Disclaimer
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2010
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent anyone else's view in any way, including those of my employer.
© Copyright 2010
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It’s Christmas season again, and Davao City is awash in merry twinkling lights once more. Mana-Davao, that enigmatic antiques shop in Lanang, is on their 11th year of enchanting tourists and locals alike with their annual Christmas outdoor lights show.
Mana-Davao’s yearly spectacle has become something of an expectation each year-end for Dabawenyos. Since the year 2000 I’ve not missed a single viewing. But it was only three years ago that I started documenting it (links: 2008 & 2009).
Jojie Alcantara, my friend of more years than I dare admit, has graciously given me the go-ahead to showcase her Christmas photography. These scenes were of Mana-Davao’s 2010 lightscape, the Petron gas station in Sasa, and City Hall.
Jojie has many, many more pictures of this year’s Christmas celebration in Davao, as well as of other themes and persuasions. Head on over to her pbase site to view them!
The article below was released by the Kaakbay Secretariat, and written by Alain Del B. Pascua.
Before that, though, I just have a personal note. I’m happy that the new banknotes are promoting Philippine heritage sites / tourism highlights. But, no Davao? Ok, there are only 6 banknotes and hundreds of Philippine destinations to choose from, but, nothing from Mindanao was considered at all? Also, why wasn’t the national bird included? The Philippine Eagle represents one of the country’s most laudable efforts in environmental conservation, and yet…
by Alan Del B. Pascua, Kaakbay President
When I first heard the news that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was releasing a new set of banknotes, the first thing I did was to see if the American flag in the ₱100 bill would still be there. It was no longer there, so I was very happy for the removal of a foreign symbol in our national currency. But my gratefulness lasted only seconds and my jubilation was gone when I saw that the Leyte landing led by American General Douglas McArthur was depicted in the ₱50 bill.
I firmly believe that our national banknotes should not in any way give space to foreign symbols and personalities no matter their importance to our history. Yes, it is a reality that we were conquered by the Spaniards, the Americans and even the Japanese, but to put this on our national symbols such as our banknotes defy our very own sovereignty, independence and nationalism.
In the case of the ₱50 bill, why feature the Leyte Landing and the so-called “American Liberation of the Philippines”, when what should be highlighted is the victory and gallantry of the Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese invaders sans the Americans, led by General Douglas McArthur, who left the country and departed to Australia when the Japanese forces held the upper hand in war. It was the Filipino guerrilla who fought it out against the Japanese forces inch by inch until such time as the Japanese stragglers were already in the mountains and away from populated areas even before the so-called “Liberation of the Philippines by the Americans”. We have enough historical references on these events and yet our officials choose to honor events led by foreigners instead of events portraying the greatness of our Filipino kababayan.
The same observation can be said of the Coat-of-Arms of the Republic of the Philippines, which the BSP erroneously referred to as the “Seal of the President” in all its descriptions of the new banknotes. Why are the Bald Eagle of the United States of America and the Lion-Rampant of Spain (the Charge of the Kingdom of Leon) included in the depiction of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of the Philippines when these symbols and representation of colonial history are no longer mentioned in the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines?
Republic Act No. 8491, An Act Prescribing the Code of the National Flag, Anthem, Motto, Coat-of-Arms and other Heralding Items and Devices of the Philippines, which was signed into a law on February 12, 1998, states in Chapter IV entitled “The National Coat-of-Arms,” Section 41:
“The National Coat-of-Arms shall have: Paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and gules; a chief argent studded with three (3) mullets equidistant from each other; and, in point of honor, ovoid argent over all the sun rayonnant with eight minor and lesser rays. Beneath shall be the scroll with the words “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS,” inscribed thereon.”
When the new banknotes was made public, the media highlighted the placement of three Aquinos in the P500 peso bill — that President Cory Aquino joined her martyred husband Ninoy Aquino, now sporting a smile unlike the sadness he depicted in the old bill, with the new President, their son Noynoy, signing anew the new banknotes. It’s history indeed! (Wait… a living person depicted in a banknote? Doesn’t that rather seem Marcosian? –Blogie)
The media also highlighted the relegation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a not-so-prominent space in the new ₱200 bill.
Of course, the BSP proudly announces the various security measures that are embedded in the new banknotes, the youthful looks of presidents and heroes, and the general designs and features. These changes are truly remarkable and very laudable.
After some hours of the announcement and few days have passed, serious criticisms have started to come out from every ordinary people who will be using the new banknotes.
From different sectors, from various quarters, from separate individuals — Filipinos took to the internet, to social networks, to email groups — they gave their collective observations:
Of the 6 new banknotes, five feature Luzon (₱20 Banaue Rice Terraces, ₱50 Taal Lake, ₱100 Mayon Volcano, ₱500 Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, ₱1000 Tubbataha Reefs), only one features the Visayas (₱200 Bohol Chocolate Hills), and none features Mindanao. Why the disparity?
Can we not give equal representation to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao like the three equal and equidistant stars in the Philippine flag?
In Mindanao can be found Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country; Philippine Eagle, the king of birds; Waling-waling, the queen of orchids; and many, many more. Why the obvious neglect? (Emphasis mine –Blogie)
Why only English names, aside from scientific names, accompany the wildlife species? Why not include the Pilipino names – Alamid, Maliputo, Butanding, etc., which can easily be understood and identified with by the Filipinos?
In the ₱500 bill, why feature the Blue-Naped Parrot when it is more majestic to highlight the endangered Palawan endemics like the Palawan Peasant-Peacock, Palawan Hornbill or the Philippine Cockatoo?
The errors pointed out by the public can easily be corrected by the BSP. They should bow down to the collective wisdom of the Filipino people. The Filipino is their boss, is it not? And the errors pointed out can be rectified easily. Never mind if the first batch already printed becomes collectors’ items. That is a small price compared to doing the correct things, and properly so.
The new banknotes are generally great and laudable. The highlighting of national treasures — endemic wildlife, national heritage and culture — tops all of the new features being sighted in the new notes.
The use of Baybayin, the old Pilipino script, and the native cloth designs surely lifts the greatness of the Filipino race and stirs patriotism in all of us.
The new BSP logo — the Philippine Eagle in graphic style — makes up for the absence of Haring Ibon in the new series.
The present brouhaha over the new banknotes only show the importance our currency is in our national life, not only because it represents wealth and purchasing power, but more so because the banknotes are representations of the our national treasures and our national struggle for greatness.
While the authorities have decided that the new banknotes continue to depict past Philippine presidents and modern-day martyrs and heroes, one can not help but ask why Presidents Emilio Aguilado, Jose Laurel, Ramon Magsaysay, Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia and Ferdinand Marcos are not featured in our banknotes. Never mind the controversy of having Ferdinand Marcos in our banknotes, but how about the others? Of course President Fidel Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are still living so we can safely say they do not yet merit being featured in our banknotes.
Of this new series, four modern-day heroes and martys were featured despite not being Presidents of the Republic: Josefa Llanes Escoda, General Vicente Lim, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos and Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. But where are the other heroes that fought for Philippine Independence and established the Filipino nation?
The greatness of heroes are usually depicted in banknotes bearing lower denominations. Gat Jose Rizal was/is featured in the ₱1 bill/coin, etc. But the practice of featuring national heroes on lower denominations like ₱1, ₱2, ₱5, ₱10 has become irrelevant as coins have replaced paper bills because of the devaluation of the peso. The present poor and the past national heroes are twin victims of the devaluation of the peso.
But our heroes — Gat Jose Rizal, Gat Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Jacinto, Antonio Luna, Melchora Aquino, Macario Sakay, Gabriela Silang, Lapu-Lapu, etc. — are personalities any generation of Filipino can easily identified with. Hands down, their roster will beat the roster of Philippine Presidents in inculcating love of country and fellowmen. Their delegation to coins whose values are decreasing do not help in inculcating patriotism, nationalism, faith in the Filipino and the greatness of the Filipino people and nation. Put them in bank notes and once again, we help every Filipino love and be proud of his/her country and heritage more.
Every Filipino hero mentioned above were leaders of historical events that have made what our country is today — the Propaganda Movement, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Kataastaasan at Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, the Great 1896 Revolution, the 1898 Declaration of Indepence, the victory of the Filipinos in Balanggiga, Samar, the victory of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan, etc. All these events that stir Filipinism, Filipino nationalism and patrimony, and the greatness of the Filipino people, can have greater and lasting impact on the Filipino people when featured in their banknotes and not just in coins.
To make our banknotes not only representations of wealth, purchasing power and currencies, but more so as repository of the Filipino people’s struggle for greatness and nationhood, and national treasures and patrimony, there is a need to break the limitations of having just 6 banknotes. Like any other country, it is very permissible to issues new series of banknotes with different features and highlights.
We can have a “national heroes and historical events” series where the national heroes and historical events discussed above are featured.
We can have another series depicting national symbols like the evolution of the Philippine Flag, the Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine Eagle, Sampaguita, Narra, Anahaw, Mango Tamaraw, Arnis, Sipa, etc.
Another series can highlight Philippine endemics, both flora and fauna.
We can have these series while maintaining the bills’ value of ₱20, ₱50, ₱100, ₱200, ₱500 and ₱1000 the same for every series.
It is high time for the country and the BSP to make Philippine banknotes as representations and repositories of what the Filipino is — from past to present — and the national treasures and jewels that we have been blessed with.
Do not deny us our heroes, our history, our treasures, our patrimony. Make us proud and great.
19 December 2010
Kaakbay (Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) is “an aggrupation of individuals and sectoral organizations that collectively advocate an ideology or platform, principles and policies for the general conduct of government.”
Looking around in the WP codex, it dawned on me that there’s not much yet that’s been documented about how WordPress lets us manipulate custom taxonomies. Since WP2.3, we’ve been able to create custom post types, which can have their own custom categories and custom tags. The beauty of this is that, you can divide your content into regular posts (and use them exclusively for blogging) and specialized posts that are meant for non-blog stuff.
For example, I’m working on a classified-ads site and the premium theme package I’ve chosen makes use of custom post types. It’s a wonderful theme (ClassiPress) and I love it. Classified ads appear in their own custom posts called ad listings, and are posted under ad categories. The screenshot of the site’s dashboard (see image) shows an extra menu item that says “Ads”. 
The ad listings, their categories and tags are accessible under this menu.
The ClassiPress theme (made by Appthemes.com) has lots of cool built-in features, too, such as a way for ad posters — people who submit ads to the site — to mark for-sale items as “sold”. And, when ads are marked thus, the ad page would have a “sold” tag prominently displayed on it. Problem is, I’ve put in other classified-ads sections in the mix: For Hire, For Rent and Personals. It wouldn’t be a good idea to have, say, a caterer’s services advertised under the For Hire section to be marked as “sold”, would it?
in_category() and related functions would be enough. Wrong. That particular function only works with the default taxonomy system (ie., regular categories and link categories). So, I’d like to share here how I solved it.The next page shows how I did it.
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