it.
8. No other ancient culture is more steeped in extra-terrestrial references than the Mayans (Mesoamericans). Their writings and monuments are filled with innuendos about visitors from outer space, etc.
(Let me point out that these facts are documented on the Internet and that you can find them if you so wish to do some research.)
Connecting the facts together, we can hypothesize that on Friday, we will have an extraordinarily hot day. The shift of the earth's axis combined with a larger sun and our galactic alignment could potentially weaken slightly and briefly the magnetic field that shields us from cosmic radiation and in turn, giving us an extraordinarily warm day. A worst case scenario is the possible disruption of the same magnetic fields but in a much larger scale, allowing the complete thinning of our ozone layer and the direct and unhindered penetration of harmful UV rays that can burn the skin, disrupt communication systems and weaken structures. This scenario sounds indeed like a doomsday scenario.
Now, I'll tie it up with the Mayan culture. The Mayans civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the planet. They've been around for at least 5,000 years. Their religion is based on the movements of the Sun, Moon, Planets and the Stars. They revere heavenly bodies and most importantly, the sun, because they affect the harvest, the tides and the overall Mayan way of life. Sometime around 3000 BC, they claimed that creation took place. As such, we are in the current creation age of 5125 years. They also claimed that once this creation age is over, a new one will begin.
Now, let's imagine ourselves as a sun worshipping Mayan about 5000 years ago. If you looked above and notice that the sun looks slightly bigger than before, you'd most probably be at awe. If you felt that it's extraordinarily hot while the sun is at it's largest, you'd most probably feel very uncomfortable, alarmed and quite weary. If you see people around you dying, burning, your house made of straw bricks burning, etc., because of this extraordinary heat, you'd probably be very afraid. Seeing dead people might make you think that the sun god isn't happy and demands human sacrifice. Thus, you sacrifice human life regularly to appease it.
Looking at it, well, it does make some sense. Oh my crazy imagination working at full-throttle. Personally, I'm hoping that Friday is just another beautiful day. So far, we have a very mild Christmas season and I'd like to keep it that way.
Of course, these are just my theories. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not an expert. But it won't hurt to wear sunblock and avoid going out on Friday if you feel "endangered." With Christmas just around the corner, it'll be terrible if my worst case scenario theory is correct and you develop a pretty nasty case of the sunburns. Imagine the kind of Christmas portraits that would make.
V Dela Casa
Victor Dela Casa spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
Posted on
Monday, December 17, 2012
45 LIFE LESSONS, WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for things that matter.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye… But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose Life.
28. Forgive but don’t forget.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
Read More
45 LIFE LESSONS, WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for things that matter.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye… But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose Life.
28. Forgive but don’t forget.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.
 |
| Not related but still a good diagram |
Also check this funny new video from the guys at Chive featuring Aussie hurdler Michelle Jenneke
Posted on
Saturday, December 15, 2012
About The Author
Read More
 |
| Brady is considered among the greatest players of all-time |
This is proof that if you are at the bottom, there's no other way to go but up.
Tom Brady was a picked 199th overall in the 2000 NFL drafts. Overlooked by most NFL Scouts despite an impressive career in Michigan (because he didn't have NFL "size" and "quickness"), Brady was picked by the New England Patriots on a sixth round compensatory selection awarded by the NFL.
In training camp, he took that chip on his shoulder and won a spot on the regular roster as the fourth string QB behind Starter Drew Bledsoe and back-ups Michael Bishop and John Friesz. Before season's end, he was the 2nd string QB. The following year, he was impressive at preseason and beat out Damon Huard as the undisputed back-up to Bledsoe.
 |
| Brady's Draft Sheet from 2000 |
When Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding during week 2 of the 2001 season, Brady took over and since then, hasn't looked back. He led the Patriots to its first Super Bowl Championship that year and since then, won 2 more. He would win multiple MVP awards and shatter season passing records. He led the Patriots to the first "perfect" regular season in over 4 decades.
Despite our hatred towards pretty boys, no one can argue that Brady is having a career for the ages. His NFL accomplishments guarantee him a first ballot spot in the NFL Hall of Fame. Truly remarkable for a sixth round pick.
About The Author
Victor Dela Casa spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
Posted on
Friday, December 14, 2012
However you want to call it, Christmas, Hanukah or Holiday Season, this time of the year is the most wonderful time of the year.
Read More
However you want to call it, Christmas, Hanukah or Holiday Season, this time of the year is the most wonderful time of the year.
As we go through the merry-go-round hustle and bustle, the shopping sprees, the light show, and the food trip, we should stop for a moment to ponder the lessons learned this year.
I'm listing down 10 things based on events from 2012. Maybe you ought to as well.
1. Sometimes, you lose
The good thing about winning is you are winning. The good thing about losing is that it makes you appreciate your victories more. Don't let setbacks keep you down.
2. Money isn't everything
If you are a victim of the latest financial scam, money multiplier schemes are just "schemes" and that greed is a sin.
3. Change is good
Wether it's a change of scenery, a new life chapter, a change of attitude, or new company, change is always for the best.
4. Supporting the troops
Let's remember and support the men and women of our military who vigilantly protect our territorial dominion from greedy foreigners.
5. Environmental responsibility
We need to preserve the environment. Support efforts to lower non-degrading waste, to minimize carbon emissions and to stop corporate irresponsibility.
6. Paying it forward
Because a good deed always comes around back at you. There's plenty of suffering caused by calamity, people need your help. Step up!
7. The less you know
Sometimes the less you know is better, which is why I avoid rumor-mongering.
 |
| Pacquio knows that its better to give than to receive in boxing...and that in life, sometimes you lose |
8. Living by example
Braggers talk big through arrogance, inspiring people let their actions speak volumes. Guess who wins?
9. Love
To love is the greatest gift. Love the people closest to you, your spouse, partner, children, parents and siblings. Draw a bigger circle around you and include relatives, in-laws and close friends. Thank them for everything they did for you. No one will love you more than the people who are there during your biggest trials and greatest victories.
10. Christmas everyday
The Christmas spirit shouldn't end after the holiday season. Make a mental reminder to live each day like it's Christmas. Show love, sincerity, tolerance and respect towards your fellowman. It's not about the gifts but a feeling and a state of mind.
Enjoy the holidays.
PS: Use Facebook wisely and responsibly.
About The Author
About The Author
Victor Dela Casa spent over a decade working as business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College.
Posted on
Monday, December 10, 2012
This one I think is actually insightful and interesting.
It makes me wonder: When it comes to following any sort of religious dogma, is there any way for it to not suck? Anytime your reasoning refers back to “But this book said so,” you've lost the argument.
Read More
From Oatmeal.com
This one I think is actually insightful and interesting.
It makes me wonder: When it comes to following any sort of religious dogma, is there any way for it to not suck? Anytime your reasoning refers back to “But this book said so,” you've lost the argument.
Posted on
Friday, December 7, 2012
“The
John Lennon Letters” edited by Hunter Davies
A
massive deposit of freshly excavated notes, screeds, asides and howls, each
lavishly reproduced and carefully annotated, “Letters” is the most intimate book
ever published about Lennon. In its revelation of the man’s psychology, it far
surpasses all previous accounts by wives, lovers, half-siblings, ex-aides and
even the best biographers. This is Lennon unfiltered and characteristically
defiant, scrawling ferociously across lined paper, homemade Christmas cards,
Indian novelties, fading Apple Corp. letterheads. Fans of the Beatles and
Lennon, students of popular culture, armchair lovers of English and Irish wit,
and anyone fascinated by the inner workings of the creative mind: All will find
Davies’s book essential.
Read More
'He was a holy fool' – a classic John Lennon
feature from the vaults
Mark Cooper, guardian.co.uk,
As we approach the anniversary of John Lennon's death on 8 December 1980 , we visit Rock's Backpages – the world's leading archive of vintage music journalism – for this insightful piece from Record Mirror
 |
| John and Yoko |
When we were growing up, my brother and I, we both loved the Beatles, and he loved John Lennon especially. Our parents used to give us a Beatles album every Christmas. Sgt Pepper was the last one we got. Maybe we left home after that, I can't remember.
My brother used to live in small bedsits in Sheffield . I'd go and visit
him, and for bedtime reading I'd always take down John Lennon Speaks. Lennon,
around that time, always seemed a bit daft, always going over the top and
changing every minute. But I always believed him. He never struck me as a man
who lied. He was always searching for something, trying something out, taking a
new tack.
John, along with Yoko, tried to use his public power for peace,
a word that only presidents use any more. Yoko and he looked so funny in bed
surrounded by cameras and flashbulbs, all white and eccentric. Then there was
the political phase that openly declared John's love affair with New York
I've never written an obituary before. The last time I felt like
this was when Kennedy died and some essential safety seemed to have gone from
the world. I was too young to understand it, but I knew something was wrong. I
haven't written any because most of my friends are too young to have died.
Including John. Now I feel like some binding thing has been torn, not only a
period in life but a whole growing-up.
The Beatles were ours, mine and my brother's, in
the sixties. Our parents came to like them, grudgingly at first and then
wholeheartedly. The sound was ours and the media made them everybody's – they
were more reproduced than Kennedy. John was always winking into cameras, taking
the piss out of the medium, making it human. His wit was always Liverpudlian to
the core. John was always a wag.
The Beatles got wrapped up more and more into a nice homely
package. Everyone loved them, America
He was a holy fool and still a bit of a wag.
And then he went to New York
Nobody seemed to quite believe in John and Yoko's private life.
Many resented it: they were so used to him and "they never trusted
Yoko". The papers had great difficulty in letting them disappear, he'd
been such good copy. Somehow he managed it by being normal in NYC for a while.
He'd be frequently sighted in the Village, arm in arm with Yoko. He'd chosen
his privacy and the locals at least respected his wish.
Starting Over wasn't really a new start. It was just a reminder
that John still existed, still loved Yoko and rock'n'roll, like suddenly
getting a telephone call from a friend you used to spend every day with and
haven't seen for years. I felt sick when the radio started this morning. I
wanted it to be a hoax. I wanted him to have what he wanted, his son and his
wife. And I can't believe he died like that, his body broken. How could anybody
hurt John, whom everyone loved like they loved their youth?
I'm in a state of shock. I want to talk over the old days and
how we always loved John whatever he did because he always did it all the way
with the best drum sound. And he wrote down growing up for us.
Crazy John. Poor Yoko. Some stupid bloke killed him because he
used to be famous. All you can say is that he always will be. The world's gone
mad and now I'm going to try and get through to my brother again. Because I
want to remember. You owe him that and a whole lot more.
More: The Lennon Letters
“The
John Lennon Letters” edited by Hunter Davies
“In a hundred years from
now,” John Lennon sang
in a satirical home demo he recorded in New York
A
massive deposit of freshly excavated notes, screeds, asides and howls, each
lavishly reproduced and carefully annotated, “Letters” is the most intimate book
ever published about Lennon. In its revelation of the man’s psychology, it far
surpasses all previous accounts by wives, lovers, half-siblings, ex-aides and
even the best biographers. This is Lennon unfiltered and characteristically
defiant, scrawling ferociously across lined paper, homemade Christmas cards,
Indian novelties, fading Apple Corp. letterheads. Fans of the Beatles and
Lennon, students of popular culture, armchair lovers of English and Irish wit,
and anyone fascinated by the inner workings of the creative mind: All will find
Davies’s book essential.
Those partial to the
Beatles’ early Motown covers may be pained to read Lennon’s casual dismissal of
them, on American Airlines stationery, in September 1971: “ ‘Money’, ‘Twist ’n’
Shout’, ‘You really got a hold on me’ etc. I always wished we could have done
them even closer to the original.”
“Letters”
also delivers the earliest known explanation of why Lennon left his wife and
son for Yoko Ono. “She’s as intelligent as me (you can
take that any way!),” he writes about Ono to his Aunt Harriet, his mother’s
sister, in 1968. “She’s also very beautiful — in spite of reports in the press
to the contrary — she looks like a cross between me and my mother — has the
same sense of humour too!”
Captured
here, too, are Lennon’s views on creativity, as set forth in a 1967 letter to a
cheeky student from Quarry Bank High School
The
present owner of that two-page gem is a dentist in Arkansas
Of
that book, still an indispensable work, Davies writes here that despite urgent
pleas from Mimi Smith — the stern-faced Liverpool aunt who raised Lennon
and demanded the excision of all references to his youthful swearing and
thievery — he “changed nothing.” This conflicts with Lennon’s 1970 Rolling
Stone interview, in which he trashed “The Beatles” and added: “It was written
in this sort of Sunday Times [style]. . . . No truth was written, and my auntie
knocked all the truth bits out about my childhood and me mother and I allowed
her.”
Davies also proves
surprisingly error-prone. He guesses 1970 as the year Lennon sent to Melody
Maker’s Ray Coleman an undated postcard that was signed “Them Beatles.” Davies
should have known better. By 1970, Lennon wasn’t signing anything in the name
of the Beatles. Indeed, only 23 pages earlier, Davies reprints Lennon’s angry
instruction to a lawyer in 1969: “I don’t want to read about ‘Beatles’ as if
they’re still alive — OK?” What’s more, in the photographs section of “Lennon,”
Coleman’s excellent 1984 biography, well known to all Beatles scholars, Coleman
reproduced the “Them Beatles” postcard and correctly dated it from the group’s
1965 European tour.
Other
problems include a tantalizingly incomplete poem that Lennon scribbled on a
Japanese postcard circa 1965 or ’66 (“When a girl begins to be a problem/
Pretty soon the girl must go”) that Davies heralds here as previously
unpublished. But surely he saw this item reproduced just last year, in “Beatles
Memorabilia: The Julian Lennon Collection,” a handsome coffee table volume that
elsewhere in “Letters” he cites by name. Most egregious is the 1971 date
assigned to a postcard that Lennon sent to Julian and signed “love/Dad Yoko
Sean.” Sean Lennon was born in 1975. There are also sins of omission, as Davies’s
selections from Lennon’s Hamburg
Our view of Lennon isn’t
changed by his letters, but sharpened. He emerges here a whimsical and
irrepressible soul — undeniably a multifaceted genius — and a formidable scold.
He appears to have nurtured a lifelong love-hate relationship with Christianity,
a dynamic that, when fully exposed here, makes the furor he provoked in the
summer of 1966, with his comments about the relative popularity of the Beatles
and Christ, seem less inadvertent than inevitable.
However,
Lennon also betrays the touching desire to end even his angriest exchanges on a
conciliatory note. At Christmas 1971, after spending the year hurling profane
thunderbolts at Paul and Linda McCartney in public and private, he sends them a
short note. It accompanies what Lennon believes to be a bootleg copy of the
Beatles’ first — and unsuccessful — tryout for a major British label, recorded
on Jan. 1, 1962 . “Dear Paul Linda et
al, this is THE DECCA AUDITION!!” he writes, with a fan’s enthusiasm. “They
were a good group/ fancy turning THIS down! Love John & Yoko.”
