Due to the prevailing bad weather, Makati City declared the suspension of classes up to the high school levels especially for the afternoon.
Unlike other school kids who are rejoicing at the extra day off, our own little school girl, Ikai, was fuming mad at the suspension. Her mother relayed to me that Ikai wouldn't talk to her on the phone because she was disappointed and extremely angry that classes were suspended.
After lunch, Ikai's anger has probably dissipated a bit but now we have to go home later with a pizza or otherwise all hell will break loose :P
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Last Saturday, chanced upon a special docu on the Knowledge Channel by accident and it was about two sisters who were both into ballet -- Sarah and Joey Atayde. But more than just listing and enumerating the sisters' dancing accomplishments, the docu also talked to the sisters' parents, mentors, and their younger brother who assured the interviewers there's no way he'll be following the dancing steps of his older sisters.
Though the docu was done a few years ago (in my estimate, at most about a couple of years back -- didn't see the credits so can't ascertain), I could still relate to it because my daughter is into ballet right now. And I could understand how proud both Mom and Dad Atayde were of their daughters as well as the sacrifices (financially, physically, and mentally) their entire family makes for the passion of the two young ballerinas.
I ended up watching the hour-long docu and I'm happy I did because somehow it offered me a glimpse of what to expect if ever Ikai pursues ballet until she grows.
Like what the Atayde sisters' dad had mentioned, pursuing ballet is an expensive venture and even at this juncture that Ikai is still a beginner in the art, we can already feel the pinch. But all the costs no longer matter when you see your daughter loving what she does and other people, her ballet teacher included, acknowledging that fact.
Ikai's first ballet recital (last June was technically a summer culminating activity) will be this December.
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Oh, for those wondering, Ikai is taking ballet lessons at Dance Theatre Arts located at the 5th level of Waltermart - Makati under the tutelage of Teacher Pamela Ortiz-Bondoc. You can check their website here but it's not updated. They also have a Facebook page, just search for "Dance Theatre Arts".
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Weather permitting, this Saturday, October 6 will be pictorial day for all ballet students who'll be joining the December recital.
So, we're expecting Waltermart's 5th level to be jam-packed not only with ballet students -- from the smallest Pink Beginner, to the oldest Ate -- but also with giddy and excited parents (Elvie and I included), a good smattering of grandperes, other relatives, yayas and guardians, all of us anticipating with pride the moment our daughters and sons (yes, there are actually a lot of danseurs at DTA) pose for the camera.
The pictorial will be with the ballerinas in full regalia and the pictures will be used for the planned souvenir program for the December recital. Ikai's group -- the Pink Beginners -- have two costumes for their two scheduled dances -- Peter Rabbit and Under the Sea.
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I am joining the protest against the implementation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act 10175.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act is all well and good in its original purpose -- to prevent cybercrime. But additions to the Act as it passed through Congress and the Senate have instead turned this law into an unconstitutional weapon that'll be used to stifle among other things freedom of speech and expression, and the right to privacy. Yes, the government says they'll be careful in the actual implementation of the law but there's always no guarantee that this law won't be used by enterprising individuals, politicos included, when it suits them.
Particularly problematic is Section 4(c)(4) or the placing Libel as content-related offense under this law. The entire Philippine webosphere is aflame with this particular item as this is seen to be something that will be used and abused by individuals or groups who cannot handle criticism, even constructive ones. This items runs contrary to the provision of freedom of speech, a fundamental right enjoyed not only Filipinos but by all citizens of democratic countries worldwide. Just saying something that might be offensive can easily land you 12 years and a hefty fine, double the punishment one will receive if he or she was convicted or printed libel.
I am no hacker and I don't engage in fraudulent online activities. But I do blog and I do express my opinion although I try not to offend anyone with it. However, I cannot stop or control how people read and interpret what I write -- be it a blog post, a status update, a tweet -- so there's always a possibility someone might get offended. To evade being slapped with online libel, do I just stop writing then???
There are also problems with the enforcement of the law that somehow grants government agencies such as the DOJ and the PNP such wide powers to crack down on those websites and the people behind these website who they may deem to be pursuing illegal online activities as stipulated in RA 10175. This is related as well to allowing such agencies to gather real-time data which is, in my interpretation, infringing on one's right to privacy.
And the government is allocating a budget of Php50M for the enforcement of this law? Php50M that I think should be better off added to the budget going to state universities and colleges.
Until this flawed law and/or its provisions are repealed it'll be blackest night for internet freedom in the P.I.
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On another note, torrent-sharing website PirateBay is reportedly down due to power outtage. Thought it was down because the P.I. enacted R.A. 10175 :P
