Posts Tagged ‘Manila’
What Time Is The Next Ferry To Manila ? Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
What Time Is The Next Ferry To Manila ?
Elaysa Tanhale, 2, of Barangay San Antonio, Palo, Leyte, Republic of the Philippines, looks up like a tiny traveler checking the time and destination of the next ferry sailing to Manila, complete with her overnight bag. Actually, she came to visit her Aunt Christy and Uncle Sam Warren in Barangay Baras, April 6, 2013.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Fast Christmas Coronation by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Personal Business Editorial
Fast
Christmas
Coronation
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
When, my wife, Christy Warren and I first returned to the Philippines the exuberance and the pomp and circumstance ranked up there in the old black and white news reels with the Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth.
Christy was returning to her native Leyte and the pomp and circumstance had all the trimmings of The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Dianna.
I stood at the airport in Manila and for the briefest instant expected to see a royal carriage pulled by white horses trotting up the taxi lane in front of the airport .
We were both anxious to get to our final destination of the island of Leyte. However, family members were intent on their “meet and greet” ceremonies in Manila.
Then, of course, our royal itinerary had changed to add an unofficial “Goodwill Visit To Angeles City.”
Queen Christy Warren, Her Royal Majesty, was being treated to all the honors and accolades that she deserved. Prince Samuel of The Ozarks and The Duke Of East Texas was smiling and doing “the wave.”
The only thing missing from the royal entourage was The Official Press Corps. In the back of my mind, I knew the royal budget had the letter W associated with it and the name would not be Windsor.
The Strange American
On the ground, in Leyte, the procession of “Well-Wishers” came with the exuberance of visitors to Buckingham Palace for an “audience” with “Queen Christy” and a chance to see “The Strange American.”
“Is he taller or shorter than General MacArthur ?”
“He’s a Texan, right ?”
“Where is Missouri ?”
“What is the Ozarks ?”
“Hillbilly is that a religion or a political party in the US ?”
Between Tagalog, Waray and English, I would hear strange questions whispered about me. Maybe, I should of cared, but, as long as they were the old, “Who is this guy ? ” question, then, I just smiled it off.
By January, it was obvious that most of the attendees at the mythical Christmas Coronation weren’t family members grateful that Christy had returned home.
The name Warren had proven not to be the name Windsor and no one from the “palace household” followed up on the holiday requests.
The Warrens Of The Ozarks had no serious intent to become Lloyd s Of London and the domestic policy issues involved The Saldana Family. Christy had come home to be with her family.
Any community initiatives and ongoing economic development that concerned the Warren Family in Barangay Baras would have to involve the overall Saldana Family.
Local people seemed to have had envisioned a British Monarchy arrival, but, the reality is the family approach was more a Joseph Kennedy Hyannis Port, Massachusetts Family approach.
“Blood And Biology”
A person is more than his DNA, RNA, chromosomes and biological compounds. The members of a family are more than people who share “Blood And Biology” traits.
Saint Samuel’s Basilica
I have always been interested in heraldry,chivalry and genealogy, but, for the Christmas 2011 celebration, there were just too many people at Saint Samuel’s Basilica.
We didn’t have the pilgrims in the square awaiting the annual Christmas message, we had people who rushed through the jungle courtyard of Saint Samuel’s Basilica to seek an audience with Christy. I assumed the role of the concerned cardinal.
Cardinal Samuel nodded a lot and smiled a lot. But, I was interested to see were the well wishers and “faithful” were headed in their Christmas interpretations I looked forward to December 26, 2011. I wanted to know if “The Spirit Of Goodwill” was “The Real Deal” or just “Christmas Cheer.”
As the new year of 2012 approached, it became clear Saint Samuel’s Basilica would have to accept a more secular and business approach. Relatives were leaving and the shift in the idea of “family” day to day was becoming more like Missouri weather – changeable.
One Warren Way
By March 2012, it had become obvious that the Christmas Season was past and One Warren Way was a private home with it’s own “family” agenda. The opportunists went somewhere else. The family wannabe lobbyists had made their travel arrangements to return to other destinations in the Philippines.
In April 2012, Christy opened her CSW Cafe and got her dream to own and operate her own cafe. She provides good food to the community at a decent price. She became a business woman, who provided jobs.
Family members were offered the opportunity to work in her cafe. A few to date have accepted to work with Christy and her dream. Some did not.
By the Warren Fiscal Year of October 1, 2011, God was still in his Heaven, Sam and Christy were headquartered at One Warren Way with “Family.”
Holiday Historian
The Government of the Philippines dealt with their daily challenges of 2012, The Government of the United States tried to deal with international business and the carry on the traditional “Presidential Campaign” fiesta of every four years.
The major entertainment of any democracy relies on the Presidential or Prime Ministerial Election. The Warren and Saldana Family of Leyte settled down to the day to day business of life in Barangay Baras.
I have had a lifelong interest in all types of history. I got enough college hours under the belt to know how to do the data collection, compilation and analysis routine to examine an issue from all angles. I had collected the data from Christmas Day 2011 and examined the photographs I had taken.
I had enough data to take on the role of “Holiday Historian” and render a verdict on Christmas Day 2011 and the irony is the Christmas Season of 2012 provided the hours to complete the task.
Home For The Holidays
By October 1, 2012, I looked forward to my birthday, October 30, Halloween, October 31 and the end of 2012.
Christy looked forward to Christmas, December 25, 2012 and the New Year of 2013.
Christy decided to close the CSW Cafe for the Christmas Season of 2012 to spend some time at “Home For The Holidays.”
A year has passed, since we returned to the Philippine Islands. I have had time to reflect and look at The Fast Christmas of 2011. The photographer’s habit of having a camera growing out of the end of your hand provided valuable snapshots of time throughout the previous year.
Fast Christmas Fiscal Fiasco
The Life Learning Lesson of Fast Christmas 2011 is simple: people are people. We all have our good points and our bad points. Human nature goes beyond flags, passports and visas.
Some people will take advantage of you, regardless, what day of the year it is. In a perfect world, you would always be able to count on “Family.” The world is not perfect and some family members do not see “The Big Picture.”
In the early 21st Century, the “Fast Food” and “Fad” psychology of “Instant This,” “Instant That” and the evolving technology of “Upgrades” and “Real Time” has convinced people to focus on the “Short Haul” to try and plan for their lives. The end result is “people live from payday to payday without a plan to reach a comfortable retirement.”
To some people Christmas is simply another day to try and rip people off. To some people, “Family” is simply a six letter word in an English dictionary. To some people Christmas is just a holiday to be used to try and set up “pie-in-the-sky” business deals.
Fast Christmas had not been about Christmas at all.
Fast Christmas was various attempts to use Christmas Day 2011 to setup a mood of trust by friends, acquaintances and some family members. Then, in 2012 the trust could be called upon to support series of changing, financial ventures to profit a few people. Human nature being human nature some people will try to point the finger and try to make you feel “guilty” to get their way.
Some friends and family members had their own ideas about what Christy and I could do to help them. But, they didn’t have any ideas that would benefit the entire family or the surrounding communities as a whole. The “flash in the pan” business brainstorms didn’t work because my wife “The Boss” is a business woman, who always considers “The Big Picture.”
Christy’s husband, “Sam the Cynic” needs to be able to visualize a “Real World” result. I have an imagination. However, I grew up in Missouri and you have got to “Show Me.” Unless I see three or four colts galloping in the field, I’m not going to invest in a “Unicorn Farm”, I don’t care how good the presentation is.
Mentor Mothers
Nenita Quezon Saldana told her daughter, Christy, “Keep The Family Together.” Opal M. DeLong Warren told her son, Samuel, “Family Is Everything.” Both mothers were right about their beliefs in family. Both mothers, knew their daughter and son would understand the changing nature of “Family” and “Business.”
To me Christmas is about watching kids have fun with their toys, brothers, sisters, cousins and to be able to set down to a table of delicious food and drink and feast like Henry the VIII, my favorite English king.
Henry knew, “How To Party Down !”
Other family members are welcome to apply their own meanings to Christmas to celebrate the holiday in a manner of their own choosing.
Fiscal Christmas Of 2011
Christmas Day 2011, I lean back in the chair at the table and loosen two notches on my brown leather western belt. “That hit the spot. Wonder what kind of feast Cousin Donna cooked this year back in Missouri,” I said aloud to Christy’s Cousin Romel sitting across the table from me.
Christmas Eve 2012, I put away the “Demonyo Itlog” – deviled eggs – macaroni salad, potato salad, rice, and enjoyed Mississippi Mud chocolate candy with my coffee. The women cleared away the table and sit down to a bottle of Christy’s red wine and the Philippines’ “Tuba”, coconut wine.
The men after dinner adjourned to the area by the Christmas Tree to enjoy Tuba and an evening of conversation.
A glance at Christy’s cell phone revealed an absence of “Blood and biology family” Christmas wishes for the holiday, which confirmed what I suspected that “Fast Christmas of 2011” was really “Fiscal Christmas of 2011.”
A Yuletide Toast To Henry VIII
I sit down with the men to celebrate Christmas Eve 2012 and loosen the waist of my walking shorts. I grin at Ramon, “I bet Cousin Donna has started cooking Christmas Dinner in the States. She always starts a couple days ahead of time, And, when I start to chow down on the hot biscuits she serves, I have to remind myself to leave room for pie.”
“Kuya Sam, Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Ramon.”
I raise my tall coffee cup, “Merry Christmas to Henry the VIII,” I grin.
“Henry the VIII, Kuya Sam ?”
I laugh.”Long story, Ramon. One of my favorite English kings, who knew how to enjoy a great meal and good conversation.”
Sam
Fiscal Christmas of 2011 by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Personal Business Editorial
Fiscal
Christmas
of
2011
Santa’s Southern Workshop
If Santa Claus has to make a pit stop on Leyte to feed his reindeer or resupply his big, bright red Christmas Presents sack, then, it looks like the Palo Library is his stop over location based on this holiday photo of 2011. The snapshot was taken through the windshield of a moving vehicle, which accounts for the heavy coloration at the top of the snapshot and the circles reflected on the building and is a reminder that sometimes in life what we see is not always what we think we see. Snapshot by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
As a little boy in the United States, I have several memories of “Christmas In The Ozarks.”
As a young man in college, I have several memories of “Christmas On The Job.”
As a man in the military, I have several memories of “Christmas Around The World” or, more correctly, “Christmas In The Pacific.”
Christmas 2012 is not the first Christmas, I celebrated in the Republic of the Philippines. Christmas 1988 was my first Christmas in the Philippine Islands, which is a “Single G.I. Christmas Story.”
My wife, Christy Warren and I returned to the Republic of the Philippines in December 2011, which resulted in a “Fast Christmas.”
Extended Family Concept
The Philippines is one of those nations that practices the “Extended Family” concept. Americans tend to think of “Immediate Family,” which is Mom, Dad, the kids, and sometimes grandpa, grandma, and the aunts and uncles.
The Philippines’ “Extended Family” concept is exceptional because it takes into account other relatives, which can be distant aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Taken to the extreme, the concept is like taking a Manila telephone book and expecting everyone listed under A to Z to show up on Christmas Day.
Unleash The Relatives !
As Christmas 2011 approaches, it becomes apparent that Christy Saldana Warren is related to most of the past, present and future delegates of The United Nations.
By Christmas Eve 2011, apparently the only person in The Republic Of The Philippines that Christy was not related to is The President Of The Philippines.
It seemed that everyone who could walk, stagger, hire a pedicab, tricycle, jeepney or hitch a ride had passed through the doors for the “Home For The Holidays” celebration. A few people took the time to identify themselves as “friends”, while many just smiled, nodded and socialized with other family members.
Christmas Eve 2011 and Christmas Day 2011 proved to be a wonderful celebration. People, food, kids, joy, excitement, storytelling, socializing. No script writer in Hollywood or Manila could come up with a script for a more joyous family holiday celebration.
Christmas Glitch
Every nation has those situations and conditions that allow some people to profit at the expense of others. In the Philippines, the cultural “Extended Family Concept” is an ideal situation to be taken to the extreme to take advantage of people and the overall compassionate message of humanity at Christmas.
Jet Lag, Time Drag
“The Fast Christmas” celebration took advantage of the fact that we stepped off the airplane in the middle of December. It would take a couple of days for us to travel from the island of Luzon to the island of Leyte. While we would spend a couple of days in Manila before a quick Christmas trip to Angeles City, our bodies were still suffering from “jet lag”.
Our minds were adjusting to the “International Date Line time difference of 14 hours between the Philippines and Missouri because The Show Me State was on “Daylight Savings Time”, which added an hour to the normal 13-hour time difference.
I had looked forward to the trip to Angeles City as “My Military Mecca Pilgrimage”, I could return to my beloved Clark Air Base and see the changes since the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Unfortunately, this was one of those “side trips” that you make to say, “Hi” and “Bye.”
Sad Story Singers
Christmas The Season is the time of year when “Everyone On Planet Earth Has A Sad Story To Tell.” One of the other 364 days of the year, people might ignore your story, but, the Christmas Season gets into a person’s psychological makeup and the whole “Peace On Earth, Goodwill Toward Men” scenario kicks in and a person listens to “the sad story.”
If you are born to a rich family, then, you probably have to really dig into the family history to find a sad story to sing. The rest of us, just think back a couple of months and find a sad story. Some people truly do have a sad story in life that begins around Day One.
Many people are just disappointed not to have been born to a mom or dad listed in the Fortune 500 with a fat bank account and a portfolio that list numbers with several series of zeroes after the numbers.
Sometimes a Sad Story maybe true. Sometimes a Sad Story is a ploy with a fiscal ending aimed at your wallet or purse. One example is the man, who told me, “My son could use a computer for his education.” No doubt.
Of course, smiling at someone, during Christmas Season and replying, “Get A Job”, would probably be considered politically incorrect and downright callous. Nonetheless, I am too skinny to ever be mistaken for Santa Claus anywhere in the world.
I came from hard-working parents and the “work ethics” of the Ozarks and Texas is hardwired into my DNA, so “I will try to help people, who help themselves”, but , I remember the old Ozarks’ saying, “ Charity starts at home.”
Find The Family
I retired from the military in 1997. Christy and I had left Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines to go to another assignment only a few months before Mount Pinatubo solved the whole “US Bases In The Philippines” debate in clouds of volcanic ash.
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo cut off all communications between Christy and her family in the Philippines for the next 18 years, both of us tried everything we could think of to locate her family in the Philippine Islands.
In 2008, we got lucky and communications were reestablished and she began talking to the family on a regular basis. We considered moving to the Philippines.
Parents, Plan, Priority
Before we left the US, Christy and I discussed that a “rice mill” might be a good idea in a country setting in the Philippines. At the time, all the family members in the Philippines seemed to agree.
Everyone knew the family story that essentially Christy s mom had made Christy swear an oath to do everything possible to “Keep The Family Together.” Everyone knew that my mother had taught me, “Family Is Everything.” The pledges to our parents were the type of ploys that could be used to try and make a person feel guilty.
Christy had made it known to the family that her priority was that the family work together to succeed, so that everyone would benefit in the long run through the years ahead. The concept of “Teamwork” seemed to be an idea that everyone was willing to work for.
Business Banter
Christy had come up with a business plan that would allow every member of the family to have a role in the family business. Before we left the States, it seemed everyone was anxious to hit the beach at Leyte and do the family business of running a rice mill.
Before we left the States, a rice mill had been built in Barangay Baras. Christy and I discussed other ideas for a family business. Family members, offered up their own ideas.
In the United States, the idea of involving relatives in a family business began to disappear around the time of the American Civil War.
By the 1900s, Americans were known around the world as the people who tell you “Never Ever Involve Family In A Business You Own.” I had heard that admonition my entire life. From what I had witnessed in life, it seemed like sound advice.
However, my wife, Christy is a Filipina and we were returning to the Philippines. I had, no doubt, if everyone was willing to work with Christy everyone would succeed.
The Boss
I had been the military man. I remain the reporter and photographer. My wife, Christy, like my mother, was obviously the business woman. I had the luxury of “Being Married To The Boss.”
The drawback to any business is “Everyone wants to be the chief and no one wants to be just one of the braves.” The braves forget, in a business sense, “the person with the wampum makes the rules.”
As the year wore on, it became obvious that some family members had not been all that excited about the original idea of the rural rice mill. Christy being a woman in a traditionally “macho” culture did not help in her trying to win over family members.
In the Latin-based cultures, like the Philippines, the eldest male child is expected to “take charge” and call the overall shots for the family. Then, of course, you factor in the Asian cultural concept of “Save Face” and women usually stand in the shadows in a “be seen, but not heard role.”
Men don’t always appreciate working for a woman. In the US, men not being able to work with a woman is an idea that has really disappeared since the 1970s.
But, there are places in the world, where men really have problems when “The Boss” is a woman. It seemed some of the men really didn’t want to think of Christy as “The Boss.”
Blame The Americans – Everyone Else Does
Thank God for The United States Of America !
Without the US to blame, for everything from bad weather to the price of tea in China, many citizens of the world would have to find something or someone else to blame if good old Uncle Sam wasn’t around. Thus, the US got some of the blame when Christy and I didn’t jump at a business idea. Someone would grumble, “Christy spent too long in the US.”
Christy The Filipina
Christy Saldana is an independent woman, who had her own ideas about life before I ever married her and she stepped off the airplane on to US soil. People who tried to “blame the US” knew nothing about Christy or the United States.
Christy is one of those people, who has worked for and earned everything she has in life. She had earned her own way in life. When I met her, I was impressed by her confidence and ambition.
Side Trip Shaft
After the Angeles City holiday pilgrimage, we were back on the road headed to a ferry for the island of Leyte. Our bodies still dealt with the prolonged “jet lag” and our minds were still adjusting to the “time drag”
My first major disappointment since returning to the Philippines came with the “side trip” to Angeles City. Too much time had been wasted on trying to get everyone together.
We ended up going to Clark Air Base “too late” for me to be able to enjoy looking around the base. We didn’t have time that night to see the base. We didn’t have time to spend a day or so in the area, so that we could visit the base. This is one of those decisions that did not sit well with me.
I had looked forward to the visit to Clark. Anger is the emotion that I felt at being denied the opportunity to take my time and look around the base. Resentment is the other emotion that stuck in my craw. And, the word, Mad, is an accurate description of how I felt when we left Angeles City.
Back On The Road
Naturally, we were trying to get to Leyte to be able to rest after the long plane flight and to celebrate Christmas.
The ride to the ferry off the island of Leyte was a long ride because I was mad. Nonetheless, I was ready to finally kick my shoes off and unpack my suitcases. Fast Christmas had kept us off balance and on the road.
If you want to do business on Christmas Day, then, tell the people you want to do business with. If you want to promote a business idea, then, you have to be willing to put some of your own money on the line.
In the ideas that were being suggested to us, everyone wanted to be “the idea man” and leave all of the investment of money to Christy and Sam. If you try to wrap up and slide a fiscal agenda into the holiday all you will get for the year is a bundle of switches and lumps of coal in your fiscal plans.
The Jet Lag, Time Drag, Slide Trip Shaft, and the On The Road, factors are the lumps of coal that pushed Christy and I into Christmas Day 2011. I considered Christmas Day 2011 a Fast Christmas. The result is the day became the Fiscal Christmas of 2011.
Sam
Whoa, Christmas Tree ! Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr,
This is a tall Christmas Tree as it evident by the fact that those are real not “toy” jeepneys that seem to be “under” the Christmas Tree. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Whoa, Christmas Tree !
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
This public Christmas Tree puts new meaning in the word, “Creativity.” The idea is simple. The catch is you have to drink a lot of soda pop. Actually, you probably need your family, friends, co-workers and most of the people, who live in your zip code to drink a lot of soda like starting in January for this Christmas Tree.
This public Christmas Tree was set up, near a government office building in a city close to Manila. I took the photograph, during the Christmas 2011 Season.
Someone pickup your cellphone and send this photo to your friends, who work at Coca Cola and Pepsi. The ornate star at the top of the Christmas Tree is an arrangement of plastic soda pop bottles. Now, look closely at the beautiful green tree. The tree is a collection of green soda pop bottles.
Someone might want to give the staff at the Guinness Book of World Records a ring. It would be interesting to know how many empty plastic litter bottles went into building this Christmas Tree ?
Incidentally, the ornaments on the tree ? It looks like the ornaments are. . .you guessed it. . .empty plastic liter soda pop bottles. Photos by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
In this close up photograph, you can see that the crafts people took care in constructing the frame and arranging the pop bottles for this unique public Christmas Tree in the Philippines. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
“Hi Yo Silver, Manila !” Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Hi Yo Silver, Manila !
I am one of those American kids, who would dash to the TV, whenever he heard the announcer say, “Hi Yo Silver, Away !” It meant Clayton Moore, “The Lone Ranger,” and Jay Silverheels, “Tonto” were about to bring justice to the old American West.
The masked Texas Ranger, who crafted his own silver bullets, rode a beautiful white horse called, “Silver.” Every week Tonto and the Lone Ranger made sure the bad guys got justice. And, in a cloud of dust, the Lone Ranger and Silver would ride off into the silver screen sunset until next week.
Every time I see a white horse, I remember being a kid and the weekly adventures of the mythic Texas lawman to uphold justice. In Manila in December 2011, I glanced down the street and at the end of the street there stood a white horse.
In the culture of various countries, “white animals” are considered omens or signs of things to come. A common story says that Buddha’s mother had a dream the night before his birth of a “white elephant” and the next day, the Buddha was born. In some Native American religions the “white buffalo” is considered a sacred animal. The “white horse” in rural Texas and the Ozarks is usually considered a “good omen” when you see it in a dream or in real life.
Since you probably wouldn’t expect to see a “white horse” in a nation’s capitol. I raised my camera and took the photo. The horse simply grazed down at the end of a street I passed. It was an unexpected sight.
Christy and I had only been in the Philippines, a few days when I photographed the white horse. I would say the white horse was a good omen because for about a month the normal tasks of life seemed to go my way. Then, again, “I’m a Lone Ranger kid.” Canon EOS 40 D Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Black Market Movies In Asia Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Black Market Movies In Asia
Nikon D 70 Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
I love movies. When I buy a movie or pay to see a movie, I want to know, “It is the ‘Real Deal.’” The demand for movies and TV episodes from the West always exceeds the reliable,credible and efficient supply methods into Asia.
The end result always seems to be “The Black Market Movies”, which are rip-offs that can have low-lighting, out of focus cinematography, sound that sometimes has audience reaction in the background and captions they make absolutely no sense at all.
Movies and TV episodes made in Hollywood usually have the “Pirated Movie” video footage and the FBI and Interpol movie warnings at the beginning.
In the Republic of the Philippines, the legitimate movies, always have the warning about unauthorized use results in a fine of several thousand pesos and possible imprisonment for a number of years.
The Black Market Movies usually don’t have the FBI, Interpol or NBI warnings, they usually either go to a screen that allows for Asian language selection or a screen that offers other movies on the DVD that can be played as well as the original.
You do not have to be a law enforcement official, a video technician or a sound engineer to realize that some of the illegal movies have been recorded off of a satellite TV channel and simply burned to disc for mass distribution. The tendency of a satellite TV signal to freeze on screen, during bad weather and the erratic pixelation across the screen are obvious indications that the video was recorded off of a satellite TV signal.
While Hollywood, London, Sydney, Toronto, Calgary and cities in the West seem to have problems getting the legitimate movies shown and distributed in Asian, “The Black Market Movie System” solves the distribution problem by quantity and the speed to have the product ready for viewers to watch or purchase.
In the photograph,the water buffalo is the animal that is found throughout Asia and has become a symbol that represents the countries and nations of the Pacific and the coconut is a reminder of the island cultures of the East. The plastic CD case is a reminder that the “Black Market Movies” can even be displayed in what seems to be “official” or “legitimate” packaging.
In November 2012, the cast of “The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn, Part 1,” came to Manila to promote the release of Part 2. Today is November 28, 2012, which means “Black Market” copies of the movie should already be “On Sale” in the cities and rural areas throughout Asia. Nikon D 70 Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
The Samuel E. Warren Jr. I Love Jeepneys Photo Album Publishes
I
Love
Jeepneys
Photo Album
"Ghito", a Tacloban City jeepney picks up passengers by the Divine Word hospital, during a brief monsoon rain shower. Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
A jeepney is the most unique taxi cab on the planet.
There is only one place on earth to “Hail A Jeepney,” and that is the Republic of the Philippines,
These “Yellow Cabs Of Asia” are on the highways and byways of this island nation. Each jeepey is a unique “Checkered Cab” and “Artwork On Wheels” that reflects either the artistic taste of the driver or his family.
A jeepney is a jeep, a family sedan, a pickup and a school bus all rolled into one functional vehicle.
Tourists will look twice at the vehicles making their rounds in the nation’s capitol city of Manila and buzzing along the highways between the cities and in the cities of the islands of the Philippines.
Editors of newspapers, blogs, magazines, websites, books and any publications or electronic media, who needs a photo of a jeepney, then, visit my Picasa web album. Consider the use of any of the photos in the album as “Public Domain.”
Naturally, I would appreciate photo credit for the photos that I have taken, but, if you forget the credit line; no big deal. My hope is I have some photos here that you can use in your print or electronic publication.
“Gyueun”, a jeepney waits on the shores of Tacloban city to ferry passengers around town.
Photo by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Filipinos and Filipinas living and working overseas, if you have a grandfather, a father, a brother, a cousin or an uncle, who is a “Jeepney driver”, check out my photo album on Picasa and see if his photo is in the album; if not – I would hope that I have a photo of his jeepney.
Check The Samuel E. Warren Jr. I Love Jeepneys Photo Album on Picasa, every now and then, to see if I have added more photos because when it comes to jeepneys . . .”I Love Jeepeys.”
Sam
The Samuel E. Warren Jr. I Love Jeepneys Photo Album
https://picasaweb.google.com/115529281361827670221/TheSamuelEWarrenJrILoveJeepneysPhotoAlbum
On The Job Political Editorial
Back To Work After The Election of 2012
On The Job
The President
Of The United States Of America
On The Job
In The Oval Office
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama edits his remarks in the Oval Office prior to making a televised statement detailing the mission against Osama bin Laden, May 1, 2011.
by Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Brooms have been pushed and the residue of The Election of 2012 is now in the dumpsters waiting to be hauled to the nearest city dump or recycling center.
In the Ozarks, The Day After An Election, Stone County, Missouri Old Timers, would laugh and joke, “Time to get out the picks and shovels because there are a lot of graves to dig today.” The purpose of the political joke was to poke fun at the politicians who “lost” an election and remind people that it was time to get back to work.
“Good Day, Mr. President.”
Now, that “The Election” is over, President Obama can get back, “On The Job.”
In the Republic of the Philippines, the US Election has been covered for the last two days. The first announcements were the standard, “And The Winner Is.”
The United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines made his speech to say that President Obama had been re-elected.
News crews tracked down the happy “Democrats Abroad USA” chapter in Manila and got their reactions of sheer joy.
One man gave a beautiful quote of how he spent four days in Colorado knocking on doors and talking to people: “I told them I came 8,000 miles to ask them to vote for the Democrats and President Obama.”
Today, November 8, 2012 – The Philippine news media is looking at the US Election and comparing how Democracy works in the US and how Democracy works in the Philippines.
The news coverage is optimistic that President Obama is going to work on the Immigration policy in America.
I’m optimistic that President Obama knows that “The American People have his back” and support him in his efforts to move domestic and foreign policy forward, in an effort to rebuild the US Economy.
Election Fallout
Most people shrug their shoulders and get on with their lives.
For people, who are passionate and devoted massive amounts of time and effort to an election, the days following a loss is a period of readjustment. If your candidate lost, you can feel “let down.” You wonder if there was something else that you could of done ?
In America, we like to believe that “We are Good Losers.” We are not.
Sportsmanship
The idea of “Sportsmanship” says that the losers should be able to congratulate the winners and forget the game or the election.
The Sportsmanship idea is a good idea, but, it is not realistic — when people devote time, effort and energy to a cause people expect a positive result.
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“If every American in America and overseas would devote one tenth of the energy they normally waste on sports to watching politicians, America would have the most informed, pro-active, action-oriented democracy on the face of the planet. “
– Samuel E. Warren Jr.
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Competition
America’s National Cultural Philosophy
In America, the loss after an election can be a heavy weight to the individual because from the time you are a toddler in America you are taught to “Compete.”
You step out the door in the morning on your way to school and you are in the “Competition” mode. The “Competition” philosophy teaches you are suppose to “Win” at all costs. “Loss” is never acceptable in the American cultural psychology.
“Dog Eat Dog”
Americans are the most competitive people on the planet.
We are taught “The World Is Dog Eat Dog.”
We, Americans are taught, “You Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps.”
“Loss” and coming in second place is really “Unacceptable” in the American culture.
Look at the History of American Political Candidates, especially since the end of World War II – “How many men who “Lost” their first run for “The White House” were able to come back and make a successful second try ?”
There are some candidates. As the years moved toward the 21st Century the ability for a defeated candidate to make a successful second run for “The Oval Office” is now a “long shot.”
Second Try ?
Face it – No one wants to gamble on “A Loser.” If a candidate “Lost” in an election for president, then, supporters are reluctant to rally around for a second run at The White House. The same idea seems to be coming true for gubernatorial races as well.
Elections involve massive effort and advertising is never cheap – tons of money has to be raised to buy print ads, radio ads and television ads.
The Citizens’ Feelings
The people who voted and “Got” their candidates will be feeling good that “Their Vote Counted.”
The people who voted and didn’t get their candidates elected will feel the sense of “Loss” and wonder if they did something wrong or is “The System” broke.
I think “The System” is broke.
It was broke in 2000 and in 2004 and still hasn’t been fixed.
My “Man” got elected. I’m happy.
Democracy is not a perfect process, but, it is the best government system currently in place around the world.
Democrats And Republicans
I had friends back in the United States, who shrug their shoulders and say, “There really is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans.”
My friends are wrong.
I have Texas relatives, who were Democrats and after an election – win or lose, they seemed able to get back to the business of The Real World.
I grew up in Stone County, Missouri – one of the most hardcore, devout Republican counties in the United States of America.
Republicans are NOT Good Losers.
For days and months after an election, Stone County Republicans and many average citizens would whine and complain about those “Damn Democrats !”
United States Seventh District Congressman Dewey Short was born and raised in Galena, Missouri, so it is natural that ,the county seat of Stone County should give Republicans “The Benefit Of The Doubt.”
Since the death of Congressman Short, the national Republican party or the Missouri Republican Party has not went out of their way to “court” Stone County voters in any way, so it is amazing that Stone County remains “a one party system.”
The Importance Of Politics
After an election, many Americans put away their election year memorabilia and will not bother to think about politics until the next leap year presidential election draws near.
Americans forget Politics is a 24-hour a day, 365-day a year business because the decisions that get made in Washington D.C., and the 50 state capitols affect your day to day life and always reach into your wallet.
For a democracy to truly work the citizens really do have to be informed. You do have to pay attention to what the elected officials are up to. You have to look beyond the rhetoric, the propaganda, the bickering to get newspaper headlines and on camera television interviews and decide for yourself what is truth and what is “party propaganda.”
Many Americans get all wrapped up in all kinds of sports and can quote all kinds of sports statistics. But, a game is just a game. Next week, next month or next year there will be another game.
The Super Bowl, The World Series are all big sporting events in the United States, but no quarterback raises your annual property tax and no batter is going to get Americans National Health Care.
“If every American in America and overseas would devote one tenth of the energy they normally waste on sports to watching politicians, America would have the most informed, pro-active, action-oriented democracy on the face of the planet. “ – Samuel E. Warren Jr.
Now that the election is over, keep an eye on that councilman, Congressman, Senator, Governor and other elected official.
It will be easy to keep an eye on the president because there is the White House website and legions of international news media that will be watching The Oval Office.
Keep an eye on the daily newspaper headlines and Internet news stories. Watch what the politicians are saying and doing. Now, that President Obama has won re-election he can be devoted to fixing the US Economy.
The senators and congressman that were critical of the president going into the election should all be singing a different song now. Some of those officials have their “own” re-elections to worry about, so they will want to be seen as “helping the president” and not a resistant “stick in the mud” that will try to cause problems.
Party Platforms
The Democrats and the Republicans have their party platforms posted on line for people to read.
Democrats traditionally favor the “working people.” People who really do have to “work” for a living, which means jobs that involve manual labor like farming, construction and the “break a serious sweat” occupations.
Republicans traditionally favor the “wealthy people.” People who may have “earned” their fortunes or the ones that “inherited” their money from their family.
Republicans like to be called the G.O.P., because it sounds “catchy” and Americans love initials and abbreviations. The term GOP stands for “Grand Old Party” and dates back to the time of “The American Civil War.”
However, when I use the term G.O.P., for Republicans, it refers to “Greedy Oil Politicians” and how the GOP always seems more than willing to keep America depend on Middle East Oil.
State Rights
Republicans claim to be “State Rights” oriented, which means states are suppose to decide the majority of issues in their state capitols and the federal government is essentially suppose to stick to providing a military force, printing and coining currency and negotiating foreign treaties.
The theory is that the Federal Government is suppose to be an umbrella and not hardwired into American homes. Yet, after 9/11 the Republican Administration created the Department Of Homeland Security at the federal level to get intrusive when needed.
Centralized Government
Democrats have always favored a centralized federal government. Democrats realize some problems have to be handled at the federal level.
States can issue their driver’s licenses, but, do Americans really want each state to have to issue Passports and Visas ? Imagine 50 different passports and 50 different visas, each with different categories of visas and requirements for the visas.
National Healthcare
American Healthcare has to be done at the National Level. Otherwise, you end up with 50 different plans with different requirements that can change from county to county and parish to parish. Wealthier states can offer more types of coverage than other states.
A woman in Alaska might not need or want “Breast Enhancement Surgery” while in Hollywood that type of cosmetic surgery might be considered crucial, thus, a national policy can address these issues, while states might tend to ignore or “cut” these health services.
Policy Issues
All Americans should realize that, like it or not, “Politics” affects your day to day lives. If you ignore the issues, then, you let the politicians make the rules. They don’t always put things on the ballot to be voted on. Keep an eye on your politicians – make them earn their paychecks.
America has lobby groups that are always out wining and dining the politicians. Some of those lobby groups may not support the same issues that you consider important. Keep your eye on changing issues because if you don’t voice, email, telephone or telegraph your elected officials – the lobbyist wins.
Congress Of The United States Of America
I am an American.
I have a birthright to complain.
In numerous articles and political editorials I “beat up” on Congress. They can take it; they are “Big Boys And Girls.” If they have “thin skin”, then, that person needs to find a new job.
I do respect Congress.
Since the 1970s though, I have lost a lot of respect for Congress. Since the 1970s, Congress seems only capable of trying to stop a president from doing something or becoming a “bunch of mindless groupies chasing after a president and granting his every wish”
In the 1970s, Congress did have the “guts” to press the Watergate Hearings and try to get to the bottom of the issue.
Congress did try to nail down “The Iran Contra Affair.”
Congress from 2000 through 2008 acted like “excited school girls chasing after a teen idol and not capable of making their own decisions.” Congress from 2000 through 2008 seemed “A Rubber Stamp For A Republican Administration”
Members of Congress, should be honored to serve the American people. Members of Congress should realize that they to have to answer to the American people – it is called “The Ballot” and gets used every four years/
The United States Supreme Court
Lawyers in black robes. When I was a boy, I respected the United States Supreme Court.
As an adult, I don’t really have any faith and very little respect left for this arm of government.
They are suppose to “Protect, Defend And Translate The Constitution Of The United States Of America.”
From 2000 through 2008, the Supreme Court acted more like Mafia thugs protecting the Godfather, rather than a judicial body that answered to the people.
On the bright side, the majestic building is a beautiful piece of architecture.
Support the President
Now, that President Obama is back at his desk in The Oval Office, I hope that Congress will work with him to rebuild the US Economy.
I doubt the US Supreme Court will do anything to help rebuild the US Economy.
But, if they become “TOO big” an obstacle – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Democrat, was accused of “Packing The Court.”
President Obama, the Democrat, is the former Constitutional Law professor . Perhaps, the time has come to “Unpack The Court.”
America is a Democracy.
To keep that Democracy “On The Job,” keep an eye on your elected officials.
Choose one of the parties and get involved.
Sam
Links
The Oval Office
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oval_Office
The White House
The White House Blog
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog
The Congressional Record
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Record
United States House Of Representatives
United States Senate
United States Supreme Court
Democrats
Republicans
Democrats Abroad
http://www.democratsabroad.org/
Political Watchdog
Move On. Org
Political Blog
Crooks And Liars
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