May 29, 2012
Corona Impeached

Odds are this will have no real implication to anyone who is not in the political arena (unless you have cases in the Supreme Court that are hanging on the balance of political alliances there*). Corruption is a deeply ingrained aspect of Philippine culture that this right here is probably not as historic as we want it to be. Natural systems have a tendency to go back to its previous, stable state once a disturbance is over. And like it or not, corruption is the stable natural system in the Philippines.

Hopefully I’m wrong, but given our history, I’m not betting on it.

*anyone who still believes that Philippine Courts are impartial and free of the byzantine political games powerful people play are naive.

6:22pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyMLysu3
Filed under: impeachent corruption philippines 
May 29, 2012
Miriam’s Rant

It’s always fun to watch Sen Miriam Santiago speak. From her long rant, here’s what I took:

1. Strictly sticking to the law and judicial procedures, Corona did not do anything worthy of impeachment

2. Everyone is doing it anyway, therefore not guilty

For no.1 I don’t like it when procedure and a strict, uncompromising adherence to the letter of the law is put above all else. As my ground school instructor so simply put it - “Just because it is legal does not mean it is the right thing to do”. 

But then again, as someone who comes from a family full of lawyers and legal advisers, I also see the value of an extremist adherence to law. I cannot fault her for sticking to her law training and considering the law as if in a vacuum. I’m even going so far as to say that it may be a necessary evil, as a balance against chaos.

As for no. 2. - I just find it hilarious. She may mean well, to condemn corrupt practices, but the way she did it made it look like she was acquitting because “lahat -ay, hindi naman lahat- marami sa atin ay gumagawa nito”. It also came across to me that she is saying that they have no right to condemn Corona because of this. Maybe  she was right when she said they had no right to condemn when they do it themselves, but to say it as part of an explanation of why she is voting for acquittal?

By her rant alone, I feel justified that I did not vote for her.

4:09pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyMLo4Bc
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: miriam santiago impeachment 
February 18, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 9/9 RTB

With the basket and envelope loaded, it was back to the airfield. The vehicles can only fit so many inside, so some of us had to ride on the trailer chasing the balloons. Now that tha balloon was on the trailer, we had to ride on the balloon. Some were inside the basket, others in front of it. My position is behind the dude in orange, on top of the envelope bag on the trailer’s aft edge. It’s a comfy position, though aside from operating the camera, I also had to keep alert in order not to fly off as we dashed and bounced around the lahar.

9:23am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGajYIg
February 18, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 8/9 Packing up

Simultaneously with the  scoring crew’s work, the chase crew retrieves the lead balloon. The envelope was carefully rolled and stuffed into its transport bag. The uneven, soft terrain meant that the crew had to sweat a little more to pack the envelope and load it unto the trailer.

9:23am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGajXMT
February 18, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 7/9 Bomb Run

We reached our balloon and the scoring crew immediately went into action measuring marker distances.The puppy balloon appeared above a nearby ridge a few moments later and made its run at the target.

9:22am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGajVTK
February 17, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 6/9 Into the Beaten Track

Our group consisted of three four-by-four vehicles: one for the balloon, one for the balloon crew, and one carrying the game scoring crew. The balloon landed in a lahar quarry so we had to do some moderate off-roading to reach it.

6:32pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGYckKo
February 17, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 5/9 Wide Open Spaces

We drive along Pampanga’s roads for 30min on Easterly bearing as we follow the balloons. By this time the balloons are arriving at the lahar fields and are doing their run at the target and then start landing.

4:28pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGYVLfy
Filed under: hot air balloon hot air balloon festival HABF Lahar Angeles Pampanga 
February 17, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 4/9 Flight

The lead balloon leaves as soon as it is ready. We on the chase crew wait a little to ascertain that the balloon is well underway before we start the chase. Other Balloons also start taking off as we drive through the field. Most of the balloons are airborne and underway by the time we reach the airfield’s perimeter.

4:27pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGYVHdj
Filed under: hot air balloon hot air balloon festival HABF 
February 17, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 3/9 Inflation

Aside from chasing the Balloons, the chase crew is also plays a large role in getting the balloons ready for flight. The huge fabric envelopes need quite a number of men to be set up prior to cold inflation.

Opening ceremonies are being held for the spectators as the balloons are being set up. A flag jump is conducted along with the flag ceremony a few minutes before the balloons take off.

4:21pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGYUs2C
February 17, 2012

17th HABF Chase Crew 2/9 Deployment

The briefing wraps up as the sun breaks the horizon and the balloons, with their respective contingents, are brought to  their designated areas on the field.

4:19pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zh1qQyGYUlvw
Filed under: hot air balloon festival habf 
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